End of an Era?

Well, after waiting "patiently" for months I finally got my medal!



I must admit, I did NOT think I'd get it, so this is a pleasant surprise. I now have my Finisher Shirt & Finisher medal to add to my collection:



I'm happy I got them, but they sent a letter along with the medal that got me pretty down:

We currently do not have the Florida Challenge Triathlon on our 2011 fall schedule, but are considering June 12 as an alternative date for the race. Before confirming the early season move we would like to see if there is interest in having a challenging long course race in Clermont in June.

Please take our date poll above and offer feedback if you wish via the Triathletes Village website.

Thanks!

This sucks because I LOVE this race. Yes, I had a better finish at the Ironman Orlando 70.3 race, but this race in Clermont is the hardest race I can do. What makes it tough for me is the hills. It's not easy to lug a 215 pound carcass up rolling hills for 56 miles in 90 degree heat, then immediately run 13.1 right after...

I'm the type who likes a challenge. We all like challenges to an extent: Some look forward to taking tests & doing well in school. Others want to get that big promotion and will work 60 hours a week to get it. I like to suffer all day swimming, biking & running... To each his own!

Ironman Orlando 70.3 is NOT an easy race. Let's not get it twisted. But it's not as hard as The Florida Challenge. Not only that, the Florida Challenge is at the end of the year, and I have all summer to train for it. If they get rid of this race I won't have anything to really train for.

This sucks!

But if it's the end of an era, I can look back on some really good memories. I've done this race 8 times and finished each time. Some races were "easy," and a couple I had to really dig deep to finish. But I wouldn't change any of the experiences because they made me a better person. Yeah, it's crazy to put your body thru that type of event, but life is about pushing the envelope and seeing what you're made of! Besides, who wants to look back and wonder "what if?" Not me...

So, I'm mentally prepared to kiss my fav race goodbye. I'll race Ironman Orlando again and see if I can improve from this year.

But I'll have to find new challenges, and I think I've found them. As I said before, I'm now a personal trainer and I LOVE IT! But I want more. So here's my next challenge:




Yoga! I'm now studying to be a yoga instructor. I think yoga is a GREAT activity and I want to help others discover how great it is, if they're willing to listen that is! lol

I imagine I'd be too busy next year to train for the Florida Challenge, but it's stilll sad to see the race go. I'd at least like the OPTION to do the race again if I chose too...

But it's out of my hands, so I can't stress about something I can't control. Besides, now I have to focus on getting my Warrior Pose up to par! LOL

Time will tell what THEY do, but I know what I'M gonna do! Time to take it up yet another level. Let's see how it goes!

Thanks for reading! Till next time, Peace!

Off Season Activities!

Well, the off season is in full swing and I'm taking full advantage! They say in the off season you should give yourself a physical (and mental) break from training. 

Physically, it's good to cut back because you need to let your body rest and recover. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself by going full bore when you don't have to.

The mental break is just as important to me. I can't speak for others, but the mental aspect of training can be downright brutal if you let it get the best of you.  It can wear you down when you think about the amount of work it takes to get ready for a race.  Then add in the fact that you have to work and balance a social life with family and friends and it can drain you.

But all that is forgotten when you cross the finish line! Lol

I'm still working out though. I did a 42 mile bike ride a couple weeks ago, and I'm still lifting weights and swimming on a regular. Just not at the high intensities. 


Thankfully, my birthday is during the off season, cuz I LOVE my birthday! I enjoy going out to celebrate, and last but not least, I get to eat cake guilt free!  Lol



Every year I MUST have a cake!  It's a tradition! Lol



Thankfully this is on the off season! Lol

In addition to my birthday, a lot has happened since my last race.  I got my Finisher Shirt from my last race, but still no medal.



  I'm TRYING to move on, but they won't leave me alone:

From: events@triflorida.com
To: TRIMASTER1@
Subject: Your Florida Challenge Triathlon Finisher Medal
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:42:13 -0500

Dear JEFFREY,

We apologize for the delay in sending you your well-deserved finisher medal from the Florida Challenge Triathlon. After encountering numerous problems with the manufacturing and shipping of the original medals, we opted to have a new medal made. That medal is currently in production and is scheduled to be delivered to our office on December 3. Depending what time they arrive on the 3rd, we will mail them out either the same day or the following business day.

If you have moved since the race, please make sure you email us your new address.

We realize that for many of you the Florida Challenge Triathlon may not have been the quality of race you have come to expect from Sommer Sports. While some problems were caused by issues outside of our control, others were not. I would like to offer my sincere apology to those of you who were dissapointed. We take these issues seriously and will work even harder in the future to make certain all of our events exceed your expectations. Our 2011 event schedule will be posted on December 1 and we hope you will return to Clermont to race in 2011.

From the entire Sommer Sport's Team, we wish you a great Thanksgiving.

Fred Sommer,
Race Director
Sommer Sports


Like I said before, I'll just wait and see what happens!  

But the most important thing that happened is I got certified as a personal trainer!



I had been thinking about this for years, and finally decided it was time to make a move!  I even have my own website:JW Fitness Solutions    I'm quite excited about this new adventure, and we'll see what happens!

I will keep racing and writing my training blog. This makes next season that much more exciting!

I see big things in 2011!!  But whatever happens, I'll give it 110%!

Thanks for reading! Till next time, peace!

Hard Core!

My season has been over for about 6 weeks now.  After taking a couple weeks off I was back to working out.  Not training, working out.  Thre's a BIG difference between the 2. Working out is just exercising just because. Training is getting ready for a specific event. It's a lot more focused and specific.

For some athletes, there's a lull after the season is over and a brief period of depression.  They work so hard and for so long to achieve a goal that they have this huge void in their life when it's all over...

I USED to go thru that, but not anymore.  The key in life is to always have something to strive for, something to look forward too.  I never liked it when I hear people who ALWAYS talk about what they USED to do years ago but never what's going on in the present.  What about now??  Wht you got lined up for the future?

Anyway, it was VERY easy to move on after this season.  My last race turned out to be anti-climactic.  Partly because it wasn't set up very well.  6 weeks later and we still don't have our medals.  At this point, I don't even WANT the medal, because the race is in my past and it's fun getting it when you cross the line and your emotions are high, NOT weeks later.  I'm still very happy I was able to finish the race and that's the most important thing and won't forget that, but I won't dwell on it.   I'm TRYING to move on, but this is the blurb on the Florida Challenge website:

Medals & T-Shirts Update 


If you did not receive a Medal or T-Shirt after you finished, our T-Shirt vendor is shipping them directly to you on the week of October 4th. If you have not received your shirt, please let us know via email. We had a manufacturing problem with the medals, and they are being re-made. We will be shipping the medals out by  Mid-November.

Blah, blah, blah. Give m a break!  Just say you don't have them and stfu!  

Enough of that.  I spent too much time on that topic. With the season over, I'm still focused on staying in shape.  Instead of the endurance aspect of it, I'm working on my strength & core.  I'm back to lifting weights a little heavier than I was during training now becaue this is my primary focus.  I feel like 2 different people:  a weightlifter in the winner & an endurance athlete in the summer!  lol

My routine stays pretty much the same, except I use heavier weight now.  I still swim, bike, and run, but I cut back a bit on the mileage & intensity.  It's primarily a cardio thing to support my lifting.  

So I cut back on triahlon stuff, but I really pick up the pace on the yoga and working my core.  The yoga is GREAT for me.  I know many people don't like it, but they really should give it a try.  I was telling some co-workers about it, and we started doing little 5 minute yoga routines every morning with me leading the "class."  There are about 10 of us, and 6 regulars.  We've been doing it for 2 months now and they're still going strong!  lol

Not only do I take my yoga to the next level, but I've really started focusing on my core.  I've done a lot of research on core workouts and the core in general and know this is an aspect of my training that I can improve on.  The core is probably the most important part of your body because it's your center.  Without a strong core, a person will have back problems and their athletic performance can suffer.  Everything we do starts with our core.  Every movement takes some type of core muscles.  Even laughing and talking trash! lol

I always did basic ab exercises like crunches & leg raises, but now I'm trying new exercises and routines that hit my core from all angles.  Here's a routine I did last night.  I do these (and other exercises before & after my weight training sessions.  Takes about 15 minutes:

Bicycle: 50 reps These work your side abs, uppers and lower abs.






V-Up 20 reps My legs should be straighter, but obviously they are NOT...lol These work your upper & lower abs







Plank with leg raises 15 reps Great stabalizing exercise.

(my back should be straight.  I need to work on that!)
I increase the time held up with each rep.  at the 5th rep I hold my leg up for 5 second, 10th rep, 10 seconds, 15th rep 15 seconds








Side splitter 10 reps
That's not the official name of this exercise, but when you bring your legs down to the side, it feels like your side is about to rip!!   These are VERY hard. It'll be a while before i ca get the hang of these.







Power Boat w/twist 20 reps

Kinda hard to see on these pics, but  my feet are off the ground, and I'm trying to keep my balance as I touch the ground to my left, then my right with my hands. The movement is slow & controlled. No momentum is used.  These work your lower & side abs and BURN!!








30 reps, 15 each hand while holding 5-8 pounds
Not sure what you call this, but I saw this in a mag & thought it was pretty cool. 





I do others also when I'm at the gym because they have the equipment, but these are my personal favs and can do them anywhere.  

I honestly haven't seen any appearance changes in my abs.  (I still have a sold 4 pack.)   I haven't had a 6 pack since the 80's and I doubt I get one now!  lol  Not many guys in their 40's who have an addiction to Double Quarter Pounders, peanut M&M's, Reesie Cups, Long island iced teas and chocolate cake have 6 packs! lol

Hey, I'm just keeping it real...lol

With that said, I will TRY watch what I eat!  But at the same time, I WILL put in some serious core work this winter!

We'll see how it goes!  

Thanks for reading!  Till next time, Peace!