Kona is Here!!

Visit Iromanlive.com and go to athlete tracker to see my progress throughout the day.

Race starts at 11:45 am CST.

RACE #993

Tacky

10 days to Ironman

Well this is it. We are under two weeks until the Kona. Crazy. I was unaware of how much stress I could handle...apparently quite a bit. The start up company as of today is still completely unfunded, were relying on some dear friends to get us out to Kona, and still unsure how were paying for all of it. BUT, God is faithful even when were not and he clearly told Kari and I that Kona was on our schedule this year. :)

(screaming out window)

O.K. feeling better now. Now for more interesting news. The signage for Trimama is coming along nicely. Thank you for all the suggestions. I belive the current front runner is...

C'mon Tacky, you'll be 3 times the Ironman that Bigun is!

mmmm...Love that one.

Need more suggestions to make the top five list that I'll publish soon!

Here is a little taste of what the race looks like in Hawaii...



Put up the top 5 signs the smoking hot T-mama will be waving for me throughout the day. BTW...I am so glad Kona is hot, she has to wear such small clothing to stay cool....dang.

Tacky

So I need some sign suggestion

Kona requires a Sherpa(certain spouse who cheers for you all day and follows you around supporting you regardless of how much you have been missing from the house, letting the cars fall apart due to all the training ect.)

For Taconite boy that ALWAYS means Trimama. The fact that Kona has an underwear 2 mile run several days prior to my race is not a complaint either. My search for what she is wearing with me is underway regarding this tough, grueling event.

But I need your help on another important aspect of Ironman day, Sherpa signs. This is Kona people! We need good signs.

I purpose 10 quick sayings that I will see throughout the day on the Ironman course.

Then narrow these down to the three best ones.

Here's my suggestions

1. Suck it up, buttercup!
2. You think this course is long....wait till the 'honey do' list.
3. Make the most of the day...you paid for all 17 hours.
4. Go
5. ??

Tacky

Tri Goodness

Tacky is experiencing some Tri goodness lately. For all of the start up difficulties, 4 kids responsibilities and general sinus infections, Tac is finally getting to get some Kona excitement going!

Checked out the Ironman Kona Athlete guide last night....heheheheh. Checked out a bunch of You Tube stuff on the bike course...hehehehhe. Today I was able to spend the majority of the day with a ton of Tri studs and studettes. The high point being time spent with CY going over all her experiences last year when she raced Kona and gathering tips, like heading out Hawi with cross winds. Yikes!

Ok. Pinch me...I'm doing the Ironman in Kona, HI.

This week was a swim focus (8000 yds)/ rest week except for the make-up long bike (90) for the complete collapse I had the week prior. Other then that, I actually slept quite a bit now that the anti-biotic is working on my 4 week long sinus battle!

Trimama and I have decided Ironman Wisconsin is in need of our cheering. So cheer we will, I may even sneak into swim suit stripping and do my magic(yes Robbie B, I'M BACK). Looking forward to seeing all the tri buddies down there and seeing some first timers cross that line!

I have much to say about my new Sugoi Scwag! I will post on that soon with more pics as I try it out. So far, very nice!

Tacky

Sauna Time

So Tacky needs to get ready for Kona Heat. Yeah, the current Minnesota Summer is more like a spring on steroids. Very cold. On my last long ride the morning temperature was 44...IN FREAKING AUGUST!!

How does one train for Kona heat this far north of the equator. Answer: Tack has learned the new art of the sauna. According to the owner of Gear West Bike and Triathlon, Kevin (a multi year Kona qualifer) the best way to prepare for Kona heat is to get in the old sauna. Kevin suggested after every swim at the YMCA, I jump in the sweat room for as long as I can take it.

I think the first time I may have lasted 5 minutes. Second time I lasted 10 minutes, despite the dude who think walking stark naked in front of me then sitting down is cool. Dude.

Apparently time in the sauna actually effects the physiology of your blood and prepares you better for the heat in Hawaii. I have no clue what Kevin was talking about, but Trimama did confirm that his assertions were based in fact (Registered Dietician and Chief Tribe Doctor).

All other training is moving along fairly well. Heir Bigun had me doing long bikes the day after really long runs. That has been axed. I need a day of recovery between 20 mile runs and 100 mile bikes!! My last bike was a complete bust due to just not having any power in my legs. With all that said, I am amazed at how much stronger I am biking and running this year as opposed to past years. I am convinced this is mostly due to not working on my feet all day long. As a painter there were few moments during the day I was sitting, versus as a broke start up guy...I'm sitting on my duff quite regularly :)

The Kona for Orphans fund is doing great!! As of today we are 25% towards my goal. MUCH thanks to all of you who have contributed! I am amazed at how rewarding working with charities can be. When something as beautiful as adoption can be part of my Ironman experience, the only conclusion is this is truly another gift from above.

Talk soon,

Tacky

The training plan

Well, there it is....

Bigun's revenge.

The 'Crippled Tacboy N Bigun show'.

How to get Coach Kris Mad at us training schedule

How to get Trimama mad at Tacky training schedule

How to get keep up with the Nun at Kona training schedule

What not to do during a start up company training schedule

Feel free to add

Kona, The Tribe, Orphans and God.

All is in place! The Taconite Boy official charity for Kona Ironman World Championships is set up and ready for you to donate.

Yes, some consider Tac fairly direct.

Trimama and Tacky have been busy with alot in the past few years. Startup companies, teenager starting to drive(AHHH), 4 Ironman's, podcasting, blogging, charity raising for SAVE (suicide awareness voices of edcuation) and plenty of other general '4 kids under 15 stuff'. Why should God put any more on our plates?

...cause that's how He rolls. :)

T-mama and I have a very devoted relationship to each other centered in the person of Christ. Since the first days of realizing our relationship was meant for lifelong commitment we desired to follow God wherever He might lead us. The most recent passion that we have been nurturing is adoption. Once the ridiculous aspect of that which is a technology startup company settles down, we hope to begin the process of inter-racial adoption. We figure we have enough kids that look like us. :)

Since a 'lottery' slot to Kona still falls within the sovereignty of God, then obtaining that entry has more significance to us then just the tri-geekyness of it. Don't get me wrong, Kona is going to ROCK, but we desire to use the next 10 weeks to also bring a spotlight to our passion...Adoption.

The MICAH Fund is an adoption grant organization that was formed almost 20 years ago to enable families in need of financial assistance for cross racial adoption. Both Trimama and Tac have friends who have benefited from this fund and our currently raising adopted children of their own.

Some day soon we hope to join our friends in this wonderful calling, but until then we have the honor of racing the most exciting endurance event on the planet and raise funds for orphans at the same time.

Here is the Janus Charity Challenge web page.

Thank you!

Tacky & Trimama (Brian and Kari)

Chisago Long Course 2009, Tacky style.

Hey folks! I finally got my Tri groove on again. As we were waiting for the gun to go off this morning I remember telling Iron Jenny that the last Triathlon I had competed in was this one....a year ago!

The Kona qualifier, if you will. Ironman requires at least a 70.3 or greater distance tri to be completed prior to Kona. So basically here's how that worked. I finish...I get to race in Kona. That is clearly the easiest way I'll ever get to IM World Championships. LOL

I guess the fact that I headed to this triathlon alone was really the first part of a strange, but overall good day. Trimama has regularly accompanied me to races and if not her, some other tri buddy like Tri Thunder Kraught. I made it pretty early (5:30am) got my race number, chip ect and unpacked all my transition gear. Then chatted with friends throughout the rest of the morning until race time.

Gun goes off. I was in wave 7, about 50 of us or so. My swim went really well, I've been working on a new technique. I used to enter my stroke near my head, but was taught recently (Steve Gunther) that it is better to reach my arm over a pretend barrel and land in the water and then pull through. Yeah, that worked pretty good. Took 8 minutes off my time from last year. 32 minutes.

Caught my breath in transition and got off on the bike. LOVE this course. Really flat and fast with slight rollers, but overall you are going to make good time. I ended up in transition by 3:25, which for me is very good time.

The run. Ugh. I can not tell what exactly happened, but the run just plain sucked. I just never felt strong throughout. I ended up with a 2:20 run where I was expecting closer to 2 hrs flat. Life has thrown old Tacky a few curves this week between weighty family issues and difficult work conditions. I literally could feel the wait of that during the run portion of this race. Needless to say running into the entire Tribe and Trimama at mile 8 was VERY encouraging!!!

Finished in 5:49. For Tacky that was a PR and I was just glad to be officially 'qualified' for Kona.

More crazy work stuff this week as well, but we will persevere. I guess my career in Triathlon has really prepared me for this time in life. One of perseverance despite current feelings, thoughts and doubts. :) Yea God.

Talk soon,

Tacky

Getting Closer

Hi anyone who still reads this. Tac Boy here.

Yes I have been off the blogs for quite some time now due to life. The good news is that we are getting very close to a final funding situation with our start up company. The Bad news (although with God as our ultimate Provider there is a disclaimer here) we are destitute financially. :)

Trimama has been a huge support to me during this difficult period and believes in both my vision for where were going as a tribe and in the God who states that He is Good.

Pray for us in Christ's name!

Kona

Yep I have begun the Kona training. I'm finding that this time around a reliance on my instinct for what training needs to occur is fine. I have had some long rides already (including the Ironman Wisconsin course) and am working on getting my run miles up. The whole Kona thing is both amazing and perplexing right now. On one hand, what a huge privilege to be the only lottery winner from Minnesota to represent. On the other hand, our financial situation is so precarious right now that thinking of trying to get out to Hawaii in October is quite beyond me. But train I must and train I will.

I am not at full liberty to speak yet, but am excited about some opportunities that may present themselves to me regarding raising charity funds for my race in Kona. I will say that Trimama and I desperately want to adopt at this time and this passion will be the focus of our fundraising through Kona and maybe beyond!

If Bigun would ever call me, I might podcast. Let him know that his preoccupation with his start up company is really getting in the way of the Tacboy n' Bigun Podcast!

Thanks for reading,

Tacky

I

ahhhhhh.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


Tacky

If Taconite Boy posts in a forest....

Im curious if anyone will notice.

WIBA is on the schedule for Trimama and Tacky along with Alexandria Triathlon in 4 weeks. Who HOO. Spring is kicking full gear in Minnesota and I'm emerging from cave like existence.

I would love to tell you all about my new job (again depending on if you heard the post in the forest) but still am unable to do so while were waiting upon negotiations. Let's just say that I have not painted anything professionally for 6 mos. and am enjoying my new found weak core due to sitting on my a__ so much.

Bigun and I have had talks about podcasting. We even joked that we may do an episode some time.


Talk soon,

Tacky