Living in Southern California can spoil you.  We live in one of the best training climates in America.  This week our area was hit by some abnormally cool and windy temperatures.  The pool that is normally filled with swimmers was empty, the Saturday Swami group bike ride had about half the amount of cyclist. I have a healthy respect for my fellow triathletes that live and train in the true cold weather climates like Canada and the Northern United States.

I knew training under Peter's guidance would be demanding and rewarding. I am now six weeks into my Ironman Arizona training plan.  I started my training weighing 177 lbs.  After six weeks of training I decided it was time to step on the scale and see what
this Peter Reid training plan was doing to my body weight.  I weighed in at 164 lbs. 

I am quickly getting down to fighting weight!  I knew that spending four hours on a bike and and hour on a transition run would burn quite a few calories. I can honestly say that I feel great and my body is in better shape than when I was a young 21 year old
Marine.  My wife has been great counting my calories burned and making sure that I have a solid nutrition plan that will enhance my training gains. 

I never really trained seriously using a heart rate monitor until Peter starting coaching me.  My eyes are now open and I am a firm believer in heart rate monitor training.  Peter has me religiously sticking to my heart rate zones to build a larger aerobic capacity.  In six short weeks I can already see huge gains in my ability to ride a bike hard for four hours, transition to a run, and not feel dead after
the workout.

I discuss my daily training plans with my wife Sarah.  I suggested that Sarah gives some serious thought to finding a coach that could help her reach her goal of completing her first 1/2 Ironman.  I sent an e-mail to Peter and asked him his opinion concerning a potential
coach.  Peter e-mailed his friend Clint who hooked Sarah up with one of his coaches.  He agreed to coach Sarah so she can attain her Half-Ironman goal!  We are all very excited that Sarah has such a talented coach in her corner.

I have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be coached by a world champion triathlete. I am a thirty-eight year old age grouper triathlete who has been given a unique chance to be trained by a
three-time Ironman World Champion.  Additionally, I have been given sponsorship and a new bike from the great people at Specialized bike.  I am quickly running out of excuses not to get in the best shape of my life.  I think the average triathlete reading this
article would love to have the opportunity to have a world class coach and a world class leader in the cycling industry in their corner. 

If you see an average looking triathlete riding a Specialized Bike down the Pacific Coast Highway with a big smile on his face you will know it's me.  I know how fortunate I am to be alive and I am living the dream!