Total Posts: 129
6.0 Years Ago

Enjoy your times!

Total Posts: 640
5.9 Years Ago

I haven't been commenting too much lately, but it is inspiring to read your race reports. Greg - It was great to see you break the 6:30 mark, and Todd - you posted some very nice times. Talia - with some swim training, you are going to be darn scary. I too am very very slow swimming, but I have the added slowness of the run as well...

I am continuing to work on this years goals, I have now ridden the Vineman (4 weeks out) course 2 times. 2 weekends ago we did a very fast pace, and this past weekend on father's day, we started with a 30 minute swim (Which is like only 1,000 yeards for me), followed by 57 miles of ride (this time slower pace with speed bursts muxed in), then a short run (Which for me was around 2 miles.) The run felt horrible - so I think I need more work on Bricks between now and race day.

I may try to work in an Olympic this weekend, as part of my training. If not, my plans are to improve on last years 1/2. (Which shouldn't be hard to do.)

Time last year was 6:26:05

Swim was 47:51 -

T-1 was 7:19 -

(Keep in mind that it is 1/3 of a mile run from ocean to T-1)

Bike was 2:49:40 -

(This included T2 - which is a bummer)

Run was 2:41:14

(Walked probably 3-4 of the 13.1 miles)

I have different goals this year for the two as they are different Tris

Vineman Goal(7-18-08)- - - - - - -Big Kahuna Goal (9-7-08)

Swim 45:00 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 40:00

T1 4:30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6:30

Ride 2:55:00 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2:45:00

T2 2:30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1:30

Run 2:10:00 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1:59:00

Totals 5:56:00 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5:32:00

These would be stretch goals for me, and I would be very pleased with them. First goal is to break 6 hours.

I need to work on NOT taking breaks during the swim and finding a rythem, being careful to take in proper nutrition on the bike and not pushing too hard where I blow up on the run. Then on the run... Goal is to not walk.

JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.9 Years Ago

Total Posts: 129
5.9 Years Ago

Greg, strong work for someone that didn't get the time in that you wanted (with the times to match!). Todd, nice times, you make it look easy! Talia, 9 minutes still rocks considering that you weren't recovered from your 1/2! And good luck Jim! Vickie

Total Posts: 640
5.8 Years Ago

I don't remember your bike being so fast before. 20+ mph is GREAT! and an excellent time overall as well! '

My big one is coming up on Sunday. Shooting for a sub 6 hour - 1/2 this year. I have this one and one on 9-7-08 to get it done.

JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.8 Years Ago

I felt really good the day before. We met at Pat's house early in the morning right next to the T2 area and finish line. The friend (Dave) I supported last year woke up early and came out to support me this day.

As we were heading out to the swim and T1, we drove a part of the run course which I have not yet seen. Suddenly, intimidation started to set in. I knew there were hills in the other area, but there are more fairly massive hills in this area.

My goals for this course were listed above. The problem is that I really had no idea how hilly the run course is. So here's the break down:

Swim went off at 8:22 for my wave. I started pretty close to the front, and there was a lot of bumping and having hands hit my feet down. Seems like it was really cramped out there. under the bridge there is a shallow area which I used to stand, and look for gaps, then I dove back in and continued the swim. Right before the turn, the first of the wave behind me passed me. Way ahead of any other purple cap. I thought it was my friend, but it was another guy that swam the 1.2 in 22 minutes and some change!! WOW. Everyone stands at the turn and runs it, then start a few more dives to come back. mch faster coming back with the current.

(Goal time 45 min - actual time 42 min) Still slow, but 5 minutes off last year 1/2.

Bike - I decided to take it easy on the bike and really focus on nutrition and stocking up for the run. Also, it is a really hilly course, so I didn't want to ruin my legs. Other than being forced into the oncoming traffic lanes while in my aero bars - once while I was going 31 mph, and another time when I was going 40 mph, there were no incidents. For some reason people think they need to swing 10 feet to pass someone, which forced me further to the left. At about mile 40, my left knee started to stiffen a bit, which has been a small issue as of late, so I let up even more and tried to over compensate with my right leg.

(Goal Time was 2:45 - actual time 2:59, There is no T2 time, I think it's in the bike.)

Run - First mile or so didn't feel very good, and I had to use a restroom since mile 40 on the bike, but they have all had lines. (1 Porta Potty in T2)

Finally I stop at 2 potty's with 1 in line, and we wait 3 minutes there. Just past a mile. I watch my avg pace ticking up. The rest of the run felt good, until the turn around (Which was the easiest section). After that my legs were feeling tired, but they could still go. After mile 10 (my longest training run) I said OK bring it home 3 miles to go... Mile 11 marker and a hill, I start to feel the cramping starting in the quads above the knee. I stopped and tried to massage them out, but no luck. Just suffered with a walk, run, shuffle combo up and down the remaining hills to make it home.

(Goal Time was 2:15 - Actual time 2:19)

My goal was to break 6 hrs, but I ended with 6:04. However, I am happy with my time on this harder course as I tool 22 minutes off my only other 1/2 IM.

Hoping I can best my Big Kahuna time on September 7th and get under the 6 hours.

JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.8 Years Ago

Some swimmers have such the temper!

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=SR&Date=20080720&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=253433786&Ref=PH&Profile=1350&Params=Itemnr=1&show=galleries&template=multimedia

Best,

JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.8 Years Ago

Bike = 2:53:47 (This was pretty close to being on goal.)

T2 = 4:39 - Not sure why??? Seems to me that the swim-bike transition would be longer. My friend was under 1:30 on both transitions, this would save me a whopping 6 minutes. Need to get these tighter as my goal was 5 total. 3 min on T1 and 2 Min on T2.

On to the next one...

JC1.5

Total Posts: 37
5.8 Years Ago

FIRST though I want to say GREAT job to our local FJ crew! Pat, David and Jim ROCKED it and I am so proud of ALL of them! Jim, you got your 6 - that 3 minute potty break just wasn't fair. Next time though just pee on yourself. ;)

Ultimately I can honestly say I gave it my all yesterday. I did my best and I put it all out there. The biggest disappointment for me was my run. I gave it my all but I wanted to feel better. I wanted to have more strength. I wanted to have more 'get up and go' in my legs. I wanted to be faster. But, I did what I did and in spite of knowing that I was running slower than I had originally intended, I kept a smile on my face, I kept my thoughts positive, and I told myself "Sarah...this is the last time you have to do this this year..."

My goals going into this race were as follows:

-Go sub 5:10: Nope

-Qualify for Clearwater: YES! (But I turned it down)

-Not break down at mile 9 on the run: YES!!

-Have fun and be confident and proud of myself: YES!!!!

My times went like this:

Swim: 34:34 (1:47/100 yard pace, avg HR 162)

T1: 2:58 (avg HR 169!)

Bike: 2:45:34 (20.3 mph, avg HR 161)

T2: 2:17 (avg HR 161)

Run: 1:53:51 (8:41/mile, avg HR 164)

Total: 5:19:17

P.S. The picture is the one from the newspaper - how COOL IS THAT?!? :D

No more Vineman for awhile...I think 3 times in a row is good for me. AND NO MORE HALFS THIS YEAR! I AM DONE WITH HALFS FOR 2008!!!!

[+] enlarge

Total Posts: 640
5.8 Years Ago

I plan to do one more on September 7th in Santa Cruz, CA (The Big Kahuna Half IM). I am really looking forward to this one.

Then I will be hosting a 1 hour bike Time Trial Race in Sonoma with our group and extended friends.

Last, I have planned a marathon on October 12th.

I may go down and volunteer at IMAZ, and I may do a sprint distance in November.

How about you Todd?

JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.8 Years Ago

Best of luck to you!! ~ JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.7 Years Ago

Total Posts: 129
5.7 Years Ago

Todd- You gotta love a solid race and awesome times with friends and food and beverage of choice, congrats!!

Keep them coming!! Vickie

Total Posts: 640
5.7 Years Ago

1. Forget the little thoughts that were dancing around in my head about skipping socks.

2. Make sure to get water.

3. I have been upset about late starts and finishes and having all the good food picked over. "There were burrito's??? Where???" But I have never been turned away. I definitely appreciate the volunteers, and 99.9% of them are great, but that one may have gotten an ear full. A banana? Come on, Send someone to the grocery store. I am sure there were many more behind you.

Some people take the rules so seriously that they can't think as a human being, they almost become robotic.

I remember when my 8 year old did her first Tri, they refused to let me enter the transition area to set up her space. REALLY? Why does every other child in there have a parent standing next to them?

You'll get em next year.

Have a great off season, and be sure to maintain whaqt you built this year.

JC1.5

Total Posts: 640
5.7 Years Ago

WARNING - THIS POST MAY BE LENGTHY AND CONTAIN FOUL LANGUAGE!!!!!

Alright - My story starts after my first 1/2 IM of the year which was in July. I had planned to take it easy, but training was going well and I went for a sub 6 hr time. I missed it by 4 minutes. Confidence was running high as I viewed the Big Kahuna as an easier course. However, my training between the 2 in the following month and a week went to HE[[. I did not swim, other than screwing around with other 35+ yr old kids in the lake on vacation, I maybe ran 5 times, but I did ride a lot.

For some reason motivation just wasn't there. No family coming with me, no one I know doing the tri, lost my training buddy to an injury, wife went to Europe for 2 weeks and I watched the kids (1 ride, 1 spin, and 1 stairmaster over 2 weeks). She returned with 9 days left to the event, gee I am suppose to be tapering, but tapering from what???

All the way up to the day of the event I had thoughts of just NOT going. We bid on a dinner at a fundraiser that was the Sat I was suppose to register, my daughter had her first ever Volleyball game, my cousin was having her 40th B Day. 3 great reasons NOT to go.

Some come Saturday what do I do? I go... I commited to it, perhaps not physically. OK - Let's move on...

Saturday I head out from CA wine country to Santa Cruz. As I am crossing the Golden Gate, I am going over things I have. Thats when I scream out an F bomb. Left my Garmin in drawer. Oh He[[ with it, I will just go by "feel".

Stop by Sport's Basement, and call Pat, What are those non cramping pills called? OH Hammer Electrolytes. OK, I see 4 per package, so I pick three. 1/2 way though the bike, start of run, 1/2 way through run. (This is pertinent later).

The previous yr I got a hotel room and had a horrible night sleep up til after 3 am with a party in the room above us. So this yr I decide to "camp out". I drive up Hwy 1, I see lots of surfers and motorhomes with lights on settling in for the evening, but I figure I will pull off the road and find a more quiet place. I pull down a dirt road, set up the bed in the back of the SUV, nice and cozy, take my Tylonal PM's, set my alarm 10:00PM WAHOOOO!

ASLEEP

11:30PM - KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK - - POLICE!!!!

me, WTF?

police, What are you doing?

me, I'm sleeping...

Apparently I picked an isolated dirt road right next to where all the police go at mid night to hang out and eat. NICE...

Get in the car and drive to recommended place by officer. 20 minutes away, OK sleep again now midnight. 4:30 alarm goes off. Still way better sleep then previous year.

SWIM - Jumped in to get used to the ocean. Not bad water was a warm 64 degrees. Very warm for the Pacific, but last year there were no waves, just little lapers. This year - - freaking crashing waves. I head out a ways for warm up, not bad. Turn around to head back, one breast stroke, and I am hit with a wave and swallow a full mouth full of salt water. BLACH

Things go well, at the start I am right with a lot of people in my group to the first bouy. I am feeling good (for not swimming at all) I am finding myself feeling a little sick from the up and down of the waves. I try to spot the bouy, but I keep having to wait for a lift from the wave to view it. They only have 3 out there for 1.2 miles. Fine last yr with flat water, but not this year. I clear 2nd bouy, all of sudden, I am disoriented, I literally T bone someone. "Where the he[[ is he going?" Oh it's me... I start again, breathe left, NO ONE THERE, ok stroke stroke stroke, breathe right - NO ONE. hmmm just a strange coincidence, repeat - No ONE - WTF I look up, I have swam straight out to sea, away from everyone going parralel to the beech.

OK bring it home, I am feeling REALLY slow coming in, like swimming against the current, neck is raw. OK I am out.

Nice 1/2 mile run to the transition in bare feet, and I am off on the bike.

Feeling good, my element, I am passing many, and have very few passing me. Then a head wind is picking up. I, of course have no idea how fast (or slow)I am going, but I am enjoying my ride, letting up if my legs feel any burn what so ever. I am not hitting my goal, just save legs for the run, I tell myself. No walking this time...

Bike is uneventful, bathroom break during transition, and off on the run.

I start off VERY SLOW, purposely, I want to not walk this time. Everything going according to plan at the 1/2 way point, although the wind is really picking up. I approach the just beyond 1/2 way water stop, and open my final package of Hammer Electrolytes, Rip, Nothing. ?????U*($)(*&@^*(#&*@&$&(*@???? turn around, did they fall??? NO, I bought a freaking empty package!!!!! People at the rest stop, "I didn't see anything fall out. You should get a refund."

Oh well, I keep running, I make the challenging hill on the run (nothing compared to what most of you do, but I had to walk it the previous year). I clear it, and keep on running, probably the slowest run anyone could imagine. In fact, I am not really even sure if I can qualify what I was doing as really running.

Anyway, despite my weakened condition down toward the end, I had been passed by 3 people in my age group heading to the final that had no business passing me based on appearance, so I set a painful 1.5 final mile pace and passed 2 of the 3, I had the third passed as well when he walked, but when he saw me coming, he ran again, and I just could not dig anymore. Finishing with a 1/2 mile on the sand was brutal, And the ANGRY SEA, brought a sneaker up on us that cought me up to my knees, and completely knocked another guy over.

I had a lot of time to reflect during this race, for instance... How in the world would I turn around after this run, and do another lap?

I am convinced of a few learnings.

- Mental attitude plays a bigger role than I thought in Tri.

- I really need some kind of watch or speed and distance to push myself. When left to my own "feel" I am lazy.

- I can not jut rely on a base, I actually need to follow a plan.

- Fitness is a matter of perspective and training, I would need to train a massive amount to do a full IM (a goal) and I really have to soul search before I make that commitment.

Times (They suck)

Swim = 54:38 (Almost 10 minutes longer than last year, and I am a far improved swimmer(at least when I was actually training for it)) Perhaps being pointed in the right direction would help. (Almost dead last 3rd from last. Beverly, mark one goal as a TI course next year.)

T1 = 6:55 (I know it seems like forever, but remember the run, and I actually shaved a minute here:o)

Bike - 3:00:11 (About 11 minutes slower than last yr. head wind was a factor.)

T2 - 4:03 (Not bad with restroom break.)

Run -2:29:34 (Yeah - finall shaved some 12 minutes off last year.)

Overall 6:35:22 even worse than my 6:26:05 last year.

BUT SOME GOOD LESSONS LEARNED... TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN - CHOO-CHOO

JC1.5

Total Posts: 53
5.7 Years Ago

Total Posts: 640
5.7 Years Ago

I forgot one thing - After I got home I washed off the wet suit and washed the sand out of and off of my shoes. I removed the sole, and found that I had one lift in my right shoe. This is not unusual as I put it there because I have one leg shorter than the other. What was unusual was that under it was a second lift. Left over from the Vineman tri in July (I don't train with these shoes.)

So I wore two lifts, and never even realized it. Obviously I was out of it mentally.

Some people end pumped up after a race, I always end with a feeling of not wanting to do an more, but now I am feeling the itch. I talked with a coworker who did the IMWI this Sunday, and just discussing it has me all pumped up again.

I am going to make a focu on running for a while, and take a TI course some time in early 2019.

Chat soon!

JC1.5