Older and Wiser

      April 12th was my birthday, and since my last post I can state I am older and wiser.

      On 04/10/11 I started making wiser decisions when I switched my long bike ride from 100 miles to 60 miles as I did not train at all, and that was my first long bike ride of the year. Doing that I was able to enjoy the rest of a sunny Sunday with my wife, and walk straight for the following days. 

      As work has taken the best of me, I am in fault to proper training, but continue challenging myself in order to keep my sanity, and halfway health. On 05/01/11 I ran OC Marathon, in my third consecutive year, and used a run-walk strategy to be able to finish without getting hurt. Pasadena Marathon came next, two weeks later, and the rain on half course and the hills made me slower than LA Marathon, but I was proud of my strong finish. 

      Now thinking about Ironman Arizona I have started to diversify my training (or, in other words, start training properly...), I swam 3200 meters at Coast to Coast Swim Challenge and started making plans. Right on time when Buckeyeoutdoors had a massive meltdown and lost all my training log and plans. 

      Today I ran the Brentwood Run 10K in order to assess my fitness, before starting proper training. I did suffer during the run, but finished right according to my predictions. Pace 8:51min/mile, with bonus of placing 253 overall in 521, 26 out of 41 in my age group, without any speed training. 

      So much seriousness and commitment need a escape valve. Older and wiser, now I have hardened on my music preferences and embraced Heavy Metal. All day long, regular radio does not soothe me anymore. 

      Thinking again, maybe not that wise. For two of the last three marathons, I went to shows four days before the races. But I'll say it is all part of the challenge...