imoo – Page 3

August 22, 2013

The Next Few Days Are About Louisville

As much as possible, I am trying to “let go” of Wisconsin for a few days. The Southeast is heating up again and it’s time to reflect on a major reason I am in these shoes: Ironman Louisville.

Last year at this time I agreed to drive up to Louisville with Jim to watch Racer K tackle his first Ironman. Jim and I settled into Skyline Chili along the way, then went to the Galt House to find Kevin before regretting that I overloaded at Skyline Chili.

It was all so foreign to me at the time and I couldn’t believe how many people were milling around the host hotel talking about swim, bike, and run. I knew something big was about to happen, but didn’t quite understand the magnitude.

This year I will be going up to support coach Robbie, Corey and Wasky (pictured in that order below). Three guys that I’ve spent a ton of time with this summer and must be literally sitting on the edge of their seats as the clock counts down to cannon.I haven’t quite “been there” yet, but I’m guessing there’s not much you can do those last few days other than pack up your shit and battle anxiety. There’s nothing left other than not losing your mind and finding a zone. It’s one of those weird places where you don’t want to be distracted, but really need a distraction.

I’ll be in Louisville tomorrow night, then getting up early to ride the bike course in case I choose to put myself through the fires of hell in August one day in the future. I may even run around the town a bit and down 4th Street to see if I can imagine the electricity that will be filling that finish line on Sunday night. I’ve seen it and it is definitely something to write home about.

Then Sunday morning, I will tread lightly as three close friends stand in the swim line ready to culminate months of hard work. And this is what I imagined when I created Crushing Iron. Being around people who push themselves to the limits to see how far that will take them. And while I’m not racing, this morning will be about the incredible journey we’ve taken together.It will be about all those little things that help keep everyone on track. About the selflessness we all shared in order to bring out the best in each other. Hundreds of days and thousands of little inspirations that have all come down to this day. Now, it’s time for them to show everyone else why we have so much faith in what they’re about to do.

This is it boys, make no mistake where you are.

17 Days Out Lesson – from my Neighbor James – My lil James Jr. gonna come out that door right there and start yellin, “Mr. Mike, Mr. Mike,” and you gonna be like, “Damn, James Jr. out here screamin ‘Mr. Mike’ again.” And you gonna be right, but he just wanna say what up. Take a minute to say he a good kid.

August 21, 2013

Contemplating a Race Strategy for Ironman Wisconsin #IMWI

As I leaned against the orange boom this morning, I thought about (for the 1000th time) how I would tackle the Beast. The other day, coach sent out a note suggesting we plan our race backwards, so with that in mind, here goes nothing.

The Run –

I’ve said all along, the run is my wild card. I have yet to run more than 14 miles and will be knocking out my first full marathon at the end of an ironman. That thought is both daunting and insatiably intriguing.

There’s a saying in sports that typically goes with scoring a touchdown or hitting a home run, “Act like you’ve been there before.” Traditionally it means, don’t be over-the-top or anxious because is says your surprised, or don’t believe in yourself. You didn’t think you could do it. But how do you act like you’ve been there, if you really haven’t?

The only way to do this is mentally. I have been thinking about it on every run I’ve taken for the last few months. Embracing the inevitable pain and moving through it until something else hurts. Then, repeat.

Strategically, I have gone back and forth with the idea of wearing a Garmin, but predict I will not. I’ll likely start my chrono swim watch when the canon goes off and use it more as a reference than an obsession. The run will have to play out by feel and my goal is to negative split each half of the run with intention of starting very slow off the bike. (I know, everyone says this, but I really mean it!).

The last, and potentially crucial intangible, is the crowd. It’s hard to put a value on spectator support, but everything I’ve heard about Wisconsin has me excited to run through downtown Madison, loop through Camp Randall (home of my beloved Badgers), and soak in my favorite campus. I’m banking on the distractions, not the least of which will be family and friends lying about how great I look!

The Bike –

I have started to regain my mojo on the bike and the timing couldn’t be better. Add to this a recent tune up and new chain (delivered by the Godfather of bike maintenance) and I’m feeling pretty good about the ride.

The “x factor” for me will be, “How does my training ground, Natchez Trace, compare to the Wisconsin bike course?” If it is favorable (ie… the Trace offers a more difficult ride) I will cautiously push the envelope. Of course, I won’t know this until the second loop, so up until then I will be paying close attention to my effort and gearing down anytime I feel like I’m breathing hard or my legs leave a comfortable spin.

If the Trace vs. Wisconsin comparison is unfavorable (equal terrain) I will all but take off my race hat. This doesn’t mean I will be on a country stroll, but conserving energy will be top of mind.

My goal is to come off that bike excited about the challenge of the run, not to wish I could go back to the hotel and and watch meaningless NFL games. In fact, I may use that for motivation.

The Swim –

My strategy on the swim is simple. Start slow, build by feel, and don’t stop. I have a goal time of around 2 minutes per hundred and 5 or 10 seconds either way will be fine as long as I feel like I just had a nice and energizing swim.

We’ve been swimming open water at least twice a week for the last few months, so I feel comfortable with the lakes and crowds. I really just want to stay calm, find clear pockets, and keep my arms moving. The pace will take care of itself.

Pre-Prologue –

This will be my first Ironman. I haven’t officially “been there,” but thousands of training hours have exposed me to relevant thoughts and feelings. Along the way I’ve learned a lot of things and quite possibly the most important is, your mind will look for a hundred reasons to throw in the towel. In fact, nine times out of ten, your mind will try to talk you out of everything. That’s why I’ve been so adamant about simply listening to my body.

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18 Days Out Lesson – Neighbor James – Man, it gonna be mid-week and u gonna have some doubts, but u can’t let that shit up in you. We all had our doubts, but keep ya eye on the prize. Shine them damn shoes or eat you a salad to keep ya weight down. You gotta be light, man. You can’t dance all day if u got a big ass at night.

August 21, 2013

The Fab 5 Has An Ironman "Scout" . . . My Mom

These last few weeks before Ironman are getting interesting. I can literally feel the level of excitement rising and I don’t imagine it will diminish. But I think it’s even more noticeable in the people who have been hearing me spew my BS for the last 8 months or so. Ironman, this, Ironman, that. And one of those people bubbling with anticipation is my mom.

For example, I wake up this morning and find this picture waiting on my phone.

Yes, that’s my mother, standing next to the Ironman Wisconsin bike transition three weeks before the race. I had no idea she was taking her position as “Race Scout” so seriously.

Mom has already inspected my lodging quarters and stepped-off the distance from the hotel lobby to the Swim Start. She’s also combed her Rolodex for Madison connections, which has landed her insider parking on the bike course and access to a pontoon in Lake Monona if necessary. And last, but not least, she is collecting orders for Crushing Iron gear for Fab 5 supporters on race day.

We talked this morning and her excitement for Ironman is contagious. As if it were possible, I may even be even more jacked about the race after our 20 minute phone call. We discussed everything from shuttling in and around Verona down to downloading Athlete Tracker on her “smart phone.”

It is going to be so great to have my family on the course for this race. Since I moved to Nashville our visits have been too far between. Joining my mom will be dad, my brother, Chris, and my sister, Amy, who is flying in from Dallas.

It’s a little emotional just thinking about seeing them on the course. More than once I have been on a long training run and imagined crossing the finish line, which, at the right moment chokes me up — even if I am deep in isolation on a dark and rainy night in Shelby Bottoms green way. I can’t imagine the myriad of emotions waiting when I see my family and friends waiting after 140.6 miles.

The day has already played in my mind dozens of times and I’m sure mom has done the same. It would be interesting to see how are versions differ. We know she’s a passionate weed puller, but how will she handle a day of passively watching her son climb a mountain?

As far as I know, she is still in Madison combing State Street for the perfect perch or prodding for top secret info on spectating Ironman Wisconsin. And I can tell by her enthusiasm she won’t rest until she is given full access to transition and the finisher’s shoot.

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19 Days Out Lesson – Neighbor James – I know u hear what I’m sayin, but it ain’t sinkin in… look at u chewin on them little energy candy packs like they gonna help u mow the lawn faster. Listen up!

August 19, 2013

Well, I Got My Bib Number #IMWI

First, I’d like to say thanks to everyone who contacted me about my neighbor’s 23 lessons for training. We were both happy to hear athletes all over the Southeast putting the advice right into their Ironman workouts.

Secondly, I have a bib number: 2705.

It’s not quite as permanent as being etched in stone, but having an official race number adds another layer of authenticity to my commitment. I’m not gonna lie, I was 90% sure I clicked send payment, but haven’t really been paying attention to emails (and am typically not the most organized person) so I honestly thought there was a remote possibility my name may not show up on the race list. I mean, I knew I signed up for Ironman Wisconsin, but it was a long ass time ago and stuff like payments or lists can really get screwed up in a year.

But, clearly they have saved a spot for me.

Two years ago I had no clue what an Ironman was other than the distant memories of my childhood when I’d watch Kona and think those people were martians. The sport didn’t even compute with the logic centers of my brain, and frankly, I’m not sure it does now. But who said any of this was about being logical?

For me it’s been about breaking those boundaries down. Too much logic can paint you into a corner and turn your life into a big pile of dust.

I truly believe we are limitless and it’s never too late to pursue even the wildest dreams.

Not that it’s good, bad, or even belongs in a blog about Ironman, but Ray Krok didn’t start McDonald’s until he was like 65 years old. I actually read his biography called, “Grinding It Out,” and aside from the fact that he was, in many ways, leading a revolution that would compromise the health of human beings; he was incredibly passionate and followed his dream with tenacity of a 20 year old.

I have no doubt that Ray Krok could have done an Ironman if he put his mind to it and have no doubt you can do something equally challenging.

Why? Because in just over a year and a half, I have taken myself from the fetal position on a couch to the doorstep of Ironman. It has been anything but easy. I have loathed at least half of the workouts, but kept jumping in the water, hopping on the bike, and lacing up the running shoes.

As they say, 90% of life, is showing up, and I can assure you I’ll be showing up on September 8th.

20 Days Out Lesson – Neighbor James

“Mondays are a trip, man. It aint easy to get up and dance. But you gotta dance! Grab that little Speedo u got, then get your ass in a lake and dance with the barracudas!”

August 16, 2013

23 Lessons, 23 Days Out #IMWI

If you’ve been reading the blog, you already know my neighbor, James, thinks I’m crazy for doing Ironman. Well, today, he popped his head through the bushes and offered some pre-race advice.

I told him things were going well and we’re only 23 days out from the race. He said, “Aww, dayum! I know what’s up. I went thru that exact same thing back in the day when I was gettin’ ready for my concert.”

“Concert?”

“Oh, hell yeah, I used to tap dance for the church team.”

“No shit?”

“No shit, and it was some shit! We drove that rusty ass van all the way to Savannah for the church championships.”

“Wow.”

“Okay Mike, I see how hard u been workin. Let me outline some shit, cuz I’ve been right where you at right now, and this is how ya next 23 days gonna work.”

Day 23 – That’s today, bro. You all out here mowin the lawn with your bike gloves, but your mind… see, your mind ain’t even here. You lookin’ off in the damn clouds and ya dog, Mattie, want some food.

Day 22 – Gonna be a lot like today, but u got a whole weekend to think about shit. You gonna wish u could mow the lawn again, but that’s neither here or then, so u gotta keep your ass straight to the ground, u hear what I’m sayin?

“Uh, Yeah.”

Day 21 – You gonna be hungover as hell cause one of ya swimmin friends got a birthday party or some shit and I know u ain’t listenin’ to what I’m tellin you right now. You gonna be all depressed and thinkin u need to get your head together, but Man, I’m tellin u, all u need to do is put on them tight shorts and ride that damn bike just like I would drag my ass outta bed and dance. You feel me?

“Yeah”

Day 20 – Mondays are a trip, man. It aint easy to get up and dance. But you gotta dance! Grab that little Speedo u got, then get your ass in a lake and dance with the barracudas!

Day 19 – I know u hear what I’m sayin, but it ain’t sinkin in… look at u chewin on them little energy candy packs like they gonna help u mow the lawn faster. Listen up!

Day 18 – Man, it gonna be mid-week and u gonna have some doubts, but u can’t let that shit up in you. We all had our doubts, but keep ya eye on the prize. Shine them damn shoes or eat you a salad to keep ya weight down. You gotta be light, man. You can’t dance all day if u got a big ass at night.

Day 17 – My lil James Jr. gonna come out that door right there and start yellin, “Mr. Mike, Mr. Mike,” and you gonna be like, “Damn, James Jr. out here screamin ‘Mr. Mike’ again.” And you gonna be right, but he just wanna say what up. Take a minute to say he a good kid.

“Done.”

Day 16 – Man, you start forgettin’ what day it even is. Could be Thursday or might be Tuesday. Don’t matta. You know what TIME it is. It time to put on that big ole’ watch and run your little white ass down the block a few times.

Day 15 – When I was in my prime, I’d watch me some Sammy Davis Jr. and dance right in front of the T-V all damn night. Rollin’ that shit back on VHS until my mom spanked my ass with my own damn belt. Aint that some shit? Tap dancin with my boy, Sammy, and mom breakin’ bad on my ass. The point is, you gotta get ya passion right. I was so deep in my dance I didn’t even feel that belt, unless she got me with that buckle, then I would eject that tape, head straight bed and ice my feet.

Day 14 – You gonna think I’m full of corn, but when you two weeks away from ya dance, you gotta forget all the moves. Sit back with your friends and just talk about shit u don’t care about. Hell, my boy Mincie talked out both sides his mouth bout that damn Flipper show and I just shook my head and ate biscuits. Sound crazy, but he kept it real and real is what it is.

Day 13 – Okay, now I’m gonna tell u somethin, but it ain’t what you hope. You gonna start worryin’ bout everything. Like nightmare and dream shit that straight out a Stephen King movie. Like u tryin to spot that swim buoy but ain’t got no eyes or u runnin’ on hot burnin’ coals or u forgot ya swim cap. But that just ya mind fuckin wit u. I had a dream once and I was dancin’ on my damn hands. Ain’t that some Jackabilly?

Day 12 – Not gonna lie. Day 12 ain’t for nothin’ but lettin’ your nerves calm down from that Stephen King shit. Nothin else u can do, really.

Day 11 – Man, I started thinkin’ bout my dance routine and couldn’t remember a damn step. You prolly gonna think u can’t run a straight line or u gonna put that tight ass wetsuit on backwards. Mike, look at me. Don’t take that shit personal! You can do what you think you can’t do no matta what you think that is, or isn’t or might be. Like Mincie used to say, “Lotta times, it is what it isn’t.”

Day 10 – This when u gotta make amends wit ya mom for whippin u wit that belt. She done forgot that shit a long time ago, but it gotta clear ya head if u wanna show up on that stage. She was just doin what she thought u needed and I damn well deserved a belt sometimes, and for real, I didn’t know Sammy and he didn’t know me, so I really can’t figure out why I was so hyped on that dude. It really come down to who you know and takin’ care of them first. Like yaself, Mike!

Day 9 – Them Mayans used to talk about single digit numbers like they was somethin real important and those cats had it just about right. Am I lyin? Made a damn sun dial and didn’t even know what the sun was. And ate fresh food and ran all damn night. See, that’s what you need, Mike. Eat you some fresh food and quit runnin ya mouth.

Day 8 – Bro, we was rehearsin’ like it was no tomorrow. They had them speakers on so loud I started doin some crazy ass dance nobody eva seen before. The coach came over and said, “What the hell kinda dance you doin, James?” I said, “I don’t know coach.” He said, “Well, go ahead and save that for ya girlfriend, cause it don’t make no damn sense to me and it sure ain’t got nothin to do with the show.” You with me, Mike?

“I think so.”

Day 7 – They say 7 is a lucky number, but when you 7 days out from ya dance, that superstition get all crazy up in ya head. I was wearin the same socks all week and momma was like, “Damn, boy, I bought u some new socks and you gotta go stinkin up the house cause you worried bout your tap dancin.” She was right, cuz my feet stunk like the trunk of your damn car, Mike. Ain’t no pair of socks gonna win that race. Change that shit up.

Day 6 – I think I told you about day 6 before when we was both on our weed eaters out front. Day 6 is some shit cause you start thinkin’ bout runnin’ away and hidin’ in dumpsters or at ya Grandma’s crib. Ain’t gonna work. You gotta get ya head straight and start hearin’ the music right. They warmin’ up the symphony and your ears betta get used to them sour notes.

Day 5 – Man, I never slept so good in my life. I mean, I surrendered myself to the concert like I was in AA turnin’ my wrongdoings over to God. It felt good, too. My body was light and I was movin’ like that one white dancer dude, Fred Stair and whatnot.

Day 4– I was hearin’ them church bells in my head like u gonna start hearin’ that cannon shot. Bam! Over n over. Drivin’ down the road, and cannons gonna be poppin’ all up under that runnin’ visor u got. That gonna be a good time to stop thinkin’ bout cannons.

Day 3 – That doubt gonna be creepin’ and u just gotta remember one thing. Ain’t no time to be doubtin’ on yaself. Man, I kept lookin’ at my dancin’ shoes and I swear they looked too big. Like clown shoes n shit. I thought I WAS a clown and started tellin’ bad jokes, but people was like, “Damn, quit bein’ a clown,” and I decided that was a good idea.

Day 2– Okay. You one day from the dance, so what you gonna do? I thought so. You gonna get you some damn rest. Don’t be messin’ with that sight seein’ or shoppin’ for souvenirs. Get you a Flipper box set and wear it out. Get you thinkin’ bout the water and nice fish with happy little noses.

Day 1 – Mike, you my boy, but this one’s on you.

May 1, 2013

Ironman Fever is Catching On

So, I didn’t go to open water swim this morning, but saw a message from our coach, on one of our numerous email or Facebook chains, that said, “Wasky, don’t lose any sleep over today. It happens. And will most likely happen again.”

One thing about having a training bond with all of these people is that nothing is off limits, so my first thought was, “Erectile Dysfunction,” but he’s a young guy and a snazzy dresser so I ruled that out and asked what happened.

The first response was from Racer K and said, “Wasky almost died.” I didn’t find any Life Flight reports for Percy Priest lake this morning, so then I imagined group CPR and hoped Allie took the lead.

I guess he had a water swallow incident that must have been worthy of posting about, so I was just reaching out to console Wasky when I read his Facebook post:

“Ladies and Gents….. it is officially official. Registered for Ironman Louisville. See you all in a couple months…. and to my training buddies doing IMOO…. lets get it on.”

You gotta admire a guy who almost dies, gets out of the water, then signs up for an Ironman.