On my way to SC

On my way to south carolina.

I had planned on doing a 100 miler, but ended up with a 50 miler. I ran yesterday only 2 miles. I walked two miles. I hope to run about 4-6 miles tommorrow in SC and do a ten miler the next day in SC. Sunday will plan on travelling all day - so that will count for a rest / recovery day.

Monday, if all goes well, I plan on a 100 miler. Please don't let anything get in the way of that. I have family coming on the following weekend which will interfere with training.

I might solve the problem by taking a day off from work when they leave so I can get in another 100 miler. I don't think that I can do too many of em. I have 50 days left. Sounds like a lot, but not really.

Oh well, I am going to concentrate on having a good time. See you Monday.

Later

If I could only figure out how to mix family and training

If I could only figure out how to mix family and training. Or the rest of my life and training.

Yesterday swam with the masters and stretched. I didn't run. I am not sure what condition my foot is in. I guess it feels OK. I will run 3 miles, spin class and maybe 2 or 3 more miles and stretch.

Getting things figured out

Century No. 5. Got my nutrition plan working. I am finally successful in my long rides. I can finish them now. My whole problem was that I was bonking and i didn't know it. I thought I was getting old or just a bad day or whatever.

The four previous centuries that I rode were extremly difficult. I hated doing them. I am looking forward to my ride on Thursday. I will ride two centuries this week and two next week.

Running: My long run made me hobble around all day yesterday. I am better today. I think I can run on it today. Things seem to be progressing nicely.

Thursday, Fri, Sat

Thursday - had a good spin and ran 6 miles. Started my $200 protein powder recovery stuff.

Friday - rode my 50 miles and used 2 gel packs.

Sat - Felt like shit and had to lay on the couch. I was ssupposed to do my 100 miler, but I will wait until today to do it. I ran 8.5 miles instead at the gym. Saturday just didn't go my way. Resistance from every which way. I made it through though. I was able to adapt and still move forward.

Today: I plan to ride my 100 and see if the modifing my gel intake helps. I sure hope so. I am counting on it.

Start with my normal breakfast. I pack before I go. Take a pack at every 20 miles. Eat a sandwhich at 50 miles. I hope to get in a short run after the bike.


Other news: My son was in from Dallas. Hurricane projected to get in the Gulf of Mexico soon. I predict New Orleans will go crazy. I am supposed to travel to Spartenburg for the BMW roadster homecoming. It will mess with my training plans.

But alas! I am now running some miles. I can run on the trip. I can miss some work and get in a 100 miler before I leave for my trip. We will see how it goes. The only problem is that I will be stuck in a roadster for a long ass trip.

Changes starting today

I am starting recovery powder, pills and such. I spent $200 on this stuff. I have 5+ weeks to get this stuff in my body + 2 week taper period. Lets see what happens.

Yesterday - 5 miles and a swim. I swam a mile in 24 minutes at a very comfortable pace I can hold in an IM. I need to calculate it out and see what that time is for 2.4 miles. I actually swam 66 lengths in a 25 yd pool which I think is short of a mile. I will check when I get 10 minutes at work. I want to study the times at IMH and see where I need to line up. I will do another 2.4 mile swim soon.

Today I will spin and run another 5 or so miles. I hope my running injury problem is behind me.

Good workout Tuesday

4 mile run and my ankle, heel, foot feels fine. I did a good spin and had a great sweaty workout for two hours.

Good workout Tuesday

4 mile run and my ankle, heel, foot feels fine. I did a good spin and had a great sweaty workout for two hours.

EZ workout on Monday

Monday's workout was ez. My right arm was sore when I was pulling in the water. It has been sore for a week. I am going to blow off the weights today. I will swim again tommorrow and see if there is any difference. I might have slept on it wrong?

Today I am doing a run and a spin session.

How do I feel today?

This morning I feel a little sore. My ankle needed stretching and was aching as I stepped out of bed. I ran 6.5 miles. That is 2 miles further than I ran previously. I may skip my run this morning and just do a swim workout. If I am smart, that is what I will do. I am not always smart.

This is a big week in New Orleans. This week marks our Katrina anniversary. I don't care. All of us are coping in different ways. I am coping by not giving a shit.

Bonk

Bonk - depletion of glycogen and blood sugar while exercising. Symptoms include a dramatic reduction in performance and feeling disoriented and weak.

I had attempted (3) previous rides with very poor results. I thought I was having bad days, old age, something. But, yesterday I brought along some GU. It made all of the difference in the world. I realize now that I still did not bring along enough. Next time I will take some every 20 miles. Yesterday, I started off with oatmeal. At mile 25 (1) bottle of gator. At 50 (1) bottle gator, 1 pb sandwich. and repeated. Not enough. I will attempt next week: 1 Gu at every 20 miles = 5. That will be double what I had this week.

Yesterday I even had pretty good time on the bike. I might even start liking the long ride.

I finished my running program. Today I start my long runs. 6.5 miles.

I feel good. I will run it super slow and see how it works out for me.

9 more weeks left till the race and 8 more long rides.

Bonk

Bonk - depletion of glycogen and blood sugar while exercising. Symptoms include a dramatic reduction in performance and feeling disoriented and weak.

I had attempted (3) previous rides with very poor results. I thought I was having bad days, old age, something. But, yesterday I brought along some GU. It made all of the difference in the world. I realize now that I still did not bring along enough. Next time I will take some every 20 miles. Yesterday, I started off with oatmeal. At mile 25 (1) bottle of gator. At 50 (1) bottle gator, 1 pb sandwich. and repeated. Not enough. I will attempt next week: 1 Gu at every 20 miles = 5. That will be double what I had this week.

Yesterday I even had pretty good time on the bike. I might even start liking the long ride.

I finished my running program. Today I start my long runs. 6.5 miles.

I feel good. I will run it super slow and see how it works out for me.

9 more weeks left till the race and 8 more long rides.

Just backchecked myself

Well world,

I just checked and I can get 9 more 100 mile rides. Today will be one of em. I rode yesterday in the wind and the rain. I hit spots of sun, but it was mostly rain. I will ride in a few minutes. I hope to get started at about 5am.

Today the winds will be 5-10 mph with lots of chance for rain. We will see. I hope to cap off my ride with a 4.5 mile run.

Today I am testing with some gels. I think that I am not fueling properly on the ride. It is time to start some experimentation. I also ordered some recovery stuff on the net. Pills, powder. About $200 worth. I will try the stuff. I am trying to be able to store more glycogen in my muscles. I will take the stuff immediatly after workouts. Presently, by the time I stretch, shower, commute, nearly 60 mins has passed.

Looks like I can get in about 9 more 100 mile rides

9 more miserable experiances. I hate riding long. But if I make myself ride long maybe I will find some enjoyment. The heat sucks, the quantity of time sucks, the sweat sucks, the gatorade sucks.

But I remember the first time that I rode 30 miles. I thought the ride was never going to end.

I have two new tires for the Ironman. I was thinking of installing them for one of my last rides. But my rear tire is wearing out and won't make it. I just ordered a replacement to get me closer to the IM.

I just ordered some bike jerseys also.

Negative thoughts and insecurities

Yesterday's ride.

Started fantastic. I was on the bike right before 5am. Quiet, cool, moist from the previos days rain. I was comfortable, and strong. I ended up to my turn around point as the sun was coming up. The sun didn't make its presence really known until I was near my halfway mark.

I was back at the house well before 8am. I ate two PB & jelly sandwiches, and refilled my water bottles. I went back out and felt pretty fine. I struggled with the indegestion a bit. On the way back I collapsed. I stopped a couple of times. Not felling good at all. I ran out of water and had to refill. Having to take a shit after like 50 miles didn't help either.

Next time: I think that I will refuel with (1) PB sandwhich, I will start using gels on the ride. I might even start earlier. I am not sure it is the heat or what.

Anyway that is my third 100 miler - Oh and I ran 3 miles, well I ran and walked three miles. And it was raining to make it feel easier on me.

I have not had a day off in three weeks. I am going to take today off. I am going to sun.

Hawaii sunrise over the lava mountains

You see that. It is not fake. It is the actual sunrise that i will soon experiance. It is suddeningly hitting me. I am going to Hawaii. I have been focusing on other things so much that I have not even thought much about it. I am going to try and start focusing on having a great time.

11 weeks till IM Hawaii

Last week not good 175 mi on the bike, but I'll take it.

This week - a brick. I hope to run for 30 minutes after my 100 miler on Saturday. Should be interesting. I hope to get a big bike week in. 230 miles is a big week and we shall see. The weather has not been too good for my biking. I shall start super early on Sat, since I bought a light to put on the front of my bike. This way I can get 1.5 hours head start on the sun.

Today swam for an hour and did my 3.5 mile run. I am scheduled for 17.5 miles this week. Next week, I hope to get up to 23.5. We are going to even add in long runs in a couple weeks.

Fatigue is starting to set in occasionally. I am starting to feel like I am training for an Ironman.

Sunday morning

OK its Sunday morning. I am getting ready to go out and ride 50. That will put my week at 175 miles. I was supposed to 100 yesterday, but I had to cut it short because of the weather.

That means that I did 100 a week for two weeks straight. I will work harder next time and get at least 3 of em in a row.

Running. I made my 12 miles for the week. We start stepping it up. I am looking forward to the running. I hope I can stay injury free.

I am entering 11 weeks till IM Hawaii.

Work still sucks

Work still sucks and I am ready to change jobs. But - the smart thing to do is wait until I finish the Ironman thing. I don't want anything to interrupt my training.

I have the majority of my parts and I am ready to start assembling my CT 70.

Yeterday I swam 2.4 miles in the pool just to remind me of what it is like. Piece of cake.

I am going to study some Hawaii times and figure out how to place myself in the swim start. I am a pretty good swimmer in most events. But I would think that Hawaii swimmers are better than the swimmers I face in most events.

I am thinking that since I am not really racing the clock on this one, I don't want to get mixed in with a bunch of people trying to prove something. I am thinking it will be the most relaxing place in the race, so why not enjoy it?

Well - What to say?

I have found some intersting blogs while writing this blog. I want my blog to be interesting but that takes too much time.

My running - I am up to 3 miles and I can kind of feel my achiles. I don't know weather to push or not.

I rode 100 Sat and 50 Sun. Both hurt. Sat - because riding 100 hurts. I am not sure that I could have run afterwards. I hope that I will be able to train my body to run after cycling 100 miles. Sun hurt because I was still hurting from Sat.

I think I have 9 more of those 100 mile rides. But it is not the rides, I have to start adding some running to the rides. I thought I would be OK once I got up to 100, but I forgot that have to add some long bricks to the mix.

I am pretty sure that this will be my last IM. The things are too brutal.