In the past I have always felt a little insecure about identifying myself as a Triathlete. I have been competing in Triathlons for over 5 years but only recently have gotten comfortable with the title. One would think that after completing an Ironman and having Mike Reilly announce “You are an Ironman” would resolve any …
Author: fergysun
I'm Don Ferguson, I live in the coastal New England town of Newburyport Massachusetts and blog to track memories, sports adventures, create stories and to pursue interesting ideas.
TriTime: A 4:00 AM Start
There is something about 4:00 AM that is special for Triathletes. It’s that perfect moment in the day when all things seem possible. It takes a daily demonstration of courage to wake, rollout and motor forward. Joggers, walkers and marathoners have 5:00 AM which has its own ambiance but does not hold special Mystic that …
What if you could finish an Ironman everyday?
What if we could feel like we do at the finish of an Ironman everyday? We could carry that amazing feeling with all day long no matter where every we went. Hear the cheer of the crowd, meet amazing people while we swim, bike run in some of the most beautiful places.... As we pass …
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Triathletes – Extrodinary Encounters
I spend a few mornings in the hotel cafe' with Gary a retired NYC Fireman that I later learned had worked "The Pile" (site of 9-11) as it is called. Over coffee on an very early morning before the race I asked him how he felt the race would go for him on Sunday. I …
What Does It Take Be An Ironman?
Everyone has a story .... This week at Lake Placid I heard a million of them... Some athletes have a story so inspirational that I get choked up just thinking back over them and others are the actual story themselves in the flesh... My story goes like this?..... Last year on July 28th, 2014 at …
Fighting Bulldogs – It’s about Sportsmanship!
In 2007 a rag tag group of Marines took on a challenge to form a run, bike, boat relay team and compete in the NY Great Race Series in Auburn NY. The original's were Steve Hathaway, Mike Paquette, (boat) Don Ferguson (runner) and Dave Orlowski (bike). Our goal was inspire our competitive juices and jump …
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Post Placid Blues – It’s a feelling
OK it’s over.... My big (spent all year training and thinking about it) goal race is done. I've trained like never before and and as a result I was blessed to race well, but now I'm flat.....I'm suffering from the post race blues... meaning I have no sense of direction, purpose or mission and am …
Don Ferguson…”You are and IRONMAN”
From Kona to Lake Placid and all around the world, every triathlete dreams of hearing Mike Reilly announce their finish personally over the roaring crowd. For those of you not familiar with Mike Reilly the Ironman Hall of Famer, he is best known as the Voice of Ironman. Tens of thousands of Ironman finishers around …
Tri Signs of Three
With less than a week before IMLP I can already feel my outbound communication beginning to shut down and the internal mind to self-chat channels starting to buzz. I get quiet and observe more when I’m under stress but my mind races away at full steam. To help guide my internal dialogue I’ve had what …
Making waves on Lake Placid
Thirteen days until Ironman Lake Placid and I’m feeling a tide random thoughts washing over me.... None of them really matter or make much sense. Like do I need a new helmet? And of course new glasses to match- What is the best Rudy Project discount? Of course my helmet is fine…no equipment changes before a race …
What’s my story?
What’s my story? When you are training regularly those around you know about it and identify those activities with you. It becomes part of your story. The personal narrative we tell others defines us in many ways so, I was thinking today … Does the story I tell others about who I am and why …
The Get Well Plan is working.
Started out for a long run this morning just after 4 AM wearing a headlight, hydration belt w/gels and red flashers looking like a rolling emergency response vehicle. My destination was Plum Island and the target distance was 18 miles this morning before leaving for work. After a much needed two day family time / mental breakdown …
Climbing out of a dark mood….
Although most of my days are upbeat and energy filled, life has a way of balancing bright days with dark ones. I tend to experience life this way but during triathlon training periods am motivated to move more quickly through the dark days so as not to impact training progress. After a high volume …
Reflections from Lake Placid Training Camp
I arrived at Lake Placid Ironman Training Camp early Friday morning to settle in and get ready for the afternoon 13 mile kickoff run. The group for the most part came to camp with their game faces on and the run was our first chance to shake off the long drive to Upstate NY. My …
My Wife Made Me Do It!
If your schedule is like mine you swim either very early in the morning before work or after work later in the evening. Finding any willing partner to swim in a cold lake is not always easy (nearly impossible) at 05:00 AM (totally impossible), so I end up most days going solo which used to …
Quassy Half Iron – A very good way to spend your Birthday
Most birthdays are marked by gift giving and celebration. Yesterday, Sunday, June 7th was not so different for me except I chose this year to compete in a 70.3 Half Ironman distance triathlon in Middlebury CT (this area is advertised as "The Alp's of Connecticut") the event is a 1.2 mile swim. 56 mile bike …
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If your an Extrovert – Bring the crowd with you
I think I have always thought of myself as an extrovert.. Most people believe that an extrovert is a person who is friendly and outgoing, which I do tend to lean towards. While that may be true, that is not the true meaning of extroversion. Basically, an extrovert is a person who is energized by …
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My race number is 666 ?? Really???
As I get ready for my 1st half of the season "Challenge Quassy" in CT. this coming weekend I am remember the moment last year when my race number caused my confidence to take a sudden downward turn at Quassy. I stepped through the pre-registration line last season to pick up my number and race …
Having the right coach makes a difference
There are all different types of coaches, there are head coaches, assistant coaches, strength coaches, player-development coaches, conditioning coaches, mind coaches and many others. If you are lucky you find the right coach to match the need at the point in time when that aspect of you needs direction. I say this because my need …
The making of a highlight
My 1st race is Challenge Quassy June 7th so for me getting into the open water is critical with 2 weeks left before gun time. Although I did a quick dip a week or two ago it doesn't count psychologically as a practice for race day. My training this year has been mostly alone due to time restrictions and …
What Holds Us Back?
I read somewhere in a blog ....when approaching any endurance event it isn't about who you think you are, but it is more about who you think your not. I am constantly amazed by my brother Marines and their determination to get it done...no matter what the obstacle.. Pictured here are two fine examples of this …
Up to Down East
To say that the coastal route from Newburyport to Maine is beautiful is an understatement. In a strange way the most beautiful are the natural scenes. The fishing boats at rest in the bay and the stacks of yellow and green lobster traps that line the docks. Today was a 100 mile day filled with …
Training Day Road Shows
The advantage we get from spending training days out on the road is the unexpected road shows. The Circle Museum by the side of the road in Austerlitz, New York, was a special surprise that made the time pass as I wandered along the NY & MA state lines. While on a long training day …
Rage against the device
When is having too much tech gear during training a bad idea? As a support manager in the computer industry I get that information is key to understanding where were and any change plus or minus that may have occurred. It can be a motivator if your improving and a downer if things don't match your expectations …
In a real pissy mood!
Ya that’s right, I’m Pissy! Not to be confused with a temper tantrum, I’d say the way I’m feeling right now is a few levels lower, but just as juvenile. I got this way because I did not want to go out for this weekends long 4+ hour bike ride on a cold, overcast and …
The Bow Legged Blogger 