Tri - Runner's Roost

A blog from a "Middle of the Pack Marathoner" starting his journey from Newbie to Ironman. The ride is awesome!

I Don’t Wanna Stop

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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

Scheduled Races

Littlefoot Triathlon
Bolder Boulder 10K
Highland Ranch Sprint
Boulder Long Triathlon
Redman Iron Distance

Here I Am

July 24, 2007

Good Morning all you Tri Geeks out there. How is the Tri World getting along today.

After a week of "Vacation" I am doing much better. Actually I spent most of the week working at my second job and trying to fit in my training where I could. I needed to earn a few extra Franklins for my upcoming trip to Timberman.

Training is going great this week, after a little rest last week I feel rejuvenated and wanting to get in this last push of training. I feel that I am ready for my half-iron. I want to make sure that everything is ready, bike, gear, me. My bike ships out next week for New Hampshire.

Sunday I got in a great ride out to Pueblo and back. The wind was minimal for a change. I felt great and the bike was working fine. I tweaked the height of my seat and moved in back a smidge. This change has helped my low back problems. Pushing hard up the hills and pushing harder on the downhills I was able to average 22.6 mph for the entire trip. That is a whole mile faster than any other ride out there this year. Hey and no flats for a change.

Yesterday I had a great run in the morning, I did my usual hill work on skyline drive from gate to gate and felt pretty strong. Maybe a little weak from my long ride the day before but still able to shave another 30 seconds off my time. Legs are feeling great, knees are not hurting.

Last night was back in the pool, I got there late though so I did not get in the yardage I wanted to. I ended up with 1500 yards straight. I felt a little off - form was not quite where I wanted it to be. Time wise I pushed pretty hard, I think I was online to finish 2000 in less than 45 minutes. I will give it another shot on Wednesday and Friday. It has been so hot out here lately the water felt real good and cool. The team is planning on an open water swim next week sometime - that will do me a lot of good. I need to get in a lake and push a little harder before I leave for Timberman.

Otherwise, life is looking up and my mood has been getting better. I have had a lot of stress in my life recently but I am working on solving the problem. It won't be an easy or quick fix but in the long run I will be happier. I will also have more time to train for Ironman Florida next year. Somethings in life are very hard to do but need to be done. Life is too short to be wasted.

posted by Mondo @ 12:07 PM 0 comments

Greatful!

July 11, 2007

"Life comes at you fast" - I saw that on a commercial recently. Then I read a saying from Abraham Lincoln -"It is not the years of your life but the life in your years"

Both these sayings have me thinking a lot about my life and the direction I have taken. Is there anything else that I should be doing? Am I choosing the right path? Do I even know what the f___ I am doing?

Lately I have had a lot of time to think about life. My job, my training, my personal life. Am I where I should be - am I as happy as I should be.

I am finding that in a lot of ways I am on the right tract and in some I am not. Triathlons have taught me some very important lessons that I have tried to apply to the rest of my life:

1 - With proper training (preparation) anything is possible
2- Attack the obstacles in life full speed and out of your seat.
3- Have good friends and keep them close to you.
4- Always have another race (goal) to shoot for.
5- Keep in shape - never know when it comes in handy.
6- Push past your mental barriers, push past your emotional barriers.
7- Keep your bike, equipment and life clean and well oiled.
8- Don't dwell on poor training days or races or events in your life. Move forward always.
9- Don't be afraid of the unknown, just jump in and start swimming.
10- If you don't know whether you are jogging or running in life, run faster !!!!!

so as you can see my mind is a mess right now. I am trying to concentrate on training but other things in my life are making that a challenge. I feel I am ready for my half-ironman next month physically and mentally. Emotionally I am not quite there yet. Just need more time. Just more time........

posted by Mondo @ 8:09 AM 0 comments

Awesome Ride

July 09, 2007

Sometimes - everything starts to make sense. Why at this particular time - who knows. But, for the past week I have felt stronger than I ever have.

Last week I had 2 great swim workouts - pushing myself to the point of exhaustion - 2100 yard straight at a time - Keeping my form throughout the session. When I would feel myself slip into a poor form I would immediately change and fix it. I kept myself long in the water - reaching out and grabbing the water. Pulling myself through to the next stroke. Head down, swimming downhill. I have been feeling great with my swim. It just seems that all of a sudden my body has figured out what to do. I know it sounds weird - but wait there is more......

I had 2 epic bike rides last week. The first one was 60 miles on rolling hills. A little breeze but not too bad. Off I went - everything going great - no back pain. Just had a flat at mile 14 but I got it changed quickly and back on my bike. The ride just felt different, it was as if my legs were never going to get tired. I climbed out of the saddle on the hills and cranked it up. My mind was tunneled into pushing harder. I finished that ride with an average of 20.6mph - my fastest yet out on that route for that distance. A one time fluke - not even. I was back on my bike on Sunday - this time I did the same route, maybe a little more wind and a lot hotter. Pushing myself for a better time. This time - no flat. This time I pushed until my legs were scream. This ride was 63 miles. ( Starting line was pushed back) Anyway this time I averaged 21.6mph. And still I felt great - until my legs cramped up on the way to the car. So is that all my legs had. NOT!

I was out running this morning - I did my favorite hill climb. Skyline drive. 2.5 miles of uphill, 2.5 miles of downhill. I was fricken bounding up the hill. I felt weird - sort of that " I can't be stopped" feeling. All this training is really, finally showing up. Thank God because 2 weeks ago I wondered if I would be able to do this 70.3 race coming up. I am feeling real confident now. 3 more weeks of training left - need to continue to push harder. Life is going to take a turn for me soon - I can feel it. Not just in my training but with everything else in my life. I feel positive, happy and challenged all at the same time. Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!

posted by Mondo @ 1:37 PM 0 comments

I'm Back !!!!!

July 07, 2007

Where have I been you ask. Well vacation started last week and although I never really went anywhere - I have been busier than I would be if I was at work.

I have spent the majority of my time working my second job - I am trying to get together a little nest egg for my real vacation in August as I try and compete in the Timberman 70.3 Race.

But I am not saying that I have not done anything else while on vacation. On Monday I got in a great 2000 yard swim with the Tri Club. It felt awesome to just keep swimming continuously for 45 minutes or so. I felt real strong in the water and felt that my stroke and form were coming together. I finished the last 200 yard real strong and pushed myself hard to finish the full distance.

On Tuesday - I got in a 56 mile bike ride. The ride took me out to Pueblo West. there was little to no wind for a change and I was able to maintain a 20.6 mph average. I did have to stop and fix a flat again but that is not bothering me much anymore. My tri-bike is working pretty good and I did not have too much back discomfort for the entire ride. My legs felt strong for the entire ride.

Wednesday morning I got in a 7 mile run that felt great. I did the run at 8000 ft and was able to maintain a decent pace. I did lose a considerable amount of sweat weight though and found myself down to 169 lbs after the run a loss of about 3 lbs of water.

Today I got back in the pool - I have been working the last 3 graveyard shifts and I feel like a zombie. but I was able to get myself out of bed early enough to get in a great swim again. Today I was shooting for a little longer swim than Monday and a little fast swim than Monday. turns out I got both with a swim of 2100 yards and 43 minutes. If I can keep that pace at the 70.3 I will be real happy with that. I felt great after the swim today and feel that I am progressing nicely in my training. The next 2 weeks will be tough, before the taper. I need to push just a little bit harder and stay on schedule. Let's see how that goes - CIAO !

posted by Mondo @ 12:58 AM 0 comments

About Me

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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