A Lonely Yet Exciting Place

No-one understands and how could the possibly, this process called training for an Ironman. As exciting as the journey is and continues to be, the comprehension that anyone outside the Ironman realm will not ever understand, creates a lonely void somehow. Ironman training has saved me as a person. I am a better person now then I was before. Therefore, I want to share the experience and yet I am finding that in normal day-to-day life, comprehending an 88 mile bike on Saturday and a 3-hour run on Sunday followed by a week of mixing and matching swimming, biking, and running for a duration of 3+ hours per day is just not possible.
(PHOTO LEFT: on the 110 mile to Zanesville and back).

These are some of the questions I get:

"Did you work out today?"
"Have you been riding your bike this summer?"
"My friend did an Ironman last year - it was like a 2-hour race!
and so on...and so forth.

The more I exist within this elite and misunderstood world of the Ironman, the more I appreciate those within it. For a few hours every day, we alienate ourselves from the real world by running, swimming, and biking incomprehensible distances...all for training. (PHOTO RIGHT: my first fall during the the ride to Zanesville).

I see a 13.1 and 26.2 stickers on cars where I train and as I leave for my run I think "I am doing 19 miles just for practice today" . . . no recognition, no-one even knows I am out there running. I am just out there running and running and running . . . But that is what makes Ironman training so remarkable - it's all about "ME". It has to be. Although this process is all about me, I am more focused on the "not me" when I am done training - hence making me a better person overall - I hope.

This is what I signed up for and what I love - I've always enjoyed being a little bit different than everyone else, but its a little lonely sometimes when the expectations of life don't go away - life doesn't care that I just biked 90 miles - I still have to make something for that BBQ, clean, work, and exist. Regardless of the effort I give to life, Ironman is my first choice priority right now and therefore, life stuff gets left out - however unintentional it is. (PHOTO RIGHT: Me with my bologna during the 88 mile Waldo Ride).

July 1 - July 9

• 7-1-10 - Bike 40 Miles - The bike felt rough for the first 20 miles, but as it went on, I started feeling better. Cooler days despite the wind are very welcome.


• 7-2-10 - O.W.S. 1:00 - It was interesting today trying to not get shoved into the beach by the waves created by teh boats - overall, great swim


• 7-3-10 - 72 Miles Bike - I agreed to ride with a faster group than I am used to today. pint blank, I was terrified but I know that in order to get better, you have to ride with those who are better. Today, I rode wtih those who were better and survived. Although, during the duration, I was petrified of being left behind or making anyone wait on me. It was fun to be with a different group - and in awe to be with so many Kona qualifiers and winners - learning from thsoe who have actualy been to the BIG RACE.


• 7-4-10 - Run 15 miles - The plan was to run the loop (3.89 miles) 4 times. I completed all the loops in 2:18 (this time includes a pitstop to the bathroom. Feeling a little better every long run I complete.
• 7-5-10 - Bike 3:00/Swim :45 - Another smoldering hot bike ride in preparation for the Louisville heat, follwed by the choppiest open water swim eveer. Everything went well though - nothing crazy to report aside from the fact that I had to use the restroom in a cornfield and my urine actually felt "cool". You know it's hot when . . .
• 7-6-10 - Bike 2:00 - The past couple of days have been spent getting used to the heat and figuring out what exactly went wrong to make the muscle beside my kneed hurt so badly...
• 7-7-10 - Bike 2:00/Run :45 - I belive I am getting used to these 95 degree days with high humidity, I believe my "knee problem" was really just a super tight muscle in my leg. I also went to the store and bought some real food in order to get some nutrition in me.
• 7-8-10 - Run 1:50 - Another day in the 90's. I'd like to say I am getting used to the heat and I may be, but 1:30 into the run, I was ready for it to end. I went through 2.5 water bottles and still finished 2.5 lbs lighter than when I started - IRRITATING. I am slightly concerned about the gel packs - having some slight intestional issues with them. Will try them a few more days then may have to attempt something else.
• I am overall having a great week despite the heat. The bike is great. Overall average speed was slower than i wanted, but trying to recover my knee issue. Such a hot day coming in at 96.8 on the pavement - I have no complaints about hwo I felt after being out in it for four hours.
• 7-9-10 - Swim :40 - I was on my toward a fantastic swim when sky creeped in black and then the stinging down poor and chopping waves pushed the buoys all over the place and disappeared into the blanket of rain. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! I loved ever second trying to fight my way to the finish - not that I EVER want to do such a thing during a race - but during training it was hilarious. I still truly believe that the weather is God's way of reminding us that He is still in control and we are but small and dependent after all of our efforts to become mighty and dependent.