Running Man jscmorrow

Saturday was a nice workout with a rugby game with some old friends. We played the “Murray Alumni game” picking teams between the alumni and that year’s varsity team.

Today was the much anticipated “Buffalo Duathlon” and man was I anxious! I will start the report with the “Race Day Eve” events. The day before the race I was very, very antzy. We went out to the island the race was being held on and I was pretty surprised. The race website was describing the terrain as flat, so I thought ok, it is flat. Well, we went out to the island and it was not! That was ok, it helped me to better prepare my mind. After the race we went and picked up m race packet and shirt. I was worried I wasn’t going to get sleep (Luckily I got some!).

The next day came quickly. I wanted to be to the race when the participants could at 6:30 am. So, my caring and loving wife, who can’t get up to save herself, worked herself up and was ready to go early for me. We got to the race and I was a ball of energy, walking around and anticipating the start. There were set-up issues so the race which was supposed to start at 8:00 am didn’t get going until about 8:30-8:45. They gave us the racing rules (which were USAT rules: United States Triathlon). The groups were off. During the first part of the morning there wasn’t wind, but it did pick up for the race. I started at right about 8:45. I shot off and was worried about passing and things like that as I had never raced. As I got going and saw the ease with which people let you pass and stayed aside if they were slower, I got more comfortable on the ride. The ride was very scenic on an island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. As I was going, the head wind created a drag I hadn’t expect, but I pushed through.

As I made my way around the loop, legs were burning at the initial onset pretty badly on the hills. That was ok, I realized later it was just some cold muscles. The loop portion of the race was about 4-5 miles I presume. Then we hit the road leading to an animal ranch on the island. There were some big hills on this, and had we not seen them the day before, I would have been discouraged, but I hit them head on. The wind as straight on us for the first big hill, which was ok, that meant it was at my back for the return! As I got closer to the turning point, I saw others doing the sprint leg heading back. I was encouraged as I could see that the turning point and knew the home stretch was upon me. On the last leg back to the transition point, I saw a buffalo not too far ahead of me charge across the road and settle right on the other side. I am not going to lie, the buffalo made me nervous. As I rode by it sat scratching its itches and smelling pretty bad. I was at the top of the hill almost, ready for the quick ride down and for the run!

I hit the transition point and made good timing with the hills and wind. The run started slow for me, my legs weren’t fully under me and I was just going slower than I wanted to. As the run portion (5k, bike was 12.9 miles) continued, I kept congratulating those that were well ahead of me and gave words of encouragement. I hit the mile 1 marker ( and looking back, it had to of seemed like more ) and the turning point of the run was not too far up the road. I hit the turning point and kept pushing along. I started picking up speed, and as with my trial run last week, I was able to run faster the more I ran (kind of counter-intuitive). The end was in sight and I turned up the speed (probably still very slow) and as I got through the finish, I was feeling great! Exercise is such a euphoric instrument for me. I finished, took off the timer, and walked over to my beautiful wife and daughter. I did it and I was happy!

I waited to see some results, and I am happy to report my name was on the first page of the leader board. My goal wasn’t to beat everyone, or to set a record; my goal was to finish and enjoy the ride.

I am happy to say I accomplished my goal!!

Now of course the title of my post is meant with some humor.  I decided to write on this topic because of a nagging injury I have, that I will probably have for life, but it is what you do with it that matters.

 In April 2004 I hurt my lower back on my job.  Through therapy and other help, my back hasn’t gotten better, but worse.  I do not write this in any way to complain, but to put perspective (mostly, if not totally for my benefit) on an injury.  Yesterday as I sat at home after leaving work, contemplating a little on if I’d ever be able to race, play sports, etc. with my back, my wife through probably unforseen wisdom, made a couple jokes about my complaining.  I guess I was talking a little too much about the pain and not being able to do anything. 

 My complaining, and I’ll be the first to admit, was too much!  So what if I have a bad back, what does that matter?  I have the blessing of at least being able to use my back.  I feel very arrogant right now that I would even complain about my injury, as there are those whose injuries far exceed mine, but don’t utter a word of complaint! 

The point of my post I guess is to hopefully help myself and others to realize things can always, always, always be worse, and attitude is the best medicine!  So if you are feeling down, injured, or whatever it may be, remember my motto: “hope for the best, then make it happen!” and just get up and do what you can.

During my workout today I contemplated on this subject a little and it comes about from the doubters.   I don’t mean to demean anyone with this post because I feel they just haven’t either: 1. experienced the joy of exercise or 2. having educated themselves enough on the subject. 

People on this board sometimes are described as compulsive, obsessed, extreme, etc…Granted, I don’t mean comments on this board say that because I feel we all are in the boat to help others succeed, I mean the every present feelings of the doubters.  I feel if they would put forth a little more effort they would see the benefits, and almost immediate benefits, of changing your life.

Instead of being a doubter today I want to say congrats to all on this board who are making the effort to change and improve their lives.  Keep it up!  Success isn’t measured instantly, it isn’t measured in dollars in this case, but it is measured by our individual effort to arrive at excellence.  Whenever you doubt yourself or others put you down, remember this quote by Dave McGillivray:

“We should live our dreams and know that people who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

I got up this morning and had a good morning run, and it is just fueling my lack of patience.  I know that is not a good thing, but my first race of the season is on May 3rd and waiting is killing me.  I know it is a good thing to wait because I can take more time off my overall, or shed a couple of unnecessary pounds, but the antzy feeling is getting bigger.  Anyone who reads this and has any suggestions, please, let me know!  That is my short little note for the day….

Oh, my wife pointed out that my exercise log isn’t update on here.  I told her I do that in another spot, and she asked why?  So maybe I will add some workouts on here, we’ll see…

The human body is an amazing thing! I went out this morning for my Saturday run and challenged myself to do a little more. As with most runs, you hit a certain point where it doesn’t seem challenging anymore during that particular run. As I was running, I actually was frustrated I had to stop to wait for the light. I felt great and wanted to keep going. This run I wanted to expand by about 1-2 miles (I haven’t marked it yet). As I got home I thought:”man, I could keep going.” I knew I needed to be home to help my wife, and to not over traing. But, the body is amazing in the way it can progress so quickly and adapt to a new lifestyle of not lifting, but being in shape. That is my exercise thought for the day….

I just got done doing a brick workout at lunch, biking/strength training, and am sitting here thinking of one of the overall best benefits (in my opinion) to exercise: our overall well-being.  I don’t mean physically, but I mean what it does to our minds and mental wellness.  I feel great right now, overall (but its me, and usually I am in a good mood).  My body isn’t aching, but is “tired” from usage and a good tired.  My mind is clear, and that is definitely a good thing in the line of work I do.  I am glad there is a site like this to share opinions, stories, etc. to help our neighbors and friends out to experience the benefits of exercise. 

So here in Utah the weather looks somewhat like winter, but should that stop a person from going outside and running?  Of course not.  I hear far too often: “the weather is horrible outside” but why should that be an excuse for anything?  I think days like this are pivotal to training as it helps your mental toughness (which in some cases needs to be refined and improved more than your physical toughness).  Regardless of the weather, I just want to say get up, get out, and get moving.  You’ll be much happier that you did v. a night or morning on a couch….

I have decided today that brick training is an excellent way to feel tired!!  I did a training today of 8 miles bike, right into 2 miles running.  My pace was up, and consequently I feel good about that, but now sitting at work I am pretty tired.  I feel like putting a pillow under my desk like George on Seinfield and napping….just is too bad.  I do enjoy brick training a lot thought , as I was able to keep a good, constant heart rate, and make the transition easier today.  The only downside, once you hop off the bike, and go right into running, it takes a minute for your feet to get under you and you probably look pretty foolish…oh well…..

I figured since the introduction created by signing up wasn’t that long, I would take time to write more.  A little about myself: I am an avid health nut from Utah, who has just gotten into Triathlon and fitness.  I used to be about weight lifting, etc., but never really about being in shape.  I have discovered how much better I feel after a good ride on the bike, or run v. after a big day of lifting.  That is my goal now, to be in shape!  I have a family now, and need to stay healthy for them!  My family history has all sorts of medical problems, but this sort of exercise helps to prevent that.  I have my first race on May 3rd, a Sprint Duathlon that I look forward to, and am glad I found this site.  I really enjoy the camaraderie that comes from this sport!  Hope that is enough, any questions you might have, feel free to hit me with them!