the Technicolor Fire

Race Report: Ironman Louisville 2011

2011-09-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

8.28.11

2.4 Mile Swim * 112 Mile Bike * 26.2 Mile Run

I don't know if last year I was disappointed after Ironman Arizona. Expectations can be a killer. It is hard to use the word disappointment when you finish any Ironman, especially when you PR. However, there were several things learned last year. I knew I had made mistakes, that I had not made the right decisions at critical points in the race. I knew this year, for this race, I needed to be smarter, cleaner and crisper in my decisions, solve the problems weeks before so that I may execute the plan.

It was weird. All week I wasn't every really nervous. Normally, I am nearly sick with anticipation. This year, I was calm, prepared. I was able to enjoy the greater Louisville area a little bit, and executed the patented 3,2,1 taper to perfection. (3 Beers 3 Nights out, 2 Beers 2 Nights out, 1 Beer 1 Night out.) I just kept going over everything I learned in Arizona and everything I have learned from my coach, Dave Ciaverella. Race morning was the same -- no nerves, just healthy anticipation.

The swim in Louisville is different than most other Ironman races. Instead of the mass start that strikes fear in the hearts of many and sets the stage for the day with one of the great spectacles in sport, Louisville begins with a time trial-like beginning. Participants cue in a long line that eventually leads to two mats and two jumping off points. The course begins by going up the Ohio River around an island that eventually begins the trek down river to the swim exit.

As soon as I got in the water I knew it was going to be a good swim. The Ohio, although considerably more skanky than I would prefer, was warm like bath water. Without the wetsuit my arms felt light and my elbows high in the water. After I rounded the corner to begin going downriver a guy swam past me. I quickly jumped on his feet and followed him for a good distance. I would say it was close to 1.5 miles in total that I was right on his feet. Every time I lost him for a second, I would poke my head out of the water to find him. Luckily his arms were all tattooed up and made it easy to see him. When we got close to the exit and swimmers began to bunch up I lost his feet, but in my head I was thinking, "Thanks for the ride bro." I knew, even before getting out of the water it was going to be close to an hour, and easily my best Ironman swim ever. When I got on the first step I peaked at my watch. It read just under an hour, like one second under and hour. Having a swim like that really buoyed my confidence for the entire day.

Swim: 1:00:48

Transition One was pretty smooth. I didn't really face any problems, just had a really smooth go of it. One thing I made sure to do was make sure my feet were clean of any debris. I also wore socks on the bike for the first time. This may have taken an extra couple seconds to get them on, but I think well worth the additional time.

Transition 1: 3:37

On the bike I immediately settled into my goal watts for the day. It was pretty flat for the first 10 or so miles and I was able to settle in for what would ultimately be a pretty challenging day. The course was not easy for me. I feel I am usually at my best when I can get into a rhythm. Whether that is sustained flats or extended climbs I am at best at the end. This course was neither of these things. There were multiple short hills that really took me out of my comfort zone and required me to exceed my zone caps for just a second. The descents were not technical in any way, but for someone as light as me, weren't long enough to carry me over any of the following climbs.

At about mile 70 or so, my feet really started to hurt. I could tell my legs were ok, but the arches of my feet were killing me. I had trained all year with no problems like this, but now they definitely required me to eat into some of my mental stability. I had to dig deep, but I know it effected me. Fortunately, there were some pretty good descents that allowed me to rest them a little, but man, that is a problem I need to fix. I am not interested in that kind of pain.

Also in the last hour and a half my nutrition started to back up a little. I had one vurp (vomit-burb) and back off the 20 minute cycle to 25 minutes for the remaining ride. Normally, I would have just tried to force it down, but experience has told me to be patient and back it off. I took a little more water in between nutrition doses and by the time I got off the bike everything felt great.

The final 8-10 miles are flat to downhill back to transition. I rode the last stretch with basically the entire group of guys that I got out of the swim with. It wasn't the time I was hoping for, but I knew I had left all I could out on the course.

Bike: 5:23:06

Transition was smooth and fast. I was able to get out of shoes in the last 500 yards of the bike and a execute a smooth cross dismount right into transition.

Transition 2: 2:47

The goal was to run 7:45 pace until mile 20 then give whatever I have left for the last 10k. I am very pleased with the way I ran this marathon. It may be hard to describe. I ran the first 1.5 miles at about 7:35 pace. This always happens. I tend to run the first mile way faster than goal pace. I knew I had to dial it back. I didn't think I was going to be able to hold 7:35 for the entire race. I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to hold 7:45s for the entire race.

Although I was holding my goal pace pretty consistently, I was having a hard time figuring out how long the two loops after the little out-and-back at the beginning were. I played all kinds of tricks in my head trying to wrap my brain about the length and how much of it I had left. Eventually I figured out that mile 20 was going to be right before the turn around. It was there, if I had anything left, I was going to make my move.

My nutrition, for the first time in an Ironman was spot on. I took my first dose 20 minutes in and was able to hold that consistency for the entire race. I know that was a major contributor towards my final 10k.

There was a slight rise in between miles 3.5 and 8, also between miles 15.5 and 20. My times slowed down a little on this rise, but I knew, coming down the other side I would be able to get it back. I did. At mile 19.5 I chewed up and swallowed two Excedrin. Between the caffeine and the pain relief I was like a new man. By mile 20, I knew I had enough left in the tank to kick. I was flying by people as they wilted in the heat. I know I caught 13 people in my age group. I think most of them were in the last 10k. I ran sub 6:56 or so for the final 6.2 miles. I thought it was going to be enough. It turns out, it wasn't. In the end I know I didn't leave anything on that course. I followed the plan implicitly, trusted my training and laid it all on the table.

Run: 3:19:14

Total: 9:49:32

As always, I want to thank my family, for their support. I know they don't always understand it, but they know it's important. Thanks specifically to my father, who made the trek to Kentucky in support of this crazy lifestyle.

I want to thank all my training partners. You push me every time we are out there.

I want to thank Dave, my coach. The lessons you've taught me are invaluable. I wouldn't be here without you.

Most of all, I want to thank Dacia for all the obvious reasons and some of the less obvious ones too. Thank you.

Resurrection

2011-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Blog resurrection! Check back this week for 2011 Ironman Louisville Race Report. Should be up in a couple days.

Race Report: Ironman 70.3 Boise 2010

2010-06-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

Ironman 70.3 Boise

6.12.10

Swim 1.2 Miles
Bike 56 Miles
Run 13.1 Miles

The real story of this race starts on April 18, 2010 at 1am. This is the morning of Ironman 70.3 New Orleans. I was supposed to be sound asleep. My alarm was to sound in 3.5 hours. Instead, I was barfing my guts out. Food poisoning. Salmonella. Crab cakes in the French Quarter two days before. It was bad, very, very bad. I crawled back in bed, and Dacia said, "Get hydrated, you'll still be able to race." She loves me. Then every hour, for the next 6 hours I ran to the toilet to expel the contents of my stomach. The venom wasn't finally purged for 4 more days, leaving my body weak and my fragile ego cracked.

After a week or two of licking my mental wounds, and getting back in a training rhythm, I knew it was time to seek some redemption. The place for this would be Boise. I knew, over the next few weeks, if I wanted a good result, I would have to bear down. I've probably never worked harder, smarter or was more consistent. Every training session had purpose. The guidance I received from my coach was invaluable.

That leads us to the Thursday before the race. Dacia and I packed up the car and drove to Boise. There was a little rain, but the forecast in Boise for race day looked good. The one thing I neglected to think about checking, was the wind report. The past two years of this race was marked with either cold temperatures or cold temperatures and rain. I didn't consider Boise was also capable of summoning the trade winds across the Treasure Valley. Those winds would be the story of race day.

Friday was marked with the usual preparations: racking my bike, making my nutrition bottles, stretching, drinking water, trying not to dwell on the impending event. We've all been there, thinking about what is going to happen the next day. Visualizing the chaos of the swim, the pedal strokes, each footstep. Preparing for the pain.

Saturday was like no other race morning. I slept in. However, the 2pm start provided some challenges. I was worried about what and when to eat. The ramifications from a wrong move could prove disastrous. Pancakes for Breakfast and some soup for lunch proved to be a smart move. Dacia and I went up to the base of the Lucky Peak Reservoir Dam around noon. The parking lot was filled with the normal business usually associated with the dawn pre-race ritual of checking tire pressures and ensuring proper body glide application. At about 12:30 we walked up the trail to the top of the damn and I began my preparation. I quickly found my Ironhead teammates who had conveniently located one of the few plots of shade in the transition area. The sun was already overhead. Preparation went quick, soon it was time for to get queued for the swim.

The water temps had been brisk and there had been a lot of talk about the previous years and their unbelievable cold temps. But on this day, after baking only a couple minutes in my wetsuit, the water temperature was a quick relief. The gun sounded and we were off.

I went out pretty hard. Usually I try to be conservative at the beginning and press toward the end, but I knew it was going to be choppy coming back in and if I was going to make any time it was going to be in the beginning, not at the end. This proved to be a pretty good strategy. I kept a good line entire time and after rounding the last turn the chop definitely picked up. I thought to myself this can't be good. I was hoping to swim under 30 minutes. I had trained to do so, but this was my first lesson in revising my time expectations for the day. It would prove useful from this point forward. It was a good swim for me, but not great, and not what I expected.

Swim: 32:00

I got out of the water, looked at my watch, shook off the disappointment, took the top of my wetsuit off and proceeded to the strippers. First leg came off, no problem. Second leg, stuck. The guy was yelling at the chick tugging on the stuck leg, "Get it off!" I reached up to give a quick tug at my heel. "Pop!" Off it went. On to the bike. There was a small complication as my transition bag momentarily blew away. I saved it, stuffed it full of wetsuit, off I went.

T1: 3:05

Away on the bike I knew things weren't right almost immediately. I remembered on the decent from Lucky Peak two years ago hitting 50 mph. This year I was descending at 38 mph and a hot head wind was hitting me in face. Crap. This is a theme. Wind. The expletives in my head were bright and colorful. I just didn't want wind, but I overcame. Fortunately I spent more than my fare share training on Sauvie Island, wind was something I could at least cope with.

It wasn't hot-hot yet, but I could tell it was going to get hotter. Two years ago, the course included a small climb up to the World Center for Birds of Prey. The course had changed since then and now included what amounted to a long out and back before eventually coming back to town. The course was essentially set up to where the majority was either direct headwind or severe crosswind. Although I had been pretty consistent, holding my pre race power strategy was out the window. I was being blown all over the place in the cross wind. One time the gust was so hard it slammed my knee into the top tube of my bike and I almost fell into the rocks. I saved it, but the next day Dacia asked, "Where did you get the bruise?"

It was getting hotter and by the turn around I knew I would only have about a 6 mile section where I would get a tailwind. I thought a lot of people would use this to rest and prepare to face the wind again. I knew I would have to make a move after the turn. I did, and passed at least three guys in my age group I didn't see again. When we lost the tailwind I just tried to be as conservative as I could without loosing any age group places. I knew a lot of people were going to blow up their legs in the wind and if I could manage to save some strength I could catch many of them on the run. Plus, I was starting to loose my mind. The wind was getting to me.

It was a windy, hot ride and hope never to have to replicate it again.

Bike: 2:42:07

When I finally got back to transition Dacia yelled, "You're only a minute back from the next guy." I put on my socks and shoes. Off I went. It was hot.

T2: 1:29

I started out on my two mile preliminary pace. I knew I had lost a lot of fluid, it was hot. Toward the end of the bike I took in a little more water than I normally would have, but in transition my stomach was already starting to cramp. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to push the pace very much harder, but I would probably be able to hold pretty close to this pace. The first four and half miles were an exercise in complete mental focus. My stomach hurt, I was overheating, but I knew there were people in my age group I could still catch.

Finally it dawned on me to dump a cup of ice down my shorts. For whatever reason, the cramps in my stomach subsided, so did this at ever aid station from this point forward. It definitely cooled my core temp. I should have done it earlier. I finally caught my friend Jake at about mile five, he told me to keep it up and that is all the motivation I needed. I knew I wasn't going to be able to go much harder, but if I kept this pace I was going to have a good result. It was damn painful at this point but I dug deep. The last stretch down to the finish was a blur.

Run: 1:31:06

This was my first podium finish in a big race like this. I am really proud of the result, especially on such a tough day. I can't think of a tougher day. I told a friend of mine, I would rather raced an Ironman on a normal day than go through that again. I also, proved to myself I can dig deep, that I have more to give. There is a deeper reservoir.

The awards ceremony was at 10pm. Late. I was tired and had already forced down a beer, but man was it sweet standing up there. Congrats to all the Ironheads on fighting through a tremendously tough day and congrats to Bill and Kaytee on their podium finishes. Afterward, Kaytee said it was hard to reconcile her time with her age group place. I agree.

Total: 4:49:48

Thanks to Dave C., my coach. My success is a direct result of his advice. Period.

Finally, as always, thank you to Dacia for supporting me in this crazy sport. I couldn't achieve any of it without you.

training.

2010-03-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

I ran across this passage today while rereading a book I, until recently, had not given very much consideration, A Separate Peace by John Knowles. In fact, it wasn't until about 50 pages in did I realize I had read previously. In any case, this specific passage stood out, especially after my run today.

every trace of energy as usual completely used up, and as I drove myself on all my scattered aches found their usual way to a profound seat of pain in my side. My lungs as usual were fed up with all this work, and from now on would only go rackingly through the motions. My knees were boneless again, ready any moment to let my lower legs telescope up into the thighs. My head felt as though different sections of the cranium were grinding into each other.

Then, for no reason at all, I felt magnificent. It was as though my body until that instant had simply been lazy, as though the aches and exhaustion were all imagined, created from nothing in order to keep me from truly exerting myself. Now my body seemed at last to say, "Well, if you must have it, here!" and an accession of strength came flooding through me. Buoyed up, I forgot my usual feeling of routine self-pity when working out, I lost myself, oppressed mind along with aching body; all entanglements were shed, I broke into the clear.

listen.

2010-03-14T14:30:00.001-07:00

If you are not listening to this, you should be.

carl sandburg.

2010-02-21T12:56:00.000-08:00

The first two years of my formal education were spent at Carl Sandburg Elementary School in West Valley City, UT. I think, even in Kindergarten and First Grade, I was vaguely aware that Sandburg was a writer of some kind. Now 26 years removed from those opaque days of youth, I just finished reading Sandburg's Chicago Poems. Several things struck me upside the head while reading this book.

I wonder how on earth an elementary school in the Salt Lake Valley was named after an outspoken socialist. There seems to be some incongruity in a school located in the heart of our nation's most conservative state being named after a man that was integral in the American socialist movement of the early 20th century. I mean, he was the private secretary of Eugene V. Debs! I wonder if the school board knew he was the man that wrote

Voices of dollars
And drops of blood

Could they have known?

I wonder if there was a teacher in the entire school who knew who Sandburg was and what he stood for? I am not saying definitively no one knew, but given my basic knowledge of teachers today I am pretty doubtful. I know many elementary school teachers, I doubt they have read "Chicago". I doubt they had read "Fog"

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

Finally, I wonder if, in some way, I was meant to find Sandburg more than 25 years later. I don't particularly love him as a poet, or agree with his politics. However, in some small manner, I feel connected to his words. I did go to a school named after him, although I can't believe that in any way that school embodied the name above the door. There is always some lesson in the words of poets concerned with the topics of their day. As The Great War raged on he wrote:

JAWS

SEVEN nations stood with their hands on the jaws of death.
It was the first week in August, Nineteen Hundred Fourteen.
I was listening, you were listening, the whole world was listening,
And all of us heard a Voice murmuring:
“I am the way and the light,	5
He that believeth on me
Shall not perish
But shall have everlasting life.”
Seven nations listening heard the Voice and answered:
“O Hell!”	10
The jaws of death began clicking and they go on clicking.
“O Hell!”

until something goes wrong.

2010-02-13T13:54:00.000-08:00

a few words of inspiration.

2010-01-24T13:35:00.000-08:00

One Hour to Madness and Joy
by Walt Whitman

One hour to madness and joy! O furious! O confine me not!
(What is this that frees me so in storms?
What do my shouts amid lightnings and raging winds mean?)
O to drink the mystic deliria deeper than any other man!
O savage and tender achings! (I bequeath them to you my children,
I tell them to you, for reasons, O bridegroom and bride.)

O to be yielded to you whoever you are, and you to be yielded to me
in defiance of the world!
O to return to Paradise! O bashful and feminine!
O to draw you to me, to plant on you for the first time the lips of
a determin'd man.

O the puzzle, the thrice-tied knot, the deep and dark pool, all
untied and illumin'd!
O to speed where there is space enough and air enough at last!
To be absolv'd from previous ties and conventions, I from mine and
you from yours!
To find a new unthought-of nonchalance with the best of Nature!
To have the gag remov'd from one's mouth!
To have the feeling to-day or any day I am sufficient as I am.

O something unprov'd! something in a trance!
To escape utterly from others' anchors and holds!
To drive free! to love free! to dash reckless and dangerous!
To court destruction with taunts, with invitations!
To ascend, to leap to the heavens of the love indicated to me!
To rise thither with my inebriate soul!
To be lost if it must be so!
To feed the remainder of life with one hour of fulness and freedom!
With one brief hour of madness and joy.

music.

2010-01-23T19:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to wade through mountains of crap to find music that doesn't suck. As it has been a couple of years and in case you have forgotten....

Jake

2009-12-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

I will have more thoughts on this later, but as of now, all I can feel is excitement. Go Dawgs!

fiction!

2009-11-30T17:08:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it was slight dehydration or fatigue or maybe it was a touch of food poisoning, but I was pretty sick for most of the day. The details I will spare. One good thing, however, did come out of it. I was able to finally finish, Theodore Rex, by Edmund Morris. The completion of this book also signifies my renewed commitment to fiction. I figured it was time to knock out some books I have been putting off for a long time.

On tap:
The Magic Mountain, Thomas Mann
Ulysses, James Joyce
The Guermantes Way, Marcel Proust

Should be quite the task as I often loose focus when I begin reading projects, but as of now, consider me committed.

Engaged in the Rain

2009-10-18T11:59:00.001-07:00

I and Love and You -- 10.3.9

Race Report: Black Diamond Long Course

2009-10-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

Black Diamond Long Course

9.26.9

Swim: 1.2 Miles
Bike: 56 Miles
Run: 13.1 Miles

The final race is over and it took me several weeks to post this report. I had a few other things going on, namely getting engaged the weekend after this race.

Life has settled back into its daily routine and its time to finalize another season. This was a good race for the end of the year. Now that a few weeks have past it came at the right time and the season ended at the correct time.

Aleck and I drove up on Friday afternoon. Traffic getting to the greater Puget Sound region was bearable. Aleck's new VW Routon was comfortable, but lacked sufficient bass. I have been assured he is working on it.

One of the great things about this race is its late start time. Nine a.m is nice. I got a great nights rest. Nutrition in the morning was standard. We arrived in plenty of time to get things prepared in transition. This was a welcomed change from my last race. Those escapades were detailed in another race report. I am very happy things went more smoothly this time. After posting my race report from Spokane my coach asked if this was my first race. Apparently things go more smoothly in your second race.

The swim started out very hectic. It felt almost like an Ironman start. Everyone was very aggressive and I am unsure why. There was a smaller channel in between the first buoy and the edge of the lake. I can only think that people wanted to be the first through that gap because it was almost like an all out sprint to the first buoy. That is the only excuse I can think of for such poor behavior.

I swam fairly well, but didn't feel overly strong. I hadn't been swimmingly that well leading up to this race, so I didn't expect to go under 30 minutes which would have been a good swim for me. I was able to find a set of feet to get on for a large portion of the second half of the second loop. It doesn't sound substantial, but it put me in a good frame of mind going into T1.

Swim: 31:08

I did not have the disastrous transitions in this race as I did in Spokane. It just goes to show that you shouldn't over sleep your alarm on race day. My time was pretty much in line with everyone else, so good for me.

T1: 2:15

Heading out on the bike I felt pretty good. This was the first time racing with specific power targets and it made a huge difference. This was easily the best bike split I have ever had. There was a different feeling in my legs throughout that had never been there before. I wasn't overly prepared for this race. Training had gone well, but not superb. However, there was some fluidity in my legs and it felt good.

The course was two loops and I held my target watts the entire first loop. On the second loop the air temp actually cooled down and the wind starting coming off the mountain. I tried to maintain my target watts, but just wasn't able to do it and settled in pretty comfortably 10 watts lower.

Jason passed me about ten miles from the finish. In the last couple races it has been m goal to stay in front of him as long as possible. I know I wont be able to fend him off for an entire race, but the longer the better. I stayed within sight of him the rest of the ride and we came into T2 within a minute or so of each other.

Bike: 2:32:06

My second transition was equally uneventful. Just as it should be. As we left transition Jason yelled to me, "Let's run this together."

T2: 1:25

For nearly the entire run Jason was about 45 sec. to a minute ahead of me. The entire run I tried to bridge the gap and couldn't. He just loomed out there, just far enough I couldn't make up the differential.

The run was tough. There were a couple really steep inclines. They were the kind of inclines that break up an momentum you have and sap the strength out of your legs. I tried not to think about it, and just kept focusing on what was in front of me. I was pretty consistent the entire race in terms of pacing. I know I slowed a little toward the end on the trail portion, but that is the way it ends.

Run: 1:31:08

In terms of overall races it was a good one. I PR'd by a few seconds, which leaves me with a sweet taste in my mouth heading into the off season.

4:38:02

Ironheads did exceedingly well. As we team we took four of the top seven places.

Go Dawgs, Beat Stanford!

2009-09-25T09:04:00.001-07:00

irony

2009-09-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the University of Washington, won what we all hope will be a program defining game. The Huskies defeated the University of Southern California. No two programs could have defined the two ends of the football spectrum more perfectly than these two. On this day, however, the mentor was defeated by the mentee. It was a day that everyone who was in attendance will be telling their grandchildren about. When the horrible memories of the Tyrone Willingham led Huskies become distant, 162,000 fans will say there were when in reality there were 62,000. It was a day of lore. A day of redemption.

It was day I spent in Autzen Stadium.

Much of my family has ties to the University of Utah, who played in Eugene yesterday. When the idea of going to the game was proposed many months ago I could not have imagined such a quick turnaround for UW. After last year's drubbing, I was pretty sure I couldn't bear sitting in Husky Stadium to watch the repeat. So, in a show of support for the Utes we all traipsed down I-5 to attend to football game.

The Utah/Oregon game was one marred with quarterback ineptitude. I will spare everyone the link to the stat sheet, but I will say, it was not good for either team. Before the game started, I had made a deal with my good friend Joe to send me updates. As the game progressed and each text arrived to my phone on the wings of angels, it became abundantly clear -- The Dawgs were not (repeat NOT) outclassed. As one reported later noted, we were winning 'old school'.

Then the updates stopped. I was on the edge of my seat. The game I was attending suddenly was interesting after three quarters of football purgatory, but I couldn't keep my mind of what was happening in Seattle. I was cursing Joe! Didn't he know what I was going through.

Picture this: four Husky fans in Autzen Stadium, sitting in the Utah section of the stadium, huddled around my sister's Blackberry hitting refresh every time it loaded in hopes of an update while the Oregon legions were copying the sideline to sideline 'Go Huskies' chant. (Their rendition was both inaudible and ill informed.) Oh....the irony. The Dawgs were winning and I was in Eugene. I was in EUGENE!

In spite of my absence, the Dawgs won, and the riot ensued.

Image Credit: Leslie Danielson

Race Report: Spokane Triathlon

2009-09-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Spokane Triathlon

9.13.9

Swim: 1.5k
Bike: 40k
Run: 10k

This race report will be different than most, as this trip was one part road trip, one part race. I signed up on a whim after some convincing from Aleck. I hadn't planned on racing, but he said, "The team needed me to earn some points for the team competition." I said, "ok."

I met Aleck at his house early Saturday morning. We packed up the van, and after some minor delays getting our bikes set on the rack, made our way to Kaytee's house to pick up the rest of the crew save for A.J. This went more smoothly. We had a system in place for bike loading. I think this helped quell any suspicions, as we were already behind schedule.

The drive to Spokane was relatively uneventful. Kaytee and Kelly seemed to drift in and out of slumber most of the waking only when we stopped for gas or needed a natural break. Aaron, Denny, Aleck and myself chatted lightly, for 5+ hours about how this course was supposed to be 'flat and fast', faster than Blue Lake.

We also learned almost immediately, this van had bass. Dirty, dirty high school bass that would be put to the test later.

We arrived in Spokane, ate food, and some of the contingency left for an ill-fated highway ride. They were only called 'fags' once. I think the perpetrators may have been confused because two of the four people riding were women. Maybe they didn't know the difference. I will give them the benefit of the doubt because this I believe was the only negative interaction we had with locals. Spokane was strangely friendly, even as I wore my University of Washington shirt all day after our first win in 666 days.

Aleck and I stayed behind to pick up A.J. from the larger than expected Spokane Airport. En route we put the bass to the test. This would help define the rest of the trip. Bass. Sweet, sweet bass. On this trip we learned the major differences between new school bass (Black Eyed Peas) and old school bass (Sir-Mix-Alot). Neither one is better than the other, both contain their own merits. We learned that optimally they both should be played on the 'supr bass' setting on a volume ranging from 36 to 40. We also learned that Eazy-E now makes me a little uncomfortable.

We ate at Old Spaghetti Factory. We came back. Watched some of the Oregon/Purdue football game, and fell asleep hoping Oregon would find a way to loose that game. (We awoke to find this was not the case.)

The following morning was interesting. A few of us woke at 4am, on schedule to eat. I drank down my calories, and without even thinking about it, crawled back in bed and quickly fell asleep. Seriously, all of us fell back asleep until there was a report on the door. The girls were waiting and wondering where in the hell we were. We sprang into action quickly, maybe a little too quickly.

We made it to the race site on time. We prepared our stuff. I got in the always long bathroom line. Did my business. Went back to my bike to get my wetsuit on...and discovered my shorts were on BACKWARDS!!!! I needed to get my wetsuit on, I was starting to think I wasn't going to make the start. AGhhh. My friends started walking to the start. I didn't have a towel. I didn't want to strip down right there. Fortunately, a girl sharing my bike rack recognized my dilemma and lent me a towel. I promptly fixed my shorts. I got my wetsuit on, but not well, found A.J., Aaron and Aleck and got position in the water where we thought there was a good line to the first buoy.

We all heard the course was clockwise, keeping the buoys on the right, but things weren't adding up. We weren't the only one who heard this, A.J. even asked someone for confirmation, but there was also a lot of people lined up to the right of us, obviously lined up for the opposite buoy. When the gun went off, I took a quick look at them and realized they were not heading for the same buoy. I thought, "oh shit!" I got back on course, but I know I missed at least a minute, maybe more, getting back on course. I swam the whole, shallow, knuckle-dragging thing, by myself. No drafting, which sucks. I was not happy with my time at all.

Swim: 24:12

T1 was an exercise in frustration. Since I hurried through getting my wetsuit on, I had a hard time getting it off. It got stuck on my ankle. It felt like I was in there forever and ever. I was building a camp there. Staying, making a home, right there in that parking lot. Some one would find me there fossilized and tangled in my wetsuit. Finally it broke free. I was free. Free...and off on the bike.

T1: 1:41

The bike was neither flat nor fast as the website had indicated and liaisons in Spokane had confirmed. It was slow. It was hilly. It was a good course, fair, but not flat and not fast. I went out slightly conservatively. I was expecting it to be flat, but there were obviously hills at the beginning. I thought I was conserving my energy to lay it out on the flats. There weren't any flats. I probably should have gone out a little stronger, but as I was not familiar with the course. I also lost a bar end.

At the turn I decided to give it what I had. I knew there would be a couple stiff rollers, but would power through them. I was a little distracted by the dude that came screaming past me drafting behind a car. He said, "Nice bike" as he passed. I was so flabbergasted I said nothing, but thought about many unrepeatable phrases. I had a good second half and started to prepare myself for a 'flat and fast' run.

Bike: 1:07:36

T2 was pretty smooth. No real issues. I was about average in the top 20.

T2: 0:47

I went out on the run and felt good. At the first mile post I looked at my watch and it read 5:47. "Ummmm.....I should slow down." The run course was flat, but not fast. I passed the dude who drafted past me on the bike. Repeated those colorful euphemisms in my head and proceeded.

There were like a million turns and the entire thing was on a gravel road. Gravel is not fast. I past a couple dudes in my age group and felt pretty good. I feel like I should have pushed a little harder. I should have been under 40 minutes, but it happens. "Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you."

Run: 40:54

It was a fun race, everyone involved was great. They were happy we made the trip from PDX. It was a great experience.

Total: 2:15:07
3rd AG
14th OA

As a team we killed it. Veni, Vedi, Vici. Congrats to all.

Team Scores:

Ironheads- 88 Points (4-1st, 2-2nd, 1-3rd, 1-5th)

Tri-Fusion- 66 Points (3-1st, 1-2nd, 1-4th, 1-5th)

Team Blaze-53 Points (2-1st, 1-3rd, 4-4th)

As with all good road trips there has to be some obstacles and miracles.

The obstacle came in the drive home. We were tired. We had swilled down a few celebratory beers, ate some chow and headed home. We were dropping serious bass on I-90. Cruising. Not reading the signs. We missed our exit. We had overshot US 395. It wasn't by much, but we missed it alright. There was a classic deserted farm road, real 'Grapes of Wrath', that cut the angle back to the highway. We were still dropping bass and also using gas. More gas than we should have. Right before the highway, in what can only be described as as ghost town, we ran out of gas. There was only a Pacific Pride station in town. No one had an access card. We were screwed. As you can see: I decided to check the bikes. Someone was going to have to ride to Moses Lake. It seemed our only option.

And then....the miracle. Kaytee and Kelly flagged down a car. In the very first car, the driver worked at the gas station. No kidding. We were in the middle of nowhere. The first guy that stopped had gas. He would be right back. I was thinking, "No way. The only way out is going to be riding to Moses Lake. We have bikes."

But...he came back with gas. It was enough to make it to a gas station. He told us about the race cars he owned. We paid in cash. We were out of there. A miracle indeed.

We made it home safe and sound, many hours after we started. I wouldn't change it for anything. A very wise friend of mine once said, "the meaning of life is making stories."

We just added a few to the book.

Hulaman Video

2009-09-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

I am fooling around with some video editing software. Here is my first (ish) shot at putting something together. Obviously, I haven't gotten it all figured out yet.

A New Day

2009-09-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Today begins a new day in the history of Husky football. I have been contemplating this post since the day Coach Steve Sarkisian was hired. I have scraped many, many ideas of what to say today. I have run the breadth of emotion in regards to this team over the past decade, and now we start again. We start with a new coaching staff in a new Husky world.

I know today will be a test. We face one of the storied programs in the country, from a place where football means more than anything -- LSU. The current line has the Huskies at about 18 point underdogs. No one, I mean not a single sane person, expects UW to see any amount of measurable success today.

Yet, in some way, there is hope. Sark's enthusiasm and energy has permeated the outer reaches of Husky Nation. Husky fans have been infected with an optimism we haven't felt in a long time; an optimism long since pushed to the recesses of our hearts. Sark has sparked a small flame in all of who remember our once proud tradition. Sark has ignited that precious flame that will one day conflagrate the remains of these last dark years and light a path to the new and bright day of Husky Football.

It is hard not to feel something special is going to happen today.

Go Dawgs!

Coach Holt

2009-08-26T15:41:00.001-07:00

Nick Holt can read. He said so. I love it!!!

Race Report: Hulaman Half

2009-08-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hulaman Half

8.16.9

Swim: 1.2 Miles
Bike: 53 Miles
Run: 13.1 Miles

Wake up time was 5a race morning. This race was a point to point race, so I drove out by myself and Dacia came with her family to help facilitate the moving of cars from T1 at Hagg Lake to T2 at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. I started drinking my standard 700 calories of Endurox as soon as I work up and finished it on the way to the race. I arrived at Hagg Lake, after dropping off my run stuff, at 545a. Set up was pretty easy and I was able to catch up with some friends after racking my bike and before putting on my wetsuit.

There weren't any butterflies fluttering in my stomach before, in fact I was slightly sluggish and unmotivated. For some reason, before the race started, I just didn't feel it. Right before the gun went off I remember thinking, “eek, here we go.” I, however, quickly settled in for a day that would ultimately be one of the more painful races I have endured. It becomes even more clear on days when you are mentally ill-prepared how difficult this sport can be.

I started the swim toward the front, but not far enough. I was busy thinking, "why am I racing today?" and missed my cue to get forward. I should have found some of my friends I know were going to swim faster than me and tried to stay on their heels as long as I could. Instead, I found myself fighting a little traffic and by that time they were gone. I wouldn’t see them again until after they turned on the run.

Pacing was good. I tried to draft when I could, but there wasn’t many people to get behind after I lost the lead group. I was kind of in the middle of nowhere. Also, I have found I almost always take a cleaner line to the buoys than most people. I kept looking out on my breath to see a pod of swimmers about 20 yards to my left. I would immediately sight I found I was on a direct course. I don’t know what they were doing, but I am glad I didn’t swim in their draft. I was pretty satisfied with my time. I would like to swim under 30 minutes, and probably would have if I were a little smarter.

Swim Time: 30:28

There were no real problems in T2. I was pretty smooth. There was a hill coming right out of transition so I decided to get my shoes on before getting on my bike. There would be nothing more embarrassing than falling over because I couldn't get my shoes on. This was a risk I wasn't willing to take. I got out and on my way without any problems.

The bike course was tough. Although I am beginning to think they are all tough for one reason or another. This course was two loops around Hagg Lake before heading into rural Forest Grove. I tried to pace the two loops pretty evenly, but the hills were killer. I knew I was going to probably average less watts after leaving the lake, but I knew this would probably be the best course of action. There was one other climb of note, but Clapshot Hill didn't seem as bad as it could have.

Fuelling was pretty standard. I did lose one bottle of nutrition at the end of the second loop of Hagg Lake. I was able to substitute the missing calories with a few gels I had stuffed in my pocket. My total caloric intake was pretty much the same as if I would not have lost the bottle. The loss could have been worse.

Bike Time: 2:34:37

There were no major issues in T2. I did take the time to put on socks. I know this probably took some time, but I thought it better. I wasn't that confident that my shoes were not going to give me blisters.

I was pretty glad to be off the bike and start the run. I ran the first 5 or so miles Kaytee Petross, a fellow Ironhead and eventual amateur women's champ. She knew she was in the lead, but felt there was someone behind her that could catch up. I wasn't so sure, but when she went I couldn't stay with her. I just tried to stay on a sub 7 minute pace. It was pretty close, as I know I ran miles 9 and 10 at about 7:30 pace. After I realized it was slipping away, I settled into a good pace and let 'er rip. I ran 6:30 for the final two miles to make up the difference, but I was pretty well spent at the line.

My legs just didn't have the strength to rattle off a great run. I could really feel that my turn over just wasn't that springy. I am sure this is the remainder of IMCDA in my legs. They just weren't recovered and I could tell the entire run. It was pretty painful. Nonetheless, it was good for the 6th fastest time of the day. I need to be faster.

Run Time: 1:30:41

Considering I am only 6 weeks from an Ironman I felt ok, and I can feel ok about my time because of that, but if I didn't have that as an excuse I would be pretty frustrated. I need to be faster.

Thanks to everyone.
My new coach Dave.
My training partners: Jason, Aleck, Jake, AJ.
My family.
Dacia. Most of all.

Finish Time/place/AG place: 4:38:48/10/5

malibu

2009-07-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

I can't think of anything better than kicking McConaughey's ass for charity.

paris-roubaix

2009-07-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

Race Report: Ironman Couer d' Alene 2009

2009-07-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

Ironman Coeur d' Alene 2009

Date: 6.24.9
Swim: 2.4 Miles
Bike: 112 Miles
Run: 26.2 Miles

The day before was great. Usually it is a day filled with race anxiety as I approach a day of the unknown. This time was different for a lot of reasons. I was the most relaxed I have been before any race for a long time. When I woke up, I chose to accept the next two days for what they are and make the most of them. I focused on controlling what I can control. Watched golf. Prepped my bike and nutrition for the next day. I tried to remain 'zen'. One of my favourite books of all time is Eugene Herrigel’s classic exploration of the Western mind grasping at the complex approach to the Zen arts: Zen in the Art of Archery. In it he says about his task, “the object is not to hit the target, but to be the bow.” For me, this has always meant staying present, remaining in the moment and staying out of my head. I wanted to do my best and this year it meant I needed to focus on the task and not the result. Training for this race was, to say the least, sporadic. It was riddled with obstacles.

Wake up time race morning was 4:30a, sleeping in. Our house was a five minute walk from transition, so I was able to get an extra half hour of sleep. Nice.
I arrived at transition with my friend Aleck at about 5:00a. It is always good to have someone else around for me. It keeps my mind off of things and allows me to stay relaxed. I met up with Jason, John and Laura to get our wetsuits on. For some reason things then got little hectic. Everyone was forced to funnel through a 10 foot gap in the seawall. By the time I got onto the beach and in position there wasn’t much time until the gun sounded. I had barely put my goggles on when I heard the cannon report. Through everything I was calm. Cool as a cucumber. My mental state the day before really helped.

I started the swim from the middle right of the beach. This location was pretty much exactly where I had wanted. The swim conditions were not favorable. The lake had considerable wind chop. On the way out, on the first loop, pacing was more like survival. Although having swam a couple days earlier in similar water conditions I knew it was going to be a struggle to the second turn. I had my goggles knocked ajar twice in the process of jockeying for position. The cross stretch was equally difficult, but different. Instead of swimming perpendicular to the swells, we were parallel. Literally, one wave dropped someone right on top of me right near the turn home. The second loop was slower, but also slightly easier. I knew I had expended a lot of energy on the first loop. Also There were many less yahoos slapping me in the face on the second loop. I really enjoyed that aspect of the second loop. I was able to get a good draft coming home and I exited the water happy to be out of Lake Coeur d’ Alene. There is not much to say about the swim, other than it was brutal. It was draining mentally and physically. I had hoped to swim right around an hour, maybe a little faster, but given the conditions 1:06 was damn good. I was only 4 minutes behind Aleck, I will take that any day.

Swim Time/place/AG place: 1:06:44/247/38

I was pretty calm in T1 until I couldn’t get my arm warmers on. I really wished that would have worked out, but it didn’t. I have learned a few tricks since then and I wont let it happen again. I freaked out a little when I couldn’t get them on. I left them with a tent volunteer and left. (Miraculously, they ended up in my bag after it had left. Thanks to the many wonderful volunteers that made the day a success.)

T1: 3:37

I went out on the bike pretty easy. I tried to break each loop into three sections. I tried to maintain a pretty solid, but easy pace for the first 20 miles. It is about then that the hills start the second section. The hills were tough, but manageable. I really tried to spin up the hills the first time around. I knew they would be much tougher the second time around. I didn’t really get passed by a lot of people, but I did loose some positions, but more importantly time. I managed through, and based on some rough estimates it didn’t seem like I lost too much time. The last section had some pretty good wind all the way in. This really messed with my head and by the end of the first loop legs we a little wobbly.

On the second loop things were about as I expected. Tough. The hills seemed longer and steeper, the wind more stiff. By the time I got off the bike I was more than ready. I don’t really know where things went wrong, but I did expect to go a little faster. I need to find a way to get under 5:30. Period.

Bike Time/place/AG place: 5:38:02/242/49

I felt good going into T2. No problems. I was able to get my compression socks on without any problems. Thanks again to Aleck for giving me a hint on that one. I felt in control and glad to run.

Time: 1:53

On the run I went out at a pretty controlled pace, maybe a little slow, but given my mishaps at Canada last year, I didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes. For the first 50 minutes I ran slightly under 8 minute pace. My plan for the rest of the run was pretty simple. I was going to walk every 25 minutes until the turn to come home on the second loop. Then reel in as many people as possible. This worked pretty well. It kept my HR low and allowed me to break the run into very clear defined segments. At the turn into town I tried to reel in as many people as I could. Every time I passed someone I looked to pass the next. I was moving at a pretty good clip. I don’t know pace and the time on the website is wrong, so….hopefully they will update it.

Fueling was a bit of challenge. My plan was to wear my fuel belt and use the same strategy I use in training runs. I quickly learned my stomach was not going to take any fuel anytime soon and ditched the belt and decided to rely on whatever I could in my special needs and the aid stations. I didn’t really take anything in for the rest of the run besides water. I could tell things were loosening up, but not enough that my stomach was going to be ok with more gel. I decided to take water at every aid station and stay as hydrated as possible.

This was a PR on the run, so I feel good about it, but it is hard to feel that I may have left something out there on the run. It is hard to say.

Run Time/place/AG place: 3:38:22/174/37

I really felt good the entire day. I think, based on my limited running and uneven training this year, I was a little too conservative to start both the bike and run segments. I just didn’t have to confidence to go out harder, so I settled on a comfortable pace. I knew much of the training was in place, but not enough for me to be super confident and let it all out.

Finish Time/place/AG place: 10:28:38/174/37

As always, there are people to thank. People who have been integral in my success.

Thank you Scott for a plan that worked for me this year.
Thank you to my training partners: Jason, Aleck, Jake, AJ, Laura and Bonnie.
Thank you Family. Your patience with me is astounding, your encouragement endless.
Thank you most of all to Dacia. None of this is possible without her love and support.

failed contact with the mothership

2009-07-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

So, my motherboard fried itself the day before I planned on posting my race report from Ironman Coeur d' Alene. I will post it as soon as real and lengthy contact can be established with the interwebs.

the battle

2009-03-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

A hero in our own time doing battle against the forces of evil.

Stewart vs. Cramer

dilemma

2009-03-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

The problem of the dilemma has long been discussed. Beginning with the classic Greek philosophers, the dilemma has presented the specific problem in decision making. Robert Pirsig, in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, presents the dilemma problem as a metaphorical bull that elicits a response. This bull presents three classical metaphorical responses, you may throw sand in the bull's eyes, you may sing the bull to sleep, or you may refuse to enter the arena. (All metaphorical responses of course.)

If you prefer, the dilemma can be expressed with logic as well.

Constructive dilemmas--

1. (If X, then Y) and (If W, then Z).

2. X or W.

3. Therefore, Y or Z.

Destructive dilemmas--

1. (If X, then Y) and (If W, then Z).

2. Not Y or not Z.

3. Therefore, not X or not W.

It seems Spring, with its inconsistent weather, always presents a specific dilemma for me. Saturday, typically, is long ride day. There are ways this triathlon culture works: Friday - Long Swim, Saturday - Long Ride, Sunday - Long Run. It is just the way it is. Saturdays all through the spring come and go, each with its own meteorological conditions, and each condition presents me with the choice of riding outside or in.

Last weekend I checked the weather for the next. It said sunny and 60, perfect Spring riding conditions. As the week progressed, those sunny days moved to Thursday and Friday, leaving the weekend awash in rain and wind.

I was planning on going to Dave's house and riding with him and other friends through the wilds of Eastern Multnomah County. This, however, seemed to be more and more unlikely as the weather reports progressed. Not only could I expect rain and wind, but also its bastard children wet chamois and frozen fingers. I knew the ride would be miserable.

I decided not to bear the brunt of this vicious weather, but in doing so I certainly sacrificed some gained fitness. Instead of 6000' of climbing, I rode the trainer for three hours with some interval work mixed in. Hardly, the effort I would have endured outside, but passable.

Therein lies the dilemma. What are the boundaries we place around our training? What is acceptable to endure? What isn't?

For me it was unacceptable to ride out to the Gorge in 30 mph winds. It just didn't seem like something I was going enjoy, it seemed dangerous on some level. So I took one of the bull's horns and lived to tell about it, but what did I sacrifice in the long run. I saved a couple hours of personal comfort and safety, but sacrificed some personal fitness.

slow

2009-02-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

It has been a slow start to the training season. My knee is feeling better, but I have contracted the cold, riff with unbearable sinus pressure, that has been sweeping Portland, Oregon. Just as I thought things were going to get rolling I have already missed several workouts this week. It seems I am finding it difficult to sustain any kind of momentum this winter. If this continues I will be slow come June 21st.

taste

2009-02-08T14:13:00.001-08:00

There is no accounting for taste. Clover has chosen Vidal over Updike. I cannot say I agree.

influenced part 2

2009-02-07T17:27:00.000-08:00

I made some inadvertent, but blatant, omissions in the last list I hastily through up. Oops. Below are the additions.

Albert Camus
Louis-Ferdinand Celine
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Emily Dickinson (For You Kate)
Jean-Paul Sartre
Leo Tolstoy
Richard Yates

franchise

2009-02-02T19:45:00.001-08:00

I listen to sports radio almost exclusively when driving by myself. It is my not so secret indulgence. It seems to make me nostalgic for a time that feels too long ago now, often distilled into half hour radio segments as I run errands for my job. I have been ridiculed and taunted by my family with their religious devotion to NPR and its news. I have long given that up for what can only be called male soap opera, complete with heroes and villains, love and hate. Sports radio is a man's equivalent to Days of our Lives, but I am unashamed.

Today, on one program, there was a pertinant post Super Bowl discussion of the franchise quarterbacks in the NFL. Discussing sports exists on two levels, one being winners and losers. This discussion is black and white. Scores determine winners and records, eventually champions. This elementary discussion always evolves into something more gray. This is the spectral discussion of 'Why?'

Today the discussion about franchise QB's devolved into first defining what franchise means and finally which one's in the NFL were and which were not. This is a classic example of sports discussion. First you have to take a very specific word, like franchise, place an extraneous meaning on it, then argue. In this case franchise, as defined by the host, was that the QB, no matter what happened would still be the quarterback the next week. The team and its organziation would, barring an injury, still play the quarterback week after week no matter the performance in any singular game.

Security defined by performance. That would be nice.

progress

2009-01-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

Today. Today, I can speak about progress on two fronts. First, my knee seems to be feeling better. The tightness in my calf has subsited and I am looking forward to running more than 6 minutes. I can hear the din in the distance...."Wait! You ran! There was no post about this momentous event!" Nope, five minutes is hardly worth noting, but I can tell we are moving toward something more substantial. Infact, I may run for 6 minutes tomorrow.

Also, this week we make progress as a nation. WE make progress together in so many ways this week that I can't begin to enumerate them. I feel childish in my hope. I know there will be disappointments. There has never been anyone who has faced both challenges with this chasm and the expectations to immediately eradicate them as our new president does. Nonetheless, I can't help feeling hopeful.

at war

2009-01-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

The true warrior is not that person who blindly destroys for the sake of destruction, or creates a path of fire in his wake. Rather he bends to the will of his environment only to shape his world in his own reflection. He understands himself so that the future nor the past exist. Therefore, he can concentrate on the matter of living.

from The Cave by Jose Saramago

Fire lays down one irrevocable condition if we want it do to what we expect of it, the clay must be as dry as possible when it is placed in the kiln. And this is where we humbly return to that business about breathing into nostrils, and here we have to recognize how very unjust and imprudent we were to take up and adopt as our own the heretical idea that the said god coldly turned his back on his own work.

rehab

2008-12-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

I haven't mentioned it many times, to anyone, but my knee has been pretty f'd up since Ironman Canada. The Second half of the marathon that day was pure torture. It wasn't the torture of moving your body 140.6 miles in one day, but acutal pain. I ran through it. There was no way in hell I was stopping. Afterward, I didn't really run a lot leading into Clearwater. When I did run there was some pain, but it was managable. I figured it would be ok. The run at Clearwater was another exercise in pain tolerance. I ran 1:35 about 6 or 7 minutes slower than I was hoping to run. It was disappointing and afterward in each successive run the pain increased.

Finally, I went to the doctor and after deliberation it turns out it is probably my soleus creating pain at the attachment point. So I started physical therapy yesterday. I hope for a speedy recovery, but am not optimistic.

plato

2008-12-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

I posted this on a friend's blog today. I thought it may be appropriate here as well.

From Plato's "Symposium":

'And is that which is not wise, ignorant? do you not see that there is a mean between wisdom and ignorance?’

‘And what may that be?’ I said.

‘Right opinion,’ she replied.

influenced

2008-12-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

Recently I was asked about writers who have influenced me. I have often thought about those who have steered my thinking in various directions and wondered whether it was worth commenting on in public. After consideration, I thought it may be interesting to throw up a list.

Ordered alphabetically:

Woody Allen
Paul Bowles
Ed Burns
John Cheever
Tina Fey
Ernest Hemingway
Jack Kerouac
Norman Mailer
Cormac McCarthy
Eugene O'Neill
George Orwell
Aaron Sorkin
Gary Snyder
Hunter S. Thompson
Jose Saramago
Gary Snyder
Wallace Stevens
John Updike
William Carlos Williams

coverage

2008-12-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

Today was the annual coverage of the Big Race on the Big Island. It was NBC's award winning coverage of Ironman Hawaii. Kona. It is the one time when our sport gets placed front and center. Where the spectrum of human experience is exhibited in one glossy, tightly wrapped, heart string pulled package. As usual, tears were abundant.

I remember watching this race in the early days, on ABC's Wide World of Sports. The coverage was different then. I wasn't a fan of the sport, just sports in general. I didn't know then what this sport would mean to me one day. I watched in amazement. Men and women torturing themselves. To a young kid this made no sense. Why would anyone do this?

That is the question. Why would anyone do this? Sacrifice so much? The answers are always varied. You could ask one thousand different triathletes and get one thousand different answers. There probably is not one unifying theory that draws us all to early morning start lines, that urges us to spend our lives in dedication. I cannot speculate on the string that ties us together. I know why I do it. Most of us do. We are a self aware group.

As the days continue to shorten, in the Pacific Northwest, in December, this day is always circled on my calendar. It is the day when one race season turns into the next. It signifies one year passing into another. Watching this race and the rain outside my window always means the beginning of that mental preparation for what lies ahead. It means a keen yearning for those long rides and runs, the morning swims, the camaraderie and the finish lines.

Let another year begin today.

promo

2008-12-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

We don't get to see much acutal ITU style racing here, but if this video doesn't get you fired up, nothing will.

narrative

2008-11-30T13:54:00.001-08:00

Recently I have been in a discussion with my good friend Dan about what amounts to the purpose of public discourse and how we, as individuals, can be most effective. I have long advocated a personal approach. An approach that focuses on personal narrative.

Dan, in recent times, has used his most public persona as a clearing house for information that can be mostly interpreted as apocalyptic enlightenment. Although I don't fundamentally disagree with his general thesis, (I will save that for a later post, but essentially, my outlook is less dire, more personalized and ultimately more optimistic.) I will say his approach is limited and inaccessible.

In a time where attention spans are limited and entertainment is placed at a premium our most vital attempts to influence the public discourse have to be both interesting and pertinent. We have a duty to attempt both.

The only way this can be achieved is through an experiment in personal narrative. By personalizing your thesis, you make it relevant. Although I am not and never will be an ardent supporter of organized belief of any kind, especially religion, we can learn many things from the Protestant Christian Fundamentalism movement. They have always emphasized the personal story of conversion, of acceptance, of being saved, because it serves dual purpose as evangelist tool and a rallying point of interest. It is allows the consumer to relate. They have either been converted or hope to be, in either case they can find some common ground.

Ultimately, it is being interesting that allows anyone to reach an audience. So, as a challenge, if you want massive or even spherical influence find it through a personal narrative. Find influence by understanding your intent through empirical experience and go tell it on the mountain.

congrats

2008-11-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Aleck! You had a great day.

boston

2008-11-19T16:39:00.000-08:00

The word in itself conjures all kinds of visions. It is steeped in American lore. Tea Parties. Red Sox. Fall Leaves. For many Boston means the marathon. I lived there for four years and never ran in this vaunted and special event. I did, however, participate in the state holiday portion of the day with full fervor. Patriot's Day, awe, easily my favorite day on the Boston calendar. I went to early Sox games. I cheered the great Kenyan runners down Boylston street to the finish. I drank beers in the Pour House as a symbolic anti running event. I loved it. I was witness to the American distance running resurgence in 2006. I am already, as a fan and participant in endurance sports, a former resident of Boston and a good American, exicited for 2009. Our greatest American hope has decided to particpate next year. Good Luck and Godspeed, Ryan Hall.

sophomore

2008-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

Last night was the annual Ironhead Beer Mile. After I had completed my first beer and started my lap I knew I was in trouble. This sophomoric event, although great for camaraderie, leaves much to be desired in the digestive tract. All I can say is ughhh! I chose to import some Rainier Cans from Seattle. (Really they were leftover from the UW/Notre Dame massacre.) In honor of this fine beer, its rich tradition and this year's beer mile I have collected some classic Rainier commercials.

Race Report: Ironman World Championship 70.3

2008-11-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

Ironman World Championship 70.3

Swim: 1.2 Miles
Bike:56 Miles
Run: 13.1

Wake up time as usual was early, 4:15a. I slept well. I wasn't overly nervous race morning, Just excited about the day ahead. I knew, if nothing else, I was going to have fun. As many people told me, I was going to enjoy the experience. This really set me up for a good day. Attitude is everything. Breakfast was not exotic, the standard 800 cal of Orange Endurox. I meant to have a gel before the swim, but forgot.

We arrived at the race around 530a. Warm up consisted of little more than some stretching. My heart rate was a little high all morning. It wasn’t really nerves, but more like excitement for the day. I always take the position that there is nothing I can do now, just have a good day, stay focused and have fun.

Swim

I started in the third row. The beach start was a little hectic; they didn’t really get us through the shoot and on the beach in time to jockey for ideal position. I just took what was available. I would have liked to get a little further to the front. I had to climb over some people and in the end this probably hurt my time a little. In the beginning I felt a little slow. It was probably due to the lack of a real warm up in the water. About a quarter of the way in things loosened up and I felt like I was making up some good ground. After the turn I really started to pull. Drafting was a little more difficult than I expected due to the ocean currents and waves. Any slightest wave would either move me or the person I was drafting off and it took some time to get back on.

After the turn, coming back in was difficult. There was a less than zero percent chance of seeing the finish line because of the glare. It was even pretty hard finding the next buoy. This was a little disconcerting until I was able to sight off the pier about a quarter of the way from the finish.

Swim Time: 31:25

I never really know what to say about transitions. Most of mine have been realtively inconsequential (Save for Boise this year.) I probably should have started with my shoes on the bike. I couldn’t decided the best course of action the day before and am still unsure which would have been best.

Time: 3:06

Bike

I went out at a good pace. With the Causeway right near the beginning it is tough to keep the heart rate down going over it. I felt like I paced the beginning, but started to lag toward the end. Part of this was some frustration seeing large packs fly by while I felt somewhat helpless.

The bike was interesting on a lot of levels. I expected to be swept away in some peloton. I expected this to happen in the first couple miles. I expected to not have a choice; that they would sweep by and I would be caught up in its massive draft vortex. None of these assumptions were true. I didn’t really get passed by more than one person at a time until the 25 or 30 mile mark. By this time I had promised myself that no matter the situation I would stay out of the packs, ride my own race and be confident in my time. Around mile 40 or so the packs kept flying by, but I stayed out of them. I knew I was sacrificing places, but it was more important to feel good about my race when I was done.

I know that mid November on the triathlon calendar is reserved for the endless debate of drafting after the races in Panama City and Clearwater, FL. Sure there was drafting at Clearwater. There was a lot of it. I stayed out of it. I knew I wasn't going to be on the podium that day and it was more important for me to feel confident in my time. I wanted to feel like my day was exactly that, my day, not day where I would have to share any credit with the peloton screaming down the road. I don't participate in this sport for glory or podiums, but rather for the personal challenge in front of me on any given day. I can't and never will be able to change other racers approach to this sport, only approach each day with my best.

Bike Time: 2:27:09

No problems. I decided to put socks on, that cost a couple seconds, but not enough to worry about.

Time: 2:16

Run

My first mile was about 6:40, so I slowed down considerably. I may have slowed down too much. I was supposed to start pushing it at mile 8, but this was the base of the Causeway bridge. I decided to wait until the top of the bridge. This kind of threw off my pacing. I probably could have pushed a little harder though out the run.

I didn’t feel like I ran into any major problems within the framework of my own race. It was important, however, to stay focused on my own race and not worry about the people passing me. I had an expectation of going 4:30. This I realized wasn’t going to happen and sort of made me loose focus. Also, my knee had some pain again at about mile 9 in the run. I really need to figure out what is going on with this. I have some assumptions and am working on getting it straightened out.

Run Time: 1:35:06

I am very happy about the PR by over 4:30, but again I think I can go considerably faster.

Finish Time/place/AG place: 4:39:09/426/84( of 126)

Thanks again to everyone. Scott, My Family, Jack and Brigitte, Most of All Dacia.

sunshine

2008-11-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

I know many people are awaiting my race report from Clearwater. However, while in Florida I couldn't justify an afternoon inside writing while the sun is shinning outside. When I get back to Portland I may not see it again until sometime next year. I have to soak in the Gulf Coast as much as I can while I am here.

Race Report: Gresham Jazz Run 10k

2008-10-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

I won overall today. It was a lot of fun. My sister asked me if this was the first time I had won a race. I promptly responded with, "No. I won the Middle School Mile." So It is the first time I have crossed the finish line first in about 16 years. I will take it. This year, the race's first, was very well organized and the course was tough. It was a mix of trail and neighborhood roads. Although there were not a lot of participants I can tell it will grow.

The competition was not outstanding. The Portland Marathon was last week accompanied by its family of races, consequently many of the runners who would have been at a race like this were not. My father quickly pointed out that on days like today you have little to gain, but much to loose. I am glad I didn't end up on the wrong side of that.

I wanted to run about 36 minutes, but after the first mile and its severe up hill, I knew it wasn't possible and attempted to settle into a nice rhythm. That first hill was a doozy. I had to shorten my strides to little pitter patter elf length. The last two miles were pancake flat and I just settled in and rode it home. Not much else to say.

Time: 39:54
Pace: 6:25

on record

2008-10-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big race on the Big Island. For the record, here are my predicitons.

Men
1. Crowie
2. Macca
3. Llanos

Women
1. Chrissy
2. Major
3. Csomor

open response

2008-10-07T21:35:00.000-07:00

Daniel asked the other day for my thoughts on some things he had posted on his blog. I had neither the time nor direct inclination for the consideration he expects or the posts deserved. However, after some deliberation, I have decided to post not my response but the response of Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180).

What follows is ever so closely linked to what proceeds; it is not the procession of isolated events, merely obeying the laws of a sequence, but a rational continuity. Moreover, just as the things already in existence are all harmoniously coordinated, things in the act of coming into existence exhibit the same marvel of concatenation, rather than the bare fact of succession. (Book Four, 45)

Let it be clear to you that the peace of green fields can always be yours, in this, that, or any other spot; and that nothing is any different here from what it would be either up in the hills, or down by the sea, or wherever else you will. You will find the same thought in Plato, where he speaks of living within the city walls 'as though milking his flocks in a mountain sheepfold.' (Book Ten, 23)

One thing hastens into being, another hastens out of it. Even while a thing is in the act of coming into existence, some part of it has already ceased to be. Flux and change are for ever renewing the fabric of the universe, just as the ceaseless sweep of time is for ever renewing the face of eternity. In such a running river, where there is no firm foothold, what is there for a man to value among all the many things that are racing past him? It would be like setting the affections on some sparrow flitting by, which in the selfsame moment is lost to sight. A man's life is no more than an inhalation of the air and an exhalation from the blood; and there no true difference between drawing in a single breath, only to emit it again, as we do every instant, and receiving the power to breath at all, as you did yesterday at your birth, only to yield it back one day to the source from which you drew it. (Book Six, 15)

classic

2008-10-06T14:14:00.001-07:00

Race Report: Portland Marathon 5 Miler

2008-10-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect morning for running your guts out. In preparation for Clearwater I am doing a lot of speed work, which includes some shorter road races. My goals today were, first, to go under 30min. This I did not accomplish. Second, Finish top 5 in my age group. This I did. Third, and most importantly, go hard, push the limit. Achieved.

I knew this was not going to be my fastest day, after riding for three hours the day before, but I still felt like I had enough to go sub 6min pace. I was on this pace until about 300 meters from the finish. That is when I started to feel the heave reflex trigger. I knew the last minute was going to be painful, heaving every 10 or 15 steps. I was on the rivet the whole time, but luckily I did not barf. As those of you know who have done any run from downtown PDX, we had to run up the Front Street hill to Broadway. This is stupid and although it does create some separation, it does not make for a fun run. So here are the stats.

Total time - 30:17
Age Group - 2/49
Overall - 13/1239

comedy

2008-09-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

At this point I believe it is safe to say they are one of the greatest comedic teams of all time. Seriously.

turning

2008-09-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up to the news that Paul Newman had lost his battle with cancer. I will not postulate now on his importance in American Cinema and thusly his importance to American Culture and America itself, but instead, as is my want, I will leave you with some dialog from what is undoubtedly my favorite Newman movie.

from Cool Hand Luke

Luke: I can eat fifty eggs.
Dragline: Nobody can eat fifty eggs.
Society Red: You just said he could eat anything.
Dragline: Did you ever eat fifty eggs?
Luke: Nobody ever eat fifty eggs.
Prisoner: Hey, Babalugats. We got a bet here.
Dragline: My boy says he can eat fifty eggs, he can eat fifty eggs.
Loudmouth Steve: Yeah, but in how long?
Luke: A hour.
Society Red: Well, I believe I'll take part of that wager.

chrysalis

2008-09-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have been plugging away at Thomas Wolfe's You Can't Go Home Again for some time now. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and can't believe I put off this task for as long as I have. I was reading last night and came across something that struck me. Below is an excerpt from the afore mentioned book, judge it as you will.

The leaders of the nation had fixed their gaze so long upon the illusions of a false prosperity that they had forgotten what America looked like. Now they saw it--saw its newness, its raw crudeness, and its strength--and turned their shuddering eyes away. "Give us back our well-worn husks," they said, "where we were so snug and comfortable." And then they tried word magic. "Conditions are fundamentally sound," the said--by which they meant to assure themselves that nothing now was really changed, that things were as they always had been, and as they always would be, forever and ever, amen.

But they were wrong. They did not know that you can't go home again. America had come to the end of something, and to the beginning of something else. But no one knew what that something else would be, and out of the change and the uncertainty and the wrongness of the leaders grew fear and desperation, and before long hunger stalked the streets. Through it all there was only one certainty, though no one saw it yet. America was still America, and whatever new thing came of it would be American.

Originally published in 1934, five years after the stock market crash of 1929.

Carrie and Daniel

2008-09-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

September 14th was Carrie and Daniel's Wedding. It was a wonderful affair. I could tell it met all there expectations as the smiles on their faces could not be contained. It was simple, intimate and elegant. I was asked to read a short selection during the ceremony. It was nice to be included on this auspicious day. The words, an interpretation of some Hindu text, were clear and poignant. Dan is like a brother to me. In another post I believe I called him, confidant par excellence.

Which is why I should not have been surprised when I was cajoled into providing a toast during dinner, but surprised I was. His own brother had said some heartfelt words, a smattering of others had said added theirs, when both Daniel and his mother, Joy, began to give me a look signifying it was my turn. I was ill prepared. I had consumed my share of beer (a treat rarely afforded). I spoke during the service. I thought I was off the hook.

This was not the case.

Those who know me will say I never refuse the opportunity to provide my dissertation to groups large and small. I have relished it. I have pontificated on topics rare and common, great and base. I have built a reputation on being able to do so at moments notice. However, at that moment and in that climate, I was, for lack of a better word, speechless. It may have been a combination of many things, but I will say I was wrought with emotion. Few things compare with seeing your best friend with his bride on their wedding day. It makes us see how far we come, but at the same time illuminates the possibilities in front of us.

My toast was passable, but not memorable for any reason. I rambled into some of the traps invariably lining the path of these unprepared speeches but quickly evaded their most perilous snares. Those moments where great impact can be made are uncommon and without the possibility to recreated. Thanks to miracle of science, the internet provides us the opportunity to make amends. So, raise your glasses....A Toast for Carrie and Daniel.

On this day we come together, family and friends of Carrie and Dan to celebrate the commitment of their relationship, to send them on their way as their lives together begin anew. I think, like all great relationships, Carrie and Daniel provide a balance for each other that allows them to move forward with quiet and full hearts, with a sense of true love.

To the bride and groom, as they begin their lives in union. Let them have, as Denise Levertov says in her poem First Love

that endless giving and receiving, the wholeness
of that attention,
that once-in-a-lifetime
secret communion.

To Carrie and Daniel

Ironman Canada 2008 Video

2008-08-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law, Patrick, never ceases to amaze me. His humor is impecibly timed and his thoughtfulness even more so. He put together a video of IMC weekend and I can't thank him enough. It is totally sweet...Check it.

3 Hours Until Game Time. Go Huskies!

2008-08-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Where in the hell did the summer go? Husky game day is upon us, and the mighty Huskies travel South to Eugene for another installment of our most bitter rivalry. This season kind of snuck up on me and although I have been reading the blogs and charting Jake Locker's progress, I can't help but think this year went by quickly. I probably would have written a more in depth and unresearched analysis of this addition of Husky Football, but I have been a little preoccupied. So, instead I will go over a few things on my mind.

1. By every account this year is Ty's make or break year. Win and he keeps his job, loose and we are again looking for another coach. So let me go on the record now. I am officially in favor of Ty as Husky Coach and Moral Steward for this year and next. I know this is an unpopular sentiment. In the must win now climate of sports, it is unpopular when you don't. However, there are many factors why he should stay, and should be around next year as well. First, recruiting is already being hurt by the limbo this program finds itself in, again. Second, we don't even have an AD to hire a new coach. Third, when we do get a new AD, he/she must focus all his/her capable energy on getting the renovation done on Husky Stadium. This will be no small task and I don't want the person in position worrying about hiring a coach when they should be camping out on the steps of the capital in Olympia until they get the appropriate funding to make the stadium first class and safe. Keep Ty around, let him recruit another class, build some stability, get a new stadium, and then see what happens. He may end up winning some games. Let's not put the cart before the proverbial horse.

2. Hire an f'n AD already. Seattle is one of the most desirable places to live in the country if not the world. All the magazines and my friend Joe swear on it. (Although I have chosen pdx as a residence I spent some great years in the Emerald City.) The University of Washington is one the premier public universities in the country, with class and tradition paralleling any other. The alumni want to win, and win now, the pressure on Ty and the firing (or whatever you want to call it) of Todd Turner, proves it. This could be one of the great jobs in the country, and was once. Let's make is so again. Hire someone who can build us a stadium by bending the legislature to their will.

3. Jake Locker. Can you overcome all the obstacles, all the pressure, to be superhuman? To save this once proud program? To bring winning ways back to Montlake? Can you win so many games so as to save your coach's job? So many games to get the state and our alumni to build us a new stadium? Can you stay healthy while getting the crap kicked out of you every game? Will you wear that target on your back with pride and run like it means your life? Tonight you get Oregon, our most hated rival, your journey begins in Eugene. Godspeed young Jake for much depends on you.

What the Watch Says

2008-08-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through my watch data from the race and I thought it might be interesting to post the data. Raw numbers speak to people.

Total Time: 10:34:26
In Zone (Set as 120-160): 9:24:04
Avg. HR: 148
Peak HR: 187
Min. HR: 80
Total Calories Burned: 8523

I hit the lap button 5 times.

1. 1:05:58 HR: 155 (Pretty accurate swim.)
2. 0:03:59 HR: 151 (T1)
3. 5:38:08 HR: 145 (Bike)
4. 0:00:35 HR: 143 (T2, I didn't hit the button until I was leaving transition.)
5. 3:45:44 HR: 151

Race Report: Ironman Canada

2008-08-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

Ironman

Canada

Date: 8.24.08
Swim distance: 2.4 Miles
Bike distance: 112 Miles
Run distance: 26.2 Miles

As usual for race morning wake up time was early, revelry at 4am. I didn't get a lot of sleep the night before, probably four hours, but I felt rested from my taper and not overly nervous. I started my standard 700 Cal of Endurox for breakfast. (Again, I must ask the powers to be that if possible I would like fruit punch to come back as an Endurox flavor. I never liked orange that much to start with and am now certainly sick of it.) My family was quickly roused from slumber and the excitement was palpable. It seemed they were more nervous than myself, everyone had their concerns, none were the same. I just wanted to survive.

I arrived at transition around 450a. I didn't really warm up. I tried as best I could to prepare for the day. I rechecked my transition bags, I made sure my helmet was appropriately adjusted, etc. I felt surprisingly calm. The night before I had the usual apprehension associated with the swim start, like getting trampled in the water or punched in the kidney, but by the time I showed up at the race site my stomach was without excessive butterflies.

I had heard the horror stories about Ironman swim starts, so I did my best to find space where I would have clean path to the buoy line. I started on the left, but not all the way to the left. I found some space where I knew I would be able to get some open water before things got cramped. I really felt like I built into this swim. I started out pretty conservatively, but picked up the pace at every buoy. It was pretty difficult finding anyone that wanted to swim at my pace. The trouble is that to draft they really have to be slightly faster than you so that the draft will carry you. Basically, I would spend sometime drafting and then when I felt the energy build back into my arms I would surge past to find another set of feet to cling on to. I felt good the whole time. All the problems I anticipated, but I have the feeling that this was a fairly calm swim start. I didn’t get mauled or punched….so I have that going for me.

Swim Time/place/AG place: 1:05:59/379/62

T1 went smoothly. I was pretty calm. Since the swim went well, I wasn’t overly concerned about getting on the bike. I probably could have been slightly faster, but I felt prepared. I spent considerable time in the morning figuring out exactly where my bags were and where I needed to go next. I put on my shoes in the tent, but then had to run like a half mile to get to my bike. In retrospect I probably should have waited to put them on when I got to the rack. This probably would have been faster.

T1: 3:16

It was pretty exciting leaving town on the bike, hearing people shout your name. I can see how you could get carried away, but the task at hand forced me to keep things under control. There were 112 miles ahead.

There were times where it felt like I was expending too much energy, especially on the flats. I felt good on the hills. Scott had given me a pretty good description of Richter Pass and am glad he did. It really allowed me to pace the climb much better than I would have otherwise. In fact, the hills were probably the best times of the ride. I was certainly prepared for them. The hardest time, without a doubt was the time between Richter Pass and Yellow Lake. The rollers were not easy and since we had a head wind going down to Osoyoos I felt like we should have had a tail wind the other way. Not the case and it totally screwed with my head.

I stuck to my fueling strategy well. The only caveat being that it took a little longer to get to special needs than I expected. This meant I needed to supplement my calorie intake with gels. Although I don’t know if it ultimately hurt me I would have preferred to have my bottles. When I got back to town I still had about ¾ of a bottle left. (I later spilt this all over myself when I went back to pick up my bike.) The bike was tough, and probably harder than I expected it to be. The downhill back to 97 and into town was much needed as my legs were becoming unwilling to pedal.

Bike Time/place/AG place: 5:37:25/322/52

I was pretty damn glad to get off the bike. My legs were tired and felt at this time the run would be a much needed change. I didn't know someone had ordered up some wind. I wish they wouldn't have done that.

T2: 2:01

It was pretty hard to keep things under control at the start of the run. The 8:00/mile cap was nice, but there weren’t any mile markers going out until mile three and by that time I had already been running 7:30 pace. Pacing was fine after my initial three miles until we got into the head wind about mile 7 or 8. This is where things really started to unravel for me. The headwind was strong and I should have slackened my pace and save my remaining energy for the way home, but I felt like if the wind would keep up it would just blow me home. Of course, the wind softened and the help I had counted on was non existent. By mile 20 there was some pretty good pain in my legs, but I knew I was going to finish in pretty good time and the adrenaline certainly carried me to the finish.

There were points when things started to get a little fuzzy, especially on the bike, but a quick sip and I was right back on track. Between mile 8 on the run and mile 15 I started to have some doubts about my ability to gut it out. The head wind sucked and really took a lot out of me. About mile 15 I felt some strength come back into my legs and this is when I knew I was going to cross the line. I was pretty tough the whole way on the run, and I had to walk a couple aid stations, but they were short walks.

Run Time/place/AG place: 3:45:42/182/29

For my first Ironman I can say I am pretty happy with the outcome. I remember my first Half Iron, I remember it being so tremendously hard, but have learned to understand that distance and what my body is capable of doing. (Although I still think my best races at that distance are ahead of me as well.) Right now my legs are sore, my mind is still a little exhausted, but I know I can improve on this performance. Most importantly however, I am proud to have this race under my belt and am looking forward to IMCDA in June.

Finish Time/place/AG place: 10:34:23/182/29

I want to thank a lot of people:

My family for their support and encouragement even when they don't understand what I am doing or why I would do it. On race day their voices carried me to the finish.

Scott McMillan for his guidance. I couldn't have done it without him. (If you write it down, it will happen. Right Scott!)

All of my Ironheads teammates. Aleck and Jason for those long rides. Everyone on the course on race day. This team is awesome and I am proud to be a part.

Dan for being a friend and confidant par excellence. You made the drive to Penticton with me last year and were here with me in spirit this year.

Finally, Thank you Dacia, you are my inspiration. I couldn't do it without you. I love you.

Under 24 Hours

2008-08-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting around, watching the US Women's Basketball game and it struck me...tomorrow at this time I will be done with the Swim and on my way to Osoyoos on the bike. Nerves quickly settled in, but I am doing my best to keep everything in front of me, control what I can control. Tomorrow I will finish with a smile and the sense of satisfaction that only comes from crossing that line.

One Week Out

2008-08-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

Right now it is Sunday evening.

One week from today is Ironman Canada.

Today I had a nice open water swim at Hagg Lake and a good run at Hillsboro Stadium during the Hulaman Triathlon. (Congrats Aleck on another win!) Today was interesting. As race day gets closer very few thoughts, other than those pertaining to the race, are able to creep into my head. Today was not an exception.

In the water this morning I felt smooth and strong, my time suggested that I was, and as I swam my normal course in the lake I spent the whole time envisioning that same swim in Penticton on race morning. The same while running, as the day gets closer every workout, long or short, will be an exercise in race prep. This is not just the taper every endurance athlete goes through as they approach their priority races, but also the honing of an athlete's mental endurance as well. For me, and especially for this race, this means eliminating the distractions, which can be many, and calming the nerves, which can be tumultuous.

Not Enough Time and Too Much Dehydration

2008-08-04T20:52:00.001-07:00

This weekend went by too quickly. It is hard to say were it went. Too much went on and there was certainly not enough down time. C'est la vie!

I received my new frame. Scott Plasma Pro. I can't thank Athlete's Lounge enough for the work the did getting me on a new frame so quickly. They are the best shop around. Period.
My first real ride will be tomorrow. Should be interesting to say the least. After I got it, I spun for 45 mins. or so. The fit was ok, but may take some getting used to. I don't really want to f around too much. IM Canada is 20 days from today.

I spent most of the day hanging out at the shop waiting for my bike to be rebuilt. Thus, I didn't get in a complete five hours of riding that day as scheduled. Scott told me not to worry, but I can't help thinking that it may come back to haunt me.

This weekend was also the Mid-Summer Triathlon at Blue Lake. I didn't race but many friends and teammates did. My legs weren't really up for racing, and in the long run I am glad I didn't, but it is hard to watch your friends in the race closest to your house! A special congrats goes out to Ironheads Aleck and Grant for winning the Sprint and Olympic respectively.

After, I took a nap. Watching triathlon is hard work. I had a 2.5 hour run scheduled so after rousing I strapped on my shoes and headed from my house to the University of Portland. When I left it was cool and overcast. Half way though it was the opposite -- Sunny and Hot. I was totally dehydrated by the time I got home. I just wasn't as prepared as I usually am. Here is the route I took.
&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/or/portland/690551301"&amp;gt;Portland 20.25&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/or/portland"&amp;gt;Find more Runs in Portland, Oregon&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

That is about it. It was a good weekend.

Deschutes Dash 2008 Video Four

2008-08-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

Deschutes Dash 2008 Video Three

2008-07-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Deschutes Dash 2008 Video Two

2008-07-30T16:47:00.001-07:00

Deschutes Dash 2008 Video One

2008-07-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Patrick took a couple short videos at the Deschutes Dash a couple weekends ago. Here is the first in the series.

A Crack in the Foundation

2008-07-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning, after my race, I notice a crack in my bike frame around the seat post collar. Today I stopped by my local felt dealer, Veloce Bicycles, to hear my options. So far things sound somewhat promising, but you never can tell how these things are going to work out. Stay tuned for more updates. This should be interesting.

Race Report: Deschutes Dash Olympic

2008-07-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Deschutes Dash Olympic Triathlon

Date: July 19, 2008
Swim distance: 1.5k
Bike distance: 25mi
Run distance: 10k

Wake Up time for this race came at 545a; not bad. I got a good night sleep, for the most part, considering it wasn't my own bed. As soon as I woke, brushed my teeth and took care of some other necessary morning duties, I started to ingest my standard 600 Calories of Endurox. I have recently switched to Tangy Orange flavor due to the limited availability of fruit punch. I would prefer fruit punch. Dacia and I arrived at Race at 630a, parked and proceeded to get set up.

At some point after arriving the race director made an announcement that we had all parked in a fire lane and would be towed. This incited a mad dash of spandex and lycra clad athletes to road to move their vehicles. Classic. My Pre race Warm-Up included a 15min run about an hour before the scheduled race start. I was not nervous. I felt really calm, maybe too calm. I spent the morning joking around with Aleck and Jake.

The swim took place in the Deschutes River. We had to walk about a 1/2 mile up stream for the start. It was cold but like Boise I went for the double cap. This was a good idea. I started the swim at the front of the pack, but since it was a down current swim a couple people thought that meant they needed to go out hard. In the process they went over the top of me. The current also led to some strange pacing. The current just pulled me along, but it also messed with my form. I wasn't always sure how fast I was swimming. I was in open water the whole time after getting out of the pack. There were a few people in my wave who were certainly faster than me; behind me by 15-20 yds was the next person. Sighting was very important. The river is curvy and to stay on track in the middle of the river I had to sight constantly. That was the basis for some form problems. I think that if you swam the section more frequently you would be able to keep your head down more consistently. That was not my case.

Swim Time/place/AG place: 15:29/14^th/2nd

On the bike I went out hard as my coach, Scott, suggested. The course was pretty flat until about the six mile mark then things took a steep turn up. I pushed it up the hill, but it was tough. I saw 10 mph at one point in the climb. I can’t remember a time when I saw a race speed so slow. Heart rate was low coming back into town. It was downhill the entire way into T2. The second half of the course was screaming fast. Averaged, that's right, averaged over 30 mph coming back to T2. For all the pain going up, it was fun coming back down.

Bike Time/place/AG place: 1:10:18/6^th/1st

I Cramped a little putting my shoes on in T2. That pretty much sucks and I lost a couple seconds in the process. I will continue to practice this in all my spare time.

On the run I went out smooth as usual to get my legs under me. The legs felt good and strong. It was a two lap run course. The first lap was hectic. That is the best way to describe it. This run was kind of xterra-ish. Dirt Trails. Under a bridge on a 10inch wide path. Across some soft grass. The second lap I knew what I was in for and pushed it. I can’t say for certain, but I am pretty sure I negative split the second lap. I felt strong the whole run. My legs felt good, strong even. My lungs on the other hand burned the whole time. The altitude stung.

Run Time/place/AG place: 37:18/5^th/1st

I felt pretty positive throughout the race. There were some fleeting moments before reaching the apex of the bike climb where my legs burnt and my head was not clear. Luckily the turnaround appeared and down the hill I went.

Finish Time/place/AG place: 2:05:29/6^th/1st

In general I am pretty happy about this weekend. I won my age group. What is not to like about that.

A Weekend of Bend, OR

2008-07-20T19:57:00.001-07:00

This weekend we traveled to Bend, OR for the Deschutes Dash Olympic Triathlon. It was a great weekend, I had a great race and will post a full report sometime in the next couple days. One particularly bad coda to this overture is that I have crack in my frame around the seat post collar - probably not under warranty but I will visit my local Felt dealer to confirm the bad news. Here are the details from the race.

Time: 2:05:29
Age Group: 1st
Overall: 6th

Tour de France Commerical

2008-07-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

Classic. Let's hope this bears some truth.

Tour de France - Brand New Start

Reading Rejuvenation

2008-07-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Those that have known me for very long know about my passion for reading. Books. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't have at least one book going. It started at an early age and continues today. But...as with most things a person can find important there exists the possibility for drudgery. Staleness. The feeling of slogging through without purpose. For the past couple months this has been the case with me and my reading career. I was not inspired in my reading. It has happened before, but rarely for longer than a couple weeks. I didn't like anything on the shelf, bookstores were filled with either books I didn't want to read or already had.

I decided to reread Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. Say what you will about Hemingway, I will always love him. He was the first author who truly inspired me. In my most impressionable youth he had the ability to instill radical thoughts in my head and taught me the power of sentence simplicity. (Although, I feel I continue to develop my own style, one far from Hemingway's, there is at times shades of his diction in my own.) He has always occupied a special place in my own cannon and A Farewell to Arms was always near the top of every list I have ever made. There is romance, wonder, pain, and finally tragedy all wrapped into one complete tale of chaos and emotion. It was the perfect book to rejuvenate that passion for books I had recently lost.

Buying books has always been ritualistic for me. Sometimes I know exactly what I want, other times not. The process always includes a quiet meander through the fiction section usually starting somewhere in the middle of the alphabet, progressing to the end, looping back to A to finish where I had started. I rarely collect books along the way, but usually retrace my steps to pick up around three titles and head to the register.

This time, in the effort to get back to basics I went to the Barnes and Noble in Vancouver, WA. Although it is hard to calculate but this store, my home town bookstore, is amongst those I count as being the greatest recipients of my hard earned dollars. It was a great day when Vancouver had a bookstore that carried more than romance novels and dime store westerns. I bought all the books I could for my Senior AP English Class there and after college worked there for about six months. I discovered Bowles, Maughm, Greene, McCarthy, and O'Brien on its shelves. There are other stores worth mentioning, but few hold a more symbolic place in my consciousness. Included amongst these are:

Powell's City of Books
Brookine Booksmith
Harvard Bookstore
University Bookstore

I digress down reading memory lane. In this trip I picked up the following:

The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett
Barbary Shore, Norman Mailer
You Can't Go Home Again, Thomas Wolfe

Half way through The Maltese Falcon I can say I am back. Reading again is a joy and just in time. As training gets harder and lines of reality begin to blur. As time becomes a premium and is sucked into the vortex of swim, bike, run; carving out that little bit of time to ingest a few lines of prose will prove invaluable.

Required Reading

2008-07-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Read this now!

Weekend of Great Training

2008-06-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I have every had a more successful weekend of training. I have had good weekends. I have even had great weekends of training, but rarely are they fun. Triathlon, with all its rewards, is often a lonely pursuit. We train hard, spending long hours on hot blacktop, usually by ourselves. Sure there are group rides and group runs, but I have never been inclined to participate in that kind of activity. Usually there are too many variables.

This weekend, however, things changed. Myself and two other guys put ourselves to the test this weekend. It was a great weekend...90 mile bike w/ 5000 feet of climbing and 30 minute transition run after on Saturday. One hour open water swim and 2 hour 20 minute run on Sunday. On top of everything it was fun. My spirits are high, my legs tired but strong...let the build toward IM Canada continue.

Ironman Coeur d' Alene Registration Weekend

2008-06-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

I spent this last weekend in beautiful Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. It had been a very long time since I had been to North Idaho, but I had remembered it as being a wonderful place, and it did not disappoint. We arrived late on Friday evening and spent the night in the public parking lot, in a camper, next to the deluxe Coeur d' Alene hotel. Our plan was to get up early to ride the course. I don't normally ride at 630a, but at that hour it was somewhat peaceful. I couldn't help but think about the contrast between the quietness of that morning and the excitement of the next. There is nothing like an Ironman morning. The tension is palpable. Nervous competitors, nervous family, the eschaton of race morning.

I went with a couple friends to register for next year, neither of which had seen an Ironman live. The day was perfect the weather couldn't have been better. We ran from our campground to the race start, watched the swimmers start their day, and then got in a 17 mile run while they went out on the bike. It was one of the most fun runs I have had in a long time we ran the Run course out past the turnaround. This train parallels the Bike course so we were able to see the everyone at the beginning of their ride. It was a lot of fun. The day went about like they all do. There is the excitement of the pro finish, family and friends waiting in nervous anticipation for their loved ones to return from a loop, then the long wait until midnight as racers stream across the finish line. It is a day that never fails to inspire.

This day, at this point, two months from Ironman Canada, was exactly what I needed. When you have to register for a race one year in advance you can loose perspective, maybe motivation. Although I wasn't in depths of misunderstanding, I can say this weekend reminded me what these races are all about. The next two months are going to be hard, but the second I cross that finish line it will all be worth it.

We got up on Monday, got a cup of coffee and went down to the finish line area to stand in line to register for next year's race. This is the second time I have done this, the last being in Penticton last year. It is a wonderful mix of racers from the day before carrying their finishers swag, workers breaking down the Ironman production and eager future competitors. I can't wait until next year.

Congrats to all the Ironheads who competed. It was great day for all.

2009 Scott Plasma

2008-06-24T12:36:00.001-07:00

Nice bike. Interview by Jay Prasuhn.

Race Report: Blue Lake Olympic

2008-06-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Blue Lake Olympic Triathlon

Date: 6/16/2008
Swim distance: 1.5k
Bike distance: 40k
Run distance: 10k

So, I don't want to start out this report with excuses for my relative performance. I will say, now at the outset, I am please with my performance. I felt a little nervous at the beginning. I knew I was not going to have the legs for a great day, nonetheless it was a good day.

I started the swim right in the middle. This was probably my first mistake of the day. I should have started a lot closer to the front. I know I am not the fastest swimmer, but I am not the slowest either. I should have started closer to the front. I had to climb over several people to get into some open water. Pacing throughout was good, but possibly a little slow. I was able to get a good draft along the back stretch and after the second turn I pushed it around the guy I was drafting. Sighting wasn’t great, the turn buoys were the same color as all the others. This makes for some confusion. One guy, at the second to last buoy made the turn to home. I felt a little bad for him. Also, I have gotten a lot better at swimming straight. I know this sounds maybe insignificant, but swimming straight really helps. The quickest route between two points is that straight line.

Transition 1 was a little shaky. This was the first time I’ve had to take my own wetsuit off in a very long time. At Boise they had strippers (no, not those kind). So, I was a little nervous and it slowed me down. I didn’t have enough lube on ankles and the suit had a hard time coming off. I didn’t panic, but was slow.

I started off on the bike a little quick. I should have controlled myself a little better at the beginning. I did settle into a good pace, but my legs did not feel great. I pushed through it, but there was pain. The kind of pain were you know you are sacrificing some time on the run, but can’t help it. You still push through it. At the end, I pushed ahead of a couple people I was behind the whole time. I knew I wouldn’t see them on the run, but I didn’t know how many people I was going to be able to catch off the bike.

Transition 2 was not better than T1. I couldn’t get my shoes on. It slowed me down considerably. The preset laces were too tight, my feet were a little numb, the combination was problematic.

I really controlled my pace at the beginning of the run. I wanted to run fast, but I knew my legs were not going to be able to kick the whole time. I wanted to save what I had in the tank for the final miles. As bad as my legs hurt I did negative split the final 3 miles. Final mile was 5:45, best mile of the day. However, that was not good enough. I didn’t however, get passed once. For me this is a good measure of my run strength.

As I mentioned this was not the best day I have ever had. My bike was not the best. I just didn’t feel like I had the power I needed or can have on a good day. Because my bike was such a struggle mentally and physically, my run suffered. This is usually my greatest strength, but not today. However, I did learn some things in this race. I need to practice taking my wetsuit off. I need some new laces for my shoes to make the transitions better. I also learned that some days you just aren’t going to have it. The day was good, I don’t have a lot of complaints about my performance, but not great.

Time: 2:09:10
Overall: 21st
Age Group: 4th

Boise 70.3 Swim Start

2008-06-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

Race Report: Ironman 70.3 Boise

2008-06-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

Ironman 70.3 Boise

June 1, 2008
Swim distance: 1.2 Miles
Bike distance: 56 Miles
Run distance: 13.1 miles.

Dacia and I drove to Boise early the Thursday before the race. I went on a short run after settling into The Modern Hotel, and found my heart rate about 6-8 beats higher than it should have been. This was my first experience racing at an altitude totally dissimilar to the one I train in. I was kind of concerned I would not acclimate well enough. By race day however, I felt better about things, and during the race heart rate numbers read pretty similar to what I had expected.

I had a good sleep the night before. The last time I saw the clock it was 10pm-ish, maybe earlier. Not bad for a pre-race sleep and its accompanying nerves. I was not overly nervous race morning. I knew the water was going to be cold, but I was prepared. I swam the two previous days and it helped knowing what to expect when that water started to seep in though the wet suit zipper. It was windy, but couldn’t control it. Everyone had to deal with the wind and its offspring -- Choppy Lake Waves. We were in this together, all 1000 of us. I could tell most everyone was nervous about the swim and I knew I felt better than most. I had two goals going into this race:

1. Race under 4:45.
2. Get a slot to Clearwater.

Scott, my coach, wrote a very deliberate race plan. This gave me a lot of confidence through race weekend. Every night before bed I read it over. I didn't want to have to guess about things on race day. I needed the information at hand.

In the swim I started in the middle towards the front. Pacing went well. I felt pretty consistent through the entire swim. I knew everyone was going to struggle based on the conditions. I have had experience with bad swim conditions in the past. Timberman 70.3 two years ago was not as cold, but certainly bigger waves. Rain pouring down. Generally miserable. There is nothing like looking up at 2.5 foot swells on a lake. That was not the case at beautiful Lucky Peak Reservoir. (No joke, it was beautiful. I will post some good race morning pictures Dacia took.)

Based on swims I did the previous two days I was able to sight based on hill landmarks and trees, not the ever invisible buoys. It was cold. That slowed everyone I am sure. We didn’t really get a chance to warm up, so I started pretty slow and didn't really warm up until the first turn. I came out of the water in 35:32, which was slower than I had anticipated, but based on the other times it seemed the cold slowed everyone.

Per the plan I went out slow and controlled I knew I had a long race ahead of me and didn’t want to burn things up. Christian, a fellow Ironhead, flew past me at about 100 mph, and I resisted the chance to chase. I hoped to see him later on the run. I tried to keep pretty constant the whole race. I wanted to make sure I had enough for the run. That was key. There was a period between mile 35 and 45 where there were a lot of false flats with head winds. Aleck, another Ironhead blew by me, and said how hard I was to catch. I was thinking that if I was so hard to catch we wouldn't have made up the 10 minute difference in our start times! (Aleck had a great race. Congrats!) I started to feel my legs weaken from the headwinds, not Aleck's sass, but didn’t let up. After mile 45 conditions became more favorable, Aleck was no longer in sight, and knew I wasn’t going to catch him. It was downhill from mile 50 all the way in to T2. I ended the bike 2:34:23. This is massive improvement for me, but I know I have more to give.

On the run I tried to keep things above 7 minute miles for the first two like my plan suggested, but they ended up being 6:34, 6:38. I felt like I would be able to hold his pace throughout, but slowed down to 7:00 for the next 3 miles. I wanted to be able to kick at the end. Pacing for rest of run? Mile 5 I started to pick things up and at the turn around starting the second lap I dusted the guy I had been pacing. I wanted to hold this pace until mile 8, but at mile 7 something said go and I went. I finally caught Christian around mile 9, I think. Mile markers were inconsistent at best so it was pretty hard to get actual pace times. I got back to running around 6:35. Then things went kind of bust. It wasn’t a full on bonk, most everything felt good, but I wasn’t able to give that kick I had expected. I finally settled in at a comfortable 7 minute pace. I wanted to go under 1:30, probably would have if it weren’t for the last tenth of a mile! In retrospect, I should have waited until mile 8 to push it. That would have been better. I would have had the power to give it a better go at the end. However, 1:30:20, is a good day.

I felt positive the whole day. Much of it had to do with my plan going in. Even before the swim, during that nervous time before the gun, I felt good. Only once did, “Why in the hell do I do this?”, cross my mind and it was fleeting. I was pretty happy with the whole day, but I can’t say I am satisfied. That kind of improvement is something to be proud of, but I know I have more speed in my legs, both on the bike and in the run. I would have liked to get that automatic qualifying spot to Clearwater, but sub 4:31 was not in the cards on this day. At least I got it in the roll down. I am glad to be going. I ended the day 4:44:30, 8th in my age group, 33rd amateur.

Boise was a great host and the race, for being in its first year, was very well organized. The only major complaint was the parking situation at the swim. It was pretty hard for spectators to make it up there. Dacia had to wait in a parking lot for 1.5 hours before they would let her drive back to T2 in downtown Boise. The finish line was great and thanks to all the Ironheads both racing and not for the support. Most importantly, thanks to Dacia, I couldn't do this without her.

One Week Until Boise 70.3

2008-05-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

It is one week until my first "A" race of the year. I feel good about a lot of things, not great about some others. I am not going to dwell on those things I cannot control. My legs have started to feel pretty good and snappy. I had a massage yesterday, and as with most massages I felt like I had been pulled through a knot hole when I woke up this morning. Today was really my last day of big workouts. (4000yd swim, 2.75 Hour Bike, 30 Minute Transition Run) I have a longer run tomorrow, should be smooth as silk. Everything is downhill from here.

Race Report: Hawthorn Farm Sprint

2008-05-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

Date: May 3, 2008
Swim distance: 500yds (Pool Swim)
Bike distance: 13.2 Miles
Run distance: 3.1 Miles

Result
Swim Time/place: 7:14/15^th
T1: 0:49
Bike Time/place: 34:10/7^th
T2: 0:35
Run Time/place: 18:17/1^st
Finish Time/place/AG place: 1:01:07/5^th/3^rd

I was not overly nervous for this race. However, I haven’t raced since Lake Stevens last year, so I had a little trepidation about the transitions. Not something I practice very often, if ever. I felt pretty calm throughout, but a little pissed about the swim start stuff. I will get into it later.

Well. I was obviously seated in the wrong swim group which made for several interesting situations and affected my psyche the whole race. I lapped everyone in my lane twice. This was no easy task and certainly slowed me down several times. At one point I was even breast stroking because I had no where to go. I believe I probably lost as much :45 to a 1:00 minute in the pool due to this. Also, I was not really racing with my actual competitors. Much of the race I was wondering where everyone else was. I was finishing as everyone else was getting off the bike. I never saw anyone.

I did, however, feel strong in the pool. If it weren’t for the pacing and obstruction problems I know I could have gone considerably faster. A 6:30ish swim. That makes me happy.

Pacing on the bike was ok. I didn’t feel like I had a ton of strength in my legs and my time indicated it. I was pretty consistent and the one hill, although I slowed more than I wanted, wasn’t as challenging as I expected. Plus, I was able to scream coming down the back side.

I love T2. For some reason it always gives me a charge to get off the bike and start running.

I have in the past gone out too hard on the run and had difficulty maintaining my pace. I started to in this race as well, but was able to dial it back a bit and get things under control fairly soon.

Pacing for rest of run? As I previously discussed with my coach, Scott, I went hard. I knew I had a good run in me, but wasn’t sure how good until I got my feet under me. By the time I got to the first turn around I began to see some people I started the swim with, but they were some distance back. By the second turn around they were even further and this made me push it even more. I wanted to leave no chance of anyone catching me from behind even though at that point I thought it unlikely. The last quarter mile or so I did ease up just a little but still had some gas in the tank to give. In retrospect this was a bad idea. I should have pushed it.

It was a little strange not seeing anyone I was actually competing against until after I had finished and ate a banana. Then to see four of them surpass my time made me start analyzing where and how I could have gone faster. Frankly, I was a little distracted by not seeing anyone.

I felt positive throughout the race, even when I felt a little dry heave at the beginning of the run. I knew it would pass and wasn’t nutrition oriented, but mostly pace related.

I am pretty happy with the result, but know I could have gone faster. Certainly the swim was one place where I feel I lost considerable time, but most of that was out of my control. I also know I left a few seconds out there on the run as well. Mostly, however, I know I need to get faster on the bike without sacrificing my run speed. That is, I believe the real challenge ahead of me. When I look at the times ahead of me the major discrepancy was on the bike splits. So….There you have it.

Also, my brother-in-law took a short video of me finishing. Enjoy.

For more on IMAZ

2008-04-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Dave posted another response to IMNA and their prevailing attitude at IMAZ. Click the link to read.

Tri Odyssey

The Madness is Over

2008-04-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Where do I start? The past days have been a little nuts. I hope to cover everything that has happened, but it may take a couple posts.

First. My sister, Elizabeth, got married this weekend. Congratulations to her and Patrick. I can say this entire process from the beginning to the end has made me nervous. The planning and execution of this wedding has been well outside my limited comfort zone. There was seeming chaos laden in the preparation for this event. However, I can say, that my sister pulled it all off with grace. Everyone in attendance could not resist saying this was one of the best weddings they had ever attended. None of this, and mean that as sincerely as possible, could have occurred without the tremendous support of my parents.

As a surprise for my father, Liz and Patrick had there first dance to a song my grandparents recorded over 50 years ago. With the recent passing of my grandfather, he was obviously at the forefront in everyone's thoughts throughout. This was a touching tribute to two people, my grandparents, whom meant so much to us. I will post some selected pictures later, but she looked lovely.

Second. Throughout this weekend I trained my ass off. It was difficult to fit it all in, but I did it. I really put in some good time. The highlight for me was an interval ride on Sunday after brunch. It took all I could muster to resist the delicious Mimosas being served in quantity, but it was well worth the restraint. The ride, 2.5 loops around Sauvie Island, was mainly intervals. The best part was SHORTS! I wore shorts, without tights, knee warmers or leg warmers for the first time this year.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/or/portland/4717818"&amp;gt;Sauvie Island Loop&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/united-states/or/portland"&amp;gt;Find more Bike Rides in Portland, Oregon&amp;lt;/a&amp;gtThird. Dan, my best friend, got engaged this weekend. Congratulations to both him and Carrie. I cannot wait for the big day. It will certainly be a highlight. This news has long been inevitable, but nonetheless it is exciting.

Fourth. This weekend was Ironman Arizona. I had many acquaintances racing. Although I don't know many of them well I have a lot of admiration for their capacity to endure this VERY difficult situation. The weather was Shitty, with a capital S. Many didn't finish, but before they encountered what would prove too much for many, one didn't even get to toe the line. For more, read Dave's Blog. Although, I can't publish the chain of email that ensued on our team's list serve after this post, I can say they were passionate and numerous. In the world of endurance sports, few of them have as many complicated nuances associated with them than Ironman racing. Dave and Anne are tireless athletes and I feel for their situation. The only point of clarification I will add to Dave's post is that he clarified, in an email, his position that all Age Group athlete deserve the same respect as the pros. Thanks Dave, for your continued passion as an athlete.

That's all for now.

Race Report: Race for the Roses

2008-04-06T18:18:00.005-07:00

Today was the Race for the Roses Half Marathon. The race went pretty well. I felt much more prepared than I did for Shamrock Run a couple weeks ago. Below are the stats.

Place: 26/1909
Age Group: 6/105

Total Avg. HR: 166
Peak HR: 187

Two mile splits and heart rate numbers.

1. 12:46 162
2. 13:29 168
3. 12:40 164
4. 12:45 166
5. 12:38 167
6. 13:11 166
Final 1.1 7:17 165

The second 2 mile split was uphill. As you can see I started to slow off my pace in the final segments.

My lungs felt strong the whole time, but the legs were tired from the get go. Yesterday's workouts were mentally draining for some reason. I am sure this had something to do with my tired legs today. I think I could have gone considerably faster in this race on a good taper. Someday, I know, I will break the 6:00 mile pace.

A New Non-Contributing Member of the Household

2008-03-30T08:34:00.004-07:00

Let me introduce Clover, I can't explain why I haven't before now. My only explanation is this. She thinks she is a debutante. Most young ladies of that world are introduced to society at a cotillion, making an entrance in full dress regalia down stairs of marble. It is an event riff with all the pomp and circumstance that befits their closed society.

Consider this post Clover's Ball. Right now she is alternately laying in my lap while I write and biting my chin when she feels the need. Her breath stinks. I can guarantee it. The picture above is her, after eating a hole in a paper grocery sack, and popping out of that hole. She has added a lot of joy to our humble abode, despite the lost sleep and smelly poo.

She is named after the horse in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Clover, the horse, is the engine that keep the farm running under a violent and irreverent totalitarian dictatorship. Clover, the cat, has none of those responsibilities. She lives not in the harsh world of totalitarian society, but more like a benevolent oligarchy, where she has nearly equal say in the daily household operations as Dacia or I. Such is the life of a cat.

Help Has Arrived

2008-03-29T21:19:00.005-07:00

It is true. Help has arrived in the form of a 50lbs of maltodextrin. Thanks the Honeyville Grain Company for shipping it to me for the low low price of $5.95. A couple weeks ago I wrote about my fueling woes during a specifically long day of training. After some discussion with my coach, Scott, about the most appropriate fueling strategy, we decided to start with some basic maltodextrin mixes.

All fifty pounds fit nicely in two five gallon buckets, plus one auxiliary container. I was concerned fifty pounds would be more than I could store, but that wasn't the case. As I have no experience with this, I don't know how long it is going to take to go through this much product, but I do know I have what feels like a lot.

Calories, Oh..Those Sweet Calories

2008-03-12T14:42:00.003-07:00

This past Saturday I had good training day.

Swim: 2700 Yards in 56:51
Bike: 67.87 Miles in 4:07:59
Run: 3.18 Miles in 25:38

Although I did not feel the strongest I could have on the bike. I think I may have learned more about myself and training than I have in a very, very long time. I learned that you have got to be diligent in consuming your calories, oh those sweet calories, when on a ride of that length. By the time I pulled up to the front door I could barely hold myself up. I was out of gas. I tank was empty and I was a mess. I know I didn't fuel appropriately before setting out and certainly didn't attempt to keep my calorie intake high while I was out either. After getting myself filled up on pasta and juice, doing a couple errands, and resting up, my legs felt springy and alive.

My run later made my day. I was frustrated my bike ride and needed a something to validate the work I had done that day. It is sometimes amazing how a short run can really make the day.

In light of all this new information, Scott, my coach, and I are beginning to dial in my nutrition strategies for both racing and training. This is always been a challenge for me and I am looking forward to seeing continued results. Starting this week I am going to start implementing all the new strategies Scott and I have worked on. I look forward to continued success, thus far Scott has not lead me astray. I have seen only improvements.

Are we really in the Pacific Northwest?

2008-02-27T20:21:00.003-08:00

So, no shit, the weather has been better here, in Portland, Oregon, than nearly anywhere in the country save Sunny San Diego. Today, when I left work, the temperature gage in my car read 63 degrees. SIXTY-THREE!!!!! IT'S FEBRUARY! The past three Saturdays have been great weather as well. Instead on spending those days on the trainer watching movies, I have been out there, actually outside. Most importantly, I have not been freezing my ass off. This makes training so much better. Today I wore shorts on my run. SHORTS!

In lieu of this, training has been going really well. I feel like the consistency I have been able to get has really allowed me to make some good strides, especially in the pool. As well, Scott, my coach has been invaluable. As of now...all things are good.

We also got a cat a couple weeks ago. I will post pics soon. Her name is Four-Leaf Clover or just Clover if you need something shorter.

Finally...some nice weather.

2008-01-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

It has been pretty cold here, in Portland, Oregon. It hasn't been cold, like Boston cold, but still in the 30's. People are freaking out. The people here think they are at the dawn of a new ice age, and its 37 degrees outside. It makes me remember the days when I would stand at the Brookline Village T stop at 4:45am to wait for that blasted train to pick me up for work. Those mornings the snot would freeze in my nose. I bought a giant down jacket, one more giant than the most giant you could think of. It wasn't enough. I still froze my ass off. Last winter we started talking about taking a winter tropical vacation. That dream comes to fruition Wednesday when we leave for Belize.

The basic outline of the trip goes like this:
1. Fly to Houston and connect to flight bound for Belize.
2. Arrive at Belize City airport.
3. Get picked up and driven to the jungle where will get to experience some magnificent Mayan ruins.
4. After 3 nights in the jungle we will travel to Ambergis Caye.
5. Enjoy the beach life for 5 nights. Snorkel. Yes please. Mai Tais. Yes.
6. Leave Paradise for Portland, Oregon.

Sounds good? You bet it will be. Upon our return it is going to time to get down to business triathlon. I hope to get in some big miles and some quality work next month. After the vacation it will be time to get at it. Yipee.

Portland, Oregon

2008-01-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

I have been sick the last couple of days. I have never been ill so many times in a one year period. Dating back to my run-in with strep throat after racing at Cascade Edge I have been sick at least 3 times including this year. I blame it mostly on my work. I am in constant contact with a plethora of people, all of them with their own set of plagues. Now I am sick again, not training, watching a lot of tv, interneting (I will take the liberty to call this new word a verb, infinitive form), and being glad I again live in the Pacific Northwest.

Last year at this time I was in Boston, freezing my ass off as I waited for the T to pick me up and take me to work. Those subarctic mornings seem to me a distant memory. Now I live in Portland = Paradise. If you don't believe: Portland.

I will be be better soon. I am going to train hard this week and through the next weekend. Then it will be off to Belize.

Empty Spaces

2008-01-13T12:47:00.002-08:00

My grandfather, Howard George Jasperson, died on the morning of December 26, 2007. He was a loving and caring man. He was man with a tremendously generous heart. He will be sorely missed.

The past two weeks have been rough emotionally, physically, and mentally. I have been exhausted by the contemplation of mortality. I was charged with the task of writing my grandfather's obituary and addressing the throng at his funeral with words that somehow were to be a brief summation of this man's character. I did the same for my grandmother when she left this world. In both cases I have been lauded by those who both knew my grandparents and heard my words. I hope they have taken some solace in them. However, I am not completely certain whether, for me, this process has been cathartic. Everyday presents new challenges in filling the empty space left behind.

As I have had the opportunity to reflect on his life, his accomplishments, and his family, I can't help but wonder whether he knew it was time. He had spent the last three days of his life amongst his family, whom he loved with all his heart. Those days were filled with the conversation he loved, filled with his endearing laugh, and an unforced congeniality that set him at ease. I think he knew we would be alright. I think he knew that he had shepherded his family through times good and bad. I think he knew he had taught us values that would endure, that his legacy was secure. We will always love him, for he taught us how to love.

W.H. Auden

2008-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

FUNERAL BLUES

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead,
Put crepe bows around the necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working weak and my Sunday Rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out everyone;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Again with the Proust.

2007-12-14T20:15:00.000-08:00

Although it is rightly said that there can be no progress, no discovery in art, but only in the sciences, and that each artist starting afresh on an individual effort cannot be either helped or hindered therein by the efforts of any other, it must none the less be acknowledged that, in so far as art brings to light certain laws, once and industry has popularized them, the art that was first in the field looses retrospectively a little of its originality.

It doesn't seem that long ago.

2007-12-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

Today, on my run, I realized that when I was in college it would have been about now, my friend Phil and I would load up his truck with all the essential items, and make the trek from Seattle to Vancouver for the Holidays. (For me, essential items included a couple books so as to look studious, as I was a college student, and every article of clothing I owned. The main reason for main reason for the clothing is that everything, and I mean everything was now dirty. I took pride in my ability to time my last wash day so that the day we left I would be wear my last clean t-shirt.) I don't know what it was about today, the light seemed right. The temperature was cool. I could see my breath, just as I would have seen my breath when we stopped for gas in Chehalis or Tumwater or Lacey. Nostalgia is a tricky mistress always residing in that long lost corner of our minds. She shows her face only when we least expect it, and appears mostly to complicate our perceptions of the reality in front of us. For it is not behind us that, in that world of the past, that we make our lives, but rather now and in what lies ahead. That trick of nostalgia relies on the complications of emotion to make opaque the task at hand.

R E L I E F

2007-12-10T16:48:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned in my previous post. I hired a coach. He seems good, although I am now only 4 days into my newly scheduled training. I will say however, one of the unintended benefits from this investment is more time. You see, it takes a lot of time to work out training plans, research races, etc. It is a huge relief to have a consultant in this process. Before, it felt as if I was on my own, which I was, in figuring it all out. Now, things are different. It already feels like I can put more into just about every other aspect of my life. This includes training, but is not limited to it.

I also noticed today, that Wilco is playing FIVE shows at the Riviera in Chicago. I will not be in attendance, but if I were in the area...MAN!!!...this is going to be awesome. Check this link:

Wilco Winter Residency 2008

If you are a member of Wilco or someone who knows or is connected to the band or its label, PLEASE release make these shows available, in some format (dvd, cd, mp3, etc) for those of us who can't make it. That is all.

Luck is the Residue of Design

2007-12-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

In the spirit, I hired a coach today. Scott McMillan.

Check out the site: Factor 9I am excited.

A lesson for us all from the NFL

2007-12-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

I like football, but don't always watch the Monday night game unless there is an especially intriguing match up. Sometimes, at the outset of the season, when the NFL schedulers start putting together these games in hopes to draw larger television audiences, they get it right. Sometimes they don't. Last night, New England traveled to Baltimore to take on a Ravens. At the end last season this looked like a match up that may hold the keys to home field advantage for the AFC playoffs. Now it looks like one team on the verge of absolute greatness and another stumbling through each game.

The Ravens knew they were playing an undefeated Patriots team some are calling the greatest they have ever seen. They new there chance at a playoff berth had long ago passed them by. They also new that if they had any hope of winning it was going be by hitting the Patriots square in the mouth. They didn't win, but they certainly hit the Patriots in the mouth.

I admire that perspective. The Ravens had little to play for and were out matched in most every category, but they fought and fought hard. When the game had ended they had nothing left to give. They barely lost, and they were pissed. They should have won. As a spectator you could seen their pain. There were tears on these men considered to be modern gladiators. In a world that has made us skeptical about professional sports, this game showed some one, or better some team, still cares about winning and loosing. The punishment they dealt to each other on that field was only surpassed by the pain they felt in defeat. From that we can all learn.

How many roads must....

2007-12-03T17:32:00.001-08:00

The other day I was at the local community center using their one not antiquated treadmill. It was tortuous to run 10 miles staring at a blank wall. My mind was nearly numb upon completion. I was a little out of sorts. My joints hurt and sweat stung my eyeballs, as I stumbled to regain some semblance of consciousness. When I started to come around, I heard this young girl, she couldn't have been more than four years old. start singing 'Blowin' in the Wind'. She new every word, verse and chorus alike.

A smile crept on to my face. She paused, obviously feeling a little self-conscious, as I and everyone in the vicinity watch this timid performance with eager anticipation. There weren't more than 5 of us watching as her father prepared her to leave and she sang. When she had completed her cover of Dylan's classic song, I told her father that she had made my day. Her father, with a wry grin, said, "It pretty much makes my day too."

I left soon after and quickly put Dylan's version on the radio in the car (Thank god for some modern technology). It quickly led me to start thinking about the time and place it was composed. It made me think our time and place, the state of our world and the role music plays in the way we define ourselves both collectively and individually. It made me wonder, like I haven't in a long time, what is going on? How have I become so disillusioned? What can I do now?

It left me with things to think about and other things to learn. But...What I do know is that I will certainly never hear that song without thinking of that day and that little girl. She gives me hope.

This is what's new.

2007-11-11T21:38:00.000-08:00

1. I sent my money in to join Ironheads. A Local triathlon team.
2. I read The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. Yikes.
3. Friends from Boston visited. It was awesome.
4. The Huskies haven't won a game in a long time. It is only interesting to write about competitive teams. I am glad I am not a sports beat writer. Can you Imagine?
5. I started reading Within a Budding Grove. Proust can really construct a sentence. (Next up is probably Nausea, by Jean-Paul Sartre.)
6. No real leg or knee pain to speak of. Some strange muscle knots, but working those out is manageable.
7. My sister is moving to the Portland area from Seattle to take a job with the Nike Foundation. Interesting.
8. Unconfirmed: My best friend is moving from Portland to Colorado Springs. Interesting.
9. We are thinking of getting a cat.
10. Also reading a collection of William Butler Yeats.

Ahhh....Saturday

2007-10-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

Today is the Ironman World Championships from Kaihlua-Kona, Hawaii. I, like I think a lot of people who are more than casual observers of the sport, have been planning to watch this triumphant spectacle of sport on the internet, as there is not live coverage. However, there are some technical difficulties with the connection and now I am forced to write about an event, I am not watching. Sweet.

At last report, many of the favorites either didn't start or were already throwing up on the bike. This would make for great television. Now, I know it is college football season, and I am as big a fan of college football as you can find. I often plan my fall weekends around attending Husky Games or ensuring I get to watch them on television....

OH...SHIT....It's back on....never mind the beginnings of my rant.....

I had a nice run today.

more later.

Apizza Scholls

2007-10-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

Dacia and I went to Apizza Scholls on Friday night. I cannot actually express in words how fantastic their pizza is every time I go there. I love pizza and am constantly in search of a great slice, but I eaten the greatest there is or ever will be. Every detail is perfect from the crust and sauce to the cheeses I can't pronounce. The staff is friendly and I can really tell they know they are involved in something special. They are not pretentious, but rather understanding. (Thanks for the recommendation Ashley.)

Small Triumphs

2007-10-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

I ran yesterday and today. A miracle more than a triumph.

On YouTube I saw a cougar attack a bear. http://youtube.com/watch?v=-tSm_LWX4Io

Today was the season premier of 30Rock. Swweeeet. A television show I like didn't get canceled.

Dylan Thomas

2007-10-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at the end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do no go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good nigh.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-----------------------------------------------------------

In times when my own words cannot express my sentiments with the great clarity I find in others, I will defer.

Husky Game Summary: 9.29 vs. USC

2007-09-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Man! The Huskies will break my heart every time I give them a chance. I give them my heart and they stomp on it. Every time. This weekend was no exception.

This weekend was my first visit to Husky Stadium in 4 years. I was afforded the opportunity to see old friends, the ones I probably hadn't seen since the last time I was at Husky Stadium. Four years ago the Huskies were at rock bottom. It has been a long four years. Losses piled upon losses. Now, with promise ahead of us, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe. (That's a big maybe.)

The reason I say they break my heart is that our record, currently, is 2-3. We may be the best 2-3 team in the nation. With wins against 'Cuse and Boise State and losses to Ohio State, UCLA, and USC, I can say we should, in all honesty, be 4-1. The only game in which we were completely out-classed was Ohio State. Now, that brings us to this Saturday's game against the number one ranked USC Trojans.

If you took the time to look at the game stats you would see a statistical game dominated by USC. But...if you watched the game, you would have seen the Huskies had every chance to win that game. It was ugly with all kinds of penalties and missed opportunities, but that may be our new game plan. We made the best team in the country play down to our level. Now let's hope this somewhat disturbing trend can manifest itself into some wins.

So here we are again: a loosing record five games into the season and looking down the wrong at the wrong end of the bowl game barrel.

Next week brings a bye and some much needed rest for a team that needs to lick its wounds a little and get ready for the second half. Jake "the Savior" Locker had better learn quickly the importance of hitting his receivers when they are open. With two weeks until ASU, I don't know if they've got enough time.

For the remainder of the season they are going to need what amounts to at least one upset, plus winning all games in which they will probably be favored to make their first bowl game in what seems like centuries. Let's hope they have enough class to make this little dream become reality.