Since swearing off the reading and commenting on various news and political blogs, which at one time I frequented much too often, I have found life to be a lot less stressful. No longer do I find myself rushing to squeeze in that last minute comment, on someone's blog, before going to work or for a bike ride. I am just so much more relaxed.

Another benefit is having extra time to train/exercise. So much time in fact, I am adding in swimming, and increasing the amount of running, cycling and weight training I do, in preparation for competing in the Long Beach Triathlon scheduled for September 23rd.

It's a sprint triathlon, which means it's pretty short ( 800 meter swim, 11 mile bike, and at 3 mile run), so I know I will be able to complete it. The only question is how long it will take me.

Certainly the bike will be no problem, and even the run, shouldn't be a big deal, but the swim, well, that's an entirely different story.

I did my first pool swim last Sunday in...... you know, I can't even remember the last time I went swimming. I actually managed to complete 200 meters (8 laps of a 25 meter pool), but I had to rest every 25 meters, and getting to the end of that 25 meters was no picnic.

I think I've got my work cut out for me, but now that I am only working two days a week, I should have plenty of time. (If interested, you can read more about my many tribulations swimming and training for the triathlon on my personal blog.)

Of course I still have to find time to write my weekly column at Trusted.MD, but I guess that's why there's a 4:30 AM!