It's been awhile since my last post but I promise that I haven't thrown in the towel quite yet.  I didn't realize how much guilt this website would cause.  The excuse, I mean reason, that I have for this temporary hiatus is an incredibly busy work schedule.  Over the past month, my job has become incredibly demanding in both time and emotional commitment.  Not that it wasn't before but it has hit a whole new level.  On top of that, I would like to say that wedding planning has also taken a lot out of me but that would be an absolute excuse as Tiffany has been incredible with all of that.  Honestly, as an aside, it baffles me how this girl can function at 190 mph.  It's exhausting just watching her but I am glad I put a ring on that finger.  Anyways, here is a brief recap of training in the past few weeks and some pretty pictures in hopes that you forget the amount of time that has passed.

Training has been comme ci comme ça, to say the least.  Along with the sacrifice of time I have made to writing, I have also made sacrifices to training.  It has become more mentally challenging to get those workouts in with the demands of work, the shortened days, and indoor training sessions that accompany winter.  Unfortunately, work doesn't appear to be letting up in the near future, as I have been scheduled to work through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  Time to suck it up and push forward.  The desire to train burns inside me like a fire, which I will apparently need to get me through another winter in the Northeast.  I am still managing to get 4-6 quality workouts in per week but I must admit that I have been focusing a little more on strength training in the recent weeks.  This is calculated, as I am entering the strength building portion of my preseason preparation.  I am still using the quality time on weekends to try and increase some endurance but my weekly workouts are shortened.  I will usually put in 30 mins of quality run or bike time at high intensity, followed by 30 mins of functional strength training.  I plan on continuing this for about two-three months before I start transitioning into race specific training.  Hopefully, by that time, I will be able to get my feet back on the ground outside!

Today's post is short and they may continue in this format for the foreseeable future but I want to end on a few goals.  If I write them down here and post them for the world to see, I become much more accountable.

1.  This weekend Swim - 3.5km+ at a slow endurance pace

2.  This weekend Bike - 3hrs on the trainer

3.  This weekend Run - 13.1 mi half-marathon at marathon pace

Trials and Tribulations of triathlon training... Let the training continue.