2011 Season Opener

Sunday's race was about 3 things: get the winter cob webs out, collect wattage data, and go hard. It was awesome to sleep in my bed, wake up no earlier than I would to train, and enjoy a March race that didn't involve frigid waters. The water in Coronado flows from Mexico, and was way warmer than I ever remember the water being for Cali70.3. No brain freeze = is a good thing!
The elite wave went off at 8:00. I wish I could report that the swim was uneventful. If that were the case I probably would of held with (or closer to) the lead pack of girls. (unlike long distance racing, these short course girls can swim!) I was out to the first buoy with the lead group. I believe I found Christina Jackson's feet, and was happy to settle in there. Just then a girl decided it would be smart to grab my ankle and YANK me backwards. I've never had this happen! I lost my feet, and then to add poison to the wound she threw an elbow at my head. Unreal, I don't know what she was trying to accomplish. Instead of jumping on my feet or sharing the draft she sent us both backwards while the group swam away. Now that the results are posted, I know who it is. Next time I see her I hope to give her a hug, and shower her with sportsmanship...
That aside, the swim went well. I worked hard (better than my typical settling in). I came out of the water 1minuite down from the leader.

 Thank you Kevin -Finishline Multisport- for the pics!!!

Bike: I honestly don't want to go into this much. I don't know exactly what went wrong out there. My quads were on fire, and I felt like I was pushing hard....while in reality I was going backwards. I 100% should not have lost the kind of time I did. I analyzed the ride to the extent that it will help me moving forward. I also revisited my bike fit yesterday. The goal was to get some wattage numbers, and well we did. Turns out I also learned the first lesson about installing a power meter: you can't change the chain ring after it's been calibrated. This changes the calibration (makes sense now) because different material/stiffness=  different force. So, the numbers we did get were way off from those I was actually producing.  There was, however, a pattern and Chris analyzed what we did get and will use it to shape my training.

Run: The race is put on by a few great friends of mine. Mitch Hall is one of the race directors, and Ben Vaughan handles the race day volunteers. They were both at the exit of T2, and let me know that "my work was cut out for me, [so I best] start running hard and not slow down." The first two miles were on a softer sand trail with a few twists and turns. I couldn't see anyone ahead of me, so I just worked on leg turn over and put the throttle down (why didn't I do this on the bike. ugh!). My first two miles I clocked around 6:35 pace. Considering the soft sand I figured this wasn't so shabby. Mile 3 was on a straight packed trail, and my pace jumped substantially. I checked in with where the girls were ahead of me, and at the turn around knew my only hope was to move up one spot.

 Lesson learned: No matter how wrong a race might be going, it's still an opportunity to make large fitness gains from going "race hard". I kept pushing the pace. My next mile 6:10. It quickly looked like my typical (half and full IM) race strategy of negative splitting my runs was going to be a cinch. The last 3.2 miles were on concrete.This is where I have to thank Christina. I could see her ahead of me, and used her as motivation to keep running fast. It would of been easy to slow up and say it just wasn't my day. Instead I dropped my pace to 5:45 and gave it everything I had. I ran out of real estate, so was unable to catch anyone. I finished with a new PR 10k- 39:40. Considering the terrain, I am happy with that. Something good to take from the race- I haven't been focusing on running at all this winter, but it is still there. Problem is, I have been focusing on cycling, and that wasn't there.
But the analysis has been done, and in the end the race was totally worth it. I had fun, and enjoyed going through the motions before it really counts. Looks like the next race will be New Orleans70.3 in 3 weeks.
Until then, me and the CinQo will be spending a lot of time getting to know each other.

Camp Continued

Our time in St. George continued with more swim, bike, run...and many many more laughs. Most people in the group are from San Fran, and have been fortunate to have been working with Chris for some time.

Everyone welcomed me into the group with open arms. The weekend was an absolutely perfect introduction into what a killer coach Chris is! I saw first hand how much he cares about each athlete...and it was awesome to watch him out there tearing it up with us. He will no doubt be an inspiration to me along the way!
Day 2 included another ride, and a longer transition run. We rolled down to the lake and said a quick prayer for those racing (that the water would warm up of course).

It was a quick: "look at the pretty lake," and then we were rolling again. I jumped on the wheel of Chris and Rich and let them set a good tempo for the ride home. By the looks of this pic, we must have been moving right along...

While most of the gang scouted out the run course, I headed for the trails. Since I'm not racing St. George, I opted for the more scenic terrain. Plenty of ups and downs, and many epic views. I got completely lost in there, and loved every second of it (Just as I was about to start my run Chris said "feel free to run 90 minutes if you want, it's gorgeous back there." I utilized every minute and took it all in). Almost 12 miles of trail running= pure heaven. It was the mental escape us runners and triathletes crave!

Crave. Did someone say Krave? So, if you're going out for Ironman you have to hit this place up. Last time I was there Katya and I went nuts w/ their Only 8 fro yo. This time I knew to overload on it Sat night because it isn't open on Sundays.

 Sorry for the side bar topic, but I don't want any of you St. George racers to miss out on the KRAVE experience.
We topped off our training on Saturday with a solid swim session, and a quick meal, before heading off to bed. Sunday was a dark and early start (time change). First up, a 2 hour run through another set of miraculous trails. I was blessed with the company of an equally spectacular running partner. After Sat's trail run my legs weren't capable of much. I just wanted to cruise, and laugh- so I called upon Soup to lead the way. I mean, if you're nickname is Soup you have to be funny...right?!?!?!

Thanks for the run Matt!!! I can't wait to watch you crush this course in a few short weeks.

We quickly transitioned to the bike for one last spin through the IM course. If anyone has any questions about the course, I now know just about every detail of it!  Animals and all...

And that's a wrap. The weekend was exactly what I needed! I returned to San Diego with a renewed sense of excitement and love for the sport. Oh, and thanks to Chris I also returned as a tired, but happy, camper.

Keep it real, and whatever you do- KEEP IT FUN!

News...Exciting News

It seems like forever ago that I was standing on the Big Island deciding whether it was time for me to start working with a coach. The search began the day after Ironman. I met with a few people there, Lava Java of course, and talked to many more after. I wanted to find someone that: understood where I'm at and what I want to accomplish, could help me learn how to integrate power into my training and racing, could help me learn more about my fitness, strength, & weaknesses from doing various fitness testing, and simply someone who believes in me. That said, really, above anything else I was just looking for that indescribable connection that would allow me to completely trust in the their approach. I did pretty well on my own (with immense help from friends-Terry, Brad, KP to name a few!) but knew in my heart that it was time to really commit to a coach.
Well...I'm confident that I've found something very special! and am ecstatic to now be working with Chris Hauth. I don't know where to begin, but let's just say I already trust him 100% and know I'm in amazing hands. It is so obvious that he really cares about his athletes, understands where triathlon stands in my life, and has a pretty amazing athletic resume! He is a former olympic swimmer and ironman champion... but what really sold me?? He too is a former Wolverine (swam at UofM). Hell's ya- team GO BLUE! in the making!!!

When I found this pic online, I couldn't resist ;-)

Last week our journey together started with a little testing & training. I met Chris and his testing guru, Craig Upton, in L.A. for lactate testing.  This was the critical first step to a new focused/meaningful training approach.

From there we set off for St. George, where Chris will be racing in a few short weeks. We had several hours in the car to get to know each other, and by the time we got to St. George I felt like I've known him for years. PS- if anyone ever tells me they can't fit another bike in their car I might have some doubt. 1 car, 2 passengers, 12 bikes!!!

Day 1 of camp included a swim (time for me to actually get into the pool again!!), 92mile bike out on the course, and a quick run preview of the first section of the run course. Last year I spent the week before Ironman St. G training out there. It was freezing, and the winds were insane! This time around it was much more enjoyable, and the sun was shinning every day.

Day one was the start of "training with a purpose." So many of us get so caught up in how many hour we train, and how that compares to other athletes. (I do it too!). For me, this is not the answer for how to get faster on the bike. Chris pulled in the reigns and held me back during the first 2.5 hrs. Thereafter, it was all about quality. I focused on the work I needed to do and in the end felt a greater benefit (both mentally and physically).

A special thanks to GU for sending the group a plethora of nutrition to keep us fueled. We tested the new GU Electrolyte tabs (flavors: orange, lemon-lime & peach tea), and survey says...LOVE 'EM!

Ok, this is quickly becoming a long one, so we'll leave it at that for now. More camp re-cap tomorrow, and I think there might be a little more fun news to share later in the week. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading! I am beyond excited to be an AIMP athlete, and I can't wait to share this journey with you... 

The Finale: Morro Bay- Santa Barbara

Ohhhh ya baby! I woke up and was surprised to find it wasn't as painful to sit in the saddle as I thought it might be. Or maybe it's because I used a half bottle of chamois cream in my shorts. Whatever it takes, these legs had 125miles to go. Day 2's train-o-pain didn't leave me smiling as I rode into the hotel. Lucky for me, day 3 started with an easy 15mile stroll, and coffee stop. As if I hadn't digested enough caffeine over the past 2 days. Coffee, 2xcaffeine Roctane GU , and cold double shot espresso drinks were my potions of choice.

55 people started the ride from the Golden Gate bridge. Although some only rode day 1 or did partial days, most rode the entire way. After stopping for coffee it was time for our finale! SMILE, and 2 seconds later we were off again!
Ohhhhhhhhhhh crap. Hold on legs! My ability to hold in there on the hills, or cover the gap after falling off hurt more than ever. I didn't mind accepting a few pushes from the guys. My ego was long gone, as I was just happy to still be participating. Eventually I had to call "UNCLE!" and let the group fly away. (This wasn't a new attempt for comic relief. I literally yelled "uncle" a few times the previous day. However, it was followed up with encouragement and "don't give up" pleas from those around me.)
The group stopped for water a few miles later,. but I rolled on with Beth and the Thirsty Bear boys. Day after day , they kept us laughing! (Seriously, I keep having random reminders of the off-the-wall comments they'd yell to us and find myself laughing). Notice our shorts and jersey only attire, blue skies and sunshine. The weather kept getting better!

The scenery couldn't compare to that of Day 2. I think I started getting a bit delusional. What?!?! talking to the random farm animals along the way seemed totally appropriate!

I arrived at our our lunch stop feeling pretty darn good. I was scared to stop as I didn't want my legs to lock up. I rolled in and tried to get some help with my first mechanical issue. My bike wasn't shifting properly. I was limited in gear choice but sucked it up and rode on. I wasn't laughing quite as much during our post lunch stop hill session, but better to have this problem in day 3 as opposed to day 1. Oh well, ride on!
Eventually we made it! I raced for the Santa Barbara city limit sign- awwww ya, who's a cyclist now ;-) Can we say, horse riding for the barn?!?!?!
3 days, 380miles. I did it! Faster than expected...but also way more fun than anticipated.

A quick smile for the camera, a quicker shower, and Beth and I were off for the train station. Thankfully there were a few restaurants across the street from the train station. We stocked up and with 2 minutes to spare were ready for a long train ride back to SD. (We both agreed that we were happy to not be driving. We were a tad bit delirious, and not in any condition to operate a motor vehicle).
What a journey! Thanks for reading...and if you ever get the chance to do this ride- DO IT! Goodnight California coast...

Day 2- Seaside to Morro Bay. EPIC indeed

Day two was the highlight of my coastal journey. I woke up tired, but ready to rock 'n roll. By now I knew the pace would be strong (but later in the day realized the group would redefine "strong").
I was so scared of bonking during the ride that I took extreme care to properly fuel myself. This is as close as I've ever come to the "I can eat anything I want" mentality. Truth is, no matter how much we consumed I'd still be at a deficit by the end of day 3. So the morning started with a killer breakfast. I ate one of everything, and loaded my pockets with seconds. The start of the ride was dark and dewy, but this set the stage for spectacular views to come.

I was told the ride to Big Sur would be killer in terms of climbing and scenery. I couldn't fathum just how awesome it would be! I will try to share pictures with you here, but imagine rolling up and down a mountain while ascending and descending through a layer of puffy clouds. It was jaw dropping! and I enjoyed every second of it...

Once we hit the mountains the group started to break apart. I didn't mind- this meant I could actually look to my right and left and enjoy the morning. This will go down as the best 85miles I've spent on 2 wheels. The pictures don't even do it justice.

 Some people drive the coast, but to ride it and be part of it was breathtaking. Thanks to Steve for this amazing pic...yup, that's me! KILLER shot!

Once the fog lifted the sun gave light to the clear blue water that would remain on our right for miles to come. Have I mentions how awesome these hours of riding were? I rode most of this section with my new friend Zach. It was another opportunity from me to learn how to properly descend. Riding with this group might bring me one step closer to calling myself a real cyclist!

12 miles to go until our quick lunch stop (where I purchased the most expensive bottle of water and double shot I've ever. Even worse than Disney World prices...worth every penny!) From there I was told it would be 40miles of easy flat riding. I was skeptical. The winds had been in our face for two days, and knew flat/rolling terrain meant the turbo train would be moving full steam ahead.

I don't have any pictures from this portion of the day. But imagine this: A strong head wind, causing the mass pack of bikes to span across a lane of traffic on the 101. Every time I looked at my Garmin500 it confirmed that our pace was insane- 28+mph. I tried hard to stay tucked behind the speedsters. I didn't dare take a pull as it would have resulted in me getting shot off the back 10secs later. I am finally learning how to survive these psycho group hammer sessions (survive being the relative term here).
After the ride I learned that we flew by Hertz Castle and a large family of elephant seals (hear they mimicked the size of a whale. Can't tell you from personal experience. The only thing I saw was the wheel in front of me). Guess I'll have to check out the Hertz Castle another time.
Once back at the hotel all anyone could talk about was the insane riding that just ensued. I knew if I didn't do everything I could to recover I wouldn't make it out of bed the next day. So we rallied the troops and made our way to the ocean for a cold soak.

Then it was off to dinner where I consumed a burrito a size of my head. Once back at the hotel we laughed about how the day unfolded. My legs were toast! 

Day 2 in the bank: 126miles, 7,900ft of climbing, lots of pain inflicted. Thanks boys!!! Feelin' the love.
Only 125miles to go...