I can't think of anything better than kicking McConaughey's ass for charity.
7.27.2009
7.20.2009
7.08.2009
Race Report: Ironman Couer d' Alene 2009
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.
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.
7.02.2009
failed contact with the mothership
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.
3.15.2009
3.14.2009
dilemma
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--
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.
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.
- 1. (If X, then Y) and (If W, then Z).
- 2. Not Y or not Z.
- 3. Therefore, not X or not W.
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.
2.24.2009
slow
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.
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