IM Memphis 70.3 Cancelled

It really came as no shock, but when I received the email the other day, informing me that IM Memphis 70.3 was postponed until 2021, it stung a little. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand and support the decision that was made. A well known hospital like St Jude would never sponsor anything that could possibly put people at risk, but still, I wanted to race.

I have to say I felt my training was right where it needed to be. The swim distance was already doable and already within the 47 minute range for 1.2 miles. I know with over a month I would have gotten that time down to under 45 minutes.

The bike was going well. I have had long rides of between 30-45 miles in my training plan and really felt good afterwards. The speed ranged around 15 mph, but that was due to much traffic on the Greenline around Shelby Farms and not knowing the path on the group rides. All other rides had been done on the trainer, so you know that 2 hours of spinning, means 2 hours of spinning, no coasting. So I felt really good about where I was on the bike.

The run. Now, this is the area that is not my strongest segment. It's something that I have never really been great at. I often used the excuse that I started running at 218 lbs, vs. the 187lbs I used to run at while doing Ironman and that is why I am slower. Truth is this, my knees hurt more because I am not 187 lbs! I have been losing some weight, thanks to all the exercise and watching what I eat, and I have been improving on my runs. My mileage was where I wanted it to be at this point as well. The course at Shelby Farms was going to be ruthless no matter what, but I still had time to get there.

So, overall, I am disappointed, but I understand. They have postponed this till 2021, and I will have just turned 50!  So in a way, it could actually turn into a milestone age race for me.

So what is next?  Am I retiring?  Am I racing?  We will have to see...

Either way, I want to say thanks to whoever reads this, I know blogging is archaic at best these days, but it is still a good way for me to get out what I want to get out.

Ironman Memphis 70.3

What was I thinking?

It's Time to Get it Back....

This picture was taken as me and my bride finished the Warrior Dash in Mississippi. It was 4 years ago. We had a really great time doing this race, but as I look at this picture, I think to myself...what happened to me?

I mean for one, look at that left quad muscle! My legs were so lean and cut back then, and four years ago I was 40 years old! So yeah, I was quite proud of that muscle.

And I want it back!

Not really sure how it happened, but I went from die hard triathlete, to a "well I still could if I wanted to" triathlete, to a dude that has trouble getting out the door.

(As I sit here sipping a Dr. Pepper and eating sour gummy worms, that should give me a clue right?)

It is so weird how you can want something in your mind so clear, but yet you have so much trouble getting out there physically. I am reluctant now to even say I did an Ironman because it seems so long ago, and I am not referring about time, but a long time ago from where I am now. I literally feel like I am almost starting over.

And that is why it will be so glorious when I finish my next 70.3 in October. I think I have finally gotten the bug again. I am not sure if it is the warmer weather, the fact I weighed in at 199lbs the other day or what, but I can honestly say that I want to start training again and getting back into shape like pictured above. I won't expect it overnight and it will take some time, but I am going to get back where I should be. I am also going to be updating this blog more often, I really think that helps, documenting it all and everything.

At Least That's the Plan...

This post always seems to me like a New Years Resolution type of post. You know the post where you plan out all the great things you are going to accomplish, but we all know you never do. Sometimes we set those goals way to far out in front of us to where we literally have no chance of reaching them. I know you know what I mean. So just to make it clear, this is my 2016 race schedule! the list of races I am planning or wanting to do.

This is something I normally do around the first of the year. I have really had to plan more this year because we are so busy as a family this summer. I know the summer is going to go by in a blur, but it is all good stuff we are doing and it really should be an awesome summer. So  my "race schedule" had to be worked around our family summer schedule. It's only 4 races. I have taken a realistic look at my schedule and what I know I can do for training. So here is my 2016 race schedule (most likely)





May 21- Memphis in May Sprint Triathlon

• 1/3 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run
• Last year I finished in 1:25:52
• Goal is 1:24

July 9- Paris Landing Sprint Triathlon

• 1/3 mile swim, 14 mile bike, 3 mile run
• First time doing this race
• Tri team favorite race

August 27- Dragonfly Sprint Triathlon

• 1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike, 4 mile run
• I hate this race
• Not done it since 2010 (2008- 2:00:48, 2010- 1:58:10)
• Goal time: 1:55

October 2- Ryanman 70.3 Triathlon

• 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 run
• First time racing this event
• 75% Sure I will do it
• benefits children's cancer research

I think this is a good mix and enough time between races that I can complete. The Ryanman race is something I want to do, but not sure if it will work out, the October date helps a lot, but I will know for sure if I really want to do it later in the season. The  training plans have already been scoped out and at this moment in time, I am feeling pretty good, so let's see what happens. First goal is Memphis in May!

Follow me on Instagram at Jford2309 for updates as well!

I Knew This Would Happen...

Saturday afternoon, the Ironman World Championship aired on NBC. I did not watch it live, but I did record it. And I knew exactly what would happen once I watched on Sunday afternoon. I knew I would be thinking about Ironman again.

So I ask myself, Am I that easily swayed? Can a simple TV show fire me up that much?

Simple answer: YES!

I always love watching this presentation and I love the way the narrator builds each athlete up talking about how each athlete has their own personal reason for doing this race. I like that. And its true. I love watching the beginning of the swim and I remember how I felt wading in the water waiting for the gun to fire. I love seeing the riders flying down the road (much like I was not doing), but I felt like it, and I envisioned my run looking exactly like the pros ran. Effortlessly. It's funny the way we can look back at one of the most painful days of our lives and still smile and sigh.

So yeah, this show got me thinking about getting back. I only raced one triathlon in 2015.I did some run races and Ragnar, but only one sprint triathlon. So that will change in 2016.

While I am not sure about committing to a full 140.6, I do have my eye set on a 70.3 down in Bama! I have been wanting to do this race for a couple of years and I am thinking a 70.3 is perfect. (It's funny how 70.3 miles does not seem that far anymore)

I have been hitting the gym, swimming and running short distances already, and I am starting to feel really good. My wrists are not as big an issue anymore and I have some other physical issues that I feel I am turning the corner on, so it is a definitely possibility.

 

 

P.S I am doing No shave November right now, so there will be pictures to come!

NashVegas 70.3 Race Report...New PR!!!!

I spent my birthday driving to Nashville with my bride worrying about the weather. The forecast was calling for thunderstorms all morning on race day and highs in the low 70s. So as we drove in 90 degree weather, I was not looking forward to racing in the rain...again. Last year at Ironman Branson 70.3 is was a monsoon, so while I knew I could do it, I wasn't looking forward to the rain.

RACE DAY:

I had my alarm set to go off at 4:30 AM, which would give me plenty of time to eat something, and get everything ready. I wanted to be at the race site by 6AM for the 7AM start, which we made very easily. I was able to rack my bike in the first rack and get everything setup like I wanted it. i also remember to bring a plastic bag to wrap my socks and shoes in since the forecast was calling for rain. They stated the water temp was 84 degrees, which was surprising since it did rain all night, so that meant no wetsuit. I always feel more confident with my wetsuit on, but I really wasn't to nervous about not wearing it. All I had left to do was get body-marked, spend some time talking with my wife and friends and then get a little swim in before the siren started!

SWIM: 37:15

The swim started as a wade in the water wave start. I was in the second wave, basically the over 40 age group. We had about a 150 yard swim the the first buoy, a right turn, then about a 1000 yd swim, a right turn, another 150 yards, then a right turn back to the exit. The first two buoys were rough. People were bumping me a lot, it had to them because I swim in a straight line. It wasn't until that last buoy that I actually felt like I had room to swim. Once I saw the swim exit, I was actually surprised it was over. My swim time was 37.15, which broke down to a 1:46/100 yds!

T1: 1:26

T1 went fine, not a whole lot to talk about here. It had not started raining yet and with no wetsuit to get off, it was basically just a matter of putting on gloves and shoes and going!

BIKE: 3:08:27

I had not gone 6 miles before it started raining and then it started raining harder and harder. The wind really picked up also, which at times made it a little scary. The course itself was pretty good, it had some challenging hills to it, but a lot of rollers.My bike computer quit working around mile 15, so I had to wait to hit the mile markers to tell where I was on the course. I made sure to hit all my nutrition on the bike, which included salt pills, 2 bottles of GU Brew, 3 gels, energy shot blocks and 2 bite size Snickers (which was like manna from Heaven). I wanted to have fuel for the run, I left nothing in the bento box. I do not enjoy riding in  the rain and wind. This weather system made me hold back on some of the downhills because the wet roads and winds scared me some. There were parts of the course where I could see no one in front of me and no one behind me, which was weird. I mean the course was well marked, with signs and law enforcement, but there were still times when it got lonely out there. The rain finally stopped with about 25 minutes left on the ride. I was ready to get off the bike, and I was so looking forward to having dry socks and shoes on my cold wet feet.

T2: 2:07

The only thing that took time in T2 was getting my socks and shoes out of the bag I brought, and I gladly gave up those extra few seconds to have on dry shoes. This is a lesson I learned last year, and it made a huge difference. it felt so good putting on something dry.

RUN: 2:20:00

Awesome run course to run!!

I felt surprisingly well off the bike and starting the run. Really surprised!! I actually felt good! The run was about a mile of road, then it turned into a Greenline run. I had a great pick me up moment, when I spotted my wife about a mile into the run, I was wondering where she was when I came into T2, so it was a nice surprise to see her and to stop and get a quick kiss. I knew at this point I had a chance to go under 6 hours, I just needed to average under 10 minute miles, which was doable...for the first 9 miles. I was actually on pace, and this is with me walking through the water stations long enough to drink the water. Some stops had Coke, that sweet elixir of the Gods!  It was good! At mile 9, things starting getting really tough on me. I resorted to a run a mile, walk a minute. The legs were hurting. At one point, I decided I was going to run to mile 11 and then walk some, but my wife was at mile 11 taking pictures!  And I can;t walk with my wife standing there!!! So I shuffled through 11, walked ran through 12 and started cramping at 13. Right where everyone was! But I did make it.

Wanna know something interesting? I ran a half marathon in March with a time of 2:07, I ran a half marathon after a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile ride in 2:20!!  Who has been working on his run???

It was sweet crossing the finish line. 6:09:15. A new PR! 16th in my AG!  My last attempt at a 70.3 was 7:35, so I was thrilled with knocking off that amount of time.

My cheesy Olympic medal winning pose!!!

Open Letter to Myself...

So here we are. 1 day before you turn 41 and 2 days before your big race of 2012. It has been a long year leading up to this point, but you (I) am ready. You can do this, and this is not a "yeah, you can do it" patronizing letter, but this is more of a Ray Lewis in your face "You can do this". I expect you to do this.

I know you have trained hard with tons of miles on the bike, tons of miles on the road and thousands (and thousands) of yards in the pool. There have been early mornings. And I am talking about early, but you loved it. Do not deny it. There was a definite purpose I saw in myself by getting up that early. The darkness of morning was special. I know you have no regrets.

I know this year has been more about competing rather than completing races for you. You have done better if just about every race you have raced this year and there is no reason why you should not expect the same results. I think it is time that you start believing in the results you have gotten. You are faster than you think. You ride faster than you realize, you run faster than your pace states and you swim faster than you ever have. It is time for you to believe that you are not a 10 minute miler, that is not acceptable. So believe in your training, trust your plan, run your race.

So let's talk about goals for this race. You have a 70.3 race under your belt already, so you have an idea of where you stood a year ago, so we will base goals off those numbers. Last year your total 70.3 time was 7:35. We have to beat that time this year, and we will. Here is my goals for you:

Swim: under 45 minutes for a 1.2 swim is totally doable, if it is wetsuit legal, than I expect closer to 40 minutes.

Bike: 3:10-:3:20. Last year at Branson, you did the 56 miles in 3:55, but there will be significantly less hills on this course, so i want to see time improvement. This is totally achievable

Run: No more 3 hour half marathons Ford! Anything under 2:30 will be awesome.

Total Time: I expect to be in the 6-6:30 hour range.

Let's do this. Let's expect this. Let's not race to complete. Let's race to compete! I know you are looking forward to racing, we have been waiting and training all year for this race. we can use this to build on our marathon coming up in December and then use this as a step towards the ultimate goal!  IRONMAN! I believe in myself, I have confidence in myself and I am not nervous or scared of the course, it should be scared of me.

This will be a great birthday present. A new PB at the 70.3 distance. Let's do it!