It's Been a While . . .

I haven't looked back to see when my last post was, but I know it's been a while . . .

My body knows it.

Since my Ironman Florida finish I've pretty much sucked it up.  I've done a few half Ironman races and many Oly and sprint distances, but I have lost most of my good fitness and more than that I've put on some poundage over the past couple years.

At IM Florida I had hit my lowest weight in a many many years.  I was around the 230lb area and now I am back up to the 285lb area.  Not Good.

Time to get back on that horse.

I'll keep you posted.

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!

I Can't Quit You!

Well Well . . . Look who’s been a big ole slacker!

Let’s recap:

I November 2010 I completed Ironman Florida in just over 15hrs.  In early January I had a major surgery to remove the loose skin between my legs.  Ironman Florida caused some serious issues for me there and I had to take care of it.

I had major complications after the surgery.  Staph infection then abscess and finally by April 1 I was given permission to begin training again.

I put in 3 hard weeks of training and I think it was too much too soon.  I became very ill – to the point of not being able to breathe.  Could have been a combination of illness and allergies, but it took me down.

That lasted about 3 weeks and here I have been the last 3 weeks doing NOTHING.  Sitting on my rump, gaining weight and wondering why?????

I have zero motivation.

I’ve gained 45lbs and my body hurts (even though I’ve done nothing).

I have goals mind you, but I have done nothing about them.

My numero uno goal is to complete Ironman Arizona in under 13 hours.  How’s that for a goal for a fat ass like me!!??

I have much work to do before then.  Here is the priority list:

1.     Begin eating correctly again.

2.     Focus on consumption (eat less)

3.     Start light but begin consistently training.

4.     Turn up the volume in August and bust tail.

5.     Post twice weekly on progress and situation.

I think I have the tools to complete my main goal of sub 13 hr IMAZ.

I have a great coach in Will Jones at www.4dracing.com and I know I can do it mentally and if I get my tail in gear I can do it physically.

How’s about we begin this week.

Let’s do this!!!

2010 Goals

I Chris Boggs will:
1. Bring my short distance run to sub 8 min miles and my 1/2 IM and IM to

sub 10 min miles.

2. Drop to 195lbs by 11-21-2010

3. Finish IMAZ in SUB 12hrs

4. Train consistently and smartly



2010 - A good year.

I never claimed to be incredibly bright . . .

It has been over a month since my surgery january 5th. I have hit a few road blocks with this recovery. Infection has kicked my butt and I am done with this resting and recovering thing!

I've been eating out of control the last couple of weeks. I've identified it and am correcting it, but it was a feeling I thought was done with. Problem addressed and problem taken care of.

I dropped out of Ironman CDA in June. My Dr feels I might be able to get back on the training horse by April and that is simply not enough time to get my body ready.

With that I am setting and goal for Ironman Arizona: SUB 13 hours.

That's right.

OK, for most people that is a silly goal and for hard core Ironman participants they will giggle and some even mock this goal, but most of those guys I can sit on or break them in half - (that was passive aggressive . . . or was it just aggressive?) But for me sub 13 hours will be a serious accomplishment.

Ironman FLorida was my ice breaker. My goal was to have fun and enjoy the day and I did just that finishing in 15:11.

I believe I can knock off 2 hours and I will.

I am going to race a couple times this year, but mostly focus on training.

I am looking for a half ironman in August in the South West . . . (SUGGESTIONS).

Whatever your goals are - Set them HIGH and go for it!

YOU CAN DO IT!

WHO DAT!!!! SAINTS DATS WHO!!!!!

I have been waiting for this since I was a weeeeee tot!

Congratulations SAINTS!!!!!!!!!

235 little new born boys already named Drew - AND 3 little new born girls!!!!!

The Latest - My Mind is in the CRAPPER!

If you go back to the beginning of my blog I think you will see major changes in so many areas of my life.

I was 452lbs and now I am 250lbs. I had never done a single triathlon and now I have done nearly 70 triathlons including my IRONMAN last November in Florida.

In November 2008 I had an upper body lift. That surgery alone took about 14lbs of loose skin off and re-shaped (no pun intended) how my life would move forward.

On January 5^th this year, I had the second of the two surgeries and it was my lower body lift, mainly focusing on my upper legs in the inner thigh area.

The last few years, since loosing a great deal of weight has been brutal on my inner thigh area (THE CROTCH). This may be TMI, too graphic, more than you want to know, but it’s the facts. I had a great deal of skin that floated around and just kind of hung there. As you can imagine, running and cycling puts a great deal of stress on that area and more than that the friction in that area is immense. For a normal person a little save, body glide, etc will handle the issue fine, but when you have a “little extra” down there – No amount of lubricant will help.

I had a choice – stop training so hard and lay low and not do so much damage there and continue to lose weight and eventually have it removed via surgery or keep on keeping on and train my butt off knowing the damage would continue.

After a short training session I would have no real issues. A 5 mile run or a 30 mile bike was not a really big deal. There would be discomfort and a little heat in the area, but nothing a little Boudreaux’s Butt Paste wouldn’t handle.

It was the long training rides and the longer races such as Olympic distances or longer, that caused the larger issues. As my Ironman training ramped up I would have significant bleeding and abrasions in my inner thigh, crotch area and I went through Neosporin like it was water for the last couple years. But, I wouldn’t go back and do it any differently. Not one thing. OK . . . I wouldn’t have put on the weight in the first place – but, my choices afterwards to rectify the situation – I wouldn’t change.

The recovery from the upper body lift was incredible. My Dr. (In my opinion the best in the BIZ, Dr. Lior Heller) cut me all the way around to remove the loose skin. My joke was that I looked like a magic trick (saw a person in half) GONE BAD!! It took a couple months before I could get on the trainer in my workout room and more to hit the pavement running.

When it came to this surgery – I thought there was no way the recovery for my lower body lift would be as intense as the upper body lift . . .

The jury is still out on that – But what I can say is – It is a completely different type of recovery an the pain is as intense.

I am experiencing a bit of a set back.

My Dr is the best as I stated above and I would recommend him to ANYONE considering this type of work.

My left leg is not healing as we wish it would be. It is setting me back a great deal and I am in the mental turn can right now. I am a unique case. Most people having these types of surgery are not very active. I am VERY active and I put a lot of stress in the area that was being cut and reattached and it was a very difficult surgery as a result of my training. Ironic.

I expected to be out of training for 2 to 3 months. We are looking at 4-5 months now and I am a broken man at this moment because of that.

Now – I have been in the bed and on the couch since Jan 5^th and I have this week left with that and next week I will be in the office. That is the beauty of my business that I can do everything of necessity from home although I really enjoy being in front of my clients and I am looking forward to getting back into that groove.

But the not being able to train is beating me up. I have begun focusing on several outlets to get my mind in the right place, but it’s difficult when I can’t stand for very long and the three times a day I have to clean my wounds and I see some of the issues I am having. On the positive side – If I tend to the area properly and keep the wound infection free – I will not need a second surgery.

Good thing is . . . I have a great wife and an UNBELIEVABLE Daughter and both of them do a great job pulling me out of the depression hole. I am a lucky dude.

I will keep everyone posted on how things are going, but I will say this again. If I could go back and do things differently – I wouldn’t. I would do it all the same.

FINAL PAT OF RACE REPORT IMFL

13.1 miles left out of my 140.6 miles to travel that day. That’s what I said to myself a great deal . . . I’m basically done . . . While I may be at the absolute most difficult part of the entire race foe, I am at the end.

I have failed to mention out tri club enough in this Race Report. I have a great resource from some great people here in Louisiana and our tri club www.batonroughtri.com is a wealth of information with some super fast racers and many experienced peeps.

Vanilla was one of those and a really welcomed person to see as I headed out on my second loop. Charles (AKA Vanilla) really took me under his wing for my first IM. He would call me and check in to see how training was going, how I was mentally etc. And today he was there to see me race and finish. As I slogged along with my head down wishing I was done running he ran up beside me and pumped me up mentally telling me what I needed to hear. Vanilla has raced in all the NA IM races. As I slogged along he said to me “You can go faster. Your body can do more than your mind is letting you. Pick it up and you’ll see.” I did and it did. At one point I was (for me) flying! He stayed with me for a couple miles hitting me mentally with things we’d discussed for months, but I had neglected the past 10 or so miles. “Focus on pushing yourself until the next aid station. You got this!”

My time shows the pick up in that 3^rd section of the run. Even with a more than 10 minute stop at the special needs bag I cut my next 6 miles by about 40 seconds per mile, or somewhere around that. But more than that – I felt good, I felt oddly strong.

About mile 16 my best friend Brent and his family had found a VERY bright spot on the run course to cheer me on. Oh how awesome it was. I was running well and in the distance I saw a triage of people, but couldn’t really make out who it was, but they were hollering like I was a rock star . . . As I got closer I saw it was Brent, Christy (his wife) and the babies’. They have 3-year-old twins, and a new born. And they were clapping and the babies were jumping up and down. It is so hard to describe and explain how happy I was. My face didn’t show it. More over my face probably seemed discouraged and upset, however I was elated and so surprised.

I continued the strong pace I had begun the second loop with until a VERY unfortunate episode.

I have literally only one complaint about IMFL. I had such an awesome experience and I will do IMFL several times in my life because it is close to home and it will always be my first.

The Park . . .

As I entered the park I realized how alone I really was. It was pitch black. When I say pitch black, I mean – it was not much different than the jungles in the panama canopy. Literally I found it difficult to see my tennis shoes as they patted the ground.

My cousin Michael and best bud Roddy had ridden out on Mountain bikes to check in one me. They commented the next day that they also couldn’t see a thing back there when looking for me.

I was rolling along until I ran up on a nice lady who was walking. I didn’t hear or see her. I bumped her from behind. She screamed and I pulled my hamstring on my right leg. I comforted her because she had no idea what just happened and then I set back off on my run and it was not going to happen.

I had pulled that muscle pretty badly and I had to stop and try and stretch it for the next mile or so in the park until I decided to ignore it (which did and didn’t work).

I finally got out of the park and was headed home!

I saw my friend Scum as I exited the park.

I also saw my new friends who were out cheering on their family member. I hugged them as I ran by and every time they saw me they would cheer for me. I saw them in their truck heading back to the finish at this time and they honked their horn for me.

My Momma was also at the exit of the park. She is so cute and such a great Momma! I love you.

I began to count down. As I would pass the mile markers I would mentally lighten up and have more and more fun. My cousin Michael was taking iphone pics of me and I began to cut up the further and further along in the course I got.

At one point I met a really nice dude who I forgot his name, but he had dome a couple IMs but came down with a nasty blister this time and was running about my speed. We talked for a couple miles and then he left me in the dirt.

My main man Luke (I call him Skywalker) was riding out to see how I was doing. I love that dude. Skywalker is talented and gifted. He finished in 10:15 or something like that at IMFL 08 and it was his first IM and he “just had fun” in that race. I am looking forward to seeing what he is capable of when he tries to tear it up!

But, right now he was making me laugh and cutting up keeping my mind in the right place. It is hard to not love this sport with people like him and all the other folks I’ve mentioned in this Race Report. I am a lucky guy to have such good friends that like this insanity called triathlon.

I knew I was home free as far as finishing. I had set a goal of sub 16 hours because I really had no idea what to expect AND because at New Orleans 70.3 I finished in 7:30 or something like that and I figured doubling it plus one hour would be a responsible goal. NOW – I did do New Orleans 70.3 with a broken foot . . .

For nutrition the last 4 miles I took in Coke and chicken broth only. I smiled. I ran in disbelief a bit. I hurt – My hamstring was kicking my butt and my feet were sore, but none of that mattered. I was having fun.

I could see the lights near the finish. They seemed so much brighter this time around. The last three miles were a given, but I wanted to finish strong. The crazy stretch on front beach road was ROCK N and Rolling!!!! People were so drunk and I was envious. The women who were attractively dressed and provocative were a little less attractive and a lot more sloppy now, BUT – they were still so much fun!

As I made the turn onto Thomas Drive I can’t explain exactly where this came from, but I was in an all out sprint. For me that means I was moving about as fast as most average people ran the entire run, but my big lard butt was MOVING!!!! I saw family – I saw friends – I hollered, I high fived!

I made the U-Turn to head into the FINISH CHUTE and I was P-U-M-P-E-D!!!! My teeth were clinched. My eyes eye piercing. My lip was in a snarl. My hands were in fists as if I was about to fight a 12 round fight. My shoulders were flexed and then I turned into the chute and I began to yell uncontrolled.

I saw the people in the stands and some were screaming for me and others were in shock that this big ole dude with a crazy look on his face was screaming like a maniac!!!!!!!!!!

As I crossed the finish line I yelled – “IAM AN IRONMAN!!!!!!!!” I AM A IRONMAN!!!!!!” and Mike Reilly said . . . “Yes Chris Boggs, You ARE and Ironman.”

When I weighed 452 lbs I decided that I wanted to lose my weight and I wanted to finish an Ironman race.

I’ve seen many people lose weight and then begin doing triathlons, but I began doing triathlons to lose the weight. IN the beginning when I was 425 lbs doing my first tri, I got a lot of looks and some hurtful comments – I think people thought I was not only fat, but deaf too! HA!

But more, I got positive support and I finished more than 50 triathlons and now I completed that goal of becoming an IRONMAN.

I’m not done.

I have another 40 lbs I want to lose and my next goal is to do all NA Ironman races including KONA in my lifetime – however long that may be.

Thank you to everyone who follows my blog and send my positive thoughts, emails, and responses. I am here with your help.

2010 my goal in sun 13 hr race at IM Arizona . . . To be continued!!!

IMFL Run Report Part UNO

It’s been almost 2 months since Ironman Florida and I am not really sure why it has taken so long to finish my race report, but I think I have an idea. I am not ready to put it to bed. There is a part of me that feels once I am done here that the experience has ended and I am not sure I am ready for that.

No worries . . . I will finish the RUN report today and you can see the swim and bike reports below.

An Ironman distance race is different for every participant. I have friends in our tri club that they race an Ironman and they are pretty fast. One of my closer friends tore it up this year at IM FL and I think he is focusing in on a sub 10hr IM in 2010. Another Club member was 4^th in his Age Group at Clearwater World Championship 70.3 and missed 3^rd by on 30-40 seconds. Cats like that are the - IN IT TO WIN IT category.

I am the other side of the spectrum. I am the IN IT CAUSE IT IS IN ME group. Ironman is simple for me. It is a celebration of my battle and success with obesity. The race is more the culmination of the battle. The training, the sacrifice from my family, the joy of the pain, the FEAR of failure . . . That is all my Ironman.

I will never get a podium spot in anything triathlon unless it is there is a “smiles too much on the course” division. I do this for life. While other criticize me for simply completing the race I laugh it off because they have no idea what my journey has been and will continue to be.

ON TO THE RUN REPORT!

The Run . . . Running 26.2 miles after swimming and biking all day was my biggest fear of all concerning this race. I am slow. I am very slow. I probably will never be fast, but I am horribly slow right now. Obviously the slower I am, the longer I will be out of the race course . . . That’s never good.

I’m going to break this run portion of my IM Florida race report into 4 parts. OS somewhere around 6.25 miles each portion. The fast for me was that the first loop was a completely different race from the second loop.

As I headed out on the first loop I reminded myself of my run mantra . . . Finish and Fun. Numero Uno was to finish and hopefully have fun along the way. Exiting the Transition area was a bit surreal. I was finished with more than half of this entire race, yet I was now at my most fearful . . .

I immediately saw my family as I exited transition.

I am sure everyone else looks at their races in hind sight and says, “Next time I can cut 5 minutes here and 4 minutes here and (You get the picture). I have PLENTY of that from IMFL. Without exaggeration I am SURE, 100% positive I could cut off a minimum of 45 minutes on my run by changing one simple thing. I must not hug EVERY person I know that is cheering me on in the race!! I hugged everyone and I loved every second of it. I suggest if this is your first IM that you do the same. SOAK IT UP!

Now I won’t be doing this in future races because my goals will be different, but I will miss this part in the future.

From transition to about mile 2 was the most fun part of the run course along beachfront road. The spectators and cheer tents set up along this area were awesome! There were women dressed in next to nothing (by the end of the night they were actually pretty much wearing nothing). There were Elvis people and people offering you beer . . . It was a party.

The first three miles seemed to move by in my mind fairly quickly.

My nutrition was simple. At each aid station I would begin a power walk and take in a solid type fuel (Gel, banana, grapes, etc) on odd numbered aid stations and liquid fuel (Water, Nuun, etc)at even numbered aid station and an electrolyte at every aid station.

I followed this plan for the first 6 miles easily. Some of the aid stations were remarkable. One in particular was back in the neighborhood area, around mile 4ish (I think). It was set up as a MASH unit. It was awesome. They were stocked full the entire run and had so much energy.

Let me take a second to talk about the aid stations. Obviously the number one request from most racers would be that the aid station be stocked with a variety of items to get our nutrition AND keep them stocked throughout the race for slow people like me and keep hot things hot and cold things cold and lastly when it comes to the nutrition, keep it all organized and inform us visually and verbally of what you have well in advance of your reaching your aid station. For example the MASH UNIT aid station had signs on the run route about a half mile ahead staggered leading up to it that listed in BIG BOLD print what they had – For Example COLA on one sign, POWER ADE 0 another, HOT CHICKEN BROTH on another – You get the point. And then as you approached the station they would stagger the tables with “LIKE” nutrition ie – Cola and chicken broth on one table, water and Gatorade at another, gels one on, assorted fruit on another AND the people manning the station would yell out what they had AND AND AND be able to say one table down for chicken broth if you asked for it etc.

Congrats to the MASH UNIT aid station on the run at Ironman Florida – YOU GUYS ROCKED IT!!!

The second thing I think in important at an aid station would be the attitude and atmosphere. The people manning the aid stations should be ubber hyper!!! I LOVE and appreciate all of the volunteers. It is a long day for them. I have volunteered for a few IM distance races now and it can be exhausting. When the volunteers are hollering and dancing for you having a blast – there is nothing better . . . THEN when you have an atmosphere with music and a theme . . . EVEN BETTER. I looked forward to reaching the MASH UNIT aid station each time.

To the contrary – and aid station that has young kids and teens SUCK. If they are mixed in with adults in even numbers then it is great, but an full aid station with 15 kids and two adults in a horrible combination ESPECIALLY late in the race. One aid station began to run out of items and the kids were all sitting down and if you asked for something their response was – I don’t know if we have that or worse – Actually my favorite . . . I asked a young teen if they had worm chicken broth – He was in the middle of a full on flirt with a girl he had obviously met throughout that day. He didn’t even look at me and responded, “Hold up.” And went back to chatting it up with the girlie and she just soaked it up. In my mind I was pissed, but I gave the guy kudos because she sure felt special at that moment and earned him some serious cool points!

For the most part ALL of the aid stations were on their game at IMFL excluding the one I mentioned above that was at about mile 6ish or so.

It was nice to be on the run. I enjoyed seeing friends out there racing form our club. I was honored to be out there with so many people working their own plan and seeing their focus. At times I would chat with people and then they would take off and leave me. I passed NO ONE, but saw some of the same folks a few times during the run.

I focused on my HR the entire run. Even when I felt strong in the beginning I remained focused on keeping my heart race in the 145bmp (which is low, but what I’d trained for). There were times I wanted to kick it up a little but, I would remind myself that I had 19 miles remaining and I would pull it back.

As I reached the backside of loop one I was still feeling good. I saw several friends out cheering and in particular was Scum (Stephen Branscum) and his fiancée. They will never know how AWESOME and motivating it was for me to see them out there until the very last mile. Thank you thank you. The State Park was actually a welcoming change in the run. There was another good aid station here. It was nice to know I was heading back towards the transition area and that my mind was still very focused and I was enjoying myself.

Kathy and Mike were hanging at a really great spot to cheer us all on in the run. They picked a parking lot that was kind of in the middle of the aid stations and in a VERY DULL area. There was nothing to really look forward to for about a 3 mile stretch – EXCEPT THEM!! Thank you Michael and Kathy.

It was still light at about mile 9 but quickly becoming dark each stride I took. By the time I made it back to the MASH UNIT aid station the sun was pretty much gone and we were depending on streetlights. This was not good in some places and HORRIBLE in one place in particular, which I will discuss on the second post. Back in the neighborhoods the streetlights were hot and miss, but for the most part you could see well enough.

About mile 10 back in the neighborhood about 1 mile before the MASH UNIT station there were 4 or 5 fells (I use fells on purpose) sitting in their yard chairs, drinking beers, smoking it up and I am not sure they were only cigarettes. They were using a unique form of motivation. The women ran faster because the men were saying redneck sexy things to them (And they fully thought they were funny) and I ran faster because I was to tired to respond and a response might have led to a front yard brawl and I would have been on the losing end of that one. So I just gritted and ran on off into the dark.

At about mile 11 you can see the lights around the turn around and finish area. It is such an awesome sight to a tired racer IF YOU’RE coming in for a finish, but still welcoming to those like me who were heading in for the turn around since we would be able to see family, friends, etc.

The half mile stretch of beachfront rd with all the awesome crazy people wearing next to nothing and the Elvises, and now the tent of really drunk college guys and gals trying to get you to do a tequila shot was so much fun.

One of the best was the woman with the ass-less chaps. She would run up beside a really tired runner and ask how they were doing. Then se would run up a bit and say, “Does this make you run faster?” and she swished her bare butt from left to right. I will admit that it took my mind off of my sore feet for that few seconds!

As I made the turn onto Thomas drive about a quarter mile from the turn around I saw my Dad and his Wife Mindy. Guess what I did . . . Yup . . . Stopped Hugged him and headed on.

At the turn I saw Tater, my wife, my sister, and so many other folks. It was awesome. I truly don’t remember much about this 2 miles or so, accept how much fun it was. I hugged everyone.

I did the old turn into the finish as a joke thing (It was funny to me) and then pointed to it and said “I’ll see you in a bit).

At this point I am pretty tired and nasty. ERY NASTY. I have sticky, hot, salty skin. I’ve been hugging so many people who are more than likely no longer my friends because of that!!! I WAS NASTY!

Good news is that I was at my run special needs bag. In that bag I had a small towel that I soaked in water and then put in a BIG ziplock bag. Oh it was so refreshing. I almost stripped down and took a towel bath . . .

I changed socks, which I would highly recommend and I ate my last small bag of Pringles. Yeah, Yeah, make fun of it all you want to – It was such a welcoming treat . . . YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!

Jeff has left a card in my special needs back. He had Amanda put it in there for me. Another very nice touch and very welcomed, thank you Jeff.

After refreshing and revitalizing I was ready to head out for my 2^nd loop of 13.1 miles. I remember looking at my garmin and feeling happy about my pace to this point, but worrying whether or not I could hold that pace. Only time would tell.

I hugged several more friends and kissed my wife and baby (man it is hard to stay unemotional when you kiss your baby during a race) and began the final leg of this ultimate goal – I would be an Ironman. I would be.

I will complete the run report soon. Sorry it is taking so long.

Work was very demanding at the end of the year and I had surgery on this past Tuesday (which will be another blog report in itself).