But I would swim 3000 miles and I would swim 3000 more...

Remember that song?...."But I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more. Just to be the man that walked 5000 miles to fall down at your door." Hahaha...well it has nothing to do with my post other than it popped in my head when I was thinking of swimming 3000 miles. Yeah, I know...I'm nuts.

Yesterday, my girlfriend, Christy and I swam 3000m straight! Yes, you read it right....3000m straight! That is just shy of 2 miles. I'm so proud of us. This is the longest straight swim we have ever experienced in our lives. Christy has been gutting out my Ironman swim workouts with me. She is a fantastic swimmer. It's wonderful to have someone to chase in the pool.

I love to think back on how swimming was hard for me (never forget where you came from). Yes, I could get through it (that's just the stubbornness and drive in me), but when I was tired and felt like I was about to hyperventilate I would quit freestyle and go straight to breast stroke. I remember thinking, "Am I ever going to be able to swim freestyle an entire race?" "Am I ever going to get into a swimming zone like I do when I run?"...well I haven't done a race yet this year but I did get into a zone yesterday! Yeppers! I am on my way. On my way on becoming a better swimmer. A proficient swimmer. A 2.4 mile swimmer! An Ironman swimmer!

"Never forget where you came from." - (1) you never know when your story can be helpful to someone else who is going through the same thing as you are or (2) you don't want to get back to where you started.

Christy and I before a triathlon in 2008.

Edurance Weekend

Recap on my weekend:

Saturday: 22 mile run with Gazelle's. Great run! Felt awesome.

Sunday: 3.5 hr ride and short run. Craziness! Body felt good until I could not feel my feet anymore.

Today, Monday, I'm not really sore. I can tell that my legs did some work but overall I feel good.

I'm glad the weekend is over with. I know there will be more like this though.

Hey weatherman...you could have warn a sista!

O - M - G!

So I was pretty pumped about today's ride because I was riding with several FOMOers and we were doing an out and back on Parmer. My workout was to ride for 3.5 hours then jump off bike and run for 40 minutes. The weather was a little cold but not too bad. It was cloudy. The weatherman said that it was NOT going to rain (YEAH RIGHT!). Well when it came down to it...there were only 3 of us riding (the others bailed because it was too cold...yeah...I should have listened...but then that would not be like me).

So we head out and about a mile or two into the ride this unwanted mist starts (not cool). So we keep going. By the time I knew it Parmer ended and it was time to turn around and head back (I'm by myself at this point because one of the girls turned around earlier and I was ahead of the other). Not even 2 miles heading back it starts raining. UGH! It's RAINING! It's COLD! I'm getting mud all over me and my sweet precious bike. I kept telling myself that "I'm a fighter, I can get through this, I'm almost back (even though I had about 25 more miles to go), nothing can stop me from reaching my goal...not even COLD RAINY WEATHER." About 15 more miles to go...I can't feel my toes...let's be real I can't feel my feet.

I finally get back to my car. I'm about to cry because I know that I still have to run. Did I mention that I can't feel my feet. I put my bike in my car, change my socks, put my running shoes on and start running. I'm straight up miserable.

I get home. The warm shower actually hurts my body especially my feet. I can't believe I just did that. Am I proud of it?...not really. Am I glad that workout is over with?...YES! Would I have actually liked it better on the trainer?...not really. So I'm just going to swallow this day and keep drinking hot tea. I'm shocked...did that just happen?

Computrainer Threshold Test II

Yesterday I had my second computrainer threshold test.


My heart rate zones were about the same as my first time. Carrie (coach) said that it could be due to running right before (I had Gazelle's) or because I'm so far along in my marathon training. I'm actually cool with whatever zones I produce.

Here they are:

Sometimes life gets in the way...

...and sometimes you need your coach (or someone) to remind you that that happens and that you will be ok.

This past weekend Tulio and I went to DC for a business conference. It was an outstanding conference! However, I was not able to do any of my IM training. I'm not going to sit hear and type out my excuses (who wants to hear excuses?..no one), but not training started messing with my mind. I actually felt a little worried (just a little). I emailed Carrie (my coach) and told her that I felt bad about not training and if she thinks that I need to rearrange some workouts or make up anything. We got back into town late Monday night and Tuesday I received a text from her saying "Don't try to make up any workouts. They're gone. Just look forward. Plenty of time." I've heard that from other friends who have done an Ironman..."If you miss a workout, it's gone, don't try and make it up. Be ok with that."

Well shortly after the text I get an email from Carrie. She writes, "The beauty of starting so far out with Ironman training is that life does get in the way sometimes and there will be days and weeks that just don't go as planned. It's ok...At this point, don't try to make up any of the workouts. Simply move forward and proceed as scheduled. You're fine. There are still FOUR full months to put it all together, which is plenty of time. I'm not worried about you at all because your head is totally in the game. It's not like you're slacking off because you're lazy, or tired, or whatever...This was a legitimate reason and these speed bumps will come up throughout the training session."

That's exactly what I needed...my coach to remind me that sometimes life gets in the way and that I will be ok.

THANK YOU CARRIE!

I'm moving forward. Better yet, I'm in forward motion (FOMO)! ;)