One Month To Go...Still Not Too Late!

Fellas,

You've read Dino's post. The BDB will not be easy. Overcoming the challenge is the reason we signed up for it. If we wanted to do something easy, we'd signed up for a walk-a-thon! Of course, even walking a 100 miles would be a challenge.

That said, I know a LOT of people in much worse shape than any of us who have conquered a century bike ride on less training than we've had and with less resolve than we have. Don't forget that having a closed race course, being able to draft, and having all the food and water we need available to us every few miles will make a HUGE difference. Barring any unforeseen physical or mechanical issues, we can ALL make it, albeit in different times and in different states of physical and mental fatigue. With a month to go before the big day, there is still a lot we can do to prepare.

I've suggested for months that we each choose a training program to follow, so once again I have copied the BDB 100 training program from the website for your convenience. You'll notice that the most you'll ever ride in a single day under this program is 65 miles. Just like with a marathon or Ironman training program, you only need to be able to go about 65-80% of the way in training to prove you can make it 100%. The caveat being that you need to do the other weekly miles along the way so that your legs and body and mind know what having 100 miles on them feels like. So, whether you use this program or continue with your own (as I will with my activetrainer.com workout), it's time for all of us to get some serious weekly mileage in, but doing it under a structured program so we don't get injured.

Men, I believe in all of us. We'll all be there to support, assist, and push each other the whole way. I know we can ALL make it ALL 100 miles. Start believing it but don't leave it to chance. Do the work. Get on the bike. If you can't get on the bike, get a run in, do lunges, do squats, strengthen those legs, do some core work. There is something you can do every day. And then on those rest days, REST! Don't do a damn thing! Do less than that. Lie on the couch. Be lazy. That's when the training is absorbed by the body.

http://www.bigdambridge.org/BDB_Events/Reg%20Forms/BDB%20100%20Train2.pdf

http://www.activetrainer.com

Please don't lose faith and courage. On my 37th birthday, I weighed 185 pounds, couldn't run a block down my street without gasping for air, I dipped tobacco, and I ate every triple burger that came my way (with the biggie fries and biggie drink). I was angry a lot and dissatisfied with where my life was and where it was headed. I had lost my confidence, my motivation, and my sense of purpose.

On this, my 39th birthday weekend, I weigh 165 pounds, my waist is a 31 after being 32 since high school, I biked 51 miles, ran 11 miles, swam 2000 meters, I haven't dipped in over a year, but I did have a great fried catfish with french fries this afternoon (hey, when you burn 1600 calories on your morning run, you can cheat a little). I'm a better husband and father and employee and I have this endurance lifestyle to thank for all of it. I'm in the best physical and mental shape of my life. Thank you, Mark, for pushing me to do that first 5k one year ago. I had no idea going into it that it would change my life, but several triathlons, an adventure race, an Ironman swim, a couple of 5k's, and two marathons later, I know what it's done for me...and my wife and kids will tell you how much happier we all are because of it.

One month and four days from today, God willing, we'll all be able to say that we biked 100 miles! Can you imagine that? Well, like they say, what you can imagine, you can do. You just have to take the steps to make it happen. What does that mean for you? If Dino can get his workouts in with his daily work commute, his work schedule, his kids' activities, his own activities, and all his responsibilities, then the rest of us have no excuses! I go to bed earlier and wake up at 4:15 am on some days. I also worked out an 8:30 am schedule with my boss, so I could get my swims in on Mon, Wed, and Fri. I bought an indoor trainer, so I could get my weekly rides in without having to leave the house and ride in the dark on unsafe streets in rush hour traffic. I know some of you have made your own sacrifices. There are a lot of days that I don't feel like training, but I never finish a workout and regret doing so. What can you do starting tomorrow to ensure you can get your training in?

One month will pass quickly and I can't wait to see all of you in Little Rock. But what I can't wait for most of all is toasting the completion of the race by all of us with all of you on the night of Sept. 27...and planning what our challenge will be for 2009!

Kia Kaha!

-Karl