What a swim.

UGH!!! That was painful. Last month I did 5 miles in the pool and it wasn't too bad. Today I bumped it up by just another mile, and for some reason it hurt. It was painful, but it is now done.

I am not sure why this particular swim was more painful than the last. I think I need to spend more hours in the pool. Next month I am bumping up the miles to 8. In May I am shooting for a 10 miler, and then the 12.5 mile swim in the following month. It sure is coming up quick.

For those that do not know I am swimming to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. You can support my efforts by clicking HERE.

If you want to find out more about my swim around Key West, or sign up. I hear there's still slots... You can do that HERE.

If you know of any open water swims between now and June, let me know. I have a 3-miler on the books, but need more.

Thanks y'all... You ROCK!!!

Swimming around Key West...

Hey Y'all,

It has been awhile since I updated my blog. My last update was looking for some ideas of a charity to raise money for in my "big race" this year which is my 12.5 mile swim around Key West.

I didn't get too much input... But the input I typically got was "do it for a charity that has particular significance and meaning to you". The other ideas I got where to raise money for Michael J. Fox's Parkinson Foundation, under-privileged children, and wounded warriors. These are all great causes, and I will live up to my promise and do events to raise money for these charities in the future. However, this year, I've been touched by a remarkable lady whom I've yet to meet. Joan Wilson.

My solo swim around Key West requires me to have a support kayak. Originally my friend Jen was going to be my kayaker but got pulled away by the National Guard. Thankfully I had plenty of notice, and Jonathan stepped up to the plate and volunteered to be my kayaker on the journey. Some of y'all have met Jonathan, and some of y'all will have the pleasure as time goes on. He's always willing to help and just a great person.

So... Joan Wilson is Jonathan's mom, we're friends on Facebook, and I'll meet her for the first time next month. Joan has MS. Her updates on Facebook last week have been about an upcoming visit to the doctor, and then receiving news that wasn't the best.

I've not met her, but just from the few emails we've shared and the stories I hear from Jonathan, she sounds like an amazing woman. I felt like I wanted to do something, and have been sending prayers and holding good thoughts, and then well prepping for my run yesterday... I decided this was who I'd do my swim for.

When I finished my run, I got onto Charity Navigator and started looking for Multiple Sclerosis charities. I found a few different ones, and settled on the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. I chose this charity for it's rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as it's option for creating an online donation page, as well as its "Swim for MS" challenge. All these pieces seemed to fit what I was looking for.

I've been training. I'm up to 5 miles in the pool, this month will I'm hoping to get up to 7, then 9 in April, 11 in May, and then the swim in June 4th. Jonathan is going to be out in a kayak getting ready for his part as well.

If you could support my swim, say a prayer for Joan, and if you can make a donation... I would be forever grateful. I understand times are hard, and money is tight, any amount is welcome, and if you can't give... Say a prayer for Joan, and wish me luck on the swim.

Here's the link to my page (click here).

Thanks y'all. You guys helped me raise over $2500 for wounded warriors when I did Marine Corps Marathon last year. I'm setting my sights higher this year and made the initial donation to get the ball rolling.

~Matt

What charity should I raise money for???

The off season training is winding down, and I'm back at it and my race calendar is filling up...

Last year I ran for a cause. The cause was the Wounded Warrior Project, and the race I did was the Marine Corps Marathon. With the help of my friends and family we raised $2145 for soldiers injured while serving this awesome country.

That was the second race I did that I raised money for charity. But it was the first that I did that didn't require me to. I decided a few months before the Marine Corps Marathon that I would dedicate one race a year to raising money for charity.

This year the event I picked to do for charity is my 12.5 mile swim around Key West. It takes place June 4th. http://www.swimaroundkeywest.com/

Now that I have the event picked, I need to identify a charity to raise money for. Since I am calling on all my friends and family to support this charity, I am reaching out to you to help identify a cause for me to race for. You can comment on the blog, reach out to me on facebook, or send me an email, or call me. I will start a list and will race for the charity that most people suggest. I will then keep the list and identify future events to do for the charity you mention.

I love doing events, and hope to be doing them for the next 30-40 years. So send me your suggestions.

I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Matt

What's too sick to train???

This week has been a rough week. My stomach started doing somersaults on Tuesday and has not really stopped since. It has gotten better since Tuesday; the nauseous feeling has pretty much subsided. Now I'm left with little appetite, and a constant churning in my tummy.

On Tuesday there was no question: I was not training, I left work at 0930, and skipped the first day of school because I felt so crappy. Yesterday was also a wash. Speed work was not going to happen because it felt like, and still does, that anything over a certain lackadaisical pace would be too much and cause some unfortunate consequence.

Now I'm wondering. What is too sick to train? Do I need to get myself a doctors note to prove to myself that taking the time to get better is the right approach? OR... Do I get my ass on the bike and in the pool and suck it up and train on? Why does taking time off from training when I don't feel good make me feel worse? Is it not the right thing to do???

UGH!

Oh... And I grabbed the photo from assbach on Flickr

Have you ever???

Have you ever had a workout that was truly amazing. One that was not much different than any other day... But for some reason your mind just started making sense of everything and a you finished with a new found motivation and direction??? My run this afternoon was that workout.

I'm not sure what triggered it. Could it have been the typical mundane routine at the office? Or maybe the inspiring race report from my good friend Jackie? The chance conversation with the concierge in my building who just returned after being out for many weeks that was the result of heart disease and emphysema? Visiting with my family this holiday season and seeing my mom's 90 lbs weight loss; or my dad trying to figure out how to live forever?

Whatever it was this afternoon's run was amazing. It occurred to me that I have all the tools needed to change my life the way that I want. I have completed a 500 hour course in personal training, and know how to design workouts and nutrition/meal plans, I have the determination to finish races, which is evidenced by this last year of racing. I have an eagerness to improve. And finally I have some good friends that will support me along the way.

This workout couldn't have come at a better time. It's the end of one year, and the start of a new one. I anticipate this year to be an awesome adventure, highlighted by some amazing times.

I feel blessed. For the first time in a long time I find myself talking passionately about something that interests me a great deal. Triathlon. Yes, things are missing in my life. I'm 33 and single, with no signs of that changing; working a job that just feels like work everyday, and having to make some tough decisions regarding friends, and what constitutes a friend to me, and how I can be a better friend to some amazing people.

I have my work cut out for me. This weekend I will sit down and work out a nutrition plan and finish up my workout schedule through Ironman Arizona. I am ready for the challenge, open to the idea of someone to share the adventure with, and just enjoying the hell out of life.

2011 is going to be the year...

2010 is winding to a close and it was a hell of a year. I did 3 marathons, 2 Ironman, a half Ironman, the Urbanathlon in Chicago, the Army 10-miler, a few Olympic distance triathlons, 2 sprints, and started the year with the JFK 20k. It was an awesome year. :) But I feel I didn't live up to my full potential. My diet and nutrition were all out of whack and I think my training suffered from it.

So the goal for 2011 get my diet and nutrition on track. A big piece of that is to cut out the beer, wine, margaritas and all other delicious beverages that are best consumed with reckless disregard for moderation. The question this raises is... How does one be social without drinking? I'm sure it can be done. It may be my greatest challenge, but if I can get the support of my friends... And break out of my shell it should be a good year.

If I can keep on track, slim down I hope by November I will be ready for an awesome race at Ironman Arizona. And who knows... I may be racing Kona in October (depending on the lottery drawing in April), so I need to be ready so I don't make a fool of myself.

2011 is going to be the year that I am the person I want to be; not just settle for hangin out, having fun, and suffering through some of the longer races.

Hope y'all support me.

First long ride in awhile...

I'm back at it and made it through the first week of training. Missed one workout on Wednesday... But hit the rest of them. All in all it was a good week. Somehow the bike is the hardest for me to get back into. But I did a two hour ride this morning. It was easy, in the living room, but it was time in the saddle.

Now my goal is to figure out the schedule. I'm hoping to start getting to bed early enough so I can get up at 4 to get my workouts in. Cause I really hate working late. We'll see how it goes.

I think my biggest challenge this season, as with any year, is the diet. I need to focus on slimming down, and will look at cutting out booze here shortly. I think if I do that, and pay closer attention to what I eat when I go out... Along with doing more dinners at home.

Along with trying to fit in some good training this winter, I'm also going to try to take up down hill skiing. I don't think I have been since I was 6 or so... So it should be interesting. Let's hope I don't break anything.

So that's the plan. We'll see how it goes.