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Mountain Climbing
I finally rode some hills on Friday. I am up in Lake George, NY and I did a 24 mile ride along route 9N. The hills I encountered were nothing too major, but I did have a couple of good steady climbs. At one point, I climbed for a continuous two miles. I definitely did not ascend a mountain, but compared to the hill in Prospect Park, it may as well have been one. It is clear to me that I need to do a lot more of this type of training. I have only two months remaining before IMLP and I am definitely not ready for the hills.
On the ride back, I was able to kamikaze down the hill 2 mile hill I climbed. I reached terminal velocity at 41.6 MPH. I couldn’t go any faster as my windbreaker was a bit loose around my arms and the flapping of the material caused too much drag. It is satisfying to know, that I still have no fear of flying down hills on my bike. When I think about riding very fast downhill I sometimes get the willies. This trepidation must be a result of the crash I suffered two years ago at the West Point Triathlon (see Crash and Burn). However, once I am speeding down the hill, the only emotions I feel are excitement and pleasure.
Here are the stats:
Time: 1:27:00
Distance: 24
HR: 145/162
Speed (avg/max): 16.4 / 41.6
PWR: 275 AVG – No max reading, plus lost power sensor at end of ride
PI: 27
LRB: 50/50
TiZ2 (148/130): A – 37:01, I – 38:51, B – 11:50
Rain or Shine
I am not sure how I did it, but I did. I swam 4000 yards at masters swim practice and then ran 12 miles outside in the pouring rain around Central Park – all on 5 hours sleep.
The swim was a bit aggravating, since the Masters coach, just rattles off several sets of repeats and then leaves us on our own to complete them. I always have trouble remembering what he said. I just like to be mindless when I swim, which frees me to concentrate on the workout. Inevitably, I forget what the sets are and I have to look around to see what is next.
On the run, I covered the Upper 5M twice to maximize my hill running pleasure. The trip back and forth from Asphalt Green rounded out the run to 12 miles total. I enjoyed my time outdoors and my smooth steady running was caused a glowing shine within me. When I arrived back at AG, steam was rising from my body. My fingers were wrinkled and I probably looked like a drowned rat. I hopped in the shower with all of my clothes on. I was covered in sweat, rain and grime and I felt great. I let the shampoo run out of my hair onto my clothes to loosen some of the dirt and give them a rudimentary cleaning. I probably looked a bit odd showering fully dressed.
Later in the day, I started to pack for a trip to the Sagamore in Lake George with the family. We are only going until Saturday, but it is not possible for me to pack light. I intend to get at least one bike ride in, which meant all my bike gear and warm clothes for the cool morning temperatures in the mountains. As I started to load my bike onto the car, it started to rain again and I got soaking wet. Run Stats:
Time: 1:42:00
Distance: 12
HR: 145/163
CP Loop 1 time: 46:30
CP Loop 2 time: 40:49
Calories: 1376
Too Little Sleep
I really don’t know what I am thinking today. It is 4:36am and I have less than 5 hours sleep in me. However, I am still going to head to Masters Swim practice and dip my nice warm shaven body into the chilly pool water. I hope I have enough energy to keep myself from drowning.
After the swim, I also have it in my mind, to head out to Central Park to run 12 miles. It is pouring rain right now and I intend to do so no matter what. The time has come for me to begin training through any weather in preparation for my upcoming races.
I am on such little sleep, since my staff and colleagues from my former job took me out to celebrate my new position. Evidently, there was some controversy as to who should send out the invitation and who should be invited. It appears that some people are still a bit touchy about me leaving. Too bad for them, I just find this whole thing amusing.
We went to Dip Café, a Murray Hill joint that specializes in Fondue. It was pretty good. They served pretty healthy food (grilled chicken, broccoli, carrots, tomato, etc), that you could make unhealthy by dipping into vats of cheese. I drank two beers and was force fed one shot.
Ok, it is time for me to get ready. I have a lot of gear to pack if I am going to swim, run and make a 10am meeting.
According to “The Leatherman’s Loop” website, this race is a unique trail run featuring two river crossings, a quarry climb, beautiful pine forests, swamp land, and the legend of the Leatherman. It forgot to mention the mud. Plenty of mud.
This is one great race. I had a blast the entire 54:37 it took me to run the 10K distance and cross the finish line. This elapsed time includes my wasted minutes I spent digging my sneakers out of the mud when they were sucked from my feet.
The race is held in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, a few miles from Katonah, NY. After a one hour drive, I entered the park and was immediately greeted by several deer along the embankment of the park entrance road. They obligingly waited for me to dump out my bag, grab my camera and snap a photo. Picture taken, I drove the remaining distance to race signup. Be warned that if you sign up for the race, your entry fee does not include a T-Shirt. Knowing the fate of most of my race T-shirts, I was disinclined to spend another 15 bucks.
The start of the race is along a wide grassy meadow. The athletes were a mix of serious runners, people wearing dress shirts with ties, and those out for a leisurely stroll through the mud. We went through the obligatory race announcements, tributes to past runners until finally the sound of the starting gun.
At the sound of the gun, those familiar with the course knew to make a mad dash up the wide grassy hill. The reason why was evident, for as soon as you crested the hill, the course turned onto relatively narrow muddy trails. If you were not out in front, you were stuck behind the slower runners. The next time I will know to sprint out hard in order to jockey for a better position.
It turns out that even if I had known to sprint hard for the first few hundred yards, in the end it wouldn’t have mattered. The first narrow trail consisted of thick mud as deep as your shin. After a few steps running through it, my right shoe was sucked off. I was forced to fight back through the marauding masses to seek my shoe. It managed to get itself buried about six inches deep after some other runners inadvertently stepped on it. It took me a minute or so to dig it out while ducking the oncoming runners. I simply sat down in the mud to put it back on.
Having secured my footwear once again, I proceeded with the business of running. The trail turned deeper into the woods where we encounter numerous fallen trees, slippery rock and tree roots protruding from the ground with every step. On one downhill section, I passed someone running barefoot who appeared amused when I asked him to borrow his sneakers, since mine wanted to keep slipping off.
At the bottom of this hill I arrived at the first stream crossing. It was a couple of foot drop into waist deep water that was moving fast. Everyone slipped and slide-ed into each other due to the slippery rocks below. The cool water was very refreshing and I had a strong urge to drink some. Instead I just splashed some on my face and clawed my way up the other side of the stream. After climbing back onto the trail, I felt my hamstrings and quads tense up from the shock of the cold.
The race continued to proceed through the woods, under and over trees and through many patches of brambles. I found I was able to move up in position by timing my bursts for when I could cut corners or the trail would widen out. The footing was very technical and you had to watch every step you took. I was running through it with ease and began to feel as though I missed my calling.
After a while I caught up to a young woman at the same time someone was calling out various runners positions. I was now right behind the 5th place female. We were in very close proximity and I prodded her to go after the 4th. I pondered out loud the possibility of a sex change on the run to secure at worst case 6th place female.
Soon we came a road crossing and the only water station along the course. I took a Hammergel, a cup of water and then proceeded back onto the trails. This section of course consisted of swampy ground with tall grassy plant life on each side. The sun came out by now and shone upon the bleached white bones of a deer skull. I should have taken this as an ominous sign and became wary of what lay ahead. The trail turned deeply muddy everywhere and there was no avoiding running through it.
After hoping over a rock in the middle of the mud, my right shoe plunged deep into the mud. The suction pulled it right off my foot and sent me flying face first towards the mud. The show came out with a satisfying “thwoop” and I wedged it back on my foot as best I could. I then proceeded once again with passing many runners that I had left behind previously. From this point forward I also encountered numerous fruit flies that regularly flew into your mouth.
At approximately 40-45 minutes into the run I could sense the end of the race approaching. I started to feel really good and sensed my legs starting to kick really well. My HR monitor indicated that my pulse was well into the red zone; however my mind didn’t sense any fatigue or belabored breathing. My body was moving in perfect synchronicity. I was a perfect harmony of eyes, feet, heart, lungs and mind working in unison. I was relishing the race and felt as though I were an elite athlete running the best marathon of my life.
Eventually I caught the 5th place female once again. She confirmed her position by stating she was hadn’t caught the 4th place female, nor was she paced by any other females. I started to turn up my effort and began to reel in several more runners. No one passed me again and I was picking off runners with ease. Finally I began to hear the sounds of people shouting as the front runners began to cross the finish line.
I exited the woods into a wide clearing that quickly became very muddy. The runners ahead of me started to disappear as that jumped into the final stream crossing, which was only 300 yards from the finish. This stream was colder, deeper and wider and ran with much more force. I passed a couple of people as they struggled to the other side.
The final embankment was steep and slippery. My legs felt thick from the cold water and the sudden stop in movement. I scrambled up the side and started to sprint towards the finish. I out-kicked someone who tried to come from behind to pass me.
Walking around after the finish was quite a spectacle. Everyone was covered from head to toe in mud and several runners had ice packs on their ankles. I grabbed some water and cleaned off my arms. I put on a dry shirt and went to get something to eat.
Time didn’t permit me to hang around the finish for long. It was unlikely I earned an AG award anyway and I was starting to get cold. I made it home before noon and walked into my house still covered in mud. My children laughed as I recanted the crazy race I just did. Not wanted to sit around my house covered in wet muddy clothes, I headed to the shower. The mud flowing off my body was very cinematic and reminiscent of the blood from the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” – the perfect word to end this story on such a crazy and wonderful race.
Statistics –
Time: 54:37
Distance: 6.2M
HR: 173 Avg/184 Max (100% HR effort!)
Calories Burned: 1023
Calories Consumed: 100
Fun Factor: Must do this again!
Injuries: one slightly twisted ankle, one small scratch.
A Spectacular Day
It was a spectacular day in the park this morning. Heavily overcast sky, misty, breezy and cool without being cold. The smell of the air gave me intense feelings of pleasure and a hard-on for living. I wish everyday could be like this one. The ground remained dry while the low hanging clouds valiantly held the rainwater within them. I completed the ride without getting hit by a single drop of rain.
In a way I was disappointed to have avoided the rainfall. I was looking forward towards training in more extreme conditions, but I knew I would be happier later on by avoiding it. My bike is always a filthy mess after riding in wet conditions, and I loathe the process of cleaning it. I have to force myself to wipe the chain down after each ride as it is.
The ride was one of the most satisfying that I can remember. I was fluid, fast and working with ease. I kept my heart rate steady, at around my IM pace. At one point I started to climb the hill and went a little two hard. I pushed my HR to 160 BPM (86%), which was a little too much being only 2 weeks removed from IMAZ. I made sure to take it easier on the hills for the rest of the ride.
Stats:
Ride Time: 1:56:52
Dist: 35
HR: 144/160
Cadence: 98
Temp: 53 degrees
Power: 280/495
PI: 29/60
LRB: R49/L51
Calories Expended: 1565
Calories Consumed: 350
Water Consumed: 40 ounces
Fame and Fortune
I am famous. I made the business section of the New York Post. Word is now officially out that I switched jobs to a major competitor. I feel as though I am living in interesting times. Fortunately, this statement is not a Chinese proverb as common wisdom dictates. My times are interesting, but I am looking forward to them with pleasure, excitement, anticipation and perhaps a touch of nervousness.
It looks like I will be commuting to Long Island for the next several months. I am actually looking forward to that. It will solve a long standing dilemma I’ve had with long weekday bike mileage. I’ve always wanted to commute to work by bike, to get in my weekday bike mileage. I’ve done that to midtown Manhattan on plenty of occasions, but the distance consists of junk miles and too few of them at that. I am hoping the 40 mile ride to Long Island will be good allowing me to mix commuting and training at the same time.
Today’s forecast calls for rain during my long weekend ride. I was already inclined to ride outdoors despite the weather, when my coach suggested that I do the same. I sincerely believe in training through any type of conditions, because you will never know what race day will bring you. How can you possibly hope to cope with foul race day weather, if you do not train and practice in it?
Going into this weekend, I had a very good reverse taper recovery week. I am starting to get back into my routine and the feeling of the endorphin rushes are coming back to me. I can already sense my mood starting to lift dramatically and I’ve been feeling much happier and productive. Tapering before and after races are real joy killers for me.
------------------------------------
Contents of NY Post Article - CORCORAN'S TOP TECHIE DEFECTS
By BRADEN KEIL The Corcoran Group's top technology officer has just been hacked away by a rival real estate firm. Corcoran's Chief Technology Officer, Charles Olson, will move to Prudential Douglas Elliman as its new CTO on May 4. Olson, 39, who joined Corcoran in 2000, has been credited for making the Corcoran site one of the most user-friendly real estate Web addresses in the country. "I'm looking forward to the change where I have a chance to be more entreprenurial," said Olson, who would not elaborate on the particulars of the move. According to Olson's biography on the Corcoran Web site, he "built a solid reputation for his creative thinking outside the box." But the bio also mentions that his adherence to a higher vision "keeps him awake most nights." "One of the reasons why he decided to make the change is because he wanted to work in a private company where people that run the company can make the decisions quickly," said Elliman partner Howard Lorber, referring to Corcoran's corporate conglomerate owner, Cendant, that generally has the final word concerning its real estate offshoots. Sources say Olson may be held to a non-compete clause in his Corcoran contract, and will have to work out of Elliman's Huntington, L.I. office for six months
The Art of War
I am so ready to begin my training for IMLP 2005. My body feels ready to go and my mind is ready for the challenges ahead. Now that I have my personal honor at stake with my friend and IM nemesis ST, I feel the desire to sequester myself in my training. I feel like retreating to the mountains on my own like Rocky Balboa in the epic classic Rocky IV. I plan to emerge from the mountains hungrier, leaner and meaner and a more complete Triathlete.
As this Iron War approaches I know I will emerge from it victorious. I plan on saving nothing for after the finish. I will lay it all on the starting line at Lake Placid and yield all my strength into the race over the course of the day. I know my enemy and I know myself; I do not fear the battle ahead. ST can not hope to compete with that. He fears putting it all on the line. He will back off from the pain and discomfit to allow himself to fight another day. I will embrace it. I will relish it and allow it to make me stronger. The feelings of pushing myself further and faster than ever before will be a treat as fine as the sweet nectar of the gods.
After the race I will look with joyful contentment at the IV bag dripping into my arm should that prove necessary. I will know that I left it all out on the course and I did the best I could possibly do. ST doesn’t stand a chance.
The Iron Bet
Reader Note: The following is an email conversation (thread) between Beast and ST. It is in reverse chronological order. -------------------- Thu, 21 Apr 2005 09:48:43 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: ST ST [+] [ ]
Reply-To: ST ST [+]
To: BEASTBEAST [+]
Okay Beast. You're on.
You should go ahead and make a t-shirt now that says (on the front)
"Super Todd Kicked My Ass All Over Lake Placid"
and on the back:
"It's All About The Run And I Learned The Hard Way"
Yay!
Oh boy, i can hardly wait,
ST
-----Original Message-----
From: BEAST BEAST
Sent: Apr 20, 2005 8:32 PM
To: ST ST
Subject: Re: web0216.pdf
ST -
Don't embarrass yourself. I don't know Derek beyond a few email exchanges, but he is a real person.
Here is the only allowance I will make for the race. Should outside influences force one of us to DNF, then the bet is off. Outside influences being cars, trucks, spectators, etc. that cause us to crash, get injured or suffer unrecoverable mechanical breakdowns.
An outside influence is not a fellow athlete passing gas in front of you causing a gag reflex.
Acts of nature are not outside influences, e.g. a squirrel in the spokes.
I know why you are so eager for ways to call off the bet. I saw the look in your eye. It is fear. You are afraid of losing to me and you want the option of any possible excuse to explain your demise. That is your only reason.
Let's make our bet very simple. The loser has to wear a shirt in public that proclaims the other athletes superiority. It is simple, cheap and will fill the loser with humility.
Beast
----- Original Message -----
From: "ST" ST
To: "charles" BEAST
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 3:47 PM
Subject: Re: web0216.pdf
B:
My theory:
Derek = Charles.
It's so sad that you're replying to your own posts.
Okay, how's this: anything goes in the IM. That means if you hurt your skinny lady legs trying to train with me and my fast, muscular, and durable legs, I win. Remember that okay?
I'm willing to run or ride with you tomorrow, but I don't want to see you cry when I run ahead of you as your HR spikes and the lactic acid burns the few muscles you have in your legs. Promise me you won't cry.
I am,
SUPER TODD
-----Original Message-----
From: BEAST
Sent: Apr 20, 2005 3:16 PM
To: ST ST
ST -
I too ran in the park this morning. I am so glad you had already split so as not to embarrass yourself in front of me with your overweight lumbering form.
I continue to slim down and am becoming leaner, meaner and faster. My superior running talent, speed and economy are going to dust you so bad.
Your wakeup call after I decimate you in LP is going to kick you in the ass so badly, that if you were a dog you would be licking it for a month.
Did you see the comment posted to my blog? I have no idea who the person is. Here it is for your reading convenience:
Derek said...
this "super todd" sounds like a big wuss. he is making excuses already. i'd wager there is a lot that can go wrong in an ironman - what if you twist an ankle during the run?
10:01 AM
I agree with his assessment. Wuss!
B
--------------------------------------------
B:
I have a short ride and long run on the agenda for Sunday.
It is supposed to rain however.
Perhaps if you choose not to do that race we could do some long course swimming, should the weather be foul, that is.
I ran 12 miles this morning. Briskly. Kept pulse at 138-140 while hammering out 7 minute miles. Robert tried to keep up and chat, but I silenced him soon after he joined me.
I am so much faster than you, and as my weight comes down (172lbs currently, with 160-165 as the goal on a 5.11 frame, I will only get leaner, meaner, and faster). Consider yourself warned. I so rule the park that they should name it Super Todd Park.
ST
-----Original Message-----
From: BEAST BEAST
Sent: Apr 20, 2005 7:18 AM
To: ST ST
Subject: Lincoln Tunnel Challenge
Do you want to do this race with me on Sunday? It sounds like fun. I've always wanted to do it.
A Lower Risk of Death
I am going about my life all wrong. According to an article in today’s New York Times, “Some Extra Heft May Be Helpful, New Study Says”, by Gina Kolata, People who are overweight but not obese have a lower risk of death than those of normal weight. So it would appear I should stop training and let myself develop a nice little pot belly.
I wonder if there is an optimal overweight percentage. If I were to achieve this figure might I live forever? Until this article I always thought everyone’s chances for death were about equal. Now I know that if I want to lower my risk of death, all I have to do is go back to eating cheese cake and ice cream.
Might I not though, develop a severe case of depression if I stopped exercising just to gain weight to live forever? Aren’t depressed people more prone to bad health and suicide? I will take my chances and continue to exercise and keep my body at a normal weight. I’ve always said that it is the quality of your life, not the quantity.
Frying Pan or Fire
So yesterday was a big day for me. I finally gave notice to my employer that I would be leaving. I had a great 5 years with the company and I have memories that I will cherish forever. For a time, my position was the ultimate dream job.
However, the time has come for me to seek new challenges. I may very well be substituting the frying pan for the fire, but I will not know until I get to my new job. Whether this turns out to be the case, it really doesn’t matter. I know I was getting burned out where I was. I simply need to remind myself for my reasons leaving. I am looking forward to my new challenges ahead and excited to begin.
For some reason my brain started thinking about the ultimate decision of Frying Pan or Fire. I think of the unfortunate souls in the WTC who made the decision to leap instead of being consumed by flames. I only hope on the way down they didn’t doubt their decision.
Today, I did an easy 21M ride. I felt great and recovered. No HR spikes from Fight or Flight responses. I rode with ST. We discussed our bet on the outcome of Ironman USA Lake Placid. ST wants to put a condition on the bet that it is cancelled should one of us suffer mechanical difficulty on the bike portion. I am not of the same mind on this point.
While I understand his contention, that this is a friendly bet and considerations should be made for circumstance affecting the outcome, my feeling is that mechanical difficulties (flats, chains, etc.) are all part of the race. I think the bet should stand no matter what. Most likely I would let him off the hook if his bike broke down, but as far as the bet, it should stand regardless. It is all part of the day. I invite opinions to this question. Please post your response to the comments section below.
Here are my ride stats:
Time: 1:13:28
Dist: 21
HR: 133/158
Calories: 854
Boston Marathon 2004 Revisited
I just posted a blog about my 2004 Boston Marathon experience. The things I find most interesting about that fact, is that I hadn't thought about this document until yesterday.
It was only coincidence that these thoughts occurred, despite the fact that yesterday was also the 2005 running of the BM. I came across this document only through the process of cleaning out my files from my office computer since I just gave notice to my current employer.
To add to this coincidence, I decided to post the document onto my blog with the same date and time that it was written. When I looked at the date of time of the file creation, I happened to notice that it was EXACTLY one year to the exact hour and minute of when I wrote it.
Pretty interesting. I have no idea what that means.
Fight or Flight
Damn it, I hate the spring. That low morning sun stares me in the eye and I just feel like I am falling apart. Inners demons from my youth emerge during this time of year and conspire to make me feel miserable. The only thing left for me to do is tell the sun and the season to go fuck themselves. I will not let them bring me down. The demons inside me can go straight back to hell, as I will not let them control my life.
Today, I did an easy 3 mile run under that accursed sun. It tried to bring my mood down, but I let my anger at it keep my spirits from dropping too low. My HR spiked several times as the weight of my worries infected my mind causing a fight or flight response. After today, one battle will be over, and hopefully I will start settling down.
Stats:
Distance: 3M
Time: 31:40 – ugly slow.
HR: 136/152 – Note the high max
Calories: 388
Recovery
I am on the road to recovery. I ran 4 miles today at a comfortable pace. My HR did spike once or twice when I started to climb the Prospect Park hill, but other than that I felt great. Run time: 36:33, Distance: 4, HR: 143/163, Calories: 483, 3.4M loop time: 30:00
My mind has recovered from the stress of the race and I am beginning to think clearly again. I would say my mind and body are in sync once again and I am ready to start focusing. I am sure I will have some bumps in the road as I make various changes to my routine, but I think I will be able to handle them. The mental aspect of recovery is definitely the toughest.
On Saturday I did an easy 26 mile ride in Prospect Park. I felt cold, even though it was in the mid 50’s when I went outside. My body is down to 152 pounds from a pre IMAZ weight of 157. The lack of body fat and spending a week in the desert has made me very susceptible to the cold. The cold felt good though and helped to fight off my springtime blahs. Here are the ride stats: Time: 1:32:00, Distance: 26, HR: 131/152, PWR: 235/456, PI: 29/59, LRB: 50/50, Calories: 1048
Afterwards, I took my son back to Prospect Park for soccer practice. I felt like a good dad, doing his fatherly duties. My son ran almost the entire mile to the practice, insisting on racing me. Of course he would dart out ahead of me and declare a race, while I was still walking behind him. His look of joy warmed my heart. During the night he kept waking up with complaints of leg pain. I suppose his little legs are not yet used to the rigors of running for distance. Hopefully though, this will not prove to be a problem and I can look forward to years of running and cycling with him.
I am off now to ride bikes with the family. My daughter is already on a two wheeler and I am getting my son started on one. He is two weeks shy of five, but he seems to be ready. I guess I will get some extra running in today.
Virtual Tri Duel
Reader Note: The following is an email conversation (thread) between Beast and ST. It is in reverse chronological order.
--------------------
Let's see... When was that marathon PR of yours?? 10 or 11 years ago, when you were a much younger and a not so delusional athlete?
Let's take some recent statistics... The following is your recent Brooklyn Half Marathon result. A race that you rested for and prepared for with Race Day Boost and whatever PEDs you may have taken.
ST M42 BROOKLYN NY 353 316 45 1:34:14 1:33:31 7:08
Here is my Men's Half Marathon result one week previously, on a tougher course (Central Park), on a full training week, 85 mile bike the day before, and a 4 mile race prior to the men's half marathon:
BEAST M39 BROOKLYN NY 160 160 74 1:34:45 1:34:41 7:13
You beat me by one measly minute when you were trying to run your fastest and I was taking an easy 13.1 mile stroll in the park.
It does not take a rocket scientist to see who the better runner is.
I also need to remind you, that it is you who always lobs the first volley on the superior athlete argument. However, I am an accommodating individual and will allow you this foible. I know you need it to keep yourself inspired and motivated. I have no need to rub salt in the defeated's wounds (which you soon be). The agony of their own defeat is pleasure enough for me.
I am,
BEAST
----- Original Message -----
From: ST
To: BEAST
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 5:38 PM
Subject: Math Lesson
Actually Miss Beast, I'm 5-6 minutes faster than you in the swim and nearly 20 minutes faster in the Run. If the tables were turned you'd be renting billborads in Time's Square to announce it to the world. I quietly assert my superiority, with class and humility.
Biking, you got me by 12 minutes. Proportionally 5 minutes in the swim is like 30 minutes in the bike and 20 minutes in the run. Assuming the bike norm is 6 hours and the run norm is 4.
I win 2 events to your 1, sad yet?
Your stand alone marathon time beats mine only by 10 seconds or something...where did you do it? Out in Jersey in some flat as a pancake uncrowded course. Oooh I'm scared. My best half-marathon time: 1:25 in Prospect Park (4 loops). Yours? I win yet again.
I can't wait for Placid so that I can put all this "who's better at IM?" to bed, forever. Please Charles eat right, take yr vitamins and try to keep your delicate girly body healthy so that I can run past you at Placid and not slow down to see how your feeling as you shuffle home. Remember: please stay healthy so Super Todd can have a tasty Beast snack in the mountains.
See you in the park.
The (Far) Superior Athlete,
ST
-----Original Message-----
From: BEAST
Sent: Apr 16, 2005 12:45 PM
To: ST
Subject: Re: Today's Ride
S.D.T (D for Delusional) -
My god man 165 pounds!!!! That is Athena class, which is sincerely how I think you should enter yourself with your girlie running form. Biking for that matter as well.
You will never catch me on the bike. Never. It is a fact, get over it. As
for the run; let me just remind you of which athlete has the faster marathon
PR. That athlete would be me, posted only last year when I was not nearly
in as good of shape as I am now.
Yes, your lone IM marathon posting may have been faster than my two IM
marathons. However, it is simply a matter of me getting my nutrition right.
I will be working out this problem in race conditions while you tool around
Prospect Park endlessly.
For now I concede you the swim. Take your extra 3-4 minutes and have fun.
I will save that time in transition alone.
Work up a good appetite my friend. You will need your calories to have any
chance of catching me this year.
Beast
----- Original Message -----
From: ST
To: BEAST
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: Today's Ride
Hey Beast:
I had a feeling you were in deep recovery mode so I rode on. I did 60 miles and then went over to R and A to have the creeking sound checked out. They greased up the seatpost and tightened everything, so far so good. I'm right at 172lbs, which is good for me this early in the season.
Getting down to 165lbs will be a breeze in the coming weeks with these 16 (+) hour weeks, up to 20 (+) come May and June, whew! I am so going to kick your ass at IMLP, especially on the bike (swim and run I could kick your ass right now). Thank you for understanding.
Tomorrow is a brick day for me. 4 hour ride, 1 hour run or 2 hour ride 2 hour run. I'll see how the bike feels tomorrow. I'll be out early to avoid all the yahoos, who seem to take over the park after 9:30 AM. Idiots! Letting their little children swerve into the bikes, people crossing the road without even looking and then shouting at you when you shout to warn them. Idiots!
Yes sushi. Tomorrow 4PM, yummy. Call when you're close and we'll come
running down.
I'll probably see you in the park before then.
ST
-----Original Message-----
From: BEAST
Sent: Apr 16, 2005 8:17 AM
To: ST
Subject: Today's Ride
Hey ST -
I am glad you went ahead. If I could have caught you, I would have told you to ride on. Obviously I am still recovering although my body feels fine.
As I begin my next phase of training, I am going to try to keep better track of my nutrition. I will keep a log of everything I eat. It will be difficult and often times just a guess. I like my weight right now and I want to control it.
I am out for an easy 3-4M run tomorrow. I'll run opposite your direction so maybe we will pass a couple of times.
I'll pick you up for Sushi around 4ish?
Beast
Homeward Bound
I am on my way home. I am without a doubt suffering from post event depression. The excitement of the previous days was quickly fading like the sun setting in the Arizona Desert. I felt the urge to head home as swiftly as I could.
As I walked around the awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon, all signs of the event were fading away. Souvenir Ironman flags were taken, equipment picked up, packed and shipped out and athletes were spreading out to their homes.
I felt trapped since I had booked my flight for Monday morning instead of heading out late Sunday night. Chris my roommate for the event said his goodbyes around 8pm and I was left alone to ponder my thoughts. The accumulated fatigue from the event, excitement leading up to the event and sudden aloneness caused me a minor case of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I was tired, alone and I missed my children very much. I longed for their warmth and laughter. Lounging by the pool earlier in the day and watching children the same age as mine frolic in the water made my stomach and heart ache.
I recognized the causes of the feelings in my body. I was recovering. My body was tired and it was giving me signs to slow down and seek comfort. However, understanding what was causing them did not make them feel any less real. It is all a part of training and competing and I will have to take the good with the bad.
I sit here now ensconced in my airline seat. I am feeling a little better now that I am making forward progress towards home. Putting some food in my stomach has improved my mood and my body is already starting to recover. I am beginning to feel the inklings to resume my training and tackle the challenges that await me.
I have time to analyze my IMAZ performance against my IMLP performance. While my time wasn’t much improved, percentage wise I made good progress.
Here are the comparisons:
Overall: 282 IMAZ vs. 460 IMLP
Age Group: 66/348 IMAZ vs. 109/344 IMLP
I plan to crush these numbers come this year’s IMLP.
I finished. It was definitely not a Kona qualifier. I am very pleased with my effort though. I stayed within my limits and did the race as best as I could. The wind was brutal. Twenty mph sustained winds with gusts of up to 40+. It hit you from every direction. The bridge crossings over the Salt River were particularly nasty, especially later in the day on the run.
Other than the brutality of the wind it is very difficult for me to recollect all that happened during the 11 hours, 21 minutes and 20 seconds it took me to do the race (a personal record by 6:41). For the most part, during the race of this duration, my mind shuts down to reserve its energy for the task at hand. The following is my recollection of the race to the best of my ability.
Race morning
Chris and I, head to the transition areas to load up our bikes and transition bags with what we will need throughout the day. I remember struggling in the darkness to see anything. I was wearing my sunglasses; since I didn’t want to leave my regular prescription glasses behind in case they got lost. I borrowed someone’s pump to inflate my tires, but it was too dark to see the pressure gauge. I finally find a flashlight and fill my tires to what I think is appropriate pressure. I sheer off the top part of the presta valve removing the pump. I spend the next 20 minutes obsessing whether or not I should change the tube or if I hear any leaks. I ask several people to check it with their ears for me. In the end I leave it, basing my decision on past experience of not suffering any ill effects when having done that before.
I check on my transition bags. I look in them a few dozen times and finally tell myself out loud that I checked on them already and that I should leave them alone. A fellow athlete laughs and agrees.
I decide that I have to clear my bowels for the fourth time since waking up. I head back to the hotel and do indeed crap for the fourth time. Amazingly, I feel as clean and empty as I ever have. I am very glad I went back to the hotel to do my business and didn’t just pass the feeling off as nerves.
I brought my wetsuit back to the hotel with me. I put it on and head to the swim start. As I head to the swim jump in point, I realize that I am still wearing my sunglasses. I race back to my transition bag and make sure to put them in the Swim to Bike bag.
The Swim
People start jumping in approximately 20 minutes before the start. I refuse to jump in, preferring to conserve my body heat and energy for as long as possible. As I am about to go in, I discover my goggles won’t seal on my face. The suntan lotion was allowing air to slip in. I wash my face off in the river water, seal the goggles and jump in with 10 minutes remaining before the race. I line up towards the front.
The race starts. I swim for what seems like forever before the turn around. I make my only mistake of the day. The turn was a 120 degree angle and I cut it at 90 degrees with a bunch of other swimmers. I lose at least 3 minutes. Other than that, the swim wasn’t bad. I kept a steady rhythm. I was occasionally pushed, kicked, grabbed and elbowed. Once someone started to grab and swim on my legs. A good swift kick from me discouraged him of continuing to do so further. I drafted as much as I could, but it was difficult, because visibility was less than two feet. When I did catch someone, I tickled their toes relentlessly.
I finish. I remember not being thrilled with my swim time and surprised at how slow it was. The wetsuit strippers, strip off my wetsuit with gusto.
The Bike
I make it out of Transition quickly and without problems. I catch myself drafting in the first half mile and make the appropriate adjustment.
There were a lot of turns.
I finally head out of town and the wind pushes me so that I easily sustain 24-25 mph. I pee while riding on the bike. I pass someone while peeing on the bike.
I turn around and head back towards town. The wind blows in your face with the constant pressure of tectonic plates rubbing against each other. I grind it out maintaining anywhere between 15mph – 20 mph,
I finish the first loop and get the pleasure of doing it two more times. I feel good on the bike. I stuck to my plan and didn’t push too hard. I drank very salty water, plain water and Perpeteum.
I finish the bike averaging 19.6mph. I am pleased considering the conditions. I wanted to hold a 20mph average, but the gods conspired against those plans. I run to the transition tent.
I whack the volunteer helping me in the transition tent in the head with my helmet when I take it off. He is good natured about it and took care of my stuff. I take a bathroom break before I head out of transition. I run into Chris by the toilet. I run out ahead of him and he smokes past me a few seconds later.
The Run
It was sunny, windy and dusty. My fuel belt has 4 flasks of Perpeteum which are warm, sticky and icky. The weight of the belt feels very heavy. I dump them all at the two mile mark. I knew I was not going to drink them. I had some hammer gel with me, and two flasks in run special needs, so I knew I would be ok.
It was windy. It was dusty. The wind wanted to blow off my hat. My lungs hurt from the dust.
The course went on packed dirt trails along a canal, large rock formations and cacti. The sound of my feet crushing along the gravel was very soothing. I was on autopilot. I was enjoying the scenery.
I wanted to quit. I didn’t want to continue. I didn’t want to go to Kona and I didn’t want to do Lake Placid. I had enough. I was hating life. I stopped looking at my mile marker splits. I was resolved to the fact that Kona was not in this race and I just wanted to survive.
I pass some cheerleaders from ASU. I pretty girl in a cropped shirt, hula skirt, navel ring cheers the athletes. A big smile crosses my face.
I passed a 2 year old in a stroller happily clapping as athletes pass. I smile once again.
During a particularly windy and dusty section I start to laugh at the sheer brutality of the race. I was loving every second of it. I plan ahead for the Badwater 135.
I struggled along and I saw mile twenty. I kept going. I saw mile 23; only a 5K race remaining. I ran faster. My heart rate came back up to around 80%. I saw mile 25. I started to sprint. A third of a mile to the finish I get a piercing stitch in my side. Visions of Julie Moss dance through my head. Someone in my age group catches me and I was helpless to do anything. I ran through the pain, it was only a few hundred yards to the finish.
The Finish
I cross the tape. I get my medal, and T-shirt. A very pretty and caring “Catcher” walks me towards the massage tables and food. She makes sure I am ok. She takes her time to stay with me. I appear to be ok so she heads back to the finish. I didn’t want her to leave.
I find Chris by the massage tables. We both sign up. I know I won’t make it. I can already feel my collapse coming on. I wonder off to try to get some food in me. I can’t. I sit down. An athlete asks me if I am ok. I told him that I didn’t know. I didn’t want to go to the medal tent. I was afraid of a repeat visit to the hospital emergency room. (this happened after Lake Placid).
Some volunteers come over. I agree to go to the Medical tent. I couldn’t drink, eat or sit up. They put me on a gurney and take me in.
A pretty nurse/doctor hooks me up to an IV. Fortunately, I was an easy stick. I start to feel better. I eat some chips and drink some soda.
The IV makes me cold. I start shivering uncontrollably. They cover me up with 4 blankets. The first IV finishes. I still don’t feel well. They give me another. I start to fall asleep.
The second IV finishes dripping into me and they want me to get up. I want to stay and sleep. They asked me how I felt and I told them tired. They pointed out that I just did an Ironman and I should feel tired. I acquiesce and sit up. So far so good. I stand. Still good. I feel much better, just cold. I thank everyone for the care and assistance walk quickly back to my hotel.
The Hotel
Chris is relaxing. I am struggling to stave off a relapse. We talk about the race. I battle nausea. We nap. I get up to puke and feel better and nap. At 11:15 I feel refreshed and energized. We head back out to the finish. We cheer the last few athletes across the finish line. The atmosphere is electric. However, I can’t help but wonder how lonely it must have been for them over those last few miles. I think that it sure takes a lot of guts to finish a 17 hour Ironman and that they certainly got their money’s worth.
The Official Result
12 hours to go
It is Race Day Eve and I have nothing left to do except fall asleep. I just took my sleeping pill so I should be nodding off at any moment. I will have to make this a quick entry; otherwise I will fall asleep with the laptop resting on my legs.
Today was basically a blur. Chris and I went for the practice swim in the morning. At the Gatorade check-in booth, the place where they hold your possessions while you do your swim, I received number 992 for my stuff. I am taking this as a good sign, as my race number is also 992. While I write this down, I realized I should have played this as a daily number in the daily lottery.
After the swim, we took an easy 2.5+ run. It was very relaxing and easy. My legs felt great. Earlier in the day I stopped at the Active Release booth, where they were offering free treatments. The person who worked on me took his time a really seemed to loosen my up.
We went back to the hotel after the run to eat a quick breakfast and to grab our bikes. We covered the run course on the bikes and took time out to take some pictures. Then it was time to check our bikes into Transition.
We cruised the village once again on the way out and I scored several more water bottles. I have no idea where I will put all of the bottles I collected when I get home.
The rest of the day went by quickly. We changed clothes, went to the race briefing and then had dinner. The rest of the evening was spent preparing my nutrition for the race. I am glad I did it this evening, as it took me the better part of an hour. All is ready now and I am calm and ready to go.
Pictures from IMAZ
 Native American Pueblo  Along the Run Course  Beast and Chris
Settled In
Today was my first full day at IMAZ and I am all settled in. I started the day by riding my bike over the run course; at least as much of it as I could. Many sections of it are on packed dirt trails which I did not want to ride on. The trail heads were also hard to find as the course hasn’t been well marked yet.
Along one section of the course, I passed some nice cactuses (cacti?). It was the perfect opportunity to take my first picture. Other than that, the course is not particularly scenic. Some large hills can be seen in the distances, but the course does not go through them. The course is also completely devoid of hills and shade. The sun will be a major factor.
After riding as much of the run course as I could, I swapped my bike for my wetsuit and headed to the traditional Gatorade swim. The Ironman Wetsuit people were also out and I spoke to the sales rep about the possibility of swapping out my long john style for a sleeved model. He said I can get a $75 trade-in for my old suit. That was hardly worth it.
The water however was not bad. I figure it was around 65 degrees. I have definitely been in colder water and did not mind it at all. The surface was completely flat and the water as brown as flood waters. Visibility was only about two feet.
I decided to swim across the lake a couple of times. Each way took me 5 minutes to cross. On my second return to the start, I noticed that everyone else was swimming along the course. I could see why the logical thing for me to do was to swim across the lake – It was right there. When else was I going to get a chance to swim across it?
Having discovered where people were really swimming, I then started to follow the swim course. As you swim east on the river towards the rising sun, you pass under two bridges. Each time I came upon the shadow of a bridge, I got the sudden sensation that I was about to swim into something, which caused me to stop and look around. On race day, I will know to expect these two shadows. I continued to swim for 30 minutes and then got out of the water.
For the next hour or so, I tried to take in the environment at Ironman Village. I ran into a couple of local NYC Triathletes that I know. We took a picture by the lake and then drifted off to do our own things. The mood in the Village is decidedly subdued. The village and the town lack the race day energy that I experienced in Lake Placid. I am going to attribute that to people’s desire to stay out of the sun.
The Endless Pool booth was the last thing that you pass when you leave the village. I took my obligatory swim in it and had myself video taped. An endless pool would be a good nice to have, if I happened to have an extra 20-30 thousand dollars burning a hole in my pocket. For now I will stick with Masters swimming at Asphalt Green.
I then went back to my hotel to change and relax a bit. Shortly after I arrived, my roommate Chris showed up. We hooked up on a Triathlon message board, when he responded to a posting I placed about sharing my room. He is a 45-49 Age Grouper, previously Kona qualified and has two children the same ages as mine. We are also in the same line of work. We settled into a rhythm so smooth and easily it was like we are old friends.
After he settled in, we went to grab some lunch and headed back to Ironman Village to get him checked in. I took this time to grab some more swag. It is not possible to have enough water bottles at these events. I also managed to get another IM goody bag. It contains a good mix of mildly useful stuff and total crap. The brochures for various future local races and time shares went right into the trash.
After registration we went back to the hotel to drop off the swag and grab the car to check out the Bike Course. We were delayed for about 20 minutes since the valet dudes lost the keys to my car. No big deal as it saved me a buck since I didn’t tip them.
The course has two sections. The first is the local town section with many 90 and 180 degree turns. This part is approximately 9 miles. It will be very hard not to draft in this section and so many turns exists that riders will definitely get bunched up.
The second part heads outside of town. It is out and back 12 miles each way. It has several 90 degree turns, but not as sharp. The longest straight drag of the bike course without a turn is about 4 miles. All of this section out of town is sadly lacking in scenery. On the way back towards town we began to notice a lot of debris on the road, especially in turns. I am sure that some riders will go down if the take the turn too hard when on top of the loose gravel.
Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped at a local bike shop for CO2 charges (none were at the IM Village yet) and went to the grocery store for provisions. I was hungry by this point and ate a box of cereal on the way back to the hotel. We were also drinking water all day long as you were thirsty all of the time.
After we dropped off our groceries, Chris went for a run and I wanted to go get my bike checked out. I noticed that my headset appeared to be a bit loose. I am glad I went as it turns out that when the bike was built the person did a terrible job putting in the compression fitting. It was all bent and cracked. InsideOutSports fixed it without a problem and my bike is primed and ready to go. I took it for another late afternoon spin. This race will be fast if you have good bike handling skills. Against the headwinds it was no problem riding over 20mph.
Chris and I ended the day by going to the Athlete welcome dinner. They severed pasta, with fried chicken cutlets and your choice of marinara or Alfredo sauce. It was very good, but I would have preferred plain grilled chicken. They showed various videos about the race among others. They also had someone speak about Pat Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinal who dropped his ticket to the NFL to fight in the war on Iraq.
I have heard a lot about Pat Tillman ever since his unfortunate death. His bravery, honor, compassion and commitment to god and country are without question second to none. It is hard to comprehend the sacrifice he made when he felt the call to duty. His good looks, supreme athleticism, good natured-ness makes him seem too good to be true, like a fictional hero you read about in a comic book. In fact, every time I think of him, I can’t help but think about the character Sergeant William Schumann, played by Woody Harrelson in the movie “Wag the Dog”.
After the dinner we went back to the hotel, stretched and both took sleeping pills. The antepenultimate night before the race is your main opportunity to get your sleep in and we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.
Encouragement from ST - a conversation by email.
From: "Beast"
To: "ST"
Subject: Re: Hey Beast
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 23:30:33 -0400 ST -
Thank you for your words. They meant a lot to me. I needed the reassurance that I am a good father while still pursuing my own hopes and dreams. I was so crushed this morning right through most of the flight. I just wanted to go back home. I was handling the kids ok; it was my father's comments that put me over the top.
Not to worry though since the race environment is starting to filter into my mind. Worries of home are starting to take second stage and I am beginning the process of getting ready mentally in earnest. The temperature is warm, in the 80's but very brutal when the sun is out. My calves started to get burned just from walking around Ironman Village. I am glad I tried to heat acclimate before I left.
I finally went for a run around 5pm this evening. I figured I would take it easy, so I didn't bring any water with me. Bad mistake. As soon as I got about 1 mile into it, I was dying of thirst. The afternoon warmth and sun is still very strong. Hydrating with proper amounts of electrolytes will be the key to this race.
InsideOutSports took very good care of my bike. It was the right decision to have them handle the unpacking and setup. I am also glad I came in today. Most of the athletes it appears haven't arrived yet. I encountered no lines for anything, including IOS or at registration. Tomorrow is the last day to register, so I imagine it will be much more crowded.
I checked out the lake. It looks like one giant skid stain. It has the same color as the water from the pictures of the flooded communities in New Jersey. I don't care though, I can swim through anything.
I will take some pictures tomorrow, provided I remember to take my camera out of the hotel room.
Beast
p.s. Be careful not to burn yourself out on the Bear trying to best me. The Bear can be a beast like me.
----- Original Message -----
From: "ST" <>
To: "Beast"
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 9:59 PM
Subject: Hey Beast Beast: I just wanted to say I read your recent blogs. In the year that I've known you I've witnessed how very much you love your family not only in your words but in your deeds. Charles, you're a good man. Deep down I believe you know that about yourself, otherwise you'd never be able to do what you do and do it so very well. Sure you juggle a lot, but you are living a life full of love, grace, wisdom, and compassion, and that's really rare in this day and age. Don't doubt that about yourself, ever. You're searching and discovering great things about yourself and the world around you and that is truely as noble as it gets. I believe in you Charles, I really do. Sleep well tonight knowing that your friend Super Todd has a very deep and abiding respect for you. ST PS I'm still gonna kick your ass up and down Bear Mountain this summer.
Ironman Dreams
As I cruise at 20,000 feet on my way to Ironman Arizona, I find myself thinking about various Ironman dreams. Do we all have them? Does the guy who sat next to me on the train with the Ironman watch dream of one day pushing his limits to see how far, how long and how hard he can go? Is he content in simply fantasizing about it while time on his watch slips by, while his body remains soft?
For me doing the Ironman is about seeing how hard I can push myself. Can I push myself hard enough to become part of the elite few who make it to Hawaii each year? Can I overcome the fear of not succeeding and the pain or sacrifices I make while I seek my own gratification? I will soon find out, but until I do I will also dream about other ways I can push my body.
As I fly over upper Hudson Bay and see the short distance that separates Sandy Hook from Coney Island, I already start to dream about swimming across what seems to be a short distance. I know others are as like minded as me. It is good to know that communities of people exist for just about every endeavor one might want to try. Many challenges exist in life. Some are worth taking on, others are not. I pray for the wisdom to know which ones I should attempt and the wisdom to know when I should stop.
My mind right now is blank and I have no conception of the race I am about to attempt. So much of training and preparation is mental. It is in fact the hardest part of the body to get ready. I struggle daily to clear my mind of negative influences so I can enjoy my Ironman dreams guilt free. I hope that when I am old and in my waning years I will look back in joy of my physical accomplishments without any guilt or regrets. I do not wish to sacrifice my dreams and desires and think “if I’d only done that”.
Guilt Trip
I am finally on my way to IMAZ. It is 8:26am and I am sitting at the America West gate waiting the final 1.5 hours until my flight leaves. My father dropped me off at the airport and I had a skycap handle my bike box and one very large suitcase. I have no idea how I will manage once I get to Phoenix since I don’t think I can manage the suitcase, bike box and carry on bag by myself. I followed the skycap until my bike box was taken to a special doorway for loading onto the flight. I am still very concerned that it will make it on the flight and arrive in one piece.
This morning was particularly painful to leave my house. My daughter was visibly upset that I was leaving. She woke up with a very sad face and cried all morning. My son, who was relatively stoic about me leaving also started to break down in tears when I was about to leave. Seeing both my children cry just as I am walking out the door is about the most crushing thing to my soul and psyche that can happen. I was already miserable about traveling by myself, knowing that I would miss my kids immensely.
On the way to the airport I mentioned to my father how the children were crying. He proceeded to tell me how perhaps I shouldn't be pursuing this racing stuff and start spending time with my children. How at this time in my kids life, I should be spending time with them and not wasting time doing things for my own gratification. Lastly, not being satisfied with the gapping wounds he was tearing through my mind and heart, he finishes his speech off by saying “Sophia asked grandma if she thinks her daddy loves her, why do you think she did that?”
This was such an unfortunate time for my father to be telling me such things; especially since I happened to be driving. I was about ready at this point to drive off a cliff and had we lived in the mountains, surely we would have been dead right now. Laying this guilt trip on me when I have already spent the last several weeks in a very stressful state is a situation that I would reserve for only my very best of enemies.
Stress Factors
I never really understood how stress could be a contributing factor to heart disease, stomach ulcers, obesity and other ailments. That is until I really started to experience a large amount of stress in my own life.
Unfortunately, due to my identity becoming known to several readers of my blog, I am no longer at liberty of revealing the source of all my stress. This is quite unfortunate as writing about issues revolving about my life for public consumption has proven to be quite cathartic to me. I will have to let enough time pass before I can make these issues public, like some secret government files that become declassified after many years of secrecy.
What I can talk about is the particular physical effects that stress is having on me right now and how I have learned that the only sure method of fighting off the detriments of stress is through mental control of your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
I have found that stress doesn’t just affect your during intense situations or interactions. Stress is very much a mental state that affects you at moments when you least expect it. Thoughts about decisions you have to make or situations that cause you anxiety can cause a large amount of cortisol to be released in your body.
I have literally felt this release of cortisol rush body. When stressful thoughts pierce my mind, my heart gets a sudden start and a tingling/burning sensation to floods into my various muscles; most noticeably my quads and abdomen. Undoubtedly this is the stress hormone cortisol priming my muscles to fight or flight.
I can now see how the constant release or cortisol can cause your muscles, heart, lungs, legs, etc. to break down over time. The muscles get primed for action but have no where to go. Having stress for long periods of time is a chronic condition that will eventually get to you.
If you are unable to remove the stress from your life, you must learn how to deal with it better. I am trying to focus my thoughts on more pleasant items and am trying to keep the stressful ones at bay. If I can keep the stress from entering my mind, I can keep the stress from affecting my body.
It is unfortunate that I am dealing with these issues when I am only several days away from IMAZ. My body should be resting and recovering for the grueling event ahead, but instead it is breaking down, not due to the efforts of training, but due to the affect of stress. The final days leading up to an Ironman are stressful enough.
Fortunately, my wife, Super Todd (ST) and my coach have been supportive of me. I have been turning to them to help me deal with the issues that are torturing my mind. I have never been in such a mental state before and without the support I am receiving I don’t think I would be able to deal with it.
ST came over to my house yesterday to help me prepare my bike for transit to Arizona. Having someone who knew what would be going through my head while I started to get my bike ready was very reassuring. We discussed things such as nutrition (Perpetuem from Hammer Nutrition of course), tire pressures, full vs. long john style wetsuits and most importantly, “who is the better athlete?”
So now my bike is already to go and I just have to get the rest of my gear together. I really should have done this after my last 10 mile run today, but I had a lot of errands to run. In a way this is not such a bad thing, because I know if I already packed all of my stuff and then had it lying around for the next two days, I would feel compelled to check on it many times before I actually left. By waiting for as long as possible, I will not have to worry about checking to make sure I packed everything.
Here is my training log entry in the form of an email to Neil Cook.
Neil,
My throat felt scratchy when I woke up, but I was able to do my run in relatively good form. I kept a relatively easy steady pace, with some harder efforts climbing the hills. I didn’t really pay attention to doing set repeats of harder efforts as my mind wasn’t really focusing. I just kept tract of working around IM pace.
Besides the various stress factors floating around my brain, I am still suffering from a slight lower abdominal strain. It is more irritating than anything else.
I am not sure what caused it, but I can key on a moment about a week ago when I had a very strange and acute cramp in the area. At first I thought it was my bladder and or intestines. Now though I think it must be muscular. I have difficulty doing a dead leg lift while lying on my back or if I spread my legs and push them together against resistance.
Fortunately, neither of those motions are events in an Ironman, so I think I will be ok. Here are the details of today’s run:
Time: 1:21:11
HR: 146/162
TiZ (155/137): A – 0:1:22, I – 1:07:54, B – 0:11:55
Laps:
2.8 – 24:26
2.5 – 19:56
2.5 – 19:57
2.3 – 16:51
Calories: 1118
Cottage Cheese
I have discovered that eating cottage cheese a couple of hours before doing a run is a very bad idea. The combination of running and being slightly lactose intolerant made for a very uncomfortable situation, especially if you are running on a treadmill in a crowded gym.
Fortunately, those around me were all wearing headphones and the din of the exercise equipment pretty much drowned out the sounds of gas being expelled towards the end of my run.
By the time I got off the treadmill, it felt like my intestines were going to explode. Fortunately I made it to the bathroom before I left a trail of devastation.
My wife had packed the cottage cheese for me to eat as a healthy snack. I had warned her previously that milk products tend to give me a touch of wind. My only consolation is that she is now suffering the consequences about as badly as I am. I feel the discomfit, but she gets to smell it.
Other than the gas problems, my run went very well. I felt very strong. So strong I questioned whether the treadmill was calculating the correct pace. I ran 6 miles in 46:20 with a relatively low HR 152/159. I could have easily run much faster, but I held back since I am tapering.
Earlier in the day I drove to Asphalt Green to get in my swim. I almost wished I stayed home. When I went to get on the Brooklyn Bridge from the BQE, having just turned onto the entrance ramp, all the cars in front of me were at a dead stop. Some moron in an 18 wheeler decided to drive onto the bridge. Fortunately, it only took 15 minutes to back him past the BQE entrance.
With no further difficulties I made it to AG and was in the water by 5:45am. I saw alternating easy/IM pace 500’s on 30 seconds rest. Once again I was surprised by how fast I was and so little effort. I completed 3000 yards in 52:23. I then left AG and was back at home at 7:20am eating breakfast with my family.
Only 7.25 days remain until IMAZ.
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