Ironman Dreams

In writing up my La Quinta International Distance Triathlon experience, I said that I had actually looked past that two and a half hour race. I admitted to having dreams and goals that went beyond an international distance event (~1K swim, ~40K bike, ~10K run). I said I would bring up the topic again later and now seems like a good time. Since that post I achieved another of my goals by completing my first marathon. I also did another international distance triathlon, with more success than the 1st one in La Quinta.

Goals start with dreams. If they have the potential to become reality, they can be turned into goals that you work towards. If the goal is a big one, it's a good idea to set smaller, more achievable goals to measure your progress and prove to yourself that the ultimate goal is within reach. I originally started writing this post by giving a little history on how this swimming, running, and biking thing all got started. I think it's either been said in other posts or it's just plain boring except to me so I scrubbed those details. Instead I decided to do a bullet point thumbnail of things (with still maybe too much detail).

• Encinitas 5K ~2001 – strained calf muscle and could barely finish.


• Thanksgiving 5K's – ran (and walked) these a few times with minimal training. Hurt for 2 days after each one.


• Aquathlon 8/2006 with Italiphil - 5K at the end was painful! Twisted an ankle.


• Encinitas Sprint Triathlon 5/2007 - Had to walk more than a mile to finish due to muscle strain. Very disappointed even though I "finished". Wondered whether injuries are going to keep me from continuing to do this type of thing.


• Solana Beach Sprint Triathlon 7/2007 - Successfully finished without injury and used a rented bike that felt fast. Wondered if I could do an International/Olympic distance event (that includes a 30 to 40K bike ride and a 10K run even though I'd never run that far before).


• La Jolla Rough Water Swim 1 mile September 2007 - Always a fun challenge but never concerned about just finishing. The Gatorman that follows the mile swim each year is 3 miles in the open ocean. Fear, and the fact that there are no flip turns, are the biggest concerns; more than completing the distance. Should I do one next year? (A full Ironman is 3.2 miles.)


• 10K Run September 2007 - finished my first 10K ever. Had never run more than a 5K before training for this. An Olympic distance triathlon seems possible. Can I run further? Is a 13.1 mile Half Marathon possible? (In the back of my head I'm thinking, "If a half marathon is possible, how about a Half Ironman Triathlon that includes a half marathon?")


• Palm Springs Half Marathon February 2008 - finished in under 2 hours and surprised that it wasn't more difficult. Dedicated training and sticking to a plan made it possible. Had been thinking about a full marathon since December. Now I know I'm going to try it in June.


• La Quinta International Distance Triathlon April 2008 - finished it as a first timer but the run was VERY hard. I actually looked past this event as if I'd already achieved this goal, a mistake.


• Rock 'N' Roll Marathon, San Diego June 2008 - finished it in 4:29:12, meeting my goal time as well as finishing. The last 3rd got progressively tougher but there were lessons learned that I can use for a future marathon (or ½ Ironman or Ironman).


• San Diego International Triathlon June 2008 - did better and felt better than for the La Quinta Tri, even though it's doubtful that I'd fully recovered from the marathon. Pleased with progress.


• Encinitas and Solana Beach Sprint Triathlons May and July 2008 - these have turned into a challenge, not to finish, but to do better, go faster, and compete smarter.

Currently on the calendar/goal list:

• Swim La Jolla Rough Water Swim Gatorman 3 mile this September 2008 - is breaking 75 minutes an unreasonable goal? I hope it’s not too cold-no wetsuits are allowed!


• Century Ride somewhere, sometime in the near future. Maybe Borrego Springs in October. Is breaking 6 ½ hours a reasonable goal for a first timer? I have no idea.

In making this progression, goals have been met, dreams turned into new goals, and goals turned into achievements. I suppose this process is how most people get more and more involved in triathlon. I'm sure I'm not alone in this progression.

Now it's time for a few confessions. First, back in the early days of high school, as a swimmer, I had the same Olympic dream that most competitors in Olympic sports have. Was it realistic? Not really. I vividly remember the interview the high school newspaper conducted when he asked me if I was going to the Olympics someday like Mark Spitz. I gave him an answer to the effect that I would have to get much better if I was going to make it, etc. But it was true, I had thought about it and imagined it.

Second, as a high school senior my primary individual swimming goal was to make All-American. Realistic? I don't know. I thought so. I think you needed a :48.5 in the 100 Free back then to make the consideration time. That was my winning time in the individual 100 at the county championships but leading off the 400 Free Relay gave me another chance. 48.2 was my split, which we submitted. In the end it wasn't fast enough because it took 47.9 to get "honorable mention". Was I proud of my 48.2? Yes. Was I disappointed in not even making honorable mention? Always have been.

Third, even before I finished the Solana Beach Sprint Tri more than a year ago I started thinking about Ironman. Completing an Ironman race is like a regular person’s Olympics. My Olympic dream has long past (regardless of Dara Torres’s recent accomplishment). But Ironman is still a possibility. To complete it you don’t have to be an elite athlete. You don’t have to be among the top 2 or 3 people in the United States like anOlympic event requires. You do have to train hard, be dedicated to the goal, and stay completely committed in order to achieve it. To cross that finish line after going 140.6 miles (3.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike, ending with a marathon run) in 11 or 13 or 16 hours and hear the announcer say your name and followed by “You are an Ironman” is like going to the Olympics.

A ½ Ironman takes less time and commitment than the full Ironman. For some it is another step towards completing an Ironman. For others, a Half is enough. At my age its seems wisest to have done two or more years of endurance training in before attempting an Ironman distance.

At this point it seems time to make a decision. Do I set a goal to complete a 70.3 mile long ½ Ironman like the one in Oceanside that's in early April (with an eye toward an Ironman)? Can Mrs. Sladed tolerate a training schedule that requires somewhat more than I'm already doing? Will Laz and Italiphil still be my friends while I pursue a ½ Ironman? Will other obligations and interests cooperate? Is this goal too selfish? Your thoughts are welcome!