"It's Actually Hot."

Is it official?  If it's not, let me be the first to jinx it.  WINTER IS OVER!  The high temperature predicted for today, March 19th, is 76 degrees.  Students are wearing shorts, tank tops, and sandals, and we're all fighting the anticipation of summer that usually comes in May, not March.  Track season has started and I'm coaching the sprinters and hurdlers once again.  We have our second scrimmage today and are continuing to take advantage of the warm weather.  It sure beats doing stair workouts in the stairwells of the high school because of 30 degree temperatures and snow on the ground.  I mowed the lawn for the first time this weekend and Laura went to the mall to get Luke some shorts and short-sleeved shirts.  As my dad would say, "This is Hilton Head weather."  In case you're not familiar with the Erdeljacs, Hilton Head is the destination of our annual summer family vacation.  Yes, we're kind of like the Griswald's.  Every year we pack-up our cars and caravan to H.H.I. for a week.

Like all Pittsburgh Triathletes, I abondoned my bike trainer this weekend and took to the roads on Sunday.  More about that in a minute.  After a Saturday morning track practice and lunch with Luke, I got outside for an afternoon run of just over an hour and a half.  No hat or gloves needed.  It was actually hot!  Porter accompanied me for the first 30 minutes, but was happy to take a spot on the kitchen floor, while I finished.  It was good to train in some heat, but there's no doubt things felt a little more sore than usual.  My body definitely needs to get used to the higher temperatures. 

Despite sore legs, I took to the roads Sunday morning.  After putting new tires on my Cervelo P3 and running through the checklist of essentials in my head, I was ready for my first ride outside since last fall.  Traffic was light, and it felt good to use all my gears as I tackled the Pittsburgh terrain of hills and flats.  I went on my normal 3 hour venture down to Oakmont and back via North Park.  By the time I returned to North Park I had time for one lap around the lake (5 miles) before the 15 minute ride home.  North Park was hoppin' with cyclists, joggers, and walkers.  Everybody shaking off the cabin fever.  I exchanged shout outs with Matt Crummy as I passed him.  He was in the middle of a training run, and it reminded me of the triathlete community that is looking forward to the challenges and successes the upcoming season will bring.

Let the Racing Begin

The racing season has begun!  Well, not triathlon yet.  The 37th Annual Spring Thaw run at North Park was this past Saturday.  There was a record turnout, and despite the mild winter we've been having, it snowed!!!  Several Lebo teachers laced up their running shoes.  Heather, Oscar, Veronica and I weathered the snow and wind and each turned in fantastic performances.  Heather did an easy 10 miles mentoring a few runners from her running group, while Oscar, Veronica, and I each managed 20 miles.  I was very happy with a finishing time of 2:32.  More importantly, this was a significant step in my preparation for September's FullREV ironman.  Prior to Saturday's run, I had never gone over 15 miles in one clip.  This 20 miler posed a physical and mental milestone.  I told Oscar afterward, "I could have gone another six if I had too, but I'm glad I'm not."  The other six being the six more miles to complete the marathon that concludes an ironman triathlon.  Of course, I'm disregarding the 112 mile bike ride that precedes the run.  Oh, and the 2.4 mile swim that precedes the bike.  Oh well, we'll save those struggles for another day.

Oscar and I in the cabin after our 20 mile run.

Saturday night had more triathlon in store as I participated in my first BallouSkies photo shoot.  It was a lot of fun to be together as a team for the first time in 2012.  I must thank Ryan Ballou and his father, Ty, once again for inviting me to be a part of the team.  It is a pleasure and an honor to be part of such an important cause as raising awareness and money for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) research.  Ty's enthusiasm is contagious, and I will wear the BallouSkies uniform with a lot of pride this season.  As for my teammates, they provide plenty of motivation to live up to their tremendous accomplishments.  What a great group.

The 2012 Ballou Skies Tri Team (minus Kim) 

Ballou Skies HOPE.  I'm the post in the "P."

"Back at It"

My contract with Ballou Skies has been signed, sealed, and delivered.  It's amazing how just being part of a team that works toward a good cause provides extra motivation.  There is a bigger purpose and that's exactly what I was hoping for.  I got some extra motivation this morning as I returned to swimming with my co-workers at school.  There is a group of teachers at Mount Lebanon that swim in the mornings twice a week.  I haven't been able to join them because I've been on morning Luke duty, but Laura and I worked out a new schedule that will allow me to swim in the mornings twice a week again.  My friend and fellow triathlete, Jon Ptachcinski, coaches for the Lebo swim team and was a competitive swimmer himself.  He provides the extra motivation for me each time I see him swim by me like I'm treading water.  It's good to be pushed again.

I have set my race schedule for this season with still the possibility of signing-up for two more races.

• The Columbia Triathlon, Columbia MD - May 20th
• Ironman 70.3 Eagleman, Cambridge, MD - June 10th
• Giant Eagle Triathlon, Columbus, OH - July 29th
• Rev 3 Full Rev Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH - September 9th
• Ironman 70.3 Steelhead, Benton Harbor, MI - August 19th (TBD)
• Ironman 70.3 Pocono Mountains, Stroudsburg, PA - September 30th (TBD)

The climax of my season will be my first full ironman distance triathlon at the Rev 3 Full Rev Cedar Point on September 9th.  There is a lot of work to do between now and then.  I'm very excited and feeling good about the training and racing ahead of me.

2012!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I know we're more than halfway through January, but since this is my first post of 2012, I'll extend my good wishes for a safe, happy, and successful 2012.

My 2012 has gotten off to a precarious start.  My general training plan was to start "training" for the upcoming season after the New Year's Holiday.  However, the winter cold season has targeted the Erdeljac household.  Actually, we've probably been targeted ever since Luke started daycare back in the fall.  Many people have told us that daycare can be the root of all sickness.  Oh well, still love the little guy to death.  He's now almost 9 months old and army crawling all over the house.


Luke and his first pair of Nikes.

My cold season has consisted of pink-eye, which I haven't had since I was a kid, a sinus infection, which I've never had, and an ear infection, which I've never had.  Oh, not to mention the ever present sinus and chest congestion.  Usually I'm the kind of person that trains right through sickness, but since my parental responsibilities have limited the number of hours of sleep I get each night, I've had to focus on getting healthy before asking my body to withstand the rigors of training.

In my last post prior to the Holidays, I wrote about three possible opportunities I was looking into for the upcoming season.  Unfortunately, I was not chosen to receive the free year of coaching that Jen Harrison offers as part of her "Pay It Forward" initiative.  I am still waiting to hear from PowerBar about their sponsorship.  Finally, I am very happy to report that I have been selected to be part of the 2012 Ballou Skies Triathlon Team.

Ballou Skies Logo

2011 Ballou Skies Kona Qualifiers

 The Ballou Skies Triathlon Team was started by Ty Ballou and his son Ryan to help raise money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy.  Ryan has lived his life with Duchenne Muscular Dystophy (DMD), a degenerative muscle disorder that affects all muscles within the body.  With the treatment from the heart clinic at Ohio State University, Ryan continues to beat the odds currently in his twenties and living and working independently.  Ryan and the entire Ballou Skies Team have a tremendous story that you can check-out at http://ballouskies.com/ and look for me in Ballou Skies Blue this year at my races.

Happy Holidays!

Following the awesome experience in Las Vegas at the Half-Ironman World Championships, I have settled into the "off-season."  I have been enjoying a more casual weekly training plan, but have continued to work on improving my swimming and running.  I have also looked into opportunities to join Ballou Skies Triathlon Team, get my first sponsorship with Powerbar, and be coached by Jen Harrison.  I am hopeful these opportunities come to fruition, but will pursue my goals for the 2012 season regardless.

As the Christmas Season is upon us, Laura and I are very excited for Luke's first Christmas.  He's now 7.5 months old and becoming more fun each day to be around.  Our Christmas tree is up and the house is decorated, but there are still presents that need to be bought.  Ah, the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas!!!