140.6 V2.0

Starting out on the ironman bike course

Home sweet home

Headed out to ironman training camp, on the way stopped off for a jog in the very reservoir where I started running in the summer of 1984. So many years, so grateful for all the friends and experiences I've had!

Granby 10K race report

Better late than never! This race report is 6 days overdue, it was held on 5/5/12, just 6 days out from the Lake Waramaug 50 miler. My legs were tired, conditions were a bit hard for a trail race- rainy, slippery footing inside Mcleans. I concentrated on heart rate, most of my miles were 7:20-7:30 except mile #2 which is straight uphill which was just over 8 minutes. That brought my average pace to 7:42 for a finish of 47:47. This was about 40 seconds than last year, and good enough for an AG 1st prize, which was the Swedish candle you see in the picture. Not bad all things (especially the recent 50 miler considered.

This weekend was more SBR, mostly in zone 2, some low zone 3. I think I have had another technique breakthrough in my swim...we'll see. Turned the screw one more notch on my bike trainer resistance for my 4 hour interval ride this am. I guess the highlight of this 16+ hour training week was seeing a young moose in the middle of my run yesterday. And the low point- in the middle of bike ride yesterday and saw my greyhound, Ben get hit by a car. He's ok, one massive vet bill later.

Next on tap: a few days off this week, for Fireman Ironman Training Camp in Lake Placid NY. Hope to hit 25 hrs. We'll see on that one too!

Lake Waramaug Ultra 50 mile race report

4/29/12. This was my last race as a 40 year old, my birthday was the next day. The day started out well, no hail, rain or snow like last year. I had my traditional pre-race powerbar and coffee. Check in was after 6:30 am, I managed to lose my chip in the first half hour. Luckily, the race director himself found it!

By 7:30 we were off. I felt ok from the start, ran with Rose and Tray for a while. Lee was off like a shot. Lap 2 I listened to an audiobook and ran with Rose. By lap 3, I ran into Andrea Buono and the big time nausea hit like a ton of bricks. I think it was the gatorade they had on the course, zofran and pepto did nothing. I remembered the advice given to us at ironman- before you give up on a race because of nutritional problems try Coca Cola. So I did, and found that I could keep small amounts of coke and ice chips down. Certainly not adequate to supply my caloric needs, but it allowed me to at least power through a walk run. As the day wore on, my right leg was a bit sore from running on the left side of the road that was severely sloped. The crowd thinned considerably. I ran for a few minutes with a scattered individuals but mostly alone in the last miles.

I was able to finish in around 10:19- not fast but I finished. For several hours into the next day later I was in rough shape- unable to eat/ drink and getting very weak and shaky.

But like everything, it eventually passed... And I'm looking forward to the next one!
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The Hardcore 100

This weekend I was lucky enough to get about 11 hours in! My primary workout was the Hardcore 100, a 5 hour 37 minute indoor training ride.

It's sort of overwhelming to think of what's ahead of you when you put in disc 1 and see over five and half hours ahead of you. As the hours go by, the workout gets harder and the mental challenge increases.

I think that's what's so important about doing workouts like this in training: to face whatever you might bring to the table that day such as fatigue, dehydration, ect. and work out the solutions in training.

Surprisingly, each time I do it gets easier. This time I had one small glitch at about 3 hrs, I got off the bike ever so briefly to change my sweaty shirt, get some water, and use the ladies room and powered on through.

My theory is if you can sit on a trainer in the dingy garage for 5+ hrs, riding through the beautiful adirondacks--especially near Ausable should be a breeze on race day.

This week is a bit of recovery to start out with and then it's time to get organized for the Lake Waramaug Ultra.

Nutrition on the Run

I guess the popular Pre/ on the run nutrition these days is probably some type of gel or gatorade-type drink...plenty of carbs, maybe even a good portion of HFCS. Some may add in a bit a caffeine too, great if you want a quick sugar rush and then the crash which leaves you totally depleted in the end.

Still searching for nutritional nirvana, I don't know if the issue is protein, fat, less processed foods, the type of carbs ect.

But in my ongoing experiments, I did try organic baby food last night. Aramanth, veggies, fruits...couldn't ask for more nutritional value all in a portable very easy to use package.

Although I don't think it's the be all and end all to my search it does give me some ideas about self packaging some pre-race whole foods like potatoes ect in a similar manner. It does however give me a fall back plan when needing real good quality non-junk food in a pinch.

Training and the Mind

Lots of new info has emerged in the recent years about the perception of effort, and our own concept of limits that often holds us back.

The mind it appears, has capacity for far more than we could ever imagine. Tapping into that power could have enormous potential.

Right now, though, I am not thinking of huge goals or PR's. I've had a super long day, and this is only day 2 of my usual but extraordinarily long work weeks, which are mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting.

Trying to visualize my goals, visualize successful completion, and tap into that hidden mental strength to get this workout done tonight: Brick, 70 minutes hard bike followed by 30 minute T-run...and this is my second workout of the day.

No wonder they call it Brick, feels like I might be hitting the bricks soon!

Channeling willpower, strength, goals..