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

1 Year Today

I was beating around what to write about for a few days and nothing sounded right. Was gonna have another throw back Thursday, like I had last week but something just hit me. Today it has been one year that I had to make the toughest call of my entire life. I had to put down my best friend Ticket. She was by far the best dog I have ever had and would give anything to have her back. That dog understood everything about me and never left me no matter what. I have never had or will ever have a dog like her again and I was so lucky to get her. I never meant to get her, it just happened one day while working with some horses. This pup covered in mud came up and the girl that had her coulndt keep because she was growing to fast. So I put that Black and Tan Coonhound in my truck and away we went. She had never been in a house and was given up from her litter because she was gun shy and wouldnt hunt. Long story short, she was fine one minute and then next had some spine issues. Surgery was an option but they was not sure if she would ever walk again and for her not to go out and run that big nose across the ground would have been like killing her. So i laied with her as the vet put her down and did m best to ease things up for her. I was not gonna be in there but as much as she laid with me when I was hurting there was just no way I could not be there for her. Now she sits on the piano at my moms where she should be. Although a pain in the butt sometimes here is a few of her better pictures.

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.