My cutoff was midnight…. or was it?
This year they decided to change the swim start to accommodate more people, er, uh, I mean to ‘alleviate anxiety’. For whatever reason you believe, the swim started in waves (pun intended). We were asked estimate our swim finish time and get into a group with others estimating the same finish time. The faster swimmers started first and if you thought you needed the full 2 hours and 20 minutes, you started last. This way, the faster swimmers wouldn’t run over the slower ones. Makes sense, right?
Since I seeded myself with . . . → Read More: IMLP 2013 The longest day in history
After getting out of the water and jogging to transition, I grabbed my bag to change. I think I was smiling from ear to ear because one of the volunteers told me it looked like I was having fun. In a matter of minutes in the water I went from a panic to calm confidence and that made me smile.
I’ve been having a tough time avoiding what became an inevitable sugar crash during training. I knew it was coming that day, just didn’t know when. In my transition bag I packed a coconut oil and water combo and . . . → Read More: IMAZ 2012 Avoid the Sugar Crash unlike I did (then again…)
The story starts in Tempe Town Lake at the 2011 Ironman Arizona. Before the cannon shot off, I was under the bridge about 200 yards from the starting line in order to feel comfortable with so many people around. I was toward the middle to the back of the pack. I’m guessing it took me at least 20 minutes in the swim in 2011 to calm my breathing. I was moving in the water, but not necessarily swimming. Whenever someone got close to me, I’d let them pass, but eventually got into a groove and swam the rest of . . . → Read More: IMAZ 2012 Swim: Don’t PANIC like I did (then again, I hope you do)
I got my new sneaks (neon blue Newton running shoes with red laces (apparently crazy colors are all the rage this year)), my bike is semi-tuned, and my internal clock wakes me at 5 am every day. I’m excited about two-a-day workouts (even if the second one is just a short jog around the block), and checking out every YouTube video that has to do with Ironman Arizona 2011, 2012, Ironman Lake Placid 2012 (to see if I could spot myself on the sidelines somewhere (haven’t found Waldo yet either)), and Ironman World Championships Kona (though if these videos . . . → Read More: The obsession takes root
I channeled coach Dale and pictured Ollie on Jimmy Chitwood’s shoulders as he measured the dimensions of the ‘court’. To my pleasant surprise, the ‘court’ in Lake Placid New York is exactly the same size as the one in Arizona (and even in my back yard).
I was a bit nervous driving to New York this past weekend (with no place to stay but in my truck) and volunteering for the Ironman Lake Placid 2012. The drive, nor the lack of a comfy sleep space didn’t bother me at all. The thing that made me nervous was thinking that . . . → Read More: It’s all the same
you can do just about anything.
until its over….. It may still be something tomorrow, but it certainly isn’t as important. Then, a few years from now, it’s pretty much a memory (maybe). I actually hit for the cycle in one baseball game. That was a single, double, triple and homerun during a single game. There may be one or two other people who would even remember that besides me. Of the at least 17 other people there, no importance or weight was given to it since that day. And if I didn’t bring it up right now, the one or two other people that . . . → Read More: today is EVERYTHING
Her hands and voice were shaking uncontrollably because she felt helpless. She knows that it’s going to just get tougher. The strength that he used to have has been rapidly decreasing, and will not return. It’s been 6 months since the diagnosis and the picture is bleak, dark… horrible. “Don’t get old” he told me as we made our way into the living room. The corner of the comfy couch was our destination. As he plopped into that corner, there were many short gasping breathes before it became semi-normal again. It’s certainly not like it used to be… even . . . → Read More: Invincible…. until you are not
You just rode a bike 18 miles! Eighteen miles. That’s pretty far.
He looked exactly like I did as he walked out of the driveway and ‘attempted’ to balance on the bike for the first time. I suggested he go up the street to get comfortable balancing. Thank goodness no cars were coming in either direction. I rode next to him and could see his hands with a strangle grip on the bars, and the front tire was weaving because of it. We, thankfully, made it to the top of the hill (the first mental obstacle) without hitting anything . . . → Read More: You can learn a lot
Last night I ran for 4 miles. I don’t think I ever run fast, but last night I tried to run slowly (you know, jog).
Knee brace: check.
Ankle brace: check.
Walkman set to Awesome Mix 7: check
Wrists and forehead sweatbands: check
Knee high socks: check
My favorite ”yea, I jog” t-shirt: check
While jogging (which I love to do, especially on cold days when I can wear my jogging suit) I tried to concentrate on landing solidly directly below my body. Though my concentration only lasts for a few steps at a time until I’m distracted by 1000 other . . . → Read More: that’s the best part
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Vitals Stats 
- Date: 1/23/2012
- Age: 40
- Height: 6’4
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Swimming experience:I learned how to swim last year.
- Cycling experience: I got my first bike since I was 12 years old....last year.
- Running experience: Arizona marathon 2008, Ironman Arizona 2012
- My left hip, knee and ankle STILL pop with every step
- Running Totals (starting January 23, 2012)
- Sit-ups: 5200
- Hrs Blasting Quads: 51.5
- Push-ups: 920
- Miles Run: 360
- Miles Biked: 1545
- Hrs in Water: 27
- Hours training: 233
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