Something weird is going on.

I've finally been living at home for a few weeks in a row...with no travel plans in sight...unless you count that one little race in a few weeks...or that one holiday that comes toward the end of the year. You know...the one with all of the presents...that makes my mom's house look like it should dress the pages of Good Housekeeping.

That's not the weird part.

When I finally started living here again, I knew that I would have a lot of training to do. And I knew that I needed to have a slightly different approach if I really wanted to be as successful as I am hoping to be.

So...I started waking up early in the morning...the alarm has been going off at a stunning 4:15am on weekdays. In theory, this is so I can fit one workout in before work, and one in after work. For the first couple of weeks, I thought it was the most ridiculous idea ever. I just could not get motivated to work out in the morning. I was able to get in a couple of strength sessions in the morning...but that was it. But I would still stick with getting up that early. My hope was that if I kept up with that, eventually, I'd be able to get motivated to work out.

Well...something weird, very weird, happened last Wednesday. My alarm went off, and my eyes sprung open...and I nearly hopped out of bed. I was able to run, AND do strength training in the morning...and still get to work early. And I was bouncing off the walls.

Surely...this couldn't last. Right?

No seriously...this can't last. I can't actually be...perky...in the morning. No. No. No. I refuse to be perky. At least not in the morning.

But it's happening. I was tired on Thursday morning...but I worked out. And other than bonking on Saturday during my 10 mile run, which I admit was purely out of stupidity on my part...work outs have been going really well. Like, exceptionally well.

And I've been waking up in the morning and working out on a consistent basis. Not including last Friday which is rest day...I'm on a role of 5 days. Totally unprecedented in the world of Johanna.

So things are definitely going well here. Work has been ridiculously busy...but in a good way...I think. And I've come to terms with Beach2Battleship. I'm going to have the most awesome Sherpa ever...my dad...and I'm going to try to do as much as I can. I woke up in a panic the other night worried about the swim...but I had a good swim last night, and I'm feeling better. I still don't think I'll actually be able to finish the entire race...but I am hoping to at least finish the swim and bike. Everything is looking toward next November.

Oh...and did I mention once I moved home I cut back on caffeine too? Yeah...I am attempting to keep myself to 1 cup of coffee a day. I figured if I was jumping off a cliff in an attempt to take care of myself...I might as well do it right. It's been an adjustment...but I'm surviving.

I just can't believe how much energy I've been feeling lately...especially in the morning. I've NEVER been one to work out in the morning...but I think that's changing. All for the better.

Holy $#!% I said it!

The phrase "I'm training for an Ironman" actually came out of my mouth yesterday.

I know it's over a year away, but I feel like the training efforts I'm putting in right now is all leading up to racing IM Arizona next November. I have a lot of work to do between now and then...and I'm hoping getting an early start is going to help me not die during the race next year.

And I'm not actually talking about really dieing...I'm talking about bonking. Not feeling like moving forward anymore. Or not being able to move forward anymore.

I want to be able to get more workouts in. This...on top of all of my other goals this year. To really be able to fit all of the workouts in, I need to get up early in the morning, and get a workout in before work. I tried this past week...and I got up...but there were a couple of mornings where I just couldn't motivate myself in enough time to work out. I did a couple of strength workouts...but that's it. I need to do more. I've never been one to work out in the morning. I've never been able to keep it up...mainly because I like being awake while I work out.

So, in that effort...I'm going to do what I normally do when I need some accountability. I'm going to write it down.

Today...I ran 8 miles in 1:41. That's a little longer than I used to be able to do it, but I'm hoping to speed things back up. I did get a speed run in this week, and I still don't like doing them, but I know that it's helpful in running faster.

The other part of this is that I need to lose some weight. I know how to do this. Clearly, I've done it in the past. But it's not easy. I've also had a weakness for food for, well, forever. I made a decision last night that I'm going to take a break from Peanut Butter. Not an easy thing for me to do. I love peanut butter. I love it a little too much. It's a hot button food for me, and one that I can't stop eating.

And the third piece of this is that I'm buying a new bike. I'm actually going shopping after I finish this. I'm not positive...but I think I'm going to switch from my tri bike, that I've never really been comfortable riding, to a road bike that I'm quite sure will have better control. A few months ago when I went window shopping, I was foolishly talked out of even riding a road bike. Well, I'm not going to let that happen again. So I'm going to look, but we'll see how that goes. I'm also looking for a bike that I can just ride around the city, that isn't my race bike. This, I'm hoping will get me more comfortable on a bike in general, and therefore more willing to spend more time training.

So...there it is. It starts now.