Finally Airborne...

Race week - 5 days and counting

2012-02-28T08:03:00.000-08:00

In only 5 short days I will toe the line for my 8th full marathon. Lately, I've been a bit worried about this one because I was sick during my peak training week and missed my 20 mile run. On top of that, my legs and body have not felt 100% like they should. It's times like these that I have to draw inspiration from the past.

This was me - less than 3 years ago when I took my dad on a trip to see our favorite team play a home game. 325 pounds and willfully ignorant of the fate that would become of me should I not get a hold of my life.

This IS me - last November coming up to the finish of my 7th marathon in San Antonio. That race was 45 minutes slower than I should have been and not my best race, but looking at these two pictures side by side reminds me of why I do this. I could post a personal record this Sunday, or I could post a personal worst, or perhaps something in between. No matter what, I am better off for it.

Finally I am reminded of a moment from the past. It's funny how little things can seem to make the biggest difference and have the biggest impact in our lives and this moment definitely qualifies. In February of 2011, I took my first plane flight since loosing weight. For the first time that I can remember, when I put the tray table down it came all the way down and didn't rest on my legs like it had when I was heavier. Anyone who has ever been heavy knows what I am talking about here. That is a simple thing, but it is something I will always remember.

Wish me luck on Sunday!

10 Days until the Napa Valley Marathon

2012-02-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

One of the certain things in life is that obstacles will come in between you and achieving any endeavor. This happened to me in my training. I came up sick with a bad illness that put me out of commission for several days and forced me to miss my 20 mile training run. Today, I'm getting the legs back together but it is slow going. Now with the marathon only 10 days away, I am worried.

But, the worry is what makes life interesting. Part of the allure of attempting a marathon or Ironman is that there will always be a piece of you thinking you can't do it. To conquer that thought and actually cross the finish line of whatever endeavor you are attempting is a joy like no other.

I'll see you in 10 days - as I cross the finish line in Napa.

Getting back on my feet

2012-02-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Have you ever said something that you wish you hadn't?

I'm not that vested in superstitious beliefs, but when I finished my last 19 mile run and said "this training is going great" I intrinsically knew that I had just cursed myself. This last Saturday was supposed to be the longest training run of my entire marathon training plan - a 20 miler. But, thanks to the food poisoning that hit me on Wednesday, I have been effectively knocked off my running feet for a while and had to miss the run.

Today, I went back out on the road for a trial run after 4 days off - in the rain. I only put in a 5 K and could tell that, while my running mechanics and conditioning was still in good shape, my fuel cells were not. The 10 pound in 36 hour weight loss associated with the illness took its toll and my body was seriously lacking nutrients.

But, one think I've learned over the past couple of years is that you can never give up. So, I'm forcing myself to eat a big runner's carb-loaded lunch and getting ready to resume the remainder of the training schedule tomorrow. With only 20 days until the marathon, there is unfortunately no time to make up the 20 miler.

First fast food cheeseburger since I don't know when

2012-02-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

There was a time in my life when I knew every fast food restaurant within an hours drive by heart. I knew their menus, prices, and where I had to go to get what I wanted. The clerks at the local Burger King knew me by name as I was a regular every morning for breakfast. Now, although I have occasionally stopped for a quick bite, I am blissfully unfamiliar with the fast food trade.

Today, I had my first fast food cheeseburger since I don't remember when. It was an odd experience - going into a Jack in the Box. It was oddly familiar but at the same time a foreign experience. Truth be told, I'm glad that I have separated myself from the fast food trade. But, some days you just need a cheeseburger. Today was one of those days.

I've been very sick the last couple of days. I'm not sure what it was, but it hit me like a freight train, causing me severe problems and bringing about a shocking 10 pound weight loss in only 36 hours. Not good. I'm not 100%, but I'm finally in the stage of recovery where I can eat solid foods again. My diet normally is rather low in fat and high in protein and carbs - a typical runner and triathlete diet for the most part. So, when I have to go basically without food for a day and a half, my body seemed to crave what it gets the least of - fat.

So, I bought a cheeseburger - and it was good.

Now, there was a day when I would consider this meal a failure. There was a day when I would berate myself and let this "failure" dig into my conscience, but not anymore. Life has ups and downs and a big trick to succeeding is to roll with the punches. Nothing will be perfect and the last few days for me have epitomized that fact, but in a few days I should be back to normal, not cheeseburgers in sight.

One month into Ironman training

2012-02-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

January sure seemed to fly by quickly! It seems like just yesterday I was looking at the training schedule and wondering why a simple few mile run seemed so tough. Now, the conditioning is coming back and it feels great. I dropped 8 pounds in the month and am back to running past 10 miles without worry. It looks like things are back on track and once again life is good!

WOOHOO!!! Finally a GREAT long run!

2012-01-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, thrown into the mix of my Ironman training schedule is a marathon on March 4th. I've been trying to stick to my running focused training plan since December but have been having trouble getting conditioned again for a marathon. I don't know what it was, but everything seemed harder this time around. Fortunately, I think I had a breakthrough today.

I've always said that the resolve to keep at it when the chips seem down is vital to succeeding in a challenge like this, but those words have been hard to live by. The scale, while dropping again, is about 8% above my low weight and my training runs have really been tough and relatively slow. I've kept at it though, despite a strong desire to forgo a training run. Two weeks ago, I was running with my friend Matt who is running his first marathon and convinced me to run the March 4th one with him. We set out for an 18 mile run with easy elevation and I had a hard time with it. About 15 miles in, I had to resort to intervals to finish. Matt kept with me despite me telling him to run ahead, running in place beside me as I walked an interval. That run had me worried that I wouldn't be conditioned for the marathon.

But, stubborn fortitude pays off. Today, I set out for a 19 mile run. I have been dreading this run the entire week. It took me a couple of hours to get the motivation up to actually put on the running outfit and get out the door. I truly thought I was going to turn in early on this run. Plus, it is not like me to dread a long run like that. Fortunately, the run started surprisingly smooth.

I kept the pace just under 10 minutes a mile, not wanting to burn up too fast, and plodded my way towards the lake. It was an odd run, but odd in a good way. The miles ticked by - 2, then 4, then 5 and 6, then 7, and I was still holding the pace and not pushing it. I started to feel really good and felt like I was in good shape.

I kept running past 9 and 10, then 11 and 12. I was thinking the whole time "when will I hit the wall and have to stop?" I felt great and didn't feel a wall coming. I kept going, right at the slightly sup 10 minute pace I kept the whole time. Like a metronome I passed 13, 14, 15, and 16 right on pace. I couldn't believe it - I was still running, and feeling good too! Then, 17, the 18, and with less than a mile to go I know I would run the whole thing.

I hit the stop button on my Garmin at 19 and I pulled it off in 3:08:05. The best part is, while I was tired as you would expect from a 3+ hour run, I still had gas in the tank and felt like I could have kept going.

I'm noting my fluid and food consumption for the run and my pre-run dinner consumption so that I can repeat the pattern for the long runs. Man I feel great.

Maybe I can pull off a good run at the Napa Valley Marathon?

We'll find out in 5 weeks . . .

Watching the scale again

2012-01-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

One of the most frustrating things about getting in shape - the scale can often give you weird numbers. This month I have been loosing weight as the training continues, but the fluctuation of the scale on a regular basis can be downright disheartening.

Some days I'll gain a few pounds when I've been really good on the diet and working out hard, other days the scale drops when I blow the diet. It is hard to explain why the scale does what it does, but one thing is certain - it will frustrate you if you let it. Common wisdom says to not weigh yourself more than once a week so that the regular fluctuations won't get you down, but I disagree with that.

Life has many frustrations and disappointments, handling them and still being strong enough to keep moving forward is a key to success. Things aren't perfect in life. Today for example, I gained 2 pounds on the scale despite a 1600 calorie day yesterday and 2 workouts including a 5 mile run and a 1.2 mile swim. However, I've dropped 11 pounds since the first of the year, so I know it is just my body going through a regular fluctuation.

I weigh myself a lot, usually a few times a day. I only record the morning weigh in and have done so every day since starting this journey on 1/1/10, but I have been fascinated with how my body weigh fluctuates. I've learned a lot about my body, like I loose an average of 2 pounds every night between the time I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning.

I still weigh myself regularly - I can take the fluctuations and I think I am better off for it.

What do you think?

152 days until Ironman

2012-01-24T16:20:00.000-08:00

Time flies.

At least it feels that way. Here it is already pushing the end of January and only about 5 months away from the big day. It's exciting and exhilarating to be doing this - reaching for something you though was out of reach.

Every day, I put in the scheduled training hours and watch what I eat. The weight has been dropping and I have been getting faster and in better shape. Today, I put in a 5 mile run and was feeling so good that I did negative splits every half mile ending with a 7:00/mile pace for the last half mile. I am definitely getting better conditioned.

Only 5 months - then I'll be caught up in all of this:

What the heck am I doing?

2012-01-19T17:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever just stopped and asked yourself "what the heck am I doing?" It seems like I have been doing a lot of that lately. With the weekly training hours pushing into double digits, it makes me wonder if I can actually achieve this goal of mine. But I guess that's half the fun.

To me, there is no greater high than conquering something you thought you couldn't. To stand atop that mountain that people said you couldn't climb. While that moment is exhilarating, it is all worth while because there were many times along the way to the top when you questioned whether or not you could do it.

Up until I cross that finish line on June 24th, I will be constantly questioning myself - asking myself if I can actually pull off this feat. But, I'm going to try.

Another week in the bag

2012-01-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

Now, with only 23 weeks left until Ironman Coeur d'Alene, it is time to get serious. At this point in my training I am doing a lot more running because I have a marathon coming up in early march. I blended my Ironman and Marathon training schedules to accommodate both events, as well as the Ironman California 70.3 on March 31st.

This week felt good, 32 miles of running, 18 of that yesterday. The 18 mile run kicked my butt big time, a lot more than it should have, so I was a little upset at that. But, as always seems to be the case, I went out for my 1/4 Iron bike ride today and everything fell into place. I left my front door this morning with a sense of determination, a sense of serious, and the idea of just hammering the hills on my regular 28 mile ride route.

The ride went well and, despite a good wind and exhausted legs from yesterday's 3 hour 18 mile run, I finished this ride in under 90 minutes.

Another week in the bag, on 23 more to go until the biggest challenge of my life.

The conditioning is paying off

2012-01-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

It wasn't but a couple of weeks ago I was looking at my scheduled races this year with dread. I had gained weight over the holidays due to poor diet control and lack of exercise and was wondering if I could actually pull of my goals this year. In fact, I had the same feelings on Sunday when I struggled to complete a 65 mile bike ride that took longer than it should have by far. To top it all off the scale said I gained weight this morning. Was I setting myself up for failure?

Then, as has happened before, I had a breakthrough. I went out for my scheduled 5 mile run and it was almost too easy. It felt effortless and was quicker than my recent runs. The conditioning is paying off. I CAN do this.

Whenever we set out to do something perceived to be impossible, there will be times of doubt. There will be times when things don't go how you had envisioned. That's all part of the triumph of achievement. Don't quit, stick to it even if you are questioning yourself. It will pay off in the end.

For me, the payoff is that in 166 days I plan on hearing the words "Travis Colby - YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"

What goes through your mind on a marathon?

2012-01-07T19:58:00.000-08:00

This one pretty much hit the nail on the head!

(Apparently, this is a day for posting funny stuff - scroll to the bottom of the blog for another good one!)

The road to Ironman

2012-01-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

And so it begins . . .

The road to becoming an Ironman is now well under my feet. I've discovered something over these past two years about myself - what truly makes me happy is accomplishing things that I think I can't. Setting out to do something impossible and not giving up. Just like man once looked to the sky and thought flight was impossible, I look at this years challenge in the same way.

Nervous? I'm scared as hell.

Completing a 140.6 mile triathlon in under 17 hours seems impossible. How can I swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, then run 26.2 miles, all between 7 a.m. and midnight in one day? These are the same thoughts I had about a 5K two years ago, and the same thoughts I had about a marathon a year and a half ago. But, I am going to do it. In 171 days I will join 3000 other crazy people and embark on this trying journey of self discovery. Pushing myself to see what I can do - to see who I really am. That is what makes me happy, never giving up and always trying to do something seemingly impossible.

This last week I've started my training with a mere 6 hours per week of training. At the peek of training in a few months, I'll be up to about 20 hours a week. This is not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile in life ever is.

Welcome to 2012 - the year I become an Ironman.

2011 Recap - What a ride!

2011-12-29T09:22:00.000-08:00

Some days, it hits me how different my life is now compared to just two years ago. As I pass the 2 year anniversary of getting my 325 pound butt kicked off that ride in Disneyland spurring the change and this amazing journey I am on, it really hits me. This year my efforts have taken me 1,581 miles between all the training and 6 marathons, 4 half marathons, and 1 half Ironman. I've run the full range of emotions from frustrated to triumphant and downtrodden to overjoyed, and I think I came out a better person for it. I learned something about myself and life in general with every race, I discovered wonderful cities that I might have never visited (a big thank you tho the companies who helped subsidize my racing!), and I have a table full of medals and bibs to frame for it all. However, the most important thing I have taken from this year and this journey is a true appreciation for life and everything that I am privileged to have in it.
This year started with one of my sponsors, In Shape Health Clubs, and their "Biggest Winner" campaign.

What a blast to be a part of that! I had a great time meeting everyone involved and really had a great time talking with others trying to change their lifestyle. I know when I weighed 325 pounds I would look at those "before and after" pictures and always thought they were faked and photo shopped. To actually be one of those before and after guys, knowing it is a real possibility to achieve, was a great feeling.

I also got to form a friendship with someone else who had changed his life. One of the stars of the Biggest Looser TV show, Dan Evans.

I met Dan and his TV show teammate mom Jackie at one of the early expos this year. Quite frankly, I don't remember which one. I was happy to share my story of weight loss and had a nice talk with Dan and his mom. We took a photo and I thought it was cool to meet them, I never thought I would actually be forming a friendship.

Dan and Jackie ran most of the marathon event I was running and were at the expos as well. The very next expo Dan saw me and called me out for a chat. I found out that he was a genuinely good guy and we would catch up at each and every event of the year. I think we hit it off because we both have gone through an incredible transformation and understand the trials and tribulations associated with the journey. The photo above is both of us at the San Antonio expo holding up the Rock Idol 10 race medal that we were earning on that hot November day.

Looking back, my 13 races of 2011 have taken me to 7 states and made me a regular at the Denver airport, the connecting hub through which most of the United flights I have taken passed through.

Race 1 - The Arizona Marathon
In January, I left the cold central valley of California for the sunny mid 70's of Arizona for the Arizona Marathon, my second marathon. This was a tough race - I took 2 weeks off of running before the race thanks to an over training hip injury. The course was a wonderful course and could have been one of my best races, but the hip pushed me to finish in a personal worst of 5:21.
I struggled with this race and realized that I can get swept up in the moment if I let it happen. I was set to run the half marathon in Arizona, knowing that my hip was going to cause me problems. But, I made excuses and found my way into the marathon corrals that I was registered for and after hearing the national anthem took off committed to the marathon.
It was a moment of excitement, joy, and dread all wrapped into one as I crossed the start line. I immediately thought that I was very foolish for committing to the full marathon when I was injured, but I am not a quitter and wasn't going to let myself quit.

It was a painful finish and I looked horrible in the photos, but I finished my second marathon and knew that, if I could finish the race in the condition I was in, I had the will power to do anything.
Race 2 - The St. Joseph's 5K

My second race of 2011 was a short one just weeks after the Arizona Marathon. The race was a sponsored race by In Shape Health Clubs and I was a featured runner of the event. My injuries from Arizona were gone and I posted a very quick personal record of 22:28 for the 5K, lightning time of only 7:14 per mile.

Race 3 - The Dallas Half Marathon

In March, I jetted off to Dallas for the Dallas half marathon. This was my first experience with the realities of regular air travel. The route to Dallas was replete with changes, weather problems, and mechanical issues. At several points, I was told by family to just head home because the day of delays made it so that I wouldn't be able to get to the race expo to pick up my race number as required. But I don't give up and I didn't here.

I made it to Dallas around midnight on the night before the race. Much to my pleasant surprise, I was able to get my race number on race morning and was able to run. It was a chilly run but a fun one. The highlight of this race was, towards the end of the race, I noticed a guy running along side me and starting to slowly pull ahead. I looked over at him and realized it was NFL quarterback Troy Aikman! It was a great feeling to know that I was competing on a comparable level to such an athlete and an experience I would have never had. I finished this race in a quick 1:54.

Race 4 - The San Diego Marathon

My third marathon, in beautiful San Diego. The weather was as promised, sunny and warm. I spent the day before the race working the booth for GU Energy, another great sponsor who helped me along the way. The next morning, I set off for the run.

4 hours and 32 minutes later, I finished the race with a personal record. Despite the weather and the intense heat, I beat my first marathon time by 3 minutes.

Race 5 - The Seattle Marathon

My foray into consecutive marathons brought me to Seattle in late June, just weeks after the San Diego Marathon. The weather was cool and perfect for running and Seattle was a fun city to run in. The race took us from Tukwilla, south of Seattle, the into the city for the finish. This was a tougher race introducing me to the concept of toenail blackening and toenail loss for the first time. But, it was another fun race and another fun weekend in a great city.

The Seattle Marathon was on a Saturday, and the next day was the running of the Ironman in Coeur d'Alene. I had set my sights on the Ironman as a goal some while back and I was finally ready to commit. Race tickets to Ironman events sell out almost instantaneously, so the only way to really guarantee yourself one of the expensive $600 tickets is to be on site the year before to buy before the tickets go on sale to the public. I was ready to commit, so I had arranged to fly from Seattle to Spokane and then drive to Coeur d'Alene to buy my ticket.

I spent that Sunday working the event and watching in awe at the Ironman, the 17 hour event comprised of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile marathon run. I was so inspired by all the athletes and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. On Monday, I bought my ticket into the June 24, 2012 Ironman.

Race 6 - The Chicago Half Marathon

The best part of this race tour is the chance to discover places you would probably never travel to. Sure, I've been through Chicago in their airport during a layover, but I never visited the city. Frankly, I've never wanted to. But, when I landed in Chicago and took the trip downtown, I started to see the attraction that the city carries. I spent the next day exploring the windy city doing everything from seeing a Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field to partaking in a piece of deep dish pizza. After this humid August weekend, I was ready to come back to Chicago on vacation.

The race was warm and humid. The interesting thing about Chicago is that there are several underground roadways. When thousands of people are running through them on a humid Chicago summer day, it is like running through a wall. But, I kept a good pace and almost set a new personal record in the half marathon - I missed my PR by 10 seconds. All in all, a great race weekend.

Race 7 - The Tri for Fun Triathlon

I started cross training for triathlons this year and my first triathlon experience was in late summer in Pleasanton. A small triathlon event known as the "Tri For Fun" consisting of a 400 yard swim, an 11 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run.

I had a blast at this event, enjoying everything and learning a lot about triathlons and what to do and what not to do. I was hooked and ready for more.

Race 8 - The Big Kahuna Half Ironman

On September 11, 2011, exactly 10 years after the Trade Center attacks, I set out to celebrate my life and do something else impossible - I competed in my first Half Ironman event. The 70.3 mile journey comprising a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run in the chilly waters and coast of California at Santa Cruz.

The water was ice cold even through the wetsuit. The salt water swim around the pier was very trying and exhausting. The swim was tough, but I ran into my biggest challenge yet on the bike. About 12 miles into the bike ride, I crashed at some train tracks. The crash brought me down hard on my left shoulder, causing a Stage 1 separated shoulder. The next 44 miles of the bike ride was tough, the road rash stinging and the shoulder in pain.

The run was the toughest part, the shoulder making it hard to run in any rhythm or with any fluidity. But, I overcame the pain and, although it took me a long 7 hours, I finished the event.

Race 9 - The San Jose Half Marathon

My first repeat race was in San Jose in October. October was going to be a tough month with four race weekends including 2 half marathons and 2 marathons. San Jose was a fun race because I knew the course well. It was nice to run this one again.

Race 10 - The Denver Marathon

You know it is going to be cold on the run when you see snow falling outside the window of your plane as you land. Cold it was, requiring cold weather gear. The race was tough at the high altitude, but I finished it.

Race 11 - The Saint Louis Marathon

The best trip of the year had to be the late October trip to Saint Louis. Saint Louis was another surprise and a city I wouldn't have visited but for the marathon. The city was vibrant with a great history, culture, and the best food of any city thus far. If you go to Saint Louis, you must have a meal at the Iron Barley, probably the best meal I have ever had.

The race was a great race, well designed to be an interesting course and a fun time.

Race 12 - The Los Angeles Half Marathon

This half marathon was another fun race. I could drive to this one, so no plane flight issues. This was a quick weekend with an unimpressive course, but another fun run.

Race 13 - The San Antonio Marathon

My last race of the year brought me back to Texas for the San Antonio Marathon in November. The run turned out to be over 80 degrees and blistering heat. It was an accomplishment just to finish this one and, unfortunately, many didn't finish. several ambulances were tending to people quitting due to heat stroke or other issues. But, once again I finished.

All in all, 2011 was a great year. Once again I did several things that I though were impossible and, as the second year of this incredible journey draws to a close, I look to the future and wonder what incredible things are in store for me in the next two years. One thing is certain at this point, my biggest challenge yet will come in 178 days as I toe the line at the Ironman.

Bring on 2012 - I can't wait!

Pictures from San Antonio

2011-11-29T20:42:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have been putting together a 2011 recap post that is taking quite a long time to put together. For now, here are some pictures from the final marathon of 2011!

Off to San Antonio

2011-11-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

This year has gone by fast. Tomorrow, I leave for San Antonio Texas and the last scheduled race of the year. Counting the marathon on Sunday, this year I will have competed in 6 marathons, 4 half marathons, one sprint triathlon, and one half Ironman. Wow - it is hard to believe I have actually become an athlete.

Mind you, I'm not a professional athlete or particularly good at my sports, but I am an athlete none the less and much happier than I was 2 years ago as a 325 pound couch potato. I've had my share of difficulty over the past two years with everything from food to workouts to finances, but it has all been worth it. I have become something I never thought I could be, and that feels great.

So, as I prepare to jet off to Texas for another marathon, I am reflecting on where I am and how far I have come. I don't know if I will finish this race in 4 hours or 5, but I will finish with a smile on my face knowing that I can do anything. Then, I will head back home for a holiday rest period before the real training begins. After all, it's only 227 days until I compete in the Ironman Coeur d'Alene!

Running the streets of Los Angeles

2011-10-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I toed the line at another Rock n' Roll Marathon event, the Los Angeles Half Marathon. This race made for my 9th Rock n' Roll Marathon event and my 4th event in the month of October. My feet, body, and knees are telling me this has been a long race season.

The race was a fun one, starting and ending at downtown L.A. crossing famous streets like Wilshire. I ran pretty good in the first 3/4 of the race, posting a sub 25 minute 5K and a 53 minute 10K, but the last 5K of the race took me 35 minutes. I slowed down considerably as I didn't want to overstress things. My body has been through a lot this month and the last thing I want is an injury.

But, I am sitting at home now feeling pretty good despite all the aches and pains. I made it through the 2 marathons and 2 half marathons in October. Now, with only one race left this year, it is time to reorganise and regroup to get ready for the full Ironman training.

Race Season is drawing to an end

2011-10-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

After one very long year with races all over the country, this year's race season is finally drawing to an end. Only two more races this year on the crazy schedule I had laid out for myself, and I am kind of excited to have a few weekends without travel.

This weekend I am in Los Angeles for the Half Marathon tomorrow, my last of four races in October (that's right, FOUR). After running a half marathon in San Jose, a marathon in Denver, and a marathon in St. Louis, I am getting pretty tired. I'm going to have fun tomorrow on the run, not worry about my time, and enjoy the crowd.

St. Louis Marathon Recap

2011-10-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

Just when I was loosing my way with running, this race brought me back.

This month is my most intense race month ever with 2 half marathons and 2 marathons. After running the Denver Marathon and turning around in only 14 days to run St. Louis, I was getting a little worn out. I was loosing touch with why I started running in the first place. Honestly I think that 12 races in one year is a little much and, while I am glad I am doing it this year and have had an incredible time, I am really looking forward to next year's 3 race schedule.

So that sets the stage for this race. On top of it all, I once again had more flight troubles with United Airlines. Out of 7 flights on them this year, only 2 of them went as planned. This wasn't one of those two. I arrived at the Fresno airport on Friday afternoon to catch my flight to Denver where I had a nice 2 hour layover before the flight to St. Louis. However, the Denver flight was seriously delayed and when I checked in they told us it was at least 2 and 1/2 hours delayed at that point.

Knowing I would miss my connection, I spoke to the United counter to reroute me. United boasts about having the most extensive flight map in the industry and they have hubs in Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, and New Jersey, so getting me rerouted shouldn't have been too bad, right? Wrong! Apparently, the only way they could find to get me to St. Louis before the expo closed on SATURDAY was a crazy schedule with two stops that would get me into St. Louis around noon the next day. Having no choice, I took the flight. United routed me from Fresno to Las Vegas, then from Vegas to NEW YORK before finally heading to St. Louis. The least they could have done would have been to upgrade my seats but they did all of this without so much as an "I'm sorry." I have one more flight next month with United and, frequent flier mile bank or not, I think I'm done flying United.

So, after the hour flight to Vegas, the overnight red-eye to New York with a loud New Yorker in the seat in front of me complaining through the night to the stewardess preventing any sleep, and then the 2 hour westward backtracking flight to St. Louis, I finally made it to the Gateway City.

St. Louis is really a neat city. Great history, great food, great people, and no shortage of activities for everyone. After making my way downtown via the convenient light rail train with a station at the airport, I was struck by all the unique architecture, most of which was pushing 100 years old. And, of course, the famous St. Luis Arch, a towering monument that is highly visible throughout the city at many points, and a really neat backdrop for a race. After the race, I went up the inside to the top of the arch and that is something you shouldn't miss if you head to St. Louis (and another thing not to be missed is the Schnitzel and Spatzel at the Iron Barley, the best meal I have ever eaten, but this is not a travel blog, so I'll move on).

I went through the expo, picking up my race number as I mechanically made my way through the expo vendors for my free samples. This being my 8th Rock and Roll event this year, I'm getting pretty methodical and efficient at the expos. Some of the vendors even recognise me!

After that, I made my way to my Hotel, the Crowne Plaza in downtown St. Louis. Although this isn't a travel blog, I have to take some time and plug this wonderful hotel. They graciously adjusted my reservation from 3 nights to 2 nights the day I was to check in when I called after learning of the flight problems, and when I checked in they upgraded my room to a beautiful corner room that blew me away with an outstanding view of the arch. I had nothing but good experiences at this hotel and when I come back to St. Louis to visit, I will make sure I stay at the Crowne Plaza.

So, after checking in and getting a good nap, I headed out for my ritualistic pasta dinner at the spaghetti factory, then got some sleep for the next day.

Race Morning

I woke up at 5:30, got ready for the run, and headed out for the 3/4 mile walk from my hotel to the start line. The weather was a little warmer than expected, but good overall weather for a day of running. I lined up in corral #9 with the 4:20 pace group hoping to set a new personal record and beat my 4:32 best time. There was great excitement in the air as always, and the national anthem once again was a very moving moment. Then, the gun fired and the race was underway. Slowly, the corrals made there way to the start and before I knew it my corral #9 was at the line.

Start to Mile 8

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful start, right down the middle of St. Louis running towards the Arch. We had a good pace crew and were humming right along with the large crowd, trying to settle into our groove and race pace. The first few miles wound us through downtown, by Bush Stadium, and had enough turns to keep us interested. The architecture of the tall buildings was also interesting to see, making me forget all about the minor pain issues that are always present in a run.

After the first few miles, we made our way out of downtown through the suburbs of St. Louis. One thing is for sure, St. Louis has a lot of character. This part of the race was still quite crowded as the full marathon runners were still sharing the course with the half marathon runners. The spectators and volunteers were all great in this race, loud and helpful making for a good run. We made it to the 8 mile mark, the split for the marathon and half marathon races, and I was still on pace and had settled into a comfortable rhythm.

Mile 8 to mile 15

I was keeping a comfortable pace throughout this race, hitting the 13.1 mile mark right at 2:10 and right on pace for a new personal record. But, I wasn't going to make that new time. At mile 14 I shuffled into a short interval and was setting a strategy for a sub 4:30 finish.

At about mile 14.5, I ran into Carl Armburster and we exchanged greetings. Car was in my pace group at the beginning and he was running his first marathon. We chatted a lot at the beginning and he was so excited to be running his first marathon. He reminded me a lot of myself in my first marathon and all the issues I went through. Carl was, like most of us, having a hard time with the run. After all, marathons are not an easy thing to do. The first guy to ever run one dropped dead at the end.

Carl and I met up as I was doing a walking interval and he was telling me about his problems in the race. By then end of the walking interval, I talked him into running intervals with me. This changed everything for me. This race was the most fun I ever had in a race because of this guy and I'm glad I did it.

At mile 15, we started our strategy to finish strong, running for a count of 400 then walking the rest of the mile to the next mile marker.

Mile 15 to the Finish

Carl and I kept working together, every mile getting a little closer and sticking to our 400 count intervals. The intervals helped break the rest of the race up mentally into manageable portions and we stuck to it. Despite the muscle issues, he stuck in there and pushed through.

Every interval we got closer to the finish. Then, with less than half a mile to go, the adrenaline kicked in and we kept running.

We ran together through the finish chute on up to the finish line, making me think about the great time I had with the stranger who helped me through my first marathon. I felt great and had a great time with Carl.

Carl and I crossed the finish line, high-fived, and I got the be the first person to tell him "Carl, YOU ARE A MARATHONER!!!" I forged a friendship today with a stranger that made this the most enjoyable race yet. Sure, I could have finished a little faster, but this race made me remember why I loved running so much and brought me back to where I was a year ago. Thanks Carl and St. Louis for a great race!

No Excuses, time for the St. Louis Marathon

2011-10-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

Something has been troubling me lately. It all started with my marathon in Denver. I finished that run tired, but knowing I could have run faster and longer. I didn't say it, but I felt like I cheated myself on that run by not "leaving it all on the field" and giving my best performance. That guilt has translated into poor self control around food and not putting myself in the best position to challenge my marathon PR this Sunday.

I am full of excuses, but I am not going to use any of them. That is not me and that is not the attitude that took me from a 325 pound couch potato to a marathon runner. When I first started running, I could only run for about a minute on the treadmill before getting so winded I had to slow to a walk. It took quite a while to build up to where I could run for a while without stopping, but it was all worth it. I need to remember that feeling and not make excuses for my lees than great performance in Denver.

So, here it is: I'm going to PR in St. Louis on Sunday. No excuses about conditioning, blisters, exhaustion, weather, weight, diet, or anything else I might dream up along the way. If I don't PR, I will finish that race knowing I didn't make any excuses. I will finish with the feeling I had after finishing my first marathon, the California International Marathon in December of 2010; knowing I left it all on the course even if I am not as fast as I hope.

To recap, here are the goals for St. Louis:

1. Break the 4:32 PR
2. Finish under 10 minutes a mile (4:22)
3. Finish without resorting to run/walk intervals
4. Enjoy myself and leave it all on the course

Preparing for the St. Louis Marathon

2011-10-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

This month has been busy, and it is only getting more hectic. In 8 short days I will be running in the St. Louis Marathon. My blisters from Denver are healing, but that missing week and a half of training following the bike crash in the Santa Cruz Half Ironman is showing itself in my conditioning. So, this week I am trying something new and running a short 4 mile run every day up until Wednesday. Hopefully that will not aggravate the blisters so they heal properly and get the legs in good enough shape to give my 4:32 marathon PR a run for its money.

Denver Marathon Recap

2011-10-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, everything seems to hit you at once. Just two weeks ago it was topping out in the high 90's here where I live and my 5 a.m. morning runs were hot, even in just shorts and a shirt. Then, about one week ago, a storm blew in and brought 30 degree cooler temperatures and a heavy dose of rain. Before that storm, I had not even thought about the coming winter and cooler weather.

One week before the Denver marathon, I sat at home watching the rain and wondering "what is the weather going to be like in Denver on October 9th?" Holy crap, snow? I couldn't believe it, the forcast was cold and snow possible. I had planned on running in my typical shirt and shorts, but that looked like it wouldn't work.

Two days before flying to Denver, I found what cold weather running clothed I had an packed it all - I had no idea what to expect.

Saturday morning I made my way to the Sacramento airport to catch my flight to Denver. I was a little at ease knowing I finally had a non-stop flight to the race. A short two hours later, I was in Denver. As the plane pulled up to the gate, I couldn't help but notice the flakes of snow wafting by my window. I threw on my warm jacket as I got off the plane and hoped that it wasn't that cold. I made my way to the bus stop to catch a ride downtown and was confronted by the sharp cold. It was 37 degrees and a lot cooler than my home climate. I put on my warmest hat and gloves and it was still chillingly cold. At this point I really started to worry about the race the next day.

I made my way on the bus downtown to the expo at the convention center. All the while thinking that the mile high altitude didn't feel any different than home. I hit the expo, picked up my race number and shirt, and made my way through all the free samples and goodies there were to offer. This being my 7th Rock n' Roll Marathon event this year, I got the chance to pick up my "Rock Legend" achievement medal at the expo as well.

After the expo, I walked to my hotel, the Crowne Plaza Downtown. I checked in and then made my way to a nice Italian restaurant for a nice dinner of Gnocchi. Then, back to the hotel to get some sleep before the race.

Race Day

I woke up at 5:30, surprised that for once I actually got some good sleep the night before a marathon. I put on my cold weather running outfit consisting of a long sleeve undershirt, stocking cap, and gloves. Then, I put on a throw away XXXL warm up suit I had from my 325 pound days, and made my way out of the hotel to the start line. I looked like a fool in my over sized suit, but I was warm and pleased to find that it was clear and much warmer than it was the day before.

I checked my gear with some warm clothes for after the race, and found the start corrals. Then, after the usual fanfare of the national anthem (which still brings a tear to my eye every time) and the start of the elite runners, the corrals we released in waves. About 10 minutes after the first wave crossed the start line, my wave was there and off on the race.

Start to mile 5

It was still cold and most everyone was in their warm gear. I ditched the over sized warm up clothes on the right of the start like many others were doing, and started the run. Like most large runs with tens of thousands of participants, you have to be focused in the beginning because it is so crowded. IT was worse in Denver. Thanks to some road construction in the first mile, the path was narrow and bottle necked quickly. This caused us to slow to a walk for a minute as we filtered through the bottleneck. That was an unusual phenomenon as usually these events are planned well enough so that it doesn't happen. But, after that point were were able to get into stride.

We made our way through downtown Denver and by Coors field. I was running with the 4:20 pace group and the pace felt good. I wasn't noticing the altitude yet and the only problem I had was that the blisters I had developed the week before in San Jose were letting me know they were there. After a number of turns through downtown and several fun bands and cheerleaders, we hit the 5K mark and ran straight out for a while until about mile 5. Things were going well and I was happy with the pace.

Mile 5 to Mile 8

The next three miles consisted of a meandering route through City Park. There were several horse shoe routes that let you see other runners on other parts of the course and that was fun. The weather was cool but actually felt nice as we had warmed up and were generating a lot of heat. The park was scenic and a joy to run through with the exception of the posts in the middle of the path at certain points.

Once out of the park, we had only a little ways to go to the halfway mark.

Mile 8 to Mile 13.1

After leaving the park, we ran through nice tree lined suburbs in Denver. At this point of the race, I was actually noticing the thinner air, or at least I thought I was. The blisters on my feet were also starting to get a little angry. I knew I had only a couple of miles to decide if I was going to do the full marathon or the half marathon. In the Rock and Roll marathon races, they run the half marathon and the full marathon on the same course at the same time. In every event, a marathon runner can divert to the half marathon at some point and finish that event. In Denver, that point came a long 11.5 miles into the race. I was actually considering finishing the half marathon at this point.

Then, at about mile 11, we started to hear the callers announcing the course split. Something came over me, I picked up my pace, held my shoulders back a bit, and turned left continuing on the full marathon course. No turning back now, I committed to the full marathon. However, the blisters and my fatigue level were telling me I would be slower than normal.

We had a long neighborhood run for an out and back that brought us to the the half way point of the race.

13.1 Miles to Mile 17

We continued our run through the suburbs and I was mentally felling the run. I was having trouble mentally staying composed. I gave in and started to do some intervals. Not being too disciplined for some reason, I ended up running less and walking more.

I continued the intervals and made it to mile 17, the start of a long trip around Washington Park. The intervals were short and I walked a lot, but I was getting to the finish.

Mile 17 to Mile 20

The run through Washington park was the same, more undisciplined intervals. The park loop was 2 miles and at about mile 19 we left the park. At that point, I realized that I was not as tired as my mind was telling me and the "altitude fatigue" that I was feeling was more in my head than my body.

For the first time in a marathon, I started to do an interval plan that worked. At the 19 mile sign I started running and counted to 300 in my head (about 5 minutes). That brought me about .6 of the way through the mile and I then walked the rest of that mile until the mile 20 sign. Only 10K more to go.

Mile 20 to the Finish

After leaving the park, we continued through some more suburbs for the last part of the race. I stayed diligent with my "count to 300" interval plan and it seemed to work. I mentally forced myself to keep it together and slowly the miles started to pass.

At mile 20.5, we made a turn at the southernmost point of the race, then at mile 21.5 we mad our turn north back towards downtown. I kept to the 300 second intervals through mile 22, mile 23, mile 24, and then mile 25. I was kicking myself a little at this point, knowing that I let the race get to me psychologically and I could have performed better with a little more mental toughness.

I started running at mile 25 again and told myself not to stop until the finish. I didn't. I kept running and found the finish line 5 hours and 7 minutes after I started.

So, I finished another marathon. Yes, I am proud of the accomplishment, but at the same time a little disappointed in myself as I know I could have gone faster.

Now, time to get back to training for St. Louis in 10 days!

A punishing 27.2 mile day in Denver

2011-10-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

As I sit waiting to catch my bus to the Denver Airport, I am reflecting on the 27.2 miles of punishment I just endured. The 26.2 miles of the race was tough enough, but that other mile, the mile of altitude endured the whole race, took its toll. Over 5 hours, but I pulled it off.

Recap to come...

Running in the cold

2011-10-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

This week has been a roller coaster when it comes to running conditions. Just a week ago it was in the upper 90's here and very hot for running. Even the 5 a.m. runs were short and t-shirt runs. But things have gotten colder quickly, cold and wet. Yesterday we had a torrential downpour for the first rain of the season and today it was in the mid to high 40's for my morning run. It was cold enough this morning that I found myself wishing I had worn a long sleeve shirt and long pants on the run. So, that got me thinking, how cold will Denver be this Sunday for the marathon?

I cringed a little as I say the forecast 41 degree low with rain, only getting to MAYBE the high 40's bu the end of the run. I'm scrambling now to put together an outfit to combat this cold temperature, something I can loose to keep me warm before the start, something I can peel off on the race to keep me from freezing in the first mile, and a base layer that will last the rest of the race.

I wish the cold weather could have held off for another week, I was all set to run in shorts and a shirt.

Getting the shoulder back to normal

2011-10-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

Well, the shoulder injury is still there. I was hoping it would go away but it hasn't so yesterday I started the process of physical therapy to get it into shape. Sometimes, bad things happen for a reason and you are actually better off in the long run because of them. This crash and resulting injury appears to be in that category because, although several people have said to me that I needed to get a little professional guidance along my journey, I never did so directly.

Quite frankly, I didn't know where to go. Now, because of the injury, I found that my small town actually has a good sports therapy center and it looks like that in addition to recovering the shoulder I should be able to be a better athlete with their help. I never would have found them but for the injury.

Funny how things work out like that sometimes.

San Jose Half Marathon Recap

2011-10-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I made the two and a half hour drive from my home to the City of San Jose. Today, I took part in the 6th running of the San Jose Rock n' Roll Half Marathon. It seems like just yesterday that I toed the line for this race last year, ready to run my first half marathon. It was a little surreal to be back there, oddly similar but at the same time completely different. I made my way through the expo, hit all the regular vendors, picked up my number and shirt, and then headed to the hotel for a good nights sleep after hitting the Spaghetti Factory for dinner.

Race Morning

One nice thing about the San Jose event is that it is close to home. Close to home means no jet lag from a long flight and no earlier time zone. Couple that with an 8 a.m. start time, and I was actually able to get some decent sleep the night before.

I lined up in my start corral, ready for another run. But, this time it was different. With the Denver marathon next week, I knew I had to be careful to not push myself too hard and burn myself up. Easy to say, but pretty hard to do in the head of a race with tens of thousands of runners.

The race started with the normal fanfare, including a very well done rendition of the national anthem. Then, we were off. The corrals shuffled to the start line for the individual wave starts. Then, we got the the start line and I started my GPS.

Start Line to 5K

Remember that plan to go slow? Apparently I got caught up in the moment and forgot to run as planned. I took off relatively quick, kicking the feet and feeling good passing a number of people. We ran down the main drag in San Jose, then turned into Japantown after a mile. I was feeling good, the weather was cool at that point, and there was something comforting about running a race I have run before. When I go out for my training runs, I generally stick to familiar routes and find comfort in the known, so this was a little treat.

We ran out and around Japantown and I was focusing on my rhythm and gait, not really realizing how fast I was going. We crossed the 5K mark and my time was 25:17, a lot faster than I thought I should be. I forced myself to slow down a few seconds a mile.

5K to 10K

I slowed to about 8:30 a mile at this point, trying to force myself to stay slower than I could run to save myself for Denver. As returned to downtown and ran back through the start area, I found my pace picking up again, so I forced myself to slow a little.

We left downtown and made our way past the HP Pavilion, home to the San Jose Sharks. The old 325 pound me had a share in season tickets there, but I gave the up for financial reasons. I was reminiscing at this point about all of the good times I had there. Then, once past he Pavilion, I noticed a little problem.

Since the first mile, my stomach had been not quite right. At about mile 5 it was telling me that I wasn't going to make this race without a stop or two at the portables. I think the problem was the dinner the night prior at the Spaghetti Factory. While I ordered my former "usual" that I ordered last year, I think my digestive system has changed and there was just a little two muck cream, fat, and oil for my system. At this point in the race I started looking for a free portable, but there were lines at all of them. I just kept running and hoping to find a free one.

Next thing I know, I crossed the 10K line in 52:17, still too fast and now really needing a pit stop.

10K to Mile 10

Just after the 10K line, I found a large bank of portables with a few open ones and darted in. What was intended to be a 15 second stop turned into about 3 minutes as I struggled with a stomach that didn't like me too much. At least I was slowing down...

Finally out of the bathroom, I got back to the run through the residential part of the race. At this point in the race, the sun was out and I was feeling the heat. I kept the pace slower, but was still getting rather tired and drenched in sweat.

Miles ticked by, but my stomach was still fighting me. Another bathroom stop was in the cards, but this one only took about a minute. Then, I found the 10 mile line in 1:29:46.

Mile 10 to the Finish

Only 5K left, and I was surprisingly tired for running slower. I was surprised to find myself fighting to keep the pace under 10 minutes a mile.

I made one more bathroom stop around mile 11, and was back on the course for the rest of the race. Why was I so tired? Why did I want to quit so bad? Who knows, but this wasn't going to be my best performance.

At mile 12 I realized that I would finish in over 2 hours at my current pace, so I forced myself to pick it up a bit not wanting to post my first stand alone half marathon above 2 hours. We passed the Pavilion again and rounded the corner at the 20K mark. Watching my GPS intently, I pushed a little noticing that I was getting dangerously close to that 2 hour mark. At mile 13, the finish line was in sight and I only had seconds to get there. I kept the pace and crossed the finish line in 1:59:59, not a personal best by far, but another race in the books.

Now, it is time to rest the feet, tend ot the blisters, and get ready for a whirlwind turnaround as my flight for Denver and the Denver marathon leaves in only 6 days!

Santa Cruz Half Ironman Recap

2011-09-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, before you say anything - I know this post is over two weeks late. No excuses here. I could have done it, but I never got to it. I try to live my life not making excuses for less than perfect performance and I'm not starting that here with this post. So, here is the recap of my first half Ironman triathlon.

The Big Kahuna - my first 70.3 mile half Ironman triathlon. I thought I was crazy when I signed up for it a few months ago. Quite frankly, my family thought I was crazy too. I signed up soon after my return trip from Coeur d'Alene and signing up there for the Ironman next June, so I was a little euphoric and delirious from Ironman fever. Despite feeling like I was a little crazy for committing to the event, one thing I was sure of is that I found the crowd I belonged in. The triathlon crowd (and the runner crowd) is something I love being a part of. Everyone has their own challenges, conquests, and incredible stories. On top of that, everyone really supports each other and together we give each other the motivation to achieve our dreams.

So, I trained for months. Multiple workouts on many days, long runs, bike rides going farther than most people drive in a week, and countless laps in the pool. It was almost surreal when the day of the event finally arrived. All the training added up to this.

The Big Kahuna Half Ironman is a 70.3 mile journey starting with a 1.2 mile swim in the icy cold Pacific Ocean around the Santa Cruz Pier, then a 56 mile bike ride along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, followed by a 13.1 mile half marathon run along the cliffs of Santa Cruz. Crazy, I know, but I was doing it.

The weather was cool and overcast. It was September 11th, 2011, exactly 10 years after the terrorist attack on our country. I thought what better way to celebrate our American spirit and character than to show our ability to recover from the ashes. When I weighed 325 pounds, I was a defeated man. Opportunity had passed and was a fond memory in many aspects. I recovered myself from the ashes and took control of my physical life and I wasn't going to let anything stop me.

The California Coast is quite cool, and the morning of the triathlon was in the low 50's and overcast.

We racked our bikes in transition, laid out our gear in our transition area, made sure everything was as ready as it could be, donned our wetsuits, and made the chilly walk to the beach. Right in front of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, we found the start line and shuffled into the cold Pacific Ocean to get prepared. At this point, I was thinking "I am SOOOO crazy!" The water was freezing cold. Actually, it was about 55 degrees which is not freezing cold, but it sure felt that way. We were all looking at each other with the same feeling of dread about the cold temperature. Most of us were cracking awkward jokes about the cold water to hide our trepidation.

The swim was around the pier and 1.2 miles of swimming is long and daunting distance to look at when you are standing on the beach. All of the separate age groups with our different colored swim caps were starting to congregate at the start line at this point, only minutes away from the start of the first wave. I was in the third wave to start, so I had an opportunity to see the first wave hit the water. I was still feeling crazy and worried about the cold water, but the Ironman euphoria of actually being at the starting line for a half Ironman kicked in as I followed my age group wave into the starting chute. In fact, I was doing the pre-race hops in the sand as I was getting ready to go.

Then, there was a 5 second countdown and we were off, embarking on my first 70.3 mile triathlon.

The 1.2 mile Swim

We hit the water and it was still cold, like swimming in a glass of ice water. On top of that, I was in a full wetsuit, something I haven't had the opportunity to train in at the 80 degree heated pool where I have had to do all of my training. Still, the mechanics kicked in and the arms were working.

At the beginning, I found myself swimming with my head almost completely out of the water at all times. It was slowing me down, but with the swells of stomach upsetting salt water coming towards us as we swam out to sea, my body kept swimming in that position. After a couple of minutes, I settled into a more comfortable rhythm and started swimming more normally. My body was getting used to the cold and was a little numb and I found a good rhythm and set of feet to follow.

We made our way along the left side of the pier to the elbow in the pier approximately 1/4 of the way through the swim. Mentally, I had broken the swim up into 4 segments to help me get through it. The first segment was from the beach to the 45 degree elbow on the pier, the second was from the elbow to the turn around point at the end of the pier, the third was from the turn around to the elbow on the other side, and the last segment was from the elbow to the beach finish on the other side of the pier from the start. Knowing that I hit the first quarter mark, I was feeling pretty good.

I had to readjust my trajectory a little as we rounded the corner so that I was aiming straight at the orange triangular turn around buoy as I could see it now. I stayed behind the same set of feet I was following and kept in rhythm. At this point the plankton and salt water was getting to me and, although I tried to not swallow any of it, you inevitably always do when you are swimming vigorously. I resorted to the occasionally interval of backstroke so that I could get a few deep breaths in and cough up what I could. Still, things were going well as I approached the end of the pier.

Along this part, there were massive harbor seals swimming all around us. You want to get a good surprise, try looking down as you are swimming in the ocean and seeing one of these sea dogs swimming right under you looking at you. Too bad it wasn't a leisurely swim where I could enjoy the wildlife more, but I was nearing the end of the pier and the turn around for the swim so I had to stay focused.

We reached the end of the pier, but things took a turn for the worse at the point. The race maps showed the race as pretty much following the lines of the pier, but I was very discouraged to see the turn around buoy still a good distance away as we reached the end of the pier. I corrected course and swam for what felt like an eternity to the turn around buoys, then started the long swim back to the beach.

When I turned around the end of the pier looked really far away and that was quite discouraging. I swam for what felt like another eternity until I finally made it to the end of the pier. At this point in the race, I was having some real stomach issues with the Pacific Ocean. I had to pause on several occasions, more than once feeling like I was about to throw up. I kept pushing and slowly the inflated red arch of the swim finish got progressively closer. It still felt like an eternity though, and my stomach was not liking me at this point.

Finally, I hit the beach. Once I was out of the water, I had to pause for a second. I was a little disoriented and my equilibrium was a little off. But, I shook that off and plodded my way through the sand and under the timing arch for the swim finish. Surprisingly, I had a decent swim time of 39:20, significantly faster than I was expecting.

Transition 1

Ask anyone who has done the Big Kahuna half Ironman and they will probably tell you there are two bad things about the race. The second we'll get to in the bike recap, but the first bad thing is the long run, over a quarter mile, from the beach to the transition area. It's funny that we complain about a quarter mile thrown into a 70.3 mile triathlon, but it is a problem.

After getting out of the water, we exiedt the beach an ran uphill on the streets of Santa Cruz, barefoot, for over a quarter mile to get to transition. Still in a wetsuit, dazed from the long swim, and running barefoot was not fun. I finally made it to transition were it took me a little time to peel off the wetsuit. My arms were a little wobbly from the swim and I wasn't expecting that. I put on all my bike gear minus the sunscreen as sunglasses as it was quite overcast and cool, then I walked my bike to the bike out zone. T1 took me 13 minutes and 36 seconds to go through, much longer than it should have and longer than most others. Although I want to blame the delay on the long run to the zone, I could have gone through faster.

The 56 mile bike

Once out of transition, I hopped on the bike and clipped in for the long ride. The start of the bike course is awkward as it has us going up a steep hill. I was in the lowest gear already so I made it, but many people continued to walk their bikes to the top of the hill before mounting. The first few miles wound us through the streets of Santa Cruz. Several turns and some terrain issues were actually a good thing here because it gave me a couple of miles to settle into the ride before the long stretch along Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, where most of the ride was taking place.

After the first few miles in town, we found our way to the Pacific Coast Highway, a beautiful stretch of road along the coast with beautiful ocean views, cliffs, and other spectaclar sights along the way. I settled into a comfortable pace, surprised to see my GPS telling me I was in the 23 MPH range, and was enjoying the light breeze I was feeling against my face. Things went rather well and I was performing better than I expected.

At about mile 12 we came to the community of Davenport. Now, at this location there is a set of train tracks that runs at an angle across the highway. Remember earlier when I told you that there were two things people disliked about this race? Thatother thing is the train tracks. This year, the crowd at the start line erupted in a loud cheer when we were told they would be covered. Me, I didn't really understand it all. I've never taken my bike across train tracks before and thought it was no big deal. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Every year numerous people crash at the tracks. In fact, as I approached the tracks, I noticed an ambulance waiting right there for the victims of the tracks. Little did I know that I was about to become one myself.

I approached the tracks and noticed they were not covered as promised. I wouldn't have thought anything of it, but I thought about the discussion at the start line and the cheers when the covering was announced, so I slowed up a little worried about what I was coming up to. I should have slowed more. As I got within feet of the tracks I noticed they had a wide gap and ran at about a 60 degree angle to the road. I couldn't stop and hit the first track at an angle.

I tried to save it, throwing my body to the right and turning to try and parallel the track. I was thinking that if I could just control the bike until I can stop I'll be OK. It was not meant to be, I was going too fast and my momentum carried me away from the direction I wanted to go. It was all I could to to get my shoes out of the clips as my body propelled to the left, separating from the bike. I came down hard on my left shoulder and let out a primal sound that was a combination between a scream and a growl. I wasn't in pain at that second, but I saw all my training flash before my eyes and knew my day was over. I continued the war cry as I slid along the Pacific Coast Highway on my left side.

Things finally came to rest. I was able to pull myself to my feet, thankfully nothing felt broken and I was able to stand. My left side was a mess, blood pouring from the areas of my skin on my leg and arm that had been removed by the asphalt. I looked up to see the paramedics running my way. I held out a hand and told them to stay back. If they were to help me at that point, I would have been disqualified and I wasn't about to quit until I knew it was impossible to continue. By god I was finishing this thing if there was any way to do so.

I saw my bike about 15 to 20 feet from me and walked over to it, picking up the water bottles along the way that had come off. I picked my bike up and surveyed the damage. The right brake lever was bent, the chain was thrown, and the rear brake had been knocked into the tire, but to my pleasant surprise the wheels looked like they were not bent. I spun the chain back on, bent the brake lever back to where I could, and re-tightened the rear brake to not rub on the wheel. On the side of the road I lifted the bike and spun both wheels, very happy to see they looked straight and neither tire was flat. Just a second earlier I knew my race was over. Now, there is hope.

I dabbed off the blood with my bike glove and mounted my bike. I started off slow, checking all the gears and the bike. It was obvious there was a problem with it, there was in incessant clicking coming from the gears, but it worked. I picked up a little speed and settled in for the remaining 44 miles of the bike ride.

Once I got going, the pain kicked in. The road rash on the leg and arm stung like hell. Luckily, the wind of riding as fast as I was dried the blood so that I could stop dabbing the wounds. Then, I noticed my left shoulder was in a significant amount of pain. A few days later I would find out that I had actually separated my shoulder (an injury worse than a dislocation), but for now all I knew was the pain.

I pushed through it, knowing I would finish the race, knowing as long as I was able to move I wasn't stopping. The miles started to tick by and my speed picked up. There were many rolling hills and beautiful sights along the route, but I was focused straight forward on getting through this pain. To make things worse, all the riders that passed me said the same thing; "Are you OK?" What do you think? Seriously? How do I even respond to that? I'm covered in dried blood and still moving forward, of course I'm not OK but there is nothing I can do about it, is there! It felt like it took more energy to cordially respond to these people than to ride the bike. I appreciate the sentiment, but really there is nothing you can do about it.

At about mile 25, I could see the Pigeon Point lighthouse, the turnaround point for the bike. I smiled for the first time since the crash, knowing I was getting closer to finishing. The lighthouse got closer and then at mile 28 I came across the CHP units directing traffic at the turn around point. I made it. The CHP officer waving us across the freeway was saying encouraging things to us as we turned back for the 28 mile return trip. Then, he said "The headwind going back is not too bad!" Headwind? WTF? Was I just riding this whole segment with a tailwind?

You remember that light breeze I mentioned at the start of the bike? Well, apparently a 15 MPH tailwind feels like a 8 MPH breeze when you are spinning along at 23 MPH. I turned my bike to the south and instantly felt the headwind I was dreading. I frowned a bit and hunkered down for a long 28 miles.

My legs were getting tired of spinning into the headwind, but the miles ticked by and I grimaced through the countless "are you OK" comments from the other riders. No, I thought, I'm NOT OK, my shoulder hurts like hell. I watched the miles tick by one by one, thinking if I can just make it to the run my shoulder won't be an issue. Finally, we came back by Davenport and the dreaded train tracks. I stopped my bike and walked it across, catching the sight of paramedics working on multiple riders who had crashed there. Back on the bike, we pushed through the miles and back into town.

As we came back through, my family was waiting on the side of the road cheering me on. I mustered the biggest smile I could to tell them I was OK, knowing that my protective mother, my wife, and my dad were all going to be worried sick when they say my injuries. What I wasn't thinking about was the fact that my injuries were only apparent from the back, not the front. They later told me they had no idea anything was wrong at this point and thought I looked "quite good" on the bike, noticing the smile. My ruse had worked. Then, I finally cam to the "Bike In" sign at the end of the bike course. My shoulder was screaming at me, but I was about to be done with the bike and on to the run where it wouldn't cause any problems. At least that is what I thought, but as it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong.

I crossed the bike line in 3 hours, 9 minutes, and 5 seconds. Not a bad time considering the bike crash.

Transition 2

After crossing the bike finish line I eagerly pulled the bike into its rack and went to pull my bike jersey off. Uh-oh. I couldn't do it. I couldn't raise my left arm up high enough to do it. At this point, I toyed with the notion of quitting the race and not doing the run, but I was determined to finish the race come hell or high water. I winced through the pain of pulling the jersey off with my good right arm and winced again as I slipped on the running shirt.

I was disappointed with how long I was taking in transition and worried that I was still going to be having problems. My road rash was stingily painful and the shoulder was giving me a deep and sharp nail like pain. But, I was going to finish. 7 minutes and 25 seconds in transition and I was finally off on the run.

The Half Marathon Run

I started out on the run on the same uphill road that the bike course started on. Fortunately, running a hill is easier than biking it. I was doing a slow jog, working on my composure so as to have a big smile and look good as I ran by my family. Once again, I pulled off the ruse as I ran by them. My dad, however, noticed the road rash as I was running away from them and the worry started.

Then, charades for the family aside, I started to notice that painful shoulder again. Man did it hurt. You never realize how much you use your arms and shoulders in running until you try to run with them injured. I couldn't swing my left arm much and this was causing a slow and awkward running gait. On top of that, I notice my abs were very sore. Apparently, during the bike course with the pain I was holding my abs really tight and they were not happy with that. Only a half mile into the run and I was in pain, quickly realizing that I needed some mental toughness to get through it.

The run started out along the cliff train between the ocean and city. I watched my GPS watch intently, coming up with the strategy of running 10% of the race (1.31 miles) and then doing a 2 minute walking interval. This lasted only once before my sore abs and painful shoulder stretched the intervals farther and farther. We wound our way away form the ocean and I was about one third done with the run, noticing I was a lot slower than planned. My crash had really caught up to me and I was in trouble.

At this point in the race we were just about out of pavement before transitioning to dirt for the trail portion of the run. I was walking more than running, but trying to keep the walk brisk to not loose too much time. An online friend of mine, Terry C. from daily mile, was also running this race. He is a lot faster than me and in better shape. I never met him in person and was very surprised to hear him call out my name and say hi as he ran by heading back to the finish. He was about 6 or 7 miles ahead of me on the run at that point and it showed. I only wished I looked that strong, but at this point I looked pitiful. Still, it was nice to see a friend out there.

I muscled through the run as the path transitioned to dirt. We had a couple of miles to go on the winding dirt path before reaching the turn around point, a 5 foot tall Tiki statute. It seemed like that statute was never coming and it felt like a longer distance that it was. The intervals were getting to be almost all walking. Finally, 6.55 miles into the run, we found the Tiki and turned around for the trip home. Halfway through the last sport of the day and it was all I could do to hope I would make it.

A couple of miles later we were back to pavement. At about mile 9 of the race I resorted to a brisk walk and finally gave up on the intervals, my abs and should telling me they were done. I watched the pace and time on my GPS grow. My hopes of a 2 hour half marathon like normal were quickly fading into hopes for a 2:30 half, then at mile 10 I realized that a 3 hour half marathon would be lucky. I sporadically tried a couple of intervals over the next couple of miles, but every part of my body told me not to. In addition to the shoulder and abs, my right foot which I had been favoring thanks to the injuries to the left side of my body was in trouble and forming blisters.

Finally, we hit mile 12 and for the first time I knew I was going to finish. I was so relieved that I was going to make it, but I know my family was worried sick about me right now. They know that every half marathon I have ever run was under 2 hours, yet here I was finishing closer to 3. With about three quarters of a mile to go, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk came into view, the finish of the race. Unfortunately, this meant I was about to come across the long last half mile of the race running on the sands of the beach. There was a downhill before hitting the sand and I let my legs jog a little.

I hit the sand and kept running, fearing that I would get stuck in the sand if I stopped to walk. It seemed like forever running on that beach and running on the sand is not an easy thing to do, especially after 7 hours of exercise. But I kept it up.

Finally, there was the finish line. I made it. I finished my first half Ironman. The run took me 2:57:22 and my overall time was 7:06:49, much slower than hoped for, but I made it. With a separated shoulder and pain coming from everywhere thanks to the bike crash, I still made it. I didn't quit, I didn't give in, and I pulled it off!

After the race

Immediately after crossing the finish line I was greeted by medical personnel who said "come with us." Apparently, I was required to get medically cleared before leaving the finish zone. They bandaged me up and gave be some Tylenol and I filled up on water and post race food.

People always ask me why I do this - why push yourself beyond what most people will. The reason is because I can. As a 325 pond couch potato I couldn't. Now, 100 pounds lighter I can do it and I'll be damned if I am going to pass on the opportunity to do something amazing that I will remember forever.

Even with all the problems in this race, life is still good and I am still glad I did it. Now, time to get back to training for the next event.

Floating through the Abyss

2011-09-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in about a week, and I still owe you a recap of the Santa Cruz Half Ironman. This last week has been really odd and I had plenty of time to do the recap, but I got nothing done last week. I felt like I was floating through an abyss, stuck in limbo if you will. Thanks to the separated shoulder and the significant road rash, I have not been able to exercise at all this last week, and to quote a family member, "an injured runner is not a happy runner."

I ate bad foods, ate too much, laid around all day, and watched the pounds pile up on the scale. I was definitely in a funk that needed to change. This week, I am being diligent and back from the mandatory rest period. The shoulder feels better, but not 100% yet, and the road rash is mostly healed with the exception of a stinging circle on my left elbow.

The bad part about taking last week off was that it was supposed to be a 20 mile run yesterday as a peak run before the Denver Marathon in 20 days. I'm jumping back into the training this week, but I don't know how missing that 20 mile monster will affect the marathon run on the 9th of October.

One thing is certain, I hate resting. Being injured sucks.

Hopefully, the short 5K tomorrow morning will go well and I will be able to officially say I'm back.

Salty cold water, a bloody bike crash, a painful run, and a finish line

2011-09-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

My first half Ironman - despite several difficulties including a bike crash, I can now say proudly that I have finished a 70.3 mile Half Ironman triathlon! More details to come and I'll fill in the text today or tomorrow. Right now I am medicated under doctor's orders and resting an injured shoulder. For now, enjoy some pictures and video.

Here is me being medically cleared - AFTER FINISHING!!!

Here were are, all second-guessing the wisdom of doing this as

we stare into the cold Pacific Ocean just before the start.

No turning back now as we hit the icy-cold salt water.

I don't swim in the ocean much, and the salt was really getting to me and making me sick here.

Finally out of the water. Once I got my bearings I made the .25 mile hike to transition.

This is the end of the bike. You can't really see it here, but I'm all bloody

down the back left side of my body from the mile 12 crash. But, I made it.

After 7 painful hours and digging deep for the willpower, I made the

final push on the beach run to get to the finish line - my first Half Ironman.

Salt, sweat, blood, and a dislocated shoulder.

2011-09-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

The running of the Big Kahuna Half Ironman was today. My first attempt at a 70.3 mile triathlon. I'll give you the full details soon, but here is the highlight of the race.

About 12 miles into the bike, we crossed a set of train tracks that run at an angle to the road. The race promised us they would be covered, but they were not. I did my best, but apparently I didn't hit them right at 90 degrees. My front tire snapped into the grove of the rail, and it was all I could do to get my feet out of the clips before being seperated from my bike and flying left shoulder first into the hard surface of Highway 1. I let out a war cry of a scream, half due to pain and half because the worst case scenario was unfolding right before my eyes. I slid on the road for what felt like an eternity.

When everything came to rest, I picked myself up, and surveiled the bloody wreckage of what was fromerly the left side of my body. My bike was on its side, a good 15 feet away. Paramedics were there, apparently fully aware that bikes and railroad tracks are a recipie for disaster, and they came running towards me. I held out my hand and yelled "stay back!" I wasn't about to settle for a DNF on my first half Ironman until I confirmed my bike or body was to battered to go on.

I walked to my bike, picked it up, and gazed upon the bare alluminum where the paint had been scraped clean off.

What next?

To be continued...

Race day fast approaching

2011-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

I never really though of how much stuff you actually need for a triathlon. Being a runner, preparing for a big race is quite easy. Shorts, shirt, hydration belt, shoes, socks, GPS, and gels. But, I have a literal truckload of stuff for the half Ironman on Sunday. With this much stuff, hopefully I won't forget something important.

I'm still really nervous about pulling off the single longest exercise day ever for me. That can be a little frightening and I just hope I can pull it all off. I'll find out in two days.

Getting nervous, excited, and a little giddy

2011-09-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

Only 4 days.

That is all that is left between now and my first half Ironman. The Big Kahuna Triathlon - 70.3 miles - 1.2 miles swimming in the ocean, then 56 miles on my bike up and down the California coast, then 13.1 miles running along the cliffs of Santa Cruz. This will be the longest physical day for me that I have ever done.

I'm really nervous, a lot more nervous that I thought I would be. When you first sign up for a race like this, you think "I can do that!" But, when the race is almost here you start thinking about the epic challenge that is in front of you and it is quite frightening. I know how I felt physically after my first half marathon and after my first marathon, and that scares me. I know that this Sunday I will be pushing my body to a point it has never been before. I'm scared that I wont finish.

But, the excitement is countering the nervousness a little. Yes, I am scared, but I am also excited to be doing something that others look at as crazy. I spending half the day swimming, biking, and running. I'm going to be traveling basically the equivalent of going from Chicago to Milwaukee all by human power. If that isn't scary, I don't know what is.

But, in the end I am a little giddy. The weather looks good, dry with a high in the upper 60's, and this race that seemed so far away is now just 96 hours away.

Let's just hope I can pull this off.

7 days and counting

2011-09-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Big Kahuna - my first 70.3 half Iron triathlon - takes place next Sunday in Santa Cruz, California. I hope I am ready and I think my training has prepared me for the day, but I won't really know until next week. Fortunately, the weather looks like it will be nice for the ride.

The forecast for next Sunday in Santa Cruz is:

It looks like it may be a bit chilly in the morning, but the plus side to that is the run will be only in the high 60's, perfect running weather.

I think I am ready - yesterday I went out for my last long bike ride - 71.75 miles - and was able to get it done in 4:06. A little slower than I will likely be in Santa Cruz because the course there is relatively flat with rolling hills. The ride I took yesterday took me from the City of Merced to the City of Mariposa and had some good elevation gain.

The swimming I am feeling relatively strong at, the bike I know I can pull off, and the run I have been doing for a year now. Let's just hope I can put them all together in one day and finish my first 70.3

10 Days and Counting

2011-09-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

It's getting close. My first half Iron 70.3 triathlon is only 10 days away. I'm feeling just like I did before my first marathon - giddy, nervous, paranoid about last second problems, checking the weather forecasts every hour, and partly wondering if I can actually pull it off.

One thing is for sure, I will find out the answer to that last part in 10 days.

"Oh! You scared me!"

2011-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I went out for a short 5 mile run. I was planning on pushing a little to run this one faster than normal and I did just that, finishing the 5 miles in 41:10. My route this morning was one of my usual routes when takes me about a mile down a semi-rural road with no sidewalks before getting to my favorite placed to run - a separated bike trail leading to our University.

About 1/2 of the way down that road, I spotted another person out exercising. It is quite normal to see others out on the road and I always see at least 4 or 5 other people. This person was out for a walk in her workout gear. Now, we were both going in the same direction; however, I was running on the left shoulder of the road (facing the oncoming traffic) and she was walking on the right shoulder of the road (with the traffic to her back). As I approached her, I could see that she had ear buds in both of her ears, presumably listening to some music.

She didn't notice me as I was approaching. It wasn't until I was about 5 feet from her that she finally noticed me. She was startled, looking at me saying "Oh! You scared me!" I responded with a smile and said "Sorry." But, that got me thinking again about safety.

My dad raised me to always be aware of ones surroundings. He told me to always be ready for anything and to protect yourself from dangers that may pop up. That is by far the greatest advice ever and something that most runners and walkers need to heed. This lady could have easily been struck by a car coming down the road, not paying attention and not realizing that there was a walker in the lane. We all would have said "what a tragedy" and that would have been true, but the saddest part would have been that she, the walker, could have protected yourself.

I have been handed down several pieces of advice, most from my dad, on how to stay safe in the world. I will pass them on to you now in the hopes that you can be even safer out there while enjoying some exercise.

1. Always be aware of your surroundings

First, always pay attention to what is around you. Keep an eye out for suspicious people, what is approaching you, and what you are approaching. Look for cars starting (will they back into your path?), look for people in chars (will the open the door as I run by?), and look for any potential hazards coming your way. As long as you are aware of your surroundings, you will be able to avoid trouble.

2. Always have an escape route

Always think "what if?" What if that potential danger turns into a real one? Have a plan ready. If a car comes directly toward you where will you jump? Where can you go to get out of the way? Do you need to temporarily run on the other side for a moment so that you could escape? Always having an escape rout in your head is vital. That way, when trouble comes your way the reaction to follow your escape route will come second nature.

3. Be aware of others line of sight

This is so true on morning runs. Where is the sun? Which drivers will be partially blinded as they drive into it and towards you? Are there any obstructions that could cause them not to see you? While you always prepare for the worst, knowing when the danger is heightened will help you stay safe.

4. Run facing traffic

We were all told in school to go with the flow of traffic. That is crap. When you run, run facing the traffic so that if there is an out of control driver you will see him coming and be able to escape. This piece of advice helps you to be as aware of your surroundings as possible.

5. Ditch the iPod

OK, so you love listening to music. Me too. But, it is more important to be alive that to have music in your ears as you are hit by the car you didn't see approaching. Here in California, there is a law against driving with earphones. That law is in place because you have to be able to hear things like sirens and screeching tires. I NEVER run with an iPod because I want to hear all of my surroundings. If trouble is approaching, you will probably be able to hear it before you see it. Just like the walker who didn't notice me until I was 5 feet away, you could easily miss an approaching vehicle about to hit you. No, you won't go crazy without music. Listen to the sounds of nature (or the city, if you are there) and you will find that these workouts without music will be great times to think through all of the problems of the day.

6. Don't expect others to avoid you

Finally, don't expect that just because you have the right of way others will avoid you. Always assume that they won't and then you won't be caught off guard when they actually don't avoid you. Yes, it has happened to me a few times and I had to use my escape route. It will happen to you too. Expect it to happen and you will safely avoid it.

Well, those are my humble pieces of advice passed down from my dad to me, and now I pass them on to you in the hopes that you stay safe and enjoy this precious life we have been given.

Be safe.

My first 70.3 - less than two weeks away

2011-08-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

OK, now I am getting nervous. I had a bad run yesterday that kicked my butt and I am only 13 days away from my first half-Iron triathlon. Will I be ready? Can I make it? 70.3 miles is a long way to travel in one day - I just hope that I can make it through the 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run in one piece.

Doing a half-Iron triathlon is something I never thought I would be attempting, but here I am, attempting to achieve something else always thought ridiculously impossible. One thing is certain, this is going to rank up there with the toughest things I have ever attempted. Hopefully I can pull it off.

Appreciating a nice sunset and how life has changed

2011-08-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, I wouldn't have noticed. Two years ago I would come home from work, binge on some fast food or whatever fat laden snack was readily available, diet Coke in one hand, and plop my 325 pound self on the couch to watch TV until it is time for bed. Things like when the sun rises and when it sets were not that apparent to me - I did all my living inside insulated from the real world. Two years ago I never would have been outside, noticing the beautiful sunset that, in late August, was coming a little quicker than it was the month before.

Not only have I gotten in touch with what is important intrinsically, but I have also become more in touch with the real world. I'm no longer afraid to go out in a crowd, no longer seeing that I was the largest guy in the group. I no long hide from reality behind the silver and white wrapper of a Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger, but face it head on - wind in my face traveling down the road at 20 miles per hour on my bike.

Life is good - and I know that now.

This morning I was treated to a beautiful sunrise as I was several miles from home on an early morning bike ride. There was visible humidity in the air causing a glow as the sun pushed its way up over the Sierra Nevada mountains. The air was turning from the stagnant feel of summer to the crisp mornings of late summer. What a beautiful day. Tonight, I went outside and was treated to a beautiful sunset thanks to the uncommon clouds in the sky.

That is when it hit me - how much my life has changed. For those out there trying to get in shape, I think the best piece of advice I can offer is to try and change your life, not just ty to get in shape or loose weight. The scale is just a number, a fitness goal is just a check box on some chart somewhere or a medal to collect dust on a wall. The true reward will be the new lifestyle you create for yourself. When you seek to change your life, look at every change as a part of your new lifestyle, not just some temporary fix that lasts a short while. That is what got me through a lot. I would look at every change in my lifestyle with the question "is this something I can do for the rest of my life?" If the answer was no, I would find another way to accomplish my goals while adopting a new lifestyle that I was comfortable living.

Now, my healthy lifestyle is the norm. It is who I am now, and I'm loving every minute of it.

UPS - WTF are you doing?

2011-08-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

It is not even 6 a.m. yet, but I am heading out the door for a 9 mile run. I was supposed to do this run yesterday, but I got a little lazy and didn't do it. No excuses today, time to run. This is a peak week in the training and with the 70.3 coming up in only 17 short days, I have to stick to my training.

I'm hoping to train soon in my new triathlon 2XU shorts that I just ordered, but they are not in yet. I thought they might come in today because, according to the UPS tracker, they were in Arizona on Tuesday. But, I checked this morning and UPS now says they are in Kentucky! Really? WTF!? I'm in California and you had to send them from Arizona THROUGH KENTUCKY to get to me?

UPS - in my book this qualifies as an epic fail.

OK, no more pontification on the inefficiencies of the Unite Parcel Service, it's time to run.

19 days until my first half-Iron 70.3 triathlon

2011-08-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

It seem like just yesterday. I had signed up for both my 2012 events, the Ironman Coeur d'Alene and the Ironman California. I didn't even have a bike. Doing and Ironman was a dream, part of me wondering "can I REALLY do this or am I just kidding myself?" I plunged headfirst into the vast unknown, buying a bike and starting to swim.

I didn't know what to expect. Heck, I hadn't even ridden a bike since . . . well, I don't even remember when but I can tell you it was VERY long time ago. I started to swim at the gym's pool in my baggy swim suit. The bike came in and I went for my first ride, squiggly as could be.

The days passed and I kept at it. I bought the clothes I needed, learned how to swim efficiently while saving the legs, and learned to "pull" when spinning on the bike. The swims and the rides got longer, and I started to get a little cocky. So, I signed up for a half Ironman race in September, thinking it was months away.

Next thing I knew, I completed my first full Ironman 2.4 mile swim. Then, a 100K bike ride. Then another 2.4 mile swim. I was really going to do this and now I have a glimmer of hope that I CAN actually do this. This morning I went out for a brisk 50K ride and came home feeling energized. I'm ready for the first test - I'm ready for my first 70.3. Now, that first big Ironman test is only 19 days away.

Fitting that my first half Ironman, the Big Kahuna 70.3, is on the 10 year anniversary of September 11th. Another reminder of how precious life is and how we all need to live life to our fullest potential ever chance we get. I think it is safe to say I am doing that now.

Life is good.

My First Triathlon Recap!

2011-08-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

Life is good! Every day I am thrilled to be alive and doing such amazing things that I never thought I could do. Today was no exception.

With my first half-Iron triathlon coming up in about a month, I figured it was a good idea to get some practice in swimming in a crowd and in transitions. I signed up for a short Triathlon in Pleasanton, California, consisting of a 400 meter swim, an 11 mile bike ride, and a 5K run. I had a blast and I can't wait for the next triathlon!

It was a nice cool morning in the bay area about 2 hours away from the oppressive heat of the central valley where I live. Getting up at 3:15 am to drive to the event wasn't fun, but when we got there and started to set up our transition area along with the 1000 other triathletes, things got exciting.

Ok, so it's not the most flattering picture here, but this is what I look like in my new Xterra wetsuit. Don't get me wrong, the suit fits and feels great, but form fitting rubberized material has never been a good look for me personally. Anyway, I brought all my Ironman gear to this event in order to practice (1) swimming in a large crowd and (2) transitions. So, here I am in the full wetsuit.

The water was relatively warm and we really did not need a wetsuit, but many of us were wearing them to get used to swimming in them for a big race. Not really knowing what to expect, I stepped into the water and mingled with the seasoned veterans and talked to them to set my mind at ease. So, swim cap, wetsuit, and goggles all on, I toed the imaginary line in the water getting ready for the start.

The start was a little hectic, but everything went smoothly. Having done most of my swim training in a pool with a line on the bottom to follow, I found navigation a bit unfamiliar. I would look up occasionally to see myself drifting off course and have to correct. I tried following another swimmer, but he too was going off course.

I was a little surprised at the difficulty of this swim. I thought it would be easier than it was, but I went out a little fast and had to slow a bit half way through. Despite the pace issues, I made the two left hand turns of the horseshoe swim and headed back to the beach for the end of the swim still feeling pretty good.

After only 7 short minutes in the water, I popped out onto the beach for the transition. I was surprisingly fast, practically leading the pack for my wave. 7 minutes for 400 meters is a lot faster than I have been doing in the pool in training, so I was happy with that.

I made my way into transition and took my tame, taking a full 7 minutes as several of the swimmers behind me passed me out onto the bike course. I took my time, wanting to practice my Ironman transitions. Sure, I used more gear than I needed for this shorter triathlon. But, I wanted to train like it was an Ironman event so that I could learn what I need to do come race day on those days. After cleaning up and getting all the bike gear on, I grabbed my bike and hit the road.

Once on the bike, our first task was to conquer a steep hill for the first 100 yards. I had my bike in the lowest gear for the start and it helped. Once on top of the hill, the legs kicked in and I started spinning the wheels.

I was spinning quite fast, but I was not wearing myself out. In the first mile, I passed several others and thought that I was perhaps going too fast, but with the legs feeling great I didn't slow at all. Mile after mile ticked by and I was passing numerous riders. Not once did I get passed, which felt very odd. I'm not THAT good of a cyclist after only 2 months on a bile that I can ride without getting passed, am I? But, I passed rider after rider and no matter how many times I looked over my shoulder no a single other rider passed me.

The ride was over before I knew it. 11 miles never felt so fast. A blisteringly fast 29 minutes, my pace averaging an incredible 22.8 miles per hour, well above all expectations. I took the bike back into transition and surprised my rack neighbor, someone who started in the first wave 5 minutes before I did and just had gotten to T2. I took my time again in T2, taking 5 minutes and practicing an Ironman transition. Once situated, I set out for the run.

The clouds had just burned off at this point and the sun was starting to warm us a little. Still, the weather was actually quite nice. Once off the parking lot that made up the run out area, we found ourselves on the packed dirt fire trail for a 5K run through the park.

The run was tougher than many of my training runs as it involved numerous steep inclines and declines. Some of them were so steep it was difficult to keep running. But, pushing through, I finished the 5K, hills and all, in 28 minutes.

I crossed the finish line 1:16:13 after starting. Not bad for a 400 meter swim, 11 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run, especially when you consider the 12 minutes I took in transition. I feel great and this event reminded me of that wonderful feeling you get when you do something like this.

Life is good!

Chicago Half Marathon Recap

2011-08-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

Ahh... the Windy City. My kind of town.

Most large cities have a major tourist draw that highlights their city. Seattle has the Space Needle, St. Louis has the Arch, San Francisco has the Golden Gate, but Chicago . . . Chicago is usually highlighted as a glimmering skyline sitting on the edge of the great lakes. The images of Chicago highlight the whole city, not just the "must see" attraction.
Chicago is not the shining gem of the country, and it doesn't pretend to be. But, the city grows on you. Every hour I spent in the city I found myself liking it more and more. Usually, things are the other way around. Usually, I find that I am in awe of a new city only to have that city loose some of its lustre after a day or two. Instead, Chicago kept showing me what it had to offer and set me off from the airport wanting more. I'll probably be back to visit again.

Coming into the city, there were massive thunderheads all around lighting up every few seconds with bolts of lightning. Our plane weaved left and right around them to get to O'Hare. Once there, I boarded the Blue Line "L" train for a ride into the city. The city itself is shockingly vertical. There are many sections of the roads that are under other road sections, almost like two separate "street levels" of the city. When I got off the "L" train and subway to walk a few blocks to my hotel, I found myself having to walk up some stairs from the lower street level to the upper streets to get there. That was very odd.

I checked into my hotel, the Intercontinental on the Miracle mile, at around 7 a.m. on Saturday. I was planning on checking my bag with the hotel, but was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a room ready for me and I could check in early, a much needed reprieve from a red eye flight that afforded my only about 2 hours of sleep. I took a short hour or so nap, and then was refreshed enough to hit the city.
I left my hotel and boarded the Red Line train northbound. I usually try to find some restaurants that serve amazing food, typically ones that have been featured on Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" shows when I travel and I found a few in Chicago. I hit my stop, got off the train, and walked one block to Ann Sather's, a Swedish diner that is know for an incredibly decadent french toast concoction that is made from their special and made fresh cinnamon rolls, stuffed with marscapone cheese and butter, and topped with fresh fruit and powdered sugar. Being of Swedish decent myself, I had to try this place. The breakfast didn't disappoint and was so incredibly flavorful I didn't deed the syrup they brought me. That was a true treat.

After breakfast I made my way to the race expo. This being my 5th Rock n' Roll race this year, I guess you can say that I am kind of an expo veteran. I picked up my race number and goodie bag and was off for the freebies. I cruised through the expo picking up many freebies from snacks to shirts. I was also able to pick up my "Rock Star" medal for this 5th race which was really cool, no waiting weeks to get this one! Gorged on free samples, I headed back to my hotel for another little nap. I laid out my running outfit for the next day, mixed my race drink, and headed up to the 12th floor of the hotel to take a swim in their nearly 100 year old pool area. That was a treat and something not to be missed if you stay at this hotel. I then headed back to my room for a little nap.

At around 4 p.m. I cleaned myself up again and headed to the south end of downtown to catch a preseason NFL game at Soldier field. Thanks to the NFL lockout, I was able to land a second hand ticket rater cheap a few weeks ago and thought I would treat myself. The trip so far had been relatively dry, but it was starting to rain a little as I made my way through security at Soldier field to watch the Bears play the Bills. The stadium was first class and was a treat to watch a game at. The only problem was that my ticket was a "United Club" ticket and the Club was just filled wit hall sorts of wonderfully looking and smelling foods that I couldn't eat unless I wanted to be really hurting at the race the next day. I settled on a pretzel and water and watched the Bears beat the Bills.

After the game, I walked back to my hotel on the north side of downtown. When I ht my room at about 11:00 p.m., my feet were telling me that I had put a lot of miles on them with all the activities of the day. Hoping that my feet would not hate me the next morning, I had the wake up call set for 4 a.m. the next morning and got some sleep.

Race Morning - Pre Race
The phone rang at 4:00 for the wake-up call. 4:00 a.m. Chicago time is the same as 2:00 a.m. at home, so needless to say I was groggy and tired. But, I cleaned myself up and headed to the Red Line train to catch a ride to the start. I got to the start area and the pre-race excitement started to build. 16 thousand runners were coming into the area for a 13.1 mile foot tour of the city. The weather was overcast but not rainy and was relatively good running weather but for the warmth and humidity.
I found my way to start corral #4, my assigned corral, and started to stretch out for the run. At 6:30, the gun went off and the first wave was released. About 90 seconds later, my corral was at the line.

Start to mile 2

The start line was crowded as to be expected, but with the corral system we we all running out at the same pace to the north out of the downtown Chicago area. I was running at about 8:00 minutes a mile and so was everyone else. The start had some problems with multiple medians popping up and throwing us off our pace, but that would soon thin out.

Then, came the bridge.

At about the 3/4 mile mark, we came to a bridge crossing the Chicago river. This bridge was horrid to run over. The surface consisted of a metal grate open to the river below that had a rather large diamond pattern. Running over this bridge was tough and several people tripped. I had to slow significantly and run on my heels to avoid getting my toes caught on the bridge. I was happy to be off that one.

After the bridge, we turned west on Grand and wound through the miracle mile and by my hotel until at about mile 1.5, there was another dreaded bridge. Slowing again and getting on my heels, I made it over this tripping hazard and was back over the Chicago river into the downtown loop of Chicago.

Mile 2 to Mile 6

I was able to keep going and stay on pace with a new Personal Record. I crossed the 5K mark in blistering time for a half marathon for me, 24:58. But, things were going to get tougher.

After 5K we were just about done with downtown and again turned to the west, this time heading down Adams street and into a more suburban setting. At about this point the massive humidity and the heat were taking their toll on the runners, many dropping off their pace and nearly all of us drenched from head to toe. My shoes were getting a little "sloggy" and it felt like we were running in a sauna.

The miles ticked by and I watched the humidity and heat slowly pick off several runners one by one. I was not going to be one of them. At mile 6, we were back to the river and back into downtown.

Mile 6 to Mile 8

Back in the downtown area, the humidity started to push back. The downtown area of Chicago feels almost subterranean and it traps the heat and humidity. But, I kept pushing to the 10K mark in an amazingly fast 50:58. I was also very pleased to see that I was well under an hour when I hit the 7 mile mark. Running faster than 7 miles an hour is a great feeling.

At that point we pushed south out of downtown and the race got tougher. Every step away was one that we knew we would have to take back to get to the finish line. Mentally, this was a tough stretch.

Mile 8 to Mile 10

The humidity was still punishing and my pace had slowed a bit. I was fighting it, but I couldn't keep the 8 minute miles going. The turn around back to the finish was at mile 10 and I was still pushing quite hard on the way to that point. It felt like the turn around would never get there, but eventually we found it and looped back to the finish.

Mile 10 to Mile 12.4

My pace picked up a little as the end was near and I knew it. I could see the majestic Gotham City skyline closing in and I pushed hard, knowing I was right about my PR time and I would have to push to beat it.

Then, we hit a long .5 mile tunnel under the McCormick place event center. Talk about difficult, there was no light so you had to really stare at your feet to see the ground and not stumble. Plus, we hit a wall of humidity as we entered the tunnel. We were almost literally running in a steam room full of sweaty runners who had just run double digit miles. The end could not come soon enough.

Then, there was the light at the end of the tunnel. We were out and made one last turn just past mile 12 to the last straightaway to the finish.

Mile 12.4 to the Finish

At the 20K mark, we could see the finish line in the distance. Looking at my watch I knew I would be close to a new personal record and I dug deep. I was shocked to find that I had quite a bit of power left. I wish I would have used some of that earlier in the course, but I was using some of it now. I pushed as hard as I could watching my watch tick closer to the mark I was trying to beat. MY watch clicked past 1:52 and I was still on the course, but close to the finish. That was very frustrating because at that point I realized I was going to barely miss a new PR.

I crossed the finish line in 1:52:28, only 10 seconds off a personal record.

So, I am kicking myself now, thinking of all the stretches of road that I could have poured it on a little more to make up those 10 seconds. But, it is what it is, another half marathon well under 2 hours. Interestingly enough, my time was better than Al Roker's by an hour and 20 minutes, so I can take pride in that.

Now, it is back to training for the 70.3 half-Iron Big Kahuna triathlon in Santa Cruz on September 11.

Back from Chicago

2011-08-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

After a whirlwind two days in the windy city, I am back home and back to the training. I haven't had time yet to post the race recap and will hopefully do that sometime today.

Did I set a new personal record and break the 1:52:18 in Chicago? My official race time was" 1 hour, 52 minutes, and ...

28 seconds.

Missed a PR by 10 measly seconds. The entire flight home I was thinking about where on the course I could have gained those few seconds, but I guess a PR was not in the cards.

More to come.

Off to the windy city

2011-08-12T16:59:00.001-07:00

OK, Chicago is the windy city for political reasons and not for the actual wind. But, there is predicted to be relatively strong 15 MPH winds and thunderstorms when I land tomorrow morning. The rain is predicted to continue through the race. NOT ideal running conditions and not what I was hoping for. To make things worse, the wind is coming from the north and directly against the last 5 miles of the run. Oh boy, this one might be tough. Still, I feel good and ready for a new PR, so if the weather takes a turn, even a little one, that might be in the cards.

Now, I am heading off to that land of fog to catch a flight from San Francisco to Chicago. Time to enjoy a nice weekend - going to a Bears v. Bills game tomorrow at Soldier filed and then running a half marathon on Sunday.

4 days until the Chicago Half Marathon

2011-08-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

I went out this morning for a "shake out" run, a short 4 mile run trying to shake the legs out of their funk they have been in since the 16 mile run on Saturday. The legs are still a little tight and has me a little worried, but not to much. Hopefully tomorrows 4 mile shake out run will clear the legs up and have them ready for the race, hopefully ready to break the current 1:52:18 PR.

It loos like decent weather in the low 60's on Sunday - if that holds and the "few showers" that are predicted don't materialize, I might have a shot at a new PR. At least I am hoping for that.

Preparing for Chicago

2011-08-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is the running of the Chicago Rock n' Roll Half Marathon and I'll be running in it wearing number 4270. I have to give a big thank you to GU Energy for sponsoring me in this race, I love traveling to all these places that I have never been to and seeing the sights in truly uncommon fashion - by passing them on the race course! Chicago is no exception to that rule. Aside from passing through the O'Hare airport a handful of times, I have never actually set foot in the city. It is going to be a fun weekend of going to a Bears game at Soldier field on Saturday and then running the Half Marathon on Sunday.

I haven't talked much about this race, but I have really been looking forward to it. I am hoping to beat my half marathon PR of 1:52, but I'm not sure if that is going to happen with my training schedule. Two days ago I went for a 16 mile run that I am still recovering from today and I am not tapering like I always have done before a race because I have several races in October I am still conditioning for. But, Chicago is a perfect course to try for a PR and if things smooth out this week, I just might have a chance. Who knows?

Besides the 16 mile run on Saturday, this weekend I also invested in a couple of new tires for my bike, Continental Gatorskin tires. After talking to a lot of triathletes, many say they use these tires and there flat problems have ceased, so I'm going to give them a shot in hopes of avoiding that annoying 20 minute tire changing routine in the middle of a ride that seems to be happening to me a lot. I'm having the bike shop install them on Tuesday when they tune up the bike and thoroughly inspect the wheels for any other possible cause of flats just to make sure.

It was a busy weekend, but things are coming together. In 6 days, I will have another race under my belt!

The morning run

2011-08-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Some runs aren't too great. That was this morning.

Getting out of bed around 5:15, I really didn't want to hit the road. My legs ached a little and were telling me that they have been delivering a lot of miles lately. I told the legs they were going to have to do 8 more miles today as I laced up my shoes for the pre-dawn run. I hit the road, going quite slow to respect the legs.

As most runs do, the pace picked up and after about a mile and a half I was down in the 9 minute mile range. Still a minute a mile slower than I want to be for the race in two weeks, but not too bad considering the work I have put my legs through lately. The run never really got to that comfortable and effortless point that some runs get to, it was a struggle the whole way.

I decided to run an out-and-back course today rather than a loop. This way, I would not be able to cut the run short and wimp out. I knew that if I was going to cut any run short, today would be the day. So I headed out of town past a horse pasture, some corn fields, and then made my way towards the UC Merced campus. I'm really glad I did that.

About half a mile from the campus, the sun started to rise over the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was a beautiful sunrise, something that most people miss. That help the run as I kept going into the campus and to the far corner until the GPS dinged for the 4 mile mark. Then I turned around for the run back. Running an out and back course means you can't cut the miles short, you are going to have to finish them one way or another so you might as well keep running.

Home at last, 73 minutes later.

It wasn't the best run, but even the worst of runs have their high points and seeing that sunrise was a definite high point. The important thing is that I stuck to the training and got the miles done. Now my legs get a well deserved 2 days off from running before the 16 mile run on Saturday.

Beginner training - by miles or time?

2011-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

When I talk to people about my training, I tell them that I train by distance, not time. There are a lot of training schedules out there that set training days according to specific workout times (i.e. a 30 minute run) and there are a lot of plans that set training based on distance (i.e. a 3 mile run). Both have advantages, but I have found that training by distances are the most advantageous for me. I know that a lot of athletes will disagree with me, but I'm sticking with my plans and here are the reasons why.

1. Most events that you train for are for set distances.

Whether it is a 140.6 mile Ironman, a 26.2 mile marathon, or a 5K, most of the events that will be the victory lap of all this training are a races over a certain distance and not a set time. If you train by time, a 30 minute run could be at the extremes 1 mile or 6 miles. By using distances as a training guide, you will properly build your endurance and capabilities in line with the event you are training for.

2. Training routes differ in difficulty

If you change up the route you run, you will be running some easy flat downhill portions and some tough hilly climbs, all of which help you be a better runner. For the beginner, I think it is important to learn how your body handles different terrains over set distances. Training by distance makes the tougher runs tougher and the easier runs easier, both of which teach you a lot about your body and what you need to do to pull through come race day. Chances are the race you are training for is a course you have never run before and there will always be a surprise along the way that you will have to adjust to conquer. My first marathon was billed as a flat and fast course, but in reality the first 15 miles had a lot of significant rolling hills. I adapted based on my training experience because I knew what my body needed to do to complete the distance. Training by distance helps in that regard.

3. Weather changes with the seasons

Changes in the weather can greatly affect your speed. When it is hot you usually run slower. Chances are there will be a season change between the start of training and the event. By using a distance training plan, you'll be ready for the weather come race day.

4. PR's are a great feeling

When you go out for that set distance run and finish it faster than you ever did before, you will feel on top of the world and like nothing can stop you.

So, those are my reasons for training by distance rather than time. It's worked for me so far.

The scale is my friend again

2011-08-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

After some good training over the past few weeks, the scale responded nicely. I haven't talked about weight much lately and I have been hovering at the same weight for a few months now. However, the Ironman training has allowed me to do more workouts by doing different sports. My overall exercise time for the course of the week has gone up and my body is responding by shedding excess weight. Today, the scale said 229, that's about 10 ponds lighter than a month ago. I figured I would probably loose weight in the training and expect to be near 185 on race day next June, but I didn't expect the pounds to start coming off again so fast at over 2 pounds per week.

Loosing the excess weight feels good. I thing I have noticed the effect it has had on my runs.

The first brick - a quarter Iron day

2011-07-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Ask a triathlete what is the most important part of training and many will tell you it is the brick workout. A "brick" is a common term for a combined biking and running workout, usually a bike ride followed quickly by a run. Today, I built my first brick workout and was quite surprised at the results.

I set out to do a quarter Iron distance brick, exactly on quarter of the Ironman bike distance and one quarter of the Ironman run distance. That's 28 miles on the bike and then 6.55 miles on the feet.

The bike ride was mostly quite nice. I was fighting a strong wind for much of the ride, but I was also spinning a little slower than I knew I could to try and conserve some energy for the run. the first 25 miles went very smoothly, but then on mile 26 that darn rear tire flattened on me again. This is the second time it has done that in a short period of time, so I think I am going to take that wheel in to get it looked at. I had the tire filled all the way to 120 PSI and everything was seated correctly, had a new tube in there and fully checked the tire and made sure there was nothing in there that would puncture the tube, but it still flattened on me. It took me about 23 minutes to finally get the flat fixed and get back on the road. I took the last two miles a little slow, the hand pump I carry can get me to about 80 PSI and that is it, so I didn't want to push it.

I finally got home. I did the ride in 1:31, right on pace. Of course, that time excludes the time it took me to change the flat. However, even if you count that I was still under 2 hours which is within the time window for the races. When I got home I jumped off the bike and brought it inside to my simulated "T2" zone. T2 stands for "Transition 2" and is what you go through transitioning from the bike to a run in an Ironman.

Last night, I built my T2 bag and had it ready to try and simulate race conditions as closely as possible. I came in from the bike, stripped off all the bike gear, and dumped the run bag on the floor. I took my time putting everything on - fresh socks, water belt, shorts, shirt, and anti-friction stuff. After only 6 short minutes, I was out of T2 and walking outside to the start of the run. I hit the start button on the GPS again for my 6.55 mile run and was off.

The first tenth of a mile was really weird. The whole world felt like it was moving slowly and I was in slow motion. I was warned about this from other triathletes, so I wasn't too worried. After that awkward tenth of a mile, I settled into my run. I was amazed at this one.

I thought it would be really tough to run after a long bike ride like that, but I was actually running faster than normal despite the heat of the day and the bike ride. The run was feeling almost effortless too. I couldn't believe it, but I settled in to about an 8:40 per mile pace, faster than normal for me. I kept going waiting for fatigue to get me, but it never did. I couldn't believe in when I finished the quarter marathon run in 58 minutes, quite fast for me by itself but lightning fast considering it was the second half of a brick workout.

I think I am going to like this multi-sport stuff!

A good run can change everything

2011-07-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Everything around me seemed to be pulling me back as I hit the snooze button on the 5 a.m. alarm. But, I forced myself out of bed. Once out of bed, I didn't feel like going on my planned 7 mile run. I had thousands of excuses tromping through my head. But, I forced myself to put on the running outfit and forced myself out the door. I didn't want to do it, but my wife has started walking and running in the mornings and she was heading out the door, so I figured I better do it too and be a good example.

I took off on the run at about 9:45/mile for the first few tenths, really not wanting to be out this morning. About a mile in the pace got a little faster and smoothed out as usual after the first mile of a run. It was a beautiful morning, the kind of morning that is not too warm and absolutely picturesque. The kind of morning that makes you want to stop and take pictures of the way the sun and the wisps of clouds artfully play with the landscape. About 2 miles into the run, I cam across a beautiful scene with farm fields and the university in the background. My whole lethargic attitude changed.

Every mile, I noticed I was getting faster and faster without really trying. I hit my turn around point inside the University, the highest point of the run, and felt pretty good. By mile 5, I noticed I was a lot closer to an 8 minute mile than a 9 minute mile. I kept getting faster, now under 8 minutes a mile. I hit the 10K mark right about 54 minutes and thought "I could pull off these 7 miles in under and hour!" So, I kicked the speed up and pushed through the last 8 tenths of a mile to finish the 7 mile run in 59:49.

It is amazing how this one run put me in such a good mood. I good run can change everything.

An early morning 28 mile ride

2011-07-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ahh . . . 5 a.m.

That wonderful time of the day when most everyone is still sleeping, but the birds have started to wake up to sing and the sun prepares the sky for its imminent arrival. The air is crisp even in the summer, and things can seem just perfect.

I have come to appreciate the 5 a.m. runs and, now that I am multi-sport training, the bike rides are just as impressive. I went out today for a 28 mile ride and it was a great one. No traffic, but enough light to be safe, and no 100 degree temperatures. Once again I was surprised to see my speed getting faster, finishing the ride in 1:26 with an average pace of 19.5 MPH.

Maybe I can pull off this Ironman after all!

Maybe. . .

14 miles today, appreciating life's gifts

2011-07-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I ran 14 miles. That feels good to say. It wasn't easy, a run taking 2 hours and 9 minutes never is, but it was all worth it. It reminds me of where I was, 325 pounds and scared to death getting on a tread mill, running for maybe 30 seconds until I had to stop, knowing it was going to be a long and hard road but it needed to be done, I needed to change my life. A year an a half later, I can look back and say I have done just that, I have changed my life. No longer is my focus on what fancy meal I am going to have next or what new show is on television, rather I am focused on running, swimming, biking, and training for some great events where I will get together with thousands of my friends who all appreciate life in the manner that I have learned to do. Life is good and I am glad I made the change.

One year ago I was writing about a 15K long run, my longest at the time (click here for the post). On days like today when I am feeling good and resting with elevated feet after a long run, I like to look back on where I was a year ago at that year old post. This one was a particularly good one detailing a great 9.3 mile run and my new found appreciation for life. Here is an excerpt of what I said:

It was a really beautiful run today. I am someone who has always sat in front of a TV and stayed inside, appreciating only the creations designed specifically to entertain. But, today I was enjoying the beauty of the outdoors just as much as any movie. When I started the run, I noticed there were scattered rain clouds misting about a mile south west of where I was. About half way through the run at the most scenic part of my run, it started to mist a little. The mist felt good as I had just run a large incline to the highest elevation of the run. When I looked around, there were rainbows everywhere. Truly a great sight!

That is why I run. That is why I do these things. I appreciate life and pushing my body to accomplish amazing things that feel impossible to me and that everyone else thinks is impossible is a joy unlike any other. It is a joy that permeates my body and gives me a heightened awareness of all that is good in the world. I seem to appreciate everything that this world has to offer on a new level as I did on that run one year ago.

Sometimes, when I am on a run or when I cross the finish line, I don't look so good. I'm not smiling, I'm exhausted, and often walking with a lot of pepper in my step. Several around me always ask me if I am OK. Of course I am, despite my looks. The way I look on the outside is not a reflection on the feeling inside, the appreciation for life that is flowing throughout me. Some of my family members regularly question my goals, suggest I am doing too much and express worry about my physical health. To those that worry and see me cross the finish line of a marathon with a limp and a grimace - you have to trust me on this one - I feel better on the inside that I ever felt as a 325 pound couch potato. I have learned to appreciate life. I have looked impossibility in the face and beaten it - repeatedly.

Life is good.

Back to training

2011-07-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

I headed out today for a nice 28 mile ride with hills and ended up finishing in 1:28:36, a good time averaging about 19 MPH. I'm back, the overtraining has been kicked in the butt thanks to a couple days of rest. Luckily, I caught it early and it only took a couple of days to get over.

Back on track

2011-07-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

That extra rest day yesterday seemed to have stayed off the problems I was having. I am back to feeling close to 100% today and ready to continue my training tomorrow. It is really important to listen to your body when you are training for something. Yesterday, my body was telling me that it needed a rest day and I listened.

Overtraining?

2011-07-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'm having one of those days today. Everything is taking more effort to get done, I feel sluggish and tired, and I have very little self control with my diet (and am cursing the person who brought doughnuts to work today). I think I might be suffer from a little bit of overtraining, so I am scratching the short sake out 5K run tomorrow and am going to take it easy and be really strict with the healthy diet. Hopefully that will help get things back to normal. I have read about and heard of overtraining, a problem brought on by adding too much to the training too fast, but I have never experienced it before, so this is all a little new. But, the good news is that the literature all says that if you catch it early, it con be overcome in a day or two.

Lets hope for that.

First flat tire

2011-07-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

One of the problems with training for an Ironman is that, by necessity, it consumes your free time. Training 20 hours a week, plus another 10 hours for the time it takes to get ready for the training, drive to the lake or gym, etc., makes training a full time job. On top of that there is the real job which for me often exceeds 40 hours a week. Simply put, there is not much room in my schedule.

To train effectively, you have to make use of your free time as best you can. Yesterday, I was very close to home when the lunch hour hit, which is a bit unusual for me. So, I ran home, threw on some different clothes, grabbed the bike, and went out for a short ride.

A short 14 mile ride that would have been perfect, but for the flat tire I got at the turn around point. I got it fixed and got back on the road, but I lost close to 20 minutes with the tire. I was able to avoid any problems at work, but it was really frustrating to be late even if it was just a few minutes. I guess the moral to this story is when you are trying to squeeze a workout in over the lunch hour, keep close to home or have it planned so that if a problem pops up you can end your workout quickly and not loose time.

Speaking of training consuming my life, it is 5:30 a.m. now and time to go out for a 7 mile run.

The half Ironman baseline

2011-07-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

What a great 3 days.

On Friday, I embarked on the goal of establishing a basline time for my half Ironman training. I planned on going through all three events over three consecutive days and using that time as a goal time for my upcoming half Ironman distance triathlon. I know I had a days rest in between each event, but I figured at the peak of my training the times I posted over this weekend would be reasonable goals for race day. Here is how it went:

Friday's 1.2 mile swim - 0:40
Saturday's 56 mile bike - 3:20
Sunday's 13.1 mile run - 2:05
Total for all 70.3 miles - 6:05

So, I am set to train to pull off a half Ironman in 6 hours and 5 minutes plus transition time. Honestly my times seem faster than I thought they would be and they are well within the cutoff times for the race, but those times are now my baseline times to work towards. Kind of cool!

I never would have thought I would be able to do something like this. The human body and mind is an amazing thing and it is capable of so much. There really is no limit to what we can do. For example, I encourage you to check out the blog of an online friend of mine, professional Ironman Jeff Paul. As I was finishing my half marathon today, he was running with blistering speed in the Racine Ironman 70.3. He put on a great show.

Jeff Paul's official time:
1.2 mile swim - 29:50 (no, he didn't wear flippers)
56 mile bike - 2:15:02 (no, it wasn't all downhill)
13.1 mile run - 1:20:24 (wow - no other word than wow)
70.3 MILE TOTAL - 4:07:45 - 6TH PLACE!!!

Jeff Paul has been a great inspiration to me. He is a very good guy and is extremely motivational. This performance of his is just amazing and I encourage everyone go check out his blog (click here) and send some congrats his way, that professional Ironman has earned it.

Life is good!

Feeling like a total bad ass after a 100K bike ride

2011-07-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Forgive the language, but it was the word that best describes how I am feeling right now. Why? I finished a 100K bike ride this morning. 62 miles, also known as the metric century, and I finished with an average pace of 17 MPH with a time of 3:39. In addition, I rode out towards Yosemite National Park that had a lot of very nasty hills, so it was a really tough course. I'm feeling amazing right now, like a total bad ass (again, forgive the language, but it is the best way to describe things today).

The ride today was a planned 56 miles, the half Ironman distance. The idea this week is that I am doing all three Half Ironman distance events over three consecutive days. Yesterday I swam 1.2 miles in 40 minutes flat, a new best time, today I was supposed to bike 56 miles and ended up doing 62, and tomorrow I am running 13.1 miles. This is a good way to test my abilities and give me a baseline for the start of my Ironman training.

So far, things are going well. The swim was done in 40 minutes, that is half an hour under the swim cutoff time. Today I hit the 56 mile mark right at 3:20, which is one hour under the cutoff time (assuming no extra time carried over from the swim), and tomorrow I am running the half marathon.

Now, I think I'm going to take a little nap.

Preparing for a half Ironman distance triathlon

2011-07-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Over the next three days, I am going to do the half-Ironman distances in all three events. Today, it is a 1.2 mile swim, tomorrow, a 56 mile bike, and Sunday it will be a 13.1 mile run. I want to see how my body reacts to the three events back to back to back and I want to make sure that my times in each of the event are well under the cutoff times for a 70.3 half Ironman.

Before the full Ironman in Coeur d'Alene next year, I am going to be doing at least one half Ironman distance race. I'm also going to try and fit in other triathlons to get used to transitions and doing all three sports in one day. I think it would be a little foolish to jump into an Ironman race without a triathlon pedigree. So, now I have my sights set on a half Ironman distance race.

I have been doing quite well in the nutrition department lately and the scale is showing it, dropping regularly for the first time in a while. I figure within a month I will be close to my low of 221 and still dropping on my way down to racing weight. Working out more is also helping the excess weight disappear. My body is accepting the extra workouts quite well, I assume because I am mixing the sports up and using the muscles in a different way throughout the workouts. It will be interesting to see how my body reacts to this weekends three sport workouts.

This weekend should be fun

No excuses, time to run

2011-07-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here I sit, checking my email at 5:30 in the morning, getting ready for an hour training run before work. I have thousands of excuses running through my head as to why I should just stay home today and sleep in, but I know I can't listen to the excuses. Over the next year there are going to be a lot of early mornings and a lot of excuses, but I have to will through them and stick to the training.

The hardest part of a run is usually the moment I am putting on my shoes and lacing them up. It seems odd to say that, but it is true. That is the moment when I need the most will power to ignore the desire to stay home.

OK, no excuses this morning. Time to run.

Why am I doing an Ironman?

2011-07-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

When asked why I am training for an Ironman, I sometimes have a hard time articulating it properly. I found this video that is just too good not to share. Hopefully it helps explain why I want to do this.

First Full Ironman Distance Swim

2011-07-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

Talk about being on top of the world right now. I hit the pool at the gym today for my first attempt at a full Ironman distance swim. 2.4 miles, approximately 160 laps (which the computer says is actually 2.49 miles). I was nervous and it was tough, but I pulled it off!!! The best part of the swim is that I pulled it if in only 1 hour and 28 minutes, well within the 2:20 cutoff time for the Ironman and a good time all things considered. I know the actual Ironman will be tougher in the colder lake with thousands of others swimming around me, but it still feels great to know I can pull it off.

Anything is possible.

So it begins - the road to becoming an Ironman

2011-07-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

When I first set out to become a marathoner, it was around this time last year. I was nervous and scared, wondering if I would actually be able to finish such an insurmountable goal. Today, looking back at this last week busy week of exercise, I am having the same thoughts. It is exciting to face a challenge that seems impossible. This whole week during my exercises the same thought has been running through my head: "I'm actually doing this, I'm going to compete in an Ironman." And so it begins.

This weekend was a busy one for me. With the marathon training, I was running 3 or 4 days a week and typically resting or doing a strength workout on the off days. That was not the case this week as I am working in training on all three sports, running, bicycling, and swimming. I has several long workouts this week including a 1.2 mile swim (47 minutes), a 43 mile bike ride (2 hours 40 minutes) and an 8 mile run (1 hour 15 minutes). I did the long run on Sunday, the day after riding the 43 miles, and I was pleased to not be too exhausted from the bike ride. More importantly, the pace I am keeping in all three sports is fast enough to beat the cutoff times in the Ironman and half Ironman events as long as I can keep it up.

The biggest worry I have right now is not finishing the Ironman because of not making the time cutoffs. I will have 17 hours to complete the 140.6 mile event, but there are specific times I have to complete each event to be allowed to continue. I have to finish the 2.4 mile swim in 2 hours and 20 minutes, the 112 mile bike ride in 8 hours and 10 minutes, and the 26.2 mile run in 6 hours and 30 minutes, all including the transition times and back to back. I know right now I could likely do all three in the time allotted, but doing that consecutively in one day makes it very difficult. But, one thing I have learned over the bast year in that anything is possible and the body is capable of doing amazing things if you have the mental fortitude to get through it.

I am ready to do those amazing things. I have embarked on the journey to become an Ironman.

First long ride

2011-07-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

I took the new bike out for it's first long ride today. It was a scenic ride all the way out to Merced Falls, a spot about 21 miles from home. The bike held up well and everything went very smooth. It only took me 2:40 to finish the 42.73 mile ride, an average pace of 16 MPH, not bad considering I kept the clock running when I stopped several times along the way and stopped for about 5-10 minutes at the falls.

Good morning for a swim

2011-07-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up at an ungodly hour to head to the gym. Why? I was going to a gym a little ways away from my house where they had a good 25 meter pool. I was in the water at 5 a.m. and 47 minutes later I finished my 80th lap. That's 1.24 miles - a half Ironman distance swim. If I can keep that pace up, things will be looking good come next June. As an added bonus, I wasn't exhausted during the day like I thought I would be, which means nothing but good things. I'm also back on a proper diet and the few pounds I have recently added are coming off.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Like riding a bike . . . literally!

2011-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took the bike out for a spin. I can't remember the last time I rode a bike, but I know it was when I was a kid. It felt good to get out there and put in the 12.7 miles in 50 minutes. Sure, the bike was a little squirley at first and I still need to toy with a few adjustments to get it right, but it is nice to know I still remember how to ride.

The bike portion of the Ironman event has always been the wild card for me. I know how fast I can swim and haw fast I can run, but how fast can I ride a bike? Yesterday's ride averaged 15 MPH with a few stops along the way, which would be a 7 and 1/2 hour bike ride of I were to go the full 112 miles. This Ironman is going to be tough, but I'll be ready.

Ironman Coeur d'Alene

2011-07-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

After running in the Seattle marathon, I headed to the airport for a short flight from Seattle to Spokane, Washington. Spokane is a medium sized city right on the Washington and Idaho border. The Seattle marathon was on Saturday and Sunday was the 2011 running of the Ironman Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. So, legs a little stiff from the marathon, I made my way to the airport and boarded my 1 hour flight to Spokane. After landing in Spokane, I picked up a rental car and made the 30 minute drive to Coeur d'Alene.

Idaho was very beautiful. We were about 2000 feet above sea level in the hills and trees of some beautiful country, but at the same time close enough to any amenity your would need. Over the course of the weekend I fell in love with the area. Everywhere I went there were people out doing active things. The air was crisp and clean, and the people were very friendly. This was a place that I could see myself living. But, enough about that. After the short drive I met up with one of the volunteer coordinators for the Ironman event and was given the run down on what my duties would be for the next day's event. You see, I know that Ironman events sell out almost instantaneously and volunteering at this years event would put me front of the line to get a ticket to 2012.

I was handed an Ironman polo shirt, an Ironman 2011 staff badge, and given a Race Support sticker for my car so I could get anywhere on race day. When I rented my car, I was upgraded to a Ford Mustang, fitting for a race support vehicle in the Ford Ironman. After getting the run down on my duties, I headed to my hotel for a little sleep before the long day ahead of me on Sunday.

Sunday came and I got up early, heading down to the start of the Ironman just before 6 a.m.. The mood was electric and there was excitement in the air. All the participants were suiting up in their wetsuits for the 2.4 mile swim, giddy with excitement, while thousands of spectators looked on. It was going to be an exciting day. The water in the lake was cold (high 50's) but all the participants couldn't wait to get started. At 6:30, the famous Ironman Cannon goes off and the pro field headed out for the swim. This was impressive to watch and they were lightning fast in the water. Still, it would take them about an hour to complete the long swim.

After the pros started, the age group (general entry) runners started to dance around the start area. 7:00 came and the events started in truly amazing form. Thousands were in the water, embarking on a 140.6 mile journey that would take all day to the sounds of U2's "Beautiful Day" blaring and thousands of spectators cheering them through it. It was nothing short of inspiring and I wanted to be one of those athletes myself.

After watching the swim, I headed over to the "bike out" area where the athletes transition from the swim to the bike. Thousands of bikes were lined up by athlete number, many of them worth more than a small car, all ready for their owners 112 mile journey on them after getting out of the chilly water in Lake Coeur d'Alene. The weather was warming up at this point and I could tell that were were headed for the low 70's, pretty good weather for an event like this.

Finally, the first of the pro group started to head to the bike out area and were off just as fast as they came in.

After that it was time to head to my assigned work station, the bike penalty tent. I knew I would not be making many friends here, after all who wants to be cordial when they have to wait out a 4 minute penalty for "drafting." But, I wanted to work this section to get an idea of the process for next year. I would hate to be disqualified from the race because of too many penalties, so I wanted to work this station to get an idea of how often that happens. Apparently, according to the people running the show, not too often. Than gave me some relief and I was enjoying the day.

Being right along the course at about mile 55, just before the end of the first lap and the bike run for those on their second lap, was a great viewing location. The pros all rocketed by with an amazing quickness, but the most exciting part was watching all the age groupers come by. a handful of them had to wait out penalties and their attitudes ranged from jovial and accepting to downright venomous, all of which were completely understandable. But, I didn't see a single person come through with multiple penalties and was relieve to see that getting kicked out because of inadvertent penalties didn't seem to be happening.

After my duties at the bike tent, I headed to the finish line of the run to watch the athletes on their final few steps after the 26.2 mile marathon run. THAT was inspiring.

Athleete after athlete came through under the Timex arch, all showing the emotion of finishing something that seems impossible. They marched through the finish with music and thousands of cheering spectators along the last half mile of the course. When they approached the finish the announcer would call out their name and say "You are an Ironman!" WOW, what an accomplishment and an amazing day for everyone.

The athletes kept coming in for hours and I couldn't leave, entranced by the amazing feat I was watching unfold before my very eyes. I want to be a part of this. The area started to fill with half dazed finishers, proudly wearing their medals proclaiming them Ironmen.

In short, it was nothing less than amazing.

The next day, I got up early again and headed to City Park in Coeur d'Alene. Workers were busy taking down all the equipment and barricades that were needed to pull off this 140.6 mile event. There were lines of finishers waiting to get into the merchandise tent, ready to snap up all the items that proclaim them Ironmen finishers, but I was looking for a different line. About 7 a.m., I found that line 2 hours before the opening of what we were lined up for.

Like I said earlier, Ironman events sell out almost instantaneously and one of the only ways to be assured that you can get a ticket is to be at the event a year before you plan on running it to sign up in person. Volunteers get to go to the front of that line too. I was there to make sure that I got my ticket, in 2012 I will be an Ironman.

8:30 rolls around and the line is about a quarter mile long. They open the line up early at that point and I am one of the first in. 10 minutes later, I emerge with my ticket to the Ford Ironman 2012 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I felt just like I did when I weighed a lot more and committed to a marathon. Part of me questioning my ability to actually do it, but the excitement of setting out to pull off something impossible overriding that fear.

I have one year to be ready, and I will be ready. 2010 was a good year, 2011 has been a great year so far, and 2012 will be a fantastic year.

Seattle Marathon Recap

2011-07-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

I know it has taken almost a week for the marathon recap to post, but it has been one heck of a week. On Thursday, I flew from the Modesto airport to Seattle. I got in late, checked into my hotel that I was able to walk to from the airport, and got to sleep early. The next day, I checked out of my hotel and moved to the Crowne Plaza for Friday night (a downtown hotel close to the finish line).

I made my way to the expo. When I walked in, the song "If today was your last day" was playing loudly. I have adopted that song as my anthem and was really pumped to hear that playing. If you check out my video (on the right of this blog page) that song is the background. After getting my race number, I had a chance to meet one of my online friends, Rychen, which was pretty cool. When I was first starting running I found his blog, www.mindoverbodymarathon.com, and his race recaps were a great help to me in being prepared for what to expect at a large event like this. His also quite fast and would finish this race 45 minutes before me. He is also a lot taller than me. I'm 6 foot (6 foot 1 inch on a good day) and he is a good few inches taller. The things you learn when you meet someone in person!

After the expo, I headed to my hotel to get some sleep. The next morning, I made the mile walk to the shuttle pick up location and piled on the school bus to get shuttled to the start line. I forgot how small school buses were and lets just say it was a cramped ride in that seat.

One of the problems with a point-to-point marathon is on the drive to the start you are forced to realize how long of a run you are in for. In any event, the weather was perfect and it was going to be a good day for running.

The Race

The marathon start was smooth and everything was well orchestrated. The only problem was that my right calf was tight and acting up. So, I just took my time and set out for a non-PR run. My calf issues were forcing me into an awkward gait that favored my other leg and I would pay for that later, but in the beginning everything was going well.

In the first 10K of the race, there were a lot of downhill runs and that propelled me to sub 9 minute miles, but I knew that wouldn't last. The weather was holding nicely in the low 60's and overcast with no ran. At about mile 9 we split from the half marathon runners and did a long out and back across the bridge. This point of the race was a little cold as the wind coming off the water provided a bit of a chill.

We joined back up with the half marathoners and escorted them to their finish. It was a little disheartening to sent them off to the finish as we took off north through the downtown area for 10 more miles. At this point in the race, my off center stride had created an awkward blister in my left foot and I was slowing quite significantly. My stride and changed to try and avoid the blister.
I kept going for a long stretch out of town. This part of the race was a little difficult because it was a long out and back and you could see the line of runners for miles.

We finally hit the turn around point at the north end of the city and started heading back toward the finish line. It was a long haul but we finally made it back to the finish line area, however, this turned out to be a little frustrating. At about mile 21, we passed the finish line on our way for an out and back run. To be so close to the line and have to turn away was frustrating. On the way back, at about mile 25, the same thing happened, we passed the finish again.

Finally, we spiraled down an off ramp and made out way to the finish of the 26.2 mile day. Everclear was playing as I crossed the line in 4:52. Not a PR, but a good day nonetheless.

After the race, I walked a mile and a half to my hotel, cleaned up, checked out, and made my way to the airport for my flight to Spokane. From there, I rented a car and drove to Coeur d'Alene to work the Ironman event there.

More on that amazing experience to come . . .

Whate does "Finally Airborne" mean?

2011-06-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's not often you can say you have an epiphany. Those moments of sudden realization are very rare, but when one hits it is an incredible experience. In truly, I don't remember having a real epiphany. That is, until this Sunday. On Sunday it hit me what the title of my blog, "Finally Airborne," actually means.

When I started this blog, I weighed 325 pounds and wanted to loose a little weight to be able to fit in an airplane and get my pilots license. Flying is something I have always wanted to do. But, I never asked myself why I really wanted to fly. Even if I would have asked myself that question, I doubt I would have been able to answer it. After watching the Ironman in Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, I finally realized why I wanted to fly.

We are not supposed to be able to fly. Flying has always been associated with something impossible. I remember about a year ago when I took the controls of an airplane for the first time and the feeling I had. Then I called it an indescribable feeling, but now I know it was the feeling of doing something that we are not supposed to be able to do. Watching the emotional finish of the Ironman and all the athletes crossing the finish lime 140.6 miles after starting, they all were displaying the same feeling. They had just done something they were not supposed to be able to do. They had achieved something everyone thinks is impossible.

That is what the title of this blog means - Finally Airborne describe that moment when you lift off the ground and achieve something you are not supposed to. It means to achieve the impossible. On Monday, I was lined up bright and early at the park in Coeur d'Alene. At 8:30 a.m., I was officially registered for the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2012.

The next year is going to be a long and tough road, one I know I can't get down by myself. I will lean on some of you for support and advice, I will have setbacks and achievements, I will stumble and I will pull ahead, but I will keep going. At 7 a.m. on June 24, 2012, I will be jumping in the water at the lake to the sound of a cannon, setting out for a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run, something I am not supposed to be able to do. But I will do it. I will be airborne once again.

26.2 more miles in the books

2011-06-25T16:30:00.001-07:00

4 hours, 52 minutes, and 25 seconds. Not even close to a PR, but an accomplishment nonethless. Full race recap to come, but for those of you wondering why I am 20 minutes off my San Diego time, I'll give you some of the painful details now. My right calf has been acting up the last week and that was concerning to me, but I kept it a secret. It was tough to run on and I developed an of-centered stride favoring my left leg. That worked well for about 15 miles, but the stride was creating a big problem in my overused left foot. By the end of the race, a blister the size of a silver dollar had developed, requiring another stride change favoring the outside of the blistered foot. Long story short, I hurt.

But, I finished.

Now, off to Coeur d'Alene.

It all comes down to this

2011-06-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Seattle is great! Cool weather, an amazing market, and a lot to do. But, it is almost 7:00 p.m. and I am back in my hotel room now. I spent the last hour getting ready for tommorow, laying out the gear and loading the belt. No time for being a tourist right now. It all comes down to this. 26.2 miles of what feels impossible. Even though this is my fourth marathon, it still feels impossible the night before. Will I make it? Will I PR? Or will that right calf act up again? I won't know until tomorrow.

Looking at the running outfit all laid out, setting the alarm for 4 a.m., and going to sleep at 8 p.m. while on vacation, I am getting really excited for the marathon that lies just 12 short hours away. All the training, all the ups and downs, all the setbacks and all the triumphs, it all comes down to this.

See you in 26.2 miles.

In Seattle and enjoying perfect running weather

2011-06-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

The flights to Seattle yesterday went off without a hitch, even landing in Seattle about 20 minutes before the scheduled time. With all the flight troubles I have had recently, this was a refreshing twist on air travel. Seattle so far looks great. Perfect running weather with overcast skies and nowhere near the 100 degree temperatures at home.

Today is going to be a fun filled day of shopping, visiting the expo, and sightseeing. Fun filled, but also low key and I am going to limit the walking today to avoid leg fatigue like I think I had in San Diego. This is so exciting! Tomorrow I am running my FOURTH marathon!!!

Flying to Seattle tomorrow

2011-06-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I leave for Seattle. I am taking a total of 6 flights over the course of the weekend between all my travels to Seattle and Coeur d'Alene and I am holding my breath right now to see what happens on my flights tomorrow.

I fly United for my flights to build miles, but I'm starting to question that decision. So far, every trip I have taken with United has had problems and I have yet to complete an entire round trip on them without wither getting bumped to another flight or having them loose my luggage. I'm cringing because I don't yet know what the problem will be with my upcoming flights, but I know there will be some.

On thing is certain, if United screws these flights up, I'm switching to Delta.

Pre-marathon Paranoia

2011-06-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean the world is not out to get you."

That is one of the favorite sayings of someone I once knew, and unfortunately it stuck. Over the past year I've learned that runners and triathletes are a very superstitious and borderline paranoid group. We know that the smallest problem can build into an insurmountable one by the end of the event. The tiniest twinge or pain that most would just shrug off as a minor annoyance can sometimes build mile after mile until it is all you can do to continue on doing the "dead man's shuffle" and hope to see the finish line soon. I guess that knowledge is why we are such a paranoid group.

Most of the little twinges and pains are normal and don't turn out to be indicators of a potentially devastating problem manifesting itself. But, we worry nonetheless. This week every little twinge and pain that has come up has made me nervous, constantly thinking about what it could lead to in the race and if it might bring about the dreaded DNF race result. I know I wont let that happen, but the thought is there.

So, Thursday night I head to Seattle for Saturday's running of the Rock 'n Roll marathon, paranoid about every little twinge, but excited about overcoming it all and crossing the finish line. This marathon appears to be the most difficult one I have run with some serious hills, so it is going to be tough. But, it is all worth it.

Life is good - despite the paranoia.

Seattle here I come

2011-06-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

In 3 days, I jet off to that rainy city in the Pacific Northwest - Seattle. The forecast for marathon day has changed and it is now predicted to be just overcast and not rainy. If that is the case that means perfect running weather.

I'm really looking forward to this run and I am really hoping to beat my San Diego time, even though I ran that one only 3 short weeks ago. The Seattle course looks a little tougher than San Diego, it has a steady hill for the first 5 miles and then what looks like a really tough hill for a mile at mile 17 and then another 1/2 mile hill at mile 19. In my training runs I try to prepare myself for hills, but I can only find small ones where I live and this will be a challenge. But, it is a challenge I am ready for.

Bring it on, Seattle!

One week until the Seattle Marathon

2011-06-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

This morning I am about to set out for my last long run before the Seattle Marathon. It is a short one - just 8 miles - but that is what is called for the week before a marathon on my schedule. I have been watching the weather for Seattle and right now it is forecast to be perfect running temperatures, but it is also forecast to rain. Running in a light mist, a drizzle, or very sporadic showers wouldn't be too bad, but if it is full on rain it will be an interesting experience and something I have never done in a race.

Summer is here

2011-06-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

68 degrees at 5:00 a.m.? You have got to be kidding me!

The weather went from feeling like a cool Spring just two weeks ago to now full on summer with 100+ degree heat in the day and a warm high 60's in the early morning hours. These last tow days it has been really odd going out at 5:00 a.m. in the morning, well before the sun crosses the horizon, and be wearing running shorts and a t-shirt. Just two weeks ago it was long pants and two long sleeve layers on top.

I was really appreciating the cool summer we have been having out here in the California central valley, but that seems to have changed almost instantly. At least it is perfect running weather in the early morning. In fact, the weather was so good this morning I couldn't help but go farther than the planned 5 miles and ended up putting in a full 10K.

One thing is certain, the weather has been odd this year. Let's just hope the the weather in Seattle in 10 days for the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon is as predicted, a dry and partly cloudy day with a low of 54 and a high of 68. That would be awesome running weather!

Committed to the Ironman goal

2011-06-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

OK, I took a major step forward today in my progress towards my goal of completing the Ironman Coeur d'Alene in June of 2012 - I bought my bike.

It is a "Gavin Corsa" and should arrive in a couple of weeks. Several triathlon-crazy friends took a look at it and think it should be a great bike for my journey. I guess there is no turning back now.

Listening to my body

2011-06-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Over the past year and a half, I've received truckloads of advice. Some good and some bad, but none as important as the advice to "listen to your body." Several people have expressed concern that I am running too much. Mind you, most of these people are non runners and when I say I regularly run 5+ miles before work they think I'm crazy. But, there is a point where you can be "over trained" and you can run too much. That is where I was this morning, over trained.

Fortunately, the more in tune with your body you are, the quicker you will get through an over training phase. Today I realized that my planned 13.1 mile run was a little far, so half way in I decided to cut the run short, returning home at 11.15 miles. I also dialed down the pace a bit, slowing by about 30-40 seconds a mile. This way, I should be ready to run Seattle.

This January I learned a big lesson about over training. I went out for a 21.7 mile run, but my body was telling me to cut it short by mile 12. I didn't listen and ended up as an injured runner. Unfortunately, that was only weeks before the Arizona Marathon and I ended up running that one, injured, in a painfully slow 5:21. This time things will be different. I listened to my body today and am sitting down now, no injuries and resting. I don't know if I will set a personal record in Seattle, I may be a little slow if I'm not over this over training phase by then, but the experience will be much better than the experience in Arizona in January.

So, what to take from my experience is that you have to listen to your body. There will always be little aches and pains associated with running, but pay attention to what your body is telling you and if the run doesn't feel right, consider slowing down and cutting some distance off. Just because the training schedule says 13 miles doesn't meant you have to finish all 13 miles to be ready for the next race. I'm proud to say that I listened to my body today and I am better off for it.

Ironman Coeur d'Alene

2011-06-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

In just two short weeks from tomorrow I will be running in the Seattle Marathon. Then, they day after that I am heading to Coeur d'Alene Idaho for the Ironman. No, I wont be participating in the Ironman this year, but, I will be watching this years event and buying my race ticket for June of 2012.

It is a little surreal to think that I am actually committing to running an Ironman one year from now, but that is just how I felt this time last year when I was buying my marathon race ticket.

No, I'm not crazy!

2011-06-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

This month I have a quick turnaround for my runs. It was just Sunday that I was running in the San Diego Marathon, now in just two weeks I will be in Seattle for the Seattle marathon. Several people have called me crazy, but I am not crazy, I just like doing things that no one else thinks I can. It is such an amazing feeling to pull off something that seems impossible and it translates into the rest of your life. I encourange everyone out there to find something that seems impossible and achieve it. People will call you crazy, but just stick with your path toward that seemingly impossible goal. When you achieve your goal, your life will never be the same!

Back in the saddle

2011-06-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Only 3 days after the last marathon I set out for a 5 mile training run. I was worried about this one this morning because my legs were still feeling a little exhausted from Sunday's run. But, the run started surprisingly smooth and everything went well, finishing the 5 miles in 46 minutes. Time now to focus on Seattle...

San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon Recap

2011-06-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

I love race weekends. Despite the pain, the day after soreness, and the difficulties, it is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment to cross the finish line. This weekend in San Diego was no different. It had its share of problems and unexpected occurrences, but in the end I survived and even managed to set a new personal best.

Friday Before the Race

Two days before the race I flew from the Fresno airport to San Diego. I flew out on Friday and made sure that I had plenty of connection time in Los Angeles in order to avoid the problems I had flying to Dallas for the half marathon there. The flight out of Fresno was on a small turboprop plane and I was relieved that things seemed to be going smoothly. Then, they told us the plane was too heavy and one person had to be bumped. Oh no, here we go again. But, fortunately it was not me who was bumped and with that bit of good luck I was on my way to Los Angeles.

Once at the Los Angeles airport, things went smoothly and before I knew it I was on the way to San Diego with no mishaps. Things were looking up. I landed in San Diego and caught a waiting bus that took me within 3 blocks of my hotel with time to get cleaned up and head to the Padres game.

San Diego is a great city with so much to do. I'm not much of a baseball fan, but seeing a live game is a fun thing to do. I watched the Padres beat the Astros 3 - 1, then headed back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep.

Saturday

Saturday morning came and I was off to the Health and Fitness expo at the convention center. I had signed up with GU Energy to work their both. I had a great time and met a lot of great people, but it was a tiring day being on my feet for so long before a marathon. Probably not the best choice on my part, but it is what I did. After the expo, I had my ritualistic pasta dinner at the spaghetti factory and headed back to the hotel. 8:00 p.m. I stopped by the front desk and set my 4:00 a.m. wake up call and headed to my room to lay out my race clothes and get some sleep.

9:00 p.m. - I am almost drifting off to sleep, then I hear a baby crying. I know traveling with babies is not an easy thing to do and I am not mad at the kid, but when I was trying to sleep it was really frustrating. The kid was in the room right next to mine, so it was quite disturbing. The crying continued for a few minutes, then seemed as if it was going away. For the next hour, the baby was crying intermittently. Just when I was ready to drift off to sleep, another cry would come through the wall.

10:30 p.m. - After trying to get to sleep for a while, I finally put on some clothes and walked to a CVS store and bought some earplugs. Finally back at the hotel, I laid down to go to sleep about 5 hours before I was getting up in the morning.

Race Morning

4:00 a.m. - the wake up call comes in and I haul my groggy self out of bed. The groggy feeling wore off quickly though as I saw my race clothes standing by for the run. I cleaned up and got ready for the run. The excitement was building and I was excited - race morning always does that to me. Thirty minutes later I am out the door of the hotel. I join another group of racers walking the mile from the hotel to the start line.

We get to Balboa park, the starting line of the race, and join the thousands of people that are literally being brought in by the bus load to the start line. An incredible amount of people were there, all buzzing and getting excited for the the start. The start line itself stretched for what seemed like half a mile, enough room for over 40 corrals of runners (42 I think). The number of people at these events are staggering, but the actual run on the course doesn't feel that crowed though because the race organizers do a good job of having us corralled by pace time and things spread out nicely when the race starts.

At about this time I was noticing the sky - perfectly blue and not a cloud in the sky. The sun wasn't up yet, but everyone was talking about the overcast forecast being wrong. The weather was supposed to be in the mid 60's and overcast, but it would turn out to be mid 70's with no clouds in sight to protect us from the sun. It was going to be a punishing run, that was for sure. The race organizers knew it too, handing out salt packets to all of us at the start line.

Countdown to the Start

The sun had lit the sky, but wasn't yet beating down on us. The weather was perfect for running, although I knew it would quickly change. At these races, I love the start because it always provides a little inspiration and reminds me why I run. On race morning, the Rock n' Roll marathon did not disappoint. About 30 minutes before the start, something really cool happened. A Marine Corps marching band marched up the half mile start corral line playing the Marine Hymn the whole way. It was a very moving experience and reminded me how lucky I am to be able to run and live my life. The runners were all applauding as the band passed by and I couldn't hep but think of the memorial to Corporal Pickard that I often pass on my training runs. After hearing that, I was ready to run.

After the band passed, I took my position in corral number 9 and we got ready to run.

They sang the National Anthem, and started the countdown to the race. The countdown drew to its end and the gun went off...

For those of you unfamiliar with these races, everyone does not start at the same time. The release every corral in certain intervals to allow runners to spread out on the course as much as possible. Corrals are assigned by projected finish time, the faster you think you will run the closer to the front you are. It is a great system because it really lets the runners Spread out. It took about 5 minutes after the start for my corral to get to the line, and then the shuffling turned into running and we were off on our 26 mile and 385 yard journey through San Diego.

From the Start to the 5K mark

We took off north out of Balboa Park. The weather at that moment was perfect running weather, low 60's and we were running under the cover of some really nice shade trees. The start was not too crowded and I didn't have any issues getting into a stride. We exited the park about 3/4 of a mile into the run and things were going well. Everyone was excited and having a good time enjoying the weather, but most of us knowing that perfect weather at a race start usually means punishing weather as the day goes on.

Just before the first mile, we made our first turn of the race running through a neighborhood north of Balboa Park. There were many spectators and people cheering us on and that really keeps you moving. We hit the first aid station and I took full advantage of it knowing that I would need all the electrolytes I could get along the way for this run.

Just after the two mile mark we were back in the park for a nice tree shaded run through a very scenic area. Just before leaving the park, we crossed the timing strip at the 5K mark - so far so good! But, as you can see from the 5K photo, the sun was topping the trees and I could feel the heat. I felt good at 5K, but the sun told me that it was going to change that soon.

From 5K to 10K

After the 5K mark, the course took a nice downhill run through downtown San Diego. Surrounded by tall buildings, the sun wasn't too punishing yet. By mile 5, I was really enjoying the downhill running at about 8:20 a mile on cruise control. I remember saying I wish the whole run could be like this stretch.

After the 5 mile mark, we ran through Petco Park where the Padres Play. That was a treat and one of the greatest things about running these races - the ability to see the sights. The course had us going through the field portion of the park at Center Field.

The next mile was a relatively level run through the gas lamp section of town and towards seaport village. By far this part of the marathon was the most pleasurable and I wish would have been the end of the race, a nice shaded downhill run through downtown, But, as I crossed the 10K mark, the course was only going to get tougher.

10K to the 13.1 mile Half Marathon mark

After the 10K mark, we had a little more downtown running to do, but we started to go a little bit uphill. At about 7.5 miles, we turned to the north and started to really go up hill. The next thing I knew we were running up hill with no end in sight on a freeway with no shade to protect us from the relentless sun. At this point it was at least 70 outside and after running for over an hour we were feeling the heat. After mile 8, the full marathoners who had split from the half marathoners as we first left the park joined up again, only this time we had 4 extra miles under our feet.

The uphill sun drenched freeway run continued its relentless punishment for what seemed like an eternity. I was able to keep the 9:00 minute mile pace up for the run, but I knew later in the race I would pay for keeping the pace on the uphill. 4 miles later, about 11.5 miles into the race, we reached the crest of the hill. I had made it and I could feel myself kicking on the cruise control for a little while as we turned to the west.

We were in a jovial mood, all of us chatting with each other and relishing the fact we had just conquered the punishing hill of the race. The guy next to me said "look at the half runners, they are only on mile 8!" To which I responded, "Yea, but they only have 5 to go, we are on mile 12 with 14 to go..." I had to keep it in perspective.

We kept going on the run with little to no shade and no wind to speak of. The heat was driving into our cores, race officials were handing out salt everywhere, and my sleeves were starting to display the white salt crystals characteristic of a hot run. I crossed the half marathon mar exactly 1 hour and 58 minutes after crossing the start line. Only 13.1 miles to go.

Half Marathon mark to mile 16

There was a little of a reprieve in this part of the race, but most of us barely noticed it. The heat was taking its toll. I didn't know it, but I was in for 13.1 of the most punishing miles ever. At mile 14, we saw the half marathoners split off for the finish line and we continued on north. From mile 15 to mile 16, there was the final big uphill push of the race. I was hurting at this point and walked the aid stations to get as much fluid and salt as I could. 10 more miles of punishment to go.

Mile 16 to mile 21.5

Here, we were still running uphill on Moreno Blvd. to the turn around point just before mile 17. It was hot, very hot. Now, the salt on my shirt was gathering and I noticed that I was sunburned. I had been taking in enough fluids and electrolytes on the race , so I wasn't feeling and dehydration or heat stroke. Unfortunately, I saw several people who weren't as lucky. The medical tents were busy and a lot of people were in bad shape.

After a short loop, we hit the bay on about mile 19. This meant some good and bad things. First, although there was no protection from the sun, there was a breeze coming off the bay so that was gently cooling. However, we could see miles of the race course and it is really hard to see how far you have to go. I put my head down, focusing on a spot about 3 yards in front of my feet so that I wouldn't see the long course ahead of me. Unfortunately, I kept looking up and seeing the miles left. By about mile 21.5, I hit another aid station and walked through it, taking several cups. I looked up to see many more miles of race course ahead of me. 5 more long miles to go.

Mile 21.5 to mile 25.5

These miles were brutal. Despite the nice breeze, the heat was at its peak and the sunburn was making itself noticeable. I was resorting to run/walk intervals to keep going. From about mile 21.5 to mile 23 we could see the runners making their way over Fiesta Island and it was heartbreaking to see the long distance left to go. Finally, we hit the 23 mile mark and started our loop on Fiesta Island.

The race got better at this point, no more long lines of runners in front. The breeze was still coming off the bay, but the end was near. As we looped around the island, I was still doing intervals to keep going. But, when I hit mile 25.5, I knew the end at Sea World was right ahead. I couldn't see it yet, but I knew it was close. I kept running.

Mile 25.5 to the Finish

The finish line was no where in sight, but I knew it was close. I kept running and wouldn't stop until the finish. Finally, with about 200 yards to go, we rounded a corner and finally saw the end. I made it, finishing the San Diego Marathon.

Now, covered in salt, I happily grabbed three bottles of water, grabbed the finish medal. We were herded into the photo lines and had our photos taken.

4 hours, 32 minutes, and 5 seconds. A new personal best. Not as fast as I was hoping for, but I am very happy with that number. My third marathon was a good one.

Now, I am sitting at home finally on Monday night, recovering for this race and looking forward to the next marathon - Seattle in 19 days.

Life is good!

Tired, waiting for my flight home.

2011-06-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

It wasn't all that smooth, but I finished the San Diego Marathon with a new PR of 4:32:05. Now, I am tired (no sleep because of the baby in the next room last night) and am heavily sunburned (the overcast and mid 60's forecast was WAY off, try high 70's and not a cloud in the sky) and I am heading home - finally. Full race recap to come . . .

Marathon travel tip

2011-06-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Note to self - when traveling to a marathon and staying in a hotel (especially when you are getting up at 4:15 in the morning), don't forget to bring ear plugs just in case there is a crying baby in the next room. That kid has been crying for over an hour now. With only 7 hours until I have to get up, I'm heading out to buy some right now.

Getting excited!

2011-06-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

I spent the day today working at the GU booth at the Health and Fitness Expo in San Diego. I'm not so sure if being on my feet for that long was a good idea, I guess we will have to find out tomorrow. After my stint at the booth I picked up my race number and brought it back to my hotel. I went through the ritual of pinning the number on my shirt and laying out the race uniform. Man - is that ever exciting! I can't describe the incredible feeling that I have going on right now, but I can say it is a good feeling.

San Diego is a great place and I am really looking forward to seeing parts of the city tomorrow that I have never seen before. One really nice thing about running these races is that you get to explore a new place. The people here are friendly too. I struck up a conversation with a good number of people today, and it is really interesting to talk to people that are being very nice but aren't runners. I got the usually questions like "Are you going to win?" and "How far is the marathon, 5 miles?" Nice people, but it still makes me chuckle. That, and talking about the race so much builds the excitement.

So, I am sitting here in my hotel, the running costume all laid out, excitement growing stronger. Part of me is questioning whether or not I will be able to finish the run, but that makes it all the more rewarding at the end. It is going to be hard to get to sleep tonight, but with a race start of 6:15 and getting up at 4:15 tomorrow, I better try. Tomorrow I'm running a marathon!!!

In San Diego, ready to run!

2011-06-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

I arrived in San Diego last night. On the bus ride from the airport, there were signs everywhere for the marathon and the excitement is intense. Today I am heading to the Expo to spend some time working at the GU booth, then tomorrow I'll run a marathon!

Last training run before the Marathon

2011-06-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

4 days until the San Diego Marathon and I am heading out the door for the shortest run I have done in a while - just 2 miles. The is the last of the training runs before the marathon on Sunday. My training cycle is complete now and I am ready. No excuses, I am running 26.2 miles on Sunday.

Gearing up for San Diego

2011-05-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

This morning I went out for a 5K run, the shortest distance I have run in a while. I was a little faster than I wanted to be, but so far things are looking good for the San Diego Marathon. Just two more training runs, both 2 mile leg warmers, and then, 5 days from now, I will toe the line in San Diego. I can't wait!

One week until race day

2011-05-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

I logged an 8 mile run today, the last long run until the marathon. In exactly one week, I will cross the finish line for my third marathon. The old 325 pound me seems like a dream. Although it was less that 18 months ago, I have changed my lifestyle so much that I can hardly remember what the old 325 pound me felt like. I'm glad I took charge of my life and changed and I'm not looking back.

Only 8 days until San Diego

2011-05-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

It seems like the races are never going to get here when you are training, then one day they are right around the corner. In 8 days I will be running my third marathon, hopefully setting a new personal record. Right now I am paranoid about every little issue that might come up and worried that something will prevent me from finishing. I guess that in a way I am still looking at running a marathon as something impossible. That sense of impossibility makes crossing the finish line all the more worth while and something I can't wait to do.

The long run is a final tapered 8 miles tomorrow with only three short runs next week, a 5K and two 2 milers. Then, the 26.2 mile run around San Diego next Sunday. Finish line here I come!

An awkward run this morning

2011-05-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

This mornings run, a short 4 miler, made me a little nervous. I went out for the run and my lover legs felt a little stressed, specifically my left leg. The run was rather awkward and the calf was very tight the whole run, slowing me down. Hopefully this is just a little kink that will work itself out over the next 10 days before the marathon. Time will tell.

Other than being a little nervous about the leg, I am generally getting pretty excited for the big trip to San Diego. These running events are always a great electric environment and I can't wait to get caught up in the excitement of race weekend.

The taper week

2011-05-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

This week is the start of taper week for the marathon. The runs between now and the marathon get progressively shorter in preparation for the marathon. Today's run was cut back to a short 4 miles and, while the run went smooth with no problems, I feel like I am cheating myself.

I know it is important to taper your runs before a marathon, but I just cant help feeling like I am "cutting the run short" when I stop at a shorter distance. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to train for a marathon, especially when you are out on a 20 mile monster run and, as you loop back the second time at about 14 miles and pass your home or car again and think about how easy it would be to quit. Similarly, it is really tough to stop at 4 miles the week before race week when you are used to putting in more and you are conditioned and trained to run 6 times that distance. It just feels weird.

Tomorrow is only a 5K scheduled run, so that is going to feel even weirder.

Busy Sunday

2011-05-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I went out in the morning for my 13.1 mile training run, finishing it in 1:57. Then, I still had enough energy to work from about 12:00 to 8:00 building storage shelves in my garage and basically moving everything out of my garage and back in again. For those of you who know how much stuff in in my garage right now, you know what a chore that is. It feels essentially the same as moving everything in and out of a small apartment. I am a little sore today, but it feels great to be in good enough shape to do everything I did yesterday.

Just 13 days until the San Diego Marathon!

What is possible?

2011-05-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Today, I had my last double digit mile run before the San Diego Marathon in 14 days. That hour and 57 minutes gives me a lot of time to think and be alone with my thoughts. I have come to really enjoy that zen moment when everything in the world seems right. Today, the definition of what is possible was running through my head while I was running my 13.1 miles.

In January of 2010, I thought running was impossible. Not a specific distance, but just running at all. I sat there on the couch eating a batch of scotch eggs (a calorie bomb delicacy of a medium boiled egg wrapped in sausage and deep fried) thinking that I wanted to get in shape and thinking that I should run, but also thinking that running was impossible.

The next week, still January of 2010, I was on the treadmill running. Not very far, just a couple of minutes until I couldn't go any farther, but I was running. It was impossible, but I was doing it. So, I thought I would train until I could run 5K without stopping. Surely that was impossible.

But it wasn't impossible. Indeed I trained regularly and before long I could run a 5K. So, I set out to run a 5K in under 30 minutes. Surely THAT was impossible. But, in May of 2010, I ran a 5K race in under 30 minutes.

In June of 2010, I set a training plan for a half marathon. More than 4 times longer than a 5K, I thought that was something impossible. I was talking to a runner relative of mine and I remember saying I didn't think it was possible to run the whole thing without walking. But, I trained for the impossible. In October of 2010, I ran a half marathon. I ran the whole thing. And I did it in under 2 hours.

Now, I had to jump into the "crazy" goal range to train for something impossible. So, how about two half marathons back to back (otherwise known as a full 26.2 mile marathon). I thought for sure I had picked a goal that was impossible, there was no way I could complete a full marathon. But, in December of 2010, I did just that and crossed the finish line at the California International Marathon in 4:35.

Now here I sit, May of 2011. I just returned from what I now call a short training run, a half marathon, and am still pondering the impossible. I now believe there is no such thing as impossible. Everything is possible, although it may get exponentially tougher with each increased step. I never would have thought that I would be here, two weeks from running my third marathon.

So, what is the impossible goal now?

Ironman Coeur d'Alene - June of 2012. 140.6 miles including a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile marathon run. An I must finish in under 17 hours. It that impossible? Yes - bust just as impossible as running a 5K seemed in January of 2010, just as impossible as running a half marathon seemed in June of 2010, and just as impossible as running a marathon seemed in October of 2010. I will achieve the impossible once again.

Life is good.

My Addiction

2011-05-21T06:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Travis, and I am an addict.

No, I am not addicted to alcohol, drugs or smoking, rather my addiction is to food. While this may sound like a tongue in cheek start here, I assure you it is not. It is with all seriousness that I freely admit my addiction and talk about my struggles in the past, present, and future with that to which I am addicted.

First, I want to applaud all of those out there who have addictions to drugs or alcohol who have brought your own addiction under control. It is not an easy task to do and it is a lifelong commitment that is extraordinarily tough. When you are addicted to something it grabs a hold of you. All you can think about is that to which you are addicted. There seems to be no escape, no way to get out. Your vice does not make you feel better either when you do it. In fact, you usually feel worse, beating yourself up for not controlling it. That is something I have come to terms with over the last 18 months - how to deal with my addiction to food.

While my addiction is fortunately not to something illegal, it is none the less a deadly addiction that can have tragic consequences. Not to long ago I was sitting in a doctor's office being told that I was within 5 years of developing Diabetes and within 10 years of a heart attack because of my addiction. But, like most addicts, that had no effect on me and I still went out feeding my addiction. Friends, family, and many others around me all tried to help me to no avail. I would spend all day going from one fast food restaurant to another, knowing all the menus by heart and squeezing every last dollar into thousands of calories. When I wasn't eating, I was constantly thinking of where to get my next fix. Others would bring in snacks for the office to share and I would end up eating half of what they brought, usually sneaking over when no one was watching. I let my addiction run my life.

Then, the now infamous Disneyland incident occurred. I hope that all addicts out there can have their own Disneyland incident. By that I mean a relatively innocuous moment that snaps you into the reality of your addiction and puts you on the path to recovery. From that day forward, I dealt with my addiction.

Being addicted to food is different from most addictions in one key way - you can't completely abstain from it. It is a true catch 22 in that you have to eat to live but the food addiction is killing you. But, I faced it none the less and changed the way I eat. At first, I was constantly thinking about food. I think this period lasted about 6 months. My life revolved around eating right, most every moment of my day thinking about controlling my eating. It wasn't easy nor did it go perfectly. Yes, I had relapses through my progress. But, I stuck with it.

After about 6 months, I was able to loosen the focus on eating a bit. I still had to be vigilant, but I had trained myself to control my addiction in ways I could live with for the rest of my life. That is one of the keys to my success here, although I didn't call it an addiction on day 1, I know that any changes I made had to be more that just temporary fixes to the problem, but life changes that I would carry with me for the rest of my life. Just like the drug addict who moves hundreds of miles away and severs ties with those who facilitate their addiction, I too severed ties with those who fed my addiction - Fast Food restaurants. Unfortunately, it is impossible to move away from them, they are everywhere. But, I didn't visit them at all for the first 6 months and proudly don't know what is on the menus anymore. After about 6 months I happened to run into one of those from my old lifestyle, I was traveling and happened to be in a position where I ran into one, Mr. Carl's Jr.. But, I didn't slip into my old ways, I made a sensible food choice and was on my way. It would be several months before I ran into him again and I am proud of that. I had shed the old lifestyle.

Finally, after about a year, I can say that I truly changed my lifestyle permanently. At least that is what I thought. In February of this year, I allowed myself to relapse for a week. I went on a cruise and told myself "go ahead - you can eat whatever you want this week. You've been so good you have earned it!" And boy did I eat. I had some great meals. But, they caused more trouble than they were worth, packing on many pounds some of which I am still fighting to shed. It took me at least a month after that to get back to the new lifestyle I had created for myself, and here I am 4 months later still struggling with a couple of those pounds.

So, here I am 18 months later. I am in good shape, regularly running double digit mile runs. But, it has taken me 18 months to admit that I am an addict. I am addicted to food. I will always be addicted to food. And, for the rest of my life I will be controlling that addiction, something that is a foreign concept to many but is all to familiar to those of us who have gone through a recovery for their addiction.

Despite being addicted to food, I can say that life is going well. I am controlling it and leading a good life now. Matter of fact, life is better because of my addiction. Tackling something like an addiction, putting your foot on top of it and saying "you don't control me" is invigorating and a felling that those without an addiction do not understand. Understanding my addiction and controlling it has made me appreciate this life on a level I never knew. My addiction is under control and I am confident that I will control it for the rest of my life.

Life is good!

Life is good!

2011-05-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to say it: "Life is good!"

Today is one of those days. This week was a little frustrating because I realized that I had an error in my training schedule. I had accidentally marked the San Diego Marathon one week early, so my training schedule was off by a week. It was frustrating, but I modified the last few weeks of the schedule to make it work.

Today's run was 12 miles under the other plan, but I bumped it up to a half marathon when I re-worked the plan. I wasn't really looking forward to this run because it was supposed to rain all morning. However, I was pleasantly surprised to head out and see only a few clouds in the sky this morning and not a rain cloud among them. The ground showed signs of an overnight shower, but was mostly dry. The run was a little warmer than expected, but I had a great time.

I finished the run in 1:57:42, another 13.1 mile half marathon in under 2 hours. Not only under 2 hours, but also just under 9 minutes a mile at 8:59/mile. To make things even better, I felt like I had energy to keep going for another 13.1 miles. If today's run was any bit prophetic of the San Diego Marathon, I have a good chance of setting a new personal record in the marathon.

I have to say it again: "Life is good!"

Going according to plan, but the plan is wrong

2011-05-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

Life is a very fluid thing. It seems like no matter how well you plan things, something always tries to get in the way. This week, it is a simple data entry error on my part that has caused some issues.

Yesterday, I posted my workout on daily mile and commented that it was only 18 days until the San Diego Marathon. Someone commented with surprise that San Diego was only 18 days away. I looked again at my training schedule and noticed that when I made my training schedule for the year I accidentally wrote in the San Diego Marathon for the week before it actually was. That 18 days just turned into 25.

It sounds simple and like it shouldn't be a problem, but running training schedules are very specific with peak weeks, step back weeks, and a taper period. Adding a week this late in the training can be problematic. But, life happens and you have to adjust for it. I reworked the training for the next couple of weeks and hopefully my body will still be ready for San Diego in 24 days now.

18 days until the San Diego Marathon

2011-05-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

I was surprised this morning. Mind you, it was a pleasant surprise, but I was surprised none the less. I went out for a 5 mile run today, only 2 days after the 21 mile monster on Sunday. I was fully expecting my legs to still be sore and not cooperating with me, but I turned in some fast miles and I felt great. At this rate, I have a good chance of setting a new personal record in San Diego in only 18 short days.

It is amazing how time can fly. It seemed like just yesterday that I was recovering from the California International Marathon and thinking of the next race, now here I am almost ready to run my third marathon in a couple of weeks.

Peak week in review

2011-05-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Last week was the dreaded "Peak 1" week in the marathon training plan. 3 runs of 5 miles each back to back followed by a 21 mile long run on Sunday. I was worried about that long run all week, but it had to be done.

I drove to Sacramento to visit family and spent the first few hours of Sunday on the American River Bike Trail. 3 hours and 23 minutes after I started, the GPS read 21.1 miles. The runs over 20 miles are tough, especially when it is a training run and it would be easy to cut a run short. However, there is no feeling greater than looking back on something incredible like a 21 mile run after having completed it. When I finished, I was very tired and exhausted. But, I was grinning ear to ear knowing that less than 18 months ago I weighed 325 pounds and here I am now, running over 20 miles.

36.1 miles last week - Peak 1 week is in the bag. Now, the gradual taper starts and the legs get to recharge for San Diego. My third marathon will be a tough one with a lot of hills in the beginning, but I'll conquer it.

Life is good.