FLASH-POINT BLOG ARCHIVE: May 2009

Last year I finished my first Ironman triathlon (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho). It was an amazing experience, both the race itself and the training leading up to it. But doing an Ironman has some intersting side effects.

For one thing, it made me never want to train again. Oh sure, I went on plenty of short, social group rides with friends. But if it looked a bit chilly? I stayed home. Doing long steep hills? Stayed home. 6:30am start time? Home. When you're training for a race you don't have a choice and you HAVE to do those rides. But I felt like I deserved some time to rest.

Unfortunately, the second side effect of doing an Ironman is that it makes you want to do another one. I don't know what kind of twisted logic is going on, but I'm signed up to do Ironman Wisconsin in September, along with three other friends.

After a few months of leisure time, I just started back into Ironman training mode. This means long weekend rides, early morning rides before work, and hills and intervals mid-week. I do admit it does feel good to be back with the group again.

Last year I was terrified if doing the actual race. This time, I know what's ahead so it's not the race itself I'm worried about but the training leading up to it. There are some long, killer weeks coming up and I expect to be grumpy most of the summer.