Progress Report: 30 Burpees

If any of you have been playing along at home, you might be wondering, "so, how did it go?" What was the result of completing 30 Burpees for 30 Days?  Today would be 33 days since the challenge was issued.

I'm very excited to announce... [drumroll]...

That I still have nine more days to finish.  *sigh*

Truth be told, it's been 30 Burpees for 21 Days that's actually taken 32 Days to accomplish.

For various reasons that can only be summed up as "LIFE," the journey has been extended.  Throw in some holidays, long work days, extra work days, and other strength workouts that made an additional 30 burpees superfluous or downright impossible (jello triceps, anyone?), it's taking longer than originally anticipated.

Sometimes I missed just one day and got back on track, but there were a couple three and four day burpee-less stretches.

Oh well.

Really?  Oh well?

Don't confuse my acceptance as nonchalance.  I'm sure that doing the exercise every day for thirty consecutive days would have crazy awesome benefits.  However, doing the exercise for 21 out of 32 day days has had a noticeable impact.  I didn't just give up after missing a few sessions.

I am stronger.  I can actually do push-ups again!  From my toes and not my knees.  Not many, but they are getting a little bit easier, and my form is better.  Not great, but better.

Whereas the first burpee session took over eight sweating, groaning, huffing and puffing minutes, it now takes about four sweating, groaning, huffing and puffing minutes.  Sidebar: Burly took on the challenge too, and he knocks it out daily in two minutes.  Men.

My body composition is shifting and I'm starting to shed some weight.  There's a little less torso insulation, and sustainably two pounds are gone since mid-December.  Of course, as mentioned earlier, I've been doing other strength activities regularly, like squats and split lunge jumps, but the regular Burpee challenge is keeping it going with a steady load of swim-bike-run.

Hopefully in nine days, I can blog about achieving this goal.  Heck, while I'm being so honest today, it will probably be in ten or twelve days!

As with most things in life, it doesn't always go as planned.  Achieving some goals takes longer than desired.  The ability to simultaneously persevere, yet enjoy the journey, I believe, is what adds layers of richness to life.  The perspectives, the stories, the pictures, the jokes... they can't be enjoyed while running straight to the goal, but rather in those moments of delay, whether deliberate or circumstantial.

Perhaps I'm just fabricating an elaborate excuse as to why I didn't just "git her done."  Or perhaps, I'm just living life.

And, for the record, burpees still suck.  See you in nine ten twelve days or so.

2013: Another Level!

Inspired by my friends, teammates and fellow bloggers, I spent the morning reviewing 2013.  Pouring through the +Garmin data, +TrainingPeaks records, race reports and my very own "Race Numbers" spreadsheet (yes, still an engineer at heart) was pretty cool.  Lots of things to be happy about regarding the 2013 multisport season.

The best way I can sum it up... I took it to another level in 2013!  I trained less, yet accomplished more.

On 03 February, I completed my first coached workout.  Hiring a coach was a smart choice: I dedicate a lot of personal resources to my tri life and have non-tri priorities too, so letting a professional take over this part of my life was wise.  My +Carmichael Training Systems coach gets IT.  My workouts are tough, but there's not junk volume, no training for the sake of training!  And the results came.  The data proves it:

2012: 383 training hours and 3844 miles = 3 Age Group Podiums
2013: 261 hours and 2850 miles = 3 Overall Podiums (1-1st, 2-2nd) and 2 Age Group Podiums

July 2013:  2nd AG, Sprint distance, Music City Triathlon, Nashville, TN.

Race-wise, in 2012 I completed 7 triathlons including a 70.3, and in 2013, 7 triathlons and 2 duathlons, also including one 70.3.  Each season included a half marathon, a 2-mile open water swim, and few 5K or 10K races.  I even tried cyclocross in 2013!

2013 was a year of PRs for both pace (70.3, Olympic, 10K, half marathon) and distance (longest bike ride completed).  Sprints are hard to compare due to varying distances but I was just plain faster in 2013.  I rewarded myself with a new aero bike helmet after holding a 20.0 mph average in an Olympic distance race mid-season, and repeated it two more times!

The highlight of 2013 racing was participation in the USAT Age Group Nationals in August.  It was a wonderful event in Milwaukee, and I'm thrilled that I already earned the chance to return in 2014.

My awesome parents joined us in Milwaukee...

And they also supported the June 70.3 effort in Syracuse, along with my brother, sister-in-law and dear friend Frosty.

Racing with family and friends cheering is unparalleled.  I think they had as much fun as us.  Oh, and when I say "us" and "we," I'm referring to me and Burly, my favorite training partner!

Capping off the year was nomination to the most excellent Team Rev3!

I'm humbled and excited to be one of more than 60 amateur athletes representing a wonderful event company +REV3 Triathlon (REV3TRI).  2014 should be a fantastic year with them!

2013 also included several non-triathlon changes, including a new job and new house, so navigating the training and racing was not without its challenges.

I'm so very fortunate to have a strong support network of family, friends, coach, RockyTop MultiSport club mates, Provision teammates, Rev3 teammates, new sponsors and Burly.  Thank you.

As much as I enjoyed the next level that was 2013, I simply hope that sharing my activities inspired others to go out and live each day fully.  May 2014 bring more fun and inspiration.

It's time to get ready for a bike workout and get a glimpse of the next level.  Cheers!