Sunday, September 26, 2010

Had a surprisingly good race yesterday. Finished 24th overall and 3rd in AG with a time of 1:23.45. A new PR by 15 seconds. Looking back through my training I really can't believe I ran that well. I tried to go into this race with no expectations but did want to run well. A difficult balance to achieve for sure. Started off relaxed and went out in 6:40. Then had a nagging blister on back of left heel and stopped at Mile 5 to grab a bandaid. It ended up not helping as my shoe was soaked in blood at the finish. Ran a 6:00 mile from 5-6 attempting to catch up with the pack I was in but then settled back into 6:25 pace. Mile 9 was tough with some sharp hills and lots of turns but going in from there the pace steadily picked up. Finished with 5:55 last mile and felt pretty good. I gave up a few seconds as there was a challenged walker finishing in front of me at the line and I didn't want to be the guy that sprints past a walker at the line. I was really amazed by teammate, Mark Miller, that ran a 1:22 after doing 2 Ironmans in the last month.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Tri Season is Over


I completed the inaugural SWAT tri at Chain O'Lakes State Park yesterday. I went in to it with mixed expectations. Not really expecting to do well with the lack of real bike training this last few months but hoping I might eek out something from the legs. It turned out the accumulation of miles over the last few years does help. I had a better than expected swim in which I believe I caught everyone from the wave ahead of me (4:00 seperation). Once on the bike I just kept telling myself to conserve yet push a little if that makes sense. The run was challenging due to the hills in the park. It was difficult to pick out the age groupers from the collegiate racers that were 15 min ahead and part of a seperate race. Plus the sprint and Olympic races were going on simultaneously. At one point I was pretty sure I was leading the race even with a 4 min cushion on a few guys that were in the wave behind. However there was a 20 year old age grouper that I must have mistaken for one of the collegiate racers. He beat me by :10 seconds. If I had known he was that close would I have been able to make up the time? Hard to say. Just another lesson to always go as hard as you can when racing with wave starts. Two second places this summer for not pushing hard enough at times. Aside from the racing it was a miserable day out with rain and cool temps. Big props out to my wife for coming out to support me. She hung out with Gavin and our newest addition to the family, Tucker.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Fatigue

It seems strange to be compaining about fatigue with what little training I've done. Maybe it's just the time of year? I think after this 1/2 marathon I'm going to actually take 2 weeks off completely. Of course I may change my mind completly tomorrow.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

A Fun Summer

Well it has been a poor training summer but it's been fun. I've stayed in shape and done some races all the while still placing well. Did 3 xterras and placed 1st or 2nd in AG in each. Almost won a first year sprint race that was basically local. (Got beat by a guy in the wave behind me that I'm not sure I could have beat heads up but wish I would of had the chance to see.) It's been so hot around here this summer that I have done very few outdoor rides. Without Ironman looming on the horizon there just didn't seem to be a reason to push through the heat. I did a local 5k yesterday that I won last year when I was peaking for IM. Yesterday I was caught in the last 1/2 mile by 2 youngsters and just couldn't make the move to go with them.
Started racing RC trucks indoors last winter and have done a few outdoor races this summer as well. Having fun rebuilding the track at a Mark's farm and driving/racing with his nephews. We've been getting onroad cars ready for the indoor season this year and it feels like a whole new hobby. Should be fun to see how we do this winter.
We didn't do any long or big vacations this year. We did a short trip to Cincinnati to see the zoo and aquarium in Newport,KY. Then went to the Indy zoo on the way home. De and I did a weekend away in Grand Rapids and Grandhaven,MI. We then swung by home to pick up Gavin and Kona for a few days with our friends at their lake house. We are planning some camping trips this fall hopefully at some good mountain biking locales.
Racing wise I have the Fort 4 Fitness Half-Marathon and an Olympic distance tri in the next 3 weeks then it's all up in the air. I've got the itch to do some cyclocross but no wheels and then I got a flyer about a short adventure race happening in FW that I may try and get my wife to do with me. Who knows????? As long as we have fun it's all good.