ironman race report

if anyone is curious - I completed the Ironman today. It was a blustery cool morning and the lake was covered in white caps as the swim began. The conditions were so bad in fact that they gave the option to opt out of the swim if you wanted and to just complete the bike and run. I went for the swim, and the water wasn't as bad as it appeared - what was a little crazy was the 2,300 people all jumping in the water at the same time. For the first 30 minutes I was constantly running into people and having people swim up my back. Four time my goggles were kicked off. After that the pack loosened up and I was finally able to get in a groove. After drinking half the lake I managed to finish in 1 hour 13 minutes. Off the wetsuit strippers, who rip the wetsuit off of you and I jumped onto the bike.

Chad and I had driven the course earlier in the week and what a beautiful scenic course. Winding through the low mountains and hugging up against a golf course and two lakes. Amidst all the beauty were some significant hills which made for a challenging course. The first 80 miles or so felt great then all of sudden my legs stopped moving as quickly. The next 15 miles or so were slow and difficult, especially as both of my inner thighs began cramping. After downing a bunch of fluids they finally loosened up again and I was able to push the pedals a little harder. Finished the bike in 5 hours 39 minutes.

Onto the run, which I had planned on walking because of knee injury. So that's how I started. I walked the first mile and a half and after watching people run by and having the spectators say "Walking is good, looking good Adam" something inside, ego perhaps, or this internal drive I have kicked in, and I said forget it. As long as my knee doesn't get worse I'm just going to run. So I did and after about 5 miles, this guy, Michael, pulls up next to me and starts talking to me. So we started chatting and ended up running the rest of the marathon together. He himself was nursing a knee injury so we'd run until we hit an aid station walk through the aid station, drinking chicken broth, gatorade and water and then pick up and run again. It was pretty brutal on my legs - I haven't run in over 2 months but there is something inside that just takes over. I look ahead body relaxed and will myself forward. I can't really explain it. Anyway had it not been for Michael, a 24 year old sports trainer from Fresno, I'm not sure I would have made it running the whole thing though. Thank you Michael.

I ended up finishing the race in 12 hours 8 minutes and 23 seconds which I'm happy about. After finishing, I was and still am bubbling with energy. As sick and twisted as it sounds this stuff feeds something inside me. Of course I'm curious what I would have had, had my knee been healthy and had I been able to train for the marathon. Hmmmm....next year??

appetite

I have a large appetite for life.

Being here in Coeur d'Alene at the Ironman event is feeding my desire to do this event again next year. Taking the next year to be more disciplined and achieve the goal of finishing under 10 hours. Thoughts of doing the Ultraman are once again dancing strongly in my mind. I want to be doing that, while at the same time devoting myself fully to my work in SF where I feel a deep sense of calling and "true" vocation. The question I wrestle with is "can I do both?" and still maintain a balanced life in relationships, etc. One voice says - you bet and yet another - impossible. Oh the battle that wages, and the fun wrestling match that comes with being overdriven and ambitious.

I often wonder if it's a selfish motivation to be spending so much time to training, etc. And then I meet Damon, a local to Coeur d'Alene, who watched the event last year and was so inspired that he said "you know I've got to figure this thing out and give it a try" and this year he's participating. You could see by the sparkle in his eye and the cheek to cheek grin that Damon was excited about the opportunity and I'm sure the life transforming training that took place. Then there's my friend Chad who's been saying until about a year ago that he'd never do an Ironman. When I signed up to Ironman New Zealand he was glad for me but said he'd never do it, his body just couldn't handle it. I'd like to believe that by me signing up and pushing on with my desire to compete Chad saw the possibility and is now this year participating. Moving beyond what he once thought possible. I'd like to believe I played a part in that. In some ways it reassures of the voices in my soul. The ones that inspire me within but sound beyond reason to people around me. To those reading - listen to those voices, those desires and dreams that seem impossible. Be courageous.

On the note of being courageous, there is a man who has had both legs amputated below the knee participating in the race.

injury

A few weeks ago I noticed that my left knee felt "off" and my knee-cap was tender to the touch. Not a good sign. I've had my share of sore muscles, tight tendons, hyper-extended joints, cracked ribs and over stretched ligaments but this one was new to me. In general I have led a very injury free life especially considering the activities in which I participate. My theory tends to be continue exercising carefully and see if it get worse, stays the same or gets better. I basically tell myself that I can just push through and it will heal. Yes I realize this isn't most conservative approach, but I am very stubborn and like to see how far I can take things. When I first noticed my knee I right away googled my symptoms and found out I have what's commonly known as runner's knee and the treatment is resting from any activity where you need to bend your knee, icing, stretching and strength training. Of course I wanted to see how far I could take it so I backed off a little in my training but for the most part kept going as planned. Well today I cut my 5 hour ride short to 2.5 hours as it seems this time my Wolverine powers have failed me and I need to restrict my training even further. This may sound strange but as difficult as training is at times it's even more difficult to force myself to not run and severely limit my cycling. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of swimming and yoga.

Injuries suck. Good Day.

you are what you eat

About two months ago Chad and I sat down to plan our training for Ironman CDA and this past Saturday we got together to iron out the details for each week. As we were sitting there trying to decipher how to best split 14 hours of training over a week, and 17 for the next week I was reminded that most difficult part of the ironman is not the race itself but the training. The consistent day in day out, week after week, month after month of running, cycling, yoga, swimming, pilates, etc is the real work. Being consistent with it, that's what makes you an Ironman, and hence "you are what you eat", or you are what you spend your time doing. If you aspire to be something, spent consistent time doing it and with the passage of time you will inevitably become what you emulate.