Body Moving

I have some problems, mentally and physically. Some are new.

This happened last time and has happened again, just the PIDS - Post Ironman Depression Syndrome. The first couple weeks after an Ironman I want to sign up again. Basically, sign up and race all over again within the week. It is a feeling of unbelievable invincibility and accomplishment. A month post Ironman, I never want to do a race again. I just want to lay on the couch, wearing my Ironman medal and remember how great it all once was. I am 6 months away from my next Ironman and in a normal world of training would just now be starting to get ready and prepare for such a monstrous event. Starting over, going through the whole process again sounds terrible.

I have something very wrong with my knee. One thing about being an endurance athlete is you become hyper aware of your body. It is an awesome sense to have such a command over your body, I would compare it to driving a manual car versus an automatic. I have slowed down, back to a 10 minute pace to try and figure out if I can nail down what is wrong with my knee. It's like when the check engine light comes on every now the then, but won't stay on long enough that you feel you need to go to a mechanic.

I went for a 10 mile run last weekend with every intention to just blow out my knee, then it can be fixed. No luck. My knee acts like it is going to hurt usually every 30 minutes, but I can run just as I have been. It is odd and a bit frustrating. For the first time since I can remember I had to really work at running. The other day I started out on a run and my body felt like a bike, not something that wanted to move, but that required a good deal of effort to crank to go forward.

I have a marathon in less than 45 days. If I can't blow out my knee but then, maybe I'll qualify for the Boston Marathon. Or hopefully, just make the newspaper. They print the top 1000 men and women finisher's names and it is always fun to see your name in ink.

Mind Over Body

Diver's eerie plunge sets world record

Ironman Florida Recap

How did I go from a 14:52 finish in Lake Placid in 2009 to a 11:51 finish in Florida? Simply put, I might have had the race of my life.

It should be noted that comparing races is difficult because no two races are ever the same - the course, the weather, and there are so many variables on each individual race day. Lake Placid is known for being one of the top 5 toughest Ironman races out there, while Florida, and no Ironman should be considered easy, is generally thought of as easier in the spectrum.

I was super fit. I came down 20 pounds from Lake Placid. Not carrying 8% of yourself for 10+ hours makes a difference. It felt a lot like a fighter moving weight classes. I wouldn't call it a diet, I ate whatever I wanted, just with a controlled intake. I previously ate 4 meals a day. I started eating 3 and would stop eating just before full. I don't like being smaller, mentally I don't feel as tough. Physically, I am just a rocket.

I had a film crew following me around. No one wants to look slow.

I didn't change anything about my biking or running technique physically, just mentally. I just tried to think if I push hard now, this is going to be over quicker and that would be somehow better.

I have also done one of these before. Knowing what my body needs and how it reacts under such an event was probably the biggest key. I knew I made some mistakes before, not this time. In Lake Placid I kept thinking, "all I want to do is finish." That means staying alive on the bike while going 35 mph downhill on a wet road on a mountain rather than seeing if you can get up to 45 mph. I didn't push too hard on any one activity, just so I made sure I made it to the next activity. I have finished before, I am an Ironman, so this time I made sure just to go.

Nutrition falls under the experience category. I knew what my body would need and I had it ready. I put Chick-fil-A biscuits everywhere. I had a biscuit in my bike transition bag. I taped a cut up water bottle full of chicken minis to my bike. I had a biscuit in my bike special needs bag (you can get special needs bags half way through the bike course and at the half way mark on the run), biscuit in my run transition bag and a biscuit in my run special needs bag. I like having real food to put in the tank with all the gel and Gatorade and it made a big difference in my performance. I love you Chick-fil-A. I accept any sponsorship packages you would like to present.

I got to the starting line healthy, despite crazy throwing up 6 days before, and the weather was great. Really, these two things are impossible to control and just a gift on race day. The weather was just a little bit cold, and I came out of the water and onto the bike thinking I need to put down the hammer and go out strong and try and warm up a bit, and I just didn't slow down the entire day.

Thanksgiving

I have been given a gift. It happened in Florida and apparently hasn't left me yet. I am fast.

I have not ever thought of myself as fast and now running is like something out of a movie scene when the superhero finds out they have powers. It is incredible and I can't explain it. To give you an idea, there is a loop I run that is around 5.5 miles and previously would take me about 50-55 minutes. I ran it the other day in 40 minutes. It's crazy.

I am thinking I need to make the most of of this gift while I have it and achieve what would be for me a miracle in running - qualifying for the Boston Marathon. To do that, in my age group at the Houston Marathon in January, I would have to run a 3:10 marathon time. That is running 26.2 miles at 7.15 minutes each. I need to trade 10 hours of endurance for 1 hour of speed, and knock 50 minutes off of my fastest marathon time ever, run just 3 weeks ago. It is not quite water to wine, but in the running world probably close.

I also have a bit of a knee thing. It is like this gift came with its own kryptonite. It doesn't hurt but feels like it should, or is going to later. It's a warning that I can't tell if the speed inside me is telling me to stop running on it or to speed up and minimize the pounding.

Pray for my health and speed, and I will show you a miracle.

Picture Day

Jeff finished his first Ironman in Florida!

His time was exactly 2 minutes behind my first Ironman finish!

Congrats to The Bear for staying "Hood Strong."

Bonkers

Here's my attempt to give you an idea of what kind of day I had in Florida - I have finished 5 HALF Ironman races in my life. My fastest time ever was last year in Kansas - 5 hours, 57 minutes and 9 seconds. If you double my fastest HALF Ironman ever, I still beat that time in my 2nd FULL Ironman!

And never mind that I had just swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, all I did was go out and run the fastest marathon time of my life!

Quick Recovery

Saturday

Tuesday

Ironman Florida Finish

Marathon Midpoint

Hollywood

Samaritan's Purse sent a film crew down to cover the race at Ironman Florida. It was awesome. Thanks Arthur, Ryan, and Rodney for all the fun, putting a camera in my face and adding to what is already an exciting event. It made me want to go really fast!

Ironman Florida

I finished Ironman Florida - 11:51:53!

I finished with the fastest marathon time I have ever had in my life!

Ivan Drago said it best, "He's not a man, he is like a piece of iron."

Cheering Section

Bike completed

Bike to Run

Ironman Florida

Transition bike to run. Blew some kisses to his fans and spirited off into the final phase. Go Preston.

The Wait is Over

The Creators

So Good

Chillaxing

The Bot in shut down mode, The Bear hibernating, only thing left to do is wake up for the toughest day of your life.

Been Here Before

Focus

Early

Be encouraged!

Your fans are gathering once again to cheer you on!

Calm Before

It is quiet, too quiet.

Check In

Check in line.

Good Luck

Hope this doesn't happen to you on Saturday! -Katherine

A Pretty Nice Little Saturday

Strength Gain

Whatever special Chinese jet fuel I tried to sneak into my system, it didn't work. I spent yesterday getting back to neutral and am gaining strength back quickly. I have never had anything like that happen before, basically having eaten a bomb. Definitely not something I would wish for on race week, but if it is going to happen Sunday - 5 days til race day - was the best day for it.

I signed up for this race expecting some barfing, just probably not pre-race barfing.

Barfy

One thing you don't want less than a week away from race day is to be barfing a lot. I am barfing a lot. I am fairly certain it was something I ate, Hell hot spicy Chinese take out is at the top of my suspect list. The good news is I feel a ton better without all that in my stomach, I just hope that is it.

Not too many Sunday's you can be barfing a bunch and think 'I feel terrible' knowing that the next Sunday you are going to feel much much worse.

We'll Meet Again...

Bye bye bike see you in Panama City.

BEAR V BOT

Anything can happen in the water.

The Bear's a better biker.

The Bot's a better runner.

In a perfect world they would cross the finish line hand in hand... 

It's not a perfect world.

12 Days...

I feel more prepared mentally than I did the first time, having a sense of what is to come helps. Physically, I don't feel as ready as I did the first go around, but my body is very differently tuned. This race is all about knowing you are in pain and somehow moving forward through that. My body is a little hesitant, my mind can't wait.

Rockin Around The Christmas Tree

Saturday I did my last big day of training before I attempt the Ironman again - 4 hour bike, 2 hour run. It does seem a bit short when compared to what it is I am training for. There's only one way to see if my training is enough, and that test will come in 2 weeks. Sure I could have spent 7 hours on my bike and then ran 5 hours, all after spending an hour in the pool swimming around, but there wouldn't have been a crowd watching, cheering and no finisher's shirt and medal if I even did do it all.

A big question I am asked is what do you think about the whole time training? Random stuff. This past run I couldn't get Rockin Around The Christmas Tree out of my head.

Modifications

It is a little bit funny that my bike up until this point has had 1 water bottle holder. I am preparing for battle. Now I have 3.

Saturday Sight Seer

Saturday I woke up and went on a 3 hour run, about 20 miles. I love being able to run far and for a long time. You get to see so many different things that you can't get to in a car while still covering about the same amount of ground. Then I caught a plane and got in a small jog around there too. Here are some of my Saturday sights:

You run early enough and long enough and things start to not make sense. 

I love bridges.

Dangerously close to a moving train. I should have got video, this train was going like 20 mph.

This just looked cool/odd from the street.

Who dat?

Why Does This Happen?

Does this happen to anyone else?

Unprimed

I rode my bike for a little over 4 hours, 65 miles, and then set out for a run. I ran 30 minutes then rethought life in a bathroom. The real problem with training on your own, rather then in races as I did last year, is your training sessions aren't catered. I had about 2 bottles of water, 1 gatorade and 2 granola bars during the bike and I got a sharp reminder of the fastest way to end your day. I was really a bit of a mess and it hit me despite hammering a gatorade and some bread during the bike/run transition. It is fascinating learning from your body and my real red flag came when I wasn't thirsty or hungry, normally in a race I am both. It is very odd to experience a disgust for water and food, when my body should have loved to have both.

I walked for 30 minutes trying to get back to neutral. If it was a race I would have pushed but at that point I took the training day as more of a lesson than getting in milage. I ran for 30 more minutes and jumped in the gulf for a quick 5 minute swim.

I felt good on the bike, which was really the goal, and the small waves in the gulf calmed my nerves a bit about the Ironman Florida start. Sadly, I forgot to drink the Gatorade Prime before my workout.

Exorcism

Earlier this year Galveston was the site of my worst race ever. It is also perhaps the best training for Florida I can get. It is right on the gulf, flat and hot. Florida will hopefully be kinder in the heat department. Sunday I put my gear in my car and set out to get back some tri dignity I lost there in April.

Top Level Biking

My brother, Alan, sent me this email:


Here is the final race from a 1990 world cycling thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkTSVVrPYk

these are the best, top level athletes....

made me think of you.

Into the Wind

It is awesome to hear of crazy super human stories that happened and you have no idea. Terry Fox ran 3,339 miles in 143 days in an attempt to run across Canada raising money for cancer research.

Oh also, he only had one leg.

Here is his story on ESPN 30 for 30

I think about the Ironman, the people who I tell and can't believe how crazy it is - doesn't seem that crazy really. I kind of think, if I want to, if anyone wants to, how can you not do it?

Night Rider

Prime

I am going to find out just what this does.

That Guy

This is an awesome editorial if you are thinking about a race or if you have done one before.

Ooh La La

Tough

The toughest part of the Ironman training for me, is the training part. Once, I mentally think I can do it, I basically check out. I would love to enter the Ironman where each participant is monitored and time is awarded off of your official finish time based on lack of training. For me it is tough to get better or improve when I think I can just do it. That is the main reason I am not an athlete, just athletic. I question if I am over confident because I have done this once before. I don't remember the event being impossibly tough looking back on it - happier memories have probably filled in that dark 15 hour spot in my memory.

The hardest part of the Ironman isn't something really easy to train for. It is remembering you want to finish the race and relaying that message to your body. My brain and body know that fight is coming, now I just have to convince my body it is in our best interest to finish faster than it wants to.

Early Retirement

I am going to retire. Not retire, retire, boxing retire. The kind of retirement where the champ gets beat half to death and then says he's retiring. But, they all come back for more.

Still, there are some races I want to do. I have never done the Marathons of Texas - Dallas, Houston and Austin all in the same season, 3 marathons in 3 months. And more of a scar than anything, there is only one race I have signed up for that I didn't complete, the MS 50. I had knee surgery 2 months before the race and had to walk the 10k instead of running the 50 miler. That was 3 years ago. This year, sandwiched between 2 Ironman races, I'm going to complete them all.

Nov. 6 - Ironman Florida
Dec. 5 - Dallas White Rock - 26.2 Miles
Jan. 30 - Houston Marathon - 26.2 Miles
Feb. 20 - Austin Marathon - 26.2 Miles
Feb. 27 - Ft. Worth Cowtown Ultra - 31 Miles
March 5 - Mississippi 50 - 50 Miles
May 21 - Ironman Texas

What am I going to do in "retirement?" You already know.

The Gift Catalog

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkyy9pvjU2Y

Healed

Accident

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

And, I am playing ultimate frisbee today.

1 YR

A year ago today, I had a more exhausting day than today. I spent 15 hours running around and completed my first Ironman.

The greatest thing about having completed an Ironman is the mad respect. I would say 90% of the people I have talked to in the last year have no idea exactly how far an Ironman is, they don't know the distances, but they also don't need to, they know it is just nuts.

God willing, this time next year I will have completed 3 Ironmans. And that makes me nuts.

Body Battle

I was feeling really good and about to jump start super endurance build up when I got busted in the face with an elbow. Stitches two weeks ago, then my stomach goes on a hate-me-for-ceviche bout, and now I have metatarsalgia.

On a run, with an unfortunate step right up against a curb, I bruised the ball of my foot. It is the first injury I have had running and I was wearing my five fingers. Five fingers, you got some splainin to do. Actually, I think my feet just got soft due to a lack of activity for the past two weeks. 

I'll be thankful to be healthy and at full strength again. And then body, you will really suffer.