Portage Lakes Triathlon

Well, my first triathlon season has come to a close. My final race this summer was the Portage Lakes International Distance....my first oly. As I mentioned HFP did not get a time for me. I have some approximate splits that I've got from glancing at my watch and my bike computer.

With Portage Lakes State Park, the race site, close to home and having an 8:00 start I got to sleep in until about 5:30. I awoke and took my dog out and was greeted by some BRISK morning air. Temps. were in the low 40's. I brewed my java...Green Mountain Autumn Harvest Blend. I ate my bagel with strawberry jelly and a banana. Grabbed my bags, stuck Amaterasu on the roof and I was off.

I arrived at the race site just before 7:00 a.m. and the parking lot was packed!! As I was milling around, setting up my transition, etc. everyone had something to say about the cold morning. Some folks were wearing stocking hats and gloves. After setting up my typical transition I put my cold weather gear in a pile and contemplated what to leave out on my towel for T1. Final decision was arm warmers and full finger gloves (the liner hat, windbreaker, and leg warmers stayed in my backpack). Off I went towards the beach.

THE SWIM

The course was 2 loops counterclockwise with a water start. Water temps were perfect, around 68 degrees. I took a nice long warm-up as all the sprinters started first. Soon enough it was time for my wave, the 2nd international wave to go. There were about 50 of us, the biggest wave start I've had all summer. I lined up towards the front and left of the pack. The horn sounded and we were off, swimming towards the rising sun (and 2 giant yellow buoys we couldn't see in the sunlight). The first couple hundred metres things were tight. Bumping shoulders. Hands and arms on my legs. As we were nearing the first turn the lake was full of some sort of seaweed stuff that was strange to pull through. Imagine a net that never seemed to tangle your hands up, but felt like it was about to. I wondered if this race was some trick to catch all the triathletes in some giant net and have a triathlete bake (you know, like a clam bake).

At the first turn buoy I found clear water and could really open up my stroke. For the first time in a race my heart rate didn't skyrocket at the beginning of the swim. Maybe it was my long warm-up. Maybe all the swimming I've been doing is paying off. Either way, it was nice not to feel oxygen deprived at any point of the swim. I felt so comfortable I tried some bilateral breathing for the first time in a race but didn't stick with it because I could feel my heart rate go up immediately.

As I entered into the surreal state of

...thoughtlessness...
murky water...breath...

that is open water swimming, I zig-zagged quite a bit and at one point was cut off by a lifeguard in a kayak who was pointing out towards the middle of the lake yelling "go that way." Note to self: need to work on sighting and swimming in a straight line. Before I knew it my hands were dragging on the beach and I stood (and stumbled) to head towards T1.

I took the run up the beach nice and easy. Since my HR stayed down so low during the swim I wanted to take advantage of that as best I could and get on the bike with it down lower yet. T1 was slow as I took my time and had trouble getting my wetsuit over my ankles. It could be that I remembered the timing chip fiasco at GCT, so I was sure not to lose my ankle bracelet. Little did I know it wouldn't have mattered anyways. My race was already a DNS (sort of). Unbeknownst of this fact I noticed my timing chip didn't beep coming out of T1 and asked the volunteer at the bike mount about this. She had no idea what I was talking about (what?? beep?? huh??) and I didn't worry about it as I didn't hear the mat beep for the guy next to me either.

THE BIKE

Heading out of T1 I glanced at my watch and saw it ticking at 23 minutes and change...whoa!! Best swim of my life!! The swim course was short but I was still feeling great about my time. Hopped on Amaterasu to a brisk breeze heading out onto the bike course. The course was two loops of rolling hills around Lake Nimisilla. Immediately I noticed that the cold wasn't bothering me too much, except that my hips were really, really tight. They didn't loosen up until I had completed most of the first loop. Once I finally got loose I kept a nice pace and decided to open it up on the 2nd loop...get out of the saddle to crest some of the rollers, etc. I was feeling good. The front of my legs were a pink/purple color but they felt fine.

After I began to loosen up my mind drifted to the history of the area. I could envision the thick forest that once stood on these roads and thought of what life would have been like if a canoe on the water was the best way to get around (sans the 8 mile portage).

Whilst enjoying the scenery, I lost my chain going down to the small ring on a climb and was passed by 3 people immediately. I got pissed and hammered out the rest of the course. According to my computer the 40K (24.8 mile) bike course was closer to 23.3 miles. I finished it up in about one hour and 9 minutes for a 20.3 avg. pace.

THE RUN
Quick T2. Changed shoes and threw on my hat. The run course was 2 loops of more rolling hills. In the first mile I passed quite a few folks. My feet were cold for most of this stretch and felt bigger than the size 14 they actually are. I gained my running legs somewhere about one half to three quarters of a mile into the run, possibly my best run off this summer. I stayed steady for the first loop, and just before mile 4 I started to get fatigued on an ascent. At the bottom of the next descent I got passed by someone who looked like he did alot of running (i.e. skinny dude with a nice stride wearing running tights). I tried to hang with him, and did for about a mile, but he dropped me at the next ascent. The quickening of my pace kept me passing folks here, even after getting dropped. On the last ascent my quads were fed up and I was afraid I might start cramping. With just over a mile to go I slugged down some gatorade....I know, alot of good it's going to do me now.

The gatorade at least gave me a nice mental boost and I tried to open my stride down the descent towards the finish. I didn't look at my watch when I crossed the line and they didn't have a clock at the finish, but after leaving the finishing chute I saw my watch ticking at 2 hours 23 minutes and change. My guess is I finished around 2:22:??, making my run and T2 around 51 minutes. I was very happy with that time and how I felt throughout the race. My spirits were high and other than a little bit of struggling on the run so was my energy.

This morning I ran in the Falls Natatorium 5K and have a new PR.....that is coming in my next post.

Happy Autumn Equinox everyone!!

International Car Free Day

Saturday, September 22nd is International Car Free Day. So, unless you support exploitation of natural resources, unhealthy air, noisy streets, and unjust wars you should do your best to leave your automobile where it sits when you wake up (if you own one :-) You should ask your friends to do the same. Here in Northeast Ohio the weather will be beautiful....perfect for walking or biking around. And if you have public transit available to you go on ahead and use it...take a good book to read on the journey, like this one. I find reading much more enjoyable than operating a car anyways. To read a little about International Car Free Day go here or here.

And if you are interested in less important things (like my Portage Lakes Tri race report) stop back.....I'll be reliving the day in my next post.

DNS?????

My last triathlon this summer went well. It was possibly my best of the summer. I finished the International distance in around 2:21 or 2:22. I don't know my exact time because they have me listed on the results page as a DNS. But, I started....and I finished. The bib number they have listed for me on the results is not the bib number they gave me.....so I think that's the problem. Hopefully I'll either get some splits after calling HFP racing, or a race voucher.

I'll post a race report as soon as I get a little time....and hopefully I can get my splits from the race promoter. One more approximate number that I have (other than my overall time) is the air temperature at race time....probably in the mid 40's. Perfect for a swim......

The Long Weekend (And What's Really Important)

Holidays are grand. It's nice to get a "break" from all the chaos that has become my day to day grind. I'm taking 16 hrs. of classes this semester. Add in a full time job, my desire (addiction) to train, nightly walks with the puppy, and 3 (or 5) meals to prepare....I have hardly time for anything else....including blogging. But I'll find time for a little narcicism now and again, trust me.

My holiday weekend went something like this...

Saturday morning I rose out of bed around 5:30. Ate. Hit the road with Amaterasu around 6:30. Rode down to the STOMP Bicycle Adventure to meet Janet, JT, and a few other CTC peeps. What a perfect day for a spin on the bike. The morning was brisk. I set off with knee warmers and the windbreaker for the first time since the late spring. My ears were a bit cold on the descent into the Cuyahoga Valley, where the tour started. Met the peeps next to the coffee pot and we set off on the 100K route. After a short warm up on the valley floor we ascended the western flank. The first climb of the day was nice and long...about 2.5 miles (Everett Rd. for you NE Ohio folks). No more windbreaker after this one!!

The ride continued to the Southwest, never going too far from the valley rim. We headed into Medina County for a bit before turning to head back down to the national park. By the time we were done, it was hot. I got sunburned. I sat at the smallest picic table imaginable and ate a nice big lunch that included my first experience with Dragonfruit juice. Well, my drink contained less than 1% juice, but it was still named after the fruit anyways. I spent another hour or so after lunch lying under a tree and shootin' the shit with Craig and a couple other folks.

I hopped back on Amaterasu to spin home. Realizing that I'd be over 80 miles for the day when I made it back I decided to take a little detour. I turned the cranks until my computer read 100 miles, and by this time I was quite bored and happy to get off the old steed. After all the 50 plus mile rides the last couple years, I've finally crossed the century mark.

Sunday I was a little sore. I rested. I studied. I went out for about 20 miles on the bike with Julia.

Monday was the Labor of Love 5 miler. Met Julia and her family at the race, across the street from the University of Akron. I wasn't sure how I'd fare in this one after the century ride on Saturday and considering that I haven't been running regularly since the GCT. I lined up near the front of the pack and set off at a nice clip. The course was 2 loops of rolling hills on the roads surrounding the University campus, with a short jaunt onto campus after a nice spirit breaking hill near the turnaround/finish.

I felt pretty good for most of the run. The last mile or 2 (especially the last hill) were challenging, but shouldn't they be? I was feeling the effects of the sun as my heartrate went through the roof on that last climb and 1/4 mile flat to the finish. Final time 33:15 for a 6:39 pace. That put me @ 21st overall out of 372 runners. 2nd in my AG out of 31. Possibly my strongest stand alone run yet. It was certainly one I was happy with.

But, I have been hella sore since. My swim today finally helped to lossen up these old legs. Next on the list is the Portage Lakes Oly distance tri in about 10 days. My first oly.

But here's what's important. TriBoomer is doing IM Wisconsin this weekend. He has been raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. $50,000 worth of raising money!!!!! He created the 500 over 140.6 honor roll. He has collected over 500 names of cancer victims, fighters, and survivors (of any type of cancer) and will carry those names with him over the entire ironman course this weekend. We all know someone who has been touched by this unforgiving disease. Go on over to his blog and add a loved one to the list. Better yet, if you can, donate to the cause.

Boomer will carry the name of my sister, who I'm calling Ms. Fighter. Ms. Fighter was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma at the age of 19. She is turning 21 this month. She is a devout christian and is finishing up her Bachelors degree this year (just edging out her brother to this achievment, who is 10 years her elder might I add). Throughout her treatment, she continued to attend class. She was sick. Her hair thinned. She never lost sight of her goal, to get through her treatment and finish school in 4 years. After treatment she piled on the classes, 18 & 19 hrs. worth. She is in remission. Ms. Fighter, my sister, is one of my heros.

I admire those that face adversity, get knocked down, and stand up and keep fighting. Ms. Fighter, I may not know what it is like to go through all you went through, but I admire you.

Thank you TriBoomer. Hopefully Ms. Fighter, and everyone else who has been diagnosed with this terrible disease, knows that there are many of us out there who admire them for their strength, courage, and fortitude. These same attritbutes that Boomer will need to complete Ironman. Good luck my friend!

Wait, what did that commercial just say?????

There is a new drug on the market to treat Restless Leg Syndrome. Maybe you have seen the commercial for this new drug on TV. I happend to hear the advertisement a few days back, and was vaguely paying attention (as I typically do with commercials) until I heard something out of the ordinary.

This commercial was simillar to all the other prescicption drug commercials you see on TV these days. I'm sure you've seen one......

"If you take our drug, we'll make your life better. Just listen to this peaceful music we're playing, listen to my soothing voice, and look at those flowers we're filming next to the smiling person that used to be bothered by said problem. Side effects include.........(insert long and seemingly serious list here)........

So, why am I writing about this you ask? Because one of the side effects of this new drug to cure restless legs syndrom is.......an urge to gamble.

What?????????????

An urge to gamble....is a side-effect.....of a drug used to cure strange sensations in one's leg?????????????

What the hell do they put in these pills????????

Anyone????

My fall semester begins tomorrow morning. Maybe someone at the university would be able to show me the link between gambling urges and leg discomfort?? But I doubt it.

Greater Cleveland Triathlon (Keep...Moving.....Foreward)

Thanks to E-Speed for the pic!!


THE RUN

Heading out of T2 I thought it would take me a mile or 2 to gain my running legs. After that point, my plan was to hold back for at least a couple more miles. Based on how I felt, I was planning to either pick it up between mile 3 and 4, or mile 6 and 7. My friends, there was no "picking it up."

The run course consisted of 2 loops on the road, with the mid-August sun directly overhead. It was hot, probably around 90 degrees, and it was humid. I felt like the sun was zapping all the remaining energy I had. As I approached mile 3 I began to grow concerned as I was feeling worse and worse. My feet hurt. My thighs hurt. I felt bloated. Instead of feeling better after a couple of miles I was feeling worse.

My plan was to run the entire course, other than the aid stations, where I would walk/eat/drink to my hearts content. Judging by the way I felt at mile 3 and realizing there was going to be no such thing as regaining my legs, I wondered if I'd have to do some walking out on the course. I didn't like that idea one bit. Luckily, by mile 4 my feet and legs began to feel uncomfortable, rather than painful. Also to my advantage, the sky had become overcast and no longer were we running in direct sunlight. The slight bit of shade offered by the clouds was probably the single biggest factor that kept the little man in my head, who was saying "this is too much, stop running now," to a whisper (as opposed to shouting) throughout the middle of the run.

By this time in the race my mind was pretty numb. I was having trouble thinking about the specifics of my nutrition plan. For whatever reason, I no longer wanted to consider if it was time for a shot of GU, or a drink of gatorade. All of my thoughts were coming stride by stride. Every time my foot hit the ground I knew I was one step closer to the finish. Each foot strike meant one less foot strike that I had to endure. Miles 4 through 9 were passed this way. I would anticipate with dismay my foot hitting the ground, only to grow happy for a brief second after I picked it up knowing I had taken one more stride. The happiness was always short lived as my other foot was about to make contact with the pavement. I had moved from feeling like I was downright fading fast into sufferville, to maintaining a tolerable state of discomfort that I knew was coming closer to the finish line with each step. Then at mile 9 the discomfort grew worse.

Foot Pain. Burning and tenderness on the balls of both feet.

Leg pain. It was as if I could feel each and every muscle fiber in both legs, from my knee to my hips. Each and every fiber seemed to send me a warning, every time my foot hit the ground, that it would be in my best interest to stop. This warning.....the sensation that I felt in my legs is hard to describe. It is something like the "steady" burn that is felt climbing a hill on the bike....or sprinting with all you've got for a hundred meters, or those last couple of reps of a hard set in the weight room. Except, it was not a dull sustaining sensation. It was sharp, fast, and intense; and it coincided with my foot hitting the ground, so I knew when it was coming.....and my decision to run was the cause.


Just as my nice little state of discomfort was being quickly replaced by suffering, I inquired at the next aid station about fruit. They had bananas and oranges on hand, and since neither water, gatorade, nor GU seemed to be stopping my tumble down the tubes, I went for an orange slice. And another. And another. And another. For fear of adding stomach distress into the mix I quit eating oranges before I had went through the entire bag. Those oranges were hands down the most delicious food I have ever had in my 31 years on this great planet. They were so good they got me to mile 10 just thinking about their flavor.

Around mile 10, as the sweet taste of oranges began to fade from memory, I was passed by a woman who was just trucking along towards the finish. I knew that there had more than likely been a few women who beat me to the finish line.....with time to spare, but something in my brain was triggered to not let this young lady blow right by me. After traveling a mile or so down the road, I thanked her for pacing me in. We hit mile 12, and the sun came back out from behind the clouds. It immediately began to wear me down again.

With a little under a mile to go to the finish, my stomach went south. Maybe it was the oranges, maybe the sun, maybe I need to tweak my nutrition plan (which never included oranges...or gatorade) but I had 2 options as I approached the finish line. Run to the finish....and maybe see what exactly is in someones stomach who has been living on energy gel and sportsdrink for half a day; or walk. So I walked, for the first time that I was not at an aid station. It was all of, maybe, 75 yards, but I was indeed, walking. Off went the woman who paced me over the last 5K or so. I didn't want to throw up on her....i figured I'd just let her beat me. At this point, I at least knew that I'd cross the finish line in under 6 hours.

After my stomach settled, I began to run towards the finish. I thought I'd get a burst of energy knowing that I was done, but I did not. Right before the finish line I took one last sip of water and even the idea of being done with this damn run couldn't get me moving fast.

As I ran the final few yards of the race, I heard a familiar voice begin to yell, "Brandon!!! You just did a half-ironman!" Then I saw Treetop and Julia off to the side of the course and I knew a cold beer was in my future.....and my race was over.

13.1 Mile Run time: 2:08:12
9:48/ mile pace

Final Time: 5:41:43
45th out of 99 Overall
8th out of 18 in my Age Group

Despite the fact that I could get nothing going on the run, I am quite happy with the result. If I would have layed off a bit on the bike, might I have made up some time on the run? Maybe. If I would have a better taper plan, might I have felt better on the run? Quite likely. Could I have trained a little differently. Absolutely. Would changes in my training improved my time? Probably. I suppose a late season half next year will help me to answer these questions. One thing is for certain....I need to increase my running mileage.

After the race, my support crew drove me home and then we proceeded to stop at the winking lizard where I ate a giant burger......I think they called it the pounder (sorry vegan peeps and poor cow), accompanied by a delicious white Ale. I picked up a pint of Ben & Jerry's Everything But The...on the way home....and I slept. Soundly.

I would never have embarked on the journey to complete this race if I would not have been able to follow so many folks IM journeys through the tri club and here in the blogsphere. All of you inspiring people know who you are. Thank You!! And a big congratulations to Charlie, who finished Ironman UK today, his first IM, in 14:35:25. He had a HUGE negative split on the run. Impressive!

Maybe some day.........

Greater Cleveland Triathlon (feeling good)

THE SWIM

For the swim we were heading straight out into the lake and taking a left hand turn at the first buoy. Then, we swam parallel to the beach until reaching the final buoy and turning left toward shore. As we lined up, I started in the second row and to the far right. By the time we abandoned running for swimming it seemed that most of the red caps were pulling away from me. I noticed the lead swimmers hitting the first buoy when it still seemed far ahead. Dang! Then, arose a burning in my stomach. Maybe we could call it nausea. The sensation radiated from my stomach out towards my limbs and relocated a strong sensation of warmth on my forehead. Uh no! I thought. I am .1 mile into this race and I already feel like puking. Maybe it was the banana I ate about 1 hour before the start of the race? And why so soon? I'm doomed. I'll be responsible for the recycled breakfast floating on the swim course....uh boy.

Luckily, the nausea was short lived. Maybe it was just my nerves giving me one final bit of trouble before I settled in to "my race." This swimming thing is still pretty new to me after all. Either way, by the time I reached the first buoy I was feeling like a slow swimmer, but not sick. I let it go that I thought nearly everyone was ahead of me and focused on long, easy strokes and body positioning....exactly what I've been focusing on all summer in the water. I felt someone swimming up on my feet, but it was more pestering than bothersome. As I took my breathe's towards shore I would look directly into the sunrise. The lake was perfectly calm and I felt relaxed and tried to site as little as possible. My zig-zagging seemed minimal. The lake was murky, and as I rotated my head with each stroke I would see grayish murky water, then bright sunlight behind sandy beach. Murky water. Bright sun. Murky water. Bright sun. Look ahead....buoys and swimmers.

Murky water. Bright sun.

Throughout the swim, as the sun continued to rise and the light shining in my eyes with each breath continued to get gradually and steadily brighter. Then, head back down into the murky abyss. Repeat. Repeat.

It is meditative.

Halfway through the swim, I began to consider checking my watch. I was wondering how far along I was. I refrained, convincing myself I'd be on the shore soon enough. Swimming within arms length of a buoy I had to laugh as I noticed the giant shark like grimace that was looking directly at me. The buoy's were giant inflatable shark heads!! Better than the real thing, I suppose. I wondered if there was any way for a shark to "sneak" into lake Erie. Before I knew it I was reaching the last buoy. As I'd site, I could see folks heading towards shore. Yeah, that's everyone that smoked me in this swim, I thought. My next thought was that the swim was an incredibly fast 40 minutes. It seemed like 15. I kept swimming towards shore until my hands began to drag on the bottom of the lake. And I stood....and stumbled. I felt like I had drank a fifth of whiskey. If my swimming wasn't too zig-zagged my run into T1 definitely was. My stomach began to feel testy again as I imagined falling over with my sea legs, or puking in front of the scores of friends and family members that gathered at the swim exit to cheer on their triathletes. Then, I looked at my watch and saw it ticking at 31 minutes and change. Whoa!!! Maybe my swim wasn't so slow. I stumbled out of the water, up the beach, and towards T1 and Amaterasu.

1 mile Swim time: 31:38

I arrived into T1 feeling punch drunk, confused, and surprised at my time. Wobbly legs, nauseated stomach, slow cognitive function. I sat down next to my green towel to take off my wetsuit and remembered that I was racing in a half-ironman and I just had the fastest swim of my life and I smiled....until I had began to struggle to get the wetsuit over my ankles. Come off, damn it...this is a freakin' race!! (one which I had absolutely no chance of winning, but a race, nonetheless). After the wetsuit came off I reached for my socks and cycling shoes and realized that my ankle bracelet with my timing chip was gone.

Enter anxiety!!

I thought it must be in the legs of my wetsuit and checked there. No timing chip. I put my arm all the way up both legs of the wetsuit....twice, at least; and besides some grains of sand there was nothing in there. I sat idle for a moment. This sucks, my race is over. I looked to Rob, whose bike was racked next to mine and told him the bad news. "My timing chip is gone!!" I could tell he felt for me, but that he was more concerned about getting on his bike and moving along; and understandably so. "My chip is in the feakin' lake!! Now what??" Do the race without an "official" time. Finish the race to be an "unofficial finisher." Is there really such a title, and if there is do I really want it?

I sat in a dripping wet heap next to my bike and thought about this for a minute. I was looking around on the ground for the timing chip that I knew was floating in Lake Erie. I had begun to accept that my first half iron would land me finishing the swim...and then....DNF!! I'd have preferred to puke in front of the spectators than DNF.

Then, on my black racing suit, directly in my lap, I see the black timing chip and strap. I grabbed it, somewhat unbelieving (how would it land in my lap??), held it up in the sunlight, admired it for it's beauty, then put it back on my ankle and proceeded to put on my cycling shoes....elated. I'll finish this freakin' race after all. It's time to hop on my bike, where I feel at home, and peddle my way towards the finish line.

T1 time: 3:45
Not bad considering I sat there for what seemed like 5 minutes wondering how easy it would be to find a little black strap in one of the Great Lakes.


THE BIKE

I hopped on the bike and began drinking water out of my bottle. Heading out of Headlands beach the steady headwinds and false flat had me riding at around 17mph. I wondered if I was going so slow because I was drained from the swim. I told myself not to worry about it and decided I would stay in the little chainring for the next few miles, like I planned, until I recovered from the swim.

I began getting passed on the bike immediately. As difficult as it was, I knew this was just the beginning to a long day, so I watched all of them go. After about 15 or 20 minutes I switched to the big ring and began passing a couple of folks myself (although not nearly as many as passed me).

Just stay steady. Ride within myself. No burning on the climbs. Eat and drink. That was the plan for the bike. I had finished my bottle of water by the time I reached the first aid station and I grabbed another. Heading through the back of the course, with the ascents, I was feeling good. Just before the cresting the final ascent and cruising the 12 or so miles downhill towards the lake, I saw E-Speed, who was so energetic and uplifting.

Throughout the bike my stomach never calmed down to the point where solid food sounded good. I ate half of my energy bar about 45 minutes in, had to force it down, and decided I'd stick with gel every half hour or so for the rest of the day. That combined with water and sports drink, which I planned to take approximately equal parts of. I have begun putting my gels in a flask and watering it down a bit to help with digestion, and swallowing the stuff. It was working well.

After the first loop of the bike course I felt quite good. This only lasted until I started the climb on the back of the 2nd loop. There was a short steep, steep, steep section that began our ascending and despite shifting to my granny gear and standing out of the saddle I generated a nice burn. Damn!! Not part of the plan. I tried to spin easy through the rest of the ascending. When I came back to E-Speed I knew the toughest part of the bike course was behind me (or so I thought) and she snapped the pic below (thanks!!).


After the ascending was over for the day I began to feel a burning in my nether regions. Uh oh, chafe city. This may have been brought on by the fact that I squirted off my lap and right leg with about half of a bottle of water...it took me probably 2 or 3 tries to actually need the fresh water on my leg. My right shoe was....wet. That's all I'm going to say about that experience.

If that wasn't enough my back started to bother me. Over one bump I felt it spasm, which at least distracted me from the saddle sores that were developing. Over the final 20 or so miles of the bike I couldn't wait to get off. I was uncomfortable from my "sit bones" on up to my neck. As I peddled the last few miles of the course, 2 loops of a TT like false flat section, I would not have imagined I would be excited to get off the bike and head out on the run, but I was. I was ready to take on what I knew would be the biggest challenge of the day, my first half marathon.

56 Mile Bike Time: 2:56:29
Avg. Pace: 18.8 MPH

While on the bike, I ate and drank:
1 half Raw Revolution bar
4 watered down Vanilla bean GU's
1 full strength Vanilla bean GU
approx. 60 oz.'s water
24 oz.'s Razzberry GU20
approx. 30 oz.'s Gatorade Endurance Formula

It seemed to work and I realized that solid food and racing don't go together very well for me.

Headed into T2, hopped off the bike, and decided to take my good ole' time here. I grabbed my fuelbelt, racebelt, visor, and changed shoes. I stopped to talk to Treetop and Julia for a few seconds on my way out to the run. They volunteered earlier in the day and were out on the lake during the swim in kayaks keeping everyone safe. After that, they took over duties as my support crew. Thanks you guys!! You're awesome!! I would have loved to talk with them for a bit longer...maybe tell them about the swim and bike over a beer....

But I had a half marathon to run.....

T2 time: 1:42

Greater Cleveland Triathlon (the anticipation was torture)

The final day leading up to my half ironman was planned to be full of eating, resting, and final preperations. It mostly consisted of final preperations (of course I ate too, albeit not when/as often as I would have liked). I had planned to be in bed around 9:00, since I had to leave around 4:00 a.m. in order to make it to Mentor abount 5:00, as transition opened at 5:15. I finally fell asleep around 11:30 p.m.

The alarm clock was set for 3:30. At 2:30 I rose out of bed wide awake. When I looked at the clock I thought I would grab a big glass of water and then catch my last hour of sleep. By the time I was able to relax enough to think about sleeping, I only had 45 minutes until the alarm went off, so I headed straight to the coffee pot and began my morning.


I used the extra time to stretch and go over my list of what to bring again (and again, etc....). At 4:00 I hit the road with Amaterasu on the roof. I arrived at Headlands Beach State Park at 4:50 (thanks to Craig for the pic above), and saw a parking lot full of maybe 2 other athletes. Ask Treetop and J, my frequent carpoolin/racin' pals, about this and I'm sure they'll tell you it is not exactly typical. OK, I was a little anxious to get the show on the road. I mean, after all the hours and miles of training, after all the years where 6 beers sounded like much more fun than running 6 miles (trust me, I was a well trained beer drinker), I couldn't wait to prove to myself that I was still alive. To prove to myself that I was 30 years young. To prove to myself that I am capable of things that in my past I would not have thought I could accomplish. I could not wait for this day to begin.

Transition didn't open until almost 5:30 and after getting my bike checked in I headed straight to my spot and set up on my green towel....and I talked to folks. Folks I've met through the sport, folks I've never met in this sport, and the first person I knew in the sport. Before long it was time to head to the swim start, which was a mile walk down the beach.

Off walking I went, with Janet; across the sand as the sun began to rise to our right whilst glistening off the lake, as flat and shiny as your bathroom mirror. There were no concerns of choppy conditions today, the lake was as calm as the inland lake I did much of my training in. By the time I arrived at the start there was no time to warm up in the water. The first wave went off immediatly, and I was in the "red cap" wave, the second wave, which was departing in 3 minutes. I pulled my wetsuit up over my shoulders, asked a neighbor to zip it for me, and jumped in the water to test the temerature and wet the goggles and suit. In the water, which was quite warm, then quickly out and over to the starting line.

I looked down the beach to my left and the line of buoys stretching on, and on, and on.....OK, it was only a mile, but it was quite a bit further than the swim in my previous races, 400 meters. But I was trained and I was ready. The calm shimmering lake was beatiful and I was ready to go. Mickey (who puts on the best damn triathlon in NE Ohio) gave us our countdown and about 30 of us highstepped it into Lake Erie.

Done Gone Long...

I finished the 70.3 today in just under 5 hours and 45 minutes. The swim was peaceful, the bike a bit uncomfotable, and the run was pretty painful. I just took my feet out of a tub of ice and there is a brew next to me on the table. It was a great event and a great day. I am so tired that I had to pass on a party this evening...yes, it's true. I'll have more to say about the events of the day after I get some rest and regain my wits.

Waiting......

One more day before the Greater Cleveland Triathlon. I haven't felt great during my taper. My joints and muscles were sore and stiff throughout most of the past couple of weeks. I really learned what it meant to warm-up prior to excercise, as it would take me a good half hour or more to feel loose on all my runs and rides since I cut back on the workouts. This whole taper experience would have me feeling a little nervous about tomorrows event if it weren't for one spin on the bike. On Wednesday, my last workout with Amaterasu before GCT, I felt great. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon. It was hard to turn around and head for home after just 45 minutes. The Yonder Mountain String Band was piping through my headphones, as they just followed up Keller Williams on my MP3 player. Maybe you remember the Acoustic Planet tour? Check out 8/28/04, from Nashville, Tenessee! Perfect accompanyment to a sunny day spin on the bike (assuming you like banjo's)!!

So, I am off to pick up my race packet. I will be waking tomorrow around 3:30 a.m., heading up to Mentor Headlands, and trying my damndest to cover 70.3 miles in less than 6 hours. As long as I finish I'll be happy and will have accomplished something, but sub-6 would be great! I suppose we'll see tomorrow....

Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run

Last night I volunteered at the first "running" of the burning river 100. I spent a little time at mile 50 early in the night, and then spent the wee hours of the morning at mile 91. E Speed ran an awesome aid station that was well organized and had the coolest music this side of the border. The event started in Willoughby Hills on the eastern rim of the Cuyahoga Valley at 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning and finished in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Runners had a 30 hour time limit to complete the 100 mile course that traversed the most scenic portions of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, The Cleveland Metroparks, and the Metroparks serving Summit County.

What can I really say about a 100 mile footrace? I suppose words can't do justice as to what an accomplishment it is to race and complete these types of events. One observation that I took with me are that I have never seen people pushing themselves to such limits. At mile 50 there was a gentleman that was trying to change into dry shoes and needed help putting on his socks. He couldn't get them on straight and a motherly volunteer helped him get them on. He still had 50 miles left in the race. This sort of thing is pretty common. The faces of the runners as they passed through mile 91 (I was there from 1:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m.) are embedded in my brain. Those faces of pain, determination, and occasionally, happiness. How could someone be making jokes at that point, I have no idea. But, some of the runners did.

One runner, in particular, stands out in my memory. He hobbled into mile 91 feeling awful, telling us he needed to lay down. He was met by a friend that had paced him through other parts of the race, and she sat with him for over an hour making sure he stayed awake and offering to pace him to the finish if he felt up to it. His stomach was in terrible shape and although he needed food the thought of eating was the last thing on his mind. Finally, his friend asked us if we could make him a grilled cheese (I was the grilled cheese chef :-) So, I quickly batched up all that a grilled cheese has to offer. It was a delectable dish....2 pieces of bread, a little crisco, and a slice of American processed cheese product over the coleman stove. We delivered the late night snack to the ailing runner.

About 20 minutes later, the runners friend emerged from the area of the cot, where her friend was laying, sprawled and ailing, with the words, "Congratulations, you got him to eat something!" We all cheered. But still he laid on the cot, and the longer he laid there, the more I began to think he would be there until the race was over, never to go those last 8.5 miles to the finish line.

And finally, he arose. After running over 90 miles, stopping for what was at least an hour to lie down, he set off again in obvious pain. His friend left with him to pace him the rest of the way to the finish. We all cheered as he hobbled down the path in the pre-dawn light venturing towards downtown Cuyahoga Falls. We were still on the bottom of the valley and the finish loomed more than 8 miles down the path, but also about 1000 feet above us on the valley rim.

Shortly after he left I returned to filling the water bottles and fetching food for the other runners passing through, and forgot about his journey. Each runner in this race was facing similar adversary, even if their bodies were cooperating better than his, this is not a pain free event for any of them. I though of the relationship ultra runners must have with their pacer, their friends who run with them through the night, many of them for 20 to 30 miles or more to help will them to the finish. I thought of the attachment the runners must have to their hydration and nutrition systems that they have wrapped around their hands, waist, or shoulders. These water bottles/stash pouches are full of their favorite food and beverage, and accompanies them through all of the tough training and racing miles. I think I know the joys of the right food and drink from my experiences of multi-hour bike rides.....but the joys of the right treats at hour 24 of a run I cannot even comprehend.

After the next shift of volunteers showed up at mile 91, I thought I needed to stop by the finish line before heading home. I needed to see a few runners reach mile 100, the final mile. As I munched on pancakes and sipped black coffee the runners jogged in, one at a time. I recognized the hat of the pacer who sat around our aid station force feeding grilled cheese to her friend. I watched as they both crossed the finish line, the registered runner in the finishers shoot, and his pacer alongside just outside the "official" finish line. I smiled. I approached her knowing she needed a ride back to mile 91 to pick up their car and told her I'd take her whenever she was ready. She said, "Lets go now!!" I suppose these ultra-marathoners are type-A people ;-)

As we rode to pick up her car she told me this was her friends first completed 100 mile event. He tried one previously and didn't make it. She told me how wonderful all the volunteers were and how happy she was to be able to share this day with him. I can only imagine. I could see how proud she was of him. I could see how proud she was of herself, staying up all night and logging quite a few miles in her running shoes by his side. I could see how appreciative she was of a grilled cheese @ 4:30 a.m. and a short ride across town. I couldn't have been happier to contribute these little things to the runners in this event. E Speed and the race organizers put in a ton of work for this. I stayed up all night doing very little, really. And today I walk away inspired by the human spirit, and inspired at how much the little things really can matter at the right time. For me, it was a night well spent.

Taper Time

When I got into the pool for the first time last fall I was hoping to keep myself fit through a foot injury. I figured that if I learned how to swim well enough, I could try out a triathlon or 2 this summer and see what I thought of the sport. Well, I like it. As a matter of fact, I am hovering on the brink of addiction, and I have been flirting with the point of overtraining. A little over a week ago, on my last big brick (3 hour ride, 1 hour tempo run) shortly after the workout I spiked a nice fever and was aching all over and shivering whilst hovering above my plate of rigatoni. My body had reached it's breaking point. So, now I rest, and wait for August 12th. Thus far I have been recovering well (from the physical aspect), even if I have more pent up energy than I know what to do with. Well, I guess I know what to do with it......save it for GCT.

I am ready. I am anxious. I cannot wait to donn my new wetsuit and head out into The Great Lake Erie's chilly waters before greeting Amaterasu on the shore. I cannot wait to test myself on the second half of the run course, on what will be my first half-marathon. My longst run of my life is 10 miles. My longest run during the peak phase of my training was a measley 8.5 miles. The cross-training and positive thinking will lead me to the finish line, where Charlie will be picking his guitar on his last weekend before Ironman UK. I did not think a half-ironman would be in my summer plans, but here I am......waiting patiently. Here is what has gotten me to the starting line:

Swim training: January 18th to July 30 logged 48,200M (30.125 miles) in about 20.55 hours in the water. In October I could barely swim a 25M length in the pool. Finished up with 2000M "long" workouts. This experience brought me to realize the potential of the human body.

Bike training: Febuary 28th to July 29th logged 1327 miles in about 81 hours in the saddle. My strength of the 3 disciplines in terms of endurance (vs. speed). My comfort on the bike will be essential @ the GCT.

Run training: January 15th to July 29th logged 248.5 miles in about 33.6 hours of foreward motion. I could/should have put in more time here. My strength of the 3 disciplines in terms of speed (vs. endurance). I feel comfortable on runs of 1 1/4 hour or less. Above that is pretty much unfamiliar territory....

Bring on the 70.3!!!!!

Now's a fine time to tell me!!

I've been training with the same nutrition for months....and months. Not once was I toppled over in my running shoes with my stomach in knots. Rarely did my stomach even grumble. And so I jump jump into this final month of the most physically stressful training of my lifetime. And now, something ain't working right. Tuesday I had another run where my second Vanilla GU, about an hour into my run, caused me to stop (for a few minutes) rather than helping me to push onward. This has happened before and within the last month. I have 3 weeks to figure this out. Man, seems so strange that I handled the GU so well and now........ugh!! If I do go with a different gel, I don't so much like the idea of trying it out over my taper. I need to know how it works when I'm pushing limits. I feel great about my training to this point. The swimming has come around. The bike has been there from the beginning. The first half of the run I'll be fine, and the second half of the run I'll finish on willpower alone if I have to. But stomachache's......man, not something I want to pop up at this point. But I suppose since it did, I oughta do something.

No Rat, Nor Dog.

But rather goggles and running shoes.

Ratdog played in Cleveland last night. Steve Kimock, guitar master, sat in doing what he does best. In years past I would have went to the show in Cleveland, and as long as Kimock was around, more than likely one or two others. I would have joined my friends to revel in the sounds. I would have thought about quiting my job, quiting my "life" as I was living it (the mantra was, "I'd rather have a life than a living"). I would have drank stout and ate the best vegetarian meal and goo-balls to be found in the parking lot. What fun the journey is......spending time with the traveling circus of concert dwellers, where each waking moment is a celebration of life. One night in Cleveland then on to the next city, and the next. Sure beats the 9 to 5. If you are a deadhead, phishead, spreadhead, partygoer, or music lover you probably understand. Last night, I missed seeing my old friends. I missed getting to know the new ones. I missed the celebration. I missed the journey.

But still I celebrate yet another journey which has brought me new friends. A journey to an unknown destination to share with some old ones. A journey that will see me cover 70.3 miles swimming, biking, then running. A journey that has no limits other than those I put on myself.

It kind of reminds me of Phish tour, without being chased out of town by the police. Instead the police block traffic as I race my bicycle through the streets of Northeast Ohio.

Cool.

Instead of being asked how I travel without a job, or if I pay taxes, I'm asked how I manage to ride my bicycle so far.

It was hard for people to believe I traveled from city to city selling vegetarian burritos out of the trunk of my station wagon.

It is hard for people to believe I can ride my bicycle so far by simply getting on it to ride....often.

I never would have thought I could travel such distances without leaving Northeast Ohio. My first half-iron, up on Lake Erie......miles upon miles away from the homeless traveler.

I used to keep track of set lists. Look them over and mention the rarities to my friends. The anticipation of the next Tweezer, Simple, or Harry Hood led me to many cities, nearly broke but with a concert ticket in hand. And there was, eventually, that Harpua at Star Lake.....it was not New Years Eve and Toad was outside with our dogs. Something just wasn't right.

On to the next adventure........Last week was somewhat a recovery week before my final big volume push and then taper. Rather than setlists or concert dates, this is what I kept track of last week:

Mon: Swim 2000M Bike 17.66 miles
Tue: Run 4.1 miles
Wed: Bike 28.68 miles(intervals)
Thu: Rest
Fri: Swim 1500M Run 7.2 miles
Sat: Bike 50.35 miles
Sun: Swim 1000M Bike 24.55 miles

Totals:
Swim: 4500M
Bike: 121.24 miles
Run: 11.3 miles
Ben & Jerry's: One pint. mmmmmmmmm, Americone Dream!!

NCN Summer Triathlon

Two weeks ago when I did the Summitri I felt awful during the run. I needed another triathlon, and soon, so that I could prove to myself that I was able to handle a sprint distance tri. Why did I need to prove this to myself? There is another reason, other than my vainglorious ways, and I'll tell you about it if you continue to read on. But first, redemption day.......

It's 5:00 A.M. and the alarm goes off to start my morning. I lie in bed until 5:05 staring at the pattern on the ceiling, and then I get moving. This morning I am eating breakfast!! I start the coffee. I take Sage outside to tend to his business. I eat a bagel, with Strawberry Rhubarb jelly, and a banana. I pack the car and put Amaterasu on the roof. I take an apple with me just in case I want it. I grab my Equal Exchange coffee mug, full of Green Mountain Coffee's Peruvian juice, and I hit the road at 5:40. I arrive at Paul and Julia's house within no time, stick my bicycle on the back of their station wagon and we're off. Today is the second triathlon for all 3 of us.

We arrive in Lorain at 7:00 as planned. I head straight to transition to rack my bike. After getting my body marked I set up my transition and do not obsess over it as I did 2 weeks prior. I know I have everything I need and that it is lying on my green towel. I head to the beach to go for a swim. The lake water is perfect, 72 degrees. It is crisp and refreshing as I dive in to swim out onto the course and check the wave situation. It is a little choppy, but not too bad. The 400 meter swim for this race goes straight out from the beach and makes a left hand turn just after passing the break wall. We then swim parallel to the beach just outside the wall, and then turn and head straight in after reaching the required distance. Easy enough. I swim back to the beach and stand on the sand facing the lake. The under 34 wave, my wave, is first to go.

The gun sounds and we're off, 40 men running straight out into Lake Erie. It is not easy swimming directly out into the lake but after a short distance I reach the first buoy and turn left.....and I begin to be lifted up and down by the lake. Once the break wall appears on my left the waves get bigger.....and I start to drink lake water.....and someone is swimming over my legs while I am kicking furiously to get him off and feeling like an ostrich reaching my head up trying to catch breathes over the waves. Up and down...everything is up and down. I try to breathe and water rushes over my head. I spit out lake water and grab a small breathe. Next breath and more waves and more water and less breathe. I see people in front of me floating stationary and I'm passing them here and there. They must be drinking lake water too. All the while the lake is lifting me up and down, I feel like I'm going nowhere in the water.....swimming against the current and reaching my head high for all the air I can get. Small breath after small breath as the waves rob me of the air above my head. I flip on my back and catch many good breaths. I ride the waves up and down and my breathing is back to normal. I flip over to finish the swim.

I'm swimming and seemingly going nowhere except up and down. Up and down. To my left is rocks. To my right is open lake, a boat, and the lifeguard in a kayak watching over us. I keep swimming. I am not panicked and I am not scared. But, this swim is INTENSE! I am dwarfed by Lake Erie. I am out of my element and I am approaching the last buoy. I feel something like an ant in a flood who is swimming upstream. I see the buoy and I turn towards land and head to shore somewhere in the middle of my wave. It felt like I had been in that choppy lake for a long time, 20 minutes, I thought. It was actually about 10.

After a long run up the beach, over a small hill and across the parking lot I make it to my bike. I am quite happy to put down my swimming goggles and cap as I donn my cycling gloves. After a smooth transition I'm off on Amaterasu. The bike course is a flat, flat, flat figure 9 out and back along the lake, 14.4 miles. The head winds are strong as we head west, typical for the lake shore. Big, big thanks to Charlie for the aerobars as the were oh, so essential today. I spun easy on the bike for 20 min. then kicked it up a bit to ride the tailwinds on the back of the course. Before I knew it I had drank 40 ounces of liquid and was arriving back at transition. Time on the bike, 40 minutes for a 21.2 mph average pace.

T2 also goes smooth. I run off while putting on my hat and race belt. Where I am running I have no idea because I don't know where the run course starts. I stop and look around. I turn right. Over to my left I hear, "no, hey...over here." Oh, that way. I get on coarse and set off on a flat out and back 5K. I'm feeling OK right out of transition. Easy pace to loosen up the legs. The legs loosen and I pick it up a bit. I'm eyeing those in front of me with hopes of reeling them in. Around 15 minutes into the run, I hit what seems to be the toughest part of the run for me. I start to feel a little overworked and hot and then.....................all is good. I fall into my pace and put one foot in front of the other. Right near the halfway point of the run there is a small steep hill. I'm up with no problems. I pass a few folks here and am feeling so much better than the last try (tri??). I also get passed but I don't care because I am not in pain. I am feeling good, even if I'm a little thirsty. I run into the finish in 1:16:10, finishing third in my age group. The AG award was not as important to me as feeling good about my swim and run. I'm not sure I actually felt "good" about the swim, but I came out alive and that was good enough. I felt plenty good about the run and was much improved over the last race. I am moving towards my bigger goal. In the spirit of motivating myself here are last weeks workouts:

Mon: Swim 2000M
Tues: Bike 29.5 Miles
Wed: Run 7.5 Miles
Thurs: Swim 1600M Run 4 Miles
Fri: Bike 70 Miles
Sat: Rest
Sun: Swim 400M Bike 14.4 Miles Run 3.1 Miles

Totals:
Swim: 4000M
Bike: 113.9 Miles
Run: 14.6 Miles
Pints: 1 pint of turtle soup, tonite!! (you can find it on the Ice Cream Range)

I would recommend this race, no doubt. The swim is choppy as a result of swimming so close to the break wall. Don't believe the small waves you see because they seem to grow behind these large collections of rock. There is nothing like being put in your place by mother nature. The bike is fast and flat and the run is relatively flat. NCN ran a smooth race, even if the run entrance was a little hard to find. Next Sunday I am thinking about a last minute add to do the Milton Man Tri. I'd like to do the international distance before my big challenge on August 12th. The Greater Cleveland Tri. My big event for the summer. I have decided to go ahead and do the half-iron distance. The biggest challenges of this endevor will be: 1) keeping going for 6 hours, the amount of time I figure it will take me to finish. 2) Finishing the swim...that's it, just finishing it, and 3) the last half of the run course. I have a big month of July ahead; and before I do that 1/2 IM swim I think I'm going to find myself a wetsuit.

We are Independent

Uh boy. Movement of my arms near the shoulder joint is causing pins and needles. Yes, I got sunburned. I know better. I refrained from putting on the sunblock because I was in a hurry to get out onto the road and get riding, and now I'm paying for it. It is not the worst sunburn in the world. But, it is enough to be uncomfortable. And now my back looks like I'm permanently wearing a sleeveless shirt. This ain't no farmers tan.....it's cyclists tan. No, It's cyclists sunburn and I'll be showing it off tonite during my swim.

Thanks to Charlie, Amaterasu is now sporting some aerobars. They took a little getting used to, but I like them. Yesterday whilst peddling into steady headwinds blowing off of the Great Lake Erie they were invaluable. They put a little strain on the ole back, but are relatively comfortable. They do give the forearms and triceps a bit of a workout. The best thing is.....they make you faster. As soon as I move from my basebar to the aerobars my cadence goes up, as does my pace. Ahhh yeah!!!!

I have been hella busy of late. Busy time of the year for work. Summer class. Training volume is getting heavier. Thursday, the 4th is the Firecracker 4 Miler. Sunday, the 8th is the NCN Summer triathlon. If I decide a 2 week taper is enough for the Greater Cleveland Triathlon then the 28th will be my first century with Amaterasu @ the Sweet Corn Challenge. Here is a breakdown of last week's workouts:

Mon: swim 1200m
Tues: run 7.25mi
Wed: cross train (sort of) 5 hours of moving furniture
Thurs: rest
Fri: swim 2000m bike 25mi (brick)
Sat: bike 40mi
Sun: bike 49mi run 4mi (brick)

Totals
Swim: 3200m
Bike: 114 mi.
Run: 11.25 mi.
Ben & Jerry's: 2 pints

Over the month of July I need to increase running mileage as much as possible and be careful not to overdo the saturated fat in form of pints of ice cream. Also, I'll add one long bike ride per week.....somehow I"ll find the time. Hopefully I"ll get in 3 swims per week over 1200m. The good news is that I felt good on Sunday's brick. There was plenty of running fuel left in the tank when I pulled up after 4 miles. I have set a new athletic goal for this summer. I'll tell you about it later this week. It is a somewhat lofty, absolutely spur of the moment kind of goal. I've already asked myself, "why?" a few times. I can come up with a couple of answers. 1) I like to challenge myself. 2) I want to prove that pain is a state of mind. 3) I like the look on peoples faces when talking about such things.....or in other words, I think I like to shock people. More details to come.

I have a challenge for all of you. Get a stranger to smile at you today by only using one word....hello. Or better yet, see if you can get 10 strangers to smile. I think you get the idea. This was inspired by a little piece of Robert Hunter's writing that is going through my head. "Strangers stopping strangers, just to shake their hand."

Wednesday is Independence Day.

Celebrate your freedom, friends. Celebrate your freedom.

Summitriathlon (Who's idea was this????)

Sunday morning on the 24th of June, 2007 and my alarm clock wakes me at 4:45 a.m. for my first triathlon. I push snooze and go back to sleep. At around 5:45 a.m. I awaken with the realization that I need to get my ass in gear and get over to the race. I start the coffee. While the coffee is brewing I lube Amaterasu. She was degreased the night before. I get dressed and load the car. I look around the kitchen for something to eat and there is absolutely nothing. I planned on picking up a bagel on the way to the race, but since I slept until almost 6 o'clock I don't have time. Transition opens at 6:00. The elite wave start is at 7:00. Gotta go. I grab an extra gel (nice freakin' breakfast) and head out the door.


Since the race took place only a few miles away I arrived quickly and with plenty of time before the start, although I really wished I'd have gotten at least a bagel. I racked my bike, set up my transition and talked with Paulie and Julia in between trips to the latrine and back to my transition to look everything over. Got body marked. Looked at my transition set-up again....and again.
I was glad when the elite wave started because I was tired of obsessing over my transition set-up. A few minutes before my wave's start I got in the water for a brief warm-up. The water felt great, warmer than the air. Paulie and I made our way towards the starting line in the chest deep water. Many thanks to Julia, Paulie's wife, for the pics, her impromptu volunteering, and picking up my race packet.


I lined up for my first competitive swim near the front. There was probably 30 or 40 folks in my wave. I shivered in the crisp morning air waiting for the horn. And we were off. I kept my eyes above the water for much of the start, because I was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of kicking feet near my head. My hands got kicked a few times. I kicked a few hands. The course was an out and back in the lake, around 460 yards. Halfway down the pack started to thin out. At the buoy we had to swim under the lane line that was still in place and swim back in the lap lane. I dove under the lane line and when I came up my heartrate jumped and I was looking for oxygen. I flipped on my back for a few seconds and continued to kick hard while taking in as much oxygen as possible. When I flipped back over things were better. Nobody passed me whilst on my back. Around the 300M mark I started to warm up. I felt really good. Everything was under control. Long smooth strokes. Then we hit the shore. I got out of the water towards the front of my wave. Suprise, Suprise....


T1 went smoothly. Dried my face and feet, grabbed essentials and was off. The bike course was rolling hills with quite a few turns, all at the beginning and end of the loop, and a long, straight, hilly section in the middle. My cadence pickup wasn't working, the only thing I was really concerned about on my computer, but I continued to try and spin a high cadence and forget about it. I took an Espresso Love GU gel halfway through the bike. I rose out of the saddle to crest many of the rollers in order than I could keep my momentum up. I started passing folks from earlier waves here, and I got passed by a couple folks here. On the back half of the loop I was dueling a bit with a young chap not in my age group. He was 22, will never be in my age group, and he'd pass me on the downhills or flats and then I'd take him on the climbs. OK, they weren't really climbs, lets say I'd pass him on the uphills. I felt o.k. about passing him on the uphills because my HR was staying down. Finally with a couple miles left in the bike portion I put him down and didn't see him again....on the bike. 11 mile bike portion in about 35 minutes with a 19.9 mph average pace.

Came into T2 feeling ok. Didn't feel really strong today on the bike, but no major problems. T2 went smooth. Shoes, hat, racebelt....go! A group of very young volunteers gave us water upon entering the run course and I took a cup to pour on the back of my neck and it felt great. I noticed as I was trying to settle into my run pace for this 5K that I felt a little....funny. My legs were a bit heavy, sure....but something else was off and I wasn't sure what...yet. I've done quite a few bike to run transition runs and did a duathlon last year so I thought I knew what to expect out of T2. Ha! right.

As I approached the half mile mark of the 5K run portion I noticed I was feeling a bit queasy. I had to slow my pace a bit as my body was telling me to slow down. I slowed a bit, then on the uphill portion of the run (the run was a bit hilly) big problems began. I felt a side stich coming on. I never get side stiches, but one was coming. It came fast and I continued to slow my pace. Got passed by one or 2 runners. The pain got worse and I kept slowing. The slow pace wasn't helping and the stitch kept getting more painful. So I started to walk and try and stretch. Never have I walked in a race, until today. I was suffering with this side stitch and I still had a couple miles to go. Whilst walking I got passed by a few people and I was trying to stretch my side out. Then, a woman running past me looked over and said "C'mon, you can do it. Just a bit more to go." Well, I kept walking for a few paces and thought I'd try to run slowly. My right side was still hurting, but she was right. I just wanted to get to the finish line. I was running very, very slowly. I got passed by the 22 year old cat that I was leapfrogging on the bike. Those in my wave that were passing me were putting space between us quickly, because I was CRAWLING along.

Then, around the 2 mile mark things started to get better. I was no longer in pain, just uncomfortable.
So, I picked up my pace a bit. I quit getting passed. I kept it here until about the last half mile when I picked it up in hopes I might see someone in my age group that had passed me while I was walking. Nope. My legs were feeling fresh as I approached the finish line from most of the run being taken at such a slow pace. I crossed the finish line at 1:07:??, good for fourth in my AG. For most of the run I was in pain. I attributed all of this to nutrition. I know what a bike to run transition should feel like and that wasn't it. I knew no breakfast was a bad idea, but I didn't think I would be subjected to pain and suffering because of it. Live and Learn. It was my first tri and what kind of experience would it have been if something didn't go wrong?

What does a rational person do after waking up at sunrise on a Sunday morning and inflicting pain upon themselves so that they can evaluate themselves against a clock? Register for the NCN Summer Triathlon on July 8th. Another sprint with a swim in Lake Erie. I've gotta see how I feel on the run if I eat breakfast.

The Sun Sets on the Solstice....

I headed out to Emidio & Son's here in Cuyahoga Falls for a late night plate of homemade rigatoni. Looking out of the windshield of my trusty vehicle towards the western sky I noticed that it was still pale blue, not much darker than the midday sky....at 9:45 p.m. A visual reminder that I have just lived through the longest day of 2007. It is summer, the time of the sun, and I welcome this summer with open arms. I welcome those rays of light that make it through the holes in our ozone layer to warm me from the outside in. It has been a tough spring in many ways, although I am excited about all of the new beginnings that occupied my spring of '07.
My first triathlon season, my first swim in the Great Lake Erie, preperation for my first century with Amaterasu, my first year spending any significant time in Cleveland, and my first semester at CSU. This spring brought me to the end of the road at a couple of places where I had difficulty accepting the fact that those roads had ended. Today; the solstice, I am ever aware that there are new beginnings, new roads to travel to replace those old familiar paths. Welcome Sun!!!


The midday summer sun hung over me today at A.J. Rocco's in downtown Cleveland where I finally had the chance to meet Charlie, although because of bloggerland it seemed as if I had run into an old friend. He works at this fine establishment which offers good coffee, good food, good beer, and good company. If you are in downtown Cleveland near Jacob's field or the Q stop in, request some Grateful Dead for the radio (if you are so inclined), and enjoy the food, drink, and bicycle parking lot on the sidewalk out front.

Speaking of Jacob's field and sunshine, the Indians will be the first team in the American League to harness a portion of it's power for the stadium from the sun, once it's solar energy project is completed. The panels will be visible from I-77 and I-71 whilst passing by downtown. Don't you love Cleveland?

I love Cleveland. I love the sun. I love meeting new friends. I love good food and good coffee. I love sleep....and it's calling.

Sprint 411

Any Nextel/Sprint customers besides myself out there? They've got their Sprint 411, and this is MY sprint 411....

I've been really busy with work over the last week. Not much time for blogging, after work and training. Last weekend was busy. Saturday I woke and headed out to the Jim Klett Memorial 10K. What a beautiful race course along the bottom of the Cuyahoga Valley, over the Everett Covered Bridge and past Hale Farm. This was my first 10K, I guess; although I ran a 10K leg in the Akron Marathon last year. I felt good for this run, reeled in a few runners over the last mile and a half of rolling hills, and PR'd with a 42:18. Since this was my first run over 5 miles since my calf strain I planned on going pretty easy.....which I can have a difficult time with. I went a little harder than I had planned seeing how my first tri is this weekend but have recovered well this week. Saturday night I HAD to spin over to Todd's house to ride out with him on his new (to him) Fuji road bike's innagural ride. We took a nice spin from Highland Square down to the bottom of the valley and back up to the square. Total on the bike that eve was 25 easy spinning miles.

Sunday called for a nice, easy and somewhat long spin on the bike. So I headed out to Portage County on the Bike and Hike trail, did a loop on the country roads and spun back. Total for Sunday was 42 miles....easy, and I felt fine. I got off the bike, reached for the buckle on my shoes and OUCH!!!! SHOOTING PAIN UP MY BACK!!! I have had back problems for the better part of my life and thus far have been doing pretty well to give my back enough love since I've begun running and cycling. My back was sore for the rest of the evening and next day but was not spasming, so I decided to go on with my Monday workout....

Which was my first open water swim in Lake Erie. The tri club put together a wonderful newbies open water swim out on the West side (with accompanying dinner afterwards, thanks Sara!!!) and I got the feel for swimming in the lake. The water was VERY calm and clear. I could see the moss covered ivy on the floor, no matter the depth. Gotta love watching fish swim under you during your workout!!! The lake temperature was perfect, probably near the mid 70's. No back spasm's in the lake....thank goodness. I didn't drown, and I realized that I enjoy open water much, much better than the indoor pool. A visit to my chiropractor yesterday for a little help setting things straight and now I'm feeling almost back (no pun) to normal for my lunchtime swim @ Monroe Falls and evening spin with New Vision Cycling (my first with the group). Then.....

a mini-taper for my first triathlon, this Sunday. The purpose of this blog; my sprint 411. I'll be competing in the sprint distance at the Summitriathlon @ Monroe Falls metro park. 500M swim. 11M bike. 5K run. I hope to be under 1:10 and will be pretty dang happy if I break 1:05. I'll finally learn if I'm as slow of a swimmer as I think I am on Sunday. Good thing my run times keep improving.....

Turn the cranks. Look around...

What a nice afternoon!!! Amaterasu is being fixed up a bit so I headed out after work on my yet to be named specialized hybrid. It's my city bike/commuter...set up with rear rack for lugging things. I spun it over to my LBS to check on Amaterasu, then down to the towpath heading south into Akron. Multi-use trails are not my favorite way to travel, but the towpath is as nice as they come. Well, after the rain I have to say that the limestone surface of the trail gunks everything up a bit. I now have this white dusty paste on my water bottles and drive train. Other than that it's a pretty nice way to travel. It will be great when the towpath is connected all the way to New Philadelphia. I rode into downtown Akron, past the pubs and ballpark, then back to out the north side of the city into Cuyahoga Falls.

Once in the Falls I headed to my favorite local pub, Dominic's, for a bite to eat and a couple Commodore Perry's. From the pub it was a short spin home. Rarely do I ride so leisurly anymore and it was a nice, easy 30 mile evening. Next Wednesday, assuming Amaterasu is up and running I hope to make it to New Vision Cycling. Maybe some intervals and hill workouts will make me fast???? Well, I'm sure they will at least make me fast-er. I am also sure that they will be painful.....but who doesn't like a bit of suffering??