Garmin 305 Forerunner

I have been completely enjoying the 305.  Last night I even cracked open the users manual and figured out how to modify the fields on the display to show just the items I want to see while running, prior to that the heart rate was so small up in the corner it was really tough to read.

I think the thing I like most about having the Garmin is just getting out there and running, not worrying about trying to remember where I'm running so I can map it later (and yes I have to know these things, as I'm a bit of an information junkie).

The Garmin Connect website is great too, I really like the way it displays/overlaps each workouts information...Here is an example of one of my latest neighborhood runs: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/26099871 

The four items I have it displaying now are: Current Pace, Overall Time, Heart Rate, and Total Distance.

Now that I have the Garmin, I've been paying close attention to my heart rate, and I have taken my run training down a notch, at least for most runs, like easy and long runs, and I'm still kicking it up there for the tempo or speedwork types.

What Drives You?

This is something I spend quite a bit of time thinking about.  What gets me out the door in below freezing temperatures to go for a run or to go into a gym packed with a bunch of other sweaty people, when I could just plop down on the couch, crack open a beer and veg out?

We all need a reason to do the things we do, and if that reason is a very good one, I think it just helps enforce how serious we are about it, especially in goal oriented items like climbing the corporate ladder, training for triathlons, marathons, or just keeping yourself in shape.

I know I'm a competitive person, and I think knowing where this comes from, and using it in a positive way is a great way to achieve the things I want.  I have never been the type of person so competitive that I like to see others do poorly.  I think it's great seeing others go out there and "set the bar" high...

If everyone was equal in all abilities, it wouldn't be much fun to watch Lance Armstrong get back into cycling after a few years off (which I have enjoyed watching quite a bit), he has a natural ability that one could argue can't be matched.  But, at the same time, by knowing that one person can set out and accomplish something amazing through hard work and determination, we know others can do the same.

For me, looking back to the few years I spent in the Navy gives me a bit of insight to where my competitiveness comes from.  I started out at the bottom, and it didn't take me long to figure out that I didn't want to be there!  The ranking system of the military works well for many reasons, but I took issue quickly of anyone being "better" than me, as I have never been the type of person to settle on taking my place and just simply living with it.  I know certain things light a fire in me, like, being told I can't do something.  I remember when I was getting ready to get out of the Navy, I was asked why I wanted to get out...I responded "because I really want to go to college".....To which a certain higher ranking person responded "Oh, you won't finish college, everyone says they will, and they never do".  Talk about pissing me off then, but now looking back on it, it was the "perfect" response, and I have a couple of degrees to show for it.  This same type of "fire" can be and will be applied to many different aspects of my life.

So I ask, what drives you?

Heat Wave!

Pic taken on my way to work this morning.

The forcast shows a high of 37 degrees F today, which means I may be able to get outside for a run. It has been many weeks since I have been outside for any activity, and I've definitely seen way more of the inside of the YMCA then I care to.... I'm glad to have a decent facility nearby, but the treadmill and the indoor track leave something to be desired. To say a bit of "cabin fever" has set in would be a huge understatement.


My running distances have gotten shorter lately and I need to be upping my long runs here soon in preparation for the Lincoln Half Marathon that is coming up May 2nd, I really want to set a good PR which would be something under 2 hours for me.

The side streets in town here are still pretty ugly with snow and slop, so I may have to get outside of town to get in a decent outdoor run, maybe I'll check out the roads around the state lakes for a nice change of scenery....We'll see...

Because Kurt said so...

I'm starting this blog because a friend of mine (Kurt), started his own... (http://buikurt.blogspot.com/2010/01/50.html), and mentioned that I should do the same.

Towards the end of 2008, Kurt mentioned to me that he wanted to try triathlons, and I should do the same.

As a kid I always enjoyed swimming and biking, and always thought of triathlons as a really cool thing, but never really imagined participating in them myself... But, when Kurt mentioned this, it really connected with me, as my fitness level left quite a bit to be desired. When I was in the Navy, I was in pretty good shape and lifted weights almost every day, but after getting out in 1996, going through college, getting married, having kids, and drinking too much beer, and eating too much good "junk" food, it had all caught up with me. In fact a couple of Dr's visits had revealed that my blood pressure was also slowly creeping up.

In November of 2008 (because Kurt said so..), I started the training, not being able to run much more than a couple of minutes at a time. BeginnerTriathlete.com had a "couch to 5k" training program that was a perfect fit, and I got started on it. It was sometime after that, that we decided that doing the Lincoln Half marathon in May 2009 would be a good idea, and I started on a Half-Marathon training plan from Runnersworld.com in January 2009, and really stuck to it pretty closely. I had never been much of a runner, but was determined to change this fact.

2009 ended up being a great year of accomplishment for me. One half marathon, 3 sprint triathlons, 1 triathlon closer to Oly distance and a whole lot of training time has changed much for me in a hurry. Losing around 45lbs in the process is probably the biggest highlight for me.

I've read a lot of stories about people going out and doing their first triathlons, and being hooked from that point on, and I've done quite a bit of thinking on this, wondering if that is the case for me. What I have figured out is, I'm hooked on the training, there just isn't a better feeling than the "Endorphine Rush" that comes after a hard workout, swimming a faster lap, not feeling absolutely winded biking up a big hill, or setting a new PR running time at any distance. Putting all the training to use in a race is also a lot of fun, and allows me to tap into my competitive nature as well.

Ok, so maybe Kurt has had a couple good ideas in the past, but please don't tell him I admit that...