Training Fun Facts

As I was sitting around the other day, I was thinking about a lot of the changes that I have made in my life over the last couple of years. That led into thinking of some of the things that I do that many people would find odd, ridiculous or maybe even a little uncomfortable. So here we go, a list of fun facts about my life while training.

1. I'm sure this is TMI for most, but I'm going to share anyways. I pretty much have my nipples taped all of the time. When I started running a couple of years ago, it didn't take long for chaffed nipples to become a problem. My solutiion was to buy rolls of 3M medical tape. Because I train 6 days a week at morning, noon, and night, I tend to just keep the tape on and switch it out every few days.

2. I have an entire dresser drawer dedicated to my running and cycling clothes. Furthermore, I could say with certainty that I would need a second drawer if they were all clean at the same time.

3. With the exception of my rest day, I shower a minimum of 2 times every day.

4. I have become much more comfortable with my own body, to the point that I sometimes worry about acutally leaving the house in my underwear. From wearing fitted bike shorts to spending time in the locker room at the pool to going shirtless after a long run, all of these things have contributed.

5. The latest that I wake up any day of the week is 5:30 am...that is the LATEST that I wake up.

6. I spend A LOT of time reading and researching about running, swimming, and cycling.

7. I am obsessed with looking up and planning for future races.

8. Some may say that I have an unhealthy attachment to my running shoes, when I recently retired a pair I may have actually choked up a bit.

9. While I'm out training, I am often thinking about and visualizing future races. 

10. I have been known to sit around for hours after a run in my running or cycling clothes. I'm sure my wife and kids have become accustomed to the smell by now.

11. I have a dedicated Google Calendar just for my training schedule, and it takes A LOT of planning.

12. Sometimes I forget how small I have gotten (relatively) and don't even notice my own reflection while walking past a window or mirror.

13. I actually look forward to and thrive on my training (most days anyway). At this point, I couldn't imagine living any other way.

14. I use the deer rack mounts in our house to hang all of my finisher medals from the various races that I have run.