Running Down A Dream

I have to say that one of the songs that ring in my head each time I go out for a long run or bike, or even have to face a challenge when it comes to food is the Tom Pettey song "Running Down A Dream" I love the line, "Running down a dream that never would come to me." I take that personally, my weight loss never would just come to me as much as I wanted it to for so many years, my health would never just come to me, as much as I sat around and thought of myself as fit, the numbers at the Dr were alway different. Good health is really one of those thing you have to "run down" or bike down, or swim down, or walk down, or aerobics down, or boot camp down. Whatever it is for you, you know what you like. I get kind of mad when I hear that song now, not an angery mad, but a "I will show you!" Kind of mad, I will run down the dream of health, of triathlon, and now of the magic 200 pound mark. That song went through my head Saturday night as Kim and I ran our 13 miles in preperation for Chicago, it was the most humid night I can remeber running in, in a while, by the time I was finished the sweat had run down my legs into both shoes and socks so much it felt like I had been running through puddles. I was tired, somene stole our first water stop, and we had a lot of reasons to just say, "let's skip this week" "let's put it off for a while" but we were running down our dreams, and at the end of that workout Saturday night, I felt better than I had all week.

Picture

Here it is the one picture I have as proof that I did the BMW Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon. Trust me when I tell you if I had a more flattering picture I would have used it, but the pictures Kim took of me at the transition and on my bike got shipped off to Apple when her IPhone messed up and the they just sent her a new one with no pictures. I have never been to an event where they did not at lest get one picture of you crossing the finish line, I know I smiled for at least 3 cameras on the course, but nope, this is the only one they offered for me to buy.

On another note, Kim and I ran our long run of 12 miles on Saturday night this weekend and it went really well. I had a ton left at the finish and am looking forward to a good week of workouts and of eating well. I have really stuggled with eating well since the triathlon for some reason. I think some of it has been the travel, and some of it has been that I have not been feeling real well and food seems to settle my stomach, but I am sure I am eating too much of it and the wrong types. I got my latest issue of Inside Triathlon and it is the nutrition issue. I am pumped up to finally break the weight barrier I have been at and get as close if not to 200 pounds by the Marathon. I am a little competetive and now realize I will probably nver be able to compete with these little 160 pound guys that go up hill beside me on the bike like I am standing still. But I think I could be very competiitve, especially if I get my swim time down in the clydesdale division (200 pounds and up) So that is my new weight goal 200 pounds. Now being fit and getting in shape and all of that is still how I will judge my success, but there is nothing wrong with having a number to shoot for.

Official Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon Report and Commentary

I got up around 4:30 Saturday morning and had a Cliff bar and started drinking water. I got the transition area to set up around 5:15 and it was dark. Most the people must have realized it was going to be dark because they had these little lights strapped to their head so they could see what they were doing. I on the other had had my cell phone that I used to illuminate my area until the sun started coming up. I went over and got marked and got my timing strap and went back and set up my transition area. I just stood there and stared at it for a while going over and over again in my mind what I would do each time I came through and make sure I had everything there. At 6:00 they called for my bus to leave to head out to the swim start, I missed it. Not to worry I caught the next one.
The swim start was a mile up the river at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga rowing center. It was just beside the football teams practice field. I just laid around on the field with everyone else waiting for the start of the race that was delayed 30 minutes because all the traffic cones had not been set out yet, and the USTA won't allow a race to start until everything is set (just one of the many little USTA rules they were really strict about)

It was a time trial type start they led you down to a dock 25 at at time and then 10 at a time jump in the water and go down till you get to the end of the dock where they check you number and tell you to go. I was off. I got about 200 yards out in the ocean sized river and realized I was kind of scared. My breathing was off my heart rate was high and I was worried, but somehow I relaxed myself and just kept saying 1 ,2, 3 , breath, 1,2,3 breath and I did and I just started going. I got passed by a lot of people and I don't think I ever passed anyone. Everyone has said there was absolutely no current and that under the bridged the chop actually made it feel like you were swimming against the current. But I finally heard the roar of the crowd and I could see them pulling people out of the water at the dock. It was a weird way to get out of the water. You swim up to the dock and raise your hads and these guy yank you out of the water and then you take off up the stairs and across the street to the transition area. It took me 45:05 to finish the swim, much slower than I had wanted.

The transition went great and my brother-in-law and his wife where already thee yelling for me. The bike course had some serious long hills. It was much harder than I thought it would be and my stomach was hurting a little and I had to pee, so at the turn around I had to go to the bathroom and wasted some time there, but I was feeling much better after that. The hills were tough but I actually passed some people on the bike and at one point got up over 40 mph going down a hill, unfortunately the lady in front of me put her brakes on and I had another bike on my left and a motorcycle filming the race on his left and we all almost wiped out and had to slam on our brakes, it was a little hairy, but we made it. The bike took me 1:34.

The transition to run went well I started off and immediately was big hill, my heart rate got up and I could not settle into a good pace till almost mile 3, but after that I was clear sailing I was passing quite a few people on the run and was feeling really good about it. I got plenty of fluids and even picked up the pace at the end. The only problem at all was my left quad started cramping that last 200 yards or so, but it was nothing real serious.

The whole family was there at the finish and we all had lunch together at the North Shore Grill and they got there before I did and were all clapping for me, it made be feel really great. I am for sure addicted to triathlon and look forward to the next one, I think I am going to do the Chattanooga Sports Barn Sprint Tri in August with Kim, it will be her first.

This weekend our long run is 12 miles in preparation for the Chicago Marathon, my weight right now is about 240 and I hope to be really close to 200 by the Marathon. I have said that 220 would be where I stopped, but I realize if I do it correctly I can be very healthy around 200 and that will allow me to be much more competitive in triathlon. I may never place in my age group or win a race or anything like that, but I see this a lot like golf, I want to do everything I can to get better next time out. Time is a great way to measure that with these races and the only person I am really competing against is me. I have looked back at my blog over the last couple of years and have read about walking 4 minutes and jogging one and being really excited about 14 minute miles. I am beating that guy, but I am so glad I can still read about him.

I hope to have some pictures soon.

Race Report

I have now completed an olympic distance triathlon! I made it through the mile swim, the 25 mile bike, and the 6.2 mile run in good shape. It was really a whole lot of fun. Other than some panic in the water during the first part of the swim, and a near wreck going down a hill at 40 miles and hour, and the fact the bike course is what I think of when I hear about the mountain stages in the Tour de France, it was a blast! One of the most exciting things was having my family there to support me. Kim, Kiley, Robyn, Susan, Larry, Jacob, and Minda all cheering me on through the transitions. I am not sure of my times as they have not posted them yet to the website. But I do know I'm no speed demon. This triathlon was a qualifier for 2 different world championships, the calibur of athlete there was certainly higher than any races I have seen previously. But that's really a good thing because it inspires me to continue to work harder and lose a few pounds to get a little faster. As I was telling Kim the other day, I am very competitive. But oddly enough I'm not competitive against other people in triathlons but I am very competitive with myself and hope to beat me next time out. Thanks so much to everyone for your calls, thoughts, and prayers and comments on my blog. We are still traveling, I hope to write more soon.

Game Week

Well as my dad would say it is game week. The triathlon is Sunday. I am going into this week feeling GREAT! This past weekend I rode about 30 miles on my bike and ran 2 miles on Saturday in what is called a "brick" workout. On Sunday morning Kim and I got up and ran 10 miles for our marathon training. Both workouts went great and my eating has been going really well since the 4th also. This week's workouts are nothing big, just getting out and keeping the blood flowing, if by this point the physical conditioning is not already there it's too late, but I know it is. My lungs and heart and legs have felt great this past week, the only that is left is to mentally prepare and make sure I get all my equipment where it needs to be and in working condition. I think I will take my bike in for a little tune up today.

My father-in-law who lives in Chattanooga called yesterday and said that there was a big write up in the paper about the triathlon. They said it is over sold with between 1200 and 1500 racers registered, they are not allowing anyone else in. They had a big map with all the street closures and are needing more volunteers to help with the race. Kim has emailed to volunteer to help with the swim start. It is a little early to be getting nervous, but I must say I enjoy the hype. Now if I can just not drown!

Biggest Weakness

I feel really good about many of the things I have conquered on my weight loss journey. 1) I can go out and eat and not get the best thing on the menu and "experiance" great food everytime out. I can eat just a salad or veggies or shake. 2)I can eat at home with Kim and the family and eat one of my meals or shakes while they eat Pizza. 3) I can fit working out into almost any day and have done pretty well and not making excuses. 4) I don't feel the need to get a mocha frappacino and cheese cake or brownie everytime I go the bookstore or Starbucks.

I say all this to say I know no matter how far I have come I still have one really big weakness. I can't do the party thing and control myself right now. Yesterday I pumped myself up and ate energy bars and drank a lot of water and was going to do real well at the 4th cookout at my house, but when all the food was laid out and I started cooking on the grill I might as well had been the "old Brad" as my father puts it sometimes. I am not sure how I am going to combat this. I am looking at the bright side of things and realize that parties don't come everyday. Parties were not a big deal in the decesion free part of the program becasue everyone knew and expected me not to eat, but now they know I can have anything I want so there is no feeling that I shuld not eat anything. My friend Jason did a great job yesterday and brought his food because he can only eat certain foods.

With freedom comes great responsability, I have not learned to be very responsible with mine yet.

I had lost some weight till yesterday and my workouts are going very well, so I am not all down and depressed and realize that I am at a much better place than I was last year at this time, but I want to be able to feel free and enjoy the "party" and still eat well. Sadly my idea of a good party is how good the food and drink is, I am not sure how to overcome this paradigm.

I am just rambling today, thanks for listening.