The End of Another Season!

Sad to say, but the end of another season for me is in the books. Not the year an “Average Joe” endurance athlete plans for, but fulfilling none the less. I had bigger dreams and plans, but life got in the way…shit!

The good and bad wrapped up in a paragraph;
- GOOD - I had a ball racing mtb’s, attempted my first Tri with so-so success, trotted to the FINISH line of my second full marathon.
- BAD - I’m not in the shape I know I could be and compete at the level I want to compete at. I’m an average athlete with a burning desire to do the best I can.

This winter my off season promises to be exciting. I have started to coordinate a realistic race schedule for 2010 along with a training plan to assure me better results. This secret strategy includes the following…
1) A strong running program
2) structured weight training program
3) an exciting cycling plan that will make anyone puke

“That’s all I have to say about that.” –Forrest Gump

Tri or not to Tri…That is the Question!

Well, leading up to my first Triathlon there are a few things I have learned to do and a many things I have learned not to do. The excitement and physical preparation has been awesome. The mental thoughts have taken my mind on a roller coaster of exhaustion. That part I actually like. The emotional high and lows build characteristics that I know will prepare me for many, many challenges outside of the athletic arena in my life.

I did not prepare the way many Tri athletes prepare. I have simply been riding my MTB on trails. A few fun 5k races, a handful of MTB races here and there…a little single speed riding at the Ruby Trail Project and I completed a 6 hour event at Pando the week prior on the single speed. Sure, I have done a few road rides with a set of slicks on the ol’ mtb, but overall the majority of my riding has been on the dirt. My swimming is something less than spectacular and running has been a training tool of simple recovery days to keep the legs loose. I had planned to use whatever I had in the tank and A LOT of GRIT to muscle through the race. I wanted to just experience the challenge.

The event I entered was only a Sprint Triathlon, but still a 500m open water swim, 20k road ride, and then finish up with a 5k run can take its toll on anyone.

I had a goal of 1hour 10minutes going into the event. I thought I could hang on with a 13min swim. Rock 35mins on the bike and kill the run with a 20min 5k. Add 2 minutes of transitions and bam…1hour 10mins, right?

The swim started off okay and I doggie paddled, floated, back stroked and splashed like a kid in a pool. However, when I excited the water I could still see the pack in front of me and I smiled. I got through the 1st transition and was pumped about the bike. I started off and was blazing. I picked off a few guys in my AG, and then about mile 3 into the ride my hamstrings decided today was not the day to push so hard. Cramps set in and I downshifted to spin an easier gear to maintain my position for a few hundred yards. The cramps never seemed to go away and I had no power at all. My mental game was on and ready to rock, but no delivery from my chicken legs…spent, son! I knew at this point it was going to be all survival mode which makes for a long ride and a longer 5k run coming home. When I made it back to the 2nd transition I pitted my bike slipped into my running shoes and out of the gate I went. I started to run and nothing, I mean nothing! My legs had enough and said “Um, sorry mister not today!” This was a huge blow because just the previous Monday night I did a 5k in about 19:40 and was pumped about laying it down at the tri. Instead I jogged the course and decided to take it all in. I began to think about the ENTIRE race, the ENTIRE preparation, and the ENTIRE journey!

I had a few teammates and many friends competing and cheering. Paul Seely, Brian Seely, Ben Miller, Pat Ward from TSB and many other pals from JUST FINISH competed. Lee Tremp, Jason Schneider, Kevin Green and many, many other friends and family hung out for the event. Thanks to all of them for the support.

I have decided that I will attempted another tri and I will work on a few transition drills and tips, do a few specific training “brick” workouts for the body to be ready for the different disciplines and I know I will be even more competitive next time.

Although, I have not seen the final results online my time posted on the prelims was 1hour 19mins. I think I took 30th overall out of about 190 entrants and 8th in my class. Congrats to all the finishers who took the challenge!

Getting after something new can be challenging and rewarding no matter what the final results are. I’m glad I have attempted a new event and I’m very happy that my family; Renee, Reese, and Rayna where there to share the personal experience with me.

Catchin' Up!

Completed the Bologna 5k run on Saturday July 25th and snagged a first in my AG. This is a fun race held in Yale, MI every year. This was my first time running the event and I will be back. I was way off of my personal goal of breaking 18mins, but have a few more planned for the year...look out! I followed it up on Sunday with the Stony Creek MTB Time Trial. I rode fair and finished mid pack. The girls got to hang out and race as well. I'm a proud dad of two pretty cool girls. The photos above are from the Stony Creek event. My pal Jason The Shitty Blogger took the snap shots! Thanks, bro!

Outside of those quick events...been running, mtbing, road riding, and yes folks swimming!!!! You see I plan on attempting my first Triathlon August 23rd. It’s a local event and I plan to tackle the sprint distance this time around. 500m swim, 20k bike, 5k run. This will be just enough to make me puke, but not enough to make my eyes bulge & bleed finishing up the run.

My mtb schedule has been lacking the weekend in and weekend out event after event this summer. Honestly, it has been nice not thinking about mtb’s 24/7. I have had a perfect mix of family, fun, and recreation. COOL!

This weekend I plan to get after a multi-sport event with obstacles, mtb’s, mud pits, running and FUN! It’s a local event called the Mud Fest. Should be a great event to mix it up!

The End of a Fun Summer Weekend!

America's birthday has come and gone once again. I was off for 3 days and packed all of them to the brim with family fun, chores, hobbies, bbq's and more.

Last Friday morning I was able to get out in the woods and ride around Stony Creek with my brother Mark on our MTB's. This was great for the both of us to spend a bit of time away from the daily grind and take in some of the magic silence of the single track in the woods.

As soon as I got home Renee and I took the kids to lunch at Applebee's, then continued our journey to Lexington for a fun day of walking around the marina and beach. The girls got to have some ice cream and see all the boats docked in the marina for the fireworks show that was to take place later that night.

When we got home I had promised the girls we would camp out in the tent in the backyard. They helped me set it up and they were pumped to play with the flashlights and listen to the neighborhood fireworks.

Saturday July 4th I took the girls fishing in Richmond at Daren's house. We had to deliver a few pop-up tents for the BBQ and fireworks show later in the day. They loved fishing, Reese caught 3 and Ranya caught a good size bass.

In the afternoon we went back to the BBQ for some good ol' fashioned fun...horseshoes, beer, laughs, food, and the the BIG-BOOM-BANG-SHOW. Each and every year Devin (my brother-in-law) and Daren put on a better show. This year left no-one unsatisfied. Thank you to them for the great party!

Sunday after only a few winks I decided to tackle a quick 5k fun run in Algonac. The 27th annual pickerel race needed a good swift kick...I couldn't deliver, but ran with Ken (my brother-in-law) and several other JUST FINISH members. I managed a 2nd place finish in my A.G. category!

Later that afternoon, Renee and I were able to break away for a bit to get in a quick ride out on the Ruby Trail. She has only been on the trail a few times and she did awesome! Pretty technical trail for anyone to ride and she didn't gripe at all.

Whew, I'm whooped! All in all a great weekend packed with great memories!

Ruby XC - The Battle Within!

Yes, the battle within sometimes is stronger than the physical exertion one puts forth. I wrestled the ugly demon the last few weeks and last Sunday was like a cage match for me.

I tweaked my ankle the week prior to the event so my body was trying to heal and I kept pushing the time ahead too fast. Besides the ankle, I have not been on the bike much at all this year. This pisses me off because once the gun goes off I want to turn on the switch so bad, but physical preparation leading up to the guts and glory are slim. Making the battle within even harder. I want to compete and know I can compete, but no gas in the tank...ouch! I'm sure over the next few weeks I will start to catch my wind and hopefully be able to tune up the ol' internal motor. V'room, V'room.... :) :) :)

"Living The Dream" - TP

photo credit: "Social" Shorkey