It must be a slow news day, the Burlington Post posted my Ironman Lake Placid finishers shot with a brief write up. It's the second time I've been in the Post since moving to Ontario in 2004. The first time, I looked much different.
It was four years ago and they did a random, man on the street, interview with me about the upcoming election. It was only fitting that they approached me as I sat in the food court eating my lunch at the Burlington Mall.
I was so embarrassed when that paper came out, I looked so fat and unhealthy and hoped no one I knew saw it. It was one of the low points of my life (which I'll talk about in more detail after Kona). When that picture was taken I was in the FGC (Fat Guy Club). Just my luck, a couple of my neighbours told me they saw me in the paper.
The irony is I'd love my neighbours to see today's photo in the paper and they probably won't. Although yesterday, I got a really nice compliment from one of the neighbours I haven't seen in a while. She said, "you look extremely fit". My reaction should have been, "thank you", but instead I replied, "well I was in better shape before the last 9 days of partying". I was already getting down on myself.
As triathletes, many of us are very critical and hard on ourselves about our weight. I can count on one hand how many times I thought my body was in peak physical shape, yet none of those times were at the time I was in that great shape. It was always afterwards, when I got fatter and reflected back to when I was fitter as a comparison.
For me, I think it's a curse. I started gaining weight at 15 years old after taking "5000 Calorie Bulk Up Shakes" as part of a weight lifting routine. It worked, I bulked up alright, especially in the tummy. Ever since then, I've been concerned about my weight. I don't think there's been one morning that I don't get out of bed, wearing only my underwear, and evaluate my body in the mirror.
I'm getting better, but my emotions are effected by my weight. If I stand on the scale and I'm under 183 lbs, I feel good. If I'm under 180 lbs, I feel great and if I'm 185 lbs or over, my mood is foul.
One reason I don't think I'll ever be a fat guy again is because of all the triathlon pictures and video I have. I can't imagine being fat and having to look at those fit shots of myself on the walls of the "man cave". It would be crushing.
The "Coupe de grace" is going to be the standee that is arriving on Monday. How can you look at a life size cardboard cut-out of yourself when you were in "your prime" and not be motivated to stay there. Maybe there's a reason Alice insisted I convert that IMLP running shot into a standee.
Most of today I was at work in a meeting. I got out around 3 pm and it would have been easy to blow off my swim. Heck, I have the best excuse, I'm in post Ironman recovery. Even my coach says to take it easy. I choose to force my butt into that pool and get back at it anyway.
It was a semi-enjoyable swim if it wasn't for the two Chinese 15 year old boys that were beginner swimmers, at best, and they decided to swim in the fast and medium speed lanes. Actually, it was only fitting that I had my Ironman China swim cap on, at one point I looked around and everyone in the pool was Chinese except for me.
What annoyed me about the situation was there is three pool lanes open. Instead of both of them going in the same slow lane and race each other, they decided that each of them was going to in different lanes. So I got stuck with one of the kids in the fastest lane.
At the YMCA there is slow, medium and fast lane markers. These two couldn't swim and they were in the medium and fast lanes. They didn't even have goggles on and swam with their heads above the water line. The kid in my lane would close his eyes as he swam and would drift in front of me as I was swimming in the opposite direction.
I had to pass him once and when I did, I made it uncomfortable for him. I used the "Nascar" technique and swam close to him and tried to "rub him into the wall" and then as I passed him I'd grab water with my hand and splash it in his face and tried to make it look unintentional.
At one point, he swam into my lane and I had to stop right in front of him and I didn't know if he understood English or not but I said, "Hey man... circles, circles, we swim in circles". He just nodded and said, "sorry, sorry".
I was more pissed off at the life guards than anyone. There was a total of 8 of us in the entire pool and only me and these two kids in the medium and fast swim lanes, I couldn't understand why the lifeguards didn't say or do something.
I laughed when I got out because the guy who just entered the pool is one hell of a big guy, with a bald head, tattoos all over his body and is a very fast swimmer. When you see him, you don't think he knows how to swim until he gets going, then your amazed that a guy who looks like a biker can swim that fast. John Barclay knows who I'm talking about.
I could tell this guy felt the same way I did about these two misplaced kids, and I almost stuck around to see how he was going to rub out one of those little "pecker heads". Again, I don't blame them so much as the lifeguards, but the kids still should have used their common sense.
After the swim I did some weights. It felt so good to get back at it. I enjoy training. Period. I love the feelings I get from it. I also now have a little "softness" around stomach from 9 days of post-Ironman party and I need to get rid of it before I can get back drinking from the "Crack-erator". My plan is to be a good boy from now until the House of Payne Beer Run.
Tonight was movie popcorn night. Alice, Alyssa, Reid and I went to opening night of the movie, "The Other Guys". I had some really good laughs. One laugh in particular was at least a full 6 - 8 seconds long, I was the only one in the audience still laughing at one point. The kids said I was the loudest laugher in the theatre. I'd recommend the movie, typical Will Ferrrell.
Tempo Swim - 46:59 / 2000 meters
Adapt Weights - 30:00 minutes.
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8 comments:
Famous! Cool shots and a fantastic contrast in photos. Now you should be proud of the first one as it makes the latest one all the sweeter.
As for the kids in the pool - try taking 20secs and speaking to the lifeguards next time! Drrrr!
Right off for my first bit of exercise since ITU - a cold run in the Alps.
You only spent 10:20 on the course? You totally didn't get your money's worth ;)
You are in the BP, you are famous! As soon as I read this I went and got my copy off the front porch, I never read it, it usually sits there til recycle day but I found the page. You now have a place of honour on my fridge!!
I think I may have seen the bald tattooed buy you are talking about at the Y, but not sure it's the same guy. Whenever I go there I usually get in the slow lane unless there are loads of kids in there.
I hate the Y swimming pools. The lane signs dont even matter. I always get old guys in the speed swim lane. One guy was in there doing backstroke he drifted over I plowed him. I was old he looked up and I think he was expecting an apoligy I sneered and kept swimming as if nothing happened he eventually moved. The Nascar technique usually works. Especially when you lap them 2 times in 6 laps. Anyways just thought I would vent
D
Are you sure you aren't Matt's long lost twin brother? You guys think and act exactly the same...and if I didn't look at the pictures or read your name, I would have sworn I was reading a post by Matt. I'm kind of scared to come to the House of Payne Beer Run because I have enough trouble dealing with my husband! Add in his stunt double and I'm pretty much screwed!
Props on the newspaper article though! That is something to be very proud of and redeems the first article!
Looking forward to meeting you!
Amazing with the newspaper appearances as FG and PFG. They got you in the food court! haha
I am going to put up lane markers at our pool, Matt's lane, everyone else's lane haha.
I splashed in him in his face and tried to make it look like it was an accident! LOL clever.
I think that you should have grabbed a kid and dunked him under the lane line and put him in the lane with his buddy. To be honest, the lifeguards are worthless. They couldn't haul my fat ass out of the pool if I were drowning.
Heather gets pissed at me when I laugh "loud" at the theater, I tell her it's not my fault no one else has a sense of humor in the theater.
Crazy pics, didn't realize you retained water like a woman back then.
S, thanks. I can now at least look at that picture, it used to hurt looking and my fat guy pictures. I can hardly wait to see yours, fat guy pictures that is, haha. Talk to the lifeguards? Novel idea. Thanks for that one. haha. Wow, that sounds cool, running in the Alps, now you know how the rest of the world feels. haha
S, I know, when I saw your time I was major jealous. I saw far less people and didn't get as much food, water and gatorade as you. Nor was I able to load up on gels and take them home for my training.
A, yes, super famous, when you make the burlington post, the wall street journal, NY or LA times mean nothing any more. haha. That's a great idea, put my picture on your frigde and everytime you go to the door, it'll scare you and you'll stop eating. Brillant. haha. No, it's not the same guy, unless he was eating them.
D, nice vent, I like the non-aplogy, that is a good techinque. Speaks volumes. haha
H, I hope not, and if I am, I get the top bunk. haha. You should be afraid, be very afraid of coming to the HOP beer run, no good can come of it, especially after 1 am. Nothing good happens after 1 am. haha. If you take both of us out with "darts" at 1 am, it will be smooth sailing for you and Alice. If the roles were reversed, that's what'd I'd do. Just saying. haha. Thanks about the article and "becareful what you wish for". hahaha.
D, Thanks, and yup it was in the food court. Any surprise? hahaha.
M, I like that idea. I'm going to do the same. It will be from one wall of the pool to the other. haha. I like the idea of dunking them, one down, the other up and repeat. haha I agree on the theatre comment, the only thing is I agreed with her when you were laughing the whole way through that depressing movie "Requiem for a Dream". And "Bride war was someone funny, but not that funny and being the only man in the theater, you really stood out. Poor Heather. haha And finally, I didn't retain water like a woman, I was a women. That's me on the right. hahaha
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