Less than 24 hours

I'm ready, and I'm nervous with excitement for race day tomorrow! After 5 month of training, I'm less than 24 hours away from reaching my goal of completing my 1st triathlon. You better believe I will post my result with some pictures soon, so check back often.


Today, I will finish with an inspirational quotation I discovered on the http://www.tribuff.com web site, "To some extent, we are all labeled by what we're able to achieve. But more importantly, we are defined by what we attempt." --Scott Tinley

1st Open Water Swim

Well, I did it. I completed my first open water swim on any length. The water was extremely cold, only 62 degrees, and I struggled for the first part of the 1/4 mile swim. However, about half way, my body adjusted to the water temperature and I completed the second half more in stride.

Reflecting on my experience, I made the mistake of starting out fast, thinking the faster I go the quicker my body will warm. While my body may have warmed quicker because of the amount of energy I was exerting, I ran out of energy quickly. I need to remind myself on race day to remember my training, and swim at a consistent medium pace.

Amazingly, by the time I completed my swim, I did not want to get out of the water, it actually felt comfortable. I'm not sure I could have completed the swim without using a wet suit. If I can find the courage, I should enter the water 5-10 minutes before the race starts to allow my body to warm the water that is trapped in the wet suit.

4 day 22 hours to race day!

Over Memorial weekend, I made sure to continue my training, but did so at a more relaxed pace, I was on vacation after all! Saturday I went for a 30 minute run with my dogs Scudder & Jersey. The dogs lead the way for the first half of the run, but then fell behind on the second half, I guess we know who's in better shape!

I took Sunday off as a day of rest. Monday I went for a bike ride around the Briggs Chain of Lakes, about 7 miles in distance from what I've been told. The ride was easy, until I hit the open farm fields where what felt like 40 mph gusts of wind were resisting my progress, not to mention the unpleasant aroma of freshly fertilized fields.

Tonight I am going for a pre-race swim in Buffalo Lake. This will be a great test of the swimming training I've done to this point, and my first experience in competitive open water swimming.

Dry Run

I've fallen a little behind in my updates. On Tuesday, I ran for 3 miles and did so in a respectable time of just over 26 minutes.

Today was the BIG TEST, the dry run as I call it. A friend who's competing in the triathlon with me tested with me today. We completed the swim in just over 15 minutes, then finished the bike portion in 31 minutes, and finished with a 32 minute run. The total time for everything was just under 1 hour and 20 minutes! We both feel confident that we can be competitive in the triathlon next Sunday. Only 9 days to go!

Biking away

Yesterday, I completed the 12 mile bike ride in 31 minutes and 42 seconds. My goal for the bike portion is 30 minutes, so I have a little work to do yet.

Today I will complete the 3 mile run, followed by a 1/4 mile swim tomorrow. Thursday is test day.... A friend and I will complete the entire triathlon. Stay tuned.

The run

Things got pretty crazy on Friday so I did not have a chance to provide an update. I completed a 3 mile run on Friday in 26 minutes and 38 seconds. Although the time was a little longer than my goal of 25 minutes, I ran at a steady pace and did not feel overly exhausted upon completion.

I allowed my body a couple of days rest over the weekend, and today I'm back at it with a 12 mile bike ride. The weather looks like rain, so I'll most likely ride the stationary bike at the gym.

I did it!

The swimming portion of the triathlon is my biggest challenge. When I started my swimming training a few months ago I thought, "I'll never be able to make it". After a couple of months of consistent training in the pool, I completed the 1/4 mile swim without stopping, and did so in only 15 minutes. After completing the 1/4 mile, I took a minute break and proceeded to complete another 1/4 mile! What an awesome feeling to see the investment of consistent training come to fruition!

30:37

30 minutes, 37 seconds is the amount of time it took me to complete my 12 mile bike ride this evening. My last bike time was 34 minutes, and my goal for this ride was to break the 34 minute mark. I did push myself toward the end to make the 30 minute mark, but isn't that what training is all about - pushing yourself!

Tomorrow I have a 1/4 mile swim scheduled with a friend who's competing in the triathlon with me.

Swimming

Despite lacking energy today, I forced myself to go to the gym for a 1/4 mile swim. I completed the 1/4 mile (15 laps) in 15 minutes, however, it was extremely challenging. I started with the intention of swimming at a medium steady pace, with my goal being to complete 10 laps. After 5 laps, I was in desperate need of a break, and took a minute to recover. Even with a minute break every 5 laps, I completed (3) 5 lap intervals in a personal record of 15 minutes. Tomorrow is a 12 mile bike ride, followed with another 1/4 swim on Thursday.

Another run

I went for a 3 mile run today, although, this time I ran late in the day. The run was a bit of a struggle today. It was windy, and my side started aching about 1/2 way into the run. While I did complete the 3 miles in just under 25 minutes, I had to really push myself the last couple of minutes to beat the 25 minute mark.

Running

Endorphins are a wonderful thing! I just finished my 3 mile run, and did so in 25 minutes and 38 seconds. I was moving at a good pace today, and the run felt great. A song by Boston comes to mind, More Than a Feeling. Despite having a cold for most of this week, I was able to get in the swim, bike, and run. The cold is coming to an end, and I am pumped with the progress I'm making. Watch out Buffalo, here I come.......

Bike Ride

I completed my 12 mile bike ride today, and did so in 34 minutes. It's difficult to describe the feeling in my legs as soon as I get off the bike, it almost feels like my legs are still peddling. I feel today was a great ride, and what a feeling of accomplishment I have when I'm done!

Tomorrow I will complete the 3 mile run.

The Challenge

The Challenge - Ending World Hunger - Your Help Needed!

I decided to take on a challenge this year, a challenge that is bigger than me. The challenge is to stop world hunger! I am competing in my first triathlon this summer to help raise money for ending world hunger.

Throughout the past several months, I have been training for the Buffalo Triathlon, which is scheduled for June 1, 2008. Recently, I began keeping a journal of my training and progress, and decided to turn my journal into a blog. As of this writing, I have 24 days remaining to raise money for world hunger, and fine tune my training. While the training rests entirely on me, I alone cannot end world hunger, and I need your help. If you can financially help, not matter the size of your contribution, please e-mail me at troythetechguy@gmail.com

The Course

The sprint triathlon, the event I am competing in, consists of the following events listed below in their respective order.

• 1/4 mile swim

• 12 mile bike

• 3 mile run

View a map of the course.

Training updates

5-7-08-
After being under the weather with a cold for the past week, I finally had enough energy to train again today. I swam for a 1/4 mile today, and the swim is getting easier every time. Tomorrow is suppose to be a nice day, and I plan to hope on the bike for a 15 mile bike ride.

5-1-08 -
I completed 20 laps in the pool and 3 miles on the stationary bike immediately following. I used my wet suit for the first time. I like how the wet suit makes me more buoyant, and swimming seems easier. However, the wet suit did little to keep me dry, and I'm concerned with the cold water temperatures on June 1st, it's going to make swimming more difficult.

The transition from swimming to biking is much easier than the transition from biking to running. With only 30 days to go until race day, I've come down with a minor cold. :( I did not train today, but will complete a 3 mile run tomorrow. Due to rainy and cold weather (43 degrees), I most likely will run on the treadmill at the gym tomorrow.

4-28-08 -
Just finished 50 minutes of training. I completed a 8.5 mile bike ride for 35 minutes, and a 1.5 mile run for 15 minutes. I feel great! It was a bit of a shock that my legs were pretty tired after completing the bike ride. My ending heart rate was 25 * 6. Tomorrow I plan to swim for 1/4 mile in the pool. Thursday, I will work on the swim to bike transition. I think I'm going to do great in the race! I need to work on eating more healthy foods.