Raising the bar

I go through three seasons with my job: 1. Crazy Busy Season, wherein I work many 10-to-12-hours days and seven-day weeks; 2. Crazy Bad Schedule Season, wherein I don't work as many hours but do have schedules that have me bouncing back and forth between days and nights and 3. Off Season. There are also the occasional weeks I like to call Oh, Holy Hell Weeks, where basically holy hell breaks loose and I'm left to clean up the pieces.

I happen to be coming off the end of Crazy Bad Schedule Season and an Oh, Holy Hell Week, which means I've been taking little care of my body lately, and the wear and tear is catching up with me. I've gained a little weight, I've gotten a little soft and I haven't been sleeping well.

The good news is after next week I go on my own personal spring break with a trip to the beach and thus begins my Off Season. Which means it's game on for me to get back on track with my running. 

I've been so, so very bad with my running.

Lately I've averaged about one run a week, which doesn't do much to keep my endurance up. I seem to do best when I have a particular race as a goal, so I guess I'm in luck as spring is bursting at the seems with race opportunities. The problem is, my vacation sorta throws a wrench in that, taking away a couple of the bigger race weekends.

But as I was scanning the list of local races, my eyes fell to something: The Foothills Sprint Triathlon on Memorial Day.

Tell me I'm crazy, please.

I've had some sort of crazy desire to do a triathlon for the past two years or so. I know I'll never reach Ironman status (and I really don't want to). I just want to be able to knock out three different disciplines at one time. The beauty of the sprint is that the distances are reasonable: 350m swim, 10-mile bike and 2.6-mile run. I've done all of those things independent of one another, so surely with a little bit of training (and the locating of a bike) I can put all three together, right?

Again, tell me I'm crazy.

I just feel like I want to kick it up a notch this summer. Last summer I faced the challenge of learning how to run and and completing a couple of 5Ks, and I did it. This summer, I've got to raise the bar. If the triathlon doesn't work out, there are a few 8Ks and 10Ks in June I can aim for.

My other goal this summer is to rekindle my love of hiking. I totally took for granted last summer all the wonderful hiking and camping spots that are within a short drive of where I live. That ain't gonna happen this summer. I snagged one of our family climbing packs while I was in Memphis last week and plan to make a few overnight trips this season. My ultimate goal is to do the LeConte Lodge hike, a 5.5-mile hike up the second tallest mountain in Tennessee to an almost full-service lodge on top where you can dine, drink and sleep with fellow hikers. It's something I've talked about for several years. This year I'm just gonna do it.

Tell me I'm crazy, Modern Friends, or else throw as much encouragement and support my way as you can 'cause I'm gonna need it.