Kona = $$$$$
So it has been a week now since I got the news that I was heading to Kona. It finally settled in that is was legit after I felt my wallet empty and booked the plane tickets for my family.. That along with the 7-night vacation home that will be occupied by my wife, daughter, infant, my parents, and my mother in law. Here is a link to the place we are staying. http://www.experiencekona.com/gpage9.html. I really hit me that this trip is going to be very pricey! It's all worth it, right? My main concern was finding a place where my wife is somewhat close to the race site so she can get back to the home to tend to the baby. All the roads will be closed that week in Kona so it is going to be a challenge. The Ironman organization stressed to book everything early as things will double and triple in price as more folks qualify. I am glad I got it done even though most places within a mile of the start/finish were all booked. I think it will work out though.
Now on to a training plan.
I also started researching training plans that are going to fit my unique "lack of time" schedule. I found a few plans that are good and will prepare me to be ready for the race. Again, I am not looking to "race" this course, I just want to finish and enjoy the experience with a hope of not killing myself- LOL!
Yesterday I went for my first run since my Half Ironman in Galveston two weeks ago. It felt good to get back to running as I was testing my tendinitis that has developed in my Achilles along with my right foot stress fracture. I know, I am a mess! Today I went out to Texas Motor Speedway and rode 21 miles in the very windy conditions (20-30mph consistent wind). Here in Texas this is what we call a breeze! I kept saying to myself, "how the heck and I going to go 112 on my bike"? It went well but as you will learn biking is my nemesis. I really do not enjoy it either so it is going to be a struggle to get me ready both physically and mentally for Kona.
Ironman Motivational Video
Click Photo Above for Video
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Introduction / The day "the email" came through my iPhone....
First off let me say thank you for taking the time to read through my blog. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors throughout my post. I am not much of a "blogger" nor an essay king. Plus I am a little short on time :) with everything that is about to go on in my life so I will basically breeze through these posts without checking them. I will do my best to write and bring you guys the experiences that I encounter up through the race in October. Feel free to pass on any experiences of your own or advice you may think would help benefit. Trust me, I will need it!
Last Friday as I was sitting around the table at El Regio Mexican Restaurant ( a favorite spot with my company on Friday for lunch), I felt the familar buzz of my iPhone in my pocket. I assumed it was just one of the fifty other work related emails that I would recieve throughtout the remainder of the day. Little did I know this email was not one that I expected. I nfact, it had only breifly crossed my mind earlier that morning that today was the day they released the 150 lottery selections for the Ironman. "Congrats, you have been selected to compete in the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 8th, 2011". I opened the email and read through it again. I continued to read the fine print again and again as a feeling of excitement, nervousness, panic, and happiness all hit me at once. It was that rare feeling of mixed emotion that takes over your entire body. I did not know if I wanted to cry of fear or jump for joy with happiness. I looked up at the people with me sittong at the table. I explained to them the email I recieved and how I randomly entered the selection lotteryon the last day possible. I never thought I had a chance in a million years to be selected. They all laughed and congradulated me as we joked for a while about how the next six months of my life just changed drastically. For the remainder of the day I could not focus while in my office. My mind was going 1,000 mph as I thought of everything I had to do to prepare (training, travel expense, a new baby, what the heck is my wife going to say, etc.) I then called my wife to break the news. For those who do not know Vanessa and I , we are expecting our second baby girl on August 5th later this year. For those who know triathlon racing and have children, you know having a newborn and a toddler make training for an Ironman a tough one. Two weeks ago I had recently completed my first Half Ironman. Vanessa was still just getting over all the time that it took me to train and prepare. Now just five short days later I was breaking the news to her that I was going to do twice that distance on arguably the toughest course in the sport against the best athletes in the world. Being the supportive and loving wife she is though, she was very excited and 100% behind me. She understood this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We also both understood that it was going to be a tough road and that I needed as much positive support from everyone around me to be able to make it through. This was not going to be any type of cake walk! The next six months are going to be interesting to say the least.
Last Friday as I was sitting around the table at El Regio Mexican Restaurant ( a favorite spot with my company on Friday for lunch), I felt the familar buzz of my iPhone in my pocket. I assumed it was just one of the fifty other work related emails that I would recieve throughtout the remainder of the day. Little did I know this email was not one that I expected. I nfact, it had only breifly crossed my mind earlier that morning that today was the day they released the 150 lottery selections for the Ironman. "Congrats, you have been selected to compete in the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 8th, 2011". I opened the email and read through it again. I continued to read the fine print again and again as a feeling of excitement, nervousness, panic, and happiness all hit me at once. It was that rare feeling of mixed emotion that takes over your entire body. I did not know if I wanted to cry of fear or jump for joy with happiness. I looked up at the people with me sittong at the table. I explained to them the email I recieved and how I randomly entered the selection lotteryon the last day possible. I never thought I had a chance in a million years to be selected. They all laughed and congradulated me as we joked for a while about how the next six months of my life just changed drastically. For the remainder of the day I could not focus while in my office. My mind was going 1,000 mph as I thought of everything I had to do to prepare (training, travel expense, a new baby, what the heck is my wife going to say, etc.) I then called my wife to break the news. For those who do not know Vanessa and I , we are expecting our second baby girl on August 5th later this year. For those who know triathlon racing and have children, you know having a newborn and a toddler make training for an Ironman a tough one. Two weeks ago I had recently completed my first Half Ironman. Vanessa was still just getting over all the time that it took me to train and prepare. Now just five short days later I was breaking the news to her that I was going to do twice that distance on arguably the toughest course in the sport against the best athletes in the world. Being the supportive and loving wife she is though, she was very excited and 100% behind me. She understood this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We also both understood that it was going to be a tough road and that I needed as much positive support from everyone around me to be able to make it through. This was not going to be any type of cake walk! The next six months are going to be interesting to say the least.
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