Wired

So, in my Christmas stocking I got a bike computer! (I said I haven't messed with my bike in a while.)

I attempted to install it yesterday. I hope I did it right. It is difficult to line up the sensors and wiring comparing it to my instruction manual and the example picture that is size of a bottle cap.

What does the Blackburn Delphi 3.0 cyclometer do you ask?

I am no great cyclist or anything but from what I can tell it measures bike stuff.

Seriously though, I need to tie an iPad to the front handlebars.

Century Ride

One event I've never done is a century ride, 100 miles on a bicicleta.

There is that minor exception in the Ironman where I biked 112 miles sandwiched between some light exercise. And even in training for that the farthest I had biked was around 78 miles. But on its own, the century ride is the biking equivalent of running a marathon.

I haven't looked at my bike since October - Half-Ironman Austin 70.3. That's about to change, my bike and I are about to get reunited. 100 miles of reunited. I've signed up for the Space Race.

Also, it is this weekend!

Take Back

I take back what I said about my heart being 'with me.' Definitely against me. After runs it is beating like crazy, part of the reason I have to eventually walk or slow my pace.

It is all connected, one big system I have to reprogram. I am going to focus on breathing, I think it starts there.

Winded

I am trying to run fast. I can run really fast for about 1.5 miles. That is running at probably a 7:30 pace, I don't really know. Normally, I cruise at about a 9:45 pace, big difference. So the problem isn't lack of endurance or focus, but I do get really winded, not tired, again big difference. After 1.5 miles my teeth start to hurt, my lungs are burning for more intake and my throat gets really cold and dry. I would imagine this is the unpleasantness running delivers to non-runners who try to take it up and don't know how to pace themselves.

I know how to pace myself, and now I am ignoring that and adding speed. I am not ever going to win a marathon, those people run different. Different as in like blazing fast. But, I don't really know just all the differences, currently the biggest difference is my body isn't on the same page.

Those with me: Brain and heart

Those against me: Lungs and everything else

Getting Ready to Race

Here is a quick recap of the ING Georgia Marathon with Team Samaritan's Purse!

Sharing why I run at the Team Samaritan's Purse dinner.

First Team Samaritan's Purse race photo.

A bit of a Where's Waldo if you are looking for me.

Everyone find a running buddy!

Me making it look easy?

Down the stretch.

Mile 26.20000001

The ING Georgia Marathon was tough, always up or down hills. I finished in average 4:30 time for me. If you asked me it wasn't "nothing," but it feels too easy to recover so quickly from something so difficult. It makes me wonder how it would go if I ran without reserves, ran without regard of recovery. The first guy to run a marathon died... poor Pheidippides.

I can go faster, but it has to be done in training. It has never really been a focus for me. I can finish all these races, and until now I have been fine collecting medals and running a huge event every month to keep up my endurance without training. For once, and really for the first time, I am going to train.

We will know how fast I can go. I am not going to just finish this Ironman, I am going to race.

A Sign

ING Georgia Marathon

This weekend I ran a marathon. It was the hilliest course I have ever ran and my knees hurt pretty badly afterward. Today, you'd never know it. The human body is amazing. I love being able to run a marathon and the next day walk around and people who don't know I just ran a marathon have no idea.

I ran with Team Samaritan's Purse who organized a great race weekend around the event. During the marathon a woman who knew I had done an Ironman asked, "So is this just like nothing to you?" I laughed because I was struggling a bit and this was on mile 12. Any marathon is so tough.

But if she asked me today, well...

Badge of Honor

One thing that is crazy is my dulled sense of 'the event.' I have run enough events that little phases me in the preparation, or lack of, leading up to an event. Plus, I have the ultimate badge of racing honor, an Ironman. There is a sense, really not even a false sense, that I can finish anything.

I've felt a bit sick recently, not good timing for a cold, really haven't been running too much, and am 3 days away from the most challenging marathon course I have ever run.

And I can't wait to run.

Bay to Breakers

These race photos are awesome.

Air Max

I love running in new shoes.

Welcome to Atlanta

Less than two weeks until I go sightseeing in the ATL.

Vote for my photo in this contest!

Vote everyday, on every computer you own, like I am.

Ultra Training

How do you run an ultra marathon? You walk too.

I started by running 16 miles.

Then I walked 4, ran 3, walked 6, and ran the last 2 miles.

Cowtown.

Just in case I didn't make it, half way through, I took a "finisher" photo.

Still posing.

The Bear and my biscuits at mile 16.

Ready to walk and roll in my MBTs.

One foot in front of the other, literally.

Look closely, and yes, unfortunately a man in a cow outfit just passed me.

An awesome recycling spectacle on display. Magneto crushing metal at mile 26.

6 hours and 30 minutes of my life later, trucking it to the finish.

Really finishing.

31 miles and the refuel now light is on.

2/5 of the greatest finisher medal idea ever.

*Editor's Note: I did eat a couple packs of those expired gels. They didn't taste too good, but they usually don't. And they didn't throw any monkey wrenches in my system either, so I think I'll continue to stockpile the goods.

Blast from the Past

So I stockpile gels, bites, basically anything I can grab for free at races. I was gathering some running essentials for a 31 mile fun run Saturday and came across a PowerGel with a "best by" date from April 18, 2009. I have about 7 of these old packets. Should I eat them?

Skewed Training

I'm thinking the only way to prepare to run a marathon in March is to run an ultra marathon in February. Perhaps I'll run 20 miles and walk 11 in the Cowtown. How long will that take, no more than 8 hours I'm thinking.

I Must Break You

I am either:

A) Building myself up

or

B) Slowly breaking down

It is easy to listen to your body, just tough to know which is happening.