Throwback Thursday - Chasing the 140.6

Been thinking about this year and whats coming up and it made me think back to my first year in triathlon. I waited almost 2 years before I could race, I needed a bike and didnt have the money for one. So December 2007 I got it and that same month I was at my first sprint. Before I started I knew what I wanted to race, it was the 140.6 I was after. Well 10 months and 3 ( one each distance ) races I had to get into the only one I could. It was the 2008 Great Floridian in Clearmont FL. I had to pick this because we was already starting workups for deployment and I knew that 2009 was gonna be shot and I would not be around much. I got into the military division figured why not and it was a little cheaper. I thought I knew what to expect and in all I was pretty close ! No expectations that was my day, only to finish what I waited almost 3 years for but really only been traing for 4 months ( Didnt start till after May at HIM FL). Anyway it was such a great day, met this guy from GA on the run and we talked most of it till mile 15, then he stopped to see his wife and I never seen him again. That day I went through every emotion I have at least 5x, happy, sad, depressed and overwhelmed at times. I relived my entire life starting back as far as I cold remember. This good and bad I have done over a lifetime and when I seen the 20 mile marker on the run I almost fell apart. Not from anything but purly knowing I was gonna finish and at that moment I was chasing the setting sun. My goal changed to finish before sunset, didnt make it but I was damn close. In the end I finished 1st in the division, forget overall I could look it up in scrapbook but that dont matter. What did I learn ? That the 140.6 distance is by far my favorite and really do not wanna race anything else. From that night on, through pre-drployment and 2 years in the desert I could not wait to get at it again. Now well nothing has changed, only that now I have a great wife who enjoys them and I believe is her favorite race too. Never would I have expected all this in 2008 but I love my life and enjoy every day chasing the 140.6 dream again.

Another Week Down

Been a OK week all around but wanting more. Training has been good although last 2 days I been out of town. Had made plans to run over in West Palm but as normal they got shut down with a early morning formation. Not sure still why I was but I did get some stuff done I needed to. Glad to see that storm got torn apart over Cuba and hope to get in a few hour ride tomorrow followed up with a long run Sunday. Getting ready to go out now for some speed work and Nadine just asked if we was going to pool tonight? Damn I aint been in town 1hr yet and get hit with a pool trip. Don think she knows im running. Feeling sluggish after 2 days of paperwork shuffling, defiantly gonna need a kick in the pants with some X2PERFORMANCE before this run. Been thinking a lot of some OWS but I usually do not do many unless I am kinda dragged into it. I just do not get into them much these days unless its race day. Hoping for a good weekend, least with a few hours of no rain for some bike time.  

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Training Coming Back Together

Been hectic around here since being back from AAC. I have had a few decent workouts and things seem to be coming around best they can. Back in school full time and leaving again this week but just for a couple days this time. Finally back in the water for swims, been 3 weeks and I have been feeling it. X2PERFORMANCE is helping with the workouts and recovery. Did a 65 and 5 brick Sunday and been waiting for DOMS to kick in but nothing!! It has been months since I been on the bike that long not to mention running after Nutrition was way off, water mostly and I was feeling it. Should have stopped at park after my run north but got caught chasing a roadie down and forgot about the water stop. That mistake didnt allow me to get water for 2 hours and with temps in 80's with damn near 100% humidity it was a lose lose situation. Came off bike after a hella fast ride (then what I expected) only to find myself dry heaving by mile 2 and then throwing up soon after. Regrouped with walk and water and finished the run. Not as long as I wanted but longer then it could have been. I really been liking using X2PERFORMANCE everyday and it keep proving to me its legit !! Looking forward to more training and see where it takes me. This weekend looks BAD that tropical storm is gonna keep things windy and wet it looks like. So working on swim and run this week and will get back on bike once it passes. Maybe I should have gotten that trainer cycle when I was going to!! Well have to deal with it for now. Looking for a race, I got the itch and it needs to be scratched. Missed this weekend in Naples just cause I had gotten back from 2 weeks of school a day before the race. No worries I got a few soon Im looking at.

12 Days of Army Air Assault School done!!

AaaHhhh WOW that was a long 12 day, really seemed like I was gone for a few months. I really dont know where to start, I have been wanting to go to that school since I was 14. Now that I have completed it is just awesome! I wish I could start at the very first day and just write abou the entire class but it would be a short book. Days 1-4 was by far the worst I have had i a long long time. I was mentally and physically beat. We did pushups till couldnt get off the ground, flutter kicks for I'm not sure how long and Mt climbers for what seemed like hours. That was all before the sun came up and we had a 2 mile run followed with the confidence course. Before noon on day 1 we had lost 35 people out of the 250 that started. By the end we graduated 196. Some was medical drop, others for failing tests and some just quit. The course is nicknamed the 10 toughest days in the Army and for me I agree. Not sure if it beats some days I had in the USMC but Army YES !!

 Neither of these pics are of me but I found them off the FLANG web page. In all I am glad I got to go and even more I made it through and got my wings. At the end we got to rappel out of a UH60 from about 90 feet and it was so cool. The last day was a 12 mile road march in full gear with 40lb ruck sack, my feet could have done without that cause IMFL training is back in full swing. But I will be good in a few days soon as things quit hurting.

Out For a Few Days

Today is my last day around for about 12 days. Heading to Camp Blanding up in Stark, Fl. Will be going to the Army Air Assault School. Mentally I am set, I know it is gonna be a rough 12 days and ready for it. I do not wanna make any stupid small mistake that gets me dropped. First day I hear is brutal, last class started with 240 and by noon on day one (5hr into it) they had dropped 70 people already. My ribs are still not 100% although much better then when I messed them up training with the AAC class, last time I was at Blanding.
Did have a good workout today, ran a 2 hr 30min @ 45 mile brick before leaving. Things are really clicking for me and hate to leave but duty calls. The way I see it is I have 12 days of strength training so its all good. Need to get a new box of X2PERFORMANCE while I am gone !! When I get back on July 2 college starts back up and it full on for IMFL. Really looking forward to it I think with the X2 this is gonna be the PR I been shooting for at FL. Any news come up I just installed the app on my phone for this so I will try it. Blanding barley has cell service so not sure how things will be. Till then

Good news today

So I been waiting to hear from X2Performance about racing with them this year. Although I did not make Louisville with them, they had me fill out another App for either IMFL or IMAZ. I did FL and I got an email back from them saying they picked me to race with them. For me this is HUGE 1 I have never had a chance this big 2 I really like their product and love training and racing with it. I have had nothing but excellent results with it. So far I have used it in 2 races and in long training. Great lasting energy throughout the entire workout. I was out swapping out rubber on my bike when the news came in and almost didnt wanna finish my bike. But seeings I got a run and ride planned tomorrow I had to finish it up. I will be taking the X2Performance out tomorrow, Nadine has also started using and she like it a lot too. I do wanna run with it and almost did Sunday when we did a 12 miler but got up late and had to get out the door. So did not have it but will squeeze in a long run before heading to Camp Blanding this wee for Air Assault   School. I cannot take any supplements with me or I would be packing this with me.  Need a great supplement to shove training and racing into overdrivehttp://www.x2performance.com/  will do it, give it a look and maybe they still have free samples for you to try

Specialized Sitero Saddle

Been waiting on this saddle to hit the LBS and it finally made it in. Only to be snagged up by Josh that works there doing fits. So I called him and he took it off his Shiv and let me ride it this week on mine. Everything I had read and watched this saddle is the shit ! After 2 rides, 3.5 hrs and 75 miles I concur with everything about it. That is just my opinion and  it can be different for everyone. I have been on another Specialized saddle the Romin Pro and thought it was good, also been on an ISM Road but it was a nogo!! The sit zone on this Sitero is great and I think can fit many style rides. I can get up on nose and all the way back of the sit zone. Which is the area on the saddle that has the dots on it. Another outstanding feature is the bolt on bottle carrier, that can also be swapped out for a racking hook like the ISM.

 It is for both men and women and next to ride it is my wife, soon as I take it back to LBS. I have already put on on hold at LBS and will pick it up Saturday after another 2 rides on it. No issues I have found with comfort or blood flow. It was designed to keep the rider down on the aero bars. With that the saddle it not bad riding up on the bull horns, I found just slide back a bit and do what ya gotta do then drop back down. Very little shifting during rides and trying to find that zone when you can sit the longest, no sores ( no butt chum either just for testing) all around I think this is a bad ass saddle and if you spend much time on your triathlon bike might wanna give it a shot. I dont even need a saddle, heck mine is not even 6 months old but I am getting this. They have 2 types the Pro and Expert, difference is carbon rails but carbon is not out yet.