Major Bigtime Update

Sorry folks... I know there are a bunch of you that have been sort of tracking and rooting for me on my journey to Ironman. So I wanted to issue a public apology for going in and out of hiding! I have been on again off again and really struggling for motivation. This will be a HUGE entry, so stick with me... In the back of my mind I know and have known for a while that IMKY is out for me. I have just missed too much training. I feel like I have gone back to square one on the bike. I have been training and racing local sprints but I don't have a big tri on the calendar just yet. The Morganator and I have been discussing the options for what Ironman to do and when. We got really close to signing up for Germany but the real motivator for me is that I do not want to wait that long to to this thing! My wrist is still not 100% so I am not sure what to do there. If anyone knows a good hand doctor in Dallas, I could use a 7th opinion. At this point, I am not sure what to think, you would think that it if was trauma and not Kienbock's Disease, it would have healed by now. Anyway, its not that bad, just nagging so I will let it ride for now.

For a while in late May, I had worked my run back up and was really cranking out the miles. I had a really big race on the calendar and was trained up, peaking and ready to roll! Memorial Day weekend, we (and 4,000 others) stood in the rain and ankle deep water waiting for the race officials to call off the race... they did and it hurt me. I was really pumped up and the cancellation was a huge let down. The next week, my motivation waned. Becca and I were getting ready to leave for a week in Colorado to take a group of highschoolers to Young Life Camp in Fraser, CO. I knew that I would not have any time or energy to run while there. In a last minute effort to keep the train rolling, I booked myself for the Paddle, Pedal, Pount the Pavement Tri in Grapevine the Saturday Morning before we were to board the bus for the 14 hour trip. There are alot of ways to ensure sleep on the bus and this is probably not the best... the muscle spasms were horrible in the cramped bus seats. Anyway, I showed up to the race and had low expectations. My Coach, Chris Phelan, was there vying for the cash prize to be given... These local money races pull the fast guys out of the woodwork. I was glad Chris was there, I really wanted to do well for him. To make a long story shorter, I had a fabulous race! I PR'd my run and finshed 11th overall. Click Here for the splits I felt really good about the run but knew that the bike needed some work... if I had only been keeping with it, I could have flown! My legs felt dead and I knew it was from the brutal fact that I have not been riding at all. Cycling has always been my stregth and I think I have taken it for granted. My cycling partner Norm is addicted to MTB and Stephen moved away, and the Morganator is away for the summer so my only hope for cycling looks lonely. I have to get over this and get back out there! Anyway, we went to camp and had an amazing time (read all about it at www.darrendurrett.com) When we got back I took a day off to catch up on rest lost on the bus ride home. This extended into a bonus day then one more just to make sure... all of a sudden the entire week went by and I was working till late and trying to keep up with the three days a week of camp follow up. The next weekend came and Becca and I both buckled down and vowed to get back into the grove. Then the rain came. Then came the cold (sick). The cold moved to a sore throat, then to my head, down to my chest and then I was coughing -- violently. This mystery illness would hang on for two weeks, zapping my energy and ablility to train. It was aweful. To make matters worse, it rained for something like 22 straight days. It seemed that all would be lost.

Finished yesterday with a 2000 meter swim with pro triathlete David Morgan. It was an awesome and fun workout... challenging but fun. I love swimming with outher people.

Observation: the 24 hour fitness pool in Mesquite, Texas = NASTY. The highlight was the bonus item bandaid laying face up in the middle of the lane! I think I have been spoiled by the greatness of the Landry Center.

This morning we did not get up. We had a Young Life Committee meeting last night that put us home late. Additionally, it was 26 degress when I woke up... NO WAY!

Okay, so I skipped the workout yesterday... Worked late and came home deflated. Oh well. Today was better. We started off the day with another feeble attempt to get up in the morning. Again, we slept in. For me it was the ole snooz-a-roonie routine for an hour (6 minutes at a time)and a startling surprise to see the clock say 6:45... especially when I had a 7:30 appointment. So I started the day in a mad rush and it never slowed down. Back to back appointments and fire drills until I got home at 6:30. The good news is that we promptly went for a run upon my arrival. It was great! Becca left her ipod at work so we got to talk while we ran. It was actually quite nice to visit and catch up free from the distraction of the computer, TV, Dogs, ringing phones, etc... It was probably one of the more fun runs on record. We ran 35 minutes. The distance is unknown and frankly unimportant. The pace was slow and comfy.

Following the run, we went to 24 for a swim-a-rooskie. Here is the breakdown:
- 300M Warmup
- 10 x 50 Kick alternating fast and slow with 15 sec rest
- 200M easy freestyle
- 10 x 50 Pull drill with paddles with 15 sec rest
- 2 x 100 sprints 30 sec rest between
- 300M cool down

The swim was great. I tried to quit after the sprints but Becca made me finish. I am glad she made me tho. The pool was super crowded tonight. There was only one other person in the there that could swim more than a 25 without stopping. I first noticed him on my last set of pulls. We finished at the same time. He was a huge guy, pretty cut and spoke with what I thought was a Russian accent. In the locker room he struck up a conversation about my new TYR swim bag. He then begins grilling me about what I am training for... he was basically begging me to ask him the same. I was on to him from the start so I decided to refrain as an experiment. I listened and answered his questions but remained completely self absorbed... I asked him nothing. He could not stand it and eventually began spilling. Turns out that he is also training for a triathlon... an Olympic. But he has done a half before. He runs 6:45 miles in the half and does not like the bike. He is thinking of getting a new bike this season but is not sure. He swims 1,500 everyday and runs on the treadmill in the afternoons. Today he missed his usual 5:00 so was in here tonight to swim his 1,500. I am thinking... "is this guy for real?" He began spilling his life story basically. Then I started to see myself... I have done this before... mainly out of insecurity, but I have. It was entertaining at the least. I mean he was only in the pool for my last 700. Before I left, I introduced myself as me and he shook my hand and introduced himself as Juan. I was amused and smiled to myself as I shouldered my new bag and exited the locker room. I met Rebecca in the lobby and launched into the tale of the Juan the Russian triathlete. That made me giggle a little. I am excited to do the Ironman and want so bad to have the distinction, but if I ever get like Juan, someone please slap my fatass!

Well, today was not a very fun day at work... it was bitter sweet... I won a deal and lost a deal, so I guess I broke even. Anyway, it was hard to come home and get motivated to workout after receiving a beating all day. I got home at 7:30 and headed to the gym for a swim. I did some leg weights tonight. I doubled up on the left/weak side. I did the whole stack on a calf extension a few extra times to try to get my left foot up to par. It is definitely weaker and less stable or controllable. Who knows if it will help, but what the heck? It is supposed to get cold and rain this weekend so I am a little bummed out... hopefully I will be able to get a ride in. Anyway, tonight I felt like crap in the pool. You know, like a turd floating slowly in the waves... yuck. I swam 1600. It was shy of my 2000 mark, but the events of the day weighed me down too much. I need to get one of those water proof mp3 players or something. It was a hard swim, but mostly I think I am tired. Not my best day... lets just hope there will be few of these going forward. I think I am going to go to bed and start over tomorrow. I had some good therapy in a few PBRs and working on my bike in the garage... I think that always helps!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello? Is this thing on? Well, as you can see, I have been very busy. Not busy in a good way, but busy working, getting fat and going in the opposite direction of ironman. I want to start by saying, to you, my friends... sorry. Sorry for not returning phone calls, emails, etc. The last month leading up to Christmas was one of the most intense and stressful months of work I have ever experienced. Hopefully, it is over for a while!

Anyway, on to business. I have not updated this in a while, but I want you all to know that I have been doing some sparse activity. Mostly just running here and there and mountain biking twice a week. ...you know, the old "I'll start Monday" thing.

Here it is, a new year... 2007! This is the year for my ironman. Training starts today. Time to quit fooling around! All the preparations have been made, equipment purchased, books read, now time for execution. GAME ON!

Remember the old saying: "I'll start training on Monday?"

Confession: Well, here it is Monday and guess who blew off training. Ugh.

I did make an effort to be an ironman today, though. In talking with my Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Powell (ASOM) who is also training for an ironman... The topic of training came up. He Suggested a book by Matt Fitzgerald. I ordered it on Amazon today and will tell you about it when I get it. Basically, it is a cookbook for training for the ironman. This is just what I need. The plan is to do the base routine twice in a row, each time ramping up then into the fray. I am super pumped and will have to really focus to start and keep slow in the run to avoid injury. That is, if I ever start!

wOW! So it has been a while. Man, training took a turn for the worst. I am starting over today, Monday... yes another Monday start to training. For the past several weeks, life has been extremely hectic. I did get some training and cross training done, but the time to report here, to you, on this blog, has, been, well, let's just say, low priority. Not that any of my fans (you) are not my priority, just that I have not made time for you, so hate me.

Over the last few weeks, work has been very demanding. I had several 'until 10 or 11' work days. Super suck. I have been riding a bit, mostly mountain bikes. Friday after Thanksgiving, I had the bright idea to play tackle football with my Young Life highschoolers... what was I thinking? I managed to escape a trip to the emergency room, but ended up VERY sore. My hip flexors, abductors and feet were and still are killing me. In the middle of the game, I realized I was gambling with my ironman attempt. This occurred to me as I was running a little fade route... the ball was in the air, I was right on target... meanwhile I could hear/feel a six foot six, pimple faced, teenager breathing down my neck. He was at full sprint, head up, arms at perfect 90 degrees with hands bladed and pumping fast. It was at that moment that I remembered what happened last time I played tackle football in college. That game ended with me in the ER with a Liz Franc Injury (google it, its nasty). In fact, that injury is what has been causing me to spend countless dollars on physical therapy, orthotics, etc. Anyway, I "missed" the pass and the ball fell incomplete. The rest of the afternoon would be damage control and prayer. I cannot tell you how happy I was when we finally called the game. Whew.

The soreness kept me on the couch most of the rest of the day. Saturday morning brought immense stiffness. Nevertheless, I met Norm and we went for an epic mountain bike ride... We road all of Grapevine then went over to Nob Hills and rode all of it. We ended up with 35ish off road miles. That put me over the top. Towards the ended, I could not even lift my leg over the top tube.

I have been this sore before, but only a few times. Here's the deal... I love it! I means I am doing the right things... all except gambling with my ironman attempt, but the epic and painful rides are all necessary training... I LOVE IT!

In an attempt to gain motivation via a vehicle of investment, i.e. spending money on gear, I went to keifer swim shop today and threw down on fins, paddles, bag, lap counter, goggles, ear dildos, chamois (s) and a pull buoy. I am fired up. Maybe this will be the ticket to motivation! It should at least get me through the next couple of weeks.

So you are wondering what an ear dildo is... well, so I am in the shop and texting Phat Daddy David Morgan to get a read on swimming implements. My last question was around ear plugs. I am shopping away, waiting patiently for the reply and I get it. I glanced and noticed an answer. It read: "I use Macks pillowsoft aqua blockers. They are..." I stopped there thinking I had enough information then began handing the phone to the attractive young lady at the counter hoping to not have to expend much energy in describing my need. As my arm extended, I noticed the rest of the message: "...They are purple and look like little dildos." WHOOOW! I panicked and snapped the flip phone closed. It was too late, there was enough inertia and momentum to send the phone tumbling into a pile of kick boards. She reached and I intercepted. I was so rattled that I just said never mind shuffled to the register, giggling.

Question number 1: Can I start my training tomorrow? How about next week?

This is the first week of training and already my schedule is not allowing me to train. How in the hell is this going to work? If I cannot get time to start training, then how am I going to get the training done when it really matters? Ugh.

I need to make some changes... that is becoming very apparent. I need to set some goals. I feel like there should be some prefabricated goals in a training manual somewhere that I should adopt... but for sake of being my own man, I will try to come up with my own and then maybe compare notes. The fist thing I need to do is start getting more sleep and start getting up in the morning. As of this morning, I usually roll out of bed 30 minutes from needing to be where I am to be in the morning. Realistically, there is no way I am going to be able to get all of these workouts in after work. Second, I need to figure out and establish my "one thing." I read about it on Trinewbies... here is what TriNewbies says about the "one thing:"

The "One Thing"
What is your One Thing, your reason for being out there in the first place? Solidify a clear purpose for the day and then expect your body to question your mind's commitment to that purpose. Expect this internal debate and prepare/rehearse your rebuttal. I remind myself that the pain and discomfort I feel is only temporary. Pain can't stop the clock and no matter how bad it gets, it has to end sometime. My job is to keep running in a straight line until they tell me to stop.

Just reading that gives me freakin goose bumps... but at this point, I have several things... I need to find that one thing and also start my training... maybe tomorrow.

MONDAY 10-23-2006:

Today is the official first day of training. Well, I guess I am off with a bang. Let's see, the training I had planned for today way to swim 2000 and run 3 to 5. Did it happen? Nope. Instead I consumed about 2000 calories of pizza, wings, Dr. Peppers, a sonic blast and a corn dog. Tonight was Young Life Club and the training just did not materialize. Not good. I keep telling myself that I have plenty of time, but in the back of my mind I know that kind of logic will be dangerous down the road. I am on the edge of mediocrity. Very close to not being motivated... I must nip this in the bud. The plan is to move on, forget about today and start again tomorrow. On thing I know is that in the event, as is in life, you must live in the now. Worry about what you can control and let go of the rest.

I am confident in myself to pull it together. The picture of myself crossing the finish line depicts a very different human being than what is pounding out this blog entry. There will be a lot of changes from here to there, that I am certain. I am excited to see that picture of me finishing the Ironman. Please understand that I will have to be border line obsessed with Ironman in order to motivate myself, so try not to get sick of it.

One of my main motivators right now is the inspiration received by reading Dean Karnazes Ultra Marathon Man. This book is truly amazing... showing proof that ordinary people can do extraordinary crap. An Ironman is just a drop in the bucket compared to the things Dean has done and written about in his book. Check out his website: http://www.ultramarathonman.com/flash/