Perhaps you’ve heard that the “average” age-group or amateur Ironman triathlete cycles 300 miles per week, runs 30 miles per week, and swims 10,000 meters per week. And perhaps you’ve heard stories of the year long sabbaticals from work, the neglected families, the ruined marriages and the obsessive lifestyle that results from these insane attempts to maintain a “normal” lifestyle while training for Ironman. And perhaps you've also noticed that the majority of these individuals walk across the finish line and have a complete lack of confidence and preparation for the race, despite giving up their lives to barely even complete the race!
Full article
http://www.trifuel.com/training/triathlon-training/7-key-principles-of-training-for-ironman-with-minimum-time-commitment
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Very, very, very sore
My legs are just beat today.
I'm a little concerned because I don't think they should be this bad this late in the season.
This weekend marked the end of the second-to-last month of real training culminating with a 3,000 plus meter swim Friday, 100+ mile ride on Saturday, and a 15+ mile run on Sunday.
The swim was uneventful. I should have gone swimming today but didn't.
The ride was fun. I rode up to Flagstaff and met up with Ken who was up there with his family. We were going to go out around Mormon Lake but they have the road all ripped up on the way so we decided to head north. I figured I needed an easy 20 or so out so that I would get a hundred in when I got back home.
Don't miles 40 - 80 look easy and fun?
Seriously, it was a good time and the hills didn't feel as hard as they look here.
This time on the run I went out north instead of south. I ended up not getting in as many miles as I had hoped but all in all a good run.
I ended up averaging a 9:35 pace over 15.7 miles although I think if I had it to do over I would have pushed through and gotten another 1/4 mile in to make it an even 16.
Rest week now and then a big 3 week push through the finish.
Wish me luck.
I'm a little concerned because I don't think they should be this bad this late in the season.
This weekend marked the end of the second-to-last month of real training culminating with a 3,000 plus meter swim Friday, 100+ mile ride on Saturday, and a 15+ mile run on Sunday.
The swim was uneventful. I should have gone swimming today but didn't.
The ride was fun. I rode up to Flagstaff and met up with Ken who was up there with his family. We were going to go out around Mormon Lake but they have the road all ripped up on the way so we decided to head north. I figured I needed an easy 20 or so out so that I would get a hundred in when I got back home.
Don't miles 40 - 80 look easy and fun?
Seriously, it was a good time and the hills didn't feel as hard as they look here.
This time on the run I went out north instead of south. I ended up not getting in as many miles as I had hoped but all in all a good run.
I ended up averaging a 9:35 pace over 15.7 miles although I think if I had it to do over I would have pushed through and gotten another 1/4 mile in to make it an even 16.
Rest week now and then a big 3 week push through the finish.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Free Speed
When did $2,000 become "free"?
On a side note, I think that I learned in college that the question mark in that sentence belongs inside the quotes. As in "free?" I disagree.
Anyway, I got my new bike yesterday. Very nice. I rode to work this morning. Fastest time from my house until now was 1:06:20. Today I did it in 59:58. I'm sure that I got stopped at the same number of lights.
On a side note, I think that I learned in college that the question mark in that sentence belongs inside the quotes. As in "free?" I disagree.
Anyway, I got my new bike yesterday. Very nice. I rode to work this morning. Fastest time from my house until now was 1:06:20. Today I did it in 59:58. I'm sure that I got stopped at the same number of lights.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Kind of a bum
I'm pretty sure I took it kind of easy last week. I ran and rode but I think I missed a day of each.
I just rejoined my gym today. I need to focus myself and prioritize swimming. I don't have a heck of a lot of time left.
I went up to the cabin late. Katie went up on Thursday afternoon. I was going to go up Friday but instead I had dinner with Keith and his family. Then I went back to his house and tried to drink all his scotch. Then for some reason a cigar sounded good.
I wasn't in very good shape at 4:00 am the next morning to go up to Flagstaff. I finally cleaned up the kitchen and left and got up there around 8:30. I left my bike in Phoenix. Kind of an all around crappy Saturday. Had a nice time with Katie Saturday night.
Sunday I did manage to drag myself out of bed for a 15 mile run. I intended it to be flat. Instead I did this little gem:
Pretty nutty with the climb. I actually finished OK. I think we're up in Flag again next week so I'd like to think I'll do OK again. This time shooting for 16 miles. I went South this time on I-17. I think next weekend I'll run North. At least the profile on my rides there looks like it's downhill on the way home. Start with a 250 ft drop over 2 miles then climb 301 feet over 4.5 miles and then pretty flat for 1.5 miles and then back.
Of course the rotten part is the last 2 miles coming back home.
The cool thing on my plate is the bike. I think I've settled on a Scott Plasma 20. A very reasonably priced bike. If TriSports in tucson has the price I want I'll zip down there tomorrow and get it. I'm very excited.
I just rejoined my gym today. I need to focus myself and prioritize swimming. I don't have a heck of a lot of time left.
I went up to the cabin late. Katie went up on Thursday afternoon. I was going to go up Friday but instead I had dinner with Keith and his family. Then I went back to his house and tried to drink all his scotch. Then for some reason a cigar sounded good.
I wasn't in very good shape at 4:00 am the next morning to go up to Flagstaff. I finally cleaned up the kitchen and left and got up there around 8:30. I left my bike in Phoenix. Kind of an all around crappy Saturday. Had a nice time with Katie Saturday night.
Sunday I did manage to drag myself out of bed for a 15 mile run. I intended it to be flat. Instead I did this little gem:
Pretty nutty with the climb. I actually finished OK. I think we're up in Flag again next week so I'd like to think I'll do OK again. This time shooting for 16 miles. I went South this time on I-17. I think next weekend I'll run North. At least the profile on my rides there looks like it's downhill on the way home. Start with a 250 ft drop over 2 miles then climb 301 feet over 4.5 miles and then pretty flat for 1.5 miles and then back.
Of course the rotten part is the last 2 miles coming back home.
The cool thing on my plate is the bike. I think I've settled on a Scott Plasma 20. A very reasonably priced bike. If TriSports in tucson has the price I want I'll zip down there tomorrow and get it. I'm very excited.
Monday, September 14, 2009
And now the run
13.5 on Sunday. Felt good. A little better than a 10 min/mile pace.
Mike is fine. They kept him overnight at the Mayo Clinic but released him after his stress test.
Here is a longer video of Ken and my Stepdad Bob while we were in Chicago.
Mike is fine. They kept him overnight at the Mayo Clinic but released him after his stress test.
Here is a longer video of Ken and my Stepdad Bob while we were in Chicago.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
I put the hurt on him...
But I didn't intend to send him to the hospital!
Ride started out normal enough. I met Mike and then we picked up Doug along the way. Matt joined up shortly thereafter. We rode up north to Cave Creek road in Carefree and then rode down and intended to go to New River.
I had been careful the entire ride of not letting my HR go above level 2. I was going to try and get a century in at race pace. As we came out of the town of Cave Creek a dark haired very thin guy with shaved legs goes flying past. There was no doubt that Doug was going with him and he flew past me in full chase.
What you need to understand is that if you sit behind someone you use less energy. So I figured that even if Doug was going faster as long as I sat in his draft I could stay around level 2. I jumped on his wheel and Mike and Matt came along.
We were flying through the town when our little peleton almost rear ended a pickup truck that was stopped in an intersection letting someone cross. Matt saw it coming and went around the pickup and accelerated the rest of us had to lock up our brakes.
I raced ahead and as the pickup passed me I jumped behind it into its slipstream and caught Matt in a couple seconds. Mike and Doug were working together pretty well behind and dropped the other rider. The road was turning uphill.
As Doug and Mike caught us I jumped out of the saddle and accelerated. I caught them all off guard and got pretty far ahead before they were able to regroup and reel me in. Just as they caught my wheel I launched another attack and broke free. I stayed on it for a while and then backed down and waited for them. This went on for a while.
There are two possibilities when this back and forth starts to happen. One is that the trailing group gets tired of chasing and lets the breakaway go. The other is that because the group never puts themselves into distress by launching an attack, they eventually tire the attacker out. In this case the latter happened. As they caught me again twords the end of the hill Mike watched me closely and as soon as I shifted to a bigger gear he went around me like a rocket calling me a "F---er!" as he went past. I didn't have enough left to chase him so I just jumped on Doug's wheel and caught him at the top. It was a good time but we'd pay for it later.
About an hour later as we were nearing the end of a long gradual downhill into the wind Mike signalled he was having some trouble. I thought it was a flat but when we stopped he said he was having bad chest pains.
We turned and took a different route to get him close to his house and the Matt went with him pretty much all the way home. The last thing he said to Matt was, "If I tell my wife about this, she's going to make me go to the emergency room.
Doug and I continued on and I ended up getting 90 miles in just about 6 hours. Slow but probably what I should expect. Anyway, when I got home I had a text from Mike that his wife made him go to the emergency room. They admitted him and he's got to get a stress test done tomorrow.
Ride started out normal enough. I met Mike and then we picked up Doug along the way. Matt joined up shortly thereafter. We rode up north to Cave Creek road in Carefree and then rode down and intended to go to New River.
I had been careful the entire ride of not letting my HR go above level 2. I was going to try and get a century in at race pace. As we came out of the town of Cave Creek a dark haired very thin guy with shaved legs goes flying past. There was no doubt that Doug was going with him and he flew past me in full chase.
What you need to understand is that if you sit behind someone you use less energy. So I figured that even if Doug was going faster as long as I sat in his draft I could stay around level 2. I jumped on his wheel and Mike and Matt came along.
We were flying through the town when our little peleton almost rear ended a pickup truck that was stopped in an intersection letting someone cross. Matt saw it coming and went around the pickup and accelerated the rest of us had to lock up our brakes.
I raced ahead and as the pickup passed me I jumped behind it into its slipstream and caught Matt in a couple seconds. Mike and Doug were working together pretty well behind and dropped the other rider. The road was turning uphill.
As Doug and Mike caught us I jumped out of the saddle and accelerated. I caught them all off guard and got pretty far ahead before they were able to regroup and reel me in. Just as they caught my wheel I launched another attack and broke free. I stayed on it for a while and then backed down and waited for them. This went on for a while.
There are two possibilities when this back and forth starts to happen. One is that the trailing group gets tired of chasing and lets the breakaway go. The other is that because the group never puts themselves into distress by launching an attack, they eventually tire the attacker out. In this case the latter happened. As they caught me again twords the end of the hill Mike watched me closely and as soon as I shifted to a bigger gear he went around me like a rocket calling me a "F---er!" as he went past. I didn't have enough left to chase him so I just jumped on Doug's wheel and caught him at the top. It was a good time but we'd pay for it later.
About an hour later as we were nearing the end of a long gradual downhill into the wind Mike signalled he was having some trouble. I thought it was a flat but when we stopped he said he was having bad chest pains.
We turned and took a different route to get him close to his house and the Matt went with him pretty much all the way home. The last thing he said to Matt was, "If I tell my wife about this, she's going to make me go to the emergency room.
Doug and I continued on and I ended up getting 90 miles in just about 6 hours. Slow but probably what I should expect. Anyway, when I got home I had a text from Mike that his wife made him go to the emergency room. They admitted him and he's got to get a stress test done tomorrow.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Doctor
Saw Dr. Chamberlain today.
First thing he said was that the hernia doesn't seem any worse than one year ago. Also that it still seems to be only on one side.
He also said that a hernia itself isn't painful so he bet the pain I am feeling is just tendon and muscle pain from training. He prescribed 2400 mg of Advil every day for 6 weeks. I have a follow up with him in three weeks and then I'll schedule the surgery for after the race and before Christmas.
First thing he said was that the hernia doesn't seem any worse than one year ago. Also that it still seems to be only on one side.
He also said that a hernia itself isn't painful so he bet the pain I am feeling is just tendon and muscle pain from training. He prescribed 2400 mg of Advil every day for 6 weeks. I have a follow up with him in three weeks and then I'll schedule the surgery for after the race and before Christmas.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Hernia... continued...
I had a really great ride yesterday with four hard intervals. Riding tomorrow and Thursday. I hope to be able to keep up the intensity.
I have an appointment to see my doctor about my hernia Friday at 9:45.
I didn't run this morning. I intended on doing so but I got in from Flagstaff a little late. I'm also a little worried as to how my body is going to react. Riding felt great. I didn't notice the hernia at all yesterday.
I have an appointment to see my doctor about my hernia Friday at 9:45.
I didn't run this morning. I intended on doing so but I got in from Flagstaff a little late. I'm also a little worried as to how my body is going to react. Riding felt great. I didn't notice the hernia at all yesterday.
Speaking of laughing...
Ken climbed into bed with us last night. I admit to indulging this habit of his a bit too much. Anyway, whatever he was dreaming about had him giggling in his sleep at about 2:00 AM. He has the most infectious laugh on the planet. Have a listen if you don't believe me.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Hernia
I've swum the past couple days. I feel good except for the fact that I don't think my hernia is going to wait until after Thanksgiving. I think that after the weekend I'll make a decision (hopefully that decision won't be made without me).
Didn't weigh myself this morning. Yesterday I was a bit behind schedule and Katie had to be at Paige's school at 6:00 so she picked me up 5 miles from home. I dropped her off at Paige's school and she asked me to go pick up Paige's new glasses.
Now, in fairness I didn't ask her to bring a change of clothes for me but she also didn't think to bring me anything so I was walking around the mall in my cycling outfit. At least I had the kids. Afterwards we stopped at a restaurant where I had two Miller Lites, a couple sliders, and a dozen chicken wings. I'll be a week undoing this damage. :)
Didn't weigh myself this morning. Yesterday I was a bit behind schedule and Katie had to be at Paige's school at 6:00 so she picked me up 5 miles from home. I dropped her off at Paige's school and she asked me to go pick up Paige's new glasses.
Now, in fairness I didn't ask her to bring a change of clothes for me but she also didn't think to bring me anything so I was walking around the mall in my cycling outfit. At least I had the kids. Afterwards we stopped at a restaurant where I had two Miller Lites, a couple sliders, and a dozen chicken wings. I'll be a week undoing this damage. :)
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
First time I ever heard of Ironman
I've always meant to write this story.
I was really young. I must have been in 7th or 8th grade and I was flying to Florida with my family. I was sitting next to this woman who told me all about this race she had just done in Hawaii. Swimming, biking 100 miles, and then running a marathon. She described how people crawl across the line and some people lose control of all their bodily functions while running.
I was hooked. Of course I can't remember exactly when it was, nor can I remember her name. I don't remember what she looked like or anything like that.
I just remember her description of the Ironman.
I was really young. I must have been in 7th or 8th grade and I was flying to Florida with my family. I was sitting next to this woman who told me all about this race she had just done in Hawaii. Swimming, biking 100 miles, and then running a marathon. She described how people crawl across the line and some people lose control of all their bodily functions while running.
I was hooked. Of course I can't remember exactly when it was, nor can I remember her name. I don't remember what she looked like or anything like that.
I just remember her description of the Ironman.
154 pounds
That was a nice treat this morning.
Also, I managed to drag myself out of bed and swim for the first time in I can't tell you how long. Short time, 20 minutes or so but it felt good. First 5 were a bit tough but I think if I can just keep it up regularly and add 5 minutes or so each time I should be good to go.
I need to check my training schedule against Cabo.
Easy ride into work today. It's a rest week. I think this weekend I might get some LT testing in.
Also, I managed to drag myself out of bed and swim for the first time in I can't tell you how long. Short time, 20 minutes or so but it felt good. First 5 were a bit tough but I think if I can just keep it up regularly and add 5 minutes or so each time I should be good to go.
I need to check my training schedule against Cabo.
Easy ride into work today. It's a rest week. I think this weekend I might get some LT testing in.
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