Its Taper Time

I can't hardly believe that the race in Madison is only two weeks from today.Really, where does the time go?

The last long workout is in the books and taper officially begins on Monday with a DOR (day of rest). I'm not excited about tapering because it's kind of like being in a pitch black room, in the middle of the night, by yourself. You start to hear things and your imagination starts to play tricks on you; it can be very scary!

 

I have so many mixed emotions about this year's race. You'd think it was my first, not fourth, Ironman. It has been an up and down year filled with good, bad, and the indifferent. Sounds like any other year so far, right? I could be referring to any one of us with that statement, so what's the big deal? The year started with so many big expectations...and now that the time is near the reality of life starts to set in and those big, glorious, overreaching goals need to be harnessed in a bit and painted with the brush strokes of reality.

I know first hand that there comes a time in every endurance event when you hear that voice in your head. You know the one, the one that tells you its okay to give up now. In an Ironman you can expect to have conversations with this voice a half-dozen times or more. It's a wise voice, a voice full of conviction, logic, and persistence. It will tell you it's okay to walk now or even to just give up completely. You have to be ready for it, prepared with answers as to why you will not give in to its pleading. It's this voice that scares me the most because it knows me, it knows my weaknesses.

As most of you know, my daughter Alexandra was in a bad accident this summer. Just a little over four weeks ago, July 14th to be exact. We were on vacation in Michigan, on Mackinac Island, horseback riding. It had been a glorious day to that point. We had traversed the perimeter of the small island (9+ miles) on bicycle, had explored the island,s history with a horse drawn taxi tour, and had
sampled some of the picturesque town's food. The horseback ride was the day's last event and we were just finishing up when her horse (Lilly) bolted, a full- out sprint, down the road. My entire being screamed NO! STOP! but there was nothing I could do but watch, helplessly, in disbelief. Alexandra got Lilly stopped briefly, now 50 yards or so in front of me before she bolted again. This time she ran up onto a sidewalk and into a crowd of people. My mind was racing as I tried to get to her. The police report stated that her horse reared, throwing her to the pavement. Her skull fractured at its base on the left back side of her head. When I got to her she was face down, unresponsive, with blood seeping from her left ear. The next 10 days were a blur, from the logistical nightmare of just trying to get off the island and to a real hospital, to the endless nights in the ICU praying. Her list of injuries included the 6cm (nearly 2-1/2 inch) long skull fracture, a laceration on the back of her head, two bilateral bleeds in the frontal lobe of her brain, a subdural bleed in the left temporal lobe, a punctured left ear drum, a hemorrhage behind her left eye, brain swelling, and numerous abrasions on her shoulders, arms, and legs. We have lost one child in this life already and I could not bare losing another. Our prayers (and yours) were heard and after two plus weeks in the hospital, 10 days in Petoskey, Michigan, and another week in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alexandra is on the road to recovery. We are very grateful her injuries were not worse and we are very hopeful for a full recovery. She's been going to outpatient Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapy about three times a week and her progress has been excellent. She still has some work ahead of her and she will miss competing during the Girls High School swim season and will have an altered school schedule but the poem below, that she wrote recently, will give you some idea where she is today.





Shattered

Sunshine rains down on me
I laugh. I smile
The breeze tickles me
Peace. Happiness
Air moves my hair across my face
Soft. Whispering
Father speaks to me quietly
Both aside me and above
Looking up I sigh
Life is-
Blackness
Eyes cracking open
Needles. Machines. Pain
Life changes
It is no longer happy
No longer peaceful
Why?
Anger. Loneliness
Frustration
Everything is different
Sound. Smell. Taste. Sight
Hatred burns
The Father whispers in my head
Hope
It's not over
Happiness. Peace
All is possible
I am different
Life was shattered
It was broken
Key word
Was
Sunshine rains down again
My eyes twinkle

And I smile

Finally

 

By Alexandra R. Burd

 

Alexandra is an amazing young lady and her courage, strength, and faith, along with a great group of supportive friends, will see her through this challenge. And I will definitely lean on her to inspire and motivate me on race day.




Mid-Year Update

Mid-Year Update

I'm really getting kind of lackadaisical with my blogging. You know what they say; the older you get the faster time seems to pass. Well, if it goes much faster I might fall off this ride :)

Since my last post back in February, eight events have come and gone. With only one other event on the schedule between now and September, wow, it really has been a crazy year.

To try to get you up to speed without melting your brain with the gory details, my racing has been average. And I'm really okay with it. To some extent I have put the blinders on and my focus remains on the triathlon in Madison on September 8th. But at the same time I have noticed that my intensity on race day has changed. Not to say that I don't put out my best effort, but I'm less willing to push to the point of failure. It seems I was more willing to do that in the past. You know, the 'Go Big or Go Home' mentality. I might be justifying a little here but I think I paid for that in the past with longer recovery times and more injuries.

My recovery rate has been phenomenal this year, and I attribute that to my change in diet and to my 'keep it under control' B and C race day efforts. Although, even as I write this, I wonder if this is my own self-justification oozing out. Let me give you a couple of examples:

Last year following the Chippewa 50K I literally could not walk until Thursday the following week.

The race was on Saturday so that was four (4) days where I could not train, seriously, I could barely walk. This year I road the Minnesota Ironman bike ride (70 Miles) the following day and additionally had a normal training week following the event. This has held true with every event this year, including Grandma's and the 50K at Afton.

Besides the quicker recoveries; another highlight this year has to be the 50K at Afton. Yes it was a ATR PR by 20+ minutes. It was not a 50K PR but it was competitive with my best 50K. This I contribute primarily to executing my plan on race day. It was probably the first time that I actually stuck with me pre-race plan on race day. It's kind of sad, but up until this race it seems I put together a plan and then race day comes and I do something completely different. It has to be an adrenaline thing with me. But; anyway, this year I had a plan and I stuck to the plan most of the day. I only swayed from the plan due to the weather (90F, I think my head was baked by then) with just about 3 miles left. And additionally I had a normal training week following (so far at least, the race was this past Saturday).

So what's up next?

The Minnetonka 5-Mile Challenge. A 5-mile swim from Excelsior Beach to Wayzata Beach across Lake Minnetonka. I'm excited about this one but a little worried as well. Each swimmer for this event has a support boat and we have signed up as a family. My daughter (Alexandra) and I are swimming and my son (Christopher) and daughter-in law (Elisabeth) are operating the support boats. My worry comes with Alexandra, not about her swimming the 5 miles but about the weeds; she is freaked by weeds, really freaked by them. So I'm worried about how this will affect her if there are a lot of weeds. This is the first time we have done the event but I've heard from others that it can be weedy, especially towards the end of the swim. So I ask that you say a little prayer and keep her in your thoughts on Saturday, July 27th, that weeds or no weeds she has fun!

2013 Race Calendar



It is the eve of the first race of the 2013 season and time to officially publish the 2013 Race Calendar. There are still a couple of open dates and some built-in flexibility to allow for adjustments if needed.

The year will completely revolve around the race in Madison on Sunday, September 08, 2013. The first half of the year will focus on running with a bit of multi-sport thrown in for flavor. The calendar in the later part of the season leading up to 'The Race' is intentionally open with a plan to do some high-intensity self supported efforts in late July and throughout the month of August. I hope to rope a few of my like-minded multi-sport enthusiasts in to join me in these self-supported Swim-Bike-Run 'race-like' events (you know who you are). The primary recipe for 2013 will be layered, baked, and seasoned with one goal in mind; a strong performance in Madison. As I throw caution to the wind and break the golden rule and put all my eggs in one proverbial basket; I will tend the garden with care, eliminating the weeds, in hopes of a bountiful harvest.

Sweet Heart Run
10 Mile Run
Front Runner Events and Promotions http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Mahtomedi, MN

This is the first of five Front Runner events I will do this year. Honestly, the Black Friday deals on these events (50% off) are without a doubt the best value for multi-sport and running events in the Twin cities. Randy and his crew put on professional events, they do not always have the glitz and glamor of some of the others, but are well attended with athletes of all levels of ability. The events are well organized, challenging, and a lot of fun. With today's tough economic conditions I appreciate and am grateful for the value these events provide.

The 10-Mile run is on a variety of surfaces, road, paved trail, unpaved trail, and dirt roads. With our recent snows there will be many snow covered and icy areas but the weather forecast for tomorrow morning looks to be pleasant with temps around 25 F for the start of the race, under mostly cloudy skies.

Camp Wannarunamileormore
Half Marathon (13.1 Miles)
Tri Fitness http://trifitnesswbl.com/
Saturday, April 6, 2013
White Bear Township (Bald Eagle Lake)

Proceeds from Camp Wannarunamileormore help pay for special needs kids to attend Young Life Summer Camps.

The half marathon course is challenging and scenic. The venue is beautiful and the field is intimate and competitive. There is good support and is for a great cause. It also gives me an early season look at where my training is and is a good warm-up for the 50K trail run in a couple weeks. And as a bouns, I get to run by Christopher and Elisabth's new home at mile 3 and 10.

 

 

Chippewa 50K Trail Run

Front Runner Events and Promotions http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Ice Age Trail

New Auburn, WI

 

This year's race sets up for a very interesting weekend. A true early season Ironman test. You see the 50K trail race is being held the day before the MN Ironman 100 mile bike ride. How could I pass up this unique opportunity to test my early season conditioning.

 

The 50K trail race is very challenging on mostly single track trail. After last years race I could barely walk for three days, literally. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Minnesota Ironman Bicycle Ride http://ironmanbikeride.org/
100 Mile Bike ride
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Stillwater, MN

The ride now in its 47th year is moving to the scenic St. Croix River Valley. The ride will take place in Washington county and will be supported by the communities of Scandia, Stillwater, Afton, Lake Elmo, Marine on St. Croix, and Oak Park Height.

http://vimeo.com/vistapop/mnironman

The ride, notorious for the extreme weather that typically occurs, should provide plenty of challenge following the 50K Trail run from the day before.

Oakdale Spring Classic Duathlon
3 mile run - 14 mile bike - 2.5 mile run
Front Runner Events and Promotions http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Lake Elmo Park Reserve
Lake Elmo, MN

This early season event is a great kick-off to the multi-sport year. It's a pretty and challenging course and is well attended. The race brings out some of the areas best multi-sport athletes and provides excellent competition for all ability levels.

Buffalo Triathlon http://www.tribuff.com
Olympic Distance Triathlon
1500M Swim, 40K Bike, 10K Run
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Buffalo, MN

 

This event has become my favorite Olympic Distance race and has been on my race calendar for the past six years. The host city of Buffalo does a great job of supporting the event. It is one of the largest Triathlons in the state, second only to the Life Time event, now known as Tri Minneapolis.

 

The course is challenging and the competition is strong. This is definitely an A-Race and will give me a good understanding of exactly where I'm at with my training.

 

Grandma's Marathon http://grandmasmarathon.com/site/
Marathon (26.2 Mile Road Race)
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Dulth, MN

This will be my seventh Grandma's Marathon. This race is my first love, so to speak, my first ever marathon, and will always old a very special place in my heart. I love the atmosphere and the course. I have run very well here in the past and hope this year will produce a new PR.

As always I look forward to spending time with my friend Gordy, my running mentor.

Afton Trail Run 50K http://www.aftontrailrun.com/
50K Trail Run
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Afton State Park
Afton, MN

Last year this race kicked my butt and wounded my pride. A very challenging course with such a variety of terrain, from single track, to wide open dirt roads, to well maintained wide all purpose trails. The location could not be better (7 miles from my house) and the park provides some of the best views of the St. Croix around.

Ironman Wisconsin Madison
Full Triathlon
2.4 Mile Swim, 112 Mile Bike, 26.2 Mile Run
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Madison, WI

'The Race' the one we have worked and prepared for all year. Let's hope we can get to the starting line well prepared and in the best possible health.

Officially (as far as USAT is concerned) I will be in the 50 - 54 year old age group for this race. So I plan to celebrate my first half-century of being alive with an 'all-in' leave nothing on the field approach. It will be my fourth attempt at this course which has so far beat me into submission in my last three attempts here.

I'm looking forward to finding out just how far I can push this 50 year old pile of bones. :)

Run for the Apples
5 Mile Trail Run
Front Runner Events and Promotions http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Pine Tree Apple Orchard
Dellwood, MN

One of two fun runs to close out the 2013 race season. A great venue and a run I look forward to each year.

The Great Pumpkin Chase
10K Trail Run
Front Runner Events and Promotions http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Lake Elmo Park Resrve
Lake Elmo, MN

The final planned race of 2013. A fun run on a challenging course.

 

So as the dawn of the new day approaches there is an optimistic glow surrounding the 2013 race season. I look forward to the journey, the challenges, the new highs, and the new lows. I enter the season willingly and pray;

 

Lord,
Watch over me today as I swim, Bike, and run.
This is the day and this is the time for the race.
Watch over my body.
Keep it free from injury.
Watch over my mind.
May I listen to the signals from within as I enjoy the scenes from without.
Watch over my spirit.
Watch over my competitors.
Remind us that we all are struggling equally.
Lord,
Let me win.
Not by coming in ahead of my friends, but by beating myself.
Let it be an inner win.
A battle won over me.
And may I say at the end,
I have fought a good fight.
I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith.