Dave’s Triathlon Journal

I believe that once you can get over the mental hurdle of covering whatever distance they are going to attempt, sprint, olympic, 70.3 or 140.6, and you are able to solve the nutritional puzzle, there isn't a whole lot that can get in the way of completing and even being competitive at that distance.

This summer I found one more nemesis of mine after getting a handle on the two mentioned above, humidity

The seacoast of New Hampshire is currently experiencing a soupy upper 60's and 70 degree dewpoint. Granted I've only been back training for a couple of days, but I did a little over six miles this morning and about halfway through I felt like I had covered double that. The legs were heavy, the air was thick and it just wasn't a pleasant experience.

Most of the summer has been this soupy kind of weather, including my first two 1/2 IM's that I completed this summer. So, you'd think that I would begin to acclimate myself to this type of weather. Sadly, this has not been the case. Maybe it is my 195 pound frame or I'm expecting to adjust too quickly. One thing is for sure, next July 23rd when I toe the line at IM Lake Placid, I will be praying for a nice dry dewpoint of about 50 degrees!

I wasn't sure how I would adapt after a week of eating whatever I wanted, staying up too late and not doing even one workout. But Monday morning rolled around and there was a strange comfort in getting back to the routine.

There is also a nice sense of control. This seems a little strange as I think about it but I think it has actually become easier to be in "training mode" than not in "training mode". I have been training on and off (mostly on) for the better part of three years since that fateful day I did my first triathlon and got hooked. As much as I enjoyed not having the structure last week, the familiarity of training as I get back into it is nice.

The day is a good one so far. I had a healthy breakfast and lunch, I have some healthy snacks to get me through the afternoon and looking forward to Masters tonight, or a nice run if the rain and storms force a cancellation.

Bring on the exercise!

I finished the Timberman 1/2 Iron a week ago today. After 10 - 20 hours a week of training, keeping track of everything I ate, weighing myself almost every day and tracking my resting heart rate every morning I have taken the entire last week off from doing all of those things.

In almost 11 months to the day I will be looking forward to the cannon at Ironman Lake Placid on July 23, 2006. Here I will try to document to the best of my ability my road there.

Also along the way I'll be keeping track of my participation in the Janus Charity Challenge and my company's goal to raise $60,000 for the Southeast NH Habitat for Humanity.

This is my first attempt at a blog so if anyone out there decides to read, please pardon my learning process, and enjoy!