Don't try this 3 weeks later....

Miss Maggie and I met up for a 3 mile jog last Wednesday just to "stretch" out the old legs. This is the second run I had attempted since Ironman. The legs are just not bouncing back at all, everything feels heavy, I get tired pretty easily...as we got about 10 minutes in the thought of walking seemed really nice. Maggie and I joked and kept saying "no expectations" for the Couples Triathlon this past Sunday. As the day approached I wondered what it was going to feel like to do this event...Thomas at J&A said he did a Sprint right after Ironman Brazil last year and he said the IM was easier. I laughed but inside I wanted to throw up.

Maggie picked me up Sunday morning and instantly we had some fun nervous chatter joking about how I might finish...hopping, crawling across the Finish Line perhaps. My favorite was talking about our "special needs bags"....just because it felt weird to not pack anything major. Got to race site, set up transition, did the normal routine...jogged a bit with Maggie, went and swam a few minutes...and then it was go time.

Magleen was in the second wave at 8:04...thankfully, as I am NEVER that close to the start of the race.

Took off in the water and instantly my arms felt a bit heavy but I pushed through and as time passed things started to loosen up. I felt as though I was going much quicker than last year so I was sad to find out that my swim was SLOWER than last year. How is that I swim a 2:03 per 100m for an Ironman and swim a 2:41 per 100m for an 800 m swim? Can we get a check on that distance? Apparently I need to work on my sprints in swimming...looks like I have a new goal?

Off to the bike (11 miles) which took me 37 minutes...only 2 minutes slower than last year..I will take it as I hadn't been on the tri bike since IM.

Then onto the run which I thought was absolutely PAINFUL. In fact, I had a nice fall...total face plant about 1 mile into the run. Not kidding. I tripped over my own damn feet and well, grass running is not fun. I quickly got up and started running again just wanting it to be OVER. The funny thing? My run was 26:45...running 8:30 miles....a serious PR over last year.

Magleen took 4th place, losing the podium by just TWO minutes. Not bad for recent Ironman finishers...however, I don't want to do a race anytime soon. My body hurt for the rest of the day.

I leave this Thursday for RAGBRAI...
Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa

This is my first event with Team LIVESTRONG. We will be riding anywhere from 60-85 miles per day for 7 days straight. I don't know if I will be doing 7 days straight...I may be doing every other day...I am excited to go cycle in a new place though and meet the team of 180 riders we have!

I will not have access to computer of blog but will have a full report when I return. I plan on taking my running shoes so that my co-worker Kim and I can log some running miles...and sadly, I will not be able to swim during that time.

See you in a few weeks!

Damn you Craig Powers....

So I catch up with this friend of mine Craig last week...fellow triathlete himself. I ask him when his first Ironman will be and he 'casually' sneaks in "What do you think about Western Australia 2009?" Man!! Ever since then I can't get it out of my head....why sure? Another Ironman in AUSTRALIA!!! absofreakinlutely!!!

So with that I am considering the sign up in December...if I can only save my pennies to get there!! Anyone want to come along?

a new goal...October 25, 2008

I will be doing Couples Triathlon next weekend....and then I will do the Austin Triathlon in September. But my A race of the Fall will be the Florida Challenge. This is the very first Half Ironman I did two years ago...and I am ready to go back and kill this course!!! It's gonna be awesome! (plus, selfishly it gives me the chance to go back to Florida for a few weeks and see some friends that I miss very very much!)

I am still laying somewhat low. I did 2 swims this past week...both around 2300 m with T3. It felt good to stretch out in the pool, but hard to get the motor running again. No running yet as my legs aren't quite ready for that. I did go on a 35 mile bike ride with Chadro yesterday. It was fun...but my legs were tired the rest of the day.

Gonna do a few small workouts this week to just gear up for Couples Spring Triathlon....will Team Magleen take first this year?

a few more Ironman pictures...

me on the run..this is pretty much how I felt and those are my girls Heidi and Robin cheering in the background.

my big finish....this felt so good!!

the kind volunteer wanting to make sure i was ok...i was!

the tears, the smiles, the laughter....all the emotion finally came out...I could not have asked for a more perfect day!