9 days...

Heres a little something I wrote in my training log. Just wanted to share it with everyone...

2352...

I feel good. Day off. I feel relaxed and focused. A few days of work in a row here and then tues I have class 8-2 and then I leave that night. Im not even sure why im going to class right now... All I do the whole time is run the race through my head. The swim.. T1.. the bike... T2... and the marathon. I attempt to imagine the pain... I attempt to imagine pushing through barriers I havent pushed through yet.. and I attempt to imagine the joy of pushing through those barriers when I do. I feel good.

LoneStar weekend in Galveston...

Good weekend down in Galveston. I raced the Quarter Iron which is something like ~1000y swim, 28M bike, 6.5 mile run. Paces were 22.75 on the bike and I believe 7:34/m on the run. The idea was to go pretty hard in the swim, and then IM race pace the rest of the race. Well the swim was great. Ended up 16th overall, by far the highlight of the day. I got on the bike and thought I had a tailwind, so I was pushing pretty good. Hit the turnaround expecting a headwind and bam.. no headwind.. So I continued close to the same pace, just a bit slower. At first it was REALLY difficult to let so many people pass me on the bike, but after a while it wasnt too bad, and I just thought about IMAZ. Came off the bike and got into the run. Felt excellent on the run. Long story short I think the mile markers were off, so my miles are REALLY sparatic. Toughest part about the run was letting myself get passed by 8 (yes i counted) 8 guys in my age group... But, I just bit down and thought about IMAZ. I thought about how bad I want KONA, and that this dinky little race isnt worth it. Finished the run TOTALLY relaxed and felt like I had just started. Was a good race in the sense that I got to race the bike in full IM race gear. I got to run in the tri-suit and I got to swim w/ my QR wetsuit. So all in all a very good training day. Wish id let off a bit on the bike but hey, I felt good and the conditions were ideal for those speeds.

Well, the reality is really starting to sink in. Im working the next 5 of 6 nights and then im off. Whatever I need to get done before I leave needs to happen now! Ill be dropping the bike off at the LBS tommorow for its needed TLC and the trisuit will be dropped off to get my LBS logos on there. Without B&B Bicycles I have no idea where I would be in the triathlon world.. definitly not where I am now. So thanks to Beth and everyone there. You guys are the best!

They havent posted any photos of the race yet so ill post them when they're up. I also am working on my Race Report for Galveston, So ill post that link as well when Im done. For now, here are some photos that friends took from this weekend! Enjoy :)

_Jacob_

Stressed but calm...

18 days left. My taper began Monday. What a great weekend of workouts. I couldnt have asked for better quality. After really not feeling it earlier in the week, I couldnt believe I was able to come back and really finish strong. Check out my training log for specifics! Cycles well over 160miles in three days.

Spring break was awesome last week, but went by SO unbelievably fast. Most like because I spent 21hrs of it working out. School started back today and its a little stressful. Having to worry about assignments and exams while tapering for an Ironman thats less than 20 days away is.. well.. to say the least.. no fun. I also found out im probably going to miss an exam the thur before IMAZ. Not good either, but I spent 6months training to qualify and nothing is going to stop that. Ill do my best to explain to the professor what im going to do and hope that he understands.

Im going down to Galveston this weekend to "race" the olympic/quarter iron triathlon. Im definitly looking forward to finally getting to hop in the wetsuit again and get in the open water, plus get to ride on the disk again. Everything is going to be nice and easy at IM race pace. On the swim in just going to go off percieved exert, then hold ~21mph on the bike and <8:00/m on the run. Lets hope for strong winds.

Happy birthday to my mom ! I cant believe you're _ _ years old!! haha.

Hope everyone is having a good week. Looks like the weather is going to change for the best! 80s+ here we come!!

_Jacob_

Focused...

So ive gotten carried away with my beginnertriathlete.com blog. It really is an awesome site to log workouts, and workout data.

Whats the theme for the week so far? FOCUS. I realized a few days ago during my 100 miler that I was more or less just going through the motions. I wasnt having quality focused workouts. All of my workouts so far this week have been amazing. Even my nice EZ hr run was awesome. Unbelievably focused.

IMAZ is so close. I have 8 more days of "building" and then im done. My taper will be on. Technically there is nothing more I can do. Its odd how fast IM training can fly by. These new few days are going to be the best workouts ive ever had. I have a planned day off this week. I may end up subing a swim in there.

Im FOCUSED like never before. This is good.

So, for some fun updates.

I bought an upgraded lighter 55T chainring.

Oh.. and did I mention I finally bought a new DVD holder??? :)

So much has happened.

I PRd for a half mary. New PR is 1:23:09. Mentally probably one of my best performances yet. Heres the link to check out my race report entered on BT. Just click here. Havent gotten to race a tri yet. Im going to do the LoneStar quarter.. Definitly wont be racing. I just want to get some good open water experience before IMAZ. The bike and the run are both going to be IM race pace.

For today, one last "long" run with some speed stuff thrown in, a 1:20-1:30 bike ride, and some light weights.

Back to "work" I go.

OH YEA!!
I learned how to unicycle. This is an old vid. Ill add a new one as soon as I get unlazy enough to upload it to YouTube.

_Jacob_

Beginner Triathlete

So I have a new addiction....

BeginnerTriathlete.com

As most everyone knows now its my new training blog. All my workouts are documented there in total detail. Its by far the easiest and most efficient way to record workouts. If you're not using it, check it out.

Im still using this site for regular updates... but beginnertriathlete is daily. If you look to the right of my page youll see a pic of my aero bars and above it reads "link to my training blog". Just click on the pic and it will take you right to BT.

:)