Blog update April 1, 2015 (no joking)

This morning marked my 121 consecutive day of running at least "a mile or more".  I have been able to get some great mountain bike rides in over the past week for training.  I am staying really focused on my heart rate as well as finding good lines.  I am also working on my body position, staying seated, or getting up out of the saddle to help maneuver my bike around the trail.  There are two washes out on the trail that I am working hard to master.  I have been successful a few times, but I am really mentally and physically wanting to nail them, both, numerous times in a row.  I guess part of my struggle with them is the following through with my momentum and being able to carry it up the other side.  The lines I am choosing could improve also.  

I have begun some sandbag and kettle bell workouts at home looking to improve my strength.  

I am excited to also to be chosen to represent Eternal Water , a naturally alkaline spring water, again this 2015 year as a brand ambassador.  

Lifetime SOMA Race Report (Relay - Swim portion only)

Eternal Water at the finish line!

One of the best, if not the best, finishers medals which doubles as a bottle opener. 

Race Report 

Lifetime SOMA Olympic Distance Triathlon - Team Relay 

Early this month I was asked to be part of a relay team that was doing the Lifetime SOMA Olympic distance triathlon in Tempe.  I would be doing the 1600 meter swim portion of the relay.  The team met the day before during the race packet pickup in Tempe Beach Park. I am pretty familiar with the swim course in Tempe Town Lake.  

Woke up on race day an hour before my alarm was to go off.  I have never been a good sleeper on the night before any race, however I did sleep better than other race mornings. It was kind of strange only bringing my wetsuit, googles and swim cap, but then again I was only doing the swim portion. We arrived at the transition area an hour and a half before my wave was to go off.  I had time to relax and stretch. The call was made that morning the water temperature was cool enough to make wearing the wetsuit legal. I pulled on my wetsuit and did my CarbBoom gel 45 minutes to go.  I felt very good and was excited to get in the water and start the race. I had my Suunto Ambit2 Openwater app set to capture data. I told my cycling leg member to watch for me around the 46 minute mark exiting the water. The horn went off and I started my route in Tempe Town Lake going east, right into the sun.  My Barracuda darkened corrective lens goggles worked great, sighting into the sun. With all open water swim starts, there was the fair share of bumps and kicks from fellow swimmers until the pack spread out a little.  I had a little bit of a problem a few times breathing, as my wetsuit is pretty tight.  I slowed down a bit and relaxed.  My plan on exiting was to not worry about getting my wetsuit off, yet sprint as fast as I could to pass the timing chip to the cycling member on my team. To exit the water, a volunteer told me to place my foot on the bottom step and he would help hoist me up.  I found the step with my foot, grabbed his arm and I was out of the water.  The first step up the stairs sent my right calf muscle into a tight cramp. I reached down and massaged it out for a quick second and off I ran to pass off the timing chip. I stopped my Suunto Ambit2 and was happy to see I made it out in 42 minutes, 4 minutes under my goal.  I took my wetsuit off and put back on my shoes to help cheer on the other members of my team out on the course. 

My team did great.  We had a technical issue on the bike, but all in all had a great race.  I was really impressed with the finisher's medals.  The strap is secured with velcro, but the medallion can also be used as a bottle opener and even has magnetic back so it can be placed on the refrigerator.  This is possibly the best finishers medal I have received to date. 

Race Report ---- Mesa Sprint Triathlon

It's been nearly a week since the Mesa Sprint Triathlon I was in, so I thought I would post a quick recap of the race.  First of all the race directors, volunteers and everyone involved in putting on the race are great. 

To start the morning off, I was able to sleep pretty well the night before.  I arrived at the race location and unloaded my bike.  Set up a quick transition area and received my timing chip and was body marked.  After all of that there was a quite awhile before the race would start.  I took the time to warm up, running around the track, where the race would finish while staying hydrated with Eternal Water.  The race started off by lining up by cones with projected swim finish times attached to them.  I lined up in the 9:30 line. While waiting in line I took in a CarbBOOM gel to get me on through the bike. Racers were being sent off every ten seconds. The swim was a serpentine lap course. I just focused on my swim stroke and trying to remain calm.   

After the swim, jumped out the of water and ran to my bike.  I placed my gear out to a fast transition but for some reason just ended up playing out in slow motion.  Headed off on the 12 mile bike course, a four mile loop three times around.  I took the first mile or so to get situated and get my heart rate under control.  I used a set of Cat Ears ear covers to divert the wind noise created by my helmet, which worked out perfect. I used the time on the bike to get a few CarbBOOM gels in me washing them down with HoneyMaxx orange favored drink. Over the bike course I felt very strong and kept my average speed at 19 MPH. 

Got off my bike and put on my running shoes.  I had a bit of a problem with the sand and gravel in the parking lot where the transition was set up.  I wiped the bottom of my feet as good as I could and slipped them in my shoes, going without socks. I kept monitoring my Suunto Ambit2 with my heart rate.  I remember the run from a year ago as it was the same course, so I knew how far from the finish I was. On the 3.1 mile run I only consumed water that was provided on the course. 

I had set a goal in my head to finish faster than my last year time on this same course.  That did not happen, but I had fun in trying.  I entered the race know of my torn MCL and it seem to hold up pretty well during the race wearing the spider tech kinesiology tape helping support my knee.   

Thank you to Eternal Water, CarbBOOM gel, HoneyMaxx, Orange Mud, Suunto, Spider Tech, Cat Ears, Barracuda USA andUdderly Smooth