In the fall of 2010 I took a job with Spruce Pine Main Street in the really awesome small town of Spruce Pine. I spent more time in the car commuting than I had in the last 10 years combined. I went from a 2 hour a day work out and 4.5 mile bicycle commute to a 2 hour round trip by car. I killed my car along the way, developed serious back issues, and went from 150 pounds of pure muscle to 160 pounds of pure fat. Well, maybe a bit of an exaggeration. I did not seem that fat, just really out of shape. I had a very hard time finding opportunities to stay in good condition. I was accustomed to swimming 3 to 6 miles a week, running 9 miles, and biking around 100 miles a week. I had it made when it came to a fit lifestyle. To top off my declining physical condition I had fallen down our basement stairs on Father’s Day weekend bruising my elbow bone, spraining my ankle, and bruising the bone too. I was out for months. No running, no biking, nothing.
With the new job and new situation we were able to move closer to my work and Bridget got her dream job at the Arthur Morgan School. It was late summer and I was able to starting riding my bike. I was able to get a few commutes in to work. about 30 miles round trip. Then the weather shifted a bit, the kids started school, and I was back to finding it hard to get solid workouts in.
I get to ride a good 20 to 30 mile ride with my bro Yuri Koslen at least every other weekend. That has been great, but his performance has improved and mine has fallen. He is beating me on every climb. I was able to run a few days a week and splitting wood was helping. Thanksgiving came and went. Winter barring down on me I was feeling desperate that I need to do something. I need a goal. Something to get me going.
Yuri has talked me in to competing in the Bath County Triathlon in VA this June. I have decided to take him up on it and raise him 2 Century rides and a hill climb. So here is my goal. Finish the triathlon and beat Yuri and Matt Raker (our other riding partner). I also want to compete in this years Town Mountain Hill Climb with a 23 min finish. The Hotdoggett and Roan Moan are on my list for Centuries that I would like to complete in under 6.5 hours. Gearing up for the Tri I would like to swim the 750 in 15 min, bike the 20k in 32 min, and run the 3k in under 24 min, while keeping my transitions under 45 seconds. If I reach this goal I could even place in the top 10.
Now I have to just get some rest, eat right, run, bike, find a place to swim, and drop 10 pounds. Oh yeah…work and family. Good luck in 2012.
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