Back to Blogging and Exciting Ironman News: IM Kona 2016

Dear friends,

After 15 Full Ironman Triathlons, I have finally been selected to compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona on October 8, 2016.  It has been a long journey since my first Ironman in Louisville in 2010.  I was too busy with life and with Ironman training and racing to keep up with my blog.  Let me summarize by saying that I have continued to train with Ironteam while fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I have raised over $25,000 in that span.  I will start up a new season with Ironteam this weekend as I start training for IM Kona.  I hope to be more diligent with my blog and with my swim workouts.  I am a faster cyclist and runner, but still need to work on my swim.

My previous blog outlined my recovery from ACL Reconstruction and provided race reports after each of my major marathons / Ironman triathlons.  This new version will be more focused on the life of an age grouper balancing work, family, and Ironman training.  I hope you find this interesting.

As for my knee almost 7 years s/p ACL reconstruction, its doing great.  I run faster than before my injury and 99% of the time, my knee feels solid and I don't even think about it.  However that 1% of the time, I will have a mis-step and feel a strange twinge and there is that slight instability.  Fortunately, I have not had any falls, but I have had a few close calls during these episodes.  Occasionally after long runs and marathons, my operated knee will feel more swollen and more sore.  That's where ice wraps and muscle stimulation comes in.  More on that in a future post.  Until then, Run Happy!

Alexander "Neomedic"
Marathon Maniac #886

I started this blog 3 years ago to document my journey towards the IRONMAN.  I had just joined Team in Training to train for Wildflower Long-Course and the Full Vineman Triathlons.  Here is an excerpt of my first Post from Dec 30, 2008 :

I started running in January 2006.  I moved from my previous hospital to my current one.  I saved about 2 hours of commute time.  That allowed me to start running and getting into shape.  At the time a mile seemed a long way.  When I ran a 5K in Feb 2006, I nearly passed out at the finish.  Slowly I started to build up the mileage and ran a 8K and a 10K.  I enjoyed the whole race experience, the runners, the cheering crowds, the reward ( food) at the finish.  I decided to sign up for a half marathon and a full marathon... one week apart.  The half was on Memorial Day 2006.  The full was the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego, June 4, 2006.  I didn't know anything about carbo loading or tapering.  I assumed that if I could run 18 miles in my training runs, I could run a marathon.  The half marathon went well.  I came in under 2 hours, so I was quite pleased.  I expected to run the full at a similar pace.  I learned the hard way that there is a small gap between the 10K and the Half; but a large chasm between the Half and the Full.  After mile 13, it was a struggle; and by mile 16 it was painful.  I limped the last few miles to the finish.  I thought never again.  I've run a marathon, that's it.  It took about 4 months for the painful memories to go away, and I had the desire to sign up for another marathon.  (Las Vegas, 12/06) 

After that I was hooked...

 Amazing how far I have come since then.  I had to overcome an ACL tear and subsequent Reconstruction.  After months of PT and rehab, I started running marathons again and completed my first Ironman (Louisville 2010) with Team in Training.  In 2011, I trained with Team in Training again and completed Full Vineman, IM Louisville, and IM Florida.  This past month I ran RnR Las Vegas Marathon and the RnR Latin Music Half Marathon in Miami Beach.  Good times.  I think I enjoy racing more than training.  Perhaps that is why I race so much.  I have probably completed more than 30 marathons now, but I've lost track.  Cycling for 5 hours doesn't faze me either.  And I actually feel comfortable swimming in open water, although I can do without the mass swim starts.

My New Year 2012 Goals:  

1) To Compete and Finish 4 Full Ironman Triathlons:  CDA, CANADA, FL, and AZ.

2) To raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to hopefully one day find a cure for Cancer.

3) To become a better person during this process...

To be honest Goal #3 is the most important and probably the most challenging.  But please help with Goal #2 if you are able to.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/ironca13/irondoc

Return of the Marathon Maniac

I've been busy with Ironman training and with work at the hospital.  After Wildflower, I jumped into Marathon mode.  I ran Back to Back marathons in mid May.  First off was the Palos Verdes Marathon on Saturday May 14.  It was a tough and hilly race.  The downhill running actually took more of a toll on my legs.  By mile 18, I slowed down significantly from my marathon pace.  I decided to treat this as a training run and after mile 20, I turned it back way down.  I even walked most of the last 3 miles.  In the back of my mind I was a little concerned about my marathon the next day.  My legs were very sore, again probably from the downhill running. When I finished, I immediately went into refuel and rest mode.
The next day, Sunday May 15, was the Pasadena marathon.  It was a great course.  Some hills, but not as bad as PV.  It rained the first couple hours, but the sun came out and the last couple hours were very pleasant for running.  I ended up running more than 10 minutes faster in Pasadena on tired legs than at PV the day before on rested legs!
What was my reward for this Marathon Madness?  The most important reward was the mental strength I developed which I will need to draw upon during Ironman.  Another reward is stronger legs and a more robust cardiovascular system.  Oh yeah, I also got a Phiten necklace for completing the PV to Pasadena Ultra Challenge.
On Memorial Day, I ran the Laguna Hills Half Marathon which is a hilly course as well.  I actually set my Half Marathon PR here in 2008.  I was out late the night before the race with my neighbors.  I probably had too much Johnny and Jack.  My sleep was not optimal at all.  So I actually had second thoughts when my alarm went off that morning.  Since I needed to at least get a training run in, I decided to attend the race.  I started the race feeling crappy.  My legs felt sluggish.  My breathing labored.  But after a couple miles, I started to find my groove.  Soon I was running at my 5K pace.  I knew I couldn't keep this up, but I decided to run fast as long as possible before turning it down and treating the rest of the race as a training run.  By mile 6, I had slowed to 10K pace, but I was still feeling strong.  I eventually started tiring around mile 9, but I knew at this point that I could race the entire course.  Well I just missed my PR by about 30 seconds!  I had not taper.  In fact with Ironteam training, I just went on a 5 hour-90 mile bike ride against a strong headwind 2 days before the Half Marathon!  This race just reconfirmed how far I have come from my ACL Reconstruction in 2009.
So my running is at Ironman level.  My cycling is close to Ironman level; I have a 6 hour ride tomorrow in which I should go well over 100 miles.  My swimming is another matter entirely.  I have been suffering from a sore Left shoulder for about 3 weeks now.  I would start to feel better, but after the 90 min swim workouts, I would go back to square one.  I finally rested and avoided the pool for 10 days.  This week I had a 60 min swim and the shoulder felt OK, but my swim stroke deteriorated.  I know I'll have to put more time into the pool.

Marathon PR 18 months Post ACL Reconstruction

Well I did it.  I managed to not only beat last month's Las Vegas Marathon time by over half an hour, but I set a PR by over 7 minutes at the Rock n Roll Arizona marathon last Sunday. Yes, a PR: I actually ran faster than I did prior to my ACL tear and subsequent Reconstruction in July of 2009. 
This was also my fourth marathon in 3 months.  Yes, Marathon Maniac is back.  All while training for my Ironman 2011events.  Now I know Boston is within reach with a little more intensive speedwork. Due to Ironman triathlon training, I haven't had time for speedwork.  Instead I have emphasized endurance cross-training.  When I get serious about Boston Qualifying in 2012, look out...
As I reflect on everything related to my ACL tear, surgery, and rehab, I can't believe how far I have come.  Last year I became an Ironman at Louisville.  Now I set a new marathon PR.  My fear when I tore my ACL was that I would never run fast again, that I would never realize my dream of becoming an Ironman, and that I would never ski again.  Well I've now accomplished 2 out of 3.  I now trust my knee completely, even though I don't trust my skiing ability.  I will probably hit the bunny slopes next month.  Wish me well.