Trying to recover

It has now been nearly a month since Dad’s sudden passing. I have completely gone down the road. Via lack of exercise and poor eating habits, I have gained 10 lbs and earned myself a peptic ulcer and GERD.. Sucks!

I am turning the corner though. I am bringing myself back to a more plant-based lifestyle. I am gradually getting back into my training. I WILL kick T1Ds ass in September. I WILL run my 13.1 in November. I WILL be prepared for my return to triathlon in 2014.

I lost my mother when she was 45 from life long health issues and my father at 61 (would have been 62 on 4/14) due to an unforeseen natural cause. Rather than accepting my fate if a short life, I am going to go down swinging. Healthy food and lifestyle choices. Clean living.

If we can all take something from all of Dad’s teaching. When life gets hard find your inner “peachy” grab the ones you care about and “love bigger.”

Dad

Dad,

I can’t believe you’re gone. You introduced me to cycling when I was barely walking and you brought me back to cycling when I was smoking so much I was hardly breathing. You have taught me the skills to live a healthier life and I plan to take full advantage of your teachings.

I love and miss you,

Aaron

I’m trying

Getting back on track

Today was definitely on the right track. Stuck to the low fat vegan diet almost completely today. Started with a green smoothie this morning and ended with a vegan portobello burger for dinner. Speaking of which, restaurants should really learn to read their own menus. “Portobello burger with cheese, or without (vegan), aioli tomato and onion.” NEWS FLASH, aioli is made with egg. Dumbasses!! The good news is they let me buy a ramiken of edemame hummus for $1.25. Sadly, the morons put fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top of it. DID I NOT MAKE MYSELF CLEAR THAT I AM A VEGAN??? Ok, I am calm now. Sorry.

On the activity side. Superwife had to work today so I had Judah duty. We had a blast as always. Superwife got home around two, so we were off to the Y. I didn’t have the energy of Friday. I am still sore. In the end I busted out a 150 yard warmup, 6×25 20 r.i., took off my drag suit (I have been wearing a beach suit over my jammers) and cruised a 200 yard cool down. I am starting to understand how to kick while swimming, although I do seem to fall back to a Total Immersion-esque stroke as I get more tired.

Tomorrow will be either an early morning (read as – brrrr) ride or run. Should I fail, I will opt for an afternoon workout. These last two swims have begun to restore my confidence.

Exciting news from Superwife… She has entered her first triathlon!! She will be doing the swim leg of the Azalea triathlon! I am so excited to cheer her on as she has done for me for years!!

Rubber side down. ~Stache

Day late, but who cares

Ok, so I didn’t join the gym yesterday. Those who follow me on @Twitter, know that I tried to make the iphone to droid conversion. Epic Fail.. Anyway, after spending 2.5 hours in the verizon store, it was time to go home.

That being said. TODAY I JOINED!!! Due to youth swim practice I was unable to go directly to the pool. So, again, I went home. This time, though, I cooked up a ROCKING dinner for the family. Low fat, and I believe animal free. Boiled up some gnocchi and dressed it with a no-oil, low salt, vegan meat sauce with fresh garlic, mushrooms, and collard greens. Out of this world!!

Did I mention that I joined the Y?

After a good couple of hours of family time, and digesting, I FINALLY headed to the gym. I even got into the pool. Nice and empty, the way I like it. I had a lane to myself. Managed to do a 200 warm-up, followed by 10 x 25 yds (10 sec R.I.) and a 200 yard cool-down. I was out of the water in less than 20 minutes but I. Was. Cooked!! I have only swam once or twice since my failure of a race September 2012. Now with 2013 racing season starting in just 9 weeks, it is time to get down to business!!! Time to float that thin line between kicking butt and overtraining.

~Stache

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome to 2013!! Hope everyone had a safe and stupendous celebration. Now it is time to get back to business. One race is officially on the calendar. I will be taking on the Azalea Triathlon in Wilmington, NC again this year. I am back on the plant-based band wagon (though this doesn’t mean plant-exclusive). I plan to join the Y tomorrow after “W to the E, R, K.” Sure, it is a little cliche to join a gym on January 2nd, but it has been a bit nasty to train outside lately (and a bit dark). I will try to stay updated this year. Good luck, be safe, and see you on the course.

~Stache

Hello? Am I still in here?

Yum, thanksgiving. This year I am thankful for family. My family of genes and marriages and my family of triathlon and digital communication.

Thank you for all the support. I have FINALLY started making changes to get back in control. Today my wife and I resumed our quest into the @engine2diet. We have exercised every day of this holiday weekend so far. Each day I have strapped my 25# kiddo to my back and taken off on 30-60 minute hike with him and my amazing wife. Tomorrow may be a swim or ride or another hike (a well as several hours of writing a research paper). Sunday is looking to be a group ride in the morning, a beer with a friend for lunch, then off to a play date (possible riding to and from each event)…
Oh yeah, added my first race of the 2013 season to my calendar. I will be racing the Azalea Triathlon in Wilmington, March 2013. Not only that, but Superwife has agreed to team up and do a relay. Her FIRST triathlon!!

That’s enough for now.

Rubber side down!