RESET

It's time for a fresh start...

RESET my blog
Yeah, I know, it's been over 1 year since my last blog post.  With another Ironman on the schedule (Ironman Texas - 05/18/2013) it's time to start chronicling my whacked thoughts leading up to this race.  

RESET my body
Since I started doing triathlons 8 years ago I've never taken more than 1 week to do absolutely no physical activity.  Yes, I've had injuries (more than I care to admit) but they've never taken me completely out of swimming, biking, running, strengthening, stretching or even walking.  Achilles tendonitis...stop running, continue swimming and cycling.  Shoulder pain...stop swimming, continue cycling and running.

I'm now forced to refrain completely from all of activity.  A stubborn femoral neck stress fracture has me on crutches for 3-4 more weeks.  I've already been on them for the past 3 weeks, but I was also cycling and swimming pretty hard during that time.  Reality hit me last week on a follow up visit with my doc - it's not healing like it should be so it's time to completely eliminate all weight-bearing on the bum leg as well as any physical activity for at least 1-2 weeks.  Uggghh!  That was a serious low blow. It's time to do whatever it will take to accelerate and complete the healing process.

RESET my mind
It took me several days after my last doctor's visit, but I've finally accepted the reality that training is no longer a top 3 priority in my everyday life.  I've also accepted the fact that my fitness will suffer immensely.  I'm now focused on using the time I would've been training and do more value-added activities, namely spending time with my family and checking off as many "honey-do" items that don't require me to put a load on my leg (we might be the only house on the block that doesn't have outdoor Christmas lights this year).  This shift in my mindset will ultimately give me better perspective when I do begin training again.  It's easy to get carried away with training hours and inadvertently shit on the much more important things in life.  It's time to reprioritize.

RESET my diet
For some reason the more my activity level decreases the more my diet resembles my freshman year of college.  It was pretty ugly for most of October and all of November and now my body composition is showing the fruits of my labor.  It's so hard during this time of year to walk away from the comfort foods that are every where you turn, but I always feel so much better physically and mentally if I ignore them.  Plus, once I do get back to running my joints and muscles will thank me for not asking them to carry an extra 10-15 pound saddle bag.  It's time to focus on consuming whole foods in moderation again.