Training Log: Week of September 2nd 2013: Still Going

So there are just a few weeks until Kona, and I have been pleasantly suprised by the amount of running that I have been able to do since starting to run again.  The foot is still a bit sore after running, but gets better day to day.  I also had three consecutive days in a row of running that went well - longest run being over ten miles.  I was only on the bike twice this week due to the travel and obgilations with a few classes down in Denver.

We went back to Virginia for Beths cousins wedding and had an absolute blast last weekend.  I was able to meet tons of family that I have been hearing about for six plus years.  We are still having the tough times with our toddler and I am just hoping that those things turn around sooner rather than later.

All in all, it was a truly amazing week - and on top of it all, football is back!

Bike: 80 miles
Run: 44.5 miles
Swim: 3200 yds

Took my little wiener dog Sky to the vet to get checked up and some shots to make him a "legal ankle biter"

And - NFL FOOTBALL IS BACK!  Opened the way I wanted.  This is my Brother in law John Pientka - Amazingly awesome man!  It's always great to see him.

This is my wifes cousin George News - Had a great 8 mile run with him Saturday.  A fellow Ironman/triathlete.

Aiden and Lyla on the way from airport to Hillsville VA

I drank lots of beer on Saturday - This is what happened.  Samurai sword, running shorts, and cowboy boots.

These guys chose to fall asleep like this - As much trouble as we are having with our son, he is the light of our world.

Ice cream with Aiden and a beer for me.

Training Log: Week of August 26th 2013 - Unexpectedly at Full Milage

The week in training wasn't really how I had planned it.  I was going to run a massive 7 miles on Monday and Tuesday and see how I felt.  I was planning on a total of maybe 30 miles this week but I felt great and I ran every day except for Saturday after my long ride.

Those 6 runs put me at the normal 40 or so miles that I usually do during Ironman training.  I don't know if that was the absolute smartest thing that I could have done but I don't feel like I have done anything bad to that left foot.  I am still sitting at cautiously optimistic though - I am not by any means out of the woods and need to be smart about how I run from here until Kona.

At home, we have been having a tougher week with our (almost 3 year old) son...  He is an absolutely amazing and wonderful little boy but we have been struggling with sleep and any other basic transitions in activities we do.  My wife said a few simple things after getting Aiden to nap yesterday, and told me how crazy a thing like unconditional love is.  She is right - the kid could do anything to us and that wouldn't change a thing about our love for that child.

When my Dad told me that "I would never know that I could love something so much" before Aiden was born, he was right.  So a toddler will be a toddler, and we are just going to have to do the best we can.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a good week!

Bike: 196.5 miles
Run: 40.1 miles
Swim: 3500 yds

The week in pictures as usual...

Aiden has been getting up by 5am or so.  This has given us some surprisingly good times together.  Being a morning person is in no doubt genetic.

I threw some new Conti 4000 tires on my training wheels.  The tires that were on there before were about to kill me.  Wish they mad the 4000s in colors.

This is me a few years back.  Look how far I have come.  Small victories indeed.

Along the Boulder Ironman course.  I promise to stop here for a mid ride beer with some fellow  bikers before that race next August

Smoothie before the Rockies game.

Went to game #5 or so this year with my family on Sunday.  

This is right after Todd Heltons 2,500th hit.  It was a questionable double - He is under 100 people to ever hit that mark.  Seeing great sporting events is one of my favorite things to do - this was nothing short of amazing.

Training Log Week of August 19th 2013: Running Stronger

I feel like I am making progress - did all of 3,4,5, and 5 mile runs this week.  I still feel a fair amount of soreness and stiffness in my left foot, but the thought of racing in Kona is getting a little more real.  I really want to be a the start line, and REALLY want to make it to that finish line.

I guess we will see about that one.

Other than that, we had some great times as a family this past week.  Aiden started back at his montessori school, I am continuing my education towards being a teacher down in Denver, and Beth had some great news at work that I should not publicly talk about.

And the Broncos played a little better pre-season football.  Is it Sept 5th already?

Scrap that - I need every second that I can get between now and October 12th.

Bike: 214.7 miles
Run: 17 miles

This is an obsession to Aiden as it was to me when I was a kid.

Obsessed

Seriously.  The kid isn't even 3 and he can smack the ball like crazy.  I'm proud.

We had one of the most epic fits after he went back to school on Thursday.  2.5 hours of irrational screaming was made a little better by some burger king chicken nuggets.

Random picture of dude at dinner on Tuesday.  He doesn't like to eat anyways.

Took this after my first am run in a long time.  No significance other than that.  But it's my car and I really like it.

Training Log: Week of August 12th 2013 - Cautiously Optimistic

I guess I will consider myself back at it.  I ran on six different occasions in that pair of Hokas (check out the pic below) last week.... One mile at a time.  My bone seems to be strong and happy, but the rest of the foot is quite sore.  I am really hoping that the soft tissue damage can calm down in the next few weeks.  I don't think that I will ever take walking "pain free" for granted ever again.  Freedom to move around on your feet is an absolutely amazing gift.

Anyways, it's progress.

Now the thought of racing Kona in 7.5 weeks and running a marathon is a lot to think about, but I am going to be giving it a shot.

No, I am going to be giving it my absolute all - I really want my kid to see that race again.

Aloha

Bike: 207.5 miles
Run: 6 miles

I have been taking my kid to get some froyo quite often.  Have I mentioned how much fun I am having being a dad?  This kid is awesome.

Along with froyo, I have gotten my son addicted to donuts and scary ass smiles.

Yep - Different day, different cup of frozen yogurt, same scary smile.

This was our trip outing on Monday.  Went to Boulder Running Co then to target to get the dude a jersey.  Six game suspension for a drug that's legal in Colorado?  Aiden will be reppin' Von's number every Sunday through February.

Went out to grab some produce at Munson Farms on Sunday.  Beth made some badass salsa.

It was my sister in law's (Erin) birthday this weekend.  Pool party with plenty of beer on Saturday.  

This is my Niece Layla.

My Dad, Aiden and I went down to Dove Valley to Broncos training camp on Tuesday.  I love the game of football more than any other sport in the world.  Baseball is a close second.

The monsters that I hope can help me rehab.