Catching Up

Hello everyone. Good news, I'm alive and well. I'm back to dust off the cobwebs on this old blog. A new name should help. I'm no longer "young enough...."

Sorry for the absence, but it was much needed after a rough end to my 2012 season.

But let's recap, and I'll fill you in on an already busy 2013!

2012

• 2012 was the year for injuries for me, in particular my left IT band / hip.  It made for a rough year (didn't start 4 races), but I've learned a lot from the experience.  I am now more in tune with my overall volume and fitness, especially with running. No more 30-40 mile weeks without building up to it!
• I ended my race season at the Midwest Meltdown, where I took 2nd in my Age Group (again...), but had my first 20mph bike split! I was really happy, but I am still wanting an AG win. 
• I took 2 months completely off from training, starting in late October and lasting till January of 2013.  
• Work/school has been fantastic. I'm so blessed to have innovative people around me at work to continue to inspire and motivate me.  I took one of the most challenging classes I have ever taken, a sort of advanced exercise physiology class, and now am really considering pursuing more of an exercise-based approach to my research with concussions. More on that in a later post...
• Rach and I took some big steps together at the end of the year. We added another 4-legged member to our little family. We adopted Gus around Christmas, and have had a blast getting to know him! He's a great dog, and a pretty good brother to Mr. Mad Max.

Where my dogs at?

Oh, Hi Gus!

The biggest event of the year, and probably my life, has been asking Rach to marry me, and for some reason she said yes...

Boom. Winner.

Me being completely normal during our engagement photos in Allen Fieldhouse

So 2013 has been full of wedding planning, along with training, work, school, etc. I always thought it wouldn't take long to plan a wedding. 6 weeks tops. Man, was I wrong...

2013

• This year, my number one focus has been consistency.  No more epic training sessions that totally wipe me out for the next 3 days.  Just easy progression, month to month. I've followed some of Joe Friel's methods for periodization, and have been reaping the rewards WITHOUT injury.  I've been taking it a bit easier with my run volume and intensity, but still am seeing improvement.
• This year I wanted to focus more on short course races, in the hopes of building more speed and working more on building endurance in the coming seasons (the ITU approach...).

Completely spent at Shawnee Mission Park

• I did a few 5ks in the early spring, and did okay.  Nothing crazy, but just solid improvements.  Still looking to get under 20:00.
• My first "A" (or focus) race of the year was the Kansas 5150, held at Clinton Lake.  I was hoping to qualify for the 5150 US Championships in Des Moines, but unfortunately the race was altered because of storms. The swim was cancelled, the roads appeared wet, and I didn't think the '86 Cannondale could handle the sweeping downhills on wet roads.  I ended up turning in my timing chip before the race started, and headed to my sister's graduation at KU. Naturally, the weather immediately cleared up and a great race was had by all (except me...).
• Happily, I now have a new love in my life (sorry Rach), my new BIKE!!!  After the wasted 5150 race, I went and got a Retul fit with Jeff at Elite Cycling, and was told a Cervelo P2 would be the perfect bike for me. 

It's science...

• So, Rach got it for me as my wedding gift. Even more validation that I am the luckiest person in the world to be with her... And the bike is scary fast :) 

Checking out my position in my living room...

• Rach also got herself a Specialized Dolce, and has gotten bit by the Triathlon bug! She is registered for 3 races this summer. Everyone in the F25-29 AG better watch out!

Getting frozen yogurt, I mean training.

That's about it! At least the major stuff... I just finished my first triathlon of the year, the Topeka Tinman, and will write up a race report on that soon!  Next race will be the Shawnee Mission Triathlon, where I will be going for a 2nd Place Dynasty in the short course! Already two-for-two!

And I want to trial some nice endings to my blog posts. Please let me know which ones are the best...

Only you can prevent forest fires...

mark