Mixing it up.

Hi.

Is this thing still on?

Been a while since I've been able to write here. Many reasons for that. Some I can't really get into. Others involve me being in the land of working-full-time-while-raising-two-little-bugs-and-trying-to-have-some-semblance-of-normalcy.

I promise I haven't been slacking. No, no, no. I've been mixing it up.

I remember back at Miami my two best guy friends in the world lived a dorm away from me freshman year. During finals week, we were all starting to lose our minds. We were studying and just getting crazy, and my buddy Matt started drawing all over his face with a highlighter, all Miss-Lippy-glue-scene from Billy Madison. And he looked at my buddy Jon and just said, "Jon, why am I doing this?" as he drew lines on his face with a yellow highlighter.

After Rev3, I felt like I had highlighter all over my face. See, I was kind of DONESTICKAFORKINMEFORREALZDONE after Rev3. It was a fabulous day, and I did everything I hoped for and more. But it drained me. Big time. And I knew it was time for a break, so I took one.

I'm starting--just starting--to get back in the place where I am getting excited to gear up for racing again. I have signed up for the Cleveland Marathon, and am excited to go for my super-stretch-goal there. I've got my eye on a spring half I am planning on killing. But one thing has made me kind of down.

Me = SOFT.

Clearly, the engine isn't the problem. A 16-minute PR in a 70.3 race 6 months post-bean is nothing to sneeze at, and I am very proud of it. However, I haven't been happy with the way I look. Things definitely have been MUCH harder this time around as far as getting the weight to come off. Now, granted, this time I gained more (*cough62poundscough*), and also had one at home to chase around. We've also had some pretty serious stressers the past 2 months around these parts, too. I know all of that has played a role. I can wear all my clothes, which is good. But I just haven't been happy with the way I look and I know that unless I make some changes it's just going to get worse as time passes here--I ain't no spring chicken anymore. Not to mention, it isn't going to help me in my May Quest.

(And believe me--I need all the help I can get and every millisecond on that course I can steal.)

So, for the first time since high school, really, I am getting serious about weight training. I've officially drank the P90X Kool-Aid, and let me say it IS DELICIOUS. That Tony dude is super annoying, but holy crap, does he make me work. I'm only in Week 3 and I'm not only seeing some serious progress, but results. Of course, when you pretty much COLLAPSE throughout the entire first workout, there's really only one direction you can go, right?

The plan is for me to do P90X, drop the remaining 7 pounds that are MAKING ME CRAZY, and hit January ready to go and build up the miles. I'm still swimbikerunning a bit (well, maybe just bikerun since that whole "no pool in my basement" issue is kinda tough) but it's more maintenance mode for now. I've been doing pretty well eating cleanly and have cut out most white stuff. If only I didn't have a sweet tooth, though...sigh. But I'm getting there. I feel so much healthier when I eat clean stuff, and I think it really affects my energy level.

I've also been getting up at 5am to work out almost every day. I thought it would suck. It kind of does, for about 2 minutes. But see, getting up at 5 to work out is almost like adding another hour to the day. No one is up; no one needs anything. It's just me. This was nice before the Bug and Bean were around, but it's absolutely vital now. Working full-time is what I'm destined to do, but after school I absolutely have NO desire to do anything but be with my kiddies. So, this way, I can do just that but still kick my butt. Everybody wins.

And what have we been doing? Here's a little explanation...



And I also got to do this, but it's a whole 'nuther story.

Anyways. That's about all from the crazyland over here. I'm hoping to post a bit more regularly now that things are starting to settle a bit! And I'll keep you posted on my quest to not be mushy. Boy am I glad no one can see me when I'm doing these workouts. I would be pretty entertaining, though...that's fo' sho'!

Happy Training to all!