Timothy Monk
Ironman Triathlete
Timothy Monk
Does Weight Matter?
Stop swimming, start working, golf in a cart becomes your exercise and before you know it 220 lbs on a 5' 11" frame (Me above 1998).
The first picture reminds me everyday of who I used to be.
It has been about 9 years to the day that I started to really focus on my weight. Not a lot has changed because I still watch the weight everyday.
As of now, my weight is 175. That seems to be the going average for me. I have seen as low as 166 and as high as 180 over the past 2 years. I do have a body fat scale and see 9 - 11 % on that whether I am 166 or 180 lbs.
I have posted good results at 169 lbs and qualified for Kona at 175 lbs. During the Houston Marathon, I actually gained weight during the race and they made me go to the med tent because I weighed 179 at the finish. (That brought back flashbacks of the old me from 1998).
So to answer my own question the answer is yes, it does matter. Not in lbs, but how I think about it. I will always watch my weight, but I will always look back at the first picture and realize that the race between myself and my weight is long over. I need to declare that race a victory and just enjoy how great I feel at 37 years of age.
Comments
It All Starts Now
On April 15th, 2009, Ironman released the list of lottery winners for the 2009 IM World Championships. Congratulations to all of those that were chosen. I hope Ironman keeps this tradition alive and gives everyone a small chance via lottery to go to Kona.
The release of the Lottery Winners is also the official start to most peoples build up for the IM World Championships. I have seen my rides increase to 4:00 with brick runs hitting :45 minutes. I had a great session on Sunday with 80 miles in the saddle followed up with some mile repeats at the track. I was so surprised at my times, because I was holding 6:17 per mile. I have also seen a few kilo's burn off in past weeks so no doubt that is helping speed up the run.
Last week in my travels, I met a Dr. Minkoff. He is a 5 time Kona finisher and gave me some great advice about a product called M.A.P or Master Amino Profile. Although my employer does not make this product (yet), Dr. Minkoff was such a firm believer and it has a long history in triathlon that I have given it a whirl. Dr. Minkoff was kind enough to provide me with samples so I will let everyone know how it is working.
If my repeats at the track after my 80 mile ride are any indication, it is going pretty well.
My work is causing me a lot of stress right now as I am sure it is for everyone in this economy. However, I tell myself daily that if I can qualify for Kona, then I can overcome anything. My personality is such that I put drive into everything I do because I hate being second best. The same goes for work. DNF 'ing is not an option for me, whether it be work, family or racing.
On a family note, my son is progressing so quickly at T-ball and managed to get 3 outs the other day at his game. I just love seeing him improve. He is so driven to get better and to see his confidence build each game puts a huge smile on my face. The same goes for my daughter who has completed 2 big runs in the past week. One being the Girls Run Tulip trot and the other the Conroe ISD Elementary 1 Miler. She ran hard at both races and I was so proud of her.
Tim
The release of the Lottery Winners is also the official start to most peoples build up for the IM World Championships. I have seen my rides increase to 4:00 with brick runs hitting :45 minutes. I had a great session on Sunday with 80 miles in the saddle followed up with some mile repeats at the track. I was so surprised at my times, because I was holding 6:17 per mile. I have also seen a few kilo's burn off in past weeks so no doubt that is helping speed up the run.
Last week in my travels, I met a Dr. Minkoff. He is a 5 time Kona finisher and gave me some great advice about a product called M.A.P or Master Amino Profile. Although my employer does not make this product (yet), Dr. Minkoff was such a firm believer and it has a long history in triathlon that I have given it a whirl. Dr. Minkoff was kind enough to provide me with samples so I will let everyone know how it is working.
If my repeats at the track after my 80 mile ride are any indication, it is going pretty well.
My work is causing me a lot of stress right now as I am sure it is for everyone in this economy. However, I tell myself daily that if I can qualify for Kona, then I can overcome anything. My personality is such that I put drive into everything I do because I hate being second best. The same goes for work. DNF 'ing is not an option for me, whether it be work, family or racing.
On a family note, my son is progressing so quickly at T-ball and managed to get 3 outs the other day at his game. I just love seeing him improve. He is so driven to get better and to see his confidence build each game puts a huge smile on my face. The same goes for my daughter who has completed 2 big runs in the past week. One being the Girls Run Tulip trot and the other the Conroe ISD Elementary 1 Miler. She ran hard at both races and I was so proud of her.
Tim
Second Place @ Lone Star
Sunday was my first race of the season. I finished 2nd in the age group and 5th overall amateur. The distance was a quarter ironman and was a great test of any speed I might have early in the season
I normally race the longer stuff, but found this shorter race to be a lot of fun and an awesome test.
My friend Mike Young picked me up after Parker's t-ball game and we headed down to Galveston. It was my first trip to Galveston since Ike and there is still plenty of reminders from the devastation. However, unlike other cities that have suffered from a hurricane, Galveston has picked itself up quickly and welcomed over 2000 triathletes back to the island. The race was sold out and the city was ready to host the athletes.
This is our third year to go to Galveston for this race series and we always have pasta at a local Italian place called Mario's the night before. This year was no different with getting to eat with Mike and Clint. I put down a huge plate of spaghetti, bread and my pre-race glass of chianti. If you want some awesome local italian, you can't beat Mario's!
Sunday morning came after an awesome night of sleep (I was so tired from traveling all week I slept 8 + hours) and was ready to race.
Our age group was the 35 - 39 and we went second after the Pro's, the 30-34 and 20 - 24 age groups all combined up in the starting wave. The swim went really well from the start and I quickly caught a lot of people that left 5 minutes before us. I was pretty sure I was first out of the water on the swim in my age group. I saw someone with a faster swim split post race, but question if he went in the right age group because I never saw him on the course.
The bike started as planned and I quickly got into a rhythm and was clicking by the group in front of us from the moment I left transition. My goal on the bike is to be sure I don't get passed by anyone in my age group. Having a strong swim, I try to put myself in the front and just stay there for the race. When you swim well, it is easy to see where you are in placing, because if no one passes you... you win.
Well, this race was a bit different, because at mile 11 on the bike, Stuart Landis from the Woodlands came blowing by me. In a short race, I usually try to go with the other racers no matter what my heart rate says. However with Stuart, there was no hope. He dropped me.
The run started and my legs felt really heavy (no doubt thanks to Stuart). My HR was also really high because I could see my new friend "Stuart" in front of me on the run.
I usually run the first mile without thinking much, and here was no different with a quick 6:05. I saw Stuart and he did not give at all. I tried one more time at mile 3 with another 6:15 mile and still could not gain on him. By this point, my legs were done. I stayed close, but could never gain on him again and realized at mile 5 it was over. I will not reveal any other splits since my overall was a 6:30 pace for the 6.5 miles.
My streak of 2 first place victories at the Lone Star Triathlon was over. I was about to place 2nd. I looked back and there was no one in our age group even close. We had hammered everyone else, but I felt like the nail that got hammered.
The good thing about losing, is it only makes you want to work that much harder. The big race of the year is Kona, so an early season beating is good for the soul and brought my ego back down to earth.
Thanks Stuart.
I normally race the longer stuff, but found this shorter race to be a lot of fun and an awesome test.
My friend Mike Young picked me up after Parker's t-ball game and we headed down to Galveston. It was my first trip to Galveston since Ike and there is still plenty of reminders from the devastation. However, unlike other cities that have suffered from a hurricane, Galveston has picked itself up quickly and welcomed over 2000 triathletes back to the island. The race was sold out and the city was ready to host the athletes.
This is our third year to go to Galveston for this race series and we always have pasta at a local Italian place called Mario's the night before. This year was no different with getting to eat with Mike and Clint. I put down a huge plate of spaghetti, bread and my pre-race glass of chianti. If you want some awesome local italian, you can't beat Mario's!
Sunday morning came after an awesome night of sleep (I was so tired from traveling all week I slept 8 + hours) and was ready to race.
Our age group was the 35 - 39 and we went second after the Pro's, the 30-34 and 20 - 24 age groups all combined up in the starting wave. The swim went really well from the start and I quickly caught a lot of people that left 5 minutes before us. I was pretty sure I was first out of the water on the swim in my age group. I saw someone with a faster swim split post race, but question if he went in the right age group because I never saw him on the course.
The bike started as planned and I quickly got into a rhythm and was clicking by the group in front of us from the moment I left transition. My goal on the bike is to be sure I don't get passed by anyone in my age group. Having a strong swim, I try to put myself in the front and just stay there for the race. When you swim well, it is easy to see where you are in placing, because if no one passes you... you win.
Well, this race was a bit different, because at mile 11 on the bike, Stuart Landis from the Woodlands came blowing by me. In a short race, I usually try to go with the other racers no matter what my heart rate says. However with Stuart, there was no hope. He dropped me.
The run started and my legs felt really heavy (no doubt thanks to Stuart). My HR was also really high because I could see my new friend "Stuart" in front of me on the run.
I usually run the first mile without thinking much, and here was no different with a quick 6:05. I saw Stuart and he did not give at all. I tried one more time at mile 3 with another 6:15 mile and still could not gain on him. By this point, my legs were done. I stayed close, but could never gain on him again and realized at mile 5 it was over. I will not reveal any other splits since my overall was a 6:30 pace for the 6.5 miles.
My streak of 2 first place victories at the Lone Star Triathlon was over. I was about to place 2nd. I looked back and there was no one in our age group even close. We had hammered everyone else, but I felt like the nail that got hammered.
The good thing about losing, is it only makes you want to work that much harder. The big race of the year is Kona, so an early season beating is good for the soul and brought my ego back down to earth.
Thanks Stuart.
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Follow along as I train for the 2009 Ironman World Championship.
My beautiful family. Note the pier in the background which is no longer there thanks to Hurricane Ike. This picture was taken in Galveston, TX in March of 2008.
My beautiful family. Note the pier in the background which is no longer there thanks to Hurricane Ike. This picture was taken in Galveston, TX in March of 2008.