TRI Mountain

"The person who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." ~ Chinese proverb

So today has been the end of my first full week of IronMan training. It has been a little bit of adjustment from trying to run 50+ miles a week for my Ultra training and now limit my running to 30-35 miles a week. While filling the void with more cycling and swimming.

My mountain has changed, the view is definitely different these days.

From getting my professional bike retrofit that only cost me under $60 instead of $250 last year. WooHooo

No more rocks to hop over or creeks to run through these days. More of a sore ass and butt creme in the mix.

My TRI mountain is upon me now.

I have always been the consistent TRI racer the past 3 years, now I need a change, a change of pace actually. To go a little faster this year, to feel good at a faster pace is the view from my TRI mountain I'm looking for.

So the first stone has been carried away. My first 10k of the year, actually probably in the last 2 years. I think it was a PR (official time 45:50/7:23 pace) even though at that pace I was fizzling out at certain points.

But a stone carried away nevertheless.

I will conquer my mountain one day.

Then I will sit down on my mountain and try to find another stone to carry away from somewhere else .

Happy Memorial Day to all !!!

IronMan ~ In casual mode

"Life is ours to be spent, not to be saved." ~ D.H.Lawrence

So after a week after my 50 mile ultra, I'm trying to get back into 100% IM training mode.

But this year is a different year, I'm a different person, (maybe a little bit more endurance crazy?, maybe just a tad)

All last year I was 100% focused on Iron-Man. I ate, scheduled my life, and even dreamt about Iron-Man.

But this year I'm a little more relaxed about the IronMan Wisconsin race. Maybe since I finished last year in one of the worst conditions ever on race day (in my humble opinion). Or maybe because I've ran an Ultra in -20 below snowy weather and have also ran in mud for 12+ hours already. Maybe I'm ready for what mother nature will bring us this year. What else is left, shall I dare say?

So this week I only had a grand total of a 2 mile brick run along with some swimming and cycling during the week.

Hm-mm, I thought I had a solid IronMan training plan this year after my Ultra Races? I've come to the conclusion that my Iron-Man plan I was going to use is pretty much out the window now.

So from now on I'm just going to go for simplicity: swim, bike, and run at least 3x's a week (long, medium, short) and then repeat. Throw in some core and strength training and try to hopefully be 1 second faster than last years IronMan time.

Sounds like a simple plan? Maybe sometimes I think they do work the best?

I have a Half IronMan race coming up in 3 weeks now, my 1st TRI of the year, I've pimped out my ride, pimped up thyself with a AERO helmet. Not sure yet what this Ultra Bubba can do, but I think I better go fast if I'm going to look like an egghead with this thing on my noggin.

But for me, honestly at the end of the day, I'm in it for the t-shirt. I just wish they wouldn't come in white all the time.

Plus at IronMan they don't give you your t-shirt until you finish. So save me another X-large would you please, because I'm coming to get it now.

"ICE AGE 50 miler"

Since the race is supposed to be a 90-minute drive from chi-town, I figure I wake up early and hit the road. So left home by 3:30 am so I could get there around 5:00, a good hour before race start of 6:00am.

I must say that as an outdoors/nature loving state, Wisconsin is pretty good, but I must say the county road system in Cheeseland is hard to figure out (TriTeacher, please tell me there is a logic to those county roads). So for a while there, I was not sure where I was going, where is highway 12 and county road H? I was getting extremely pissed finding the right roads. I was pushing the pedal to the metal trying to find the start area, with 30 minutes left I was seeing a "DidNotStart" flash across my eyes. I started screaming in my car and honking my car horn because how could this happen, how could I blog a post about not even starting because I got lost finding the starting line.

Then a miracle happened, after seriously giving up, I saw a person who looked like a runner so I followed him. With 15 minutes to spare I found the race site and I was able to pick up my race packet. After scrambling around to get my drop bags in the right place I headed out to the starting line.

Whew!!!!

So, "Ready, Set, Go" we were off. (You gotta love these Ultra Starts).

The first section was not to bad at all. Wide running area and terrain I usually train on. I just wanted to start out in a causal pace. Not sure how I would feel, just glad at this point to actually be running after almost posting about a D.N.S.

After the first out and back loop section, we started out on a different trail, which consisted of single track. I mostly ran with different running packs at this point. It was really good to have some running company. Just hanging in the back hearing about their upcoming and past running adventures from some of these veteran UltraRunners.

So let say, I usually don't run on single track when I'm training, something I must work on for my future Ultra races. I was the third person in a running pack of four. There was actually a eye level twig branch sticking in the middle of the trail, so I moved it out to the side, along with me. I side swiped some rocks and nearly had fallen. The runner in the back says, "Good save". Happy about that, I must have been daydreaming just for a second or two, then I felt my toes smash against a rock and the next thing I realized is that I'm heading face down to the side of the trail. "Oh crap," the other runner asked if I was "okay", "Yeah" and then I picked myself up and started running again. After running again, another runner in the pack just said, "we all fall, one time or another" that actually put everything in perspective. That is the "Nature of trail running and Ultra Running" I thought to myself. As long as you can get up and keep going that is what it is truly about sometimes.

So after 20+ miles I was feeling really good, I started to push the pace a little bit, so I thought anyways. My GPS watch was loosing its signal at certain times in the woods, so not sure if I was running faster or not. So did that for a while but realized I only ran a couple of miles and needed to settle down before I "crash and burn."

They had aid stations every 4+ miles and two-drop zones for special needs. I was drinking Succeed Amino, but after 30 miles I was getting dehydrated even thou I was drinking every 15 to 20 minutes. I had this salty taste in my mouth for most of the second half of the race. So hopefully I just needed some H20. But I must say the aid station water was smelling kind of funky. It might have been clean water but it definitely didn't smell like it came from a "natural spring". So I tried drinking coco-cola and with some chocolate caffeinated gel shots. I think I found my new hydration combo of choice. It made me more alert and actually made me feel like running again. You have to love those "caffeine" buzzes.

So still running along, stubbing my toes at different times against tree roots and rocks, almost falling two or three more times, but I was able to catch myself, still after awhile became annoyingly painful nonetheless. I was really glad to see the 40-mile aid station coming up. I knew of a blogger that was going to be there. Eventhough we have never met before she made me feel like we were old friends. Lora Runs is training for her first 50 miler in 2008.

After a couple of minutes another blogger came running up, Julie B, a veteran Ultra Runner who just won the 100 miler at McNaughton 4 weeks ago, I only did the 50 miler at McNaughton and I was still tired from that. A brief introduction and I was off trying to catch up to Travis, another ultra blogger (McNaughton 50 mile finisher), I had said hello to at the beginning of the race and exchanged some hello's at certain sections of the race. I knew he was at least two miles ahead, but I could always try to catch up to him. But my main goal was to make it under 10 hours for a finishing time, so with 7 miles to go I was trying to go as fast as I could. But the 10-hour mark slipped away with a 10:01:35 finishing time. That was okay, I gave it my best shot, I will try again next year, and as for McNaughton Ultra I will be back for the crazy mud race as well.

So after the race I got to talk with some of the Ultra Bloggers I met during the race, hung out with Lora Runs to watch the other finishers come in. It was a well run race, great weather, not to many bugs, and the volunteers were terrific. At one aid station they all clapped for us and said words of encouragement. That is something I will always remember from this race. It was really touching.

But like always the worst part of any long race is always the body after effects, my feet and toes were hurting, but good day nonetheless.

So what is my Ultra schedule like for the rest of the year, well I'm going to try to get a Trifecta by the end of the year (and after IronMan Wisconsin, of course). An easy Lakefront 50 miler or if I can swing it, I would like to try to become a Masochist one of these years. Either way my Ultra goals were accomplished, two 50k's and two 50 milers in the last 5 months while trying to train for a IronMan, yeah I guess a little crazy. No wonder one of my TriClub members introduced me as the honorary TriClub Nut. Well I figure somebody had to be it. Why not me.

But I leave you with this, a quote from the race director from McNaughton that e-mailed us about a Crazy Ultra trail race with a "Death" division actually as a race category (no Kidding):

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out,shouting, 'Holy sh*t! What a ride!'"- Unknown Author

(PS. Oh, I'm not done yet!!!)

Give that man a "Buckle"


Lets just say my UltraRunning season is done for now until after IronMan Wisconsin in 16 weeks.

Not sure how I would do. With little running the past 4 weeks because of my ankle troubles.

I did see the HMO doc Wednesday, definitely no stress fracture, told me pretty much I should be fine. But have referral with the foot doctor to make sure.

It was "game on" after that..

Hmm, longest run was a 12 mile trail run the past four weeks. I had to go with "UltraRunning is 90% mental, Oh the other 10% is also mental" theory.

Well I finished in 10:01:35, goal time was a sub 10 hours. Oh almost there, but I met some nice Ultra bloggers and had a great time just hanging out.

Overall goals were completed, it wasn't pretty but I'm happy nonetheless. Did I stay upright this time. Not exactly.

I did learn some valuable lessons, that a rock versus my toes is never a good outcome. Also trying to run 50 miles on any course is always a long way for this newbie UltraRunner.

But for now, I'm tired and in a little bit of pain. So race report later.

Tomorrow I take the wife out for a "Mother's day Brunch", because it is time to pig out and restore some balance in Bubba's life with some family time.

"Blow me down"

So Sunday was the annual Joliet "Sudden Century" bike ride. I think it was for me the third time doing the ride. The 1st year doing 60+ miles almost killed me. I guess I have got a little more mileage in my legs since then.

The message went out to try to have a good TRI club showing.. "Let's get at least 20+ people out there".. I had started out a little bit earlier to get a little extra miles in before we all met. Mostly because of time constraints and honestly to warm up so I could at least have any chance to keep up with the fellas in the club.

Wow, it was a great turnout..


I think we had at least 20 riders out there.. It is always fun to ride with Mr. Speedy "running banter" and "Boston" kickstandpam. It was also cool to meet Clydesdale trot for the first time.

My plan for the day was just to do 70 miles, some people where doing the 100 miles, but I was not mentally there to crank out the extra miles.

So I knew it was going to be a windy day, when you hear the wind howling and the flags rustling uncontrollably on top of the buildings.

Well it didn't disappoint. Wind came from all sides at different parts of the ride. I think I had to lean onto one side just to stay upright at certain times. The wind was non-stop, at certain points I was asking myself where is that "f@#@#@ing" rest stop.. I needed a break. A coworker later told me today that he lives in the area and they reported wind gust of 30+ miles per hour.

But 69 miles and 4.5 hours later, I was one mile short of what I wanted to do, but that was close enough. I didn't feel to bad out there, even wearing an ankle brace the entire time.

So on the injury front, so far, besides for some minor swelling on the ankle, I have been relatively pain free for the past couple of days. I still have a walnut shaped knot on top of my ankle, so the doctor appointment is still on for the week.

But I'm a little more confident to at least try to finish the 50 miler on Saturday..

Because after this, like my bicycle shorts says, it's Go!!! time for some serious "IRONMAN" training..

Dang, I only have less than 16 weeks left to go for IMWI.. Where has time gone, but you know after IMWI, I'm back to finish the year off with some UltraRunning.

So hold on, because remember "please stay in your seat until "Bubba's" crazy ride has come to a complete stop"

PS. On the nutritional front.. I've switched from the "Big Texas" Danish to the "Original" Bear claws in the vending machine. Mann... those things are so good. Yummy!!

"My Happy Place"

"As UltraRunners, we hide in the woods for hours, and we need the time away from everything, Some people call in touch with yourself, others call it getting in touch with nature, still others call it having a good time: whatever it is, it's purifying" ~ Francesca Conte (UltraRunner)

As I head out to my place of "serenity" this weekend. I'm searching for a little bit of "purification" to jump start my running. With still a sore ankle that comes and goes on a daily basis. I need a restart. This whole lack of trail running has put me in a chaotic training state.

Bubba's endurance world is out of balance..

Splurging on cinnamon danishes from the vending machine at work (it says it's the #1 seller) and Jimmy Dean Sausage/egg sandwiches for breakfast. Not a nutritional diet a endurance athlete should be consuming on a daily basis. Chaos in the form of food indulgence. There could be worst things?

But I did have a little bit of self-control. I resisted the urge to do any running this whole week. Did a couple of sessions on the elliptical machine to replace my running. I must say, I can handle running on a treadmill just fine, but an elliptical machine is not for me. All I could think about is "John Little's Gazelle Glider Elliptical Machine" infomercial.

So after completing a 12 mile /9:07 pace trail run this morning wearing an ankle brace. Hopefully I'm on the right track. I probably will not feel the effect of the run on my ankle till the next day. But so far so good, besides normal twinges that are still tolerable.

With regards to the ICE AGE 50 UltraMarathon, Thank-You all for your comments and concerns on trying to run my upcoming 50 mile Ultra on a sore ankle.

I plan to see the doctor on Wednesday. But according to the latest edition of "Runners World", I think I stressed my "Tibilias Anterior Tendon." Still not sure how good or how bad that is yet?

But for now I remind myself the words I always tell my daughter when she tells me "I can't", I always tell her "you have to at least try". So I'm going to take my own fatherly advice and tow the line next weekend, beyond that everything (conditioning and a sound mental state is still to be figured out). But yes, if my daughter was injured I would tell her to maybe not do the race. Since my dad is retired in the "Sunshine State", I guess I will not be calling him anytime soon before my Ultra race.

Now off to a Sunday LSD ride with TRIClub at the "Sudden Century Ride", that will hopefully put me back on my IM training track as well.