Consistency . . . Its not just for Training anymore

I've taken several taken more than my share of personal days from my blog postings.  I've focused on my consistency in training and I'm going to make a solid attempt at being more consistent with the Tri-ingfatman blog.

2011 - Its been a fairly strong year so far.

My surgery infection is a thing of the past.  I've gone eight solid months without any issues or reoccurring infection.  That alone would suffice for a successful year since I spent most of 2011 shoving saline soaked gauze into my leg.

I've been racing well and actually hitting PRs (Personal Records) at pretty mush all of my races.  The best accomplishment in 2011 was Heatwave . . . IT WAS HOT!  I PR-ed by almost 7 minutes.  A small part of my soul died out of that course, but another part of me grew stronger.

My training has been pretty consistent too.  I put on more than 60 pounds during my DO NOTHING 2010 season, however I've dropped 25 or those pounds and I'm focused on an Ironman Arizona race weight of 210 Pounds.  Im at 265lbs as I post this story.

I've raced 5 times this year.  I have 5 races left on the calendar including IM Arizona in November, going for that sub 13 hour race.

I head up to Wisconsin for the Door County Triathlon in early July then my annual pilgrimage to Iowa for www.ragbrai.com the annual bike ride across Iowa!

In September I get to race in D.C. with my bud Lance at The Nations Tri.

It's already a good year . . . That is only going to get better!

I had a good 3 hour HOT Humid ride this morning and a 2 hr run tomorrow.  What do you have coming up with your training and racing?

Cheers!

TweetPeeps Wanna Know . . .

My current  ipod Running Playlist: (in alphabetical order)

DON’T JUDGE!

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked – Cage the Elephant

Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes

Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys

Broken Again – Another Animal

Bullet and a Target – Citizen Cope

Consoler of the Lonely – The Recounteurs

Country Grammar – Nelly

The Distance – Cake

Feeling Alright  - Joe Cocker

Furr – Blitzen Trapper

The General – Dispatch

Stand Up and Get Crunked – Ying Yang Twins

Hurt – Johnny Cash

Just Lose It – Eminem

Love Removal Machine – The Cult

Naveed – Our Lady Peace

Remedy – The Black Crowes

Suicide Messiah – Black Label Society

This is the New Sh*t – Marilyn Manson

Use Me – Bill Withers

Vasoline – Stone Temple Pilots

What Goes Around Comes Around – Justin Timberlake

When I Come Around – Green Day

You Wouldn’t Know - HellYeah

WHOLLY KAMOLLIE!

What a horrifically self testing day I had at Ironman New Orleans 69.1 . . .

Lets talk about Friday and Saturday leading up to Sunday's NOLA 70.3 race.

Friday:

I began having cramps in my stomach.  I was feeling woozy, but didn't feel sick.  I tried not to think much about it thinking it was just a fluke feeling.  THEN the onslaught took over and I was poooooooo-ing non stop.  HOW ABOUT THAT FOR TMI!!!

This continued into Saturday and I was worried.

I had put at minimum a bottle of Pepto Bismo in my belly as well as a small bottle of Imodium AD . . . How did that help you you ask?

NOT A BIT.

As I drove to the race site Sunday morning I was convincing myself to do this race, but I was losing the battle with myself.

Next:

I am only competent in one area of my triathlon and that is the swim.  I like my bike, but the bike hurts.  I actually love the swim and never feel tired or as if I have exerted much energy during the swim.

OF COURSE - The swim was canceled due to high winds.  First let me say this.  There has been much discussion about whether the race should have been canceled.  I think it was the best call at the time from what I saw.

TIME TRIAL Bike start.

The wind was in out face and beating the tar out of me the first 10 miles and then I got hit with my first of many stomach cramps.  I'm thinking I was on my period, as if I knew what that is like . . .

This continued for the entire bike and I thought it might be the BIG D - diarrhea - kicking in again and so I hit the port o potty and nothing, but more cramps.

As I pulled into transition - beat by the wind and tore UP by the cramps I had decided I was done.  Just put a DNF by my name I was cooked, done, it was OVER.  I even told a few of my friends that I was toast and not going out on the run . . .

I arrived at my rack position, racked my bike and began packing up my transition bag to go home.

I had a record breaking 21 minute transition!

I was not going to be a puss for my first major tri that I was prepared for since my major surgery in Jan 2010 because of a little cramping in my little belly . . .

So I was off on the run . . .

Needless to say I was pissed at myself for the next 13 miles for not just taking a DNF, but I finished.

It was ugly, I spent more time in port o potties than one person should have.  I high fived people, I cheered for others, and ultimately like a wounded dog, I shuffled across the finish line.

I feel horrible today and I still have the sh*ts, excuse my french . . . But I finished.

It was ugly.  I was ugly.  I hope I feel better.

CHEERS!

1st Race since 9-11-2010

I'm a little bit scared . . . more nervous, but ultimately intimidated.

I've participated in over 75 triathlons since 2005, but this one has the feeling of a first timer race.

The surgery I had in January 2010 really set me back.  I hope that is mostly behind me now.  We will find out tomorrow!

I'll get back on my race reports.

TOMORROW - Oxbow Triathlon in New Roads LA.  800m swim, 20 mi bike, 5k run

GOAL and MOTIVATION . . . IN one

I've decided a goal for 2011.

I'm not a big fan of spending money just to spend it . . . I am a Financial Planner as a career choice . . . But, I am all for buying speed or more importantly to me, buying energy savers.

However, I also believe in rewards for accomplishments.

When I hit 220lbs I will buy this wetsuit.  It is Xterra's  VENDETTA WETSUIT.

And it is BAD TO THE BONE!

Most importantly to me with ant wetsuit is the help with float, I need that help.  

220lbs . . . Here I come!

A DOUBLE POSTING TODAY!!!!

I wanted to take a moment and acknowledge an amazing person and friend.

Chris and I went to college together.  A couple years ago he decided to get his weight under-control which means eating better and moving more.

In True Chris C fashion . . . The guy who was at the top (1st or 2nd I think) at Law School . . . He took it to the next level.



Chris began a monster exercise regiment and took to prisoners.  He started doing treadmill and stationary bike work, then added weight training, then added muy thai, THEN added boot camp, THEN added cycling (we just found him a killer road bike) and he has transformed his life.

I am so proud of your accomplishments Chris.  Your success re-motivates me regularly.  Thank you.

Now, He has made a commitment to ride in RAGBRAI with me one year.  I think it needs to be 2012.




YOU DA MAN COLE!!!!!!!!

Extra Extra!!!!!!

There have been a couple changes to the race schedule this year and I have begun the training.

First - I've added a couple races.

The following races are on the schedule AND registered for:

April 2    Oxbow Tri - New Roads LA (Sprint)
April 17  New Orleans 70.3
May 7     Gulf Coast 70.3 - Panama City Beach FL
May 15   New Orleans 5150 (Oly)
July 10    T-Gator #3 - Lake CHarles LA (Sprint)
July 21-3  www.RAGBRAI.com (You gotta do this one day - This will be my third year)
Sept 11    Nation's Triathlon - D.C. (OLY)
Nov 20    Ironman Arizona - Tempe AZ

The races NOT yet registered for:

Meat Pie Triathlon - Natchitoches LA (Sprint)

TRAINING in 2011:


This has been rough starting.  I had a few consistent weeks of running while doing the slowtwitch 100 runs in 100 days challenge.  I was building what I considered a good base and great start of running minimum 30 minutes a day.

Then came Florida family vacation and then came family sickness until recently.  BUT, I am back on it.

Runs have been good and quality.  Bike is getting there.  SO FAR - (knock knock) the leg that gave me so much trouble last year after surgery is not giving me any problems.  It hasn't even shown the slightest sign of opening back up.  Woo Hoo.

I decided to build back up to my 70.3 training plan quickly.  I am feeling it, but I think it is the best thing versus either 1. jumping right back into it where I left off, which would put me way behind come April.  OR 2.  Start the plan where I am supposed to be, but then I feel I would risk injury.

So nice and steady, but focused and hard for the next few weeks until I catch up to the plan.

AS FOR THE WEIGHT:

Down a couple but, nothing to be excited about.  I've been focused on my nutrition and it is paying off with no added exertion . . . Let's get some work done!

I hope your training is going well.

Cheers!

2011 Goals and Race Schedule

Overall Goal is to have a fun year of racing and getting back into the groove of consistent training.  Anything beyond that will be lagniappe (Gravy).

Specific Goals:

Current Weight 268lbs.

Weight Goal:
April 1 - 250lbs
July 1 - 235lbs
Oct 1 - 225lbs
Nov 1 - 220lbs
Dec 1 210lbs

NOLA 70.3 Finish time - Sub 6.5 hrs
IMAZ Finish time - Sub 14hrs

2011 Races (A few Sprints will be scattered in throughout the year)

Jan 29     Miles for MOZ 5k run (Goal sub 35min)
Feb 5      Mardi Gras Mambo 10k (Goal sub 1:15)
April 16  NOLA 70.3 (Goal sub 6.5hrs)
May 12   NOLA 5150
July 21-Aug3) RAGBRAI
Sept 10    Nations Triathlon DC
Sept        Meat Pie
Nov       IMAZ

2011 Will Be Epic . . .

I think I literally took 2010 off.

I learned a lot about myself and I plan to put that to work this year.  I also had the opportunity for MAJOR frustration in 2010 and I didn't handle that so well, but I will grow from it.

Here is what happened . . .

I had an additional surgery as a result of my weight loss and my choice of activities.  At IMFL 2009 I did some major damage to the loose skin in my inner thigh area.  In the beginning of the year I had that area removed in surgery.

I had major issues with the healing of my left inner thigh. My surgeon is the best there is, but this is a very difficult area to work on AND with the damage I cause at IMFL it made the surgery that much more difficult.

The left leg continued to open up.  I had to wet/dry pack the hole for several months (ENJOY THAT VISUAL!) and finally by the middle of the year I thought I was good to go.

I stepped up my training in preparation for IMAZ . . . FAIL.

I continued to have issues until August, where I was finally able to consistently train.  I was beginning to enjoy things without worrying about the damaged area that wouldn't heal.

I debated racing in the Patriot's Half Ironman in Williamsburg with my bud Lance.  I was more concerned with the lack of racing and more the lack of training, but I paid for the entry right!!??

Ultimately, I am glad I raced in this race since it is an awesome venue and well run race.  The swim sucked since I swam against the current for most of the swim, but the bike course RULED and the run is awesome as well.

My issue came about mile 5.5 of the run course.  I knew something was wrong.  (Side note - I can't feel anything in the area where I had surgery and this is difficult since I can't feel if I do additional damage) I didn't know how bad the damage was until I returned home that night.

I had opened the area up again and it was not pretty.

My Dr. and I had a LONG heart to heart talk.

No nothing for 2 months.  I could walk lightly with brisk speed, but I had to be careful with even that amount of exertion and pressure on the damaged area.

2 MONTHS!!!!!!!!????????  NOTHING!!!!!!!!????????

This obviously meant no IMAZ.  I was not happy.

I did it.  I mean I didn't do it . . .

I became the old me for 2 months.  I could write a whole post about just those two months.  I was depressed.  I was angry.  I was difficult to live with.  I was gaining weight.  I was not in a good place.

Kinda like I was prior to becoming more healthy.

My weight got back up to 292lbs.  I was around 235lbs at IMFL.

In mid November I was allowed to begin jogging and light running.  I was also allowed to ride upright bikes like out beach cruiser and my mountain bike.  No Tri or road bike since that is where the rub is mostly.

I began riding my tri bike again about 2 weeks ago.  I think I forgot how to ride!  Time will tell.

I am now at 275lbs.

2011 will be a year of finding myself in this sport again and the healthy lifestyle I knew for the past few years.

I will be posting my 2011 goals and race schedule later this week.

I head for vacation this week to Florida.  I will begin the DBAP training there and I will be consistent and I will tear 2011 a new one!

Thanks everyone for the emails checking in on me.

Let's do this!