"In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev'ry glove that layed him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains "

-"The Boxer", Simon and Garfunkel




"But the fighter still remains".

I like that.

Insert "Friends" theme song here

In recent weeks I have been in the early stages of training for an Olympic distance triathlon. Things have been progressing well. i am now starting the 4th week of 17 in training. Although I haven't noticed it myself I have gotten at least one comment that I look like i have lost some weight. in a separate incident, my Mother asked me if I was eating well while at breakfast this past weekend. I don't know if I was looking thinner or that I am single most of the time(you know what i mean, kelley). At any rate, I think i have lost a couple pounds. But, I still have a long way to go. Lbs don't matter to me, but they way i feel does. I feel a million times better after a couple weeks of exercise, but have a long way to go to finish the tri the way i really want to.

One problem I have encountered is with the bike. It seems that cycling and I are not best friends. I love running and have found that I love swimming just as much, maybe even more. But the bike and I remain arch enemies. Then the old saying crossed my mind, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer". I realized that the only way to become friends with someone(or something is to spend time together and really get to know one another. The bike has never done me wrong. Never broke my heart or stole my girlfriend. never left me stranded or drank the last of the milk and put the empty carton back in the fridge.

In fact, the bike has always been there for me. it got me to elementary school. Got me to the convenient store in Jr. High to play Gauntlet. In college it got me to school when my car broke down. The bike has been a dear, reliable old friend that I have dismissed. I am sorry old friend, please forgive me. In an attempt to repair our fractured relationship I even went out and bought a bike trainer so that I can ride my bike indoors and protect her from the dirt and grime from the city streets and we can ride in temperature controlled comfort and laugh the hours away as we watch reruns of the Rockford files, Hawaii five-0, and karate flicks.

Sadie inspecting the new setup, approval granted

I plan to focus a little more on the bike as we renew our relationship, and hopefully, with the assistance of my new friend, Mr. Padded shorts, we can ride of into the sunset and live Ironmanly ever after.

Weekly workout totals
Running- 6.2 Mi (1:16:21)
Cycling- 33.8 mi (2:15:00)
Swimming- 1.8 mi (1: 30:00)

lesson learned at 4:20 in the afternoon

sit here, and wait.
wait here, and sit.

clock ticks, hands move.
hands tick, clock moves.

look around, nothings changed.
nothings around, looks changed.

dream away, dream a way.
dream a way, dream away.

look, listen, feel, breathe.
time goes by, see it flee.

As it runs, moments escape.
there is change upon your face.

it was said that nothings changed.
but your hands are rearranged.

look around, the world is changed.
the thoughts in minds are not the same.

tick, tock, tick, tock.
tick tock, said the clock.

things remain, not the same.
not things, the same remains.

Weekly Workout Totals
Run- 8.5 miles (1:53:00)
Bike- 5 miles (20:00)
Swim- 2000yds(1.1miles)(54:44)

Out of water......Nobody!

The training schedule said I was supposed to swim in the morning and run in the afternoon. But Mother Nature keeps her own schedule, and yesterday it called for rain. So, when i woke up at 4:30am yesterday to a moderate rain coming down I thought, "it'll probably stop soon". Well, it stopped.....24 hours later.

But as I am the man, I got in my swim yesterday, in the rain, after work. To me it's not a big deal, I mean, I'm getting wet anyway. The problem is with the Y and the lifeguards. Now, I don't blame the lifeguards for not wanting to sit outside in the cold and rain while the 1 guy swims laps. But, I hate the inside pool. Its so stuffy in there, I just don't like it. Luckily, one of the lifeguards was more than happy to watch me swim outside. As he put it, "if I am outside watching you, the boss can't make me do all the other little crappy jobs she makes us do when th pool is closed. So please, swim for 2 hours till my shift is over".

It worked out great for both of us, but my swim only lasted about 45 minutes.
He seemed grateful.

Then i hit the treadmill for 30 minutes. Running is starting to feel good again. in 2 weeks it will probably feel normal again. Trying to build a base is definitely the hardest part. But evn after just a couple weeks I am feeling stronger. I even made it through most of spin class without taking a break on tuesday. Getting stronger everyday, feel good to me.

Motivation technique of the day: asking myself the question, "what is Drew Brees doing right now"? Who Dat!!!!

The Weekend and the Week to Come

Overall, Not a bad weekend. My Step-Brother and his girlfriend were in New Orleans Saturday. So, I met up with my parents and we headed to the quarter to take them to lunch. However, the girlfriend seemed to have caught the flu. So, she remained in the hotel room. The rest of us headed to Palace Cafe, Delicious. Then a little hanging out at cafe begneit on Royal street for donuts and coffee. Good times, laid back. Oh, I forgot to mention that I met my brother at the LSU lakes to run in the artic chill. We did 4 miles.

Sunday was also good. Woke up at 7, which for me is sleeping in(as I usually get up at 5-5:30. took the dogs for a walk around the hood. I ate breakfast twice. 8am I had a bowl of cereal, 9:45 i had a bagel with egg, cheese, and turkey(something new I'm trying. Then I took the dogs to the dog park. It's funny, they are super excited to go and are really excited when we get there, but the last several times we've gone Sadie has wanted to leave after 15 minutes. She comes to me, makes a whining noise and then goes to the gate. It happened a few weeks ago for the first time. I figured there was something outside the gate she was smelling so I put on her leash(and Lily's) and led them out. Sadie pulled me straight to the jeep and put her paws up on the back bumper. That's how i knew she wanted to go and wasn't just smelling something.

We've been back several times since and the same pattern occurs. they run around for a few minutes then she whines and heads for the gate. Strange huh?

This week I begin my 17 week triathlon training plan. I'm off to a bad start. I was supposed to get up and go swimming this morning. That didn't happen. But, my bag is packed so I will be doing that after work. Then I'll be riding 15 miles on the bike when i get home. Sounds like fun right?

For those of you who remember my marathon training you may recall how i followed my training schedule like it was holy scripture. Well, that's the plan again. Hopefully I can get my $h1+ together this week. If i can suck it up in week one and get it done I will have no problem the next 16 weeks. For me, the hard part is just getting started.

Well, i feel like a am rambling so I'll sign off now. I hope you all have a good week. I'll catch you on the flip-side!!!

Scott