And so it begins...

Actually, training for Ironman Arizona (IMAZ, April '08) began back in Oct '07 right after the Longhorn Half IM in Austin, TX. This will be my first full Ironman. Creating a blog has been on my "to do" list for quite sometime. So my blog begins today. Will update it weekly and will load some pics soon too.

I hired a tri coach and swim coach and was in a good training rythym through Dec but got out of synch in Jan. The first week was a recovery week, then a snow skiing trip to Montana (Yea!), then I pulled a ham string, ouch! But now it is Feb and I'm focused on doing all the workouts, one day at a time. Only 8 weeks to go until taper!

My swim was coming along fine, but lost some zip after a pulled hammy. Swam my first 2.4m on Jan 19 in 1:32:43, about 2:12/100 pace. Not my best time, but ok given it was my first attempt at 2.4m. I figure I can get this down to 1:30. With wet suit on race day, I should be in the 1:25-1:30 range, which is ok for a middle aged breast stroker who swam his first 25 yards in Jan '06 and nearly died. (More on breast stroking another day.)

My bike is the my weakest event of the three, but getting better. It's all relative I suppose. I've been passed by everyone imaginable: men, women, older, younger, taller, shorter, bigger, smaller. They don't discriminate and pass me at will. I feel like a fence post out there but I keep cheering them on as they pass me. Did my first century on Feb 2 in 6:11, about 16.1 mph, on a trainer in my den. Took two movies and a basketball game to get me through it. Still too cold to bike outside, even in Mississippi, but warming up soon. Not sure how speed on a trainer translates to speed outside but we are about to find out. I hope to bike in 7 hours at IMAZ, around 16 mph.

As for the run, I get pretty bushed after the swim and bike. Have done 3 half IM's, all with dismal run performances. Bonked on all 3. So I will work on it and do my best here. Have never run a full marathon before but have done 3 half marathons, all just south of 10:00/mile. But given that this will occur after the swim and bike, I hope to do this in 5 hours, or so. It's the "or so" part that concerns me. Depends on the 4 H's (heat, humidity, hills, and headwinds). And nutrition. IMAZ is known for its headwinds but at least the course is relatively flat. By the way, I did my first half IM in Tempe, so I am familiar with the course and elements.

Nevertheless, adding up the times of swim 1.50 (2:09/100), bike 7.00 (16 mph) , and run 5.00 (11:27/m) gives me a 13:30 at IMAZ, which is in a perfect world and somewhat ambitious. Throw in a 6 hour run (13:45/m) and it becomes 14:30. So maybe I'll finish around 13:30-14:30. Anyway, it's a start. Whatever I do in April, I hope to improve in Nov '08 when I return to Tempe for my second shot at IMAZ. So yes, I signed up for IMAZ twice this year. I figured since I was already in full IM training mode, I might as well keep it up through the end of this year and improve upon my first IM. I know it's nuts, but what else am I going to do with my time? Besides, the weather will be much better for training through spring and summer versus the winter.

We'll see how it goes. Any training tips, especially in the area of nutrition (daily or race day) would be greatly appreciated. Or just say hello!

Later!!!