The Pain Game… Eagleman 70.3 – 2016

Well my first big race of the season came and went this past weekend. I signed up for the race in hopes to get my training kicked off early in the year, in preparation for Superfrog and IM North Carolina in September and October respectively. I will say that it was an effective strategy. However, basically taking the month of May off didn’t help my cause on race day. That being said, I made it through a rough day and now can focus on my “A Race” in September.

A quick race report: Blue, sunny skies were the call for the day and some major heat. I think it got well into the 90’s by the afternoon, which would explain the large number of walkers during the run (including myself). The water was nice (74 degrees), wetsuit legal. I had a good comfortable swim from start to finish, which I moderately enjoyed. The bike route was very flat, but a bit windy. I had a little lateral knee pain on both knees for about half the ride (might be a bike fitting issue I need to address), but subsided later into the ride. I was hoping to average 20 mph for the 56 miles, but could only squeak out 19.34 mph. SCOTTY… WE NEED MORE POWER!!! I JUST… CAN’T… DO IT, CAPTAIN! <----- for you Star Trek nerds. Coming off the bike my quads cramped for the first two miles, which was extremely annoying and painful. After eating copious amounts of salt the cramps subsided and then I spent the next 11 miles playing the run/walk game and feeling like complete crap (both mentally and physically). I spent most of the winter working on my run and was hoping for a good showing this weekend. Well, they can’t all be homeruns. I’ve had better races and I’ve had worse ones. I’m going to chalk Sunday up as a good hard workout. (see pictures on the "Race Pics" tab)


Swim: 00:38:42 (02:00/100m)
T1: 00:03:42
Bike: 02:53:43 (19.34 mph)
T2: 00:03:39
Run: 02:48:51 (12:53/mi)

Total: 06:28:36

This weekend I’m doing the Luray Swimfest. The races consist of three distances, 750m, 1500m, and 2250m, with the option of doing one, two, or all three distances. The starting times are 0800, 0845, and 0945. I’m doing all three, so the faster I swim the longer my breaks. It should be an interesting day. That’s a lot of swimming…

Thanks to all my well wisher for last weekend’s race. I really appreciate the encouragement and all the positive thoughts! Ya’ll rock!!!  And of course, I couldn't haven't done it without my support team... Love you Fonda and Loki.

Cheers,

Scott

Commit, Achieve, Inspire

The Struggle is Real

For the couple folks that read my blog, you may (or not) have noticed I’ve been a little lax on writing for the month of May. Well, May was pretty much a wash for training: 20 out of 24 days of rain, work, aches, pain, laziness, and life in general… choose your poison. Aren’t excuses a bitch?!?! Except for my elite athlete friends, I think everyone struggles with periods where life bogs down their fitness and health goals. Sometimes those periods are called Happy Hour. J Although, I’m sure even my superstar friends have some days they wish they could get back. Set backs are a part of training, just as they are with life, but how you deal with them is really what really matters.

That being said, how am I dealing with a crappy training month… how about a half Ironman! That’s right kids, Eagleman 70.3!!!  Only six days until the race and its happening whether I like it or not. So, here’s a scene setter for Sunday, June 6^th:

-          Depending on the day, I’m between seven to ten pounds over my weight goal for the race (185lbs goal)

-          I haven’t rode over 45 miles yet this season

-          I haven’t run over 10 miles in a month

-          I have only swam 2000+ meters a couple times this season

Now that’s what I call exciting! Why do I do Ironman training… the challenge of course! Well, I think I’ve set myself up for a challenge this weekend. I will admit that these aren’t the most optimal conditions for a race, but I’ve been in far worse places and in far worse conditions (I’d like the thank the Ranger Regiment for putting into perspective how bad things can actually suck… but still love ever second of it. RLTW!). This will be just another obstacle to climb over, dig under, or run around. Or, there is always the fourth and my favorite option:

This weekend, I choose RUN, RIGHT, THROUGH it!!!

For those playing at home, my start time is 7:12am, June 12^th, bib number 1083. I’ll be the one in the light pink swim cap. 

Send those positive thoughts my direction on Sunday... I'll need them!

Cheers,

Scott