Iron News Man - July 2nd, 2009

By CHRIS SCHAUBLE

Updated 7:59 PM PST, Tue, Jul 28, 2009

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I can FEEL this is a key training week leading up to Vineman Ironman 70.3! My legs are tight as a drum. Stretching for today’s recovery run, and especially after, will make sure it doesn’t progress into an injury. I’m starting to get that excited feeling about Vineman. More and more the triathlon will dominate my thoughts. Always happens.

I was a bit apprehensive about yesterday’s hill repeats. I must admit, they weren’t so bad and I think they made my legs feel better! I was supposed to keep my cadence above 70. Honestly, keeping above 60 was hard enough on the bike and I could only hold 70 for short bursts. In time I expect to get better.

Wakeup Workout: Basic Swim Workout

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Wakeup Workout: Basic Swim Workout

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Ironman Journey

Here’s my TrainingPeaks.com schedule for today from Triathlon Coach Jason Healey:

Run Flat Course - Recovery Run
Type: Run
Planned duration: 0:00
Planned distance: 4.0 miles
Run 4 miles on a flat course. Try to find a soft surface if possible. Stay in lower Zone 2: easy to medium pace. Check cadence several times during the run. (Try to count 15 right leg strikes plus in a ten second time period. This will give you a 90-step cadence per minute and will help prevent over striding and foster better form. Remember to run with a proud posture with eyes focused on what is ahead).
Today is all about form and economy. Have some fun Chris.

Workout #2: AA, 3-4 sets
Type: Strength
Planned duration: 1:00
Planned distance: 0.0 miles
After 10 minute warm up do 2-3 sets of Anatomical Adaptation Phase "B" Exercises. Cool down with 5-10 minutes. Print Anatomical Adaptation Phase "B" Exercise Illustrations from the Triathlon Training Series DVD.

I plan to do the run at Balboa Park. It’s in the San Fernando Valley and the jogging path is a perfect 4.5 miles. I like mixing things up to keep my interest fresh.

Here’s my meal plan from Food Coach and Private Chef Robert Vincent:

-Protein drink

-Six egg whites, one egg yolk, oatmeal

-Cup of mixed berries, banana, six ounces of tuna

-Eight ounce of fish, sweet potato

-Stuffed filet mignon, whipped sweet potatoes

-Protein drink

-Cup of frozen yogurt

I’m looking forward to putting on my iPod and cruising the four miles when I finish with work. It looks like it’s going to be the easiest workout day of the week for me. Tomorrow is a BEAST in the pool! Speaking of swimming, check out today's Wakeup Workout video to the left! It features a nice swim workout for anyone wanting to get started.

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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, and the 2009 LA Marathon.

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. and 11 a.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.