A Working Triathlete and Family Guy

It's March Already

2009-03-03T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been a slacker with updates... The last three weeks have been tough from a health perspective. I have been struggling with a virus and part of it was my fault. As most triathletes we have a hard time of taking time off and that was my problem. I finally went to the doctor and received some good drugs to kill this thing. Finally last week, I was back to normal and it feels great...

Caleb is officially mobile and walking everywhere. He is so much fun right now and he is becoming more and more curious. If can believe he will be 1 years old in two months.

The New Orleans Half is in 5 weeks and I can't believe it's right around the corner. I am feeling really good, but early season races are tough because there is not anything to gauge race fitness, but generally speaking I like racing early in the year. We have been ramping up volume and intensity. On a downside, the weekend's have not been great for riding outside. I have officially become one with the computrainer. About two weeks ago, we moved away from the run focus and now it's all about the half. From a training perspective, I have 3/4 swim, 4 bikes and 6 runs. It's been good to move away from the run focus and it's a change of pace for me. More to come...

Valentine's Weekend...

2009-02-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

I am back with an update... Last week was quite a challenge for me... To start the Jenni was out of town, so it was Me and Caleb for half the week. Prior to Jenni leaving I was provided a list of instructions to follow and manage. Going into the week, physically I had been fighting a virus for a week, but as most triathletes we are always pushing the limits. Well on Tuesday afternoon my limits were pushed and broke. I left work early Tuesday and didn't go back till Friday. I had flu like symptoms for almost two days. Needless to say with sleep and drugs I bounced back for Friday. Needless to say, the forced downtime from training was probably a positive. Back to Caleb... He was great for three days. For those Dad's out there who are in a similar situation, it's all about organization and having each day prepped: food, clothing, bottles, etc... Even though you can be organized, it's still a lot of work, but at the end of the day it was great to spend some alone time with the little guy...

Well, the New Orleans half is 7 weeks away and it's coming on fast. With the exception of these past three days, training has been spot one. This weekend training was very much reduced to ensure there are no relapses and it seems to have worked. On Monday it's back to a normal schedule... I have one more week of a run focus and then it's game on for New Orleans...

That's it for now... Time for some couch time...

It's February...

2009-02-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

If you can believe it, February is already here... This past weekend was the Superbowl and unlike previous years it was a great game. Being a Cowboy fan, I wasn't leaning any direction, but since I bet on the Steelers I was on their side.

From a training perspective, this is my last week of a run focus and I am excited to move on to my next phase of training. Starting next week, we will move too the following: 4 swims, 4 bikes and 6/7 runs. This will be our transition period to more of traditional build for New Orleans. From a fitness perspective, I feel great. Like I mentioned before, this is my first full off season with Brian and he has put together a great plan for our success. If you wondering about my volume over the last 8 weeks, it's been around 14 to 16 hours per week. At times this can be challenging with a child, but it's all about getting up early each day. The term early is defined as: 5am each day... but it's also early nights for me.

Caleb Walking...

2009-01-28T17:28:00.000-08:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2425263480790979968&hl=en

Great little video of Caleb learning to walk...

It's Wednesday Evening...

2009-01-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

I have gotten over hump day and getting ready to watch Lost. By far this is my favorite TV show, but generally speaking I am watching it on the trainer the following day because I have fallen asleep on the coach.

It's hard to believe that 70.3 New Orleans is 9 weeks away and I am excited. Training continues to be going really well and this is the best I have felt. I am looking forward to getting back to the traditionally tri training and moving away from the run focus. After 8 weeks of 9/10 runs per week, it gets wearing. On a positive side, Brian (my coach), has put together a solid plan for the off season and I have the utmost trust in him.

Caleb is doing well and bouncing off the walls generally. It's been amazing watching him grow and change each week. Before you know it he will be walking.

Ok, time to relax...

It's Finally Friday...

2009-01-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

Well it's been an interesting week... It started by Caleb not feeling good, actually he had his first BIG boy cold. On Monday, I stayed home to take care him and it got scary when his temperature peaked at 104.5. Needless to say, it was off to the doctor's office. On a positive, there was no throat or ear infections. By Wednesday his temperature broke and he was bouncing off the walls again.

As you might expect with me being home with Caleb, I am not battling a cold, but taking everything possible to keep it away.

Training continues to be solid and I am feeling good. I continue to be in a run focus and the Friday ended with a one hour and 40 minute session on the treadmill. This weekend will be a couple of medium length rides and run. Based on our plan, I have about another 4 weeks of focused running. Then it will transition into specific work for the half.

Ok, now it's time to relax on the couch, more to come this weekend...

Sunday Night...

2009-01-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

Well it's Sunday evening and I am finally sitting down to watch the football game. The weekend was the usual for the Klepacz Family. Both days consisted of early morning training for me. On Saturday it was a 60 minute run zone 2 and then 2HR ride, with some short zone 6 efforts. For Sunday it was a simple 2:15 bike. With the weather being cold, this was done in my basement on the treadmill and computrainer. I will have to say the two best purchases bought were the computrainer and Landice treadmill. It was another solid week of training...

On the family side, it seems as though Caleb picked up a cold and was running a 102 degree temperature. This was new ground for us, we called the Peds Nurse and she recommended Baby Tylenol to reduce the fever. Post taking the medicine, he seemed to bounce back before going to bed. Now it's a matter of staying away from his cold...

This week should be the usual for me: work, family duties and training...

It's Friday...

2009-01-16T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well, it's finally Friday and the word "Cold" is an understatement for how it feels outside. With that being said, most of my training will be done inside this weekend, actually all of my training will be done inside. Having a basement is a key to winter training. In my basement I have my computrainer set up and Landice treadmill. It's easy to get up and get your training done.

This year the season will be starting early for me, April 5th at the 70.3 New Orleans Half. This year the off season has been different in years past. Post my late half, I had 4 weeks of recovery with no schedule. Beginning in November we began a run focus through February. Since November, my schedule has consisted of 8 to 9 run, 3 bikes and 3/4 swims. As you might expect the focus is to improve my running off the bike. Generally speaking the shortest run is 50 minutes and longest run 100 minutes. This balance of easy, tempo and long days has allowed me to recover each week. Upon February the focus will change slightly toward the half. This probably seems like a bunch of running I am seeing the benefits and feeling good.

More to come on my training and racing...

The Family...

2009-01-13T16:35:00.001-08:00

Now it's time to talk about my family and support structure... My wife, Jenni and I were married September 10, 2005. Officially we met on Valentine's Day 2/14/04, I wasn't expecting to meet someone, but it worked out great. After dating 9 months we were officially engaged. Then on May 9, 2008 our new addition was added to the family. Our son, Caleb, was born at 11:45pm, 8.5lbs and 21.5inches long. It's amazing, but he is now 8 months old and time is going by way too fast. At this time he is crawling all over the house and will be walking before we know it... As most of you know, training and competing in triathlons is my passion, but if not for the support of Jenni, I wouldn't be able to compete at the level I desire.

Next Post....

2009-01-12T17:32:00.000-08:00

OK, I meant to post this past weekend, but with an 8 month old, your free time is limited. Let's talk about my other part time job, Triathlons. For the past 11 years I have been competing in triathlons and something which started as a hobby became my passion. For me, everything started in Tampa, FL where one of closest friends, Dr. Al Almengual got me started. Since 1997, each year has been a learning experience and I am still learning today. For me, I have focused on the shorter distance races: sprints, Olympic and half distance races. This type of racing is personally more fun... Since I am someone who likes to race, I compete in about 10 races per season. From a training perspective, I put in about 15 to 22 hours per week depending on the phase of training. About 5 years ago, I wanted to get to the next level and the only way to achieve better results was to start working with a coach. A coach provides structure and accountability. My racing and training took a change in 2008 when I changed coaches and started working with Brian Stover. With his knowledge and schedule planning, racing and training went to a new level. The 2008 season ended with a solid 4:22 at the Amelia Island Half Ironman.

Stay tuned for an update on the 2009 season...

2009-01-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

My blog is getting better, so it's time to make another post. Over the months ahead, my goal is to give you all an update on things going on in my life as well as the families. With a fairly new baby in the house 2009 is going to be exciting. On May 9, 2008 Jenni and I had our first child, a boy named Caleb. The experience of being a Dad has been great. Today, Caleb is actually 8 months old and he is changing by the week. At this point, he is crawling all over the house and can even climb the stairs by himself. I give it another couple of weeks and he will be walking...

My other part time job is training and competing in triathlons. I have been racing and training since 1997. For the 2009 season, it's going to be a similar schedule as last year. This means I will be doing some of the shorter regional races and key on a couple of bigger races. The season will kick off April 5th at the 70.3 New Orleans Half Ironman. The 2008 was a big success and it was attributed to a new coach, Brian Stover. With his guidance and knowledge I ended the year 3rd overall in the Southeast and USAT All American. The highlight of the year was going 4:22 at the Amelia Island Half Ironman. I hope to take his philosophy and plan to higher levels in 2009.

OK... That's good for tonight... More to come...

Getting Started...

2009-01-08T17:24:00.001-08:00

OK... It's Thursday evening and I have finally finished setting up my blog. It's nothing fancy yet, but I wanted to get started... More to come over the next few days...