#hotter n hell

[goodpix2021]

This One, Just Like This

This One, Just Like This

Flambeaux on Louisiana Avenue. Remember this one? It’s been a long time since I won an award of any kind of consequence. I had about the same reaction that musical miss did when she was nominated for a Grammy after many years. She got emotional. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Me too. This isn’t the biggest award in the world, but still. And, I didn’t have pay to enter. In fact, I didn’t even…

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[xoxochevalierart]

Hotter N Hell Hundred. Video games

[ironmq]

Triple Threat is DONE. Days two and three were easier. Still had struggles, but no crying at the end. Just happy. The century ride was uncomfortable. I hurt from the mountain bike crashes. I woke up feeling like a car accident. I tried so hard not to complain. I could hardly stay in aero because my elbows hurt. My back and neck hurt, my shoulders were screaming. At mile 50 I asked to stop and sit at the aid station. I had this inner dialogue with myself where I asked my self how important was this to me? Was it worth riding in pain? I chose to go ten more miles and reassess. At 60 miles we see a friend and she is riding alone. It's a big race for her. Her first century AND she just battled breast cancer. I slow down between miles 60-70 in hopes she can catch up and draft but didn't see her again until 70. At 70 I tell her my friend and I will pull her in. She just needs to talk to us about pace. So we did that until close to the finish and then let her lead the way in. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. It got my mind off the hurt and gave me purpose to ride. I never thought about pain or quitting again. Just getting her to the finish. It was emotional and triumphant and not at all about me. And that made me really happy. Today's run was a half marathon on the same trail we mountain biked. Perspective... Makes all the difference in the world. I woke up not really wanting to face the pain again, but you know, it wasn't bad. And I would tell you again, after knowing what it's like to both ride and run the course, it's not that bad of a course after today's run. As a runner it doesn't look menacing. On two wheels, DEATH COURSE. But it's highly unlikely I will ever Triple Threat again. I'm proud I finished. I stayed the course. It wasn't pretty, but I knew it wouldn't be. I didn't die.

[ironmq]

That was a good day.

Christmas Eve, sunrise paddle. I should have had my phone put away but I’m always taking pictures. But in this picture I’m texting. And I remember the person asked me, “What’s next for you?" I had two goals ahead, Ironman and Triple Threat. Everyone at least knows the name Ironman, but I always have to explain Triple Threat.

In Texas, THE big bicycle rally to do is the Hotter n Hell Hundred. Last year, I did the 100 miler and then ran a half marathon on their trail the next day. I noticed people were getting wood plaques and I wanted to know what it was. “You Survived the Triple Threat”.

TT is a Friday 13 mile Mountain Bike Race, a Saturday 100 mile road bike race, and a Sunday trail half marathon. So I decided that 2016 I had to go back and get my piece of tree even though I’d never mountain biked in my life.

Now, I’m less than 48 hours from the start of TT. I’ve ridden the mountain bike less times than I have fingers. 100 miles on the road is never easy. And to add insult to injury my longest run of 10 miles was maybe 5 weeks ago. Let’s be real, it isn’t going to be pretty. But you know… Everything I do, I know I’m gonna be ok. I just have to NOT die.

I keep telling myself it isn’t a technical trail. I ran it last year. And then in the shower this morning, I remembered a down hill, a sharp hard left turn and the guys we were running with said, “this is where Jason broke his shoulder.”

So I’m hoping that it was a different category course. I’m on the first timer course (I’m thinking training wheels course).

Please just don’t die.

Live to see another sunrise paddle.

[ironmq]

Somewhere the Ironman gods are laughing at me.  Me and that mountain bike.... we aren’t friends. I got a little dusted up on my ride.  My entire right side took the hit.  The only place that bled...My Ironman tattoo. Stooopid. 

Hotter n Hell is two and a half weeks away.  I looked at the youtube video for my Cat 3 ride.  I’ve made it more difficult than necessary.  But I promise you, those will be the longest 13 miles.  I know I can do it, my desire to do it just isn’t there.  

I’ve got a brick tonight.  We’ll see how the run goes.  Not expecting a whole lot.

Me and my stupid ideas.