Ironman Coeur d Alene 2006: Training Diary

So, this is the final year of IM racing for a while. Three seasons is enough, and it will be nice to relax down to shorter distances and marathons for a few years. I will try for a third Kona qualifier this year at Ironman Couer d' alene, ID. I need good reasons to try to stay motivated toward my goals, and what better way than to finish the IM distance for a while. "Settling down" with my wife Ann to start a family next fall will be the light at the end of the tunnel for me (us). Being 40, its time for me.

My goals for CDA 06 are primarily to break the 9:30 barrier. If I do this, Imay win the masters 40 age division and may be a top 10 age grouper by looking at past race results. I think men's times will be faster this year however, as there will probably be no male pro's (female pro championships are at CDA in 06). I am sure plenty of top age group males will show, probably not many over 40. However, a sub 9:30 may not even land me in the top 10 . Doesnt matter...its a time goal for me.


Some of my thoughts on goals:

Goals need justification
Goals need emotional attachment
Goals must be achievable
Goals need a path. Not necessarily the RIGHT path, just a path...a means to an end.

I will cover my thoughts and basis for my nutritional methods, training, recovery, ect. Everything but the nutrition has been an ongoing learning experience for me. Nutritionally I have had no real change since my first Ironman at CDA in 2004. What I do is not much different than what I did nutritionally for 12 yrs as a marathon competitor. Not much more complicated for Ironman distance, its just a longer race...where pace is more critical.