New Year New Place

Well I made it out of the twilight zone. It was rough couple weeks, but was easily drowned out with the alcoholidays. There are families that drink and families that don't, in my family however we have been blessed with the gene which not only requires you to drink but also allows you to consume large quantities of booze.

So between the overnight shifts at the post office and the binge drinking at Christmas I needed to get out of Winnipeg. Which is why for the last 3 years I have the perfectly timed trip to banff for new years. It was a little different this year because we ended up driving out in a convoy of 2 pick ups and 2 vans, due to the low number of people signed up. But it was still a blast none the less. I was able to regain my discipline and get in 4 runs (running runs) after the days of riding. I guess all those long nights at the postoffice helped me to tap into unknown energy sources, because I was also able to drive the whole way there and the whole way back 16hrs solo.

Once back in Winnipeg it was pretty much back to the norm... with a little twist. I moved out. I was just getting sick of the house, too much negative energy. But it feels good to be out now! I am calmer and have become much more organized. It will be interesting to see what happens in training.

Shoulder update:
Well I have been through physio, massage, deep tissue massage, acupuncture, reiki and nothing seems to be working. I have not swam in over a month and I am not getting better. I have now been referred to one of the top shoulder specialists in the city to get a more concrete answer to what is going on with my shoulder.

I look forward to the month ahead with a little bit of freedom and a lot of training!!

The Twilight Zone

For any of you that check the blog and wonder hey its been a while since he has written in here? Longer then usual? It because I have been in the twilight zone. The rest of November was fairly mundane with picking up the odds shifts at random jobs, school, and various treatment to help my shoulder. There were a few times I felt inspired to write but I just never got around to it. Plus I really had no racing plans for next year. I was in limbo.

Now when December came around that is when I truly entered the "twilight zone". What is it you ask? Well for someone like me who sleeps regular hours 10-6, 12-8, 1-9 etc. With the exception of the night of a good party which might throw me off I am a person who appreciates a good sleep. In December the post office gets busy.....very busy. For those who don't know I got hired on at Canada Post last April. Well for the past few weeks I have been getting shifts all week from 2am-7am, 12am-8am, 10pm-6am back to back. Need less to say it has thrown me for a loop. I work all night I sleep all day and I don't really see normal people just the other zombies at the post office at 2am. I will say the first week was hard but now going on to my fourth week I can say that I am well adjusted, and oddly enough I kind of enjoy being a creature of the night. My brother calls it being on another level. He said "man your room is right beside mine and I havent seen you in days". Its crazy but hey I needed a change because November was a bore.

On the racing front I could not take it any longer I needed a goal. I was unmotivated and getting fat fast. So this week I signed up and I am in for Ironman 70.3 Florida in Halnes city. As soon as you click the accept button your cognition shifts. "Shit I want to fucking crush this race, time to drop the hammer". Everyone is different and having an upcoming race really motivates me. Some people can be motivated enough just to stay fit. Right now in my life I have a competitive drive to push to the next level. I don't want to just be fit or just finish I want to race and I want to place. This will be my first race in the new age category 25-29 so the competition gets a little tougher but I also have another year to make improvements. This is an exciteing time and will also help with discipline this Christmas season.

Other then that life is good. Got most of the Christmas shopping done, got some cash coming in, and got a race to look forward to. Nothing to complain about. Its all good. To help you stay motivated here is another beautiful display of running from Craig Alexander Kona 2012.




Stay Motivated!

What Have I Been Doing?

With no more races and being laid off you would think I have nothing to do but write on the blog. This is true but when your training is cut back to offseason mode and your laid off really theres not much to talk about. Along with the seasons somethings are starting to change, and maybe its time to reflect.

Most importantly on the training front, I have finished up massage appointments and Chrio to help work out some shoulder, and hip issues. I must say I have never been to a Chiro and my first appt was a positive one. I had went in for some active release therapy (ART) and ended up getting adjusted and feeling fantastic and it actually carried through to the next day. From there I have really been focusing on keeping the hamstrings loose especially while running. After watching Andreas Ralert running (which can be seen at the bottom) in Kona I am more determined then ever to put up a sick run split in my next event. I am easing back into swimming its really touch and go with the shoulder I want to try and get my weekly volume up around the 20k mark for the winter months, and build a really solid base. As for cycling its been really just casual rides. Using my fitness as a form of transport I actually went a whole week without driving, which was pretty cool. I am looking to sell my bike and upgrade for next season so if your looking for a full carbon bike I have a 56 and your can have it ready to go with 105 for $2000 CDN. For details shoot me an email at dsohor@shaw.ca

As for life, pretty much caught up with the family. Me and the dog have had a lot of time to hang out which is nice. I have been working on my mental state, as sometimes the high training volume can take a toll. Really just trying to live as clean as possible, maintaining the minimal bread and dairy. Got rid of my truck with hopes the cash will help me fund my next bike purchase. I will be graduating in april with a B.Kin. From there its just find a job that can pay the bills and allow me to do the things I love. Isn't that everyones battle?

Anyways I am going to let some more stuff pile up, I am sure Christmas will be a hoot. Until then train safe, train smart.

Davis

twitter: @wpg_wild_cat

Well That Was Short Lived

Just got an email from 5150 yesterday telling me the race is cancelled. Just peachy. Of course its after I book everything for the trip and now I am going to get dinged for cancelling flights and everything. What a pain in the ass.

I guess I will be training like a pro in the off season now. Its probably for the better my shoulder needs a lot of treatment anyways. I am not going to dwell on it. It sucks but I am sure with the extra time I have I will find something to do.

D

Living Like a Pro

That's the goal this month. I got laid off at the end of September and squeezed into 5150 Clearwater, because I loved being in Florida and it gives me a goal for the month of October. I am going to live like a pro.

I have watched dozens of training day videos of all my favorite pros, and I dream of being able to go through a day like that. Where your main focus is your training, and everything else comes second. Yes I am in school but only one class, and that comes second. Right now I am eating sleeping and breathing training. I know its only a month, but I am very excited to see what I can get out of myself on this race. I guess it also helps that I just PR'ed a half marathon my 6 mins. Needless to say my tires are pumped up.

So far its going well, it is not even a real life change. I was doing it before but I had the inconvenience of an 8 hr job in the middle of my day. So even though I am training more it really doesn't feel like it. I am more relaxed and more recovered.

I am still a little tight from the half marathon pr on the weekend but a little rest will fix that and I will be good to go by next week. Check back for updates on me training like a pro!



Train Smart

D

Operation Half Marathon Revenge Accomplished

After my running performance in Vegas, needless to say I was discouraged with my running abilities. I had really put focus on my running this year with some intensive focus in the early season. I had an opportunity with an early season half, and was not given an opportunity to fully perform. As hard as I tried it was just not a pr day. Report can be re capped here.

Coming into this race I was not feeling 100 percent either. The cold weather is setting in and I have put on a few pounds especially after racing Vegas and relaxing a bit. I also woke up tight. But I needed to put that aside and do what needs to be done, RACE a half marathon. Not run it race it.

Once we arrived at the race site and the caveman in me fired up. I was feeling better I was feeling competitive. Not full out jacked, but willing to run. There was competition there lots of fit people and another guy that I know goes sub 1:20 (we will refer to him as sub 1:20 guy). I tried to stay focused and just get loose.

Time flew by and in no time we were lined up. After the speeches the gun went off. I immediately pulled in behind sub 1:20 guy and took his draft for as long as possible. But he was running at sub 1:20 pace and slowly pulled away. Mentally I blocked that out I was starting out feeling good and I liked that. The first 2 miles were good well below the 6:45 pace I was looking for. I believe I was closer to 6:00-6:20 ish. Then the race changed..

Since this was a muti distance race offering a 5k, 10k and half marathon distance there was a turn off for a 5k loop. The sub 1:20 guy took that turn off. I was now leading the half marathon. My mind set shifted. This could be my race, I was feeling good, it was a nice day, and I was in first place.

Through the first 10k loop I stayed strong. So strong in fact I pr'ed my 10k with a time of 39:30. Saw it on the watch I was greatful and then shifted my mind to staying strong on the second lap and avoiding my typical 10 mile shut down. Knowing I had a buffer I backed off a bit and tried to stay even and paced. Surging when I had the opportunity and pacing when it was time.

The second lap was longer and felt like it never ended. I didnt start really suffering until the 12th mile and then I was digging. The race just looked so good on the watch I wanted to keep the numbers where I they needed to be I knew I was paced to break 1:30 the question was by how much??

Coming into the final stretch I helped another participant to finish strong and then started my sprint. I never looked back the whole race, until the end, to see that no one was even close. I saw the clock was reading 1:25 high I knew I was gonna be in the 1:26 bracket so I soaked in the whole race. I double pr'ed, I broke 1:30, and I am finishing first! I cruised across the line arms up!!! Totally thrilled.

You just always gotta come prepared. You never know when your going to have that race. Race every race like it is the most important race of your life, always do your best and you can never have regrets. Your best is always going to be changing, but you need to adapt to the situations. I am just really grateful I was able to conquer some personal barriers that day and it worked out well.

Winkler Half marathon

1:26:34

10k split 39:30

Revenge Weekend

Well it has come time, I am coming into what I am calling revenge weekend. I am running a half marathon on Sunday and I am kicking its ass. My goal this year was to break 1:30:00 which with my built and training hours should be no problem. I got robbed by the blizzard in may for the police service and that was the only half I had scheduled all season. I put up a nice time of 1:38:52 in RI at the end of a HIM so I dont see why there should be a problem for me crushing 1:3o:00. I made sure to take adequate rest after Vegas and then I nailed down some solid run focused weeks. I am feeling good about this race, the weather has been good and I race the course last year. Its a two looper so I can get a good even split. But I plan on killing it. I am going to try and stay even the first lap run with cola in hand and not have a typical Davis mile 10 shut down. Anyways wish me luck race report will be up Sunday hopefully.

D