Battling the runs...

....and no, I am not talking about where at mile 9 of a run and inside your lower intestines feel like the cast of Riverdance is performing, and you now can't be so certain that isnt sweat just running down the back of your legs.

Let me be clear, I have never been a fan of running. In fact before I started doing triathlons, it was probably in my top 5 least favorite things to do. Even now with how much running I have done, and the number of miles I have logged it still isn't exactly enjoyable, it has just become more tolerable. I will make no illusions that running a marathon has never been a goal of mine. Never once had I ever thought growing up, "Gee, I would like to cross that off my bucket list". And in fact if its wasn't for the Ironman, I probably would never do one. I am sure I could have always just said screw it, and let my first marathon be during the Ironman. But then of course I probably would have ended up in the fetal position around mile 130 of the 140.6 mile race sucking my thumb and needing my shorts changed.

But I digress....

Since running has never been a passion of mine, I find this is the one part of my training I struggle the most with when it comes to motivation. I have absolutely no problem getting up at 4am three days a week for my swim workouts. And I absolutely look forward to my 30-40 mile bikes rides. But running on the other hand, I struggle with it. There are days I can get up early and go knock out a 6 mile run before 8am, and feel incredible. And there are days when even the thought of running a mile makes me roll back over and want to go back to sleep.

Case in point, this morning I had scheduled a 8 mile run. Had the alarm set for 5:30, so I could be up and on the trail by 6, and be done with my run before 8. Needless to say, that little invention of the snooze has become my best friend, and my worst enemy all at the same time. As you probably can guess, I wasnt on the trail by 6. I was lucky to make it there by 8, and didnt get all 8 miles in.

As a side note, for all of you that don't know, I live in South Texas, so by 8am that sun is out and that temperature is rising pretty quickly. Which makes the motivation to grind out that run even less.

But I guess for now, this is my cross to bear. I will keep working at it. Keep trying to push myself to get up early and log the miles. Cause the last thing I want to do during my marathon and Ironman is battle the runs.....both kinds.

The journey begins...

....well actually the journey began a little over a year ago, but when I started I was not quite sure of what I was getting myself into, or the addiction that was going to materialize from it.

Let me give you just a brief little background:

- I used to be fat

- Now I am not as fat

Alright I know that doesn't explain too much so lets try this again:

-April 2010, weighing 281 pounds made a lifestyle change

-June 2011, weighed in at 180 pounds with bigger goals on the horizon. 

I am not going to bore you with the details, but diet and exercise(alot) was all it took to drop the weight of a small Chinese man,. No surgeries, no reality show, no supplements.

I am going to steal a quote from one of my good friends. I will use an alias as to protect his identity, so let just call him "Fisch". He once wrote "The second type of marathoners are doing so for a sense of dignity and accomplishment.  These are the guys and gals who spent most of their lives face down in a casserole dish filled with Cheetos, fudge, mayonnaise and Mountain Dew.  Then, one day the Second Chance Fairy came along and granted them the motivation to become obsessive fitness freaks" 

I guess that is what you could consider me. Now although I do triathlons instead of marathons, the basic principle is there. 

But that is not what this blog is about. This is about my (insane) journey to complete the World Toughest one day endurance event. The Ironman Triathlon. For those of you that don't know the Ironman is one badass race. It is the longest of the triathlon distances. 2.4 mile swim. 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. All back to back to back with no breaks. You have to complete everything in under 17 hours to be considered a official finisher. So you know, pretty much an average day for most people! 

Ever since I have completed my very first triathlon I have set my sites on the Ironman. I knew it was/is going to be a long tedious journey to say the least, but one I was committed to making. I have made some great strides in the last year, but I know I still have a LOT of work to do.

Ironman Texas 2013 is the goal

So this blog is your blog to. It will be anything from stories along the way to anything you want to hear. It will be a combination of humor, insight, and maybe even a touch of insanity. Its basically my tale of going from a fatass to a badass! 

So I guess it time for that next step. The last leg of the Ironman is running a full marathon. So I figured I better try my hand(or should I say legs) at one of those before I have to do it after swimming 2.4 miles, and riding 112 miles. I just found out this weekend my lottery number was selected for the Houston Marathon! So the coundown begins. 

So I guess I will fully fall into Fisch's second type of marathon runner when it is all said and done with. But lets just thank god I didn't fall into his category for the first type of marathoners. I will spare the details but let just say, "protein farts" and "pooping themselves" was referenced.