Peter Vu's Ironman Blog - Vineman 7/31/10

Today was probably the worst and one of the best training days I had on the team. We were supposed to do a 6 hour brick this Saturday morning-60 mile bike and 12 mile run. However, I never finished my bike ride because I got 3 (yes, 3) flat tires on my ride today. I ran over something 18 miles into the bike and it screwed up my tire. Alex Chin came over to give me a hand with my first flat. After getting it fixed, I was a little mentally shaken up because I was having a strong ride up until then (19 mph pace). I forced myself to just not think about it and just make it to the 30 mile or halfway point. On my way back at mile 32, I got my second flat on the same front tire. This time, Andie and Ale stopped to help me out - giving me a spare tube and CO2 cartridges. Linda, who was SAG for today, and Efren also drove by to lend a hand. They showed me that my tread had a hole on it, so pumping up the tube might not help. We gave it a shot, but after biking 200 feet, I heard a "whoooosh"! Not cool. My tire was officially jacked. Linda eventually came over to pick me up and drive me back to our team stop at Ocean and San Vicente. I tried to not focus on what just had happened, telling myself that it was out of my control, but it bugged me that I couldn't get my full workout in. I still had to run 12 miles (2 loops of Amalfi), which I wasn't entirely excited for either. On my first loop, I was mentally going through the motions, taking more breaks than I usually do and dreading the long hills. I just wanted to be done already. Sometimes, when you push yourself to the limits, it can have negative consequences. It can be very hard on you, and you start doubting yourself and what you can accomplish.

Upon finishing my first loop, I just took a mental timeout. I reminded myself why I was training and how easy I have it. I'm training for an Ironman. An I-R-O-N-M-A-N. It's not supposed to be easy. All this adversity that I was facing today was what makes the Ironman so special; if you can conquer yourself, you can do anything! You are your worst enemy. You can do this, you just have to believe you can. The flat tires, tiring hills, extended pain, self-doubt, 90 degree temperatures are good training for me. You have no one else to rely on but yourself out there on the course and you just have to GET IT DONE...no excuses. There's a great Ironman motivation video on Youtube. It basically says that at the end of the day, you will know how you dealt with adversity out there on the course and you will remember it all your life.

Why do I have it easy? Because I'm not battling cancer like some of my honorees. I don't have any crazy injuries like some ppl on the team (i.e., stress fractures). I can afford to fundraise. I have the time to train for an Ironman. Most people say it's too hard to train for an Ironman. I am grateful to have this opportunity. It's a luxury. Yes, I have had to make a lot of sacrifices, but you only live once and sometimes you have to try the impossible - isn't that what makes life so amazing? Never complain. I'm not some amazing athlete. I'm a fairly normal person, but I set my heart on this goal and I believed I could do this. 

So here I am. Second loop - I sucked it up. I kept a good pace going up the hills, helped out a teammate and had a decent run down San Vicente. 12 miles in a couple hours - not amazing, but I'll take it.

I didn't do the full workout today, but I had a great workout. I battled myself, and I chose not to let my negativity get the better of me. It's the same with life, right?

Go Ironteam! (My teammates saved me on the bike today - they're awesome and wonderful people!)

I also got a 10 minute sports massage after. It was not a massage, but 10 minutes of pure pain..."Mike" just hammered my muscles and twisted/pressed in places I didn't know existed. As Efren usually says, "that sh$@ hurt". Indeed.

I think I bruised or pulled a muscle in my rib section this past weekend. I swam today with a slight piercing pain all throughout the workout. Can't stop. Won't Stop. As the coaches say, injuries are inevitable during this tough part of the training. You just have to pull through and deal with it.