FEB is here

Well if anything I have learned in the last month is strength training is not too bad. I have always done some but Nadine and I have really been getting into the strength training. I have noticed a huge difference in my running and how I feel during the run, after adding in core and balances training. My legs are feeling much more secure and run is coming around. OK its not a whole lot of fun to go ride or run after a leg workout but it is getting easier as it goes. 

SO my whole race schedule has been going through the ringer here lately! The Army seems to be wanting to jump all into it and now found out that I am not only gone all of March but now also all of July ! OK I can work with this but just gotta dump out some longer races I wanted to squeeze in. I was gonna jump into FL 70.3 but I have decided to pass and just go watch Nadine and Natalia race. We are still sitting on Beach 2 Battleship but I am really wanting to either get to Louisville or another IRONMAN event. The X2PERFORMANCE Team is not gonna be at one race this year but is looking for slots in sold out races for us. If that happens there is a couple I would like to do instead of rolling back to FL again this year. Bad news is I dont think Nadine would be going so it would be me solo, just there long enough to race and head home. 

The other day I got a call from the FLNG State HQ's and was asked if I would join the FL National Guard Marathon team and go race in Lincoln Nebraska in May. Of course I said yes ! I cannot pass up that and it works great for me. I wanted to really work on my run this year and now with being gone so much the marathon is the reason I need to work on it more. Cause now there is not a triathlon till later in May and then most of them after July it should work for me. I do think we are going to slide into the Hooters to Hooters 1/2 marathon on March 2, the day before I  leave to head to FT Dix for training. 

Well training is going good and lets see how it keeps going 

2014 New Year and New Blog !

OK I know this has bee a long  time coming but it was been hectic after IMFL and going into HITS Naples 140.6. I have race reports on video and I will link them on here later. I decided to do them in video 1 so I dont have to type and 2 I feel better talking not to  forget much.

SO Now thats its 2014 I never made any goals for the year, I think keeping this blog up and running better will be it !!

I will start this year with some exciting news for me. I had gotten accepted back for sponsorship from  X2PERFORMANCE ! This is awesome cause I truly believe in this product and last year had great results with it. I plan on giving new updates for the for how X2 has been working and my usage of the product. BUT right now you can get 25 % off and purchase of X2  at x2performacne.com

Next I was lucky enough to get selected to also race for Moxie Multisport which is a part of Wattie Ink. I really like hardcore training and these two groups are known for so intense training and racing while having fun.  http://moxiemultisportatx.com/   

you can find out more from the link about the team and what they are up too also on Facebook.

Lastly I also got accepted by X1-Audio and just got my first shipment of product and gave it a test run. Worked awesome ! The headphones are sweatproof, weatherproof and waterproof (depending on which ones you get) 

So as the year roll on I will have a ton of info on new products coming out and new one for me. Looking forward to working with X2PERFORMANCE again had a great 2013 season with many top 10 OA and a hand full of top 5 OA and AG results

Naples OLY / IMFL Update

Where to start again ? OK positive note, had a great race at the Naples Elite Event International. Placed 2nd overall and they stuck me with 1st maters. This is because the only do first overall and then run 5 deep into age groups. Does not really make sense but whatever, you would think they would just do top 3 and 3 deep in AG. Guess they gotta be different. Swim was good and went by without a hitch, I was 4th outta the water and besides the long S curve to T1 it was good. Seemed a bit long and a few Garmin 910's had it long but still had a solid time. Bike was ROUGH in spots, had a few cobble stone areas through housing complexes and a shit tone of corners with a few U-turns. Still had a great run and came into T2 feeling great. Not sure where I was cause of their timing and they had a 10K and OLY duathlon running at same time. Run was 2 loops around the lake and was great seeing Nadine and friends out that was already done with their races. More ran the 10K then anything so lots going on the entire run. Nat and Laura made it out and surprised me on first lap of the run. I didnt think they was coming but it was great to see them. It was a good race and final one before Florida. Almost ran another the following week but called it off, just wanting to rest. Figure I was coming into 3 huge weeks before taper and time to pull back on the racing.

Now on to IMFL it is not far off and been working on my mental game a lot. Been a few setbacks but feel I am almost where I wanna be. Had to get a new wetsuit, mine ripped the other week after a OWS. Went with the Roka Maverick Elite and love it!! Best I have ever had on. Took it out OWS a few days ago and it was even better. Back in it this Sat. before one of two last long rides. So getting things together and making lists of stuff to take along. Got new tires, UCAN and bike shoes ( they also fell apart from car crash 8 months ago). The LBS has ordered me a complete bolt set for my bars and will have them replaced when I get final tune-up before race. Reality is setting in, I think because I have been wanting to do this race for so long. Been 5 years now, 2008 got cancelled cause I had to leave the state with the Guard. And after that I spent 2 1/2 years deployed in the desert. I am using this as a introduction to big races. Gonna run my race and let it go by not worrying about too much else.

Race Week

Time has been flying by and just seen IMFL is 47 days away !! Pumped up cant wait ! Training has been going great, made a show swap and things got better. Although cramming in too many long runs because I was out at my unit, has left me with a sore right calf. So it kinda hit at the right time if there ever is sore an issue. Cause really did some building in training last few weekend and now can take it easy going into my last race before FL. Think its gonna be a swim and bike week and would like to get just another 80-90 miler in, least main goal for the week. X2PERFORMANCE is really changing my recovery and training. Thought my last 90 miler was gonna leave me sore but not a chance and was abler to get out and train as normal the next day. Was not so much the miles but really worked cause the wind was flat terrible. Looking like Wed this week is my window to fit another in, weather is a bit sketchy today and Tuesday. I am getting my leg worked oh Thurs. for a bit of ART and staying off it till Sunday. Another OLY this weekend and kinda on the fence about it. I was not gonna do it then decided to and now not sure again. I will go for sure and give it a shot but a side of me would rather have a long run too. Same race also has a 10K and Nadine is doing it cause she does not like the lake that the swim is in. Too much chatter about alligators in it for her, but hell we are in SWFL gators are in every lake and now finding some in the Gulf. Pulled out wetsuit and finally spent 1.3 miles in it yesterday. Had to use it at the pool cause the Gulf is sitting around 85-87* and not gonna heat stroke out in the water. Pool was warm but not too bad, gonna stay in it once a week till gulf cools down. It has been 6 months since I been in it and it was a shocker to me. Pre-race update coming in a few days

Ft Desoto International Tri RR

Maybe just maybe the most uneventful race I have had ever ! In all it was what I would say an "easy day" It was one of them days when everything pretty much went smooth. I know they dont happen often and I sure aint upset about it working out that way.
Morning bike set up and all was good, I somehow got the first rack heading out of T1 and it was pretty nice. I was not feeling great, just like the girls I was there racing with. One had to drop out with stomach issues, Nadine was not feeling good either. Headed to water I was getting sick but only dry heaves pretty bad.
Swim was only a .5 mile so intent was to kick back, hang on some feet and go for a ride. Did not work out like that. As always I jumped up front and when gun went off there was a group of us headed to 1st turn. Once there it was me and another guy rounding it, so I jumped on for the ride. Soon like 40sec I was like this guy aint going!! So I pulled to the inside and within and few strokes passed him for the lead in the swim. I was so relaxed, nothing hard just cruise control, I thought about going hard but didnt feel I needed too. We had a U-turn and soon hit the sprint swimmers heading to shore. I was 1st out of the water with a 10:12 swim and headed onto the .25 run to T1.  Things went like clockwork in T1 and it was over in 47sec. Bike was 2 laps for 20 mile total with 3 U-turns in it. Come to find out they was great U-turns and could charge right through them. Once again like the swim cruise control and never felt as if I was pushing things much at all. At about mile 15 I got passed, I figured it was coming but just when. So it never really bothered me at all. Finished the bike in 52:26 and was really happy I had a 56 min figured before the race. Coming into T2 feet was out of shoes and ready to go till I got slowed by a sprint rider strolling to dismount line. Around him and into T2 and back out in 40 sec. Once again smooth ! Run was again 2 laps and was about 60%  on a hard packed path, with a small amount on beach and rest on bike path. It was a great run, lots to see and path was nice along beach. Within the 1st mile I passed one of the guys who passed me on bike and was not sure where I was falling into position. He said the guy in blue is 42 so he was in my AG. OK OH WELL thanks and I was off. Second lap I ran past Laura but never seen Nadine except twice on bike. I was all ready for a 48min run with all this IRONMAN training and very little speed work. I finished with a 45:26 and I am happy with that, no PR for the run but better then I thought. When awards rolled around I finished 5th overall and 1st masters with a 1:51:13. Then met Kent who is also on the X2PERFORMANCE Triathlon Team and talked with him about IMFL. It was good to meet him, if I dont race with him in Sept. I will see him late Oct. in PCB.
So it was one of them days that things just clicked and finished with good results. The entire day just seemed to go along and I was fine.  Ran the entire race on my new fuel mix, 30min before race mixed 1 scoop UCAN and 1 scoop BCAA and followed that with X2PERFORMANCE, on bike I had 1 scoop UCAN around mile 15, thats it nothing else ( not even breakfast) I am loving the X2PERFORMANCE and UCAN mix, it has been working wonders and look forward to using it more and taking it to IMFL !

Upcoming Ft Desoto

Really not sure where to start for this race. I feel a bit behind the 8 ball for it and usually dont going into a OLY. Things have been rough for a couple weeks. Plyometrics been kicking my ass and leaving legs shot. Although I am liking it more and finding it easier. Just hard to get out and have a good Neg. split run day when hammies and calf are screaming at you from the rip. So I am going into it with no goals, just have ideas I want to work with in T1 & T2. YEA Im changing a few things I have done for years, trying to get out quicker. That is why I have the next 3 races lined up for, just practice in transition. 3 races in 6 weeks then calling it quits till IMFL. Not really playing much with the tapper for any of them, gonna keep training. Just so happens this week fell into a easier week for me, after 2 big building weeks.
Great news on the fuel UCAN, I love it and now am a huge fan of it. I was really not sure about it. So first day training with it, my test was during a 80 mile ride and 4.5 run brick. So I followed how they said and it was amazing. 4 scoops the entire time, with a 350 cal total overall. Where I normally would have had about 1600 of normal fuel. Its not so much the calories that I care about, its the sugar and any crash that is related to it. UCAN I had none, did not get hungry, no stomach issues and felt great the entire time. 1 scoop every 90min thats it. So ordered a couple more jugs and gonna keep working with it. Got Nadine on to it and she also really likes it and finds it works well with her. It works well with the X2PERFORMANCE ( every 2 hr). Really allows me more time to think about getting more water in me. This FL heat has been ripping and water this time of the year is something I have to always stay on top of.
So my test for this weekend is 1.5 scoop of UCAN + X2PERFORMANCE 30min before race and thats it. That should be all I need to get through the race. RR coming up next

Catching Up

Training is coming back around!! Always feel like crap when I leave for a few days. Although I try to eat well it is so hard and combined with no workouts, leaves me feeling like a slug. Had a powerful brick the other day. First one using multi bottles of X2PERFORMANCE and it was great with no issues. Just read a great article from Ben Greenfield about fueling with lots of info. In it he mentioned a product called Generation UCAN, after reading about it and going to their website I ordered some today. Once I get it and work with it some I will give my feedback for those who have not used. this is where you can fond more about the Super Starch  http://www.generationucan.com/    they have videos and info on the product.
Looking about 2 weeks till FT Desoto OYL triathlon. Not to sure how things will work out but gonna give it a shot. Have not been doing much speed work running but each time I swim and ride I always include some. Had a OWS before I left and it was outstanding. Need more work on my long distance speed ! Right now up to 1.75 mi swim it is good but after that I can feel the pace slightly drop a bit. Nothing bad and really wont hurt me much, just would like to keep the 1:20ish avg for the entire swim. My biggest issue for the next race is shoes. Got new Zoot Ultra TT 5.0 and ran in them today but thinking might be Newtons for the race. Downfall would be some of the run is in the sand so not sure yet. Can always go to the K Swiss Kwicky Blades for it also.

Just a reminder anyone who wants to try X2PERFORMANCE head over to x2performance.com and enter SHAUN as a coupon and get 10$$ off a case of 28.
It is amazing and I do not train or race without anymore. Recovery is great, energy is superb and it will keep you strong. Used it for the first time on a Plyometric workout yesterday and flat blistered the workout and that was after 1.7mi of speed drill in the pool. Give it a look and hold on it will supercharge training