Getting ready to place a huge GU order! I am looking forward to getting some of their Recovery Brew as I haven't tried it yet.
Check out their online store, they have some really cool stuff.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
100s Challenge
Completed the 100s Challenge today. Ended up not going too extreme. I did 70x100s, Chris knocked out 45 and Kip ended up with 50. Solid effort all around. Well done boys.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
First Annual 100s Challenge
What is it?
Come up with a goal number for as many 100s as you can do in a 24 hour
period and try to finish them. The only rule is that your send
off/interval for the 100s must not be any slower than your send off for
your first 100. For example, if you do your first 100 on 2:00 minutes,
then that is the slowest send off you can have for the rest of your
100s.
Why?
Why the hell not?
When is it?
Saturday, December 12th.
Timeline:
7:00-8:45 Swim
9:00-10:00 Pancake Breakfast at CF Holliday Elementary School (Chris is
buying)
10:00 – 1:00 Try not to pass out
1:00 - ??? Swim
Prizes
Chris to provide!
Come up with a goal number for as many 100s as you can do in a 24 hour
period and try to finish them. The only rule is that your send
off/interval for the 100s must not be any slower than your send off for
your first 100. For example, if you do your first 100 on 2:00 minutes,
then that is the slowest send off you can have for the rest of your
100s.
Why?
Why the hell not?
When is it?
Saturday, December 12th.
Timeline:
7:00-8:45 Swim
9:00-10:00 Pancake Breakfast at CF Holliday Elementary School (Chris is
buying)
10:00 – 1:00 Try not to pass out
1:00 - ??? Swim
Prizes
Chris to provide!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
3000 Postal
Completed the USMS 3000 Postal last weekend at the Kettering Rec Center. I did the swim with my friend Kip while Chris timed us both.
I didn't have real high hopes for the swim as while I had been training but hadn't been putting up huge efforts. I started off a little too fast with a 5:42 500. I think had I gone just a few seconds slower here I could have pulled back more time down the road.
Here were my splits by 300:
300 split 0:03:24.89
600 split 0:06:50.46
900 split 0:10:15.35
1200 split 0:13:42.11
1500 split 0:17:11.11
1800 split 0:20:44.78
2100 split 0:24:15.84
2400 split 0:27:46.39
2700 split 0:31:16.35
3000 split 0:34:39.95
I am going to take a little time off and then start building a base for next season. Have some exciting races planned for next year so I will have to get to work soon!
I didn't have real high hopes for the swim as while I had been training but hadn't been putting up huge efforts. I started off a little too fast with a 5:42 500. I think had I gone just a few seconds slower here I could have pulled back more time down the road.
Here were my splits by 300:
300 split 0:03:24.89
600 split 0:06:50.46
900 split 0:10:15.35
1200 split 0:13:42.11
1500 split 0:17:11.11
1800 split 0:20:44.78
2100 split 0:24:15.84
2400 split 0:27:46.39
2700 split 0:31:16.35
3000 split 0:34:39.95
I am going to take a little time off and then start building a base for next season. Have some exciting races planned for next year so I will have to get to work soon!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Games II Adventure Race
Chris and I completed the games II Adventure race put on my Central Ohio Adventure Racing and held at Caesars Creek State Park. It was an eight hour race and Chris and I were out on the course for about 7.5 hours. It was a very long day of running, paddling, mountain biking, and orienteering.
Our goal was to pretty much finish as a ranked team, meaning that we got the required number of checkpoints in each discipline. We were able to do that but looking back I think both Chris and I realize some of the mistakes we made and know we can do better in the future.
I will try to get some pics posted and some more detail added soon.
Our goal was to pretty much finish as a ranked team, meaning that we got the required number of checkpoints in each discipline. We were able to do that but looking back I think both Chris and I realize some of the mistakes we made and know we can do better in the future.
I will try to get some pics posted and some more detail added soon.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Big Shoulders Report
Well the race is over and Courtney and I are back in Ohio. We had a great time in Chicago but are glad to be back home with Riley and Jake.
The Race...
I ended up finishing 45th overall, 6th in my age group in a time of 1:05:36. Overall I was very happy with my performance. Going into the race I thought a time between 1:07 and 1:12 was doable so when I saw 1:05 I was very happy.
The race was a lot of fun. The water was awesome. Clear and somewhere between 70 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a little cool when you first got in but was nothing but comfortable the for the rest of the day.
Courtney and I got into Chicago around 3, found a place to park and checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Allerton on Huron, very nice place and within easy walking distance to the race start. After settling in at the hotel we headed off to Ohio Street Beach where the race would take place. I wanted to get a quick swim in so I could get accustomed to the surroundings and not shocked when tomorrow rolled around. I did an easy 15 minutes in the lake and then we grabbed dinner on Navy Pier.
We got up around 5:20 on race morning which gave us enough time to get to the beach early and still allow for Courtney to stop at Starbucks :) I got registered, and Courtney found a good spot to watch the race. I stretched really well and drank Gatorade and water but did not get in the water and warm up. Maybe this was a mistake but I did not want to get in, get cold, and then have to warm back up again before the start.
I was scheduled to go off in the first wave at 8:00. At 7:55 we walked
out into the water and got setup for the start. The way the start
worked was that they had a person in a boat holding a rope and when the
horn sounded he raised the rope and everyone takes off. I worked my
way toward the front for the start right behind the guys from
Northwestern University Swim Team. I figured they would take off fast
and I could get go with them for a while.
Turns out the beginning of the race was pretty fast and I ended up swimming at a decent pace to get clear and then settled in. The first lap around the course was
pretty uneventful. I did force myself to take in the beautiful skyline
of Chicago and enjoy the view. I felt good the first lap but I didn't
really have any idea of how I was doing in terms of placing and time.
It would have been cool to have some sort of in-water timing system so
you could get a sense of splits and how many places you gained or
lost.
Once I started the second lap things got much more crowded. It
seemed like you were passing people all of the time which makes you feel
good nut also slows you down as you have to navigate through the crowds. I felt good throughout most of the second lap but I would tell I was fatiguing with about 500-600meters left in the race.
After the race Courtney and I hung around for a while and enjoyed the festivities. Then we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the rest of our stay in the city. All in all it was a lot of fun and a race that I will definitely try to attend in the future.
Many thanks to Courtney for all of her support and to the guys at the pool(Dan, Kip and Chris) for keeping me in line.
Up next? The Central Ohio Adventure Race at Caesars Creek on September 26th!
The Race...
I ended up finishing 45th overall, 6th in my age group in a time of 1:05:36. Overall I was very happy with my performance. Going into the race I thought a time between 1:07 and 1:12 was doable so when I saw 1:05 I was very happy.
The race was a lot of fun. The water was awesome. Clear and somewhere between 70 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a little cool when you first got in but was nothing but comfortable the for the rest of the day.
Courtney and I got into Chicago around 3, found a place to park and checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Allerton on Huron, very nice place and within easy walking distance to the race start. After settling in at the hotel we headed off to Ohio Street Beach where the race would take place. I wanted to get a quick swim in so I could get accustomed to the surroundings and not shocked when tomorrow rolled around. I did an easy 15 minutes in the lake and then we grabbed dinner on Navy Pier.
We got up around 5:20 on race morning which gave us enough time to get to the beach early and still allow for Courtney to stop at Starbucks :) I got registered, and Courtney found a good spot to watch the race. I stretched really well and drank Gatorade and water but did not get in the water and warm up. Maybe this was a mistake but I did not want to get in, get cold, and then have to warm back up again before the start.
I was scheduled to go off in the first wave at 8:00. At 7:55 we walked
out into the water and got setup for the start. The way the start
worked was that they had a person in a boat holding a rope and when the
horn sounded he raised the rope and everyone takes off. I worked my
way toward the front for the start right behind the guys from
Northwestern University Swim Team. I figured they would take off fast
and I could get go with them for a while.
Turns out the beginning of the race was pretty fast and I ended up swimming at a decent pace to get clear and then settled in. The first lap around the course was
pretty uneventful. I did force myself to take in the beautiful skyline
of Chicago and enjoy the view. I felt good the first lap but I didn't
really have any idea of how I was doing in terms of placing and time.
It would have been cool to have some sort of in-water timing system so
you could get a sense of splits and how many places you gained or
lost.
Once I started the second lap things got much more crowded. It
seemed like you were passing people all of the time which makes you feel
good nut also slows you down as you have to navigate through the crowds. I felt good throughout most of the second lap but I would tell I was fatiguing with about 500-600meters left in the race.
After the race Courtney and I hung around for a while and enjoyed the festivities. Then we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the rest of our stay in the city. All in all it was a lot of fun and a race that I will definitely try to attend in the future.
Many thanks to Courtney for all of her support and to the guys at the pool(Dan, Kip and Chris) for keeping me in line.
Up next? The Central Ohio Adventure Race at Caesars Creek on September 26th!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
9/10/2009
Finished my last swim in a pool before Big Shoulders. I swam a very relaxed 1800 with a couple of broken 100's.
I felt ok, not great, bit ok. My shoulder is still a bit tight so I am hoping it will come around by Saturday.
That's all for now. I will provide an in depth review after the race.
I felt ok, not great, bit ok. My shoulder is still a bit tight so I am hoping it will come around by Saturday.
That's all for now. I will provide an in depth review after the race.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
9/9/2009
3 days till Big Shoulders. Did an easy 2600 this morning. Planning on another easy day tomorrow and then Court and I are off to Chicago.
Psych Sheets have been posted for the race, take a look.
Psych Sheets have been posted for the race, take a look.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Big Shoulders History
Here is a link from the Big Shoulders website. It provides some interesting history of the race.
9/8/2009
Kettering Rec is closed this week for its yearly cleaning so I am stuck swimming at a different pool this week. I did a fairly easy 4000 this morning and felt decent. Shoulder is a little sore but I attribute that more to a couple of days off than overuse. Now I have just a couple of short days leading up to the race.
4 days till Big Shoulders!
4 days till Big Shoulders!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Saturday, September 5th
I had a great workout this morning! This was my last real intense workout before Big Shoulders. I didn't do anything super long but wanted to make the efforts very challenging. We ended up doing the following:
400 Swim
300 Kick
300 Pull
2x2000 with every fourth 100 being hard. I ended up going 23:47 and 24:16 for each 2000. I was fairly happy with these times although I would have liked the second one to be a little faster.
Going to spend the rest of today kicking back and recovering. Later.
400 Swim
300 Kick
300 Pull
2x2000 with every fourth 100 being hard. I ended up going 23:47 and 24:16 for each 2000. I was fairly happy with these times although I would have liked the second one to be a little faster.
Going to spend the rest of today kicking back and recovering. Later.
Friday, September 4, 2009
9/4/2009
After yesterday’s fairly hard workout I backed things down today and did an easy 3500. Tomorrow will be my last long and intense workout before Big Shoulders.
Chris: You picked the wrong day to skip!
Chris: You picked the wrong day to skip!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday, 9/3/2009
9 days till Big Shoulders. Only a couple of big days left and then bring on the rest!
I put in a solid 5200 this morning. My shoulder and back still don’t feel great but I was able to put in a strong effort today. I iced my shoulder down real well last night and took some aspirin before swimming so that seemed to help.
I ended up doing 5x1000. The first was a warm up with some pull and kick involved. After that, we did the last four freestyle on 13:00. I tried to keep things under control and not blow myself up. I ended up going 11:58, 12:15, 12:20, 12:15. On the second and third 1000s, Chris pulled me around for the first 500, which I much appreciated.
Later.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Big Shoulders Countdown
Not long before Big Shoulders now. 12 days and counting! I have been finishing up a decent build for the race and starting to get excited. I don't feel as strong as I did last year before 25K Nationals but Big Shoulders is only 5K so hopefully I will have enough to get through it. I swam a test set of 6x500 on 6:30 and held between 5:52 and 5:58 which I was happy with and is giving me some confidence heading into the race.
I have been hearing a lot of murmurs lately about how could the water temperature in Lake Michigan could be for the race. Last temperature reading that I heard was mid 60's http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/michigan/m54.html but apparently the temperature can fluctuate 5-10 degrees within a day or two so there is no reason to worry about what I don't have any control over.
Well that's all for now, I will check in again before the race.
I have been hearing a lot of murmurs lately about how could the water temperature in Lake Michigan could be for the race. Last temperature reading that I heard was mid 60's http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/michigan/m54.html but apparently the temperature can fluctuate 5-10 degrees within a day or two so there is no reason to worry about what I don't have any control over.
Well that's all for now, I will check in again before the race.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Great Ohio River Swim
On Saturday I competed in the Second Annual Great Ohio River Swim Race held in Cincinnati Ohio and put on by the good folks at Cincinnati Triathlon.
I still was not feeling like I was in great form for this race as I was still working off a few extra pounds put on while in Mexico. I didn't really rest for the race and I just figured I would give it a go and see what happened.
According to the race officials the course is about 900 meters long. It is a "V" shaped course and starting on the Ohio side of the river and finishing further down river on the Ohio side.
For equipment, I went with my Team Aquaphor issue tri-shorts and a pair of clear Speedo Vanquisher goggles. And of course I used Aquaphor on my ankle(for the timing chip), neck and between my legs to avoid chaffing.
I started off very conservatively as I was unsure what role the current would play in the race. To my surprise, I got to the first buoy in second place with another swimmer just ahead of me. On the way back to shore I could feel the current playing a much bigger part in the race. I had to sight often and make a conscious effort to make sure that I would not over shoot the finish. On the way back I did not really see any other swimmers. Part of me thought that was good and that I had taken the lead but I was also concerned that I had picked a bad line and that I had missed a group. In the end I came to shore in 8:46 in first place overall. It was a great feeling as this was the first open water race I had done where I was the overall winner.
My buddy Kip also swam and he did very well with a 19th place finish. Nice job Kip!
As always I owe a big thank you to Courtney who got up early and supported me all of the way. She is the best!
Here are a few photos care of Michael E. Keating from Cincinnati.com. They are the photos posted in this blog.
Friday, July 17, 2009
COWS #2 Preview
The Columbus Open Water Swims #2 is tomorrow (7/18/2009). I have not been training much for this race as we have been in Cozumel for my brother's wedding. Congrats Chris and Dawn! Check out the picture below - very hard to train here :)
We had a great time but I did a little too much eating and not enough training. I will complete in all three events tomorrow and hopefully the extended rest period I have had will work out for me. I had about 7 days of no swimming and then 3 days in the water to get ready. All I can do is stay positive and do my best. Will update tomorrow with my results.
We had a great time but I did a little too much eating and not enough training. I will complete in all three events tomorrow and hopefully the extended rest period I have had will work out for me. I had about 7 days of no swimming and then 3 days in the water to get ready. All I can do is stay positive and do my best. Will update tomorrow with my results.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Columbus Open Water Swims
I have been a little MIA recently putting in some solid training volume. I have been prepping for the first series of Columbus Open Water Swims put on by Fat Rabbit Racing. I have done these races for the last couple of years and always have a good time.
There are three events: 1.5K, .75K and 3.0K help on a .75 loop course. There is usually about 15 minutes between events so there is not much recovery time.
Overall, I am happy with my performances. My times improved fairly dramatically (although the conditions were a bit better this year) and I felt strong while not really resting for this event. One thing I am realizing that I need to continue to improve on is making efforts throughout the race to stay with the pack. Surges happen periodically and I need to be ready to react and not lose contact with the lead group.
Here are the results with a comparison to my times from last year. Peace.
2009 2008
.75K - 10:23 .75K - 11:10
3.0K - 41:46 3.0K - 47:49
There are three events: 1.5K, .75K and 3.0K help on a .75 loop course. There is usually about 15 minutes between events so there is not much recovery time.
Overall, I am happy with my performances. My times improved fairly dramatically (although the conditions were a bit better this year) and I felt strong while not really resting for this event. One thing I am realizing that I need to continue to improve on is making efforts throughout the race to stay with the pack. Surges happen periodically and I need to be ready to react and not lose contact with the lead group.
Here are the results with a comparison to my times from last year. Peace.
2009 2008
1.5K - 19:51 1 .5K - 21:27
.75K - 10:23 .75K - 11:10
3.0K - 41:46 3.0K - 47:49
Monday, June 1, 2009
Battle of the Businesses
Quick post to update on the Battle of the Businesses swimming competition help at the Wright State University Pool on Sunday. Not much of a race but I recently competed in the "Battle of the Businesses" swimming and inner tube competitions. BoB is a fund raising effort for the Special Olympics so everyone is just out for a good time. My team finished 4th in the Swimming Relay and we won the inner tube event (guess that shows were our true skills lie).
BoB has a number of different events throughout the week and I will be competing in the obstacle course, football punt, and soccer dribbling events later in the week. Hopefully I won't pull anything :)
BoB has a number of different events throughout the week and I will be competing in the obstacle course, football punt, and soccer dribbling events later in the week. Hopefully I won't pull anything :)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Christmas in May!
The Team Aquaphor guys hooked me up with a bunch of new gear for the 2009 season. The package included tri shorts, tri top, running singlet, running shorts, technical t-shirt, swim suit, caps, wind jacket and a variety of great Eucerin product and samples. Take a look at the photos below!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
2009 Race Schedule
Here is my tentative schedule for 2009. I will be focusing most on the 5K and 10K USMS Nationals.
1. John Bryan Jump Off Adventure Race
Location: John Bryan State Park , Yellow Springs Ohio
Date: May 2nd, 2009
http://www.race-coar.com/index_009.htm
Notes: 4 Hour Adventure Race (Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Trail Running) – Chris and I will be competing as a team.
Goals: Finish!
2. Columbus Open Water Swims I
Location: Alum Creek State Park
Date: June 27th, 2009
http://www.fatrabbitracing.com/Events/OpenWaterSwim/COWS1.aspx
Notes: 3 different swim races. .75K, 1.5K, 3.0K. Competed in this race in 2008.
2008 Results:
.75K – 11:10 (1st Masters Male)
1.5K – 21:27 (2nd Masters Male)
3K – 47:49 (1st Masters Male)
Goals: Improve all times from 2008. Finish on podium for all three races.
3. Columbus Open Water Swims II
Location: Antrim Park , Columbus Ohio
Date: July 18th, 2009
http://www.fatrabbitracing.com/Events/OpenWaterSwim/COWS2.aspx
Notes: 3 different swim races. .75K, 1.5K, 3.0K. Competed in this event in 2007.
2007 Results:
1.5K – 21:44 (2nd Masters Male)
3.0K – 45:52 (6th Masters Male)
Goals: Improve all times from 2008. Finish on podium for all three races.
4. Great Ohio River Swim
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: July 25th, 2009
http://www.cincytriathlon.com/River%20Swim.htm
Notes: Not sure what to expect with this race. It involves swimming the width of the Ohio River .
Goals: Finish in top 3 of age group.
5. United States Masters Swimming 10K National Championships
Location: Harbor Springs, Michigan
Date: August 1st, 2009
http://www.usms.org/longdist/ldnats09/
Notes: 10K National Champs. "A" Race.
Goals: Finish in top 3 of age group.
6. United States Master’s Swimming 5K National Championships
Location: Chicago , Illinois
Date: September 12th, 2009
http://www.bigshoulders.org/
Notes: 5K National Champs. A large field and very competitive. "AA" Race, want to perform my best at this event.
Goals: Finish in top 5 of age group. Swim under 1:05.
1. John Bryan Jump Off Adventure Race
Location: John Bryan State Park , Yellow Springs Ohio
Date: May 2nd, 2009
http://www.race-coar.com/index_009.htm
Notes: 4 Hour Adventure Race (Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Trail Running) – Chris and I will be competing as a team.
Goals: Finish!
2. Columbus Open Water Swims I
Location: Alum Creek State Park
Date: June 27th, 2009
http://www.fatrabbitracing.com/Events/OpenWaterSwim/COWS1.aspx
Notes: 3 different swim races. .75K, 1.5K, 3.0K. Competed in this race in 2008.
2008 Results:
.75K – 11:10 (1st Masters Male)
1.5K – 21:27 (2nd Masters Male)
3K – 47:49 (1st Masters Male)
Goals: Improve all times from 2008. Finish on podium for all three races.
3. Columbus Open Water Swims II
Location: Antrim Park , Columbus Ohio
Date: July 18th, 2009
http://www.fatrabbitracing.com/Events/OpenWaterSwim/COWS2.aspx
Notes: 3 different swim races. .75K, 1.5K, 3.0K. Competed in this event in 2007.
2007 Results:
1.5K – 21:44 (2nd Masters Male)
3.0K – 45:52 (6th Masters Male)
Goals: Improve all times from 2008. Finish on podium for all three races.
4. Great Ohio River Swim
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: July 25th, 2009
http://www.cincytriathlon.com/River%20Swim.htm
Notes: Not sure what to expect with this race. It involves swimming the width of the Ohio River .
Goals: Finish in top 3 of age group.
5. United States Masters Swimming 10K National Championships
Location: Harbor Springs, Michigan
Date: August 1st, 2009
http://www.usms.org/longdist/ldnats09/
Notes: 10K National Champs. "A" Race.
Goals: Finish in top 3 of age group.
6. United States Master’s Swimming 5K National Championships
Location: Chicago , Illinois
Date: September 12th, 2009
http://www.bigshoulders.org/
Notes: 5K National Champs. A large field and very competitive. "AA" Race, want to perform my best at this event.
Goals: Finish in top 5 of age group. Swim under 1:05.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
John Bryan Jump Off
The race started a little later than most swims or tri's. The race didn't officially begin until 10:00am so Chris and I did not have to leave too early. We had met the night before to discuss strategy and lay out our gear.
Chris picked me up at 6:30 and we loaded our gear in his truck and took off for John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs Ohio. The race instructions directed us to first drop off our bikes at a location different from where the race would actually start. Chris and I got there before anyone else and took our time checking our bikes and investigating the river we would soon be running. After getting our bikes arranged we drove into the park, where the race would start.
We were there plenty early so we made sure our packs had everything we needed. My gear included a GoLite pack with a 100oz bladder. In the bladder I had water with a few NuuN tablets. I carried a couple of Clif Shots and that was pretty much it for nutrition except for the water bottle of Gatorade I left with my bike. In my pack I carried an extra shirt, extra socks, a compass, and my bike helmet. I wore shorts, short sleeve shirt with base layer, arm warmers and a hat.
We received our maps about ten minutes before the start so we didn't have much time to plan strategy. Chris looked at the map and came up with a general idea of how we would attack the orienteering section of the race. The orienteering was first, then we would paddle and finally ride to the finish.
We took off at 10:00 and jogged toward the first checkpoint we targeted. Only a few other teams had the same strategy as us so it wasn't too crowded. We crossed a bridge and then began looking for the elusive CP. Before long we had found it and were on our way to the next one. The next CP took us a long time to find and in hindsight we probably should have cut our losses and moved on but it became personal and once we did find it we were both were feeling really good.
We grabbed a couple more checkpoints and then moved to the rappelling section. I struggled with this as I had never done it before. It was a little dicey at first for me but I finally got down and waited for Chris to get a harness. Chris and I decided we needed to order our own harnesses as we waited a good 30 minutes to do the rappelling section because we didn't have harnesses. Chris came down the face like mad man. All the volunteering were yelling "Navy Seal" as Chris made easy work of the face.
Once we finished the ropes we grabbed a few more easy CPs and then grabbed our canoe. The canoeing ended up being harder than we thought with all the rain we had but we got through it relatively easily. We did miss a checkpoint but it was no big deal as we had others to find.
After finishing the paddling we grabbed our bikes and took off. Due to the high water the majority of the bike was on the road. We missed a few CPs on the bike because my chain snapped and Chris and I had to rig it back together but I could put very little pressure on the pedals for the rest of the ride. We packed it in and rode to the finish tired but proud of what we had accomplished.
Chris picked me up at 6:30 and we loaded our gear in his truck and took off for John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs Ohio. The race instructions directed us to first drop off our bikes at a location different from where the race would actually start. Chris and I got there before anyone else and took our time checking our bikes and investigating the river we would soon be running. After getting our bikes arranged we drove into the park, where the race would start.
We were there plenty early so we made sure our packs had everything we needed. My gear included a GoLite pack with a 100oz bladder. In the bladder I had water with a few NuuN tablets. I carried a couple of Clif Shots and that was pretty much it for nutrition except for the water bottle of Gatorade I left with my bike. In my pack I carried an extra shirt, extra socks, a compass, and my bike helmet. I wore shorts, short sleeve shirt with base layer, arm warmers and a hat.
We received our maps about ten minutes before the start so we didn't have much time to plan strategy. Chris looked at the map and came up with a general idea of how we would attack the orienteering section of the race. The orienteering was first, then we would paddle and finally ride to the finish.
We took off at 10:00 and jogged toward the first checkpoint we targeted. Only a few other teams had the same strategy as us so it wasn't too crowded. We crossed a bridge and then began looking for the elusive CP. Before long we had found it and were on our way to the next one. The next CP took us a long time to find and in hindsight we probably should have cut our losses and moved on but it became personal and once we did find it we were both were feeling really good.
We grabbed a couple more checkpoints and then moved to the rappelling section. I struggled with this as I had never done it before. It was a little dicey at first for me but I finally got down and waited for Chris to get a harness. Chris and I decided we needed to order our own harnesses as we waited a good 30 minutes to do the rappelling section because we didn't have harnesses. Chris came down the face like mad man. All the volunteering were yelling "Navy Seal" as Chris made easy work of the face.
Once we finished the ropes we grabbed a few more easy CPs and then grabbed our canoe. The canoeing ended up being harder than we thought with all the rain we had but we got through it relatively easily. We did miss a checkpoint but it was no big deal as we had others to find.
After finishing the paddling we grabbed our bikes and took off. Due to the high water the majority of the bike was on the road. We missed a few CPs on the bike because my chain snapped and Chris and I had to rig it back together but I could put very little pressure on the pedals for the rest of the ride. We packed it in and rode to the finish tired but proud of what we had accomplished.
USMS 25K National Champs-Noblesville Indiana
I am adding a race report that I created last year following the USMS 25K National Championships.
We traveled to Noblesville Friday afternoon for the Saturday morning race. I had my Dad and my brother Chris with me to serve as my support crew. Chris would be serving as my escort in a kayak. This race was sizing up to be one of the most difficult races I have ever done. The race would not take nearly as long as an Ironman but when you are swimming the entire time it is much more challenging. Specifically, there is no where to hide. No coasting on the bike no walking during the run. You have to keep swimming.
The day before the race we registered and went to the pre-race meeting. During the meeting I made sure I knew all of the necessary rules and Chris reserved his kayak and PFD. After the meeting we boarded a few boats and took a tour of the course. It consisted of five 5K loops. I really wanted to get back to the hotel to get organized and to bed before it got to be too late so I wasn't too crazy about the boat tour but it ended up being helpful as Chris and I got a good idea of the course. It was probably more important for Chris as he was going to be the one chiefly in charge of navigation.
After the tour we got back to the hotel and I prepared all of my gear. This process was much easier than setting up for a triathlon or adventure race. All I really needed to worry about was my suit, googles and nutrition. I decided on wearing a Speedo FastSkin Pro Legskin for the race, with a pair of Speedo Olympic Vanquisher Plus goggles. For nutrition I went basic, Gatorade and water for hydration and Clif Shots and bananas for calories.
A quick aside on the suit. The FastSkin Pro was my first experience with the new breed of "technical swimming" suits. Back in my previous competitive heydays a paper suit or a Speedo AquaBlade was considered high tech and fast. I was a little skeptical of the technology (and the price :)) but when I tried the suit out in the pool a few days before the race I could tell that the hype was for real. I felt fast! The suit felt buoyant but not overly so and I was really excited to race with this suit.
Back to the race. Chris and I went to bed early and I slept pretty well, though I was up early the next morning. I was full of energy and jitters and sleeping in was not an option. We got our stuff packed, stopped on the floor below us to pick up Dad and then we headed to a gas station to buy some ice. Chris and I figured getting the ice was a priority as temperatures were going to be in the mid 90’s and keeping our body temps down was crucial. I had a Clif Bar (love the Cool Mint), an Uncrustable and a banana.
We arrived to the race start early as Chris and I usually do. Chris swears this is a direct correlation to always being late when arriving to swim meets when we were younger. Chris claims that he would always get yelled at when he showed up late to warm-ups because of our Mom. Love you Mom! Now, Chris and I are usually the first ones to show up at most any race!
Once the race directors got there and opened the facility we headed in, hit the bathroom and I began the process of getting the suit on. After getting dressed I did a quick warm up and had a gel before the start. The warm up felt good for the most part. I had a little tweak in my neck from doing something to it a few days prior but other than that I was fit and ready to go.
The escort kayaks were positioned about 500 meters away from the start so the swimmers could spread out a bit before being joined by kayak support. In hindsight I paid a bit too much attention to finding Chris when I should have just kept swimming and been confident that he would find me. After what seemed like a long time, I noticed Chris was off to my left and I was calm and ready to get to the swimming.
The first loop was relatively uneventful except for one kayaker that about hit me. I did notice that the back half of the loop was significantly more difficult than the front half. Something that I would definitely keep in mind throughout the race in order to dose my efforts effectively.
The best part of the day was the ending of each lap when I would be able to see my wonderful, beautiful wife, Courtney, and my two troublemaking dogs. Courtney brought Riley and Jake over early in the morning and although I did not see her at the start, she, R & J were there cheering and barking at the end of each lap. I owe so much to Courtney; she is by far the best wife I could have ever hoped for. Her support was a huge part of getting me to the starting line.
The way we handled the nutrition during the race was for Chris to simply hand me a water bottle or gel every 20-30 minutes. Chris had a small cooler in his Kayak that let him keep the food cool. The only problem with this was when I tried to take in my first gel it was more or solid than I expected and I preceded to gag and throw it up. This made taking in nutrition very difficult during the rest of the race.
After completing the second loop (10K) into the race, I thought I might be in a bit of trouble. I was hurting. The back half of each loop was really taking it out of me and I was really feeling like I might not complete the race. The third loop was a nightmare and I thought it would never end. I just kept trying to take my mind to another place and keep moving. Once I completed the third loop and saw Courtney, I remember thinking that I am not going to let this race beat me. After that the last two loops were not nearly as difficult. It goes to show you how your mental toughness can really change things.
I finished the race and felt great. Although my time was much slower than I had hoped for, I felt like I had truly accomplished something. Looking back, I probably should have worn a more comfortable suit as the FastSkin was tight and made for a long day. And I should have practiced and planned my nutrition better. I was severely under nourished throughout this race and I know it hindered my performance.
Many thanks go out to the race directors and USMS. A big thank you goes out to my Dad, Cal and my brother, Chris, for serving as my support crew during race weekend. And last but certainly not least, thank you to my beautiful wife, Courtney, for standing by me and encouraging me every step of the way.
We traveled to Noblesville Friday afternoon for the Saturday morning race. I had my Dad and my brother Chris with me to serve as my support crew. Chris would be serving as my escort in a kayak. This race was sizing up to be one of the most difficult races I have ever done. The race would not take nearly as long as an Ironman but when you are swimming the entire time it is much more challenging. Specifically, there is no where to hide. No coasting on the bike no walking during the run. You have to keep swimming.
The day before the race we registered and went to the pre-race meeting. During the meeting I made sure I knew all of the necessary rules and Chris reserved his kayak and PFD. After the meeting we boarded a few boats and took a tour of the course. It consisted of five 5K loops. I really wanted to get back to the hotel to get organized and to bed before it got to be too late so I wasn't too crazy about the boat tour but it ended up being helpful as Chris and I got a good idea of the course. It was probably more important for Chris as he was going to be the one chiefly in charge of navigation.
After the tour we got back to the hotel and I prepared all of my gear. This process was much easier than setting up for a triathlon or adventure race. All I really needed to worry about was my suit, googles and nutrition. I decided on wearing a Speedo FastSkin Pro Legskin for the race, with a pair of Speedo Olympic Vanquisher Plus goggles. For nutrition I went basic, Gatorade and water for hydration and Clif Shots and bananas for calories.
A quick aside on the suit. The FastSkin Pro was my first experience with the new breed of "technical swimming" suits. Back in my previous competitive heydays a paper suit or a Speedo AquaBlade was considered high tech and fast. I was a little skeptical of the technology (and the price :)) but when I tried the suit out in the pool a few days before the race I could tell that the hype was for real. I felt fast! The suit felt buoyant but not overly so and I was really excited to race with this suit.
Back to the race. Chris and I went to bed early and I slept pretty well, though I was up early the next morning. I was full of energy and jitters and sleeping in was not an option. We got our stuff packed, stopped on the floor below us to pick up Dad and then we headed to a gas station to buy some ice. Chris and I figured getting the ice was a priority as temperatures were going to be in the mid 90’s and keeping our body temps down was crucial. I had a Clif Bar (love the Cool Mint), an Uncrustable and a banana.
We arrived to the race start early as Chris and I usually do. Chris swears this is a direct correlation to always being late when arriving to swim meets when we were younger. Chris claims that he would always get yelled at when he showed up late to warm-ups because of our Mom. Love you Mom! Now, Chris and I are usually the first ones to show up at most any race!
Once the race directors got there and opened the facility we headed in, hit the bathroom and I began the process of getting the suit on. After getting dressed I did a quick warm up and had a gel before the start. The warm up felt good for the most part. I had a little tweak in my neck from doing something to it a few days prior but other than that I was fit and ready to go.
The escort kayaks were positioned about 500 meters away from the start so the swimmers could spread out a bit before being joined by kayak support. In hindsight I paid a bit too much attention to finding Chris when I should have just kept swimming and been confident that he would find me. After what seemed like a long time, I noticed Chris was off to my left and I was calm and ready to get to the swimming.
The first loop was relatively uneventful except for one kayaker that about hit me. I did notice that the back half of the loop was significantly more difficult than the front half. Something that I would definitely keep in mind throughout the race in order to dose my efforts effectively.
The best part of the day was the ending of each lap when I would be able to see my wonderful, beautiful wife, Courtney, and my two troublemaking dogs. Courtney brought Riley and Jake over early in the morning and although I did not see her at the start, she, R & J were there cheering and barking at the end of each lap. I owe so much to Courtney; she is by far the best wife I could have ever hoped for. Her support was a huge part of getting me to the starting line.
The way we handled the nutrition during the race was for Chris to simply hand me a water bottle or gel every 20-30 minutes. Chris had a small cooler in his Kayak that let him keep the food cool. The only problem with this was when I tried to take in my first gel it was more or solid than I expected and I preceded to gag and throw it up. This made taking in nutrition very difficult during the rest of the race.
After completing the second loop (10K) into the race, I thought I might be in a bit of trouble. I was hurting. The back half of each loop was really taking it out of me and I was really feeling like I might not complete the race. The third loop was a nightmare and I thought it would never end. I just kept trying to take my mind to another place and keep moving. Once I completed the third loop and saw Courtney, I remember thinking that I am not going to let this race beat me. After that the last two loops were not nearly as difficult. It goes to show you how your mental toughness can really change things.
I finished the race and felt great. Although my time was much slower than I had hoped for, I felt like I had truly accomplished something. Looking back, I probably should have worn a more comfortable suit as the FastSkin was tight and made for a long day. And I should have practiced and planned my nutrition better. I was severely under nourished throughout this race and I know it hindered my performance.
Many thanks go out to the race directors and USMS. A big thank you goes out to my Dad, Cal and my brother, Chris, for serving as my support crew during race weekend. And last but certainly not least, thank you to my beautiful wife, Courtney, for standing by me and encouraging me every step of the way.
What is this exactly???
I am creating this blog to track my various races that I will be competing in this year. Hopefully this will give my sponsors and friends a way to view my progress and read up on my race reports.
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