The Road to the Ironman – 1 RUN!

9 days until the Ironman 70.3 Racine

65 days until the big day in Madison

That is all it takes, 1 RUN! I been in a bit of a funk.

Looking for inspiration.

Tired.

With all this training I feel it the dog days of summer and it is not even August yet!

Maybe it is the first feeling of nerves because the 1/2 Ironman is coming in 9 days and that places some reality on what is coming.

Whatever it is I haven’t been myself for the last few days. That changed tonight!

The day started with me sleeping in. After weeks of getting up at 5:30 out the door at 6 for an hour or two on a run or better yet 3 to 5 hours on the bike it has been getting old. So this morning it was almost noon, OK more like 8. The plan was a swim later in the day followed up by some weights. As I got home around 7:30 pm I noticed the sunset was going to be awesome. So it hit me…

Inspiration.

I ate some dinner, put the shoes on, earbuds on and Ironman in training hat on the noggin and I was ready to go. I could feel right away the humidity was down and the warmth of the day also was starting to ease. I took my normal running route which takes me due west. It was great watching the sun setting behind a big cloud and with the sunglasses on I could see sun rays flaring out in every direction. I turned left (south) up a slow gradual incline (not really a hill) and I noticed how refreshed I was feeling. I reached the turnaround point and started back (north). The sunset was not off to my left and it was pink and purple. It was nice because this portion of the run goes behind a large strip mall so there is little in traffic, but also very little to look at so the sunset helped pass the time. Back running west, the strip mall on my right and a large pond on my left (still not much to see because there are small hills blocking the view). I ran past the Wal Mart, the Lowes, the Dick’s, Kohl’s, Best Buy, Meijer and Bed Bath and Beyond and turned left to make a lap around the pond. Now the pond is full view and the reflection of the sun is clear as day. This was a Forrest Gump moment that was for sure. As I finished the pond lap night was falling and I had an unexpected surprise. Fire Flies! Just as I entered an area that is so brutal during the day time because it is always hotter and more humid, I was treated to a parade of fire flies! I stopped for a moment and took it all in.This will go down as one of my most memorable moments in this Ironman training. As I returned to the house I noticed I had something that has been missing, a smile!

Inspiration. Inspiration comes in many forms and when you least expect it. Will this carry me through until the Ironman, probably not. The inspiration battle will continue all the way until September 12, 2010. But today was a good day. I hope to build on this for awhile. This weekend will also prove to be inspirational because I will be doing a Triathlon with my brother-in-law (his first). I do take pride that in some small part I have had a hand in his turn around to health and fitness. So have a good weekend!

Totals:

Running Miles: 596.72

Number of Hours: 89:20

New shoes: 90 miles (for my record keeping)

Biking Miles: 1,352.70

Number of Hours: 83:10

Swimming Miles: 61 miles or 107,000 yards

Number of Hours: 24:30

Swimming laps (25 yard pool): 4,142 lengths or 2,071 laps

Weightlifting hours: 25:35

Stairs in Cancun: 1:05

1 pathetic game of volleyball: 1 hour

TOTAL HOURS – 232 hours and 55 minutes