Off Season and some thoughts

Hey all,

I haven't been doing much training lately. Mostly running like 3-4 times a week and a few mountain bike rides mostly around the city on bike paths. It's been a good time of recharging. I toyed with the idea of doing a fall marathon since my running legs are still there, but changed my mind. I still don't have the desire to train hard yet. I won't rush things, just take it easy, probably move up to a easy workout a day for Oct. Then hit up the routine for Nov. I haven't taken up the fishing yet. I still could do this provided the weather stays ok, but I have done some gardening. What??? Gardening?? Yes that's right Lisa and I want to plant a few things in our backyard, such as strawberries, maybe some trees and saskatoon bushes. So we made a trip to http://www.saskatoonfarm.com/ a couple weeks ago and got like 3 saskatoon bushes and a japanese lilac tree. If you haven't been to this place yet you should. It's not only a nursury, but they have lots of cool antiques, you can pick saskatoons there(in season of course) and a restaurant with one of the bestest saskatoon pie you will EVER TASTE!! I'm not kidding it was amazing!!

I read this really interesting article on xtri.com here is the main part and the source:

One of the most dangerous things I sometimes see in the athletes I work with or meet is a mismatch between their race performance goals and their willingness to make the sacrifices it takes to reach them. By “sacrifice”, I mean doing something in order to reach your race performance potential when you'd rather be doing something else. Here are some examples:1) Getting your workouts done when you are tired and unmotivated and would rather go out with your friends or watch TV.2) Taking care of your nutrition when everyone around you is eating nachos and ice cream.3) Staying in your specified HR zones when on a group ride where everyone else is hammering.4) Not racing when everyone else is racing in order to meet a longer term goal and foster long term progress.5) Going to bed early when you'd rather watch TV or read at night.6) Going out on a long ride when you'd rather be home with your family.

http://www.xtri.com/features_display.aspx?riIDReport=5956&CAT=23&xref=xx

Food for thought uh, it should come with a disclaimer though. Somthing like, "Does not necessarily improve/balance one's life" only looks at improving performance. What are you guys willing to give up for performance? and what are you not?

EDIT: Oh yeah I forgot to add, I got a aero helmet finally. Bought it off ebay for a good price, the brand I wanted to get. It's a Rudy Project, zoom zoom!!

IMC RR #2 (forgotten story)

Hey!

I was just reading Julie's blog and got reminded of somthing that happened to me during the bike section at IMC. I was into the false flat section coming up to Yellow lake during the toughest section for me at least. It's false flat, you're tired, somtimes don't know if I should be aero or sitting up so I do a bit of both mostly aero this year. So at one point I'm aero and looking forward to seeing lisa and my Mom on the climb. Then with out warning or no time to react a wasp flies into my mouth!! You would think I'd have time to close it on time, but I guess 140km on the bike will be the equivalent of a half dozen beers, at least with your reaction timing. It all happened really quick, after it flew in I naturally spit as fast as I could. I'm sure people watching must have had a really awesome show watching this cyclist come by blowing/spitting like that. It flew out instantly, or got tossed out, but on the way out it stung me on the inside of the lip. So here comes the sharp pain that you always get from them. The first thing that comes into my head was oooooohh boy here comes the pain/swelling will I have to drop out??? My race was going well at that point, I had visions of how my run might turn out with mouth pain, I don know what else happens when you get stung inside the mouth??? So yeah my lip swelled up immediately, I went by Lisa/Mom and they yelled for me so there was no way I could tell them anything unless I stop. I wasn't going to stop untill I have to. Drinking was a pain in the ass with the big lip. I even checked the Yellow lake pictures but with out ordering them and checking them you can't tell. So I climbed Yellow lake, rode down into the wind, made my way back into town trying not to drool on myself too much. I started out the run feeling awesome and here's where it gets really bizzare!! I totally forgot about it because the swelling and pain went away!!! I've had stings before and they never do that! I couldn't believe it I thought it was a miracle(ohhhhh yeah I pray in the race ha ha). I guess there was no stinger in my mouth, but I still didn't expect that. Anywho there's my funny story, I'm not trying to top Julie's adventure, I won't ever top one of there posts. hee hee

DP

Endless Caption possibilities here.

Running down a dream

Hey all,

I have to appoligize for the last post. I believe I said I hadn't done any training. I had already gone mountain biking with some friends last saturday. Also should appoligize to Keith for leaving out the beer drinking. I swear I've been drinking too!! Ask Lisa I polished off a 12 pack/case yesterday that I purchased friday or saturday. So anyways this week I thought I'd keep with the mountain biking theme and I went for a longish ride with "the tank" in fish creek park on wednesday. Man that thing is heavvvvvvvvy, and I have a pretty decent hard tail trek 8000, it doesn't have any rear suspension but it's a good bike. Almost pulled my arm out carrying the tank down stairs after. Yesterday I ran when I came home, just 30 min with a walk in between. I walked along the bow river for a bit, I'm seriously thinking of taking up fly fishing. When I was a kid I fished a ton, wanted to become a guide "when I grow up". I used to subscribe to fishing magazines and would watch the shows, I learnt a ton. Yesterday as I walked along the shoreline I schemed where I would cast if I had my rod with me. Not to brag or anything but I'd usually kick my friends' butts in the fishing, ohhhhh yes fishing is competitive. No rod though not today, maybe I will get some new line for it and try this weekend?? I guess I'd need to get a license. I need another hobby to take up my time while the training is minimal. I'm looking foward to running with Curtis this weekend. Sorry for the random thoughts, I'd name the title that but I think I've worn out that title already. Today's title isn't really related except I really like the song by Tom Petty, and I keep thinking about the ultimate triathlon dream of mine. I will keep running it down(literally and figuratively) till I achieve it. Over and out,

DP

R&R, Random thoughts, boys trip??

Hey all,

I still haven't done a thing other than drink pop, eat chips, fast food, deserts, etc. I'm living the good life ahhhhhhhhhh. What?? what is this nawing away at my mind?? More exercise? More goals? Faster times??? Why would I want to do another such race? Weird how when you're approching race day all I want is for the day to be done, and now I'm already looking ahead to the next one. It's important to always have goals though, as soon as you get close to accomplishing one, make the next one. Not to say that I'm not living in the present(see I do learn stuff from my blogger buddies, guess which one I'm referring to now?) I'm really enjoying the down time. I'm renewing my mind, body, and soul. Doing all the things I missed when I was training, most of all spending time with my wife. However I am planning ahead, I'm excited about how things went this year, but I'm also looking ahead, how I can improve, how I can race faster.

Next year I'm doing CDA, it's an earlier race so it'll be more difficult to improve on this year's race for two reasons. The first is that it'll be my 4th IM, they keep getting faster, but the time improvements are going down. I'm getting closer to that perfect race. The second is that there will be less outdoor riding available before race day, cda is a June race.

Last year my focus was the bike, and this year looking at IMC I still need to improve the bike. My swim won't improve much, and my run improves as my bike improves. Ride stronger, get off feeling better which allows for a better marathon. Also run lots during the winter, crank up the riding during the summer when I can and the running fitness holds. This year(for next year's race) I'll again have to focus on the bike. To do this, since cda is so early I'll have to log a lot more trainer time. Learn to lovvvvvvvvvvvvvve the trainer. Those of you that know me know this will be a chore. Last year I rode 4 days a week. This year if I want to improve I'll have to up this to 5-6 days aweek. I also want to add a big block of riding before I even start the big build. There is a good possibilty I'll be doing a bike challenge, min of 20 min a day.

As for the boys epic trip. I just don't know yet, I'm still kinda leaning towards a fall marathon in 2010. Sorry Cam I know you want to do an IM trip, here is why both those ones you mentioned are out for me. St. George, well that's just too damn early, Arizona is also bad timing. I'll already have done an IM in the year(I'll never do more than one a year unless one of them is Kona) and also that time of year is reserved for one IM location only. Speaking of fall, can't really plan too much of anything for fall, what if I qualify for Hawaii? hmmmm I don't know....are there any other ideas?? Curtis you haven't given any ideas yet.

DP

IMC 2009 RR

Some inspiration for the day.

Swim start and 2600+ of my best friends, at least that's what you tell yourself as they're pummeling you.

Putting on the shoes by my bike. Ready for a good ride!

Riding up Yellow lake, it was soooo nice to see Lisa/Mom there. I think I looked forward to it from the start of the bike.

Going out on the run, feeling good!!

Coming into Ok falls.

Going out for the second half of the run. This is the climb out of OK falls, I hadn't walked yet!

Where's that finish?? I think this is within a mile to go. Just have to do the out and back.

Here's the finish, there's Katie in the background. She had a great race and won her age group!!

No Comment needed here.

Here's me kicking(KISSING) ASS at IMC, well Dutchman Dairy that is.

Hey there,

Here's the race report finally, although not as late as some of them have been. The race went well, another PB. Fairly happy, although of course there's always room to improve and for me again for the third year in a row it'll be the bike that needs more improvement. The conditions were tough this year, but it's the competitors that you race for a kona slot, not the conditions. Either way I need to ride faster. Anywho with out further delay here goes...

Race morning:

I got to the transition really early, 5 am, which is when they said it would open. Still had to wait a bit. Got the special needs bags into their appropriate boxes first, then went into transition and put nutrition onto the bike and pumped up the tires. Then off the washroom all in like 30min, now what do I do with the rest of the 1.5 hours. Oh well I found Trevor/Susan and eventually Cam and we hung out chatting and waiting in line for another go with the poop fairy. I even met Julie and got a good luck hug. So eventually with like 20 min to spare got down to the beach for the start. Sorry Lisa/Mom I didn't get over to the fence to say the last good byes. I wanted to get water in my wetsuit and get ready.

Swim:

I lined up on the far right side, I bit too far right. Last year it seemed to work fine cause everyone goes left and it's actually very un-congested on the right, at least till later when everyone moves over. This year I went too far right and ended up manouvering over a bunch of rocks in knee deep water. Oh well it helped split it up. I had basically no body contact for awhile. Even at the first sail boat corner I had a clear line right on the inside. But people keep thinking it's congested on the inside and go wide k(I like my clear inside line)?? Not sure why the speed boats have to go by so fast, we got huge wakes at times from that. Oh well didn't bother me, I didn't really even try to draft, just swam my pace. I could tell I was in good company as the swimmers around me looked good. My first IM I could tell by the crappy form around me that my time would be slower. The bouys comin back to shore always seem to take long. I guess you're looking forward to the end and the shore already looks pretty close. I'd see 3 more bouys, swim to the next, put my head up and see 3 more bouys, swim to the next, and still 3 more bouys?!?!?! Oh well eventually I did see 2 more, then 1 more, then ground. Got up and looked at the watch, hmmm 1:06 not bad.

Bike:

The transition went by pretty un-eventful except the tent was sooooo full. I opted to run barefoot to my bike and put on the shoes there. Lisa and my Mom were waiting there on the outside of the fence that is. My bike was pretty much the same place as last year. So I got the shoes on and out I go with Cheers from Lisa/Mom. Yayyyyy I made took it easy at first, sat up and enjoyed the ride through town. I like to start out slow, wait till I'm out of town, then slowly start my nutrition. As soon as my stomach felt ok I started sipping infinit. Once out of town down on the aero bars and start pushing a bit. I made sure the pace was easy at least till OK falls. I took in a lot of nutrition on the bike, don't be alarmed it really worked out well. I ended up taking 5 bottles of infinit(160 cal a bottle), 7-8 gels, 2 banana halves, 2 bottles of gaterade, and 2 bottles of water. A pelaton came by just before Richter just like last year. There were like 40 riders with like 2-3 side by side. I would sit up and let them go by, but then there would be more riders coming by. It was really frustrating, but we were close to Osoyoos I figured the climb would break it up and I'd never see these guys again. The pass was uneventful, there's not much to say I just climbed it, pretty easy, felt great. The rollers were tougher this year, I guess that's when the head wind started. Oh btw we didn't actually have a tail wind on the way to osoyoos I looked up at the husky and it was dead calm. At least till we turned around and climbed over Richter, then the wind started on the other side. :P Oh well I don't mind wind and everyone got it. I kept swapping places with the same guys, I didn't really mind it, it's just the way things go. I forced myself to take nutrition even when I didn't feel like it. I took in a lot more than in training. Last year I crashed around the out and back section. This year I got tired but still had lots of calories in me. I had a monster drink at special needs but I didn't end up using much of it. For Yellow lake I was starting to get fatigued, but didn't mind it. We were sheltered in the pass so didn't feel any of the wind till we crested Yellow lake. Comin down I couldn't get enough speed, even the big 360 degree corner I didn't have to brake at all, I pedaled all the way through it. And another hill that I usually hammer over with the down hill momentum I ended up having to shift way down to get up and over. My toes were swelling up and getting numb. I unclipped my shoes on some of the down hills and shook them out, to try and get some blood back down there(to the feet). Back into town and off the bike, I ended up tossing the bike towards a volunteer, they caught it just fine.

Run:

I couldn't pee the whole bike ride, somthin about the heat so by T2 I still hadn't gone. So I took my time and went into a porta-potty to do my thing. Came out, got some quick sunblock on my shoulders and off I go. I felt awesome comin out of T2, the legs felt great. I started out too fast just as last year and had to slowww myself down. I kept having to tell myself to slow down and relax. The first miles were like 7:45, then later it went up to 7:30. I just couldn't run 8s like I had vowed I would for the start of the marathon. I was relaxed so I kept it going. I made sure to put ice in my hat, the heat didn't even feel that bad. I guess I'm a heat runner. I noticed the smoke towards the end of the bike, maybe that was sheltering me now for the run?? I have exercised induced asthma but I never coughed till after the race so I don't know if it ever affected me. So aid stations came every mile I usually took a gaterade and a water at each one. Later on I changed to a coke and a gaterade. Then when the ice had melted in my hat I'd add more water. At times they'd hand me a big ziplock bag full of ice which barely fit under my hat. Last year I started walking a the hills, not this year though. I nearly ran all of it and would have if I hadn't made the mistake of not taking in enough electrolytes for the run. Last year I had infinit in my special needs bag, but it was cooler then I threw it away and this year I didn't even bother. For the hills by OK falls I just remembered all the hills Curtis and I ran, kept it steady, shifted into a low gear so to speak and shortened my stride. I kept repeating to myself short steps, keep the legs moving, you're NOT going to walk. After the turn around in Ok falls you get the special needs, I had a monster energy drink in there but I didn't bother with it. I just took a gel and kept going. I don't even think I stopped to walk while ripping the bag open. All the way out of the rolling hills I kept it going. Greg came by at times, it really helped and motivated me to keep the pace up. At 18 miles my calves and even groin started cramping, aughhhh I could feel them both twinging. I felt good and really thought I could run the whole thing, but now with 8 miles to go it wasn't to be. I decided to walk through aid stations first, trying to get in more coke and gaterade. Although it's not really what I need, I know I was low on sodium/electrolytes. It frustrated me cause I felt ok, I could have run, but my legs would make me stop every mile, then later with 4-5 miles to go I even had to walk at times between aid stations. Oh well I kept it going, ran as much as my body would let me. Eventually I got into town and hit up the finish line. I knew Katie was coming and at the last turn around she was just behind me. I pushed as hard as I could coming in, I wanted to keep ahead of her. She finished just behind me, but I didn't find out till later since I was off to throw up and hit up the med tent. The bag of IV did wonders for recovery, not only that day but the next day I def. wasn't as sore. Cheers,

DP

IMC results

Hey,

Sorry the RR is late, here are the results from an awesome day. I'll also get some pictures up.

Overall 10:23 - 135th overall - 19/220 (kona slots rolled down to 14th surprisingly, I started getting my hopes up after 13th place was called out with no answer)

Swim 1:07 - 561th overall - 70/220
Bike 5:32 - 332th overall - 49/220
Run 3:36 - 85th overall - 13/220