The Iron Geek

My personal journey of going from an overweight IT leader to an Ironman.

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jonathandoeslife: Smit, Swim-cap Moxy, Jonathan, and Chris! Ready to take on Louisville! Best of luck all. Take it down!

jonathandoeslife:

Smit, Swim-cap Moxy, Jonathan, and Chris! Ready to take on Louisville!

Best of luck all.

Take it down!

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My 140.6 Mile Journey

“They say that finishing an Ironman is a life-changing experience.  I really hope that they weren’t referring to losing a pinky toe, because I’m not sure mine is going to make it through the day and that would suck.”

This is the conversation that I am having with myself as I plod through the dark and deserted streets of Panama City Beach.  I am competing in my first Ironman Triathlon.  It’s just after 9:00 p.m. and I have been propelling myself forward for more than fourteen hours.  I am exhausted and my body is breaking down.  What started out as aches and pains has evolved into a full-on civil war between my mind and my body.  My mind is winning, and my body is paying the price.

I try to keep myself focused on the task at hand.  I must keep moving.  I must finish what I started.  Today is the culmination of eighteen months of training and preparation.  It’s not about an event, it’s about my life. 

I am not the same person I was two years ago. 

That person couldn’t run a hundred yards without being winded.  That person couldn’t do a lap in the pool without stopping.  That person carried around fifty-five more pounds.  That person drank too much beer and ate way too much fast food.  That person couldn’t keep up with his kids when they were playing. 

That person couldn’t commit to this type of goal and see it through.

That person wasn’t the real ME.  This is ME.  This journey has proven that I am still here.

Unfortunately, none of that is any consolation to my feet, which are damaged goods.  They feel as if they have been beaten with a hammer, especially my left pinky toe.  Every step sends a jarring pain up my leg.  And in a cruel twist of cosmic irony, it hurts more to walk than it does to run.

But when I run, I am slammed with the realization of how exhausted I am.  There is just no more gas in the tank.  I make a mental commitment that the next person that casually mentions that they are “exhausted” will get a full-on beat-down from me on principal alone. “You don’t know what exhausted is,” I think to myself.

Snapping out of this negative mental place, I think about my day.

I have survived a 2.4 mile swim with 2500 of my “closest” friends through a jellyfish-filled ocean.  I have endured the never-ending winds on my 112 mile bike, and I have been running, walking and shuffling for just over 23 miles.  “Just over 3 more miles to go,” I say to myself.

“Then you can call yourself an Ironman.”

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Don’t You Dare Tell Me There’s Something I Can’t Do

I heard “Hey Todd! You’re an Ironman!” 15 hours and 16 minutes after my day began. What an amazing day.

I cant believe how much my feet hurt. I’ll send out more tomorrow. Right now I need to eat all the things at Waffle House.

Have a good night. I’m going to spend the night sleeping with a smile on my face.

TOOK. IT. DOWN.

Killing It!

Todd continues to meet each of his Ironman goals. He had a range of times to account for the unexpected and he’s come in low for both swim and bike He’s on his run and I expect to see him soon. Anyone who’s struggling will be carried by this super exuberant crowd.

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Todd finished the swim this morning looking strong and in charge. He was smiling wide as he left on his bike to conquer 112 miles. I can only imagine what he’s thinking after all these months of preparation. Even with high expectations, I hope it’s so much more than he expected. Personally, I am in awe of the athletes for both their effort and their support of one another. It is quite a community. Btw, Irongeek has a guest blogger today — his wife. If you get a chance, look him up via irongeek.com, bib 1336.

Todd finished the swim this morning looking strong and in charge. He was smiling wide as he left on his bike to conquer 112 miles. I can only imagine what he’s thinking after all these months of preparation. Even with high expectations, I hope it’s so much more than he expected.

Personally, I am in awe of the athletes for both their effort and their support of one another. It is quite a community.

Btw, Irongeek has a guest blogger today — his wife. If you get a chance, look him up via irongeek.com, bib 1336.

Ironman FL 2011: It’s Here!

There are no words to describe this morning! Todd did an amazing first lap in the water and made it look easy. The energy level at the event is extraordinary! More to come throughout the day.

“Going to the bathroom outside of the porta-potties is not only rules for disqualification, it is also grounds for being arrested. If I were you, I wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea of spending the night in jail with shaved legs, wearing lycra. Just sayin.”

Run Race Director at IMFL

[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

Ironman Florida Bike Course is FLAT!

Just got done with our drive around the 112 mile course. Very surprised by how flat it is. This two minutes of video is an example (soundtrack brought to you by Bob FM). There are several long, straight stretches for miles and miles.

I’m getting excited!

The Road To Florida…

On this Saturday, November 5th, I will compete in my first Ironman Triathlon.  I will swim 2.4 miles, ride my bike for 112 more and then slug it out on a 26.2 mile marathon. All in less than 17 hours.

I will do this.  

I will take it down.

The last 18 months have been an epic journey.  When I started out, I could barely run 100 yards or swim even the length of a pool.  I’m not going to lie, I am nervous about this event.  It’s hard to believe that something I have worked for so long for is only a few days away (We leave for Florida in the morning).  

But as my coach recently reminded me, I have accomplished every goal that I have set out for myself:

  • Complete a 5K (check)
  • Complete a 10K (check)
  • Complete a 13.1 Half Marathon (check)
  • Complete a Marathon (check)
  • Complete a Sprint Triathlon (check)
  • Complete an Olympic Triathlon (check)
  • Complete an Ironman 70.3 (check)
  • Complete an Ironman (Saturday, November 5th, 2011)

This goal will be no different.  Because I am ready.  I am focused.  I will take it down.

For those interested, you can track my progress online at www.ironman.com.  I am Bib# 1336.  On race day (the race starts at 7:00 am Central Time) they will offer an athlete tracker that will provide you with my split times as well as a live video stream of the finish line (for those who are up that late).

I am really going to need all the good vibes that you can send my way on race day.  Any you can spare, please send my way.  =)

Focus on finishing happy and healthy with a smile on your face

I had my final phone call (at least for now) with my Ironman coach, Don Fink yesterday.  He spent most of the call providing some tips and tricks to get ready for the race.  Here are some of the highlights:

  • “The hay is in the barn.  All you can do now is burn it down.” - Meaning my level of fitness peaked two weeks ago.  I have all the fitness that I am going to have on race day.  The only thing I can do now is screw it up.  I need to keep with the plan and don’t screw it up.
  • In reference to the three days leading up to the race: “There is a saying from the Tour de France that says, ‘If you find yourself standing up, ask yourself why you are not sitting down.  If you find yourself sitting down, ask yourself why you are not laying down.  If you find yourself laying down, ask yourself why you are not sleeping.’”
  • “Don’t be the guy that get’s so caught up in what is going on that you get sunburned and have to race with a sunburn.  Such a rookie mistake.”
  • “I highly recommend that you schedule out every hour of your trip to Florida.  Know when you are going to be sleeping, when you are eating, and when you are going to the expo.  Lack of planning can leave you looking for a dinner at 10:00 the night before the race.  I even put bike maintenance on my schedule just in case I need the time.” (I added the need to plan out Tuesday, the day before we leave, to make sure that I pack everything)
  • “Plan out what your wife is going to do while she is there.  This race is a one loop bike course so there is a big gap in time between when you leave on the bike and the first pro biker comes back.  It’s a long day for the supporters like your wife, make sure they have a plan for the day.”
  • “Break the race down into segments and plan and track for each segment.  For example, the swim is a rectangle with a series of lefts.  The swim to each left turn is a segment…<we went through the rest of the race course, which he knows well>.”
  • “Focus on finishing happy and healthy, with a smile on your face.”

I can’t believe that we leave in 4 days.  I can’t believe that the last 18 months all come down to the next 4 days.  I can’t believe this is going to happen.

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Soaring Wings Virtual Half-Marathon - 2:16 My previous best for a 13.1 race was 2:33. My first half marathon, just 13 months ago, I finished in 3:05. Stayed in Zone 2 until the last mile. Did 11/1 Run/Walk for the first hour before realizing that I felt great and the walk was just slowing me down. Ran it the rest of the way in. I had a great day, but from the pictures it looks like the real-deal was much more fun. Congrats to all those in Conway!

Soaring Wings Virtual Half-Marathon - 2:16

My previous best for a 13.1 race was 2:33. My first half marathon, just 13 months ago, I finished in 3:05.

Stayed in Zone 2 until the last mile. Did 11/1 Run/Walk for the first hour before realizing that I felt great and the walk was just slowing me down. Ran it the rest of the way in.

I had a great day, but from the pictures it looks like the real-deal was much more fun.

Congrats to all those in Conway!

kristinlosesit:

not gonna lie:  i feel super nervous about the virtual half tomorrow :-/

Take it down!

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dawnversion2point0: ‘Nuff said. [GRIN]

dawnversion2point0:

‘Nuff said.

[GRIN]

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The FedEx guy delivered a little &#8220;go fast&#8221; package today. :-) Sweet!

The FedEx guy delivered a little “go fast” package today. :-)

Sweet!

Tumblr Tuesday - Here’s who’s rockin my dash…

You should check them out!

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