Swim: 65,926 yards (37.45 miles)
Bike: 57.5 miles
Run: 471.3 miles, 2 marathons, 1 5k
Strength training: 6 times
Yoga: 6 times
Overall, 2018 was not a bad year. I got promoted at work, started grad school at UNC-W, finished 2 marathons in 2 new states, and had surgery to repair a umbilical hernia. The kids got good grades, they are both in middle school now, and happy wife, happy life.
But the disappointing parts. Arthritis forced me out of the RAM swim team in May, so I stopped adding to that swim total on 5/25. Arthritis also kept me off of the yoga mat, every time I tried it ended in tears after less than a minute. Joint pain sucks. My weight maxed out at 220.4 lbs, low point was 202 lbs. So I was over 200 lbs for the entire year, compared to the 177 lb average from 2015. I spent most of my Ironman training days around 170 lbs. So to be over 200 for the entire year is still shocking. It also meant what little running I was able to accomplish was slow and cumbersome, usually painful.
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| wrong on a whole lot of levels? |
My goals for 2018:
1. Run 800 miles - fail
This wasn't really because of an injury. The arthritis sucks, but I also had surgery, and tons of stress related problems. I took care of the marathons in the spring so I didn't have anything to train for during the fall. Plus grad school takes up a TON of time. So I just didn't get in as many miles as I wanted. 471 is just over halfway there.
2. Delaware - Success!
Ran the marathon at Trap Pond, fun race, fun trip with my sweetheart.
3. Colorado - Success!
This was an amazing trip, beautiful race, and I can't imagine a better way to knock CO from the state list. And now I can't wait to go back.
4. Get under 200 lbs - fail
yeah. above. I came close, 202. After the surgery I really tried the weight loss phase setup that I used to do before starting ironman training. But I couldn't put in the time for workouts, and after a few weeks the stress really got to me so I started gaining again.
So I was 2-2, and that's not good enough. 2018 was still on the positive side of the arch, but I can do better than that.
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| Halfway there! |
Since 2018 was racked with stress and change, without actually changing much. I need to channel that into some actual change in my approach to the year.
1. Grad school - pass my classes
Setting this as the first goal because I'm not going to graduate until 2020 and it is the most important non-work activity going on right now.
2. Oregon - I'm registered for the Boring Marathon outside of Portland
3. Tennessee - I've been holding out on marathoning in TN just in case I wanted to do another Ironman (Chattanooga). That's never going to happen, so I've registered for a 12 hour race outside of Knoxville the weekend after I get back from Oregon. I like the 12 hour option to *either* get really slow laps to finish marathon distance or get in my first ultra in a few years if I'm feeling good.
4. Run 800 miles on the year
5. Finish the front porch
I'm in the middle of a project to rebuild the front porch. Finish it safely. After that, I will be able to get in more mileage and should be able to hit 800 or 1000 (super secret goal) for the year. Here's the current progress on the project:
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| The front porch |
I'm putting every spare minute into the porch, especially until grad school starts back up on MLK day.
6 De-stress some
Running injuries got me back into some major woodworking projects in 2017, now obviously I'm still really deep into projects and loving it. Work stress rose pretty good last year, especially the 2nd half of the year. Combine that with starting the MBA program (which is never stressful, right?) and that means I'm not setting a weight goal for this year. Just try to manage the stress. Running really helps. Hitting milestones on the porch project really helps. Hitting milestones on the work project really helps. I'm waiting for my next work project to kick in as well, likely that will spin up over the summer and lead into work over the fall.
Stress and workload both have a dramatic effect on bodyweight. I can eat better and move more, sure, but keeping stress at bay is really going to be the key to maintaining some decent weight.
Cheers to a happy and light 2019!
1 comment:
Working a full time demanding job + an MBA program is a lot! I struggled to fit in exercise when I was doing my MBA program in 2006-2009. I did a marathon during my first semester of my program and then gained about 25 lbs! But I lost during the last year of grad school as I joined weight watchers. My sister was getting married in the summer of 2009 and I did not want to look awful in her wedding pictures. That was the motivation I needed to clean up my eating and get back on track with working out. But I didn't have kids at the time and was single so I had a whole lot more free time than I do now!
I set no goals for 2018 besides surviving our first year as parents and that was the right decision. My goal this year is to train for and run a 10k. That seemed like a laughable goal pre-pregnancy but now I can see how hard it is to fit everything into each week. I'm hoping Paul can handle staying up a bit later by the spring/summer so we can go for stroller runs after work. But right now he goes to bed at 6 since he is a terrible napper at daycare!
Good luck with your goals, buddy! I'm glad you've found some stress-relieving activities that you enjoy. That's important when you are under a lot of stress!!
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