Training Day 27/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

I should have taken a walk with Boudreaux on this very pleasant evening before the snow comes back tomorrow and Thursday but I made the mistake of having too much curry for dinner. So I didn't feel like moving around much while it was light out. Instead I sat down with a book (Fairy Tales from the Isle of Man) and a glass of Macallan 12 year. Later on I did 25 push-ups and 40 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 17.05 miles / 2.23 per session (8)

Push-ups: 443 / 24.61 per session (18)
Squats: 515  / 32.19 per session (16)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
6 days off

Training Day 26/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

After getting home from work Boudreaux and I went on a 1.61 mile walk of the Big Loop and enjoyed the perfect evening we had. Later on I did 25 push-ups and 30 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 17.05 miles / 2.23 per session (8)

Push-ups: 418 / 24.59 per session (17)
Squats: 475  / 31.67 per session (15)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
6 days off

Training Day 25/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

It was another beautiful day in the Twin Cities today so Boudreaux and I went out this morning for a nice 3.51 mile walk. We went to North Park and did our Big Loop. It was a perfect morning for it. Then tonight I tacked on 20 push-ups and 20 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 15.44 miles / 2.21 per session (7)

Push-ups: 393 / 24.56 per session (16)
Squats: 445  / 31.79 per session (14)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
6 days off

Training Day 24/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today was even more beautiful than yesterday. So what did I do? I spent most of it indoors at Twin Cities Code Camp. It was great fun but it was spent in classrooms at the U. Not long after I got home there was a party at a neighbor's house that I went to. I almost forgot to post something here but I did a quick 30 push-ups and 30 squats to get this in before midnight.

Training Tally

Walk: 11.93 miles / 1.99 per session (6)

Push-ups: 373 / 24.87 per session (15)
Squats: 425  / 32.69 per session (13)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
6 days off

Training Day 23/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today was a beautiful day. So I set up a situation whereby I had to go out on a walk. I took the bus to work as normal. Then Allison picked me up at work so I could take her to the airport, after which I drove home. So my car was still sitting at the park and ride. After dinner Boudreaux and I took a lovely 3.73 mile walk to go and get my car.

Training Tally

Walk: 11.93 miles / 1.99 per session (6)

Push-ups: 343 / 24.5 per session (14)
Squats: 395  / 32.92 per session (12)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
6 days off

Training Day 22/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Like I said I would last night, I took today off to rest and recover.

Training Tally

Walk: 8.2 miles / 1.64 per session (5)

Push-ups: 343 / 24.5 per session (14)
Squats: 395  / 32.92 per session (12)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
6 days off

Training Day 21/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Another day in Minnesota means another rainy evening. And yes, I'm made of sugar, so I don't like going for walks in the rain. So I played some Rock Band 3 with Boudreaux instead. And after that I did 30 push-ups and 35 squats. My quads were really feeling it at the end. I think tomorrow might be a good day for a rest.

Training Tally

Walk: 8.2 miles / 1.64 per session (5)

Push-ups: 343 / 24.5 per session (14)
Squats: 395  / 32.92 per session (12)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
5 days off

Training Day 20/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.


Tonight's non-working out activity was going to a Minnesota Wild hockey game. The game was fun, but now it's late. I was able to get in 35 push-ups and 40 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 8.2 miles / 1.64 per session (5)

Push-ups: 313 / 24.08 per session (13)
Squats: 360  / 32.73 per session (11)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
5 days off

Training Day 19/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

It was back to work after a relaxing weekend today. And another (last?) snowstorm tonight. Tonight was also board game night. A few buddies and I played a fun game of Eclipse. After the game and before hopping into bed I did a quick 30 push-ups and 40 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 8.2 miles / 1.64 per session (5)

Push-ups: 278 / 23.17 per session (12)
Squats: 320  / 32 per session (10)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
5 days off

Training Day 18/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

We were out and about most of the day today. The morning was spent in Stillwater walking around during a brief respite from the rain. We then relaxed at home for a short while before heading out for Aggie Muster, where I ate too much food.

So we finally got home and I feel fit to burst. I did my standard (and getting easier by the occasion) "wuss-out" workout of 20 push-ups and 30 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 8.2 miles / 1.64 per session (5)

Push-ups: 248 / 22.55 per session (11)
Squats: 280  / 31.11 per session (9)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
5 days off

Training Day 17/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Allison and I spent the day in Stillwater, MN today. We walked the entire length of town on one side of Main St and then came back on the other while poking our heads into a few shops. I'm pretty sure we did more than 1.5 miles, but that's what I'm going to record.

Training Tally

Walk: 8.2 miles / 1.64 per session (5)

Push-ups: 228 / 22.8 per session (10)
Squats: 250  / 31.25 per session (8)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
5 days off

Training Day 16/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today was a day of rest.

Training Tally

Walk: 6.7 miles / 1.68 per session (4)

Push-ups: 228 / 22.8 per session (10)
Squats: 250  / 31.25 per session (8)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
5 days off

Training Day 15/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Sadly, I was correct about the weather for today. It started out as a rain/snow/sleet mix all afternoon turning into heavy snow all night. So another exciting evening of body weight exercises. I have not yet taken Randy's advice about doing a video at home.  I tallied 30 push-ups and 40 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 6.7 miles / 1.68 per session (4)

Push-ups: 228 / 22.8 per session (10)
Squats: 250  / 31.25 per session (8)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
4 days off

Training Day 14/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Will I ever train outside again? It is pouring rain right now and we're supposed to get snow tomorrow and/or the next day. This is the worst Spring I can remember. (though admittedly, my memory is not what it used to be) So what did I do? I bet you can guess. I did 25 push-ups and 30 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 6.7 miles / 1.68 per session (4)

Push-ups: 198 / 22 per session (9)
Squats: 210  / 30 per session (7)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
4 days off

Training Day 13/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Another light day but I did manage to get outside and actually go for a walk. After dinner Boudreaux and I did our big loop. Later on I added 20 pushups for good measure.

Training Tally

Walk: 6.7 miles / 1.68 per session (4)

Push-ups: 173 / 21.63 per session (8)
Squats: 180  / 30 per session (6)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
4 days off

Training Day 12/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

My body felt a little run down today so I took it off from exercise.

Training Tally

Walk: 5.08 miles / 1.69 per session (3)

Push-ups: 153 / 21.86 per session (7)
Squats: 180  / 30 per session (6)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
4 days off

Training Day 11/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

We had an utterly dreary day here today. Way too much TV. I didn't get much in (as seems usual lately) but I did a little. I have added 20 push-ups and 20 squats to the tally.

Training Tally

Walk: 5.08 miles / 1.69 per session (3)

Push-ups: 153 / 21.86 per session (7)
Squats: 180  / 30 per session (6)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
3 days off

Training Day 10/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Holy cow. I'm 1/10th of the way to the triathlon. I don't feel as though I've done enough but I'm happy I've actually done something. And that is what this series of blog posts is really about. If I hadn't started doing this I probably wouldn't even have done what I have.

Allison and I met a couple friends at the Mall of America for lunch today. After lunch we did a little shopping and walked around the mall at least one time. One lap around the mall is .57 miles. I'm sure we did more than that but that is what I'm going to count for today. Later on I added 28 push-ups and 40 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 5.08 miles / 1.69 per session (3)

Push-ups: 133 / 22.17 per session (6)
Squats: 160  / 32 per session (5)
Pull-ups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
3 days off

Training Day 9/100 (missed)

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

I just straight up forgot to do anything or post last night. I'm annoyed at myself. Today we're spending some time at the Mall of America so I'll at least get some unrecorded indoor walking in.

Training Tally

Walk: 4.51 miles / 2.26 per session (2)

Pushups: 105 / 21 per session (5)
Squats: 120  / 30 per session (4)
Pullups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)
3 days off

Training Day 8/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today I'm still recovering and we had a snow storm. So I worked from home again and didn't go outside. But I actually did some work to the tune of 25 push-ups and 40 squats. I can't wait for the weather to get nicer and stay that way.

Training Tally

Walk: 4.51 miles / 2.26 per session (2)

Pushups: 105 / 21 per session (5)
Squats: 120  / 30 per session (4)
Pullups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)

Training Day 7/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

I'm still sick. In some ways I felt better today than yesterday, but in others I felt worse. I stayed home but worked remotely for a while. In the middle of the afternoon my energy was gone and I had to quit for the day. I pretty much relaxed and rested from then on until now I am getting ready for bed. I think I'll skip working out today and hope for the best tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to the possible 10+" of snow we're supposed to get. I hope my workout isn't shoveling the driveway.

Training Tally

Walk: 4.51 miles / 2.26 per session (2)

Pushups: 80 / 20 per session (4)
Squats: 80  / 26.7 per session (3)
Pullups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)

Training Day 6/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today wasn't a great day. As I feared might happen, I stayed home from work with a bad cold. That, plus the heavy rain all day, meant I wasn't going outside for anything, let along a walk or jog. Boudreaux kept very good care of me until Allison got home. But I didn't move much at all. I finally decided to do my typical body weight exercises before heading to bed though.

It may seem (even to me) that these simple exercises aren't going to do enough for me in this endeavor. But I've read a couple studies about how straight-up strength helps in essentially any athletic activity. So even though the two things that I'm most worried about for the triathlon are the swim and having energy left at the end of the race, it all starts with strength. I may not have a lot of endurance or swimming skill right now, but I have a problem even more basic than those: I'm weak.

I need to be stronger if I'm going to do this race. So when I can't get out to walk, run, bike, or swim I am going to do at least a little bit to get stronger. There aren't many combinations of two movements that one can do that will work more of the body than the push-up and the squat, so that's what I'm doing. Today it was 15 push-ups and 20 squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 4.51 miles / 2.26 per session (2)

Pushups: 80 / 20 per session (4)
Squats: 80  / 26.7 per session (3)
Pullups 1.5 / 1.5 per session (1)

Training Day 5/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today was a day of rest and recovery. I'm so out of shape that walks, pushups, and squats have really made me sore. Plus, it was a busy day as I had game night at my place tonight. I'll try to post a picture or two tomorrow.

To add to the fun I am coming down with a cold. I sneezed a couple times on the bus ride home and now my nose is running and stuffed up and I think I'm starting to feel a tingle at the back of my throat. I'm not looking forward to seeing where this is going.

Training Tally

Walk: 4.51 miles / 2.26 per session

Pushups: 65 / 21.7 per session
Squats: 60 / 30 per session
Pullups 1.5 / 1.5 per session

Training Day 4/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Today I did a bunch of walking and only part of it was recorded. I really need to get a pedometer. Allison and I did a bit of shopping earlier in the day which is always more work (walking) than I think about. But after we got back we went on a "actual" walk with Boudreaux. This time we walked to North Park and back for a distance of 2.89 miles.

When we got to the park I tried to incorporate another one of Primal Blueprints "Essential Movements" into my workouts: the pull up. It's going to be a little while before I really get this one going. I'm going to say I did 1 1/2 pull ups. I completed the first one but couldn't quite get my chin to the bar on the second. Yikes, that feels pathetic to write. It didn't help that I was doing in on a soccer goal instead of a nice bar. But I'm sure I'll get better.

Training Tally

Walk: 4.51 miles / 2.26 per session

Pushups: 65 / 21.7 per session
Squats: 60 / 30 per session
Pullups 1.5 / 1.5 per session

Training Day 3/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

Another day where I didn't take enough time for fitness. Again...I need to start getting up earlier and getting it out of the way first thing in the morning. I was at a nerdy, programmers camp all day today and didn't feel very well from the pizza I had been provided (free) for lunch.

But I managed to get a few motions in before midnight. A set of 20 and then 10 pushups and 30 more squats.

Training Tally

Walk: 1.62 miles / 1.62 per session

Pushups: 65 / 17.5 per session
Squats: 60 / 30 per session

Training Day 2/100

Wondering what this post is about? I'm planning on doing a triathlon.

As I expected, today was a tough day for fitness. But I didn't do nothing.

Ideally, I would wake up earlier than I do and go for a walk and/or jog with my dog. It would jump start my day and get that goal out of the way. But that is tough. We'll have to see if I can make it happen as the weather gets nicer, but I don't know.

Anyway, straight from work I went with a group of friends to watch a mutual friend in a performance. After the show we all headed out for drinks. Which is pretty much the opposite of training for a triathlon. But I got home 10 minutes ago and while Boudreaux was outside I did 20 push ups and 2 sets of 15 squats. Not much...but not nothing.

Training Tally

Walk: 1.62 miles / 1.62 per session

Pushups: 35 / 17.5 per session
Squats: 30 / 30 per session

Life Time Sprint Triathlon Training Day 1/100

For those of you who haven't hung out with me in a while you may not know that I've lost just over 20 pounds since the middle of October. I'm very proud of that fact even though it hasn't really been all that challenging. My weight had been trending upwards and when I got to a new high point I made the decision that enough was enough.

Though a friend who lost a significant amount of weight I found out about and started looking into the Primal Blueprint. To me the basic principles are no (or few) grains, no (or very little) sugar, a good amount of animal protein, lots of vegetables, and move your body. It made a bunch of sense and the food part wasn't as strict as the no-carb Atkins Diet. I love bread and I love my wife's chocolate chip cookie bars and I thought it would be nearly impossible to give those up. But the less I had the less I craved them. Now I'm not even really tempted by a table full of chocolate cake and cheesecake at a party at work.

So I've lost the 20 pounds simply by changing my eating habits. And it has gone really well. But I don't move enough. And according to the Primal Blueprint even "working out" is simpler than you might think. We should walk, we should lift heavy things, and we should go all out every once in a while. So I need to start adding those principles to my life.

With that in mind I am planning on competing in the Life Time Sprint Triathlon this summer. My dad thought that it would be a great event for him, my brothers, and me to do together. I agreed. But it seems like a very daunting task in my current condition. My dad came up with the idea in February and I really haven't done anything in regards to it while he's already completed a sprint triathlon that he signed up for nearly on a whim.

So I need to get my butt in gear and my body in motion and I'm going to try and leverage the power of the modern social network to help me. Including today, I have 100 training days before the race on Saturday, July 13th. My goal is to "train" and post about it on this blog nearly daily and also post regular summaries on Facebook. My "workouts" will range from walks, to runs and bike rides, to swimming at the club, to free weights, to simple body weight exercises (push-ups, squats, etc). That all counts. As of now I'm thinking of dividing the 100 days into 10 groups of 10 and do something on at least 7 out of every 10 days. That will be over 70 days of training.

Report, Day 1 of 100 - A few small steps for a man

Allison and I did a walk we call "the loop" with Boudreaux. I mapped it on mapmyrun.com and it is 1.62 miles. I didn't time it but I will in the future. I had hoped to do a longer walk but we both got home later than we thought and the sun was going down by the time we got home. It is good to know how long that walk is so I can easily double it. There are a few other nice routes near our house that I'll be mapping soon as well. And a little later I did 15 pushups. I probably could have done a few more but Boudreaux is very curious about anyone on the floor and starts interrupting.

Training Tally

Walk: 1.62 miles

Pushups: 15

That's all for now...until tomorrow.