Reunited

And it was ok. Not really the makings of a sappy love song, but it is what it is.

I got back on wilson, my tri-bike, for the first time in a good month. For whatever reason I haven't ridden it since Pigman back in August. Seems like a long time ago.

Felt like it too.

First couple miles were the hardest. First major bump was a quick reminder of just how much different this ride is then the mountain bike. Ouch.

We quickly fell back into a rhythm. Some cleaning and maintenance yesterday paid off and we had no issues all day.

Did one lap of the IMoo bike course. It's still hard. Imagine that, sitting on my ass for a month hasn't made the bike course any easier or faster.

Was good to get back out. If nothing else it was a quick reminder of what lies ahead. I anticipate many many miles on this course in the coming year.

Monday Night Ride Report

Tonight P and I went out for a ride. Everything was going great. P was having fun, nice easy ride for me, just what I needed, probably what we both needed. Then I ran him over, literally.

I don't even know how it happened. He was riding off to my right and just in front of me. For reasons unkown he lost control, swerving into my front tire before going down. Flat road, no cars, no corners, nothing, except a 7-year old hyped up on chocolate and fresh air.

P ended up in a heap under his bike, under me and my bike, which I managed to bring to a stop only after the front wheel rolled over him. Not so good.

After shotputting my bike into the ditch and digging him out from under his we sat on the shoulder and surveyed the damage while he cryed it out. Amazingly, nothing significant. Three small scrapes on his back, some roughed up hands and a banged up knee. Typical boy stuff, at least from what I remember.

He sucked it up and we rode the last mile or so home without issue. Even with the trauma of getting run over by dad he still had a great time. Covered 9-1/2 miles, a new distance record (for him).

The Plan

I'm not sure how well the following will show up, but it's basically my training plan for the next year in short form.

The IM plan morphed from a 30-week plan outlined in Don Fink's book, beIRONfit. The plan called for a 1/2 distance race at week 22. I want to do two 1/2's next year, so I'm starting early and repeating 5 weeks in the middle.

Seeing as I can't swim and I've never been a runner, I've morphed the plan a little more to incorporate some additional work in these areas.

First the swim, starting way early and focusing on open water come summer. I'm leaving myself another couple of months rest to hopefully get my shoulder recovered and my attitude adjusted. When I do start swimming again I'll be looking for some help to get my stroke in order. Sally, I'm looking at you.

As far as the run, I want to get a marathon in, and do it early in the spring before IM training gets heavy. I'd have liked to do one earlier, but I couldn't find anything appealing. I'll outline key races in another post.

For the next 12 weeks it's just going to be running with the goal of shaving some time off my 5k. No formal bike training plans. I'll probably commute to work some more, and I'd really like to do more trail riding now that it's cool and the bugs are gone, but nothing formal for the bike.

I think that's it, comments and thoughts appreciated.

I'm In

Made it through the 2009 Ironman registration line this morning relatively quickly. Much to my surprise registration did not sell out on-site. It did sell out online within 20 minutes.

I don't think it's really hit me yet. There was no real emotion when I finally signed up. No relief, no nerves, no elation, nothing. It may just be exhaustion, we did a lot of running around the last couple of days. My lack of activity since Pigman may have come back to bite me in the ass.

Being around Ironman for the last week was fun. Catching bikes coming into T2 was eye opening. A lot of agony, especially towards the end. One guy made it in right at the cutoff. Thankfully I didn't have to witness anybody come in after it, would have been hard to take.

We didn't stick around to watch the later finishers, but I did walk the course for 1-1/2 hours or so after my shift. My opinion, watching runners midway through an ironman marathon is not the place to draw inspiration or motivation. At least not for me. It was painful watching some of those people run.

So here we go. I have my training more or less planned out and all of my key races selected. I'll lay it all out here soon. Also going to be participating in a second blog, a collaborative effort from bunch of peeps doing IMoo 2009.

Hold on, going to be a long ride.

Ironingman

Living with a four year old can be entertaing.  Yesterday G asked Mel where I was at, her answer, Ironingman.  Foolish girl, she'll soon realize there is no such thing.

I'm here waiting to register.  Long line, nervous people, fun stuff.

Gatorade Swim

Wow, hard to believe it's only been a little over two weeks since Pigman and the last aquathon swim.  Despite what I would call perfect conditions this morning, I felt like I had never swam in open water.

Plan was to do two laps of the leg that was marked out.  Before I even got to the start buoy I knew the plan was out the window.

On the way out I couldn't swim straight at all, was all over the place.  Never really did get in a rhythm.  Swim a bit stop look around, soak it all up, fix goggles, catch breath, swim some more.  It was cool being out there and in the start area, tons of nervous energy.  I had a knot in my stomach walking down there, can't imagine how the athletes feel.

At one point on the way back I stopped and floated on my back and just looked around.  Lake Monona feels much larger than any lake I've swam in.  I thought having the Terrace on my left on the way back would be cool.  I never saw it, unless I made a conscious effort to look for it, which was too much work.

Made it to the second to last buoy in 18:23, back in 16:08.  With the swim out and back I figure I was in the water for 40 minutes.  It was enough.

The rest of the course was getting set up as I left, I may try to get another swim in tomorrow before the volunteer meeting.  One thing is certain, I have a lot of work to do.

Guest Post

Ummm dad, it's me, the dog.

Remember me?

Some say mans best friend?
Running partner extraordinaire?

Any of this ringing a bell?

Probably not, it's been like, forever.

What's that, ice cream? Ohhh I like ice cream.

Come on dad, little lick.

Just a taste, come on.

Heyyy dad, over here.

Come on, one time.

DADDDDDD!!!!!!

Least let me lick out the bowl.

Come on.

Asshole.

Where was I, oh yeah, so, we ever going running again?

What's it been, about a year my time? Seems like it.

Case you haven't noticed, it's nice and cool out.

And dammit,

I

WANT

TO

RUN

Dad?

Dad?

(sigh) I thought I slept a lot

.

Anyone want to run?

I'm free, well, all the ^%$*!@% time!

Anyone?

Sick

I took a detour on the way to work this morning to go look at the Ironman swim course.  Only one long leg of the rectangular was marked out, but just looking at it made me sick to my stomach.  The gas station ho-ho's I had for breakfast may have contributed, but I'm pretty sure it was the course.

Four buoys,  two red, two yellow.  Standing at the swim start area in Law Park I could almost see the last red one, holy crap.  Down and back, twice, plus the short leg of the rectangle, twice, oh boy.

I didn't actually swim, maybe tomorrow, maybe saturday before or after the volunteer meeting.  One way or another I'm going out there.  Just need to know.