Loaded Deck

The excitement of an upcoming Ironman race is building. And for the TBC, it is evident how close to race day we have come. It is evident because many of our daily reads are now silent. They are silent because the caretakers are headed towards or already in Florida.

Links that end up on my page are there because the site somehow hits home with me. Perhaps it's someone I have met or spoken to on the phone. Many are people I feel are on a journey I want to follow to its conclusion. Others just crack me up. It is only coincidence if common threads begin to show.

And this week, one of those threads is patently obvious. Many of the bloggers listed on this page are toeing the line in Florida. In alphabetical order, they are:

Bolder - our Canadian transplant and original "start from scratch" triathlete.

Comm - A brave man. After all, who else would refer to Nytro as an Amazon?

Nancy Toby - Stay at home mom who, figuring raising kids just isn't enough challenge, decides to train for an Ironman race. And she lives in Virginia.

TriBoomer - He is completing an arduous season of triathlons to raise funds for cancer research. Keep him in your special prayers as he races as doctors are concerned about pneumonia.

TriDaddy - A former Marine and now an endurance magazine editor. Check his site out for hilarious training tips.

Tri-Geek Kahuna - One half of the Get Your Geek On podcast team, and possibly the only triathlete who refers to himself in the third person AND is referred to by professionals by his screen name.

Tri-Mama - The leader of The Tribe, and half of one of the friendliest tri-couples with whom I've been in contact. And that's a very high bar, as every blogging triathlete I've met has been totally amazing.

So, that's the cast from this blog alone. There are many more out there. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers, this week. To the best of my knowledge, every one of them is a first timer on the Ironman playing field.

Best of luck to all of you! We'll see you at the finish line and eagerly await your race reports.

Beware of What You Wish

The decision to register for IM Louisville was an easy one. All of the mental gymnastics over the ability to train for and complete an IM distance race had been completed prior to the attempted registration for IM Wisconsin. Confident in my abilities, registering for SOME Ironman race was a given.

Though confident of my ability to develop some type of training plan that would allow me to complete the race in Louisville, I listened to the advice of others and took up an opportunity to be coached by Mike Ricci of D3 Multisports in Boulder, Colorado. And while the official training has yet to begin, Mike has been providing tons of useful information through the Race Athlete Performance Network forum. Sometimes, when you ask a question, you get exactly what you wanted. An answer. Occassionally, the answer just catches you off guard.

So, when I pointed out my weakness in swimming and inquired if it might be a good idea to add a fourth swim session each week, Mike was quick to respond. His answer? If I am currently completing three good swims each week, I do not need to add a fourth session.

That's because I need to add FOUR additional sessions. In case the math eludes anyone, that would be seven swim sessions each week. As in one each day.

Without putting too many words in Mike's mouth, the reasoning goes something like this. Swimming daily during the off season will generate gains in one month that might normally take three or even four months swimming three times a week. It provides more time in the water, so more time for improving form and efficiency.

While the answer wasn't quite what was expected, I hit the pool, today, on the first of a target 30 swims in November. There were a few faces shocked to see me there, as they know I am a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday swimmer. Well, for at least a few weeks, I'm a Monday-Sunday swimmer.

The suggestion have professional coaching would be meaningless if the discipline to hear, understand, and follow their guidance was missing.

Believe

Training can only take you so far. Nutrition can only provide a given amount of energy. Preparation can only address known cirumstances.

After that, it takes heart. Near the end of a race, when all else has been exhausted, sometimes heart alone can get you to the finish line. Not always, but sometimes. Belief in yourself that you can make it.

Do you believe?

And a Wake Up

In the Navy, everything is referred to as something and a wake up. As in, "We'll be home from this cruise in 3 and a wake up." Or, "My EAOS (discharge date) is in 10 and a wake up."

Well, for those racing IM Flipper, it's 7 and a wake up. So, it's time to kick up the pace of the music, and give them songs to keep in mind while they race. We will, of course, end with suitably played out "champion" type songs. But for now, it's just upbeat, rhythmic tunes to bring the energy to a new level.

We'll start with something about blue aliens.

Meant To Be

As a junior and senior in high school, I generated a considerable amount of tension with my dad. It wasn't tension over drugs, or girlfriends, or other nefarious type situations (though girlfriends were definitely a topic that caused a few gray hairs). Oddly enough, it this tension centered on the college decision.

Now in many families, such tension would be the result of parents pushing for college and a child pushing for something more relaxed, like living at home for several more years. We were a bit different. In this case, I was totally determined to go to college. My dad felt that the Navy would be more fitting, not to mention more affordable.

My mom, ever the mediator, encouraged me to apply for the United States Naval Academy. that seemed a good option as it would meet both desires. College for me. Naval service for my dad. All was well until the final physical exam, where it was noted that I have perforated ear drums. Fine for the average human. Automatic disqualification from the Naval Academy selection process.

For my dad, it was a sure sign I should be in the Navy. For me, it was one less opportunity for a college education. In the end, I headed off to college without my dad's blessing, or his financial support. My mom stepped up to the plate and worked many long hours in a nursing home to help pay for my tuition and other expenses.

In time, everything imploded, and I wound up leaving school after three semesters. And went to work in the same nursing home where my mom worked. Eventually, the dead end nature of that job became apparent. Of all places, that two year journey led to an enlistment in the US Navy. Some things are just meant to be.

My ten years in the Navy, though far from a dream job, provided a great many experiences that left me a much better person, though physical fitness wasn't one of them. More importantly, it provided multiple options for completing college. I graduated in 2003, the first member of my immediate family to receive a college degree. Some things are meant to be.

During this time, my career as a runner started. Despite the months of training, the lost weight, and the improving fitness, a marathon never happened. When I began work with my current employer, I mentioned to several people that I wanted to complete a marathon in 2003. That never occurred because of a back injury, and my running started to become more an infrequent hobby than a disciplined practice. It may well have become a thing of the past if it weren't for a co-worker who is married to a sub-elite marathoner with nine races under her belt.

He pushed, goaded, taunted, and eventually nearly humiliated me until I signed up for a marathon just to get him off my back. I completed that marathon, and three others since. Some things are meant to be.

So, looking down the long road to Ironman Louisville, I know there are no certainties in life. I have often set a goal only to have reaching it sidetracked by one thing or another. Even so, I am confident I will overcome the obstacles that stand between me and the finish line come 23:59:59 on August 26, 2007. This time, I have the same people providing some of the same motivation. More importantly, I have the support of my wife and children, my co-workers and friends, and the TBC. I am curious about what I can accomplish. I am relentless in the pursuit of my goals. And some things, some things are meant to be.

Curiousity

Growing up, my siblings and I were urged to participate in a variety of activities. Our parents encouraged both physical and academic pursuits, and attempted to set the example by demonstrating what they had done in the past and what they did then. And each of us developed a nature of "try it."

I call it curiousity. Given a new activity, I tend to want to give it a try, and often put my whole heart into learning about it. This "curious" nature has led me into many things in my life.

During my childhood, I participated in organized archery, baseball, football, soccer, cycling, and speed skating. I also learned to water ski and wakeboard, play cricket, and participated in a wide variety of other sports. And while far from world class at any of these, I tried my hardest at each. And I continue to do many of these things, today.

Music education didn't suffer for all the outdoor activities, either. At a very young age, my dad bought me an acoustic guitar while deployed overseas. That guitar was eventually replaced with a better guitar and I began lessons. I learned to play that guitar as well as the bass guitar. My mom also required each of her children to learn an instrument in school. For me, it was the french horn. Over time, I also learned to play the trumpet and saxophone (poorly, in both cases). I attempted to learn to play the clarinet, but was just TOO bad at that. Again, I am for from mastering any of these instruments, but my abilities with bass guitar were sufficient for a punk rock band, and I performed on stage at concerts during college.

Curiousity drew me into the theater during junior high. And one could say I was a curiousity in many of my plays. I have played an old man, Igor, an insane priest, and a goofy chamberlain. While rarely the lead role, I always landed roles that demanded strong acting ability.

For the record, it was NOT curiousity that attracted me to debate. I love to debate. I will debate any topic, at any time, taking any position (whether I believe it or not).

A doctor's orders pushed me into running. But it was curiousity about how far I could actually run that led to marathons. The challenge of a group of eighth graders pushed me into triathlons. But it was curiousity that led me to go beyond that first race.

And by participating in these events, I hope to instill in my children the same curiousity that was fostered by my parents. B-Boy and Monster Girl might never become triathletes. They might never run a marathon. But perhaps they'll learn to surf. Maybe they'll pursue basketball or volleyball. Maybe they'll choose track and field. I will try to set the example for them to follow. And perhaps others will gain, as well.

What are you curious about?

Relentless

In the pursuit of excellence, I have discovered there are many things in life at which I am quite average.

I was an average soccer player during youth soccer league. In many situations, I was among the best players on the team. In others, I barely got onto the field. In the same manner, I was an average football player in high school. I played four years, and spent a great deal of time warming the bench. I could hold my own on the field, but there were many others who were far better.

I spent many years acting in high school and college. My performances helped earn some scholarships, though never enough to cover all the costs of tuition. I was in debate for four years and forensics for one year. My speaking ability got me to state once in those five seasons. I took third.

In the Navy, I advanced quickly through the ranks. I was a good sailor, and a slightly above average electrician. Again, there were many who seemed to live and breath nuclear and electrical fundamentals.

And in marathons and triathlons, I am a middle of the pack participant. Co-workers routinely ask about qualifying for the Boston Marathon or the Kona Ironman Championships. I point out that I'm much more likely to win a mohawk contest (sorry for the visual joke, I'll consider posting pictures, later). I'm fairly average when it comes to these events.

There is one thing that I believe sets me apart from the average person. It is what sets many who toe the line at events such as these. That is dogged relentlessness. It is the drive to complete a task, regardless of skill and ability going in. It is the determination to complete a sprint triathlon despite being unable to complete even a single lap of freestyle swimming. It is the motivation to pursue excellence in any task undertaken, regardless of the likelihood of becoming truly "competitive."

A relentless spirit is what gave me the confidence to complete a half marathon having never trained for it (that, and sheer ignorance that led me to run 13.5 miles to see if I could run 13.1 miles). This same determination led me through 26.2 miles in my first marathon. And it took the same amount of drive to finish a 220 yard swim in my first triathlon. And yes, in many ways, that 220 yard swim was more challenging than the full marathon.

Only time will tell if this force of will can carry me through 140.6 miles in Louisville. It has allowed me, a completely average athlete, to accomplish many tasks I would have though impossible five years ago. And every year, many things previously seen as out of the question become possibilities to be attempted.

What is your "impossible?" Whether a 5K road race, a 200 yard swim, a century ride, or an Ironman triathlon, the task can be achieved. Drive, determination, and relentlessness can assure your success.

Vindication

Enough Said!

A Triathlete's Nightmare

I had one doosie of a nightmare, last night. A triathlon nightmare. A Kona nightmare.

The nightmare involved your's truly qualifying for Kona, though I don't know if it was by performance or lottery. Of course, most of you are probably thinking, "How is it a nightmare to qualify for Kona?" And you'd be correct to ask that question.

The actual qualifying wasn't the scary part. Nor was the training. In the dream, I arrived at Kona trained and ready to race. All the excitement of a major event was there. The people, Ironman Village, bikes, everything. Plus, I was in Hawaii, on the big island, there to race with the best triathletes in the world. The event of a lifetime for an average, age-group triathlete.

No, that wasn't what made the whole thing a nightmare. The scary part snuck up on me.

Race day came, and I headed down to the start area. Hundreds of athletes mobbed on the beach, waiting for the start. Tensions were high until, finally, the cannon went off and the race started. Triathletes surged into the surf, with the dolphins taking off into an early lead.

And here, as I moved towards the water, is where this dream took a wicked turn. Heading towards the start of the swim, I realized I had no body markings. I didn't have my race number on my arms. Then, I realized my bike (with one other, God only knows) was sitting in the water near the swim start. Just for clarification, that it was sitting in the water wasn't odd. In the dream, it made sense and provided valuable information.

It was then that I realized I hadn't put together gear bags, either. In fact, my bike didn't have a race number, and my transition area was empty (except for the bike, which somehow moved from the water to T1). No water, no cycling or running gear, no shoes. NOTHING.

And then it started. I began running around trying to figure out how to get my race number. I tried to find people to go get all my gear and bring it to the transition areas. I started trying to figure out how to make up for days of NOT doing all those things one MUST do prior to the gun going off.

I woke up before I figured out how to do just that. So, the image burned into my brain (as I get ready to sign up for IM The Ville) is one of my getting into a race, training, showing up, and then COMPLETELY forgetting that I have to actually check in. Wonderful confidence booster, that.

The mind. What a curious thing.

Two Days

It's less than two days until the next big event in the world of triathlon. It's less than two days until thousands of people step up and push themselves to the limits of their endurance. Less than two days until triathletes give their all in pursuit of an elusive goal.

I will be right there with them. While we may not share the same physical space, we are all brothers and sisters in our effort. We have all trained for this event, and we all have the same dream, to finish. And for those who fall along the way, the pain will be real. Failure at this juncture could haunt us for months.

We must trust in our training. We must believe in ourselves. We must remain confident in our ability to succeed. The prize is worth the struggle.

So, as we step to the line, good luck to everyone who will attempt to register for Ironman Louisville on Saturday.

Oh yeah. The Ironman World Championships will be held on that day, too. Good luck to all participants. I will, however, be otherwise occupied at 2 p.m. central time.

Extra Push

Most triathletes understand the mental aspects of their sport. Racing, particularly at longer distance events, requires a great deal of planning and focus. From training plans set in place months before race day to finding the strength to continue after 135 miles of swimming, biking, and running, triathlons place huge demands on us, mentally.

And those demands continue well after the final race of the season. In fact, the off-season can throw curve-balls requiring even more mental discipline. First, there is the post-race period. Whether on cloud nine from a major success or in the dumps because of a less than desirable outcome, we must transition to the next phase of our training intelligently. Too fast and injury is just around the corner. Too slow and the excess of winter activities can have unintended and undesirable results.

Post season training requires additional mental gymnastics as decisions are made regarding intensity, frequency, and focus of training. Which weak areas deserve extra attention? How can training sessions be completed with fewer daylight hours and two feet of snow on the ground? How much time can be taken off without negatively impacting my plans for next year?

I'm lucky enough to have a few friends working together to answer a few of these questions. We are also striving to generate some variety in our training to break up sometimes monotonous winter workouts. Each of us has at least one major event planned for 2007, and we will be getting together for training on Saturday's during the winter. Though each will work at a pace appropriate to a given program, we will work together. This will provide accountability and motivation, easing the mental drain of off-season training.

It is also a wonderful opportunity to build new friendships. Our group has only loose ties, and several of us have yet to actually meet. Completing together the off-season training and then a half IM program (full, in some cases) will certainly forge friendships that might otherwise never exist.

As you plan for the off-season and next year's races, remember to consider alternatives to the same old routine. Triathlons often take us out of our comfort zones. If we are going to "train like we race," then training must sometimes do the same.

CycleOps Mag+

Though poking fun at Bolder and Nytro is good for a laugh, it's time for some serious product feedback. Today, we're talking about the CycleOps Mag+ trainer.

The decision to purchase this little beauty was made after getting started on off-season and Ironman training programs. Though swimming will be the primary focus of this winter's training, the 24-week training program for IM Louiseville will begin in March. Even if it is decent enough here in Wisconsin for outdoor cycling then, there is little hope of getting The Pol-R Express outside much before that.

So, it was off to the LBS for what turned out to be an awesome deal. I managed to leave with a fully assembled trainer and front wheel block for $179.53, a savings of $0.46 off the list price of the trainer alone. Mrs. Pol can still outsave me any day, but I felt good with this purchase.

Off course, as with any new bike toys, it had to be put to immediate use. With the wife off doing good deeds and both kids napping (see, miracles still happen), I was able to throw the bike onto the trainer, pop in a good movie (neither SIMAAM or The Burbs), and get some training done.

Putting the bike on the trainer was a piece of cake. While it will take some time for Mrs. Pol to get comfortable with it, the process is far easier than changing a tire, and involves only removing the rear skewer and replacing it with the supplied (sturdier) trainer skewer. A quick adjustment to get the roller in contact with the wheel and attaching the remote was all that remained before I was riding.

The trainer is loud enough to require turning the volume up on the television, though quiet enough to use with napping kids. Using some form of entertainment (or the supplied CTS Time Trial Power Intervals DVD) will only be an option if my wife is around to hear the children crying.

Use of the remote is simple. It looks like a shifter lever and fine tunes the pressure on the wheel. It provides less adjustment than I might have hoped, and I found myself using the bike to determine work load. As I become more comfortable with adjusting the tension prior to starting, it may become more effective. Regardless, there was a noticeable change when using the remote to change from the minimum to maximum tension.

All in all, I am very pleased with this new trainer. It seems to be a good compromise between a truly cheap trainer and the more expensive fluid trainers. It will certainly help me to keep up with bike training and allow me to be more flexible with my schedule. Those long sessions that would otherwise require a visit to the YMCA after work can be accomplished in the very early hours of the morning, at home, with whatever entertainment I desire. The $179 will return many dividends, all of which will be put on deposit as I train for IM Louiseville. Now all I have to do is actually get registered.

Bold Ropes Me In

Somehow, as an innocent victim, I have been dragged into a bet between Bolder and Nytro. Apparently, when Bolder asks you to vote by comment, you should watch yourself, as you never know what the outcome might be, or what might be required as a result.

And while I consider myself an innocent bystander, and completely without obligation in this matter, I don't want to be seen as somebody who will bail on a situation when the going gets rough. So, here you go, Bold. I hope you're happy. And just to show how good a sport I am, I have included a real picture of my ass, as well as a caricature. Feel free to comment on how small my ass is.

And, please, don't mock my caricature ass too badly. Remember, they're supposed to look funny.

Finally, thanks to Flickr for being useful for actually putting pictures on blogs. Blogger was being painful, again, and my other picture storage areas were less than helpful. They ask that a link be added when pointing back at their files, and I felt a bit more thanks was in order. It was very easy to set up and start using (all of about 10 seconds).

Ignorance is Bliss

Living in Wisconsin, biking outdoors during the winter months is essentially impossible. I say essentially, because I do know a few cycling enthusiasts (pronounced "crackpots") who bike year round. Two concerns come to mind, from my perspective. Warmth and safety. Some drivers seem quite incapable of avoiding cyclists in the best of conditions. I'd rather not put their skills to the test on icy roads during a snowstorm. Having my body and bike leveled by a car would be counterproductive to Ironman training.

So, it was off to the LBS, today. By way of the barber shop. Since my regular barber is putting in fewer hours (pronounced "getting old"), I'm unable to make consistent visits. That means submitting myself to the less desirable ministrations of the "chain" hair cuttery. Today's decision was made by the relative proximity of that shop to a sporting goods store that carries bike equipment.

That store did have the CycleOps Mag+ trainer I was seeking, and getting it there would save me a trip to my main LBS. Only two issues. First, no accessories, and my wife wanted the adaptor for other bikes. Second, no discount. While I was unsure if the other store would give a discount, I at least wanted to find the other components needed.

A quick trip over to my main source for all things bike, and a bit of help proved very beneficial. First, they discussed the bikes we would be using on the trainer, and determined we wouldn't need any extra components. They also had the supports for the front wheel, and assembled the trainer at no cost. And they DID apply a discount (for my tri club). That resulted in the total cost of the trainer, assembly, and wheel support being less than the cost of the actual trainer. And to top it off, CycleOps has been throwing a CTS time trial power intervals DVD in with each trainer.

I am now READY for winter. Mrs. Pol is excited, and I heard the words any cycling enthusiast loves to hear. "Why don't we just store the bikes in the basement." Nirvana.

Well, there's a trainer sitting next to me, and a bike just begging to test it out...

The Sloth Pol

No, your eyes didn't deceive you. No, it wasn't a typo. There wasn no sudden dyslexic confusion of "l" and "u" in the title. The Sloth Pol is currently located in the Fox Valley of Wisconsin.

After a long season of training and racing, I scheduled two weeks of complete rest and two weeks of active recovery. The complete rest was somewhat inaccurate, as I ran twice (6.5 mile runs) and kept up my three weekly swims. This past week, supposedly the first week of active recovery, I suddenly found myself taking the days off that should have come the first week after the marathon. This week, I was a Sloth Pol.

Not too fear, though. Next week is the final recovery week before two events. First is the start of off-season training for the Spirit of Racine Triathlon half-Ironman race. A group of us will be meeting each Saturday for organized training, including monthly "races" to gauge progress. Our goal is to motivate each other during difficult winter training periods, and use our strengths to improve another's weakness.

Second is registration for IM Louisville. Despite the lack of a race website or details of the course, I will be fighting for a spot in that race. Assuming success, I will have a lot of training to complete before August of next year. I am considering training plans, and may even break down and pony up the cash to purchase a program.

The planning for my first triathlons consisted primarily of learning to swim and buying a bike. Half and full Ironman races will require additional purchases and a great deal more planning. A wetsuit and indoor bike trainer are the top equipment needs. The planning required is mind-boggling, and I haven't even successfully registered. Nutrition, training plans, lodging, transportation to the race, coordinating with other bloggers participating, etc. It is no wonder triathletes are seen as some of the most organized people in the world.

One thing is quite certain, though. This is probably ENTIRELY too early to get concerned about some aspects of the race. Maybe I'll wait until the clock goes under 200 days to start worrying.

How odd does that sound to everyone who just watched their countdowns go under 20 days?

By the way, any suggestions regarding trainers will be greatly appreciated. The current leader is the CycleOps Mag+ trainer. As I've got zero experience with trainers, I really can use the input.

Sloth Pol's days are numbered. Soon, the journey towards truly earning the title "Iron Pol" begins in earnest. It promises to be an exciting winter and spring.

CP2IM

Sometimes you read a post that just warrants some comment love. Roman tracked down one of those and posted it at raceAthlete. So, many of you may have already seen it. Some of you might have missed it. As a show of support for those who take responsibility for themselves and struggle mightily to achieve their goals, I'm providing one more path to reach this post.

Without taking too much away from either of them, you can see this inspiring report by going here. And you can visit Duane's site here.

His blog has also been added to my list of links to follow, so we can follow his journey from start to finish. I hope the TBC will show their support and provide the congratulations and continued support that will be needed to go from couch potato to triathlete to half-IM triathlete. And who knows, perhaps Ironman, which is a stated goal of Duane's.

Pass the Torch

A campfire standard and Christian hymn starts with the phrase, "It only takes a spark, to get a fire going." This is so true, and tonight, it will be a blowtorch instead of a spark.

Tonight, we give the first presentation aimed at motivating young kids to try endurance sports. Whether it's biking, running, or triathlon, we want to generate interest and excitement. If all goes well, I will have to balance Ironman training with coaching a group of 6-12 graders for various endurance events.

The cost is worth the return. In a day and age where so many target junk food to fight obesity, I want to resort to an age tested method. Rather than control intake, I want to boost consumption. Rather than have a bunch of couch potatoes (with nicely controlled diets), I want to mentor a group of maniacs who have to eat to fuel their exercise. Next year, I want to have a group of kids who can stand on the stage and tell others how awesome it is to complete a road race or triathlon.

Mostly, I hope to instill in at least a few of these young men and women the discipline to struggle towards a goal they view as worthwhile. Every one of us works hard to reach our goals. Whether it's an Ironman triathlon or a 5K walk, it takes effort to succeed.

The better our kids understand that, the better people they will become.

Lottery Un-News

Apparently Ironman North America caught wind of a certain triathlete's plans to use the IM MOO lottery spots as a backup to the IM Louiseville backup and will be thwarting some carefully laid plans. IM Able has once again broke the story with some obviously inside and seemingly fickle sources:

BOULDER, Colo.-Due to unforeseen circumstances, the lottery scheduled to open today for spots for the 2007 Subaru Ironman Canada and the 2007 Ford Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon have both been cancelled. Athletes who have registered for the lotteries will have their fees credited back to their credit card.

Ironman North America apologizes for any confusion. Qualifying spots are available for both events for those still interested in racing at Subaru Ironman Canada or at Ford Ironman Wisconsin, For a complete list of qualifiers, log onto http://www.ironmannorthamerica.com/qualify/imnaqual.php

Now, to be quite honest, there didn't seem to be much confusion. Things were moving along nicely. Only the sudden and drastic reversal of their announcement caused any confusion. Apparently enough confusion that there are actually fees to be refunded.

My question is this. Exactly what unforeseen circumstances could result in such a reversal? Madison suddenly vanishing? Lake Monona mysteriously shrinking in its capacity to hold swimmers? The parking ramp at Monona Terrace being declared safe for exactly 100 fewer bikes?

It all seems quite odd, to me. Things could get interesting if the WTC opts to start taking ownership of more IM races in the United States.

Lottery News

Thanks to IM Able for this news:

Boulder, CO - Ironman North America is pleased to announce that there will be additional entry opportunities for the 2007 Subaru Ironman Canada and Ford Ironman Wisconsin events by way of a lottery.

Each event will have 100 general entry spots available via the lottery. Lottery entry will be available through the individual race sites and administered through www.active.com

Entry to the lottery is $20 US for each event. This fee is non-refundable; however, those athletes selected via the lottery will have this amount credited towards their entry fee.
The lottery will open for both events on Tuesday, October 10th and will close on Tuesday,
October 31st.

The selected athletes will be notified by email, on Friday, November 3rd. Please log onto www.ironman.ca to register for the Subaru Ironman Canada lottery and log onto www.ironmanwisconsin.com for the Ford Ironman Wisconsin lottery.Subaru Ironman Canada will be held for the 25th time on Sunday, August 26, 2007 in Penticton. BC and Ford Ironman Wisconsin will take place for the sixth time on Sunday, September 9, 2007 in Madison, WI.

This will be the secondary backup plan. I am planning on success registering for IM Louiseville. Should that applecart be upset...

IM Nicknames

Apparently, my reference to the newly minted Ironman Louisville as IM The Ville has opened a post can of worms. At least one reader searching for "The Ville" came up with IM France, and started wondering if I was somehow headed there. If you search for Ironman and Ville, that is apparently the most common result.

That raises an interesting question. As a resident of Wisconsin, hearing references to IM MOO is common. In fact, it seems most people know Ironman Wisconsin as IM MOO. Perhaps it is an easy connection. That, and the desire for cow prints on jerseys. Or perhaps it is simply a Wisconsin thing.

Are we the only ones to have this type of nickname for our Ironman event? After all, who ever heard of IM Lava. And let's face it, participants in Hawaii know ALL about lava. Then again, the Ironman World Championship doesn't even have IM placed in front of it. Just mention Kona to any triathlete, and they know the topic.

How about IM Florida. Has anyone ever heard of IM Mickey? Or IM Retired? Or IM Sandbar? Is IM Arizona known as IM Cactus? Is there an IM Resort Town? (I wanted to go with IM Middle of Nowhere for Couer d'Alene, but a quick review of their visitor's guide proves that to be untrue)

So, what other nicknames are out there? Do they exist, or must we conclude that Wisconsinites truly do relate cows to everything?

Try Tri Again

It was another late night. There was much to discuss in the Pol household. And much to consider.

Given the energy I directed towards IMNA with regards to the rapid sellout of IM Wisconsin 2007 and the call for additional races, it would be somewhat hypocritical if I failed to at least attempt to register for IM The Ville (Thanks George, for that one).

So, on Saturday, October 21st at 2 p.m. CST, I will be sitting somewhere with multiple computers and a high speed connection, logged in and ready to go. Consider this another one of those declarations of intent favored by Bolder.

The Spirit of Racine half-IM race may soon move from an "A" race to a B/training race.

Let the countdown begin...

Stop the Insanity

Here's a recipe for creating an insane triathlete:

Take one first season triathlete and add substantial training. This will produce a former marathoner who can successfully swim at least a mile, bike at least 75 miles, and run 26.2 miles.

Add the vision of one man who is both author and Ironman, blogger and businessman, friend and mentor. The introduction of his plans for IM Wisconsin 2007 and a fledgling team of endurance athletes provides the catalyst to discussion, planning, and tension.

To this mix, add one registration that closes in under one hour. The thrill of making a leap of faith and going on a journey with so many friends (most of whom have never been met) ensures the contents are well shaken.

Allow frustration at being unable to register for IM MOO '07 to settle in, and allow that triathlete to again revise plans and move on. There is a half-Ironman race that is begging for participants, and other years for that IM race.

Once the triathlete has settled into the mindset of "half IM, support team at IM WI 2007, and sign up for 2008." Any remaining tensions are relieved by ranting about the need for additional races in the Ford Ironman series.

Wait several weeks for a response to the rant (and a prompt response it was, I'll gladly take suggestions for my next rant directed their way).

This will result in at least one triathlete going out of his head. He must now go through the same process already endured, with the added noise of having a half-Ironman five weeks prior to the announced August 26 race day.

Stay tuned for what is sure to be my head exploding...

Always Room for One More Thing

The youth organization with which I volunteer, The Boys and Girls Brigade, has always struggled with shrinking enrollment as each group progresses through the years. Each year, a significant number of six graders enroll in the program for their first year. By eighth grade, several groups have been combined, and each group has usually lost several members. By the junior and senior years, only a handful of young leaders will remain.

The most common excuse given for "dropping out" of the program is excessive demands on time. Homework, extracurricular activities, other organizations, etc will be cited as the reason for leaving the Brigade. But a quick review of the remaining youth almost always identifies at least one valedictorian, many straight A students, student body leaders, and sports stars. Many of those completing all six years hold down jobs along with the extracurricular activities in which they participate. These young leaders have figured out how to balance a great many things in their lives.

This is a skill that will serve them well in the future. As adults, there is always one more demand on available time. I am constantly amazed at two things. First, just how many new demands can be made on our time. Even more amazing is the way in which many people manage to take on those demands.

Years ago, when a certain pulmonary doctor asked that I run a few miles each week, I seriously questioned how that could be squeezed into an already tight schedule. After all, work and school took up most of my time. It was a health issue, though, so I found time to run a mile or two each week. Eventually, that turned into 6.5 miles three times a week.

Over the years, the schedule that was "stretched to the max" by school, work, and running has managed to fit into the mix two children, increased demands at work, leadership within the church (including occassional preaching), Sunday school teacher, Brigade leader, and triathlon training. Hmmmmm. Since time is constant, something else must have given.

And now, as I move from short course triathlons to half Ironman and, soon enough, full Ironman distance, new opportunities are appearing. The youth endurance team we are putting together will require both administrative time and training time (with the kids). Getting to the various races the kids enter will be vital to show support. The co-worker who will be doing the half IM race with me has been busy putting together a team plan for both co-workers and outside friends. Oddly enough, he "nominated" (drafted, blindsided, saddled, stuck) me to be the "president" of the little group.

Somehow, all these additional tasks don't come as a burden. They are welcomed because they are all aimed at improving myself, my friends and soon-to-be-friends, and the community.

Anyone who believes Ironman is only about health and physical activity misses the bigger picture. I know I did. There is so much more to be given and gained on the journey than 140.6 miles on race day.

You've GOT To Be Kidding

A quick review of my sidebar training stats shows a fairly busy year. Year to date, I've travelled more than 1400 miles under my own power. That includes three running races (10K, half marathon, full marathon) and three triathlons (short sprint, Olympic, longer sprint). It includes learning to swim, getting back onto the bike, speedwork to achieve my sub-4-hour marathon, and my inaugural triathlon season.

And it includes no injuries. There were occassional twinges that caused concern. Some heel pain even warranted a mention during my annual physical. But no physical malady resulted in lost or reduced training. It was a good year and race results improved as a result.

The race season over, I've been taking a couple weeks off from serious training, preparing for an off-season aimed at discipline specific improvement (can you say "swimming"). Saturday morning, I decided to go for a long, straight swim, something I haven't done for some time. In fact, I wanted to go at least 4000 yards.

That goal was totally destroyed by the YMCA, which decided that closing the pool (for 12 water aerobics students) right in the middle of morning lap swim was a good idea. Quite angry about the whole ordeal, I headed home and decided to put some of the energy to good use working in the nursery. B-Boy and Monster Girl have a lot of fun tearing the place apart, and I wanted to do some serious cleaning.

So, with the kids safely occupied in the living room, I got started. It was almost like a scene from Clean Sweep. Everything being moved out and reorganized, furniture being rearranged, and the room being thoroughly cleaned (including steam cleaning the carpets).

And somewhere in the process, my mother was proven wrong. Cleaning CAN kill you (well, at least hurt you). I'm not entirely sure how, but I walked into that room perfectly healthy. I limped out with a pulled hamstring. And my only thought was, "You've GOT to be kidding me." The irony of going an entire (and dare I say much more active) race season without injury only to get hurt doing housework is impossible to miss.

I will, however, accept it with grace. It couldn't have happened at a better time. I'm theoretically in a "no-training" period, with a two-week cross train period to follow. Serious off-season training won't start until October 24th, and that will have a heavy emphasis on swimming.

But watch out for those domestic tasks. Your mother's admonitions that a little housework never hurt anybody have just been proven wrong. Clean safe!

Veeg Goes the Distance

As a not-yet fully Iron "Iron Pol," it is sometimes difficult to "welcome" people to the rank of Ironman. There will always be congratulations given, and admiration of a job well done, but something is missing. It is difficult to accept people into a group to which you don't belong.

Marathons, however, are another story. My own accomplishments, while exciting, are far less remarkable, as they are simply repeating a process already done in the past. But when another individual achieves marathon status, there's cause to celebrate.

Today was one of those days. Veeg went the distance and joined the rank of marathoner. I won't steal too much of her thunder, so you'll have to hit her site to read the race report. She currently has the "I did it" version posted. I'm sure she'll follow her normal practice and get more details on her blog in the coming days.

A very tiny percentage of Americans ever join the ranks for marathoner. Stop by her site and leave a comment congratulating her on her accomplishments. She deserves it for finishing a marathon, and she deserves it for the stellar performance she gave.

Congratulations, Veeg! You did it!

Through a Child's Eyes

Last night, my son decided to entertain me while his show (The Emperor's New Groove) was playing. His choice of game for most the evening doesn't really have a name, though it involves lots of running. Basically, he runs from the door into the garage, through the living room, touches a cabinet in the kitchen, and back to the garage door. Repeat. Often.

Many parents would immediately tell any child doing this to stop. And honestly, that was my first instinct. Seeing the sheer glee in his eyes, and listening to the sincere laughter coming from my son, I quashed that instinct. So long as safety is assured, childhood excitement of this nature should never be stopped. In fact, it should be promoted.

Do you remember when you were a child? How the simple act of running, regardless of destination, was a source of joy in and of itself. No times, no age group ranking, no health concerns, no finish lines, no training plans. Just pure, innocent, uncontrollable excitement to be moving.

When do we lose that? When does this pure love of motion turn into work? Probably about the same time we start getting told to stop running around and to sit down. As adults, we stifle the love of running our kids display so freely. It's actually a bit sad.

Imagine how children might turn out if that love of activity was promoted and developed. Perhaps video games and computers would be a diversion from the physical instead of the other way around. Perhaps we would raise a generation of athletes who participate for the love of the sport. Perhaps training would be a hobby instead of something they do because they must.

Many adults try to stop my son from running. I politely ask them to refrain from doing that. After making sure he is safe from injury, I send my son on his way. On his full speed ahead, laughing like a madman, glint in his eye way. Perhaps, if he runs enough, some of his attitude will rub off on me.

Tri-Hubby the Triathlete

Tri-hubby isn't a newcomer to the blog scene. Nor is he a newcomer to the world of triathlon. Let's face it, being married to Trimama has exposed him to the seemy side of triathlons. How many other couples do you know who were stripping right on the shores of Lake Monona during IM WI 2006?

Tri-Hubby has, however, started a new blog. It seems he has officially adopted the name used (assigned?) by Trimama, and is now going by Taconite Boy. This new blog, The Adventures of Taconite Boy, will document his journey from short distance triathlete to Ironman Wisconsin 2007. And next year, Trimama and I have committed to carrying on the tradition and will both strip while Taconite Boy races. It's the least we can do.

And stand by for exciting news from the Tribe and Pol camps. We are working to bring the best in IM MOO training information and opportunities. Details will follow soon after Trimama achieves Iron status in Florida.

Who's to Blame?

Following the general trend of things, today, I refuse to accept responsibility for this morning's training session. I'm quite sure it is either Bolder or Trigreyhound who shoulder the blame.

The plan called for an hour swim to help work the final post-marathon kinks out of my legs. Completing the sub-four hour race had left my legs feeling as they haven't felt in a long time. Tight. Sore. Incapable of handling stairs with any kind of grace. A good swim would help the recovery.

I was up at 4:30 a.m. and ready to go shortly after that. As I got my breakfast, lunch, and snacks together, I looked at the dishwasher and thought of poor Bolder and his ongoing saga of washing dishes by hand. And I thought of my wife, who might appreciate it if some of the clean dishes were put away. I spent a bit more time than planned on that, and headed out the door right at 5 a.m. (which is when I should have been at the YMCA).

I threw my lunch and gear bag in the car, headed to the gym, and got there only to find out I had forgotten one minor item. Okay two items. And not so minor. One would be called pants. The other, we shall name shirt. Which meant I had exactly underwear, two shoes, socks, and a belt to wear to work. Admittedly, the belt would be pointless without the pants.

While the delays in the morning clearly point to Bolder, the clothes issues appears to be the result of Trigreyhound jinxing me by starting this whole situation. Sure, I may have forgotten underwear in the past and wore my running shorts under my pants, instead. But that required no extra travel or missed training. Grey had to "one up" me by forgetting his dress shoes and opt to forego training in order to get said shoes. (It must be admitted that business meetings lose some of their professionalism when wearing Asics Gel Kayano XIs instead of black wingtips). And, obviously out of some deep seeded competitive nature, I made a subconscious effort to one-up him, right back.

So, my nice hour swim became a hurried 25 minute swim. And just to toot Bolder's horn, we'll use his 1000 yard time trial as a comparison. He really does rule the seas, at least any where I am swimming. He did his 1000 yards in 16:40 (for 1:40/100yds). Given the same 25 yard pool with open turns, I completed the same 1000 yards (okay, 1027) in 23:55. That comes out to about 2:20/100yds. So, Bolder, given the same pace over 2.4 miles, you would come out of the water somewhere around 29 minutes ahead of me. And while it may be all about the bike, 29 minutes is one hell of a lead to overcome. Perhaps there is something to be said for improved swim times.

Pssst! Have You Heard

At the risk of being redundant, here is the 411 on Team raceAthlete. The official press release is out, the details have been released, and there is good news for everyone.

First, for those signed up for Ironman Wisconsin 2007, there is the opportunity to Train Like the Pros. The story goes something like this:

You can train and race like a professional in 2007.

Team raceAthlete in conjunction with CycleOps Power, Zipp Speed Weaponry, BMC Bicycles, D3 Multisport, NUUN and 2XU will showcase the improvements that can be achieved through world class equipment and training by sponsoring age-group triathletes.

The chosen triathletes will get state-of-the-art PowerTap SL's by CycleOps Power to help them train and monitor their progress with ultimate power andefficiency.

Swiss-based BMC Bicycles will provide them with proven bicycle technology-the TTO2 Time Machine which is very similar to the bike ridden at the Tour de France.

Zipp Speed Weaponry will provide world class speed and aerodynamic wheels and components. These are the same wheels ridden by champion triathletes like Peter Reid.

D3 Multisport will provide comprehensive coaching and training plans for the athletes to help them with expert advice and today's most cutting edge training tools for peak performance.

2XU apparel will provide state of the art training and racing apparel to help propel the athletes to the winner's circle.

NUUN will provide one year's supply of refreshing portable electrolyte hydration.

For complete details, to join the team and to apply to get sponsored click here.

Please note that if you have already joined Team raceAthlete, or emailed your interest in getting sponsored, you still have to submit a new application by clicking on the link above.

Sponsored triathletes will be chosen by Team raceAthlete and notified by email or phone by October 23, 2006.

We're building a real and virtual team of endurance athletes that will have exclusive access to online coaching, a bike mechanic, product discounts and promotions, and other valuable resources.

An additional bit of valuable information is that sponsorship opportunities are not limited to only those registered for IM MOO '07. While the full sponsorships will go to those individuals, other team members will be selected to receive partial sponsorship. Team raceAthlete is truly aimed at being an inclusive group, with special emphasis on age-group triathletes.

So, sign up to be a part of the team. Whether racing short courses, long courses, other IM races, or the big cheese IM Wisconsin 2007 event, all are welcome and all will benefit.

B-Boy Hijacks Blog

Good morning, it's B-Boy, here. Okay, it's B-Boy with a LOT of help from Iron Daddy. Since I'm not quite three (my birthday is in December), he has to help with things like Internet access, spelling, typing, and things like that. But everything else is from my point of view, because Daddy also has a very vivid imagination.

Saturday was very exciting, because it was race day for me. Daddy's race was Sunday. When I woke up, Daddy made Lego Waffles for breakfast, which I had with orange juice and milk. Daddy says that combination is gross, but I think that's just because he doesn't like milk. As soon as breakfast was done, I wanted to put on my race t-shirt and bib number. I had a big, red number one on mine, just like all the other kids. They say that's because we're all winners.

Then, I spent almost 2 hours running around the house like a madman (Daddy's words, not mine). After what seemed like forever, Mommy, Daddy, and Monster Girl were all ready to go, and we went to the race.

The most exciting thing about getting there early is the firetruck, ambulance, and free stuff they have there. I love the firetruck, but won't go in it, no matter how much Daddy tries. I'm afraid it will start moving. I did get lots of things. They gave me a color changing pencil, a new badge sticker for my helmet, a flashing light thing for running at night (which Daddy won't let me do), a big sports bottle, Snapple, a cookie, and a popscicle (after the race). Running is cool because you get all kinds of swag (Daddy told me to say that, I don't know what swag means).

Pretty soon, it was time for the national anthem, which was sung by lots of kids who were there to race. Because I'm still under three, I did the Toddler Trot. This year was better than last year because they did different waves, just like in Daddy's triathlons. They had small groups of kids run, rather than one big group where it's all a mess. I went in the third group.

Because I'm still in the toddler group, the race was only 25 yards. Daddy had me line up on one side, so Mommy could take pictures. When they started to say my favorite part, "On your mark, get set, GO!," one little kid took off early. When they said go, I started running. Because lots of people were in the way, I ran across to the other side, then headed back towards Mom. I beat everyone, even the kid who went early. It was cool having the whole field in front of me open. I only wish they would let me run more. I ran four laps at a track one time (Dad note: he ran MOST of four laps, I carried him part of one. 440-yard track, BTW). Daddy says that was a mile.

At the finish, they gave me a medal that says "Winner" and has a purple ribbon. Purple is Mommy's favorite color. Last year's was green, my favorite color. After the race, we looked at the fire truck some more, visited with some friends, and went home. It was a great day, and I hope you enjoy my race report. As I get older, I'll do more of it on my own, and hopefully tell you about other races, including triathlons.

Running Down a Dream

To quote a famous, and furry, author, "It was a dark and stormy night..."

The primary alarm went off at 4 a.m. I jumped out of bed and turned off the back up alarm. Neither was really needed, as Monster Girl had woke me up at 3:30, and I hadn't really gotten back to sleep. Staying in bed was really just an act of defiance, and a vain attempt at getting the last few minutes of sleep.

I put on my shirt and shorts and headed to the kitchen, hoping that none of the kid's toys would trip me up in the dark. Breakfast was a bagel with peanut butter and a bottle of Gatorade while checking the weather. The temperatures looked great (55-60F) and the forecast of possible showers was more disturbing. Oh well, Iron Wil (along with a great many others) biked and ran in worse. The weather is what it is.

I threw on my sweats, and went through the gear that needed to get to the starting line. Most important was the timing chip and bib for my co-worker. After stretching and refilling the Gatorade bottle, I headed out the door for the finish line.

I was amazed at how quickly buses were filling up for the ride to the start line. It was barely 6 a.m. and two busses were being loaded. Both were full within a few minutes. The only thing more suprising was the number of runners already at the start line when I arrived. Most were in a pavilion huddled around a fire pit. For those lucky enough to get close to the fire, it was a neat way to spend the hour and a half until the race.

After locating my co-worker and getting him situated, we headed to the start line. Soon enough, it was 8 a.m. and the gun went off. The logistics of this race always leads to a slow start (at least for the main pack), and I just bided my time as things opened up. I missed the first mile marker, and completed the first two miles in 17m18s. That was pretty close to my target pace, so I eased off just a bit, and kept going.

Somewhere around mile four, I ran down the 3:50 pace setter, and fell into the group running with him. This would be my cohort for the next 12 miles. It was a good group. They were all talking about various goals, past races, and other such nonsense. It helped make sure we were all staying aerobic, and passed the time.

At mile 6, there was a Clif Shot gel station, and most everyone was getting Mango. I trained with Gu, so pocketed the gel and used my own. Good call, as the overall reaction to Mango was a resounding, "Bleccchhh!" I mentioned that I had six Gu gels with me, and another six available, so was willing to share. A couple people took me up on that offer.

Mile 9 was a good mile, as a co-worker and my wife were both waiting there. B-Boy wanted to run with me, and was upset when I had to run on without him. After picking up all my gels, I caught back up with the pace team.

Around mile 13, the 48 oz of Gatorade consumed prior to the race became a factor. Normally, that much is needed just to fend off dehydration during a marathon. Today, however, was much cooler than prior races. I'm not sure the temperature ever hit 60F, and there was enough breeze and cloud cover to keep sweating to a minimum. Little sweating with lots of hydration equals one very important potty break. And another race to catch the pace team.

At mile 16, I was faced with an important decision. Stay with the pace team, or pursue my secondary goal of breaking 3:45 to qualify for preferred starting if I run the 2007 Chicago Marathon. George Schweitzer once commented in an e-mail that, in an "A" race, I should leave it all out on the course. So, I picked up the pace, seeking to put an additional 5 minutes between myself and the pace team. It was an "all or nothing" decision.

Miles 16-18 include a monster hill that leaves many walking, both during and after. I managed to keep a good pace during that stretch, and seeing my co-worker, who had moved from mile 9 to mile 19 helped keep me going. Just after mile 22, another co-worker's wife saw was working an aid station. A nine time marathoner, she left the station and ran with me for several hundred yards. She did the math on my pace, and gave some much needed encouragement.

Between mile 22 and 23, I hit the wall. The 3:50 pacer caught and passed me, becoming instead my rabbit. At mile 23, I had to stop and stretch, trying to slow the buildup of lactic acid. I managed to keep running, though my pace was slowly dropping from the 8m 30s pace to just over 10m per mile the last couple miles. My goal was to keep that 3:50 pacer somewhere in my vision, knowing that the 4 hour marathon was a given if I did that.

At mile 24, I knew I had 30 minutes to run 2.2 miles.

At mile 25, I knew I could still run 10 minute miles.

At mile 26, I was passed by Superman and Robin (the Girl Wonder). It felt good to know it took those two superheroes 26 miles to catch and pass me.

At 26.2 miles, I crossed the finish line in a total time of 3 hours, 55 minutes, and 19 seconds (chip time).

And for the first time, I was plainly dazed in the finish chutes. Though physically capable of standing and moving, I was just completely zoned out and barely able to function with the surroundings. A volunteer made sure I got my timing chip returned, received a medal, and got my finisher's bag.

Only time will tell if I have anything better than a 3:55 in me. That was an improvement of nearly 50 minutes over my previous best time. I knew I could break 4 hours. I'm less confident about any major improvements on that. I will, however, wait a few weeks before I make any decisions on training for future marathons. There is a half-IM in the near future, and every training decision from now until July will be focused on that.

Thanks for following along and for all the notes of encouragement. It really does make a difference.

It Is Done

Four a.m. wakeup - Check

Fourth marathon - In the bag

Sub 4-hour goal - I own it

Net result - I'm beat

Race reports for B-Boy's event and my marathon later.

Four in the Morning

This weekend, four is the magic number.

Sunday will begin at four in the morning, when I wake up to prepare for The Fox Cities Marathon. A bagel with eggs and around 20 ounces of Fierce Grape Gatorade will serve as breakfast. It is exactly what I've had for breakfast prior to every other long race. After stretching and "zoning out" for a bit, I'll head out the door for the finish line.

From the finish line, I'll catch the bus to the start of my fourth full marathon. In 2003, I ran this race as my first marathon. In 2004, I completed the Green Bay Marathon (and set my marathon PR). And in 2005, I ran the Chicago Marathon in honor of a cancer survivor. That race tested my will, as it pitted a 103F fever against completing the race for my friend. My fourth race gives me the opportunity to see how far I've come since that first marathon distance event, which seems so far in the past.

This is also the race where I hope to break the 4-hour mark. This pace, originally targeted in Chicago, was abandoned and replaced with the primary goal of "survive." Once the 4-hour mark is shattered, sights will be set on Boston and shaving an additional 45 minutes off the run.

So, four is the magic number. After a 4 a.m. wakeup, I will run my fourth marathon, in pursuit of a 4-hour PR. This would all be so much easier if six was the magic number.

Taper Enforcement

One of the biggest challenges faced by endurance athletes comes during the last few weeks prior to their big events. Many outside the sport believe the toughest time during training must certainly be those weeks with the longest scheduled sessions. While those weeks are challenging, taper is certainly one of the demons all endurance athletes face.

This is why I must seriously thank my employer, this week. Due to the upcoming launch of the next phase of our new business system, I've been maintaining my normal daily routine without having to worry about overtraining. Instead of getting up at 4:30 in the morning for a swim, bike, or run, I've been up at that time in order to be at work by 5:30. There is little risk of an overtraining injury from sitting at a computer.

While this has cut into the limited training I would have done, there has been no opportunity for me to get overzealous (because let's face it, we're all prone to going farther and harder than we should). And history has shown me that a marathon is still doable after nearly two weeks of no running (something about injuring a hamstring while overtraining during taper, who knew).

To top it all off, the Go Live for our system, scheduled for this weekend, has been pushed back by a week. This is fortunate, as working this weekend was going to interfere with going to B-Boy's race, and force me to show up in the afternoon on Sunday, after running a marathon. While I'll still have to work the weekend, I'll be able to make it just afternoons, and there will be considerably less pressure. Hooray for work!

Three days to go.

The Bubble Bursts

Though the outcome was nearly inevitable, all hope was being held that Active would find something that would get my name added to the IM MOO '07 Team raceAthlete participant list. Today, they responded with the foreseen, "We don't show you as registered" message. While there is certainly room to debate that matter with them, I have generally been pleased with Active's service, and will let it stand at that. So, Plan A has gone back into effect.

Plan A, set in motion prior to Roman's announcements about Team raceAthlete, involved completing one of two local half-Ironman races in 2007, and registering for an IM race in 2008.

Veeg, here is your notice that I am staying true to my motto of "A paid registration is the best motivation to train."

Transaction ID: 11304217934542.023 Order number: 20896
Description: 2007 Spirit of Racine Triathlon HALF

Team raceAthlete, the second part of this Declaration of Intent is that I will now be an integral part of IM WI 2007 as part of the support crew. In addition to being there for moral support, I have already started to enlist the aid of others, hopefully including at least one motorcycle. There is no need to worry that the local support will end just because Stu is in the race. We'll build upon the efforts of him and Wil's husband, and provide the same up to the minute reports and pictures.

So, the bubble holding up my Ironman Wisconsin 2007 hopes has burst. But, just for Trigreyhound, remember to "Always look on the bright side of life..." Plan B falling apart isn't so devestating if you remember there is a perfectly acceptable Plan A.

Who from raceAthlete will toe the line with us (Veeg is almost morally obligated to join in) in Racine? It will be a good opportunity to meet and hammer out plans for Madison in September. And we can show the state what to expect from raceAthlete members.

10, 9, 8...

Less than 10 days to the Fox Cities Marathon. The typical taper issues are starting to rear their heads. Phantom pain (except some I'm SURE are real), concerns about preparation, and the desire to get in some extra training. Of course, gremlins are my specialty, and I've been dealing with them. The target is four hours or bust, and I'm feeling confident that the goal is achievable, barring any last minute fevers (like last year in Chicago).

The end of the marathon represents many things. It is the official end of my endurance season (assuming I don't buckle and run the Green Bay Marathon with Dean Karnazes). It is the beginning of off season training. It is very close to decision time for the next triathlon, assuming IM MOO '07 ends up completely out of reach. And it will be a gauge on whether I can target a Boston Marathon qualifying time in 2007. Mostly, it is the end of a great year of training, racing, blogging, and making new friends.

As the year starts to wind down, it is okay to take some well deserved down time. Well, a little, anyway. And then, it is time to get focused on the coming year. My motto has always been that a paid registration is the best motivation to train. So, find those races that are within reach, but only JUST. Sign up for the events that will push you and force you to grow.

And new for 2007, try to take people with you. It's easy to sign up and train alone. It's even easier to sign up and train with friends who already share a love of the sport. The exciting and rewarding challenge is to introduce newcomers to endurance sports and get them hooked. Along that lines, I will be working with the Fox Cities Triathlon Club and The Boy's and Girl's Brigade in Neenah, Wisconsin to introduce young people to the sports of running and triathlon. Our goal is to allow these 6th through 12th graders to get an inside glimpse of what we do, and give them the opportunity to train and complete either a short road race or triathlon.

In 2006, it was all about the kids challenging me to complete a triathlon. In 2007, the challenge will be taken back to them. Figure out who you want to challenge, and give them the opportunity to share the joys of pushing themselves to new limits. You just might find their success as exciting and rewarding as your own.

Business Sense

Prior to becoming a marathoner, and long before stepping into the waters of triathlon, I was a student at The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Business Administration. Graduating with a degree in Finance, I like to think I know a little bit about business. And as a strong believer in the capital free market system, supply and demand are always on my mind.

It is interesting how markets sometimes get turned on their heads. This past Monday is a good example of how that can occur. Registering for an Ironman event costs well over $450. After considering items such as dinner and awards banquet tickets, USAT membership, insurance, and additional fees, that total quickly tops $500. And as my co-workers put it, that's $500 we are willing to pay in order to place huge demands on our bodies for anywhere from 9 to 17 hours.

And Ironman Wisconsin 2007 sold out in less than an hour. The demands upon Active.com's servers were so severe it was practically impossible to get a stable connection, and it is quite likely that thousands of hopefuls were unable to sign up. That means there are literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential registration fees that are lost each race.

Obviously it takes a huge effort to put together an Ironman race. Yet business sense would say that the supply far outstrips the demand. An additional race or two would likely sell out nearly as quickly and still leave many searching for an open race.

Sensible or not, it is obvious that triathlons, especially the Ironman triathlon is a huge success. Tens of thousands of people complete events in the United States, each year. And additional scores of thousands struggle to even find an available slot for those races. Regardless of what outsiders think about the prospect of racing 140.6 miles in three disciplines, all in 17 hours or less, Ironmen and those who would earn the title place a huge demand on an extremely limited resource.

For those who would sign up for an upcoming race, take a hint from Roman, use multiple computers running several registration windows. Anything short of that might leave you in a lurch. Better yet, get to the race site the morning after the event. That will drastically improve your odds of a successful registration.

For those interested in Team raceAthlete that were unable to claw their way into IM MOO 2007, start identifying your key races and share them with the rest of the team. The Main Event might be in Wisconsin on September 9, 2007, but there are hundreds of other opportunities to show your stuff. Let's continue to show there is a huge demand for additional IM events.

Perhaps Bolder can even get his eagerly sought after IM Boulder event.

On the Bubble

I'm in a hold pattern. After spending an hour attempting to register for Ironman Wisconsin 2007, the closest I got to actually completing the process was an error page after clicking "Submit." Half of the registration process was completed, as I received an Ironman ID from the system.

Unfortunately, the important half seems to have failed. There was no confirmation, and IM Wisconsin doesn't appear on my list of events. I sent an e-mail to Active.com asking about the situation, but doubt they will have much leeway to help out. After weeks of agonizing over the decision, it is distressing to be shut down by a system error.

If anything changes, I'll let you know.

We Will Not Forget

September 11, 2001 was just another first day of school at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. I went to school that morning for a day of classes. After my first course of the semester, I went to the school store to pick up a few things needed for the next class.

As I looked around the store, I caught a few disjointed pieces of news on the radio playing on the PA system. They struck me as odd, something about a plane hitting the World Trade Center in New York City. The information was so sketchy, I decided to check for additional news online, using my cell phone. That led to further confusion, as the news I found there centered around a plane having crashed into the Pentagon.

The erratic nature of these news articles led me to call my dad. "Hey Dad, I'm at school and there's some really odd news. I was hoping you might have more information. I heard about a plane hitting the World Trade Center, but then another report said it was the Pentagon. What's going on?"

"Well, you know the World Trade Center, right? It's no longer standing. And a different plane flew into the Pentagon."

Stunned silence. "Forget it Dad, this is too crazy, I have to find a television."

I headed to my next class to tell the professor I wasn't dropping the class, but I wouldn't be there, today. His note cancelling class beat me to the room.

I spent the rest of the day sitting in the library watching news about the events of that day. It is a day that will remain forever etched in my memory. It is a day that all Americans should remember.

We should also remember those Americans who serve in our defense. They go where they are ordered and they do what they must. Some make the ultimate sacrifice for honor and country. We must remember these soldiers and those they leave behind. Many are following in the footsteps of those who went before them. This song and video from Phil Driscoll are fitting.

Important times in a country's history are easily identifiable. They are the times when every single person remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing. September 11, 2001 was one of those days.

Wil on Her Way

Iron Wil is well on her way to completing her first Ironman distance triathlon. For updates, you can use the Ironman website, but I seriously recommend stopping by her blog. Simply Stu has been tracking her, taking pictures, and updating her weblog with her status. While the Ironman site might give you an idea of her times, Stu is giving Wil the rock star treatment, and doing a great job. Kudos to him for his awesome coverage.

I was lucky enough to make a road trip to Madison for some of the Saturday festivities. After keeping in touch with Tri Mama via e-mail and phone, it became obvious we might miss each other. She asked me to pass her number along to Iron Wil if I happened to meet up with her. No small feat given the size of both Madison and Ironman Village, the sheer number of people there, and the fact that Iron Wil and I had never met. And we think completing an Ironman is easy.

After taking a break to allow Monster Girl to crawl around, I was looking for a convenient spot to give her a bottle, I came across a young lady talking on the phone. Something about her made me stop and wait for her to finish. "Excuse me, would you happen to be Iron Wil?"


Sure enough, it was. We talked for a bit, and exchanged vital phone numbers. And for someone less than 24 hours away from the start of her first Ironman, she was very calm. In fact, a good portion of our conversation focused on 2007 and Team raceAthelete. We took a picture, and two important ladies needed to eat.

While feeding Monster Girl (and trying to keep B-Boy from getting mowed down in the hallway), I got in contact with TriGreyhound. He made the trip all the way to Madison to volunteer on race day. We met up and spent some time discussing various issues, again focusing quite a bit on IM MOO 2007. I was glad to meet Greyhound, and appreciated the way he immediately started watching out for my kids (yes, I was there with two kids and no wife). Ironically, his response to seeing me on my own with both the infant and the toddler matched Tri Mama's, "You must be brave." We shall see. Monday will be the true test of fortitude.

The trip was worth the effort. It was about four hours round trip, for about the same amount of time in Madison. In that time, I met Iron Wil and TriGreyhound. I came pretty close to making my decision about 2007 (thanks to a few not so subtle nudges). And TriMama and I had some initial discussions for future projects, including training ideas and possible podcasts.

Who would have thought that one day in Madison could generate so much energy for an event that is still a year away? It did. Wil, Trisaratops, Trigreyhound, TriMama, SimplyStu, and myself are all jazzed, and that happened before the cannon for today's race even sounded.

Do what you can to sign up for IM MOO 2007. It promises to be a wild ride.

Into the Fire

Iron. A relatively useless item until it has been forged. Fire and iron? That's a different story. Think of the image of the United States Marines forging men of iron from raw recruits. Tested by fire, women of exceptional strength emerge from the Crucible that signals the end of basic training. Imagine a sword, forged from seemingly useless raw materials. Or a naval ship, tons of iron and steel, formed into a massive symbol of strength.

This weekend, many friends will go through the final steps of the forging process. They've been in the fire, many for a year or longer, to reach this point. They have been strengthened along the way. They have been changed from what they were to men and women of iron. And in just over two days, after 140.6 miles, they will become Ironmen. The fires of the forge are something they will carry with them. They will need that fire over the course of their 2.4 mile swim. The fire will continue to forge them into Ironmen, even in the water. They will need that fire during the 112 mile bike ride. The wind of the bike course can't extinguish the flames that will continue the transformation into Ironmen. And the fire must burn strongly during the 26.2 mile marathon. The flames of the forge will light up the night as our friends take the final steps to the finish line and hear the words they've longed to hear for so long. "You are an IRONMAN."

Iron Wil, who has been an example to many member of the TBC, will complete this stage of her journey. Keep her in your thoughts, this weekend, just as she has kept many others in her thoughts when they had their races. Get to Madison and support her, if possible. Watch the race if you can't get there. And track her online if you can't watch it live.

Many others will run their own races. Eighteen members of my triathlon club, The Fox Cities Triathlon Club, will be there. Some for their first time, others on return trips. And a great many others will be there to support their teammates. This is their time. Show your support, and they will be their when it is our time.

And as they complete their journey, determine where you are on your journey. Just as Iron Wil has less than two days to start her Ironman race, we have just under three days to make our Ironman decisions. Are you ready to commit to IM MOO 2007? Just remember, one of the hardest parts of any race is signing up. Once done, 365 days from now, it could be you that others are cheering along.

The Secret is Out

It was something she had to figure out, eventually. The time spent away from the house was the first clue. The extra money going out of the bank account was hard to hide. And yes, like Greyhound has mentioned in the past, the change in appearance and other habits are just too blatant to be overlooked.

Mrs. Pol has known about blogs for some time. She has also known about triathlons for nearly a year. Even after reading about "the other woman" from another triathlon wife, she allowed me to flirt with this mistress. The knowing smiles, the support for "the little indiscretions" that come in the form of short flings. Those are usually over in a few hours, and they don't require too much attention during the weeks and months leading up to the rendezvous.

Now, she is aware of the longing for a more demanding mistress. That became apparent, last night, when she made a comment clearly indicating she has been reading this blog. Sure, my mom reads it as a good source of information about day to day events and race schedules. My sister has read it, and even provided good blog material. But Mrs. Pol? Apparently, she reads it more than just when I ask her to read what I believe to be a particularly witty post.

Some caught in this situation resort to denial. Others try to come up with convoluted and confusing excuses or stories. These rarely work. And the straightforward confession is just too boring. Another approach is to invite Mrs. Pol to join the party. Both in training and in blogging. She is sure to be able to figure out how to break into this blog and leave her mark. Like training, she can take baby steps into blogging.

Since we know she's looking, leave Mrs. Pol some comment love, and show her your support. Both in her training, and in your desire to see what SHE'S thinking.

Honey, just in case, click the Comments link to read or leave comments.

Mixed Messages

Anyone spending time in the locker room of a local health facility tends to catch bits and pieces of various conversations. Generally, they are mundane and quickly forgotten. Every now and then, something will catch your attention and raise some interesting questions.

This morning's thought provoking discussion involved the scale and fantasy football. Completely unrelated, you say? Perhaps. Or maybe there IS a connection.

My attention was caught when someone commented that the scale was malfunctioning. My ears perked up, as I tend to use that scale three times a week, and didn't want to hear that it was providing bogus numbers. Was it possible that the weight loss was all in my head? No, it wasn't that. There was a hint of sarcasm in that voice, and his ongoing discussion confirmed the point. He was upset that he wasn't losing weight. That is something I can understand. Years of training for and running marathons had resulted in some personal weight loss, but less than desired.

It was the next part of the conversation that really caught my attention. The same gentleman who was complaining about the lack of weight loss began to regale those in the locker room with his fantasy football endeavors. Monday night was spent at one bar for the draft of a work league. Tuesday night was a scheduled draft at yet another bar. Wednesday night was a third league (though possibly not at a bar). And during Thursday night's game, he would be doing the draft for his fourth league, yes, at a bar.

I don't know a lot about fantasy football. And I don't know this guy from Adam. What I do know is that four nights at four drafts (three known to be in bars) for fantasy football is unlikely to burn considerable calories and result in any type of weight loss.

Perhaps the guy was joking about the weight loss. It might be that he doesn't care, or doesn't need to lose weight. While I don't recognize him as a regular at the YMCA, he may exercise on his own or at another location. Perhaps he is a vegan health nut who manages to complete all his training with plenty of time to run several fantasy football teams. He might be independently wealthy and do all his workouts during the day, leaving the night free for other activities.

But the mixed message is far too common. People around the country wonder at their expanding waistlines as they continue to increase their dietary intake while maintaining a near zero-activity exercise regime. Outsiders (meaning those with much better diets and exercise programs) can only stand by and shake their heads in wonder at the confusing signals.

There are a great many options available when it comes to personal health. Some take it to fanatical extremes. Members of the TBC are those who tend to push themselves to test the limits of their endurance. It is an extreme, even in the world of endurance sports. There is, however, another extreme. The result of that extreme is standing on a scale wondering why the newest fad pill hasn't generated the promised weight loss and has, in fact, resulted in weight gain. Whether pushing the extremes of training or the extremes of poor habits, choices are made. And we must each live the with consequences of those choices.

Make sure you are willing to live with the choices you are making.

Taper Time

It was dark. It was cool. It was calm and foggy. And it was the same wake up time as on a normal training day. This day was different. This day was the final 20 mile run before the marathon. This was the final hurdle before taper.

Runs that start at 4:45 a.m. and are planned for nearly 3 hours always pose one serious question. Glasses or sunglasses? I went with sunglasses, which was a good call.

The first mile out, I knew my pace needed some moderation. Just about 7m 45s to the DQ which marks mile one. Way too fast for a 20 miler. I backed off a bit to what I hoped was closer to 8m 30s or slower (I really only know a few mile markers, so mostly I go by feel).

Overall, the run was outstanding. The temps stayed down, and I was able to make a few decisions. My last 20 miler was in my Asics Gel Kayano XIs. This one was in my Mizuno Wave Alchemys. Due to a foot cramp around mile 18 and some heel pain post run, the Alchemys will sit this run out and I will go with the old faithful Kayanos. Given the improved pace, I only needed two Gu gels for the run, and will probably carry only four on marathon day (three for the race, one "just in case"). And I am well set for a sub-four hour marathon. I completed today's run right around 2 hours 50 minutes, pretty much an 8m30s per mile pace. That included two pit stops (one for refueling, which definitely won't happen in the race). If I can maintain that pace on race day, I could walk the last 6 miles and probably make 4 hours.

I also spent a lot of time running through scenarios about IM MOO '07 in my head. Mrs. Pol has said she is ready to support the program, which is huge. Now, there's just the minor issue of paying for the race. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and may just pull it off. With the crew that is planning to be there, missing it would be nearly a crime. Luckily, the TBC lawyer is facing the same decisions, so I'm not worried about finding representation.

Keep Iron Wil and all the others running IM WI 2006 in mind, this week. They are in the final stretch, and many will be travelling before the weekend gets here. They can all use our support as they face their own IM races.

And My Arms Are Killing Me!

In 2000, when diagnosed with sarcoidosis, my pulmonary doctor wanted me to start running so we could evaluate my lung function in a natural environment. Those first runs of a mile to a mile and a half were daunting and painful. Over time, as my health improved, the runs became easier as the distance increased. It's amazing what a bit of healthy activity can accomplish.

As weight came off, my times improved, as well. The longer, easier runs were also taking less time. And the distances continued to increase. Even so, it took better than a year before I felt up to a full marathon.

In January, when this crazy pursuit of triathlons began, the I encountered the same situation with swimming. Completing a 200 yard swim was nearly impossible, and the idea of doing anything more than that was frightening.

Still, the pool continued to beckon, and various resources allowed me to improve my swimming abilities. Again, swimming longer and longer distances became the norm. First, it was 500 yards. Than 1000. Than a mile. Likewise, my pace improved (though only slightly). Today, roughly 7 months after starting serious swim training, another hurdle has been overcome.

I hit the pool with a purpose, today. Swim longer than any previous swim, and do it as a straight swim. Sort of a "see what can be done" session. I figured maybe 3000, but definitely more than 2500 yards. When I hit 3000, I decided to keep going. I did, and didn't quit until I hit 144 lengths of the pool, or 2 miles. It took just under 1:30 to complete that distance, another personal record (the longest time spent swimming).

Clearing this hurdle is huge for two reasons. First, it's just a major distance to swim. Second, the time to go the distance leaves another 50 minutes to complete the remaining 0.4 miles in an Ironman event. That's a pace even a determined turtle can achieve. It's a huge boost to morale to know that the 2.4 mile swim of an IM race isn't a roadblock.

Of course, my 22 mile bike after the swim was supposed to be 40, but I was too tired. Twelve months. That's what remains to resolve THAT issue.

A Simple Irony

The change in music to Greenday's "Time of Your Life" was done as a tribute to Iron Wil and all the others preparing for Ironman Wisconsin. As they come into the final days before their race, the "time of their lives" is in transition. Much like a triathlete going from swim to bike, they are going from "train" to "race." Most have probably already had the time of their life just meeting the demands of Ironman training. And they will experience another hightlight when they cross the finish line on September 10th.

Who knew that it would also become an anthem for myself (and probably others) when Roman put up his challenge to join together for Ironman Wisconsin in 2007. For us, it is a different type of tribute. And it is the first line of the song that speaks to us.

"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go."

For many, the choice is easy. Some are certain they will be cheerleaders on this journey. They will be with us on the trip, but won't make the final leg in Madison. Others are "all in." They are fully committed, waiting with cash in hand. Then there are those literally standing at the fork in the road, trying to decide which way to turn. One path leads to points unknown. It might lead to future Ironman races. It might lead to other things. We just don't know. The other path has a destination, a light at the end of the tunnel. That light is Madison, Wisconsin in mid-September, 2007.

For some, the key factor will be financial. Registering for an Ironman race is an expensive proposition, and doing it on short notice can strain budgets. For others, there are factors such as training time, family, work, and a variety of other obligations and responsibilities. Some have just come off an Ironman season and planned on an easy 2007.

So, there's a fork in the road. And in this case, time won't have time to grab anyone by the wrist. It's flying by too quickly. This situation will require action by each of us. Every training session for the next week promises to be spent in serious reflection about what will happen on September 11, 2006. Will it be spent fighting to secure a spot on Team raceAthlete? Or will it pass by, forcing us onto another path?