Am I REALLY that impatient?

I know I can get a little antsy when waiting for things to materialize and finally come about. This applies in a number of things going on in my life right now. First, let me tell you about the reason that I was thinking about writing this post. Rankings.

Yes that's right, anyone who knows me, knows I am a numbers guy through and through. Take the numbers of races that I competed in this year and I was able to accurately predict how I would do in some, almost down to the minute. (case in point - Timberman 2006. Two weeks before the race, I said I think I can go a 4:40 - ended up going a 4:43 which was a 10 minute PR from 2005)

Anyway, the rankings.... they haven't come out yet for the Ford Ironman Florida race and it's been like 6 weeks since the race and I'm getting a little anxious about them. Not that they are going to be bad for me, but I'm anxious to see how I get ranked for them. Most races that I do are small local triathlons with 50-250 people in them and this was the first tri that I have done with 2000+ people in it. The small tri's get ranked on a base of 83, or 90 and the bigger the races are, the higher the potential rankings could be. They go up to 95 and 98. Ironman will be ranked on a 98 scale for sure (using the old ranking system logistics of course- now with these newfangled "pace-setters" it kind of throws a monkey wrench in the equation.)

So, my national ranking right now without IMFL in it is an 88.3964. Last year I was around an 82 or something, but this past winter, I busted my ass on the bike and actually LEARNED how to ride fast and bought a new cervelo P2C and was able to maintain a speed of over 20mph for any ride. (including IMFL) :) So with a little bit of work, I vastly improved my ranking...to what, I am still not sure of. I think the top 5% of the age group nationally get the honor of being named an All-American and the top 10% get Honorable Mention. I think I am right at the cusp of being in the top ten percent in my age group in the nation, but I'm not sure. Last year HM honors stopped at 87 or 88 points when ranked nationally so I'm secretly hoping that IMFL catapults me into Honorable Mention status. It would be cool.

Regionally, I am ranked #1 in the 20-24 age group for the Northeast Region. I am a full 2 points above the second place dude. I'm hoping that bodes well for the national rankings. The thing is there are not as many LARGER races in this part of the country as there are in other parts. (like Memphis in May, Vineman, Wildflower, any races near Boulder, CO) I feel like if I was in another part of the country, I would have a more accurate depiction of how I was ranked.

So, I'm antsy to wait for the rankings. I'm also antsy for x-mas. I mean, who isn't antsy to get stuff they have secretly wanted all year long, but never had the scratch to afford? Come on!!! I'm like a little kid...seriously. If you leave presents around me long enough, I'll shake them and try to unwrap them when you aren't looking! :) Bad I know, but I get excited :)

I'm also antsy to go rock climbing again, but my fingers are getting a little torn up (you just don't get callouses on the fingertips from triathlon) and my arms and shoulders are massively sore....However, I kinda like bouldering, the technique is fun to learn and it's challenging enough for me, so I like it. So, being that it is 12 days left till Christmas, I'll leave you all till next time. Don't unwrap too many presents and I hope everyone gets what they've wanted. (for me, it's rankings....oooh and a nice pair of Zipp 808's....hahahha yeah right!) Cheers.

Need some motivation?

This is an amazing video about Ironman that you should definitely check out. It's about 2 minutes long, but well worth it...

Off-season cross training?

So I figured that December would be a good time to put down the gallon of ice cream and get my lethargic ass off the couch and begin training a little for next triathlon season. It's been a month and three days since IRONMAN Florida and quite honestly, I haven't done much :)

I can say with a straight face that I haven't been into a pool/ocean/lake or rather touched water with the intent of swimming in it since the race. Not that I don't like swimming, I think I am one of the sole random triathletes that actually LIKES getting into the water and hammering the shit out of my arms and legs for a workout. Masochistic I know, but aren't we all? I have nothing against swimming and once the season draws nearer I will have no problem with geting back in the water. No big deal, I like the solace and the "me-time". But since Florida, I haven't been in the water, just had no desire to go to a pool and do laps. I might next week, we'll see. Maybe I'll start up organizing those Hammerfest Mile Swims again. Afterall, I hear they are kind of a big deal.

So, this week with the start of December I think it is about time to put down the beer bottles and being getting myself onto a schedule of doing at least SOMETHING every other day (if not at least 5 times a week). I ran several times but it has turned awfully COLD lately and the snow is finally starting to stick around again...and you all know how much I love snow

But on Monday this past week, two buddies of mine convinced me to cross train in an unusual manner. Not that it unusual for me to rock climb (I own my own harness, shoes, rope and chalk bag) but unusual for me to consider this a workout. As my last few years have had workouts of just running, swimming or biking. We climbed on Monday and let me tell you, my forearms are still in a WORLD of hurt... I haven't climbed in 2+ years and it was rough.

I'm not a graceful climber and I'm sure I could learn a lot of technique. I know I tend to "muscle" my way up the wall or boulder, and my lats, forearms, trapezius and tons of other little musles paid the price. We all got a membership to the Red Barn at the RIT campus. Seriously, it's a barn that they have turned into a climbing gym. It's awesome in there and right now even though I can only get up 2 and a half routes of the hundreds they have in there, I still have a blast. I'm sure it sill become easier.

It's kind of cool to be able to cover 140.6 miles in an ironman triathlon and that's do-able, but being able to climb up a 10 foot wall to the ceiling above crash pads using only the rocks with while tape to the side of them seems almost impossible. Amazing how something new kicks your ass, I love it. I just hope my arms and back can recover in time to do it again on Friday. I'm using it as a strength training exercise for Ironman.

But don't worry, I'll begin fully training 6 days a week come January in preparation for IRONMAN USA. But for the holidays, I suppose I can sneak in a few last Guiness and random beers and shots and enjoy my time at the rock gym. In January, I guess it will be time to shape up. Cheers