THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

Greetings. Race season is upon us Ohio triathletes and its great to see some folks getting to finally hit the water, the bike and the trails.. Finished a very strong week of training. 6 hours, 30 minutes of running, swimming, rowing, and a little biking. 2 upper body sessions. One leg workout. In the week, the somewhat innovative Pilates Sandwich. See previous Post. I have one more week of similar distances and then I will taper for theSpirit of Morgantown Half Ironman. See the pretty college town. The football stadium. How serene!!!! I thought as much last summer when I arrived to compete in the Half Iron. But I was somewhat taken aback (my bad for not checking the run course) when I came upon the Devil himself. Actually its Devils Hill. A ridiculous incline devilishly placed that Half Iron racers had to tackle twice. Civil engineers can do all their theories and toss about angle percentages... (Here I am, an unsuspecting plodder in lap #1 of the run course) I just know that the hill made my right hamstring cry, caused me to call out for my Mommy!! .But worst part was some dude dressed as the Devil Himself..yelling as we sputtered up the hill. Devils Hill took a big chunk out of my morale and my estimate of a time in the lower 6 hours range, soon ballooned to a time of 6:50. I was not proud of that. My Half Iron pr is 5:43, although I admit I was 49....six years ago.


So, as I look ahead to the return, I choose to be proactive and hence, that is why I trudged to the Euclid Creek Reservation Saturday. It was hot..84 degrees, but in the upper picnic area is a concrete roadway, that goes up to Georgetown. Straight up. In honor of the slanted topography, I'll use italics!!!! The incline is about as wicked as Morgantown. although I don't have actual figures. Its shady, but its daunting. The Plan. 10 sprints up the hill to a distance approx 200 yards up. Turn around, jog easy down...repeat. Then 10 more sprints of 30 seconds up the hill..jog easy down and repeat. 20 total trips. I had my cooler with lots of water and Gatorade. I wanted to puke. Seriously. That was my goal. Push myself as hard as I could and maybe a little badge of honor would result. My effort was as strong as I can ever remember. I did all 20 sprints.. Drank lots of fluids..sweated buckets and all the while, I was thinking of Devils Hill.


TRIGUYJT
Devils Hill.. I"m coming for yah...this step is for you, bro!!!!!!!
TRIGUYJT ALTER EGO
Easy buddy. You don't have to work so hard. Devils Hill is just that...a hill!
TRIGUYJT
Stuff it, alter ego!!!!


I felt real good as I put that workout in the book. I can't guarantee that Devils Hill won't bite me again..but at least I will go in, eyes wide open. Okay, back to straight up and down letters!! Ohh yeah..I did not up-chuck


PROPS TO PEEPS

Claude Holland is one of the classiest high school coaches around. His Cleveland Heights Tigers won the State Div 1 Track Title Saturday. Congrats.


Thats Emily Infeld of Cleveland Heights Beaumont. She finished her career as one of Ohio best middle distance runners ever, as her team, coached by Jim Emery won another state girls title. Props to her and the rest of the team. Thanks to the Plain Dealer for the photos.



Been dreaming up different training routines and will soon drop those in this blog. I got a little inspiration on this front from Youngstowns own Kelly Pavlik, the boxing champ. He went through this Ironman Workout in Y-Town and the Youngstown Vindicator posted it on their sight. Click here for the Video. Ohh last night, he won his fight and remains one of the best stories in boxing.

Enjoy your training and racing. Lifes a blast!!!