Half because I have nothing interesting to say and half because I thought this article sums up why I love multisport, I decided to let someone else explain to you one of the main reasons I'm addicted to this. There’s nothing like challenging yourself when you have those tough points in training and races, and coming out alive on the other side.
http://runtrails.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-do-endurance-sports-answer-wall-pit.html
It may sound crazy, but he’s got it right - "the abyss is the great mirror, the reflection of your soul, and my God, it's full of stars."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Compromise
After a Friday and Saturday of polar opposites, I started thinking about the recent changes in my life and what I’ve had to part with in order to cram in all my training. 50+ hour work weeks, 17-20 hour training weeks, and a bonus requirement of 7-8 hours of sleep each day doesn’t leave much free time for the other things I enjoy. Plus, add in all the small daily details (commuting, errands, showering, etc.) and I’m left with a whopping 1-3 hours of free time each night.
So now the question is - what exactly do I do with those precious free hours. Most days, I have to rule out any form of activity, even walking, because even those “free” hours are dedicated to recovery, but as long it involves a couch, chair, or bed, I’m good to go.
Unfortunately, while I wish I could say that I take full advantage of the free time and I’m just as productive as I am with the rest of my daily schedule, the truth is that the only thing I have the energy for after these tough training days is mindless television or the occasional book. Sad, I know. Frustrating, definitely. Fulfilling, every single day of the week.
So here are my other passions that have had to be put on the back burner but I cannot wait to do when June 28th rolls around:
So now the question is - what exactly do I do with those precious free hours. Most days, I have to rule out any form of activity, even walking, because even those “free” hours are dedicated to recovery, but as long it involves a couch, chair, or bed, I’m good to go.
Unfortunately, while I wish I could say that I take full advantage of the free time and I’m just as productive as I am with the rest of my daily schedule, the truth is that the only thing I have the energy for after these tough training days is mindless television or the occasional book. Sad, I know. Frustrating, definitely. Fulfilling, every single day of the week.
So here are my other passions that have had to be put on the back burner but I cannot wait to do when June 28th rolls around:
- Cooking – it’s been months since I’ve had time to shop at the Farmers Market and prepare an elaborate meal during the week
- Catching up with Friends – I imagine a lot of you are nodding your heads reading this one, and rightfully so. After long days training, I have very little energy to go out and socialize or pick up the phone and chat with some of my favorite people in the world
- Soccer – No matter how many races I compete in, I’ll always think of myself as a soccer player first so come July and August, you can expect to find me with a ball at my feet almost every day
- Museums/Monuments – such a simple and cheesy thing to list as a love but I miss being able to leisurely walk around this great city and enjoy the history and museums
- Wine, Beer, Scotch – I hate planning out the few days I can have one drink and cannot wait for the freedom to crack open a beer or have a glass of wine or scotch after a long day at work
- Gardening – make fun of me all you want, but playing Martha Stewart every now and then is peaceful, productive and healthy
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Mental Toughness
It was a long but fun weekend and I’m happy to say my longest run before Ironman is behind me. If you read the post below, you know that I had some unfinished business with my long run after last week’s blowup.
I needed to clock one long, slow run before my taper and based on my schedule, this was the last weekend to do it. Of course, Friday night is always my choice-time to run because it sets up a lazy weekend but unfortunately the weather wasn’t cooperating. So through pouring rain, nonstop thunder and lightning, and warm wind, I stumbled my way through 22 humbling miles.
As always with the long training days, I learned a few new tips that will help me get through my Ironman, but I also learned that my biggest battle on race day will be with my mind. After five months of muscle building and punishment, I’m confident I can get through the race, but I’m not so confident I’ll end it in good shape.
June 27th won’t have anything to do with my leg strength or my nutrition. It’s all going to come down to my mental toughness… or weakness. Here’s to hoping it’s the former.
I needed to clock one long, slow run before my taper and based on my schedule, this was the last weekend to do it. Of course, Friday night is always my choice-time to run because it sets up a lazy weekend but unfortunately the weather wasn’t cooperating. So through pouring rain, nonstop thunder and lightning, and warm wind, I stumbled my way through 22 humbling miles.
As always with the long training days, I learned a few new tips that will help me get through my Ironman, but I also learned that my biggest battle on race day will be with my mind. After five months of muscle building and punishment, I’m confident I can get through the race, but I’m not so confident I’ll end it in good shape.
June 27th won’t have anything to do with my leg strength or my nutrition. It’s all going to come down to my mental toughness… or weakness. Here’s to hoping it’s the former.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Redo
OK folks, for those following me on Twitter, you know that last week’s attempt at the last long run before June 27th was somewhat of a disaster. My three-hour journey turned into a mix of pit stops and stomach-settling jogs. In the end, I only ran 17 out of the intended 22 miles before my body just gave up on me. I was pretty pissed, and even though I learned quite a bit about my nutrition needs, I was beyond frustrated with my inability to push through the pain and finish the 22.
So now I’ve packed all the same gear, fixed some of last week’s pre-run nutrition mistakes, and freed up my Friday night plans (who am I kidding, training IS my Friday schedule) to hit the road again. I wish I knew my stomach would behave itself tonight but regardless, I won’t be coming back until my watch reads 3 hours and I’ve run my fun 22 mile route.
So now I’ve packed all the same gear, fixed some of last week’s pre-run nutrition mistakes, and freed up my Friday night plans (who am I kidding, training IS my Friday schedule) to hit the road again. I wish I knew my stomach would behave itself tonight but regardless, I won’t be coming back until my watch reads 3 hours and I’ve run my fun 22 mile route.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
One Year Anniversary
It’s crazy to think about, especially because it feels more like 3 years, but this week is the one year anniversary of my intro to endurance racing. Before 2009, I had never run over 6 miles and I was the last person on earth that wanted to do a marathon or triathlon. I was a soccer player and I mocked anyone who actually enjoyed running. It sounds stupid now, but I just didn’t understand why people would run when there were real sports to play. Well, now I know the answer.
Twelve months ago, I was a complete rookie toeing the start line of my first, and what I thought would be my last marathon. The idea to race a marathon came to me when I knew I wanted a challenge in my life, but I honestly had no intention of becoming a marathoner. I just wanted to test the waters in triathlons and I thought that if I completed a marathon, it would make triathlon training manageable. So there I was – young, foolish and full of hope. Without going into too much detail, I came into that race undertrained, uneducated, and underprepared for 26 painful miles. Needless to say, it was a major eye opening experience.
Fortunately, I came out alive and thankful that I could finally put marathons in my past and focus solely on triathlons. I preferred the biking and swimming over running any day so I was pumped to get started.
Initially, training was a stress reliever and a way for me to make time for myself. It was a release. I could just hop on the bike or jump in the pool and forget about everything but the training goal at hand. But over time, and courtesy of the tear-jerking Ironman videos online, training had a much bigger meaning – 140.6 miles.
Call it foolish, call is cliché, but just like every other triathlete that watches an Ironman video, I pictured myself crossing that finish line and I was sold. Don’t get me wrong – yes, my disastrous marathon was behind me but the humbling experience still stuck. I knew it would take plenty of dedication and hard work, but having a dream (and yes, completing this race is a dream of mine, as cheesy as it may be) made me feel like I was back in middle school hoping that someday I’d become a European soccer player. Only this time the dream was much more realistic.
So from that point on, I buried my head in triathlon books and learned as much about the sport as I could. I would never be that underprepared racer at the start line again. Only problem was that at this point, I was just weeks away from my first Olympic distance (S-1M, B-26M, R-6M) race but my mind couldn’t help but think about the longer term goal. I was already planning out a schedule and putting a temporary goal date for racing an Ironman in the summer of 2012.
Fast forward a few weeks and I’m slowly charging to the finish line of my first triathlon. It wasn’t pretty but I felt great and after the usual post-race cookie binge, I began thinking about the next race – a half-Ironman triathlon. This was the next big hurdle before diving headfirst into the Ironman dream so I signed up a few months out and trained harder than I’ve ever trained. Once race day rolled around, I felt more prepared than I had ever been before and was even getting a little greedy with my secret goal time. Long story short, after a little over five and a half hours, I was crossing the finish line well under my goal time and even got on the podium for my age group. Success! I couldn’t have been happier and despite a disappointing lack of post-race cookies, I was ready to start planning for the big one.
So last September, way ahead of the original plan, I signed up for Ironman Coeur D’Alene and now I’m just six weeks away from (hopefully) finishing my dream race. Funny thing is – I’d be lying if I said the dream hasn’t grown ten times larger since this time last year.
17 months ago, I thought finishing a marathon was impossible. 16 months ago, I had never run more than a slow six miles. 11 months ago, I had never completed a triathlon. And today, I could never imagine my life without endurance racing.
And yes, that even includes marathons.
Twelve months ago, I was a complete rookie toeing the start line of my first, and what I thought would be my last marathon. The idea to race a marathon came to me when I knew I wanted a challenge in my life, but I honestly had no intention of becoming a marathoner. I just wanted to test the waters in triathlons and I thought that if I completed a marathon, it would make triathlon training manageable. So there I was – young, foolish and full of hope. Without going into too much detail, I came into that race undertrained, uneducated, and underprepared for 26 painful miles. Needless to say, it was a major eye opening experience.
Fortunately, I came out alive and thankful that I could finally put marathons in my past and focus solely on triathlons. I preferred the biking and swimming over running any day so I was pumped to get started.
Initially, training was a stress reliever and a way for me to make time for myself. It was a release. I could just hop on the bike or jump in the pool and forget about everything but the training goal at hand. But over time, and courtesy of the tear-jerking Ironman videos online, training had a much bigger meaning – 140.6 miles.
Call it foolish, call is cliché, but just like every other triathlete that watches an Ironman video, I pictured myself crossing that finish line and I was sold. Don’t get me wrong – yes, my disastrous marathon was behind me but the humbling experience still stuck. I knew it would take plenty of dedication and hard work, but having a dream (and yes, completing this race is a dream of mine, as cheesy as it may be) made me feel like I was back in middle school hoping that someday I’d become a European soccer player. Only this time the dream was much more realistic.
So from that point on, I buried my head in triathlon books and learned as much about the sport as I could. I would never be that underprepared racer at the start line again. Only problem was that at this point, I was just weeks away from my first Olympic distance (S-1M, B-26M, R-6M) race but my mind couldn’t help but think about the longer term goal. I was already planning out a schedule and putting a temporary goal date for racing an Ironman in the summer of 2012.
Fast forward a few weeks and I’m slowly charging to the finish line of my first triathlon. It wasn’t pretty but I felt great and after the usual post-race cookie binge, I began thinking about the next race – a half-Ironman triathlon. This was the next big hurdle before diving headfirst into the Ironman dream so I signed up a few months out and trained harder than I’ve ever trained. Once race day rolled around, I felt more prepared than I had ever been before and was even getting a little greedy with my secret goal time. Long story short, after a little over five and a half hours, I was crossing the finish line well under my goal time and even got on the podium for my age group. Success! I couldn’t have been happier and despite a disappointing lack of post-race cookies, I was ready to start planning for the big one.
So last September, way ahead of the original plan, I signed up for Ironman Coeur D’Alene and now I’m just six weeks away from (hopefully) finishing my dream race. Funny thing is – I’d be lying if I said the dream hasn’t grown ten times larger since this time last year.
17 months ago, I thought finishing a marathon was impossible. 16 months ago, I had never run more than a slow six miles. 11 months ago, I had never completed a triathlon. And today, I could never imagine my life without endurance racing.
And yes, that even includes marathons.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Century Ride
Fortunately for you readers, the new phone means I will have plenty of pictures to post during all of my fun training rides and runs so get ready!
Last Saturday I participated in my first sanctioned century ride. I’ve done a couple long stints in the saddle that got up near the 100 mile mark but never as part of a race and definitely never in an area so beautiful, and windy.
view from the starting line
I decided to sign up for this race on Wednesday of last week when I knew a few other DC tri folks were headed out there. I was already planning on hitting a 100 mile ride that weekend anyway so a race was the perfect was to get this over with AND take advantage of race support. Plus, this would allow me to push it more than I would if I was out there alone and away from any form of worst-case-scenario support.
I trekked out to the southern coast of Maryland at the fun hour of 5:00am and saddled up with 600 other riders a little past 7:00am. The race itself wasn’t competitive – no timing chips, rolling start, different distances – but I knew I was in the mood to tear up my legs so I pretended like I was competing against everyone I saw (*note: if there was a timing chip I estimate that I would have finished within the top 5 based on my “humble” observations). Also, the race scenery was very similar to Coeur D’Alene so I felt right at home. Countless miles alongside the water and through a huge wildlife refuge made for amazing riding but also some fun stories.
The first 80 miles were fairly uneventful. Because it was a rolling start, I probably passed 200-300 riders that started before me. Most were recreational and only a few were riding tri-bikes or riding in fast pelotons. Either way, I was cranking some serious watts and averaging over 22 mph. The scenery made for nice views but also made for hours of solitude that caused my mind to go crazy. I can only think about so many things while riding before I need some entertainment. Lucky for me, that was provided around mile 75. As I was passing a few long stretches of farm land, I heard some odd noises coming from my right hand side. When I looked over, I noticed two young deer chasing each other at the same pace I was riding at – talk about beautiful. Well, that is until after about ten seconds of that, the lead deer decided to speed up and make a run for the road. Holy #@!$, this was not good. The deer jumped about 5-6 feet in front of me and I slammed on the brakes and struggled to stay on the bike. “No way did that just happen!” I’ve never come close to hitting a deer while driving and now I almost get in a crash while on my bike.
the view from the aid station at mile 38
crowded aid station at mile 49
gorgeous scenery along the ride
After checking all my vitals and making sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me, I continued on to the last pit stop. The mile 80 aid station was serving banana splits but I wasn’t having any part of that after hours upon hours of training so I refilled my bottles, grabbed a couple gels and moved on to finish the day. 20 miles? No problem.
Ugh, the ten miles between 80 and 90 were the absolute worst miles of my life. My back started aching, my neck was in knots, every road seemed like a false-flat and, worst of all, the infamous eastern shore winds decided to kick in. I felt like I was biking backwards. The miles ticked away at a snail pace and I didn’t see a single person or car for 45 minutes. I was in cycling hell. I kept telling myself that come June 28th, I’ll have moments where I’m feeling much worse so I need to push through this but really I just wanted to quit.
Fortunately, I somehow managed to make it through that brutal stretch and coast to the finish. My legs felt fine afterwards so I immediately dashed over to the post race spread and cut to the back of the line. Forget the chips, sandwiches, and sides, I was headed straight for the dessert table.
Ugh, the ten miles between 80 and 90 were the absolute worst miles of my life. My back started aching, my neck was in knots, every road seemed like a false-flat and, worst of all, the infamous eastern shore winds decided to kick in. I felt like I was biking backwards. The miles ticked away at a snail pace and I didn’t see a single person or car for 45 minutes. I was in cycling hell. I kept telling myself that come June 28th, I’ll have moments where I’m feeling much worse so I need to push through this but really I just wanted to quit.
Fortunately, I somehow managed to make it through that brutal stretch and coast to the finish. My legs felt fine afterwards so I immediately dashed over to the post race spread and cut to the back of the line. Forget the chips, sandwiches, and sides, I was headed straight for the dessert table.
guess how many of these I ate after the race
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