Ryan Schneider's Diary of Ironman Training & Life in General
As some of you may know, I was in Austin, Texas this weekend for South by Southwest, the annual music, film, tech and gaming mash-up that brings smarties and hipsters together from all over the country. I spent my time trying to do three things there: 1) Get a sense of which way the marketing trend winds were blowing (answer: user experience is king)
Read MoreI signed up for Ironman St. George this past week. The event is two months away. Eight weeks. Five weeks of build and peak training left.
When I write these sentences and stare at the screen, I wonder what the heck I was thinking. And how it seemed like such a good idea at the time.
So, what the heck was I thinking?!
First and foremost, Ironman St. George has always called to me. It's arguably the toughest Ironman in the continental US -- even with the more forgiving run course. Ever since "tri-asshole" told me I could have picked a harder Ironman when I was getting ready for Ironman Arizona in 2010, I knew I had to prove something more to myself. I knew I couldn't quite feel satisfied with my Ironman accomplishments until I tackled IM St. George.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to "get better" in triathlon? Does it mean "go faster?" I think that would be the obvious response. But there's something else, something deeper.
No, to me getting better in triathlon means being smarter. By "smarter," I mean developing an innate sense of body awareness that transcends the data we gather on our sophisticated training devices.
Read MoreThere was a time in all our lives when we were instructed with nothing more than, "Get out of the house and go play!" That was the only responsibility we had. School was out. We were too young to work. So, we played.
That time ended for most of us around 12 or 13. At least for me it did. Newspaper routes, day camp jobs and ultimately being a cub news reporter filled the rest of my summers until college graduation.
Read MoreMy grandmother is sick. In fact, she's dying after a frustrating, heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She's suffered from it for a few years now, going from someone who didn't need a calculator to maintain the books at my family's business for 50-plus years to not knowing who any of us are. Of course, I remember many things about her, which I shared with her recently in a note I have no idea whether she understood let alone internalized. Yet we do these things not as much for the ill as for the living. Fortunately, my grandmother instilled in me her tough work ethic, never quit, never settle for anything less than the "A" mentality. That's what leads me to this past Saturday's inaugural HITS series Olympic triathlon in La Quinta.
Read MoreI raced at the San Dimas Turkey Tri yesterday, where I personally played the role of turkey. I misunderstood a turn sign at the end of the first bike course loop, dropped from fourth place in my age group to fifth, and lost out on another chance to qualify for the Age Group National Championships -- by one place. I have a good reason though, I swear.
Read MoreIt's appropriate that volunteering at Ironman Arizona this past weekend coincides with Thanksgiving. As soon as I got home from Tempe yesterday, I called my parents and told them how truly grateful I was for their support last year along with the rest of my family. Sure, I wasn't as physically fatigued from volunteering, but still my feet cracked with pain, my lower back was on fire, my senses were overwhelmed and I darn near felt delirious as Mike Reilly started dancing down the finisher's chute before midnight.
Read MoreOne year ago today, I arrived in Tempe, Arizona, scared and excited to reach a yearlong quest to become an Ironman. My feelings then are still so vivid now. The unabashed pride entering the Athlete Registration tent and Body Marking tent. I never wanted that paint to wear off my arms and legs. I remember how I knew I belonged in that tent and there was no place else on the planet I'd rather be in that moment.
Read MoreA year ago tonight, I was walking around the neighborhood with Stephanie checking out Trick-or-Treaters' costumes after my final Build phase workout leading to Ironman Arizona taper.
Tonight, it's an off-day of training and recovery from a hard 40-mile ride yesterday.
A year ago this past weekend, I completed nine hours of training in two days back-to-back.
This weekend, I completed less than half. Though it's far more intense with back-to-back track workouts and a 4,500 foot climb at the Malibu Gran Fondo yesterday (benefiting the Livestrong Foundation). A year ago, I learned the lessons of someone trying to figure out why I was so exhausted heading into the taper phase. A year later, I'm missing the naivete that comes with the wonderment associated with "Can I do it?" Yep, I miss the nerves from a year ago. The giddy sensation. The fear of the unknown. But what I'm learning now is that my fitness level isn't really that far removed from my Ironman race shape.
Read MoreI'm not a big country music guy, but since my wife is a somewhat closeted country music gal, I've been exposed to it over the past several years. I'll even admit that I kinda like Rascal Flats and that maybe if one of their songs was on the country music station I happened to flip through on the radio dial, I'd stop and take a listen. Just maybe I might turn the volume up a bit too. As long as I'm by myself.
My favorite country music song is by Toby Keith, "As Good Once as I Ever Was." If you don't know it, Keith sings about how he may have lost a step or two over the years, but that when it ultimately matters, his mind (if not his body) thinks he can muster just one more virtuoso tryst/bar fight, etc.. I think it's the ultimate Weekend Warrior song, and it aptly describes how this past weekend's Playa del Rey Triathlon went.
Read MoreRyan Schneieder is the IronMadMan
