Bad News for The Tour de France

It seems that no one can keep them selves clean!!! What is going on in cycling that anyone would even think that they can get away with doping!!! It really makes these cyclists look stupid and sets up a bad reputation for the sport. But, innocent until proven guilty, right?
Tour Doping Scandal

Sink or Swim!

I think I'm going to sink. I missed yet another swim session this morning. Not because I wasn't awake, I just plain old could not make myself go. I am really having a hard time doing my swim training alone. I never used to bother me, but lately it has completely killed my motivaiton. I have decided that I WILL swim Saturday morning in the lake regardless of how I fell or what the weather is like. The only thing that will stop my swim will be lightning. With only one week until my first Oly. I am feeling pretty good about the bike and run, but terrified of the swim. OK, maybe not terrified, but not at all confident. I think I will survive as long as the water is cool enough to allow me to use a wetsuit. If not, I may have issues.

On a better note, today is Friday and I don't have to work until Wednesday. So, I plan on taking advantage of tonight being that it is the last night that I can drink before my half iron in August. That's right, no alcohol for a month. So look out people there will be a hungover swimmer tomorrow. And they say I can't swim straight!!!

I think I'm getting The Fear.

I'm not sure what is going on. just when I think I have things fairly under control I totally lose it. Last night I was totally pumped to do a long hard ride with the Red and Black Army and follow it with a solid run. I felt terrible on the bike. The Fear started rolling in. Can I do a half iron in six weeks and survive? All these bad thoughts and images started flying through my head. As we rode along I found myself thinking "Can I hold this pace for 56 miles?". Doesn't fell like it. How am I going to do a full iron man next year? I'm scared!!!

I followed this confidence killing ride with an hour run. I went at an easy pace and just tried to focus on the job at hand. An hour of running gave me some time to try and sort through some of the fear and questions that have suddenly given my the smack down. I think I need to throw out my time goals for the half and just go and finish the thing and see what happens. I think the thing that scares me most is absolutley blowing up on the run and having to walk. I don't want to suffer through the run. Death march runs suck!

I need help with mental training. Not many people read this, so if you are here and have any words of wisdow that can help to ovecome The Fear, please pass them on to me.

The Day Draws Near.

July 3rd, 2006 online registration for Ironman Zurich 2007 opens. It is time to firm up the commitment and put the plans into motion. It is a year away and still the nerves are starting to tingle. I am starting to formulate a training plan for next year when I have not yet completed my races for this year. I have no idea what the next year will bring. I know that I have the support of a wonderful family, an amazing wife, and the inspiration from fellow competitots in the GWTC (or the Red and Black Army). It is going to be an incredible journey!!!

Inspiration

I think that I got what I needed this weekend. Some relaxation, family time, and a huge helping of inspiration. After spending the entire day with my family in a boat on Saturday I needed to get out and run. I felt flat. I questioned what I was doing. For some reason the fire was buring dim.

Sunday turned all of this around. I went to watch the Waconia Triathlon. This was only the second tri that I have attended and not raced. It is a great relaxing change. GW had a huge showing and everyone was looking strong in the choppy waters of Lake Waconia. The best part of the race is hearing everyones race stories and training goals after the race. That is where all of the inspiration comes from.

Later in the evening my wife and I went to a tri geek party to watch the World Cup and talk and dream about upcoming races. Again, this was inspirational. One of the club members recently complteted the RAAM. Talk about amazing. Riding a tandem all the way across America in just over eight days. WOW!!! We also watched Ironmanlive.com to track the progress of another club member at Iroman Coeur d'Alene. Amazing race in 91 degree heat.

I got up this morning and felt different about my training. I didn't mind getting out of bed to go to the pool. I really enjoyed my workout. For me, in this sport, it just takes a little inspiration from fellow tri geeks to get the fire stoked.

Self Control

I finally did it. I went to a group ride and said I was going to take it easy, and I really did. I've had so many days where I go to the group ride and say this and then ride my self right into the ground. Not this time. I took it nice and easy, talking with other riders and convincing more people that they need to go with us to Zurich in 2007. I rode my pace. I rode fast when I wanted and backed off when I wanted. I pushed some hills and I let people fly by me on some hills. Felt good for the entire ride and most of all I had fun. I followed the ride with a run that was just over 3.5 miles. Went at a pretty good pace with one other person. Her and I talked most of the way which made our pace seem easy. We finished with a 7:39/mile pace for the run. After a quick stretch I headed to the bar where my wife was waiting with the rest of the crew. We had 9 people there that are going to do Zurich. I think that number will grow as we get closer to registraiton time.

The more racing, training, and socializng that I do with this crew the more I realize that each person brings something different to the sport. Regardless of ability, speed, experience, age, or gender each person gives me inspiration and motivation to work towards my goals. It is great to be surrounded by some many positive people.

Zurich, Zurich, Zurich!!!

Did I Win?

Well, i think that I may have beat it today. At least the mental aspect of my training that has been knocing me around for a while now. I had a break through run today. Started out just watching my HR and keeping it at 150, then I looked at my pace. Wow, 7:45/mile at 150. It didn't seem right. On my last couple of runs that have beat me down, 150 was about a 8:20/mile. What changed? Well, I just got over some seriously stressful issues in my life, and like a switch, my performance and attitude has changed. I coninued on my run and reached mile 7 and decided to put the hammer down. I told myself that it didn't hurt... that bad. Mile 8 was at 6:45 and it was actually enjoyable. I finishsed the run with a nice cool down and clocked just over 9 miles with a 7:51/mile average including my cooldown. My confindence has be renewed.

The Vacation Is Over!!!

OK, I have restructured my training to try and make up for lost time. But, to make things more difficult, both of the pools I have been swimmng at no longer have evening lap swims. I will have to do all of my swimming in the mornings. Arghhh, I hate mornings. I think that I will be able to get things done if I can get my head back together. Lately, the hardest part of my training has been mental. Sunday I did an interval ride on my bike and just could not get into it. I usually love to push hard on the bike, but lately I have not been able to push hard in any of the three sports. I am health and my body feels strong, but I can not unlock the mental strenth that I need on a daily basis. What is the Key!!!

This week is going to be hard. I have ten workouts to get done in six days. I have five weeks of hard training before my taper starts for Steelhead 70.3.

Can I do it?

Vacation!

Vacations are great. But, I have now lost almost an entire week of training. I have gone a week without a ride or swim, and was only able to get in two runs. I think I am worried becasue it is getting close to my 70.3, and I just don't feel ready.
Along with missing bike rides, my front wheel is at the LBS. My last ride before vacation was supposed to be a 5 hour solo suffer fest. I made it 45 minutes before I broke a spoke and had to call my wife for a ride home. I am so far behind on my swimming and riding that I don't know where to resume. Should I stick to the plan or modifiy it to make up for lost time. If anybody reads this and has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

The Journey Begins

I made the decision, with the help of my wife (aka permission), to take a journey to Ironman Zurich in 2007. I decided to start this blog to capture the events and happenings along the way. I can't promise daily updates or infinite words of wisdom, but I will post any cool info, comments, and tips that I stumble across along the way.

The photo is of Natascha Badmann and me after the Buffalo Traithlon. She is an absolute endurance beast. She is very social and willing to talk to other racers of all levels. And she has one of the coolest bikes I have ever seen.

A breif history:

I am in my second year in multi sport. I ran in high school and for 2 years in college. Then I sat on the couch and drank beer. A lot of beer. For about seven years. I decided that I really wanted to race again, so I bought road bike and started to train. Not really knowing what I was going to race, running, cycling, or mountain. I then found triathlon. I was addicted before I ever had a chance to race. Now, with a few short course races done I have signed up for a 70.3 in August and have now committed to Ironman Zurich in June of 2007. Hang on, it is going to be a wild ride!!!