IM WEEK

So it's here....Ironman Week....

As I followed my fellow triathletes at IMKY, I started to wonder what my day at IMWI2008 would be like.

My journey to IMWI this time around has been vastly different. And my apologizes to all of you, mostly undocumented on this blog.

Well to recap my training for the last year....

September 2007: Half hearted training for an October marathon.
October 2007: Half hearted effort at the marathon.
Novemeber 2007: Work...ugh
December 2007: Work...ugh
January 2008: Start thinking about training for Ironman
February 2008: Still thinking about training for Ironman
March 2008: Start training for Ironman
April 2008: Crap I have a little du to do already.
May 2008: Ummm....maybe I need to get some training volume.
June 2008: Dang that sprint tri sucked....but hey WIBA was AWESOME!!!
July 2008: What I'm doing a half ironman? In Wisconsin?
August 2008: Where's the volume?
September 2008: Argghhhh....race day is almost here.

So that's how I got to here and now.

Many thoughts have gone through my head...I wish I had another month to train...my bike fit just isn't working for me...I feel slower than 2006...I hope the weather will be all right...when do I need to go back to work...all these little things to worry about...

But having been there/done that, I feel a certain serenity. It feels as if I see a light at the end of a tunnel and my burden will soon be lifted.

I read this today:

http://trierictri.blogspot.com/2008/09/ironman-thoughts.html

When I left IM WI 2006, I felt unsettled...I felt as if there was some unfinished business...Now I know that Ironman will always be a part of me, but as I head home from work and pack...CRAP I'M LEAVING TOMORROW!!!...now it is time to move on with my life....

And Life IS Good...

Racing at Racine

I'm racing!!!

Holy crap...I've got a half IM in two days....and my brain isn't in it yet....

Let's hope I can get out of work at a decent hour tonight...oh I'm shooting to leave work by 19:30. Then on to Chicago tonight and then to Racine Saturday.

Let's hope my bike is in good shape, because I didn't realize until last night that I had to check it in on Saturday. Let's hope I've packed everything I need. And let's hope my cousin remembers to bring my nutrition with her....(do you know I couldn't find Sustained Energy here in C-bus?)

I'm really not sure what to expect out there...I haven't thought about this race...I'll worry about it Saturday night....

Hope I survive....

What's going on here?

Two Weeks; Two Posts. What the heck?

Well, I think my training is progress all right and my confidence is growing right along with it. I think I'm still a little fatigued from WIBA, but I've been able to keep making deposits into the IM bank account. Work and a nasty headache wrecked a few days of training, but I came back with 2 miles of swimming, 85 miles on the bike, 15 miles on the run for a nice long recovery weekend. The volume is coming back down just a bit as I get ready for the Spirit of Racine Half IM. Last time I mentioned a few differences between '06 and '08. Well here's one more.

I'm bringing the brick back, baby.

See there's a lot of crap going on at work that doesn't involve the work itself. Well I can't often go out for long workouts during the week so heck let's get in some quality workouts. I've been trying to do bike/run workouts about once a week. Sometimes I'll even throw a swim in the morning. I am working out much less now than in '06 but I have a feeling these work outs will pay off.

I was once told: "There's more than one way to skin a cat." So brick or no brick...I'll still cross that IMWI finish line.

Testing

Tap...tap...tap...

Test...test....

Hello? Is this thing on?

Ahhem....

Okay so I'm not dead...yet...

Sorry I haven't been around blogland much at all the last, uh, six months. I do still lurk around many peoples blogs to catch up every now and then. But at the end of my day, sitting down here and typing a little ditty just isn't happening.

My journey to Ironman Wisconsin in 2006 was a wonderful journey.

My life now is completely different from 2006.

'06 - xx years old
'08 - xx + 2 years old
'06 - full time student
'08 - full time employment and typically working over 50 hours a week.
'06 - living in Cleveland with parks and trails and hills galore
'08 - living in Columbus with limited training grounds
'06 - training with partners in crime Trina and Cassie
'08 - training mostly solo
'06 - relationship status: single
'08 - relationship status: =)

Okay the three of you who are reading this probably are thinking: "We want training updates!"

WIBA was just this past weekend and yeah the discerning eye will catch me in different photos from some other folks' blogs. (See specifically Wil and Steve) Last year at WIBA I was there for the experience; this year I was there to do some work.

Friday during the day I spent some time gathering information on the next big project at work. Then I got in a good forty mile ride from Middleton to Mt. Horeb and back. (Yes I hit the big hills on the IM course) followed by a 30 minute run. Saturday was a short choppy open water swim, sans wetsuit....brrrrr....stopped to pick up some donuts....then the mental challenge of going 112 miles on the bike. That was my longest bike ride to date by...oh...62 miles. Thanks to the small crew for listening to me mumble obscenities all day. I would have bailed earlier if not for them. Sunday, being short on time, I got up early to run about 20 minutes before meeting the rest of the WIBA crew and running another 1:30 with the cool kids.

So where do I stand? I'm not sure. I know I have not put in the work and am under trained compared to 2006. But you know what...life in 2008 is pretty darn good.

I'm not sure when I'll report back next so....

Stay tuned...

Hydrophobic

I think I'm afraid of the water.

I purchased a pass with twenty five punches to swim at a pretty darn nice facility. I bought the pass in October and I've got two punches. Ugh. I've got to find some way to just jump in.

Wait, maybe, I know what the problem is right now:

Inconsistency.

I have yet to establish a routine and that is a bit unnerving. So I guess that's my new Ironman resolution for now:

I want to be consistent, at least until September. I think I can do that.

Consistency.

Again.

Consistency.

Again.

Consistency.....

Head

What's the best way to start off a new year and a new season of training? How about come back from half way around the world with some serious jetlag. Then you top that off with a migraine that decides to shut your body down for days. Sad thing is: I slept for three days, I didn't eat for three days, and I still didn't lose any weight. Sigh...So my Week 1 turned into Week -2.

Restart...

I am back working with my coach from 2006. If you thought what I did in 2006 was, well different, that's because it was. Maybe things will look a little more "traditional" but knowing myself, don't bet on it.

This week is now Week 1. The results are mixed. The engine feels good, but my weekly routine... well I have no routine yet. And that worries me just enough to make me uneasy. As it is still January, there is no need to panic. So tonight after happy hour....yes after happy hour, I hope to dip my feet in the water for the first time since, ehhh, July?

Hope I remember how to swim...

On My Way Back

As I look back on 2007, my life was filled with changes. My training took a back seat to the everything else. The result was a lackluster and unfulfilled season. But remembering there is more to life than triathlons is a lesson I should learn sooner rather than later.

I might have lost all of you dedicated blog readers due to a long period of inactivity. There's not a lot of flair here, but hopefully I will win you all back.

I am making another attempt at Ironman. I could certainly use the support and camaraderie you gave two years ago. Things will, or rather are different now and the path I take to Madison will certainly be different from the last time.

Right now I am undertrained. Maybe even frustrated and lacking in motivation from my 2007 season. I may not even make it to the Lake Monona in September.

But I promise it will be a ride. Strap yourself in. I'm on my way...

Stage 15: Indians Fever

Race day is almost here. Thanks for the support and encouragement. I have a pretty good idea why my hip and knees were bothering me and it had something to do with some extracurricular sports. I have been silent for several weeks as I have angonized over continuing to pursue a Boston qualifying time.

I have decided to toe the line and just run however I feel. If I crash and burn at mile 13 then so what. If I decide to start walking at mile 6 so what. And if I somehow manage a PR well, then...I don't know, I guess I'll be really really dumbfounded and I guess elated.

At the start of the year I had a Plan B to get to Boston. That was to run the Rocket City Marathon in December. Well Plan B is no longer in effect as I have to start thinking about Plan A for 2008. A few of you may already know this: shortly after 12 noon on September 10, 2007, I registered for another go around at Ironman Wisconsin. So I was not about to continue my 2007 season into December and get going with 2008 in January. My brain needs to get a little more time away from training. And whether you like it or not, another season of sporadic blogging is in store from yours truly.

So that's some old news and some new news. And in the exciting news, has anyone been watching the Cleveland Indians? Because of them I am going to sleep later than I should, ingesting more bar food than I should, and consuming more rally beers than I should. But WOW what a ride!!! It's Tribe Time Now!!!