From Triathlete to....

It's been a while...

2008-01-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to report that I am still here. I've heard people say that, for the groom, getting married means just showing up. But it's much more than that! It's a hectic time in one's life, that starts many months before the big day and doesn't end until you've caught up at work after the honeymoon.

Michelle and I were married on November 17, 2007. It was an amazing day. I have pictures somewhere, but I'm still getting the hang out of this blog thing, so they'll just have to wait.

We also went to Hawaii for 12 days. Maui, Kauai and Oahu. Wow. Everyone should go to Hawaii for their honeymoon. A few words can't do justice to how wonderful this place is.

But, ineveitably, the vacation ended and we had to return to the real world. So here we are, more than a month later, and I'm just now feeling caught up at work. January 4, 2008.

Michelle and I have been training for the Shamrock Marathon in March. Things have ramped up rather quickly since we got back and we already have an 18-mile run under our belts. I've also been biking, but have been staying away from the pool.

Happy New Year!

September 25, 2007

2007-09-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

So for the past few weeks I've been unmotivated. My triathlon season ended earlier than it ever has, so I can recuperate before my longest season ever next year.

But I've been working outside the scenes to make my experience a better one. First, I signed up for the Janus Charity Challenge, an Ironman affiliate, to help raise money for a charity of my choosing. I chose H.O.P.E., Helping Others through Pro Bono Efforts, which does exactly what the name suggests. Plus it is run through the University of Miami School of Law, which is an added bonus. Basically I set up a website and try to raise as much money as possible for the charity. It's a great cause!

Second, I've started on my training program. Everyone who has every called me crazy for doing triathlons is correct. There is an insane amount of training (up to 18 hours in certain weeks) that will go into my Ironman training.

I've also planned some races for next year. I'll start the season with an early marathon in March, called the Shamrock Marathon. It's in Virginia Beach and I'm training and running with Michelle. It'll be our first "goal" for after we're married (other than relaxing in Hawaii). After that, I'm planning the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler in D.C., the Columbia Triathlon in Columbia (where else?), the Mountaineer 1/2 Iron in Morgantown, WV, Riley's Rumble half marathon in Poolesville, MD, the big one at Ironman Wisconsin in Madison, WI, and ending the season with another marathon, but I haven't figured out which one yet.

Goals? I'm figuring those out too. I want to push myself, but within reason. I'd love to qualify for Hawaii, but I'll have to see how my training goes early on. I think qualifying for Boston is a reasonable goal for the late season marathon. But I'll have to think some things through before I start making definitive goals.

September 10, 2007

2007-09-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a long time. There hasn't been a lot to inspire me over the summer. At least not until the last week.

The Annapolis Triathlon was yesterday. I learned that lot can change in three and a half months. In May, I had a terrible race at Florida 70.3. It is one of the experiences that motivated me to start this blog. But yesterday, I had a nearly flawless race. I was in top shape and I executed my race plan perfectly. The result was a 36th place finish out of nearly 1900 registered athletes (although I believe only around 1300 did the race) and 5th out of 90 in my age group. At 24.9 mph, I had the 13th fastest bike split in the entire race! This after crashing only a couple of months ago.

So my confidence went from shattered to sky high in just under four months.

Just as important, however, was today. I'm in. To Ironman Wisconsin, that is. Today was registration and I blocked out the time on my calendar. 12:00 p.m. EST. And it's a good thing I did, because approximately 2200 crazy triathletes had the same ideas and the race sold out in under 30 minutes.

My Ironman journey continues. The next major stepping stone comes when I begin my training program in December. It'll be here before I know it.

July 24, 2007

2007-07-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about cycling is the excitement I feel before a long ride, especially on a nice day. Well, two weekends ago, I had it. The weather was perfect, seventy degrees with no humidity. It was eight o'clock in the morning and I had a good fifty miler planned, through the farms in Potomac, back through Seneca and Poolesville, around Sugarloaf Mountain, and back home. I was pumped and Bruiser was ready to go.

Or so I thought.

Less than ten miles into my ride, I was on a rather steep twisting descent when my front tire flatted. For those of you who have never heard a road bike tire blow, it's a scary sound, like your bike is about to fall apart. It's loud and it's directly under you.

I knew I was in trouble. My mind flashed back to an article I had once read about getting a flat tire while going down a hill. I remembered the gist went something like this, "If your front tire blows while going down a hill, you're screwed."

So the question was not whether I was going to crash, but rather how bad was the crash going to be. As soon as I started turning my bike to get around the downhill curve in the road, the front wheel started sliding. At 30+ miles per hour, I fell into a bank on the side of the road and was kicked back into the middle of the road.

Although I was lucky in that I didn't break any bones, I had some major scrapes, cuts and bruises. I needed seven stitches in my elbow and was scraped all up and down my arms and legs.

I'm having a tough year.

Two days ago, I hopped back on my bike for my first outdoor ride after crashing. It's a tough mental hurdle to overcome, after crashing in a manner that was purely unlucky. I almost turned around two minutes after starting. But I didn't. I rode for nearly an hour, a relatively short ride, but it did wonders to rebuild my confidence.

The saying can't be more accurate. That which doesn't kill only makes you stronger.

I'm back up and ready to keep going.

July 11, 2007

2007-07-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well, the good news is that the Annapolis Triathlon is still on and the race is now full. The bad news is that the Annapolis City Council vote was postponed, pending revisions of the resolution to lease the city dock. Lawmakers are slow.

My training is moving full steam ahead. My schedule contemplates three runs, three rides, and two swims per week. I've been missing an average of one workout per week, which is okay I guess. In a few weeks, starting July 31st, I'll start to sprinkle in some track workouts and other speed work.

This weekend is my first hardcore weekend, a fifty-mile ride on Saturday followed by a ninety minute run on Sunday. At the end of that, I should be thoroughly wiped out for my off day on Monday.

I'm starting to think about Ironman registration. It's less than two months away and it will be followed by a 3 1/2 month hiatus from scheduled triathlon training. Michelle and I may race the Shamrock Marathon in March, but that is still in the preliminary stages. She also still wants to do a duathlon, so we'll see how that progresses.

For now, I'm focused on September 9th and racing the best that I can.

July 5, 2007

2007-07-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. Actually, I guess the holiday is really called Independence Day. I now know that my blog is being scrutinized by the proofreading police, so I'll try to make it as accurate as possible. Anyway, I love having the day off, barbecuing and being able to go for a long bike ride, which is exactly what I did.

Tomorrow, I'm traveling to Bar Harbor, Maine, for a wedding. One of my best friends, Dad Haverkos, who I've known since I was six, is getting married. His soon-to-be wife, Rebecca (a.k.a. Becky or Bex) is fantastic. They are both very good people and really deserve to make each other happy. I'm excited for the weekend. I just hope it doesn't rain, like the forecast says it will.

So that my blog doesn't stray too far from it's original subject matter, I'm going to add that I'm well on my way to being at my optimal race weight by the time Annapolis rolls around. Less weight equals free speed.

Speaking of Annapolis, the final vote on whether the race is actually going to happen is in four days. I'll keep the blog updated. My fingers are crossed. But for now, I'm off to Maine. I already have the running routes from our hotel picked out!

June 26, 2007

2007-06-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

I signed up for the Annapolis Triathlon today (http://www.tricolumbia.org/annapolis.asp). It should be a top-notch event, as the Columbia Triathlon Association is a top-notch organization. The only issue is whether the race will actually take place. Apparently there are some people in Annapolis that think having 1900 triathletes and thousands of spectators will be too much for the city to handle. I believe it will shine a bright spotlight on a beautiful town and will convince people to come back again.

The race is September 9th at 6:45 a.m., the day before registration opens for Ironman Wisconsin. It’s an Olympic distance (1.5 km swim; 40 km bike; 10 km run). I have a solid training plan mapped out and have set my goals: the “everything goes perfectly” goal to finish in under 2 hours and 10 minutes and the “more realistic” goal to finish in under 2 hours and 20 minutes.

The last few weeks have been rather uneventful. I’ve been swimming, biking or running nearly every day. I’ve played a little golf, although I hurt my hand last weekend, so the links might take a back seat for the next few weeks. Also, with the addition of Annapolis, I might not have much time in the schedule.

June 14, 2007

2007-06-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Of course, as soon as I say that I love the weather during this time of year, we hit a rainy patch. This morning, I rolled my bike out of the garage, only to find that the temperature was relatively cold and the drizzle was coming down. After the momentary “should I ride?” thought, I was on my way.

60 degrees feels more like 40 degrees when you’re riding a bike. Add the rain to that, and I was downright freezing this morning. By the time I was as to the “out” on my “out-and-back” loop, it was pouring.

Strangely enough, though, I thoroughly enjoyed my ride this morning. I kept telling myself this was a “mental training” ride. I know at some point during my first Ironman, I will hit a wall. I will feel terrible, like I am under-trained and that I can’t keep going. I imagine it will either come later in the bike or during the run. When (and it is a when, not an if) it happens, I want to be able to look back at the tough times I had during training and recall the good and bad that I went through to get to that point in my race. Because that is what it will take to become an Ironman.

This morning is a moment that I can pick out of my memory bank when “that time” comes.

* * * *

Michelle got her cast off yesterday, which is good news. It was starting to fall apart because, like any other endurance athlete, she kept working out with it on. So she convinced the orthopedist to take it off two weeks early.

Thursday. One more day until the weekend.

June 6, 2007

2007-06-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. It's just starting to get warm, but it's not terribly hot and the weather in the morning is perfect. Getting up to exercise is never a problem.

Yesterday I went for a 50 minute run and loved every second of it. I even was able to stop by my parents (albeit to the use the bathroom), but it was nice to see my mom (even if she lives only 2 miles away), my cat and their dog. Yes, I meant to say my cat. I bought him when I was living in Miami, Florida for law school, but when I moved home, he became so used to my parents and their dog that I left him there. He's always happy to see me when I stop by though.

The goal of Michelle and I doing a race together has hit a snag. While riding together over the weekend, she crashed and broke her arm. She is going to be in a cast for three weeks. I don't know if I've ever felt so horrible in my life. Watching someone you truly care about get injured is a miserable experience. I'll keep the blog updated on her progress.

Nothing else to report. I imagine that the next few months will be slow times for the blog, but once I get closer to signing up for Wisconsin, then my wedding and then the start of my training program, things will pick up.

May 29, 2007

2007-05-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

I had a great Memorial Day weekend. It was relaxing and I was able to do a bunch of fun things. I played golf on Saturday, tennis yesterday and threw in a run and a bike ride somewhere in between.

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 28. My original goal was to finish an Ironman by the time was 30, so I should be right on track.

Michelle and I decided we’re going to enter a race this fall. It is a triathlon and duathlon (she’ll do the duathlon and I’ll do the triathlon). I’m really excited for her to personally experience the atmosphere on race day. It’s a lot different than the running races that she is used to (although I imagine Boston is unbelievable prior to the race, taking that bus to the start line).

She just bought a new bike and we went out for a good ride on Sunday. I hadn’t been on a regular road bike (as opposed to my tri-bike) for a long time. It was great not trying to pedal as hard and fast as I can. My legs are still a little tired from last weekend’s race, though.

I’m not really ready for the start of the work week, but here we are. At least it’s a short one – only four work days until the weekend =)

May 24, 2007

2007-05-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

In my last entry, I wrote, “Today begins my voyage to becoming an Ironman.” I’d like to explain that today.

My ultimate triathlon goal is to finish an Ironman. It was my goal when I first started swimming, biking and running. Actually, the first time I heard of Ironman was in the 5th Grade. My friend David Scouras explained what it was to me and, for some reason, I remember exactly where I was (in the portable classroom where I had Social Studies class in elementary school).

2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. Do that, and you are an Ironman.

It sounds insane. Well, it is insane. But triathletes are a unique group. We like to push our bodies to the limit and Ironman is the ultimate limit. Hence, it is my ultimate goal.

I signed up for an Ironman before. Ironman USA Lake Placid in 2005. Although I didn’t train as hard as I could have for it, I definitely could have finished it. But five weeks before the race, I injured my Achilles tendon. My training was over. My race was over, before it began.

I actually am thankful that I wasn’t able to do that race. Why? Because I now realize that I wasn’t doing it the right way. I wasn’t enjoying the process of becoming an Ironman. I wasn’t soaking up every minute. I wasn’t thankful every day for how lucky I am to be able to swim, bike and run. This time around, I am going to do it the right way.

Ironman Wisconsin, September 2008 (http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com/).

That is my goal. It’s a long way off, I know. Nearly 16 months. I can’t even sign up for the event until this September and I won’t start my training until December 31 of this year. But I have the event picked and I’m ready to start preparing.

The rest of this year, I’m going to enjoy myself. I’m still going to swim, bike and run. I’ll probably do a sprint distance triathlon later this summer. I’d like to play some tennis and also some golf. For now, though, I’m going to hang up Bruiser (my triathlon bike) in favor of Red (my regular road bike). He needs a rest.

I went for a short swim this morning. It was my first workout after Florida 70.3. It felt good to do something after doing nothing for three days. But I needed the rest as I won’t fully recover from the half-Ironman for another few weeks. I won’t bike until the weekend and I won’t run until next week.

So, my voyage has begun. There will be ups and downs, but I want to look back when it’s all said and done and be able to say that I enjoyed every minute of it.

May 21, 2007

2007-05-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

5:46:30. Florida 70.3. A half-Ironman. 1.2 mile swim; 56 mile bike; 13.1 mile run.

I finished.

I had a bad day.

I’m a triathlete. Today begins my voyage to becoming an Ironman.

I completed my first triathlon on June 19th, 2003, in Crockett, California. There were 21 people entered and I came in 3rd place. To put that in perspective, Florida 70.3 had over 2000 people and I came in 790th. But the most important thing I took out of that first race was neither the number of people in it nor the place that I came in. It was the lesson we’ve all heard before. When you fall down, you pick yourself back up. Only this time you’re stronger. For me, it was literal. During the first mile of the bike portion, I took a downhill curve too fast, the road hadn’t been swept, and down I went. At approximately 35 miles per hour, I slid on gravel and pavement for what seemed like 20 seconds.

I didn’t know what to do. I was shocked. I looked up and down the right side of my body and noticed my elbow was badly cut, my hip had an abrasion with a diameter of 4 inches and my lower back hurt, but I couldn’t see why (later I would find out there was an abrasion there too). Everything hurt. I thought about quitting this sport of triathlon right then and there.

Then I looked at my bike. Aside from a slightly bent brake cover, it seemed fine. Actually, it looked great. So, for whatever reason, I climbed back on and kept going. I finished the bike strong and the run even stronger. I was officially hooked.

Fast forward 4 years, many sprint and international distance triathlons, and 3 half-Ironmans. Yesterday, during Florida 70.3, I raced terribly. For the first time ever, I walked during a triathlon. I received my worst time (by far) of any of the half-Ironmans I’ve done. My goal was to break 5 hours and earn a qualifying slot to Ironman Wisconsin, a full Ironman event held every September. I ended up not even staying for the awards ceremony. I didn’t even want the slot if it was available to me. I didn’t earn it. I had my worst race as a triathlete.

Yesterday, I fell down. Only this time it was figuratively.

I’ve done a lot of reflecting in the past 24-plus hours.

Why didn’t I do well? I went out too hard on the swim and bike.

What could I have done better? I could have trained more consistently.

What went wrong? My nutrition plan went awry in the Florida heat and humidity.

But these were the wrong questions. These were the wrong answers.

This morning I realized that the correct question was, “Why do I tri?” It’s a common question among triathletes. But my answer was an uncommon one:

“I forget.”

Somewhere along the way, between training and racing, I forgot why I started training and racing in the first place. Today, I’m trying to remember. I’m searching my head for the memories that stick out the most.

I think about how nervous I was standing in the water before my first half-Ironman.

I think about the elite athlete I saw at the Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon, who was actually blue from hyponatremia. He was in first place, with less than a mile left in the run, and he had to stop. If he kept going, he would have died.

I think about the excitement of winning my age group at the Multirace Sailwinds Park Triathlon.

I think about the adrenaline pumping during my first ocean swim, at the Pacific Coast Triathlon.

I think about the courageous triathlete I saw yesterday. The man with one leg. Against all odds, he finished Florida 70.3.

I think about all the other athletes I’ve met along the way. Most, if not all, of them I’ll never see again. But we all share a common bond.

I think about my wonderful parents. Without them, I wouldn’t even be able to dream about triathlon. I think about how excited I am to tell them about my accomplishments. They worry about me, but I know they’re proud.

I think about my beautiful fiancée, Michelle. The uber-marathoner. She’s reached the pinnacle of her sport, the Boston Marathon… twice. She is my heart and soul and the love of my life.

Lastly, I think back to that first triathlon. I wonder why I kept going, after that tumble. There was no glory that day. No one was watching. It was just me, the road, and my bike. But I was there. Yes, I had a few scrapes and cuts, but nothing too serious. I could keep going.

So why do I tri? Because I can.

Today, I’m picking myself back up.