Tomorrow

Tomorrow marks the day I will get my first indoor trainer. I have a feeling this will help in recovery and get me on track to healthy training. The last couple of weeks I have been going to the gym and streching. This has helped out so my and I have become more limber which will help me become a stronger athlete.

getting lose

Holly is at the point where she could have Preston. Going to an exciting year for us. on the triathlon front. I have no plans except for being healthy. I have some knee pain. My main issue is over working it in the early stage of training. Over working myself when I'm just starting out. Need to understand light workouts for the first 3 months. I have a feeling that Preston will be a big influence for me to get my training right. 

  J

Workin

Back on and back off. I started off slow not to injure myself, but in the pool pushing off the wall I tweaked my shin. I been off for a couple of days and hope to be back on in the coming days. 

What make this such a great day is the fact Holly and I finally got a name. Preston Bennjiman Matulewicz. I was lying in bed a couple of days ago and Preston came out of my mouth not really thinking about it but trying to come up with some more names. Preston, Holly nodded. A few days passed, we were with CNWS at clink in the liberty hotel having brunch when Charlie asked us about names. Emil, Orin and a couple of others, all were shot down but when Preston was said it struck a cord. Holly 's father used his middle name Ben. So it made sense to use Bennjiman for his middle name. The name just seems right for us, a name from Holly's father, Bennjiman and something new Preston and Matulewicz. I feel we have a winner. So for all who reads my blog the name is a secret. j

Been a bit

So I just came off a big rest. I last ran about 3 weeks ago when I did a relay with wicked. I figured I would take a couple of days off to rest my knee. Well a few days turned into three weeks, four days after the relay I got really sick and I have just started to recover. I would like to say my knee is better after all this time but it still feels sore. I have a feeling I have to start o strengthen it for it to get better. In the next couple of days I'll be back on the bike and in the pool. Just got fins and paddles and I'm dying to use them. My friend Jules has been wanting to go running so I think I'll be running in the next week.

hard day in a silver lining

4:30 am the alarm goes off. snooze, 4:40 snooze. Finally at 4:50 we get up get ready and out the door. Holly, Lou Dawg and I in the car and on our way to NH to run a relay race around some lake. I really had no idea were it was but after 2 hrs and some wrong turns we end up at start 30 min before the gun went off. I am running the third leg of the race and still had 3 hours before I had to run. Off for some sramble and to watch some of the runner. Warm up went well. 30 mins later I'm off to run. First mile is a 11% grade, ran it no porb, 3 and half more of some big rollers and I'm feeling great. My cardio is doing great, my knee is holding out and bamm. My legs give out, 2 months of not running and swimming almost everyday dose not make for happy legs after five miles of steep hils and descents. I still have 4 miles of hills to got and nothing in my legs. The strange thing the rest of me feels fine, just my legs. The last four mile were hard run stop run, at the end I had this girl tell me not to give up and come with her. she pushed me when I did not want to go, but I went. She started to pull away and I picked it up. I passed her and told her it is my turn to pull, all the way to the finish. Sore as hell but I'm better for it. I know to run you need to run. I need to heal and then I am running.

The silver lining I got to spend the whole day with Holly and Lou. We also made a new friend Mo.

It was great seeing Holly and dawg on the side of the road cheering. Made me real happy, Can't wait to see Holly and Emil there next year hold signs, sitting in their fold up chairs.

Love you Holly.

j 

Workin it

Emil is on his way, he is kicking like a rock star. Holly and I are going to birthing class which is a pain, our teacher is so bad, I just want run out. I am so happy I can sit through it though. Been swimming, getting faster, stronger, just bought some paddles and fins which will enable me to swim faster.

I have a race on sat in NH. A relay with the wicked running club. My leg is  9.5 miles of hills. I hope my knee will hold up, it has been getting better. I think the healing is almost done.I should be fine and if the knee is unhappy I feel it will not put me back to far.

J

on the bike

Back on the bike. It feels good but what is better than that is Emil is kicking like a rock star, I have not felt him yet but Holly has said he has been rocking out.

j

Back form the docs

Dr. Ayers and words for improvement. Advil for 10 days, ice and cross training. The knee is in good condition, just a small case of tendonitis. I am relieved, I thought it might be worse. So I am back on the bike but in moderation. I should be ready to crank it by the end of the month.

J  

off to the docs

I'm off to see a sports doctor tomorrow. Very excited to see him and get my knee taken care of so I can get back on the bike. I miss it dearly, as for the pool I'm getting faster, stronger and longer. I' starting to get back that old racing frame I once had. 

j

open water

Since I have gotten back from Chicago My training has gotten back on track. No running or biking yet, just swimming. I am starting to swim longer and faster and thinking of getting into a master swim. The knee is still bothering me but I have a Doc app. on friday. Today I went to marblehead neck beach were I sat on the beach with holly and a few of my friends.I was able to break away for a swim. My first open water swim in years.

How cold! In a farmer john, I froze for the first 5 but started to warm up as the swim went on. I still think I am going to get eaten by a shark, either ocean or lake the fear is there and each time I have to over come it. The cold water is an other obstacle I have to over come too. I have to stop and realize it is cold I'm not going into shock and I'll be ok if I keep on swimming. The swim went well, did some sighting, worked on my race stroke. I feel I will be faster this time around in the water.

j

Chi Town

I just got back from spending 5 days with my wonderful wife in Chicago. Great time, I got to spend some really good time with Holly. We went to Starbucks, the Famous Pancake House, something and Honey, and some  place in the V triangle. We hung out with her friends Matt and Beth, Janna and Tom and their Family, even some of her old work friends at the India House. We spent the first two day with Matt and Beth. They live about 30 stories above the Michigan Mile, some great views. It was great hanging out with them, two great people. We went on the Chicago Architecture tour, I cooked them dinner and we went out to some cool breakfast places.

After we left Beth and Matt's we went to the Avenue. We stayed here because they have a roof top pool. How cool is that. We did a little shopping at Bloomies, picked up somethings for Emil and made our way to Jana's and then to second city. It was fun to see were some of our greats comic came from. The next Day we stopped at 

bini's a large liquor store, great selection brought some good wine home for the cellar. We also hed dinner with Jana, Tom and their friends from NYC. Over all it was a trip to remember . I have pics to come

j

3,2,1 go! Relay at the lynn woods

Race day has come and gone. It was great seeing every one from wicked. I have not really got to meet the team yet but as my training comes along, there will be more training runs and more races to get to know every one. Today I got to ran fast, well it felt fast. My knee held out but it is still a little sore. I iced it before the race and I have to ice before bed. I think I'm on the mend.

 The race went well. Only 2.5 miles, a little hilly, but really fun and scenic, running in the lynn woods is so great. It's one my favs. Reminds me of running in OR. Don't have my time, they messed up the times for the fourth leg and I don't wear a watch yet. I know I'll need one for training in the near future.

j

Swimming

I was in the pool today for 1/2 hour today, not too sore. I'm starting to get back into it. As I was resting between laps I was watching all the kids and moms swimming and thought to myself it will be me soon. I really can't wait. To see my baby boy swimming in the water. How cool is that.

I'm racing  relay tomorrow 2.5 miles in the lynne woods. should be fun.

j

Swimming

The Baby's room is ready for paint, my office is put away, just an other step to getting ready for our new partner.

Back in the pool today, a little sore from yesterday but I have not been in the pool in 2 years. So a good start. I only swam for 20 min, my shoulder started to tighten and the experience with my knee tells me not to push it.

I really think after today I have not lost my stroke but I think to improve it I need to join a masters team. 

j

In the pool

I got into the pool today for a half hour, it felt great. Worked on my stroke, breathing off my left side ( it needs some work ) and my right were I feel really comfortable. All in all it was a great day in the pool for me. I really love it and I  want to make swimming a big part of my training for this upcoming season. I want to be a beast in the water. My knee is still bothering me so I am going to see a doctor, but I will still race on wed ( only 2.5 miles ) and then again on the 6th ( 5k ). I'm just going to stay in the pool and work on my stroke. Build my endurance through swimming.

 On the Emil front, not to sure if we want to call him Emil now. Holly and I had a little talk and we decided we want to give him a strong name and we do not know if Emil is strong enough. I'm sure he is going to a strong person just by how bull headed Holly and I are and the physical strength we have. I have always been a pure athlete with my first 10k at age 5  (I was 4 we just lied to get me into the race) and Holly's horseback riding I think Emil will be doing hand stands we he is born. Can't wait till I see his face, only 4 1/2 months till I do. I get more and more excited to see him.

j

a little help to get out there

i saw this on youtube click

And this one too

j

back on bad times

Back on the bike today and still some knee pain, going to see a doc to make sure it not anything serious.To keep my training on track I'm getting back into the pool either on sunday or monday. Early morning swims :) 

Emils room is coming along. I cant wait till we finish it. I found Emil's stroller "The Bob". When Emil gets old enough I'll be able to take him for runs.

 J

It's a Boy

Today we found out we found are having a Boy. Emil ??? Matulewicz, have not picked a middle name yet but Holly and I are working on it. Very excited!!

I also have 2 races coming up a 2.5 mile relay at the lynne woods on wed and the hyannis tri on the 3rd of sept with an old friend ( Fabs ). I feel my knee is doing ok so i going to try and go out, it has been almost 3 weeks now. I have a 9 mile hill run in NH at the end of sept to get ready for.

  j 

nursing an injury

For the last 3 weeks I been off due to a knee injury from overtraining and hope it is almost gone. I am looking forward to getting back on the bike. I just started to read the triathletes bible. I think it will help in the process of training and staying healthy. Being healthy is what is most important thing for me going into my goal of 70.3. I do not want to hurt and push through it any more.

j

Looking for a new bike

The last couple month I have bee test riding bikes to find a more aggressive ride. I love the one I have but I want to go faster and I feel that a full tt bike will help me achive that goal. Since I raced for wheelworks I decide to check them out, they had a cervelo p3c and a transition s-works. Both were nice I liked the cervelo better, but what I really wanted was to try an orbea which they steered me away from. Next I went to ata looking to ride an argon 18 112e which they did not have but showed me a kuota kalibur frame set (very light)  and QR's caliente and tequilo, both QR's were nice rides, liked the caliente better but still what I was not looking for. Cycle Loft, I went there to check out elite but since I want to be on a carbon bike they put me on a specialize transition expert. From there I went to international bikes were I finally rode the argon 18 112e also a really fast bike and in the running with the cervelo. They also wanted me to try on a Trek e7 which was not in the calibre I am looking for. Today I decide I would talk to fast split before I drove any where. They told me to come on down to look at guru. I live in Salem ma so I been driving to see these bike and what I have found out is I really did not need to dive far to find a bike. I drove to Peabody today a 5 min drive where I meet Marty of Fit Werx2. I went here because the have Kuota and I really wanted to get on one. He did not let me ride anything, really did not have any bikes instock and said we need to fit you first to find what bike will be best for you. To me this made sense, fit first then bike, so I am thinking of going with Marty and the fit first. I feel this will help with my gaol of going fast were as all the other stores I went to were more about the bike and we all know it's not about the bike.

Thanks Marty

j

inspiration

I have wanted to write a blog for awhile and finally got the inspiration from a woman named April. She has been blogging about her experience as a triathlon mom and showed me what it is to share those experiences.

So the journey begins, as a soon to be stay at home dad, a husband who loves his wife and a man who wants to make the half-ironman world championship as an age grouper.

Wish me luck as a new father and one with a dream of going fast.

j