Ironman Wisconsin 2016… Yes, No, Maybe?

Once again I am staring at an Ironman registration screen before I’ve completed the next one on my list.  Chattanooga is in twelve days and Ironman Wisconsin 2016 is baiting me with all its glory.  Unfortunately my competitive and sign-up windows are both closing quickly.

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I think most of us go through this phase.  The last couple months before your race you make a lot of claims about taking the next year off.  I almost actually did this last year, but caved in to Louisville 3 months before the race.  Louisville was slow to sell out in August, but Wisconsin will likely be gone in a day or two.  So, what should I do?

IF I was set on doing an Ironman next year, I would pull the trigger in a second.  Wisconsin is the race I want to do.  It’s a great course, the atmosphere is incredible, and it’s home.  The swim alone is almost worth the entry fee.

The “transfer” option isn’t really a question.  It’s whether or not I want to race.

I think my competitive nature makes this decision so hard.  I’m just not the kind of guy to sign up and do it “for fun.”  I mean, obviously I love this stuff or I wouldn’t keep racing or writing about it all the time, but . . . it’s hard!

I’ve tried to compartmentalize my training, but Ironman has a way of taking over your life.  And, that’s the second catch . . . in the big perspective, that’s not such a bad thing.

Ironman training is the big-picture-guide for my life.  It deters me from falling off the rails and sauntering into the murky marsh.

But, it also saps my energy for other things.  And, frankly, I should probably get on with my life as an entrepreneur one of these days.

So, I sit here in contemplation with a peaceful monk on my left shoulder and a lycra-clad competitor on my right.  Each urging me to be myself and make the right decision.  That, of course, is the always the dilemma.

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Having "Fun" During An Ironman Race

This is such an interesting thought to me.  How exactly DO you make an Ironman race fun?

As I think back to my first two, I can remember four fun things about the races.  The time before and after each.  During the race?  Not so much.

But maybe that’s a lie.

There were moments, I’m sure.  The swim, for example.  Wisconsin was fun in a “going to battle” sort of way.  Louisville was fun from a “relax and enjoy the outdoors” angle.

The bike at Wisconsin was kind of fun at the time, but really fun in retrospect.  Till this day it’s my favorite bike ride of all time.  Louisville’s bike was more of a consistent effort sort of thing that I don’t recall being “fun” but it was sort of okay.

The run at Wisconsin was my first marathon, so it was fun in a new and exciting kind of way. There were tons of people and great memories as I “ran” in and around the University of Wisconsin campus.  That was my stomping grounds back in the day and I’d rarely seen those places sober, so it was definitely exciting (other than the pain).  The Louisville run, on the other hand.  Not fun.  I wasn’t ready and the heat destroyed me.  One question kept piercing my mind was . . . why?  Why would I do an Ironman?

Now, I’m facing my third, Ironman Chattanooga, and you know what?  I think I’m going to try and have more fun.

I think a big part of that solution is simply keeping your head up a little more.  Soaking in the beauty of the bike course and looking into people’s eyes as you run.  It makes the race a more connected experience, and really, that’s the key to life in general.

The other big, big, key to having fun during an Ironman (at least for me) is staying within your limits, especially early in each discipline.

I have ruined many a swim, bike, and run by starting too fast.  It becomes survival and surviving really isn’t that fun.

There is a very fine line between giving your all and pushing yourself over the edge.  I fall for this a lot and hope that writing it down might actually convince me to live in the space just below the edge more often on race day.

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VIDEO 2: Age Groupers at Ironman Chattanooga
They’re having fun!

 

 

Training In The Moment

I just looked at the watch on my wrist and it’s set to 00:00.  That can only mean one thing . . . another workout is looming.

At the moment I am sitting in a coffee shop, writing on my computer.  It is a casual, comfortable, and easy experience.  But soon I will have to get into the water and push myself.

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I’ve been putting a lot of effort into a “new” training philosophy.  Not new in the revolutionary sense, but new in a “in the moment” sort of way.

Thinking about an Ironman Race Day can steal your soul.  It will consume you to the point where everything before it is a blur.  The best way to separate from a future event is doing something today that will make that future more pleasant.

It’s like preparing for a final exam.

I used to be the all-night crammer kind of guy.  Ignoring the lessons months in advance, trusting an immense, short-term immersion of information the week before my test. Sometimes this worked, but one thing was always constant.  That cramming experience threw me out of balance.

I’m learning.

I’m learning that consistent effort and preparation pays off.

I’m learning that repetition is the best learning vehicle.

I’m learning not to obsess over things that aren’t here now.

But it’s hard.

It’s hard because the lure of that shiny medal at the finish line has a way of validating our efforts.

It’s hard because in a strange way it doesn’t seem like the little recovery runs really matter.

It’s hard because having faith is hard.

Setting goals has always been weird to me because I typically focus on the goal instead of what it takes to get there.  With Ironman, for example, I tend to compare my training efforts to my race goal.  That can be dangerous territory.

The worst strategy in the world is racing an Ironman like it’s a race.  It’s a brick by brick build.  Stroke by stroke, pedal by pedal, stride by stride.  You can’t put up the walls until the foundation is laid.

The same holds for training.  I have 17 days left until Ironman Chattanooga, and while that doesn’t seem like much time, there’s a lot of things I can do to improve my race.  Little things.  Adding a few more bricks to the foundation.  Making my weaknesses a little stronger.

The race is coming fast, but there’s really only one thing I need to think about . . . what I’m doing now.

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Tons of Ironman Wisconsin Stuff

Ironman Wisconsin was the reason I started this site a few years ago and I’ve published a bunch of writings and video about the race.  I’ve dug it all up and linked everything from this page for simplicity.  I absolutely love Madison and this race.  Hope you find some things you enjoy!

20 Things I learned at Ironman Wisconsin.

10 Mistakes I made at Ironman Wisconsin 2013.

Ironman Wisconsin Swim Start Video.

Ironman Wisconsin 2013 Swim Start Video.

My 2014 IM Wisconsin Tribute Video.

My 2013 Ironman Wisconsin Race Report.

The registration stress of Ironman Wisconsin.

My coach’s perspective from the sidelines, including an awesome story of race survival at Ironman Wisconsin 2013.

Friday before Ironman Wisconsin.

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Pre-race report before Ironman Wisconsin 2013.

Ironman Wisconsin distance analogy.

Comparing IM Wisconsin vs. IM Louisville.

Contemplating my race strategy for Ironman Wisconsin.

My first week of training for Ironman Wisconsin.

What I imagined Ironman Wisconsin was like before I did it.

My return home a few days before IM Wisconsin.

100 Days Out from Ironman Wisconsin.

My day of spectating Ironman Wisconsin 2014.

Pictures from Ironman Wisconsin 2014.

My friend’s guest Race Report from IM Wisconsin 2010.

Ironman Wisconsin was my first marathon.

The emotions of the Fab 5 one month away from Wisconsin.

18 Stories About Ironman Chattanooga

Mike’s Race Report from 2015

I road the bike course and drove the run course, then wrote about it.

This is the slick-ass video I made while spectating Chattanooga in 2014.

The very popular piece on why you shouldn’t wear a wetsuit, even if it’s legal.

VIDEO: Ironman Chattanooga Swim Exit #3

10 things to think about before and during your race at Ironman Chattanooga.

Here is the slick-ass video Little Debbie made in 2014.

This is video of the pros running out of T2 at Ironman Chattanooga.

It’s always moving to see the final swimmer get out of the water.  Here’s the video.

An illegal, but cool story from last 2014 Ironman Chattanooga.

The endless stream of Age Groupers coming out of the water at Ironman Chattanooga 2014.

Pictures of some of the pro racers.

My summary of what it was like spectating IM Chattanooga in 2014.

Ironman Chattanooga Transition Layout.

Overhead Video of the Swim of Ironman Chattanooga.

Video of first woman out of the water in 2014.

Men’s Pro Pack coming out of the water at Ironman Chattanooga 2014.

Video of practice swim current.

Some day before the race pictures, including the cutest little girl holding the best Ironman sign ever!

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Crushing Iron Shirts Available in Chattanooga

Pretty pumped to offer these new logo shirts to anyone who will be Crushing Iron in Chattanooga.  They are the same “Next Level” brand Ironman uses for their name shirts.  Color is Indigo Blue and for now there are Small – XL in men’s sizes only.  Cost is $20.

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There are two ways to get one in Chattanooga.

– By making arrangements to meet us… Send me an email ahead of time:  [email protected]

–  Coming to the lobby of the Chattanoogan Hotel from 3-4:00 on Saturday.

(Note: I will soon be setting up an online store to buy them from here, but it may be a week or so.  Email me if you’d like to order with a check or something and we’ll work it out).

Can’t wait to see you in Chattanooga!  Thanks!

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Hotel Situation at Ironman Chattanooga

I cannot tell you how big of a relief it was to get this in my inbox. IMG_2724

This has been a crazy process that started when I registered for a hotel on the same day I signed up for Ironman Chattanooga.  I thought I was staying right next to transition, but inadvertently reserved the same chain hotel in Hamilton Place.  Granted, it’s only about a 10 minute drive, but that’s the point.  It’s a drive, and I want to relax on both sides of this grueling bastard.

About 6 weeks ago I realized my hotel mistake and started scrambling for a room.  I booked rooms near Lookout Mountain, then cancelled those when I thought I made a great score at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel.  Then two weeks ago I went to Chattanooga to run the course and we stayed at the Choo Choo.

The lobby is a massive, high ceiling, ex-train depot situation, that is actually pretty cool.  And it seems rather normal until they send you out to “Building 3.”

First of all, we had to drive, and it’s not really a short trip.  You curl around the back of a rail yard of train cars (which double as rooms) and at first sight I thought I’d somehow booked a room in bombed ruins.

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Building 3

 

I think my actual thought was, “This is some fancy ass medieval hospitality.”  Now, don’t get me wrong, I like cool, old shit, but this just felt a little strange.  Like something out of a Stephen King novel and I’m not sure that’s how you want to rest before an Ironman.

But, I kept an open mind because the manager was gracious enough to upgrade us to a suite, and the room wasn’t actually that bad.  But it just felt, oh, neglected.  Maybe there just weren’t enough guests in Building 3 that night?

We had a corner balcony with a nice view of the pool, which has incredible potential, but I couldn’t help but think I’d wake up to headless jousting in the courtyard.

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The other thing with Building 3 is that it is a long ass ways from the street, at least a half mile, and if you’re like me, walking is harder than running at this point in the game.  You walk down a row of dozens of old train cars, which is juicy in theory, but just so desolate it feels like an Agatha Christie mystery in process.

The thing about the Choo Choo is that it should be amazing!  It is dripping with character and with some better lighting, carpet, and a major clean, this place could be a gem.

In the meantime, bring your broadsword, battle ax, and war hammer to play along with the fantasy before you crush your Ironman.

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Ironman Louisville Vs. Chattanooga

I just read a post about someone calling Ironman Chattanooga “easy,” so I thought I would set the record straight.

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2014 Ironman Winner, Chris McDonald, collapses at finish line. Photo: www.courier-journal.com

About one year ago I was not-so-gracefully recovering from Ironman Louisville.  Everything was fine until Mile One of the run when some mysterious being shoveled me into a coal furnace.  It was extremely hot.  Unbearable.  105 heat index.  I was genuinely concerned I may not finish the race, and rightly so. I’ve heard as many as 300 didn’t finish Louisville, which is a huge percentage of DNF’s at an Ironman.

A few weeks later I went to spectate Chattanooga.  There were rumblings that the river current would be shut off, but I stood with wide eyes watching hundreds of swimmers get out of the water in less than an hour.  I wondered how the extra four miles of the bike might affect people, and seemingly it didn’t.  The weather barely crept into the 70’s with a glorious overcast sky.  Just about the time people started running a light mist fell onto the athletes to cool them down. Everything lined up, and so did the times.

I’m in the 50-54 age group and 10th place at Chattanooga raced a 10:17.  Tenth place at Louisville was 10:51.

But, the reason I’m writing this is because I have a very bad feeling that the fortunes will be reversed this year.  Louisville in October will be 60-70 degrees, while Chattanooga is bound to have a silly hot streak in the 80’s.  I’m banking on it.

If Ironman Louisville didn’t move to October, I would have done it again.  I loved the challenge of that race in the heat, but sadly we’ll never know if I could have conquered it.

SWIM, BIKE, RUN Comparisons

If the current is like it was last year, Chattanooga’s swim is indeed “easier.”  But in fairness, Louisville has a lot of downstream on the swim, too, but there’s still about 800 yards (400 in a crowded channel) upstream.

I’ve ridden one loop of Chattanooga’s bike course and honestly don’t remember any hills that had me swearing.  Louisville definitely has some, so overall, I’d say it’s a little tougher.  But Chattanooga is 116 miles, and I know it’s not a huge deal, but it’s STILL 116 miles on a bike and doing one loop was more than enough for me a few weeks ago.

Chattanooga’s run course is definitely harder from an elevation stand point.  At least 8 miles of legitimate hills versus zero hills at Louisville.

Although I did the race last year, I can’t even really comment on the Louisville run because I was genuinely in a daze.  If anything it was the most difficult run I’ve ever had from a psychological perspective.  It’s more or less one, seemingly endless street that looks and feels the same the entire way.  For that reason alone it is brutal.

I actually like hills, so the change of pace is “sorta” welcome at Chattanooga.  I say that biting my tongue, of course, because I know I will be cursing myself for most of the run.

In the end, Chattanooga is every bit as challenging as Louisville in its own way.  It comes down to the weather.  If it’s hot, there will be unending carnage.  If we get another day blessed from the Misting Fairies, things will go a lot smoother.

Ironman Chattanooga Tribute Video
Ironman Louisville Tribute Video
Ironman Louisville Tribute 2013 

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Ironman Chattanooga 2014 – Smiles and Clouds