The Grind of Training

Crystal and I at the Summit of our first 14er!

It is just over two weeks until we leave for Kona and the grind of training is catching up. I have been pretty unmotivated to keep the intensity and volume up on every workout for the last week. I have just finished a rather large four week heavy volume block and am on the last week of hard efforts before backing it down and tapering for the last two weeks before Kona. I am so grateful that my wife has let me chase my dream and really put in the work to finish one of the hardest endurance races in the world. I feel stronger, healthier, and fitter than I did before Boulder, this is awesome but at the same time scares me. The what if's in my brain could fill a sports arena, but that doesn't matter got to keep grinding know that I have put in the work and trust my plan and process.

I have been listening to a ton of podcast recently and most notable the Rich Roll Podcast, Rich Roll is an endurance athlete that battled addiction as well. He is a true inspiration and I love all his content he puts out. He talks about intriguing topics from battles with addiction, health, endurance sports, meditation and everything in between. I hope to meet Rich one day, we share a similar story and have a ton in common.  To learn more about Rich and his message follow this link. / http://www.richroll.com/

The past several weeks have been pretty insane with working 40+ hours a week and training 15-20 hours, this leaves little time for anything else and I know Crystal misses me as I miss her like crazy. Two more weeks and we can back it down is what I keep telling myself, but do I believe that? I don't know I am so wide open all the time the thought of relaxing and taking it easy scares me...It scares me for multiple reasons: What will I do with my free time? How will I get my stress release without training? Will I want to use? Will I drive Crystal insane? Will I drive myself insane? I know deep down inside that I have to set a new goal after Kona and possibly a game changer. I will spend some time thinking and meditating on what I want to do with my energy and passion. Triathlons are amazing and I have learned more about myself in the past 3 years than ever could of imagined but I know that this isn't the end all be all and that there is more out there for me to discover.

Brett and Joanna

I took about two weeks completely off from training after Boulder, I was more messed up than I realized. My muscles were sore for about a week, but my heart was jacked up for about three. After two weeks basically with no hard efforts and just light swimming and spinning, I started to get after it but what I noticed was my heart rate about 10-20 beats higher than it should be at the efforts I was giving. I felt fine but the heart was like "easy bro, I'm not ready for this yet." When I think about it my HR was around 140-160 beats per minute for almost 10 hours...that is crazy. Like anything the heart is a muscle and it needed proper time to recover as well.

Awesome people!

My parents came up the weekend after Boulder and it was really nice to just relax and chat with them for a few days with no pressure of training or racing. They left on Saturday and the next day Crystal, my buddy Brett and his fiance, Joanna went hiking on Crystal's and I's first 14er. Mount Bierstadt, is a 7.5 mile out and back that is pretty mild as far as fourteeners go, which was perfect for us since we have never done one before. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect, crowded but still an awesome experience that Crystal and I will have to do more of once this triathlon thing is over.  https://www.strava.com/activities/370701412

Pat and I at US Pro Challenge

Horestooth OWS

Next weekend was the US Pro Challenge Cycling race and my buddy Pat rolled into town to watch it and just enjoy Colorado for the weekend. We went and drueld over the insane bikes and badass pro's. Ate some good food, checked out a sick movie about climbing called 'Meru.'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvS6O9lVkkg That Sunday I swam the Horestooth Open Water 2.4 mile Swim. The air temp was freezing and by far the coldest day of the year I chickened out and wore my wet suit and put in a decent swim for me 1:03, eight minutes faster than Boulder. After Pat left monday it was time to get to work and a four week massive training block began.

Sunrise at Boulder Res

Tough Exposed 20 Mile Run

I was finally feeling like myself and able to push my body back to normal and beyond. I put together four weeks of 15-20 hours of consistent hard training. At FAST Master Couch Roo has been really working with me and making specific workouts to try and get my base speed up. I have noticed an increase in my speed and am really thankful for Roo to take the time out and help me elevate my game. With the increase in volume I have also had to increase in recovery of my body, I have been getting massages once a week from Tori https://www.facebook.com/elevationmassagetherapy?fref=ts

Road Up to Wyoming!

she has really been helpful as my body is taken a beating. I have also been taking some time to meditate and have found it extremely beneficial for my busy mind. Just trying to sit still and think about breathing for 10-15 minutes is a hard thing for me to do but I have been trying to make it a part of my everyday life.

Walter White

I also came across a deal of a lifetime and got a new bike for Kona, my buddy Rob hooked me up with his old bike a BMC TimeMachine...it is fast and sexy I was able to hammer out 3 weeks on it and get really comfy before shipping it off to Kona. After having some debacles with getting all my components on it it finally came together and I am pumped to have a new weapon for Kona.

Life is good on all fronts and can't wait to get to Hawaii and race with the best athletes in the world, I am truly grateful and thankful for everyone in my life that supports me and gives me positive vibes. With two weeks before we leave I feel super strong and fit and ready to lay the wood and hammer myself like I'v never done before. Thanks for reading and give me some positive energy on October 10th!!!!!

Hiking!