Changes..

I have given thought to giving up this blog. After all, its purpose was to track my journey to becoming an Ironman and I achieved that. I also made it to a year of blogging. I thought it may be time to move on, however, on further reflection, I kind of like coming here and putting down my thoughts. I suspect I will not be posting as much as I did during the build-up to the Ironman, but I will continue to put up race reports and any significant training reports. I suspect I will also post more non-triathlon stuff in the coming year.

John Thum

First Anniversary Of The Great Magnetic Field

Today, December 28, 2008, is the one year anniversary of this blog. It started with a post about my plans to become and Ironman. It can be found here.

John Thum

Cool New Toy... I Mean Tool

Just to prove that I can, I am creating this post from the iPhone that I gave to The Great Magnetic Wife for Christmas. It is so totally cool that it is hard to believe. I have a bad case of phone envy.

John Thum

Merry Christmas one and all.

John Thum

Heavy Boots Of Lead

I was going to run with the L.A. Leggers this morning, I set my alarm for 5:00 am, laid out all of my running gear and had everything ready to go. When the alarm went off, I thought, "I'll just lay her for a minute and then get up." I got up after what I thought was about a minute, but was really twenty. I drank my coffee, and realized there was no way I was going to make it in time. "Oh well, I'll just run by myself. It'll be a little warmer later anyway." I thought. 

The Great Magnetic Wife made bacon and eggs, I read a bit of the paper and then it was time to go. As I started to run, something just wasn't right. My legs really didn't want to move. It felt as if I were wearing lead boots. I trudged on for a couple of miles and then walked back. I haven't run much since the Ironman and I guess I am paying for it now. I do have a half-marathon in six weeks. I'll have to start to get back to some real training.

I think a truly terrible training day was what I needed to motivate me to start serious, everyday training. 

John Thum

Giant Breach In Earth's Magnetic Field

There is a giant breach in the earth's magnetic field.

Again, it is not my fault. I had nothing to do with it!

John Thum

Video Of The Finish

Here is a short clip of the Ironman Arizona, including my finish.

John Thum

Getting Motivated Again

I have decided that I need a goal for 2009. I don't have one big goal like the Ironman, but think I have to have an event in front of me to keep me motivated. As a result I signed up for the Surf City Half Marathon. I am still trying to figure out what races I will do next year, but Surf City, with the coolest finishers medal of all time, will be the first. I feel more motivated already! On Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, 2009 I will run a half-marathon.

John Thum

New York, New York

There has been limited blogging in the last week or so because I had to suddenly go to New York for work. I didn't do much training, I mostly worked. Also, I was very cold there and I don't have any real cold weather running gear. I guess it was an extended post-Ironman rest week. That's what I keep telling myself.

John Thum

Now What Do I Do?

It has come. I knew it would come, and it's here. There is sort of a post big-event let down that always happens. I have been living, dreaming, thinking and training for the Ironman for a year. I pushed through the doubts, the bad training days and all of the ups and downs of preparing for an Ironman. I ran through the whole thing in my mind everyday. Now, the thing is done and I feel somewhat aimless. After a few days off, I have continued to train, but with a lot less focus and purpose. I continue to run with the L.A. Leggers, in fact we are scheduled to run twenty miles this weekend, but there is no specific goal. I think I am going to have to figure out something or I am afraid I might lose interest.

John Thum