Mile High Post

Greetings from 28,000 feet! (when I was originally writing this post...) Airline wi-fi rules.  It's pretty much the only part of today that has, it seems.  Everything has been a struggle. Consider:

-- Electronic car key fell apart this morning on way rushing to pool.  Fixed it though.

-- Going from car to pool, the strap on my duffel bag snapped.

-- I lost my toiletries kit at the gym during my lunch-hour workout.

-- Checking into my Southwest Airlines flight became a disaster as the entire national reservations (and online check-ins) network was down.  Had to resort to my co-workers printing a temporary boarding pass to get me to the gate, where I then had to wait in another long line to get a manual boarding pass.  Made the flight though.

It's been that kind of day. But it's also been the kind of day where I was able to spin on the bike, swim 2,500 yards in the pool AND squeeze in a killer strength-training session from Shannan.  So it wasn't a total loss.  However, I also think that trying to fit in all these workouts amidst a busy schedule can be counter productive.  Here I am rushing around like a lunatic, working, juggling, training, helping with wedding planning, and things fall through the cracks.  Keys break.  Bags snap.  Razors get lost.  My patience is tried.

Is it worth it?

I'd like to quickly shout "Yes!" and explain how training can change the entire outlook of your day.  But today, in this instance, I think it caused as many problems as it helped alleviate.  That said, I wish I could connect the dots better when it comes to taking the lessons from triathlon training and applying them to my life.  In the pool, for instance, slower is sometimes faster.  Gliding on the water and extending your arm further before the underwater pull can shave time.  So why can't I do a little more with a little less? And what would that mean in this instance?  Fewer workouts?  Less time in each workout?  Skipping a workout?  Probably.  Yet, I can't.  I'm addicted.  I hate missing a workout, and yet at the same time I can't stand feeling that way.  Sometimes I almost feel trapped in my training.

I'm excited for Ironman Coeur d'Alene. I really am.  But I'm looking forward to taking a bit of a relaxing break afterwards.  There's got to be a better balance, though there are no compromises when it comes to Ironman training.

112 days and counting.

A Little Extra Push

The idea of cycling in 40-degree weather this morning at 7 didn't thrill this California native.

But my buddy Bob made it a lot better.

Sometimes, I really enjoy training on my own.  I'm on my own schedule, can take as few breaks as possible and get done with my workout quicker.  However, what I make up for in efficiency can sometimes be lost with pacing, or in today's case, a little extra pushing.

As some of you know who have read the blog for a while now, Bob did Ironman Arizona with me last year.  He's a heck of a cyclist and has bursts of speed that leave my jaw dropped when he chooses to push it.  Today, he made me push it at the end of a two-hour ride at Griffith Park where my legs felt lactic, my climbing power lacked and my heart rate slacked.

And I couldn't be happier.  Bob yelled and paced me to climb a hill much faster than I anticipated or I even thought capable at this stage of my workout and after a nearly 13 hour training week (not including weekend activities yet).  More important, my heart rate didn't explode the way I thought it might, and I sustained the speed down the hill and in the flats for the remainder of what became a small 20-minute crit.  Granted, Bob absolutely destroyed me in speed and power. But I felt like my workout went from good to great thanks to the extra push.

That's also the real benefit of having a training partner who's a better athlete than you.  Learning by osmosis, you can't help but get better yourself.  Frank helped train me as a beginner cyclist, and if I can ride more with Bob, I'll get even better.

Now I just have to ask myself who will pace me tomorrow as I slosh through a rain storm for my first unofficial race of the year, a Pasadena 5k that serves as the tempo portion of a 1.75 hour run.  I hope I have enough energy to finish the race as I'm pretty worn out from an epic week of training and another swimming milestone.

I like my chances though if I can latch onto someone down the stretch.

Race report to follow tomorrow.

G'night all!

116 days and counting.

Pacing Myself

Normally, pacing in triathlon involves a discussion about racing and training properly so as to properly balance efficiency and output. Right now, a few days removed from a trip to London and a day removed from re-packing my bags for Las Vegas, pacing means something else entirely.  Right now, pacing means juggling work schedules while picking and choosing my spots carefully to train in between spending quality time with Steph, not to mention paying bills, catching up with friends and otherwise staying on top of life.

Boo-freakin' hoo, I know.  And I'm not complaining, to be honest.  I've written recently about how this year is so much different than last year in terms of Ironman training.  But I think I may be even more satisfied with crossing the finish line in Idaho this June as a result of how much harder I'm going to need to fight to get there.  Every little training opportunity I can scrounge is treasured.  I took it for granted last year, perhaps even had a false sense of entitlement.  This year, every hour or Saturday morning bike ride I can manage is appreciated.  I'm sure some of you feel the same way.

Tomorrow is one of those days.  I've got a full day of meetings and then the next day I'm in Vegas through Friday.  So, it's up at 6 a.m. for 7 a.m. running hill repeats at Griffith Park, followed by strength training with Shannan at 8:30 a.m. I've been missing the weights lately so I need to squeeze in a PT session while I can.  After my day of meetings, I'll jet over to the pool for a coached workout at 7:30 p.m. But that's my last swim until Sunday.  And my last strength training opportunity for the week as well.

Sometimes it's a feat of strength just to stay in shape amidst a hectic life.  It's easy to forget that.  But right now, I'm happy with being an Iron Juggler.

I'm just not sure how long it'll last.

Pacing.  I have to keep remembering that it applies to life and not just racing.

134 days and counting.

London Towne

There's a half marathon a week from today on my calendar and I haven't worked out since Friday.  I'm in London, where it's bitter cold, and I'm eating yummy but unhealthy curry. Bollocks!

In good news, I'm adjusted to the time change rather well.  I slept five hours on the plane last night, arrived at the hotel and promptly wrote my next Lava Magazine Online column on deadline.  No sign of illness yet either -- I'm quite prone to sinus infections after long flights.

Now, I'm wiped.  Tomorrow, I plan to work out no matter what.  Hopefully a run, swim and possibly even a light bike at a local gym.  Tourism?  That's for chumps.  I'm in training.  No gym bag though?  That's gonna be tough. Still need to figure out that part.

One thing worth noting before I call it an early late night.  I've noticed that fixie bikes are quite the rage here.  I've seen a few bike shops dedicated to selling them and scores of kids riding them.  Thought it was interesting to see.  Cycling culture is alive and well across the pond.  Perhaps photos tomorrow.

OK, I'll try to check in over the next couple days.  Wish I was training more!

142 days and counting.

Officially Recovered

It didn't occur to me until late this afternoon that I had run three days in a row, each without pain.  Nearly six miles with several climbs on Friday, three miles yesterday following a long pain-free bike ride and today, nearly eight miles of trail running in just shy of 1.5 hours. Yeah, I'd say that marks a recovery or if nothing else, a significant improvement.

Duration: Two months exactly.  About one month longer than I ever expected.  But better late than never!

Now, what contributed to this recovery?  I think it's a number of things that all blended together:

-- Accepting the need for recovery: This was definitely the most difficult part of the process.  I thought I could just leap back from my Ironman after a few weeks and start workout out again for the next event.  Not even close.  Once I realized that, my real recovery began.

-- Listening to my body: I had twinges in my hips, knees and IT bands I wasn't used to, and instead of ignoring the pain I did something about it.  I pulled back on races, consulted my coach, personal trainer and ultimately, my ART therapist.  There's a time to ignore pain (perhaps in a race) and a time to acknowledge it (training, post-race).  I'm very grateful I chose the latter route.

-- Taking time to recover: Once I accepted that I needed a recovery, I decided to let the process run its course.  I'm inpatient, so this step was especially difficult.  But it's necessary because rushing through an injury will likely just make matters worse.

-- Extensive stretching: Instead of workout out, I stretched.  And when I wasn't stretching, I was trying to schedule a yoga class.  While it's nowhere near as fun (for me) as cycling out on the open road, I've felt the differences from stretching and foam rolling more often.  Combined with the ART therapy (below), my body has felt fresher lately.  In addition to stretching though, I got back on a strength training regimen that has helped my muscles replenish themselves.  I've been careful to primarily rely on body weight, cables or light weights and met with my trainer to ensure that all exercises helped alleviate my leg problems, not contribute further to them.

-- Active Release Technique therapy: ART therapy has made a huge difference, in my opinion.  I was skeptical at first but am now a believer.  My hips have experienced the biggest benefits so far from the gripping manipulation techniques, and my IT bands are no longer tight like they were in the weeks immediately following Ironman Arizona.

-- Overhauling my running form: I've used the past few weeks to try and ditch my heel-striking ways once and for all.  The process has been long and slow, and at time frustrating. I'm slower than usual.  My calves have been sore, but the end-result should be more pain-free running and ultimately I should be faster by leaning forward and relying more on forefoot striking.  The key for me has been not to get frustrated, or be intimidated by any upcoming races.  My light racing calendar this year is helping me emotionally accept being slower and the moment and being more diligent about learning to run again.

-- Re-emphasis on nutrition: The holidays added weight to my frame, but not the good kind. More like the chocolate kind.   There's probably more of a connection between my lack of recovery and poor nutrition than I'd care to admit.  But once the New Year rolled around, I took a balanced and healthy diet more seriously.  Do I think nutrition was the primary factor in helping me repair myself?  No.  But I do believe in the "body in, body out" mantra, and it's no coincidence that my recovery took a sharp turn for the better in January compared to December.

Will my recovery last?  Can I finally put Ironman Arizona in the rear-view mirror once and for all?  Time will tell.

But I'm finally ready to focus on on improvement, not recovery.  If you are recovering as well, I hope this primer helps you!

149 days and counting.

Hips and a New Workout Regimen

Before jumping into what amounted to a fairly important two days in my training and tri-writing career, I wanted to share my second "Mind Games" column for Lava Magazine online.  I'm pretty proud of this one, and hope it somehow helps you in your training if you've ever gone through or are going through some tough times right now. If you haven't already, check it out and let me know what ya think or if you've found other methods have helped you overcome disappointment. OK, now to our regularly scheduled blog post.  Apologies for not writing last night -- Steph and I had a wedding-related class and got home late.

So here below is an unedited IM chat my physical trainer, Shannan, shared with me that she had with a grad school professor of hers.  He’s a Ph.D. in biomechanics and doctor of physical therapy.  This conversation occurred after I described to Shannan my ART therapist's analysis of my hip area problems, which were initially diagnosed as psoas-related, then we moved to the hip flexor, and now we've been looking at the gluteus medius.  This of course relates to all the post IM Arizona problems I've been having.

Shannan thought the problem may be something else.  And she's been right about me before.  Shannan's the one who attributed my early IT band troubles in my running career to flat feet and advised I get fitted with orthotics.  I did, and my IT band problems went away. So, Shannan has accurately predicted things in the past.

Here's the IM chat:

Shannan: Hey- I have a case study for you, 90% sure it’s  trochanteric bursitis or G. medius tendonitis; abnormal hip pathology is primary symptom.

Male; mid-30’s; fine-boned; ironman finisher; significant pronator (wears bilateral orthotics); confirmed leg-length discrepancy; palpable abnormality at the greater trochanter.  His ART guy thinks it’s an overactive G.med but unless he strained it there’s no way…I can visually see a mass and I can feel the difference.

Doctor: History of back injury? Lower back problems, glute insufficiencies?  What are his running habits (trail, road, treadmill)?

Shannan: He has spondy, little scoliosis, glutes are pretty insufficient but no L4-S1 acute injuries that I know about; in other words nothing that would prevent building them up.  He does a lot of trail running…

Doctor: I would do a Trendelenburg test to check out his abductor reflexes.

Shannan: Yeah, I’m thinking it’s an abductor weakness (not overworked as the ART therapist suggested), but I stopped the abductor exercises because I don’t want to provoke the inflammation??

Doctor: Right, usually an ultrasound is needed to determine exact etiology; however, bursitis will not cause pain upon resisted abduction, but G. medius will hurt like a mo fo (well, mo fo point tenderness pain).  Keep off the abductor exercises until pain goes away a bit, but you’re correct in diagnosing the abd weakness.  Build up his glutes, too.

Shannan: What about stretching?  Deep tiss massage?

Doctor: Massage is good to deliver blood flow; stretch all he wants, but it’s not going to help if it’s articular.  I suggest he gets those orthotics checked; at the rate he trains he may need a new set every 6 months.  Also, until the condition improves I do not recommend trail running because the uneven surface does not help- both conditions are caused by some type of asymmetry, and trail running is contradictory.  I understand the training demands, but he should run on flat surfaces.  ART is fine, never hurts.  What’s his size?

Shannan: He’s 5’7” and probably around 137-140 this week.  Fine-boned

Doctor: He’ll have a double hip replacement at this rate…

Aside from being mildly annoyed with being called "fine-boned" (what am I, a herring?), the last sentence obviously got my attention.  It's what occupied a good portion of discussion today in my personal training session with Shannan.  Fortunately, she doesn't think I'm on track for such a dreadful fate.  It was the doctor being off-the-cuff and dramatic, in her words.

Instead, after doing some mobility drills and balance tests where I stood on one-leg and resisted pressure using my legs to push outward, Shannan thinks the problem is tendinitis or bursitis in the hip joint that connects the femur.  That would explain the puffiness as it's likely fluid build-up.  The solution, in her opinion, is getting an ultrasound at my MD office and then a shot to reduce the inflammation.

That sounds a LOT better than replacing two bad hips!

To combat the problem, Shannan produced the following workout regimen.  I'll be doing this twice a week for the next few weeks and will let you know how it goes.

153 days and counting.

PS: I have contacted Newton about reviewing a pair of shoes for the blog based on your passionate feedback about how much good they've done some of you. So far, Newton has been amazingly responsive and open.  I'm embarking upon this experiment against the wishes of my coach and ART therapist.  But that's where the potential lies for a great story.  I'm thinking of it as the Newton Challenge.  If they're good for me, they're good for anyone.  Newton's up for the challenge and I'm up for the risk.  I'll use the shoes exactly as intended in the ramp-up period and share what I find at the end.  I'll drop a few snippets here on the blog to give you an idea on how it's going.

From Coney Island back to Kona Training

Before getting started, I wanted to share my first column, Mind Games, for Lava Magazine's website.  For those of you who have been following regularly, thank you as always!  And for those who may be new to this space, welcome!  Like my column (hopefully) suggests, I promise an open, honest look at triathlon training from a "regular guy's" perspective.  Someone juggling a career, a soon-to-be marriage (wedding in August!) and trying to hold my body together long enough to eventually find my way to Kona -- either through qualifying or by lottery. I try to blog daily whenever I can, since we're all training daily I figure there's always something worth sharing!

Since I wasn't training the past few days, I didn't write much though.  What was I doing? EATING!  Judging by what I consumed this past holiday season, the only thing it seems I have been training for is not Kona, but rather Coney Island and the big eating contest held there annually.  I've gained nearly 10 pounds since Ironman Arizona!  Words like "heaping", "double-helping", "extra whip cream" and "Ghiradelli Chocolate" were routinely a part of my vocabulary from Christmas through New Year's.  This was accentuated by a visit to Napa Valley and San Francisco to ring in the New Year.  They've got some pretty good wine up there, ya know.

Now, the jeans that required an extra tight cinch on my belt to keep them up can rest a little more comfortably on my waistline.  On the way back from the Bay Area yesterday, I told Steph it was time for me to refocus my training.  Words like "portion control," "healthy," and "vegetables" need to re-enter my lexicon.  We've got less than six months to Ironman Coeur d'Alene, I've got achey legs and a busy work schedule.  This year is going to be a tougher road to becoming an Ironman than last year, even though I have a lot more experience.

My first day training in 2011 took me to Equinox, in Westwood.  I've written about this place before, and now Steph is a member.  Yesssss!!!!!!  Equinox is simply the Nordstrom's of gyms.  Working out there is truly a pleasure and feels like a privilege.  Steph and I took a spin class together and then I had my first brick workout since IMAZ, a light 1,500 yard swim.  Neither workout was spectacular, but I did try something new in both.  On the bike, Equinox offers power and cadence meters.  While I use a cadence meter on my tri bike, I haven't taken the plunge yet to buy a power meter.  I can see what the buzz is about just from experimenting with it briefly.  While the meter may not have been that accurate, I know I'm pushing roughly 120-123 watts between 85-95 RPM in a relatively low heart rate.  When weather gets in the way of heart-rate, knowing what kind of power output you've got can help regulate over-compensation.

I can almost see Steph rolling her eyes now at the thought of another tri-purchase.  Ruh-roh!

On the swim, I asked Steph to record me swimming so I could analyze my stroke. Rather than write about it, I'll show you.

Ryan\'s Swim Stroke, AKA Attack of the Killer Scissor Kick!

Yes folks, I'm now on YouTube!  My channel name is TheRealIronmadman.  I decided that I needed to become more adept at video editing and this is a good way to start.  I'm going to try and incorporate more video posts into my blogs to spice things up a bit.  Now I just need to figure out how to embed video straight into each post.

Happy New Year, everyone.  Tomorrow I'll likely write about a few Resolutions I've been thinking about.

170 days and counting

2010: The Ultimate Odyssey

I've posted 345 blogs since starting this journey last November, with at least three-dozen categories.  I've probably analyzed -- over-analyzed, actually -- every detail of my Ironman journey more than most.  And yet I'm having a very hard time encapsulating the past year for my last post of the year. I set big goals and went out and accomplished them, with a lot of hard work. Stephanie and  I resurrected a broken relationship, for the final time.  None of this journey would have been quite as special had I not restored that healthy foundation.  That alone made 2010 a total success.  The completed races, personal-best times, and finishing the Ironman truly fail to come close in comparison.  Make no mistake, I would have been an Ironman without Stephanie.  But I would have thought of her at the finish, every day leading up to that moment, and every day after it.  I would have chased a ghost the rest of my life, the worst kind too.  The "What If?" spectre.

I hate that ghost. I hate "What If?"  So I destroyed it.  And couldn't be happier.

I remember when I started the year though, skeptical whether Fortius Coaching could mold me into a better athlete. Uncertain of my own psyche following a devastating breakup.  I remember Coach Gerardo telling me I wouldn't even recognize myself physically, emotionally and mentally following Ironman.

Now a year later, I know what he meant, though I'm not sure even he thought my transformation would be this profound.  I truly do feel like a different person.  Perhaps this year was the biggest growth year of my life, which is saying a lot since I spent several months backpacking through Europe both with a buddy and by myself to start the 21st Century.  That trip was a deep transformational experience in a different way.  In Europe at that time, pre-Euro currency, pre-"smart" cell phones and everywhere Internet, I was alone.  I had to learn to rely on myself.  I built a foundation for adventure and extended my personal comfort zones way beyond my sheltered suburban upbringing.  I built the foundation for this Ironman journey too, a far more spiritual and metaphorical trip.

I wonder if my 2010 Ironman would have happened if it weren't for my 2001 adventure serving as the stepping stone.

A lot had happened in my life between my 2001 backpacker's walkabout and this year's odyssey.  During that span, I had many adventures, literally all over the world.  While I may have nudged my comfort zones ever further out professionally, and personally, I hadn't really ventured off the grid (in my mind, at least) into the Great Unknown since quitting my job prior to September 11. That spring I quit work, quit my apartment, quit my car payments, and donned a small bag filled with all the contents I would need to live.

50 cities, 12 countries, 90 days.  A different kind of triathlon.

And yet my preparation for and completion of Ironman surpasses even that epoch.  I NEVER expected my journey to Ironman to rebuild what had become an eroded sense of self-confidence, rekindle my passion for writing, stabilize my emotions and provide me with such a supportive group of friends and teammates, not to mention some of you readers out there.

My 2001 odyssey was an escape.  My 2010 odyssey was a gift to myself.

I hope 2011 brings more gifts, but most of all, I hope that if you haven't already you'll reward yourself with such a gift.  We all deserve it.  We deserve abolishing that "What If?" ghost, even if it's only for once in our lives.  To stand at the finish line, real or metaphorical, arms raised, screaming from a primal place, nothing can surpass that feeling. The feeling of personal victory.  It doesn't have to be an Ironman either.  It can be going for a promotion at work, or starting a new career venture, taking a chance with that cute friend you always liked but haven't had the courage to ask out. It can be ANYTHING.

Make the most of 2011.  Pick your Ironman and FINISH IT.

Wipe "What If?" from your vocabulary.

I'd say good luck, but you won't need it.

Enjoy your New Year's Eve celebration!  I'll be back on January 2, fresh from spending the holiday with future wife.

175 days and counting.

PS: For those wondering about my legs, it appears that I've got a problem with the tendons in my hips connecting my glutes and IT bands.  The acronym for that part of the body is TFL, which some of you (Robyn?) may be familiar with.  My ART specialist said it's hard to say for sure though because of all my other structural issues, but based on the pain there in today's therapy session, I'm guessing it's a root cause.  We'll keep at the recovery, and I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Walk it Out

Stephanie called me via cellphone this morning about 30 minutes before my scheduled Deep Stretch yoga class at Black Dog.  She had mistakenly taken my car keys with her to run errands, but also had her keys. This meant I was stuck at home with no car.  Not a problem though, as I was comfortable on the couch watching the Lombardi documentary on HBO.  By the way, I highly recommend this movie.  It humanized one of the greatest coaches of our time and offered valuable lessons into motivational techniques while painting a portrait of a complicated, driven, tortured man.

I had every opportunity to throw my hands up and miss the workout. No car, no workout.  But, Steph convinced me to try and walk to the studio, which is roughly a mile or two away.  I had 25 minutes, so I knew I had time.  I was just feeling lazy, per the usual lately.

Thank goodness I rallied.  There literally wasn't a cloud in the sky.  The temperature was in the low-mid 70s (fahrenheit for my EU friends!). The picture-perfect So Cal morning.  What a pleasant walk!  I can't remember the last time I just took a walk for fun.  I'm always rushing somewhere, or pedaling somewhere, or driving somewhere to run somewhere else. Even though I was "rushing" in this situation, it didn't feel like it.  This was a leisurely pursuit.

And as a bonus, I rediscovered my neighborhood.

Things look, smell and generally feel different when you're walking and not running.  The cracks in the sidewalk.  The colors of the tree leaves. Kids squealing at the schoolyard.  The dog poop that someone neglected to pick up on the grass.

Today was a nice reminder that slowing down can be just as enjoyable as speeding up.  And, once again, that doing is even better than watching someone else's accomplishments -- even if it's Vince Lombardi himself.

176 days and counting.

Why Not Kona?

Like a squirrel hoarding acorns or a dog burying his bone, I've been saving my DVR copy of the Ironman World Championships for just the right moment. Having spent a decadent few nights eating my body weight while celebrating with Stephanie's family, tonight seemed as good a night as any.

I can definitely feel the extra weight on me, perhaps emotionally more than physically.  I also feel the rust accumulating on my fitness level, having completed only one cardio-driven workout last week.  This week will be no different, as Steph and I are taking some vacation time and heading to Napa Valley to spend New Years. Along with the rust has come a sense of laziness due to all the extra free time I've been enjoying.  I can't help but repeatedly think, "Why the hell have I been living this (Ironman) lifestyle?")

I'm sure we've all thought that at some point, maybe more during this time of year (Christmas/New Year's) than at other points.

So what better time to call upon some instant, sappy, inspiration drama to curb those emotions?

I found this year's coverage to be slightly less entertaining than the 2009 version.  Maybe it's because I followed the 2010 race via Ironman Live and knew the outcome.  Maybe it's also because I've read both Lava and Triathlete's post-Kona coverage cover to cover.

Maybe it's really because I've now done one of these myself.  And while I haven't been to Kona, I know what crossing that magical finish line feels like.  When I watched the 2009 DVD last year, I sobbed on my couch, repeating out loud to nobody in particular, "I WILL FINISH."

And I did!

But this year I did get a little choked up at the end of the show watching the other age-groupers cross the finish line.  Relating to their struggle, and the triumphant looks on their face, made it special for me. In a way, their success was also mine.  Our stories, even with different paths, were still the same.

I also thought to myself, why should Kona finishers have all the fun?  Why am I accepting that the only way I'll ever get to Hawaii for the World Championships is through a lottery?  I'm in charge of my destiny, why can't I qualify with my own two feet?  Heck, just having two functioning feet puts me in better shape than some of those inspirational stories featured in the show.  And I've certainly never been a drug addict (G-d bless that guy's turnaround, btw!).

So, what reason do I have NOT to make it to Kona?  Yes, I can think of several at the moment.  Bad legs.  Bad hips.  Bad dieting.  Bad marathon times.  But what if I work harder? Or smarter?  What if I open my mind up to the possibility that ANYONE can qualify for Kona? Is that realistic or fantasy?  When is a goal achievable and when is it out of reach?

I don't have the answer to that last one.  But I do know that if I don't think I can ever qualify in Kona, that's exactly what will happen. Why not give it a go?  A year ago I never thought it possible to qualify for the National Championships in the Olympic distance, and I came within a stupid drafting penalty of doing it.  Why not Kona?

Last year, I watched the Ironman DVD wondering, "Could I finish?"

This year, I watched the Ironman DVD wondering, "Can I qualify?"

Why not?

177 days and counting.

PS: 6 months until IM Coeur d'Alene.  Not feeling anywhere close to being prepared.  This race should be a fun one!