Heat and Humidity, oh my

Today is another scorcher in Kansas City! High 90's and nasty humidity. For those of us working on a holiday weekend (me), thank goodness for the AC!

And yes, I'm working today.  Contracts wait for no holiday.  That's ok.  Em is working most of this weekend (hopefully not tomorrow) so I'm hoping to get a lot done so I can relax Sunday and Monday.  You know... actually take a day off from work on a holiday!  Novel concept, huh?

I can only imagine what the heat's going to be like for the NF KC Endurance Challenge Marathon.  Uh...

This will be a short post cause I need to get back to it!

EVERYMAN TRI
Check out my self challenge to get the BIKE leg back under control.  I've picked up some more drills and working on some other strength drills to get the legs back into riding shape.  No more missed biking days.  Whether ist's on the road or on the trainer, no bike workout will be missed!

SPORTS
Tour de France!  I'm actually into still without Lance in there.  Now, am I willing to drag out of bed to watch it live?  No.  Will I DVR it, I'll try.  I'm sure Versus will be running the day before none stop so that's where I will be tonight with the AC!

PREVIEW
This weekend I will be getting a contest post together to give out 1 free entry into the NF KC Endurance Race to any distance of your choosing!  Anyone submitting an entry will also get a goodie as well!  WIN WIN! Stay tuned!
SALES

Save up to 40% off at the OnlineShoes.com 4th of July Sale Event! Shop our huge selection of summer styles. Hurry, offer ends Monday!

Macca Gets His Book On

If you read my post yesterday, you know that Chris McCormack has a book coming out and I was lucky enough to get a crack at reading it before it hit the stands.  That was the good news and the bad news was my USB external drive crapped out, but I digress.

If you have followed the sport at all and you're not living under a triathlon rock, you know that Macca has won the Ironman World Championship in Kona twice.  His latest was a surprise victory last year as most were not picking him to contend at all.

Check out my take on EverymanTri on how I cracked the book open at a low point and it helped pick me up and gave me some determination not to crawl under a rock with so much going on at home, work and life.

You can pre-order it now and it will ship first thing next Monday.  See below for the amazon pre-order link.



On the losing data front, I have decided to go with Garmin connect for tracking my training since I eliminate duplicate entry and you can download the data to adjust how you want.  Anyone else stick solely with Garmin?

And, has anyone heard of Mint for financial tracking?  They have a free online service and you can add your checking, savings, credit cards, student loans and more.  Just trying to find ways to lose the spreadsheet lifestyle.

90 degrees!

It's suppose to be 90 degrees here in Kansas City tomorrow!  90!!!!!!!!!!!  Hold on Mother Nature... lets not skip spring and slam into summer so fast!

Hoping for some riding and running this weekend with yard work mixed in.  90's on Saturday and storms on Sunday.  Should be interesting!


TRAINING
Thanks for all the well wishes about the ear!  Good news is that the ENT said I was fine to swim with ear plugs (I wear them anyway for my ear issues) and that ear infections have nothing to do with swimmer's ear (which I didn't have).  Somehow I got a virus that landed in my ear canal.  No damage, just plugged up and it should go away in a few more days.  Whew.

SO on to the pool this morning!  For some reason I was feeling a little unsettled in my stomach hitting the treadmill and thought I was going to have to call it early but that subsided for an epic 2000 yard swim.  Sadly I could tell I haven't been in the pool for a week.  It was like swimming in caramel like the snickers commercial.  But, I'm back in there.

We shall see what the weekend brings for weather and workouts!


EXAMINER
Latest about Grease Monkey Wipes.  It's similar to my review on the blog but has a little more info about the company.
Also, more Kansas City Events!


EVERYMANTRI
Wrote an article on my take about getting a coach.  If I had the money, I would probably entertain it, but I think I do pretty good at picking stuff up off the net and from experience, so I'm all good at the moment.  Now, if I try for an IM or try to Kona qualify, that may be something different but that's a ways down the line.


HOME
Both kids down with some nasty viruses so we may be chillin at home with Cars, Over the Hedge, Toy Story and Shrek all weekend in addition to yard work and training if they fit in.  Poor guys.  Wee Man is a mess and I have yet to see R2 today but heard she is feelin it.  Sad.

Tuesday Already

Time flies when you are having fun, right?  Something like that.

Let me digress from Triathlon and touch on last night's KU basketball vomit on the court.

Time flies when you watch KU basketball get it's rump handed to it.  That was nasty.  KU just had no interior offense, defense or rebounding.  Basically they didn't show up.  Don't take anything away from K-State, they came to play, finally.  K-State needed a win to keep NCAA tourney hopes alive and beating KU ranked #1 in the country will probably help.

To sum it up, K-State played over their heads and KU underperformed, again.  All the talent in the world can't make up for "want to".  Coach Ryan would have benched the starters for KU and played the bench or anyone from the stands that would have given 100% instead of half ass 65%.

K-State needed to make the game ugly and they did.  Bumped KU on defense, hip bumped defenders off the ball handler on offense.  They disrupted the KU flow and Pullen played out of his mind.  Morris twins, Morningstar, Selby... hello, any KU players want to play?


TRAINING
Last week I wrapped up with:
Biking : 50 miles
Running : 15.25 miles
Swimming : 7000 yards

Thanks to the wife in working with the schedule so I could get an outside run in the 50 degree temps last Sunday!

Forecast of 60+ this week, hoping to get a lunch ride in!

I also kicked off this morning by hitting a 5 hr energy when the alarm went off in hopes of avoiding snooze for an hour.  It worked.  Up after 2nd snooze and I didn't feel any adverse affects while running or swimming.  Need to check ingredients to see if any are "banned" substances...  I don't feel like it gave me a performance boost, just kept me awake and alert.


EVERYMAN TRI
Wrote the latest article about my take on recovery drinks.  Beer bad, recovery drinks good.  =)

Let it Snow?

NO MORE!

I used to like the white stuff (SNOW PEOPLE) but it's gone way too far now.  Eight inches of powder may be good for the slopes in Colorado, but they suck to shovel in Kansas!  God bless the plow drivers but man that stuff they plow up at the end of the driveway is DENSE and HEAVY!


TRAINING
Mostly snow shoveling.  Hoping to get a good treadmill workout tomorrow morning.  Been hectic at home so not sure where I can fit the pool in this week, yikes.

My best friend was my cold weather cycling gloves and the hand warmers I had in the closet.  COLD doesn't begin to describe it.  Definitely ready for spring.

How do you peeps up north do it!?  Maybe you have snow blowers and snow fences....?

I know these last two are dark... and since I was shoveling at 5am, that's the way I want to remember it... not being able to tell what really happened.

EVERYMAN TRI
I found a guy writing a blog that runs triathlons and he completed the P90X program!  I'm curious how he will fair and if he thinks the program benefited his triathlon endeavours.  ps - I didn't pick the story pictures.... =)


EXAMINER
For anyone in the KC area running the Oz race in Olathe in April, sign up asap to get an early bird discount!
Groundhog run review from last Sunday.

SNOW DAY

So here in KC we are getting covered (not really "hit", as it's a light fluffy easy going snowfall) with a nice wintry snow.  Not really blizzard conditions but constant snowfall today with temps in the 20's and wind chill in the teens to single digits.

So, no riding outside this week and running outside probably won't happen either.  Thanks to my cold last week I developed an ear infection to go along with an eye infection.  Technically they were not diagnosed as an ear infection and pink-eye, but they were close enough to warrant antibiotics.

COWORKERS are safe!  24+ hours and you are not contagious if you have pink-eye.

So no outside and more than likely no swimming this week.  I may shoot for Friday getting the pool but I won't hold my breathe... except in the pool... swimming humor.


TRAINING
Last week
Biking - 45 miles
Running - 13.5 miles
Swimming - 6000 yards
6.9 hours total

Not sure how this week will play out.  I skipped this morning to make up for coughing all last night and tonight will be spent shoveling the driveway.  At least I'll get some strength and cardio there, right?  That counts??

Need to start ramping up the training for the KS IM 70.3 in June.  No swimming this week doesn't help but what can you do.  I'll try and get some lifts in that mimic swim movements.  Ben Greenfield who also writes for EverymanTri has this article for non-water swimming workouts.


FALKEETRIATHLON
Added Fluid Recovery Nutrition to the collection of sponsors!  They offer quality products for recovery drinks that are very important after a taxing workout.

Overall I'm pretty pumped how Falkee Triathlon is taking off.  Right now I'm up to my eyeballs figuring out who to get on board as far as athletes go.  60+ people submitted their info and I think I can now sit down and get the list squared away.


CHIEFS
Really?  WTF?  The second half was just gross.  Luckily I had Liam to smile, drool and laugh at me to entertain me.


KU BASKETBALL
15-0 into Big 12 (Little 10 next year?) play.  They didn't look great but they got the win.  They remind me so much of last year.  Think they can just turn it on and win any game.  Second round early exit this year????  Hope not.

Why Must I be Sick, AGAIN!?

Hello cold bug, nice to meet you again this winter!

I guess I shouldn't complain after having the flu over Christmas.  No yarfing, but stopped up and can't breathe.  Slept HORRIBLE and poor Liam has it and it gave him an ear infection on top of all the other junk he deals with!


TRAINING
I ditched this morning's run to lay around in bed and feel miserable.  I'm hoping to medicate tonight to sleep to get a run in tomorrow morning and ride over lunch since the forecast is mid 40's.  HEAT WAVE!

I may post my graphs I made from my training log.  I added a plan and actual curve (I'm a planning numbers guy in the day job).  Triathlon geekery to the max.


EXAMINER
For those around Kansas City, some local events


EVERYMANTRI
Other events that are 140.6 miles besides IM Branded.


CHIEFS
Chiefs vs Ravens this Sunday!  First playoff game since 2006.  First home playoff game since 2003.  I'm torn.  Been a Chiefs fan since 1993 and suffered losing the AFC title game to the Bills, seen the highs of Derrick Thomas and Joe Montana, suffered 2-14 seasons.... and now we "are back".  One year can be a fluke.  2 years is a trend.  3 years is a tradition.  I'm just happy they topped 8-8 and are NOT playing the dang Colts in the playoffs!  Go Chieps!

Oh the anticipation!

NEWSLETTER COMING OUT TOMORROW!  Rain or shine!  Don't be left out!  VERY exciting!!  Have I captured your curiosity?  Don't miss out!  Sign up over on the right ---->

Don't be that one reader that doesn't know what's going on!  My newsletters will be unlocking the mysteries of the world!  Want to know how the earth was made?  Want to know the scientific formula for plexi-glass is?  Ok, you won't get some of that on my newsletter but you will get some good deals from my sponsors and affiliates and recap of the good stuff I produce on the blog, Examiner and EveryManTri.

Ok, now that I have that out of the way.

Liam is home as of last night.  He eats well and breathes a lot better.  He's very fussy, though.  And, in pain a lot.  Not the Oxycontin pain, but need something stronger than baby Tylenol pain.  Hopefully we find a fix for him so we can sleep (by we I mean Emily since she tends to him to let me sleep/train/do what I need to during the week to watch the kiddos all weekend).

Now... if I can just get to those Christmas letters so they don't become New Year's letters...

Hump Day

Wednesday has a new meaning for hump day.

Our 3 month old son, Liam, has been battling issues with his health ever since birth.  This has culminated in a double whammy surgery today to knock out two issues.  We tried using medications and other means to control his issues, but he proved that he wasn't going with that plan.

So hopefully today is his hump day and it's smooth sailing after today.  He went through the procedures with no problems and we await to see how recovery will go at the hospital and at home.


TRAINING
With family issues going on, I've been limiting myself to mornings only on the treadmill or trainer, saving lunches and after work for hospital visits and tending to the family.

If I was better about getting up on time, I'd have more done in the week.  =)  Dang snooze button.  Gets me all the time and when it's 19 degrees outside, those covers are extra warm!


EXAMINER
Garmin 310XT Article
Kansas City Events



EVERYMAN TRI
Ironman Needs Revamping


FAMILY
Like I wrote above, kiddo had more surgery but the outlook is good so far!


FANTASY FOOTBALL
Yahoo League 1 - Went 6-7, missed playoffs.... Peyton did not pay off.
Yahoo League 2 - Went 9-3, 3 seed in playoffs.
CBS League - Went 7-6, 4 seed in playoffs.
Big weekend coming up!


That's all for now, short and sweet.  Need to get back to the family.  Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers, they have done the trick thus far!  Keep em coming!

Friday is the New Sunday

You know that feeling on Sunday?  The feeling that ya, today is a day off, but you know Monday is coming and you get to go back to work the next day?  That's what my Friday's have turned into.

Let me explain.  Emily has been working a lot of weekends as of late and I'm on dad patrol of a 2 month old and a 2 year old Satudays and Sundays.  Those with kids know that they are a full time job, especially if it's one parent to two kids.  So I have the day job, and the weekend job.  ;0)  Like most stay at home moms say, "I work full time and don't get paid".

While I love my kids and don't take for granted my wife watching them during the week, that's a tall order for a OCD gotta get stuff done person like myself.  Most of my to-do's probably aren't life or death, but my personality is such that I like to check things off the list.

Two kids are full time action.  But you could also say I'm lucky to get the one on one time I do.  Just wish I had a little more sleep to work with.  =o)

Wake up, eat, poop, finish eating, burp, sit around for 10 minutes, fuss, cry, hold him, sleep for 20 minutes, wake up and repeat... and that's just me!  What?


TRAINING
Cycling - 32 miles so far
Running - 8.5 miles so far
Swimming - 6500 yards
Hoping for a trainer ride tonight before bed time and a long run tomorrow.  We shall see if that happens as planned.  =)


EXAMINER
Kansas City Events Early Bird Pricing
Kansas City Santa Run
Running at Night Tips Part 1
Running at Night Tips Part 2


EVERYMAN TRI
Get Faster On The Bike - Weight vs Gear


FALKEE TRIATHLON
Added Smartmount as a new sponsor on Falkee Triathlon!

I also ordered my first shipment of Grease Monkey Wipes!  I'm excited to get them in and try them out on my nasty garage and dirty bikes!

FAMILY

So far so good on the home front.  Liam had an appointment yesterday and we are looking at options that include surgery for his reflux problems.  I'm not a fan of more surgeries so we have a consult next Tuesday to find out more info.  Hopefully we can get a good direction to go.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!  Also, don't miss out on the email newsletter sign up and get your 24% off code for Champs Sports!  If you tweet at me on twitter "I want some good stuff from XTERRA" I'll shoot you a code for 25% off XTERRA running shoes!

What vacation?

So with the wife working 3 of the 4 holiday weekend days, I was on kid patrol for 3 days I had off.  So, in reality I didn't get those days off.  So no training, nothing done around the house... other than dirty diapers, potty training, feedings, and food preparation.  I did get a break Sunday when some family watched them for a couple hours... but that only got me enough time to pay the bills.  Woo hoo!


TRAINING
Right now it's a squeeze to get it in.  With Emily working a lot of weekends, I have to get the long rides and runs during the week.  Week nights I mostly head home and help with kid duty, and lunch isn't enough time for a long workout, and that leaves the morning.  Add in some COLD temps lately and nothing but darkness, and it's a tough call.

Got in close to 7 hours last week.  I had to skip a medium run and do my threshold within my long run.  That went well and I actually felt a nice burn afterwards.

It's also rough moving indoor for trainer rides.  Hopefully this week will give me some lunches in the 50's for outside rides!

35 miles riding
13.35 miles running
4000 yards swimming
95 minutes weight lifting

Kind of off my goal but you take what you can get with a new baby!


EXAMINER
Early Bird Pricing for Some KC Events


EVERYMAN TRI
Running At Night Run-Ins - Lack of Holiday Cheer
Top 10 Night Running Tips


FALKEE TRIATHLON
Adding some more sponsors!  Stay tuned for details on them and I got a great response from Slowtwitch from athletes wanting to join up!  The ball is rolling!


FAMILY
Liam is doing good.  He has been at home for more than a week and we intend to keep it that way unless he gets worse.  He's not where we want him to be but he only needs meds and no mechanical intervention.  All I have to say is when you take anyone to the hospital, watch the staff like a hawk!  I have never experienced so many nurses and doctors bent on doing stuff you ask them not to do.  We got backed into a corner to do some stuff we did not want and it made him worse.  If you can, have someone stay with the patient at all times!

Looking forward to Christmas and Santa.  Although, Riah wasn't really all that excited to see him Friday if we go.  I told Emily that we should just take her gifts back if she doesn't really care.  =)


FANTASY FOOTBALL
Another 3-0 weekend!
I'm now 8-4, 6-6, 7-5.  I'm clinched in the playoffs in one league, fringe for the 6-6 and need to get one more win for the 7-5.

The key I have found is staying on top of free agents.  My drafted players have tanked for the most part and the randoms I have added here and there have carried me.  Peyton Hillis for your Browns peeps is the man!  Carrying me in two leagues.

I also use the yahoo player analysis to judge my starters.  I'd say 75% yahoo and 25% feel for deciding who to play.  Works so far!

Rolling into the Holidays!

So does everyone notice the earlier and earlier start of Christmas?  Halloween is an afterthought these days.  September marked the appearance of Christmas decorations at my local Target store.  2 weeks ago people on my street started putting up lights... and turning them on at night.  Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet!?  Wow.  I sort of gave in.  Trying to get the lights up before we head for a cold spell, I started last night.  Half done.  Half baked... however you want to look at it.

I did head out for a sale at Toys R Us that was across the street from one of our large malls.  The traffic was insane.  Here's a phone that doesn't do it justice.  Traffic was backed up 2 miles onto the highway for the exit to the mall.  Ridiculous.  I stay online for my shopping.

TRAINING

Got in 7 hours last week.  Only got in one swim which isn't my plan.  I still would like 2 to 3 swims a week.  As usual, matters on the home front rendered me out of commission to swim over lunch.  More on that later.

And... trainer season is in full effect.  It is encouraging that my speed is up from last year.  Of course, I have been able to stay outside longer this year so I'm sure that helps with cycling legs.  Hoping to get out over a lunch this week before we hit below 20 at night around these parts.

I'm still shooting for 3 runs a week.  Short - fast tempo, medium with threshold sprints and a long slow/medium tempo run.  So far so good.  Pace is still up but the cold morning temps dip into my energy stores and take a little out of me.

EXAMINER

Thanks for Thanksgiving
Bike Crank Recall


FALKEETRIATHLON
New sponsor added!  Grease Monkey Wipes!  I'm looking forward to ordering some and trying them out at home.  If nothing else, they have a sweet logo!  50% off to FalkeeTriathlon Athletes - looking to add more athletes by the way.

To celebrate, check out their latest sale!

** NOTICE ** - I have added an email list to the right below my profile.  If you would like to get in on a monthly email newsletter or notice when a deal comes along from a sponsor or affiliate like Grease Monkey Wipes, sign up.  I create the emails so I will not litter it with links and ads (I'm not sure how many ads Bravenet puts in the email automatically).  Sign up, and you get an email from me!  How sweet is that?  More personal communication from ME!  How can you ask for more????  You can't!  Sign up!


FAMILY
Liam... oh Liam.  Back in the hospital AGAIN last Friday through Sunday.  It's hard to get a life again or have anything resembling a schedule with Liam having his issues.  We took him in for one thing and they kept him for another, making him worse.  We got him to a point they would let us go and unless it's an emergency, we are not going back.  Hospitals are good and all, but sometimes they do more harm than good.


FANTASY FOOTBALL
Peyton Manning showed up!  Thanks to the Patriots for pasting 21 on the Colts early to make them stop running.

I went 3-0 for the weekend for all of my leagues and two I'm sitting good for the playoffs.  One of my yahoo leagues I'm going to need to keep winning and I'll need some help to make the playoffs.  At least it pays for high score for the week that I have won a few times, almost covering entry fee.

Stay tuned for a review of The-Regimen!

Another Week, Another Hospital Stay

So my main man Liam went in yesterday for yet another surgery.  Basically same as before since the first surgery on his throat healed so well it didn't even look like he had the first one.  He came through with some swelling issues and we survived some not-so-great nursing to get him back home tonight.  Now we begin the decompression of the extra fluids they gave him for surgery to boost his pressures under sedation and makes him look like a Macy's T-day float!

TRAINING
I've moved indoors.  Bleh.  I'm not a trainer ride person.  But, seeing that I was manning the home front while Emily was manning the hospital, any workouts had to be at home on the trainer.  So spin away I did...  wooo hooo.  They only thing I can say was that I was surprised to see my averages.  I was at 18.5 mph Tuesday and 19.1 mph this morning.  Last year was a struggle to keep 18.  Of course I'm living without the Garmin so I had to scrounge up a bike computer from the garage.  It worked for the most part but I'm not sure if it was set up right for my wheel size.

OH, side note, the spoke with the magnet was LOOSE!  I've never witnessed that.  MAKE SURE YOU TIGHTEN YOUR SPOKES!  I hate to think I was out there on a loose spoke.  Break one of those and you are looking at some rim problems.

We shall see about getting some riding in this weekend when it's 66 degrees outside.  SaaaaaWeeet!

EXAMINER
KC events this weekend
Illness take you out of your race? - Nothing against Chrissie Wellington dropping out of Kona from illness, but would you?  Do you skip races to get better?


EVERYMANTRI.COM
Illness Article with Chrissie Wellington


FAMILY
Just what I mentioned above.  Liam is heading home so hopefully this is of the end of his problems.  Probably not but we can hope!


FANTASY FOOTBALL
Pulled a couple wins out last weekend that I didn't think I would get.
Fred Jackson helped me out in both wins.  Peyton... did not help me.  He needs to pick it up.

Overall 16-14

Yahoo league 1 : 7-3 : I'm starting to pull away but they are close calls.  I have Phillip Rivers and he was on a bye last week but Hines Ward went down and some other randoms produced like 1 or 2 points.  Thank you Fred Jackson!

Yahoo league 2 : 4-6 : It's time to start flushing... Peyton manning is killing me.  My team performs well but I need 20 points, not 7.

CBS league : 5-5 : Still alive.  Won by two points last weekend.  Hines Ward hurt me here, too.  Not to mention Peyton Manning.

Is it Friday yet?

This has been the longest week.  Maybe it's the kids getting up at all hours, maybe it's daylight savings time, maybe it's trying to fit a full week of training into 5 days... or maybe it's just a long week??


TRAINING
I actually got up to get 27 miles in on the bike this morning.  This could be the end of temps being acceptable (above 40) enough to ride during the morning.  I tried working some sprints on a road I know well so speeding in the dark wouldn't be as daunting.  It was a little depressed to see the average speed was sad and slow.  If I didn't know better, I'd say I have lost some speed, which sucks.  Maybe it's working out in the cold, maybe it's being tired.

It's always interesting to look at the Garmin mapping to look at the sprint sections.  You can see my one street I rode and the speed up for sprint and slow down for recovery back to the other end.

EXAMINER.COM
Kansas City Events This Weekend


EVERYMANTRI.COM
Endurance Athletes : Get Organized and Get Fast


FALKEE TRIATHLON
In addition to adding sponsors, I have added a new athlete!  Welcome Gregg Pellicone from Indy.  Check out his blog at www.conepile.blogspot.com!

I am looking to add more athletes and sponsors by the end of the year!  If you know anyone interested than pass the info along!

Also, here's me with the Monk Pak!  Stupendous, right?

FAMILY
Seems the consensus on the toddler that refuses to sleep all night is to tough it out.  No one had a miracle cure.  Thanks for all of the responses.  Sadly, they all were the same answer.  Time.  Argh.

Little man is on soy milk now.  He seems to be doing better and hopefully the little ear infection and lung virus the Dr said he might have won't give him much trouble.  He can't win for losing.  At least we are another week without a hospital visit!  And, he's officially 1 month old.  Feels like he should be 21 which how much we have crammed in with him.


FANTASY FOOTBALL
For those of you keeping score, I'm 14-13 after 9 weeks.

YAHOO League 1 : 6-3 Had a good showing from C Bensen from the Bungels and got me a nice win.  San Diego's Rivers is on a bye so I'm stretching with starting Vince Young.  Throw the ball to Randy Moss early and often!

YAHOO League 2 : 4-5 I managed to eek out a win and stay first in my division with a losing record.  That's probably the only way I will make the playoffs... if my division keeps sucking!

CBS : 4-5  Not going good.  Another lousy week.  I need some running backs and Shonne Green has been a bust with the Jets!  C'mon man!

If there's enough interest, I might start up a Blogger / Twitter league for online bragging rights.  You can never play too much FFB!!!

Wednesday Hump Day

Some weeks just seem to grind and blend into all of the other weeks.  Non-sleeping kids on the home front also add to the GRIND part of that.

TRAINING
Getting it done.  I'm adding more speed work (threshold runs, swim sprints) to get faster during the non-race season.  I don't call it off-season because I realized 2 years ago if you have an "off-season" and just putz around and you want to have goals that surpass last year, you need to be running, swimming and biking year round.  I have an Examiner article below where I spoke on that a little bit.

I've been cramming lunch rides in to take advantage of the weather around here.  It's not too long before we'll be looking at 20's for the high so when it's 70's in mid-November, I'm out there when I can be!

The wife is also working this weekend so I can't really get any distance in this weekend to I'm trying to get it all in during the week and use the weekend for recovery.  I'll let you know how that goes.  =)

EXAMINER
Article on Active.com take on speed training.
Edison Pena (trapped Chilean Miner) finishes NYC Marathon, barely.

EVERYMANTRI.COM
Edison Pena finishes NYC Marathon

FALKEE TRIATHLON
New Sponsor!  Rudy Project has been added to the list!  Some athletes have shown interest in joining so get in while the getting is good!



FAMILY
Liam is still hospital free.  He went in to the ENT and they think MAYBE he will need another surgery for his throat.  We are trying some different formulas and inhalers to avoid that, but at this point it would not surprise me.  That boy loves the hospital gig.

And now kiddo #1 is waking up non-stop at night.  She was up from 1am to 3am and I cover her while Mom covers Liam.  She used to sleep all night with no problem and now needs the door open and a hallway bathroom light on.  Anyone else have this problem?  Solutions?



FRRRRRRIIIIIIIDDDDDAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Always like a Friday, unless I have to work on the weekend.  =\

TRAINING
Having a 2 year old and an infant make it difficult to balance training.  Just ask my wife.  Many o discussions about how to work it out.  I'm utilizing my lunches more because
1.  Work schedule isn't CRAMMED so I can come in earlier and get it on over lunch
2.  It's getting too cold to try and ride a bike outside without sunlight
3.  It's way too hard to get out of bed to work out in the AM.
Maybe when daylight savings hits I can get some sunlight going and get moving.

Trying to get some speed work in the pool to add to my endurance developed over this season.  It's not very comfortable but you know what they say, you can't get faster unless you train faster.


EXAMINER ARTICLES
Chilean Miner Runs NYC Marathon, Will he Bonk?
Evolution of Social Media Gives Us a Way to Keep WTC in Check
Kansas City Events This Weekend
IM 70.3 Events Open Up & Midwest Tri Series Dates


EVERYMANTRI.COM ARTICLES
The power of social media shakes Ironman to the core
How to protect one of the least appreciated, but most important racing tools you own


PRODUCT REVIEW
Monk Pak review coming soon!  Need to snap some quality pics and post will be coming asap!

FANTASY FOOTBALL
I don't know what happened but one league I only scored 22 points before MNF.  Peyton Manning got me 21+ but that wasn't enough to catch the guys I played as he only scored 48 points.  LAME.

Yahoo League 1 : I'm 3-5, sad record but first place in my division!  One division with 4 teams all at 3-5.  How lucky is that!?  Just traded for Randy Moss so hopefully he likes the lunch at the Titans place!

Yahoo League 2 : I'm 5-3.  By far the best performance and I need to keep it up.

CBS League :  I'm 4-4.  I was looking good at 4-2 but I'm slipping.  Joseph Addia is killing me sitting on the bench with his neck injury.  Tough it out and get out there!  =)

WEEKEND

Celebrating 3 years with the wife!  To think, 3 years and we are both still sane and we are keeping our kids alive!  Would have never thunk it.  Anniversary is later but she is working that weekend so we are celebrating now.  Dumping the kids off and doing something without them.  HOLY COW!  I don't think we have spent any time with each other since Liam was born about 8 weeks ago!  Should be fun.

 

 

CHARITY / CHALLENGE

A while back I introduced the CHALLENGE.  The end of October has come and gone and I need to go back and see where it sits.  It's not earth shattering but should be a decent donation to someone's cause.  Since it didn't reach the levels that would make it worth my time to divide it up, I'm going to draw a charity at random and donate the percentage of what I earned.  Stay tuned for the results.

 

 

Have a good weekend!

Monday Funday

While I'm at work, it's hard to resist the spoils of a night out with the kiddos pilfering candy!  My wife sorted out the candy "we didn't like as much" and put it into a Wal Mart bag for me to take to work and put by the coffee pot to get rid of.  Problem is, I keep going by it to the copier and a bag of skittles will just jump into my pocket and into my mouth at my desk.  I just can't stop... darn sweet tooth!

I try and keep sweets out of my desk and away from me at home so I'm not too worried about the Halloween candy.  It's just so good when it hit yours lips...

TRAINING

Managed 8 hours.  Miles total wasn't impressive but like I said, it's not about miles right now.  I did get a Regimen workout in Saturday while Emily was at work.  It's a good program as it showed my weakness... I'm not limber or as flexible as I should be.  I look forward to trying more sessions and writing up a review.  Riah likes it as well as it mirrors some yoga poses she does at daycare.  We "worked out" together.  Good stuff.  And holy frozen monkey feet it was a cold ride Sunday.  I don't know what's worse, trainer rides or freezing to death on the road.  Chris had a comment for some products to keep you warm that I need to look into.  Need to stay with the program getting morning workouts in!

EXAMINER ARTICLES

Last week I posted a little survey about wearing sunglasses.  Thanks to those that sent their opinion in.  Looks like most of you/us see the importance of wearing shades while being outside.  I know I didn't see the importance until a few years ago my eye dr said "looks like you have some sun spots on your cornea".  Makes you stop and take notice.

Save Your Eyes, Get Some Sunglasses!

EVERYMANTRI ARTICLES

How to protect one of the least appreciated, but most important racing tools you own


FALKEE TRIATHLON
Monk Paks are in and I'll be reviewing asap!


FAMILY / HOME
HALLOWEEN!  We headed out, did some family stuff and by the time we got out going house to house it was a little cold and windy, and 7pm.  Bedtime for the 2 year old is 8... she got tired quick.  At first she was painfully shy.  3 houses in it was "can we get more candy!?"  10 houses in it was "more candy!"  After 45 minutes she was asking to go home.  =)  I think we made out pretty good since we had our candy we bought (and were not home to hand out), and candy from the family and trick-or-treat candy.

I'll leave you with the scariest costume ever... Liam the skeleton.

Sunglasses

Take a second to let me know if you wear sunglasses while training outdoors!

SURVEY

Thanks!

WTC here today, rescinded tomorrow...

I'm sure everyone has heard about the IM Access program's launch, and immediate recall a day later.  What a PR gaff.  By no means am I a WTC hater, but after my son's birth complication and lack of compassion from IM Branson organizers, I'm not a huge fan.

They are a business and make no mistake, they want to make money.  But $1000.00 IM access mainly to be able to register early?  Really?  I think not.  Now, if they would have come out and knocked off a 0, for $100.00 they would have sold out probably 1000 spots in 10 minutes.

That being said I will still run some of their events next year.  I'll be first to admit they organize a good event but they have the big business bottom line mentality when push comes to shove.



TRAINING
It's been hard to keep on the training band wagon with a newborn.  He was BACK at the hospital for some tests yesterday, but he was just a little swollen from his surgery last week and may have a little bug.  Plus we are switching him to formula and bottles only so he has been GRUMPY!  Up ALL OF THE TIME.  Fussing, not a happy camper.  Luckily he did not get to stay over night.  So... Emily gets up a LOT!  She's been great trying to cover kids at night so I can function at work during the week but holy cow!  I still wake up with him crying, and now the 2 year old might be sicko... no sleep = little motivation and less time to train.  Attempting an 8 miler over lunch today.

I did at least get a ride in last night.  20 miles and the toes were frozen.  I wear those shoe covers, but after 20 miles in 40 degrees... it didn't matter.  Anyone have suggestions for feet super warm covers?

As I do more weights, the miles per week are tanking even though my time is staying up.  Just something you have to live with while building up the strength base again.  I think it's very important to lift weights (wish I did more "in-season").  It helps strengthen around your joints to protect against all of that pavement slapping for running.

EXAMINER.COM
Swimmer Francis Crippen Death - Take by a local KC Masters Swimmer
Ironman Access Program
Kansas City Events This Weekend
Seat Post Recall



EVERYMANTRI.COM
Is Ironman Access the straw that broke the IM camels back?
Four easy steps for busy people to live the triathlon lifestyle



FALKEETRIATHLON


SPONSORS are starting to come in!
Welcome Monk Pak and Thoroughly Kneaded Muscle Therapy!  Keep an eye out for special offers for my blog peeps as well as Falkee Triathlon athletes.

I am looking to add athletes.  Mostly it would involve wearing a pre and post race t-shirt with logos and temp tattoos with their logos and web address.  Hit the EMAIL me button to the right (falkeetriathlon@hotmail.com) and let me know if you want to know more.







I also got some new swim jammers!  It was much needed as the old ones were becoming see through and I would venture a guess that if I don't like seeing old guys air dry in the locker room, people working out don't want to see my butt through the window to the pool.  Check em out, I thought they looked pretty sweet and are low priced for the off-season!  I got the black and green.

Survey

I'm looking for some feedback for a future article.

How many of you train AND race with headphones/music?

http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=49aa8a71-333a-41f2-9410-9abc9cc57d9f

Click the link and submit your tendency.  Stay tuned for article coming discussing the results.

Thanks!