The Road to Leadville

After all the excitement of yesterday today seemed pleasantly simple.

I am now seeing the positive results of using a slack line.  I was standing on the on the top rung of a rickety ladder trying to reach far off branches while pruning my Mom’s trees.   I do honestly belive that my work on the slack line is the only reason I didn’t fall on my face.  Go core strength!  Adding a variety of different ways of working my body, and being creative fitting runs into an impossibly busy life has inspired todays post…

The Drop Off

Getting up early while before my wife leave for work is often not a possibility due to  the unpredictable world of parenting.  Leaving my wife at dinner time and running is often problematic as well.  Well, “The Drop Off” is my solution to working out and not abandoning my family!

We went into town to run evening errands.  On the way into town I hit the trip and mapped out when I was 3 miles from home.  That way on the way home I would have my wife let me out of the car and I would run that last 3 miles.  It’s just what they did – my kids were a little confused why daddy was getting out of the car and sprinting away down the road at dusk.  they followed me for  a while with the windows open to make it a fun game, and bingo – I fit my run into my day! I think is a great strategy.

I was running efficiently despite my concern about my stride.  I’ve been worried since I noticed the wear on my Vibrams that show more heal damage, not good.  I did remember that I walk around in my Vibrams a lot and think that is where I am doing that type of wear.  After this run, I felt good, but could I do it 8.73 times? (a Marathon) I’m not so sure I could today… but I’m confident I’ll get there.

Today I:

•  3 mile 25:40 – Cardio “The Drop Off”
• 20 Mil press with Band - Strength
• 1 min – Flexibility
• 10 - Push-ups
• 3 - Pull-ups
• 50 flutter kicks – Abs
• 20 – Dips
• 30 min trimming tree - Balance
• 100 RL Blue Ring - Grip
• 1 min - Meditation
• Juice, Water - Hydration
•  Good Aside from Redbull vodka Nutrition
• Min - Protein
•  None – Vitamin
•  Good Black Maker and Out – Husbands
•  Playing, Books – Dad
•  O – Clean – Organize – Minimize
•  Done: Call Sholay - Goal

The moral of the day, BE CREATIVE!

Today’s events gave me an infusion of inspiration.  Just what I needed to catch up on my blogging.  Like the person who starts a work out routine and slacks off for days,  I have done that with letting a few days go by without blogging.  Mr. Mom is sometimes too tired after a day with the kids.   Rest assured, I did not slack on my daily work outs.   My lack of blogging has really frustrated me but NO MORE!  Today I heard by from my first potential sponsor, and they are in!  They must think I’m crazy enough to actually follow through with my quest for Leadville, and that people may be curious enough to follow me on my journey.  Point being, they are sending me some goodies.

Nothing makes you feel more validated in blogging than a company saying  “You have a worthwhile cause!”  Getting into shape takes some system support.  One of my motivations behind drinking a chia fresca everyday (something I have been unfortunately slacking on).  I wanted to add a protein supplement but have had back luck with them in the past.  The trouble is, most of them are so sugary and full of sh*t not suitable for human consumption that they would make me sick.   Drinking them would have me “running for the border” as my family says when you have to run to use the bathroom.   I will leave the remaining details to your imagination.

My wife and I were in the grocery store’s heath food section and I saw a new product on the shelves.  Plant Fusion.  My wife is an ingredient nazi and pours over each item in a product long before it gets a place in our shopping cart.  This being said I handed it over to her to check out.  Surprisingly enough it passed her inital inspection, and I emailed them from my phone on the way home from the store to get some additional information.  And that’s where it all began!

I will write a lot more about Plant Fusion and their products as the weeks and months and challenges go by but for right now I’m stoked and waiting for their goodie bag to arrive

Other than that AMAZING addition to my regiment….

I am applying to a semi local Fire Department that is hiring.  Usually, once the word is out that a department is hiring, I only have a couple of days to fill out the lengthy application and either drive it to the station at the 11 hour, or overnight it!   More than once, my wife and I have been in the car with kids in car seats madly completing applications 10 minutes before it’s due.  It’s such a competitive field, and they usually have a very specific number of applications they will accept that leads to an even smaller number of guys they will consider.  This being said, I was madly adding final touches at 2:15 when I had to rush it to FedEx by 2:30 to overnight it.

Luckily, I had both my mother-in-law and my baby sitter on shifts so that I could pull off the application process and get a couple of lawns mow’d.  I am doing everything I can to make some money on the side to pay for my quest.  My Mom, my best friends  Mom, and some of their neighbors have dropped their lawn service and are paying me to do it now.  They are all entertained with what I am doing, and like the idea of have the local boy out in their backyards instead of a stranger.

A quick note about my lawn mowing supply trailer.  When I get an idea for something I go big.  I had to collect a lawn mower, blower, weed eater, garbage cans for lawn clippings, and a trailer to haul it all around in. I was actually able to collect all of these things from borrowing and donations.  It is such a handsome set-up that I feel obliged to post a picture of it.  Hopefully, my sarcasm is loud and clear!

When I set out with my trailer full of goodies ready to start my side jobs for race cash, I was pretty impressed I was able to pull it off.  I stopped at my sister-in-law house’s, my Mom’s, the liquor store (no lawn to mow there), and when I arrived at my final lawn for the evening to find a shocking surprise.  The beautiful shiny red lawn mower (that was on loan from Sears) was GONE!  Somewhere on my travels traversing the rural town I reside, where crime is rare, I was robbed.  I thought for a moment that I was going crazy and must have left it, or it rolled out of the trailer and backtracked several times before calling the police.  Boy, this is going to be fun conversation with Sears! Wish me luck.  And now how do I take care of my new clients?

Aside from all the excitement and working on my new sheet I managed to:

• 1 Mile Run – in the pitch dark… without running into anything that’s accomplishment enough for me!
• 20 Band bicep curls
• 1 min stretching
• 10 push ups
• 3 pull ups
• 50 crunches
• 20 dips
• Hydrated with water and juice
• 100 RL grip squeeze ring
• 2 min Balance
• 1 min meditation
• Nutrition – good – minus a Redbull and some vodka!
• Good dad
• Good Hubby – minus AM fight…

Today was great I got an app in I got a work out in I got a sponsor and I’m feeling ready to rock for the Beat the Bridge 8k!!  I don’t even mind a little adventure and police activity in my evening.  12 days to my next event! and now that I am sponsored…. I feel snazzier and more obligated to keep this going! Thank you Plant Fusion!

I’m combining these two days because they both tell the same story.  The Line.  As many of you know I’m striving to be a Firefighter.  Many people may not realize getting  job as a Firefighter is extremely difficult!  There is an article that explains it is statistically harder to get hired by Seattle that to get into Harvard, FRICKEN HARVARD!  For Seattle 4350 people applied and after 1 written test 2 oral boards (very intense scripted interview with score cards).  I was 94 on the list!  A HUGE accomplishment.  After almost 2 years, 2 more interviews, 3 more tests, and a back ground enema,  I wasnt hired…Still on the list though.

I’m applying to every open department with the end result of being a firefighter.  They all say it’s a numbers game and the ones who get a job are the ones who do not give up.  Many of these stations will limit the number of applications they will accept or pass out.  This leads to camp outs.  Yes, grown ass men and a couple of women camping out to either pick up or drop off an application.  Similar to the days of camping out at Ticket Master to get tickets to the best shows, long before clicking “buy” over and over on-line.  (at least that is what I hear from my wife, who is older than me and knew life before internet)

Last year at VRFA they only gave out 200 applications.  A bunch of fellow aspiring firefighters and I, showed up 21 hours early with tents in hand and were still around 120th in line.  The news was all over it.  The guys in the front of the line had been there for 48 hours.  They said it was a sign of the times and the economy, that all the newly laid off workers of other trades are trying to get onto a fire department for good pay, benefits, and security.  We all made it in to the news.

The latest station I am applying for accepted only 500 completed applications.  This one was not advertised to the extent VRFA was, and I had no idea how early I would need to be for my application to be accepted.  I wasn’t taking any chances so I left the night before around 5pm.  applications were being accepted at 9am.

Before I took off I snuck in a little work out:

•  - Cardio  – 1 mile run 8.38 min
•  - Strength – 20 upright rows
•  - Flexibility – 2 minutes
•  - Push-ups – 20
•  - Pull-ups – 4
•  - Abs – 20 sit-ups
•  - Dips – 20
•  - Balance – 1 minute on slack line
•  - Grip – 100 RL
•  - Meditation – 1 minute (that’s something right?)
•  - Hydration – 32 oz Gatorade
•  - Nutrition – good (minus Blackmaker)
•  - Protein – none
•  - Vitamin – none (still in search of the best product to take)
•  - Goal – (get a good spot in line)

6:30pm and a bit shocked at the lack of people in the line.  I set up camp and met my neighbors.  I found out that one of my neighbors was number 210 in the VRFA line! 210! That means he camped out all night on the side of a road and missed getting a precious application by 10 people.  Ouch!  My friend Gallup showed up with a tent and some supplies.   He is a volunteer at the department and has a fast track getting an application in for a paid position, no waiting inline for him.   A very brilliant guy brough axillary power so we were well set up with a tent where we could gather and watch DVDs.  From about 9pm to 2am it poured rain.  I ended up sleeping in my car, which yielded one of the best nights sleep in the last 4 years!  Any parent can attest to this. 

Day: 22 Back at of the Line

I crawled of the car and found my way back to my spot being held by my folding chair.  The line now swelled to couple hundred people to my best guess.  I was about 20 or so and happy with it.  The night before I poured over my application making sure it was perfect.  I read the directions at least 4 times.   At about 9:20 am it was my turn hand over my application,  “We can’t take personal check” she said handing me back my application.   14 hours in, and I am unable to get this turned in.  I cannot belive I missed that little detail on the instructions!  I was sent to the back of the line, and ran to the closest bank to get cash.  Let me say this one more time, I had been there for 14 hours getting back in line with those who showed up 14 minutes ago! 

2 hours later, I was back to the same woman who sent me packing.  I still had a smile on my face and a great attitude.  How could I not – when things like this happen you have to find the humor in it!  The woman even said that she felt bad having to send me out to get cash. 

Back at home – wet, tired, and feeling a little silly for going over the night before unnecessarily!

One notable item for this day 22… my wife started her “sheets” today.  I made her a mini version of mine.  The funny part is that I added meditate as an item she needs to complete and she can barely do one minute.  Literally 30 seconds in a challenge for her.  She cannot slow down – it cracks me up!

Starting next week I’m going to step up my game if I’m going to be ready for Leadville next year!  Try to work out twice a day a couple of times a week.  Also get some swimming in.  Branching out to be more versatile. 

4:20 am,  yes 4:20am,  my alarm goes off!  I have Cadets today.  For almost two years now I have been spending each saturday involved in the Cadet program.  Simply put,  you learn how to be a fire fighter.  It was cancelled two weeks ago, and I missed a weekend due to obtaining my Red Card (Wild Land Firefighting Class)  I haven’t been since I started my Road to Leadville Project.  Today will be a great test to see if I notice a difference in my fitness level.  

Today is a  particularly good day to test myself.  We are doing the  ”The Death March” which is a 2 1/2 inch supply hose for 300 feet.  basically, your hauling the supply hose in full bunking gear (What Firefighters wear in to a fire) what weights with the boots and helmet about 35lbs and is hot!  It’s like running around in a heavy snow suit.   It was also a warm day out on hot pavement. 

1. Shoulder load 100′ ft of 2 1/2 inch hose (about 35lbs)
2. With that on you shoulder drag another 200′ ( about 70lbs) to a hydrant that is 300′ away
3. Once you get there turn around and run back to the engine and hook it up.
4. Grab your tool and run back to the hydrant and hook it up
5. Run back to the engine and adjust the pressure

 All timed for comparison and bragging rights.

You only do this drill once, but as each person takes their turn, everyone else who is not hauling hoses runs along next to them cheering them on.   I ran this 8 times and between each one we have to run around and clean up all the hose.  All in all I estimate that I ran about 4 miles in bunking gear. 

Now that I have been involved in the program for almost two years I am an officer.  Being the officer,  I went first and did pretty damn good.  I could have been a little faster with my transitions; setting something down then realizing I needed it, picking it back up,  then forgetting to grab a coupling on the way to the intake.  This cost me 3 to 5 seconds per mishap, which seems small, but makes a big difference in timed drills.  Going first placed me at a disadvantage as I wasn’t able to watch anyone else and get a refresher on the sequence and it has been over a year since the last time I have done this.   I got a good sprint back to adjust the pressure and set an impressive 5:34, only to be dethrone by the next guy who got 5:17.  I guess I was just too good of a coach!   I was showing him how to avoid simple mistakes so he would know what not to do…. OK Fine that’s just me being a sore loser!! I hate losing, I would have done it again just to prove I could beat him, but that wasnt an option.  I held my second place spot while everyone else went, which helped my bruised ego.  All said and done we cleaned up and called it a day.

I was very happy with my fitness.  I wasn’t dying, huffing, and feeling like I was going to throw up.   I did much better than last year and in weeks past due to my fitness regime.   

I did hear something today at Cadets that is worth mentioning.  Something that scares the shit out of me.  There is a recruit class currently training that will graduate in the next week as paid full-time firefighters.  He was dropped from this recruit class week 12 of 13… He was dropped Friday and would have graduated the following Thursday…  He probably worked hard for 4-6 years to get this opportunity,  and fell 4 days short! WOW!

Back home, Beat,  BUT I’m going to finish my work out even though I’m tired:

• DEATH MARCH – Cardio – Strength – Grip
• 1 min of stretching
• 10 push-up
• 3 pull ups
• 100 flutter kicks
• 20 dips
• 1 min on the Slack line
• Good nutrition minus a Redbull and vodka
• 56 oz of water 32 oz Gatorade and still was dehydrated after all that work
• 1 min meditation

480 more days I need to start bumping up the time that I work out, not today though today was plenty!  To get psyched up I took my wife to see the CruX, and it’s still pretty awesome.  And I’m still trying to find a way to make it mine.  Convinced that this bike will make all the difference, make riding a pleasure and take the pain out of my back when I ride my daughters tiny bike.