Just now, I was doing some work on one of our neighborhood junction boxes when a little old lady who lived next door came up to me. She asked me if I was a good digger, if I was strong and knew how to use a shovel.😐🤔

When I asked what for, she told me her 18 year old dog had passed away last night and she wanted to bury her in their yard, but the ground was too hard for them to dig. 😭😭😭😭

So I dug that hole deep, and talked about the time when my dog Allie (the best dog I ever had) died while my foot was broken in 2011 and that a couple of young men actually dug the hole for us because I couldn’t.

Although it was really sad seeing her cry about her loss, it felt satisfying in a way, like I was paying my balance.

Karma, Full Circle, Balance.

KoP

So Many Things

So many things have changed since my last post. It's been a long time since I've written here.
I want to continue writing, but more privately. I doubt anyone even remembers this page, but just in case, I'm not writing the personal stuff here. It's too hard. Anyway...

I have now completed four full Ironman distance races. A bit of a veteran now. I've got one more race in May, and then I'm retiring from this painful/fulfilling pastime. While it certainly doesn't scare me anymore, 140.6 miles is still no joke.

So many things I want to say. But this is just the wrong place to say it methinks...

KoP

IMT Week 14...

...or week 6 depending on how you look at it.

On the Ironman training I mean.

It's been far too long since I've written. I mean, I post somewhere pretty much everyday, but just not so much straight writing here. If I compiled it all, I could have a small book. Really small book.

Anyway, Things are going VERY well with the training. My swim, while always the thing that worries me the most is coming along nicely. I swam 4 kilometers last night (that's the IM distance), and felt pretty good after.

I got a new, and fast Tri-bike several weeks ago so have been training on it. The setup is very aggresive compared to what I'm used to. By that, I mean, I am in a very "aero" position, my head is very low. This causes a lot of neck strain, but it's something I just train through at the moment. I'm pretty sure I'll be making more adjustments as it gets closer to race day. The trick is to be in as aero AND comfortable of a position as you can. These two things don't necessarily go hand in hand. It'll be something of a compromise. The bike looks so sweet. I got an aero helmet too, so even if I don't ride it well, I'll at least LOOK the part. haha

The last few weeks have had some pretty big rides: 75-85 miles on the actual IM course. It's no joke. There are a thousand hills (rollers) on that course. Where I live is completely flat and I am pretty fast there. The IM course... well, it requires a different strategy than I'm used to so that I don't over-exert and burn out. That's why I'm doing all my long training rides there. My legs are starting to come around... I've got a 5.5 hr ride on Saturday plus a short run after. I plan on starting very early to get it done. I usually don't get out until 2 or 3 o'clock, and it's dark by the time I get done. Hate that...

My running has also gotten MUCH stronger. I remember struggling to get sub 10min for 5 miles, Now I can run in the 8's for more than 10 miles. I also got a sub 2hr Half Marathon distance during a 15.1 mile run on Sunday. I wish I would have paced the whole run a little faster rather than do what I did: waited until miles 12 and 13 to open up for 7 min miles. That hurt. And in fact, I strained my ankle a little. Probably from poor form since I was already a little tired.

Anyway, the next day was a swim, and I'm taking today off to recover. The rest of the week contains shorter bricks plus a 3 hour run and the long bike for Saturday.

It's getting closer... the race I mean. I have these three weeks of really big hour training, and then begins the three week taper down. I have some open water swims scheduled soon to get that little phobia under control. I need a wetsuit...

Ok enough for now. I'll try to write more here in the coming weeks... for posterity if nothing else.

KoP

On The Path

Well, I'm back on the training.

I've been keeping up with my base fitness throughout 2011, but now it's time to get serious.

I'm on a very regimented 20 week build up plan to the Ironman which started last week.

It's starting out pretty easy-only 8 hours for the week. The point is consistency.

"If you can handle this first week of training everyday, you're fitness level is adequate to begin The Plan."

This week will step up to 9 hours. The workouts usually consist of two disciplines. Tomorrow will be a 2600m swim followed by a 45 minute (5 mile) run.

I've also gotten all my fitness supplements totgether: Whey Protein shake, Complex Carb shake, Soy shake, glutomine, glucosamine chondroitin, vitamin C, fish oil, and flax seed.

haha!

All of this, plus NOT OVERDOING IT should keep me on the path of Injury-free-quick-recovery.

I will NOT be playing any basketball this year, nothing extra that can risk an injury... except for horseback riding. Jeez... That's probably the most dangerous thing of all... oh well.

KoP

The List 2012

So. Here we are. The end of 2011. In a nutshell, this year has sucked.

While it's not the worst year on record (that would be 2006), it's been a pretty rough ride, a close second.

But, I hate to complain, and this really isn't about all that...

To be honest, I'm just trying out a new bluetooth keyboard I got for the new iPad I got for Christmas.

It's tiny and will definitely take some getting used to.

I was hoping to do more writing with it, maybe even write everyday, but let's face it- I'm not exacly "consistent' with that little New Years resolution. I'm not going to say that I'll do it this year, maybe just write as much as I can.

So far, typing with this little keyboard is a pain. It IS faster than a thumb keyboard on a phone, but I look like I'm trying to play the world's tiniest piano. My fingers are just to big.

Anyway, unlike last year, I'm going to write out a List for 2012. Maybe that will help this year flow a little better.

Ok. I'm going to do this right now, otherwise, I'll put it off because I am the KingOfPain aka KingOfProcrastination...

The List

1. Train hard.

2. Complete the Texas Ironman on May 19th.

3. Keep my family first. They are already first, but maintaining this is a constant struggle with outside forces always jockying for my time.

4. Stay on course with our financial goals.

5. Sell the house before the end of Summer.

6. Move to a ranch. We're thinking between 10-20 acres, hopefully an equestrian setup with a nice, single story ranch house already in place, but we're willing to build. I'm really keen on becoming more self-sufficient. I want to have some livestock, gardens, alternative power, food stores, and a well. Basically everything that a working ranch would need, plus be ready for the coming alien-zombie apocalypse.

7. Actually, number 6 should be for 2013, especially if we build. 2012 will be spent getting everything we need prepared and in place to have the number 6 of our dreams.

8. I think it's a good year for a Guy's Trip to the mountains. I smell a 14er in my future...

9. And of course, I think it's a good year for anoither roadtrip for Amy and I.

10. I'm going to write more, but no promises on an everyday thing. You know? I've BEEN posting almost everyday of 2011, just not here. I usually post photos on Instagram. Great. Now I feel less guilty. See? Things are looking up aready.

11. I may add to this later, but this is what I've got so far.

KoP