Welcome back from the break. Memorial day is an excellent holiday in so many ways- remembering the fallen, teaching children the value and cost of freedom, and taking a Monday back from the work week.

This morning, I did something odd: I chose not to go to the gym. My normal schedule, which I've followed almost perfectly for the past four and a half months, is:

• 4:30AM: Wake up
• 5:00AM: Shower, dress, and head out the door
• 5:45AM: Gym (plus a swim on alternate days)
• 7:00AM: Commute (yay!)
• 7:30AM: Work
• 4:30PM: Commute (homeward!!)
• 7:30PM: Run, bike

...and it goes on. There have been a couple of occasions when I've even been out of town and stopped at the gym at 11:00PM before flying home at 6:00AM the next day... and headed to the gym at lunch, just to ensure I've gone every single day.

So why didn't I go this morning? Post-Memorial Day laziness? Nah, I still got up at 4:30AM (it's hard not to these days). The real point is a restructuring of exercise. I've got a few big events coming up over the next two months and, as much as I hate to say it, it's time for a change.

First things first, I've nearly doubled my lifting capacity over the past 4 months in practically every way. Take this with a grain of salt: I wasn't that strong to begin with. Still, 4 months is a short window for this kind of personal improvement. The point was to build the base of strength I've been missing over the past few years. And, of course, to attempt to gain the strength needed for me (170 pounds, 6 foot nothin') to successfully wrestle (collegiate style) my brother-in-law, Jesse (235 pounds, 6'7").

There's been an informal rivalry ever since I married into the family- I've wrestled (freestyle, folk, greco-roman, and collegiate) since I was 6 years old. My wife's family is equally entrenched in the wrestling world. I helped coach her younger brother, Theo, when he attended the high school I graduated from. When in high school, I had always looked up to her older brother, Jesse. Both of her brothers are amazing wrestlers. Jesse, in particular, is an amazing wrestler with an equally amazing physique. Let's just say that one look is enough to convince most rational people to not start something.

Earlier this year, I issued a challenge to Jesse: a 6-minute (3 2-minute periods), collegiate-judged, officially refereed, wrestling match, to be held in June or July at a local high school. I was going to try and beat him.

This challenge kicked off the heavy lifting campaign- I had to get strong enough to at least compete with Jesse on the mat. That doesn't mean I have to be as strong; I just have to be strong enough, enough to let technique, strategy and endurance make the difference. I set some goals- squat 400+, deep lunge 180+, bench 250+, etc.- all of which I've now accomplished. At the same time, I've tried desperately to maintain swimming, biking, and (more recently, due to injury) running, though these were de-prioritized in favor of building strength.

But now, 4 months later, the goals are satisfied and while I'm not strong enough, it's time to shift focus once again. The Wasatch Ragnar race is in three weeks, which forces me to re-prioritize running. I have several half-distance triathlons in July, August, September and October, along with several century rides I'd like to complete. We have a Mt. Rainier expedition in July. Above all, June is right around the corner and this epic face-off with Jesse is looming.

Thus the gym now becomes a 4 times per week event and I'll be reconsidering the muscle groupings I work per day. I'll be lifting to maintain and not gain. Running mileage will go up a fair bit, as will swimming and biking. I'll be adjusting these events as well- intervals will make a comeback for all three and I'll be alternating general speed work with stretching distance.

No sleeping in, for certain. I need to start running in the mornings, exchanging the time spent in the gym for time spent pounding pavement. What a marvelous zero-sum game we play with our time!

I'll be setting a date and time for the wrestling match. I'll even stream it, for anyone interested. It will be epic, however it turns out. Too bad this David can't throw stones...

Look for an announcement with a date. I'll post results for all events (wrestling, ragnar, triathlons, etc.) as soon as they're available. Enjoy the shortened work week!

Hi again everyone. If you missed it, there's a recent (!!) welcome post below, written only minutes before this article. One reason I dusted off this old blog was to welcome all the new visitors the site is getting; another reason was to keep you up-to-date on my training, goals, and all that other, far more interesting stuff.

In case you missed it, I'm a triathlon fanboy. It's not because of any natural talent; I'm not fast, nor have I ever won even my division in a race. The reason is pretty simple: no other sport is as practical as the triathlon. Especially if you train the way I love to. Let me explain.

Think about those rare life-threatening situations. No, not with guns. If you've got one of those pointed at you, it's roulette and nothing more. I'm talking about the 4th grade type life-threatening situations, where there's a crowd of bullies and you're the nerd. You have two options: curl up in a ball and protect your vitals as best as possible or run fast and long. My recommendation? From 4th grade experience, I can tell you that it's better to run than to curl up. Believe it or not, kicks in non-vital areas can be both painful and life threatening.

Wait, so how does this 4th grade scenario play into triathlons OR adult life? I won't make the claim that 4th grade bullies are nearly as frightening and effective against me these days, but I can tell you that the ability to run long and hard has saved my hide many, many times. Running is a key part of the triathlon, of course (Swim, Bike, Run for the uninitiated), so you walk away far better prepared.

I know you're thinking, "So run a marathon. Why bother with the swimming and biking?" Fair point. Again, speaking from experience (not 4th grade in this case, though), swimming is a skill that can save both your life and another's. Strangely, if you hang out around the water, both opportunities will present themselves.

"Ah, but this biking thing", you say, "you certainly can't claim that this is a life-saving skill!" To you doubters, I ask: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A JACKIE CHAN MOVIE?!!? Both the ability to ride and swing a bike you've "borrowed" from some hapless bystander can save your life.

I rest my case.

Triathlons are irrefutably the most practical individual sport on the planet. If all non-bully kids were triathletes, our nerd population would be far less emotionally scared and fit. Probably more socially adept too.

I apologize; I wax philosophic. My more legitimate personal reason for being a triathlete is because it's hard. In fact, at the distances I compete (well, ok, I'm not competitive *per se*), it's quite impossible without serious and consistent training. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I'm pretty ADHD; if you know anything about the associated symptoms, you'll realize that "consistent" isn't a word used to describe my crowd. This is an effort to prove to myself that I can be consistent and in so doing find the tools that I can use to bring consistency to the rest of my life.

Surprisingly, to me at least, this has largely succeeded. I'm not as consistent as I should be in all things, but I've found means, previously unknown to me, to help me become more consistent. Surprising and nice, all in one package.

Before closing, I'll explain the "Broken Bones" bit in the title. I'm signed up for the St. George Ironman this year, but that's starting to look a bit doubtful. I have a fracture in my right foot that is going to make training (at least the running) very difficult. I'll give it a run (hehe), but I may have to drop out or at least drop the distance.

Enjoy the water, the ride, or the run (or all three)!