Coming off a tough week. On Wednesday was unable to sustain Zone 2 heart rate (Z1 is super easy, Z5 super tough). I just rode for 30 minutes and bagged it. Clearly I was cashed and wasn’t doing myself any good working out. So I just did some strength training. No workouts until yesterday (Saturday). Did a great bike session and was feeling much better with the added recovery. So much smarter now about what to push through and when to call it good.
Anyway, today’s plan called for 90 min run. My longest so far was 6 miles in a little under an hour, so I thought I’d plan on going easy and seeing how it went. Did the first two miles in my new Newton Gravity’s (my first run in them). I then switched to the Vibram Five Fingers for the remainder. Felt great, was able to open it up a little bit and was hoping for 9 miles. Crazy, but I thought do-able. Felt awesome up until about mile 7.75 and then things started to tighten up often times that stuff will pass after a bit but it didn’t by 8 so I called it good. Still 2 miles farther than my previous long run since October 2009.
Al & I just registered for IM WI 2010. Got rockstar registration from PNF herself! Very good omen – I was the only person she registered.
Ran into Josh at registration and he’s signed up too. Bobby, Rocket, et al…gonna be a great year!
BikeSnob NYC is one of the most irreverant, relavant, and funny blogs I’ve seen. That it centers on cycling is a bonus, but I’d still find it entertaining if he was talking about fish. NYT’s sums him up thusly: the Bike Snob has emerged as a fierce and entertaining critic…His site is a witty, ruthless deconstruction of the cycling scene in New York and beyond: its quirks, cliques and fashion misdeeds.
Completed the DC 1/2 today. It went mostly as expected with the minimal training I put in beforehand. In the swim I just tried to stay relaxed and keep good form. The water was rough and I had a bit of an issue early with breathing into a wave, once I got sorted out from that, it went pretty well. Bike ride went well. I stayed mostly where I wanted to be as far as heart rate. Was bummed they were out of water at the 2nd through 4th aid stations on the bike. Wow was I thirsty when I got back to T2! Though I kept my HR down for the whole run, I never found the legs. They were bricks for the whole thing. M passed me just before Mile 2 on the run and was having a great day. It was awesome to see her on the course. Very weird to not have her all over cheering me on – this was the first big event we’ve done together (meaning at the same time). Didn’t bother checking my times – I knew they were not very good and I really didn’t care. Overall a great workout and an even better motivator to get my act together for IM CdA training!
This evening on the way to open water swim class, I walked past a fisherman on the Monona Terrace. He asked what was on my chest. As I explained that it was the reversed words “Carpe Diem” in my mother’s hand writing, he stared at the tattoo intently and looked slightly perplexed. I went on to explain that it was written in reverse so I could see it correctly when I look in the mirror. He replied with “wow, that’s pretty cool. I thought it was reversed because she was writing it from inside you”. I nearly started crying at the profoundness of his interpretation. Pretty cool indeed!
It is with tremendous sadness that I announce the passing of our beloved pup Tobie. His health has been steadily declining over the past several months – old age has a way of catching up to all of us. As of late, it became apparent that he deserved better than his current condition allowed. We have been incredibly fortunate to have been blessed with his love and companionship for the past 14 1/2 years. He has left a void in our hearts that no living thing will ever replace.
With love and sorrow,
Michele, Dean, and Sitka
“The only way not to feel such intense sadness is to never feel intense love. And that is certainly no way to live” – Peter King
After much discussion, deliberation, and soul-searching, I have registered for another IM! In September of 2008, I decided I wanted to do another IM event and was pretty set on IMWI for 2010. Based on a number of factors, primarily because I am going to be there for the event anyway, (Michele had decided to register for IMCdA 2010 months ago) and after previewing the course, watching and volunteering for the event, it seemed like a reasonable thing to do. This decision was obviously very different from the decision to do the first one. The initial experience didn’t feel as much of a decision as it did destiny. I had tested the water with my first few tri’s along with a 1/2 event and could not find a reason not to do the IM. This time I was all over the map (considerations, pros/cons) – experience will do that to you.
Michele, Jess, Bobby, Danielle and I, traveled to Coeur d’Alene, ID to preview, spectate, and volunteer for the IMCdA event. All but me came with the intent to register for 2010 – I came still undecided.
Beautiful city/course and didn’t seem any more difficult than Madison with the exception of the choppy and cold lake. The event itself was incredible (as I imagine nearly every IM event is). Volunteering at the Finish Line was again an amazing experience. It is an incredible honor to present an athlete with a finisher’s medal – I can’t believe I’ve been able to do this at two different IM events.
