5 Months to Go!

Ironman Chattanooga is only 5 months away....yikes!  I've been training, but not swimming, biking, and running weekly.

Training Highlights from April

• 4/18/2015 Bike for Heroes Ride - 58 mile ride on Time Trial
• 8 mile run in San Diego

Dad is still on track with training and doing really well.

We are on track to race together.  I plan to catch up to him at some point on the bike and stay with him to the finish line.  

I'm getting very excited!

Dad's racing??!?!?

My 62 year old father is crazy like me.....makes sense, must be where I get it.  Last night he called and was about to hit submit on his Active.com registration for Ironman Chattanooga 2015.  I mentioned it to him as a fun thing to do together, but he dismissed it as "too old" to finish.  He's not too old, I certainly believe in him and know he'll do it.

This journey keeps getting better!

2015 Ironman Chattanooga

Well I'm in.  After failing to get in for the inaugural race in 2014, I took all of 90 second to register for the 2015 race.

I haven't been swimming, biking, or running much since IM Branson 70.3 2012....so this will be a fun journey.  I can't wait!

2013 Ironman Texas Update

This week I withdrew from the 2013 Ironman Texas race in the Woodlands.  I do not regret it yet, I will on May 18th 2013....and likely when I turn 40, but for now I'm thrilled to not have to Swim, Bike, and Run daily.

I'm enjoying lifting more, time with family, and more focus with my work.  Praise God that I have my health and am surrounded by loved ones.

Adios!

Game Over: Part 2

Similar to an old blog post. I'm moving on from tri training to get back to my first training love: Bodybuilding. I've missed it.  Started tri in 2004, then 2008 had a brief stint, and now 2012...so the safe bet is that I'll be back in 4 years to "tri" again.

My other blog that I'll keep up with is beniger.blogspot.com

Ironman Texas 2013

I expected Ironman Branson 70.3 to be my triathlon retirement race.  After all, this is the 3rd time I've tried to learn to swim and be a triathlete. Why would it be any different?

Well it was different, the swim was easy and enjoyable at IM Branson.  I finished with a BIG smile on my face and had a great race.  I love to race!  I do not enjoy training...not swimming, biking, or running.  Well I enjoy biking and running in small doses.

I spent 5-8 hours training for the past 4 months preparing for IM Branson.  Ironman Texas would require 6-8 hours for the next 3 months, then would increase to 8-12 hours.

Big problem #1 with IMTX 2013 is I don't want to go through the motions of training for 10+hours a week.  

Triathlon has been interesting to me for years because I couldn't swim more than 100 yards and it was a big challenge. I didn't know if I could even do it.  Now after Branson, I am 100% confident that I could race/finish IMTX in May 2013....so with the unknown now known, I've lost some interest.

I've really enjoyed the 9 months of tri training that I've put in this year with 5 triathlons.  I enjoyed 70% of the training, but really missed lifting and feeling strong.

2012 Ironman Branson 70.3 Race Report

September 23rd 2012 7am Branson, MO

Up at 4:40am, out the door by 5:25am.  In line at the shuttle at 5:30.  It was a COLD 45 degrees out.


I had great support there, my awesome wife, wonderful parents, and my little sister and her husband.


About to go swimming!


Water was 73, but felt so warm


Finished swimming in 52:25, it was the easiest swim ever...thanks Chuck Burr!


Heading out for a hilly 56 mile ride


So happy to be off the bike, this picture was during the 30 min of the race I felt awful!


Ran easy 9min miles


Feeling GOOD!


I did it!!!!


No food, so I drank chocolate milk






Was it worth it?

Calm before the storm...

It's Wed night, I'm off work through Monday to travel to Branson for Ironman 70.3 Branson on Sunday.  I'm packed and thinking about loose ends and just second guessing all I've done training the past few months.  I didn't follow a plan and just trained.  I enjoyed 80% of it, at times training was a chore, but overall was fun.  I'm nervous...thoughts of:

• Will I finish the race
• Will I finish the swim....will the swim finish me"
• Will I be miserable
• Will I get a flat

I'm ready to do this...see you on the other side.

Keeping it real....

I had another terrible experience in the water at the Benbrook Lake Sprint Triathlon.  Today was my 2nd race experience in the open water.  What a disaster.  I'm swimming, it's hard, I'm out of breathe wondering why the heck I do triathlons.  I started back tri training Jan 7th 2012 and have invested hours in the pool, joined a Master's Swim team briefly, rear tutorials, studied drills, and even hired the best tri swim coach in Fort Worth to help me improve.  And improve I have, I went from swimming 1-2 lengths (25-50y) and was gasping for breath.  Now I can swim 300-400y straight in the pool and feel much more relaxed in the water.

While swimming at the race I had thoughts racing in to my head:

• Why am I doing this again?
• This is the LAST time I do a triathlon!!!
• I hate this and want to quit....no Ironman or Half Ironman....and I DON'T CARE!
• Am I going to make it?
• Is that guy going to run me over and drown me
• I'm so disappointed that this is so hard
• When is this going to "click"?

I want to get my thoughts and feelings down.  The swim is the first part of a race and is the shortest time, so the memory of the pain and disappointment fades quick as I passed 25 people on the bike today and 15 on the run.