tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64122505582038861962024-03-13T21:57:03.227-05:00Couch to whateverIn 2009 I started with couch to 5k, it's all been uphill from there!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-48845381207435297582015-06-28T22:05:00.000-05:002015-06-28T22:05:07.031-05:00Race Review : Waconia Sprint TriathlonBack at Waconia, I was there in <a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2012/06/race-review-lake-waconia-triathlon.html" target="_blank">2012</a>, <a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2013/07/race-review-lake-waconia-triathlon.html" target="_blank">2013</a>, I skipped in 2014. This year it was run by a finalstretch. I've done a couple of their races in the past. I like they stepped in and kept this triathlon when the previous group decided to be done.<br />
<br />
Originally I wasn't going to do this race, I was going to really cut back on races, the older kids are busy most nights with activities, and that eats up a lot of time. But, good buddy Jeff sent me the link, and my wife encouraged me to go despite this information:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Since August 15, 2014 to when I signed up for this race I had run and biked zero times. I had been doing a lot of swimming, but obviously that's not quite enough.</blockquote>
<br />
So I signed up at the beginning of June, and started running and biking. I managed to squeeze in seven runs and three rides. For a grand total of 7 hours - in a month. From swimming I knew I was in pretty decent shape cardio wise, but no strength was going to be an issue. I'm actually pretty happy with how things were shaping up. Goals for the race, do the best I could.<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
The race was on Sunday, packet pickup options were Saturday at Gear West or race morning. I elected to not drive all the way to Orono on Saturday, and just get there early on race morning. In the end that all worked at fine.<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
It stormed all night, tons of rain. It was still raining VERY hard when I woke up at 5:00. According to the forecast it was supposed to stop raining in Waconia at roughly 6:30, so I had some breakfast, and got ready. It has almost stopped raining at our house, and I was off.<br />
<br />
I arrived at the park around 6:30, that's when packet pickup and everything was supposed to get started. One of the two little parking lots was already mostly full. I pulled in, went over got my packet and headed back to my car to set my stuff up. I assembled my bike, put the bike number on. I went to fasten my running number to my running belt. Couldn't find it, I knew I had grabbed it in the morning, but couldn't find it. I tried calling my wife, no luck, thank you Android, or maybe Samsung, who knows. I restarted my phone, and while doing that I remembered where I had stashed my belt. I struggled for a good long while with the helmet sticker. I ripped all the corners off the sticker, in the end I used a safety pin to get it done. Thankfully when I was in transition I noticed every other person also having the same problem. Eventually the race director got on a bullhorn and said they had tape if people were struggling.<br />
<br />
After that I found Jeff, and later my wife. We hung out and got ready for the race.<br />
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unlike previously years the swim was a mass wave start. Off the top of my head I can't even remember the last time I did a mass start. I was in the second wave, the first wave was elites, Athena, Clydesdale, and relays. Three minutes later we started, 40 and younger. I kinda like the mass start, I ran off, did some dives and started in. I was breathing to my right and I saw some guys hanging on so I kept the pace up. About the time I got to the first turn I had passed a couple of people from the previous wave, and also realized that nobody from my wave was anywhere to be found.<br />
<br />
It took me a second to get my bearings, we were now swimming into the sunlight. Not a big deal, but it did take a second. The middle section is much shorter than the other two. Imagine an isosceles trapezoid (or just look it up.) When I turned the second corner I was totally disoriented, I looked up and saw some markers, but it didn't make any sense, so I took a second or so and finally found the right set of markers.<br />
<br />
I had been basically swimming alone this whole time, not really passing anyone, not getting passed, or so I thought. As I was coming in toward the beach I saw someone coming in from the middle (probably had swum off course) they had the same color cap as me! I picked up the pace a bit. I really like coming out of the water first, as our paths converged I realized they didn't have the same cap as me, actually just a guy from the previous wave. I hit the beach, stood up and thought 'well, that was tough.'<br />
<br />
I kinda walked for a second to gather my thoughts and then jogged into transition. As I ran in I realized there were several people standing around waiting for the swimming relay partners, so maybe I had passed more people than I thought. I kinda took my time getting the wet suit off, and getting my stuff together.<br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSLx9FyeyNI/VZC0OReLfLI/AAAAAAAAG8o/6fp0NEzNV-U/s1600/11652058_10206087080072487_1784532669_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSLx9FyeyNI/VZC0OReLfLI/AAAAAAAAG8o/6fp0NEzNV-U/s320/11652058_10206087080072487_1784532669_n.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At this point I think I have some hammer gels in my pocket. Look how happy I am. It wasn't true, they had fallen out when I took my wetsuit off (yay...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I trotted my bike out right behind a relay biker. A quick glance and I though, I got this guy. Long story short, I didn't have him. We started off down the road. Personal goal for this year, drink more water. So I took a sip or two right out of the gate.<br />
<br />
The first little bit is a small downhill, followed by a meandering uphill, followed by another downhill, and that about covers the first mile. I had sort of settled into a pace that was comfortably challenging, and that guy was just out of reach.<br />
<br />
For the next 15 minutes I felt like I was riding alone. Not passing anyone, and nobody passing me. Then a guy came by, in my wave, but not in my age group. A couple more young bucks came by, then surprise surprise, a guy from the NEXT wave. He was cruising. There was a short detour on the ride, it went right by a church, on Sunday morning, and service was being let out. It was not good, lots of people slowly driving and parking and pulling out.<br />
<br />
After navigating the church gauntlet, I had run out of time. The first guy from my age group caught me, and then another, it was like a train had caught up. Overall though I was feeling well, and then... into the wind. The wind wasn't stiff or anything, but noticeable.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OXjfyk6pDvQ/VZC0kRB5q6I/AAAAAAAAG8w/NdW4ww9lspw/s1600/11655481_10206087080472497_770018531_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OXjfyk6pDvQ/VZC0kRB5q6I/AAAAAAAAG8w/NdW4ww9lspw/s320/11655481_10206087080472497_770018531_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only the littlest made it to the race - she's a movie star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uW0LcEUg4_4/VZC0ka_w7II/AAAAAAAAG8w/5YMYJ1XK-tE/s1600/11647274_10206087080512498_1610754161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uW0LcEUg4_4/VZC0ka_w7II/AAAAAAAAG8w/5YMYJ1XK-tE/s320/11647274_10206087080512498_1610754161_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like most movie stars she likes to relax on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
For the next 30 minutes or so we continued on like that. Up until now the course is actually pretty flat, not totally flat, but not really hilly either. And then ... the hills started. It's a series of hills that alone aren't killer, but they do make you take some extra gulps of air.<br />
<br />
Around this time I started to see that guy from transition again, I really wanted to catch him, and I almost did, but ran out of road. I ran past him on the way into transition. I'll take it.<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
I took a little time to get my stuff in order, and then trotted out. I was actually pretty good, I figured six or seven people in my age group were ahead of me, along with 20 or so others. One of the things that tends to get to me when I'm in an early wave is that I basically only get passed. And that was holding true so far.<br />
<br />
The start of the run is the same as the start of the bike, except it's much harder because you're not rolling and can't downshift. As much as I didn't want to I did end up walking twice in the first mile. Though I was diligent to make sure I restricted it to 10 seconds each. One of the neat things about being close to the front (though not close enough to win) is that you get to watch the fast people coming back. In the first mile I saw all the top 10 finishers, it's pretty neat.<br />
<br />
The rest of the run, after that first mile wasn't nearly as hard as I remembered it from previous years. I did walk through water stops and drink Gatorade. I glanced down at my watch a couple of times, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was holding roughly nine minute miles. For me, that's pretty dang good :)<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
The finish was uneventful, I was feeling really good about the race. I mean I had basically set no expectations, but had been able to string together a decent race for myself. I cruised in, and found some shade and hung out with my wife and youngest kid. It was fun.<br />
<h4>
The Results</h4>
<table><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>2012</th><th>2013</th><th>2015</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>12:06</td><td>12:23</td><td>12:32</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>59:38</td><td>58:36</td><td>1:02:30</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>37:08</td><td>36:17</td><td>36:32</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:52:26</td><td>1:50:10</td><td>1:54:29</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Swim<br />
I figured this would be faster, but I'm happy with it. Good for fourth over all.<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
Not unexpected<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
Big surprise - super stoked<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
That's good for 88th overall and 6th in my age group.<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
I was surprised how small the transition area was, in 2013 the race seemed much larger, but it was a a good race. The volunteers were great, and minus the church traffic the course was also good. Also no finisher medal, but there were pancakes and fruit, and door prizes and stuff and the area is good.<br />
<br />
My wife had a good time and she was beaming every time I saw her which is always a great boost. It was also fun hanging out with Jeff, unlike me he'd dropping tons of time over the years, it's super impressive.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-65008252110667457552014-08-08T23:05:00.000-05:002014-08-08T23:05:25.891-05:00Race Review: Lakefront DaysGood old lakefront days, I've been looking forward to this race all year. I mean there are other races, and they are all good for good reasons, but it's pretty stinking handy to have a race down the street.<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
Once again my wife picked up Bethany's and my packets. I hope that doesn't stop. I'm not too sure why USAT has rules about making sure the right person picks up their packet, but it's handy when someone else can do it. She rode her bike down to the park the day before and got our packets. She said she was a little confused about it because there weren't many people there, but she got it done.<br />
<br />
The packet itself was pretty decent, some ointments, some deodorant, and some other stuff. That plus a bib for running, a bike sticker, and a swim cap. No helmet sticker, which is fine by me.<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
The race started at 8, since it's only two miles from my house I got up around 6, and left around 6:45 and biked over. It was a little chilly, I wore long pants and long sleeves. It was an easy ride, and we got there around 7. We found some spots in transition, got our chips, got marked up and set up.<br />
<br />
A while later we saw my friend Jeff. This was his second time at Lakefront days, and only his fourth triathlon. By this time they had already announced the water temp was 80, and that wetsuits would not be allowed. Personally I think this is better than what they had done at the Chaska triathlon last year, where they let people get into bath-like water in a wetsuit. I'm sure some people missed the comfort of having a wetsuit, but overall I think it's probably safer.<br />
<br />
About 15 minutes before the start they held a meeting near the lake and kinda went over some of the specifics of the race, stuff like the start format, that the bike turns were all manned with people, and that part of the bike and run course were on the same path.<br />
<br />
Soon after they sent the relays off in a wave, and then started the rest of us in time-trial format.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvKfpGXAqg4/U93A1Mom5-I/AAAAAAAAF5o/a5J-PMPhw5o/s1600/IMG_6798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvKfpGXAqg4/U93A1Mom5-I/AAAAAAAAF5o/a5J-PMPhw5o/s1600/IMG_6798.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-race picture Clearly I don't wear enough sunscreen, or sleeveless shirts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Like last year the swim was set up as a seed-yourself type situation. One thing they changed was putting little markers up that allowed people to know where to sort of congregate. Sort of like they have at running races. One sort of odd thing was that they did it by projected finish time for the swim. So 9:30 and under was the fastest wave. Last year I did the swim (with a wetsuit) in 6 minutes. That's a pretty big gap in ability, three minutes over 400 meters is ... about 200 meters. Next year they should put signs up based on projected 100 yard swim times (e.g., 1:20 and under) people may be more aware of how long it takes them to swim 100 yards than 400 meters in open water.<br />
<br />
Because the signs were there people were quite a bit more bullish about lining up than last year, there was a huge cluster of people waiting to go. So whatever, I lined up near the front and just waited, I probably went off 10th.<br />
<br />
We were going one at a time every three seconds, I caught the first guy while still running and doing dolphin dives, after that I just kept steady, I passed my fair share of people, though I did notice that there were some decently fast people in the water. It's not like when there's a huge line of just anyone in front, the people around me where self-admittedly fast, and I think they were being honest with themselves.<br />
<br />
About half way back I thought to myself, I wonder if slower people would seed themselves high just so they didn't have to be the last people in the water. This happens at running races, people seed themselves high all the time. Overall the swim felt good, I came out feeling strong, I glanced at the beach and noticed there were still people getting in, and took off. I gave my kids high fives on the way to transition.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zV9dLd-bLi0/U93BMsvqWUI/AAAAAAAAF5w/3wLQQs0mmA0/s1600/IMG_6800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zV9dLd-bLi0/U93BMsvqWUI/AAAAAAAAF5w/3wLQQs0mmA0/s1600/IMG_6800.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh out of the water - no wetsuit means I'm already done getting undressed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okDQIfR8NnQ/U93BMtW7V1I/AAAAAAAAF5w/i9JoP8_lrlI/s1600/IMG_6803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okDQIfR8NnQ/U93BMtW7V1I/AAAAAAAAF5w/i9JoP8_lrlI/s1600/IMG_6803.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bethany coming in for some high fives</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl6sXYUMY-E/U93BMsiip5I/AAAAAAAAF5w/fALV2siSTzk/s1600/IMG_6804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl6sXYUMY-E/U93BMsiip5I/AAAAAAAAF5w/fALV2siSTzk/s1600/IMG_6804.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff - looking strong</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The transition area was set up the same way it has been set up every time I come, it's one of the simplier setups. I found my bike no problem. I was a little wobbly getting my shoes on, so I just took a breath before each one. Once I had them on I took off. At this point I didn't know where I was in the group. There weren't people around, and there were at least some relay people still waiting for their swimmers. After the race my wife said I came out of the water in 5th and I had passed all of the relay swimmers.<br />
<br />
This bike course starts with a medium length gentle up hill. It's not super taxing, but if you've just pushed the swim and didn't take time in transition, it's tough to catch your breath for the first little bit. I passed a biker on the way out of the park before the last little bit of up hill that turns into downhill.<br />
<br />
During the downhill and following flat section I got my breathing under control. Because of the non-wetsuit swim I had elected to wear my watch on my wrist. This has the benefit of getting all your splits as you go, it has the downside of I never wear a watch on my bike and reading it is totally foreign. So the entire bike ride I went by perceived effort.<br />
<br />
A little way into the flat part a guy comes cruising past, that's one. A little while later another guy, that's two. The first guy faded into the distance pretty fast, the second not as fast. While I wouldn't ever catch him, he didn't ever get out of sight the rest of the ride.<br />
<br />
The flat section gives way to a set of rolling hills that are deceptive, because they are rolling but have a net increase in altitude, so you're never going down as far as you just went up. During this a guy sort of crawled past me. That's three - we would be near each other for the rest of the ride. He stayed just ahead of me for the remainder of the climbing in this section, and we rode down the large downhill immediately after and I passed him on the false flats on the bottom. I stayed ahead of him till the next turn, and then I thought he was passing me again, but it was someone else - that's four. On the plus side I could still see the second guy who passed me, and the third guy who passed me was still behind me, and it looked like we were gaining on someone in the front.<br />
<br />
Shortly after the turn is a short uphill, the guy in blue passed me again. He got about four bike lengths on me but then I pulled ahead on the flats again - clearly I need more hill work. We did this move a few times, and ended up coming in to transition at the same time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-77wQbR4pf94/U93BrW6-KdI/AAAAAAAAF54/SVvZBe82jwg/s1600/IMG_6806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-77wQbR4pf94/U93BrW6-KdI/AAAAAAAAF54/SVvZBe82jwg/s1600/IMG_6806.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike time is also snack time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnUCBSJP-Fk/U93BrSo1mUI/AAAAAAAAF54/Pf6Evoifims/s1600/IMG_6810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnUCBSJP-Fk/U93BrSo1mUI/AAAAAAAAF54/Pf6Evoifims/s1600/IMG_6810.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bethany cruising into transition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Run</h4>
I braked late and beat him into transition, and go out faster too. I also passed #2 in transition, though both of those would be short lived as the boy in blue came running by after about 400 yards. I wished him well. When we came into transition there were like zero bikes. I got passed a few times, and passed a few more, but based on the transition area I figured I was close to the front. After the race my wife said I was probably 10th off the bike - that makes sense to me.<br />
<br />
Shortly after the guy in blue, #2 came by, but much slower. For a while I figured I could keep up with him, though I was really huffing and puffing. After about a half a mile I was still having trouble calming my breathing down, I probably sounded like I was at threshold, though I didn't really feel like the effort level was matching the sound. I took 5 seconds to walk and try to catch my breath, but because the only two people who had run by me so far were in transition at the same time as me I figured if I kept the effort up I could maybe keep the losses to a minimum on the run. About a quarter mile later my breathing was WAY out of control. So I took some more time to get it together.<br />
<br />
After that short break I took a look at my watch, I was averaging under 8s with two walks under my belt, so that made me feel good. That's super fast for me. With that little uplifting glance I got back to running. The occasional runner would come by, but nothing terrible ever. Only a few times did more than one person pass me at the same time. The middle of the run felt pretty good. The only thing I really noticed was that there seemed to be a fair number of non-racers on the course. Apparently we didn't have exclusive access to the trail. Overall I think that's fine, though some of the people we were sharing the trail with looked a little peeved.<br />
<br />
The last mile or so really hurt, I actually felt like I was keeping a good pace, but I hadn't really been looking at my watch except to see distance so all I was basing my performance on was feel - and it felt decent by super hard. I took some water at the 2 mile water hand-out, just enough to wet my whistle. Thankfully it was closer to the third mile marker than the second. Through the misery that was the last mile there was the bright spot that I was pretty sure I'd only been passed five or six times on the run, so that felt good. I didn't pass anyone though - I figured I had passed everyone I was going to pass on the swim and bike, and what was left was fast people in front and behind me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRwcAO1QyWI/U93CBkbg-cI/AAAAAAAAF6E/py7ZXOOAeZw/s1600/IMG_6812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRwcAO1QyWI/U93CBkbg-cI/AAAAAAAAF6E/py7ZXOOAeZw/s1600/IMG_6812.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...dead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fyQrNjXReM/U93CBqTsseI/AAAAAAAAF6E/NshFCYI5ILI/s1600/IMG_6814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fyQrNjXReM/U93CBqTsseI/AAAAAAAAF6E/NshFCYI5ILI/s1600/IMG_6814.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More high fives - also pretty tired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYbDcIn2TH0/U93CBiQn_MI/AAAAAAAAF6E/JpQb-RW3KxU/s1600/IMG_6817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYbDcIn2TH0/U93CBiQn_MI/AAAAAAAAF6E/JpQb-RW3KxU/s1600/IMG_6817.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff, finally found a shirt. I tried to coax him to pass the lady in green. He's too nice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
The last half or quarter mile of the run is shared with the bike course. Jeff came cruising by on his bike which was fun. I tried to muster as much speed as I could but I was SPENT! Someone did come running by in the last few meters which was a little frustrating, but I had left all my energy on the course. I'm not even sure I managed a smile at the finish.<br />
<h4>
The Results</h4>
<table><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>2009</th><th>2011</th><th>2012</th><th>2013</th><th>2014</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>8:37</td><td>6:41</td><td>6:25</td><td>6:04</td><td>6:36</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>59:24</td><td>40:58</td><td>39:28</td><td>40:49</td><td>39:24</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>35:49</td><td>28:06</td><td>25:09</td><td>26:28</td><td>28:18</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:51:14</td><td>1:19:41</td><td>1:13:05</td><td>1:15:44</td><td>1:16:10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Swim<br />
No wetsuit, but I fared pretty well. That's good for second overall and first in my age group.<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
New PR for the course, so that's cool.<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
Pretty significantly slower - overall though with my heart pounding out of my chest I'll take it.<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
That's good for 29th overall and 6th in my age group. 15 seconds out of 5th, 5 minutes out of first in my age group.<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
Attendance seemed a little down for the race this year, and while it's never super busy, we all noticed it. I definitely recommend this race. The time trial start is a nice addition in the last couple of years. They had the same DJ they had last year doing the MC and he's pretty good, good energy, good music. The people are super nice and the course is moderately challenging without being annoying.<br />
<br />
Again I had fun racing with Bethany and Jeff, they are just competitive enough to make it fun to race with them. It's not over the top crazy with frustration about performance, but it's also not "meh - whatever" and that's fun.<br />
<br />
Once again my wife and kids were a fantastic cheering squad, I saw them out of the swim, I heard my wife off the bike (but did not see her) and saw them at the finish.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-30330916703371021952014-08-03T01:03:00.000-05:002014-08-03T01:03:01.922-05:00A matter of the heartIf you would have asked me three years ago, I would have said I didn't really get sick or injured. Heck, if you asked me two years ago "well there was that one time." Even last year, "yeah, not really, but when it happens it's a doozy" But now I'm starting to wonder.<br />
<br />
Two years ago - <a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-big-bike-accident.html" target="_blank">the big bike accident</a><br />
Last year - <a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-meningitis.html" target="_blank">Meningitis</a><br />
This year ... bum bum baaa<br />
<h4>
Back Story</h4>
Actually this started last year - but until recently I had sort of been playing it cool. A few times last year, it's hard to know how many, but enough that I'd say it was regular, but not predictable. During a workout my heart would start to race - WAY above normal workout levels. I mean, when I run my HR can get into the 170-180 range. But occasionally this would happen<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cTL_qeDWseM/U93GRWBK3WI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/SctyQ-jDw4U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.13.09+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cTL_qeDWseM/U93GRWBK3WI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/SctyQ-jDw4U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.13.09+AM.png" height="93" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mS2b5SjGlbA/U93GRW9GvrI/AAAAAAAAF6U/IwK73c62Lww/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.13.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mS2b5SjGlbA/U93GRW9GvrI/AAAAAAAAF6U/IwK73c62Lww/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.13.32+AM.png" height="94" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qCybdfvEDQ/U93GRcORMwI/AAAAAAAAF6Q/2xBldNJpfaQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.13.57+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qCybdfvEDQ/U93GRcORMwI/AAAAAAAAF6Q/2xBldNJpfaQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.13.57+AM.png" height="92" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ATksV98xqLQ/U93GR1JTVCI/AAAAAAAAF6c/unf8xUql334/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.14.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ATksV98xqLQ/U93GR1JTVCI/AAAAAAAAF6c/unf8xUql334/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-03+at+12.14.16+AM.png" height="93" width="320" /></a></div>
Surprisingly that's not just a glitch in my HRM, that's what was actually happening. My heart rate would jump to say 230 and kinda sit there for a bit and then right back to where it was.<br />
<br />
You can kinda tell by those pictures (which, unfortunately were really easy to find just by browsing my workouts) the whole thing lasts about thirty seconds and then is gone. During that time, besides the ridiculously fast heart rate, I feel fine. It's an odd feeling to have your heart beating that fast so I always stopped and let it subside, but for the sake of argument, had it not felt so odd, I would have just kept going. There weren't really any other side-effects.<br />
<br />
At first (and this sounds dumb) I actually thought perhaps it was my heart rate monitor causing it. Some sort of odd short-circuit or something. That's why I don't have more records of them. Long story short, it's not the monitor.<br />
<br />
After I ruled that out I looked up some stuff, sort of surprisingly most of the stuff I found wasn't that alarming. Have your doctor check it out, and if they say it's nothing, then don't let it bother you. So, because this started near the end of last year's triathlon / running season I just rode it out and when I stopped working out, it stopped happening.<br />
<h4>
This Year</h4>
When I started up this year I was hoping that all I had needed was some rest and maybe some good healthy living. I had taken some time off to fully recuperate, I had adopted a different eating plan, and a different sleeping plan. At first everything was great - and then it came back. Same deal, only during some workouts, and not really easy to pin down. On the plus side it was pretty infrequent<br />
<h4>
Last Month</h4>
A couple of weeks ago I was out for, no kidding, an easy run and it happened. So I stopped, and then I sat, and sat. I had been sitting long enough that my breathing had eased, I wasn't even sweating anymore. I felt fine, except my heart was racing. I had no monitor on, so I counted the beats manually manually, 230+. 5 minutes had gone by, and I was about two miles from work, so I just started walking. I figured it would stop soon enough and then I'd trot back.<br />
<br />
I got back to work and it was still going on, we're 30 minutes into this by now. It's hard to paint this picture. I'm not breathing hard, I'm not dizzy or sweating, my heart rate is really high, but it's not actually beating that hard. You know when you're really working hard and it's super easy to find your heart rate, but when you're not you kinda have to focus to get a good read. That's how it was for me, if I stopped walking and closed my eyes I could feel that little bugger thumping away, way too fast.<br />
<br />
I got changed into my work clothes, all ready to call it in and head to a doctors office and then - bam, it's gone. All the way down to 60. Because I feel absolutely fine, I elect to just call my wife. I ask her to please make an appointment, and reassure her I'm fine. On the phone she sounds, understandably, distressed. She gets an appointment for a couple of days away.<br />
<h4>
The Appointment</h4>
The appointment starts like any other. Get called back, weight, blood pressure ("I need to take that again...that's better" - I've got a little bit of white coat syndrome.) The nurse asks me more details, I tell her the deal, she says "230! - Are you sure?!" Yep, I've even seen it on a heart rate monitor. She's a little surprised, and says "good luck!" on the way out.<br />
<br />
The doctor comes in, he's less impressed. He listens to my story, asks some questions. He then draws some pictures about how your heart works, and the various sort of heart rate problems people can experience and what happens that causes them. He's got some ideas, but wants to run some tests. He's thinking he's going to send me home with an event monitor. Given that this only happens when I'm exercising, and not every time, I'll need one for about a month. But first an EKG.<br />
<h4>
The EKG</h4>
If you've never gotten one, it takes longer to get hooked and unhooked than it does to take the test. 10 seconds - tops. Very underwhelming. The results do not indicate a well known, and detectable, issue. So that's good.<br />
<h4>
What's Next</h4>
So he's for sure signing me up for the monitor. I ask him some basic questions<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Assuming we decide we know what's going on, what sort of treatment am I looking at? He doesn't really want to commit, but it might be nothing and we don't really do anything, or it might require surgery to repair some messed up electrical pathways</li>
<li>Should I stop exercising, or at least dial it back? He almost laughs, but holds it back. No, don't stop exercising. At this point that's probably not at all helpful.</li>
<li>So, is it serious, or should I try not to worry about it and just run through it? Again, almost a laugh, no don't run through it.</li>
</ul>
<div>
So I went and got my monitor. It's meant to be worn all the time, and has a little button that, when I notice this happening, I should press and it will basically do a little EKG. I then call a number, hold the thing up to the phone and it transmits it, modem style. Super Retro.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been wearing it for about a week, no event so far. This happens, by far, the most often when running, and in the last week I've only run three times. Next week the runs start to pick up again, so we'll see. While it's super unpleasant to have these little episodes, it would be better to know what's going on than to just hope they aren't mini heart attacks and ignore them. I have 22 more days to get some results.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-85488148073436987242014-07-29T23:16:00.000-05:002014-07-29T23:31:23.811-05:00Race Review: Chisago SprintOriginally I was going to do the half at Chisago. It was going to be me, Bethany, and Amanda's friend Shana. Also, the two older kids would do the kids race the day before. Then Bethany had trouble finding time to do the workouts and I think had a series of injuries that got in the way and eventually she made the call that she'd just do the sprint. Now I'm not good friends with Shana, and I don't actually like races that long, so I opted to do the sprint too.<br />
<br />
All told - this weekend I did three races. For all you wannabes that think a double is hard - here's my account of three races in two days.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Races 1 & 2 (Chisago Kids Tri - Waves 1 & 2)</h3>
For my son this is his second race, for my daughter it's her third. They see dad race a bunch, so we try to find kids tris to do where dad will be doing the same race. It's hard, most kids triathlons start at 7. Next year the oldest will be able to those. We came to this race two years ago for the oldest's first race. It went well. Things that are fresh in my head from that. The run from the end of the swim is probably as long as the entire rest of the race, the "swim" can just be a run because of not wanting little kids to drown.<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup & Race Morning</h4>
We elected to do packet pickup on race morning for the kids - Chisago is 60 miles from our house and so making that drive as few times as possible is good new for us. The kids race starts at 9, we figure get there by 8, which means leave our house by 6:30 to account for getting lost and stuff like that.<br />
<br />
We get the kids up - they have breakfast while I fill bike tires and load the bikes.<br />
<br />
Summer time is construction time - there is semi-major road closing traffic on basically every road. The handy maps application on my phone tells us there is road closings on 35E & 35W, so we take a less direct route there, total travel time wasn't that different. Amanda's mom and sister are going to come and watch the race, so we two car caravan the way up. We get to the race site with plenty of time. The kids are pretty excited, they hop right on their bikes and mill around the parking lot till we get the rest of the stuff ready.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-94t_bSLeiGI/U9XHZgjae2I/AAAAAAAAFrg/7CDB3JzWpuA/s1600/IMG_6708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-94t_bSLeiGI/U9XHZgjae2I/AAAAAAAAFrg/7CDB3JzWpuA/s1600/IMG_6708.JPG" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to Roll</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrVVWdbDnxo/U9XHZtcmfMI/AAAAAAAAFrk/nDkEh0B78kk/s1600/IMG_6709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrVVWdbDnxo/U9XHZtcmfMI/AAAAAAAAFrk/nDkEh0B78kk/s1600/IMG_6709.JPG" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We made our way to the transition area - found a place for our bikes and then headed over to packet pickup and body marking<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80PNaj3gH3Y/U9XHZNj0soI/AAAAAAAAFrc/DF9C5wfsObk/s1600/IMG_6710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80PNaj3gH3Y/U9XHZNj0soI/AAAAAAAAFrc/DF9C5wfsObk/s1600/IMG_6710.JPG" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Racking" the bikes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KHl91gCGQ4/U9XHaQhKwvI/AAAAAAAAFr0/QEiB6MvnUQM/s1600/IMG_6714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KHl91gCGQ4/U9XHaQhKwvI/AAAAAAAAFr0/QEiB6MvnUQM/s1600/IMG_6714.JPG" height="320" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They get bibs, t-shirts, and a bag of schwag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjIy9_s3nuw/U9XHcVk_N3I/AAAAAAAAFsI/lFKxe4eXXv4/s1600/IMG_6717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjIy9_s3nuw/U9XHcVk_N3I/AAAAAAAAFsI/lFKxe4eXXv4/s1600/IMG_6717.JPG" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Body marking - probably one of the highlights</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDPfWkMvPv4/U9XHcoU4HUI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/BWVp5n8NJ4M/s1600/IMG_6718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDPfWkMvPv4/U9XHcoU4HUI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/BWVp5n8NJ4M/s1600/IMG_6718.JPG" height="320" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The largest marker in the world to write on a 5 year old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that we had plenty of time to mill around - we checked out the water, we figured out how to find our bikes (there is a building in the transition area - we were behind that.) We walked the course and then it was time to gather for the start.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kfTrJdyPpoM/U9XHcDpPQMI/AAAAAAAAFsA/-j8Nepkf4wU/s1600/IMG_6727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kfTrJdyPpoM/U9XHcDpPQMI/AAAAAAAAFsA/-j8Nepkf4wU/s1600/IMG_6727.JPG" height="153" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim warmup with the Aunty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Swim 1 - (4&5 years old)</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
At this race, if your kids are 6 or under the parents are allowed to help them. I am default selection for this role given the 9 month-old who wants some other than mommy about as much as she'd like to have her fingers pulled off. In the end it ammounts to me running from place to place guiding and encouraging, the only real "help" I provide is sock support.<br />
<br />
Unlike the previous time we came here, the little kids go first. This is good because the entire wave has to finish before the next one will start, and the big kids have a much longer race than the little kids. So we're in the first wave. I am allowed to go in the water with my son, but he doesn't want to, I'll meet him at the end of the sandy exit on the way up to transition.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vANwzrBcxZY/U9XHfFgM3bI/AAAAAAAAFsw/DArNOIhzjmk/s1600/IMG_6740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vANwzrBcxZY/U9XHfFgM3bI/AAAAAAAAFsw/DArNOIhzjmk/s1600/IMG_6740.JPG" height="312" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot - this is the exact moment the whistle blew. My kid is the one pushing the other kids out of the way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_etWXzQSBNM/U9XHe9fQoOI/AAAAAAAAFsg/MtCEzV0B8ZY/s1600/IMG_6741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_etWXzQSBNM/U9XHe9fQoOI/AAAAAAAAFsg/MtCEzV0B8ZY/s1600/IMG_6741.JPG" height="124" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "swim" - for safety the water is shallow enough to run, so they do. My kid is winning right now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He exits the water with a HUGE smile on his face, he is having a ton of fun. We make our way up the huge hill and to our bike.<br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
It's not an exaggeration that for this age group the run from the lake to the bike is the longest portion of the race. I say "socks or no socks" he says "socks" we put them on, he grabs his helmet and bike and off he goes. At this age I can not easily keep up with him on his bike, and he's a good enough rider to do it himself. Plus the course is like a block long so I stand and wait. He basically coasts down the small incline and when he makes the turn he really starts to put the gas on.<br />
<br />
He makes his way to the dismount line, we find out spot and head out for the run.<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
The run for this age group is through transition and down the finisher's chute - I navigate us successfully through transition.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lsMrPLu14w/U9XHe1_xJyI/AAAAAAAAFso/BgFCc8O-kmw/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lsMrPLu14w/U9XHe1_xJyI/AAAAAAAAFso/BgFCc8O-kmw/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" height="295" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is like one foot out of the transition area pointing to the finish chute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wnqGWHK5VA/U9XHfuFtAqI/AAAAAAAAFs4/v1Ki9MPGkls/s1600/IMG_6743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wnqGWHK5VA/U9XHfuFtAqI/AAAAAAAAFs4/v1Ki9MPGkls/s1600/IMG_6743.JPG" height="118" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full speed - he's running so fast he's almost falling forward</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>The Results</b><br />
As far as I know there aren't official results for this race. There aren't chip times, they just tear off the bottom of your bib in the finish chute.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E4OjxVr6Qdc/U9XHgWzhECI/AAAAAAAAFtA/02GV2dhFNAU/s1600/IMG_6746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E4OjxVr6Qdc/U9XHgWzhECI/AAAAAAAAFtA/02GV2dhFNAU/s1600/IMG_6746.JPG" height="320" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finisher's Medal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
Overall this race was a lot of fun. It's fun to race with your kid and see them having so much fun up close. The race is pretty short, but for a 4 year old it might be appropriate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jamey had a ton of fun and really likes racing. He was disappointed not to place in the top three, but that seems pretty standard, who doesn't want to win?</div>
<h4>
The Swim 2 - (6&7 years old)</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Ivy was in the second wave, so after giving Jamey a high-five we headed back to the beach. There was plenty of time, but Ivy was in the second wave so she wanted to make sure to get there on time. I had thought I would not be able to help Ivy during the race, but they announced 6 and under was allowed help, and that was good because she really wasn't excited to do the race by herself.<br />
<br />
Like her brother though - she'd like me to meet her at the end of the beach. Which was good, because I had just run the race with Jamey and wasn't really dressed appropriately for racing and needed to cool down a little.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpzG28zmTUk/U9XHgoQN6_I/AAAAAAAAFtI/wGi0PgWNYR0/s1600/IMG_6747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpzG28zmTUk/U9XHgoQN6_I/AAAAAAAAFtI/wGi0PgWNYR0/s1600/IMG_6747.JPG" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lining up for the start - she's the one in the rainbow one-piece</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">She had told me before the swim that she didn't want to swim - meaning she wanted to do the race, but not actually swim, just run through the water. I told her she could do whatever she wanted, the goal is to have fun. If swimming in the lake during the race isn't fun, then just run. And then I said - if you fall behind and want to catch up, swimming is much faster than running through water this deep. Very similar to the last time she did this race she came out of the water first - she just ran. </span><br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
We made our way up to transition. I said "socks or no socks" she said "socks" and then she said "hurry up, this is a race"<br />
<br />
She put on her helmet, grabbed her bike and headed out. Unlike her brother she immediately put the gas on and started passing boys from the previous partial wave. The partial waves were a way to split the age groups. So the 5 & 6 year old "wave" was really four waves. 5 year old boys, 5 year old girls, 6 year old boys and then 6 year old girls.<br />
<br />
The bike for this group is significantly longer - they head out of sight for long enough for me to chat with a parent. When the lead boys start coming through I take my position on the other side of the street. As far as I can tell Ivy is now in third. I cheer her on, and let her know I'll see her in transition.<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
She parks her bike and starts running, I say "head back to the place we came in" and she just takes off. I was very surprised how fast she took off. We get to the end of the transition area and she takes off on the run. I'd guess the entire run is about a quarter of a mile.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkz-LG8IjRU/U9XHhGjQ5CI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/lldkXHJ8dFU/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkz-LG8IjRU/U9XHhGjQ5CI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/lldkXHJ8dFU/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG" height="261" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zooming!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you look closely you can see me taking a shortcut, I just barely catch her at the bottom of the hill. She was really booking. She makes it to the turn around and I am confident she'll finish in third, the next girl back is pretty far back and Ivy's looking very strong.<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYmP9mqdj4U/U9XHhj6R1hI/AAAAAAAAFtU/OeoZivnSjtg/s1600/IMG_6757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYmP9mqdj4U/U9XHhj6R1hI/AAAAAAAAFtU/OeoZivnSjtg/s1600/IMG_6757.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing up! That boy does get past her right at the last second</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ivy ran a fantastic race - she pushed herself hard and had a great time doing it. When she got done she said "I can't do anything more until we get home, I'm too tired!"<br />
<b><br />The Results</b><br />
Again, no official results<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R3XrcFh-X_Q/U9XHi0HSVNI/AAAAAAAAFtg/mBDKHLk7EwQ/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R3XrcFh-X_Q/U9XHi0HSVNI/AAAAAAAAFtg/mBDKHLk7EwQ/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finisher's medal, plus some much needed water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fe5ahawqXko/U9XHjaGpLQI/AAAAAAAAFtk/5Cm3k8DE3Zk/s1600/IMG_6761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fe5ahawqXko/U9XHjaGpLQI/AAAAAAAAFtk/5Cm3k8DE3Zk/s1600/IMG_6761.JPG" height="320" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd - 6 year old girls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After Ivy caught her breath we all went and got some post race snacks for the racers. PB&J, bananas, cookies and water or gator aid. Also, as we were walking out the schwag bags have candy in them!<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
Ivy had a great time, she's often a little apprehensive about new things or things that might be hard, but she had a great time and, for now, is really looking forward to more races.<br />
<br />
This race is a good length for kids this age, they can go fast and have a great time without getting too tired or making it too easy.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Race 3 - Chisago Sprint</h3>
</div>
The adult races are the next day - the plan was to head back home and then drive back up in the morning. Actually, originally the plan was to get a hotel, but after a while I decided that was silly and pretty expensive.<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
We did packet pickup right after the kids raced, it was pretty painless. You get a running number, a helmet number (no bike sticker,) a pretty decent bag of goodies, a shirt, and the most flimsy cap ever. But it was fast and painless and we were gone. Actually before we left I staked out where my assigned spot was. The racks are set up in long rows of about 100 people each. I would be in heat 9 and found my assigned spot, which even had my name on it. Nice touch.<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
The race starts at 7, same deal as before we're looking at an hour drive. Though this time I decide to risk the construction because it makes the drive simpler. I get up at 4:15, we're out the door by 4:30 and get to the race site with plenty of time to spare.<br />
<br />
When I was unloading my bike from my car I noticed the front wheel was a little wobbly, I take a quick check and realize the quick release isn't really tight enough - I say, out loud, to Bethany, "mental note - fix the wheel." And we are on our way to check in.<br />
<br />
We find our spots in transition and I notice, now, that my spot is right next to a tree, like 2 feet away from the bike wheel, in the direction I will be taking my bike out. Not awesome, but whatever. I'm pretty sure I don't even have the worst spot. We set up, go get marked up (which, surprisingly, actually tickled a little.) Around this time the transition area is starting to get full and I noticed that the people around me are not all 35-40 year old men, actually Bethany is in my wave and so is some random 50 year old woman. I don't know how the waves are set up, but I do, suddenly, realize that the waves of 100 people they have set up are a mix of everything.<br />
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I was in wave 9, the first three waves are so were for the 70.3 distance, they went off pretty fast. Then we waited a few minutes and then the sprint waves started. Up until the sprint waves started we had been waiting on the hill trying to see if my wife, who had called me before transition closed, would find us. We hadn't seen her.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JA6GOp8EMsM/U9hqXgx7fcI/AAAAAAAAF1E/CluUndqU2ps/s1600/P1040959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JA6GOp8EMsM/U9hqXgx7fcI/AAAAAAAAF1E/CluUndqU2ps/s1600/P1040959.JPG" height="186" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow is 70.3, pink is sprint. It's a pretty fun environment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHw2OHOOJxs/U9hqXjH_O_I/AAAAAAAAF00/pOKgYCz-mWM/s1600/P1040962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHw2OHOOJxs/U9hqXjH_O_I/AAAAAAAAF00/pOKgYCz-mWM/s1600/P1040962.JPG" height="127" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool shot of some swimmers taking off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Down on the beach we ran into our friend Paula - she's great, very energetic. We chatted with her for a bit and then filed into the starting coral. I think it's pretty accurate that I haven't done a mass start for the last two years, so I forgot that if you want to be in front you have to look tough and work your way to the front. While I was toeing the line I put my goggles on. They have a purple tint and when I looked around I noticed they made all the pink caps look white. It took me by surprise, and what's really surprising was that it was actually sort of disorienting during the swim.<br />
<br />
The whistle went off and, much to my surprise, people sprinted into the water. In a time-trial start you don't really notice people sprinting into the water, I'm not even sure they do. But in this case people were sprinting, it was hectic. I did a quick dolphin dive and then I was near the front. There was another guy who was really cruising, and for the first time in my triathlon career he was going at a pace where settling in behind him was actually worth while. Around the second turn marker I lost him, he decided to go for the inside line and ran into a group of about 10 people from another group.<br />
<br />
Overall the swim felt pretty good, I hopped out of the water and made my way to transition. Along the way I saw my wife and kids and her mom. As always, that's a great thing!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4Mbc34WnSc/U9hqTOtfs-I/AAAAAAAAF0M/Hz49UmbrRTE/s1600/IMG_6767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4Mbc34WnSc/U9hqTOtfs-I/AAAAAAAAF0M/Hz49UmbrRTE/s1600/IMG_6767.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is at the bottom of the grassy climb, you can see the excitement in people's eyes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The run to transition has a small steep climb up a grassy hill, I had thought the day before that the climb would really sap my lungs, but it actually wasn't that bad. I passed some people and got to my rack, which was close to the swim out, I noticed that there was at least one other person from the 100 that beat me to the rack. So, not the fastest overall swim, but it did feel fast. So no worries. It's at this point I remember "the front wheel is wobbly" so I stop and tighten the quick release. Super smooth move.<br />
<br />
I ran the full length of transition, which is grass so pretty easy running, and then hoped on the bike. The first quarter or half mile of this race is on a pretty narrow path, so there's lots of clumping and not much passing. After we got to a real road I put the hammer down, compared to the people around me I felt like I took off like a shot. One nice thing about being in the 2nd to last wave is that you pass all the slower people from in front of you, it's safe to say I never stopped passing people the rest of the race. Which is not to say I am awesome, just faster than some of the 800 people who were in front of me.<br />
<br />
In the first few miles I felt like I was doing well. I was passing a decent number and while some people were passing me, there were a good number of people I was playing leap frog with. Maybe six or seven people. It took me a while to remember how fun it is to chase people and actually catch them occasionally. Prior to the race I had worried that 22 miles would be a pretty tough mental challenge, usually I start to fade after about 18 miles. But with the leap frog and others on the course 22 miles went by pretty fast.<br />
<br />
Near the end I had finally gotten ahead of most of the people I had been spending time playing cat and mouse with. There was just one guy, very close to the end I did pass him - he had been my biggest challenge, and his number was etched in my mind (though not really, because now I have no idea what it was) so I was hoping he was a slow runner and would not come running by later. The rest of them, who would likely pass me I wouldn't recognize, so I wasn't worried about them.<br />
<br />
I came into the transition area, heard Paula call out my name, and cruised through transition. I noticed there were a couple of bikes in my area, so I had been passed by at least a few people.<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
<div>
The run starts with a quick downhill, and then run through a small play area. I saw my cheering section again. At this point I felt basically like death, I was having trouble getting my heart rate under control, but I just pressed onward. After about half a mile I took five or ten seconds to gather myself and then headed out again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDb1d8VakV8/U9hqS1XOGVI/AAAAAAAAF0I/haikA8-IDis/s1600/IMG_6770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDb1d8VakV8/U9hqS1XOGVI/AAAAAAAAF0I/haikA8-IDis/s1600/IMG_6770.JPG" height="112" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right at the bottom of the hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0ui8wjdte8/U9hqSyLCvFI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/e7aRgzlJUWQ/s1600/IMG_6773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0ui8wjdte8/U9hqSyLCvFI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/e7aRgzlJUWQ/s1600/IMG_6773.JPG" height="141" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That guy is clearly running faster than me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DEqEJ8RPrw/U9hqXaznS7I/AAAAAAAAF0w/g3B-4rt5mFk/s1600/P1040980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DEqEJ8RPrw/U9hqXaznS7I/AAAAAAAAF0w/g3B-4rt5mFk/s1600/P1040980.JPG" height="320" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear, I'm not trying to cut that guy off, I'm waving to one of my kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
People were passing me, per normal, but it wasn't ridiculous, and thankfully I was also passing some people. Unfortunately for my ego, the guy from the bike I was hoping was a slow runner, he wasn't. Or at least not as slow as me. After the short walk break the miles sort of ticked by pretty quickly.<br />
<br />
Honestly I don't really remember the last mile. I saw Bethany in the last quarter mile on her way out on the run, and I saw my family near the finish. I remember thinking - the little run down the hill at the start was now a run up a hill... that sucked.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieWmpWJruU8/U9hqYAV2SFI/AAAAAAAAF1A/9p0Sn6H27BE/s1600/P1040983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieWmpWJruU8/U9hqYAV2SFI/AAAAAAAAF1A/9p0Sn6H27BE/s1600/P1040983.JPG" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming back - feeling good</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3HjYB5al5w/U9hqYj7xbiI/AAAAAAAAF1I/gMCf3YWqRCU/s1600/P1040984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3HjYB5al5w/U9hqYj7xbiI/AAAAAAAAF1I/gMCf3YWqRCU/s1600/P1040984.JPG" height="243" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stupid hill!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
The finish at the end of this race is right at the top of a little hill, and then a nice trot down a little chute, I saw my family, they took my chip, and then I got some water. There are no finisher medals for the sprint, but that's fine. I found a place to sit and tried not to barf on my kids.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6dGHvMKSc1Y/U9hqT1w13QI/AAAAAAAAF0c/cK7-srGH2bU/s1600/IMG_6780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6dGHvMKSc1Y/U9hqT1w13QI/AAAAAAAAF0c/cK7-srGH2bU/s1600/IMG_6780.JPG" height="117" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey look - that guy didn't pass me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Results</b><br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>5:40</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>1:00:03</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>25:51</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:34:43</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Swim<br />
That's good for 6th overall and first in my age group. I'm pretty happy with that time.<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
The Garmin has me at 21.7 because it says I biked less than 22 miles, the official time says 22. That's good for 61st overall and 13 in my age group. I'm pretty happy about this. I felt like I put in a good effort and it shows. I didn't perform like that at all last year.<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
The run felt pretty average - but that time is pretty decent. The garmin has me at 8:17 average, the official split is 8:21 due to the watch saying I it was slightly longer than 5k. That's good for 180 overall and 24 in my age group. It does my ego good to know that there are not only 24 people in my age group. BUT, let's back up a sec. I did stop an walk for a bit - so I was surprised to see the average so fast (for me.) So I looked up the splits<br />
<br />
8:46<br />
8:11<br />
7:51<br />
<br />
For me, those are some pretty stinking good looking splits. Also, compared to last year this is the second fastest split. So I'm feeling good about this!<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
13/34 in my age group. 60/493 overall. I had a great race, I am happy with all components of it.<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
This was a fun race, and while it is WAY to far away, it sure is nice to have a kids tri for four years and up, there aren't many. This is the second time I've been up there for a race and would definitely recommend it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiSXaGg6JIs/U9hqU6o3NbI/AAAAAAAAF0o/19ubG4zC8M8/s1600/P1040953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiSXaGg6JIs/U9hqU6o3NbI/AAAAAAAAF0o/19ubG4zC8M8/s1600/P1040953.JPG" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cheering squad - or 5/6 of them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKus4832J-o/U9hqZtA6zNI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/XHGSgsddAKI/s1600/P1040993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKus4832J-o/U9hqZtA6zNI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/XHGSgsddAKI/s1600/P1040993.JPG" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out after the race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I really appreciate my wife and her mom making the trip up to watch the race. There was lots of great cheering and tons of fun pictures. I also had a ton of fun watching my kids race. We've got a bunch of years of little kids before they can participate in many other races, and so it's worth it to drive a little ways to find a race that is really for the whole family.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-91575927273280709882014-07-18T13:05:00.001-05:002014-07-18T13:05:28.457-05:00Hitting the (mid west) Hills<a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2014/07/hitting-hills.html" target="_blank">Yesterday</a>, I did some hill work on my bike.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2012/05/chewy-hills.html" target="_blank">Last May</a>, I did a similar workout.<br />
<br />
First - follow those links, and be amazed at my animation skills.<br />
<br />
Today I was browsing some of my workouts and noticed that the workout from yesterday ranks as the #3 largest amount of climbing I've done in a single ride. #1 - the ride from May. #2 - Trinona Olympic distance. The Trinona elevation map doesn't animate as well, there is basically just one hill.<br />
<br />
I know - for sure - that here in the upper mid west, we don't really have hills. I mean there are some, but it's not like it's hilly around here. Hillier, than Florida, but not really compared to a lot of places. My #1 highest amount of climbing in a single ride - 1,700 feet - over 40 miles. If that were a constant climb, 0.8% grade (or 1 inch up for every 10.5 feet forward.)<br />
<br />
Still I'm proud of my hill work - the ride from yesterday was only 16 miles - for 2% average grade (or 1 inch up for every 4 feet forward.) It's no mountain climb, and I got rest every two minutes, but still, I went out and found the hard work and that helps.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-6699682863664512782014-07-16T21:23:00.000-05:002014-07-16T21:23:17.927-05:00Hitting the hillsI hit some hills last night on my bike - actually I just hit the same hill 15 times in a row.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsNV2X4_asw/U8cy_XdH1MI/AAAAAAAAE40/DATPEUGB1-A/s1600/output_ieXZAb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsNV2X4_asw/U8cy_XdH1MI/AAAAAAAAE40/DATPEUGB1-A/s1600/output_ieXZAb.gif" height="108" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">munch munch munch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two minutes up, two minutes down... repeat. When your legs start complaining, tell them to shut up!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-6578612500625325502014-07-16T13:31:00.000-05:002014-07-16T13:31:05.653-05:00Race Review: Minneapolis TriI've done this race three years now. It's a pretty good race, in the past my wife has not enjoyed coming to this race, but she gave me the green light to sign up again. There are several things I think about when signing up for this race. First, it's pretty expensive, close to $200 for an individual entry. It's large, nearly 2,000 people between the two races. The roads have historically been terrible, very bumpy, last year my water bottle shook out of the cage. Finally, my wife has said several times it's not spectator friendly.<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
I went down Friday before the race, it had rained in the morning, so they had sent out a note to not worry about coming during the rain that they would stay open later to accommodate the weather. The forecast had the weather clearing up by about mid-day. So I went down around noon over my lunch break. It was quite windy, and apparently the little expo tents were flapping all around. Also the rain had made the expo a little swampy. Overall though it was fine. I went to get my packet - here's a system I will never understand. They have the packets arranged by number, and so to get your packet you have to look up your number using your name. Then you remember it for 12 feet, tell it to someone and then give them an ID so they can verify you have the right packet. I have no idea why I can't just go by name ... I'm sure there's some really fantastic reason that defies logic ... which is why I can't think of it.<br />
<br />
After that I walked to the beach to see what the water level looked like, all the lakes and rivers are way up due to spring time rain, and so I was interested. It was definitely up, but it didn't look like it was going to cause any problems.<br />
<br />
Two interesting things about packet pickup<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>They were handing out clear plastic bags "This is the only bag you will be allowed to enter the transition area with tomorrow" I didn't ask why, I just took my bag and left.</li>
<li>You were allowed to drop your bike off in transition - which would be fine, except there didn't seem to be limits on who could get into transition. I, for instance, while looking for the beach walked right in. I also left the transition area not through an entrance, but a gap in the fence. I assume that had I tried to leave with a bike someone would have said something, but still. I would not have left my bike or any of my stuff there. I'm sure it worked out fine though, this isn't their first rodeo.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
My race started at 8 (ish) and transition closed at 6:45, which was also the same time the pro race started. I elected to arrive around 5:30. That meant get up at 4:30. I had laid all my stuff out the night before and hopped out of bed and got ready.<br />
<br />
A note about the bag - too small. I put<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Running shoes</li>
<li>Towel for wiping my feet</li>
<li>Wet suit</li>
<li>Goggles</li>
<li>Cap</li>
<li>Flip flops for pre-race walking</li>
<li>Race number for running</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
It did not close - when not full of racing equipment (shorts, shirt, flip-flops) it was plenty big enough<br />
<br />
Usually I get there early enough to just drive right up the road that will be closed in a couple of hours and get to a side-street and park. This time they had already closed off the side-streets, so I had to be more creative. I ended up parking in about the same spot though. It's not totally clear to me why the roads were closed more than an hour before transition closed, but my guess would be a mis-communication.<br />
<br />
There was no wind, the temp was mild, it was overcast, but overall it looked to be a decent day for racing.<br />
<br />
I made my way to transition. Riding my bike with the little clear plastic handbag was an adventure. I'm thinking there is a reason transition bags are backpacks :) On the way in they were checking for plastic bags, and giving them out to people who didn't have them, but here's the kicker - you were still allowed in transition with the non-clear bags, they were just saying "make sure you don't leave this in transition." So I think the rule really was, you wouldn't be allowed to leave any bag in transition that wasn't clear. There was also a bag check - missed the memo on that one. After the race there were many people leaving with backpacks on their backs - so now I know - that the clear plastic bag thing still sucks and communication around it was really lacking.<br />
<br />
I found my assigned spot - which I love because it means there's no worrying about if you have great transition placement strategy or if someone is going to try to squeeze their bike on an already full rack. Also I happened to end up on the end of rack, which later would turn out to be fantastic. End of the row is always my favorite place to be.<br />
<br />
I milled around transition for a bit, talked to the people around me, ran in to a couple of people I knew, overall things were good. I had looked around for the guy I mentioned in the pre-post, I did not see him. He's a little taller than me so he's easy to spot in a crowd.<br />
<br />
This is the first race I've been to where you have assigned spots where they announced more than once that people were racking their bikes in the wrong spot. I mean, the rows had number ranges on both ends, the racks had numbers (though usually more than one) on them, and then, of course, you have a number. It seems pretty simple.<br />
<br />
Transition closed at 6:45 - and the pro race started at the same time. I watch the pro-women and the pro-men start, then watched them get out of the water. They are quite fast. An interesting thing to me was that the women come out basically one at a time, and the men come out in a big group. The men basically swim single file. After that it was about 7, so I found a place to sit down and kill some time.<br />
<br />
After the Olympic racers all get in the water there is a break to give them a chance to get out of the water before the sprint wave start. I put my wet suit on, and guess who I saw? The guy from the pre-post. We talked for a while. I mentioned I was hoping not to see him on the run, he said he felt under-trained, I immediately disregarded that is modesty/politeness. We talked till it was time to line up, and then he took his spot at the end and I walked up a little. I was probably in the last half of our group, and expected to swim past most of them. He bills himself as a slower swimmer and I think doesn't like to be swum over.<br />
<br />
Interesting note: At this race age groups rack together, so the people near you in transition are also your direct competition. I like this format, you get to talk to people who are likely to see on the course and care about who they are. It also means that during the race you can sort of keep track of your age group position. So why didn't I see this guy near me? My number was 1219, his was four hundred something. Well, he had signed up for the Minnesota series, and as part of that you get the same number for every race. What's more interesting, is that this was very confusing during the lineup for the swim. Most people expect to see numbers close to theirs when we are all lining up.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Swim</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I saw my wife at the start of the swim - she was there with our youngest - the other three were visiting her mother for the week.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DOmgc56tnz8/U8agVQJ2eZI/AAAAAAAAE2w/1FTFryCvaso/s1600/IMG_6602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DOmgc56tnz8/U8agVQJ2eZI/AAAAAAAAE2w/1FTFryCvaso/s1600/IMG_6602.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1l3BNJHucTw/U8ahHiHriHI/AAAAAAAAE24/7-YJ8aWSx3g/s1600/IMG_6601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1l3BNJHucTw/U8ahHiHriHI/AAAAAAAAE24/7-YJ8aWSx3g/s1600/IMG_6601.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently they had been "looking" for me for a while</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall the swim felt fine, I didn't feel super strong or anything, I did pass a TON of people. At one point I passed a guy, and it's a not an exaggeration, the first part of him I saw was the back of his head, I was literally on top of, but not touching, him. I paused for a second to check out his body position, he was basically swimming like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGpyMWNv3yE/U8aiiBnMt9I/AAAAAAAAE3E/lNYCYwNHIDE/s1600/swim_position.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGpyMWNv3yE/U8aiiBnMt9I/AAAAAAAAE3E/lNYCYwNHIDE/s1600/swim_position.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mad art skills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pro tip - when you're swimming you want your feet at the surface of the water, and your butt, and shoulders and head, your whole body, at the surface. Practice it, you'll be about a million times more efficient. If you're having trouble, do what my sister does "engage your core."<br />
<br />
Second Tip: Don't run over people - it's not nice. Even though I didn't see this guy until I was actually on top of him, I still didn't swim over him. I hopped over to the side and swam past.<br />
<br />
The only other time of note on the swim is when I did some breaststroke around the second turn - I got stuck behind a lady and felt it would be faster to take a slow stroke or two and then take the inside line since she was turning right at the marker. Usually the inside is available because open water swimming is a challenge and most people aren't actually at the marker - this time that didn't work out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WzMx2fT4Dbk/U8akCoFfGBI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/GwTIrlRZ9xg/s1600/IMG_6603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WzMx2fT4Dbk/U8akCoFfGBI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/GwTIrlRZ9xg/s1600/IMG_6603.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm the guy in about waist deep water, see the other guy in a blue cap - he was in my group. For the first time in a long time I was not the first person in my division out of the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Jd3ETsx9v4/U8akCuUGdKI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/TYMWzXNbJ_k/s1600/IMG_6606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Jd3ETsx9v4/U8akCuUGdKI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/TYMWzXNbJ_k/s1600/IMG_6606.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reference shot - a guy in front of me running in his wet suit. Me with my wet suit almost off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwWPOx5u30s/U8akCkvGiuI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/s29vqQefwGA/s1600/IMG_6609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwWPOx5u30s/U8akCkvGiuI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/s29vqQefwGA/s1600/IMG_6609.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side effect of taking your wet suit off on the run, cool pictures "Whazzzup!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The transition setup this year was that the swim-in/run-out were in the same place, and bike-in/bike-out were in the same place. It basically looked like this<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtIDt6XBz0A/U8ap72NVDyI/AAAAAAAAE3o/We3h4z6ksiM/s1600/transition.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtIDt6XBz0A/U8ap72NVDyI/AAAAAAAAE3o/We3h4z6ksiM/s1600/transition.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For reference, the distance from bike-in to my spot and then to run out is about .2 miles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This causes everyone to have to run the full length of transition three times. And unless you're near bike-in/out about half of the time you're running with your bike.<br />
<br />
I got to my bike no problem, struggled a little with my wet suit, but because I had an end spot I just tossed it under the rack from the side - very handy. During this I saw and heard a woman talking to some sort of transition helper or official. She had no idea where her bike was and she said "My number is x, but I racked it at y I think" ... I don't get it.<br />
<br />
Grabbed by bike and headed out.<br />
<br />
I was in the seventh or so group of sprint racers to start. There were a series of relay waves, and then women under 19, and then my group. Normally what that means is that there is not anyone in front of me on the bike and I spend a lot of time alone with just the occasional speed demon passing me. Much to my surprise there were plenty of people in front of me the entire way. It is, I think, significantly easier to ride fast if there are people in front of you. So this was welcome.<br />
<br />
Overall the ride was pretty uneventful, the bumps didn't seem as bad as last year, but they were still there. There was even a segment where a police officer was standing in the course suggesting that due to lots of bumpiness that it would be wise to ride in the (very narrow) bike lane. I felt like I was doing a decent job of keeping my effort level up, and not zoning out. Much to my surprise I was sweating a ton. That was surprising mainly because of the cooler temp, but also because normally sweat is not dripping off my face at 20+ mph. Then it hit me<br />
<br />
HUMIDITY!<br />
<br />
It was humid! According to my weather source 94% humidity. This can be terrible if it's super hot, because sweat won't evaporate and help cool you. But it wasn't that hot, so I was, thankfully, not starting to heat up super fast. What it meant for me though was two things<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>My sunglasses were foggy the entire way. I had to wipe them off with my finger more than once (from the inside) just so I could feel safe.</li>
<li>My arms and hands were very slick with accumulated sweat. Every time I got up on the breaks to make the several 110 degree turns my hands would slip and slide around, one time I even lost grip with one of my hands.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
During the ride I figured at least five guys in my age group rode by me. They were cruising, much faster than me. I came in to transition pretty confident in my 5th or 6th place, hopped off my bike - lost a shoe temporarily - and made my way into transition.<br />
<h3>
The Run</h3>
I made my way through transition without incident, I had trouble getting my shoes on because it was basically like trying to put shoes on immediately after getting out of the lake due to the amazing amount of sweat I can produce. Also, I was SUPER angry with my sunglasses, so they didn't get the privilege of doing the rest of the race with me!<br />
<br />
I ran out of transition and sort of settled into what I figured was a good pace, and then someone patted my butt<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O57o8bRm_ps/U8aiiDCd-BI/AAAAAAAAE3Q/x-ZFDhOIaxU/s1600/lifetimetri.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O57o8bRm_ps/U8aiiDCd-BI/AAAAAAAAE3Q/x-ZFDhOIaxU/s1600/lifetimetri.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official race photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That's the guy - the official race photo captures the moment he passed me, for the third time. Last year at this race it took him about 3/4 of a mile to catch me, at Maple Grove, more like a mile and a half, this time, less than a 1/4 of a mile. I yelled out "DANG-IT!" he laughed and ran on. He was cooking, he was out of sight way before the half way point which include a short out and back where you can sometimes see people ahead of you.<br />
<br />
Other than that the run went pretty well, I tried to keep myself honest on pace and speed, and felt like I was doing pretty decent. There were times I wanted to slow down, but didn't. I did stop for a second to see if someone was alright, he had cruised by and then I found him doubled over in the middle of the route. Cramping quads - he was fine.<br />
<br />
As is normal for me, many people came trucking by, I watched a bunch more people from my group pass me, my best guess coming into the finish was 12-15th in my group.<br />
<br />
Another first for me, I actually witnessed someone getting a penalty on the run. She didn't have a race number on, based on her outfit I assumed she was part of a relay, which makes it a little harder to understand how that happened. A sort of funny thing though - when the guy asked her what her number was she rattled it right off, and then suggested he write it on her.<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
Over the course of the run I felt like I was picking up speed, I tried to muster whatever speed I could in the last little bit so I'd look good coming into the finish, and also, who wants to be passed on the chute? I was feeling pretty good, and the finish area has a long lead in that is lined with a bunch of people so it's a good way to finish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVOlYbY3fyQ/U8aw9O_bAwI/AAAAAAAAE4A/dPc-nbJOEXE/s1600/IMG_6617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVOlYbY3fyQ/U8aw9O_bAwI/AAAAAAAAE4A/dPc-nbJOEXE/s1600/IMG_6617.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is probably the only picture I have of me running where it doesn't look like I have some sort of super truncated running stride, like I just shuffle along</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>The Results</b><br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>2014</th><th>2013</th><th>2012</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>5:27</td><td>6:23</td><td>5:53</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>43:13</td><td>47:46</td><td>42:40</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>26:18</td><td>28:18</td><td>23:54</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:20:16</td><td>1:27:56</td><td>1:15:48</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had zero goals going into this - just go hard. The overall goal for the season is to have fun and be fit. I like racing, I like being in shape and I like being with my family. So sometimes workouts get skipped in favor of sleep, and sometimes they get skipped in favor of family walk.<br />
<br />
The Swim<br />
That's good for 2nd overall and 1st in my age group. Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect, I had a couple of junky workouts leading up to this race, but I guess for the race I was good to go.<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
Garmin has this at 21.7 mph, and while I'd really love to be consistently over 22 by now and getting close to getting into the 23 mph range I really don't know how to get there. Considering where I figured I'd be, I'm happy with this.<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
The run felt surprisingly good, there were a few times where I really wanted to throw the towel in, but overall I'm happy with this. That split is roughly 8:40 per mile. I looked at my intermediate splits, and I was accelerating through the run (8:45, 8:42, 8:28) so that's something. I think that's good, it shows some consistency, and that I didn't hit the wall. I'm not sure if it means there was room for more effort somewhere or not. I wish these were under 8, but for now I'm going to take what I can get.<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
18/67 in my age group. 77/712 overall. I'm a little surprised how close I guessed on my overall place while running. Part of me was disappointed by this, but then I got to thinking. This is faster than last year, not as fast as the year before, but all things considered I did pretty well.<br />
<br />
As we were talking before the race started, the runner-in-white and I were talking about how there seem to be faster and faster people showing up at the sprint level. He suggested that perhaps some of the people who had been doing Olympics were coming down and dishing out some pain at the sprint level. Some people say "only a sprint" but honestly it's not like just because it's a shorter race it's easy, and so my guess is that perhaps people are switching because it's just more fun. Half the time, same amount of fun!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hvd5Li8_q8/U8a3IC-DE5I/AAAAAAAAE4Q/ToFpOdDd8SM/s1600/IMG_6619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hvd5Li8_q8/U8a3IC-DE5I/AAAAAAAAE4Q/ToFpOdDd8SM/s1600/IMG_6619.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cold towel - yes please!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
I had a good time at this race, my wife did too. She says races are easier with only one kid that wants you to hold them or is happy in a stroller. Also I think they redesigned the race-site a little and it's a little more spectator friendly.<br />
<br />
Even though triathlon is primarily an individual event, it's fun to see people you know at races. Especially if I can turn it into a fun game that motivates me a little.<br />
<br />
A couple of thoughts about the non-racing portion of this race<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Race meetings that happen during a work-day, are not great for people who have a job. I sort of wanted to attend to see what course changes might be in store due to flooding in the area, but also wanted to not get fired for taking a three hour lunch.</li>
<li>Clear plastic bags in transition - they said "for safety" and that's a better reason than most, but it sort of sucks. At least make sure the bags are slightly over-sized.</li>
<li>The post race food - I wish I knew where it came from - super tasty.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I like big races, I mean many people like small races and they are good too, but big races like this really make it fun to be in triathlons. There are people around from all over the cities and states, there's the opportunity to see pro athletes race each other instead of just get first. And it's sort of inspiring to see every size/shape/age/ability person out there having fun!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Onv8kOvWJ1U/U8a-T_28-DI/AAAAAAAAE4g/RlrpfkZEaQ8/s1600/IMG_6620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Onv8kOvWJ1U/U8a-T_28-DI/AAAAAAAAE4g/RlrpfkZEaQ8/s1600/IMG_6620.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At every age the kids always want whatever drink I have in my hands</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPO8Iai2590/U8a-TxVteBI/AAAAAAAAE4g/tBJgcXrRCJE/s1600/IMG_6615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPO8Iai2590/U8a-TxVteBI/AAAAAAAAE4g/tBJgcXrRCJE/s1600/IMG_6615.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not a lake - flooded field. The flooding didn't have much impact on the race, a minor off road section on the run was all I noticed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Final thought - My wife sent me this text during the race<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Devon Palmer just recognized me and said "hey Amanda, how are you"</blockquote>
She's kind of a big deal, and good looking, so it's understandable he wants to make sure she knows he's around. He's a local pro triathlete and coach, and apparently he and my wife communicate regularly and are Facebook friends. Now, I've not met Devon, or talked to him, we participated at the same race once (in Florida no less) He's the kind of guy who writes blog posts where we pretend his dog is giving training advice, if that helps frame him in your mind any better.<br />
<br />
In any case, it's another piece of evidence that Minnesota has a great triathlete community, and that triathletes in general, from beginners to seasoned pros are a good group of people.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-91671307626701708792014-07-10T20:19:00.001-05:002014-07-10T20:19:33.493-05:00Race Preview: Minneapolis Tri I'll admit it, about 70% of the reason I signed up for this race was to try to win a set of race wheels. I figure a 1 in 2000 chance is pretty decent ;p As for the rest of my motivation - this is the first race of the year and I'm excited to race. I like this race, there's nothing quite like racing the "overwintered" intersections of Minneapolis. I assume they are like the cobblestones you'd encounter while racing The Tour. I was feeling pretty good with my fitness two weeks ago before vacation, so I'm looking forward to blowing some suckers out of the water and then trying like the dickens to hold them off during the bike, and then sacrifice a small pony in T2 in hopes of staying out front during the run :)<br />
<h4>
Race Info</h4>
The swim is a triangle in a lake - spring has been cool and rainy, and the other times I've raced this one it's been wet suit legal, so I'll be trying not to rip my wetsuit to shreds putting it on. For whatever reason this swim always feels fast, so I'm looking forward to a quick showing.<br />
<br />
The bike is a 15 mile loop, as referenced above, it's a little bumpy, so I'm going to see if I can hold on to my water bottle for a few more minutes. I had grand plans of figuring out how to secure it better ... that didn't happen. Other than that, the course is rolly, but overall pretty flat.<br />
<br />
The run is a loop around the lake we swam in, 3 miles - lefse flat - the goal here is to not watch every single person from my age group run by me :)<br />
<br />
<h4>
Goals</h4>
Overall - just have a good race. I honestly I have no idea what to expect performance wise. I was talking to someone recently, and figured what I need to do is convince myself that I can push harder on the bike and still run fast. I have heard it can be done, I've never really hit the wall, I think there is gas in the tank.<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
Last year I met a guy at this race and then raced him again at Maple Grove, and in both races he ran by me. While it's not super likely I'll see him again, I would like to redeem myself.<br />
<br />
The race starts at 7:00 - I start at start around 8. It's a big race, if you've not seen it you should come by lake Nakomis and watch me bring the pain.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-26191191769174810392014-06-13T23:29:00.000-05:002014-06-13T23:47:27.983-05:00mmm summer timeOk, it's been a while - what's been going on with my life.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>October and November</b></div>
<div>
In October we had our 4th kid, she's a doll.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I trained exclusively for a 10k. Pfew, I don't know how runners do it! It seemed like my muscles never stopped hurting. In the end I missed the race, and I have to admit, it was a relief, running is hard people! Now don't get me wrong, it's not like I have tons of experience trying to train for running races. But I did have a plan, based on some reading, and good golly, it was tough.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>December & January</b></div>
<div>
All family all the time. It's actually a little surprising to me how much more work a fourth kid seems to add. The old three sort of feed off each other, and can generate a cyclone of energy. Sometimes that energy can be running around like hyper cats, laughing and whooping and having a ton of fun. Other times the energy is more like a swirling vortex of crying and breakdowns. It's great though, all the kids are growing up and being individuals.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>February - May</b></div>
<div>
I started up regular workouts again. We had the coldest winter I've ever had the privilege of being a part of, and so every single workout was inside. Also during this time I participated in a wellness challenge at work.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>The Wellness Challenge</i></div>
<div>
So someone at work put together a set of teams (on a volunteer basis) to compete in both a weight loss challenge as well as a total number of minutes challenge. So, let's be clear hear, I'm 6'2 and over the winter had "ballooned" up to 187 pounds - so I wasn't really going to contribute much to weight loss effort, but I thought I'd be competitive in the minutes category.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first week rolled by, and people came out of the gate charing, 10+ hours by several people. Not me, I figured, well I have some staying power, I should be able to maintain my effort level, not everyone will.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A few more weeks roll by, I'm not in the top 10. But some people are starting to fade, though much to my surprise, the people at the top are starting to surge, sometimes toping 15 hours a week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the end, after 12 weeks. The winner had racked up an amazing 14,000 minutes of workout time, that's more than 1,000 a week, or almost 17 hours per week. That's some serious commitment, I mean he said he was mainly just walking, but I don't care, that's some serious will power. Second place had 11,000 and I ended up in 5th with 6,000. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I came away with two major thoughts. First, I was shocked at the effort people were putting in, people at work are always talking to me about how much I run or bike or whatever, but in reality many of them are putting in the same or more time. Second, the contest really pushed people. There's a guy I run with sometimes at work, and he just tacked on 90 minutes of walking every night to his normal workout routine in the beginning just to get into the top 2, he ended up getting sick and falling way behind. The guy who won, went from roughly 5 hours a week to (in some weeks) 30 hours, he said "it's not like your body can't handle it, pro athletes do it" (they don't have other full time jobs though.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was eye opening, and humbling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>June</b></div>
<div>
It's finally warm out, most days. Very recently I've been having a pretty good series of workouts. The other day Strava told me I set a new 15k PR, and I did a running workout where I was able to put together two sets of sub 8-minute miles together. I didn't run that fast at all last year. Swimming workouts are going off fantastic, I'm swimming with <a href="http://www.genesisaquatics.org/" target="_blank">Genesis</a> again, and again it's great. And after a year of not biking with the group I put on some big-boy undies and went out with them. That's been good too. It's a little surprising how shy I am though about being in the mix. I can still clearly recall the accident.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Part of me is really itching to race to see where I'm at, other parts of me have different plans.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>In Conclusion</b></div>
<div>
I leave you with this. For my birthday my wife had gotten me a GoPro, which eventually we deemed to be defective and returned, but it did capture this. I present my two oldest</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwTRtygxBV3KQOZtjf0dxG4HFEojqs3JLM6MBkT82kqnuWf-J4sV9cs1NA1VEHRjHznLeVfSrp0VuCe3ELpTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-73563246060058406282013-10-06T17:11:00.001-05:002013-10-06T17:11:51.891-05:00Checkup from the Neck Up<h3>
Reality</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I finished my first triathlon four years ago I was 40 from the bottom. Four years ago I couldn't run for a mile straight without feeling like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. When we moved to FL I remember being upset that I was unable to finish in the top half of finishers. Three years ago I thought a 10 mile bike ride was long.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Unreality</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I think about last season in general I think two things. I could have done better, and I should have done better. When I think about next year I am shooting for performance gains, not a second flat season. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I just re-read my last few race reports, and my season notes. What I wrote and what I remembered was surprisingly different. I remembered having a lackluster season, and I remembered saying that in my race reports and season notes. The difference is pretty surprising. I was thinking that my memory and my blog lined up, and I was hunting for negative quotes, where I lamented performances.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Reality Check</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Recently I got notice that I again qualified for USAT Olympic nationals. One of the ways you do that is to finish in the top 10% of finishers in your age group at a USAT sanctioned race. When I got that note, I realized something. I realized that my "lackluster" performance was still pretty freaking good.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On that day something happened. I realized that I had gotten to a place that I find annoying. I was feeling crummy about a 3rd place finish, or an 8th place finish. I was feeling crummy about doing things that 3 years ago I would have been super stoked for.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Trap</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
People talk about this all the time, but it's easy to fall into this trap. When I got into this sport, and started going to events and meeting people who are also in the sport I started to see what's out there. It seemed like no matter what there was someone who was way better, or even just slightly better than me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the world of endurance sports I talk to people I meet out and about and find out they are training for an Ironman or an ultra marathon or a 10 mile swim, it's hard not to compare myself to them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Resolution</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second invite to USAT nationals was a sort of wake up call. I am doing well, I am making progress, and just a few short years ago I was at the other end of the spectrum. I will probably continue to compare myself to the people around me, if only for motivation, for proof that I can still be faster. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I will also try to be honest about what's around me. I know of some people who are doing some amazing things. <a href="http://iwannagetphysical.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">This guy</a> a set a year goal to "just be fit" after his first child was born and went on to win a running series while pushing the same kid in a stroller. <a href="http://bcamysaysso.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My sister</a> trained for and executed her first Ironman and has already signed up for another one. <a href="http://danhedgecock.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">This guy</a> decided this season to become a pro triathlete. <a href="http://thompsontri.com/blog" target="_blank">This guy</a> is my age and has been pro a long time and still rocks the race course. These people are all doing amazing things, and they are everywhere, but they represent an elite few.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And I'll be honest about what I'm doing. Finishing near the top at all the races I go to is pretty freaking cool. Living a healthy lifestyle and using that to have a positive impact on my friends and family, to be able to talk in real terms that non-elite athletes can related to is pretty amazing too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the words of Stuart Smalley: I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-65348888775722576072013-09-21T23:57:00.000-05:002013-09-21T23:57:16.104-05:00Year in SmilesSometimes when my wife and I are wishing we had a little more time to do whatever we want she says something like "but you're always doing workouts" and I think to myself "that's not fun, that's hard work." In my head I push myself and hold a less than fun schedule so that I can swim faster, run faster, ride my bike faster. I don't think of it as fun, I think of it as a challenge.<br />
<br />
I may not surprise some of you, but I think she may be on to something. I present a small year-in-review photo-replay. These have all been on this blog before :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5cEuWdy4gs/UaQqTJhIWcI/AAAAAAAABRw/Ord6DN4hQho/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5cEuWdy4gs/UaQqTJhIWcI/AAAAAAAABRw/Ord6DN4hQho/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool morning after Randy's Run enjoying ice cream with the kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uaphAU285w/UaVbfEsLL7I/AAAAAAAABSI/LRhC8VziCJY/s1600/image-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uaphAU285w/UaVbfEsLL7I/AAAAAAAABSI/LRhC8VziCJY/s1600/image-5.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing up Randy's Run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WaTDvt84Jxs/UagEOA7OIwI/AAAAAAAABTc/XuJMQMhi19Q/s1600/IMG_2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WaTDvt84Jxs/UagEOA7OIwI/AAAAAAAABTc/XuJMQMhi19Q/s1600/IMG_2586.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not standing in the rain at Randy's Run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EEOUZZnuhUU/UagEKiMtcxI/AAAAAAAABTI/VINhvKJoAIs/s1600/IMG_2593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EEOUZZnuhUU/UagEKiMtcxI/AAAAAAAABTI/VINhvKJoAIs/s1600/IMG_2593.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super serious on my trek toward a new 5k PR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvti87VUsZQ/UdIHHRh3QpI/AAAAAAAABq8/00K2yQpvOf8/s1600/IMG_4386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvti87VUsZQ/UdIHHRh3QpI/AAAAAAAABq8/00K2yQpvOf8/s1600/IMG_4386.JPG" height="320" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the Jeffs representing our workplace at Waconia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktoUfEy7H28/UdIHKO86EFI/AAAAAAAABrQ/drWYp1YYH04/s1600/IMG_4394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktoUfEy7H28/UdIHKO86EFI/AAAAAAAABrQ/drWYp1YYH04/s1600/IMG_4394.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out on the bike at Waconia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4P9d9y3jHDg/UdIHNAC4STI/AAAAAAAABrw/1SSxG2F1b3o/s1600/IMG_4403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4P9d9y3jHDg/UdIHNAC4STI/AAAAAAAABrw/1SSxG2F1b3o/s1600/IMG_4403.jpg" height="320" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving the kids high-5s on the way to a slow run at Waconia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvL7JZJwafQ/UdIHY-kF6UI/AAAAAAAABsU/hSIn5Jhnesw/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvL7JZJwafQ/UdIHY-kF6UI/AAAAAAAABsU/hSIn5Jhnesw/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging with the littlest after Waconia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjHj1JDt7GQ/UeOXQTaPXxI/AAAAAAAAB-g/lNyFWs8T2kI/s1600/IMG_4501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjHj1JDt7GQ/UeOXQTaPXxI/AAAAAAAAB-g/lNyFWs8T2kI/s1600/IMG_4501.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing in line at Minneapolis Tri</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PiKghgIegM/UeOXh7hFLiI/AAAAAAAAB_U/K5c1F0DwVgw/s1600/IMG_4518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PiKghgIegM/UeOXh7hFLiI/AAAAAAAAB_U/K5c1F0DwVgw/s1600/IMG_4518.jpg" height="287" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing the run at Minneapolis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2aWc20RnnA/UeOXiB1BmlI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/NtbO-h-a4E8/s1600/IMG_4519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2aWc20RnnA/UeOXiB1BmlI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/NtbO-h-a4E8/s1600/IMG_4519.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">15 seconds of medal wearing at the end of Minneapolis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PcjguYMNsc/UeyIQhX23JI/AAAAAAAACA4/hb_OEQpE4KQ/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PcjguYMNsc/UeyIQhX23JI/AAAAAAAACA4/hb_OEQpE4KQ/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG" height="320" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exiting bath water swim at Chaska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxAamsg8V5E/Uf3eUH1FRvI/AAAAAAAACIA/_0ydYof9Jpc/s1600/IMG_4673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxAamsg8V5E/Uf3eUH1FRvI/AAAAAAAACIA/_0ydYof9Jpc/s1600/IMG_4673.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post Chaska with my little guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NnwAXHGuDA/Uf3ePjKYliI/AAAAAAAACH0/p7feOoomPxg/s1600/IMG_4674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NnwAXHGuDA/Uf3ePjKYliI/AAAAAAAACH0/p7feOoomPxg/s1600/IMG_4674.JPG" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post Chaska with the littlest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smHePQ5Kjvc/Uf3ePnl35vI/AAAAAAAACH4/mtesfGHcmIk/s1600/IMG_4672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smHePQ5Kjvc/Uf3ePnl35vI/AAAAAAAACH4/mtesfGHcmIk/s1600/IMG_4672.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing up Prior Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuZmkHUmo1E/Uf3fGyUPWuI/AAAAAAAACIc/mB5SM6Ng7rk/s1600/IMG_4679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuZmkHUmo1E/Uf3fGyUPWuI/AAAAAAAACIc/mB5SM6Ng7rk/s1600/IMG_4679.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out after Prior Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fq3ndxYwO74/UhOy95Fm-AI/AAAAAAAACPo/XaR-fRpfjGw/s1600/bike.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fq3ndxYwO74/UhOy95Fm-AI/AAAAAAAACPo/XaR-fRpfjGw/s1600/bike.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even in my imagination I'm happy to be racing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCoN7HXOFQ0/UhwU53yNxdI/AAAAAAAACVA/LaE029HHi8Y/s1600/IMG_4757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCoN7HXOFQ0/UhwU53yNxdI/AAAAAAAACVA/LaE029HHi8Y/s1600/IMG_4757.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Maple Grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBBes9NUg7Y/UhwXutkOXfI/AAAAAAAACVU/UM6DBhC0rTc/s1600/IMG_4760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBBes9NUg7Y/UhwXutkOXfI/AAAAAAAACVU/UM6DBhC0rTc/s1600/IMG_4760.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting out of the water at Maple Grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bnf9BKRC590/UhwlynqOSBI/AAAAAAAACWk/-zKzGHVjpQM/s1600/IMG_4772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bnf9BKRC590/UhwlynqOSBI/AAAAAAAACWk/-zKzGHVjpQM/s1600/IMG_4772.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post Maple Grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So - obviously I like to race. But they are way more fun when my family is there. I can't thank my wife enough for coming to all the races and taking all the pictures. All of that effort on her part to wake up the kids, get to the races, cheer like crazy and snap pictures literally makes my life better.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-39187600509539172002013-09-08T15:42:00.005-05:002013-09-08T15:42:26.515-05:00The MeningitisRecently I had a brief battle with what turned out to be viral meningitis. Here is the story.<br />
<h4>
Pre Sickness</h4>
My youngest and second youngest took turns getting sick. We never put our fingers on it, but they were sick for a little bit of time each. A variety of things let me believe that these two illnesses weren't remarkable at all. For the youngest, I think we decided that maybe she was getting some molars or just having a tough time sleeping. For the other, he had just gotten his tonsils out and perhaps having some bounce back recovery time. The short of the story though is that they did have some sort of illness, it's possible it was the same. Nobody else in the family had really gotten sick though.<br />
<br />
I was having some tummy troubles leading up to the Maple Grove triathlon, but nothing specific, and nothing severe. I did not tie these things together, and realistically they may not be tied together.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Zero Day</h4>
I was at work, feeling fine. It was roughly mid-day, and I was getting a pop and getting ready to eat the largest pear I have ever seen. I ate my pear, and I kid you not "WHAM!" I was sick. I was feeling nauseated, and a little disoriented. I sent this message<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I think the pear I ate did me in, I’m feeling ill and am
heading home to hopefully sleep it off. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
See you in the morning. </blockquote>
<br />
I drove home, not feeling well. Made an unceremonious entrance and went straight to bed. Estimated time of arrival to bed: 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. During the "night" (it was dark at least, I have no idea what time it was) I did wake up once in a pool of sweat, I'd imagine that was some sort of fever breaking.<br />
<br />
<h4>
+1 Day</h4>
I woke up around 8:30 the next morning. I wasn't feeling awesome, but not nearly as bad. I basically was fuzzy, with a headache, I felt pretty stiff all over and possibly a weak stomach. Given my previous weak stomach problems and the idea that I had just slept for 20 hours with nothing to show for it really, I decided to head to work. I took some Advil to kill the headache.<br />
<br />
The day was pretty uneventful, the headache and body aches stayed. Advil was pretty effective at getting rid of of the headache, though I was taking 2x dose and it wore off about 30 minutes before the recommended re-dose time.<br />
<br />
The common thought around the office and in my head about the illness was some sort of food poisoning from the pear and perhaps some level of dehydration causing the headache. These seemed plausible, though now that I'm thinking back, not actually that plausible. First, everyone else in my house was eating the same pears that could have gotten me sick. Also, I was drinking and peeing like a champ.<br />
<br />
<h4>
+2 Days</h4>
Basically the same, I think the Advil was starting to take its toll on my stomach because I was getting an uneasy stomach when I would take it. Other than that no real changes.<br />
<br />
<h4>
+3 Days</h4>
At about 3:30 in the morning I woke up with a headache, the same headache I had since the first day. I could not bring myself to take four Advil, so I just took two (recommended dose.)<br />
<br />
At about 8:30 I really felt like crap. This was the first time I felt like I might throw up, I did not. I was cold sometimes, hot sometimes, it hurt to open my eyes, and I never really felt comfortable. I was unstable on my feet. I asked my wife to make a doctor appointment. I could be seen around noon.<br />
<br />
Around doctor appointment time we discuss very briefly me going by myself, I suggest that's not going to be possible. To say I felt terrible was putting it lightly. I stagger down to the car, I cannot bring myself to sit up straight or wear my seat belt. The short (less than one mile) trip feels like forever. I stagger into the clinic, and get seen quickly.<br />
<br />
The doctor comes in quickly, my wife does a lot of talking, I do some talking, he quickly comes to a few options.<br />
<ul>
<li>Meningitis</li>
<li>West Nile</li>
</ul>
He's pretty confident that it's viral meningitis, but the only way to test for it is to do a spinal tap. He'd be happy to do it, he's done a lot, he has the equipment, he's done one recently as his office, but "they" didn't like that, so he's not going to do it today. He orders a battery of tests, along with two bags of fluids and some decent pain medication. He'll do the test for west nile, though the results probably will take long enough to get that by the time we know I'll be over it.<br />
<br />
Over the course of the next few hours my wife drops the kids off at a neighbor's house and comes back. I get an IV and some fluids. They turn the lights off in my room and bring in some heavy duty medication. I start feeling pretty decent.<br />
<br />
The doctor returns. Because I am functional when properly medicated, and a bunch of the labs have come back normal, he's staying with the idea that it's probably viral, and it might be meningitis, but because it's viral there's not a lot of do about it but manage the pain and wait it out. He prescribes some narcotics and sends me home with orders. 'Do not hesitate to go to the hospital if you cannot manage the pain or things get worse' He specifically tells my wife to watch out for confusion. This, obviously, scares my wife.<br />
<br />
We head home, I am a little sick from the medicine, but when I'm laying down everything is fine. I get on the schedule for the pain medicine prescribed and things are looking up.<br />
<br />
<h4>
+4 Days</h4>
I wake up around 5:30, it's been three hours since I took some Advil, I have a headache, but I'm allowed to take beefier narcotics, so I do and go back to sleep. I wake up again at 8:30, the headache is back. I am not supposed to take any more medicine for another hour. Also it occurs to me that probably the narcotics should be more effective than three hours, and possibly the Advil isn't working much at all. We elect to call the nurse line to see if they think this means we should come back in, after an hour on hold they say yes, breakthrough pain shouldn't be an issue given the medicine I'm taking.<br />
<br />
I take some Advil as we're heading out the door to hopefully help a little.<br />
<br />
We get to the urgent care / ER triage. Pontential meningitis is not handled by urgent care, off to ER I go. The headache is pretty bad, eyes hurt again I spend most of my time with my eyes closed (for the second day.) The doctor comes in, he says he agrees with the initial assessment from the day before. Likely we'll end up with better medicine, but we'll run some extra tests just to make sure.<br />
<br />
They hook me up to fluids with some sort of medicine to help the pain. I head over for a CT scan and we wait for results. The CT scan is fine. The pain is still present. The doctor comes in, suggests we go ahead with the spinal tap to confirm meningitis or not. That sounds like a good idea. He says we'll get some more medicine and that I won't really be super alert for the procedure.<br />
<br />
A few moments later nurses are there setting up for the puncture, the doctor rolls in and has me assume the position. At this point I ask about the "additional medicine" as I had not receieved anything, and wasn't feeling super awesome. They gave me some, and asked if I felt anything. No change, so they gave me some more and then didn't ask again. The puncture is painless and goes quickly. My wife said it's very similar to watching it on TV. The procedure is over as quickly as it started and I'm back on my back keeping my eyes closed.<br />
<br />
Some time later the doctor comes back in, confirmed meningitis, and a slightly elevated white blood cell count. So we'll do a quick round of antibiotics to get rid of any infection and an anti-inflammatory medicine to help with the meningitis pain. At this point I mention that whatever medicine they have been giving me is not effective and to please take note. They give me something a little stronger, and a much stronger prescription than the day before. The instructions are "take these new pills and not the old ones, lay off the Advil as it's probably messing up your tummy, you should be fine in a couple of days based on what the estimated timeline of your illness is"<br />
<br />
We head home, another day down. I take one pill (of the suggested dose of two.) These pills make me quite sleepy.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Recovery</h4>
The next two days I am self regulating on half doses of the new prescription. Pain management is fine, though I do feel pretty run down. I kind of tool around the house not doing much. Thanks to the extended holiday weekend I am feeling pretty decent when it comes time to head back to work. Because of work I stop taking the opiates, as that is unsafe for driving, and I'm sure against company policy. I take a couple of Advil the first day, and then just take it easy for the rest of the week. A light headache stuck around for a few more days, and food wasn't that appealing for a couple of days, but this week has been good, and I'm about 100% now. A full week later and maybe two weeks after all this started.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Thanks</h4>
Thanks to everyone who dropped me a note with their thoughts and prayers. I appreciate everyone's concern. Also thanks to our neighbors who watched our kids when we were at the doctor and hospital, my sister-in-law who came over two days in a row to watch our kids at night. Of course to my wife who took care of me when I was feeling the worst, and kept the kids away when I would sleep for basically days on end.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-2358644899232871292013-09-06T14:21:00.001-05:002013-09-06T14:21:55.245-05:00Tri Season NotesThis year I did five races. Here's how they lined up.
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Race</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Swim</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pace</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bike</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pace</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Run</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pace</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lake Waconia (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>12:23</td><td>1:32</td><td>58:36</td><td>20.6</td><td>36:17</td><td>8:57</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Minneapolis (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>6:23</td><td>1:35</td><td>47:46</td><td>20.9</td><td>28:18</td><td>9:16</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chaska (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>8:19</td><td>1:43</td><td>48:05</td><td>20.2</td><td>25:29</td><td>8:45</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lakefront Days (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>6:04</td><td>1:30</td><td>40:49</td><td>20.7</td><td>26:28</td><td>8:01</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Maple Grove (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>6:50</td><td>1:22</td><td>40:09</td><td>20.9</td><td>27:36</td><td>9:11</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Last Year for Comparison<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Race</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Swim</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pace</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bike</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pace</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Run</b></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pace</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chain Of Lakes (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>7:31</td><td>1:16</td><td>36:25</td><td>20.3</td><td>20:55</td><td>7:30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Liberty (70.3)</b></div>
</td><td>29:40</td><td>1:32</td><td>2:50:05</td><td>19.2</td><td>2:13:25</td><td>10:10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lake Waconia (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>12:06</td><td>1:30</td><td>59:38</td><td>20</td><td>37:08</td><td>9:14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Minneapolis (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>5:53</td><td>1:28</td><td>42:40</td><td>21.9</td><td>23:54</td><td>7:41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chisago (70.3)</b></div>
</td><td>30:52</td><td>1:34</td><td>2:53</td><td>19.4</td><td>2:08:53</td><td>10:01</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lakefront Days (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>6:25</td><td>1:35</td><td>39:17</td><td>21.3</td><td>25:14</td><td>7:34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Maple Grove (Sprint)</b></div>
</td><td>6:48</td><td>1:41</td><td>39:43</td><td>21.5</td><td>23:17</td><td>7:55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rev3 Florida (70.3)</b></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td>3:23:29</td><td>16.5</td><td>2:03:05</td><td>9:24</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>What I see</b><b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Swim</b><br />
<br />
Chaska is slow and maple grove is fast. Chaska was the only non-wetsuit swim, but I'm going to go ahead and say that I think that swim was long, and possibly than maple grove is short.<br />
<br />
<b>Bike</b><br />
<br />
There's lot of consistency here, I was hoping to gain some speed this year, but I think I just misfired on the execution of that plan.<b> </b>Still, the consistency is actually kind of neat to look at<b>.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Run</b><br />
<br />
<br />
I did not maintain the speed I would have liked. I only did one run block, and I was not happy about it (plan, and execution, but mostly I didn't like the plan.) That obviously came back to bite me.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Overall</b><br />
<br />
What I see here is what I think happens when you "just put in the time" I did workouts, and stayed in general good fitness, but I did not do what it takes to make some progressive gains.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Next Year</b><br />
I'm basing next year's performance goals on this year's life realities. Next season our family of five will be a family of six with an average (USAT official) age of 15.<br />
<br />
Goals <br />
<ul>
<li>Have fun</li>
<li>Stay at it</li>
</ul>
I will be trying some "new to me" ideas about how to build power and speed. But primary goals are listed, getting faster is a secondary goal for now.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-91878859982531011822013-09-03T16:08:00.001-05:002013-09-03T16:08:41.104-05:00Season Training NotesYear three of trying to get faster at triathlons in the books. I like to look back on the years and months and even weeks to see what I can see. To try to see what worked, to try to see what I didn't notice at the time, etc.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2012/10/year-over-year-comparison.html" target="_blank">Last year</a> my numbers looked like this<br />
<br />
<table><caption><b>2012</b></caption><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Distance</th><th>Time</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td><span class="wa_m_a">258,720</span> yards</td><td>79:30 hours</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>2,100 miles</td><td>124:50 hours</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>533 miles</td><td>82 hours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This year looks like this<br />
<table><caption><b>2013</b></caption><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Distance</th><th>Time</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td><span class="wa_m_a">211,200</span> yards</td><td>60:30 hours</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>1,334 miles</td><td>79:30 hours</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>288 miles</td><td>44:30 hours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That's substantial. But there are are some significant differences. Mostly, last year I trained for a 3.5 months longer. If I trim out those months the totals are a little more lined up<br />
<br />
<table><caption><b>2012 (same number of days)</b></caption><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Distance</th><th>Time</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td><span class="wa_m_a">214,720</span> yards</td><td>65 hours</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>1,908 miles</td><td>110 hours</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>404 miles</td><td>61 hours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But there's still a pretty significant difference.<br />
<br />
Another thing that's not immediately apparently when staring at this year's numbers is that actually my effort over the entire year this year decreased over time. It's not a terribly interesting graph, but basically what it looks like is that I started out strong, and then over the course of the spring and summer slowly decreased load.<br />
<br />
That reduced workload mainly came in the form of just fewer workouts and when I did do them they were fairly short. For instance, I only did nine runs all season over 6 miles, every single other run was less than 5. I'm sure there's some way to make that work, but it's not your typical recipe for success when you need to run that distance at full speed at the end of a race. There was a similar pattern on the bike.<br />
<br />
Looking back I'm not sure what if I would change much. I basically just decided that getting enough sleep and putting family stuff ahead of racing would be the plan. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to dominate, but sometimes for me it works better to stay up and hang out with my wife than go to sleep and make sure I can be up and out of the house every morning before anyone else wakes up.<br />
<br />
Heading into next year, I don't anticipate any more time. So I'm trying to formulate a plan that allows me to have a pretty reduced load but produce some decent results. Time will tell :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-33584053190931943442013-08-26T23:28:00.000-05:002013-08-26T23:28:22.507-05:00Race Review : Maple Grove Sprint TriathlonThree years ago I did the Olympic distance at this race, didn't like it too much. Last year I did the sprint and won my age group, this year I went back to defend my title. Overall I had a great time, though again my wife did not. She wrote her thoughts down and did a <a href="http://mrscouchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2013/08/maple-grove-race-site.html" target="_blank">quick post</a> DURING the race. While I like this race, I will give careful consideration to her feelings before choosing this race again.<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
I went up to Maple Grove the day before the race. The expo was similar to other years, little booths around that I glanced at briefly. I'm just not an expo guy. I walked in, gave them my number and much to my surprise the lady asked me what color swim cap I wanted. That's a first. I choose orange over silver. Head over and get my t-shirt and then headed out. Quick and painless. One plus, this year they didn't give me a bib that said Olympic in big letters on it. Though I did notice that at least one guy thought he was entered in the wrong distance race.<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
The race started at 7:30, I was planning on getting there by 6. So I got up at 4. I got up, had some breakfast, a bottle of water, another bottle for the road, and a bottle for the bike. The weather forecast had a chance of thunderstorms and a lot of wind with highs approaching 90. I woke up to no thunder or even rain. The temperature seemed good. But I loaded my bike in the trunk just in case - dry bike is a good bike :)<br />
<br />
On the drive up I saw a lot of people passing me with bikes on the backs of their cars and in their back seats. I thought to myself, I'm the slowest triathlete driving down the interstate!<br />
<br />
I found a parking spot in a rapidly filling up parking lot and pulled my bike out of the trunk. Temp was great, the sun was rising, and the skies looked clear and I couldn't really feel any wind. As I was getting my stuff all put together I noticed the lady who parked in front of me was having a small panic attack relating to her bike. I walked over on my way out and asked her if she needed anything. Apparently her bike tire was flat and wouldn't hold air. She suggested she had changed her tire the night before and may have gotten it wrong. She said she had a spare but didn't feel like she had time to fix it. I told her not worry, there would more than likely be a bike mechanic or five at the race site. I told her to grab her stuff and her spare, and walk her bike over to the race site, they would be more than happy to change her tire for her. I wished her a good race and went on my way. I was happy to see when I got to the race site there were plenty of bike mechanics from the local bike shop. I saw the her some time later before the race start, she was in her wet suit and looked ready to race.<br />
<br />
I got marked up, found my assigned place on the racks and got set up. Over the next 40 minutes or so I chatted with the guys around me about whatever. A sort of neat thing about this race is that the series seems to have attracted a lot of repeat racers and I ran into a couple of the same guys who were racked near me at the <a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2013/07/race-review-minneapolis-tri.html" target="_blank">Minneapolis tri</a>. It was kinda neat to see some familiar faces. There were also a bunch of people who had signed up for the entire series and had the little series transition mats.<br />
<br />
Race meeting time came, before the meeting a guy from work came up. That's always fun, we chatted a bit. Then made our way over to the gathering place for the swim start. I made myself comfortable for the next hour or so until they got to my start time. All in all, there were 1,600 racers and i was just about in the middle of the group.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyhL_6BFDgk/UhwU1WeKTuI/AAAAAAAACUs/V29bQiHwLq0/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyhL_6BFDgk/UhwU1WeKTuI/AAAAAAAACUs/V29bQiHwLq0/s320/IMG_4756.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the swim start gathering area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLps8qNAIzY/UhwU4iJF4xI/AAAAAAAACU0/ORnB0hCWejo/s1600/IMG_4758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLps8qNAIzY/UhwU4iJF4xI/AAAAAAAACU0/ORnB0hCWejo/s320/IMG_4758.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My wife found me in the holding area. Actually, she ran into the guy from work first, who she didn't already know. That's a funny coincidence.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCoN7HXOFQ0/UhwU53yNxdI/AAAAAAAACVA/LaE029HHi8Y/s1600/IMG_4757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCoN7HXOFQ0/UhwU53yNxdI/AAAAAAAACVA/LaE029HHi8Y/s320/IMG_4757.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the kids. I thought it was almost time to swim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
When I lined up for the swim I ran into another guy from the Minneapolis tri. He ended up passing me about a mile into the run in that race and probably ended up second in our group. He seems like a good guy, he bills himself as a slower swimmer. I made a joke that it will be nice to see him again on the run when he passes me again :)<br />
<br />
This year the start was a time-trial start, two at a time, four seconds apart. I lined up near the front of our group and took it out pretty solid. Because of the time trial start and because the caps were mixed I had no way of knowing where I was in relation to anyone else in my group. I passed a bunch of people and only ran into bad traffic once or twice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWQmb-j9oiU/UhwXXOhppdI/AAAAAAAACVI/3fVo7mfVBms/s1600/IMG_4759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWQmb-j9oiU/UhwXXOhppdI/AAAAAAAACVI/3fVo7mfVBms/s320/IMG_4759.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids waiting for me to get out of the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall the swim felt good, a good effort that I was happy with. I exited and started a long run to my bike.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBBes9NUg7Y/UhwXutkOXfI/AAAAAAAACVQ/LhqkxQj5uG8/s1600/IMG_4760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBBes9NUg7Y/UhwXutkOXfI/AAAAAAAACVQ/LhqkxQj5uG8/s320/IMG_4760.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running by - having a good race so far</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The run to the my bike seemed to take forever. When I got to my spot things seemed to go fine. I was surprised that there were people near me getting on their bikes. It was a little confusing though because I was pretty sure they weren't all in my age group due to pre-swim analysis of numbers.<br />
<br />
I headed out, and got going. The plan was to try to do what it took to meet my goals. This is contrary to the way I usually race which is to do what feels maintainable and good. The forecast had called for a pretty good chance for 15-20mph winds coming from the south-east. This bike course run straight south for a couple miles, then west for a mile then north for 6 and then back. Overall it's like a figure eight. So I was surprised that the wind didn't seem terrible during the first leg. Some of that may have been adrenaline because when I look at my splits I can see the noticeable impact the wind had on my splits. Having the wind at my back for six miles felt pretty good.<br />
<br />
The ride was going pretty well, I was passing people, unfortunately there were also plenty of people passing me. I counted at least four from my age group blow past me. Admittedly it was a little confusing because there were also a fair number of people starting out on the Olympic course. I didn't realize that until we got to the split and almost everyone in front of me went out on the other course. That actually made me feel kind of good, because it might have meant that the people who were passing me were not doing my race. I didn't hold my breath though.<br />
<br />
After the six mile downwind leg we made the turn ... and there was the wind. With only four or five miles to go my legs were start to feel the effort. There was no question in my head that I had worked the bike pretty well. Coming into transition I was pretty confident that I had basically met the bike goal.<br />
<br />
Transition went pretty well, and another long run through the transition area. Thankfully this time with shoes.<br />
<br />
Note to race directors: If someone has just chip-sealed the transition area, no amount of sweeping or vacuuming is going to help. Running through that mess with no shoes was PAINFUL. Fair notice, I've been given the nickname "tenderfoot" ... so I might not be a representative of all racers. But still, some cheap carpet or something would have been heavenly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhtXfJD9Hj4/UhwcRQ3JSzI/AAAAAAAACVc/yRC1B2J6Yv0/s1600/IMG_4764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhtXfJD9Hj4/UhwcRQ3JSzI/AAAAAAAACVc/yRC1B2J6Yv0/s320/IMG_4764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming out of transition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VALuVpwHbRY/UhwcRixVcII/AAAAAAAACVo/HmBe0l-2fS8/s1600/IMG_4765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VALuVpwHbRY/UhwcRixVcII/AAAAAAAACVo/HmBe0l-2fS8/s320/IMG_4765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling, I just saw my wife with a huge smile on her face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdGPbA6R9go/UhwcRmI69LI/AAAAAAAACVg/R6iXKVgE5Jw/s1600/IMG_4766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdGPbA6R9go/UhwcRmI69LI/AAAAAAAACVg/R6iXKVgE5Jw/s320/IMG_4766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I look like when you're coming up behind me on the run :) A likely scenario</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
The Run</h4>
I was dreading the first little hill, last year I got a big ol' cramp and had to stop for a second. Thankfully that didn't happen this year. I went up the hill, through the little cliff-shot zone which took a new turn that wasn't there last year. It wasn't much of a change, I'm guessing it just worked out better for doing the feed zone.<br />
<br />
After I got past the hill I glanced down and noticed I was WAY off pace. It felt good, hard but maintainable, I felt like I was moving well, but it wasn't translating to goal pace. Mile one ticks by, low 9. Uh oh.<br />
<br />
I push a little harder. And there he goes .. the guy from the swim line, the same guy from the Minneapolis race. When he passed me there I was in second, at this point I figured I was in ... at best 9th. And he didn't pass me with the same speed he had before. I was running slower and so was he, it took him much longer to pull out of view this time. I tried to keep up for a while, but just could not get my legs to turn over. Mile two ticks by, low 9 again. I am watching my goal slip away.<br />
<br />
Keep pushing. Honestly, if I didn't have my watch on I would have sworn I was holding a great pace. I felt like I had good turn over and keeping a decent form, it just wasn't fast. Over the next mile I keep trying to figure out ways to get moving. Move my legs faster, move my arms faster, small surges, etc. Nothing.<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
The Olympic course had a run change this year, they come back into the park along the finish line and the second lap is exactly the same as the first one. So everyone starts down the finish line. I was feeling good, spent, but good. I really felt like I had a good race. I knew I had missed my goal, but I felt like I gave it what I had.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdUxT-TWI3M/UhwepB8U6YI/AAAAAAAACWA/4f5M25kDVS8/s1600/IMG_4768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdUxT-TWI3M/UhwepB8U6YI/AAAAAAAACWA/4f5M25kDVS8/s320/IMG_4768.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for me to finish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxzCK0fWKPk/UhwemCk0QGI/AAAAAAAACV4/mV8kyIQiDQM/s1600/IMG_4770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxzCK0fWKPk/UhwemCk0QGI/AAAAAAAACV4/mV8kyIQiDQM/s320/IMG_4770.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I come</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PAR72Yh_nCM/Uhweq_M6ZUI/AAAAAAAACWI/qPuKfoEIlSY/s1600/IMG_4771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PAR72Yh_nCM/Uhweq_M6ZUI/AAAAAAAACWI/qPuKfoEIlSY/s320/IMG_4771.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoooooom! Faster than the shutter on the camera!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Results</b><br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Actual</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>7:00</td><td>6:50</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>39:45</td><td>40:09</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>24:00</td><td>27:36</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:14</td><td>1:19:04</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, I missed again. I mean I saw it slipping away on the run. I just could not find that gear.<br />
<br />
The Swim<br />
That's good for 4th overall and second in my age group.<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
20 seconds isn't much. The wind was brisk, I pushed pretty hard and I'm happy with this.<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
Uhh, I guess I'm going to have to be honest and say that this year I just didn't put in enough time running. I stopped running further than four miles about half way through the summer. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that I just didn't have the legs to get my body to get going.<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
17/79 in my age group. 81/785 overall. Now, obviously this is a major change from the rest of the results this year where I think I had a top 10 or close to top 10 finish. Two thoughts on that. First, I didn't come close to my top speed. I missed by five minutes.<br />
<br />
Quite note on that - if you're doing the math you'll see that I was only off by just under 4 minutes in "main leg" times. The rest came in transitions. And can you guess what? That first transition was THREE FULL MINUTES! At first I was shocked! And then I looked closer, it actually wasn't terribly slow compared to others. Don't get me wrong, I didn't win the transition race, but it's not like everyone else was doing sub minute. The run was basically up and down the full length and width of transition barefoot.<br />
<br />
The second thought - faster people showed up. Even if I had met my goal, that was only good enough for 6th place in the age group. I ran into the guy who got second at Minneapolis, he was just as surprised as I was at the speed difference. If I guessed his name right, he ended up 9th.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bnf9BKRC590/UhwlynqOSBI/AAAAAAAACWg/qK1W0NTUajg/s1600/IMG_4772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bnf9BKRC590/UhwlynqOSBI/AAAAAAAACWg/qK1W0NTUajg/s320/IMG_4772.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to wrangle the finisher's medal off my daughter for this shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
I had a great time. I felt like I turned in what I had and while I didn't end up making my goals I am pretty satisfied with my effort. My wife and kids were there the entire time, I got a chance to chat with a guy from work, and even got to see some familiar faces from other races.<br />
<br />
I'd say that lifetime did a good job with the series, I mean if the same set of people show up at all the races they must have done something to attract them and it was fun to be part of that.<br />
<br />
Having said all that, I agree with my wife that I don't really think the venue can support this race. I thought that the first year, and it was re-enforced this year. It seems almost silly that this site has no (not an exaggeration) on-site parking. Everything else is great, good volunteers, good energy, well organized, etc. But, I really want a race to be a good spectator experience for my cheering team. So we'll see, I said I wouldn't go back last year and I did. Maybe I'll do it again, but it's on the naughty list.<br />
<br />
A big thanks to my family who came out and yelled and cheered for me. My wife who took pictures and stayed pretty positive even though she was really a sort of downer morning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-c6YAu6uNA/UhwlglgaLII/AAAAAAAACWY/pTK7WJZIfr0/s1600/IMG_4767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-c6YAu6uNA/UhwlglgaLII/AAAAAAAACWY/pTK7WJZIfr0/s320/IMG_4767.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunty Bethany, a triathloner her in her right came out and hooted and hollered at me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
That's it for triathlons this year. I have one more goal on the year, attempt at a new 10k PR. At the start of the season I was feeling good about that, less now. But I'm going to give it a go, I'm hoping that overall fitness means that I can build some speed sort of quickly since I won't also be trying to keep bike fitness.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-11295524168553929212013-08-22T14:55:00.001-05:002013-08-22T14:55:58.002-05:00Race Preview - Maple Grove Sprint TriathlonI did this race <a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2012/08/race-review-maple-grove-sprint-triathlon.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, and I won my age group so I wanted to go back and try again.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Race Info</b><br />
The swim is triangle with right turns. A new feature this year is a time-trial start by twos. That makes it official, I will not do any races this year that aren't time trial start. They are billing the race distance as .3 miles, though last year I remember thinking it was short.<br /><br />
The bike is a little over 14 miles, it's mainly flat.I took a quick look at the weather forecast for Saturday. It's calling for 12-18 mph winds. We'll see though, usually early in the morning the wind isn't bad. If it is though, the forecast says it will be at my back for the longest stretch, that will be nice.<br />
<br />
The run is through neighborhoods around the lake. I've been pretty flip-floppy on how hilly the course is. There's a hill at the start and a couple of hills at the end. Going into the race last year I thought it wasn't hilly. Coming out I thought it was hillier than I remembered. Considering my run performance has been dreadful this year, I'm hoping it's closer to flat than hilly :)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Goals</b><br />
My goal for this race will be to set a goal that I think is fast, and actually obtain it. I *think* I have missed every goal this year.<br />
<br />
My goals for december looked like this<br />
<table class="prettytable"><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Pace</th></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;">Swim</td><td>7:00</td><td>1:20 per 100 yards</td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;">Bike</td><td>39:45</td><td>21.5 miles/hour</td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;">Run</td><td>24:00</td><td>8:00 mins/mile</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;"><td>Total</td><td>1:14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Last year that was good enough to win my age group, two years ago it was good enough for top 3. <br />
<br />
<b>Closing Comments</b><br />
I'm looking forward to this race, it's the last race of the year. I'm feeling pretty good, all I need to do now is execute.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-10151977963468508492013-08-20T13:47:00.004-05:002013-08-20T13:47:45.765-05:00Epic Battle : Mind vs. LegsA week or so ago I sent out this tweet<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Handed out a beating this afternoon. My legs will learn to be seen by not heard!<br />
— Jeremy Solt (@couchtowhatever) <a href="https://twitter.com/couchtowhatever/statuses/366675349842558976">August 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
That was Sunday, I showed them! Mind over wimpy neglected legs! The following day I took it easy, a couple of hours of not-super-intense riding. The following day I dished out another helping of "make yourself better" at a time-trial where I had a decent showing.<br />
<br />
Two days off, I like these guys, they like to party.<br />
<h4>
Friday (Bring the Party!)</h4>
I do a new set for me<br />
8x<br />
20 seconds 100% effort<br />
10 seconds coast.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fq3ndxYwO74/UhOy95Fm-AI/AAAAAAAACPk/QSWihC0QwMg/s1600/bike.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fq3ndxYwO74/UhOy95Fm-AI/AAAAAAAACPk/QSWihC0QwMg/s1600/bike.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me: How do you like me now!<br />Legs: ...looking into unionizing...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>20 minutes later</b><br />
Same set.<br />
<br />
I'll admit, this was a taxing ride. It wasn't just my legs who didn't want to be a part of that workout anymore. This was really the first time they had put up any sort of fuss beyond getting tired. They were sore.<br />
<h4>
Saturday</h4>
Head out for a swim workout.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVKTx090FCw/UhOzdZ4deKI/AAAAAAAACPs/PNvZye1pgnk/s1600/coach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVKTx090FCw/UhOzdZ4deKI/AAAAAAAACPs/PNvZye1pgnk/s1600/coach.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach: Hey you should do the hard workout today<br />Me: Uhh, looks ok on paper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I also hear the coach convince another guy to level up for the day, he gives a much more enthusiastic response. <br />
<br /><b>20 minutes later</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq3svI9c0vw/UhOzwoGzmjI/AAAAAAAACP0/H0ivsLcDoXE/s1600/coachnme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq3svI9c0vw/UhOzwoGzmjI/AAAAAAAACP0/H0ivsLcDoXE/s1600/coachnme.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach: Don't pay attention to the other guy, he went to do the easier set<br />Me: Wha? Huff -- puff<br />Legs: How are you enjoying the cramping in you calves...and quads<br />Me: I can deal, SUCK IT!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>25 minutes later</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq3svI9c0vw/UhOzwoGzmjI/AAAAAAAACP4/YevEuVciqpQ/s1600/coachnme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq3svI9c0vw/UhOzwoGzmjI/AAAAAAAACP4/YevEuVciqpQ/s1600/coachnme.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach: Last set of sprints. OFF THE BLOCKS!!<br />Me: Where's the ladder? My legs don't work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>First Sprint</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhKwph1TYsg/UhO0WpzF3-I/AAAAAAAACP8/gQNiwGE3Ihs/s1600/blockstart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhKwph1TYsg/UhO0WpzF3-I/AAAAAAAACP8/gQNiwGE3Ihs/s320/blockstart.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me: Goooooo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2MC7OJevbtI/UhO0g_xewbI/AAAAAAAACQE/SWkjgydWpxM/s1600/worstcrampever.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2MC7OJevbtI/UhO0g_xewbI/AAAAAAAACQE/SWkjgydWpxM/s320/worstcrampever.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legs: SUCK ON THIS!<br />Me: GHAAAAA!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMIvY1x36Qc/UhO0oq5SzNI/AAAAAAAACQM/uyphE7ycWkk/s1600/gettingout.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMIvY1x36Qc/UhO0oq5SzNI/AAAAAAAACQM/uyphE7ycWkk/s1600/gettingout.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worst cramps ever</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As soon as I hit the water on the very first sprint both calves cramped up like I had never experienced. I waited till the people were past and then lumbered out of the water like a sick walrus. Here's where I also mention there is an audience of about 50 high school aged girls watching on, waiting for their own swim practice to start. Lots of stares, and not the kind all the high school boys are hoping for. The coach came over and applied enough pressure to the bottom of my feet get my calves to stop flexing, and I missed the second two sprints. Unbelievable pain. <br />
<br />
<h4>
Next day</h4>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cG_FjnIRSQg/UhO4LlxjxJI/AAAAAAAACQc/t1M98XHjkj8/s1600/walker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cG_FjnIRSQg/UhO4LlxjxJI/AAAAAAAACQc/t1M98XHjkj8/s320/walker.png" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legs: How do you like me now??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The next day was pretty painful to walk around. It was my daughters' combined birthday party though, so I made an effort to get into the bounce house. Much to my surprise it wasn't that bad. Walking was a chore, and my muscles were sore to touch.<br />
<br />
So here I am two days later. We're back on talking terms. I've done a mid-level run, some mid-level swimming and some biking. Much to my surprise my legs only really bother me when I'm sitting or walking. They feel fine when I'm swim/bike/running. I'm hoping to be feeling good on Saturday for the last race of the year for me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-70215591529004949332013-08-15T12:47:00.001-05:002013-08-15T12:47:54.175-05:00TNT Year in ReviewThis year I wanted to do some time trials, it's in the goal list. I did it every time it was offered but once, and I chickened out that time due to the weather. Here's the year-end recap. All of these races are through a local spoke of the IC3 group. Overall I think it was fun, check them out: <a href="http://www.twincitiesspoke.com/tnt">http://www.twincitiesspoke.com/tnt</a><br />
<br />
<h4>
May 7 (<a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2013/05/first-time-trial.html" target="_blank">First Time Trial</a>)</h4>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAnaMGKfwbo/Ufk6DOzGvFI/AAAAAAAACFA/rc2AWIl9Oq8/s1600/may7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAnaMGKfwbo/Ufk6DOzGvFI/AAAAAAAACFA/rc2AWIl9Oq8/s1600/may7.png" /></a></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<b>34:14.62 (19.27 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>21/22</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>51/52</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>62/78</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_plDpJbZprI/Ufk8tRqFu5I/AAAAAAAACFc/a9UPchYgesE/s1600/may7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_plDpJbZprI/Ufk8tRqFu5I/AAAAAAAACFc/a9UPchYgesE/s320/may7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
May 21</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WdC3UGt-37o/Ufk6C1gEoTI/AAAAAAAACFE/yuu6m7UeChk/s1600/may21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WdC3UGt-37o/Ufk6C1gEoTI/AAAAAAAACFE/yuu6m7UeChk/s1600/may21.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Cold and rainy, and I didn't know that ahead of time, so I was one of like three people who didn't have appropriate clothing<br />
<br />
<b>31:27.51 (20.98 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>16/17</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>32/35</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>40/51</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EgwmmLxaLdk/Ufk9Ao0hHrI/AAAAAAAACFg/J3WJbh5E2v4/s1600/may21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EgwmmLxaLdk/Ufk9Ao0hHrI/AAAAAAAACFg/J3WJbh5E2v4/s320/may21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture looks downright pleasant - that's not the best description for it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
Jun 18</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hj4Fk7S7tz4/Ufk6ChPRkYI/AAAAAAAACE0/XhCCsaZJ8k8/s1600/jun18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hj4Fk7S7tz4/Ufk6ChPRkYI/AAAAAAAACE0/XhCCsaZJ8k8/s1600/jun18.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>30:06.57 (21.92 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>20/20</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>49/52</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>67/87</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pggF0uhdwIE/Ufk9F8YRiAI/AAAAAAAACFo/khNLHdBke_g/s1600/jun18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pggF0uhdwIE/Ufk9F8YRiAI/AAAAAAAACFo/khNLHdBke_g/s320/jun18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
July 2</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cREom6nH24U/Ufk6CWkiBcI/AAAAAAAACEw/jdZsu4mt8uk/s1600/jul2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cREom6nH24U/Ufk6CWkiBcI/AAAAAAAACEw/jdZsu4mt8uk/s1600/jul2.png" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the first time I had a handicap, they handicap racers to give them more of a good feeling compared the speed demons that come and place near the top consistently. <br />
<br />
<b>29:28.82 (22.39 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th><th>Handicapped<br />
Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>16/19</td><td style="text-align: center;">4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>43/50</td><td style="text-align: center;">4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>56/84</td><td style="text-align: center;">7</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuwZofF2PCY/Ufk9OMCoTUI/AAAAAAAACFw/xci0zh_WQ9g/s1600/jul2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuwZofF2PCY/Ufk9OMCoTUI/AAAAAAAACFw/xci0zh_WQ9g/s320/jul2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
July 16</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJHvivdvtgs/Ufk6CZKKsrI/AAAAAAAACFM/cyWaF57hhbY/s1600/jul16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJHvivdvtgs/Ufk6CZKKsrI/AAAAAAAACFM/cyWaF57hhbY/s1600/jul16.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>30:16.48 (21.8 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th><th>Handicapped<br />
Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>15/20</td><td style="text-align: center;">9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>38/46</td><td style="text-align: center;">17</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>50/76</td><td style="text-align: center;">22</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhKt-kNjITY/Ufk9SoPQ0vI/AAAAAAAACF8/-39xiNFbtss/s1600/jul16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhKt-kNjITY/Ufk9SoPQ0vI/AAAAAAAACF8/-39xiNFbtss/s320/jul16.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting at the start line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
July 30</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ij5-zzYzfQo/Ufk6CWAgO9I/AAAAAAAACEo/l0Y2xsoXYxk/s1600/jul30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ij5-zzYzfQo/Ufk6CWAgO9I/AAAAAAAACEo/l0Y2xsoXYxk/s1600/jul30.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>29:42.25 (22.22 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th><th>Handicapped<br />
Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>19/22</td><td style="text-align: center;">9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>46/50</td><td style="text-align: center;">16</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>65/85</td><td style="text-align: center;">20</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jThbPBBvHBc/Ufuxhi3oiPI/AAAAAAAACGI/3OV2-h8smPY/s1600/IMG_8745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jThbPBBvHBc/Ufuxhi3oiPI/AAAAAAAACGI/3OV2-h8smPY/s320/IMG_8745.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another start line shot - hopefully I've already started, cause otherwise I look way too intense</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
Aug 13
</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AEU38P8v3g/Ug0L1Hebh1I/AAAAAAAACNQ/owwb5MOruAw/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AEU38P8v3g/Ug0L1Hebh1I/AAAAAAAACNQ/owwb5MOruAw/s1600/Untitled.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>29:31.27 (22.36 mph)</b><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Category</th><th>Place</th><th>Handicapped<br />
Place</th></tr>
<tr><td>Age Group</td><td>18/21</td><td style="text-align: center;">4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aero Bikes</td><td>51/57</td><td style="text-align: center;">6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>67/93</td><td style="text-align: center;">10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNhYVQOWUtU/Ug0L3xolp5I/AAAAAAAACNY/TRg4n6Nl-8k/s1600/IMG_9181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNhYVQOWUtU/Ug0L3xolp5I/AAAAAAAACNY/TRg4n6Nl-8k/s320/IMG_9181.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can tell it's late into the season. The sun is very low on the horizon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Overall</h4>
I'm glad I did it. I causes me to have a few thoughts<br />
<ul>
<li>Cyclists are fast. I mean I know triathletes are fast on the bike, and many of these people are triathletes, but many are cyclists and are quite fast. I am, often, at the bottom of this group. I am not at the bottom of a local triathlon on the bike (run - different story.)</li>
<li>30 minutes is a short race. I'm only six minutes back from the front, and end up in the last 25% of the group. When I go to a tri where I race for just over an hour, 6 minutes back can still be top 10 overall.</li>
<li>There's tons of room to grow here, six minutes back in an 11 mile race is 5 miles per hour. If I could get a two mile per hour gain I'd only be mid-pack here, but a much bigger contender at triathlons.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Doing the same course over gives me two thoughts<br />
<ul>
<li>First, you can do a sort of apples to apples comparison. I know on the first day I went a certain speed, and then on the last day I did the exact same race and finished 5 minutes faster. That's a fun thing to see.</li>
<li>Second, it's possible that some of that is just knowing the course better.</li>
</ul>
At least I got faster<br />
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/static/modules/gviz/1.0/chart.js" type="text/javascript"> {"dataSourceUrl":"//docs.google.com/spreadsheet/tq?key=0Ak7plrQOrEcTdGFndDBacldzSE9QOHVOcFRuWDNFNkE&transpose=0&headers=0&merge=COLS&range=A2%3AA8%2CE2%3AE8&gid=0&pub=1","options":{"vAxes":[{"useFormatFromData":true,"title":"Speed (MPH)","minValue":null,"logScale":false,"viewWindow":{"min":null,"max":null},"maxValue":null},{"useFormatFromData":true,"minValue":null,"logScale":false,"viewWindow":{"min":null,"max":null},"maxValue":null}],"titleTextStyle":{"bold":true,"color":"#000","fontSize":16},"booleanRole":"certainty","curveType":"","title":"Speed Progression","height":320,"animation":{"duration":500},"legend":"none","width":450,"lineWidth":2,"hAxis":{"useFormatFromData":true,"title":"Date","minValue":null,"viewWindowMode":null,"viewWindow":null,"maxValue":null},"tooltip":{}},"state":{},"view":{},"isDefaultVisualization":true,"chartType":"LineChart","chartName":"Chart 1"} </script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-64109882519766384742013-08-09T12:04:00.000-05:002013-08-09T12:04:06.009-05:00Today's bike commute adventureYesterday my son got his tonsils out and had to stay the night at the hospital. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBwwhkJ2XKk/UgUYJbifFfI/AAAAAAAACLc/1GWaFT0Tjq0/s1600/20130808_160744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBwwhkJ2XKk/UgUYJbifFfI/AAAAAAAACLc/1GWaFT0Tjq0/s320/20130808_160744.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling around his hydration system. The hospital people could learn a lot from runners :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkowAw3Mzy4/UgUYJWp4HtI/AAAAAAAACLc/2Tx781Nzqr8/s1600/20130808_161539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkowAw3Mzy4/UgUYJWp4HtI/AAAAAAAACLc/2Tx781Nzqr8/s320/20130808_161539.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying on his clown nose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sZ0nhXGhidE/UgUYJaGlPWI/AAAAAAAACLc/F3bgnqihjps/s1600/20130808_145930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sZ0nhXGhidE/UgUYJaGlPWI/AAAAAAAACLc/F3bgnqihjps/s320/20130808_145930.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dog came and visited. I'm pretty sure he would have worn a bare patch in her fur from petting had she stayed much longer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I stayed the night with him and he was a champ, and we had a good time. He's doing fine and left for home just after I got to work.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Trip </h4>
<br />
So the plan was that my wife would bring my bike the hospital in the morning, and I'd bike to work from there. It's not far, 10 or 12 miles and mostly on roads or trails I already knew. I woke up around 6 which was just a few minutes before my wife showed up. We chatted for a bit, I went and pumped up my bike tires and then changed and left.<br />
<br />
So, I had looked at a route, I was going to hook up with a trail I had biked a lot a bunch of years ago, take that to Hopkins, hop on another trail, take that to a road I think is fine to ride on and then take that all to work. Something like four turns. No big deal.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Step 1: Find the trail</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOX4cZOsTFA/UgUZqoodaYI/AAAAAAAACLw/9Pw9RaCc9AU/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOX4cZOsTFA/UgUZqoodaYI/AAAAAAAACLw/9Pw9RaCc9AU/s1600/Untitled.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of me looking for the big green line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since I had been on this trail many times I (naively) thought I would recognize it. I also had my phone with me, so I could stop and check for directions if I was lost. I pop out of the hospital parking garage, look at my phone and decide that it wants me to go west, it's morning, so I head toward the sun. I get to a major road and decide that perhaps I've gone the wrong direction. Check the phone, yep. Head back - pass the hospital, it was 1/2 a block away from where I started. This whole number happened before the map above as my watch searched for satellites and then waited for me to press the start recording button.<br />
<br />
So I make the turn onto the road (thankfully I had only one choice on which way to turn) and then head toward where I believe the trail should be. I realize at this point that I don't recognize this area, and honestly when I think back that's because the trail is well hidden from the outside world and unless I had ever gotten off of it here, probably many people don't know it's there.<br />
<br />
In the end, based on that map, I rode under the trail for three times before I realized that I was riding under it. The last time I rode under it I even saw the tiny trail leading up to the larger trail. This trail I have ridden 100 times easy, so I knew where I was going to get off of it. What I didn't know was how to find the entrance to the other trail.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Step 2: Find the trail.</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cmi_M8Pg7w/UgUbgl3FwTI/AAAAAAAACME/iQtA9Ty7QSQ/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cmi_M8Pg7w/UgUbgl3FwTI/AAAAAAAACME/iQtA9Ty7QSQ/s1600/Untitled.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks easy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So the map looks like - just cross the road and you're there. And that's true. And if you're like me and don't spend a lot of time finding new trails you may not be able to find a trail entry. If you're on bike level and don't know what to look for, what you see is a coffee shop, what looks like a bus stop and a factory parking lot. What you don't see is a bike trail.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plLWrmlarNk/UgUdxA65O4I/AAAAAAAACMo/v78xeovLhII/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plLWrmlarNk/UgUdxA65O4I/AAAAAAAACMo/v78xeovLhII/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stopped here, because I know coming up is the part of the trail that goes the wrong way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From here I don't see anything that looks like a trail going anywhere but the one way I know is wrong. The woman is, like everyone else, on the part of the trail I already know. I check, my phone basically says I need to get on the other trail now, just cross the road. I elect to go a little further down the trail I do know and see what I see when I get to what I believe is the point of no return<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBMINFvgpJI/UgUdxMMJkHI/AAAAAAAACMc/HLjD7534MuQ/s1600/Untitled2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBMINFvgpJI/UgUdxMMJkHI/AAAAAAAACMc/HLjD7534MuQ/s320/Untitled2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Point of no return - turn right and I'll be going the wrong way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is literally just a few hundred yards from the last shot. I know for sure I do not want to head right.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6AN14mgTUM/UgUdxL3ZdSI/AAAAAAAACMk/pF0d7RZuBck/s1600/Untitled3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6AN14mgTUM/UgUdxL3ZdSI/AAAAAAAACMk/pF0d7RZuBck/s320/Untitled3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what is across the street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The phone is encouraging me to cross the street, so I do. Because honestly there is no oth<br />
er right answer. (Insert Sherlockian comment here.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CB5RLgPV5h8/UgUdx4LyhBI/AAAAAAAACMs/kVrTAKOXdWU/s1600/Untitled4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CB5RLgPV5h8/UgUdx4LyhBI/AAAAAAAACMs/kVrTAKOXdWU/s320/Untitled4.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from across the street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another cyclist saves me at this point, as it basically looks like I'm riding into a parking lot. He goes trucking through and hops on, to me, an invisible trail. I get on that trail.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Step 3: Find the ... work</h4>
Actually this part is just sort of filled with doubt. I'm on a sort of schedule, but I have no idea where I am. All I know is that eventually I should come to a road I recognize and then get on that and take it to work. Once again I realize that from the bike path all roads look basically the same, and almost none of them are labeled. So I ride on, unsure of what is to come and then, thankfully, the road I want is labeled.<br />
<br />
The rest, as they say, is history. I got to work a little bit slower than I wanted, but I did get there. I'm sort of hoping for good weather over the next few weeks as my commute to work has turned into a nightmare, and I'd like to be biking it which will take just a little longer, but not be nearly as painfully boring.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-52958261320809623642013-08-06T23:00:00.002-05:002013-08-06T23:00:43.147-05:00Race Review : Lakefront Days Sprint TriathlonAnother fun day at Lakefront days! I remember a few years ago wondering if this race would be able to keep up with other triathlons in terms of fun features or bonuses. But I think they're doing a great job. So this year they did three new things. First, added back an elite wave. Second, added a relay option. Third, turned the start into a time-trial type start.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
I think I've done this race five times, and I've never once picked up my own packet. My wife did it again this year, and that's great. Apparently some little old lady paid her a compliment that made her day. So that's fun to hear.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
The race started at 8, I set my alarm for 6:00. It's a perk of living down the road from the race. The plan was to leave the house by 6:45. I hit snooze and started moving around the house around 6:30. I ate some breakfast and biked over with my sister in law.<br />
<br />
The morning was a little chilly, I had long sleeves and long pants on during the bike over. And I remember my hands getting cold. We got to the race site and went straight to the bike racks. The ends of the racks were reserved till 7:15 for registered elite racers. Thankfully, we milled around long enough that they announced the ends were open and I just grabbed the first one I saw. I got marked and chipped and found my friend Jeff who was doing his first non-Waconia triathlon. The water temp was 73, so I put my wetsuit on. We headed down to the water to get ready for the start of the day.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk0e52uCaUw/Uf3cIwjlKNI/AAAAAAAACGw/W8vDLDdCz0M/s1600/IMG_4649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk0e52uCaUw/Uf3cIwjlKNI/AAAAAAAACGw/W8vDLDdCz0M/s320/IMG_4649.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming over to see my family before the race starts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A new feature to the race this year was a time-trail start. The sort of unique twist on this was that it's self seeded. Meaning, they want you to line up by projected swim time. The elite group would not be participating in the time-trial start, they'd go off a few minutes before the rest of us in a mass start. I sort of milled around the front of the line. It was sort of funny, because people were standing near the front, but not actually committing to be first. So I took position up front, and then heard a guy talking to a girl who I assume was his daughter. He suggested she had a projected finish time of 4 minutes. Uhh, that's FAST. We were supposed to line up by twos. She hesitated. I said "if you're going to finish in four minutes, you're going first." Then I asked her if she thought she'd really finish in four minutes, she said "well, probably just over."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UktQt520rj8/Uf3cSUfHMfI/AAAAAAAACG4/KKg8NPVwvCg/s1600/IMG_4651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UktQt520rj8/Uf3cSUfHMfI/AAAAAAAACG4/KKg8NPVwvCg/s320/IMG_4651.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing next to speedy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So the guy asks us if we're ready, we say we are, and off we go. First thing I notice, the girl hesitates. I don't see here again till almost the end of the swim. After that I don't see here till she's coming into the finish line.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLS1PnuFp8k/Uf3cguwMBiI/AAAAAAAACHA/af9Y0niwz6c/s1600/IMG_4652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLS1PnuFp8k/Uf3cguwMBiI/AAAAAAAACHA/af9Y0niwz6c/s320/IMG_4652.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start, you can basically run to the first buoy. That's me out front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The swim was pretty uneventful, when you basically start first because you are seeded fastest and that turns out to be true, you don't see anyone else. I did catch a few of the elite racers. I was surprised to find out that one was doing breaststroke and another was just kicking on their back. I guess it just goes to show that you can place well and really suck at swimming. I'm about 100% sure that's only true about swimming. You can't place well if you suck at either of the other two sports.<br />
<br />
I came out of the water feeling pretty good.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sfL5IIQ72lo/Uf3c7muKlBI/AAAAAAAACHI/o2bT5-1IvEY/s1600/IMG_4657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sfL5IIQ72lo/Uf3c7muKlBI/AAAAAAAACHI/o2bT5-1IvEY/s320/IMG_4657.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the spray coming off my feet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0x7h6SNW_ls/Uf3dJk3XyzI/AAAAAAAACHQ/zIc0BYp8Nnc/s1600/IMG_4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="92" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0x7h6SNW_ls/Uf3dJk3XyzI/AAAAAAAACHQ/zIc0BYp8Nnc/s320/IMG_4658.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butt is in gear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had decided the night before that I would try this race with no socks. Last time I tried this I ended up kinda tearing up my foot, but I'd try again, the advantage in transition was appealing. I also used my tri clips again.<br />
<br />
I felt like I got out of transition pretty fast. I saw my wife and kids running to cheer and take pictures. Unfortunately, I messed up getting into my shoes on the bike, and ended up stopping to fix the strap that had come undone. I'd estimate that between transition and the break on the bike to fix my shoe two people passed me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-HzY2rk3jM/Uf3dXpOv9QI/AAAAAAAACHY/KRYYVzVdt4I/s1600/IMG_4659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-HzY2rk3jM/Uf3dXpOv9QI/AAAAAAAACHY/KRYYVzVdt4I/s320/IMG_4659.JPG" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trucking out, no socks, no shoes. Soon to be no service :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The bike didn't actually feel that great. I lamented about this a couple of years ago, but when you start out front, the only thing that can happen (unless you're going to win) is that people pass you. And that's what happened. Most people who passed me stayed out front. I did pass one guy who was part of a relay, but that's about it. In the beginning a 15 year old kid passed me on a hill, I caught him on the next downhill, then he caught me a while later on another hill around the half way point, I passed him not too long after that and didn't see him again during the bike.<br />
<br />
In the last couple of miles I realized I was going to miss my bike goal. I didn't know what the swim time was, but I was pretty sure I was going to miss my bike goal. Another couple of guys passed me on the last turn, but stayed pretty close. I came in right next to one of them. Again I felt like I had a good transition, I am pretty sure I blew through there much faster than that guy. So at least I passed him back. Though in my rush, I left my watch on my bike. Oh well.<br />
<br />
During the bike I counted maybe one guy who was in my age group that passed me. I was probably passed 6 times total.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uom6HxD5C2w/Uf3dlyYNAWI/AAAAAAAACHg/rv6NG1jsCEk/s1600/IMG_4669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uom6HxD5C2w/Uf3dlyYNAWI/AAAAAAAACHg/rv6NG1jsCEk/s320/IMG_4669.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming into transition - note my shoes off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
I started out the run, and immediately my calves were cramping. I tried to run through it at first, but took a small break to massage it, maybe 5 seconds. The rest of the run was pretty uneventful. I got passed, of course. Also, my no sock plan was back firing on me. One of my toes was absolutely killing me, I was pretty sure there was a just a single piece of sand digging in. Also, toward the end a rock found it's way under my heel and started to get on my nerves. But I pushed through it, and it moved on.<br />
<br />
Overall I felt like the run went pretty well, I counted another couple of guys from my age group pass me. I figured coming into the finish I was in fifth in my group.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
I tried to pick up speed near the end, but my foot was seriously killing me. All I could think was "take these shoes off"<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smHePQ5Kjvc/Uf3ePnl35vI/AAAAAAAACHw/HJDcRIZFpwQ/s1600/IMG_4672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smHePQ5Kjvc/Uf3ePnl35vI/AAAAAAAACHw/HJDcRIZFpwQ/s320/IMG_4672.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming into the finish. This does not make me look fast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxAamsg8V5E/Uf3eUH1FRvI/AAAAAAAACH8/kaqG4eyVA2c/s1600/IMG_4673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxAamsg8V5E/Uf3eUH1FRvI/AAAAAAAACH8/kaqG4eyVA2c/s320/IMG_4673.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs from my son - shoes are off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NnwAXHGuDA/Uf3ePjKYliI/AAAAAAAACHs/Z0Df7jA5LYQ/s1600/IMG_4674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NnwAXHGuDA/Uf3ePjKYliI/AAAAAAAACHs/Z0Df7jA5LYQ/s320/IMG_4674.JPG" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs from my youngest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zJ15PQPA808/Uf3eVngsjjI/AAAAAAAACIE/tzUxfALgA58/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zJ15PQPA808/Uf3eVngsjjI/AAAAAAAACIE/tzUxfALgA58/s320/IMG_4675.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toe damage - the blood actually soaked through the top of my shoe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>The Results</b><br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Actual</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>6:30</td><td>6:04</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>38:50</td><td>40:49</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>26:20</td><td>26:28</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:14</td><td>1:15:44</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Obviously I'm a little disappointed that I didn't make the goal, though only missing by 2 minutes doesn't seem like the end of the world. I did feel like I had a good race.<br />
<br />
The Swim<br />
That's good enough for first overall. The four minute girl didn't pan out, though if she had that would have been awesome!<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
This was almost predictable - I have no idea how I pulled those fast speeds at the end of the season last year. I felt like I pushed pretty hard on the bike.<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
I'm pretty happy with this. The run felt good, nice and hard. Obviously I wish I was a faster runner, and I'm not even too sure how to achieve it - again I get caught on the run and fall from second to fourth. Another nice thing was that I did this with no watch to keep pace. That makes me happy. Also, later, a couple of hours later I figured out with the help of my wife that actually it wasn't a piece of sand that wrecked my toe, when I looked at the blood spot on my shoe it was actually a seam that just dug into me. Oh well, I guess I'll wear socks till I can get some other shoes.<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
3/30 in my age group - technically 4/31, but the guy who got first placed 3rd overall, so I move up. I'm 1 minute out of third, 1:45 out of second, 8 minutes out of first. At this race third place means nothing as far as podium or awards, so we didn't even stick around because my sister was on her way to my house for a vacation.<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
<div>
I felt like I had a great race. I got the opportunity to race with my sister-in-law and a friend. Also my whole family was there along with my brother-in-law. The more the merrier!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I like the low key nature of this race, also it's close to my house. I do like this race a lot, and would recommend it. I think it's fun to watch this race get a little better every year. I liked this format for time trial start, I liked the DJ they hired to MC, they had great volunteers and plenty of them, there is a good mix of talent and I think the course is decent.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRhf1zjdRPw/Uf3fci4VSCI/AAAAAAAACIo/QoueVLmOUwA/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRhf1zjdRPw/Uf3fci4VSCI/AAAAAAAACIo/QoueVLmOUwA/s320/IMG_4668.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Sam came to cheer and hang with family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BOlKxukrpA/Uf3fcn8YEqI/AAAAAAAACIs/2qlL5mwCxlY/s1600/IMG_4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BOlKxukrpA/Uf3fcn8YEqI/AAAAAAAACIs/2qlL5mwCxlY/s320/IMG_4670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids played when everyone was off and racing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuZmkHUmo1E/Uf3fGyUPWuI/AAAAAAAACIY/mR7JUe1WV88/s1600/IMG_4679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuZmkHUmo1E/Uf3fGyUPWuI/AAAAAAAACIY/mR7JUe1WV88/s320/IMG_4679.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole group - it was a fun morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw4mQy3Qo1s/Uf3fGLpQ5TI/AAAAAAAACIQ/wL0dMqGkX-k/s1600/IMG_4681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw4mQy3Qo1s/Uf3fGLpQ5TI/AAAAAAAACIQ/wL0dMqGkX-k/s320/IMG_4681.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packing up with help from the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bajHRpcEyV4/Uf3fIpo5byI/AAAAAAAACIg/FgqxTmE-qr0/s1600/IMG_4683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bajHRpcEyV4/Uf3fIpo5byI/AAAAAAAACIg/FgqxTmE-qr0/s320/IMG_4683.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing dad's goggles on the way to the car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One more tri this year. Heading back to Maple Grove.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-67061362428497468622013-08-01T09:50:00.001-05:002013-08-01T09:50:18.854-05:00Race Preview : Lakefront Days Sprint TriathlonGood old Lakefront days. I'm happy to be here again this year. Also it feels like the group putting it on is paying attention and making minor modifications like adding a relay division or switching to a time trial start. Things like that make me think they are in this for the long haul, and I'm happy to have a triathlon very close to my home.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Race Info</b><br />
The swim is a short out and back, billed as a quarter mile. The lake is pretty small and protected so there's no worry of waves or boats. This year instead of a wave start they are doing a seed yourself time trial start. Elite go off first in a wave, then we're supposed to line up by projected swim time, fast people first, slow people after that. Based on various running races, it will be interesting to see if people actually line up like that. I know if you're honest about where you line up for a running race (e.g., you line up correctly, and you're not in the fast group) you can get stuck behind people who just want to start sooner. Then again I plan on declaring a 6:30 swim time which should be fast enough to get me to the front of the line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The bike is an almost 14 mile loop, it starts out kinda rolly, then settles down with only one little climb in it with a few miles to go. I am very familiar with this course. I made my goal based on last year's performance, which looks pretty stinking fast right now.<br />
<br />
The run is around the lake the swim is on, about 3.3 miles. Its through a park, but there are long sections of no shade due to a lack of big trees. It's sort of rolly, but no really tough hills. The primary goal here will be to just stay consistent on effort. In my training runs I have been making an effort to try to stay focused on effort, hopefully that will allow me to follow through on the race. So far this year this leg has not gone well.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Goals</b><br />
<table class="prettytable"><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Pace</th></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;">Swim</td><td>6:30</td><td>1:30 per 100 yards</td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;">Bike</td><td>38:30</td><td>21.5 miles/hour</td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;">Run</td><td>26:20</td><td>8:00 mins/mile</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: lightgrey; font-weight: bold;"><td>Total</td><td>1:14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is basically the same goal time as last year, this is the first race where I am setting my goal not as past of last year's performance. This year I just haven't seen the gains in any one place that isn't removed by deficits in another.<br /><br />
<b>Closing Comments</b><br />
I'd say my overall conditioning is on par with the rest of the summer. I wish it was a little better, but I'll give it what I've got. One sort of disappointing thing about this race: the age group podium is only one spot deep, so unless I pull the win out of my pocket, no fancy hardware for me :) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-25800791976173487582013-07-21T23:26:00.000-05:002013-07-21T23:26:03.225-05:00Race Review: Chaska River City Days Sprint TriathlonThis was my first time at this race, and actually I think I hadn't even heard about it till last year. It's a sprint with a cap at 300 people. I had heard it filled up, though I think the results show that not everyone who signed up showed up, or maybe it didn't fill.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
Packet pickup was available the day before at the Chaska community center. It was pretty low stress, walk in and they hand you (not in a bag or envelop, just loose) your three numbers. They also had some stuff you could elect to take (or not) so I picked up a mug and some lock laces, and signed up for the prize drawing to take place at the end race. Same day pickup was available too, but that's just too much for me to think about on race day.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
The race started at 7:30, Chaska is about a 20 minute drive from my house, so I was thinking I'd get there around 6:30, leave at 6, get up at 5:30. That's practically sleeping in for a race :) It was sort of tough getting up, there was a Bret Michaels concert down the street from us that went till midnight, so that cut in on some of my sleep.<br />
<br />
I woke up for whatever reason around 5, went back to sleep for about 3 minutes and then just got out of couch and started the morning ritual. I was out of the house by 5:30. I tried to drive slow, as I think transition didn't open till 6, got to the race site at 6:03 (or there abouts.) I was one of the first people there.<br />
<br />
I found a place to put my bike, went and picked up my chip, got body marked and just sort of hung out. I wasn't feeling super awesome, I think whatever had been bothering me the weeks before was still hanging on. I saw one of the two Jeff's from work, he said the other didn't get in and wouldn't be coming. Then my wife and kids showed up. It's super fun to see them, the kids are always so much fun.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xECF3oAbBwQ/UeyIK0LUV9I/AAAAAAAACAQ/N3L572PYjwQ/s1600/IMG_4582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xECF3oAbBwQ/UeyIK0LUV9I/AAAAAAAACAQ/N3L572PYjwQ/s320/IMG_4582.JPG" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow - I've seen better pictures of me. Not the kids though, this one is a great one of them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omITeOMIV5U/UeyILmkamwI/AAAAAAAACAY/wu1zPJx4h0c/s1600/IMG_4585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omITeOMIV5U/UeyILmkamwI/AAAAAAAACAY/wu1zPJx4h0c/s320/IMG_4585.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing out the water. The announced temperature was 88!! It was like bath water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBauyCFDMXY/UeyIPQj3k-I/AAAAAAAACAo/mRqHzAfJxUc/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBauyCFDMXY/UeyIPQj3k-I/AAAAAAAACAo/mRqHzAfJxUc/s320/IMG_4588.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time trial start - lining up to go. I see FOUR wetsuits in this shot. It was like BATH WATER. I have no cap on, not required or provided.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First off, here's a tip. If someone tells you the water is 88 degrees, but you can wear your wetsuit if you want, immediately take off your wetsuit. I don't care if it makes you feel better to have it on, that's HOT and likely not terribly safe to swim in. I know this goes against stuff I have said before where I said I would wear my wetsuit whenever allowed, that's downright HOT. Say it with me "My wetsuit is not a life jacket, it will not keep me from drowning, I know how to swim and I will be fine."<br />
<br />
The swim was a counter clockwise swim around a lake. The advertised distance is 1/3 of a mile, which is a little less than 600 yards. The lake is so small that the swim basically takes up the entire lake. Swim from one end to the other and back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWW8SBYqM5g/UeyIPpn98eI/AAAAAAAACAs/UFRB7ratXtc/s1600/IMG_4590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="72" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWW8SBYqM5g/UeyIPpn98eI/AAAAAAAACAs/UFRB7ratXtc/s320/IMG_4590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot of me in the water. Here you see man in wetsuit from previous shot. I'm betting he's already overheating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Overall the swim felt fine, not too much traffic. At this race they seemed to take little breaks every once and a while between swimmer starts, and we were definitely more than three seconds apart. So there wasn't much congestion. Though I did at least one time have to change course to get around two breast strokers and a side stroker. That's the second race in a row I've seen a side stroker, having had to learn side stroke for some reason in high school, I don't quite know why people choose it, as I think it's a pretty hard stroke to do.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PcjguYMNsc/UeyIQhX23JI/AAAAAAAACA4/hb_OEQpE4KQ/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PcjguYMNsc/UeyIQhX23JI/AAAAAAAACA4/hb_OEQpE4KQ/s320/IMG_4591.JPG" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out of the water on my way to the bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6ApuRPrHWg/UeyIVgHQJUI/AAAAAAAACBE/1Q8w13GHBTg/s1600/IMG_4592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6ApuRPrHWg/UeyIVgHQJUI/AAAAAAAACBE/1Q8w13GHBTg/s320/IMG_4592.JPG" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the ladies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I just realized that that picture is of me standing up in transition. It wasn't long ago I used to sit down in transition. Also this is a great shot of my tri suit, Made by blue seventy, if you're in the market, I do recommend them. Quite comfortable, you don't feel naked, but you also don't notice the suit.<br />
<br />
During transition I was feeling a little light headed, so I took it kind of easy.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjyW1Y-2hFo/UeyIcIVQFTI/AAAAAAAACBQ/aa-Uq27KAzs/s1600/IMG_4594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjyW1Y-2hFo/UeyIcIVQFTI/AAAAAAAACBQ/aa-Uq27KAzs/s320/IMG_4594.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out, my head had cleared by now and I was ready for the bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This bike course starts with 3 miles that are basically all up hill. It's not some super impossible climb or anything, but it is all up hill. I'll admit it, this part just seemed to drag out. It was, obviously, harder than the last time I rode it since I'm racing. The other thing I noticed was there seemed to be a little bit of head wind. So I keep head down and look for the turn toward home. This loop is sort of like a large rectangle. Up to Victoria, and then back to Chaska.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1lbDqARDAc/UeyIPS6GhFI/AAAAAAAACAw/nP2u4dVJ1lk/s1600/IMG_4583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1lbDqARDAc/UeyIPS6GhFI/AAAAAAAACAw/nP2u4dVJ1lk/s320/IMG_4583.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great day for a race - car or pedestrian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ENVBCWjAjD8/UeyIV-uCaKI/AAAAAAAACBI/YRkqjKZW3Vo/s1600/IMG_4596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ENVBCWjAjD8/UeyIV-uCaKI/AAAAAAAACBI/YRkqjKZW3Vo/s320/IMG_4596.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you pass up adorable pictures of my kids! You can't I put them right in the meat of the good stuff!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VivLHh6yjzU/UeyIdS2uNhI/AAAAAAAACBg/ad5rbrkYnN0/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VivLHh6yjzU/UeyIdS2uNhI/AAAAAAAACBg/ad5rbrkYnN0/s320/IMG_4597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids are great, spend two hours at the park and between cheering for dad and begging drink his water and eat his food they make friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
During the bike my legs felt like lead, and I was feeling quite tired. My stomach was feeling a little odd, as a result I couldn't really take much water without feeling ookie. On the other hand the race seemed to be going along just fine, so I just tried to just put that out of my head.<br />
<br />
Besides normal rough road (which was driving me nuts, and possibly limiting my ability to have more children) the race went fine. There was some very light rain, but nothing significant. I had a great time on the way back down the hill and was feeling pretty good coming into transition.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22ZPP6ktXmw/UeyIcs23oGI/AAAAAAAACBY/1iuAgugDW3c/s1600/IMG_4600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22ZPP6ktXmw/UeyIcs23oGI/AAAAAAAACBY/1iuAgugDW3c/s320/IMG_4600.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staying areo as long as possible</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNKqqCeHttc/UeyIkuPM-dI/AAAAAAAACB4/r0rGMorOAEg/s1600/IMG_4602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNKqqCeHttc/UeyIkuPM-dI/AAAAAAAACB4/r0rGMorOAEg/s320/IMG_4602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lady there passed me around 7 miles into the bike and I passed here a mile or so later. She went on to place in her age group. In this shot I am still winning our little race. And while it may look like I'm walking, I'm not, I am running, very fast, cheetah fast...baby cheetah, on a full tummy of milk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
First things first, Jeff had told me the hill wasn't bad. That's not true, it sucked, and seemed to go on forever. I did NOT let it get me down. I just went through it. I tried to keep my brain on keeping a good pace. Occasionally I would need to just pick up the pace. There were some light rain showers, and that felt great.<br />
<br />
The middle mile is nothing special. And the last mile is downhill which is much more pleasant than up hill.<br />
<br />
The one thing I will say about the run is that it's pretty well protected. The first and last mile cover almost the same route, and to make space they close a lane of traffic. So uphill you run on the road and downhill you run on trail next to the road. It was nice to not worry about traffic - either car or human.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-COmVFjIY6Nc/UeyIjLtniiI/AAAAAAAACBw/wkhmdwKETbg/s1600/IMG_4605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-COmVFjIY6Nc/UeyIjLtniiI/AAAAAAAACBw/wkhmdwKETbg/s320/IMG_4605.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Where is that guy, I got sand to dump in my hair"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNJudC4CCwU/UeyIiuPLObI/AAAAAAAACBo/FhOHLnXb_4s/s1600/IMG_4606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNJudC4CCwU/UeyIiuPLObI/AAAAAAAACBo/FhOHLnXb_4s/s320/IMG_4606.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that emotion, that's how people want me to look. My wife really got a good shot of this guy, he really looks like he's gutting it out. Another open chested shot of me. I watched a video of an Ironman race and I noticed that racers are zipping up there suits heading into the finish. Point taken.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Like the first mile is up hill, the last mile is down hill, so that's a good feeling. I had tried to keep my feet in the fire, and I came across the line pretty much ready to lay down. After that, got my results which were ready immediately (nice touch) and got some food. The kids played at the play ground, then we packed up my stuff in my wife's car. The kids crawled in and it started to rain and they left.<br />
<br />
I hung around to watch the awards ceremony. One thing that struck me is that there are people 20 years older than me putting up faster times, so that made me feel good about my age.<br />
<br />
Also, I won some sort of id bracelet from the prize drawing, that was kind of neat.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Results</h4>
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Actual</th></tr>
<tr><th>Swim</th><td>7:30</td><td>8:19</td></tr>
<tr><th>Bike</th><td>48:00</td><td>48:05</td></tr>
<tr><th>Run</th><td>26:00</td><td>25:29</td></tr>
<tr><th>Total</th><td>1:25</td><td>1:24:20</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Overall I'm happy with this, I felt a little off during the race, so much so that during the bike I was down right grumpy. But the run cheered me up, and in the end I had a good race. We see +50 from the swim, +5 from the bike and -30 for the run. The rest of the time came from transition times.<br />
<br />
The Swim<br />
If my goal was accurate on estimated pace (which may not be true) then I missed by a bunch. I glanced through the times, I put up a top 10 overall time, so I'm wondering if the swim wasn't a little long. That's the way it rolls.<br />
<br />
The Bike<br />
Actually I am quite surprised I hit this. With about 5 miles to go I was pretty sure I would miss the goal time. Unlike during the last race - where there was one time I found myself just pedaling - I didn't find myself doing that this time. The effort felt decent, and is inline with expectations.<br />
<br />
The Run<br />
First - I'm proud of myself. I did not give up on the hill, near the end I really wanted to. But when we crested the hill I took a moment to gather my thoughts (but not walk) and then just tried to remember to keep pushing. I'm happy with the results. This run I believe is the season best for me, so I'm going to take it.<br />
<br />
Overall<br />
7th in my age group, 10 minutes out of first, and 5 minutes off the podium. Though only seven seconds from 6th. While I was listening to the awards I did take note of something. 1:24 is a pretty good time. Here's what that gets you in other age groups<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2nd 16-19</li>
<li>3rd 20-24</li>
<li>2nd 25-29</li>
<li>3rd 30-34</li>
</ul>
<div>
Here's what threw me off</div>
<ul>
<li>7th 35-39</li>
<li>6th 40-44</li>
<li>7th 45-49</li>
</ul>
<div>
And then back to being podium worthy</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>3rd 50-54</li>
<li>1st 55+</li>
</ul>
<div>
I noticed this last year at Maple Grove too, I'm right in the thick of the fast group, and honestly I'm doing ok, and I feel like I've got room to grow.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Closing Thoughts</h4>
<div>
The race is pretty low key, and people seem to like it. The transition area is not blocked off, they don't have rules about non-racers in transition when the race is not in progress, and stuff like that. Still though, the course is well marked with people at every corner. It has a good group of volunteers and the course isn't a walk in the park. Though, you will have the unusual feeling of being able to negative split both the run and the bike, which will make you feel great, next week when you're looking at your splits :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a fun race, and I'd definitely recommend it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next week my daughter is doing her second triathlon, my son is doing his first and I'm just there to cheer. Then two more races and I'm done at the end of August. Summer has FLOWN by, but it's been a ton of fun.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-569480470011940992013-07-19T13:39:00.002-05:002013-07-19T13:39:43.207-05:00Race Preview: Chaska River City Days Sprint TriathlonI signed up for this race for a couple of reasons. First, it's close to home, and so that's attractive. Second, I wanted to get in another race, I missed a few planned races at the start of the season. And finally, because it fit into my schedule. As an added bonus, the Jeff's will also be there, and I like racing with friends.<br />
<h4>
Race Info</h4>
The race is in Chaska, near the little downtown area there. I believe the race is capped at 300 people, so it's not terribly large. It's billed as a sprint, though it's on the longer side of a sprint, and because this section of Chaska is in a section of land carved out by one of the local rivers the transition area is actually right at the bottom of a hill.<br />
<br />
The swim is billed as a 1/3 mile out and back on a very small lake. My guess is the water is quite warm. They say there are no wet-suit restrictions, if the water is quite warm though I probably will not wear mine just to avoid overheating. The start is a time-trial start, unless you identified yourself as elite (which just means you thought you could finish in under 1:25. I did not do that, I did not stop and try to figure out my hopeful finish time till I wrote this.<br />
<br />
The bike is a roughly 16 mile course. Much to my surprise I've biked some segments of this course already. So for instance, the first three miles are up hill. That's not even an exaggeration, it's a three mile climb. Since I've done this before I know it's not a super taxing climb, so I know I can not worry about that. After those three miles it's basically rolling hills, and then the last three miles are essentially downhill.<br />
<br />
The run is a lollipop that loops at the top of a hill. So it's 1 mile up, l mile loop, 1 mile downhill. I have heard the hill isn't killer, it's just long. Though if my math is right it's a 3.5% grade. So who knows. Besides getting up the hill, I'm actually wondering how coming down will feel. I, for whatever reason, don't like running down hills. It feels quite jarring on my knees.<br />
<h4>
Goals</h4>
My overall goal is to have fun. If you go back and look at the my last four weeks of activities this will be my fifth race-pace effort. It's a lot of fun, so I'm going to keep the good times rolling!<br />
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Pace</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Swim</th><td>7:30</td><td>1:25 per 100 yards</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bike</th><td>48:00</td><td>20.5 miles/hour</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Run</th><td>26:00</td><td>8:30 mins/mile</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Total</th><td>1:25</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
First, that's the criteria for registering Elite. The difference would be that I would start in wave format instead of time-trial and I get to pick an end-of-rack space for my transition area. After that, based on last year's results that would land me in the top 20% overall and top 15 in my age group.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px;">
Side note - I'm always a little surprised how much faster small races seem than large races. If I had to guess I'd say that larger races usually have longer distances and the faster racers move to longer distances to give them more time to focus on their specialty. For example, since I'm a strong swimmer, if I can pick up 15 seconds over a .25 mile swim, I'd probably be able to pick up several minutes over a half iron swim. For swimmers that's bad logic to follow though because then the strong runner who can make up 45 seconds per mile on me then gets 10 more chances to build gap on the same race. So I get maybe two minutes, he gets 8.</div>
<br />
1:25 should be ok, though honestly the last two times I tried to swim I topped out at 2k yards, I think I'm battling an inner ear thing that makes all the motion of swimming start to wear on me. <br />
<br />
20.5 should be doable, the three miles up-hill I think will be a little slow, but I've done this before and it's not terribly taxing, and then when coming back down that will be fast. Headwind down hill might dig into it a little.<br />
<br />
8:30 - The plan here is to try not to worry about the hill; trust people who say it "isn't that that bad." Also, I'm going to try to use my watch to push myself. I looked at my splits from lifetime, and what I saw was that during the middle mile I slowed down a lot and then sped up again for the last mile. I wondered if I was just day-dreaming. Which seems silly, but it's possible.<br />
<br />
I put down four minutes for transition. Hard to say.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Closing Comments</h4>
We got through our four day heat wave, I was out today and it's pretty comfortable. Tomorrow should be a great day for a race. I'm looking forward to a fun time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-89746792438131500752013-07-15T15:32:00.003-05:002013-07-15T15:32:49.926-05:00Minneapolis Tri : Getting CaughtLast year when I won my AG at<a href="http://couchtowhatever.blogspot.com/2012/08/race-review-maple-grove-sprint-triathlon.html" target="_blank"> Maple Grove</a>, I looked back at the times and noticed that basically I came out of the water just far enough ahead to hold off the hoard. For this race when I looked at the results I wondered, when did these people catch me?<br />
<br />
So here's my look at it - I just tracked the top 10 finishers. Also, for the sake of clarity, I am wording this as if we had a mass start. The reality is that we did not start at the same time, so there are people who finished ahead of me in the results, but actually crossed the finish line after me.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Swim</h4>
I exit out in front by 14 seconds. I know I am ahead because I didn't see any black caps in front of me.<br />
<br />
<h4>
T1</h4>
I have the 7th fastest T1<br />
I exit T1 10 seconds behind someone, and 23 seconds ahead of the next guy.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Bike</h4>
I have the 3rd fasted bike split.<br />
I'm 1:52 behind the guy in first. and 1:16 ahead of the guy in 3rd<br />
<br />
<h4>
T2</h4>
9th fastest.<br />
I'm 1:58 behind the guy in first and 37ahead of the guy in 3rd<br />
<br />
<h4>
Run</h4>
I have the slowest run leg by 2:11. That means that every single person put at least 42 seconds PER MILE into me.<br />
<br />
Here are the standings heading into the run<br />
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Bib</th><th>Time back</th></tr>
<tr><td>3837</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Me</td><td>1:58</td></tr>
<tr><td>3844</td><td>2:35</td></tr>
<tr><td>3817</td><td>3:10</td></tr>
<tr><td>3809</td><td>5:28</td></tr>
<tr><td>3840</td><td>5:42</td></tr>
<tr><td>3812</td><td>5:44</td></tr>
<tr><td>3835</td><td>6:12</td></tr>
<tr><td>3794</td><td>6:26</td></tr>
<tr><td>3830</td><td>9:19</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So here's the interesting part to me. When did these guys "pass" me. Some of them literally passed me, a few did not. Take a look at that list, I end up in the 8th position. That means that people who are 4+ minutes behind me make up all of that over the course of a 5k. Here's a rough estimation of when all this went down. For the sake of ease, I'll just assume a relatively flat pace, which probably isn't accurate - but this does reflect actual results. I end up in 8th with about 1/10th of a mile to go, and the two guys not listed end up less than 1/10 of a mile behind me.<br />
<br />
0.4 miles 3844 runs past - I'm in third<br />
1.6 miles 3817 runs past - fourth<br />
2.3 miles 3840 runs past - fifth<br />
2.7 miles 3830 runs past - sixth<br />
2.8 miles 3835 runs past - seventh<br />
2.9 miles 3809 runs past - eighth<br />
<br />
<h4>
Thoughts</h4>
Transition time is interesting, if I could have dropped 35 seconds over two transitions I would have been 5th, like last year. Dropping 35 seconds gives me an average time in transition.<br />
<br />
If I could have mustered 8:40's instead of 9's I would have finished fourth. 8:40 still has me with the slowest run split by a full minute.<br />
<br />
If I could do both I would have been third.<br />
<br />
Actually after writing this, it was helpful to look at the entire race. Do I need to work on the run? Probably, but I could also use to work on transition too. One of the things that struck me when I was watching the pro men race is that they came out of the water in a clump, and Cam Dye (the eventual winner) ran past 3 people in transition.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412250558203886196.post-89792616498289753092013-07-15T02:04:00.000-05:002013-07-15T02:04:01.760-05:00Race review : Minneapolis Tri<div dir="ltr">
I did this race for the first time last year, and I liked it. It's a fairly fast race and was my first sort of high placing finish, so I was happy to go back.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Packet Pickup</h4>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Last year the expo was in the Minneapolis convention center. It had a feeling of "big" to it, overall it was fine. This year, the expo was at the race site. I decided to head over Friday afternoon over my lunch break at work.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It was a standard big race setup, show your ID, get a packet, walk somewhere else get your chip, walk somewhere else get some more stuff, walk somewhere else get the shirt. Leave. I did meander around the expo a little (because packets were at one and and shirts were at the other.) Overall, pretty decent, it reminded me of Rev 3. I'll go ahead and say I like this approach better than last year's.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YzNoNNL9LK0/UeN_JbYBs2I/AAAAAAAAB-M/Vjyi06Q83Fs/s1600/20130712_113202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YzNoNNL9LK0/UeN_JbYBs2I/AAAAAAAAB-M/Vjyi06Q83Fs/s320/20130712_113202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a fantastic shot of people descending on the packet pickup site. Actually it's terrible.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZrZRhiC2Tc/UeN_JVi0XFI/AAAAAAAAB-M/xA0KTxA4p1M/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZrZRhiC2Tc/UeN_JVi0XFI/AAAAAAAAB-M/xA0KTxA4p1M/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manually cropped shot, this doesn't really do it justice, but basically I looked around and looked like people of the corn all headed to the same spot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7NumsuUSDc/UeN_Jf_cbaI/AAAAAAAAB-M/SRnefw4P1Tc/s1600/20130712_113848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7NumsuUSDc/UeN_Jf_cbaI/AAAAAAAAB-M/SRnefw4P1Tc/s320/20130712_113848.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The people who make the Stider bikes were there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XWjSDWluwc/UeN_Jd1apZI/AAAAAAAAB-M/luwS9-ECEwo/s1600/20130712_113840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XWjSDWluwc/UeN_Jd1apZI/AAAAAAAAB-M/luwS9-ECEwo/s320/20130712_113840.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had a little course you could ride and get a ribbon at the end. I'm sure this would have been fun for our kids, or at least one of them. More on that later.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
I headed back to work and finished up the day there, went home did some family swimming time and then started to get ready for the race. At this point I am starting to wonder if I'm going to make it to the race. I had been feeling pretty junky for a day or so, and in the morning I didn't have enough energy to get through an hour swim workout. Basically I was tired and having tum-tum troubles (that's the official diagnosis from Jeremy Solt n.r.M.D.) I figured I'd make final call in the morning based on the night of sleep and how I'm feeling. Due to this decision, I also elect not to put on my helmet sticker or bike sticker.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<h4>
Race Morning</h4>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
4:05: Woken up because the house was shaking due to thunder - eh, back to sleep.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
4:15: Elect to snooze - it's now raining cats and dogs and lots of lightening, I'm thinking the race won't start on time. Hedging my bets.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
4:30: I check the weather, according to the weather app on my phone it will be over by 5:30, so I get started. I assess how I'm feeling. Not bad, but not 100%, I start to wonder if this is just nerves.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The drive over was nuts, I bet I didn't break 40. I couldn't see, there were puddles and flowing water on the highways. 5:30 came and went, still downpour and lightening. I send this tweet when I find a spot to park</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Transition closes in an hour. Im still in my car <a href="http://t.co/ecJ1rAR70J">pic.twitter.com/ecJ1rAR70J</a><br />
— Jeremy Solt (@couchtowhatever) <a href="https://twitter.com/couchtowhatever/statuses/355999878133989376">July 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I'm not getting out of my car just yet. Time to check the twitter sphere I see this</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hey Minneapolis, if you are on way to Lake Nokomis or at Lake Nokomis please stay in your car until the lightning passes. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mplstri&src=hash">#mplstri</a><br />
— Life Time Tri (@LifeTimeTri) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeTimeTri/statuses/355991355148861440">July 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Then this</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hey Minneapolis, please hold tight in your cars until we post on here and on Facebook. Thanks!<br />
— Life Time Tri (@LifeTimeTri) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeTimeTri/statuses/356009341016489984">July 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Then this</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Lightning is cleared, transition is now open. See you there!<br />
— Life Time Tri (@LifeTimeTri) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeTimeTri/statuses/356010155676151808">July 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
At this point its still raining, but I figure I'll head over. Hey; remember when I said I didn't put any stickers on in the comfort and low-humidity-atmosphere of my home? Well put this picture in your head. It's 70-ish degrees and raining and I'm standing in the rain trying to get sticker backs off of stickers without getting them wet and then stick them on things. This process takes ... roughly forever. After I get all that figured out I ride my bike over to the race site.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Like last year, rack space is assigned, so I find my spot, rack my bike and then ... stand there in the pouring rain wondering what to do next. I decided to head over and look for a place to do body marking, thankfully, that's inside a large tent. On the way over I walk through about 1/4 mile of what used to be grass but is now marshland. I noticed the little race-course for the striders from the day before. Under water. I get marked, notice the rain has let up some, and head back to my bike.<br />
<br />
At this point they turn the PA system on and make some announcements. First, transition will not be closing at 6:45; apparently some people thought that maybe they'd only open transition for 30 minutes. Secondly, parts of both the Olympic and sprint bike courses are under water. Oh and there was some more lightening, so nobody is on the water yet. So they say hold tight and safety is ... yadda yadda yadda, we'll let you know later.<br />
<br />
So I kinda mingle around, the rain is getting much lighter, and I chat it up with some people. Final set of announcements. The Olympic distance race is going to be a sprint, and transition closes in about an hour and a half. The rain lets up, I head back to the my bike and open my bag to find out that - much to my surprise - everything inside is dry! The rain lets up, and I set my stuff up. Over the next two and half hours or so I chat with various people, everyone seems in good spirits.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Swim</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vgYZHHlORc/UeOXUPyjgpI/AAAAAAAAB-s/U2jnYov1Mew/s1600/IMG_4500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vgYZHHlORc/UeOXUPyjgpI/AAAAAAAAB-s/U2jnYov1Mew/s320/IMG_4500.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race Support Team</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjHj1JDt7GQ/UeOXQTaPXxI/AAAAAAAAB-c/6Z4t99I8PoU/s1600/IMG_4501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjHj1JDt7GQ/UeOXQTaPXxI/AAAAAAAAB-c/6Z4t99I8PoU/s320/IMG_4501.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In line to start the swim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The water temp was announced at 79 degrees, for the uninitiated that is too warm to win awards if you choose to wear a wetsuit, and it probably a little warmer than most pools I swim in. I'm actually relieved, as I think it's hard enough to get in my wetsuit when I'm dry. Due to the late start, they kind of hurry through the time trial start, doing two people at a time instead of one. I see my wife and kids (who each badger me for a kiss, which is super cute) and off I go.<br />
<br />
My wave started after the friends and family wave, which is a wave for people who want a slightly less stressful race. I think they originally planned on giving them 10 minutes before the next wave after them went, I'm not sure that happened. The swim was fairly uneventful, I ran into a small waterblock of people at the only turn, and actually (much to my surprise) ran into a lifeguard who was crossing the lane of swimmers for a reason I didn't quite understand, she was chatting with some other lifeguard, and didn't look to be in lifesaving mode, so who knows.<br />
<br />
Overall the swim felt pretty good, not perfect, but decent. I passed what I believed to the be the last person in my wave with about a hundred yards to go, popped out of the water, gave my kids some high-fives and off to find my bike.<br />
<br />
I found my bike, confirmed that it looked like I was the first person back to my rack space, went to put some some socks... uh... this sock doesn't fit me. These must be my wife's... New plan, no socks. I make the ridiculously long run to the bike exit. Round the corner, and make a surprisingly long run to the mount line.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UcXN4qYwt8/UeOXQ_5bG1I/AAAAAAAAB-o/WZVSd4mzwuw/s1600/IMG_4502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UcXN4qYwt8/UeOXQ_5bG1I/AAAAAAAAB-o/WZVSd4mzwuw/s320/IMG_4502.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some slide action during the swim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5cztKFmADk/UeOXaEtbjJI/AAAAAAAAB-4/ir2Jb2tbq98/s1600/IMG_4506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5cztKFmADk/UeOXaEtbjJI/AAAAAAAAB-4/ir2Jb2tbq98/s320/IMG_4506.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little swinging too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rgDCqBt0_WU/UeOXcYwcqWI/AAAAAAAAB_A/8ENQ2KzHb-w/s1600/IMG_4507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rgDCqBt0_WU/UeOXcYwcqWI/AAAAAAAAB_A/8ENQ2KzHb-w/s320/IMG_4507.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting in on the swinging action</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9jTWkedxR4/UeOXhZXoDoI/AAAAAAAAB_M/cspjoyfcj0I/s1600/IMG_4508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9jTWkedxR4/UeOXhZXoDoI/AAAAAAAAB_M/cspjoyfcj0I/s320/IMG_4508.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out on the big bridge over the swim exit path. Just a few hours earlier that wood was wet and watching people navigate it was almost humorous</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Bike</h4>
Similar to last time, because the friends and family group was in front of me at the start, there was a lot of navigating rookie riders. That's all fine, I don't mind it, and it didn't last too long. About a half mile in I navigated a rough section, and then ... bobble ... off went my water bottle. While it was happening I actually thought I might be able to catch it, and I almost did. I watched it bounce into the grass and thought "well, I'm not supposed to leave it there, but then again if I stopped now all those rookie riders will likely crash right into me" so I didn't even slow down.<br />
<br />
Due to the rain storm, the bike course had been altered, since I didn't actually know the bike course that didn't have much impact on me since I probably wouldn't notice. What I did notice is that my watch beeped at 15 miles (advertised race distance) and I thought 'This is not the end...' It did seem to go on a while afterwards, I didn't pay attention to how much further it was, but it wasn't just a half mile.<br />
<br />
<br />
The bike went quite well, only one person passed me the entire time, though I did notice that he was in my age group. They even had a water stop, which was great, because I was not looking forward to trying to do this entire race using only water on the run course.<br />
<br />
I came rolling into transition, and came into what was the second part of the adjustment due bike course change. The bike in and bike out was the same place. So I run the entire way through the huge transition with my bike AGAIN. It seriously felt like forever. I also noticed that some people have finished the race and are sort of lingering in the transition area. Not in the way, but it caught me off guard. I get back to my spot fairly easily, put my shoes and running gear on and head out. The run exit had also been moved to the same place the swim entrance was. This was in an effort of equalize the transition area so people close to the bike entrance/exit were not also right by the run exit. What they didn't say was that the timing mat was still all the way to other end of transition. One more time, all together, I ran the full length of the transition area three times during this race :)<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Run</h4>
After what felt like the longest transition run ever, I got started. I felt fine pretty much right away, grabbed some Gatorade on the first water spot. Some guys came by me pretty quick, they weren't moving that fast so I figured I could stay with them; though I wasn't able to muster very much oomph. They weren't pulling away that fast though, so I figured at least they weren't running away with it.<br />
<br />
At this point in the race I figure I'm in second place in my age group. About a mile in the guy who was right next to me in transition passes me, he is moving pretty fast and while I do try to stay with him, he's running faster than I believe I can run. So now I'm third. At the half way point there is a turn around and I get a chance to see who's behind me, there are a few guys back there. I'm not feeling like death, but I'm also not feeling like I have much left in the tank, I try to turn up the gas a little bit. For the rest of the race I surge a few times to try to stay on plan, and about three more guys pass me. So I figure I'm in 6th as I head into the end.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Finish</h4>
Remember those guys who passed me in the beginning, they didn't get away. A guy who had ran past me a little bit ago was feeling pretty junky and fading fast. I tapped him on the shoulder with about 200 yards to go and said "let's pass those guys", they were about 50 feet ahead of us he got super stoked, we blew past them. As I was heading over to give my kids high fives on the way he said "I'm going to wait for you!" I waved him on and came in just behind him. Afterwards I congratulated him on a good finish and he snapped a picture of us.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PiKghgIegM/UeOXh7hFLiI/AAAAAAAAB_U/K5c1F0DwVgw/s1600/IMG_4518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PiKghgIegM/UeOXh7hFLiI/AAAAAAAAB_U/K5c1F0DwVgw/s320/IMG_4518.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guy in black was my finish line buddy. The two guys in white and red are the ones who ran past me at the start of the run. Also here you can see me sporting some nice chest action. I call that look "Collar bones and Sternum." Super hot, I know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I got my medal, some water and an iced towel (felt awesome!) and found my family.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2aWc20RnnA/UeOXiB1BmlI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/NtbO-h-a4E8/s1600/IMG_4519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2aWc20RnnA/UeOXiB1BmlI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/NtbO-h-a4E8/s320/IMG_4519.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post finish shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7HJNMJHisfk/UeOXiynrJFI/AAAAAAAAB_g/xgJY4oXfUc4/s1600/IMG_4520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7HJNMJHisfk/UeOXiynrJFI/AAAAAAAAB_g/xgJY4oXfUc4/s320/IMG_4520.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The four of us heading to get my results print out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Results</h4>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th></th><th>Goal</th><th>Actual</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Swim</th><td>6:00</td><td>6:23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bike</th><td>42:00</td><td>47:46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Run</th><td>24:00</td><td>28:18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Total</th><td>1:15</td><td>1:27:56</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Overall I'm satisfied with this race. The time doesn't really reflect it, but except for the run time I think this is represents a pretty solid effort.<br />
<br />
Swim: 23 seconds, isn't bad. I did get caught in traffic a few times. But that time is 3rd overall, and first in my AG.<br />
<br />
Bike: This time is deceptive, because the course wasn't 15 miles like it was last year, my watch had it closer to 16 3/4, based on some comments on Facebook that's what other people thought to. Had I known that I would have estimated closer to 49 minutes. So This time is pretty decent.<br />
<br />
Run: WAY OFF! I did not walk this time so that's a win, this pace is roughly 9 minutes per mile, which isn't much to sneeze at. But let's put it this way - in my age group here's the breakdown.<br />
Swim: 1st<br />
Bike: 3rd<br />
Run: 38th<br />
So the run doesn't really match up well with the rest of the effort.<br />
<br />
Transitions - usually I don't mention this but last year I only need 3 minutes total, this year it was almost 5 minutes. I checked the results, I wasn't the only one with these long transitions. The real difference was running the entire distance of the large transition area with your bike twice just takes a while.<br />
<br />
Overall: 8th in my AG, though it was fairly close. I was only one minute off the podium. Had I run my goal I would have come in four minutes earlier which would have landed me second. I know I can run that, I've just got to deliver.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Closing Thoughts</h4>
I think the race organizers adapted well to some pretty cruddy weather. There are some who are complaining that the communication was poor, but I actually think it was pretty good. Of the people I talked to at the race site, everyone was in good spirits and had a good time.<br />
<br />
I like this race, there is a great energy there. I DO NOT like the bike course, I don't know how people even drive on those roads. Yikes!<br />
<br />
When I was picking up my results print out with the kids, the lady handing out the results suggested that having them there made me faster, and that's actually kind of true. In all the pictures you see me smiling, and that's because it's awesome to see them cheering me on. On the same trip my oldest confided in me "You know, mom doesn't like this race. Actually she hates it, she never wants to come again." That's pretty much the same thing my wife said last year, the larger race is harder to navigate with the kids. But I appreciate it; so a special thanks to my wife and kids for coming out and supporting me. They are troopers!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WubNaE8ClAc/UeOXmiDiRUI/AAAAAAAAB_o/DbVBRX3Av_Y/s1600/IMG_4521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WubNaE8ClAc/UeOXmiDiRUI/AAAAAAAAB_o/DbVBRX3Av_Y/s320/IMG_4521.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350575176312031719noreply@blogger.com0