Redefining Willy T.

7 weeks until IM AZ and things are progressing well. Since my last post I have made a few key changes in my training. Since late 2006 I have been working with Scott McMillan (Factor9 Coaching). Prior to working with Scott I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. Scott really helped me progress my fitness and get me to a level I never thought I was capable of. I decided after doing the Hulaman Half IM in August that it was time to mix things up a bit. After almost 3 years I felt like it was time to go it on my own. At the time I had made this decision I hadn’t signed up for AZ. My plan was to do Cyclocross this year and maybe a winter marathon. Once I decided to do AZ the task of self coaching became a little overwhelming. I started talking with Dave C. (Summit Coaching and head of our tri team). He and some of his other athletes were also doing AZ (they are actually the one’s that peer pressured me into doing it :), you know who you are!) so he offered to take me on as well. This seemed like a great opportunity to try some new methods and work with someone that I train with on a regular basis with anyway. Also, to be on the same plan as those I was training with makes training for an Ironman much more appealing, especially this late in the season.
My last race before AZ was this last weekend up in Washington at the Black Diamond Half Ironman. A couple of weeks ago I had lactate testing done (nothing to do with breast milk) to determine what my power ranges on the bike are. Dave worked these numbers into a race plan and all I had to do was execute. The race went very well (7 min PR) and I have never felt so strong at the end of a half Ironman. Needless to say this is a huge confidence building leading up to AZ. In past races my plan had always been to go out and push the bike as hard as I could then hang on for the run. This always resulted in a miserable 13 miles, and made it hard to get excited about racing because I knew how much it was going to hurt. By holding back on the bike a bit I felt great on the run. I was actually able to catch someone and pass them. That never happens. But this does mean swallowing my pride a bit and letting go of this thing I have about proving myself on the bike. This where Willy T. comes in. Willy T was my racing alias in a few events this year. Willy’s key strength is the bike. He is proud of this and does things like wears gold bike shoes, and talks about himself in the 3rd person. Some may confuse his confidence with cocky-ness. He’s a bit of a show boater. Sure it’s nice to have a solid bike time, but it does get a little tarnished when you can’t back it up on the run. So Willy is learning it’s more about balance across all three disciplines. Sure that sounds obvious, but he’s a slow learner. It’s hard to find that fine line of pushing your area of strength up to the point that it doesn’t affect your areas of weakness. Every race is different too. The course, the conditions, you just never know. I guess that’s what keeps it interesting… Willy T plans to make one last appearance at AZ this year before going into retirement.

What else is new??? We booked a trip to Dubai to visit Garren and Jen in December. This is a huge trip for us since the farthest we have ever flown is to Florida. Our flight from Atlanta to Dubai is direct and I think takes 15 hours? Maybe 12? I can’t remember, but it’s a really long time. I can’t wait though. I think it’s going to be an amazing experience and a great opportunity to see where Garren and Jen are living. Should be a great trip!