IM registered..................

It is done. I am registered to start the Ironman UK on August 19, 2007.

I was surfing the other night before bed and noticed that the IMUK site had been updated and showed the '07 date with new graphics while I was searching for info. They had yet to make any announcements about next years race, and I was nervous to find out when the application started. I did not want to get shut out again.

I sat up most of the night and got poor sleep. I was very anxious to get word about the race entry.

At 4:30am I got up checked again....Nothing new. I went to work.

When I got home at 4pm the site had announced registration began on Monday.

Will this race sell out so quickly as they had in Lake Placid and Wisconsin?. I check my email.

"Ironman UK pre registration" is the headline. I was being given the ability to sign up early because of a form I filled out a week ago.

So at midnight I signed up.

I am headed to Sherbourn Castle next August to race the Ironman(140 miles triathlon)

Let the journey officially begin

Fall apon me...........

I love this time of year, I began running 15 years ago as summer took its final bows.

My first race was the ROTC 5k at John Carrol University. Late September running is when I got hooked.

I love the cool warm that is only early fall. The changing of leaves. Tree by tree they join in on what will soon be a symphony of color.

I set out this evening with 30 minutes planned. As I got warmed up my feet just kept taking wrong turns toward Shaker Lakes and down trails purposly leading me further from home without any plan. I just wanted to run. No training to do. No milage to log. I just wanted to run. I just wanted to enjoy the last days of summer.

30 minutes turned to 75 minutes.

Today was the first run of the year that held no intention.

Today I ran just to run.

2006 in summary-2007 on towards Ironman

A week after my final race of 2006 seems like an appropriate time to begin my blog. I spent this season feeling strong, being knocked to the ground, being absolute about my future and left wondering where I am going.
My races were :
Spring Classic 13.1-Training day- little cold. Feeling heavy, time to give up General tso's Chicken.

Cleveland Marathon-Rain, Sunshine, Wind. Finish under 5. Sheila(My running partner who has recently moved to Denver for school) did her 1st 26.2. I did my 6th

Maumee Bay-Zac, Nichole ( my crew...My friends)and I camped. Great park. Windy bike course. I felt good.

Bay Days 5 mile-Steamy July 4th. Planned bike ride to the race was scraped due to thunder and rain. a new CTC(Cleveland Tri Club) friend Jody drove- Decent race. Got a good ride in later in the day.

Ashtabula- I love this race. I had a personal best on this course. Haven't PR'd much lately. Met more CTC folks.

Cleveland Triathlon- I volunteered for this one. What a blast. I plan to schedule 1 volunteer gig every season now.

The Fairport Harbor Lighthouse Triathlon- Sheila's 1st. I had a good race. My mom called as I cleaned up my gear to tell me that a close childhood friend named Matt Kirman had passed away.

Greater Cleveland Triathlon 1/2-The course was lengthened and moved due to flooding. I PR. Great day. I hitched a ride once again with Jody. She wins hardware!

Greatlakes escape-Allergies, No sleep, swim cancelled, strong winds. I love this sport. It is so unpredictable. Spent the race chasing Jody...She is so fast in transition....and she is a good athlete. Zac, Nichole, Max(Z and N's dog) and I camp at the park. Had pre race Irish food in port Clinton while watching OSU stomp Texas. Zac got tested for DUI after swerving to miss a muskrat. No problem. He wasn't drunk. We got an escort back to camp.

IM Wisconsin registration- I treated this as a race. I was prepared. but I made an online entry error and got shut out. Very disappointing.

Also, I crashed my bike in a rainstorm while riding to work in late August. Little skin and soreness.

So now my plan is to sign up for an Ironman race for next summer and start living like an Ironman.
More Sleep, better diet, ride, ride, ride, swim and run.
Zac and Nichol want to come with. UK 8/21/07 looks best. The race takes place within a castle grounds. camping is available on site. and airfare is reasonable.
Nice France 6/17/07 will cost much more and is early in the season. It is the south of France on the Med. Lots of Triathlon history.
FLA 11/05/07- Local. other Cleveland Tri Club members. Late in season. Jen(my former fiance) did this one. FLA does not excite me.

Anyhow I am holding out for Ironman UK to open registration.

Untill then...Peace