- So thanks to Karen (@theladybaha) for her fine sleuthing work and bringing to my attention that Brooks Running will be discontinuing the Launch and the Green Silence. The Launch are my favorite running shoe of all-time so I am crushed. After reading Karen's text I almost had the same feeling of losing a family pet. First, the sadness kicks in but then you begin to remember all the good times that I had with the Launch:
- My first Ironman
- My first Marathon (BQ)
- My first 20mi training run
- My last 20mi training run
- All the PR's
- All the rainy runs with no falls due to the excellent traction
- Ok, take that above as tongue-in-check because I just am not a real sentimental type of guy. I like running in the Launch and they make my legs feel great. But, Brooks has hit it out of the park with the Pure Project Line and I just checked my logs and the last few months over 60% of my miles have been done in the Pure Flows. I have recommended the Launch to MANY, MANY people and have started doing the same with the Pure Projects as well. If you are looking for an alternative check out the Flows.
- Speaking of family pets, a few weeks ago we got some very sobering news after our pugs visited the vet for the annual check-up: Our little girl Pug, Bailey, had a tumor. She needed to have immediate surgery. The Vet was able to remove the tumor and Bailey has recovered with flying colors.
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| Hey, Jeff, get off your ass and get me a treat. |
- IRONMAN MONT-TREMBLANT TRAINING is going okay. This is my second round at full on IM Training. Last year I trained for Ironman Texas and the vast majority of the training occurred in the cooler temperatures of the winter and fall. This year with IMMT being at the end of August the training is happening right now in the scorching South East Texas Summer.
- Some training changes have had to be made:
- Running: Is happening either in the dark, AM hours or on the Treadmill. For Bricks, I have been parking at the gym and riding from my car. I will then finish my ride and toss the bike in the backseat and then hustle inside to hit the treadmill.
- Biking: Two weeks ago my buddy Dave and me went up to the hilly Coldsprings, TX area to get in 90mi around Lake Livingston. We started at 6:30am and the first three hours were awesome. Then the sun came out. We melted. By 10am the temps on the black asphalt was over 100*. I was so dehydrated and exhausted that I had to miss the next day of training. Changes needed to be made as training in this heat was not at all beneficial to our fitness. This week I rode both Sat and Sun and got in 85mi. On the road early and off the road before the sun comes up. Got in the long miles but did them at tempo pace (22mph) instead of Endurance pace (19-20mph). This coming Sunday we have a 5.5hr ride scheduled. We are going to start on the indoor trainer at 4am and then ride from Dave's house to the group ride at 7am and get in the last 2.5hrs with them.
- Swimming: All at the 70* indoor lap pool. No exceptions.
- As you can see, due to our extreme temps I have had to improvise, adapt and overcome. It is not ideal to be training for an IM right now but with a little flexibility and creativity it can be done and done well.
- So how is my overall fitness? With 10 weeks until race day I would say my bike is the strongest discipline right now. It is night and day compared to how it was in IM training at this point last year. I've been doing all hills and intervals and it is paying off. My swim is in the 1:15-1:20 range for 2.4miles. I can swim forever but my speed is still a little lacking in the water. The run is nowhere near as strong when compared to the Woodlands Marathon at the beginning of March, but is probably in better shape then I was last year at this time. Overall I am in pretty good shape. The Mont-Tremblant course is going to be a lot more difficult then the Texas course but the temps are going to be glorious!
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are tied for First Place in the division. I cannot even begin to describe how exciting this is for me.
- 2013 is going to be a non-Iron Distance year. I plan on doing a lot of local races and a couple of 70.3's but have decided to take a year away Ironman. So now the question is which race to do in 2014?
Thank for Reading,
Jeff
Reading that you are not doing an IM in 2013 makes me feel like I just lost a pet. Who will tell me how to train and get my products and everything else......OK, not really but you gotta do what is right right?
ReplyDeleteOnce you figure out what 70.3s you are lining up we need to compare and see what we can do together.
And yes this heat is going to be a bitch to train in. Today at 7am it was already 77* and humid as fuck. I was dripping and all I did was a simple recovery ride. Good times ahead!
I might do a lot of 70.3's. Going to work on building power on the bike all next year and put some serious work into my swim. Going to Galveston for sure. Maybe do the half at MiTi?
Delete"Maybe do the half at MiTi"
Delete-I fully support this idea. You and Jason can spoon on the spare bed.
I plan on going to MiTi next year
DeleteJason is thinking of doing the half at MiTi too. We (and when I say we I mean me) can get all good and liquored up for when Kevin finished the full.
DeleteGreat post. I am actually a sentimental person and when my favorite shoe was discontinued I went to my local store and bought as many discounted pairs as I could....hmmm fear change much...?
DeleteAnyway, your training schedule for heat avoidance sounds extreme! I think you need a training vacation somewhere cooler!! :) Good luck!
Our dog just had a tumor removed too. Dogs + tumors = no bueno.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the heat. It's around 100 degrees in our area, and it feels hot outside even early in the morning. Great job on the training!
Normally I would tell you to man up, but after yesterday, I totally feel for you. Way to do what it takes to get it done.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Bailey pulled through on the surgery!
That sucks they are discontinuing your shoe. Good thing you have the Hokas!
No IMTX 2013?? Gotta keep the streak alive to get that extra chance at a Kona slot. That is the only way I am going to end up there. That or qualify when I am 70. haha
It isn't even the All-Star break yet...
"It isn't even the All-Star break yet..."
DeleteI am very aware of this (-:
I will miss the Launch but have been doing most of my runs in the Flows. Pretty sure I am going to use the Flows for IMMT. I really have not used the Hokas that much since we finished the Woodlands marathon. They are great for recovery runs and with me only running 25ish miles per week, they are sort of unnecessary. I have actually been using the Launch as a slower run shoe.
I bet Brooks comes out with a similar shoe to the Launch in the Pure Project line. maybe something a little more substantial than the Flow but in a neutral- that would be perfect.
I am the complete opposite. Zero training and an IM in 9 weeks.. Survival is the word for that day....
ReplyDelete2014? Let's see.... that's my year for Lake Placid and Wisconsin... mark your calendar.
"qualify when I'm 70".... that's my plan, don't knock it....
It might have to be the lay down a fast IM time year, so IMFL or IMAZ. Hey, we could car pool to PCB since you are so familiar with driving from FL (-:
DeleteI am still surprised of Brooks dropping two of there more popular shoes
ReplyDeleteGood to hear Bailey is doing better
For a long ride, half indoor, half outdoor, interesting concept.
You know I am a believer that every one has their favorite distance to race, people race through to get all the distances "checked off" and start to settle into their favorite distance, maybe 70.3 is your distance.
We are trying as many different things as possible to get the training in before the heat. If I have to do a 6hr trainer ride then I will, but I would prefer not as that is awful.
DeleteLast Sunday I did my long run at 430am, then jumped on the bike with the LTF group, and then after the ride tossed the bike in car and did my swim. It is not optimal to do this all the time as your body needs time to recover between workouts but in this instance I made it work. AND, more importantly, was able to get up the next day and train because the sun had not drained the life out of me!
I'm glad your pup is doing alright! Nice work with all the training. It sounds like the weather sucks right now, but you're figuring out ways to work with it. I'd probably just stop...
ReplyDeleteNo you wouldn't Matt, you'd be out there passing out like the rest of us! And anyway, you should be getting this heat anyday now (-:
DeleteHahaha... it's been mild here in the ATL lately. I have a feeling that we're in for it... riiiiiiight when my training picks up. Awesome.
DeleteGood news on your lil girl. Glad she is OK!
ReplyDeleteYeah, 140.6 took a toll, needed a year away from it.
Hills will make you a strong rider. It has taken me to the next level and I feel AWESOME!
You may find treadmill running making you a better runner. No forgiveness and makes you mentally stronger x's 100!!!
I feel fine. We are just having a bunch of stuff going on at the beginning of next year and it would make training very difficult.
Deleteremember when the pirates were in first place last year going into all star weekend? how did that season turn out?
ReplyDeleteAfter 19yrs of watching awful baseball I am waiting for the proverbial balloon to bust. However, this year just feels different? The starting pitching is the key. We are 7 deep with Karstens (coming of the DL) and Morton (rehabbing) at starting pitcher. Even the Yankees cannot claim that type of depth.
DeleteIf the offense just plays up to the career averages of the 8 starters then this team has a chance for the division. They are currently hitting well below the league BABIP and over the course of a season this number should come closer to the average and that means more wins!
Training in the heat is hard! I learned my lesson last weekend when I waited till 8 to get my long run in. Never again, leaving my house at 5am from now on.
ReplyDeleteGood news on Bailey
ReplyDelete...and does this mean you are going to pull an Elaine from Seinfeld: Stockpile shoes? Then you will be deciding before each outing..."Is this run going to be Launch worthy??"
This is hysterical - I will have to consult my inner Elaine and use the "Is he sponge worthy" criteria!
Delete1:10 swim pace over 2.4... all I can say is WOW! That is an excellent pace.
ReplyDeleteGood to here Bally is fine. I have 3 dogs and vet bills go through the roof.
That Texas heat is murder. Your training has gotten very creative. While not as hot in Hawaii, I try to get most of my runs and biking done in the early morning hours too. Thing is, it is hot here all year round. But I am not complaining. At least I don't have to be stuck in a basement all summer on my trainer.
Maybe you should consider Kona 70.3 next year.
I am between a 115-120 time right now Boomer. Would like to get down to around 110 but am running out of time (-:
DeleteThe vet bills are ridiculous dude. Might have to sale a bike.
...or ride a pug!
DeleteSo glad to hear that Bailey's all recovered!
ReplyDelete... Now go get her another treat! :)
I like the launch, but I love the flows! Brooks did get it right.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that Bailey is alright. Scary when something happens to our babies! :(
ReplyDeleteI love reading about how you are adjusting for your training. You have to. There's just no way around it.
Sorry to hear about the shoes. Can you buy like 6 pairs of them right now and just hoard them for a while?
Of course you like the Flows...they are cushy as all get out. I hated them! ; )
ReplyDeleteGlad the pup is ok.
You are going to have a great IM this year. It's all about the bike and if you have that down, you're golden. Plus all the heat training leading up to a cool race--nice!
Have you checked out the nano 2.0s yet? Any thoughts?
ReplyDelete