This is my final bow

Well, after just over four years of training to be a competitive triathlete (and more than 30 races), it is time for a break. A string of injuries, big family and life events, and suddenly growing career responsibilities need to be my focus for a while. Daily swimming lunch breaks aren't working out lately...

In any case, I plan to continue running and mountain bike racing on a recreational level, and see where that goes. I am hoping for lots of endurance-type events in 2012, including chasing down a belt buckle or three. I don't exactly plan to sit around getting fat and lazy :)

A quick reflection on what triathlon has meant to me...

By pushing my body harder than I ever have before, I realized that the imaginary boundaries we put on our abilities are just that--imaginary. In less than two years, I went from struggling through my first aquathlon...
















To racing competitively for the U of A and placing in the top 125 collegiates nationally...of course, as an old graduate student, but whatever :)















And in the process, I lost 30 pounds, and really got into the best shape of my life. In high school, my best mile was 7:45. Yes, really. In tri, I started holding sub 7-minute pace off the bike :)



















Triathlon has been good to me! It has been a humbling experience to be sponsored by TriSports.com for three years. It truly is a great company that came from humble beginnings to the online retail force it is now. People that look down on TriSports as a "big, corporate company" have never spent personal time with Seton, Debbie, and the crew. I guarantee it. These guys are awesome, and have done and continue to do great things in what in reality has been a very short time. Thank you SO MUCH to TriSports for your support over the years, and I will continue to see you in the store and at the races for years to come!

work and play they're never okay

So, just a quick follow up to Xterra Snow Valley. I spent the next few days working in southern California. After the race, it was off to San Luis Obispo to work on growing tree seedlings. One day later, mission accomplished.




















Then, back to the Inland Empire. Spent Tuesday morning working on a proposal, and then went for a good ride in the afternoon. What could possibly go wrong when you ride in a new place by yourself with directions this good?





















Except that I missed the first turn. Oh well, ended up riding to the right place.














Then, back to the hotel to work on the proposal again. Bedtime, then up early for a site visit on the San Timoteo River. Hopefully good things to come!














Then, an afternoon drive to Tucson, and my trip is completed. Safely, successfully, and back to the family :)

Going down to a house in the woods

And, the racing trend continues. Back in Tucson now, and winding down from a busy week and a half. After a couple weeks of decent training, it was off to XTERRA Snow Valley. Despite what I thought was decent planning, I ended up at home at midnight on Thursday before, realizing I had no clean clothes for my trip to combine work and play. Oops. That meant no Friday journey, and an early departure on Saturday morning for Running Springs, CA. No problem, traffic is easy on Saturday. Oh yeah, except Phoenix...





















I rolled into Running Springs around 9:30 pm. Yes, 9:30 the night before the race. At least there was not time to get nervous! I was fortunate enough to share a cabin with a fellow Team TriSports athlete (Chrissy Parks), Grasky Endurance Coaching athlete and verified fast dude Bryce Phinney, and a TriSports Triathlon Club athlete that I have been racing with and against for several years (Ryan Hammerel). Talk about a good group! Unfortunately, though, Chrissy crashed hard on the pre-ride and would have to DNS. She was a good sport about it, and even managed to hike up the hill on Sunday to snap some photos of the descent. Of course, I think she was just scheming to get video of someone else going down... ;)

The race is unique. It is set at Snow Valley Ski Resort in southern California, a couple hours from LA and just an hour or so from the Inland Empire. The race starts at a reservoir...halfway up the ski hill. Get out of the water, go up to the top of the mountain, bomb down to the bottom, climb back to the top, bomb down again. Get off the bike, then run up, across and down a ski run. Go up another SERIOUS ski run, out and back on some double track, back down said SERIOUS ski run, across another ski run, and DOWN a run to the finish. All-around crazy (yet doable) and a justified XTERRA course for sure. Here is a somewhat terrible picture of the course. The bike descent goes down the blue run on the top of the ridge. A moderately steep, loose, and rutted section--the one that claimed Chrissy during the pre-ride.















Now on to my "only in XTERRA" comments. I showed up for packet pickup at 7:15...ON RACE MORNING. The race starts at 9 am!! And I was one of the first people there. No line for packet pickup, and they body marked me on the spot. 15 minutes later my bike was set up, and I walked out to set up T2 at the bottom of the hill. Not exactly football fields large...
















Come 8 am, everyone is mulling around in the parking lot. Race coordinator on loudspeaker, "you probably want to start riding up to T1 now. The race is going to start at 9." Everyone casually gathers up their stuff and heads up the hill. And I mean UP. Switchbacks, loose corners, people showing off before the race, me realizing already that my hamstrings are going to be a problem. I don't think it is a good thing show up to a swim start sweaty and cramping... Okay, so I arrive at T1 around 8:30. NO ONE has a westuit on yet, and NO ONE is in the water. Everyone is hanging out in T1, helping each other out, moving over where space is needed, etc. Volunteers and the race director answering questions without rushing anyone. Just generally a friendly atmosphere. I am reminded that I need to race more XTERRA.

I got my wetsuit on and got in the water decently early. A 2-lap swim with a running section. New to me. Oh well, got out somewhat easy (it was at altitude after all), and push for the second lap. Everyone lined up for the deep-water start, and the horn went off a little after 9. No one complained about the late start. I found a good line early, found my groove, and went for it. I found clear water by halfway through the first lap. I lost a gap to the lead group (as always), but was at the front of the chase group. Swim continued uneventful. Off to the bike, and as I suspected, my hammies were shot. I got passed a lot on the first climb. Oh well, now for the major goal, don't go upside-down. The descent was a little slippery, but I felt solid overall. Same deal for the second lap. Climb was no fun, and the descent was good. Off to T2.

I was determined to run the whole thing. The course was determined to prove me wrong. It won. At a certain point (probably something like 20% slope), it is just as fast to walk and save energy. I did. Across the slope felt great, and back down. More walking uphill, trying not to fall down on the downhill, and then a good push into the finish line. Overall, I achieved my goals. Solid swim, no dismounts or crashes on the bike, and survive the run :)

I ended up 7th in my AG. Not outstanding, but I came into the race with an open mind. Have fun and don't hurt yourself. Mission accomplished. There will be more XTERRA and MTB racing in my future. Bryce probably had different goals for the race, but I think he accomplished them too.















Hung out at the awards ceremony for a while, and watched the final finisher get ushered in the by the Devil. And the mini-devil I suppose? The Devil hung out at the steep incline on the run and split duty between heckling and encouraging. It was entertaining to hear everyone talking about the course. "Yeah, where we turned down the black diamond from the blue diamond..."





















Finally, a note on the race itself and the race management. These guys did an AWESOME job putting on the race. They managed a 10k and half marathon on Saturday, and then this XTERRA on Sunday. Despite a relatively small field, there were ABUNDANT volunteers at the aid stations. Yes, there was a great raffle. No, you didn't have to wait around for it. The raffle was pre-drawn, so you just show up at the raffle table after the race and ask for your prizes. Good stuff. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The awards (seen from a distance) were incredible. Hand-made and unique. Next year, the tri will be on Saturday, which I think is going to lead to a lot of competition next year for the combined XTERRA and hungover half-marathon time! I'm in! Who's up for the challenge?

And, we'll compare this experience with my latest road tri in the next installment...this was too long. Until next time.

are you dead or are you sleeping?

It's true, I'm still alive. Wow, it has been a busy three months! And not in the ways I would hope. We listed our house for sale thinking that it would take a while to sell. I mean, with the current economy and being in Tucson, it takes several months to sell, right? WRONG. Four days and a cash offer later, the race was on. We had some idea where we wanted to move in Tucson (a couple options), but we were nowhere near ready to buy. I had already scheduled several weeks out of town for work...and we had 30 days to get out. Whoops... Long story short, we stayed with my brother in law for two weeks, found a 6-month rental, and packed up our house and 7 years of accumulated stuff in a couple weeks. I had to back out of THREE races I had already paid for, take a couple weeks off training, and say adios to the benefits of several weeks of hard work. Oh well, life goes on.

So, I went into Vineman 70.3 on 6 weeks of sub-optimal training (to say the least). I had not ridden my tri bike on a road since the Havasu tri in March, and hadn't run more than 10 miles since Ironman AZ. BUT, I did feel healthy (no aches or pains at all), had four weeks of track workouts, and some decent longer rides. Might as well do it. I planned to go just to participate and hang out with the TriSports.com gang for a couple days. BUT, I found myself on a spreadsheet the night before and realized that if I came out of the water in under 30 minutes I could still go for a modest course PR without killing myself. Decided to just let it play out.

My plan for the swim was simple: get on some feet, and stay there. Keep in mind I had been swimming for only four weeks with an average of around 5k per week. It hurt, but I found my breathing rhythm and just focused on my rotation. I intentionally did NOT kick until about 100 meters from the finish. Couldn't believe the race clock or my watch when I came out. 29:50. Game on.

I knew that last year I did not push hard enough on the bike. No HR monitor this year, so I went by feel. Make it hurt, but not too much. My goal for the bike was 2:30 to stay on track. I came through the 28-mile aid station at 1:22. Not good. I did have the feeling we were in a headwind for the first part, and most of the rollers were during the first half as well. Anyway, not taking any chances. I pushed hard for the second half. There was some rain, a little chill in the air, and a lot of bike traffic. I stayed on my toes and just kept pushing. I came off the bike at 2:33-ish. I had finished all my nutrition, and drank plenty of water. Good to go.

I planned on 8-minute miles on the run, which should have been fairly easy. I did the math in my head, and it was good enough. I started running around 7:45s and it felt easy. I tried to slow down a bit, but it stayed at 7:45s. Oh well, going for it! At least two cups of water and a cup of coke every mile, and I was feeling good. Then came mile 8... I could feel a side-stitch kicking in, and my endurance was fading. I definitely felt that lack of long training. Oh well, put my head down and just kept going. No walking, no jogging. Just go.

Came across in 4:52:33. Not a smoking-fast time by any means, but it was a big victory for me, actually. A course PR on very little training. Just went on guts, instinct, and executed my plan. Oh, and lots of cola. My new go-to on the run after my my experience at Ironman last year.

Feeling VERY motivated, so it's time to get fast again. Planning on at least five more races this year, with a combination of off- and on-road stuff. Looking forward to the journey! Some photos below.

Transition area for a race with 2000+ people is HUGE!











Chris Lieto chatting it up. It is so cool to see the top pros in the world just wandering around and chatting with "normal folk"












Typical Sonoma County backroads.













The mess a triathlete makes of a hotel room...

















One of the best parts about racing in CA is visiting the family. Got to see my brother on his birthday, and then spend some time with my sister's family on the way back. My niece is awesome!

don't write yourself off yet

It has been a busy couple weeks! The big thing has been a dramatic increase in bike mileage. Those dedicated Ironman fools know how to get some serious work in! Two hours after they got here, we went for a 3-hour hilly ride. The next day was 5 and a half hours and a serious climb (Kitt Peak). Some happy (and cold!) folks at the observatory:
















After I ditched this training group for the weekend, they proceeded to put in over 25 hours of training in 5 1/2 days. I think that's pretty impressive. Tom, Matt, and Braydn, hope to see you guys in Tucson again next year. Plan on a trip to Mt. Graham!

Basically, in the first three days I had my new Scott, I put in 10 1/2 hours on it. Yes, I like it just a little bit, and it has encouraged me to ride!!

Then, after a few days of work, I jumped in on two days of a 3 peaks in 3 days challenge with some friends. In three days, these wackos took on Mt. Graham (same elevation change as Lemmon in 20 miles instead of 27), Mt. Lemmon, and Kitt Peak. Friday was Mt. Graham, and it was AWESOME. This was my first time at Graham, and really only the fourth place that I've taken on a serious climb. It is a two-hour drive from Tucson, but well worth it. We parked on the side of the road in front of the prison (safe, right?) and got ready to go.

















The climb starts relatively easy (maybe 4%?), but then gets tough--really tough. The switchbacks start around 6 miles in, and the biggest break is probably around 1/4-mile, where the grade is only a few percent, and then the road goes right back to it! At 16 miles, you finally get into some rollers, and the view is just incredible!



































After just a few minutes of hanging out (no cookie cabin there...) it was slow going down the technical and sandy descent back to the car. Day 1 (Friday) was done.




















On Saturday, Shannon and I packed up the kids to do some neighborhood/house shopping in southeast Tucson. Six hours later, we were back home, and I was off for a hilly 8-mile trail run. I slept GREAT on Saturday night...

Sunday, back to Kitt Peak, only 10 days since the last time I climbed it (note that before this, I had only climbed it once, and that was in 2008). There is a reason. This climb is TOUGH! Between 4% and 8% and it does not relent for 10 miles. If you ride it, do not expect breaks. Don't look around the corners expecting rollers.
















What was funny is that it felt relatively easy/fast after Mt. Graham. However, two days later, my legs are still hating me (especially the hamstrings). Oh well, I guess that was the idea. Could be partially due to the rest of my Sunday, which consisted of cleaning, pulling weeds, mowing, etc., etc. to get the house ready for a realtor. Yep, time to move!

Now, my training plan is in hand, and I finally feel obligated to actually get to the pool. Yes, early nights, swimming, intervals, low-cadence repeats...this is what training is supposed to be! Wildflower in 25 days!

Two things I'll be working on for coming posts:

1. My critter count (look to the right). More discussion of this soon, but my first rattlesnake of the year was seen during my Saturday evening run. This diamondback rattled at me from a good 10+ feet away. Without the rattle, I probably never would have seen him. It was just a quick glance over my right shoulder to check him out as I started an impromptu interval to scoot on by :) He was pretty excited!
   
2. Typical training days as a full-time (plus) consultant and dad. People keep saying that they don't see how I keep my schedule without burning out. Stay tuned :)

That's all for now. Off to get some rest before my first day of cycling intervals in a couple months. This is going to hurt in a great way!

I can't complain

Last weekend was the Havasu Triathlon at my hometown of Lake Havasu City. My fourth time doing this race, which was also my first olympic-distance tri. I really enjoy this one for a bunch of reasons. I get to see my parents (and they get to see me race, which is pretty rare). It is a great measuring stick for my early-season fitness, and to see where I'm at compared to previous years. And, most of all, it's just a fun race. There are so many collegiate athletes...and FAST ones...to put you in your place. There is always a big TriCat group (my former team!), as the turnout from a bunch of other universities is great also: ASU, CSU, New Mexico, NAU, US Military Academy (Army), Air Force, the list goes on. CU Boulder, the defending national champ, was there in great form and look to be in good shape to take the title again this year.

Going into the race, I knew to keep my expectations in check. Following Ironman Arizona, I have been taking it relatively easy. Actually, February was VERY easy--two runs and three bike rides I think? Basically, I was going into the race on two weeks of training... Anyway, quick race report.

Swim was good, especially toward the second half (as always because that's when I find my groove). Came out of the water in decent position. Not as fast as previous years, but not ridiculously slow. About two minutes into the bike, I knew it wouldn't be my day. Normally I find my groove early and the bike feels awesome. I found myself running out of gears early and often. I spent the rest of the ride trying to push hard but not burying myself before the run. I found some unsuspecting victims to legally draft on the way back into T2 (three bike lengths means little into a 15+ mph headwind :) ). I think the guy had a little too much pride to let me pass him, so hey, I took advantage. Came off the bike knowing no PRs were going to be set, but I pushed anyway. Coming out of T2, I think this picture summarizes my race:













Hey, at least the new team kit looks awesome! Felt pretty decent after the run turnaround and just tried to push back in. No spectacular results, but that's okay. The season is young (VERY young) and there is a lot of racing to come. This weekend was about hanging out with the family and making tri a family affair.

























Went to the awards ceremony that evening knowing I wouldn't get an award, just to hang out with old and new friends. Plus an awards ceremony at a bar is not to be missed! I was able to hold myself back from showing off my pole dancing talents--yes, there were stripper poles. However, I did get to hang out in the hot tub later with some beautiful girls...














Now, back in Tucson, and still in training mode. Greatly enjoying my brand new ride, which is begging to be ridden often, ridden fast, and raced. I will oblige. Looking forward to spending some time later this week training with some Zoom Performance athletes and coaches. Tom and Matt, you might want to come get these!




















Time to juggle the "non-traditional" schedule (training all day, working all night). Gotta love it! Then, next week I'll finally have a training plan in hand designed by someone who knows what they're doing (i.e. not me), thanks to Bill Daniel at Grasky Endurance Coaching. With the April-July schedule pretty much set, it's time to get busy!

A vision that was lost that you returned

Last weekend was exactly what I needed.

A cure to my lack of training enthusiasm ended with TriFest. After training with the TriCats for two years, it is hard to get motivated to train and race for myself. With a team atmosphere, you are racing for your school. When you get down, your teammates can pick you up. If you get cocky, there is always someone there to put you back in your place.

Enter TriFest. For the first time, the TriSports team was really encouraged to come out to Tucson (or stay in Tucson I suppose) to meet the rest of the team, enjoy some team training, and get to know the people and company that support us. Most people got into Tucson on Thursday evening, and the group met up on Friday morning for a large group assault on Mt. Lemmon. The ride was mellow to the base as always, with lots of conversation, meeting new people, and trying not to get run over by cars. I met several of my teammates, and people from random places around the country coming out for some warm weather training and to spend some time at TriFest. A quick stop at the base, and then we took off up the mountain. The group shattered immediately (as always), and the strong cyclists and climbers led the way. Given my lack of base training (and I'm not a good climber anyway), I took it fairly mellow and enjoyed the company and scenery. I think it was my first Lemmon climb in almost a year even though I live in Tucson. That will have to change this year! Headed back to the shop for awesome post-ride goodies and lunch.

After a couple hours break, we were off for a group swim. After the climb, I don't think I was the only one nervous about the workout. The first set did not put my mind at ease... Thankfully, the second set was a mix of drill work and various "fun swimming" (an oxymoron?), including swimmer tug-'0'-war. Good times.

Friday evening was the team dinner. We had I think 24 out of 28 team members show up for a catered dinner from Oreganos (one of my favorite Tucson restaurants!). Team introductions really showed the kind of company I was in. Several pros and very impressive age groupers, most with "real" jobs and several with families, ranging in age from 20 to over 65. Then, a quick company history video. TriSports.com literally started in Seton's garage, and his amateur video really tells the story of how things have come to be. The company has come a long way, thanks to what is truly a family atmosphere, and a growing base of customers. This place rocks. Then a tour of the continually expanding and re-organized warehouse and company offices. Everywhere there is evidence of fun. Plasma cars scattered about from the employee races around the warehouse the previous week, Seton talking about the indoor driving range development, etc. They literally have a massage room...a therapist comes in and tends to the employees. Is that cool or what?!

After a late bedtime, up EARLY for the "mystery workout". We all rode together to the Marriott Starr Pass resort for a team sprint triathlon! No open water in Tucson? No problem. Time-trial start down a waterslide into a lazy river, where we swam...backward. Hopped on the bikes for two laps on the rolling hills around the resort, which brought back painful memories of TriCats race-pace repeats... Then finished it off with a super hilly, technical trail run behind the resort. Check out some of the pictures and a recap here. Overall, tons of fun, and in that crowd, I was happy just not to finish dead last ;)

After enjoying some post-"race" snacks, we took to the roads for a cool-down spin, which it turns out was not a cool down at all. It was more of a mixed hill climb/flat-changing clinic/TT back to the shop to get there in time for lunch. Lunch was spectacular of course--I think most food is spectacular when you've finished a longer than expected ride and are near bonking... Then, I took a trip around the expo to visit with the vendors and check out all the new goodies.

Home for a quick shower, then back for the "VIP dinner". Catered food and open bar, a beer mile, and casino night--TriFest traditions. Then, shall we say, the night went on. Limo ride, visits to various other establishments around Tucson, and late-night/early morning Nicos burritos. It was a good night!! And probably my last night out for quite a while.

This epic long weekend brought back my enthusiasm for triathlon--the community is truly unique. When the retail stores, bike/bike parts/wetsuit/shoe companies (including several competitors), distributors, and athletes/customers hang out like family and truly consider each other friends, that is something special.

So, what is the aftermath? Since TriFest, I have signed up for two more races (Vineman 70.3, Phoenix Triathlon) and the TriSports Triathlon Club. I bought a new road bike so that I'll be able to jump back into cycling group rides and hopefully some races. It is going to be a very busy year, but I'm ready to get it done. Here's hoping for another great year with lots of training, racing, and friendship; and hopefully many years to come.

If you're interested in getting to know the community and culture, you need not wait for TriFest 2012. Get your butt in gear and head up to Show Low for the Deuces Wild Triathlon Festival in June!! Be ready to witness the community that is triathlon in Arizona.

oh oh, what are you waiting for?

So, I've been conducting an experiment. A hairy one. I decided yet again to grow a beard...well, as much of a beard as I can. I am also growing my hair out...well, as much hair as I have left. The lack of abundance I make up in length. Also, hairy legs. Not much of an experiment for most guys, but definitely an experiment for a "serious triathlete". This is not the first such experiment. They usually start during long weeks of field work when I NEVER shave, and rarely brush my hair. Hey, when you spend your days playing in the mud and trees and applying bug spray and sunscreen, there is no reason for these things.

These experiments also tend to lead to a lot of reflection/identity crises. Hey, if you never question what you're doing, how can you believe in it? I know that is a pathetic rip-off of a movie line, but it's not coming to mind...

I am finally recovered psychologically (well, more or less) from grad school (it only took a year), and definitely getting into my job again (see previous post). The problem is that I tend to be able to focus on one thing at a time (see also previous post). So, the last three weeks have been ridiculously packed with fieldwork/conferences/business development and there has been little training involved. Of course one of the biggest problems is that my company for the last two field trips is a 68-year-old that works circles around me. We leave the hotel at sunset, and return at dark. There is no enthusiasm left at that point (read no training). I have finally been forced into a REAL break from training and thinking about training and feeling let down when I skip a working and am not stressed to know that I'm not thinking about training. With junior staff I feel like I can say "oh, we'll start at 8 tomorrow" or "we'll keep it to a 9-hour day today." Well, Bob is not exactly "junior staff" and when there is work to get done, you get it done!

Anyway, here are the outcomes of my experiment:

• Conclusion Number 1: Beards are not aerodynamic--AT ALL. In fact, my beard has made me significantly slower. I'd say good for 30 sec/mile running, and 1 mph on the bike.
• Conclusion Number 2: Beards are heavy--REALLY HEAVY. In fact, it appears that mine weighs ~10 pounds.

Now that I have come to those revolutionary conclusions, it's time! I will keep the beard for now just to gain additional evidence to support the above conclusions. But it's time to get back into action. Sorry body, I hope you're ready for this. TriFest this month, an olympic tri that I will not be in shape for, and two months until Wildflower.

I know the me that is only focused on triathlon. He' s a high-strung PITA. I know the me that only thinks about work. He is fat and unhealthy and still a high-strung PITA. It is time to get my head on straight and find the new family-work-training balance. Lots of family time. Lots of restoration. Lots of sweat. Let's do this.

You'll never be what is in your heart.

If you know me, you know I don't believe that. If anything, I have been (justifiably) criticized for being shameless about wearing my heart on my sleeve. "Say what you need to say"? No problem. Keeping my mouth shut or thinking through things? A bit trickier. When I decided to move to Ajo for work after my undergrad, I think I decided in about an hour. Time to move back to Tucson, go broke, and pursue my MS? I think it took a day.

I think I can confidently say now that my post PhD burnout has subsided, and I am getting generally enthused about the work I do. When you combine my inability to apply a filter somewhere between my head and my mouth (I give all credit to my genes ;) ), the enthusiasm that comes with several years of study on riparian systems in the Southwest, and the amount of intensity that comes from training for four years as a triathlete, it can get a little ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, my attention span is about a mm wide. However, my level of intensity for that mm is ridiculous--think the refraction of sunlight through a magnifying glass. It's funny, as a teenager, I was a baseball pitcher. I dreamed of baseball. I had a hard time falling asleep at night because I was visualizing--baseball. However, for some reason I could not chew gum and pitch (just ask my dad!).

So, anyway, this is how I am about my work. I get research ideas thrown to me, and I stop and start sketching experimental layouts. This happened at the last conference I went to, and I hesitated to show my enthusiasm to potential clients. Don't know why; lack of confidence I suppose. As a scientist/engineer, I don't want to scare people away. Hmmm... Anyway, I was talking to my parents about this last week. I told my dad, "yeah, lots of interesting stuff potentially in the future, but I don't want to get too excited." My dad's immediate response was, "get excited!" I was thrown off a bit, because in general I don't know if my parents really understand what it is that I do. However, I know that my dad knows my enthusiasm, and he was simply reminding me to think like a kid again--shamelessly wear your heart on your sleeve be confident in your KSAs (if you've applied for a federal job you know what I'm talking about). Don't hesitate to be enthusiastic about what you want to do. Share your ideas. I have been working toward this career path for nearly 12 years. Go after it and GET EXCITED. New resolution for the rest of 2011. Get after it, and make it happen. Script your own future, and pave your own path to success. It's go-time.

ain't ever seen the end to no story, 'cause no story ever ends

So, it looks like we have a definite decision...probably ;)

For the last couple years, Shannon and I have been talking about staying or going. And, staying it is (well, kinda).

After high school in Lake Havasu City, we both came to Tucson for college. Let's get this straight--I don't think that Tucson is impressive at first glance. Especially when you are stuck on and around campus. Coming from Havasu, where essentially everything has been built since 1960, Tucson seems, well, old. And diversity is a scary reality. Diversity in Havasu consists of young white folks, middle-aged white folks, and old white folks. This place takes an open mind and a sense of adventure. After a couple years, we were dating, and no longer living on campus. Instead, we lived in another relatively scary part of town. Yep, still not impressed--SWAT teams busting into apartments in our complex, camera and CDs stolen out of my car WHILE we were moving.

Finished undergrad, moved to Ajo for a year, then back to the UA for grad school. Lived a little farther from campus, and it was better. But, neither one of us got to explore too much. There's something about grad school that keeps you from getting out much, especially when you're both working for some very intense professors... Then, engagement, and the question of where to live. Shannon had landed a job at IBM by then, so Tucson was the place to be. When you go house shopping in this town, you get to know it. Oro Valley to Sahuarita, Vail to Tucson Estates. Let's just say there is good, bad, and everything in between. If you want (relatively) urban, you can find it. Fancy? Sure. Rural with land, and no neighbors? All over the place. Decent prices, awesome scenery, and lots of trail running led to the Tucson Estates area. We have been relatively happy here, but the lack of young families and a good school district made us reconsider. It became clear that we would be moving eventually. Thus the search.

We spent a long weekend in Denver exploring in fall 2009, and we were impressed. It is a different place for sure. After being in Tucson for a while, it was almost uncomfortable to go to a concert in Denver with zero diversity (and few tans). BUT, there is definitely a lot to enjoy. Mountains, prairie, college towns, a REAL winter, water everywhere, etc.

Tucson also has a LOT. Where else can you go from desert at 2000' to douglas first at 8000' plus in a half-hour drive (or 3-hour ride). The cost of living is pretty awesome (as long as you didn't buy a house in 2006-2007). There are opportunities for kids--especially compared to Havasu--so you can't complain.

Then there is the job situation. For the last five+ years, I have been working on restoration projects on the lower Colorado River. The place I grew up, and know like very few others do. It has been more than a little rewarding to spend my time growing trees, playing in the dirt, watching the wildlife, and enjoying the desert sunrises and sunsets. Saying this place is close to my heart is an understatement. I am not sure if I have really become over-qualified or too specialized, but I have sent out literally over a hundred resumes to Denver companies and universities. ZERO (yes, literally, zero) callbacks over the last year and a half.

Finally, training. The roads in Tucson leave a lot to be desired. The pool hours suck during the winter thanks to city budget cuts. The five-month summer and 7-month spring/fall lets you train outside basically all year long. Summers are hot for sure, but I do well in the heat, and in Tucson you can usually count on relatively cool nights/mornings. Winters are not really winters, but it does get cold once in a while. My cold tolerance is terrible...in fact I didn't train at all when the highs were in the 30s and 40s a couple weeks ago. Apparently I am a desert rat after all.

We have been waiting for signs, and I think they have been abundant recently. Work has been going great, and I am excited to see where it leads. The girls are doing great and enjoying their schools. After the Tucson shootings, we were really impressed with the sense of community that emerged. Shannon was lucky enough to find some Ben's Bells in the week that followed. I have been fortunate enough to be sponsored by TriSports.com for the last two years, and 2011 as well.

A lot of it comes down to this: in general, people tend to complain about where they live. Too small, too expensive, too crowded, boring, etc., etc. I think the place is what you make of it. If you are boring, you will be bored ;) But seriously, wherever you move, you are stuck with yourself. We are really terrible at getting out and meeting people, but hopefully that will change with a change in state of mind. I'm ready to accept my job (and the good and bad that comes with it), accept where I live, and get truly involved with the community, meet some new people, and enjoy all the life the lies ahead.

So, here's the scoop: we'll be looking to relocate from the west side to the east side in the near future, somewhere in Vail School District. BUT, we're planning to stay in southern Arizona, and our next address is likely to finish with "Tucson, AZ 85***". Looking forward to getting involved with the community, the triathlon community (especially the new Tucson Tri Club), and watching the kids grow up in one of the best school districts around. Sorry Tucson, you are stuck with us! :)

ride out the wave

Or not :) I declared this 100-100-100 challenge with good intentions, but the reality is a bit of a struggle. Basically, to do ANY cycling, I have to do 4-a-days (swim, bike, run, P90X). The typical days have gone like this:

1. Try to get up a 5 am to go swimming. Too spent from P90 the night before, so sleep in.
2. Work, then squeeze in a swim at lunch. With a 15-minute drive each way, plus 1-hour swim, looking at a 90-minute lunch break... Work for a couple hours, then leave to pick the girls up (read an optimistic 6-7 hour day at the office).
   
3. Squeeze in a run before dark, take a shower (non-showered dad/husband at the dinner table is no good!).
4. Dinner, cleaning up after the girls, packing lunches for the next day, tuck girls in to bed. Suddenly it's 8 pm. P90 from 8-9:30. Cool down, shower (wet towel, argh!), pack for the next day, finally finish my work day, etc., and suddenly it's 11 pm. After that, no wonder it's a struggle to get up 6 hours later...
   

With no cycling involved and/or if I didn't work full-time, it wouldn't be as big a deal. But, the reality is that my goal is to become a better triathlete through:

• increased run and swim fitness (and hopefully speed to come with it over the course of the year)
• increased core strength (to help with back issues)
• increased flexibility (for my back and ITB syndrome, and to help with swim, bike, and run form)
• increased general strength for injury prevention
  

I guess I have realized that through a more balanced approach, I should be able to accomplish these without sacrificing my strength on the bike. This is going to be VERY important considering my race schedule is filling up quickly with some moderately-serious ("B") races in March, and my first A race in April at Wildflower.

I might revert to a basic P90X program next off-season, but I'll have to start in early November so that I finish the program earlier in the spring. For now, I'm going to a hybrid program, with 4 days of P90X per week, 7-ish runs, and four swims. The good news is that, at this point, I have gained a lot of run fitness (up over 40 miles/week with no aches or pains), and my strength has already improved A LOT (there is no denying that P90X works!). I will be moving on to an early-season run and swim build, while getting back on the road bike in earnest. I have ridden my road bike exactly four times since Ironman Arizona; my tri bike has not moved from the stand since it returned from Tempe... :) Going off-road has just been much more appealing!

Speaking of which (as a side-note), I have started a new group MTB ride in Tucson! We ride every Friday, and finish around sunset (start time is sunset minus 90 minutes). If you're in Tucson, or will be visiting, check out the Facebook page: Tucson West MTB. Many of us will be racing off-road tris, duathons, or just MTB races this year, but we have beginners as well. Come check it out!

I'll be throwing on my new Cobb V-Flow Plus saddle today and then setting the bike up on the Cycle Ops Mag Trainer (no, unlike lots of others, I have not upgraded to the Lemond Revolution). Yes, we sometimes ride on trainers in Tucson too. The days are just too short! I am so happy that the days are now getting longer. I'm savoring the extra minute or two per day!

If not now, then when?

My plan for the new year is just about set! I will be racing a lot (again), but doing more shorter races. My long-term (over the next couple years) is to be able to realistically chase after a Kona slot. To get there, let there be no doubt. I need to get FASTER. So, this year will be about intensity--getting to that "next level" of fitness; learning to push even when it hurts; learning to turn off the mind and trust the body. So, a lot of short races (oly and shorter) with a few halfs thrown in because I want to (it is my favorite distance after all). In my mind during all races, I will GO FOR IT. Here is a decent article from Active.com on doing just that.

That's all for now. I'll try to get a draft race schedule up this week, and a quick update on my 100-100-100 self-challenge. Sneak peek: it has been a challenge...