As promised...

My chick rocks! Susan finished 3rd overall in the Pump and Run on Saturday. She probably would have finished second if not for some suspect pre-race counting by one of her opponents. Either way she rocks. She did 23 reps of 80 pounds for her pump. They only counted 21 based some pretty strict rules so she got 10:30 off her run (:30 for each rep). She then ran a 20 minute 2 1/2 miles for a final time of 9:30. Yeah for Susan!!

I ended up doing both duathlons this weekend and I'm glad I did. I was really wishy washy Saturday before finally signing up. The course was 2.5 run, 10 bike, 2.5 run. My first run was really good for me, I had a good bike leg, and the second run was a bit slower but still faster than I thought. My final time was 1:17 and change. I was hoping for anything under 1:20 so I am pleased. No bling for my age group but still happy.

I was pre-registered for Twinsburg on Sunday so when we left the house (Susan signed up too) in a monsoon at 6:15 it was just because I already spent the money. Luckily the rain stopped around 6:45 and held off for the entire race. Unfortunately the wind didn't go with it. It wasn't too bad on the run but it got a bit dicey on the bike in a few spots. I think the gusts were sometimes over 40 mph. My time was a little worse than I'd hoped, 1:11 and change, but I still felt good. I am blaming the wind and the double racing on the slight dropoff in time (I was hoping to break 1:10 with the shorter course of 2, 10, 2). Susan did really well too (especially since she hadn't been on a bike all year) and finished in 1:22 almost picking up another medal with a 4th place age group finish!

The bike/run transition was much tougher on Saturday than Sunday. I chalk that up to Saturday being my first brick workout of the year and the fact that I rode my road bike in that race. Sunday I was a bit better prepared mentally for the transition and I rode my tri-bike so I think it went smoother. Either way it still takes me about 3/4 to 1 mile to get the blood flow right for running. I'm getting there.

No other races on the schedule before the 1/2 Iron at Musselman.

I was just kidding...

I'm not really going to try blood doping, don't worry.

I've been feeling good and getting re-energized. My mental state is good right now and I am looking forward to most workouts. Still having trouble finding enough time but that's OK. I'm doing what I can.

I am signed up for the Twinsburg Duathlon on Sunday. It's a 2 mile run, 10 mile bike, and 2 mile run. The bike course goes right past my house. I'm going to have the kids out front playing defense for the other riders. Nothing malicious like sticks through the spokes, just some light taunting and maybe a few water balloons. I'll take all the help I can get.

Susan is doing a pump and run tomorrow in Sagamore. They also have a duathlon that I was considering doing but as of now there is only a 2% chance I'll try it. I'm a bit intrigued by doing 2 races in one weekend, but I'll probably just go to cheer for her.

Updates after the weekend.

Maybe I'll try blood doping

One of life's mysteries: Do you need to be able to perform before you can benefit from performance enhancing drugs?

I am contemplating adding a full cocktail of performance drugs and blood doping to my training. If I couple that with the massive lead I'm planning to get in the swim I should do well.

On a more serious note, Josh told me he read that it takes 6% less effort to run for every 10 pounds you lose. That immediately started me thinking how much weight I could lose before I was so weak I couldn't stand up. I figure 50 pounds will give me a 30% advantage so I have stopped eating, entirely. It's only a matter of time!!! (no pun intended)

Just over 7 weeks until the Musselman half and 16 weeks until the Rev3. I am looking forward to both, although how much I look forward to the Rev3 will depend a lot on how I do at Musselman. It will be nice to have a status check though. It will also be neat to be in such a big race. I really like the energy you feel during those races. A lot different than a solo trail run.

New attitude

The reason I have been having so much anxiety over this race is because I forgot why I decided to do it in the first place. I wanted to have some fun and to challenge myself to do something really difficult (isn't that 2 reasons?). I also forgot that I am 44, have been slightly overweight most of my adult life, have never been a distance runner, have a full time job, have a house to take care of, and have a wife and 2 kids.

I got so concerned about precise training schedules, proper nutrition, predicted race times, etc. that I wasn't having any fun. Today that changes. I am going to enjoy this as much I can and I am going to go back to poking fun at myself instead of worrying about every little thing.

So, here is where I stand. I am again approaching "slightly overweight" since I have been eating as though I'm pregnant for the last 3 weeks. I haven't been running or biking much at all recently. But, I can still swim like a mutha! So, if I can build a 2-3 hour lead in the swim I'll be golden!!

My new commitment is to have fun, do as much training as I can stand (physically and mentally), try to eat right (big challenge there), invest thousands of dollars in the latest high tech tri-gear (my kids can pay for their own college), race some of my favorite races this summer (Shot in the Dark, Bellefaire Biathlon, Fairport Triathlon), and give it my best shot at America's Roller Coast (an old Cedar Point slogan for those of you not familiar) in September. I am not going to worry about where I finish. I have suffered the indignity of last place finishes before (that is actually true by-the-way) so now is no different. I just want to enjoy this and finish before the midnight cutoff. Modest goals.

I am going to start today by going out for a strenuous 3 mile run!! Just kidding (maybe).

Seeds of doubt

After having my legs almost completely seize up near the end of a 53 mile ride with Josh on Friday and my failed attempt at another long run on Sunday I am having my doubts. I'm not quitting, but I am wondering what will happen. I seem to have a million competing thoughts and concerns. I need to find my mojo, soon.

Stay tuned! I know I will. :-)

And so it begins...

Yesterday marked the beginning of my "official" 20 week training plan. Although I've already been training for what seems like forever it has sort of been a'la carte up to this point. I think it may be a bit easier now to stay focused. First, because each day is planned in advance. Second, the sheer terror of only being 20 weeks away from the race is very motivating!

I ran 12 miles on the tow path yesterday. That is the longest training run I have ever done. I am pleased because I made it (trying not to think about the fact it's not even half as far as the race!) but also because I don't feel like death today. It was tough, especially the last mile and a half, but I didn't walk and only stopped briefly a couple times to refill my water bottle. I was tired and sore in the afternoon but I am happy with my recovery. Today calls for a 45 minute recovery run so I'll have a better idea then about how I truly feel.

I still have a long way to go and a relatively short time to get there but I am feeling positive at this point. We'll see how this goes.

Update

I've struggled with this, as you can see since it's almost been 2 months from my last post. Many days I don't feel like I have much to say and I didn't want this to be a "what I had for lunch" type thing so I haven't posted. I even considered scrapping the whole thing and deleting the blog. However, Susan talked me out of it (thanks Honey). As a result I am going to give it one more try. I don't know what will happen but I will try to post more, even if it's just "what I had for lunch."

I am also struggling with balancing training and life so it may be therapeutic to dump here. I have had some really good days so far. I ran 10 miles on the tow path Sunday. It may not seem like much, but for me at this point it was big. I also have some bad days. I didn't do anything yesterday. I could make excuses (I went to Mallory's track meet) but that's all they'd be. I had time I just didn't do it.

My formal training plan (I settled on 20 weeks) starts Sunday but I have been trying to do the first week of it for the last 3 weeks (does that make sense?) to stretch it out a bit more. I hope it's enough. I didn't want to start too soon because I knew the mental part would be tough for me over 25, 30, or more weeks. I just hope I haven't waited too long. I won't know until race day.

Speaking of races, I did the St. Malachi 5 miler in March. I ran pretty well I think. My time was right around 42 minutes. Less than 9 minute miles. If I could hold 9s or even 10s during the race in September I'd be thrilled.

I had planned to do a 5K in Twinsburg earlier this month but we got a last minute spring break vacation so I wasn't in town (no complaints there). I also planned to do the Hermes 10 miler this coming weekend but we are out of town again. And, I was going to do the Cleveland 1/2 marathon in May but I waited too long and it sold out (it's a road race, why does it sell out?). So my race planning hasn't been all that stellar. The good news is I have already signed up for the Musselman half-iron in July. If nothing else comes through I at least have that! Although I'm sure I'll pick up some others. There is a duathlon in Twinsburg on June 6th I want to do.

My swim training is going really well. No surprise there, but it's nice to have one part of this that won't haunt me. Not so much with biking and running. Biking has been surprisingly disappointing. I spent a fair amount of time on my trainer this winter but I have only been outside once this spring and it didn't go all that well. I am hoping it comes with time and am pretty comfortable it will, but for now it is also a question mark. Running will haunt me no matter what. I am just not ever going to be real confident in that part until I do it. I will try like hell to be ready but I am sure I will have doubts until the end. Having 2 out of 3 (the BIG 2!) in question is a bit disconcerting. All I can do is train.

So there you have it. No promises for what or when I'll post next. But I will try. Maybe I'll have more to say now that training is picking up and I try to get in a few more races.