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.

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.

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.

Happy New Year

2009 is done and in the books. There is nothing I can do to change what did and did not happen. The best I can do is learn from my mistakes and try not to replicate them. Here is to looking forward and doing my best in every endeavor. Happy New Year!

Bowling

Oh yeah, Just to follow up on some non-endurance sports of mine. I rolled a new high score on my first trip bowling this season -- 265 --. I was quite happy but then reality came back into focus and followed up with a 132. Along those lines a big CONGRATULATIONS to my best friend Mark for rolling a 300 game at his league. Way to go bud.

HUFF 50k

Well it's been a really long time again. I'm still not getting the hang of this regular writing thing. My latest adventure was the HUFF 50k trail race yesterday. We had our first real snow of the season the night before so it was a true HUFF experience. Slippery and beautiful all in one. I did only 2 long runs going into this race a 20 miler last week and a 16 miler the week before that. My only goal for the race was to finish. I did that and actually had a very good race. This was my first ever race at marathon or longer distance that I was able to complete with no walking. Big thanks to PMAC a teammate from TriFort that ran with me. Just having him there was a big push to keep moving at some of the rough times. Once again my performance in the cold was good. I just wish I could get that to transfer to warmer races.
Results from yesterday: 4:52 21st overall and 4th in AG.

Post Ironman blues

Well things definately did not go as planned. I started puking at 60 miles and just couldn't pull it together. I avoided a trip to the med tent but never got past the 72 mile mark of the bike course. I didn't even feel like I was sweating on the bike. It started to get warm but I was just cruising and staying relaxed the whole time. Just after the special needs pick up I took a swig of the new bottle and it was even chilled still but the taste was off and it just set my stomach off. I sat at the aid station for 30 minutes in the shade but the thought of getting back to Madison and starting a marathon in that heat made me vomit again and start to get dizzy. The temps had gotten up to 87* I heard later and it sure felt like it. I really think I am done with Ironman until they put one in Antarctica. I'll stick to the Olympic distance that I am competitive at and throw in a few halfs as well. Maybe I can get to a sub 4:30 for a half-Iron???? As this week goes on it is getting easier to deal with another DNF but some times it still makes me cry. I just wish someone could tell me why it happens. The stomach issues not the crying.

Big props go out to the other guys in the club that finished the race. Especially to Jerry 3rd in his AG just missing a slot to Kona by less than a minute. 11:04 was a rocking time on that day. Tom also had a great race going 11:42 with minimal training this summer. Way to go guys I'm extremely proud of all of you and glad that I got to train with you this season. It's all about the journey right?