#ironmanwaco

[behardonyourself]

First run carrying the American flag in the books! Check out the vid! I am the Gold Star Initiative rep for both Ironman Waco and Waco 70.3 on consecutive days. I will be carrying an American flag on both runs and will be presenting them to Gold Star families at the finish line. If you’re able to donate to my IMF/GSI fundraising effort, please check out the link in my bio. #ironman #ironmanwaco #goldstarfamilies #goldstar #swimbikerun #triathlon #triathlete #training #fitness #neverforget (at Krugerville, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf97ztnvrTf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jeldyap]

IRONMAN WACO 2022 Swim Leg (2.4 miles = 3.8 km) So, 27 days after ironman maryland, here i am again about to toe the line of another ironman full distance event. My nerves are calm and I am a bit confident this time on the swim cause i have my trusted @blueseventy wetsuit. Why? Because the bouyancy of this suit is way higher thatn other wetsuits i have ever tried. So, i know i will float in fresh water. The river was dark and choppy. I also noticed that the river has this small waves that can barely be noticed but you will know that its there because you are being propelled to another direction. I found myself going to different directions. So, i swam more than what i was supposed to. My total distance was 4918 yards or 4.49 km or 2.79 miles. 🤣🤣 There were many kayaks, on the river. I applaud the waco sports commision for ensuring the safety of the athletes. My total swim time was 1 hour and 44 mins. So, this is my longest swim by far and my fastest at that distance. @blueseventy @ironmantri @vinfast_racing #allfortheswim #blueseventy #blueseventyracing #imwaco #ironman #ironmantriathlon #ironmanwaco #triathlete #triathlon #swim #swimbikerun #openwater #vinfast (at Waco, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj4LvZQLMDu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[behardonyourself]

It is race week! 7 days to go. An Ironman sucks. So why not do a 70.3 the next day? I am always looking for the next challenge, and this one is going to be a great test. #ironman #imwaco #ironmanwaco #waco70.3 #swimbikerun #endurance #mentalstrength #motivation #behardonyourself #dbap https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjc_XIwL2c_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[behardonyourself]

The Wildest Month

Although I’ve been in the midst of training for Ironman Waco and Waco 70.3, I haven’t allowed myself to shy away from challenges. In fact, I decided to test myself more over a one month period mere weeks out of my back to back races.

It all started on August 8th, 2022.  I was, quite frankly, bored with the regular progressive training of Ironman.  So, I decided to push it and set out to run a marathon in peak, August in Texas heat of 111 degrees.

At the marathon mark, I was feeling great, and thought “why not go 5 more miles and hit a 50km?” and after just 3 hours and 55 minutes, I finished 31.1 miles.

While I was proud of what I had done (this was the furthest that I had run in nearly two years), the thought was in my mind: What have I been leaving on the table?

That haunting idea lingered in my head for a few days - until that following Sunday.  I decided that I needed to really test myself and run 100 miles.  No crowds, no medals, no trophies - just me and Texas.  

So on August 18, I woke up at 2:30am and set out.

I actually Live-Tweeted it.

Through Texas heat, torrential downpour, excruciating blisters, chaffing, a broken foot and a lot of suffering, I kept my commitment to myself and finished the 100 miles in 25 hours (the first 76.5 miles took only 15 hours - and then I took my shoes off - the last 23.5 took 10 hours).  

Fortunately, my friends Chris and Brian showed up to help get me through those last excruciating miles.

While my feet were decimated, I was happy to have finally put myself into the crucible once more and force myself to push beyond my known capabilities.

But it still wasn’t enough.

Ten days later, I though to myself “Why don’t I just do an Ironman as well?”

And just 13 days after the 100 mile run on August 31st, I was at the pool at 5am, ready to do a self-staffed full Ironman.  Except I swam 3.6 miles instead of just 2.4.  Due to storms, I was forced to do the ride on my indoor bike trainer.  I had forgotten that the AC repair guy was coming that day, so there I was, 6 hours on the bike trainer, upstairs in my house where the thermostat read 91 degrees (which is like 200 outside).  

Shortly into the 26.2 mile run I realized how terrible of an idea this was and how bad my feet were busted, but I pushed on.  Even with oozing blisters and throbbing feet, I still finished the marathon portion in 4 hours.  

I also Live-Tweeted the Ironman as well.

So a 100 mile run and an Ironman+ in 13 days.  Considering that less than 4 years ago I couldn’t run 1/4 of a mile, you’d think I’d be satisfied.  

Not quite.

After about a week and a half, I was reading through Twitter and noticed how nearly every person on Fitness Twitter pretends to live like a month.  Actually, they make it seem like it’s required to do anything substantial.

Well, I’m a bit of a fuck up, so I began to wonder how degenerate I could be and still do something physically exerting.  That’s when I hatched the idea to run a marathon and simultaneously drink at least one case (24) of beer.  

Oh, and I live tweeted the disaster on September 13th.

While it was obviously one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done, I did manage to drink over 30 beers and run a marathon.  While I don’t remember much of it, I think I proved the point that fitness doesn’t require you to live like a saint or be perfect.  

If I didn’t get that point across, I still had a lot of fucking fun.

Now, here I am 17 days out of Waco, where I’ll be doing the full and half Ironman on consecutive days as the Gold Star Initiative representative, where I’ll be carrying full sized American flags on the run portions of each race to give to families of fallen military members at each respective finish line.

After that?  I don’t know for sure.  But I do know this - I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what is possible for me, and I know that if I can do some of these things, absolutely anyone can.  We are capable of more than we know.

Keep moving forward, gang.

[behardonyourself]

3600 yards in the pool earlier Slow 8 miles on the road done . Countdown to Ironman Waco + Waco 70.3 (consecutive days) . T Minus 26 days . I am the Gold Star Initiative representative for both races and will be carrying a full size American 🇺🇸 Flag on both run portions to present it to a family of military fallen at each finish line. . Details in the link on my bio! #endurance #ironman #ironmanwaco #waco70.3 #swimbikerun #swimmer #cycling #running #run #runners #fitness #motivation #training #hybridathlete #keephammering #keepmovingforward https://www.instagram.com/p/Cis-m3GP8Qo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[behardonyourself]

Next Challenge?

Happy Friday, Y’all.

I’m going to cut to the chase - I’m strongly considering the idea of racing in both Ironman Waco and Waco 70.3 on October 15, 16th of this year.  You don’t often get the chance to do both races back to back, so I want to capitalize.  

I plan on making this decision soon, and will definitely keep you posted.