CPT Clinic - Day Two

So, Day TWO was long but I came away with a lot of good information. I had a little fun too. It's been interesting listening to the instructor talk for the past two days about how to deal with the "general population" and just touch on things that would only apply to "elite" athletes. Every time something would come up like "periodization", I would start salivating thinking that I was going to really hear some good stuff and she would just brush by it. I understand though and am glad I am going to Maryland for the USAT Clinic as I am sure things will get a lot more specific. This is, after all a CPT clinic, not a class on how to write a training plan for a triathlete. So today I listened intently until it was time for the group participation part. This is where I had a little fun. I am the only GUY in the class so when it came time for the body fat testing instruction the girls all had a ball testing ME. I was a good sport and came away with a number of 11.6% which I highly doubt given I am heavier than I was before Clearwater and I tested at just under 12%. Then came the old "3 - minute step test". We had to take our resting heart rate before stepping up and down on at 12" step for 3 minutes to the beat of a metronome at 96bpm. My HR was 55 before I started. When I finished, I sat down and my partner took my pulse again for a full minute. I took a couple of deep breaths to see how low I could get it. She looked a little bewildered when the instructor said "OK stop". I said, "what was it?" She shook her head and said "Sixty". I just smiled, looked at the teach' and shrugged. heheheheheh

The afternoon was a lot of info on flexibility and exercises. We did some flexibility testing too. Neat stuff, I think I'm really going to like it. It's beginner level but it's nice to start putting together a lot of the stuff I've been reading about over the past few years. One more day and then I will jamb my face in the text for a month or so before taking the test.

CPT Clinic - Day One

So I decided to stop thinking about signing up for a Certified Personal Trainer course and "Just Do It". Yesterday was my first day of a three day workshop / clinic. Very cool. There are only six of us in the class and I am the only male. It made me wonder if I am getting into a field that is predominantly women. Not sure it matters but it made me question what I was doing for a moment. Then the class started and I knew I had made the right decision. I got eight hours of "crash learning" in the structure of the heart, lungs, and the rest of the human body. My head was spinning. I can now see why it is better to come into this field having had some educational background or professional experience in a related field. I have neither so (as usual) I will work harder than everyone else to learn the subject matter and be able to apply it as a Personal Trainer. Today we get into moving around a little. We are doing the body fat testing stuff, learning the different methods etc. The instructor (female) looked at me as she wrapped up the session last night at 9:30 and said "you're the only guy here so you'll be getting poked and prodded A LOT tomorrow". Oh....NEAT! hahhaha. This ought to be good! I just laughed and said bring it on - I'm a good sport. We are also learning the very basics about doing initial assessments and starting relationships with new clients. I think I'm really going to love this stuff. This is the first time I have ever been excited to be sitting in a class - for anything. I'll have a lot of studying to do in addition to this clinic and then I can take the test when I feel I'm ready to go. In addition to this course I am enrolled in the USAT Level One Coaching Clinic scheduled for April 9th-11th in Baltimore, Maryland. This will be another three days of clinics and a test after more studying. I am hoping the taking some time to get some credentials on the front end will help me get off on the right foot as I move toward training and coaching in a field I have enjoyed competing in over the past seven years. When I'm done I will be a Certified Personal Trainer (certified by the ACSM) and a Certified USAT Level One Triathlon Coach. You have to start somewhere, and I will feel a lot better working with people knowing that I took the time and made the effort to be able to know what I'm talking about. So here I go for day two...

Lovin' it.

Looking Inward...

I awoke this morning without a hangover.  This was not a surprise as I planned to do this.  I decided to ring in the new year while sleeping and going into 2010 as rested as possible.  In the past I have gone out and celebrated the passing of one year and the arrival of another.  It just seems that the last few times I have "celebrated" anything I end up paying dearly for it the next day and wishing I had just stayed home and gone to bed.  So that's what I did this year and I feel a lot better as a result!  

I did spend some time thinking about '09 and what I'd like to accomplish in "oh-ten".  I had planned to do this at the gym on the treadmill until I arrived to find the gym closed.  I came home and quickly changed into my running gear.  After a few frustrating minutes fighting with my Garmin 305 (it wouldn't power up) I headed out into a light falling snow - perfect.  I have been reading a book called "Chi Running" by Danny Dreyer and I was excited to try to apply some of what I have gleaned from the first few chapters.  It got me thinking about my running "gait" and trying to become more economical as I run.  My wife and daughter have had a good time poking fun at me while I try new exercises and explore new forms of moving forward.  Anyway, that brings me to my point.  CHANGE.  It occurred to me while running that I run the way I run because I have always run that way.  When I started triathlon I sought advice on swimming.  I biked with people who knew what they were doing.  But I went out and ran by myself.  No one ever teaches you how to run, you just do it, and develop whatever gait you settle into for whatever physiological reason.  So on my run today I decided that that is not acceptable. When someone asks you why you do something a certain way, (be it running or something work related) if you can't come up with a better reason than "well, because we've always done it that way", then you need to ask yourself if there is a better way.  I have decided that 2010 will be a year of revisiting "how and why I do what I do", exploring all aspects of my life with an eye toward improving as a father, husband, son, friend, business owner and triathlete.  I am not much for New Year's resolutions as I am very goal oriented throughout the year, but I do think that we can all take few minutes before the start of the new year and try to establish what it is we're trying to accomplish.  So I will try to change my gait in hopes that it takes me to the next level and allows me compete with the best.  I will look at how I parent, and function as a spouse and try to give more than I get.  I'll examine my friendships and work to be someone that people enjoy being around.  And I'll keep pushing hard with my business in hopes that the economy will soon improve.  In 2010 I will not be doing anything "just because I've always done it that way", there will have to be a reason that carries more weight than that.  And if I can't come up with a better reason I will find a way to improve whatever it is that I'm doing and how I'm doing it.

Happy New Year to all of you.  Here's to a safe, HEALTHY and happy 2010!

Strange week...

This week was strange.  I wrapped up a project in Standish and find myself with very little work on the books for the first time in five years.  This economy has me questioning my desire to continue in a business that has become increasingly difficult to operate in.  It coincides with my father's desire to formally retire.  The business has been very successful but I feel like the wave that has swallowed up so many people is closing in on me as well.  In 2010 I will continue "on my own" and try to find a creative way to remain competitive in a tough construction market.  People are just not spending money like they were a couple of years ago.  I find myself thinking more about what I'd like to do OTHER than what I am currently doing.  It is unfortunate because I have poured my heart and soul into this business for five years.  I hate to let go.  It's not my nature.  I think it is important to do what you love and love what you do.  Right now I'm doing neither.  I am pretty cooked.  So, I have been doing a lot of soul searching and trying to figure out what it is I would like to do or would be good at.  Not a real comfortable spot at age 40.  We met with the accountant today.  He was impressed with our progress in this economy and was helpful with some ideas for tax savings.  I continue to be amazed at how much money I have to earn just to be able to keep a modest amount.  It is unreal.  There is very little room for error.   The better I do the more I pay.  Pretty discouraging.  The best part is I have to go out and re create the wheel every January 1st.  The scoreboard resets and we have to do it all over again, only better.  We'll see how it shakes out.  I think I can say that I will not be talking about this at this time next year.  Something's gotta give.  For now, I'll keep pushing, but I'll never take my eye off the ball.  

The other thing that happened this week is I removed myself from the board of the new Triathlon Club some friends and I were trying to put together.  It was a tough decision for me but I felt as though by offering my opinion I was complicating things.  So, simple solution, step away before making enemies of people I have called friends.  Sometimes these things go like this.  I feel I had a lot to offer and am saddened I won't be contributing. I'll join the club and support their efforts.

On Tuesday there was a horrible crash in Naples .  A UPS driver was killed. The person driving the bucket truck that pushed the UPS truck into the path of an oncoming propane truck, is my neighbor.  The UPS driver left behind a wife, a 12 year old son and 10 year old daughter.  He was 43.  My neighbor works for Time Warner and although he was uninjured, I have not seen him since.  What a tragedy.  It was stated in the news that the police suspected he was "distracted".  If this was the case I believe he'll be facing some charges.  That's nothing compared to the burden he'll carry for taking a life.  I have no idea what to say or do.  I will stop by soon to offer our support.  I also have stopped texting and reading e-mails on my Blackberry while driving.  This could have been me. 

My stepson is home from college for the holidays.  I drove to Manchester to pick him up on Wednesday.  He is 19 and has a lot of maturing to do.  I'm sure the same could be said about me at that age.  He is a good kid and we wish we had more time with him.  Bailey sure loves to see him.

So tomorrow morning at 6am I'll get on my bike/trainer and I'll crawl into a world I know will be the same it was when  left it on Thursday night.  I have six friends coming to work out with me and share some laughs, talk some trash.  It will be the perfect end to what has been an odd week.  

Head down and pushin'

BT

Life...

Everybody expects something out of life.  Some expect big things while others are content to stay under the radar.  The former are the ones you read about having performed on a high level or failed miserably.  The latter are the ones you never hear anything about.  It never has made much sense to me to be one of those people that sits on the sidelines and watches life pass by.  I have performed at high levels at times, and I have failed miserably at other times.  But I have LIVED and I continue to.  I always say to my friends that "It's a short trip we're on", this thing called life.  We only get one trip around this track.  I feel fortunate to have realized the finality of that at a fairly young age.  I live every day with these things in my mind.  I will fail miserably again for sure. BUT, in the process I will live and I will learn and hopefully have more triumphs than defeats.  I relate these things to my work life and to my triathlon racing.  Those that work with me or train with me know that I expect as much from them as I do myself.  This trait has been both a positive and a negative at times but for the most part it has served me well.  I like quotes.  One of my personal favorites is...

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. 

-Theodore Roosevelt

I love this quote.  I don't plan to have any regrets after my trip around this track.  And I won't be looking for any change back either.

BT

Motivating the Motivator

So how much do you rely on someone or something else to get you to the starting line?  What can you draw from your training partners?  What do YOU bring to the table in the training partner relationship?  Would you rather motivate someone or BE motivated by someone else?  Are some workouts best done solo?  Do the best athletes do most of their training solo?  Do you get more satisfaction out of a great personal performance or seeing someone else do something they didn't think they could do?  

Who motivates the motivator?

Help

OK,  can somebody PLEASE tell me how to place photos in my blog?  I upload them and they all go to the top of the page (?).  Frustrating!  And they take forever to load!  Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,

BT