And Now, Triathlon

Went to the doctor today for the pain in my foot and the ultrasound showed the tumor is practically gone, which is a very good thing. But he couldn't find any explanation for the pain in the top of my foot.

Now for something weird: There is a tiny spot on the second metatarsal bone of my left foot, the foot that hurts and its an old stress fracture.

See the small gray spot here? This is where it is.

And something different, where the 2 small bones are circled in red on my right foot, I have 3 small bones. Obviously this isn't my right foot.

He said there isn't any arthritis in my feet at all, that the xrays show my feet looking

very good for my age.

So while there is no reason for my foot pain I do have the go-ahead to train for IMCDA 70.3 on June 24th so I've got 144 days to train.

Ironman World Championship

Our friend, Heidi, is racing in Kona today, you can follow her here

https://track.rtrt.me/e/IRM-WORLDCHAMPIONSHIP-2017#/tracker/RKBGDTZP

Ironman Coeur D'Alene 70.3

I've decided to sign up for Ironman Coeur D'Alene 70.3 which will happen June 24, 2018. I'm kinda excited for it, I haven't done a tri since IMAZ so it will be a full 2.5 years. I've begun walking a couple times each week and will use my training plan to get in shape.

Lan bought a bike roller

and I plan on learning to use it. It doesn't provide resistance but gives you a better workout because you have to use your whole body and pay attention. 

I've been looking through my tri equipment and haven't been able to find my mini fanny pack I used for running. Sure was handy for carrying my car keys, ID and car keys when I ran so I'll have to get another if I can't figure out where this one is.

In horse news:

The cement has been ordered for Friday and I'm stinking excited about it!!!

Sunshower has been leased out to another family for a lifetime lease. I'm missing my girl so much but at least shes being used now. Shes got a 34 yr old mom who is horse crazy and a 7 yr old girl, plus a couple little ones. Couldn't ask for a better life for her. Shes close by and I can see her if I want.

Ironmans Injury

My Ironman has an injury and hasn't been working out. He's using the barn building as an excuse and though I appreciate it, he needs to get busy building up his body. Hes got a big race in November to FINISH and do it well.
From some of his comments hes made it sounds like he wants to use his injury to get a pass on the race this year and defer till next year. Um, NO. I paid for him to do it THIS year, not next year.
I was checking out the calendar and I wouldn't be able to do it till 2020 if I remained on-call at work, since we can't take days off of Thanksgiving week.

The barn/lean-too

is now completely off the arena, its a lot lighter & brighter in there. But if we are smart it can stay light and bright, with use of windows and clear roof panels.

He has been moving dirt out of the way to make room for cement. Its going to need 6 inches of sand + 4-6 inches of cement so hes got a lot of dirt to move.

After The Run

I wanted to wait before running again to see what happened with the foot, what kinds of weird pain it might have caused.

There was normal tiredness the first evening but it wasn't hurting.

The second day though, it felt like my sock was folded down a lot more than ever before. I actually took off my shoe twice to check it and of course both times it was fine.

Yesterday I didn't run, wore the usual compression footies and it felt fine, today I wore regular footies, not compression and after just an hour or 2 it felt fatigued. Changed socks and its fine again so I will just plan on wearing them for a lot longer.

 

I have 2 friends racing tomorrow in Ironman Boulder, excited for both. She's just happy to be there after a bad bike crash & torn rotator cuff just 10 months ago.

He is competing in his 12th Ironman event and after this he will qualify for Ironman World Championships in Kona. I've already told him if he makes it I'm going to be there to see his finish.

 

Horse related:

The barn work is going slowly, as I imagined it would. Without a bulldozer in the area to rent the ground work is taking 10 times the work. It has been fun doing the planning and measuring, making orange marks in the dirt.

60 feet long, 5 stalls

Not the straightest lines but this is just so we can imagine it



If we open this end of the covered arena and extend it, it will come out to this rock.

Sunshower & Roses in stalls

And Wifi in the aisle & Joey in  the arena

 

Joey & my girls were turned out in the front grassy pasture this morning for 2 hours, then when I went to bring them in all I had to do was whistle and they came to the gate to go to the back pasture. Slowly and calmly, no messing around. Good horses!

They are learning to come to my whistle and I love that.

 

The Big Day

Today was the big day, got the steroid injection in my foot.

Doctor had given me an injection into my ankle to deaden the foot, then he marked it with ink so he knows where the mass is.

And here it is after its all finished. Pretty swollen up after the stuff went in. He said it worked perfectly, was like putting air into a balloon.

I need to get a photo of it without the bandage but I don't have any.

And heres my new boot and ride.

I just want to run again, without pain.

Ironman Texas

A good friend finished Ironman Texas yesterday, his 11th attempt. Finish time 12:50.  34th in Age Group 55-59.

Ironman & Barn updates

Lan hasn't been training for Ironman at all while we're replacing the floor in the house. There are a million little things he's got to do to be prepared for the wood and with his calf injured it's OK that he's not training and giving it a good long rest.

 

Yesterday Dave came by to help with the Trump Wall and ceiling repair. He made it look nice and professional, unlike the way I had it but I BUILT A WALL. Its not dry so I can't sand it yet or apply the texture, maybe tomorrow.

 

My own injury is irritating the hell out of me. It feels like my sock is folded over all the time and lately if feels like the sock is thinker and thicker. I've decided to go with injections, or, ONE injection, and see how it feels after that. If there is no significant improvement I'll schedule surgery in mid October. Then I'll have 2 weeks off, go back to the doc for stitch removal and checkup, then 2 weeks vacation in Arizona where I can laze around in the sunshine, walk on flat ground and ride pedal bikes on perfectly flat ground and if its OK, I'll swim in the 85* pool outdoor pools. I'll have a knee scooter for when Lan races and I'll put a race bib on it. Then if its healed well enough after my vaca I'll return to work, if not I'll still have 2 more weeks I can take off work.

 

In the barn there isn't a lot going on but we did find a cement guy who will do it extremely cheap. His dad owns a cement company so he's got all the stuff and all we have to pay for is the cement. All the forms and equipment will be free to use. I can't wait for the floors to be finished so we can begin the barn!!

 

I've got 6 chicks in the old water trough, all supposed to be hens. Julia and I are going to hatch a bunch more to sell at the small animal exchange next month.

Training is going OK

Lans Ironman training is going well. This week he is taking a break and getting a LOT of work done around the house; electrical right now, prepping for the wood floors.

For a month he was very serious about his training and now hes slacking off but that's OK, I built slacking time into his training plan. I'm very proud of his efforts and hes trying hard. His one downfall is pain in one calf so he can't run but hes been swimming and biking to his hearts content.

 

It seems like a lot now but the days will fly past and soon hes going to be thinking

'Shit man, where has all my training time gone? I'm not going to be ready!'

 

But I'll keep him on track as best I can.

 

Swimming 100's

I'm not doing my own Ironman this year but I'm helping Lan with his training for IMAZ.

 

Tonight I timed his 50's & 100's:

 

WARM UP

600 easy swim, holding proper form and letting your HR rise to 70% by the end. (ALTERNATE SET: Trim this to 400 Swim)

Intermediate set: 4 x 50 hard (@80-85%) w/15 sec rest after each

1. 39.00

2. 44.09

3. 43.17

4. 42.95

Average 42.73

MAIN SET -- BIG TARGET!

10 x 100 @race pace (85+%) w/10 sec rest between each

1.   1:30.09

2.   1:38.32

3.

4.   1:39.58

5.   1:33.51

6.   1:38.20

7.   1:39.02

8.   1:36.14

9.   1:41.34

10. 1:39.55

Average 1:37.10

-- keep track of your total time (add up the time for each of the 100's) and record the average pace per 100 in your log book, for future reference.

(ALTERNATE SET: 8 x 100)

COOL DOWN

6 x 50 @60% w/10 sec rest after each

 

 

He was supposed to follow up with a 35 minute run but his calf has been bothering him. If its not better in 2 weeks I'll insist he goes to his doctor.

326 Days

Lans IMAZ is in 326 days and training starts in 1 week. I gotta admit, I'm kinda jealous and excited for him. As long as I am not to bitchy about his training and he DOES it, he will be golden. Here is the 1st days workout:

Monday
We begin easily enough with one short swim. Nothing too crazy here, just allow yourself some time to get used to the water again and be patient with speed.

SWIM 0:30

WARM UP:

200 Swim - 2 x 100 Kick -

4 x 50 Choice, w/10 sec rest after each

MAIN SET:

5 x 200 w/:20 rest, done as follows:

(50 right arm only - 50 swim - 50 left arm only - 50 swim)

COOL DOWN:

2 x (50 Kick/50 Swim)

See, pretty damn easy. The following day is a 50 minute bike and a 35 minute run, both easy. In fact, so easy that the bike is in the small chain ring. AND HE BETTER DO IT RIGHT.

 

The following poem was written by a friend, super cute

 

Now that it is December, I can spread the holiday cheer! :-)

Sweat drops on muscles and blister prevention;
New Ignite hoodies and convertible mittens;
Cool event t-shirts and tattoos with wings;...
These are a few of my favorite things!

Pizza and burgers and all kinds of pasta;
Chicken and rice ‘cause it makes me run fasta;
Custom race bibs next to finisher blings;
These are a few of my favorite things!
When it’s hot out;
When it’s raining;
When my brick goes bad;
I try to remember I’m paying for this and I don’t want my coach to be mad!
Race belts and run gels and Blue Steel for Rashes;
Electrolyte supplements and avoiding bike crashes;
Mike Reilly’s voice each time my phone rings;
These are a few of my favorite things!
Bright colored bike shoes and pushing the big gear;
Well fitted wetsuits and goggles that stay clear;
Corndogs and donuts and food fit for Kings;
These are a few of my favorite things!
When it’s dark out and I’m worn out;
When I don’t think I can;
I simply remember my favorite things -
And that I finished IRONMAN!
~Gnay Galloway

Results IMAZ 2016

Dave didn't Finish, as NO ONE thought he would. He 'CRASHED' on his bike at about mile 40 and had to stop. Whaaa. Poor big baby. He didn't finish a single race or long ride this summer because every time, SOMEONE ELSE made him crash or 'hit him with their car'... EVERY time. So no one is surprised.
His swim was OK, 1:46:45.

Siked Up For Nothing

After getting myself all siked up to go to Pt D, they have figured out another mistake on the work bids and I'll be staying at SouthWorth. Which is fine, I am really enjoying the hours I have there. All days off, only staying up like I'm watching tv late into the night. I do miss some sleep but Its working out for me anyway.

Watched a terrible movie about a lady training for a triathlon, she wants to qualify for Kona but she barely trains and a 5 yr old kid can ride a bike faster and better than she can. It was actually a movie about a

psycho serial killer/ personal trainer. I read a review earlier in the day so when Lan found it on Netflix I knew we had to watch it. We had fun shredding it to pieces. I can't see ANYONE wanting to become a triathlete after watching this movie.

The appraiser is coming tomorrow so today we spent the day cleaning house. It looks good now, hope it looks good in a week. I hope he gives us a good result.

Ironman news:
Tomorrow after the guy is gone I'll be showing Lan the Ironman training plan and explaining how it works. Hes not going to like it because he doesn't like anything structured but that's why it will work, its structured. I'll volunteer to go to the pool with him to count laps and time him, I'll go to the track to do the same thing there. I'll keep tabs on all his bike rides; miles ridden, speeds, HR, hilly/flat/fast/tempo. He will appreciate it after we've got a month of time in and he can SEE results.

He did awesome at his first Ironman, we can make him so much faster that he can beat half the guys in his A/G if he lets us do it.

Ironman Arizona 2017

I'll find a way to get there, even if I have to call in sick.

 

Lan will be racing and I'll be damned if I make him go alone. I'll drive the car down and probably back or he can drive it back and I'll fly...

 

But this next year is going to be dedicated to his race.

 

He asked a local coach to help him but as far as I know Lan hasn't heard back yet. I'll be pissed off if the coach doesn't at least tell him personally why not, if he doesn't want to coach him. Lan has tons of potential to do very well at IMAZ, even in the largest A/G.

 

At Vineman he was 96th out of 217 in his A/G and he admits to being under trained. If he had a coach, someone that would demand accountability, then he could get into the top 25% and that's HUGE. He won't listen to me though so I can't help him at all and he's going to have to speak up when he has a problem, any problem.

IMAZ 2017 Early Entry

Jim has FINISHED a few Ironmans and he has also DNFd 3, 2 of which were his last ones, IMCDA and IMLouisville. I think the heat got to him.  So hes talking lately about not signing up for another one but he is hinting around that he does want to ~ but resisting.

So I have this IMAZ 2017 early entry available to me and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to use it so I have offered it to him. He will get to do an awesome race and not have to volunteer or pay extra to do it.

 

I myself am still on the fence about it; if its November 19th then no way since it would be on Thanksgiving week and I'll be working. But I'm wondering if Ironman will move it ahead a week, putting it on November 12th. That seems like the logical thing to do, since so many people won't want to travel on the holiday week. But I'd rather ride horses all summer and do fun rides than train for a big ass race again.

 

Yesterday I rode with Karen and Kim and it was fun

 except Sunshower didn't think it was fun at all. Shes not the best trail horse and she HAD to stay right on Angels ass and Angel wasn't too thrilled about it.

 

And then there is THIS GIRL

 

Wifi

 

She needs attention and has been begging for it for months. I've been spending much more time with them lately and she is thriving on it.

 

Went to bank to see about a construction loan, keeping fingers crossed. Would really like to get the hardwood floors in the house, the barn completed and a few other things Lan wants around here.

 

Finally coordinated a bunch of small things to make some simple improvements in the barn. I've had all these things sitting around in various boxes in the house, tack room and barn, waiting for a drill, charged battery, screws and time to do them. It all came together this morning.

 

Added 2 bucket hooks to each stall plus feed bucket hooks in Joeys & Roses's stalls. Now I need to figure out where in the hell all my buckets have gone too. I had 14 buckets at the other farm, found 9 today.

 

 

Whip holder inside the barn for the good whips. These are my new lunge & dressage whips, not to be confused with the old arena whips seen below.

 

This is a Blocker Tie Ring, when a horse pulls back this lets him move but doesn't let him loose. I'll use it with Joey and the girls, mostly the girls just stand nicely for me but he has always been a puller.

 

Here are the arena whips, all dirty and old. Do they even make them like these any longer?

 

Another Great Vacation

So our vacation has come to an end. Kona and Ironman was just awesome, watching all those FIT athletes and what they were able to do just amazed me.

While on the big island we went out to see Kilauea erupting lava into the sea.

 

This is an open lava tube. Lan and I walked all around it, safely roped off about 100 feet away, of course. It was warm but not hot for us. But the air was warm, all over the island.

 

It was pretty hot in town too.

Cute bike
 

On Maui Lan and I drove up to Haleakalā and watched the sun rise above the clouds.

 

 

Followed that up with a trip out to Hana, a red sand beach and of course, the Seven Sacred Pools.

 

 

 

We hiked out the trail to Waimoku Falls

 

and this is what you see at the end. 400' of water cascading down the rock wall.

 

The next day we went to my favorite beach, Makena Landing.

 

As always, it was my best day, spent relaxing and enjoying life with Lan.