It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. -- George S. Patton
Yes, two relevant quotes... I have been thinking about this for some time... almost a year, really. My good friend and training partner signed up last year to compete in the IronMan Florida in November 2010. You have to make the decision a year in advance, because registration for a full IronMan for the next year starts the day after the event completes, and the registration for the next year's IronMan events close almost as fast as they open.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either IN or you're OUT. There is no such thing as life in-between." - Pat Riley
Finally started running again... I have been on the treadmill at the gym, since it is so freaking hot - and humid - outside. I feel like I need to get the distance up first, before I worry about speed. I know I can finish the events; it just won't be fast.
After a few days off after the Triple Bypass ride, riding the Katy Flatland Century felt pretty good. I am working on consistently doing the longer rides on the weekends, and getting swim and run time in during the week.
So I think the plan is now: half-iron this September, half-iron in spring 2011, another in the fall, all part of getting to the point where I can do a full iron-distance event. Starting the full iron-distance training plan the first of the year, in preparation to do the IMFL in November 2011... guess this is all dependent on what the cardiologist says later this month. But I intend to also work in the century rides as I go along, probably doing Tahoe with the Team In Training group again next June.
I know I am not the sprint-distance kind of triathlete... I have used the term "plodding elephant" in the past. But I feel comfortable doing the half-iron distances, particularly once I get the running segment figured out. So for me the next challenge is getting ready for the big one.
Another thought pattern has creeped into the discussion as well. Now that we have done the Triple Bypass ride, one more thing is checked off the bucket list. But just like most everybody else, I seem to keep adding things to my list at the same time. I have a TnT teammate that rides the RAGBRAI just about every year... but nobody talks about riding across Texas. For some reason, the idea of riding across my own state is more appealing -- but it is about 850 miles, whether you ride east-west or north-south, compared to the 450 for Iowa. Looking at the map, I can envision a route either horizontally or vertically. I have drafted routes going both directions, but I think I would rather do a north-to-south crossing. Starting at the Texas-Oklahoma border at the top of the Panhandle and finishing up at South Padre Island. The route will continue to evolve, and may be another opportunity to fundraise and fight cancer at the same time -- we will see how the planning goes for this, but the earliest I would want to do this ride is spring 2012. Already I get the question of "when?" followed by "Well, yeah, I am in!" -- stay tuned.
Yeah, looks like there is always room for another challenge...
Finally started running again... I have been on the treadmill at the gym, since it is so freaking hot - and humid - outside. I feel like I need to get the distance up first, before I worry about speed. I know I can finish the events; it just won't be fast.
After a few days off after the Triple Bypass ride, riding the Katy Flatland Century felt pretty good. I am working on consistently doing the longer rides on the weekends, and getting swim and run time in during the week.
So I think the plan is now: half-iron this September, half-iron in spring 2011, another in the fall, all part of getting to the point where I can do a full iron-distance event. Starting the full iron-distance training plan the first of the year, in preparation to do the IMFL in November 2011... guess this is all dependent on what the cardiologist says later this month. But I intend to also work in the century rides as I go along, probably doing Tahoe with the Team In Training group again next June.
I know I am not the sprint-distance kind of triathlete... I have used the term "plodding elephant" in the past. But I feel comfortable doing the half-iron distances, particularly once I get the running segment figured out. So for me the next challenge is getting ready for the big one.
Another thought pattern has creeped into the discussion as well. Now that we have done the Triple Bypass ride, one more thing is checked off the bucket list. But just like most everybody else, I seem to keep adding things to my list at the same time. I have a TnT teammate that rides the RAGBRAI just about every year... but nobody talks about riding across Texas. For some reason, the idea of riding across my own state is more appealing -- but it is about 850 miles, whether you ride east-west or north-south, compared to the 450 for Iowa. Looking at the map, I can envision a route either horizontally or vertically. I have drafted routes going both directions, but I think I would rather do a north-to-south crossing. Starting at the Texas-Oklahoma border at the top of the Panhandle and finishing up at South Padre Island. The route will continue to evolve, and may be another opportunity to fundraise and fight cancer at the same time -- we will see how the planning goes for this, but the earliest I would want to do this ride is spring 2012. Already I get the question of "when?" followed by "Well, yeah, I am in!" -- stay tuned.
Yeah, looks like there is always room for another challenge...
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