Training and Racing with Kids

As I mentioned earlier, I have two great kids, Grace who is a shade over 3 years old, and, Liam, who is a little under 2 years old. Training and racing for Rebecca and myself is atricky endeavour. We have two single joggers and one double, which is the one we use the most, for obvious reasons. The double jogger is a B.O.B. Ironman edition, is bright yellow with awesome looking M-Dots emblazoned on, which is the symbol of the Ironman. When we have the jogger fully loaded with Grace, Liam, assorted sippy cups, snacks, water bottles, cell-phones, and keys, the stroller weighs over 100 pounds. Our training runs usually take place around our neighbor hood, which is normally fine, since we live in the middle of nowhere. We have raced with the double jogger and, believe me, we get some strange looks when we come through. Rebecca and I raced in a 10K last summer on the 4th of July in Foxborough, Ma and we finished off the run by running across the 50 yard line on the same field on which the Patriots play their home games . . . while pushing the stroller. Let me tell you, that stroller looks awesome when up on the huge jumbotron screen at Gillette stadium.

Having a spouse who races as well makes things a lot easier. Rebecca and I know that when the other person has a priority race coming up, we allow the other person to go off and run alone while the other pushes the stroller for our runs. We also incorporate our normal errands into our training. For example, if we need some groceries from the market, I may run to the store to meet Rebecca and the kids, and she will run home, as I unload the kids and groceries. Biking gets a little tricky, since we can't pull the kids on our racing bikes for the several hours we need to be on the bikes. We often alternate days and races so that the other person feels like they can get whatever training and racing they feel is necessary.

Last year, Rebecca and I both entered the Mooseman 70.3 (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run) triathlon in New Hampshire. We brought the kids with us and Rebeccas' parents, Rich and Melinda, were so awesome to come up to the race site to watch the kids all day while we raced. Now, I've done a boatload of races since I started in the sport, but noting compares to that moment when you get to run by the spot your kids are hanging out and get to give them a hug and a kiss before you get going back on your way. Crossing the finish line and then holding your children in your arms, as painful as it may be sometimes, is one of the best feelings in the world!!

The First Test

I ventured down to Hyannis down The Cape for what would be the first test in my Ironman preparations. I had registered for the half-marathon several weeks ago, along with Rebecca, and figured I could use it as a catered training run, but also as a litmus test to see how my training was progressing. According to my watch, I ran around 2:12 for the race, which is well off my best time for that distance, but racing was not my goal today.
I figured I wanted to run strong, but controlled, throughout the race, which I was able to do. I did not have to push myself or "dig deep into my suitcase of courage". My legs did seem to feel heavier than I wanted, but the previous coouple weeks at work have been particularly rough and my legs seemed to reflect that. I am an Operating Room nurse and am on my feet quite a bit, which doesn't always lend itself to high quality racing and training. But, I made it to the finish line, which is always goal number One. I have a shiny new medal to add to the collection.

How It Happened

Signing up for the Ironman this year in Lake Placid wasn't exactly a well thought out plan, to say the least. I had talked to Rebecca several times about stepping back up to the Ironman distance, a distance I hadn't raced since 2004, which seemed like a lifetime ago. In 2004, I was single and had all the time in the world to train as much as I wanted. Today, I have an amazingly supportive wife and two great kids, Grace and Liam. Rebecca and I had talked about 2013 as a target for me to head back up to Lake Placid, but, having followed several friends online throughout the 2011 edition of the race and watching a bunch of Ironman videos on YouTube, I was bitten by the bug to, once again, take on the challenge of doing an Ironman.
Online race registration for the 2012 Lake Placid Ironman began at noon . . . and I was scheduled to be at work in the O.R. Well, I had Becca try to get me in in the event I wouldn't be able to do it myself. As it happened, I was able to get another RN to cover my room starting at 1145 in the morning, which allowed me to get the registration page up and ready on my iPhone while Becca was attempting to get me into the race at home. I began frantically entering all my information as fast as I could into my phone (Ironman races typically sell out very quickly, and the race in Lake Placid has sold out within minutes in years past) when I got a text message from Rebecca that I had been successfully entered into the 2012 Ironman in Lake Placid. "Holy shit" was all I was able to say for the next several minutes and, even now, I am filled with a mixture of angst, excitement, and anticipation as the race approaches.
At this point in time I have completed 2 blocks of my periodized training and am about to begin my 3rd block, all in preperation for the cannon going off at 7 AM on July 22, 2012 . . . and concluding, hopefully, with my crossing the finish line sometime that evening.

For Starters

So, a few years ago, just before my daughter Grace was born, a friend of mine told me "you're gonna have to give up all that triathlon stuff now that you've got a kid". I thought about that long and hard . . . and I said "screw it, I'm still gonna go for it". My wife, Rebecca, and I love the sport of triathlon, we love the sense of health and fitness associated with the sport, we love the spirit of accomplishment inherent within the sport, and we really take seriously trying to set a good example for our two children. I started racing triathlons in 1996 and have raced every distance from sprint to Ironman triathlon. I have completed 5 Ironman triathlons, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and is all topped off by a 26.2 mile run. I am set to compete in my 6th Ironman triathlon this July in Lake Placid, NY. This attempt will be unlike any of my previous Ironman races. This year, I head up to Lake Placid as a husband, a father of two wonderful kids, and a challenging career as an Operating Room nurse. The challenges will be there, as with any Ironman, but as long as I keep "The Line" as my ultimate prize, I hope I will accomplish my goal.