Half-Marathon

This morning we got up and ran a half-marathon. The weather was overcast and a bit rainy, which is perfect for me. I love running in the rain. It didn't rain too much, which was good for everyone else. Calin and I finished in just over 2 hours. Because it was "all in a day's training," afterwards we went to the gym and biked for an hour. I felt a lot better after spinning out and stretching. I'm definitely going to bed early tonight though.

All in a day's training

Conversation today:
Me: So, are you doing the half-marathon tomorrow?
Mariam: What? No, I didn't hear about it. Good for you though! I hope you win, ha ha!
Me: Well, I didn't train for it at all so that's not going to happen. It's just a normal training day for me. My training schedule already called for a 2 hour run so I figured I may as well run a half-marathon. Afterwards I still need to go to the gym and tag on another hour of cardio.
Mariam: Ha ha! "It's just a normal training day for me." Ha ha!
Me: Ha ha! Who says that, right? Oh wait, I do!


So Calin and I are running a half-marathon tomorrow. I hope the weather isn't too bad.

Mind Numbing Workouts

This morning I got some very sad news. I welcomed the four hour workout to numb my mind and body. Sometimes the mind numbing workouts are a welcome relief. 

Where does the time go?

Time is definitely the most precious commodity. I'm still coming to terms with it.

After a full day of work... Walking to gym: 15m. Biking: 1h25m. Running: 50m. Total time spent at gym: 3h15m. Walking home from gym: 15m. How much your social life suffers when you're training for an ironman: infinitely. The first thing I cut: sleep. That can only go so far though...

This guy I've been out with a few times was traveling for work. When he unexpectedly returned to Beirut he immediately texted me asking if we could get together that evening. After a little happy dance, I thought about my schedule that night. He opted for something another day instead of trying to fit something in after my workout.  

How it started for me

For me, the Ironman journey started, unbeknownst to me, over 2 years ago when I decided to train for my first marathon. It had been on my bucketlist for ages and, having had some serious upheaval in my personal life, I needed something to keep me focused (READ: 'sane'). I began training for my first marathon in Kawaihae, Hawai'i. My daily runs were through native koa forests or on paths along cliffs abutting the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Often I would run on the beautiful white sands of Hapuna Beach and go swimming, surfing or stand-up surfing afterwards to refresh myself. After 2 months of training in Hawai'i I moved to Bogota, Colombia where my training continued. From the idyllic tropical training background I was thrown into doing mile long laps in a busy park crossing several major raods in the third highest city in South America. I had worked my way up to 12/13milers in Hawi'i but my first attempt to run in Bogota left me out of breath at under 1 mile!

Once I had mastered the altitude, the holding my breath for buses to pass, and the curious gazes from Colombians, I ran and finished my first marathon on May, 2009 in Medellin, Colombia with my running partner and dear friend Kelby. Cheering me at mile 20 and at the finish line were my dear friends Rafael, Arley and Carlos as well as my most dedicated cheerleader and sister, Jennie, who had all travelled from Bogota to support me. Truley a memorable event but, as I told Kelby at the finish line when he asked me about future marathon plans I felt, "NO desire to ever do that again!"

Now, I plan (almost exactly 2 years from the date of that marathon in Medellin) to perform in an Ironman in Switzerland. I guess what I said to Kelby was partially true; I'm not running (just) a marathon again!

I can't wrap my head around it...

The other day as an older guy I play soccer with was driving us home he was asking how the training was going. I gave him a generic answer; "Fine. The hours are long but I'm feeling pretty good." He proceeded to ask why on earth anyone would ever want to do such an event. I started supplying a string of answers, none of which were satisfactory to him. He kept saying, "I just can't wrap my head around it..."

I simply replied, "If I can do this here, I can do anything. Really. If I can train for a triathlon in a place that is not designed for or friendly towards bikers, runners or swimmers then I truly can do anything. Nothing will ever be this hard again."

139 days to go!

It all started in April 2010. I heard about a sprint triathlon being held down in Tyr, Lebanon. It was going to be right around my 31st birthday and I thought it would be a great way to celebrate. A friend from the US was going to be in town that weekend so she and I signed up. I did some running preparation, swam a bit when I was at the beach a few times and trusted that the rest would be like riding a bike. Libby and I survived the race and had a great time.

Sometime in June 2010, Calin asked if I'd be crazy enough to consider doing a triathlon in the next year or so. Of course I said yes. Immediately. The idea floated to the back of our minds as summer vacation took over our lives. When we came back to work in September the idea started working its way to the forefront of our minds. And we were not just thinking a triathlon. We were thinking an IRONMAN. September 16, 2010 we made it official. We went out to dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant. Before we even ordered our drinks, Calin turned to me excitedly and stammered, "Ummmm, I think I want to... I mean... If you are willing... I think I want to do it! I want to do an Ironman!!!" I laughingly replied, "You couldn't even get down on one knee?" We are now "betrothed" in our commitment to train for and complete an Ironman triathlon. 

It took us a few weeks to squeeze in time to sort out a rough plan. We eased into consistent training through October. On November 2 we registered for the Zurich Ironman Triathlon, which will be held on July 10, 2011. No turning back (or at least no refund)!

We are now a couple months in to serious training. With 139 more days, we have a lot more to do (and not enough hours in the day to do them)! We will share our thoughts here throughout the next 5 months so follow us, add us on your RSS, and comment away!