My new years resolution - I will be an Ironman. After college, I dabbled in the triathlon game for a few years. I really enjoyed the biking and I tolerated the swimming. Having been a runner in college (Rochester Institute of Technology), I got into triathlon have graduating. 4 years of running and focusing on just that (well school work too) took its toll and I decided to mix it up. Within a few years, I had a few sprint and olympic distance races under my belt. I even raced a half ironman distance..in middle Georgia..in June. I learned what a bonk was really like and why people take GU and nutrition on the bike and run for a reason.
On to my decision, Ironman. I have wanted to complete an Ironman for many years. But due to traveling for work, my triathlon racing dwindled. Fortunately when travelling, you can always find a place to run. So my running and even a few marathons increased and my PRs got faster. Then in Jan 2013, a career change and all the traveling stopped. And I do mean change. I went from 80,000 skymiles, 180 hotel nights, and 50 rental cars ever single year for 8.5 years. Now, 2 or 3 trips each year for work. Quite the change. But it allows me time to get on the bike and get wet in the pool. My wife has completed 2 Ironman events in the past few years, so I knew how much training there wil be and how much personal time I will have to give up. I think?
Then in July 2013, Ironman announced an Ironman in Boulder Colorado, Tri capital of the world. Aka, my backyard. The course already has my blood sweat and tears on it. No really, there is a blood stain on the creek path from where I had slipped on ice and landed hard on my elbow. Anyway, an Ironman triathlon and here comes the kicker....no travel. I get to sleep in my own bed, cook my own meals, and no airline, hotel, bike shipping, etc.
It was a no brainer decision. Then time came to sign up. Figuring it was going to sell out right away (who wouldnt want to race at 5430ft), I blocked off my work calendar for 10am Mountain time, in order to be online ready to get in the race. I logged in to my active.com account (having reset the password the night before just to be sure) and filled in all the info. Then came payment/submit. $728.22 total (after registration fee, active.com, USAT fee) WoW! Do I really want to pay that much to suffer for 140.6 miles? Then I realized it was a drop in the bucket as compared to want it will cost for my 8 months of training leading up to the race. Submit. I was in. In hindsight, it ended up taking 8 days to sell out as opposed to the 10mins I was expecting (or 45seconds that it takes IM Florida or Arizona).
So time for my resolution. I will be an Ironman come August 2014. What will that entail? I can only assume, early nights to bed, early mornings in the pool, longer than usual long runs followed up with laps in the pool, and seeing a lot of the Colorado countryside via my bike(s). I have the Boston Marathon in April, then probably an olympic tri in the early summer, and a handful of races scattered in between. But mostly, I have a heck of a lot of training to get done. I have a lot of great family support, great support from my sponsors, and even people at work that dont mind a long lunch here or there while Im out running or cycling as long as work gets done.
On to 2014. Follow my training here and on twitter @run1fast. Oh, some people ask why Run1fast? Its because, think to yourself, Run1fast. Run 1 race/training run/workout/anything fast. Faster than your PR/last year/last month/yesterday. Its a mind set to keep pushing yourself to better yourself.
Ill try to keep this up to date. Check out my Calendar tab to see how the training is going.
On to my decision, Ironman. I have wanted to complete an Ironman for many years. But due to traveling for work, my triathlon racing dwindled. Fortunately when travelling, you can always find a place to run. So my running and even a few marathons increased and my PRs got faster. Then in Jan 2013, a career change and all the traveling stopped. And I do mean change. I went from 80,000 skymiles, 180 hotel nights, and 50 rental cars ever single year for 8.5 years. Now, 2 or 3 trips each year for work. Quite the change. But it allows me time to get on the bike and get wet in the pool. My wife has completed 2 Ironman events in the past few years, so I knew how much training there wil be and how much personal time I will have to give up. I think?
Then in July 2013, Ironman announced an Ironman in Boulder Colorado, Tri capital of the world. Aka, my backyard. The course already has my blood sweat and tears on it. No really, there is a blood stain on the creek path from where I had slipped on ice and landed hard on my elbow. Anyway, an Ironman triathlon and here comes the kicker....no travel. I get to sleep in my own bed, cook my own meals, and no airline, hotel, bike shipping, etc.
It was a no brainer decision. Then time came to sign up. Figuring it was going to sell out right away (who wouldnt want to race at 5430ft), I blocked off my work calendar for 10am Mountain time, in order to be online ready to get in the race. I logged in to my active.com account (having reset the password the night before just to be sure) and filled in all the info. Then came payment/submit. $728.22 total (after registration fee, active.com, USAT fee) WoW! Do I really want to pay that much to suffer for 140.6 miles? Then I realized it was a drop in the bucket as compared to want it will cost for my 8 months of training leading up to the race. Submit. I was in. In hindsight, it ended up taking 8 days to sell out as opposed to the 10mins I was expecting (or 45seconds that it takes IM Florida or Arizona).
So time for my resolution. I will be an Ironman come August 2014. What will that entail? I can only assume, early nights to bed, early mornings in the pool, longer than usual long runs followed up with laps in the pool, and seeing a lot of the Colorado countryside via my bike(s). I have the Boston Marathon in April, then probably an olympic tri in the early summer, and a handful of races scattered in between. But mostly, I have a heck of a lot of training to get done. I have a lot of great family support, great support from my sponsors, and even people at work that dont mind a long lunch here or there while Im out running or cycling as long as work gets done.
On to 2014. Follow my training here and on twitter @run1fast. Oh, some people ask why Run1fast? Its because, think to yourself, Run1fast. Run 1 race/training run/workout/anything fast. Faster than your PR/last year/last month/yesterday. Its a mind set to keep pushing yourself to better yourself.
Ill try to keep this up to date. Check out my Calendar tab to see how the training is going.
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