"VROOOM...VROOOM...VROOOM"

"You know how many times I heard that today.  More than one thousand I would bet.  Actually "VROOOM" hardly does it justice.  I don't know what letters you could possibly put together that would give you the sound sensation of an unthrottled, unmuffled, motorcycle engine blasting by you at 120 kms/hr on the highway.  Apparently many of the friday the 13th gang decided to stay in the area last night and head home today.

The violent noise some of those engines make is awesome.  Awesome if you know it's coming, but because of fhe wind direction I would never hear them until they scared the shit out of me coming up behind.  It would get so bad I would tense in anticipation waiting for the next one, or rhe next bunch of 6-8-10!  Then if there was a little break I would relax, only to have the shit scared out of me again with the next bunch.

And like all groups of people there are always a few assholes.  The fuckers who seemed to delight in giving you something beyond a sound experience.  Three or four times I had guys do the big swerve around me, coming just close enough to give me the extra sensory experience of getting buffeted by the wind.   It truly was unnerving, time, after time, after time.

I think it was probably made worse today by the fact that I'm tired.  Physically tired and mentally drained.  I now understand the need for recovery periods like I never did before.  I am very hapy to be moving into a slow week where all of my workouts will be shorter.  My long run and bike specifically will be only half the norm.  One easy week and then one last push before I start tapering.

It was nice to come back home and find some words of support on my blog today.  Despite my brave words of yesterday it is hard during a long, painful workout to keep the little nagging doubts at bay.   I have to remember to think with my head and not with my heart.  My head tells me that if I do the workouts according to the plan everything will come together.  My heart tells me that I'm old, and weak.

I survived the 180 kms at just over 6 hours, and then alternated 5 min runs with 1 min walks to get me  around the block in 39 minutes.   I am still trying to decide a marathon strategy and that scenario is one consideration.  The other thing I'm thinking about  is the idea of allowing myself to walk whenever I want to, but never for more than minute at a time.  We will see.

(ride 180 kms, run 7.3 kms)

"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs."---Alexei Sayle

"Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid."---Mark Twain

 Love

Peter

"Friday the 13th"

I'll bet you didn't know that would be the title of my blog today Old John!  I always know when it's Friday the 13th by the motorcycles.  We hear them by the hundreds, maybe even thousands, first thing in the morning, and then again in the evening.  Our road is a shortcut between all points west of London, Ontario, and the village of Port Dover Ontario.  And as anyone who rides a motorized bicycle knows, Port Dover is where you go on Friday the 13th.  That's been happening for over 30 years now, and they generally expect around 50,000 bikes and 150,000 people, all who jam into the little town of 6500.

Fortunately I'm not a superstitious guy or I may consider it unwise to take this day to tell you about how I plan to do an 11 hour Ironman.

First off I admit to wondering what people really think when they first hear that.  Is the reaction; that's sounds aggressive... or the exact opposite...that's all the improvement he can make?  Thirty seven little minutes, or about 5 percent.

 I admit to wondering the same thing at times.  It doesn't sound like a lot when you say it that way, but I also know the reality.  The reality that I gave it all I had the first time, and that I was very motivated because of the novelty of it, and because of the cancer thing.  There is also the reality that I am 3 years older again.  Normally you don't get faster as you get older.

But I'm gonna give it a shot.  Like I said the other day I believe goal setting is a critical aspect of any undertaking.  Critical in the sense that striving towards a goal brings you the kind of satisfaction that you are presumably after.

But the 11 hours is only part of the goal.  Of course having fun is paramount but I also wish to do well in my age group.  I am much better positioned for this than in 2009 as at that time I was in the 59th month of my 60 month age category, but this time I am only in the 35th month.  Believe it or not that makes a big difference in the competition level.  It's also why I have considered the idea of doing my next race in 3 years again, when I will be in the first year of eligibility for the 60-64 gaphers!

So I am sad to tell you that my success or failure at the 11 hours may well come about in the first hour.  After doing the math I need to be at least 7 minutes faster out of the water than 2009.  Although this may be a major pipe dream it's what I'm shooting for.  If it doesn't happen, then although it does not end the dream, it will necessitate a major surprise somewhere else.

Basically it needs to look like this.
Stand up out of the water at 1:16 (7 minutes faster)
First transition 4 minutes (same)
Out on the bike at 1:20
Back ride in 5:37 (32 minutes faster, 32 kms/hr)
Second transition 3 minutes (same)
Out running at 7 hours.
Marathon in 4 hours (same as last time)

So while it seems like most of the improvement comes down to the bike it really is about my overall endurance.  After surviving the swim the whole day comes down to saving enough from the bike to still be able to run.  I could have ridden faster last time but I resolved to not do so, and indeed it worked for me.  I believe I can do the 32 kms/ hour but still run a 4 hour marathon afterwards???  It may be a mistake....the mistake that about 75% of all participants make.  We will see.....

What gives me a spark of confidence though is my half IM a few weeks ago.  The way I ran that day surprised the hell out of me quite frankly.  I also know that I am more muscular than last time, and leaner.  Those 2 things can be a significant factor over the course of 11 hours.  I will still however judge my day as it wears on.  I will gear everything towards being able to run the planned 4 hours.  If there is any hint of early tiring on the bike I will slow down.  I would much rather come in at 11:30 feeling good, then arrive at 11:29 crawling!

So there you have it.  On August 26, 2012 I will participate in Ironman Canada and complete the event in a time of 10:59:59 or less!  You have my commitment on that!  Game on!

Long ride tomorrow. I may get wet!

(swim 2000 metres)

"The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one.  Commitment is healthiest when it's not without doubt, but in spite of doubt"---Anon

Love
Peter

"Distracted"

All is well in my life but I have had a few little distractions today that have moved me to some emotion.  Mostly gratitude but with a wee bit of anger mixed in.  The line I am typing right now is replacing one I had already written which expanded on the anger part.  I decided to focus on the gratitude.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the richness of my life.  A life of such charm that the beauty literally dwarfs the pain, and the anger.

My grandchildren, my children (4 boys and 2 girls now), my partner, my siblings, my partners siblings, all the rest of my extended family, and so many dear, dear friends.  You are amazing and I don't know what I ever did to deserve you.

 And lastly for today if you are reading this blog Sonni M. send me a note sometime.  I think we have something in common.  (pwrooyakkers@gmail.com)

Tomorrow under less emotion I will tell you about eleven hours.  My apologies.

(ride 30 kms, run 2 kms, weights)


"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."---William Arthur Ward

Be not afraid.

Peter

"Eleven Hours"

I try to listen to my wife and I think I'm getting a bit better.  This time however I needed to do it my way.  Besides I don't think she really cares if I told you or not....I think she's just yanking my chain!

Anyway, there you have it.  More details tomorrow on what 11 hours means to me.  I'm a bit tired today from my long run which went reasonably well.  I was slow but that was intentional, and really only the last 5 kms was a bit tough.

(run 35 kms, 3:12:15)

...and in tune with the title of my post here are eleven words that humbled me....

"Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard."---Anne Sexton

Love

Peter

"Top Ten Ironman Fears"

10)  Weather!  That would mean choppy water in the swim, strong winds for the bike, and excessive heat during the run.  Strange as it may seem I am not afraid of rain under any circumstances, and in actual fact it would be a blessing for the run.

9)  Bike problems.  I truly believe that you can almost completely eliminate this concern  with good planning and an intimate knowledge of your own bike, but shit still happens.  The most minor thing would be a flat, while the most major would be anything that would prevent you from moving forward.

8) Upset stomach/bowels.  Again this one should not be a problem if once does his homework well.  As I mentioned this means having the pre-race evening, and race day nutrition well dialed in.  I still need some more rehearsal here over the next few weeks.

7) Swim anxiety.  The greatest impediment to a decent swim is a poor state of mind.  Swimming is not a natural mode of travel for a human being, and as such an agitated state can mean poor breathing and the accompanying waste of energy.

6) Injury.  This is probably more of a current concern than a race day issue.  Ever time I drop something as little as a spoon on my toe I panic for a few moments, lest it cause the fracture of some obscure little bone somewhere.

5) Chaffing, burning, itching.  All issues that would only be the result of poor planning, and yet just the other day I came back from my bike ride with a very red and irritated right testicle!  Did I use too much cream or too little?

4) Poor pacing.  The only area where I have a little concern is on the bike ride.  My first time around I was so scared to go out too hard that I managed to keep myself  in check.  I know I will feel very strong for the first couple of hours and hopefully overconfidence doesn't set in.

3) Accident.  Heaven forbid that anyone goes down on their bike but it inevitably happens to several people.  It can get pretty congested at times, and riding defensively is critical lest someone else mows you down.

2) Poor transitions.  Like so many of the other fears thy can be mostly alleviated by practice and yet the fact remains that when you are soaking wet, your heart rate is elevated, you can't see very well, you can't hear very well, and you are trying to change your clothes while avoiding collision with 2600 others trying to do the same thing, can be a bit overwhelming.


.....and the number one Ironman fear that would make the whole exercise pointless....,

1) Not having fun!   To consider for a second that there is any good  reason for this whole undertaking other than the desire to live life to it's fullest would be ludicrous.  After all, I don't see Nike or Trek coming to me with an endorsement contract after the race. Sure, there are the fringe benefits of good health, both mental and physical, but for me that's all still about having fun.  And so on this note I think I need to take a little  step back.  I'm pretty sure that the only real risk in not enjoying the day comes from the need to complete the race in a given time.  I have had my goal time in the back of my mind for many months now, and yet not shared it with anyone other than Claudette.  I believe that goals are important to keep you focused and driven, but at least in my case that drive can become a bit counterproductive. Secretly carrying those self imposed demands may per chance lead to the horrible realization of my number one fear.

So!  My solution?  I have decided that I no longer wish to carry this pressure alone and as such have decided to enlist you in my ambitions.  I have decided to tell you my goal time.

...tomorrow...

(ride 50 kms, easy swim)


"If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"---Confucius

"There is not a truth existing which I fear... or would wish unknown to the whole world."---Thomas Jefferson"

"Things done well and with a care, exempt themselves from fear."---William Shakespeare

Love

Peter

"Be Surprised Then Elly"

Although it hasn't changed my direction at all, it did stir me to think.  It didn't take me long however to come to the same conclusion  as I have before.  There has never been any doubt in my mind about what I am doing, even though readers could be forgiven for thinking so.  Because I am so open about my feelings it could easily be construed as doubts, but that's not really what it is.  Doubts in my own ability yes, but never any doubt as to whether I want to do it.  It's simply the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations, the pain and the glory of the journey.  No different than any other worthwhile journey.  A few examples come to mind.

Nine months of pregnancy for the joy of a child.
Four years of studying for the pride of a degree.
Four months of hoeing for the pleasure of green beans from your garden.

Like my Ironman journey all of the examples are decisions, all have periods of gratification, and periods of pain and frustration. And also like Ironman, all of these things tend to run out of glory after you've done them enough times.  I figure I got 2 more in me after this one.  After all my dear big sister, four kids seems to be the right amount eh?

And back one more time to the issue of being stirred....if anyone can stir me it's you.  I'm not sure why you would be surprised.  You've been doing it for 50 some years now!

(easy lake swim)

"If the Sun and Moon should ever doubt, they'd immediately go out."---William Blake

Love

Peter

"A Little Resentful"

I don't think I prepared mentally or physically for my workout today.  Right from the get-go I was worrying about what a long chore it was gonna be and sure enough I talked myself into it.  I think it all started out with the fact that I couldn't get my ass in gear and in the end never left until 10 am.  From a weather perspective it wasn't really a problem because we had a lot of cloud all day.  It's just that every time I considered the reality that I wouldn't even be back home until 4 pm, and that I still had a run to put in afterwards, I got kind of resentful.  I don't know who or what I would be resentful towards, but so be it.

I also did not prepare well physically, particularly the evening before.  I ate the wrong things, and I ate too late.  Next time out I need to simulate race day better, including diet and start time.

Speaking of diet, I ended up in the corn field after 5 kms of my run.  That is not acceptable and hopefully was just a result of my bad eating last night.  I will try to do better!

The final tally of my ride was 180 kms in a time of 5:52, and then a run jog of 7.3 kms.  One more ride at this distance next weekend and it needs to feel perfect!

(ride 180 kms, 30.7 kms/hr,  jog/walk 7.3 kms)

"We generate our own environment. We get exactly what we deserve. How can we resent a life we've created ourselves? Who's to blame, who's to credit but us? Who can change it, anytime we wish, but us?"---Richard Bach

Love

Peter