Last weekend was definitely my best ironman showing with an overall P.R. and P.R. run and a P.R. effort on the bike (wattage wise).  As much I don’t want to signal this as a pinnacle for me, it was a significant race in that last summer was so bad and I was not making any more progress.  Injuries, stagnation, and boredom had brought me to a new low in sport and I was unsure of what to do next.

Now that I am back on the upswing, it is important to know who kept me from getting stuck in the pit.

#1-  I still have a message on my phone from Doug Maracco after Boise 70.3 last year.  That dude has always been a great mentor.

#2-  Mark Plaatjes was a savior and likely changed my body completely.  This guy is the most amazing physical therapist (and one of the most amazing distance runners ever, even though you would never know from talking to this modest fellow).  I spent about 10 weeks at his office, once a week because that is all that is permitted, screaming and cursing as he broke down my hammy.  At this point, years of hamstring problems have disappeared!  Mark and Heather at In-Motion are forever my heroes in helping me thoroughly enjoying running painfree again.

#3- My parents travelled up to Lake Placid last week and were so dam helpful.  They got us a room that looked over the start line and my Mom did her best at photographing the fun, while my dad kept count and gave me the all important splits as I closed in on the money.

#4-  I know there is someone else…uh…someone close by…

(Lara and I dressed up for Holloween ’08, Mama Phelps supporting Michael, complete with styled wig and authentic Chico clothing for Lara and USA Speedo outfit, 8 gold medals and an IPOD for myself)

Lara has been such a trooper with her own training and racing and working.  Somehow she she still has the patience to be a loving wife or give me a swift kick in the ass.    She really knows what to say at the right time.  There is no room to slack with her around but she will give me a moment to complain about my “oh so tough life,”  but only a very short moment.  Thanks Lara, and even thanks to Bogart.  Heck that dude just puts a smile on our faces.

Ok, I am done, with Placid.  It is almost time to turn the corner and focus on another race and  a championship season with the mids.