So it really happened. I got so sick before the IM Copenhagen that I could not even to fly over to spectate the race. Instead I had to stay at home (which is okay) and follow the race via Internet. Since there was so many of us racing, the latter option wasn't bad at all - it was actually a thrilling and invigorating day spent online. Thus, I want - one more time - to congratulate all my friends who finished the race. You are awesome.
Just out of curiosity and willingness to test myself I registered for IM Barcelona which takes place on 5th of October. That's in 5.5 weeks.
And I did this even if I am NOT healthy yet. Not even close. I just visited a MD who notice that bronchitis is now stronger and otitis is not at all better. She subscribed me stronger medicine which hopefully helps during the next days. I'm allowed to think about doing sports after next weekend. I sincerely hope that it would be reality. Otherwise, I might consider that I'm slightly unlucky. Health issues killed my running during 1999-2000 and 2002-2007. It should be enough, I think.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Checkmate
The battle is over.
A cute bronchitis a.k.a. acute bronchitis. Yes. The on-going flu was not enough, so my body threw down the final gauntlet, bronchitis and otitis. This means that there is no way that I'd be racing in Copenhagen. Instead, I'm online eating my antibiotics on Sunday.
It also means that I won't fly over, cheer my training buddies and fly back. No. This is it. Summer of Triathlons is finished and I'm happy with this solution. During the last 11 months I have:
Good luck everybody and thank you.
A cute bronchitis a.k.a. acute bronchitis. Yes. The on-going flu was not enough, so my body threw down the final gauntlet, bronchitis and otitis. This means that there is no way that I'd be racing in Copenhagen. Instead, I'm online eating my antibiotics on Sunday.
It also means that I won't fly over, cheer my training buddies and fly back. No. This is it. Summer of Triathlons is finished and I'm happy with this solution. During the last 11 months I have:
- met the new me
- met new awesome friends
- had many new training experiences
- learned to like swimming
- learned to like open water swimming
- learned how to handle a puncture in a race
- bonked pretty badly
- bounced back from a disastrous race
- realized how tough guys I am surrounded by
Good luck everybody and thank you.
Monday, August 18, 2014
A journey with no end?
So...
I have this on-going battle. It has soon lasted for 6 days.
I stared my journey towards an Ironman race about 11 months ago. During this period of ups and downs, new and older experiences, and meeting bunch of new friends I have swam over 100km, ridden and run couple thousand kms. The normal load of a wanna-be Ironman.
Accordingly, I am ready to roll both mentally and physically for the next Sunday.
Only thing is that this illness does not allow me to do anything else but to cough and burn myself mentally. That's bullshit.
But I have 6 days to go, and I really wish that I'd be healthy soon. Me, me, me.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Guest blogger: Two weeks to go - is he ready?
Awesome!!!
I went to movies to see how the apes are hanging and during this time sweetie, who has enabled this entire journey of finding the triathlete within me and whose support I appreciate beyond words, had written a guest blog post. One word: GRADITUDE.
So, here you go:
The blogger himself went to movies tonight, so I saw my chance to sneak in to write few words about the upcoming Ironman race and his preparations. Actually it's a shared thing, because we both are racing in Copenhagen.
When we signed up for the race last year, the biggest challenge seemed to be to find the time to train. With full-time jobs, requiring traveling time to time, and our son deserving the most of our free time, it hasn't been an easy puzzle. However, with flexible attitude from both of us and willingness to train during non-optimal hours of the day, the year has been quite smooth. The training hasn't been optimal, far from perfect, but I believe it's been good enough for both of us to have a good race in two weeks.
Although he is the one who has much more experience from endurance sports, namely running, I already have two Ironman distance races under my belt. Thus, it's been really fun and interesting to follow his preparation towards his first Ironman over the past 11 months. There have been ups and downs, excitement and desperation. Oh yes, all of them. Many times, back and forth.
First it was the swimming that required change of attitude and simply more time in the pool. During the spring months I started to hear more often comments like this "It was actually fun today" or "I felt good today" instead of "I can't stand this", I knew his swimming was going to be ok.
Towards the spring it was also obvious that he was getting faster and faster on the bike. Especially he was speeding in short tempo rides. No problems in sight in terms of pace or endurance. However, patience, pacing, and ability to tolerate the head wind have required most of his attention recently. And those are much harder to train than physical fitness.
Running has been and of course still is his strongest discipline. With much diverse training than ever before and focused strength training, the nagging hip and hammy injuries have stayed in control. And I can see that the joy of running is gradually returning.
Things were looking really good before half Ironman in Joroinen. As you have heard and read it was far from perfect dress rehearsal for the full Ironman. Bonking in running wasn't pretty, but probably it was just what he needed. I guess multiple sub 3 hour (even sub-2h30min) marathons hadn't prepared himself for the feelings that sneak in your mind during longer races. After few hours of rolling in disappointment and desperation, there was a shift in his thinking. He understood the importance of mental preparation and endurance and have worked hard to get his head ready. Writing mantras to his water bottles and choosing uplifting music :)
Yes, I think he is ready - ready to endure the fatigue, take the pain, but also enjoy the event.
But what about the tattoo, are you really going to get it?
Cheers,
s.
And it is me again.... Yes, I am ready. No matter what the final result may be, I have had a blast.
I went to movies to see how the apes are hanging and during this time sweetie, who has enabled this entire journey of finding the triathlete within me and whose support I appreciate beyond words, had written a guest blog post. One word: GRADITUDE.
So, here you go:
The blogger himself went to movies tonight, so I saw my chance to sneak in to write few words about the upcoming Ironman race and his preparations. Actually it's a shared thing, because we both are racing in Copenhagen.
When we signed up for the race last year, the biggest challenge seemed to be to find the time to train. With full-time jobs, requiring traveling time to time, and our son deserving the most of our free time, it hasn't been an easy puzzle. However, with flexible attitude from both of us and willingness to train during non-optimal hours of the day, the year has been quite smooth. The training hasn't been optimal, far from perfect, but I believe it's been good enough for both of us to have a good race in two weeks.
Although he is the one who has much more experience from endurance sports, namely running, I already have two Ironman distance races under my belt. Thus, it's been really fun and interesting to follow his preparation towards his first Ironman over the past 11 months. There have been ups and downs, excitement and desperation. Oh yes, all of them. Many times, back and forth.
First it was the swimming that required change of attitude and simply more time in the pool. During the spring months I started to hear more often comments like this "It was actually fun today" or "I felt good today" instead of "I can't stand this", I knew his swimming was going to be ok.
Towards the spring it was also obvious that he was getting faster and faster on the bike. Especially he was speeding in short tempo rides. No problems in sight in terms of pace or endurance. However, patience, pacing, and ability to tolerate the head wind have required most of his attention recently. And those are much harder to train than physical fitness.
Running has been and of course still is his strongest discipline. With much diverse training than ever before and focused strength training, the nagging hip and hammy injuries have stayed in control. And I can see that the joy of running is gradually returning.
Things were looking really good before half Ironman in Joroinen. As you have heard and read it was far from perfect dress rehearsal for the full Ironman. Bonking in running wasn't pretty, but probably it was just what he needed. I guess multiple sub 3 hour (even sub-2h30min) marathons hadn't prepared himself for the feelings that sneak in your mind during longer races. After few hours of rolling in disappointment and desperation, there was a shift in his thinking. He understood the importance of mental preparation and endurance and have worked hard to get his head ready. Writing mantras to his water bottles and choosing uplifting music :)
Yes, I think he is ready - ready to endure the fatigue, take the pain, but also enjoy the event.
But what about the tattoo, are you really going to get it?
Cheers,
s.
And it is me again.... Yes, I am ready. No matter what the final result may be, I have had a blast.
Humid welcome, awesome swim and almost brilliant bike
Philly was almost the same as the last time, humid as hell. Since I didn't transport my bike or wet suit with me, I focused on running. Most of my runs were pretty ez since I ran them with my colleague from SLC. On Sunday I strolled through a long run, which was - at the finish - surprisingly demanding. Humidity took its toll and I reached the anaerobic threshold only by running at the ez pace. That's my engine to you...
An 45 minutes later after returning to the old continent I found myself swimming open water for 20 minutes. It was short but totally awesome after spending 1.5 days traveling. On Thursday evening I did a short shake-out ride to wake up my legs for Friday's workout.
Yesterday, Friday, was sort of my final preparation for the IM. I did 5 hours ride (153km) which was divided into 2 hrs of ez pace, 1 hour of strength, 15 minutes again at ez pace followed by 1 hour at race pace and cool down. Since I had to push the race pace as well as the cool down into head wind, the last section of the workout did not go as planned, but I do not worry about that. My mind was happy all the time and that makes me joyful.
Oh, and now I think that I have my mantra to help me through the streets of Copenhagen.
I'm really looking forward to the race day!!! T-15
An 45 minutes later after returning to the old continent I found myself swimming open water for 20 minutes. It was short but totally awesome after spending 1.5 days traveling. On Thursday evening I did a short shake-out ride to wake up my legs for Friday's workout.
Yesterday, Friday, was sort of my final preparation for the IM. I did 5 hours ride (153km) which was divided into 2 hrs of ez pace, 1 hour of strength, 15 minutes again at ez pace followed by 1 hour at race pace and cool down. Since I had to push the race pace as well as the cool down into head wind, the last section of the workout did not go as planned, but I do not worry about that. My mind was happy all the time and that makes me joyful.
Oh, and now I think that I have my mantra to help me through the streets of Copenhagen.
I'm really looking forward to the race day!!! T-15
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