After a very long and stressful work week, I anticipated a difficult weekend of training. My weekend is split between work calls and training, and we all know too well that you need to be 100% focused on your training when prepping for an Ironman.
Last week I ran 105 minutes at an average of 6:58min/mile in zone 3. I felt great, composed, and able to do more.
Today I ran 120 minutes at an average of 7:19min/mile in zone 4. At first I thought the heat factor was impacting my performance, but quickly realized that I was comfortable with the heat. I quickly felt tired, and it clicked in my head: Maybe working until 2am on Thursday, and midnight on Friday did not help. I was not well rested and it showed.
The nutrition helped, but the performance was highly impacted by it.
Lesson learned. I discover new things every day!
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
1st day of the Summer => Long ride...and the crank falls off
For my first long ride after Eagleman in the build up to Ironman Switzerland, I had 4 hours on the saddle followed by a brick run. I was really looking for it. I've been putting more time on the trainer after Glenn's horrible accident last week. I'm still shaken up by it, especially knowing that he got hit very close to where I got hit last October.
3 1/2 hours into my ride, I noticed my crank started squeaking more and more, and getting looser on me. It was a strange feeling to pedal and feel the crank being shaky, wobbly almost. You know something is wrong when your crank moves around when you apply lateral pressure on it.
I got lucky that there was a bike shop on my way back, and that the road was flat. I rode extremely slowly and finally made it to the shop, where they took it apart, cleaned it up, greased it, and put it back together. Not the way you want your long ride to go.
3 1/2 hours into my ride, I noticed my crank started squeaking more and more, and getting looser on me. It was a strange feeling to pedal and feel the crank being shaky, wobbly almost. You know something is wrong when your crank moves around when you apply lateral pressure on it.
I got lucky that there was a bike shop on my way back, and that the road was flat. I rode extremely slowly and finally made it to the shop, where they took it apart, cleaned it up, greased it, and put it back together. Not the way you want your long ride to go.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
An 84-yr-old lady lining up at 2014 Eagleman 70.3
Stunning! As I walked back to transition to make sure that everything was in order, I saw # 84 on a calf and was taken aback by it. I looked up, only to see this tiny lady, rushing to transition her wave start. She looked like a "normal triathlete" who's about to jump in the water to tackle the 1.2mile swim: a mix of stress, nervousness, and excitement. She had 5 min to spare before the gun went off, rushed to T, and made it back to the swim before her wave start.
I haven't checked to see if she finished the race or not, but given the conditions and the physical and mental challenge that Eagleman throws at its athletes, being at the start at 84 is already an accomplishment in itself. I'd be curious to know who she trained for it.
I haven't checked to see if she finished the race or not, but given the conditions and the physical and mental challenge that Eagleman throws at its athletes, being at the start at 84 is already an accomplishment in itself. I'd be curious to know who she trained for it.
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| 84-yrs old (lady) athlete |
Horrible Accident this morning
I received a text around 7 this morning: "Were you riding with Glenn this morning"
I wasn't, as I am still recovering from Eagleman, I decided against it. Glenn planned on going to State line.
The next text I received few seconds after that first one said: "what looks like Glenn's bike was in an accident, blood everywhere and ambulance too - person away"
That text gave me the chill. I immediately texted him, but no answer.
It hits you when you realize that one of your training buddy has been hit by a car while training, and that it is serious enough to be quickly sent to hospital. River Road (between Hoboken, NJ and the GW Bridge) is extremely dangerous for cyclists. I was hit by a car last October, 4 days before IM70.3 Miami, around the same spot where Glenn's accident happened today.
Glenn was involved in a bike accident while training for Ironman Canada. A car illegally made a U-turn and hit Glenn. Though his condition is unknown at this point, rumor has it that he T-boned the car and smashed a window. He was evacuated to the nearest Hospital where he was taken to the ICU to undergo MRIs, exams, and surgery.
Wishing the injuries he sustained are not life threatening, and that he'll have a speedy recovery.
I wasn't, as I am still recovering from Eagleman, I decided against it. Glenn planned on going to State line.
The next text I received few seconds after that first one said: "what looks like Glenn's bike was in an accident, blood everywhere and ambulance too - person away"
That text gave me the chill. I immediately texted him, but no answer.
It hits you when you realize that one of your training buddy has been hit by a car while training, and that it is serious enough to be quickly sent to hospital. River Road (between Hoboken, NJ and the GW Bridge) is extremely dangerous for cyclists. I was hit by a car last October, 4 days before IM70.3 Miami, around the same spot where Glenn's accident happened today.
Glenn was involved in a bike accident while training for Ironman Canada. A car illegally made a U-turn and hit Glenn. Though his condition is unknown at this point, rumor has it that he T-boned the car and smashed a window. He was evacuated to the nearest Hospital where he was taken to the ICU to undergo MRIs, exams, and surgery.
Wishing the injuries he sustained are not life threatening, and that he'll have a speedy recovery.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
2014 Eagleman 70.3 - Photos
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| Sunrise over the Choptank River, MD - The calm before the storm |
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| Cannot wait to be done with the swim |
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| Beautiful sky for what will be a nice, hot day |
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| Transition set up #2693 |
Monday, June 9, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Eagleman is tomorrow!!
Rough day today on my way to Cambridge, MD for Eagleman. Though the drive down to MD went well, I still ended up spending 6+ hours in the car, getting a massive headache, and ultimately losing interest in doing the race.
It's interesting how small things can affect you, and how quickly one starts having negative thoughts about everything. I got to a point where I did not want to race anymore. I wanted to drive home as I did not see the point of doing the race anyway. I spent countless hours on the saddle, in the pool, or running in the parks for this race, yet on the day before the race I drove 400+ miles and get a headache.
Fortunately, I have the best support I can hope for. Mariesa turned this around, and after we finally got to the hotel, we headed to the transition area for a reconnaissance and a quick 20 min ride and swim. My partner in crime, BB, came along, and I think he enjoyed a nice swim in this 90F weather at 6pm! Boom! it sounds familiar, feels horrible...yup, we are at Eagleman. The run course is colloquially nicknamed "lava field", but I was told the water was 74F = Wetsuit everyone!
It's interesting how small things can affect you, and how quickly one starts having negative thoughts about everything. I got to a point where I did not want to race anymore. I wanted to drive home as I did not see the point of doing the race anyway. I spent countless hours on the saddle, in the pool, or running in the parks for this race, yet on the day before the race I drove 400+ miles and get a headache.
Fortunately, I have the best support I can hope for. Mariesa turned this around, and after we finally got to the hotel, we headed to the transition area for a reconnaissance and a quick 20 min ride and swim. My partner in crime, BB, came along, and I think he enjoyed a nice swim in this 90F weather at 6pm! Boom! it sounds familiar, feels horrible...yup, we are at Eagleman. The run course is colloquially nicknamed "lava field", but I was told the water was 74F = Wetsuit everyone!
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| BB taking a plunge in the Choptank River, MD |
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