Week 3 of Ironman training: Competition

Much like everyone else in the state of Wisconsin, I'm not a fan of the weather lately.  I have the bar set at 20 degrees as far as going outside for a run and this past week I didn't get out once.  I either have to adjust my bar down a bit or find more crap to DVR to keep me entertained on the treadmill.  Groundhog's Day is just around the corner and I'm betting on an early spring so I should be outside in no time.  

I was down on Regent St. this past fall taking in the Badger Saturday festivities at a local watering hole and ran into several Mauston High School Alumni.  One of them played football at UWEC a bit after I graduated and he was asking me if I ever missed the game.  I've been asked this several times and my answer has always been no, now granted it's been 15 years since I played and I'd break a dozen bones if I actually hit someone, but my answer was no immediately following my tenure as well.  I've always said that I missed the camaraderie (not the bar on Water St. - but that one too) of the team more so than any game or practice.  My brother Mark played at EC before me and one of the many things he taught me was to give it everything you have when given the opportunity because those opportunities have an expiration date.  The point is I gave it my all for each and every game so there's nothing for me to miss or regret.  Then this guy asked me if I missed the competition, and that had me a bit stumped.

I guess in a way I did miss the competition and that's what is driving me to compete in marathons and this Ironman.  I don't miss competing against others, I did that for several years in those other sports and frankly that is a full time job in itself.  To compete against others you have to dedicate all your time to working harder than the person you're competing against...I don't have the time or the desire to compete against others.  Instead I now choose to compete against myself.  Can I work hard enough or long enough to drown out the voice in my head telling me 'that's good enough for today' or 'you can take a day off to rest'?  I'm less concerned about beating anyone else across the finish line and instead focused on pushing myself to do things I didn't think I could do.  Have you ever told someone that you participated in some kind of a fun-run race only to have them ask you what place you came in?  No, because that doesn't matter to others, they're only interested in hearing that you completed the race and achieved your goal.  

I believe we're all capable of more than we give ourselves credit for, so whether you're working towards a 2014 New Year's goal, running a 5k, or walking a mile without stopping, just keep competing against that voice in your head telling you to stop!  

Week 2 of Ironman Training: Sink or Swim

Another week down, only 33 more to go!  It's a bit early to start the countdown.  This past week was more of the same regarding the 'building phase'.  I'm running 3 days a week, with the longer run on the weekend.  I actually got outside on Saturday for my 5 miles as I couldn't stand the thought of another minute on the treadmill.  The other 3 days of the week I'm doing the P90X workout videos.  Then twice a week on Tuesday's and Thursday's I'm taking a masters swim course at my gym.

I started to venture into the swimming arena a couple of years ago.  I was running races and felt like I was in pretty good shape but after two laps I was practically drowning.  All the things I read about swimming is that it compares to a golf swing...it's all technique.  What I was doing in the pool at the time would be the equivalent of going to the golf course driving range and swinging as hard as you can at the ball...a lot of fun but just not getting you anywhere.  So I sought out some help from the only swimmer I knew; my mother (this was a humbling experience asking one's mother for athletic advise).  I won't list her age but I will tell you she gets a discounted ticket at the movie theater.  All joking aside her help made all the difference in the world.  She goes to the pool 3+ days a week and swims for over an hour each time, she's obviously doing something right.  She explained the technique to me - the proper way to breath and the timing of each stroke.  With her advice and coaching I was up to swimming a mile last summer.

With the progress I had made I debated whether or not paying for a masters swim course would be worth it. I figured what the hell it can't hurt, so I went out and bought the speedo and hit the pool (in the interest of full disclosure this speedo is more like running spandex in that it covers my quads).  I'm up to my 5th session this week and am starting to notice some differences, mainly how slow I am.  I mean for crying out loud I've got size 15 feet, I should be a damn dolphin!  It is getting better and starting to feel a little more natural with each class.  The key to the swim in the race is 1) don't panic and 2) conserve energy.  You jump into the murky water with 2500 other people and you're bound to get kicked, punched, and pulled a few times, I have to teach myself to stay calm and throw a couple of hay-makers to keep my position.  All the while over the 2.4 mile swim course I have to save my energy for the upcoming bike and swim and that's where the technique comes into play.  Thanks to my Mom, I should be able to stay afloat!

Week one of Ironman Training: Misery enjoys company

Today is the conclusion of week 1 training for the Ironman.  I'm really in a building phase at this point as the official training plan that I have covers only 30 weeks and I wanted to get started early, I'm sure I'll regret this decision come July and August when I'll be wanting it to be all over.  Jess and I ran a marathon in November so naturally by the time that event comes around you're in pretty good shape, I didn't want to take so much time off that I lost those gains, thus getting started now.

Week one in the books, pretty light stuff each day, the main goal in this phase is to get your body accustomed to working out 6 days a week and the mental and physical endurance that requires.  Everyone losses it mentally at some point, hopefully the support of family and friends as well as a 'Suck it Up' attitude keeps me on track.  Staying on track physically I'm speculating takes some experience and luck.  The experience first, hopefully the luck comes later.

I decided to run my first marathon shortly before Jess and I got married in 2007 (right, 2007?).  It was a means to get in shape for the wedding.  I don't particularly care for running but I've realized that once you're over the age of around 25, it's the fastest way of dropping pounds.  Before 25 I'd be in basketball leagues, lifting weights, softball, football, etc and had the benefit on youth on my side to help keep me in shape.  So I ran one, and then another, and another and so on and got caught up in the benefits of running (and frankly any exercise).  I dropped some weight, slept better, felt less stressed, blah, blah, blah...I'm not here to sell anyone on the idea of exercise, 7 marathons later it's still working for me.  There's just something about the simplicity for me, e.g. on day one run X miles, on day two run X miles...it takes all the thinking out of it.

One of the greatest enjoyments I experience from running, is seeing others sign up and run the races with me.  First my very good friend Greg McMillan signed up for Grandma's marathon in Duluth.  We had a great time training together and ultimately running the race.  The next year we recruited Smeltzer and Mueller as well as Greg's mom Tina to run the race with us.  Grandma's has a great party afterward and we certainly got our money's worth out of the races and after parties.  I'm most proud of Jess for joining me recently, she started with a 1/2 marathon and has graduated to her first full marathon this past May and followed it up with the aforementioned kick-ass marathon in November of this year.  I had the best seat in the house running beside her and beaming when she pushed herself across those finish lines.  I believe this saying comes from the Navy Seals but one of my college football coaches would also scream it during difficult workouts..."Misery enjoys company!"

Why the hell?

Today marks the first in a long 35 week journey to the Ironman finish line.  Before I even begin to attempt to explain why I'm taking this on, I must thank my wife Jessica for giving me the green light to pursue this nonsense.  She will (and has already) put up with all kinds of crap from me over the next 8 months about how I'm tired, hungry, sore, pissed, annoyed, frustrated, bored, scared, excited, etc.  Along with Jess, the support from my friends and family (you if you're reading this) will play a significant role in helping me cross that finish line.  So before we even get started I'll say 'thank you', and I'll be sure to say it several times along the way.  We're going to have a lot of fun!

First, an Ironman is a race comprising of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, followed by a 26.2 mile run (marathon) all to be completed in 17 hours or less (let's hope for less).  It's a substantial commitment of time, effort, and money (holy crap is it expensive).  Helping me save on one big expense is my brother Jeff as he has loaned me his tri-bike for this little 'experiment', so if for some reason I sign up for this again I can then go out and buy my own.  

Second, 'why?!!!' you may be asking yourself.  There's a number of reasons:  1) I'm always looking for a challenge.  I recently renovated my house and have absolutely nothing left on the honey-do list (Jess will disagree) so I need something to keep me busy, 2) I take pride in doing things that others don't want to do or think they can't do. I believe we are all capable of more, we have to push ourselves to make things happen, 3) I think it's quite an elite club - calling ones self an Ironman.  I only know personally of two people who have completed the race.  The race in Madison only starts 2,500 racers and there are a number that don't get across the line by midnight.  4)  I dare you to come to the finish line of an Ironman race and walk away at least not imagining what it would be like to run down the finishers shoot and hear the MC announce '(Insert Name Here) you are an Ironman!'.  Jess and I were downtown Madison 3 years ago when I first saw this spectacle and I said to her 'I've got to do that someday.'

Lastly, the reason for the blog is a few fold.  I want to give people the option of reading about my training, rather than being forced to scroll through my updates on facebook.  I'm hoping to capture my thoughts and feelings to be able to look back on this and either laugh or cry.  Maybe, just maybe this will inspire a reader to give it a tri (very cheesy)!