The Storm has Cleared

Unfortunately I was a casualty of this storm.
Thanks to all who have emailed and checked in with me.
Long story short; my back seized up on the bike and that was it, done.
Now, just to clarify, when you do Ironman you can expect to be in a fair amount of discomfort (which borderlines on pain towards the end of the marathon). Unfortunately, the discomfort turned to pain on the bike about 30 miles into this race. I pushed through it until mile 80 but I knew my day was done. I managed to ride back up to Wilmington where my coach was spectating and it was there that I officially called it a day. I knew I had made the right decision when I couldn't even bend over to get my shoes off.

Going into this race I was dealing with a few niggling injuries, my back wasn't one of them. I am not sure exactly what happened, but such is sport. Trying to figure these things out is part of the game. The good thing is that every bad race I have ever had has been followed by a good one. See you in Penticton.

The Calm Before the Storm

As I sit and write this I am about 24 hours away from some part of a marathon. Hopefully I am well into it by this time tomorrow. It really doesn't matter how many of these things you have done, the day before is always a strange mix of calmness, anxiousness, nerves, anxiety, fear, excitement. I work with a few athletes who are doing their first Ironman this year and all I can say is that the way you feel the day before that first one is pretty much the way you feel before all of them. Time speeds up and slows down all at once. Until the gun goes off you are constantly bombarded by thoughts like; am I ready for this, man this is going to hurt, did I put my nutrition in my bike to run bag, why the heck am I doing this etc. etc. etc. These things don't change. What I have learned to do is let go of this anxiety a bit and embrace it. I know that I only have a few more of these things left in me and I don't know what endeavor in life I could take on that could possibly bring out the same type of emotions. We are lucky to have the opportunity to take on this challenge. Were it not for a whole bunch of people giving up their Sunday's to basically take care of us, we wouldn't get the chance. So to all the volunteers out there tomorrow, I would like to say a big Thank You in advance.

Cheers,

Mike

Best Good Luck Email EVER!

Hi Mike tomorrow when you check in your bike look at your competitors now back at you now back at your competitors...sadly there not you.

What's that...that is the sound of your team cheering for you.

Now go win that thing you want.

I'm on an Elephant!!

Oh yea good luck.

Luke

Best Race Report EVER!

Definitely better than anything I have ever written.

Xterra Vashon Island race report
Submitted by Kelly on Tue, 2010/07/13 - 5:37am.

New goggles to replace the ones that broke 5 min before my deep water start swim heat and forced me to McGuyver (more like McGruber) them, albiet poorly--$20

New front derailleur and cable to replace the one I bent during my spectacular endo halfway through the bike course--$l00 or so.

Ibuprofen, Tylenol and hopefully something stronger for landing on my ribcage during previously mentioned endo--$40 or whatever they are charging on the street for Percocet/Dilaudid/Demerol if I can't convince a walk-in Dr to give me narcotics

My appointment at a walk-in clinic tomorrow--free! I love Canada!

Broken chain incurred 2/3 through the bike loop--$35

Gratitude for some guy who gave Teri a chain tool for me to use so I could keep on going--lots!

Gratitude for Teri-endless, considering she didn't even know what a chain tool was.

Hug from Bertrand at the finish--cost me $50 for it but worth it!!

Being fit, healthy and able to finish this poop-show of a race and laugh about it--PRICELESS!!!

13 Days and Counting

One week from today I will be traveling back east for Ironman Lake Placid.
Posts have been scarce recently as training and rest have taken over the top of the priority list. I will try and give a better update on the next day off.

The Tour also pre occupies a little bit of time. This is my favourite pic from the first week.

Very Funny! (Warning; Strong Language)

Vancouver Half Iron - 4th

I jumped into one more race last Sunday in preparation for Ironman Lake Placid which is now less than three weeks away. I have now raced more this summer than I have in the previous two summers combined. The race last weekend was my 5th Half Iron of the season and 3rd in the last 6 weeks. I definitely went into this race with some fatigue but I was surprised that I felt as good as I did. I feel as though I am rounding into form and with a bit of sharpening and some rest I should be in great shape when it comes time to race Ironman on July 25th.

As for the race yesterday; I can break it down pretty easily. I had a bad start and spent the rest of the swim trying to catch the main group. I had a strong bike for 2 loops and then the fatigue took over and I lost a bit of time over the 2nd half. I ran as fast as my legs would take me on this day. I locked into a pace and held it for the entire day. Unfortunately it was not fast enough pace to catch Stevo or Jeff and not quick enough to hold of a hard charging Trevor Wurtelle. Was it fast enough for an Ironman, yes. Time to recover!