Bubbles

This time of year it seems I always cast about for things to add to my life as I continue my endless quest for self development and fulfillment. Unfortunately the pattern of my life is pretty full. It's a complicated framework of little bubbles that continuously expand and contract over time. The whole framework fits neatly inside of a box which defines my boundaries. If I want to expand one bubble I have to collapse another in order still fit everything inside the box. If I don't do this then the bubbles will begin squeezing together tightly causing tension. Sometimes I have to take a bubble or two out of the box to relieve the tension. If the bubbles are permitted to expand uncontrollably then the tension will become to great. "POP!" For the record, popping is bad.

Making more room in one bubble is a process of give and take. This time of year the family bubble expands as holidays and hockey fill the pattern. To compensate my workout bubble shrinks a bit. Come spring and summer there will need to be more workout time as I prep for Ironman USA. More bubular adjustment.

This is a great system except for one thing - certain bubbles don't like to contract. They get accustomed to their size and relative importance within the box and don't want to be tampered with. My workout bubble is definitely one of those. Unfortunately this time of the year requires other bubbles to grow so I have let some air out of my workout bubble.

The air exits in a loud and defiant squeal. This of course wakes up Dennis who uses the opportunity to try to redirect some of the lost air into the guilt bubble. Guilt bubbles have a special property - any air that is added to them doubles in volume. Due to this property guilt bubbles grow very large very quickly resulting in lots of tension inside the box. Dennis loves the sound of popping. He eases back in his recliner and prepares for the fireworks, his lips twisting into a smug satisfied smile. Fortunately for me the nameless one is very smart. Right side shoulder angels are like that. He has installed a clever little release valve on the guilt bubble. At first it expands and causes tension inside the box. But then the guilt bubble slowly deflates and the tension is released. Dennis looks puzzled and scratches his head unable to comprehend how this could possibly be. He's not very bright. Left side shoulder angels are like that.

Popping is bad. Manage your bubbles well. Especially that guilt one.

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Workout Summary

5 mile run - LSD (Wednesday)

20 minute swim - S&D (Thursday)

45 minute spin class - endurance (Thursday)

5 mile run - LSD (Thursday)

30 minutes circuit/core/stretch (Thursday)

3000 yd swim - LSD (Friday)

2.5 hour spin class - mixed (Saturday)

11 mile run - LSD (Sunday)

2160 yd swim - LSD (today)

45 minute spin class - endurance (today)

4 mile run - LSD (today)

30 minutes circuit/core/stretch (today)

Obviously my blogging bubble has been contracted a bit lately!

Had great energy on all workouts last week. Thursday's brick featured another run in single digit temps with below 0 wind chills. Good times. For my long swim Friday I went a little harder than I should have but I was getting great rotation and pull and felt great in the water so I went with it. Shoulders were a bit sore later as a result. Lifetime Fitness in Schaumburg added another spin class to their morning schedule so I went out and did the two back to back. Will continue this until the weather improves and I can get back outside. Sunday's long run felt great as well - all in all a good solid week into the Ironman account.

Todays workouts had a bit less energy - likely due to lack of sleep. My daughter got scared by the rain last night and climbed into bed with us at about 2:30. Did I mention she snores and grinds her teeth?