Maine Here We Come

Last night Chris and I signed up for IronMan Maine 70.3, to be held on August 25th, 2019 in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Signing up right after my FAIL at IMAC keeps the momentum going towards a successful IronMan completion.

IronMan Maine is going to be different than IMAC. The swim is an out, down and in beach swim...just like TRI Wildwoods. No problem, the ocean is my office. The bike is a single circuit course but includes hills...lots of hills. This is something I'm going to have to work hard on. The difficult part will be finding hills to train on. The run also has some hills. Again, finding hills to train on will be the challenge. These things combined will require a commitment greater than I had for IMAC.

I will be spending a lot of time in the basement on the bike trainer. If I can find a reasonably priced treadmill I may get that too. I just have to figure out how to scare up some money on my own.

This next challenge is also a personal journey. I'm pretty much on my own with this. My son is my trainer, but he has his own training to worry about as well as raising a child and holding down a job. My pool of friends is pretty shallow and those that are there don't really know what to think about this triathlon stuff. My wife doesn't owe me anything...support, encouragement, etc. She works too much and too hard to worry about how I'm doing with this. This is pretty much a financial matter to her. I already pretty much disappointed her by failing and wasting her time and money for IMAC so I don't want to do that again. But, I'm OK with it. Because if I can't drive myself to succeed then I have no business doing this.

Just the beginning...

Today I competed in my first 70.3 IronMan triathlon. I was a DNF in the swim because I did not make my cutoff time by about 10 minutes. I made it around the last marker, headed for the finish but ran out of time...then they pulled me into the boat. I never stopped or rested. I just didn’t have enough ‘Go’ to finish in time. No excuses; the shoulder feels great, I wasn’t out of breath, the cramp in my calf didn’t matter. I just didn’t go fast enough.

This only serves to signal a new beginning in the sport of triathlon for me. First, I don’t like failing or losing. Especially the failing part.  It’s a shitty feeling. Especially when they pulled me into the boat. Second, I don’t like disappointing people. A bunch of people helped me get to this point; some coaching me, some encouraging me and some giving things up for me. Lastly, I wanted to complete an IronMan. The last one is a bit selfish but I really wanted to cross that finish line and hear my name. I also guess I still need to prove to myself that I’m still a cut above in some ways...USMC, scuba instructor...IronMan would sound good here.

So at this point, rather than being discouraged, I am committing myself to start a new plan of action...train smarter, train harder, train with a goal...IronMan 2019. Not just to complete this time, but to compete. No more “all I want to do is make the cut off times”. They’ll be no excuses.

For triathlon training there are five pieces to the pie; swimming, biking, running, core strength and nutrition. Prior to this I did some here, some there without any plan or structure. That won’t work for me to achieve my goal. 

Swimming - I need to have my stroke analyzed and have a training plan. I can swim but I don’t have any stamina and I don’t think my stroke is powerful or efficient enough. I need to cover 1.2 miles in about 45 minutes!

Running - I need to run. My running has improved recently but I need to have a regular schedule, and I need to track my progress. I need to have a pace of no less than 6 mph.

Biking - I need to make sure I have a good ‘fit’. The bike is a great machine (maybe a better saddle) but I’m not sure everything is adjusted for me. Then I have to ride. I need to be able to cover 56 miles at a good pace, ~ 18 mph+. 

Core Strength - I definitely need a program of regular exercise to strengthen the whole body to properly support the muscles needed for each previous parts.

Nutrition - I need to get my weight down to 170 or maybe less but at least 170. That will require not only exercise but also a change in diet. Primarily I need to cut out the junk. I snack on crap all of the time and without moderation. I need to eat sensibly and in moderation. Because triathlon training requires long periods of exertion, nutrition has to be included in the workouts. Water and Gatorade aren’t enough. 

So, the next time I enter a triathlon things will be different...very different. I will be more prepared and more competitive. Maybe even podium bound!

The thing about triathlons...

"Why suck at just one sport when you can suck at three?"
That's the thing...it's three sports.

When I'm in the water I'm a swimmer.
When I'm riding I'm a cyclist.
When I'm running I'm a runner.
When I cross the finish I'm a triathlete!

For the swim you get to stand around until it's your turn to start. Until then you might get a chance to warm up and stretch but for the most part you're standing around in a crowd of people waiting. As you enter the water and start swimming you become part of a sea of flailing arms and legs.
When you're done with the swim you run straight to the bike. Running barefoot sucks. There's no warm up or stretching for the bike...the swim was your warm up. You quickly try to dry off enough to put on your cycling socks (if you wear them) and cycling shoes. You also try to slow down enough to take on some calories and fluids. You grab your bike and run with it to the 'mounting line'. Running in cycling shoes sucks. Then you're off on the bike. While you're on the bike you have the opportunity to drink and eat as needed. Yum, yum...energy gel packets.
When you finish with the bike you dismount and once again run in cycling shoes with your bike back to the bike racks. Running in cycling shoes sucks. You change into your running gear. You also try to slow down enough to take on some calories and fluids. Now you have to start running after pushing yourself on a bike. The muscles go through some difficult adjustments, both painful and uncomfortable. Now you're running. You have to decide just how much you have to push yourself to make the time you need. You also have to hope you have enough left in the tank to finish. You grab what you can at each aid station as you run by. Again, you have to decide just what you need to keep the engine running. Eventually you see the finish. No matter who you are or how fast you are or what place you're in you have a crowd of people cheering you on. If you're really lucky you will hear your name being announced as you cross the finish line. If you're lucky enough not to throw up you make your way over to the food tent and try to muster enough energy to stuff your face.

"So you ran a marathon, how cute...maybe when you grow up your mommy will let your run a triathlon!"