Two Training Updates

I've been meaning to blog for awhile now; here's a quick update on two training fronts.

As most of you know, I'm in upgrade training at my airline to be a captain.  Things on this front are going well.  I'm done with Indoc training, and just recently finished systems training.  I pulled a 99% on my systems test which felt really good to do.  This week is an off week for me, then tomorrow I start what they call Graphic Flight Simulation.  It's a 3 day session, each 4 hours, and what we do is essentially sit in a computer mock-up of the Q-400 and practice procedures.  I've been reviewing my procedures this week and feel very good about where I am with the flows, profiles, checklists, and emergency procedures.  My sim partner is a sharp guy and I really look forward to working with him.  After the GFS is done, I'll have two days off and then be in the simulator.  Woohoo.

On the other front, the Ironman front, I've been having a bit of a rough time.  We crashed our bikes together on the 16th of August, and a couple weeks later, I was out on a solo 60 mile ride which was going really well until I took a turn too fast and crashed.  I landed on my wrist and got a fair bit of road rash.  I healed up pretty fast, but still had to take a week off from the bike.

Last Sunday, T and I had a discussion about where we're at in training.  While we've had some great weeks, and overall we're feeling pretty good, we have had some rough weeks in training too.  And we both agreed that last week (week 12) would have to be a huge week.  A week that would utterly define our training.  If it was a failure, or a bad week, we would have to revisit our plan for Ironman.  We both know that Ironman is a lot of will, a lot of desire, and a lot of mental, but at the same point, you cannot toe the line without being in prime physical condition either.  Otherwise, you won't be crossing that finish line; you'll be in the med tent or worse.

Well, putting my money where my mouth is, I hit every workout goal last week.  Nearly 11 hours of training in the bag, I now have renewed hope for Ironman.  With focus and mental discipline, this dream will happen.

Finally, I'd like to thank Dr. J for sending me a video that I previously sent him back in 2009.  This video was myself flying into Aspen and somehow got lost.  It's pretty special to me and demonstrates the awesomeness of both the airplane I am going back to fly and the special flying I did while at Lynx Aviation.