Triathlon?

I’ve been working out fairly consistently since the early part of this year, and have lost 18 lbs so far. That puts me at a total weight loss of 46 lbs since early spring 2006. I started at 243 lbs after my doctor was shocked at my current weight. To be honest so was I. When I started college I weight just over 200 lbs, and through my freshman year lost approximately 25. That’s a big jump from 2002 to 2006 – about sixty pounds! The initial weight was lost through a modification of my diet. I went pescatarian (it’s a word, so says Merriam Webster) and have felt all the stereotypical benefits (more energy! need less sleep! more confidence! sick less!). I think the one benefit I’m most excited about that I discovered was a huge decrease in heart burn…so now I’ve decided to start incorporating goals to keep me on track…

This week I started training for a sprint triathlon. This is the shortest version of the sport (the pussy version according to my dear friend Peter). It will be held on October 12^th in Richmond, and the course actually incorporates some of the neighborhood where I grew up. I’m excited about the possibility of completing a goal that will, for me, be physically unparalleled. The race begins with a 400 meter swim, transitions to a 20k bike ride, and concludes with a 5k run.

I have eleven weeks to train. I’ve created a six day per week training regimen using three other training programs and combining their elements. I’m by no means a physical trainer, but so far my goals have worked, and been realistic, so hopefully I’m sticking to that methodology. My primary concern is my swimming ability. I know I can improve my cycling and running in this time period to be where I need to be, but my swimming technique needs quite a bit of improvement. I guess I’ll know in a couple of weeks if things are going the way they should.

I’m going to keep this blog updated with my progress, as well as my training specifics. Wish me luck!

Just giving a shoutout to

Just giving a shoutout to my buddy Thomas. He's a big fan of folk metal music.

The Masked Bull (really)

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Masked Bull Your Superpower is Nanotechnology Your Weakness is Ants Your Weapon is Your Star Slingshot Your Mode of Transportation is Bike

What's your Superhero Name?

a situation

I hate it when people start posts with, "It's been a while..."

...but I'm going to try harder. Northern Virginia is the pits. This is unfair, since it entirely depends on where you live, and it's a big f'in place, but where I am right now is an expanded vomit stain of suburbia. I do like parts of Alexandria, and can say I honestly haven't explored D.C. enough to form any up to date opinion, but I also know I miss Richmond.

There's something incredibly annoying about missing a place you've lived in for so long. I love it. It's night-and-day-different compared to where I am now. From the people to the ebb and flow of the city itself. Even local establishments feel like they're run differently. I wonder if it's just because it's familiar.

Either way, I can take a bit of comfort in the fact that I have an annoying place to miss.

Merry f'in Solstice bitches.

Testing the Mobile

The First Post

I've been putting off starting this blog for quite some time. Initially I started it right when I bought my scooter, a blue Yamaha C3 for those interested, and intended to use it as a means to document my adventures in not owning a car in the city of Richmond. That was back in March. It's needless to say this fell to the wayside for various reasons, one of which is more than likely laziness, but also because perhaps that's not what I wanted to blog about.

A lot has happened since March, one of many things worthy of note is that I got out of work early today (a rare and welcome treat - it's the small things after all). This chain of events eventually led to my decision to spontaneously update my blog! While listening to my Neutral Milk Hotel station on Pandora and surfing other blogs I was struck with inspiration. My blog doesn't have to be focused on any singular topic - there are thousands upon thousands of blogs that do that. Instead, my blog could focus on numerous topics...yes, that's it...and these topics don't need to be defined beforehand... as a matter of fact, the first topic of this blog is indeed the blog itself. I think this is a wonderful precedent to set, and I'll be damned if I'm judged, which I might not be as I have absolutely no audience waiting for a post. There may be a few individuals I initially told that I was going to begin blogging, but I would be surprised if they keep a very inactive, and as of now still very boring, rss feed on their system of choice. We'll just have to see what comes of it.