Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great! The food was great, the people were great, and the nap on a fully belly rocked!!!

I ran the Turkey Trot to justify my gluttony. Due to my knee injury I hadn't been running all that hard, I've been concentrating more on my swimming, biking and strength training. Previous to yesterday my PR had been 53:31 for a 10K, but that was in Austin and had some pretty good hills to go with it. None-the-less... I ran a 48:34... I was pumped more about the fact that I had no pain in my knee than about the new PR. Seeing that I can only focus on goals, I'll shoot for a sub 45:00 min the next race. That might be a stretch, but still doable..

Looking back on Thanksgiving pictures I found this one from last year. I was every bit of 250lbs. I was rocking the fat pants w/ the elastic in the waist band hidden by my fat belt. I was the Arab American version of Fat Bastard... Get in my belly!!!

This is me today, just as ugly only thinner, happier, and no more fat pants!!! but I'm still screaming.. Get in my belly!!!!

It's a bit chilly out today so, I'm off to the gym.. I know, I'm talking to myself because no one in there right mind would read this far. However I don't care, here's another dumb quote.

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." - Dan Quayle

Bling Bling

Sorry, its been 7 days since my last pitiful post about the Techno Viking (but really if you haven't seen it do a search on youtube its hysterical). Then again no one reads these things anyway so it doesn't really matter. OK maybe a few people do read, the "Tri Commune" in Houston will do Maverick flyby occasionally...

Maverick, you just did an incredibly brave thing. What you should have done was land your plane! you don't own that plane, the tax payers do! Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash. You've been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers, and one admiral's daughter!

Penny Benjaman was her name... Anyhow, enough Top Gun...

Last week I was able to take a mini vacation to the beautifully overcast Southern California. What an amazing place to live.

Unfortunately, we all know the cost of housing there. It takes a lot of bling to enjoy that weather all year...

I was able to get in a few good runs while I was there. It's refreshing to run without a stopwatch or clocking the distance. I was running in a Forrest Gump fashion, running just to run and enjoy my surroundings.

Memorial Park is nice, Rice University is a good running/training place as well. However If I had a view like this with perfect weather and NO bugs, I'd be much more inclined to get out there and put in some miles.

Some days training seems like its just habit or I feel an obligation to the financial commitments I've made to this lifestyle. Other days I cant wait for the feeling after a hard workout. When you meet your goal for a run, or knock out an awesome 3000 yd swim, or your legs are dead from going all out the last few miles of a long bike, that's the good stuff. Other times the training is the only normal part of the day on those days when work sucks, traffic blows, or you get a letter from the IRS informing you that you screwed up royally on your Turbo Tax last year.. oops..

So, As I run a turkey trot tomorrow, I'll be thankful for my health and lifestyle that gets me out of bed before everyone else to take a 2 hr run, then to stop at the Surfin' Donuts and bring a little warm breakfast to those that slept in.

Now, I probably wont ever drive $300K "Lambo" on the Pacific Coast Highway. But I do have a lot to be thankful for this year, and in the years to come....
However, if this kid can develop some speed off that 3 point stance and can turn it into a 7 figure salary. I'll settle for a big house with pool and early retirement... Maybe a used Ferrari too... :)

Even though no one reads this far, I'll still end in a quote... Happy Thanksgiving!!

“I would like to live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were ever supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever.”[Miss Alabama 1994]

Techno Viking

Lexapro wouldn't do a thing for this guy he has all the confidence in the world!!!

Just wanted to add some comic relief.... :)

I dont get it!!!

No soap box here, just somethings that I don't understand. Smoking!!!! Who does this anymore?? Could it be the fact that I've concerned myself with my health and achieving new Pr's for every aspect of life? Smoking doesn't fit into my plan nor does it interest me? Honestly, its a pretty common thing these days to see the lack of popularity of those that smoke. The dangers are well known and we are inundated with all the negatives on a daily basis.

OK, so I know that no one reads these things, but I still wont get too personal with it. I work for one of these huge construction companies that does work all over the world. These days the safety factor can make or break a budget. In the old days there was a formula that basically came to one death per million dollars spent on construction. In today's world safety is scrutinized so that the chances of a finger prick is minimized by taking time to inform and educate the labor force on the importance of job site safety so everyone can get home safely.

My next point, in order for any company to be successful its imperative that only the best are hired and trained to enforce the policies of a company. 20 years ago the title "safety man" didn't exist, if it did it was a token job given to someone that was injured on the job. Unfortunately there was no training at the time and it was a job that required only observations and paperwork after an accident has taken place. In today's construction world college degrees and years or experience are required to become a "safety man," a light duty injury wouldn't qualify someone for this position. These "safety people" are required to inform and lecture almost like a clergyman to a congregation. The one major point that I has been beaten into me since I started digging ditches when I was 18 years old, is that safety on the job is as important as safety at home. The techniques are the same thus should the policies even at home.

Now, with all that said. Why do I walk out of the gym every morning and get hit in the face with a fast ball of cigarette smoke!!! And who's smoking these cigarettes, take a guess??? The same people who lecture me about my personal safety...

As Triathletes we can all appreciate the feeling we get after a good workout. Our endorphins are going crazy, blood is pumping, and were on top of the world. The last thing we want to do is walk through a wall of smoke built by a group of people that are "qualified" in personal safety and health....

Honestly, I don't care if people smoke, and I don't care about the tobacco companies. I could careless about smokers getting cancer, they know the dangers. I'm just annoyed by morons with ego's and the do as I say not as I do policy. Smoke all you want, just please go down wind. Just as I don't want to smell your fart I don't want to smell your smoke!!!

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life." - Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.

Maybe it was a soap box after all....

Stop looking at me Swan!

OK please ignore the title. I know nobody reads these things, but I feel a bad quote from a silly movie is in order.

This past week has been good and bad for my training. About a month ago I started sticking with some swim workouts I got online, and from some other reading material. Its true, I would never have believed this! but if there is a smart person that is willing to pass on good information it will benefit me.. What an amazing concept! I should listen to others more often. All that time when I was out playing games and not studying my parents told me I needed to study and not act like a moron. I THOUGHT they were kidding!!!! Then I find out that most people finish college in like 4 or maybe even 5 years.. Humm, Here I was thinking there were all gifted! Why didn't someone tell me that good advice is truly that, good advice!!! Now I know!! Thanks a lot Mom.. Long story short, Next year Clydesdale's beware!!! If you see what appears to be a sinking elephant, don't worry its only me.

And somehow that was the good! The bad is a reality that I'm possible too big and goofy for the long course races. It has now been a month since the half, I'm still limited to running about 3 miles before the pain in my knee sets in. The time is counting down to get back into running before the marathon. I'll give it a few more weeks then I'll consider the half marathon, if its not better by December, I'll post my bib on Craigslist.. Reality is starting to set in that I'm not the 21 year old that I see in the mirror. Not that I really want be him anymore... :) (I'm not 21 in that pic, but its the oldest one I have)

This little guy is forcing me to grow up and feel like an adult. I know that doesn't mean that I cant be athletic, and compete in Tri's, but it does tell me that I need to use a bit more thought when it comes to planning my workouts and my seasons. So I can make it to the next season without injury...

I see that most people close with a deep quote that requires some thought to process, but since no one reads these, I'll quote Tupac

“I don't mean to sound sleazy but tease me I don't want it if it's that easy.”

I'm not sure that what means, might require some self interpretation???

Later,

Mike