Made it through the Muncie Half-Ironman. Toughest thing I have ever done with a scary ending.

 

Swim: Slow, but expected. I was just sure to stay calm and get through it. I never stopped swimming until a guy came up from behind and hit my leg with about 300 meters left and I began cramping in my ankle/foot area. I had to grab on to a canoe for a few minutes until it went away. Then I regrouped and made it to shore and up the terrible hill to transition. Your swim time never officially ends until you make it up to bike transition. So in all it took me right at an hour.

 

Bike: I was rather happy with my bike. Temperature was ideal for the bike but some strong winds got in the way, but also the winds helped a portion of the way to even out things. Took me a little over 3 hours or right at an 18 mph pace. I was happy with that considering I have only been biking now for 3 1/2 months. However, I probably did as poorly as I did in the end because of the bike......

 

Run: My strongest and most comfortable discipline ended up getting the best of me. I took off from transition feeling ok and ran at my 8:20-8:30 pace and came to my planned walk at the aid station and thought I was going to pass out. Started seeing black and took in some water and an iced sponge. I finally came around and took off jogging again but I just did not have it. From then on it became jog for 2-3 cones and then walk a cone or two (the course was an out and back with cones down the middle of the road). Another guy and I did the last 4-5 miles together and we would jog the downhills and straightaways then walk the uphills. This was by far the hilliest 13.1 mile run I have ever completed. It took me 2:47 for the run. I am not a speed demon by any means, but I can normally do the 13.1 distance comfortably in 1:45.

 

At the finish I started seeing stars and immediately found a tent to lay under. I saw my wife in the distance but did not have the energy to get her attention. A few minutes later I tried standing up again but went right back down to the ground. An angel came to my assistance and took my hand and walked me to the medical tent. I had no clue where it was despite me laying right next to it. Once I laid down with an ice towel they ran an IV of water through me. Had tremendous cramps but they had 2 doctors on the spot helping me with them. 1 liter of water through the veins, 5 bottled waters, 4 bananas, and a gatorade later I was able to move again. Clearly I did not take in enough fluids or other supplements properly during the bike. Scary, but it was also a lesson learned. I am officially half an Ironman now

Made it through the Muncie Half-Ironman. Toughest thing I have ever done with a scary ending.

 

Swim: Slow, but expected. I was just sure to stay calm and get through it. I never stopped swimming until a guy came up from behind and hit my leg with about 300 meters left and I began cramping in my ankle/foot area. I had to grab on to a canoe for a few minutes until it went away. Then I regrouped and made it to shore and up the terrible hill to transition. Your swim time never officially ends until you make it up to bike transition. So in all it took me right at an hour.

 

Bike: I was rather happy with my bike. Temperature was ideal for the bike but some strong winds got in the way, but also the winds helped a portion of the way to even out things. Took me a little over 3 hours or right at an 18 mph pace. I was happy with that considering I have only been biking now for 3 1/2 months. However, I probably did as poorly as I did in the end because of the bike......

 

Run: My strongest and most comfortable discipline ended up getting the best of me. I took off from transition feeling ok and ran at my 8:20-8:30 pace and came to my planned walk at the aid station and thought I was going to pass out. Started seeing black and took in some water and an iced sponge. I finally came around and took off jogging again but I just did not have it. From then on it became jog for 2-3 cones and then walk a cone or two (the course was an out and back with cones down the middle of the road). Another guy and I did the last 4-5 miles together and we would jog the downhills and straightaways then walk the uphills. This was by far the hilliest 13.1 mile run I have ever completed. It took me 2:47 for the run. I am not a speed demon by any means, but I can normally do the 13.1 distance comfortably in 1:45.

 

At the finish I started seeing stars and immediately found a tent to lay under. I saw my wife in the distance but did not have the energy to get her attention. A few minutes later I tried standing up again but went right back down to the ground. An angel came to my assistance and took my hand and walked me to the medical tent. I had no clue where it was despite me laying right next to it. Once I laid down with an ice towel they ran an IV of water through me. Had tremendous cramps but they had 2 doctors on the spot helping me with them. 1 liter of water through the veins, 5 bottled waters, 4 bananas, and a gatorade later I was able to move again. Clearly I did not take in enough fluids or other supplements properly during the bike. Scary, but it was also a lesson learned. I am officially half an Ironman now

Definitely scary, but glad you are alright. The good thing is it turned out ok and now you know what you need to do next time in order to not have the situation repeat.

 

Plus as you said, you are now 1/2 an Ironman! Congrats man!

Glad you came out ok and gain much needed experience for the Ironman. I would definitely believe how you prepared the days leading up to something like this would just as important as the overall training. Plus any nutrition or fluids you can get in during the bike ride would be a huge plus. I don't care how good of shape you are in, even a 1/2 Ironman is asking a whole lot from your body.

I test out again at the end of this month. I hit a small plateau with weight loss a couple of weeks ago. I went very low carb for 5 days to shock the bod. It worked. I was a little on on energy in my workouts those couple of days though.

At age 63 my fitness goal is to stay alive another year .

Well I made 64 !

Glad you came out ok and gain much needed experience for the Ironman. I would definitely believe how you prepared the days leading up to something like this would just as important as the overall training. Plus any nutrition or fluids you can get in during the bike ride would be a huge plus. I don't care how good of shape you are in, even a 1/2 Ironman is asking a whole lot from your body.

In all honesty it is stupid to put your body through something as damaging as a marathon, going twice that long for something is pretty insane.

 

The nutrition is huge for these things. I made the same mistake a lot of first timers make at these things. The bike is not as punishing on your body so you do not feel you have to hydrate and take in as much, but you are still taking out so many calories. Electrolyte replenishment is key.

81 days till my wedding. It's time to really focus.

I was so into lifting and trying to get strong but after my son killed himself I went into a big funk and for the most part stopped lifting. But now I am back in the gym and doing it completely different then I ever have.

 

I am not doing any heavy lifting.

 

I am going 3/4 times a week for two hours plus a day.

 

I start out with cardio,65 minutes on the elliptical, at level ten right now.

 

I then go and do weights and abs for at least one hour.

 

I cap the day off by setting in the sauna.

 

I biggest focus right now is losing inches and weight.

 

I am burning off a little over 1,0000 calories with each trip to the gym.

 

I usually eat somewhere around 2,000 calories a day.(Meaning I am taking in about 1,000 a day on the days I hit the gym)

I was so into lifting and trying to get strong but after my son killed himself I went into a big funk and for the most part stopped lifting. But now I am back in the gym and doing it completely different then I ever have.

 

I am not doing any heavy lifting.

 

I am going 3/4 times a week for two hours plus a day.

 

I start out with cardio,65 minutes on the elliptical, at level ten right now.

 

I then go and do weights and abs for at least one hour.

 

I cap the day off by setting in the sauna.

 

I biggest focus right now is losing inches and weight.

 

I am burning off a little over 1,0000 calories with each trip to the gym.

 

I usually eat somewhere around 2,000 calories a day.(Meaning I am taking in about 1,000 a day on the days I hit the gym)

There is no way you are not burning more than 1000 calories at the gym if you are there 2 hours and then a sauna stay. That is not near enough calories to take in.

I use http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ to calculate the calories I burn while lifting and use the counter on the Elliptical unit I use to get the total calories I burn.

 

If you have a better method please send me a link.

 

As far as not taking in enough calories I am not hungry at anytime during the day,so this seems to be enough, for me.

To each his own but if you are trying to lose inches and weight your doing it completely wrong.

I am always willing to learn so give me some info on how to do this and supply me with some sites that will help me with this.

 

Thanks.

Made it through the Muncie Half-Ironman. Toughest thing I have ever done with a scary ending.

 

Swim: Slow, but expected. I was just sure to stay calm and get through it. I never stopped swimming until a guy came up from behind and hit my leg with about 300 meters left and I began cramping in my ankle/foot area. I had to grab on to a canoe for a few minutes until it went away. Then I regrouped and made it to shore and up the terrible hill to transition. Your swim time never officially ends until you make it up to bike transition. So in all it took me right at an hour.

 

Bike: I was rather happy with my bike. Temperature was ideal for the bike but some strong winds got in the way, but also the winds helped a portion of the way to even out things. Took me a little over 3 hours or right at an 18 mph pace. I was happy with that considering I have only been biking now for 3 1/2 months. However, I probably did as poorly as I did in the end because of the bike......

 

Run: My strongest and most comfortable discipline ended up getting the best of me. I took off from transition feeling ok and ran at my 8:20-8:30 pace and came to my planned walk at the aid station and thought I was going to pass out. Started seeing black and took in some water and an iced sponge. I finally came around and took off jogging again but I just did not have it. From then on it became jog for 2-3 cones and then walk a cone or two (the course was an out and back with cones down the middle of the road). Another guy and I did the last 4-5 miles together and we would jog the downhills and straightaways then walk the uphills. This was by far the hilliest 13.1 mile run I have ever completed. It took me 2:47 for the run. I am not a speed demon by any means, but I can normally do the 13.1 distance comfortably in 1:45.

 

At the finish I started seeing stars and immediately found a tent to lay under. I saw my wife in the distance but did not have the energy to get her attention. A few minutes later I tried standing up again but went right back down to the ground. An angel came to my assistance and took my hand and walked me to the medical tent. I had no clue where it was despite me laying right next to it. Once I laid down with an ice towel they ran an IV of water through me. Had tremendous cramps but they had 2 doctors on the spot helping me with them. 1 liter of water through the veins, 5 bottled waters, 4 bananas, and a gatorade later I was able to move again. Clearly I did not take in enough fluids or other supplements properly during the bike. Scary, but it was also a lesson learned. I am officially half an Ironman now

 

Congrats, that's hardcore!

I am always willing to learn so give me some info on how to do this and supply me with some sites that will help me with this.

 

Thanks.

 

Do your cardio after your weight training.

I was so into lifting and trying to get strong but after my son killed himself I went into a big funk and for the most part stopped lifting. But now I am back in the gym and doing it completely different then I ever have.

 

I am not doing any heavy lifting.

 

I am going 3/4 times a week for two hours plus a day.

 

I start out with cardio,65 minutes on the elliptical, at level ten right now.

 

I then go and do weights and abs for at least one hour.

 

I cap the day off by setting in the sauna.

 

I biggest focus right now is losing inches and weight.

 

I am burning off a little over 1,0000 calories with each trip to the gym.

 

I usually eat somewhere around 2,000 calories a day.(Meaning I am taking in about 1,000 a day on the days I hit the gym)

First stop worrying about what the scale says. You want to lose inches and fat. Doing 65 mins on an elliptical isn't doing that. You may be losing inches and weight doing it but not necessarily fat. You are probably burning more muscle then you are fat. Second your starving yourself. What your taking in and what your burning just isn't healthy. Getting lean, losing inches, burning fat is not accomplished on a treadmill or elliptical, it's done in the kitchen. The most important thing to all of this is cleaning up your diet. Pick up a copy of The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf, or The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson, or The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain.

 

Once you have the diet fixed you need to taylor a strength and conditioning program around your goals. If your only goal is getting lean while improving your overall fitness then go back to lifting something at least a little heavy. Find strength program like Starting Strength, 70sbig S&C (this is what I am currently doing), 5/3/1, ect..

 

Add in some short intense conditioning work outs 3 or 4 days a week after lifting. This changes things up and keeps it different. The hardest thing about a workout routine is you get bored with it and usually quit. If there is one thing I have learned after 5 years of going to the gym is the majority of the guys/gals that do the samething 1. don't last and 2. don't really change. If you change up your conditioning workouts it stays new. Plus if you time yourself you set base lines that you work to beat the next time you do the workout. The conditioning can be heavy with low reps or light with higher reps. Things like 6 rounds of 50 squats followed by 25 dips or for a heavier workout 3 rounds of 5 thrusters @ 115lbs, 10 24" box jumps, 15 push ups. You can find lots of different workouts at crossfit.com, sealfit.com, crossfitendurance.com, or crossfitfootball.com (for heavier workouts).