Save the Date; No Turning Back Now

(Before you start reading either have a listen to THIS song or read the lyrics HERE.  I'm embracing this as my battle tune for the next year.  I'm a bit of a metal head, always have been, so if you're not really a fan of metal I suggest the lyrics.)

 

Ironman Lake Placid Logo

I hope you were able to read my last blog post about the weekend I spend in Lake Placid watching the Ironman and volunteering.  If not you can find the link here and I suggest you start with that entry.

After the weekend and the volunteering I stuck around for Monday morning.  My efforts as a volunteer earned me the reward of early registration for Lake Placid Ironman 2015.  Working the late shift from bike checkout earned a volunteer sport for early registration but it also earned me the right to a speed pass, so I was able to register before ANYONE else, volunteer, online or in person.  Speed pass registration was scheduled to take place at the office of the visitors bureau beginning at 7:30am.  I'm normally an early person.  I got up around 5am on Monday, finished packing, showering and putting all my stuff in the Jeep for the journey home.

After my chores I took off for downtown Lake Placid with a small stop by the McDonalds for a cup of coffee.  After my drive I found a parking lot on Main Street and payed my parking money.  Magically, rain began to fall - AGAIN!  A quick shower turned into drenching rain.  I was glad I'd worn my rain jacket again as a precaution.  I "mostly," stayed dry for my three block walk to registration.

When I found the visitors bureau the time was about 6:30am and I thought I'd have a good chance of being first in line!  My hopes were quickly destroyed as I bound the steps toward the third floor.  Much to my shock many other triathletes are also OCD early risers who like to stand in lines for an hour.  I was, by my quick count, 30th in line to register!

The wait to register

Fortunately, the registration process kicked off early and we began to register at 7am instead of 7:30am.  I inside and registered for 2015 in what seemed like instants.  The process was easy because Ironman had at least 25 volunteers registering people.  I was in the second wave of registrants and third in the door.  A quick look at my drivers license, the volunteer asked for my email address and I confirmed my info.  Next she asked for my credit card and $740ish dollars later I was an official Ironman Lake Placid 2015 participant!

My unofficial, official registration form
I still needed to complete online portions

After finalizing my race confirmation for 2015 I walked to the section of Main Street where the swim course of Mirror Lake is visible.  I pulled one last selfie with Mirror Lake to use as a reminder I have this race on my schedule.  I'll be back to Lake Placid to train, often, but its nice to carry a reminder!

Mirror Lake Looms

Quickly after registration I was on the road home.  When I got home I stopped by to show my coach my registration and talk Lake Placid.  We're both confident in my swim.  We'll get it faster and we know I can get through the two laps with little problem.  We also know I should be ok on the run.  I ran the first loop of the course last weekend and I'm confident I'll get through.  We both worry about my bike ride.  I need to have enough time, energy and climb left in my legs for the second loop.  My exact instructions for preparation and race day, "when you head out of T1 remember to take it easy on the first loop.  Everyone is going to speed out of T1 with excitement and fly up the first climb.  Trust your power meter and our numbers.  Let all the other assholes go, they're either going to blow up and you'll pass them or they were just better than you anyway."  My coach is the best!  I'm sure we'll tweak all this, play with it, train for it and eventually kill this race!  I have high expectations and I'm full of excitement.

When I get back from vacation this week we'll be full steam ahead into my races left this season but Ironman will be the major target on my calendar.  We'll see what improvements I can make for the rest of this season and I'm definitely not mailing anything in.  All my focus has just shifted to the future and the big A race circled on my calendar for next July!

Lake Placid Ironman 2014 - Race Weekend Recap

First, I apologize for not posting this update sooner but the last week has been crazy!  I left for Lake Placid Thursday, came home Monday night and left for Chicago on Tuesday morning; less than 10 hours after getting home.  I’m currently writing this at 41,000 feet in the air on a Southwest Boeing 737-700 on Wednesday morning at 6:20am heading east.  As mentioned, crazy!

The photo that best describes Ironman
Lake Placid 2014 weekend; wet

Last week I arrived in Lake Placid for Ironman as an official race finishing triathlete but also not really knowing what to expect.  If local sprint triathlons are rookie ball then an Ironman event is the Major Leagues.  The enormity of the Ironman event is intimidating to me.  I’m glad I decided to go watch an event before actually competing in a full Ironman.  The huge field, the hype, the transition area, the course, the mass of spectators and the fanfare made me think, “this is what fighting in the Roman Coliseum must have been like.”   The experience was awesome and I’ll try to do the event justice in my recount.

I arrived in Lake Placid after a night of work, being awake for almost 35 hours and having driven for 9 hours.  Dunkin Donuts coffee and bathroom stops (4 XL coffee and 3 bathrooms stops - the final tally) were the prevailing theme of my drive.  The first thing I saw driving into Lake Placid were the ski jumps and a lot of people out training on the Ironman course.  Bikes and runners were abundant.  

I checked into my hotel and lucky for me, my hotel was within walking distance of downtown.  As soon as I dropped my luggage off in the room I hoofed the mile-ish walk to the transition, finish, Ironman area that would serve as home base for the event all weekend.  My goal was to see transition at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval and look at the coveted Ironman Finish line!  After seeing the line, and being so excited and overcome with happiness I may have peed a little,  I walked over to see Mirror Lake.  My first impression, “Wow, that swim course is long as hell!”  Honestly, I got a little intimidated.  I’m definitely going to need to go to Lake Placid to practice and train on this course to ease my nerves.  Confidence goes a long way in triathlon and I need to know I’m ready!

Lake Placid Swim Course

After seeing the finish line and the lake I called it a day, or a few days!  Like the rockstar I am I was in bed before 8pm and slept until my alarm went off at 4:30am.

Me and the Finish Line!

The second day I planned to head out early and run on the course so I’d have an idea what I am getting myself into with the plan to race Ironman Lake Placid in 2015.  At 5:15am I was dressed and heading out the door for my run.  First impression, wow its cold in Lake Placid!  I was severely underdressed for temperatures where I could see my breath.  After a few minutes run I was warm and enjoying the views.  Mirror Lake at sunrise might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever watched the sun rise.  Its spectacular!  For being in a town full of endurance and endorphin junkies I was surprised to find I was the only person out running at this hour!  (truth be told I’m wearing the fact I was the first one on the roads as a badge of honor!  I think I made the fraternity with that one)  My time was nothing spectacular for all the pictures I stopped to take along the way but I covered nearly 8 miles of the course - most of the first loop out to the ski jumps.  

Mirror Lake morning run

Mirror Lake at sun rise

After my run I changed, showered and had some awful coffee.  Lake Placid does not know how to make coffee, anywhere, at all.  Every establishment made the worst coffee I’ve ever drank.  Note to self: take coffee maker next year!  I spent the day taking photos, shopping and absorbing my environment!  We had our Mid-Maryland Triathlon Club group picture (which I stole from someone I don’t know on Facebook) and then had lunch with a few club members at the Lake Placid Brew Pub.  I feel I have a grasp of what to do at Ironman events just by watching, talking to racers and experiencing the happenings surrounding this event.  Again, this rockstar was in bed early and ready for race day!

Race day I was up at “way too early still dark outside-thirty,” and got ready for what I expected to be a long day of spectating, cheering, volunteering and photo taking.  I left my hotel at 4:45am and joined the already in progress, lycra clad, procession of black toe-nails down Main Street on our way to transition area.  The morning air was crisp and cool on race day but the prevailing theme was an eery calm quiet  as racers made their way to the oval.  I found a nigh vantage point and watched the participants prepare before making my way to Mirror Lake Drive for a good vantage point of the swim.  

Transition: race morning

As the swim began very menacing clouds began to roll across the mountains.  As I moved down toward the transition area to watch the swimmers exit it started raining.  Then it started raining harder.  Soon, it was pouring buckets of huge rain drops!  I was soaked to my underwear in seconds.  Next came the sideways, blowing, stinging yours skin hard rain accompanied by thunder and lightening.  My friends were on their bike rides by this point and I was concerned for their safety.  If you’ve never seen it, the decent into Keene is no joke, downhill, technical and fast.  Not a good combination for wet roads and speeding triathletes on bikes.  Oh, did I mention sections of the road are in dreadful states of disrepair?!  (thankfully all my friends made it through safely!)

Literally the calm before the storm

The storm signaled my time for breakfast and a much deserved nap before my volunteer shift.  When I got up I packed my gear and packed the Jeep.  I wouldn’t be taking any photos in these conditions so I may as well prepare for an early exit the next day.  

I headed back to transition for my volunteer meeting.  I had my meeting, received my shirt and watched the first group of racers across the finish line!  I saw both of my friends cross the line!  congrats to Ginny and Dan, you guys did awesome!  Your awesome races in such horrible conditions are incredibly inspiring to me!  Great job!!!

My volunteer shift began in bike checkout and before I could blink the race was over!  The last finisher crossed the line.  The lights went out, Mike Reiley went home and the crowd dispersed.  But the night wasn’t over.  At about 12:26ish while we were finishing our volunteer duties one lady, driven by determination and her support group, came around the oval toward the finish line.  This lady was not to be denied her finish!  The remaining spectators and volunteers gathered and welcomed her back with applause!  She may not be an official Ironman finisher but she is the most inspiring person I’ve ever seen!  I’m so glad I got to stay to see her, I’m getting chills just typing.  She is the person I respect.  When you start something, you finish!  I hope I can have half her courage and determination when I race my Ironman next year at Lake Placid.  

Overall Ironman Lake Placid is an amazing event!  Lake Placid itself is an incredible destination.  I hope I get to spend some time there over the course of the next year while I train.  I did register for next year’s race but I’d like to discuss that in a post all to itself.  I’d like to elaborate on the registration process and expand my personal thoughts as they apply to my race in one specific post later this week.  Thanks for reading!!!  

Mid Maryland Triathlon Club
representing and supporting 

Watching my friends finish

So You Want To Be An Ironman; 140.6 Miles to Awesomeness



Mdot logo trademarked and taken from Ironman.com

 "You can quit if you want to and no one will care.  But YOU will know for the rest of your life," is how John Collins, founder of The Ironman, described the race in Kona, Hawaii.  It was on a family vacation in Kona with my parents last fall during Ironman week I decided, without knowing much about the Ironman, that I wanted to complete the race.  I had no knowledge of the distances (2.4 Mile swim, 112 Mile bike ride, 26.2 Mile run all completed within 17 hours), I had no idea triathlons were a popular sport and I definitely had no clue the level of commitment required to be successful in this sport.

This week I've taken and will take incredible strides towards making this whole dream of completing an ironman a tangible goal.  With the blessing of my coach and having met the challenge of a sprint triathlon still finding joy in the sport, I registered for my first 70.3 Half-Ironman event.

Before choosing a 70.3 event, I made a list of things necessary for me to choose a race.  The list included:


1.  The race had to be driving distance from my house in close to or under 5 hours
2.  The race had to be in the spring of 2015
3.  The race had to have a history of being wetsuit legal
4.  The race needed to have a lake swim
5.  The race needed to be near an urban area so I could try to convince friends to come support me

When I received the email from Ironman telling of the spring 2015 races going on sale this week, the one event that met all my standards AND sounded like a really good time was the Raleigh, North Carolina 70.3 race.  When I got the blessing from my coach I was probably one of the first people signed up for the event!  I'm really excited and can't wait to go get a Half-Ironman under my belt and medal around my neck!  I think I'll finally feel accomplishment in this sport crossing that finish line!



Ironman Raleigh logo from Ironman website
My first Ironman event in 2015!


This weekend is another major step for me and my journey to the title "Ironman."  I'm volunteering and cheering on my friends at the Ironman Lake Placid race.  I honestly cannot tell you how excited I am to finally attend an Ironman race.  I've watched many races and finishes on line and on youtube, but I'm sure they are no comparison to the real thing.

I'm leaving for Lake Placid Friday morning and driving there for the weekend.  I've reserved a room at a place near the lake and close enough to downtown I can walk or ride my bike everywhere.  I'm volunteering at the bike checkout area in transition from 7:30pm until midnight on Sunday night.  I'll be stationed right next to the finish line as the late night finishers are coming across.  I expect to return highly motivated and ready to tackle the hardest of my trianing.

I chose my volunteer station for Lake Placid Ironman because it is a speedpass volunteer area.  Yes, a speedpass to register for my very own Ironman Lake Placid race Monday morning before any one else can register.  I will be meeting my goal and finishing Ironman Lake Placid in 2015.  I'm so overly excited and nervous I've had some trouble sleeping the past few days.  Sometimes I feel like I already want to throw up.  Having dreams is one thing, taking the initiative, going forward with all your heart and turning those dreams into goals is a big step.  The process of goal achieving is scary, it requires a lot of hard work and it requires you to go to visit some dark places in your soul to get through.  I don't think I'll be the same person in a year but I'm up for the challenge!

Ironman LP logo taken from Ironman website
The place my dream becomes reality

   When I return from Lake Placid, everything will be different.  I can already tell I'm different than I was last week after registering for the Raleigh race.  I've been more critical of my workouts, I'm trying to stick closer to the goals in my daily race training set by my coach.  I haven't left myself slack in training this week and my sore body is a testiment to this new found resolve.  I also haven't skipped any workouts, I moved a few workouts early in the week when I had more time and energy to devote to them.  I  started sticking to a well defined nutrition plan and I'm actively trying to cut weight.  I can't wait to meet the person I am next year at this time!

In order to document this process and attempt to share my experience as real time and realistic as possible I'm going to be creating a lot of content.  My plan is to share video and photos with the world to keep me honest in training and maybe just inspire someone to become healthier in their own lives.  I invested in a GoPro Camera, a few attachments and I've dusted the patina from a few of my old camera bodies for documentation.  I hope you enjoy the content and follow along!  I'll still be posting here on Monday and hopefully Thursdays but as trianing picks up two blog posts a week might be a challenge.  For the real time stuff please follow along on Twitter and the hub of my activity will take place on Instagram, handle @TheDoob


First GoPro photo grabbed after a ride this week.
An example of what is sure to follow as the quest begins

 As always, thank you for reading!  The journey gets real next week and I'm excited for the challenge.  As the United States Navy Seals say, "The only easy day was yesterday!"  Have a great weekend everyone, more next Monday when I get home from Lake Placid.