IMPORTANT UPDATE & NOTICE

Greetings,

Having achieved my original objective of completing the full Ironman triathlon, and eight months later, completing the ULTRAMAN, I have learned that I need big goals to keep me from slipping into complacency. It's just how I am wired.

Therefore, I am focusing on much longer events, such as Marathon des Sables (see below post) and ULTRAMAN. I will also be seeking some 50 - 100 mile trail running events and possibly even some extreme cycling events such as Furnace Creek 508.

Training and planning for these longer events will require far more focus and time than in the past. Regrettably, I simply cannot commit the time required to constantly update this blog. However, for those of you who have similar aspirations, please take your time to review the previous posts for a detailed review of what was required to achieve my Ironman dream.

Now the good news. Sort of.

I will be micro blogging, and doing so quite regularly, on Twitter. My user name is "johncallos" and you also may find me by searching for Iron Ambition.

I intend to be recording daily workouts and other "lessons learned" including tips and product reviews.

Finally, as I returned to health and vitality during this pursuit, my interests have expanded to new areas such as diet, nutrition, raw food diets, vegan diets, vegetarian diets, live foods and other areas. I will be micro blogging about these areas as well.

See you on Twitter!

Marathon Des Sables

"The World's Toughest Footrace."

At least that is how it is billed. And that is how it got my attention.

Seven days in the Sahara Desert of Northern Africa. Running with all of our personal effects on our backs, everything except for water and a tent.

151 Miles. The tallest Sand Dunes in Northern Africa. Up to 55 miles in a single day. Water is rationed to about 9 liters per day. If you run out, tough luck. There are no aid stations in the Sahara. All in all, it sounds like quite an adventure. And certainly one that got me motivated to start training in earnest again following my broken foot in the ULTRAMAN.

I have been promised a spot, but have not yet received written confirmation; I remain hopeful. The race starts around April 3 and goes through April 10th, 2o1o.

For many people the race sounds insane. Just crazy. And maybe it is. But I have found that Ironman is like a gateway drug...it only leaves you wanting for more. For a more profound and more challenging experience.

I know that I am not built for speed at my age, but what I lack in fast-twitch muscles, I seem to have in drive and the desire to accomplish the seemingly improbable. Of course this is a tough and crazy event. No doubt about it and I will not try to justify it, because I simply cannot.

I know that I desperately want to (safely) test my limits, and I do believe that by participating in this event with the goal simply to finish, not to race, that it can be a safe event.

The only thing that caused me to reflect a bit was the race insurance which claims to cover, "corpse repatriation to the home country." YIIKES!! That is the first time I have ever seen that in a race waiver! But since I have no intention whatsoever to red line it, to push to the absolute limit, I do not believe that I will be placing myself at extreme risk.

Yes it is the Sahara Desert. Yes, the average temperatures can reach 120 degrees. Yes it is a long way from home and we are required to carry emergency flares and anti-venom and suction kits for both scorpion and snake attacks/bites. But these are very rare occurrences.

The key risks appear to be dehydration, heat exhaustion/heat stroke and severe blistering of the feet. I believe that I am quite experienced and knowledgeable in the area of race nutrition, hydration and electrolyte replacement. But I will readily acknowledge that I have had some real blistering problems and other feet problems. This will be my greatest challenge: keeping my feet in the best possible condition, under these extreme conditions.

More to follow soon.

ULTRAMAN Support

Darwin Holt, me and Barbi Brochu at the start of the 52.4-mile double marathon, the third day of ULTRAMAN Canada. Barbi set a new world record for the 6.2 mile swim and shattered the prior women's record for the overall event. And Darwin is one of only a handful of athletes in the world who has completed the ULTRAMAN event in both Canada and the World Championship ULTRAMAN in Hawaii!


In March 2009, the reality of the daunting task of training for the ULTRAMAN hit me hard. Reviewing the credentials of those athletes who had been invited to compete at ULTRAMAN was incredibly intimidating because they had achieved so much and many were literally world-class athletes. I seriously doubted my ability to complete this event.

Both Darwin and Barbi contacted me completely out of the blue and were very encouraging from the start. These two heroes are responsible for me toeing the line at ULTRAMAN more than anyone else, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

In April, I nearly gave up this crazy ULTRAMAN dream altogether, but Darwin pulled me back. I had just completed the CA Ironman 70.3 and had a truly miserable day. The worst ever. I could barely complete the event, and in less four months, I would have to go 4.5 times that distance for ULTRAMAN. I sent Darwin an email and said, "Forget it. NO way I can do ULTRAMAN, I cannot even do this 70.3 event without nearly dying."

Three minutes later, the phone rings with a gentle soothing Canadian telling me that I CAN and that I WILL complete ULTRAMAN.

Darwin believed in me when I did not believe in myself. He helped me improve my confidence and then set out to custom-design a training regime like none other. In fact there are no training plans available anywhere on what or how to train for ULTRAMAN, so Darwin built mine from his own experience and his extensive ultra endurance background. We exchanged perhaps hundreds of emails and he got me ready both physically and mentally for the challenge.

But I saw another side of Darwin in the last 1.5 miles of ULTRAMAN.

I had severely hurt my foot at mile number 7 of the run and had 45 more miles to go. I believed that the foot was broken. The pain was excruciating. Every step it got worse and worse. But strangely, it was less painful to jog slowly than it was to walk. So I kept at it, but over time it became unbearable and reached a crescendo just before the finish line.

I lost the will to fight any more. I cannot explain it, but I did give up. I just could not take it anymore. By favoring the other foot, my bio-mechanics were all screwed up for 45 miles. This caused severe hip pain in the other leg. I was a mess and in extreme pain.

Out of nowhere, Darwin shows up.

He was calm at first, but that didn't last long. He would not hear of my complaints, he would not tolerate my yelps, my whincing, my grunts or my crying. None of that mattered now.

All that mattered was that he get me across that line under my own power.

He yelled at me. He was extremely serious. The nice, soothing, reassuring, calming influence and voice was gone. He shook me to the core by raising his voice and somehow shook me out of my stupor of pain to regain my focus. Miraculously, we crossed the line together, with literally just minutes to spare...I BARELY made the 12-hour cutoff and I owe that final push and final finish to Darwin.

My sincere thanks to Darwin and Barbi for pushing me and encouraging me. While I owe my ULTRAMAN start to them both, I owe my ULTRAMAN finish to Darwin. He got me over the line when I had lost my will and my fight to continue.

ULTRAMAN SUCCESS

My incredible crew and I as we cross the finish line at the third day and conclusion of ULTRAMAN Canada. (click on photo)


Crossing the line are: My great friend and Crew Chief Kelvin Shields, my terrific son Connor, me, Darwin Holt - the patient and selfless hero that guided and coached me from the dream to an ULTRAMAN finish, and finally, my indefatigable nephew Ryan Weber. Not shown, but hugely instrumental in my finish, was my kayaker and outstanding swim pacer Marcel Allaire. Without this group of men, there would have been no possibility that I would have ever finished this 3-Day test of endurance. This should really be billed as a team-sport because it really takes a team to get the athletes through so much during the three days.

Day 1: 6.2 mile swim followed by a 90 mile bike
Day 2: 170 miles on the bike
Day 3: 52.4 mile double marathon run

It is claimed that over 50,000 people complete an Ironman Triathlon each year, and it was my dream to be one of those finishers; I'm still proud of that milestone. However, fewer than 60 people in the world will finish an ULTRAMAN under the cutoff times in any given year. That makes this event very special.

More than a "race" ULTRAMAN is an event that highlights the Hawaiian values of Aloha, Ohana and Kokua. Aloha means hello and goodbye. But it is so much more than that. Anyone who has stayed in the Islands understands instantly the friendly spirit, the easy way and the "feeling" of Aloha. Ohana means family, extended family or any group with a common bond, something that is very clearly evident at ULTRAMAN; it is a brotherhood for life. Kokua relates to generosity and to selfless giving, something that is critical from the crews in order for the athletes to complete the event. It also means that athletes are supportive of one another and generous in their encouragement, even to last place finishers like me!

There will be much more to say about ULTRAMAN, as I am still trying to process what I have just done. But one thing is clear: There is no possible way I could have completed this event without the Ohana, Kokua and Aloha of my ULTRAMAN family and especially from my incredible crew and Darwin Holt's patient, calming influence over these past six months while I was very worried about ever finishing.

On paper, there was no possible way for me to finish the 170 mile bike event under the 12-hour cutoff. I had never ridden that far or that fast for that long; never. In fact, it wasn't even close. But somehow, with the help of my crew and Darwin's belief and encouragement, we pulled off a miracle on Day 2 which kept this event, and my ultimate finish, alive.

Thanks to all of my new ULTRAMAN Ohana and to my incredible crew. Thanks a million times over!

Aloha.

Blue Canyon 38-Mile Ultra Run

This is the typical view we faced when looking down into the canyons and the distant mountain peaks we'd be climbing in the inaugural Blue Canyon Ultra Endurance Run in the Santa Ynez mountains in the Santa Barbara back country.

This was by far, the toughest event of my short ultra endurance career. Many times I felt like just turning around and quitting. What was supposed to be a 50K/31 mile event was actually a 34 mile event, and in my case, was much closer to 40 miles due to inadequately-marked trails (or more likely, my ignorance at following trail markers). The event was made even a bit more challenging in that I had ridden my bike the 110 miles from Long Beach to Carpinteria just the day before.

The race was difficult due to the extreme elevation gains as well as the overgrown single-track trails that were heavily-laden with Poison Oak. It was extremely difficult to see the trail that we were actually running on, so foot placement was extremely technical in about 5 - 8 miles of the race.

But there was no denying that this was a tremendous venue and incredibly beautiful back country that few people have ever witnessed first hand.

So I was ready to go at the start line, not really knowing what to expect, but as usual, I was ready for anything and everything that could come my way (it's the Eagle Scout in me...Always be Prepared!). Immediately off the starting line we started going uphill and I noticed that my calves were really burning within the first 10 minutes or so. I looked down at my Garmin 305 and noticed that we were running at a very fast clip, and uphill to boot. At that point I pulled over and let the faster runners go right on by. I still had at least 32 miles to go.

Within the first five miles or so, a group of us missed a hard-left turn off the fire road onto a single track trail. Instead, we blindly followed one another up a very steep section of fire road for at least 1.25 - 1.75 miles. We were turned around toward the top of the hill and given the bad news. It would not have been so tough to take, but for the fact that it was ALL uphill.

We found our way to the single track trail and I was shocked at how overgrown it was. If not for the markers placed by the Race Director and his crew, we may not have been able to find our way. There were spots where we absolutely could not see the "trail" we were supposed to be running on because the brush was so overgrown.

To my great fortune, a very experienced and accomplished trail runner of national renown gave me plenty of tips and advice along the trail. She was pacing out her day to do the 50 mile event and I was only doing the 50K so we were somewhat evenly paced. Sheri Okamoto and I ultimately ended up running together for close to 10 hours that day. There were MANY times when I told her to just run ahead and not hold back for me, and there were other times when she talked me out of dropping out and of declining the two invitations to hop a ride back with the other runners who had called it a day at the half-way point.

I'm grateful that Sheri encouraged me to stick with this event, even though it was really a very tough, long day. It took me 11 hours and 10 minutes of running, walking, jogging and bush-whacking to finish that event. Four days later, I can still hardly walk!

But overall, it was a beautiful location and a great confidence booster, one that I really needed.

I have two big events coming up and I needed a test to monitor my progress. Blue Canyon was that test.

Darwin Holt has so graciously offered me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be his pacer for the last 38 miles of the Western States 100 mile ultra endurance run. This is likely the world's most prestigious and famous, and certainly the original 100-mile trail race. I am profoundly honored to pace my good friend Darwin, and I take this responsibility VERY seriously. He is counting on me and I don't want to let him down. So this was a good test. And actually, I think that Blue Canyon was a bit tougher than what I will face at Western States in just a few weeks.

The other big event, my A-Race is the Ultraman in August. That event will require a 53-mile ultrarun on the 3rd day of the race, and doing the Blue Canyon at about 36 - 38 miles was a good warm up, not necessarily in terms of trail running, but in terms of spending over 11 hours on my feet making constant forward progress toward a long distance objective. My Heart Rate stayed remarkably stable through the race which demonstrates to me that I am learning to be disciplined and to manage my resources for the long haul ahead.

Ultraman Crew Finalized

My luck and good fortune continues with the addition of my Ultraman Crew!

This photo was taken in November 2008 at about 5:30 am, just before I entered the chilly water of Tempe Town Center Lake for the Ironman Arizona race. That's my son Connor and my great friend, Kelvin Shields.

I am so glad to have my 16-year old son Connor to be on my crew. Connor will be assisting our Crew Captain, Kelvin Shields. Those of you who read my book, Iron Ambition, know all about Kelvin and how he has been a big part of my professional life and an ardent supporter of my ultra endurance ambitions. Kelvin has completed the Ironman 70.3 and multiple marathons. So Kelvin can relate to what I will be going through and that's really important.

Kelvin is not just a dear friend, but he is also an exceptionally well organized person, a great athlete, he loves to plan and most of all, he is trained in emergency medicine, which is reassuring. Kelvin is scrambling to get everything in order for our trip to Penticton, British Columbia, Canada and is talking with Darwin Holt about what it takes to be a great crew chief.

We have secured all the plane tickets, the hotel rooms, the Crew Vehicle. We need passports to enter Canada and are getting those updated as well. At this point, with only seven weeks remaining we are focused on learning as much as possible about how the crew can assist me through each leg of the three-day event. We will arrive in Penticton on Wednesday July 29th and return on August 5th.

My biggest concern is to just finish each day within the 12-hour cutoffs. Connor will make sure I am well hydrated and eating and Kelvin will navigate from our Crew Car / Support vehicle and make cetain that I am staying within a safe band of time that will insure I finish prior to the cutoffs, but not so quickly as to risk burning out later that afternoon or the next day.

Having Kelvin worry about the cutoffs is likely the most important thing of all for me because my mind will not be constantly racing making calculations about what it will take to finish under the wire every day.

My biggest concern used to be the bike, and still is. But my confidence is gaining rapidly that I can complete the 170 miles under the 12-hour cutoff.

Race Schedule

My schedule of events this summer includes:

- June 6, 2009: Blue Canyon 50K trail race (Santa Barbara)


- June 13, 2009: Lake Merritt 12-Hour Ultra run (Oakland, CA)

- June 27, 2009: Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (Pacing Darwin Holt for 38 miles)

- August 1 - 3, 2009: Ultraman Canada (6 mile swim, 260 mile bike, 53 mile run)

Big emphasis on running in June, but these are nice, easy, comfortable run-walks (more like jog-walks) where I will average 11 - 13 minutes per mile over rough terrain.

Cycling is another big focus lately. I have to get comfortable with 170 miles in a single day, and to finish so relaxed and fresh that I am strong enough to finish a 53 mile run the next morning.

The Ultraman Team of Advisors

I'm a lucky guy. Period.

I'm blessed with a terrific wife, a remarkable son, the world's best business partner and a team of people who have recently come out of the woodwork to help me with Ultraman.

My only regret about finishing Iron Ambition (now up live on Amazon.com) is that I cannot talk about these great people who are helping me with this new adventure.

First and foremost is Darwin Holt. Who is this guy and why would he help me with Ultraman?

After accomplishing my goal and dream of completing the full Ironman, I was a bit down for a couple of months. I had some terrible injuries that were really holding me back. I doubted my ability and my head wasn't straight.

Darwin picked me up from the ashes and got me thinking clearly again. I was so focused on the incredible distance of the Ultraman event (swim 6.2 miles, bike 260 miles and run 52 miles) that I just doubted my ability to finish. Darwin patiently explained how to train for this event and assured me that I have ample time to prepare for the event (August 2009).

Darwin should know. He's completed both Ultraman Canada (2007) and the Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii (2008). Further, Darwin has completed 6 Ironmans (IMC '99,'04)(IMFLA '02)(IMLP '03)(IMCDA '06) and the Ironman World Championships (lottery '04). Darwin and his wife have also run 10 marathons together including New York, San Diego and Chicago. He really knows his stuff and has been very generous with his time to help me and my coach develop a sane training approach to this unique distance.

Darwin is a math teacher from Canada and about the nicest guy I've ever met. I've taken detailed notes of his advice and turned them into a plan which I plan to follow to the tee.

I also am grateful to Scott Gower, who again, has helped me be more confident about my ability to complete Ultraman. In fact, it was Scott who got me into Triathlon in the first place, Scott that introduced me to Ironman and it was Scott who first told me about Ultraman when I ran into him at the vendor Expo at the Santa Barbara Tri.

I recently spoke to Scott on the phone and told him that I thought I could accomplish the swim and perhaps the run-walk, but that the 260 miles on the bike really had me worried. He just came straight out and told me to get my head screwed on right. He said my confidence was shot and that I needed to get out there and get that bike distance accomplished so that I would just know that I could do it.

He's right.

Once I went out and did a 106 mile bike ride in a single day, I had the ultimate confidence that I could complete the 112 miles in the full Ironman. So I'm certain that once I get out there and complete 10 - 12 hours on the bike, I will have the confidence to complete the bike leg of Ultraman.

Next Posts will talk about the training for Ultraman, which is much different than anything I've done to prepare for Ironman.

Significant Progress and Updates

I have made significant progress over the last sixty days. My book, Iron Ambition is now complete and will be live on Amazon.com in just about two weeks or so. Also, my fitness has improved dramatically since January.

My recent long workouts have been a 5 mile non-stop swim in my Endless Pool (stopping only for refueling/hydration). This took 3 hours and was a nice pace. At no time did I ever feel like I could not make the 5 mile distance. The Ultra man event will require a 6.2 mile swim and I feel confident that I can do that now, expecially with a wetsuit on.

My long run is now about 2.5 hours and at a slower pace than normal. What's very interesting is that I am now focused on staying just in Zone 2 for my HR. To stop the temptation of running fast, I no longer use distance or pace on my Garmin Satellite watch: I only use Zone and Total Time.

Just using those two datapoints has enabled me to be free from the constant worry of average pace per mile or meeting some arbitrary distance goal. All I do now is focus on the total time on the road and I try to keep my HR in Zone 2 for 50 - 75% of the time, usually longer. This has helped improve my pacing dramatically, but my pace per mile is slower.

The good news about this new method is that is helps me learn to be much more consistent and to avoid the peaks and valleys in my HR data throughout the run. This consistency means that I can run longer distances yet feel less fatigued. At my age of approaching 50, my focus has shifted from speed and ego,to endurnace and enjoyment of the running experience and environment.

Biking continues to be my trouble spot. I am still quite concerned about my ability to ride 170 miles and then get up the next morning to run a double marathon in the Ultra man. But I trust my coach and advisors, so I just keep plugging away at the workouts.

Last weekend, I did the CA 70.3 Ironman course on my Computrainer and really had a very tough time with it. The hills in the race really killed me. The next day, I was just beat and really sore. So I went out to the Computrainer to try and figure out why I was so sore.

It turns out that I was running a 42-23 gear for the lowest gear on my Time Trial bike. This is a really high gear for me. On my road bike I run a 39-27 and had I used that bike for the workout, I would have been in much better shape today. That road bike gearing would have made it significantly easier to make those tough climbs. In fact, my hill climbing bike is geared with a 34 - 28 which is almost like a mountain bike and makes things much easier still. So the Time Trial bike gearing is why I am so sore. The good news is that I realized this in advance of the race this Saturday, so I can make the adjustments and have a much better day.

My race this Saturday is just a hlaf-Ironman, but last year this time, I would have been totally worried about it. Not this year. I am treating the race as just a fun day out on the road, an easy workout and I am just going out there to have fun. To experience the race without the pressure of doing my best. I just want to do one for fun and to really be a participating spectator. I will be in the event, but just crusing along having fun, not worrying about a thing. Just there to make friends and take in the venue and the course.

The vendor expo is always a lot of fun too.

Need Help!

I am behind on my training for Ultraman, but am not too worried. I remember how terrified I was of my first Ironman 70.3 and at the end I learned that I had been worried for nothing. Same thing for the full Ironman. So having completed both of those, I have a bit of confidence about my ability to takle these tough events. But right now, I am still suffering daily with the continuing plantar wart saga!

The toe is a huge problem and if any of you have some tips, cures, or ideas, I would really love to hear about them. Send me anything you have at John@IronAmbition.com. Here is the problem: The plantar wart has been a big issue for nearly two years now. I have tried every single home remedy and over the counter freezing and acid program. These have all resulted in a huge gaping hole, but the wart still grows back.

Next, I went to a Podiatrist who used an acid injection right into the toe. It stung like crazy, caused huge blistering, a big chunk of skin fell off and the wart still returned. So after Ironman Arizona in Nov 2008, I went and had it surgically removed. They cut out a huge chunk of my toe and the wound did not heal for over two months; that is why I got so far behind in my training. The wound finally healed-over and the wart was still there.

Finally, I went to another Podiatrist who claimed to have just the cure. He said that surgery was not the way to go and instead, he used a very strong mixture that he has a pharmacy make just for this purpose. This is a very intense blend that includes:Salicylic acid, Podophyllum and Cantharidin. I have gone for three treatments, and each time it looks like it might be getting better, but it isn't. The darn thing is still there and I am constantly walking with a limp due to the extreme pain. It is as if the raw nerves are literally exposed like live wires, and every step, no matter how light, is a very painful experience that causes me to wince and limp.

So if you have any ideas at all, please let me know!

Progress Update

Many of you have asked about how training is going for Ultraman.

Since finishing my dream of Ironman Arizona in November 2008, I have been plagued with IT band problems and have not run more than a total of 10 miles in the past 60 days. Further, I continue to be dealing with a horrendous malady on one of my toes that required an operation to remove a significant part of the underside of the toe.

The toe has never healed despite 5 different treatments from three different specialists. It remains a raw, weeping, oozing, open sore that's now about the size of a cherry pit and just as deep.

All this as background to say that the training is way behind and I am beginning to become concerned, but not panicked or overly alarmed. Once we fix this toe and the IT Bands, I know that I can intelligently get back into shape, but time is ticking and I am eager to get these issues behind me.

Just today, I had a highly-toxic acid treatment of some sort that is designed to eat away at this toe problem, but the pain of the acid in this open sore in literally unbearable.

I am eager to get back into the rythym of a daily routine and am looking forward to putting these problems behind me as soon as possible.

Goals Update: 2009 and Beyond

Well the time has come to update my goals. This is an annual process I've been doing since the sixth grade, every year, without fail, during the period between Christmas and New Year.

Regrettably, this year I was so pre-occupied with the final edits on my book, From Seat 2A to Ironman, that I let this process slip.

Part of the power in goal setting is to share your goals with others so that you've got a built in network of reinforcement and accountability. Getting a bit of ribbing from family and friends is a healthy way to reinforce those items which matter most to you.

I know, I've been doing it for literally 35 years (that's a fact!) and it's remarkable to review prior year's goals and see how many have been acheived.

As it relates to IronAmbition then, here are my fitness goals, aspirations and crazy dreams for 2009 and beyond. I will never achieve all of these in 2009, not even close, but you'd be amazed at the power of just listing your goals and letting your subconscious go to work for you 24x7 to try and figure out ways to make these happen.

Fitness and Event Objectives:

15 Correct Pull Ups
75 Push Ups
Bike: Double Century (200 miles)
Eliminate IT Band Problems
Eliminate Trigger Point Issue
Full Ironman Triathlon (DONE!)
Keep weight under 159 pounds
Less than 33" waist at BB
Run: 50 mile Ultramarathon
Run: Badwater 135
Run: Carp to Solvang (50 m.)
Run: LB to Carp. (112 mi.)
Run: SB 9-Trails (35 Miles)
Swim an open water 10K
Swim: Alcatraz to San Francisco
Swim: Catalina to L.B. (23 miles)
Swim: Entire Golden Gate Bridge
Swim: SB to Carp (10 Miles?)
Ultraman Canada (318 miles)

Objectives: Other

Publish From Seat 2A to Ironman
Buy 3 - 15 acre avocado ranch in Carpinteria
Write and publish a business book
Launch new division: Sales Acuity

A Family Affair

If you think that a support group isn't important when setting out to train and compete in ultra endurance events, well I've got a news flash for you.

A support network is extremely important.

I could not have completed my goal without an incredible business partner in Kevin Kelsey and the enormous understanding and support of my wife. I like this light-hearted photo of us right before the bike check-in in Tempe. It was one of the few moments when we were both laughing and relaxing. Most of the time, it was a tough struggle.

I was late for dinner. A lot.

I was complaining about injuries. Far too often.

I was constantly limping around the house.

I was in a bad mood knowing that I had really long workouts and that my time was running out (because I had procrastinated)

I went to bed really early (8:30pm) and was asleep most nights by the time she finally got to bed at our pre-Ironman training time of 10:00pm.

I often was very restless when sleeping due to pain and kept my wife up, woke her up and generally prevented her from getting the best rest possible.

I often was not home when Connor went off to school because I had to do early morning workouts; there just was no other way to get them done.

I was cranky, crabby, irritable when in pain (most of the time).

As you can see, I was generally not a lot of fun to be with. Nobody willingly signs up for that kind of a husband, so I'm grateful she stuck through all of this and continued to be supportive and encouraging.

What came out of all of this was that my self-confidence increased dramatically and I am a better person for the journey. I no longer have daily migraine headaches from stress, I have lost about 45 pounds and despite all the injuries I continue to nurse along, I think I've added at least a few years to my life.

The support of family, friends and associates is really very important in this endeavor. You can still do it without the support, but let me assure you, there's enough to worry about with all of your training, nutrition and recovery requirements.

Take my advise and make certain that you have a firm support network in place before you start on this journey.

Again, thanks to all who helped me along the way, especially my wife, my son Connor, my coach David Warden, my incredible business partner Kevin Kelsey, my terrific cousin-in-law Chris Barsh, my great friend and crew chief Kelvin Shields (you are awesome man!) and all those in the Ironman community who offered their time and counsel.

Now I ask for your support and understanding yet again. The 2009 Ultraman Canada event beckons and I am answering the call.

I need a crew and am hoping that Kelvin Shields can come to my rescue again. The great thing about Kelvin, not only is he a once-in-a-lifetime true friend, not only is he a sportman who has completed Ironman events and ultra endurance events, not only is he a world expert at prioritization and focusing on what matters most, but in this case, not only does he literally love to take roadtrips (Canada anyone?!), he's all those great things, but the most important attribute is that he is a trained emergency medical first responder. Kelvin Shield may literally save my life in Ultraman Canada. Now that's a crew member I really need!

I am also hoping to land Connor again. He'll likely be a counsellor at Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island, but I'm hoping to pull him away to manage the hydration bottles and the music for the roadtrip. He's got great style and great musical instincts, plus an iPod with a massive hard drive!

Of course I hope my wife will come for support, but that's a lot to ask. She's already going to have to put up with the complaining and injuries and missed meals and events for the next 8 months. A road trip to Canada may be asking a bit too much in addition to all that she'll be putting up with, but we'll see how that goes!

Accepted to Ultraman Championships 2009!!

Incredible news!!

I was invited to participate in the Ultraman Canada Championship race!

Ultraman Canada is a 3-day, 318.6 mile individual ultra-endurance event.

Entry is limited to 30 solo participants and 5 relay teams and is by invitation only. The event is more than 2.25 times longer than a full Ironman Triathlon.

Day 1 starts with a 6.2 mile open water swim immediately followed by a 90 mile bike ride that traverses the Richter Pass and concludes in Okanagan Falls. Cutoff times are 6 hours for the swim and 12 hours for the entire day.

Day 2 is a 170 bike that begins in Penticton and concludes in Princeton. Cutoff time for the bike leg is 12 hours.

Day 3 is the final stage and consists of a 52.4 mile double-marathon run from Princeton to Summerland. Cutoff time for the run is 12 hours.

This is an international event and athletes are expected from around the world. Each athlete must be accompanied by an individual support team of at least two persons over the entire course, and I am hoping beyond all hope that my great friend Kelvin Shields can crew for me as he did in Tempe. I’m also very hopeful that Connor will be able to leave summer camp and join me in this incredible pursuit.

I intend to train smart and remain disciplined. This is not necessarily about training super hard, it’s more about putting in the long hours to build up an aerobic base. David Warden, my world class triathlon coach who got me from corporate sloth and coach potato to Ironman, has agreed to stay on for this event and to plan all aspects of my Ultraman training. I am also seeking input from any and all past Ultraman finishers that they might provide fitness benchmarks that I should try to achieve prior to the event. (There is very little information available about how to train for such a long event.)

No doubt, I am in over my head. And that’s exactly how I like it. Race Director Steve Brown courageously and generously invited me to participate and I don’t intend to betray his trust or confidence.

Only 40% Done

As I crossed the finish line and achieved my dream of becomming an Ironman the emotions where overwhelming. All that hard work, struggle, pain and suffering. The ups the downs, the incredible low points. It was now over and I couldn't hold back the rushing onslaught of emotion and pure joy and extreme pride.

But once we accomplish great things and the stories have been told and retold, then what? Are we done? Do we stay at the same event and just do it again and again? Or do we look for even greater quests, greater challenges? Do we look for inspiration in other areas, other fields of endeavor? Really....what do we do after we accomplish such grand objectives, goals and dreams?

I need constant change and new challenges. I'm not wired for the status quo and so I set out seeking even greater challenges. To see how far the human spirit can be moved. What's our real limit?

As David Goggins, one of the most inspiring and successful ultra endurance athletes in the world says, "When you hit that wall and everything inside of you tells you that you should quit....at that moment you are only about 40% done!"

There's still another 60% left to give and that's exactly how I feel after completing the Ironman.

I've scoured the journals and the web for exciting new challenges and adventures. Soon I will report on the next journey.

Stay tuned!

Crossing the Finish Line with Connor

This is a TREASURED video clip of Connor running alongside of me as I crossed the finish line and achieved my dream of becomming an Ironman Triathlete.

Words cannot describe the emotions and sense of accomplishment to have worked so hard and have overcome so many obstacles in the pursuit of this goal. And to have Connor cross the line with me was priceless.

Absolutely a day that will live with me forever.

My Book is Nearly Ready: Seat 2A to Ironman

My book regarding this experience, along with tips, research and lessons on business and life, is nearly complete. Everything of note that I've learned through this long process, including some fantastic ideas on nutrition, hydration, training, product recommendations and time management with work and family are all included.

I hope that the book will serve as motivation and as a comprehensive resource, especially for age-groupers and those middle-aged corporate executives that I have worked with from around the globe in my consulting and CEO advisory work.

Like me, they focus valiantly and selflessly on their careers, their families, their clients. When the weekend comes, they want to break loose, have a few beers, watch the game. They decide to hire others to mow the lawn, wash the cars, paint the house. Why not? They can afford it; they’ve certainly earned it.

But little by little, just like me, they become more and more sedentary and the weight just continues to accumulate, usually right around our mid-section. Look around any public venue such as an airport or any mall and you’ll see that most men my age have a big belly hanging over their belt. Yep, that was me to be sure, but I finally took control, took my life back, and now have my health, pride and renewed self-esteem as a bona fide Ironman!

I have never been happier. It was a lot of work, a lot of struggle and plenty of pain. There were sacrifices and missed events. There were costs. Heavy costs. But in the end, I’m glad I made the sacrifices and paid my dues.

The book: Seat 2A to Ironman is the story of how I accomplished this life-changing transition and who helped me along the way. But more than my story of struggle and ultimate triumph, this is also a how-to guide filled with lessons on business, on life, on relationships, on health and ultimately, on how to finish an Ironman Triathlon.

I did it, and you can too!

I'm self-publishing the book in order to share all that I've learned in this process. I will print a small quantity and if you'd like me to put you on the list, please send me an email at: John@IronAmbition.com.

Post Ironman Injuries and Doctors

The first business day upon my return from the full Ironman, I had a pre-scheduled appointment for some minor, in-office surgery to remove an extremely deep plantar wart in a toe on my left foot. I was left with a gaping hole and about 1/3rd of the meaty part of the toe's interior was now gone. It was numb as I left the office, but MAN did that thing start to hurt a few hours later!! It was extremely slow to heal and bleeds and drains daily, even a month later! I am still limping and wincing in pain with literally every step.

I went for my first post-Ironman run about two weeks ago. This was a deliberately-slow run over my Cal State Long Beach 5-mile loop, a course I know well. To force myself to go very slow, I brought our Border Terrier, Billy The Kid, along for the run; this was a first for both of us.

About 3 miles into this very easy, very slow jog, all of a sudden, BOTH "IT Bands" adjacent to my knees began to painfully rub on the outside of the knee joint. I could not run at all. I was wobbling from side to side and could barely walk.

This happened to both knees literally within minutes of each other. The only other time I had serious IT Band issues was during the full Ironman race. We traced this problem back to incorrect seat height following the frantic rush to replace my bike following the accident where I was hit by a car.

But for both knees to go out at the same time, that is really perplexing and I simply cannot explain it. I'm stumped!

My coach, David Warden, has me now seeing a Physical Therapist and that is going quite well. I am excited about the exercises and the stretching and am hopeful that this treatment may lead to solutions with the myofacial pain syndrome/trigger point in my left upper trapezoid and also with my deep hip socket pain as well as the IT Bands. Only one session so far.

I found a new Podiatrist to check on my theory that perhaps one leg is shorter than the other. Why else would all of my problems and injuries consistently be on my left side? Also, it was the left IT band that went haywire on the bike, and that made perfect sense! If my left leg was shorter than the right, then it would be forced by the bike's crank arm to travel further on the downstroke, stretching that IT band more and more with each successive pedal rotation.

The Podiatrist performed several tests and measurements to conclude that the left side of my body is in fact shorter by about 3/8ths of an inch. But note that I said the left side of my "body" is shorter..not just the left leg. It seems that I am extremely taught/tight in terms of inflexibility. I may also have some vertebrae that need to be popped back in alignment in my upper back. All of these issues may be in collusion to be causing these problems. A small shim was placed into the bottom of my left shoe. I find it very uncomfortable but am going to give it two weeks and see if I notice any changes. It is very painful on the left heel, as if all my weight is bearing on that one heel. Is the pad too thick? Hummmm. Perhaps they have over-adjusted.

The Podiatrist also cut the "cap" or top layer of skin off of my one-month old toe surgery as the surface of the wound had formed a very tough "pudding skin" but there was no healing going on inside that gaping hole, so he opened the wound all over again! There are days when I honestly think that I'd like them to hack off the offending appendage just to relieve the constant throbbing and the limping.

Limping, by the way, causes all kinds of additional problems: it's the law of unintended consequences. I place more weight on my right side and the outside of the right foot in order to relieve the constant pain on the left foot. Now it seems that the right foot has three cracked metatarsals or acutely strained tendons.

The foot has 26 bones, 107 ligaments and 32 muscles and tendons It is an extremely delicate piece of equipment. Limping or favoring one side over the other is just asking for trouble.

I also made my first visit to a Urologist to check things out. No more hemmrohoids (whew!) which I believe were caused by so much time in the saddle on those long weekend rides. Everything checked out perfectly, so that is one area that is doing fine.

Finally, and stop here if you are queazy...

The last of my toenails have either fallen off or I have yanked them out. It sounds absolutely horrible and shocking, but the truth of the matter is that the toenails are FAR FAR more painful to leave in, than when they are removed. Sure it hurts at first, but once the entire nail is removed and the skin heals-over, there is nothing to cause any pain.

My toenails have had serious problems since the Bulldog 50K Ultramarathon run in the Malibu mountains. Ever since then, my nails have been black and blue from banging the front of my shoes on the steep downhill portions of the three-loop, 31-mile run. Then, running the marathon portion of the Ironman last month was the final straw, and most of the nails are now all removed.

But I am relieved and happy to say that there is no pain whatsoever in those toes, except for the gaping hole from the plantar wart removal procedure.

The hip is not as painful, the trapezoid gives me daily reminders but is tolerable, and the IT Bands do not hurt at all when I am just walking around.

The real test of the IT Bands will be doing some easy 2 - 4 mile runs with my son Connor, over the Holidays.

So What's Next?

It's now been about a full month, so here's an update.

Consistently training for the Ironman was the hardest thing I every did, and completing the Ironman has been not only a highlight of my life, but quite likely, my greatest physical accomplishment. Just tonight, I finally removed my race-day wrist band and put it in a box for my wife. I'm giving it to her to recognize her vital role in my achievement.

But now what? Where do I go from here?

Well I have my sights set on a few major goals:

1. Ultraman Canada in 2009.
2. A couple of 50 mile runs
3. The Western States 100 Mile Ultramarathon
4. The Badwater 135 mile Ultramarathon

The goals must always be harder and bigger. As hard as this is going to be for so many to understand....after all this work and struggle, the Ironman event no longer holds enough excitment for me to stay motivated. Been there. Done that. What's next?

When one only enters these events "to finish" then the allure, excitement and draw of the event quickly fades. It was never my objective to place high in the rankings, although I certainly would like to place higher in my future races, and I know that I can.

I am drawn more toward the Ultra endurance events. Long, slow distances; that's where I'm most comfortable versus the raw speed. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be quick, but I've come to understand that I may be better suited for endurance events than the shorter, faster races.

Three Ironman Events in 2008

Well I finally accomplished my goal and completed the FULL Ironman Triathlon. Please see the Full Race Report entry below, but for a quick summary, my goal was to treat this event like a long workout, nothing more. I had way too much time and emotion invested in this endeavor to engage in a high-risk strategy of racing for the best possible time; essentially, the plan was to be disciplined and frankly, just "cruise" the 140.6 miles.

It's a very long day to cover 140.6 miles, and if one rejects their race plan, loses focus and discipline, it can spell disaster. I was now experienced enough from two prior Ironman events this year to know that I must stick to my race plan, and I am glad that I did, because disaster struck on the swim, the bike AND the run!

Despite the problems, I still had a terrific event (again, finishing was my goal, not racing!), and finished within 2 minutes of my projected time, breaking 14 hours with a total race time of 13 hours, 58 minutes.

It's just so interesting how this race works though. In the swim, I finished in the bottom 40% of my age group; in the bike I was WAY back, finishing in the bottom 10% of my age group, and in the run, I finished in the bottom 40%. Overall, I finished in the bottom 25%; essentially 75% of all participants finished in front of me. I crossed the line in front of 600 other entrants, but behind 1,585 Ironmen.

And for the entire year, I completed three Ironman events in 2008. Two of these events were the Half Ironman, which is known as the "Ironman 70.3"

While the 70.3 is exactly half the distance in each of the segments, it is still fully-sanctioned by the Ironman organization. However, there's lots of controversy as to whether or not one is a "REAL" Ironman if they complete an Ironman-sanctioned 70.3. Those of us who have finished the "half" would certainly like the Ironman distinction, but most athletes agree that you have to complete the real deal, the FULL Ironman, to earn that coveted distinction.

As I have written about in prior entries, I have always believed that one is really not worthy of the Ironman distinction until they have completed the full 140.6 mile event; I know that many people would disagree with me.

But my final word on all of this is that when you cross the finish line in the 70.3 event, they announce your name, but they do NOT say, "You are an Ironman." They only way you'll hear that is if you cross the finish line at the fully sanctioned 140.6 mile Ironman event.

So while my wife, my business partner Kevin, and many others have urged me to stop at the half Ironman, I would not have ever felt worthy of the title until I had completed the full event as it was originally run the very first time on the island of Oahu in 1978.

The FULL IRONMAN has always been a 2.4 mile swim (which is the exact length of the Honolulu rough water swim and how they arrived at that distance for the event), a 112 mile bike segment (which is the exact length of a full loop around the island of Oahu) and a full 26.2 mile marathon.

Anything less than that, and you are not an Ironman.

And no, if you complete a half-Ironman, I really don't think you qualify for half of an Ironman tattoo. Sound silly? Well this is a big issue with a lot of people who complete a 70.3!

Training for the full Ironman is exponentially more work than just training for the 70.3. It is 3 - 4 times more complicated and difficult and time consuming. Those who have trained for and completed the full Ironman know the difference. You cannot just read about it in a book to understand it; you really need to live it. You need to understand the discipline, the sacrifice, the struggle, the enormous number of training hours this endeavor takes.

Completing the 70.3 does not make one an Ironman. And as a finisher of two half-Ironman evetnt as well as a full Ironman, I now understand the difference.

I now understand why my completion of the Hono/Kona 70.3 in May and the Vineman/Sonoma 70.3 in July were great achievements, but certainly not Full Ironman efforts. To understand the difference, one needs to complete the full 140.6 event.