Going Solo

A while back, a friend of mine asked why I trained by myself.

Simple answer: because I want to.

I've got plenty of opportunity to train with others - the Grove Park running club on Tuesday nights, an informal speed-work group on Wednesdays, another group that meets behind the outlets Thursday nights, and the long run group on Sundays. But I've found that running is my escape. It give me time to enjoy the solitude and just be alone with my thoughts. Much of my job as Fitness Director at the local YMCA is focused on customer service. I'm interacting with members throughout the day, as well as class participants when I teach classes and personal training clients of mine. When I want to "get away" I use running. At the Y we focus on the mind and soul in addition to the body. Running is my time to focus on all three. If I were to run with others, I would feel compelled to join conversations (or listen to them) or adjust my pace above or below what I really want to do.

My training time is my time.

Another Long Run

The moment I stepped outside I knew today's run would be a little difficult. The air was heavy with humidity, which has always given me breathing problems. So I took it a little slower. Still, by the 2-mile mark, I was already drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. I slowed down a little more.

Somewhere around the 5-mile mark I finally hit my stride and started feeling alright. The sun came through the clouds which was a mixed blessing. It "burned off" the heaviness of the air, but also seemed to increase the temperature by several degrees.

I made it to the 8-mile turn-around point, downed a strawberry-banana Gu, and trudged on. By mile 12 I was feeling sluggish again so I decided to do a little walk/jog combination - walk for 30 seconds, jog for 5-6 minutes. That got me through the rest of the way, and I finished 16 miles. I just downloaded my Forerunner information and somehow I still ended up averaging less than 9 minutes per mile.

Now, an hour later, I feel better than I did last week after 15 miles. And I'm off to start eating - I've got over 1,800 calories to make up!

You Want Fries With That?

I'm a huge advocate for healthy, mindful eating. I try my best to model good eating behavior by keeping my intake of red meat, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol low. Lately, however, it seems like it doesn't matter what the food is. I'm eating it. All the time.

In addition to all of the nifty things (pace, heart rate, elevation) my Forerunner data tells me, I get the total number of calories I expend during a run - based on my weight, pace, distance, etc. And Sunday's run cost me over 1,700 calories. That's about half a pound!

So to keep from losing weight I'm eating everything in sight. I know I need to make a significant effort to ensure those extra calories are the "right" ones - from foods that are nutritious and won't be detrimental to my training or health. But that cheeseburger at the Summer House last night was too tempting to resist! (But I didn't have fries with it!)

Another Good Run

I was up with the sun this morning to get in a 15-miler before it got too sunny or warm. During previous runs I felt that I spent too much time focusing on my pace by looking at my Forerunner (which tells me my speed, heart rate, total running time, etc.). So this time I settled into a challenging but not uncomfortable pace and kept it there.

Aside from a little fatigue towards the end, it was a good run. And when I got home and downloaded all the info from the Forerunner to my laptop, I discovered I had averaged an 8:20 pace and I hadn't fluctuated very much from that throughout the run. I am surprised...and pleased!

I soaked for a while in a hot bath and now I'm going to take a well-deserved nap.

Tomorrow is a rest day - and I'm going to take full advantage of that!

Back On the Road

I finally got back to my regular running schedule after 10 days of no running. I only did 3 miles (which was all my training plan called for) today but it just felt good to be out again. I ran for a bit along the beach and thought, "This is why I love living here."

Wallet In (see first post)

Well, the wallet is now in. The email came with my registration instructions and I got my time off from work approved for next September. The hotel reservation is made and I just completed the registration process, including paying the hefty entry fee.

Now I just need to get this body in shape for one wild ride!

No Run Today

I would have done a 15-mile run (longest one thus far) today but...

The past 3 days have wiped me out. Yesterday was the Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon, which benefits the local YMCA, which is where I work. So I worked some pretty ridiculous hours, and then spent about 8 hours yesterday doing physical labor in the hot sun with very little food/water. So when I finally ate a real meal last night my body rebelled - big time.

So today is a recovery day for me. I'll be back to my regular running schedule by Tuesday and look forward to my long run next Sunday.

Reason for My Title

I got the idea for the title of this blog from a video I saw. It's hard not to want to do this when you see the video.

The Plan

To do something this big, you've got to have a plan - and anyone who knows me well knows that I rarely do anything without a plan.

So right now I'm focused on my running because I'm doing my first marathon this November. My longest training run thus far has been 14 miles, although I'm adding 1 mile to that this coming weekend. Once that is done, I'm going to add swimming and cycling back into the mix to work on technique and building a good solid base over the winter. I also plan on hiring a swim coach to help me with my stroke since the swim is definitely my weakest event of the three.

To help me prepare for the Eagleman (half-Iron) in June and the Ironman WI next September, I plan on getting a triathlon coach. I need the expert advice on this one to keep me strong and injury free.

So that's the plan - in general - for the next year. Of course, there'll be little races here and there, but those three big ones are on my A-List.

What Is It?

So I realized after my first posting that some of my friends or others who may read this may not know what the Ironman is. (I can hear other friends gasping, "What?!? Not know about Ironman?")

In 1978 some Navy Seals were debating which among them was the fittest athlete. Commander John Collins suggested that the best way to decide would be to combine the Waikiki Rough Water Swim, the Around Oahu Bike Race and the Honolulu Marathon. Fast-forward 30 years and you've got 22 Ironman events throughout the world, including Madison, Wisconsin.

The Ironman race consists of 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles cycling, and 26.2 miles (a marathon distance) running - a total of 140.6 miles. Participants must finish in 17 hours or less to be considered an Ironman. The winner of the Ironman Wisconsin on Sunday finished in 8 hours, 43 minutes, and 29 seconds.

There are also 31 events in the Ironman 70.3 Series, which are essentially half-Ironmans. I am also entered into the Eagleman 70.3 race next June - kind of a warm-up for the Ironman.

Head? In. Heart? In. Wallet? Not Yet.

Yesterday was the day I'd been looking forward to for quite some time. I was visiting my parents in Wisconsin and I had set the alarm clock for 1:00am, but woke up just before midnight and decided to get going an hour earlier than planned. By 12:10 I was out the door and headed to Madison. By 1:20 I was taking my place - sixth in line - outside the convention center at Monona Terrace, just a block from the state capitol. Over eight hours, very little sleep, and several new friends (also waiting in line) from around the country later, I had my spot reserved for the 2009 Ironman Wisconsin.

Why eight hours in line? Even though you don't have to qualify to get in, just getting a spot in the Ironman is pretty difficult. First, all the 2008 participants had the chance to re-up for 2009. (I hear about 700 did.) Then, the 2008 volunteers get to register. (Again, nearly 700 did.) Finally, they open it up to anyone else for in-person registration - which meant getting there early to get my spot (which, by the way, was 3rd). If there are any spots left after in-person registration, then it opens up online. I'm not sure if that happened for this one. Looking at the hundreds of people in line after me, I'd guess it didn't. I went online this morning and saw that it was listed as SOLD OUT.

So now I'm partially committed. And I say "partially" because my spot is just reserved. Now I have to wait a few days for an email telling me how I can actually register and pay the entry fee. Then my wallet will join my head and my heart and I'll be fully committed.