This was the vaseline stand Mistress made for me for the aid station. I went through 5 large jars of the stuff. More than that I got a lot of smiles out of the triathletes who probably needed something to smile about.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
My Contribution
This was the vaseline stand Mistress made for me for the aid station. I went through 5 large jars of the stuff. More than that I got a lot of smiles out of the triathletes who probably needed something to smile about.
The Weirdness of Racing
There is just some things that are unexplainable during a race. Take 'The Machine' for example. He and I have ridden well over a 1,000 miles on our bikes together in preperation for Ironman Arizona. Never would he have thought that 95 miles into his ride that his seat would fall off.
He was lucky enough to have a support truck nearby but their fix only lasted about minute before it happened again. The Machine sparked a MacGuyver and wrapped an innertube around the seat to keep it in place.
"I wasn't going to stand for the last ten miles of the ride."
Furthermore, everyone in the group had their nutrition stuff down pretty good before the race, yet to the man all suffered terrible GI issues. I suppose it was from the water they drank during the swim (the lake is not the cleanest) however they all have their own excellent thoughts on it.Part of the mental prep I must use for Florida is that no matter how confident I might be, I have to be strong enough to suffer Uncle Murphy obstacles and strong enough to create solutions.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
A Glimpse of Things to Come
Ring Ring. Ring Ring.
"Hello."
"Hey Jeff, how ya feelin?"
"Commodore I was just gonna call you. Come down here, were getting our tattoo's right down the street from your club. Dan's on the table. Take University...."
A little later, all my training partners, a couple of wifes and myself all sat around an outdoor table eating pizza and laughing and joking as each one had their body worked on next door. I watched with beaming pride and a little jealousy as they emerged onto the shaded street a clear plastic wrap protector around a freshly engraved tattoo.
My partners were finally relaxed. The bill for hundreds of training hours finally paid in full. The near future did not have a looming deadline or monumental never-before-attempted feat. Ahead of them was just training for the love of the sport and to help me reach my goal of Ironman finisher like I helped them.
The Machine, aka Jeff, became a USAT Level 1 coach in March and plans to fix many of the mistakes we made in training. My other partners; Big John and Hardcore, even San Deigo Dan, all tell me they have information to impart but its still to close to express it well. Yet they have already conveyed so much by their actions on the course and by their atittude the day after.
It makes me think whimsically of November 5th, the day I and many of my blogging partners will have a similiar mark of pride placed on our bodies still healing from a 140.6 miles of Ironman the day before. Too sore to move fast, but not feeling the pain. Dinner at a Mexican place and margaritas flowing. Everyone wearing their 'Finishers' Shirt.
Kings and Queens of the world.
"Hello."
"Hey Jeff, how ya feelin?"
"Commodore I was just gonna call you. Come down here, were getting our tattoo's right down the street from your club. Dan's on the table. Take University...."
A little later, all my training partners, a couple of wifes and myself all sat around an outdoor table eating pizza and laughing and joking as each one had their body worked on next door. I watched with beaming pride and a little jealousy as they emerged onto the shaded street a clear plastic wrap protector around a freshly engraved tattoo.
My partners were finally relaxed. The bill for hundreds of training hours finally paid in full. The near future did not have a looming deadline or monumental never-before-attempted feat. Ahead of them was just training for the love of the sport and to help me reach my goal of Ironman finisher like I helped them.
The Machine, aka Jeff, became a USAT Level 1 coach in March and plans to fix many of the mistakes we made in training. My other partners; Big John and Hardcore, even San Deigo Dan, all tell me they have information to impart but its still to close to express it well. Yet they have already conveyed so much by their actions on the course and by their atittude the day after.
It makes me think whimsically of November 5th, the day I and many of my blogging partners will have a similiar mark of pride placed on our bodies still healing from a 140.6 miles of Ironman the day before. Too sore to move fast, but not feeling the pain. Dinner at a Mexican place and margaritas flowing. Everyone wearing their 'Finishers' Shirt.
Kings and Queens of the world.
Monday, April 10, 2006
IMAZ: From Behind The Table
I volunteered for a run aid station at Ironman Arizona. After participating in scores and scores of events it was about time I gave back and in doing so learned a good many lessons that will help me in November.
I arrived to help set up the run station at 1100 and all was set just in time for Michael Lavato the enventual winner to blaze through at what looked to be a full sprint. Then a sprinkling of Pro's. I was really excited to see Tim Deboom, of course he didn't stop to sign pictures.
I took an hour to go to the transition area to see Nytro and Rainbow and support IronBenny as he came through T2. Good times.
It became a stready stream at the aid station from that point onto about 8 pm. I had set up the Vaseline stand with a clever little box that got lots of laughs and many thanks from those that chaffed like crazy in the dry heat.
Okay enough summation. I'm not getting anywhere.
I realized that 17 hours is a long time. Long enough to finish an Ironman. Really folks, I am telling you that if you put in your training and have the heart, it is yours. I watched good people, no different that you or I, in many cases in worse condition that you or I, determined to cross that line and fulfill their destiny.
The run course was three loops. My station was only two miles from the finish line on the third lap. With the ability to witness my close friends on the course three seperate times I was able to tap into a tremendous amount of mental energy that is just as important as my nutritional plan to finish Florida. When each one came through I would walk or run with them for a 1/3 of a mile and listen to them vent, cry and dream. There were some very personal conversations that occured in such a short period of time that can only occur when an athlete has tapped the only strength left in their body, The Heart. I thank each of you for giving me the opportunity to see your souls laid bare. I gave each of them what encouragement I felt they needed at the time and counted the minutes until I saw them again or hear that they had crossed that line and heard Mike Reilly say those magical words.
An Ironman is really two seperate events, not one race, not three disciplines. Its a swim and bike followed by a marathon. Whether you plan to run it or walk it be ready for it. Really the one person that had the best atittude on the run course was Big John who's race plan was to walk it with 17 minute miles. That was his plan going in and he stuck to it and he did it. Win by an inch or mile, his only goal was to beat midnight, which he did by 20 minutes.
I witnessed men and woman in a daze, completely bonked. I performed risk assessments on many of them as they walked through the aid station and they were completely out of reality. Some unable to apply a thin sheen of vaseline to their lips without using the deliberateness akin to moving a radioactive isotope. Would that be me? Would that be someone I know in Florida?
Last year I watched the beginning of IMAZ. I felt the super-charged electricity in the air, I heard the cannon boom and the watched the swim start; destiny heading due east into the rising sun. My heart was touched.
This year I watched the last Ironman cross the finish line four minutes before the cut off. This year I watched hundreds of people struggle like never before and succeed.
This year I learned what the face of ironman looks like. And it pleases me.
30 weeks is not soon enough.
I arrived to help set up the run station at 1100 and all was set just in time for Michael Lavato the enventual winner to blaze through at what looked to be a full sprint. Then a sprinkling of Pro's. I was really excited to see Tim Deboom, of course he didn't stop to sign pictures.
I took an hour to go to the transition area to see Nytro and Rainbow and support IronBenny as he came through T2. Good times.
It became a stready stream at the aid station from that point onto about 8 pm. I had set up the Vaseline stand with a clever little box that got lots of laughs and many thanks from those that chaffed like crazy in the dry heat.
Okay enough summation. I'm not getting anywhere.
I realized that 17 hours is a long time. Long enough to finish an Ironman. Really folks, I am telling you that if you put in your training and have the heart, it is yours. I watched good people, no different that you or I, in many cases in worse condition that you or I, determined to cross that line and fulfill their destiny.
The run course was three loops. My station was only two miles from the finish line on the third lap. With the ability to witness my close friends on the course three seperate times I was able to tap into a tremendous amount of mental energy that is just as important as my nutritional plan to finish Florida. When each one came through I would walk or run with them for a 1/3 of a mile and listen to them vent, cry and dream. There were some very personal conversations that occured in such a short period of time that can only occur when an athlete has tapped the only strength left in their body, The Heart. I thank each of you for giving me the opportunity to see your souls laid bare. I gave each of them what encouragement I felt they needed at the time and counted the minutes until I saw them again or hear that they had crossed that line and heard Mike Reilly say those magical words.
An Ironman is really two seperate events, not one race, not three disciplines. Its a swim and bike followed by a marathon. Whether you plan to run it or walk it be ready for it. Really the one person that had the best atittude on the run course was Big John who's race plan was to walk it with 17 minute miles. That was his plan going in and he stuck to it and he did it. Win by an inch or mile, his only goal was to beat midnight, which he did by 20 minutes.
I witnessed men and woman in a daze, completely bonked. I performed risk assessments on many of them as they walked through the aid station and they were completely out of reality. Some unable to apply a thin sheen of vaseline to their lips without using the deliberateness akin to moving a radioactive isotope. Would that be me? Would that be someone I know in Florida?
Last year I watched the beginning of IMAZ. I felt the super-charged electricity in the air, I heard the cannon boom and the watched the swim start; destiny heading due east into the rising sun. My heart was touched.
This year I watched the last Ironman cross the finish line four minutes before the cut off. This year I watched hundreds of people struggle like never before and succeed.
This year I learned what the face of ironman looks like. And it pleases me.
30 weeks is not soon enough.
IMAZ: Tale of Team AzTriClub
Michael Lavato wins IM Arizona. Congrates.First I want to give my praise to the close personal friends that finished Ironman Arizona yesterday:
The Machine, aka Dr. Jeff Banas 13:53 Finish/ 1:05 swim/6:27 bike/ 6:03 run
IronBenney 12:53/ 1:09/ 6:10/ 5:18
Big John 16:34/ 1:31/ 7:19/ 7:27
Hardcore Mike 15:54/ 1:33/ 7:44/ 6:07
Super Steve 15:19/ 1:33/ 7:04/ 6:13
SD Dan 14:55/ 1:20/ 6:30/ 6:28
I am so proud of all of you and learned amazing things from each of you as we talked on the course. You have given me a tremendous amount of mental preperation.
Friday, April 7, 2006
Great News!
In a year so far filled with tremendous blessing, the greatest came today in a phone call from Mistress.
I am of course completely ecstatic and thank the Lord for this information. It has been my dominant prayer for 1,078 days, every day of his short life. I have probably prayed on it five times a day but its that many days. A quote I have used many times is, "If someone can hold onto their dream for five years that dream will become a reality, but most people can't hold onto a dream for five minutes."
Whether you believe in the power of prayer or karma or positive energy or whatever, I am filled with joy and love for this miracle. So many times in that last three years Mo was given bleak projections for a normal life. To have recieved this information is just....its validation for keeping the faith of a better life for him.
Much of this I believe is attributed to Mighty Mo's naturally cheerful disposition. He has always had a good heart and smile through all his trials. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps the strength."
We still have the asthma and allergies to deal with but millions of americans deal with one or both of those on a daily basis in some form or another and have very healthy and poductive lives. Mistress is one of them.
Its a beautiful day with blue sky for my son.
"Mo's bloodwork came back and his immune system has been healed. The doctor says all the low immune precursors have been removed and he is as healthy a boy as you could ever expect for a three year old based on this information."
I am of course completely ecstatic and thank the Lord for this information. It has been my dominant prayer for 1,078 days, every day of his short life. I have probably prayed on it five times a day but its that many days. A quote I have used many times is, "If someone can hold onto their dream for five years that dream will become a reality, but most people can't hold onto a dream for five minutes."
Whether you believe in the power of prayer or karma or positive energy or whatever, I am filled with joy and love for this miracle. So many times in that last three years Mo was given bleak projections for a normal life. To have recieved this information is just....its validation for keeping the faith of a better life for him.
Much of this I believe is attributed to Mighty Mo's naturally cheerful disposition. He has always had a good heart and smile through all his trials. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps the strength."
We still have the asthma and allergies to deal with but millions of americans deal with one or both of those on a daily basis in some form or another and have very healthy and poductive lives. Mistress is one of them.
Its a beautiful day with blue sky for my son.
Thursday, April 6, 2006
Let the Festivities Begin...
Tonight was an informal kick off to Ironman Arizona festivities. I attended a mixer last night at Tribe for three guest speakers and general mingling with other triathletes. Kevin, the owner, did a great job transforming his shop into a party atmosphere complete with raffle prizes and snacks.
The main guest of the evening was Heather Gollnick, three time Ironman winner. Her first win was her 2nd Ironman, 1st as a pro, it was IMMOO. She said it is her favorite course and from my vantage in the room, many people nodded in agreement. I guess the alternate Tri Geek Dreams Florida team (just kidding guys and gals) have much to look forward too.
Heather spoke about having reverence for what makes you tick when your facing the demons on the IM course. She talked about how she was mentally drained at the end of an IM run and how badly her legs hurt but then she saw her daughter on the side of the course, confined to a wheelchair due to Cerebal Palsy cheering her on. She told people to remember why they were there when they were doing it.
Luc Morin, is a pro triathlete, Canadian and a sponsored Valdora rider. He is racing this weekend and gave a talk on nutrition. I wish I could say that I heard it but I was outside talking to two business contacts. I had to do a little work.
The last seminar was a Trigger Point group who has a recognizable product but I was half listening to them and half explaining their lingo to others around me who were asking,
"What's Plantar Fascitis?"
"What's a Psoas?"
"Where is it again?"
Amongst all that was raffle prizes, including a $700 Valdora frame as the big daddy, then all kinds of shirts, hats, socks, Rudy Project shades, racing tires and the like.
I waited in line to met Heather and have her sign an old photo of her I found online with her holding her bike over her head. Sound familiar to some of you? Thats why I chose it. She thought it was sweet that someone actually brought something for her to sign. I also brought my camera and had a picture taken.
The atmosphere was nice and loose. I would say 60% of the crowd was entered in IMAZ. I ran into some old friends I have seen around the Tribe and at races. I made some new friends and potential new aztriclub members. Which BTW you can become a member and not be in Phoenix.
Most surprizing is that some people came to me and introduced themselves to me saying they had seen me or heard my name in the crowd and had heard of me through the store or through Pure Fitness.
My mom once told me that she loved watching me work a crowd. That I was a lot like a politician. Of course my brother remarked, "What is he mom, the Mayor of Simpleton?"
I approve this add.
The main guest of the evening was Heather Gollnick, three time Ironman winner. Her first win was her 2nd Ironman, 1st as a pro, it was IMMOO. She said it is her favorite course and from my vantage in the room, many people nodded in agreement. I guess the alternate Tri Geek Dreams Florida team (just kidding guys and gals) have much to look forward too.
Heather spoke about having reverence for what makes you tick when your facing the demons on the IM course. She talked about how she was mentally drained at the end of an IM run and how badly her legs hurt but then she saw her daughter on the side of the course, confined to a wheelchair due to Cerebal Palsy cheering her on. She told people to remember why they were there when they were doing it.
Luc Morin, is a pro triathlete, Canadian and a sponsored Valdora rider. He is racing this weekend and gave a talk on nutrition. I wish I could say that I heard it but I was outside talking to two business contacts. I had to do a little work.
The last seminar was a Trigger Point group who has a recognizable product but I was half listening to them and half explaining their lingo to others around me who were asking,
"What's Plantar Fascitis?"
"What's a Psoas?"
"Where is it again?"
Amongst all that was raffle prizes, including a $700 Valdora frame as the big daddy, then all kinds of shirts, hats, socks, Rudy Project shades, racing tires and the like.
I waited in line to met Heather and have her sign an old photo of her I found online with her holding her bike over her head. Sound familiar to some of you? Thats why I chose it. She thought it was sweet that someone actually brought something for her to sign. I also brought my camera and had a picture taken.
The atmosphere was nice and loose. I would say 60% of the crowd was entered in IMAZ. I ran into some old friends I have seen around the Tribe and at races. I made some new friends and potential new aztriclub members. Which BTW you can become a member and not be in Phoenix.
Most surprizing is that some people came to me and introduced themselves to me saying they had seen me or heard my name in the crowd and had heard of me through the store or through Pure Fitness.
My mom once told me that she loved watching me work a crowd. That I was a lot like a politician. Of course my brother remarked, "What is he mom, the Mayor of Simpleton?"
I approve this add.
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