A look back at Dawn to Dusk, a race in early December 2022

 I had a blast, competing on a team of four adults while my son was on a team of four juniors. A fun flowing 16 mile loop at McDowell Mountain Regional Park here in Arizona. 

A great time with fellow coaches from the high school season I coach. Looking forward to competing next year again. 

My son's second of two laps, finishing in the dark. 

My son's second of two laps, finishing in the dark. 

My son's first lap of two. 

My son's first lap of two. 

Second lap, feeling better in the warmer sun. 

Third and last lap of my day.

Third and last lap of my day. 

First lap, started at 7am, a little cold. 

The Humana Rock and Roll Half Marathon 2019

The Humana Rock and Roll Half Marathon 2019

Flat Me

The half-marathon start line is very close to the ASU bridge over University Drive in Tempe. 

Packet pick up was fast and easy. Held in the Phoenix Convention Center. There were a lot of vendors to check out after getting my race packet and run shirt. 

The morning of, I looked online to find the parking for the event. With the half marathon distance starting at a different location than the full distance marathon. I was able to navigate getting to the start line with not problem. There were drop bag trucks very well marked to take your belongings/warm clothes to the finish line. With the race starting a 7:50, I stretched and warmed up at about 7:40, thinking that would be enough time. 

I got to the proper coral I seeded myself in with plenty of time. By the time I crossed the start line it was about 45 minutes after the 7:50am start time. With all the different waves, I could have relaxed, off my feet and stayed a little warmer before turning in my drop bag. 

The course was a big loop with very gradual if any inclines.  The course was well marked, as well as the mile markers. The Rock and Roll marathon has bands on stages every mile or so to keep you motivated. It’s always fun to listen to the different music groups as you pass by their stage. 

The first few aid stations were stocked with plenty of water.  It wasn’t until mile 5 they started offering gels and Gatorade Endurance, along with water. 

About two miles out from the 13.1 mile course, a lot more spectators were lining the course. 

At the finish I was handed my medal and walked through a great swag/support line getting nutrition and drinks. 

There was a main stage with the headline performers performing. There was a great energetic party atmosphere with many food and product vendors in Tempe Beach park. 

I loved the aspect of the app the race series has created. From getting information at your fingertips to keeping track for social media followers and family and friends to monitor your progress. 

They also have section on their app where you can listen to music to your preference based on beats per minute to keep you energized around the course. 


Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews

Mountain bike race prep!

I'm ready.  Felt the best I have all year on and off the bike. Swapped out tires for a fresh set of rubber for the trails. Looking to have a great race, as part of a corporate team this year. Six riders, each riding their fastest 10 mile loop in Usery Mountain Regional Park.  I was hoping and will get back to the more in depth lead up to the race. 

Then I turn around and need to get ready for my 14 mile trail run next weekend. 

Training for the trail run went a little crazy last weekend, running 10.5 miles on the actual race course. Got lost on mile 4 to 6 due to the trail not being marked. This weekend they are marking the course prepping for race day, so I hope they mark it well. 

BOOM! Nothing makes training more important......

BOOM!  Nothing makes training more important than signing up for a race. It gets real and will get even more real as the day draws closer. 

I have a ways to go to get where I want to be before race day. 

Under a week away from race day!

Less than a week away from race day and I'm about 93 percent ready.  A few more training rides and I will start to put in place everything I will need for race day.  The weather looks to be in the mid 80's for a high and low 50's for the day.  I have finally kicked an allergy/sick bug that hit me about ten days ago.  My training has kept going, with difficulty breathing after a hard workout. Coughing keeping me up at night.  Thankful that is over and my nights are back to getting restful sleep.  

With three other teammates, I will be putting in a lap with some good rest in between and time to get some fluids and food to replace what I have spent.  Looking forward to the competition. Excitement it starting to creep in. 

New MTB rims, prepping for race day

New tubeless rim set up Bontrager Mustang 29in Elite TLR wheels with Bontrager  XR4 Expert tires. The front tire is 2.4 wide with the rear at 2.3.  The aggressive tread on the rear tire, rubs on the front derailleur at the bottom of the seat stay. I am then only able to use either the largest chain ring up front or the smallest, of the three. 

The middle chain ring is not usable as the tire rubs when it is in this position. With the tire pressures being 24psi in the front and 26psi in the rear, I was able to knock out a very good training lap at race pace of the course for early next month.  A few more changes and tweeks, and I will be set for race day.  I have some tubeless ready tires, that are 2.2 that I will swap out in the rear, and the rubbing on the derailleur won’t happen. 

On this mornings test lap of adjustments, I felt strong and am impressed with the wheel and tire set up.  

SIGNED UP!

It's not a very big distance race, but its a race.  I just signed up for my next triathlon. The distances are a 300 yd. pool swim, a 15.4 mile bike followed by a 2 mile run.  So what does this mean? The workouts the next few weeks will be super focused. I don't have any specific goals but in looking at past years times on this course, I would like to better my time(s).  

Sunday Oct. 18! 

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

RACE REPORT: Mesa Sprint Triathlon

It was a week ago today I took part in the Mesa Sprint Triathlon at Skyline High school. The morning started off pretty cold, with the temperature at 58 degrees.  I got to the site early to set up my bike and warm up.  I ran a few laps around the school's track to get warm and stretched a little.  When I returned to the transition area I found everyone racked their bike on the same side of the rack instead of alternating on both sides of the rack.  It made for a very crowded area.  Off to the start, they had athletes line up by cones according to when they projected they would finish the 400 yard swim.  I had been swimming the distance over the summer in about 10 minutes, yet I lined up in the 13 minute projected finish line.  Swimmers were started every 7 seconds swimming a serpentine course in the pool.  I started by watch when I jumped in.  The swim was great.  I quickly got into a groove using good breathing and technique. After the first 200 yards, I was passing a lot of swimmers.  When I got out of the water I looked at my watch and finished in under 9 minutes.

Onto the bike where I knew I would be cold for the first few miles until I dried off in the air.  The bike course was a four mile loop in which I would do three times.  The first loop was fast, I drank some fluids and focused on maintaining a fast average speed.  With a corner every mile, I needed to slow down just a little.  At one point I looked down at my bike computer and found out I hit a max speed of 26 MPH and averaging a little over 20 MPH.  On the start of my last of three laps my race almost came to an abrupt end. The roads were being controlled by police officers and volunteers.  It was there a volunteer waived a van across the course, not seeing I was headed their way. The driver nor the volunteer seen me as I had to grab the brakes and slide coming very very close to hitting the side of the van.  Needless to say I did not crash into the van. I did however lose a lot of speed and time having to get back up to my race pace. A little shook up, I focused on relaxing and started preparing my mind for the run ahead.  The run was a course around the school and in and around the surrounding neighborhood.  After getting off the bike, I got my legs moving fast and got into a steady pace. I was feeling strong besides have a side stitch off and on.  Everything I did in training was falling into place.  I had projected a finish time of under an hour and 20 minutes. I finished 9th in my age group of 40 to 44.  My swim time 8:42 in my age group had me placed in 9th coming out of the water. My bike time of 37:57 had me at the 5th fasted in my age group. My run time of 31:18 gave me a total time on the course of 1:17:57.  I was very happy with my performance and training put into this race.