Tri-Guy points the way.
Out comes the Costco bags and the sand toys. Out comes the beach chairs and blanket and towels. Then there is the always ready tote of Tri-Guy's gear. Supersuit and goggles for the swim and then all the stuff needed for a quick transition to shoes and shades for a 13K run. The water has been heated up by the wonderfully warm weather... afterall Birds Hill Lake is only about 7ft at it's deepest. Today i managed to do the 9 laps of the buoys in about 1:31.... not too shabby for 5k in open water.. well.. we will call it water, but it was more like a transparent greenish soup punctuated by the occasional weed straining up from the bottom in a vain attempt to reach the surface. Never fear Mr. Weed... the season is almost over and soon you'll be nothing but a memory.
Here's a bit of me thrashin' about this afternoon in the pond.
My run was pretty uneventful other than it was hot.... now please understand, that when I blog that it was hot I am not complaining; I am merely painting you a picture of the conditions. As of the past three weeks, i have purposely been seeking the heat out. I have been leaving late on my runs and bikes with the intent of being out in the same conditions that I will most likely race in. Penticton can get damn hot and I want to be ready, as the heat makes it a whole different race. SO.... it was hot. When you had a head wind or a cross wind it was not that bad at all, but when the wind was coming form behind, it was moving just fast enough to give you the eerie impression that it was still out and it was just you and the bugs moving around, 'cause to stand still meant certainly that you would eventually disappear in a flash of spontaneous combustion... sure was nice to get back to the van and head straight out into the soup to cool down... hell, I seriously would have lain down in a puddle if I thought it might get me cool. Now let's all point out that modern data - in fact this months Men's Health - stated that a study done in Australia proved that cooling down with a Slurpee is the fastest way to cool your core..... now I am thinking that this is a no-brainer, as eating crushed ice has got to be effective.... no?
Tri-Guy enjoying a Raspberry slushie after a dip in the pond.
Well... that's all for now other than to welcome a new member to the blog, KC from Florida. Her blog, 140 Point 6 Miles, is very addictive and had me hooked from the moment I started reading. It was really refreshing to read that someone else was having some of the same thoughts and frustrations on the road to Ironman. If you check out her site, be sure to log in and to check out some of the other sites she follows as she has links to 50 or more people that are all doing this thing called Triathlon.
Speaking of doing triathlon...... I have been asked time and time again Why are you doing this? Well I have explained that pretty clearly in earlier blogs, but after checking out KC's site, I came across a fresh perspective. She had a list of why you would want to prepare and go out for Ironman.
P.S. - Some of the reasons may not make any sense to you, but keep reading because some are jsut downright awesome. I also found it useful to Google some of the references to get on the "inside." By the way.... the distance of an Ironman race in Miles is 140.6..... hence the title.
Again, this comes from her site with credit to www.iamtri.com
140.6 reasons to do an ironman triathlon
i found this cool list on iamtri.com and wanted to share...some of it i can already relate to and a lot of it i'm sure i will totally "get" come October 23rd. enjoy!
»001. Makes everything else seem so SHORT and EASY.
»002. The 3 week taper before the race.
»003. The 4 week recovery after the race.
»004. You only go around once, life is not a dress rehearsel.
»005. As much Pizza as you can eat.
»006. So that when the car runs out of gas, I can still get away from the Police under my own power.
»007. Beats watching the new Survivor, Big Brother, or anything else on TV.
»008. For all the times you heard someone say "I'd do one of those ... I just can't swim."
»009. Lifetime of bragging rights.
»010. Steve King's accent at Ironman Canada
»011. Mike Reilly's hoarse voice still bringing people home at 11:30pm
»012. The Massage Tent - anywhere.
»013. Friends and family waiting for me at the finish.
»014. So is my mom...posthumously
»015. ...and my dad.
»016. Chalk on the road.
»017. Easy rides and runs the week before.
»018. Finishing your last workout and smiling because you know "I'm SO ready."
»019. For everyone who as ever asked you "Why?"
»020. For the teachers in school who told you you'd amount to nothing.
»021. To silence the one voice inside your head that still believes that bunk.
»022. You want to test the endurance limits of the music collection in your head.
»023. The "Bier Mile" at IM-Europe
»024. Spectators looking up your name and cheering as you plod past at sunset.
»025. Where else can someone ripping off your clothes in public be considered a benefit of a big race? (Wetsuit Strip)
»026. Miles in the Run
»027. Want to see the world and eat the food in each country, guilt free.
»028. So you can answer "One." When people ask "How many days does that take?"
»029. To wave at the scuba divers.
»030. To backstroke at the TV helicopter.
»031. Cards in your special needs bags.
»032. Cards in your T1 and T2 bags.
»033. CHICKEN SOUP!
»034. CHICKEN SOUP AGAIN! (Yes - it's worth 2 by itself)
»035. The Adirondacks of Lake Placid.
»036. The view from Richter Pass.
»037. Alii' Drive
»038. Main Street Penticton.
»039. Driving the bike course in a caravan of friends.
»040. Valet Parking and Catering ... all day long.
»041. You might get on TV
»042. I want to laugh at the former cool (now fat) kids at my 20th High School Reunion.
»043. The Marines at the race formerly known as Ironman California
»044. Takes as long as having a baby, nearly as satisfying, only without the morning sickness and the 21 years of bills that follow.
»045. Flying with a bike case makes business trips seem EASY.
»046. Sharing a smile with people wearing the finishers T-shirt the next day.
»047. Knowing that as you step in the water on race day - YOU MADE IT THIS FAR! Now just get home.
»048. How many people can say they did anything for 12,13, 14, 15, 16...hours?
»049. The "Hot Corner" at IM-USA
»050. The wristband that somehow becomes your favorite fashion accessory.
»051. So that when you tell your grandchildren stories about what you did when you were young...yours will be true.
»052. Main Street Lake Placid
»053. High fives from people you don't know.
»054. The Sponge as a fashion statement
»055. Coke and Chicken soup - the ultimate power cocktail
»056. Knowing that after the gun goes off, you don't have to worry anymore.
»057. First Place and Last Place get the same amount of cheers.
»058. Walking to the start with Heather, Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen...
»059. Getting lapped by Heather, Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen...
»060. Getting lapped again on the run by Heather, Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen...
»061. Making the turn for home.
»062. Because MolybdenumMan doesn't trip off the tongue in quite the same way
»063. If Judy Molnar can, dammit, so can you.
»064. You might get to run with Alexandra Paul!
»065. High fiving Daryl Haley, and going backwards 5 feet.
»066. Sunset over Skaha Lake on the run.
»067. If Randy Caddell can do it with just his arms, you can certainly do it with your legs.
»068. Easier than Eco-Challenge.
»069. Got rejected from the astronaut corps.
»070. Got rejected by the Marines.
»071. Crashed out of the Blue Angels.
»072. Makes US Navy SEAL training seem like a good idea.
»073. You enjoy the smell of chlorine in the morning.
»074. You've had enough with your current social life.
»075. For the love of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream!
»076. Your friends are watching on the web.
»077. You need to prove to your mom that even if you get on the bike right after you swim...you won't catch a cold.
»078. Helicopters over Kailua Bay.
»079. Roadies think you're nuts.
»080. Masters swimmers think you're nuts.
»081. Your running club KNOWS you're nuts.
»082. So that you can master the left-handed bottle grab (IMAus, IM-NZ).
»083. Morning swims
»084. 3 hour breakfasts after the morning swims
»085. The Underpants Run
»086. Laughing at people in the Underpants Run.
»087. The Hog's Breath Cafe Breakfast Special at IMC
»088. Glowsticks
»089. Cowman A-Moo-HA!
»090. Because Winston Churchill said I can't ever give up.
»091. The 12-step program to make me stop hasn't been invented yet.
»092. Any National Anthem, before the start, anywhere.
»093. Knowing that when you wake up at 4:00am, the next time you go to bed you will be VERY different person.
»094. 6 miles, 10 minutes - straight down to Keene.
»095. Yellow Lake done - 12 miles downhill to go.
»096. Because you've always wanted to see how many CD's and towels it would take to ride the whole IMC course on the CompuTrainer
»097. Makes your next marathon just a nice morning run.
»098. To make your Boss jealous because YOU have a life that doesn't involve the office.
»099. Because the longer you're out there, the less per hour it really costs!
»100. Being there is way better than watching on Pay-Per-View
»101. Finding yourself in the middle of your doubts ... finding a new meaning of being scared.
»102. Finding out that you're far stronger than those doubts a few miles later.
»103. Falling in step on the run and making a friend to the end, without having to say a word.
»104. A fried breakfast the day after.
»105. Watching people headed home while you're headed out, thinking "I'll be there soon ..." and they cheer for you.
»106. Understanding why that is as your cheering for people headed out when you're finally headed home.
»107. That feeling of ice cubes in your hat on a hot run never getting too cold.
»108. Telling folks with flat tires "It's a long day - hang in there!" and seeing them breathe and smile for a moment.
»109. Hearing people cheer you up while your changing a damn flat tire.
»110. Rolling into T2 knowing that no matter what - you can't have a flat sneaker from here on in.
»111. Having someone catch you, and hold you up when you can't do it anymore.
»112. Miles on the Bike.
»113. The IV's feel SO good the next day.
»114. To see if it really feels as good to do as it does to dream.
»115. To see if it really feels as good the second time.
»116. And a third...
»117. And a fourth...
»118. To try and finish in daylight.
»119. To try and finish before midnight.
»120. To try and NOT get stung by that (#*@! bee this time.
»121. Your friends already think you're a hero - prove them right.
»122. Your husband doesn't...but you might prove it to him too.
»123. An M-Dot Tattoo would look swanky on your ankle.
»124. 5000 Volunteers - all for you.
»125. Hearing them say "You're almost there!" all day long.
»126. Being nearly almost there - for real.
»127. CHICKEN SOUP! (It's been awhile)
»128. Quiet hugs before the start.
»129. Kissing him goodbye, and promising "I'll be back later..."
»130. The first time you think "Holy crap - I'm doing an Ironman!"
»131. Beating back the voices that say "Holy crap - you can't do an Ironman!"
»132. Mile 26.
»133. That moment when you KNOW you're going to make it for the first time all day.
»134. Entering the oval.
»135. Running down Lakeshore Drive.
»136. Running down Alli Drive.
»137. The Finish Line.
»138. The first step after you cross the line and think "Oh, My....God....!"
»139. The Medal.
»139.6 Because they said I can't.
»140.6 Because I say I can.
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