Open Water Swim, New Bike, And Running In The Rain, All In One Weekend: Could Life Be Better?

Hi folks!

People often ask me if I am a little crazy doing Ironman training. I think people who don’t train are crazy! There is always some kind of workout that you can do, even if you are severely injured or disabled. Just look around and see what some people achieve, like Benjamin Carey, for instance. He and his ‘open heart’ surgeon completed the New York Marathon one year to the day after they replaced Benjamin’s ascending aortic arch with a Dacron tube –

Dacron Graft from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9258.htm

As a veterinarian I have done some surgeries in my life (my favorite was the aural resection designed to cure irritated ears in Spaniels, and it really worked well!), but how the hell they do what they did to Benjamin, I have no idea! I have also completed a few marathons, including Boston (see below),

Still proud of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Life is a trip, but you have to grab it by the balls!

so I understand the level of their achievement, both Benjamin’s and his surgeon’s. You will have to read the book, ‘Barefoot in November,’ for the full story. These are enjoyable milestones that make something of our lives.

Whilst running in a gentle spring rain along rolling trails the other day, with my friends Randy Mews and Rupert, I was thinking “can life get to be much better than this?” I suspect not, so I decided to show you a picture of my new bike, built by Victor. It fits me like a glove, and I am sure that it will help me on my journey to Kona.

Deb with my great new custom Guru. I'm a lucky guy in so many ways!

That’s enough talk! On with enjoying this lovely day in North Carolina!

Happy Monday!

Cheers,

Kevin

 

Comments

  1. You qualified for Boston? Wow! What was the qualifying time? It varies by age group right? I would love to try and qualify for Boston, but that’s a pretty insane goal. Congratulations, qualifying for Boston is a huge feat; let alone running the race itself. For anyone reading that doesn’t get it; you can’t “just run” the Boston Marathon. The only way to get in is to qualify, and it’s very very difficult.

  2. Hi! Benjamin,

    Yep! People say “Wow! You ran the Boston Marathon,” and I say “No! It’s Wow! You qualified for the Boston Marathon.” Being an old fart my qualifying time had to be sub-4:15, and I did that with 4:07:59 in Charlotte, the Thunder Road race, which is a gently rolling course. I was happy with my achievement, as I was never a runner as water polo was my teenage obsession (apart from skirt, that is!). I am slowly learning to run more efficiently now. However, that said, in the 2009 Boston race there were a few hundred people in my age group, and the first guy (from Boulder), was 65 and he ran a 3:07. Fucking amazing! I love it when older guys show they are not dead yet. Your qualifying time would need to be somewhere in the 3:15 to 3:20 range, which is really tough. I did try for a sub-4:00 in Charlotte last year, but I had a dodgy psoas muscle from Power Cranks, and even though I was at 1:58 at the half-way mark and picking up the pace I stopped (very wisely, I hasten to add) at mile 18 and walked the rest, with a sore as hell psoas for the next few weeks. Nearly pulled that baby. Give it a try, though a running coach would help a lot. My goal for LPIM this year will be 4:15 for the run, but you get what you get in the Ironman.
    Cheers,
    Kevin

  3. Rory Conolly says

    Re crazy. We’re all a bit crazy in one way or another. At least ironman training gets you fit.

  4. Hi! Rory,

    Riding on Saturday? I have a 5.5 hour ride, with 20 minute run brick. Welcome to all or any. Be nice to see you on the road again!

    Cheers,

    Kevin (Old Dog!).

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Disclaimer: As a veterinarian, I do not provide medical advice for human animals. If you undertake or modify an exercise program, consult your medical advisors before doing so. Undertaking activities pursued by the author does not mean that he endorses your undertaking such activities, which is clearly your decision and responsibility. Be careful and sensible, please.