race day

my race number is 1296, bear is 1297. What are the odds?

I can't wait to get into transition first and ransack his set up.

Quote

I saw this quote today and it might be my complete foundation of
training and racing.

"If you think you can, or think you can't - you are probably right."

Henry Ford said that, not to me, but somebody heard him.

11th Hour

Hour 11 into a 13 hour road trip. Left Dallas at 5 am this morning. I woke up at 2:30 am and was wide awake, couldn't go back to sleep. Luckily, JBEAR's at the wheel. I'm excited, let's just get to the racing.

My 15 Minutes Starts Now

Ironman.com has the story - Janus Charity Challenge Athletes Compete As Families.

I guess Hijabe is a small town in Africa, probably really close to where Alan actually is, in Kijabe. The key of J separates the two villages.

Times Tables

If I am being honest, I am a bit afraid of not performing any better than my last half-ironman. I think it was one of the best races I've run, especially in the finish. I should be in better shape, but I have certainly not worked on speed, just hopefully, endurance. We will see. Here are my goals:

Swim (1.2 miles) - 29 min. (Austin 70.3 - 29 min.)

Bike (56 miles) - 2:55 (Austin 70.3 - 3:06)

Run (13.1 miles) - 1:55 (Austin 70.3 - 2:14)

If I break 5:30 I would consider that a podium finish.

Weather.com

Should I pack a poncho?

My Mama Says...

My Mom recently said to me that of all the people she knows, if ANYONE can do an Ironman, it is me.

Mothers can be very comforting.

What is not comforting about my Mother, I know how many triathletes she knows.

Sweatin To The Oldies

On a run, if I think of sweat as a weakness, a virus, leaving my body, I find that I will feel more tough than tired.

Pros vs. Joes

One of the biggest differences between traditional sports and triathlon is that on game day you actually compete with the pros - Preston vs. Multiple Ironman World Champions. I actually have a chance to win the race on Saturday, which is probably remarkably better odds than me winning the Super Bowl. Though, both of those odds would involve about as many digits as the number pi. 

While I am not anymore star struck than the average person would be when I mention the name Tim DeBoom, this weekend I will be racing against a 2x Ironman World Champion. Also, the women's side has 2x Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington. She is like the female Usain Bolt.

Cool Bands Not on Guitar Hero, My Iliotibial

I was given this crazy system of tubing and portable cooler that pumps cool water to a pack after I had knee surgery a while back. I brought it out of the closet and put it to work on the IT band. Not sure if it works or not, but it does makes me look like half man-half machine, and I like that.

Kansas 70.3

Next weekend, I am driving to Kansas to do the Ironman 70.3. I have done this distance only one other time, last October. I remember being nervous about the distance. While I wouldn't call it a warm up, let's just say I am excited. I haven't done a race since February. I can't wait.

A Side Note: The YouTube video 3 brothers has over 300 views. Just to clarify, that is about 292 more than I thought it would have.

***HIDDEN*** The Leg!!! 4-11-10

My Guts

I think it is important to note, I often look at myself and my body and think I don't look strong enough and wonder just how my body could be able to do the things, the distances, that I describe to someone when talking to them for the first time about the Ironman.

So far, everyone seems impressed that I would sign up. It is open registration, anyone can sign up - for the beating of a lifetime.

My fear and excitement is that soon, we will know just what I can do.

Lazarus

I lost a valuable training friend on this journey of mine... but gained two new ones. Thanks Mothar.

Bye Bye BBall

In the final weeks before a race, you really put a premium on your health and wellness. As such, I have given up pick-up basketball. It is a lot of fun, but it is also the one sport that I have visited the emergency room after playing. A couple years ago, I caught an elbow right below the eye and had to have stitches to sew up my face. I remembered this yesterday, as I delivered the elbow.

I boxed this guy out, who was trying to big body me up down low, and he came around after I went up for the rebound and his nose met my elbow. His nose was bleeding. I had not Kobe-bowed him and I didn't break his nose, but I was glad it wasn't my nose.

Tennis anyone?