Posts for any of the three sports (run bike swim) or for races (mainly KMD’s victories… go KMD!!).
So KMD I found your strava and that pic of you at the pool with that sun bathing suit you have (its like New Mexico or something?).
Well, anyway yesterday one of the bike techs and the many many many bike shops / stores I went to yesterday (was a lot), helped me out on my setup when he heard I wanted to put my bike together in a day. He put it up on the stand (my frame was in the car, needed a bunch of stuff, but he said he’d switch the pedals for free just to help). So we were talking and he is a triathlete. He was a really cool guy, but he didn’t exactly look like a triathlete. I mean he was fit and everything (very fit), but he said he had a Cervelo P5 and also had a massive tattoo of that sun logo (which sparked my memory) on his calf (he had big calfs, not lean, but like big) with the Ironman logo in front of the sun with 70.3 in very large numbers. I think it was 6in x 6in huge. So I’m thinking 70.3 … that tattoo… the P5 … eventually I had to know. I asked him, so what was your time in the New Mexico 70.3? I was wondering if he won his age division or got a reallly good time. He said 6:15. But to be on a Cervelo P5 and put that tattoo on his calf, I really thought he at least broke 5hrs. I don’t know if it was inappropriate for me to ask, but I really don’t care, I want to know everyones times if they are riding on crazy shit and putting massive Ironman tattoos on their body. I’ve never met one elite triathlete with an Ironman tattoo. The marking seems to be more of a brand for those who work very hard and get decent/respectable times or finish the race and feel like they have accomplished something. But, I feel there is a great divide between running a hard road race, or cycling, or swimming, or triathlon and climbing to the elite ranks. Yeah, most of the population doesn’t Run/Bike/Swim at all, they can barely climb the stairs, but still. I tried to head towards higher rankings years ago to make the journey and it was supremely difficult. I feel I am closer now than I was then, but even if I won freaking Hawaii Full Ironman, I don’t think I’d put an Ironman symbol on my ankle with a wreath and a crown or something. I tie a more mystical allegiance to the sports. Running, cycling, and swimming are about traveling through nature and interacting in a favorable way to gain an experience that most do not or most cannot. To put ink on my body represents a much deeper representation of my perspective of the reflection of life. In some ways I feel like the Ironman tattoo people are like someone putting NFL on their arm to represent that they played. They competed. They were in the league. But, their real love is for the sport of football, and its kind of wacky to me at times for people to put the brand of an organization on their body. But, for some, it is the mark of a ‘badass’. But, in my mind 5:00 is very respectable for 70.3 and 4:30 is badass. But, that’s just me. I had a goal of 5:00 years ago with a stretch goal of 4:30. I didn’t get into heavy training and had to back off early for some reason. But, I had a really good couple of months in training with one of my spin instructors, Rip. 
Rip was really a good guy and we had lots of talks about race strategy and the components of the sport. He broke 10hr in Hawaii in a Full Ironman (I think the picture above), which is very respectable. I don’t even want to ever attempt a Full Ironman, too risky for my body I feel. I think the half Ironmans are out for me as well as my knees just don’t like the mileage required to train for a 13.1 mile event at the end of 2 other events, which is much more difficult than it sounds for the person who hasn’t completed a Half Iron before. So, I guess my focus will be sprint triathlons after the 9/9 mile race and climbing races in cycling (as well as MMA/Muay Thai). I think I’ll have to go to Colorado for a good climbing race; I looked up some good ones years ago that might be worth the trip over there. Could be a fun time. I’m really anal about taking apart my bikes though and putting them back together so would probably drive over flying.
I got a new phone setup on my bike today that may track Strava better. These issues are a pain. I don’t know why it is cutting off for me, but at least you have a general idea of the miles I am putting in. I really think it was close to 250miles on my first three days of training, but whatever.
