It looks like I will at least have to wait another year to get into the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. I did not get in through the lottery … and I was almost positive I would get in with my 4% chance that I had.

In a way this is good because it 1) gets me more motivated to qualify for the race and 2) allows me to tie up some loose ends before having to compete in a full Ironman. It’s almost just like what 207 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack said, “If I had won the race my first try I wouldn’t be the racer I am today.” This was in reference to 2002 after his 1st Ironman World Championship where he was in a position to win the race but bonked on the run and failed to finish, he finally won in 2007. Of course It is a little different with me because I am not even in the race and I will never win it but if I had gotten in this year I probably wouldn’t be training as hard to be a qualifier, I would just be training to finish the race.

Because of this minor setback I have made a couple new goals. These Goals all have a end Date by July 2009

1) Half-Marathon time at 1:25 or below (Current time 1:53:15)
2) Bike mph up to 22 average (Currently average 19-20 mph on a great day and 15 mph on a bad day)
3) Swim 1.2 miles below 30 minutes (Swam a 40 minute 1.2 miler in Cali for the 70.3)
4) 70.3 time under 4:40 hours ( Ran a 7:02:44 in the California 70.3)

What this means is that I need to get at least 30% better within the next year. This will be tough but I am definitely motivated enough. Wish me luck… ok, maybe it will be better to wish me some hard training.

Well almost 11 months after signing up for the Ironman 70.3 in Oceanside California I finally got to race day. And what a day it was! By far the hardest thing I have ever done yet one of the most fulfilling.

It started with a 1.2 mile swim in sub 60 degree water, moved to a 56 mile grueling rode bike through the mountains in Camp Pendleton and finished with a hilly 13.1 mile run along the beach and the Pacific Ocean. In the end I finished in 7 hours 2 minutes and 44 seconds… much longer than my 6 hour optimistic goal but I didn’t really know what to expect. Even though I was an hour off, 7:02:44 is just fine for me… now I have something to beat the next time.

My cousin Tyler (from Tammy’s side) tore it up and finished in 7:34:37. Rock on Tyler! I can’t wait to do another one with you.

Race Pace Run: 70.3 Miles Triathlon . Time: 7:02:44 – Cal: 5009 – HR avg: 156 – HR max: 198 – Rate: 10

Stay tuned for full coverage of the day…