Packing!!!

Who ever  knew packing for an Ironman could be so hard. This is just race clothing and nutrition. Now I have to figure out how to pack all my training clothes and day wear clothes. Knowing the race is in upstate NY I have to pack everything possible because you never know what the weather will be.

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to 

prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

What it takes to get to the start line

It was 53 weeks ago that I signed up for this journey and what an adventure it has been!!

I am going to try to summarize what it has taken to get to this point

 but I am very sure I will leave a lot out.

29 weeks of training

86 miles of swimming

2937 miles of cycling

765 miles of running

3 set of tires

4 pairs of running shoes

At least 30 visits from UPS or FedEx

1 crash and visit to the Emergency Room

10 stitches

Weeks worth the road rash

Hundreds or Gel packets

1 lost toenail

I have lost at least 30 pounds

Unbelievable amounts of sweat

I have bleed

I have vomited

Learned to pee while cycling

And yes I even had bowel problems while running

and now you ask your self why??

BECAUSE I WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN!!!

Working Vacation

I just got back from enjoying two great weeks in Schroon Lake!! While I was there I was able to res but yet get in a ton of training on some great roads!! Training in a new venue is reenergizing and gave me some new found energy to train.

I am all healed up from my crash and I am ready to go!!

Here is a file from one of the rides I did while up north.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196801170

Back in training!!

I am happy to say I got my stitches out today so I am back in the pool tomorrow!!
I am almost totally recovered still suffering from a hematoma on my hip but it is still allowing me to train!! I feel great and reenergized to make the final charge to the Lake Placid start line.

These next two weeks are huge this weekend Friday I am planning a 100 mile ride and 30 min run and then Sunday I have a 2.5 hour run around Lake Delta.

Next week I am headed to HEAVEN on earth Schroon Lake to camp with my family and train for 14 days. during this trip I will make my last trip to Lake Placid to ride the course one last time before    July 22, 2012.

At this point I believe all my goals are still attainable so that is encouraging at this point I must just keep my eye on the prize.!!

Schroon Lake

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? 

Run in such a way as to get the prize.

The Crash

This past weekend I had planned to do a big weekend of training up in Lake Placid. Friday night I swam one loop and was very happy with my performance. The plan was for Saturday was 120 mile ride. Well 13 miles into that ride things quickly (30 mph to 0 mph) quickly changed. Going down the Keene descent I got a front flat tire and before I knew it I was lying face down on the 73. After several Good Samaritans I was loaded in an ambulance and taken to Lake Placid Hospital where I received 9 stitches in my hand and was looked at for a concussion which was negative thank goodness for helmets!! Damage to my bike was minimal and I will heal.

Lessons learned
1. Wear gloves on the bike they will save your hands!!!
2. Do not fill tires in Lake placid above 110 psi even if they call for more the roads are too bad.
3. Be grateful things were not much worse and that I will still be at the start line on July 22, 2012!!
4. I am thankful to everyone who came to aid me in my time of need

Luke 10:33 - 34
³³ But a Samaritan,^(H) as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 

 Left hand stitches in the base of the middle finger and palm and stitches in middle finger finer tip

Facial grind - Day number 2 lead to a black eye and swelling

Road Rash

Left Hip Bruise

Sorry I have been away

It has been a long time since i have posted. Since April I have raced twice and taken a 2nd overall at Hamtrek & 1st overall at the HP Triathlon I have been putting in 15 hour weeks and really feel my fitness coming along.

This picture explains it all training, training, training!!

But its going great two weeks ago I was able to go up to Lake Placid and ride the course. It was a great ride with lots of wind and cold temperatures but it built a lot of confidence!! That day I did a 54 mile bike followed by a 5 mile run out to the Ski Jumps and back to the Oval.

Here are the links to those two workouts:

 Lake Placid Bike Loop

Lake Placid Oval to Ski Jumps & Back Run

This past weekend I also went for another great bike ride of four hours. these rides are long and sometimes boring but these long rides set up a great foundation on race day!! Did I mention it was 49 degrees with 15 mph winds!!

4 Hour Ride

1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

This race is for God and I thank him for all the witnessing I can do because of this race