Been a while since I last posted (two weeks). The intensity has really picked up as I head into race season after 26 weeks and into the second block of base building training.
Hyannis
I raced the Hyannis Half Marathon two weekends ago. As has been the case with my last two races, I had a major hurdle to overcome before I toed the line down the Cape. I developed a pretty tough case of bronchitis, fever and breathing issues four days prior. My immune system was under attack with the high-level of training. I immediately went onto antibiotics, an inhaler, and huge doses of zinc, Vitamin C and mega sleep to try and head it off. Not much success in fooling Mother Nature as you read on!! My whole family was all down with horrible throwing up thing and we all were getting no sleep the whole week. Not a good week of prep by any means. But I’m proud I was able to pull it off as well as I did despite the way I was feeling.
Once again, Mary met the challenge and got me to the starting line by shouldering all of the tough family duties.
Coach gave me two goals for the race in Hyannis. The first goal was to run a sub- 1:40 half marathon and then adjusted the goal prior to the race as my health had improved marginally. To be candid, I really did not communicate to Jesse as to how sick I was. Being the over achiever that I am, and being disappointed about having to miss my last marathon at Disney with a foot issue, there was not much that could keep me from this race. Also, this was the first time I was going to race with many of my new teammates. Even though I’m always racing against my own limiters, I needed to see where I stack-up. At some point you have to get out of the batting cage and face a real-life pitcher. Toeing the line is all about reality vs. lonely training each and every day..On paper I look ok, but how about real-time?
So, the day prior, coach adjusted my race from 1:40 to 1:27 (that’s a lot!). I messed up my pre-race nutrition by not knowing the race was an hour later than planned. It would be a good example on how the rest of the day was going to go.
I linked up with several members of Q2T at the convention center. I was getting nervous because I have no idea how I am doing with my Iron preparation and the race plan was significantly faster than I have been running with all of my base building. The updated goal was to run at 6:30 minute miles/ and then to settle into 6:35. My best run to date was 7:20 min mile/but granted that was always after biking prior. I don’t challenge or doubt my coach, I just try to go out and execute. 9 out of 10 times Jesse is dead-on, but in this case I was concerned because I had no idea how my breathing was going to hold up and it was really not something I could quantify. Coach a long-time ago stated, “impress me”. So here we go!!
Pat Wheeler and I headed onto the course fifteen minutes before the gun to do some warm-ups. As soon as I started speed bursts, breathing felt tough, and I had a little dizzy feeling. It was going to be a long day.
Lined-up at the start with most of my team. Usually I’m way far in the back as to not get run over. This was a first being up front. Gun goes off, my Garmin satellite watch seizes up and my right shoe lace fails. I start to hyperventilate. Forced myself to relax and run and re-boot the watch on the run while trying to avoid the hundreds of feet. I knew the course and all I wanted to do was make it around the bend and pull over and fix my shoe. I re-booted the watch and it told me I was running a 6:00 min mile. Wow, I might be able to run this fast because I had a bit of a taper heading into the day!! Whoops, mile three comes and I can’t breathe running along the beach. I taste blood and feel as though I’m running on one lung. What should I do? Should I bail and save myself or do I decide today is as good a day as any to learn to suffer and stay with the race and finish and try to learn something? There was really no question, I could not quit, because I’m not wired that way to my own detriment. After assessing myself, I tried hard to maintain that pace, but started giving back a little time throughout the course.
I finished very beat-up, but achieved my personal best at this distance. I could go on and on about every thought I had while running and how at every turn I hurt and wanted to stop. I’m really proud of how I toughed it out and finished in between the two goals of 1:36:12. I must have been passed by 50 people that last three miles. Total place, 161 out of over 4K. I have no doubt I can go a lot faster and I got validated that I’m very much on track as to where I need to be. Goal attained!! Coach not impressed, but I know he’s watching!! LOL
Week after the race
I was seriously beat up after this race with completing it as sick as I was. That following Monday I had to do my typical Monday swim and I had developed lower GI issues. Let’s just say that I was very careful breathing in the pool. The training protocol was not going to allow me to stop. In fact, it was increasing by a wide margin. What a week it was. To top it off, I was scheduled to compete in my first bike time-trial seven days after my half marathon and a brutal training week with a 1:49 run.
Time Trail
As of Sunday my body was limping along and I developed a tight quad muscle as well as a little knee pain. My body was wrecked and I was excited to see how I would stack-up against other triatheltes as well as some serious cyclists.
I was competing in the second wave and had a good warm-up. The start-gun goes off and I ride as hard as I could although I actually did not know the race started. Immediately, my lungs remind me that they are not heeled and wanted to know who the hell I thought I was trying this stupid endurance thing again? Well, the adrenaline started pumping. There is this huge screen that shows all the racers against each other and an emcee yelling your name out to the crowd. The emcee started pointing me out and let everyone know I was in the lead and then was losing the lead to a “roadie”. Well, I mentioned that this was not something that I was ok with regardless of how I felt. I went on to save 2nd in my heat and had a really good showing. I got several emails from friend's congratulating me.
I beat some very good riders on this day. I know this is a recurring theme, but I’m performing pretty well for a broken-down 42 year old, vs. some younger more seasoned athletes. I’m still searching to pull it all together on race day with health. I guess that’s the point, we never do, it’s all about working toward that end.
St. Croix:
I have the unfortunate news of changing one of my races. I was scheduled to race Devilman in NY on May 2nd. I have now switched the race to St Croix due to the fact the NJ race was changed to a light Ironman (shorter course). Also, there were no Qt2’ers racing. Not that hard to swallow!!
New Orleans
Well, I have approx five weeks to go before Ironman New Orleans. Body is certainly getting in top form and over the past three weeks my run, bike and swim times had improved a lot. My diet is tight and I’m not doing great putting in enough time sleeping. This is a big goal of mine to improve over the next three weeks!! Stay tuned and thanks for reading!!
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