Phew....been a while since I've been back from the BIG ISLAND! It has been a roller coaster of different emotions, so I didn't want to write while I was going through them. Everyone deals with the off season and "reaching goals" in a different way. Last year, I took 45 days completely off and gained 12 POUNDS! Pretty sure it was exclusively beer and burgers.
This year, I was so pumped from Kona that I wanted to get started again IMMEDIATELY. I was ready to train the day after Kona. The excitement from crossing the finish line is pretty much indescribable....see my other posts. However, there was a tremendous feeling of loss too.
I spent so much time and energy building up to that finish, and now it was over. I had no plan for the next year. And I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself (for a little bit). I forced myself to take two weeks off completely and that was needed physically. Mentally though, I was struggling with what was next.
After two weeks off, I started to move around a little bit again. Some short runs....riding my Cross bike out on the trails....little bit of easy swimming. I was getting over my sad feelings of being home from Kona...but this moved on to another negative feeling....nit picking my race.
I think it is natural to reflect on any race you do and see what you can improve on. As I was reflecting, I started to feel like I left a little out on the course. The swim was great...given the swells, I couldn't have swam any faster on that day. I was totally exposed on the bike. The lack of power I was feeling all year showed itself in the rawest of forms the last 33 miles back into the headwinds. And my run....it was a sobering thought to see that I walked 16 aid stations. Kona finisher, and I have to walk 16 aid stations to cool down? C'mon....really?
So I felt sorry for myself. Mostly because I won't have a chance to improve upon that race for a few years...at a minimum...if I'm lucky.
But then....I went to Madison with my mom and sister to get our Ironman tattoo's! My mom and sis are both 1st time finishers and it was time to get their ink! I had always said I would add to mine if I ever finished Kona. So it was off to Madison to see Corey...the guy that Dan Monahan and I went to 5 years ago!
We had an absolute blast! We got our Tat's....had dinner....drank a bunch....and crashed at the Hilton(Thank you Brian!). As we chatted about our races, I was able to tell Mom and Cheryl how I was really feeling about my race. Sometimes, only fellow athletes that have been through the journey can really understand how you feel.
As I recounted the day (a month had passed)...I was immediately put back in the lava fields. I think the margarita's helped that too! I talked about what it felt like out there...the crazy WIND (all the magazines and coverage have been talking about how crazy it was)...and the HEAT. I talked about all the highs and lows of the day. And the complete exhaustion I felt when I crossed the line.
Then my mom told me about what SHE saw at the finish line. She talked about how excited I was when I found them at the King Kam Hotel after the race. She talked about how as the hugs and kisses passed....my emotions changed. She saw the exhaustion coming over me...she saw the emotional toll the day had took....she told me how I had explained that this race was the HARDEST thing I've ever done. She reminded me that I had gotten pretty emotional with my family...anyone that knows me well, knows that I'm not really a "crier." Well, I couldn't contain the tears on this day. I was proud, I was exhausted, and I was so thankful to everyone that had supported me. I realized a dream that day and it was perfect. I had left it all out there....it is easy to nit pick when you are sitting on a couch watching TV and it is a perfect 70 degrees in your living room! Pride...that is the emotion I feel now.
My mom helped me remember what it was like IN THAT MOMENT.
So, learning from a race is healthy. Even if it is the best race you've ever run. My time wasn't the fastest Ironman I've done...but it was certainly a PR finish!
I feel great right now. I can't wait to get back to some "pre season" training in December. The things I was sad about a few weeks ago...I've let them go. BUT....they have motivated me for 2013! My bike will get stronger....my mental state on the run will toughen up even more!
It is fun to have new challenges and goals as I move into 2013. I'll write about those in my next post...
For now, the Kona chapter is done. I've qualified, I've raced, I've finished, I got my new ink.....and I am more passionate than ever about going back someday! Kona hasn't seen the last of Team Barto :)
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I'm truly blessed with all the support I get from all of you. Enjoy your "post season." Don't take it too seriously...we have plenty of time to improve. Today, I'll improve on my Turkey Leftover Eating Capabilities.
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Kona...Race Recap
Holy shyt. That was INTENSE! Hands down...yesterday was the most difficult race I've ever been a part of. People talk about the heat, the winds, the lava...but until you are physically racing in it, you just don't get it 100%. So...here we go:
Pre-Race: I got up at 3:45am and jumped in the shower and had my usual pre race breakfast. I was in great spirits....a little nervous, but not too nervous. I was really excited to get the day started. We drove down to the start line around 4:40am. I got my bags checked in and headed over to my bike to get my tires pumped up and my nutrition all set. While I was getting body marked, the volunteer put one of my number 3's backwards...I took it as a sign of good luck! After getting done with my transition, I headed out to see Ana and walk back to the sea wall where the crew was hanging out. The crowds for the swim start were HUGE. It was such a cool atmosphere. After leaving them, I headed back to transition to wait until the start of the race. We heard the gun go off for the Pro's, and then we started filing in.
Swim: I got in the water at about 6:40am. I stood on the beach for a few minutes to take it all in. I had finally made it to the start of the Ironman World Championships. A sense of calm came over me as I dove in and headed out to the swim start about 100yds away. I got out to the start line and found a surfer to hang on his board for a little a bit. It was so amazing to be there. I treaded water after the surfer had so go and hold the start line. I looked around and soaked it all in. It was surreal.
Finally, it was time to get started! The cannon didn't go off for some reason, so Mike Riley just yelled "go, go, go!" And we were off! This was the 5th Ironman swim I've competed in...and the first 20 minutes was INSANE. I got pushed under the water several times....just when I thought I had a little space, a group...yes a group of swimmers would converge and hammer you. I figure I spent at least 2 minutes on the first leg of the swim just protecting myself. I didn't want get kicked or having something stupid happen in the water to jeopardize my day. I got to the turn around and things finally started to thin out. I really cherished the swim back into shore. I got in a great rhythm and was able to draft off of several swimmers all the way back in. With about 10 minutes to go, I could really start to feel the effects of 50min of swimming in the salt water. Kona's bay is VERY salty. My arms and neck were chaffed pretty badly. But, I expected this!
I reached the shore in just over 1hr 3min....I was very happy with the swim. The bay was choppy...the competition was fierce...but I managed to put together a very strong swim. Now it was time to get to the bike!
Bike: Coming out of transition was so much fun. TONS of fans and people cheering the first few miles. It felt like a track meet. I just remained calm and focused on my effort (watts) and not what everyone around me was doing. I knew the first 10mi through town would be fast...but I couldn't believe how fast EVERYONE was on the bike. I was getting passed like I was riding a granny bike with a banana seat! The turn down Palani hill was AMAZING. I think I hit 45mph and got to see my crew for the first time. It was such an amazing boost. After that, a 2mi climb and turnaround back into town...and then it was on to the Queen K and battling the lava fields!
The first 45 miles were FAST. We had a bit of a tail wind for the first bit and we were flying. There were HUGE packs of riders all over the place. I really try to stay out of them, so at times I had to coast and even brake to make sure I kept the gap. I give the course marshalls credit though, every time I passed a penalty tent there were no less than 25 guys/girls serving their drafting penalties. It wasn't until we made the turn at Hawi that the packs started to thin out (mile 60).
Ok, lets talk about the cross winds. There was a cross/headwind all the way up the 19mi to Hawi. It was blowing so hard...at times, I felt like I was biking in quick sand. I kept very steady up the climb and just tried to stay loose through the winds. Earlier in the week, Dan and I did this climb...but there was ZERO wind that day. All I could do was laugh....Dan would shyt himself if he knew how different these two days could be!
I got a huge boost of adrenaline about half way up the climb as the Pro's were flying down the other side....it was so AWESOME to see the lead timex car in the distance...helicopters flying overhead....unreal. I recognized most of the Pros...but where was MACCA? I guess he dropped out at mile 50.
I finally reached the top of Hawi and was looking forward to the decent. It was super FAST...I caught a really nice tailwind for the majority of it. I was really happy for this because I knew the rest of the bike was going to be challenging. On one of my Ironman DVD's, one off the Pro's said "when I make the turn at Hawi, I look out over the Ocean and if I see white caps, I know I'm in for a LONG ride home." Nothing could be more spot on. The white caps in the Ocean were ominous.
The last 35 miles was directly into a headwind with the cross winds smashing you at the side from time to time as well. It was about this time that the heat really CRANKED up too. Did I mention I was riding through a LAVA field! I did my best to stay in my zone....stick to my plan...I was passing many. But at the same time, my power was dropping a bit too. The heat and wind was starting to take it's tole on me. I'm a fairly strong biker, but all things considered, it is my weakest part of my Triathlon. So I just tried to keep positive and keep the pressure on the pedals.
I made it back to Kona in 5hrs and 35min...about 15 minutes slower than I thought I would bike today. But I was happy! I gave it my all out there. This is a World Championship for a reason....between the terrain, wind, and heat...it was the overall toughest bike course I've ridden. And, I held over 20mph for the 112miles. I'm proud of that.
It makes me even more proud today....there were rumblings yesterday that this was one of the toughest days on the bike in terms of conditions EVER. I was really excited to hear that. Kona gave me her best....and I made it through! I was standing in line this morning buying some finisher gear, the person next to me was a 19 time KONA FINISHER. He said that was the worst wind he has ever faced here. Crazy. It was absolutely relentless for the last 2.5 hours.
Run: The bike smashed me up pretty good. I have never felt that horrible getting off the bike before. My legs were wobbly and I was having a hard time running through transition. I actually had some thoughts on whether or not I was going to be able to run at all! With my swim and bike being a little slower than expected...the marathon turned into pride. I wasn't going to PR today...and that is OK! But I wanted to follow through on my one true goal...leave it out in the Lava fields. And I did just that.
The first mile of the run was one of the toughest I've ever run. My watch showed a 7:40 mile....so I was right on my pace despite the horrible feeling in my legs. I remained calm...sometimes in an Ironman, it can 5 or 6 miles for your legs to get moving on the run....I trusted in that.
My rhythm started to come together after mile 2. I had great turnover and the legs were flushing out the pain of the bike nicely. I was showing 7:30, 7:25...etc...on my watch. The house we rented is right on Alii drive and was so excited to see my crew at mile 4! It had been over 6 hours since I saw them and I can't describe the tremendous boost I got when I did. One of the "other" factors in Kona is that it is fukin LONELY. No great crowd support like Madison....just you. Raw. So to see my crew....was inspirational at that point. Now, my watch said I was running steady 7:30-7:40's for the first 8 miles....the checkpoints on Ironman.com though say that I was running 6:30's....oops. :) Guess I got a little excited.
It was so stifling on Alii drive. The humidity was SICK. At about mile 8, shyt got real. My hands started to go numb...not good. I had nailed my nutrition to that point, but that only takes you so far. At mile 9, I went back to my old friend, Coca Cola. The coke tasted SO GOOD. And it gave me the boost I needed. I could feel my hands again and my rhythm returned just in time to climb up Palani hill. Palani was NO joke...mile 10.5 and a half mile climb. The crowds were amazing here...but I felt like I was melting. One of the highlights of my day, 3X World Champ Craig Alexander was running down Palani when I was running up....it was so cool.
At the top of Palani, you hang a left....and BANG...Lava. It was everything that it was cracked up to be....HOT...searing your skin hot. Feeling the sun on my skin actually hurt...like a really bad sunburn. The only option was to keep running and try to stay wet at the aid stations. Water on the head...sponges....ice down my back, shirt, and shorts....Ice in my hands. That was my rhythm throughout the marathon.
The run to the Energy lab from the top of Palani is roughly 5.5 miles...I swear to God it was all uphill. A real grind....just keep moving. I made a promise to myself that I would not stop running (outside of cooling off at the aid stations) unless I physically couldn't. I trained to RUN this marathon and that was what I intended to do.
I hung a left into the Energy Lab...where the temperatures hit upwards of 130 degrees. It was weird though...I didn't notice it too much. Since my skin was already on fire, a little extra heat didn't bother me too bad. It was here that I started to dedicate miles to my friends and family. I wanted to push as hard as I could to the finish...and needed your support to do so.
So, the entire Energy Lab was dedicated to "Baby Barto." I wanted to make sure that I could tell my child someday about how the thought of my new life gave me strength in the toughest part of the race. Out of the Energy Lab, mile 20 was dedicated to everyone at home following along. There was no way I was going to hit a "Wall" with everyone cheering me on in my head! Mile 21, that was for my crew here on the Big Island. Mike, Jess, Uncle Phil, Aunt Colleen, and Carrie....thank you so much for your support! Mile 22, for my parents. Their unconditional love and support is so inspiring. Thank you. Mile 23, Dan and Charles...two of the very best friends anyone could ask for. I dedicated the "mile" to Charles....and the Dave Scott/Mark Allen Iron War Hill to Dan. I couldn't think of a better spot to dedicate to my Kona Sherpa! Mile 24 was for my Coach, Jen Harrison. She is such an amazing Coach and friend. I can never truly thank her enough for guiding me to realize this dream. Thank you so much Jen, a better Coach can not be found. Mile 25/26....was for Ana. If you look at my splits...I dropped to a 6:08 pace (with stopping in the finish chute)...I guess she gets me going :) I am the luckiest guy in the world to have her love and support. Thank you Ana....
The finish chute....that was for me. I finally made it. A dream come true...running down Alii and into the finishing chute is very hard to describe. I was overcome with extreme joy....an adrenaline rush that can only be matched by my 1st Ironman in Wisconsin. I hammed it up for the crowd a bit....high fived. I ran past my parents....stopped, turned around to give them a hug. It was so special. I high fived the rest of the crew...and was able to spot Dan and give him a huge hug as well. I will always remember that chute....simply amazing.
When I crossed....it was like the world stopped for a just a moment. My moment. I earned this and I will forever be proud of my first race in Kona.
At the end of the day, I ran a 3hour 33min 59sec marathon....in the Ironman World Championship. I felt good for maybe 30 minutes of that run. The other 3hrs....100% heart. That's it. Just the will to finish...smash myself, and leave it all out there. Mission accomplished.
I finished with an overall time of 10hrs and 19min....that was 10 of the hardest hours of my life. Not taking anything away from the other Ironman courses I've done, but Kona is on a whole other level. I finished up 105th in my age group, in the WORLD.
At least for today, I'm the 525th fastest Ironman athlete on the planet. That's pretty amazing to think about.
I will always cherish this week and race. I truly couldn't ask for anything more. I told my crew before the race that hoped it would be hard. I didn't want to race the year it was "easy." I got my wish...and I saw it through.
Thank you for taking the time to read, respond...and encourage me throughout this journey. This will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my days. No more blogs for bit...I'm on vacation now. I'm hungry...and I think I need a mai tai!
Aloha....and MAHALO!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Pre-Race: I got up at 3:45am and jumped in the shower and had my usual pre race breakfast. I was in great spirits....a little nervous, but not too nervous. I was really excited to get the day started. We drove down to the start line around 4:40am. I got my bags checked in and headed over to my bike to get my tires pumped up and my nutrition all set. While I was getting body marked, the volunteer put one of my number 3's backwards...I took it as a sign of good luck! After getting done with my transition, I headed out to see Ana and walk back to the sea wall where the crew was hanging out. The crowds for the swim start were HUGE. It was such a cool atmosphere. After leaving them, I headed back to transition to wait until the start of the race. We heard the gun go off for the Pro's, and then we started filing in.
Swim: I got in the water at about 6:40am. I stood on the beach for a few minutes to take it all in. I had finally made it to the start of the Ironman World Championships. A sense of calm came over me as I dove in and headed out to the swim start about 100yds away. I got out to the start line and found a surfer to hang on his board for a little a bit. It was so amazing to be there. I treaded water after the surfer had so go and hold the start line. I looked around and soaked it all in. It was surreal.
Finally, it was time to get started! The cannon didn't go off for some reason, so Mike Riley just yelled "go, go, go!" And we were off! This was the 5th Ironman swim I've competed in...and the first 20 minutes was INSANE. I got pushed under the water several times....just when I thought I had a little space, a group...yes a group of swimmers would converge and hammer you. I figure I spent at least 2 minutes on the first leg of the swim just protecting myself. I didn't want get kicked or having something stupid happen in the water to jeopardize my day. I got to the turn around and things finally started to thin out. I really cherished the swim back into shore. I got in a great rhythm and was able to draft off of several swimmers all the way back in. With about 10 minutes to go, I could really start to feel the effects of 50min of swimming in the salt water. Kona's bay is VERY salty. My arms and neck were chaffed pretty badly. But, I expected this!
I reached the shore in just over 1hr 3min....I was very happy with the swim. The bay was choppy...the competition was fierce...but I managed to put together a very strong swim. Now it was time to get to the bike!
Bike: Coming out of transition was so much fun. TONS of fans and people cheering the first few miles. It felt like a track meet. I just remained calm and focused on my effort (watts) and not what everyone around me was doing. I knew the first 10mi through town would be fast...but I couldn't believe how fast EVERYONE was on the bike. I was getting passed like I was riding a granny bike with a banana seat! The turn down Palani hill was AMAZING. I think I hit 45mph and got to see my crew for the first time. It was such an amazing boost. After that, a 2mi climb and turnaround back into town...and then it was on to the Queen K and battling the lava fields!
The first 45 miles were FAST. We had a bit of a tail wind for the first bit and we were flying. There were HUGE packs of riders all over the place. I really try to stay out of them, so at times I had to coast and even brake to make sure I kept the gap. I give the course marshalls credit though, every time I passed a penalty tent there were no less than 25 guys/girls serving their drafting penalties. It wasn't until we made the turn at Hawi that the packs started to thin out (mile 60).
Ok, lets talk about the cross winds. There was a cross/headwind all the way up the 19mi to Hawi. It was blowing so hard...at times, I felt like I was biking in quick sand. I kept very steady up the climb and just tried to stay loose through the winds. Earlier in the week, Dan and I did this climb...but there was ZERO wind that day. All I could do was laugh....Dan would shyt himself if he knew how different these two days could be!
I got a huge boost of adrenaline about half way up the climb as the Pro's were flying down the other side....it was so AWESOME to see the lead timex car in the distance...helicopters flying overhead....unreal. I recognized most of the Pros...but where was MACCA? I guess he dropped out at mile 50.
I finally reached the top of Hawi and was looking forward to the decent. It was super FAST...I caught a really nice tailwind for the majority of it. I was really happy for this because I knew the rest of the bike was going to be challenging. On one of my Ironman DVD's, one off the Pro's said "when I make the turn at Hawi, I look out over the Ocean and if I see white caps, I know I'm in for a LONG ride home." Nothing could be more spot on. The white caps in the Ocean were ominous.
The last 35 miles was directly into a headwind with the cross winds smashing you at the side from time to time as well. It was about this time that the heat really CRANKED up too. Did I mention I was riding through a LAVA field! I did my best to stay in my zone....stick to my plan...I was passing many. But at the same time, my power was dropping a bit too. The heat and wind was starting to take it's tole on me. I'm a fairly strong biker, but all things considered, it is my weakest part of my Triathlon. So I just tried to keep positive and keep the pressure on the pedals.
I made it back to Kona in 5hrs and 35min...about 15 minutes slower than I thought I would bike today. But I was happy! I gave it my all out there. This is a World Championship for a reason....between the terrain, wind, and heat...it was the overall toughest bike course I've ridden. And, I held over 20mph for the 112miles. I'm proud of that.
It makes me even more proud today....there were rumblings yesterday that this was one of the toughest days on the bike in terms of conditions EVER. I was really excited to hear that. Kona gave me her best....and I made it through! I was standing in line this morning buying some finisher gear, the person next to me was a 19 time KONA FINISHER. He said that was the worst wind he has ever faced here. Crazy. It was absolutely relentless for the last 2.5 hours.
Run: The bike smashed me up pretty good. I have never felt that horrible getting off the bike before. My legs were wobbly and I was having a hard time running through transition. I actually had some thoughts on whether or not I was going to be able to run at all! With my swim and bike being a little slower than expected...the marathon turned into pride. I wasn't going to PR today...and that is OK! But I wanted to follow through on my one true goal...leave it out in the Lava fields. And I did just that.
The first mile of the run was one of the toughest I've ever run. My watch showed a 7:40 mile....so I was right on my pace despite the horrible feeling in my legs. I remained calm...sometimes in an Ironman, it can 5 or 6 miles for your legs to get moving on the run....I trusted in that.
My rhythm started to come together after mile 2. I had great turnover and the legs were flushing out the pain of the bike nicely. I was showing 7:30, 7:25...etc...on my watch. The house we rented is right on Alii drive and was so excited to see my crew at mile 4! It had been over 6 hours since I saw them and I can't describe the tremendous boost I got when I did. One of the "other" factors in Kona is that it is fukin LONELY. No great crowd support like Madison....just you. Raw. So to see my crew....was inspirational at that point. Now, my watch said I was running steady 7:30-7:40's for the first 8 miles....the checkpoints on Ironman.com though say that I was running 6:30's....oops. :) Guess I got a little excited.
It was so stifling on Alii drive. The humidity was SICK. At about mile 8, shyt got real. My hands started to go numb...not good. I had nailed my nutrition to that point, but that only takes you so far. At mile 9, I went back to my old friend, Coca Cola. The coke tasted SO GOOD. And it gave me the boost I needed. I could feel my hands again and my rhythm returned just in time to climb up Palani hill. Palani was NO joke...mile 10.5 and a half mile climb. The crowds were amazing here...but I felt like I was melting. One of the highlights of my day, 3X World Champ Craig Alexander was running down Palani when I was running up....it was so cool.
At the top of Palani, you hang a left....and BANG...Lava. It was everything that it was cracked up to be....HOT...searing your skin hot. Feeling the sun on my skin actually hurt...like a really bad sunburn. The only option was to keep running and try to stay wet at the aid stations. Water on the head...sponges....ice down my back, shirt, and shorts....Ice in my hands. That was my rhythm throughout the marathon.
The run to the Energy lab from the top of Palani is roughly 5.5 miles...I swear to God it was all uphill. A real grind....just keep moving. I made a promise to myself that I would not stop running (outside of cooling off at the aid stations) unless I physically couldn't. I trained to RUN this marathon and that was what I intended to do.
I hung a left into the Energy Lab...where the temperatures hit upwards of 130 degrees. It was weird though...I didn't notice it too much. Since my skin was already on fire, a little extra heat didn't bother me too bad. It was here that I started to dedicate miles to my friends and family. I wanted to push as hard as I could to the finish...and needed your support to do so.
So, the entire Energy Lab was dedicated to "Baby Barto." I wanted to make sure that I could tell my child someday about how the thought of my new life gave me strength in the toughest part of the race. Out of the Energy Lab, mile 20 was dedicated to everyone at home following along. There was no way I was going to hit a "Wall" with everyone cheering me on in my head! Mile 21, that was for my crew here on the Big Island. Mike, Jess, Uncle Phil, Aunt Colleen, and Carrie....thank you so much for your support! Mile 22, for my parents. Their unconditional love and support is so inspiring. Thank you. Mile 23, Dan and Charles...two of the very best friends anyone could ask for. I dedicated the "mile" to Charles....and the Dave Scott/Mark Allen Iron War Hill to Dan. I couldn't think of a better spot to dedicate to my Kona Sherpa! Mile 24 was for my Coach, Jen Harrison. She is such an amazing Coach and friend. I can never truly thank her enough for guiding me to realize this dream. Thank you so much Jen, a better Coach can not be found. Mile 25/26....was for Ana. If you look at my splits...I dropped to a 6:08 pace (with stopping in the finish chute)...I guess she gets me going :) I am the luckiest guy in the world to have her love and support. Thank you Ana....
The finish chute....that was for me. I finally made it. A dream come true...running down Alii and into the finishing chute is very hard to describe. I was overcome with extreme joy....an adrenaline rush that can only be matched by my 1st Ironman in Wisconsin. I hammed it up for the crowd a bit....high fived. I ran past my parents....stopped, turned around to give them a hug. It was so special. I high fived the rest of the crew...and was able to spot Dan and give him a huge hug as well. I will always remember that chute....simply amazing.
When I crossed....it was like the world stopped for a just a moment. My moment. I earned this and I will forever be proud of my first race in Kona.
At the end of the day, I ran a 3hour 33min 59sec marathon....in the Ironman World Championship. I felt good for maybe 30 minutes of that run. The other 3hrs....100% heart. That's it. Just the will to finish...smash myself, and leave it all out there. Mission accomplished.
I finished with an overall time of 10hrs and 19min....that was 10 of the hardest hours of my life. Not taking anything away from the other Ironman courses I've done, but Kona is on a whole other level. I finished up 105th in my age group, in the WORLD.
At least for today, I'm the 525th fastest Ironman athlete on the planet. That's pretty amazing to think about.
I will always cherish this week and race. I truly couldn't ask for anything more. I told my crew before the race that hoped it would be hard. I didn't want to race the year it was "easy." I got my wish...and I saw it through.
Thank you for taking the time to read, respond...and encourage me throughout this journey. This will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my days. No more blogs for bit...I'm on vacation now. I'm hungry...and I think I need a mai tai!
Aloha....and MAHALO!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Friday, October 12, 2012
Kona Day #5....IronEve
Tomorrow is the culmination of many years of hard work. This marks Ironman number 5 for me and I could not be happier that this race isn't my 1st one! This week has been a total washing machine of emotions for me. Excitement, awe, happiness, respect, fun, relaxing, stressful, nervous, scared are just some of the emotions I have felt this week.
It has been a blessing to have family and friends around all week. I'm coming into this race in the best shape of my life...and they have been able to help me "keep it real." I finally got mentally ready today. I had about 2 hours to myself...Ipod on....to get my gear ready for tomorrow. This is old hat now...it was almost like a switch flipped as I layed out my clothes for tomorrow and got my race gear ready. I may be in a World Championship....but I have been "here" before.
I struggled at times throughout the year of what my "goal" should be here. Realistically, I don't have a shot in hell of making the podium in my age group. So that goal is "out." But that is ok....just getting here is an honor.
So my goal for tomorrow, respect the World Championship.
I'm going to race my azz off. I'm going to leave it all out in the Lava fields. I will have ZERO regrets when I cross the line. AND.....I will enjoy the hell out of this! Racing hard and having fun are NOT mutually exclusive. I'm obviously a little "off" in the head because I like to suffer for hours and hours and hours doing this sport. So, when I'm suffering....I'll embrace it! I don't want an "easy" day in Kona. I want a challenge. And I want to leave it all out there.
So when/if you track me tomorrow...know that I'm thinking of you. I will make you proud and I will push myself as hard as I can. Thank you for your support...I probably won't write tomorrow, :) so I look forward to posting my thoughts on the race on Sunday.
From the bottom of my heart...Malaho.
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
It has been a blessing to have family and friends around all week. I'm coming into this race in the best shape of my life...and they have been able to help me "keep it real." I finally got mentally ready today. I had about 2 hours to myself...Ipod on....to get my gear ready for tomorrow. This is old hat now...it was almost like a switch flipped as I layed out my clothes for tomorrow and got my race gear ready. I may be in a World Championship....but I have been "here" before.
I struggled at times throughout the year of what my "goal" should be here. Realistically, I don't have a shot in hell of making the podium in my age group. So that goal is "out." But that is ok....just getting here is an honor.
So my goal for tomorrow, respect the World Championship.
I'm going to race my azz off. I'm going to leave it all out in the Lava fields. I will have ZERO regrets when I cross the line. AND.....I will enjoy the hell out of this! Racing hard and having fun are NOT mutually exclusive. I'm obviously a little "off" in the head because I like to suffer for hours and hours and hours doing this sport. So, when I'm suffering....I'll embrace it! I don't want an "easy" day in Kona. I want a challenge. And I want to leave it all out there.
So when/if you track me tomorrow...know that I'm thinking of you. I will make you proud and I will push myself as hard as I can. Thank you for your support...I probably won't write tomorrow, :) so I look forward to posting my thoughts on the race on Sunday.
From the bottom of my heart...Malaho.
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Kona....Day #4: A rest day, but not without its Excitement
Today was a crazy day in a different way. Hold on....here we go:
We started the day off with the great intentions of running the infamous Underpants Run here in Kona this morning. It is a mile or so long...everyone runs in their underwear...and it is supposed to be a good time. Honestly, it has been one continuous "underpants run" outside our place all week! Spandex, no shirts, sports bra's, etc leave very little to the imagination anyway :)
We have made the 3mi drive into town from our place no less than 15 times since getting here on Sunday. This morning, traffic BLEW UP. There was a 3mi line of cars! We tried several different ways to try and get there, but no dice. It was a bit of blessing though, I learned today that I need to get out the door a little earlier on Saturday so I don't stress trying to make it to transition!
Dan found a little coffee/breakfast place that was about 12 miles south of Kona, so we decided to head there away from the crazy traffic. I'm SO GLAD we did. This place was amazing. It was a little local spot called The Coffee Shack. It had wonderful french toast, 100% Kona coffee, and it was over looking the Ocean on top of a cliff at 1500ft of Elevation! It was so cool...and refreshing to get out of town for a little bit. If you are ever in Kona...MAKE THE DRIVE! It is well worth it.
After breakfast, Dan and I rode our bikes into town so I could get a mechanic to look at my shifting on the bike. It was shifting like butter when I left for Hawaii, but in transit, it got totally jacked up. It stressed me out for a bit...I tried to fix it on my own, but realized that I needed some professional help. I dropped it off at "Inside/Out Sports" which is the "host" bike shop for all Ironman events. They charged me $35 for a "Pre-Race" tune up and told me to pick it up in a couple hours. Dan and I walked around the expo a bit...bought some more shyt (I saw the finisher medal too...OH MY is it "Flavor Flave!") and had lunch. We headed back to Inside/Out and the mechanic was working on my bike. He took great pride in his work. I was so relieved as I watched him make adjustments and get the bike back to new. I tipped him because I appreciated it so much...piece of mind is a wonderful thing. Lesson learned...for any destination Ironman in the future, I'm wheeling my bike over to Inside/Out, and having them check it over immediately! Big props to those guys.
We rode back to the house and the bike was shifting wonderfully. Phew....mind at ease. We got back, and the girls were cleaning. I thought it was because the rest of "Team Barto" is arriving today. Well, turns out we had an ANT attack in the house and we accidentally shattered some glass on the dining room table trying to clean up! What a mess! They were everywhere! They even started to hang out in the keyboard of my computer...the one I'm typing on right now! It was DISGUSTING! So we cleaned, vaccumed, sucked the ANTS out of my computer (100's of them!) and called the owners. They are coming tomorrow to look at the ant situation...hopefully cleaning up a bit helped for tonight. They were very cool about the broken glass...I called a place just in case, $40 for a new piece. Phew...mind at ease.
Then...I tried to find out why my GPS device for tracking on race day hasn't been delivered to the house yet. Apparently, there is an issue with the address that was given...it is the right one by the way. So I tried to find the Post Office here...didn't have much luck...started to get really frustrated and stopped looking. I'm really mad that isn't showing up. It is real time tracking for everyone at home....and now we won't have it. No mind at ease on this one....but....you can still track via www.ironmanlive.com.
So after all that...I jumped in the pool and finally had a moment to relax today. Dan was great...he told me to stay put and relax while he went to the airport to pick up my family. I'm so grateful to have him here...he could tell I was really starting to get stressed...not good with the race 2 days away.
So now, I'm chilling on the couch. Sitting in my recovery boots....and waiting for my family and friends to get here. I'm so excited to have them all here and I think that will give me the boost I need for Saturday. I want to thank EVERYONE that is making the trip, following at home, reading online, and genuinely interested in what happens this week. You have no idea the amount of positive energy that creates for me. From what I saw, and have heard, this is a very lonely race. The fact that I have so many here and back home rooting me on....it will be like you are lining the course the whole way. I will draw so much inspiration from your support...thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Mahalo to all my friends, family, and supporters!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
We started the day off with the great intentions of running the infamous Underpants Run here in Kona this morning. It is a mile or so long...everyone runs in their underwear...and it is supposed to be a good time. Honestly, it has been one continuous "underpants run" outside our place all week! Spandex, no shirts, sports bra's, etc leave very little to the imagination anyway :)
We have made the 3mi drive into town from our place no less than 15 times since getting here on Sunday. This morning, traffic BLEW UP. There was a 3mi line of cars! We tried several different ways to try and get there, but no dice. It was a bit of blessing though, I learned today that I need to get out the door a little earlier on Saturday so I don't stress trying to make it to transition!
Dan found a little coffee/breakfast place that was about 12 miles south of Kona, so we decided to head there away from the crazy traffic. I'm SO GLAD we did. This place was amazing. It was a little local spot called The Coffee Shack. It had wonderful french toast, 100% Kona coffee, and it was over looking the Ocean on top of a cliff at 1500ft of Elevation! It was so cool...and refreshing to get out of town for a little bit. If you are ever in Kona...MAKE THE DRIVE! It is well worth it.
 |
| View from breakfast today! |
After breakfast, Dan and I rode our bikes into town so I could get a mechanic to look at my shifting on the bike. It was shifting like butter when I left for Hawaii, but in transit, it got totally jacked up. It stressed me out for a bit...I tried to fix it on my own, but realized that I needed some professional help. I dropped it off at "Inside/Out Sports" which is the "host" bike shop for all Ironman events. They charged me $35 for a "Pre-Race" tune up and told me to pick it up in a couple hours. Dan and I walked around the expo a bit...bought some more shyt (I saw the finisher medal too...OH MY is it "Flavor Flave!") and had lunch. We headed back to Inside/Out and the mechanic was working on my bike. He took great pride in his work. I was so relieved as I watched him make adjustments and get the bike back to new. I tipped him because I appreciated it so much...piece of mind is a wonderful thing. Lesson learned...for any destination Ironman in the future, I'm wheeling my bike over to Inside/Out, and having them check it over immediately! Big props to those guys.
We rode back to the house and the bike was shifting wonderfully. Phew....mind at ease. We got back, and the girls were cleaning. I thought it was because the rest of "Team Barto" is arriving today. Well, turns out we had an ANT attack in the house and we accidentally shattered some glass on the dining room table trying to clean up! What a mess! They were everywhere! They even started to hang out in the keyboard of my computer...the one I'm typing on right now! It was DISGUSTING! So we cleaned, vaccumed, sucked the ANTS out of my computer (100's of them!) and called the owners. They are coming tomorrow to look at the ant situation...hopefully cleaning up a bit helped for tonight. They were very cool about the broken glass...I called a place just in case, $40 for a new piece. Phew...mind at ease.
Then...I tried to find out why my GPS device for tracking on race day hasn't been delivered to the house yet. Apparently, there is an issue with the address that was given...it is the right one by the way. So I tried to find the Post Office here...didn't have much luck...started to get really frustrated and stopped looking. I'm really mad that isn't showing up. It is real time tracking for everyone at home....and now we won't have it. No mind at ease on this one....but....you can still track via www.ironmanlive.com.
So after all that...I jumped in the pool and finally had a moment to relax today. Dan was great...he told me to stay put and relax while he went to the airport to pick up my family. I'm so grateful to have him here...he could tell I was really starting to get stressed...not good with the race 2 days away.
So now, I'm chilling on the couch. Sitting in my recovery boots....and waiting for my family and friends to get here. I'm so excited to have them all here and I think that will give me the boost I need for Saturday. I want to thank EVERYONE that is making the trip, following at home, reading online, and genuinely interested in what happens this week. You have no idea the amount of positive energy that creates for me. From what I saw, and have heard, this is a very lonely race. The fact that I have so many here and back home rooting me on....it will be like you are lining the course the whole way. I will draw so much inspiration from your support...thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Mahalo to all my friends, family, and supporters!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Kona....Day #3
Aloha!
Another day in paradise! Today was a great day....not sure I'm coming back to Illinois :)
We started the day with a 30min swim in the Ocean. Today was the roughest water of the 3 days. It was doable, but I hope that the ocean isn't that aggressive on race day! After about 30min of swimming in it, I was starting to get a little dizzy with all the ups and downs of the waves...but it was manageable. Apparently there is a big swell that came in today and it should calm down over the next few days. I had another run in with an idiot....some dude thought I cut him off coming back into the swim and tried to punch me in the water in the side. Really? There is like 900 people swimming in the bay this morning and it is complete chaos...and he thinks I'm cutting him off? What a weirdo. All I could do is laugh though because he was yelling at me in another language and I thought it sounded funny :)
After that, Dan and I did a quick 20 minute run along Alii drive. My first run on this extremely famous rode! I can not believe how humid it was along this....I did a little over 3 miles and was soaked from head to toe. The run felt great, but it made me realize that I'm in for a TOUGH marathon on Saturday.
Dan and Carrie went to some surf lessons after the run....they had a blast! If my legs let me, I'd love to try it next week. We shall see. While they were surfing....Ana and I went to get me checked in! It was the fastest and smoothest check in ever. There was one interesting thing that happened though. My forms were marked with a pink slash...so they said I had to go over and talk to some guy in an orange shirt. I got over there...and he started gathering my swag bag...put my wrist band on...etc, and all of this was at a table away from where most of the other athletes were checking in. For a moment, I thought maybe I was randomly selected to be on TV or something! Nope...I was randomly selected to take a drug test for USADA. I wanted to punch the dude in the face for the Lance Armstrong debacle! They were really weird about it...they wouldn't tell me why I had to go to these other tables...I only put this together when I saw the USADA (US Anti Doping Agency) logo on the guy's shirt. Turns out, I didn't get selected...my bib # is 1633 and the bib they really needed was 1663. Oh well...I wasn't worried anyway. I don't think multi-vitamins and Gatorade qualify as PED's!
After that...Ana and I grabbed some lunch at a great restaurant on Alii Drive called Humpy's! The fish tacos and pizza were unreal. It was great to grab some lunch and hang out with Ana with that view for a bit! Tonight, we are going on a little booze cruise (too bad Ana and I can't drink!) with Body Glove and Leon's Triathlon. Should be a fun time and I'm excited to see the shore from the boat!
Well...that is about it for today. For Pro sightings....we saw Chris Lieto, Hilary Biscay, Faris Al-Sultan, and Dirk Bockel today. So very cool to see all these Pro's running around! More to come.....
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Another day in paradise! Today was a great day....not sure I'm coming back to Illinois :)
We started the day with a 30min swim in the Ocean. Today was the roughest water of the 3 days. It was doable, but I hope that the ocean isn't that aggressive on race day! After about 30min of swimming in it, I was starting to get a little dizzy with all the ups and downs of the waves...but it was manageable. Apparently there is a big swell that came in today and it should calm down over the next few days. I had another run in with an idiot....some dude thought I cut him off coming back into the swim and tried to punch me in the water in the side. Really? There is like 900 people swimming in the bay this morning and it is complete chaos...and he thinks I'm cutting him off? What a weirdo. All I could do is laugh though because he was yelling at me in another language and I thought it sounded funny :)
After that, Dan and I did a quick 20 minute run along Alii drive. My first run on this extremely famous rode! I can not believe how humid it was along this....I did a little over 3 miles and was soaked from head to toe. The run felt great, but it made me realize that I'm in for a TOUGH marathon on Saturday.
Dan and Carrie went to some surf lessons after the run....they had a blast! If my legs let me, I'd love to try it next week. We shall see. While they were surfing....Ana and I went to get me checked in! It was the fastest and smoothest check in ever. There was one interesting thing that happened though. My forms were marked with a pink slash...so they said I had to go over and talk to some guy in an orange shirt. I got over there...and he started gathering my swag bag...put my wrist band on...etc, and all of this was at a table away from where most of the other athletes were checking in. For a moment, I thought maybe I was randomly selected to be on TV or something! Nope...I was randomly selected to take a drug test for USADA. I wanted to punch the dude in the face for the Lance Armstrong debacle! They were really weird about it...they wouldn't tell me why I had to go to these other tables...I only put this together when I saw the USADA (US Anti Doping Agency) logo on the guy's shirt. Turns out, I didn't get selected...my bib # is 1633 and the bib they really needed was 1663. Oh well...I wasn't worried anyway. I don't think multi-vitamins and Gatorade qualify as PED's!
 |
| My Athlete Wristband...and my SUPPORT of Lance Armstrong! |
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| Ana at Humpy's for lunch...what a VIEW! |
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Kona....Day #2
Well, another day in the books! It is hard to describe this experience fully. It is something that I have thought about EVERY day for the last 6 years....and my expectations are blown away. The energy...the course...the history, such a great experience.
I had official Hawaiian Luau food last night...it was good! Except the Poi, not for me. I ate it straight up until the lady on the Ucayali told me is was a dip. yeah, still not very good. But it was a must eat while I was here.
If you are keeping score at home....here is the list of Pro's/Notable people we saw today: Craig Alexander running, Leanda Cave running (being paced by a SCOOTER), Chris Lieto, Julie Dibbens, Mike Riley, and Sister Madonna all at the swim this morning!
The swim today was amazing. The Ocean was little angrier than yesterday! But it was still manageable. Just had a quick 35min swim to do. So Dan and I swam out to the swim up coffee bar...yes, swim up coffee bar! Got my cup of Joe floating in the ocean...WITH cream and sugar! Dan and I swam a little farther out after that....then came back for a 2nd cup! Sorry Jen! :) What an amazing experience floating around drinking Kona coffee in the Ocean. It was great. Although...I must admit....Coffee will NOT be my drink of choice on the pool deck during a workout any time soon!
After the swim, we came back to have breakfast with the girls at the house. Carrie and Ana made us eggs and pancakes. It was the perfect pre ride meal for our trek up to Hawi!
After breakfast...Dan and I drove up to Hawi (about 45 miles north of Kona) and the turnaround for the bike segment. Out there, it is roughly a 13 mile climb to the turn (Dan and I did 7.5mi of it). It wasn't difficult....just grinding up a modest grade into a headwind. As soon as we made the turn....we were FLYING down the decent. We averaged over 28mph and we weren't even trying. The only thing missing today were the famous trade winds that you hear about in Hawi. Some years, Ironman competitors deal with 60mph+ wind gusts up there! Today, is was very calm comparatively. There was some wind, but nothing for me to really get a feel of what it "could" be like on Saturday. I guess I'll deal with it then!
I also noticed today that my gearing is going to be just about right on the bike. I have the right gears to stay under control up the hills (again, the Queen K is NOT FLAT!).....but I will be a little under powered on the decents. I was running out of gears pretty quickly today. But I thought about it...that isn't a bad thing. I'll get a little more rest from time to time and should help me get ready for a FAST run :)
I had official Hawaiian Luau food last night...it was good! Except the Poi, not for me. I ate it straight up until the lady on the Ucayali told me is was a dip. yeah, still not very good. But it was a must eat while I was here.
If you are keeping score at home....here is the list of Pro's/Notable people we saw today: Craig Alexander running, Leanda Cave running (being paced by a SCOOTER), Chris Lieto, Julie Dibbens, Mike Riley, and Sister Madonna all at the swim this morning!
The swim today was amazing. The Ocean was little angrier than yesterday! But it was still manageable. Just had a quick 35min swim to do. So Dan and I swam out to the swim up coffee bar...yes, swim up coffee bar! Got my cup of Joe floating in the ocean...WITH cream and sugar! Dan and I swam a little farther out after that....then came back for a 2nd cup! Sorry Jen! :) What an amazing experience floating around drinking Kona coffee in the Ocean. It was great. Although...I must admit....Coffee will NOT be my drink of choice on the pool deck during a workout any time soon!
After the swim, we came back to have breakfast with the girls at the house. Carrie and Ana made us eggs and pancakes. It was the perfect pre ride meal for our trek up to Hawi!
After breakfast...Dan and I drove up to Hawi (about 45 miles north of Kona) and the turnaround for the bike segment. Out there, it is roughly a 13 mile climb to the turn (Dan and I did 7.5mi of it). It wasn't difficult....just grinding up a modest grade into a headwind. As soon as we made the turn....we were FLYING down the decent. We averaged over 28mph and we weren't even trying. The only thing missing today were the famous trade winds that you hear about in Hawi. Some years, Ironman competitors deal with 60mph+ wind gusts up there! Today, is was very calm comparatively. There was some wind, but nothing for me to really get a feel of what it "could" be like on Saturday. I guess I'll deal with it then!
I also noticed today that my gearing is going to be just about right on the bike. I have the right gears to stay under control up the hills (again, the Queen K is NOT FLAT!).....but I will be a little under powered on the decents. I was running out of gears pretty quickly today. But I thought about it...that isn't a bad thing. I'll get a little more rest from time to time and should help me get ready for a FAST run :)
Me....and my bike before our climb to Hawi
So for the rest of the day we are going to relax! I feel like we have been on the go since we got here! Today is Ana's birthday...we are going to head out for a nice dinner later. Ana has been my rock through this journey for several years. I'm so lucky to have a spouse that supports me unconditionally in this passion. Don't get me wrong, there are some tough moments from time to time. But I have never felt that Ana wasn't in my corner or not supporting me 100% to do the very best that I can. I have many examples of some people that aren't as fortunate to have that level of support and I'm truly lucky to have that. I couldn't have gotten here without the love and support of my wife. Thank you so much Ana....and happy 23rd birthday :)
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Kona....Day #1
Hello everyone....damn, I'm TIRED. Been up since 3AM local time and taking the advice of my good friend Brian and trying to stay up until at LEAST 10pm :) Hopefully, tomorrow I will feel a little more refreshed.
Despite the long day, the workouts today were amazing. First off, EVERYONE out here is ripped. There aren't too many times in my life that I feel "fat", but this place can make you feel that way! The people watching highlight of the day was saying high to Chris "MACCA" McCormack as he ran/walked past our place! Very cool to see him out here!
View from our house on Alii Drive!
In the morning, Dan and I went out to "Dig Me Beach" to get a swim in. What an AWESOME experience. It was the first time I've truly swam in the Ocean. It was a little rough, but not too bad. What I don't know is if today was "perfect" or "normal." I guess I'll find out tomorrow! It was like swimming in an aquarium....so cool. Tons of fish, rocks and whatnot...really looking forward to the rest of the week's
swims.
After our swim, it was off to the ENERGY LAB for a 4 mile run! I've heard some crazy stories about this place and it lived up to the hype. It is roughly 2 miles "down" into the lab, turnaround, and run back "up." The way in really isn't too bad, at least for a "4mile run." But when you make the turn, oh my. It is like a friggin furnace! AND...there is a shellfish company at the turnaround so it smells HORRIBLE! Crazy....but I loved every second of it. However, I'm GLAD I will only be running in there one more time on this trip :)
Tomorrow...Dan and I swim again....then head out on the bike course to check out the crazy crosswinds in Hawi. Really looking forward to getting some biking in tomorrow.
I want to take a minute to thank Dan for coming out here to experience this with me. I can't think of more perfect way to spend this week than training with my best training buddy. Dan is extremely passionate about this sport and lifestyle. He inspires me every time we get together. Thank you Dan for being here and helping me get to the start line. There is NO WAY this would mean as much without your support. Thank you!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Despite the long day, the workouts today were amazing. First off, EVERYONE out here is ripped. There aren't too many times in my life that I feel "fat", but this place can make you feel that way! The people watching highlight of the day was saying high to Chris "MACCA" McCormack as he ran/walked past our place! Very cool to see him out here!
In the morning, Dan and I went out to "Dig Me Beach" to get a swim in. What an AWESOME experience. It was the first time I've truly swam in the Ocean. It was a little rough, but not too bad. What I don't know is if today was "perfect" or "normal." I guess I'll find out tomorrow! It was like swimming in an aquarium....so cool. Tons of fish, rocks and whatnot...really looking forward to the rest of the week's
swims.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Kona, Travel, and more....
Aloha!
Well, it is 3:37am on Monday morning Hawaii time. I knew it was going to be tough with the time change (5hrs behind Chicago) but I didn't think I'd wake up at 3AM! Yesterday was a long day of travel. Close to 10 hours on the plane...but it was fine. Drank plenty of water, watched a couple movies, and just enjoyed sitting on my butt for a while. That usually doesn't happen very much!
My first impressions as I got off the plane were just as expected....it was hot. And wet feeling. Almost felt like the heat was just sticking to you. We got our luggage without any issues and grabbed the rental car. We ended up staying at a really nice resort about 25 miles north of town. Ana and I watched the sunset, had a little dinner and were in bed by 7:30pm...exhausted from the days travels!
In order to get to the resort, we had to drive on the Queen K. It was as I remembered it from a few years back (here for vacation with my sister in 2006)....looks like the face of the moon. Rock and lava everywhere....oh, and it is NOT flat. Didn't look like any crazy hills in the 20mi we drove on it, but it isn't flat. Wind was blowing pretty good...but I didn't pay much attention to it because it was 5pm. I would be running, not biking at that time.
Overall, I feel very excited to be here! I tried talking to a guy that was racing that sat next to me on the shuttle to get our luggage, but he wasn't interested. He was actually an azz and I wish him all the luck in the world on Saturday :)
So, in a few hours...we will eat breakfast...I'M STARVING right now. It is really 8:46am to my body! Then, Ana and I will head down to town and meet up with Dan and Carrie. The plan is to swim in the bay for 45 minutes....then Dan and I will hit the Energy Lab for a little run in the sauna :)
Can't wait to get this started! I'll write again at the end of the day, and have some pictures for y'all. For now, I guess I'll watch Sportscenter and pretend to sleep. Glad I got here early....didn't account for this massive jet lag in my plan! Have a great day!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Well, it is 3:37am on Monday morning Hawaii time. I knew it was going to be tough with the time change (5hrs behind Chicago) but I didn't think I'd wake up at 3AM! Yesterday was a long day of travel. Close to 10 hours on the plane...but it was fine. Drank plenty of water, watched a couple movies, and just enjoyed sitting on my butt for a while. That usually doesn't happen very much!
My first impressions as I got off the plane were just as expected....it was hot. And wet feeling. Almost felt like the heat was just sticking to you. We got our luggage without any issues and grabbed the rental car. We ended up staying at a really nice resort about 25 miles north of town. Ana and I watched the sunset, had a little dinner and were in bed by 7:30pm...exhausted from the days travels!
In order to get to the resort, we had to drive on the Queen K. It was as I remembered it from a few years back (here for vacation with my sister in 2006)....looks like the face of the moon. Rock and lava everywhere....oh, and it is NOT flat. Didn't look like any crazy hills in the 20mi we drove on it, but it isn't flat. Wind was blowing pretty good...but I didn't pay much attention to it because it was 5pm. I would be running, not biking at that time.
Overall, I feel very excited to be here! I tried talking to a guy that was racing that sat next to me on the shuttle to get our luggage, but he wasn't interested. He was actually an azz and I wish him all the luck in the world on Saturday :)
So, in a few hours...we will eat breakfast...I'M STARVING right now. It is really 8:46am to my body! Then, Ana and I will head down to town and meet up with Dan and Carrie. The plan is to swim in the bay for 45 minutes....then Dan and I will hit the Energy Lab for a little run in the sauna :)
Can't wait to get this started! I'll write again at the end of the day, and have some pictures for y'all. For now, I guess I'll watch Sportscenter and pretend to sleep. Glad I got here early....didn't account for this massive jet lag in my plan! Have a great day!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Hay is in the Barn....
A little over 2 weeks from now, I'll be competing in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI. I've been on this particular journey for about 6 years. I remember the first time I saw the Ironman. It was on TV and I was in High School. I remember being totally engaged in it for the whole program. There was something raw about it. No teams, no help...just you, lava, wind, and heat. I remember thinking, I'll do that one day.
I watched the Ironman a few times after that on TV. Each time, inspiration. Each time, I'll do that one day. But it was never thought of more than that. I ran cross country in high school and loved the competition. As you may recall from my first blog...I took a break from running after High School. When I got back into it, Ironman popped back in my head.
But this time it was different. I thought those people were NUTS. I actually had a frame of reference at this point. I was doing a little running, a little riding, and basically sinking in the pool :) I saw the Ironman on TV again in 2005, again, I was inspired. This time, there was no "I'll do that one day." It was replaced with, those people are psychotic!
But like most things in life, my abilities and ambitions progressed over time. My first, and one of my biggest inspirations, was Paul. He is the father in law of one of my best buddies. At the time, and still today, Paul was absolutely RIPPED. Brian told me he did Ironman competitions and was going to be competing in the same sprint tri we were signed up for in Wisconsin.
Paul not only kicked my azz that day....he also RODE HOME from the race....50 MILES! Brian and I were exhausted and this man, about 25 years older than me, was RIDING home. I was in awe. I wanted to be like Paul. From that day, 20 mile rides turned into 40...turned into 80...and so on.
There have been countless people that have been instrumental throughout my journey to where I am today. Throughout the next few weeks, I hope to write about a few of them. For now, thank you Paul. Thank you for inspiring me to get started...I hope to be half the athlete you are, in the future.
A quick update....I'm officially in my taper now and it feels GOOD. I raced in the Tri Rock Olympic distance tri a few weekends ago...and took 6th place overall! It was really nice to get out and hammer it for a couple hours. I'm truly lucky to be able to compete at a high level and stay healthy. It's no secret...take care of yourself. Eat right, consistent...appropriate training, massage, weights...that is the secret. Pretty boring :)
As I sit here tonight, in my Recovery Boots, YES!, I feel confident. I feel like I've done the work and now it is time to see what I'm made of in the toughest race on the planet.
So here I am....almost 20 years after I saw my first Ironman on TV. I'll do this one day has turned into: I'll do this in 14 days. What a ride. The training is done...the hay is in the barn as I like to say.
I plan to write every day when I land in Hawaii to keep y'all up to date on what is going on. From the NBC coverage, you would think this is a race for the "common man." Nothing is farther from the truth. The best 1% of Ironman triathletes in the WORLD get to compete here every October. I'm humbled, and honored, to be part of that group. Time to hurry up.....and wait :)
See you on the big island.....MAHALO!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
I watched the Ironman a few times after that on TV. Each time, inspiration. Each time, I'll do that one day. But it was never thought of more than that. I ran cross country in high school and loved the competition. As you may recall from my first blog...I took a break from running after High School. When I got back into it, Ironman popped back in my head.
But this time it was different. I thought those people were NUTS. I actually had a frame of reference at this point. I was doing a little running, a little riding, and basically sinking in the pool :) I saw the Ironman on TV again in 2005, again, I was inspired. This time, there was no "I'll do that one day." It was replaced with, those people are psychotic!
But like most things in life, my abilities and ambitions progressed over time. My first, and one of my biggest inspirations, was Paul. He is the father in law of one of my best buddies. At the time, and still today, Paul was absolutely RIPPED. Brian told me he did Ironman competitions and was going to be competing in the same sprint tri we were signed up for in Wisconsin.
Paul not only kicked my azz that day....he also RODE HOME from the race....50 MILES! Brian and I were exhausted and this man, about 25 years older than me, was RIDING home. I was in awe. I wanted to be like Paul. From that day, 20 mile rides turned into 40...turned into 80...and so on.
There have been countless people that have been instrumental throughout my journey to where I am today. Throughout the next few weeks, I hope to write about a few of them. For now, thank you Paul. Thank you for inspiring me to get started...I hope to be half the athlete you are, in the future.
A quick update....I'm officially in my taper now and it feels GOOD. I raced in the Tri Rock Olympic distance tri a few weekends ago...and took 6th place overall! It was really nice to get out and hammer it for a couple hours. I'm truly lucky to be able to compete at a high level and stay healthy. It's no secret...take care of yourself. Eat right, consistent...appropriate training, massage, weights...that is the secret. Pretty boring :)
As I sit here tonight, in my Recovery Boots, YES!, I feel confident. I feel like I've done the work and now it is time to see what I'm made of in the toughest race on the planet.
So here I am....almost 20 years after I saw my first Ironman on TV. I'll do this one day has turned into: I'll do this in 14 days. What a ride. The training is done...the hay is in the barn as I like to say.
I plan to write every day when I land in Hawaii to keep y'all up to date on what is going on. From the NBC coverage, you would think this is a race for the "common man." Nothing is farther from the truth. The best 1% of Ironman triathletes in the WORLD get to compete here every October. I'm humbled, and honored, to be part of that group. Time to hurry up.....and wait :)
See you on the big island.....MAHALO!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Original Iron....my Mom
WOW....what a weekend it shaped up to be a week ago today. Whether I'm racing or spectating, I always get a huge rush of inspiration when I watch an Ironman. It is my personal passion, but even if you don't compete in Ironman or Triathlon...you can't help but leave there feeling that your life has somehow changed. For the better.
This year, it was an extra special day as my Mom was attempting to become an Ironman Finisher at age 60! This is probably one of the most difficult blogs I'll ever write because how do you sum up several years and a special connection with your mother on a blog post? I can't do it 100% justice, but I will come as close as possible.
In 2007, I competed in and finished my first Ironman Triathlon. It was a triumph that I will cherish for the rest of my life. But I had no idea the profound effect it would have on others so close to me. It seems as though my entire family changed direction that day. My sister, Cheryl, went on to be an Ironman Finisher last year...all while being a new mother, getting promoted at work, moving into a new house, being a loving wife, and trying to stay awake long enough to keep in touch with friends and family :) My dad suffered a heart attack about a year before that Ironman...since that day in September of 2007, he has given up smoking, cleaned up his diet (he still loves his Tommy's beef, but we can let that slide), and goes to the gym to workout 3-4X per week. I'm so proud of him. My sister and brother in law, Lisa and Andy, have changed their diets in hopes to get a little healthier and lead by example for my Nephew, Devin. My brother in law John just finished his first couple of 5K's and is taking personal training 1X per week now in addition to kicking some azz on the Hockey rink. My lovely wife, Ana, who has supported me unconditionally through the last 6 years, is a Marathon finisher, multiple time Olympic Triathlete, and has even muttered the words "Ironman in my future" on occasion.
But it is my Mom that has made perhaps the biggest transformation. In 2007, coming off surgery, as she hugged me at the finish line....she was easily 80lbs heavier than today. She had never competed in athletics and she had never done a thing for herself...it always about raising her family. I'm sure the start of this story isn't terribly unique....but it will get there!
Fast forward to last Sunday....my mom started from very humble beginnings. Running for 1 MINUTE on the treadmill....swimming 15 yards across a pool....and riding a hybrid bike with jeans on. Since those days in October of 2007....she has completed numerous sprint and Olympic distance triathlons, countless road running races, 2 MARATHONS (PR of 4:43!), and 2 HALF IRONMAN triathlons. She is 60 years old...ZERO athletic background.
My mom did it right. She asked for help...got great coaching along the way....and stayed consistent in her training and new lifestyle. She had many hurdles to overcome. The sheer fact that she was not a 22 year old starting out, brought on many aches and pains. She needed to seek medical attention from time to time...doctors, chiropractors, and massage. But she held it together! Perhaps the most difficult part of the journey to last weekend was the mental side. There were constant doubts about did she belong? Could she do this? What the hell was she thinking signing up for this? Well, all those doubts proved laughable last Sunday.
Mom, Dad, and Me before IM start....you will notice she is ALWAYS smiling!
My Mom absolutely crushed the Ironman last weekend. She made a comment to me that there were less than 10 people in her age group, it was in a negative tone. I took it the EXACT opposite way...only 10 or so people had the COURAGE to even think about doing something like this as a 60 year old woman. She should be HONORED to be at that starting line and represent the MILLIONS of woman that wish they could do what she is doing, regardless of their age. I think my Mom took that to heart....there hasn't been another negative comment since.
Mom killed the swim. She came from zero swimming background...when she was in school, they didn't have girls sports! So much like me, she started by barely being able to swim across the pool. Last Sunday, she came out 2nd in her Age Group over a 2.4 MILE swim. We were so excited to see her!
Out on the bike....she was equally strong. It didn't take long for mom to get the lead in her Age Group. When we saw her...she was all smiles! I wasn't worried at all about her completing the bike portion of the race...but....she needed to keep moving. There are cutoffs in Ironman...if you don't hit them, your day is over right then and there. I knew there would be ZERO issues with her making it as long as she stuck to her plan, didn't stop, and didn't have any crazy mishaps....like cramps, flat tire, etc... Well....she absolutely SMASHED 112 MILES on the bike. And for those of you that haven't been to Madison, Wisconsin....it is not flat. The Madison Ironman course is best described as a rollercoaster with RELENTLESS hills. Through consistent and dedicated training....mom made that 112 miles look EASY.
Always smiling! The pic doesn't do it justice....she is climbing a hill that is roughly 15% grade!
Out on the run....mom just stayed steady. The first 6 miles of the MARATHON were rough. But they are for everyone. After I saw her the first time at mile 6....she settled into a groove and just focused on putting 1 mile together at a time. She kept moving forward...despite the pain of 10+ hours of racing, the uneasy stomach you get from eating Astronaut food all day, and the tremendous mental strength it takes to be focused hour after hour. The "wall" didn't really hit until about mile 21 for mom. It was dark...but she pressed forward. There really is only one ultimate goal in Ironman racing....FINISH. And my mom was determined to do that. With about 1.5miles to go....I ran out to make sure she was OK. Her GPS tracker had stopped working and the "protective son" in me said go find her. So I ran out to mile 24.5 and found mom walking. She was in GREAT spirits...but I could tell she was a little disappointed to not be able to run. She told me she wanted to save it for the finish chute. The funny thing about racing an Ironman is that you never know when your body will say "FU, I'm done." And when that happens....think of my mom....she said SHUT UP LEGS and kept going! I have a few very fond memories of my Ironman races, and I hope to have a few more. But none will be as special as walking the last 1.5miles of my mom's Ironman with her. It had come full circle....she was inspired by my first race...I helped her a bit along the way...and here we were, making our way to the finish line together. I couldn't think of a more perfect, or proud, moment as her son in my life. My mom inspired HUNDREDS of people along the way...and not just on that day. I had gas station attendant's jaws dropping at the sheer mention of what she was doing. Random spectators would be floored by her story on race day. I will forever be proud of my mom and her accomplishment. She is truly a inspiration to all.
Mom...still SMILING at mile 19! Who does that?
Well, not only did mom finish....but she ran down the chute. She high fived fans and owned the finish line like the winner did a few hours earlier. She deserved it. I told my mom, you don't sign up for the Ironman race....you sign up for the training. And now she knows, the feeling of running down an Ironman finishing chute is indescribable. Mom, you are in a very elite group now...."I don't belong" should NEVER be in your vocabulary again.
Biggest smile of the day! The one with her Ironman FINISHER medal around her neck.
And, as if finishing wasn't enough. My mom had the nerve to take her competitors to the WOOD SHED and WON her division! Are you kidding me? 1st time out and my mother WON. She earned her right to go Kona and compete in the World Championships! I was absolutely FLOORED when I heard this. I always say, "finish the first, race the rest." Well I guess she showed me! What an unbelievable finish to a magical day. My mom is an Ironman Finisher....AND....a KONA Qualifer! At age 60.
Mom on the 60-64 Age Group Podium. That is one PROUD smile!
So, to mom: "I'm truly inspired by you. I guess the whole family knows where the "Original Iron" comes from now! I hope to one day be setting the example that you set last week. Anything is possible if you are passionate enough about it. You have taught me that throughout my life and you showed me by example last weekend. This blog will never truly capture my profound inspiration, but hopefully it will be one that you can print out and know that your son is deeply touched by his mom's desire to live. Thank you mom....I'm a better person today because of last Sunday. I love you."
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
This year, it was an extra special day as my Mom was attempting to become an Ironman Finisher at age 60! This is probably one of the most difficult blogs I'll ever write because how do you sum up several years and a special connection with your mother on a blog post? I can't do it 100% justice, but I will come as close as possible.
In 2007, I competed in and finished my first Ironman Triathlon. It was a triumph that I will cherish for the rest of my life. But I had no idea the profound effect it would have on others so close to me. It seems as though my entire family changed direction that day. My sister, Cheryl, went on to be an Ironman Finisher last year...all while being a new mother, getting promoted at work, moving into a new house, being a loving wife, and trying to stay awake long enough to keep in touch with friends and family :) My dad suffered a heart attack about a year before that Ironman...since that day in September of 2007, he has given up smoking, cleaned up his diet (he still loves his Tommy's beef, but we can let that slide), and goes to the gym to workout 3-4X per week. I'm so proud of him. My sister and brother in law, Lisa and Andy, have changed their diets in hopes to get a little healthier and lead by example for my Nephew, Devin. My brother in law John just finished his first couple of 5K's and is taking personal training 1X per week now in addition to kicking some azz on the Hockey rink. My lovely wife, Ana, who has supported me unconditionally through the last 6 years, is a Marathon finisher, multiple time Olympic Triathlete, and has even muttered the words "Ironman in my future" on occasion.
But it is my Mom that has made perhaps the biggest transformation. In 2007, coming off surgery, as she hugged me at the finish line....she was easily 80lbs heavier than today. She had never competed in athletics and she had never done a thing for herself...it always about raising her family. I'm sure the start of this story isn't terribly unique....but it will get there!
Fast forward to last Sunday....my mom started from very humble beginnings. Running for 1 MINUTE on the treadmill....swimming 15 yards across a pool....and riding a hybrid bike with jeans on. Since those days in October of 2007....she has completed numerous sprint and Olympic distance triathlons, countless road running races, 2 MARATHONS (PR of 4:43!), and 2 HALF IRONMAN triathlons. She is 60 years old...ZERO athletic background.
My mom did it right. She asked for help...got great coaching along the way....and stayed consistent in her training and new lifestyle. She had many hurdles to overcome. The sheer fact that she was not a 22 year old starting out, brought on many aches and pains. She needed to seek medical attention from time to time...doctors, chiropractors, and massage. But she held it together! Perhaps the most difficult part of the journey to last weekend was the mental side. There were constant doubts about did she belong? Could she do this? What the hell was she thinking signing up for this? Well, all those doubts proved laughable last Sunday.
My Mom absolutely crushed the Ironman last weekend. She made a comment to me that there were less than 10 people in her age group, it was in a negative tone. I took it the EXACT opposite way...only 10 or so people had the COURAGE to even think about doing something like this as a 60 year old woman. She should be HONORED to be at that starting line and represent the MILLIONS of woman that wish they could do what she is doing, regardless of their age. I think my Mom took that to heart....there hasn't been another negative comment since.
Mom killed the swim. She came from zero swimming background...when she was in school, they didn't have girls sports! So much like me, she started by barely being able to swim across the pool. Last Sunday, she came out 2nd in her Age Group over a 2.4 MILE swim. We were so excited to see her!
Out on the bike....she was equally strong. It didn't take long for mom to get the lead in her Age Group. When we saw her...she was all smiles! I wasn't worried at all about her completing the bike portion of the race...but....she needed to keep moving. There are cutoffs in Ironman...if you don't hit them, your day is over right then and there. I knew there would be ZERO issues with her making it as long as she stuck to her plan, didn't stop, and didn't have any crazy mishaps....like cramps, flat tire, etc... Well....she absolutely SMASHED 112 MILES on the bike. And for those of you that haven't been to Madison, Wisconsin....it is not flat. The Madison Ironman course is best described as a rollercoaster with RELENTLESS hills. Through consistent and dedicated training....mom made that 112 miles look EASY.
Out on the run....mom just stayed steady. The first 6 miles of the MARATHON were rough. But they are for everyone. After I saw her the first time at mile 6....she settled into a groove and just focused on putting 1 mile together at a time. She kept moving forward...despite the pain of 10+ hours of racing, the uneasy stomach you get from eating Astronaut food all day, and the tremendous mental strength it takes to be focused hour after hour. The "wall" didn't really hit until about mile 21 for mom. It was dark...but she pressed forward. There really is only one ultimate goal in Ironman racing....FINISH. And my mom was determined to do that. With about 1.5miles to go....I ran out to make sure she was OK. Her GPS tracker had stopped working and the "protective son" in me said go find her. So I ran out to mile 24.5 and found mom walking. She was in GREAT spirits...but I could tell she was a little disappointed to not be able to run. She told me she wanted to save it for the finish chute. The funny thing about racing an Ironman is that you never know when your body will say "FU, I'm done." And when that happens....think of my mom....she said SHUT UP LEGS and kept going! I have a few very fond memories of my Ironman races, and I hope to have a few more. But none will be as special as walking the last 1.5miles of my mom's Ironman with her. It had come full circle....she was inspired by my first race...I helped her a bit along the way...and here we were, making our way to the finish line together. I couldn't think of a more perfect, or proud, moment as her son in my life. My mom inspired HUNDREDS of people along the way...and not just on that day. I had gas station attendant's jaws dropping at the sheer mention of what she was doing. Random spectators would be floored by her story on race day. I will forever be proud of my mom and her accomplishment. She is truly a inspiration to all.
Well, not only did mom finish....but she ran down the chute. She high fived fans and owned the finish line like the winner did a few hours earlier. She deserved it. I told my mom, you don't sign up for the Ironman race....you sign up for the training. And now she knows, the feeling of running down an Ironman finishing chute is indescribable. Mom, you are in a very elite group now...."I don't belong" should NEVER be in your vocabulary again.
And, as if finishing wasn't enough. My mom had the nerve to take her competitors to the WOOD SHED and WON her division! Are you kidding me? 1st time out and my mother WON. She earned her right to go Kona and compete in the World Championships! I was absolutely FLOORED when I heard this. I always say, "finish the first, race the rest." Well I guess she showed me! What an unbelievable finish to a magical day. My mom is an Ironman Finisher....AND....a KONA Qualifer! At age 60.
So, to mom: "I'm truly inspired by you. I guess the whole family knows where the "Original Iron" comes from now! I hope to one day be setting the example that you set last week. Anything is possible if you are passionate enough about it. You have taught me that throughout my life and you showed me by example last weekend. This blog will never truly capture my profound inspiration, but hopefully it will be one that you can print out and know that your son is deeply touched by his mom's desire to live. Thank you mom....I'm a better person today because of last Sunday. I love you."
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Friday, September 7, 2012
Courage....
Happy Friday Everyone! I'm writing you as I sit in my hotel room helping my Mom get ready for her first Ironman! I'm so excited and inspired by her...she is going to have an awesome day on Sunday. My next post will be about her....but not today...she has some "business" to finish first :)
Courage. It is a powerful word with so many meanings. The context of this word today is around having the courage to START. It seems that everyone is a Triathlon Coach these days. Certified or not...everyone has an opinion and everyone seems to have a client. I was very reluctant to get into this game. I LOVE talking about Triathlon and helping people, but never felt I had the credentials to Coach someone properly. First, I have a full time job. Second, I'm not Certified. Third, it seems to be a fad.
Ryan changed that. I helped him get off the couch last year and start running. I helped him with a basic plan and before I knew it, he was running a half marathon! Ryan's story is not unlike many. He had an athletic background, was in the Military, and after...his weight Yo-Yo'd up and down for years. When I met Ryan, he was pushing 300lbs.
We had a very successful beginning to his running. The first thing that I helped Ryan realize is that it is OK to run SLOW. 99% of beginning runners run TOO fast. If I buried myself every time I laced up my shoes, let's just say this blog would not exist. Once we got past that, we started to implement a consistent cadence to his week with workouts. I was determined to help change his lifestyle....not his weight! Gone were the beers and wings several times a week. I say that tongue and cheek....it might not have been wings all the time, but it certainly wasn't grilled chicken either.
Ryan was following my summer as a Triathlete and was inspired to try his first Triathlon. It was a pool swim, short bike ride on his hybrid, and a 5K at the end. Like so many before him, he was hooked at the finish line. It was exciting for me to take the basic running program I gave him and turn it into a basic Triathlon program. This wasn't the first time I've helped people out, but I was starting to think that maybe there was something to my principles as a "coach."
In November of 2011, over several beers, we talked about what Ryan had accomplished over the past few months. Ryan wanted to take it to the next level in 2012. His first question was, could he complete a Half Ironman? Most of you are thinking...no f'ing way! Dude is 300lbs (well, he lost 50lbs that summer!) and just did a sprint Tri on a HYBRID bike. Half Ironman....right.
I didn't look at it that way though. I saw the passion, the commitment, and the desire to build on the lifestyle that Ryan was undertaking. I knew he wasn't going to Yo Yo this time. His next comment blew me away....I want you (Dave) to coach me. How much do you charge? For the first time, I thought of myself as a potential Coach. What I needed, was the COURAGE to put someone Else's dreams and aspirations in my hands. So I took a leap of faith....I was ready to do this "for real."
Ryan is an AMAZING athlete. His training was steadfast. He has a very demanding job, 3 kids, wife, travels for work 3 days a week, and has a social life on top of that. Most people would take those parameters as an excuse of why they can't do it. Ryan and I chose to take those, and make it work. This was something he wanted for himself and to set an example for his family. Ryan had the COURAGE to start. He figures out how he CAN instead of why he can't. This is the fundamental reason Ryan is successful in life...not just Triathlon.
Fast forward, because this is a blog and not a novel :) Ryan completed two Olympic distance triathlons leading up to the Ironman 70.3 Steelhead race in August. In his 2nd Olympic, Ryan WON the overall in the Clydesdale division! Talk about an amazing athlete!
We put a steady schedule together that had a mix of everything. Distance, speed, recovery, and technique. Over the course of the year, we built him up to a max of 1.5mi swimming, 70mi of biking, and 14mi of running. He was not only diligent about doing his workouts....he focused on doing them RIGHT. Ego is not an issue with Ryan and that is a great thing.
Ryan was a little nervous about the swim at Steelhead. It is a 1.2mi swim in Lake Michigan. It is a challenge for even the most seasoned swimmers. Ryan ended up doing fantastic and coming out of the water just where we expected him.
When he got to the bike....the plan was to keep it steady. Nice even effort and lets get ready to run. When I saw Ryan come in on the bike after 56 miles....he looked like he biked 5. PERFECT execution....I was on my bike and ready to chase him around on the run. Everything was lining up for a great day!
Out on the run....Ryan was crushing the course. Smooth and STEADY. I was so excited for him. At mile 10...the wheels started to fall off a bit....but this was OK! If you feel great at mile 10 of a Half Ironman, you didn't work hard enough earlier in the day :) Ryan fought through the pain and finished his first Half with smile on his face.
It was such a proud moment. Both for Ryan, and myself. To see his joy at the accomplishment was a very touching moment for me. The fact that my coaching principles seem to be sound, was a great personal victory. Obviously, I have a lot to learn....but I really enjoy taking this Coaching thing to the next level.
I didn't do the journey justice for Ryan....the sacrifice that he made was tremendous. But if you ask him, it was well worth it. Ryan sees an Ironman in his future...and more importantly, being healthy role model for his kids for the rest of his life.
I'm honored to be on this journey with Ryan....watch out Clydesdale Division (Ryan is 6'3'' and down to 220lbs now)....he is a FIERCE competitor.
Ryan and I had the courage to start....do you?
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Courage. It is a powerful word with so many meanings. The context of this word today is around having the courage to START. It seems that everyone is a Triathlon Coach these days. Certified or not...everyone has an opinion and everyone seems to have a client. I was very reluctant to get into this game. I LOVE talking about Triathlon and helping people, but never felt I had the credentials to Coach someone properly. First, I have a full time job. Second, I'm not Certified. Third, it seems to be a fad.
Ryan changed that. I helped him get off the couch last year and start running. I helped him with a basic plan and before I knew it, he was running a half marathon! Ryan's story is not unlike many. He had an athletic background, was in the Military, and after...his weight Yo-Yo'd up and down for years. When I met Ryan, he was pushing 300lbs.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
48 days....
48 days until KONA! And probably 48 days since my last post. Life is busy...no matter who you are, it just is. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in Europe where they seem to take vacations and rest VERY seriously!
First...an update....eating makes everything easier :) In my last post, I talked about being fatigued a lot and not having the power I expect on the bike. A little over a month later, I'm happy to report that my cycling legs are coming back. Most of it has to do with more dedication to making sure I eat enough...the other factor has been some great bike training as of late.
A couple weeks ago, I competed in the Rev3 Half Iron distance in the Wisconsin Dells. If you have ridden the Madison Ironman loop...I'll give that a 7 out of 10 on a difficulty scale for the Midwest. The Dells course would easily get a 9.5 in my book. 2 1mi climbs and 1 2mi climb....they were sick. The race was very challenging...but fair. I thought the climbs were spread in such a way that your legs had a little bit of reprieve from the previous. Then the run....equally challenging. Many big hills and they seemed to just come one after another!
Overall, I was very pleased with my effort in the race. The bike was MUCH better than Racine. I absolutely smoked my run, so that was great! My math might be slightly off...but I took 7th in my age group, 20th overall....17 out the top 20 spots came from my AG and the 25-29. There was a ton of fast guys that showed up. It just goes to show, you have to race the people that show up on the day...not where you "think" your time will land you. I highly recommend this race if you are looking for a new challenge next year. But bring your climbing legs :)
The following weekend I headed up for the Madison Open Water Swim Challenge. I did this last year and thought it was a great event. For anyone doing the Madison IM, it is great to get a feel for the water. Lake Monona is MUCH choppier than it looks from shore. It's nice to get acclimated for that. Also...the swim is a little long. Last year, I swam a 1:06:xx....I was totally devastated because I was shooting to go under an hour at the Ironman. What I learned...this course for MOWS is a little long...and...only 500 people, so the draft isn't as significant as in the Ironman. On IM day, I swam 59:xx....so I was right on! For anyone that just swam this race, keep in mind you will be 5-8min faster on race day. So don't freak out like I did! I'm happy to say I swam about a minute faster this year...with NO wetsuit! I'm training as long as I can without one for Kona. This is a big confidence boost that my swim is dialed in and I'm ready for Kailua Bay (after I swim in it a few times the week before of course).
Then I headed out on to the Madison course to do a couple loops. Strangely, this was the first time I've biked my pace up there this year. I headed up with my mom in May (she is doing Madison as you know) and helped her around the loop. The first one felt effortless and was one of my fastest times ever. The 2nd one...that hurt. But I stayed strong and negative split the 2 loops. Then, I ate a butt ton of food the rest of the day! Tip from Me: EAT, EAT, EAT!
All in all...I feel like I'm starting to really achieve some great fitness right now. It has been mentally challenging this year having a race a month later than normal. A new challenge is the fact that most of my training friends are either done for the year, racing this weekend, or tapering for IM Wisconsin. I JUST did my first 100mi ride of the year today! So this is a new challenge...the energy from friends is winding down and soon, will be in off season mode. I'm still ramping up.
But you know what, it's kinda cool. It's a new challenge as I move into my 5th Ironman race. It isn't the same old routine. I've decided that I'm not going to do an Ironman next year. This is my 4th year in a row and I need a break from this type of training. So I'm trying really hard to soak in these last few big weeks. It's going to be a while before I have them again and I know I will miss it at some point. So if you see me on the road, and I'm smiling at mile 95 of a 120mi ride....it's not because I feel good. Its because I'm embracing the passion I have for this sport and Ironman training in particular.
In my next post...I'm going to shift gears and tell you about a great friend of mine and the huge accomplishment he just experienced at Steelhead last week.
Best of luck to Ron and Stan this weekend racing Ironman Louisville! You guys will do great!
Enjoy the taper all you IM Wisco competitors...you earned it!
Until next time....
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
First...an update....eating makes everything easier :) In my last post, I talked about being fatigued a lot and not having the power I expect on the bike. A little over a month later, I'm happy to report that my cycling legs are coming back. Most of it has to do with more dedication to making sure I eat enough...the other factor has been some great bike training as of late.
A couple weeks ago, I competed in the Rev3 Half Iron distance in the Wisconsin Dells. If you have ridden the Madison Ironman loop...I'll give that a 7 out of 10 on a difficulty scale for the Midwest. The Dells course would easily get a 9.5 in my book. 2 1mi climbs and 1 2mi climb....they were sick. The race was very challenging...but fair. I thought the climbs were spread in such a way that your legs had a little bit of reprieve from the previous. Then the run....equally challenging. Many big hills and they seemed to just come one after another!
Overall, I was very pleased with my effort in the race. The bike was MUCH better than Racine. I absolutely smoked my run, so that was great! My math might be slightly off...but I took 7th in my age group, 20th overall....17 out the top 20 spots came from my AG and the 25-29. There was a ton of fast guys that showed up. It just goes to show, you have to race the people that show up on the day...not where you "think" your time will land you. I highly recommend this race if you are looking for a new challenge next year. But bring your climbing legs :)
The following weekend I headed up for the Madison Open Water Swim Challenge. I did this last year and thought it was a great event. For anyone doing the Madison IM, it is great to get a feel for the water. Lake Monona is MUCH choppier than it looks from shore. It's nice to get acclimated for that. Also...the swim is a little long. Last year, I swam a 1:06:xx....I was totally devastated because I was shooting to go under an hour at the Ironman. What I learned...this course for MOWS is a little long...and...only 500 people, so the draft isn't as significant as in the Ironman. On IM day, I swam 59:xx....so I was right on! For anyone that just swam this race, keep in mind you will be 5-8min faster on race day. So don't freak out like I did! I'm happy to say I swam about a minute faster this year...with NO wetsuit! I'm training as long as I can without one for Kona. This is a big confidence boost that my swim is dialed in and I'm ready for Kailua Bay (after I swim in it a few times the week before of course).
Then I headed out on to the Madison course to do a couple loops. Strangely, this was the first time I've biked my pace up there this year. I headed up with my mom in May (she is doing Madison as you know) and helped her around the loop. The first one felt effortless and was one of my fastest times ever. The 2nd one...that hurt. But I stayed strong and negative split the 2 loops. Then, I ate a butt ton of food the rest of the day! Tip from Me: EAT, EAT, EAT!
All in all...I feel like I'm starting to really achieve some great fitness right now. It has been mentally challenging this year having a race a month later than normal. A new challenge is the fact that most of my training friends are either done for the year, racing this weekend, or tapering for IM Wisconsin. I JUST did my first 100mi ride of the year today! So this is a new challenge...the energy from friends is winding down and soon, will be in off season mode. I'm still ramping up.
But you know what, it's kinda cool. It's a new challenge as I move into my 5th Ironman race. It isn't the same old routine. I've decided that I'm not going to do an Ironman next year. This is my 4th year in a row and I need a break from this type of training. So I'm trying really hard to soak in these last few big weeks. It's going to be a while before I have them again and I know I will miss it at some point. So if you see me on the road, and I'm smiling at mile 95 of a 120mi ride....it's not because I feel good. Its because I'm embracing the passion I have for this sport and Ironman training in particular.
In my next post...I'm going to shift gears and tell you about a great friend of mine and the huge accomplishment he just experienced at Steelhead last week.
Best of luck to Ron and Stan this weekend racing Ironman Louisville! You guys will do great!
Enjoy the taper all you IM Wisco competitors...you earned it!
Until next time....
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Leave the ego at the door....course correction
Yo Yo Yo. So, I did the Racine 70.3 this weekend. I won't bore you with the details. It was SUPER hot out. I didn't do as well as I hoped and I had very high expectations coming in to the race.
I think it is human nature to expect big things, or at least things you were able to do in the past. There are millions of reasons why people miss expectations; age, stress, work/life balance, other obligations, etc...
In the case of Triathlon, and specifically my case, my expectation is to get on the Podium every time I toe the line. That might sound a little arrogant, but I feel like I've earned that expectation. Now, that being said...I MUST bring my "A Game" or I will get my azz handed to me! There are way too many great athletes in the area and all of them are gunning for the same thing I am.
So when I miss that expectation, like I did on Sunday, it effects me. Specifically, I'm disappointed in the level of biking I can produce right now. My swimming is at an all time level for me. Running, very solid from the gigantic base I had from the marathon earlier this year. I might be missing a little boost in the run, but all in all, I can't complain. But then there is the bike.
I've changed a bunch this year on the bike. Brand new fit. I'm using a power meter now (used Heart Rate for 5 years to gage effort). And, I'm a month behind where I have been typically at. My big race isn't until October, it's usually in September. I rode Sunday 3 minutes slower than 2 years ago. That hurt the ego a bit. I rode the last hour 25 watts lower than the first hour....that NEVER happens to me...I'm usually super solid and even.
I did a time trial on the bike a few weeks ago...20 watts lower than a few months back. What the hell? I should be getting faster not slower! It is super frustrating.
At first, I blamed it on the marathon. Then, I blamed it on the weather. Then, I blamed it on my new bike fit. After that, I blamed it on the power meter. Then I blamed it on Kona being in October so I'm behind. It's not like I haven't been biking...
So I took a step back...talked with my coach Jen...and did some soul searching on what I need to do to get ready for October. First thing, Jen and I will be focusing a little more on the biking. I need to leave my ego at the door, and start riding at the lower wattage now. Go slow to go fast...eventually. This will help get my bike power back and boost my confidence.
Secondly, I've been slacking a bit in the weight room as of late. Lot's of races, using "recovery" as an excuse...etc. I won't over due it, but strength training is a big part of my background and my body responds to it very well.
Last, my diet. And you know what...I have a feeling that this is the REAL reason my watts are down. I have a tendency to eat the SAME amount of food year round. It is a bad habit. I put 12 pounds on in the off season (mmmm beer). Now, I'm almost at race weight, but it is only July. So guess what...I'm not eating enough for the training schedule I'm on.
So starting yesterday, I'm back on livestrong.com (the very best website to track calories in my opinion) tracking my calories and aiming to be no less than 200 calories under my burn for the day. This takes diligence, but as I type...I haven't ate dinner yet and I need to eat 1,000 more calories tonight before bed to hit my goal. Typically, my dinners are somewhat small because I eat big lunches. So...before tracking, I would be 600 calories short at the end of the day with a 400 calorie dinner...which is actually 800 calories low because of the 200 calorie buffer. Stack that day after day, week after week....and wallah! You got no POWER my friends.
So I won't sulk because, for me, I had a bad race on Sunday. I'll course correct. I'll check my ego at the door when I head out for ride. A little more focus on the bike, a little more strength training, and a lot more attention to detail in my diet WILL get me results. I look forward to seeing how my bike improves for the REV3 in the Dells a month from now.
So if your stuck in a rut, half way through your season, take a step back. Course correct....and see what the possibilities are! I'll let y'all know if this works....
AND.....a special shout out to Lisa and Selina who are running Ironman Lake Placid this weekend. One of my all time favorite races! BEST OF LUCK! Remember, River Road SUCKS on the 2nd loop...so stay mentally strong out there!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results......as long as I eat enough :)
I think it is human nature to expect big things, or at least things you were able to do in the past. There are millions of reasons why people miss expectations; age, stress, work/life balance, other obligations, etc...
In the case of Triathlon, and specifically my case, my expectation is to get on the Podium every time I toe the line. That might sound a little arrogant, but I feel like I've earned that expectation. Now, that being said...I MUST bring my "A Game" or I will get my azz handed to me! There are way too many great athletes in the area and all of them are gunning for the same thing I am.
So when I miss that expectation, like I did on Sunday, it effects me. Specifically, I'm disappointed in the level of biking I can produce right now. My swimming is at an all time level for me. Running, very solid from the gigantic base I had from the marathon earlier this year. I might be missing a little boost in the run, but all in all, I can't complain. But then there is the bike.
I've changed a bunch this year on the bike. Brand new fit. I'm using a power meter now (used Heart Rate for 5 years to gage effort). And, I'm a month behind where I have been typically at. My big race isn't until October, it's usually in September. I rode Sunday 3 minutes slower than 2 years ago. That hurt the ego a bit. I rode the last hour 25 watts lower than the first hour....that NEVER happens to me...I'm usually super solid and even.
I did a time trial on the bike a few weeks ago...20 watts lower than a few months back. What the hell? I should be getting faster not slower! It is super frustrating.
At first, I blamed it on the marathon. Then, I blamed it on the weather. Then, I blamed it on my new bike fit. After that, I blamed it on the power meter. Then I blamed it on Kona being in October so I'm behind. It's not like I haven't been biking...
So I took a step back...talked with my coach Jen...and did some soul searching on what I need to do to get ready for October. First thing, Jen and I will be focusing a little more on the biking. I need to leave my ego at the door, and start riding at the lower wattage now. Go slow to go fast...eventually. This will help get my bike power back and boost my confidence.
Secondly, I've been slacking a bit in the weight room as of late. Lot's of races, using "recovery" as an excuse...etc. I won't over due it, but strength training is a big part of my background and my body responds to it very well.
Last, my diet. And you know what...I have a feeling that this is the REAL reason my watts are down. I have a tendency to eat the SAME amount of food year round. It is a bad habit. I put 12 pounds on in the off season (mmmm beer). Now, I'm almost at race weight, but it is only July. So guess what...I'm not eating enough for the training schedule I'm on.
So starting yesterday, I'm back on livestrong.com (the very best website to track calories in my opinion) tracking my calories and aiming to be no less than 200 calories under my burn for the day. This takes diligence, but as I type...I haven't ate dinner yet and I need to eat 1,000 more calories tonight before bed to hit my goal. Typically, my dinners are somewhat small because I eat big lunches. So...before tracking, I would be 600 calories short at the end of the day with a 400 calorie dinner...which is actually 800 calories low because of the 200 calorie buffer. Stack that day after day, week after week....and wallah! You got no POWER my friends.
So I won't sulk because, for me, I had a bad race on Sunday. I'll course correct. I'll check my ego at the door when I head out for ride. A little more focus on the bike, a little more strength training, and a lot more attention to detail in my diet WILL get me results. I look forward to seeing how my bike improves for the REV3 in the Dells a month from now.
So if your stuck in a rut, half way through your season, take a step back. Course correct....and see what the possibilities are! I'll let y'all know if this works....
AND.....a special shout out to Lisa and Selina who are running Ironman Lake Placid this weekend. One of my all time favorite races! BEST OF LUCK! Remember, River Road SUCKS on the 2nd loop...so stay mentally strong out there!
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results......as long as I eat enough :)
Monday, July 2, 2012
The 3 P's!
Holy Inferno Batman....dang it is HOT out. Training in the heat is definately a big challenge for everyone. Speeds slow down...recovery is tougher...and forget about bringing down your heart rate once it get's jacked up.
It's been a very busy time since Leon's tri. Officially, my build for Kona started this weekend. I logged 108 miles of biking and 19 miles of running. All in the crazy heat. I finally gave in to Power outside and got a Power Meter this week. It was really cool to see how I really ride the roads in northern Illinois. I quickly found out that I smash the hills WAY TOO HARD. I found out in a hurry that being steady makes much more sense and the power meter will definately help. Looking forward to letting everyone know how this progress' throughout the year.
Besides the training, I competed in the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon last weekend. It was another Olympic distance event and I was psyched to redeem myself from a disappointing Leon's race.
It was a very fun morning. My mom and Ryan were racing. Ana was competing in the relay doing the swim portion. Everyone was ready for a great day. The heat wasn't too bad and I was looking forward to a FAST day.
I got out fast on the swim and quickly found myself in 2nd place in my wave. I could see the first place swimmer up ahead and worked hard on the back half of the swim to catch him. I made a strategic decision to draft him the last length of the swim instead of passing....I'm unsure if that was a good move or not. I think it cost me about 45s in the swim...but it did conserve a lot of energy. I got out of the water right behind him and felt like I didn't even swim. I beat him out of transition and I was first on the bike in my age group. It was a really cool feeling!
Out on the bike I was hammering it. I really felt like I was flying and no one in my age group passed me at all. I kept waiting for the uber biker to fly past...but it never happened. The bike was a little short (22mi)....but I managed to average a little over 24mph and make it off the bike in 1st. I was really putting together a great race.
Out on the run....I really didn't have the "pop" in my legs I was expecting. At mile 1, I was starting to struggle...but I wasn't going to give in or slow up like I did at Leon's. Right after mile 1, I got passed by a guy in my age group that was FLYING! He made me feel like I was walking. He ended up running a 32min 10K...I couldn't do that on my BEST day in an open 10K. He was unreal.
I held on to 2nd place until mile 3 or so and then got passed again. So that put me in 3rd...and there was no way I was going to give that up. At the last turnaround, with about 1.5mi to go, I noticed a guy in my age group that was gaining on me. He was about 15 seconds behind me and I made eye contact with him after the turn. I made the decision that there was no way he was going to beat me. I couldn't live with myself if I gave up the podium in the last 10 minutes of the race.
So I put my head down....and went for it. I started flying....or at least that is what it felt like :) The pain was so intense...I could barely see straight after a mile. It was about that point that I sort of blacked out. I don't remember much of the last half mile except for turning around at the 6mile marker to see if the dude in the yellow and black was close....I didn't see him. I crushed him! It was such a great feeling for about 3 seconds when I crossed the line.
This is me after the finish...not feeling too good. Yeah...I threw up right after this photo was taken. I've NEVER ran so hard I threw up. It was a great feeling....most of you will relate :)
In the end...I held on to 3rd place....and the dude I thought I dropped, not in my AG :) 4th place ended up being roughly 5 minutes behind me. Haha!
Me on the Podium getting my AG medal. Always an honor!
It was a wonderful day out there....my run wasn't as speedy as I hoped, but I PUKED. So no regrets!
Mom and Ana after the race! Mom had a terrific race and Ana's relay team won the overall! Ryan completed his first Olympic Tri and CRUSHED it!
So what are the 3 P's? PR, Podium, and PUKE! A true trifecta last weekend :)
Oh yeah...my mom rode 106 miles yesterday on her bike. She is 60 years old. What did you do yesterday? :)
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
It's been a very busy time since Leon's tri. Officially, my build for Kona started this weekend. I logged 108 miles of biking and 19 miles of running. All in the crazy heat. I finally gave in to Power outside and got a Power Meter this week. It was really cool to see how I really ride the roads in northern Illinois. I quickly found out that I smash the hills WAY TOO HARD. I found out in a hurry that being steady makes much more sense and the power meter will definately help. Looking forward to letting everyone know how this progress' throughout the year.
Besides the training, I competed in the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon last weekend. It was another Olympic distance event and I was psyched to redeem myself from a disappointing Leon's race.
It was a very fun morning. My mom and Ryan were racing. Ana was competing in the relay doing the swim portion. Everyone was ready for a great day. The heat wasn't too bad and I was looking forward to a FAST day.
I got out fast on the swim and quickly found myself in 2nd place in my wave. I could see the first place swimmer up ahead and worked hard on the back half of the swim to catch him. I made a strategic decision to draft him the last length of the swim instead of passing....I'm unsure if that was a good move or not. I think it cost me about 45s in the swim...but it did conserve a lot of energy. I got out of the water right behind him and felt like I didn't even swim. I beat him out of transition and I was first on the bike in my age group. It was a really cool feeling!
Out on the bike I was hammering it. I really felt like I was flying and no one in my age group passed me at all. I kept waiting for the uber biker to fly past...but it never happened. The bike was a little short (22mi)....but I managed to average a little over 24mph and make it off the bike in 1st. I was really putting together a great race.
Out on the run....I really didn't have the "pop" in my legs I was expecting. At mile 1, I was starting to struggle...but I wasn't going to give in or slow up like I did at Leon's. Right after mile 1, I got passed by a guy in my age group that was FLYING! He made me feel like I was walking. He ended up running a 32min 10K...I couldn't do that on my BEST day in an open 10K. He was unreal.
I held on to 2nd place until mile 3 or so and then got passed again. So that put me in 3rd...and there was no way I was going to give that up. At the last turnaround, with about 1.5mi to go, I noticed a guy in my age group that was gaining on me. He was about 15 seconds behind me and I made eye contact with him after the turn. I made the decision that there was no way he was going to beat me. I couldn't live with myself if I gave up the podium in the last 10 minutes of the race.
So I put my head down....and went for it. I started flying....or at least that is what it felt like :) The pain was so intense...I could barely see straight after a mile. It was about that point that I sort of blacked out. I don't remember much of the last half mile except for turning around at the 6mile marker to see if the dude in the yellow and black was close....I didn't see him. I crushed him! It was such a great feeling for about 3 seconds when I crossed the line.
In the end...I held on to 3rd place....and the dude I thought I dropped, not in my AG :) 4th place ended up being roughly 5 minutes behind me. Haha!
It was a wonderful day out there....my run wasn't as speedy as I hoped, but I PUKED. So no regrets!
So what are the 3 P's? PR, Podium, and PUKE! A true trifecta last weekend :)
Oh yeah...my mom rode 106 miles yesterday on her bike. She is 60 years old. What did you do yesterday? :)
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Monday, June 4, 2012
PR....not so much....but that is ok!
Hey everyone...it's been a wonderful few weeks since my last post! One of the great things about working hard all winter and spring...then doing a spring "A Race" is that you get a nice break when that is done.
So, I've been working out a little...but mostly just enjoying a physical and mental break. I've been fishing, drinking, went the Indy 500, drinking, bbq'd, drinking, out on the boat, drinking, catching up on some sleep...oh yeah, and had some beers too :)
I really think that it is super healthy to get away from Tri/Endurance sports a few times a year. It keeps you fresh both in body and mind. If done right, it helps keep your motivation high as the workouts get longer and tougher!
BUT.....you have to keep your expectations in check when you get back at it!
I raced in Leon's Triathlon yesterday in Hammond, IN. It is the self proclaimed "Fastest Triathlon in the World." I have to admit, I had a blast. I had no real expectations coming in because I knew I was still recovering (physically and mentally) from the Marathon. Not to mention the 4 cases of beer I drank in the last 4 weeks :) Well, maybe not that much beer...
Straight to the point...I suffered like a dog out there. I was a good 10 minutes slower than what I "could" have done if I was rested and trained for this one. But why? I set out to SMASH myself, like Chrissie Wellington said to do a few weeks ago at a talk at Runner's High and Tri.
My swim was great actually! A PR by about a minute. It was weird...for the first 2/3 of the swim, I was swimming "alone" and couldn't figure out why....but then I did....I was actually leading a pack of faster swimmers on MY feet. Now, there were several uber swimmers ahead of me...but I was really excited as I caught some adrenaline when I looked back with a few hundred meters to go. I even pulled us up to the next group ahead of me. I was in the Elite wave, so this was no joke. This was the first time I've led a good group of swimmers and it felt good to have people drafting off me for once! I posted a while back that when I started...I couldn't even swim to the other side of the 25yd pool! I will always remember the swim at Leon's.
Unfortunately, that is where my race fell off the tracks. I had trouble getting out of my wetsuit. T1 was way longer than it should have been. I felt "off" from the first pedal on the bike. By mile 5, I was counting the minutes until I could get off the damn thing. By mile 10, I kinda wanted to throw up...and it NEVER went away!
I rolled in much slower than anticipated, and had a really nice T2. Very quick this time. However, about 1/4 mile into the run, I really felt like WALKING. My body was revolting, I was hot, my legs were starting to cramp a little...I really just wanted to be done. But, I set out to SMASH myself so I figured that didn't include walking.
Fast forward to the finish....my run pace was SLOWER than my marathon pace, not good. It was only 6 miles. However, I was delirious when I finished...it took a good 15 minutes to get my heart back to normal...it was racing like crazy. I accomplished my goal...work hard, no regrets. While the place and finishing time were way off my potential, I did the best I could on this day.
Me HURTING at the finish line....pretty sure my eyes were closed.
So it goes back to setting proper expectations. Was I disappointed? Kinda...but not really. I had a great day with Ana, Jen, Matt, and Ron. It was so fun to see them out there racing their hearts out...and have Ana cheering us on. Sounds like a pretty damn good day to me.
So what's next? I'm HIGHLY motivated to redeem myself at Pleasant Prairie in a few weeks. Same distance....time to get those 10 minutes back!
Oh yeah, Leon....GREAT race. Loved it. I'm not sure if it really is the "Fastest Triathlon in the World." But I'm pretty sure that the real "fastest" triathlon doesn't have a U Turn every 2.5 miles on the bike course. I'm just sayin.... :)
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
So, I've been working out a little...but mostly just enjoying a physical and mental break. I've been fishing, drinking, went the Indy 500, drinking, bbq'd, drinking, out on the boat, drinking, catching up on some sleep...oh yeah, and had some beers too :)
I really think that it is super healthy to get away from Tri/Endurance sports a few times a year. It keeps you fresh both in body and mind. If done right, it helps keep your motivation high as the workouts get longer and tougher!
BUT.....you have to keep your expectations in check when you get back at it!
I raced in Leon's Triathlon yesterday in Hammond, IN. It is the self proclaimed "Fastest Triathlon in the World." I have to admit, I had a blast. I had no real expectations coming in because I knew I was still recovering (physically and mentally) from the Marathon. Not to mention the 4 cases of beer I drank in the last 4 weeks :) Well, maybe not that much beer...
Straight to the point...I suffered like a dog out there. I was a good 10 minutes slower than what I "could" have done if I was rested and trained for this one. But why? I set out to SMASH myself, like Chrissie Wellington said to do a few weeks ago at a talk at Runner's High and Tri.
My swim was great actually! A PR by about a minute. It was weird...for the first 2/3 of the swim, I was swimming "alone" and couldn't figure out why....but then I did....I was actually leading a pack of faster swimmers on MY feet. Now, there were several uber swimmers ahead of me...but I was really excited as I caught some adrenaline when I looked back with a few hundred meters to go. I even pulled us up to the next group ahead of me. I was in the Elite wave, so this was no joke. This was the first time I've led a good group of swimmers and it felt good to have people drafting off me for once! I posted a while back that when I started...I couldn't even swim to the other side of the 25yd pool! I will always remember the swim at Leon's.
Unfortunately, that is where my race fell off the tracks. I had trouble getting out of my wetsuit. T1 was way longer than it should have been. I felt "off" from the first pedal on the bike. By mile 5, I was counting the minutes until I could get off the damn thing. By mile 10, I kinda wanted to throw up...and it NEVER went away!
I rolled in much slower than anticipated, and had a really nice T2. Very quick this time. However, about 1/4 mile into the run, I really felt like WALKING. My body was revolting, I was hot, my legs were starting to cramp a little...I really just wanted to be done. But, I set out to SMASH myself so I figured that didn't include walking.
Fast forward to the finish....my run pace was SLOWER than my marathon pace, not good. It was only 6 miles. However, I was delirious when I finished...it took a good 15 minutes to get my heart back to normal...it was racing like crazy. I accomplished my goal...work hard, no regrets. While the place and finishing time were way off my potential, I did the best I could on this day.
Me HURTING at the finish line....pretty sure my eyes were closed.
So it goes back to setting proper expectations. Was I disappointed? Kinda...but not really. I had a great day with Ana, Jen, Matt, and Ron. It was so fun to see them out there racing their hearts out...and have Ana cheering us on. Sounds like a pretty damn good day to me.
So what's next? I'm HIGHLY motivated to redeem myself at Pleasant Prairie in a few weeks. Same distance....time to get those 10 minutes back!
Oh yeah, Leon....GREAT race. Loved it. I'm not sure if it really is the "Fastest Triathlon in the World." But I'm pretty sure that the real "fastest" triathlon doesn't have a U Turn every 2.5 miles on the bike course. I'm just sayin.... :)
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Dave 1, Marathon 4!
As you know, I competed in the Wisconsin Marathon last Saturday. From my previous blog, you probably understand that I have a bit of a personal vendetta against the open marathon. Well....3:01 and a 6:55 pace...I guess you can say I won this round!
The main reason I put my time here is not to brag, but rather...to prove a point that:
"The only limitations you have, are the one's you put on yourself."
For 5 years, I tried to break the 3:10 mark and get my Boston Qualifer. This year they dropped the BQ 5 minutes for everyone...so I needed 3:05. I did the work, I was stubborn about my fitness, and I embraced the pain when it came at mile 22. None of that wass easy, but everyone can achieve a personal best if you are dedicated enough to it! 3:10 was no longer an option...so I had to make sure I didn't limit myself in training and on race day. You are capable of much more than you think if you truly dedicate to it.
2012 Wisconsin Marathon Race Recap:
I had a super busy week leading up to the race at work. Not ideal as you try to limit stress, but you deal with it. I had a nice Itailan meal with my family the night before the race and I felt ready. I got to bed around 10:30pm and had the alarm set for 4:30am. 6 hours is PLENTY of sleep on race night. The "key sleep night" is 2 nights before any competition.
I woke up...made my peanut butter and banana bagel and got ready to race. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the temperature and humidity had dropped overnight and I was going to have an ideal day to race. The biggest issue from mother nature would be the strong 15mph wind off the lake. And it did prove to be challenging!
We drove up to Kenosha with plenty of time to spare. It started pouring! I LOVE running in the rain, but not at the very beginning of a Marathon. Wet shoes and socks equal nasty blisters! Luckily, the rain stopped about 30min prior to the gun going off. We walked down to the start line and took care of our pre-race business. It was COLD.
I was so glad to have Ana, my mom, my nephew Devin, Ryan, Brian, and Janine with me at the start. It helped keep me calm and focused on the task at hand. I lined up with about 10 minutes to go and did some short strides to warm up. The plan was to go out steady and try not to break a 7min mile in the first 6 miles.
The gun sounded and we were off! The challenging part of running a marathon at the same time as the "half marathon" is to not go out too hard. So I settled into a pace that felt almost too easy and hoped for the best by the time I hit mile 1. Time on my watch: 6:55....I went out a little too fast, but nothing to be worried about. Just stay steady...and try not to worry.
Me at mile 1....
The next few miles were pretty uneventful. Charles showed up around mile 4 and I was feeling GREAT. I had been hitting 6:57-7:00 pace for the start and I wasn't even breathing hard. I really felt like this could be my day. I remember telling Charles as he was biking along side me that "Today I become a RUNNER. People wont be able to classify me as just a Triathlete anymore." I remembered that all throughout the race.
Me at mile 4....
As you can tell...I'm hamming it up a bit but having a great time and staying focused! Right after this picuture we turned into the wind and battled it for the next 3 miles or so. Again, stay focused and keep it steady was in my head. I realized that the last 7 miles of the race would be into this stiff wind and it was going to HURT....but for now, don't work too hard.
I got to see my family and friends at mile 11 and I was still feeling amazing! I remembered back to when Charles qualified for Boston and he told me that he didn't even feel like he was running through 10 miles. I felt the exact same way... Today would be my day, but I knew what lie ahead. A very smart, and fast, marathoner once told me:
Run the first 10 miles with your HEAD
Run the next 10 miles with your LEGS
And run the last 10K with your HEART
I was ready...
Through 15 miles I felt unstoppable. The training, the nutrition plan, the race plan...everything was coming together perfectly. At mile 15 I had to start to "work" though. I noticed my breathing getting a little heavy, but I stayed confident. At about this time, I dropped the pace to roughly 6:45 and held this through mile 20. I was a little nervous that this would come back to bite me, but it felt "right." So I went with it. It also helped that the wind was at my back too :)
I saw Charles at mile 21 on his bike and I was working...but I felt amazing for being 21 miles into the run. I was several minutes ahead of my goal pace (7:03) and knew that if I could hold it together, I would be fine. Charles decided to bike up to mile 23 and I would see him there.
Mile 22....and it hit me like CLOCK WORK. I had entered the pain cave. The smile was gone. The chit chat was nowhere to be found. It was nothing but shear determination to make it to the finish line under 3:05. The best part was, I EMBRACED this pain. I knew it was coming. I had visualized what it would be like to try and hold on to the pace when my body was screaming to stop. These last 4 miles are what I trained for...so it was time to kick the open marathon's ASS!
I saw Charles at mile 23 and he biked with me for a little bit. It was a huge help to have him there as I was suffering...but I kept looking down at the mile markers....6:55, 6:52, 6:50....I wasn't slowing down! I was in a world of hurt...but I was hanging on straight into the wind at the END of a marathon.
Charles peeled off with 1 mile to go and I kicked it in....6:45 was my last mile! My slowest of the day had been 7:01....I never went above the goal pace and I'm so proud of that. My fastest mile was 6:43....so you could say that I ran a VERY steady race. I even negative split the marathon...going through the half in 1:32...and running the 2nd half in 1:29. This was truly one of the BEST races I have ever had.
I turned the corner for the finish line and saw 3:01:13 as I crossed the line. I was exhausted and so very proud. I fought hard for this....fought for 5 years for this moment. I didn't let myself put limits on what I could do....and made my goal.
I'm not nieve enough to think that this will happen every time I toe the line, marathon or otherwise. So, I CELEBRATE! These races only come along once in a great while. The simple fact is this isn't basketball...there is no "best of 7 series." If it was, I got swept by the marathon :) You pour your heart and sole into 1 day....and you earn whatever finish you get.
So, enjoy your success when it comes. Otherwise, why do it? Boston, here I come.
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Deep in the PAIN CAVE at mile 26.....
The main reason I put my time here is not to brag, but rather...to prove a point that:
"The only limitations you have, are the one's you put on yourself."
For 5 years, I tried to break the 3:10 mark and get my Boston Qualifer. This year they dropped the BQ 5 minutes for everyone...so I needed 3:05. I did the work, I was stubborn about my fitness, and I embraced the pain when it came at mile 22. None of that wass easy, but everyone can achieve a personal best if you are dedicated enough to it! 3:10 was no longer an option...so I had to make sure I didn't limit myself in training and on race day. You are capable of much more than you think if you truly dedicate to it.
2012 Wisconsin Marathon Race Recap:
I had a super busy week leading up to the race at work. Not ideal as you try to limit stress, but you deal with it. I had a nice Itailan meal with my family the night before the race and I felt ready. I got to bed around 10:30pm and had the alarm set for 4:30am. 6 hours is PLENTY of sleep on race night. The "key sleep night" is 2 nights before any competition.
I woke up...made my peanut butter and banana bagel and got ready to race. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the temperature and humidity had dropped overnight and I was going to have an ideal day to race. The biggest issue from mother nature would be the strong 15mph wind off the lake. And it did prove to be challenging!
We drove up to Kenosha with plenty of time to spare. It started pouring! I LOVE running in the rain, but not at the very beginning of a Marathon. Wet shoes and socks equal nasty blisters! Luckily, the rain stopped about 30min prior to the gun going off. We walked down to the start line and took care of our pre-race business. It was COLD.
I was so glad to have Ana, my mom, my nephew Devin, Ryan, Brian, and Janine with me at the start. It helped keep me calm and focused on the task at hand. I lined up with about 10 minutes to go and did some short strides to warm up. The plan was to go out steady and try not to break a 7min mile in the first 6 miles.
The gun sounded and we were off! The challenging part of running a marathon at the same time as the "half marathon" is to not go out too hard. So I settled into a pace that felt almost too easy and hoped for the best by the time I hit mile 1. Time on my watch: 6:55....I went out a little too fast, but nothing to be worried about. Just stay steady...and try not to worry.
Me at mile 1....
The next few miles were pretty uneventful. Charles showed up around mile 4 and I was feeling GREAT. I had been hitting 6:57-7:00 pace for the start and I wasn't even breathing hard. I really felt like this could be my day. I remember telling Charles as he was biking along side me that "Today I become a RUNNER. People wont be able to classify me as just a Triathlete anymore." I remembered that all throughout the race.
Me at mile 4....
As you can tell...I'm hamming it up a bit but having a great time and staying focused! Right after this picuture we turned into the wind and battled it for the next 3 miles or so. Again, stay focused and keep it steady was in my head. I realized that the last 7 miles of the race would be into this stiff wind and it was going to HURT....but for now, don't work too hard.
I got to see my family and friends at mile 11 and I was still feeling amazing! I remembered back to when Charles qualified for Boston and he told me that he didn't even feel like he was running through 10 miles. I felt the exact same way... Today would be my day, but I knew what lie ahead. A very smart, and fast, marathoner once told me:
Run the first 10 miles with your HEAD
Run the next 10 miles with your LEGS
And run the last 10K with your HEART
I was ready...
Through 15 miles I felt unstoppable. The training, the nutrition plan, the race plan...everything was coming together perfectly. At mile 15 I had to start to "work" though. I noticed my breathing getting a little heavy, but I stayed confident. At about this time, I dropped the pace to roughly 6:45 and held this through mile 20. I was a little nervous that this would come back to bite me, but it felt "right." So I went with it. It also helped that the wind was at my back too :)
I saw Charles at mile 21 on his bike and I was working...but I felt amazing for being 21 miles into the run. I was several minutes ahead of my goal pace (7:03) and knew that if I could hold it together, I would be fine. Charles decided to bike up to mile 23 and I would see him there.
Mile 22....and it hit me like CLOCK WORK. I had entered the pain cave. The smile was gone. The chit chat was nowhere to be found. It was nothing but shear determination to make it to the finish line under 3:05. The best part was, I EMBRACED this pain. I knew it was coming. I had visualized what it would be like to try and hold on to the pace when my body was screaming to stop. These last 4 miles are what I trained for...so it was time to kick the open marathon's ASS!
I saw Charles at mile 23 and he biked with me for a little bit. It was a huge help to have him there as I was suffering...but I kept looking down at the mile markers....6:55, 6:52, 6:50....I wasn't slowing down! I was in a world of hurt...but I was hanging on straight into the wind at the END of a marathon.
Charles peeled off with 1 mile to go and I kicked it in....6:45 was my last mile! My slowest of the day had been 7:01....I never went above the goal pace and I'm so proud of that. My fastest mile was 6:43....so you could say that I ran a VERY steady race. I even negative split the marathon...going through the half in 1:32...and running the 2nd half in 1:29. This was truly one of the BEST races I have ever had.
I turned the corner for the finish line and saw 3:01:13 as I crossed the line. I was exhausted and so very proud. I fought hard for this....fought for 5 years for this moment. I didn't let myself put limits on what I could do....and made my goal.
I'm not nieve enough to think that this will happen every time I toe the line, marathon or otherwise. So, I CELEBRATE! These races only come along once in a great while. The simple fact is this isn't basketball...there is no "best of 7 series." If it was, I got swept by the marathon :) You pour your heart and sole into 1 day....and you earn whatever finish you get.
So, enjoy your success when it comes. Otherwise, why do it? Boston, here I come.
Dave
Dedication, Passion, Results
Deep in the PAIN CAVE at mile 26.....
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