Texas Try. . . Athelete

2005-08-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

I've really got to get out of the day-job thing.

This week, I learned someone nominated me for the 'Good Times Team.' By the way, if I ever find out who nominated me -- they're dead.

The 'Good Times Team' is in charge of work activities: happy hours, fun activities at work, etc. Of course, we're not allowed happy hours anymore because there was an 'incident.' Some people got trashed at a happy hour, and the talk became very sexual. I guess it upset some people, and well . . . there went happy hour.

We had a meeting today. The ideas people have are horrible.

The worst was this: each department create a putt-putt hole, and then as the day goes on, you can try your hand at sinking the putt. The department with the lowest score wins a prize.

I'm in hell. What in the hell is this?

On a good note, I sent off another chapter for the Photoshop book, and did a good hill session of running today at lunch. Nothing beats a meeting with the 'Good Times Team' like a rough run in the middle of the day.

2005-08-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been mixing the Body for Life program with triathlon. It's working pretty well. I'm lifting three days a week (on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Tuesdays I do some hard, interval or hills running. Thursday I do a swim workout. And Saturday's, I do a long ride.

I should take Sunday's off, but I'm training for a 1/2 marathon in September up in Dayton, Ohio. So I kind of just count Thursdays (my swim day) as a rest day. I work more on technique those days anyway, so it works out.

I'm liking the results. I'm not sure this kind of program would work for long races -- but for me and my Olympic-distance events it's just fine.

The hardest part's been the diet. For the most part -- I'm good. Until dinner. Not that I totally pig out or anything. But let's just say I could do better.

This past weekend, Niki & I took a B.A.B.I.E.S. class. I'm not sure what it stands for, but it's designed for new-to-be parents in their last trimesters of pregnancy. It talks about what to expect during the delivery, how to care for newborns afterward, and a bunch of other useful information.

It was a pretty good class -- although the thing lasted like 6 hours. During the first hour, the instructor showed a very graphic video of babies being born. The video left Niki in tears.

The instructor turned to Niki after the video finished and said, "I know, I know. It's very touching. The birth of a new baby."

"I'm not crying because it's beautiful," Niki said. "I'm crying because I'm scared to death."

I totally agree with Niki. I can't watch surgeries anyway. ER is enough to freak me out. I told Niki that we'll get her loaded up on drugs, and I won't venture onto the other side of the sheet they set up. Neither of us are doctors, nor have any desire to enter the health care industry.

We don't need to see what's going on down there. We'll leave it to the professionals. Let one's body do the work, as they say. The body knows what to do.

2005-08-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Niki was let go from her place of employment. In a way, it's great. She was planning on leaving in October anyway for maternity leave. And, it's been getting stressful and weird there (I won't name any names).

But at the same time, it makes us a little nervous. We're now a one income family, with a baby on the way. Exactly what we figured would be the case, but it's a reality now.

I'm excited. And envious. I wish I could write full-time from home. Or train full-time and have sponsor's paying my living expenses. Maybe one day. At least as far as the writing goes. I can't see myself as a professional athelete. There are 60-year olds that pass me in some of these running races and duathlon's I do.

Don't laugh, though. Some of these 60-year olds are absolutely fearsome runners!

2005-07-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's off to brunch with the 'family.' A huge buffet with more eating. And then they're all coming over to see the new house, which is in shambles. We haven't had any time to work on it the whole week.

After that, I think Niki's going back to visit while I stay here and work. I use work loosely; it's really an excuse to have some downtime to myself. I want to get a workout in; some weights and cardio maybe. I need to go grocery shopping. I want to do some writing. There are articles that are due, along with some book chapters for a Photoshop book I'm doing. And then, there's another book in the works now about digitual photography coming up. I've got to write a table of contents for that before next Monday.

I think you have to make the important things in your life become lifestyle things. Eating clean and exercising should feel like drinking water. Finding the right kind of work should feel like breathing.

You don't do these things 5 days a week from 8 to 5, and then quit in exhausting over the weekend. Neither do you spend 60 - 70+ hours doing them either.

It's nice to have every part of your day broken up equally into these pieces (at least for me): family, work (writing), health. Maybe even religion or spirituality as a fourth (I like yoga -- which I would say not only helps you physically, but mentally and spiritually).

Sorry if I sound dramatic. I think I've just had too much family in my days lately! In-laws!

2005-07-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week. My sister-in-law was married today. Niki & I have spent a week doing 'family stuff' and I'm tired of it now. I'm ready to take a break from family.

Every night we have some obligation, and it's just too much. Too much mingling, and people getting upset because they're tired, and too much eating and drinking crap, and then having to get up early because there's another whirlwind event the next day.

At the wedding today, I had to say one of those dumb, congratulation speaches into a video camera. I thought I did OK, but then the family decided we should watch it tonight. So 40 some people crowded into a room.

It was embarrasing. I looked like a geek. The camera was about two feet from my face. I was wearing glasses because Niki said they looked hip, but I looked like a toolbox. It was terrible.

I'm sick of weddings and family events and what have you. I want to be a hermit for the next couple months or so.

Niki & I are planning a trip to Ohio in September. There's the Air Force Half Marathon race. I really need to get some new shoes. The old ones I have are hurting my feet. Not good.

I'm looking forward to running that race. Endurance races are kind of cool. The fittest person rarely ever wins. It comes down to something else. Something deep within.

Which is just like life. Learning to dig deep is what life's all about.

2005-07-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Some day's, you just feel blah. You're not even sure why. You just feel that way. Today is one of those days for me.

I haven't eaten great today, which could be part of it. That, and last night I met some friends at a local 'watering hole.' I meant to only have one beer and then be off, but ended up having six.

Which is probably why I feel 'blah' today.

So I guess I feel guilty. I failed in living healthy today. And yesterday. It happens. Everyday's a struggle with choices. I made some wrong one's today and yesterday.

I'll do better tomorrow. It's all I can do.

2005-07-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

I've been studying (a little) for the NSCA Certified Personal Trainer certification. There was a test in August I planned on taking, but I don't think I'll be ready. So maybe I'll just wait until the October test. We'll see . . .

There's a lot of information, and I haven't been in school in probably a dozen years or so. Thus, reading a text book brings back all these terrible memories of why high school and college weren't the favorite times in my life (except for the part where you had the most amount of freedom with the least amount of responsibility. That was kind of nice).

Niki & I have a pretty busy day today. Just going over it in my head makes me think that I've nearly become 'suburbanized.' Which actually, is very nice, and I like it. I don't miss living in apartments with the fraternity guys above me blaring all their electronic stereo equipment (that's paid for with Best Buy credit cards). I don't miss the 2 a.m. blaring of motorcycles and hot rods as they fly through our parking lot.

I'm beginning to sound like an old, crotchety man.

Today, Niki & I are going to church with some friends. Afterwards, we're going to eat at The International House of Pancakes, and then come by and show them the new house. Of course, it's in shambles a little. I did a lot of work on it yesterday, but it's going slow.

Afterward, we'll run over the to local running shoe store. I need a new pair of sneakers for a half marathon I'm planning on running in September (the Air Force Half Marathon in Dayton. I would run the full marathon, but there's no way in hell I'll be ready for that by then). We'll then probably pick up a wedding gift for Niki's sister Amanda (she's getting married next weekend).

And then we'll come back. I'll do some writing while Niki goes over to her parents to work on Amanda's wedding stuff.

So is a boring day? To some, sure. But to me . . . it sounds wonderful, and I feel very blessed.

2005-07-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

The company I work for recently put out this Employee Handbook. It's 54 pages of what-not-to-do and what-not-to-wear. There go my days of wearing jeans to work. I've got to dress business casual now. Which I don't mind (Niki says I look very nice in Khaki's and dress shirts). But here's the problem I have with it.

Wearing this business casual stuff means spending money on dry-cleaning every week. Maybe $20 - $30, right? This already adds to the $30/week I spend in gas, just to get to my job. Then there are the toll roads which I'm forced to take, or spend 2 hours in traffic. These tolls amount to roughly $10/week.

So in one week, I've spent $70 dollars, just to work at my job. But wait, it gets worse.

There's the money I spend eating out for lunch every now and then: probably another $20 a week. If I want to keep going, there's the gym membership that costs me $10/week so that I can work out during my lunch hour (instead of free at home).

There's probably a bunch of other expenses, but a quick tally puts me at spending $100/week. My job is costing me $100 a week!

Not sure at the point I'm getting at (other than maybe I'm cheap). But $100/week seems like a lot of dough to be spending -- just to make a living. No wonder it's difficult to get ahead nowadays.

The Man's beating us down, right!

On a lighter note, Niki's about sixth month's pregnant. She can feel Abby (we decided on Abigail -- but will call her Abby) dancing around. I think I can, also. But I'm not sure. I'll place my hand on Niki's tummy, and Niki will say, "See. There. Feel it." And there's something. Maybe. But I'm not sure yet. The doctor said give it around week 27, and then there will be no mistaking it.

I'm going to be a father. What a great (and yet scary) thought that is. I still don't feel like I know what I'm doing, and while I may look like one in their thirties, I don't feel much older than 16.

But I can fake it with the best of them.

2005-07-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Family's great . . . but they can also be a pain in the ass.

Niki and I just moved into a new house last month. It needs a little work (painting, some new floors, etc), but that's cool. It's a do-it-yourself project. We're in no hurry. We're both working during the week, so we'd figure we'd do a little in the evenings and then knock it out on the weekends.

Of course, our whole time schedule was off. I figured we'd be able to finish up everything in about a month or so. I'm not sure where I got that figure from -- maybe it just sounded good. Anyway, a month's gone by and while we've done a lot . . . we're nowhere close to being finished.

Which is fine. We're cool with that.

But then you enter our families. They both live in their neighboring city (about 15 minutes away).

My mother started coming over during the week, when we weren't here. She's got a key, which might have been a bad idea. Anyway, she's doing laundry, and painting trim, and while it's nice -- it's also a huge pain in the ass.

Niki's six months pregnant, in the middle of one of the hottest Texas summers in the past five years. Seeing my mother inside our house working doesn't make her day. "Please, just take car of it," Niki said. "She can help on weekends, if we invite her. But this showing up stuff on her own has got to stop."

Niki's right, of course. But now I'm faced with telling my mother not to come over. So I call her up and tell her (nicely -- at least I tried nicely), that we need to slow down, and to just come over when we need her to.

Well, the tears started and have been going on for about a week now. I've got my father now thinking I'm a jackass.

I knew we should have moved out of state.

Anyway, I'm not sure what the whole point of this entry is. I really look forward to my workouts a lot more these days. That's a good thing. But what the hell are we going to do, though, when Abby (our little girl who's due in November) shows up. We'll have family trying to break down our door.

OK, I admit it -- Niki's family is the normal one right now. But these things always run in cycles. Just give them time. They can be nutty too.

2005-06-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

I competed in the Du-A-Duathlon race here in Dallas. The conditions were perfect, although by 9am, the heat was already creeping up into the 90's. But it felt good . . . I haven't run any du's or tri's this year. So far, just some local 5K's and 10K's.

Afterwards, Niki & I made what's becoming a tradition after these races: a big breakfast at some local greasy spoon. This morning we chose The International House of Pancakes. Hey, half the fun of all this training and exercise is the excuse to pig out every now and then and not feel guilty. I'm a big proponent of having one cheat day a week, where you can have whatever you want.

Don't deprive yourself of a beer, or a slice or two of pizza, or a nice juicy burger, or the 3-egg omelette with everything on it. Just have it on your cheat day.

On another note, we're closing on a home tomorrow. So far, it's been smooth, but Friday I get the call from our mortgage company that they need some last minute paperwork. So at noon on Friday, I bolt out of work. I'm calling Niki (who's also at work) to see if she can grab this, and I'm grabbing that. Good God . . . Friday was stressful. It felt good today to get some of that aggression and frustration out by running and biking in the hot Texas summer.

2005-05-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

I've never considered myself a morning person (actually, I still don't, really). However, as I get older I realize that after-work time (after 6pm) means family. I don't want to do cardio. I don't want to lift weights. I don't want to write (not even my own stuff, which is usually a pleasure and great fun to work on).

No, all I want to do is change into comfortable clothes. If it's cool outside, I have a nice, tattered pair of gray jogging pants. If it's warm, then some baggy exercise shorts. The top is always a T-shirt.

Maybe it's living with cats for so long that I've finally begun to adapt their ways. I leave in the mornings and they're in bed. I come home, and they're still in bed. Sometimes under the covers. Never, however, more than three feet from where I left them in the morning.

I enjoy watching Seinfeld with my wife, even though we've seen every episode a million times. I enjoy making something for us to eat and just being together.

This is not to say I have to be lazy. As much a waste of time this seems, it's important to me. And I wouldn't give it up for the world.

Thus, I've had to adapt. I've had to become a morning person. Actually, it wasn't even that hard.

I started by trying to get to bed a little earlier, and getting up one hour earlier than normal. In that earlier hour, I do my workouts. A jog, or some the stationary bike for maybe 30 minutes, and then 30 minutes of weights. I'm usually home before anyone even knows I was gone.

Of course, I could do this at lunch, but I like to write everyday as well (although you wouldn't be able to tell that from reading the contribution dates in this blog). So, instead of wasting my lunch hour driving around to some restaurant . . . I go to a local library and write. I pack my lunch, which isn't as exciting as Subway, but it does the job.

Weekends are kind of like the weekdays. I do a long run and ride in the mornings, before anyone gets up. When I get back, the rest of the day is for family. Errands.

I guess what I'm saying is -- you have to have downtime in your life. It's a lot more important than you think. Sometimes, the best memories you have are from such moments.

2005-03-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, Niki & I learned we're pregnant! We haven't told our parents yet. We were thinking about inviting them both to dinner this weekend. And then, sometime in the middle of dinner, I'd get up and clink a glass with my fork and say, "May I have your attention. I have an announcement to make."

And then I'd tell them the good news.

Of course, in reality, we probably won't be able to wait until the weekend. I think we'll tell them tomorrow. Besides, I'd probably shatter the glass with my fork, spilling my drink all over my father-in-law. It's just the way I am.

On another note, I took the ol' bike in to get it's yearly maintenance/cleaning. True, I should probably know how to do that kind of stuff -- anything more than quick fix-its on the road and I'm lost. But it'll be ready tomorrow.

I've got the MS150 (the two day, two state , 150+ mile ride) in May, and am looking forward to it. I feel a lot more prepared for it than I was last year. Maybe I'll actually be able to walk after finishing.

2005-02-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl's today!! Niki & I don't have a lot of plans. This morning I'm meeting my father & grandfather for breakfast at the local greasy spoon. After that, we'll probably do a little shopping for groceries, and pick-up around the house until around 3pm. We'll then head over to my parents to watch the game.

Pretty dull, I know. But we like it . . .

2005-01-29T06:27:00.000-08:00

I've got these two women I work with. They're fighting over email, and copying everyone in their messages. I don't want to get involved.

The working world is so ass-y (a good word my family uses meaning, stupid and silly). The emails are these huge, two or three page arguments where they call each other 'inflexible, tacky, inconsiderate,' blah, blah, blah. These gals are in their mid-fifties. We're not talking about two catfighting 20-somethings.

The arguments start over the most boring subjects I could ever imagine:

1. the size and spacing of letters to use in a document,
2. the size and spacing of margins to use in a document,
3. the colors to use,
4. what to put in a footer.

Ahhh yes. Welcome to the world of technical writing, and marketing. But it does make for some good entertainment during the day. Kind of like being on an episode of The Apprentice.

On a side note, I went for a long run today (I'm trying to get ready for the Texas Marathon in Dallas on April 3 -- God help me). I'll keep you all updated with how it's going.

2005-01-25T21:05:00.000-08:00

I've gotten myself hooked on The Amazing Race, again. I think Niki & I may actually have to fill out the application this year. I think you can find it on www.cbs.com.

I was really rooting for Bolo and Lori, the married pro wrestlers. Now that they're out, I'm not sure who I want to win.

I think the whole key to getting on that show is (1) you either have to be a model or actor dating another model or actor, (2) you have to be a married couple in your fifties, (3) you have to be a couple that's broken up, but wondering if you're able to rekindle some past love, or (4) you have to have some other quirky relationship (like the pro-wrestlers).

I'm not sure what angle Niki & I could take. From that list above, numbers 1 - 3 are out. We have to have some quirky relationship-thing going on.

I guess in the world of reality TV, it's not always best to have a normal, healthy relationship. No one wants to see that.

2005-01-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

Man, almost the end of January, and I'm just now getting back into the swing of things. It seems like everyone has that one or two months where everyone you know and love has a birthday or anniversary all within the span of two weeks. For me, that time is December through January.

Between December and January, we have exactly seven birthdays (including mine on January 7th -- it was very nice), an anniversary, and of course Christmas and New Year's.

But now, finally, all the celebrating's slowing down, and I'm back to writing and training again. It's been nice to get the cobwebs out with some nice runs, and I've been doing some longer yoga sessions lately.

The air here in Texas is about 40 - 50 degrees. I know it's a lot colder elsewhere in the country). Still, 40 - 50 is cold to a Texas boy like me. Thus, I've been running on the treadmills and riding the indoor bikes. I'm a wuss, what can I say.

Niki and I did see the weirdest movie ever made: Napolean Dynomite. The whole time, I felt like I was missing something. But I couldn't look away. My head felt fuzzy watching it. I'm not sure what that means. Probably not a good thing.

I have a half-marathon coming up in February that I'm looking forward toward. Also, there's a race this weekend with the local running club. It'll be cold, but at least it's not blizzard cold like up in Boston.

How come so many great runners from Boston? How do they run in that weather?

Like I said. I'm a wuss.

2004-12-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! I definately did here, although like everyone I'm sure I ate too much. But it felt so good to just relax! No worrying about work. No trying to get workouts in. No thinking about getting everything in.

A little before the holiday, I started thinking about my work life. It's probably similiar to many of you. I spend 40-50 hours at work (probably another 10 per week just getting there and back). Then, there's the cell phone with the bill I don't understand. The cable bill with all these channels I never watch. A gym membership. A subscription to an online investment site. And a subscription to a MP3 music site.

I decided to cancel my cell phone bill. It felt so good, I kept going. I got rid of our cable -- just down to the basic channels (gotta have my Seinfeld). I also canceled the subscriptions to online investment site, and the MP3 site. The gym membership is also gone.

I went for a light run today, just to get the rust out a little from the holiday. It didn't feel too bad, and I'll ease back into the runs. There's a race in February -- a marathon. Not sure if I'll be ready, but it would be nice to complete that. We'll see . . .

2004-12-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

I was in the grocery store the other day and my cell phone rang. It was work, and since then, I've been up there everyday and weekends, putting in evil hours in order to get a proposal sent out by 12/23.

What kind of sick, sinister person makes a due date two days before Christmas, anyway? Everyone knows that December is the Friday of the year -- nothing gets done in December.

Anyway, I'm in this grocery store, and I'm thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice to live in some wooden cabin somewhere, and grow my own food. And not have to fight with the Man everyday."

Now true, some of this might have been brought on by my trip to Walden Pond with my brother last month, but honestly -- I've realized for a long time that I need to reevaluate some things. I mean, Niki and I are great! What's wrong is this whole working thing.

Maybe I'm just burnt out by this late-year push. But I do want to simplify things. Maybe figure out a way to work for myself, or from a home office. Maybe find ways to save more and spend less.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but when I figure anything out I'll let you know.

I haven't had a whole lot of time to train. Which is OK -- December should be a rest month anyway. Maybe I'll get a couple long jogs in before New Year's so I don't totally feel like I'm slacking off.

2004-12-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

My friend did find his wedding ring yesterday. Turns out it was in a bag of trash. Must have gotten thrown away in some towels during the Thanksgiving cleanup.

Rode for about an hour on a stationary bike, and played our weekly game of YMCA flag football (we lost, but they were the best team in the league). I'm kind of sore today, but I like feeling a little sore after a workout. Makes me feel like I did something.

Today's a busy day. We're going to church with some friends of ours, and then brunch. They're going out-of-state for the holidays, so this is our chance to visit with them. Niki & I then are running to the malls to do a little Christmas shopping. She's almost completely finished, with most of her gifts already wrapped. Me -- I have a little scribbled list of what I need to get people, but haven't done much.

I need to run by the bike store (which is conveniently by all these malls) and pick up some tools for my bike. Nothing wrong with it, but I'm sick of always having to take it in whenever there's a problem. I've been tinkering more and more with it, and so far -- it hasn't fallen apart on a ride or anything. It's also kind of fun and rewarding to do your own work.

I feel like I'm doing a triathlete's version of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Even though, really, that book doesn't have anything to do with motorcycle maintenance. Actually, I'm not sure what that book's about -- I just know I love it.

2004-12-04T05:52:00.000-08:00

I've got this buddy who lost his wedding ring over the Thanksgiving holiday. "It's in my yard, or somewhere around the house," he said. "I didn't leave the house all weekend, so I know it's got to be around here somewhere."

He's been out every night with a rake and a flashlight. He's been keeping his trash for two weeks -- afraid to throw anything out in case it might have slipped in there.

I offered to help him look for his ring today. My brother-in-law (a very cool 15 year old named Zach), has the mother-of-all metal detectors. I swung by my in-laws house yesterday to borrow it. Zach actually had to give me lessons on using it. You can set the depth for which to look for things. You can determine what types of metals it should pick up readings for more.

So, I'm going to swing by there and help him look for it. True, we're probably going to look like two jackasses from Ghostbusters out in his front yard. But I know how frustrating it is to lose something and not be able to find it.

Of course, I'd like to say I'm helping just out of the goodness of my heart. But the truth is, we have a flag football game today. My buddy with the lost ring won't play if we don't find the ring. He says his wife would be upset if he picked up and left to play without finding his ring first.

The man has the most lame excuses in the world. I'll let you know what we find . . .

2004-11-29T05:46:00.000-08:00

The Boston trip was great! Wasn't too terribly cold. The snow had stopped, and there was chilly rain. The temperature dipped into the high 40's during the day, and down into the low 30's at night. It was cold, but not near as bad as it could have been.

I didn't run any races, but we found the Bill Rodgers store, along with his bronzed shoes. Boston Billy's the man who won the Boston Marathon back in the late seventies four times in a row. A very cool store, although man they make some weird running clothes these days. They had running tights with stars and stripes. I'd get arrested if I wore a pair of those. Or these tiny running shorts with slits up the side that show someone's entire ass.

I'd look horrible in those.

I hope you all had a terrific Thanksgiving, and I'll talk to you soon . . .

2004-11-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

I'm going up to visit my brother and sister-in-law in November. The day after Thanksgiving I'll fly up, hang with them over the weekend. Right now, they're cold, and by November should have 3 inches of snow each day, but that's OK. I may even try a race up there -- Boston's the running capital of the United States. I'm sure I'd get my butt quickly handed to me by all the runners up there, but it would be fun.

I've been thinking about events I want to try next year. There's a half marathon in Dallas in February, a Sprint Triathlon in Athens (Texas)in March, the Texas Marathon (in Dallas) in April, and the MS 150 bike ride in May. After that, I'm not sure . . . maybe give myself a month or so and hit some events in August, November, etc.

I wish I could train more, but I'm finding that 4 - 5 hours a week is really all I can fit in comfortably.

2004-10-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

My sore leg is healed . . . and it's due to this amazing stuff called Tiger Balm. You can find it in drugstores and supermarkets. It's made from this ancient Chinese receipe, smells weird, and burns horribly. But it feels so good and will cure any ache or pain you have.

The label even says it cures headaches and flatulence (I'm not sure how you apply it to cure the latter).

Of course, now Niki's hurt herself. Boy, aren't we a pair.

She was doing some calf exercises the other day. "I want my legs to look like Popeye," she said. She had these huge weights going up and down, and actually, I think she can lift more with her legs than I can. The next day though, I see her limping on one leg. By the end of the night, both her calfs seered in pain.

I told her, "I've got just the thing to cure your aches." I then pulled out my trusty container of Tiger Balm. Immediately, she shook her head.

"I'm not putting that stuff on me," she said.

"But it works wonders."

"It smells terrible," she said.

"Only for a little bit." I then massaged huge amounts of the balm into her knotted calves. She said it felt like she'd dipped her legs in lava, but after about 20 minutes the heat faded into an icy cool sensation. She then did the whole RICE thing -- Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate.

Our apartment ended up smelling like some strange Asian temple. And our cats turned crazy from the smell. But Niki woke up this morning with her legs feeling better.

I'm telling you: Tiger Balm. The stuff is magic.

2004-09-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

It's kind of the off-season for me right now. Niki and I have been doing weights together (three times a week after work). We don't do anything crazy -- just 30 minutes of weights and then 20 minutes of cardio afterward.

There's a 24-hour Fitness near my work. I joined, and it's been a wonderful way to spend my lunch hour. I'm also no longer trying to find time to sneak in workouts -- I go during my lunch hour. If for some reason I have to work through lunch, I can go after-work. And if I have to work late, or have some engagement in the evening, there's always the morning (my last choice).

Probably the biggest change I've made is to my diet. I don't know if you've seen the book 'Eating for Life.' It's wonderful and I highly recommend it. Besides the great meals in there, it also discusses eating more meals during the day. Like a breakfast, a snack, lunch, a snack, dinner, and a snack. Adding some healthy snacks to my day has made all the difference.

I've loaded up on carb yogurt (actually pretty good), carb chocolate milk, Pure Protein bars, and natural peanut butter and suger-free jelly sandwiches on wheat bread (also pretty good). Adding just that fights the urge to chow down half a pizza for dinner or raid the cupboards before bed.

I'm planning my race calendar for next year. There's a marathon this December, but I don't think I'm going to be ready. My leg is still kind of sore. Rather, I may aim for either one in February or April. Then, there's my first tri in March. It'll be cold, but it's Texas so maybe it won't be so bad.

The greatest thing about exercise is that it's really play. Humans have always loved games. We've always loved play. Even our ancestors in the B.C's played games. It's part of our internal wiring. Don't ever get to the point where you feel games are childish. Games and play are a deep part of being human. And I think they're essential to our well-being.

2004-09-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I've hurt myself . . .

Not horribly or anything. It's actually kind of a cool, good-looking injury. I've got this huge bruise on the side of my leg. Someone told me it's my Adductor longus muscle, but for all I know, it could be my chicken bone.

Anyway, I'd gotten myself into doing too much. I've been lifting weights three days a week -- nothing strenous. Just some light weights with a lot of reps. Then, I've been running or cycling six days out of the week. Again, just easy pace stuff.

I think where I screwed up was playing on a company softball game this past week, and then a YMCA Flag Football game on Saturday. I don't know what it is about recreation sports, but dang they get competitive. A bunch of jackasses running around, trying to make brilliant plays with a total of 5-minute practices before each game.

In softball, I was first base. Someone threw me a ball, and I had to strrrreeetch to get it -- keeping my leg on the base. I definately pulled something doing that. It hurt, but no sign of injury. But my leg tightened; my leg muscles turned into steel guitar strings.

At the football game a couple days later -- we had no substitutes. It's four-on-four flag football. The four of us played the whole game; Ironman Football as they used to say. Offense fly routes. Sprint blitzes to sack their quarterback. We lost 0-48. That game hurt . . . I could barely walk back to my car.

Two days later I noticed a spreading black and purple bruise running along the inside of my left thigh. It's tender, but definately looks worse than it is.

Since then, I've been taking it easy. No softball or football this week. Light running or cycling only. Easy on the weights. It's getting better.

Funny how when you're younger you can do crazy stuff day in and day out and never feel it. Even in your 20's -- you might push yourself but recover in a day or two. It's a lot different story in your 30's and beyond. Here I am, a week after trying to be Superman, and I'm still feeling sore. You can't hurry fitness.

Listen to your body . . . it know's what's good for you better than you do.

2004-09-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

Someone once said, "Exercise is anything you don't feel like doing." Maybe it was Mark Twain. As simple as that sounds, I think he's on to something there.

It's easy to get caught up in exercise. One can print out program that says they should run four miles a day, and then bike ten miles the next day, and then do speed work the day after that.

That sounds great in theory, but there's nothing that will sabotage a triathlete quicker than a schedule. Somehow, you have to make things fun. How do you do that?

One way to make exercise fun is to do races. Exercise for the sake of just exercising doesn't create a spark in me. I know I should do it to look better and feel good, but if that's the only goal, then I tend to give up on it. I let the workouts slide a day here and a day there.

But if there's a race I plan to compete, it's no longer exercise. It's training. And for me, that makes all the difference in the world. Races are the reason why I'm sweating everyday on my lunch hour. Or lifting weights. It's so I can do better on race day.

Races are blast for a number of reasons. One, there's all the free stuff. Free food. Free shirts. A medal. Then, there's the people. I'm not even very social, but I like being surrounded by like-minded people. Competing along with them and against them at the same time.

Perhaps the best thing about races is that it's a positive memory. Too many times, our days fill our heads with negative memories and thoughts. Crappy days at work. Hectic schedules. Problems . . .

But races replace those bad memories with a good one. They add an interesting dimension to a person's life.

So next time you feel bored with your exercising, sign up for a race. And then stop exercising and start training.

2004-09-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Anyone ever feel goofy in cycling clothes?

Maybe I haven't done it long enough, but I can't bring myself to wear the cycling garb. I mean, I wear cycling shorts, but with a pair of jogging shorts over them. My shirt is a plain, blue runner's shirt instead of the psychodelic Tour de France-type jersey's that are skin tight.

It's not that I have anything against cycling clothes. It's just that I feel weird wearing that stuff around the neighborhood. Maybe it's all the bad memories of spandex in the 1980's.

I know cyclists say they wear the clothing because of comfort. But I don't buy it.

What do bright snazzy colors have to do with comfort? If I were to play a game of flag football, you wouldn't see me come out to the field in a set of full pads and a helmet.

I just don't look good in cycling clothes. What I look like is a jackass -- like some bad super hero on a happy meal box.

So until I feel better about it, I'll be the guy with the cycling clothes poking underneath my running shorts. Which probably looks more bizarre than just wearing the spandex, but what can I do . . .

2004-08-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

24 hour days don't seem long enough. Anyone else ever feel like that? What's even tougher is that I can't just add running, or biking, or swimming to the mix. Something else has to go.

Over the past couple years, I've been trying to remove fluff from my schedule. The following bullets are what I've done to add some hours to my day. The first in this list was painless. The other two a little more difficult.

Skipped my lunch hour (by eating at my desk). Usually, all I miss is some noon gossip and chit-chat. This allows me to get in and out of work quicker (on some days, when I'm not ambushed)
Skimmed down my time reading novels & magazines
Skimmed down my time watching TV & movies

Also, I try to do my training after I've left the house in the morning, or before I arrive home in the evening. I don't want to go anywhere once I'm home.

2004-08-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

There's a subtle level of marketing mumbo jumbo in the world you've probably noticed in regards to exercise. Basically, it goes something like this: exercise and/or dieting are complex sciences; to do either correctly requires the need for some sort of guide. Dare you try to exercise or diet on your own, and you could end up spinning your wheels, injured, maimed, etc.

Well, I'm here to say -- don't believe this marketing world. Rather, I like to stick with seven rules proposed by health experts at UCLA. This group proposed seven rules to achieve good physical health.

Eat (a good) breakfast: Get eggs into the mix. Add a little cereal and milk. Maybe some lean meat, or turkey sausage if you want. Don't just do the danish and coffee thing. Make this a principal meal.
Don't Eat Between Meals (unless it's some fruit or vegetable). If you've eaten your good breakfast, this usually isn't a problem. Fruits and vegetables -- you can eat all you want of them.
Exercise Regularly: Easier said than done, right? If you can exercise 30-minutes-a-day, 4-days-a-week, you can get down to your ideal weight. That's not a number I made up, either - it's from the UCLA group. The exercise has to be aerobic (which is why triathlon training works great for this). Of course, rowing, skiing, walking, etc work just as well.
Don't Smoke: Studies have shown the more you run the more likely you are to give up smoking.
Drink Moderately: Some athelete's think you have to live like a Spartan and never drink. I totally disagree. Two-drinks a day (a pint of beer or wine) actually may help someone live longer than one who drinks more or less than this amount. The reason's aren't exactly clear. But hey, who's going to argue with science.
Get a Good Night's Sleep: People's sleep pattern's differ, but you should try to sleep following the sun (get up around when the sun rises -- and go to bed when sets). This gives you about an 8-hour night's sleep.
Maintain Your Weight: Easier said than done, right? Well, basically this is saying once you get in shape, stay in shape. Make the steps here a lifestyle thing -- not something you do every summer to look good in a bathing suit and then let it go around fall.

These aren't earth-shattering rules, but I like keeping things simple. Of course, these seven rules here won't necessarily sell a million books (unless you beef up the book with two hundred pages of fluff and stories like some fitness-gurus). There's better (and more honest) ways to make a buck.

2004-08-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

I think my job is like a marathon. Maybe everyone's is.

Some days you have to sprint, like the last 100 meters of a race. Other days, you have to ease off and take it easy. No one finishes a marathon going all-out the whole way

It's the same with the working world. No one can last at any job going all out. At least not without experiencing major bypass surgery.

Lately, I've realized that a busy job is a godsend for a triathlete. I grumble a lot when I have to stay late. I dream about quitting when I have to miss a workout because of work.

"I should have been a farmer," I say to myself. "Or played the lotto this week."

But those late work nights are good. They're built-in rest days. I'm sure I'd have injured myself long ago without those built-in rest days.

Triathlete's underrate rest. Maybe it's because of our personalities, but it's difficult for us to relax; to take a day off. We don't feel like we're getting anywhere. We feel like all our hard work is dwindling away, and we're just being lazy.

I guess what I'm saying is don't feel bad if you take a day off. It's not wasted. It's a rest day. Your body needs those just as much as workouts. Maybe more . . .

2004-08-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Remember the days when summer used to be about shooting hoops and running around your neighborhood, hanging out at the pool with your friends. What in the hell happened to those days? When did life get so busy? I'm not sure; it just kind of creeps up on you I guess and then before you know it, your days and weeks are filled with all kinds of crazy obligations.

I don't like that. I need to cut some of the fat out of my life. How much better is my life because of cell phones, Internet, and HBO. Do I really need all this crap?

On a different note, the training's going really well. I'm feeling more comfortable with my swimming. Lately, by biggest problem has been getting flats every time I go out on the bike. Part of it may be that I'm going down these country roads that have no traffic, but are filled with gravel and pot holes every now and then. Damn, looks like I'm going to have to find some other routes.

Today's Workout:
Swim: 1:00 hr
Bike: 1:45 hr
Tempo Ride: 55 min

Quote of the Day:
"The Racers run smoothly, with a fine tuned stride like a Wankel rotary engine. No wasted energy, no fighting the street or bouncing along like a jogger. These people flow, and they flow very fast." ~ Hunter S. Thompson

2004-06-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Challenges are cool because they force you past limitations you've set for oneself. Like things that we tell ourselves are impossible. That we can't do. That we're no good at.

Maybe the reason we feel we can't do things is because we've never needed to. The best way to make yourself do things is to dig yourself into a whole - one that you can't easily get out of. Sign up for a race, a marathon. Take an art class. Get a book deal with only a proposal or outline written.

It's funny the things we can accomplish do when we take choice out of the equation.

2004-06-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Two days until vacation. I cannot wait! We're leaving Wednesday for Martha's Vineyard, where my brother is getting married.

I'm taking the week off training. It's been going well. The running and cycling feel great. Swimming is coming along as well. My past couple of injuries have subsided as well.

I think one of the great things about triathlon training is the idea of balance. That there's all these areas of a person's life that we have to balance, including:

(1) family
(2) work
(3) sleep
(3) eating
(4) friends
(5) hobbies (writing, art, music for me)
(6) relaxing
(7) exercise (triathlon training)

All of these are important to me in some regard. We live in a multi-tasking world. Which is why triathlon training is wonderful. No other sport is more perfect for the short-attention spanned individual like myself.

2004-05-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

I tried swimming today - the first time in Lord knows how many years. I mean really swimming; not just doggy-paddling around or treading water while playing water volleyball.

It feels so foreign. I'm taking it slow - and just working on technique (if you can call what I'm doing technique). But I'm getting it. I found that Total Immersion book at Half-Price Books a couple months back and have been using that as my bible.

Well, my brother is getting married in a couple weeks. Up in Martha's Vineyard. That will be a great trip: Niki & I have never been. I've heard that the filming of Jaws took place up there.

Maybe that's a good way to learn to swim: jump into the Atlantic Ocean and find a Great White to chase me back to shore. I'll bet I wouldn't give a damn about technique or how I looked in the water then.

2004-05-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Why is it that I always injure myself in some stupid way?

I mean, why can't it be heroic? Like my tire bursting during the cycling leg, and me flying over my handlebars. Only to get up bruised and bloody, fix the tire, and race on to win the whole, damn race. Or ripping a muscle as I sprint past my arch-nemesis competition.

This past weekend, I dropped off my Blazer at the local Firestone to look at my A/C. It's not working, which is a killer in Texas. Anyway, I decided to walk the 6 miles back to my apartment. It's a nice day. Why not?

Well, I learned the sandels I wore weren't made for walking. I bruised the bottom of my foot. What's worse is that I can't get any sympathy. All I hear from a wide cast of characters is the same thing:

"Why'd you wear sandels? That was dumb."
"Why didn't you call me?"

Oh well, what are you going to do? The worst part of all this, though, is that I'm visibly limping. And I don't have a good story to tell. Maybe I'll lie.

If you think of something good, let me know :)

2004-05-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

OK, here's an entry with me trying to be deep. Don't laugh . . .

Lately, I've been thinking that our bodies (and I guess our lives) are kind of like rental vehicles that we'll one day have to return. I know, this isn't exactly a new idea or anything, but it helped me get through my run the other day :)

I was trying to run at 90 rpms. While lumbering away, it reminded my of how I pedal around 90 - 100 rpms on my bike. "Think of your legs like your bike. Like a machine," I thought.

I just realized something scary: that last sentence sounds like something Sylvester Stallone mumbled in Over the Top.

Anyway, all this got me to thinking. Not only is a person's body like a machine, but it's a rented one at that. We have to return it to [fill in the blank here] one day.

Have you ever leased a vehicle? If so, you (hopefully) filled it up with the right fuel, got it checked out every so often, and cut back on the miles when necessary.

Our bodies (and our lives) are kind of the same thing. They're leased vehicles that we'll one day need to return. So take care of yourself. When the time comes, don't return yourself all dented, falling-apart, empty on gas, broken, and run into the ground.

You don't want to be that person that returns their leased car scratched, and says they don't know how it got that way.

2004-05-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm an old school kind of guy. The radio stations in my car are set to 60's, 70's, and 80's stations. Jeans, T-shirts, and sandals are all I've worn since I was three (much Niki's frustration I'm sure). It's only natural that in getting into triathlon I'd look back to the four horsemen of the sport for guidance: Dave Scott, Scott Tinley, Mark Allen, and Scott Molina.

Of the four, I always liked Scott Tinley's approach: a competitive madman who makes sure to have fun. Here's some sage advice I found from the man himself:

(1) Leg cramps suck

(2) If it's hot outside, you ought to drink some water

(3) There are only two reasons to drop out of a race. One is if you have a broken right femur. The other is if you have busted the left one. Beyond that, I can't think of any reason not to finish.

(4) Don't ever be intimidated by hard, tan, hairless bodies. The veneer is not a window to the heart and the mind -- the parts that count

(5) Don't be afraid of sharks when swimming in the ocean. Jaws was a fictional movie. Of all my friends, only two have ever been bitten by sharks. And only one of the beasts was a Great White.

(6) Chicks don't necessarily dig scars.

(7) If you ever get the chance to sing the national anthem before the start of a race, do it. Just make sure you know the words and start an octave lower than you normally sing.

(8) Sunscreen is overrated. Hats are underrated.

(9) It's OK to sprint the final 100 yds of a race even if you have walked 90% of the distance. You paid the damn entry fee.

(10) There are two kinds of cyclists. Those who have crashed and those who are going to crash.

(11) Imagine what it would be like to drive out into some barren and lonely stretch of land all by yourself, park your car in a rutted, dirt lot next to a shallow and murky pond lined with duck crap. You remove your bike, lay it against the car and set your running shoes up on the hood. In your head, you say 'Bang' and run into the stagnant waters, past an old Fritos wrapper while the mud squishes up through your toes like PlayDough.

Now. Next time you enter a race, and all these friends of yours are crowded around, waiting, excited, nervous, and the water looks a bit intimidating but strangely inviting nonetheless, appreciate what goes into putting on a triathlon.

(12) Keep a pair of swim goggles in the glove box of your car.

(13) Keep a pair of swim goggles in the drawer of your desk at work; not to use but to remind you of the concept of balance.

(14) Keep every race number from every event you ever enter, writing down the date and a few notes on the back. The t-shirts, like the pain and soreness, will fade with time. But the old numbers, stuffed away in some long forgotten file, when finally recalled at some distant point in time, are keys to unlock the priceless memories attatched to that piece of paper.

(15) On days when you just don't feel like training, don't. But first ask yourself why so that you can look yourself in the mirror before going to bed that night and see a person influenced by the knowledge of experience or by the apathy of neglect.

(16) When you have a bad race, and it WILL happen, keep it to yourself. Go ahead and bore your dog, your fish and your pet turtle with your tales of woo, but spare your friends. They don't care. They only want to see you come home safe and having enjoyed yourself . . . if they are indeed friends.

(17) When you have a good race, which can now be defined as coming home safe and happy, be proud of it, share it once and only lightly. And then inquire as to your friend's event.

(18) When riding in an area without bike lanes and cautious drivers, consider attatching a 3-ft antennae to the side of your bike with a #10 sheet metal screw taped to the tip. If a driver is to come dangerously close, placing your health and welfare in question, he or she may be reminded of their lapse of consideration by the presence of a new racing stripe along the side molding.

(19) When a free massage is offered at the end of an event, always tip the volunteer with kindness, gratitude, a signed t-shirt or few bucks. Consider it a karmic transaction.

(20) When things get especially tough in a race, call on a source that is especially good at pulling us through. Hint: It's not your spouse, your coach or your college psychology professor.

(21) Support sponsors that support triathlons. Another karmic thing maybe but rooted in capitalism nonetheless.

(22) When you dream of winning, stop not at a liquor store to buy a lottery ticket on the way to work, but take the time to write the dream down on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place in your wallet. It has the same value as a winning ticket.

(23) If it's cold outside you ought to bring a jacket on a bike ride.

(24) Race entry fees ain't cheap. Create a little fund inside a cookie jar that sits on the kitchen counter. Every time you buy something on sale, make that lawnmower last another season, have Jim Rice at Sole Performance fix that broken heel on your favorite pair of pumps instead of just buying a new pair or maybe you just come home with a pocketful of loose change that keeps rattling around in your pocket -- toss a few bucks into that jar. Pretty soon you'll be racing for free and feeling better about yourself in the process.

(25) Knowledge can be found in a book, wisdom on a street corner. But the cornerstone of both is built upon experience. Race often and with purpose.

(26) Leg cramps always suck. If you find a sure cure, please tell me.

2004-05-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I cycled the MS-150, a two-day, 150-mile party on wheels from Plano, Texas to Ardmore, Oklahoma. The ride is to fight Multiple Sclerosis.

A buddy and I did the ride, by far one of the most physically and mentally challenging things I've ever done in my life. It was also an incredibly rewarding experience. I'm sure you all have some event like that, where you dug deep and found yourself capable of more than you thought possible.

The first day was terrible weather: rainy and cold, with 25 mph headwinds for 90 miles. But somehow I made it, actually falling off my bike after riding through the finish line as I tried to dismount my bike. My legs felt like wet, aching noodles. This event was important to me because:

Reason #1: For years I totally disregarded my health. One year in my late twenties, I ballooned up 30 to 40 lbs. Since that time, I've gotten myself back to a healthy-lifestyling, losing the weight w/ yoga, and weights -- and more recently adding running, and cycling. I haven't started learning how to swim yet (I splash around like a dog).

Reason #2: I've found that training for events that support great causes is an incredible motivation to not only get oneself in shape, but help others. It also makes you feel good on several different levels. As Abraham Lincoln once said (and I'm paraphrasing I think), "If you do good things, you'll feel good. You do bad things, you'll feel bad."

Reason #3: Every now and then, one has to push out of their comfort zone. You have to challenge yourself, bite off more than you can chew, and dig yourself into holes. Why? The depths of one's human spirit and character can be a pretty amazing thing.

Reason #4: The scenery was incredible (at least it was on Sunday when the weather cleared up and we could see). Rolling hills around Oklahoma, meandering over the Red River, passing through small, slow-paced towns. It was a nice change from the chaos of Dallas.

Reason #5: The people riding and working this event are incredible. I'm not much of a socialite, but even me with my introvert ways found myself talking to tons and tons of people. Funny how you let barriers down when you're an exhausted, sweaty mess.

2004-04-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

April is always a busy month, but this week has been especially bad. We have birthdays, and Easter.

I don't know if any of you have this problem, but my parents and my in-laws live in the same city as Niki and I. Every holiday it's the same thing: we have to run around ragged, and it never fails but someone gets their feelings hurt.

My training's going well. I'm doing four days of weights, yoga, and running -- and two days of cycling. I haven't taken up swimming yet. I still feel like a jackass in the water and keep putting it off.

My first big event of the year is coming up in May: the MS-150. It's a two-day, 150 mile trek from Texas to Oklahoma. I'm totally unprepared I'm sure, but it's a rally for charity, not a race. I should be OK.

I found me a nice Shiner Bock beer cycling jersey to wear. I've got the cycling shorts, but feel weird wearing them by themselves. I always throw a pair of shorts over them. I'm probably the only person that does that, but I don't know -- spandex and me really don't go together : )

2004-04-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a pretty cool book lately called How to Think Like Da Vinci. In this book, the author Michael J. Gelb talks about seven areas of intelligences (first identified by psychologist Howard Gardner).

Some of us are gifted in one or the other (Da Vinci, Gelb says, was a genius in all these areas).

These areas are:

(1) Logical-Mathmatical: Geniuses include Isaac Newton

(2) Verbal-Linguistic: Geniuses include William Shakespear

(3) Spatial-Mechanical: Geniuses include Michelangelo

(4) Musical: Geniuses include Mozart

(5) Bodily-Kinesthetic: Geniuses include Muhammad Ali (and maybe Dave Scott and Greg Lemond)

(6) Interpersonal-Social: Geniuses include Mahatma Gandhi

(7) Interpersonal (Self-knowledge): Geniuses include Thich Nhat Hanh

Why do I mention all these? Because I think it's important to try and cultivate all these areas in order to be a well-rounded, healthy indiviudal. Health has more to do than how many miles one runs, or the number of reps one can lift at a certain weight. That's only one piece of the puzzle.

I say that not to remind you all, but to remind me. I forget that sometimes.

2004-04-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

I've been reading and getting advice from people who tell me that lifting weights isn't ideal for a triathlete. That it'll slow you down, that it takes you away from more important training.

Well, I don't care : ) I like lifting weights. It's something I can squeeze in quick during my lunch hour. I do it four days a week, and I've only found benefits from it. I have more endurance, and am more flexible. In fact, lifting weights has saved me more than once when I've entered some event and wasn't as prepared as I should have been.

I don't do anything Schwartzenegger-like. I also don't like to mess with any of those Protein-shakes, Creatine, etc.

I like to keep it simple. I do arms two days a week (Mon & Wed), and legs two days a week (Tues & Thurs). I do 2 sets of about 10 - 15 reps. After about eight weeks, I'll pick some new arm and leg exercies.

That's it. Forty-five minutes and I'm done. It's a nice break in the middle of the day, and a great stress reliever (not that I'm complaining).

I'm no expert, but I've read that weight-lifting will kick start your metabolism more than cadio work will. It'll also help you fight against injuries, and weakening bones as we grow older.

This is my defense why I like to lift weights. Maybe it's not the best thing for a guy trying to get into running, biking, and swimming. But until I see myself hitting a plateau, not being able to get faster or whatever, I'll keep hitting the weights. If you haven't tried any weight training in the past, I definately recommend it.

2004-04-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

There are four big events I'm training for this year. They are:

(1) The MS-15 Red River Challenge, (a 2-day, 150 mile cycling rally from Texas to Oklahoma to fight Multiple Sclerosis).

(2) The Mesquite Rodeo Ride, a 60 mile ride that kicks off one of the biggest rodeo's in Texas.

(3) The Tour de Paris, a 100K ride (in Paris, Texas)

(4) The White Rock Marathon in Dallas, Texas

I'm not a great swimmer, so I need to better myself at that before getting into a triathlon. I bought a great swimming book yesterday: Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin. My brother and I found it yesterday at a Half Price Books that was about the size of a small shopping mall.

2004-03-29T09:10:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce myself. My name is Chris. I'm a 30-something year-old Texan (living near Dallas), who is married to a wonderful woman named Niki. We don't have any children, but the subject comes up now and then. We do have two cats who are the real bosses of our home.

I'm a technical writer during the day, a freelance writer at night. I enjoy writing a little of everything. I have a mystery novel I'm scratching on - it may just be for practice but it's fun.

About four years ago, I found myself feeling miserable. I found my knees killing me (probably because I slumped at work), my back hurt all the time, and I had the flexibility of a a wooden plank. Even though I played recreation co-ed softball and couch-potato football, these sports were more excuses for us to go out and drink beers and eat pizzas a couple nights a week. I was gaining weight quickly.

Someone introduced me to yoga of all things. It totally turned my life around by getting me interested in healthy living. A little after that, I added weights and jogging to the mix.

Recently, I've thought about competing in sports that didn't require teams (team sports can get very dramatic). Someone mentioned triathlon. I read a great book called Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals and am now hooked on running and cycling. I need to learn to swim (I look like a dying duck in water).

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me please contact me at chrisandniki@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading.