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Friday, May 9, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Back to Gloucester
Umm, yea! Home sweet home. This is where I'll be for the next two weeks. I will be chillin with the family, at the beach, training my ass off, and eating the best food in the world.
I was planning on bringing Jasper, but there is no way I can afford it, so the pooch won't be able to plunge into the atlantic just yet.
I hope to get some miles in with Janda as well, while I am home. I will be laying out a solid couple weeks for Mooseman while i am home, which is good, because I might get a re-taste for new england hills, compared to my texas tortilla flat ass roads now.
I opted out of Boise for a couple reasons. Yes, I eventually want to race up there, but Mooseman offers another trip home, as well as a for-shizzle bad ass race put on by EndorFun.
My little Brother Kieran graduated from HS, and my little niece gets christened while i am home as well. I have missed so many things over the past few years, and I can't wait to be able to be home for a few important days.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Lonestar - Galveston HIM - Race Report
Lonestar Half IM came and went, quicker than I expected. I finally arrived at packet pickup around 1805(five minutes late!). Nevertheless, I got my packet, checked out the scene, ate some grub, and went to bed.
0430 – The alarm sounds. “%#?$” I totally forgot what it is like to wake up so early, so that I can put myself through numerous hours of pain and mental testing. I brought Jasper out to take a leak before departure for the race, and it was windy. Not killer winds, but a consistent presence. Not what I wanted to feel as I mentally prepared.
Arriving at Moody Gardens, and trying to find a parking place, I ended up planting myself next to the Mavic guys. I met Jason Vivion, the local ORBEA rep, and an integral part in getting my new ride. Thanks again Jason!
I warmed up, used the facilities, got my transition ready, and was on the pier in perfect timing. This rarely happens to me! I plunged into Galveston Bay, and not bad for March.
0730 – The race begins. I felt awesome in the water and held onto the lead man until we cut separate lines, his was better, damn. The swim felt like it was never going to end, and the collective answer was because it was long, I don’t think one person broke 28 minutes! So I was happy to get out with a nice cushion on the field, and looking at the results not too far savage swimmer Chris Sustala. I have found it is harder to swim fast in the front empty elite waves, when you are swimming with hundreds of bodies it is way more motivating. I also need a new wetsuit, mine of 5 years has shrunk beyond the limits I can push it.
Running out of the water, awesome to hear Adam formerly of Jack and Adam’s of Austin, screaming the play by play. I grabbed my bike, thought, “damn this thing is light”, and went on.
The word for my 2008 season is “cycle”! The weakest of my three, is something I will work continuously to get better, faster, and stronger. I have and I will press on. I knew it would be a matter of time before the like of Mark Brooker would come screaming by. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t happen for a while. We did not have a true tail or head wind, just a bunch of cross wind, which made for a windy day, but it could have been worse. I grimaced the entire ride pushing and pushing, almost trying to prove that I know how to ride a bike. Seeing Sugar Cycles out on the race course was awesome, and motivating. Thanks guys! Turning back down towards Moody Gardens with the only tail wind for a half mile was a gift, I was moving and I was about to finish the bike course. I ended up averaging 23 mph, and not losing much time to the field. The ORDU is a stiff ride, and I feel like every watt goes directly to the drive train. I was in the aero position for 56 straight flat miles, and felt comfortable as ever. I finished the bike in 6th place.
Time to run. I definitely did not eat enough on the bike, I felt kind of hungry at the run start. My first 4 miles were druising at 530 pace, but then slowly I faded. It got pretty hot out there, and I gave it all I had. I pulled off a 1:23 run split.
Finishing the day in 4th place overall with a time of 4:21, and very content. It is only March, and I have a long season ahead. This race gave me a great benchmark of what I can achieve this season. Thanks to everyone for all there support out there.
In other news, we had some great performances out there this weekend: Kelly Carrington got 5th overall female with a new PR, John Robertson(I will get you one day) pulled of a 2nd Overall, Mark Brooker(Texas version of Norman Stadler) 5th Overall, Natilie Miller P.R., and Kathleen killed the Aquabike, but then got warm water :(. Last but definetly not least, TRIGREYHOUND had a great race surprising himself with his pace throughout. Congrats!
FACT: Kieth and Claire Jordan from EndorFun, the race directors for Lonestar, Longhorn, Timberman, and Mooseman are true professionals. No race can compete with them, they think of everything, and I would travel anywhere to do there racers.
0430 – The alarm sounds. “%#?$” I totally forgot what it is like to wake up so early, so that I can put myself through numerous hours of pain and mental testing. I brought Jasper out to take a leak before departure for the race, and it was windy. Not killer winds, but a consistent presence. Not what I wanted to feel as I mentally prepared.
Arriving at Moody Gardens, and trying to find a parking place, I ended up planting myself next to the Mavic guys. I met Jason Vivion, the local ORBEA rep, and an integral part in getting my new ride. Thanks again Jason!
I warmed up, used the facilities, got my transition ready, and was on the pier in perfect timing. This rarely happens to me! I plunged into Galveston Bay, and not bad for March.
0730 – The race begins. I felt awesome in the water and held onto the lead man until we cut separate lines, his was better, damn. The swim felt like it was never going to end, and the collective answer was because it was long, I don’t think one person broke 28 minutes! So I was happy to get out with a nice cushion on the field, and looking at the results not too far savage swimmer Chris Sustala. I have found it is harder to swim fast in the front empty elite waves, when you are swimming with hundreds of bodies it is way more motivating. I also need a new wetsuit, mine of 5 years has shrunk beyond the limits I can push it.
Running out of the water, awesome to hear Adam formerly of Jack and Adam’s of Austin, screaming the play by play. I grabbed my bike, thought, “damn this thing is light”, and went on.
The word for my 2008 season is “cycle”! The weakest of my three, is something I will work continuously to get better, faster, and stronger. I have and I will press on. I knew it would be a matter of time before the like of Mark Brooker would come screaming by. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t happen for a while. We did not have a true tail or head wind, just a bunch of cross wind, which made for a windy day, but it could have been worse. I grimaced the entire ride pushing and pushing, almost trying to prove that I know how to ride a bike. Seeing Sugar Cycles out on the race course was awesome, and motivating. Thanks guys! Turning back down towards Moody Gardens with the only tail wind for a half mile was a gift, I was moving and I was about to finish the bike course. I ended up averaging 23 mph, and not losing much time to the field. The ORDU is a stiff ride, and I feel like every watt goes directly to the drive train. I was in the aero position for 56 straight flat miles, and felt comfortable as ever. I finished the bike in 6th place.
Time to run. I definitely did not eat enough on the bike, I felt kind of hungry at the run start. My first 4 miles were druising at 530 pace, but then slowly I faded. It got pretty hot out there, and I gave it all I had. I pulled off a 1:23 run split.
Finishing the day in 4th place overall with a time of 4:21, and very content. It is only March, and I have a long season ahead. This race gave me a great benchmark of what I can achieve this season. Thanks to everyone for all there support out there.
In other news, we had some great performances out there this weekend: Kelly Carrington got 5th overall female with a new PR, John Robertson(I will get you one day) pulled of a 2nd Overall, Mark Brooker(Texas version of Norman Stadler) 5th Overall, Natilie Miller P.R., and Kathleen killed the Aquabike, but then got warm water :(. Last but definetly not least, TRIGREYHOUND had a great race surprising himself with his pace throughout. Congrats!
FACT: Kieth and Claire Jordan from EndorFun, the race directors for Lonestar, Longhorn, Timberman, and Mooseman are true professionals. No race can compete with them, they think of everything, and I would travel anywhere to do there racers.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Lonestar - Galveston HIM - PRE-RACE
Well, the first race of the year is here. I am pretty surprised of how quickly it came, but nontheless it is here. My taper this week is going well. I am tired, achy, and I want to sleep. SO = Good taper. I think it is funny that when you reduce your training volume and intinsity extensively, you get more tired. Our bodies are so used to the beating and endless exhaustion that is parralleled with Triathlon.
I have not blogged in a while. A lot of stuff going on outside my tri life, unexpected and expected. So, I continued training, ofcourse, but unfortunately I have not been on top o the blogosphere.
I hope all of you racing this weekend, have a great day, and I wish you good luck.
I recently acquired a 2008 White Orbea Ordu with SRAM Red!! I will be racing on it this weekend. I have spent two weeks on it thus far, and I love the bike. It truly rolls, and its light, responsive carbon is almost as irresistible as how damn good it looks. I will get pictures up soon.
I have not blogged in a while. A lot of stuff going on outside my tri life, unexpected and expected. So, I continued training, ofcourse, but unfortunately I have not been on top o the blogosphere.
I hope all of you racing this weekend, have a great day, and I wish you good luck.
I recently acquired a 2008 White Orbea Ordu with SRAM Red!! I will be racing on it this weekend. I have spent two weeks on it thus far, and I love the bike. It truly rolls, and its light, responsive carbon is almost as irresistible as how damn good it looks. I will get pictures up soon.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Texas wind
This weekend's long ride was long. One of the, if not most, windiest days I have ever encountered on the road. I would have rather of done 5 hours on a trainer than dealt with that wind! So, with a southerly wind, it made sence to head due south for an out and back, man. I soent the majority of the day way over my prescribed watts going 12.5 mph into a 25-30 mph head wind. I guss it made me stronger, but I was cursing Mother Nature at certain points.
I truly almost ended up getting blown off a bridge and falling directly into the Brazos River. The route, on a normal day, would be a great, safe, scenic, smooth ride throughout true Texas farm country. I am surprise Kathleen did not get blown over, being alot smaller than me!
My legs are feeling it, I'm a little windburn, and I think there is a tiny tumbleweed stuck in my right eye. It was a good day, and some great training, regardless.
For some sick reason, while I was driving back to town, I got the urge to do some yoga, and went directly to Joy Yoga, and did an hour. I didnt think I was going to be able to do it, because my legs were chewed up, but I did. Truely, it fealt great. It loosened me up, and I left there feeling fresh. Yoga is definitely something worth working into your schedule for any triathlete.
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