"Enthusiasm"

"Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul" ~ Samuel Ullman

For the past two weeks I have been trying to find something to get enthused about again. After 2 years of IronMan racing, I'm feeling a little lost without some definite major race in my sights to train for.

In some ways I cherish these moment. Sleeping in, eating whatever, and being a coach potato for a couple of hours now and then.

But these days are starting to drive me a little nutty.

I need to be in motion!

I need to train!

I guess I also need to train for some kind of "purpose" !

Hmm, the only thing I have been literally training for has been my stomach expansion. I have started to log my split times to see how fast I can go to the nearby Dunkin Donuts and catch my commuter train for the daily grind at work. Always in Zone 2 thou.. Woohoo..

So many thoughts have come my way in what I should be doing for the rest of this year and for 2008.

So here are my thoughts? In case anybody wanted to join me in these little adventures. C'mon, pretty please?

First, Adventure Racing, something I wanted to do this year, but my dance card has been full. Plus I could not figure out how to sneak in a Kayak/Canoe pass my wife after it comes from EBAY.

Second, I always wanted to do an XTERRA race, but suck pretty bad at mountain biking so I will try to work on these skills during the winter.

Then finally UltraRunning, yes my winter sport, for some reason winter running appeals to me. The trail gets more deserted from all the warm blooded creatures that might go bump into the night.

Then about this number that has been spinning in my head, Yes a 100 mile UltraMarathon, should I actually contemplate doing one?

With a 65% or less finishing rate in most 100 mile UltraMarthons, I could actually get my 1st D.N.F.? Then there is this?

How does one train to run 100 miles?

How does one run in the middle of the night through the woods with just a flashlight to guide your way?

But I think I will train for one. With no rhyme or reason and no race picked out just yet.

This will be my "enthusiasm" for the fall/winter months. So let the running begin this weekend. Still a little banged up from IronMan, even after two weeks. I will start out slowly. But time to trade in my road shoes for some trail shoes now.

Run (Race report: Final)

So this was it, the time to redeem myself from last year!!! I've waited for this moment for 365 days.

Did I pace myself properly on the bike?

Would I lose my composure like last year?

I ran out of T2 and saw blogger IronJenny as one of the lotion greasers and went directly to her and got greased up. Another mini stop in the porta-poddies and with my ultra-hat on my head and my IM spiderman jersey still on my back, I was off. The first couples of miles I knew would tell me how the marathon would go for me. I planned to take it easy the first mile or two to get my running legs under me again and flush out some of the cramping I usually feel right after the bike. Wow, NO cramps at the start, I was actually shocked and surprised. So baby, "GAME ON¨. The silent-running was now in effect again as well. No talking to anybody, No looking at any walkers. Eyes only on one place, 5 feet in front of me. That was the race plan.

So as the miles clicked off, I tried to stay in Zone 2 most of the time. Then on one of the out and back portions, I saw kickstandpam running hard and fast, a determined look on her face, she yelled out "YOU ROCK¨, I just waived as she passed on by. Okay, I have at least a 4 mile lead on her. I should be okay, unless I totally bonk out there.

So around mile 16, I did feel a little bit of cramping coming on, downed some salt tablets I had with me and kept plugging away at the miles. Then I saw a familiar bike jersey, to my shock it was Scott from the TRI club. I knew I might have a chance to find him on the run, but was surprised I actually did. So I actually tried to just go pass him, as part of my "silent-running.¨ But he saw me and said "I was running to fast¨. So for a couple of miles we ran together. Most of the time right behind stride for stride (at least tried to). So around mile 18 or 19, I surged and tried not to look back, but was amazed on one of the out and back portions I had put some distance between me and him.. WHooWeee, could I out run him this day.

But the cramping did start to creep up on me on these last miles. I tried to put in check by stopping at all the aid stations these last miles and taking in some more salt tablets. Then who do I see, the machine, Frank Farrar (the 75 yr old IronMan Legend). He was just plugging away at it, knee badged up, breathing heavily, but there was NO stopping him. It was an honor to share that moment with him: Truly Inspirational. So with last 10k in sight, the IM race actually starts now, that's the theory anyway. I tried to keep focused, but still worried about the 3 TRI teammates running not to far behind me. "EYES in front¨, "No Looking Back¨, "Do the best you can¨, I kept telling myself. So with less than 2 miles to go, I phoned my wife telling her I would be there soon, around 8:00 pm I said. Those last 2 miles were pretty long, but get there I did, walking a little bit. Then I see blogger Pharmie on the turnaround, telling me to "Finish Strong¨. I didn't want to, but those words were all I needed.

THE HOME STRETCH

I zipped up my jersey for the pictures, flapped my arms like a crazy chicken so the crowd could give me some IronMan love, and "YES" they did. Looked for my wife and child and headed for the finish. It was truly all about this moment, running with my child and wife, arms in the air, I heard those words "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN."

I Finished in 13 hours 7 minutes and 00 seconds. TriThomps gave me my finisher's medal, two catchers walked with a me a little bit, I did need them. Got my finisher's t-shirt and hat. Then waited for the rest of my Tri teammates to become an "IronMan¨ as well.

Epilogue:

IronMan Wisconsin is a great race, the crowd support was totally incredible out there. I saw blogger Laurie wearing her now famous COW outfit, that put a huge smile on my face during the run. XT4 volunteering on the back half of the run cheering me on and giving me a huge slap on my ass to wake me up. People calling out my name for support, "GO SpiderMan¨ throughout the entire day. The Tri Teammates who traveled to cheer us all on. The bloggers who I met for the 1st time and the ones who I got to say hello to again.

That is what an IronMan race will always be about for me. Not the finishing time, but all the people I took this journey with. Without them it would have been just a "Long Ass Race¨.

IRonMan Wisconsin 2007 is now done. To everybody, I "THANK-YOU, in following me along this crazy journey. Out of the nine of us from the TRIclub, I was the slowest swimmer and ended up with the fastest marathon time in the bunch. So this day the tortoise did catch up to some of the rabbits in the group. But we all became an "IRONMAN" this day and that is the most important thing of all.

As you know also, this is not the end for me, but just the beginning of something else? What? Only time will truly tell. But I did get this magazine in my mailbox the day after I got back from IRONMAN. Is this some kind of sign or what?

IRONMAN RACE report (cont.)

Bike

So once on the bike, the first priority was to bring my heart rate to a zone 2. Take in some calories and get settled into a 90 RPM cadence. There is a mile or two of uneven sidewalks and street bumps, so staying in control and not loosing any water bottles, especially avoid getting a flat was a big priority as well. It was going well, until I was not paying attention and side swiped a traffic cone, Mann, after that I stayed more focus, that would have not been pretty going down like that, I thought to myself..

So along the way to the loop I saw kickstandpam on one of the bike stretches. So with my non-talking race policy into effect I waved hello as I passed on by. So after 16 miles, the 1st loop now began. From riding on this course so much these past two years I knew every part about it. When to shift, the road surface, and even the lawn ornaments along the way. Familiarity does bring on confidence, NO DOUBT!!

So I was feeling great out there, my garmin watch was not beating excessively to lower my heart rate down. I did look at a couple of times to see what it was, it said 172, how can that be, I was feeling great out there. Even the long sections of the course I usually dread, I was now riding with ease. So I tried to put that number out of my mind and stay focused. So on one of the hills, I passed a group of riders, low and behold it was blogger ERIN, somehow I picked her out of the crowd going up a hill. We said "hello" and asked how everything was going and then I was on my way. Then on another hill I picked out blogger TRIShannon, I finally got to meet her, even though it was just for a minute or two. Okay I broke my "silent-biking¨ rule once or twice.

Then it was the final hill of the 40 mile loop. My "NEMESIS", last year I walked up it both times, I always remember the SAG vehicle asking if I was okay, "Uhhh YEAH," I said. For some reason, never in training on the same hill I would be okay going up it. Race day, my thighs would cramp and scream out in pain. I guess this day would NO different. C'mon, "PAIN is temporary" as it shot up my quads, keep going, you don't want to be walking it again!!! Pain, keep pedaling, don't look to far ahead. Finally over the top. Pain starting to go away.. Whew, I will see you again in a little bit.

So before the end of the 1st loop I kept on seeing 172 again on my Garmin watch again, which I thought was my heart rate, but it was my actual average bike speed of 17.2 mph for 56 miles.

Woohoo, with a time of around 3 hours 15 minute for the 1st bike split. Hmmmm, could I actually do a 6:30 bike split, a 1 hour PR from last year I thought to myself. I felt great at the halfway point, but I knew I had to slow down. If I didn't, I might run the risk of walking most of the marathon. So for the second half of the bike, I slowed down, which was not hard for me to do anyways, since I was getting a little tired. It was a strange quite feeling the second loop, the racers were more spread out and felt more alone out there at some points in the race. But I felt good the second loop as well, the miles seemed to just click away. Tackled my "NEMESIS" with greater ease the second time around.

So with 6 hours and 50 minutes and with everybody yelling "go spider man," go "bubba" and "go Dennis¨ from everybody along the route, I was finally done on this somewhat windy 112 mile bike course. Another PR, I was so pumped up. Nutrition and my bike race plan worked out so well.

T2

Nothing spectacular here, I rode up the spiral helix for the last time into T2, shoes still attached to the bike and ran in to get changed.

IronMan Race report (Part 1)

For the past couple of days, I have not been sure how to right a race report or think if I even could.

How do you describe when a IronMan race plan pretty much works to perfection, but I will surely try.

As the 3:30 wake up call rang throughout the hotel room, I was pretty loose and calm and hoping for a great day. The weather projected to be pretty much ideal for biking 112 miles, the water looked to be calm, and the afternoon weather was cool enough to maybe have a good marathon.

After being body marked, I did my final bike check, kissed the wife, kissed the kid. Then headed down towards the swim start. This year I planned to position myself closer to the starting line, but still against the shoreline. There I could still stand without trying to waste energy treading water.

With 5 minutes until the start, it truly becomes a frenzy, people trying to just get in the water, people trying to get the best starting position possible. Controlled chaos best describes it.

Then bang the cannon goes off!!! YES, it was a miniature cannon, I know, because I was pretty close to it when it went off. I need to remind myself not to do that again, it scared the crap out of me.

So with 2000+ people swimming, It felt much like being inside a washing machine for the 1st half of the loop. Getting kicked, slapped, and people hitting my feet. Okay, I probably did some of that myself. But people were kicking so dang hard, sounded like a turbo engine and getting hit by that was not a fun feeling. So the plan was to swim on the outside on most of the first half loop, then swim inside after the first turn, but trying to sight less, I did zigzag a lot out there. But I felt awesome out there, relaxed and thinking about everything and nothing for 2.4 miles.

Then a decision had to be made. I must say, I peed in my wetsuit about 3 times while waiting for the start of the race. I know it's gross, but yes, a lot of TRIathletes do it. So I felt the urge while swimming. Maybe I could save a minute or so in T1 if I do it now, so I slowed down and let it rip, that was a first time for me I must say. So I had to share.

So onward I went, I completed the 1st loop and then started the second. Many thoughts of trying to PR the swim went through my head the entire time, but I tried hard to stay focused at the task at hand.

So in 1 hour 33 minutes 56 seconds I was done, a PR, WooHoo.

Hmmm, kind of interesting as well, because I did not work on my swimming much at all this year. I just tried to do more open water swimming and stay more relaxed. I guess it worked.

T1

So after getting "stripped" from my wetsuit, I ran up the spiral helix, felt great, and saw my fellow TRIclub members cheering us on. Last year I walked in, this year I ran in all the way. What a feeling!!! Once in, I organized myself and got dressed as quick as I could, did a quick stop at the sun tan lotion greasers and picked up my bike for the long bike ride ahead.

IRONMAN WISCONSIN REDEMPTION

2007 Stats:

Swim: 1:33:56 (15 MIN PR)

T1: 11:52 (4 MIN PR)

BIKE: 6:50:54 (43 MIN PR)

T2: 7:46 (11 MIN PR)

RUN: 4:22:27 (36 MIN PR)

OVERALL: 13 HOURS 7 MINUTES

1 Hour 45 Minute Overall PR

2006 will always be the most memorable for me, since it was my first IronMan finish and the weather was crazy extreme.

2007 will be the most incredible, all the hard work finally paid off for me.

9 of us from our TRI club entered the race, 9 of us became IRONMAN this day, 7 for the first time. 8 of us finished in under 14 hours. Without them, the long training hours together, through the rain, snow, cold, and heat. Them pushing me by just trying to keep up with them on a weekly basis, this day would have not been possible without them.

To the other TRI teammates (Laura, Michele, Greg, and Kerri) who made the trip to cheer us all on throughout the entire day, I thank you!!

To all the bloggers I met on the course, who all became IronMan also, great job everyone. The the others bloggers from TRITEACHER cheering me at Verona, XT4 & BAUN during the run, the blogger who dressed up in a full COW outfit and cheered us all along, and to THOMPS giving me my finishers medal, and the rest who cheered me via the computer, your support was greatly appreciated.

To my wife, the biggest supporter of them all and dealt with my insanity this entire year, she is truly my "IRONMATE".

Now while I still think about this incredible day for the next few days, while trying to get the soreness out of my legs. It's time now to sit back and enjoy the moment and off course down a couple of cheese danishes or two.

RACE Week

After waiting which seems like forever and now, the days seems to be coming to fast. Race week is here. Time to get totally organized before I check in to registration on Thursday.

Am I ready?

Will my calf hold?

Will I puke like a little kid on a roller coaster?

Those to be answered on Race day, Sept. 9, 2007.

But I got my spider man IronMan jersey picked out for the race I will wear for the bike and the run. The bat wings for my helmet and my UltraMarathon hat ready to go..

Final numbers: 2006 finishing time 14 hours 51 minutes

2007 race number #1317

No time predictions from me....

While doing the 2.4 mile swim, I will focus on that, it will be my slowest and just hope I don't get pummeled mode to get through it.

The Bike: Think about finishing the first loop and then the second with the right heart rate and cadence so I don't trash myself after riding 112 miles.

The Marathon Run: This is what it has been all about for me this year. I will put my head down with blinders on and try to get to the finish line as fast as I can.

The Finish Line: Hopefully with a smile on my face and enjoy the moment crossing the line with my family.

Good luck to all the bloggers I will be out there with. Thank you blogger volunteers who will be out there as well. For those cheering me on via IronManLive , your enthusiasm will get me through the tough spots on a long day.

See you at the Finish!! (I HOPE!!)