Training = bummer...

So, last week was supposed to be a 14 hour training week. Those plans get derailed when a tropical storm comes your way. But I did run through the rainiest, windiest part of the AM, bringing back some fun rainy run memories from the past.

This week...supposed to be a 16 hour training week. But thanks to a little bit of work and a little bit of laziness on my part, it might not be but a 13 hour week. Not enough right now.

So tonight, I've got to hop on the bike for at least 1 hour, tomorrow will need to be a 5 hour ride and Saturday will probably have to be a 2 hour ride. The good thing is that even if I push it this weekend, I have next week as a recovery type of week, so I should be okay.

Very frustrating as I don't think I'm giving as much as I need to for a sub-12 hour IM.

training this week...

So, it is the week after a 1/2 IM. That means it is supposed to be somewhat easy. But no, not here. On the schedule, I have to complete 14 hours of training this week, and 16 the next. Ouch.

So far this week, I have one of the biggest weeks of swimming I've ever had. Not intense, but long and easy. But it is a lot. Bike time will be close to 9 hours, if this tropical storm holds off a bit longer (4 hour ride tomorrow, 2 hours Sunday AM).

Run = very little, only 2 runs totaling 7 miles.

Next week is the last bike focus week, so I've got to suck it up and deal with it. The 4 weeks after next = swim + run focus, with a lot of meters and miles. Kind of challenging, especially the next two weeks.

Right now, I'm tired and want to go to bed.

2005 Rock n Roll Man 1/2 Ironman Triathlon

Decided about 3 weeks ago, with Bessie’s blessing, to do this race. Another half Ironman distance race. This one was very hilly, and had the potential to be scorching hot. My kind of race.

John Matthews and I drove up (John drove) to Macon for the 3 hour trip. This race is a combination of Gulf Coast (distance and difficulty) and Red Hills (hilly and home-grown, low key feel). I could tell that right away when we drove up to the check in area. Ate at Fazoli’s, went to hotel, watched TV version of Matrix and went to bed.

Woke up at 4.30AM, hydrating. Didn’t need to experience GCT again. So had plenty of water, a wheat bagel and a Boost. About 1 hour before race start, I started sipping on a Gatorade Endurance. Finished that up about 20 minutes before race start.

Swim: The swim was wetsuit legal. Since I don’t own a wetsuit, I borrowed Mike Martinez’s. Mike saved the day. The swim was already short by plenty about 400 meters or so; it was either a 1 mile swim or 1.5K. Was supposed to be a 1.2 mile swim. Shortness of length was fine by me. Besides velcrow from the back of the wetsuit digging into my neck, the swim was uneventful. Time = 27.21, 1.37/100. 16/49 AG, 87/288 Male OA (Time not withstanding, I'm pleased with my placing, in the top 1/3 for the swim. That's a BIG improvement for me)

T1 = 1.43...got a penalty for not mounting over the line. Back tire was about 3 inches from crossing. Cheap ass penalty, and pissed me off. But the line is the line. My fault.

Bike: Rolling hills throughout course. It was a tough hilly bike course, but fun one. First 9 miles, 30 minutes exactly. Went out very conservatively. Picked it up after that. (Had to contribute to my slow bike time AND my fast run time.) Had 1000 calories, 5 scoops HEED, 5 scoops CarboPro along with plenty of water. Cloudy, so heat wasn't much of a factor like I was expecting. Bike computer didn't work for 2/3's of the ride. Overall, a relatively uneventful ride. Time = 2.53.16, 19.59 mph. 21/49 AG, 116/288 Male OA

T2 = 1.03. I love transitions.

Run: Plenty of long, gradual climbs littered this course, but none were steep. Deceptively hilly is how I’d classify it. There were plenty of inclines, but they were just long. It was VERY hot. Two people passed me in Mile 1, one person at Mile 12, no one else. Walked only through aid stations, no other walking. 1 Egel, 2 HammerGels, a bit of cytomax (YUCK!), and plenty of water. Time = 1.47.33, 8.13/mile. 7/49 AG, 36/288 Male OA

TOTAL TIME (W/O Penalty) = 5.09.11, with penatly 5.13.11

PR by plenty, but swim aided. Who the hell cares!!?? Not me.
One thing I noticed, I felt so much better than my time indicates on the bike. It was a relatively slow bike split, 21 in the AG. I can't quite explain it, but even as I was riding, I was thinking "I feel like I'm going so much faster than what my time indicates." Run time wasn't "fast" but was strong. Very pleased with that. Thrilled with my "1.2 mile" swim PR!