Mud Sweat and Gears

 I’ve got nothing.  So, I’m just going to ramble and see what happens.

We are in the lovely little village of Naramata on our family vacation.  Naramata is just outside Penticton on the east side of Lake Okanagan.  There are so many wineries around here that it would be impossible as well as hazardous to ones liver to visit them all in one day.  Not that I am a wine conosseur.  I couldn’t tell the difference between a Merlot and a Marichel even with the labels on the bottle.  I’ll stick with beer.  I’m a Guinness man myself but have taking a liking to the lime and beer fad.  That’s when I actually drink beer which is pretty rare nowadays.  I got all the beer drinking out of my system in University.  I’m not a huge fan of hangovers especially when you have three kids.  They don’t care that your head is pounding and it feels like a cat crapped in your mouth.  They will be up early anyways, playing loud, arguing and wanting pancakes.  Besides, what are you going to tell them?  That you don’t feel good because you drank enough beer to make a frat boy proud?  I would rather have my kids see me come back from an early morning ride or a run, with enough energy to make pancakes, clean the kitchen for Mom and play catch in the backyard.  There’s no way I’d be getting all that done on a hangover.

Obviously, the other reason I don’t down a social half dozen is because I’m usually training for something.  The best time for me to train is early in the morning (5 am) because the family is still asleep and I can get a workout in and not miss any family time.  So, I’m usually in bed by 9:30, just when most parties are getting started.   I don’t miss it at all.  I figure that the only thing that I’m going to get out of that case of suds is regret.  Going to bed early gets me the sleep I need and the early start gives me the endorphin rush that no amount of booze could match.  Also, alcohol is empty calories that have no place in an athlete’s nutrition plan.  Chocolate is a different story.  Now, don’t be thinking that I’m a tea-totaller.  I can still put back my fair share but I try to plan my boozing.  For instance, on Canada Day, I won the Pink Ribbon Sprint triathlon at Millenium Place.  The first race I have ever won.  I was taking the next day off so I celebrated by eating everything thing in sight and pounding a lot of Bud Light Lime.  I felt a little rocky the next morning but it was worth it. 

Brian, one of the athletes that I’m coaching is coming down to Penticton today to do a mini training camp this weekend.  We’ll do an open water swim this afternoon, ride the Ironman course tomorrow and do a run on Sunday.  To most people, only a crazy person would drive all that way for three days of not lying on the beach.  Well, when you think of it, Ironman is kind of crazy.  3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and a 42 km run to top it all off.  What would make a person want to put themselves through that?  For me, and I think for most folks who do Ironman, it’s the challenge.  The challenge of qualifying for Hawaii, or to set a personal best or to just finish.  The finish line at an Ironman is one of the most special places in the world.  The best way to describe it is electric.  Music blaring, people cheering on complete strangers and seeing a full range of human emotions: elation, agony and sometimes even anger.  I dare anyone to be around an Ironman finish line and not be inspired to do something great. 

Maybe you will be inspired to do an Ironman or even inspired to take up triathlon.  As I mentioned earlier, I do a bit of coaching.  I only take on 2 or 3 athletes a year because that’s all I have time for.  It’s too late for this season but if you are looking for some help with achieving some triathlon goals, I would love to speak with you about it.  Sign up for the Mud Sweat and Gears Club Forum and send me a message.  Have a great summer!

PS If you are new to triathlon and need a bike (yes, this is the shameless plug)  buy it from MSG!