Really...the last wave

About 2 ½ weeks till the big day.

Just found out my bib number last night and I am number 1577 and starting in wave 17 "LAST WAVE!" That is where this blog entry begins.

WHY at the half ironman “world championship” would you put all of the young, fast men in the LAST WAVE!?! I understand that at smaller races you would put the women who are, no offense, slower in the earlier wave to allow the race to wrap up a little quicker and give them a better race experience. But why at one of the main races of the year would you still put them in front of the faster people?

The first issue is it is a safety risk. You wouldn’t put the slow Model T in front of the Ford Mustang on the highway with little room to go around, we know how that would end. Or put the row boat in front of the big bass boat, same outcome.

The second issue is that no one can put forth his or her best effort. The slow people are getting trampled in the swim and bike, while the faster people have to slow down so they don’t trample over the slower people. It just does not make sense to me at all.

That is the way racing goes I guess. You play the cards you are dealt. I have been dealt a hand and I am going to play it to the best of my ability. Everyone else in my age group has to deal with the same thing so I won’t be the only one.

I think I may try to make the race into a little game, how many people or waves I can catch by the time I am done with the 70.3 mile race? As well as how many people I can motivate by smiling at them and saying, “Good job!” or, “Keep it up!” as I pass.

Thanks for reading and hope no one takes offence to my remarks, PJE

"Student of the sport"

4 weeks and 3 days till race day.... Last week was a rest week which is making this week so much better!!  With my extra time last week I was able to spend even more time becoming a "Student of the sport."  With only 2 years "really one year" of racing under my belt, I feel it will helpe me become more experienced to help me reduce my "Rookie Mistakes."  Kona was this past Saturday and I was glued to my computer watching every second of that race.  I learned so much from the pre race videos/ articles leading up the race and even more while watching the race on Saturday.  Experience and knowledge wins races, so I am trying to gain all the experience and knowledge I can and use that in the races to come.  Hopefully I can slowly but surely use the knowledge I learn and spread it off to you readers.  Thanks PJE

Rest Week

Down weeks are the best but worst thing ever! I hate when I have to relax on the training but know how important it is to have them.  Only recently have a really grasped this rest thing and not a, "all out, balls out" every day I am training.  With the help of my coach I am getting the proper rest resulting in some of the best workouts I have ever done. (Hard Day = Hard, Easy Days = EASY) Thanks for reading... PJE

Group Training

Lets just say "Buckling up and putting the nose to the grindstone" this week went real well.  Feeling fast and light on the run and powerful on the bike. 

This weekend I went up north to a good friends place to train with over the weekend.  Boy I am glad I did, there is something about training with another person that you just cant replicate.  I enjoy training with people who are just plan better then me, because I think it really takes you to another level.  But its something that has to be done with a couple things in mind in order to not hurt yourself. 
1. Pushing each other is good but has to be done safe and in good spirits. 
2. Listen to your body, Training in a group in High School was something that got me hurt a lot I beleave, because I would not listen to what my body was saying instead end up racing each other every day including the easy days.  Make sure to still keep your hard days hard and your easy days easy, which is hard to do if train in groups a lot.
4. Make it fun and enjoy the company.
5. Still do a good amount of hard stuff by yourself because you dont get to have that training partner with you at all times in a race.  Need to be able to train/ race hard on your own as well.

So go find a training partner to push each other and enjoy the day.  Thanks for reading PJE