Before I get to race day, I wanted to post one last thing on my motivation to attempt an Ironman. It is a race that has always intrigued me. I've always wondered if I was tough enough mentally and physically to ever do it. Well, I came across David Goggins. He is widely regarded as the toughest athlete on the planet. I had read a lot about him, and he had recently been on several podcasts talking about his journey.
It was mid March. I was listening to the Rich Roll podcast with Goggins. If you listen to it below, from about 1:20 to 1:25 is when I finally hit the register button to officially sign up. Everything he was saying rang true to me. I felt like I was getting called out, so I had to either step up and do this or forget about it. So I guess I got talked into it from the toughest human on the planet. Probably not someone that you say, "well if he can do it, I can do it."
Instead of breaking down some of the things he covers, I think it is best to just listen for yourself. If you are ever looking for motivation, you need to listen to Goggins. The things he has done and put himself through are unbelievable. Once you start listening to him you won't be able to shut it off. Here are some of those podcasts.
FYI, David Goggins uses very colorful language. Parental Advisory on these podcasts.
http://www.richroll.com/podcast/david-goggins/
https://podtail.com/en/podcast/the-joe-rogan-experience/-1080-david-goggins/
https://podtail.com/en/podcast/the-jim-rome-podcast/25-david-goggins-2-19-2018/
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
On To Louisville!
So I should be an Ironman now, right?
Well, not so fast. I just got another curve ball on the road to Ironman. Last week we made the trek to Chattanooga for the race that was on Sept 30. As we rolled into town last Thursday we were about 1 mile from the hotel when we hear on the radio that the swim portion of Ironman Chattanooga was cancelled due to flooding, strong currents and a dangerously high level of e coli in the river. The event was just going to be a bike/run. I couldn't believe after all the training that I would not be able to try a full, legit Ironman.
On Friday we went down to the Ironman Village for registration and the mandatory athlete briefing even though my heart wasn't really into it. I got registered even though for the past 12 hours I was not feeling like putting in a grueling 13 hour day on Sunday to not accomplish what I set out to do. At the athlete briefing they were very apologetic to everyone for having to cancel the swim, and especially to the 441 first timers. They over-emphasized that even though it wasn't a standard Ironman, that it would be considered one and that everyone that finished would still be called an Ironman. This didn't fly with me. No matter how much they tried to sell that, I wasn't buying. It wasn't even a triathlon anymore, so in no way was it an Ironman in my eyes.
So after we left Mandy and I went over my options. I started to look to see if there was another one coming up that I could transfer into. There are 3 left this year, Florida, Louisville and Arizona. Florida and Arizona are sold out, but Louisville was still open for registration. It is Oct 14th. Perfect. Even though I was unable to transfer my registration since I was not able to give Chattanooga a 45 day notice, I could still register and jump ship and try it again in 2 weeks. So that is what I did. Signed up for Louisville, backed out of Chattanooga, and reset my training back 2 weeks. It definitely felt like I was quitting when I was not getting ready to race like everyone else there, but the more I thought it through, there is no way I could have done Chattanooga and felt like I accomplished my goal. I would have had to do it all again next year with the 6 months of training, etc. And since I'm already in shape and would have to sign up for another race either way, I figured I may as well change plans and knock out the real thing in Louisville.
Having made the decision to skip the race, I realized I needed to get a workout in over the weekend. I had thought about just doing the bike portion of the race since I was registered and bail out on the run, but I didn't want to put in a full 116 mile training ride. I needed to go about 70 miles. Mandy said that I should do 1 loop of the 2 loop course and cut the route short. I told her that if I did that, I would be heading back to transition just ahead of the pros that did both loops and so it would look like I was in the lead! She didn't see the problem, but that would have been a hilarious to see me leading these 160 lb pro endurance athletes back into town. So instead of doing that, I opted to hit the track at a local high school .5 miles from our hotel for a run. Turns out it was the high school of the late, great Reggie White. The field is named after him, and so it was pretty cool to knock out 10 miles around Reggie White field.
Now we're back home. Did a 70 mile bike with a 2 mile run today to get back on track for another 2 week taper. We'll see if the double taper if an effective training strategy. Whether it is or not, I'm glad it worked out that Louisville in 2 weeks was still an option.
I'm ready to go dominate Louisville!
Well, not so fast. I just got another curve ball on the road to Ironman. Last week we made the trek to Chattanooga for the race that was on Sept 30. As we rolled into town last Thursday we were about 1 mile from the hotel when we hear on the radio that the swim portion of Ironman Chattanooga was cancelled due to flooding, strong currents and a dangerously high level of e coli in the river. The event was just going to be a bike/run. I couldn't believe after all the training that I would not be able to try a full, legit Ironman.
On Friday we went down to the Ironman Village for registration and the mandatory athlete briefing even though my heart wasn't really into it. I got registered even though for the past 12 hours I was not feeling like putting in a grueling 13 hour day on Sunday to not accomplish what I set out to do. At the athlete briefing they were very apologetic to everyone for having to cancel the swim, and especially to the 441 first timers. They over-emphasized that even though it wasn't a standard Ironman, that it would be considered one and that everyone that finished would still be called an Ironman. This didn't fly with me. No matter how much they tried to sell that, I wasn't buying. It wasn't even a triathlon anymore, so in no way was it an Ironman in my eyes.
So after we left Mandy and I went over my options. I started to look to see if there was another one coming up that I could transfer into. There are 3 left this year, Florida, Louisville and Arizona. Florida and Arizona are sold out, but Louisville was still open for registration. It is Oct 14th. Perfect. Even though I was unable to transfer my registration since I was not able to give Chattanooga a 45 day notice, I could still register and jump ship and try it again in 2 weeks. So that is what I did. Signed up for Louisville, backed out of Chattanooga, and reset my training back 2 weeks. It definitely felt like I was quitting when I was not getting ready to race like everyone else there, but the more I thought it through, there is no way I could have done Chattanooga and felt like I accomplished my goal. I would have had to do it all again next year with the 6 months of training, etc. And since I'm already in shape and would have to sign up for another race either way, I figured I may as well change plans and knock out the real thing in Louisville.
Having made the decision to skip the race, I realized I needed to get a workout in over the weekend. I had thought about just doing the bike portion of the race since I was registered and bail out on the run, but I didn't want to put in a full 116 mile training ride. I needed to go about 70 miles. Mandy said that I should do 1 loop of the 2 loop course and cut the route short. I told her that if I did that, I would be heading back to transition just ahead of the pros that did both loops and so it would look like I was in the lead! She didn't see the problem, but that would have been a hilarious to see me leading these 160 lb pro endurance athletes back into town. So instead of doing that, I opted to hit the track at a local high school .5 miles from our hotel for a run. Turns out it was the high school of the late, great Reggie White. The field is named after him, and so it was pretty cool to knock out 10 miles around Reggie White field.
Now we're back home. Did a 70 mile bike with a 2 mile run today to get back on track for another 2 week taper. We'll see if the double taper if an effective training strategy. Whether it is or not, I'm glad it worked out that Louisville in 2 weeks was still an option.
I'm ready to go dominate Louisville!
Friday, September 21, 2018
Everybody Wanna be a Beast
Just over a week to go til Ironman Chattanooga! Training is in the taper phase. However, biking 70 miles last weekend and 50 this weekend hardly feels like a taper. But I guess compared to the 100 milers I have done 50 should feel like nothing. I'm feeling ready and prepared with my fitness and nutrition plan, but I do have my moments of doubt that creep into my mind wondering if I can really knock out 140.6 miles. I do my best to push those thoughts out quickly, but sometimes its harder than others. A prime example of this occurred the other night.
For years, actually most of my adult life, I have had a recurring dream that I'm trying to get ready for a sports practice or game, and just cannot get ready. Tasks that I have done hundreds of times with ease, become impossible to complete. It usually starts with me having no clue what my locker combination is, so I work forever to try and get in just to get my clothes to get started. I'll put my shoes on, but then realize I didn't put on socks first. I'll take off the shoes, put on socks and shoes, then realize I never taped my ankles. I'll put on my football pants, only to realize I never put the pads in them. This type of thing happens to about everything I need to do to get ready, and inevitably I never make it to the practice field or game before it is over. This "dream" reared it's ugly head just the other night, although this time it was triathlon specific to this race. I was in the hotel the night before, and couldn't get anything prepared for the next morning and just wanted to get to bed. I eventually just went to bed and was going to finish up in the morning. Well, the next morning I realize that I never checked my bike into the transition area the day before as required, I had not packed any of the 5 bags they give you for your gear, and I was still in the hotel room at 6:30 am and the race started at 7:30 am. These are the dreams that you wake up in a panic, wide awake, and feeling like you are in no way ready for this. But that is when I take a minute, and think back to everything I have done in the past 6 months to prepare to try and convince myself that I, in fact, am ready.
One thing that gets me back on track is watching motivational videos. During the last year of prep, I have gotten into watching motivational videos to get me pumped up. One that I particularly like is a short video by motivational speaker Eric Thomas. For reference, he is speaking to the NC State football team. So some of the things he says is relevant to that audience, but some themes he touches on are universal. Here are a couple of those that I really like:
The Grind - always time to grind. You gotta outgrind, and no one should out work you.
Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanence.
Everybody wants to be a beast....until it's time to do what beasts do.
Real lions like to hunt. They love the process as much as they like the prize.
A real man in the dark, when no one is watching, is putting in work.
Here is the video, enjoy and get motivated!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASIT7U463Q0
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Alex - Game 2
Game #2
Cedar Valley vs. ISC X-Plosion Blue
@ CV Complex
Won 4-2
Alex say this picture and I told her she was battling that girl.
With her smirky little grin she says 'I know. And I won.'
Lots of good passes -
she is great at seeing the field and getting the ball to her teammates.
THIS KID
He gets drug everywhere. Always.
It mostly involves his sisters activities.
He might drag his feet a bit but he always makes the best of the situation...
And keeps us all laughing in the process.
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