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 …
Continue reading Quassy Half Iron – A very good way to spend your Birthday
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 …
Continue reading If your an Extrovert – Bring the crowd with you
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 …
Demons: Meeting Them and Beating Them
Fighting Bulldogs - From Paris Island to the finish line. Preparing to meet your Demons With three months left before my Ironman event I find myself in daily conversation with two demons. One is purely a conversation about dialing back; easing back or settling in on the pace and the other is pushing past wanting to stop …
Riding with a Wing Man
Yes, there are days when it is nice to break out for a roll on your bike, free with no one but your own thoughts to accompany you... but let me tell you on those long 70+ mile, 4 hours or more weekenders there is nothing like riding with a good wing man. Today's ride …
Running in the State of Distain
This is our yellow lab, LooLoo who had been my loyal running partner up to the start of this year's Ironman training. My runs are too long for her now and I'm uncomfortable for anything beyond 5 or 6 miles for her. She is enjoys an early morning run through the State Park and especially loves diving in the ponds, …
New Watch – Data Anyone?
Just received a Garmin 920XT this week and took it out for a run. I got a ton of data from the Garmin but did not know how the data related to me specifically. Listed below are some interesting comments from Coach Sue about the initial data output: OOOH, fun-- the 920XT!! First off, nice 10-- …
Running under a Honey Moon
It's 05:30 on a cold dark 23 degree March (feels like 10) morning in New England. If that isn't enough to make it sound inviting the 15-20 mile an hour winds, snow pack and black ice make this mornings run a Epic battle Man vs Elements... Started out the door this morning red blinkers flashing, neon …
Pearls of Coach Wisdom
Swimming - 3/4/2015 (After submitting a swim data spreadsheet) I have always noticed you have a very consistent repeatable pace, you don't fade much, if at all-- your fast pieces are more variable, which I feel like is an artifact of thinking-- the first fast swim, you just get after it, then I'm guessing you …
