DAN’S IRONMAN EXPERIENCE

Posted on 10th July 2012 in TRIATHLON

Those responsible for the news letter at the company where I work recently asked me to share my experience of competing in a IronMan triathlon. In June 2012 I completed an IronMan in Coeur d’Alene (CDA) Idaho which was an awesome place to do a triathlon. The community was very welcoming; the spectators were enthusiastic, the volunteers were outstanding and it was a first class event hosted in a very beautiful city.

I heard you recently completed an IronMan triathlon.  What is an IronMan exactly?
IronMan is a full distance triathlon.  There are many different distances of triathlon which all include swimming, cycling and running, in that order.  A full length IronMan consists of a 3.8 km swim, followed by 180 kms of cycling, and then finishes off with a full distance marathon of 42 kms.

END OF A LONG DAY

Do you complete all three of those things in one day?  How long does it usually take?
Yes.  A person’s time will depend on many factors such as ability, fitness, nutrition, weather etc.  There is a time limit of 17 hours and many people don’t complete the race for various reasons.  I did a lot of training leading up to the race, so was able to complete my race in 11 hours and 58 minutes which placed me in the top 20% of competitors.

You mentioned that you did a lot of training.  How many hours of training per week?
Training for IronMan was a long journey considering I began a structured training plan in back in November; I guess it took me about 7 months to prepare.  Training consisted of an average of 9 workouts per week (3 swims, 3 bike rides, 3 runs).  It started with about 10 hours per week back in November and eventually peaked to 17- 20 hours per week in April and May. Click here to read more.. »

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TRIATHLON TRAINING IN NICARAGUA

Posted on 1st February 2012 in CAREER BREAKS - MINI RETIREMENTS, TRIATHLON

Riding down a stretch of freshly paved asphalt I see the sun rising, while overlooking local farmers working in their peanut, yucca, and sugar cane fields. Glancing to the left I see a series of eight volcanoes, none more ominous than the one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Central America and its smoldering, gaseous fumes, San Cristobal.

What’s a guy from Winnipeg, Canada doing riding a bike in Nicaragua in January?  Well, it all started as a rough idea about six months ago.  I travel each year to a different continent to explore different countries and cultures, and what they have to offer.

Training in the midst of an active volcano, San Cristobal

As a triathlete I am an active person, so my travel plans always include some sort of active adventure. For instance, in 2011 I rode a mountain bike 1000 kilometers across Tanzania, followed up a few weeks later with summiting the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2010, I mountain biked and trekked into the ruins of Machu Pichu, Peru, and in 2009 I trekked into the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

My plan this year was to somehow combine two of my greatest passions, which are traveling and triathlon.  I had few parameters other than my preference to avoid as much of the cold Canadian winter as possible by traveling during the winter months.

An online search for half-Ironman races led me to quickly conclude that the half-Ironman (1.9 km swim, 90 km cycle, and 21km half marathon) triathlon in Panama City, Panama on February 12, 2012 was going to be the one. I have long been interested in Central America and thus a plan was born. There were logistics that needed to be figured out (time away from my career, support from family, developing a training plan, pre-training) but I was convinced this could work out.

A few month later and here I am, basking on the beautiful beach of Las Penitas, Nicaragua after a terrific training ride of 120 km. Las Penitas is about 110 kilometers northwest of Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua.  I have been training (swimming, cycling, and running) on the beaches and roads of this sleepy little fishing village for almost two weeks and it has been a terrific experience to say the least.

I feel like I have found a little slice of triathlon training heaven; who would have thought that something like this was possible in Nicaragua? Click here to read more.. »

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WHY TRIATHLONS?

Posted on 12th October 2011 in EXPLORING OURSELVES, TRIATHLON

For the past couple of years I have been participating in triathlon – a multi-sport athletic event where participants swim, cycle, and run.

Although I am relatively new to the sport, it has become one of my passions.  On a regular basis I am asked by friends, family and colleagues “what’s new Dan?”  My response is usually “a lot”.

I have made many changes in my life and like to share with others the many things that excite and drive me.  I have a loving relationship, great friends and family, I’m fanatical about travel (career breaks/mini-retirements as I like to call them) and oftentimes I bring up my passion for triathlon.

I am currently training for a half-IronMan distance race (1900 m swim, 90 km cycle, half marathon 21 km run) in Panama City, Panama and will likely then take things to the next level by training for a full full IronMan distance race which is twice the distance.

When I discuss my busy training schedule of up to 9 workouts a week, the 6 am swim times, the 3 to 6 hour bike rides, and the 2 hour runs, most people ask “Why would you put yourself through that?”  My girlfriend actually says “I organize my life so I don’t have to run”.

So why do I do it?  I usually respond lightheartedly with something like “what did you enjoy most as a child? Swimming, biking and running, eh?”

Well, that is an obvious answer but there is more to it for me than that.  For me triathlon has become more of a lifestyle.

I have always enjoyed running but have taken my overall fitness to a whole new level with multi-sport.  I enjoy the feeling of being fit and physically strong.  Although I would be laughed out of a weight lifting gym, my overall fitness makes me feel confident, as does having less than 10% body fat.  For most of my 30’s I was 25 pounds heavier than I am today.  Looking back on it now, I feel healthier than at any time in my life and my doctor agrees.  My cholesterol is no longer a problem and I feel energetic almost all of the time. Click here to read more.. »

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MY START IN TRIATHLON

Posted on 18th August 2011 in CHANGE, EXPLORING OURSELVES, TRIATHLON

My home town of Morden, Manitoba has the longest running triathlon in Manitoba, Canada and I have been intrigued with the sport since I first volunteered and participated on a relay team (run leg) as a high school student.

For me it was a good experience but unfortunately I allowed myself to be limited from triathlon due to a fear of swimming.  Although I could swim (barely), I thought it was too difficult of a skill for me to learn properly; thus I couldn’t do it because “I am wasn’t a swimmer”.

This thinking error prevented me from getting involved in a sport which I was interested in. I had this belief blown out of the water by a friend of mine over a cup of coffee in Dharamsalla, India.

My friend had completed an IronMan and many other distances of triathlon so we began discussing the sport.  He sensed my excitement about participating in triathlon one day but I explained my reluctance with swimming and my belief that swimming was something I “couldn’t do”.  My friend asked “if you want to do the sport why don’t you learn how to swim?” to which I responded “yeah, I should do that someday”.  He then asserted “you just said should; why don’t you make a promise to yourself and do it?”

Right then and there I took on his challenge and set a goal to participate in a triathlon within the next few months. Click here to read more.. »

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