The Journey

The journey is more important than the destination.

Several years ago a friend of mine asked me if I would do the Fairlee Triathlon in Vermont. After training for three months, feeling like I was going to drown in the swim, feeling nauseus on the run, I crossed the finished line and was hooked.This led to my triathlon journey.

Please consider supporting my latest effort to raise money for Bretton Woods Adaptive through the Janus Charity Challenge at Ironman Lake Placid this July. Check out the Links I Like section of the blog or explore the BWA Fundraiser links.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Wiped out

I had a great week of training last week. I fit all my workouts in despite having to shuffle things around because of the constant thunderstorms throughout the week.

The way I was forced to shuffle them around I ended up with a double session on Friday that consisted of a long swim workout in the morning followed by a difficult brick workout afterwork. The next morning was a 12 mile run followed by a 2000 yard swim. Sunday was the annual GSTC ride around Lake Winnipausaukee which is a 62 mile hilly course that kicked my butt.

Thankfully, Monday was a day off before getting back to the routine on Tuesday. I hadn't fully recovered by Tuesday. I did an hour run that felt like it was two. My legs felt like cement and I realized then that I probably shouldn't have crammed all those workouts in last weekend.

I felt better at Masters swimming on Tuesday night but lesson was learned on re-scheduling workouts too close together.

Monday, July 28, 2008

My Dad

So, my Dad who has been on crutches or a wheelchair since he was 12 from Polio, hiked up a mountain this weekend! He discovered skiing several years ago in a monoski and has since become incredibly skilled at it.
Bretton Woods Adaptive is an organization that provides equipment and lessons for not only skiing, but for summer activities also such as hiking. A special chair is used for areas that he can't navigate himself with "a little help from some friends".
I'll be raising money for this organization through the Janus Charity Challege during Ironman Lake Placid in 2009, so stay tuned!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Patriot Triathlon Video

I made the Patriot Triathlon highlight reel! The video is below and I'm about 4:22 in doing the run shuffle is the GSTC kit.

I'm in!

I arrived to the registration area at about 6:30 for a 9am registration time. I still had just under 1,000 people in front of me. I waited in line for 2 1/2 hours and the sign up process took about two minutes, literally. I looked at my watch when I walked out of the registration tent and it was 9:02 AM.

There are four other members from GSTC who are also doing the race so I'm looking forward to plenty of training partners over the next year and hopefully a few training weekends in Lake Placid.


I volunteered again this year which was my third year doing so. This year carried an extra bonus - a separate line for race registration. Thank goodness, the race sold out that morning and there weren't any online slots available. By the look of the line I was in I wouldn't be surprised if there were people onsite who didn't get in.
I'll also be using the Janus Charity Challenge as a fundraiser for Bretton Woods Adaptive. More on that in another post.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Stage 10

I haven't written about it much here but I'm a huge Tour de France fan. I haven't missed a stage yet, thanks to Tivo and yesterday was an awesome stage!

With all the doping controversy around this year's tour, the exclusion of Team Astana, including two of the three podium finishers from last year, and the race format changes, I wasn't sure if I would really get into this year's tour. I was wrong.

I think the lack of time bonuses and the opening prologue has actually made it more exciting as up until yesterday, all the favorites, and surprise leaders were within a couple of minutes of eachother.

Today is a rest day for the tour so my son will be happy he can have the TV back for one night. We leave for Lake Placid this Friday and while I'm really looking forward to going, I'm a little bummed out I'm going to miss a couple of mountain stages on Saturday and Sunday.

Monday is sign up day for Ironman Lake Placid 2009! I get the chills thinking about it but the plan is to be there bright and early to sign up!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

1st Half Iron in 18 months

Last Saturday I completed my first half Ironman since 2006. The year I did Ironman Lake Placid I finished the year with Firm Man in Narragansett, RI. I'll do a full race report another time. I've been enjoying some easy training days but it has been extremely humid out so I haven't been very motivated to get on the computer and do any writing.

The humidity broke today and even though I've had a few rides and a swim, it hasn't been very enjoyable with the level of humidity out there.

It is one week until I leave for Lake Placid to volunteer for the race and hopefully sign up for the 2009 race!

I'm also fully entrenched in the Tour de France. With all the doping controversy and Team Astana not being invited back, I didn't think I would be all that interested this year. I was wrong. With all of the changes this year it is actually turning out to be interesting to watch.

I hope to post more often for the rest of this month.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Circling the drain article

I've read several articles that delivered a simlar message, this one conveyed better than others what I wholeheartedly agree with about the mind-body connection. It's a really compelling story that is published on Ironman.com

20 years!

I had my 20th HS reunion this past weekend, which is the reason that I haven't posted anything for a while. Several good friends were in town and though the weather was not great, we all had a great weekend together.

Even with the busy weekend I was able to get some good trainings in. On Saturday I met up with a friend I've know for about 25 years for a ride. It was horribly muggy but we left early when it was cool and I got in about 78 miles. Afterwards, I did a short 10 minute run just to test the legs and I felt great! It gave me new found hope that the Patriot Half this weekend will be a decent race.

The reunion festivities began on Saturday night and because Amy and I are still in the area, we decided to host our friends for dinner prior to the actual reunion. It was go great to visit with everyone. The people we had over I've know for 20+ years and we've stayed relatively close given we are spread out all over the country. I think that connection is rare. It's not very often I speak to people who are in close contact with friends for that long. It's a special thing and sometimes I'm sure that I take it for granted, but it's times like a 20-year reunion when you certainly realize how much you appreciate it.

The Saturday night part of the reunion was for ORHS alumni and signficant others. Wow! There were people who I haven't seen since graduation day. Overall I enjoyed high school and it was nice to catch up and talk to everyone.

Sunday afternoon was the 2nd part of the reunion for families. It wasn't as surreal as I thought it would be. Seeing classmates with kids on their hips and pushing strollers was actually pretty cool. I found myself thinking that I want to make sure I pass onto Connor that no matter how tough things feel like they are getting in high school with cliques, clothes, girlfriends and boyfriends, etc. that there is life after high school; as the perspective of a 20-year reunion will give you.