Thursday, September 29th 2011

Swim:  3,600 meters
Run:  3:25  (scheduled for 3 hour run, but walked half – see below)
Core strength:  60 minutes

Comments:
Over confidence…

My training in Austria was excellent, and put me into probably the best shape of my life — To the point where I look at a “3 hour run” on my schedule to be something easy.

Secretly, the past sixweeks … my training went so well that my goal went from “just finishing” my 7 ironman challenge … to finishing each under a certain time.   My knees are fine, my ass no longer hurts on the 200km bike rides and overall my physical condition is excellent – my weight is down to about 185 lbs.

I haven’t been this thin and had this less body fat since I was 13 years old.

So secretly, I have been very confident on my 7 ironman challenge ….
until yesterday, when God came down and punched me in the face.

The day before I rode 7 hours on the roof of my office at 80+ cadence for the entire ride – great ride.  Then I had a smooth, easy nearly 2 hour run …

On my schedule for thursday was swim, 3 hour run and core strength.

My swim workout was great.
The main set was 30 x 100 meters on 1:20.
I averaged 1:08-1:13 which is the fastest I have swum in a long set that consistently, since I was a swimmer, 20 years ago. 

I had an ok feel for the water, not great.  I hammered the turns which towards the end of the swim set I realized hurts my knees.
But I managed to swim the entire 30 x 100m under 1:20 which was my goal.

I organized my work schedule around my 3 hour run … where I run in Dubai is a 20-30 minute drive from the office, and by the time I run, drive home, take a a shower and be back at the office, I figured I needed 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Where I like to run and bike is an area between Dubai and Abu Dhabi … kms/miles of roads and nearly no cars.  Completely flat.  Only negative is sometimes there can be strong wind and of course the sun beats down on you.

I organized a cooler with water, my peeroton drink, and bars … and left the office at lunch time.
I was so confident from beating the heat the day before on the roof of my office, that I stumbled into becoming naive…

I started my run at 13:00 (1pm) in the middle of the desert ….”I want to test myself..”  (i am an idiot). 

No trees to shade from the sun.  Nothing but the road and the sun shinning down without a cloud in the sky.

I wore a water bottle belt with the bottle in the back and (luckily) I also tucked an extra water bottle under the best in the front as well.

Smothered sun cream all over my exposed pink skin … and started my run.

My legs felt great, and I quickly got into a nice easy rythm.  I tried to space out the time, and think about work.

60 minutes into the run, (of course) I was hot, but a slight wind sort of cooled me ….and thought that it wasnt too bad.
But just 15 minutes later, 75 minutes into the run, the sun directly above me seemed to be melting me … and I became a little bit dizzy.
I told myself that I just being a pussy…

7 minutes later … at the 1:23 mark, my legs still felt good – no pain at all …. but I had zero energy.  My arms and legs were like jelly.
Zero energy. 

I stopped and walked a bit, drank some water, but had no energy to get going again.
I would start to run again, but quickly became dizzy and light headed.
My mouth wasnt dry at all, and I wasnt thirsty … I just had zero energy.

I tried to figure out why I had so little energy … maybe a lack of salt??

The day before, I trained 9 hours in the heat and although I drank 12 liters of liquids within that period, I didnt have any salt tablets …. and I wondered if my incredible lack of energy was because of a lack of salt.

My run was a simple 90 minute out and 90 minute back … but now I was on the way back, walking … I couldnt run.  No trees, no shade, only sun and about 90 minutes from the car.

I was sweating so much that my left shoe was soaked with water and made a “squishing” noise each step I took.

It was a long walkjog/limp/jog/walk back … no energy whatsoever with the sun beating down on me.
The last 30 minutes was far less hot and I tried to run, but had trouble walking straight so often stopped and just walked. 

The sun and heat destroyed me … I realized I have been “over confident.”  This run was a good punch in face.

I didnt walk because of pain, but because of a near zero lack of energy.

Was my lack of energy caused by a lack of salt?  

I dont think I was dehydrated because my piss was clear and I drank a lot of water before the ride.

On a positive note …. on my challenge, assuming my bike takes me 7+ hours, I will not begin my run until around or after 4pm when the sun is far less hot and has already started to set.

I drove home, took a shower and then went back to the office (I live 5 minutes from my office). 

When  got back to the office, Fabien told me that LOOK confirmed to be my bike sponsor and Mavic is sponsoring my shoes, wheels and helmet.

Mario told me several months ago, “LOOK is the ferrari of bikes in speed and the rolls royce of bikes in quality.” 
Mavic is considered to make the best, lightest bike shoe on the market — and some of the best wheels.

I am very proud to ride LOOK.

Today, I have another 7 hour ride and 2 hour run.
I will start my ride at 9am so will not begin my run until 4pm … I will take salt tablets, and organize myself to be accessible to water every 30 minutes.