Timberman; and only 6 weeks to go!

Last weekend was the Timberman 70.3. I've done this race 6 times...with mixed success and failure. After my first Tman back in 2003, where I finished off the podium, I've gone 3rd (2004), 5th (2005), raced elite (2007), and 3rd (2008) in my age group. However, I've either had a good swim and bike or a good run, or a mix, but never a solid 1-2-3 race. I was hoping to change that this year. On race morning, I definitely wasn't feeling great. My stomach was a bit out of sorts and I made several trips to the bathroom. In fact, I really needed to use it right before my swim start, but that wasn't going to happen with a huge line of people and only 4 minutes to go! So, the gun went off and so did I. I got a good start and was one of the first swimmers to get to the first buoy. Although I felt very good and felt like I had a strong swim, in retrospect, it's easy to see that I'm just not in good swimming shape. I came in around 29:30. But, many people who I can typically swim with and/or beat swam 45-60 seconds faster than me. Oh well. As I got on the bike, I decided to be very conservative early, so I had something on the way back. I went back and forth with some guys in the beginning. I felt decent on the bike. Around 11 miles in, the eventual AG winner, Chris Thomas came blowing past me. It's a bit disheartening when a guy who starts in the wave behind (they split up the AG) catches up so fast! But, it wasn't entirely unexpected since he did the same thing to me earlier this season at Rhode Island 70.3. A couple other guys in my AG went by me after that. That's when I made the call to dig a little harder and stay with them (legally of course). I sat about 3 bike lengths back and paced. Doing this and staying "legal" is not all that easy. It's easy to drift into the draft zone. I definitely did this a couple times and wound up having to sit up in the bars. On the way back (it's an out and back course), I was basically riding w/3 other guys....again I think we were doing our best to stay "legal". But, the headwinds made this difficult at times and there was definitely some "bunching up". In hindsight, I should have pushed a little harder. I definitely left some minutes out on the bike course. But, I definitely felt like I had good legs going into T2. I had an uneventful transition...and then out onto the run course. BTT had the team tent set up right on the run course and it was good to hear the cheering. However, when I'm racing, I'm usually hurting so bad, I don't even like to spend the energy to acknowledge! A couple of the pros were heading out on their second loop of the run, while I was heading out on my first. But, I was one of the few age groupers out on the run course at this point of the race (w/so many waves starting later). I quickly passed pro Bjorn Andersson. But, at the first mile, I was really struggling and my stomach was a mess (see swim start:)). So, I stopped at the first portojohn and conducted some business. After about 90 seconds, I was back on the course and felt a lot better. I was running fairly well and quickly passed Bjorn again, along with some age groupers from an earlier wave. Just before the first turn around I heard some footsteps. It was the second place male (some guy I've never heard of). I picked up my pace a bit. I think he was surprised that he didn't just go by me. He eventually inched up and passed me. I stuck right on his shoulder. Again, I think this surprised him. I basically ran the next 2.5 miles with him before he put about 25 meters on me. The first loop was okay (except the last mile). But, the second loop killed me. I struggled more here than I have in recent memory in a 70.3 race. I've done hotter races....but maybe it was just the humidity. Or, maybe it was just that I wasn't expecting it. Anyway, I walked most of the aid stations. By the time I hit the last turnaround, I just wanted the race to be over with. Aside from the heat and humidity, with all of the sloshing going on in my shoes, my feet were really torn up. I crossed the finish line in just over 4:30 (about 5-8 minutes slower than I wanted or expected), but still good for 14th amateur overall and 3rd in my AG). Although I don't plan to do this race next year, with Lake Placid on my schedule, I will be back at some point to conquer that course.

Post Tman has been okay. I've been struggling with energy all week. I'm hoping it's just post race related fatigue and perhaps a bit of dehydration. But, i'm a little concerned about it. I'm also really concerned that I only have a few more weeks of hard training left. I'm just feeling very underprepared. I left work early yesterday (Friday, 8/28) to get my long ride in.....but only managed 63 miles due to the weather (TS...or is it hurricane? Danny). And, to be honest, I just wasn't "feeling" the ride yesterday. So, today is a long run in the rain. And, tomorrow I'm going to try to ride long again. I kind of feel like I have to take a test....but I haven't been to class all semester!

My Trip to NJ Shore...and the 555.

This past week I made the pilgrimage back home to Cape May, New Jersey to visit family and freinds. I did get some training in during my trip, including a 100 mile solo ride. Even though I prefer to ride with others, I really do like doing a few solo rides. It makes you mentally tougher. The highlight of my trip was the 555. I know, I know...what the heck is the 555? My buddies Chad and Terry came up with a unique benefit (race) consisting of a 5 mile ocean swim, 5 mile beach cruiser bike, and a 5 mile run. It's to raise awareness (and some $$$) for cancer, and in memorium of Terry's mom and step father who both lost their lives to the disease. It was a true grass roots event. Only 20 or so people competed (all invited). Most were Cape May locals and/or lifeguards (or in my case, ex-lifeguard). It was a ton of fun.

Now that I'm back in Massachusetts, I'm trying to figure out how to kick start my training. I feel like I keep getting derailed. Today I woke up with shooting pain in my back and neck. Unfortunately, this prevented me from swimming. Hopefully, I'll be able to get on the trainer tomorrow and be able to run in the evening. Sometimes it's an effort to just get out the door!

Here We Go Again!

Okay....it's been a long time since my last post. I got lazy...very lazy. After racing at the Ironman World Championships last year, after many years of striving to get there, my motivation to train had dwindled. I decided that this year I wouldn't do anything longer than the half ironman distance (70.3)...mainly I was focusing on Timberman 70.3 in August. However, when Providence 70.3 added Kona Qualifying spots at some point in April, I quickly pulled the trigger and registered. Although I was not close to being at top form for the race, which was held on July 12th, I finished 5th in the tough 35-39 AG and (w/some luck) got a spot to the big dance again. You can read my race report here. Although I had no intention of training for an ironman this year, I really, really wanted to go to Kona again. So, I wasn't about to pass up the chance....since there's no guarantee that I'll qualify again. So, now I have to start squeezing in my 100 mile rides and 15-20 mile runs....fun! Like last year, I plan to periodically post about training related thoughts...and then give the blow by blow on race week.

Right now, I'm feeling very much undertrained. I'm in okay shape...but work has been busy and is definitely taking a toll on my training. Here's the thing...I don't want to just go back to Kona...I want to have a better race. Notice, I'm not putting any "time" goals....since the conditions there can be brutal. Who knows? Maybe the heat and super strong winds we faced there last year were normal...and that this year they'll be difficult (I hope the heck not!). Regardless...I have a lot of work to do. My first long ride following Providence was a couple of weeks ago, and it was tough. It was only a week after racing 70.3 and my legs weren't there. My second long ride was last week w/Tim Tapply, who's training for IM Canada. That ride went much better. Right now, the bike is not what worries me.....it's the run. I need to start getting my long runs in. Stay tuned!!!!

Post Race....okay, 2 weeks post race!

Okay, today marks 2 weeks since I've raced. Jenn and I spent a nice, but very expensive week, in Maui. Other than some water sports (in Maui) and a couple of short runs, I haven't done much physically...except eat and drink. I did do some surfing in Kihei.

After Maui, I came home and Jenn left for China for work. She's got another week there before she comes home. She'll have been away from home for about a month when she finally gets back late next week....crazy. I couldn't do her job. It's been a little tough for me this week, getting back into things...including work. Jet lag has played a role. But, so has staying up late to watch my Phillies in the World Series. Hopefully I'll be good after this weekend.

Now that 2 weeks have passed, I'm starting to think about my future racing plans. When I mention this to people, I get this response...."I thought you were done after Hawaii". Well, I never said that. What I said is that I'm done with Ironman for a while...which I am. But, I'm a competitor and love it. I want to be racing when I'm 80. This next year, I'm thinking of focusing on some shorter distances, however, I did sign up for Timberman 70.3 in August, which is a half ironman. I'm thinking that race will be my longest race of the season and only half ironman. However, my dad (mid 60s) just qualified for the Boston Marathon, so I'm strongly considering running a qualifying race in January so I can do it too. Funny thing is, now that I'm in the 35-39 age group, I only need to run a 3:15 marathon to qualify for Boston. My run split in Hawaii was 3:17. I only missed qualifying by a couple of minutes....crazy. However, if I am going to run a marathon in January, I'll probably try to get myself in decent shape. I'd like to be able to run under 2:50, which I should be able to do. Currently, however, I'm afraid to step onto a scale. Seriously. 2 weeks ago, I was in fantastic shape....weighing 154 lbs. After 2 weeks of doing nothing but eating, I'm sure I'm over 160 (just not too sure how much over!).

As I look back at my race in Hawaii, I'm now realizing how cool it really was. While I was there, it was cool, but it was also another race. Now that it's over, I realize how special the race and the island really are. Not everyone will agree with me on this. Not everyone likes the race after they compete. But, I loved it. I actually miss Kona. It went by soooo fast (including the race). And, I've already decided that I'm going back...someday (I have to qualify again first). I'm also going to do another ironman in the next couple of years. Hawaii was my first solid day at the ironman distance, after 5 attempts...so now I actually see what I can do at the distance. But, I'm keeping my promise...no ironman races this year!

I've decided to keep posting to the blog periodically, for those still following and want to keep following.

Post Note: I've decided to scrap the marathon plan.

Race Day

Sorry for the delay with the report. I was going to post it a couple of days ago, but didn't finish it. Yesterday, we were scheduled to fly to Maui at 10am. However, United failed to send our reservation (and about 50 others) to it's airline partner, Island Air of Hawaii. So, we didn't have a flight. After 8 or so hours at the Kona airport and completely getting the run around, we chartered a Cesna w/another couple (no I'm not that rich!), that flew us to Maui last night. It was actually a very cool trip. And, our pilot was a retired General.

Anyway, here's the belated race report:

It's over! It was an extremely tough day. The heat from the lava fields kicked up the winds, which have been relatively calm all week. I finished in 10:03:54. Prior to the race, I had thought that I could come in somewhere between 9:30-10:00 witha good race, on a good day (w/good conditions). And, although I was really trying to crack the 10 hour mark at the end of the race, it just wasn't to be, and I'm happy with my result....especially on my first attempt at this course. My day, however, wasn't without its hiccups.

My day started as usual for a race like this. The alarm went off at 3:30am. I immediately started to take in my pre-race calories (not always easy this early in the morning). I showered, got dressed, and my dad drove me and Jenn as far down towards the start as he could (there were some road closures). We dropped off the bike and run special needs bags and headed to "body marking". To my surprise, some officials from NBC were waiting to follow me through body marking. I wasn't really expecting this. However, this would be the last time I saw the cameras all day (except through transition). Since you have to pre-pack your transition bags and your bike is already in transition, there isn't much to do but pump up the tires and then sit around and wait. I saw some other friends in transtion...Tim and Cait Snow...and my teammate, Regina O'Toole. I sat w/Regina for a bit and she was definitely nervous. For some reason, I wasn't. Finally, it was time to start getting ready for the swim start. This meant changing into my Xterra Velocity Skin suit and dropping off my "pre race" bag to the officials. I realized as I was dropping off my bag that I forgot my Bodyglide (a lubricant). I borrowed someone's in line, but I just didn't get enough on me....and I knew that I was going to get chaffed pretty badly in the swim (and I did).

I finally made it to the swim start. It's a floating start....meaning you have to tread water for a while. After the pros went off at 6:45, I headed out to the end of the pier (and treaded water for 10 minutes). I saw my buddy, the sea turtle, on the way out (this surely had to be a sign of good luck..right?). I was directly under the starting cannon (literally...a cannon). I thought I was in good position, but when it fired, I just had a tough time getting through the field. I was on the far inside and kept getting pushed further in. I felt great all week during my swims, but during the race, I just could get up to my top speed due to the fact that I was boxed in. It was very frustrating (although this seems to be my MO this year). I got out of the water and ran up the ramp. I looked at my watch, but it hadn't started. So, I just proceeded through transition. I figured, what the heck...what's done is done...I can't let it affect my race. I could see my friend Jesse in front of me running to the bikes.

As I got on my bike I was amazed at the crowds. Kona makes you feel like a celebrity while your racing. The crowds were 5-6 deep. I quickly caught up to Jesse to say hello. He gave me the bad news about the swim time (1:05). Oh well. He also made a comment that he thought the winds wouldn't be a factor....THANKS FOR JINXING US JESSE!!!!! Once we finished the out and back, we headed out on the Queen K for the 50 mile ride to Hawi. My plan was to take the bike out easy....which I did. However, during the first 10 miles on the Queen K, we were flying...riding 25, 26, 27 mph. However, that would be the end of the "wind at our backs". I realized quickly too that I had screwed up my nutrition timing. I should have taken nutrition every 30 minutes...but I started to take it every 15. I quicky realized my mistake and got back on track. However, my stomach was pretty full within the first hour. First, I had doubled my nutrition intake and I had gone through close to 3 bottles of fluids (I was trying to get ahead). I finally caught my friend Jen around 30 miles. I was surprised when she told me that my other teammate, Matt, was just in front of her. Matt beat me in the swim, which I wasn't expecting. However, I knew he was in front of me because I saw him on the short out and back at the beginning of the race, and figured that I may not see (catch) him until the run...if at all. So, I rode up and said hello to Matt. We then proceeded to play cat and mouse for the next 60 or so miles. I'd pass him, then 10 minutes later, he'd pass me. We hit the first bad winds around mile 35. We were riding around 15mph....it was tough. Matt commented on the winds as I passed him. I told him that Hawi was going to be worse....and it was. When we started riding up towards Hawi, we had a ridiculous cross wind blowing toward the ocean. Although we were only riding between 12-14 mph up and into the wind, I was holding on to my bike for dear life. Mat was riding behind me and commented after the race how I was leaning into the wind. The winds were so bad up there that we could see the white caps on the ocean, which was close to 2 miles away. The ride down from Hawi was no treat either. Yes, you go faster (up to 40 mph), but I was so scared that one of the 50mph gusts would get me that I couldn't really open it up. After Hawi, the winds must have switched, because we basically had a headwind the entire way back. Mat was joking afterwards how we were going downhill, doing 17 mph (pedaling). Fortunately for me, I had playing it conservatively during the ride. So, I passed a lot of guys during the last 20 miles of the bike...and felt very good. One thing to note....I went through approximately 8-9 bottles of fluids on the bike....and didn't use the bathroom until I was running through the transition area!!! (also, post note....the lava fields completely cooked my back and arms. I have what are probably 3rd degree burns on me).

After my pit stop, I put on my racing shoes and headed out onto the course. I felt really good....so I was really trying to hold back. I went through the first mile in around 6:10....and was like "whoooaaa....slow down"! I realized that I would need to hold back a little more! I got into a good rythm...but my stomach started giving me some issues around 7-8 miles in. Stomach issues have been my downfall at other ironman races...so I was very concerned. I dialed back my run pace a bit in hopes to settle the stomach. I went through waves of feeling the stomach for the next 10-12 miles. It was the worst when I hit the Natural Energy Lab (which is approximately 1.5 miles down and 1.5 miles back up). I thought I was going to need to stop to use the bathroom for sure....but then the stomach would settle a bit. Finally around mile 23, as I was running though an aide station, I said "screw it....only 3 miles to go"....and stopped. Once I got back on the course, I felt fantastic. I was thinking, "why didn't I do this sooner?" I dropped my pace to under 6:30 miles for the last 3 and was just blowing by people. I finished fairly strong and felt fine afterwards. That's my one regret....because I felt good finishing (too good)...I feel like I didn't leave it all on the course. That, and I would have like to crack the 10 hour mark. But, as I said, all in all, it was a solid day...so no complaints. It is, after all, the world championships....and by far, the most difficult course (w/the conditions) that I've done.

Now, I get to relax on Maui....which is where I'm finishing up this race report. I told Jenn that I just wanted to chill out after the race (easier said than done for me). I'm already thinking about going for a run!

Day Five....Calm Before the Storm

Pre-race day is upon us. Now the nervousness can begin! Last night we attended the pre-race banquet with the rest of the Boston congtingent. It was a good time, although the food left a little to be desired.

On the way back to the car, we walked along Alii Drive...and you could just feel things change. It just had a different feeling.

Today, I got up and did my pre-race warmup which consisted of a quick 10 minute bike/10 minute run...then down to the swim venue for a 10 minute swim. Today was the first time that I put on my XTerra skin suit since I got to Kona.

After I exited the swim, I ran into an Ironman legend....Scott Tinley (my cat's namesake!). He was very friendly. I think I was most excited to meet him out of everyone so far.

I made a quick trip to the ART (active release therapy) Tent to get loosened up...something I've done the past couple of days...we headed to breakfast. Breakfast is my biggest meal of the day leading into a race...sometimes people don't believe how much I eat...here's proof:

When we got back to the condo, I finished putting my race bags together. As I was doing that, a big Navy shipped pulled into Kona. Navy is a sponsor of the race, so this was kind of expected...but pretty cool to see.

I also took a quick pic of my ride....which is ready to roll along the lava fields. My buddy the Geiko Gecko showed up to check my bike out too!

This is my last post until after the race. It's time for me to start focusing. Right now, I'm not quite sure how I feel physically. But, at this point, it is what it is. Mentally, it funny....I'm not that nervous....at least compared to how nervous I usually get. Maybe it's due to the fact that I'm not chasing an ironman slot. Whatever. No disrespect to Madame Pele (fire goddess), who already gave me a flat tire, but I'm ready to give it hell out there. We'll see what happens!

Here are the links to some pictures that I've taken:

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=248872837/a=102381967_102381967/t_=102381967

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=248878627/a=102381967_102381967/t_=102381967

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=248878982/a=102381967_102381967/t_=102381967

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=248878985/a=102381967_102381967/t_=102381967

Day Four....Almost Famous!

I woke up pretty early again...4:30ish. But, I was in bed before 9pm, so it's kind of expected. After some coffee and food, I headed out to the swim venue for a quick 20 minute swim. The swim venue has gotten more crowded by the day. Today seemed really crowded due to the fact that the bleachers for the race had been set up and there were groups of "cruise ship people" hanging around (most of these people should spend a little less time at the buffet). I met up with Matt Pokress and we headed out for a quick swim to the floating coffee bar with his wife Shay. Here's an okay picture of the floating bar...

During the swim, I saw my buddy....the big sea turtle...again!

After the swim, I changed and headed over to the start of the "Underpants" run. This is an unofficial, ironman event that started a few years back....and has become sort of a rites of passage at the ironman world championships. It was a lot of fun. Alot of recognizable faces in the crowd, including Michellie Jones and the Lovatos. Unfortunately, I was rushing and didn't have my camera...although Jenn got a couple...

Following the "run", I quickly changed and headed out to the Outrigger Hotel, where I was interviewed for NBC. They must have recognized the talent:) Kidding. Seriously though, my freind produces the coverage for NBC, so he got me on the list. He told me that they have a different theme each year (not completely up to him). This year their focusing on first timers and the unexpected challenges. It was a pretty neat experience. I was a little nervous, but once the camera was rolling, so was I. However, I'm even more nervous for what's next. NBC apparently follows me for parts of the race! So, I'll probably have a camera car/cycle next to me at times....crazy!!!! Now, I hope I don't wind up on the cutting room floor! Although, if I do, my buddy has to answer to me (and probably a few others from my home town!!).

Tonight is the opening Banquet. It should be fun. We have a large Boston/BTT contingent. Pics to be posted tomorrow.