End of Wrestling Season = Get My Butt Training!!!!

Well we finished off wrestling season last weekend and ended up having a State Champion and a State Runner-up at the Iowa High School Championships.  We took 3 kids up to state and finished in 7th place overall, with just a couple of points out of the top 5.  Overall, it was a great year and I will miss this year's seniors as they graduate and move on with their lives.  It has been an enjoyable 4 years watching these kids grow up and have the success that they have achieved.  With everything, all good things come to an end. 

Now that wrestling season is over, my training for my Half Ironman must get into full swing.  I have been steady riding my bike since November at least once or twice a week on the trainer.  Now I have to be diligent about getting in at least 3 rides per week, as well as, 3 runs and probably 3 swims.  The swimming is going to be the most challenging, just because of timing and scheduling.  I am working on being at the YMCA at 5:30 am to get my swim in, then showering and getting to work by 7:00 am.  So I am still working on the logistics for that, so there should be more to come.  As far as my running goes, I hadn't done any running since Thanksgiving.  Last week, I decided to go for a run and ended up going 7 miles on the treadmill........bad, bad decision.  As a future lesson, don't run 7 miles when you haven't done anything for 3 months.  My legs were so sore that I couldn't even get out of bed in the morning.  Since then I have done a couple smaller runs and my legs and cardio seem to be fine.  I have a 7 mile run to do tonight, so I am curious to see how my body / legs respond to that.  I am ready for this winter to get over and start getting outside for my run training.  The temperature doesn't bother me as much as the ice does on the roads / streets.  It has defnitely been a long winter and I am looking forward to spring!!!

Official Training......Almost Ready!!

Well my official training for the Half Ironman in June was supposed to start last week, but with wrestling season still in full swing, I will probably put that off for a few more weeks.  We are down to about 2-3 more weeks of wrestling season, then it will be time to switch gears and get triathlon training in full swing.  My body feels great but I really have only been doing my wrestling training.  I am trying to fit in a couple of days of my winter cycling plan to help keep my legs under me, but with meets it is getting hard to fit in.  So I will do my best here in the remaining weeks of the season to get in as much bike training as I can.  My overall fitness level is good since I practice everyday with the team, but it still isn't run, bike, and swim training.  I am contemplating what to do about my swim training.  I am thinking of joining a Y about 25 minutes from my house.  My plan is to swim at 5:30 am, then shower and get to work by 7 am.  This really won't be ideal for my longer swims but my schedule at work or training will have to adjust to make it work.  This really should only be just for a couple of days per week.  I really don't get to see my kids in the morning, so why not get my butt out of bed and head off to the pool and get it done with.  This will leave my lunch hour for my bike or run training, then I can come home at night and spend time with my family after work.  This is what I am thinking as of now, and I have a few more weeks to get that squared away.

I am really anxious to get my training started.  I think this will be an exciting tri season, as I have a season under my belt and kind of know what to expect......or at least won't be shocked.  I am looking forward to the HIM distance and the marathon in October....both distances are new to me, so that is fun and exciting.  I think my wife is going to get her training started in a few weeks for her half marathon in May.  She did such an amazing job last year and I think she wants to beat her time this time around. 

As for wrestling season, it has been and up and down year.  We have been bit a little by low numbers and injuries, so we have not yet had a full team at any event.  We have some great kids and it is going to be hard to say goodbye to this year's senior class.  Alot of memories with these guys and hopefully we can bring some championships and medals home from the state tournament.  It has been a grueling season with training and the weather, but these next few weeks are going to fly by.  Thanks guys for letting me be a part of your lives these past year and lets go get some hardware at the state tournament!!!