Iron News Man - February 8, 2010
Iron News Man
I knew I was in trouble when the 1:50 Surf City Half Marathon pace group passed me at the 9-mile mark! Until that point I thought I was having a pretty solid, smooth race. When the group passed me I realized I was going to finish much slower than planned. I figured I’d land somewhere between 1:45 and 1:50. But 1:53:25… that’s disheartening.
Click HERE and enter Bib number 14741 for my Surf City race details.
First, the negative assessment of how my race went yesterday. I have no one to blame but myself for how heavy I am. I don’t eat clean and I weight train like a Russian power lifter! Triathlete and Triathlon Coach Jennifer Chalmers told me, “Looks like you do a lot of weight training that is not sport specific. We work a circuit like cross fit that is tri specific.”
Here’s what my friend and coach Craig Moss said about my race, “Looks like you progressively got slower and slower. Could be the weight like we said or the fitness. You hold the key to your success. I can write plans until my fingers bleed, unless you lose the weight and get into "racing shape" it will be all be for not. 40 DAYS to focus!!!!!”
I’m not hurt by either assessment. Honesty and open dialogue is going to get me on the right path for a successful LA Marathon, which is now my top priority. I thought I was motivated before, but I clearly was slacking. If my poor showing at Surf City doesn’t get my butt in gear, I don’t know what could?
There was a silver lining to my Surf City Half Marathon time (aside from all the fun and the Beer Garden at the end :). Overall, I’m only 10 seconds away from the overall pace time I’ll need as I lead the kids in Students Run LA during the LA Marathon. I’ve been tasked with heading the 3:40 group for the first 13-miles. Proper tinkering with my training should do the trick. Also, as of today I’m going to stop drinking ANY alcohol (with the lone exception being my birthday March 8… hey you only turn 40 once)! Taking my eating and drinking habits more seriously will increase the effectiveness of my training. I’m only going to stop lifting so heavy. I’m not some 16 year-old high school football player trying to crush the competition. I’m an Ironman trying to lean out.
Here’s my training schedule for today:
Off/Rest day
Notice how I said merely “training” schedule? I didn’t use the words Ironman South Africa training because I’m officially withdrawing from that race! I’m also not going to race in the Toyota Desert International. I’ll detail why in tomorrow’s blog. And while today’s blog may have hit a number of somber notes… I feel happy about rearranging my schedule. Life sometimes gives you lemons; I’m about to make lemonade!
Click here to read my previous posts.
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-Chris
My upcoming race schedule (so far) for 2010:
Students Run LA Friendship Run
Toyota Desert International Triathlon (Olympic Distance)
Why blog? To inspire others.
Simply put, three years ago I was overweight! At 6’1” I weighed 252, and wore size 40 pants. Few people really noticed, but I did. In pictures, on TV, I was not happy with my appearance. Covering the 2007 LA Marathon for NBC4 was the last straw. Every picture I was in highlighted just how out of shape I had become.
No more! Since that time, the guy who could barely run around the block has slowly built-up his endurance and completed numerous events. Among the big ones: the 2008 Long Beach International Marathon , 2009 Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, 2009 LA Marathon, 2009 Vineman Ironman 70.3, and 2009 Ironman Arizona!
I invite you to share this journey with me.
