Battle of Buckhorn (Podium!)

This was a 1000m swim, 17mile bike and 5K, which obviously favored a strong swimmer and not coincidentally, a strong swimmer won the race by about the margin of his closest competitor in the swim.

My race turned out equally as well as I placed (3rd in A/G) in a triathlon for the first time ever. I also broke 1:30 per 100 pace for the first time ever in a race without a wet suit. As long as I sighted well (which I did) I knew I would have a strong swim. Things have been clicking for during training.

Like Mission Man, this course has rolling hills, but perhaps a bit more gentler. Someone who has been training (someone who is not me) could have really bombed this course. At one trainer ride per week as my only bike training for the past 4 weeks, I knew pacing would be key on the bike. I held back when the urge to crush the downhills appeared and as a result several people passed me on a single long downhill. I reeled them ALL in, and then about 4 more people (1 in my Age Group) on the only significant hill on the course. Only one of those people passed me back.

I immediately caught the guy who passed me back on the only uphill run (right out of transition). My stride felt great but once in the sun, my decision to use Nuun and gels versus e-Caps and water was the reason for me getting cramps in both my calves I think. It wasn't a factor to me physically, but mentally, kept me from going harder than I planned too. A little HEED here and there at the aid stations alleviated the cramps somewhat and before the halfway point, I reeled in two more people in my age group. With a little more than a mile from the finish (in anticipation of gravity pulling me down the hill to the finish) I started my kick, but the cramping in my calves became pretty major. But I could tell it would be a great run for me if I held on, and I legged it out despite the cramps and broke 24 minutes for the first time in a triatlhon 5K run.

Stats:

3/10 Age Group & 19/78 Overall (1:31:06)
Swim (16:04 - 1:28 per 100)
T1 ( :37)
Bike (50:18 - 20.27mph)
T2 (:34)
Run (23:36 - 7:35 per mile)

Guy Stuff

THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO "THE BIG CHEESE"

It was great hearing Conan O'Brien relate to Gwyneth Paltrow about how their 3-year-old boys exhibited such traditional "guy" behavior, like demolishing things, at such a young age. People without kids don't realized how inherent these characteristics really are. For instance, my son wants to hunt and race cars. I've never hunted in my entire life and probably couldn't kill an animal if I had to. And, I'm clearly not a "car" guy (I've only ever owned four cars: '04 Taurus, '96 Taurus, '90 Sentra, '86 Grand Am). But the inherent desire to "hunt" and "race" are in my son's gene's. So, too, is measuring his poop.

CJ: "Daddy, come quick!"

(Triaddy opens the bathroom door)

CJ: "Look in the potty. That's a long one."

TRIDADDY: "Wow. That is long."

CJ: "The other night, when Jinny was over, I had one even longer!"

What make this so "guy" isn't just that he noted the size of his poop, but that he had stored in his brain somewhere the memory of another poop which he found notable. Obviously, I took a picture of him holding his hands above the potty to show me how long it was because even though I'm not a hunter or car guy, I am still a guy who appreciates a good poop.

Trip to Nike World Headquarters

It's true. I'm going to the Emerald City of everything SPORTS. For those not in the "know" the Emerald City for everyday athletes like us is the Nike World Headquarters. I'll also be watching the Prefontaine Classic... IN PERSON!

Check out a pic of me and the other Endurance Sports Media Group editors and publishers visiting the Nike Campus below...

What Do You Do When Race Plans Fall Through?

As much as someone can "work his ass off" in training while keeping family and work top priorities, that's what I'm doing. I've been knocking out all my planned swimming and running this year, but lax on the bike. However, I do feel like I maximized my bike training with appropriate drills and relevant work on the trainer with a few nice outside rides, as well. In addition, I've put a lot more (a lot more than zero, that is) time into core and strength training this year. I think the core work paid off with a solid run finish at the Riverwood Sprint earlier this year.

I've got an easy Gears & Cheers ride tomorrow (online registration is closed, but you can still register tonight at Trek Raleigh or cycles de ORO in Greensboro), then a BRICK on Sunday befoe I officially taper for Kerr Lake, June 7th.

But, it looks like it might all be for naught. My race plans may fall through because I have a pending BIG COOL business trip in the works that would cause me to miss Kerr Lake altogether, wiping out a solid 12 weeks of training. My replacement race would be either the TrySports Battle at Buckhorn Sprint (1,000m open water swim) on June 13, or the Dextro Energy Olympic Triathlon in DC (pending travel arangements) on June 21.

Anyone have any suggestions on what to do after your race plans fall through and you've got an extra 1-2 weeks after you're taper?

Gears & Cheers

Well, another Memorial Day Weekend trip to Pennsylvania to see the kids great grandma and another epic roadtrip home via the backroads and a few stops at some wineries in Virginia. With the closing of Farfelu, several years ago, even though its still listed as being open just about everywhere, we hit up some new spots (and an old standby, Rappahannock Cellars). The "Best Of" award for new spots goes to Gadino Cellars for the laid back atmosphere and beautiful porch and garden. (The wine was good, too!) Chester Gap is fairly new, and while the wines were good, there wasn't a whole lot of room for the kids like at Rappahannock and Gadino Cellars. Overall, I like Rappahannock the best because of the live music and open area for the kids to roam, not too mention an outstanding Meritage and Port Wine (both of which were out of my price range at $29 and $36, respectively).

Which all brings me to Gear & Cheers. I just realized I don't have to travel to Virginia (and miss my training rides) to go to a wine tasting. I can do that right here in North Carolina! In fact, next weekend, I'm considering drinking more wine (as part of a official ride versus the "unofficial" consumption that occurs daily with the Tridaddy... you know, to keep my cholesterol down). The occassion is the 2009 Gears & Cheers ride starting and finishing at the Grove Winery. There are two options (25 or 40-mile) and the event includes ride support, lunch, event glass, and beverage at the winery featuring live entertainment, vineyard tours, picnicking and more. I'm assuming we drink AFTER we ride... either way, without any clear race goals for the future, I can't think of a better way to merge to passions.

Cool? or UNCOOL!!!!

Just as I tie my Tyr jammers and get ready to exit the locker room, a dude in his late 40's in a pair of bulging yet saggy Speedos approaches me.

DUDE: You think I need a new pair of Speedos?

TRIDDAY (after an unfortunate gaze): Yeah. They've seen better days, dude.

DUDE (turns around and points his ass at the Tridaddy): Really? Can you see anything?

CUE DICEMAN "OHHHHHH!!!"

Answer: UNCOOL!!!!

Bible Belt Bicycling

I normally pre-stage my Sunday morning long rides, but given my propensity for hanging out on Saturday nights this year, my morning ride has become an afternoon ride starting anywhere between 1-2pm. Today, however, I decided to head out at about 11:30am. Couple of notes for bible belt cycling:

1. Make sure you have all your long-ride nutrition prior to starting out for a Sunday ride.
2. Make sure you ride a route that has stores with open hours on a Sunday morning.

Mistake #1 - I didn't prestage my ride, so all I had for a 2 hour ride was water.
Mistake #2 - I counted on stopping at the local bike shop, about 2 minutes from my house for Gatorade and/or e-Caps, and/or gels.
Mistaje #3 - I chose a new route, which had two stores along the route; one store was at about 1:15 into the ride, and the next was at 1:50 into the ride.

Unfortunately, the LBS didn't open till 1pm. When I cruised by at 11:32am, I didn't think it was a big deal. Instead, I planned to stop at the gas station 1:15 into my ride.

1:15 into my ride, it wasn't yet 1:00pm, so the gas station wasn't open yet. Crap. It was hot and windy and I was already hurting for some calories.

1:50 into my ride, I hit a gas station that was open, but I wasn't thinking clearly and bought a small can of Red Bull Cola. The energy lasted for abbout 30 minutes.

2:20 into my ride, I officially bonked and was done. DONE. D.O.N.E. Done. Why didn;'t I refuel properly? Who knows.

2:38 into my ride, I limped into my driveway. What should have been a 2:00 ride turned into a 2:38 Gilligan's Island type tour.

Surprisingly, I had a 17.5 mph average. Not bad given the hills and wind and bonking.

All I'm saying is that if you're going to ride in the bible belt where people go to church rather than open up their country gas stations on a Sunday morning, you should plan accordingly.