Do The Thing You Think You Cannot

The Goal
For some time now I've had a secret goal to be an Ironman. At the beginning of the past two years I've considered if that would be the year. This year I have been seriously considering entering an Ironman Triathlon. The thought of it scares me and it seems impossible to me- 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run for a total of 140.6 miles. As I was seriously contemplating if I should commit or not this year, I heard a quote in church by Eleanor Roosevelt(Mrs. R wasn't there.) This really helped me to decide. So as I was pondering about this challenge in church that Sunday, the speaker quoted, "You must do the thing which you think you cannot." Why would she choose this quote, on this day, at this time. I felt confident that day that I would do it. So I would like to further commit myself to reaching this goal by writing it down and saying it out loud. I am going to be an Ironman August 1, 2009 as I finish the Vineman Ironman in Sonoma County California. I am constantly on the verge of quitting this plan, but its something I really want to do. I've been training since the start of the year to meet this goal. Every time I finish training I think there is no way I can do this. It really does seem impossible to me. I must do the thing I think I cannot do.

Positive Attitude
They say that after the training is done, and the nutrition is right, the reason people don't finish is mental. Positive thinking gets you to the finish line. Negative thoughts keep you from it. I need the support of friends. This week I begin the Peak Training Phase, it requires 15 hrs a week with long bike rides and long runs. I look to my friends and family to help me keep the positive mental outlook I need to be successful. Among the several reasons, I have a specific reason for doing this. When I need to dig deep to continue I can go to that thought, but encouragement from my family and friends will be most important to me as I train and race, when the doubts, or fear, comes.

The Quote
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do...
I believe completing this personal goal will help me gain strength, courage, and confidence by doing something that seems impossible. So August 1st I will stop to look fear in the face, and I'll do the thing I think I cannot do. I could use all the encouragement I can get.

Peak week 1

This Week's Totals:
Bike:	5h 11m - 84Mi
Run:	4h -24 Mi
Swim:	1h 30m -4500Yd
Total:	11h 5m - 110mi

I was suppose to enter a half ironman this weekend, but I couldn't find one. So I planned to do the distance here at home. I did a little taper this week. I didn't do the swim. The pool was closed today, it would have opened too late to beat the heat anyway. I thought I would swim in my pool with these trainer bands, so I got an early start at 4:30 this morning. I searched all over and couldn't find those things so I bagged the swim. I got on my bike and headed out for 56 miles. I don't know what happened but I felt great. Maybe it was the new seat I got or maybe the rest I got this week (been going to bed early and waking up early). It just felt like I had the wind at my back all day. It's usually the other way around. Don't start thinking it was that fast- just fast for me. Fat guys and old ladies were still passing me. I came in with an avg speed 1MPH faster than normal and full of energy. I did two 6.5 mile laps around the block. I felt great the first lap. On the second lap I saw some guys I know on their bikes(I always like getting credit for being out there). I talked to them for awhile. Their doing a bike trip next week that I originally suggested- get on a train headed north with your bike, then get off and ride home. Their going to Santa Cruz and heading back. I would be going but I have to learn ELD strategies so that it looks like our district is trying to improve, and also to make some money. The rest of the run was fun. I got home and jumped in the pool. I felt good enough to clean the pool filter and that was it. I'm looking at next week's schedule and I don't get to rest at all. Oh no!

Weak Week

This Week's Totals:
Bike:	4h - 60Mi
Run:	1h -6 Mi
Swim:	1h -3000Yd
Total:	6h - 68mi

Monday morning while I was swimming I had an overwhelming feeling of weakness all over my body, and just like that, I was sick. I don't know if it was flu or fatigue, but after resting for a few days, I felt better. My training plan says if you miss 1 day just continue as normal. If you miss 2-3 days, come back with the scheduled training but do half. I felt a little better on the second day of rest, but I'm glad I took the third day. I worked through the run on Friday, then the bike ride on Saturday was great. I thought that I wasn't going to ride it. I even blew off a couple people who asked me to ride with them(sorry Greg and Nathan). It turned out to be a pretty good ride. Well at least I was smiling at the end.

This Week's Totals:
Bike:	5h - 75Mi
Run:	2h 30m -15 Mi
Swim:	3h -9000 Yd
Total:	10h 30m - 96mi

I squeezed out a 1.5hr run Saturday night at 9:00. I was waiting to give rides home from an activity so I started running. As I meandered into the ghetto, my mind wandered to some gangster profiling. First a lowered Lincoln Continental passed me and honked twice. Everybody knows what that means. Two more passes and lights out for me. On the other side of the block the same car passes me again. Now I'm plotting my escape if the car comes by again. I'm thinking serpentine. As I'm finishing up, the same car comes slowly by me. I close my eyes and prepare for the worst. Then nothing. Turns out I can't tell the difference between a Continental, Monte Carlo, or an Impala. Seems people were just rubbernecking. I guess they don't jog on Saturday night in that area.

This Week's Totals:
Bike:	3h 15m - 53Mi
Run:	2h 53m -17.70 Mi
Swim:	2h -6000 Yd
Total:	8h 08m - 72mi

This week I needed to get away because I had a couple days to take off work. I was searching and found a triathlon in the same city my Aunt lives in. So we made plans for the weekend and I did the Big Rock Triathlon at Perris lake. I used the triathlon to manage my HR zones and try out my nutrition in a real event. I was happy with the results. My average HR was in Z2. Occasionally, on the bike, I overexerted. The nutrition worked. I tried to get 400 calories an hour. Which I did. I also learned that my wetsuit is not going to work. All in all it was a good week.

This Week's Totals:
Bike:	5h 15m - 82Mi
Run:	2h 30m -15 Mi
Swim:	3h -9000 Yd
Total:	10h 30m - 102mi

I got most of the planned workouts in this week. It was raining Friday night so I didn't make it. Really I wasn't feeling great. Thursday night I was feeling really tired also. Turns out skipping Friday's run, and getting a good night sleep was all I needed. Saturday I felt great for my bike ride. The bike ride was great. Air was clear from the rain, the sun was shining, I took in 400cal an hour instead of 300, and it was great- slow, but great.