More Flat is Good

4:37AM, that is. Early kickoff and great day in Tampa, FL yesterday. As you can see the early wakeups are not too much of a problem. I'm even taking photos, albeit not very exciting ones!

There is little that is like running around South Tampa before sunrise. Running along Bayshore Ave you get to see porpoises almost sleeping just feet from the sea wall. The wide sidewalk reaches for about 5 miles. Getting there from my airport hotel only takes about a 40 minute run. Check out the route here. I love Gmaps Pedometer. I live by it at home and on the road.

My big 17 miler (I didn't make it all the way to MacDill AFB) was easier than expected. Perhaps it was my new use of Gatorade endurance and the electrolyte tabs I tried for the first time. Or maybe it was just flat, flat, flat. Makes a big difference! I even followed my run with 18 holes of golf - riding of course...

Flat water

What a day. Got to the lake for an afternoon swim after work. Pancake flat water, 77 degrees air temp, and only one person visible on shore at the part of the lake I swim in. No motorboats allowed so I just swam back and forth at 200-250 yards a pop. Really felt some good rhythm by the end and learned that closing my eyes when I am starting to gasp really helps. A great day in Raleigh for training...followed by a tasty flounder dinner with the family out on the back patio!

Our Lake Placid House

As you can see from our rented family room we will be "livin' large" in Lake Placid before and after IM USA. How great is it that the rental companies cater to IM participants and fans by allowing Tuesday to Tuesday rentals on race week? Its just like when we rent a beach house in NC (sans ocean of course) - similar amenities and similar rates but dates built around the IM festivities.

This (our) living room is attached to a house that is on part of the bike course and about a mile from downtown and the run/swim courses. Hopefully I can host 10 or 12 of my family and friends for festivities and to scream at me on the course as I inevitably go through the ups and downs of a day of Ironman competition.

Falls Lake Training

Still working on the swimming. Thanks to 8 year old Travis for taking pictures of me in the water while he steered the "chase boat" that stays 10 yards away from me while I swim. Its great to have a paddle-savvy son to assist as I train.

I am comfortable in open water, no wetsuit, at about 250-500 yds. I have to get to 1500 by 10/8...with a wetsuit. Wow.