My running streak has come to an end. I went into atrial fibrillation yesterday. Like previous times, I awoke to a funny feeling in my chest, checked my pulse and realized it was irregular. This means I got to take a trip to the ER and get cardioverted again. This was the fourth episode of atrial fibrillation I have had. Ironically, after the first episode is when I decided I needed to lose weight and start running. This meant that I had to take a day or two off from running, effectively stopping my running streak. I will restart my streak tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
We're going streakin' !!!
I know what you're thinking, they gave up on blogging, or died or something like that. But as it turns out, we have just been lazy, as far as blogging. We have still been running, we just haven't shared with you. Well, I have a renewed vigor to keep you up to date.
I'm sure you're wondering about the post title. Recently, runners world announced a challenge for the holiday season to keep runners running throughout the holidays. They call it the holiday running streak and are challenging runners to run at least one mile every day between Thanksgiving (November 22) and New Years day. I thought this challenge sounded great! I not only have to continue training for the disney marathon, but I also like the idea of running daily. The only reason I haven't run daily before, is that I am usually under the impression that I must run at least 5 miles per day. So, I am challenging myself to this.
I have been running daily for the past 5 days. I know the challenge doesn't start until thanksgiving, but I am going to try to start early and take it through later. So far, so good. I'm a little perplexed by the 1 mile runs, but we'll see how those go.
http://www.runnersworld.com/cold-weather-running/2012-holiday-running-streak
http://www.runnersworld.com/cold-weather-running/2012-holiday-running-streak
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
126 < 1
how can i possibly say that 126 is less than 1? was never good at math, but let me explain...
as i made my final turn down the shoot towards the finish, i heard the announcer and fans cheering. i spotted my family along the side, stretching their hands out for me to slap 'five'. so many emotions came over me and as i passed them, i began to choke up. holding back the tears, i heard the announcer call my name as crossed the finish line.
my family asked why i looked like i was going to break down. was it my achilles? no. was i in pain? yes, but that had nothing to do with the tears of absolute joy i was holding back.
eighteen weeks prior i had no pool, no bike and a torn achilles. as i told people what i was embarking on, most thought that i was crazy to think i could even do it.
my swim/ironman coach gave me the 'shocked' look when i explained that my first triathlon was going to be a 70.3. (i did complete 3 sprint triathlons prior, thankfully). but by the last lesson i had with her, she told me that i should follow all the guidelines, because 'what if i was to place?'. (was concerned about wearing a wetsuit, if lake was too warm, no wetsuit. wetsuit helps you swim)
when we bought our bikes, the shop owner gave me the same look. i never bought a bike before. had a hand-me-down huffy when i was a kid...
dr. singh told me that it would be a long shot to cure the achilles by race day. there wasn't an ounce of pain in my right foot. now my photo and signed bib will be hung on his office wall.
for six hours, as i swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles and then ran 13.1, i thought about those 126 days. all of the sacrifices, the pain, the money, the joys, the barriers broken. and when i saw the finish line with my family cheering, clapping, waving and smiling, i knew that i made it. everyone races for a different reason. i needed to prove to myself, my family, my friends, and the 2 readers i have on this blog, that anything is possible. even when you are knocked down, all you have to do is get back up. it wasn't just me pushing my body past its limits that day, and i owe a debt of gratitude to so many...
to those who were so bored and read this blog - anything is truly possible. i had a dream and believed in it whole-heartedly. whatever you dream about, go out and get it. i thank you for coming along with me. stay tuned, because it is far from over.
to my family - for eighteen weeks i lived part-time in ny and part-time in nj. tucker doesn't handle car rides too well, so knowing that he was completely cared for took such a load off from me. you heard me talk about triathlons and training until you wanted to bust. thank you
to my parents - i'm sure you both would love for me to tell you that i'm hanging up my wetsuit and deflating the bike tires. sorry to say, this is probably just the beginning. don't worry, i won't make you stand around for 6 hours again (will do the next one in 5 and the full will be like 12-13 hours). thank you for raising me to know that belief and action will change the world. i am honored to be your son.
to my friends - your support and faith helped me cross that finish line. whether you will ever understand why someone would do this to their body, i thank you for supporting any and all of my decisions and always telling me that 'you will do it'.
to number one - everyday i get to look up to you and it's wonderful.
to number two - first off, i knew that you wouldn't let me do this alone. because a. i needed you there, and b. i knew you wanted it just as bad. no one will ever be able to take this away from us, and imagine if we weren't just beginners. you brought this idea up a long time ago. i thought you were crazy. honestly, i know that you are truly amazing. this was your second triathlon (the first one you placed in!!!) and i doubt that anyone competing on sunday can say the same thing...
to you - you were there all 126 days. you gave me a bed to rest on, a shower to wash away the stink, a pool to train in and pasta for me to carbo-load. but most importantly, you gave me your heart. the heart that shared in my excitement as each week passed. the heart that was concerned if i was providing my body with enough nutrition. the heart that saw me cry as i dealt with my right foot. the heart that cared for me through all of the pain, holding strong to the notion that this journey was not over, that my foot will heal. the heart that woke me up singing 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming'. the heart that has captured my races and accomplishments on her stolen camera. the heart that stood at the finish line, smiling ear to ear, exposing all of your dimples. and finally, the heart that now wants to become a triathlete. you are truly remarkable...
for 126 days, i trained my body and my mind all for one finish line. the journey has only begun. lake placid 140.6 next july and, god-willing, kona 20??
as i made my final turn down the shoot towards the finish, i heard the announcer and fans cheering. i spotted my family along the side, stretching their hands out for me to slap 'five'. so many emotions came over me and as i passed them, i began to choke up. holding back the tears, i heard the announcer call my name as crossed the finish line.
my family asked why i looked like i was going to break down. was it my achilles? no. was i in pain? yes, but that had nothing to do with the tears of absolute joy i was holding back.
eighteen weeks prior i had no pool, no bike and a torn achilles. as i told people what i was embarking on, most thought that i was crazy to think i could even do it.
my swim/ironman coach gave me the 'shocked' look when i explained that my first triathlon was going to be a 70.3. (i did complete 3 sprint triathlons prior, thankfully). but by the last lesson i had with her, she told me that i should follow all the guidelines, because 'what if i was to place?'. (was concerned about wearing a wetsuit, if lake was too warm, no wetsuit. wetsuit helps you swim)
when we bought our bikes, the shop owner gave me the same look. i never bought a bike before. had a hand-me-down huffy when i was a kid...
dr. singh told me that it would be a long shot to cure the achilles by race day. there wasn't an ounce of pain in my right foot. now my photo and signed bib will be hung on his office wall.
for six hours, as i swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles and then ran 13.1, i thought about those 126 days. all of the sacrifices, the pain, the money, the joys, the barriers broken. and when i saw the finish line with my family cheering, clapping, waving and smiling, i knew that i made it. everyone races for a different reason. i needed to prove to myself, my family, my friends, and the 2 readers i have on this blog, that anything is possible. even when you are knocked down, all you have to do is get back up. it wasn't just me pushing my body past its limits that day, and i owe a debt of gratitude to so many...
to those who were so bored and read this blog - anything is truly possible. i had a dream and believed in it whole-heartedly. whatever you dream about, go out and get it. i thank you for coming along with me. stay tuned, because it is far from over.
to my family - for eighteen weeks i lived part-time in ny and part-time in nj. tucker doesn't handle car rides too well, so knowing that he was completely cared for took such a load off from me. you heard me talk about triathlons and training until you wanted to bust. thank you
to my parents - i'm sure you both would love for me to tell you that i'm hanging up my wetsuit and deflating the bike tires. sorry to say, this is probably just the beginning. don't worry, i won't make you stand around for 6 hours again (will do the next one in 5 and the full will be like 12-13 hours). thank you for raising me to know that belief and action will change the world. i am honored to be your son.
to my friends - your support and faith helped me cross that finish line. whether you will ever understand why someone would do this to their body, i thank you for supporting any and all of my decisions and always telling me that 'you will do it'.
to number one - everyday i get to look up to you and it's wonderful.
to number two - first off, i knew that you wouldn't let me do this alone. because a. i needed you there, and b. i knew you wanted it just as bad. no one will ever be able to take this away from us, and imagine if we weren't just beginners. you brought this idea up a long time ago. i thought you were crazy. honestly, i know that you are truly amazing. this was your second triathlon (the first one you placed in!!!) and i doubt that anyone competing on sunday can say the same thing...
to you - you were there all 126 days. you gave me a bed to rest on, a shower to wash away the stink, a pool to train in and pasta for me to carbo-load. but most importantly, you gave me your heart. the heart that shared in my excitement as each week passed. the heart that was concerned if i was providing my body with enough nutrition. the heart that saw me cry as i dealt with my right foot. the heart that cared for me through all of the pain, holding strong to the notion that this journey was not over, that my foot will heal. the heart that woke me up singing 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming'. the heart that has captured my races and accomplishments on her stolen camera. the heart that stood at the finish line, smiling ear to ear, exposing all of your dimples. and finally, the heart that now wants to become a triathlete. you are truly remarkable...
for 126 days, i trained my body and my mind all for one finish line. the journey has only begun. lake placid 140.6 next july and, god-willing, kona 20??
Monday, June 25, 2012
"You have to start somewhere"
Those were the words the announcer said after I crossed the finish line of the 2012 Syracuse Ironman 70.3. The exact line was Brandon O'Connor from Sparta NJ is crossing the finish line, you have to start somewhere. What encouragement for my finish. I knew my times weren't the best, but that was the final nail in the coffin. Oh well, I guess Ill do better next time.
The day started off well, go to transition around 6am, so I had around 55 minutes to set everything up. That was more than enough time. So i laid my bike shoes, Clif shots for the bike out, put my helmet on the bike, laid out my running shoes and the Clif shots for the run and placed my tri-belt with my bib on it down all carefully on a towel. I got my wetsuit out and pulled it up to about my waist (water temp was 75.3, so wetsuit legal, yay!) Then I put sunscreen on my exposed areas of my arms and face. The day was starting off well.
I went down to the water to see the first waves start and to get a practice swim in. With all that done, I was set to go. Finally, at 7:50 my wave was called to start the swim. I expected about a 45 minute swim. I did not get punched or kicked, but I felt like there were a lot of people around and felt like I was in the way at times, but I was racing too. Finally, when I got out to the red buoy, I turned right and headed for the first turn, got ran into twice at this point, because of people not realizing to turn. (Apparently they were not at the meeting which told us that the red buoys meant to turn and the yellow and orange were out and back.) Finally get to the turn on the way back in, and I'm just going on my way. Finally, I get to the shore, stand up and see the clock that tells me I was faster than I expected 42 minutes, great. Then, got my goggles up and wetsuit down. The peelers (strippers) have you lay on your back and tear your suit off you in a second. The swim to transition had to be a good tenth or two tenths of a mile, which is kinda a long run when you are disoriented after getting out of the water.
Transition 1 was pretty seamless, bike out, shoes on, and off I go. Starting on the bike was pretty good, flat then a downhill, then started the steady climb up and up. (We had been told that after the first 12 miles the course was pretty downhill.) So the next bit of the course went like this, hill up, flat, hill up, flat, hill up, turn, hill up, hill up, at this point, I was wondering where that 12 mile mark was. Then I saw a mile marker, 5 miles. Was this some kind of a cruel joke? I have only gone 5 miles to this point. Oh my, how am I gonna make it throughout 51 more miles of this. Finally, after a barrage of hills, a downhill, a very steep downhill. I could use gravity and fly to about 40 or so miles per hour, but I am scared to do that, because I feel like all it would take is a little bump or rock to hit and Im flying off the bike. But at the bottom of every downhill there is a turn or another hill waiting to start. Aid stations were at 15, 25 and 40 miles. I feel like there could have been another one, but that's not for me to judge I guess. Being the idiot that I am, (and here is learned point #1) I only have one water bottle cage on my bike. Bad idea. I need at least one more, so that I can just fly through aid stations and grab water, perform or whatever and just replace what's in the cages, but I have only one, so I get to stop at every aid station to replace the bottles. Oh well, the volunteers are excellent. As soon as you stop, they ask you what you need and want to get you whatever you want. Finally, I see the sign for the no pass zone on the bike, so I know that I am in the last mile of the bike. I feel good at this point. I get to transition and see the clock, the bike took me 3:40, 40 minutes longer than I had wanted it to take, but I would have been happy with a 3:30. Oh well, lets get into transition and get my run on.
Transition 2 went well, got my Vibrams on and my Clif Blocks in one pocket and a Clif shot in the other, although that fell out somewhere before I left transition. I start the run and the first part of the run is paved, then it's rocks, WTF! and not like little pebbles, like landscaping stone. Not so good for Vibrams. I run about 1.5 miles and my body tells me to stop, really?!? I have run 13 miles numerous times, but never after a swim and a 56 mile bike. Ok, so I'll listen, walk, run, walk, run, walk, run...you can see how my run went. Although I do have to say that on the run in the aid stations they have ice cold soaked sponges (possibly the best things ever). By this point its pretty hot in the heat and I just need to stay cool to keep going. Ice, Ice water, water, sponges all dumped on me, kept in tri shirt, put in hat, etc. Basically if there was a place to put it, ice was going there, except in tri shorts, that was too cold. Run course was all big hills and the second loop couldn't get done quick enough. Last mile was running, because, Im not finishing a race walking unless thats the only way I can finish. Crossing the finish line was exciting for about 20 seconds (after getting water and medal) and then I felt a little sick to my stomach. I drank some water, went over to the food at the finish, pizza. Not so good, but carbs, sodium and calories. Oh yeah, and chocolate milk, thanks Team Refuel.
So, what did I learn from Syracuse?
1. 2 water bottle cages on my bike
2. More hills in training running and biking
3. More Bricks
4. Spray sunscreen in transition - got a nice sunburn on my shoulders, neck and knees
5. Run more in vibrams or use different shoes for the run portion
All in all, I had a good day, I plan on doing another and will eventually get to that full that I wanna do.
The day started off well, go to transition around 6am, so I had around 55 minutes to set everything up. That was more than enough time. So i laid my bike shoes, Clif shots for the bike out, put my helmet on the bike, laid out my running shoes and the Clif shots for the run and placed my tri-belt with my bib on it down all carefully on a towel. I got my wetsuit out and pulled it up to about my waist (water temp was 75.3, so wetsuit legal, yay!) Then I put sunscreen on my exposed areas of my arms and face. The day was starting off well.
I went down to the water to see the first waves start and to get a practice swim in. With all that done, I was set to go. Finally, at 7:50 my wave was called to start the swim. I expected about a 45 minute swim. I did not get punched or kicked, but I felt like there were a lot of people around and felt like I was in the way at times, but I was racing too. Finally, when I got out to the red buoy, I turned right and headed for the first turn, got ran into twice at this point, because of people not realizing to turn. (Apparently they were not at the meeting which told us that the red buoys meant to turn and the yellow and orange were out and back.) Finally get to the turn on the way back in, and I'm just going on my way. Finally, I get to the shore, stand up and see the clock that tells me I was faster than I expected 42 minutes, great. Then, got my goggles up and wetsuit down. The peelers (strippers) have you lay on your back and tear your suit off you in a second. The swim to transition had to be a good tenth or two tenths of a mile, which is kinda a long run when you are disoriented after getting out of the water.
Transition 1 was pretty seamless, bike out, shoes on, and off I go. Starting on the bike was pretty good, flat then a downhill, then started the steady climb up and up. (We had been told that after the first 12 miles the course was pretty downhill.) So the next bit of the course went like this, hill up, flat, hill up, flat, hill up, turn, hill up, hill up, at this point, I was wondering where that 12 mile mark was. Then I saw a mile marker, 5 miles. Was this some kind of a cruel joke? I have only gone 5 miles to this point. Oh my, how am I gonna make it throughout 51 more miles of this. Finally, after a barrage of hills, a downhill, a very steep downhill. I could use gravity and fly to about 40 or so miles per hour, but I am scared to do that, because I feel like all it would take is a little bump or rock to hit and Im flying off the bike. But at the bottom of every downhill there is a turn or another hill waiting to start. Aid stations were at 15, 25 and 40 miles. I feel like there could have been another one, but that's not for me to judge I guess. Being the idiot that I am, (and here is learned point #1) I only have one water bottle cage on my bike. Bad idea. I need at least one more, so that I can just fly through aid stations and grab water, perform or whatever and just replace what's in the cages, but I have only one, so I get to stop at every aid station to replace the bottles. Oh well, the volunteers are excellent. As soon as you stop, they ask you what you need and want to get you whatever you want. Finally, I see the sign for the no pass zone on the bike, so I know that I am in the last mile of the bike. I feel good at this point. I get to transition and see the clock, the bike took me 3:40, 40 minutes longer than I had wanted it to take, but I would have been happy with a 3:30. Oh well, lets get into transition and get my run on.
Transition 2 went well, got my Vibrams on and my Clif Blocks in one pocket and a Clif shot in the other, although that fell out somewhere before I left transition. I start the run and the first part of the run is paved, then it's rocks, WTF! and not like little pebbles, like landscaping stone. Not so good for Vibrams. I run about 1.5 miles and my body tells me to stop, really?!? I have run 13 miles numerous times, but never after a swim and a 56 mile bike. Ok, so I'll listen, walk, run, walk, run, walk, run...you can see how my run went. Although I do have to say that on the run in the aid stations they have ice cold soaked sponges (possibly the best things ever). By this point its pretty hot in the heat and I just need to stay cool to keep going. Ice, Ice water, water, sponges all dumped on me, kept in tri shirt, put in hat, etc. Basically if there was a place to put it, ice was going there, except in tri shorts, that was too cold. Run course was all big hills and the second loop couldn't get done quick enough. Last mile was running, because, Im not finishing a race walking unless thats the only way I can finish. Crossing the finish line was exciting for about 20 seconds (after getting water and medal) and then I felt a little sick to my stomach. I drank some water, went over to the food at the finish, pizza. Not so good, but carbs, sodium and calories. Oh yeah, and chocolate milk, thanks Team Refuel.
So, what did I learn from Syracuse?
1. 2 water bottle cages on my bike
2. More hills in training running and biking
3. More Bricks
4. Spray sunscreen in transition - got a nice sunburn on my shoulders, neck and knees
5. Run more in vibrams or use different shoes for the run portion
All in all, I had a good day, I plan on doing another and will eventually get to that full that I wanna do.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
3 days to go!
As the nervousness sets in, I am getting packed and ready to go to Syracuse. Also, yesterday was my last training day before sunday. Rest is a beautiful thing, although I can't say I don't feel guilty about not working out. The guilt is subverted by the fact that I get to sleep in a couple days in a row. But then I get to wake up uber early on sunday. Transition opens at 4:30 and closes at 6:55. Also, getting up to get some nutrition in is much needed.
Yesterday was the last swim in the lake before the event. Ellen decided to have us swim the length of her lake, which is 0.9 miles straight. Which is great, but swimming feels like forever. I never feel like I am getting any closer to the finish. I just keep looking up and seeing the beach at the other side of the lake and thinking, "I am never going to get there." Luckily I did get there and felt great after.
Going to the bike shop today to get my bike tuned up and then I am all set to go to Syracuse. Wish me luck!
Yesterday was the last swim in the lake before the event. Ellen decided to have us swim the length of her lake, which is 0.9 miles straight. Which is great, but swimming feels like forever. I never feel like I am getting any closer to the finish. I just keep looking up and seeing the beach at the other side of the lake and thinking, "I am never going to get there." Luckily I did get there and felt great after.
Going to the bike shop today to get my bike tuned up and then I am all set to go to Syracuse. Wish me luck!
Monday, June 11, 2012
setting goals
a little over a year ago, my brother brandon told me that we should complete an ironman. i laughed at the idea.
a few years ago i started running to get in shape, get beach ready and to have sometime to myself. after a few months, i figured that i might as well run a 5k. i set my sights on our local 5k.
i finished the race in good time and panted as i talked to my family and friends that came to support. left the race thinking that it was fun, maybe i will do it again next year. so, i kept running here and there and figured that if i can run 3 miles, i'm certain i can run 6. so, there i was on race day for my first 10k.
after i completed the 10k, i decided that i should go further (as i think of it now, i feel like forrest gump. - 'when i got to the end of town, i figured i might as well run to the end of the the county...'). therefore, i picked an 18 mile race in lbi, and for a few years ran each of those races, trying to improve on time and technique. it wasn't until we said that we would take this whole running seriously when our goals starting to expand exponentially.
races became serious, training became specific. and we set our sights on becoming marathoners. the casual runner runs. runs for fun, runs for sport. but the marathoner takes running to a whole new level. you abide by certain training regiments and change the way you eat and live. our goal went from 5k to 10k to 13.1 miles to 18 miles to 26.2 miles, quickly. we crossed the finish line in philly and became marathoners. but that wasn't enough.
the more and more we trained for marathons, the more i thought about what brandon said about completing an ironman. i had spent countless hours researching training programs, diets, races, triathletes.
it was becoming crystal clear that we were focusing in on ironman.
we are less than two weeks away from ironman 70.3 in syracuse, ny. we have already decided (well, i know i have) that we are signing up for ironman lake placid in 2013, which will complete this journey, this goal. as i look back on the past year, it's amazing to me how quickly our goals would change and grow. we have pushed ourselves passed every limit, striving to find that limit. and it reminds me of Walt Disney. he wanted everyone to remember, that it 'all started with a mouse'.
our journey started with a 5k....
set your goals high and take it seriously. you might find out that you are capable of extraordinary things!
races became serious, training became specific. and we set our sights on becoming marathoners. the casual runner runs. runs for fun, runs for sport. but the marathoner takes running to a whole new level. you abide by certain training regiments and change the way you eat and live. our goal went from 5k to 10k to 13.1 miles to 18 miles to 26.2 miles, quickly. we crossed the finish line in philly and became marathoners. but that wasn't enough.
the more and more we trained for marathons, the more i thought about what brandon said about completing an ironman. i had spent countless hours researching training programs, diets, races, triathletes.
it was becoming crystal clear that we were focusing in on ironman.
we are less than two weeks away from ironman 70.3 in syracuse, ny. we have already decided (well, i know i have) that we are signing up for ironman lake placid in 2013, which will complete this journey, this goal. as i look back on the past year, it's amazing to me how quickly our goals would change and grow. we have pushed ourselves passed every limit, striving to find that limit. and it reminds me of Walt Disney. he wanted everyone to remember, that it 'all started with a mouse'.
our journey started with a 5k....
set your goals high and take it seriously. you might find out that you are capable of extraordinary things!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
everything changes...
i knew that i was going to experience many changes during my training. was told this by many people who have done it before. they left out a few things though. so here we go...
general appearance
16 weeks ago, i was tipping the scales at 168. i had been losing weight with the marathon training before, but still had my 'guns' (just kidding), but i had some muscle mass. today, i weight 169, and look so much different. most people tell me that i look skinny, some say too skinny, some think i might be sick. i have lost a lot of muscle mass in my upper body, since i'm not able to lift weights as much as i was. my training requires proper rest on certain days, so weight training has been put on hold. my fat butt has become less 'squishier', but, nevertheless, its still fantastic. i understood that i would look different. the other triathletes that i have met look this way, so i figured i would have to join the crowd.
i have had to buy new clothes, since the fatter johnny last purchased clothes. i don't feel weaker, but i can see that i am thinner. plus, you have to eat healthier to keep up with the training. no mcdoubles for this kid...
calorie intake
since i got myself hungry thinking about mcdoubles, i will say that i have greatly enjoyed the nutrition end of ironman training. pretty sure that the average person should consume 2000-2500 calories per day. i was probably always above that, but now, i take in 3500-4000 calories a day. that may seem like a lot, but its necessary. i can tell on hard training days if i didn't eat enough. its fun ordering the left side of the menu.
now i have changed my diet quite a bit. i love candy and sweets and mcdoubles. i haven't eaten any mcdoubles, and i have reduced the candy consumption. i eat much more healthy. more vegetables and fruits. i realized this changed when i was grocery shopping and as i pulled everything out of the cart i remembered that maybe a year or so ago i was in the same store, doing the same thing and an older woman asked me how many kids i had. i was shocked. i don't even feel old enough to have a child. but as she looked in my cart, i understood why she said that. fruit roll ups, snack packs, gushers, fruity pebbles, chocolate syrup, etc. was a little embarrassed, but i love snack packs! those were my staples. guess i grew up some...
checkbook balance
becoming a triathlete is expensive. it's not for the weak of checkbook. with running, you have sneakers, maybe an iPod and that's it. for triathlons, you have a bike, bike shoes, helmet, clips, running sneakers, triathlon tops and bottoms, wetsuit, goggles, pool membership, shakes, powders, energy bars and supplements, entry fees... the list can go on and on. it adds up and adds up quickly. have a good job. whatever you think you might spend, double it! i was broke before, now i am broker.
time management and work
for half ironman training, i train roughly 3 hours a day. thank goodness i don't have a real job! i'm self-employed, and yes, i do work hard for those who know me well and think that all i do is nap and snack. but you have to devote so much time to the training. i am up at 4-5am daily working out. you have to use the time you have so diligently. and it's super hard. life happens and you have to pick and choose what you can do or attend. i don't know how people with real jobs do it. or even if you have a family and kids, i commend you for it.
make sure you tell your work what you are training for. maybe they will give you a little leeway when you are falling asleep at a meeting or walking like you just got done riding a horse. all of my customers know what i am training for and fully support me.
before you know it, race day will be here. use the time you have wisely.
personal life
for me, everything in my personal life changed. now, i have one, haha. a later blog will discuss this further, but i wanted to let you know how much your relationships will change.
because you will be training so much, the loved ones in your life, will be seeing you less. it becomes difficult to preform all of the obligations you had before and the people closest to you will be picking up the slack. make sure you let them know how important and integral they are. make the most of the time you will have with your loved ones.
also, remember that unless your spouse, significant other, or best friend is training with you, talk about something else to those who aren't. thankfully, my brother is training for the same thing, but everyone else in my life is tired of hearing me talk about it. it will engulf you. you wake up thinking about it. you spend countless hours online trying to learn new things. your family and friends just want you. show them some love and talk about the weather, haha.
- i am happy for these changes, well expect for the lighter wallet. becoming a triathlete changes and challenges your life. i needed it.
j
general appearance
16 weeks ago, i was tipping the scales at 168. i had been losing weight with the marathon training before, but still had my 'guns' (just kidding), but i had some muscle mass. today, i weight 169, and look so much different. most people tell me that i look skinny, some say too skinny, some think i might be sick. i have lost a lot of muscle mass in my upper body, since i'm not able to lift weights as much as i was. my training requires proper rest on certain days, so weight training has been put on hold. my fat butt has become less 'squishier', but, nevertheless, its still fantastic. i understood that i would look different. the other triathletes that i have met look this way, so i figured i would have to join the crowd.
i have had to buy new clothes, since the fatter johnny last purchased clothes. i don't feel weaker, but i can see that i am thinner. plus, you have to eat healthier to keep up with the training. no mcdoubles for this kid...
calorie intake
since i got myself hungry thinking about mcdoubles, i will say that i have greatly enjoyed the nutrition end of ironman training. pretty sure that the average person should consume 2000-2500 calories per day. i was probably always above that, but now, i take in 3500-4000 calories a day. that may seem like a lot, but its necessary. i can tell on hard training days if i didn't eat enough. its fun ordering the left side of the menu.
now i have changed my diet quite a bit. i love candy and sweets and mcdoubles. i haven't eaten any mcdoubles, and i have reduced the candy consumption. i eat much more healthy. more vegetables and fruits. i realized this changed when i was grocery shopping and as i pulled everything out of the cart i remembered that maybe a year or so ago i was in the same store, doing the same thing and an older woman asked me how many kids i had. i was shocked. i don't even feel old enough to have a child. but as she looked in my cart, i understood why she said that. fruit roll ups, snack packs, gushers, fruity pebbles, chocolate syrup, etc. was a little embarrassed, but i love snack packs! those were my staples. guess i grew up some...
checkbook balance
becoming a triathlete is expensive. it's not for the weak of checkbook. with running, you have sneakers, maybe an iPod and that's it. for triathlons, you have a bike, bike shoes, helmet, clips, running sneakers, triathlon tops and bottoms, wetsuit, goggles, pool membership, shakes, powders, energy bars and supplements, entry fees... the list can go on and on. it adds up and adds up quickly. have a good job. whatever you think you might spend, double it! i was broke before, now i am broker.
time management and work
for half ironman training, i train roughly 3 hours a day. thank goodness i don't have a real job! i'm self-employed, and yes, i do work hard for those who know me well and think that all i do is nap and snack. but you have to devote so much time to the training. i am up at 4-5am daily working out. you have to use the time you have so diligently. and it's super hard. life happens and you have to pick and choose what you can do or attend. i don't know how people with real jobs do it. or even if you have a family and kids, i commend you for it.
make sure you tell your work what you are training for. maybe they will give you a little leeway when you are falling asleep at a meeting or walking like you just got done riding a horse. all of my customers know what i am training for and fully support me.
before you know it, race day will be here. use the time you have wisely.
personal life
for me, everything in my personal life changed. now, i have one, haha. a later blog will discuss this further, but i wanted to let you know how much your relationships will change.
because you will be training so much, the loved ones in your life, will be seeing you less. it becomes difficult to preform all of the obligations you had before and the people closest to you will be picking up the slack. make sure you let them know how important and integral they are. make the most of the time you will have with your loved ones.
also, remember that unless your spouse, significant other, or best friend is training with you, talk about something else to those who aren't. thankfully, my brother is training for the same thing, but everyone else in my life is tired of hearing me talk about it. it will engulf you. you wake up thinking about it. you spend countless hours online trying to learn new things. your family and friends just want you. show them some love and talk about the weather, haha.
- i am happy for these changes, well expect for the lighter wallet. becoming a triathlete changes and challenges your life. i needed it.
j
Monday, May 28, 2012
my first tri
yesterday morning at 4:30am i felt something i haven't felt in such a long time (get your minds out of the gutters). we have raced just about every single distance over the past two years, 5k's, 10k's, 18 milers, half and full marathons. and i have become so comfortable that i can't remember the last time i had butterflies. but as we drove over to Pines Lake yesterday, i was overtaken with them, with nervousness. for the past 14 weeks, i have trained for triathlon racing and finally i would be putting my skills to work. what if i didn't finish?
as we descended into the lake, they made all the 'newbies' move to a certain spot, there were 5 of us. so glad they pointed us out. this was the first time i was in a lake swimming. i have been on quite a regiment at la fitness and last week swam in the crystal clear waters in st. maartens, so swimming in murky water was going to be interesting. also, it was the first time i would be swimming in my new wetsuit (check out photo's on fb, look like a superhero). for all those who have yet to have the privilege of wearing a wetsuit, let me tell you how tight they are. you have remarkable flexibility, but they are tight. and as we took off swimming, i felt like the suit was choking me. maybe it was a mental thing, but i couldn't swim normally, so i adjusted.
i was out of the water and had to do my first 'transition'. this meant i had to strip off a tight wetsuit and put on my biking apparel. my 'stripper' and her fearless dog, tucker, helped to unzip me and, surprisingly, i was out of the suit in no time. threw on my shoes and shirt and started pedaling away. my heart rate was through the roof and i tried to calm my breathing. a few miles in, i felt pretty good again and tried to make up some time i had lost in the water. the loop around pines lake in wayne, nj is pretty challenging. quite a few hills. as i caught up to more experienced riders i watched their every move, hoping to gain some knowledge. seeing then doing has always worked well for me.
transition two was much easier. hopped off the bike and threw on the running sneaks. much easier than taking off a wetsuit. nonetheless, the heart rate was spiking, but i am assuming this will subside with the more triathlons that i do. (talked my brother to do one in less than a week, you get hooked) the run was great. i figured that the achilles would be painful, but it wasn't. i was able to make up a little more time and cheer on the remaining riders.
i crossed the finish line in just under an hour (official results not posted yet). my first tri was a success. it sure didn't feel that way physically, but it was wonderful. everyone there, the family members and friends of the athletes and the athletes themselves, were so respectful. the pro's offered advice and encouragement to the newbies and we listened intently. we even got awards and prizes.
as the rest of the day rolled on, i realized a few things....
1. i'm hooked. we signed up for the harvey cedars tri on June 3.
2. without doing these 'sprint' distances, attempting an Ironman would be terrible. you have to get all the butterflies out and gain the courage needed to compete in an Ironman distance.
if you never tri, you will never know....
as we descended into the lake, they made all the 'newbies' move to a certain spot, there were 5 of us. so glad they pointed us out. this was the first time i was in a lake swimming. i have been on quite a regiment at la fitness and last week swam in the crystal clear waters in st. maartens, so swimming in murky water was going to be interesting. also, it was the first time i would be swimming in my new wetsuit (check out photo's on fb, look like a superhero). for all those who have yet to have the privilege of wearing a wetsuit, let me tell you how tight they are. you have remarkable flexibility, but they are tight. and as we took off swimming, i felt like the suit was choking me. maybe it was a mental thing, but i couldn't swim normally, so i adjusted.
i was out of the water and had to do my first 'transition'. this meant i had to strip off a tight wetsuit and put on my biking apparel. my 'stripper' and her fearless dog, tucker, helped to unzip me and, surprisingly, i was out of the suit in no time. threw on my shoes and shirt and started pedaling away. my heart rate was through the roof and i tried to calm my breathing. a few miles in, i felt pretty good again and tried to make up some time i had lost in the water. the loop around pines lake in wayne, nj is pretty challenging. quite a few hills. as i caught up to more experienced riders i watched their every move, hoping to gain some knowledge. seeing then doing has always worked well for me.
transition two was much easier. hopped off the bike and threw on the running sneaks. much easier than taking off a wetsuit. nonetheless, the heart rate was spiking, but i am assuming this will subside with the more triathlons that i do. (talked my brother to do one in less than a week, you get hooked) the run was great. i figured that the achilles would be painful, but it wasn't. i was able to make up a little more time and cheer on the remaining riders.
i crossed the finish line in just under an hour (official results not posted yet). my first tri was a success. it sure didn't feel that way physically, but it was wonderful. everyone there, the family members and friends of the athletes and the athletes themselves, were so respectful. the pro's offered advice and encouragement to the newbies and we listened intently. we even got awards and prizes.
as the rest of the day rolled on, i realized a few things....
1. i'm hooked. we signed up for the harvey cedars tri on June 3.
2. without doing these 'sprint' distances, attempting an Ironman would be terrible. you have to get all the butterflies out and gain the courage needed to compete in an Ironman distance.
if you never tri, you will never know....
Sunday, May 13, 2012
band of brothers
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"
yesterday I completed my second tough mudder in pa. again, I would highly suggest this type of event for anyone who is looking to push past just running and working out. it's an absolute blast, especially when you have a team like we do. comradery is what it is all about and my team knew that I wouldn't be able to fully compete in this event with my achilles. they went at my pace and helped me get through the obstacles that proved to be much harder with only one foot. I love and thank you all - brandon, jaybird, annie, pat, and roselle.
there is no I in team and team aluminum boy proves that every day!!
Monday, May 7, 2012
7 weeks to go! Begin panic mode now
Sorry for the long hiatus from blogging. I feel like I haven't had much to write about, not having many races that we had done. Tough mudder is this weekend, which will be exciting. I had so much fun at the last tough mudder we did. Then the next race is the ironman 70.3 in Syracuse. Wile I am excited for that, I am sufficiently nervous. It will be the first tri, which is enough to shake things up, but the distance is a little daunting as well. I'm not worried that I could complete the distances separately, but the combo is the worrying part. I have just under 7 weeks until that race and I'm becoming sufficiently nervous.
This weekend's training included a quick 1000 yd swim followed by a spin class. Then the next day I went on a 32 mile bike ride. My quads are nice and sore today. Much aleve later, they are feeling better, but today is a rest day, thank goodness.
Subtext, need to get my bike shoes and wetsuit. Just add it to the list of things to make me nervous about the race.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
my right foot...
it's been two weeks since i had a prp injection in my right achilles. its been extremely painful, annoying and humbling.
i finally get to take off the walking/cast boot, and put on regular shoes.
i began physical rehab, which hurt a lot, and i have 2 more sets to complete today.
i'm not allowed to bike for another week or two, which is troubling. the 56 miles seems to get longer and longer.
i'm not going to run until may 12 (god willing), when team aluminum boy competes in the pa tough mudder. then, i wont be running until june 1.
i am swimming, which i am grateful for. being stagnant for a whole week was difficult. and actually, i am swimming much better than i was before. the swim (life) coach kept telling me to keep my knees locked before, and now, i am so afraid to hurt my foot, that i am doing as told. maybe thats why she's the coach, she knows.
this 'return to play' is not for weak of heart. it will take so much determination.
also, i wanted to express my gratitude to the people that have been involved and helping me these past couple weeks.
to my brother and sister (team aluminum boy personal docs)... thank you for listening to me complain, answering all of my questions, hooking me up with doc singh, telling me that the boot was stylish, and continuing to have that unwavering faith in everything that i do. i love you both (1&2)
to doc singh... at first i wanted to strangle you for causing me so much pain, but you explained everything so thoroughly and believe in what you did and continue to do. just like those autographed photo's on your walls from the pro athletes you helped, my photo and herbie hancock will be hanging on that office wall.
to my parents... you haven't stopped me yet and i am truly grateful for that. you have always been there to comfort me and provide that unwavering faith. i will do it all.
to rachel and the girls... i appreciated that you called me out on my slow moving, hobbled walk. you waited for me, said my cooking actually tasted good and laughed at my super funny jokes. you kept me positive. rachel, thank you for being there on day one. you listened, talked and joked with me when i needed it the most. sorry my jokes stunk until i popped the perc's, but you laughed anyways. STEPHEN!!
in response to all the comments and messages on fb... thank you all for your support. i am so proud to post my achievements online, and even prouder that my friends 'like' it so much. i don't think you realize how powerful your comments can be... thank you for all of them!
to that monkey on back... i thought that i had just about everything i would need in conquering my goals with docs on the team, but having a personal rn is amazing. a simple 'thank you' would never suffice for everything you have done. you have heard the brunt of my complaining, and rolled it off with positive thoughts. you helped this old man to put on his socks, pain patches, shoes and forced meds down my throat, probably because i was too much to bear without. (still waiting on that sponge bath though) we joke about how 'johnny's got it', but, really, it's always been you whose got it. ikaw lang
i finally get to take off the walking/cast boot, and put on regular shoes.
i began physical rehab, which hurt a lot, and i have 2 more sets to complete today.
i'm not allowed to bike for another week or two, which is troubling. the 56 miles seems to get longer and longer.
i'm not going to run until may 12 (god willing), when team aluminum boy competes in the pa tough mudder. then, i wont be running until june 1.
i am swimming, which i am grateful for. being stagnant for a whole week was difficult. and actually, i am swimming much better than i was before. the swim (life) coach kept telling me to keep my knees locked before, and now, i am so afraid to hurt my foot, that i am doing as told. maybe thats why she's the coach, she knows.
this 'return to play' is not for weak of heart. it will take so much determination.
also, i wanted to express my gratitude to the people that have been involved and helping me these past couple weeks.
to my brother and sister (team aluminum boy personal docs)... thank you for listening to me complain, answering all of my questions, hooking me up with doc singh, telling me that the boot was stylish, and continuing to have that unwavering faith in everything that i do. i love you both (1&2)
to doc singh... at first i wanted to strangle you for causing me so much pain, but you explained everything so thoroughly and believe in what you did and continue to do. just like those autographed photo's on your walls from the pro athletes you helped, my photo and herbie hancock will be hanging on that office wall.
to my parents... you haven't stopped me yet and i am truly grateful for that. you have always been there to comfort me and provide that unwavering faith. i will do it all.
to rachel and the girls... i appreciated that you called me out on my slow moving, hobbled walk. you waited for me, said my cooking actually tasted good and laughed at my super funny jokes. you kept me positive. rachel, thank you for being there on day one. you listened, talked and joked with me when i needed it the most. sorry my jokes stunk until i popped the perc's, but you laughed anyways. STEPHEN!!
in response to all the comments and messages on fb... thank you all for your support. i am so proud to post my achievements online, and even prouder that my friends 'like' it so much. i don't think you realize how powerful your comments can be... thank you for all of them!
to that monkey on back... i thought that i had just about everything i would need in conquering my goals with docs on the team, but having a personal rn is amazing. a simple 'thank you' would never suffice for everything you have done. you have heard the brunt of my complaining, and rolled it off with positive thoughts. you helped this old man to put on his socks, pain patches, shoes and forced meds down my throat, probably because i was too much to bear without. (still waiting on that sponge bath though) we joke about how 'johnny's got it', but, really, it's always been you whose got it. ikaw lang
Thursday, April 5, 2012
.388 and a brick wall
7 of 18 and the totals are...
28,350 yards swimming (16.11 miles)
224.6 miles pedaling
87 miles just a running
brick walls are there for a reason. the brick walls are not there to keep us out. the brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want something badly enough. they are there to keep out the other people. - randy pausch
my brick wall appeared last october when i was training to run my first marathon. i saw it clear in front of me, but thought i was strong enough to run through it. guess what, i'm not superman. i developed a slight tear in my achilles. doctor's orders were to rest and not to run the marathon. i listened and rested, but wanted to no longer be a runner, i wanted to be a marathoner. so i found my opening through the wall, and snuck by. competed in tough mudder, finished the philly and disney marathon without properly training, and set my sights on the half ironman.
as training began for the half, the brick layers worked tirelessly to fix the opening i found. for seven weeks now i searched for the opening, but i've been stopped, can't find it. doctor gave me two options - rest for weeks and see if it heals or prp injection to increase recovery time. both options leave the possibility that the aluminum boy won't become an ironman on june 24.
my foot is throbbing from the tremendous pain the prp injection causes. no way around it, biting my lip to bear it. but how i see it, the prp injection is like a step ladder that was left by those same brick layers. it will help me to jump over, help me to cross that finish line.
everyday we come face to face with brick walls. whether at work, with friends, or in everyday life, we slam into them. the others will remain on their backs, bewildered. but those who want to get around or over it, will get up, maybe take some tylenol, and begin searching for that ladder or opening. maybe i'm foolish, but i want it badly enough. maybe i push too hard, but i have the courage to follow (my) your heart and intuition. they somehow already know what you truly want to become. - steve jobs
i will never be part of the others
28,350 yards swimming (16.11 miles)
224.6 miles pedaling
87 miles just a running
brick walls are there for a reason. the brick walls are not there to keep us out. the brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want something badly enough. they are there to keep out the other people. - randy pausch
my brick wall appeared last october when i was training to run my first marathon. i saw it clear in front of me, but thought i was strong enough to run through it. guess what, i'm not superman. i developed a slight tear in my achilles. doctor's orders were to rest and not to run the marathon. i listened and rested, but wanted to no longer be a runner, i wanted to be a marathoner. so i found my opening through the wall, and snuck by. competed in tough mudder, finished the philly and disney marathon without properly training, and set my sights on the half ironman.
as training began for the half, the brick layers worked tirelessly to fix the opening i found. for seven weeks now i searched for the opening, but i've been stopped, can't find it. doctor gave me two options - rest for weeks and see if it heals or prp injection to increase recovery time. both options leave the possibility that the aluminum boy won't become an ironman on june 24.
my foot is throbbing from the tremendous pain the prp injection causes. no way around it, biting my lip to bear it. but how i see it, the prp injection is like a step ladder that was left by those same brick layers. it will help me to jump over, help me to cross that finish line.
everyday we come face to face with brick walls. whether at work, with friends, or in everyday life, we slam into them. the others will remain on their backs, bewildered. but those who want to get around or over it, will get up, maybe take some tylenol, and begin searching for that ladder or opening. maybe i'm foolish, but i want it badly enough. maybe i push too hard, but i have the courage to follow (my) your heart and intuition. they somehow already know what you truly want to become. - steve jobs
i will never be part of the others
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
why?
i coach our local jv baseball team. all the boys know that i run. that i run races and marathons. they have seen me run to practice and, now, watch me pedal on down to practice and games. they all seem stunned that i just run. they don't understand why. they ask how i can run such distances. they don't get it. and i don't expect them to... at 14 and 15 years old, i wasn't thinking about running, my mind was focused on cars, girls, school lunches (i loved them). today i decided to tell them why and this is what i said....
i run because i can. i am completely alone. i have time to reflect on the days plans or events. i love hearing my feet hit the ground. i love that feeling when your pandora radio finally plays that favorite song. i love pushing myself to new limits. setting goals and bursting past them. i have solved and resolved so many issues while running long distances. i enjoy racing, it brings my passion of running/training and competition together. i love seeing that finish line, that big clock ticking away, turning it on and sprinting through the finish to get my pr. then you get smiles, hugs and kisses, bling (medal) and food. why wouldn't i run?
i run because i can. i am completely alone. i have time to reflect on the days plans or events. i love hearing my feet hit the ground. i love that feeling when your pandora radio finally plays that favorite song. i love pushing myself to new limits. setting goals and bursting past them. i have solved and resolved so many issues while running long distances. i enjoy racing, it brings my passion of running/training and competition together. i love seeing that finish line, that big clock ticking away, turning it on and sprinting through the finish to get my pr. then you get smiles, hugs and kisses, bling (medal) and food. why wouldn't i run?
Monday, March 5, 2012
0.11 and climbing...
week two of eighteen is in the books:
4250 yards swimming
47 miles on the bike
22 miles on foot
Totals =
8550 yards swimming
112 miles on the bike
43 miles on foot
everyday day i cross off in the training guide each workout. i have read the plan over and over, but today it seemed to be longer somehow. felt like it has grown, instead of eighteen weeks, maybe twenty. so i closed it.
minutes later i opened the binder again and read over what i have done. i thought about the last two weeks and everything that has transpired. sometimes when you are climbing a mountain, you are so focused on the peak, that you forget to look behind yourself, to see how far you have already gone. fear takes over, claiming that you won't make it to the top. stop, look back down the mountain to see how far you've already come.
in two weeks; i have shaved 8 minutes off of my 1000 yard swimming lap time, was fitted for my new ride, hired a swimming/triathlon coach, received much needed advice from a nutritionist, been completely exhausted but wanting more, lost a pound (thought it would be more), and saw that my name was added to the 'participant list' on www.ironmansyracuse.com.
i am only two weeks into this. can't wait to see how long that list will be.
every step forward puts you closer to the top
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
how great i am
within a week, i have had two people, one an avid cyclist/bike shop owner, and the other a swimming coach/ironman finisher give me that 'look' when i told them...1. i have never competed in a triathlon event, and, 2. i am signed up and in training for ironman 70.3 in june. their head cocks and without saying a word i understand what they are trying to convey: 'are you serious?'
some people may feel hurt or discouraged by this lack of optimism. but i love it. i see it as an opportunity to change their mind. do you think i haven't realized that i don't own a bike? do you think i haven't realized that i have never competitively swam before? so, before you are willing to judge or dismiss me, understand that you don't know my heart. you don't my will. and you don't know where i've been and what i had to do to get here.
just like what i have done over these past years to pull myself back up and to stand tall, pay attention and watch what i can do. there are two types of people in this world, those who can, and those who can't. both are right.
"i'm gonna show you how great i am"-Ali
some people may feel hurt or discouraged by this lack of optimism. but i love it. i see it as an opportunity to change their mind. do you think i haven't realized that i don't own a bike? do you think i haven't realized that i have never competitively swam before? so, before you are willing to judge or dismiss me, understand that you don't know my heart. you don't my will. and you don't know where i've been and what i had to do to get here.
just like what i have done over these past years to pull myself back up and to stand tall, pay attention and watch what i can do. there are two types of people in this world, those who can, and those who can't. both are right.
"i'm gonna show you how great i am"-Ali
Sunday, February 26, 2012
0.055 completed!
well, week one of eighteen is complete:
4300 yards swimming
65 miles on the bike
21 miles on foot
feels great to start the training. i was most worried about the swimming, but am really enjoying it. felt quite sluggish each day around 3pm, but was able to get some information from a nutritionist to help my pursuit. the advice seems to be working. (less bon bons per day)
one thing that was odd for me, was not trying to max out while lifting this week. the training schedule only leaves one day free to lift and states that i should only lift about half the weight i normally would. it was weird, felt like i was cheating on myself. but after a few days in the pool, i understand why i can't be lifting the way i was.
so, still pretty excited about this venture. glad to know i have the support of so many to help me through.
remember to always thank those that are willing to do anything for you, and return the gesture...
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sprinting before walking...
i often wonder, how many times have i 'sprinted before i walked'. i know i have been picked on for it. a property sits empty in the center of town because of it. but, we have all been this way. you take on more than you can handle at work, you bite off more than you can chew, and, my personal favorite, you order more food than you could ever eat (so on and so forth). so was the same when i signed up for the IronMan 70.3 in Syracuse on June 24th, 2012. even though i have started the 18 week training program; until Sunday, i didn't have a pool and i still don't have a triathlon bike. i actually didn't even have a way to purchase one until recently. have been panicked about the swimming and biking, but now i am starting to feel okay about it.
but i think sometimes it's necessary to 'sprint before walking'. see, if i didn't sign up, would i have just kept finding reasons not to do it? it's easy to make excuses, it's much harder to put in the time and training. but, i know when i cross that finish line, running into the arms of my most faithful/important fans i have, every hour, every lap, every swim, every mile will make it worthwhile.
being that it is only day 2 of 126, i still feel very excited. i will continue to let you know the ups and the downs of this challenge.
*in order to find your limits, you will need to sprint..
Friday, January 6, 2012
Disney! Finally.
Nine years ago, I happened to be arriving at Epcot the day that the Walt Disney World Marathon was finishing there. It was at that point the Disney Marathon became one of my life's goals. I had always had an idea of wanting to finish a marathon, but after seeing the mouse ear medals, I knew it was something that I needed to do. Years went by and running came into and out of my life, but never anything regimented. Last year, realizing I was at the heaviest I had ever been, I decided to get back into running. A couple months into it, I told myself that I was going to run Disney, no excuses. So I signed up for the marathon in April. After a little over a full year of running again and a 28 week training program, here I am. I am about ready to check the Disney Marathon off my bucket list.
I am happy to be finally finishing one of the goals I set out on years ago. In the past year of running, however, I have realized I have new goals. They don't minimize my goal of finishing the Disney marathon, but they are there and they will keep me going, striving toward them and keeping up my fitness.
Later today, we are off to Florida and Sunday I am running the marathon with my brother and my aunt; the two people who have been there supporting me by running with me the whole time. Also, I have the biggest support crowd I have ever had for a race. There are 14 people coming to florida to watch me run. I have to give a huge thanks to these people because watching a 4-5 hour race where you get to see your runner a couple times can't be that fun. So, thank you. But I really have to give a huge shout out to my wife and son who have been with me through the entire training process and have been supportive even with the 4 hour training runs. Thank you and I love you. Also, there have been many other people who have supported my training and cannot make it to florida and I want to thank them as well. For those of you coming to florida, we are going to have a great time. For those unable to make it, hopefully next time. And with that, I am off to Disney.
I am happy to be finally finishing one of the goals I set out on years ago. In the past year of running, however, I have realized I have new goals. They don't minimize my goal of finishing the Disney marathon, but they are there and they will keep me going, striving toward them and keeping up my fitness.
Later today, we are off to Florida and Sunday I am running the marathon with my brother and my aunt; the two people who have been there supporting me by running with me the whole time. Also, I have the biggest support crowd I have ever had for a race. There are 14 people coming to florida to watch me run. I have to give a huge thanks to these people because watching a 4-5 hour race where you get to see your runner a couple times can't be that fun. So, thank you. But I really have to give a huge shout out to my wife and son who have been with me through the entire training process and have been supportive even with the 4 hour training runs. Thank you and I love you. Also, there have been many other people who have supported my training and cannot make it to florida and I want to thank them as well. For those of you coming to florida, we are going to have a great time. For those unable to make it, hopefully next time. And with that, I am off to Disney.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Reflections on 2011, What's coming in 2012
As the new year begins, I can’t help but think about last year and all the incredible things that we did. I started off the year 60 pounds heavier than I am now, running occasionally and not having distinct goals set. Shortly after starting the year, I decided I was going to run the Walt Disney World Marathon, which had been a goal of mine for years. That meant starting to run more than I was. In March, I signed up for the marathon, which got me off my butt to start training.
In 2011, I ran my first half and full marathons. I got a PR in a 5K and in a 10K, and obviously because they were my firsts, I PR’ed in the half and full too. I am happy with all of my times except my marathon time, which I will be working on in the new year. I also did a Tough Mudder event this past year, which was a great time and I am signed up for another one in 2012.
My goals for 2012 include improving my marathon time. I plan on starting to compete in triathlons. I would also like to lose a little more weight this year, but I am pretty happy with my weight now, although I am still a Clydesdale for races with that category. Looking past 2012, I do have some bucket list events that I want to complete and I’m sure that list of events will get longer.
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