"LET'S DO THIS!!"

As I get ready for bed and finish up a few emails, I receive one from a Tatum Bags of Fun Teammate, Tim Justice. His 14 year old daughter Maddy is currently having a relapse of her Leukemia and is at Riley Children's Hospital fighting this awful disease. She is one of the many reasons that is important to support TBF. I am honored to be part of great group, supporting a great cause,

Two years ago today, cancer took my Aunt Joan from us. She battled breast cancer until she lost the fight. She was a Cancer Warrior! Today I think of all of the cancer warriors in my life, in particular, my Cousin Hedy McKay and friend Katie Sawin. They are Cancer Warriors too! For those that fought the fight and currently fighting the fight, I will keep training and working hard in their honor...as Maddy Justice says,

"Let's Do This!" IRONMAN 2013

Great Weekend!

Had a great weekend with the 6 Cools in town! Stayed up late catching up on Friday night, skipped my morning swim workout on Saturday but had a great workout at The Cycle Studio with Team Vanguard.

The boys went to the Monster Truck Jam at Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday night while the girls stayed home and relaxed. Evan thought it was pretty cool, but the loudness took him by surprise! I also found out that Doug Folk will be doing IM LOU also! I am pretty excited that Donny and Keisha will be coming in from Colorado to cheer us on!

This morning was pancake day! The McCool kids need to take some lessons from Evan about sleeping in! They like to get up early! It was a nice relaxing day at home with a nap! I got an hour run in outside tonight and it felt good to breathe some fresh air before the rain hit.

Patton and McCool Kidos!

Potty Training

The past two days have been good. The highlight of the week was Evan running laps around my bike and trainer while I ran on the treadmill. I think he is up to 5 "laps" in a row in between his potty breaks! He was giving me a nice minute rest to help him go "pee pee." ;-)

Looking forward to the 6Cools coming into town tonight for a visit!

Training

My official training plan started this week. It is a 30 week program. I have Mike Winn (IRONMAN FL Finisher) from Vanguard Endurance as my coach. I will be swimming, cycling and running six days a week, with one day off for rest. My program will be based off of heart rate training. This is the first time I have used heart rate for training and am looking forward to it. I read Don Fink's book "Be IronFit" and it seems to work from others that have used heart rate training. Friend and Lawrenceburg native, Doug Folk used heart rate training to become an IRONMAN in AZ this past fall. My training plan will be utilized with the Training Peaks website and program. I have a Garmin 910xt watch with heart rate monitor that will be uploaded into the site. I also have a Garmin footpod for my runs and a cadence sensor for my bike. Coach Winn will be able to view my progress and workouts that I completed from the uploads from my Garmin.

I am currently swimming with the Hamilton Southeastern Swim Club Masters program. Joel Elber is my coach. He is an Ohio State grad, all American swimmer and Olympic trials qualifier. We are currently working on speed and will transition into longer endurance workouts in April. Our workouts are generally 2500-3000 yards per workout. In a short time I have already taken 1:15 off my 500 yard time. Joel varies the workouts each day and they are challenging!. He uses an underwater camera connected to Tivo on a delay to critique my stroke and I am able to see it as well. He has helped improve my stroke drastically and its a work in progress.

My running has mainly been indoors on the treadmill in the basement. Due to the cold weather and conditions, I have opted to stay indoors the past week or so. I do get out when I can to get some running in. Watching sports on the big screen helps pass the time. I am currently running with Brooks Pure Cadence but think I will be going back to Newton's. I ran the Flying Pig on Newton Gravity's and liked them. I may try the Newton Distance this year.

My cycling has been mainly indoors as well on the trainer in the basement. I have been alternating Computrainer workouts on Saturdays at The Cycle Studio in Carmel and T3 Multisport in Indianapolis. The Computrainer is a really good workout. My teammates from Team Tatum along with Coach Winn help push me. The trainer is computer based and I ride my own bike. I am riding a 2011 Felt B16 carbon frame tri bike. It is an entry level tri bike but it works for me. I am planning on upgrading my wheel set in March. I plan on getting a 60 front and 90 rear from Flocycling. They will be lighter and more aerodynamic then my stock wheels.

I had been working out at Crossfit Indynorth 2-3 days a week as well. I need to get back in there as I can tell I have became weaker in some areas. Balancing family, work and workouts is the key!

My First Post!

I did it! I signed up for IRONMAN Louisville! I will be supporting Tatum's Bags of Fun, helping children with cancer along my journey. Please support my cause and click on the link on my blog. It is my goal to raise enough funds to purchase 10 Bags of Fun for pediatric cancer patients! Please check out Tatum's website also listed on my blog to read her amazing story and what she is doing with pediatric cancer! She is a true warrior!

 

Here is a little bit about me...

 

I have always enjoyed a challenge and physical activity. I grew up a river rat, swimming in the Ohio River. My love for running began back in high school. I ran my 1st half marathon in the spring of 2002, the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon with basically no training. I enjoyed it but life just kind of got in the way of my love for competing. In 2010 I decided it was time to get back to what I love and I ran the Kentucky Derby Mini-Marathon. I was not happy with my time, so I bought an entry into the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon the following Saturday! For me, two mini-marathons in 7 days was a little crazy, but I succeeded! In 2011 I set a goal to become an IRONMAN....it didn't happen, but I didn't give up. In 2012 I was able to run a marathon and completed two sprint triathlons and I am hooked! I will become an IRONMAN this year!

Now, the reason I've partnered with such a great organization to help inspire me along this journey is both of my children, Evan and Anniston.

Evan is almost 3 years old and is 110% all boy!! A few short weeks after his birth he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and would need to see a neuro surgeon at Riley Children's Hospital. We walked in to the hospital and reality hit seeing every parents worst nightmare, sick children. What any parent wouldn't do to trade places with their child. After a year of monitoring we were released with news that Evan is healthy and happy!

Anniston was born this past September. As we are packing our things to leave the hospital and head home as a family of four we learned that she has three ventricular septal defects. She is currently seeing a cardiologist at Riley. Reports are looking and showing these holes are healing on their own. With 2 Riley babies in our house and positive outcomes unfolding before us, we are truly counting our blessings.

What Tatum's Bags of Fun provides to children with cancer is hope and tangible items to help get them through the long, tough, mental and physicall chemo and radiation treatments. I will push myself mentally and physically to becoming an IRONMAN while swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles and running 26.2 miles in their honor by raising funds to provide them with "Bags of Fun" so they can Be Strong and Stay Strong as they win the fight against cancer!

With the support of my wife Nickole, my two children Evan & Anniston, family and friends, I WILL BECOME AN IRONMAN! Please encourage me along my journey...with a donation and a few words of encouragement, it will help me become an IRONMAN in 2013 while helping kids with cancer!

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13