Tri-Addict

Running for Greg

2007-03-18T22:13:00.000-05:00

***THIS WILL STAY UP TOP UNTIL THE MARATHON***A friend of friend was killed in Iraq in December 2005. My friend Tom speaks so very highly of his friend Greg and the type of person he was. This year Tom will be running in his first marathon to honor the memory of his dear friend. Tom's goal is to raise as much money as possible of which all will be donated to the Gregory R. Wright Jr. Memorial VMI Scholarship Fund. This scholarship was created by Greg's family and friends as a way to honor his memory and the life he gave in defense of our country. The scholarship is given out to an outstanding individual who best exemplies Greg's passion for life and determination to defend our country.You can learn more about Greg by going to either the scholarship site or to Tom's site. Donations can be made electronically via PayPal on Tom's site.I am thankful every day for the sacrifices these soldiers make. I am thankful that my loved ones are safe. I pray for the safety of all who who serve. I understand your sacrifice and commitment. You are all truly inspirational. Thank you.

I'm Engaged!!

2007-03-02T23:07:00.000-05:00

I'm very happy to announce that on Saturday, Feb 17th, I asked my girlfriend of a year to marry me, and thankfully, she said YES! We had a romantic dinner at the place we had our first date at...on our one year anniversary. I'd planned the event for a couple weeks, asking her parents for their blessing, and enlisting her sister's help to make my fiance's favorite desert at her parents house for after the dinner. It's amazing that I was able to keep it a secret from her for so long (she's a regular Sherlock Holmes).

No date for the wedding day set as of yet, but we're trying to work out a destination wedding somewhere in the Caribbean around the end of September '07. More on that soon...

Change of course...

2007-01-27T01:33:00.000-05:00

Last couple months have been a blur...between holidays and going back to work after a year hiatus as a full time grad student, I've been pretty busy of late. Here's an update.

- Xmas with GF in MA with her family...crazy, fun and excellent. Her fam is great and I was fortunate to be a part of their family traditions.
- Post Xmas in NC w/ my folks and Uncle D/Aunt K. Had a wonderful time shopping, video gaming, and of course...EATING.
- NYE in DC with COL/Jill, Chewy/Alissa (and Teag), Me and my GF. Hit the DC sights and had a lot of fun catching up. The Hairy One dominated all challengers in Ping Pong.
- 5Jan07; back to work...Jan-Mar, will be teaching 4-6hrs/day and studying the rest.
- Workouts- back into a steady routine, consistently loggin around 10-11 hrs/wk; 4 runs, 2-3 swims, 1-2 bikes. I'm pretty tired by 8pm.
- Cut my coach loose. January is my last full month with a triathlon coach. Purely a financial decision. Gonna plan my own periodized sked for February to my late season A-race.
- Signed up for Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN. Nothing like running your first marathon on your bday!! Will visit Sal/Kelly/Maximus...hoping to convince Mikey and Pfeiff to join the fun.
- Going to Jamaica w/ GF for a 4 day beach vacation in Feb...looking forward to my last vacation for about 8 months..."no sleep 'till Brooklyn!!"

** Work/school/training skeds are maxed to their limit right now. With DH school just 4 weeks away (which will demand long work/study hours), 5 grad classes to finish by May, and the prospect of ramping up training any more than current levels...I think an IRONMAN isn't in the cards for this season. Trying to avoid the "I can do it all" mistake. I've been known to take on more than I can handle and not realize it until I'm in too deep. The closer DH school gets, the more I hear about what a BEAR it's gonna be, so applying recent lessons learned, I'm backing off a bit. If I don't race a SEP07 IRONMAN, I'll probably set my sights on a late season HALF IRONMAN, most likely the September Narrgansett FIRMMAN.

Looking for any insight from my meager readership...will appreciate any constructive comments!!

Amazing Song!!!

2006-12-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

This is a video of Andy McKee. He's a fingerstyle guitarist from KS. Saw this video and others (listed below) on YouTube.com. Check him out there, he's definitely worth a listen...

Drifting- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
For My Father- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Igb5Yors4

Been a long time...

2006-12-19T16:30:00.000-05:00

Well, it certainly has been a long time since I last blogged...here's an update of the last month, bulletized.

- MBA program was like 20 car pile up. Now back on track, will finish in May '07.
- Working like a mad man to finish up Fall 06 MBA classes before holidays.
- Allergies and Asthma now under control. Deathly allergic to dust mites/cats. New medicine and environmental changes have helped.
- Missed 3/4 of my workouts because of the above issues.
- Had good ride w/ coach 2 wks ago. Worked out kinks imposed by missed workouts.
- Workout sked change- Run-4x's/wk, Swim-3x's/wk, Bike-1x/wk
- Running- feels good again. Lungs are back at 95% percent. Rest will come with consistency in sked.
- Xmas shopping almost done...just have M/D's gift to finalize.
- Ready for the holiday fun, but not the holiday 5 lbs ;)

Forecast:
Well the next 2 weeks will bring holiday cheer, good times with family/friends, and probably 5 extra lbs...but I'm hoping to get a lot of homework done, get back on track with workouts, and in January back on my diet.

Sidetracked...

2006-11-19T17:34:00.000-05:00

Well, as of late...I've been sidetracked. Between my 8 day trip to Europe, over a week spent in the hospital w/ my GF and her family (her Grandmother fell ill), and just overall laziness...my training sked and diet have been obliterarted lately.

I missed my last race (Plymouth, MA - CX race) of the season, have eaten like a complete gluton, and have only been able to get in a handfull of workouts. Worse yet, my allergies and asthma have been driving me nuts!! I hear that every few years you're allergies go through cycles. Recently my pet dander/dust allergies have been unstoppable...itchy/watery eyes, itchy/sneezy/stuffy/runny nose, dry mouth and just general irititation of my sinuses. Even more frustrating has been a couple of recent asthma bouts that have made it pretty difficult to breath. As you can imagine, both of these recent health dilemmas can severly restrict one's training goals. I've been back and forth to the clinic and through 3 different allergy pills. Hopefully, I've got it under zoned in now...if not, the next step is allergy shots, but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

So besides these distractions (mostly unavoidable), tomorrow I try to get back on track...

Inspiration during rough training sessions...

2006-11-13T16:50:00.000-05:00

I got an email from my cousin (who's a marathoner in GA) today. It's an article by Rick Reilly and published in Sports Illustrated. The story below provides me with inspiration that I call on when I have a bad run, bike or swim session. If Dick and Ricky can do it, so can I.
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[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]

I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay For their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.

But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.

Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?

And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester, Mass. 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.

"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an institution.''

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.''

"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want to do that.''

Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.''

That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''

And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.

``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''

How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.

Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think?

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.

This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.

``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''

And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.

That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.

``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''

And the video is below....

SIDENOTE - Dick and Ricky Hoyt are triathlon legends. Because I live in their neck of the woods, I've actually raced in two triathlons with them...the Mattapoisett, MA Sprint Tri in July, and the Narragansett FIRMMAN in Sept. They give me daily inspiration!!

Europe Trip Summary

2006-11-11T20:37:00.000-05:00

Most of you know that my GF and I recently (Nov 1-8) went on our first Europe trip. We visited London and Paris for three days each. The trip was amazing and the company even better :) This was just to wet our international travel appetite. We definitely want to go back to each place for longer. At any rate, here's the summary of our trip.
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Day 1 - Boston to Newark to London-Gatwick Airports. Train into London. Taxi to Bayswater-Somerset Hotel; traveled from 2pm EST to 1pm London time (18 hrs total). Check in, freshen up, head out. Underground/Tube (London subway) to Tourism office, picked up London Pass (entry to all sked tourist sites, and bus/underground transport), headed to London Eye (world’s largest ferries wheel). Rode to top, saw the whole city. Walked down past Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abby. Had Indian food for dinner. Asleep early.
Day 2 - Slept in, Bfast in hotel, Tube to Buckingham Palace. Witnessed the changing of the guard (w/ 5000 other tourists). Walked to Westminster Abby, very cool. All monarchs from the 6th-19th century are buried there in huge sarcophagus’s. Beautiful church. Tube to London Tower Bridge and London Tower (used to be a prison for political prisoners, now the home of the crown jewels). Arrived 20 min’s late (misled by guide book ;) Headed back to hotel to get ready for night at the theater. Headed to the ‘West End’ (London’s ‘Broadway’) to catch SPAMALOT. Enjoyed show, had a Moroccan food dinner. Excellent day, out late, slept well.
Day 3 - Bfast at hotel, Tube to British Museum. Saw Rosetta Stone, Egyptian/Roman/Greek ruins. Then on to St. Paul’s Cathedral where ADM Horatio Nelson (he defeated Napoleon’s fleet at Trafalgar) is buried. Headed to Tower of London where the Crown Jewels are kept. My favorite site in London. Stopped by ‘Harrods’, London’s version of Sachs 5th Ave. Dinner at an English pub…fish, chips, and a pint. Back to hotel to rest up for transit to Paris on day 4.
Day 4 - Bfast at hotel. Fast train from London to Paris (via the Chunnel under the English Channel). Taxi to hotel, then to pick up Paris Museum Pass, transport tickets, and Open Bus Tour booked. Caught the Open Bus halfway around the city (there was commentary in Englais about all the history along the route)…passed through Place del Concorde (the sight of beheadings during the French Revolution). Then off to Eiffel Tower. Went to second level (350’ up) and saw the whole city lit up. Headed back to hotel to call it a night.
Day 5 - Bfast at hotel. Subway to the Louvre. Biggest art museum in world, used to be a palace but was replaced by Versailles in Louis XIV's reign. Did the “Da Vinci Code” Tour. Saw “Mona Lisa” and lots of other amazing paintings.

Day 5 (cont)- Headed on the open bus tou4 on to Notre Dame (of “Hunchback of Notre Dame" fame). Amazing stained glass windows. Lunch at a café, then picked up hat and scarf (it was below 40 degrees that day). Climbed 200 steps up a spiral staircase to the towers above Notre Dame...saw Quasimodo’s belfry. Back on bus on to Champs de Ely’see (where the allies paraded up at the end of WWII), and the Arc de Triumphe (that Napoleon built, and where the tomb of their unknown soldier lies). Back to hotel to sleep…
Day 6 - Bfast at hotel. Train to Chateaux du Versailles (Louis the XIV’s palace). Amazing sight. It took up 5 city blocks! And the inside…there’s more wealth and decadence there to pay for half the worlds debt (no wonder the peasants revolted against Marie Antoinette). Favorite site in Paris. Headed back to Paris and stopped at Hotel des Invalides (veterans hospital built by Napoleon)…also the site of Napoleon’s grave. Had many relics (guns, swords, coat and hat) that Napoleon owned. Shopped for souvenirs and called it a night…
Day 7 - Up at 5am…taxi to airport, delayed flight due to weather back in Newark…8 hr flight back to US. Delayed for another 7 hours in Newark…flight to Boston. 1.5 hr ride home…finally to bed after 26hrs of traveling.

When a Triathlete says...

2006-10-30T11:25:00.000-05:00

"I am an outdoors type of person."
Really means: I train in any type of weather. If it's raining, snowing, 90 degrees w/100 percent humidity, or winds gusting at 30 mph. I don't want to hear any complaints because I will still train in it and you're just a big wuss for complaining about it.

"I enjoy riding my bike."
Really means: with or w/o aero bars, alone or in a peleton, I don't care. If you can't do a spur of the moment 30 miler then you're not my type. I will let you draft, but if you can't hang and I drop you - I will see you later. I am a capable mechanic, but don't expect me to change your flats or tune your bike. You need to learn that on your own.

"I enjoy jogging."
Really means: Let's run hills until we puke. I have just as many shoes as you only mine are better because they are functional and all look the same.

"I enjoy dining out."
Really means: I enjoy eating out, in or anywhere else I can find food. Don't be shy because with the amount of food I eat, you can have that main entree instead of a salad and you will still look as though you eat like a rabbit in comparison. Don't get your limbs too close though as I may take a bite out of you. Most importantly don't expect any taste off my plate unless you can bring omething to the party like more food. Eventually though if your not burning 4,000 calories a day your going to plump up and have a terrible complex due to watching me eat deserts and not gain any weight. Friends and family will eventually decide not to dine with us anymore due to my horrid table manners. Oh, and don't ask me any questions during breakfast, Mid Morning Lunch, Lunch, Afternoon lunch, dinner or Recovery Dinner as it does not lend to efficient food intake.

"I enjoy quiet walks on the beach."
Really means: Walks on the beach warming up into an 8 mile run and then plunging myself in the ocean for a 2 miler. If you get in my way you're going to find out what mass start is and let me assure you that you don't want to find out.

"I find fulfillment in charitable work."
Really means: If I am not racing, I am volunteering and I expect you to be there along side me as I stand out in 90 degree weather for 8 hours handing out sports drink to cyclists going 20 mph. Just stick the ol' arm out there and hope it doesn't get taken off.

"I enjoy sharing quiet moments together."
Really means: It's taper time. Just back off because I am strategizing and in a pissy mood because I am worried about my "A" race and can't workout.

"I am an active person."
Really means: Aside from my 40 hour job, and the 8 mandatory hours of sleep a night. 10 hours a week are devoted to me during the off- season and 20 during race season leaving us 4 hours. 2 of which are spent inhaling food and you not talking to me, so let's make the best of the 2 hours we will spend together on average each day. If you are a licensed message therapist or doctor this would make the most optimal use of our time together. Nutritionist is also acceptable, but I probably already know just as much as you.

"I enjoy road trips and leisurely drives."
Really means: You have your choice of Wisconsin, Idaho, New York, Kentucky, Florida, California, Arizona, and Canada, but don't expect to do much site seeing. If I get enough support from you we might be able to include Hawaii in there.

"I enjoy site seeing."
Really means: Lets grab a mountain bike and get our HR's up to 90%. There's plenty of time to look around on the descent as trees and bushes whiz by you at 40 mph.

"I like stimulating conversation."
Really means: while we are running, we can talk about food. Then we can talk about how we decided what to wear on this run based on the temperature at start time versus the temperature at the time we expect to finish, how horribly out of shape we are, how many miles we did last week, and how many we will do this week and next week. Then we can talk about food.

"I enjoy relaxing soaks in the tub."
Really Means: I'm going to stop on the way home and buy two bags of ice, throw them in the tub with some water, and sit in this torture chamber for 30 minutes.

"I'm interested in photography"
Really Means: My camera is permanently perched a tripod in front of my trainer. I obsess over taking photos of my bike position and analyzing them to get the perfect setup.

"I'm into in technology"
Really Means: My HRM and bike computer are my best friends. Until you can give me some hard data that can improve my training, don't bother trying to buddy up to me. You could one day break into the top three if I find you as entertaining on long runs and rides as my mp3 player.

A little talk w/ COACH

2006-10-27T18:59:00.000-05:00

On Thurs night I had to have a serious phonecon w/ my Coach. A few issues had been "on my mind" and I needed to have a mano-y-mano talk. Here's a bulletized list of my issues and their solutions (from the phonecon w/ Coach).

Issue- Long term Training Sked- I need a general plan for how much (time, distance and intensity) I'll be working over the next year. I travel alot and have many things coming up (Skiing on weekends throughout the winter) that I'd like to be able to fit into my sked w/ the training.
Solution- He's gonna accompany me on my long ride Nov 11th (after I return from vacation) and we'll hammer it out for a couple hours while getting a good workout. Also, he gets to observe my cycling form and give me some pointers...

Issue- Coach had been getting my training sked to me late, or last minute on a few occasions, making it hard to plan in advance for non-training social events. Solution- He'd admitted to being late on a few occasions and promised not to let it happen agian. He also noticed that I happened to be slightly Type A (no kidding), and that making out my sked farther in advance would be better for him anyway. We reached an understanding that although each of his athletes had different needs, I NEEDED my training schedule a month in advance.

Issue- I bailed on a Duathlon race I'd told him I'd be racing on Sunday. He'd made my week's training sked accordingly, so by not doing it, there were some training adaptions that needed to be made. Part of this scheduling gliche came from the fact that the sked was late from him anyway.
Solution- We adjusted my sked to add a longer run on Friday, longer bike on Saturday and a day of rest on Sunday.

Issue- My GF and I will be on vacation Nov 2-8. I wanted to make sure I had no workouts sked during our trip, as I'll have no bike, no pool and the GF would surely kill me if I went out on a run while we could be sightseeing.
Solution- Vacation time works as a natural 'recovery' week, and he'd have my training plan waiting for me when I got back.

Issue- I'd been working out on his sked for about 4 weeks w/ no real recovery or break. Usually, periodized training skeds have an "active recovery" week planned into the sked every 3rd or 4th week.
Solution- see the last solution. Also, since my training load (hours) and intensity is relatively low (around 7-8hrs/wk) and I'm in a transition phase, he was just trying to establish some consistency in my new sked.

Issue- I signed up for another CX race Sat, 18NOV in Plymouth, MA- Beginner category. This will be my last race before the Country Music Marathon at the end of April (unless Coach thought I need a warm up road race before then).
Solution- Coach said OK, then said after that race it'd probably be getting cold enough that riding outside would probably diminish. Therefore, he'd planned on adding another run to my sked around that time. He also recommended a 1/2 marathon around the middle of March for a pre-race tune-up/test.

Issue- Supplements...I asked Coach what he could tell me about the following supplements- Amino Acid, Glucosamine (Sulfate or Chondroitin), Flaxseed Oil, or Fish Oil?
Solution- He said not all supplements are created equal and that none are regulated. He said the Glucosamine (either) was good for joints (very good, since I'm already taking it). He said Amino Acids (most animal proteins) and Fish Oil (salmon and walnuts) are in a good balanced diet, and it's best to get them in the foods they come in vice a pill. He said pills can get expensive quick (especially if you only buy from GNC...where they supposedly know what they're pushing), and that there really was no regulating source...and no regulations that required supplement companies to put the actual amount of the given element per pill that they're actually advertising. Besides, he said until I was training more intensely, he didn't recommend taking the Amino Acids.

Well, overall, it was a productive and informative conversation...

2006-10-22T16:16:00.000-05:00

Race w/ a 12 year old!

Cyclocross Debut- Southington, CT...22OCT

2006-10-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

Today's race was very difficult. CX is an ASS-Kicker! My HR was maxed out the whole time. Overall, my effort was more intense than Fri's 5K. I have a lot to learn about CX and esp. the training needed to be competitive. These races are an all out sprint!!!!

I did a 30 min race with the beginner class (about 30 competitors in this class). However, most were CX veterans, not beginners (but maybe, I'm just really slow). I made it around 3 laps before they called the race (ie- I was lapped by the leaders at the end of my third lap). I guess the race ends when the leaders are near the start/finish and around 30mins (sometimes shorter, sometimes longer) have elapsed.

The course was excellent, but very challenging. Lots of >90 degree turns, and many obstacles I had to carry my bike up/over. There was 1 very steep hill, 3 'smaller' hills, 3 "sand pits", one set of 40 stairs, and one ravine that was un-pedal-able. I avg'd 8mph speed wise, max- 18mph. My AvHR was 174, MaxHR- 184.

I finished at the back of the pack (maybe 28th out of 30). Many small children, 2 girls on MT bikes, and a 60yr old dude whizzed by me...which was a bit demoralizing. However, it was just my first CX race... Overall the course was fun and challenging, the race was well run, and I had a good time. I think I'll try this a couple more times (Nov??) before the cold of winter sets in.

Check out the videos my GF took w/ her digital camera. They're viewable on YouTube.com...here are the links-

1. Sand and Stairs run...
2. Racing a 12 year old through a sand pit...
3. Charging a Ravine...

2006 IRONMAN World Champions- Kona Hawaii

2006-10-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Male Race Winner- Norman Stadler of Mahheim, Germany. Total time 08:11:56, Swim- 54:05, Bike- 4:18:23 (new course record for bike), Run- 2:55:03

Female Race Winner- Michellie Jones of Carlsbad, CA. Total time 09:18:31, Swim- 54:29, Bike- 5:06:09, Run- 3:13:08

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If you are a triathlete, there is no bigger day in this sport than the Ford Ironman World Championship. It is the race that defined our sport as it came of age, and continues to be the defining race in our sport for any avid triathlete.

To get to the starting line in Kona, you must either be very lucky and get yourself a spot through the lottery, or very talented, and win yourself a qualifying spot at one of the qualifying events held around the world.

Tens-of-thousands of triathletes try to get one of those coveted Ironman spots every year. Only 1,700 succeeded.

That means 1,700 "lucky" people get to test themselves on one of the biggest challenges the sports world has to offer ... 2.4-miles of swimming, 112-miles of biking, and a 26.2-mile marathon run through tough ocean waves, and challenging lava-covered terrain.

While there are thousands of triathlons around the world, it is this one that truly defines the sport. It was this race, first run in 1978 as a dare by a bunch of Navy Seals that put triathlon on the world's sporting map. It is triathlon's Super Bowl, Wimbledon, World Series, World Cup, and Tour de France all rolled into one. What makes this event so unique is that "average" people get to compete alongside the best in the world.

** Text of this post is from 'ironman.com'

5K running race- Newport, RI...20OCT

2006-10-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

I ran the Surface Navy Association 5K By the Bay on base in Newport, RI on Friday. Conditions were perfect for a good run. It was about 50 degrees and had rained most of the day, but the rain let up just in time for the race start at 5pm. Since I raced by myself, I decided to see how much I could push it over the 3.2mile course.

My usual running pace is somewhere between a 10-11min/mile (below my Anaerobic Threshold). However, I wanted to see if I could maintain around an 8:20 min/mile pace (25min finish goal) for the 5K.

Inevitably, my HR hovered around 140 prior to start (pre-race jitters) and I started off with a much faster pace than I should have (7:30 miles, I think). I settled into my pace about halfway in and was able to stay at around an 8min/mile till about mile 2.5...then a stabbing pain hit me in my shoulder like a bolt of lightning, and I slowed to about a 10:30min/mile pace to let the pain subside. I think this was because I was pushing my body a little too hard the first couple miles.

Overall, my legs felt great, stomach a little touchy, and I finished in 25mins 7secs.
Almost right on track with my 8:20 overall pace. AvHR was 174 throughout.

Coaching/Training update- 20OCT

2006-10-20T07:59:00.000-05:00

Here's a little update on my all around training progress, along with my coach's reply email.
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Coach,

Had a couple days that my Garmin was on the fritz (on my TEMPO day of all days! ) so data is not as good as it could be. But, I did have a small problem this weekend. I've been having allergy/sinus problems since the beginning of fall that affected my wkd workouts. On Sat, this weekend, something had me all fucked up. I couldn't breath out of my nose, had a sinus headache, itchy watery eyes and a running nose. Needless to say it sidelined me Sat-Mon. I took some drugstore allergy meds on Sun to try to get my long ride in, but to no avail and had to cut it short. I went to the Dr. Tues morn and got some prescription strenght CLARITIN, so hopefully that'll keep me healthy. I felt better Tues (and had my best long run ever on Tues) and Wed.

I adjusted the sked a little this week, hopefully it's not too much of a mess. I ended up taking Sat and Monday off completely, so I missed over half my long ride, and the Tues ride too. On Tues, I did my 10M run since I thought the run is what I have the most probs w/. I know it might have screwed up your Swim TT data, but I'd rather spend a day working on running since it's my Nemesis. Tell me what you think.

I put all the data in the worksheet for eveything so far this week too (10M on Tues and Swim TT today). The running is feeling better already, I think the "running tall" tecnique, strides and tempo runs are already helping. The run has gone from my nemesis to a fun challenge already. I feel like I can keep my HR lower at a higher min/mile pace now too. Maybe around 10:30 min/miles keep my HR around 155 instead of the 11min/mile pace you saw at the track. Is it just in my mind or could this be improving my running already? Just wondering.

Also, thanks for the IRONMAN info, I think I'm set on ChessyMan (29SEP07). The others just don't work with my sked. But thanks for the options. Can't register till Feb07 though (just got that info from the race director yesterday).

Also, I'm on new diet plan. I paid for a year at LA Weight Loss...I know it's a gimmicky thing (although my Mom lost 100lbs w/ them), but I need someone to hound me about my food choices and portion control, or I'll continue to be a gluton. So far so good. I go in 3X's a week and have to get on a scale and show them my food diary. It's annoying, but it seems to be working. I started OCT 3rd and am already down 8lbs. They've got me on a 2200-2500 calorie/day diet. I'm still taking gels/endurance drinks during my longer runs and bikes...don't want to run out of fuel then.

My plan has me eating the following portions per day. 2.5 proteins (ex- 8 oz raw chicken), 4 starches (1/2 whole wheat english muffin), 4 vegetables (1 cup salad), 4 fruits (1/2 bananna), 2 dairies (8 oz skim milk), and 1 fat ( 1 oz olive oil). Seems pretty balanced, and so far I haven't been starving (except for the first week). It's probably good I'm doing this in the off season. As training hours go up and I hit my desired weight, I'll have to adjust the caloric intake to match my intensity levels. But it's a good start, and I'm trying to get to 195lbs by the end of January.

Well, sorry for the long email...let me know what you think. I'll send updates when I'm done racing this weekend.
Hope all is well w/ you...
----------------------------------
Coach's Reply-

Hey great news on both the run and nutrition! You could easily make the jump from 11 to 10:30 pace at the same HR. A little technique focus/improvement could make that difference!

I am happy to hear about the commitment to wt. loss and nutrition. After reviewing your food log it was obvious to me that unless you made some changes, you would be limited in your progress. I switched my eating completely around in my mid-20's when I started training seriously and it made a big difference with my training.

The wt. loss / improved running relationship is easy to see, but you should also see increased energy and better recovery from workouts as your nutrition improves. I can only give you the information, but with the program you will now be held accountable on a regular basis. Good move! Focus on making permanent eating changes and the wt. will not continue to hold you back!

Lastly, don't get stressed if you end up missing workouts due to illness or feeling like you are getting run down. It happens and will not have a big impact in the overall picture. You are usually better off to cut something short or skip it, than to try and push through only to lengthen the sickness.

All things considered, I think ChessyMan is the way to go!

Good Luck This Weekend!
Coach

Fast as a WALRUS

2006-10-18T20:21:00.000-05:00

Today I had a "time trial" swim workout. I'm assuming my coach is trying to gauge how slow I really am at swimming. The workout consisted of some warm up laps, two time trials (560yds and 140yds), then some drills and a cool down. Here's the workout.

Swim Field Test-
W/U: 140y long and relaxed
3x70 build (get faster throughout interval), 0:30 rest
140 easy
2:00 rest
Test 1: 560y time trial (swim as fast as you can for 8 laps - aim for an even pace - don't go out too fast, but give it all you have! Record time!)
2:00 rest
140 easy
1:00 rest
Test2: 140y time trial (sprint 140y as fast as you can, record time)
Main Set: 2x70 catch-up, 0:30 rest
140 focus on long strokes, 1:00 rest
2x70, (35 fist, 35 swim), 0:30 rest
140 long strokes (try to see how few strokes you can take per length)

Conclusion- 8mins 30secs on the 560yd Time Trial and 2min 14secs on the 140yd TT. The second was considerably slower, since I was already fatigued from the longer TT. We'll see what the coach says, but here's what the Navy would've graded me with those times.

Navy Physical Fitness Test (PFT). In the 20-29 age group, I would've gotten a High Excellent (Only Outstanding Hi, Med, Lo are higher). That's if, and only if...I'd have also done 94 situps and 77 pushups.

Beverly Hills Ninja

2006-10-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

So, since I'm on the topic of new bikes, I figured I'd share a quick story about my current tri bike.

Anyone who has ventured out on a >60 mile+ bike ride before could tell you, one becomes quite attached (literally and physically) to the bike that gets them out and back (if it fits correctly). Such was the case this year as I bought, broke in (I'm talking about my ABC, otherwise known as the AXX-Ball-Connection), and bonded w/ my new-ish '05 TREK Equinox 7 triathlon bike. So far, she's gotten me through 2 Sprints, 1 Olympic, 1 Half Ironman and numerous training rides, totally 680 miles so far. The following is a story of how she got her name.

On an unusually brisk morning ride one morning in June, I started my ride outfitted in my new Tri-Suit w/ a Black long sleeve Under Armour shirt and my all black TREK bike. I looked down and noticed I was wearing all black...but not like the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. More like a overweight ninja, a la Chris Farley in Beverly Hills Ninja. The name was minted after I learned a week later that my bike weighed almost 27lbs when loaded w/ three full bottles. So my 230lbs of fat-ass, wearing all black spandex, black helmut, black cleats, all riding on the a black bike EQUALS "BEVERLY HILLS NINJA".

So I'm declaring 2007 the year of the NINJA. Were BHN and I sneak up on the innocent and helpless competition to destroy them while they sleep...

Good TRI Karma

2006-10-18T16:02:00.000-05:00

I said good bye to a good friend today...BLUE has been passed on to a TRI-virgin, never to be ridden again by me or my girlfriend (BLUE's last rider). I received the bike two summers ago from a buddy in town who had raced it 15 yrs prior. He had since moved on to MT bike racing, leaving old BLUE (as she came to be named) lonely and dusty in his Aunt's garage. Old BLUE was my first ever road bike was a Mid 90's-ish Schwinn Paramount "PDG 3 OS" Road bike.

BLUE was decked out in Miami Vice colors. The frame was Bright Blue and had lettering in neon Pink and Yellow (and also Neon Yellow grip tape and bottle cage). It was ugly as hell, but I was happy as a fat triathlete on a new bike. My buddy sold it to me for just $100. It was a hell of a deal considering my other option was a MT bike with road slick tires (maybe half as fast as the 'new' bike), or to shell out $1K+ for a new tri bike (which I eventually did anyways).

So I raced three Sprints on her my first year then BLUE went back into retirement for the '06 season until AUG, when my GF competed in her first sprint on her. So as my bike collection grew in size (to SEVEN total this summer) and I ran out of room, I decided that I'd pass old BLUE on to a budding triathlete so that they may get the same boost from her fast ride that I did just two summers ago.

So, I just got done writing the specs and cautionary advice to my buddy who's busting w/ joy with regards to his "new" hookup. The only thing I asked in return wasthe cost of shipping ($50) and a promise that he'll pass her on to a 'needy' roadie or triathlete when he gets a new ride himself. Here's a the paraphrased email in short...
___________________________________________________________________________________

!!!CAUTION!!! Please read the following safety tip so your wife doesn't kill me for getting you hurt on your first bike ride. Riding a road bike vs. a mountain or BMX type bike is a huge change. At first the position will feel weird and bike a litle wobbly, learning a new center of gravity and balance will take some time. Also, the seat will hurt your ABC (Ass-Ball-Connection, or Taint) for a good 10-15 rides...have faith, the pain will dissapear as your undercarraige adjusts.
Take it easy on the bike till you get a good feel for it. Don't ride near cars or traffic until you're used to the brakes, shifting and taking your feet in and out of the cage-pedals...IE- no screaming down any steep hills the first day. BLUE is set up very moderately right now (ie - handlebars raised and seat lowered), but as you get a better feel, you can readjust it for a better racing position. I nearly killed myself the first few times I rode it, so be careful!! And always take at least one foot out of the cages on the pedals before coming to a stop...I never fell on that bike, but the clip-in pedals I have are a little more tricky. But alas, you must learn to crawl before you learn to walk, young grasshopper.
---------------------
Buddy,

I dropped your bike off at the shop today...they'll disassemble it and ship via UPS tomorrow. So, you should get it delivered to your house on Tues/Wed next week. I sent a helmet (it's a little old and you might look like a SPED kid for a while, I figure that'd save you some money at first) and some mags and a swimming book called "Total Immersion" (This will help unlearn your habit of 'beating up' or 'muscling' the water too much) in the bike box too. Enjoy.

Bike details-
1990's (Don't know exact year) Schwinn Paramount PDG 3 - Road Racing Bike
- Here's a similar one for sale on EBAY...
http://cgi.ebay.com/1992-Schwinn-Paramount-OS-Series-2-Road-Racer-Bicycle_W0QQitemZ300038949434QQihZ020QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Your's is one model up (a PDG 3, not PDG 2) from this one and might be a couple years newer...but you can see he added aero bars for triathlon (you could do this too for under $100)
- I think your bike size is 54CM (from head stem to seat stay- a standard measurement on bike size). I think it's about 30" standover height. I'm not sure how great the components (although it shifts very well and never skips a gear) are since they don't make those parts anymore (but you could buy new ones that fit the bike if anything breaks).
- I just had new handlebar tape put on, new brake and shifter cables installed and a good tune-up around mid-summer. Tires and tubes are about a year old, but don't have a lot of miles on them. You should be able to get another 500-700 miles out of them (barring a crash, flat or broken glass). Also, you've got a SIGMA bike computer that works pretty well. It picks up speed from a magnet attached to the spoke. To reset it, hold the primary button (there's only one) for about 3 secs...that'll reset the trip odometer (but not the total odometer) and time. It shows Spd and Av Spd, Dist (trip and total), and Time (sorry no cadence). The computer was about $25, so if you want to upgrade that's cool.

Call or email if you have any questions...

IRONMAN options

2006-10-16T10:36:00.000-05:00

The following is a list of IRONMAN events that take place in my window of opportunity next year (the month between finishing SWOS DH school and reporting to ELROD)...give or take a few weeks.

All events take place from 8/15 – 10/31, 2007.

8/26/07, Ironman Louisville- Louisville, KY; 2100 entrants. Info: It's an “Ironman” event (sponsored by FORD)! 1st class race. River swim, rolling hills. Downside: Early race affects other races. Register by: 10/21.

9/15/07, Esprit Triathlon- Montreal, Canada; 60 entrants. Fast/interesting/boring course! Swim in ’76 olympic rowing basin, bike on F-1 track (41 laps), run 9-laps around basin.

9/15/07, The Grand Columbian- Grand Coulee Dam, WA; 100 entrants. Small and far away!

9/22/07, Redman Triathlon- Oklahoma City, OK; 150 entrants. Hot! Rolling bike, flat run.

9/29/07, The ChesapeakeMan Ultra Triathlon- Cambridge, MD; 200 entrants. Pancake flat and possibly windy. Excellent Organization!

10/20/07, Great Floridian Triathlon Festival- Clermont, FL; 750 entrants. Short swim usually, hilly bike, fairly flat run. Well organized.

So, those are my options if I want to race in the one month window (Sept 19-Oct19) between when I finish DH school (18SEP07) and when I report to my next command (approx. 19OCT07). Why during that month?? Well, leave opportunities will be few and far between while I'm in DH school. Pretty much the only time I'll have off is weekends and federal holidays. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'll need some R & R the days following the race. So, as you can see, traveling to an IRONMAN out of state is problematic, unless it falls on a holiday, and even then, it's probably not enough time for a mini vacation. Plus, I need a good year to get ready for this event. So, that said, ChesapeakeMan on 29SEP is pretty much my main choice...plus it's moving in the right direction (on the way to Norfolk, where my next ship is).

Let me know if anyone has any advice otherwise...

Training update

2006-10-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

Well, I have almost 2 weeks of my new training under my belt and I figured I'd write an update on how things are going. So here's the just of my training...w/ comments.

Oct 2-8.
BIKE- Had three bike rides (M-1:30, Th- :45, Su- 2:30), the first one had me doing some off road work in prep for my upcoming CX race next weekend, the second ride was a brick workout (followed immediately by a run), and the last one was my endurance day. I covered 67 miles and am trying to keep HR low and Cadence high (at least above 80RPM ave for ride).
RUN- Had 3 runs as well (T- 8M, Th- 4M, F- 3M), the first was a long endurance run, second was a "tempo" workout, and third was an easy 5K. My coach has me working on cadence (count foot strikes on one leg for 15secs & X4 = Run cadence), mine is low and he wants me to slowly work it up to 90RPMs. Also, I'm working on form...ie "running tall". This has me tuck my hips under my pelvis and keep chest up. It's very different running style, but it gets you up on the ball of your feet and is more efficient overall. Also, in my tempo run, I did 4 "stride" drills. Here's Coach's definition of the drill - Stride: From a walk or slow jog, gradually increase pace for about 0:30. By the end you should be running fast, but not straining. The idea is to loosen up by increasing your speed without exerting great effort! Don't reach a full sprint. Focus on good form: Running tall, hips forward, butt in/under, chest up and out. Supposedly, this teaches my fast twitch muscles to work more efficiently, or something like that ;) Overall, I covered 15 miles and ran for 2hrs 45mins.
SWIM- Wed was my only swim day. I had a lot of fun with this workout since it was the first real swim workout I've ever had. By that, I mean, I've never had a swim coach who wrote drills into my workout...well, it's probably easier just to tell you what the workout consisted of...
(1890yds total, 56 mins),
Warm up: 140y long & relaxed;
Drill Set: 2x70 (1st length fist drill, 2nd swim) w/ 0:45 rest
2x70 catch-up, 0:45 rest
Main Set: 3x (210, 1:30 rest; 140, 1:00 rest; 70, 0:30 rest)
Sprints: 4x35 fast, 0:30 rest
Cool Down: 70 easy

So far this week, the sched has been almost the same...Monday's Bike had more time in the dirt/grass (45 mins total). I really enjoy that part of the ride, but since it comes last, it's a pain in the AXX and usually maxes out my HR. Tue's run was a mile longer (9M total, I ran this w/ my buddy Steve). Wed's swim was 110 longer, but virtually the same workout. Today's run was 1 mile longer (5Ms). Coach is also trying to learn my HR zones so he can write plans more specific to the intensity he wants me to train to. This is a very personal thing to figure out, as a 10min mile pace for me, is probably a very different intensity than what you might run it at. Thus, the HR zone experiments. Tomorrow I'll ride an easy 45 mins in the morning and run an easy 3Ms in the aft/eve. Then it's a long endurance ride on Sat for 2hrs30mins, I'll probably do this one with my buddy Tom.

So...that's my first two week's in a nutshell.

B & E at the HS track

2006-10-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

On Friday last week, I met my new Tri Coach at the N. Kingstown H.S. track for the first run workout. We met around 5:30pm, which was about 1 min after the track coach locks the gates to the Track and Field. I ran up to the Coach right as he was locking the gate and begged him to let me in. He non-chalantly pointed to a whole in the fence and told me we could wiggle through it...greeeaattt!! So after Coach and I shimmied through the fence, he explained the workout. I ran a mile to warm up at a low HR...but I was so excited and nervous that I couldn't keep it below 165 BPM. So after the mile warmup, he explained that I'd run another 8 laps at a 155 (+-5 beats) HR...he'd record each lap's time and I was in charge of keeping my HR at the predetermined zone. That proved to be harder than expected as I had to run 11 min. miles to keep it around 158. So after 3 miles ran and a few laps recorded on his camcorder he gave me the prognosis. I didn't bounce much (which is good), but I leaned forward too much. He also told me my run cadence was a little too slow. He said I needed to maintain a 90 RPM cadence cause it was more efficient and so it'd match a 90 RPM cadence coming off a bike ride (like in Triathlon).

The biggest nuget of advice he gave me was this...he told me to 'tuck my hips forward' and 'raise my chest' or as he called it, learning to 'run tall'. So I tried it on my next run (Tues for 8 miles). It helped open my gate, opened my lungs, and made me less tired...but it made my hips ache (I think I was using new muscles). I'll keep at it and hopefully become a better runner over the next year.

SO HUNGRY!!!

2006-10-04T19:37:00.000-05:00

So for the past two days I've cut carbs completely out of my diet as part of the 2 day "fast forward" phase of the LA WEIGHT LOSS diet. I've learned that my diet consisted mostly of CARBS and FAT before...so cutting them out for the last two days has been torture. I've been hungry as hell and had a dull headache for two days straight. Needless to say, I'm pretty grouchy too. However, I'll survive, and soon, I'll look and feel like the new J.R. I keep telling myself that, and so far it's working.

But seriously, I am craving my old carb buddies like it's my job right now...pizza, chips, cookies, etc. I would kill for them all right now...

But alas, I will be strong!!!!!!!!!!

No more FATMAN!!

2006-10-03T17:08:00.000-05:00

Soooo...as I outlined in the second post I made, healthy living/eating is a huge part of my journey to IRONMAN. As a matter of fact, I want to lose about 40 lbs to be a more efficient runner so I can go from "back of the pack" to "middle of the pack". Imagine running with FOUR POTATO SACKS strapped to your body...that's what it's like when I run :) Also, I'm quite a few lbs over the Navy standard for my height...so, it's diet time for the FATMAN.

I've thought an awful lot about my eating habits and have read a bunch of books about healthy eating, but I just can't get past the cravings (for carbs, snacks, ice cream, twinkies ;) I'm even worse at actually sitting down and planning my meals. So I decided I needed a whole new perspective on eating healthy.

So Monday I signed up with LA WEIGHT LOSS to lose the the monkey off my back. I know it sounds totally gay, but my Mom had great success with it and she lost weight the right way...through healthy food choices and portion control.

So, I paid for a year's worth of services from LA WEIGHT LOSS. It's actually not that bad of a deal...works out to be around $7/WK (after initial set up fees). This is what I get in return- a support network of counselors, weekly diet menus, an online cookbook w/ 300+ recipes, 3Xs/week weigh-ins, an online food intake diary, and access to a dietician by email. Probably the most useful, are the weekly weigh-in's...the scale just doesn't lie. So far I've found that the ladies that work there are overly enthusiastic and pretty freakin annoying, but their enthusiasm will probably help when I need it, so I'll let them slide for now :)

Why a Triathlon Coach?

2006-10-02T08:39:00.000-05:00

As getting to IRONMAN is gonna be a challenge in and of itself, I decided I better set up as many support structures (ie, obstacles to quitting) as I possible could. This blog is one of them and so was the decision to hire a Coach.

I listen to numerous Triathlon Podcasts like - Get Your Geek On, Zen and the Art of Triathlon, and Simply Stu - these podcasts are truly informative and I got the idea to hire a coach off a couple of these shows. But why do I need a coach? Am I going to be on the podium at my next race? Am I gonna be competitive in my age group? Am I gonna get a sponsor too? Well, the answer to all these questions is "HELL NO!", but I am getting ready to embark on a year long journey that is gonna take up a significant amount of time and effort. So...the money is worth it to me.

I met my coach at a Fitness Expo the day before I ran the Narragansett FIRMMAN. He was there with Amy Rice, an athlete that he coaches (who was the 2nd overall woman finisher at FIRMMAN). I'd been researching online coaching options for a few weeks and had so far come up empty handed. I was still unsure whether I wanted to pay someone to do something I was to lazy to do myself. After all, I've read at least a dozen books on triathlon already and have seen numerous full Ironman plans that I could adopt for my training. That makes me an expert right? WRONG! After talking with my 'soon-to-be-coach' at the Expo, then on the phone a week later, I decided to take the plunge. He lives a couple towns over from me and having a local coach, vice an online, cookie-cutter one really appealed to me. Here's a link to the info page on my coach's website...it lists what he has to offer. He charges $150/month (plus a $50 setup fee) and I had to pay 3 months in advance. So on Friday, I paid the initial $500 (OAHWW!) for the first three months service. That price may seem steep upon initial glance, but considering all he'll help me with (and compared to other tri coaches that only offer online consulting), it's not that bad. After all, he's gonna help me become an IRONMAN.

FAREWELL TO MY BELOVED VICES…

2006-10-01T21:05:00.000-05:00

Today is a happy day…today is a sad day. Today is the last day of my old Pre-Ironman life. From this day forward, I will do as best as I can to maintain a healthy diet, and to ward off all alcoholic beverages (except on Sat. nights, where I will impose a strict 2 drink maximum). By tomorrow morning, the days of unhealthy eating and drinking alcohol are gone. If I’m gonna make it to my goals, I just gotta do it. The following is the obituary I have written to signify my observance of alcohol and twinky’s death.

OBITUARY:

DIED October 1, 2006- Mr. Alvin (AL) C. Ohol and his close friend Mr. G. Reasy Foods, formerly of Newport, RI. Mr. Ohol and Foods were fatally injured when a bus of Triathletes crashed into them. Both were wonderful and loving individuals when consumed separately and in moderation. Although, together they often caused numerous problems: drunkenness, usually followed by impulsive consumption of unhealthy food products (Mr. P. Izza, and Ms. Buffy Lo Chixwing). The next day the dynamic duo would normally cause more trouble, inciting gastrointestinal distress, dehydration, and exponentially increasing pants sizes. Mr. Ohol and Foods are survived by a large family of fat building and artery clogging relatives, to include P. Eetsa, Buffy Lo Wingz, Moo V. Popkorn, and Hostess C. Upcake. Former couch potatoes everywhere mourn the violent death of these individuals.

Race an IRONMAN?!?! WHAT THE H*** FOR???

2006-09-28T16:29:00.000-05:00

Well, here goes...an attempt to explain why I would put my body through the pain and suffering of a 140.3 mile race, not to mention, waste a year of my life training for one.

I wish I could take full credit for getting into triathlon all by myself. However, I owe at least some of this crazy journey to a college buddy (the COL). In 2004, COL brought up the idea of running a Sprint tri together when I returned from Japan. I considered it, and knew I needed some new direction. But at that time, I was too worn out, too out of shape and lacking the drive to accomplish the challenge. I was full of self doubt and twinkies  Crawling out of the hole I’d dug myself into (which was getting deeper and deeper every day) was not gonna be easy. However, COL kept hounding me about it and by the next summer I'd had about enough of where life had taken me. I was starting to feel old (at 26) and was definitely out of shape. I thought long and hard about where my current lifestyle was taking me. I pondered my family medical history (scary background), the unhealthy lifestyle choices I was making, and a lot about the athlete I once was. At that point I was 60LBS overweight and headed for an unhappy life as a fat and out of shape mess. I took one last look in the mirror and decided something had to be done. COL and I set a date for a triathlon and I began my journey from coach potato to TRIATHLETE.
In the beginning I started with some will power and a diet modification. I added 6-7 workouts a week, and before I knew it, I was wearing spandex and shedding lbs like it was my job. Eating right and training again gave me back the confidence and pride I'd lost somewhere in the previous few years. By the end of the summer I'd been training for 3.5 months and I was ready for my first Sprint. COL and his GF came into town for a Sprint Tri in Barrington, RI. I still remember the race start frenzy…clad in a tight wetsuit, goofy yellow swim cap, wet sand between my toes. I remember how cold the water felt and how exhilarating the bike ride was (even if my bike was in Miami Vice colors and 2 sizes too small ). I remember the endorphin rush from a strong run (I get it almost every workout now). But mostly I remember the feeling of joy and pride I felt when I crossed that finish line with spectators cheering...WHAT A RUSH! From that moment on I was hooked.

That’s a little background about how I got into this awesome sport. Now to the question at hand…WHY IRONMAN? WHY PUT MY BODY THROUGH THAT MUCH STRESS AND PAIN JUST FOR ONE DAY OF SATISFACTION? Well, there are three simple reasons. 1- Because I can. 2- Because I will. 3- Because the fun is in the challenge. I’ve never been one to take things in life for granted. However, we all need a little reminder from time to time about how to live. My philosophy in life is also simple…always go for it (whatever IT is), and never forget to enjoy the journey. Triathlon helps me live out my philosophy. Triathlon makes me feel like a kid again…riding my bike to the pool, jumping off the diving board to swim with friends, and running around the neighborhood till Mom called us home for dinner. It keeps my head out of the clouds and brings me down to earth. It balances my nerves and gives me direction. It pushes me to my limits and beyond. It shows me that no challenge in life is too hard to undertake. But the most important reason I want to race an IRONMAN is because I know that the journey is more important than the race itself.

That journey that began in the spring of 2005 is now much more focused and ambitions. So far I’ve completed 5 Sprints, a Half Marathon, an Olympic, and a Half Ironman. I’m now ready to take the next step. The road to IRONMAN begins Monday (I get my first workout from my tri coach then) October 2nd. I know the road will be long and difficult, but I'm ready for all it will bring...good, bad and otherwise. IRONMAN, HERE I COME!

FIRST POST!!

2006-09-24T21:33:00.000-05:00

Well, here I am...standing at the foot of the biggest mountain I've ever decided to climb. That proverbial mountain is the next year of my life, during which I will hopefully become an IRONMAN. Through the next year I'll swim, bike, and run until I’m a finely tuned triathlon machine. I'll do these things like it's my job (approximately 20 hours a week as a matter of fact). But I hope that at the end of that year (approx OCT 2007) I will hear “J.R. Ewing, you are an IRONMAN!” as I cross the finish line of a 140.3 mile race. See my next post to find out why I’m undertaking that crazy journey…