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 It’s been a week since my mistake of running without braces. The swelling is down and I have no more constant pain. Now, one more day and I’ll attempt to run again (with braces this time). We’ll see. With 6 months of training left, I really need to get on the road. My biggest obstacle last year was having enough in my tank for the marathon. I didn’t train enough for the run (that was obvious to me). As it turned out, it was my least favorite of the three during training. Learning to swim and going fast on . . . → Read More: We’ll see I spent Saturday and Sunday on the couch, which was a little upsetting because of how nice it was this weekend. In my attempt to start my running training, I ran last Wednesday. I wasn’t going to go very far, or very fast (even if there were ghost runners out there) so I decided not to wear either my ankle and knee braces. Big mistake….. I felt fine Wednesday night and most of Thursday, but by Friday a spot about two inches above my left ankle was really tender. Fawn says it’s where my tendon attaches to my bone….. That’s cool, . . . → Read More: Ouch |
 |
|
Copyright © 2013 See Tom Tri: One man's mental & physical journey training to be a 2012 IronMan® - All Rights Reserved |
|