Well first off I'd like to say that my Kona Predictions were shot. Macca proved that he's not dead yet..and can still throw down a lava burning marathon. So to him congrats. He made it interesting with his big move on the bike to get just enough distance on Crowie to win the thing. The big battle will be next year to see if Ralert will break through to win or If Macca or Crowie will join Peter the great, The Grip and The Man as the only men with 3 or more titles. The men's race proved to be amazingly competitive, and the run splits seemed a lot faster than last year as Chris Lieto was only 4 minutes off his 2009 marathon time that got him a Gutsy second place, but this year couldn't keep him in the top-10. Likewise Andy Potts looked strong in the early going but faded as well as another prerace favorite Rasmus Henning.
Likewise an unfortunate case of food poisoning made the women's race a little more interesting as Chrissie Wellington sat out and Mirinda Cafrae was able to run herself to her first world championship. Dibens scraped a podium, but other favorites simmed to fizzle on the lava. Essential Kona proved that given the right circumstances everything you thought you knew and could predict can go right out the window.
But enough of my pro- punditing. On the personal front I sent in an application to the Timex Triathlon Team. I'm still waiting to hear back from the Navy but if I can't serve my country I might as well try my luck at getting on the most recognized tri team on the planet.
I've been increasing my running and swimming and will be starting spin classes to try to get myself ready for next season in what can best be described as an all out war on myself.
Indeed two nights ago while out on a routine 4 miler my body gave out about 2 miles in. I was going at a fairly good clip but all of a sudden got a light headed feeling, then a cold sweat, I managed to walk for a mile to get myself settled and managed to run the last mile or so home but it was frightening. It was if my body just said no mas. The next day I managed to run the same route with no issue, so it put me at ease. It's just scarry anytime your body just gives out on you for no apparent reason, granted I had been fighting off a little head cold.
The swimming is gradually getting longer this week I've gotten in a 3500 and a 3700yard workout in and I'll try for 4000 tomorrow as I'm trying to get and keep my weekly yardage at over 10k yards.
I could go more into depth on the home and personal life front, but right now things are really complex...also add in some unpopular policy changes at work and the stress factor goes up about 20 notches so for the time being I'll just keep quiet on them. Although having training as an outlet has helped me to keep what's left of my sanity.
Tonight was pretty productive in the weight room, I was able to increase both my squat and bench weights. My squat is still a measly 8 reps at 135lbs. but I've been trying to focus on form, before I build on weight. Likewise my bench is at 125lbs, for 6 reps. I've been working on my breathing and am now able to do more than 20 push ups at a time, and my sit ups are averaging about 3 sets of 30-50. So the strength is coming back I just need to keep working on it.
All in all there's a lot in the works and it's just taking one day at a time.
R.D.
Showing posts with label Kona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kona. Show all posts
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Kona Predictions for 2010
Well I'm noticing a spike on my blog especially on last year's who will win Kona Post. This year I've been sort of out of the loop as I didn't race long course or spend hours looming over Slowtwitch and Xtri. I didn't really pay attention to Ironman results or spend hours tabulating and cheering and following some of the best athletes in world in their massive athletic endeavors. essentially my participation in tri has been pretty lackluster this season. Part of it is envy of the guys going out and living the dream, the other part has been I've just got bigger worries this season.
Still people are looking for Kona predictions so I guess I better not disappoint.
The men:
I'm going to err on the side of caution and state the obvious: Craig Alexander is the clear ,hands down favorite and Lord have mercy on anyone who thinks they can woop him. Crowie can run and unless your name is Alberto Contador or Andy Schleck, he will run you down no matter how good your bike split is. Lieto knows it, Sindbale knew it, and at Rev3 Matty Reed and Terenzo Bonzone learned it. Still since Mark Allen retired no man has won 3 in a row. Not Peter Reid, not Tim DeBoom, No body. Trends are made to be broken and Crowie will have a stellar field gunning for him but he has the skills to pull the hat trick.
Still as much Crowie is the favorite I like Terenzo Bonzone. Kid's been tearing it up on the 70.3 scene this year, and he had a pretty stellar run at Ironman New Zealand. Other guy to watch out for from the land of the Long White Cloud is Cameron Brown as much as Cam maybe over the hill he can still bring the heat if he wants to. Likewise Macca's struggled the last two years and this year he has been off the radar, still he has passion and you can bet he'll bring his A-game.
Sentimentally I'm hoping Chris Lieto can haul some ass and try to get the good ol' US and A back to the top step of the podium. Although the Andy Potts showed his balls at Ironman CDA and might be the best hope for the stars and stripes. Lieto is my go to guy. I fully expect him to go after Normann Stadler's bike record, and hopefully he'll have enough padding to get the job done.
Others to watch for:
Rutger Beke, this guy is a sleeper but he always performs well. He won Cozmuel last year and has one of the best run legs in the sport. If something happens to Crowie He can pick up the slack.
Eneko Llanos dude won Abu Dhabi, and is making an LD comeback, and speaking of comebacks what's the deal with Faris Al Sultan? Not to mention Henning who seems to be keeping the trend of Scandanvians who do obsurded well alive. Homeboy knows how to win in the heat, although this is only his second Kona race. I say in a couple of years he'll be the favorite although I still think he'll top 5.
I'm going to go out on a limb and here's my prediction for the men's top 10.1. Craig Alexander
2. Rutger Beke
3. Chris Lieto
4. Andy Potts
5.Terenzo Bonzone
6.Rasmus Henning
7. Enenko Llanos
8. Macca
9. Faris Al Sultan
10. Michael Lovato
The Women: I guess the women's race should be classified as Chrissie Wellington versus the world. try as I might I just can not hate this chick. It's as if she's Paula Radcliff, with a splash of Alberto Contador, a smidge of Rebecca Adlington ( women's 400m free gold medal winner.) mixed with Mother Theresa. Seriously she'll stop in the middle of a race to help a group of orphans build a school still set a world record and then give half her prize cash to charity...seriously she's in the dictionary under the definition of Girl Scout. Everyone is throwing around comparisons to Paula Newby Fraser but PNF still had strong competition from Erin Baker, Karen Smyers and Natascha Badmann, Chrissie's in a league of her own.
So then the argument is who can give Wellington a run for her money.
Sam McGlone is coming back strong, Mirinda Cafree is fast and powerful. Then you've got women like Belinda Granger and Rebekah Keat who are proven and strong. Gina Crawford is quick, then throw in Canada's secret weapon Magali Tisseyre Bree Wee is always a sentimental favorite, seriously want to see the island explode watch a local girl win the Ironman. Lindsay Corburn is an animal, and just got her taste of the winner's circle. Then there are sleepers like Jo Lawn who's always solid, Van Vlerken , seriously the fight for second in the women's race is almost as competitive as the men's race, granted maybe someone will step up and come out of nowhere and challenge Queen Chrissie's dominance....
Women's Top 10 Predictions
1. Chrissie Wellington and she'll top 10 overall.
2. Yvonne VanVlerken
3.Magali Tisseyre
4. Sam Mc Glone
5. Belinda Granger
6. Lindsay Corburn
7. Rebekah Keat
8. Mirinda Cafrae
9. Gina Crawford
10.Bree Wee
I know I'm leaving out some big names, and likewise crazy stuff happens on the big island, but for the limited research I was able to do this year these are my Predictions. To everyone racing on the Big Island Good Luck this weekend.
R.D.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Congrats to the New Queen and King Of Kona!/ Bob-o starts thinking of 2010.
Alright I guess to write Craig Alexander is the real deal would be an understatement and have people saying "have you been living under a rock for the past 2 years?" But seriously his performance yesterday was amazing. My heart really aches for Chris Lieto who had the race of his life but came up just 5 miles short, but such is Ironman you can throw everything you got into a race but there still might be one guy who just has a better day than you do. Still it was a Classic race and it was awesome to see Lieto finally nab the top American rights and Podium spot he deserved. especially after his balls out performance on the bike. As for Crowie his run is dominating, it seems like the era of the uber biker is over with the retirement of Sindballe, the Normannator's so-so ride yesterday. Even Lieto had a large lead that was stomped out by the Aussie running machine. It looks like Criag Alexander has found a way to adapt and over come the uber biker, and that is keep them with in 10 minutes on the bike leg and run them down like a Cheetah at chow time.
The women's race was quite frankly the Chrissie Wellington Show. She ran herself to 22nd overall shattered Paula Newby Fraiser's Course record and pretty much stated "I'm the toughest woman in the sport!" The main drama of the day was Mirinda Carfrae's march up the standings from 9th to 2nd in the Women's race to the tune of a blazing Marathon. Likewise Rebekah Keat ran herself from Oblivion to the top 10 making me wonder what the Hell is in the Water in Australia that makes them run so fast? Other major stories were Sam McGlone's comeback from an Achilles injury to procure a top 10. Tereza Macel staying in the top 5 nearly the entire race, but all this drama unfolded as Wellington was laying down for a massage in the med tent and deciding what stationary to use for her victory speech....I have only seen one other woman dominate a race like that other than Wellington last year and that was Nina Kraft on EPO. Wellington is the real deal, whether she's just naturally built for this or she accumilated years of good karma working in Nepal, or she the result of a cold war bio-engineering plot by the British Government to create the ultimate athlete I don't know but she is unbeatable.
On the blogger front Congrats to Bree Wee and Charisa.
Bree Got into 18th for the women and was the the fourth American Pro Woman behind the New Englanders Dede Griesbauer and Caitlin Snow and last years top American Woman Lindsey Corbin. For more on the Kona highlights visit Claire's Examiner Blog as she can tell this story better than I can.
Charisa managed to finish fifth in a massively competitive age group which is a huge testament in itself, as any age group brack between 30 and 50 is as competive as the pro race.
This ends the Kona Recap.
As I sat infront of my girlfriend's computer with my compression sock covered feet raised above up on her sofa, I began to think ahead. Right now I've got job apps out and some personal crisises to handle but watching the whole thing on the net and having a bang up running day in Hartford got me thinking ahead to next season, I want to do Ironman and I want to get my ass to Kona, but so far the only thing I have to show for it is a bid that came up 70 seconds short. And a couple of massive bills for travel and equipment costs. So I'm going to use 2010 as a training season, perfect my marathon, work on my bike, essentially race local and suffer like I never have suffered before and maybe if the planets algin and I get my "real job" I'll fly out to Tempe next November and punch my ticket to the big dance. I know I have a sub-10 hour race in this body I've just to bring it to Fruition, I've got to get my mind clear and put in the proper training, not this hodge podge garbage of 3000 yard swims and long runs here and there and a few sporadic bike rides. I've got a gift to go the long haul and it's about time I use it, if I qualify for Kona great, if I don't then I at least want to know I was condition to the best level possible and left nothing in the tank. As some of my trasining partners have stated "You've managed to run 11 hour Ironmans on miniscule training, horrible nutrition and a stress load that have most people balled up in the corner crying for mercy, imagine what you could do with so proper structure." So here's to 2010 and hopefully some constructive off season.
Happy Training
R.D.
The women's race was quite frankly the Chrissie Wellington Show. She ran herself to 22nd overall shattered Paula Newby Fraiser's Course record and pretty much stated "I'm the toughest woman in the sport!" The main drama of the day was Mirinda Carfrae's march up the standings from 9th to 2nd in the Women's race to the tune of a blazing Marathon. Likewise Rebekah Keat ran herself from Oblivion to the top 10 making me wonder what the Hell is in the Water in Australia that makes them run so fast? Other major stories were Sam McGlone's comeback from an Achilles injury to procure a top 10. Tereza Macel staying in the top 5 nearly the entire race, but all this drama unfolded as Wellington was laying down for a massage in the med tent and deciding what stationary to use for her victory speech....I have only seen one other woman dominate a race like that other than Wellington last year and that was Nina Kraft on EPO. Wellington is the real deal, whether she's just naturally built for this or she accumilated years of good karma working in Nepal, or she the result of a cold war bio-engineering plot by the British Government to create the ultimate athlete I don't know but she is unbeatable.
On the blogger front Congrats to Bree Wee and Charisa.
Bree Got into 18th for the women and was the the fourth American Pro Woman behind the New Englanders Dede Griesbauer and Caitlin Snow and last years top American Woman Lindsey Corbin. For more on the Kona highlights visit Claire's Examiner Blog as she can tell this story better than I can.
Charisa managed to finish fifth in a massively competitive age group which is a huge testament in itself, as any age group brack between 30 and 50 is as competive as the pro race.
This ends the Kona Recap.
As I sat infront of my girlfriend's computer with my compression sock covered feet raised above up on her sofa, I began to think ahead. Right now I've got job apps out and some personal crisises to handle but watching the whole thing on the net and having a bang up running day in Hartford got me thinking ahead to next season, I want to do Ironman and I want to get my ass to Kona, but so far the only thing I have to show for it is a bid that came up 70 seconds short. And a couple of massive bills for travel and equipment costs. So I'm going to use 2010 as a training season, perfect my marathon, work on my bike, essentially race local and suffer like I never have suffered before and maybe if the planets algin and I get my "real job" I'll fly out to Tempe next November and punch my ticket to the big dance. I know I have a sub-10 hour race in this body I've just to bring it to Fruition, I've got to get my mind clear and put in the proper training, not this hodge podge garbage of 3000 yard swims and long runs here and there and a few sporadic bike rides. I've got a gift to go the long haul and it's about time I use it, if I qualify for Kona great, if I don't then I at least want to know I was condition to the best level possible and left nothing in the tank. As some of my trasining partners have stated "You've managed to run 11 hour Ironmans on miniscule training, horrible nutrition and a stress load that have most people balled up in the corner crying for mercy, imagine what you could do with so proper structure." So here's to 2010 and hopefully some constructive off season.
Happy Training
R.D.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
A Monster PR
Well ok it was only by about 5 minutes. I pulled a 3:21:27 this morning in Hartford. A big shout out to the "Anti-Pace Team Pace-Team" consisting of Cranky Runner, this dude Ari and myself. The 3 of us held with the 3:10 pace squad for about 12 miles before the 7:09, intervals became too much. To put things in persepective on how fast the pace leader was going I pulled a Half Marathon PR in the race. Eclispsing my previous best by nearly 2 minutes. Going a 1:34:59. Sadly my legs would pay for this later as mile 24 and 25 were well above my 7:47 average. also huge shout out for Josie for plowing through a crowd of 50 people about 200 meters to the finish line. I may have been in pain but it certainly put a smile on my face.
Now back to watching Kona. Chris Lieto is leading on the marathon as Macca and Faris are running him down in hot pursuit.
On the *yawn* Chrissie Wellington Show....I mean women's race, Chrissie Wellington is gunning for a top 10 overall spot, and the rest of the women are trying to keep the lead from going over 15 minutes.
My legs ache just watching...
R.D.
Now back to watching Kona. Chris Lieto is leading on the marathon as Macca and Faris are running him down in hot pursuit.
On the *yawn* Chrissie Wellington Show....I mean women's race, Chrissie Wellington is gunning for a top 10 overall spot, and the rest of the women are trying to keep the lead from going over 15 minutes.
My legs ache just watching...
R.D.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Who will win Kona?
well I'll admit it I'm a tri addict/ pundit. I spend my hours at the office between customers and projects scouring Slowtwitch and Xtri and now with Rutger Beke succumbing to a foot injury I'm debating on who my picks for Kona will be. So with out futher ado here are my favorites, dark horses and sentimentals.
The Men's Race
Favorites.
Macca (AUS): Ok no brainer Chris "Badass" McCormack is at the top of my favorites list. Insane run split, not afraid to take crazy risks when everything goes right you end up with a victory lap marathon like 2007 if it doesn't well...just check out the 2002 You Tube Highlights.
Craig Alexanader (AUS): If Macca's off this guy is on. Last year his insane marathon split ( and his ability to tackle the cruel Hawaiian heat) gave him the victory he's fast he's strong and you know he's going to kick ass and take names.
Terrenzo Bonzone (NZL): Ok I have to put a kiwi in here and sadly it's not Cam Brown. Bonzone finished second in his 1st full Ironman in Taupo in March. He's got a solid run and bike split and he's been testing out the Shiv with Macca in the lava fields. Granted Taupo and Kona are completely different races....
Normann Stadler (GER): He's training with Chris Carmichael, he owns the fastest Kona bike split ever, and with Sindballe retiring the only real threat he has to his lead in to T-2 is Chris Lieto. Unlike Lieto's track record he has been able to hold on through out the run beating Peter Reid in 2004 and Macca in 2006, last year it looked like he was going to do it again until he cramped up in the lava fields but still he took a suck it up pill and finished 12th a far cry from his 2005 flat f**king tire meltdown.
Dark Horse:
Andy Potts (USA): Ok the Ironman isn't won in the swim but still Potts held on the finish 7th in his first Ironman after leading the swim. I think he can shatter the myth the the Ironman can't be won by a stellar performance in the swim ( granted you really do need a bitching bike split to build a coushion.)...the question is will 2009 be his year.
Sentimental Favorites:
Cam Brown (NZL): This guy has finshed consistently in the top-5 and as high as second. He's not getting any younger and I would love to see him win this thing once before he rides into the sunset.
Chris Lieto (USA): With the arrival of Andy Potts last year and his inability to handle the Kona Heat Lieto dropped from second overall to oblivion. The preceding year he led a good chunk of the marathon only to succumb to the heat in the energy lab where he lost the lead the Macca, and then highest American rights to Tim DeBoom. Put in two heart wrenching losses to Craig Alexander at Hawaii 70.3 and Boisie 70.3 and I can't help to feel for the guy. Seriously if he rolls into T-2 with a 15 min. Lead and manages to beat Crowie in flat out sprint for the line I will be one extremely happy camper.
The women
Favorites:
Chrissie Wellington (GBR): Got a flat tire lost 10 minutes on the bike and still managed to comeback and spank the women's field. Seriously the last Chick to win by that much was a Doped up Nina Kraft...who then got the title stripped from her. Add to it she's an absolute girl scout who was aiding starving kids in the third world before she took up this hobby and it's hard not to cheer for her.
Dark Horses
Ok here's my list of the runner's up.... I mean people who might have a shot at Chrissie
Belinda Granger (AUS): She won Hawaii 70.3 she has a fast swim a fast bike, and a solid run. Seriously if Wellington's drive train explodes in the Lava fields she'd be a contender.
Mirinda Cafree (AUS): A shit load of 70.3 wins and a victory at REV3 I'd take her seriously.
Dutch chick who was 2nd in 08. I would like to put up the chicks who were second last year but I have no clue how to spell Valvendarlarken or what ever her name is...but all I know is she set the day's fastes bike split in 08, again if something happens to Wellington she'd be right in the thick of it.
Sentimentals:
Bree Wee (USA): If this thing was scripted this would be the perfect feel good story for the NBC highlights...well ok she could be battling lifethreatening illness, or have been orphaned at bith.
The Men's Race
Favorites.
Macca (AUS): Ok no brainer Chris "Badass" McCormack is at the top of my favorites list. Insane run split, not afraid to take crazy risks when everything goes right you end up with a victory lap marathon like 2007 if it doesn't well...just check out the 2002 You Tube Highlights.
Craig Alexanader (AUS): If Macca's off this guy is on. Last year his insane marathon split ( and his ability to tackle the cruel Hawaiian heat) gave him the victory he's fast he's strong and you know he's going to kick ass and take names.
Terrenzo Bonzone (NZL): Ok I have to put a kiwi in here and sadly it's not Cam Brown. Bonzone finished second in his 1st full Ironman in Taupo in March. He's got a solid run and bike split and he's been testing out the Shiv with Macca in the lava fields. Granted Taupo and Kona are completely different races....
Normann Stadler (GER): He's training with Chris Carmichael, he owns the fastest Kona bike split ever, and with Sindballe retiring the only real threat he has to his lead in to T-2 is Chris Lieto. Unlike Lieto's track record he has been able to hold on through out the run beating Peter Reid in 2004 and Macca in 2006, last year it looked like he was going to do it again until he cramped up in the lava fields but still he took a suck it up pill and finished 12th a far cry from his 2005 flat f**king tire meltdown.
Dark Horse:
Andy Potts (USA): Ok the Ironman isn't won in the swim but still Potts held on the finish 7th in his first Ironman after leading the swim. I think he can shatter the myth the the Ironman can't be won by a stellar performance in the swim ( granted you really do need a bitching bike split to build a coushion.)...the question is will 2009 be his year.
Sentimental Favorites:
Cam Brown (NZL): This guy has finshed consistently in the top-5 and as high as second. He's not getting any younger and I would love to see him win this thing once before he rides into the sunset.
Chris Lieto (USA): With the arrival of Andy Potts last year and his inability to handle the Kona Heat Lieto dropped from second overall to oblivion. The preceding year he led a good chunk of the marathon only to succumb to the heat in the energy lab where he lost the lead the Macca, and then highest American rights to Tim DeBoom. Put in two heart wrenching losses to Craig Alexander at Hawaii 70.3 and Boisie 70.3 and I can't help to feel for the guy. Seriously if he rolls into T-2 with a 15 min. Lead and manages to beat Crowie in flat out sprint for the line I will be one extremely happy camper.
The women
Favorites:
Chrissie Wellington (GBR): Got a flat tire lost 10 minutes on the bike and still managed to comeback and spank the women's field. Seriously the last Chick to win by that much was a Doped up Nina Kraft...who then got the title stripped from her. Add to it she's an absolute girl scout who was aiding starving kids in the third world before she took up this hobby and it's hard not to cheer for her.
Dark Horses
Ok here's my list of the runner's up.... I mean people who might have a shot at Chrissie
Belinda Granger (AUS): She won Hawaii 70.3 she has a fast swim a fast bike, and a solid run. Seriously if Wellington's drive train explodes in the Lava fields she'd be a contender.
Mirinda Cafree (AUS): A shit load of 70.3 wins and a victory at REV3 I'd take her seriously.
Dutch chick who was 2nd in 08. I would like to put up the chicks who were second last year but I have no clue how to spell Valvendarlarken or what ever her name is...but all I know is she set the day's fastes bike split in 08, again if something happens to Wellington she'd be right in the thick of it.
Sentimentals:
Bree Wee (USA): If this thing was scripted this would be the perfect feel good story for the NBC highlights...well ok she could be battling lifethreatening illness, or have been orphaned at bith.
She lives in Kona, she trains on course, she's a mom, she's been through divorce, it would be the first USA win in Kona for the women in Godknows how long and for it to be a local I think the island might just explode.
Natascha Badmann (Sui) She was unbeatable, then there was food poisoning then She crashed, she trashed her shoulder, they told her she would never race again, she came back last year and came about 15 miles short of finishing. This year she's in better form, and seriously I would love to see a photo of her passing the new Golden Girl at mile 25 of the marathon with that trade mark smile...granted age is starting to show....and the era of the Swiss Miss might be over.
Nina Kraft (Ger): ok I know we're supposed to forever shun dopers and wish death and plauge upon their houses but it's been 5 years. She's done her time, it's easy to understand why she did it and she did come forward quickly, there was no long drawn out proceedure she came forward, she confessed within 24 hours took her whacks and came back. She's good in the heat, she's won IMKY and IMFL she was battling the likes of Badmann a Lori Bowden in their haydays...I would like to see her win, just once, so she could prove that she was always capable of winning and didn't need the goddamn EPO to do it.
Alrght those are my picks I know I left off some great athletes I know I started some contorversey with the last pick, but there's my list. Where's yours?
R.D.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Providence 70.3 The quick and painless.
Well guys I finished in 5:03:08 good enough for 21st in my age group out of about 100 competitiors. I'll give all the details in a later post. Also to answer the burning question I'm not going to Kona in 2009. My heart sank at roll down when 3rd place turned down Clearwater and eagerly stood up to claim the last remaining Kona slot. Part of me is thinking this is a dream I'm going to put in moth balls for 2010. Focus more on my running and try to achieve the goal most New England sports nuts focus on : The BAA Boston Marathon. Granted part of that to me seems like a hollow challenge but it seems more straight forward put down a 3:10 marathon go to Boston. It's put up or shut up and all on the athlete's shoulders instead of on who shows up, who declines this that and the other thing, in essence it's less drama. Also it's less of a burden on the check book...early bird registration to a marathon is only $60 compared to $245 for a 70.3 or a $500 tab for an M-dot. Don't get me wrong I'm still going to do a few tris next season, but maybe a back to the minors approach is in order. Do a couple of independent halves ( Patriot, Nutmegman?, Firman?) A few sprints and a Oly...granted I tend to like the long haul better....essentially I don't know what 2010 holds and I still have a couple of races I need to take care of in 2009.
In essence I have no clue where to go from here...but I have 2 races and a couple of months to figure it out.
Alright that's it from me I've got to go stretch my aching quads.
R.D.
In essence I have no clue where to go from here...but I have 2 races and a couple of months to figure it out.
Alright that's it from me I've got to go stretch my aching quads.
R.D.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Race week
Well it's here, race week. I have a sprint on Wednesday, then two days of light training and then the race Sunday...and the big question? Is a crazy dream worth economic suicide. Part of me feels that if I get that Kona slot I should just turn it down...save my money after all Kona isn't going anywhere and when I'm 30+ I'd be better prepared for it, I might enjoy it more. But the other part of me is this could be a one time shot...one of those deals that you get only once, and either you take it or you don't. Either you suck it up and go after you dream or you kill it. You end up Moonlight Graham, that 70 year old doctor still wondering what it would have been like to get that one major leauge at bat as a 20 year old kid. If I get that slot there is going to be a lot of soul searching and cost benefit analysis going on in those 10-20 minutes from result posting to roll down.
My training this weekend went well. Lots of miles in the saddle and an open water swim. I needed to fix the front deraileur but luckily I had the issue on a training ride not a race. My new HEAT gear in today. The jersey is a little snug but it'll stretch with a few races. When I throw on my race gear nothing else matters...it's just go like Hell and hang on for dear life. Sure there's a stack of bills on the table worries on if I'll get my degree over the summer or if I'll have to suck it up until December, the real world questions of what to do with my life. But those are for pre-race and post race in the race there is nothing else that matters but the finish line.
Part of me wonders if racing is worth all that I put into it. Sure it makes me happy but is it worth the time I could devote to a second job. Is it worth the money I put into it...after all my stack of bills isn't getting any smaller. Is it make me focus more on the short term and not enough on the long term? I really don't know if it's hindering or improving my life but I do know I'd be partially empty without it.
My training this weekend went well. Lots of miles in the saddle and an open water swim. I needed to fix the front deraileur but luckily I had the issue on a training ride not a race. My new HEAT gear in today. The jersey is a little snug but it'll stretch with a few races. When I throw on my race gear nothing else matters...it's just go like Hell and hang on for dear life. Sure there's a stack of bills on the table worries on if I'll get my degree over the summer or if I'll have to suck it up until December, the real world questions of what to do with my life. But those are for pre-race and post race in the race there is nothing else that matters but the finish line.
Part of me wonders if racing is worth all that I put into it. Sure it makes me happy but is it worth the time I could devote to a second job. Is it worth the money I put into it...after all my stack of bills isn't getting any smaller. Is it make me focus more on the short term and not enough on the long term? I really don't know if it's hindering or improving my life but I do know I'd be partially empty without it.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
One step closer to a crazy dream.
I just read through the athlete's packet for The K-Swiss/ Amica Ironman Providence 70.3. There are 3 Clearwater and 2 Kona slots up for grabs in my Age group. So my margin for error has gone from having to podium to having to top 5 to be assured something and top 10 to have a chance. I just hope the bank has enough to cover this. I guess I have to look at it this way if Kona is meant to be then it will happen by some means. The best I can do is race my ass off and worry about getting there after I get there. I still have a 1.2 mile swim 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run to get through with New England's best young guns. Guys that in the past have been able to tear my race to pieces with blazing cycle legs and runs splits that make me look like a tortoise. Because of this there is still a shot I'd finish where I did last year and not even be in the neighborhood of qualifying. Hence it is a bridge I will cross if/when I get there.
Until then I've got to go like hell there are some things I can control and other things I can't. On July 12 the only thing I can do is move forward at a hopefully swift rate of speed, and maybe when the chips are down and the dust has settled I will have my Kona Slot and then I can work on the implications of that. But until then I've got to keep training,I've got to keep working, I've got to keep moving forward....
R.D.
Until then I've got to go like hell there are some things I can control and other things I can't. On July 12 the only thing I can do is move forward at a hopefully swift rate of speed, and maybe when the chips are down and the dust has settled I will have my Kona Slot and then I can work on the implications of that. But until then I've got to keep training,I've got to keep working, I've got to keep moving forward....
R.D.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Poll: Rev 3 or Providence 70.3 If I go through the lotto does that make me tat worthy?
Well I'm looking at doing 4 races this summer, I'm already committed to one, and have tucked away for 2 more the debate is if I decide to do a big Half Iron which one do I do? Rev 3 or Providence and I CAN ONLY AFFORD ONE!!!!!
Pros for Rev 3:
Local: as in no driving to RI required.
On most of my training routes: Home field advantage?
Lots of pros.
Club Race: Do HEAT proud.
Big Age group prizes.
Huge event in the local community.
Cons for Rev 3:
The bike course can best be described as "bring your own Sherpa."
Pitted Bombed out pavement....
Quassy food....mmm.
Expensive race entry with no Championship slots at stake.
Early in the season and Patriot is 2 weeks later.
1st year event.
Pros for Providence:
Kona slots!
Done the race before...if the bike works it will be a good day.
KONA Slots!
Meet up with Chris and Rob from my NZ adventure.
KONA SLOTS DUDE!
Strategically situated in mid-summer for optimal performance.
Cheaper than Rev 3 until May 1.
HEAT vs. Psycho!
Excuse to go to Rhode Island for the Weekend.
The Blais family's working the expo.
did I mention Kona and Clearwater slots already?
Cons to Providence:
Killer waves dude!
Pitted bombed out pavement...wait that's just standard in New England.
College Hill with it's coughmorethancough 7% grade on the run X2.
Wolcott-Providence- Narragansett- Wolcott-Narragansett-Providence-Wolcott drive ....
or Hotel/ trying to crash at somebody's beach house....why couldn't this be a month later when Melissa moves to Newport.
The "compassionate" Providence Drivers.
FAST AGE GROUP FIELD!!!!
Well those are the factors I'm sort of leaning toward one over the other... worst case I will volunteer at one and race the other.
If I get a slot to Kona via the lotto ( yes I threw down $35 for an entry...figure that's what I would have spent on a half marathon that I'm not racing this year.) Then this debate was futile because I won't waste the money... ( I already did a sanctioned Ironman so that little loop hole is taken care of.) I'm just afraid that RI will sell out before they get back with the lotto results...also it makes the tattoo situation complicated...man the things I put myself through to get a little ink on the ankle. So here are the polls
Poll #1: Should I do Providence 70.3 or Rev 3?
Poll#2: If I get in to Kona via the lottery do I get a tattoo?
No. You have to qualify....that was the condition you set on yourself, if you fall into this mediocrity cult I will beat you to death with your areobars.
Yes. Kona is Kona.
Yes, But only if you finish in the top 10 of your age group. Earn it by decimating the punks who stole "your slot".
Yes, but some other condition ( race in a speedo, run barefoot, the tat must read Kona bandit..etc. please specify in comments.)
R.D.
Pros for Rev 3:
Local: as in no driving to RI required.
On most of my training routes: Home field advantage?
Lots of pros.
Club Race: Do HEAT proud.
Big Age group prizes.
Huge event in the local community.
Cons for Rev 3:
The bike course can best be described as "bring your own Sherpa."
Pitted Bombed out pavement....
Quassy food....mmm.
Expensive race entry with no Championship slots at stake.
Early in the season and Patriot is 2 weeks later.
1st year event.
Pros for Providence:
Kona slots!
Done the race before...if the bike works it will be a good day.
KONA Slots!
Meet up with Chris and Rob from my NZ adventure.
KONA SLOTS DUDE!
Strategically situated in mid-summer for optimal performance.
Cheaper than Rev 3 until May 1.
HEAT vs. Psycho!
Excuse to go to Rhode Island for the Weekend.
The Blais family's working the expo.
did I mention Kona and Clearwater slots already?
Cons to Providence:
Killer waves dude!
Pitted bombed out pavement...wait that's just standard in New England.
College Hill with it's coughmorethancough 7% grade on the run X2.
Wolcott-Providence- Narragansett- Wolcott-Narragansett-Providence-Wolcott drive ....
or Hotel/ trying to crash at somebody's beach house....why couldn't this be a month later when Melissa moves to Newport.
The "compassionate" Providence Drivers.
FAST AGE GROUP FIELD!!!!
Well those are the factors I'm sort of leaning toward one over the other... worst case I will volunteer at one and race the other.
If I get a slot to Kona via the lotto ( yes I threw down $35 for an entry...figure that's what I would have spent on a half marathon that I'm not racing this year.) Then this debate was futile because I won't waste the money... ( I already did a sanctioned Ironman so that little loop hole is taken care of.) I'm just afraid that RI will sell out before they get back with the lotto results...also it makes the tattoo situation complicated...man the things I put myself through to get a little ink on the ankle. So here are the polls
Poll #1: Should I do Providence 70.3 or Rev 3?
Poll#2: If I get in to Kona via the lottery do I get a tattoo?
No. You have to qualify....that was the condition you set on yourself, if you fall into this mediocrity cult I will beat you to death with your areobars.
Yes. Kona is Kona.
Yes, But only if you finish in the top 10 of your age group. Earn it by decimating the punks who stole "your slot".
Yes, but some other condition ( race in a speedo, run barefoot, the tat must read Kona bandit..etc. please specify in comments.)
R.D.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I cursed Macca.....or did Specialized screw us both...
Well upon looking over all the post race data from Kona and wondering why Macca ( Chris McCormack )had been forced to drop out on the bike, well as I browsed xtri I found out it was a snapped front Derailleur cable on his sexy S works that had forced him out. Rewind to the Nutmegman Half Iron this year of the site of my DNF. I had a similar problem, the cable didn't snap but the way Specialized wired the rear derailleur cable over the front derailleur cable was causing it to shift slow hence causing the bike to get "stuck" in the big ring at inopportune times, also the fact that my rear tire was loosing air could have added to the feeling of pedaling and going nowhere, or having insane difficultly on hills. (No lie the rear tire was flat when I got to the bike shop to have the derailleur fixed.) a quick fix from Al and the Stomper's been shifting better than it was when I bought it, granted I haven't really ridden since I had it fixed. but in any case I finding a bizarre parallel between my performance at Nutmegman and Macca's performance in Kona:
2007:
I dominate my age group at Nutmegman winning by almost 30 min.( sorry Bjoern)
Macca lights up Kona and gets his long awaited victory.
2008:
The front Derailleur on my bike seizes up causing me to drop out of Nutmegman while in the top 10.
Macca's Front derailleur cable snaps while he's toward the top of the field.
If something eerily similar happens to Macca and myself next year, I'm going to start banking on this ludicrous hypothesis.
R.D.
2007:
I dominate my age group at Nutmegman winning by almost 30 min.( sorry Bjoern)
Macca lights up Kona and gets his long awaited victory.
2008:
The front Derailleur on my bike seizes up causing me to drop out of Nutmegman while in the top 10.
Macca's Front derailleur cable snaps while he's toward the top of the field.
If something eerily similar happens to Macca and myself next year, I'm going to start banking on this ludicrous hypothesis.
R.D.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
No more censorship a marathon PR
First off let me start by spewing what I could say yesterday..I could not mention Triathlon or anything involved in it...hence all the (Blanks). Well I will start out by congraulating Craig Alexander on his Kona win, Crissie Wellington is in the next zip code ahead of the the second place woman so head on over to www.ironman.com to check it out.
This morning Cranky, Speedy Claire, and myself took on the ING Hartford Marathon. Long story short Cranky's going to Boston, I did a PR about 20 min. faster than I seeded myself ( Seeded 3:45 actually time 3:26 Cranky thank you for pacing me.) and Claire broke the "magical" 4 hour barrier ( 3:58). Sir Angry did well in the 5k going in the mid 22 min range after no run training for 3 weeks and one week of high saturated fat barbacue. I'll post more when I can get the feeling back into my feet.
Latic acid is stupid...but it gives me an excuse to watch the Kona webcast with my feet up.
The road worn warrior
R.D.
This morning Cranky, Speedy Claire, and myself took on the ING Hartford Marathon. Long story short Cranky's going to Boston, I did a PR about 20 min. faster than I seeded myself ( Seeded 3:45 actually time 3:26 Cranky thank you for pacing me.) and Claire broke the "magical" 4 hour barrier ( 3:58). Sir Angry did well in the 5k going in the mid 22 min range after no run training for 3 weeks and one week of high saturated fat barbacue. I'll post more when I can get the feeling back into my feet.
Latic acid is stupid...but it gives me an excuse to watch the Kona webcast with my feet up.
The road worn warrior
R.D.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Finances of Ironman....
When I first began this sport I never understood why people who were more inclined to do Ironman Tris opted out of a lot of local races. I used to think these guys were being "M-Dot Snobs." Upon doing my first Ironman and several races out of state I now have a new understanding for why alot of athletes would skip the East Bum Kill Sprint Tri and hug-a-thon. For some yes it interfers with the Holy Gospel training plan that if you don't ride X miles on X day you will die a most painful and horrible death. Madam Pele will open a fisure on the Queen K turning you and your P3C into a cinder, all becuase you didn't ride X miles on X day. For others it is the fiscal situation. We only have X amount of dollars Y amount of bills and Z set aside for race entry, travel and other entertainment, so for some of us if it comes down to a Kona qualifier Kona itself or the local races we all love and adore some times and heart breakingly we have to choose what's more important. For some of us it's that qualifier it's that magical shot to get to the Big Island and see ourselevs on NBC in December and for others the reward of seeing friends, family and the homies from the tri club at the local tri are what moves them. Some of us have all the luck and we have a really large Z amount tucked aside and we can race whenever our heart's content others of us have small Z amounts and have to focus it what is best for us. The 2008 racing season has been a painful lesson in this reality, that sometimes one's racing season comes down to the finance game not the training.
In my case I need to start planning for 2009 now....
October and November will determine the fate of my 2009 tri season and which races will be set in stone, which races were pipe dreams and what I can reallistically expect, I figure if I set my race fund aside then I will be better prepared and won't be forced to scrap at the last second, also I can focus on saving for summer courses and tucking a little extra ( tax refund) aside in case I get lucky and good and find myself on the Big Island, other wise my budget for the late season as well as future life goals or unexpected expenses will be prepared. Bjoern has arranged a homestay for Arizona, so my odds of doing a double have drastically increased.
Recently my training has been stepped up, I've actually gotten some weight sessions in, and yes Angry I have worked "the Chain", granted my hip abduction workout got some stares, and my squats are dreadfully weak.
My running game has entered the track workout phase, still try to get one long run a week , a track workout ( usually a threshold workout, speed work will come at the beginning of September.) and a moderate run between 4 and 8 miles usually hill work.
With the cycling I'm looking to increase from 2 sessions a week to 3 -4 sessions a week to improve my stamina, speed and handling skills.
Swimming is down to 3 sessions a week, my distance has sort of stagnated at 3000-3500 yds. per workout, that yardage will go up in the winter, but for right now it's good where it is.
The main focus of the next two weeks is to work my running and cycling so I can hopefully top 10 at Nutmegman, a lofty goal with the pro field, but my age group might be slim pickins this year with Bjoern in Europe and several of the Young guns frightended off by the horrors of last year, regardless I'm going as an AG athlete because the Real Deal pros are coming to this one, that and all the men start in the same wave...so any advantage of racing elite is pretty much eliminated, that and I really want to win the AG, and end the season right.
In my case I need to start planning for 2009 now....
October and November will determine the fate of my 2009 tri season and which races will be set in stone, which races were pipe dreams and what I can reallistically expect, I figure if I set my race fund aside then I will be better prepared and won't be forced to scrap at the last second, also I can focus on saving for summer courses and tucking a little extra ( tax refund) aside in case I get lucky and good and find myself on the Big Island, other wise my budget for the late season as well as future life goals or unexpected expenses will be prepared. Bjoern has arranged a homestay for Arizona, so my odds of doing a double have drastically increased.
Recently my training has been stepped up, I've actually gotten some weight sessions in, and yes Angry I have worked "the Chain", granted my hip abduction workout got some stares, and my squats are dreadfully weak.
My running game has entered the track workout phase, still try to get one long run a week , a track workout ( usually a threshold workout, speed work will come at the beginning of September.) and a moderate run between 4 and 8 miles usually hill work.
With the cycling I'm looking to increase from 2 sessions a week to 3 -4 sessions a week to improve my stamina, speed and handling skills.
Swimming is down to 3 sessions a week, my distance has sort of stagnated at 3000-3500 yds. per workout, that yardage will go up in the winter, but for right now it's good where it is.
The main focus of the next two weeks is to work my running and cycling so I can hopefully top 10 at Nutmegman, a lofty goal with the pro field, but my age group might be slim pickins this year with Bjoern in Europe and several of the Young guns frightended off by the horrors of last year, regardless I'm going as an AG athlete because the Real Deal pros are coming to this one, that and all the men start in the same wave...so any advantage of racing elite is pretty much eliminated, that and I really want to win the AG, and end the season right.
Oh yes I opted out of doing the financial advisor position, I might be kicking myself in 5 years but with everything going on right now knowing my pay is guaranteed makes life a little easier, plus the training schedule would be a conflict with my college schedule and I need that bachelor's degree to do anything profitable with my life. Speaking of which Central is determined to keep me for an extra semester and its pissing me off.
Well that's all that's happening in my neck of the woods.
R.D.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Dare to Dream and take Risks?
Upon looking at my poll results, it looks like Ironman Arizona is in the cards if I can get a general entry slot in November, I've been crunching the numbers to see if a New Zealand/ Arizona double is in the mix or would be fiscal suicide, upon review I might be able to swing it if Catherine and Jo Ann could tolerate putting my hairy arse up for two weeks, if I make Kona, I will have to sell vital organs, my car and soul or my parents real estate gig will have to take off pronto ( granted it will anyway, the active adult community has given them 2 deals and at least 3 prospects) but my dad's promise rings in my ears " You earn a Kona slot and we'll find a way to get you there." Needless to say my escape from number crunching my bills and earnings, has been number crunching flights and hotels in Taupo, along with Flights, hotel, and rental car arrangements to Tempe and the Big Island, with my earnings. Bjoern said he'd be down for Tempe so splitting a hotel and rental car could make it a very, very, managable trip if we can both get general entry. Park City at this point is looking more and more like it's in the scrap heap, and I'm trying to tuck enough away for Nutmegman. I never thought I'd say I miss the sprints and olympics, but upon looking at my calendar and finding a majority of my races have been halves, I have to say I kind of miss the variety I had last year. For as stressful as 2007 was 2008 has been more so. I hadn't been able to really enjoy the time leading up to my races. Financial worries plauged me from the day after Nutmeg up until my flight to Taupo. Every race the worries would hit, do I have enough for gas, bills, hotel, food. I've only had one podium technically 2 if I went AG, but anytime I can get a shot in the elite I'll take it. I've found that my family and friends definitely have great faith in my ablities, for my realatives to pool resources and lend me cash to compete, it speaks volumes, especially in our situation.
All I can do to get through the montony of work and bills, is train and plan for the next race. To qoute from one of my favorite movies , Rudy, " Dreams are what make life tolerable." Most of my life I've been told I don't dream enough, I try to stay in the concrete, what I can do today, what I've gotten in the past. Recently I've been dreaming a little too much, but unlike a lot of dreamers I realize dreams are only achieved through hard work and follow through. I can't sit on my ass and expect to do a sub-10:30 Ironman and qualify for Kona , I can't sit at a desk pissing and moaning expecting it's going to get me out of debt and put a bachelor's degree in my hand. Positive energy goes only halfway, the other half you have to put out. With all the negative that's been circling in my life lately I've been trying to get upbeat, I plan, and I execute. I take some risks, put myself out there, I've almost thought of going for and FHA loan to buy investment property in popped bubble markets (even though they're cheap my debt to income sucks right now and I know it. So that will wait until I'm making more than $19k and pocketing $15k after taxes, 401k and benefits. It could pay dividends other wise I will have a vacation home in Florida....and California... and Nevada.... to sell/rent at cut throat prices.)
All the fiscal shit aside, one reason I have NZ for 09 is the fact I want to have one last crack at Kona as an 18-24 AG athlete, Tempe is game over for that AG ( granted I expect to be riding like Hell on Wheels because I will have more favorable training conditions.) because it's a qualifier for 2010 in which I'd be entering the slightly more competitive 25-29 bracket, against former collegiate swimmers and runners, also despite it's the 25th Anniversary, IMNZ is slow to sell out, where as IMAZ could be an equally expensive endeavor if I log on to my PC late and miss the General Entry ( then the debate is do I go with a community fund slot? or buy a training package with Entry and training camp from Multisport.com) If I don't get to Kona by 30 I'm giving up on the dream to go pro, because by that point I will have to be going pro speed to qualify in my age group. Part of me embraces risk, my parents tried to play it safe and ended up in deeper shit than if they took risks in their careers, in investment, in life in general. They have often told me to live opposite of the way they lived, maybe one of the reasons as I begged my dad to talk me out of IMNZ 09 he encouraged me to get my shit handled and do it. Indeed upon looking at the battering I've taken this year I'm not too bad off, a couple of things got /are getting paid late, had some major scares but by September I'll be all square, life will be back to normal, granted I'll still be crashing with Grandpa. Well I've gone on like Mac Beth, speaking "the tale of an idiot ,a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing."- Bill S. My hope for 09 is that by the time August rolls around I will have my degree in hand, and gainful entry level career, an emerging coaching business, and some 20 year olds pissing themseleves with fear on the big island, because my lycra clad prosterior chain will be making its way to the start line in Kona.
Paying his dues, bearing his scars and getting tougher by the second.
R.D.
All I can do to get through the montony of work and bills, is train and plan for the next race. To qoute from one of my favorite movies , Rudy, " Dreams are what make life tolerable." Most of my life I've been told I don't dream enough, I try to stay in the concrete, what I can do today, what I've gotten in the past. Recently I've been dreaming a little too much, but unlike a lot of dreamers I realize dreams are only achieved through hard work and follow through. I can't sit on my ass and expect to do a sub-10:30 Ironman and qualify for Kona , I can't sit at a desk pissing and moaning expecting it's going to get me out of debt and put a bachelor's degree in my hand. Positive energy goes only halfway, the other half you have to put out. With all the negative that's been circling in my life lately I've been trying to get upbeat, I plan, and I execute. I take some risks, put myself out there, I've almost thought of going for and FHA loan to buy investment property in popped bubble markets (even though they're cheap my debt to income sucks right now and I know it. So that will wait until I'm making more than $19k and pocketing $15k after taxes, 401k and benefits. It could pay dividends other wise I will have a vacation home in Florida....and California... and Nevada.... to sell/rent at cut throat prices.)
All the fiscal shit aside, one reason I have NZ for 09 is the fact I want to have one last crack at Kona as an 18-24 AG athlete, Tempe is game over for that AG ( granted I expect to be riding like Hell on Wheels because I will have more favorable training conditions.) because it's a qualifier for 2010 in which I'd be entering the slightly more competitive 25-29 bracket, against former collegiate swimmers and runners, also despite it's the 25th Anniversary, IMNZ is slow to sell out, where as IMAZ could be an equally expensive endeavor if I log on to my PC late and miss the General Entry ( then the debate is do I go with a community fund slot? or buy a training package with Entry and training camp from Multisport.com) If I don't get to Kona by 30 I'm giving up on the dream to go pro, because by that point I will have to be going pro speed to qualify in my age group. Part of me embraces risk, my parents tried to play it safe and ended up in deeper shit than if they took risks in their careers, in investment, in life in general. They have often told me to live opposite of the way they lived, maybe one of the reasons as I begged my dad to talk me out of IMNZ 09 he encouraged me to get my shit handled and do it. Indeed upon looking at the battering I've taken this year I'm not too bad off, a couple of things got /are getting paid late, had some major scares but by September I'll be all square, life will be back to normal, granted I'll still be crashing with Grandpa. Well I've gone on like Mac Beth, speaking "the tale of an idiot ,a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing."- Bill S. My hope for 09 is that by the time August rolls around I will have my degree in hand, and gainful entry level career, an emerging coaching business, and some 20 year olds pissing themseleves with fear on the big island, because my lycra clad prosterior chain will be making its way to the start line in Kona.
Paying his dues, bearing his scars and getting tougher by the second.
R.D.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Eagleman 70.3 The Low Down
Well as mentioned in my post from yesterday morning, I got cooked pretty bad on the shoulders, so if I'm going no wetsuit at the Griskus the second degree burns on my shoulders are to blame, granted tonight I'm going to try to swim, I figure the cool water and chlorine will be good for the burns, the blisters should be healed by tomorrow or Thursday so hopefully I'll be good to go for Saturday. I could sit here and describe the commute down for hours, lets just say I need an EZPass. My hotel was about 30 miles from the race site so in essence it was just like commuting to Waramaug back home. I met Bob and Mary Ann Blais at the Expo the night before and found out a little more about what was happening with the foundation, but all that's for another post. Race morning began for me at 4:30 AM, Temp Tattoos went on along with liberal amounts of anti persperant, followed by my new Zoot tri gear. I put some sunscreen on my neck and arms but didn't get enough on my shoulders as I would have liked, hence the 2nd degree burns. I made my way out to the race site and parked at the lot for the expo and began to trek my way over to Transition on foot ( they checked in bikes the night before). I got a ride from this chick from Mass. Emmy Lyn, over to transition and began to set up my gear. I met Jerome a 30 something year old, who was battling anemia, then Kyle and Jeff from the Bucknell University tri team, and a few newbies. The temp at race start was already 80F (26C) it was going to be a scorcher. The pros went off at 6:45 with no wetsuits ( water temp was 75F(23C) pro rule is 72F is no wet suit zone Amateurs is 78F) They were followed by the 50+ Women and 55+ Men @ 6:52 and then my Age Group @ 7:00.
The Swim: 10 rounds with Muhammad Ali
I started wide and cut in as usual on the swim, but due to my lack of pool time and the fact that I was racing a higher class of athlete I wasn't able to get my usual fast break by the first turn. Needless to say I ended up racing side by side with one guy for about 200 yards. We kept hitting one another non intentional at first by finally he got fed up with me and twacked my in the head a few times then grabbed me by the midsection and pushed me back. Now some people would say what an Ass hole but that is the nature of the beast, claw fight and push your way forward, I'm sure I've given my fair share of bloody noses, so for all the guys I've hit, kicked, drafted ,and smacked the karma train got sweet, sweet pay back. The one good thing is the slight push backward he gave me allowed me to get to the inside and around him. Needless to say the physical confrontation took a little out of me. I still managed to pick off a good number of the wave in front of us but the Heat, combined with Salt Water, and a few good hits to the gut made me feel like I was going to be feeding the fish, luckily it didn't happen. I got out of the swim in a less than stellar 28:39 good enough for the 4th quickest in the age group and 69th overall.
T-1:
After a bit of confusion finding my rack I shucked off the wetzoot and crammed four gus into my side pockets and off I went. T-1 time was slow 3:41 but it took me nearly a minute to find my rack.
The Bike: Is this a Tri or Le Tour?
I got out of T-1 and rode a little slow as I slipped my feet into my shoes. I was passed by about 4 riders including one guy from my age group, and my elderly nemesis ( since Claire's is Grandpa I will call mine Pops) Anyway, Pops and I started leap frogging for a couple of miles I would accelerate, break way and then boom slow up for a curve and he'd get away again I leaped frogged with Pops and some 50 year old guy that we left in the dust at the 10 mile mark. About that time something that usually never happens happened I actually began passing people on the bike. At the 15 mile mark that high was short lived as a freight train of six riders including two from my age group rocketed past. I was determined to keep them in sight, If they were in sight I had a chance on the run. At about the 20 mile mark I took a gu and got passed by Alex from Georgetown's Tri club. I decided that if we worked together maybe we could catch the guys infront. The leap frogging began again. I would power ahead he would sit about 5 bike lengths back, then he would surge by and get 5 lengths ahead I would keep him in sight then surge again, we did this for about 15 miles and we began to reel in the stragglers, including Pops, then the three way leap frog began. I tended to drop back at the aid stations as I would dump empty Gu2O bottles and pick up Gatorade ( after my GU2O was completely spent and a bottle of water which immediately went over my head and down the jersey.) At the 40 mile mark I made my move I emptied the Gatorade in the aerodrink, put a bottle of water in the front cage and dumped my empty bottles and gu wrappers. I kicked it in the most powerful gears I could muster and got out of the saddle, the message from my brain to my legs "CHARGE!!!!!!!" For a few miles it seemed like it was going to work, but my legs just couldn't carry the pace, that and I ran out of fluid, Alex flew by with about 4 miles left...I had tried to break too early. I managed to keep the Hoya in sight. But that wasn't the worst part, I could deal with Alex finishing ahead of me he worked hard for it, overcoming a nice 5 min. swim gap. Pops got by but as we began our leap frogging again the Peleton came first it was 4 riders in a straight line. I was trying to cut in on a corner only to notice a guy on his Cervelo blocking the inside and nearly going into the grass as I was cutting in front of him. The dishonest win at all cost part of me wanted to drop to the tail of the pack and suck wheel, the honest and common sense part of me realized, 1) I really do not want to be in a pack with 20 sweaty angry 40 year olds, 2) It was too damn hot and I don't really have the pack riding skills to deal with such a large draft pack, 3) This isn't an ITU race, drafting is illegal and knowing my luck if I tried it I'd either wreck someone or get caught. I did the right thing I got in the bull horns and back pedaled letting the draft pack of about 20 cyclists and Pops ride off in the distance I ended up riding next to a pro for a little bit, he was having a rough day, I ended up repassing him with about a mile left. I ended up slipping my out of my shoes about 100 meters too early and rode them in. All and all despite the Heat it wasn't a bad day on the bike 2:38.51 averaging 21.3 mph.
T-2
I had to ditch some fluid consumed on the bike. I also decided against taking my fuel belt with me on the run, part of me felt it was a stupid move, but there were several aid stations along the way, also I knew that sports drink and coke were the way to go. Time 4:21
Run: Might as well be walkin' on the Sun.
Desire Ficker once said about Kona, "Nothing can prepare you for hot it is." The same could be said about Maryland.It became apparent as I shuffled out of T-2 that it was going to be a race between aid stations, one fan was handing out water and gatorade but I don't think that USAT could with good conscience DQ anybody for taking it. It was 103 degrees.( I didn't take any but I can't blame anybody who did.) I was passed by about 5 people out of transition I paced a few guys then dropped back. At every aid station they were handing out ice, Gatorade, water, cookies chips, gel, the ice and gatorade were my poison of choice. One cup of ice went down the the jersey, one went in the hat. And so the race went. the first mile was the slowest, I paced some guy from Maryland who was trying to break 5 hours then he was gone. Then I started chatting with some guy from Virginia Beach, we paced for about 3 miles holding just over 8 min mile pace, at the aid stations the ritual of ice, water and Gatorade continued . Everything was going well until mile 6 then we hit " the stretch" a mile of newly paved asphalt completely devoid of shade, the dude from Virginia got ahead of me and took off. About the same time I started reeling in a couple of guys walking. As I got to the turn around I saw one kid who had passed me early in the bike limpimg along. As I came along side I tried to fire him up " Hard Part's over, now it's just getting back." I said trying to hide my suffering. " I didn't give up man, but my back did. There are about 4 guys ahead of you." He said as he waddled along trying to get through it. I felt bad, this kid had gone balls out and the heat and his back were doing him in. I hit the next aid station and took coke, a potato chip and lots of ice as I tried to reel in some of the other guys in my age group. The ice worked great for about 10 seconds and then it was back to the heat and Humidity. At the last aid station on the stretch I loaded the hat up one more time, took some more water and tried to gut it out. As I hit the 8 mile mark my 8 and change/min miles melted down. The race had gone into survival mode. I saw a couple of the other Blazeman Warriors, shouted out some encouragement and slapped a few high fives. I passed Alex as he began to waddle along, then I began to reel in some more people, there were so many guys and gals walking it wasn't funny. Then some kid from the University of Virginia was the next victim, some shirtless 30 something year old guy blazed past as if he'd been saving up for this all along. I continued to run/jog along, my pace reaching the high 8 min low 9 min range. Every aid station more ice, the better it felt and the more I wished for one long aid station. I continued to pass and was passed as the long unshaded stretches were replaced by residential neighborhoods . The park got closer and closer, more aid stations, more ice, my neck and shoulders were sunburned, and the lack of shade on course was taking its toll exacerbating the burns. The park got closer, neighborhood residents began spraying us down with their garden hoses. On one stretch there were at least three sprayers working their magic. The relief was temporary, but it felt so good. Finally after a quick series of switch backs we passed the spectator handing out Gatorade and Water from earlier. About a half a mile to go. A few more curves and you could hear the loud speakers, then you entered the park, and saw the finishing chute I got close to the finish then "log rolled" the last few feet across, the same tribute to the Blazeman I had done in NZ.
Run time 1:54.04 8:43 min/mile pace
Total time 5:09.33 Bjoern has braging rights for now.....
I could go on about the aftermath, meeting Bob and Mary Ann at the finish ,being sprayed down like a small brushfire but it would be all mute point. It was hotter than hell, I was sunburnt crispy. I'm pretty happy with the result but I still need to improve on my hot weather training. Also more pool time and time on the bike is required before my epic two Halves and a sprint in 8 days. At the roll down meeting the top 2 in the Age group wanted the Clearwater slots, a lot of guys left right after the race so Kona Rolled down to 6th place. ( Jeff from Bucknell) Sadly I was in seventh, so I guess now I can joke I was a minute away from the big trip to the Big Island. So it was a good weekend in Maryland despite the sunburn. Now I've got to settle down and prep for the rest of the season.
The Road Worn Warrior
R.D.
The Swim: 10 rounds with Muhammad Ali
I started wide and cut in as usual on the swim, but due to my lack of pool time and the fact that I was racing a higher class of athlete I wasn't able to get my usual fast break by the first turn. Needless to say I ended up racing side by side with one guy for about 200 yards. We kept hitting one another non intentional at first by finally he got fed up with me and twacked my in the head a few times then grabbed me by the midsection and pushed me back. Now some people would say what an Ass hole but that is the nature of the beast, claw fight and push your way forward, I'm sure I've given my fair share of bloody noses, so for all the guys I've hit, kicked, drafted ,and smacked the karma train got sweet, sweet pay back. The one good thing is the slight push backward he gave me allowed me to get to the inside and around him. Needless to say the physical confrontation took a little out of me. I still managed to pick off a good number of the wave in front of us but the Heat, combined with Salt Water, and a few good hits to the gut made me feel like I was going to be feeding the fish, luckily it didn't happen. I got out of the swim in a less than stellar 28:39 good enough for the 4th quickest in the age group and 69th overall.
T-1:
After a bit of confusion finding my rack I shucked off the wetzoot and crammed four gus into my side pockets and off I went. T-1 time was slow 3:41 but it took me nearly a minute to find my rack.
The Bike: Is this a Tri or Le Tour?
I got out of T-1 and rode a little slow as I slipped my feet into my shoes. I was passed by about 4 riders including one guy from my age group, and my elderly nemesis ( since Claire's is Grandpa I will call mine Pops) Anyway, Pops and I started leap frogging for a couple of miles I would accelerate, break way and then boom slow up for a curve and he'd get away again I leaped frogged with Pops and some 50 year old guy that we left in the dust at the 10 mile mark. About that time something that usually never happens happened I actually began passing people on the bike. At the 15 mile mark that high was short lived as a freight train of six riders including two from my age group rocketed past. I was determined to keep them in sight, If they were in sight I had a chance on the run. At about the 20 mile mark I took a gu and got passed by Alex from Georgetown's Tri club. I decided that if we worked together maybe we could catch the guys infront. The leap frogging began again. I would power ahead he would sit about 5 bike lengths back, then he would surge by and get 5 lengths ahead I would keep him in sight then surge again, we did this for about 15 miles and we began to reel in the stragglers, including Pops, then the three way leap frog began. I tended to drop back at the aid stations as I would dump empty Gu2O bottles and pick up Gatorade ( after my GU2O was completely spent and a bottle of water which immediately went over my head and down the jersey.) At the 40 mile mark I made my move I emptied the Gatorade in the aerodrink, put a bottle of water in the front cage and dumped my empty bottles and gu wrappers. I kicked it in the most powerful gears I could muster and got out of the saddle, the message from my brain to my legs "CHARGE!!!!!!!" For a few miles it seemed like it was going to work, but my legs just couldn't carry the pace, that and I ran out of fluid, Alex flew by with about 4 miles left...I had tried to break too early. I managed to keep the Hoya in sight. But that wasn't the worst part, I could deal with Alex finishing ahead of me he worked hard for it, overcoming a nice 5 min. swim gap. Pops got by but as we began our leap frogging again the Peleton came first it was 4 riders in a straight line. I was trying to cut in on a corner only to notice a guy on his Cervelo blocking the inside and nearly going into the grass as I was cutting in front of him. The dishonest win at all cost part of me wanted to drop to the tail of the pack and suck wheel, the honest and common sense part of me realized, 1) I really do not want to be in a pack with 20 sweaty angry 40 year olds, 2) It was too damn hot and I don't really have the pack riding skills to deal with such a large draft pack, 3) This isn't an ITU race, drafting is illegal and knowing my luck if I tried it I'd either wreck someone or get caught. I did the right thing I got in the bull horns and back pedaled letting the draft pack of about 20 cyclists and Pops ride off in the distance I ended up riding next to a pro for a little bit, he was having a rough day, I ended up repassing him with about a mile left. I ended up slipping my out of my shoes about 100 meters too early and rode them in. All and all despite the Heat it wasn't a bad day on the bike 2:38.51 averaging 21.3 mph.
T-2
I had to ditch some fluid consumed on the bike. I also decided against taking my fuel belt with me on the run, part of me felt it was a stupid move, but there were several aid stations along the way, also I knew that sports drink and coke were the way to go. Time 4:21
Run: Might as well be walkin' on the Sun.
Desire Ficker once said about Kona, "Nothing can prepare you for hot it is." The same could be said about Maryland.It became apparent as I shuffled out of T-2 that it was going to be a race between aid stations, one fan was handing out water and gatorade but I don't think that USAT could with good conscience DQ anybody for taking it. It was 103 degrees.( I didn't take any but I can't blame anybody who did.) I was passed by about 5 people out of transition I paced a few guys then dropped back. At every aid station they were handing out ice, Gatorade, water, cookies chips, gel, the ice and gatorade were my poison of choice. One cup of ice went down the the jersey, one went in the hat. And so the race went. the first mile was the slowest, I paced some guy from Maryland who was trying to break 5 hours then he was gone. Then I started chatting with some guy from Virginia Beach, we paced for about 3 miles holding just over 8 min mile pace, at the aid stations the ritual of ice, water and Gatorade continued . Everything was going well until mile 6 then we hit " the stretch" a mile of newly paved asphalt completely devoid of shade, the dude from Virginia got ahead of me and took off. About the same time I started reeling in a couple of guys walking. As I got to the turn around I saw one kid who had passed me early in the bike limpimg along. As I came along side I tried to fire him up " Hard Part's over, now it's just getting back." I said trying to hide my suffering. " I didn't give up man, but my back did. There are about 4 guys ahead of you." He said as he waddled along trying to get through it. I felt bad, this kid had gone balls out and the heat and his back were doing him in. I hit the next aid station and took coke, a potato chip and lots of ice as I tried to reel in some of the other guys in my age group. The ice worked great for about 10 seconds and then it was back to the heat and Humidity. At the last aid station on the stretch I loaded the hat up one more time, took some more water and tried to gut it out. As I hit the 8 mile mark my 8 and change/min miles melted down. The race had gone into survival mode. I saw a couple of the other Blazeman Warriors, shouted out some encouragement and slapped a few high fives. I passed Alex as he began to waddle along, then I began to reel in some more people, there were so many guys and gals walking it wasn't funny. Then some kid from the University of Virginia was the next victim, some shirtless 30 something year old guy blazed past as if he'd been saving up for this all along. I continued to run/jog along, my pace reaching the high 8 min low 9 min range. Every aid station more ice, the better it felt and the more I wished for one long aid station. I continued to pass and was passed as the long unshaded stretches were replaced by residential neighborhoods . The park got closer and closer, more aid stations, more ice, my neck and shoulders were sunburned, and the lack of shade on course was taking its toll exacerbating the burns. The park got closer, neighborhood residents began spraying us down with their garden hoses. On one stretch there were at least three sprayers working their magic. The relief was temporary, but it felt so good. Finally after a quick series of switch backs we passed the spectator handing out Gatorade and Water from earlier. About a half a mile to go. A few more curves and you could hear the loud speakers, then you entered the park, and saw the finishing chute I got close to the finish then "log rolled" the last few feet across, the same tribute to the Blazeman I had done in NZ.
Run time 1:54.04 8:43 min/mile pace
Total time 5:09.33 Bjoern has braging rights for now.....
I could go on about the aftermath, meeting Bob and Mary Ann at the finish ,being sprayed down like a small brushfire but it would be all mute point. It was hotter than hell, I was sunburnt crispy. I'm pretty happy with the result but I still need to improve on my hot weather training. Also more pool time and time on the bike is required before my epic two Halves and a sprint in 8 days. At the roll down meeting the top 2 in the Age group wanted the Clearwater slots, a lot of guys left right after the race so Kona Rolled down to 6th place. ( Jeff from Bucknell) Sadly I was in seventh, so I guess now I can joke I was a minute away from the big trip to the Big Island. So it was a good weekend in Maryland despite the sunburn. Now I've got to settle down and prep for the rest of the season.
The Road Worn Warrior
R.D.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
All Hail the King of Kona!!!
Yes I know this post is 3 days late, ( just wanted to make sure Macca cleared doping, that and I have two 8 page papers due about bacteria and political leaders with names that are both hard to spell and pronounce.) But yes, the man I most fashion my racing style after has finally come through and become Lord of the Lava Fields, Empitome of Endurance, The Arrogant Chap with the world's best aerobic threshold...Chris Mc Cormack You are the Ironman World Champion and you'd had a hell of a race to do it. On the Women's side Chrissie Wellington Won in a blow out. Her nearest competition was Sam Mc Glone and she was six minutes back getting off the bike and that's where she stayed, Kate Major had been second but faded to third nine minutes behind the unstoppable Wellington. The sad thing is Ironman .com stayed gluded to the Women's race or lack thereof...as Macca, Crowie ( Craig Alexander) Trbjorn Sinbale, Chris Lieto and Tim De Boom waged a 5 man Ironwar. Granted when I saw Sinbale only had a 7 min. lead off the bike I knew it was all over for him....let's face Macca proved he could chase down Normann Stadler ( who dropped out via stomach virus...somewhere in the backround I can hear Peter Reid shouting "suck it up, I puked all over myself in 03 and still won." Or De Boom shouting " Whimp!" * Tim DeBoom dropped out of the 2003 Ironman due to passing a kidney Stone at mile 14 on the marathon. Granted I can't Blame Normann for dropping out this year..after all there is a difference between puking like a cholera patient and having a temper tantrum over a "Flat f&*king tire!") The guy that impressed me was the USA's Chris Lieto
For the second year in a row he was the 2nd guy off the bike. Then he took it out hard on the run. He passed then Leader Sinbale and led until about the half marathon point, when Macca and Crowie sort of said "thanks for the lift mate we'll take it from here." Lieto was repassed by Sinbale, Tim De Boom and some other dude. I will say this 6th in Hawaii is damn good! Now if the guy just puts more into his run focus we might just have another American capable of winning in Kona.So in a quick Kona Recap:
Lava= Hot
Queen K = Hot and Windy
Macca = The MAN!
Wellington= The Woman ( or possible EPO we'll see when the doping report comes out. sorry I'm a little untrusting of big breakthrough wins after the Nina Kraft, Floyd Landis, Vinokorov scandals)
Tim De Boom = still has it.
Stomach Viruses Suck! ( especially for Brown, Stadler, Jones, Al-Sultan)
Normann Stadler= Win or DNF
Bike Crash = No win and No smile for Natascha
Chris Lieto= Next American Champion?
and Max from HEAT finished in 9:55 no age group bling but still a kick ass time. Way to go Max!
So any Kona perdictions for Next Year?
R.D.
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