If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to younder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. - Matthew 17:20

 Still recovering.   In the first week, I experienced three or four cramps in my calves which I've never had before.  And they were at night - not while I was doing anything.  Last week I got a cramp in my hamstring - again, never had one there before.  But the calves thing seems to have gotten better.  My ankles are also less sore.  I was supprised at how sore I was after the first run on Saturday though.   I keep thinking I'll get back to it.  The plan was to bike to the pool and swim a bit this morning, but I was so tired when the alarm went off that I just turned it off and went back to sleep.  Oh, and I'm having much less trouble with my knees.  About two weeks before the IM my knee - one or the other - would have a great pain with a particular step or recovery from a step.  That seems to be getting better - perhaps because of no running? ??  The only thing still hurting after the IM is the tendons from front of leg to upper R foot.  Perhaps I should be soaking that foot.

I did wake up at 4:00am yesterday morning and went outside for just a minute.  It was beautiful and cold.  Reminded me of many rides last winter.  With no 140.6 staring me in the face I just went back to bed.  Got to admit though, I did think about going riding.  I think I've got just a touch of a cold or something though and I'd just as soon get over it.  I'm impressed with everyone who dove right back into training.  This is week three of recovery.  What ever happened to active recovery.  I guess a 1/2 hour on the bike every day could be thought of as active recovery.  And I am building the resistance training.  Yesterday on the bike home I pushed big gears, and sprinted about 5 times for a block.  Lots of heavy breathing.

Still, I suppose I ought to put together a program.  I'll probably build it around the 16 week olympic BT plan.  I liked the two days a week of rest.  Think I'll overlay the run-a-marathon plan.  I do believe that running is still my greatest weakness.

ski season is almost here, I've got to get out on my skates too.  Perhaps if I didn't work....

I received the request for production and inspection from my STBX's lawyer today.  Trying to remain calm.  Most of what they're asking for is quite reasonable.  But some of it she already has, and I have to copy again?  and then they want copies of my day planner for the last 5 years.  5 x 365 = 1,825 pages.  That's a lot of copying.  Find a way - figure it out.  (See IM training is good for something other than IM :) )

To be happy means to be free, not from pain or fear, but from care or anxiety - W. H. Auden

Post IM thought:
It is some of the work outs that remain in my mind as significant.  There was a Saturday that I left the house at 5:30 am.  It was raining lightly, and for the next six hours would rain heavier, then lighter, but rain it did, and continuously.  At about 5 hours my eyes were stinging so bad that I had to stop and do the best I could to clean them and around my face so I wouldn't get the oils from my face into my eyes.  I enjoyed the solitude, and the fact that I was doing something that almost no one in their right mind would do.  For some reason that was a very special day.  It did prepare me well for the unexpected rain at my 1/2 IM early in the season.  Part of the revelation of that ride was that, once you are riding and warm, you're usually sweatting a little and your skin is wet anyway.  The rain really doesn't matter.  (untill that big truck passes)

Lower abs sore from the 100 pushup challenge work out yesterday.  Did legs today and that felt pretty good.  Glad to be back developing some strength and muscle mass.  Got to get ready for ski season.  Starts Thanksgiving (I hope) and for real just before Christmas.  I do need to get back to the running and swimming before I loose every bit of fitness I worked so long for.

Still find myself tired unexpectedly.

In soloing - as in other activities - it is far easier to start something than it is to finish it. - Amelia Earhart

Now that's even more true with Iron Man.  Starting a year ahead of time is much easier than making it to the start line.  That, in my book is the biggest accomplishment.

I've started the 100 pushup challenge.  Today is the first work out.  I did 33 on the initial test.  sore today, but I'll do the workout anyway.  Legs still a little sore from previous days workouts.

I love riding my bike to work.  Quite cool this morning ~38 and the leaves are turning and it's beautiful.

group ride at 2:30 today.  If I move fast maybe I can get my bike put back together in time to ride out and join.  If not, then I ride the old bike.  Leaving work now to go make it happen. 

STBX is here :(  I'll get the usual harrassment.  Try to ignore and have a good time anyway.  Don't let anyone push my buttons.  I have buttons you know.

Oh yes, she did find my buttons, and I forgot to pay attention - she did push them.  All sorts of unpleasant and she's mad now.

Aimee says I need to finish my RR

I guess she's right.  I have started it....

more later

I cannot believe it was two weeks ago today that we were running the Iron Man.  at 11:30 I was in the middle of the bike.  - probably on that bumpy section.  Nutrition was still working great, and it was a beautiful day.  By this point Aimee had left me in the dust, but I was still passing people, and still maintaining my 140 pace.  I've been reliving that day bit by bit over the last two weeks.  I don't think that's strange.  I lived it for a year in anticipation, and it went, for the most part, very well. 

Ok I've got to get back to work - really, more later.  And I want to write some post IM thoughts.  really....

Well crap, I just spent an hour working on my rr.  Went to save it and "there was an error"  Lost the writing.  - got to get back to work now.  I'm bummed.  Such excellent prose and what a great story.  All lost.  BTW I'm humble too.

I was just thinking that it's been weeks since I've woken up at 4:30 am thinking "I've got to go work out."

So this morning I woke up at 4:00 am.  I thought, I think I'll go back to sleep. :)

Core this morning.  I'm getting back into some weight training and it feels good, although it's definitely working the right muscles.  glutes sore today.

...all the happenstances of life become "stories" as soon as they pass beyoned the realm of the people who actually experienced them.  The story is what carries the meaning and not the history.  ...What matters are the message and meaning they hold for our lives.  The stories teach us, inspire us, and help us achieve a deeper unity with the eternal source of all life.

Today I look for a deeper meaning in the stories of my life. - Patricia Gentry

I'm living in the post glow of the Iron Man, and at the same time looking for the meanings in it and in the lessons I learned on that road.  I'm trying to understand the lessons and the meaning.  It's been a great trip, and I think I'll take the road again.  In a way the Iron Man race is the test to see if you've learned the lessons on the road.  There were a couple that I think I didn't.  Makes me want to retake the road and the test. :)

Ok now I'm up three pounds - the Halloween candy has to stop.  And maybe some exercise would be good too.

Still basking in the glow.  Bike club dinner at Rosa's last night.  I enjoyed the attention, and it was fun sharing the Iron Man experience with friends.  Our buddy Mike who crashed so badly a couple of months ago came to dinner for the first time, but will not even go back to work for another six weeks.  He's not driving yet.  His lung still has some fluid, and ribs still hurt.  he says they'll take three months to heal.  The collar bone is healing well.  He's lost 25 lbs through the ordeal.  That's a tough way to loose weight, but I was glad to see him and glad he's on the mend.  After about an hour and a half you could tell he was done.  Shared my cake with him - we've got to fatten him up.  We told him though, if you're going to crash hard, at least doing it at the end of the season is better than the beginning.   He'll probably be able to ride by the time next summer rolls around.  (I still won't ride behind him though)

 searching for a cheap used car for my son.  That's fun.  NOT!

My bike arrived last night just before I went to dinner.  Don't know when I'll have time to put it together - soon I hope.  tonight fix dinner and groc shop.

Need to work on RR.  soon before I forget.