Run and done

Finally got my but up and put the running shoes on. My 8:30 a.m. run actually took place around 2:00 pm but at least it's done. Managed to get in 15 miles. Had to break it up into three segments. Did five miles, came home drank some water, ran another five, came home gassed up again and finished up with five more. I couldn't come to terms with 15 but three sets of five was somewhat ok. Funny how mental this sport can be. Had the same thing going on during the ride yesterday. Broke it down into little sections and managed to survive.

Thinking that half the battle is getting my mind/attitude right.

May try to get a ride in the mountains done next week. Kebby and Steph knocked off a 90 mile monster today that would do wonders for my confidence (or it might just crush me...who knows).

Go time

August 1st. Good a time as any to start keeping a log of my Ironman Arizona training. Kebby, Steph and Jen are out riding and I should be getting ready for my run. Funny how updating my blog about training seems more important than actually doing the training right now. Fortunately, I'm going to have to get out and exercise so that I actually have something to write about.

I believe the keys to having a good race in November are going to be:

- consistent training

- good nutrition

- staying healthy

Obviously bad luck can hit anyone but I think I generally know what to do. Got to get up every day and at least start the workout. Have to be smart about listening to my body. Walk away when the carrot cake starts whispering in that seductive voice. And finally, stretch/roll every day.

Managed to get in 86 miles on the bike yesterday, so the guilt monster is acting up too much yet.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

Apologies to John, Paul, George and Ringo but I'm changing that to "I get by with a Lot of Help from my friends".

Back from Kona and have started to put the experience into perspective. Will write up a race report later but in short, the race was hot, humid and (at least for me) hard. Heat and humidity have never made for great race conditions and Saturday, they were present in abundance. I tried to stay on top of my salt tabs but by the time the bike was done, I was too. Almost. I made it through about mile eight on the run before I was experiencing full body cramps. I knew I was in big trouble when I tried to wipe the sweat out of my eyes and my bicep cramped. Chills followed and I was ready to call it a day. Fortunately, I saw my friend Scott and he walked with me for a couple of miles. I started to feel a bit better and even found a way to shuffle run. At my next low point, I once again had an angel land on my shoulder as Stephanie arrived on a bike and delivered tums and a dry shirt. That did it and I knew I'd finish.

As I mentioned, full race report later. But until then...thanks Friends!

Noggin Design

Just finished an 18 mile run that was more uncomfortable than I'd have liked. I ran in the afternoon, so the temperature was warmer than usual, probably around 75. Consequently, I perspired like the proverbial pig. Tried to stay on top of my fluids by hitting the water fountains on a regular basis but I couldn't help but wonder if the hair on my head (which is getting a bit long) was hindering my cooling a bit.

Now I'm pondering a buzz cut. A lot of the pros keep their mop short and it even looks pretty good on a few of them. No one can argue that Crowie is a good looking guy and he's just got a bunch of stubble on top. My mission for the next couple of days is to (1) find out if short hair provides any meaningful cooling benefit and (2) discern the shape of the noggin. If the head is fairly uniform and round...who know, we may have a hair cutting party.

Trying to get motivated for a swim now and will be up early to hit Palomar with Steph and Brit tomorrow.

Tick Tock

So, the clock keeps ticking toward Kona. Roughly three more potential big weeks of training to go. Funny how clear things get this close in to a race. No dips in motivation, no questioning why I need to watch what I eat, stretching and rolling find their way into my day. Just wish it was possible to bottle that kind of enthusiasm and take sips during the winter when working out takes a back seat to bread pudding!

Decent workouts over the long weekend with a six hour ride on Saturday and a 15 mile run on Sunday. Monday was recovery with just a quick weight room session.

Rode with Steph on Saturday for almost four and a half of the six hours. She's just a week off her 10 hr 40 minute finish in Louisville and seems to almost completely recovered. Kebby's coming along as well but I still catch a peek of her going down stairs sideways from time to time.

Thinking about trying to pull a group together for a ride in Borrego Springs at the end of the month. Conditions there should be very similar to Hawaii and Arizona for folks doing IMAZ. Will check out vrbo houses and see what I find.

Long time no post

A little slow on the posting recently. No real excuses. Training has been going well and I'm still relatively uninjured. Still marveling at the results that Kebby and Steph put up in Louisville. Both went under 11 hours and Kebby managed to grab a slot to Kona.

It goes to show you what a good couple of months can do for a person. At Oceanside, Kebby was coming off of knee surgery and Steph was doing her second half. Now just a couple of months later, they're both in a different league!

Plan tomorrow calls for five hours on the bike. I bought a red bull to help me get up and make it an early start!

Hot Hot Hot

Spent the weekend in Borrego Springs this weekend with Kebby. Great training location. Lots of empty roads with wide shoulders and heat a plenty. Got in four hours of riding Saturday with a core workout and light swim. Eight miles on the hot pavement sunday.