Try to follow the emotions in the video. 

Can you tell when we are nervous, anxious, focused, relieved, loving, silly, and happy?

Last weekend we celebrated Inbal’s half Israman.

From “i cant swim” to half Ironman in less then 6 month!…

Good luck with the London Marathon!

Tattoo... Cake... same-same

Running technique for dummies.. and by dummies I mean dummy… me.

I joined a long distance triathlon group called Zone 3*applause* and I have a new coach – Lior Zach-Maor *applause again*. Before Lior I was training with Sharone Aharone from Chicago but the distance took it’s toll.  Sharone is an amazing person and coach and he lead me to results beyond what I had imagined BUT I felt that I needed a local group that can push me and a coach that I could meet for a 10 ILS coffee and not a $1000 + 10 ILS coffee.  It just made more sence to search for someone local.  After Nina, my former riding friend and #1 triathlete in Israel, recommended Lior and after I saw the success of their team in the Israman, I understood that this was the group for me. 

To date, I participated in two group training sessions.  The first was a technique ride and the second was a track run.  Yesterday, at 5:45AM, I was on my way to Wingate for a track session.  Wingate is like Israel’s very own Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center… minus the Springs and minus the Colorado and minus most of the Olympics too;  It is a training center though, and it’s ours so we love it.

After arriving, I waited for the group to drizzle in and everyone began with a group warm up of about 4-5 laps.  I used to think that Nina shrinks when she runs because she kept getting smaller and smaller until she disappeared.  When I showed up at the end of the run, she was big again.  This time, since we were on the track and she was tired from the Ironman, I could run next to her and even talk (or listen which is what you do when you’re running next to Nina); she stayed the same size throughout the warmup. I guess I was wrong.

After the warmup people started taking off their shoes and socks.  Just like you, my first thought was that this could only mean one thing – a surprise foot massage for everyone! Think again… New socks and shoes for everyone?… Nope… sock transition training? .. not that either (neat idea though) . We ended up doing drills on the grass in our birthday feet.  I won’t get into detail but after some embarrassing coordination tests at a heart rate of about 183-185, my upper calves are freakin’ killing me.  Having said that, it was fun to run on the track with my new group.

Only one thing was missing, you know which wheel you are That’s alright though, we still have our swims and rides and , well , runs too.  Plus you have another wheel to keep you going.

Upcoming Events

Ein Gedi 21km – What to expect? I’m running according to heart rate in the lowest hottest place on earth so nothing earth shattering from me. Expect a good result from Tamir though – sub 1:50 for sure 

London training camp – I’ll be in London next week.  I’ll be in the 4 season which has access to virgin gym. See Link.  Since I’m studying there, I will wake up, do some training and then get cracking.  I do have one track session with the Barclays Running Club.  Stay tuned for photos and their track summary.

Miami / Orlando training camp – Tamir will be in a conference. He has a full training plan there which has to be coordinated around his work oblications – no smelly feet… I mean, no small feat.

Tzehala Training Camp – Raanan, don’t you go anywhere?

Possible Duathlon – I may participate in the Petach Tiqua (Chicago’s sister city – I know because I saw the flag in Chicago O’hare airport) duathlon with the one who gave me life (AKA Mommy).  Plus, I get to try out my new Zipp babies… once they are home with mamma …

Yea, you heard me. Don’t pretend you didn’t. Five years after birth is the last time this happened… but in a race, like in war, and like in the kiddie pool, with lack of a more appropriate phrase – You DO what you have to DO.

I did what I had to do … I, once again, swam biked and ran the half Ironman distance. The only difference is that instead of the comfy snuggles I got from Mickey Mouse in Disneyland during my first half Ironman, this time I was faced with the unforgiving winds and mountains of the desert. I’m always up for a challenge but there are tremendous differences between competing in the land where dreams come true to the land where Jesus grew.

Since anyone can write a “race review” where they split up the swim, bike, run and write how they felt, I will let you know of my experience through comparison with the Florida 70.3 which took place in Fort Wilderness, Disneyland.

Overall I had a good time but I can’t wait till Brazil for a nice, fun course. This was just a kind of challenge on the way but the real goal is still ahead.

Thanks for all the supporters – My parents, Tamir’s Aunt and Uncle, etc.

Friends, Family, and Fools!
Tamir, Raanan and I have completed the Israman 1/2 Ironman.  The complete recap of the race will come tomorrow but I wanted to give you some photos and commentary in the meanwhile.

Wetsuit fun – From left to right : My mom , Me , Tamir.

My parents came all the way down south to watch me race and woke up super early

Some wetsuite Lovin’

Stretchin….

Then, I decided to get my hair a little wet and a huge wave hit my face. It wasn’t on camera but this is a few seconds later.

The third wheel and all our glory.  A fourth wheel is peeking in from the back…. (Ravit, Raanan’s wife / Tamir’s sister / special energy cookie maker)
Raanan – WAKE UP!!

The fourth wheel close up.

Raanan and Ravit

After we left for the bike, my dad took advantage of the time he had to wait.
Our transition to run was on a mountain so there was nothing to do until the finish.

We all finished one by one (Results will be in the next post)

Another finishers kiss

And here we are as a team… sort of…

My coach , Sharone, came all the way from Chicago to cheer me on…

Exchanging war stories…

And Tamir can kind of look like David Duchovny

- Flights to Bangkok – CONFIRMED

- Flights to Samui – CONFIRMED

- Hotels Samui & Pangan – CONFIRMED

- Baby sitting – CONFIRMED

7 days to Israman, 9 days to sawadika!…

Lets get busy. It’s taper time until the 29th of January and that means one thing – Stop eating so much!

It also means something else; It means that it’s time to start thinking about what the I’m going to do during the race.

It’s time to contemplate the swim, bike and run.

It’s time to simulate the race in my head.

It’s time to prepare for the best and expect the worst.

It’s time to drink nuun’s until my kidneys reject regular water.

It’s time to stop regretting not buying that thingamajig that connects to the whatsit that makes you 5gr lighter and 1 second faster.

It’s time to chill… relax… and… MAKE LISTS!

Below is my Israman Half Ironman list.

Half IM Checklist (ISRAMAN 2010)

Swim

RACE CHIP!!!!

Bathing cap

Goggles

Wetsuit

Bike

Bike (Duh, but it has to be here for completness)

Helmet

Pump

Cycling Shoes

Cycling socks

Arm warmers

Long sleeve technical shirt / wind breaker – JIC

Leg warmers – JIC

Water Bottles

CO2 Cartriges

Repair kit

Extra tube/s

Trash bag to cover bike at night

Run

Shoes (Mizuno because there is no way I’m running down hill in the Newtons)

Socks

Running hat (Newtons hat. Gotta show off Newton somehow)

Extra socks

Nathans water holder

Wet nap! (I noticed that I sweat into my eyes and it BURNS. I need a wet nap before the descent)

Nutrition

Swim - 30 minutes before

4 Recovery pills

4 vo2 max pills

2 motivator pillsBike – One bottle with two scoops powder (TSC Power Cabs) – 260 cal

(I used to use Carbo Pro but it’s too big to bring to Israel. TSC has no flavour and the same calories and carbs as Carbo Pro. I think that it’s an exact copy)

One bottle with two scoops powder and nuun – 260 cal

Two clif bars – 480 cal

GU Gel just in case

Total Calories – 1000

4 Recover Pills, 4 Vo2 Max pills , 4 salt pils

Run – 3 Gels (One extra just in case)

4 Vo2 Max pills , 2 motivator pills just in case

Clothing

Triathlon suit

Flip flops

Shorts and t-shirt to change into

Compression socks for afterwards

Bike jacket – JIC

Long sleeve shirt for beginning of ride

Other

Flip (If it’s not on camera , it didn’t happen!)

Now lets see when I need what:

Before -

Anti Shafting lotion (Body Glide)

Sunscreen

Rubber bands

Marker

Electric tapes (For Gels)

Scissors (For electric tape)

Flash light (incase we need to get ready in the dark)

During -

Sunglasses

Race Belt

HRM – Heart Rate monitor and strap

Wet Naps

Pain relief pills – JIC

Needle & Bandaid (For Tamir to pop his blisters)

After -

Towel

Pain relief pills – JIC

Flip Flops

Wet naps

Hair band

Hair Brush

There you have.

My first list of many.

Any suggestions? Anything I forgot?

The description of this ride is being carefuly edited and puctuated by Raanan as we speak.

In the meantime, here is the video of our ride on Saturday. We rode 130km and then ran 45 minutes . Ba Ktana (In the small; no big deal)

We are all standing in the cold staring at the Red Sea with our untinted goggles and bright yellow bathing caps.  The Jordan flag peaks up from the other side of the water and three big red buoys stand between us and the other side. Under each yellow bathing cap is an anxious face awaiting the final and most anticipated triathlon of the season; the race which supersedes all others in its grandeur; the race where you are bewildered by the tropical waters, faced with the intense desert wind, and … well, you have to run too.

My friend turns to me and says – “That’s her – should I introduce you?”.  I decided to choose a competitor for this year’s race. I’ve never raced against a particular person.  I always raced against myself, but this year I chose one who I deemed worthy. “Yes, introduce me”.  She didn’t know it then, but she was being marked as a target.  5,4,3,2,1 and we were off. Very quickly, opponent raced ahead and I thought to myself “Well, that was a short lived dream gone to the sh**ter” but I plowed onward in the water.   My swim was disappointing… Even the tropical fish seemed to have a disappointed, wide eyed look on their faces as if to say “You dare swim in our waters at this pace? Have you seen my son, Nemo?”.  I quickly shake the thought and somehow finish the swim which gets me off to a bad start and serious disadvantage.

After a quick transition I’m faced with the unforgiving head wind of Kvish Haarava.  It’s the Queen K highway of Israel so to speak.  Soon, I notice that some women in the age group before me riding nearby and I’m keeping their pace.  They may have swum 5 minutes faster than me but I can hold my pace with them on the bike just fine.  In the distance I see opponent struggling with the wind.  This is my chance to pass her.  I creep up and without a word, go past and keep with the girls who were later going to take 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place in their respective category.  I passed them and they passed me until we were near the turn around point, they were a bit ahead.  I had passed opponent but the fight was not over yet. The gap that was formed during the swim has diminished and the goal has changed into creating an even larger gap between us.

Another quick transition and I was at the run. I took my GPS because I wanted to know how fast I was going.  This motivated me to keep a good pace and I kept wondering why I had never done this before.  Every once and a while, I would see Gisenu (Tamir) on the run but our encounters were brief.  We were both short of breath and each faced with our own personal goals.

Triathlons are one of those sports that make you wonder what monkeys think of humans.   We think of what monkeys do all the time (at least I do) but how often do they look at us and ponder what we do? The biggest difference between us and monkeys is that we wonder what they are thinking and wonder if they are wondering what we’re thinking but we don’t really know. I can get even more ambiguous if I have more time…

To cut a long story short, I passed opponent by 11 minutes (!!!) and got second in my age group.  There was a nice ceremony and I got yet another trophy for the collection.  Now back to reality and Ironman training. The very next day we rode up the Israman hills just to top off our race from the previous day.

Video From the climb in Eilat