Week 4 Training, IM watching, WWYDT

Training was ok this week. I’m still falling short of my weekly training time goals. This week was going to only be 11.5 hrs rather than the 13.5hrs because of traveling to PCB. I guess it was lack of motivation/determination. That has definitely changed as you will read next…

Monday
Workout 1-Masters Swim (skipped)
Workout 2-Strength Training Phase AA (60mins)

Tuesday
Workout 1-Run Intervals S1 (25mins)
Workout 2-Walked the jobsite. About 2 miles. Very hilly terrain. (45mins)

Wednesday
Workout 1-Masters Swim (Skipped)
Workout 2-Strength Training Phase AA (50mins)

Thursday
Workout 1-Run Intervals S1 (26mins)
Workout 2-skipped (Dad went to Emergency Room for his kidney stones. He’s been battling them for over a month now. They will be “going up to get them” (oowww) on Thursday so keep him in your prayers)

Total training time 296 mins-that’s right, only 4.93 hrs out of a planned 11.5. Sunday was supposed to have a long run or ride mixed in, but I was just too tired from the trip.

Friday
Travel Day

Saturday
So today we went over to Panama City Beach to watch the IM race. Wow is all I can say. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. So many people on the beach. Some looked scared, some looked excited, everyone look determined. All the spectators had signs, cameras, and t-shirts. You’d think we were on the campaign trail. You can read all you want about the swimming, but until you see just how far out that buoy is, you have no idea. The pros started about 10 mins ahead of the age groupers. There were about 40 of them. Then the remainig 2400 racers entered the water. All you could see were arms splashing and water. It looked like a brawl in a cartoon when it is just a big cloud of dust with hands and feet sticking out.

After watching the swim start we headed over to the bike mount area. These pro’s are crazy fast at getting on a bike. If I tried to do what they do what they do, Lucas will not have a younger sibling.


We headed back to Grayton for the afternoon. We got back to PCB about 800pm. We went straight to the finish line. It was awesome seeing all these people crossing the finish line. The smiles took over their faces. I can’t even imagine the feeling that they had.



On the way back to the shuttle drop-off, we walked up the run course a little so we could cheer everyone on. Seeing the lights and hearing the announcer has to give you so much motivation to dig deep and try to finish strong. If by some chance, any finisher reads this…Congratulation Ironman!!! You rock!

Sunday
MH, Lucas, and I got to the registration site around 645am. There were probably around 60 people ahead of me. We all sat and chatted. People from Atlanta and Chicago were right around me. Around 800 they started registering all the volunteers from the day before. Apparently every single person that volunteered registered. People were worried that we would get a spot. Then, around 1000, our line started to move.


Then I was at the threshold of the tent. The point of no return.


10 minutes later….it’s official. I’m going to be racing in IM Florida 2010!!!


I decided that I wanted to have a reminder about IM. A little bit of motivation everywhere I go. So I made up these little cards…

The WWYDT means “What Will You Do Today.” What will I do today to get ready for IM…It is going to serve as a reminder that I have training to do; that so many things are going to go into me finishing this race that I need to be sure to do what I need to do each and every day. I put one on our fridge, on my mirror at home, on my computer monitor at work, and on the dash of my car. I’d get a “livestrong” bracelet made if I could. I know it’s cheesy, but I don’t care. This is something that I want to accomplish. I’m determined to do it and give it my all. It’s not going to go ahead of God, family, & work, but it is up there. MH, you are the best for being so supportive over this past year. You are always there to push me and yelling “keep runnin!” I love you.


Eric’s Quote of the day: “WWYDT"~Me