Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Month of July
Spudman Olympic- 2nd overall, fastest run
The water was too choppy to hold the swim according to the race director. After postponing the race for 1.5 hours they finally decided on a bike/run by age group. Basically I lost time on the bike and then made up some time on the run and finished second.
Next pics and more races!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Main Street Mile
The race started out too easy and allowed for Antonio to hide waiting to pounce
I ran in 2nd place for the first 800
Antonio sitting behind me and then unleashing a surge at 1k
I decided not to go with him and wait to kick in the last 250, didnt work!
I felt great and just ran out of time to catch Antonio, he won by .4 seconds. The race was a blast and I ended up with a 4:47. Solid effort and got to check this off my bucket list!
Until next time....
Monday, June 27, 2011
Training update
Big gear repeats on Stillwell loop in Eagle
My new recovery drink...sweet tea!
Until next time....
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Boise 70.3- Neil Bangs race report
I had several friends racing this year as well as my good pal Neil. Neil has been putting in massive hours of training with the Team TBB development program. He was hoping to be top 3 amateur, but fell short on the run. Overall a solid effort with both PR's in the swim and bike. He is becoming a monster on the bike and now he just has to run to his potential.
Neil had his own cheer squad, Meg!
Neil posted a 2:18 bike split
Starting to pick the pace up....
I am telling Neil that 3rd place in his age group is 5 sec in front with only 200 yards to the finish!
Job well done...4th in age group and total time 4:21 over 20 min faster than last year!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Off-Road YMCA Sprint- Race report
I thought well he a pro, then 3 more people pass me! Darn it! Ok time to really focus and ride hard. I sit in 5th place for the rest of the loops. Gaining respect from my fellow racers for racing on borrowed cross bike and keeping the gap small on top guys. Into transition I am in 5th place.
Neil right on my heels. My goal run as fast as possible for as long as possible. I know great racing strategies for the the bike and run! I pass John Shilt at about 1.5 miles in, then the next racer, now I am in 3rd. With only 3.5 miles on the run I could not make up the gap on Tom or Adam. Finishing strong and fastest run of the day, I was happy! Tom and Adam are fantastic athletes and my hat goes off to those guys. After the race we hung out for some great food and raffle prizes. I even won a free entry to Xterra Canada...which later Adam informed me that its the most difficult course on the circuit. Well I guess I am going to need to borrow a bike, and maybe I should ride a few times beforehand? Great race overall and fun being back in the mix with the boys.
Me and Dr. J
Adam 1st, Tom 2nd, Me 3rd
Until next time....
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The day it happened
Once upon a Sunday, I decided to meet up with Neil for a 2.5 hour ride. Although the sun was shining the wind had an icy bite to it. For much of the ride I was tired, sore, and cold so the entire experience was far from enjoyable. I came home to see Meg was baking (as usual) so I relaxed for the afternoon, and planned on setting out for an hour run that evening. The winds were calm, sun was starting to set, and I felt as though my days work was going to end well. So right before I suit up and head out to run I tell meg a foreshadowing thought, "all I have to do is stay healthy for 4 weeks and its off to Texas for my big race!" She gives me a kiss goodbye and I drove off. I decided to run a new trail out by by the canal near Bowen Crossing. The run started off great and kiah (my dog) was out running in front of me. The plan was to run steady for 30 min and then tempo back to the car. After 45 min of running I was feeling good. Then we started to approach a couple with a golden retriever....(input slow scary music) and kiah bolted towards the dog, and within a blink of an eye I was hitting the dirt.
She looks harmless, but don't let her fool you!
She had scared the other dog and therefore making her run right in front of me tripping me awkwardly landing on my elbow first. Right away I knew something bad had happened. I jogged slowly back to the car and drove home. When I got home Meg was gone running in the park, I ran over and told her we needed to go to the hospital. She then told me hesitantly we needed to wait for her bread to bake so after a 15 minute wait (no big deal the damage was done)...we went to the ER.
ER bracelet...
A splint, x-rays, and some pain medication I was sent home with a note saying undetermined diagnoses, and we needed to see an orthopedist. Luckily I coach masters swimming, and Dr. Jeff Shilt swims in my class. He is a great person, and superb doc so I went to him first thing the next morning. He said that my radius was fractured near the elbow. Good thing it wasn't displaced so no surgery needed.
So with about 3 weeks of no swimming, competing in Texas is out of the question. I can however bike indoors and start running as the pain goes down. I plan on laying out a new season plan soon. So just when you think you have it all figured out life throws me the ole curve ball. My mom told me the story of how Abe Lincoln failed and tried so many times at being president and yet no one remembers him for that, they only remember him for what he achieved. Like the old proverb says," smooth seas doesn't make skillful sailors."
P.S I didn't take kiah to the pound!
Until next time.....
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Climbing...my new favorite hobby
Up the hill building those calves
Now back down...repeat!
Starting to get tired...only two more left!
Happy to be done with those intervals..they hurt so good.
Its about the journey not the destination.
Until next time....
Spring Training
Me running trying to catch up to kiah (my cattle dog)
Following Neil in the foothills
Kiah loves the spring time because she gets infinite water breaks
Until next time....
Monday, April 4, 2011
Routine business
Meg Grabbing the newspaper
Hopefully we get our moneys worth!
Training for the next few days will be easy. Make sure I absorb all the hard work and then build to the beginning of the season. Until tomorrow...
Day 7: The end of camp
Enjoying the last of the sunshine
We decided to make the drive all the way back in one trip. It takes about 11 hours to get to Boise so we had our work cut out for us. When we left it was 92 deg. and in Boise it was 32 deg when we woke up the next morning. A major shock to the system! So its back to the treadmill and computrainer for awhile. Lets pray for some warm weather our way...soon!
Until tomorrow....
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Day 6: A long day in the saddle
Neil prepares oatmeal I am making some french press coffee
As you can see our kitchen looks a lot like a bathroom, but dont let the shower and sink fool you. This dual purpose room has worked for both occasions all week, and like I said before this hotel is upscale.
Our luxurious room packed full of triathlon gear.. (we did get the upgrade to a handicap room which allowed for storage room for our bikes!)
So now on to today's task- Bike between 4-5 hours with some time trial efforts. We started about 10:30 am and the temperature was already 75 deg, so it was going to be a toasty one today.
Neil apparently thinks this pace is too slow
1st water stop then 15min time trial next
My best game face
Neil looking super-cruisy!After 3 hours in the 90 plus degree heat we needed to get some water, and there just happened to be some gelato in the near future. After hours of not seeing water, greenery, trees, buildings we simply stumble upon Lake Las Vegas. It looks as someone just took a piece of europe and placed it in the desert.
View of the Lake with bridge in the background from gelato shop
Enjoying some gelato...Neil added a chopped up cliff bar to his and later decided that was a bad idea! Now only 1.5 hours home...After almost 4.5 hours on the bike we were tired, thirsty, hot, hot, hot, sunburned some more, and ready to relax. I went for a 30 min run off the bike when we got home and Neil got an early start on the ice bath. Then we decided it was time for dinner and Whole Foods was our best option.
Salmon and rice topped off with some coconut water
After eating dinner a guy came up to us and started telling us his life story. The cliff note version was been to prison (San Quentin), has 3 kids 2 different girls, became rich went broke, and hates Las Vegas. Basically we got the major creeper vibe when he told us he shanked someone in prison, so it was time to leave. It made for a great end to the evening and matter of fact I got to thinking Las Vegas isnt such a bad place, at least we had a good time. Although something tells me our Vegas experiences were two very different scenarios.
Until tomorrow....
Day 5: 85 degrees and sunburned
Neil BangsWorkout #1 done now
Around noon we drove to the outdoor pool that we swam in yesterday. We had such a good time swimming outside that we wanted to take the opportunity to do it again. The swim set would be 500 swim, 20x50 band only, 30x100 pull for 5k total. I like doing this set because you can just relax and get into the "zone" for the 100's.
Me finishing up with paddles
Neil cooling down
Workout #2 done and some lunch I am spent..oh wait still have to bike!
Finishing up the evening with 2 hour bike
Racing the sun back to the hotel
That concludes day 5 here in the desert. We finished off the evening making a gourmet dinner in the room, sardines and potatoes. Tomorrow I will include some pictures of our kitchen!
P.S Tonight's sleep on this sunburn is going to be brutal, I think tomorrow we will skip the outdoor pool swim!Until tomorrow.....