California Dreaming

It's mid February and I am fully engaged in my off-off season. Meaning I am working out little to none and having ten extra pounds of weight to show for it. This week we are spending a great week out West in Southern California. First a few days in Los Angeles and now at our little hide-away in Palm Springs. With the warmer weather also comes the chance for some specacular little workouts. On Sunday I ran along the Strand in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, a slow but still inspired six miles, two of them right along the surf. Today I managed an hour and 3000 yards at the Palm Springs Swim Center.

The No Goal New Year?

Ok, it is now more than half a month into the New Year. Still I have absolutely no triathlon related performance goal for 2009. Should I be worried? Panicked? OMG, I haven't even signed up for a single race! Why do I feel so relaxed though?
Here is what I have done in the last few weeks:
I have gained about 8 pounds over the holidays
I have enjoyed spending more time with my family (still am)
I have gone to lots of kids playdates and birthday parties instead of running in the freezing cold
I have begun to see the inside of my gym a bit more, having some fun while at it
I have started to look at potential races for 09 that are closeby and fun for the whole family
I have decided that 2009 will be a year where triathlon ranks far beyond family and work
I have promised myself to have more fun while at it
I have not looked at my bike in six weeks
I am fine with all of it.

Happy New Year!

2008 - It was a very good year

The Christmas Holidays are behind us, New Year's has come and gone, maybe a good time to reflect one last time about last year. Sure, it's rough out there, economy, stock market, 401k (or what's left of it) plenty of reasons to be a bit worried or upset. Personally, 2008 was a very good year. We moved into a great new apartment in Brooklyn, we are all healthy, Kiera is enjoying her young life and her new pre-school.

And, as far as my triathlon life, this was probably my best season ever. I tried to ramp up my training volume without going crazy or neglecting family and work. The race season started with a solid Olympic distance performance in early June at Keuka Lake NY, then a hot, humid but good New York City Triathlon. From then on it was all about my goal of preparing for my first Ironman. The Nutmegman Half Ironman in late September was a grueling race, but also led me to my first Top 3 age group finish at a sanctioned race (yes it was a rather small race). And then my first Ironman in Arizona in November.

Since then, I really relaxed, worked out as little as possible and the last few days of the year we enjoyed the Holidays and a few days of skiing at Brian Head in southern Utah. Now, it is 2009, the successes of last year no more than a memory and personal history. Still, I am happy with what I have accomplishe. It was a very good year!

Ironman Arizona Reflections

It's been awhile now since IM Arizona. Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is only three weeks away. Since my little Tempe adventure I have not really been working out and I am enjoying a little break from triathlon life. By now I have also had time to think more about the race, the time leading up to my first Ironman; I have had a chance to tell most people who care to listen and who want to know about it, and probably told a few who really could not care less.

So, what if anything did or does it all mean to me? Well, I am glad it is over and I am glad I made it. Happy that I made it in a time I am proud of and happy with. I know that with more training I would probably have done even a little better, but that more training would have meant more time away from family. Gladly I sacrifice a few minutes on the bike or run.

I had fun, in a strange and slightly weird way. I hated being very nervous the days before the race. I mostly enjoyed race day itself, felt fine for most of the day and almost forgot already the pain and suffering during parts of the run. This Ironman did demand everything I had to give. It forced me to go to my limit but never once allowed me to go anywhere near it really.

I did fine, relying on five years of triathlon expertise and sticking to my game plan, my eating and drinking plan. I did fine by listening to friends and IM veterans and reading race reports. I did fine despite my time limitations and lack of real training plan.

I think the thousands of volunteers in Tempe were awesome. They made the day special for everyone. At times I felt that any triathlon before Ironman was part of the minor leagues, IM finally the big leagues. I know it aint so though, competing and completing an Ironman is an accomplishment, but being accomplished and getting faster in another distance is just as worthy a goal.

Ironman Arizona - Race Day

First time I woke up it was about 2.am, then I halfway went back to sleep, ready to get up at 4.30. After my mental meltdown the day before, I actually had a relatively untroubled night. I do remember a strange dream about getting to the race start late and forgetting my timing chip at the hotel. But in my dreams I actually felt strong, not weak and timid. Race morning my nerves were fairly well in check, some trepidation, not too bad. I still was not sure what to put in my special needs bags. So I ended up putting in very little. Dried apricots and crackers I had not planned on eating for the bike along with some extra chamois butter, and a long sleeved shirt for the run (hey, it might be cold come late evening). After a few bites of breakfast cake and a protein smoothie it was off to the race site. Arriving at 5.45 it was still pitch dark and I had plenty of time to get going. I said my goodbye to my friend Sigrid and dropped off the special needs bags; Bodymarking at transition and into the porter potty line. Just before I put on my wetsuit I called home, last words of encouragement from Roy and then my daughter Kiera made my day: “Good Luck Papa”.

I knew then I’ll be just fine.
Into the water. Tempe Town Lake was perfect at 64 F. and swimming towards the starting line I was calm. As I listened to the national anthem, over 2100 athletes waited for the deep water mass start. Plenty of smiling faces, I guess these were the last smiles for most of us until later that evening. Then we are off. Immediately kicking, shoving, dragging ensued. The swim start was not for the timid and my history of open water swims paid off. I stayed calm, my stroke feeling easy and relaxed. The sun came up on the horizon as I looked ahead towards the turn around. Around me were lots of good solid swimmers. Every so often someone kicked me in my face or hitting my head, it was busy out there for sure. My whole swim though felt good. I knew I did not push too hard and approaching the swim finish I had no idea if I went slowly or fast. At swim exit the first good news. 1.04 and out of the water, perfect as I was hoping for a 1.05. Then the wet suit strippers. I swear, one should have one at disposal during any race. Within a split second I was on my back and then the suit flew off, swoosh. On to T 1. Why was everyone running? “My god we have all day”, I thought, running along. My first Ironman transition went without a hitch, under 8 minutes. No time lost there.

“On the left, on the left, on the left”, the first fifteen minutes that’s all I heard on the bike. Obviously these guys (and gals) had other plans than me, for the bike portion that is. I knew I had to resist temptation and even try to speed along. 112 miles, almost 30 miles longer than my longest training ride. I was not about to kill my legs right then and there. The Arizona IM bike course is a fairly straight forward course. Three loops out and back into the Arizona desert. Fairly flat, with a modest steady incline the last few miles before the turnaround. Pretty soon we
rode into a gusty head wind on the way out, but nothing like the wind gusts I heard about from the spring race. My legs felt tight early on, but not too bad. I started to eat immediately: Odwalla Bars, Power Gels, Endurance Gatorade, Water and every so often a couple of Endurolyte Tablets, yummm.

The most fun part was after the first turn around, with the wind in the back and a slight downhill. All of a sudden, the legs felt fresh, my Cervelo was speeding right along. I was even enjoying the beauty of the desert landscape. “This is fun” I thought (briefly). With the first loop over at under 2h10 I was pleased. The second loop went even better. The wind calmed down a bit and I managed to hold a steadier pace on the way out. I was able to actually drop a few minutes on the second loop, but slowly began to tire. With 79 miles done it was starting to get warm, quite warm in fact (low 80’s). At about 20 miles to the bike finish fatigue really set in and I slowed down, riding now mostly out of aero position. I did not feel like eating anything anymore. Riders started to pass me again constantly. But so what, I decided it would be better to loose a couple of minutes here then to keep pushing too hard and pay a price later. 6h22m, more than ready to get off the bike I came into T2.

Quick change into new running clothes and OMG, my legs actually were able to run. The running course in Tempe, though not really scenic, is entertaining and varied. It was full of motivational signs and messages. “Be Patient” read one around mile 3. “Good Idea” I thought, this is going to take a while. Less than half an hour later I was spent, done, phew. My tummy hurts! Maybe I should not have tried that chicken broth at the last aid station. My run turned into a walk. It was still very warm, for the first time I began to have doubts. “How long does it take to walk 20 miles” I half jokingly asked a fellow sufferer. “You are doing a 16 minutes/mile pace” he replied looking at his watch. These guys have better gadgets than James Bond, I swear!

Eventually, with the sun going down and temperatures cooling, I was able to regain some strength. I began to run again, walking now mostly just the aid stations and any inclines. Water, Cola, Water Gatorade, some grapes, no more chicken broth. Two out of three loops done. Now I knew that I will finish, well under 13 hours and clearly over 12. At around mile 23 I began calculating my time again, “lets beat 12.30 for sure” I decided. 200 yards before the finish line I spot a 45 year old runner ahead of me. “He’s in my age group” I figured and sped up. “Hah, smoked him”, I am evil!

It is 7.22pm, race time 12.21.28 That’s it. I am an Ironman!

The Day before the Big Day

Friday nights athlete dinner and race briefing was an inspirational affair. Meeting the numerous fellow Ironman athletes and hearing several stories of personal achievement over adversity got me into race mood. Many athletes I ran into were veterans, some of them having finished several Ironmans before. But I also learned that no less than 874 triathletes on the starting line were attempting their first Ironman this weekend; clearly I was not alone.

Things fell somewhat apart though on Saturday. I woke up very early at 4.30 never to fall back asleep. At first I managed to take care of business at race site fairly relaxed. An easy 20 minute practice swim felt good and invigorating. Then bike and gear check-in, no problems either.


But it was all downhill from there though. During the afternoon my nerves got the better of me. My system went into denial mode. I wanted to sleep, sleep badly, curl up somewhere in a corner. I felt sick, stomach churning, head aching and incredibly tired. Sigrid did her best to keep my spirits up, she nudged me along for a little afternoon excursion to Scottsdale, a bit of mall ratting, then into the movies to see 007, usually the perfect escape. I managed to enjoy dinner; head back to the hotel and fell asleep. At 8!

2 days to IMAZ - I'm here in Tempe!

We got into Tempe late last night. Me meaning myself and my friend Sigrid who is joining me on the trip, calming my nerves and documenting the adventure with her camera.

After a leisurely breakfast we headed to the Ironman Village. My first impressions: this is quite different from any of the races I have done so far. It's bigger, more serious, very organized and a bit intimidating. Guys and girls with hot bodies, hot bikes in very colorful outfits running, cycling, shopping gear and souvenirs. But after a few moments of awe I realize, "hey, I am one of them". So I get in line for registration. After the weigh-in, a wonderful registration volunteer in her sixties immediately pegs me as an Ironman newbie. "I can always tell first timers by their body language" she tells me. So one thing's for sure, I won't fool anyone here, this people have done it, or at least seen it all before.

With registration out of the way, it was over to the good folks at Tribike Transport to get my Cervelo. What lovely service. within minutes my bike is race ready. So, all I needed to do this morning I have done. It's warm (quite warm in fact), very dry and we are hungry.

So, lunch at PF Changs , back to the hotel for some rest and figuring out all those colorful transition bags.