Mayday’s IronBlog

Last week, my dad’s side of the family lost their matriarch, Janyce, to a long fight with senile dementia (very much like Alzheimer’s Disease).  She was 86.  While there is some joy to be had in knowing that her suffering is now over, she will be missed immensely and her departure has left our family with many a heavy heart.

I received the news on Monday morning, and managed to make arrangements at work and fly out to Philly on Tuesday.  My bags, thanks to American Airlines, didn’t arrive until early Thursday morning, leaving me to consider the unpleasant possibility as serving as a pallbearer dressed in three-day old jeans and t-shirt.  Thankfully, I recovered the baggage and disaster was narrowly averted.

The funeral Mass was well attended and very touching.  The monsignior gave a wonderful homily - he related the story of a modern-day saint who was asked on her deathbed what her advice would be for living a full life.  Her reply was ‘Imagine yourself on your deathbed, as I am.  Think of any regrets you may have or things you wished you’d done.  Do them now, while you’re able, so you can rest with a clear conscience when your time comes.’  It was one of the best funeral homilies I ever heard and a bit of wisdom I’ll be calling on for motivation in future races.  My dad gave the eulogy, reminiscing on things that would remind him of his mother’s memory and leaving our family as her legacy.

I returned to LA on Friday, 6 hours late, thanks again to American Airlines.  It will take a lot of wrongs undone for me to fly on that airline again.  Due to the lost baggage and other delays, I missed a few midweek workouts which I’ve been trying to make up this weekend and during the usual light Monday.  If anything, this week has taught me to be extrememly flexible with the workout schedule, and to see the training as a volume of work to be done rather than to stress out about the timing of individual workouts.  After all, there’s no use to negate the positive benefits of the tri lifestyle by being stressed out about it all the time.

Sunday’s ride was cut a little short due to Jason taking a pretty nasty fall, and us subsequently getting him to the emergency room.  More on that later.  Still managed to outpace the week’s time goals.

Weekly totals:  Swim: 2:30, 6400 meters.  Bike: 4:25, 69 miles.  Run: 2:30, 14.5 miles.

Totals to date: 43 hours 40 minutes total training time.  16, 500 meters swimming, 328 miles biking, and 64 miles runnning.

A little less time and a little more intensity this week.

Total time: 10 hours.  Swim:  2:30, 6000 meters; Bike: 4:30, 68 miles; Run: 3:00, 16.5 miles

Totals to date: 34 training hours.  10,100 meters swimming, 259 miles biking, and 49.5 miles running.

Pulled this list from Slowtwitch (link in the sidebar), but ultimate credit goes to an incon by the name of Hurricane Bob:

001. Makes everything else seem so SHORT.
002. The 3 week taper before the race.
003. The 4 week recovery after the race.
004. I’ve done one, so now I have to do it faster the next time.
005. As much Pizza as you can eat.
006. So that when the car runs out of gas, I can still get away from the Police under my own power.
007. Beats watching the new Survivor, Big Brother, or anything else on TV.
008. For all the times you heard someone say “I’d do one of those … I just can’t swim.”

009. THe fnishing oval at Ironman Lake Placid
010. Steve King’s accent at Ironman Canada
011. Mike Reilly’s hoarse voice still bringing people home at 11:30 PM

012. The Massage Tent - anywhere.
013. St. Lynda is waiting for me at the finish.
014. So is my mom…
015. …and so are Lynda’s parents.
016. Chalk on the road.
017. Easy rides and runs the week before.
018. Finishing your last workout and smiling because you know “I’m SO ready.”
019. For everyone who as ever asked you “Why?”
020. For the teachers in school who told you you’d amount to nothing.
021. To silence the one voice inside your head that still believes that bunk.
022. You want to test the endurance limits of the music collection in your head.
023. The “Bier Mile” at IM-Europe
024. Spectators looking up your name and cheering as you plod past at sunset.
025. Where else can someone ripping off your clothes in public be considered a benefit of a big race? (Wetsuit Strip)
026. Miles in the Run
027. Want to see the world and eat the food in each country, guilt free.
028. So you can answer “One.” When people ask “How many days does that take?”
029. To wave at the scuba divers.
030. To backstroke at the TV helicopter.
031. Cards in your special needs bags.
032. Cards in your T1 and T2 bags.
033. CHICKEN SOUP!
034. CHICKEN SOUP AGAIN! (Yes - it’s worth 2 by itself)
035. The Adirondacks of Lake Placid.
036. The view from Richter Pass.
037. Alii’ Drive
038. Main Street Penticton

039. Driving the bike course in a caravan of friends.
040. Valet Parking and Catering … all day long.
041. You might get on TV
042. I want to laugh at the former cool (now fat) kids at my 20th High School Reunion.
043. The Marines at the race formerly known as Ironman California 
044. Takes as long as having a baby, nearly as satisfying, only without the morning sickness and the 21 years of bills that follow.
045. Flying with a bike case makes business trips seem EASY.
046. Sharing a smile with people wearing the finishers T-shirt the next day.
047. Knowing that as you step in the water on race day - YOU MADE IT THIS FAR! Now just get home.
048. How many people can say they did anything for 12,13, 14, 15, 16…hours?
049. The “Hot Corner” at IM-USA
050. The wristband that somehow becomes your favorite fashion accessory.
051. So that when you tell your grandchildren stories about what you did when you were young…yours will be true.
052. Main Street Lake  Placid
053. High fives from people you don’t know.
054. The Sponge as a fashion statement
055. Coke and Chicken soup - the ultimate power cocktail
056. Knowing that after the gun goes off, you don’t have to worry anymore.
057. First Place andast Place get the same amount of cheers.
058. Walking to the start with Faris, Macca (for Jason!), Michellie, Kate….
059. Getting lapped by Faris, Macca, Michellie, Kate…
060. Getting lapped again on the run by Fairs, Macca, Michellie, Kate…
061. Making the turn for home.
062. Because MolybdenumMan doesn’t trip off the tongue in quite the same way
063. If Judy Molnar can, dammit, so can you.
064. You might get to run with Alexandra Paul!
065. High fiving Daryl Haley, and going backwards 5 feet.
066. Sunset over Skaha Lake  on the run.
067. If Randy Caddell can do it with just his arms, you can certainly do it with your legs.

068. Easier than Eco-Challenge.
069. Got rejected from the astronaut corps.
070. Got rejected by the Marines.
071. Crashed out of the Blue Angels.
072. Makes US Navy SEAL training seem like a good idea.
073. You enjoy the smell of chlorine in the morning.
074. You’ve had enough with your current social life.
075. For the love of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream!
076. Your friends are watching on the web.
077. You need to prove to your mom that even if you get on the bike right after you swim…you won’t catch a cold.
078. Helicopters over Kailua Bay

079. Roadies think you’re nuts.
080. Masters swimmers think you’re nuts.
081. Your running club KNOWS you’re nuts.
082. So that you can master the left-handed bottle grab (IMAus, IM-NZ).
083. Morning swims
084. 3 hour breakfasts after the morning swims
085. The Underpants Run
086. Laughing at people in the Underpants Run.
087. The Hog’s Breath Cafe Breakfast Special at IMC
088. Glowsticks
089. Cowman A-Moo-HA!
090. Because Winston Churchill said I can’t ever give up.
091. The 12-step program to make me stop hasn’t been invented yet.
092. Any National Anthem, before the start, anywhere.
093. Knowing that when you wake up at 4:00am, the next time you go to bed you will be VERY different person. 094. 6 miles, 10 minutes - straight down to Keene.
095. Yellow Lake do ne - 12 miles downhill to go.
096. Because you’ve always wanted to see how many CD’s and towels it would take to ride the whole IMC course on the CompuTrainer
097. Makes your next marathon just a nice morning run.
098. To make your Boss jealous because YOU have a life that doesn’t involve the office.
099. Because the longer you’re out there, the less per hour it really costs!
100. Being there is way better than watching on Pay-Per-View
101. Finding yourself in the middle of your doubts … finding a new meaning of being scared.
102. Finding out that you’re far stronger than those doubts a few miles later.
103. Falling in step on the run and making a friend to the end, without having to say a word.
104. A fried breakfast the day after.
105. Watching people headed home while you’re headed out, thinking “I’ll be there soon …” and they cheer for you.
106. Understanding why that is as your cheering for people headed out when you’re finally headed home.
107. That feeling of ice cubes in your hat on a hot run never getting too cold.
108. Telling folks with flat tires “It’s a long day - hang in there!” and seeing them breathe and smile for a moment.
109. Hearing people cheer you up while your changing a damn flat tire.
110. Rolling into T2 knowing that no matter what - you can’t have a flat sneaker from here on in.
111. Having someone catch you, and hold you up when you can’t do it anymore.
112. Miles in the Bike.
113. The IV’s feel SO good the next day.
114. To see if it really feels as good to do as it does to dream.
115. To see if it really feels as good the second time.
116. And a third…
117. And a fourth…
118. To try and finish in daylight.
119. To try and finish before midnight.
120. To try and NOT get stung by that (#*@! bee this time.
121. Your kids already think you’re a hero - prove them right.
122. Your wife doesn’t…but you might prove it to her, too.
123. An M-Dot Tattoo would look swanky on your ankle.
124. 5000 Volunteers - all for you.
125. Hearing them say “You’re almost there!” all day long.
126. Being nearly almost there - for real.
127. CHICKEN SOUP! (It’s been awhile)
128. Quiet hugs before the start.
129. Kissing her goodbye, and promising “I’ll be back later…”
130. The first time you think “Holy crap - I’m doing an Ironman!”
131. Beating back the voices that say “Holy crap - you can’t do an Ironman!”
132. Mile 26.
133. That moment when you KNOW you’re going to make it for the first time all day.
134. Entering the oval.
135. Running down Lakeshore Drive 
136. Running down Allii Drive 
137. The Finish Line
138. The first step after you cross the line and think “Oh, My….God….!”
139. The Medal
139.6 Because they said I can’t
140.6 Because I say I can.

It’s no big secret that America has a problem with obesity.  Living in the Southern California bubble, however, it can sometimes be easy to forget – it seems that every other corner has a health foods store or yoga studio (with the alternate corners hosting, of course, a Starbucks).  Healthy lifestyle options abound, and with the influence of the film industry and media in general, it seems that most people around here make use of them.  It’s easy to overlook the fact that not all of the country has the same mindset.

Orange County gets a gigantic dose of this ‘other’ mindset every July at the OC Fair.  Though I’ve been in So Cal for several years now, I just made my first visit to the Fair this week.  I was there primarily for a concert, but decided to have dinner while I was there.  When in Rome , right?

Let me start with the main course.  We visited a vendor named Juicy’s, where they promised “we wouldn’t leave hungry.” Indeed.  Here’s a picture of the storefront and my $8 hot sausage:

      

That’s a full sized dinner plate it’s sitting on.  At this booth, they also have hot dogs of the same dimensions, and a $10 corn dog made of TWO of these outsized sausages.  Unreal.  But the best was yet to come.

I had heard rumors about some of the dessert offerings at the Fair – not just your average cotton candy and caramel corn selections, apparently.  Well, seeing is believing:

The delicacy on the left is a deep-fried Snickers bar.  One bite of this diabetes-on-a-stick was enough to send you running for a water fountain. On the right, Kristy samples a serving of deep-fried Oreos.  Yes, we have the technology to make junk food even junkier.  But what I found next boggled the mind even further.

We, as a society, haven’t yet found the cure for cancer, but what we can do is deep fry soft drinks:

Ladies and gentlemen, deep-fried Coke.  This concoction is somehow made by thickening cola syrup with waffle batter and dumping it in the fryer.  I was astounded that it actually does taste like flat, chewy Coke. 

Maybe I’ll see it offered at aid stations in an upcoming race.

Totals for the third week of training:

Swim: 2 hours 30 minutes, 4400 meters.  Bike: 6 hours 15 minutes, 80 miles. Run: 1 hour 50 minutes, 12 miles.

Time for the week was 10:35.

Grand total for weeks 1-3 is 24 hours of training: 8100 meters swimming, 191 miles on the bike, and 33 miles running.

After the testing week and first ‘real’ week of my training plan, here my time and distance totals:

Swim: 2 hours 25 minutes, 3700 meters.  Bike:  6 hours 50 minutes, 111 miles.  Run: 4 hours 10 minutes, 21 miles.

Total time: 13 hours 25 minutes… it only goes up for the next 38 weeks!

When you’re beginning any training program, it’s a good idea to test your current level of fitness. Lifters test their maximum weights, runners might take times in their respective events.  Triathlon’s version of “Whaddya bench?” is the lactate threshold test.

When your body is excercising it uses the oxygen you breathe in to burn sugars.  A waste product of this reaction is lactate.  Your body produces lactate every time you move a muscle, and it must be absorbed and removed by the body.  As the intensity of your exercise increases, your body will eventually fail to absorb all the lactate that is being produced, and the result is the “burn” you may have heard the stereotypical aerobics instructor yelling about while sweatin’ to the oldies.  This “burn” is known scientifically as the lactate threshold, and spells the beginning of the end of your ability to maintain your level of intensity.  Lactate begins backing up in your cells, interfering with other important pathways, and you have two choices: slow down, or fall over in a giant cramp.

Lactate threshold can be improved through training, and triathletes use it as a tool in determining current fitness level.  At its most scientific, it involves poking you with a needle attached to a lactate monitor and increasing excercise intensity until the lactate level in the bloodstream spikes.  At its most basic, you can get a decent approximation by measuring your heart rate with respect to pace while going as hard as you can for thirty minutes.

And that is exactly what I’ve been doing for the last week or so.  Testing helps establish heart rate zones in which I can train for extended periods and still recover properly.  Hopefully, it will also provide hard evidence that I’m becoming more fit.  The first round of results are: Swim: 2:10 per 100m, Bike: 180 watts at 167 beats per minute, Run: 10:20 per mile at 188 beats per minute.  I will be testing every four weeks and posting the results as they come in.

On an unrelated note, it’s my favorite sporting weekend of the year: The British Open and the Tour de France are on simultaneously. TiVo will be working over time!

I’ve just signed up for my first Ironman…Ironman Arizona, which takes place April 13, 2008.  While I’ve been doing triathlons for several years, this is my first foray into the full Ironman distance - a 112 mile bike ride sandwiched between a 2.4 mile swim and a marathon, 26.2 mile run.

Lots of folks have asked what’s involved in preparing for this particular distance, and to be totally honest I’m only beginning to find out.  As my training progresses I’ll be using this blog to chronicle all the events along the road to Tempe.

That’s where you come in, dear reader.  While I have lots of motivation for doing well in this race - more on this to come later -  I’m also a big believer in that what’s recorded gets done.  If I know I have to report back here on my training (good or bad), I’ll be that much more motivated to resist the snooze button and hit the gym.

So, thanks for stopping by, and please check back in frequently to keep me on task.  With the amount of time I’ll be spending out training, my entries won’t be very long!