Start of Ironman Training

And so I begin another round of Ironman training.  Today marked the first day of training for IM Wisconsin.  The whole idea started probably a year and a half ago as I slowly convinced Katie to do an Ironman.  I really don't think it took much convincing...more coaxing.  She had it in her all along.  I told her if she signed up for an IM, I'd do it with her.  Katie decided she wanted to do IMWI and raise money for the MS Society in honor of her mother.  Naturally, I told her I'd join her not only for the race, but in the fundraising efforts.

Last September, we traveled to Madison to watch some of the race and sign up for the race.  We met up with my friend Ben, who also traveled in from Dallas to volunteer and register for the race.  Katie and I waited in line for a couple hours and then signed up on-site for the 2012 race.  Next, we contacted the Wisconsin chapter of the MS Society and got a fundraising page up and running and set a goal of $15K.  Feel free to visit our fundraising page and make a donation.

All that seemed like forever ago, as Katie has been training for Boston and I've had other races on my mind.  But now here we are a little over 5 months out and training started today for me.  Katie has a couple more weeks to go, as she will begin her training after Boston.  I'm really looking forward to Ironman training again.  This will be IM #3 for me, but it will be Katie's first.  I look forward to working with her (and Ben) to get them both through their first Ironman race.  The Wisconsin course isn't easy, but I think I can help them both get prepared to tear it up on race day.  While I'm helping Ben with his training schedule, I'll be taking a more active role coaching Katie on a day-to-day basis.

Personally, I'm looking forward to IM training for multiple reasons.  I can't wait to get more fit again, and IM training will definitely get me there.  Additionally, I love doing long rides on the bike, so Ironman training really gives me an excuse to hit the bike hard.  Not only that, but it allows me to push myself on the run in a way in which marathon and ultra training don't.  Lastly, the swim is and probably always will be a challenge for me, so it gives me something to really work on.

As for my first workout of this training cycle, tonight was only a 30 minute swim.  However, amazingly I made a breakthrough tonight.  I've been working on my form and breathing for as long as I can remember.  Ok, well a few years anyway.  Somehow tonight things came together.  The reach a caused the rotation and the more efficient stroke allowed me to breath every other stroke on one side rather than every stroke.  It's really incredible how I've been trying to find this form for a couple years, yet never been able to put it together.  I've made it through two IMs and a ridiculous amount of training miles in the pool without being able to figure this out.  Then, out of nowhere, it just works.  It amazes me.  I had a similar breakthrough while training for my first Ironman, where freestyle just came together for me one day.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm still slow and I'm still probably inefficient.  However, I'm slightly faster and slightly more efficient. That makes a big difference over 2.4 miles.  Hopefully I can make more progress before race day.