Why would you possibly want to do this?


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Call it crazy, call it a 'mid-life crises', call it boys being boys... I don't mind. I am 45 years old, been physically active most of my life (interspersed with brief periods of sheer laziness) and have decided to complete the South African Ironman in April 2008. (3.8k Swim, 180k Cycle, 42.2k Run)

Someone told me that when you are 45, rich and bored you buy a Harley or a sports car. When you are 45, poor and suffer from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) you do the Ironman.

In 1987 I completed a canoe Ironman triathlon and suddenly realised that if I completed the Ironman in 2008, it would be almost 21 Years to the day since my last big physical challenge.

I have been training for a few months now but took 4 weeks off all training before the 'big push' that starts TODAY (2 July 2007). This BLOG will be a daily Web Log of the life and times of a Ironman Wannabe. I trust you will enjoy the experience with me and please feel free to comment on any of the blogs.

PS. I am doing this for charity and the details of that will soon be posted here, as well as on my own site at www.brandstrategy.co.za and at the TTMAD site (Tri-ing To Make A Difference)

Monday, July 23, 2007

265 Days And Counting

Monday... kinda a rest day with a swim thrown in for good measure. Felt a little guilty that I hadn't run yesterday so hardly earned the rest day, but I know I will pay for it!

Had my first swim session today, spent about 45 minutes in the water. Did some TI (Total Immersion) Drills to warm up and followed the program. The swim will be challenging and I think my fear of swimming in a crowd and the sea will be the biggest challenge. James from Triangle assures me the swim is the easy part (this year the swells & currents were the big problem so they have moved the date out a bit)

Physio went well and Jane is a magician, if you need a physiotherapist drop me a mail and I will send you her details. She is also a nutter and that is a whole other story. She will be running in a race across the Alps in about 5 weeks and will be covering about 200k in 10 days. I will post the full details here and on the TTMAD Website shortly. Signed up for the hosting today and gave Siviwe most of the content so we should be live by Thursday!

I am not certain if this is the correct logo or even if this is the correct link (Click Here) if not I am certain she will let me know and I will correct it. So I suppose the nice thing about Ironman is it maybe late at night but I will eventually be sleeping in a comfortable bed in a nice hotel in Port Elizabeth that night. (PS I have booked in at The Kelway Hotel)


Today
Weight 71,9 Kg
Height 172 cm

Run
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Cycle
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Swim
Distance: About 800m
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I Share My Road...

(This article I wrote, recently appeared in the SA Mens Health Magazine in July 2008 as the letter of the month)

I Share MY Road…

MY road? Well it’s not really MY road, I don’t really own it, in fact I don’t even live on it, but I do run it almost everyday and in my head that makes it MY road. I set out at about 5:15am most mornings and I share MY road with so many others.

There are the sprinters, the joggers and the walkers. What strikes me most about these people is that they are not wearing the latest in high tech running shoes or specially designed shirts to wick sweat from the body as they cover the kilometers. No GPS heart rate monitors strapped on these chest. In fact most are in ordinary clothes, overalls, construction boots, reflective security jackets, in fact, just about anything.

They are not running to get fit or to complete some race they have circled on a calendar, they are running to get to work, to catch a taxi, to make a change of shift or even to get home after pulling an all nighter. They are running to bring home the money they need to live, they are truly professional athletes.

We nod to each other as we pass and sometimes even share a greeting over the music blaring from my iPod. And each day I am reminded just how fortunate I am to have the opportunity and the means to choose when I run, to choose why I run and to choose where I run.

So to all those who share MY road with me, thank you for the lessons you teach me everyday and Gods speed and safety on your journey.

Mike Said
Somewhere on MY Road
Senderwood