Iron News Man - November 3, 2009

By CHRIS SCHAUBLE

Updated 7:15 AM PST, Tue, Nov 3, 2009

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A rest day brings restlessness! I have to guard against such a feeling. The intensity of my workouts is going up, but with the exception of tomorrow’s 4000-yard swim, I’m not going to be training as long with Ironman Arizona less than three weeks away. The sense that I’m not training hard enough or long enough is familiar thanks to my previous marathons and the taper for those races. Experience reminds me that all of this is normal... my coach reminds me as well.

As Ironman nears I wanted to share an excerpt from an E-mail sent by my Triathlon Coach Jason Healey :

"Keep and eye on your nutritional intake as your workout volume decreases. You'll want to avoid any additional weight gain during these last few weeks. Additionally, some people also experience some minor bouts of insomnia as their training volume changes.... just know it's normal if it happens to you."

That last part about insomnia is BIZARRE! I tried to nap yesterday and could not! I figured I’d be tired last night and go right to sleep… nope! Not only did it take me a while to fall asleep, I woke-up two hours early for work (I normally get up at 1:30) and I had to fight to get back to sleep. I appreciate my coach preparing me mentally. About the weight gain, I refuse to let that happen, even if it means lowering my caloric intake!

Wakeup Workout: A Stairs Workout

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Wakeup Workout: A Stairs Workout

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Countdown to Ironman

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Ironman Journey

Here’s my TrainingPeaks.com Schedule for today:

Workout Description:

Rest Day. Take the day off and rest. Try to stay off your legs as much as possible. Watch your nutrition. Try to eat healthy carbs, lean proteins and good fats. If possible take the time to stretch and work on core strength.

Like working out on stairs? Be sure to click on the Wakeup Workout video! Today it focuses on strengthening legs by tackling the stairs in a different manner.

Days until Ironman Arizona: 19!

Click here to read my previous posts.

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-Chris

Why blog? To inspire others.

Simply put, two 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 the 2008 Long Beach International Marathon , 2009 Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, 2009 LA Marathon, and the 2009 Vineman Ironman 70.3.

However, something happened along the way. After my first marathon, I fell into a funk. I asked myself, “Why do you feel such a let-down after a marvelous achievement?” The answer I have since learned from my coaches, I failed to set the “goal beyond the goal”. Thus, my quest for Iron was born!

I’m registered to compete in the Ford Ironman Arizona on November 22nd, 2009. Along the way, I will compete in various road races and triathlons to fuel my passion and push my training along. The intense and at times brutal training will happen after my duties as 4 a.m. to 7a.m. anchor for NBC4 have finished. The sacrifices I will make will be substantial, and for that I thank my beautiful family and friends in advance.

I invite you to share this journey with me.