So, tomorrow is the day. Piled head deep. DONE. 11+ years in the making, my post high school academic career is about to end. Anti-climactic is an understatement. Put in the words of one of my friends finishing her undergrad, I'm still "looking for a little dénouement." I don't have the heart to spread the word, but there is no such thing, at least from what I've seen so far. Such is the stuff of books and movies, where the plot has to end for the sake of keeping the book under 500 pages or the movie under 3 hours. Our lives follow no such timeline. In the lyrics of RCPM "I ain't never seen the end to no story, 'cause no story never ends."
I remember finishing my MS thesis. "This is it," I told myself. You work for something so hard for so long, and it's all you see, all you think about, and all you stress over. Then it is suddenly over. I moved on to the professional world. You make a huge push for a new proposal. You get the job, and have to do all of that work. For me, that means long stints in the field; some fun, some not so fun. Get back to the office and park yourself in front of your computer. You push again to process, analyze, and interpret. What happens when you finish one project report? You move on to the next proposal, field work, and report. Repeat until you retire, get fired, or die. That's my cynical synopsis for the day anyway...
I obviously find huge analogies in triathlon/running/etc. You work so hard for one goal. One event, one PR, or whatever it happens to be for you. Then you race. After that, guess what? It's OVER. What do you do? You either quit or set a new goal for a PR, distance, etc. Train, race, repeat. Sometimes you reach your goals, sometimes you don't. What happens when you don't? Is your effort unjustified? I don't think so. Every effort, every time you push yourself, you make an attempt to find what you're made of. In the process, you change. Your views of yourself, your limits, the world...they change. And to me that makes it worth it, whether you pass or fail.
In this case I passed. Hooray, let's celebrate for a day. On Sunday, back to simultaneous proposals, analysis, and reports. On Monday, back to training. Life moves forward whether we're ready or not.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Let's try this all again, only faster now.
Going on five months now, and still having serious knee pain :( After a first [mis-]diagnosis, I think we have it figure out as IT Band Syndrome. If you have had it, you know how much of a nagging pain it is. For a while, I could ride and swim as much as I wanted with no pain. Then, last Saturday, I had to call home to get picked up 30 minutes into my ride. No good! After further research, I finally have a plan: 1) 1 week with no training, no stretching, no weight training...nothing but ice and ibuprofen; 2) follow a stretching/strengthening program based on one published in Running Times a few years ago. Supposedly, following six weeks of stretching and strength training I can expect a 90% chance of no pain, with little chance of recurrence. We shall see.
In the meantime, I have had the chance to plan my A races for next year. First, after volunteering for the late shift at Ironman Arizona with the TriSports.com team, I slept in a parking lot and showed up the next day for priority registration for 2010. Next, I decided to return to the Vineman 70.3 this year. After a tree incident and surprisingly high temperatures last year, it's time to take another run at my time goal.
Besides those two races, everything is up in the air pending my recovery... Really hoping to be able to start easy cycling and swimming on the first of the year, and hopefully a full training schedule starting in February. We shall see!
In the meantime, I have had the chance to plan my A races for next year. First, after volunteering for the late shift at Ironman Arizona with the TriSports.com team, I slept in a parking lot and showed up the next day for priority registration for 2010. Next, I decided to return to the Vineman 70.3 this year. After a tree incident and surprisingly high temperatures last year, it's time to take another run at my time goal.
Besides those two races, everything is up in the air pending my recovery... Really hoping to be able to start easy cycling and swimming on the first of the year, and hopefully a full training schedule starting in February. We shall see!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Kid quote of the day 12/4/09
Will now be a recurring theme on my blog... On the way to preschool today.
Rylie: "Daddy? Daddy? What rhymes with 'tree'?"
Me: "Free, Glee, and other stuff."
Rylie: "What rhymes with 'purple cactus'?"
Me: "Ummmm, nothing that I know of."
I miss being a kid.
Rylie: "Daddy? Daddy? What rhymes with 'tree'?"
Me: "Free, Glee, and other stuff."
Rylie: "What rhymes with 'purple cactus'?"
Me: "Ummmm, nothing that I know of."
I miss being a kid.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Vineman 70.3 race review
A friend asked me for info about Vineman 70.3, and suddenly I realized my email was ridiculously long. So here goes...
So, Vineman was pretty cool overall. Kind of weird, but one of the best parts was the drive out from AZ. I went up the east side of the Sierras, camped near Mammoth, and went up and over (through Yosemite). Driving through central CA is nothing special, but it was cool to drive through San Fran because I had never been there before. After San Fran, the traffic was HORRIBLE. If you race there, I would recommend driving up early, like Thursday.
Lodging is reasonable I think, but I ended up camping ($12 per day or something). If you want to camp, make a reservation!! If you want to stay anywhere close it will fill up. I counted on camping in the state park (awesome redwoods!), but they have like 8 camping spots... I ended up camping like 1/2-hour north, but it was cool because Luke McKenzie and company happened to stay in the same place. They were easy to pick out with their rides and official Scott enclosed trailer.
Overall, the venue is cool. Small, touristy towns, and vineyards everywhere! It is strange with two transition areas so far apart, and only two ways to get there. It made for a LONG day.
The Russian River is awesome. It's like a family getaway straight out of the 70's. One campground with tube rentals, beer, etc. right on the beach. The cool part about the swim is that it's fairly easy to swim straight-even easier than Tempe Town Lake. The crappy part is at the turnaround there is like a 50-meter section where it is too shallow to swim. Literally less than 2' deep. The RD said it was "swimmable", but I disagree. If nothing else it was a chance to stand up and catch your breath. T1 is uneventful, but expect rough ground and a long run with your bike. Run your bike up the first hill! Many people fell trying to pedal up the hill immediately after the mount.
The bike course is scenic if nothing else. Lots of narrow roads with no shoulders. Overhanging trees, vineyards galore, etc. Of course trees occasionally fall, but it happens I guess. My biggest complaint was the rough roads. Not as bad as Euclid in Tucson, but moderately bumpy almost the whole time. I lost my nutrition around 10 miles in. A couple moderate climbs in the early going, a tough climb at 40+ miles (a good 5-10 minute climb), then downhill to flat back to T2. T2 is very interesting because you just drop your shoes there the day before.
The run is a nice mix of road and trail (probably 80%/20%), and deceptively hilly. Some good rollers with some flat stretches between. Some shade, but mostly exposed to the sun. It would be very nice on a typical day in July, but not last year when it topped out around 95. The highlight was running through the vineyard at the turnaround. The run-through misters were greatly appreciated!
Post-race was typical for a longer race. Good food, and lots of support. The Trisports.com tent was awesome! Somewhat disorganized for awards because the ceremony goes on while so many people are still on the course. Then I had to wait for 1/2-hour or so to get on a shuttle back to my car at T1 (a half-hour ride). It definitely would be nice to have support out there to give you a ride back to your car.
Overall, it was a great experience for my first branded 70.3 event. If I lived close I would do it every year. Next year, I'll probably be picking a different destination race to try out something new.
So, Vineman was pretty cool overall. Kind of weird, but one of the best parts was the drive out from AZ. I went up the east side of the Sierras, camped near Mammoth, and went up and over (through Yosemite). Driving through central CA is nothing special, but it was cool to drive through San Fran because I had never been there before. After San Fran, the traffic was HORRIBLE. If you race there, I would recommend driving up early, like Thursday.
Lodging is reasonable I think, but I ended up camping ($12 per day or something). If you want to camp, make a reservation!! If you want to stay anywhere close it will fill up. I counted on camping in the state park (awesome redwoods!), but they have like 8 camping spots... I ended up camping like 1/2-hour north, but it was cool because Luke McKenzie and company happened to stay in the same place. They were easy to pick out with their rides and official Scott enclosed trailer.
Overall, the venue is cool. Small, touristy towns, and vineyards everywhere! It is strange with two transition areas so far apart, and only two ways to get there. It made for a LONG day.
The Russian River is awesome. It's like a family getaway straight out of the 70's. One campground with tube rentals, beer, etc. right on the beach. The cool part about the swim is that it's fairly easy to swim straight-even easier than Tempe Town Lake. The crappy part is at the turnaround there is like a 50-meter section where it is too shallow to swim. Literally less than 2' deep. The RD said it was "swimmable", but I disagree. If nothing else it was a chance to stand up and catch your breath. T1 is uneventful, but expect rough ground and a long run with your bike. Run your bike up the first hill! Many people fell trying to pedal up the hill immediately after the mount.
The bike course is scenic if nothing else. Lots of narrow roads with no shoulders. Overhanging trees, vineyards galore, etc. Of course trees occasionally fall, but it happens I guess. My biggest complaint was the rough roads. Not as bad as Euclid in Tucson, but moderately bumpy almost the whole time. I lost my nutrition around 10 miles in. A couple moderate climbs in the early going, a tough climb at 40+ miles (a good 5-10 minute climb), then downhill to flat back to T2. T2 is very interesting because you just drop your shoes there the day before.
The run is a nice mix of road and trail (probably 80%/20%), and deceptively hilly. Some good rollers with some flat stretches between. Some shade, but mostly exposed to the sun. It would be very nice on a typical day in July, but not last year when it topped out around 95. The highlight was running through the vineyard at the turnaround. The run-through misters were greatly appreciated!
Post-race was typical for a longer race. Good food, and lots of support. The Trisports.com tent was awesome! Somewhat disorganized for awards because the ceremony goes on while so many people are still on the course. Then I had to wait for 1/2-hour or so to get on a shuttle back to my car at T1 (a half-hour ride). It definitely would be nice to have support out there to give you a ride back to your car.
Overall, it was a great experience for my first branded 70.3 event. If I lived close I would do it every year. Next year, I'll probably be picking a different destination race to try out something new.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Every mushroom cloud has a silver lining
So I decided to start my training for the Tucson Marathon. How do most marathon training plans start? One week of easy-ish running leading up to the first "long run". For stock beginner and intermediate training plans we're talking about a first long run of 8-10 miles. What does this mean? It means that you go through a week of training before your first real test. In fact, that first day of training is likely a rest day. What?! So you're telling me my first day of training is a day of rest? These days I come up with my own wacky plans...
So what do you do on your first day of marathon training? A long run. Yeah, that's right. Why beat around the bush and put off any real test for at least six days? A typical long run for me these days of 10-11 miles. Let's make it marathon training! The night before: a six-pack, too much fiber for dinner, and little sleep. So what happened? The last 6 miles felt literally like the last 6 marathon miles (if you've been there you know what I'm talking about). Zero energy. Everything hurts. Where is the next porta potty? Anyway, I made it through...BUT, suddenly pain in my left knee. Pain like I haven't felt since my last marathon training four years ago. OUCH!
I think my body was telling me something:
Do you know what you're in for?
Do you remember the LOOOOONG runs?
Do you remember having to run 5-6 days a week with aches and pains?
Running takes over your life. What about that?
Are you ready to sacrifice?
When you are in pain, will you force yourself to take a day off despite what's on the schedule?
So, I took several days off. Started jogging to try it out. Pain=turning around and walking 1/4-mile back home. That hurts the pride for sure.
Six days later a 2.5-mile run. No issues, so let's race! Labor day was the Saguaro National Park 8-miler on the east side of Tucson. A nice jog in the park. Well, except for that 800' incline between miles 3.5 and 5. I decided to go for it!
One mile in, I found myself way too close to Sam McGlone. I must have started too hard. 6:24. Oops! Yes, too hard. Knee pain around mile 3. It's nothing. All in your head. Made the climb to mile 5. On goal pace. Awesome! Then rolling hills. OUCH! My knee says "that's it". Crap, first DNF. Let me tell you, on an eight-mile loop, walking the last 3 miles takes a long time... Watching everyone pass. People saying "you're almost there". No, I'm not. I'm done for today. In fact I'm done for a while.
On the positive side, my brother in law raced and did awesome! First running race ever, and ran 8:30s on a very tough course! Pretty awesome. I'm excited for him and his Tucson Marathon.
Not sure what this means for my Tucson Marathon plans. Will have to take a couple weeks off running (knee feels fine cycling and swimming) and go from there. Two tris coming up in October, so it's healing time. Hopefully I'll be back up to speed soon. Maybe even in time to chase after my Boston dreams...
So what do you do on your first day of marathon training? A long run. Yeah, that's right. Why beat around the bush and put off any real test for at least six days? A typical long run for me these days of 10-11 miles. Let's make it marathon training! The night before: a six-pack, too much fiber for dinner, and little sleep. So what happened? The last 6 miles felt literally like the last 6 marathon miles (if you've been there you know what I'm talking about). Zero energy. Everything hurts. Where is the next porta potty? Anyway, I made it through...BUT, suddenly pain in my left knee. Pain like I haven't felt since my last marathon training four years ago. OUCH!
I think my body was telling me something:
Do you know what you're in for?
Do you remember the LOOOOONG runs?
Do you remember having to run 5-6 days a week with aches and pains?
Running takes over your life. What about that?
Are you ready to sacrifice?
When you are in pain, will you force yourself to take a day off despite what's on the schedule?
So, I took several days off. Started jogging to try it out. Pain=turning around and walking 1/4-mile back home. That hurts the pride for sure.
Six days later a 2.5-mile run. No issues, so let's race! Labor day was the Saguaro National Park 8-miler on the east side of Tucson. A nice jog in the park. Well, except for that 800' incline between miles 3.5 and 5. I decided to go for it!
One mile in, I found myself way too close to Sam McGlone. I must have started too hard. 6:24. Oops! Yes, too hard. Knee pain around mile 3. It's nothing. All in your head. Made the climb to mile 5. On goal pace. Awesome! Then rolling hills. OUCH! My knee says "that's it". Crap, first DNF. Let me tell you, on an eight-mile loop, walking the last 3 miles takes a long time... Watching everyone pass. People saying "you're almost there". No, I'm not. I'm done for today. In fact I'm done for a while.
On the positive side, my brother in law raced and did awesome! First running race ever, and ran 8:30s on a very tough course! Pretty awesome. I'm excited for him and his Tucson Marathon.
Not sure what this means for my Tucson Marathon plans. Will have to take a couple weeks off running (knee feels fine cycling and swimming) and go from there. Two tris coming up in October, so it's healing time. Hopefully I'll be back up to speed soon. Maybe even in time to chase after my Boston dreams...
Friday, September 4, 2009
I ain't got a thing to prove to you!
Just arrived back home from another fieldwork trip. This time a turn-around trip to my research site on the Colorado River. A nice 14-hour Friday before the long weekend. Woohoo :|
Based on my repeated encounters with law enforcement in Arizona and California, I would like to post a personal letter to all DPS, Pima County Sheriffs, Maricopa County Sheriffs, La Paz County Sheriffs, Imperial County Sheriffs, CBP, and anyone else I missed in this list. If you are one of these folks, know someone, or whatever, please pass on the following. It would help if you could attach a picture of my smiling face to be kept in patrol cars.
Dear Respectable Law Enforcement Officer:
I present the following information in advance of our meeting to clear up potential misconceptions, avoid conflict, and allow us both to complete our jobs effectively and efficiently without wasting time on useless "friendly conversation".
"Nice to meet you on the side of the road like this. I am aware that I am not required to answer most of these questions, but I will be friendly and oblige.
Yes, I am a US citizen. I know it is strange to be driving across the desert in the middle of the night. I am well aware of my speed. I set it on cruise control at the speed I estimated would be most likely to reduce the probability of us meeting. I must have calculated incorrectly.
I have no criminal record. I have never gotten a ticket (aside from some UA parking tickets. Those guys are FAST!). I have been pulled over exactly once before this because a NC police officer did not appreciate me passing him even though I was going below the speed limit. When literally his first words to me were, "I don't know how they do things in Arizona..." I knew I was in trouble. But I digress.
No, I have not been drinking. I am not under the influence of any drugs (besides caffeine). I am regularly drug-tested at work and something tells me a positive would be a bad thing.
No, I do not have any drugs in the car. No, not even a small amount for occasional personal use.
No, I do not own this car. It is a rental. You know this already based on 1) the PERM tag; 2) the "e" sticker; and 3) the fact that you already ran the plate while following me for the last mile and a half.
Why would I be using my personal vehicle for work? Why don't you use yours? I bet your squad car helps you do your job, eh?
Yes, I know it is suspicious that I have had this rental car for several weeks. My fieldwork is consistent but I still can't talk the boss into buying a company vehicle.
Yes, I am a little wiry. My spouse and mother remind me on a regular basis that I am too skinny. No, I am not skinny from taking drugs.
I am a little irritable. I am in a hurry to get my job done and get home to my family. This is a waste of my time and yours. Sure, I'll step out of the vehicle.
My frequent passenger is my good friend Daniel. Yes, he is brown-ish. No, he is not Mexican. Apparently your profiling needs some work. His Spanish is worse than mine--good enough to get into and out of trouble in Puerto Penasco on the weekends, but that's about it.
Yes, I do have a LOT of food in the vehicle. I swim, bike, and run. A LOT. And I get very hungry. No, I do not have the munchies. I do not have drugs in the car. No, not even a small amount for occasional personal use.
I am driving to Walter's Camp, CA or Cibola, AZ. No, you haven't heard of them even though you work 10 miles away. You were trained and plopped down in the middle of the desert. It is close to Blythe. Yes, some people actually set out to go TO Blythe, not THROUGH it. Lucky us, right?
Yes, I am suddenly nervous when you ask to pat me down. I am suddenly aware of the immense power in the hands of a 20 year-old with qualifications that include passing the AIMS test and being able to recite Miranda rights in Spanish. And I just don't trust you.
I am aware that I am filthy. I did not spend the day sitting in my car. I was literally rolling around in soil, repeatedly applying sunscreen and bugspray before rolling around in the soil again in 110 degrees. See? Yes, I do have a beard, and it is ugly. I see no need for a shaving when I spend my days rolling around in dirt.
Can you search my car? I guess, if you'd like to waste more of your time. You'll find a long list of things that would never make it on an airplane these days...a pipe wrench, box cutter, various chemicals, electronics, and a machete (okay I made that one up). If it is March, April, or May, you would find 50+ pounds of native plant seed. Yes, my project is growing plants. No, not those kind. Yes, I am sick of comments about it. Marijuana references have come from my family, my boss, my advisor, the client, and the farmer we contract with. Oh, you weren't joking. No, not marijuana seed.
You would also find a ridiculous amount of spandex, several pairs of running shoes, a wetsuit, swim goggles, and, if there was any extra room, my road bike is packed in there. And likely a wide variety of beer. Yes, this is a strange combination. No, we do not have any explosives or drugs. No, not even a small amount for occasional personal use.
Thank you, yes, I will have a good night. You be safe also. Thank you for the speeding "warning" for going 4 mph above the speed limit."
With this information in-hand prior to me setting out on the road again, I trust that I have cleared up any potential confusion. If you have any questions or would like additional information I am sure you will ask for it.
Thank you for your time. Sincerely,
Matthew Robert Grabau
Based on my repeated encounters with law enforcement in Arizona and California, I would like to post a personal letter to all DPS, Pima County Sheriffs, Maricopa County Sheriffs, La Paz County Sheriffs, Imperial County Sheriffs, CBP, and anyone else I missed in this list. If you are one of these folks, know someone, or whatever, please pass on the following. It would help if you could attach a picture of my smiling face to be kept in patrol cars.
Dear Respectable Law Enforcement Officer:
I present the following information in advance of our meeting to clear up potential misconceptions, avoid conflict, and allow us both to complete our jobs effectively and efficiently without wasting time on useless "friendly conversation".
"Nice to meet you on the side of the road like this. I am aware that I am not required to answer most of these questions, but I will be friendly and oblige.
Yes, I am a US citizen. I know it is strange to be driving across the desert in the middle of the night. I am well aware of my speed. I set it on cruise control at the speed I estimated would be most likely to reduce the probability of us meeting. I must have calculated incorrectly.
I have no criminal record. I have never gotten a ticket (aside from some UA parking tickets. Those guys are FAST!). I have been pulled over exactly once before this because a NC police officer did not appreciate me passing him even though I was going below the speed limit. When literally his first words to me were, "I don't know how they do things in Arizona..." I knew I was in trouble. But I digress.
No, I have not been drinking. I am not under the influence of any drugs (besides caffeine). I am regularly drug-tested at work and something tells me a positive would be a bad thing.
No, I do not have any drugs in the car. No, not even a small amount for occasional personal use.
No, I do not own this car. It is a rental. You know this already based on 1) the PERM tag; 2) the "e" sticker; and 3) the fact that you already ran the plate while following me for the last mile and a half.
Why would I be using my personal vehicle for work? Why don't you use yours? I bet your squad car helps you do your job, eh?
Yes, I know it is suspicious that I have had this rental car for several weeks. My fieldwork is consistent but I still can't talk the boss into buying a company vehicle.
Yes, I am a little wiry. My spouse and mother remind me on a regular basis that I am too skinny. No, I am not skinny from taking drugs.
I am a little irritable. I am in a hurry to get my job done and get home to my family. This is a waste of my time and yours. Sure, I'll step out of the vehicle.
My frequent passenger is my good friend Daniel. Yes, he is brown-ish. No, he is not Mexican. Apparently your profiling needs some work. His Spanish is worse than mine--good enough to get into and out of trouble in Puerto Penasco on the weekends, but that's about it.
Yes, I do have a LOT of food in the vehicle. I swim, bike, and run. A LOT. And I get very hungry. No, I do not have the munchies. I do not have drugs in the car. No, not even a small amount for occasional personal use.
I am driving to Walter's Camp, CA or Cibola, AZ. No, you haven't heard of them even though you work 10 miles away. You were trained and plopped down in the middle of the desert. It is close to Blythe. Yes, some people actually set out to go TO Blythe, not THROUGH it. Lucky us, right?
Yes, I am suddenly nervous when you ask to pat me down. I am suddenly aware of the immense power in the hands of a 20 year-old with qualifications that include passing the AIMS test and being able to recite Miranda rights in Spanish. And I just don't trust you.
I am aware that I am filthy. I did not spend the day sitting in my car. I was literally rolling around in soil, repeatedly applying sunscreen and bugspray before rolling around in the soil again in 110 degrees. See? Yes, I do have a beard, and it is ugly. I see no need for a shaving when I spend my days rolling around in dirt.
Can you search my car? I guess, if you'd like to waste more of your time. You'll find a long list of things that would never make it on an airplane these days...a pipe wrench, box cutter, various chemicals, electronics, and a machete (okay I made that one up). If it is March, April, or May, you would find 50+ pounds of native plant seed. Yes, my project is growing plants. No, not those kind. Yes, I am sick of comments about it. Marijuana references have come from my family, my boss, my advisor, the client, and the farmer we contract with. Oh, you weren't joking. No, not marijuana seed.
You would also find a ridiculous amount of spandex, several pairs of running shoes, a wetsuit, swim goggles, and, if there was any extra room, my road bike is packed in there. And likely a wide variety of beer. Yes, this is a strange combination. No, we do not have any explosives or drugs. No, not even a small amount for occasional personal use.
Thank you, yes, I will have a good night. You be safe also. Thank you for the speeding "warning" for going 4 mph above the speed limit."
With this information in-hand prior to me setting out on the road again, I trust that I have cleared up any potential confusion. If you have any questions or would like additional information I am sure you will ask for it.
Thank you for your time. Sincerely,
Matthew Robert Grabau
Thursday, September 3, 2009
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
So on the verge of a PhD (aka piled-head-deep, aka I-better-figure-out-what-the-heck-to-do-with-myself) it has dawned on me that I had better figure out what the heck to do with myself. On some fronts things are set. For a grad student, I actually have a lot going on outside of school. Married, two beautiful baby girls, and a "real job", whereas it seems most PhDs wait until they're 3o+ to start any life outside of academia. Absolutely nothing wrong with that path, and in some ways I'm envious I guess...it was just not for me. Anyway, I have a job with potential to become a Principal and open my own office; or I could try to teach; or I could put it all on the line and start my own company.
A big part of me thinks a major problem with our generation is that we have too many options and opportunities. My parents were happy to have each other, a family, an a job that would support us. Yet we get to wonder "what else?". I have started to realize that "the grass is always greener" definitely is the case, and these days we can see the other side all too well. The point of all this babble is the following: I came from a down-to-Earth family; I grew up fishing, catching frogs, getting sunburned, and enjoying the rural Arizona/California "niceties". A big question now is, can I find myself, my place, and my career while remaining myself? In other words can I find out where I should go without forgetting where I've been? I hope the answer is yes, but who is to judge? I guess my goal is to be happy, do something "important", and hold onto my roots. Judgment is on me. I might or might not share my opinion... :)
At this point I am in the position to do some great work where my heart is and where I grew up, but it's time to explore. When I find myself wishing for red lights on the way to work, something is wrong. Time to fix it. Adios for now.
A big part of me thinks a major problem with our generation is that we have too many options and opportunities. My parents were happy to have each other, a family, an a job that would support us. Yet we get to wonder "what else?". I have started to realize that "the grass is always greener" definitely is the case, and these days we can see the other side all too well. The point of all this babble is the following: I came from a down-to-Earth family; I grew up fishing, catching frogs, getting sunburned, and enjoying the rural Arizona/California "niceties". A big question now is, can I find myself, my place, and my career while remaining myself? In other words can I find out where I should go without forgetting where I've been? I hope the answer is yes, but who is to judge? I guess my goal is to be happy, do something "important", and hold onto my roots. Judgment is on me. I might or might not share my opinion... :)
At this point I am in the position to do some great work where my heart is and where I grew up, but it's time to explore. When I find myself wishing for red lights on the way to work, something is wrong. Time to fix it. Adios for now.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I think I'll go to Boston...
If only it were that easy.
Well it's about time for a temporary change of pace. Four years since my last marathon and feeling the itch to do it again. This time a real, achievable goal: 3:10:59. I had no urge to go 26.2 again until my first (yes there will be a first) Ironman. However, my bro-in-law signed up for the Tucson Marathon and it reminded me of my first time. This was not only my first marathon, but my first running race--period.
I thought about it hard last week, and (while at work) I realized that I had written my own training plan for the next 16 weeks. I also realized that one of my major before-30 goals is within reach, and suddenly 30 is not far off. Oops, I guess I'll do it. I needed a running focus anyway. Starting Monday the run volume will go up and the bike/swim will become cross-training. At least two more tris to come this year to take advantage of my current base, but also an 8-miler, 10-miler and whatever else gets in the way.
Other pre-30 goals are within my sights but no commitments yet... For now it's RUN TIME!
Well it's about time for a temporary change of pace. Four years since my last marathon and feeling the itch to do it again. This time a real, achievable goal: 3:10:59. I had no urge to go 26.2 again until my first (yes there will be a first) Ironman. However, my bro-in-law signed up for the Tucson Marathon and it reminded me of my first time. This was not only my first marathon, but my first running race--period.
I thought about it hard last week, and (while at work) I realized that I had written my own training plan for the next 16 weeks. I also realized that one of my major before-30 goals is within reach, and suddenly 30 is not far off. Oops, I guess I'll do it. I needed a running focus anyway. Starting Monday the run volume will go up and the bike/swim will become cross-training. At least two more tris to come this year to take advantage of my current base, but also an 8-miler, 10-miler and whatever else gets in the way.
Other pre-30 goals are within my sights but no commitments yet... For now it's RUN TIME!
Monday, July 27, 2009
If you don't expect too much from me...
you might not be let down.
Vineman 70.3 is in the books! I just got back from a crazy tour of California. A few nights of camping and a crazy race followed by a week-long conference in L.A. First things first: race report!
Day before: Expo and packet pick-up at Windsor High School. It was a little weird to have it at a school, but pretty nice also. The sheer number of people was a little intimidating, but besides that it was basically the same as any other race. The TriSports.com expo was pretty nice-basically a mobile tri shop. Some other cool vendors (Avia was the title sponsor) and some pros wandering about. Pretty cool... Set up T2 the day before, which was strange. Basically you throw your shoes under a rack somewhere you hope to find them the next day. How's this for a simple transition area?
At the pre-race meeting:
Then drove the course (run and bike), and it was a little different then I expected. Some significant hills, and definitely rolling throughout. The things that struck me were: narrow, rough roads; trees and shade. crazy!; vineyards. lots of them. something like 50 along the bike course alone. The run had several short but steep hills. They would definitely get your attention. Then, back to the campsite for an early bedtime. Some pics from the drive:
Up early on race morning as always. The part of the morning I look forward to the most: coffee! Especially following a "caffeine taper"--five days this time. This was my first time ever actually using one of those camping-style coffee makers (which I bought at Target the day before). I was impressed with myself; it actually came out great! Quick check of everything at the campsite, then off through the back roads to Guerneville. Unpack my car, and one last look at the setup:
Got set up with plenty of time, and got to say howdy to Craig Pansing and Quinn Borchard, two other trisports.com athletes who were ready to rock (and killed it by the way!!). Wetsuit on at the last minute, and into the water. The swim was good overall. A LOT of punching/kicking/etc., but what else would you expect with a couple hundred people eager to get going. I got in the rhythm and pushed hard. I forgot to start my watch (as usual), but felt good about how it went. They didn't get swim splits, but I my guess is 29-ish. I am happy with that. Over a 6-minute improvement from my last half, so good stuff.
Swim venue the day before:
Onto the bike and got into the groove pretty fast. There was bike traffic, but not too heavy. Hit the first little hill, and spun up as planned (easy on the hills, push it on the flats). Then it got interesting...right at the top of the hill, volunteers were telling us "slow down, crash ahead". So I'm thinking okay, back off, probably someone off the side of the road. Onto a downhill, and there are 100+ people stopped. Yes, stopped 5 miles into a 56-mile ride (race). Everyone was trying to figure out what was going on, and one of the officials finally told us a huge oak tree had just fallen across the road. Totally out of the blue. No wind, rain, snow, ice. Just decided it was time to go. It fell onto two people, busting both bikes. One guy broke his clavicle. The other guy had "several fractures" and caught an express ride to the hospital. Then we got to wait for several minutes while someone cut up the tree with a chainsaw. Then sweep the road off. Then send 200+ people down this narrow, windy road. It was madness. Not to mention any swim advantage is gone. My goal time is gone. I think I was standing around for 6-8 minutes. Some people sat there for longer, some people hardly stopped rolling. The smoking-fast swimmers got through before the crash happened. What a change in the race!
Then, I lost my gel on the road something like ten minutes after the stop (gel flask fell out on a road somewhere). I didn't really have a back-up, so I decided to go for Gatorade at all the aid stations. Not ideal, but you've got to work with what you have available. Got a nice legal pack of 3-4 people from my age group and pushed it. Kept some energy for Chalk Hill, spun up, and then pushed hard back into T2. My overall ride was officially 2:32, so figure 2:26 or 2:27-ish without the unexpected stop (not to mention fighting through traffic for the next ten miles). Pretty much at goal pace, so I am happy with it overall.
T2 was uneventful. Found my shoes easy enough, and then I was off! The cool (and depressing) part was I started my run right as Craig Alexander was coming down the finishing chute. Pretty cool... Mile one and two of the run were great. 7:15, 7:20. A little above pace, but I was hoping to work it down over the miles. Then, on the first hill, I knew there was trouble. My left hamstring was cramping already. From then on it was a struggle. My nutrition plan did not go as planned, and it started to show. I started struggling to make 8 minute pace, and then I just had to hold on to whatever pace I had left. Started walking aid stations, massaging my hamstrings. I pushed it, and I can still feel it a week later. Ouch. Anyway, the run was around 1:52, basically six minutes slower than my last half. I blame it on a lack of salt. I did not expect that heat (a high of 96 on race day...the hottest day of July, and I think the high the next day was 70. What's up with that?!).
Overall time was 4:58:29. I was not happy with it at first, but I'm getting over it. My best guess is a lack of salt and nutrition overall (I noticed that I only finished like 2/3 of my nutrition bottle on the bike). After the race, I caught the shuttle back to the start to get my bike, back to the campsite and packed up my junk. Then back to the awards ceremony. I knew I wouldn't be top four in the age group, but I knew I might still have a shot at a Clearwater spot. I walked in late, and my AG awards had already been handed out. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be. Packed up my T2 stuff and wandered through the awards area one more time. "We still have some spots to give out for men and women. Are there any guys here that want to go to Clearwater?" Are you kidding me? They couldn't get people to go to Florida? This was my secondary goal for the race. My first was 4:30, but whatever. BUT I couldn't pull the trigger. My financial situation sucks. I am busy finishing up my PhD. Hopefully I can make it happen next year... I thought about it for the rest of my night, which consisted of an eight-hour drive to downtown LA.
I have a habit of setting expectations too high, being disappointed, and getting burnt out. Not this time...BUT it's time for a break. I have been training HARD for the last two years, with my longest break being like four days. I have been completing 4+ hour bricks when it's 100 degrees outside. Craziness.
I took last week off entirely, and it was great! Some time to sleep (which I did a lot) and think about work/career/research stuff quite a bit. I am on my way to becoming an Agricultural Engineer (with an ecological restoration focus), and I spent all week at a conference on the topic. Good stuff! There is a ton of exciting work going on and I think I'm well on my way to getting involved.
For now I'll do my best to keep in shape, but not "train" specifically for anything. I'll probably swim a lot (don't want to lose the huge gains I've made), run a lot (run for dough, right?), and maybe ride hard a few times per week :) No racing for a while. Maybe Nathan and Bluewater then I'll call it a year. So far this year: 1 duathlon, two running races, and six triathlons. And it's only July...
Also, I need to survive my last class ever, which also happens to be my hardest class ever. Then on to writing (finally!) and defending sometime in October. So basically I'm going to spend the rest of the year figuring out what to do with my life. I'm also going to blog about whatever comes to mind, so be prepared!
Also looking forward to enjoying more moments like this :)
Vineman 70.3 is in the books! I just got back from a crazy tour of California. A few nights of camping and a crazy race followed by a week-long conference in L.A. First things first: race report!
Day before: Expo and packet pick-up at Windsor High School. It was a little weird to have it at a school, but pretty nice also. The sheer number of people was a little intimidating, but besides that it was basically the same as any other race. The TriSports.com expo was pretty nice-basically a mobile tri shop. Some other cool vendors (Avia was the title sponsor) and some pros wandering about. Pretty cool... Set up T2 the day before, which was strange. Basically you throw your shoes under a rack somewhere you hope to find them the next day. How's this for a simple transition area?
At the pre-race meeting:
Then drove the course (run and bike), and it was a little different then I expected. Some significant hills, and definitely rolling throughout. The things that struck me were: narrow, rough roads; trees and shade. crazy!; vineyards. lots of them. something like 50 along the bike course alone. The run had several short but steep hills. They would definitely get your attention. Then, back to the campsite for an early bedtime. Some pics from the drive:
Up early on race morning as always. The part of the morning I look forward to the most: coffee! Especially following a "caffeine taper"--five days this time. This was my first time ever actually using one of those camping-style coffee makers (which I bought at Target the day before). I was impressed with myself; it actually came out great! Quick check of everything at the campsite, then off through the back roads to Guerneville. Unpack my car, and one last look at the setup:
Got set up with plenty of time, and got to say howdy to Craig Pansing and Quinn Borchard, two other trisports.com athletes who were ready to rock (and killed it by the way!!). Wetsuit on at the last minute, and into the water. The swim was good overall. A LOT of punching/kicking/etc., but what else would you expect with a couple hundred people eager to get going. I got in the rhythm and pushed hard. I forgot to start my watch (as usual), but felt good about how it went. They didn't get swim splits, but I my guess is 29-ish. I am happy with that. Over a 6-minute improvement from my last half, so good stuff.
Swim venue the day before:
Onto the bike and got into the groove pretty fast. There was bike traffic, but not too heavy. Hit the first little hill, and spun up as planned (easy on the hills, push it on the flats). Then it got interesting...right at the top of the hill, volunteers were telling us "slow down, crash ahead". So I'm thinking okay, back off, probably someone off the side of the road. Onto a downhill, and there are 100+ people stopped. Yes, stopped 5 miles into a 56-mile ride (race). Everyone was trying to figure out what was going on, and one of the officials finally told us a huge oak tree had just fallen across the road. Totally out of the blue. No wind, rain, snow, ice. Just decided it was time to go. It fell onto two people, busting both bikes. One guy broke his clavicle. The other guy had "several fractures" and caught an express ride to the hospital. Then we got to wait for several minutes while someone cut up the tree with a chainsaw. Then sweep the road off. Then send 200+ people down this narrow, windy road. It was madness. Not to mention any swim advantage is gone. My goal time is gone. I think I was standing around for 6-8 minutes. Some people sat there for longer, some people hardly stopped rolling. The smoking-fast swimmers got through before the crash happened. What a change in the race!
Then, I lost my gel on the road something like ten minutes after the stop (gel flask fell out on a road somewhere). I didn't really have a back-up, so I decided to go for Gatorade at all the aid stations. Not ideal, but you've got to work with what you have available. Got a nice legal pack of 3-4 people from my age group and pushed it. Kept some energy for Chalk Hill, spun up, and then pushed hard back into T2. My overall ride was officially 2:32, so figure 2:26 or 2:27-ish without the unexpected stop (not to mention fighting through traffic for the next ten miles). Pretty much at goal pace, so I am happy with it overall.
T2 was uneventful. Found my shoes easy enough, and then I was off! The cool (and depressing) part was I started my run right as Craig Alexander was coming down the finishing chute. Pretty cool... Mile one and two of the run were great. 7:15, 7:20. A little above pace, but I was hoping to work it down over the miles. Then, on the first hill, I knew there was trouble. My left hamstring was cramping already. From then on it was a struggle. My nutrition plan did not go as planned, and it started to show. I started struggling to make 8 minute pace, and then I just had to hold on to whatever pace I had left. Started walking aid stations, massaging my hamstrings. I pushed it, and I can still feel it a week later. Ouch. Anyway, the run was around 1:52, basically six minutes slower than my last half. I blame it on a lack of salt. I did not expect that heat (a high of 96 on race day...the hottest day of July, and I think the high the next day was 70. What's up with that?!).
Overall time was 4:58:29. I was not happy with it at first, but I'm getting over it. My best guess is a lack of salt and nutrition overall (I noticed that I only finished like 2/3 of my nutrition bottle on the bike). After the race, I caught the shuttle back to the start to get my bike, back to the campsite and packed up my junk. Then back to the awards ceremony. I knew I wouldn't be top four in the age group, but I knew I might still have a shot at a Clearwater spot. I walked in late, and my AG awards had already been handed out. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be. Packed up my T2 stuff and wandered through the awards area one more time. "We still have some spots to give out for men and women. Are there any guys here that want to go to Clearwater?" Are you kidding me? They couldn't get people to go to Florida? This was my secondary goal for the race. My first was 4:30, but whatever. BUT I couldn't pull the trigger. My financial situation sucks. I am busy finishing up my PhD. Hopefully I can make it happen next year... I thought about it for the rest of my night, which consisted of an eight-hour drive to downtown LA.
I have a habit of setting expectations too high, being disappointed, and getting burnt out. Not this time...BUT it's time for a break. I have been training HARD for the last two years, with my longest break being like four days. I have been completing 4+ hour bricks when it's 100 degrees outside. Craziness.
I took last week off entirely, and it was great! Some time to sleep (which I did a lot) and think about work/career/research stuff quite a bit. I am on my way to becoming an Agricultural Engineer (with an ecological restoration focus), and I spent all week at a conference on the topic. Good stuff! There is a ton of exciting work going on and I think I'm well on my way to getting involved.
For now I'll do my best to keep in shape, but not "train" specifically for anything. I'll probably swim a lot (don't want to lose the huge gains I've made), run a lot (run for dough, right?), and maybe ride hard a few times per week :) No racing for a while. Maybe Nathan and Bluewater then I'll call it a year. So far this year: 1 duathlon, two running races, and six triathlons. And it's only July...
Also, I need to survive my last class ever, which also happens to be my hardest class ever. Then on to writing (finally!) and defending sometime in October. So basically I'm going to spend the rest of the year figuring out what to do with my life. I'm also going to blog about whatever comes to mind, so be prepared!
Also looking forward to enjoying more moments like this :)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Do you believe in what you want?
Wow, can't believe it has been a month. Time for a quick update and some ramblings...
Raced the Sahuarita Triathlon on Memorial Day, and it was a great time! A low-key race on a nice course, close to home. I went into it with high expectations, but was surprised by the very competitive (yet small) field. Good stuff! Highly recommended if you're in the Tucson area next year.
Besides that, boy am I keeping busy! Working hard on all fronts. Following a kick-butt training plan for Vineman 70.3 (thanks to Grasky Endurance). Lots of hard work and some hamstring issues a couple weeks ago. However, the pain is now gone and the workouts are clicking. I think I'll be running on all cylinders in a month. 25-29ers beware :)
Also back in class at the U of A. I was hoping to defend in July, but a not-so-pleasant surprise--my class goes through August! This means I can't defend during the summer, and more importantly I will not officially graduate until December (and I have to pay tuition...again). Gotta love the hoops that the U makes you jump through. Work has been crazy as well. Working days and nights on proposals in hopes that I can land a couple other environmental restoration-type projects to carry me through for a while. Family rocks! The girls are growing up SO fast. Luckily I've been able to be especially involved lately thanks to a lack of fieldwork commitments.
A diversion...on an advertisement at the Rec Center (for personal training), there is a simple rhetorical question that has really got me thinking: "Are you reaching your potential?" Of course this is made to get people thinking that they need a trainer to help them "get in shape" or "get healthy" or whatever, like there is some ideal place that you should be. After musing over this dumb poster for a couple days I finally realized it: no one is "reaching their potential". Think about it...it's impossible. For training, there is always something else I could be doing. Stretch more. Do yoga. Weight training. Ice baths. "Optimize" this, that, and the other thing. What happens when the new "best method" comes along? What about not enough hours in the day?
Now, pile on the rest of your life; other areas where you should be reaching your potential:
Work? I should be doing research right now. Writing proposals (two due next Tuesday). Searching for other business opportunities.
Family? I should be watching TV with my wife. I should be researching parenting methods. I should stop training so that I can help out more. I should call my parents/sister/brother/grandma more often.
School? Um, "optional" homework? I should be making sure I get an A in my last class to keep my 4.0 for my PhD program. The material (calculus applications) is stuff I will probably never use. But what if I need it? I should be spend every waking (and sleeping) hour thinking line integral this or divergence theorem that. I have papers to publish...I should be writing/editing/submitting.
Let's add to the list: community involvement, looking for other tri sponsors, blogging, fixing up the backyard, cleaning my bike, cleaning our cars, socializing (ha!). There is no end. Show me someone you think has reached his/her potential. I tell you that you're wrong.
So what does this mean? Not sure :) Just another way of saying that I need to prioritize I guess. Do the things you have to and pick and choose the things that you want to do. Doubt your priorities and figure out what you need/want. If something unimportant impacts the important things MAKE A CHANGE. We only live once, right? I'll wrap up by saying that I don't hesitate to doubt my priorities. Let's just say that I'll be thinking long and hard about priorities, needs, and wants while I'm wrapping up school. Maybe a change will be in the works for 2010. In the meantime--day by day...
Raced the Sahuarita Triathlon on Memorial Day, and it was a great time! A low-key race on a nice course, close to home. I went into it with high expectations, but was surprised by the very competitive (yet small) field. Good stuff! Highly recommended if you're in the Tucson area next year.
Besides that, boy am I keeping busy! Working hard on all fronts. Following a kick-butt training plan for Vineman 70.3 (thanks to Grasky Endurance). Lots of hard work and some hamstring issues a couple weeks ago. However, the pain is now gone and the workouts are clicking. I think I'll be running on all cylinders in a month. 25-29ers beware :)
Also back in class at the U of A. I was hoping to defend in July, but a not-so-pleasant surprise--my class goes through August! This means I can't defend during the summer, and more importantly I will not officially graduate until December (and I have to pay tuition...again). Gotta love the hoops that the U makes you jump through. Work has been crazy as well. Working days and nights on proposals in hopes that I can land a couple other environmental restoration-type projects to carry me through for a while. Family rocks! The girls are growing up SO fast. Luckily I've been able to be especially involved lately thanks to a lack of fieldwork commitments.
A diversion...on an advertisement at the Rec Center (for personal training), there is a simple rhetorical question that has really got me thinking: "Are you reaching your potential?" Of course this is made to get people thinking that they need a trainer to help them "get in shape" or "get healthy" or whatever, like there is some ideal place that you should be. After musing over this dumb poster for a couple days I finally realized it: no one is "reaching their potential". Think about it...it's impossible. For training, there is always something else I could be doing. Stretch more. Do yoga. Weight training. Ice baths. "Optimize" this, that, and the other thing. What happens when the new "best method" comes along? What about not enough hours in the day?
Now, pile on the rest of your life; other areas where you should be reaching your potential:
Work? I should be doing research right now. Writing proposals (two due next Tuesday). Searching for other business opportunities.
Family? I should be watching TV with my wife. I should be researching parenting methods. I should stop training so that I can help out more. I should call my parents/sister/brother/grandma more often.
School? Um, "optional" homework? I should be making sure I get an A in my last class to keep my 4.0 for my PhD program. The material (calculus applications) is stuff I will probably never use. But what if I need it? I should be spend every waking (and sleeping) hour thinking line integral this or divergence theorem that. I have papers to publish...I should be writing/editing/submitting.
Let's add to the list: community involvement, looking for other tri sponsors, blogging, fixing up the backyard, cleaning my bike, cleaning our cars, socializing (ha!). There is no end. Show me someone you think has reached his/her potential. I tell you that you're wrong.
So what does this mean? Not sure :) Just another way of saying that I need to prioritize I guess. Do the things you have to and pick and choose the things that you want to do. Doubt your priorities and figure out what you need/want. If something unimportant impacts the important things MAKE A CHANGE. We only live once, right? I'll wrap up by saying that I don't hesitate to doubt my priorities. Let's just say that I'll be thinking long and hard about priorities, needs, and wants while I'm wrapping up school. Maybe a change will be in the works for 2010. In the meantime--day by day...
Sunday, May 17, 2009
this time it's on my own
Another tri in the books! Today was the Tempe International in Tempe, Arizona. I raced the olympic, and it was my first tri since collegiate nationals. My training has been pretty consistent since nationals, so I'm still in decent racing shape. I was by no means tapered though...still sore from Masters practice on Friday, and finally recovered from a one-day flu-type bug on Tuesday. My expectations were moderate...I wasn't set on any given time--I've realized that time goals are generally a bad idea because you never know what the actual course conditions, course length, weather, crowds, etc. are going to be like. Anyway, I wanted to go for an age-group podium and see how low I could go. Also had some equipment changes this week. I swapped out my HedJet C2 69 combo for a Blackwell Disk and 100. I only had the chance to ride them for a couple short bricks this week, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect.
Quick race report (these things all seem the same unless something goes spectacularly wrong or right *spoiler* neither of which occurred). Swim was really good! Race-day announcement was no wetsuits (1st indication that a PR wasn't in the forecast)--exactly 79 degrees! For the first time I set myself in front, right in the middle of the pack. Yes, Masters has helped my confidence already. I went out HARD, then went into sustainable pace after a couple hundred meters. Started catching previous waves by the ~700 m buoy. A few of us from my wave were out front, but couldn't manage to put together any decent pack. On the way back in EVERYONE went around the wrong buoy--a sprint buoy that was left out for the earlier race. I knew it, but I wasn't going to be the only one to turn on the wrong buoy. Anyway, out of the water and onto the bike!
I knew that 2-4 people from my wave were out ahead of me, so my goal was to not let more people by than I passed. It worked! I started out moderate, then started going hard about 3 miles in. The new wheel setup felt great, although the sound of brakepads on carbon just isn't a good one! I blew by a ton of people, and was passed by exactly ONE person on the bike. My luck, it was a 28 year-old like 1/4-mile from the end of the bike. Flying dismount, quick T2, and I was out in front of him...for the first 200 yards or so :). He came flying by, and I knew I would bonk if I tried to follow.
For once on the run, I didn't get passed much, and it got my hopes up for a high finish. I failed to think about the people out of the water in front of me though... Anyway, another guy in my AG got me at about mile 4, but a quick look over my shoulder and no one was to be seen. UNTIL about 1/4-mile from the finish... Ryan, a friend from the Tucson Triathlon Club came flying by. I kept on his heels for about 100 m, but didn't have the guts to hold on. I was still pretty confident in a top 3 AG, but the race results don't lie...4th by less than a minute. ahhhh, crap...
Lessons learned? Sure: 1) I need to learn how to run. 2) I need to HTFU on the run. 3) There are always people behind. Don't look back (too much), just go as hard as you possibly can. 4) Bike for show, run for dough. 5) I need to learn how to run.
So, what now? I think I'll go for a run! Tomorrow... I'll keep following the expert advice and training plan of Brian Grasky, and look forward to next weekend. Sahuarita sprint triathlon in Sahuarita (imagine that!).
Oops, that got longer than expected. Anyway, this post was supposed to be about something related to the title (that line at the top). This was my first race in the new TriSports.com kit; my first race post-TriCats; and I traveled without Shannon and the girls. It was so different! So much less stress. I followed my own schedule, ate when and where I wanted, and was checked in and sitting in my hotel bed at 3:30 pm. Did it help my race? Maybe, but I didn't notice. Was it more relaxing? I guess. Was it as fun/rewarding/exciting? Nope.
Being involved with the team was awesome, even if I felt like an old guy. I hope those guys and gals realize how great it is that they're involved on a team. But for me, it's time to move on. I'm now part of the Tucson Triathlon Club, and I look forward to being on a team of a different sort. Meeting other families like ours who know that swim/bike/run is a ton of fun, even if it's hard work. It might not always be fun. We don't always meet our goals of PRs, top-whatever, or even finishing, but the journey is rewarding.
I'm also looking forward to getting to know the TriSports.com employees and athletes. Today I had the chance to meet Sue Meno and chat for a minute with Mike Montoya, whom I believed both found their way to the podium today. Shannon Driscoll and Leo Carillo (other TriSport.com athletes that I know from training in Tucson) also stepped up. Still waiting to hear how the Tucson Triathlon Club did in the Club Championship today, but I'll update when I know.
Anyways, off for a beer and some rest. Hope to see you out there training and at Sahuarita. This time the family should be there!
Quick race report (these things all seem the same unless something goes spectacularly wrong or right *spoiler* neither of which occurred). Swim was really good! Race-day announcement was no wetsuits (1st indication that a PR wasn't in the forecast)--exactly 79 degrees! For the first time I set myself in front, right in the middle of the pack. Yes, Masters has helped my confidence already. I went out HARD, then went into sustainable pace after a couple hundred meters. Started catching previous waves by the ~700 m buoy. A few of us from my wave were out front, but couldn't manage to put together any decent pack. On the way back in EVERYONE went around the wrong buoy--a sprint buoy that was left out for the earlier race. I knew it, but I wasn't going to be the only one to turn on the wrong buoy. Anyway, out of the water and onto the bike!
I knew that 2-4 people from my wave were out ahead of me, so my goal was to not let more people by than I passed. It worked! I started out moderate, then started going hard about 3 miles in. The new wheel setup felt great, although the sound of brakepads on carbon just isn't a good one! I blew by a ton of people, and was passed by exactly ONE person on the bike. My luck, it was a 28 year-old like 1/4-mile from the end of the bike. Flying dismount, quick T2, and I was out in front of him...for the first 200 yards or so :). He came flying by, and I knew I would bonk if I tried to follow.
For once on the run, I didn't get passed much, and it got my hopes up for a high finish. I failed to think about the people out of the water in front of me though... Anyway, another guy in my AG got me at about mile 4, but a quick look over my shoulder and no one was to be seen. UNTIL about 1/4-mile from the finish... Ryan, a friend from the Tucson Triathlon Club came flying by. I kept on his heels for about 100 m, but didn't have the guts to hold on. I was still pretty confident in a top 3 AG, but the race results don't lie...4th by less than a minute. ahhhh, crap...
Lessons learned? Sure: 1) I need to learn how to run. 2) I need to HTFU on the run. 3) There are always people behind. Don't look back (too much), just go as hard as you possibly can. 4) Bike for show, run for dough. 5) I need to learn how to run.
So, what now? I think I'll go for a run! Tomorrow... I'll keep following the expert advice and training plan of Brian Grasky, and look forward to next weekend. Sahuarita sprint triathlon in Sahuarita (imagine that!).
Oops, that got longer than expected. Anyway, this post was supposed to be about something related to the title (that line at the top). This was my first race in the new TriSports.com kit; my first race post-TriCats; and I traveled without Shannon and the girls. It was so different! So much less stress. I followed my own schedule, ate when and where I wanted, and was checked in and sitting in my hotel bed at 3:30 pm. Did it help my race? Maybe, but I didn't notice. Was it more relaxing? I guess. Was it as fun/rewarding/exciting? Nope.
Being involved with the team was awesome, even if I felt like an old guy. I hope those guys and gals realize how great it is that they're involved on a team. But for me, it's time to move on. I'm now part of the Tucson Triathlon Club, and I look forward to being on a team of a different sort. Meeting other families like ours who know that swim/bike/run is a ton of fun, even if it's hard work. It might not always be fun. We don't always meet our goals of PRs, top-whatever, or even finishing, but the journey is rewarding.
I'm also looking forward to getting to know the TriSports.com employees and athletes. Today I had the chance to meet Sue Meno and chat for a minute with Mike Montoya, whom I believed both found their way to the podium today. Shannon Driscoll and Leo Carillo (other TriSport.com athletes that I know from training in Tucson) also stepped up. Still waiting to hear how the Tucson Triathlon Club did in the Club Championship today, but I'll update when I know.
Anyways, off for a beer and some rest. Hope to see you out there training and at Sahuarita. This time the family should be there!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
let's try this all again, only faster now
Another week of racing in the books. Today was the Cinco de Mayo 10k in Tucson. Another local running race that I raced last year. This is a pretty stinking tough race. Up, up, down, up down, down. My goal was basically just to leave last year's time in the dust. Mission accomplished! Following Grasky's advice, I went out HARD--at a pace I didn't think I could hold for 6.2. For once I had a race strategy. Hard, but not ridiculous on the first 2 miles (uphill), let go on the next mile (steep downhill), hard after the turnaround (uphill next mile), then hold on for the last 2 miles (downhill). Finally, due to last-minute developments one of my goals was to not get my butt kicked too hard by Sam McGlone... It went pretty much according to plan, and I felt SPENT by the end. My time was around 2:30 faster than last year (24 seconds/mile). Still not where I WANT to be, but for a hard 10k I'll take it! Hung around for the kids' race (the anniversary of Rylie's first race), three breakfast burritos, three trips to the bathroom (probably not a coincidence...). Then what? Change into cycling gear for a hard/hilly 2:30 ride. Thanks, coach! :) It hurt, but felt gooooood. If it makes me faster it was worth the pain. Plus, a great excuse to put in some miles and take in the scenery on a calm Sunday morning.
Other happenings from this week include my first Masters swim practice. I was nervous, but apparently too much so. I jumped in with the 1:25/100 lane (which I wouldn't have done before like two weeks ago) and ended up leading the lane for the day (swimming 1:20s realistically). So, tomorrow I'll get into the 1:20s and try to hold on for dear life. I am actually excited about swimming for once! A year ago I had trouble holding 1:30s for 100 repeats. Two months ago was the same for 1:25 pace. Last week I held 1:20s for a bunch of 150s.
These developments (consistent PRs and swimming improvements) make me wonder how I'm going to feel when the PRs aren't coming so easily. If it doesn't happen on a weekly/yearly basis will I keep my drive? What will be the motivation? I guess I'll cross that bridge when it comes. For the moment I'm going to enjoy it and keep pushing.
Now for a week of hard training (no races), then on to the Tempe International Tri. Should be a fast course (depending on weather of course), and a good chance at an oly PR. Not that I care about PRs or anything...
Other happenings from this week include my first Masters swim practice. I was nervous, but apparently too much so. I jumped in with the 1:25/100 lane (which I wouldn't have done before like two weeks ago) and ended up leading the lane for the day (swimming 1:20s realistically). So, tomorrow I'll get into the 1:20s and try to hold on for dear life. I am actually excited about swimming for once! A year ago I had trouble holding 1:30s for 100 repeats. Two months ago was the same for 1:25 pace. Last week I held 1:20s for a bunch of 150s.
These developments (consistent PRs and swimming improvements) make me wonder how I'm going to feel when the PRs aren't coming so easily. If it doesn't happen on a weekly/yearly basis will I keep my drive? What will be the motivation? I guess I'll cross that bridge when it comes. For the moment I'm going to enjoy it and keep pushing.
Now for a week of hard training (no races), then on to the Tempe International Tri. Should be a fast course (depending on weather of course), and a good chance at an oly PR. Not that I care about PRs or anything...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
we become the things we do
Lately I have been thinking about how and why I do what I do. There is something inside me that makes me (over) commit to any and all activities I get my mind set on. It's kind of funny...I don't think I am really that talented at any of the sports I have taken on. BUT I become so obsessed that I think about it all the time, and with that level of commitment it's hard not to improve. At only :) 28 years I have done (and become) many things. Here's a brief recap:
Age "earlier than I can remember" to 18: baseball. When I was 11-years old, my baseball coach had my parents convinced that I was going to be an awesome baseball player (yes, at 11 years old!). This got into my head, too, and the obsession began. After a year of adjusting to life in a new town, I was committed to baseball. Is it unhealthy for a 12-year old to obsess about sports 24-7? I think maybe... At 12 I was 5'11" and 150 pounds. YES, I was a big kid. So, of course at this age I was on top of my game. As a pitcher I was one of the hardest-throwing (and wildest) in Arizona. And I could swing a bat. I could not sleep at night because I visualized when I closed my eyes. I could "feel" myself swinging a bat and making perfect contact. At 14 I convinced my parents to let me play baseball year-round. This meant weekend trips to Phoenix EVERY WEEK to play a double-header. I started lifting weights daily. My dad installed a net to catch balls in the garage, and I would hit a minimum of several hundred balls per day...with weighted bats. Well, I got older and there was suddenly a problem. I hadn't grown and everyone had caught up. Sure I had gotten stronger, but at 17 I was still 5'11''. My dad had been convinced that I would take a baseball scholarship for college. Oops... Lucky for me (and surprise to all :) ) I was actually somewhat intelligent, and was able to get a full ride based on academics. Phew! I tried to walk on at the U of A as a freshman, but couldn't quite make it. Despite years of devotion and training, the talent simply wasn't there.
Age 13-20: wakeboarding. Yes, my mistress to baseball. Enemy of my parents (i.e. distraction from baseball). I learned to waterski at 6 years old, and started wakeboarding soon after they came out. I'm talking directional wakeboards with bungee straps. I was hooked from my first ride (which was actually in January three weeks after Christmas--like I said, I'm kind of a nut like that). Riding was an outlet for me. No pressure from family--it was just for me. But, as happens for me, my competitive spirit took over. When I wasn't visualizing baseball I was dreaming of wakeboarding. I practiced handle-passes before bed. I strapped shoes onto a skateboard, attached a rope to a post, and practiced wakeboarding on my girlfriend's trampoline. Every weekend I rode until I couldn't stand up. Fall after fall I rode until I nailed whatever trick I was learning. It got to the point where my dad and I would fight over how to drive the boat...seriously. I entered one competition in Phoenix. Not quite the talent to take it to the next level (not that I saw a future with wakeboarding...but whatever). Parents sold the boat and river place (unrelated to wakeboarding), and that was the end of the story. I haven't ridden in over five years, and I finally sold my board last year. ALTHOUGH...parents just got a new river place. We might see a resurrection of this wakeboarding thing before long.
20-21: bowling. Don't laugh...too much. So what "sport" can you possibly get into as a college student. Hmmmmm...hanging out with friends, drinking, late nights? BOWLING!!! Not too much to say here. Started going to late-night specials at Golden Pins for all-you-can-bowl. Before you know it, I have my own shoes, my own ball, and a PB of 265. Okay, this sport is not for me...time to move on.
21-24: running. Let me start by saying I was NOT a runner (see above). In fact I hated running. My PR for the mile in high school was 7:45. I was so excited when I finished because I had made it four laps without walking. Hey, you've got to take the small victories, right? Like many freshmen, I gained a bunch of weight. Suddenly there was no sport. Pizza was everywhere! Good food was cheap food...and I ate a lot of it. Sophomore year I decided to change that. I started running 1-2 miles a day. It still wasn't fun, but it grew on me. I still remember the first time I finished two miles and felt like I could keep going without dying. As for many new runners I was plagued by minor injuries. I got shin splints all the time. I was too heavy to run, but couldn't lose weight until I ran (sounds like "I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat". ohhhh, fat bastard I once felt your pain!). Then I had a breakthrough. During an internship in NC I started trail running. Soft trails, lots of nature, and I was hooked! I signed up for my first running race. Ever. The Tucson Marathon. Seriously, this is me... I kept with running off and on, but couldn't stay hooked. There wasn't enough variety for me, and I knew I would never be competitive as a runner.
26-???. Triathlon. Don't need to say much here. Bought a bike and some speedos, and got to work! Something new. Something different. Something I could do for the rest of my life. Something I might be somewhat competitive at? Awesome. Two years later I'm putting in 15 hours/week and raising my goals on a monthly basis. It is so much fun to enter events and take the family. Last week I raced. Shannon raced. Rylie raced the under-4 division (he he). I am excited to see where this goes!
Age "earlier than I can remember" to 18: baseball. When I was 11-years old, my baseball coach had my parents convinced that I was going to be an awesome baseball player (yes, at 11 years old!). This got into my head, too, and the obsession began. After a year of adjusting to life in a new town, I was committed to baseball. Is it unhealthy for a 12-year old to obsess about sports 24-7? I think maybe... At 12 I was 5'11" and 150 pounds. YES, I was a big kid. So, of course at this age I was on top of my game. As a pitcher I was one of the hardest-throwing (and wildest) in Arizona. And I could swing a bat. I could not sleep at night because I visualized when I closed my eyes. I could "feel" myself swinging a bat and making perfect contact. At 14 I convinced my parents to let me play baseball year-round. This meant weekend trips to Phoenix EVERY WEEK to play a double-header. I started lifting weights daily. My dad installed a net to catch balls in the garage, and I would hit a minimum of several hundred balls per day...with weighted bats. Well, I got older and there was suddenly a problem. I hadn't grown and everyone had caught up. Sure I had gotten stronger, but at 17 I was still 5'11''. My dad had been convinced that I would take a baseball scholarship for college. Oops... Lucky for me (and surprise to all :) ) I was actually somewhat intelligent, and was able to get a full ride based on academics. Phew! I tried to walk on at the U of A as a freshman, but couldn't quite make it. Despite years of devotion and training, the talent simply wasn't there.
Age 13-20: wakeboarding. Yes, my mistress to baseball. Enemy of my parents (i.e. distraction from baseball). I learned to waterski at 6 years old, and started wakeboarding soon after they came out. I'm talking directional wakeboards with bungee straps. I was hooked from my first ride (which was actually in January three weeks after Christmas--like I said, I'm kind of a nut like that). Riding was an outlet for me. No pressure from family--it was just for me. But, as happens for me, my competitive spirit took over. When I wasn't visualizing baseball I was dreaming of wakeboarding. I practiced handle-passes before bed. I strapped shoes onto a skateboard, attached a rope to a post, and practiced wakeboarding on my girlfriend's trampoline. Every weekend I rode until I couldn't stand up. Fall after fall I rode until I nailed whatever trick I was learning. It got to the point where my dad and I would fight over how to drive the boat...seriously. I entered one competition in Phoenix. Not quite the talent to take it to the next level (not that I saw a future with wakeboarding...but whatever). Parents sold the boat and river place (unrelated to wakeboarding), and that was the end of the story. I haven't ridden in over five years, and I finally sold my board last year. ALTHOUGH...parents just got a new river place. We might see a resurrection of this wakeboarding thing before long.
20-21: bowling. Don't laugh...too much. So what "sport" can you possibly get into as a college student. Hmmmmm...hanging out with friends, drinking, late nights? BOWLING!!! Not too much to say here. Started going to late-night specials at Golden Pins for all-you-can-bowl. Before you know it, I have my own shoes, my own ball, and a PB of 265. Okay, this sport is not for me...time to move on.
21-24: running. Let me start by saying I was NOT a runner (see above). In fact I hated running. My PR for the mile in high school was 7:45. I was so excited when I finished because I had made it four laps without walking. Hey, you've got to take the small victories, right? Like many freshmen, I gained a bunch of weight. Suddenly there was no sport. Pizza was everywhere! Good food was cheap food...and I ate a lot of it. Sophomore year I decided to change that. I started running 1-2 miles a day. It still wasn't fun, but it grew on me. I still remember the first time I finished two miles and felt like I could keep going without dying. As for many new runners I was plagued by minor injuries. I got shin splints all the time. I was too heavy to run, but couldn't lose weight until I ran (sounds like "I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat". ohhhh, fat bastard I once felt your pain!). Then I had a breakthrough. During an internship in NC I started trail running. Soft trails, lots of nature, and I was hooked! I signed up for my first running race. Ever. The Tucson Marathon. Seriously, this is me... I kept with running off and on, but couldn't stay hooked. There wasn't enough variety for me, and I knew I would never be competitive as a runner.
26-???. Triathlon. Don't need to say much here. Bought a bike and some speedos, and got to work! Something new. Something different. Something I could do for the rest of my life. Something I might be somewhat competitive at? Awesome. Two years later I'm putting in 15 hours/week and raising my goals on a monthly basis. It is so much fun to enter events and take the family. Last week I raced. Shannon raced. Rylie raced the under-4 division (he he). I am excited to see where this goes!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
It has been a busy couple weeks! THE race I have been waiting for has come and gone. I can't believe it! Around a year ago there was a rumor that TriCats was going to have a separate elite-type group that would consist of the five or so fastest guys and girls on the team. I made my goal for last summer to get to the point where I was confident that I could not be left out of that group. That meant training a LOT, whenever I had the chance. See, this was also an important time for other (important) parts of my life. My second daughter was born on June 3, 2008 via C-section. This meant that Shannon was down and out for several weeks in the heart of the Tucson summer. Because we already had one daughter, there was no way for me to be able to leave the girls home alone, except when Rylie was napping. Yeah, that's right, as in afternoon naps. So for around 8 weeks in June and July of last year, I was putting in 10-17 hours of training per week, with almost all of it coming between 12 and 4 pm. To put it lightly I would say that I was driven.
Anyway, lots of time mileage, sweat, and blood have been laid out and I made it to collegiate nationals. The trip went something like this: on Thursday, leave Tucson around 10 am, arrive in Lubbock, Texas at 1 am...yep, that's a 12-hour drive. Of course we HAD to get up for the free breakfast, so around 6 hours of sleep. Friday was a tune-up brick in the morning followed by a visit to the racecourse. Not exactly the most exciting terrain. Mostly flat with grass and farmland. I think I saw about 8 trees in Lubbock. Drove to transition and hopped in the water for a quick swim. It was pretty chilly, somewhere in the low 50's. Also there was a ton of debris in the water; took a couple sticks in the ear...
Then took a drive of the entire bike course with our navigator/fearless leader Brian Grasky. It was AWESOME to talk through the whole course: take it easy here, push for this section, this is the smoothest part of the road, etc. Just awesome. Rest of Friday was pretty mellow. Packet pick-up followed by a LOOOOOOOONG wait at Olive Garden for dinner. Then finished putting on race numbers, packed bags, and ready to go!
Race Day:
Woke up around 4:45, oatmeal in the microwave, and COFFEE!! I had "caffeine-tapered" for four days, which essentially meant I had been dealing with a headache the ENTIRE time. Double-check my transition bag, and out the door. Arrived at transition with plenty of time to spare. It was COLD!! I didn't realize it at the time, but the air temp was in the 30s! Went through typical pre-race stuff, mostly taking it easy and trying not to psych myself out too much.
The swim went pretty well! It was cold, but I found my groove fairly early and just hung in there. I got stuck in a later wave, so I got out in front of my wave...which meant no drafting :(. Anyway, hung in there and made it out. GET ME TO MY BIKE!
So around 200 yards out of transition there was a killer little hill. I was following my expert coach's advice (spin up easy!), but suddenly had a BAD cramp in my left hamstring. I tried not to panic, but some part of me thought my day was over. I have never cramped during a race, and for it to happen that early really scared me. I told myself to keep going and spin it out, and it finally worked after around 20 minutes. YAY! The rest of the bike was fairly uneventful. Paseed a TON of people and was passed by maybe 5, but I definitely held my own. I finally started to feel really good on the bike...when it was time to head back into transition :( I did not want to get off my bike.
T2 went smoothly as usual, and I was off! I was nervous to get my butt kicked on the run, as lately running has been my weakness. I was happy to see that I passed more people than passed me! I think that is the first time it has happened. I felt okay overall on the run, but felt like I couldn't push myself as hard as I wanted to.
So, my race panned out like this: 2:24 and change. It turns out that the swim was marked VERY long (like over 300 m long). Also, the bike course turned out to be harder than most of us had anticipated, with some small but strategically-placed hills, and a headwind on the second half. This added up to a non-PR day (I was hoping for sub 2:10). BUT I was 124th out of the men, which beat the heck out of my original goal of top 200. Also, my bike was in the top 100, so that was a reason to walk away with a smile.
When you put that much emphasis on one event it can never live up to your expectations. Worse yet, something can go wrong (flat tire, GI distress or whatever) and you feel like it was all a waste. For me, I was WAY off my PR goal, but I beat my placement goal, which is really what matters I guess.
So, what's next? I basically consider this the end of my collegiate triathlon career, but NOT my triathlon career. I am going to take what I learned and run with it to see what I can achieve over the rest of 2009. In the short-term I'll be focusing on running and swimming. Coach Grasky's advice was to enter every running race I can find, go out too hard, and try to hang on as long as possible. Sound scary? It is to me. However, I had my first 5k last Saturday, and it worked (PR of over 1:00!). Yeah, that's right. I took a grand total of two days off after nationals :) I have a three or four races in May and June, then Vineman 70.3 in July. Bring it on!
Anyway, lots of time mileage, sweat, and blood have been laid out and I made it to collegiate nationals. The trip went something like this: on Thursday, leave Tucson around 10 am, arrive in Lubbock, Texas at 1 am...yep, that's a 12-hour drive. Of course we HAD to get up for the free breakfast, so around 6 hours of sleep. Friday was a tune-up brick in the morning followed by a visit to the racecourse. Not exactly the most exciting terrain. Mostly flat with grass and farmland. I think I saw about 8 trees in Lubbock. Drove to transition and hopped in the water for a quick swim. It was pretty chilly, somewhere in the low 50's. Also there was a ton of debris in the water; took a couple sticks in the ear...
Then took a drive of the entire bike course with our navigator/fearless leader Brian Grasky. It was AWESOME to talk through the whole course: take it easy here, push for this section, this is the smoothest part of the road, etc. Just awesome. Rest of Friday was pretty mellow. Packet pick-up followed by a LOOOOOOOONG wait at Olive Garden for dinner. Then finished putting on race numbers, packed bags, and ready to go!
Race Day:
Woke up around 4:45, oatmeal in the microwave, and COFFEE!! I had "caffeine-tapered" for four days, which essentially meant I had been dealing with a headache the ENTIRE time. Double-check my transition bag, and out the door. Arrived at transition with plenty of time to spare. It was COLD!! I didn't realize it at the time, but the air temp was in the 30s! Went through typical pre-race stuff, mostly taking it easy and trying not to psych myself out too much.
The swim went pretty well! It was cold, but I found my groove fairly early and just hung in there. I got stuck in a later wave, so I got out in front of my wave...which meant no drafting :(. Anyway, hung in there and made it out. GET ME TO MY BIKE!
So around 200 yards out of transition there was a killer little hill. I was following my expert coach's advice (spin up easy!), but suddenly had a BAD cramp in my left hamstring. I tried not to panic, but some part of me thought my day was over. I have never cramped during a race, and for it to happen that early really scared me. I told myself to keep going and spin it out, and it finally worked after around 20 minutes. YAY! The rest of the bike was fairly uneventful. Paseed a TON of people and was passed by maybe 5, but I definitely held my own. I finally started to feel really good on the bike...when it was time to head back into transition :( I did not want to get off my bike.
T2 went smoothly as usual, and I was off! I was nervous to get my butt kicked on the run, as lately running has been my weakness. I was happy to see that I passed more people than passed me! I think that is the first time it has happened. I felt okay overall on the run, but felt like I couldn't push myself as hard as I wanted to.
So, my race panned out like this: 2:24 and change. It turns out that the swim was marked VERY long (like over 300 m long). Also, the bike course turned out to be harder than most of us had anticipated, with some small but strategically-placed hills, and a headwind on the second half. This added up to a non-PR day (I was hoping for sub 2:10). BUT I was 124th out of the men, which beat the heck out of my original goal of top 200. Also, my bike was in the top 100, so that was a reason to walk away with a smile.
When you put that much emphasis on one event it can never live up to your expectations. Worse yet, something can go wrong (flat tire, GI distress or whatever) and you feel like it was all a waste. For me, I was WAY off my PR goal, but I beat my placement goal, which is really what matters I guess.
So, what's next? I basically consider this the end of my collegiate triathlon career, but NOT my triathlon career. I am going to take what I learned and run with it to see what I can achieve over the rest of 2009. In the short-term I'll be focusing on running and swimming. Coach Grasky's advice was to enter every running race I can find, go out too hard, and try to hang on as long as possible. Sound scary? It is to me. However, I had my first 5k last Saturday, and it worked (PR of over 1:00!). Yeah, that's right. I took a grand total of two days off after nationals :) I have a three or four races in May and June, then Vineman 70.3 in July. Bring it on!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
It hurts because it should
Well, the time is finally here. Collegiate nationals in 6 days! Now that taper time is here I actually have time to get another post up...
The last month of training has been crazy. Hard rides, hard bricks, ridiculous swims. During many of the workouts I have caught myself wondering if I would be able to finish my swimming sets or hold my race pace even when I'm on the verge of donating my last meal to the roadside.
I have also had the chance to get my first two tris in for 2009. The first was the Havasu Triathlon. The venue is awesome--my hometown, low-key event, and this year the weather was awesome! No white caps and 20+ MPH headwinds on the bike. The result? Ridiculous PRs for everyone. Mine was something like 18 minutes better than last year. I'll attribute something like 10 minutes to the better conditions, meaning something like an "actual" PR of 8 minutes. I'll take it!
The next week was the Tucson Tri (a sprint on the UA campus). It wasn't a spectacular race for me, but still a PR of over a minute. As long as I keep improving I'll be happy.
Besides that, lots of training... Suddenly my swim workouts are regularly over 400o yards, which to me is pretty crazy. Before last month I had never swam more than 3500 in a workout. Last Sunday was 4800! I might become a fish after all. Bikes and runs are getting shorter but more painful. It will be nice to enjoy some base training again after this week.
On other fronts--still plowing through school. Looks like I am going to take a class over summer and hopefully (!!!!) defend before August--August 2009. As in 11 years after I started at the U. Now that is craziness. Family has been a ton of fun. We no longer have an infant. A terrible two (who's not so terrible :) ) and the youngest is ready to walk any day. Sleep is actually occurring on a regular basis. HOWEVER, there is no sleeping in. 10 minutes before the sun is up, the girls are up. Alarm clocks are no longer effective for me. Screaming babies on the other hand are EXTREMELY effective.
The only other real news is that I am finding it hard to resist signing up for 140.6. St. George looks like an awesome venue. We'll see. Maybe if I think about it for a few more weeks the race will fill up and I won't be tempted anymore...
Alrighty. Off to enjoy the rest of my Easter Sunday, watch some golf, and absorb this taper. Until next time.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Don't you forget why you came to the dance
So it has been WAY too long, and I figured I need to either post or throw in the towel. So it's posting time!
SO much has been going on, hence the lack of online activity. The first big thing is that class is back in session. Yes, I am STILL in school. Every semester I feel like I lose a little more steam. Nothing different this time around. 9 more credits to take, so I signed up for 9. A month later I was knocked on my butt and so I'm back to 6. The big news is that means I can't graduate this semester no matter what. I will be at the U of A until at least mid-summer...maybe (but hopefully not!) longer. One more math class and then wrapping up my dissertation. A small task? No, but I'll pull it off. Why am I posting tonight? Spring break! Yeah, that's right...28 and I still get a spring break.
Next, the economy finally hit home. Scares about losing jobs drove us crazy for a month, but luckily we made it through. My boss did ask for volunteers to go less than full-time, so I felt obligated to take him up on it, at least through May. More time for family, class, and training. As long as we can pay our bills in the meantime, things are all good.
Okay, on to less depressing topics...fun times lately on the Tri front! Went to a group ride with Eneko Llanos and a ton of local triathletes from TriSports and it was a blast. All the amateurs had fun destroying each other making mini-breaks for it while Eneko kept it in Zone 1. Next, TriFest '09 was a blast. Lots of tri gear I can't afford and a ton of great people and fun events. The expo was exciting, talks were interesting, and the after-hours events were great (casino night at TriSports...awesome).
Next, let the racing season begin! TriCats spring training camp was paired up with the Desert Classic Duathlon as usual, and it was a blast. The weather this year was awesome (compared to the rain and cold last year). I was very happy with my race--it was an improvment of over 15 minuts--but the field was stacked this year. I finished in the same place in my age group. Crazy! Some pictures here:
Tricats Base Camp:
All my junk:
A great morning to race:
Mid-ride:
Hanging out post-race:
The big news is that I am going to collegiate nationals this year! It will be the first and last time I get to go--aging out and hopefully(!!!) graduating before next fall. This has been a HUGE goal of mine for over a year, so it is awesome that I actually get to go. The selection was a combination of speed, participation in the club team, and politics (imagine that!!!). But I made the cut and I am ready to do it! However, there is obviously a lot of pressure involved as many more people from the club wanted to go than could be selected. Suddenly I feel obligated to make it to workouts and really take everything on. 15 hours of training per week has become a minimum and over 14,000 yards of swimming, which is WAY over average. I have also been able to make myself push harder than I ever thought possible. Last night for the first time in TriCats history I doubted that I would finish a track workout...4, 8, 12, 16, 8, 4, 8, 12, 1600, AND the last 1600 was the fastest I have EVER run a mile. Great stuff! It is painful, but so rewarding to see the hard work pay off. Competing at nationals has been my goal for a year. Time to saddle up and do what it takes!
So, next up: Havasu Tri next week (March 21), Tucson Tri the next Sunday, two weeks without racing, then Nationals! Here we go!
SO much has been going on, hence the lack of online activity. The first big thing is that class is back in session. Yes, I am STILL in school. Every semester I feel like I lose a little more steam. Nothing different this time around. 9 more credits to take, so I signed up for 9. A month later I was knocked on my butt and so I'm back to 6. The big news is that means I can't graduate this semester no matter what. I will be at the U of A until at least mid-summer...maybe (but hopefully not!) longer. One more math class and then wrapping up my dissertation. A small task? No, but I'll pull it off. Why am I posting tonight? Spring break! Yeah, that's right...28 and I still get a spring break.
Next, the economy finally hit home. Scares about losing jobs drove us crazy for a month, but luckily we made it through. My boss did ask for volunteers to go less than full-time, so I felt obligated to take him up on it, at least through May. More time for family, class, and training. As long as we can pay our bills in the meantime, things are all good.
Okay, on to less depressing topics...fun times lately on the Tri front! Went to a group ride with Eneko Llanos and a ton of local triathletes from TriSports and it was a blast. All the amateurs had fun destroying each other making mini-breaks for it while Eneko kept it in Zone 1. Next, TriFest '09 was a blast. Lots of tri gear I can't afford and a ton of great people and fun events. The expo was exciting, talks were interesting, and the after-hours events were great (casino night at TriSports...awesome).
Next, let the racing season begin! TriCats spring training camp was paired up with the Desert Classic Duathlon as usual, and it was a blast. The weather this year was awesome (compared to the rain and cold last year). I was very happy with my race--it was an improvment of over 15 minuts--but the field was stacked this year. I finished in the same place in my age group. Crazy! Some pictures here:
Tricats Base Camp:
All my junk:
A great morning to race:
Mid-ride:
Hanging out post-race:
The big news is that I am going to collegiate nationals this year! It will be the first and last time I get to go--aging out and hopefully(!!!) graduating before next fall. This has been a HUGE goal of mine for over a year, so it is awesome that I actually get to go. The selection was a combination of speed, participation in the club team, and politics (imagine that!!!). But I made the cut and I am ready to do it! However, there is obviously a lot of pressure involved as many more people from the club wanted to go than could be selected. Suddenly I feel obligated to make it to workouts and really take everything on. 15 hours of training per week has become a minimum and over 14,000 yards of swimming, which is WAY over average. I have also been able to make myself push harder than I ever thought possible. Last night for the first time in TriCats history I doubted that I would finish a track workout...4, 8, 12, 16, 8, 4, 8, 12, 1600, AND the last 1600 was the fastest I have EVER run a mile. Great stuff! It is painful, but so rewarding to see the hard work pay off. Competing at nationals has been my goal for a year. Time to saddle up and do what it takes!
So, next up: Havasu Tri next week (March 21), Tucson Tri the next Sunday, two weeks without racing, then Nationals! Here we go!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Are you gonna live your life wondering, standing in the back, looking around?
One of the deepest questions we get asked as endurance athletes is, "Why?"
And they mean: Why get out of bed at ridiculous hours and do crazy workouts? Why are your priorities what they are? What is the point? The answer would seem easy for the pros. But I doubt that 99% of professional endurance athletes can justify money as the reason. For amatuers, the question is even more difficult to answer. The cocky, typical answer goes something like:
"If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand anyway..."
I admit that I have used or at least considered using that response. However, what happens when we ask ourselves the question? This is one of the deep thoughts that entered my mind during my ridiculous long run today (see below). It took me a little while to remember, honestly. Then the runner's high kicked in and there it was. I remember when I could not run more than a mile or two straight (not very long ago in the big picture). It took a LONG time to get over. It is hard to keep running when you're overweight. For me it was shin splints. I ran to lose weight, but running made me injured and I couldn't run. Frustrating? Absolutely. Did it get the best of me? More than once. But I didn't give up forever.
What happened to me? One day I ran as usual. At the time my daily run was two miles to try to lose weight. One loop around the U of A as usual, and I was back at the house. But wait, I could keep going! So I did. Not much further, but more than I planned. Suddenly it clicked! My limits were not what I thought. It was an turning point. It was empowering. It was...fun? Running? Nah, couldn't be...
Many miles and several years have passed, and once in a while I forget why I run. And then I set out on a typical long run (for me defined as something over eight or so miles). But I get that feeling again-unstoppable. Am I the fastest runner around? No way. But I can go far. I can run ridiculous hills. I have yet to find my limits. In my running-only days, running was the method of torture. Now, swim-bike-run. The human body is an incredible vehicle. The obvious questions--what are my limits? How do I find them? I go for something ridiculous. Something I don't know if I can finish. Today was one of those days.
Today I set out for a long run. It is Sunday, of course. So I finally decided to go for Wasson Peak, the highest peak in the Tucson Mountains. The obvious route was to leave from the Desert Museum. Something like eight miles roundtrip. But I wanted something just a bit more epic. Instead I chose a longer route. How long? I didn't want to add it up. Definitely over ten miles, so it would work. Challenging? Yes. Definitely a lot of climbing, but it can't be that bad (the aerial from Google Earth makes it look easy after all). The TriCats run was the Phoneline Trail at Sabino Canyon. It can't be harder than that. I knew it was fairly serious when I went for nipple guards and my camelback. Plus a map! My first time EVER running with a map. To be prepared, I packed a few gels along with about 40 ounces of water, my phone, and my camera. Then I set out. Don't think about it. Just go. This is just past the start of the Cactus Wren Trail at Rudasill and Sandario. That is Wasson in the distance:
Basecamp was Rudasill and Sandario on the west side of the Tucson Mountains. I assumed that it would be relatively flat at the beginning, leading up to switchbacks after around four miles. Then pain. I knew it would get tough. The first four miles to Ezkiminzin Picnic Area were pretty much as expected, but the incline was more than gradual. But otherwise nothing remarkable. Definitely a good warmup. I checked my map and finally figured out the right trail (Hugh Norris). Increasingly steep for about a mile. Then switchbacks--serious switchbacks. I have to say that it caught me a little off-guard, and I am a pretty decent uphill runner. I would think about slowing down and then I could see the next turn. Had to break it down into smaller increments, and suddenly I was at the ridge.
Looking back down:
It was relatively easy for the next mile, but the switchbacks were ridiculous at Amole Peak. Struggled through that, and then could see Wasson from the top! From there it was no problem. I could see the end, and I was going to be able to make it--running! I spent a few minutes at the top enjoying the view and met a bunch of nice people. Some views and video from the top:
Tucson:
Looking north toward the Silverbell Mine (and my car):
The run back to the car was relatively unremarkable. High points and low points. Ran out of calories with about a half hour to go, and water with about two miles left, but still felt decent at the end. Two more videos from the run back and at the finish:
Basic stats:
Distance: ~16 miles
Run Time: 2:33:55 (1:28 out, 1:05:55 in)
Max HR: 176
Avg HR: 155
Min elevation: 2262'
Max: 4687'
Was this run necessary? No. I could have more easily done my standard 10-miler from home. Will it lower my finishing times this year? Probably not. Have I rediscovered my reason for training? Yes. Everyone I met up there thought it would be impossible to run the trail. They could never do it. A few years ago I would have thought the same. That is what keeps me going. I remind myself on a regular basis (with coach Grasky's help from time to time) that perceived limits are false, and to show other people that they can accomplish more than they can imagine. So far, there are no limits to athletic achievements. What does that mean for everything else?
So that is my answer I guess. I do ridiculous workouts and race as hard as possible to show that limits--those that you have for me; those that I have for myself--do not exist. What are you capable of?
And they mean: Why get out of bed at ridiculous hours and do crazy workouts? Why are your priorities what they are? What is the point? The answer would seem easy for the pros. But I doubt that 99% of professional endurance athletes can justify money as the reason. For amatuers, the question is even more difficult to answer. The cocky, typical answer goes something like:
"If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand anyway..."
I admit that I have used or at least considered using that response. However, what happens when we ask ourselves the question? This is one of the deep thoughts that entered my mind during my ridiculous long run today (see below). It took me a little while to remember, honestly. Then the runner's high kicked in and there it was. I remember when I could not run more than a mile or two straight (not very long ago in the big picture). It took a LONG time to get over. It is hard to keep running when you're overweight. For me it was shin splints. I ran to lose weight, but running made me injured and I couldn't run. Frustrating? Absolutely. Did it get the best of me? More than once. But I didn't give up forever.
What happened to me? One day I ran as usual. At the time my daily run was two miles to try to lose weight. One loop around the U of A as usual, and I was back at the house. But wait, I could keep going! So I did. Not much further, but more than I planned. Suddenly it clicked! My limits were not what I thought. It was an turning point. It was empowering. It was...fun? Running? Nah, couldn't be...
Many miles and several years have passed, and once in a while I forget why I run. And then I set out on a typical long run (for me defined as something over eight or so miles). But I get that feeling again-unstoppable. Am I the fastest runner around? No way. But I can go far. I can run ridiculous hills. I have yet to find my limits. In my running-only days, running was the method of torture. Now, swim-bike-run. The human body is an incredible vehicle. The obvious questions--what are my limits? How do I find them? I go for something ridiculous. Something I don't know if I can finish. Today was one of those days.
Today I set out for a long run. It is Sunday, of course. So I finally decided to go for Wasson Peak, the highest peak in the Tucson Mountains. The obvious route was to leave from the Desert Museum. Something like eight miles roundtrip. But I wanted something just a bit more epic. Instead I chose a longer route. How long? I didn't want to add it up. Definitely over ten miles, so it would work. Challenging? Yes. Definitely a lot of climbing, but it can't be that bad (the aerial from Google Earth makes it look easy after all). The TriCats run was the Phoneline Trail at Sabino Canyon. It can't be harder than that. I knew it was fairly serious when I went for nipple guards and my camelback. Plus a map! My first time EVER running with a map. To be prepared, I packed a few gels along with about 40 ounces of water, my phone, and my camera. Then I set out. Don't think about it. Just go. This is just past the start of the Cactus Wren Trail at Rudasill and Sandario. That is Wasson in the distance:
Basecamp was Rudasill and Sandario on the west side of the Tucson Mountains. I assumed that it would be relatively flat at the beginning, leading up to switchbacks after around four miles. Then pain. I knew it would get tough. The first four miles to Ezkiminzin Picnic Area were pretty much as expected, but the incline was more than gradual. But otherwise nothing remarkable. Definitely a good warmup. I checked my map and finally figured out the right trail (Hugh Norris). Increasingly steep for about a mile. Then switchbacks--serious switchbacks. I have to say that it caught me a little off-guard, and I am a pretty decent uphill runner. I would think about slowing down and then I could see the next turn. Had to break it down into smaller increments, and suddenly I was at the ridge.
Looking back down:
It was relatively easy for the next mile, but the switchbacks were ridiculous at Amole Peak. Struggled through that, and then could see Wasson from the top! From there it was no problem. I could see the end, and I was going to be able to make it--running! I spent a few minutes at the top enjoying the view and met a bunch of nice people. Some views and video from the top:
Tucson:
Looking north toward the Silverbell Mine (and my car):
The run back to the car was relatively unremarkable. High points and low points. Ran out of calories with about a half hour to go, and water with about two miles left, but still felt decent at the end. Two more videos from the run back and at the finish:
Basic stats:
Distance: ~16 miles
Run Time: 2:33:55 (1:28 out, 1:05:55 in)
Max HR: 176
Avg HR: 155
Min elevation: 2262'
Max: 4687'
Was this run necessary? No. I could have more easily done my standard 10-miler from home. Will it lower my finishing times this year? Probably not. Have I rediscovered my reason for training? Yes. Everyone I met up there thought it would be impossible to run the trail. They could never do it. A few years ago I would have thought the same. That is what keeps me going. I remind myself on a regular basis (with coach Grasky's help from time to time) that perceived limits are false, and to show other people that they can accomplish more than they can imagine. So far, there are no limits to athletic achievements. What does that mean for everything else?
So that is my answer I guess. I do ridiculous workouts and race as hard as possible to show that limits--those that you have for me; those that I have for myself--do not exist. What are you capable of?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I can't swim so I dog paddle...
Okay, so it's not quite that bad, but still.
I learned how to swim pretty young the same way most kids do who grow up on the River. The older kids threw me into deep water. Since then, I was in the water all the time. However, that doesn't mean that I learned how to swim any better. Feel for the water? Sure. Get from point A to B as quickly as possible? Not so much. An that's how it was for the first 23-ish years of my life.
After graduating college, I was desperate for a job--combination of lots of competition (I knew I wanted to be a biologist. I didn't know everyone else did too!) and a crappy economy in 2002. So, I was happy to find a job anywhere in Arizona; even Ajo. In Ajo there is Reservation to the East, Air Force Property North and West, and more protected land south. BUT for four short months a year there is a public pool. So I lifeguarded in my spare time. First time ever swimming laps. Easy enough follow the stripe until you run into the wall, then turn around and do it again-and again... Kind of like a treadmill--work hard-make that painfully hard-and go nowhere.
Then, a year and a half ago I finally started swimming with a purpose. Get in shape for triathlons. At first my gains were awesome. After four months, I posted a pretty decent time in my first sprint. Then I swam some more and raced the same sprint six months later. I felt awesome in the water. Climbed out of the pool, and...8 seconds slower. Wait, what? Okay, I'll train more. Six months later, a hundred thousand yards or so in the water, and...exactly the same time. AGAIN?!!
So, I finally decided to get some help. I got a recommendation for a local swim coach, and signed up for three lessons. My early goal was to see what I could do to improve my time in the local sprint by next time (yes, I'm giving it another shot in March). My first lesson was tonight. Part of me was hoping that my form was bad; or at least not good. At least that would mean there was room for improvement. So, I was asked the expected list of questions: background, goals, etc. "Have you had lessons before?" Yes, I was five. I think the goal then was not to drown. Don't worry, I've got that covered.
Then there were the unexpected questions:
"How old are you? 30?" - Um, no, but thanks. I must look mature.
"So you're on TriCats? Are you the coach?" -Negative. Just old-looking apparently. In fact, I know I'm too old to be on a college team. What's your point?
So, we got past that, and I decided to overlook the unnecessary, possibly offensive questions and jumped in the pool. After a couple laps, the verdict was apparently clear-"March is not going to be a good month for you." Wait, what? He went on. "We are going to work on a major hitch in your stroke." The recommendation? Swim with the slowest people possible. Nothing anaerobic. In fact "what would be best is if you let your swim fitness go to hell for awhile. You will be slower for a while, but after you get the new technique down you might get faster. Unfortunately, you really have to develop your kick. And you need to totally re-develop your stroke which you can't do when you're dying during your set."
Wait, I "might" get faster? What am I here for again? Kick? Didn't I tell you I was a triathlete? Can you bill me after I cut at least a minute off of my sprint swim time?
So anyway this is where I'm at for now. I am apparently destined for some slow swimming followed by hopefully some gains in time for Vineman in July. In the meantime, you'll see me at the pool. I be the one at the shallow end trying to keep up with the freshman frat boys in boardshorts who are "going to get in shape in time for spring break".
I'll be swimming ridiculous kicking sets. Am I willing to work? You bet. Will I let my fitness go to hell? Um, no... My short-term goal: Get in shape for spring break...for Lake Havasu...but for the triathlon. Not so that I can strut my stuff on the beach.
I learned how to swim pretty young the same way most kids do who grow up on the River. The older kids threw me into deep water. Since then, I was in the water all the time. However, that doesn't mean that I learned how to swim any better. Feel for the water? Sure. Get from point A to B as quickly as possible? Not so much. An that's how it was for the first 23-ish years of my life.
After graduating college, I was desperate for a job--combination of lots of competition (I knew I wanted to be a biologist. I didn't know everyone else did too!) and a crappy economy in 2002. So, I was happy to find a job anywhere in Arizona; even Ajo. In Ajo there is Reservation to the East, Air Force Property North and West, and more protected land south. BUT for four short months a year there is a public pool. So I lifeguarded in my spare time. First time ever swimming laps. Easy enough follow the stripe until you run into the wall, then turn around and do it again-and again... Kind of like a treadmill--work hard-make that painfully hard-and go nowhere.
Then, a year and a half ago I finally started swimming with a purpose. Get in shape for triathlons. At first my gains were awesome. After four months, I posted a pretty decent time in my first sprint. Then I swam some more and raced the same sprint six months later. I felt awesome in the water. Climbed out of the pool, and...8 seconds slower. Wait, what? Okay, I'll train more. Six months later, a hundred thousand yards or so in the water, and...exactly the same time. AGAIN?!!
So, I finally decided to get some help. I got a recommendation for a local swim coach, and signed up for three lessons. My early goal was to see what I could do to improve my time in the local sprint by next time (yes, I'm giving it another shot in March). My first lesson was tonight. Part of me was hoping that my form was bad; or at least not good. At least that would mean there was room for improvement. So, I was asked the expected list of questions: background, goals, etc. "Have you had lessons before?" Yes, I was five. I think the goal then was not to drown. Don't worry, I've got that covered.
Then there were the unexpected questions:
"How old are you? 30?" - Um, no, but thanks. I must look mature.
"So you're on TriCats? Are you the coach?" -Negative. Just old-looking apparently. In fact, I know I'm too old to be on a college team. What's your point?
So, we got past that, and I decided to overlook the unnecessary, possibly offensive questions and jumped in the pool. After a couple laps, the verdict was apparently clear-"March is not going to be a good month for you." Wait, what? He went on. "We are going to work on a major hitch in your stroke." The recommendation? Swim with the slowest people possible. Nothing anaerobic. In fact "what would be best is if you let your swim fitness go to hell for awhile. You will be slower for a while, but after you get the new technique down you might get faster. Unfortunately, you really have to develop your kick. And you need to totally re-develop your stroke which you can't do when you're dying during your set."
Wait, I "might" get faster? What am I here for again? Kick? Didn't I tell you I was a triathlete? Can you bill me after I cut at least a minute off of my sprint swim time?
So anyway this is where I'm at for now. I am apparently destined for some slow swimming followed by hopefully some gains in time for Vineman in July. In the meantime, you'll see me at the pool. I be the one at the shallow end trying to keep up with the freshman frat boys in boardshorts who are "going to get in shape in time for spring break".
I'll be swimming ridiculous kicking sets. Am I willing to work? You bet. Will I let my fitness go to hell? Um, no... My short-term goal: Get in shape for spring break...for Lake Havasu...but for the triathlon. Not so that I can strut my stuff on the beach.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
So this is the new year...
So, I read somewhere (I think on a Slowtwitch forum? If someone has the quote please let me know!) that you can only really commit to two components of your life and do them well, with the normal triathlete having three to juggle--work, family, and triathlon. So, what happens when you add grad school into the mix? Well let's just say that it makes for a challenge.
My wife was a distance runner in high school, and decided to run a marathon our senior year of college (December 2001). I surprised her by signing up as well. We trained and raced together, and she was kind enough to drag my butt across the last few miles. Did I mention that was my first running race? Yeah, I'm kind of nuts like that. After that I was hooked on running. BUT I had the habit of overtraining and burning out. We both ran the Tucson Marathon again in 2004, and I actually trained pretty well that time. Did several local road races leading up to it, and the experience was a good one. After that, we got married and had our first daughter, and I was well on my way to becoming the typical overweight American. I needed a change, and triathlon was the next challenge. So without hesitation, I bought my first road bike and started triathlon training in July 2007 (at the young age of 26) with NO cycling experience, a little bit of swimming background (pool lifeguarding for one summer), and some recreational distance running. As a continuing grad student at the University of Arizona, TriCats was the perfect fit for me. Started training with the team, and did my first sprint tri, the Tinfoilman, and was hooked!
A condensed recap of 2008:
Spring, busted my tail to get my work done (with extensive fieldwork out of town). First duathlon (Desert Classic), first and second olympic distance (Havasu and Saguaroman). I had decent results considering that I spent January and February trying to get rid of hamstring tendonitis. During May, wrapped up my field work in preparation for our second daughter to be born (June 3).
June through August, I rode a LOT and spent as much time with the family as possible. Most rides were in the afternoon--in Tucson. Hey, that's when our older daugter (now two) naps, so that was my window. I did get dragged into more fieldwork on several occasions. The upsides to that were that (1) there are lots of running trails in the area, (2) there is a nice cove along the Colorado River for open water swimming (complete with a "no wake" buoy for sighting and turning practice all for a charge of $0), and (3) I brought my bike along on most trips. The cycling highlight of the summer was undoubtedly my two 115-degree plus four-hour rides in July, the first from Lake Havasu to Ehrenberg, the second from Ehrenberg to Havasu the next day. Insanity...I'll post a ride report about it later. No racing over the summer; family was first. My big goal was to increase my cycling fitness because that's where I figured I could make the biggest improvement.
Fall was spent cramming for my written and oral exams for my PhD "advancement to candidacy". I also ramped up my training for a few races (combine these to explain why I regularly trained for more hours per day than I slept), the Tinfoilman (again--a four-minute improvement!), the Nathan Tempe Triathlon, and, finally, the Soma Half! I had a great experience there despite my mangled hand from a cycling "incident" (that's another story...), and started to realize I might actually be able to compete in this crazy sport.
Now, back to this work-family-school-triathlon business. One of these things gets sacrificed to some extent on a daily basis; there is simply no way around it. Lately, school has been the easy one to cut out. I have had no "real classes" for the last two semesters. This fall I finally took (and passed!) my comprehensive exams. So what's left? Two classes, one independent study, and that little dissertation thing--the small project I was supposed to be working on while not taking any classes. Oops...
So, what's on tap this year? Something like last year, I guess. Commit to family, commit to school, throw myself into triathlon to see what I've got, and excel at my job; and then I hope I come out the other end in one piece. Specifics? Something like:
- Absolutely destroy my time for the Havasu tri last year.
- Hopefully (this will be another story...) compete at collegiate nationals in April. This is my last chance--my last year in college, and my last year with age eligibility.
- Finish class in May, defend in June or July.
- Get more involved in the triathlon community.
- Cut 3 to 4 minutes off my Tucson Triathlon sprint distance.
- REALLY crank it up for the Vineman 70.3 to see what I've got!
Some pictures from last year:
Spring 2008 TriCats Training Camp:
The team getting posing before Havasu:
Kitt Peak time! Boy, that is a long 12 miles...
Ready for Nathan Tempe:
Yeah, my wife rocks! So much support through all of my craziness over this sport:
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