| History |
| I started running in January of 2004 to get in shape. I had gained too much weight and felt terrible. I was able to run my first 5K 3 months later. 2 years later and 50 lbs lighter, I have continued to push for greater goals and have run 5 marathons and I am training for an Iron distance triathlon now. Everyday I wake up with a positive attitude towards life, training and my future. |
| Marathons Completed |
Arizona RockNRoll 2007
Salt Lake City Marathon 2006
Steamboat Marathon 2005
Boulder Backroads 2005
Las Vegas Marathon 2005 |
| Why do I Tri? |
| Should be why do I want to Tri? I want to see just how far I can push myself. With everyday I am in the best shape of my life. And I'm never going back!!!! |
| Sponsors |
Elite Family Fitness-Canon City
BB's Tanning and Massage
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| Scheduled Races |
Littlefoot Triathlon
Bolder Boulder 10K
Highland Ranch Sprint
Boulder Long Triathlon
Redman Iron Distance
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I Don’t Wanna Stop
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| Snake Bite x3 - OUCH |
| July 27, 2006 |
OK - I have heard stories in the past about jealous bikes.
I never believed them.
I always thought that the stories were the fabrications of triathletes who have done a little too much protein.
I am here to tell you that I am sorry for doubting them.
I got back from New Hampshire on Monday night, too late to get much sleep and so I did not train on Tuesday. It felt good to be back in Colorado, however my heart is still with my mother in New Hampshire. I got back from work on Tuesday and unpacked. Got all my stuff ready for a day of training on Wednesday morning. I decided to go on a bike ride to get my legs ready again and planned on doing hillwork.
I think my first mistake was not saying Hi to her when I got home.
Wednesday morning was great for a ride, Slightly cloudy and cool. The road were dry from the storm the night before. I got all of my gear together, checked the bike over, topped off the tires and headed out. My plan was to ride the Hwy 50 up 8-mile. 8-mile is a hillclimb from Canon City to the Royal Gorge turnoff. It rises about 2000 feet.
The ride uphill was epic. I felt great and was amazed that my legs felt so good after a 2 week layoff on the bike. I pushed a larger gear than last time I went up and felt good at the top.
"Athena" performed awesome all the way up.
I turned around and headed back down the mountain. I got tucked into my aero-bars and felt my speed increase quickly. It was such a rush, and before I knew it we were going 47.8 mph. Awesome. And that's when she got back at me. The shoulder had been pretty clean from the previous storm, except for one rock. I was still at top speed when I hit. I hit with not one but both tires. I was jolted but did not crash, however, in the back of my mind I knew what was going to happen.
That's right folks - 2 flat tires at once.
I was able to slow to a stop and got off the bike. Luckily I carried to spare tires - but I had only one CO2 cartridge. I rested and go busy, changing the tires did not take too long. I filled the tires as best I could, the rear was pretty near full the front was a little soft but enough to support my weight. So with that I happily headed down the mountain, at a slower speed, back to town.
I got down into town without mishap and felt confident that I was able to take on that challenge when it happened again. About 3/4 mile from my car I hit a seam on a bridge and next thing I know the front tire is flat again.
AAARRRRRRRRRR
No longer able to fill another tire I walked the distance back to my car. Depressed, tired, sore, and apologizing to "Athena" the whole way. I guess if I have to go on a trip again, she will have to come with me.
I am a believer now ! |
posted by Mondo @ 1:58 PM   |
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| BLAH ! |
| July 22, 2006 |
No training today, no swim, no run. I woke up this morning with every intention of going for a run. I woke up looked outside - saw the fog and decided today would be a day of rest. Like I need anymore rest. I weighed myself yesterday and found that I am about 5-10 pounds heavier than when I left. Boy do I need to get back into the routine. I will need to really kick some booty as soon as I get back to Colorado. These last two weeks of taking care of my Mother has left me drained - emotionally, physically and spiritually. My Mother is being moved from the hospital to the hospice house today. They say it is a really nice facility, I wish she could be home, but that is not possible. She is the stongest person I have ever known - she knows she is going to be passing on and yet she laughs and gives us all hugs. She does not want us to cry and yet we cannot help it. I just hope that I can be as strong when it is my time. Death has a way of opening one's eyes to the important things in life. I have talked to God more in the last 2 weeks then I have in the last 2 years. And suprisingly, lightning did not strike and the earth did not open up. ( I though it would have ) I consider myself a Christian but feel that I have wandered away for some time. I think it is time to get myself back on the right path. I will need his help to move forward after my Mother passes. I had to re-think my training and race schedule. I am not ready for anything at this point in time. I am due to arrive back in Colorado on Monday, unless something changes drastically before then. I have decided to concentrate on the Steamboat Traithlon at the end of August. I will not be able to take any time off for this one so I will need to leave on Friday night and come back on Sunday night. Teusday, I will get started pushing the miles again. I need to get back on my bike, "Athena" and ride hard and fast. I will push the miles and push the training to the next level. I will need to find a new place to swim, either open water or a larger pool. Life goes on, but I have a new realization that life is too short to sit around and think about what you want to do. You waste so much time thinking about getting stuff done that you never have the time to get it done. Life will pass you by if you let it. Stop thinking and start doing. "Life is short - move your ass" CIAO |
| posted by Mondo @ 9:07 AM |
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| Difficult Times |
| July 20, 2006 |
 The last 2 weeks have been very difficult. I came out to New Hampshire to help care for my sick Mother and now I sit here holding her hand as she waits to move on. Why is it so difficult to let go? Even when she has expressed the need to move on and she tells everyone not to be sad. She has said her goodbyes, and we have said ours, but that does not make it any easier. At times I feel jealous of my Brother and Sister. They have had more time with Mom than I have. I was born 13 years after them. So in reality they have had Mom for 13 more years than I have. I also moved to Colorado in 1986 and although I have visited as often as possible I feel saddened that I did not visit more. what would life have been if I would have never moved. Life is too short - we all need to get the things done that we know we have to do. There is no time for waiting around. I called every weekend and talked with her and Dad. I hope it was enough to let her know how much I love her. She is stronger than anyone I know. That's my Mom. Today i signed up for the Steamboat Springs Triathlon, this is my A-Race for this year and my longest Traithlon yet. I am devoting this race to my Mother. I did wish that she would have been able to watch me race in Boston next year, or the Timberman Triathlon next year. She has never been able to attend any of my races in Colorado. I really wanted to make her proud - I think she is. I guess she will be able to watch all of my races in the future. She will have the best seat in the house. I hope that her guiding hand will be there to push me forward when I get tired. My training will take on a new urgency and intensity. I want to make her proud of me. In Loving Memory of my Mother - Theresa Maynard - I'll miss you Mom. John |
| posted by Mondo @ 12:36 PM |
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| Open Water |
| July 18, 2006 |
What a beautiful morning!!!! This morning I headed out to Lake Potanipo near Nashua, NH at 6am. The lake was absolutely perfect. It was calm, cool and BIG. I planned on swimming across the lake which was 800 meters across. I used short training fins this morning so that I concentrate on my technique instead of just treading water. If I finished the out and back course this would be my longest swim yet.
I headed out from the boat dock and started swimming in the general direction I needed to go. The lakes up here are a little different from the ones in Colorado. I noticed first thing that the lakes are not as clear. The water was cloudy, brown with lots of sediment. In Colorado it is clearer, and a green coloring. The underwater plant life is a little different as well. I sited a few times out to the other side and tried to keep my rhythm regular. Breathing on one side only is still easier for me, I guess my L side is dominant for some reason. Consciously I made every attempt to breath bilaterally and try and roll more on my R side. I noticed that I tend to pick up my head more on the R side. I slowed down to try and correct this problem. --- Mental Note: practice streamlining the body - get long.
I made it across and rested for a few minutes before heading back. I may not be the fastest swimmer in the pack but I don't give up. Not that you can just quit swimming when you are in over your head. I made it back to the other side and felt great. A nagging R shoulder ache seemed to be gone now. I am glad that I was able to get in this swim training while back east and look forward to coming back here again in the future. I wish I would be able to swim as much back home. Hopefully I can work on finding another place to swim back there so that I can get in more swimming. I'll get in one more workout tomorrow morning before heading back to Colorado on Thursday. |
| posted by Mondo @ 5:58 AM |
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| Swim Day |
| July 17, 2006 |
I got up early this morning and headed out to the pool for another swim. I joined the New England Master Swimmers for a workout. Just like the last workout that they I did with them they did not disappoint me - GOD what a workout. I don't think I could of swam another lap after I got done. My speed is not getting much faster yet but I think I am relaxing more in the water. My breathing is becoming more regular. And I am working hard on bilateral breathing. Tomorrow I will be doing my longest open water swim ever. I was told my the swim club that it is about 800 meters across the lake. If I complete the swim it will mean a swim of over 1600 meters. For me that just seems impossible. I will just keep chugging along. And just a word about anyone who routinely trains here in New England. I have nothing but respect for anyone who can train in this humidity. This stuff is like running through water. I never sweat as much as I have during this last 2 weeks. Whew!!!!! For now, Ciao! |
| posted by Mondo @ 9:53 AM |
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| Hello Again |
| July 13, 2006 |
Sorry for not updating my blog site in the last 10 days or so. Since the last the I blogged, things have changed back in New Hampshire with my mother. So here I am in New Hampshire. I took an earlier flight out of Denver on Friday. The good news is that she is out of the hospital, the bad news is the prognosis is not good for the long term. But with hope, faith, and my blogging friends praying for her she will do as well as can be expected. I think of Lance Armstrong a lot when I think of cancer, and that it is a disease that can be beat - miracles do happen. Since I got here I have not completely stopped training. For the past 3 days I had runs of 6,7,and 7 miles. The weather has been warm in the mornings, but the humidity has been terrible. I am not use to this much humidity. I am sweating more than ever during my runs. I do feel great as far as my aerobic capacity here at a lower altitude, and by no means am I huffing and puffing as much while running hard. I do need to get use to this kind of weather and humidity if I plan on doing the Timberman 70.3 next year. I also joined the New England Master Swimmers this morning for a workout. And boy was it ever. I need to do this more often. I pushed harder this morning than I ever had at swimming. I think we may have done around 1400-1600 meters. I am not sure because I lost count right about the time I started drowning. Just kidding. But tonight I can tell you that my shoulders and arms are aching pretty bad. It did feel good to get back in the water again. I wish I had my bike with me and training would be awesome. I plan on swimming with them on Monday and then I may go with them for an open water swim on Tuesday. I will keep my blog caught up so that you know if I suck in a little or a lot of water. ------
Thanks to all who read my blog and pray for my mother. CIAO |
| posted by Mondo @ 5:51 PM |
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| Great Ride |
| July 05, 2006 |
Well the weather was perfect for a long bike ride today. Slightly overcast with temps in the low 80's. So without thinking too much I started out on a long bike. My goal was to ride at least 40 miles today. This would be the longest ride in a long time for me. Back in high school I was on a cycling team. I use to log about 20-30 miles a day back then. That was when I was younger and lighter. I don't think I was stronger back then because I feel the strongest I have ever felt recently. I rode out a lonely highway out to Penrose, CO. This is a very hilly route. Heck, every route out of Canon City is hilly. The City sits in a bowl, surrounded by mountains. I felt pretty good on the way out of town, I still have alot on my mind that takes my mind away from working out. Things look different when you look at the grand view of things. My Mom is feeling better, but the prognosis does not look great. Today I talked to my sister and the doctors have found more lesions - this time in her lungs. I will be leaving next week for New Hampshire to be with my Mom for awhile. I am worried about her.
The ride went well out to Penrose. I averaged about 18 mph out there with the hills, I stopped at a gas station and grabbed a drink and some cookies. After resting for a few I headed back the way I came. The way back seemed to go faster and once I got back to town I slowed down because of the traffic and headed up to my car. By the time I climbed the last hill my quads were cramping up. I couldn't get myself off of the bike, everytime I started to move my leg it would cramp up. Nothing like a good cramp to re-enforce that you did a great ride. I am not sure what I will do tomorrow. Nothing really planned. I may go for a run in the morning. Right now my life is all jumbled up. I don't like it when I am not in control. I don't like it at all. I will continue to wear my Livestrong bracelet forever. I wear mine for my Mother. |
| posted by Mondo @ 6:10 PM |
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| VACATION (Sort Of) |
| July 04, 2006 |
Hey here I am on vacation and what am I doing. Waiting to go to work. Go figure...... This has not been a real vacation yet. I recieved some troubling family news on Saturday when my mother was admitted to the hospital in New Hampshire for dizziness. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor which was putting pressure on her balance center. She has a history of having a melanoma on her leg that we thought was completely gone. However, as some of you may know, melanomas are particularly vicious. And they can lay dormant for years and then put up somewhere else. The doctors have been able to shrink the tumor with meds and she is no longer dizzy and she is feeling much better. She is scheduled to undergo brain surgery on Friday. And although the doctors state that she is going to be fine and will get through surgery great it is still weighing on my mind. I hope to be leaving for New Hampshire next week to visit with her and help take care of her after the surgery. Training has taken back seat this week. I have been able to get a run in and last night was able to use the trainer for about 1 hour while watching the Tour de France. Otherwise I have not been doing much for trainging. I am feeling a little heavy from not burning my usual calories and I have been eating a little more. I will be cutting back for the next few days and trying to get my training pushed up there again. It's hard to train when you have other, more important things to think of. |
| posted by Mondo @ 4:19 PM |
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| About Me |
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Name: John Maynard
Home: Canon City, Colorado, United States
About Me: In 2008 I completed a full Ironman. Since that time I have continued to keep myself in a decent shape with running and hiking. As the years have rolled on so has my midsection. With my 50th birthday behind me I have embarked on another journey in life. This journey will take me into my next decade in the best shape of my entire life. It's time to kick life into overdrive.
See my complete profile
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