Days of Summer

Last night we had the last triathlon at Nahant Beach. It is always bittersweet b/c everyone is talking about there last race or what they plan doing over the winter and taking time off from racing or training and so on. I had a great year at Nahant this year. I raced in 5 of them and won all 5 setting one of the fastest course times in 30 years.

My body is telling me right now to take a break and get ready to watch college football on Saturday afternoon instead of an 8 mile run or hour bike ride. I know that will help me recover more than I could ever imagine but now is the time where I have to focus on my mind game and prepare myself for the 70.3 coming up. I know I am more than physically capable to race and race well there but b/c of all the little tweaks and cramps the doubt creeps up from behind to scare you.

A good friend and coach and athlete had helped achieve some physical gain by advising me on how to taper these last few days. She is very scientific and the proof is in the numbers. I had a successful long brick the other day and last night I had a win in Nahant with a little bit of a cramp at the end of run. The good thing is that today I was not as tight as I thought I would be. I have one more significant run left and then some short high intensity rides with some good swim workouts tossed in. I will be going into this race at a good weight with a good game plan and the mental game in check.

The long days of summer are winding down, so is my training schedule all getting ready for the final test.

getting tired

So I have been trying to get my last bit of long stuff in for the Firm Man 70.3. Man is this getting old. I have had another calf issue take over and am getting tired of this. I was out for a long run and at mile 8 started to tighten up. I have since had some relief but this is just getting old. with only 24 days left I have some work to do.

Maybe this is my body telling me I am ready to taper and need the light work form here on out. I have spoken with some good friends and smart athletes to help devise a plan to get me top level for the race. April Bowling was kind enough to work with me and is keeping on par to hold my fitness and limit my damage. The thing is, I feel fit and strong as hell! It is just that my calves are scorched!. Witch puts my frustration level at a 10! I can swim and ride no problem and took a couple of strides with much issue. but I am as tight as a drum. So from here on out there will be stretching and ice heat repeats along with foam rollers! Ohh how I love it!

As you an see I was wearing a new race kit at the witch city last week. I have now committed to wearing and using my equipment from Fit Werx. I have known Marty and Dean, co-owners of Fit Werx for many years and we were friends long before they partnered with Ian Buchanan the original founder. As the years have passed and technology has improved Fit Werx has always been on the forefront of promoting the things that work not only for pros but everyday riders and athletes.

I did fulfill my commitment with Aquaphor and don't want people to think that I just jumped ship. I talked with Marty about making the change and I felt that I wanted to support local business and friends before anything else. So from here on out I will be donning the red and black.

Witch City Race Report

I raced the Witch City this year and was very pleased with the way things turned out. It was an early start at 7 am so I was up early and things were going without a hitch. Had a great night sleep. It was the first night in a while that I slept for at more than 6 hours straight. Any way....

Swim : 10:34 (including T1) half mile

I got into the water and it was dam cold. Face numbing cold, neoprene cap wearing cold. A half mile that seemed longer b/c it was so cold. But it was cold for everyone. There were 2 waves that went off. So it was a bit crowded and once I made the first turn buoy I got bumped. Not a big deal until my goggles started to fill up with water. I finally had to fix them and that meant I had to turn over on my back so I could keep kicking while I put them back on. I finally reached land and made my way to my bike. I don't know if the water had an effect on my brain but i could not do a thing right in T1. I messed up my bike shoes trying to hope on my bike but after some time i managed to get going and off I went on the bike.

Bike : 32:44 (by my bike computer) 13 miles

Once I made my way out onto Rt 114 I was hammering. I fueled my fire b/c I was pretty po'd at myself for my T1 mistakes. I got into a groove and just pedaled as hard as I could. This is a bit against my style b/c of my power tap but i wanted to make up time and this was the only way how. The rest of the course was uneventful. Three loops around the neck and back for the run. I was able to get some good speed coming down the backside of the neck and that gave me a slingshot over the causeway. I could see the lead bike on the other side of the causeway getting back onto Rt114. I tried to get closer and I wasn't sure what place I was in. By the time I got back to Salem State I passed another bike. Entered T2 and a better exit.

Run : 16:40 = 3 miles

I did notice my feet were numb, almost like they were asleep. The leader was about 100 yards ahead of me and looked like he was running well. I quickly got to pace and kept him at about 50 yards. My legs felt good but was hoping my feet would warm up. At about the 1 and 1/4 mark we went onto a trail along Salem harbor. It was about a .25 mile out and back. The turn around was there and figured I would wait to see what he would do. I closed the gap to about 15 yards and when we got back onto the street I started to make a pass. The lead runner kept with me for about 10 seconds then I figured I would push a little more. I was able to get some separation and finish with the overall win.

I was proud of the way I fought back after such a tough start. I had a little reason to because I was in my new Fit Werx race suit. I will be racing primarily for them the rest of this year and for the long future to come. Marty and Dean had supported me tremendously I was honored when the asked me to wear their gear. Why not, I ride on all their stuff too! Thanks guys.

It was bummer not being able to race with my brother as he is till recovering from a bike accident. He was there in support along with my wife and 2 sons. Jack liked the fact , as he puts it, I was chasing a police motorcycle as I headed back to the finish line. Classic.

humbling

So that past few weeks have been great. Training has been Ok, a little bit of a shoe issue that finally got resolved. needed to go up a half size. Bike has been going well and Swimming has been just that. nothing improved or lost.

We spent a week on the Cape and i was able to get in some ridding and running. Had to hold off on the swim there b/c of some man eating fish that have been swimming around. I have been building up my endurance trying to get ready for Firm Man. I tis much different that training for the shorter fast stuff. Coming up this weekend will be my lsat sprint of the season. The witch City. I was tossing around going up to Gloucester but I like racing in my own back yard.

In trying to get back some distance this week I went out for a 11+ miler. It was very humid and I brought my fuel best and off i went. I wasn't feeling my best but I chugged along. I was holding between a 7:20 and 7:40 pace when I just lost it. I have done this run countless times and this time I was wiped. I stopped regrouped and chugged along. I managed to get home and that was all I was hoping for at the time. It was a humbling experience. If got some longer runs and rides planned for the next few weeks with a 6 day speed session about 2 weeks before race day with about a 7 day taper for the half I-man. I will take everything I learned from last week to help me move forward.