I’m sure I’m not alone here by say that although I know where I’ve been… I’m not always sure of where I’m going. As I’ve mentioned in this blog on more than one occasion, life seems to throw in some obstacles which alters the path I thought was on. I am happy to report that I have got my weight back within my goal zone and am currently at 245lbs. I was thinking I would try and get myself back down to the weight I was at when I was training for marathon distance runs but upon looking at some of my old training records on Garmin I realized that I wasn’t doing any lifting at that point and was only running. So, with trying to maintain the three events I am currently doing… gym, running, and cycling (sorry triathletes but I only frolic in the water), how do I balance the three and where do I try and go from here?
I previously had some distance goals for running that I feel right now will have to be shelved for a later date. Part of the issue is physical since my back has been giving me some issues on long runs but also time restrictions are there since It is hard to balance other things with the time needed for long distance running. I do like to run four to five times a week and think I can maintain that as long as I keep the mileage around the 3 to 6 range.
The gym was my first love and I spent a good part of my early twenties trying to get big lifting heavy stuff. Now that I am a bit older and hopefully a fair bit wiser my goals in the gym are a little more functional. I’m not going to lie and say that a part of me isn’t a little curious to see what the 40-year-old version could do compared to the previous version who was half the age. For now, I will stick to my current routine which puts me in the gym Monday through Friday.
Cycling is my newest “hobby” and the one I still have a lot to learn about. I was really hesitant to start at first because… well because I was a self-proclaimed runner! I have since seen the error of my ways and quickly found out that I also enjoy it (I might just like pushing my body… who knows). This activity is probably going to be one the most challenging of the three. I can literally walk out my door and start running, there is multiple options for gyms on the base where I work, but the local roadways can make cycling a bit challenging and somewhat risky.
When my wife Kelly was training up for her Half Ironman Distance Triathlon her and some friends did a 100-mile bike ride from Fayetteville to Wilmington, NC. At the time I’ll admit that it seemed a little crazy and I respected her for doing it but openly said there was no way I would do something like that. Well for those of you that know me I’m sure you’re not surprised when I say… I think I want to train up and cycle a 100 miler!
So now I need to figure out a training plan where I can increase the mileage I put on the bike without taking away from maintaining my current running and lifting schedule. I also want to continue to refine my diet to a sustainable and healthy balance. If you are in the Fort Bragg area and cycle than I’d love to hear some of your go to routes in the area and me and Kelly are also looking for some friends to get some miles in with. Of course, I plan on jotting down my thoughts and sharing my experiences here so go ahead and subscribe to the blog and I’d love to hear any feedback you might have. Until next time go get some miles in!