On tap for Today:
Work till 12:30PM
10 mile run...if the roads co-operate, we had a massive rain storm 2 days ago and last night everything froze over, today is not supposed to get above 30F (-1C) so the roads are going to be icy and treacherous, but hopefully not.
Hawaii Ironman Highlight show.
Finish Papers.
2 hours on the trainer.
Sunday:
In the words of the Commodores: "A brickhouse."
Hopefully a 50-60 mile ride and a 7 mile run. Maybe some pre-church deadlifts.
This is all what I hope to do but we all know life throws curve balls. I look to take full advantage of my trainer over break, maybe some pre and post work spin sessions and hardcore focus on the bike. It's been my weakness for several years hopefully if I work hard enough I can make it a strength...because I really want a sub-6 Ironman bike split this year. the running I'm not worried except for last week 've been averaging 20-30 miles per week, and about 9000 yards in the pool per week. The swim is the least of my worries, although I'd like to be in the top 25 out of the water. To have a remote shot at Kona I need a faster bike split so that's what I'm going to drill this year. Hard Swim, Balls to the Wall bike ,and run until my legs fall off. While not as far as long as I was last year I did manage to build a lot of base over the summer. So winter break will be spent trying to get myself as fast as humanly possible, and this year I will be taking a tip from the Angry Runner and work the chain, with deadlifts, the arms with push ups and pullups and essentially get my scrawny ass it to bitch stomping shape...I guess the easy days are over because as of 8PM last night I'm officially in training.
Getting intouch with his inner Balboa.
R.D.
Showing posts with label IM New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IM New Zealand. Show all posts
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What I really want for Christmas...
Well it's that time again, my parents ask me what I wanted for Christmas ( seriously I'm 23 why do my parents feel they have to spend the coin they have on me their 23 year old working son, I mean my siblings, 2 middle schoolers, a high schooler and a broke college student fine , but I mostly buy what I want / need and make due with what I've got.) So I usually tell them get me something practical, new work clothes, socks, a bathing suit or 2, a bag of toe warmers so I can do my winter riding, maybe a DVD...little things. Now if money was no object absolutely nothing was off limits here are the top ten things I'd want for Christmas:
1.Winter House in San Diego, paid for in full, utilities included.
2. A Specialized S works Transition, loaded with either SRAM RED or Shimano Dura Ace, Zipp 808's, and since this is a fantasy painted Red, Black and White with Flames (HEAT livery.) X 2 you know just so I have one at the Winter house.
3. Blue Seventy Helix Wetsuit.
4. 3 pairs New Balnace 968' or whatever type I'm using now, seriously they feel like sex on my feet. I think my calves just had an orgasm.
5. about $500k in cash would be nice.
6. Entry and airfare to Ironman New Zealand for 2009...and 2010, 2011, 2012...
7. A house in Taupo, New Zealand, preferably big enough that I could rent out rooms at low, low low prices.
8. A Specialized Tarmac S works ( painted like the transition S-works.)
9. A girl who shall remain anonymous showing up at my door wearing a red bow...I'm not going to go into more details but let's just say I'm human afterall.
10. A "pointy" or aero helmet, that is certified by " xyzlmnop" to quote Claire and Mary.
Alright some of these things are really out there but a guy can dream can't he?
Maybe...oneday...in another lifetime...
R.D.
1.Winter House in San Diego, paid for in full, utilities included.
2. A Specialized S works Transition, loaded with either SRAM RED or Shimano Dura Ace, Zipp 808's, and since this is a fantasy painted Red, Black and White with Flames (HEAT livery.) X 2 you know just so I have one at the Winter house.
3. Blue Seventy Helix Wetsuit.
4. 3 pairs New Balnace 968' or whatever type I'm using now, seriously they feel like sex on my feet. I think my calves just had an orgasm.
5. about $500k in cash would be nice.
6. Entry and airfare to Ironman New Zealand for 2009...and 2010, 2011, 2012...
7. A house in Taupo, New Zealand, preferably big enough that I could rent out rooms at low, low low prices.
8. A Specialized Tarmac S works ( painted like the transition S-works.)
9. A girl who shall remain anonymous showing up at my door wearing a red bow...I'm not going to go into more details but let's just say I'm human afterall.
10. A "pointy" or aero helmet, that is certified by " xyzlmnop" to quote Claire and Mary.
Alright some of these things are really out there but a guy can dream can't he?
Maybe...oneday...in another lifetime...
R.D.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Lots of Sound and Fury and I'm back to stage one.
" You, Change your mind, like a girl, changes clothes"- Katie Perry.
Well after looking at my Fiscal Situation I'm not going to be able to put Forward an Ironman Entry until January. So in essence I'm back to square one with my race planning for 2009. Which leaves me with 3 viable options for a 2009 Ironman.
1. Arizona or Florida via community fund:
Pros:
Help out the local community.
My race entry becomes a tax deduction.
Race with Bjoern and have a mini Ironwar. ( Arizona only.)
Race with Gary and have an Ironwar..well not as intense because he's in a different age bracket.(Florida only.)
Course is gradual climbs and gradual descents. (Arizona)
Course is Flat as a pancake.( Florida)
All of 2009 to train.
Kona slot carries over to 2010, which means I don't need to burn cash on a qualifier in 2010.
Cons:
$1300 price tag.
After tallying all the other associated costs, I might as well have done New Zealand.
Kona Slot carries over to 2010...which means I'm in a more competitive bracket...ouch!
WheelSuckeris North Americanis is known to thrive in Panama City.
Californians and Floridians are bred for triathlon.
2. Ironman Kentucky through general entry or community fund, depending on what's left.
Pros:
Cheaper than Arizona ( $525 if GE slots are left, only $1000 if I go via the community fund.)
Decent terrain for the bike course.
I can get notes from Tony, Bree Wee and John Hirsch.
Race with Judi.
Cons:
Summer in the South ...Hot, humid, "if you find yourself in warm fields then you're already dead..from dehydration."
Ohio River has that nice nuclear waste after taste.
3. Ironman New Zealand.
Pros:
Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt! I know what it takes to Get R Done!
Temps are fairly mild 60s-70s F ( 15-25C).
Get to see Catherine and some of my NZ wrecking crew.
Airfaire is dropping faster than my 401k's value.
Great Exchange rate $1 NZD = $0.53 USD
25th Anniversary.
Course is slightly rolling, like Connecticut
Cons:
My airfare costs about as much as entering a US race via the Community fund.
Ironman ready in 4 no make that 3 months?
I'd have to buy a bike case ....Boo!
Did I mention those 3 months are in winter ...double boo!
My 401k's value is dropping!
Wind..Blows...and by Wind I mean that 20mph head wind we had last year was a slight breeze compared to what this bitch can dish out.
Aussies and Kiwis are bio-engineered in secret labs for Triathlon.
Roads are rough and will make your hands go numb from vibration...like Connecticut.
Well in deciding which Iron I'll do next year I have a lot of factors to look at. Although I did mention Ironman Kentucky last year so maybe I have a self fulfilling prophecy....to quote Bree, Maybe "I'll get lucky in Kentucky."
I'm also starting to get some Jedi freaking mind tricks to go to Florida in Jan. to run a certian Marathon at a certain kingdom, with a certain racer of high velocity, two runners with cantankerous attitudes and a Canadian speed demon. Don't know if that will happen but it could.
So in essence 2009 is up in the air...
Changing his mind by the minute.
R.D.
Well after looking at my Fiscal Situation I'm not going to be able to put Forward an Ironman Entry until January. So in essence I'm back to square one with my race planning for 2009. Which leaves me with 3 viable options for a 2009 Ironman.
1. Arizona or Florida via community fund:
Pros:
Help out the local community.
My race entry becomes a tax deduction.
Race with Bjoern and have a mini Ironwar. ( Arizona only.)
Race with Gary and have an Ironwar..well not as intense because he's in a different age bracket.(Florida only.)
Course is gradual climbs and gradual descents. (Arizona)
Course is Flat as a pancake.( Florida)
All of 2009 to train.
Kona slot carries over to 2010, which means I don't need to burn cash on a qualifier in 2010.
Cons:
$1300 price tag.
After tallying all the other associated costs, I might as well have done New Zealand.
Kona Slot carries over to 2010...which means I'm in a more competitive bracket...ouch!
WheelSuckeris North Americanis is known to thrive in Panama City.
Californians and Floridians are bred for triathlon.
2. Ironman Kentucky through general entry or community fund, depending on what's left.
Pros:
Cheaper than Arizona ( $525 if GE slots are left, only $1000 if I go via the community fund.)
Decent terrain for the bike course.
I can get notes from Tony, Bree Wee and John Hirsch.
Race with Judi.
Cons:
Summer in the South ...Hot, humid, "if you find yourself in warm fields then you're already dead..from dehydration."
Ohio River has that nice nuclear waste after taste.
3. Ironman New Zealand.
Pros:
Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt! I know what it takes to Get R Done!
Temps are fairly mild 60s-70s F ( 15-25C).
Get to see Catherine and some of my NZ wrecking crew.
Airfaire is dropping faster than my 401k's value.
Great Exchange rate $1 NZD = $0.53 USD
25th Anniversary.
Course is slightly rolling, like Connecticut
Cons:
My airfare costs about as much as entering a US race via the Community fund.
Ironman ready in 4 no make that 3 months?
I'd have to buy a bike case ....Boo!
Did I mention those 3 months are in winter ...double boo!
My 401k's value is dropping!
Wind..Blows...and by Wind I mean that 20mph head wind we had last year was a slight breeze compared to what this bitch can dish out.
Aussies and Kiwis are bio-engineered in secret labs for Triathlon.
Roads are rough and will make your hands go numb from vibration...like Connecticut.
Well in deciding which Iron I'll do next year I have a lot of factors to look at. Although I did mention Ironman Kentucky last year so maybe I have a self fulfilling prophecy....to quote Bree, Maybe "I'll get lucky in Kentucky."
I'm also starting to get some Jedi freaking mind tricks to go to Florida in Jan. to run a certian Marathon at a certain kingdom, with a certain racer of high velocity, two runners with cantankerous attitudes and a Canadian speed demon. Don't know if that will happen but it could.
So in essence 2009 is up in the air...
Changing his mind by the minute.
R.D.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
What I want to accomplish in 2009.
2008 was over ambitious on many levels , I know I said it a million times but here's a million and one. The main goal for me in 08 was to do some big name races and hopefully get to my ultimate objective: Kona. Unfortunately life stresses, made what should have been an awesome season a living nightmare. By the time I DNFed at Nutmegman I was glad for it to be over. With the collapse of what could best be described as a "pipe dream" to do IM New Zealand in 2009, and deciding bills are more important than entry in to Arizona, 2009 is not looking like it's going to be a busy year. Part of me is thinking a back to the minors approach is probably best, But ideally I'd like to race 2 or 3 local sprints/Olys, a couple half irons and an iron entered through either a training pack or a community fund slot. The goals for 2009 same as 2008 try to get to Kona or die trying.
For 2010 I want to go back and race in Taupo. Hopefully I'll have picked up a better paying job, or will at least have graduated so at the worst case I can work max hours at the bank, and pick up 2 or 3 side gigs, maybe I'll have a break out next season and actually pick up a pro card and sponsorship ( unlikely but I can dream.) and can make racing in New Zealand a reality, although maybe I should agree with most people and realize that that race was a once in a lifetime deal.
Another part of me is sitting here listening to the fiscal forecasts for the next decade and when the broadcasters are posting a list of " the following pets are great sources of protein." It hits home the fact that I'm a poor kid in the rich kids' sandbox, and chances for mobility are limited. My aunt always shouts out to me "be lucky you got a job Bobby many people ain't go no job." Part of me realizes that I've sacrificed a lot in career mobility to get a BA which might be worth little more than toilet paper or a fire starter. Part of me is thinking that maybe that happiness the sport gives me most of the time isn't worth it. That I should go into the Depression era mindset of "anything to make a buck." That anything that does not have a financial reward isn't worth working for. That relationships, races, family outings , are all distractions from the ultimate goal of dying as the kid with the most cake, or in this case cash. And then I stop myself. I remember how miserable I was when I was working 75 hours a week. Sure the money was good, but I had no life, I had no time for anything other than work. My job defined me as a person. I was not Bob, Rob, Bobby, insert name here..I was that kid at the bank, or the game shop, or that ass hole who wouldn't cash your check or give you a full refund because you bought Fantavision and it sucked balls. ( note to anyone with a PS2 or old school X-box don't buy Fantavision ( Activison's bootleg version of tetris.) it sucks balls.) I was nothing other than my job and my lust for money is what drove me, I took abuse I dished some out, I was absolutely miserable except for the days I was able to get a day off or get out early and train. So I've always been caught in a paradox. When I've had the money to be able to race how I want I haven't had the time to train and I've had the time haven't had the cash. Hopefully this BA will at least be able to put me in a spot where I can achieve a happy medium that I can get ( and hopefully keep) a decent paying gig so I can pay back some debts, enter some more races, travel, in essence do what I want to do with life. So that is the ultimate goal for 09...get myself into a better position because just like Fantavison, most of 2008 sucked balls.
Edit #1
Well Ironman Kentucky is looking like a good back up as there are still general entry slots available so that will save me some coin. Also maybe if the Angry Posse's trip to Moehgan turns out to be uber profitable NZ could still happen...alright I'm talking like a crazy person but with gas prices tumbling ( boo-yah OPEC.) airfare is dropping like my 401k value. Like I said Jan. will be my official announcement on which IM I'm doing if any. And Yes Claire I will block air New Zealand on my internet browser.
To a better and more prosperous 2009.
R.D.
For 2010 I want to go back and race in Taupo. Hopefully I'll have picked up a better paying job, or will at least have graduated so at the worst case I can work max hours at the bank, and pick up 2 or 3 side gigs, maybe I'll have a break out next season and actually pick up a pro card and sponsorship ( unlikely but I can dream.) and can make racing in New Zealand a reality, although maybe I should agree with most people and realize that that race was a once in a lifetime deal.
Another part of me is sitting here listening to the fiscal forecasts for the next decade and when the broadcasters are posting a list of " the following pets are great sources of protein." It hits home the fact that I'm a poor kid in the rich kids' sandbox, and chances for mobility are limited. My aunt always shouts out to me "be lucky you got a job Bobby many people ain't go no job." Part of me realizes that I've sacrificed a lot in career mobility to get a BA which might be worth little more than toilet paper or a fire starter. Part of me is thinking that maybe that happiness the sport gives me most of the time isn't worth it. That I should go into the Depression era mindset of "anything to make a buck." That anything that does not have a financial reward isn't worth working for. That relationships, races, family outings , are all distractions from the ultimate goal of dying as the kid with the most cake, or in this case cash. And then I stop myself. I remember how miserable I was when I was working 75 hours a week. Sure the money was good, but I had no life, I had no time for anything other than work. My job defined me as a person. I was not Bob, Rob, Bobby, insert name here..I was that kid at the bank, or the game shop, or that ass hole who wouldn't cash your check or give you a full refund because you bought Fantavision and it sucked balls. ( note to anyone with a PS2 or old school X-box don't buy Fantavision ( Activison's bootleg version of tetris.) it sucks balls.) I was nothing other than my job and my lust for money is what drove me, I took abuse I dished some out, I was absolutely miserable except for the days I was able to get a day off or get out early and train. So I've always been caught in a paradox. When I've had the money to be able to race how I want I haven't had the time to train and I've had the time haven't had the cash. Hopefully this BA will at least be able to put me in a spot where I can achieve a happy medium that I can get ( and hopefully keep) a decent paying gig so I can pay back some debts, enter some more races, travel, in essence do what I want to do with life. So that is the ultimate goal for 09...get myself into a better position because just like Fantavison, most of 2008 sucked balls.
Edit #1
Well Ironman Kentucky is looking like a good back up as there are still general entry slots available so that will save me some coin. Also maybe if the Angry Posse's trip to Moehgan turns out to be uber profitable NZ could still happen...alright I'm talking like a crazy person but with gas prices tumbling ( boo-yah OPEC.) airfare is dropping like my 401k value. Like I said Jan. will be my official announcement on which IM I'm doing if any. And Yes Claire I will block air New Zealand on my internet browser.
To a better and more prosperous 2009.
R.D.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Vacation week is over.
Yep that's right my 7 day training extravaganza turned out to be a flop. School, fatigue, weather, and just plain lack of direction doomed it to failure. Today I plan on running, getting some work done before masters tonight. I'm wondering if Claire's still down for a ride in CT tomorrow, if not I might just do 60-70 miles on my own, depending on weather ( I mean if the weather sucks I'm not riding granted Sunday's supposed to be a great day to ride but it's going to be cold as balls. Better pick up the toe warmers while I can.) This week was a rest week somethings got put in perspective. I've got my career fair next week and I need to be overridden into my senior thesis so I can walk in May. Part of me is debating a return to Masters competition this winter, especially since NZ is most likely not going to happen ( I mean miracles do happen like random winning lotto tickets or going with some friends to the Casino and doubling our winnings and not spending it at the...[fine art gallery], but you can't count on it.) In essence I felt like I might have squandered a golden training opportunity but my body needed rest from the grind of work, school, train, repeat. So hopefully Monday I'll go back to the office with some renewed vigor. as for Arizona, part of me is thinking forgoing general entry in two weeks and throwing down extra coin in Jan/Feb for the Multisports.com package for about $1200. or raising money for a community fund slot $1300. I figure if I scratch NZ I'll have some money left from my income tax/loan left over. Multisports.com gives a training plan and race entry in a package so I'd be able to kill two birds with one stone....coaching and IM entry. The community fund thing well maybe it would put me back on the right track of the karma train. Regardless I've got a pay period to figure out a game plan, although I might just scrap an ironman all together and focus on qualifying for the Boston Marathon for 2010, I mean one of my friends from Fordham beat my time from Hartford by 3 min. and is running Boston. Damn she swam faster than and now she's running faster than me and she's richer than me...life is unfair, oh curse you drunk underclassman Bob-o!
Alright forget that nonsense of me not doing an Ironman in 09...worst case I'll go to Mexico extreme worst case I'll go to Western OZ or enter community fund for Kentucky or Arizona but they most likely will not sell out so I'll have a shot to do an IM in 09. ( note IM China is not in the consideration..I will not do that race until there is a Free or at least Autonomous Tibet .Dali Lama holla! Also in the words of Bart Simpson "Come on China you used to be cool?") Alright now that I am censored in the People's Republic I think I'm going to end this post. I have sources to look up and papers to finish.
R.D.
Alright forget that nonsense of me not doing an Ironman in 09...worst case I'll go to Mexico extreme worst case I'll go to Western OZ or enter community fund for Kentucky or Arizona but they most likely will not sell out so I'll have a shot to do an IM in 09. ( note IM China is not in the consideration..I will not do that race until there is a Free or at least Autonomous Tibet .Dali Lama holla! Also in the words of Bart Simpson "Come on China you used to be cool?") Alright now that I am censored in the People's Republic I think I'm going to end this post. I have sources to look up and papers to finish.
R.D.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Arizona and New Zealand entries are due....
and at the moment I only have enough dinero for one. Upon the advice of friends and other athletes...Tempe has beaten out Taupo for the time being..most likely for 09... I mean I can hope they have open slots in January, but by that point booking a hotel is a hassle. So this has become triage in a way, Tempe sells out faster than IMNZ it's 12 months out, it doesn't require me freezing my ass off to prep for it... If by some miracle NZ doesn't sell out I'll go but The barren desert is looking like my most viable path to Kona..which is probably a good thing...after all in NZ I tended to get a little ADD ...people new surroundings..screaming fans...maybe some solititude, pissed off drivers and nothing but caucti to look at will get my ass moving a little faster on that damned bike leg...after all we americans are pissed off by nature that's just how we roll. I hated I tried to defend going to NZ for so long and now it most likely will not happen..but if it's meant to happen it will. all I know is my second(possibly 3rd) Ironman will be markedly differnet than my first. This time around I'm not going to sightsee and make friends I'm going for the sole purpose of kicking ass and may God help the poor son of a bitch that's in my way. Tempe, Arizona next November I'm going to crush you Barack Obama* style.
I have just awoken from a delerious dream...and now I have to settle down and look at the goals at hand...no relationships, no life..school, degree, work, train...BA by June 09 better job by December 09, Kona slot for October 2010..everything else doesn't matter. This is life, hopped up on ambition and fueled by rage..may god have mercy because I sure as hell won't!
Focused and driven
RD.
*President Barack Obama has not approved of this message.
I have just awoken from a delerious dream...and now I have to settle down and look at the goals at hand...no relationships, no life..school, degree, work, train...BA by June 09 better job by December 09, Kona slot for October 2010..everything else doesn't matter. This is life, hopped up on ambition and fueled by rage..may god have mercy because I sure as hell won't!
Focused and driven
RD.
*President Barack Obama has not approved of this message.
Hell Week T- minus 48 hours.
Well last night I had hoped to get 4000 yards in at the pool, but I settled for 3500. My main set wasn't too impressive 5x100 on 1:25, 4x50 IM order on 1:00, 200 pull on 3:00, followed by 5x200 on 2:50. I managed to hold about 2:35-2:40 on the 200's and under 1:20 on the 100's . also a few of my Wednesday night workout crew showed up , we were pretty unorganized, and we all sort of did our own things and socialized between sets...hopefully the workouts will get a little more structured as the year progresses. Next week I begin my self imposed training camp or I guess you could call it " The Almighty Plan" I'm hoping to be entered into Ironman New Zealand on Wednesday, and figure that this week is the best time to increase the training mileage. I figure If I can get at least 2 century rides in before the showdown in Taupo this time around I'll be golden, and hopefully punching a golden ticket to Kona. I mean if I did an 11 hour Ironman on little training last year, maybe with a little bit more work, especially on the bike, I could be in the 9-10 hour range. So the plan for next week is as follows
Saturday:
Ride 50-60 miles
Date night woohoo!
Sunday:
Ride 50-60 miles
possibly a 10-15 mile run.
Monday:
AM lift and swim 3500 yds.
PM Swim 3500-4000 yds.
Tuesday :
Ride 50-60 miles (more if class is canceled for Veterans day which I think it is)
Run 6-8 miles.
Wednesday:
AM Lift
PM Swim 4000 yds.
Enter IM New Zealand.
Thursday:
Ride 60-70 miles
Run 6-8 miles.
Friday
Run 8-10 miles.
PM Swim 3500-4000 yds.
Saturday:
Ride 100+ miles
Sunday:
Recover swim 3000 yds.
So there's the plan.
Total mileage Goals:
Swim: 18,500 yds. (11.2 miles
Bike 366 miles
Run: 41 miles
So those are the objectives, whether I meet them all or not remains to be seen.
Also this Saturday I have a date with Newport girl once again, figure we'll meet for a movie in New London after my Saturday ride. That's all from me for right now...I really miss my Angry life coach.
Continuing the flogging until morale improves.
R.D.
Saturday:
Ride 50-60 miles
Date night woohoo!
Sunday:
Ride 50-60 miles
possibly a 10-15 mile run.
Monday:
AM lift and swim 3500 yds.
PM Swim 3500-4000 yds.
Tuesday :
Ride 50-60 miles (more if class is canceled for Veterans day which I think it is)
Run 6-8 miles.
Wednesday:
AM Lift
PM Swim 4000 yds.
Enter IM New Zealand.
Thursday:
Ride 60-70 miles
Run 6-8 miles.
Friday
Run 8-10 miles.
PM Swim 3500-4000 yds.
Saturday:
Ride 100+ miles
Sunday:
Recover swim 3000 yds.
So there's the plan.
Total mileage Goals:
Swim: 18,500 yds. (11.2 miles
Bike 366 miles
Run: 41 miles
So those are the objectives, whether I meet them all or not remains to be seen.
Also this Saturday I have a date with Newport girl once again, figure we'll meet for a movie in New London after my Saturday ride. That's all from me for right now...I really miss my Angry life coach.
Continuing the flogging until morale improves.
R.D.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
IM New Zealand Update and other 2009 tri ramblings.
Well I was not able to put my entry in to Ironman New Zealand Thursday morning, since a majority of my pay went to bills. ( Somewhere in North of Boston, my destiny is probably shouting..."see, see it's a sign! you're not supposed to go!" ) So I'll try again on Nov. 13 hopefully there will still be slots, also that week will be host to Bob's Hardcore sufferfest culminating with a century bike ride that Sunday.. ( wooooo..oooooo,Claire come down and ride with Bob that weekend this is your destiny calling...wooo..oooo.) crap did someone hear something...man it sure is drafty here in Newport...Yes Angry Newport be jealous... Today doesn't have much going on I'm down visiting my sister and some friends so we'll go out for breakfast and then I'll probably tack on some run mileage before driving back to the C-O -double N. Yesterday I did a 20 miler on the stomper, I wish I could have gotten a little more in but, 20 is a good start, figure next weekend will be back to back 60 milers. I figure even if IM New Zealand falls through ( ie sells out in the next two weeks.) the long distance base mileage done this winter will pay off, because absolute worst case scenario I'll replace NZ with Rev3 in Middlebury and just begin training for Arizona. Also I want to try to earn some prize money at the Patriot this year but because it's been moved up to June 20, so there might be a larger pro field, but I'll play that by ear, besides I like having clear water on the swim ..and after beating the winner of my age group by about a half an hour I don't want to go in a slaughter a bunch of Half-iron virgins...also on the same light if he drops the same amount of time I did over the course of a year he might be riding along side me saying " how do you like me now ...bitch!" So yeah Patriot 09 is going to be interesting, as I try to keep my streak of finishing everysingle one of them alive...( my streak at Nutmegman died with my derailleur malfunction.) Whatever Ironman or Ironmans I do in 2009 I'm feeling that it could be a great season. 2008 was over ambitious but I've learned some more important lessons ( and I know somepeople are like "you didn't learn anything if you're going back to NZ.") Hence my domestic schedule is a little less ambitious No Eagleman and $400 expenses for hotel food and gas, RI 70.3 is up for debate, depends on where it fits in and if I've done Rev3 or not. The Griskus Olympic is probably off the schedule unless it's CT club championships if I do Rev3,
so that's $70 in the bank, the Griskus sprint is a guarantee. So in essence except for the Griskus and the Patriot and IM Arizona my schedule is clear. So I have my plans set, my backup plans set, and my backup plan for my backup plan developing.
So close yet so far.
R.D.
so that's $70 in the bank, the Griskus sprint is a guarantee. So in essence except for the Griskus and the Patriot and IM Arizona my schedule is clear. So I have my plans set, my backup plans set, and my backup plan for my backup plan developing.
So close yet so far.
R.D.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
IM New Zealand 09: Stronger, Faster, Smarter
Well as promised I said by the end of this month I would make my decision on whether or not I was going to be doing just Arizona, or trying to double up with Ironman New Zealand well I made my decision after some good long thought. I looked at what I'll have available and decided to go for it. I figure if I try to save my income tax refund/ excess loan proceeds ( after books also if everything goes right I'll be able to graduate in May.) they will most likely be spent on other things. In either case all that out of the way, New Zealand in March will require lots of cold weather training once again (yea! followed by a long groan.)Well I'm looking at the weather forecasts and trying to strategically plan my remaining vacation week in November, I don't want to burn it on a week with sucky weather which is great for run focus,but is awful for trying to tackle my weakness (Cycling) likewise if I'm planning on cycling a lot I want to do it when I will not have to worry about my feet freaking freezing off, or little things such as finals.
After learning the lay of the land in Taupo last year ( it's hilly, not Auckland, Sandstone Hill, hilly, not Alpe Du Huze hilly, not Nutmegman "gentle rollers", hilly, but it does have it's moments ie a nice little ring climb a 5k in..also you descend rather gradually out to the turn around and then start climbing rather gradually back toward town.) So my plan is to take advantage of the "good" weather as long as possible and ride my Middlebury, Washington, Morris, Bethlehem Route as much as possible. The climbing will only help me.
My training strategey is a little more formulaic this year than it was last year,but it is also still flexible enough to bend with the demands of a New England Winter. Swimming is my strength but it will still be the backbone of my regiment mainly because it fits the easiest into my sechdule, the same with running. Cycling tends to be my weakness because of the time commitment, also limited hours of daylight also tend to a problem, especially when those hours are occupied by work and classes. That's why my vacation week is vital...I need to plan it right so I can cram a huge cycling block in I'm talking at least a 300 mile week. I want to take it before Thanksgiving to avoid the holiday traffic issues..but I might take it in Early December or even over winter break, just to kick start my build/ Please Bobby stop the pain phase. In either case it will be a most evil block of insane mileage.
Running not much I can really say. I was happy at how prepared I was last year, I'm hoping, that this week I can start building toward 20+miler #1 on Thanksgiving weekend. I figure a short run of at least 6 miles,my average run being between 12-17 miles and at least 4 runs of 20miles+mixed in onmy short and average distance runs will be speed workouts at the track (as long as the weather holds.) and fartlek,not to mention more hills.
Swimming Well last year my only disappointment I was I stood too far to the outside and ended up stranded close to the shoreline for most of the race. This year I'm thinking of going into the belly of the beast even if it means I'm getting Greco-Roman wrestled. Also Stef's back on as master's coach so that means my dominatrix of the lanelines will have my ass back in shape for hopefully a sub 50min. swim. Also I might take more advantage of HEAT's master's program, because swimming with my drafting partner ( Ken.) tends to make me work a little harder.
With Shannon Barnett an age group up, and not really sure how the global economy is effecting the rest of the field, I might have a shot at qualifying for Kona. I know what's coming.."The Aussies and Kiwis eat bigger chunks than you in their breakfast cereal." " if you're going to globetrott, shouldn't it be to a race with an easier field like Malaysia." " You're absolutely fucking nuts..." "Where the fuck are you going to get the money to go to Kona if you qualify ,Mr. Wizard, huh where you gonna get it?" " Dude take a cold shower and wait until next November..( which will lead to the "Californians ( holla) and Canadians eat people like you for breakfast. Do something "easier" like Lake Placid." rant). I know where all the objections are going to come from,but this realistically might be the last time I can do somethinglike this while I'm young, single, and free. So to paraphrase Martin Luther " This is where I stand, may God help me."
The die is cast, I might regret it in ten years, I might be greatful for it, McCain might get elected and this might be my opportunity to defect...in either case I'm doing it for better,for worse.
R.D.
After learning the lay of the land in Taupo last year ( it's hilly, not Auckland, Sandstone Hill, hilly, not Alpe Du Huze hilly, not Nutmegman "gentle rollers", hilly, but it does have it's moments ie a nice little ring climb a 5k in..also you descend rather gradually out to the turn around and then start climbing rather gradually back toward town.) So my plan is to take advantage of the "good" weather as long as possible and ride my Middlebury, Washington, Morris, Bethlehem Route as much as possible. The climbing will only help me.
My training strategey is a little more formulaic this year than it was last year,but it is also still flexible enough to bend with the demands of a New England Winter. Swimming is my strength but it will still be the backbone of my regiment mainly because it fits the easiest into my sechdule, the same with running. Cycling tends to be my weakness because of the time commitment, also limited hours of daylight also tend to a problem, especially when those hours are occupied by work and classes. That's why my vacation week is vital...I need to plan it right so I can cram a huge cycling block in I'm talking at least a 300 mile week. I want to take it before Thanksgiving to avoid the holiday traffic issues..but I might take it in Early December or even over winter break, just to kick start my build/ Please Bobby stop the pain phase. In either case it will be a most evil block of insane mileage.
Running not much I can really say. I was happy at how prepared I was last year, I'm hoping, that this week I can start building toward 20+miler #1 on Thanksgiving weekend. I figure a short run of at least 6 miles,my average run being between 12-17 miles and at least 4 runs of 20miles+mixed in onmy short and average distance runs will be speed workouts at the track (as long as the weather holds.) and fartlek,not to mention more hills.
Swimming Well last year my only disappointment I was I stood too far to the outside and ended up stranded close to the shoreline for most of the race. This year I'm thinking of going into the belly of the beast even if it means I'm getting Greco-Roman wrestled. Also Stef's back on as master's coach so that means my dominatrix of the lanelines will have my ass back in shape for hopefully a sub 50min. swim. Also I might take more advantage of HEAT's master's program, because swimming with my drafting partner ( Ken.) tends to make me work a little harder.
With Shannon Barnett an age group up, and not really sure how the global economy is effecting the rest of the field, I might have a shot at qualifying for Kona. I know what's coming.."The Aussies and Kiwis eat bigger chunks than you in their breakfast cereal." " if you're going to globetrott, shouldn't it be to a race with an easier field like Malaysia." " You're absolutely fucking nuts..." "Where the fuck are you going to get the money to go to Kona if you qualify ,Mr. Wizard, huh where you gonna get it?" " Dude take a cold shower and wait until next November..( which will lead to the "Californians ( holla) and Canadians eat people like you for breakfast. Do something "easier" like Lake Placid." rant). I know where all the objections are going to come from,but this realistically might be the last time I can do somethinglike this while I'm young, single, and free. So to paraphrase Martin Luther " This is where I stand, may God help me."
The die is cast, I might regret it in ten years, I might be greatful for it, McCain might get elected and this might be my opportunity to defect...in either case I'm doing it for better,for worse.
R.D.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
It's fall in New England...I miss you summer
Well upon getting an email back from Catherine, she's started getting excited because its almost summer in the Southern Hemisphere, well for most of my readers and myself in the Northern Hemisphere this means winter is rapidly approaching ( and some dude at the equator is probably saying what are these "winters and summers of which you speak?") Well anyway, I think I got one of my last rides in shorts in on Saturday. By the time I finished the temps were in the high 40'sF ( >10C) and my feet were beginning to get numb. I picked a cheap set of tights on Sunday as my cycling tights from last year are MIA. I'll most likely plan on picking up toe warmers in a week or so because I'm planning on taking a week off in early November and getting a hellish training regiment in. At least 3 60+ mile rides during the week, plus a century on the weekend...ambitious yes but I want to be in ass kicking shape....plan B (ie my boss can't give me that week off.) is to save that week off and take it at the end of the semester and try to perform the said feat in the bi-polar throws of a New England Winter or count my pennies and sweet talk some friends out in California into taking in a winter refugee for 5-6 days, of hardcore, my muscles haven't ached like this in years training...alla the Southwest Airlines $200 special....in either case there will be a 5-7 day period of outright suffering this winter, most likely it will be close to home.
Ironman New Zealand and Arizona updates: It looks like I'll be able to pull this off. Don't ask how or why....My summer schedule will be a little light but with temps expected in the 90's in November in Tempe I'm going to need those long rides and runs in brutal heat and humidity to prep, myself, as John Hirsch posted in his Kentucky training posts acclimation is key.
If I qualify for Kona, well I'll deal with that if and when it happens. Granted if it happens after Tempe 09, it will allow me to start my season with a defined goal in mind...if it happens after Taupo 09..I live with the philosophy if it's meant to be then things will fall into place to let it be.
Well That's all from me, now I've got to make this degree thing happen.
R.D.
Ironman New Zealand and Arizona updates: It looks like I'll be able to pull this off. Don't ask how or why....My summer schedule will be a little light but with temps expected in the 90's in November in Tempe I'm going to need those long rides and runs in brutal heat and humidity to prep, myself, as John Hirsch posted in his Kentucky training posts acclimation is key.
If I qualify for Kona, well I'll deal with that if and when it happens. Granted if it happens after Tempe 09, it will allow me to start my season with a defined goal in mind...if it happens after Taupo 09..I live with the philosophy if it's meant to be then things will fall into place to let it be.
Well That's all from me, now I've got to make this degree thing happen.
R.D.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
News on Nutmegman, Vienna, and more
Well I bit the bullet last night and sent out my app, hopefully it won't hit until Thursday, I haven't previewed the course yet but I've heard of a few trouble spots hopefully no monster climbs or descents but there are some sections that will make it interesting.
Bjoern did well in Vienna making me deathly afraid of throwing down against him in an Olympic tri. ( His swim split is only 4 min. slower than mine now and his bike is a good 6-10 min. faster, the run I guess it depends on his IT band. Dude two words:Trigger Point.) I'm still confident I'll take him next November at Ironman Arizona, after all a 2.4 mile swim and a marathon are long races in their own right .
I re-read, my Bob-o's going back to Taupo post and as I sat there and read it it almost seems like it was written by a different person. Have things changed that much? When I wrote the post Things looked pretty settled, Catherine and her roomate were going to take me in for about two weeks, then came news of cutbacks at the Times, she was fired and they offered her her job back within hours, ( not sure if she took it.)and I haven't heard from her since. She said she was still going to try to organize a homestay for me if she moved back to New Plymouth. Part of me is greatful for the effort yet the other is leery. Do I really want to take advantage of a stranger's hospitality? Cat and I are friends so that's cool, but Simon's moved to OZ, I'm not sure if Jude or the ladies in reception survived the layoffs, I met Jo the grand total of once, what if they hate me? what if I tick them off with my cocky attitude and my Damn Rock and/or Roll I just don't want to leave a bad impression on anybody, so that's had me looking at Tui Oaks for 7 days, maybe head to New Plymouth or Auckland for a week while I'm there ( or just get on the bird and come straight back), but a hotel almost doubles my anticipated costs. That's what's had me thinking this whole mess might not be meant to be. Irregardless I know Bjoern and I are doing Ironman Arizona that November, part of me really wants to go back to NZ but for the first time in a while I'm actually agreeing with my rational side and thinking staying home in March might be the wiser plan..but I don't know we'll see I'll wait until I hear from Cat...and run the number cruncher 4000 again.
Regardless, I worry about that later, right now I've got a race in 5 days to taper for.
R.D.
Bjoern did well in Vienna making me deathly afraid of throwing down against him in an Olympic tri. ( His swim split is only 4 min. slower than mine now and his bike is a good 6-10 min. faster, the run I guess it depends on his IT band. Dude two words:Trigger Point.) I'm still confident I'll take him next November at Ironman Arizona, after all a 2.4 mile swim and a marathon are long races in their own right .
I re-read, my Bob-o's going back to Taupo post and as I sat there and read it it almost seems like it was written by a different person. Have things changed that much? When I wrote the post Things looked pretty settled, Catherine and her roomate were going to take me in for about two weeks, then came news of cutbacks at the Times, she was fired and they offered her her job back within hours, ( not sure if she took it.)and I haven't heard from her since. She said she was still going to try to organize a homestay for me if she moved back to New Plymouth. Part of me is greatful for the effort yet the other is leery. Do I really want to take advantage of a stranger's hospitality? Cat and I are friends so that's cool, but Simon's moved to OZ, I'm not sure if Jude or the ladies in reception survived the layoffs, I met Jo the grand total of once, what if they hate me? what if I tick them off with my cocky attitude and my Damn Rock and/or Roll I just don't want to leave a bad impression on anybody, so that's had me looking at Tui Oaks for 7 days, maybe head to New Plymouth or Auckland for a week while I'm there ( or just get on the bird and come straight back), but a hotel almost doubles my anticipated costs. That's what's had me thinking this whole mess might not be meant to be. Irregardless I know Bjoern and I are doing Ironman Arizona that November, part of me really wants to go back to NZ but for the first time in a while I'm actually agreeing with my rational side and thinking staying home in March might be the wiser plan..but I don't know we'll see I'll wait until I hear from Cat...and run the number cruncher 4000 again.
Regardless, I worry about that later, right now I've got a race in 5 days to taper for.
R.D.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Nutmegman and Beyond
Well as of now I have a week until my final tri of 2008 and already my focus is turning to 2009 and how I should prep. For those of you not following the inner turmoil of whether or not I should enter IM New Zealand ( it has pretty much gone like this Wah I'm broke wah, wah I might not be able to do it, Wah, wah I've got to grow up...etc.) So if I do do it ( even if I don't I want an excuse to stay in shape) I want to do better than last year, I don't want to fork over a little less than a quarter of my salary to be an "also ran". So I'm planning on getting all the over distance crap out of the way in October/ November ( I might do the Hartford half instead of full, or the full the day after a long ride "prep work" for the ironman marathon.) and then cut to 50-70 mile matinence rides at the lake throughout the winter. The swimming won't be a problem as Stef has taken the role of masters coach and will kick my ass back to my high school level shape, and my running well I plan on doing a little more speed work this time around. In essence I want to go to Taupo as an unstoppable animal. I'm planning to take heed from the Angry Runner and lift , do push ups and eat protein, as I'm finding strength work can helps performance ( ex. Me at Fordham lifing harcore 3 days a week I was able to pull faster splits than I was in high school putting in the same amount of pool time.). I'm planning on using one of my weeks of vacation in either October or December ( if it's in December I may be checking with a friend down south or out west if I can crash with them.) to get a training week from hell in. Early morning swims, long rides and runs to sculpt myself into a rabid animal. As for this week I'm on a mini taper for Nutmegman I haven't been able to preview the course, but I've been training severe hills for the last 4 months so I should be ready for almost anything..hopefully it won't sell out before I enter. I think I'm might be one of the only young guns competing so my age group might be a joke, although in Rhode Island all the fast kids showed up so nothing is guaranteed.
R.D.
R.D.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
My grandmother is going to haunt us among other things.
Well to start off with the first part of the title I will not be surprised if my parents phone rings and mysteriously hangs up ..constantly...in the middle of the night... My father buried a phone with our beloved Memere. To understand the joke one would have to understand the lady she was, she'd get home at 5PM put on comfortable clothes and her slippers, grab a pack of cigarettes ( hey it was the 60's -70's) and make her rounds of phone calls to her friends, family, you name it. If they had AIM she'd have a buddy list as big as de Nile ( yes the river in Egypt.) well anyway on day in 1970 something my father made the sly comment that he was going to bury her a damn telephone, and sure enough yesterday, her tossed a cheap-o phone that served me through my two years at Fordham into the casket. All I know is I'm not answering any phone calls from Valhalla, Heaven, Hell, Hades,Purgatory, Paradise, or Beyond for a while, or at least not without a chuckle.
Next order of business, last night I worked out with some of the girls on CCSU's Swim team ( the men's program went the way of the dodo about a decade ago...afterall America loves their swimmers unless the men's program interferes with the football, and basketball budgets.) Needless to say I'm fast for a triathlete but put me in the water with the real deals and I'm usually hanging on for dear life. Needless to say we didn't do much, and I felt kind of awkward because I live with the assumption most female swimmers ( except for my Fordham team mates, and a couple of the girls who dabble in tri ) hate my guts and find me annoying, but having to push for a little bit felt good.
I got in touch with Catherine and found out the Times is undergoing job cuts, she was on the chopping block, and will know today whether or not she'll be staying in Taupo or heading back to New Plymouth, regardless she said she'll be up for the Ironman and would try to help me find a home stay, regardless I'm keeping Ken Glah's number close at hand. But hopefully she'll keep her gig, otherwise, she's looking at going into police training. But still I wonder if she'd be interested in coming Stateside?
Classes are going ok, I showed up 5 min. late for a lab and the professor was packing up, it seems like it's going to be a straight forward no bull class and the less bull the better. My assignments for the weekend are pretty simple read a lot of John Locke, read some stuff on Ethnic groups, and top it off with the preface to how Colonial New Englanders viewed themselves as British subjects and London, not Hartford, not Boston, not even NYC was the center or shall I say centre of the universe.
Well that's it for me. Time to get home so I can get back to the grind.
R.D.
Next order of business, last night I worked out with some of the girls on CCSU's Swim team ( the men's program went the way of the dodo about a decade ago...afterall America loves their swimmers unless the men's program interferes with the football, and basketball budgets.) Needless to say I'm fast for a triathlete but put me in the water with the real deals and I'm usually hanging on for dear life. Needless to say we didn't do much, and I felt kind of awkward because I live with the assumption most female swimmers ( except for my Fordham team mates, and a couple of the girls who dabble in tri ) hate my guts and find me annoying, but having to push for a little bit felt good.
I got in touch with Catherine and found out the Times is undergoing job cuts, she was on the chopping block, and will know today whether or not she'll be staying in Taupo or heading back to New Plymouth, regardless she said she'll be up for the Ironman and would try to help me find a home stay, regardless I'm keeping Ken Glah's number close at hand. But hopefully she'll keep her gig, otherwise, she's looking at going into police training. But still I wonder if she'd be interested in coming Stateside?
Classes are going ok, I showed up 5 min. late for a lab and the professor was packing up, it seems like it's going to be a straight forward no bull class and the less bull the better. My assignments for the weekend are pretty simple read a lot of John Locke, read some stuff on Ethnic groups, and top it off with the preface to how Colonial New Englanders viewed themselves as British subjects and London, not Hartford, not Boston, not even NYC was the center or shall I say centre of the universe.
Well that's it for me. Time to get home so I can get back to the grind.
R.D.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Bob-o's going back to Taupo....
Well upon running ye olde number cruncher, looking around at cheap airfare, desperate emails to Catherine, realizing that this year's winter training won't set me back as much as last year ( ie I have all my winter training crap.) When September roles around my entry into Ironman New Zealand will be confirmed and depending on what Ken Glah and the staff at EST can get me for airfare and a ground package,I'll either be rolling via United and Air New Zealand or racking up a bazillion AA advantage miles via American and Quantas. Catherine and the staff at the Times have offered me home stays so worst case I'll be couch surfing through Taupo, so the only things I need to focus on are my race entry and airfare, which if I'm booking with Ken I have until February to pay off other wise it will be the big hurt all at once to American...
Ken is looking like my best option at this point and he and his staff run a good show.
Enter the "you're committing financial and scholastic suicide !" comments.
Having sat and taken this year and all the crap that happened in. my race schedule will be limited next season 2 Ironmans, the Patriot, and maybe a couple of locals. As for the Scholastic suicide comments I'm looking at take either winter session courses or summer session classes through the community college system so I can get 9 credits for the price of 3 at Central, also I'm planning on Spring semester 09 to be 2 intro classes I need for my minor and core, my thesis, which will have to do with the British Empire anyway, and one BS history course for my major, after that I just have to rack up 6 more credits to graduate, realistically not so hard to pull off...although in 3 months when I'm complaining about living on espresso mixed with red bull, please remind me of this post and point and laugh hysterically.
Ken is looking like my best option at this point and he and his staff run a good show.Enter the "you're committing financial and scholastic suicide !" comments.
Having sat and taken this year and all the crap that happened in. my race schedule will be limited next season 2 Ironmans, the Patriot, and maybe a couple of locals. As for the Scholastic suicide comments I'm looking at take either winter session courses or summer session classes through the community college system so I can get 9 credits for the price of 3 at Central, also I'm planning on Spring semester 09 to be 2 intro classes I need for my minor and core, my thesis, which will have to do with the British Empire anyway, and one BS history course for my major, after that I just have to rack up 6 more credits to graduate, realistically not so hard to pull off...although in 3 months when I'm complaining about living on espresso mixed with red bull, please remind me of this post and point and laugh hysterically.Enter the " Kiwi's and Aussies are F**king Animals in this sport, so why are you going to risk life and limb competing up against them." Rant. 
Well it's quite simple after last year's ass whooping and me whooping some ass...I now know the course and what I'm up against. The hills are no worse than my average Litchfield County training ride. My run is improving somewhat, and the course plays to my strengths, a mildly rolling run, a forgiving rolling and fairly fast bike course and a lake swim with a wonderful current back into the finish. Also god forbid I go down, I know the medical system in New Zealand is a tad bit better than Malaysia, that and I know the local language, some of the culture, except I can't for the life of me figure out cricket, rugby though, I get it, American Football with out the math and the pads. Also I have my own press corps down there I mean it can't get better than that.
Well it's quite simple after last year's ass whooping and me whooping some ass...I now know the course and what I'm up against. The hills are no worse than my average Litchfield County training ride. My run is improving somewhat, and the course plays to my strengths, a mildly rolling run, a forgiving rolling and fairly fast bike course and a lake swim with a wonderful current back into the finish. Also god forbid I go down, I know the medical system in New Zealand is a tad bit better than Malaysia, that and I know the local language, some of the culture, except I can't for the life of me figure out cricket, rugby though, I get it, American Football with out the math and the pads. Also I have my own press corps down there I mean it can't get better than that.So that's it in the house of Bob-o excuse me while I go collect my cans and bottles..and try to find a good cheap shrink....
R.D.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Finances of Ironman....
When I first began this sport I never understood why people who were more inclined to do Ironman Tris opted out of a lot of local races. I used to think these guys were being "M-Dot Snobs." Upon doing my first Ironman and several races out of state I now have a new understanding for why alot of athletes would skip the East Bum Kill Sprint Tri and hug-a-thon. For some yes it interfers with the Holy Gospel training plan that if you don't ride X miles on X day you will die a most painful and horrible death. Madam Pele will open a fisure on the Queen K turning you and your P3C into a cinder, all becuase you didn't ride X miles on X day. For others it is the fiscal situation. We only have X amount of dollars Y amount of bills and Z set aside for race entry, travel and other entertainment, so for some of us if it comes down to a Kona qualifier Kona itself or the local races we all love and adore some times and heart breakingly we have to choose what's more important. For some of us it's that qualifier it's that magical shot to get to the Big Island and see ourselevs on NBC in December and for others the reward of seeing friends, family and the homies from the tri club at the local tri are what moves them. Some of us have all the luck and we have a really large Z amount tucked aside and we can race whenever our heart's content others of us have small Z amounts and have to focus it what is best for us. The 2008 racing season has been a painful lesson in this reality, that sometimes one's racing season comes down to the finance game not the training.
In my case I need to start planning for 2009 now....
October and November will determine the fate of my 2009 tri season and which races will be set in stone, which races were pipe dreams and what I can reallistically expect, I figure if I set my race fund aside then I will be better prepared and won't be forced to scrap at the last second, also I can focus on saving for summer courses and tucking a little extra ( tax refund) aside in case I get lucky and good and find myself on the Big Island, other wise my budget for the late season as well as future life goals or unexpected expenses will be prepared. Bjoern has arranged a homestay for Arizona, so my odds of doing a double have drastically increased.
Recently my training has been stepped up, I've actually gotten some weight sessions in, and yes Angry I have worked "the Chain", granted my hip abduction workout got some stares, and my squats are dreadfully weak.
My running game has entered the track workout phase, still try to get one long run a week , a track workout ( usually a threshold workout, speed work will come at the beginning of September.) and a moderate run between 4 and 8 miles usually hill work.
With the cycling I'm looking to increase from 2 sessions a week to 3 -4 sessions a week to improve my stamina, speed and handling skills.
Swimming is down to 3 sessions a week, my distance has sort of stagnated at 3000-3500 yds. per workout, that yardage will go up in the winter, but for right now it's good where it is.
The main focus of the next two weeks is to work my running and cycling so I can hopefully top 10 at Nutmegman, a lofty goal with the pro field, but my age group might be slim pickins this year with Bjoern in Europe and several of the Young guns frightended off by the horrors of last year, regardless I'm going as an AG athlete because the Real Deal pros are coming to this one, that and all the men start in the same wave...so any advantage of racing elite is pretty much eliminated, that and I really want to win the AG, and end the season right.
In my case I need to start planning for 2009 now....
October and November will determine the fate of my 2009 tri season and which races will be set in stone, which races were pipe dreams and what I can reallistically expect, I figure if I set my race fund aside then I will be better prepared and won't be forced to scrap at the last second, also I can focus on saving for summer courses and tucking a little extra ( tax refund) aside in case I get lucky and good and find myself on the Big Island, other wise my budget for the late season as well as future life goals or unexpected expenses will be prepared. Bjoern has arranged a homestay for Arizona, so my odds of doing a double have drastically increased.
Recently my training has been stepped up, I've actually gotten some weight sessions in, and yes Angry I have worked "the Chain", granted my hip abduction workout got some stares, and my squats are dreadfully weak.
My running game has entered the track workout phase, still try to get one long run a week , a track workout ( usually a threshold workout, speed work will come at the beginning of September.) and a moderate run between 4 and 8 miles usually hill work.
With the cycling I'm looking to increase from 2 sessions a week to 3 -4 sessions a week to improve my stamina, speed and handling skills.
Swimming is down to 3 sessions a week, my distance has sort of stagnated at 3000-3500 yds. per workout, that yardage will go up in the winter, but for right now it's good where it is.
The main focus of the next two weeks is to work my running and cycling so I can hopefully top 10 at Nutmegman, a lofty goal with the pro field, but my age group might be slim pickins this year with Bjoern in Europe and several of the Young guns frightended off by the horrors of last year, regardless I'm going as an AG athlete because the Real Deal pros are coming to this one, that and all the men start in the same wave...so any advantage of racing elite is pretty much eliminated, that and I really want to win the AG, and end the season right.
Oh yes I opted out of doing the financial advisor position, I might be kicking myself in 5 years but with everything going on right now knowing my pay is guaranteed makes life a little easier, plus the training schedule would be a conflict with my college schedule and I need that bachelor's degree to do anything profitable with my life. Speaking of which Central is determined to keep me for an extra semester and its pissing me off.
Well that's all that's happening in my neck of the woods.
R.D.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Cleaning out the closet....
Recently I've looked into becoming a Financial Advisor for a Fortune 500 Company. The first year would go well as I would be under base salary, but afterward it is all Commission and after my parents exploits in the real estate world I'm very leery of commission based salary. So if I am offered the position I am very uncertain if I should take it, especially in Today's bipolar economy.
By the Fall of 2009 I want to have my Bachelor's in hand and a profitable career, whether it will be in business or education I am uncertain ( although I'm leaning to business.)
Gulp here it goes....Upon reading my posts from New Zealand and comparing the way I felt then and the way I feel now ..if I can wing it I'm going back mostly to catch up with some friendsI have down there and up the ante in the Claire/Bob bike war. I figure some time out of the icebox that is Connecticut in March will help regcharge my batteries. I need to step out of the fiasco that has become my home life. I need a breather from school, the financial world and some time to regroup. Getting a Kona slot before I turn 25 would also help bolster some confidence, but quite frankly I need to go somewhere less uptight to chill.
Upon the fiscal crap that ran me into the ground this year I've decided at the most I'm doing 6 races next year 2 IMs, the Patriot, and the Griskus series, Nutmegman is a maybe, because I will need a tune up for Arizona, but it depends on how I look financially next Spetember.
I hope at this point next year to be either in my own place or saving up enough to get my own place, whether or not I stay in New England remains to be seen, but I would like to be some place a little warmer in the winter time...shove that in your pipe OPEC.
IM Arizona looks like it will be Bob and Bjoern take the West by storm. There will be a smack talk blog set up once our entries are confirmed.....
Still rebounding from the credit crunch, it is a slow, painstaking process, my parent's deciding a career change to an entirely commissioned based occupation and in one of the worst housing markets in decades ( granted if they survive they stand to make a lot in the rebound.) hasn't helpped and my digging into my credit to get us through until unemployment/severance kicked in, plus Eagleman hitting about the same time put me in a really bad spot all in all I should be fixed up by September, as most stuff is caught up, it's just trying to rebalance everything until my student loan hits then the big bills will be caught up and ahead, and I'll be able to eliminate some of my smaller money suckers, and I should have enough for summer courses, books for spring, and enough for gas that I can spend my hard earned coin for one trip to visit one hot photographer, her roomie and BF and smart alec sports writer and some crazy feat of strength in the Southern Hemisphere .
I seriously need to get in touch with my friends, Adam moved to NYC about a month ago and I haven't talked to him since Nashville Ryan came up for a week back in June. Angry seems to have dropped off the face of the earth although he's probably getting settled in the G-spot. My friend Greg's been trying to get in touch with me for months, but our schedules have been hit or miss. Bjoern's on Strong Island and then off to Austria. I met up occassionally with the guys from HEAT up at West Hill Pond but for the most part I've been a hermit since I got back from NZ in March, because at first it was papers, and classes now it's bills and training, maybe I'm just one of those guys that's meant to be alone....
So in recap
Applying for a more profitable job...but afraid of the risk.
Bob-o's looking to go back to Taupo
Catching up finally on the bills.
Need to get some human contact again....
So that's what's been bouncing through my head, and yes it is a scary place.
R.D.
By the Fall of 2009 I want to have my Bachelor's in hand and a profitable career, whether it will be in business or education I am uncertain ( although I'm leaning to business.)
Gulp here it goes....Upon reading my posts from New Zealand and comparing the way I felt then and the way I feel now ..if I can wing it I'm going back mostly to catch up with some friendsI have down there and up the ante in the Claire/Bob bike war. I figure some time out of the icebox that is Connecticut in March will help regcharge my batteries. I need to step out of the fiasco that has become my home life. I need a breather from school, the financial world and some time to regroup. Getting a Kona slot before I turn 25 would also help bolster some confidence, but quite frankly I need to go somewhere less uptight to chill.
Upon the fiscal crap that ran me into the ground this year I've decided at the most I'm doing 6 races next year 2 IMs, the Patriot, and the Griskus series, Nutmegman is a maybe, because I will need a tune up for Arizona, but it depends on how I look financially next Spetember.
I hope at this point next year to be either in my own place or saving up enough to get my own place, whether or not I stay in New England remains to be seen, but I would like to be some place a little warmer in the winter time...shove that in your pipe OPEC.
IM Arizona looks like it will be Bob and Bjoern take the West by storm. There will be a smack talk blog set up once our entries are confirmed.....
Still rebounding from the credit crunch, it is a slow, painstaking process, my parent's deciding a career change to an entirely commissioned based occupation and in one of the worst housing markets in decades ( granted if they survive they stand to make a lot in the rebound.) hasn't helpped and my digging into my credit to get us through until unemployment/severance kicked in, plus Eagleman hitting about the same time put me in a really bad spot all in all I should be fixed up by September, as most stuff is caught up, it's just trying to rebalance everything until my student loan hits then the big bills will be caught up and ahead, and I'll be able to eliminate some of my smaller money suckers, and I should have enough for summer courses, books for spring, and enough for gas that I can spend my hard earned coin for one trip to visit one hot photographer, her roomie and BF and smart alec sports writer and some crazy feat of strength in the Southern Hemisphere .
I seriously need to get in touch with my friends, Adam moved to NYC about a month ago and I haven't talked to him since Nashville Ryan came up for a week back in June. Angry seems to have dropped off the face of the earth although he's probably getting settled in the G-spot. My friend Greg's been trying to get in touch with me for months, but our schedules have been hit or miss. Bjoern's on Strong Island and then off to Austria. I met up occassionally with the guys from HEAT up at West Hill Pond but for the most part I've been a hermit since I got back from NZ in March, because at first it was papers, and classes now it's bills and training, maybe I'm just one of those guys that's meant to be alone....
So in recap
Applying for a more profitable job...but afraid of the risk.
Bob-o's looking to go back to Taupo
Catching up finally on the bills.
Need to get some human contact again....
So that's what's been bouncing through my head, and yes it is a scary place.
R.D.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Dare to Dream and take Risks?
Upon looking at my poll results, it looks like Ironman Arizona is in the cards if I can get a general entry slot in November, I've been crunching the numbers to see if a New Zealand/ Arizona double is in the mix or would be fiscal suicide, upon review I might be able to swing it if Catherine and Jo Ann could tolerate putting my hairy arse up for two weeks, if I make Kona, I will have to sell vital organs, my car and soul or my parents real estate gig will have to take off pronto ( granted it will anyway, the active adult community has given them 2 deals and at least 3 prospects) but my dad's promise rings in my ears " You earn a Kona slot and we'll find a way to get you there." Needless to say my escape from number crunching my bills and earnings, has been number crunching flights and hotels in Taupo, along with Flights, hotel, and rental car arrangements to Tempe and the Big Island, with my earnings. Bjoern said he'd be down for Tempe so splitting a hotel and rental car could make it a very, very, managable trip if we can both get general entry. Park City at this point is looking more and more like it's in the scrap heap, and I'm trying to tuck enough away for Nutmegman. I never thought I'd say I miss the sprints and olympics, but upon looking at my calendar and finding a majority of my races have been halves, I have to say I kind of miss the variety I had last year. For as stressful as 2007 was 2008 has been more so. I hadn't been able to really enjoy the time leading up to my races. Financial worries plauged me from the day after Nutmeg up until my flight to Taupo. Every race the worries would hit, do I have enough for gas, bills, hotel, food. I've only had one podium technically 2 if I went AG, but anytime I can get a shot in the elite I'll take it. I've found that my family and friends definitely have great faith in my ablities, for my realatives to pool resources and lend me cash to compete, it speaks volumes, especially in our situation.
All I can do to get through the montony of work and bills, is train and plan for the next race. To qoute from one of my favorite movies , Rudy, " Dreams are what make life tolerable." Most of my life I've been told I don't dream enough, I try to stay in the concrete, what I can do today, what I've gotten in the past. Recently I've been dreaming a little too much, but unlike a lot of dreamers I realize dreams are only achieved through hard work and follow through. I can't sit on my ass and expect to do a sub-10:30 Ironman and qualify for Kona , I can't sit at a desk pissing and moaning expecting it's going to get me out of debt and put a bachelor's degree in my hand. Positive energy goes only halfway, the other half you have to put out. With all the negative that's been circling in my life lately I've been trying to get upbeat, I plan, and I execute. I take some risks, put myself out there, I've almost thought of going for and FHA loan to buy investment property in popped bubble markets (even though they're cheap my debt to income sucks right now and I know it. So that will wait until I'm making more than $19k and pocketing $15k after taxes, 401k and benefits. It could pay dividends other wise I will have a vacation home in Florida....and California... and Nevada.... to sell/rent at cut throat prices.)
All the fiscal shit aside, one reason I have NZ for 09 is the fact I want to have one last crack at Kona as an 18-24 AG athlete, Tempe is game over for that AG ( granted I expect to be riding like Hell on Wheels because I will have more favorable training conditions.) because it's a qualifier for 2010 in which I'd be entering the slightly more competitive 25-29 bracket, against former collegiate swimmers and runners, also despite it's the 25th Anniversary, IMNZ is slow to sell out, where as IMAZ could be an equally expensive endeavor if I log on to my PC late and miss the General Entry ( then the debate is do I go with a community fund slot? or buy a training package with Entry and training camp from Multisport.com) If I don't get to Kona by 30 I'm giving up on the dream to go pro, because by that point I will have to be going pro speed to qualify in my age group. Part of me embraces risk, my parents tried to play it safe and ended up in deeper shit than if they took risks in their careers, in investment, in life in general. They have often told me to live opposite of the way they lived, maybe one of the reasons as I begged my dad to talk me out of IMNZ 09 he encouraged me to get my shit handled and do it. Indeed upon looking at the battering I've taken this year I'm not too bad off, a couple of things got /are getting paid late, had some major scares but by September I'll be all square, life will be back to normal, granted I'll still be crashing with Grandpa. Well I've gone on like Mac Beth, speaking "the tale of an idiot ,a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing."- Bill S. My hope for 09 is that by the time August rolls around I will have my degree in hand, and gainful entry level career, an emerging coaching business, and some 20 year olds pissing themseleves with fear on the big island, because my lycra clad prosterior chain will be making its way to the start line in Kona.
Paying his dues, bearing his scars and getting tougher by the second.
R.D.
All I can do to get through the montony of work and bills, is train and plan for the next race. To qoute from one of my favorite movies , Rudy, " Dreams are what make life tolerable." Most of my life I've been told I don't dream enough, I try to stay in the concrete, what I can do today, what I've gotten in the past. Recently I've been dreaming a little too much, but unlike a lot of dreamers I realize dreams are only achieved through hard work and follow through. I can't sit on my ass and expect to do a sub-10:30 Ironman and qualify for Kona , I can't sit at a desk pissing and moaning expecting it's going to get me out of debt and put a bachelor's degree in my hand. Positive energy goes only halfway, the other half you have to put out. With all the negative that's been circling in my life lately I've been trying to get upbeat, I plan, and I execute. I take some risks, put myself out there, I've almost thought of going for and FHA loan to buy investment property in popped bubble markets (even though they're cheap my debt to income sucks right now and I know it. So that will wait until I'm making more than $19k and pocketing $15k after taxes, 401k and benefits. It could pay dividends other wise I will have a vacation home in Florida....and California... and Nevada.... to sell/rent at cut throat prices.)
All the fiscal shit aside, one reason I have NZ for 09 is the fact I want to have one last crack at Kona as an 18-24 AG athlete, Tempe is game over for that AG ( granted I expect to be riding like Hell on Wheels because I will have more favorable training conditions.) because it's a qualifier for 2010 in which I'd be entering the slightly more competitive 25-29 bracket, against former collegiate swimmers and runners, also despite it's the 25th Anniversary, IMNZ is slow to sell out, where as IMAZ could be an equally expensive endeavor if I log on to my PC late and miss the General Entry ( then the debate is do I go with a community fund slot? or buy a training package with Entry and training camp from Multisport.com) If I don't get to Kona by 30 I'm giving up on the dream to go pro, because by that point I will have to be going pro speed to qualify in my age group. Part of me embraces risk, my parents tried to play it safe and ended up in deeper shit than if they took risks in their careers, in investment, in life in general. They have often told me to live opposite of the way they lived, maybe one of the reasons as I begged my dad to talk me out of IMNZ 09 he encouraged me to get my shit handled and do it. Indeed upon looking at the battering I've taken this year I'm not too bad off, a couple of things got /are getting paid late, had some major scares but by September I'll be all square, life will be back to normal, granted I'll still be crashing with Grandpa. Well I've gone on like Mac Beth, speaking "the tale of an idiot ,a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing."- Bill S. My hope for 09 is that by the time August rolls around I will have my degree in hand, and gainful entry level career, an emerging coaching business, and some 20 year olds pissing themseleves with fear on the big island, because my lycra clad prosterior chain will be making its way to the start line in Kona.
Paying his dues, bearing his scars and getting tougher by the second.
R.D.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Learning from 08 Planning for 09
Well 2008 has been a hell of a year, granted it's still not over, I have at least 2 races left on tap. From my ambitious schedule this year with life and the economy wrecking havoc on well laid plans I have decided to start planning ahead for 09 now. I have done some big name races and know what they're all about so now I figure is the best time to set my race goals for next season, that and start getting my logistics straight, as I bring myself back into a comfort zone.
Goal 3 A Priority races!
Also learned from this year pay for my season ender before the season, and wacky summer finances hit the fan.
Ideally I'd like to do 2 Ironmans in 09 I'd love to go back to New Zealand ( mainly as it doesn't sell out, and I've already got a place to crash down there, and the Kiwis rock!) so that's on my short list. Enter the" you moron it will cost you a kings Ransom to go down again...and you'll be living in a cardboard box." rant. I've already told my parents, relatives to talk me out of it, to tell me to focus on school, my career, my financial health,their future nursing homes, but instead got the "go for it while you're young, dumb, and full of ......enthusiasm." Dang 5 years ago my parents were telling me the Griskus was a waste of cash, when did they become cool and I become such a tightwad? Other reasons fueling this decision are hearing about Iron Matron's condo experience in Placid, for most people it costs about $3k to do an Ironman anyway, I might as well do it and have a passport stamp out of the deal.
Another Foreign IM on the radar is Western Australia in Brusselton in December 09,
Pros: All Summer and fall to train. Aussie chicks are HOT! Flat as a pancake! Kona would be 10 months off if I qualified.
Cons: I only know one person in OZ and she's in Brisbane, King's Ransom Rant again, Also do I really want to spend Christmas alone in a foreign land, spend the money there that I would be spending in the malls here, for my loved ones.
The last of the Foreign Canidates is Bob and Claire tackle the Carnaries. Lanzorate. Claire has wanted to do it , and I couldn't do it without a translator, so if I do this one I'll be tagging along with Speedy Claire and hearing about how her bike split obliterated mine, the entire flight back. That and Melissa will have to tag along as well so this one might be just as costly.
The Domestics don't prove to be any cheaper unless I decide to weekend an Ironman.
CDA is out...already filled
Lake Placid.....I won't have the cash
Louisville...maybe
Wisconsin: The weather is iffy, it's hilly as all hell, Jodi will most likely show up for us to have an Ironwar, I might reallistically have all my ducks in a row to register for it, but if I qualify for Kona I have to finance and recover in a hurry. On the fence on this one.
Arizona: They moved it to November, so hopefully all those " I was popping salt tablets like m&m's" stories willl be at an end. There are a few hills in this sucker but for the most part the toughest battle is against the heat also if I don't have $500 by November I'm in deeper shit than I thought. This one is on the short list.
Florida: Flat, fast, the swim has a death toll meter, retirees clogging the roads. I heard mixed reviews on this race, some people love it some people hate it, I would like to do it just to pull an absurdly fast bike split, but I know at least 1500 other tri geeks are thinking the exact same thing....
So those are the ideas for which Ironman my lycra covered, timex using, finely tuned athletic ass is contemplating throwing down for, remember I'm contemplating doing only one or two on the list not everyone of them, I know I'm not made off money, unless 6 strategic numbers get pulled by the CT lottery tonight.
Next year I'm also planning on doing RI 70.3 again, it was a nice race and I really like having one close to home. WTC if you want to put on a full iron in NE Call me I know some great spots and race directors in CT aching for 140.6 mile (226.2km) love fest. Also doing the Patriot Tri, I want to keep my perfect streak alive. The Griskus's series are my hometown races so they're in so my tentative, no entry fees paid yet, bookings made yet, all subject to change cancelation or obliteration schedule looks like this
March 7 Ironman New Zealand
June 13 Pat Griskus Olympic
June 20 Patriot Triathlon
July 8 Pat Griskus Sprint Triathlon
July 12 Amica Rhode Island 70..3
August TBA Park City Mossman
September Nutmeg State Half OR Ford Ironman Wisconsin
October Kona?
November ( If not doing Wisconsin or not making Kona) Arizona OR Florida
Remember this is the ideal. All subject to change with financial situation, economy, war, family distress, natural disaster and other acts of God and man. I want to keep my peak phase of June and July of just doing the local races August Park city thrown in to keep me motivated, The Ironman's are an if, but hopefully can and will happen.
Other than that my rest week's been going pretty well got in the pool twice to swim off the excessive quanitities of bad for Bob food, tomorrow I'm going up to the Litchfield Hills tri to play photographer. Monday begins my hellish prep for IMNZ 09 ( throwing it out there hoping good things will happen.)/ Nutmeg man/ what ever comes my way phase. I figure if I ever want to compete on a higher level I've got to start training on a higher level, the high water mark 08 season is over time to finish strong and blaze into 09.
The methodical planner.
R.D.
Goal 3 A Priority races!
Also learned from this year pay for my season ender before the season, and wacky summer finances hit the fan.
Ideally I'd like to do 2 Ironmans in 09 I'd love to go back to New Zealand ( mainly as it doesn't sell out, and I've already got a place to crash down there, and the Kiwis rock!) so that's on my short list. Enter the" you moron it will cost you a kings Ransom to go down again...and you'll be living in a cardboard box." rant. I've already told my parents, relatives to talk me out of it, to tell me to focus on school, my career, my financial health,their future nursing homes, but instead got the "go for it while you're young, dumb, and full of ......enthusiasm." Dang 5 years ago my parents were telling me the Griskus was a waste of cash, when did they become cool and I become such a tightwad? Other reasons fueling this decision are hearing about Iron Matron's condo experience in Placid, for most people it costs about $3k to do an Ironman anyway, I might as well do it and have a passport stamp out of the deal.
Another Foreign IM on the radar is Western Australia in Brusselton in December 09,
Pros: All Summer and fall to train. Aussie chicks are HOT! Flat as a pancake! Kona would be 10 months off if I qualified.
Cons: I only know one person in OZ and she's in Brisbane, King's Ransom Rant again, Also do I really want to spend Christmas alone in a foreign land, spend the money there that I would be spending in the malls here, for my loved ones.
The last of the Foreign Canidates is Bob and Claire tackle the Carnaries. Lanzorate. Claire has wanted to do it , and I couldn't do it without a translator, so if I do this one I'll be tagging along with Speedy Claire and hearing about how her bike split obliterated mine, the entire flight back. That and Melissa will have to tag along as well so this one might be just as costly.
The Domestics don't prove to be any cheaper unless I decide to weekend an Ironman.
CDA is out...already filled
Lake Placid.....I won't have the cash
Louisville...maybe
Wisconsin: The weather is iffy, it's hilly as all hell, Jodi will most likely show up for us to have an Ironwar, I might reallistically have all my ducks in a row to register for it, but if I qualify for Kona I have to finance and recover in a hurry. On the fence on this one.
Arizona: They moved it to November, so hopefully all those " I was popping salt tablets like m&m's" stories willl be at an end. There are a few hills in this sucker but for the most part the toughest battle is against the heat also if I don't have $500 by November I'm in deeper shit than I thought. This one is on the short list.
Florida: Flat, fast, the swim has a death toll meter, retirees clogging the roads. I heard mixed reviews on this race, some people love it some people hate it, I would like to do it just to pull an absurdly fast bike split, but I know at least 1500 other tri geeks are thinking the exact same thing....
So those are the ideas for which Ironman my lycra covered, timex using, finely tuned athletic ass is contemplating throwing down for, remember I'm contemplating doing only one or two on the list not everyone of them, I know I'm not made off money, unless 6 strategic numbers get pulled by the CT lottery tonight.
Next year I'm also planning on doing RI 70.3 again, it was a nice race and I really like having one close to home. WTC if you want to put on a full iron in NE Call me I know some great spots and race directors in CT aching for 140.6 mile (226.2km) love fest. Also doing the Patriot Tri, I want to keep my perfect streak alive. The Griskus's series are my hometown races so they're in so my tentative, no entry fees paid yet, bookings made yet, all subject to change cancelation or obliteration schedule looks like this
March 7 Ironman New Zealand
June 13 Pat Griskus Olympic
June 20 Patriot Triathlon
July 8 Pat Griskus Sprint Triathlon
July 12 Amica Rhode Island 70..3
August TBA Park City Mossman
September Nutmeg State Half OR Ford Ironman Wisconsin
October Kona?
November ( If not doing Wisconsin or not making Kona) Arizona OR Florida
Remember this is the ideal. All subject to change with financial situation, economy, war, family distress, natural disaster and other acts of God and man. I want to keep my peak phase of June and July of just doing the local races August Park city thrown in to keep me motivated, The Ironman's are an if, but hopefully can and will happen.
Other than that my rest week's been going pretty well got in the pool twice to swim off the excessive quanitities of bad for Bob food, tomorrow I'm going up to the Litchfield Hills tri to play photographer. Monday begins my hellish prep for IMNZ 09 ( throwing it out there hoping good things will happen.)/ Nutmeg man/ what ever comes my way phase. I figure if I ever want to compete on a higher level I've got to start training on a higher level, the high water mark 08 season is over time to finish strong and blaze into 09.
The methodical planner.
R.D.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Less than 24 Hours to go....
"My Heart's beating...My Heart's beatin and my hand's a shakin....."
That can best describe how I felt a race briefing this morning....the nerves are hitting, the distance is becoming real, and the fact that they're expecting rain and a 21 mph head wind isn't really helping. Since I've arrived they've been predicting rain and wind so at this point I'm chalking it up to their full of shit like all forecasters, I still put plastic bags on my bike just to be safe. An interesting thing happened on the way to the Expo I bumped into 6 time Women's Champ Jo Lawn as she was giving an interview so I have a nice candid photo .
Yes I feel like a big shot on this trip!
Yes I feel like a big shot on this trip! Also included are pics of the staff at Taupo times
The girl on the left is Catherine (NZ's hottest photographer) the girl in the middle is Danielle, and the man on the right is Simon, sports writer and beer and Rugby Connoisseur ( To the guys at HEAT if at all possible we need to ship these guys some Hooker Ale!) Today will be spent not worrying about the race, special needs bag, cramming down more gels, sports drink and Bonita products as possible, the weather or how I might be cussing out rain and wind tomorrow Lt. Dan style from Forest Gump. I plan on sitting on the beach and meditating or forking over some coin at the local arcade to relieve the pre -race jitters. Tomorrow I feel ready to go....hopefully mother nature will co-operate. That's all for today...I need to go put my feet up.Also anyone wishing to follow the race live
go to the official Ironman New Zealand site and it will direct you to Ironman live .
Like I said I just need to go and take a preverbal cold shower...when I get back home I'll have a nice month long rest before getting ready for the summer season and an epic duel in the land of the crabcake. Also anyone looking for a good "Kona-esque atmosphere without having to worry about Lotto slots or being hell on wheels Taupo is a really good pick.
The Soon to be Ironman
R.D.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
I am Registered......
Well its official I have my armband and I'm ready to go. Also I have my photos from the trip over and I will post them.
Driving in from Auckland
Yes the kiwis have a cool sense of humor.
Jude, Judy Ann and the Girls receptionist at the Times. sadly I do not have a pic of Catherine , New Zealand's Hottest photographer. Yes I said it. So today I went down to the Expo after dropping off my bike at the Times for safe keeping. I plan on getting pics of Marian, Catherine, Danielle, and Simon the Sports Guy. The Weather has started to cloud up so now I am sort of praying the rain, or will at least hold off until I'm off the bike on Saturday, it can pour when I'm on the run for all I care . Today is my easy to non-existent day, I ran 5-6 k Yesterday, 5k in a little fun run which I did at goal race pace (8:30-9 min miles) and a mad dash back to the Hotel to shower because Catherine, Simon and some of the Young Staffers took me to the pub. I was good I only had one beer, and a burger, hey,my nutrtion hasn't failed me so far, hopefully it won't on Saturday, although I have 24 hours for it to clear my system. Well I've got to get back to the grind, pick up the bike, find a TV and start playing the i-pod. Race day is less than 48 hours away so I'm hoping for good weather and a good result.
Cheers .
R.D.
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