I started the day by lazily rolling out of bed at a quarter to 6am at the Motel 6 in San Marcos. The wife and I were both tired as we had driven in late from San Antonio the night before. A friendly reminder of the Indian food dinner started to settle in. Needless to say, I was not optimistic about performing well today.
I arrived to the race site in plenty of time to get set up and conduct one last potty break. The swim was 500 meters around a small island......with goats! Anyhow, I felt pretty good in the water and finished in about 11:30. T1 was fast as I was in and out quickly on the bike course. This was a 13.8 mile course with some rolling hills in the middle. I was averaging 20+ miles an hour and so, now, was feeling optimistic. Finished the bike in just over 41 minutes. T2 was very fast. The run was an out and back 3 miler mostly on pavement. I think I only averaged about 7 min flat for the first 1.5 miles, however, I was able to knock it down to 6:30's for the last half. Total time= 1:15:51. I placed 9th in my division out of 77, I think. My run time earned me the #1 spot in the age group....something I've always prided myself in accomplishing. All in all, this was a solid effort for the day.
Next race up is the Austin Triathlon on Labor Day. That one will be the first of 3 longer and more technical races with the Kerville Half Ironman and Ironman Cozumel to follow.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
End of Week 4
Swim: 4500meters
Bike: 71 miles
Run: 20 miles
Week 4 was the last of the volume preparation phase. Week 5 will be an easy recovery week as race #4 is next Sunday....the Jack's Generic Tri. During the month of August, I'll really start to increase my weekly volumes with a goal of swimming 7000meters, Bike 110 miles, and Run 30 miles.
We'll see how it goes!
Bike: 71 miles
Run: 20 miles
Week 4 was the last of the volume preparation phase. Week 5 will be an easy recovery week as race #4 is next Sunday....the Jack's Generic Tri. During the month of August, I'll really start to increase my weekly volumes with a goal of swimming 7000meters, Bike 110 miles, and Run 30 miles.
We'll see how it goes!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Couples Triathlon
Week 2 ended with the Couples Triathlon, an 800 meter swim, 11.1 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. Jess and I arrived at the race site just after 6am and thus, I was able to get a good spot in the transition area. The bad part was, my wave didn't start until 8:30am! We walked around a bit, said hi to some people, and watched the waves before mine, start. Then it was my turn.
The swim was steady and I felt pretty comfortable throughout, exiting the lake in a slow time of 20:06. I'm always relieved to finish the swim as for me, my race doesn't start until I reach land! In and out of T1 and on the first gear shift on the first turn, my chain comes off! Luckily, I was able to pull over and fix the problem rather quickly. The bike course at Decker lake is really hilly and having ridden it before, I knew what to expect. I felt strong and was able to finish about a minute faster then last time. T2 was fast and Jess pointed me in the right direction from the sidelines to the run start. The run was mostly on grass trail around the lake area and for the first 2 miles, I was feeling a bit sluggish. On the last mile, I developed a side cramp coming up a hill and it was all I could do to try and stay focused on finishing strong. I came across the line in just over 1:19 for the race. An average day.
Week 3 begins today with the next race being in 3 weeks.
The swim was steady and I felt pretty comfortable throughout, exiting the lake in a slow time of 20:06. I'm always relieved to finish the swim as for me, my race doesn't start until I reach land! In and out of T1 and on the first gear shift on the first turn, my chain comes off! Luckily, I was able to pull over and fix the problem rather quickly. The bike course at Decker lake is really hilly and having ridden it before, I knew what to expect. I felt strong and was able to finish about a minute faster then last time. T2 was fast and Jess pointed me in the right direction from the sidelines to the run start. The run was mostly on grass trail around the lake area and for the first 2 miles, I was feeling a bit sluggish. On the last mile, I developed a side cramp coming up a hill and it was all I could do to try and stay focused on finishing strong. I came across the line in just over 1:19 for the race. An average day.
Week 3 begins today with the next race being in 3 weeks.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Week 1 review
Swim:1000 meters
Bike: 80 miles
Run: 21 miles
Week 1 turned out to be somewhat of a lazy week as I skipped 2 swim sessions and an easy bike day on friday. I've seemed to redeem myself this weekend as I ran a solid 10 miler on Saturday while on Sunday, I cycled 53 miles followed by a 2 mile run. As I begin week 2 of my 22 week journey, I realize I've got to be more consistent with my swimming during the week.
Next Sunday I'll head back out to Decker Lake for the Couples Triathlon, though, I'll be racing solo.
Time for a nap!
Bike: 80 miles
Run: 21 miles
Week 1 turned out to be somewhat of a lazy week as I skipped 2 swim sessions and an easy bike day on friday. I've seemed to redeem myself this weekend as I ran a solid 10 miler on Saturday while on Sunday, I cycled 53 miles followed by a 2 mile run. As I begin week 2 of my 22 week journey, I realize I've got to be more consistent with my swimming during the week.
Next Sunday I'll head back out to Decker Lake for the Couples Triathlon, though, I'll be racing solo.
Time for a nap!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Pflugerville Tri Race Report
As the internal alarm of 4:30am went off, the morning's weather was first on my mind. Sure, I knew it would be warm and humid but now an added ingredient. Wind!
We arrived in plenty of time for me to set my place up in the transition and as I was doing so, I noticed the transition area was divided into two sections with a fence running right through the middle. H'm, I said. I've never seen that before. Little did I know this layout would get the best of me later.
I proceeded to the lake to do a short warmup. The waves were really choppy from the wind and reminded me of ocean swims I'd done in the past. Thankfully, it was only a 500 meter swim. I was in wave 5...the one with the pink caps. Anyhow, the swim went fairly well for me, although the constant waves from the wind made it challenging to establish any kind of rythem. Some were even hanging on to the buoys to catch their breath! I came into T1 feeling good to be back on land but now it was time to tackle the wind on the bike. I had just put new tires on the day before and was anxious to see how they handled the road. The 14 mile bike course was mostly flat with some rolling hills. Most of the wind was on the first half of the course but to my surprise, wasn't too much of a problem for me. Most of the last 7 miles was with a tailwind and super fast. The computer read 20mph for the course as I came into T2. Not bad, I thought.
Now remember the divided transition area? Well, wouldn't you know it, I came into the wrong section! There I was, looking for my gear, dazed and confused and with a fence separating me from where I needed to be! Thankfully one of the race officials pointed me in the right direction and so I had to swing around to the other section. The damage had been done. Despite the frustration of losing a bunch of time, I quickly racked my bike, put my shoes on, grabbed my hat and shades, thanked the volunteer, and blasted my way to the run course! The run has always been my forte and today was no different. I quickly settled into 6:20 pacing and caught several runners on the first mile. The 3 mile run looped around the lake on compact dirt trail which has always been my favorite surface to run on. As I was about a 100 meters from the finish line, a race official asked for my name so that my arrival could be announced over the loud speaker. I guess with my number flapping around so much in the wind, no one could tell who I was! My finish was strong and I ran right through the line and almost knocking a volunteer over in the process.
So, my overall time was 1:18:54. I figured I had lost about 3 minutes in the transition mishap and upon checking the final results, it looks like it only cost me 2 places in the standings. Another learning experience.
All in all, a fun day with minimal soreness. Next one up is the Couples Triathlon in 3 weeks and then it's on to Marble Falls the week after.
We arrived in plenty of time for me to set my place up in the transition and as I was doing so, I noticed the transition area was divided into two sections with a fence running right through the middle. H'm, I said. I've never seen that before. Little did I know this layout would get the best of me later.
I proceeded to the lake to do a short warmup. The waves were really choppy from the wind and reminded me of ocean swims I'd done in the past. Thankfully, it was only a 500 meter swim. I was in wave 5...the one with the pink caps. Anyhow, the swim went fairly well for me, although the constant waves from the wind made it challenging to establish any kind of rythem. Some were even hanging on to the buoys to catch their breath! I came into T1 feeling good to be back on land but now it was time to tackle the wind on the bike. I had just put new tires on the day before and was anxious to see how they handled the road. The 14 mile bike course was mostly flat with some rolling hills. Most of the wind was on the first half of the course but to my surprise, wasn't too much of a problem for me. Most of the last 7 miles was with a tailwind and super fast. The computer read 20mph for the course as I came into T2. Not bad, I thought.
Now remember the divided transition area? Well, wouldn't you know it, I came into the wrong section! There I was, looking for my gear, dazed and confused and with a fence separating me from where I needed to be! Thankfully one of the race officials pointed me in the right direction and so I had to swing around to the other section. The damage had been done. Despite the frustration of losing a bunch of time, I quickly racked my bike, put my shoes on, grabbed my hat and shades, thanked the volunteer, and blasted my way to the run course! The run has always been my forte and today was no different. I quickly settled into 6:20 pacing and caught several runners on the first mile. The 3 mile run looped around the lake on compact dirt trail which has always been my favorite surface to run on. As I was about a 100 meters from the finish line, a race official asked for my name so that my arrival could be announced over the loud speaker. I guess with my number flapping around so much in the wind, no one could tell who I was! My finish was strong and I ran right through the line and almost knocking a volunteer over in the process.
So, my overall time was 1:18:54. I figured I had lost about 3 minutes in the transition mishap and upon checking the final results, it looks like it only cost me 2 places in the standings. Another learning experience.
All in all, a fun day with minimal soreness. Next one up is the Couples Triathlon in 3 weeks and then it's on to Marble Falls the week after.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Pflugerville Tri on tap for this Sunday!
The second Tri of the year is this Sunday in Pflugerville. This one, like the last, will be a sprint distance so it'll be short and sweet! Training has gone well lately with the only snag being that of my left achilles tendon. I've rested it most of the week from running but the inflammation still lingers. We'll have to see how it reacts coming off the bike this Sunday. Needless to say, I'm running 6's....pain or no pain!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Austin is indeed....Weird.
As I was finishing an easy 5 miler this morning on the north side of Townlake, an guy slowly passes me on his bike wearing nothing but a thong! For about a quarter mile, this was in front of me and as I watched the disturbed facial expressions of others, I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head. "Keep Austin Weird", they say!
Today's training: 0845am Run 5 miles, easy pace on townlake trail
1800pm Swim 1700meters open water in Quarry Lake.
Today's training: 0845am Run 5 miles, easy pace on townlake trail
1800pm Swim 1700meters open water in Quarry Lake.
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