DO WORK

Things have been a little different since I returned home. Won't go into to much detail but I have come to a big realization in life! A very good friend...Pete Chan, helped me figure a lot of these things out. I want to say "Thank You" to him as our talks have been invaluable to my life and pending success going forward.

I also want to say "Thank You" to Espen Kateraas as he too helped me a great deal during a very hard time in my life. I think after talking with him, 4 days after I returned from Florida....he helped me straighten a few things out in my head.

Most of you have no idea what I am talking about....others know every intimate detail about what happened to me over the past couple weeks and all that I have had to overcome. In the end...I think my character will grow stronger and I will become a better person having been through it.

.......................................................................

Back to the "Real World" is what I like to call it. Making preparations for next season and my life in general.

I've been doing a bit of updating on my site and my blog...as you can see if you look around. Yet all this has taken a back seat to the work I have been doing for others. Busy, busy, busy!!!

A couple websites you should venture too if you get a bit of time on your hands are the newly created www.espenusa.com and www.joeymcelhaney.com. Espen is a very talented athlete as well as a very close friend! Almost like a brother...We met down in Austin during the Longhorn Triathlon and have been tight ever since. As if doing battle down in Tejas wasn't enough...Espen met me out in Panama City Beach for Ironman Florida. I think we're planning another go-around for next year!

Good friend Joey is getting a bit of a make-over...couple changes (aesthetics). Needed to make it a little sharper and a tad more crisp. Still not completely done but none-the-less...it's shaping up very nicely! I'm always updating sites I work on... With the times changing...sometimes websites need to grow too!

Joey will be racing The White Rock Marathon here in Dallas next weekend with a good friend of ours, Adam Wilk. Both will be racing hard but with two different goals in mind. I think Joey is looking for the experience to take to Ironman Kentucky and Adam is looking to add a sub 3 hour marathon to his ever growing resume. I've been talking to Joey about taking his trainer to the race and getting in the saddle for a couple hours before the race starts. Good luck to both of you!

The other fellas I have added to the list are Cliff Scherb who completed "The Double" down in Florida with me, Rob Chance who I have raced on more than one occasion (very talented individual, this guy...and a Doctor to boot!)...and last but certainly not least, Joe Bonness who I got to know pretty well down in Florida. All amazing athletes and I'm a better person for having known them.

Anyway...more to come!

To all who read...I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. To everyone who has lent an ear in support of my struggles..."Thank You So Very Much"!

Later...

Mg

More on this over the next couple days. Been doing a lot of thinking and have a few things to get off my chest.

Given the position I am in right now...it should make for some interesting reading..

I've spent the last few days pondering this race. To sum things up...make it simple and sweet. I raced the Florida double ...Ironman Florida followed by the Ironman 70.3 World Championship 7 days later. What a week!

When it's all said and done...I'm extremely happy that I went after this goal. It was a wonderful experience to see where I was physically and mentally.

Spending time pondering how or why...or even if I could have gone faster in the 70.3 race hasn't even crossed my mind. Completing both in respectable times is the greatest accomplishment I've had thus far in the sport of Triathlon.

If I had to put down a race report...It might go something like this.

• Woke up at 5:00 a.m. as my wave wouldn't go off until 8:00 a.m.
• When I climbed out of bed...my first thought was...You've got to be kidding....the race is today?
• I didn't' have my typical rolled oats as I ran out in Panama City
• Ate about 3 bananas, cup of yogurt, some bread and a little granola.
• Oh yeah....2 Red Bulls. Yeah buddy...I was starting to wake up mentally

So here we go...race time!

Swim: 31:40

• Started right at the front (what the fuck was I thinking)
• I ran hard to the water...dove in and was 3rd in line
• Stroke was in perfect harmony with the other two for about 100 meters
• All the sudden...I was trampled by about 100 crazy ass athletes
• I took on so much water...it was the first time I though I was going to drown
• Took me about 2 minutes to get out of that mess and over to the outside.
• I was punched, pushed under water, climbed on...
• You name it...I was the victim of starting in the wrong place.
• I should have know better.
• I wasn't in strong enough swim shape to make a run at leading the swim.
• In the end...I was probably looking for that to happen to me.
• Was the worst swim experience of my life. I thought about quiting so much.
• The return trip to the beach was also frustrating as I had to swim through all the excited swimmers who tried to kill me as well as through the slower swimmers in the wave ahead of us...
• What a mess!

T1: 2:56

• I was so happy to get out of that water.
• When I saw my time...I was so disappointed but happy to have made it through the bad parts of the swim.
• Honestly...when you get knocked down...you have to get up or check out!

Bike: 2:14:00

• I left transition in a pretty bad spot.
• I was behind and needed to make up some pretty significant time.
• Even though I was tired from racing Ironman Florida last week...I still wanted to give the race my best.
• Do what you can with the hand your dealt...my personal philosophy.
• I rode pretty hard and found 2 guys to mix it up with.
• We were doing well and I thought...maybe this race was going to be different from last year.
• Quite possibly...no...maybe...drafting...is it going to happen?
• Sometime before mile 20....the packs started to form. I turned around and on came about a group of 20-30 riders.
• They were all over the course. It was out of control.
• I took it to the front as much as I could. Since my cycling is in a good place...I wanted to control the pace.
• It didn't really do any good.
• I rode hard...backed off for a couple minutes and did that over and over again.
• I remarked to one of the riders up front that we were breaking up the pack.
• Didn't really do much good.
• It was actually a pretty sad day for strong cyclist. My pace was going to be the same as an athlete 15 minutes slower than me if we rode head to head.
• All a weaker cyclist had to do was jump in the middle of the pack and soft pedal 56 miles. Really disgusting!!
• While the workhorses were up front....chump athletes sat 5-10 deep and relaxed....only jumping out of the pack at the end so the crowds could see them role into transition alone or legal distance from the others.

T2: 2:44

• I came into transition pretty fast.
• I tried to make my way around through the tent in a speedy fashion.
• I was definitely ready to run..

Run: 1:31:31

• I came out of T2 feeling very good.
• It actually blew me away...I had no idea what to expect after racing last weekend.
• I controlled my efforts the entire time.
• It was only until the last 5k that I pushed my limits.
• Did I mention that run course was pretty tough.
• Climbing the Causeway 4 times was one heck of a challenge.
• Climbing did break the run up and provided a few challenges.
• Miles splits are listed here: 6:56, 7:12, 6:49, 6:55, 7:08, 6:57, 7:00, 7:15, 7:05, 6:58, 7:11, 6:59, 6:24.
• The goal once I left for the run was to come into the finish under 4:25.
• I knew I probably couldn't run 1:25 after last weekend...
• Also...with my screw up in the water...I knew it was just out of the question.
• I put the run together in a smart fashion and was happy when I crossed the line.

Total Race Time: 4:22:51

Was I happy...you bet! I did 2 serious endurance events 7 days apart. People told me all week long how crazy I was and they were right...it was pretty crazy...but extremely fun.

Talking with Joe Bonness after Ironman Florida sealed the deal. He is a true inspiration and a great inspiration in the sport. The guys done something like 5 Ironmans in the last 2 months. Freaking awesome.

I also had a chance to hang out with a new friend...Cliff Scherb. Cliff also raced Ironman Florida. Not only did he throw it down in Panama City...but he made the trip down to Clearwater for this race as well. Both races went well for him...big ups Cliff!

For me...I will never race Clearwater again. Horrible drafting.. and someone like myself cannot use the bike as a weapon. It really sucks... If they ever get the race under control or move it to a different venue...I will most definitely come back.

Lots more to write about....stay tuned...

Mg

Swim: 1:01:21

• Took it out solid right from the jump!
• Positioned myself right in the middle and right at the front.
• Seemed to get overtaken by hundreds of overzealous athletes racing too hard after about 200 meters.
• Need to work on swimming faster in the beginning.
• Was disappointed when I hit the second turn buoy in 16 minutes. Was hitting it on the other days at 15 min flat or faster.
• Once I turned down the home stretch...I knew I wouldn't get the sub hour I was looking for. Settled in and focused on hitting another swim pr and that's exactly what I did

T1: 2:58

• Came out of the water pretty good and focused.
• Wanted to minimize my downtime in transition at this race.
• I've given up lots of time in transition at past races....
• Did not want that to happen again!
• Was happy when I hit the bike.

Bike: 4:49:55

• Found my element right from the start...never skipped a beat.
• I ignored as many people as I could and stuck to my game plan.
• I split most all of the 10 mile markers in 25-26 minutes.
• Wasn't until about mile 45 that company found me!
• Big pack came through about the time I met up with Joe Bonness.
• Rolled by Joe and told him I was sorry but to watch out for Zee Germans behind me.
• There was a swarm of them. They seemed to have bridged a pretty big gap.
• It's a little joke I've got going right now...I'm calling all the foreigners Germans...HA!
• Actually, lots of Europeans...never seen so many.
• Anyway...Joe and I tried to shake things up a bit but no go.
• Needless to say...we weren't too happy about it on Sunday. I'm sure we'll have more to talk about after Clearwater....
• In the end...it was very tiring and very draining for an Ironman to ride so hard.
• I did what I could and rode strong but within my element. Several people were very nice and came up to me after the race and on Sunday to tell me how strong I looked out on the course and how everyone was glued up to my wheel. HA...I suppose it made me feel good to know what I did was seen and appreciated. It was nice to hear...especially from the ones who commented...so Thanks!!!
• I tried my best to decimate the clan but it just didn't work.
• I slowed up a bit towards the end of the bike which proved helpful as my knee was bothering me a bit. Kind of weird...
• Came off the bike feeling pretty good and ready to see what the day would bring.

T2: 3:57

• Smooth and fast transition....but
• I needed to relieve some fluids. Felt like an eternity but I was good to go

Run: 3:46:06 (1st loop, 13.1 miles - 1:40:09)(2nd loop, 13.1 miles - 2:05:57)

• I left transition telling myself to relax and just get through each mile.
• Told myself I've been here before and you can do it!
• Forget the fact that my longest run was 13.1 over the past 4 months!
• Other than my knee bothering me a bit...Everything felt good until mile 10-11.
• I just kept telling myself to at least get past 13!
• Don't stop or take a break until after that.
• Once came through the second loop...I dug deep and made it through 3 more miles before coming to a walk.
• I was sooo tired. I had tunnel vision and I was fading pretty bad.
• I could deal with the pain...I just didn't know how I was going to stay upright for another hour and a half.
• Boy was a tired. I knew this was coming...I'm just glad I held it off for as long as I did!
• The remainder was just completely excruciating!
• In the end...sometimes I wonder how we make it through some of the days we have.
• Clearwater next weekend and then the season comes to a close!

Total Race Time: 9:44:17