The Chocolate Habit

Cacao Pod

Finally science has come around to my way of chocolate thinking.

I have a serious addiction otherwise known as chocolate. Its my vice its got a grip on me like no other and there are no signs of getting this monkey off my back. Turns out I should be embracing said monkey. Typically I like straight chocolate. Darker the better. I don't need the caramel/nuts/nugget/coconut (I don't even know what nugget is) Here's the important part of what I read on Men's Health:

CHOCOLATE BARS

Why you think they're bad: They're high in both sugar and fat.

Why they're not: Cocoa is rich in flavonoids -- the same heart-healthy compounds found in red wine and green tea. Its most potent form is dark chocolate. In a recent study, Greek researchers found that consuming dark chocolate containing 100 milligrams (mg) of flavonoids relaxes your blood vessels, improving bloodflow to your heart. What about the fat? It's mostly stearic and oleic acids.

Eat this: CocoaVia chocolate bars. Each 100-calorie bar is guaranteed to contain 100 mg flavonoids. As an added benefit, the chocolate has been beefed up with phytosterols, compounds that have been shown to help reduce cholesterol. Find the bars at many Wal-Mart stores, or online at cocoavia.com.

You see!? Its not that I love the great melt in your mouth taste! I eat chocolate for my heart! I can eat chocolate get this AND DRIVE! I can eat chocolate AND GET ON MY BICYCLE! You see how this can fit into my training plan? Not that I don't like a little Merlot now and then but again this is FOR MY HEART! I like chocolate ALL the time....in a box with a fox! Im not familiar with CocoaVia as the Dove variety are typically where its at for me but if its chocolate I'll give it a whirl.

Other Nutrition Notes

My little chocolate celebration was a nice segue into my need to eat better. Need to eat "clean". I've been spending quite a bit of time getting my nutrition around. As many know I lost 70+ on the Zone Diet and 70+ percent of the time thats how I eat...but Im working out you know I don't have to count every single calorie and I cheat .... ALOT! My lovely grandmother being in town doesn't help and it especially doesn't help that grandpop has the same chocolate addiction.

Therefore, I started using FitDay again....Every time I start logging in FitDay I get insanely honest about it then I get sick of it and I quit. And that will likely happen again but Deb and her WW has made me think if I publicized a little accountability I might be more faithful at getting this last 8-9 pounds off. My frist day wasnt too good so we'll see how it goes. Stay tuned for my Peanut Butter vs. Almond Butter discussion.

P90-X

I started this program about 3 weeks ago....its hard to stick strictly to the aerobic aspects of the program because of the tri-training so Im sure Mr. Horton would tell me Im screwing the whole thing up and not respecting the X. I do however get the strength workouts in and they kick my butt but Im psyched because I can tell Im getting stronger. Im getting more definition already and its getting to a point where Im looking forward to the work. At the beginning I struggled and hated the pullups most of all. Now Im getting to where I DON'T ALWAYS NEED THE CHAIR!!! With one exception ...Ab Ripper X .... I despise ab workouts sooooo much and what does that tell me? Thats the workout I need to be doing the most faithfully.

Kinda cheesy award 2nd of 3 but had a great time and met some great people.

Winona Classic Weekend and Race Report

Lots and lots to mention on the tri front from this weekend so I'll take it day at a time

Friday & Saturday

I just happened to show up at the same time a local team was swimming so I was able to get in for a workout of 4000. I caught the same group on Saturday morning after my P90X workout and did another 3000 This is significant because I showed up to the pool with the intention of swimming only a quick 1600 or so. I haven't swam 4000 in a workout since Ironman training. In addition to the normal freestyle etc I learned a bit about other strokes that I did not know how to do. I wont be able to join the team but I came away with a newfound respect for people who swim butterfly.....whew doggie were my shoulders exhausted. After the Saturday swim I did a quick mile and a half run to see how my knees were doing before my race Sunday.

Race Day

When I woke up at 5 Sunday morning the temperatures were in the 40's. I despise the cold I just can't stand it....it kills my motivation to do anything let alone jump in a lake then run and jump on a bike. Im not going to make a bunch of comments about the race but here are some notes:

The Swim: was all right I went without a wet suit because the water was warmer than the weather took 10 minutes on 500 kinda slow would have liked to take about 2 minutes off that but considering all the swimming and P90X workouts I had done in the days leading up to the race my shoulder were just outright worn I was strong the first 250 but had a big slow down towards the end.

The Run: My best 5k in over a year probably a result of the reverse format Swim-Run-Bike. Went 22:34 on a dirt road. Knees felt GREAT. Held back a little because I had the bike to go still but I probably could have set a PB 5k if I had just let loose.

The Bike: This was my big disappointment. I don't know if it was the unexpected rolling mole hills or the fact that its just early season but even after doing quite a bit of strength for my legs in the off-season I just did not have it in my legs today. Was pushing all I had but it just wasn't enough and only averaged about 22mph over 14 miles.

Final: 1:13:08 Complete Results Here

More important than the race were the people I met. For the first time I met someone (Jodie? Joe D? Jodey? Jodi?) who had actually read my blog. Shared some nice words and gave me some encouragement over my current trials. Nice things you said almost made my grandmother cry :) You know how grandmothers can be! Was a real pleasure to meet you. Hope to see you at another race soon (next closest to us being St. Augustine April 22nd better ante up).

We also met a couple of really nice (kids?) from Stetson University. My grandparents instantly took to them as they were incredibly outgoing and friendly and as luck, or through Divine Intervention ;) would have it turned out one of them and I fellowship at the same church (although they've been there years) I'd never seen them. One of the things about being Christian is that the world will see you different and I could tell in their speech and mannerisms before church or fellowship was even mentioned that this person was Christian they had to be. Fantastic example of what witness should be.

Was a great pleasure to meet everyone I came away from the race ecstatic about faith and life. Look forward to seeing these folks again soon as triathlon tends to be its own little community you tend to see the same faces from race to race but never without meeting new people.

Race Photos

Race day weather forecast

Ooooeee race day is near!

My first sprint race of the year the Winona Classic Triathlon out at DeLeon Springs is on Sunday and Im psyched. Its kind of a weird Swim-Run-Bike format something about a dirt road and getting to the lake I don't know I'll figure it out when I get there it doesn't matter cause I finally get to get back at it. Its been raining off and on the last few days and the temperature has been much cooler than I like and looking at the weekend forecast isn't much more encouraging. I dont mind the rain but I dislike the cold and I especially hate swimming in cold water. Who wants to drag a wet suit out for a sprint race? Im going to try and not wimp out and go suitless but I get the feeling the minute my little bitty baby sensitive toes touch Mr. freezing cold water Im going to sprint (pun intended) for the neoprene.

My most wonderful grandparents are going to be in town the next week or so. At least this way I have someone to come to the race with me. My grandfather is one of the keys to my spirtual growth. He is always an amazing insight and knows the Word so well. My grandmother and her delicious home cooked meals will also be a welcome change as all I really know how to cook is fish, pb & honey, and egg sandwiches.

I had a pretty simple training week this week a couple indoor trainer rides a short run with pickups yesterday and 3 swims. STILL have not put a plan in place somebody get out the wet noodle.

Hope Beyond the Culture - Chuck Swindoll

I recently listened to these via my iPod podcast and it put me on a spirtual high it made me feel such joy and validation, though I know all the validation I need is in God's word, for my choices not to participate in drinking TO EXCESS and parties and a "loose lifestyle" despite the ridicule of so-called friends. "What an emptiness there is when the party is over". Don't mistake my joy for spiritual pride as I had participated in those things in my youth. Also, don't take my happiness as though I am passing judgement on others but listening to these and knowing how many times I've heard "you never have any fun" made me want to scream PRAISE GOD! I have fun its just not always the type of things the general populus better known as THE WORLD thinks are fun! Swimming is Fun! Cycling is Fun! Running is Fun! (most the time) Being with friends and family is Fun! Being with my little girl is Fun! Sharing in fellowship with those that love the Lord is Fun! Spending my days in a drunken haze sleeping until noon only to repeat the whole process every weekened year after year? Not fun. Not fun for me. Not fun for Maddie. Not good for the Soul. People never stop to think that maybe Im the one with a life ;)

Praise God - "Peter is happening in my life" - "Christ has closed yesterdays door"

Hope Beyond the Culture #1 - Real Audio | Windows Media

Hope Beyond the Culture #2 - Real Audio | Windows Media

Mmm. Peanut Butter and Honey on Toast the ultimate comfort and recovery food!

The Future of Triathlon

Random vs. Periodized training

Since I started triathlon I've always been a pretty dedicated scheduler making sure I got my workouts in when everybody else was sleeping and making sure I never missed or at least made up any missed workout. Big follower of periods in workouts and nutrition.

Fast forward to January and the collapse of my personal life.
I've pretty much lost all desire to schedule or log anything in fact all that Im capable of is going completely random as I feel like it when I feel like it all the time....at first I let it slide and passed it off as once Im settled in the personal stuff I'll be right back at it...well the personal stuff I've come to much better terms with as of late. Doesnt mean the pain is gone Im still emotionally a wasteland but Im getting used to the idea of being back on my own and trying to figure out how to come out of all this a better version of myself forgivness being chief amongst my failures right now. One of my biggest lessons has been that man (even those who are closest to you) is completely fallible and God is the only one that never lets me down ever. I digress. Point is I feel like almost every other aspect of my life is completely out of control and my decisions are being made for me. This is where I need to let go and let him take control and trust in him and as a human it is my nature to try and do this on my own and that is in error. Im constantly finding myself giving it to him only to take it back again. I need to give this over to him, stop resisting, and let his providential hand move me towards his will in my life.

My training, something I DO have control over, shouldn't be that way I've got to make the commitment to return to some normalcy even though I know the worst is still to come in the other. Im starting to wonder what it will be like to go to my events by myself. Im kind of curious how my results will be doing the random training. I mean we're only talking about sprints how much can it hurt?

PS If you're struggling with losing that last 10 pounds your spouse leaving you is a fantastic solution. I was 174 before I'm 162 today and would really really like to hit 155 just to see how my weight affects my cycling.

Maddie in her (my) favorite new shirt. Found this here.

5k with The Beast and my first brick of the year

Saturday - I took The Beast (Maddie) with me to do a 5k at the Jacksonville Gate River Run this weekend. Stuck her in a jogging stroller and off we went this was a charity event and wasnt a timed with chip etc but we found our way through the crowd with only a few close calls and finished in about 26 minutes....knees felt fairly good the entire time. Pictures to follow if I ever get them.

Sunday - After church I went out on a late afternoon ride .....winnnnnnndy going out (South-East) was only averaging about 17mph. Took A1A (North) home and held 26mph much of the time. After struggling to get out there the ride up was a dream. Still pushed my pace as much as I could to get my legs going since I've been doing so much riding on the trainer despite beautiful weather. After pushing hard as I could the last 7 miles (of 30) and feeling like my legs were at the breaking point when I got home I took a quick 10 minute run around the block for my first brick of the year. My heart was pounding but it felt like a huge accomplishment when it was over felt like I'm FINALLY back at it. Can't wait for daylight saving time.

DeSoto American Triple-T

I just came across this race today. What a cool format am kind of bummed I hadn't heard of it sooner no way I would be able to do it this year but looks like great prep for a possible IMLP 2007. Anybody out there who has thought of doing this or would like to and would like a partner for 2007 drop me a line. Of course before you sign up keep in mind I'm a MOP'er so if you gots plans of winning I may not be the guy for you. Look at me 2006 has not even begun and I'm looking at 2007...more wishful thinking :)

DeSoto American Triple-T Web Site

Edit:
After posting the above I came across yet ANOTHER cool race that looks like a lot of fun/work.



Sea to Summit USA Triathlon - From the Sea Coast of New Hampshire to the Summitt of Mt. Washington. 12 Mile Kayak, 90 Mile Bike, 8 mile run. There is an application process for this deal though and although kayaking is something I've done a few times and loved I won't be running out to purchase one any time soon to build on my kayaking race resume. This one goes on the back burner.

My problem is Im really looking to branch out from the standard triathlon format and build on my love for being outside by doing things like these races or some adventure races. Unfortunately this is a whole new world of expense Im just not able to take on right now. But I'll get there.

Tentative 2006 Triathlon Schedule

I haven't bothered post this yet but it will explain why I've gone to all sprint races this year. My wife is leaving me and my world has pretty much crashed down around me so triathlon has been the absolute last thing on my mind these last few months. Especially being that the whole thing is unwanted and I did everything I could to keep us together. Im using this opprtunity to find God's direction in my life and trust in the plans he has for me. Meanwhile my training has been on a fairly random schedule. Most days its just too hard to drag myself out of bed. So I've gotten them where I can. I went ahead and signed up for my first two races in the hope that this will help me get back on track.

All races are sprints with the only Olympic distance at Clermont in August.

March
March 26 - Camp Winona, DeLeon Springs
April
April 15 - Escape Fort De Soto
April 21 - Family Fit. Wkd., St. Augustine
May
May 13 - Beaches Fine Arts #1, Jacksonville
June
June 4 - Central Fla. Tri Series #1, Clermont
June 10 - Beaches Fine Arts #2, Jacksonville
June 11 - Baldwin Park
July
July 9 - Central Fla. Tri Series #2, Clermont
July 15 - Moss Park
August
August 13 - Central Fla. Tri Series #3, Clermont
September
September 10 - Central Fla. Tri Series #4, Clermont
October
October 7 - Moss Park
October 8 - Moss Park