First Triathlon in almost 2 years!

Well, I'm still nursing some injuries including a pinched nerve in my neck and some type of turf toe but I had enough, it was time.  After bowing out of a duathlon and triathlon due to weather and costs I thought this is a make or break time for me.  If I didn't do this event it would be a downhill slide and I would keep making excuses to not do one.  I have only been in a lake about 3 times over the last two years so I new my swim was going to be weak.  I recently sold my tri-bike so this event was going to be done on my roady, the bike I built from the ground up with a Nashbar frame and 105.  I also bought some stability running shoes and a foot plate to help with the turf toe.  Going into this race I had no aspirations to win, I just wanted to embrace it, compete, and shake off some demons.  I wanted to keep the swim to around 10 to 12 min (I know, turtle speed) and not panic in the water.  For the bike I wanted to have a 15 MPH average and the run I wanted to keep a 10ish min mile.

I didn't have any nerves for the race like I have in the past, I don't now why.  Maybe with the pressure off to place it didn't cause anxiety?  Ann and I got to the event with a decent amount of time to get transition set up.  I registered, got marked and then found the place I wanted to be in transition.

The Olympic division started first so I had to wait a good 30 to 40 minutes for the sprint to start.  It was HOT!  I stayed in the shade until the last minute then put the wetsuit on and went into the lake to warm up.

It was our turn.  I didn't want to get hit and bumped too much so I lined up to the outside and went towards the back of our group.  The gun went off and I was off!  I got into a good groove early on.  By a few hundred feet in I started to overtake a few weaker swimmers but I was pulling to my right and getting in the "mix".  After getting kicked and hit some I readjusted and things cleared out a little.  I rounded the first buoy then the second and I was in the final stretches heading in.  As I came out I was quite winded, more than I used to be.  Ann yelled my time, "10 SOMETHING!!!" is all I heard.  I had to walk a little up the hill and to transition.

I dried off and got on the bike.  It took a few minutes for me to catch my breath.  I felt really good on the bike.  It was a 10 mile ride and the roads had a few small hills but nothing too bad.  I did drop the chain on one hill and lost about 20 or 30 seconds getting it back on.  When I got to about a mile from T2 I started to spin more and stretch my calves and hammies.  I knew they were tight.  Did I push too hard on the bike?  In the end, I wound up averaging 17 MPH on the bike, MUCH better than I anticipated.  I dismounted and everything locked up in the back of my legs.

After walking through T2 I started out on my 3.1 mile run.  The first half mile is usually a little rough for me and this was no exception.  I was tight and having issues.  I had to stop and rub my hamstrings and calves.  As I kept going I did something I never have done before.....I walked.  For whatever reason I hit a wall.  I wound up running a few hundred yards then walking a few hundred yards.  By the time of the turnaround my quads were cramping.  This was NOT the run I was hoping for, even with turf toe!  I resigned myself to "embracing the suck" and simply chalking it up to lack of training and prep.  I tried to simply enjoy it realizing this was something I hadn't done in quite some time. As I came in to the finish line I was hurting, out a energy and bonking, BUT I DID IT!

  

Overall, I did Ok.  I felt really good about my swim and bike!  As expected, I didn't win anything and came in 6th out of 8 in my age group.  Now that the dust has settled, my only thought is "when's the next race?"  LOL!

Moving!

It's been a crazy couple months.  I received a job offer I couldn't refuse in Minnesota, so that turned Chris and my world upside down quite a bit!  It was a great opportunity for me to do what I love and the area is BEAUTIFUL!  The bluffs and river are scenic and the city of about 30,000 offers enough for us to do but is still small enough to not be too chaotic.  It's great to be able to get everywhere in 5 minutes too!  There are trails around the lake, other hiking trails, a YMCA, running clubs and all sorts of activities that we can do to help maintain a healthy lifestyle!  There's even a triathlon right here in June!  Here's a few photos of the area....enjoy!

Ann

New running shoes!

I needed a new pair of running shoes so I thought I would give the Hoka's a try since Chris loves his soooo much!  Got a great deal on them since they were last years model.  Also ordered some "Speed Laces" with Zero Friction guides.  Now we just need some better weather!

Ann

New Personal Record on leg press!

What started out as a slow workout ended awesome with me hitting the 700 pound mark on leg press for 6 reps!  So stoked!

Ann

Rehabbing herniated disc-Update

Well, I'm about 11 weeks post herniated disc, L5/S1. Didn't have much relief until I received an epidural 5 weeks ago. Shooting pain down the leg and calf almost gone but my back and hip still get sore. Since the shot and initial improvement following it I have seen a little improvement but nothing earth shattering. Slightly concerned that I'm approaching the 3 month mark and don't feel anywhere near healed. Haven't been able to do much other than light walking on the treadmill and some swimming with a swim buoy between the legs. Hoping this doesn't drag out 4, 5, 6 months and they say "let's operate". It would end my season. As it is I wanted to do a 70.3 and thinking that may be a long shot at this moment since I would need to start training around mid Feb or by the first of March. Trying to keep perspective of things saying to myself it's ok if I have to stick to sprints or maybe a late season Oly vs. not doing anything this year. Also doing some hanging on the inversion table to see if that helps!

Thoughts on the 2013 Race Season......

This year has been one of ups and downs. I certainly did not achieve all of my goals, but that gives me something to shoot for next year.

First the downs. I found training very difficult this year. Between the winter that refused to leave, an extremely intense work schedule and injuries, it has been a mental as well as a physical challenge to keep going. Ending the year with a stress fracture of my foot would certainly bring anyone down and there were days that I have questioned if I want to keep doing this after I heal.

Which leads me to the positives. Throughout all of the frustrations, I DID keep training. I ran, I biked faster than I ever had before and I swam further and longer than I ever had before. I did the last tri of the year in the fastest time that I ever had....with a broken foot! How cool is that! Will I do this again next year when my foot is healed? DAMN RIGHT I WILL!!!  It is by overcoming the obstacles that are in our path that we prove to ourselves who we really are, and by simply getting up off the couch and moving, I am already a winner, even if I finish dead last.

Races:

2 5K's
1 Duathlon
2 Sprint Tris

Ann


As Ann said, it's been a year of ups and downs.  After recovering all last winter from rotator cuff surgery and a winter that would never end, I was anxious to get outside and start training.  The spring stayed cold and wet but I did my best to get out and train.

My first race of the year was a 5K.  My time was horrible which early season races always are for me but for whatever reason I podiumed!  My second 5K in early May was a little better time wise and for the second time I podiumed!  Ann and I did a Duathlon towards the end of May and it was a decent start to tri season with a good first run and decent bike.  Second run was a little rough.

The first tri of the year was a sprint race in the rain.  For whatever reason I panicked on the swim which never happened before.  I managed to pull it together and have a good bike and decent run.  The second sprint race I had some redemption having a great swim, and a good overall time.  Third sprint race was a small event.  My head wasn't in it and once again, I had a bad swim and struggled. I was frustrated.  Wanting to up the challenge, I did my first olympic distance tri in September.  Had a good overall race and was thrilled to end the season on a high note!  Currently I am dealing with a back/hip problem since the oly tri that's prevented me from running or biking and frankly it frustrating  I have however been able to get back in the gym and do some lifting.

Goals for the winter and into 2014 is to burn some fat off and lose about 10 pounds.  I feel better racing at a lower weight.  I need to do more "dreadmill" work over the winter and I plan on hiring a swim coach.  My swimming needs more work.  If all goes well and I can stay injury free, I plan on doing my first half ironman next summer, maybe Racine?  

Races:

Two 5Ks
1 Duathlon
3 Sprint Tris
1 Oly Tri

Chris

Last Chance Tri - White Bear Lake, MN

Well, the season is closing fast but Ann and I wer able to find a tri relatively close to do.  I have wanted to do a long distance/oly race all year but timing was bad.  This was my last chance.  I signed up for the long distance and Ann did the sprint distance.  The long course a little shorter on the swim portion at 1/2 mile but the bike was a 27+ mile ride and the run was a 10K.

Stayed at the in-laws the night before which was about an hour and a half away from the event.  Woke up that morning around 4AM and it was raining pretty good, uggggg.  I had to battle the demons in my head that were telling me how easy it would be to go back to bed and forget it.  Woke ann up and we got ready for the drive in the rain and dark.  Brought oatmeal with us to eat in the car since the race didn't start until 8:45 for myself and a little after 9 for Ann.  Left the house at a little after 5:30.

Got to the  As we got closer, the rain ended....Horray!  Got to the site and registered, got our numbers and proceeded to try and find a spot for our bikes.  People were using way too much space to rack their bikes bt we were able to find a spot across from each other.  We proceeded to get ready first me helping Ann get into her wetsuit and then vise verse.  AsI put my suit tore around my forearm! NOT GOOD!  It was about a 2 inch tear.  I hoped it would last through the race.  I haven't been too happy with this suit but I'll save that report for another time.  We walked about 1/4 mile down to the start and did some warmups in the water.

Race start:  
Swim - There was about 68 entries for the long course and 3 waves.  I was in wave 2.  The horn went off and I was off!  I had a game plan this time.....don't go too hard out, stay a little to the outside to avoid contact.  I had very little contact, maybe one or two people at first.  The first buoy came up pretty fast.  As I rounded the buoy my siting was off because the next buoy was at the next corner.  They REALLY needed more buoys!  I started to go too wide and at one point I stopped to see where I was and I went off course a good 75 feet or so too wide which wasted time.  Got back on track,rounded the second buoy and sited for shore.  they did have one of those huge, tall yellow blown men with arms at shore which made it much easier to site.  I got seemed like I was making time and the next thing I knew my hand hit sand.  As I stood up I looked at the watch, a tad over 20 min.  Damn!  If I didn't go off course I could have came in under 20 which for me would have been good!  The run up to T1 was muddy and slippery. Time: 20:26 

T1 - Had what I thought was a decent T1 time.  Got a little fuzzy with getting the helmet on but overall went well.  Time 1:48

Bike - Here's where I thought I would do quite well.  The Bike is my strongest of the three events ( again, not saying much...LOL!) The game plan was to go easy the first 8 miles or so because there was a good headwind out of the NorthEast.  I took off and for whatever reason couldn't get my dang foot into the shoe!  At one point I started to slow down and I had to peddle only to have the shoe hit the pavement.  I almost had to stop but recovered and went on.  I was right....STRONG headwind.  I hunkered down and when I looked at the speedo it read 17MPH a lot.  I had some people pass me but not many.  As I rounded pass mile 8 I felt it change to a cross wind.  Around mile 11 I got the tail wind and took off!  Over the next 5 to 8 miles I was well over 20MPH and often in the 24 to 26 range.  Hydration was going well taking in fluids when needed.  Around mile 22 the roads turned to complete CRAP!  Potholes, seems with tar coming out, even a dead porcupine in one of the potholes!  I thought I flatted twice during this 4 mile stretch but thankfully I didn't.  As I got closer to town the traffic got bad.  About a 1/2 mile to 1 mile out the police had traffic stopped and you had to ride i the bike lane and couldn't pass anyone.  Came into transition and looked at the speedo.  I think it read about 18.5 average.  Time per event said like 17.9.  Total bike time  1:30:12

T2 - Pretty good T2.  Racked the bike, at down to put shoes on.  Had a little problem loading gels in the back pocket.  Time 1:51

Run -  I was hoping I didn't go too hard on the bike and blow my run up.  Starting out I felt pretty good but quickly notices my lower quads were cramping up a bit.  I had a goal of keeping my pace at about a 9:30 mile or less.  Around mile 1 I met up with Ann.  I stopped for a couple seconds to wish herluck and ask how her IT band was feeling.  We kisses and as I strted to run off someone from behind joked "None of that on the course now!"  We laughed and I yelled back "I have no clue who she is, I just met her!"  That got some laughs.....The quad cramps were holding in check but I still needed to be careful.  The course was motly paved but there was a small stretch of city sidewalk with recessed driveways and curb you had to watch out for.  Seemed like the turnaround took forever!  Trying to be proactive I sucked down a gel packet at the turnaround to prevent a bonk.  Around mile 5.5 my heel started to feel "hot" or maybe like I had a blister forming.  I stopped and took my how off which helped.  Finally saw the finish line and there was Ann video taping me as I came in!   Time:  59:41, pace 9:37

I had two sets of goals.....My pie in the sky time (around 2:35 and the "I really suck" time that I wanted to be under 2:58).  I finished in 2:53:55 so no, not great but stil 4+ minutes under my bottom threshold. For my first long course race I will take it!  Ann had a good race too finishing in 2:01:16!  I NEEDED this race badly.  I had 2 so-so sprint races this year and one good one.  I needed to do a long course to see where I am and to know what I need to do for next year as I shoot for a HIM.  I NEEDED to have agood race to finish off the year on a high note and I think I accomplished that.

Chris

 

Bear Cupboard 5K

RACE DAY!  Ann's been very motivated and a couple days ago said...."Let's do this!"  We've been upping our workouts and runs so I thought it would be a good precursor to next weeks triathlon.  We arrived, stretched, warmed up, and were ready to go!  I kissed Ann and waited for the horn.  I took off and had good pacing going.  The first mile I was flying (at least for me!) at around the low to mid 7 min mile range.  Mile 2 took me down to around a 7:45 pace and in the third mile I fell to an 8 min plus pace.  I finished at 7:56 per mile pace for a total time of 24:37.  Sad part was I missd the podium by 27 seconds.  I waited for Ann and was hoping he training was going to pay off.  Time went by......Ifinally saw her and after she crossed she said she tripped on a board on the trestle that goes over the lake and fell brusing ans skinning her knee pretty bad.  I took her to the first aid station and they iced it.  Now it's rehab time for Ann and she hopes she can race next weekend.

Swim Training day!

Well, the weather is finally cooperating a little and it turned out to be a nice day for a swim.  Time still isn't coming down much but we have been working on form.

South Wood County Triathlon Race Report

Well, I FINALLY was able to get the first tri of the year in. This is a very nice small event with around 150 entries.  I haven't done a tri in the rain before and I really didn't want to do this one in the rain.  Forecast didn't look good.  That morning I decided to drive down and do it regardless.  The drive was about 2.5 hours but we got here in plenty of time.  I registered, set up my transition area and was feeling really good about things.  It started to rain more but I was now committed.

With about 30 min before race start I got my wetsuit on and did some warmups in the water.  My wave was 4th so I was able to gauge things and see how people were doing.  I remember thinking "that doesn't look like a1/4 mile swim....".  My wave's turn came up.  The horn sounded and I was off.   I was in a really good groove, swimming with the pack about in the middle. At a certain point I thought "this is easy!"  At that point I looked up and realized a only went about 1/4 to 1/3rd the way!  At that point, I looked down the lake to where the turnaround was and it felt like Mt. Everst to me.  I struggled, couldn't get my form right, couldn't breate right and even had to stop and take breaks.  It was a complete mental breakdown!  i finally put enough of an effort in to make it back to shore.  I wasn't the last in my wave but close.  It felt like 15 minutes went by.  I came out of the lake, ran up the hill to T1.

By now it apparently was raining pretty good but I honestly don't remember it raining at all.  Was I in a zone or just exhausted and mad at myself over the swim.  Who knows. I mounted my bike and took off.  I knew I had time to make up so I pushed it.  The course was flat so I knew I didn't need to worry about hills.  I was passing people like they were standing still.  My goal....don't get passed and pass everyone!  It seemed like I did.  I was even pasing guys on very expensive bikes with disc wheels.  It's a great feeling blowing by someone that has spent 3 or 4 times what you have on their equipement!  By about halfway through the bike the rain ended.  So in the end I think I passed roughly 0 people and was never passed once!  As I came into T2, I went to dismont and my entire right hamstring and calf locked up!  I haven't had this happen in a while.  Poor bike fit or did I push it too much?  Hobbled over to the rack and got shoes on.

As I headed out of T2 I had to take it easy since I was on the verge of cramping.  After about a 1/4 mile things got easier and I was able to run halfway decently.  I had a couple guys go by me that I knew were in my division.  The run was pretty good, good heart rate, not cramping but my time wasn't as fast as I wanted.  I paced a guy almost the entire run and about 2/10ths of a mile left he started to slow down. As I came up on him he saw me and put the turbos on.  I wan't going to beat him today.  I came in and felt pretty good until I had to stop to give them my chip, then the leg cramps came back.  Walked around a bit, ate and congratulated another guy in my division who came in ahead of me.  I wound up 11th out of 16 in my division, 63rd out of 147 overall.  The one good thing out of it was I ranked 30th overall in the bike.

It was a well run event and I will do it again!  I have 3 weeks now to get watever mind games happened on the swim behind me.  More water time should solve that.

Setting up transition

Swim start

T1

Leaving T1

Coming into T2 and cramping

Coming in!

results

Hoka Bondi B shoe review

Well, I wanted to see what all the hype was about regarding the Hoka Bondi B2 shoes.  I’ve done the research, read others reports and was curious if they are really that good compared to some of my trusty running shoes. 

Over the past two years my “go to” shoe has been the Asics Gel Nimbus 13.  This is a nicely cushioned shoe but also has a tall heel stack at around 12mm.  After going to a run clinic this spring I realized I’m a classic heel striker.  My initial response was I wanted a shoe with less stack between the toe and heel.  I settled on a pair of Saucony Ride 5’s.  I liked the weight of them; the wide toe box and they had a heel stack of 8mm.  I went on a couple runs and did a 5K in them.  I was shocked at how much more beat up my body felt after running in these compared to my Gel Nimbus!  I was upset that this experiment was a failure so I went back to my Gel Nimbus’s until the Hoka’s came in the mail.

Saucony Ride 5 weight 10.6oz

Asics Gel Nimbus 13 weight 10.4oz

Hoka Bondi 2 weight 11.1oz

 Now depending on where you buy them, Hoka has a 60-day no question asked return policy!  Pricing is a little higher than a standard running shoe.  I paid around $120 for both my Gel Nimbus and the Ride 5’s, the Hoka’s were about $150.00 but with the return policy I figured what’s to lose!  They showed up in the mail, I quickly put them on and took off!  I was AMAZED at how these things felt!  It was like running on pillows.  Some believe the height of the show makes them more unstable compared to a standard shoe, but that’s not the case because the overall footprint of the show is larger making the shoe very stable.  Some argue they like to “feel” the ground and pavement but I think there is still enough “feeling” to know when you are uneven surfaces, gravel, etc.  The toe to heel stack is also lower, coming in at around 4mm to 5mm.  They put more cushioning in the midfoot of the show and the heel is “rockered” allowing for a more seamless transition from planting to take off.   

Ride 5 on Left and Hoka on Right

Gel Nimbus on Left and Hoka on Right

Notice the larger footprint of the
Hoka over the Ride 5

Gel Nimbus footprint vs. Hoka

Notice the "Rockered" heel of the Hoka vs.
a more standard running shoe

I have now put some good runs in on these from a duathlon race to a 10K and my body doesn't feel as beat up as in the past.  I don't think they are any “faster” of a shoe than my previous ones but I did have a very good first run in my duathlon and PR’d.  I have no idea if the shoes helped or not.  If I have any criticism of the shoes I would say that my feet get a tad warmer in them but not much.  Overall I think this may be the future of running shoes.

Chris

Journeys Marathon 5K Race

Well, my second race f the season is under my belt and Ann's first.  The weather was HORRIBLE with temps in the 40's, cloudy and bone chilling wind.  I don't know why I look to doing this race every year but nonetheless we needed to do it to get more race time under our belts.  I felt better about this race compared to the one I did 2 weeks prior.  I did have a tendon on the top of my foot acting up and thought it may be a problem but it didn't cause too many issues.  The gun went off and we took off.  My first mile I felt good and my time was looking good, in the mid 7 min per mile range.  As I got into mile 2 I could feel some asthma kicking in so I had to really concentrate on my deep breathing.  My time lipped a little to upper 8's low 9's per mile.  By mile three I was feeling a little better and getting more into my groove which is what typically happens in a race for me.  I could tell my endurance is still down compared to last year.  I came in and didn't like the time but they had me clocked a little better, a 8:35 mile.  I waited for Ann to come in and she did well considering it was her first race of the year.  I looked at the unofficial times for us and saw I was 48th in a field of around 300 but didn't think I would podium so we left since it was just too cold to hang around.  Yesterday I looked online at the results and wouldn't you know it....I came in second AGAIN in my age bracket!  Damn!  I wish we would have stayed now!  Oh well.

Chest Workout Day!

Had a great chest workout today! Since Chris's rotator cuff surgery, I can't do normal free bar bench presses, so I have to do them on the Smith Machine.  On my 4th set I was able to hit 120 pounds!  

Ann 

Swim Training

Had an opportunity to get to the pool to start training on my swim.  It's only been the second time I've been in a pool since September 1st so I felt the workout went pretty well considering.  I'm trying to get better form and become more streamline so if I have to do an event without a wetsuit I don't freak out.  After the holidays I will be hiring a swim coach to try and help me even more.  My goal is to get in the pool at least every other week if not every week.  The pool is about 30 min away which makes it difficult sometimes to get to.As you can see, my feet tend to go wide when I rotate and my arms are too wide through the stroke.

Ann

Great Leg day!

Getting back into the lifting and yesterday felt great!  I did multiple exercises including close in leg presses, Sumo Leg presses, Lunges, calf press.  Here was my last set of Sumo Leg presses and after multiple sets I worked up to 540 pounds with just the plates, that's 12 total plates!  I was able to do 8 reps!  

Ann

Triathlon Season coming to an end.....

Well, the weather has changed and it's getting cold.  Events are pretty much done for the year and all that's left is hoping for a few nice days to get outside and train before the snow flies.  It's been an "interesting" year for us.  Ann came on like gang busters and after doing a duathlon and a couple running events she finished the season doing 2 triathlons within one week of each other!  I have been nagged by injuries all year starting with a weightlifting injury back in February that hampered my lifting all year then a hip flexor issue that prevented me from doing any half or full marathons and then an accident that messed up my shoulder.  I ended up completing a duathlon, 3 triathlons, 2 running events and a swim event.  My times were very good, completing races faster than I anticipated.  Were I fell short was moving up in the ranks to longer triathlons.  I'm hoping to get my shoulder issue resolved one way or another so I can begin a strict and intense off season routine that will get me to the next level.    

Second Triathlon in 1 week!

Well, I loved doing my first one and Chris found this one relatively close to home so I thought I'd give it a "tri".  LOL!  This was a sprint Triathlon down in the Shawano area.  It consisted of a 1/4 mile swim, a 16.6 mile bike and a 3.5 mile run.  The event was fun, laid back and well organized.  The bike route was redone due to some road construction and had a number of hills and was more challenging than the old course from what we were told.  I felt great on the swim my timing was pretty good!  The bike was was challenging as I said before, with numerous hills.  I averaged just under 15 MPH.  I got off the bike and felt pretty good going into the run.  It was supposed to be a 3.5 mile run but I think it was closer to 4 miles.  The last mile got me.....I started fading and having a hard time with my breathing.  All in all I had fun, and it was a nice addition to my first tri I did the Sunday prior! 

Ann's racing bike is done!

Put new 10 speed shifters, new cassette, new chain, new rear derailleur in additin to the already upgraded 105 compact crank, racing rims and tires.  All 105 or higher end components.  Only thing left that's original is the frame, fork and seatpost.  Should really help Ann in her time in races!