2020 - 17 February - Check-in - One day at a time

Huntington Beach - Haven't been here in years, flashing back watching kiddos get knocked over by waves watching parents freak out, why, because it happened to me, too!  Sorry, kiddo!

Checkin' IN!!!

Well, it has definitely been too long.  I have begun to reset and refocus on my nutrition.  I have had the last two weeks as highly vegetarian, and non-meat based after watching the show on Netflix: The Game Changers Movie - (Click Here).  I'm not necessarily going to not wander, but discipline is required and its time to shave the belly fat.  I think the biggest thing that stuck out to me was in the opening 5 - 10 minutes.  A Bruce Lee philosophy and mindset approach was shared.  Bruce Lee said in his training after learning that kung fu wasn't what he thought at first.

I have been travelling a lot again, to a particular customer in Southern California.  It takes me to Long Beach where I stay and Compton where I work.  To be able to roll through by and around the streets of Crenshaw and the like is truly interesting.  I am amazed at how normal things are, because of its turbulent and rich history.  Overall, my experiences here have been quite positive and it is interesting to be back near where I was born.  Totally different perspective for sure.

Crenshaw, where many a cruise happened - it was calm the nights I stopped at the lights along the way.

Coming off long Beach Blvd to Carson en route to my hotel. I stop behind this car and am like say whaaaaaat. Go aggies!

I started to run again.  I'm being smart about my approach and dropping into it in a way that I don't get out the gate and destroy myself.  Sure I can push and muscle out a 13.1-mile run, but I am not where I was when I was running 2 hours 3 -4 times a week.  So, I am building again.  In fact, my Monday run was in Longbeach with the Long Beach Run Club.  Gratefully, I was tagged into the SoCal branch of Team Zoot and I was given a few recommendations, one being a Monday night run.  I showed up a bit tardy because I went to the wrong location.  Get that, wrong location, the problem with GPS and Google, it is so smart that not knowing which specific location it was, it took me to another one with 2-3 miles.  A quick check in to verify if I was near Signal Hill, got me moving.  So there were two folks in run gear, so I got out, asked, and then took the first lap with the two ladies that were behind.  Grateful to their kindness, I stayed with them until about halfway and then followed the others. 

The promenade after I was lost, I found the route again.

The number of extra steps required to find this sign, not really, a lot more.  :)

I checked in with the group, then went and ran another loop.  Needless to say, it's a small place, but I made a wrong turn and ended up running around until I backtracked and found my way through.


It used to be, situations like that I would get all frustrated and watch my pace, and stress and boil and just let it ruin my run.  However, along the way, I have earned my, welp, that's just a new fun thing to figure out :

I have been increasing my swim volume. Along with all the things going on, I am trying to get 3-4 swims in and starting to push to 2000 yds a swim. I am not there yet, but I think the push with the frequency will be good. I need to get up to 4000 yd swims before - 2 months or so, before whatever event I select.  Last night even, I kept a bit shorter swim, but I really pushed, a lot more than normal.  I wasn't concentrating on pace, rather on the last phase (1/3) the part of the stroke where I am the weakest and the least engaged.  I was super mindful of the whole phase and trying to make sure not to let it go too early into the recovery turnover. I keep thinking of trying to push a book through the water before it breaks the water.   I still have a lot to learn about swimming, but these little nuances are helping me.  My pacing showed greatly to this attention and effort.  So here is my internal questions:

Swim question, the last 3rd of my stroke is the weakest as my hand goes past my hip and into recovery, are there any strength type exercises (in or out of the pool) to help that muscle memory/strength I lack?  My hand tends to turn when I get a bit fatigued and it doesn't hold a bookend type form. 

Some context, I swam some in HS, then when I first got back into activity I swam like a 3 minute 46 per 100 yds. Last night I maintained a pushed 1:36 per 100 over 1000 yards. My ultimate goal is to swim at this rate with less energy expenditure, sure a little more speed would be great, but I am invested in the ROI of coming out of the water not crushed from a solid swim, which I accomplished at last years 70.3 St George.  See I have my own internal questions and answers I seek too, a lot of them.

So recently I have been in and around Long beach.  Where I am trying to switch to more plant-based, I came across a great place worth mentioning:

Veggie Grill at (6451 Pacific Coast Hwy Long Beach, CA 90803) Click Here

Website Link - Click Here Veggie Grill

I was quite pleased.  I did the Mediterranean Supergreens Salad (click Here). 

I also got the falafel and the sweet potato fries.  I left satisfied and pleased.  It was a short jaunt from my hotel and a good atmosphere.  The front cashier was kind and noticed my hat.  He said he had a friend, and I quipped, always a friend, why not you.  He looked at me and was like, ya, why not me, oh ya, I can't swim.  I laughed, and was like, I'm still learning.  Good kid, good demeanor.  I will return the weeks of the 24th and now March 9th.  Don't let me down Veggie Grill!!!

Now, I won't belabor this point too long, but the last few business engagements have taught me just how much triathlon and training have really helped change my mindset and outlook of things.  Certainly, I was in a decent spot, to begin with, but the point of view and vantage points I have compared to my colleagues and peers is demonstrated.  During the first engagement, I was really leaned into, and I had to be verbose but I have learned to follow:

Does it need to be said
Does it need to be said, now
Does it need to be said by me?

Those questions help me distil and filter to what I need to deliver.  Some things I don't relay, not as a tactical position, but because in effect the outcome or the impact is net-zero or even less.  So, I have to be mindful.  These are like the equations I solve during training or in an event.  Mindful that the event is 6 - 8 hours at times and even longer.  Further, this Point of View keeps me from digging into a coping skills library in panic.  I know there is time to be thoughtful, methodical and I have the capability of analyzing and iteratively adjusting as evidence comes to my purview.  This skillset isn't easy to achieve and grow and persistently monitor and adapt to the ever-changing environments and personalities I encounter.  It merely gives me perspective and the ability to pro-actively pre-empt disruptions or react with a calm assurance that all will be well - meanwhile many others peers and customers are running around while the sky falls---

So, I have seen my fair share of fireworks, circuses, chaos and many other interesting things.  In the end, I do my best to make sure I am not adding to the noise and finding ways to help move the needle forward and move toward solutions or options for others to safely make decisions.  I'm not perfect and I have my moments too, but I do find I have a high tolerance here before I escalate towards the deep murky waters and whirlpools of chaos.

#zentriathlete #familybalancetri #zenfamily #fitbalancehealth #lifestylenotjusttraining #desire #Dedication #determination #discipline #grateful #gratitude #LifeLessons #c26 #sanctuary #justbreathe #perspective #itisntalwayspretty #consistency #fearthebeard #sharetheroad #wildtriathlete #wildrunner #walkthecliff #burntheisland #beatyesterday #garmin #hydratefaster #smithoptics #speedfil #teamzealios #teamzoot #teamzootmtn #zealios #zootsports

Activities - 

I use the following trackers:

• Garmin Connect (which pushes the files to the following services):
• Training Peaks
• Strava
• and the ones I don't remember (Map my stuff via Under Armour and things like the Great Bicycle ride initiative stuff)

Honestly, I mainly use Training Peaks as I pay for an annual subscription on it now, and it is the most detailed in data and other helpful information to keep me where I want to go. Use the 'Links', then 'Track me' section to find and stalk me if that's your thing.

Relevant Pics