Tag: ironman

Indoor training doesn’t have to be as terrible as the weather

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Cold weather doesn’t bother me. I prefer it to the warmer weather. However, snow is a problem for outdoor training – especially cycling, Unfortunately, the snow has been plentiful this winter–an anomaly for the Southern New Jersey coast. With all the snow, and limited city budgets for plowing said snow, John and I have had to ride the indoor trainer* quite a bit. If you’ve never ridden a bike trainer, you have been spared what is sometimes mental agony, resulting from spinning in circles without going anywhere, which can be similar to running on a treadmill or swimming laps in …

Life’s a little different now: Some observations on Ironman training

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I’m a little over 25 weeks out from Lake Placid Ironman. During this early phase of base training, along with the training I did in preparation for the HIM Bassman in October, I’ve noticed several changes in my life. I thought I’d share some. Maybe some of you can relate? Observation #1: Positive Correlations Most athletes preparing for an Ironman expect that the longer the race distance, the longer the training times and miles. What I didn’t account for was the fact that those training distances aren’t the only times that increase. While the training plan may have anywhere from …

Aqua jogging

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A few years back, I had some trouble with my right ITB (iliotibial band) during a run. The pain was significant enough that I had to take frequent walk and stretch breaks to get back home. I didn’t run again for a few days. I started ridiculously slow. Alas! The pain returned. At that point, I resigned myself to the realization that I had a problem with the ITB. I knew what this pain meant: Stretching. Icing. Using the foam roller to lengthen and release the ITB. And, the worst part: no running for at least a week–maybe more. So, …

“Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – or how I came to love my heart rate

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Yes, it’s Shakespeare again. This time, the Prince of Denmark himself – Hamlet – offers wise words to keep my experiences (in training and life) in perspective. This quote reminds me that our thinking plays an integral role in how we perceive our abilities, our training, and our potential. Think negative thoughts, increase the likelihood of negative outcomes. Think positive thoughts, increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. Sounds easy enough. So, why am I so mean to myself? I know better: I’ve read plenty of articles that talk about the power of positive thinking. I know that our brains are …

Giving Back: The Iron Scholarship Fund

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College is a significant and life-changing accomplishment, with value for enhancing self-esteem and confidence, civic involvement and lifetime earnings. While some first decide to attend college for “a piece of paper,” upon graduation many students realize their lives have been enriched in ways they never imagined on their first day as a college freshman. Yet, for some students this accomplishment is either out of reach or made exceedingly difficult by the costs associated with a college education. Rising tuition costs have increased the sacrifices that many students must make, including attending only part-time, working full or part time jobs, sacrificing study …

Satisfying the demands of reason and emotion through gradual adaptation and 1% improvements

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I’m antsy. I’ve got work to do.   It’s been a week since the half iron distance triathlon. The soreness has faded. The feeling of accomplishment is there, but I can’t help feeling that I want to do better, go faster, be stronger. My basic goal for the triathlon was 6 hours, and while I accomplished that goal with a time of 5:55;37, I secretly (or not so secretly) wished I would do better–like 5:45 would have been great. I had wanted to place in my age group, but was 4th (by over a minute). My rational mind knows that I …

Four weeks to go

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On May 9, 2009, I watched John, my husband, compete in the Jerseyman Triathlon, a half iron distance race held in Clinton, NJ. At the time, I was recovering from pneumonia (the sickest I have ever been in my life!) and a bout of hip bursitis, so I couldn’t compete.  As I watched the race, I just knew I had to do it some day. At that time, however, I had never even done a sprint triathlon. Heck, I had only learned to freestyle swim in March, and the first time I sat on a road bike was in February.  It seemed …

In praise of spectators

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You get up at 4:30 a.m., too. Sometimes, you are the one to wake the athlete, allowing her to sleep in just a little bit longer as you prepare a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for her breakfast, as you fill his water bottles with scoops of powdered sports drink, water and some ice cubes, as you pack the car with her transition bag, bicycle, and other various sundries. You just smile and make light small talk when the grumpy and nervous athlete fails to say thanks—or worse yet complains about your efforts to make his day a little easier. …

Marathons are a gateway drug

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This time last year, I was about one month into a marathon training plan. I was preparing for my first marathon, the Atlantic City Marathon. Prior to this experience, I had only raced in a 10 mile event and maybe one or two 5Ks for charities that I supported. But, for the most part, I just ran–and had been a runner since I was 13 years old. I didn’t compete. It was what I did to stay fit, and I really enjoyed the peace and fulfillment of a good run. As we grow older, we may begin to take the …

The Spirit of the Ironman-Lake Placid 2009

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The Lake Placid Ironman was held on Sunday, July 26, 2009, with 2051 athletes finishing the race, according to the official race results (2258 began the race, but 207 athletes did not finish). For those of you who may not know, the Lake Placid Ironman is a 140.6 mile race that must be completed within 17 hours. It consists of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike (over some seriously mountainous terrain), and finished with a marathon (26.2 miles). There is little dispute that this event is tough stuff. But, these numbers only tell a very small part of the …