Reason to race.

So I recently signed up for my first full Ironman race.
I have done a few half marathons, a full marathon, a half distance Ironman, but I finally decided it was time for a real challenge.  
Why now?
1. It was on my bucket list and it had intimidated me, I had been avoiding it like the bully after school.
2. I need a focus to help me keep my weight off.  I have found that the further I get away from my surgery date, the easier it has become to stray.  Bad food choices, grazing, snacking, just not giving a ****!  I have become lazy and complacent with my nutrition.
3. I am recovering from a fractured knee cap.  That hurt and it was a pain in the A$$(knee really).  Well actually the A$$ to from walking funny, I started having some hip and low back and buttocks pain.
4. It is an exercise in positive attitude.  In general I have a defeatist glass is all empty kind of mentality.  I'm going to try and keep that out of my blog and focus on the positive aspects.
5. It is my excuse for another Tattoo.  I'll get one to commemorate finishing the race.

Anyhow the race isn't until next July, but having been out for most of this year due to the knee issues, It is like I am starting from scratch, so I'm giving myself almost two training sessions.  #1 session is just to get me healthy enough to begin the 2nd which is focused on the actual event training.

If anyone is interested in seeing what I am doing I will be logging my food and my workouts every step of the way.

You can see how the training is going here:  Please feel free to comment and hold me to the coals for any of my posts or lack there of.  Thanks!

http://racetotherace.blogspot.com/

I look forward to following along so I can see "I remember when....>"

You are going to own this!

Added your blog to my Google reader. Looking forward to following it!

Michele

Love the blog.  I decided to sign up for a 1/2 in Augusta after being inspired by all of you!!!  What kind of bike trainer are you using at home?  I am struggling with biking.  I live in an area that is not safe to bike by myself, and have been trying to pick up spin classes but there are not many options that work with my schedule.  I would like to use some kind of trainer at home but am not sure what to go with.  I appreciate you input and thanks for the inspiration with the blog.  Its kinda nice to know how other people struggle with training and eating! 

Well this is my second bike trainer.  I am waiting for it to show up.  FedEx has it and it's supposed to show up on Monday.

I'll have a better review of how well it works.

Of course I followed my usual routine of getting into it half assed.  I found a bike trainer locally on craigs list.  It was second hand but new.  The previous owner had never used it.  Well I used it and I used it until it died.  It no longer has any real tension or ability to adjust it.  It is one of the magnetic trainers.

You can get the generic magnetic trainers for under $100 dollars on ebay, but you really do get what you pay for.  You of course can get a slightly used better quality trainer or you can buy a new one as well.  I put some links in here for the new ones, as those were pretty consistant prices I found while looking. 

ebay magnetic bike trainer

ebay fluid trainer Kurt

ebay Cyclops fluid2

When I went shopping for the new trainer I did a lot of reading and the overwhelming opinion out there was the the fluid trainers were the best, they are also the most expensive duh!

I read quite a few review, watched some side by side videos and the two top choices were the

Kinetic by Kurt  http://www.kurtkinetic.com/road-machine-p-198-l-en.html

and the Cyclops fluid2 trainer http://www.cycleops.com/en/products/trainers/fluid2-trainer. html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&pr oduct_id=168&category_id=3

Here is a quick video where they compare the two trainers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvSOZXmT3n8

My choice came down to possible leakage which has been a previous problem with the Cyclops trainers.  The Kinetic is a sealed chamber so it shouldn't have the leaks that are a potential problem with the other fluid trainers on the market.

They also have a no b.s. lifetime warranty on their equipment

This is how they solved the leaking problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZkEezODNbo

Thanks for ideas!  I guess I know what I will ask for at Christmas!  While I was looking at them I noticed that they had work out DVD's as well for the trainers.  I think that would help me a well.  Thanks again!!

Kat

I really like the spinnerval videos,http://www.spinervals.com/

They have a good several good intro ones.  I like that you can buy the DVD or get them as downloads.

This is a good starter one Fitness 1.0 Ride with team Clydesdale http://www.spinervals.com/products/item37.cfm

and they have another good one that describes some of the drill work, it doesn't expect you to know everything already.  It is called Spinervals 101 - The Starting Line and it had two 30 minute workouts.  http://www.spinervals.com/products/item36.cfm

Thanks for the DVD idea's.  I am going to search ebay and craigslist today for trainers.

Kat

Troy Jacobsen workouts are amazing and will kick your butt.  I don't do his DVDs but my one spin class incorporates a lot of his workouts into our sessions.

Follow his intervals and you will become an awesome cyclist.

BOOOYAAAAH!! Score another one for Augusta!