Harvest Moon Race Report

A little behind on posting--the race was Saturday, September 12.

After weeks upon weeks of beautiful summer weather, the cold and wet arrived about 12 hours before the race. I awoke to temps in the mid ‘40s with a projected high of 58 degrees. This race has a long history of wild (mostly cold) weather but I was still a bit bummed about raceday being the one cold day surrounded by perfect days. Nothing to do about it—everyone had the same disadvantage.

Woke up early and went through the usual race morning ritual. Big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and then out the door in the dark for the hour drive. As has been the case all season, I had no nerves about the day—just confidence and eager anticipation. Met Whitney at the park & ride and we loaded her up in the truck and made the drive, arriving about 45 minutes before the start. I quickly set up transition, picked up my chip, got bodymarked, made a successful stop at the porta potty, and headed to the beach. It wasn’t as cold as a few years ago, but it was definitely uncomfortable. I had set up my transition area with some cold-weather bike gear and decided to decide on the fly as to whether to pull it on or just ride in my trisuit.

The start was about 15 minutes late—luckily, I didn’t get into the water until the first wave went off (or I would have been freezing). I was in the 5^th wave, 20 minutes after the first. I went through a little extra warmup in the water so I’d be ready to go from the gun if that’s what was required. I surveyed my wave at the line and didn’t see anyone I knew I could draft off. I took a position toward the inside and waited for the start.

Once we were off, I immediately started looking for feet. My plan was to get behind someone and save energy—even if it meant giving up a little time. It was quickly clear who was the fastest swimmer and I raced successfully to get onto his feet but the dude was a disastrous navigator. After a few minutes, he was headed hopelessly off course and moving faster than I felt I could comfortably maintain so I gave up the ride and realigned myself for the buoy. At this point, I’d been pulled out pretty far ahead of the field and there was only one other guy out there, swimming about even off to my left. I made a move for his feet as he made a move for mine—I lost (by ending up ahead of him) and I ended up pulling him out to the turnaround. He tapped my feet several times but I maintained my pace, hoping he’d go around and let me draft. Just after the turnaround, he came past me and I hopped on but he was really moving and I wasn’t willing to put in the energy to go with him. I could see him all the way back—and checking the results, he was Gordo Byrn (former pro). He put just under 30 seconds on me and I had to work alone on the way back, but I think it was a good call. (Gordo finished 5^th overall in the race and won the age group—it’s not like I ever had a shot at beating him.) I completely lost sight of the first guy but it turns out he wasn’t in my age group—I have no idea whether or not I beat him out of the water. Dude was a fast swimmer who needs a serious lesson in navigation—last I saw of him before the turnaround, he was a solid 40 meters off course. The swim was a bit short—my time was 24:38 (17^th best split of the day).

As I came into T1, I looked at how other racers were dressed for the cool weather. It was all over the board, but it seemed like most weren’t pulling on cold weather gear. Good enough for me. I hopped on the bike and hoped for the best. It was cold right away, but not debilitatingly so. I was having a hard time feeling my legs so I just started out at a pace that seemed right but when I was able to get a glimpse of my powermeter, I saw really big numbers. I quickly realized that I hadn’t zeroed out the torque and once I found a spot to coast for a few seconds, I made the reset and immediately saw numbers I could live with. This course is hilly, windy, and back-end loaded. For the most part, the wind is at your back or crossing for the first 40 miles. From there back in, it’s right in your face and the rollers are pretty big. I knew to be patient for the first 40—my goal was to ride even watts on the day. I felt like I did what I set out to do and had a great ride in 2:33:30 (21.9mph – 25^th best split of the day). With some help from coach Mike analyzing my data after the race, I now realize that I didn’t go out quite as easy as I should have, resulting in a small but important dropoff in power at the end—I was fatigued. It was close, but not quite what I needed to do and I probably gave up a little time off my run as a result.

I was quickly in and out of T2 and started the run at a strong but comfortable pace. The major theme of the run: poop. I skipped the porta-potty out of transition even though I needed to pee a little but the feeling went away after a mile or two and it felt like I was at the turnaround in no time. I was near the front of the race despite the +20 min wave start and had been watching calves the whole day—I was definitely in the top 5 AG at the turnaround. By mile 8, I started feeling like I needed to use the bathroom again but pushed on since I was still running strong. At mile 9, I could feel myself slowing down a little as my intestines began doing their thing. I was still running okay but I should have stopped for a quick #2 (but didn’t). From there, it became hard to find an available porta-potty on the course and the feeling was coming and going—I decided to stick it out. At mile 11, I didn’t want to lose my shot at going sub-5 in the bathroom so I asked a volunteer what time it was (I knew I had started at 800a). 1130a. This was very good news: 2.1 miles to go in 30 minutes to go sub-5 hours. But my tummy was definitely slowing me down and no bathroom was in sight. The next one I came to was at mile 12. Mile 12! I had to stop—no choice—my pace had slowed significantly. Got the job done (the one-piece tri suit is a bit of a bummer for on-course bathrooming) and ran a relief-filled last mile to a strong finish in 4:54:58. (47^th overall and 7^th in my AG). My 1:54:05 run was a bit disappointing (107^th overall) but if you take out the bathroom stop, it’s not too far off my best HIM run.

So even with the short swim, I’m calling it a legit sub-5 hour effort. A PR by 9 minutes at this distance and a 13 minute improvement over my previous best on this course back in 2005. (Well, the course is slightly modified now, but close enough for comparison.) Clearly a great day for me—super-exciting to nail it! And, I know that I left time out there by riding too hard and mismanaging my potty stop. I’ll have big goals at this distance next season for sure.

The day wasn’t over though. Race number two, a super-sprint in Boulder, was set to go off at 330p that afternoon. Look for the next post soon.

Ride like a young, fast man

In early 2005, I did a ton of research then bit the bullet and bought a custom tri bike. I was concerned with getting onto a bike that was both perfect for me at the time and something I could grow with. I decided on a Serotta and spent hours getting fit and selecting components. I wanted something great, but not too flashy. I wasn't that fast back then and didn't want to look the poser as all the fast dudes passed me. I couldn't have been happier than I was with my steel (yup!) and carbon CXII CS. Here's a pic just before the maiden voyage--I think this was February or March of 2005.

Over the years, I've tinkered with a few things: new seatpost and saddle, new training and race wheels, a new aerobar setup. But I've left the bones of the bike intact as my riding skills and flexibility have improved. Chris at Pro Peloton designed the bike to grow with me as a rider. Little by little, I've adjusted the front end downward to achieve a better and better aero position. Here's what the bike looks like now (the latest adjustment was made today)--this is about as low as the front end will go on this bike (with a HED Vantage 8 aerobar and a down 17 degree stem). It's a little tough to see in the first pic, but notice the difference between the pictures in the drop from the saddle to the arm rests on the bars--I haven't changed my seat height.

So this is about the limit of what this bike can do for me in terms of aero. I look at it and think, "This is a young, fast man's setup. I can't ride this." We'll see. I've been making baby steps, getting stronger and more flexible over the years. It's been a long road but I'm finally at the full potential of the bike.

So many folks set up their bikes the way they see in the glossy advertisements for the rider they wish they were. Someday, I'll likely join the masses of folks who own sexy new monocoque, carbon fiber, faired frame, shielded rear wheel, hidden brake, slammed front end aerobikes but this bike is the real deal and I've never felt behind in the equipment arms race. I'm passing a lot of those sexy new bikes on race day, by the way.

I've always felt that being comfortable is way more important than being slammed down aero anyhow. And that's my secret weapon--now I have both. And believe me, I've earned it though thousands of miles of training my position and technique on the bike.

All that's left is to ride like a young, fast man.

5430 Long Course Race Report

Yesterday was my first of two half-Ironman distance races of the season. There were some good reasons to be optimistic about how I might perform: good training all spring and early summer, good race results so far, low pressure/low expectations. But there were also reasons to think it wouldn't be my day: horrible taper that included two days of driving home from SoCal last week, limited long runs for the past two months, and the fact that I've never had a great result at this race. It was my 10th HIM and a "B/C" race this year so not much to be nervous about--I know what to expect and nothing was at stake.

The kids' tri was Saturday morning--all three raced. It was super fun and everyone had a great time. Nathan had a bit of a rough start with tears and clinging but once they said "go" he was all smiles all morning. Later, Kami and I volunteered at packet pickup all afternoon--yet another reason I wasn't expecting much out of my race.

I actually slept pretty well Saturday night--a rarity for me on a prerace evening. The alarm woke me up at 400a and I ate my bowl of oatmeal and then loaded up the truck. Arrived at 530a and made fast work of the check-in ritual. Saw some friends in transition, set up quickly, and walked to the "secret" porta-potties with Coach Mike and another buddy. I guess they aren't so secret afterall--all the TP was gone. Two factors determined my course of action: 1. I must, er, let's say "drop a deuce" before any race, and 2. I have pretty limited pride. So a quick poop followed by a wipe with a torn-off piece of a paperboard beer 12-pack and then it was time to pull on the wetsuit and warm up.

Did my usual routine in the water (which isn't much at this distance) and watched the wave in front of us start. We got a good draw on the wave start this time around: 4th of 10 waves (so +15 minutes). It's usually really hot on the run so the early start makes a big difference. Toed the line and was still chatting as Barry counted us down. There was no sprint at the start of this one. I settled into a comfortable pace and waited for someone to break out of the pack. Three different groups quickly formed--I was leading the middle one. Neither of the other two seemed to be in any hurry and I was as a sustainable pace and hoped I was pulling out my boys (Mike, Manuel, Dan) so I focused on good navigation and soon I was at the front. I took a good line (the sun was behind the clouds--clear goggles!!) and it seemed like we reached the first buoy quickly. I took a peek behind me and there was only one guy with me. We were already picking our way through the back of the wave in front of us and my pace was good--I didn't bother trying to ditch him or dropping back to make him work. The whole way back I just focused on swimming smart, taking good lines, and minimizing my kick. Each time I peeked back, he was there and didn't seem interested in making a move. It was one of the easiest swims I've ever had in a race--I was pretty surprised to be first out. After the two of us, it was nearly a minute back to the third guy out. I guess my swim is in form this year.

I was very efficient in and out of T1. Manuel was coming in as I was going out. Smoothly onto the bike and made a point of riding the right level of effort and not letting the adrenaline take over. I was toward the front of the race so I expected to be passed a bunch early and that's what I got. Dan and Manuel came by me before mile 10; Manuel reminded me to stay patient. I was looking to ride pretty even--perhaps slighly negative on the two-loop course. The wind was a crossing tail so the three big rollers weren't too bad. Fast descent down St. Vrain and then that crossing tail became a crossing head on 75th. The short spur on Monarch gave me a chance to see where everyone was. Manuel was exiting the spur as I came in (so he was about 3 minutes up) and Dan was about 2 minutes ahead. I'm guessing I was around 7th or so at this point and saw no reason to change my plan. The headwind on the Diagonal wasn't as demoralizing as it usually is and I was around the first (28 mile) lap in 1:17 and change--a little slower than I had hoped but definitely within range. I got passed a few more times on the second lap but the race was mostly settled in at this point. At the spur this time around, Manuel was long gone--on his way to finishing 4th in the AG just 2 weeks after IM Lake Placid! Dan seemed to be coming back to me but not by much--maybe 30 seconds. We're both shooting to crack 5 hours for the first time--I like to beat him, but I wanted to see us both sub-5. I spent a little time hoping I'd catch him before we got off the bikes and a little time hoping he was still riding strong--the latter turned out to be true. During the second lap, I passed a couple of guys back (why do people go out so hard?) and figure I was into T2 in no worse than 10th place. Second lap split was about a minute faster than the first so I'm calling it a good ride. 2:33 and change for a 21.8 mph average--not at the top of the age group, but a PR split for me and was definitely the right effort level.

Made a quick change and started running out of T2. Whitney was volunteering in transition and when she cheered me on by calling my name, I started heading that direction. Only she was standing at the back of transition--away from the run out. She yelled at me to go the other way and my tiny brain aimed my body at the correct exit. I've done this race several times but once I hit the exit, I wanted to go right (like the Boulder Peak run). Many helpful volunteers pointed and shouted at me and pretty soon, I was on course and making progress. I usually visualize my transition at the end of the previous leg--did it for T1 but not T2. Dumb, but didn't really cost me anything.

Legs felt great right away. High-fived Teegan and the kids as I went past and settled into my run. I had changed up my bike fit last week and hadn't had a chance to ride it. A risky move but since this wasn't an "A" race and Chris (ProPeloton) always gets it right, I decided to take the chance. It was perfect--felt like I had fresh legs. Began excuting Coach Mike's 5-5-5 plan (easy first 5 miles, step it up for the next 5, then hit it hard for the last 5k). It was all I could do not to run harder at the beginning--I felt good--but I held back. I haven't raced with a watch all season (just the PowerTap on the bike) so I couldn't definitively determine my pace. But it felt right and I was actually passing folks while running what felt like an easy pace. Dan was still about 2 minutes ahead of me at the spur around mile 3 and we slapped hands as we passed and I told him "it's on!"

How about a little name-dropping? Julie Dibbens (women's XTerra world champ) came by me a few seconds later and then Coach Mike (not a name drop) a little after that. Dave Scott, spectating at this race, shouted out that I looked good just after Chrissie Wellington (2x defending IM world champ) came blazing past a couple of minutes behind Dibbens and was off my horizon in no time.

I wished Mike a good run and he was soon gone. Just before the mile 5 marker, I picked up my pace and knew it would be my day. Legs kept turning over great and I was sure it would come down to how much I could manage the pain mentally. I had been passed several times by guys in my age group but was still in the top 20 for sure. I was surprised at how quickly the first lap passed. As I came around, I peeked at the finish clock: 4:17 and change. My wave start was +15 minutes so my race time was 4:02+ with 6.55 miles to go. Completely do-able. At the second lap spur, Mike was long gone and Dan had about the same lead on me but he was looking really strong. I felt good but was starting to muscle through a bit. I figured I'd have plenty to get back sub-5 but I wasn't so confident about my ability to catch Dan at this point. I didn't wait for mile 10 to pick it up--started the push for home at mile 9. Focused on my form and it seemed good but I caught myself correcting a few things on the fly every time I focused on something else. It started to hurt but was manageable. At mile 11, more kind words from "The Man" and I was pushing hard but running pretty strong and still feeling like I'd make it in sub-5. At mile 11.5, the wheels came off.

Funny (not funny ha-ha) how it happens so quickly at this distance. Suddenly, I was shuffling, my legs hurt and wouldn't turn over, it felt hot, etc. With only 1.5 miles to go, I began thinking about whether I had done enough to lose a few minutes at the end and still make it in time. Probably not--I didn't have much cushion. I was getting passed by folks I had passed a mile or two ago. Nothing to do but gut it out. Couldn't even put up a kick at the finish and was pretty disappointed when I turned the corner and the clock was already past 5:18 (5:03 for me) and counting up. I don't think I lost the full 4 minutes in the last 1.5 miles--I must have dropped off the pace a little earlier without realizing it--but I lost most of it there.

So my 5:04:03 finish was a PR by 4 minutes (and by a lot more at this particular race) and put me in the top quarter of the AG (31st) and 187th OA. Congrats to Dan who came in at 4:58 (!!!) and Mike (4:52). I guess not much to be disappointed about but I have mixed feelings about the result. I'm mostly happy with it--my previous PR of 5:08 came in 2005 so I feel like I've shaken off the idea that it was a fluke. My run is my weakest leg and with the time off for the illness and travel, my limited long runs in the past 8 weeks, the ridiculous taper, etc., it's no surprise that I'd run a 1:58 but it's still disappointing. On the plus side, the swim was easy and the bike was very solid. All I need to do at Harvest Moon in September is put out the same splits but have the ability to descend the run and then finish strong. I should be able to ride a little faster on that course if the wind isn't up (though it always is...). So I need to be able to run in the low 1:50's in 5 weeks. Totally do-able. I'll take an easy week this week and then work a run-focus for two weeks and then taper for 2 weeks. Harvest Moon is definitely an "A" race and I'm confident I'll crack 5 hours.

Boulder Peak

This morning was the Boulder Peak--one of the premier Olympic distance races in the country, and right here in my backyard! When I set up my schedule, this was not an important race for me this season. Add in the illness and I was just "training through" to the second half of the season--two half Ironman distance races in August and September. So I've been working out with relatively high volume in the past week and a half. I only took yesterday off (to spend most of the day at WaterWorld with the family)--not much of a taper. All that said, it always feels good to make a nice showing at the Peak and even if I'm not physically tip-top, I was mentally prepared to give it a go.

We had a relatively late wave so I was able to watch where the fast swimmers were lining up. It looked that the far right was the way to go and I was relaxed and ready as I toed the line. Off we went and it was clear early that I picked the wrong group. I swam hard to catch onto the middle group where the leaders were. It didn't take too long and quickly, I was in third position behind the two leaders who were, inexplicably, swimming shoulder to shoulder (so I had a nice smooth ride). We were swimming straight into the sun and it was nearly impossible to see the buoys. I decided just to follow along since I had no idea where the turn buoy was anyhow. Suddenly, I saw a guy go by pretty quickly on our left. One of the guys in front of me tried to follow but didn't get on. I stayed on my "ride" around the first turn--finally, we were out of the sun. We made the second turn together and were about halfway back when he started to tire a bit. I started tapping his feet to see if that might inspire him to go faster. It didn't. After a short time, he flipped on his back and started staring me down. Fine, time for me to do a little work. I went around him and figured he'd hop on, but I guess he was tired (from doing most of the work) and once I noticed a little gap, I poured it on. I only put about 10 seconds into him by the time we hit the beach but I think I had made my point (and wasted a bunch of energy...oh well). ;-) Second best swim in the age group and 42nd best swim of the day overall.

I had a little trouble wiggling out of my wetsuit in T1 but didn't lose much time. The first 8 miles of the bike are uphill, including the dreaded steep section of Olde Stage (600 foot elevation gain over 2/3 of a mile). I settled on a comfortable but strong pace up to the big hill and then just aimed to survive the climb. Steadily up and over--it has a long, gradual top once you pass the steep section--that's where I really pushed (shhh, that's my secret strategy). I was at the top of the second and final climb in just under 30 minutes--always my goal. Then through the speed zone portion of the decent (35mph speed limit) where I rested my legs and kept my speed at 34.5mph. Then it was time to push again, but this time downhill. Strong ride through Lefthand Canyon and then I pressed hard on 36 out to Nelson. Another long descent, this time with some headwind, and I pushed this section too but not too hard--the next section (on 63rd and then the Diagonal) is what generally separates the top riders from the rest and I hoped to make a mark here. I settled into a hard but sustainable effort and only got passed once the whole way back to the reservoir. At every race, I have a secondary goal on the bike to catch and pass someone riding a disc-wheel. Caught two today. I haven't checked the math, but I'm guessing I was still in the top 5 or 6 in the AG at this point--averaged 21.8mph (1:11:47). 14th best ride in the AG and 101st best ride overall.

After a decent T2, I got out on the run at what felt like a good pace. I've been racing without a watch all season--trying to focus on how I'm feeling rather than on data. I made it a little over a half-mile when I felt Coach Mike pat me on the ass as he came by. It was disappointing to be passed by him so early but he's a better runner than I am and there was no use trying to go with him. Then, over the next few miles to the turnaround, it was a parade of dudes in my AG going past me. And no one came by me slowly, all of these guys were really moving. It was never a choice to try to go with them--they were all too much. Just as I made the turnaround, I saw my friend Dan a few seconds behind me. We've had a friendly rivalry and I wanted to stay out in front of him but he's a slightly better runner than I am and with 5k to go, it seemed a stretch that I'd succeed. I poured it on and waited for him to come even. My plan was to run a negative split and I wanted to push the "third quarter" as much as I could, then come in on whatever was left (likely fumes). Well, Dan never got to me (and I never looked back to check because it wouldn't have mattered--I was maxed out). I ran scared all the way home. Though I wasn't wearing a watch, I'm sure I ran a negative split but the total run was a disappointing 47:03 (7:36 pace). Looks like the 27th "best" run in the AG and 211th best on the day. Still respectable, but I can run a 5k at Stroke & Stride in under 21 mins--I shouldn't be going 47 min for a 10k, even at the end of a race. Gotta continue to work on my run--this is not progress.

So, put it all together and I was 13th (of 150) in my AG in 2:26:24 (everyone thought the swim was long--given my time, I'd say that's pretty likely). Coach Mike was 12th and Dan was 14th. Overall, not too bad--81st overall (73rd male)--1,800 registered, not sure how many finishers. I can't complain given the illness, current training schedule, no taper, and all the time in the sun yesterday. Now onto finishing the build for 5430 Long Course in a few weeks with my eye on my end of season "A" race: Harvest Moon. If I can bring my run around, this is the year to crack 5 hours at a 70.3.

Am I half the athlete I was 3 weeks ago?

Finally feeling better. Not too challenging track workout last night. Main set was 6x800 at 10k pace. Can't say I felt great, but I moved my HR up near LT and it didn't kill me. This evening, I went for a 2 hour spin to Hygiene and back. It felt like 4 hours. By the end I was fidgety and losing power; legs were definitely heavy. Oh boy. Tomorrow night, I'll give Stroke & Stride a try. Can't say I'll be "racing" but I'm going to go hard just to see what's left of me.

My health is pretty much back at this point. I'd say I'm about 95%+. An occasional productive cough here and there but sleep patterns seem to be back to normal and, while I don't feel particularly peppy, I think I'm pretty much back to good health.

I can't figure out how I picked this thing up--maybe more than one bug. Very weird that no one in my family got sick. Even weirder that neither Bill nor Patrick got sick--they spent 8 hours locked in my truck with me the day before this hit and another 7 hours locked in the same truck a week ago Sunday--one of my worst coughing days. I'm surrounded by cast iron immune systems, apparently.

So I'm making good use of my Skins tonight--feels like old times. I know I'll get through the Peak on the 12th, but I'm a bit concerned about the August and September long course races that are paid for and on the schedule. The next week or so will be key in determining whether I'll be calling Harvest Moon (Sept) an "A" race or not. Maybe my next "A" is in 2010...?

Another lost week

Codeine was good for sleep Monday night. Vomit immediately upon awakening Tuesday wasn't so awesome. So I discontinued the cough syrup.

The week just slipped by me. Wednesday and Thursday were a coughing, sleeping, body-aching blur. Saw another doctor on Friday morning. New drugs. Feeling a little better by Friday evening. Today I woke up just before 900a after almost 11 hours of sleep, made and ate breakfast, and cleaned the kitchen. That little episode left me a bit tired so I headed back upstairs. Watched an old episode of Arrested Development on Hulu and the next thing I knew, I was waking up again...at 145p. If this is what feeling better is all about, it's gonna be another long week.

My head is feeling okay but I'm tired all the time, have a funny tummy from all the drugs, and have dropped 5 pounds in the last 10 days. Since I didn't have much body fat to begin with, I'm thinking it's probably partly fluids and partly muscle atrophy. Only two workouts in the last 2.5 weeks: the Alcatraz race and the Taos bike ride. I don't even know where to start when I finally feel like getting back out there.

Maybe an easy hour ride tomorrow just to see what I'm dealing with--will just have to see how the morning goes. So who knows what this thing is--could be bronchitis, swine flu, some other crazy virus, walking pneumonia, or a whole host of other things the doctor mentioned that I can't remember at this point. Anyhow, trust me, you don't want it.

The 3 Greatest Inventions of All Time: Sliced Bread, Elastic-band Underpants, Codeine

Last night was rough. Not just a little. I couldn't even lean back, let alone lie down, without going into painful fits of coughing. Have you ever tried to sleep while sitting up and leaning forward? After about 5 hours if trying, I finally must have just passed out shortly after 3:00am. I managed a few hours of sleep and when I woke up, I was still exhausted. Teegan had already made me an appointment with my doctor so I headed straight over.

He prescribed some good stuff and, with the help of some industrial-strength cough syrup, I managed a solid 4-hour nap this afternoon--I was actually able to lie down. I'm feeling better this afternoon, though I'm a bit hung-over from the drugs. The coughing is now somewhat under control although it does appear that I'm frightening the children.

Looking forward to better days.

Convalescing for Sight

This has not been an easy few days. I came up to Taos as planned on Friday and was still feeling bad Saturday morning but wanted to try to put a few miles in just to see if that might help loosen things up and push them through. A century was on tap but I just planned to ride up to a few hours and not push at all.

We woke up to a cool, steady rain. Century cancelled. A small group of us rolled out later in the morning during a short break in the weather for about 50 miles, which included a trip to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. I was feeling okay on the bike for the first few minutes but that was about it. The Gorge was surprisingly beautiful but I cut off shortly after seeing it and came back to the hotel having logged 32 coughing, spitting, uncomfortable miles. That was my Cycle for Sight this year.

Today, the other riders will cover the 75 miles to Storrie Lake while I ride in a SAG vehicle. I coughed myself awake at about 2:30 this morning and never really got back to sleep. So, I think it would be fair to say that this trip was something less than I had hoped for. I understand that there's nothing I can do about it so I'm not really upset, just disappointed. But I'll be back next year.

Day 1--Zero miles

After a tough night of sleep, I woke up with a debilitating pounding in my head and a seriously aching body. No bike riding for me for sure. It took me about 3o minutes to get off the couch, zip up my bags, and drag ass to the backseat of my truck where I planned to spend the better part of the day as a SAGer. First stop was another friend's house in the neighborhood to gather the rest of the caravan to the ride start. That's as far as I made it. The guys grabbed my bags as I unloaded myself and staggered directly to their guest room. I've pretty much been sleeping all day and, while I do feel better, there's no way I could even balance on a bicycle right now, let alone actually ride up and down hills.

So the new plan is to drive up to Taos (with the family I'm staying with) tomorrow afternoon with hopes of joining the ride for day 3 (Saturday). The trajectory of this virus or whatever it is has been unpredictable so I have no idea whether or not that's a realistic plan. Apparently, several of my SF friends who were at the Alcatraz race are experiencing the same thing. Not good times.

New Mexico is a delightful place to have an upper respiratory infection...

It came on very quickly, but I'm definitely sick--not getting sick. Sick. I'll be making day-to-day decisions about riding. Complete bummer but better here than San Fran last weekend. Stay tuned...

Looong-Form Alcatraz Race Report

This race seems similar in scale to Ironman. Huge fitness festival, supreme organization, 2,000 racers, lots of folks in from out of town. Packet pickup and the pre-race meeting were a breeze. Race morning started with at 430a wakeup and instant oatmeal in the hotel bathroom while Teegan slept. Smooth ride over to the race, quick TA setup, and then off to the ferry with some friends (great story on Matt here)—nice to be able to skip the shuttle buses. Body marking, successful trip to the porta-potty, and onto the ferry—all very smooth. Everything ran on time to the second—the boat pulled away from the dock at exactly 700a—1 hour to race start. I relaxed, chatted with some new friends, kept hydrated (plus another successful bathroom trip), checked out sighting for the swim and spent a little time checking out Alcatraz—cool to be up close again. Suited up at about 745a—no nerves—feeling ready. At 750a, there was a short prayer and then the national anthem. At exactly 800a, the pros started. They got a 15 second head start and then it was an absolute fire drill getting off the boat. There were timing mats at the door so you walked out, looked for a clear spot in the water and jumped off—about 8 feet down to the water.

Even though I had a hand on my goggles, I picked up a little water when I entered. Then as I came up, I felt someone slide down my back, but no damage done. Swam a few strokes to get clear and ended up with someone else’s goggles in my hand (they had apparently been floating—why don’t people put goggles on under their caps?). Spent a few seconds kicking on my back to adjust my goggles and do a mental reset after the crazy entry, and then I flipped over, sighted my navigation point, and hit the gas. Even though I was off the boat just ahead of the middle of the race start, there were tons of people in the water and it took a while to move into a good position. So I swam along the outside of the pack for the first 10-15 minutes until I moved mostly clear of the masses. The current was stronger than expected and there was a lot of chop in the bay. This was a much rougher swim than the other time I did it in ’05. For a while, I found a clean pair of feet and took a ride, but the chop was too much to make it worthwhile and I swam on my own for most of the way. Swimming from Alcatraz to the shore is more or less like swimming across a river—you swim perpendicular to the shore just about the whole time. I took in a fair amount of saltwater and was surprised by how rough it was, but I came to shore near the front of the race (57^th best swim time of the race). Coming out of the water, we ran a gauntlet of spectators and into T0—quickly out of my wetsuit and into an old pair of running shoes. The run to T1 was about 2/3 of a mile. Some folks ran barefoot in their wetsuits, but I passed a ton of them—I think the decision to take the time to put on shoes was a good call. Smoothly into T1 and quickly out onto the bike course.

My plan had been to push the swim as much as possible since it’s my strength anyhow, but also to get out on the bike ahead of the masses. The bike course is very technical—steep climbs and descents with sharp corners, all on pavement that’s in pretty rough shape. The course is beautiful—it climbs and descends the roads next to the bay, past the Golden Gate Bridge and loops through Golden Gate Park. Hands down, the most scenic course I’ve ever been on, but there wasn’t a lot of time to sight-see. The bike wasn’t as hard as I expected and I didn’t push too hard overall—I think it was just the right level of effort with good balance between hammering and resting. Big efforts on the short, steep climbs and then soft-pedaling and coasting on the downhills. I made careful turns but there was tons of space to pick a line so it was all good. I got passed by a few folks but didn’t notice anyone in my age-group. (It was impossible to tell race-rank on course because of the 6-mintue start window anyhow.) The bike course is mostly an out-and-back and as I returned, I could see the main part of the race going out. It looked like a big charity ride—bikes 4-wide, drafting, lots of yelling, folks getting forced into bad lines in the corners. It’s just what happens when you put this many riders on such a short course. So my plan to be out front was a good call. I rode the last few miles very hard into transition still feeling strong as I cleared my head for the run. After another good transition, I was quickly back out on course.

I hadn’t been able to preview the run course—I had only read the description and talked to friends about it. I thought I knew about what to expect but wasn’t fully prepared for how tough it would be. The first two miles were flat and mostly on a nice wide trail. At mile two, we made quick turn onto a set of about 50 railroad tie steps and then a steep, twisty, up-and-down section that included a tunnel that started with about 7 feet of clearance but moved down to about 4½ feet by the end—duck!! After about a mile of twists and turns, we came out on the road and began a steep downhill that moved onto a twisty dirt trail and then dumped out on the beach. This downhill was the most painful part of the race for me as I kept my speed in check to avoid wiping out on the dirt. We ran through the soft sand down to the hardpack and then again onto the soft sand to the turnaround. From there, it was back past where we entered the beach to the sandladder (a few hundred log steps held together by cables that took us from the beach up onto the bluff). I walked the sand-ladder (as was my plan) and got up with relative ease. This was probably a mistake not to push—looking at the results I gave up a lot of time here. It’s pretty much downhill from the top so it wouldn’t have been a big deal to have gone hard. Oh well…

Back along the trail, through the low tunnel, down the stairs, and out onto the flat path with a tailwind and 2 miles to go. I pushed very hard and passed several folks then came flying through the crowds that were several people deep in the last mile. I came into the long finishing chute still pushing but I took the time to look up and enjoy the experience. Across the line with a big hand clap and a smile—a memorable finish—I knew this was a good day for me.

2:44:44 overall, 11^th in my age group (out of 253 finishers) and 102^nd overall (of about 2,000). I know I left a little time on the course (as is often the case), but this was as close to perfect execution of a race plan as I’ve had. I loved this race and highly recommend it—definitely should be on any triathlete’s bucket list. That said, I don’t expect to be back anytime soon (but I’ll do it again someday)—it’s expensive to travel to and race this one. But that doesn’t take away from the great experience.

Many thanks to all of my friends and family for their support, to Pansy for making me a tough runner (well, tougher than I used to be), and extra-special thanks to Teegan for arranging travel plans, meals, and logistics—my trip was easy (and race-focused) because of you.

I’m leaving tomorrow for Cycle for Sight in New Mexico. I’ll keep blogging so check in often. And please consider donating—it’s an incredibly important cause. No amount is too small. http://www.cycleforsight.org/html/donate.html.

Thanks for following along.

A few pics from the race

Escaped!!

Very hard race. Very good race for me, though. 11th in the age group and 102nd overall. Stay tuned for the full writeup tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for following!

Raceday coverage

There are three ways to follow the action on Race Day!

1. View LIVE RESULTS. Visit www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com and click on the 2009 Live Results link under the Results tab. Link will be available once the race begins.

2. Visit www.TriathleteMag.com for complete LIVE Race Day Coverage

3. Visit TriCal TV for LIVE Finish Line Camera.

Best of luck to all of you and we'll see you at the Finish Line!!

Race ready!

Lots of logistics today. Checked every box--sitting in bed at 900p. Not bad.

Previewed most of the bike course. It's a little scary. Mostly up and down as expected but the roads are in terrible condition. Gonna hold back a bit on the bike, especially the downhills. Race plan is to try to get off the ferry as early as possible and crush the swim. (It's not really a wave start--they have timing mats on the boat. Once you cross the mat, you jump in and go--your time starts and the race is on. Sort of like a time-trial start.) So if I can get out in front of most folks, I won't be dealing with as much traffic on the bike.

Goal on the bike will just be to push the uphills, recover on the downhills, and get into T2 without incident. Run starts out uphill but I'll light it up with whatever I have left as soon as I can. Will go easy up the sand ladder and then try to hammer home--last few miles are downhill. Probably not a unique strategy overall--hopefully my swim comes through.

So taper and sleep have sucked this week, feel like I'm getting sick, a little achy from the travel, etc., etc. Often, these are signs of a good race--paradox.

Apparently, they'll be live streaming the finish line at www.tricaltv.com and/or www.tricalifornia.com. I'm number 915 if that's at all helpful.

Off to bed. Big day tomorrow.

Looooong travel day

Very early alarm to get to the airport yesterday after a rough night of sleep—felt like pre-race sleep. Why do I schedule the early flights? So the flight was overbooked and we got bumped. Two ticket vouchers and $32 worth of airport food vouchers later and Teegan and I have about 12 hours to kill before our new flight—9:25 pm. With the kids in the capable hands of the grandparents, we decided that going home would just have disrupted the flow so we spent a leisurely day in Denver.

An early lunch followed by a few hours at the nature and science museum including an IMAX. Then some coffee shop hanging out and we were back at the airport by 6:00 pm. At the security checkpoint, the TSA took away my can of Vittoria Pit Stop (fix a flat in a can—not a CO2 cartridge)—not a big deal, but puzzling since they checked it out when we came through in the morning and said it was okay.

We had a pretty nice dinner at the Chophouse (in the airport) that only cost us a few bucks thanks to the vouchers. Then a long wait at the gate. Streamed a little TV (love me some hulu), made some calls, responded to email and facebook, and suddenly, we’re on the plane (a few short hours later…)

Flight was uneventful and they had the bike and our bag waiting for us when we got there. Quick shuttle ride to the hotel and we were in bed as quickly as we could get to it. Local time: 11:30 pm (about a 20-hour travel day from the time we woke up). Add in the missed workout yesterday and the early wakeup this morning, and I’m not excited about how getting here is gonna play out for me on Sunday but it’s behind me now.

Today: shower off the travel, breakfast, and build the bike at the hotel, then up to San Francisco with Teegan’s family. Packet pickup, race expo, mandatory athlete meeting, and dinner with an old friend from Colorado whose husband is racing (he has a very interesting story).

My mental is okay, despite it all, but it would have been better if we had arrived yesterday morning…

Ready, Set, come back in 13 hours...

Involuntarily bumped off our flight this morning. Not good times but we're making the best of it. Kids are with my parents for the long weekend--Teegan and I are going to have an all-day date in Denver. So while not exactly plan A, it could be worse. Keep your fingers crossed that the baggage folks at the San Jose airport lock up my bike--it'll be there soon.

More good results. One week to go!

The big race is one week from tomorrow. Everything seems to be coming together. I'm seeing some untrustworthy numbers on my training software so I'm going by feel for the time being. But I'm seeing the results I want during this peak week.

Thursday night was the first Stroke & Stride of the season. 1.5k swim/5k run. I finished 8th overall and 2nd in my age group. I got a fast start on the swim but had a hard time following feet and got ejected off the back of the lead group after just a few hundred meters. Hitched on with the second group and swam with them until I followed poorly again and became unhitched just before the end of the first lap. I caught back up with the 2nd group on the beach run between laps and had a free ride for the entire second lap. Decent transition and then an uncomfortable but solid 20:39 5k--one of my fastest. Overall, happy with the effort. Took Friday off--slept in my Skins Thursday night and wore them all day Friday because it just felt good. Seem to have recovered nicely.

Yesterday morning was Tri for your Cause--a sprint fundraiser where each racer picks a cause to race for (and raise money for--I was racing for the PTA at the kids' school). I added this one to the calendar just recently--the week after the Pelican Fest. Like everything else so far this year, I treated the race as a tuneup and wasn't gunning for a big result. That said, I expected to do well since I'm nearly peaked.

Swim was just 5oom so not much time to distinguish myself. Got off to a fast start--goal was to separate from the pack but bring my teammate (Manuel) out with me. Was working according to plan for a while but he dropped off after a couple hundred meters and we ended up exiting the water 1 - 2--I had about a 15 second lead. My T1 wasn't great and he was right with me at the mount line. I planned to hammer the first 4.5 miles (very gradual uphill) and then settle in and ride even but strong for the rest of the 17 mile ride. Manuel came past me right around mile 4 and I sat in with him as close to the draft zone as I could legally ride. We rode most of the course together--was very helpful to pace off him. I rested when he rested, drank when he drank, and hammered when he hammered. With a couple of miles to go, he separated from me but didn't get far up the road. Overall, my numbers on the bike were great. I was under 45 minutes for the 17 mile course (my PT says 23.6 mph average) and net power of 299 (which is a little suspicious, but we were moving pretty good). If that's a true number, it's the biggest I've ever put up for this distance.

I had a good T2 and came out on the run just a few seconds behind Manuel. It was great that I was still there--we were near the front of the race and still 1 - 2 in the age group. But Manuel is a faster runner than I am so I knew I'd be racing for 2nd place. He started separating right away and I just focused on my own run. About a mile into the run, I got passed by another racer in our age-group. I had heard him behind me for a while and he wasn't moving too much faster than I was. I picked it up and ran right behind him until just before the turnaround but I was pushing too hard. I let him go, hoping he'd blow up and I was only about 5 seconds behind at the turnaround. I tried to hold the gap and even closed a tiny bit but at the 2 mile marker, he picked it up and put another 5 - 10 seconds into me back to the finish.

So I settled for 3rd place in the age group and was 8th overall. (Think about those numbers for a moment--this is the 40-44 age group we're talking about. Yup, I hate Boulder.) Congrats to Manuel who won the age group and finished 4th overall. He won an insulated water bottle and I won a Chipotle burrito--so who was the real winner? You make the call.

I'm going to have to workout relatively long tomorrow (if I can) to put a little fatigue into the legs. (Thanks for the good advice, coach Mike!) I'm afraid of peaking too soon so am trying to hold it off with a little hard work early in the week. But for the most part, this week will be all about R&R, packing & travel logistics, and tying up any loose ends. Feeling strong and confident!

Pelican Fest Race Report--Age Group Victory!

(Saturday 5/23/09)

After being cancelled by the tornado last year, the Pelican Fest sprint came back this year on a new course with new race directors.  I picked this race just because of the date—I really knew nothing about it.  It’s 3 weeks until Alcatraz now and I wanted a tune-up opportunity.  The original training plan was to finish a long build with the race but by last weekend, I just wasn’t responding to the intensity of training I had scheduled for myself.  I took Sunday off and then went hard again Monday through Wednesday but it was clear that I needed to cut the build a little short.  So I took Thursday off and ran easy on Friday.  I came into the race not exactly tapered but a little rested.

My primary goals were just to experience race pace for the first time this year and get practice making fast transitions.  I was hopeful that I’d be fast, but didn’t expect great results.  On race morning, I made the hour drive and arrived a few minutes early so I decided to drive the bike course.  Good call.  The course is a short box—10 miles total.  The first 3 miles were uphill into a headwind.  Not too steep but definitely not flat.  At the top of the box, there was a short no-passing zone and then downhill with a tailwind to complete the third side. The last side of the box was partially on a bike path so I didn’t get a look at that.  It seemed clear to me that I’d have to come out hard on the uphill section to the no-passing zone to differentiate myself on the bike.  Once we hit the downhill section, it seemed likely that everyone would be spun out so not much opportunity to make up time.

I parked, checked in, set up my transition area, and got in a short warmup—a little too short for a sprint—turns out, I hadn’t arrived that early afterall.  The swim start was a short walk from transition (point to point swim).  Jogged over with Coach Mike, said hello to the family, and swam a little warmup.  Water was cold—they said 63—but not too bad.  I was in the second wave.  Got to the start line on the beach a few seconds too late and didn’t feel like I could muscle up to the front row so I took my position in the second row on the inside.  

At the horn, I sprinted around the guy in front of me and started swimming hard, looking to see if there’d be anyone to follow.  After just a few meters, I felt like I’d be able to go it alone and sprinted out in front.  Made the turn (at about 100m) alone and tried to keep pouring it on to open the gap.  From here, the swim was a straight shot to transition and I was quickly into the back of the first wave.  I shifted back into cruise mode and picked my way through the red caps in front of me.  I checked back once or twice to see where the nearest blue cap was (my wave) but never spotted anyone near me.  Came out of the water in 12 minutes (swim was supposed to be a half mile, but I suspect it was a little long).

It was a pass-through transition, maybe .1-.2 mile long—kinda funky.  I was fast through T1.  Decided to leave my shoes clipped into my pedals and run barefoot through transition.  I don’t usually do this, but given the length of the run in cleats I would have had to make, this seemed like the best option.  I reached the mount line, and started riding—slipped into my shoes quickly and didn’t lose much time doing so.  Then I hit the gas and started catching folks from the first wave.  I didn’t really have a lot of strategy at this point—just to ride as fast as I could.  I got a little break in the no passing zone when I got stuck behind a slower rider but we were moving okay and I just relaxed and caught my breath for a few seconds.  On the downhill/tailwind section, I was in my 53-11 most of the way, but never spun it out.  Coming back to transition along the bike path, there were a few curves that were tight enough that I had to coast through but otherwise, I worked the full 10 miles pretty well, passed several people, and didn’t get passed by anyone. 

I had a great T2 and was out on the run quickly.  It was at this point that the reality hit me that I was definitely leading the age group and that there would be some fast runners behind me trying to close the gap.  I had no idea what my lead was but didn’t guess it to be very big.  Could I possibly win the race leading wire to wire?  It would have seemed unlikely before the race, but here I was, still out front.  Considering that I’m not a great runner (by front range standards), I just focused on running hard and keeping the negative thought of getting caught out of my head.  I didn’t wear a heart rate monitor, just a watch, so I ran by feel (and it didn’t feel that good).  I started getting passed by other runners almost immediately, but I was watching calves for age group numbers and didn’t see anyone over 35 (so all from the wave ahead of me).  When I reached the turnaround at about a mile into the run, I took a glance at my watch so I might be able to calculate what was left of my lead as I passed people going the other way.

About 50 seconds into the way back, I crossed with a guy who looked like he might be my age but when I turned to check his calf, all I could make out was the decade (4) but not the year.  So I had 1:40 on him with less than 2 miles to go and wasn’t sure if I was competing against him or not.  That lead probably wouldn’t be enough if he was a fast runner but I knew I didn’t have too long to go and just dug in and tried to pick up my pace.  I passed Coach Mike (still going out) about 2 minutes later and he gave me a high five and told me, ”you’ve got it.”  Mike knew the dude I was worried about was in the next age group (45-49) but I didn’t and wasn’t backing off anyhow.  I ran as hard as I could and with a little more than a half mile to go, I looked behind me for the first time in the run and didn’t see anyone within striking distance.  I didn’t let up much but took just a little bit off and cruised across the finish line in 1:00:19.  Would have been cool to crack an hour, but I have no complaints.

Results: 1^st place in my age-group (by about 5 minutes) out of 25 racers and 8^th overall (out of over 250).  There were two pros in the race (both beat me, of course) so top 6 among amateurs.  Had the 8th best swim of the day, the 8th best bike (averaged just under 24mph), and the 37th best run in 20:47 (6:43 pace).  So my run still needs a little work, but was good enough for the day and a pretty fast 5k for me.  Even though it wasn’t a major race and the field wasn’t too deep, a win is a win and I’m proud of my effort and result.  (Full results here.)

Feeling good about Alcatraz—just 3 weeks away!

One month to go

Alcatraz is one month from today--nearly to the minute, as I write. The good news is that I think I'll be ready. Training has been going very well overall and I'm seeing strength in areas that aren't normally that strong for me. Have picked up some very good race strategy tips from friends who have done this race in the past and feel confident that I'll have a workable plan on race day. Travel arrangements are made; my folks will come out to CO and hang with the kids while Teegan and I will have a little getaway weekend together. We'll get to see some family and friends while we're there. Bonus!

This race is a bit tricky to prepare for because of the unusual distances. The swim is a little long for an Oly but it doesn't worry me too much. Based on my training, I don't expect to swim great there, but should be closer to the front of the race than the back into T1. But swimming 1-2 hours a week is getting me the minimum I'll need to be competitive and has always been enough in the past.

The bike is short and pretty technical--lots of ups/downs/corners. I'm leaving my TT bike at home and bringing the road bike instead. Will slap on some shorty aerobars because there are a few sections to lay out and hammer, but with all the hills and turns, going with a full tri bike seems risky for my strengths and weaknesses as a rider. Data says my short power is there--we'll just have to see how it all feels on race day. I've also been trying to build some long distance cycling endurance to be ready for Cycle for Sight the week following Alcatraz. That also seems to be coming together but that event isn't a race so no big deal if I'm uncomfortable for a few days of riding there.

Running is really coming together for me this year. I'm logging more miles, smarter miles, faster miles this year over past years. I know the sand ladder will crush me and I'm prepared for that (at least mentally). I'm going to try to get there fast and then just survive the few miles to the finish afterwards. I don't know how to prepare for running 140 sand steps from the beach to the bluff but have been hitting plenty of stairs and doing interval work. My long run each week is generally around 2 hours--overkill for this race, but sets me up to do well in some of the longer stuff later in the season.

So I think it's all good. Have consistently been able to train hard and recover quickly. My weight is perfect for where I am in the training cycle right now--will be dropping another pound or two before race day. This is the lightest I've ever been as an adult and the strength/power is still there--a great sign for riding and running. Tune-up race in Windsor next weekend will give me some indication of whether everything is going as well as I think but I'll be hitting that on the last day of a build cycle so I'm not expecting great results. Still, will be awesome to run through all the race day stuff and make full speed transitions before Alcatraz. At this point, I'm just counting down the days.

Nothing to worry about

Didn't see any sealife when I made this swim a few year ago. But since the first thing anyone askes when I mention Alcatraz is sharks, here's what the race director has to say.

"Don't waste your energy worrying about sharks and seals. You will be in a large group of boats and swimmers. The sharks rarely come into the bay and stay out in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean beyond the bridge. There are seals that may swim with you, but they have not been known to harm a swimmer."

See? Looks like I'll be safe.

Sunrise, Sunset

Teegan had to be out of the house for work from 700a until 530p today (long day for her). I needed to get a long run in--last weekend of this block--gotta log the time. I couldn't quite bring myself to leave the house at 445a for 2+ hours of running in the dark. So I set the alarm for 445a (how's that for a compromise?) and was on the road with George, a headlamp, and a reflective vest at 530a. We ran a relatively quick 9 miles (in 1:15) and witnessed a pretty nice sunrise as we were returning.

When Teegan got home, I leashed up George and we headed out again for a slightly slower 5+ miles in 45 mins. Legs took a while to get turned over and I never really felt great (I suspect the same was true for him) but we were coming home into the sunset. I don't know what experiences you must have to be able truly to call yourself a runner, but I'd think this one is on the list. It's the first time I've run twice in a day. Not going to make a habit of it, but now I can check that box.

Making Progress

Well, entering the third week of my final base period and things seem to be on track. A little scary to tackle this season self-coaching, but I've created a pretty good plan for myself and I can feel my body responding. Haven't been working the swim too much yet but am just starting to get in twice a week so I can hit about 8,000 yards. In my experience, that's plenty of yardage for me. The numbers on the bike are coming along--I'm in a similar spot as this time last year which is a good thing. Endurance is coming along. Still working on my run but am seeing some progress there too. I seem to have hit a plateau where I settle into running comfortably at sub-9 pace in a low HR zone. The trouble is that if I push a little harder into the next zone (where I really should be), my body and brain conspire to give me signals to slow down. When I make an effort to ignore the signals, I run faster and can hold it for long periods but as soon as I stop focusing on it, I fall back. So I think I just need to push myself though a little discomfort for a while to get myself used to that slightly higher number.

Luckily, I have a stud training partner who is a faster runner than I am and can easily keep me honest. Whitney (aka Pansy) is a serious athlete (women's champ at Vineman last season) who is a great match for me. She's getting ready for a spring marathon so we're a little out of sync on distance but have had success with runs where I stop a bit before she does (I don't need the mileage). I'm seeing myself developing some good habits as a result of this partnership--such as running hard off the bike (like we did yesterday). We have fun and always log every minute--she's type A just like me.

So I'll push though this week and then look forward to taking a cutback to absorb the work. Feeling good about my season--I usually feel behind at this point.

Cheers.

What's in Store in 2009

Yes, yes. I know it's already the end of February and I'm just making my first post of the year. Work has put a beat-down on the free time. Come the end of March, things will either be much better under control or much worse--in either case, I'm expecting to have more Dave-time.

My big race for '09 is Escape from Alcatraz! I'm pretty excited about the multiple challenges this race offers:

• It's relatively early (June 14). I know there's plenty of racing before that but I've never had an "A" race that early in the season. Looking forward to a June peak.
  
• The swim is well known as being very tough. I'm not looking past that challenge but I'm very comfortable with it. In 2005, I finished 4th of about 90 in my age group at an Alcatraz swim. I made a tactical error near the end of the race that probably cost me the age group win. With a few hundred meters to the opening of the marina, I jumped on with a small group that was working together instead of continuing to navigate on my own. We misjudged the current, missing the marina opening, and had to swim back (directly against the current) to get in--costing us at least a minute. Had I stayed in position on my own, I would have hit the opening perfectly and sailed through. I recall the gap between my time and the age group winner was 52 seconds. So I have a few demons to avenge on the swim.
  
• The bike is relatively short but goes up and down the hills of San Fran. Climbing isn't my strength on the bike but I'll be working hard this spring on that skill.
  
• The run. Oh, the run. I could write a thousand words, but you know the saying about what a picture's worth?

So, yeah, that should be fun. I'm already laying a solid base and am working out the details of getting from here to there. Will be keeping you posted on my training progress.

As for the rest of the season, some of it's up in the air. I'll be at Cycle for Sight (please consider sponsoring me) the weekend following Alcatraz. The only other race I'm currently registered for is the Boulder Peak--a crown jewel of Olympic distance racing (and right here in my backyard). Beyond that, I'm just not sure. I'll likely look to peak again at a late summer or early fall long course race like the 5430 or Harvest Moon. Then probably the Denver Marathon again to close out the year. Should be interesting.