Holy Macaroni and Cheese
What is the date today? April 26th? Yikes...what the? Where did all the time go since my previous post in what, December? Since my last post, there's so much to write about that I couldn't possibly write about it all so here's a quick capsule of those moments leading up to the latest Ironman conquer, IMAZ on April 15th! So on December 29th, I used up life #7 (crap, only 2 left) as I was clipped by a pick up truck on a training ride in my aerobic base building phase for IMAZ. I survived with no breaks, no tears, a JACKED up elbow and a destroyed bicycle. And I was supposed to go on a 1st date that night with the a girl who is now my girlfriend and she thought I stood her up because I was in the hospital most of the night and was taken home on morhine so....wow, and she still hung around. I love my girfriend!!! And then New Years came, then my 33rd B-day, then trips to LA, Denver, El-Paso, Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Lake Havasu, Princeton, and DC. Raced in 2 Olympic Distance Tri's in March and boom, IMAZ was upon Big Purple.
Training was very difficult with east coast weather and work travels and being out of commision for 3 weeks after the accident and bike-less for 2 months as fitting for a new one took longer than anticipated but motivation was constantly high and the body was receptive to catch up training loads and stresses. I think experience matters! I knew I was getting in good form when I raced in Lake Havasu in hot weather and for the 1st time finished an Oly Tri in under 2 and a half hours and didn't even close to cramping. I was feeling ready.
IM Arizona was next. I was nervous. After last summers IMCDA I was REALLY nervous. But it was healthy nervous and I had a completely new nutrition plan and pacing strategy. So sitting there treading water in Tempe Town Lake was funner than I thought. It felt so good and looking up at the packed bridge of spectators I was loving life. A few minutes before the race I felt myself hanging onto a canoe...OOPS!...in the very front and middle of the mass start. I said, "Oh Crap". Needless to say I was swam over, under, through, by, up, down...etc. Wow, what a rush, but I finished in 1:20:00. OK, not bad and an 11 minute transition, OK whatever, I was enjoying the day so far and in not to much of a hurry for a killer ride no rider could've anticipated....dare I say, WIND! Fortunately, it was an un-adventurous ride, I started easy and actually got a little faster as the day wore on. At mile 60 I knew I was in no risk of stomach pain and the legs felt GREAT! At mile 80, after about 9 salt tabs I felt like the bike race had just begun. I was feeling SO good and passing better swimmers than me constantly. The wind was brutal but I was able to maintain aerobar position the entire 112 miles which helped, lots. Finished the bike in 6:20:00, which isn't great but considering the wind, I was actually really excited! A 13:00 T2 later I was running and knew I was gonna make it! My legs were still very good and the temperature was nice! On loop 1, Zeiger passed me and 55 seconds behind, the eventual womens champ Gollnick passed me, that was pretty exciting. 4:59:38 later, the marathon was done and no cramps the whole race!!! YES! IMAZ was conquered in 13:10:00, 2 hours and 11 minutes faster than IM CDA '06! Iron Benny and Nytro were there along with my girlfriend, Mom, Dad, sister, bro-in-law, and cousins, aunts, and uncles like I couldn't believe! What a great day with the family and what an inspiration the were! Wow, it's almost May already? SOrry, gotta run, IM CDA is less than 8 weeks away!!!!!
Training was very difficult with east coast weather and work travels and being out of commision for 3 weeks after the accident and bike-less for 2 months as fitting for a new one took longer than anticipated but motivation was constantly high and the body was receptive to catch up training loads and stresses. I think experience matters! I knew I was getting in good form when I raced in Lake Havasu in hot weather and for the 1st time finished an Oly Tri in under 2 and a half hours and didn't even close to cramping. I was feeling ready.
IM Arizona was next. I was nervous. After last summers IMCDA I was REALLY nervous. But it was healthy nervous and I had a completely new nutrition plan and pacing strategy. So sitting there treading water in Tempe Town Lake was funner than I thought. It felt so good and looking up at the packed bridge of spectators I was loving life. A few minutes before the race I felt myself hanging onto a canoe...OOPS!...in the very front and middle of the mass start. I said, "Oh Crap". Needless to say I was swam over, under, through, by, up, down...etc. Wow, what a rush, but I finished in 1:20:00. OK, not bad and an 11 minute transition, OK whatever, I was enjoying the day so far and in not to much of a hurry for a killer ride no rider could've anticipated....dare I say, WIND! Fortunately, it was an un-adventurous ride, I started easy and actually got a little faster as the day wore on. At mile 60 I knew I was in no risk of stomach pain and the legs felt GREAT! At mile 80, after about 9 salt tabs I felt like the bike race had just begun. I was feeling SO good and passing better swimmers than me constantly. The wind was brutal but I was able to maintain aerobar position the entire 112 miles which helped, lots. Finished the bike in 6:20:00, which isn't great but considering the wind, I was actually really excited! A 13:00 T2 later I was running and knew I was gonna make it! My legs were still very good and the temperature was nice! On loop 1, Zeiger passed me and 55 seconds behind, the eventual womens champ Gollnick passed me, that was pretty exciting. 4:59:38 later, the marathon was done and no cramps the whole race!!! YES! IMAZ was conquered in 13:10:00, 2 hours and 11 minutes faster than IM CDA '06! Iron Benny and Nytro were there along with my girlfriend, Mom, Dad, sister, bro-in-law, and cousins, aunts, and uncles like I couldn't believe! What a great day with the family and what an inspiration the were! Wow, it's almost May already? SOrry, gotta run, IM CDA is less than 8 weeks away!!!!!
posted by BIGpurple at 8:27 AM
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