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)

Thursday, July 12, 2007

276 Days And Counting


Went to go and check out registration process on the Ironman Website. Well it is simple enough just a little pricey R3150 but Spec-Savers (The Title Sponsors) have stepped in with a really nice offer for a reduction. I am expecting my training program any day now but for the mean time and putting in some base miles and just working on general fitness.

Today was spinning class, 40 min medium effort and heart rate gradually increasing. Tomorrow will be back on the road and Saturday or Sunday i will try a LONG run (long by my current standards that is). Bryan, my training partner signed up for Ironman yesterday and as he explains he has now put his money where his mouth is. I suppose I will be doing the same shortly.

I am going for my much anticipated swim tryout at 3 today and besides the cold weather, the fact that I can't swim and I am not as fit as I should be, I can't think of a single reason not to look forward to it!

Today
Weight 71,6 Kg
Height 171 cm (not expecting that to change anytime soon)

Run
Distance:
Time:
Heart Rate:

Cycle
Distance:
Time: 40 minute spin class
Heart Rate: around 150

Swim
Distance:
Time:
Heart Rate: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
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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