2007/2008 Ironteam - first practice

It's a new year, a new season, and a whole new race. This year Team in Training has decided to field a team of athletes for both the Wildflower long course, a half iron distance, as well as Vineman a full iron course, and have both groups train on the same team.

Wildflower (2008 link not posted at the time of writing) an annual favorite of triathletes is a race to aspire to. Just think, a lake swim, hilly ride, and an awesome run through beautiful central California (Lake San Antonio, CA just up from the 101 freeway from Paso Robles).


Vineman is a full iron distance race in beautiful Sonoma, California. (Think wine country, and you'll get the idea.

At the first practice we took to the pools and as always there's a great mix of people. Some who've been swimming for years with graceful effortless strokes and people who have just now taken up the sport. Have no fear however, my first year we had a guy (some of you out there know him) who couldn't swim a stroke, and still finished the swim well under the cut-off time just from coming to practice and hitting all of his workouts (and a little extra tutoring).

Tomorrow we will have our first team run. Should be fun. We're about 40 strong as a group and that'll give everyone someone else to run with as the season progresses.

On the whole we're a lucky group. We live in an area that affords us the ability to train year-round, have enough loony people to train with, have a group of great coaches, and will raise a significant amount of money to fight cancer and fund patient services. I feel proud to be here.

Thanks for reading, drop me a note if you feel so inclined.
-dean
(link to this blog post: 2007/2008 Ironteam - first practice)

Friends of mine in print

If you look at this month's issue of Triathlete Magazine you will see that Janus took out an ad that spans several pages in the magazine in order to recognize participants in their ironman fundraising program. If you look at the top you'll see my friend Doron who raised over $40,000. I'm equally impressed with each of my teammates who raised funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, all of whom trained with me this past year. Kudos all around.

Tuesday Swims

I really do enjoy the Tuesday swims with the team. Sure my stomach complains when I get to workouts that it would much rather have my butt in a chair with a sandwich and a drink of some sort, but it is the one time during the work week when I can count on seeing most of my team. Here's what I like about my Team in Training Ironteam:
- Everyone is training for the same event.
- Everyone is raising money to fight cancer.
- Everyone is training to be ready for the same event.
- When the workout is all said and definitely done, we go eat.

Today was no different really. I showed up to practice and it was threatening to rain on us. But once you're there and dressed, there's really no other option than getting in and doing the workout. (There is another option but don't tell that to my grumbling stomach.)

Today we worked on active recovery, or resting in motion. Makes sense, the impulse after a difficult effort is to come to a stop, recover your breath, take in some fluid, and bring the heart rate down. This is what the body would like, trust me. Instead, following a hard effort we reduced pace kept moving. Very effective in making the body more efficient.

Love it.

Wow... 19 weeks

I was looking at my friend Heather's blog (also available here at blogspot.com) and realized that we're, gasp, twenty weeks from Ironman. The sound of it just resonates. TWENTY WEEKS!!! A short time in the grand scheme of the world, and certainly less than half a year. It's getting close people. Now we do a little building, a little racing, a little recovery, and for those that are inclined, a little drinking. (Note: replace any of the "a little" for any of the following as the situation demands: tons of, way too much, just enough, well needed, killer loads of.) In the meantime see you all at practice.

2007 Ironman season has officially started. First major race for us is 2007 California 70.3 race at the end of March... Can you hear it coming?

Cool stuff to look at

I have some pictures to show you, I mean if you're in to that sort of thing. Really though, some good stuff from last year, and this year.

Stuff from my time at Ironman Coeur d'Alene last year (http://deanspace.smugmug.com/gallery/2341195)

A little about my team this year (http://deanspace.smugmug.com/gallery/2341292)

I'm just a wee bit of a photo geek. So with any luck at all there will be some more up here soon. Hope you're all having a great week. Enjoy the pics. -dean

On the road again!

Hello World! Cheesy I know, but what else do you start with? I've started this blog to write about triathlon and the road to the ironman, and maybe with hope, help, and a miracle or four, to Kona for the big show.

Less than six months ago I ran my first ironman distance race in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It was the hottest, longest day I can remember wanting to exercise in, and it was glorious.

The new season for the Team in Training IRONTEAM has begun and we’re on the road again. I came back this year to be a mentor to the team, to see if I can’t make this year as good or better for everyone who has come out to support the cause and to challenge themselves with this distance.

These sixteen ironmen & ironwomen will work over then next seven months to train their bodies and minds to conquer 140.6 miles of water and road to cross the finish line in less than seventeen hours. They have also taken on the challenge of raising $8,500~$10,000 dollars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. Neither of which is anything to be taken lightly.

In the next weeks I hope to introduce you to my team. Stay tuned.
-dean