Random Thoughts on a Random Friday

Do you believe I'm writing this from my old computer in my old office at my old job that I left to become a personal trainer? My how things have changed in such a short time.

Sometime during the last few weeks I've realized that I'm really falling behind in bills. I'm even facing late fees on one of my credit cards...something that I haven't experienced in over five years. It became very clear to me at that time that I needed to have a second job. How, I asked myself, do I get a second job when I'm already working 60-65 hours a week at LA Fitness? How, I asked myself, do I even dare to add more hours to my schedule when I can't catch up on rest or sleep? I mentioned this need to my chiropractor and he said, "Whaaaaaat?!?! You are already working yourself sick!!". I needed a solution fast.

The idea hit me. I had to go back to civil engineering if I was gonna get out of this rut. The question was...would they take me back? I figured if I could do some part time engineering work, I'd be able to actually CUT my hours at the gym and still make loads more money. The engineering job would become Job 1, and LA Fitness would become Job 2.

Unfortunately, at first (it seemed), this would not work. My old boss told me there just wasn't enough work for me to come back to. All hope seemed lost. But the very next day, something happened. A project dropped into his hands and it was time-sensitive. He called me and asked me to work the next two days.

Originally I said that I couldn't because I had two full days of work at the gym, but on further exam, I cancelled my next two days at LA Fitness and came here to SCI instead. I made more money on Thursday, just working 9 hours at SCI than I would have made in 3 days at LA Fitness.

They have me scheduled for THREE days next week and at least two days the following week so I will not only catch up on bills, but even get ahead again!! The money is tax-free right now, but once I get caught up, I will need to start putting 20% of my checks away for taxes at the end of the year. For the first few weeks though, I will be fine using my entire check for bills and getting caught up on my finances. I will have plenty of time to save money for the taxes at the end of the year.

This is a HUGE monkey off my back...at least for a little while. I am hoping that this becomes regular for me. Sharon, one of my old co-workers who came back for temp work as well, said that now, since she doesn't have to work, would rather give up her hours so that I could have some. That's awesome of her to say, since it almost guarantees me work here at least one day a week. An extra 200 bux a week is PLENTY for me to stay afloat, nevermind an extra 600. This is good. It's about time things started looking up!!

I can tell by being here, and being sedentary for the day, that I will definitely need to UP my protein intake next week while I'm here working. I will do my "DIET FROM HELL" next Wed, Thur, Fri...while I'm here at Sprinkle, so I can stay lean. I can feel my six pack leaving me as I type!!

A "LONG" Run Early in the Journey

It's been a while since I've gone out and done a nice long slow distance. I've kept my longer runs for the week down to 6 or 7 miles lately because I really don't need to go any further, doing sprints and Oly's this year. But, I really do miss my longer runs. The ones where I leave the condo, go all the way down past Channelside, down to Bayshore, down and back ON Bayshore, and then back home. When I was training for Umstead, that's what I'd do every weekend, and I really miss it.

Why am I doing longer runs now when CdA isn't til next year? Well, I'm thinking...maybe I should do a 70.3 this year...at the end of the year...just to get myself ready for the big training starting in January. I'll explain...

In 2008, to get ready for CdA, I started training in January for a sprint distance race in March (Moss Park)...then an Olympic in April (St. A's)...then a 70.3 in May (IM 70.3 FL)...and finally CdA in June. I trained "for the task at hand" each time...only ramping up to IM distance training for the last 6 weeks or so. This time, it will be different. I'm already training at the 70.3 level right now, and I don't even HAVE a 70.3 race in my schedule. My longest triathlon this year, so far, is an Olympic...and it's in a month. I'm already doing 50 and 60 mile bike rides (literally WAY overtraining for an Olympic) and 10 mile runs (and longer in the coming weeks). I need to do a 70.3 some time before the end of the year. I think I could do really well at Miami Man if it's not closed. It's WAY expensive for what it is (it's really not a 70.3, the bike course is 3 miles short)...and it's a long drive. But I've always had a good time doing it. I don't know what other 70.3 I could do towards the end of the year (Miami Man is in November) that would fit into my schedule. I have Marine Corps Marathon to PR at, and I'd like to win both of the ultras I won last year in December. Not sure where a 70.3 would fit right now, but I am determined to figure it out.