Closing the loop.

After my last post I was pretty fired up and ready to go. My how things change. There were times during the last 3 months where I considered deleting this blog entirely. However, since you are reading this it's evident I didn't which I think is a good thing.


Flashback to June. I just finished the weekend double and am feeling good. I still plan to do the full iron distance at Cedar Point and am ramping up my training. Then, Cameron ends up in the hospital for a week during which time I do NO training followed by another 7-10 days where I do very little. I am having serious doubts about whether I will be ready to do the full iron and more importantly whether I really even want to. Plus, the half iron at Musselman is quickly approaching. Panic.

I almost backed out of Musselman entirely. As late as the morning before, when I needed to get up at 5 to head to NY, I wasn't going to do it. I was tired, undertrained, heavy (I gained 8 pounds while Cam was sick), and angry. I turned off my alarm and declared I wasn't going. The burden of training for the full iron was actually demotivating me! Luckily Susan gave me some encouragement and I decided to head to NY to see how I could do in a half iron.

I drove to Geneva, did pre-race stuff, slept well, felt good on race day, and had a good swim and pretty good bike. Then, I quit. I didn't even really attempt the run. I ran about 1/2 mile then stopped and turned in my timing chip. And, it was all mental. I actually started planning to quit with about 5 miles left in the bike. As I mentioned I didn't really want to go to begin with, I was tired at the end of the bike, I wasn't looking forward to 13 miles in the heat and the hills (it's a tough run course), and the final straw was that my kids were leaving for camp the next day and I wouldn't see them for an entire month. At that point it didn't take much to get me to stop. I did the math in my head and decided if I skipped the run I would be home in time to eat dinner with them and spend the evening together. So, I quit. I stayed until Josh and Katie finished but was on the road 5 minutes later. And I don't regret it one bit!

Quitting Musselman, for whatever combo of reasons, was the best decision by far. It took a lot of pressure off me and made me realize that I didn't really want to do a full iron (at least not now). I decided to quit worrying about training and start exercising. I started to run regularly again, I added in some of the other cardio stuff I like to do, and I swam or biked whenever I found time. I also e-mailed the Rev3 folks and switched to the half iron distance for Cedar Point.

Over the next 6 weeks I lost the weight I had gained, got my legs under me for running again, and enjoyed myself. When the time came I headed to Cedar Point feeling good and actually looking forward to the race.

I am going to write a race report and for that I thank Josh. He just posted his and it's actually what motivated me to write this entry and to follow it up with at least one more. He also suggested that I might need to change the title of this blog. And while I don't imagine I'll ever want to train for a full ironman, I'm going to leave it up. You never know.....

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.