Vineman – a Beautiful Race
I felt the fingers brushing my feet every few minutes when I slowed to pop my head up to breathe during the 2.4-mile swim, but I was content to lead the two swimmers I towed behind me. “I’m happy! I’m happy! I’m happy!” I kept repeating this phrase to myself again and again on the 112-mile bike. I smiled at the photographers and, on my second bike loop, I greeted as many athletes that I passed who were on their first loop with either a “Great job!” or a nod. I never really had any “bad” moments on the bike; I simply pushed my big gear at my low cadence to gap all the...
Read MoreTom overcomes at Ironman Lake Placid to PR by 100+ Minutes
My friend and coaching client, Lt Col Tom Impellitteri, USMC, successfully completed Ironman Lake Placid this past weekend, improving his 2009 finish time by more than 100 minutes with significant improvements in all 5 race splits: swim, T1, bike, T2 and run. Wow! What is amazing about his story is not how well he did, but rather how well he overcame three significant adverse situations during his race – any of the three could have derailed his race. Like life, racing an Ironman is full of challenges, many of which come at you unexpectedly. The key, I believe, to successfully navigating...
Read MoreFirst Impressions of Boulder
I have been in Boulder, Colorado, for almost two weeks now since arriving here with Krista and Princess (my Dalmatian) pulling a small U-haul trailer behind my Volvo wagon. Here are my first impressions on a city that many consider the epicenter of triathlon. No matter where I am standing in Boulder, I can see the mountains. I’m sitting her typing this blog article and looking out at the mountains. I can step outside my apartment, hop on my bike, ride for 5 minutes then start climbing for 1.5+ hours. No excuses for not being strong on the hills! Altitude is a bitch. I definitely...
Read MoreA Taste of Bittersweet after Ironman Coeur d’Alene
To me, the Ironman-distance is an ever changing puzzle waiting to be solved – 1,000 pieces scattered across the table that must be carefully and meticulously assembled over months and months of preparation for a single day of 140.6 miles of racing applied across different temperatures, terrains, wind conditions and scenery. Even after completing Ironman Coeur d’Alene as my 27th race at the distance, “I am still learning” (as Michelangelo once said). Sunday’s race leaves a bittersweet taste in my gut when I consider the time commitment, focus and expenses that I’ve invested in this...
Read MoreOn Trust and the Paradox of Performance
I have prepared my whole life for Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday – a 140.6-mile odyssey of swimming, biking and running against the clock. I demand of myself nothing less than excellence, as I draw on 39 years of experience, learning and self-analysis. Paradoxically, what happens on race day means both everything and nothing. It means everything because a fast race as an age grouper opens up more doors of possibility such as another pro card, more sponsorships and more visibility as a coach. It means nothing because it’s the journey that I took to get here and how I finish...
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