Live From the Race Venue

We are just fourteen hours before start time and things are heating up. I am not speaking figuratively. It is boiling hot down here. I was prepared for hot but give me a break.

I think I got dehydrated just walking the mile to the swim start. So tomarrow will belong to the following groups of people;

1)The Thin--Is this not always the case. If only I had known the eating right and being healthy could be an advantage.

2)The Hydrated--This one I can do. I have made huge mistakes in the past but now those mistakes come back to help me.

3)The Paced--Tomarrow is not a day to go fast. It is a day to survive. Frankly, that's where I live. every workout is survival for me. So I have a good feel for what I can do in these condtions.

A few other points:

1) I went to the swim start and it looks even more attractive. Secluded, narrow and less current than the main channel. After we hit the turn it is out into the main shipping channel for a big long float home.

2)All kidding aside, the heat could turn tomarrow into a bloodbath. i would suspect there will be a high number of non finishers.

3)Given the conditions I peg my chances of success tomarrow at 60-70%. Sorry I meant to say----IRONMAN or BUST

Its Fun Until Someone Puts and Eye Out

I really want to finish the Ironman. Reasons:

1)The other day I was driving down to Louisville and i got passed by a car with a Tri bike on the back. The car was obviuosly heading to Lousiville for the race. I started to cry---just a little---because, well because I was doing the same thing. I used to go to events like this and thing the people in them were so cool and I could never do that etc. Now here I am doing it. But it only, really works if I finish the race. Its one thong to be a goofy,funny, slow last place finisher. It is another thing to be goofy, funny , slow and Not Finish---The punch line only works if I finish.

2)This is the three year aniversary of Lisa's transplant. There were four times during that period that I thought I had lost her. Others have not made it in a similar time frame. So this is a celebration not of the the impossible but of the difficult. But the celebration only,really works if I finish.

3)Training for this stuff is really a pain in the neck. If I fail to finish, I will feel compelled to come back and try again. I can avoid Ironman training next year only if I finish.

4)I have what most people would call a "big mouth". So lots of people know that I am doing this race. That means that I am going to be asked a thousand times, "did you finish?"--I can answer yes only if I finish.

5)I think chicks dig this sort of thing, but only if I finish

What a Scene

I have been down in Louisville getting things set up. It is a crazy scene down there.

1)Got everything set up and then spent most of two days trying to make sure that I had not forgot something--huge anxiety

2)Had a bad meal at Champions bar--then I noticed the Ironman Champ leaving from the same place. So he eats the same crap I do.

3)The heat is up, up ,up. But no rain and little wind.

4)I got to do a practice swim in the river today. It went really well. Clearly my swimmong has improved a lot and if I execute, I should be ok for the first leg.

5)I have been keeping track and believe that there may be two guys fatter than me. So my only hope is to finish ahead of the really old guys.

6)The finish line is going to be super exciting with a real party like atmosphere.

7)Louisville is on fire with tons of people and a million things going on right now.

8)I am planning on bringing the whole crew down to Louisville tommarrow. I actually came home tonight. This turned out to be a good thing since I was getting a little buggy down in Louisville.

Payback

Over the past five years we have been able to raise a lot of money through the genrosity of our donors. Also our TeamBigWave folks have gone out and really hit the pavement for our cause---Buddy, Sara, Carol, David, Greg, Brian, Gwen.

So each part of the Ironman gets a dedication. Of course if I collapse and give up during your segment you will be extra honored.

SWIM
Start-Chun
Leg 1-Kushner
Turn-Jody and David
Leg2-Gruber
Finish-Chung

BIKE
Miles
1-10-Valerie
11-20-Terri
21-30-Johanne Servedio
31-40-Rogers
41-50-Hurst
51-60-Al and Michele
61-70-The Carpenters
71-80-Inoglia
81-90-Spink
91-100-Maddock
101-110-Jeanette and Frank Servedio
Finish-Angie Eazzetta

RUN
Miles
1-Nelson and Carol
2-Gizzi
3-Bill and Margie Servedio
4-Marra
5-Gunza
6-O'Neill
7-Gee
8-Disipio
9-Rothaus
10-Bill and Ann
11-Boland
12-Avers/St. John Associates
13-TeamBigWave Team
Turn-Murtaugh Family
14-Szawaluk
15-Hammerman
16-Caples
17-Linda Reid Baker
19-Macks
20-Our past and Future donors
21-Lisa (First Treatment)
22-Christopher
23-Andrew
24-A special person
25-Adult Cancer Patients
26-Kid Cancer Patients
Finish--Family


Let's give it a whirl. Check out www.ironman.com or www.ironmanlive.com and use the athlete tracker to follow me on race day. Projected start 7 am, projected finish 12:30 AM

Heading Down to Louisville

I am just now heading down to Louisville. Triathlon is a whole big production and Ironman is like the Oscars. I have gear for three sports plus special food and back gear and sunscreen and chamois creme (dont ask)

A few things:

1) I looked up the last finisher under 17 hours, a certain Mr. Seale. I can do all of his times. The question is , "Can I do them back to back to back in the hot sun"?

2)I generally pay no attention to the weather but at this point I check the forecast every hour. Good Stuff--no rain, low humidity, temps not around 100 Bad Stuff---Big Sun, Temps around 90====all in all a fair deal and I will take it. Water temp not known but we anticipate a NON wetsuit swim

3)Andrew took me out for a training run today with him on the bike. He thinks I can finish but if not we can come back and try another day

There is still time to donate--just email me at murtaught@yahoo.com

More Donors on Board

I found the piece of paper that reminded me of a few more of our supporters and donors:

The Carpenters
The Spinks
Linda Baker

Also, since our blog fired back up The Szawaluks and Barbara Boland have pitched in with donations. If you are interested in being a donor send me an email at murtaught@yahoo.com

Join in and cure blood cancers--donate to Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

It seemed Like a Good Idea

It seemed like a good idea at the time:

1)I will sign up for Ironman and during training correct my nutritional problems and race at a low weight. Wrong--Should have lost weight before. Now must pay the price

2)I will get my nails trimmed before the race so they do not dig into my toes. Wrong--I called a place that does salon work for men only. I figured they must get a lot of guys in there with the same problem. So I went for my pedicure. I really just wanted my nails trimmed. The whole concept of an endurance race seemed foreign to the girls (more about that later). So I ended up with a true pedicure and a little buffing on the nails. I had to tell them to not take off my callous--I need those little buggers come Sunday night. But wasn't it at least realxing, Tom? NO--for two reasons: 1)I am incapable of relaxing 2)You sit in a slightly elevated chair and the foot person (who is female and about twenty three) leans over in front of your feet and works on them (Please draw a diagram to get the correct angles). She is attired as many young women are. So now I have to figure out how not to look forward or down for 40 minutes lest I become, "The creepy old guy who does the weird races".

3)Hey, let's invade Iraq. They probably have WMD.

4)I will do an Ironman in Lousville not Florida. I mean, "how hilly could it be".

5)I will do an Ironman in Louisville and not Idaho. I mean, "how hot could it be".

Louisville Course Preview

If you want to get a sense of the race, this link will take you to a series of 7-- ten minutes videos that preview the Ironman Course.

Not for the feint of heart

http://iamtri.com/video/video/listForContributor?screenName=2xjkvevcwid49

I Could not Sleep

I could not sleep last night. Still jacked up from being on call which seems to be taking a bigger toll over time. So I was awake and running things through my mind.

1)I have to drink 250-300 calories each hour. I make drinks with 2 scoops of Infinit mix in 20 oz water. I will make the drinks as I go to get cold water. But how best to carry the mix?

2)I decided to get a pedicure. Will they clip my nails which is really all I want? Does it make sense to race 140.6 miles but not bend over and touch your toes with a clipper? Will this make me like Judy Garland ( more)--not that there is anything wrong with that?

3)How best to shuttle Lisa and the kids back and forth? A 17 hour race where you see your racer for a total of 130 seconds is a pretty bad deal.

4)Will my front tire hold air well? I have had some concerns.

5)Joe Biden had a Scranton tie in. That is probably a good thing.

6)What will be my motivation when things get tough. How come things seem tough even at mile one for me.

7)It will be kind of embarrassing if I fail to finish. I think to conversation goes like this: 1)If I finish---Wife to husband, "Well , I thought you said he was too fat to finish? And I hear he bought his wife dinner?" 2)If I fail to finish---Husband to wife, "I told you he was going to fail. He is such an idiot."

8)How cool will it be to finish? Will I be able to walk over and pick up my bike?

9)If I think of all the horrible things Lisa went through is that inspirational or cheesy?

10)Sleep would be a really good idea this week.

The Madness Must End

I am coming down the homestretch. Only one week left to go. Very little to do now except to watch the weather ( Worst possibilities in order are 1)Rain --Cannot go fast on the downhills 2)Wind--Generally sucks the big wazoo 3)Heat--Expected but you never know.

Today was planned a three hour bike ride. At this point that qualifies as a spin around the block. But I have gotten a little sick and was also on call and so one thing led to another. So now three hour bike ride. But how to make up the training? How about three laps around the block with the kids on their bikes?--Seems like an equivalent effort to me.

At this point it is about execution and not more training.

Thanks to our 2008 donors (Still time to join)

Over the past few years we have had the great fortune to raise a bunch of money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Team in Training.

My goal in doing Ironman this year was to celebrate three year's since Lisa's transplant and to give an extra thanks to this year's donors. I still have to track down a few names but here is the "honor roll " for this year.


If you still want to donate, contact me at murtaught@yahoo.com and I will send you info.

V Duplain
The Craiges
The Chuns
The Kushners
The Youngs
The Hammermans
Chung/Miller
Terri Booth
Johanne Servedio
The Rogers
The Hursts
The Yuknus
The Grubers
The Caples
The Inoglias
J and F Servedio
A. Eazzetta
The Gizzis
W and M Servedio
The Rothhaus's
The Hubenys
The Marras
Helen Gunza
The O'Neills
The Gees
Disipio/MacDowell

Commencement

Every year, somewhere in America (or as it is known in red states, 'merica), somebody, at a graduation, points out that commencement means both a beginning and an end. So therefore, go forth and do more stuff. I am , frankly, never impressed with this line of thinking. I keep waiting and hoping that someone is going to say, "That's it. You got it all straight. You are done, now go sit in a corner and read the New York Times".

Of course, this line of logic is crazy because it means that no one who works for the New York Times can ever be done. It is also crazy because we are never done.

With that in mind, I decided to do an Ironman one year ago. Thinking that it could be the culmination of an effort. As it stands now, it will really just be the beginning. But I am not sure what of--I am also not sure if you should end a sentence with a preposition.

The lesson seems to be that there is never an end. The more we seek an ending, the less likely we are to find it. Can you enjoy the ride? The ride seems to be all we have. Can you enjoy a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike followed by a 26.2 mile run? You better because that is all you have.

Since it can get lonely out there, I may keep a few of you in mind

Some Kind of Hero

I am not much of a champion. In fact my usual technique is to figure out what the bare minimum effort should be. I then give that minimum effort. Now to my credit, I take that excess energy that I saved and move onto the next thing. Quantity not Quality.

So with this in mind I looked up the last place finisher from my age group at Ironman Louisville last year. I can swim at least as fast as he did. I can do the first transition as fast as he did. I can bike as fast as he did. I can do the second transtion faster than he did. I could run as fast as he did---but its a little close. So here is my hero--the last place guy. If I am as good as him, I am an Ironman

Monkey see, Phelps do

We have been watching tons of Olympics. On good old fashioned TV, without TiVO or other gadgets. In other words, TV the way God intended it.

Swimming has been the main feature. The underwater cameras have been great and especially for viewing swim technique.

A funny thing happened--I am swimming faster. My Sunday swim training was the fastest that I have ever done. All of this from sitting on the couch. Next week I am planning of watching a lot of track in the hopes that it wil make me fast and also a lot of "America's Top Model" in the hopes that it will make me thin

It could work--don;t laugh

Why are you Here?

I was watching a video that gave tips on how to do an Ironman. One of the suggestions was that you need to have a reason. You need to have a reason for whne , not if, the going gets really tough. What is the one thing that has brought you to this place.

The same speaker said he writes, in marker, messages on his arms that help guide him through the race. So I was thinking that I did not have a single reason. My goals were fuzzy and maybe this is why I am not so talented at this.

I cam up with four things to write on my arm:

1)WWAD (What would Andrew Do?)

My son Andrew has such great focus and determination. Unfortunately, I have none of that. So when I really need to focus I think, "What Would Andrew Do"?

2)BDIM ("But Dad, they're not doing Ironman")

My son Christopher always knows the right thing to say. He knows how to help others. A couple of weeks ago we were watching a bike race. I was telling Christopher how amazing I thought the top racers were in this one hour race. And Christopher said to me, "But Dad, they're not doing Ironman". Point well taken

3)Survive

Lisa had to fight to survive and was able to do it. Kind of cheesy, but that's a motivation also

4)TM ya IM ("Tom Murtaugh, you are an Ironman")

Silly as it sounds, this is what i reallly want to hear. By tradition, the announcer calls out your name at the finish line with that line. I just want to hear it said

Crunch Time

There are really only two things that I excel in related to triathlon. The first is carbo loading--enough said.

The second is the taper---What is the taper?

As you get close to an event , training is dramatically reduced in the hope that your fitness will show up and come along with fresh legs. the first time most triathletes have had fresh legs in about 9 months. So we are just about ready to hit the taper but not before a 13 hour week including a 6 hour bike session attacking the hills and a 2 hour run this weekend.

I could use a taper since this long training is gettint old. If I run a perfect race, I will just be able to finish under 17 hours. If I make any mistakes, no finish. If no finish, back to the drawing board for next year. I do not want to do that---so my crass motivation is to get out of this insane training,

Sunday I rode about 80 miles and then ran for an hour. As the bike nears its end fatigue is so enormous and nothing can make it stop.

Ya Want to know what its all about

Do me a favor--Read this and try not to collaps in a heap

Hemingway said that, "Courage is Grace Under Pressure"--I have been trying to find out if I am courageous my whole life and I am still not sure.

Read this

http://www.aforster.net/benlp2008.htm

Progress

Before i start--rigth now I am watching olympic cycling in High Def. Stunning. I finally broke down and bought a new TV. It only took four hours to get it up and running and it does require 25 hours/year of continuing education. But when it works----Nice!!!!

To back up, I have been discussing my shortcomings but all is not without hope.

For instance--Swimming

2004-First time in a pool land--Swam 37 yards and almost collapsed--Wife Getting chemotherapy
2005-First time in a lake---Swam 100 yards and almost died. Wife just finished a bone marrow transplant
Today--Swam multiple miles in the same lake as 2005 without getting tired or freaking out. Wife eating with boys at Panera


Progress

I Might not Make with You

We had Chinese food tonight. My fortune, "Endurance and persistence will be rewarded".

But I have to think about Cardinal Harbour. What is Cardinal Harbour? Why only the most pitiful race peformance ever.

It took me forever just to finish last. This just a few weeks ago and on a course very similar to Ironmnan.

So what makes me think I can finish Ironman? Nothing logical that I can think of.

Educating Rita

Your family suffers when you train for Ironman. Of course in my case, they kind of benefit when I am out of their hair for a long time.

The kids and even Lisa like to sit around and watch TV. Breakfast is around 10 am and very lesiurely. When I am around on the weekend there are forced marches, 7 am trips to Lowes ( for what I don't know) and 8:15 breakfast at the Echo. Let's just say that I am missed but not THAT much.

True enough but your family still has to put up with endless discussions related to triathlon. Have you ever discussed whether you should drink 22 oz of water every hour vs 16 oz of water with 20 oz of Infinit custom blended sports drink? That presumes that you have had a discussion about the appropriate sodium and potassium concentration in the Infinit sports. You have had that discussion, now haven't you?

So they do suffer in some ways. Case in point: Lisa had to watch to 2 hour dvd discussing race staregy with me last night. Afterwards we had to dissect each recomendation for another hour.

I know she must be worried because she actually pretended to be interested.

I Don't Want to go to Indiana

Let us make some assumptions. #1--I do not drown in the swim #2--I am not swept into the mouth of the river #3--I am not run over by a barge #4-- I am not run over by a truck on the bike #5--I am able to complete a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 mile bike.

Assumptions out of the way. The final event is a marathon. We start by heading over a bridge into Indiana and then we run back into Kentucky. This constitutes the only hill in the running equation. Next we run down to the University of Louisville and go pass Churchill Downs. We go out and come back and then go out and come back again. Flat and the whole event is catered with pretzels, chicken soup and other things. The run is where things get really hard and where nothing but your mental attitude will carry you through.

The goal is to make it to the finish and hear your name announced as an Ironman.

If You Like Horses, You Will Like this Bike

After the 2.4 mile swim, you head into the changing tent where they hand you your gear and you get ready for the bike.

David and I just rode this Sunday so it is fresh in my mind. I break the course into segments and try to deal with the length in that way.

Number One--The Road out of Louisville

This part winds along the river and I must say that this part of Louisville looks fabulous. There are large homes and boat docks along the river. The road eventually opens up and begins to climb out to the rural spots. The key here is not go too fast. It is early in the race and the course is easy---but if you go hard now, you will pay fo it later

Number Two--The Out and Back

After we get onto the rural roads we take this 10 mile detour down this heavily wooded area. There are very long climbs followed by large descents. The key here is to not push hard on the uphills but to ride as fast as you can tolerate on the downhills. I have found that 33 mph is about as fast as I can go before freaking out.

Number Three--The Connector

This is a short segment that gets us out to "the Loop". Not very long but it gives us a taste of what is to come

Number Four--The LaGrange Loop

This is a loop that we ride twice through horse country. On the map it looks easy but in reality it is impossible. Relentless up and down. This part also gets very hot and wind can even come into play. It is partly mental and partly physical. You need to ride smart here and keep focus. Of special note is the Marathon Station at one end of the loop that is packed with cyclists on the weekend. On the other end is the local store that starts firing up its smoker around 9 am--tempting and also asthma producing.

Number Five--The Connector

See above and do in reverse

Number Six--The Road Home

On the way back we bypass the out and back and head straight down route 42 into Louisville. All by itself it is not a bad ride but after 95 miles it is a little bit much to take. Also as you get close to the city the traffic picks up so maintaining peak mental focus is an issue


this weekend I had my best ride so far. I think because my HR was kept low and never broke beyond 149 and averaged in the 130 s. No matter how much you want to take off, you need to keep the effort slow and steady--140.2 miles is a long way to go

Let's Start with a Swim

Today David and I went down and rode the entire 112 mile bike course. It was our best workout so far, but more about that later.

Ironman begins with a 2.4 mile swim. In terms of the whole event it is a somewhat trivial component. But the swim does two things. First , it sets the table for the rest of the event. The saying is that you cannot win a triathlon in the swim but you can lose one. You need to get off to a good start and use as LITTLE energy as possible. The second thing is that it makes for scary stories that we can tell people to make triathlon seem really freaky cool.

Back to the energy saving thing. The key is to move effeciently. Triathletes actually try to minimize their kick unlike pool swimmers to save legs for other things. In many races we use wetsuits but not at Louisville because the water will be warm. Wetsuits provide warmth but also make you float and go faster.

I viewed the Louisville swimm course today. It is daunting to look out into the massive OHIO and figure out how to swim that monster.

The first part is against the current and involves swimming around an island. I have read that sticking close to land can reduce the impact of the current and I plan to test this out. AFter you turn around the island, we head with the current down to the finish line on the great Lawn.

4 years ago I could not swim 37 yards. I now routinely swim 2 miles. That said this kind of open water swimming is another kettle of fish but hopefully not sharks.

My best time for a 1.2 mile swim in the Ohio has been around 52 minutes so anything under 1:40 FOR 2.4 MILES WILL BE GREAT. Pro swim times will be 55 minutes total and good amateurs are around 1:15. Large, Manatee like creatures will be ecstatic with 1:40 and will live with anything under 2:00. By the way, if you are not out of the water by 2:10 or so they pull you from the race.

Tomarrow , a little about the bike and a report on today's training session.

Back in the Saddle Again

The old blog has been dull for a time. Not much to say but now I think is a good time to re-activate.

For all of our TeamBigWave donors we promised a few suprises this year. So here's one fer ya.

End of this month, I will be attempting the Ironman distance race at Louisville. Seemed like a good way to celebrate Lisa's successful treatment three years ago.

I have been in training for about 9 months now and I must say that I have left myself a little short. My hope was to have enough training to guarentee a slow time but a finish for sure. I left myself holding on for dear life and will need a near perfect race and a little luck to complete the race in around 17-18 hours.

To review: The swim is 2.4 miles in the Ohio River--I know --THE OHIO RIVER. Next we move onto a 112 mile bike. The course itself is beautiful but an absolute monster with several thousand feet of climbing. Finally a marathon through the streets of Louisville. Oh did I mention that UK and U Louisville decided to play a football game on the very same day and right on the course.

More about all of this over the next month.