- My first swim was about 300mts. - Today my practice sessions are 2000+mts and I can swim comfortably about 1.2 miles open water.
- My first bike ride was 6 miles and I had to sit on the bike afterwards for a minute because my legs would not hold me - Today I can ride 25 miles at a pace of 29-20MPH and can ride 53-55 miles in less than 3:20:00.
- My first long run was 2 miles and could not run another step. - Today I can run 7.5 miles with out stopping but could probably run and walk for 10-12 miles no problem. I can run a mile at sub 12 minutes per mile.
This week is an easy recovery week and thank God for that. Saturday I did the swim and the bike route for the Ironman 70.3 in march. I had little problems there. Sunday I ran 7 miles of the run course but ran out of water by mile 5 and by mile 7 I was dehydrated. It was better to stop than to push an injury. I will budget and plan my water better for next time. I felt really tired this weekend and I was suffering all along my training. However coach knows best. I planned on calling him Monday and telling him that I needed a rest and that I needed this week to recover. My surprise when I saw the schedule !!! It was indeed an off week. That means various things but the most important is that I finished up my build up phase. Good and bad. it means I survived a hard part but know we are well on our way to the strength phase which means lots of hurt and pain but getting stronger. I am up for it.
I have some battles I am fighting right know. For one, I hate being condescending on my training and not being competitive with others in the group. I look up to them and serve as my example and despite my mind wanting to push harder I am wiser and I know if I push too hard I will get injured. I have been sitting on my ass for more than 20 years and I can not pretend to compete with those guys at this point. However trying to reach what they can do although frustrating at times will serve me as motivation to work hard. I have never been second in my life so it is hard to accept that I am behind, but that is reality and I have to live with it. I tell you one thing though, they better train and train hard, because I will get them and pass them that is for sure. However do not misunderstand my message, I will not compete for places or trophies, that part of my life has passed and I have learned that in this sport you deserve respect just by finishing the race. These people I train with are my friends and colleagues, as they have been for my son as mentors and role models, it won,t matter how fast I get and how much better I become, my respect for them will not change. I will just have people to talk to while I train instead of watching their back side all the time.
My goal until the Ironman is simple and continues to be the same. I want to finish the race regardless of the time. I have to admit I am scared about it. Being scared is not bad at least in my case. Last time I felt scared in this way I had a rifle in my hand and had my head so far in the dirt that I got invited to Australia so I could teach Australian ostrich how to put their heads in the ground. When that event started, lets just say I did not miss one single shot. So I am hoping for the same in Canada. I will be scared all along my training and I will have doubts all along. It is called fear and in some people it paralyzes them but in others it brings out the best in them. I hope that is me.
I can at this point swim and bike a 70.3 distance in 4 hours. How ever I do not think I can run the 13 miles afterwards. I can run them by themselves but not as a single event yet. Frankly I am not sure if I will be confident enough come March that I in fact have that distance in me. But I guarantee you that I will go until I can not move to complete the course. It will be a mental practice and I know it plenty. That is where my mind will be tested. I will use everything on the course I will be OK.
Along time many people have supported me. However some even as they support me they unintentionally plant doubts in my mind. It is a tough course, the hills, the wind, etc. etc. When you hear a season rider worried about the bike course hills in Canada you must worry as well. An when you hear your coach talking about Canada being beautiful but hard you worry. As I said they do it unintentionally but I am listening. In the end most or all of those people do not have a clue of what I am capable of doing to accomplish a goal of this magnitude. It has been my formation, and it is what I was tough and learned extremely well in the military. As it so happens I was one of the best at that particular subject. So....even as knowing what I am made of I will plan for A,B,C,&D but if all fails drastic needs will require drastic measures. Cancer did not kill me so I find it hard to believe that walking a bike up a hill will. At the end of the day if it was easy everyone would be doing it, don't you think.
So.........as I rest this week it is also time to rest and regroup my mind and rest that also. I am going to take it real easy while I get ready to start the new phase of training. In all I am pleased with what I have accomplished to date and I am as committed as ever to work hard and get better. Coach K......come Sunday I will be ready for you, so bring it on. Things have changed, including my body, my attitude and certainly my endurance, all for the very best but indeed things have changed.
"The only easy day was yesterday"
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