Race Calendar 2010...

So I believe my race calendar for this season is finally complete...mostly. I might tweak it slightly as the season progresses, but as of now...it's good to go! I posted it to the right. I'm concentrating on developing run toughness early on with 3 road races this spring, leading up to what I hope is a fast race at Eugene for the Eugene 1/2 marathon. I've never run an open 1/2, just at the end of a tri so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with that. The other races prior are just for speed and again working on my "run toughness." Again, I've never run an open 10k, just at the end of a tri, so that should be fun too!

During the spring time I will continue to build my other disciplines and plan on peaking for my lone 1/2 Ironman of the season, Boise 70.3 in early June. I won't do a full taper for this race, but will take some rest and make the race a priority. It's an Ironman branded event so the competition will be good and appears to be a course that will play to my strengths. Plus it has an afternoon start which is awesome. Just a few weeks prior to this I plan on racing my first Olympic of the season in Eugene. After Boise I will take some time off to recover and get ready for my build for the big dance of the year...Ironman Canada!!

At this point my final push to Canada will include two Olympic distance triathlons that will help keep me sharp and continue to work on my speed and focus. For better or worse I didn't race enough this past season so this season I plan on incorporating racing into my training. I have Blue Lake targeted as my final race prior to taper for Ironman as it's a very fast course that I will race at the peak of my build and fitness...so basically it will be used as a big confidence booster heading into taper.

Ok, I guess that's it for now. Training is going pretty well although I haven't been hitting the pool at all. I've been riding frequently and getting in a few runs per week. The thought of getting out of bed this time of year and making it to the pool! But I made a commitment that I would after IMAZ so time to get it on! Thanks for reading,

-T

The day has arrived...

So, the bike is racked, the bags are checked, everything is ready for tomorrow. The big day is finally here and I'm stoked to get it on in the morning. I'm headed back to the hotel to chill and catch a nap. Ducks are on at 5pm in a huge game tonight so I'll enjoy that with Meg and my parents and then off to bed for the early departure. Thanks to everyone that has continued to offer me such great support in this endeavor...most of all, my wife to be. Everyone has been awesome, but Meg especially has had to deal with a lot for me to make it to the start line tomorrow. I love you honey!!

Bib # is 394 for those that are interested in tracking on Ironman.com tomorrow. Thanks for reading,

-T

Last brick...

Well, the last decent length brick of the season is in the bags! It included about half what I would normally do on my Saturdays...50 mile bike and 2.5 mile run. All was done at limited intensity. I felt great!! I know I'm ready to race Ironman next week due to the fact I wanted more today. I wanted to pedal harder, run faster and go twice as long. My body and mind are totally ready for this race. Just 8 more days to go. With that, I'm off to the Duck game! Go Ducks! Thanks for reading,

-T

Scoggins Valley...

5am and my alarm wouldn't shut up. Ok, Ok, I'll get up already. Go to brush my teeth. What's that noise? Oh crap, it is REALLY raining hard outside. This is going to be a long day...you can just tell. I put a bagel in the toaster and started the coffee. I stood there drinking my coffee looking at the pouring rain outside and thought to myself that I shouldn't race today...it's just going to be miserable and dangerous.

But then I remembered why I had signed up for this race. It wasn't for any type of placing or time goals, I just wanted to get some confidence back after having some serious health concerns at Pacific Crest Half Iron in June. So, I figured Hagg Lake (Scoggins Valley) would be a perfect race to do. It would land during my build up to Ironman Arizona so I could use it as a training day and the course is challenging so I knew I would get a good days work in.

But, back to the rain. This is going to suck!! I wake Meg up and we slowly head out to the car and make the 50 minute drive out to Hagg...windshield wipers going the entire drive. We get to the lake just fine and I start to set up my transition area. I see two of my buddies Brian and Clinton that are doing the race as well. Brian was giving me all kinds of crap for convincing him to sign up! Well, misery loves company Brian!! Alright, so bike is set up, runners are out and we make our way down to the lake to start the wet day.

The crowd (which consisted of the other athletes, volunteers and Meg) started to count down to start time. I wanted to attack the swim as I felt like my swim has been good as of late and I wanted to try and put the hammer on the field early. Dave Campbell was the class of the field, and I knew Dave was going to kill me on the bike so I needed to get out of sight and out of mind from him if I wanted a chance to be with him on the run.

Swim: I quickly went to the front of the pack and took off. My turnover was high. I rounded the first buoy and thought I felt a guy behind me (from the picture he was obviously there), but I wasn't sure. I kept the pressure on through the first lap and then just set into a long, comfortable stroke. Right before the last buoy, the guy that I thought might have been behind me passed me. I followed him to the beach and entered transition just behind him. My swim split was 21 and change. Just what I wanted.

Bike: I quickly made my way onto the bike as I wanted to get out on the course first and get myself distance from the field. The course is two loops around the lake with an out and back section each loop. The course is fairly hilly, especially after the out and back section. I could tell right away that I didn't have the legs. I'm in my Ironman build so my legs are a little worn down after many 200 -250 mile weeks. That being said I felt ok. I made it to the turn around at the out and back and saw Campbell coming in. He was a little over a minute, maybe two behind me still. I was leading the race and thought if I could just enter the run within a minute or two of Dave I would have a chance. Coming up to the end of the first loop I felt Dave coming up on me. He passed me right at the end of the loop. I was now in second and trying to keep Dave in sight. I kept my cadence up and was noticing that I was riding just as fast as him on the flats and rollers but the hills were killing me. I lost ground on the two climbs on the end of the second loop and entered transition in what I thought was 4th place (later find out that two of the people that passed me were either Duathletes or Sprint guys). I was actually in second still. I was very careful on the bike as I knew the only negative outcome I could have out there was to wreck in the horrible conditions. I split 1:12 on the bike which was over 6min slower than Campbell. Maybe on a dry day I would have been about 1:10? Hard to tell, but I do know I used my brakes much more than normal just to be safe :)

Off on the run and my legs felt pretty good. I went through the first mile at just over 7min and was slightly discouraged about that but had to remind myself that I'm in the middle of heavy Ironman training and shouldn't be running 6's right now, especially on this course. Again, this course is incredibly hilly! To add to that, the rain was still pouring. I wasn't noticing it as much on the run as on the bike though, just working harder I guess. I got passed about two miles in and tried my best to keep the guy's pace. He was just moving too fast. I kept him at about 400 meters for a while, but eventually he started to pull away. We made the turn around to head back and I saw a few guys coming at me fairly fast. I put my head down and really attacked the run back in as best I could. I didn't want to lose my current spot, which I thought was 5th. I crested the last hill and could see the entrance to the boat ramp! I turned around and saw nobody behind me. I had kept my place. I zipped up my kit and headed into the finish chute. My run split ended up at 45. Not my best, but considering the course and the conditions I was pretty happy with it. My overall time ended up at 2:23 which was a PR for me on that course. Considering the conditions and where I am with my training I was pretty happy with this. What I was more happy with was the fact that I actually came in 3rd overall behind Dave and the guy that passed me early on the run! So I ended up 3rd and won my age group. Not a bad day, despite the terrible weather! Thanks to Meg for the awesome pictures of the race!! My number one fan was the only fan out there in the monsoon :) Love you sweetie!!

-T

Ironman Canada...

So it's official! I am volunteer #1249853581 at Subaru Ironman Canada this year! Meghan is volunteering as well! Volunteering is basically the only way to ensure your entry into North America's most popular Ironman Race. Racing in Penticton at Ironman Canada has always been a dream of mine.

Well, more of a pipe dream I guess :) It all started over 2 decades ago. My dad raced Canada 5 times (he also did Kona twice). You see, I have great memories of being in Canada for what I believe is one of the most amazing sporting events in the world. I also thought it was absolutely crazy! I mean, here were 1500 people or so that would train for months on end to kill themselves for 9+ hours! WTF? Yet, we always had a great time! Especially as kids!! Fond memories of road tripping up in the Vanagon, maple syrup, cheering my dad on, etc.

The last year pops did Canada was either 91 or 92, can't remember for sure. He was 44 and training to break the Ironman World Masters record (40 years of age and older). Canada is known for having one of the most difficult bike courses on the circuit. Despite that, dad split 4:57 on the bike and went into T2 48th overall. This includes pros. He was on pace to smash the record he had been working for years to achieve. Unfortunately he experienced some serious heart issues on the run and had to walk in the final 10 to 12 miles. He still finished 10:35 overall and qualified for Kona, despite walking the second half of the marathon. I will never forget that day. It's not as if I knew way back then that I would someday do this race, remember I thought these guys were crazy!, but in hindsight...I believe I was destined to do this race. Anyways, I'm stoked for IMAZ in November as it will be my first Ironman...but I really can't wait to toe the line at Canada next year!!!

The icing on the cake...it turns out that Meg and I will be getting married next year during Labor Day weekend. Until we picked that date I was unsure of which Ironman I would do next year. Well, luckily Ironman Canada is the weekend before our wedding! So, I'll get to race in Canada...20+ years removed from those amazing memories, with my future life as the luckiest, soon to be, married man waiting at the finish line :) It will be a very emotional weekend...for many reasons.

-T