Two weeks to Boise 70.3

Good training week. Some highs and one unfortunate low. Training summary: swim 5.25 miles, 4:10; bike 106 miles, 7:05; run 18 miles, 4:05; total miles 129.25, total time 15:20. Additional stretching and core work about 1 hour.

The big points of the week included good overall mileage. Also two excellent training sessions with Brian on the bike. This helped my confidence to increase as I worked on pace and rolling hills. We also completed a 1000 yard lake swim followed by a ride. Looking forward to more workouts with Capt. Brian. Amazingly, in addition to all the team support from Martin and Snohomish Bicycle, Martin announced that he would be going to Kona as well, that is Martin and family. How cool is that. Pressure is on to complete to compete. The one discouraging event was trying to crest Lord Hill and only making it about two thirds of the way. Then add insult to injury, making another start on the incline, crashing over while trying to clip in. Fortunately I didn't have any serious injuries, a little skin scrape and a bruise and maybe a little ache or two. My desire to finish the hill was gone and I was so anaerobic that I was gassed anyway. The challenge now is there to go back and work that hill. I can see that I have much to work on.

For the next week I have three hard days and three easy, one rest day.

Monday: race pace swim with intervals of 50, 100, 300, 600 yds. In the afternoon bike with race pace intervals, about 90 minutes total followed by race pace run for 30 minutes.

Tuesday: recovery ride 1:00-1:30.

Wednesday: race pace swim 1:00, afternoon BRick 35 min. ride and 45 min run.

Thursday: 30 minute swim and 1:00 run, both easy pace.

Friday: easy ride 1:30-2:00.

Saturday: Sprint Tri.

Sunday: rest

Boise 70.3 is only two weeks away. My goals are to work hard on work days, rest when available, watch my nutrition, stay healthy. During workouts I will mimic race day nutrition and continue to get ready for the event. Also this week I'll work on my nutrition plan for Boise and make sure I get the supplies I need. Sometime next week I intend to revisit Lord Hill or at least something similar.

Weather in the Northwest this Spring has not been great. We've had only a few really warm days so I'm hoping for good weather here and in Boise for the next two weeks. The next two weeks is to keep intensity up but add in plenty of rest so I will be fresh for June 11.

That is it for now, a hui hou, see you on the road.

Since the email from WTC

First of all, WTC, why aren't you following my blog because this is a cool story.

Okay maybe not so but I am having a great time. Since the email announcement I have started the last few days to panic, of course. I mean, I thought, I wanted the Hawaii Ironman spot, I thought I'd get the lottery, sure, but really, really. Now that I've got it now I've got to make it count.

Immediate changes: change up training program to emphasize the Boise 70.3 in five weeks to validate my entry then back to the full Ironman training schedule. No problem, I started in January with Kona in mind so I'm on schedule. Feeling good with a good amount of training races ahead and support. Also I've got a couple of rest breaks built in so I don't over-train at any one point.

I'm starting to obsess about all the if's, all the details I've got to work out. It's good, I've got checklists going, checking in with my support group, and working it out little by little. For me, I'm a bit obsessive compulsive detail oriented anyway so I need to give myself lots of time to work out the details.

I've been thinking alot at this point and the most common thread right now is "why do I do this, triathlons?" I feel like I have a good handle on my personality and what drives me so I've come up with a list.

• Because God has given me the gift that I can do it.
• My family supports my little hobby.
• For my family, friends, supporters who encourage me.
• For my former students and athletes because I always encouraged them.
• Because I get so much support and accountability from my Tri-Team and sponsors at Snohomish Bicycle and my trainers/coaches from the Monroe Family YMCA.
• I am having such an amazing time and every day discover what I can do.
• Finally as I started about the gifts from God, I am so grateful.

So there's a little up close and personal and WTC if you're listening or watching, there is more to come. A hui hou, ho'omau, see you on the road.