Oppressive Heat.

Well, here in Florence it has gotten to that time of year where the heat is just insane.  

95+ degrees.

Coupled with the humidity, lack of proper training facilities and the ability to get water while running... I find it difficult to run these days.  In fact, I haven't been on the road running for nearly a week because of the heat.  The city and all the pavement just creates an oven... it's difficult to sleep at night as well.

Anyways...  we'll see if I can get a few more runs in before my stateside return in a week.  At least I know when I get back, i'll have all the proper gear and facilities at my fingertips.

Then commences the insane distance training...

Neglectful Nate.

So i've been slacking on posting here due to the fact i've been posting on the other site: 

PhillyTriGuys

Here is what you've missed....

1. Originally posted on June 4, 2008

Nate makes it official as well.

Despite the bleak status of my bank account, yesterday I finally registered for two of the final three races I intend to compete in this season.  So officially, the line up is this:

Aug 24: Livestrong 5k - Philadelphia, PA

Sept 21: Finger Lakes Triathlon - Canandaigua, New Y0rk

Oct 11: Under Armour Marathon - Baltimore, MD

I still have to register for the Reeds Lake Triathlon in Michigan on Sept 6, and somehow scramble for $500 to pay the registration for next years Lake Placid Ironman... but at least I have three events officially on the books.

2. Originally posted on June 7, 2008

Running on hold.

Due to a series of unfortunate events that ultimately led to me pulling my left hamstring in a soccer match, any running that I previously planned on doing prior to my return stateside will have to be postponed.

Awesome.

3. Originally posted on June 14, 2008

This Experience...

Trust me, it's paradise.

This is where the hungry come to feed.  For mine is a generation that circles the globe in search of something we haven't tried before.

So never refuse an invitation.

Never resist the unfamiliar.

Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience... and if it hurts, ya know what?  It's probably worth it.  You hope and you dream, but you never believe that something's gonna happen to you.  Not like it does in the movies.

But when it actually does... it lasts forever.

4.  Originally posted June 16, 2008

Progress!

Ah... what a difference a little rest, running shoes and an ipod makes!

Ran yesterday in actual running shoes, with an ipod, and not knackered after soccer training.  The difference was unreal!

Planned on doing 4 miles easy but that quickly changed as i took off like a bat our of hell and decided to do 2 miles fast.  Came through the first mile at 5:20, my fastest time in years, and finished the 2 miles in 11:17.  I've been able to run the mile itself in under 6 minutes since my early high school years, but i've always struggled to get my 2 mile time under 12.  Breakthrough!  Its nice to know that my 5k time is definitely under 20 minutes now!

The songs "Someday" by Flipsyde and "Remember the Name" by Fort Minor provided the PERFECT cadence.  Give it a whirl.

My goal for the Finger Lakes Triathlon is to do better than i did two years ago.  That being said... if i don't come in top 5 this year, i'll be disappointed. :)

Updates on life and scheduled races.

The immediate future for me is getting clearer and clearer now I reckon.  

I know now that i'll be here in Florence, Italy until June 30th, so that puts a big damper on my anticipated participation in the July 13th race in Geneva, New York.  Also, this delay in my return brings a new stress into my life: not knowing my double knee surgery time-frame and the subsequent recuperation time.  I know for a fact I will have to have it at some point, but if I have it in July it will be cutting it VERY close for the 5k in Philly.  I might have to WALK the race if my recuperation time isn't as quick as I hope!  Horrible... absolutely horrible.

I was also planning on doing the Chicago marathon with my friends Jenny and Paolo (both of whom I met here in Florence,) but I discovered yesterday that the race is closed.  So change in plans... Baltimore Marathon on October 11, 2008.

Anyways... that's all the new updates I have from this side.

Triathlon Blog #2: Go to it!

So I am posting on another site as well... along with two friends (Eric & Adam) who are coming to Canandaigua in September to participate in the Finger Lakes Triathlon.  Since they are new to the sport of triathlon, it is mostly documenting their progress, pains, hopes, fears, and life over the coming months until they cross that finish line.

For now, I will be more active on that site, as I haven't been able to start my training here in Italy.  So if you'd like to read some of my thoughts, inspiration and whatnot... head on over!

PhillyTriGuys

Thanks for the support!

New Race Added!

Thanks to my buddy in Philadelphia (cheers Eric,) I have registered for the LiveStrong Challenge in Philly on August 24, 2008.  Although it is only a 5k race, it will be a nice precursor to the two triathlons in the following month!

If you can, please donate to the cause.  It doesn't matter how much or how little, every cent is important.  You can donate by going to the following site:

Philly LiveStrong 5K.  Donate HERE!

Cheers to everyone!

And so it begins...

So.  This is the beginning of it all.  The start of probably the hardest and personally gratifying year of my life.  My road to becoming an Ironman.

When I finally come back stateside from my time here in Italy, the training begins... hopefully (pending knee surgery.)  At the moment, my return flight is scheduled for June 30th, but if things work out, my return may be as early as May 31st... 

LET THE PHYSICAL TORTURE BEGIN!!!

For the 2008 season, I have only 3 races (thus far) that I plan on completing:

- July 13, 2008 Geneva, New York : Musselman Triathlon  Sprint Distance (Only if I return on May 31st)

- September 6, 2008 Grand Rapids, Michigan : Reeds Lake Triathlon (.5 mile swim / 17.2 mile bike / 4.9 mile run)

- September 21, 2008 Canandaigua New York : Finger Lakes Triathlon (Sprint Distance)

Ironman Lake Placid 2009 here I come.