Mental Games...

Since graduating high school, I have always claimed to be a mental runner. It is common running knowledge that a strong mental outlook on your training and racing will translate into better results. That couldn't prove more true than with me. And it doesn't just have to do with my running.

As a triathlete, I participate in three different disciplines. Swimming, Biking, Running. My mental confidence carries over throughout the three sports. If I have a good workout in the pool, chances are I will feel much better about my ride or run later in the day. In the same vein, if I have a bad workout, the "Debbie Downer" syndrome may carry over as well.

I am writing this because I am worried about my training. I say "training" because I mean all my training, even though most of my lack of confidence comes from my running. As a high school runner, I was injured three times, mildly. I had shin splits during my first track season, I had a freak foot issue after running in flats for the first time, and a bruised heel after running steeplechase my senior year. In all three cases a little rest, ice and ibuprofen took care of the issue. Training hardly ceased and my seasons continued on. Since I have graduated I have been plagued by injury.

I didn't run much the fall after graduation and began running again the next spring. My injuries began with a stress fracture in my foot after a trail run in tucson over spring break. It knocked me out for 6 weeks to heal. I was healthy over the summer, although I didn't train much. That fall I decided to run a couple half marathons that would lead up to the Arizona Rock N' Roll Marathon. I built my training too fast and after having a breakout half marathon in Tucson in december i ran into runner's knee, and IT band issues throughout the whole spring. I bounced back once again and had an ok summer. My mental was weak now. Two springs in a row and no training.

I have read articles about great runners who were injury prone and they eventually had to revamp there training to continue their careers and stay off the couch due to their injuries.

I am writing this now because as I look forward through this year and this season and into my future in athletics I am worried. Once again, I have some pain creeping up in my legs that (after plenty of googling) is a mystery. I have a couple more months of training for spring/summer triathlons and I have committed to the Disneyland Half Marathon in September. I am just dreading the training because I am afriad, once again, of becoming injured as my training kicks into high gear. I know I can win the race with the right training and I HATE feeling crappy on my runs. I am just mentally shot and its only March. Its going to be a long year.

The Grand Canyon, Take II...

This is the first spring break that I can remember where I have stayed in town for the majority of the week. There has always been family vacations, camping trips with friends or excursions to warmer climates. That's what spring break is about isn't it? The family trip came in January this year, the friends were uncoordianted and the money wasn't around to take a few days somewhere else. So, here I stay.

Monday began with a bang in the big hole in the ground, the Grand Canyon. Last August I decided to hike from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch, 9 miles down the Bright Angel Trail. This time, my brother wanted to do the same thing. The weather was cooler, the first mile had packed snow/ice covering it and the hordes of people were far from the same as was in August. Did the trip become easier? Hardly.

We started out at 5:40am from Flagstaff. Got to the Canyon at 7:00 and were on the trail by 7:30. I don't own yaktrax, and I didn't even think about using them. I have never hiked in the canyon when there was snow on the trail and wasn't thinking about the repercussions of doing so. Needless to say, the first mile or so was pretty sketchy. It was hard packed with ice. It was small steps and hoping we didn't fall down into the mule dookie. We made it and kept truckin. We stopped shortly at Indian Gardens, 4.5 miles from the top and took a break. But, we were in a rhythm and kept huffing down the trail. My brother and I hike pretty fast and we were passing people all the way down. Made it to the river (which was my brother's first time) and over the Silver Bridge and up to Phantom by 11am, in time for lunch.

The weather, compared to Flagstaff was gorgeous down there although my brother and I both agreed 5 degrees more would have been even more enjoyable. But, you can't always have perfection. We relaxed on the benches in front of the cantina and were off, back up the trail at noon. We still had 9 miles and roughly a mile of vertical gain before we were done.

The sun was great. It kept us warmer than when we were coming down and not until mile-and-a-half house did I need to put my sweatshirt back on. Then it was just one foot in front of another until we reached the top. I could tell my brother was hurting a little, but he kept truckin and I am so proud of him for doing it. Altogether we hiked for roughly 8 hours with an hour break at the bottom. Not bad for a day.

It is now the third day since completion and my legs are just feeling better. I never understand why I do things that cripple me for so long.

A break in winter...

Today marks the official start of spring break 2010. And, as a bonus, spring actually starts this week as well. And as an even bigger bonus, it is actually going to feel like spring this week!

After mind blowing snow totals since the beginning of January, Flagstaff is finally going to hit 60 degrees! At least that's what they predict. I cannot wait. I am planning on getting outside (without bundeling up) and doing some of my favorite activities, Mountain biking and trail running. But there is a catch, the trails are still covered in feet of snow and i still have to travel to go ride open trails. But, what better time then spring break. Also, my favorite part of this week, as already anticipated, will be hiking the canyon with my brother down to Phantom Ranch and back up. Can't wait. Stay tuned for an update about that adventure. Till next time.
Oh, I started a website for my photos. check it out at: wix.com/mattyboness/Matty-B

Lenten temptation...

Ash Wednesday was yesterday. The start of the Lenten Season. I don't usually give anything up for lent, but I think I will this year. I am giving up...Drum roll please... Sweets. Yeah, I know, kind of lame. But, I have a serious sweet tooth. And I really mean SERIOUS. Sugar may be my favorite food group. It's that bad.

I figure that giving up sweets, while kind of a personal want, will give me a stronger edge with God. I have always learned that you shouldn't just give something up just because but because it brings you closer to God. The reason for giving something up that means a lot to you is so that everytime you have an urge to use it, eat it, whatever, you ask God for the strength to overcome the temptation.

It says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

I take this to heart. I know that all my temptations, while not all bad, are all beatable with God on my side.

My reason for using this lenten season to give up a true temptation for me is two fold. I can become closer to God by speaking with him for every temptation I have with my sweet tooth and watch my weight to race better, which was a gift God gave me in the first place.

Ups and Downs...

Man this weather is getting me down! I have been on the treadmill or trainer for a month now. I am getting sick of it! I keep telling myself that it will all pay dividends in the end. But, boy oh boy it is rough.

The trails are going to be snow covered til (a conservative guess) March. I have races to do! Doesn't God know that!? Through adversity comes strength, i guess. No, I am just kidding I know it does.

On a brighter note, my swim is starting to feel really good! I did 6600m in the pool last week and felt really good. My form is coming back and I am approaching this season with a lot mreo speed training. My thinking goes like this: If my fastest 100m is 1:25 and I am hoping to swim 1:30-1:35/100m during a triathlon, it is going to be rough. Now, If I can get my 100m time down to 1:15-1:20, holding 1:30 is not as much of a push. So, I am working on some good speed with some longer swims mixed in to keep up my endurance. At least my new found enjoyment of the pool isn't getting me down like the rest of my training.

Oh Boy...

The beginning of the week began with talks of a large storm system charging up and going to swing over Arizona. You really can't get the feel for a large storm just from words. You have to experience it and we sure did. At the end of the storm (or close to it) Flagstaffians are already looking back on what became the second snowiest storm system in history.

Just to put it into perspective. Last year, the Flagstaff area had about 10" or so of measurable precipitation. From this storm alone, we got close to 4" of precipitation. Most of that coming in the form of snow. FEET of Snow!! In fact, over 45" of snow in 5 days. My dad and I tried to keep up on shoveling and here on some photos to prove this.Check out the snow pile compared to the height of the truck!

Cruisin' to the new year...

I guess I am kind of behind the ball. I am going to write about my expectations for 2010, but we are already almost two weeks into 2010 and I am just now getting around to it. Although, I do have a fairly good excuse...I was out of the country and inaccessible for the past 9 days. My family and I all went on a cruise with my aunt and uncle to the eastern Caribbean. We escaped the cold temperatures (until the bahamas) that had plagued the whole of the US it seems. 90 degrees in Antigua and St. Thomas. Pretty great.

Anyway, on to my expectations. Since we only got back into town late last night, I am going to use today to get settled in. Meaning, I am going to go get my new running shoes, swim bag (for all my new swim toys I got for Christmas), swim jammers and get back into the pool tomorrow for the first time since October! My official training begins tomorrow and I am not stopping until I qualify for the XTERRA World Championships (hopefully). I also need to buy a new bike here pretty soon, but seeing as though the trails will be snowpacked for a while, it might have to wait.

It feels good to be into 2010. I feel like this year is going to be a good one as far as training goes and a hard one for school. But, with God's help, I should make it out unscathed and better than ever!