Tripper Returns

Looking refreshed and even more athletically svelte than when he left just over a week ago our man had a fire in his eyes, which lit brighter when he talked about his upcoming NYC Triathlon on August 11.  The grueling course entails a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson, 112-mile bike ride that consists of 2 loops and then the 26.2-mile marathon run.  I have the course link below if you want to bookmark it for the coming days. The site gives a detailed course description as well as a countdown clock marking the beginning early Saturday morning. I will make it my business to see this remarkable race a week from Saturday and with the aid of a personal recorder I will try and   capture as many thoughts and observations that I will share with you right here. The other Tripp blog (maybe it’s an offspring to this one) will have much to say as well about Tripp’s latest big time adventure.  

It was good to have him back and in the 8:30 he played his very atypical discography that never seems to fit any Jell-O mold I ever knew.  And there’s always a selection or two that brings us all to a visceral excitement. Tripp has adapted as his theme “We Carry Each Other” and his message is loud and clear he is here for us all emotionally as well as to help us become fitter than we could ever dream. Let’s get out to support him August 11 and if you can’t get there check in with his team and we will bring you up to date with his progress.  

IronMan http://ironm

Constance Korol from Lake Placid

It’s 5am in the morning, the first day of vacation for Tripp in 5 years and the start of our first full day in Lake Placid/LP. He manages to sneak out to grab a cup of coffee so he can start the day. This is not lying on the beach after a breakfast buffet kinda vacay.  This is Tripp Doherty we are talking about. The man who is on a mission, going for his third Ironman completion three weeks from now.  So that brisk dark morning, he grabbed his bicycle pump, filled both tires to optimum level and put on his helmet to ride into the sunrise. When his day of training ended, it was approaching sunset. This time he would do the Ironman course one day ahead of the race.

I went back into the house after saying best wishes and made some coffee for myself while the rest of the folks were snoring and snoozing.  I was planning the day, which consisted of meeting up with my Ironman volunteer teammates, a 20-mile bike ride and then a run with the husband.  Having done this LP weekend before, Janene grabbed me for a quick ride into town for a Starbucks hit and gave me a little tour of transition area and tips on how to be a spectator.  We met some friendly athletes and chatted for a bit as we entered into the holy finish line area that was lined up with tables and chairs for a pre race pancake breakfast. This screamed surreal yet spiritual at the same time.  It was the calm before the storm. Stillness before the 40 + mile an hour tri bikes come storming in from 112 miles of rolling Adirondack hills. It was a day of compression socks and rest for the 3,000 strong willed competitors. Some call them crazy, others in envy of their tattooed IM markings that brand the body for an experience only a small percentage of humans can endure. Strike that, will endure. 

A couple of hours later, Mirror Lake was filled with families, fun and laughter. That swim would have to wait a day as a few of us saddled up on our bikes to explore the local beauty and steep hills that characterize Lake Placid.  Toto we are not on Long Island anymore. Our last leg of our Tour de LP ended with a glimpse of Tripper, now about 1pm in the afternoon running shirtless down the road as fresh as can be.  It was a carpe diem moment, a dry beautiful day in the low 70’s. Must follow the lead and go for a run. 

My husband, Michael and I ran down into town and did our own version of a triathlon…Bike, run…eat. Lunch couldn’t have tasted any better. As we overlooked the town from the balcony area, we started to see more and more athletes bringing their bikes over to transition area. It was final preparation for the tried and true, certainly more relaxing for us simple folk who leisurely walked around and visited the merchandize tent picking up Ironman tumblers and cycle jerseys. 

After 20 miles of running on rolling hills, and a day that can be defined as unbelievable to many, Tripp comes back for his first meal of the day when most are looking to have their third or fourth.  It was lights out early for all of us, as Sunday was due to be yet another jam packed day. 

My station was mile 10 on the bike course and our duty was to supply those with water and nutrition but more important was our spirit and enthusiasm. Thank yous poured out from the athletes as they grabbed bananas and Gu out of our hands for a glimpse of comfort food.  They needed the smiles, the support and the love. I was glad to be a part of the energy and support for those who desired more out of life. They passed by at 27 miles an hour, feeling like the speed of light, yet left a lifelong impression.

When I came back home and had a chance to digest the powerful weekend, I thought of rainbows, success and pots of gold. We can physically see rainbows, but we have to visualize the pot of gold. That end of the rainbow can be plentiful, with the right mindset and support from inspirational friends.

Tripper Takes a Holiday

This reminds me of a 1938 movie Topper Takes a Trip and although that is probably a non sequitur or germane to this post it still evoked a fond memory for me.  In any event Tripp was almost beside himself like a little kid today in the 7:15 knowing that his well deserved rest was about to start.  I am sure his 1st lady will accompany him and I think he is headed up to Lake Placid the scene of earlier triumphs in Iron man I and II.  Good rest my friend and NYC is fast approaching. By the way did you know that Mr. Doherty has not missed a Tuesday in 5 years? No one has been able to make that claim! No one!  

I love starting Friday in the Lavender Palace early it gives me a head start on my favorite day of the week. Although when that alarm rings at 5:55 it never has me bounding out of bed all chipper and spry but I am compelled to make Tripp’s class it has become a ritual now. Two of my favorite spin mates the PQ and young Heatherr Feather were there this morning and these two have given me much insight on some of my foibles of late.  I thank my angels for these two in my life. 

I will have to search through the treasure chest that is EQ and find myself another instructor to fill the void while my friend is away. I am really thinking about August 11 and NYC as I have been in many marathons but I have never witnessed a full fledged Triathlon. Looking forward to it and again enjoy Tripp.  

8-11-12

It’s closer than you might think. I can tell you one person that knows its close and that's Tripp Doherty. I also know that he has trained ten times harder than he did last year. He’s looking leaner than I have seen him in at least a year and when I went over to the Syosset High School track after the 9:45 class today for some sprint work I could almost feel his determination that his NYC Iron Man was going to see a precipitous drop in his finishing time. I also think that he has placed particular emphasis on his marathon and my prediction is that he will shatter his last year’s performance in that segment. 

For my own reasons I thought that adding winsdsprints to my workout regimen might just be the thing that helps me spike my HR above 120, because of those beta-blockers I feel handicapped and gasping for air in the anaerobic zone. Stacey kept it in perspective for me by saying that my heart was really efficient in pumping that needed blood and made me feel young again by mentioning that I still had that sprinters gait. The ¼ mile was my event in HS and at 52.5 seconds it was hard to imagine what kind of shape I was in back then. 

But Mr. Inspiration will be ready 8-11-12 and I will be there to cheer him on and it is my hope if you are one of his aficionados as I am you will be there too.  8-11-12 it will be here in a blink.