The July Edition of BIT updates is coming a little late. I’m sorry. I like to do these right at the end of the month, but I got caught up with my last minute triathlon. Either way, here it is. Better late than never.
Blogging
Looking Back
In case you missed it, in the last month here at BIT we talked about how to really celebrate your freedom, and my new-found productivity thanks to waking up early. I solicited your opinions on the world cup outcome [even though Spain was clearly going to win]. I stopped making excuses and just got a bike and I talked about my uncertainty going into my first real triathlon. After I obliterated my first triathlon, I really wanted to thank all the awesome people I know. Realizing that my mountain bike wasn’t going to cut it for future races, I refurbished an old bike for $150, learned some life lessons from concert traffic and prepared some last minute impossible plans.
I also tried to really get after guest posting this month after dropping the ball in June. I pitched 3 ideas and all 3 were accepted. However, only 1 of them was published in July [Debate, Don’t Hate at Exile Lifestyle]. The other ones are in queue and should be up sometime this month. I’ll let you know when they go live.
Looking Forward
- 11 posts
- Write & pitch 3 guest posts.
I realized last month that even though I pitched the articles and they were accepted, they weren’t necessarily going to be posted that month. With that info, I decided to restructure the goal for this month. Rather than focus on getting articles on other blogs posted this month [something that isn’t always necessarily within my control] I’m going to focus on writing & pitching 3 killer guest posts this month [completely within my control]. This will help me discipline myself in writing them and also makes me solely responsible if I don’t write them.
Training
Looking Back
My triathlon training was up & down. I missed the mark on most of my training goals, but I officially became a triathlete this past month & I’m stoked on that. In the last 4 months, I’ve done more cardio workouts than I’ve done in my entire life so I was ecstatic that I was finally able to put it to use. I’m learning how to swim and I don’t [completely] hate running anymore. Yay!
Looking Forward
As I said, I’ve done more cardio in the last 4 months than I’ve ever done before. I’m also losing a lot of weight and muscle mass from it. I’m starting to realize I need to start incorporating more weight & physical exercises into my routines, otherwise I’ll end up like the crazy-skinny long distance runners [no offense if you are one, I just don’t want to look like that].
I found a couple exercises I can do without necessarily dedicating hours on end to the gym. The two workouts I want to have completed by the end of the month.
- 100 pushups workout
- 200 squats workout
I’ve wanted to do the 100 pushups workout all year. I don’t have a good reason why I haven’t done it yet, other than I just haven’t made it a priority. There’s also a program called 200 squats that Alan Perlman put me onto. I’m going to finish both of these programs by the end of the month. I started both of them on week #3 starting last week and am hoping to finish them by the end of the month.
As for my training. I have the Chicago triathlon coming up at the end of the month and it’s twice as far as any distance I’ve done before. It’s gonna be awesome, but I need to get on it. I sucked last month with my training distances but I’m going to need to step it up this month if I want to survive Chicago. Here’s what I’m planning on this month:
- 50 miles running
- 10000m swimming
- Bike to & from work 6 times
These are about the same distances as last month, but I’m stepping it up in August and will actually get them done. I have to. I’m also going to start cutting down on my car expenses by biking to work at least 6 times this month. It’s about a 15 mile ride, so it should be good exercise as well.
Bonus Fun Goal
I’m also going to try something that I’ve never been quite able to achieve before. I was a little hesitant to even put this up because it sounds terribly vain, but I’m so much more successful when I write things down. Also, after reading Steve’s suggestion about rewarding yourself with something that rewards me back, I’m going for it.
I want to finish the Chicago Triathlon with a six pack [of abdominal muscles not beer]. Like I said, it sounds terribly vain…probably because it is. I’ve always been close, but I’ve never quite got it. I think it would be sweet to do Chicago and finish with one. I’m not sure if it’s even possible to pull off in 3 weeks or so that I have, but I’m going to get after it [this is the blog of impossible things after all]. With a little help from P90x and Patrick Hitches I’m gonna try it. It’s a tall order, but I think the enormity & time crunch make it a big enough challenge to have some fun with. Why not?
Lauren says
P90X = INTENSSEEEEE. But crazy effective. Even the crunches in that routine kill me and that’s usually my forte. Anyway, good luck with the 6 pack, its one way to visually show yourself you’ve achieved a goal, not to mention, I mean, as a woman, who doesn’t love a man with a 6 pack? haha.
Anyway, I like how you’ve done this monthly recap. I’m building a whole new blog right now and focusing on what my routines will be, events, look-feel, yada yada yada all that jazz you know what’s up. But it’s a great idea – not just to track myself and keep myself in check with doing the things I say I’m going to do, but also after reading your recap it gave me a chance to see if I missed anything. As you said, writing it down for random people like me to read puts a little bit more pressure to make it happen 😉
My plan this month is to finish turning the scattered ideas in my head into something tangible. i.e. launching my new blog. 🙂
Okay, well, what are you doing still reading this? You’ve got 3 weeks to get that 6 pack, go do some crunches!
Joel Runyon says
Haha, I’m on it! It should be fun. We’ll see if I can do it =) p90x is killer & Patrick has me doing some intense exercises as well + helping me get the diet thing down.
Good luck with organizing things for the blog! It’ll be hard, but it’s worth it!
Trever Clark says
Haha – If you run enough, you’ll get that gaunt runner’s look whether you work out or not. It’s all about consuming enough calories to keep weight on. If you stay under 100 miles a month, you should be fine though.
So my goals for the month (since you did ask):
1)Rededicate myself to my running. 100 Miles this month. (I’m already heading for that gaunt look)
2)Write 8 more pieces of pillar content for the blog launch of Axis of Awesome
3)Generate a 7 part email series for same
4)Write and pitch 2 guest posts for when AofA goes live
5)Get affiliate marketing site that I’m planning live (outsource most of the work)
6)Run 4-Mile race in my hometown on 8/28 at a sub-7-minute mile pace
Whoo! Busy month, but that’s nothing new. Keep us posted on how your stuff is going. See you around the interwebs!
Joel Runyon says
I will NOT get that gaunt runner’s look! =)
Good luck with the running & ramping up fro the launch! AofA is going live at the end of the month, right?
Let me know how the race goes!
Alan says
Wait, you’re from Carmel? My mom’s family lives there now, and it looks like my folks might move to Indy in the next month or two. Awesome!
You’re welcome to do a guest post on my blog anytime…
Joel Runyon says
That’s sweet! I’m originally from Chicago, but I moved down here for my job. Right downtown carmel =). If you come down this way, you gotta stop and say hi!
I might just take you up on that guest post offer 🙂
Joe says
Joel, I enjoyed reading your post. You are one dedicated athlete. You are up to it & you deserve it. Best wishes for sucess &
great 6 packs.
Joel Runyon says
Thanks Joe