Band Aides and Duct Tape

It's a little later than I would like to be up right now, but I hadn't iced my right Achilles, and it is needs to be done. I'm trying to both nurse myself back to health and build myself up since Timberman and before Tawas. I really want to do the Tawas 1/2 Iron Distance Triathlon I'm registered for. I covered the swim distance pretty well the other day, so my confidence is up for that. I've ridden 40 miles, but riding 50 miles fast-ish would be even better. I have run 3mi and 5mi and I'm hoping to run 6mi tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. I would like to run a 10-miler without much discomfort in my calf or Achilles. Well, without any discomfort would be even better. I'll also have to monitor my foot.
I'm remaining both patient and optimistic, but both are also difficult. Maybe I just need Band Aides and Duct Tape.
Hangin' in there.
Peace.

Timberman, Ironman 70.3 in the Books

The Timberman, Ironman 70.3 experience was what I was looking for and what I expected. It was highly anticipated for many months (years really) and this event delivered the goods. I experienced what was truly crystal clear water during the swim, quad busting climbs and crazy descents on the bike, a challenging, yet fair route on the run, and a world class field.
Watching Andy Potts come out of the water leading the professional men by 100 meters was amazing and he made it look effortless.
Seeing Chrissie Wellington hammer on the bike and then cruise on the run was awe-inspiring. Both returning champions, both giving it their all, both beating their own course records. Studs.
My family was very supportive, patient, and understanding of my need to drag them across the country to become a Timberman. It was a wonderful trip and well worth it.
If you are interested, I encourage you to click on the "Race Report" link under "Timberman..." above to get the race details.
Peace.

Dawning of Timberman, Ironman 70.3

Taking my Specialized for a spin and doing some light hill work will basically cap off my training preparation, with exception of maybe a short run in NH heading into this summer's main event, : Timberman, Ironman 70.3. I believe I'm ready, which is important because I'm as ready as I'm going to get, given there is really no more time left. The starting gun will go off on Sunday morning ready or not.
I've done many 1.2 mile swims and I'm prepared to cover the distance, but conditions and circumstances may impact my level of proficiency.
My time trialing on my bike has gone well this season and I have some solid long rides in the books, so it will be interesting to see how my ride comes together.
Running has actually been going pretty well this summer. I have had a few issues come up as of late, but I've been addressing them and I hope they remain minor and a non-issue.
We leave tomorrow fairly early. We'll be stopping in Syracuse, NY on the way out to provide some relief for weary travelers before heading to NH Thursday morning.
Friday evening I'll be meeting a group of people I've been interacting with via a forum for Timberman for many months now. I'm really excited about this opportunity.
Saturday the kids will have a chance to run a 1k kid's race and receive their finisher medals from the 3x Ironman World Champion, Chrissie Wellington.
Sunday, earlier than the ...crack of dawn I'll be heading to hurry up and wait for my wave to start.
Excitement is brewing, but calm and a cooler head shall prevail...well at least for the event. The travel with anxious children will be a bigger challenge.
TIMBERMAN, IRONMAN 70.3 IS CLEARLY ON THE HORIZON.

If you so choose, you can track me at Ironman.com on race day.

On another note, I mentioned in my last post that I was working on changing my entry for the Tawas 1/2 iron distance race to the Olympic distance race in September. I've changed my mind and I am hoping to not be too worse for wear so I can take on the 1/2 iron distance. It may be a race day decision, but right now I'm leaning back toward covering 70.3 miles.

Peace.

Heading Toward the Finish Line

If you click on any of the race report links under the events I have done so far, you will have access to my thoughts on how those particular events went.

A few days before the Mellinnium Triathlon I started thinking about what events I have still remaining in my season. The Timberman, Ironman 70.3 is certainly the most anticipated. It will be an adventurous trip out east for the Wilkinson's and a great opportunity for me to complete an event that has been on my triathlon radar for many years now. After that I was originally registered for the Tawas 1/2 iron distance triathlon. After thinking it over further, I have requested to have my slot adjusted so I can be registered for the Olympic Distance triathlon at the same race instead. I determined that it might just be too much for me and I want to end my triathlon season on a healthy note and compete in the Great Turtle 1/2 Marathon on Mackinac Island in a healthy state as well. I haven't heard back yet, but I'm not anticipating a problem.

The time is getting closer and at this point I just have to stay sharp and keep my peices and parts together to be ready to go for the next two races.

Stay tuned.

Congratulations! It's a GURU!

It wasn't planned. It couldn't have been predicted. It just...well...sort of happened.
Two Monday's ago Maggie, the kids, and I went to run various errands in the greater Grand Rapids area. Ultimately the only task I needed to accomplish in town was to get a new adaptor "pipe" for my pump because the one I had relied on for so long wasn't getting the job done.
To save time, I dropped everyone off at Target and went to Village Bike in Cascade to get the said item, which of course they had. After paying, I mentioned, "I'm going to poke around a bit, even though I probably shouldn't." You know how it is: Kid in a candy store kind of situation. Anyway, it only took about five steps and it appeared before me. It was one of those moments where there is a bright shining light and the loud "Awwwww" as if the moment was sent from Heaven.
There it was in its shining glory: The bike I didn't even know I was dreaming about, but at the same time, the bike of my dreams. The Specialized Transition Expert. Yeah baby, all carbon fiber with contours that would make a model envious.
I wiped the drool off from my chin while my eyes popped out at the bright yellow sale tag with the red numbers showing a significant savings. My heart pounded. I picked it up and it was so light in my hands. However, I quickly put it down and turned away like a bashful schoolboy who wanted so badly to ask the stunning beauty to prom, but simply couldn't come up with the nerve. I looked at the other bikes nearby. Nice? Yes. Cool? Yeah. You gotta' be kiddin' me bitchin'? Not-so-much. Nevertheless, I touched the rubber of the front tires, tapped on the frames gently, and walked out the door.
When I returned to Target I identified my crew right away. Alex was looking at the new styles of school clothes, Payton was on his way to the toys, Frank was pulling clothes off the rack as Maggie was busy putting the clothing carnage that Frank had produced from a different rack. It actually looked as though the rack had exploded and Maggie was trying to put the proverbial Humpty Dumpty back together again.
With stars in my eyes I causually said, mostly to myself, "I just saw my next bike."
Maggie said, "Let's go see it."
"What? Why? You don't care about that stuff."
"Let's go see it. I want to see what you're looking at."
"Uh...really?"
"Yeah. How much is it anyway?"
"$$$$"
"Why don't you get it?"
"What?!"
"Why don't you get it?"
"Well...I...uh...because...uh...what?"
"Let's just go look at it."
So, we went back to Village Bike on our way home. I looked at the bike, got on the bike, imagined myself riding the bike, and talked to Dave at the store about the bike. I would have ridden the bike, but it was raining out.
Maggie asked if it was the right size. I said, "Well, it's more complicated than that. I would want to do a fit and see if it is even the right bike for me."
"Then do it."
I reached down to the floor to grab my jaw which was laying there from the shock, because it was needed for me to continue to have a conversation with Dave. We determined the best course of action would be to provide a down payment to hold the bike and then schedule a bike fitting.
The following Tuesday I went back to Village to have a fitting done with Tom.
Tom is the most precise, detailed-minded, person I think I've ever met. He asked me many questions, he did flexibility and range of motion testing. He took measurements and asked more questions. Finally I got on a fitting bike and he conducted tests, moved pieces and parts, studied the charts on the computers, adjusted my posture. It was as comprehensive of a fit that anyone could ask for. Finally he said, "Ok, let me go get the bike and see if we can set it up for you."
Tom returned with the glorious ride I had spotted a week earlier. I had some time to think about this...more time than I would have liked really. I had a feeling it was going to be dubbed, too small. I asked, "Now, having done all we've done today and you knowing what you know, what does your gut say?"
"Too small."
"That's what I thought," I replied not completely dejected, but still disappointed.
Tom proceeded to tweek this and adjust that to see what he could do. He paused and it was clear to me that he had reached the end of what he could do. He had somewhat of the look of a surgeon who could do no more the the victim brought into the ER as the flatline jetted across the screen.
It wasn't going to work.
Tom talked to me about options. He wanted me to take the lead and direct him where I wanted to go. However, I didn't want to dismiss the fact that Tom is an expert. He not only has a great mind for bicycles, but he's also an accomplished rider in his own right. ...He can totally kick my a##.
I told him I was emotionally tied to the Specialized brand, but was certainly open to options that he thought made sense to him for me to consider. He nodded in understanding and presented some ways I could go. Ultimately I stopped him and said, "Ok, let's go with the custom GURU. Now, knowing what you know about everything that went on here today and what you know about bicycle components, pieces and parts, would you be willing to design a few options for me to look at and have us go from there?"
He politely agreed and by the end of the week I had a couple of bikes to consider.
I had all week to think about what he might come up with and with what materials. I had in my mind I wanted an all carbon-fiber, you've got to be kiddin' me, bitchin' machine. I realized that anything less wouldn't be worth the trade off of my longtime, two wheeled companion...my Litespeed.
I settled on a design and chose the color scheme. I went in to Village once again to pay for it. I was nervous, I was excited, I was thrilled, I was...apparently out of my mind. I just paid for a bicycle that cost more than my first "real" car and more than I would likely pay for our current car. Payton was with me and I told him he was going to have to get a job mowing lawns to start paying for my new bike. He looked at me and giggled nervously. I looked at him and smiled, wondering which neighbors would actually pay him to mow their lawns.
Now it's a waiting game. It will take 4-6 weeks before I get it.
I need to sell my Litespeed. Parting will be such sweet sorrow, but it's time for us to part ways. I hope someone recognizes its value, takes advantage of the deal, and takes it for many more miles.
A new chapter will soon begin.