2011: The Beginning

I'm doing it again. Somewhat reluctantly, with some mixed emotion. The run. Ah. The run is the killer. I signed up for the 2011 Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon the day before competing in the 2010 thriller. So then, now my new blog begins.

I ran 19.5 miles this morning. I hadn't ran all week. I ran with a friend and we talked about this and that as we trudged along. At mile 16 or so we stopped at a water fountain and he said "not too many people ran 19 miles this morning"...and then, "not too many people run 19 miles in a week". Grimacing, in pain, cold, exhausted, with mild cramps, I agreed.

I signed up for a marathon on November 6th. I've never run just a straight marathon. I've done countless half-marathon distance races: I have a tie rack in my closet filled with useless medals clinking whenever I disrupt their slumber. I'll likely be able to fill a shoe box to the top before my knees or hips finally collapse. Today may have been my final 'long-run' before November 6th. I turn 39 years old on November 7th. My, my....39 so fast? I thought I would achieved so much more considering the number of years I've had to think about it. Nonetheless, another birthday is heading my way. I'm fairly fit...about 185 pounds. I have good knees, hips, one shoulder has a slight rotor-cuff tear (but I only notice it doing backstroke thankfully), I can finish an Ironman distance event and it's not some miracle. There are some people that do them with one leg or something like that and it is miraculous I would say. This will be my third Ironman distance. My previous marathon runs started out after a 2.5 mile swim and 112 bike. So, I'm not sure what to expect. I grew up a swimmer, I love cycling, I'm trying to love running.

So. Here we go. I'm going to start writing again. It helps balance the training monotony. I'm going to be a runner. I want to go a sub 11-hour Ironman.