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.

Creepy Office

The doctor said I must wear a beard at all times, forever.

Or, a Tom Selleck mustache, my choice.

Protecting the Head

My new bike helmet came today!
Maybe should have worn it playing ultimate frisbee.

Mama always said, "snitches get stitches."

I ain't a snitch.
But with an elbow to the face I did get 7 stitches.

Faster with Farther

It has become really clear to me that I have one speed. I am not fast. So, I am going to become faster by going farther. I think increased endurance is my key to a faster pace, not speeding up my pace and then adding distance to it (as is recommended). Never slowing and never becoming winded is my new goal.

Becoming tired while running is killer. It eats away at your mind and makes you hate running, so much so, walking becomes acceptable. I am hoping to finish this Ironman while there is still light, and never walking is going to be key.

Running in the Rain

It rained a bunch yesterday, all day. So, I went for a run. There's something cool about rain in that once you are soaking wet, you can't get any wetter. 2 hours later I was just as wet as right after I started.

I have been really fortunate to have never had terrible weather on a race day. Twice it has forecasted disaster, one of those being Ironman Lake Placid, but it is fun to train and get in some fun in something other than the sun.

This was my last run in the rain. It has been a while.