Hard to believe it has been over a month since my last post. Its April 6th and I have started week #15 on my journey to become an Ironman. Over the past month I have broken some personal records with my workouts. I have had a 3000 yard swim session. A brick workout of 3 hours on the bike followed by a 10 mile run.
I am becoming more frustrated with the weather as of late. The cold 20-30s justs don't want to break!! I know it will get here, but patience is not one of my better virtues.
Happy Spring, once it gets here!!!
Thanks for checking in!
V
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
TIME IS FLYING........
Its March already!!!! Time is flying by along with the training weeks. So far I am really pleased with my training. However there is a part of me that questions the hours per week that my is calling for. I keep telling myself..."hang on V, the people that came up with my plan know a heck of a lot more about the IM stuff than I do." This is where my patience gets tested. I have completed a few 3 hour rides on the stationary bike, completed some brick work and I have not felt that taxed. I know I should be careful for what I asked for because I have paged through my program and there are quite a few instances where I will have to ask myself if I really want to go into the training "Pain Cave." I do welcome these upcoming days. I know they will test my fitness and increase my mental strength in my preparation for September 13,2009.
So far in my training I have come up with the opinion that there really are 5 disclipines in an Ironman. Swimming, biking, running, nutrition, and mental toughness. The first 4 you can work at, experiment with, tweak, and get pretty close to what you need to do. The mental side is the "unknown". How will my nerves be? How will handle the certain adversity? Will I am be able to keep my focus? For me, this is a big part of my journey.
Spring is coming!!!!
Thanks for checking in!!
So far in my training I have come up with the opinion that there really are 5 disclipines in an Ironman. Swimming, biking, running, nutrition, and mental toughness. The first 4 you can work at, experiment with, tweak, and get pretty close to what you need to do. The mental side is the "unknown". How will my nerves be? How will handle the certain adversity? Will I am be able to keep my focus? For me, this is a big part of my journey.
Spring is coming!!!!
Thanks for checking in!!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
5 Weeks down, 32 more to go!
Greetings,
Today was a new exiting training day! This morning I broke through into new territory. I had a swim of 1600 yards which consisted of intervals and then followed up by riding the bike for 2 hours. That is the longest time I have every been on a bike. (to date).
As I look back on the workout, I got a glimpse of how nailing down nutrition will be come race day. I maintained my cadence of 90-95 rpm throughout the ride. I did have to decrease the tension one level at the 95 minute mark as I noticed a jump of 5 heart beats per minute. That was about the same time ran out of Gatorade. Lesson learned!
Looking ahead to my training program, next weekend hands out the first Bike/Run brick workout. The first of many in the coming weeks!!
Well, its Super Bowl Sunday. I don't really care who wins just hopeful for a close,exciting game. Couple funny commercials wouldn't hurt either.
Thanks again to my family for allowing to chase this 140.6 mile dream!
Keep checking in!! (224 days and counting)
Steve
Today was a new exiting training day! This morning I broke through into new territory. I had a swim of 1600 yards which consisted of intervals and then followed up by riding the bike for 2 hours. That is the longest time I have every been on a bike. (to date).
As I look back on the workout, I got a glimpse of how nailing down nutrition will be come race day. I maintained my cadence of 90-95 rpm throughout the ride. I did have to decrease the tension one level at the 95 minute mark as I noticed a jump of 5 heart beats per minute. That was about the same time ran out of Gatorade. Lesson learned!
Looking ahead to my training program, next weekend hands out the first Bike/Run brick workout. The first of many in the coming weeks!!
Well, its Super Bowl Sunday. I don't really care who wins just hopeful for a close,exciting game. Couple funny commercials wouldn't hurt either.
Thanks again to my family for allowing to chase this 140.6 mile dream!
Keep checking in!! (224 days and counting)
Steve
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
3 Weeks in.......
Well, I have started my 4th week of training for Ironman Wisconsin 2009. Everything is going along quite nicely. I really enjoy the lay out of the training program. The weekend workouts, as one might expect, are where a great deal of time is dedicated. The longest workout has been a 1100 yard swim followed by a 90 minute bike ride.
Today I had my first Cooper Swim Test. It basically is test to see how far you can swim in 12 minutes. So my first benchmark is 663 yards in 12 minutes. I am not exactly sure how I feel about my results. Of the 3 events, swimming presents me with the biggest mental barricade. I am striving to become more comfortable in the water. I will have another test in 4 weeks to check my progress. Thursday, January 22, I have my Cooper Run Test. Running distance covered in 12 minutes. I will be very interested to see how I do.
Another nice thing about my training program is that it has incorporated weight training. I have gotten away from the weights over the past couple years which I now regret to a certain degree.
I find myself looking ahead to future weeks and how I will get my workouts completed without too much additional time away from my family. My boys, Jackson 7, and Cole 4, are growing and learning everyday. That is one of the reasons I feel so compelled to train and run this race this year. They are only going to get busier and more involved in extra curricular activites of which I want to be apart of. One of my fondest memories as a kid growing up was seeing my dad in the stands or in the dugout at all my games. It gave me great pride knowing he was there.
Well, that is it for now. Grateful for my family's understanding and how they continue to allow me to chase this 140.6 mile dream.
Thanks for checking in!!
V
Today I had my first Cooper Swim Test. It basically is test to see how far you can swim in 12 minutes. So my first benchmark is 663 yards in 12 minutes. I am not exactly sure how I feel about my results. Of the 3 events, swimming presents me with the biggest mental barricade. I am striving to become more comfortable in the water. I will have another test in 4 weeks to check my progress. Thursday, January 22, I have my Cooper Run Test. Running distance covered in 12 minutes. I will be very interested to see how I do.
Another nice thing about my training program is that it has incorporated weight training. I have gotten away from the weights over the past couple years which I now regret to a certain degree.
I find myself looking ahead to future weeks and how I will get my workouts completed without too much additional time away from my family. My boys, Jackson 7, and Cole 4, are growing and learning everyday. That is one of the reasons I feel so compelled to train and run this race this year. They are only going to get busier and more involved in extra curricular activites of which I want to be apart of. One of my fondest memories as a kid growing up was seeing my dad in the stands or in the dugout at all my games. It gave me great pride knowing he was there.
Well, that is it for now. Grateful for my family's understanding and how they continue to allow me to chase this 140.6 mile dream.
Thanks for checking in!!
V
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Day 1: the long awaited beginning...
December 29, 2008
Today was the first day of my Ironman training. It consisted of a 65 minute run at a slower pace. One challenge that I will have is my ability to slow down to a lower pace. There is a long way to go before 9/13/2009. This is my first entry to my blog. There will be more to come. I look forward to sharing this journey with all who care to check in.
As for a goal, I hope to finish in the 11 hour range. I know this might be a bit ambitious, but it's a big race, so why not have a big goal? It is an honor to have the ability, family and friend support, and (knock on wood) the health to train for this race.
Thanks for checking in!
Steve.
Today was the first day of my Ironman training. It consisted of a 65 minute run at a slower pace. One challenge that I will have is my ability to slow down to a lower pace. There is a long way to go before 9/13/2009. This is my first entry to my blog. There will be more to come. I look forward to sharing this journey with all who care to check in.
As for a goal, I hope to finish in the 11 hour range. I know this might be a bit ambitious, but it's a big race, so why not have a big goal? It is an honor to have the ability, family and friend support, and (knock on wood) the health to train for this race.
Thanks for checking in!
Steve.
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