Liberation! Ironman New Zealnd Update: Race numer in.

Today I rode 40 miles and for the first time in 3 weeks let my running shoes hit the pavement for a good 6 miles. The ride went pretty well although I averaged .2 mph slower than my 70 miler last week. Maybe it's because I didn't fuel properly but I couldn't feel it. Regardless the ride portion went well.

The run, well once I got over all the crap about " when you tendon snaps it's going to feel like someone hit you in the back of the leg and then unbearable pain!" I stretched out and start jogging. I took my run out very conservative as I ran the route of the original Nutmeg State Half Iron Run leg. I had to be going 9-10 min. mile pace keenly aware of any sort of pressure on my left leg. For awhile I looked down at my right leg, it seem to be just going along for the ride while my left leg was taking all the abuse...regardless I'll worry about that as my strength returns. As I shuffled along into the darkness, part of me thought about how much I had taken running for granted. It was something I could always just sort of do...well ok I'm not Prefontaine, or Rodgers Rop but I do alright..and except for this little bump and a case of Wrong F**king shoes in High School I've pretty much been injury free. I finished my little 6-7 miler in about 58 minutes, slow but no pain, or increased inflamation in my leg was a good sign. Tonight ice, stretch somemore, anti-inflamatories, and triggerpoint...then try again on Monday night another 6-7 miler at CCSU. It felt good to run again and hopefully it will stay that way.

R.D.

Also on a sort of related note my race number for the Ironman is in I'll be sporting number 122. Part of me is kinda glad for this it seems whenever I wear number 22 or 23 I always have a good race.

Long Day in the saddle

Well today it was actually warm 40F (4C) so I skipped church and went up to Lake Waramaug and got some much needed time out side on the Stomper. Let's face it bikes are not meant to be kept indoors and hooked up on trainers they are meant to be taken out and ridden and ridden hard..and that's what happend today. My ride went on without much drama, although it didn't seem like it was off to a good start...about 2 miles in while slowing up to let a car pass my back wheel hit an icy patch and started into the death wobble...how I kept the bike up right I have no clue but I did, I didn't crash and kept going...for 69 more miles. 71 miles ( 113.6 km) in 4 hours at the average speed of 17.7 miles per hour ( 28.32 kmh). The ride was better than I hoped for especially with all that's happended in the last month injury wise, speaking of that it's almost healed...and the stretching, and moderate exercise routine has helpped it. ( ok so I was doing most of the exercises at body weight since I haven't been able to get to the weight room..but even just the motions have helpped.) Also I managed to get a good deal on a value pack of Sharkies and gallon bottle of gatorade so I'll have fuel for the next week. But regardless, if nothing else I know my leg will survive the swim and bike portion so all I have to do is ease back into running and I should be good to go. This week they're talking snow on Tuesday...and a lot of it...but next weekend looks to be about as warm as it was today so if I can get a few more good days on the road I'm confident that I'll set a PR on my bike leg. Getting this ride in really helpped boost my morale because for a while it looked as if I might not be able to get the bike training I wanted for this race in.

Feeling Stoked.

Tales from the Trainer, Positive outlook....

Well Yesterday New England got pounded yet again with snow, ice sleet, rain, pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. Class was canceled so I devoted about 2 hours to riding my trainer to the tune of Rocky. Unlike my last rides where I was freaking out about my leg, or becoming a "Bob-cicle" this one went pretty smooth..also upon waking up yesterday I felt the back of my ankle, the bump is hardly noticiable, which means come Monday, or Wednesday I should be good to resume running, although they are predicting ( surprise, surprise) a storm on Wednesday and a storm on Friday, giving the skiers more to rejoice about...and guys like me ..well more time to reflect on why we live in this kind of climate...or a softer landing pad for my newly healed legs.

Yesterday's ride wasn't bad except for some creaking from my trainer, the side cover doesn't really stay on right , so instead of hearing a nice WHOOSH I'm hearing something similar to finger nails getting dragged accross the chalk board...part of me thinks when in doubt lube the chain, so that will be my post class project...plus another 2+ hour ride or a swim if the campus pool is open.

This Sunday it looks like it will be a good day to ride Temps in the mid to upper 30's. I'll just go to mass on Saturday Afternoon and ride Sunday morning and Afternoon. I'll assess the roads on Saturday and if it looks good enough to ride I'll do my Middlebury/ Washington loop. Loops of the lake get tedious and cold after a while especially because of that damn head wind...plus I need to climb a bit...if the roads in the area look well like they usually do I might just resign myself to the fact I'm going to have to pull a 12 loop Crit in the greater Waramaug area...break out the wool socks it's going to be a long ride.

Next week I'll handle that as it comes...I want to be in good enough shape to pull a Half Iron race simulation by the second week of Feb...not at race pace, but at the point I'll know my leg will survive.
I'm in the last build up phase for this race I have to get some more distance into my legs granted I should survive off of my summer miles but I hate tapping into "deposits in the bank" that I made long ago.

So everything is looking good for this little throw down in March I should finish it, the question is how well?

R.D.

Ironman New Zealand Update: :Put up and shut up.

Well after reading through alot of posts from last year, I have spent way too much time worrying about whether or not I'll be in shape for this shindig, instead of just doing the work to get myself in shape. Well that ends now. I've got 5 weeks to do the work. Running I'll worry about that when I heal, I'll be ready to go I've got strong base. The swim....hahahaha my age group will not know what hit them, hahahahaha! The bike this is my golden opportunity so stop dilly dallying and bitching on how you hate the trainer and either ride it or bundle up and ride outside. Grow a pair, HTFU, stop bitching and start training like you mean it. Rehab your leg so you'll be ready to go and keep following the Angry Regiment so you will get harder, faster, stronger. You start running again next week you've got running partners at CCSU to help you. Cycling Claire's getting ready to ride again, Bjoern's back no excuse not to find someone to ride with or spin with. Swimming well the pool is open late, screw the guards and not wanting to be "that guy" that stays in until 11:00PM if anything they'll get paid more for it. So instead of lamenting about being undertrained try to get what you healthily and realistically can done. Can't get a 100 mile out door ride in then opt for a 5 hour trainer session, can't run, bike and swim...do the work get it done and go kick some ass. (insert Howard Dean Yell here!)

Going to be eating nails and crapping thunder.
R.D.

Game on.

Well today I start what should be my final undergraduate semester at CCSU...Game on Academia!
This weekend my plans for a lot of riding were killed by somewhat cool weather. Sunday I did manage an indoor swim/bike brick, granted I did nowhere near the mileage I wanted to on the esspresso bike. I think I got about 30 miles in on the bike after a 2000 yard straight swim. This weekend it's going to be in the mid to high 30's so that will make riding a little more pleasant....at least until I hit that 20mph head wind at the lake...well I'll be one step ahead in Taupo where the wind is equally as strong. Also only 10 more days until I can throw on the running shoes again...I can't freaking wait....granted I have to build the mileage a little more cautiously than I'd like unless I want to be remembered for an infamous crawl to the finish line and a wrecked season.

This morning I went for a 3000 yard swim, not too bad of a day. This afternoon class until 9:30PM Tonight after class more stretching and Trigger point goodness, and tomorrow a morning spin, work ,class meet up with Angry for some rehab work and then maybe some more swimming or spinning. Saturday/ Sunday as long as the forecast holds I'll be riding outside... as I have been dubbed by some of the runners in the greater Washington Area..that nut out on his bike...ahh to know what most people think of the state of my mental capacities is interesting.
So as of right now the Ironman is happening...my mileage on the bike has been disappointing but it was disappointing at his stage of the game last year as well....I'm a little not so much worried but concerned about my run, granted I feel what triggered my injury was a combo of factors:

Weaknesses in the legs and hips, not doing my usual animalistic runs during the school year, going too hard too often on the treadmill, a hex placed on me by some Maori Medicine man ( stay tuned I've got a comic post about that theory including a youtube clip.), carrying my life stress in my lower body....afterall I've trained like an animal on natural or at least quasi-natural surfaces ( ie asphalt.) and not really had any major issues, maybe this is the last of the 2008 crap purging itself from my system...and a good result "Down Under" will springboard me into a more positive 2009.

Well that's it from me I've got to go negotiate my brother as collateral at the bookstore.

Bring on that thesis!
R.D.

I don't thnk this is what they had in mind when they said "ice your leg."

Well today, since there was no snow flying I headed up to Lake Waramaug to get some much needed out door riding in. I was begining to lose my mind with all the indoor spinning ,and with not being able to run most of my training has me staying in one place.( 12 more days......) Today it was about 30F (-1C) when I left work I gathered my crap and drove up to the lake figuring I could get a good 2-3 hours in the saddle. The temperature was still at my 30F threshold when I started riding but as my loop progressed, the odd placement of my orthopedic insert as well as a bone chilling 20 mph headwind sort of took the wind out of my sails. I managed about 3 loops and then called it quits as hypothermia was begining to set in. I had really wanted to push for 40 miles but my insert sliding around and not being able to feel my toes despite toe warmers,3 pairs of socks and neoprene shoe covers made err on the side of caution. Total distance was about 23.69 miles, 37km nowhere near what I wanted but as long as things keep progressing nicely on the injury and maybe we end up with seasonal temperatures instead of weekly artic blasts I should be able to get my mileage up. Oh and the Temperature at the end of my ride a tropical 23F (-5C)...at least I rode the Temperature.
Otherwise, does anyone own the Spinnervals Hardcore 100?

Also for the third time in my career I ended up with a Gatorade Slushie.If that doesn't tell you it's cold nothing will.

Tomorrow since temps are predicted to be at hunt your own mammoth levels I'm think that the pool followed by a spin indoor brick is in order. But for right now I'll be happy to feel my toes again.

I really need to move to Some place warmer.
R.D.