This guy shows what class act he is, as he talks about the possibility of being at the end of his career.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
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
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
Friday, September 20, 2013
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
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
Monday, September 2, 2013
Springstead Triathlon
This race report is coming late but better late than never! This sprint tri took place on Aug 11th up in Springstead, WI located between Mercer and Park Falls. It's a small but well run event. I had Rev3 in the Dells penciled in but between cost and doing some rehab on my In-Laws house the couple days before we felttoo beat up to go to the Dells. The race consisted of a 1/4 mile swim, 16 mile bike and a 5K. We were there in plenty of time but for whatever reason got rushed at the last second and didn't get a chance to warm up. We quickly got our wetsuits on and went to the lake. The horn went off and we were off! I had some good pacing to start off and quickly saw the 1/4 mark buoy. I was feeling good! I rounded the end boat to head back and then for whatever reason I stated to get winded as I did in my first tri of the year. the rst of the way back I struggled. UGGGG, not his again! I exited the water and got on the bike. The roads were ok to start out with and I had a good tail wind. I was averaging about 22MPH on the bike. As I got to about mile 5 or so I had to turn onto a side road that was anything but good surface. Aseries of blacktop heaves caused me to be careful and spent too much time out of aero. On the way back I had a good head wing hitting me and was seing 18 to 19 MPH on the speedo. Ended the bike averaging 20.3 MPH so I'll take t. Got off the bike and started the run. Was feeling good! Garmin was showing about a 8:30 pace. Bugs were starting to get me on the way back and I got a little distracted with that and the heat. I started to feel a "bonk" at around 2.5 miles and plugged ahead never stopping. Craossed the finish lin in 1:30:31, not my best time. Timing was a start and end only so I don't really know what my swim or T1/T2 was. Looking at the results it appears I came in about 4th overall. Not my best race of the year but did it to keep the practice up.
Chris
Chris
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Tri-ing for Children's Triathlon - Sprint Course
Second sprint triathlon of the year and I needed some redemption from the last tri where I didn't do too well. I thought about doing the olympic distance but training wasn't the best and had those demons in my head so Ann convinced me to do the sprint and do it well.
Woke up about 4AM, had some coffee and got ready. Ate oatmeal in the car on the way to the event.
Had a lot of time after setup to watch the oly waves go out, roughly about 30 minutes. Gave me time to settle in and warm up.
Swim 1/4 mile
One of my best swims ever! Breathing was good was able to draft a little and before I knew it I was rounding buoys! As I rounded the last one I got caught up in the wave ahead of mine and got a little turned around. I figure I wasted maybe 15 seconds getting my bearings straight. When I exited the water my wife Ann told me I was 7:45 on time which was over a minute faster than normal. The mat to clock time was up a ways on shore so that's how I got the 8:18 time.
T1 - 2:15
For whatever reason I completely spaced out once I got my suit off. My transition area was in dirt and sand and I was trying to figure out how to get the sand off and get bike shoes on.
Bike - 15 miles, 44:28 min, 20.12 MPH
Took a while to get going fast. Felt like I was in a headwind the first half of the bike. I only averaged around 19MPH on this stretch. Second half I was flying (at least for me) doing 21 to 22 MPH.
T2 - 1:20
Better and hamstrings didn't lock up up last time.
Run 5K - 25:56 min, 8:12 pace
Felt pretty good. Didn't cramp coming off the bike and after settling in I was able to maintain a nice pace.
Finished strong and wasn't as exhausted as I was last time. MUCH better race than my last one!
Chris
Woke up about 4AM, had some coffee and got ready. Ate oatmeal in the car on the way to the event.
Had a lot of time after setup to watch the oly waves go out, roughly about 30 minutes. Gave me time to settle in and warm up.
Swim 1/4 mile
One of my best swims ever! Breathing was good was able to draft a little and before I knew it I was rounding buoys! As I rounded the last one I got caught up in the wave ahead of mine and got a little turned around. I figure I wasted maybe 15 seconds getting my bearings straight. When I exited the water my wife Ann told me I was 7:45 on time which was over a minute faster than normal. The mat to clock time was up a ways on shore so that's how I got the 8:18 time.
T1 - 2:15
For whatever reason I completely spaced out once I got my suit off. My transition area was in dirt and sand and I was trying to figure out how to get the sand off and get bike shoes on.
Bike - 15 miles, 44:28 min, 20.12 MPH
Took a while to get going fast. Felt like I was in a headwind the first half of the bike. I only averaged around 19MPH on this stretch. Second half I was flying (at least for me) doing 21 to 22 MPH.
T2 - 1:20
Better and hamstrings didn't lock up up last time.
Run 5K - 25:56 min, 8:12 pace
Felt pretty good. Didn't cramp coming off the bike and after settling in I was able to maintain a nice pace.
Finished strong and wasn't as exhausted as I was last time. MUCH better race than my last one!
Chris
Saturday, July 20, 2013
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.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
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.
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