In order to get you up to speed on my August adventures, I really need to jump back into the final two weeks of July (yes it’s been that long since my last update…I apologize to my one reader).  This is a fairly large re-cap, and I will do my best to keep each adventure informative but to the point.

Precursor to August

Race Spirit of Racine ½ iron? Or focus on the longer training sessions for IM WI that I neglected last year?

That was the question, and the answer was to stay focused on the goal, which is of course 140.6.  So I gave up PERFECT race day conditions to engage in a ridiculous 2 hour swim (note that last year my longest swim was actually a half iron race, so this was a necessity for my mental game).  The morning after the swim all was fine until my chest randomly started to hurt!  Seriously…did I just get injured eating breakfast and brushing my teeth?!?!  This pain got worse…and worse…and worse…and then down right debilitating!  It moved from my right peck to my back.  It felt like a knife was going in one side and out the other.  I couldn’t walk down stairs without pain, so I don’t need to tell you what swimming, biking, and running felt like.

To sum it up… I was injured (best guess diagnosis from the medical professionals I know: pulled intercostal muscle). 

Steelhead 70.3 (8/1/09)

Me? Drop out because of a little pain? …I guess you don’t follow this blog too closely!  There was no way I was going to miss out on being part of “The Diesel’s” first ½ iron, so I HTFU, took some Advil, and made the best of a bad situation.  The swim was average.  We had a few swells out there that could be a bit challenging at times for breathing and sighting, but I was more focused on short strokes with shallow breathing to inhibit the pain as long as possible. Coming out of the water I asked if Vin was out…Nope. 

The bike was very easy for 30-35 miles, as was expected with the winds helping in a BIG way!  And just as “what goes up, must come down”…what goes out, must come back.  Back meant headwinds.  As I tried to push through the wind, my breathing got deep and the pain began to surface.  Nothing sharp…but a dull, nagging discomfort was starting.  About 40 miles in I asked the crew where Vin was…about 8 minutes back.  The homestretch beat me (us) up pretty good, and the feeling of the pavement under my feet had never been more welcome.

I calculated my lead on Vin and when he would catch me due to my inability to breathe deep at this point.  I figured he would come up around mile 8-9, and that’s when I would suffer through the pain for a few miles.  At this level of fitness, I know my body and what it can do…I knew I could push through four miles of pain.  At mile 4, I was placing some soaked sponges under the shoulders of my race top when I heard, “those things aren’t going too make you look any bigger.”  Looks like I miscalculated!  Understanding where we were in the race, I let him pass…but then my ego took over! I decided to stay with him (remember this is four miles before I wanted to start to feel the knife through the chest).  I caught back up and said, “I’m not just going to let you go…I don’t care how bad it hurts.”  We ran the next 4-5 miles side by side.  And then, at mile 9, it happened.  My pain became a cough.  That one single cough shut me down.  I stopped in my tracks as I felt my chest screaming at me!  I think it’s funny that I was almost spot on with my guess of how far I could go before derailing.  Is this a mental thing or really a physical limiter?  Did my mind acknowledge my earlier assessment of 4 miles of pain and that’s it?  I don’t know but the bottom line was I had four miles to go and wasn’t going to drop out.  I started to jog again but realized that swinging my arm really hurt, so I tucked it into my race belt and pushed on.  A mile later I saw J, and she asked if I could feel my arm (because I looked half paralyzed).  I said yes, it just hurt, and that I would finish.  For the first time ever, I was beaten by “The Diesel,” but it’s ok…we will battle again.J 

Madison Bike Course (8/8/09)

Pouring rain, tornado sirens, slippery roads, and Heath…this was the first 40 miles.  The first three speak for themselves.  The last, Heath, was a rider from Chicago who wanted some company for his second loop because he was in a bad way!  He tagged along with J and I…and if my memory serves me right he consumed four Big Gulp sodas in his final 50 miles & a few bags of Doritos.  It was fun to listen to him and to hear about someone else’s IM tales and drive to succeed, but unless he fixes that nutrition issue he will have another tough go at it!  Good luck Heath!

Wind, blue skies, scorching heat…this was the second 40 miles.  It was almost as if I needed to be tested with every possible condition to prepare me for my upcoming battle, and Mother Nature did not disappoint!  J and I met up at the car after the first loop where she called it a day on the bike (and rightfully so as she would be racing the following weekend), and I headed out for round two.  Literally within the first mile the storm cleared and for a split second I was excited.  By the second mile I was dripping with sweat and thinking how ridiculous this change in weather was and how I wanted the cool rain back! I finished up the ride and headed out for a solid run.  And considering that last year the run was never there, I felt pretty good. 

After the adventure J took me to a nice Japanese restaurant because somewhere in the past week I had managed to turn 28 years old (I actually forgot about it until someone reminded me).  As I do with most tasks, I set a couple goals for the dinner.  First, eat all the food served because I needed to refuel.  This would be a Herculean task on its own because the amount of food you get was overwhelming (so I approached it the same way I do for an IM distance of course…full steam ahead). Second, was to eat everything with chopsticks.  I failed at both goals, just barely, but do have to say I did much better than any other guest at our table!  Also, J and I totally won the “catch the flying shrimp in your mouth game” vs. our table…scoreboard!

Pleasant Prairie Olympic Tri (8/16/09)

I had originally scheduled to race, but since I was still nursing a dull pain in my chest and back…decided to save it for the big show.  However, I did go and support J and saw a few other athletes and friends.  J & J (not to be confused with the other J) were there and I am glad that they don’t use the all too common excuse of having kids to get out of being active.  Healthy parents make healthy children, so even if you can’t do 10 or 15 races a year like me, at least keep active and set a good example.  Congrats to the husband and wife team of J & J as well as to J for her fast finish.  As always, I get very frustrated watching and can’t stop thinking about how I would do…  Luckily, I’ll find out in a little over a week!

Madison Bike Course (8/22/09)

Last chance to test my fitness, and it was a doozy!  For the first 20 miles I hooked up with a pack being led by a local female pro.  I out-biked her by 1 second in an earlier race this season, so figured I would gauge what my pace should be from what she was riding.  To be honest, it felt very slow.  After those first 20 miles, I decided to take off with one of the top cyclist in the area (J.D.) and unfortunately couldn’t hang on.  So I found myself in no-mans land and fell back to my normal riding style, which is probably one gear too hard…always.  After my first loop, I posted a time 30 minutes faster than any ride to date out there and felt pretty solid.  Then around 60 miles or so, the legs started to feel heavy.  At about 70 miles, wouldn’t you know it, that female pro I had left 50 miles ago passed me!  I think it has finally set in thanks to that moment right there.  The lesson has been learned.  I will do everything I can to not chase on race day.  I need to be conservative.  If I’m passed, I will either see them later in the day (when they bonk on the run)….or I will never see them because they are a better athlete than I am.  I think I am finally ok with that, but as always I will have to see what my ego says on race day!J  Again I followed the ride with a solid run.  Top it all off with a large chocolate milk, and I’ll call that one a successful day.

Chicago Triathlon (8/30/09)

It was another day of support.  This time for “The Diesel” in his final race of 2009.  I usually praise Vin for his efforts because he does exceptionally well and this was no different.  There was some nasty wind out on the bike course along with crowded streets for both the bike and run (the bike is hearsay, but the run I witnessed first hand and am glad I don’t participate in this event).  Anyway, I have to give Vin some constructive criticism for once…first, slow down that swim and focus on arm direction.  Second, when the bike is done, it’s done!  If you comment to me about the bike then, I would have to say your first mile of the run could be AT LEAST one second faster-haha.  I know I’m the last to give advice on letting it go, but I know first hand what it does to your race.  Take it from me…let it go…I will try to take my own advice next weekend.J   Overall, I would call the race a success and expect a stronger and more motivated “Diesel” next September when it really counts.

In a nut shell

Well you just got a little taste of my very hectic August…one injury, one ½ ironman, two trips to Madison, one birthday, and two weekends supporting the crew.  I don’t know if I will be posting a short, anxiety ridden, ramble before IM WI, so if I don’t I just have to say that I hope to cap off the multisport season with no regrets.  Rain, wind, sun, clouds, and dare I say snow, whether it’s 55°F or 95°F, I will have a smile more often than a frown and will never forget why I go so hard.  Oh and I will be drinking from that damn boot this time!

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

In my last blog, I was pondering the question:  Does age group success mean anything?

I have made my decision and to put it bluntly…No! 

I made short mention of my age group win in Pewaukee a few weeks ago and felt like a fraud as I posted the results.  Why would I feel like a fraud?  Simple…the actual 1^st place age grouper finished in the top 6 overall…but because of the distribution of prize money, he did not count toward the age group results.  Not only that, but the race was missing some key competitors who would usually bump me down to 4^th or 5^th in the standings.  Unfortunately I could not fully enjoy “the thrill of victory” because in the back of my mind it was not truly a victory.  I also didn’t get to enjoy the “agony of defeat” because I had been wrongfully (in my opinion) awarded 1^st place.  So here I am, stuck in the middle. 

The real point of this rambling, I guess, is to remind myself and others that although it’s nice to see a 1 out of 77 next to your name on the results page, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on the right track.  For me, it’s important to remind myself of the goals set before the race (both of which I missed).  If we do not focus on the significant aspects of our races (whatever has been determined most important for that day, i.e. swim, bike, run, transitions, HR, nutrition, etc), we will gain a false sense of security with our “win.”  When this happens it may be easy to sit back and think you’re improving, doing all the right things, and becoming the “100% race machine” we all want to be!  That is, of course, until you show up to your next race and wonder how you could be 1^st one day and 14^th the next (I’ve seen it happen a hundred timesJ).

So if you’re not a very competitive person and are happy with an age group win, then smile, show off that trophy, tell all your friends, and have a cold one to celebrate.  If you are like me and can’t stand seeing your name below the 1^st OVERALL place, then do the following:

1)       Allow yourself 10 minutes of glory & then wipe that grin off your face.

2)      Determine where you’re biggest improvements need to be made in comparison to the top 3 competitors overall and start doing the research on how to turn your weaknesses into strengths. 

3)      Study all names above your own (become a stalkerJ)…know your competition.

4)      And most importantly, show up to your next race with Loud Actions! (for those of you who are a little slow…actions speak louder than words).

Next Stop:  Steelhead 70.3 in Benton Harbor, MI! 

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

I recently raced the Pewaukee Sprint tri and had a pretty decent day.  I had two main goals for the day, both of which were challenging but doable.  The goals were 1) finish under 1:10 and 2) run a sub 20 minute 5k.  I had gone over the race in my head and knew the exact times I needed to accomplish goal #1…as for goal #2, well it just seems it’s about time I hit that mark (if I can run an 18:46 open, then a 19:59 seems doable for a sprint tri).  Here goes…

Upon exiting the water I was off the mark and a little frustrated.  The frustration came from a wave 5 start, which left me battling my way through many of the 250 individuals who had started before me.  I was silently cursing the race director for not putting me in the first wave (I always request the first wave, and until this race have always been granted the requested position).  Anyway, my swim was about 1 minute slower than I was hoping, but I still had a chance of meeting my goals if I stayed focused. 

My bike was a blast!  I know this course very well and pushed when I had the opportunity.  Because of the later wave start, I was able to enjoy the feeling of blowing past the competition rather than the other way around (which is the case when I am in the first wave).  I was only passed by one cyclist throughout the ride at about mile 14, and as he rode past me he said, “I’ve been trying to catch you since we got out of the water.”  It felt good to know I was being chased…but as he passed, I knew I would see him again.J  At the finish of the bike I heard some cheering directed my way (thanks Trae, Jess, & whoever else was there) and looked down at the split…damn, I was off by another minute!  Although I was off, I really can’t complain too much because I did manage to improve by nearly 2 minutes from last year.  The funny thing is that I still thought I could run my way into goal #1 (that sub 1:10:xx overall) and of course, if I did that I would easily achieve goal #2 (19:59:xx run).

I came out sprinting and immediately felt my shins tighten up.  I had to back off for a couple minutes to let them loosen up, and then I gave it a pretty hard push through the finish.  My run split…20:03 L

In the end I finished with a 1:12:xx, which was good enough for the age group win…brining me to the next question:  Does age group success mean anything?  I am going to do a quick write up on this topic for my next blog and will post soon…so stayed tuned!

Pewaukee Finish Line Shout-outs:

-“The Diesel” finished fourth age group & had a bike improvement of 5 minutes…not bad.  But most impressive was his insane run time of 19:35!!! Nice work Vin.

- J finished 2^nd age group and that’s even with taking the long way around in the swim!  Not to mention out biking one of the elite females has gotta feel goodJ

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

This time of the year it’s hard to keep everyone up to date on “the happenings” around here because there is seriously not enough time in the day.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…it’s very hard to fit 26 hours of crap into the 24 hours provided.  Here is a quick update on my recent happenings…

High Cliff ½ Iron (6/20/09)

This was my third attempt at the 70.3 distance, and it was very uneventful.  We had some pretty bad chop during the swim, and I zigzagged a bit (the buoys AND kayaks were orange creating a sighting problem).  For the first time ever I thought I might actually drown, as I was crushed by a wave while coming up for a breath three times in a row!  Got punched, which is not unusual, but this one actually left a visible battle scar (a small shiner the next day).  After all that, I finished 4 minutes faster than last year – which had me excited to hop on the bike.

The bike was 3 minutes slower than last year, and I don’t want to talk about it…

The run was 1 minute slower, but I felt great through the first 9 miles and think I’m making progress here.  I had to walk during the last 3 miles quite a bit, but I wasn’t too discouraged.  After looking at some of the run times, it looked like everyone struggled with the heat on the run.  I ended with a 5:19, which was a whopping 1 minute faster than last yearJ.

In addition to the race, I finally took a day off of work that Friday and had a nice weekend of camping to compliment the racing…

My Friday Run #3 (6/26/09)

I made the trek home from work again after “failing” my last two attempts.  I started out slowly, hoping to simulate my Ironman pace and wouldn’t you know it…it worked!  I didn’t have any major problems through the 23 miles and felt pretty good when I arrived home about 3 hrs and 20 minutes later.  In fact, I felt good enough to walk 9 holes the next day and have a little night out with some friends!  The best feeling is conquering something you have previously failed at…it was GLORIOUS!

IM WI Bike Course (7/3/09)

This one was a disaster from the get go!  J & I met up with “The Diesel” to make a go at the course.  J wanted to complete one loop & Vin and I were going to throw down the double (~84 miles).  The first loop was decent – nothing too exciting – but during the first ten miles of the second loop, I bonked.  And not the “I’m kinda getting tired and this is difficult” bonk.  I mean full blown, single digit mph, I think I’m going to vomit, do I even have legs anymore, that girl just past me and she was RUNNING bonk!!  It turns out my nutrition experiment in the morning had really been ill-received by my body.  The experiment included a yogurt and a StarbucksJ  I know, I know – not ideal.  But I am determined to somehow work that Starbucks into the pre-race meal!!  The good news is my stomach handled it just fine!  The bad news of course was the lack of calories ingested before a 5 hour workout.  It was oh-so eloquently pointed out to me that a total of 700 calories throughout the morning (this is because I did manage to squeeze in a Cliff bar during the ride) was not sufficient to fuel me when I was burning 3,500 calories.  No worries though…I’ll get it figured out before September.

So, that’s pretty much the last month.  I’ll be racing the Pewaukee sprint triathlon this Sunday and will hopefully post something a little sooner following that race.

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

As the title indicates, my first multisport event of 2009 did not go as planned.  The plan was simple…WIN.  Delevan Lake was the first triathlon I ever completed, and I have made a pledge to continue racing this event until I win it.  In my mind, it doesn’t seem like too big of a task considering it only attracts a small group of athletes who, for the most part, are mediocre at best.

“The Diesel” made the trek up North to crash on my couch and to get a hit out before his targeted race (Elkhart Lake) the following weekend.  So after a night of the usual pre-race pizza and a couple hours of Ironman viewing, we hit the sack eager to start the season. 

Heading into the race I had made the decision that if I was to win, it would come from a blistering bike split.  The idea was to keep within a minute or two of the top swimmers and then HAMMER the bike.  This would result in one of two things happening, and I think we all know what those are… (1) Come into T2 with the lead or (2) blow up trying. 

My plan hit a major snag upon exiting the water…17:55!!  This was nearly 7 minutes slower than last year, and I immediately started to worry.  (Turns out the race directed must have finally gotten the distance right rather than shorting the swim, which has been the case for the past two years.)  This meant my weakest of the three disciplines had just created an even larger gap than anticipated.  And because of the short distance of this race, that time would be very hard to get back!

After a mad dash into T1, I became frantic.  Vin was already out of his wetsuit and ready to un-rack his bike.  I will admit I had expected this before the race, but did not realize the ambush on my mental state (according to the monitor, this is the point my HR peaked for the day at 196).  Even after a little mishap with the race belt, I still had the 2^nd fastest transition of the day and then began to implement the plan.  Within the first 100 yards I had passed Vin and started the assault on all those “swimmers”.  After 3-4 miles, I looked back and felt great; I had created a large, growing gap and was passing athletes like they were standing still!  Next stop...blow-upville!  The 10 mile marker is where it happened.  My legs would have nothing to do with me or my overambitious aspirations.  Within a mile of this point, I heard something I did not expect, “you better get your ass in gear.”  IT WAS “THE DIESEL”!!!!!  He cruised by quite definitively and threw down a reverse naked choke hold on my raceJ…my head was busted!

No matter how badly I had misjudged my abilities or underestimated Vin, I was not going down without a fight.  It honestly took everything that was left in my completely cashed legs to stay with him for those last couple miles.  Back and forth we went, and at one point I made the comment that his newly found speed must be due to the new bike and helmet rather than all his hard work (nothing like firing up your competition right before the run). OopsJ  Nevertheless I made a final pass coming into T2 and posted a bike split a mere 22 seconds ahead of V.  After a quick observation, I concluded we were sitting somewhere around 5^th or 6^th place and had to create a new race plan.  The new plan…somehow get my legs to outrun the ever-charging Diesel.

Another quick transition and the battle began.  I will admit that at no point in my pre-race visualization did I ever see Vin and I running together the entire 5k, but that’s what was shaping up to happen.  I was very weary of the fact that maybe he was holding back just enough to out sprint me in the end, and I made the decision that I would conserve when I could to prevent a collapse too early.  As long as he didn’t pass me, I would wait for the finish, which was building up to be epic.  I had forgotten about all others on the course and focused all of my energy on the one person behind me.  For three laps, not only did I see the shadow bouncing off my left foot, but I also heard the breathing…scratch that, I felt the breathing!  So this is how the season starts, a mad dash to the finish for bragging rights between two friends.  Both of whom started triathlon two years ago…both of whom have been dedicated to improvement…both of whom are VERY competitive.

In the end I, out sprinted “The Diesel” to the line, creating a gargantuan separation of 1 second!  This gave me 4^th overall (1^st age group) and although I didn’t win, this is probably the most fun I have had during a race and is sure to be one that is the topic of discussion throughout the season.  Looking back at the results, I was only 36 seconds off the podium and am now forced to wonder what would have happened if I had focused on the race in front of me rather than behind…

Of course I have to say congrats to Vin for a HUGE improvement from last year and for seriously pushing me through the last few miles of the bike when I was ready to throw in the towel.  This race has brought forth the realization that Pewaukee & Steelhead will have one more competitor I have to consider when thinking of the competition.  Also mad props to Jason Orna for completing his first of what I’m sure will be many triathlons and to his wife Julie who claimed a second place age group finish!

My next adventure will be High Cliff 70.3, where I hope to learn a little about pacing!

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

…and then there are bad ideas.  Running the Lake Geneva Marathon (LGM) without the proper mileage should go under the bad idea category.  If you’ve been following along, you would know I have been having IT band issues and therefore stopped running for about a month before the marathon.  To add insult to injury, the LGM is one of the most demanding run courses you may come across in the country…no joke!

I was really excited this year because “The Diesel” would be joining in on the fun by running the half marathon.  Based on discussion, it sounded like he was ready to run, and I was truly keyed up to see his progress from his first attempt at the distance.  Here’s how the day unfolded…

Unfortunately the LGM course is not marked every mile (until mile 20), so I had no idea if I had gone out at my intended pace.  I was simply gauging my pace using my HR monitor, and everything seemed fine until I hit the first mile marker (actually mile marker 5).   My pace was not were I had hoped – too fast as usual!  I still felt fine, but knew I had gone out a little quick for what was to come. 

Around mile 10, my support crew came driving up and confirmed what I was thinking over the past few miles.  That guy up there in the white shirt…he’s in first!  Yup, I was sitting in second place and feeling surprisingly good! 

What?  Did I say I felt good?  For some reason, I experienced something very unexpected…the proverbial “wall”.  This is the feeling we usually get around 20-23 miles when the tank is running on fumes.  It doesn’t happen 14 miles into the race! Knowing the course from previous experience, this was very discouraging…especially since the final 10 miles are a true test of one’s mind and fitness.  I contemplated dropping out at mile 16, which is actually the ½ marathon finish line.  I knew the crew would be there, and I could get a ride back. 

I have never had a DNF and made the decision that because my knee felt fine, I could deal with energy depletion.  I met up with the crew, who greeted me with some great support and a couple handfuls of popcorn (not a typical marathon food).  I was craving anything and everything at this point, signifying my body’s depletion of nutrients.  Along the way I got the news that Vin had set a new ½ marathon PR (1:31:31), and I was thrilled with the news.  Sadly, my prediction of a new PR was long gone, and I was forced to dream about a day when my goal and my training line up perfectly. 

The remainder of the run was filled with sporadic cramping of my calf muscle, which I have only felt one other time (IM bike course) and is not something I hope to feel again anytime soon.  The final miles were completed with J riding and running next to me, encouraging as always.  I strolled across the finish line at 4:11:xx.  I was frustrated with the outcome, but not surprised given the situation…better luck next timeJ

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

Sorry for the long hiatus!  Since my last post, I have completed another Friday run and raced in a local 5k. 

First, I’ll hit on my lead up to the Friday run.  Ready?  Wait for it . . . there was no lead up!  After the South Shore half marathon, I decided my run was spot on and I needed to get focused on my biking.  Long story short, I cranked out two of the hardest training sessions since training for Ironman and suffered the consequences.  My overzealous training created IT band issues again!  Rather than be smart, I decided if I just held off on running for a few days, I could still make the 23 mile trek home!  BAD IDEA!!  After a few miles, my knee was screaming at me . . . so what did I do?  Stop before I could do more damage?  Not quite . . . I pondered the following:  How bad can you suffer while still maintaining forward momentum?  I have read numerous articles saying you can’t “run through” IT band injuries because the pain is too severe.  Well, I guess I proved them wrong!J  For just over 20 miles, I trudged along in more pain than I previously thought was imaginable.  Anyway, I could bore you with the details of how badly this hurts, but instead I’ll just say I once again proved to myself that my mind CAN beat my body if I so choose.  A little under 3.5 hours later, I stumbled through the door to find a nice tenderloin with my name on it!  My life is pretty sweet!

Next adventure…

I had scheduled a 5k race for the following weekend, and once again I didn’t want to bail out on my planned agenda.  So, I took the entire week off from any biking or running, hoping that a diagnosed 6 weeks on the mend would somehow miraculously turn into one week.  Lots of ice and even more Advil had me feeling somewhat pain free on race morning.  Now I don’t know if it was the rest, the drugs, the adrenaline, or the fact that I was racing with a team, but I was ready to go.  I ran the race without any pain and posted a new PR of 18:46!  This was good enough for 11^th overall (4^th age).  A few hours later, I paid the price as those tasty treats wore off and my knee once again asked me what the hell I was thinking!

Upcoming adventure…

Well, another two weeks off from running (other than a 5 mile tester with J), and I am embarking on another ridiculous escapade.  On Saturday, I will attempt the Lake Geneva Marathon for the third time and can only hope the 8 miles I have logged over the last 3 weeks is an okay taper to still get me through a marathon.  I know what most of you are thinking…idiot!  Well, I am determined to prove you all wrong and post a 3^rd PR in as many races!  Stayed tuned for the race report…

Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

 A couple weeks ago I attempted my first “Friday Run”.  For those of you who haven’t been keeping up, this is a 23.3 mile route from my office to my front door.  The idea is to get in a long run every Friday and a nice easy bike on Saturday morning to retrieve my vehicle.  Let’s start this journey!

I took off from work a few minutes early after realizing I had forgotten my headlamp and didn’t want to get stuck running in the dark.  Based on my intended pace and time of sunset, I would be cutting it close arriving at the portion of my route that has streetlamps to help get me through the final miles. Right from the get-go I was not prepared.  I was running in shorts, which was comfortable at first . . .  The sun gave me a false sense of security as I journey out into the elements, despite the brisk 41°F temperature! Plus my Camelbak was doing a nice job of heating me up quickly.

After a few good hill climbs between 6 – 8 miles, I hit a long climb that provided no shelter from the wind.  It was at this point that I realized my problem . . . I was sweating AND getting chills at the same time!  By this point the sun had begun to descend, and the temperature was quickly dropping.  It was in the mid 30’s and windy.  Yet another challenge presented itself . . . the traffic lights starting around mile 15.  Upon stopping at the first intersection, I began to shiver . . . not good.  I knew I would have a hard time getting my body temp back up.  And then I had one of those moments.  I smiled and thought to myself, there is NO WAY my competitors are doing this right now . . . this is the type of stuff that prepares you for the challenges of an Ironman.  It was an incredible feeling to be so uncomfortable and yet so content at the same time.

The next few miles were brutal!  Stop & go.  Stop & go.  Finally I lost it at mile 18.  My legs were going numb, which didn’t help as one of my misguided steps landed on a rusty metal plate.  The plate took an awkward “jump” up from my shoe and said hello to my shin.  Are you kidding me right now?  I looked down, hoping I wouldn’t need a tetanus shot!  Luckily, it only left a little bruise . . . but gave me the excuse I needed to call it a day. 

I took off my Camelbak and searched for my phone.  Upon retrieval, I realized I could barely manage the touch screen with my frozen nubs.  And when I finally dialed the intended number, my face was so cold my lips didn’t form words easily. (I think we’ve all had this feeling, but sometimes it’s surprising.)  “Can you please come get me?  I’m about a mile from Target . .  . please.”  Luckily, the person on the other end of the call is willing to put up with my ridiculous attempts at “living life to the fullest” J and she agreed to come get me at mile 19.  Thanks J!

To sum up attempt #1 for “My Friday Runs,” calling it a successful failure seems appropriate.  My legs are physically capable of making this journey weekly, provided I anticipate Mother Nature’s curve balls a little better.  Attempt #2 will take place this Friday, and the forecast is calling for low 60’s.  Combine the warm up with a later sunset, and I should have no problem reaching my front door this week! 

 Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

  On Saturday I ran the South Shore ½ Marathon with my normal high expectations, but with little belief that the expectations would be met.  Over the past month I have been preoccupied with the NCAA tournament, a friend’s wedding, and the extra-curricular activities naturally associated with both of the aforementioned events. 

 The weather cooperated with us this year, and there was no real reason to complain (other than the winds coming off the lake). It has become customary for me to take at least one jab at Mother Nature for each race!  This was my first event sporting the new PRO tank, representing the best running store in the Midwest!  After a warm-up with J, I headed to the start where there was a large contingent from the PRO team, none of which I had met yet.  Introductions began. While shaking hands with one of the crew, I noticed the pack moving . . . I turned around to face the starting line, and realized the race had just started!

Miles 1-5 felt very comfortable, holding a 6:35-6:45 pace.  At this point, I was approaching one of the top Ironman competitors in the area, Scott Bowe.  I introduced myself and there was a little chatter (it should be noted that I usually scold J for engaging in conversation during her races because I believe it means your effort isn’t where it should be and you’re not focused . . . so this was very unusual for me).  After about a mile, I told Scott I was going to hang with him because he was usually under 1:30, which has been my goal for quite some time.  He replied, “If you keep this pace, you’ll get it.”  He also hinted that he was under trained and may not hit the mark I was shooting for, implying he probably wouldn’t hold this pace.  I understood and at mile seven, he started to fade . . . I still felt fine and picked it up, running my fastest split of the day . . . a 6:27! 

 It wasn’t until the final two miles that I started to realize I was a bit under trained, too.  Mile twelve was a 7:05, and when I saw my first split over the seven minute mark, I started to break mentally. I felt my normal self-destructive thoughts creeping into my head at this point . . . the ones that have generally caused me to implode so many times before.  During the final mile, I was passed by about eight runners and could do nothing in response, but it was surprisingly okay with me . . . my eyes were fixed on the clock at the finish.  When it came into focus, I saw 1:28:32.  At this point, I gave one last push to stay under 1:29 and crossed with a new PR of 1:28:58!

 Thanks to PRO and the team for all of the support . . . it was great to see the camaraderie throughout the race, and I look forward to many more events with all of you athletes.  Also thanks to Fluid, Motor Tabs, and Rudy Project.  Lastly, thanks to the two cute girls who cheered me through the finish and provided me with a recap of the day’s happenings outside of the race . . . driving cop cars and finding five dollars on the ground!  That’s a great day all around!J

 Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke

 P.S. Stayed tuned for “My Friday Run” recap of first attempt and future plans.

  I am seriously starting to come unhinged.  I believe I may have what they call “cabin fever.”  Here in Wisconsin we were teased with a few gorgeous days (it’s been a few weeks since), and I am anxiously awaiting the return.

 Immediately following the short-term warm-up, I was hit with my yearly head cold.  I took 1 ½ weeks almost completely off, running only twice in an attempt to hang on to the fitness I wanted/needed for the Blarney 5k.  This year I would have to take the approach of being “well rested,” rather than well trained.

 Here is a quick race recap:  5:55 . . . 6:25 . . . 6:55 . . . add them up for a 19:15 finish.  This was a 10 second improvement over last year, but as the numbers indicate, I just didn’t have it at the end.  In addition to the rapidly declining pace throughout, I was also unable to keep my HR in check . . . averaging over 200 bpm (just a bit highJ).  I went into the run shooting for anything in the 18’s . . . Nope!  I failed at my only goal for the day, but did manage a top 20 finish overall and 3^rd for my age group.

 Now that the race report is over, let’s get back to that “cabin fever.”  I can’t run inside on the treadmill anymore because if I have to hear the belt rotating beneath me for another mile, I may just go berserk and snap the thing!  I can’t seem to get myself on the trainer to spin because the walls in the room seem to be closing in on me (I have a feeling it’s exactly how prisoners feel in their cell).  My weight lifting took a break with my head cold and never found its way back!  The only thing that is even close to on track is my swimming, and by on track, I mean I’m getting myself in the pool a couple times a week…that’s it.

 Okay, enough of the crying.  What do I do about the above scenario?  I’ve created “My Friday Run.”  Friday runs will take the place of my Saturday long runs and will hopefully be a sustainable berserker adventure.  What is it?  “My Friday Run” will consist of a 23.3 mile point-to-point route starting at work and ending at my front door.  This will not only provide me with lots of time outdoors but will also require a bike ride Saturday morning to retrieve my car (that’s what I like to call a two’fer).  I may also start including a “My Friday Run” report if things go well.  Lastly, if anyone lives between Oconomowoc and Brookfield, feel free to join me for part or for the entire run (and the Saturday bike if you’re up for it).

 Cheers,

-=Berserker Poke