Well here we are. It is finally here - race week. All of the training is done. Now there are just a few easy swims, bikes, and runs. I am going to pick up my bike today as it was in the shop for it's final tune up. I am a little nervous, but have a busy week at work to keep my mind focused.
We will be leaving for Louisville early Friday morning. The plan is to get checked in, then go to the athlete's welcome banquet and rules briefing. Saturday will involve a swim at the Powerbar practice swim and maybe an easy bike ride before I have to check my gear in by 5:00. At that point, most of my family will be in town and we are going to head to load up on some pasta. (I still like it for carbo-loading). After dinner, it's an early night. I plan on being in bed by 9:00 for a 3:45am wake up.
This time next week, I will be waking up after my race and will probably be as sore as I have ever been. Maybe even a little sick and my body will be completely stripped of all nutrients and vitamins. After check out, it will be a long drive home.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
It's been a while
Well, well, well. So it's been a while- almost six months to be exact. How do I know this - I only have 17 days left until I take on Ironman Louisville. During this time, I have been on such an amazing journey.
On April 12, 2010 I began training to take on the world's most difficult one day endurance event - an Ironman triathlon. To date, this will be the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. It is so difficult, less than .1% of the worlds population would ever even consider doing one, nevermind actually paying the fee to start the race. Besides, what do you get? It's not a check for $50,000 or a new car. Actually, I get a medal, a hat, a tee shirt. What a deal!! So the question I have been asked probably hundreds of times now....... why? Why would you do that? You know that have cars that go that far right? Yeah, I've heard them all.
The reason why I am doing this is to see how far I can push myself - both physically and mentally. For me, it is more of the mental challenge. If I don't finish this race, because my legs aren't strong enough, I didn't train hard enough. I can train harder and do it again another time. I can get my legs in shape to do this, but if I quit because it is too hard, I can't train for that. There is no need to train my body if my mind proves to be the stronger of the two and I quit swimming, biking running, walking or crawling, whatever I may be doing at the time. Through the past six months of I training I have already acheived about 80% of my goal. I have discovered that I am not one to quit when challenges present themselves. August 2 comes to mind. I had my biggest training day planned. 1 hr 15 minutes in the pool, 6 hrs 30 minutes on the bike and 6 mile run - almost the entire day minus a shortened run. Swim when great. No issues. The bike started out great. At 20 miles into my ride I got a flat. No big deal. I changed my tube and off I went - for another 10 miles. Flat again. No more spare tubes. Here's the question - go home or go to the bike shop. I drove 30 minutes to the bike shop, changed my tube and continued my ride. I ended up going 90 miles that day in 5 hrs 15 minutes (I cut it short to see Sara). So, after the ride, I get home and see Sara has some work to do, so I do my run. I start out great - 9:00 min / mile pace then just die... Bonk city. No energy. Totally lightheaded. Bad, bad place. Not to mention I am over 1 mile from home. So the question is.. what do I do? I have a six mile run scheduled. So I walk home. Get a gel and make my way back out on the course. I ran my six miles. That's why I am doing this. I am not a quitter. I will not give up.
Again, I began my training on April 12, 2010 and since then I have faced many challenges including several injuries. My first injury occured on March 23 with Illiotibial band swelling which caused me to delay my running for several weeks including my first couple weeks of my training. When I began my half iron training last year, I started with Achilles Tendinitis in my right heel. This year, it has been in both feet and won't stop. I am currently on my second physical therapist this year. I wish I had gone to him earlier. This guy, Kent is great. Unfortunately in this case, great also means pain. Kent does Graston work. Basically getting blood to flow to the tendon by scraping scar tissue that has formed around it away. Yes it hurts. Actually, I almost cried it hurt so much - the things we do. It has been a rough year. Both of these injuries have really slowed my running pace and kept the distance lower than I had planned. Therefore I don't really know where I hope to finish. I guess just finish is a start.
Finally, I've mentioned a few times how hard this race is and why I am doing this, but what I did not mention was even though this is going to be a physical challenge, the biggest challenge is fitting in all the training. I can't even begin to express how lucky I am to have a spouse who never once asked "do you have to" or "can't you skip it" or "why do you have to ride another 6 hours" because she was nagging me about time. Now she has said it as in "you're crazy for riding your bike for six hours" - and I can't say that I disagree. It was said best by the narrator of the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championships who said "Ironman is a family sacrifice" and he is 100% right. It is selfish and you have to have the right person with you to go along. Otherwise, you will regret it. I am fortunate enough to have found that person.
When I toe the line on August 29, 2010, I will be prepared both mentally and physically to take on the biggest challenge of my life. I will take what the day gives and work with it to the best of my ability. I will not fail.
I was checking a tri website and somebody posted this about doing an IM. I think this sums up what I am trying to say:
So here is the promised perspective. When you cross that line, at that exact moment, whether you break the course record or if it takes you 17 hours, there will be a feeling that will come over you that there is NOTHING IN THIS WORLD THAT YOU CANNOT ACCOMPLISH. So although you do not have anything to prove to yourself anymore, or to anyone else for that matter, you will strip back layers of yourself that you were not aware existed and when you emerge with the hat, shirt, and medal, you will be a better stronger you. To let you know how powerful it is, I volunteered at IMLV last year because in the 3 years that I have done IMFL, I have not felt up to going back to the line and watch the last finishers. I cried everytime someone crossed the line, because you could immediately see the change in their eyes the moment they crossed and it made me live my own experience again. Although I can tell by your words that you feel like this is a journey that is coming to an end, I wish I could be at the line when you cross to see that look in your eyes when you realize that it is only the beginning!
On April 12, 2010 I began training to take on the world's most difficult one day endurance event - an Ironman triathlon. To date, this will be the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. It is so difficult, less than .1% of the worlds population would ever even consider doing one, nevermind actually paying the fee to start the race. Besides, what do you get? It's not a check for $50,000 or a new car. Actually, I get a medal, a hat, a tee shirt. What a deal!! So the question I have been asked probably hundreds of times now....... why? Why would you do that? You know that have cars that go that far right? Yeah, I've heard them all.
The reason why I am doing this is to see how far I can push myself - both physically and mentally. For me, it is more of the mental challenge. If I don't finish this race, because my legs aren't strong enough, I didn't train hard enough. I can train harder and do it again another time. I can get my legs in shape to do this, but if I quit because it is too hard, I can't train for that. There is no need to train my body if my mind proves to be the stronger of the two and I quit swimming, biking running, walking or crawling, whatever I may be doing at the time. Through the past six months of I training I have already acheived about 80% of my goal. I have discovered that I am not one to quit when challenges present themselves. August 2 comes to mind. I had my biggest training day planned. 1 hr 15 minutes in the pool, 6 hrs 30 minutes on the bike and 6 mile run - almost the entire day minus a shortened run. Swim when great. No issues. The bike started out great. At 20 miles into my ride I got a flat. No big deal. I changed my tube and off I went - for another 10 miles. Flat again. No more spare tubes. Here's the question - go home or go to the bike shop. I drove 30 minutes to the bike shop, changed my tube and continued my ride. I ended up going 90 miles that day in 5 hrs 15 minutes (I cut it short to see Sara). So, after the ride, I get home and see Sara has some work to do, so I do my run. I start out great - 9:00 min / mile pace then just die... Bonk city. No energy. Totally lightheaded. Bad, bad place. Not to mention I am over 1 mile from home. So the question is.. what do I do? I have a six mile run scheduled. So I walk home. Get a gel and make my way back out on the course. I ran my six miles. That's why I am doing this. I am not a quitter. I will not give up.
Again, I began my training on April 12, 2010 and since then I have faced many challenges including several injuries. My first injury occured on March 23 with Illiotibial band swelling which caused me to delay my running for several weeks including my first couple weeks of my training. When I began my half iron training last year, I started with Achilles Tendinitis in my right heel. This year, it has been in both feet and won't stop. I am currently on my second physical therapist this year. I wish I had gone to him earlier. This guy, Kent is great. Unfortunately in this case, great also means pain. Kent does Graston work. Basically getting blood to flow to the tendon by scraping scar tissue that has formed around it away. Yes it hurts. Actually, I almost cried it hurt so much - the things we do. It has been a rough year. Both of these injuries have really slowed my running pace and kept the distance lower than I had planned. Therefore I don't really know where I hope to finish. I guess just finish is a start.
Finally, I've mentioned a few times how hard this race is and why I am doing this, but what I did not mention was even though this is going to be a physical challenge, the biggest challenge is fitting in all the training. I can't even begin to express how lucky I am to have a spouse who never once asked "do you have to" or "can't you skip it" or "why do you have to ride another 6 hours" because she was nagging me about time. Now she has said it as in "you're crazy for riding your bike for six hours" - and I can't say that I disagree. It was said best by the narrator of the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championships who said "Ironman is a family sacrifice" and he is 100% right. It is selfish and you have to have the right person with you to go along. Otherwise, you will regret it. I am fortunate enough to have found that person.
When I toe the line on August 29, 2010, I will be prepared both mentally and physically to take on the biggest challenge of my life. I will take what the day gives and work with it to the best of my ability. I will not fail.
I was checking a tri website and somebody posted this about doing an IM. I think this sums up what I am trying to say:
So here is the promised perspective. When you cross that line, at that exact moment, whether you break the course record or if it takes you 17 hours, there will be a feeling that will come over you that there is NOTHING IN THIS WORLD THAT YOU CANNOT ACCOMPLISH. So although you do not have anything to prove to yourself anymore, or to anyone else for that matter, you will strip back layers of yourself that you were not aware existed and when you emerge with the hat, shirt, and medal, you will be a better stronger you. To let you know how powerful it is, I volunteered at IMLV last year because in the 3 years that I have done IMFL, I have not felt up to going back to the line and watch the last finishers. I cried everytime someone crossed the line, because you could immediately see the change in their eyes the moment they crossed and it made me live my own experience again. Although I can tell by your words that you feel like this is a journey that is coming to an end, I wish I could be at the line when you cross to see that look in your eyes when you realize that it is only the beginning!
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