Erich Wegscheider .:. Professional Triathlete

Season's Objective

2012-01-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

With each new season comes new goals and objectives. That's the joy of a new year right? Everything starts anew... or something like that. Anyways, this year will be no different, however, instead of saying I'm aiming to swim, bike, or run so fast over a given distance, I'm just going to do what I feel I need to do in training and then see how sore I can make myself in races. If that's not a great season's objective, I don't know what is.

To be brutally honest, last year was befuddling at best. I started the year well with a win at Lavaman and had good fitness at Wildflower, but a silly rule cost me a podium spot. From there, things fell apart in my eyes. Why the inconsistency? I'm not sure. In any event, I've decided to take a different path this year and thus far, I am exceedingly pleased with my progress.

I should also mention that I am still stateside, but not for long. As of now, I am confirmed to race one event on US soil. That being the Oceanside 70.3. The rest are scattered about; Abu Dhabi, St. Croix, Austria, England, Switzerland, and perhaps Denmark, France, and/or Canada.

If it wasn't already apparent, I have an affinity for traveling.

I Climbed That Dune In the Sahara With Authority! And Burned My Feet.

In 2012, I have set my sights on two races in particular; the 5i50 and 70.3 Championship races - my only unconfirmed races on US soil. Honestly, what better way to pursue points than to combine two things I absolutely love doing? Seriously, if I weren't me, I'd be a little jealous. Fortunately for me, I am me.

So, that means no ITU events for me this year. I really enjoy draft-legal racing, but with it being an Olympic year, I'm not going to bother. That, and my swim needs work. It is getting much better though. Instead, I'll focus on what I think is probably my best distance; 70.3s. With how fast those events are completed nowadays, the training doesn't differ much from that of Olympic-distance events, so I believe I'll be able to race well in both.

Although I'd rather not discuss the possibility of not qualifying for either Championship race, I will exhibit an ounce of sensibility in having a back-up plan. I could sign up for another Iron-distance event on a whim or I could flee to Australia and work on a cattle farm for a few months. You only think I'm kidding.

Moo

Rest Week In Palawan

2012-01-03T13:15:00.001-08:00

Reflecting upon my most recent holiday, err, "rest week," traveling half-way around the world to "rest" was a good decision. Nevermind the 20-some hours I spent in a plane getting there or the day lost en route, because I came back feeling great! That is, until my body realized there was a 16-hour time difference. Then I slept. A lot. Which of course means, I rested more.

These Swine Know How To Relax

So, what did I do on this "rest week?" I swam several times, most notably in a secluded lagoon surrounded by towering limestone cliffs that were covered with lush vegetation. While I prefer to swim freestyle, I couldn't think of a better time to focus on backstroke. Stunning, awesome, and beautiful are all appropriate ways to describe my backstroke... I mean the lagoon.

Since I didn't feel like renting a bike and/or getting malaria riding through a jungle, I ran. I ran an out-and-back 8k several times and even did some hill repeats along the way when my friend joined me. Since I would get ahead, I'd run back to the base of the hill and then try to catch them. Then I'd do the same thing on the next hill. All in all, it was good, sweaty fun.

The area where I ran reminded me of the St. Croix run course. Hot, humid, and at times, hilly. Good preparation as I'm planning to get on that start line once again.

Other than that, I ate lots of fresh fruit and baked goods. I island hopped not once, but twice! I kayaked, danced, and husked a coconut that fell to the beach with nothing more than a rock. Keeping in mind that it was a rest week, I also got two massages. There was also plenty of downtime, but that's boring.

So, I'll conclude with some photos:

There Should Have Been A Sign Reading, "Take A Nap Here"

This Was A Rather Nice Island

One Of The Many Desolate Islands

Nicest Pig I Ever Met

The Fruits (or Juice) Of My Labor

This Too Was A Nice Beach

I'm Easily Fascinated By Rock Formations

Ahoy, Captain!

Sunsets Are A Favorite Of Mine

More Palm Trees To Come!

Philippines

2011-12-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

Since being back, I've trained a lot. Maybe that's due to not having a proper job, however, I think it's because I'm so excited for the 2012 season. While I'm not yet ready to post my race schedule, I will say that it may be something of a world tour. Regardless, I'm highly motivated to do the work and let me tell you, I've been doing it. For instance, I ate 10 pieces of fudge yesterday, so I rode 4-hours. That was after swimming the daily 5k. For whatever reason, 5 to 6-hours a day seems to be my number. The weather has also been rather pleasant, but the weather here is crap compared to...

The Philippines!

El Nido, Where I'll Be Celebrating Christmas Day

Yes, I have decided to go to the Philippines and I leave tomorrow. Why go? To answer your question with a question, why not? I'm not really considering it a holiday though; it's more of a well-deserved rest week. I'll run a bit, swim more, and lounge on the beach even more. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I'm disgusted with the current state of my speedo tan. Instead of a clean, defined line, it's more of a gradual change in color, like what you'd find on a paint swatch.

Far too much information...

Anyways, I leave tomorrow and will never know what December 23, 2011 held in store for me. Thank you, International Date Line - you've robbed several days of my life from me.


Necessary Bastard

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Nepal

2011-12-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

I've been back stateside for a little over a week now and am back into the swing of things in regards to training. However, training greatly pales in comparison to my most recent activities. That is, my 4-week holiday in Nepal. Actually, training pales in comparison to most things. For instance, I find devouring breakfast to be much more entertaining than staring at a black line for 90-minutes.

Anyways, let's get to the topic of the trek.

So, how was Nepal? In short, it was incredible! In all honesty, I don't know where to begin my recap... maybe trying to explain the organized chaos of Kathmandu, perhaps flying into the Lukla airport, which ranks as one of the most dangerous in the world, or about my fascination with the highest peaks in the world. Hmm...

I did write in a journal and detail each day's events, but trying to decipher my handwriting is quite time consuming. In my defense, my hands, along with everything else, were cold and that directly influenced the quality of my legibility.

In all seriousness, the Everest region is the most beautiful place I have ever been. Despite being composed of rock and ice and colored several shades of gray, I'd rather stare at the likes of Cho Oyu (8,201m) than the most pristine beach you could imagine. In my opinion, beaches are marketing. The idyllic shots are taken on the best of days by someone experienced in wielding a camera. Whereas, you can gaze in any direction and be completely captivated by the grandeur of the mountains (as seen below).

It's Even More Breathtaking In Person

Even though the region is beautiful and serene, it's an extremely harsh environment. At the lower elevations, the temperature would drop to -5º C inside the tea houses at night. I don't know how much colder it got higher up, but it's safe to assume it was below -20º C the night I camped - tent and all - at the Island Peak Base Camp. To give you an example of how cold that day was, I filled a bottle with boiling water before setting out on the climb. Within 2-hours, that bottle was frozen solid. That is not an exaggeration.

Climbing Island Peak easily goes down as one of my top memories from the trek, but I was not in good shape heading into it. I caught a virus 5-days before our intended summit attempt. At first, my guide thought it was altitude sickness, being that we were at 5,196m. Therefore, we rushed down the mountain, even though my energy was nil as I couldn't keep a thing down. Other symptoms suggested a virus, so we slowly made our up, but the going was absolutely exhausting since I essentially wasn't eating. After three days of hell - seriously, prison would have been a more comfortable place for those 72-hours - I awoke feeling marginally better and fibbed to my guide about how I really felt. After all, I was so close to Island Peak and didn't want to leave Nepal without climbing a proper mountain. I understand how foolish that sounds now, but as a long-suffering individual/endurance athlete, I felt confident that I could get through it. Obviously I did and here's my proof:

Critical Equipment & The Summit

Cramponing Between Crevasses - They Were Deep!

The 700m Section With A 70% Grade

En Route To The Summit

Atop The Summit (6,250m)

Although I arrived in Nepal solo, I met several wonderful individuals along the way and eventually formed a group with 3 others, as our agendas were quite similar; except for climbing Island Peak. The last time they saw me on the trek was when I was sick. Fortunately, I was able to connect with all of them in Kathmandu and put their worries to rest. Here are few photos of our group:

Stuart & Me Above Namche Bazar


Atop Gokyo Ri (5,360m) With Iben, Elena, Stuart, & Our Guides/Porters


Snow Angel Fail At Chola Pass With Iben

While I'm at it, I want to mention hygiene. Or the lack thereof. Past a certain elevation, there's no running water. Many tea houses promise "hot showers," but those that took one said they were anything but. The showers were also located on the outside of the tea houses, so they seemed to be more of a hassle than anything. I bathed in a glacial lake and yes, it was just about as bad as it sounds. Don't believe me? Well, here's the proof:

The Water Was, Literally, Freezing Cold

As for food, the owner's of the tea houses took care of that. They also tended to the fire in the communal dining rooms. What did they burn for fuel? Yak poo, of course. So, yes, someone would place yak poo in a fire and then prepare your meal.

Eat That Grass, Yak, So...


You Can Produce This...

To Keep Us Warm Here...


And Have The Same Hands Prepare This! No Wonder Everything Is Fried.

All in all, my 4-weeks in Nepal ranks up there with my top holidays. It's kind of funny now, because I miss the mountains even though the area is so harsh. I'll never forget the second most starry night I witnessed when beginning the climb up to Island Peak; the complete and utter silence of the remote region; how villages would remain in shadows of mountains even though the sun had been up and rising for hours; the deafening roar of the glacial fed rivers in the Alpine region; and the immense loads the Sherpas carried up the mountains to villages. I'll end with a few more photos:

Prayer Flags Blowing In The Wind

Sun Hiding Behind A Mountain

The Trails Are Highways & The Sherpas Are The Semi Trucks

Above The Clouds

Expansion Bridge In The Alpine Region

Chola Pass Is Between The Two High Peaks (Center)

Standing Right In Front Of Mt. Everest Atop Gokyo Ri (5,360m)

At Everest Base Camp (5,364m)

He's Very Good At Staring Compeitions

What I Looked Like In The Beginning

What I Look Like Now

Latest & Greatest

2011-11-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

Since wrapping up the season in Europe about a month ago, I've kept myself busy swimming, biking, and running, more or less. No, I wasn't maintaining fitness for another last minute race on some other continent, because I've fully embraced the off-season and its splendors. Instead, I've swam, rode, or ran when I felt like doing so. No GPS, watch, or any form of technology accompanied me for any session. Some days, if I wanted to go faster, I did. Other days, I just sat on the couch wondering what the horses in our back pasture think about all day. To get inside the mind of a horse, I'm guessing I'd have to jump in the pasture and chase them around, so I could know what they're thinking at least for a second; "Why the heck is that guy chasing us!?!"

What are they thinking!?!

In other news, I'll be with at least two new sponsors in 2012. I'll withhold any further information, because there may be more - wishful thinking. In addition to that vague announcement, here's another! My race schedule for next year will look a little different than this past season. I've drawn one up and it is nothing short of awesome, however, it's tentative to say the least. Coach Muddy and I have yet to go over the plan.

In other, more exciting news, tomorrow (11/7) officially marks the beginning of my off-season (i.e., no swimming, biking, or running). As I've mentioned in previous posts some time ago, I'm traveling to Nepal to trek and climb in the Himalayas. If you're wondering about the temperature, yeah, it's cold. Have I put on weight? No, although the majority of my dinner tonight was apple pie and cheesecake. Growing a beard should help...

Useful signage

To end, here's something of humor:

While at the bank pulling out money for the trip, the teller asked what plans I had for the money. The question seemed inappropriate, but I kindly replied, "Going to Nepal." She then asked if I was moving there. Adorable, but really dumb. The comment, not the girl.

Challenge Barcelona-Maresme

2011-10-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the advert for Challenge Barcelona at the Henley-on-Thames awards ceremony, there was no question I'd do whatever had to be done to get on the start line of that warm, sun soaked Mediterranean coastline of Calella. Once the return flight was changed and beds were secured, I ventured into London for a few days to initiate my "taper." I then headed up north to stay with my soon-to-be brother-in-law's family. Being that he was leaving for the states shortly after my arrival, there were plenty of good-bye parties, which were great opportunities to start carbo-loading with a few pints. I don't really recommend carbo-loading with pints, but I have no regrets.

Upon arriving in Spain, I had the same thoughts of "What are you getting yourself into?" However, with a top 10 placing under my belt, I felt good about what could be. To an extent, an iron-distance triathlon is just an eating contest with some physical activity. So, if I handled my nutrition better than the previous race, there's no reason why I couldn't perform better. Easier said than done, of course.

The race didn't start until 8:30, so in relation to most other events, we had the luxury of "sleeping in." On the downside, it was quite warm at 8:30. After warming up in the 24º water with a wetsuit, I was already feeling quite warm myself.

Professional men swim start.

For the swim start, the 50-some pro men lined up along the beach and were off at the sound of a cannon. I had what I thought was good positioning in the first 100 meters, but absorbed a solid heel to the face. As a result, I had to stop to readjust my goggles. After getting back into it, I spotted a small pack not too far ahead and made a push. I caught the group a little over a quarter of the way through the swim. From there, I sat near the back and kept an eye on anyone trying to get away. Everyone just held their positions and since the pace felt slow, I made a push of my own. With 750 meters to go, I jumped out wide and moved to the front. Naturally, everyone else accelerated, but I maintained my position as co-leader. After making the last turn, our group bunched up and I now know that my foot is ticklish even while swimming. Someone kept lightly brushing my underfoot with their fingertips and I squirmed - oh the things you learn about yourself in endurance events.

Beautiful area to ride. Great paella too.

There were a couple of guys out of transition just ahead of me, so I had some people to pace off of. Then, several guys came flying by from behind and were forming a group not too far ahead. After brief deliberation, I decided to catch the group. In total, there was about 16 of us and yes, we were riding legally. In fact, we had a marshal practically escort us around the course. We went through the halfway point in 2:17 and best of all, it didn't feel all that taxing. At this point, I was right on top on my nutrition and feeling good overall. Skip forward an hour and I was alone. Just like the race in Henley, my discomfort and fatigue grew at nearly the same mile marker. I knew this feeling was inevitable, as I simply don't have the miles in my legs. Taking in nutrition also became more difficult. It seems the longer I ride, the less and less I can tolerate anything remotely sweet. Thankfully, a friend had given me salt tablets (and let me borrow her aero helmet) and if it weren't for those, the last lap on the bike could have been a lot worse!

I got awesome tan lines on my back.

The race clock was around 5:45 getting off the bike, so I felt good about my chances of breaking 9-hours. In an attempt to avoid a third lap hell, I went out more conservatively than at Henley. The first lap was exactly what I was hoping for and was still feeling good. Shortly after starting the second, my watch died - didn't bring the charger. Then I tried to get some calories in, but my distaste for anything sweet remained. Fortunately, the friend who gave me the salt tablets also gave me those gummies I spoke of in the Henley recap. I could eat a few at a time, but couldn't handle more than that. At this point, I was failing in my eating contest with some physical activity. The worst parts of the run for me were the out sections of the 4-lap course. Oddly enough, we had a tailwind, but I just plain struggled. I kept my focus on the present kilometer and determining what I needed at the aid stations. When I made the turn and faced the headwind on the third lap, I actually felt like I was running, er, jogging. With one more lap to go and determined to run with the wind, I hit a wall; heading to the turn-a-round for the final time felt the longest and hardest. With only 5 km to go and a headwind to compete with, I was able to pick up the pace yet again and finish relatively strong.

I obliged all those with high five requests.

I finished 21st in 9:23 and despite not breaking 9-hours, I'm happy with my performance. In all honesty, how can I not be pleased? Considering the race two weeks prior, I'd say I got on just fine. Besides the great race experiences I had courtesy of the Challenge Family, I met a lot of great people and owe many thanks to several incredible individuals. Without their generosity and hospitality, this race wouldn't have been possible. You all know who you are!

Challenge Henley-on-Thames

2011-09-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

After Pacific Grove, I really didn't have a plan for the rest of the season. There were possibilities here and there, but nothing really jumped out at me. That is, until I came across two possibilities; one in Croatia, the other in England. The Croatian race made sense given my training and the distance, but I couldn't find any information about a pro field. So, I did the next most logical thing and inquired about racing an iron-distance event in England. After exchanging one email on the Tuesday before the race, I booked a flight leaving the very next morning and took off.

I'll be the first to admit that I was a bit nervous about my decision to compete in such an event. None of my rides or runs prepared me for what I'd face on race day, but I figured I had nothing to lose. Well, I suppose a few toenails.

When race morning arrived, it was cold and I was ill-prepared for 5° weather. From the moment I arrived in transition, I was shivering and struggling to stay warm. Fortunately, I snuck into a dormitory at the Henley Business School and loosened up until we were called to the water. Then it was into the 15.5° river, which felt quite nice, given my last few races in Pacific Grove and San Francisco - and the air temperature.

This was half-distance starting. The fog was much more dense when we set off.

There was a bit of confusion with the countdown and several athletes started several seconds too early, while the rest waited. My propensity to be patient didn't serve me well, as I would have loved to have been on the feet of the "jumpy" group. Regardless, I found a pack and settled in on someone's feet. For once, I successfully kept an eye on the pack and surged when someone else would. Overall, the swim was a breeze and I felt great exiting the water. Then I striped out of my wetsuit and realized it was still quite cold...

Didn't bring my aero helmet, as mine had broke and the replacement had yet to arrive.

For added warmth, I grabbed armwarmers, but lacking dexterity, putting them on was actually more of a struggle. Fortunately, the bike course had 1,800 feet of climbing per lap, so I figured I'd be warm in no time. While I did get comfortable on the climbs, I lost all warmth on the long descents. Eating solid food on the first lap was also a chore. Being that it was so cold, my bars felt like rocks and my jaw was tired from my chattering teeth. The sun came out here and there on the second lap and I rode well until the third and final lap. To put it simply, I haven't put in the necessary miles to ride a solid 112-mile bike leg and that could not have been more apparent. The hills seemed longer, steeper, and the miles seemed to tick by slower - probably because they were.

More clothing would have been wise.

Despite lacking the proper bike fitness, I felt really good getting off the bike. The roads were far from the smoothest I've ridden on, but my body didn't feel beaten down from the roads or climbs. I credit my Cannondale Slice to that, as it's easily the most comfortable TT bike I've ever ridden.

The run course consisted of four loops around the town of Henley, so I mentally broke it down into four easy 10k runs. I went out at a conversational pace on the first lap and stayed as relaxed as possible. Lap two was slighty slower, but still right at the pace I was hoping for. Then, the third lap arrived and the wheels fell off. Both my legs and shoes felt like they were filled with concrete and I was getting hungry and craving something savory. There were two pubs situated along the run course that were absolutely tormenting. The smell of roast lamb, burgers, and steaks wafting from their cozy confines made those sections of the run the hardest. To make things worse, it also poured at times. Had I had a few quid in my Kiwami Amphibian, I would have ordered the lamb. Instead, I continued on, relying on the provided oranges, bananas, and gels. Another reason the third lap was such a dark place for me, was that numerous individuals ran by at a pace much quicker than mine. I wasn't able to see how many bands they had on their wrists (indicating what lap they were on), but I was almost sure I was slipping down the field. Regardless, I always told myself to go as hard as my legs would take me and that this hell would be over with soon. Then I made the turn for the fourth and final lap. I ran well at times and shuffled along at others. Then, an angel appeared (not literally, I was well hydrated). There was the most charming little girl handing out her sour gummy bears. While I wanted to take the bag with me, carrying her in the process if I had to, I only took three. The explosion of sour flavor and sugar gave me the necessary energy to run in a bit faster and I did just that. From then on, I didn't want anything at the final aid stations, since imgagining those gummies in my mouth was far better than actually eating another banana or gel.

Looking quite dorky and unaware of my top 10 placing.

In the end, I didn't lose any ground on the run and moved up a few positions instead. The people who passed me were either on their first or second lap or competing in the half-distance event. Whew.

Overall, I finished 9th in a time of 9:34. I went in with no expectation, just wanting to enjoy the race and I did just that. While my decision to race Challenge Henley-on-Thames was rather impulsive, it was a great decision. Speaking of impulsive decisions, there was a flyer for Challenge Barcelona at the awards ceremony and I thought to myself, "Why not?" I changed my flight and am racing another iron-distance event in as many weeks.

Pacific Grove Picture Report

2011-09-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Since pictures are more interesting than words, I present to you a different kind of race report; a picture report. There will be some words, but those will mostly appear in the form of necessary captions.

Looking like a lost little boy prior to the swim start.

Official Blue Seventy Helix Zip-Up Zone.

Since sardines used to be big business in neighboring Monterey, we gave them a tribute by squeezing under the swim start arch.

We heard a horn, which startled us, so we bolted for the water.

Frantically trying to reach the security of the kelp.

All by myself. Am I ahead or behind? We'll see...

Ahead? Behind? Otters?

I paired up with Kenny on the bike.

Actually, I think it's more fair to say that Kenny paired up with me.

We rode several loops, stood up, sat down, drank drinks, and indulged on gels.

About to hit the run course, before I was told to grab my race belt.


I ran, got some sun, and looked cool doing it.

Terry Davis and I battling it out to the line. I think he let me win.

Big thanks to my wonderful host family! We enjoyed many chocolate chip cookies.

In conclusion, I had a so-so race and finished 17th.

This picture post would not have been possible without the photos courtesy of Joanne L. Wegscheider Photography. Race photos are expensive. Seriously, who pays that much for race photos?

San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz

2011-08-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

For the third time this year, I raced in San Francisco, on what may be my favorite course. Actually, the course was changed slightly, so last year's set-up is my favorite. Anyways, true to San Francisco weather patterns, it was foggy, overcast, windy, and somewhat cold.

For the swim start, we lined up along the side of the Southern Belle and waited for instructions that never came. A horn went off and we did nothing. Another horn went off and again, we did nothing. It wasn't until an age-grouper dove in the water, that the professional field realized it was go time. In any other event I've raced, there has always been a countdown; 1-minute, 10-seconds, 3... 2... 1...

From the very moment I hit the water, it was apparent that it was going to be a long battle to the swim exit. It was windy, the water was choppy, and the current was not in our favor. As if that wasn't enough, I took on water in one of my goggle sockets. Sighting, as you can imagine, was more difficult than usual given the conditions - I'd look up and see water more often than not and I don't mean the water that was in my goggle socket. I had a terrible time finding a rhythm, but found a small pack and swam with them for awhile. Then, like something out of a Bermuda Triangle story, they were gone and seemingly, so was everyone else. I was swimming near the front, so I carried on alone and hoped I was going the right direction. As I mentioned before, the swim course was changed, because Tri California couldn't get the permit to build the swim platform they built at Marina Green last year, so we swam to the Yacht Club. For the first time in a swim, I actually felt panicked, because there was no one around me (no kayaks or swimmers) and I couldn't see/didn't know exactly where the exit was - I actually found the swim exit by surprise. Something more than a pale white swim exit banner would have been nice. Perhaps a bright beacon of some sort? Maybe throw away my mirrored, tinted goggles? (Note to self: buy goggles for low-light conditions)

I wish I could say I rode so fast, no camera could keep me in focus.

Knowing I lost considerable time to the super swimmers in the field, I knew I'd have to push that much more on the bike. I climbed well and passed a few guys, but the road conditions didn't fill me with confidence on the descents. I felt like I road well, but looking at the times, I guess not.

My hair is getting long(ish).

I really like the run course at the Alcatraz events; they're brutal, but in that brutal-fun sort of way. I ran well, but the times seemed really slow for the day. I never saw the guy ahead of me until the last 400 meters and by then, I was out of real estate.

Bad photo for helmet safety... I swear I only rode 50 meters.

For the day, I finished 15th and felt good, despite the forgettable swim. It's been fun racing three times in the last eight days, but I don't have anything scheduled until the Triathlon at Pacific Grove, which will likely be my last draft-legal race of the year.

Santa Cruz Triathlon(s)

2011-08-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem like races come around too much locally, so when I got wind that there would be two races on consecutive days with prize money, I jumped at the opportunity. After all, I hadn't raced in 5 weeks. First up was the sprint distance event, which also happened to be my second sprint ever; the first sprint I competed in was my first ever triathlon.

The race went by quickly; brief swim, two loops on the bike, and an out-and-back 5k along the coast. That's about as much as I remember about the race. My sincerely apologies if you were hoping for more. I finished 5th (out of 5 male professionals) and out of the money.

On the bright side, I bought a hard-shell jacket for my Himalayan trek/climb, which also happened to be on sale! The savings alone made the triathlon worth all the while.

The international distance event on Sunday was like deja vu. Exact same professional field, same dense fog, same 13.5º water, and naturally, the same course times two. Much like the sprint swim, I swam alone and wondered why I brought tinted, mirrored goggles as they weren't the most ideal choice given the conditions.

The pro field

As for the bike, I rode well, but could feel some residual fatigue from the previous day's effort.

Absolutely love my Cannondale Slice and Rolf Prima wheels!

Starting the run, I knew my legs had one speed and it wasn't "top speed." I treated the run like my typical Sunday tempo run, so it was like any other Sunday morning, except I wouldn't have my pantry to raid immediately afterwards.

Race belts are annoying

On the way in, I spotted a girl wearing an Oregon sweatshirt and thought to myself, "What would Pre do if he saw her repping an Oregon sweatshirt?" I then thought that Pre would be running so hard his shoes would be falling apart. Then I realized I wasn't running that hard and flash the 'O' with my hands. Pre probably wouldn't have done that. Go Ducks.

The standings for the international event were identical to the sprint, although, there may have been penalties mixing up the top three. Once again though, 5th and out of the money.

On the bright side, I went to Patagonia with my mom and bought a fleece jacket. Yes, it was on sale if you were wondering. And since I didn't have my pantry to raid, my mom and I got a breakfast burrito, peach scone, and a Mexican chocolate scone, which had a big identity crisis. It's like a wanna-be cookie-scone-bread. Make up your mind, Mexican chocolate scone.

All in all, I got in four speed workouts this week and am feeling pretty good, albeit, a little fatigued.

Race Hiatus

2011-07-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

I last raced on July 9th and as my schedule reads, I won't be competing again until August 21st. That's a sizable gap between races, but in all honesty, I don't mind. It's given me an opportunity to unsparingly analyze different aspects of my nutrition and training, that I would not be able to address had I raced every other weekend.

Being that I've had a few weeks to play around now, I'm pleased with how things are coming along. Yeah, that's a vague answer, but I assure you, the vagueness is more interesting than detailing the actual changes. However, I will admit that I now run in compression sleeves and love them! SLS3 is a new sponsor and I look forward to working with the premier compression apparel company.

My favorite SLS3 product, their compression sleeves

Besides triathlon related matters, I've been doing quite a bit of research for my off-season vacation. This year, I'm planning a several week trek in Nepal. You know, hang out with sherpas, look at the highest mountains in the world, and to see how my fitness feels at 20,000+ ft.

My likely porter

USAT Elite Series San Francisco

2011-07-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

My second attempt at draft-legal triathlon was much more successful and gratifying than the first. While my placing was only marginally better than the race in Monroe, this race had a larger field and I actually felt like I was competing the entire time - which is kind of the point.

Going over the plan with coach. Race. Hard.

The race got underway at 1 pm and as expected, it was a rough start. I was swimming on top of people for the first 150 meters and then wisely decided to swim around the fray on the left. Fortunately a large pack had formed on that side and I got myself situated at the tail-end of it. We fought the current heading back for the start of the second lap and that's when I lost contact with the pack. The next lap was uneventful as I lead a group back in.

Swim starts closely resemble cat fights all too often.

T1 wasn't as smooth as usual as my wetsuit zipper got stuck on something. I tried pulling up and down to no avail and briefly considered trying to tear the wetsuit off my shoulders. A friend who was watching the race said I looked like I was chasing my tail fidgeting with the strap. Fortunately, it unzipped and I got onto the bike course just as some other athletes were heading out of transition. A video of the incident probably would have been quite entertaining.

Going into the race, I never wanted to ride alone and quickly bridged the gap to a group of two ahead. We weren't very organized and I felt I could afford to expend more energy on the bike, so I broke away in search of the next group. Each time I'd connect with a new group, I'd go to the front and stay there, because no one else would pull through. I'd signal for someone to pull through, especially on the windy parts, but I got no help whatsoever. I figured that if everyone just wanted to sit on my wheel, I was going to try to make them work to do so. Sure enough, some of the athletes enjoying the ride weren't able to hold on.

Behind me, you'll see the elusive wheel-suckers. Heaven forbid they take a pull.

T2 was relatively normal, although I almost went out for a 7th lap; there was a bit of an error with the lap signage and bells.

The run course was a three-loop out and back. I ran with two other guys for half of the first lap, but couldn't quite keep the pace coming back in. Starting the second loop, I was starting to feel more comfortable and felt like I was running well. I made up some ground on the run, but not as much as I had made up on the bike.

My best impersonation of a T-rex trying to scratch his nose while running.

I finished 26th for the day and honestly had one of my best races effort-wise. I swam well, rode hard, and ran as hard as I could for the day and that's all I can ask of myself. Most importantly, I had a lot of fun racing. There are still aspects of my training that need fine tuning, but those gains will come with time, because the effort is there. The way I see it, I can only get better from here.

USAT Elite Series Seattle

2011-06-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday afternoon, I got my first taste of draft-legal triathlon in Monroe, WA for the USAT Elite Series race. Since this year's theme seems to be about learning experiences, this race was no different and left me with a laundry list of things I need to better prepare for in future events. For example, what to eat for an afternoon start, since my usual race morning meal didn't work out as a pre-race lunch.

As for the race itself, here are the details:

Typical of an ITU event, we lined up along the beach shoulder to shoulder and got underway at the sound of the gun. As expected, the start was fast and I did my best to find some feet and was in good shape after the second turn buoy of the first lap (of two). Coming in though, there was either an acceleration or I drifted. In any event, I was swimming alone and did so for the remainder of the swim.

There were a few guys just exiting T1 as I entered, so I had hopes of getting onto the bike course, putting the hammer down, and catching the group of 4 ahead. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned and I rode alone for the first 6.5 laps. I was riding hard, but a pair of legs is no match for a pack of them. Halfway through the 6th lap, two guys caught me and we worked together for the remainder of the bike course.

T2 was a breeze and I hit the run course feeling okay, but things just got worse. Like I mentioned above, I need to figure out what and when to eat for an afternoon start (we started at 2:45), because I was having major stomach/GI issues. There were several guys within striking distance had I been feeling better, but I ran just trying to get the run over with. I finished in 30th position, which also happened to be my race number; race numbers were assigned based on rank (however they computed that), so my placing was predicted well by someone.

Overall, I really enjoy the ITU-style of racing. It obviously places a lot more emphasis on the swim and diminishes individual cycling prowess, but it's exciting and fast! I have a lot more work to do to be more competitive on the circuit, but I knew that going into this race. In less than two weeks, I'll be at it again in San Francisco.

Escape From Alcatraz

2011-06-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

When it comes to triathlons, the Escape from Alcatraz is definitely one of the more unconventional races. It also happened to be a rather unconventional race morning for me. Typically I'm up 3 - 3.5 hours before my start time, but not on this occasion. I won't bore you with the details, but long story short, I woke up around 5:55 am courtesy of a phone malfunction. The last bus to the ferry terminal left at 6:30, my car was valet parked in some garage not on the hotel property, and I had yet to set a thing in transition.

Despite the madness, I was able to get a warm-up run in... as I ran on the sidewalk towards transition. Once I found my spot, I threw my stuff in its place and got on the bus. I think my run from the car/set up time was faster than my actual T1.

As for the race itself, it went something like this:

We lined up along the railing of the ferry and with 2-minutes to go, a big pack of guys hopped back over the railing and scurried towards the bow; leaving me with just two other guys. Turns out the guys made the move, because the ferry's bow was drifting towards shore as the vessel tried to hold its position. Once the gun went off, the acceleration was ridiculous! I was a bit wide of the main pack and attempted to get over, but couldn't. Since I had done the swim once before, I took a familiar line to shore. However, the current was much stronger than when I had last swam it. That meant I had to fight the current and essentially backtrack at the end of the swim. That miscalculation cost me a significant amount of time.

Once on land, I was misguided by a volunteer and slipped around a sandy corner. Then I made the lovely barefoot trek to transition, where I just seemed to fumble everything.

I was alone on the bike for the most part, which meant I was responsible for setting the pace. My bike split was not up to expectation and in the end, I suppose I didn't ride with enough urgency. I also chose my SuperSix over my Slice, but would have preferred the Slice in retrospect.

The run course is one of, if not my favorite of any event I've raced. I felt like I ran well and managed the hard parts of the course well - Baker Beach and the Sand Ladder. On the way in, I was slowed considerably by all the age-groupers on their way out on the narrow single track. Then again, if I would have been wiser on the swim, it would have been smooth sailings. I crept up a few places, but the damage I incurred on the swim was too much. On the bright side, I had the day's 12th fastest run split.

For the day, I finished 22nd. Not terrible, but by no means great either. I also got 'chicked' and an age-grouper beat me. Not to discredit them, because I'm sure they're great athletes as well as people, but that just should not happen. I have no problem admitting that I am a little ashamed by that fact. Oh well, it's motivation for next time, right?

Metro Triathlon

2011-05-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Since Wildflower wasn't everything I hoped it would be, I wanted to get another race in before Escape from Alcatraz. My original plan was to go to Memphis in May, but just as I was looking into flights, the flooding began. The race went on without a hitch, albeit to a downpour. Long story short, I played it safe and raced a local event; the Metro Triathlon.

Awkward

The swim was fine, its just that I was slow. Ever since the training camp in Tahoe, where we took some underwater footage, I've been thinking about my stroke a lot... too much actually. Too much thinking + me = too much thinking me (bad). Which basically means that I didn't swim my swim, because I wasn't trusting my stroke. Regardless, I came out the water in 5th.

The bike course covers much of the Wednesday Nighter loop, so it's safe to say that I am quite familiar with the course. We had a typical morning headwind on the way out and I'm not sure I can actually say that we had a tailwind on the way in - it was more like a sputtering breeze. Overall, I felt good on the bike and was in 2nd position by the 8-mile mark and stayed there for the remainder.

Starting the run, I was about 5-minutes down to the leader, Brian Lavelle. I went out at a pace that felt like something I'd run at a track workout, but that wasn't the case in the end. Regardless, I ran at a steady tempo and was increasing the gap between 3rd and myself, but not making any progress on 1st. About 1-mile from the finish, a race referee pulled alongside and struck up a conversation. It went something like this:

Referee: "Sir, please tell me you have a race number"

Me: (nodding my head)

Referee: "Well, where is it?"

Me: (blank stare)

Referee: "You need to wear your race number. What is your race number?"

Me: "Seriously? Can we talk about this later?

Referee: "Race number?"

Me: "160"

My tongue is out in 85% of my run photos

While I wasn't running the pace I thought I could have, my actual pace wasn't exactly 'conversational' either. Anyways, thanks to forgetting to put on a piece of paper in transition, I received a 2-minute penalty added to my run time. USAT, seriously? In perspective, the stagger rule makes marginally more sense than receiving a penalty for forgetting to put on a race belt. Thinking back, I've failed to put on my race number in several past events and was never docked. The penalty didn't affect the standings whatsoever, but the simple fact that I've received three ridiculous penalties in my last two event - when I had never been given a penalty before - it just laughable. Maybe I'm triathlons' new bad boy; breaking the rules, giving referees grief, etc...

Overall, my day was okay. I was 2nd overall and the last pro; the pro field consisted of Brian and myself.

The pro field

Tahoe Training

2011-05-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

'Awesome' is a pretty good word to sum up the training camp in Tahoe. The weather actually turned out to be delightful and the ride around the lake is easily one of my all-time favorites. If given the option to train up there again, I'd accept in a heartbeat.

I wasn't able to make it up Wednesday night as planned, so I went out for the Wednesday Nighter and got in a 6k swim the following morning before driving up. Shortly after arriving, I went out for a run with a fellow pro, Nick Thompson. Simply put, I felt like shit on the run. Four hours in the car + trail mix + elevation = ugliness.

We started the next day with a swim, which left me gasping for air. Essentially, the entire swim felt like a hypoxic breathing set. After that, we ate breakfast and mounted our bikes. Unfortunately, my distress didn't end there. I hadn't been drinking enough, so I enjoyed a rather unpleasant side stitch for the first two hours of the ride. Once I came to my senses and increased my fluid intake, everything started falling together. Despite the discomfort, it was hard not to enjoy myself riding around such a beautiful lake.

After the ride, I had a great run and did more of the same the following day. I decided to leave Saturday night as Sunday's forecast looked terrible. Good thing, because getting home was a breeze and for those that stayed, it was anything but.

It's too bad the weather was so bad that Stage 1 had to be cancelled. Had the Tour started a day or two earlier, they would have had great weather. Regardless, I saw all the big names out on the roads in the days prior.

Tahoe

2011-05-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I grow tired of training near sea level - the oxygen rich air and warmer weather become so monotonous. So, in instances such as the one aforementioned, I head to higher ground. Literally. No, I'm not heading to Boulder; it's a great place, but too many athletes and egos for my liking. Instead, I'm heading to Lake Tahoe tomorrow with a handful of Muddy's athletes.

From Thursday to Sunday, I've been told that I'm going to get my ass kicked. I've never been in a fight, but am confident I could hold my own... or run away faster than the other guy.

With the Wildflower disappointment, 3-hour naps, and catching up on Parks and Recreation of late, I've been feeling quite good, so this camp couldn't of come at a better time. I thought about going to Memphis in May, but the recent flooding washed away that idea. Fortunately, there's a local race that same weekend in San Jose and I'll just try to win that instead.

All in all, the camp is one of my last good opportunities to get in a lot of volume before the big races starting showing up on the schedule. It's also a good opportunity to watch the Tour of California. Stage 1 finishes not too far from where we'll be staying.

Wildflower 14.2

2011-05-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

This really won't be much of a race report, being that I was done for the day at mile 13 of the bike , so I'll focus on the race briefly and then turn my attention to the stagger rule and offer my opinion on its purpose (or lack thereof).

Leading up to Wildflower, training was essentially the only thing I was doing and I was doing a lot of it. You may have noticed that I haven't been posting as often. Well, that's directly related to the amount of training I've been doing. Training usually isn't that noteworthy, so I didn't bother. I digress...

I was excited to get the swim underway, since this would be my first start in a rather large professional field (40 men in total). More pros means more competent feet to follow, so my goal was to stay in the pack and that's exactly where I found myself until the halfway point. I was swimming near the rear of the pack and began to trust the feet I was on - mistake #1. The pack accelerated through the turns, while I focused on the feet ahead. A sizable gap opened up and I debated whether or not to push the pace and catch on or swim solo. After little deliberation, I figured it'd be best to let them go. Exiting the swim, I lost about 30 seconds to the main pack.

Heading onto the bike course, my coach told me I was in 15th position. I was passed twice within the first two miles - didn't know the somewhat technical roads - but passed several riders on the first climb. As the roads leveled out, I continued to make progress on the athletes ahead and that's when a motorcycle pulled alongside. At first I thought it was the TriCal TV crew. After all, the Slice with Rolf Prima wheels is a sexy combo and it's pretty hard to miss me in my red Kiwami Amphibian. Instead, it was a referee and I was told to stand down. So much for wishful thinking.

Upon hearing I violated the stagger rule, I was bit perplexed as I was at least 30 meters behind the next rider. I argued there's no way I was getting any benefit from the rider ahead and that the penalty was complete bullshit. She told me it was still early in the race and offered little insight to what actually comprised the rule. So, I rode on not fully understanding what I got marked for.

I kid you not, two miles later, another motorcycle pulls alongside and stands me down again. This time, I was at least 80 meters behind the next rider, but it's two strikes and you're out. I wasn't quite as pleasant with the next ref, because I didn't know why I was being DQ'd. Sensing the futility of argument, I made peace with the DQ and thoroughly discussed the rule with the ref. I thought I understood the rule - mistake #2. Well, it turns out that the if you can see the rider ahead, you cannot ride behind them. Period. Doesn't matter if they're 80 or 800 meters ahead, it based strictly on line of sight.

One way or the other, I had to get back to transition. I could either turn around or see the rest of the course. Being 13 miles in, I figured what's another 43? Since I got passed by several riders with my two 2-minute penalties, plus the 5 or so minutes I spent talking with the second ref, I thought it'd be fun to try to catch those who passed me. By the time I passed the 52 mile marker, I had passed everyone who had passed me and then some. Even with standing still for 9-minutes, I was the 12th athlete or so into transition. Yay for bike fitness. Too bad running is my strength...

Overall, shame on me for not actually understanding the rule. However, the shame does not end there. Shame on Tri California and the head referee for their pathetic attempt at an Elite Meeting. They took roll, gave us raffle tickets, raffled away prizes, and then the head referee told us to make sure we had the proper sticker in our helmets. He was about to bring up the stagger rule, but said "Oh, just come see me after if you don't understand it." Uh, isn't his job as head referee to explain the rules? The meeting was mandatory, going over the rules should be too.

Implementing this rule at Wildflower - or in general - is a bad decision. It's windy and the course is not closed to traffic. So, if there's an athlete riding on the white line, the next athlete must move to his left, and so on. At some point, an athlete is going to have to ride near the centerline and have cars buzz them from the opposite direction, all the while cars are passing from behind. I spoke to the head referee after the race inquiring about the benefits of such a rule. Well, it's supposed to keep athletes engaged in the competition and diminish the likelihood of drafting. That's great, because I so often day-dream and/or fall asleep in the areo position because I'm bored. Here's something to think about, if the stagger rule decreases the likelihood of drafting by staggering athletes across the road, how does that not increase the odds of a blocking penalty? Hmm, seems like someone - or some board - didn't really think this one through. Good job, guys. You all deserve a pat on the back for a job done poorly.

Apparently the WTC doesn't institute the stagger rule. Hmm.

The most disappointing aspect of the weekend was not being able to truly test my fitness. I know what I could have ran there and had I not received the penalties, there would of been a four-digit check with my name on it. On the bright side, some girls told me I have really sexy legs, so I guess the weekend was a success after all.

Avia Shoes

2011-04-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

I recently received a couple pairs of shoes from Avia to try out and since it's quite expensive and time consuming to try all the shoes on the market, I decided to save you time and review them. You're welcome.

I should also note that I am not sponsored by Avia, so the following is my inner-most thoughts of the Avi-Bolt III and Avi-Quest. Then again, I've never promoted a product or brand that I didn't believe in and use regularly. So, when I say that I use my Trigger Point Performance Therapy Ultimate 6 Kit religiously, I actually do. A massage at my convenience and with the cost of gas, who can afford to drive to the massage office and still afford groceries? Not me.

The white shoe pictured above is the Avi-Quest. For a shoe that's geared for long runs and stability, its performance is surprising. I've always stayed away from "training" shoes, because they usually feel cumbersome and don't provide a good feel for the road. Not these. Both on road and off, they were a joy to run in. For one of my runs in them, I ventured into the hills behind my house and they climbed as well as one of my mid-weight racing shoes, however, these were much more stable over the rough terrain. Back on the tarmac, they accelerate well and cushion better than anything I've run in yet. If it weren't for all the climbing and descending, my legs would have felt fresh - my feet did. As for negatives, I don't have any. The Avi-Quest is an all-around great training shoe.

The orange and black shoe is the Avi-Bolt III, Avia's race shoe. I did a couple of brick runs in them and a track workout and again, I'm happy with their performance. As I mentioned before, I'm accustomed to training in a lighter shoe, so I felt right at home in these. Despite it being a 'race shoe' it's still quite stable, which I appreciate as I have the tendency to pronate on occasion. Getting into the shoe is a snap with the two over-sized tabs, but I'm not crazy about the provided quick laces - I'd rather have something along the lines of an elastic lace. Lastly, it vents well, both from the top and bottom, but not so well from the bottom that the shoe will absorb water when running over a damp surface. It'd also be nice if they made more color options. Orange and black doesn't quite go with my race kit, but the shoe definitely performs well, so I might have to overlook the aesthetic aspect.

Red and White, Orange and Black? Hmm...

Lavaman Waikoloa

2011-04-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

There are good days and then there are great days. Lavaman Waikoloa was the latter of the two. Between getting to know the race organizers, the Team in Training athletes, and swimming, biking, and running in Waikoloa, winning my pro debut was truly the icing on the cake. Here's how the day played out:

While treading water waiting for the gun to go off, Dave Scott says to me "Race with confidence." A simple encouragement, but it really resonated within me the entire race.

The swim was chaotic as the first turn buoy was no more than 75 meters from the start line. Unless you were John Flanagan, finding space to swim was difficult. Even after rounding the far turn around buoys, I was still making contact with people and coincidentally got hit in the face and took on water in my goggles. Couple that with swimming into the rising sun and I doubt I swam all that straight heading in.

Heading onto the Queen K, I was unaware of where I stood and about how far back I was. Regardless, I knew I had to push it. Relatively speaking, the winds were calm, but we did face a bit of headwind on the way out. No matter the conditions, my Cannondale Slice and Rolf Prima TdF 58 SLs were perfectly suited for the course. My accelerations were felt instantaneously on the climbs and the bike and wheels were incredibly stable in the winds. Heading in, I got within 10 - 15 seconds of a pack of two riders ahead (Marr and a relay rider), but was never able to bridge the gap.

The run course

Coming out of T2, I was in 3rd; seconds down from Marr and about 1:47 down on Flanagan. Almost immediately out of transition, the run course goes through a lava field, which is where I passed Marr. From there we ran on Waikoloa Drive, which was where I knew I had to push the pace, because the King's trail is a lovely mix of sand, lava rock, and coral. Around the first mile marker, I spotted Flanagan and eventually passed him for the lead just before the 3-mile mark. From there, I kept the pace as high as I could and entered the hotel grounds, where the technical sections began. Running along that trail must be reminiscent of an Xterra event, because it's anything but easy. From there, we zig-zagged through another hotel's grounds, since the tsunami washed away a good chunk of the beach where the run used to take place. As I ran onto the beach one last time, it was then that I finally realized that this race was indeed mine and enjoyed the finish chute.

All in all, I couldn't of asked for a better race week. Nor could I have imagined a better one. I owe several thanks to so many people; Gerry Rott, the race director for putting on such a great event and all her assitants/volunteers, the Hilton Waikoloa Village for their generous hospitality, the Team in Training Silicon Valley Chapter for adopting me into their group, and my sponsors for their support and providing me with the best equipment.

Let's Race

2011-03-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming, but my first 'race week' of 2011 is here! In a couple days, I'll be flying out to the big island to see what happens when I try to swim, bike, and run in immediate succession. It'll will also be my pro debut. Fun.

In all honesty, I'm ecstatic just to be racing in Hawaii. With 27º C water and a similar air temperature, there's no need for neoprene caps and toe warmers. Sure, it could be windy - we do ride on the Queen K - but as everyone knows, a warm wind is at least 30 times better than a cold wind.

As with every race, I have a strategy in mind. For Lavaman Waikoloa, I am hoping to draft off a pod of dolphins (who will also serve as swim course guides), fly down the Queen K courtesy of a tailwind both directions (crazy, trade winds), and run to the finish as fast as possible (so I can claim the best chaise lounge for the afternoon). Simple as that.

Of course, things might not happen exactly as I described. For instance, I could get stuck behind a sea turtle. Fortunately, they can cruise comfortably between 1.9 and 2.8 meters/second (roughly 52 seconds per 100 meters). Impressive, huh?

"Follow me to your fastest 1500m" - Mr. C Turtle

You might be wondering how I knew how fast sea turtles swam. Discovery Channel? No. Extensive research? Perhaps, but no. Yahoo! Answers? Duh! And don't you dare dispute their user submitted answers that are voted on by their peers.

I've Been...

2011-03-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been up to the usual; swimming, biking, ah, you know how it goes. If it weren't for a training schedule, I'd probably forget what day of the week it is. Thankfully, the schedule keeps me on track and ensures I don't wake up at 4:30 to try to swim on a Saturday. That's a shame, because I'm usually hungry enough to eat breakfast at 5, so sleeping in is kind of like starving myself.

Anyways, I also worked a grand total of 3 hours this past week! What I plan to do with the money is undecided, but it'll probably be indulgent. Like starting to pay off my race tires. I led a spin class for the first time and filled in at a group personal training studio, which I've done several times before. In my honest opinion, I think my spin class sucked. I wrote out some intervals I would do on the road and quickly realized they weren't suited for a spin class - too much rest. Regardless, I stuck to the plan, which was partially due to the fact I was quite tired from the 6 hours of training I had already done. Fortunately, the attendees were relatively new to cycling, so they still got a good workout. Armed with the experience of one spin class under my belt, the next one is going to be a lung buster.

As for the group personal training, I love leading those. Trying to convince people that the pain or burn isn't that bad is a challenge I'm always up for. It's all about perspective... and how strong your core is or something like that.

Besides the aforementioned happenings, I've got nothing. I'm thinking about making a video of what my recovery typically consists of, but that would take away from quality nap time. One of these days...

The Slice

2011-03-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

Here it is, my new triathlon bike for 2011: The Cannondale Slice Hi-MOD.

It's outfitted with SRAM Red components and for extra convenience, it has the return-to-center (R2C) shift levers. You'll also notice the larger chainring, which is for mashing big gears of course! Added to that is the best crankarm in the business: the Hollowgram SL.

In the photo above, my Rolf Prima Echelon wheelset is shown, but those are just my training wheels. Although they would serve me well in a road race. More often than not, I'll have the bike outfitted with the TdF 58 SL and Carbon disc for races. Once I get those glued, I'll be sure to post a picture.

Rounding out the bike is a Fi'zi:k Arione TRI2 saddle and FSA Vision Carbon Base Bar and Vector Aero Extensions. Overall, I'm very happy with the bike and can't wait to race on it!

Nothing Much

2011-02-25T15:59:00.000-08:00

It seems I'm overdue for a post and despite the lack of interesting things lately pertaining to triathlon, I'll go ahead with everyone's favorite: a training update. I'll try to make it as interesting as I can without getting to fictitious - unless you really crave the creative.

All around, things have been going great. I'm seeing progress in water, which has taken and will continue to take a lot of patience. Santa Clara switched over to long-course this past week and just as I find my rhythm in meters, the pool will be switched back to short-course next week - yay, flip turns. Overall, this week kind of served as test for my swim fitness and I'm happy with how things are coming along.

As for cycling, well, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. I feel good climbing and won't even get into time trialing. There will be a lot of saddle time coming up in the next couple of weeks, which I'm particularly excited for as my Cannondales' will be here soon!

Running, like swimming, but not like swimming, is also coming along well. It's like swimming in that there's improvement, but it's not like swimming in that it's not my relative weakness.

Lastly, I've still been getting my ass, er core, kicked with Erik Garcia of Redline Endurance. I suppose things are going well, being that some lady gave me a very flirtatious "Hello" while I was about to hop in the pool. Maybe I should consider being an underwear model... Yeah, still jobless...

With a forecast for snow this weekend, I'm not going to bother riding on the road and will be logging my saddle time on a Wattbike instead. The bike perfectly simulates the resistance of riding on the road, plus I'll be able to fine tune my pedal stroke. Best of all, I won't have to run all out as soon as the ride is done, like at the Burn Series Triathlon. Win-win in my opinion.

What If

2011-02-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be nice if triathlon was just as simple as swimming, biking, and running? After all, there's enough to worry about with travel, bike transport, and hospitality. In my experience, race day rarely works out that way; flats, lost goggles, dropped nutrition, and periods where you just feel like crap are all possibilities. It's all part of the racing process as you test yourself physically and mentally, however, playing the "what if..." game prior to the gun can be quite advantageous.

For an event such as Tri California's Avia Wildflower Triathlon, one of the more isolated venues, planning for every scenario is a key component to having an enjoyable race week. No matter the race distance, I sit down and write out every possible scenario that could happen during a race. What if my goggles fall off? What if I can't get my wetsuit off? What if I get a flat? What if I cramp? So on and so forth. From there, I write out exactly what I intend to do in case that what if becomes a reality.

Another great plan of action is to preview the course. If you can, I would highly recommend taking a weekend trip to the race venue to ride and run some of, if not the entire course. Just one casual loop on the bike will likely boost your confidence and you won't have to rely solely on the chalk lines come race day. Then you'll know what demons you're up against. Or in Wildflower's case, Nasty Grade and Heart Rate Hill.

While this may seem tedious - a lot can go wrong - I find these precautions to be especially helpful, because rational thoughts don't always seem to flow during the course of a race. Just having a plan will get you back to your rhythm that much faster and best of all, it ought to keep you calm. In the end, the point of any race is to test yourself and have fun. The more you're able to minimize your rough patches, the sooner you'll finish, and the more fun you'll have.

Introductions

2011-02-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce to you a few new sponsors who will be integral parts to my training and racing from here on and for several years to come. First, I give you SportHill. SportHill designs and produces performance apparel for athletes across the board - nordic skiers, runners, triathletes, trekkers, etc. They've graciously outfitted me with apparel for every condition and quite simply, their products rock! They're light, comfortable, and they keep me warm and toasty when I want to be or vice versa. I highly recommend picking up some of their apparel and giving it try for yourself.

Second, Rolf Prima is my new blazing fast wheel sponsor. I recently received my race wheelset for 2011 and I couldn't be happier with my choice. For draft-legal events and the occasional extremely windy venue - Lavaman Waikoloa - I'll be running the TdF 58 SLs. They're light, accelerate better than anything I've ridden, and have the lowest spoke count by far (12 front, 12 rear). For any other races, I'll mount their carbon disc, which also happens to be one of the lightest discs you'll find. There's also this cool link.

Their performance exceeds their pleasing aesthetics

Last, but not least, there's Cannondale. In the next couple of weeks, I'll have my hands on my new race bikes; the SuperSix Hi-MOD and Slice Hi-MOD. The first time I got on a SuperSix, I knew there was no other bike I wanted to ride. The thing is a beast. With its massive bottom bracket, the thing accelerates like a rocket - that is, if my legs are feeling rocket-like; otherwise, it's just plain quick! Best of all, it's the most comfortable bike I've ridden too. Both the SuperSix and the Slice glide over rough roads, meaning I won't be as fatigued come the run segment. I cannot wait to get my race wheels - or even my training wheels - on them.

The support I receive from these companies, as well as my other sponsors, really makes a big difference in my pursuit of athletic excellence. Simply, I have the best equipment available. So, any shortcomings can only be linked to me and only me, but I'll try to limit those.

Redline Endurance

2011-02-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

With speed work and tempo rides starting to show up on the schedule, I have officially abandoned gym workouts. No more dumbbells or walls of mirrors to gaze into, just the essentials of triathlon from here on. That's not to say I'm done developing my core strength and the similar, it's just that functionality has taken precedence.

Since calling it quits at the gym, I have been working with Erik Garcia of Redline Endurance. Erik is a certified personal trainer (N.A.S.M.), TRX suspension trainer, and is a competitive age-group triathlete. Given his background, he understands the needs and potential problems that may affect an endurance athlete. Working with him thus-far has been rewarding. By "rewarding" I, of course, am implying light soreness in and around my core. That, however, has led to me feeling stronger in all three disciplines; more power in the water, more comfort on the bike, and better posture on run - all of which equal more speed.

As for the training, it's a variety of lunges, stretches, band work, crunches, and TRX suspension training. Since body weight and/or bands are used for resistance, you're never left with that drained feeling weights can leave you with. Instead, you can continue with your three sport pursuit and get functionally stronger in the mean time.

If you're in or around the Bay Area, I highly recommend getting in contact with Erik. He's not confined to a particular location, so where ever you may want to train may be fine by him. For example, Erik and I train at a local community track.

Picking Up The Pace

2011-01-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time coming, but the wait for terra firma tempo workouts is over. That's not to say they're here in full force, but I get to dabble with hill repeats and run around in circles (i.e. a track) more often. Best of all, group workouts are coming together more frequently. I may be a bit of a lone wolf, but training with the pack will only make me stronger. It also gives me someone else to talk to besides my legs, who really don't count as being "someone else." That was a reference to my inner Jens Voigt.

I would have sworn I stayed on the track the entire time

As for the group workouts of late, we found a hill, crested it, and descended the backside. Then we rode up the backside and dropped down again not once, twice, but thrice times. I don't consider myself a very gutsy descender, but with a road as steep, wide, and clear as we had, the speed demon in me - that I didn't really know I had - told me to tuck. Almost passing or pulling away from cars is fun.

Then there are the group runs. They're a novel idea, however, rarely do they stay intact for long; everyone has their pace and/or prescribed time. On my last long run though, I got to enjoy the company of another. Given the option of guessing what song my iPod will play next or running with someone, I will choose the latter 9 times out of 10. That ratio could drop if the person is annoying. Then the prospect of song probability is all too enticing. It's like counting cards, but way harder - not that I can count cards. Well, perhaps literally...

Since training is essentially my social time, I'm very excited to develop my social skills... and as an athlete too. Yes, I am making fun of myself. South San Jose is quiet... cricket...

Feeling the Burn

2011-01-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

Feeling a burn from a high intensity effort in January sounds as awful as it actually is. However, it serves as a nice dose of motivation as the race season draws closer and closer, albeit, slowly. Threshold Racing decided to mix things up in the winter months and introduced the Pre-Season Burn Series. If you're a local in the Bay Area and want to get a little taste of competition again, then this is your race.

The event consists of a 200-yard pool swim, a 10k bike on a Wattbike, and a 1.5-mile run around the campus of the College of San Mateo. So, it's essentially an all-out sprint. My favorite part is the bike segment. The race is broken into heats, so everyone has their own lane and bike. That allowed us to bring our own pedals and bike shoes and dial in our position with whatever time we had. The bike gives you your standard wattage info, but what really sets it apart is the real-time graph of your pedal stroke efficiency (see chart below).

For the day, I did as well as I could given my level of fitness - which isn't very high, thankfully. It's really fun trying to run fast after spending the last couple of months in the gym building leg strength. Looking forward to the next event though.

My New Favorite (local) Road

2011-01-13T12:28:00.000-08:00

Every time I'm out on a ride, I pass by various outlet roads. For the longest time, I just road by without a second thought. That is, until now. Wanting to find different roads to roam, I started making more left and right turns. More often than not, each new turn led me down quiet, rolling roads, with varying destinations; some have led to convenient and surprisingly nice bathrooms, while others have lead to dead-end muddy paths.

Last week I found my new local favorite: Croy Road. It's only 4.5 miles long - 9 in total - but it meets my # 1 metric when determining a good road: The Deer to Car Ratio. It's as simple as it sounds. If I see more deer than cars, the road is deemed good. That alone though, is not enough to make it my new local favorite. Riding there reminds me of the days when I was a terribly naive novice cyclist in Oregon, venturing off on 5 - 6 hour rides without a spare tube and maybe 2 PowerBars. Despite being such a fortunate fool, the roads I got to explore were absolutely wonderful. While Croy Road only makes up a small fraction of the roads it reminds me of, it invigorates my urge to just get out and ride like I did in 2007. Maybe it's the babbling brook, the evergreens, or the random Swedish-American Patriot Camp, but it makes me miss training in the Northwest.

California's spring-like January days are nice, but I still long for the roads I picked up cycling on. I was also a tougher cyclist back then. It didn't matter if it was raining, if it had snowed, or was below freezing; I rode. I also didn't have a trainer for longest time, leaving me with no alternative. Fortunately, I feel I'm getting more of an edge back by not shying away from inclement weather. After all, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing... a proper mental outlook helps too.

Swim, Swim, Swim

2011-01-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

The first week of 2011 training is just about complete and it's been a rather delightful week. Well, I did sprain the fingers I broke last year, but life goes on. Although, it is worth mentioning that one of the fingers is rather large. So, if I were to flip someone off, it would be hard for them not to notice - not that I flip people off.

Anyways, I wouldn't specifically say I'm in the midst of a swim focus, but am in the water a lot. In fact, I know I'm swimming a lot when:

I rarely shower at home.
Chlorine is my natural fragrance.
My alarm is set daily for 4:37.
I go to bed about the time a 6 year old would.
I opt for a shopping cart over a basket when picking up a few items from the grocery store.
Breakfast is broken into three meals (pre-swim, post-swim, and post-swim nap).

Based on that list, I'm sure you can imagine just how exciting my social life is.

I've also swam further than I've run this week... thus far. Am I swimming that much? Or running that little? That's for you to decide.

11 for 2011

2011-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've never been the type for resolutions. From my perspective, they're silly and most often end up being empty promises. Maybe I'm too discipline for my own good, but I've always believed that if I want something, getting it is up to me and only me. For that reason, I don't have dreams; I just have goals, because a dream is something you are not actively pursuing.

So, what am I working towards in 2011? All may not be relevant to triathlon, but this is a triathlon blog, so the majority will be. Also, the goals are listed at random.

1. Get a Job
My student loans refuse to pay themselves and triathlon isn't going to get me out of debt in the near future, so I'm officially unemployed. A full-time job is likely out of the question, because I would probably suck at my job and triathlon if I tried balancing the two (40 hours working + 25 to 30 hours training = fail). However, I don't want your standard retail part-time gig. I want something to put on my resume, so maybe a paid internship or the similar. If that doesn't pan out, I'll play with the idea of a masters degree.

2. Sub 19-minute 1500m
Improvement comes in small increments and over the course of 2010, my swim stroke has improved greatly. Regardless, I still have ways to go to where I want to be - a more efficient pull, better swim strength, less body hair perhaps.

3. Sub 33-minute 10k
The same goes with running as swimming. I feel that I improved greatly in 2010 and building from there, I expect faster splits in 2011. The key is balancing the correct level of speed work, but Coach Muddy has that covered.

4. Create and Sell a Product
Ideas for this and that pop into my head quite often. Some ideas require capital, which I am lacking, so I abandon them. However, smaller, more realistic ideas come along too and I plan on getting the ball rolling here shortly.

5. Take Home Checks
With the prospect of a job supplementing my income, that would allow me to choose races more discerningly. That likely means fewer races, but that extra rest and preparation will hopefully land me in the money more often than not.

6. Learn to Swim Fly Efficiently
I have a fascination about fly. Maybe it's the fluidity of its rhythm when done properly or maybe it's because I can't seem to swim it well at all. I'm terribly inefficient and swimming it wears me out! However, a little research and coaching pointers ought to get me on my way to "humping the water," as it was affectionately described to me once.

7. Top 5 in a Continental Cup
I've never competed in a draft-legal triathlon, but I'll be making my debut in 2011. With a bit more work on the swim and run, I believe this goal is attainable. Albeit, this is a very tough goal. Good thing I don't shy away from difficult situations.

8. Be a Better Athlete Ambassador for My Sponsors
Every little bit of support I receive from my sponsors is a tremendous help! Whether it's nutrition, a race suit, a massage, or other equipment, it all helps me to perform at the highest level possible. That is why I owe my best marketing efforts to the companies and individuals who have entrusted me to represent them.

9. Break 1-minute Consistently for a 100 Free
I can break the : 60 second barrier, but always seem to tense up or try to power my way through the water on repeated efforts. This, of course, is very inefficient swimming. Learning to stay relaxed will pay big dividends in the water.

10. Sub 5-minute Mile
I've never run a sub 5-minute mile, nor have I ever tried to. Anytime I was at a track session, I was told to stay within a small time range. While I have run much faster than a 5-minute pace for shorter distances, not once have I tried to push it over 5,280 feet.

11. Enjoy the Journey
No matter what happens in 2011, I better be having fun or I'll need to reassess what I'm doing with my life. Triathlon is a passion of mine, the healthy lifestyle is my lifestyle. I love what I do and am looking forward to whatever comes my way.

Here's to 2011!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

In year's past, the holiday season meant time constraints and crazy schedules around here. This year, it's quite the opposite. My sister is visiting her boyfriend in Europe, so my family has already celebrated "Christmas day."

Getting through the holiday season so quickly isn't a bad thing in my book. For one, my workouts are cut short or out due to the day and that leaves me with far too much time on my hands once again - Netflix movies only come in the mail so fast. Overall, it'll be a very low key holiday season.

I wish you all a happy and safe holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

The Best Cucumber Salad I Ever Ate

2010-12-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

I went out to dinner at a Thai restaurant last night and that got me thinking about the best cucumber salad I've ever eaten. Unbeknownst to me, I have become a cucumber salad snob. If I ever see one listed on a menu, I often choose other dishes to avoid disappointment and believe me, I have been let down on more than one occasion.

You might be wondering how one qualifies themselves as a cucumber salad snob. Well, I qualify my expertise on the grounds that I've made my way through Thailand and have dined at my fair share of Thai food restaurants.

So, how does a cucumber salad make its way onto a triathlon blog? Simple, I rode my bike from Eugene to Portland for a training ride back when I was training for Coeur d'Alene, did a brick run, and found myself locked out from the house where my things were. Being that I was running quite the caloric deficit, I followed my nose to the closest food source. I remember the first bite being nothing short of euphoric! It was the perfect balance of sweet to spicy and one I have yet to find anywhere else. Maybe I recall the dish so fondly, because my blood-sugar was so low and the dish brought me back to some level of consciousness. One way or the other, it was the best cucumber salad I have ever eaten.

I have savored that particular salad several times since, but being the dish is made fresh at Sivalai Thai Restaurant in Portland, I'm out of luck and am left searching for the next best cucumber salad. Typically I would attach a picture of such a great dish, but since I don't have one, I cannot. Whatever I would copy and paste from the internet would be an insult to the deliciousness of the one I speak of.

And So It Goes

2010-12-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

Saying nothing interesting or noteworthy is probably a poor headline for a blog post, but I'd be lying if I said anything else. Day in and day out, everything blurs together, hence the lack of an interesting tag line. It's time for base miles and overindulging in sweets, not compelling training stories. Actually, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and/or am too discipline for my own good. More dark chocolate, please?

Training has been going as swimmingly as it gets. The weather has been quite nice since receiving a winter training bundle from Rapha, so I have yet to try it out. Now I find myself hoping for near freezing temperatures just so I can use it. On a slightly more compelling note, I've been taking advantage of the wind on rides. My routes may not very much, but the winds do - at least this time of year - so that's keeping me entertained.

That looks cold and fun

Then there's running... I really can't think of anything interesting to say about running right now.

As for swimming, I feel as if I have just enough swim fitness to join with the 5:30 group again - I usually swim at 9 for 60 - 75 minutes. The 5:30 workout draws a faster crowd and it's always a 90-minute workout. I found a good rhythm for 20+ 200s mainset recently and someone asked what song was playing through my head. Song? Nope, just me and my thoughts. Yay.

I also lift routinely at a small gym I used to work at and usually get some "life coaching" from various familiar faces (i.e. can one actually make a living from triathlon?).

Besides that, I'm entertaining the idea of a job. My resume is awesome, email me if you want to see it or employ me.

Recipe for Success

2010-12-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love analogies? They provide clarification for potentially cloudy ideas. Of course, there's always some tacit knowledge that may be missed by the masses, but that's just part of the fun. Anyways, I was asked to compile a list that details The 10 Most Important Things to Being a Competitive Triathlete. Since I'm treating this like a recipe, get your apron and let's go.

Preheat your oven to 350º

Take some fun and put it in a large mixing bowl.

Then, slowly add your training plan and/or coaching and stir until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.

In a separate bowl, combine nutrition and recovery and dial it in. All the steps are important, but the "food" will turn out awful if these two are absent.

When the nutrition and recovery have been dialed in, mix with the fun/training plan and/or coaching. Add a teaspoon of bike fit, a dash of confidence, and choose an assortment of your favorite equipment, so that your recipe for success is yours. Mix to combine.

Reserve a half cup of sacrifice and set aside.

Pour mixture into the appropriate race venue(s) and bake 45 - 50 minutes. In the mean time, enjoy some cross-training. When the creation is completed, let cool for 15 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

By no means are these ingredients the only way to pull off a successful season. So, if you have any suggestions of how to change the "recipe," please leave a comment.

Weekend in Santa Rosa

2010-11-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

Training solo in the same place can become monotonous. I've been doing the same rides for the past several weeks and while I enjoy being able to train in San Jose, minus fish and beer encounters, I get bored on occasion. It's time like these that you take people up on training where they live.

I drove up to Santa Rosa this past weekend to train with elite athlete, Brice Winkler. Rain was in the forecast for Saturday and upon my arrival, the weather looked like it was going to cooperate for the rest of the day. I'm no weatherman, so what looked like cooperation turned into a cold downpour about a half hour later...

Since we were already out, we decided that the conditions weren't that bad and continued on. Although, shoecovers or oversocks would have been greatly appreciated. The temperature dropped into the high 30s, but that didn't affect our moral. I'm sure you've experienced something similar; the conditions are awful, but there's something so gratifying about toughing it out and finishing the intended time/distance/route.

On the way in, the clouds took a break and roads began to dry. Then, Brice managed a flat on a tubeless tire, so we limped home since we didn't have the means to fix the tire then and there. The rained also picked up where it left off and the roads were nice and slick once again. I didn't have any problems around the corners, but Brice on the other hand, was fishtailing all about the road on the deflated tire. It's safe to say that his bike handling skills are sound.

That night, his family treated me to a fantastic meal! While the the boeuf wellington was memorable, managing to avoid a tipping glass of wine was even more so. I still haven't a clue to how I moved so quickly. Best of all, I received another glass and an extra souffle on the house.

We rode again the next day and climbed Los Alamos Road. It's steep. More cogs would have been nice.

Turkey Trot

2010-11-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Last year I ran the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot and set a personal best in the 5k. Since another year has passed, I figured it'd be cake to set another one. However, the conditions weren't exactly conducive to fast running and I'm probably just making up excuses at this point...

Anyways, it was cold. Okay, it was California cold - mid to high 30's, big deal. I spent plenty of time warming up, which is great for preventing potential injuries, but I was completely lacking in the run fitness department.

The gun goes off, I'm cold, and my body is yelling, "Erich, why are you trying to make me run fast?" In my inner monologue I replied, "I don't know. Sorry, can we take a nap later?" My body then says, "You're dumb, we'll talk later." Great.

Other than that, it's a 5k race. There's really nothing interesting to be said.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tentative Changes

2010-11-19T16:30:00.000-08:00

One of the most exciting aspects of the off-season is planning the following season's schedule. This year has been no exception, but it's undergone change after change after change. It seems that once I find something suitable, something comes up and derails the plan. Sure, the schedule is always tentative, but the process has been frustrating and has taken the wind out of my sail just a little bit.

Luckily, finding a promising schedule restores that wind. However, that means whatever schedule I mailed to potential sponsors - who I can't really contact - will be incorrect. That's far from the end of the world, but what I've put together has little resemblance to the former.

The main prohibitive issue I'm encountering is cost, particularly from WTC branded events. Yes, triathlon is an expensive sport, but they seem to go above and beyond. Year after year, they're asking for more and more money and they get it. Great business model... wish I had come up with it...

Since I've already spoken ill of the WTC twice this month, I am choosing not to support any of their events in 2011. Hopefully I'll uphold that promise - I essentially let Muddy dictate my race schedule.

While I was hoping to post my schedule soon, I won't be - it's been too volatile. I have my general idea of where I want to go, but I'm playing it close to the chest for the time being. Yay, secrets.

Dropped Days

2010-11-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

No matter how talented an athlete you are, you're bound to have days where you just don't have it. Most often, those days are training days. The causes for such performances are not for a lack of effort. It could be due to one of several internal or external factors; poor sleep, tired legs, the wind, imperfect nutrition, a restless mind, and the excuses go on and on.

If you continually 'smash' or 'dominate' every workout session, you should stop reading this post. You'll lack interest and/or be unable to be empathic. You're also insecure.

I made my second trip up to Berkeley this past weekend to ride with elite triathlete, Brice Winkler. When I went up the weekend before last, everything was fine and it was a great day to be on the bike. This last Saturday on the other-hand, I couldn't hold his wheel if my life depended on it. Just like the week prior, it was all about base miles; high cadence, low gear, and enjoying the day. I didn't feel particularly tired, in fact, my legs felt good. Yet on every flat and on every climb, I got dropped. It was just one of those days.

On the last climb of the day heading back into Berkeley, I felt like a dropped domestique. As I climbed, several cars zoomed past me. Some of the cars coincidentally had bikes or racks atop their roofs, so it was like all the team cars were going on without me. Fortunately, I was able to pass a rider who looked like he was pregnant with twins. No offense intended, but I am significantly lighter in comparison. That, and there's the power to weight ratio in my favor.

Neither of us feel all that fit right now, nor do we want to. Being the January National Champion rarely gets you very far in the summer months. At least the day ended as all good days should end; with an awesome dessert of course!

Dear Santa

2010-11-09T18:55:00.001-08:00

I've been getting back into the swing of things for the last 3 or 4 weeks now and outside of training, things couldn't be more dull. The holiday season is one thing to look forward to though. Speaking of the holiday season, I kind of view the idea of teaming up with new sponsors to be like the lead up to Christmas. You know, you make a list, behave your best (or just be yourself), and send the wish-list off hoping to get what you want.

Now that I think about it, the idea of writing 'Santa' is quite similar to writing the company (or companies) of your choosing - mainly because companies usually get back to athletes around Christmas time. Also, because thousands upon thousands of wish-lists are mailed to the North Pole and an equal number of requests are mailed to the marketing departments of companies. Additionally, you are basically saying "I want what you can give me." Of course, it doesn't work like that, nor should it. Entrusting an athlete to represent a brand is a big deal and comes with big expectations.

If you haven't put it all together yet, 2011 sponsorships are on my mind. I'm trying my best to be ever so patient as the big day approaches. Unlike Christmas, where gifts are always opened on the 25th, companies get back to athletes once the resumes and budget is figured out. That could be before Christmas or it could be as late as February.

In the mean time, I wait with the ideas of wheels, bikes, shoes, helmets, glasses, and etc. bouncing through my head.

Check Please?

2010-11-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

Since there's so much talk about the WTC screwing things up left and right lately, I figured I might as well join in. Yeah, there's the failure of Ironman Access, 70.3 Miami, and so on, but my concern lies elsewhere.

By now, it's probably pretty apparent that I desire to race at the professional level one day. However, Ironman doesn't seem to truly care about the financial well-beings of their professionals. For instance, they charge professionals $750 (I believe it'll be $800 in 2011) just to be able to race Ironman events. Granted, that allows access to as many events as the athlete pleases, but it's an unnecessary cost to athletes who, on average, don't earn a lot of money. With the introduction of the 5i50 event series, what are they going to come up with next to screw athletes out of more money?

Of course there are other race options, but the WTC seems to put on more events than anyone else. It's essentially an oligopoly. I don't like oligopolies.

Hopefully organizations, like PROTA (Professional Triathlon Association), will successfully limit the heinous actions of the WTC and make the world a better place. By 'world,' I mean a conducive environment to actually let athletes develop and make a reasonable living. It's not like triathletes are as selfish as Lebron James and seek $100+ million dollar contracts. In that 'world' a.k.a. reality, most things are a lost cause.

Quality Time

2010-10-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Being that whatever training I have scheduled only takes an hour or two to complete, I have far too much time on my hands. Sometimes my downtime efforts are constructive, like when I take a nap. The rest of the time I'm flipping through websites, most of which are triathlon related, or playing Wii or seeing what Netflix instant has to offer. Then I get hungry and that's always a highlight of the day. These are the affects of being back in San Jose...

If there's been one benefit to sifting through triathlon websites, amongst others, it's that I've put together my tentative race schedule for 2011. Several dates for key races have yet to be released, so I'll tease you with my first three tentative events:

Rev3 Costa Rica (half); February 20th

Miami International Triathlon; March 13th

Lavaman Waikoloa; April 3rd

While I have yet to register for any of the events listed, Costa Rica is for sure. It'll be nice heading to a warm destination to kick-off the year. Winters here aren't that bad, but they sure aren't as nice as Costa Rica. On the general topic of winter training, I'll also be heading to a camp in Tucson sometime between January and February. If you're interested, send me an email and I'll get you the camp info as it becomes available.

Shape Up

2010-10-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

I bid adieu to the plates of sugary foods, greasy burgers, and just because slices of cake. The workout schedule is back and its quest to get involved in nearly every aspect of my life is complete. That means back to good food, plenty of rest, and quality time spent outdoors. Actually, I never really deviated from my normal eating habits... except I had one of Lava Java's cinnamon rolls and a few desserts at the K-Swiss after-party in Kona. Yum!

As with the start of any training, my motivation is high, and I eagerly await the start line of some form of competition. Then there's also the opportunities for cross-training. I really want to get a mountain bike, a 29'er in particular. Life Cycle Bike Shop is letting me take out one of their demo bikes tomorrow and my want for such a bike will likely turn into a need. No matter how you look at it, mountain biking is great cross-training; high cadence, lower heart-rate, a chance to develop better bike handling skills, and best of all, it's an opportunity to get off the road.

Cannondale Flash 29'er 1

Speaking of cross-training, I actually went into a weight room and used weights. It's been quite some time since I've lifted and even though I wasn't doing anything rigorous, I walked away very sore. It was almost pathetic considering the amount of weight I was lifting...

My couple of weeks living out of a suitcase are coming to a close, as I'm taking the train home Sunday. I'm not particularly excited about returning to San Jose, because it's San Jose. However, Muddy is in San Jose and working with him is something I wouldn't trade anything for.

The Endurance Traveler

2010-10-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Maybe endurance sports are more encompassing than we realize. While it's often recognized as a lifestyle, that point is really driven in when such an athlete has to pack their bags and hit the road. The socks are out, the water bottles are loaded, and special need bags are located within easy reach.

Flying to Kona wasn't as much of a circus as it was flying out. The usual socks and tights were worn, but it was the analogies that were running rampant. In every airport line and even while seated on the plane, people were talking about their itineraries as if it were a triathlon. Apparently flying out of Kona was the swim segment. Relatively speaking, people's "swim times" sucked being that that portion of their travel was the longest. Only those flying to Europe had decent "swim times."

Once we arrived to "T2," people were quickly wasting time, like most do in a real transition. Also like a real triathlon, people brought way too much stuff. Fortunately, no one carried on a 5-gallon bucket.

Similar to the bike segment, people were checking their watches and eating and drinking on a regular schedule. Granted, that is the best way to minimize the possibility of jet lag, but the choice of foods was what I found comical. Gels, bars, sports drink mixes/tabs. Really? Gels? Maybe a caffeinated gel is better than an airline's coffee, but did they not get enough of that food on race day!? I relish the days when I don't have to rely on gels, bars, and the similar. Don't get me wrong, I love my PowerBar products, but I won't touch them if I'm not working out.

That's essentially where my fun ended, because I flew into Eugene on a plane completely absent of compression socks. However, the stewardess on that flight wore way too much perfume and each time she walked up and down the aisle, I was overcome with nausea. To all the women out there that have a favorite perfume, you're likely putting on much more than you need. I know you want to smell like a flower bed exploded on you, but really, it's a tad bit overwhelming.

Ironman Week

2010-10-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

Just as the craziness of Ironman comes to a close, I have to depart. Once again, Kona is quiet. It's devoid of compression socks and speedos and getting a table at Lava Java isn't a 20-minute affair. By no means am I complaining, the atmosphere of Ironman week was incredible and the race itself was a spectacle.

I was able to watch the race from several different vantage points, which was nice considering how long the day is. My coach and I took in the swim just past the private beach of the King Kamehameha Hotel. Then it was up to the hot corner and then to mile 48/78 of the bike course. Watching the race on the Queen K was awesome. That is, until the draft packs started flying by. Fortunately, someone had a megaphone and was quite witty when riders were passing - solo or in a pack. After the pros came back through, it was back to Kona. I watched the run from here and there, but wanted to get out of the relentless sun, so I made my way into a sponsor's lounge. Lastly, I camped out at the finish line and that was that.

Kona seemed like a war zone the day after, as people weren't moving too fast. In fact, myself and my friends who I'm staying with were tired as well. However, that didn't stop us from jumping into the ocean to swim with dolphins. We spotted them from our table and figured, why not? Later that night was the K-Swiss after-party. Every big name in Ironman was there and it was cool meeting world-class professionals, olympians, and world champions.

Overall, the week has far surpassed my expectations and I owe a huge thanks to Jano and Paola! Their hospitality was truly amazing. Without them, this trip wasn't possible and I am forever in their debt.

This trip actually isn't over just yet. Rather than book a round-trip ticket back to San Jose, I booked it to Eugene, OR. So, good-bye sunshine and warmth. Hello, overcast and drizzle? No matter the weather of Oregon, I always enjoy visiting.

Kona

2010-10-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

Bored with the idea of an off-season at home and wanting to accrue a few more miles to gain an elite status with an airline, I decided to take a little vacation to Kona. I've never been to the Big Island and have always wanted to see the Ironman World Championship firsthand. Yes, I thought I was going to be racing here last year, but that didn't come to be. I can honestly say that I have no desire to do an Ironman anymore. Well, at least not for a long time.

So far, Kona is living up to its reputation as a madhouse during the Ironman build-up; compression socks galore, incredibly fit individuals everywhere, and busy beyond belief. It's all part of the atmosphere and I'm enjoying ever minute of it. Unfortunately, I haven't captured any pictures yet, but I'll tote my camera around today.

Yesterday, I swam the course with my friend, Jano Soto, who has been gracious enough to let me stay with him! The first couple hundred meters was a flustercuck with athletes everywhere, but had all the room in the world once we got out a bit further. It's definitely one of the best swims on the Ironman circuit! Upon finishing the swim, we swam over to the coffee bar and enjoyed coffee, sports-drink, and cookies... while treading water.

I'm hoping to demo a bike here and spend some time on the Queen K. If and when I do, I hope it's windy! I want to experience what kind of hell this place can be, if only for a little while.

Just for fun, here are my picks for the top 3 men and women:

1. Chris McCormack 1. Chrissie Wellington
2. Andy Potts 2. Mirinda Carfrae
3. Andreas Raelert 3. Julie Dibens

Year in Review

2010-10-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

What a season 2010 has been! Nine races in total; eight olympic, one half-ironman, and podium finishes at every race except for one - missed out by one spot. Overall, I'm quite happy with how the year came together. Without the support of the following people and/or companies, 2010 would not have been as successful as it was.

First, a big thanks is due to Dr. Kearns of SportsPlus. His support was nothing short of spectacular! He kept me injury free and got me up and running quickly after going over the handlebars in April. If it wasn't for his efforts, I wouldn't of been as fresh as I was so late in the season.

Another big thanks is due to Kiwami. Undoubtedly, the maker of the fastest and best looking tri suits. Not only do they look good, but they're comfortable too. Even in the heat and humidity of St. Croix, I never had to worry about the fit of my suit. From a spectator's perspective, it was always easy to find me.

Guess which one is me?

Continuing with the big thanks, one is due to Blue Seventy. While I continue to work on my swim, it's nice to have the maker of the fastest swim equipment on your side. I absolutely love every product of theirs that I've been fortunate enough to try. From their goggles to their wetsuits, everything is top notch.

Becoming a PowerBar sponsored athlete has made a huge impact in my training and racing. In years past, nutrition used to be something I fumbled with on occasion. Once I became aware of the range of drinks, bars, and gels they provide, questions about nutrition became a thing of the past. No other nutrition company has the range of athlete-tested products that PowerBar does - there's really something for everyone.

Trigger Point has been an integral part of my recovery since I first picked up the sport of triathlon and continues to be just that today. Being able to massage my legs after workouts has increased the rate in which I recover seemingly exponentially. I may not swim, bike, or run everyday, but I do use my Trigger Point massage kit everyday. If I have a secret to my recovery methods, I just revealed it.

Despite using less technology when I train nowadays, I owe a thanks to Suunto. Everything they make is precise, easy to use, and comfortable. For instance, I would hardly even notice their heart rate strap on runs. For the bike, their skewer integrated speed pod is easily the most genius and practical on the market. It's nice being able to just train and not have to worry about your electronics.

Lastly, another big thanks is due to the mastermind of my training plans, Muddy Waters. Working with Muddy has been the best decision I've made in the sport of triathlon. Not only have I recorded personal bests in every discipline under his watch, he's made me strongest where it matter most; between the ears. If you're looking for the best coach, look no further: www.coachmuddy.com

I'm very excited for the prospects of 2011 and will hopefully build a longer list of companies and individuals to recognize next season. In the mean time, it's break time! The bikes are put away, the piles of dirty workout clothes are clean, and it's time to relax.

Kona, I'll see you Wednesday.

Post-Season Injury Report

2010-09-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

In most professional sports, after a team's respective season is over, the injury reports are made public. No more vague references, such as: a lower body injury, you get the detailed report. With that being said, it's time to make my injuries known as well.

I have been training and racing (and blogging) for the greater part of the season with an intermediate phalangeal fracture in the index and middle finger of my right hand. Based on the location of the injury, no specific treatment would have promised a fast recovery, so I carried about my business. Swimming was probably the most affected. Have you ever struck someone else's hand who was swimming in a neighboring lane? It's not fun - hand fractures in general are not fun. So, if we've shaken hands in the last couple of months and you saw me wincing, it's not because your handshake is too strong. It's just that my hand had been very slow to heal... and maybe your handshake was in fact, too strong.

Cycling was affected to a degree, but it was nothing significant. I just came to dislike sudden stops a bit more.

At this point, you might be wondering how I went about fracturing two phalanges. Great question! Let's just say, it's wise to keep your hand away from a bike wheel while it's in motion. No, I wasn't riding. I was cleaning and tuning and somewhere in the process, stopped paying attention to the whereabouts of my hand. Simple as that; stupid as that.

As I continue winding down my workouts towards a definite break, I am confident that my hand will heal and that I'll be able to withstand even the firmest of handshakes. Seriously though, some people take the handshake thing a bit too far - I won't respect you more for trying to crush my hand.

USAT Age-Group Nationals

2010-09-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

My trip to Tuscaloosa was relatively successful, but not exactly what I was hoping for. Regardless, I put forth a good effort. Here are the details from the day:

By the time my wave entered the water, the air and water temperature were just about equal at 83º. Then the horn blew and we pushed off the pontoon. I started well and avoided the usual melee of swim starts. As usual, we bunched up around the turn buoys, but once we cleared the first two turns (of three), I found clear water and pulled away from the small group I was with.

T1 wasn't as fast as I would have hoped it to be - all the white bikes and helmets blended together. However, my red grip tape did stand out and I was out onto the course quickly.

The bike course consisted of two loops of rolling hills, which suited me well. I kept it in the big chain ring the entire time and was making good progress. Being that the course was two loops and filled with hundreds of athletes, the road was tight. As a result, I rode on the left-hand side of the lane almost the entire time. The marshals looked like they were quite busy, as they were always writing race numbers in their notebooks. That, or maybe they were playing sudoku.

T2 didn't have many bikes racked, so I knew I was in good position for a top finish.

My legs weren't as snappy as I expected them to be starting the run. In my mind, there was no reason for them not to be. Regardless, I pushed on hoping to find a rhythm. That rhythm never came. Fortunately, the course offered some hills, which I figured would help wake up my legs. That too was untrue. I did pass people from my age-group, but I was also passed once or twice in return. I tried picking up the pace in the second half of the run, but never seemed to find my stride.

I crossed the line in 2:00:17. Good enough for 4th in my age-group and 18th overall. Had I run the pace that I've ran in almost every other Olympic distance event this year, my placing would of been significantly better. Overall, I am happy with the result considering the quality of competition, but was left scratching my head after the run performance or lack thereof. Maybe flying coach and racing within 48 hours wasn't such a good idea. Or maybe I never truly got rid of that cold I had the week prior. It doesn't matter anymore though, the 2010 season is finished and things are going to be a lot more exciting in 2011!

Alabama Bound

2010-09-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

All that stands between me and an off season is Age Group Nationals. I've had a great season thus far and I'm really excited to try to end the year with a bang! Plain and simple, the plan is to leave it all on the course... as is the case with any race, but especially this one.

I depart for Tuscaloosa Thursday morning and will be in town by the early afternoon. Then it's the usual packet pick-up, bike check, and the similar. One aspect of the race that I'm especially looking forward to is the warmth. Racing with numb feet for half the run is only so much fun. With a water temperature of 84º, I'm sure that's a good indicator of what to expect race day.

Other than that, I've had a busy schedule lately, which is a nice change of pace. However, with an off season looming, I'm sure I'll be searching for something to do very quickly. Hopefully that search won't entail employment, because that goes against my adopted mantra from my friend, Ryan Power: "Pursing athletic excellence to avoid a real job."

Triathlon at Pacific Grove

2010-09-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Triathlon at Pacific Grove caught my eye late last season and I had been anxious to race there ever since. Race day came and it didn't disappoint. Here's how my day played out:

Heavy fog rolled in and lingered, making visibility less than ideal, but manageable nonetheless. As my wave lined up under the arch, we could just make out the turn buoys in the distance.

Once the swim was underway, I felt good and really wanted to push the pace. The first turn buoy created congestion, so I tried going a little wide and getting around some people. That is the point where my swim got derailed. I hit a thick patch of kelp and had to fall back into a group. The size of the group dwindled, but the pace didn't increase. Growing tired of slapping peoples feet, I tried passing again, but every attempt was futile. The thick patches of kelp made swimming impossible; hence the kelp crawl nickname. My frustration grew, because I wasn't swimming nearly as hard as I wanted to and was losing time to the lone athlete who got away.

As usual, I was in and out of T1 and onto the bike, which consisted of four loops along the coast on a relatively flat road. The winds were gentle, with a slight headwind on the way out. I rode hard from the get-go wanting to get warm and make up time. By the end of the ride, I moved into 3rd position, just seconds back from 2nd.

I had cold feet coming off the bike and fumbled a bit with my shoes. I hit the run course just seconds after the 2nd place athlete and caught him within 30 seconds. My stride felt a bit off on the first lap (of three), but feeling returned to my feet and I was able to pick up the pace. The gap between me and the guy behind kept growing, but no one ever gave me a split on the athlete ahead. Regardless, I put my head down and ran.

I crossed the line 2nd overall. I had a good race, but the swim left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Had I been able to swim my swim, I think the race for the top spot would have been much closer, but that's not to discredit the top amateur, who raced very well.

Overall, I'm very happy with my form as Nationals approaches. Now all that's left to do is recover, stay sharp, and get on a plane.

Ah! Pacific Ocean Ice Baths

It Might Be Cold

2010-09-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm two days away from my next race at Tri California's Triathlon at Pacific Grove. Since fall has unofficially begun here in California, I'm expecting the race to be on the cooler side. The water ought to be between 57º - 58º and the air temperature high for Saturday is 65º. I'm racing in the morning, so the mercury may break 60º in time for awards.

There ought to be morning fog too, which will likely hide the sun and give me a pretty good idea of what it must be like to race in Seattle (minus some precipitation). I'm not complaining about the conditions, because they give me the incentive to go hard! Partly in the name of warmth, but mainly for the sake of let's see how far I can push myself. It's really a fun strategy.

Overall, I've been feeling good and can't wait to see what it's like to swim through a kelp forest. From what I hear, it can be rather difficult. So, my objective for the swim is to not be like a sleeping otter, because they wrap themselves in kelp. Terrible analogy, but look at that otter. Precious.

A Funk

2010-09-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

You ever had a week where you suck at all your workouts? It's been one of those weeks for me. Since Alcatraz, all I've done is slept or puttered around during workouts. Maybe "puttered" isn't the right word, because it's not for lack of effort - my body was just in disagreement.

Fortunately, things came around this morning. I was expecting another day of drudgery in the pool, but was actually swimming well. Like, bettering my splits well. Then I went of for my easy ride and it felt true to its name, easy! This past Wednesday Nighter wasn't the prettiest. I took some pulls on the flats and as we approached the main climb, I watched the main pack vanish into the distance. Then, I was continually passed and couldn't muster the energy to hold someone's wheel. I sucked.

I wasn't even all that sore after Alcatraz. Taking a nap in the med tent turned out to be a fantastic idea! That just might have to become post-race tradition. All in all, I'm starting to feel great and am performing well, so I'll take that as a good omen for my last two races of the year; Tri Cal's Pacific Grove and Nationals.

Oddly enough, I'm starting to enjoy cold water swims. 60º and under and I'm all smiles :-) I believe the water temperature at Santa Cruz was 58º and this past swim had to have been that or a little colder. Both swims were rather comfortable, but I don't know how much adrenaline played a part in making it seem better than it was. Blue Seventy's Neoprene Cap definitely helps though.

Speaking of cold water, I'm hoping to swim just off of Sea Cliff in Santa Cruz on Monday. Several swimmers from my masters' program went last week and saw dolphins. I want to swim with dolphins!

San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz

2010-08-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz has become one of, if not my favorite race venues. The swim is truly one of a kind, the bike and run are equally beautiful, and put together, they make for a tough day!

Race morning was surprisingly calm. I arrived at transition a little after 4 am and took all of 5 minutes to put things in their place. After that, I walked over to the buses and was on my way to the pier. Even the bus ride was absent of nervous energy. Then we boarded the ferry and pushed off. Simple as that.

Expecting to line up on the outside of the ferry before the start, I was still quite relaxed. That was until everyone made a mad dash through the doors. I quickly put my goggles in place and found clear water to jump into - there was no room for diving. The shock of the cold water wasn't that bad and I controlled my breathing the best I could and felt comfortable. I took a rather aggressive line towards the swim exit, instead of swimming towards shore and then letting the current take me in. The water was a little choppy at times, which would ruin my stroke rhythm every now and then due to unintentional mouthfuls of water. Overall, the swim went well, as I felt stronger as the swim progressed.

On a side note, the swim there is something every triathlete should experience. When I would breath to my left, I saw the sun just starting to break through the clouds above the Bay Bridge. A little further up and there was the San Francisco skyline. Not that this is the proper head position for breathing, but when I breathed to my right and back a little bit, there was Alcatraz! A little further up and while breathing naturally, there was the Golden Gate Bridge. It's no wonder why people have brought cameras on this swim or have treaded water for a moment to take it all in. It's spectacular.

A friend of mine took this at the Escape a few years back.

As usual, I was in and out of T1 in a hurry and onto the bike. Then came the hills. I was definitely at a disadvantage not knowing the bike course here, especially the down-hills. For the most part, I was fine climbing, I just didn't know how long the climbs were. Near the top of each climb, I would usually be close to a few athletes ahead, but once the windy descents began, I lost time - I couldn't see through the corners and really didn't want to go into one too fast. After the hills, we rode along Highway 1 to the turn-a-round, with a short loop in Golden Gate Park. Then it was back to the hills. I wouldn't say I rode that well, but I didn't ride all that bad either. Knowing the turns and topography would have been nice though.

I was a bit cold coming off the bike and my feet were numb, despite wearing toe warmers. I struggled with my shoes, but still managed to record one of the faster T2s. Then it was time to hit the run and warm up. The first mile and a half were flat and I kept my pace in check due to the hills ahead, which I also knew nothing about. After that flat section, there was a lovely set of stairs to run. Then it became an Xterra run; dirt trails, tunnels, sand, hills, the works. After the short beach run came the infamous sand ladder. When the wooden beams were exposed, I made good progress. However, during the segments where sand covered all, I felt like I was going nowhere. I didn't walk the sand ladder, but I can't say I ran it either - I just got up it. As if that weren't enough climbing, we had another uphill section immediately after that. Fortunately the surface was compact dirt, so I felt like I was flying. I have to admit, this "adventure running" was a lot of fun and it kind of made me feel like I was running from the authorities. Then the course offered some respite in the form of gently rollers, but I picked up the pace. All that was left was the first set of stairs we initially climbed and a mile and a half. I quickly, but cautiously descended the sandy stairs and found yet another gear once I hit the flats. I passed an Elite about a mile out and pushed on. I was really starting to hurt with 600 meters to go and I took a glance back to see the athlete from before no more than 25 meters behind. I instinctively stepped on it again and was putting myself further into the hurt box. Once I entered the chute, I knew I was free and clear, but kept my stride hoping I wouldn't throw up - I was running well, but the pace hurt. Thankfully, I kept everything down.

Overall, I'm very happy with how the race played out and how I performed, especially since I didn't know I'd be racing until Friday. The initial results listed me as the top amateur, but that changed 15-minutes prior to awards. Then when I checked again yesterday evening, I was back atop the amateur rankings - there were some timing chip issues with the other athlete. Results will be final in two weeks time, but the placing really doesn't matter, the top amateur thing just sounds better.

A big thanks to due to Tri California for putting on such a great race! Everything was superb: the venue, the organization, the food, etc. I also want to thank Dr. Tony Kearns of SportsPlus, who was on hand with his alma mater and took great care of me and the other athletes after the race.

Race Week!?

2010-08-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not one to sign up for a race last minute, but when an opportunity presents itself, I'm all over it. With that being said, I'll be jumping off a ferry and embracing the cold water of the San Francisco Bay this Sunday at Tri California's San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz.

The opportunity first presented itself Wednesday evening, but I've been waiting to confirm my race entry until I had some more information. Obviously I have that information now.

I'm very excited to race on such a unique venue. The course is also different from the Escape from Alcatraz race, in that, the bike is 25 miles and the run is 7. Whereas the Escape course is 18 miles on the bike and 8 on the run. Regardless, I'll get the opportunity to tackle the sand ladder and everything else the course has to offer.

That's all for now, as bike prep and elevating my feet takes precedence.

Motivation

2010-08-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you who work with a coach, do you eagerly wait for next week's training schedule to be in your inbox? I do. Sunday usually calls for a long run and being that waking up at 7 is considered "sleeping in," my day is done shortly after it began. I then pass the time recovering, i.e. sitting on my ass, until I find out that I (essentially) get to do it all over again. It may seem circular, but I look forward to training every day. Life is good.

Staying motivated for an entire season can be tough. For instance, I found it particularly difficult to stay focused racing into November the past two years - my mind was desperately calling for a break. This year, my motivation has snowballed. I believe that's because of two things: not racing into November and a little something called Muddy Love.

I have two more races on my schedule and September 25th is the day I care about the most; I also want it to be over the fastest. It's not that I'm dreading it, because the faster I get through it, the greater likelihood I had a really fast day! A fast day at Nationals would make me very happy. So, being more strategic about my race schedule has helped keep my interest peaked.

The second reason for my late season zest is the Muddy Love. Since the last week in February, I've been working with Muddy Waters. Arguably, the best coach in the business! I feel very fortunate to be working with him because he instills so much confidence in his athletes. Hence, the Muddy Love treatment. I see him few several times a week for workouts and that alone, keeps me motivated to get that much faster and stronger. It's a process, but I know I'm in the best hands.

Before I know it, September will be here, and it'll be time for race that I've been working towards the entire year. Then it will be over, I'll map something out for next year, and I'll eagerly await to race again.

Love/Hate

2010-08-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with pools. That's nothing new, remember my post about them from Spain? Anyways, they're abundant, yet so limited at the same time. There are several programs with which I can swim with, but the hours aren't always convenient.

Since I started swimming with a masters program, I haven't had any issues. However, when I have a short swim scheduled, that's where everything starts falling apart. Where to go? What are the hours? What's the entry fee? Do I have to circle with you!?! Fun Noodles don't belong in the fast lane! Aqua-jogging in the middle of the lane? C'mon! and so on...

Swimming at Santa Clara at 5:30 was out of the question since I had a track session scheduled at 6:15. I had planned on swimming at the Community Center pool where the track is, but they charge $7 for drop-in swimmers. Hmm, 40 minutes of swimming for $7? No thanks. Call me a cheapskate, but that isn't worth it. I then drove to Santa Clara to see if I could squeeze in, but no, the kids were taking the pool as soon as masters got out. I asked about the other pool where they hold a masters program, but same story. Bleh.

Then I drove over to the pool where I used to swim before Santa Clara, but then I remembered that they're taking their annual break. Super. Regardless, it was an off hour and I would have been sneaking in.

So, I went home, took a nap, and had a cantaloupe smoothie when I woke up. It was good. Really good, actually.

This is not the actual smoothie I had - I drink straight from the blender.

Fish & Beer Battered

2010-08-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

The idiocy of people will never cease to amaze to me. It makes me wonder how we're all so closely linked in terms of our genetics, because I question my "not so distant" relation to 99% of the people out there.

I was out for a short, easy ride on the outskirts of the suburbs of Almaden. All was going well, until I heard a truck slowing behind me. Then I felt a shower of tuna, sardines, and the spray of beer. Naturally, the cowards that drove the truck, sped away. Unfortunately, a deer didn't appear in the road, forcing them to swerve, causing their truck to roll into a grove of trees. Seriously, where are the deer when you really need one?

Since I was quite upset with what just happened, I started sprinting to catch the truck. I figured there was an outside chance that I could catch the truck if they stopped at all the stop signs. So, I mashed the pedals so hard that Mark Cavendish might have had trouble holding my wheel - probably not true. After turning the corner and seeing a clear road ahead, I stopped the pursuit and cut my ride short feeling demoralized. Then I got a good whiff of the beer and fish...

The bastards managed to soak my jersey in beer and the pungent oil which marinated the fish - which was now marinating me. It was very unpleasant. I have no idea who the people were who threw the stuff at me, but I'm sure I can type them. Besides being obvious losers, they're they type that go to a local community college for 8 years and never transfer. They lead boring lives, working dead-end jobs, which perpetuates a life of misery that they mask through being douche-bags and partying all the time. They also get fat. In essence, they contribute nothing to society; they just make the world a worse place.

Santa Cruz International

2010-08-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

My first official race in the Elite division is over and I'd say it was a success. While I'm still an amateur, my coach encourages me to race with the next level whenever possible. I'm sure doing so will result in several humbling experiences, but it'll just be fuel to my fire.

Despite the race being held during the height of summer, the weather of Santa Cruz is always a bit different from Silicon Valley. The morning fog made for rather cold and wet conditions - which really aren't my favorite. Oh well, the race goes on.

For the swim, we had a two loop course next to the Santa Cruz Pier. I tried going for a warm-up swim, but the water was a bit too cold to loosen up in. Instead, I did arm circles and similar dry-land exercises to get ready. Then we lined up for a beach start and ran out.

Adrenaline is wonderful thing, in that it distracted me from the cold water. By the time we reached the first buoy, there were five athletes (including myself) getting away from the group and the water temperature didn't matter. By the second turn, the top two guys were opening a gap and I was trailing at the back of the pack. The third turn was on the beach, so we got to battle waves and thick clusters of seaweed coming in and out of the water. The standings stayed the same on the second loop, so I exited the water in 5th.

Transition was 400 meters from the swim exit, so I got to see what barefoot running is all about. I guess it's alright, although I doubt it's intended to be done on concrete. Anyways, I passed one guy on the run in and passed another in transition.

Thanks to the fog, the roads were wet. I was also a bit cold due to the swim, so I did what any rational person would do: hammer the bike! The course was a flat 4-loops, with a few tricky turns coming back in along the coast. After completing the first loop, I knew how to take the turns and where to push the hardest. As a result, I recorded the third best bike split, which maintained my 3rd place standing.

Transitions are becoming a specialty of mine, especially T2. Hey, it's free time! Why not take advantage of it?

The run course was an out and back along the coast. I went out hard, but I couldn't feel a thing since my feet were numb. The only opportunity to see where I stood relative to the leaders was at the turn-a-round and by my estimates, I was a little over a minute or so back. By now, my feet felt better and I was running strong, but I was never able to see either of the lead guys coming in. I came in strong and finished 3rd in the Elite division and 3rd overall. It also turns out that I had the second best run split too.

Overall, I had a good race. I know I'm capable of a faster run, but colder weather definitely hampers one's potential. Best of all, I came home with a check! I broke even (and then some) for the weekend.

Splash & Dash III

2010-08-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last installment of the Splash & Dash series. With that, that essentially ends my open water swimming opportunities - every lake or reservoir around here doesn't permit swimming. Fortunately, I felt that I got a good swim in and am on pace towards becoming a stronger swimmer.

Here's how the race played out:

I opted to swim in just a speedo to give myself the best workout possible. That decision cost me a few spots to those who had on wetsuits, but at least I got a better sense of my true swim strength. Speaking of that strength, it needs to get A LOT better. Regardless, I swam well and wasn't too far back from the leaders.

Mentally, my day was done as soon as I set foot on land. The plan was to push the swim and cruise the run. I casually made my way through transition and started the run at a very comfortable pace. The run course is quite hilly, but I managed to pass 4 people by the turn-a-round. Then I passed an additional 3 and found myself within the Top 5 or 6. No one else was terribly close, so I finished either 5th or 6th overall.

So, either people blew up on the run course or my sense of "comfortable" is actually fast.

Afterwards, my coach approached me and said that had he given me the green light to run hard, the race would have been mine. That would have been nice, but I'm racing at the Santa Cruz International on Saturday in the Elite wave. I need to have some snap in my legs to compete with the big boys.

On the way home, it only seemed to appropriate to stop by Swirls for a frozen yogurt. I had Blueberry New York Cheesecake with additional blueberries. Yes, it is as good as it sounds. Again, a big thanks is due to Swirls for sponsoring me for the Splash & Dash series! Thank you for your support!

Oregon Trail

2010-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Remember the game Oregon Trail? It was pretty awesome for its day and kept me entertained for a bit when I was younger. Nowadays, rather than playing the game, I hit the road and live it!

I venture back to Oregon a few times a year and being that I tote my bike back and forth, I drive. Flying would be wonderful, but tickets can be questionably expensive and then there's dealing with the bike. Taking a train is something that recently came to my attention and is of great interest - it'd be an overnight train - but it's not practical for this trip, since I won't just be in Eugene. Instead, I suffer in the car.

Driving 8 - 9 hours is probably like going on a modern day wagon expedition, especially in my car. For instance, I'd imagine that your butt would go numb sitting on a wooden wagon bench. Well, my right buttock goes numb every time I drive longer than 45 minutes. Then, I'd assume that the wagon in motion isn't exactly quiet - wooden wheels and all. Well, my car is quite loud at freeway speeds and that's where 99% of the drive takes place. What about losing an ox? I worry about the same thing, only in the form of how much fuel it wants and will my car keeping running strong and get me over the Cascades?

My car isn't as dilapidated as I'm making it out to be, but it's still far from perfect. However, it is just as uncomfortable to drive as I'm making it out to be.

Fun fact: my bike frames alone (separately), are worth more than my car...

Hopefully, new compression tights, black tea, a few new albums on my ipod, and a 5-hour Energy will make the time pass by a bit faster. Or maybe I'll die of dysentery.

Game over.

Col du Hamilton

2010-07-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, myself and several other athletes rode to the top of Mt. Hamilton. We had tried once before this year in March, but foul weather spoiled that attempt. It was also on that attempt, that myself and another athlete took a detour and I ended up crashing on a steep descent. Fortunately, the weather was on our side this time and I kept the rubber side down.

Excuse the attempted French pronunciation - I miss the tour. You'll get 'em next year, Schleck.

As for the ride, there's nothing daunting about the 18.5 miles to the observatory since the grade is fairly shallow, even though the total elevation gain is somewhere around 4,600 feet. Since the climb is sustained (it's essentially a 3-part climb), it's a great opportunity for long, steady efforts. Our group broke up within the first mile and we all found our own pace and regrouped at the top.

Not feeling like a daredevil, I started the descent on the conservative side - not going going full-bore into the corners or mashing the pedals once I was through an apex. My confidence descending grew as the descent continued and I eventually started ripping down the mountain. It's always fun to see how long it takes to summit and how little time it takes to get down.

Afterwards, we met back at our coach's place, had a BBQ, and watched the time-trial. Best of all, by the time everything was said and done, it was only 1 o'clock. Perfect for an afternoon nap! That, my friends, is a good training day.

Halfway Point

2010-07-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

The 2010 season is more than halfway over for me. I've competed in 5 triathlons and a couple aquathlons, although I haven't taken the aquathlons all that seriously. Overall, I'm very pleased with my progress to date - it's the best it has ever been. Naturally, I reflect back on the season about what has worked and what hasn't. So, what have I learned thus far?

Training with people makes every workout better! Last year I had a lot of me time, too much me time actually. There were other athletes in my area, but we all seemed to be on different schedules and none of us wanted to deviate from our prescribed schedules. Nowadays, I train with people every time I get in the pool, a few times a week on the bike, and once or twice on the run. I still get in solo rides and runs - which are nice at times.

Speaking of running, if I hear the pitter-patter of another runner approaching, I accelerate. That's great when it comes to racing, but when I'm out for a long, slow run, there's no need to try to blow by another runner joining me on the trail. I became aware of this condition at the weekly track session; it used to be out front or nothing. Thankfully I've developed some restraint, so I can push the pace when it's necessary.

Having a food log is an integral part of making every workout count. I've documented what I've eaten before and after workouts and when. As a result, stomach cramps and the similar have become a thing of the past. It definitely takes some time and I'm still documenting, but when I'm an hour or two out from a workout, I know with a great deal of certainty how my stomach will react. It's also a great way to constantly test race-morning nutrition.

Ice baths are awesome! While they may be uncomfortable at times, the benefits are worth it! I was using the pool at my house for awhile, but summer is in full force and the water is too warm now. There's always the bath tub, but I'd need bags of ice to get the water within the ideal temperature range. Overall, it's the best 6-8 minutes you can do to initiate recovery.

Compression socks can be worn with shorts in public. Yes, you'll garner some odd looks, but it's a great conversation starter. Old people tend to be the most inquisitive. Heck, sometimes they're wearing them too! However, I don't think they're wearing them because they just finished a 10-mile run. I think people my age think I'm a confused wannabe school-girl...

Continuing the recovery rant, sitting around with your feet up all day is as good as it sounds! Although, I wish there were a safer way to eat while lying down. Smoothies are great, but I'm talking about solid foods. I guess I could just make a normal meal and then throw it in a blender? Hmm.

When you're body is getting fatigued in a workout or race, just ask yourself, "What would Jens [Voigt] do?" Naturally, he'd say, "Shut up body and do what I tell you!" It has really come in handy for me. For example, on the Wednesday Nighters and most recently on the run at the Metro Triathlon.

Well, these are a few of the lessons learned, but I'm calling it quits from here since I just realized it's already 9 and I'm getting up at 4:30 to swim as usual.

Metro Triathlon

2010-07-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

I entered the Metro Triathlon looking for a hard workout and it delivered! To my surprise, the swim and run course were changed last minute - so much for an identical comparison to the Silicon Valley International - but at least it made for a more interesting day.

The swim course was two loops, with a beach turnaround. I shot to front and had smooth water to myself. Around the first turn, I got knocked in the face and took on water in my goggles. The buoys were bright, so sighting was still a piece of cake. I made the turn in 3rd position and maintained that standing on the second lap.

Similar to the Silicon Valley International, there was a slight headwind on the way out, but I pushed a bigger gear this time around. Coming back into town, I could see the 2nd place athlete up the road and made a few surges to catch up. Cresting the lone hill on the course, I was no more than 20-seconds down, but couldn't seem to bridge the gap.

As soon as I was in T2, I was out. I then got some encouraging words from my coach that went a little something like this: "No f@#king around this time!" With that being said, I was breathing hard almost immediately. I overtook the second place athlete within the first quarter mile and tried to continue pushing the pace, but that pace was proving to be difficult after pushing the bike leg. The volunteers told me I was gaining on the lead athlete, but the times were all over the place. One would say a minute, then I'd hear 35-, 45-, or 30-seconds. Obviously I didn't pay too much attention to the splits and just kept going as hard as possible. I would say I was about a minute down at the turnaround and as soon as I turned and started heading in, I saw the next athlete who was only 25-seconds or so behind. Not wanting to give up any ground, I dug a bit deeper and picked up the pace. I was hurting, but pain truly is temporary.

I crossed the line 2nd overall, 54-seconds behind 1st. Overall, I'm happy with the performance - it was a good, hard workout. I spent much of the day alone, so it's nice to know that I can dig deep when no one is right there. As for bettering my splits, I was only able to better the bike. However, the swim and run course were different - I was 26-seconds slower on the swim and 23 on the run, but 3:17 faster than I was at the Silicon Valley International.

This Seems Familiar

2010-07-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

I had originally planned to race the San Francisco Triathlon last weekend, but after talking it over with my coach, we opted not to. For one, the roads are crap and it's a loop course. Crappy roads + loops + poor bike handlers = no race. It's simple non-numeric math.

Instead, I'll be racing this weekend at the Metro Triathlon. The race takes place on the exact same course as the Silicon Valley International, which I competed in just last month. Why race on the same course again? Well, it's surely not because I think the course is particularly awesome; I'm doing it for comparative purposes and because it'll be a good, hard workout.

My goal is to better my time for each discipline. I'm confident that will happen on the swim since I've tweaked my stroke. It's going to be awhile before the strength is there, but I am pulling more water. Bettering the bike time ought to be a piece of cake. After all, the bike course at the Silicon Valley International was over a mile long and I have faith that this race company will have the distances down to the inch. As for bettering the run, I need to run hard enough so I can't talk. I ran comfortably and even chatted with the athlete next to me before stepping on the gas at mile 3. This time, I intend to step on the gas and keep my foot down.

Following this event, I'll be on three courses which I have yet to race. So there's some variety. Speaking of variety, I went grocery shopping today and came home with four boxes of cereal (amongst other things).

Comparisons

2010-07-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

I was motor-pacing earlier today and since I rode without my watch - I'm trying to diminish my watch tan - I was unaware of our speed. After discussing how one of the runs felt, my coach mentioned we were going 30 mph. My first thought was, "That's essentially how fast the peloton travels in the Tour de France." Of course we could go faster, but we're building back up now that I've shaken my cold. After finishing up, I asked what's the fastest he's motor-paced someone.

47 mph!

That athlete was a world-class professional, who was an absolute beast on the bike (and in the water)! Obviously it took some time to build up to that level of intensity, though. I hope to be motor-pacing at that level one day.

Before I get to motor-pace at such high speeds, I need to learn how to swim. I have a feeling I'll have a very defined speedo tan with all the time I'll be logging in the water. Simply put, if I want to compete at the next level, I need to learn how to pull A LOT of water! Until I can do that, I have no reason to talk about the next level.

Swim emphasis starts now.

Splash & Dash II

2010-07-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I competed in the second Splash and Dash. Actually, I should rephrase that; I was at the second race of the series. I wasn't able to shake the cold I was developing and since I had a hard track session on Tuesday and the Wednesday Nighter - where I broke away and stayed away with another athlete - I wasn't giving my body enough time and rest to get over the virus.

I had a bit of a tickle in my throat on Thursday morning and my legs were uncharacteristically tight, but with a 6 p.m. start time, I was hoping things would come around. After warming up, I chatted with my coach and we decided that it'd be best to push the swim and take it easy on the run.

The water was much warmer this time around, so I put on my Blue Seventy Pointzero3. Most people opted for wetsuits, so I knew I was giving up a few positions out of the water. At 73º, professionals wouldn't have been able to wear a wetsuit and if I want to compete with the big boys, I'm better off not wearing one. Overall, I felt good in the water trying to keep the pace a bit higher. Regardless, I still have a lot of work to do in the pool and will start a swim emphasis soon.

As soon as I got my shoes on, I casually shuffled out of transition. I ran at a comfortable pace and ignored the people in front of me. Despite jogging, I still finished 12th overall. In the first Splash & Dash, I had the fastest run split and managed 4th overall. It's too bad I wasn't able to compare performances - even on the swim, which was actually 1,500 meters this time.

Fortunately, there is one more race left and I expect to be in better form by then.

Thanks again to Swirls Frozen Yogurt of Almaden for sponsoring me for the series! Their support means a lot and the yogurt they serve is second to none. Especially on a hot day, which we're having a lot of.

Uneventful

2010-06-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Life has been pretty uneventful of late. Just the usual train, eat, and sleep. By no means am I complaining, I absolutely love it! However, that lifestyle doesn't always make for compelling blogs, but I'll put together what I can.

Training has been progressing very well and my recovery has been awesome. So awesome in fact, in my last few visits to SportsPlus, Dr. Kearns has asked me "Why are you here?" It's nice to know that my body is holding up well, as both intensity and volume are being increased. Dr. Kearns is deserving of a big thanks, because if it wasn't for his time and effort, there's no way I'd be feeling as good as I have been.

Eating has been going really well too. Summer is always a fun time for food, because my appetite seems to drop as the temperature rises. I've always found it difficult to eat bigger meals in summer. Then again, I rarely eat more than 750 calories in one sitting. Neither should you, you're body has a tough time to breaking down and making use of those calories in excess of that number.

Sleeping is another thing that becomes slightly more challenging in summer. For one, the second story in our house gets quite warm - the downside of living on an exposed hill. Second, being that I wake up around 4:30 several times a week, it's hard to get a solid 8-hours in. I'd have to be in bed by 8:30 to accomplish that, but it's still light outside. Yes, I have darkening shades, but I want the evening breeze to come in and cool my room. It's quite the conundrum.

Besides that, I have a bit of a sore throat and am trying oh so diligently to get rid of it. The second Splash & Dash is tomorrow evening and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll have knocked it by then.

Spur the Moment

2010-06-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Just like my decision to attend the University of Oregon, I decided to drive up to Oregon for the weekend on a whim. Well, there were some factors, but they're neither here nor there. Regardless, the prospect of training in Eugene in summer is one I'll take at any opportunity.

I decided I wanted to go to Oregon Thursday afternoon and left as soon as I could the next morning. All that stood between me and the car was a masters swim and 30 miles on the bike. Like any weekday morning, I was wide awake by 4:30 and in the water by 5:30. After finishing the main set - which included too much fly for my liking - I hit T1 (the locker room) and changed into my bike gear and went out for a spin. As soon as that was done, it was off to T2 (my house) and then back on the road again for the point-to-point run (excessively long car ride).

Sweet pseudo-tri analogy, I know.

I won't talk about the car ride, because if I elaborated on it, I fear I might forever lose some readers. Actually, one comment about long car rides. Water makes for a poor beverage choice. It doesn't keep you awake and it makes you have to pee a lot, especially if you're on top of your hydration.

Anyways, training back where it all began; Eugene, OR. This trip was far more successful than my previous trip in early spring when it rained everyday and the only time I got outside was for a track workout when it was 38º and pouring. A few rain clouds did show themselves, but they didn't get in the way of my workouts.

On Saturday, I met up with Rob and we went out for a few hours on the bike. Coming from CA, it felt rather nippy, but cold crisp air is another thing I don't mind as long as I have the proper apparel, which I did. Truth be told, I really miss riding in Eugene! There's so many great cycling routes within close proximity. If only the weather was better more often...

Sunday called for a long run in the hills and I couldn't of been happier to have that workout while in town. I did a figure eight loop in the Hendrick's Park area, ran by Pre's rock, and overall, felt great for the duration. To make things even better, a warm breakfast was waiting for me once I got back.

Similar to Friday, I had a swim and bike scheduled on Monday, but was in no hurry to get going, although I was awake by 5. I hopped in the pool with the Emerald Aquatics masters program and got in a solid 5k set. After that, I took my time getting on the bike and rode my old bread and butter route for an easy spin. After that, the P3 got some love from Life Cycle Bike Shop and I took my time wandering around town reminiscing.

In the process, I lost track of time, left a bit later than I had planned, and got home somewhere around 1 in the morning. Not the best plan of action with a 6:15 track workout the next morning, but if you follow me on twitter (@ewegsche), you know it wasn't all that bad.

Who knows how many more spur the moment trips I'll make back up there to visit friends. I'd like to say a lot, but that's unlikely due to time constraints. If only there was a high speed railway connecting the west coast...

Silicon Valley International

2010-06-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Race week has come and gone and reflection time has set in. As I mentioned before, this race's purpose was to see how well my fitness is coming along. I'm happy to say that it's coming along just fine, but there's still a lot I need to work on. Here's how the day unfolded:

To get in 1,500 meters, the swim course zigzagged in the pond known as Almaden Lake. I felt good in the water and swam alone for the most part - most people seemed to have added a few extra zigzags. The sun might have played a part in that, but not for me. I swam in Blue Seventy's Hydra Vision mirrored goggles and they were nothing short of wonderful. Low profile design, wide viewing angle, and mirrored lenses made for a worry-free swim. I exited the water in 3rd position.

I'm quite familiar with the bike course, being that the Wednesday Nighter loop is almost identical to it, minus a few turns. The course is also notorious for being fast, but a steady headwind on the way out changed that. Establishing a solid rhythm proved to be difficult, but I was steadily making up ground. After the turnaround, I pushed a bigger gear and moved into first, but only by seconds.

Starting the run, I was neck and neck with another athlete in my age-group. I was feeling quite comfortable with the pace and led the way until the 3-mile mark, where I put in a little surge. The little surge put quite a distance between the two of us and I carried on strong. At that point, I knew no one was going to be able to catch me if I kept that pace and I did just that.

I finished 1st in my age-group and after looking through the preliminary results, I was 5th overall and the 1st overall amateur. As usual, I'm nit-picky about how my day went, but am happy overall. I didn't have my fastest swim, but considering I've been logging a lot of time in the pool with a new stroke, my swim strength isn't quite there yet. I am disappointed with my bike split, but after learning the course was over a mile long, I felt a bit better about it. As for the run, it was a personal best. My coach thinks that had I not ran the first 3-miles with the other athlete, I probably would have put in a faster run split - I don't doubt that.

My next triathlon is about a month away from now and I'm excited to get back to work!

Benchmarks

2010-06-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've lasted competed in a triathlon. There was the Splash & Dash, but I viewed that as more of a workout. The Silicon Valley International is this weekend and I can't wait to line up and see how much my fitness has been improving.

From a week to week standpoint, I feel that I can only gauge my fitness so well. I know I feel stronger in the water, but feeling stronger and actually swimming better are two different things. The same goes for my training on the bike and run. I'm consistently at the top of hardest climb with the leaders on Wednesdays and I still believe there is a perpetual tailwind accompanying me at the track.

As much as I love to train, I love to race more - that's saying a lot, because I am genuinely excited to get my butt kicked at masters each morning. There's always some race jitters and expectations, but that's a part of it that I thoroughly enjoy. It's kind of like midterms and finals, but instead of dreading them (like I probably did in school), I count down the days!

The Silicon Valley International serves as a benchmark for how things have been progressing. This will be my third time racing the event, so having some experience on the course will surely come in handy. I have to admit that I'm not looking forward to the swim portion. The water is down right disgusting! After finishing the swim, I will have tasted at least 7 different kinds of bird poop. Swimming backstroke would probably be the best way to avoid getting water in my mouth, but sighting may then prove to be difficult. It's a thought though...

From now until race day, I'll stay off my feet as much as possible, but the pantry beckons for food and my family has been buying way too many plants and trees that need planting. I'll try to contribute, but the contribution rate will be low. Oh yeah, just for fun, below is a race photo from the first Splash & Dash. Next time, I'll race in just a speedo.

Splash & Dash I

2010-06-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

The first Splash & Dash is in the books and it was exactly what I hoped it'd be; a great workout! It also drew a record crowd, which is fine by me. The more competition, the better. We also got more than we bargained for on the swim, since the 1,500 meters were poorly measured. Actually, "poorly" is a bit of an understatement - I'm not sure what word to use when the swim is ~1,300 meters longer than it should have been.

Regardless of the swim distance, I had a good swim. I've made some changes to my swim stroke recently and am feeling more powerful in water. I wish I could have said I was with the lead group, but that group consisted of uber-swimmers. I came out of the water in 8th position and had a lightening fast transition courtesy of my Blue Seventy Helix. Once again, no lubricant necessary. The suit just slides off and makes you feel right at home in the water.

Starting the run, I was in 6th place and it felt like I had that magical tailwind that accompanied me at Tuesday's track session. I found a good rhythm quickly and was still in 6th position at the turnaround, but was only down a few seconds to the next two athletes. The hills played to my advantage on the way in and I opened up a gap on those behind me. I was making up ground on the top three guys, but there's only so much ground to be made up in a 5k.

I finished 4th overall and had the day's fastest run split. I'm quite happy with the result all around. My swim is improving and I'm not even doing a swim emphasis. As for the run, well, it keeps getting better too. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year; there are going to be several PRs.

I'd also like give a big thanks to Swirls Frozen Yogurt for sponsoring me for the Splash & Dash series. My family and I have frequented Swirls for some time now and it's become our go-to spot for desserts. That's saying a lot considering our eating habits. I always keep a close eye on limiting excess sugars and I can let my guard down when enjoying one of the daily concoctions. My favorite is the daily dream delight; low calorie, no sugar, and well beyond your expectations in terms of taste. It's so good! With the summer heat starting to pick up, it's a given that I'll be dropping by more often to cool off. Check out Swirls on facebook and become a fan. If you're in the greater San Jose area, I highly suggest you make a trip to Swirls.

Excess Energy

2010-06-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

Remember my experiment of whether or not kinesio tape is fashionable? Well, the answer will have to wait for another time. It wasn't the warmest couple of days when I had the tape on, so I wore a jacket... which covered the tape. Damn, weather.

Besides the failed experiment - which really has nothing to do anything - it's almost time to race again! That's fantastic news considering I've come off this rest week with a little too much energy. At yesterday's track session, I felt as if I had a tail-wind blowing me around the track - which is obviously impossible due to the nature of a track. While that sounds great, my coach wants me completing each lap between a given number of seconds. It's not like the faster times are detrimental to my future performances, but if it's still time to hold back, then it's time to hold back.

Fortunately, the first Splash & Dash is tomorrow and then the Silicon Valley International is the Sunday after next. The Splash & Dash is a local race series consisting of a 1500 m swim and 5 km run. It will serve as a great opportunity to get some open water swimming in and of course, to run like the wind is actually pushing me along. I'll write something about how the race went on Friday.

Hopefully I'll save enough energy for the race tomorrow, being that the Wednesday Nighter is tonight. One of these days, I'll break away from the group and stay away. A tail-wind would definitely help.

Rest Day Ramble

2010-05-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

The switch to long-course meters is rarely a smooth one. The slow times, the illusion that the opposite wall is actually moving away from you, and then there's backstroke; it's like your flop backwards will never end... until you see the flags and flip turn and do it all over again. I don't despise long-course, I'm actually quite fond of it. It's also probably the best way to work on stroke technique, since you have so much room to do so.

As I mentioned in my last post, I joined the masters program at the Santa Clara International Swim Center. The pool is further away from the previous one, but with the distance we get in each morning, I feel that I'll be getting my money's worth. As a result of the long-course set-up and distance swam thus far, I've developed some tightness in my upper back and neck. I made my weekly visit to SportsPlus and we addressed this tightness with myofascial release. Sometimes the release isn't so bad. Other times, it's damn near excruciating. However, having a tight neck is my own fault for not rotating as well as I should be. Therefore, I grin and bear it. After all, it's helping me in the long-run. In fact, everything Dr. Kearns does is geared towards long-term athletic well-being.

So, for the first time in my athletic career, I have been kinesio taped! The tape is a bright blue, that compliments my skin tone quite nicely...

Anyways, I posted a rhetorical question on twitter (@ewegsche): Is kinesio tape fashionable? Well, since today is an off day and I have some grocery shopping to do - I grocery shop at least every other day - I figured I could test my hypothesis first-hand. If I'm not training, I'd rather not be in athletic wear, so how does kinesio tape get received when coupled with a polo and jeans? Or a cardigan? These are the answers I really want to know (I swear I'm not that bored).

Also, I might as well report about the Wednesday Nighter with the new P3. I wanted to break-away on the hill and I did just that. The group this Wednesday was smaller than normal and one of the top climbers is racing this weekend, so it may of been a tad easier for me to get away, but one way or the other, I got away. Unfortunately, I was caught with a mile or so to go to the finish, by two guys who are big motors on the bike. Overall, it was a great ride and I love that bike!

Wii, a P3!

2010-05-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy (and tiring) couple of weeks, but rest week is finally upon me. I'm hoping some interesting things happen this week, so that I'll have something to blog about. Until unforeseen wacky occurrences start coming my way, I'll fill you in on the latest and greatest.

I got a new bike and it's ready to make its debut! Riding a Specialized the last couple of years was great, but there were some aspects of the bike I just didn't care for. I also wanted to switch components and ride a lighter and stiffer bike. Esthetics were also important, but secondary to performance. I'm happy to say that I didn't have to sacrifice anything when it came to putting this bike together. Here it is:

Yep, the good ole Cervelo P3. Why the P3? Well, its pedigree speaks for itself. It's light (✓), stiff (✓), and looks great (✓)! I outfitted it with SRAM Red and went with a more ergonomic aero bar, the Profile Design CX3. I'm very happy with how it turned out and I have to thank the guys at Life Cycle Bike Shop in Eugene, OR for helping me dream up this beast. We'll be making our Wednesday Nighter debut this week - barring dry weather.

Speaking of the Wednesday Nighter, I crested the toughest climb of the route with the lead group - a first for me. Those guys at the front ride hard!

I also got a Wii... for recovery purposes. Is there a better way to recover than an ice bath, food, Trigger Point massage, shower, more food, nap, and kicking back on the couch watching instant Netflix/playing video games? I think not. Well, there is the Normatec MVP...

Other than that, I'm running out of things that can be considered the "latest and greatest." Oh, I recently started swimming at the Santa Clara International Swim Center. They just switched over to long-course meters and have a talented group in their masters' program, so that's my new pool.

Well, that wraps up all the latest with me that is relevant to triathlons.

Suunto Road Bike POD

2010-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

After wrapping up my swim this morning, I checked the front porch and to my delight, there was my Suunto Road Bike POD. I had a ride scheduled and being that it was threatening to rain, I wanted to get out on the road as soon as possible. Luckily, installing the POD is as easy as putting on your front skewer. Seriously, the POD is actually the front skewer!

I recently got a new bike and have moved on from using a PowerTap - yes, they have their place, but it's not what I need.

Anyways, I wanted a wireless, reliable, and accurate computer to track my distance and speed over the course of my rides. After coming across Suunto's Road Bike POD, I knew my search was over. Like I said before, the POD is the front skewer and no other system is as integrated and easy to use this one. Put the skewer in, attach the magnet to a spoke (flat or round, it'll fit), and pair the POD with your Suunto watch (I use the t3c). Then you won't have to worry about interference and you're good to go! I also calibrated mine, which involves a simple roll-out test. It actually took me less time to set up the POD than it took me to write this post.

As for the first ride with it, it worked beautifully. Once the quick-release was tightened, I didn't have to worry about the POD position and just rode enjoying the dry weather.

If you're in the market for a new watch or cycling computer, check out Suunto.com. Their products are top notch and most importantly, user friendly. They also offer an array of PODs that can be paired with their watches. So if you're looking for GPS, they have that. Cadence, they have that too. In fact, Suunto has everything you'll need to get the most out of your training.

Playtime is Over

2010-05-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

After a lovely vacation on several of the Virgin Islands, I'm back home and back to work. While each workout I do has a specific purpose, the real work will be upon me soon. Thus far, I've focused primarily on building my base and of course, fitness. Speed work has been in the mix, but it hasn't been that prominent - just a couple of sessions a week. With summer just around the corner and September getting closer and closer, my workout volume and intensity will be going up!

I haven't really raced through a summer since 2008 and any events I raced that summer weren't terribly warm. Being that Coeur d'Alene was my focus last year, I did very little in the following warmer months. I was also in Oregon then; so I really haven't spent much time training and racing in heat. That ought to change this summer since I'll have a big training block coincide with the hottest months of the year.

This will be my first summer training in California and from my brief trips home in years past, I'm sure I'll be a better athlete in heat than I've ever been. In the past, I've struggled a bit with heat, but I feel much more confident about my ability to handle heat after St. Croix. Nutrition had always been troubling for me, but since acquiring a pantry of PowerBar products, I have all the items I need to keep hydrated and fueled for any event; St. Croix was a win for me in terms of nutrition.

Right now, it's been kind of chilly here in San Jose. Well, it's not quite chilly being that it's in the high 60's, low 70's, but after acclimating to the weather in the Caribbean, I suppose most anywhere will seem slightly colder.

St. Croix Recap

2010-05-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

Summed up in one word, the race was brutal! In the days leading up, even the locals were saying that it was unseasonably warm. Throw in the strong trade winds and hills and you've got one of the toughest triathlons anywhere. I put together a decent day, here's how it played out:

We had a beach start and a turn buoy to manage within the first 25 meters, making the start all the more critical. I lined up on the outside with Ryan Power, an ITU athlete from Canada, and sprinted to the buoy. Just after the turn, I found myself with 2 other athletes and swam with them. On the way in, I tried picking up the pace, but couldn't get the separation I was looking for, so I settled and came in a few seconds ahead.

On a side note, this was my first swim wearing just my Kiwami Amphibian. The suit is wicked fast and comfortable! Worried about swim-skins being phased out later this year? Don't be, check out Kiwami's tri suits. Your transitions will also be faster and you'll stand out. See photo above.

By the time I hit the bike course, it was already hot. I forgot to grab my salt tablets in transition, so I drank everything I could grab going through aid stations. Finding a rhythm was significantly easier on the first quarter of the bike course, but once you hit The Beast at mile 20, then the real race began. The climb is tough, but the descent is just as hard. My hands were dripping with sweat coming over the summit and then we had to descend a windy, rough road on slick handlebars - not the most enjoyable part of the course. After that, the course opens up and you get to battle more hills, more heat, and a lot of wind! Fortunately, I didn't have to ride alone the entire time and caught another athlete. We maintained 7 meters, but I did the bulk of the work.

Starting the run, I had figured I was in the second position (which turned out to be correct). I was feeling good, but I also was running through crowd-lined streets. Once away from the crowds, I really started to feel the heat. The run course is more protected, so we had little to no wind and temperature around 98º (plus humidity). At this point, I knew I needed keep my body as cool as possible and get calories in. I had my good spots, but had some pretty bad ones too. Approaching the turn-a-round for the second lap, I saw Rodrigo Acevedo, who was ahead of me by 90 seconds or so. Wanting the win, I dug a little deeper and started the second lap a bit faster, but ended up paying for that decision shortly thereafter - that was one of the bad spots. I did what I could to keep it together, but I had no idea if I was gaining (or losing) any time. After summating the last hill on the run course a little over a mile out, I found another gear and ran home strong. With a half-mile to go, I saw Rodrigo ahead and continued to push, but was out of real estate.

I finished 2nd in my age group, down 33 seconds to first, and 19th overall (8th amateur). I'm pleased with how the day unfolded, but can't help but think about those 33 measly seconds. Winning an event like this goes to the person who had the fewest rough patches. I guess I had one too many.

Overall, my experience on St. Croix was absolutely amazing. I would come back to this event in a heartbeat! The island seems to shut down on race day and focus on the event. The crowd lined streets were something else too! Coming in, the cheers were nearly deafening. Or maybe it seemed that way because of the heat messing with my body. Regardless, St. Croix is a terrific venue, with amazing people, and is one you should add to your race schedule.

St. Croix Preview

2010-04-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Upon my arrival, I thought to myself, "Why don't I race on islands more often?" Everything seems so idyllic - short term memory helps too. For instance, the puddler jumped I took from St. Thomas to St. Croix didn't load my bike on the plane. Then they grabbed someone else's bike, so it took them three flights to get my bike to the island. I figured it wasn't worth fusssing about, because I remembered I'm on an island in the Caribbean. Life is good.

Today I swam just off the beach at my condo, opposed to the swim area since I figured the area would be quite busy. I was spot on. The water was wonderful, borderline too warm, but it's clean and the visibility is terrific. I also drove the course today, which required constant awareness on my part. Yes, the course is quite windy, but I have to keep assuring myself that I'm supposed to be driving on the left side. Too bad the stearing wheel was on the left...

Back to the course. This is just a guess, but I think Sunday is going to be hard. It's been in the 80's ever since we've been here and it's humid! I'm sweating right now and I'm just lying on a chaise lounge chair. Heck, I need electrolyes just to sit around! Can't wait to see how much more I'll need come race day.

So back to the course, but this time I'll actually talk about it and not the weather. It's either up or down and if it's flat, we'll likely have to combat wind. The road conditions also vary greatly. I checked out the beast and it looks like a bitch. Some people were kind enough to spray paint the incline percentage on the road, as well as the distance.Thanks...

I dont think I'll want to see the percentages as I'm climbing. Or I could put a positive spin on it and yell "Is that all you got, 21%!" Someone marked 27% on the road, but I'm not too sure about that one. Regardless, it looks steep!

So after climbing "Beasts," weaving through potholes, and dealing with the heat and humidity, I'll get to go for a run. While it's not known to be fast run course, I'm expectig a PR on the half-marathon whether or not my ankle likes it. If it gives me fits, I'll yell "HTFU" at it in a stern voice - I may be talking to myself and inanimate objects on race day.

I wrote this on my iPod touch, so I'm sorry for any grammatical errors. What can I say, my thumb is tired!

Packable

2010-04-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

As usual, I have yet to pack for an impending race. For reasons beyond me, I can't get in the "packing" mood until at least t-minus 24 hours until departure. I also have the tendency to pack light; by "light," I mean really light. I'd prefer to walk around in a speedo and portray my European roots. Remember, I still have the euro-mullet. I also know some spanish and very limited german.

Speaking of the euro mullet, the mullet was gaining respect. That was until I went in for a trim and my usual barber was on vacation. The replacement barber wasn't familiar with euro-mullets, so I basically have a little faux-hawk with some longer, less definitive hair in the back. I specifically asked that he not trim the hair down my neck, but he went ahead and did it anyways. I thought about not tipping since he sucked at cutting hair, but realized my hair will grow back and reconsidered.

So yeah, I was talking about packing...

I typically travel with just my bike case and a backpack and hope my essentials fit. One thing I always make room for is The Grid from Trigger Point Performance Therapy. Despite it being a foam roller, it packs away quite nicely. Being that it's hollow, no space goes to waste since I can pack things inside it. It's really the perfect travel companion.

Speaking of The Grid, have you not bought one yet? Seriously, what are you waiting for? Do you not like to have fresh legs after being cooped up in a plane? Or after a hard training session? Click here and treat your legs to one. Use promo code "ERICH10" and you'll get 10% off your order.

You can thank me later.

Anyways, I doubt I'll be near a computer much, if at all, while in the US Virgin Islands. I'm hoping to be able to post a short recap post-race, but that will likely be the extent of my blogging until I return.

Until then...

St. Croix

2010-04-23T16:31:00.001-07:00

In about 5 days, I'll be en route to the US Virgin Islands; St. Croix to be specific. It was my intention to avoid traveling as much as I did last year - so far I'm doing a good job - but, when I mentioned the race site to my family, their ears piqued. Long story short, I'm racing in the tropics and I'll get several days after the race to unwind, be a beach bum, and go rum tasting (maybe).

The Ironman 70.3 St. Croix will be my one and only half-ironman for the year. Since I have no desire to race Kona or Clearwater for a few years, this race is more about the destination. Regardless, it will be a great opportunity to work on increasing my fitness and heat tolerance. Don't get me wrong though, I'll be there to compete! My form is coming around and my expectations are high. All I have to do is stay on top of my nutrition and I'll be golden.

I'm also excited to break out my new bike box! I recently purchased a smaller, soft-case bike box from Pika Packworks and am anxiously awaiting my next encounter with the check-in agent at the airport. The case weighs 10 lbs. by itself! So long overweight fees!

Reservoir Triathlon

2010-04-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

Despite crashing 8 days prior to this race, I felt good enough to give it a go and compete. Again, I have to thank Dr. Kearns at SportsPlus for his work, which undoubtedly sped up the recovery process. Here's how the race unfolded:

I hit the water with the first wave and either hung with or swam just behind the lead group. Sighting seemingly proved to be difficult for most of the athletes, because both the swims caps and buoys were orange. I felt that I swam as linear as possible, but that's because I often double-checked what I was sighting.

On a side note, the Blue Seventy Helix is even better than I thought! Two girls, who came to the race to cheer on a friend of mine, were wondering why everyone was smearing deodorant all over their bodies. I told them it was BodyGlide, which garnered a smirk, and explained its purpose. It was then that I remembered that I didn't have any. Wanting to maximize my warm-up time in the water, I put on my suit sans lubricant. Absolutely no irritation or chaffing and I swear the suit came off even easier! I had gotten in the habit of using BodyGlide because other suits had rubbed my neck raw and due to so many people swearing by it. Get a Helix, save yourself the BodyGlide.

Being that the bike takes place on the very roads I often train on, I knew it would be a difficult course to establish a rhythm on. In the first few miles, my legs and I just weren't cooperating and I struggled big time to find anything that faintly resembled a rhythm. Fortunately, the volunteers kept me in the race. One yelled that I was in 5th position about halfway through the bike and that's what got me motivated. I came in stronger, but again, I wasn't terribly pleased with my bike split. It's something I'm working very hard on though.

T2 was a breeze, but I hit the run course with numb feet. The run was an out-and-back that followed the first few miles of the bike course, however, I didn't struggle as much to find a rhythm. I steadily gained on the guy ahead until the turnaround, when I found another gear (and regained feeling in my feet). I kept a solid pace from there and didn't ease up till I had crossed the line.

I won my age group and finished 5th overall. Considering I wasn't very rested/fully recovered, I'm happy with how my day turned out. It was also nice to finally notch a win in front of my mom.

Thank You, SportsPlus!

2010-04-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

In terms of workout frequency, I haven't missed a beat this week. Workout intensity on the other hand, was slower to come around; but it is indeed, coming around. As of Wednesday, I was able to hit my usual swim splits and had my strongest Wednesday Nighter to date. No I didn't make the first pack, but my numbers were strong and improving. Running is the only discipline where I'm still trying to catch up. I was a bit off pace at my track session, but with each day that passes and the more time I spend with Dr. Kearns at SportsPlus, the better I feel.

I've made a couple trips to SportsPlus this week and each time I'm there, we're making progress. Dr. Kearns knows athletes better than anyone I've ever met. Every time I'm in for treatment, he pushes me just far enough so that my body is realizing a greater range of motion and I always leave feeling better. Sometimes it hurts, but I have to remember that I'm the one who's at fault for the crash. So carry on with the myofascial release, Dr. Kearns, carry on.

I've mentioned it before, if you're going to see a sports therapist/chiropractor, fly down to San Jose, CA for the day. SportsPlus is conveniently located near San Jose International Airport and you can find some cheap flights on Southwest. Heck, I'll pick you up from the airport and shuttle you to his office.

Since I'm starting to feel good again, I'll be racing this Sunday. I'm not entirely sure what to expect in terms of performance though - I just want to go through the motions and "race" myself into shape. I'm also excited to wear my new race suit from Kiwami, the Amphibian. Good looking suit, eh?

Bump in the Road

2010-04-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I rode in the eastern foothills of San Jose with a couple other local athletes. We had two main climbs scheduled for the day: Sierra Road and Route 130, which takes you to the top of Mount Hamilton. Sierra Road is a tough climb, averaging 10% gradient and is always on display for the San Jose section of the Tour of California. Mount Hamilton has a much more shallow gradient, but is just over 18 miles long.

Sierra Road was a grinder for me. The grade kicks up in some areas, so I never felt that I found a solid rhythm. Thankfully, it's not terribly long. Mount Hamilton on the other hand, despite being long, was much easier to establish a rhythm on. Unfortunately, the weather atop the mountain was not good - rainy, cold, and very poor visibility - so we turned back a bit earlier than we had planned. Wanting to squeeze a few more miles in, another athlete and I decided to climb Quimby Road, descend to the bottom, and come back up and over before continuing down Route 130. I only made it a quarter of the way to the bottom.

The roads weren't perfect by any means, but they weren't abysmal either. Shortly after the road hit its steepest decline, I rode through a depression in the road and got catapulted over my bars. I was on my tri bike, so my body position was forward anyways, likely making matters worse.

As with any accident, it happened so fast. I know I took the brunt of the fall on my lower back/butt and that's about it. I remained motionless on the ground fearing that I might have really hurt myself. Fortunately, the very next rider to pass by happened to be an ER doctor. He took a quick look at me and asked me where my pains were coming from and how I felt overall. Based on what I told him, he felt that I would be fine, but very sore over the next couple of days. He was right.

My coach came and picked me up since I was in no condition to ride home. We talked about the crash and think that I got off easy with this one. Sure I'm sore, but I can still move around, albeit gingerly. I even got out yesterday for my long run! Once I got warm, I was able to actually "run." I never pushed myself, but managed 12 miles for the day.

As of now, I have road rash on my lower back/butt, hip, left shoulder, and soreness just about everywhere. Sitting and sleeping, two of my favorite activities, are up there in the uncomfortable ranking. It's hard to find a position that doesn't bother me and/or keep me awake at night. Oh well, it's only temporary.

This weekend is the Reservoir Triathlon in Morgan Hill. I'm not sure whether or not I'll be racing - it's a day-to-day thing. However, I have no doubts that I'll be recovered and ready to put in a great performance at St. Croix. This incident is just a little bump in the road.

Fast-Twitch

2010-04-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Since I'm in the process of making the move from long-course racing to short, I need to develop more fast-twitch muscle. That was very apparent after my bike split at the Desert International, however, I still had a good day. Fortunately, I have two great opportunities on the bike each week to develop those muscle fibers. One is the Wednesday night ride and the other is a motor-pacing session.

The Wednesday night ride consists of triathletes - on tri bikes - riding pretty much as hard as possible. Well, we do have a neutral section through town. So there is some time to socialize, because once we pass the last light, talking becomes difficult as our respiration rates increase. The "out section" of the ride is perfectly flat, but it's often windy. We then hang a right and face a short and steep climb that gets our legs and lungs burning. Naturally, this is where the separation occurs and the ride really becomes fun. I often find myself 15-20 seconds down from the leaders and then fall into a chase pack. I caught the lead pack the time before last, but I was by myself for the last 10 miles this week and couldn't overcome the wind and the pack of four ahead. Either way, it's a great workout!

In addition to that, I motor-pace once a week and besides it being another great workout, it's a blast! I tuck in, literally within an arms-length of the moped, and turn my legs over as fast a possible with the most fluid stroke possible. It's by far the best way to develop fast-twitch muscle since I can sustain a high cadence, at a high speed, without having to overcome the wind resistance. It's also a great way to flush out your legs after previous workouts. There's no workout I look forward to more than this one.

I feel very good about how my training has been progressing lately and I'm looking forward to testing my early season fitness at the Reservoir Triathlon a week from Sunday. In the mean time, I'll continue to do what I do best, recovering. Some call it lazy, I just call it training.

Here and There

2010-04-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

Since I've been home from Spain, I actually haven't been at home for more than two and a half weeks at a time. I was in southern California for the Desert International, returned home a two and half weeks, and then made my way to Oregon. I don't mind the on-the-go lifestyle, but it's definitely nice to have clean clothing - Rose would appreciate that.

My time in Oregon was enjoyable, despite it raining all but one day. I got a chance to meet up with some old training partners and professors, swim with an up and coming pro, Mackenzie Madison, and take in the ambiance that only Eugene, OR can offer. I really wish the weather would have held up, because I would have loved to of stayed longer - especially since I didn't even get the opportunity to ride outside!

I'd like to make my way north again in summer, but that's pending my training plan building into September.

On a side note, I have a project in the works with Blue Seventy that I'm very excited about. I don't know why anyone hasn't thought of it sooner.

Oregon

2010-03-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful week with Rose in San Jose and with spring term looming, we hit the road for the neighboring northern state. I figured it'd be a great opportunity to catch up with friends and to explore my original training grounds - I was right about the opportunity to catch up with friends, I was wrong about exploring the training grounds. It's been raining nearly non-stop since our arrival Sunday evening.

As usual, life (aka, training) goes on. However, being that I got my year's worth of training in the rain over with in Spain, I haven't been too excited to go outside. In fact, I opted for my trainer for my easy spin the other day. It was the first time I've been on my trainer in quite some time, minus spin class sessions - it sure beats getting cold and wet though.

Today, however, I got everything soaked. No I didn't fall in a pool, but by the end of my workout, you wouldn't have known otherwise. I had a track session scheduled and enjoyed unrelenting rain and a temperature of 37º F. The weather had been nice in previous weeks, but I think Oregon wanted to remind me of the good old days. Thanks, Oregon.

Fortunately for me, I have more swims and runs scheduled than rides this week. Actually, I can't really ride right now anyways since my bike is getting some lovin' from the guys at Life Cycle Bike Shop.

Swimming outside of a masters group takes some getting used to, at least for me it does. I admit it, I'm not so good with sharing all the time, but this week I've been good. My pace alone has discouraged most others from circle swimming with me and even if someone slower does hop in, they've been kind enough to wait at walls to let me keep swimming.

I was hoping to stay through the weekend or maybe longer, but with a forecast such as the one we're having and knowing what I could have in California, I've decided to head back Friday. Maybe I'll drop by again in summer when I know for certain the weather will be excellent. After all, there are many running and cycling routes I'd like to revisit.

Reacquaint

2010-03-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't used an alarm clock with any regularity for the last... well, I don't even know how long; it's been awhile though. I usually wake up whenever I feel as if I've had enough sleep. That usually equates to about 70 hours per week, on average - it's awesome. However, Rose has made the trek down to San Jose and since I like spending as much time with her as possible, my alarm clock and I are getting to know each other once again.

The good thing about the early morning workouts is that I am a morning person, but what hours exactly define being one? Between the hours of 6 and 8? Earlier? I don't know, but waking up at 4-something and starting a long swim set by 5:30 seems to constitute as something other than a morning person. Crazy might be a better word.

Luckily, I'm not that crazy, or so I think...

The routine has worked out quite nicely thus far, being that I'm able to get home, eat, shower, and massage before Rose wakes up. Then I usually return to bed for a little nap and enjoy another breakfast with her. That's the other benefit to waking up early, more breakfasts! I'm a fan of breakfast.

PowerBar Team Elite

2010-03-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

One of the most critical components to performing well in endurance sports, is nutrition. Actually, I'll go as far as saying that nutrition is paramount in endurance events. After all, it's our fuel. Without it, we'd likely find ourselves sitting on the road at a race dejected and exhausted.

Fine tuning nutrition is a work in process for me. Fortunately, I recently found out that I'll get to be apart of PowerBar's Team Elite. I've been depending on PowerBar's products consistently now for the last year and have noticed a significant improvement. In the past, I wasn't too fond of eating while training because everything tasted like chalk or was overly sweet, like a candy bar. With PowerBar, I've had no such problems. In fact, I often find myself checking the clock on my rides, seeing if it's time to eat again!

Additionally, their pedigree is unparalleled. It says a lot about a company when several world-class champions depend on PowerBar's products everyday. If you haven't tried PowerBar, do so! Check out the Product Selector feature on their website and it will suggest products to meet your specific needs. Lastly, I trust that you won't find better tasting and more product diversity than what you'll find in PowerBar.

The Grid

2010-03-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

I just received The Grid from Trigger Point Performance Therapy and the thing is unlike any foam roller you've ever used before! It has three different densities you can choose from (finger tip, finger length/thumb, and palm), so you can always get the right amount of intensity to soothe your muscles after a hard day's training session (or long day of work, perhaps).

Besides the different densities, The Grid is also hollow, making for an easily packable item. In fact, their Quadballer conveniently fits inside. There's a rigid plastic liner and its main purpose is to keep the roller from losing its shape like conventional ones.

Additionally, you can massage much more than just your legs with The Grid. I always get tight in my upper back from all the time I spend in the aero position and since I can't see Dr. Kearns from SportsPlus on a daily basis, The Grid makes for a great substitute. I lay on the roller with my spine parallel to the roller and hold light weights in each hand. That helps open up my chest and keeps me from having a rounded posture.

If you were to get only one item from Trigger Point Performance Therapy, then The Grid is your item! Best of all, it's $40 - there's no better investment in your body's athletic endeavors than this. Use "ERICH10" for your promo code and you'll get 10% off your order.

Interested in ordering? Click here.

Tweeting

2010-03-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

Do you ever say to yourself, "I wish Erich wrote posts more often" or "I wonder what Erich is up to right now?" I know the answer to the those questions probably goes something like this, "No." Maybe even no with an exclamation, like "NO!" Well, in the event you change your mind, you can now follow me on Twitter!

You might be thinking, "Wow, real-time updates on Erich's life training and racing!" or "I really ought to tell Erich the euro-mullet doesn't work for him." In either case, I'm excited to start detailing my training and racing in shorter, more frequent "tweets." The link for my page is: twitter.com/ewegsche

Maybe one day I'll tweet about a ride like Lance and get a comparable showing. Okay, probably not, but I'll take an eighth of the riders he got.

Desert International

2010-03-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I drove down to Southern California to kick off the season at the Desert International. I think La Quinta met its annual rain fall average on race day, but I had a good race nonetheless. Here's how the day unfolded:

I went off in the second wave behind the Elite and Collegiate field, which was nice because I had people to chase all day. From the get go, I felt like I was right at home in the water; it was as if my Blue Seventy Helix and the water were working together to propel me. I caught up to many of the athletes in the preceding wave and exited the water feeling fresh and in a good position to climb the leader board.

T1 went smoothly, but as soon as I hit the bike, the rain started to fall.

Being that I recently came off a big cycling block in Spain, I was eager to get on the bike. I quickly found a rhythm and caught just about anyone I saw. However, the bike course was two loops, so it was harder to gauge the whereabouts of the athletes from the preceding wave that were still ahead (I was fairly certain that I was ahead of everyone from my wave by this point). Regardless, I rode with a sense of urgency, but also kept the run in mind.

T2 proved to be a bit more difficult since it was wet and the temperature dropped a little. That was evident with my inability to put on my right shoe. Then again, I imagine it's usually difficult to put a shoe on when not all your toes are inside it.

Once I figured out the shoe ordeal, I set out to end this race with an exclamation, a.k.a. a solid run. Like the bike, I quickly found a rhythm that had me gaining on the athletes ahead, so I stuck with it. Also like the bike course, it was two loops, so the first loop was more important than the second being that I knew when I was making progress on other athletes. I didn't wear a watch for the race, but feel that my run splits were even - with the exception of the last 800 when I picked up the pace.

I won my age group and finished 8th overall and to be honest, that wasn't what I was hoping for. After looking over my splits, I have to admit that I'm a little letdown with my bike - I understand the rain doesn't make for blistering fast conditions though. Then again, short course racing requires more fast-twitch muscles, which I'm in the process of developing via more track workouts and motor-pacing. Regardless, being that it was my first race of the year, I think it holds promise of what's to come.

I'm racing this weekend?!?

2010-03-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that my first race of the season is this weekend. Heck, it feels like I was in Spain just the other day. Actually, that was just the other week...

As with every approaching race, I'm excited to get out there and go hard! I got in a very solid training block in Spain and feel that my early season fitness is the best it has ever been. However, by no means am I close to being as fit as I want to be come September. Regardless of the time of year, I feel great and have big expectations.

Similar to the start of last year, I'm putting some new things to the test. As of now, I'm not testing any new equipment, I'm testing a new approach to training and racing. Rather than being engrossed in numbers, I'll be going on feel. My PowerTap will accompany me on training rides, but the wattage numbers will taped over - I can always review the data afterwards. Additionally, I won't be racing with a watch. I find them to be a distraction and watch tans aren't very sexy. The goal of training and racing this way is to get to know my body better.

Will I know my body better after this weekend? No. I'm well aware that it'll take some time before I can tell you to within a few seconds what my mile pace was, but I look forward to the training and racing that will get me there.

Strong Like Bull Training Camp

2010-02-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

Since I no longer feel the affects of jet lag and have the desire to be awake while the sun is up, I figure I ought to tell you about my experiences at the training camp. As I mentioned earlier, the weather was less than ideal, but I cannot thank our host and the camp directors enough for their efforts! If the sun was going to make an appearance, even if only for a few minutes, they found it. That made for more of an unstructured camp, but the workout quality was excellent.

Overall, I was able to get in 7 rides, 6 runs, and 3 swims. In addition to that, eating kind of became my 4th discipline. Not only would I clear my own plate(s) after every meal, I would help clear the plates of others - why let perfectly good food go to waste? Eventually, the host started giving me a double serving of dessert and I'm sure I ate at least a whole loaf of bread each night. I had every intention of running a caloric surplus, after all, I came to the camp to get strong (like bull).

I've been fortunate enough to train in quite a few well regarded locations and I say with much confidence, that the riding in Andalucia is unparalleled and the most challenging I've ever experienced. The road quality varies, but routes are exactly what you'd expect to see in a classic or grand tour - descending tricky switch-backs along mountain ridges and climbing roads so steep, they're beyond categorizing. The camp has some hill climb challenges, but due to weather conditions atop Pico de Velete, we could only do a local 7 km climb up to Puerto del Sol. Luckily, I had already ridden up as far as possible on Pico de Velete while living in Granada, so I wasn't missing anything. Puerto del Sol, despite being only 7 km, was a hard ride with it's 20+ switch-backs. I was the second to summit that climb, so it may be safe to say that I am a much better climber - even with all that food I was shoveling in.

We also rode over to the coast twice and that was absolutely lovely since it was often warmer there by at least 10º-15º. However, if we rode to the coast, that meant we had a long 17 km climb to look forward to. Climbing actually became the preference of everyone at the camp since it was our best chance at being warm. With that said, we didn't log an exuberant amount of miles on the bike. You just don't ride that fast when you're climbing as much as we did.

Swimming and running took to the back seat for the camp, but the maintenance workouts were spot on. There were a few pros' on hand for the camp and I made sure to get my swims and runs done with them. I actually felt really good in the pool. It's nice to know that swimming in the 50 meter pool with everyone and their mother has made me a stronger swimmer. In addition to that, I was able to get some video analysis done. Let's just say I can't wait to hit the water come my first race on March 7th.

Overall, the Strong Like Bull Training Camp was way beyond expectation and I'd love to return - even if it's raining. I'm still in the process of resting to realize the physiological gains I just made, but I can't wait to continue building from here.

Back in the States

2010-02-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

After spending 6 weeks training in Spain, I'm back home in California. Despite the weather not being perfect, I still logged quite a few quality miles on the bike. I'm going to do a more detailed post on the camp in day or two, but being that it's roughly 5 in the morning for me and I'm staying up so I make the transition to the PST sooner rather than later, I'd like to mention some standout products and memories from the trip.

- Since I couldn't pack my chiropractor/sports therapist from SportsPlus, my Trigger Point Performance massage kit made for a nice subsitute. It also kept my checked bags under the weight limit.

- Duct tape is a great and cheap method for transforming your cycling shoes into winter cycling shoes. Just don't tape the bottom vents if you have them. If you do, any water that gets in, won't get out.

- A "flat" ride in Andalucia is any ride that has less than 4,000 vertical feet of climbing.

- Cars honk at cyclists to encourage them to ride faster.

- Nuun tablets, besides being excellent in general, are a great travel companion; easily packable and they provide all the electrolytes I could need to keep me going.

- Euro mullets are awesome.

- Continental Grand Prix 4000s are bullet-proof. No flats in 6+ weeks on some rough roads, including cobbles.

- For warm hands, put a latex glove on under your cycling glove. Your hands may get sweaty, but it's guaranteed they'll be warm. It's also significantly cheaper than a pair of gloves that just promises warm hands.

- Rapha products are just as good, if not better than how they look. I had to reach for their rain jacket more than I wanted to, but it kept me dry.

- Neck scarfs are cool... they just haven't caught on yet.

- Who needs olive oil to add some pizzaz to pasta when you have pasta water and herbs?

- Merino wool base layers are simply amazing. I climbed to the top of Pico de Velete and descended the mountain and I was cool while climbing and warm when descending. Or maybe the thin air skewed my judgement... nah. I also wore it today on the plane and no one insisted on moving away from me because I smelled.

- To avoid bike box fees on airlines, show up to the check-in counter as late as possible or be last in line. I was last in line today and the airline representative looked at her watch and said, "I don't have enough time to run a credit card authorization, so take your bike to the over-sized check-in and run to the gate." Spain is awesome.

- I need to go to bed

Training Camp

2010-02-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

While the weather wasn’t particularly great during my last few days in Granada, it has taken a turn for the worse here in Malaga. The Internet is also slow beyond belief, but is a good test of patience. I seem to be lacking patience, so this will by my one and only post while at the training camp.

To catch you up thus far, we logged 4-hours the other day and while the riding and scenery are unmatched, it was wet and it was cold! The scenery just isn’t as great once you’ve lost feeling in your feet and hands. At least I got 3.5 weeks of good weather in Granada.

Luckily, inclement weather usually doesn’t last long in Andalusia… or so I’ve been told. With that being said, it rained again today. Myself and few other riders called quits after 50-some minutes – we weren’t riding fast enough to stay warm and were already soaked. I’m looking for quality miles, not a large quantity of miles; although I’m sure the quantity will be up there.

The camp itself is great and the hosts are incredible. With every ride we set out on, they follow behind in support vehicles. They also take care of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which are top notch. I’ll be sure to take pictures of the facilities and area once the weather clears up and will post those on the next post.

In the mean time, I’ll be riding and figuring out how to dry my clothes as fast as possible!

Tomé Fotografías

2010-02-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

My time in Granada is sadly coming to a close, but I still have the training camp in Malaga to look forward to! I'm sure I'll be eating my words once the camp begins, because the training volume is going to be through the roof!

For my last big workout in Granada, I rode up as far as I could into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. That turned out to be roughly 23 miles straight up once out of the city. I summited around 7,700+ ft, since I couldn't go up any further due to the road conditions. The climb was absolutely beautiful, the roads were clean, and the drivers were encouraging. At least I think they were encouraging; it's tough to translate what they're saying when they zip by in a car.

Approaching the Summit

Passing the 6,562 ft Mark

The Machine Resting at the Top

The following day was my rest day, but since I had yet to wander the city with my camera, I did just that. However, my legs were not pleased with that decision - even with compression tights supporting every stride.

I took some pictures, but most of what I like to photograph involves inanimate objects, such as stairs. Take a look...

Here are some other pictures I've taken in and around Granada:

The Alhambra at Sunset

Street Market; If You've Seen One, You've Seen Them All

Tea at My Favorite Cave Cafe

Fortress Door at the Alhambra

The Intricate Details of the Alhambra

One of my Favorite Photos; A Peacock

The Best 8€ I Ever Spent

2010-02-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

Since I've been here, I've never really felt like I've fit in. Whereas, when I've traveled in the past, I've always been mistaken for a local - with the exception of some countries. Thus far, the only people who have approached me have been english speakers...

That saddens me.

Then again, I don't dress like my spanish peers. They're either wearing matching warm-ups or some sort of hip, urban apparel. I don't own "hip, urban apparel." However, I can rock a v-neck t-shirt... as long as it's not screen printed, but we won't get into that.

I also stand out while riding. It must be very cold to them, because I'm not wearing half as much as what they have on. It doesn't matter if it's sunny and in the 50's, they'll have on full leggings, a winter jacket, and a balaclava! I usually head out in knickers, a vest, arm warmers, and am very comfortable. I may stand out, but at least I'm beating them up the hills.

For awhile, I didn't know what to do that would make me appear more spanish. That was until I took a good long look in the mirror...

Get a euro mullet! Duh!

My hair was getting long, so not only was it my best bet to cut it, it was a much cheaper than buying "hip, urban apparel."

The results are obvious; simply amazing. Just moments after walking out of the Peluquería, girls were coming up to me, assuming I was a footballer, asking how many caps I have to my name and which Aston I drove. I told them 25 and a DB9.

In case any of you were wondering what a cap is, it's how many appearances a player has made for their National team.

I also got another video up. I had a short, easy ride today, so instead of trying to film while riding, I stopped. Take a look:

Regarding the comment about the women approaching me, that may or may not have happened...