IRONMAN LOUISVILLE 2017 TRAINING
WEEK 13 – June 12 > June 18
Training for Ironman can be boring, especially when doing it alone. I am fortunate to have four other training pals joining me on this quest for another Ironman finish, but we are spread apart, living in different areas surrounding the Northern Illinois area and rarely have an opportunity get together. So when our fearless leader and Top Gunner Dave suggested we get together for a ride I was very excited to do that.
It ended up just being Dave, Jeff and myself meeting at my house for the Saturday three hour bike and half hour run brick workout. Jeff was first to arrive and was having an issue with his rear brake. We threw it on my bike stand and started tooling away on it. It appears that it has just got gunked up a little bit. Dave showed up while we were playing with it and suggested that Jeff loosen the screw for the brake cable and free up a little room for it. That seemed to do the trick, and we were soon off riding.
I basically have three routes that I follow and can add options to them if I need to add or subtract riding time as the training plan dictates. The problem is that all three routes basically head south, as this is the best direction for traffic free riding. Fortunately, the south/southwest wind we were having made for heading into the wind and coming back with a tailwind, which is mostly ideal. In all, we rode about three hours and 7 minutes, and a total of about 52 miles. Not too shabby of a ride.
There were two notable memories from the ride. The first is when we got to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and made a loop of the place before turning around for our trip back. Any time I ride in there it always leaves and impression on me, knowing those that are buried there served our country for our freedoms. It’s also an impressive place, seeing all of those headstones lined up in precision, without even a blade of grass out of place.
The other moment was when we were coming back, scooting along at about 22 mph, when some kid of maybe 13 years old blows by us on a bike like we were standing still. He was all kitted up like he was ready for Le Tour. Damn kids. He was moving.
We got home, ran an easy 3.25 miles and then jumped in the pool for a nice relaxing cool down for the day. We snacked on some fruit and junk and then they were off to their busy Saturday routines. It sure was nice not having to do the ride solo.
Sunday’s long run also had a break from the typical monotony. On Saturday, I had learned that there was an old-time coal burning steam locomotive heading through town this weekend, making several passes on the Rock Island/Canadian National tracks in Mokena. So I headed out with the plan to try to be in downtown Mokena to see it rumble through at 9:15. I was seven miles into my run when I realized I was about 10 minutes from the train getting to downtown, and I was a little over a mile away! I picked up my pace and ran a little harder on my tired and sore legs and got there in time to see the train. It was very impressive.
I’m sure next weekend will be back to the typical grind, but it sure was nice to have something new to add to the training.
TOTALS:
3 Swims – 4900 yards this week / 35700 yards total
4 Bikes – 91 miles this week / 8950 miles total
7 Runs – 29 miles this week / 366 miles total
an amazing run 