Week 1 in the books

So for the past few months, I have been trying to plan out my training for the next year (385 days from today to be exact). Sometimes it is easy to get so caught up in the planning that you don't get in any solid training. You have to find a balance. Up until halfway through my time at Auburn, I was always more of a "I can wing it" type person...a "P" on the Myers Briggs scale. Then I started liking a little more order...I started becoming more of a "J" on the scale. I like filling out calendars and making lists. I like planning things out. I'm a big believer in the "5 P's" Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. The book I'm using is pretty awesome. It helps you break all your training down starting with the entire year and then breaking it down to the day. This past week was "Week 1" of my training plan. It calls for 13.5hrs or training during this prep period. Here is how it all went

Monday
Workout #1 - Master Swim
I planned for 30mins or swimming today as a recovery day to start off the week, but thanks to this awesome rainy weather we have had in Alabama recently, I didn't get to the pool
Workout #2 - Phase AA Strength Training 46mins
Strength training was pretty good. This phase focuses on high reps. Had a 5 minute warmup and cooldown on the treadmill. I did 3 sets of 25 of each exercise (Squats, Standing Pull Down, Leg Press, Seated Row, Leg Extensions, Chest Press). I need to be sure to work in some core on these days too.

Tuesday
Workout #1 - Interval Run (treadmill) 26mins
Got to work about 5Am today to hit the treadmill. Started with 5min warmup to get the HR up. Then would run (7.5min/mi) for 45 sec followed by 1:15 recovery run (12min/mi). Did this 8 times. Felt pretty good during and afterward. Might try and up the speed next week.
Workout #2 - I had an 80min bike ride planned for today, but MH had a party that night so I kept a fussy little Lucas.

Wednesday
Workout #1 - Master Swim
Stupid weather
Workout #2 - Phase AA Strength Training 45mins
5min warmup on the treadmill and then 3 sets of 25 (Squats, Standing Pull Downs, Leg Press, Seated Row, Leg Curls, Barbell Bench Press)

Thursday
Workout #1 - Bike Spin Ups 35mins
Got on the stationary bike at work in the AM. 5min warmup, Got to max cadence in 1min, held for 2mins, 1min recover, and then repeated. This was hard to do on the stationary bike. Nothing like being on a real bike. I'll probably start doing this on my trainer at home.
Workout #2 - Endurance Run 70mins
I headed out to the Industrial Park to get my run in today. Felt awesome outside. It was damp out, and rain was definitely in the area. I ended up running about 4 miles. Not my best run by any means, but at least I did get out there. Running makes me nervous. It is the easiest 1 of the big 3 to get injured doing. I'm going to start out slow and steady and work my way up.

Friday
Workout #1 - Master Swim
You guessed it...didn't swim
Workout #2 - Phase AA Strength Training 46mins
Same routine, but replaced the Leg Curls with Calve Raises and the Barbell Bench with Dumbbell Bench

Saturday
Workout #1 - Endurance Run 2hrs10mins
It was pretty darn cold Saturday Morning. I hit the pavement about 6am. I carried a water bottle with half a G2 packet for nutrition. I need to rethink nutrition during the run. I should start taking in a few more calories during training so I can get used to it. My goal was 1hr50mins. I wasn't sure what route to take, so I just kinda started running. Like I said earlier, I'm nervous about running. I don't exactly have what you call a "runner's body." I started out running 4mins and walking 2mins. Then when I hit mile 4.5, I started running 4 and walking 1. I was able to handle this pretty good. I'll try and keep it up this week on my runs and speed up the running a bit more. Next weekend, I'll shoot for 5/2 split and then drop it to a 5/1 split halfway through. Byt hte time I hit the driveway, I had gone 9.25miles. This was the furthest I've run since I did the Mercedes Half Mary back in February. I felt great and continued to feel great (other than a little soreness in my knees).
Workout #2 - Bike Recovery
Skipped

Sunday
Skipped both workouts (tired from watching the Tigers fall to Kentucky....boooo)

So out of a planned 13.5hrs, I was only able to get in 6.63hrs. I'll just have to take what I can get for right now I guess. I'll be able to get into a better routine eventually.

Have a great week and happy training!

Eric's Quote of the Day: "Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure"~Don Wilder

One day..

One day, I will be able to drag myself to the pool in the AM to start the week off right.

One day, I will be accustomed to this new kind of tired that I've been for the past few weeks so I can do all my scheduled weekly training.

One day, I will get my nutrition back on track b/c it is waaayy too easy to gain back 8lbs.

One day, I will get my lazy arse in gear to start training for a season packed full of big events and lofty goals.

Shout out to two locals (I'm sure there are more, but these are the only two names I know), Justin Ladner & Jessica Jacobs, who are competing at the IM World Championships in Kona this weekend...give 'em hell.

Eric's Quote of the Day: "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us." ~Thomas Paine

Wow...

Wow is all that can sum up the past 12 days of my life. I would like to introduce our new baby boy Lucas!

He is only 11 days old but has brought so much joy to his momma and me. I could hold him and watch him for hours. He has become a major reason for me to want to do all of this training. I want to get healthier and stay that way so I can watch him grow up and start his own family. I want to be able to show him that anything is possible…that dedication and hard work yield great rewards…and any other cliché that’s applicable

He started his first journey around the sun on Sept 3rd. He was healthy as could be and momma was doing great. Word was that we were going to be discharged Saturday afternoon (which worked out perfectly for watching my Auburn Tigers play WAR EAGLE!). Then Saturday morning, we had a little scare. His breathing rate was elevated which is a sign of a respiratory infection or fluid in the lungs (which could lead to an infection). After keeping a close eye on his breathing all day Saturday, it was decided that it would be best for him to get checked into the NICU for closer observation and blood work. Having to let our little boy go after just having him for a couple of days was by far the hardest thing I have ever endured. They kept reassuring us that it is very common for this to happen, especially with c-section babies. Nothing they could say made it any easier for us. They ended up putting in a feeding tube. The first time we got to see him was heartbreaking. There was our little man with wires attached and a tube coming out of him. The beeps of the monitors became as normal a noise as the clicking of a keyboard at work. We would go see him as often as we could. Each day his breathing would become more and more consistently normal. We were so proud of him! On Monday we received word that he would be moved to a regular crib and if things kept going well, we would get to stay with him in an overnight room and get to take him home on Wednesday. We were so happy and excited! Wednesday couldn’t get here quick enough.

Wednesday finally arrived and we got to take him home! It was so nice having my family all home! MH is a trooper and has now become my hero! She is wonderful. Here are a few pics of our little man ranging from his “birthday” through his time in the NICU, and finally at home. You can check out our family blog for more pics and stuff at http://ericheatheroneal.blogspot.com/

Here he is about 5 mins old

"Fearless and True" in the NICU with his AU Blanket

Chillin before we go to the Dr for a follow up visit

He liked his first day in a "onesy" and not a sleeper

Training
Well, I’m getting back down to business today. Only 89 days until my first full marathon; 244 days until HIM Florida; and 419 days until IM Florida. Time has started to fly by. For September, I’m going to focus on running, biking, and strength training. Once October rolls around, I’ll get back into my Masters Swim Group and work on everything. My first marathon in December will mostly consist of me running and walking. Hopefully a 5min run/ 1min walk rotation, but we will see. More training updates to come!

Eric’s Quote of the Day: “No train...Dadgummit!”~my 3yr old nephew anytime he sees railroad tracks and no train