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.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, November 26, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
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."
Saturday, November 13, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Hollywood
Saturday, November 6, 2010
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."
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."
Ironman Florida
Transition bike to run. Blew some kisses to his fans and spirited off into the final phase. Go Preston.
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