Acceptance

Mary and I were walking back from the practice swim talking and I was thinking about how it had been almost 1 year since my first triathlon, and here I was at the same weight. How could I become an Ironman if I don't lose the weight? I still had 180 pounds to lose. I was really upset and of course you know me, I was standing there looking out over the river crying. I was really very down (thank God my friend was there to encourage me).

Then I had one of those epiphanies, "a breakthrough or transcendent awareness, a profound realization that seems to engage one's whole being in resonant connection with aspects of truth and insight." I finally accepted in my soul, in my heart, that I could no longer play around with the food, that recreating with, medicating with, hiding from life with food and overeating was no longer an option for me.

Intellectually I have embraced this before, but I have practiced it without consistency. But now I have embraced this with my emotions and heart. Soothing myself with food is not an honest option for me. I do not hope to be able to sneak in an occasional bowl of ice cream "After all, I did work out really hard this week!", etc. I will no longer lie to myself about my eating.

If my weight is coming off, I know I am on track. If it doesn't, then I know I need to check myself on my honesty.

To steal a line from Mary : It's about going the distance the way I, Duane, need to go the distance. "The race is long and in the end it is only with yourself." My lifetime Ironman is the race I have with me, food, and my dealing with life. I know and embrace what I need to do to become an Ironman. The journey has started in earnest (CDA 2009).

Ironman Louisville Report

Wow, what a weekend! Pics will be below but I have to of course mention people first!

Mary and I were working on her gear bags when we met James, a former professional cyclist who owns a bike shop in Ft Worth Texas. Nice guy, and a stand-up guy too. Talked with him for about an hour as we waited on our planes back. He watched a guy go down on the bike who broke his arm and slashed his face open. James stopped for 20 minutes to assist and make sure he got medical attention! Way to go James! He finished and I think this was his fifth IM.

Met Mike and Tracy from New Jersey in the hotel. He has done several IMs and he finished. Saw him on the course when he was running and he was encouraging me! (a action photographer I am not).


Met Kylie ( a blogger) and her boyfriend (husband?). We were at the practice swim and she comes out of the blue and says, Hey! I know you, I read your blog! That always makes me feel good. What a great community we have! I believe this was her second IM and she PR'd by 1/2 hour! And her boyfriend (?) qualified for KONA!

So, now for the weekend!

Flew in on Friday and Mary picked me up at the airport. We went and worked on her gear bags and later went to the IM dinner (the music was too loud, the food was adequate, but the company was great!). Courtney swung by also (she is so sweet!)








Saturday I went down to the practice swim for a meetup with Dying Water Buffalo (Courtney), IronPol (Tom), Waddler (Karen), GeekGirl (Misty), Sweetness (Brian), and Mary Sunshine. The current was pretty strong that day and swimmers were getting sucked downstream and really had to struggle to get back to the swim exit. It was much calmer on race day.










After the practice swim, Mary and I went back to the pool for our race. I took two out of three short sprints. (Thanks for letting me win Mary!) :-)

Saturday afternoon was a massage and then to dinner with Mary's family and friends at the 301 Bistro, while she chilled. Luckily I ordered a salad with some chicken which was pretty filling. Everyone else ordered fancy stuff which did look very good and was arranged very nice, but is sure did look small! LOL (Eric, thanks for dinner!).

Race morning was pretty intense. The logistics of putting on an IM is incredible. 2500 volunteers! They were pretty organized to say the least! Watched Mary get marked, and then we all went down to the swim start which was a time trial for the amateurs, one jumped in every second. GeekGirl was # 8 in line! They had the trumpeter from Churchill Downs play the Kentucky Derby song to call the pros to the post. They went on a mass start then the amateurs started going. They just kept coming and coming and coming! And coming!







Saw Mary and Sweetness (Brian) and Courtney whiz by on the bike and then went and got the rental car and drove out to La Grange with Brian's parents to watch the bike course. We just came out of the restaurant from having some good southern BBQ, when Brian blew by, then Mary, then Courtney. It was awesome!








Dropped Brian's parent off at the hotel and headed out on the run course. Saw Brian, IronPol, Mary, Courtney, and Mike from NJ.





Went back to the hotel, changed into my third shirt of the day, man it was humid!, then went to the finish line where I was for 6 hours. My feet are so sore today I'm off from work. The energy was incredible! Cowbells and noisemakers everywhere. The crowd really got into it! I watched the faces of the runners as they came into the finishing chute, some were relieved, some were intense, some were ecstatic, some were crying with happiness (of course those were the ones that really got to me!) some were in pain. The magnitude of what they had undertaken was really brought home.

I saw Mary (she ran in with her daughter Jo) and Courtney finish, missed Brian and Tom somehow. When I was out on the run course I kept waiting for Misty (GeekGirl) to come by but she never showed. I called home and had Becca go to IronmanLive and look up her number. Her bike split was long and it looked like she probably got yanked.




So there I am at the finish line rocking with the crowd to see the last ones come in. There were just a couple of minutes left. The place was so loud and so charged up. I look up and who do I see coming out of the darkness down the chute? GeekGirl herself! The crowd went nuts! I was so happy to see her finish!




Courtney has challenged me to consider CdA for my first IM in 2009 so we can race. The more I think about it, the more it seems good (except for those bleeping hills!) Update - My coach agrees, I'm shooting for CDA 09 and will sign up when I volunteer next summer there!

I also got to meet Jerry MacNeil, the announcer, he did a great job!



And of course I can't end without thanking Mary for the incredible honor of letting me be a part of her Ironman journey!

The Ironman Cometh!

One idea for the tat that I'm kicking around:


Okay, some smaller but important news first. My feet are so much better, when I walk around sometimes I don't notice pain or discomfort. I think they are at about 90% healed.

I have decide to post my weight once a week as accountability to myself for my eating. Today's weight is 397. I will post every week. If I am not consistent in my eating, I want you call me on it!

Another milestone, I actually ran up the stairs in the house! Ran! Not walk, not limp, not go up funny because one hip hurts, but ran! How can it get any better than that?

Well, it can because . . . I am going to Louisville!

I'm going to see my first IM! Yes! I head out to Louisville Friday morning. Friday night will be the IM dinner with Mary Sunshine (one of my best buds). Hopefully we will connect with GeekGirl, Sweetness and his parents at the dinner. My chiropractor is doing the race, as are 3 teammates from Mile High Multisport (coached by Pete and Kathy) and Iron Pol, Go-Mom-Go, Dying Water Buffalo, and Iron Snoopy! And the Waddler26.2 will be there volunteering! What a great time this will be!

Major photos on Tuesday if not sooner! Sorry I couldn't link the names, my PC is super slow, I still need to spin for 30 minutes and pack!
Have a great weekend!

IM Louisville

The Event...Louisville Ironman Aug 26, The Cause...Doctors Without Borders

Mary Sunshine is raising money for this via the Janus Charity Challenge. If you can, please help her out on her fund raising, any little bit helps!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=226494&supID=171322852

Thanks,
Duane

And I still need those tattoo ideas, see below!

Lists and A Contest For You!

Alert! Mary is in 6th place on the fund raising for IM Louisville! Check this out and pump up her placing (and give for a very good cause!)



You really should go read the lists and latests posts by three of my favorite bloggers!Mary's, LBTEPA's, andGeekGirl's. These three ladies inspire me so much! I get to see two of them at Louisville! Yeah baby!

So now for the contest! I have decided to get my first tattoo. It will be for the shoulder or arm (and a band is fine per Jay's suggestion) and of course will be tri related. I need artful help. The theme is to have the three disciplines surrounding perhaps a clydesdale related theme, or The Hammer of the Bike Gods, or whatever you may come up with! There will be a first, second, and third prize. The winners will receive a tri related prize that will be well worth the effort! Here is a sample draft of what I have so far, but I'm not quite happy with it and the middle is empty! You don't have to even use the characters in the photo. So let's see what you all can come up with! You can e-mail them to me at: dkn747@yahoo.com

The Week Upcoming

Saturday I rode for 20.6 miles, a new pr for me. Felt pretty good and could have gone for 26 I think. That bodes well for SOMA in AZ. Sunday I did 1:30 on the treadmill and my feet felt pretty good. The orthotics are helping a lot! I'm not back to 100% yet but 80% is pretty darn good!

This weeks workouts:
Mon- swim 1550 and walk 20;
Tues - Bike 45 with hill work and 1 hr strength;
Weds- walk 45 and swim 30 minutes;
Thurs- Bike 45 and 1 hr strength;
Fri- Off :-)
Sat - Brick: Set = 15 walk/15 bike, 3 sets in a row.
Sun -1 hour bike.

Hope you all have a great week!

Newbie Alert!

Jennifer finished her first Tri last Sunday! She is looking forward to doing more next summer and maybe even an olympic! Way to go Jennifer!

Steve, Margie, and Nicole just finished their first Tri this morning and are planning on doing Glenwood with me next summer! Way to go!

Thurday Thoughts

Nothing to earth shaking to share, but as I was riding my bike this morning I got to thinking (can that possibly be good? LOL). I was thinking about Sweetness(no, no, I mean about how he got his nickname of Myles!). So, I have decided I am going to ride my butt off this winter, putting in the miles, whether it's on my trainer or outside! Next year will be all about the bike, then I will be "The Hammer of the Bike Gods", like Mary is The Bike Goddess!

I was also thinking about Krissy who lost her pooch :-( . You have to go check out the video on her blog and drop her some love! I thought about Megan and Brigitte who are so nice, and about the upcoming Iroman races in Louisville and Wisconsin, and all the bloggers who will be fulfilling their dreams (too many to list, but I have to mention Mary, GeekGirl, Jay, and Jayme are my heart's favorites! I get the honor of being sherpa for Mary, and will get to watch GeekGirl and Sweetness and IronPol in Louisville too! What a weekend that is going to be!

I was also thinking about my goal of inspiring others is actually happening. My daughter Kelly did her first triathlon, a neighbor did her first tri, and a whole family we know is doing their first tri this weekend. Very fulfilling!

Then I was thinking about my ass (I know, sounds weird but read on). Yes, vanity is a motivator. When I was 25 I used to run, ride my bike to work, then move furniture up and down stairs all day, then maybe go run 36 flights of stairs in the Amoco building. I was a head turner, women would stop and look at my nice small, firm butt and muscular legs. It was quite flattering. I WANT THAT LEVEL OF FITNESS BACK! (only much older and a lot grayer :-) Yes, I want to turn heads again! Shallow? Not sure. Rewarding? Yes!) I am motivated!

I've Been Tagged

Jobs I’ve Held
Paper boy
Dishwasher
Landscaper
Furniture Mover
Pizza delivery driver
Brakeman on underground trains (helped build the Eisenhower Tunnel)
Bodyguard
Recruiter

Movies I Can Watch Over & Over
Forest Gump
LOTR
Unforegiven

My Guilty Pleasures
DQ Heath Bar Blizzards
Blogging
M&Ms (peanut only)
Sleeping


Places I Have Lived (in order)
Wichita Kansas
Denver Colorado
Fraser Colorado
Gunnison Colorado
Aurora Colorado
Kansas City Missouri
Wake Forest North Carolina
Littleton Colorado

Shows I Enjoy
CSI
House Hunters
Golf
NFL Football
Monk

Places I Have Been on Vacation
Disneyland
Zimbabwe
Yellowstone
Grand Canyon
Sand Dunes Nat'l Park

Favorite Foods
Anything Asian
Teryaki Burgers
Elk Steak
Potatoes

Websites I Visit Daily
Fellow Bloggers
Yahoo Mail

Body Parts I Have Injured
Broken finger
Stress fractures on right foot
Both knees
Both hips
Left shoulder
Both ankles

Awards You’ve Won
Many at work

Nicknames You’ve Been Called
Big D
D
Kahuna
Mr Wonderful

Pick 5 Other Bloggers (sorry peeps, gotta share the wealth)
Danielle
Courtney
Kate
Siren
LBTEPA

Chop Wood and Carry Water

My coach, Pete Alfino, must also subscribe to this work ethic! This morning was back in the pool for 1900 yards. No rest for the weary! 5 weeks until my "A" race at Glenwood Springs, so I think Pete is ratcheting up the intensity! This week will see 2 swim sessions of 3700 yds total, biking for 3 hrs, 35 mins, walking 2 hours, 35 mins, weight training 2 hours, which adds up to about 10.5 hours with the swimming. I may climb the stairs at work my office building a few times for good measure.

My friend Bev, who I met at Topeka, is doing another race this weekend, so positive vibes to her! She is a trooper! That's her in the photo, along with Blink and Tri-Dummy (man I look like I was really a hurtin' unit!)


Have a really great week! I look forward to reading your stuff! I assure you if you are on my lists, I read your blog, even if you don't see comments very often!

Iron Horse Race Report, Bloggers, and Bling!

Okay, before the race report, a little genuflection! When I started blogging, it was to record my progress and hopefully inspire some people. Little did I know the community I was getting involved with! I never would have thought I would be part of such a supportive, caring, fun crowd! This weekend was a prime example.

Friday morning I headed out from Denver to North Platte, Nebraska, for the race on Saturday. I arrived at Jay's house and met up with his wife Aimee (who is a real sweetheart)and her kids (and dogs). Of course, this is where I got all the real scoop on Jay! (My lips are sealed dude! But Bigun may be able to bribe me!). Jay came home from work and we went and grabbed all our packets. Hi wife Aimee and son Jake also were doing the race. Then we had dinner and some talking time around the table. Then KT and her dad, Lance, showed up and we got to meet and talk with Katie who is so nice!


Her dad looks more like my brother than my brother! I think he is my long lost twin:


To say the least, I had more fun hanging with the peeps than I did doing the race, and the race was pretty fun! I don't have many photos, but here is the race report:
The swim was in a 50 meter outdoor pool with two people in a lane. I swam the 200 yds in 6:01 which was better than the 6:30 I had set as a goal. Then it was on to the bike on a course that was pancake flat! (as Jay proclaimed!). I pushed it hard and finished with a 11.5 mph average, a new PR for me and I am very happy with it! The sun stayed behind the clouds so it was not too hot. Then I walked the run course and finished with a total time of 1:34. Got to walk part of it with Aimee and Katie came out on her bike and rode in with me for the last portion of the walk. It was good enough for my first bling! Third place in the fitness division, men's 50-54. Of course, there were only three of us so 3rd place was a guarantee as long as I finished! I'll take it! :-) The race shirt is coolmax and pretty nice too! I should have some more photos tomorrow once Jay and KT e-mail me. It was a most excellent time! All five of us finished! Jay, Aimee, Jake, Katie, and , my self. Please go by their sites for their race reports!

I'm Tickled!

Just a small thing, but yesterday I rode my neighborhood loop that has a short but steep hill. I usually get up it in granny gear, yesterday I made it up with the chain on the middle ring! (still the large cog in the back) It's the small things . . .

Friday I'm off to North Platte Nebraska for the Iron Horse super sprint and to hang with Jay and meet up withKT. Should be a total blast! The swim will be in a 50 meter pool, gotta love that as I just hate all those turns! Should I finish, that only leaves 46 states to knock off! :-)

Have a safe weekend and train hard! Race report Saturday night!
And thanks so much for all your encouragement and friendship!