As week eleven (of the 36-week training plan) ends and twelve begins, my appreciation grows of just how much of a mental challenge this Ironman thing is.

On Saturday, I participated in a charity event at Lifetime Fitness. Augie’s Quest, a fundraiser for ALS, (“Lou Gehrig’s Disease”), put on by the Lifetime Fitness Foundation. The Woodbury Lifetime had lots of activities as part of the event; a silent auction, cardio and core classes, and an endurance studio ride. I participated in the 4-hour endurance ride. Lifetime’s Group Fitness department lead the event with four instructors, one each hour, and a DJ. The instructors were great and the DJ was fun (a little loud at times, even for me) but was integral for survival during the four hour studio ride. This brings up a funny story. On Tuesday, earlier in the week, I rode my bike on the trainer in the basement (not brave enough to head outside quite yet). When I finished I came up for dinner, my daughter Alexandra asked, “So what did you see on your bike ride today, Dad?” With a the sweet sting of sarcasm in her voice. It makes a Dad so proud to see that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Anyway, during the endurance ride I got to practice my race-day nutrition strategy, magic beans, cliff bars, and water. There really isn’t any magic in those beans (Jelly Belly Sport Beans) but I like to think there is. As hour three progressed I developed a familiar pain in the ball of my feet, a pain, at times intensive enough to bring tears. I’ve tried a variety of things over the past couple of years (the Specialized Footbeds have helped the most) but the only thing that works is to stop, get off the bike, take off my shoes, and relax my feet. About 5 minutes does the trick, and then I’m ready to go again. I can only imagine at this point what that will be like come that Sunday in September. Oh yeah, and then, when I finally do finish the bike, a mere 26.2 mile run to massage my feet into submission. Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into?