Last Post Before Ironman

As the title eludes to, this will be my last post before Ironman. It's Monday evening, and the race is on Sunday. I wanted to post early in the week because of how hectic all the traveling, organizing, and coordinating will be, in addition to the nervousness that has already hit me.

The past year has been incredible. I've seen a side of myself that I'm so proud of, and I believe that it is my true self. Beyond that, I've seen people really come out and support me, especially my best friends. Just the other night, Tyler said to me, "dude, I wish I could be there, but going to Italy real soon, I just don't think I can make it" and I responded "Ty, don't worry about it, you saw me race in Providence" and he says "Yeah, but I just want to be there for you." I know he can't make it down to Louisville, but that's just an example of someone saying something to me that will stay with me forever. I'll never forget him saying that, and he probably thought it was no big deal.

Beyond the realm of my friends, other people, from total strangers to some of my not so close friends have reached out. I mentioned about how random Southington residents have been sending me cards with donations and kind words, but today, a co-worker of mine came down to my desk and hand delivered a card. Stuff like that is not necessary, but it is so appreciated. It's just overwhelming at times.

Apart from all that, as my own person, this attempt at becoming an Ironman has changed me. I cannot put into words what it is, but this effort, and this race has become a microcosm of life in general. It's about knowing that what we have today, we may not have tomorrow. It's about seizing the moment (pardon the cliche) and realizing there's so much more to life. It's about dealing with adversity, whether physical or emotional, bottling it up, and channeling it into something that is indescribably good. It's about sacrifice....giving up on what's past, and enjoying the exact moment that is the present. As I go on I've realized the older I get, the more things I have to leave behind, but as some doors close and some chapters come to an end, we're presented with an opportunity to write a whole new book. This journey has been about so much more than a fast swim, a strong bike and a quick run....it's been about bouncing back. I think I speak for all my friends when I say we've lived priviledged lives and we appreciate it to no end, but we've also seen the lowest of lows, and somehow and some way we've always stuck together. If nothing else, it is so unbelievably obvious that true and loyal friends are forever and if and when we're lucky to experience that, we should hold onto that and never take that for granted. We all know how important it is to do that and how important it is to appreciate today.

Lastly, I just wish everyone could experience what I have experienced during my preparations for this race. It doesn't have to be about 140.6 miles, all it has to be is to pick up something that you always wanted to do and do it. Don't hold back. Truth of the matter is, yes, I probably would have done an Ironman if Jared was still here today. I say that with confidence although it means a lot more to dedicate this effort to him and my friends. But that being said, I remember watching the Ironman on ABC Wide World of Sports as a kid with my father and being amazed, even from that young age. The first time I thought about actually doing it, I think I was a freshman in college, but I never really had the clout to sacrifice so much. Now I do, now as I honor my friends, I chase my own dream and I pray this dream comes true.

To track me on Sunday, go to http://ironman.com/events/ironman/louisville/?show=tracker&rid=164&year=2008 and type in the number 297 in the search box.

Please pray for me on Sunday. Thanks for all the support, once again.

Closer and Closer

As I write this, I'm in the midst of nervousness/excitement/overall anticipation. The race is now only 15 days away and I am getting into the real grind of not being able to train as I'm used to. I have been sending constant emails to my teammates/mentors about any advice I may have missed. Additionally, I've finalized my nutrition plan for the race and I am confident that I can eat and drink as much as I plan to. Apart from all the due diligence I believe I have done, I'm still nervous. It has been harder and harder to get a good night's rest. All I keep thinking about is the finish line, seeing Kush, Muff, Mike, feeling Jared with me, and thanking God that I was given that opportunity. Furthermore, I joined iAmTri.com and I am one of their featured members. Because of that, I've received many comments/messages wishing me good luck, from complete strangers! Here is an excerpt I received from someone two days ago:

"Ironman athletes often dedicate races to those they care about. My first Ironman was dedicated to my mentor who, like your friend, had passed away while I was training for it. I had his name on my hat.

Keep in mind that the act of just dedicating this endeavor to your friend's memory is success alone and with that, you can't fail. You may not cross the finish line because only God controls that outcome. Your dedication and offering of doing your best is all that you can do. Leave the rest up to God.

I have no doubt that you'll cross the finish line. Your friend will be with you all the way......so will I.

May the Lord be with you,
Michael"

Sounds very religious I know, but that's been something that's been in the back of my mind. I haven't forgotten that there is someone up there who's watching over me and will be my guide throughout the 140.6 miles, at least that's what I believe.

This whole journey has been all consuming. It wasn't quite this way at the beginning of the season, but now that this race is so damn close, I am beyond focused. These are life changing moments, and if and when I cross that finish line, I will be a changed person.....forever. The sacrifices that I have made to come this far are even unbelievable to myself. Again, I go back to my support and the strength that my friends have lent me throughout the past year. Never once did someone say "I don't think you can do that" It has always been "how's training? How are you feeling? Where can I get a hotel in Louisville?"

Apart from Ironman, and whether I finish or not, I know that I have accomplished so much in my life. I have been through the best of times and the worst of times. This race will magnify those good times and trivialize those hard times. Knowing what I have been through in my life, this is just a transition of drive into something completely tangible, something that will remain with me and my friends forever. So in essence, this race is more than a race to me.....it has become my life. I have felt myself change during this past year, into a person that I never thought I'd become. I can't really explain that, it's too tough. There is just something different about taking on 140.6 miles and the willingness to offer the utmost respect to that distance, because in all reality, this distance has killed people before.....but it's also made dreams come true. It's not about the race as much as its about the sacrifice, the pain, the drive.....and hopefully the reward. I will try to post another blog entry before I leave for Louisville, but if you don't check back, please say a prayer for me and/or keep me in your thoughts on the 31st. I would really appreciate that. Thanks again.

15. (I remember when this number was 365 like it was yesterday)

Freaking out

So my training is pretty much complete. My fitness is at it's peak and the only thing I can do now is maintain what I have. That means no more long rides, no more long runs, no more putting my body through pain until race day. On that note, I wanted to get a feel for what my teammates that have done Ironman went through during their taper phase and so I sent out an email to them, this is what I received from Gabe (a four time Ironman, who consistently places in the top 5 overall in his races):

"I have made some major IM mistakes, so I have some thoughts that might help. If your goal is to finish, rather than do some particular time, keep that in mind through the race. My best performance, and my most enjoyable IM, was in Wisconsin when I just told myself not to worry about the clock and to try and enjoy the event. I talked to other competitors, made jokes, tried to thank spectators and volunteers. I found this kept me loose. There is a tendency to focus intensely on the road in front of you and to think about heart rate, lactic acid, etc., but I found that by focusing so much on those things in past races that I suffered much more and missed the really entertaining parts of the race. I self-destructed in a Lake Placid race because I was so intense during the whole race that I eventually had a major break down physically and mentally at mile 13 of the marathon, and ended up sitting down and crying on the side of the road. I eventually got up and managed to finish, but I learned a valuable lesson. I viewed Wisconsin as more of a mini-adventure than a race, and kept a great mental attitude all day even in pouring rain, wind, and cold. I also like to pack a little treat in my special needs bags or in the bike-to-run transition bag. My favorite was a ball of Stove Top Stuffing. Great source of sodium and carbs, and tastes great even cold. I have also used Altoid mints--kind of weird but a shot of peppermint is pretty refreshing mid-race. A buddy of mine would put caffeinated gum in his bags, but don't try that unless you have done it before.

From a nutrition standpoint, remember to consume food and liquids in a manner similar to the way that you have trained. This is IM 101, but I have fallen victim to this problem on the run several times. I almost never take in water on long training runs, but I would get into the race and drink every single mile. This led to stomach issues because I just was not used to having that much liquid intake while running. In Wisconsin, I drank every mile, but only a sip or two. This seemed to work out fine and kept me hydrated. Of course, the key to that strategy is to make sure you drink enough on the bike so that you start out well hydrated. Same with food: I only took in food every few miles, and then only took things that I knew would digest well (bananas and fig bars for me). That's another tip: if you use a lot of gels and other sweet things and start to get nauseous during the race, try switching to more natural foods. This worked for me in a Lake Placid race where I literally threw away my fuel belt mid-marathon and started eating grapes and oranges. The soda also works pretty well, but I always wait to go there as a last resort and hopefully when there is not much left in the race.

As a final note on the run (where the race really becomes interesting), I have found myself walking through aid stations even if I felt like I did not need to. This strategy of walking when I wanted to, rather than when I had to, resulted in walking much less often and for shorter distances. (almost everyone walks at some point unless they are a pro, so no shame is involved).

The best advice is to do your own thing, race your own race, and never stop moving forward. We'll be tracking you on the internet. Go get 'em!"

Almost done with one year of training

I can't believe race day is just over 3 weeks away. It seems like 3 weeks would be a lot, but that's going to go by so fast. The whole year has gone by so fast. I'm putting the final touches on my training now. Did an easy paced 15 mile run today pretty effortlessly and have been having swim practice everyday in Hartford. Cycling, I'm just ready, plain and simple. This is not a joke or anything, but I woke up at 11 AM on Sunday morning, and got bored almost immediately. I decided to head out on my bike for a fast paced 30 mile ride, and already had a route planned. Well that 30 mile ride turned into a 120 mile ride around Connecticut. Did that in 6 hours and 30 minutes. Total peace of mind. I could get a flat on the course in Louisville and still be able to finish under 6:30, which leads me into my next topic, race day strategy.
I will try and just enjoy the swim, and not kill myself. Anything under 1 hour 30 minutes will be fine with me. My coach wants me to go 1:05, but I seriously highly doubt that. On the bike, I'm "not going to eat the paste." That's an Ironman saying for the kid in preschool that eats the paste in the corner of the room and then other kids follow him or her. Then they puke a half hour later. Well the same thing happens during an Ironman, some people "eat the paste" and hammer the bike, and set a personal record, with times like 5:45 off the bike, averaging almost 20 mph. Then they realize they have a marathon to run. Then the puking starts. Then the ambulance picks them up. And for the ones that aren't on their way to the hospital, I run by them at mile 10 while they're walking at a 20 minute pace and I'm running at a 10 minute pace. Do the math....for them to beat me by 45 minutes off the bike, I make up a total of 100-300 minutes on them on the marathon. I'm not using this strategy to beat these people at all, I'm using this strategy to stay in the race. I predict my finish time to be well within my goal of 13 hours if I do this.

On another note, I have a teammate that just did Ironman Lake Placid, and we've been talking about what it's going to be like to be an Ironman throughout the year. This was his first. This is him on the JumboTron getting a little emotional after he crossed the finish line.

I want to give him a shout out and say that "Doug - You're an Ironman." Be proud my friend, you put in so much work and I'm glad to call you my teammate. Please take a minute to read his blog and his race report: http://jackandrachelland.pbwiki.com/IMLP%20report