71.6?

I am a numbers guy. I make little notes throughout the year, and sometimes, I look at them and over-analyze the numbers I put on paper. I have little spreadsheets to monitor things—way too many spreadsheets. I have one for my car miles (in case I need to deduct travel expenses for tennis). I have a spreadsheet for meals I eat out in case I need a deduction for that activity.

I often need to fill in some fields. But the number of hours working is known. For my "real" job, I take 2080 hours minus vacation time, minus holidays, and add overtime/comp time to get a number. For my tennis, I report hours, so getting a total is easy. What needs to be added is the hours I work off the clock, which I do often.

Anyway, in 2008, I was troubled by many changes, which meant my performance in races was less, my physical fitness was less, and my body felt tired so often. So, I look at 2006, 2007, and 2008 to see why things are so different. Well, I found a significant difference... 71.6 hours each week. This is the average number of hours per week I officiated tennis or worked at my "real" job each week in 2008. This is 14.3 hours higher than 2006 and 10.6 hours more than 2007. I knew my stress levels were high and I was working more, but this was a surprise. I had over 14 more hours each week in 2006 to rest, train and repair. That makes a massive difference as I look at it today.

I look at the first three months of 2009. There is no reason to believe I will not be over 70 hours a week, at least through February. Then I plan on going to Germany to visit my son in March for a week, which will help the average go down, but when I return, I have two weeks that may be above 80 hours each week... Looking ahead, I have planned at least 70 hours a week on average, even with the week's vacation. So how can I train during that time? I do not know but 71.6 will assure i will be doing few races. So, my first goal is to look at April onward and only accept some tennis assignments offered... I may use some of the vacation time I have built up... One thing at a time.

As a follow-up from my blood test showing I had a primary Vitamin D deficiency, and I was put on doses of 50,000 IU, I have been sleeping better. I am so surprised that one of the issues with vitamin D deficiency was sleep... This has improved! I am also not as stiff as I was, with the bones hurting. I may be absorbing Calcium better... If this improves, and I cut my tennis hours to a reasonable number, there may be hope? 71.6 can not happen in 2009!

Carry on. . .