Carol 2.0

Pictures are coming, but Carol 2.0 is here and kicking... not my first choice in cars because the Impreza 5dr has not come in yet but they expect it later in the year and I, unfortunately, needed a car now. It is my first American car, and perhaps my last, but for now I'll give it a fair shake and see if the Ford Focus 5dr can hold its own against the rigors of a working triathlete dad of two boys. The upside, I'm doing my part to stimulate this abysmal economy by keeping the money in the good 'ol US of A and more importantly in the state of Michigan, which has been in steady decline over the last few years. I felt good about that fact and the 40 mpg doesn't hurt either... the downside, I still had to fork over $20,000 spread over 3 years... booo. Need wheels and have to just move on...

Had a great weekend of hanging my my old college roommate who is now the team physician for the Louisville football team and then come golf with Tom on Sunday to cap it off. Not very productive at all and wished that they both weren't on the same weekend but oh well, I am thankful for the time with each of them.

Here's the week going into a short sprint race to close out the 2011 racing season for me at this point:

Monday (10/11) - R: 0.5 mile up, 1 mile ins/outs, 400m repeats with 400m RBI (1:20, 1:24, 1:20. 1:16), and then 0.5 mile down; W: 6 sets (30 mins) of Tabata style work with 10 exercises (perfect push-ups, jumping slamballs, Russian twists, KB swings, Step-ups, KB dips, reverse hip hikes, horizontal pull-ups, split press, and seal-ups), and then a Pilates reformer class with Anna to finish off my lunch

Tuesday (10/12) - S: WU 150, Drill 4x75 (25 right arm/ 25 left arm/ 25 dist per stroke) 15 secs RBI, 2x400 (20 secs RBI), 2x100 (15 secs RBI), KSS 2x25 (15 secs RBI), CD 100; B: 1:15 EM 2 x (3x3 min PI) 2 min RBI/ 8 min RBS

Wednesday (10/13) - W: 30 min Tabata, R: 40 min ER

Thursday (10/14) - OFF

Friday (10/15) - S: WU 100, 6 x 50 dist per stroke, 6 x 50 (10 secs RBI), CD 100; B: 30 min EM

Saturday (10/16) - Race

Sunday (10/17) - OFF

Building Back Up

Hit the week flying forward and looking ahead into the horizon at one last race for the 2011 season and then moving into the winter. Most people hate this time of year, but I actually think it's my favorite. I love the cooler weather because it reminds me of Chicago and I know that the Holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas and the New Year are just around the corner. Football and local soccer are back on and things slow down a little at the gym (although with this new surge of physical therapy clients it doesn't look like there is any slowing down here!). When the leaves start to change color and fall then I really feel like the year is coming to a close and I can't help but think of the year in review... I just love this time of year and here it comes...

Braden started at school for his 2nd full week and what a great one it was. The boy really loves to learn and play! I picked him up on Thursday and he was filled with sweat. Mrs. Knight, his teacher, said that he just ran the entire time outside and wouldn't stop. She asked him if he wanted to take a little rest at which he responded, "I don't rest." Haha.. what a funny kid... future triathlete maybe?

Later that evening, while I was putting Eli down to bed, Braden and Carrie were in the other room and Braden jumped off the couch and landed awkwardly on his left ankle (or at least that is the story told by Carrie). He went to sleep that night but woke the next morning and wouldn't bear any weight on it. I had to take him to the urgent care where they put him in a cast and called it a Salter-Harris fracture, which is a fracture of the growth plate. I couldn't see any evidence on the x-ray but the conservative treatment was necessary since several go undetected and I agreed with their approach. Triangle Ortho seemed to do a good job and didn't do too many unnecessary x-rays which I was thankful for... Little dude has me shaking my head...

Week in review:

9/12 Monday - 60 min WOD

9/13 Tuesday - R: 1 mile up, 7x400m repeats building in time from 1:30 down to 1:15, 200m RBI, 1 mile down; S: 200 WU, 18x50m repeats pull and technique, 200 CD; 60 min Pilates reformer w Anna

9/14 Wednesday - B: 40 mins trainer w 3 mins hard and 2 easy x 7; R: 3 miles at 6:50 pace on tread; 60 min WOD

9/15 Thursday - S: 200 WU, 6x50 pulls catch-up, 4x300m, 2x25 kicks, 100 CD

9/16 Friday - R: 4 miles on WaDuke easy

9/17 Saturday - B: 90 mins on trainer, 10 hard/6 easy x 5; R: 2 miles - 1 at 7:30 and 1 at 6:50

9/18 Sunday - OFF