Life Is Beautiful

For the love of running

[gregtherunner]

I’ve been away from here for a long while. I’ve not been inactive but I have been a bit lazy. I have a crazy amount of work to do to get back to form but that’s ok. If it were easy it wouldn’t be worth having. Today has been all about freezing rain so it was another tm day. Later, the snow is supposed to hit rather hard. I’m glad I got my run completed. Stay safe world!!

[gregtherunner]

Wow!

Inspiration can be found anywhere. This weekend has provided a lifetime worth!

Saturday the world watched Eliud Kipchoge become the first human ever to break the two hour barrier in the marathon. Today at the Chicago marathon Brigid Kosgei ran a stunning 2:14.04 marathon, breaking the women’s world record that had stood since 2003.

Both of these were inspiring beyond my ability to put into words. Congratulations to both of these amazing runners!!

[gregtherunner]

WTH

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Projects at work required a shift change and my entire life went upside down. Workouts are minimal and sleep eludes me. One more week and I should be able to get back to some sense of normalcy.

I did not register for Boston. I decided to throw that money at a few debts to pay them off. There will always be more chances. I’m not worried about Boston. I am a bit concerned about this terrible turn in my diet. WTH am I thinking? 😆

[gregtherunner]

Since my tri I’ve been ramping up the running miles. I’m qualified for Boston but am not quite sure I’ll run it yet. Registration opens soon so I need to figure out what my new goals are and commit to them.

[gregtherunner]

A few pics from my first tri

[gregtherunner]

Race weekend.

At long last race weekend is upon me. Since 2010 I’ve only competed in running events. GR was my fastest marathon but Boston was the most fun. I’ve raced in downpours and wicked heat. I’ve raced through fields and forests. I know how to train for that.

This 70.3 tomorrow seems so daunting. My running isn’t at the level it was last year because the plan only calls for three runs per week. I don’t know if it’s that or that fact that I got lazy while I had pneumonia but, I don’t feel like I’m adequately trained.

I will see tomorrow. I read somewhere that you don’t rise to your level of expectation, you fall to the level of your training. I hope I don’t fall very far.

[gregtherunner]

Oh boy.

Today was to be my final long workout heading into my taper week. We intended on biking 2.5 hours to be followed by a 55 minute run.

Three of us left our starting point at 6:30 this morning. About a mile into the ride there were three sets of RR tracks we had to cross. Morning dew and the tracks got us. All three of us went down. That ended the day as we all had rather nasty results to our bodies. I have one week before my tri. My buds have two weeks before they compete in theirs. My bike is in the shop. No word yet on damage. Hopefully mild. One of my buds ended up with $1,700 in damage to his.

Nobody broke any bones so all in all I’d say we were very lucky.

[gregtherunner]

Almost there.

Yesterday was a nice 14 mile run before work. I had to start at 3:45am to be done before 5:30. The sky was clear and I saw not one, but two meteors streaking across the night sky that was brilliantly backlit by stars.

Today was a hilly 67 mile bike ride. We started around 6:30am and just kept the average in the 18’s. Nothing killer, just steady riding. I forgot to bring nutrition with me so water had to suffice. One more stringent week, a week taper and then tri day.

[gregtherunner]

Nerves

With just three weeks to go before my first 70.3 (and really, my first tri) the nerves are starting to creep up on me.

I’m doubting the work I’ve done and am certain I’ve been too lazy with training. Self doubt can be a double edged sword. It can motivate or it can destroy.

[gregtherunner]

Yup

Todays workout was cut short by thunderstorms but it was still great. We swam across the bay which was roughly 3,100 yards. After that we rode the bikes 50 miles. The storms hit so we were unable to finish the final 30 minutes or the ride.

[gregtherunner]

[gregtherunner]

Inching closer

Tri day is just five weeks away. My life has been absolutely hectic the past few weeks. I e had some really nice advances in my workouts but I’ve also had a minor injury or two along the way.

I’ve tried not to let the workouts I’ve missed get me down. I started this back in December so my base is there. This first tri, as I keep reminding myself, is about crossing the finish line. There will be time to assess everything afterward. Who knows. I may just love these challenges!!

[gregtherunner]

Checkin em out

This week has been all about testing new bikes. The one I currently have is alright for training but it’s not a competition bike. It was inexpensive and as expected, has low grade components.

I’ve tried a few different brands all priced in the same ballpark. I’m not shopping in the Uber $$$ range but rather mid-grade stuff. I can’t justify 10 or 15 thousand when I’m heading into my first tri.

I have time before August to make a purchase so no rush.

[gregtherunner]

Seven more...

Just about seven more weeks until my first 70.3 tri. I’m scrambling around looking for a better bike. I’m trying to improve my swim times. My running is no where near where it has been for years. It’s different training for distance running than for a tri. All my efforts were for one goal, 26 miles of my best pace.

It’s very difficult for me to worry about just finishing this event. I want to be competitive. I think I’ll learn a lot and be better for having just done it.

[gregtherunner]

For a long time I thought I wasn’t making progress. I thought I had regressed. Pneumonia last March was hard on my lungs. I managed to get back to where I was in my training as far as speed is concerned but I couldn’t seem to swim any real distance. That’s a problem for a guy heading toward a 70.3

The last two weeks have helped boost my confidence. I’ve gotten distance back, albeit slower than I need. Ive also seen my 300 time improve by 15 seconds. Swimming is so much about technique and though I’m making progress, it may be another year before times are down where I would like them to be.

The other two disciplines are a work in progress as well. I’m certain that I am not able to run a sub three hour marathon right now. It’s concerning but not the end of the world. If I decide to run Boston next spring I’ll ramp up the running and shoot for the stars.

[gregtherunner]

This is this weeks workout schedule for my upcoming triathlon. It’s building in duration and I really like that. In the past when prepping for marathons I would jump right into long runs rather than take a little time to build up to them. I’ve no idea how this thing is going to go but I look forward to the challenge.

[gregtherunner]

Chugging along

My work schedule is different than my training partner so we do some work together and some alone. We hit the bike in the morning, early. Some days are a little rough. This morning it’s 42 degrees so when we start at 6am it’ll be another tough one.

I’ll have to hustle to get my swim in after biking but I like the race is mid August and my buddies is one week later. The trees have leaves again. I love this time of year when the green returns. Gorgeous!