Details on how the mini-triathalon training is going:

When I started, about the 12th of January, after I was threatened about getting my wife involved, I signed up. I weighed myself (278) and took pictures (maybe I will show those at a later time when I can post some progress pictures too). Then I did my first swim: 45 minutes to go 500 meters. I felt like some sick whale. I think I swallowed too much pool water. It was an exercise in trying to figure out how to swim and breathe. I mean I can walk and chew gum with no problem, but swimming and breathing without inhaling 1/2 the pool was another thing altogether. Last night I did the 500 meters in 19 minutes and only choked a couple times. It is getting easier, but I still need to rest at the ends of the pool after two or three laps. The goal is no longer to reduce time, but to do the swim without stopping. Oh, and btw, the actual swim will be in open water in Clear Lake near Houston (which is neither clear, nor a lake, but part of the ocean)so I imagine the wave chop will present a little more challenge than the 'chop' in the pool. While I won't ever compare with Michael Phelps, I am getting into this swimming thing. Although Michael and I both 'swim', I am quite sure what we do is not even remotely related. I mean, he can swim through walls and pavement. You've seen the Subway commercials right? Must be true if it is on film.

The most I have swam at any one time now is 750 meters, and I feel pretty good about it. Have I mentioned that I have lost 11 pounds since I started? I now weigh 267. Those comparison pictures are starting to get closer to reality. Belt goes in another notch now.

The bike is easier for me. I can do 14 miles in 60 minutes at this point. I used to do about 125 miles a week averaging 15-17 miles an hour, so this part won't be as bad as the swim and the run. I did a swim and 14 miles on the bike in 82 minutes, back to back last week. While I was tired, I felt pretty good afterward.

Yesterday I did the swim and the run in 57 minutes. The run killed me though; 39 minutes for 3 miles. When I was younger and in the Army, and for quite awhile afterward, I used to run 8 minute miles for 3-5 miles at a time. Now it is about 13 minutes. I was thinking 10 minute miles when I started this. I was more than a little disheartened at the state of my physical capacity to do exercise. The word decrepit comes to mind. When I first ran the three miles 3 weeks ago, it was 45 minutes. Still, I was hoping to see myself make better progress.

It saddens me that over the years I have rationalized my weight gain as getting older, just part of what happens due to life, lack of time, etc... Self-deception is insidious to so many areas of life, isn't it? If you are reading this, I adjure you to take a close look at your life and relationships, asking yourself: where am I deceiving myself or allowing myself to be deceived? I think it will be eye opening, if you will be honest with yourself, which may be harder than you think. Another BTW--I am 48, married with children, and have two grandsons. Self-deception talk allowed me to use my age and family as excuses to avoid being healthy, rather than reasons to stay healthy.

I can tell it is the weight that is holding me back. I know I can't expect to haul 267 pounds around as easily as I used to do 220. I am 6'3" BTW, and people would tell me I didn't look 'bad' or 'really don't look overweight', or 'I carried it well', which only shored up the self-deception. But spend any time in front of a mirror, or look at yourself in pictures that were taken when you weren't looking, and it becomes apparent how much one can deceive one's self. See, there it goes again. Talking in third person to avoid applying it to myself. But, the mirror and the camera only report what they see, don't they?

While the family that we are helping will certainly benefit from our doing this mini-triathalon, ultimately I (and my family) may be the biggest beneficiary of this challenge.