Thursday, June 14, 2007

A New Plan

Damn logistics! I was working out some of the details for making another run at IM Arizona in April. Between school, the distance, and Iowa's winters, going back to Phoenix just doesn't seem like it will work out.

Instead, I've looked into some other Iron-distance races and here's what I'm considering for 2008:
1. Ironman Louisville (7 hours away, the day before school starts)
2. Ironman Wisconsin (3 hours away, two weeks into the school year)


THEN THERE'S THE "HAVEN'T YOU LEARNED ANYTHING?" PLAN:

I found a non-Ironman brand race that is just 3 hours (and 14 weeks) away on the second weekend in September. That's right. I'm considering doing this this year.

I admit, I just want to get this 140.6 monkey off my back ASAP and then go for the M-Dot next year. I also know that there are plenty of ways for me to set myself up for success, and this probably isn't one of them.

Here's why I think this might work: I will be in Iowa all summer with nothing but time on my hands until school starts. That's eight weeks of being left to my own devices -- no school, no friends, no other life. So for more than half of the time between now and race day, I'll have nothing better to do than train. Wouldn't it be helpful to have a big juicy carrot out in front of me?

Okay. I'm ready. Hurl your grumblings, naysayings, and sage advice now.

9 comments:

Wrenched Photography said...

Why does it always have to be a carrot? Why can't it be a bag of jelly beans or a slice of cheesecake?

Labeled or not 140.6 is an ironman.

Duane said...

I think you can do it!

Herself, the GeekGirl said...

May I suggest the Oklahoma Redman? Awesome support and a small race. Email me and I'll tell you more.

Andra Sue said...

Honestly? If I were you, I wouldn't do it.

I tend to think of Ironman preparation as at least a year-long endeavor (not that I've done one, mind you). I don't know what kind of base you have built-up right now, but 14 weeks isn't a very long time in the scheme of endurance training.

How about a half? :)

M said...

I tend to agree with Andra Sue, only because cramming a years worth of training into 8 weeks is a recipe for trouble. But more importantly, take what you learned from the IMAZ experience - knowing what you know now, do you feel you could finish this race with the training you had? I totally know the IM monkey, he lives right now on the handlebars of my dust-collecting tri bike at the moment but if I have learned anything, its that there will always be a race.

Personally, I would still try to focus on IMAZ, but that's really sort of selfish because I am doing it and it would cool for you to avenge it next year.

Brent Buckner said...

Some folks manage that approach:
13 weeks to a 13-hour Ironman

And there's the minimal approach:
Pony-tail guy

Bike course for IMKY looks preferable to IMMoo if you just want to collect the M-dot. Before school versus during school also counts.

KrissyGo! said...

Oh Andra and Megan and your voices of reason...

Brent: that's exactly the plan I am going to follow (I have Gale Bernhardt's book). The first week looks pretty easy, so I should be alright.

The "doability" of the course for M-Dot collection purposes is not as much of a factor as is the timing with school. (Though I'm not planning to attempt, say, Canada or Lake Placid anytime soon.)

Winz: Have it your way...I'll treat it as a filet mignon.

Geekgirl: I'm intrigued...but at nine hours away during school, I'll have to _really_ look at my schedule. Expect an e-mail soon.

KrissyGo! said...

Whoops! I left Duane out:

That's _exactly_ what I wanted to hear! :D

Andra Sue said...

So, did you pick one and sign up? Just don't hurt yourself. :)