GoDaddy Superbowl commercial

What would you consider your personal Superbowl? Mine would be qualifying for and competing in the Ironman Championships at Kona. The NFL Superbowl took place yesterday with the Baltimore Ravens edging out the Fransisco 49’ers. Although much of the hype focuses around the commercials like this years GoDaddy, Dodge Ram, and Mercedes commercials. The Superbowl was my excuse to eat a ton without feeling bad. Chili cheese dip, buffalo chicken dip, brownie/cookie treats, blueberry muffins, cheesy potatoes and so on. I think you get the point.

In the world of triathlons the Superbowl is the annual Ironman World Championships held in Kona, Hawaii. Instead of 2 teams competing for the title, there are thousands of individuals competing for their own trophies. Kona is considered one of the hardest triathlons to compete in. To start, the swim is held in the Pacific ocean where athletes have to battle the waves as well as the other athletes. The bike course offers crosswinds of up to 45 mphs as you ride through Hawaii’s historic lava fields. The run offers no relief from the hot temperatures, sometimes reaching 95 degrees with scorching sun.

This is truly the Superbowl of the sport. To get there, one must qualify in their age group at a sanctioned event. For my age group at Ironman Wisconsin this is often only the top 2-3 athletes.

My training:

5 weeks down. 31 to go. The 5th week began the ‘Base 1’ phase of the training schedule. The focus of this month is on base building.  The important thing to keep in mind during this face is to keep perfect form in the workouts as more intervals are added and the workout intensity starts to increase.

Week totals:  11 hours

• Swimming: 2.5 hours
• Biking: 6.25 hours
• Running:  2.25 hours

Week 5

Tuesday: AM: 1.5 hour spin before work. PM: 30 minute run (was looking forward to the 40 degree weather, but it ended up raining and started to turn to sleet) + Core workout

Wednesday: AM: 45 minute spin (with my CMT music videos of course). PM 45 minute swim, focus on drills + Lift

Thursday: Group spin at the wattage cottage (aka empty warehouse in Greenway station). 1.25 hours + Core workout

Friday:45 minute run (on the treadmill, watched the Dr.Phil interview with T’eo’s lover). 45 minute swim (speed work) + Lift

Saturday: 6am spin at Harbor Athletic Club. Main set 10x(2 min 70.3 pace, 1 minute rest). 1.25 hours + Core

Sunday: Brick Day! 1 hour swim (3400 yds). 1.5 hour spin (Main set: 2 min 70.3 pace, 1 min rest, 1 min high cadence). 1 hour run (8.6 miles).

Favorite workout of the week: Although I was up at 5am, the Group Spin session on Saturday. We got a chance to grill our coach with a bunch of questions and jammed out to some 80’s & 90’s playlist.

Least favorite workout of the week: As they always area, the treadmill run on Friday. Seriously, 45 minutes felt like 2 hours on that thing.

Advice of the week: You know that ‘normal’ knee pain or that ‘normal’ numbness in your toes? Well that isn’t normal at all. If you have any kind of pain, discomfort or numbness you should do something about it.

Thing I’m looking forward to next week: Well the local groundhog didn’t see his shadow, so here’s to hoping for spring to get here sooner rather than later!