- Scott got 4th! Hot day at Eagle Creek. 84deg swim.
-1st and 2nd out of the water at Warsaw Tri
- Coming in for the 'win' at Hoosierman
- Scott going out on the bike at Hoosierman
-Two hours in and still smiling
Strikes and Gutters - Indy Sprint at Eagle Creek #2T
Ups and Downs.
The Strikes -
1. Recently I have managed to snag the consulting of two really great individuals regarding my strategy and training for tris. Tim Mickelborough and Dave Tanner. Two of the most accomplished - not that you need accomplishments behind advice, but nonetheless - individuals to be in the sport, and they are already two great friends; Dave being my swim coach in high school and the head coach, while I am the assistant at BHSN Swimming, and Tim being a fellow triathlete in town who I've talked with by the by. Really looking forward to using what they advise, and seeing how it works out. Very grateful to have them in town locally!
2. Dogs haven't really got to me in the past, but after keeping Evie, a little 5-month old lab mix for about 5 weeks, I sadly had to give her away. She was the sweetest dog I've come across to date and the perfect fit for me, save for my allergies to her. Sad to give her away, but she's with another triathlon couple and their two kids. And now my breathing is slowly on the mend.
3. I've been feeling pretty fit lately. Swimming more than I usually do, and getting back to my pre-St. Anthony's training schedule, which as it were, suited me best, and had me at the best I've been this year on the bike. And recently with two track sessions, I'm feeling much better about my run. The training changes are per Dave and Tim, so mentally I feel like I'm no longer treading water. Scott has added a coach to his training as well, so maybe he'll give you some details.
The Gutters -
1. Eagle Creek Tri #2 - would prefer to erase this one from the memory, but more was learned than lost. Compared to my first Eagle Creek outing, I went from 3rd to 30th. Wanted to keep going to wanting to quit. Bliss to blunder. A few things didn't work out right, but it's safe to call it a poor day at the track and leave it as it was.
In other news, the rest of the tri season looks like this:
Aug. 6 - Columbus Challenge Triathlon - good memories from this one last year. Got 3rd right before I was basically bed ridden for 11 weeks post surgery which took place the next day.
Aug. 7 - Monrovia TT. The morning after a friend's wedding I've got my best chance at going <1hr for 40k. Tentative
Aug. 17-23 - Trip to Burlington, VT for Age Group Nationals - A-RACE
Sept. 24 - Boilerman - never have done this race despite helping put it on as a senior member of the Tri-Club there. Looking to do really well.
Oct. 8 - Long Course Nationals - my second half. Myrtle Beach for the locale makes it super tempting.
And there you have it. We need to get some pictures up!
Alex
Recovery and Reboot
Computer functions of the past (I guess - I no longer have a PC), and very relevant terms now after Muncie.
It's time to do a few things. Recover, Reboot, and Reconsider.
I took two full days off. Actually, almost three. Finally got in 30minutes straight of circuit core and leg work yesterday. And I'm slightly sore today which is ideal. Surprisingly I was sore only the day after Muncie. Subsequently, my motivation was sore on Monday and Tuesday until I acted.
Shanahan says that one of the Scott's (Molina or Tinley) used to say that he hated racing because it interfered with his training. I almost feel like that. While I love training, sometimes not training, or training less because of an ensuing race is worth it for the results I desire. In my first full year of triathlon I trained pretty much through every event. And, across the board, I had no improvement in my times and definitely a burnt feeling at the season's end. The interesting thing about recovery in the right dose is that it is just like turning the computer off (how many of us keep it on nearly all the time?)
Try this at home, only if you're someone who leaves the interwebs on all the time. Turn it off. I find that if I can do this with my computer or phone or training, I get a certain peace. No current plugged in to me or the wall. No connection. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem or absorb what you've learned from a race is to cut the cord. I don't think I do it enough. You probably don't either. Use the abstentia to reflect on what it is you got out of the training you did leading up to the race and where you can go again - maybe with a slightly altered direction. That's the reconsider part.
In retrospect, the half ironman was slightly anti-climactic. Longest race I've done by more than double. Rested up for it, it was there, kicked my ass and was done. What was all the fuss beforehand about? Why did I get nervous? I'm learning that there is no sense in getting nervous, for it didn't prepare me anymore so than if I weren't.
Run today and bike later. The outdoor pool is 88 degrees. Not swimming for a bit.
Thank heavens for ice. I'm not sure I would have made it at Muncie without.
It's time to do a few things. Recover, Reboot, and Reconsider.
I took two full days off. Actually, almost three. Finally got in 30minutes straight of circuit core and leg work yesterday. And I'm slightly sore today which is ideal. Surprisingly I was sore only the day after Muncie. Subsequently, my motivation was sore on Monday and Tuesday until I acted.
Shanahan says that one of the Scott's (Molina or Tinley) used to say that he hated racing because it interfered with his training. I almost feel like that. While I love training, sometimes not training, or training less because of an ensuing race is worth it for the results I desire. In my first full year of triathlon I trained pretty much through every event. And, across the board, I had no improvement in my times and definitely a burnt feeling at the season's end. The interesting thing about recovery in the right dose is that it is just like turning the computer off (how many of us keep it on nearly all the time?)
Try this at home, only if you're someone who leaves the interwebs on all the time. Turn it off. I find that if I can do this with my computer or phone or training, I get a certain peace. No current plugged in to me or the wall. No connection. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem or absorb what you've learned from a race is to cut the cord. I don't think I do it enough. You probably don't either. Use the abstentia to reflect on what it is you got out of the training you did leading up to the race and where you can go again - maybe with a slightly altered direction. That's the reconsider part.
In retrospect, the half ironman was slightly anti-climactic. Longest race I've done by more than double. Rested up for it, it was there, kicked my ass and was done. What was all the fuss beforehand about? Why did I get nervous? I'm learning that there is no sense in getting nervous, for it didn't prepare me anymore so than if I weren't.
Run today and bike later. The outdoor pool is 88 degrees. Not swimming for a bit.
Thank heavens for ice. I'm not sure I would have made it at Muncie without.
Muncie 70.3
For most of you if you don't already know doing a triathlon in general is tough, but doing a Half Ironman or Full Ironman is hell and it will put your mind and body to the ultimate test! Last year I went to Texas to try my very first 70.3. I probably learned a million life lessons from that race and I used to them to my advantage to get ready for this race and finish with a 33 minute PR.
Here is a quick summary of how the race went:
The swim was crowded and hot. They sent all of the 40 and older in the first 7 waves and then sent the younger guys. I have never understand why any race director thinks that this ok for any reason. So nonetheless the swim was agressive but I ended up finishing it in (29:34). Now on the bike I had a totally different plan than last year which was just hammer it. This year I honestly treated the bike portion like a hard training day. I took it out medium hard and then by mile 35 I started to kick things up a bit. Unlike Alex, shotblocks are my life savor. I ate 4 cases of them and put down a few power bars. I also felt like it was a draft fest out on the course with people riding in groups or right behind. I sure hope they got the hammer from the officials. I finished the bike portion in 2:22.22 this was a PR on the bike leg by 15+ minutes. I was super pleased with that. The Run: this part of the race is where things really get tough if they already haven't. The first 5 miles felt great and then I ended up just hitting a wall and at that point it was all about finishing. One thing I learned from this is that I need to do more brick workouts so that my body is used to this. It also did not help that it was 90 degrees outside.
After all that my final time was 4:44.36. I am happy with it but I know that there is more room for improvement.
Not sure what the next tri will be, but whatever it is I'll be sure to give you an update.
Here is a quick summary of how the race went:
The swim was crowded and hot. They sent all of the 40 and older in the first 7 waves and then sent the younger guys. I have never understand why any race director thinks that this ok for any reason. So nonetheless the swim was agressive but I ended up finishing it in (29:34). Now on the bike I had a totally different plan than last year which was just hammer it. This year I honestly treated the bike portion like a hard training day. I took it out medium hard and then by mile 35 I started to kick things up a bit. Unlike Alex, shotblocks are my life savor. I ate 4 cases of them and put down a few power bars. I also felt like it was a draft fest out on the course with people riding in groups or right behind. I sure hope they got the hammer from the officials. I finished the bike portion in 2:22.22 this was a PR on the bike leg by 15+ minutes. I was super pleased with that. The Run: this part of the race is where things really get tough if they already haven't. The first 5 miles felt great and then I ended up just hitting a wall and at that point it was all about finishing. One thing I learned from this is that I need to do more brick workouts so that my body is used to this. It also did not help that it was 90 degrees outside.
After all that my final time was 4:44.36. I am happy with it but I know that there is more room for improvement.
Not sure what the next tri will be, but whatever it is I'll be sure to give you an update.
Muncie 70.3 - What you get for not training for the appropriate distance
About two weeks ago I got some Muncie fever. It's a half, it's flat, I'll go do it, see what happens. Dude, terrible choice. Ouch.
Looking back at my logs, I hadn't run more than 10 miles since early March. So, last week, I thought I should run 4mi morning session, with 5.5mi of intervals in the evening and then top it off with 11mi this past Saturday. I'll have you know, if you don't already, what sort of good that did me. None.
Muncie taught me a few lessons.
1. I can likely never eat shot blocks comboed with red bull to drink again. - About mile 35 of the bike, I was totally sugared out. Every time I'd sip my water-gatorade-Gu Brew-Red Bull concoction (which actually tastes damn good when you're not racing) I felt like I was gonna hurl. Reminds me of the time I had 14 scoops of Ice Cream at the Silver Dipper for Purdue Triathlon's Ice Cream eating contest. After about 4 scoops ice cream is no longer a delight. What did I have to eat? Shot blocks and Roctane. Dumpster - I didn't touch them after that. Water and plenty of it, if you please.
2. If I don't put the miles in consistently leading up to a race of this length, I'm gonna get crushed. - I usually go on 2-hour rides. At what point did I start to ride the struggle bus on the bike? 45mi marker. I usually go on hour runs. Run detonation time: ~1hr, or a little more than half way. I had 10+mi on the bike and 7mi on the run that were the longest of my life. That is no exaggeration. Especially for the latter.
3. The WTC still leaves something to be desired. - Sure, sweet race. But c'mon. I didn't even get a free water bottle. And also, starting 6 waves of 40 and olders before the 18-29 males in the swim? Someone is gonna and probably did get hurt.
4. If I'm to do another 70.3 I need: More miles on the legs, body glide on the shoulder of the side that I breathe on (tri-top rubbed my neck raw), real food on the bike (I'm thinking sandwich, olives, and beer), and sunscreen. Can't forget the sunscreen.
5. If you mess with your aerobar drink set up and try and try to pass someone out of the corner of your eye, you will surely go into the ditch and hit a pothole and go over your handlebars. Saw some guy do so today! Crazed happenstance!
All that said, I swam 29:31, Biked 2:25 (23.1avg), and ran a devastating 1:55 (8:51 pace). I'll take it. But I'll also take more sprints and olympics. I like speed.
Congratulations to everyone from Bloomington! Sue Aquila rocked the run, Scott went 4:44 as a big PR from Buffalo Springs Last year, and Brant Bahler - surprise of the day! 4:36 and did it looking on form. Bahler shot caller. Now that guy (and Sue) really put in the miles and they had the best performances on the day. No coincidence.
2 weeks until the next Indy Sprint.
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