Fishing with Jacks

We set out yesterday morning to spend some guy time at the river. Jacks showed his excitement when he came bouncing out of his room fully dressed at 6:30. The car was packed and we were on the road by 6:40 to head to the bait store and meet the fish when they woke up.

We ate our man’s breakfast of powdered donuts, beef jerky and some smoked sausage as we drove to the fishing hole. It was 70 degrees and there was a good cool breeze coming off the river when we put our lines in the water. Something told me it was going to be a good day when Jackson’s line was struck before he could even sit down to be comfortable.

Three hours, four catfish, one bass, one perch and one giant carp later, we headed back to tell our tales to the ladies at home.

It was a good day. We can’t wait to head back…

See more progress on: go fishing more

Status on marathon training

I bought new shoes today. I was running with the Gel Kayano 13 size 10.5, but I bought size 11 today. I’m not sure if my foot’s growing or if I’ve changed my running style, but I’ve been getting too much pressure in my toes after mile 3.

Yesterday I ran 3 miles in the morning followed by an insane personal trainer appointment. Charlie had my heart rate between 160 and 187 without any aerobic activity for 40 minutes straight. We did 6 sets of exercises that combined up to seven different muscle groups and stretches. I’ve made significant progress since my first visit to Charlie and it has significantly improved my stamina, flexibility and muscle tone. My bodyfat dropped 7% while my weight only dropped 4% these past two months.

More to come with two workouts a week…

Tomorrow, I run 5mi at an easy pace. We’ll see if I can stay patient and not push the pace… My heart feels good. My lungs feel great. My core is getting stronger. My right shin is still weak, though. Hoping the new shoes help…

See more progress on: run a marathon

Looking back to think forward

I spent some time reflecting on the last 7 years today. Put yourself back in the summer of 2001 and answer these questions:

What would happen if gas prices hit $4 a gallon?

What would happen if 4 hurricanes hit Florida in a single year?

What would happen if the world's leading financial center was obliterated by a combatant army killing 3500 men, women and children of all races, ethnicities and nationalities?

What would happen if the Boston Red Sox won the World Series ---- twice?

What would happen if home prices in the US dropped over 10% on average?

What would happen if a tidal wave caused by an earthquake killed 250,000 men, women and children?

What would happen if a hurricane hit New Orleans and broke the levees - effectively destroying the city?

What would happen if there were 500,000 home foreclosures in the US in a 4 month period?

What would happen if the most powerful military in the world was entrenched in a 5 year war using hand to hand combat?

What would happen if the US military suffered 5,000 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries?

What would happen if...

Would anything change?

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Yesterday: 5K at 7:50 per mile
Today: Eliptical for 30 minutes, then legs, abs, back and shoulders
Tomorrow: 4 miles at 8:15 (at least that’s the plan)...we’ll see how I feel in the morning.

See more progress on: run a marathon

Softball - FriendFeed or Blog?

Still trying to figure out how to make these reflect each other. Should I blog or should I post... I am sure there is protocol, but not sure what that protocol is. Frankly don't care either...

http://friendfeed.com/e/eccfd365-4b09-4b97-b9ab-811943d18d9d

Rafting the Guadalupe

Yesterday Julie, Jackson, Mia and Ella all joined me for a 4 hour trip down the Guadalupe. The air was hot. The water was cool. The scenery was spectacular.

Jackson swam half the way down the river. Ella slept for an hour and Mia slept for 30 minutes. Can you say relaxing?

We were rushed because of time commitments. Not next time. Next time we’ll make a day of it.

See more progress on: raft the river with my family

more time or more quality time

Between work, school, life, running and lifting, spending more time with the kids is tough. It seems that everytime I try…I end up too tired, too cranky, too something.

Gotta try some different tactics…

Tonight, I let the girls put every pillow in the house on top of me. They loved it and it was fun for me, too…that is until they started jumping off the couch on me! Then it hurt…but they had fun, so we kept going. We all laughed until we were just laying together in this giant pillow pile. I’ll remember this forever!

See more progress on: spend more 1 on 1 time with my kids

fix my score? was it broken?

I found out that the reason my credit score sucked was because it was wrong! Thanks Ford Credit. Thanks Sallie Mae. Thanks Lowes.

Good thing is that with a mere 10-12 HOURS on the phone, I got it taken care of. Credit score +75 points.

I will never let it go a month without being checked again. What a nightmare.

See more progress on: fix my credit score.

Sleep Less: Worth it?

3 great kids. Aged 5,3,2. Not sure there is such a thing as “sleep less”. Bed by 11pm. Up by 5am. Maybe I fudge that from time to time.

Closer to bed by midnight. Up by 5:30.

I think I can still cut 30 minutes out on a regular basis. The problem is I get grumpy on the weekends when I sleep longer. Maybe I should stay more consistent.

I started working out more. Sleeping harder. Sleeping shorter. Let’s see how this goes…

See more progress on: sleep less

Close twice...

Two times I’ve done the time. Run the miles. Put in the work.

Two weeks before race time – I fell down the stairs holding my two little girls. Strained the cuboid joint in my right foot. No running for 3 weeks.

Three weeks before race time – I ran a 6mi easy run. Went for a walk with the family. Came back home, took a shower, intense pain in my shin. Stress fracture – tibia. No running for 6 weeks.

Here we go again. I am running 3-5 miles 4 times per week. Over the next two months, I’ll increase this to 5-6 miles 5 times per week. Then the training plan starts. Slow and easy this time. Race is in November.

Let’s see if third time is a charm…

See more progress on: run a marathon

Does the forest count?

We moved to 3.5 acres in January! Covered with trees, half a mile from the Guadalupe River. Loving it. Love the quiet. Love the smell. Love the peace.

The sun just went down and the deer are out my living room window.

This is a dream. A surreal dream. I won’t mind getting old here.

See more progress on: move to the mountains or the beach

more time?

Sounds simple. It isn’t. Work, life, kids. All these things are great, but they get in the way.

I have to try some new tactics.

It used to be that nothing got in the way. Not sleeping, not eating, not class. She was most important. We were most important.

She still is. We still are…

I have to try some new tactics. Tell her how I feel. Show her how I feel.

Maybe I’ll sleep less. Nah…too grouchy.

Maybe I’ll work less. Hmmm…not a bad idea.

Maybe I’ll drive faster to get home. Haha! Sounds fun!

Maybe we can spend more time together when we’re really not together. This has possibilities…

More to come…

See more progress on: Spend more Quality time with my wife