im finally here. i am staying at my buddies' Jimmy and his fiance erin's place, and i feel like i am in a pine tree. oregon is absolutely beautiful. looking outside, all i can see is mountains and trees.
with that said, it is a little hilly....
so yesterday, was travel day. before i began my travels i got stretched and massaged in a last minute plea by cheryl francisco. awesome. i was referred to her by a friend, and now i know why, she really loosened me up, and after my lil jog this morning, i am feeling good. she is on richmond, if you want her number let me know. she has magic fingers, and an awesome person.
i then went out to sugar cycles, and the boys tuned and cleaned my bike, and it is looking good. (as good as a gold bike can look). i will be sportin' the sugar onsie tommorow.
i used my boston a-hole driving skills to get to hobby in time, and jumped on my flight. southwest only charges 45 bucks to carry a bike, that beats continental's 95. i got in real late and went to bed.
i woke up to find myself in that pine tree i was talking about, and realizing the race is tommorow.
my goals for tommorow is #1 qualify for worlds and gain a spot on team usa #2 do well overall and in my age group #3 have fun. it always fun, so im not worried about that. i want to swim sub 20, ride between 60-63 minutes, and run sub 35. all with quick transitions.
it will be painful, but pain is like sex- it ends, then you can laugh about it.
following my coach's directin, (http://www.jandariccimunn.com/) i have been eating 700g of carbs a day, for a couple, and it sucks, but it works.
thank you, to all my friends, for your calls or messages of support.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
streeetching
i dont stretch that often, something i need to change in my routine. so i am focusing on loosening up for nationals this week. little short workouts, bursts of intensity, and slow leisurely spinning. these will help me get warmed up so i can stretch it out.
i am flying out tonight, so i have alot of things to get done before then.
i will spend the next two days visualizing race day, hopefully that will get ris of some of my nerves.
remember - "cougars are always better than kittens"-M.L.
i am flying out tonight, so i have alot of things to get done before then.
i will spend the next two days visualizing race day, hopefully that will get ris of some of my nerves.
remember - "cougars are always better than kittens"-M.L.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
lay off me...i'm starving
dude, it seriously feels like i can never eat enough. while i was riding today i got hunger pains and i had to stop and eat. i had gels and bars on me, but it wasn't enough. so, i ate a sandwich! i am eating enough, and it is of good nutrition. a balanced package of protien/carbs/even fat. maybe i need more calories, straight up more food!
what about the heat? i must be burning more calories b/c of the Houston heat than normal. so...it is hotter, and i am working harder, using more energy, and neet to eat and drink more. or maybe i am just not drinking enough, ao that void in my belly is just liquid lapse. hmm.
i will continue to experiment, but i think i just need to eat and drink more.
what about the heat? i must be burning more calories b/c of the Houston heat than normal. so...it is hotter, and i am working harder, using more energy, and neet to eat and drink more. or maybe i am just not drinking enough, ao that void in my belly is just liquid lapse. hmm.
i will continue to experiment, but i think i just need to eat and drink more.
Last hard workout before Natl's
One track workout, not that complicated, left. 3 mile warmup, 1 mile at 5:45, 2 800's at 2:40, 2 400's at 78sec, and then a little cooldown. After that, it is a week long miserable experience of feeling fat, unfit, and sloth-like while i taper down for usat nationals in portland, oregon saturday.
I guess during a taper, we forget about all the workouts, and races leading up to this point. this track workout is nothing compared to lastweeks, but it is a reminder that I am ready. THE HAY IS IN THE BARN, and it is time to make a withdrawel from the drive-by teller. If monsoon season would ever subside in Houston, it would be nice too. All of my friends are at Buffalo Springs this weekend, and a couple Sugar Mama's even made http://www.ironmanlive.com/ just look in the picture section. They are all gonna have a great day in Lubbock...
I guess during a taper, we forget about all the workouts, and races leading up to this point. this track workout is nothing compared to lastweeks, but it is a reminder that I am ready. THE HAY IS IN THE BARN, and it is time to make a withdrawel from the drive-by teller. If monsoon season would ever subside in Houston, it would be nice too. All of my friends are at Buffalo Springs this weekend, and a couple Sugar Mama's even made http://www.ironmanlive.com/ just look in the picture section. They are all gonna have a great day in Lubbock...
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Race Recap: Tejas Tri - First Overall Win!
Race Recap: Tejas Triathlon in Sugarland, Texas.
The popular Houston event sold out at 800 participants over a month ago, so I have been anxious for race day for weeks. I knew that if I could get my bike split together, sit on the pain, average a respectable speed, and have a solid swim and run, I would have a chance at the win. I really wanted a confidence boost before USAT Nationals in Portland, Oregon later this month. Janda Ricci-Munn, my coach, knew this as well, so for the past few weeks we have really focused on my cycling. I was going to attack the .5m/11m/3m sprint, and make my first honest attempt at riding hard.
Race morning was early. I woke up at 4 a.m. and felt very tired. My body felt good, but I was really hungry and tired. I was a little nervous about being so hungry, so I ate a couple PB sandwiches and swilled down some coffee. A couple buddies and I got to the race at about 5:45, and I began to prepare for the start. Janda told me to get a solid warm-up on the bike, and that is what I did, as well as gobble down a couple more PowerBars.
I always learn something new at every race, either about myself or racing in general. At Tejas it was both: Look at the swim course! I never do, I just go to the start. I guess that comes from swimming my whole life, but there is no course difference in pool based swimming! Janda and I had talked earlier in the week, and the plan was to be at VO2 Max the entire race, and that I did. I charged off with my red cap for about 100 yds, and couldn’t see or feel anybody. That is a good feeling, because being 23 there are always a couple ex-collegiate swimmers in the pack that haven’t gotten that out of shape. As I closed in on the first buoy, I began to see other red caps off my right side about 50 yards away. I had totally cut the swim course wrong, and I ended up playing catch up the entire swim.
Getting out of the water with a big effort knowing there was 2 already out bothered me, and it took me 5 tries to buckle my race belt. I finally got out of the busy transition area, and instantly noticed more acceleration than usual. I didn’t start my watch, and there was no magnet on my wheel so I had no idea what time it was or what speed I was holding. All I knew was that it hurt, and I wasn’t backing off. I was in the fourth wave, so the two-loop course was very crowded. As I approached the dismount, it had just occurred to me that for the first time in five years I did not get passed on the bike.
I had a very fast T2, and I knew it was time to throw down the hammer and go for it. Exiting the transition I started my stopwatch, felt my tight hamstrings, and thought for a second that I might have ridden too hard. A lot of people had told me that you will always be able to run off the bike, no matter how hard you ride, and for a second I doubted them. As I approached the first mile marker in the turning and curvy course, I looked down and saw 5:05 on my wrist, slowed down a little bit and kept going. There was a lot of pain throughout the whole race, including the run, but I felt strong every second of it. As I crossed the finish, only knowing that my run was fast, the race clock said 1:09.35. I started 15 minutes back, and knew last year’s winner was somewhere in the 54 minute; I was satisfied. I had finally put together a solid bike split, which was my missing link. Even with the poor swim start, and an ironic one seeing that I have a Bachelor’s degree in marine navigation, I still swam 9:30 for the half-mile swim. I think I was happier about my bike split than my overall place, because for so long it has been preventing me from reaching the podium. I averaged 24.5 mph, and finished it up with a 16:20 3mile run split; An average of 5:25/mile pace. My final time of 52:35 gave me the overall win and the course record.
I moved to Texas after joining the USCG in 2005, and put together a long distance season with poor training in 2006. Janda told me to call him last fall, and he told me that I had two options: I can race a lot and have fun finishing or I can train hard, race smart, and see where I can go in the sport of Triathlon. I chose the latter, and the training plan Janda has for me is smart, and it allows me to race hard. With Janda’s help, I will see how far I can go in Triathlon. Next stop, USAT Nationals in Portland, OR.
The popular Houston event sold out at 800 participants over a month ago, so I have been anxious for race day for weeks. I knew that if I could get my bike split together, sit on the pain, average a respectable speed, and have a solid swim and run, I would have a chance at the win. I really wanted a confidence boost before USAT Nationals in Portland, Oregon later this month. Janda Ricci-Munn, my coach, knew this as well, so for the past few weeks we have really focused on my cycling. I was going to attack the .5m/11m/3m sprint, and make my first honest attempt at riding hard.
Race morning was early. I woke up at 4 a.m. and felt very tired. My body felt good, but I was really hungry and tired. I was a little nervous about being so hungry, so I ate a couple PB sandwiches and swilled down some coffee. A couple buddies and I got to the race at about 5:45, and I began to prepare for the start. Janda told me to get a solid warm-up on the bike, and that is what I did, as well as gobble down a couple more PowerBars.
I always learn something new at every race, either about myself or racing in general. At Tejas it was both: Look at the swim course! I never do, I just go to the start. I guess that comes from swimming my whole life, but there is no course difference in pool based swimming! Janda and I had talked earlier in the week, and the plan was to be at VO2 Max the entire race, and that I did. I charged off with my red cap for about 100 yds, and couldn’t see or feel anybody. That is a good feeling, because being 23 there are always a couple ex-collegiate swimmers in the pack that haven’t gotten that out of shape. As I closed in on the first buoy, I began to see other red caps off my right side about 50 yards away. I had totally cut the swim course wrong, and I ended up playing catch up the entire swim.
Getting out of the water with a big effort knowing there was 2 already out bothered me, and it took me 5 tries to buckle my race belt. I finally got out of the busy transition area, and instantly noticed more acceleration than usual. I didn’t start my watch, and there was no magnet on my wheel so I had no idea what time it was or what speed I was holding. All I knew was that it hurt, and I wasn’t backing off. I was in the fourth wave, so the two-loop course was very crowded. As I approached the dismount, it had just occurred to me that for the first time in five years I did not get passed on the bike.
I had a very fast T2, and I knew it was time to throw down the hammer and go for it. Exiting the transition I started my stopwatch, felt my tight hamstrings, and thought for a second that I might have ridden too hard. A lot of people had told me that you will always be able to run off the bike, no matter how hard you ride, and for a second I doubted them. As I approached the first mile marker in the turning and curvy course, I looked down and saw 5:05 on my wrist, slowed down a little bit and kept going. There was a lot of pain throughout the whole race, including the run, but I felt strong every second of it. As I crossed the finish, only knowing that my run was fast, the race clock said 1:09.35. I started 15 minutes back, and knew last year’s winner was somewhere in the 54 minute; I was satisfied. I had finally put together a solid bike split, which was my missing link. Even with the poor swim start, and an ironic one seeing that I have a Bachelor’s degree in marine navigation, I still swam 9:30 for the half-mile swim. I think I was happier about my bike split than my overall place, because for so long it has been preventing me from reaching the podium. I averaged 24.5 mph, and finished it up with a 16:20 3mile run split; An average of 5:25/mile pace. My final time of 52:35 gave me the overall win and the course record.
I moved to Texas after joining the USCG in 2005, and put together a long distance season with poor training in 2006. Janda told me to call him last fall, and he told me that I had two options: I can race a lot and have fun finishing or I can train hard, race smart, and see where I can go in the sport of Triathlon. I chose the latter, and the training plan Janda has for me is smart, and it allows me to race hard. With Janda’s help, I will see how far I can go in Triathlon. Next stop, USAT Nationals in Portland, OR.
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