Tantalus? Sure! Why not?

Yesterday afternoon I started a dialogue, via text message, with my new riding buddy Geoff.  It went along the lines of:

Me:  Still on for that ride tomorrow
Geoff:  Sure, where do you want to go?
Me:  Well, I wanted to ride north, but should probably hit some hills.  Lets ride through kailua and towards Hawaii Kai.
Geoff:  F*ck it!  Let's ride Tantalus.
Me:  Ok, but how are we getting out there?  I can't do a 4.5 hour ride tomorrow.  I don't want to sabotage my key run on sunday.
Geoff:  C'mon dude, f*ck it!  Just do it!
Me:  I'll call you when I get off work.  I really wanna ride Tantalus!

After explaining to Geoff that I am in marathon training now, but would be glad to meet him in town and ride tantalus he agreed to the compromise.

So after a 0500 wake up, a baby food breakfast (Yummy bananas, apples, and pears) I loaded everything in the car and took off.  I got to the agreed Safeway parking lot and I headed over to that national chain coffee place that will remain nameless to grab a drink loaded with caffeine and sugar (it happened to be a cinnamon soy latte no cream.  Didn't want any dairy to mess me up).  Geoff and I enjoyed our coffee and then started our ride.

I really enjoyed my climb!  We warmed up for a measly 20 minutes, so needless to say the first 20 minutes of the climb were a bit forced.  But after I got going, I toasted Geoff.  Not that it was a race.  Not at all.  I just like to maintain a certain cadence.  It felt good at that speed any slower and I would've been working harder at each pedal stroke.  It was nice to maintain some momentum.  In retrospect, maybe i should've saved some for the way back up the second time.  Maybe it was the caffeine, maybe it was sheer excitement who knows.

What's that look on my face? PAIN.  sheer suffering. masochistic cyclist pain at its finest.  This shot was taken 1/2 up the back side after our initial decent.  I made the call to take a few breaks on the way up the second time to take some photos.  You only ride Tantalus your first time once (well I guess twice in my case. lol)  not to mention I was exhausted from the effort of the initial climb and didn't really want to do it again.  I'm glad I did.  

The descent was an all out blast!  Sharp hairpin turns and everything.  

Par for the course I had my one obligatory close call.  A truck with an oversized tool box thing where his bed should have been got within inches of my shoulder.  He actually went to pass me, and I guess he didn't realize how fast I was going.  Because as soon as I was in his blind spot, he began to move back over to the right.  Forcing me to the curb.  I began shouting some "colorful" language and BONUS his window was down AND he just happened to be stopped at a red light.  I had to resist the urge to climb through his window and begin to pummel him.  But by the time my friend and I were done with him he was definitely shaken.  Score! one more driver cautious around cyclist.  

Geoff and I had post ride Crepes and some wonderful organic nectar with ingredients like:  organic strawberries, organic lemon, and I can't even remember what else the server listed but it was PERFECT!

I am looking forward to my run tomorrow.  

swimming, it's supposed to hurt too.

Let me just start this one with a familiar phrase. "Damn that workout really hurt!"

Ok now we dive in! I was afraid of today's workout as soon as I read it. It included a hellish interval of 3x(200@4:00, 100@2:00) at the end. I wasn't even sure if I could pull this off. The things that were going through my head while i was doing this interval were a lot of self affirming phrases like "you can do this" "don't quit now" "you're your own enemy". Something I read in the comments section of Regina's latest blog really helped me. It was a quote reminding me why I chose, so willingly, to punish myself. It's because it's SUPPOSED to be hard! It wouldn't be any fun if it weren't.

As I was doing the first part of this workout I was thinking to myself. "Man you really shouldn't have swam so fast last week. Now Michelle knows what you've got." But I did my best to force that negative attitude out of my head and "embrace" the workout. I always seem to do the best when I look the challenge in the face and don't back down.

Turns out. I had it in me! I look back at it and see it as a favor really. Michelle set a goal for me that I probably wouldn't have set for myself knowing that it would be uncomfortable. And it was. VERY uncomfortable. There were a few times that I layed hunched over the wall almost ready to vomit from sheer effort. I didn't want to start the next interval after I finished the one before it but I didn't give myself that option. "You can do this. You HAVE to do this". I'd say, this is probably the hardest I have ever swam in my life! I guess I have many more workouts like this to look forward to.

"Tag the World" never again.

Ok, race report first.  Then we can complain.

Naturally we'll start with the swim.  It was a "wet start" meaning, of course, we started in the water.  This is where all the little clues started that these event "coordinators" didn't seem to have it together.  But, i thought nothing of it.  Clue #1 the swimmers were instructed to swim beyond the point where the reef started, meaning at the start of the race there were actually swimmers standing on the reef.  Clue #2 the race start was signified by the waving of a flag.  This wouldn't normally be so bad except that the sun was behind said flag waver making him impossible to see from the water.  I digress, finally we got started.  I immediately realized that the water was too shallow for me to get an effective pull.  I was scraping my hands along the rocks.  I tried adjusting my heading to get me into deeper water, but didn't actually get into a good groove until about 200m later when I decided to head towards the beach looking for deeper waters. Once I actually got on a good course, pretty close to the turn around i might add, I felt pretty fast.  I came out of the water in about 12 minutes.  Considering the course, and all the little detours I'm happy with that.  Especially since my shoulders and back were actually burning by the time I exited the water.

Now the run.  Lets back up a bit.  To Clue #3, the part where the coordinators are briefing the course.  The morning of the race THIS is when they decide to tell us it is a XC course!  Great.  Good thing I did that beach run on Friday, so I'm ready for the soft ground...  So back to the race.  I blast out of the water to my transition towel, throw on my socks and shoes, grab my hat, race number, and shirt.  Then i start getting dressed while I'm running (I'll never do that again).  It was kind of a mess, something i hadn't practiced but it turned out alright I guess.  I had to keep reminding myself to push harder.  Pass that guy, pass that guy too, don't let that guy pass you!  Then, something truly amazing happened.  I crossed the marker for lap two and one of the volunteers called out my race number and told my I was in 8th place!  8th place!?  No way can I slow down now!  I gotta get top 5!  I keep passing people (turned out in the end that most of them were 5k guys I was lapping!).  Keep my head high I am breathing like a freight train (that's right Michelle I was THAT guy:)).  I manage to keep pushing it all the way out to the end passing one other 10k'er and getting passed by another 10k'er to end up in what I guess to be 8th overall (still awaiting confirmation).

Now... on to the fun part:

Ok, so by now I probably should have expected something like this. Considering all the clues, including an aid station in the last 25 feet of the race.  Who puts an aid station in the chute?  Let me get you in "the moment"  I crossed the finish line and look up for my time... What?!  no clock?  Ok, they are keeping time by hand.  No biggie.  I walk over to the table and ask the timers "hey do you guys have the finishing time for #37?"  probably shouldn't have bothered.  They were crazy busy and told me to just wait till the end.  Understandable.  So i wait.... and wait... and after a raffle (consisting of competitors playing "rock paper scissors" to win sized raffle prizes) and a singing performance.  Almost an hour had passed and they were finally ready to announce the results.  They begin announcing overall results for 5k.  Then age group results for 5k, then more age group results for 5k.  Then we ask if they have the results for the 10k... that's when it happened... the coordinators gave us the deer in the headlights look.  Oh no.  So, after waiting around for over an hour and a half and much arguing and bickering over who was 5k, who was relay, and who was 10k.  The 10k results were declared.

This whole ordeal wouldn't have really bothered me too much other than the fact that the competitors were promised excellent prizes for 1st-3rd place overall and age group.  What prize did I walk home with you ask?  Bragging rights, and a slip of paper declaring me "third".  No metal, no time on the paper, no age group, just the distances, the race name, and the word "THIRD".  Ugh!  If any of you are considering this race next year.  I strongly urge you to not participate.  Although this is a worthy cause, if you wish to donate $60 to tag the world, just write them a check and save yourself the stress.

sorry about the tirade guys.

Track workout!

for about the last week or so I have been DYEING to run fast.  I don't mean like a two minute interval, or a little fartlek run..  I mean FAST!!  I finally got my chance yesterday at the track and boy did it feel good.  I am starting to really enjoy this relationship I am fostering with the local track.  It's nice to go somewhere and just leave everything you've got on that red dirt that so many other runners have sweated, cried, bled, vomited, and pushed there all into.  Something about the track is quite inspiring actually.  And you can always tell the people that are there to really RUN the ones that warm up by doing "high knees" and then leave a dust trail behind them when they sprint.  Oh yeah, this is a culture i could get used to. Running.

I was pretty proud of my times considering how long it has been since i've consistently done any speed work.  I worked on 600s this week.  Did two 3x600s the first set i did my 600s in around 2:45 and my second set around 2:25.  I'm always proud of myself when i give just a little more on my second set.  Just like today at the pool.

Today's swim was a bit intimidating to me.  I started with a 1,000m timed negative split.  This wouldn't seem intimidating to most serious triathletes but it is the furthest I have swum without resting on a wall since my return to the sport.  So, I was not looking forward to this.  Turns out I did quite well, in my own humble opinion.  Was able to complete the 1k swim in 20:12.  then i had three more timed events two 200m sprints of which the second was to be faster (3:42 and 3:31) i was very satisfied that i was able to complete another negative split effort on this one.  Finally finishing it out with a timed 400m that i was able to complete in 7:41 I am not sure how I should feel about that time but generally I like to keep a good attitude about my workouts so I'd say I'm pleased with it.

Oh... and i haven't mentioned "Company PT".  Yesterday it came as a bit of a surprise to me when my "Gunny" told me that we would be meeting up at 0530 for a company run.  He made sure to reinforce the importance of being hydrated (that's always a sign of a difficult run).  This morning we ran for almost 7.5 miles of which an entire mile was on the beach.  I'm sure all of you are aware of the difficulty of running on sand.  So needless to say, today was a tough day.

A great start to the weekend!

The Ironman bug... It's catching!

It started with a phone call. Just a crazy idea, maybe I'll ask my buddy Eli if he wants to run IMCDA with me. Seeing as how the only event he's ever competed in that i know of is the Honolulu Century Ride. Knowing that, I figured it was a bit of a long shot. Eli is the guy that did the century ride with me with only 3 months notice.

Well, i left him a message a few days ago. I heard from him today. He actually wants to do it! I can't beleive it! This crazy bastard wants to do it! This is gonna be great. He seems just as excited about it as I am. I really had a great time training with him for the century ride. He is an old high school friend of mine and he is just as masochistic as me. Hopefully he is able to register for it before it sells out. That would be a great familiar face to have at the race and a great friend to spend the week with in Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

Finishing off the 2010 triathlon season!

Just finished up with the "Tradewind Triathlon".  Official splits:


Overall 27th (25-29 6th) time 1:10:58
Swim 500m 10:29 32nd (T1 0:42)
Bike 11 miles 34:18 34th (T2 0:57)
Run 5k 24:33 57th  
out of 186 competitors


I woke up at 0315 this morning, as is typical on race day but not necessary since this morning's race was only a 10 minute bike ride from my front door.  So i had a couple of pieces of peanut butter toast and a glass of orange juice to get me going.  Then... i waited... made some final preparations, finished packing my transition bag and pumped up my tires.  Then... it happened... I blew my inner tube!  ok, no need to panic.  I have two spares and plenty of time.  I got my spare put my wheel back together, and wouldn't you know it... I BLEW OUT ANOTHER ONE!!  Oh god!  this isn't shaping up to be a very good morning.  Ok Andrew, just relax, *check my watch 0455 bike inspections are at 0500* ok relax.  Wiping the sweat from my brow and taking a deep breath i retrieved my second and final inner tube from the garage.  "Ok, Andrew only fill this one to 120psi NOT 140..."  got it!  whew!  


After riding my bike to the start of the triathlon I realized that i still had plenty of time, as i was the only competitor present.  I then ask frank and the guys at the IT&B tent if they need some help with the bike checks.  After dropping off my run transition bag (that's a story in itself) and picking up my timing chip i helped Frank and the guys out for a while.  


Pre-race mode... GO!  I hardly warmed up (oops).  Listened to the course brief.  Asked the race coordinator to go over the swim one more time, I have a reputation for missing buoys.  then swam out to the deep water start line.   I saw one guy start swimming off and looked at my buddy and asked jovially "did they say go?" he then replied "nope, don't think s- BANG-o OH I GUESS THEY DID!"  Head down in the water pulling away, i found somebody's feet to follow.  Stayed on him almost the entire way out.  On the way back i had some issues sighting and struggled to maintain my pace.  Exiting the water i saw an old rival of mine who works here on K-bay.  


"Kevin", my "Gunny" and i talk about Kevin all the time.  He's one of these guys that will look for you at the finish line just to let you know how bad he beat you.  And we see Kevin at every single race we do. Today, before the start of the race, i told kevin I'd be waiting for him at the finish line.  It felt good to beat him to T1.  


Back to the race, into T1 i remembered all that practice i did friday on my transitions (about 40mins worth) smooth and easy just like i practiced.  Onto the bike not much to say here.  Other than Roberto hammering past me on what little bit of a hill there was.  There was one guy though we kinda went back and forth just friendly little competition.  Every time we hit the headwind on the flight line i would get into a really aggressive aero position and catch him, then we'd turn around and he would catch me.  It went like this until T2 where i turned to him and said "I'll race ya!".  


T2... what a mess...  ok, so let me describe this situation to you.  They had T1 and T2 in two completely separate places.  So, remember that "run bag"?  Yeah, it was a trash bag with a number 8 sticker on it and my running shoes and socks stuffed inside.  So as i ride into the T2 corale a guy with a microphone says "Eight"  i run around looking for a place to hang my bike and think... "why am i still holding this thing this corale is virtually empty" i hang it immediately and run to the guy holding my trash bag.  Dump the contents on the ground shake the grass out of my socks THEN i am able to attempt a quick transition.  By this time the guy i was racing with on the bike is long gone. 


I start to book it.  Grab some water out of T2, almost choke on the friggin water.  I don't know why i was trying to drink it so fast.  I guess i was still in transition mode.  Then the pain sets in,  the dreaded side stitch.  only a mile into the run and already gripping my ribs in pain.  Oh, and the hills.  Lets just say the run course was challenging and any of you who have trained or raced on the Marine Base in Kaneohe will know what i mean when i say "KT".  I needn't say more.


All in all it was an exciting race.  I came across the finish line sprinting to catch and pass the guy in front of me (that's always a psychological game to me) by one second.  I then collapsed in pain on the ground just past the finish.  You know you put out when the race staff asks you if you're ok. 


And then, After I had time to collect myself, stand up, and brush myself off.  I saw "Kevin" cross the finish line.  That's right. I WIN! (thanks Michelle!)


Now onward to Marathon training!!

And so it begins...

Thursday night, i signed up for my first Ironman. Ironman Couer d'Alene in Idaho. I wasn't expecting to sign up for one just yet. I saw my coach Michelle signed up for it... and it got me thinking... the timing is good and there will be some friendly faces. I made a call to Michelle and spoke with her about my training schedule for next year, discussing whether or not to do IMCDA in June or IM western Australia in December. I was concerned that doing the Kona 70.3 on June 4th would not be conducive to my training schedule by doing two big races in June. But turns out, it was a good idea to do a double peak in June. After running it by my wife, i took a deep breath and signed up. I had to convince myself that the $608 was worth it for a lifetime goal.

The scope of what i had signed up for didn't hit me until friday morning when i did the math on each of the events. According to the paces that i currently have during training. If I go the same speed during all three events during the Ironman. It will take me almost 12 hours... 12 HOURS of RACING!! OMG what have I done!?

My Ironman training hasn't gotten off to a very good start I'll say. I've been sick for the last few days. A bit of a head cold. I felt a bit better yesterday, good enough for a swim. On top of me feeling a bit under the weather I've got a race tomorrow, so for today, I'm just going to be chilling out on the couch drinking fluids and watching television. But next weekend I'll be going for my longest ride since my surgery, 3 hours on the bike. I'll have to consider nutrition for the first time since i've resumed training.