Double Iron to what???

First off let me start this post by saying how much I miss my old road bike. If you haven't read my previous post go ahead and do that, then come back to this one.

That bike has huge sentimental value to me, not to mention thousands of hours logged on it.  I was just flipping through my facebook photos uploaded before the race and found a few from training while on my roadie. It was an incredible bike that I'll miss much more than I ever thought I would. I would have much rather gotten rid of it on my own terms... but I guess that just wasn't in the cards. RIP roadie... wherever you may be.

This one was taken when I first painted it flat black... Probably around 2007? 2006?

 

This one was taken a week or two before it was stolen... While out on a training ride.

And this one was taken the day before. Race ready... for a race it would never see. :(

On another note, and more relevant to my post title, I'm having trouble trying to figure out what do after a double. I mean seriously. My second race of the year was a double Iron... What in the world do I do now?!

I still want to finish at least 12 marathons/Ultras by the end of the year, but other than that I don't have too many other plans.

I did register for an off-road duathlon in April! I've entered this race with the intention of going for the win if not the course record! It's only in it's second year I believe so it's still fairly small, but I'd love to get a fun fast race in. The distances are something like 4K run-20K mtn bike-4K run. I'm trying to get a little bit of "speed work" (whatever that means!) in before the race in hopes of being able to run somewhat faster again.

I have been getting some mountain biking in almost everyday so it's nice to be back on the trails instead of congested Plano roads training. If anyone would like to go trail run or mtn bike anytime let me know! I'm always looking for someone else to ride with.

I've also started the process of getting my fixie put back together! Since I don't have a road bike right now I figure the fixie is as close I'm going to get, plus I used to do A LOT of my training on the fixie anyways. I finished sanding it down last week so now it's all ready for a nice fresh coat of paint! I'm not giving any details on color/components cause I want to wait till I post the final photo.

 

Alrighty, I've gotta get back to it, but I hope everyone is doing well! It's great to be back in the 80's again, so get out there and have some fun! :)

_Jacob_

Florida Double Iron Race Report

When I started exercising around the end of 2004 I didn't know how far a marathon was. I didn't know the distances in an Ironman, and I sure as heck didn't know people did races longer than marathons.

Last weekend, as I was cycling circles in a small little park outside Tampa, Florida I coudldn't help but think about all the things people were doing around me. There were people out there learning to ride bicycles, there were people out there rollerblading, and there were people out there bird watching.

Little did most of these people know a double Iron distance triathlon was going on around them.

Let me put this in perspective for you.

On Friday afternoon as I was cycling around mile 50 or 60, I passed a group of cyclists training in the park we were racing in. They asked me what I was doing, and I just told them we were having a race.

The next morning around mile 48 on the run, the same group of cyclists were out there starting another training ride. One of the cyclists came up next to me and asked, "Hey, weren't you out here yesterday cycling?"

I could do nothing but smile... This man had gone home, had dinner, slept, had breakfast, and was now back out here training again...

At around 9:46AM on Saturday March 4th, I finished my first double Iron triathlon. A 4.8 mile swim, a 224 mile bike, and a 52.4 mile run in 26 hours, 16 minutes, and 38 seconds.

SO many things happened during this race. SO many things happened BEFORE the race even started!! On the way home I started my race report and am now at the midway point. I've written a MUCH shorter version which was posted on the NEWTON RUNNING BLOG if you're interested in reading that.

Experiencing something like a double iron is something I don't think I'll ever really be able to put into words. Breaking through barriers that I didn't even know ever existed is a feeling that is indescribable. To come from a 220lb high school kid that refused to run, to what I am now is empowering to say the least. I can only hope that everyone at some point in there life can feel what it's like to blow past barriers whether they be mental or physical. Don't settle for just enough. Reach for more, and use your potential. God has given us incredible bodies capable of SO much more than you think.

There are a few people I've got to thank first and foremost. Above all, I thank God for the life he's given me and the ability to do what I do. Without Him I am not, so I cannot take credit for my earthly accomplishments. My wonderful wife Courtney has been incredible with her unwavering support and immense amount of love. Aaron Patel was my only crew member and absolutely blew it away. Without him I would not have finished this race, no doubt in my mind. Big thanks to Rose for driving two hours EACH WAY just to pace me in the middle of the night. Huge thanks to Jay at Sun & Ski sports in Frisco, Texas for always making sure my bike is ready to go. Also thanks to Ironhead Race Productions for always being supportive of even my craziest goals.

Also, a huge thanks to Steve Kirby and his whole crew from USA Ultra Tri. What an incredible organization. Steve really did an excellent job and really made an effort to know everyone at the race on a first name basis, if not a nickname basis :) 

What's next you ask? I honestly have no idea. I'm planning on trying to run 12 ultra marathons this year and finally knock off the big 100 mile run hopefully sometime in October. Also, now that I've had time to think about it I'd like to attempt the triple Iron at some point. Maybe 2013. But that's all I'll say about that...

I'm gonna get back to finishing up the long version of my race report and I'll get that posted as soon as I do. For now, here are a few photos from the race.

Thanks to everyone for the incredible support.

_Jacob_

 Here's me coming in for the finish...

Here are most of the athletes from the race. This is the post race awards banquet on Sunday....

Steve put everyones name and nationality on their tables...

Mile 87 of the bike...

 

Me after the race...

 

and finally my finishers shirt and medal....