Attacking a hill on my 1st ever triathlon!
Read update below on my Half Ironman race in CT
Ok, Ok....I can't help it! I love a good adventure! I enjoy hiking, running, mountain climbing, scuba diving, flying, motorcycle riding, balloon rides, white water rafting/kayaking, racquetball and many other things. I guess God has just given me an "adventure bone!" The only "endurance" events I have done are long distance bicycle riding and mountain climbing.
I love to incorporate the life lessons I learn through these things into my preaching and teaching. So, what's next?
Ultimate Endurance? (Ironman)
To make a long story short, Diane got me into running with her back at the end of May '09. I had never run before, so it was pretty new to me. I donned some old tennis shoes and headed out with her to a 1.2 mile trail and began to jog. Next, I happened to be in Best Buy one day (one of my favorite stores) and saw a Nike+ system. It is a sensor which goes in your Nike+ running shoes and communicates with your Ipod and tracks your distance, pace, time etc. I wasn't about to shell out $100 for the special shoes! So I found a velcro pouch to hold the sensor which attaches to your shoe strings and off I was to run!
Well, it started to get "into" me and soon I was no longer content to run with her because I had to go further faster! I know, I'm hopeless! I found the special Nike+ shoes on sale, so I bought a pair and was soon running in tech, in style and to my favorite tunes! So, I set a goal to run in a local 5k race. I trained and thought it would be great if I could just finish in a good time. Actually, I wanted to place. So I worked hard and on race day, didn't even place in my age group even though I turned a decent 23:33 time! Bummer!
So, I set a goal for myself of running a 5K in 22:00. I started training harder and faster, got my time down to 22:13......and then got sidetracked! "Disaster" hit one day as I was in my local health club as an Italian friend of mine, Bartolo, informed me about an Ironman competition coming to Cedar Point, here in Sandusky. When I found out what an Ironman consisted of, I said, "No way! That's just too much to train for!" Then I found out they were also having a Half Ironman as well. I thought, "Now, THAT I can do!" 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13 mile run. So I fully comitted to do the 1/2 Ironman.
So, I started training and got myself up to the point that I could run 10 miles at one time. I knew I could bike the 56 miles because I had done that and more in the past. So, the more I though about it, I knew that I would not be content if I did not do a full Ironman at some time in the near future, 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile (full marathon) run. So, here I am, after reading a mountain of literature on Triathlons, tuning 56 this year and already I have run a 1/2 marathon (13.1 Mi) in under 2hrs. I have biked over 100 miles in a day before. I just started swimming last November using the Total Immersion Freestyle method so that is all new to me. The good news is that I'll get to wear a wet suit, which will greatly help. I began my swim training last Winter and now I'm really into it.
Normal training day? If I swim, I am at the YMCA by 5-5:30am. I do some drills, then swim 1.5-2.4 mi. (154 laps) This Summer I have been swimming in the Lake when it is fairly calm. Then I'l go home and run at least a 10K. A running only day is 7-10 miles. Now that I have my Tri bike, (thank you A & B Hobby & Terpco!) I am riding outside since the weather has finally broken and am usually riding at least 25-40 mi per workout. (a short day)
Just to get the "hang" of this triathlong thing, I am competeing in an Olympic distance (.93 mi swim; 24.8 mi bike; 6.2 mi run) triathlon in Knoxville, TN on May 9th. This event is also sponsored by Revolution3.
UPDATE #1: May 9th, 2010 - I successfully completed the Oly distance triathlon and also took 4th place in my age group! The swim portion was a HUGE goal to overcome, but I did it in :30min. My final time was 3:10. So now I am officially a Triathlete!
UPDATE #2: June 6th, 2010 - I am now officially an Ironman! I completed the very difficult 70.3mi (1.2mi swim; 56mi bike; 13.1mi run) course in Middlebury, CT at Rev3's Quassy event. The only flat portion was the swim! The bike and run course were very hilly and challenging. However, I finished in 7:05 and took another 4th place finish in my age group. This being a 1/2 Ironman, I now know what it will take to complete a full Ironman....close to 15hrs!
So, on September 12th I will be competing in the Revolution3 Full Ironman Triathlon! (www.rev3tri.com) I know it sounds crazy, but here is what I have built my Christian life and experience upon, Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!" I have decided to use this opportunity to raise funds for a local non-profit group, Nehemiah Partners of Sandusky and my goal is to raise $10,000 through sponsors.
So, why would I even attempt something like an Ironman competition? I guess to prove it to myself, leave a legacy for my sons, and to hear the announcer say when I cross the finish line 12-15 hours later, "And here comes John Adams! Pastor John, you're an Ironman!
Kind of reminds me of what the Bible states Jesus will say of us when we enter into that rest, "Well done you good and faithful servant! Enter in the joy of your Lord!" That will be worth it all! I guess I'm just practicing!
