5K Training Officially Begins

More specifically, it begins somewhere around 6,000 feet above sea level.  In case you’ve never attempted to do anything that high up, the general idea is that you can not breathe.  Being from a state like Pennsylvania, where our highest mountains are just barely touching the 2,000 foot mark, it’s a pretty big jump.

Despite the difficulties, I already started to find a rhythm in my short run and my breathing showed improvements by the end of the trip.  I won’t embarrass myself by tracking the distance I run JUST yet, but I ran enough to be thoroughly tired.  I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s run, as well as the rest of the week.  Training is hard, but the reward is amazing.

 

- Andy

Surprising Family

Driving 1,800 miles is a hefty task to begin with.  Doing it and staying quiet about your arrival is another thing.  Through several months of scheming and organizing, I was able to travel across most of the country to Colorado and surprise a few family members, including some I hadn’t seen in close to a decade.  All has gone over well though, and I’m recovering from a bear hug I got yesterday from one of my cousins.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can begin posting some pictures and other thoughts on the trip I’ve been on for close to a week already.  As a quick overview, I’ve headed west from Pennsylvania on Route 70 to Colorado.  I am now somewhere around Colorado Springs with my family and will be here for another week.

Surprising my family, especially my cousins, was great fun.  My cousins have grown up so much, it’s almost scary to see.  I need to do this more often.

 

- Andy

Training Begins

This past Saturday Matt and I officially began our training for the 2010 Livestrong Challenge in Philadelphia.  The ride was really a test to see in what shape we were in as we begin more consistent/rigorous training in a week or two, but it was important nonetheless.

We went on a ride that I did last season which in total is about 60 miles.  After about 40 miles a combination of fatigue and destroyed bridges forced us to pack in for the day, the final total being 42.5 miles or so.  It was a good ride and showed me how much my training at the gym this winter had helped, and it was nice to see that Matt is right there with me (oh to be as thin as him!).

The more serious training will begin when I return from my current trip in a couple of weeks, but until then I’ll be working on my 5K run by walking and jogging in some higher elevations.  I’ll see if I can’t get some pictures along the way!

 

- Andy

 

PS – If you’d like to donate to me or anyone else on the team, you can find us at http://philly2010.livestrong.org/teamzibings.  Feel free to join us too, we’re open to anyone!