PT 2016- 265 days to GO

After completing an Ironman Triathlon, a smart man would rest.

Not being very smart, 10 days later I participated in a 175 mile charity bike ride.  

On day one, at Mile 60, nearing the summit of a 6-mile incline my left quad cramped out. Laying on the ground, trying to stretch it out, I found my whole hip cramp out.
(Were you slithering like a snake in the dust?)
Pretty much
Once I stretch that out 
(You called for the SAG wagon and called it a day)
I got back on my bike the road another two miles till the other side cramp out.
(That was when you called that wagon and called it a day)
No, my friend came by and offered me a muscle relaxing cream.
I was impressed that it didn't taste as bad as I thought it would.
"Dave you know that cream is topical right?"
(Did your tongue go numb?)
No & I finished the hundred twenty miles of riding. Then I threw in a 5k run when I got off the bike
(Then you called it a day?)
Then I slipped into an ice bath.
The next day we rode another 55 miles.
(Then you called the season quit)
Three weeks later I competed in Half Ironman Maine70.3

Three weeks later I competed in Half Ironman Atlantic City70.3. 

I had 3 athletes competing, I had to go

 

(Because you have a death wish)
Because I enjoy racing
(Yup, a death wish)
The next week, I started to notice a tightness in my hamstring.
(The butt muscle?)
The muscle that connects from your tush to the back of you knee.
(The lower butt muscle?)
My PT reassured me it was just tightness... and with great intensity started to loosen it up.

There is nothing enjoyable about having a grown man rub the knots out of your hamstring muscles.
There is nothing enjoyable about having your PT twist you into a pretzel shape.
But with 6 days to go to the New York City marathon there is great joy in knowing you will be ready.
(And that you have a death wish).

The Unfinished Journey-275 Days to GO

Reset the count down clock, we're doing another Ironman in 2017.

(I'm shocked)

Yeah, I know. 

(You're never going to stop, are you?)

I need to take a break in 2018 for my kid's bar mitzvah.

(So you are changing the every other year schedule)

Yup, plus I felt like I had a unfinished business at Ironman Lake Placid.

(Unfinished? You set a new PR! You finished a 140.6 mile race in under 16 hours!)

But, I did poorly on the bike.

(Poorly? You rode 112 miles in under 8 hours.)

At one point I had to stop to catch my breath.

(So you could have done better on the bike)

I felt that I could have done better at everything.

(Is there a point where you will be happy?)

14:59:59

(What if you don't achieve that goal?)

I shaved an hour off my marathon. If I shave 30 minutes off the bike & another 15 off the run, I will be there. 

(Are you capable of a 1:25:00 swim, a 7:30:00 bike & a 5:45 run?)

The motto of Ironman is, "Anything is possible on race day". 

The trick will be time.

(You mean seeing your family)

Yes. 

(How are you going to train more & not become, "Mommy, who is that man in spandex?")

You'll see, I have a plan. For now I have to get through the NYC Marathon.

(You, Mr. ADD. You can do one thing at a time?)

I can stop thinking about Ironman training right now.

(Says the man who just told us he plans to do another Ironman 11 months from now)

Shuddup.