rolling right along

Trying to figure out which bike to buy is really difficult and I`m glad that I can`t afford one at the moment because I keep changing my mind. Training is still a little casual but I anticipated that and that`s why I`ve given myself plenty of time to adjust. Getting stronger and more focused though and I plan to time it just right with the registration in August, my 39th birthday. Rest in peace Dennis Hopper.

3 months

Now that I was able to lock up a place to stay in Penticton I now now have three months left until lockdown! To me that means 90 days to be prepared to spend a year training for this Ironman. A long lonely journey it will be as i don`t know any runners,swimmers or cyclers but could probably fill the room for the after party. I`m still trying to figure out which bike to purchase and it`s leaning towards a solid road bike, yesterday it was an entry level tri bike but that saga still continues.So for now I`ll just make sure to swim more and more and more!

Hockey

Now that the Canucks are out of the playoffs once again, I can concentrate on the Ironman path properly, having a playoff game every other night is hectic especially in this city. Izumi and I heading across the border this Saturday to do some shopping at a Seattle outlet mall and I plan on stocking up on running gear and swim shorts and whatever else we can find for the summer season. As for penticton I think I missed the boat as far as finding a place to stay,it should of been done a lot earlier in the year because everything is booked or places have doubled their prices and ask for a minimum 4-5 night stay..that ain`t happening! not with the amount of money I`m dropping for the entry fee. So the plan is starting to look like a solo cruise to Penticton and whatever happens...happens.

Penticton

Now that my one week holiday is coming to an end and I`ve had a chance to catch up with friends and family it`s time to start thinking about Penticton. The only way I can register for the Canada Ironman 2011 is to be there and registration is the Monday after the race each year. So this weekend I applied on line to volunteer for this years race as a catcher so I can help people once they cross the finish line. I`m still trying to find a hotel but one way or another I`ll be there to soak up all that atomsphere on Ironman weekend which is the last weekend of August and to start my one year countdown!

What`s next?

Now that the race is over and i`ve had a few days to not think about running or any other tri activity it`s now time too. First though I`m happy with my time because my previous best in a half marathon was 1:51:05 in Seattle and 7 minutes is a great improvement! Now it`s time to move forward,I was scheduled to meet my swimming coach this week but I`ve decided to wait another month so I can just spend time on my own in the gym and pool to get back to form.

Official half marathon time

1:44:43

race day!

I was up at 5am today having oatmeal and blueberries with a grape Gatorade G2 and stood on the patio taking in the fresh air. After doing my usual stretching routine and making sure I take advantage of the washroom as many times as need be, I notice it`s about 6:15 and that gave me 45min to get to the start line. I took the skytrain to stadium station and of course once I got there I needed to take a leak and all the full marathoners were lining up for the port a potties because the full started at 7:30, so once the gun went off for my half I was counting the people in front of me...in the port a potty line! and it was at 10. When it was finally my turn I remember hearing the announcer say "looks like we have a couple late ones they better hurry" so I burst out of the johnny on the spot and Izumi`s there telling me to hurry up! so I head to the start and everyone has started which means i almost started dead last. Now the good thing about starting late is that I`ll spend the majority of the run passing the back of the pack and slower runners. Anyway 3 miles in it starts pissing rain, so I`m soaked after 25 minutes but I was expecting that. Once in Stanley Park I was looking forward to prospect point hill and once up that I took my powerade gels and then decided just to go for it! Now I planned on doing that but actually running from Lion`s Gate bridge to BC Place stadium was pretty cool with people cheering along the way! I wanted to finish between 1:45 and 2:00 so I`m waiting for the official time on the Vancouver Marathon website.