A long season that begins for me in March ended this past weekend with Ironman Florida, one of my favorite races.  What made it especially fun was staying with my friends Aunt & Uncle who live in Panama City Beach (see picture).  This was the 5th time I have raced here in Panama City Beach and loved every moment of it (well, except for mile 90 or so on the bike).  This was also the 5th time I have raced Hawaii and Florida back-to-back which lie approximately 3 weeks apart from each other.  I feel I can do this by using my fitness base that I built from Hawaii and maintain it until Florida.  It is a gamble, and it’s not for everyone, but luckily it seems to work for me. 
 
The Swim:
The swim was great.  A huge thanks to Ben Bigglestone for an awesome Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit for me to use this year (http://www.blueseventy.com/).  As the gun went off, I immediately went to the front of the pack as if to thwart off the jellyfish for all the other competitors, and yes, I accidentally grabbed one just before the turnaround, but I was OK.  The pros went off 10 minutes before and I caught a few of them in the 2nd loop.  Just before the finish of the second loop, I saw that I was in the lead of the age groupers and finished just ahead of the next age group male.  Swim time 51:01 which I found out later was actually was 2nd among the age groupers.  One guy was 14 seconds ahead of me.
 
The Bike:
I started the bike feeling really good.  Another thanks to Doug, our team mechanic, for hooking me up with a sweet Bontrager carbon disc wheel (http://www.bontrager.com/Road/Wheelworks/Wheels/23135.php).  I have only ridden a disc 3 times in my life, so I have never really gotten used to that “hummm” sound.  I was by myself on the ride until about mile 50ish when two other age grouper caught up to me, and soon after that, a few more caught up as well.  I always seem to hit a lull at mile 90ish, and can’t wait to be done biking, as I am sure most who do Ironman races can relate.  I picked up the pace a little and before I knew it I was in T2 and I believe I was the 6th or so amateur. Bike time: 4:55.37
 
The Run:
I was so excited to start the run. To me, it’s the part of the race I really enjoy.  After a quick stop in the port-o-potty in T2, I headed out.  I was feeling really good, but was a little worried because I had not taken in too many calories on the bike.  When this happens I just double up the PowerGels on the run and it seems to do the trick.  Right away I saw Nikki and our boys.  It was so great and I think they were actually enjoying the race if that is possible at 11 1/2 months old.  At mile five, I saw our Timex team race director, Ben Harper, while he was calling in splits for the pros.  He always gives off good mojo so it was great to get some positive vibes from him.  On the way back from the park (the run is 2 loops), I saw many other athletes from our team, Bruce, Kyle, Cat, Mark, Gabriela, Tamara, Jackie, Lisa.  All were looking very strong. I passed a few other amateurs and moved into 3rd place after the 1st loop.  I really focused on the 2nd loop and just tried to be strong and think about all the great runs I had over the season.  I pushed hard the last few miles and to my delight saw my finish time would be under 9 hours for the 2nd time in my career!  I got a new PR with a 8:52.04!  Run time 3:00.24 which was the fastest among all age groupers.
 
Overall I placed 22nd, 3rd amateur, and 2nd in the age group.  I was very happy with my race and had a lot of fun as usual.  I got a slot to Kona for 2008 which will be my 10th trip in a row to Hawaii. I feel very blessed that I have had the luck and skill that has taken me where I am in the last decade.  That night of the race, Nikki and I and the boys sat and watched the sunset on the beach which are some of the most beautiful beaches I have seen (Yes Rachel, even better than Hawaii..ha..ha).
 
Thanks for reading…and train safe,
 
Tim

The Day I Gambled and Lost BUT Really WON !!!!

Ironman Florida 2007 on November 3, 2007 marked the 2^nd time I attempted this race and upon completing the event would mark my 10^th Ironman. I was entering the race at the end of probably the most difficult year I have ever had. The year was full of challenges that were not necessarily my choice but were circumstances that I had to make a conscious choice how I would deal with each of them. Be it serious family illness, moving to a new city, change of job, or other personal issues my choice from the beginning was to make lemonade out of what were at the time some very bitter lemons.

Yes, from the beginning my training was not at the same level as previous years however I tried to concentrate more on the quality of each and every workout. I also tried to build on my training day at Ironman Coeur D’Alene in June 2007. Ironman Florida was also a great excuse to get some sun and spend time away from home with my wife which was delightful. (Yes, I can actually say that after 29 years of marriage).

The day was perfect for a race as the sun was rising with no wind and calm seas. The first loop of the swim was as any other a washing machine with everyone trying to find their own piece of water. The first loop was completed in 33 minutes and my final time was 1:08 which for me was GREAT given I had only hit the pool 2 weeks ago and probably only had a total of 5 miles of swimming under my belt prior to the race. I attribute it simply to my Blue Seventy Wetsuit. (I will be opening the new and only pool in my home town when I get home on November 10, 2007 and got in a few laps in as soon as the water was in before I left).

The bike ride on my NEW TREK felt GREAT and effortless and as the ride went on I made a conscious effort to be controlled as the second half of the ride can be extremely tough if you go out too fast. I was happy as to how the ride was going since this had been my focus in the training I had put in prior to the race. About 2 hours into the ride it became evident that the nutrition plan I had laid out for the day was at risk of unraveling. I had been working through some intestinal issues earlier in the week and nothing; I mean nothing on race day was sitting well. It seemed the more I took in the worse I felt and the larger my stomach was getting. Oh well I thought, I will work through the ride and see where it goes (Thus the gamble). Well actually the only thing that seemed for some reason to sit OK with my stomach was the snickers bar at special needs. I mean how can a snickers not be good J. I finished the ride strong in 5:34 which was quicker than last year but I knew things were in a bit of disarray as I got off the bike. I took a little extra time in transition to get things organized and then it was off on the run.

As I left transition I felt what I thought was the normal discomfort associated with the start of the marathon. However, within 2 miles I knew I was in some trouble as my stomach was hard, swollen and quite distended which is where it was when I finished the marathon. Nothing was sitting well and the severe pain was stopping me from running so I fell into the old run 1 minute walk 1 minute until even that was not enough. Ok so after a few porta potty stops and a little hissy fit of kicking gravel I had to ask that question that many Ironman athletes at some time ask themselves. The simple question of “WHY”?

The answer for me after some deep soul searching was wrapped up in a co-workers story this past year. His story was simply that he had a bike accident, had a minor break in his neck and through his determination he can now walk with a cane, and ride a bike albeit very slowly. Oh did I mention that he completed an Olympic distance tri 9 months after the accident where his 10 km time was 3 hours and 14 minutes BUT he finished. Here is a guy that wants so badly to be able to do the sport he loves and here was I with what in the end seemed like minor stomach issues. The answer to the question for me was simple “BECAUSE I CAN! This is what got me through the day and believe me it was the toughest of any of the marathons I have ever done in a Ironman (Oh yea and the slowestJJJ)

Although my race was slower than last year I am more satisfied with this result because it made me DIG VERY DEEP, hurt more than previous and taught me the following:

1)      WHO I really am as a person

2)      WHY I do this sport

3)      What I need to concentrate on for next year

4)      Where I want to be when I race here in 2008

5)      HOW I was able to make lemonade out of some very bitter lemons to be in a better place than I was when I set a PR here in 2006 in a time of 11:45

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends and especially my sponsor TIMEX for all your support this past year. I could not have done it without you.

It is now time to play a little hockey (Off Season Training For Canadians eh!!!) and then focus on next year with my lemonade in hand. See you in 2008. I am excited.

Bruce “The IronCanuck” Bauman

www.ironcanuck.com

My favorite advertisement of all time went like this:

 ”You have a 25th hour in your day, do you eat, sleep, or exercise…. We thought so.” 

Complete with a woman in workout gear and the advertised shoes.

I had that ad on my fridge for years (ok, the ad ran in the early 90s).

So, every fall when I “fall back” in the central time zone, I think of this ad.  I must say that, as an economist, that ad brings a bit of a dry humor to me as well as I debate if eating, sleeping, and exercise, or anything else, are perfect substitutes. 

This year, the 25th hour day fell on the last day of my time off before structured workouts or any running or biking; I didn’t work out.  Instead, I did sleep with my extra hour.  This is highly unusual but became a reality when my daughter went off with her friend to play, and Michael and I parked our bodies in front of the TV for some football - Packers v.Chiefs.  Michael is a huge Green Bay fan - we both love Favre - quite an athlete, and he is our age.  And, I did fall asleep a bit during the game.

Other teammates and friends used their extra hour to recover from IM Florida.  Well raced by many - including the amazing Tim Hola who did this race 3 weeks after Hawaii.  Marie, Paolina, and Mark all looked fabulous.  (If I missed anyone else, I apologize.) 

So, coming around back from triathlon to sleeping to football, any takers for some action on the Packers v. Cowboys game on November 29?  Michael is taking me to Dallas for the game in celebration of my 38th bday.  Yee Haw!  Go Cowboys!  I already have an outfit to wear.  Maybe Jerry Jones will see my spirit and skills and he’ll give me my dream job - owner of the Dallas Cowboys.  Last time they played, I won a trip to Hawaii from Michael (no, we weren’t married yet, so he was still working it).  He won’t bet me straight up (yet).  Both teams are 7 and 1, though, so you never know.  I vote for Dallas-Indy superbowl.  Maybe Mark will join me in this Super Bowl Dream.

By the way, mullet watchers, a guy (Davis, I think) on the Chiefs has a mullet.  He was quoted saying that the front says “success” and the back says “party”.  Ben, I think that should be your mullet interview question, “What does your mullet SAY?”