Brick Workout ~4 Mile Run with Forrest and Murphy Then 15 Mile (1 Hour) Roller Training Ride on 09/30/2009

Back to training after a rest day and a day I took off to watch after ForrestI picked up Forrest after work from Blossoming Buds. It was a little cool this evening so I had him wear the lovely socks Dottie knit for him and his cloud blanket while we ran around the neighborhood with Murphy. I had to get a picture of him in front of the bike. Then I went downstairs to the basement to ride for an hour while I watched Blade Runner. ***10 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Madison Park Run with Forrest and Murphy on 09/30/2009 Shared via AddThis

Weekly Totals for 9/20-9/27

Hours: 10.5 Miles: 130 Calories: 7500 ***12 Days to Kona!***

Brick Workout: 9 Mile Treadmill Run then 90 Minute Roller Ride

Another call weekend workout saga. I managed to get in 90 minutes on the treadmill at the gym before they closed, then home to watch X Men Origins: Wolverine while riding. Hey, wasn't that Aussie Hugh Jackman droving cattle just yesterday? These combined workouts are challenging but good training. I am on call tomorrow, just as well as it is my rest day in the training. ***13 Days to Kona!***

2 1/2 Hour Roller Training Ride

I had to get my long ride in on the rollers this weekend as I am on call. I looked for an epic length movie to rent to keep my attention. I settled on Australia. I must say, were it not for the screen presence of the aboriginal child actor Brandon Walters at the center of the story, this would have been one of my more painful training rides... ***14 Days to Kona!***

6 Mile Early Morning Madison Park and Arboretum Run with Murphy on 09/25/2009

I got up early this morning to get a run in before my call weekend starts. Fall is definately on the way! Murphy joined me this morning and we ran our usual double loop through the neighborhood and the arboretum. I really enjoy running along the winding service road near the Broadmoor golf course. In the early morning light, it feels like a New England country lane. ***15 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Madison Park and Arboretum Run with Murphy on 09/25/2009 Shared via AddThis

Brick Workout: 18 Mile Home to Seward Cycling Loop then 35 Minute Run on 09/24/2009

Back to biking and running after two swim days and a rest day. I felt stronger on the bike, maybe the result of Sunday's long ride? I found a great Irish reel through the music shuffle on my Crackberry. I kept playing it over and over again on the way around Seward Park and back home. Then Murphy the Irish Setter joined me for the run. Saints and Begorrah, I feel like I'm back in the Old Country! ***16 Days to Kona!*** Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled Shared via AddThis

2 Mile Open Water Swim Magnusen Park to Kirkland on 09/24/2009 on 09/23/2009

I enjoyed my monday afternoon swim so much, I thought I would try it again. This time, John and his wife Nancy came along with Laurie and Forrest in the support boat. I managed to finish the swim in just over an hour, about 30 minutes faster than Monday! I got an earlier start due to better planning. It was nice to finish in the daylight this time. I hope to do this once more before the race. ***17 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - Open Water: Open Water Swim Magnusen Park to Kirkland on 09/24/2009 on 09/23/2009 Shared via AddThis

2 Mile Open Water Swim: Magnuson Park to Kirkland on 09/21/2009

I have wanted to try this swim for some time. I thought it would be good practice to see what it feels like to swim in wind waves and swells. It really does take more effort but the feeling of looking up a the open sky and the rolling of the waves is worth it. John drove Ken's ski boat while Laurie and Forrest watched. It was a great treat to see them off to my side when I took a breath! MapMyTri.com - Open Water: Magnuson Park to Kirkland Open Water Swim on 09/21/2009 Shared via AddThis

94 Mile (6 Hour Ride) Chuckanut Century on 09/20/2009

This is the longest ride of my Ironman training. As luck would have it, the Chuckanut Century ride out of Bellingham was today as well. This is, easily, the most scenic organized ride I have ever been on in Washington state. The views along Chuckanut drive are just amazing. As I was riding through the farmland south of Edison, an adolescent Bald Eagle (still all brown) crossed in front of me and started flying low over the farmland, not 10 feet of the ground. He was likely searching for rodents. We traveled along together for about a mile as I looking over from my position on the aero bars marveling at the grace and effortless power of this magnificent animal. It is a memory I will cherish forever. ***20 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - General Road Cycling: Chuckanut Century on 09/20/2009 Shared via AddThis

17 Mile Home to Green Lake Loop 3 Hours on 09/19/2009

The longest run of my training. I ran from home to Green Lake, around twice and home again. I managed to find a 3 hour window without rain. That was a relief. MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Home to Green Lake Loop 3 Hours on 09/19/2009 Shared via AddThis

1.6 Mile Open Water Swim on 09/18/2009

Swam 1.6 miles from Stan Sayres boat launch to Seward Park. Brother John got in the water a little ahead of me and we finished at about the same time. John's wife Nancy motored nearby in Ken's ski boat for support. The swim felt good and went by quite quickly. I had hoped it would be more like 2 or more miles but I was out of the water in an hour, so I am pretty sure this tells me I could be out of the water in Kona within 2 hours, 20 minutes. ***22 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - Open Water: Open Water on 09/18/2009 on 09/18/2009 Shared via AddThis

Brick Workout: 18 Mile Home to Seward Cycling Loop then 35 Minute Run on 09/17/2009

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." Helen Keller I found this quote on an Ironman Facebook page. It really nails it for me. Another inspiring message was a bumper sticker I saw in the early weeks of my training back in April. It read, "Don't Die Wondering" Today's workout called for a 1 hour ride and a 30 minute run. I really kicked it in riding back from Seward Park, a maintained a 24 MPH pace for a few miles on the aero bars. Prolly a warmup pace for a lot of triathletes, but prety speedy for me :-) Murphy, our Irish Setter decided to join me for the run. That was a real treat! ***23 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - General Road Cycling: Home to Seward Loop on 09/17/2009 Shared via AddThis

Brick Workout: 18 Mile Home to Seward Cycling Loop then 2 Mile Lap Swim on 09/16/2009

Back to training after a recovery day. I managed to get a one hour bike ride to Seward Park in before the heavy rains started, then to Medgar Evers pool for a 2 mile lap swim. This is the kind of days I should be having until just a few days before the race. ***24 Days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - General Road Cycling: Home to Seward Loop on 09/16/2009 Shared via AddThis

~6 Mile /1 Hour Run on 09/14/2009

I had a nice run through Marymoor Park this evening while helping my brother drop his car off for repair. The first couple hundred yards were tough, on account of the last two days, but I kicked into my regular pace soon enough. Laurie brought Forrest and the dogs over so the dogs got a nice run at the dog park. *** 26 days to Kona!*** MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: 1 Hour Run on 09/14/2009 Shared via AddThis

11 Mile Centenial Trail Ride with Laurie and Forrest on 09/13/2009

My training schedule for today actually calls for a 1 hour ride after my 2 1/2 hour run. We decided to ride the Centennial Trail in Lake Stevens. Forrest and I rode 5 miles down to a play structure that looks like a train. Of course, we had to stop. Laurie continued on for another 10 miles for a total ride of 20 miles. Yeay Laurie! Totals for this week: Hours: 13.65, Calories: 12,600, Miles: 132.63 27 Days to Kona! MapMyTri.com - General Road Cycling: Centenial Trail Ride with Laurie and Forrest on 09/13/2009 Shared via AddThis

14 Mile Home to Green Lake Loop (2.5 Hour Run) on 09/13/2009

Another long training day, this time running. I ran my usual home to Green Lake run but looped a third of the way around again and came back down through Wallingford. I happened to follow the course of the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk. What an inspiration to see all those women (and a few men, in pink hair and grass skirts no less!) out there working out for a cause they feel passionately about. MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Home to Green Lake Loop 2.5 Hours on 09/13/2009 Shared via AddThis

92 Mile MS 150 Ride on 09/12/2009

There is nothing like spending 6 hours riding with 2000 other folks to make a long workout go by faster. My colleague Ben kindly traded weekend call with me so I could go on this ride as part of my long training ride while supporting MS research and patient care. The ride over Deception Pass was incredible, as always. I was riding with my colleague Jamie early in the ride when he had a bad spill. He got up and was good to go but we got separated not long after. I heard later that he finished his ride and was OK. All in all, a great day, capped off with a boat ride in Uncle Ken's outboard boat with Forrest and his cousin Elias. MapMyTri.com - General Road Cycling: MS 150 Ride on 09/12/2009 Shared via AddThis

6 Mile Early Morning Madison Park and Arboretum Run on 09/11/2009

Back to running again. I felt better this morning than I thought I would after last night's swim. Less than a month to go till Kona! MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Madison Park and Arboretum Run on 09/11/2009 Shared via AddThis

1.5 Mile Open Water Swim South of Stan Sayres Boat Ramp to Seward Park on 09/10/2009

Great open water swim with my big brother John. My other brother Ken helped provide support from his ski boat. The water was cold at first but that passed as I started to swim. It was great to stop and see my brother coming along with his well honed swim stroke. I made it ashore at Seward Park to find a group of triathletes practicing a water start. I got back in to meet up with John and we swam over to some moored park diving dock to get back in the boat. I can really feel my upper chest and arms after last night's 2 mile swim and today's 1.5 mile swim! I hope we can do another family swim workout before Kona! MapMyTri.com - Open Water: Open Water Swim South of Stan Sayres Boat Ramp to Seward Park on 09/10/2009 Shared via AddThis

2 Mile Lap Swim on 09/09/2009

Back to the pool for a 2 mile lap swim at the end of 36 hours of call. I finished the workout in 75 minutes. Add another 0.4 miles and I would be done with the swim leg of the Ironman race. I felt pretty good. Managed to hold my own in the "Fast" swim lane. :-) MapMyTri.com - Laps / Swimming Pool: Lap Swim on 09/09/2009 Shared via AddThis

5.9 Mile Early Morning Madison Park and Arboretum Run on 09/08/2009

Had to get an early morning workout in before going on call for the next 36 hours. After the first 200 creaky joint yards, it really quite nice to be out in the early morning air with less traffic. I'm starting to feel the need to really ramp up the workouts until the end of this month. The closer October gets, the more daunting it feels. Lately, my Mantra has become "What would Lou (Gehrig) do?". Then it all becomes clear... MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Madison Park and Arboretum Run on 09/08/2009 Shared via AddThis

37 Mile (2 Hour) Roller Cycling on 09/06/2009

Too much rain and wind for a 5 mile ride today, so I did a 2 hour ride in the basement. I will try and join a longer ride tomorrow morning on my usual rest day to make up the rest. MapMyTri.com - Road Cycling - Medium Intensity: Roller Cycling on 09/06/2009 Shared via AddThis

13 Mile Home to Greenlake Loop on 09/05/2009

Despite the weather forecast it stopped raining at about 10AM this morning so I decided to try and get my long weekend run in. Another jaunt up to Green Lake and around. It started to cloud up again just as I returned home so it looks like I lucked out. MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Home to Greenlake Loop on 09/05/2009 Shared via AddThis

17.5 Mile Home to Seward Park Loop on 09/04/2009

A quick ride to try and beat the rain. Still got rained on a bit but the ride felt good. It looks like I may not get a long ride in this weekend with rain and thunderstorms predicted. I'll have to switch to swims and treadmill running, maybe some time on the rollers. Now it's off to date night with my child bride! :-) MapMyTri.com - General Road Cycling: Home to Seward Loop on 09/04/2009 Shared via AddThis

0.7 Mile Open Water: Swim on 09/03/2009

Swam in Lake Washington from off of my brother's boat to the Stan Sayers boat launch. Only 0.7 miles but I swam hard. It felt great to swim somewhere other than a pool! MapMyTri.com - Open Water: Swim on 09/03/2009 Shared via AddThis

8 Mile Run: Home to I-90 Loop on 09/02/2009

Took advantage of the remaining nice weather this week to get a long run in. For a change of pace, I thought I would run along Lake Washington Blvd to I-90 and back by way of Madison Park. Saw a swimmer making his or her way north from Leschi with a kayaker paddling nearby for support. What a great idea! MapMyTri.com - Regular Run: Home to I-90 Loop on 09/02/2009 Shared via AddThis

18.5 Mile Conbination (Brick) Workout: Seward Park Ride and Madison Park Ride on 09/01/2009

Back to training after my Monday rest day. The rain stopped so I decided to do a combined ride and run. Took my usual course down Lake Washington Blvd to Seward Park and back then a 30 minute run around the neighborhood. Back in time to take the dogs to the dog park with Laurie and Forrest. Yay, everybody wins! MapMyTri.com - Road Cycling - Medium Intensity: Seward Park Ride and Madison Park Ride on 09/01/2009 Shared via AddThis