Ride around Winnepausakee

Our team biked around the lake today. A cool 60 mile trek. Very tough ride considering all the hills. We stopped every 15 miles or so to regroup and I think that maybe why my knees are throbbing right now. The last 10 miles were so painful.

I am starting to get really fustrated with my body. I just can't seem to shake the injuries. I really think I need to train more and stop going so hard. I really want to improve my speed, but in doing so I am making things worse.

Anyway, enough complaining. Here is a cool pic from the ride. In the pic I am the rider leading the pack up the hills. Notice the funny helmet... A buddy let me use his aero helmet. Pretty cool on flats and descends.

Can't quite get back on it

Both the blog and training have been tough lately. My legs are still messed up and I am tired all the time. I am listening to my body and just taking it easy. I don't think I will be too bad off for Timberman half in 3 weeks.

I have done some light running and a little biking the last week and a half. I think that is just what I needed though. I am heading out for a 10 mile run today and we will see how that goes. Oh yeah, I have a 60 mile ride around Winnepausakee tomorrow as well.

The blog updates will become more regular now that the training should be back on track.

Swim and Bike

I swam for 40 minutes on Tuesday and felt good. I golfed on Monday, so my back was a little tight from that. But overall a good swim.

On Wednesday evening I rode to Nubble light house and back. Great ride. Round trip is around 35 miles. Some nice rolling hills and beautiful views. A lot @sshole drivers though. Only the strong surive!

Lets go already

After the injury at Patriot, I have been chilling out a little bit. Well not too much. I did a 56 mile ride on sat and also some run/ bike workouts on Sunday. Feeling pretty good. My body is just tired. I am letting it rest and waiting to drop the hanmmer. I am eargerly anticipating a strong month and a half.

I head out to Lake Placid this weekend. I am so pumped!!! I am not even participating, but I am so excited. I can't believe a year from now, I will be one week a way from competing in an IRONMAN. Life is good.

Patriot Half Triathlon

July 5th was the Patriot half. Here is how the day went:


I was up at 440 in the morning and feeling pretty good. My legs were OK, but definetly not great.

After driving in circles for a little while, we made it to the site. Perfect weather for a race - slight drizzle and overcast. That sounds sarcastic, but it really is ideal. That way it isn't too hot.

After setting up my bike and transition area, I went for a 15 minute run. Legs were feeling pretty good and stomache is fine. The muscles are warm and it is time to get in the water to do a warm up swim. The water is a little gross, but not to bad. (sort of slimey) I swim for around 5 minutes and then end up talking more then swimming. I always do this.

The race is about to begin - I am in the 6th wave out of 7. Perfect. I love to start towards the back. That way you can be the chaser as opposed the chasee. My wave walks into the water. I try and pick the most direct spot to the first buoy. Its almost time. A little anxious as the 10 second count goes, but feeling ok.

GO!!! Arms and bodies everywhere. I am trying something new this race, I am breathing every other stroke rather then every third. More oxygen that way, but I will have to sight better. As the first buoy approaches I feel a little anxious, but still swimming fine. I always think I am farther back from the leader then I really am.

Basically all I am thinking is breath,stroke,stroke, breathe, stroke, stroke, breath sight. Yes for the entire swim, that is what I am thinking. I make it to the halfway point and I have caught other swimmers from not only the wave that started 5 minutes in front me, but 10 minutes as well. Feeling good and push it a little harder. Final stretch.. I am cruising now and catching guys from my wave that started to hard.

I run out of the water and see Tony and Kate. Feels great to see them! Sneak a peak at the watch, 38 minutes!! 5 minutes faster then my last race at this distance!!I take a look around the transition area and there are quite a few bikes still on the rack, so I know I did an alright job on the swim. Strip the wetsuit, grab my bike and helmet and I am off.

I hop on the bike and clip into one of my peddles. As soon as I put some force down to clip into the other one, someone complety cuts in front of me. The other peddle slams into my shin and it immediatly swells. I take a peak for blood, but nothing yet. Normally this would absolutely kill, but with my adrenalin pumping it only kinda hurts. I push out of the way and I am off.

Cruising out on the road I feel good. I drink some water and start to spin at a high cadence to wake up the legs. I climb the first hill and then drop into the aero position. I pick up the pace. Check the HR, 165. The course is progressive rollers and I continue to hammer up and down. I check to see how far I have gone, but my bike computer got screwed up when the peddle hit me. Annoying. I am thinking I am around 3 miles in and have 55 more to go.

I am rapidly passing people and feeling strong. I need to continue to hydrate and eat while on the bike. I broke up an energy bar last night and have the pieces stuck to my bike for easier consumption. It is ok for bar standards, but still hard to choke down.

As I am flying down a hill I hit a pretty good size pot hole. "Please don't flat, please don't flat", is all I could think. No hissing, so I am in the clear. The best part, I hit the pot hard enough to do something to my computer. It is now working!!

I am roughly 3/4 done on the first loop and I decide to step it up again. My knees are tight, but I feel so strong. I contiusly pass people with bikes that cost more then $5000. I am loving this! (It would be nice to have their wheelsett like theres though) The aero wheels give them such and advantage. I climb the hills and pass a bunch of people just to have them whiz by me on the decsend. Oh well, I am saving my pennies and some day.

I make it to the first pass where all the spectators are. Kate and Tony are there, so I give them a smile and a hang loose sign. I am going really fast now and decide to keep motoring on.

The rest of the bike was pretty straight forward. Push hard, keep hydrated and begin to think about the run. My knees seemed a little tight, but it is a 58 mile ride and I am averaging a slice under 21mmph.

Coming back on the bike and into transition I have my feet out of my shoes and hop off the bike. There doesn't seem to be anyone around from age group, just people I caught from earlier waves. I run in, throw my bike on the rack, put on my shoes, visor and race number and I am off.

Heading out on the run I see Kate and Tony. I shoot them a big smile and take a look at my watch. If I run an average 1/2 marathon, I will finish close to 5hrs!! I run with a high foot cadence to wake up the run muscles. Not a lot of runners around, so I know I am doing well.

At mile 1- I just ran an 8 minute mile. A little slow, but I intend on running negative splits. My left knee is starting to feel warm, and between my quad and hamstring on my right leg is starting to feel tight. Every step hotter and tighter, hotter and tighter. I am at mile 2 and I just ran anothe 8 minute mile, but I feel like I pushed it really hard. My HR is low, but my legs are burning.

Another step, pain increases. I am at mile 3 and I am shaking my head because I can't believe this is happening. I refuse to walk, but I am getting slower and slower. People are passing me every other minute.

Mile 4. 36 minutes into my run. I have taken an emotional defeat, I am walking through the water station. All the people I passed on the bike, are now returning the favor. Crushing. My knees feel like they have a knife cutting in with every step. My hamstring and ITB burn. My lower back is so tigh I am leaning slightly forward. I am physically defeated.

For some reason all I can think of is Roman times. When your body failed in the Collisium, you died. I try to use this as motivation, but nothing will work. I am running for a few minutes then walking.

I am right around 7 miles and have stopped at every water station to hydrate. I thank the volunteers for their support with a smile. I am in so much pain, but smile to show them my appreciation. The races would not happen if it wasn't for these people.

I continue to run and walk until two of my teammates catch up with me. They offer me elctrolytes and kind of run with me. I thank them and ask them to please go on without me. Very kind of them to run with me, but it would only make it that much worse for me. I ask Dave to tell Kate, I am fine, but having issues.

It is to the point where I know I would never quit, but my body is begging me to. I stop jogging around mile 10 and lay down on the ground to do what is called the pigeon stretch. It relieves the tension when I am down, but the minute I stand I constrict again. So many people have offered me electrolytes, asked me if I am ok and told me to dig deep. Such an amazing sport.

I hit the ninth mile and it hurts just as much to run as to walk. So the way I look at it, if I run, it would be over that much sooner. I press on and stop going to aid stations. I am actually starting to catch up with a group of runners. The competitive nature in me has kept me going and this small accomplishment makes me feel a little better.

As I come into the finish, I see that I have run a 2:10 half marathon. Half an hour longer then an average run. I see Tony and Kate, smile while gritting my teeth and finish the race.

Of all the races I have done, I am the proudest of this one. I have never wanted to stop and quit something more in my life, but I refused to do so. I now know the potential I have and will use this as a learning experience. This is why I love this sport and everything it has taught me.

Way too long

It has been quite a while since my last posting. I am going to start it back up ASAP. Two races since my last post and I will update shortly.

Mooseman Race

1st Tri of the year.

445 am - Wake up 15 minutes before the alarm clock

450 am get up and start the process. I pretty much prepped everything last night, so it was pretty quick.

500 am try and eat the bagel with peanut butter, but my gag reflex is outta control. Takes me 30 minutes to eat. Also drink some bad coffee.

545 am Get to the race. No where to park, but these really nice people move there car around a little and we slide in.

600 am Set up the bike and my transition area. I am smiling and feeling good.

630 start to see some freinds and my nerves are running high.

645 Go for a quick run with Kate to start the process. I am still a little tired from the Duathlon the week before.

7:00 Throw on the wetsuit and head to the water. Holy Sh-t the water is cold! I put my face in and my breath is taken a way. I am talking so friggin cold it hurts. Keep going under to try acclimate.

7:15 Take a look around and I cannot see the second buoy. Water stil cold, but getting better.

7:30 Race is postponed for 1 hour. This stinks.

8:30 It is announced that the swim is shortend by a third due to visibility.

8:35 - Race starts! Immediatly I start way to hard, again. I am breathing really hard and cannot see a friggin thing. People every where and I cannot see the buoys. Anxiety is completey out of control. Make it to the first buoy but cannot see the second. I continue to swim and follow the pack and finally make it to the second. I have to take off my goggles to get my sense of direction. This suck! I cannot see the the third buoy at all. After 10 minutes I finally get to it. Now I am swimming to the shore and I am in the home stretch. I am very comfortable and in the rythm.

8:55 Out of the water and in transition. I use the wetsuit strippers but they cannot get it off my ankles. I rip it off and head to the bike.

8:56 I am running with my bike and blasting out of transition. I have really improved on my transitions.

8:57 - Have a hard time clipping into my pedals at first, but I am now gone. Roughly 2 or 3 miles in I lose my water bottle, tubes and pump. Perfect. No hydration for the ride and I better not get a flat.

9:20 In an alright rythym, but tired. I should feel better then I do, but push forward. I am passing people but getting passed as well.

9:40 Damn Hamstring. Definetly barking at me.

10:00 Only 7 miles left on the bike and I feel pretty good. I want to get to the run and start passing people. I know the run is my strength and I am excited to get to it.

10:15 Heading out on the run and feel ok. I am running at an alright speed but feel like I should be running faster. I need to due more brick workouts. My legs feel heavier then they should.

10:35 Halfway point on the run and I feel good. I am heading back and start to see a lot of people I know. So motivating.

10:55 Finish the race and hear my name being called. Goosebumps instantly.

10:56 Mom, Dad and Shan are there! Feels so great to see them. I am a little sore, but the excitement of them numbs the pain. Some of my old co-workers are there and it is great to introduce them to my family.

11:00 Kate crosses the line and she looks like she is going to be sick. She pushed it so hard at the end, she almost lost her stomache. Complete nut job, but that is why I love her!

I gotta catch up on this thing.

Lots of races and work. But more to come shortly.

First race of 2008

I decided to sign up for the duathlon in Rye. With Mooseman a week a way, probably not the best idea, but why not. The race was a 3.2 run, 17 mile bike and another 3.2

On Friday night, I had a beer and a glass of wine with my dinner. Not the best prerace meal. I started to watch the Celtics and ended up watching the whole game. Take a look at the clock, midnight. Perfect, race in 6 hours!

I woke up at 5am and took care of Wonder Dog. He was a good boy, so that made it easy.

I threw on the back pack and rode to the course. I grabbed a good spot in the transition area and then went for a run to wake up the legs. On the warm up, I was a little sluggish and my stomach was noisey.

Race start - I do not want to sound like a jerk, but people need to be more considerate to those who are faster then them. I am roughly 50 people from the front and there is no way some of these people should be even close to the front. It is a narrow start shoot, without a lot of room to go around people. The gun goes off and people who run 9 minute miles are saying to each other, this is way to fast of a start. My point exactly! Move back to where the people who run 9 minute miles are. I know this sounds cocky, but I would never go to the front of a open water swim race and slow others down.

So, I go way to the outside and pass around 30 people in the first minute. My heart is jacked and I am running hard. Five more people drop behind me and I am now in the lead pack. We quickly break a way from the herd and fly down the road. This is the first time I have ever taken off in the lead pack. I usually stay in the front of the large group, but this is an awsome experience! It was so cool to be running behind the lead police car. I couldn't help thinking one of these guys is going to win and I am running with him!

We rip through the first 3.2 and I have my sights on the 14 people in front of me. Of those 14, 4 people are only running the 5K road race. So I am actually in 11th.

I fly through the transition and do a quick head count. Damn it! No one is in before me and out after me. In the first mile of the bike I pass one. I start to flirt with the idea that I might have a chance for a top ten finish. Mile 5, just passed an Ironman racer. I immediatly start to think, am I going to hard? Either way, I am now in the 9th place!

Mile 6 - Hit route 1-a (coastal road) and a wall of a head wind. It felt like there was an elastic band tied to my bike. The harder I pushed the more I stretched. Same conditions for everyone, so gotta go hard. I know my strength right now is on the bike, so I have to pour it out. I clench my teeth and push harder.

At mile 13 I see two more riders, they continue to get closer and closer. My hamstrings are screaming. My left butt cheek feels like I have a knife in it. I pass the first guy and use the emotional boost to catch the other guy. I am now in the seventh place and I see another rider.

All of a sudden I get passed by two guys!! Where the hell did they come from?? A little fustrating, but I am now in 9th place. I take a quick look behind and I don't see anyone. The rider in front of me that I have been watching, also gets taken out. Only two miles left and I can't catch him.

I cruise into the transition area and I already have my feet out of the shoes. I fly in, drop the bike off and start running. My legs feel like concrete.


Out of now where I get passed by two more guys. My friggin hamstring is screaming and I am fustrated. So I push harder and end up catching one of the two guys who got me on the bike. In my head I think I am in 10th place, when in actuality I am in 9th.




I want to be in the top ten, not tenth so I push harder and start to close on another racer. It is the other guy who passed me on the bike!

I get about 10 feet from him and pace off him for a mile or so. I think I wore him down mentally. He looked backed several times, slowed slightly and then I knew I had him. I wasn't doing it completely on purpose, but I didn't want to push to hard and pass early, just to have him return the favor at the finish line. As I passed him, we had a friendly chat and we wished each other a good run. What an amazing sport!

The last mile was a steady pace in. I knew I couldn't catch the guy in front of me and I had built a cushion for myself from any attackers.

Kind of funny side story - There were some people heading in from the bike as I was finishing. I was asked by a gentleman with a look of astonishment, "are you actually finishing this thing?" I smiled and gave him a thumbs up. He returned the smile and just shook his head.

I finished in 8th place and really proud. The training is definetly paying off.

An amazing experience

Tuesday PM - I had a technique ride today. I rode down the coast and did one leg drills for 32 minutes. This is to make sure both legs are equally strong.

With a 10 minute warm up I was now 13 miles from home and 45 minutes into the ride. With the drills and head wind it was a very slow steady ride south.

I turned around at the boardwalk in Hampton and decided I was going to ride hard back. That headwind has now turned into a tailwind and I felt strong. After 3 minutes of riding, I knew it was an opportunity for me to absolutely shred this ride. I had my cadence at 100 and I was moving at 25mph.

Something clicked in me and I felt like a machine. I have never felt this strong on the bike. I kept up the cadence, but shifted into a harder gear. Still spinning fast, but pounding out power as well.

I flew through the Hampton wall section and realized that this was going to be a breakout ride for me. My teeth were clenched together and my mouth was open. I had to of looked crazy.

5 miles into the ride back, a car pulled out in front of me and I would not let them pull a way. I kept up with them until I hit mile 10 and I was three miles from the house. I rode the 10 miles in 22 minutes. I averaged 27 mph! Granted there was a tail wind, but what an experience. For 22 minutes, I felt like a pro. Absolutely amazing.

Finally back on it

I swam 2000 yards and felt pretty good. The last couple of weeks I have been very consistant with swimming. That is the complete opposite from previous years.

Ran with Kate for 40 minutes. I just needed to make sure I still remembered how to run. We got caught in a pretty good down pour. Kind of fun.

A weeks worth of updates.

Not much to write. Awful week.


5-21 Wed.

Ran 30 minutes and weights for 45 minutes. Still tired from the half marathon


5-22 Thurs

Rode the trainer for 30 minutes... Still tired. This is so annoying, I can't build up the energy to train hard right now. In addition Kate is a way and I have two nights of work stuff to do.

5-23 Friday

Swam 1300. Strong workout for swimming. Not a lot of distance, but nice speed. I am supposed to run, but I dogged it. Common theme lately... Not good.


5-24 Sat.

3 hour bike. 51 miles with an average of 17mph. Kind of slow, but I did the Mooseman course. Man, that is such a tough course.

5-25

Swam 2500. Felt good in the pool.

Missed ANOTHER long run. I have to get my ass in gear for the long runs. I was supposed to do a 2 hour run. Moving forward, I am not going to miss any of the long workouts. If I have to miss one, it will be a speed workout.

I swam, but obviously didn't want to bike

I had a nice swim workout this morning, but obviously didn't want to bike in the PM.

I got dressed and was ready to go and realized I didn't have an extra tube. I would have been screwed if I got a flat. So I decided to hook my bike up to the trainer. I went and got groceries for dinner and planned on riding it when I got home. By the time I got home, I was hungry and basically gave up on the idea.

DAMN IT! I now feel guilty about it. I had the time, I just didn't prepare properly. I am annoyed with myself now.

I think my coach is trying to kill me

We swam 2300 yards on Sunday. This was the first time I was able to complete a full swim workout in the hours time. I actually did a little more...

We then went out to the track. That is where she tried to kill me. She had me running a 1000 meters (damn Canadian) or .62 miles in 3 minutes and 45 seconds. Basically a six minute mile. Which I am fine with, but she said it should be a controled pace, yeah right! That is a six minute mile after biking 3 hours the day before and swimming a mile and a half. THe best part was I did five times!

I absolutely love it at the same time. Sometimes it is so hard to motivate myself, but it is all worth it.

Saturday Ride

Kate, Greg and I rode the Moosman course on Saturday. That course is so hard. I never felt like I got my legs. Greg and I did it one and a half times and it wasn't until the second pass that I felt like I was moving.

I was going at a good speed, but I felt it. My heart rate was completly jacked and I was breathing super hard. Fustrating.

The pizza on the way home and a great meal in York ME that night, definetly made up for it though.

Weights only and a night with Kate- Wednesday 5-14

Weights = gross.

I can't believe I used to only lift weights. It is so boring. An hour of weights feels like a 3 hour bike ride. Actually, a six hour bike ride.

So I lifted weights in the am and had wanted to do a ride/run at night. Instead I spend the ENTIRE night with Kate. I am very appreciative of her understanding for my workout schedule. We both work a lot of hours and throw a ton of training in, not a lot of time to spend together. I need to remind myself of that sometimes. (she helps me with that too!)

Ride at my old stomping ground

I had to work in Manchester, so I threw the bike on the roof and rode out from Mom and Dads house at the end of the day.

BIG HILLS.. I worked on my cadence and was able to keep it around 90 rpms the whole time. It was roughly 45 minutes out with a 30 minute ride back. Up hill the whole way out, so a much easier ride back. Round trip was around 25 miles.

The best part of it all, Mom was home when I got back. Got to spend some unexpected quality time and then I was on my way.

Ride with the fiance AKA Captain Kate

I was a little tired from the half marathon the day before, but Kate and I went on a nice 22 mile ride. It was super windy, but the air was great. My legs felt good considering and I had no issues at all.

It is always great to go out with Kate. She is a machine! She never seems to be pushing it to hard, but keeps up just the same. A truly remarkable athlete.

1/2 Marathon

I ran the half marathon yesterday and didn't know exactly what to expect. The last two weeks have been soft for training, but I still felt good.

I started off the first mile a little faster then I had wanted to do, so I had to reel it in a little. The next five miles I tried to keep my heart rate around 15From mile 1 to 5, I was probably passed by 200 or 300 people. I kept wanting to pick it up, but knew better.

At mile 7, I stared to pick it up a little, but was still trying to conserve. I have never been on the course and it was very hilly. The last thing I wanted to do is bonk. From mile 7 to 10, I passed around 100 of those people who had passed me earlier.

At mile 10, I picked it up and was going hard. Heart Rate 170-175. I am now starting to pass groups of runners at a rapid rate. Huge pain in my left calf, right shoulder aches and my right hamstring is gripping. Grit the teeth and push on. I have stopped taking water from the water statons and begin to breath heavy. One thing is on my mind now, finish hard.

The last 3/4 of a mile, I got a huge emotionally lift from a fellow runner. (He had an Ironman tattoo, so you know he was the real deal) He started to verbally push me and was able to motivate me pass around 4 more people. I thanked him after, it was awesome! I did feel a little pukey, but it passed relatively quickly.

Something funny - The fellow runner who helped motivate me,kept saying "you better start running faster you young'n. I better not beat you." All in really good fun and helped to speed it up. The funny part was, he must have thought I was much younger, because I was in the same age group as him! By motivating me, he placed himself lower in his age group. I didn't tell him, but I had a good laugh.

Tough race, but I ran hard and left nothing on the course. I came in 75th of 1500 and feel great about that.

1/2 Marathon on Saturday

First real race of the year. I still don't feel like I will kill it, but I have been doing alright on my training. I am going to try and push a little bit. I would like to get as close as possible to 1:30.