on my way...
3 months ago
And I started a blog to track my progress, if you’re into that kind of thing:
http://presentingmarksironmanadventure.blogspot.com
How to ironman
It made me
awesome!!!! 
"a life changing experience that took years to develop. "
How I did it: I got a coach, i built up to it gradually, i listened to my body, and God facilitated it all
3 1/2 IM races
3 Marathons
I completed my first 1/2 IM, in 6 hrs 20 minutes, cramping all the way to the end. I remember telling myself, "i know that I have to do this again"
Lessons & tips: do YOUR thing, not others. Pace yourself
Resources: sustained energy
recoverite
Stinger gels
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
I'm registered!
6 months ago
A few weeks ago I signed up for my first (and hopefully not only) ironman distance triathlon! It’s in September of next year.
Lots of work to do! Stooooooked!
Updates
7 months ago
Did the Half (after the Berlin Marathon, and before the NY Marathon) and didn’t die, though it was raining for much of the bike and run sections. I am now signed up for Ironman France, 2009. That means I have until June 28 to develop a better swimming stroke and do some hilly bike loops!
This morning was my first Masters Swim class, which will be a good start for all of this. I need to learn all of these other strokes we’re doing without taking in too much water…
Untitled
10 months ago
Back in the full swing of things. I finally have a bike and some slick triathlon shorts that I put to use at a sprint tri this past weekend which I finished comfortably. Now I’ve got to get a bunch of brick workouts in before the MightyMan 1/2 Ironman in Montauk, Long Island.
The only problem? This is scheduled a week after I run the Berlin marathon (and only a couple days after I come back to the states). Crazy, maybe, but I’ve been recovering much more quickly from marathons and I probably won’t push myself too hard knowing what I have ahead.
And I’ll need a wetsuit.
Untitled
13 months ago
Depending on how this triathlon goes in August, I want to do a HALF-ironman next year. How freggin’ bad ass would that be?!
My last entry
15 months ago
Yesterday I competed in Ironman California. Except for a very painful sunburn I am no worse for the wear. In fact I am going to repeat the distance next Sunday at the Superfrog (a race used to train navy seals). We get one shot at life and you never want to grow old saying what if. I hope all of those who read this find the strength to make your dreams come true. I wish you all well.
2 weeks out
16 months ago
I am two weeks out and I am sick. I have worked out once in the last week. How is that for pressure?
Untitled
16 months ago
LA Marathon was hot and torturous! I didn’t beat my NY time from November, due to dehydration. I think I overestimated the power of wicked shades (use a white cap/visor next time). I also happened to overestimate sunblock… that wasn’t water-proof. It all washed off at the first open hydrant. I’m still wearing my racing bib, 10 days later.
When I get to the IronMan stage, I’ll avoid the 80+ degree weather, k? Lots to be learned here.
Next up: June 1 San Diego marathon and a sprint triathlon in my hometown (can’t turn that down). I will aim for purchasing a good bike before May. Other events include the Berlin and NYC Marathons… Now to find an Olympic and Half for the summer.
Untitled
16 months ago
I’ve been thinking about completing and Ironman triathlon for about a year now. I decided to get my feet wet and did a sprint triathlon last August, followed soon after by the ING NYC Marathon. I learned a great deal about what my priorities should be before I sign up for one:
1. I definitely need to work the hardest on swimming. I just now started doing weekly swims, a mile per session. I want to gradually increase this so that it meets the 2.4 distance covered in an Ironman. Some swimming website increasing by 500 m a month, thus reaching 2.4 after six months. Of course, I’d need to do other swimming workouts throughout the week.
2. I need a bike. I used a shoddy rental for the sprint triathlon and couldn’t even change gears to pedal much of the downhill course (I tried to make up for it by expending a lot of energy uphill). Getting a bike is harder than it sounds, since I’m about 6’6” and on a budget.
3. My running and endurance abilities are probably my relative strengths. At least that’s what I’m working the most at. I have the LA Marathon this weekend and hope to beat the 4.5 hour time I had with the NY Marathon in November (I’d love to get under 4). I have high hopes because I actually had some time to prepare for this one (only had a month before NY).
All told, I’m probably not looking at doing a full Ironman until next year. I’ll probably start looking at an Olympic distance for the beginning of the summer and a Half for the end of it. I like pacing myself regarding these things.
33 days to go
16 months ago
I am not sure, but I might be able to pull this off. I have dropped 5 pounds this week on a zero carb diet. I am sure much of that is dehydration which is common with a diet such as this. I biked 40 miles yesterday and then jogged an agonizing 4 miles. This is still a far cry from an ironman, but who knows.
