What now?

9:13. I built a new habit tracker. Task tracker. Time tracker.

My to do list.

The habit tracker now is forcing me to visualize it. And solidify the spots.

Tracks my keystone runs and keystone golf practice.

Now that I’ve done one ultra marathon. Which. Was not actually thaaat tough. If I train to strengthen my knees. The left knee pain.

I’ve got something I could create. I ran my first ultra marathon. 50k 1,200m elevation gain. I wonder what altitude.

How I went from running 0km to completing my first 50k ultra marathon.

From a total beginner. I had practically zero runs under my belt in the past 10 plus years. I neverrrr would be just going out for a run. Zero running in my life. To becoming an athlete who ran 50k.

My body was weak, back pain, shoulder pain. And I drank too much beer.

I wasn’t terribly out of shape. I worked out the minimum. I’ve had it part of my day.

I needed that scary thing. The grizzly. To kick it up a notch. To get that keystone.

I think knowing what I know now about training. And what it did for me. I could get out more consistently. Do those shorter runs. My base is so much higher now. And especially not needing to push the envelope. I completed that. Now I can work my way up more systematically. I can build my strength strategically.

I’m even more motivated. Knowing how those runs stack in. How the workouts stack in. What they gave me when I was able to peak. And use it all.

I believe this is a perfect cross trainer for golf too. Golf is like a marathon, being strong on your legs and feet for hours and hours. Days in a row.

I also found that my lower back got super strong, which is perfect for long distance running in particular, to be able to hold form, I got that from the golf training drills with the wedge.

Stuff like that. I discovered during the training. Which would make running it back much easier. Not having to figure it out for the first time. Knowing what connects.

I did not know if I’d be able to do it. I was confident I would in some form tho. But ultimately. It was the longest I had run. More elevation than I had run. So the training was about preparing myself to push the limit. And see what broke down first?

That was the uncertainty. It was simply more than I’d done. So I wasn’t sure how it would go.

Which took plenty of thought to try and make sure I’m covering as much controllables as possible.

So now that I’m past that experience. Now that I passed the exam.

Without the knee pain my muscles were able to find a second wind no problem. I think that third leg they were pretty jacked so likely not strong enough. I mean. If I were to go again. I’d have to be a menace on the hills. There are several obvious ones I could tackle with much more pace. Would be interesting to see how much stronger I could get.

I want to get stronger regardless. To have running as part of my routine. Something I’m super comfortable with now. Wayyyy less resistance. Uncertainty of doing a run. I also got that juice from the race too. Super motivating. Empowering. Gives me something more specific to have in my mind for the runs.

Also just continue to build leg strength. Core strength. And if I’m doing that. Then for golf to build grip and forearm strength.

And integrate some speed training for golf.

I’m not able to decide if we’re doing the grizzly again because it was thanksgiving. And that took us away for harvest and thanksgiving at the farm entirely.

It was a lot of fitting it in. I think if I were to continue with what I’ve got built. I would be able to do a better job. Without as much worry heading in. Having to be so careful to not over train.

I loved having that target. That date way out on the horizon. A proper like. Day of reconning. It’s there whether you’re ready or not.

It was so fun being able to try and peak for it. It was so awesome to be able to peak for it. Feel great for it. The training I was riding the line. Never feeling super fresh.

“How I became an Ultra Runner.”

Zach said I should write a blog post about it. I could go into detail about the race itself. I caught a decent amount on camera to sort of recap. It’s one of those. Wish I had the audio from the recap after the race. The take away was just how in awe Lauren was. She just did not think it was possible. Where I’ve been this whole time. I’ve been capable of this my whole life. It’s that confidence in myself.

The journey for that started like 5 years ago. I announced it. Bad idea. Everyone’s anxiety was just a tidal wave when I told people. I ended up not racing. We had a wedding in phoenix instead. So I kind of got off the hook. I never trained for it. I think based on how physical my daily life was back then. Had I done some training. I could’ve finished it. But likely would not have been my best foot forward.

Especially considering how much there was to figure out. Going from zero to ultra. I can’t believe this was my mind from back then. But I straight. Didn’t like running. Which was also kind of the point. I know it’s healthy habit tho. I’m having trouble thinking back because. I love running now. It’s hard to fathom.

Anyways. Then we had a kid. And then another kid. And then we moved to Regina. And my dream of the ultra was put way back of mind.

But then. Something. I’m not sure.

I think it was actually from basketball. I was out for the first time in years and years. playing on a team. And first time out I played well. Second time out. I strained my leg back peddling. I realized just how in active I was.

I saw friends to the grizzly again and I think that sparked it again for me.

I should sign up for the solo. And be forced to get active. Last October we took a trip to Japan. And I mentioned to Lauren. I think I want to do this. And her anxiety again was there. Believing it to be such an insane thing to do. Worried I would injure myself. That running that much was not good for me. I figured it would force me to move. Get out for runs alone would be a benefit to my health.

I then recall discussing at new years. And said. I’ll get into the best shape of my life. I believed. But we had heard that before.

I had been dropping in weight for years.

Fast forward. I did get into incredible shape. 15 lbs of muscle. Now instead of a skinny 140. I was solid heaviest I’d ever been. Healthy at 165. Which is crazy for me. Creatine helped. Consistent full body workouts helped.

And as I jump around thinking. How I ramped it up. As I approached race day. Those workouts for the legs. Mindful to stretch the calves. Core. I stopped arms a bit prior because I was good there.

But thinking about doing training to this level. Just keep it going. Makes me think I could become an absolute beast. Super functional tho.

What the grizzly did do. Was validate a component of my high level master plan.

Reverse engineering the ultimate golfer.

He would be an elite athlete.

I just checked that box. I’ve believed i was an elite athlete. But this was a measuring stick. It showed me what I’m capable of. More specifically. And showed me how much further I could go. Thinking now after this that I’m just scratching the surface.

Having the tandem goals. I want to test my golf in the same way as the grizzly.

The tournament I could aim to peak for and enter without a handicap. Is the club championships. In august.

Especially being in Regina. And no place to golf. And no time for golf. A full game. Plus all the cost. If I’m just paying green fees. To get that in. To lower my handicap. Just not something I’ve figured out.

So much time to go after that. I could play courses around Regina. I could likely round up playing partners. But there’s the challenge there too. Just roll out as a single and work to reduce my handicap? It’s a puzzle I have not solved. Getting games in to lower my handicap. To then enter tournaments.

Becoming an ultra athlete was so much more straightforward. Sign up for the race. No experience required.

The training was all stuff I could do without taking much family time away.

I got my running done mornings. Or occasionally lunch time. I got my workouts done after work or on the weekends. Could do that with kids.

What is under my control. Is to go back to the garage. And see what I can discover. Learn every nook and cranny of the wedge. Master the low point. I have an absolutely legendary routine I can do. With strobe light and weighted club and the whiteboard.

The other piece would be to keep building my swing speed and coordination. I’m not sure I have enough space in the garage for that. Is one challenge.

Ice and iron.

I’m more confident now. In sharing the journey. Having done it. Makes a big difference for everything.

11:50 — Chat GPT did not exactly help me discover anything new. I need to figure this out for myself. I think the golf. And the running.

The running is something tangible for people. If I am training for a race and run the race. The golf, it’s a bit more of a challenge to grasp.

To have a clear goal for each would help.

It’s a tough sell to do the golf challenge tho. To get the games in. So that’s still unlikely. But I can level up my skill. I can build my body. I can continue to run.

1:44 pm — Ive got my habit tracker. I like the new look. I like the way it hides and reveals the habits. I made it basically the entire year without really truly memorizing the location on the habit board.

I have a lot of house stuff to do before winter.

• Change tires – means I’ve got to clean up the winter tires. Super rusted. Notttt ideal.
• Replace battery in my car is a whole thing.
• Fix and tidy the side of the house.
• Lots of garden stuff needs to get packed up.
• How can I re organize the garage. Make more functional for winter. Reclaim some space. Bikes away. Sleds out. Could hang bikes from the ceiling? The garage needs some figuring out. Ideally I can set up my golf spot. And have it there all winter. Even when the car is parked. I just realized I could work with a speed stick in that area. Slightly shorter. But has weights and whatnot.
• We have to pack up the outdoor furniture. Build up a platform. And then cover them up.

5:52 — I cleared out the side of the house. Pulled winter tires out. Moved that radiator.

Hmm. I could store those piece of wood here potentially. Not ideal.

Ideal would be backyard. Somewhat accessible. Ive got two doors I need to store. Sell one of them sure. But we’ve got the other that goes with the house. Unless we say screw or for that one too.

I still also have that bit slab of countertop.

And a bunch other pieces thin, half inch stuff. But boards. Stack them all together. Ive got my long stuff going along the back. I’m thinking I build it out behind the fence. If Lauren disagrees then I put same thing on our side. Would be ideal to get all those boards out. Then we’ll have space to get a bit more organized.

I think that vision I had for my year round golf dojo. I’m now wondering if I take that big low bench all the way outside.

Would free up a bunchhh of space. Thinking I use it as the bobsled starting spot.