Here is my notes from decision day!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Here Goes!

Ironboy?? What the heck is that all about? On August 18, 2009 I decided it was time to take the plunge! I made a commitment to register for Ironman Wisconsin 2010. After discussion with Trish(wife) and reviewing the comitment required for such a huge event, I was done. After I said it I actually buterfiles in my stomach an the quest began!
Over the next 12 months I will talk about my quest for Ironman Wisconsin 2010. I will share with you my victories, stresses, training logs and stories.
I am excited about my journey and I hope you enjoy the next year of my quest to move from being an ironboy to becoming an IRONMAN!
Posted by Ironboy at 10:44 AM

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
What do I need?

As I start on this quest, I am trying to figure out what I need to get started?

Here is what I have come up with so far:
- tri bike
- wet suit
- new swim suit for traning in pool(chlorine is eating current one)
- training log(this blog will post my log)
- training program
- unending patience from my awesome wife
- lots of time...
- confidence

Here I go!
Posted by Ironboy at 11:05 AM


Thursday, August 27, 2009
My NewBike!

So, those who know me will have figured out that the great bike that I have just wont do if I am planning on doing a tri! The quest for the bike has been a great success. I am now the proud owner of a Cervelo P3! It is an awesome bike and I got anawesome deal. The bike is a 4 season ago model but is brand new. Great set up, ful Ultegra, FSA caron crank, carbon fork, Easton wheel. I look forward to a lo of awesome training rides on this machine. And, yes, it is a machine,an incredible reponsive ride!
Posted by Ironboy at 7:22 AM

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday August 27

After picking up my bike on Tuesday an riding it home, i consider this my first training ride. We re meeting some friends in Milton, so I wil ride out from home and meet them. The temperature is about perfect - 24C. As I head out the first thing that I find out is that some shorts are not meant to be used to ride on tri bikes. I have a pair of Descente shorts that are great for raod rides, but are crazy umcofortable in a aero position. Lesson learnt, wont use them again for tri rides.
As I head out, I discover about 5k from home that I have forgotten to bring water, bad, bad, bad! But, not turning around. As I move along the wind is blowing fairly strong, I learn very quickly that a tri position moces you out of the wind and into a fast forward ride. It is a great feeling not having to fight all the wind.
My ride is decent until I end up having to do about 20 of detours. Of course it is construction season so every where I turn there is a detour sign.
My total ride ends up eing 45k. Unlike most of my road rides, i have focused on keeping a consistent hear rate regardless of where I am terrain wise. I manage a 154(which is low for me) and my manoitor shows average of 28k/hr.(one shortcoming on the POLAR is that it does ot take nto account stops for lights) Probably a true rolling average of about 34k. My average cadence is 87.
Awesome first ride on new Cervelo! Looking forward to a lot of great miles!

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wet Suit and New Shoes

Yesterday I picked up my new wetsuit so that I can work towards a decent swim in this Ironman. Most who know me will attest to the fact that I am a terrible swimmer. I can only hope that the wetsuit will give a little helpful flotation help!
A have a new NINTEEN Tsunami wetsuit from Foot Tools in Burlington. They are great, provided awesome service good price and hassle free.
I have also replaced my shoes while at the store I am now running in a Mizuno shoe. Very comfortable, super light Lets see how the next 400-500k feel in them.

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Open Water here we go!

This morning I headed dow the shores of Lae Ontario for my first open water swim. As I leave home the air is totally still with no wind at all. Should be a nice calm morning I am thinking. As I get to the lake, I discover a 2-3 swell and crashing waves. OK, I guess the swim is going to be togher than I thought! Hugh suggests that this is the rougest that he has seen the lake.
With the air at about 11 degrees, the water feels comfortable at about low 70's. I head off shore to get started. Once on the water, I work to gain a comfort as I move forward. I am nervous in the water and want to gain confidence by swimming as much as possible and closer to the shore. The wetsuit is also slightly restrictive(as compared to a suit) so I am going to adjust to swimming with it, it does provide a great flotation advtance though!
As the waves crash over my head, Ifumble along my swim towards the west. The waves are working in my favour at this point. Before to many strokes, I change to a breast stroke to keep moving forward. I find myself doing about 25% crawl, 30-40% breast stroke and alittle bit of everything else to move ahead. At about Trafalgar road we reach a turn poiint. Now we are heading into the waves. A few freestyle stroke, a few breast and on we go. I am picking intermitent points to reach in order to feel that I am progressing. This seems to work great and we get closer to our start point and the end of my first swim.
Overall, happy to have done it. Performance sucked, but, rough watr, first open swim and a confidence building day. I am confident that with a lot of practice, some strong guidance and determination I will conquer this seemingly impossible swim.
In summarizing day 1 official training swim, swam about 800m open water 3 months ago I could barely do a length. So, I think it was a great day!