Training

Knowing that my first half IM is only a few weeks away is starting to stress me out. I just got my revised training plan and it's pretty damn heavy. I really need to log some training hours or I'll just burn up in the race. It's not like I'm not looking to set any goals, well maybe there's one and that's just to finish! It really hard to get into the pool when it's 80 degrees and beautiful outside. I've got to find a better time than after work to get my swims in. If I could just drag my butt out of bed earlier I could maybe get it in before work. Oh well, this is what it's all about planning and preparation.

Oh, and how can anyone not get addicted to this...WEC, UFC...these guys are crazy and it's always a show. Boxing just doesn't cut it anymore.

Massachusetts State Triathlon

I traveled up to Winchendon to race in the Mass State Tri at Lake Dennison today. They were hosting an olympic and sprint distance. I decided to do the sprint. It was pretty much a sea of team TriFury and Boston tri team uniforms. So needless to say, the new Heat uniform stuck out pretty good. Felt like I was in enemy territory.

The lake was 78 degrees and I decided to go with my wetsuit, because I'm a lousy swimmer and need that extra sleekness or whatever. I regretted my decision after the first turn as I started to really heat up and sweat. This was new to me and uncomfortable. Maybe I'll invest in a sleeveless suit. The bike was a hilly 16 out and back and much of it on a closed road. I couldn't really get into a rhythm but started to get moving after a really steep climb that lasted at least a mile. I made up some time on some really quick downhills and then into T2 for the run. I started out a little stiff but started to push, something I've been trying to do more of on the run. At the turn I really started to push but held back some because of the heat and since there were no water stations. I finished in 1:18, 19th overall and second in my age group. It was my first win of the season and I didn't even stick around for the awards ceremony since I felt I really didn't have a chance. Hope I didn't miss out on a good prize, wins don't happen for me much so I'm a little bummed. Overall it was a good race, good people and nice location. I'd def consider heading back up for next year's race.

Timberman 70.3

I'm all in. I found out yesterday, after being added to the waiting list in February, that I will be racing Timberman in Gilford New Hampshire. The race will be my first 1/2 IM and over the next two weeks I really need to step up my training. I had prepared earlier in the year to race the Mooseman 1/2 but an injury sidelined me. I'm excited, nervous and eager to do my first long distance race. A lot more training and thought goes into a race like this and I need to be prepared. There's nutrition, pace and a host of other things to keep in mind on race day. I'm up for the challenge. I know I'll be tested like I have never before and hopefully my base training and race experiences from this year will pull me through.

Race: Timberman Date: August 20, 2007

Races to Date

I guess it's been a pretty good season so far. I trained hard over the winter and really improved my swim and run. Things were going great right up until April when I started to have serous pain around my knee. It got so bad I couldn't really move up or down stairs and ended up having to take more than a month off and miss my priority race the Mooseman, a 1/2 IM. Turns out I had IT Band syndrome, and now three months later I'm still battling it, but at least I can race.

My first race was Mystic River Valley Sprint - I did this race last year and really wanted to return because it was flat, fast and is in a great location. Last year I placed third in my age group and was really proud to take home a cheesy trophy. This year the competition was much better but I improved on my time. I finished in 1:18 - 4th place in my age group and 27th overall. No trophy, but great time!

My second race was the Griskus Olympic, a pretty challenging Oly that I did last year. This is one of the most popular triathlons around and really draws some talented athletes. Last year I finished in 100th place and was very pleased. This year I finished in 84th with a time of 2:38. I had hoped to do better, but the bike is just killer.

My third race was Webster Tri up in Mass. I was new to this one and it was my third race in as many weeks. I was feeling addicted - mainlining triathlons is good for the soul. I bumped into some fellow Heat members or tri veterans. This sprint distance was super flat and super fast. The swim was great and I really was strong. It was followed by a 1/4 mile run to T2; jumped on my bike and stormed out on the flat roads; I was hammering on the bike trading places with three our four guys (fellow age groupers)and eventually nudged them out. Coming into T1 I'm still not great at popping out of my shoes and hopping off the bike. I stay clipped in and it costs me sometimes. This time I hit the front break a little too much and almost brought my back tire into my helmet. I got a chuckle and good save from the crowd as I steadied the bucking horse and ran into T2. On the run I was stiff, as usual from pushing such big gears, but loosened up at the turnaround. I picked up my pace and ran a negative split coming back finishing in 1:09:15, 5th in my age group and 42 overall out of a huge field.

I've been slacking the last few weeks on training because of work priorities and am now ramping back up. I'll need to really start getting back on schedule to prepare for the 1/2 IM at the end of September.

Upcoming races:

Massachusetts State Triathlon
Litchfield Hills Olympic
Timberman Half
Journey for Sight
Madison
Hammerfest
ExtremeMan or Nutmeg State Half

Lake Placid

This past weekend Ironman Lake Placid took place in New York. I followed many of my HEAT teammates at they worked their way through the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run and I was completely envious. Never have I wished I could have been anywhere else than churning my way up a hard climb on the 112 mile bike course. I'm not that familiar with too many of the HEAT guys but one that I participated in IMLP for the first time last year. This year he improved dramatically and his write up is really inspiring. I'm still very new to this sport but my goal is to do my first Ironman in 2009. Before I bite of that big of chunk I need to compete in my first half this summer and really get smarter about training and racing. So I'm on the two year plan from this very day (7/24/07). In 2009 I will participate in my first Ironman. I've never been so captivated by an accomplishment as I have these last few days as I read and hear the stories of the Heat members who raced this year. You never want to wish away years, but here's hoping that 2008 moves in and out relatively quick.

Tubular Troubles - Airless

I recently got a pair of Zipp 404s that run tubulars but couldn't seem to get any air into the darn tires. The rims are so wide you need valve extenders because the tire valve won't extend through the rims. Anyway I tried repeatedly to get air into them and just couldn't seem to get it through, I even went and purchased a new pump since I thought the seal was shot in my other one. To no avail I took the tires to the shop and they simply hooked it up to a seriously burly looking pump and next thing you know the air is flowing in like crazy. I felt pretty stupid, as I usually do when I go into the local bike shop. So the tires held the air for a few days and I was able to get a fair amount of riding in, but two days later they were flat again. I hooked up the pump like told and started hammering away but nothing seemed to work. I just worked up a pretty good sweat! Frustrated I hit the local bike forum and put out a call for help post and in no time there were 10 responses from people who had similar experiences. I'm a newbie and I make mistakes and look clueless often so it was great to hear from others that they too couldn't complete the simple task of pumping up a tubular. The cure was pretty embarrassing and filled with common sense - make sure the valve stem is pointing down, meaning orient the tire so the valve is at the top part of the tire which helps release a sticky valve and pump away! There was a slight click as the air passed the rim and then found its way into the tire. I was so pumped I nearly redlined the air pressure and exceeded 110 in just a few pumps. So I'm back on the road again and not worried about showing up race day and not being able to compete because I complete the relatively simple task of pumping up a tire.