jjcraig’s BodyBlog

I’m back from a great trip to OHIO.  My buddy JD, my son RT and I had a great time in Ohio and I performed well at the Arnold. 

Picked up my buddy at 3:30-4:00 on Saturday and drove to Columbus <strong />(Hillard<strong />).  We stayed at the Hampton Inn at I-270 at exit 13B, I used my Hampton points so it was ‘free’. 

I was so stressed last week cuz of a couple of things 1<strong />) I tweeked my ankle again last week and  2<strong />) I was also stressing out about my weight…I wanted to get down to the next weight division….like I need to lose weight?! 

Anyway back to trip, we get there at 7 pm or so and we decide to go get something to eat..we were going to try Sphageddi’s <strong />(? on the spelling<strong />) but an hour wait..then we go next door to TGIFriday’s, 35 minute wait.  I order Chicken Primavera…and we wait and we wait and we wait..an hour later we get our food…we get back to the hotel after 9 o’clock…poor RT he wanted to swim but it was too late for  a swim…we get to the room and it was an uneventful night…but I’m up at 5 a..m….we all get up and get ready and leave the hotel at 8 a.m…we find a parking spot <strong />(not easy<strong />) and I check-in at 8:35 or so..the guy at the check-in suggested that I go get the bench in before picking up the chip..so we head that way…I weigh in first….what do I weigh?……122.6 lbs. which puts me in the lower weight division..so I get to bench 110-lbs instead of 115-lbs.  There is a massive line and have to wait some more..I do 10 or so push-ups right before the bench to ‘warm’ up..<strong />(not too much<strong />)..the guy ask me how many times I’m going to push up the weight..in my cocky reply I say 30 easy…hahaha…well I get to 12 or so and the guy standing over me says 4..5…6….I stop and say how many?….anyway, he is messing with me…I keep going and finally someone says 28..I stop and say..are you sure?…get to 30 and then I ask, should I stop and the guy sayes go for max, well for good measure I did one more..just in case..so I got 31 up. 

The 5K for the PNR starts at 10:30 a.m. so we have to wait about an hour..my poor son….what a boring day for him…JD tapes my ankle up..he is an athletic trainer…good to have one when your injured…I walked around a bit and bumped into RisaT and her husband….very nice couple…..I warm up a bit outside and get to the High Street intersection for the start of the race.  Arnold is suppose to be there to start the race!!!  He gets there ontime this year…and says a few words… He has started the race 7 of the 8 years of the race’s existence.  I have a perfect view of Arnold as I’m 20-ft. or so away from him…He finishes talking abruptly and says 3.2.1…go..I’m off and its a great race…

 The race starts and I’m flying, 1st mile is 6:07…way toooo fast…my 2nd mile is 6:27…and the next 1.1 is in 7:26..so I finish with an even 20:00 minutes…I really think I snuck under the tape under 20 @ 19:59..anyway…Nice race for me.. The course was much more hilly than I remember..also there was a nice stiff breeze which really effects little guys like me…I turned a corner about 1.5 miles and the wind stood me straight up and 2 big guys past me at that moment..I must have been standing still, it didn’t help that it was at a start of a hill.  My overall time with the pump deduction was 5:00 which put me in 19th place in the Men’s Division.  Risat placed 2nd in the Women’s Divison..great for her. I finally met Risat and her husband…what a nice couple!!!  I was pretty excited to get 19th.  PR for me in the 5K by 42 seconds..I’ll have to work on even pace and warming up.

Get back from the Race and JD, RT and I go through the Expo….what an experience…never seen so many hmmmmmm….I’ll be nice big guys and gals……I did win a Marine t-shirt for doing 25 pull ups.  RT does 8 pull ups and wins a clip.   I  met a guy selling kettlebells that does X-fit..Kettlebell Bob….that was great….2 hours later we finally head back to Indy.  At the Huber Heights exit we stop and eat at Steak and Shake…I ate like there was no tomorrow…Double Steakburger with cheese, Onion Rings and Cookies and Cream Shake…Calories, Calories, Calories…..we got home around 5 o’clock and I was beat..

 Here is a photo of The Incredible Hulk, my son and Risat & her husband.

I’ve got several races planned this year but looks like I missed out on IM Louisville as the registration is closed. There is another IM in Mantoon, IL..will see.  Maybe IM in 2009.  I am really pumped for Arnolds 5K Pump and Run in March!  Really psyched up for the Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon Pump and Run as well.  My bench is improving slowly but I should be able to do 115-lbs 30 times. I’ve done 115-lbs 26 times and I’ve improved since then.  I’ve got an injured toe, yes a toe, and I haven’t been running as much but my cardio is fine right now.  Did 10 miles last Sunday and 13 miles the week before for my long run. I’ve been biking too.  I have a blog at beginnertriathlete.com, I’m JJCraig on there too, if you would like to check it out.  It’s a good site if your thinking about doing triathlons. 

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