Thursday, August 28th

Just a few more days. Getting everything packed & ready to go.

Here is a link to the Ironman Athlete tracker. Just type in my last name & it will show how I'm doing.

http://ironman.com/events/ironman/louisville/?show=tracker&rid=164&year=2008

Wednesday, August 27th

Took Rick, Kenny, & Liz out on an easy 26 mile ride tonight. Got a little rain, but not much. It was a great last bike workout.

Thursday is a rest day. But it will be spent getting everything packed & ready to go.

Tuesday, August 26th

Already Tuesday, week is going fast & I want it to. Waiting is the hardest part for me.

Got in an easy run this evening, only 3 miles. But this week is really about rest & that is what I am trying to do.

Wednesday is a bike ride, again it will be short & sweet.

Monday, August 25th

Made it over to North Vernon this morning for my swim workout. No much, just an easy swim workout. Only did 1/2 mile today. But the rest is doing me good!

Tuesday is a run workout.

Sunday, August 24th

One week away! Went for my last long run of 6.2 miles. It was pretty humid today, which it could be next weekend also.

Monday is my last swim workout.

29 weeks are now over. Next Sunday is race day!

Here are the totals after 29 weeks.

Swim - 81.6 miles
Bike - 2569.3 miles
Run - 433.7 miles

Saturday, August 23rd

Felt pretty good today on the bike. Got in 52 miles. I think I ready for this!

Sunday is the last long run workout.

Friday, August 22nd

Last long swim workout!! Actually, I really enjoy the swim workouts. Made it to North Vernon & got in 2500 yds, about 1.5 miles. Used my race suit for the first time & I think I like it.

Saturday is the last long bike workout.

Thursday, August 21st

Another shorter bike ride tonight. Got 30 miles in for the night. Keep the miles short but the intensity way up. Heart rate was working!

Friday is my last long swim workout. Can't miss the last one.

Wednesday, August 20th

Well, I didn't make it to North Vernon for the morning swim. So just another rest day. But again, I was bored during the evening, so I went on a 13 mile bike ride on my commuter bike. Just easy ride around town.

Thursday is a bike workout.

Tuesday, August 19th

Wasn't able to get out on my run until about 8:30pm. But was still able to do my 5 mile tempo run. Felt really good, especially the last mile.

Wednesday is a swim workout.

Monday, August 18th

Today was a rest day, even though I was bored & went for a ride on my commuter bike. But only 7 miles, so that really doesn't count towards my totals.

Tuesday is a run workout.

Sunday, August 17th II

28 weeks are now done! Only 2 weeks until race day. Feeling a lot better now that my taper (rest) period has started.

Here are the totals after 28 weeks.

Swim - 80 miles
Bike - 2488.3 miles
Run - 422.5 miles

Sunday, August 17th

Another good day for a long run. Got in 12 miles, same as last week but 3 minutes faster. Felt really good today.

Monday will be a rest day.

Saturday, August 16th

Our local club help organized a bike ride today. I helped in the morning, then went out to ride, & helped at the finish. I rode the 45 mile route for a good workout.

Sunday is my long run workout.

Friday, August 15th

Got to the pool at 5:35am for my long swim. Again, it seemed like I was swimming so fast because of the short pool. I got in 3000 yards & it felt really good.

Saturday is a short long bike workout.

Thursday, August 14th

Well, it rained/stormed this afternoon when my bike ride was schedule, so I skipped it. Ended up just going for a 2 mile walk with Cathy. I think she enjoyed it!

Friday I'm off to the pool at North Vernon for my long swim.

Wednesday, August 13th

Had to go to North Vernon this morning to get my swim workout, not to bad. Finished with 2000 yds. Yes, it is bad to yards not meters. Indoors is 25 yd pool. It takes a couple of weeks to get use to the shorter pool.

Thursday is a bike workout (if it doesn't rain) & maybe get a run workout in also.

Tuesday, August 12th

Well, I got my run workout in this morning before work. And it helps that I didn't start work until 10am! But also, I didn't get done umpiring softball until 10:30pm last night. I did my 1/2 mile hard, 1/2 mile easy workout for a total of 5 miles. This taper sure seems easy since the mileage is less than what I am use to, even with the intensity turned up a notch!

Wednesday is a swim workout & I have to go to North Vernon for their 6am swim. I guess no big deal for a couple of times. I'm watching the Olympic swimming & they are talking about Micheal Phelps & his workout. He swam over 5 miles today! Makes my 1-2 miles seem like nothing, but its good for me. I guess if Speedo was going to pay me a million dollar bonus if I won 8 gold medals, I could probably go for 5 miles!

Monday, August 11th

Decided to make Monday a rest day, plus I had to ump 4 softball games (4+ hrs).

That moves my run workout to Tuesday & maybe a bike workout if I can fit it in.

Sunday, August 10th

Went to Louisville to re-ride part of the Ironman course. We skipped the flat part of the course & just rode the hills. Last time we rode the course, we missed a turn but we got it right today. It is a hilly course with only a couple of major hills, but it is up & down all day. Finished with 52 miles. There was at least 25 other riders out on the course today. Got to talk to a couple of guys.

Monday is usually a swim day or rest day but since there is no pool open in Seymour now I guess I'll probably go for a run workout.

Only 3 weeks left till race day! 27 weeks down.

Here are the totals after 27 weeks.

Swim - 76.9 miles
Bike - 2443.3 miles
Run - 405.5 miles

Saturday, August 9th

Another great weather day, especially for August. It was a little hotter or humid than I thought because I sweat a lot more than last weeks 20 miler. But since I am in taper mode, I did run harder, about 30 seconds faster per mile. I got in 12 miles today, thought that was enough since I ran pretty hard (for a long run!)

Sunday, I'm headed back down to Louisville to ride part of the course again. We'll probably do about 60 miles.

Friday, August 8th

Had a great swim today, felt good & felt fast. Got in 3200 meters (2 miles). The bad part about today's swim was it was the last day for lap swim at the city pool, its closes Sunday because school starts next week. I'll have to go to North Vernon for my swim workouts until the Ironman.

Saturday is my long run workout, hopefully 15 miles.

Thursday, August 7th

Made it out for an evening bike ride. It was a little shorter than before but rode a little harder to make up for it. Got in 33 miles for day. Didn't get in a run though, but that is OK. Still think I'm where I need to be.

Friday is a long swim workout.

Wednesday, August 6th

Got to the pool today during lunch for my Sprint workout. I got my fastest lap at the city pool for the summer today. I was excited about that, felt really good today.

I still have to ump 3 softball games tonight, but my workouts are done for today.

Thursday is a bike workout & a run workout.

Tuesday, August 5th

Work was pretty busy today, which is a good thing, so I didn't have time for a bike ride. But I did get in a run workout. Did one of my Interval workouts for a total of 4 miles. My legs still felt heavy from my long Sunday run, but that was expected. It did feel good to get out & run. I think I'm starting to like the runs, but now its the biking that is getting me down. I just seem to have no power on the bike like I did in May & June. I think that is a common thing for Ironman training. Hopefully the easier training until race day will help all that.

Wednesday is a swim workout.

Monday, August 4th

Made it to the pool today. Didn't plan on much of a workout, just wanted to loosen up my legs. I swam 1500 meters total, but nothing hard.

Tuesday is a run workout & maybe a bike also, just have to see.

Sunday, August 3rd

Happy Birthday Grandma Reasoner!!

Today was the day that I was not looking forward to when I made out my workout schedule, 20 mile run. I have never done that before. But today was the day. It turned out to be a great morning for a long run. I broke the run up into 4 mile sets. I would run out 2 miles, then come back to my house. Then I was able to get a new bottle of gatorade, get a drink of water, or whatever I needed. That worked very well. I was truely amazed at how well I did for the 20 miler.

Now it is time for a little rest. With only 4 weeks until raceday, I will be starting my taper on Monday. That means I will be cutting my workouts done by about 25% each week so that on raceday I will hopefully be well rested & ready to go.

Monday, I am scheduled to go to the pool, probably just to loosen up my legs since they will probably feel heavy after a 20 mile run.

26 weeks down, 4 to go!

Here are the totals after 26 weeks:

Swim - 72.6 miles
Bike - 2358.8 miles
Run - 389.5 miles

Saturday, August 2nd

Today's ride did not turn out well. I felt bad the whole ride, had to stop the ride short for me. I wanted to do about 70 miles, but I stopped at 42 miles. I thought it was better to stop & not push too far, especially since I have a 20 mile run scheduled for Sunday.

Friday, August 1st

August 1st means its this month that the big race will be. Time seems to be flying by.

Today was my long swim. I did all 2.4 miles tonight, 3800 meters. It didn't feel too bad, I was happy with my time. I think it is pretty cool when you are the first one in the pool & the last one out.

Saturday is a long bike workout.

Thursday, July 31st

Wow, last day of July. Only 31 days till raceday!

I got a brick workout in today. Liz & I rode 44 miles then I took off on a 4 mile run. Another humid day & I was happy with both the bike & run. Run wasn't too fast but I kept my heart rate in check.

Friday is a long swim workout. Plus, Josh & I are playing in a night golf tourney. First 9 holes is when it is still light out, then we have dinner, then the last 9 holes are after dark. Should be fun! If not, it is Mark's fault.