"Welcome to the Taper!"

That was the email message from my coach. It's taper time.
My last hard workout was yesterday. I did an Olympic distance race and PR'd my previous best oly by :2:33. I'm pretty happy with that cuz the course was a tough one.
Total racers at the event (sprint and Olympic) was 1,200. Starting the oly race were 260 racers. I started in the 6th wave. The 6th wave was the last wave of the oly distance so you can imagine the washing machine of feet, knees, and elbows that were ahead of me. I'm an above average strong swimmer and I usually blast out of the start to avoid the initial ciaos. I had a great start with a few dolphin dives and I was in clear water with no one in my wave to hamper my progress. I caught wave 5 in about 3 minutes. That's when things got tough. I had to weave and plow my way through about 30 bodies (that's 60 feet, 60 knees, and 60 elbows) before the first turn buoy. Right after the turn, I got kicked in the right eye, "OUCH, EFF THAT HURTS!", and my goggle got suctioned so hard into my eye socket that I had to quickly roll onto my back and release the suction before it pulled my eyeball out (mild black eye today). That solved, I found my way through wave 4 to the second turn buoy and by that time the field had thinned out enough that I was able to settle into a smooth pace and make up some time.
T1 was fine except for the crowd in the exit chute and at the mounting line. Evidently it was a bit too much for the chip timing to handle so my bike split wasn't recorded. The bike was hilly, rolling hills, and windy. No worries, I felt good and kept my average pace over 20 mph according to my bike computer.
T2 was also fine and the first 4 miles of my run were good. Then my glutes and hips got real tight and I struggled to keep it smooth and finish in good form. I think I better get my bike fit checked to see if I'm stressing my glutes too much on the bike. After lunch and a short nap, I went for a 90 min ride to flush out my legs and loosen up my butt-ox.
So, the upshot is I PR'D! in spite of the obstacle course of swimmers and a tight butt (pun intended). I'm a little miffed that my bike split didn't get recorded so I'll have to contact the timing folks to see if anything can be done after the fact.
Today is a DAY OFF of training so I plan on icing a few sore body parts and cleaning up the bike for tomorrow's ride.

Blah blah thoughts from la la land

My legs are so tired, arms limp by sides, and my mind is numb with that groggy feeling of delirium brought on by TRAINING MY FRIGG’N ARES OFF!

The weather last weekend was ideal (almost) for long training efforts so I did just that. Sunday I swam for an hour in the lake and got beat up by the wave’s cuz the wind was honking at 20-25 mph. Who needs 100 other swimmers kicking and punching, whitecaps were the order of the day. Transition to bike and ride 102 miles (wind still blowing at 20ish). Transition to run for 45 minutes on what was left of my shredded legs. Drink recovery fluids. Went to whole foods store for big slice of veggie pizza, smoked chicken wrap, kettle chips, naked fruit drinks. Ah! Shower, stretch, vitamin E, salt tablets, V8, bed.

Monday was hot and humid. Morning swim of 3,000 yards. Afternoon race tempo run of 90 minutes with the dog. Splashed in lake to cool off my legs and the dog. Ah! Shower, stretch, went to picnic at tri buddy’s house for recovery nourishment, games, salt tablets, bed.

Did I really do that? What the #@!! Is wrong with me? Oh yeah, I’m trying to become an iron man. Taper begins in 5 days. I can taste it.

Tri buddy and I had a brief conversation about “why do we do this, really”? We concluded it pretty simply…”because we can.” At middle age, we are fortunate enough to be blessed with good health, first of all, and secondly, because we have the freedom of choice to do it or not to do it. We live in a free country that allows us, and often encourages, the opportunity to make our own choices and shape our own destiny. How effing great is that? Brief pause to remember those who served this country to give us the freedoms we have. ‘Nuff said.

Done venting for now

OK, I feel better today. A few good meals, a descent sleep and an ez day at the office. Can't wait to get home and go for a run with my dog.

Ch Ch Ch changes...

Quick race report. Sprint Du last weekend. "C" race pace. 41 degrees and windy.

Run 1: 25:18 at 8:26 pace. Bike: 51:43 at 19.7 mph. Run 2: 23:31 at 8:53 pace. 1:41.48.

2006: 50 degrees, light breeze.

Run 1: 24:45 at 8:15 pace. Bike: 40:37 at 20.6 mph. Run 2: 23:38 at 8:55 pace. 1:39.13.

What was different? Me I guess. 1. 2007, total ironman pacing and stayed in HR zones, mostly. 2. 2006 sprint training and blew up on second run. 3. 2007, lots of wind on the bike. 4. 2007, tired as heck from all the IM training. My running still seems slow but I could have done 5 more laps at that pace. Legs felt good. Satisfied that my IM training is working out but...

What the heck has happend to me? I can't seem to get my mind around 2.5 min slower time. I'm in IRONMAN SHAPE for krysake! Oh, you mean there's a difference between sprints and ironman? I'm an IM newbie and trying to learn something here but man I'm perplexed. I'm all blithering, tired, hungry, tired, emotional, tired. Time for a nap before my 2 hour ride at "race pace", whatever the heck that is.

Humph, yah I'm a wee bit grouchy today. I now have a bit of an idea how this whole IM triathlete lifestyle could really put a strain on a relationship. In the past 5 months, I've become so selfish about "my" time, "my" training, "my" schedule, "my" food, "my" sleep, it's all about "me" and to heck with anything else that doesn't help "me" stay on track and reach "my" goal. I , me, my. Listen to me, a part of me has become a selfish little brat who gets anything he wants...except faster. I sure hope all this pays off or I'll really be pissed at myself for waisting so much time and neglecting my friends and family. Maybe I'll feel better in 12 days...TAPER TIME! Is that when I change from a grouchy little worm into a beautiful butterfly?

We can only hope. Metamorphosing.

Lowde, I am so tie'd

Sorry I havn't posted in awhile. I've been TRAINING. I'm counting down the days until I start my taper. 21 Days.

Within the next 21 days I'll be doing several bricks, a couple really long weekend "race simulated" days, 2 races (sprint Du and an Oly), sleeping on my desk at work, and eating my way through the grocery store. After all that, I begin tapering June 4 for my FIRST IRONMAN!

I gotta give props to all my new tri-blogger friends for your support and stopping by my blog. It really makes my day to hear from you and I love reading your blogs as well. So inspiring. I must give most of my praise to my coach, who wants to be anonymous for now, for taking on a middle aged middle-of-the-packer and helping me remain injury free and true to the tri. A few weeks ago, we were having casual conversation with an elite athlete (j) when I mentioned I put some upgraded parts and components on my bike and shaved off over 1.5 pds of total bike weight. J said to me "why don't you just lose a couple pounds yourself and cut weight that way?" Before I could respond, coach said "don't mess with my star pupal, he's 156 pounds of lean muscle, about 10% body fat, and I don't want him dropping any weight now, he'll need it come race day." I blushed. I've never been a "star pupal." Good coaches are great people. GREAT!

My boss also gets a little press here. He's very health conscious and likes to keep up on my progress and what's going on in my tri-world. He notices if I'm a wee bit tired and a couple months ago he said "this is a nap friendly office so take one if you need it." How effing cool is that!? "Take a nap if I need one." Boss of the decade candidate.

If y'all don't hear from me for a week or so it's because it's crunch time and instead of blogging during my lunch break, I may be napping instead.

Sucking Air! (trying to)

The tree pollen count kicked into the HIGH zone last weekend and I've been sucking air like a fish out of water. I count myself lucky that I don't have chronic asthma and my heart goes out to those that suffer daily. I do have exercise induced asthma (EIA) and I've learned how to manage it by tracking my heart rate and exercise intensity levels. Then there's the factors I can't control that often trigger attacks. Depending on the time of year, If my heart rate stays below 170, I'm OK. Bitter cold winter days, below 160 I'm OK. Yesterday I went for an easy run and when I hit 152, BAM! When an attack hits me it really does hit me. Like getting my chest wrapped in the coils of a giant anaconda, my usual natural breathing reflex switches to all out survival.

STOP!,

DEEP BREATH IN!

FORCE THE AIR IN!

SUCK IT IN! AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN,

DO NOT PASS OUT, IGNORE THE WHEEZING NOISE, JUST BREATH IN,

AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN!

God help me through this one.

Usually not an issue during swimming or on the bike but it's the run, my nemesis, when the Kodiak bear suckers me from behind and hugs me so hard my ribs feel like they'll crush under the pressure. Oh sure, I have an inhaler but I use it very sparingly and usually only on race days. This week I've coughed up enough mucus to fill a kiddy pool and my running speed has hit the basement. So, what to do? Hope for a nice 24 hour rain storm to come through and clear the air. I'm all about mother nature taking her own time and natural course when it comes to changing seasons but the timing right now for me is just wrong. I have some huge miles to log in the next 3 weeks before my taper and I just can't have this now.

Dear Mother Nature,

I love, love, love you so much. You have giving me life. You have given me the world. Your seas, land, and air are so beautiful that if you were in human form, you would grace me with such stunning grace, poise, and beauty, that I would cast my eyes down and kneel before you as the humble servant that I am. As you know, I have chosen a career that affords me many opportunities to protect you from harm and care for you and help you heal when you are assaulted and scarred by selfish acts from my fellow human beings. I have been educated many years and have trained many months to become strong and powerful. I am your jealous worrier that will not hesitate to draw my sword to protect you and your exquisite gift of this earth you have put me on.

Recently, I have been stricken by a foe that causes my breath to fail me when I need it most. My desire to fight and my determination to win have not wained. I will fight for you and protect you until my death comes many years from now. You are all powerful and can do with me as you see fit to my destiny. Please find it in your heart to grant me relief from my ailment so that I may continue to be the best that I can be for you and not grow weak from lack of breath. I need your pure air now more than ever. Please rain down on me.

Your worrier servant,

Benson