Re-Beginner

The Percheron is ba-a--a-ck!  They are bigger than a Clydesdale, and so am I.

It's been a string of tough years.  It seems like every year it was an injury or surgery that ruined my season.  But I've got the go-ahead from my doctor and I am re-entering the ring.  Old Marines just don't know how (when) to quit.

Brief Bio:   I am a 59 yr old retired law enforcement officer who worked 23 years of maximum security prisons.  Retired in 2008 and started substitute teaching for golf money.  Packed on pounds and started walking daily.  Then the DW wanted to go along, but she couldn't go fast enough or long enough.  So after she left for work I'd go out and walk again.  After a few weeks I decided to ride my bike for a change of pace.  A few weeks later I figured, "What the heck, I have a membership at the Y.  Let's add swimming for variety."  That year I dropped 55 pounds and completed two sprints.  I am sorry to say that in the string of misfortunes I gained it all back, plus some.  So here we go again.  Another motivator for me is that I have joined the 100 Mile Swim Club at my YMCA.  I swam competitively in high school and college, rather enjoy riding bicycle even if I'm not very fast.  But I absolutely hate to run.  Probably not a problem anymore, since my doc says not to.  But I see race-walkers in my age group who are who are turning in times as good as any I had running in the Corps.

I'm a Silver member (it's a small price to pay for this environment) and am starting the Couch-to-Sprint plan this week.  I hope to re-establish the Clydesdale/Athena forum/mentor group. The goal for this year is to finally do the local triathlon, The Lumberjack Triathlon in Duboistown, PA.  It's a sprint, and it happens to run right past my house.

My training log is always public, so feel free to stop by, congratulate, cajole, or kick me in the pants if you think I need it.

ETA: Nowadays I keep my mind busy teaching high school Science.  My classes include Life Science(7th), Biology(9th), Anatomy(11th, Environmental(12th), APBiology(11th & 12th), and STEM (10th, 11th, & 12th).  Plus I coach our Academic Decathlon team.  I've seen the effects of "use or lose it" on my body and do not want that to happen to my mind.