The Doc is an Irongirl!

Yesterday the Doc entered IronGirl. It was her first duathlon. She loves to bike and is learning to tolerate running. If there's any question that I married waaaay over my head the next picture settles that question once and for all! She's waving to the kids.
Here she is climbing the 1/2 mile hill. Still spinning in the saddle just like her coach told her (flying by the women WALKING up the hill). The last minute course change reversed this part of the course. The carnage was unbelievable as women walked, abandoned, grinded up weaving all over the road in massive gears.
Oh yeah, they got to do it twice too. It was straight out of transition so you had the whole first loop to think about going back. Here she is flying into T2 waving to her adoring fam.
Heading out of T2 - that's a lot of enthusiasm. More than I can typically muster at this stage of a race.
Hitting the finisher chute.
Celebrating with Zman and JRose. She totally rocked finishing 209/859 overall, 49/174 in her age group. Her second run was 1 minute/mile slower than the first run. Later in the day she felt bad for feeling sore. She said "I trained for the distance." I explained that the soreness coupled with her relatively consistent pace indicated she had pushed it just the right amount.
Irongirls all around. The Doc with the girls from the clinic Loriann and Julie. Next year they'll be back for their second.
Now to figure out how to get the Doc in the pool. I see a Minneman novice division entry next year!

Oh yeah, I entered a 5k for Zman's hockey team on Saturday and ran it in 8:18s. I'm entering a 10k in 7 weeks. My new goal pace is 8:18s.

How the Not So Mighty Have Fallen

Went for a just under 30 mile ride with NS Rob yesterday. Talk about depressing - not being with NS - but the ride. We headed east from White Bear into the rolling hobby farmland. It was beautiful but each hill dug into my legs. We weren't even on the "big" ones. How quickly fitness gains can be lost!

I could try and blame the soreness in my legs on Tuesday's tempo run, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate. I just haven't been putting in much mileage on the bike lately.

Good thing I have almost a year before IMOO. I'm going to need it.

Starting today with yoga. Ohmmmmm!

I Can Feel It!

It's creeping into my every waking thought. I feel like Peter Parker in Spiderman 3 when the dark Spiderman was taking over. It's Ironman Wisconsin.

This weekend we were at the lake taking an evening boat ride and I found myself looking at the water contemplating all the OW (open water) swims I'll be doing next summer. How often will the Doc be willing to kayak along? That led to consideration of the IM swim. It sounds like I'm going to have to enter the washing machine this time. There's no way to stay to the outside in clear water. That's going to take a mental adjustment and perhaps a stroke adjustment as well - quicker turnover less power per stroke. I'll have to harken back to my MLB (that's middle linebacker not baseball) days and welcome the contact.

This wouldn't be such a surprise if there hadn't been about 30 minutes between the time IMOO 2010 came onto the radar and when I registered.

One big difference next year. This past year the whole family bought into the IMCDA experience: the big 2 week family excursion, missing 2 weeks of lacrosse, all of the prep time, the mental focus. Next year that can't be the case. I can't ask them to do that. Obviously I've got to put in the training time and sacrifices will be made by all (sorry) - but I'm going to make an effort to minimize the sacrifices.

Actually there is a second big difference. This year I'm going to have one of my ten best friends, ok my best friend, going through the training at the same time - all be it in the sweltering land of big hair, belt buckles, and boobs - Dallas. Most likely he will be using the same plan I will. Our daily schedules are a bit different (he's an aspiring restaurant magnate) but each week we'll be putting in similar workouts. It will be fun to share similar experiences on a weekly basis. I'm looking forward to watching the Ironman process for OB from afar.

A Funny Thing Happened

on the road back from IM CDA 09. I somehow find myself on a different road. The road to:

Also known as the "YOU'RE DOING WHAT!?!" Highway.

It's a year earlier than I thought, but after watching the coverage yesterday, I was pretty excited, and when OB signed up I really had no choice.

Those of you who have been bitten by the bug will totally understand. As for the rest of you, one day the bug will bite you too!