Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Ironaman Arizona: A day of suffering, french fries and a World record.


Ok, I wasn't the one to set the new Ironman World record. It was Chrissie Wellington. Every adjective has been used to describe her and her day. So I will just say it was very inspiring to every little girl, and big man alike out there wondering if they can do something.

Going into Ironman Arizona I felt very prepared physically and mentally, no real nerves, just ready to get at it. I decided back in October of 2009 (after having finished my first Kona race), (just after my bike/car accident) ,that my next year plan was to get stronger and faster and focus on Ironman Arizona 2010 to claim my next slot to Kona (2011). so as to go back to the Islands and feel like I actually was able to race the World Championships, as opposed to just finishing it.

That meant not racing as many races as I would normally like to, and to only complete Ironman Canada as a "B" race at best, so as to fully soak in the effort of the day as a deposit into my IMAZ fitness bank, and not have to take an extended taper and recovery before and after.

With the lead up to race day the weather forecast was not looking like it would be in my favor. I suffered all summer in 100-115 degrees and really had wished for a warmer race day so as to make the others I was competing with to hurt more than normal. So the race day forecast was for cool temps the entire day, rain, and lots of wind. Oh well, like I said before, I felt well prepared and knew I was willing to do whatever it would take to get that Kona slot. Unfortunately for me the conditions made it into a cycylist's race because of the ridiculous, unrelenting winds. More on that later.

The Swim: 1:05

This happened to be one of the least full contact IM swims that I have ever been a part of. I am not complaining! I didn't really notice the 60 degree water temps as feeling cold, and after about a ten minute treading of water the cannon sounded and we where off. As Paula Newby Fraser once told me, "don't let your brains fall out to the bottom of the lake" , In other words: use your brains and think about what you are doing, and need to be doing next. I found my rhythm and just went for it heading past the rural st. bridge and to the turn around buoy. Everything just as planned, but shortly after the turn I felt something wasn't just right, but kept working and spotting, but again noticed all of a sudden that a was going right for some reason? What the hell, I have swam this swim a 1000 times, and there is not a current in this lake. After trying to correct several more times it finally dawned on me that the chop had gotten much bigger than normal. I get it now, it is from the wind coming so strongly out of the south that it is blowing us right, or at least it is blowing me right. so I put my head down and just pushed for the last buoy and tried to not loose my day in the swim. I quickly exited the H20 with a swim time of 1:05. within 1 minute of what I had hoped for. I'll take it.

T1 6:00

I made a big mistake here, I over packed my T1 bag with crap because I wanted to be prepared for whatever the conditions threw at me. Well I had so much to choose from I couldn't decide. Finally I just said screw it and took off. This blunder cost me about 2 minutes that can be very valuable at the end of the day. I have missed qualifying by as little as :12 seconds.

The Bike: 5:22:00

So off onto the bike and my game plan was to hold as close to 22 mph as a could without blowing myself up into the 35-40 mph winds.

Patience was my theme for this leg of the race. It is impossible to convey the day out there on the bike if you where not there yourself, but when I spoke with Chrissie Wellington after the race she told me she felt like "she was standing still at points on the bike" The wind was out of the south, which meant that there was no real break from it the entire day. It was a cross wind for about 90 of the miles and a head wind for most of the remainder. I just stuck to my plan of patience until the last of three loops, and at this point just give it what I had for the last lap and get to the run. My nutrition was spot on as was my pacing, I actually rode my last loop stronger than my 2nd loop. Going into the day I had hoped to be right on 5:00, but I made a decision early on not to get bogged down by a number, and bike my ride, and not be upset with the windy conditions. I rode most of the race with one or both of the Folts brothers, who where also trying to save something for the run.

T2: 1:50

I was in and out as quick as possible. had to make up for T1!!!

The Run: 3:19.00

Ok let's face it! I am a runner, and always will be, but I have never been able to run anywhere near my potential for an Ironman marathon, mostly because of either pacing or nutrition issues.

I was determined to control both of the issues today, keep an even pace the entire 26.2, and not take in anything that I didn't absolutely need to eat or drink.

As I headed out onto the run I saw a good friend of mine (Marc Rubin), spectating and cheering me on, this was a huge lift right out of the blocks. You see Marc is a great guy and Kona Triathlete that has gone through some major knee surgeries and rehab issues for almost 30 weeks now, and hasn't ran a step in this time. It is killing him to not be racing, and I tried to channel his pain and energy and think about how much he has gone through and would be willing to go through if he could be out there with me.

So after a high five and a smile it was time to settle in and focus. The first loop was just about feeling good and staying on an even pace, (nothing faster than a 7:00 pace and nothing slower than 7:30) is what I keep telling myself. I found my wife, mother in law, and tons of super supportive friends at the best aid station on the course. PTC station at the marina. Thanks for the laughs Brian Kochert.(Damn Those shorts), Everyone at this aid station made me look forward to seeing them each of the three loops. Thanks Guys!! Even if I couldn't respond.

Anyway, back to the race. So I got through the first lap and headed out for number two, feeling still damn good and just flying by people. (The entire marathon I was actually passed by only 1 person). Running through one of my other favorite spots on the course was aid station #2 where once again I had lots of friends cheering me on and making sure I got everything I needed to be successful. Thanks to Shane and the crew. Now the second loop is always the hardest to stay focused and I fought extra hard to make sure I didn't drift from my "here and now". Back past the PTC aid station and through the transition area again, at this point I see Mary, Stella and several of my Triscottsdale friends cheering their asses off for me. Here I started to get a little emotional with myself, and had to actually yell out loud at myself to focus and get this thing done. Heading towards the 19 mile mark I had done a great job (for me), at managing my nutrition the best I have ever done. I had taken two hits off my 1st Endurance liquid Shot, drank water sparingly and took two Gas Ex's to keep the bloating under control. I could feel myself losing energy due to the lack of calories, so I decided to go for the Cola at 19 miles, just a little swig followed by water. Stomach not happy, but I needed the energy and got through it. Just keep pushing, every time I needed to pick up the pace I was able, it felt so good to actually be running still. Just get over the Curry St. hill one more time. Just as I was about to turn onto Curry st, I caught my foot on a crack in the curb and just about went down, now I realize that my legs are really getting tired, so for the first time all day (23 miles) I walked through the aid station so I could take in a full glass of Cola. The entire race and I only walked for 10 seconds, right here my good buddy Brandon jumps out of the bushes and tells me to get running, and I do. Thanks for the push Brandon, I needed it right there. I do what I will call run up Curry and then just start pumping the arms and working hard, back to the PTC aid station and my buddy Scoot Perrine tells me I am in eighth place, I am pretty sure that this would get me a slot to Kona if no one passes me. From here I totally hammer it with all I have left, no one is getting past me from here out, go with all you have and pass everyone you can, I am telling myself. At mile 25 I pass another great friend Julie Ann who is looking great and doing her first Ironman. I couldn't say anything at this point, but as I passed her she shouted out "I love you", she had been telling me for months how much she hated me for getting her inspired to do an Ironman, and now she was telling me she loved me! I knew it.

So, as I am running the last 1.2 miles I just keep looking for calfs and ages, I am so focused in leaving it all out there on the course and trying to bring anyone in my age group back if they are in front of me. As I made that last turn towards the finish line I could see one more guy ahead and just went for it, I couldn't tell his age, but wasn't taking any chances. About 25 yards from the line I realize he is a pro and just went ahead and passed him. On my right all I remember is seeing Mary and Stella just before hitting the line. From here I don't recall everything that happened because as usual I ended up in a wheel chair and totally in the hurt locker, big time!! From here Mary and good friend Maik took over and ushered me off the massage before the medics could take me to the Medic tent. About an hour later, I finally got my french fries that I look forward to after each Ironman finish.

Finish Time 9:55:00

I spent the hour after finishing mostly in the fetal position trying to keep warm. Once I thought I could actually walk again and was ready to make it back to the hotel I told Mary I wasn't leaving until I knew for sure that I had qualified for Hawaii. She disappeared for a few minutes and came back with the good news. We are heading back to Kona baby!!!

It is such a great feeling to know that all the suffering through 115 degree workouts day after day all summer long, and all the core workouts, and skipped cookies, and passed by beers, and early to bed, and early to rise days all paid off on the day I needed it to. What a huge relief, and utter happiness set in at that exact moment. Let's just say that each time I finish and Ironman, it changes me for the better.

In closing I really would like to thank everyone that makes it possible for me to chase my dreams. First and foremost

my unbelievable wife Mary, seriously without you there would be no Ironman in my life, you take care of me in only ways

that you and I will ever know. I love you!

Also thank you to each and every friend that encourages me each and every step of the process, and not just on race day. Thanks to my little girl Megan for telling me how much she loves me and thinks I am the best dad in the world everyday. Focus Cyclery for taking care of all my bike needs, RunAZ & Carlos Paradelo for allowing me the freedom to train, travel, and race. Surf Kat Massage for keeping my old muscles working, Triscottsdale for being a great sponsor and being so supportive out there. Phoenix Tri Club for really caring, you guys all rock, and I have made friendships that will last a life time. Julie Ann for training my ass and for help with the great cycle classes and core workouts you have provided to make me stronger this year.

Then there are the amazing performances from friends that inspire me and help drive me from day to day, Linsey, Samantha, Hillary& Maik, Michael & Amanda, Bree, BG, Sally, Bryan D, Marc R, & of course Chrissie. I channel each and everyone of you at different times while suffering. Mahalo!

It was a long day
awesome pic from Jeff Benintendi
Got that piece of paper.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

2010 Ironman Canada race report


I'm going to skip straight to race morning:
Three alarms beeping at 3:50a.m.? Must be race morning.
Mary and I hop out of bed eager to get this thing on the road. I make my normal oatmeal and bagel breakfast, chase it with some h2o, and grab my morning clothes bag containing my swim gear and head out the door for transition.
Throw some water into my bottles on my bike, borrow a pump and top of my tires, and then head to Mary and her bike position. As we are starting to get colder we decide to dawn the wetsuits a bit earlier than normal so as to keep the heat in. We drop our bags in their spot and head off to the lake to get our positions and watch the pro field take off. The cannon blasts for the first time at 6:45am and the pros are off. We now have 15 minutes before our turn, and we are just excited to hear our cannon, and before you know it BOOM!!!

THE SWIM:
Just seconds before the cannon goes off I tell Mary to get in front of me, so that I could protect her for at least a few feet from getting pounded by some of the big guys at the front. My plan was to try to stay behind her as far as possible, well that last about 5 seconds and then I got REALLY rough. As Mary said we ended up being in a boxing match not a swim. It was probably the most beat up I have ever gotten in an Ironman start. After about 200 or so meters of this I decide to just go inside the buoys to try and find some open water, and this help some, when we hit the turn around boat/buoy, I was glad to be heading back towards land, but two things instantly hit me. One being some guys foot kicking me in the face and on my fixed collar bone, it really dazed me and my clavicle starting hurting instantly and I am thinking oh shit, I hope it didn't break again, but i have no choice but to keep going to shore. The second thing that hit me was a BONK, yep, I screwed up and didn't eat something 30 minutes to the swim start and I got that low sugar and energy feeling. Not good when you still have over 1800 meters of boxing/swimming left until you reach solid ground and food. I started wondering if this was going to be my worst swim ever, as nothing seemed to go as planned. When I finally reached the spot where I could stand I did, now normally I would keep swimming because it is faster to swim until your hand hits the bottom, but because i was bonking I was just happy to stand up and walk. As I looked at my watch it said 1:02;??, I was totally surprised, and once I exited the water and hit the timing mat it was 1:03:30. I will take that!! Not my fastest, not my slowest. on to T1 change tent. It was slower than normal because my bike was in the farthest back corner that your could be from the bike exit, and i had to pee, and figured I might as well go before getting on the bike for 112 miles.

THE BIKE:
Ok, finally off on the bike. Mary and I had a race plan, and I was going to stick to it. Basically go out one gear easier than I thought I could handle the first 40K until we hit the first of the big climbs (Richter Pass), and my plan worked to a tee, I spun up to the top, never standing up even once and just using patience, it was going to be a long day, and we still had the biggest climb over 100K away still. I bombed the descents, I was going to fast to actually look, but my bike computer said that at some point during the day I hit 76 mph!!! That could be wrong, because I was just pushing so hard with my head almost completely buried out of the wind i never really looked at my speed. The middle part off the bike was mostly rolling hills into a steady head wind.
Finally at mile 76 I was approaching the biggest climb of the day and ready to pull out the big guns and hammer it and everyone on it, and so it went. Just as I started the climb the skies opened up, the rain and hail started and the temps dropped big time. At this point though I am climbing and working hard as I am dropping people left and right. God this feels great, just a few more miles of climbing and then I get a nearly 40K descent straight into town and T2. I do a little calculation as I approach the crest of the mountain and I am clearly on pace to go about 5:15-5:19 on the bike and I am feeling very confident. so here we go baby, the best part of the entire race course straight down a mountain at the end of the bike leg. As I start descending all of a sudden i can not keep my bike on the road, I figure it is because I am going so fast and into a wind that I would just sit up a minute and get under control. Then I try again, and almost go over the edge of the road out of control, Now It dawns on me that I am shivering uncontrollably and I am not able to keep the bike on the road no matter what I did. No it is getting really scary, I sit up and hold onto my brake levers as hard as I can, but that still only slowed me to 16mph with wet carbon brake pads and I still could not stop shaking. I have several guys come by me and tell me I should pull over and warm up, but i know that this will not help, how will I warm up out here in the rain? It will just make this last longer. One super nice guy actually stops and rides next to me trying to talk me down. He tells me I look really bad and should consider stopping, he even volunteers to stay with me all the way back to town, but I told him to just go, I didn't want to screw up his day. It wasn't his fault that I lost 10lbs gearing up for this race and didn't have enough body fat to keep me from freezing! At this point I am in the worst place I have ever been in an Ironman, I have never been so close to DNF ever. It took all my will and inner voices to get me down that mountain. When I came into T2 finally after 16mph down hill for over an hour, I was shivering so bad that the medic staff grab me and tried to take me to their little tent, i had to fight with them to not make me go in there. They walked me to the change tent and I could not use my hands to change my gear, so they had to do it for me. They tell me it will take at least 25 minutes for them to warm me up seeing that I am hypothermic. I look at them and say no way, I am gone, and off I went doing something like running.

THE RUN:
So the medic runs through T2 with me saying I should come to his tent, but I keep running and out onto the road I go. Right away I realize two things, A-I can't feel my feet, B-My back is extremely tight. Both= not good! I have no sense of my pace at all, but figured just keep running and you will warm up at a minimum. We do the little mile out and back and before I know it I am on main st. and passed mile 2, and just focusing on getting this thing done. I realize at this point that me finish won't be the time that I had hoped for, but this was a training race anyway for IMAZ, so get some training in! I would say the first 6-7 miles went by pretty fast and I actually found myself running through the field, I had to make myself stay in control and have patience, just run the pace you trained for (7:30's). As I clicked off the mile for the first half of the marathon I was consistently hitting 7-7:25 pace, hell accidentally threw in a couple sub 7 miles. All was going as well as possible until about mile 14 when I started to bonk, I said to myself instantly OH SHIT! I forgot to eat. Damn it! See what happened was I was to cold to take in nutrition on the last hour+ of the bike, and because I was shivering so bad I actually used a lot of energy and calories up, then once I got off the bike I was so cold I couldn't even think about anything but getting warmed up. So when I hit mile 14 it had been about 3hrs since I last took in calories, and I should be taking them in every hour. So in my haste to fix this I started taking in gels, cola, soup, oranges, whatever they had. Well that was the end. Now by mile 16 my stomach stopped absorbing anything and I became bloated and nausea set it along with the stomach cramps. I started the run/walk think for the next several miles thinking that maybe my gut would clear and I would feel good again. Nope, not working at all. Finally I made it to mile 22 and though to myself: "ok, four stupid miles, you can do this", just about that time the cramps and bloating stepped up their games and it go even worse then before. Mile 22-23 was a 17minute mile. Ouch!!!! Between sitting, laying, bending over, walking, and even a couple feet of running, some how I made it to the 23mile marker. On a side note, the funniest thing happened along this mile, at one point and old lady sitting in a lawn chair yells over to me "would you like some company?, I will walk with you as far as you need me to". I of course said no, but thank you! so freakin awesome!!
Anyway, I hit that 23 mile marker and made a promise to myself that NO matter what I was running this bitch to the finish line. I had to talk myself through each and every step of that last 3.2 miles, but I got it done, and no walking. I was very much done when I hit the finish line as my finish line photo shows. i then spent the next hour laying on the ground wrapped in Mylar blankets trying to warm up and feel better. Thank you sooooooo much to Erika and Chris Mcclurg for taking such good care of me!!!

FINISH TIME: 10:44:37

The take away from this day was that I felt physically very strong! I am feeling very confident that IMAZ is going to be a successful day. I already have some promises of bikini clad hotties on the run course to keep me motivated!!!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The hay is in the barn.


Well just finished up my last ride/run brick on my steed. It has now been sent off to Tribike Transport for its trip across the border to Canada EH!
We are at T-Minus 12 days til Ironman Canada, and feeling super fit. Can't wait for Mary and I to once again embark on the Ironman journey.
Ironman has become so much more in our lives then just a race. It has become almost "who we are", and I am good with that. We/I could be so many other things (not as positive).
Not only has IM made me a better person in so many ways, but It will always hold a very special place in our lives. We are coming up on our 1yr anniversary of Mary asking me to marry her at Ironman Wisconsin's finish line. (Sept 13th).
On our ride this morning I was commenting on how much has changed in one year. Last year at this time I could not swim/bike or run, I was not married, and I was so happy just to be able to race Kona & Clearwater. This year I have already turned down my Clearwater slot, and will also do the same for Kona (probably), if I earn one in Canada. The only way we will end up in Kona on Oct 9th 2010 is if Mary gets her slot in 12days. It will be somewhat sad this year to be watching Kona online and wishing I was there. It is so different now that I have been there. I now know I belong there, everyone that is anyone in Ironman will be there, but we won't. URGH!!!!
I am using this feeling as a fire in my belly to make sure that I get my slot for 2011. I will be back on the Big Island racing and not just surviving. Until then, we will add to the size of our engines and learn a little more about ourselves and this crazy ride called Ironman !!!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

America's Birthday/ Mt Lemmon


Fresh back from out little Tucson trip over the 4th of July weekend.
Mary and I decided that the best way for us to celebrate was with a little smashfest of our own.
So we headed 90 miles south on Saturday July 3rd for a little getaway training day. We arrived at our hotel about 6pm, checked in and headed to a little Pizza place I had found online. Just so happens that it was actually right across the street less than 100 yards away from our room.
What a find, an all Organic Pizza joint, with Fat Tire on tap. The weekend was already a victory at this point. (Ecletic Pizza). We shared a kick ass salad because we where to starved to wait for the pizza. 15 minutes later we had a beautiful pie and ice cold Fat Tire on our table. Then 5 minutes later it was all gone. Told you we where starving. back to the room, filled our water bottles and retired to bed for our 4:30am wake up.
4:30 alarm buzzes and we are up and at it, sunscreen, breakfast, and load up the car for the 4 mile drive to our starting point for our little epic 4th of July workout!! (Mt Lemmon).
We pump the tires, and have the wheels down at 5:54a.m, a few minutes later than planned, but no big deal.
Off we start on our bikes to the base of the climb. My gps said we started at 75 feet above sea level. We where to climb to the top of Mt Lemmon (9300+ feet) in 26 or so miles. Depending on where you stop. This was Mary's first time tackling the entire climb, and was a bit nervous, but she needed to face down her demons and just get to the top and back down, no matter what it took. She HATES descending, especially on switch backs at 40 mph, for 26 miles!!!
My plan was to get to the top and head back down to see where she was so I could go back down a bit and then climb back up to meet her at the Cookie Cabin in SummerHaven (mile 25).
I felt strong, if not fast pretty much the entire way up, my back issue was flaring up, but not much I could do but get to the top. So off I went, once I hit the little town of Summerhaven I turned right and headed on up another couple miles to the Ski Lodge. Stopped for a Clif Bar, and started back down. At the mile 20post here comes my beautiful bride pushing up the mountain, we stopped and figured out the logistics from there. The plan was she would continue to the Cookie (approx. 45 more minutes), and I would descend to the half way mark and then climb back up and meet her there. The second time up seemed so much easier, and I was happy to arrive in SummerHaven for half of a HUGE cookie. 15 minutes later, water bottles filled up and we where ready to go down. We started up and stayed together for the first 4ish miles which ironically is mostly climbing. Then as the real down started I just couldn't hold back and off i went, tucked in my aero bars and flying at over 40mph around the switch backs passing all the cars and motorcycles that could handle the turns at my speed!! Loved it. At mile 14 I decided to stop and make sure Mary was still doing ok, and after about 5 minutes her she comes with a big smile on her face, and couldn't even smell her brake pads burning. I encouraged her and told her she was doing great and then I continued on to the bottom. After adding on a few extra miles on Catalina Hwy, here she comes flying and happy to be to the bottom. At this point reality hits us, it is no longer 70 degrees and pleasant like on top of the mountain, it is now 100+ degrees and we still have a 50minute run ahead of us after 5:18 minutes on the bike, and a shit load of it climbing straight up!! The only thing we could do was "get it done", we changed shoes, packed our bikes into Jane, and headed back down the hwy towards the mountain again. 25 minutes in and we both turned around, for me that was 3.5 miles in, now it was just push the pace and eat up the 3.5miles back to the car and lunch. I placed a target on Mary's back as I started closing the gap between us and just focused on catching her by the time we got back to the car, and sure enough just as we entered the parking lot I caught up. Done, done & done!!!
After a nice lunch at Le Buzz we where in the car and headed the 90 miles home. what a great way to celebrate our independence!!!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

What an Epic Journey!!


I am fresh back from my first trip to the Grand Canyon. What better way to see something as expansive and old as over 300 million years, than to immerse one's self deep inside of said Canyon?
Our trip started with an uncanny happening. Car all loaded, and ready to pull out of the garage. Turn the key, and nada, nothing. Dead battery. Shit!! Ok. lets just jump it and we are off. Done, ok back on track and only 5 minutes lost. Now just fill up the gas tank and hit the highway. Oh, shit!! It won't start again, and this time it takes like 15 minutes to get it charge enough to start. NOT GOOD. We call a friend that has a car dealership and that is on our way, and he says "stop in we can check it out and fix it quick", so the battery is bad. I year old, and it is shot. Kris has a guy run and get us a new battery and install fast. After a few little strange car computer issues and 50minutes or so later we are back on the highway. Whew!!
The drive up to the Grand Canyon was actually pretty uneventful, we arrived to the Mather overlook pt. about 30 minutes before all the others that where meeting us. Just enough time for my first look and the huge hole in the earth. A couple quick pics and we are off to the camp grounds to set up our tents. A few Big Sky brews, some marsh mellows, and off to sleep to prepare for a 3am wake up call.
DAY ONE: We where all so excited to get started, and by 4:25am we where on the South Kaibab trail and headed to the Canyon bottom and the Colorado river some 6000ft below us. Did I mention, it is pitch dark as we start this very, very steep decent?
After roughly 2ish hours and about 4000 pictures taken we hit the bottom. It was sooooo nice to be on flat ground, as short lived as it would be I took total advantage of it. Mary new of a little side trail that leads to a cool little secluded water fall where we all sat down for the first time and noshed on our lunches. After about twenty minutes we where back on the trail and headed to what would be the hardest part of the day. (the climb up to the North Rim). as we crossed the Canyon floor we all fell in line and got a nice little running pace line going for about a hour. stopping only to refill our water at the last stop before reaching the top of the North Rim. This would also mark the last time we would see any flats for several hours. Mary (the billy goat) Knott took the lead as we climbed, and climbed and climbed. I ran up to her and we talked and stayed together for a while, before I kinda found myself alone at the front of the group. Just like in any race I have ever done, I started to focus on getting to the top. Stopping a few times to make sure everyone behind me was doing ok, and then off I would go again. As we started to crest the North Rim we started seeing the left over snow from the crazy winter they had in Northern Arizona. We could all start smelling the finish at this point and just wanted to get there already. Of course the entire day everyone talk about the need for some cold beers and a shower, and I think that keep most of us going forward. As I reached the top of the trail there where a bunch of other people that had finished just before our group and they where cheering us all and offering up free cold COKES! that was one of the best Cokes I have ever had. I sat there at the top waiting for the group and taking "finisher pictures" as each and everyone of us made it to the top. How freakin cool it was to see each of their faces as they realized the had made it. We tried not to think about the return trip tomorrow. I think the longest part of the day may have been the 1.5 hike/run to the cabins/saloon. Then after a few beers/shots, and some well earned dinner we where off to the cabins for a short sleep and another 3am wake up call.

DAY 2: After, basically no sleep due to the snoring idiot in the adjoining cabin. we where up and actually reading to get it on. The early morning temps where much colder. Me in my sleevless shirt and shorts, and everyone else in long sleeves and pants. I couldn't get anyone to start running with me to warm up so we just fast walked the 1.5miles to the trail head. Then we started all over again. a almost 7000ft steep decent down the Canyon floor. Luckily Eric gave one of his shirts to throw on and that kept me comfortable for the first half hour until I warmed up a bit, and the sun came up. The quads and ankles where a bit sore, but not as bad as I had guessed they would be, but after heading straight down the mountain side for an hour or so, I was starting to feel it. At this point I knew there was nothing I could do about it, and would just have to deal with the soreness until we got back to the car on the other side of the South Rim. With about 2-3 miles left in our decent Kata started to run, I was a bit hesitant at first, because of the trashed quads, but figured what the hell, lets just get this over with, so her and I took off straight down and around some really hairy switch backs, and before I knew it, we had made it back to Cottonwood and the flats. We just chilled out for a few minutes and we all gathered back up to start the run to Phantom Ranch. We started out little pace line again and it felt much better than hiking down hill. I tried to stay at the back of the group so as to keep an eye out for everyone else in case someone had a problem out there. I figured being the stronger of the runners, that if I was the one to fall off the back that I would be able to catch up at some point. Sure enough as we crossed over one of the bridges I rolled my left ankle all the way over, and stopped for a minute or two to gather myself and take advantage of the break to take a nature break. Then I was back off running, and really flying. I caught back up with the group before they even knew I was missing. We basically stayed together running for the next 1 1/2 straight until we reached Phantom Ranch and our lunch stop. We relaxed for 1/2 an hour and ate and drank, preparing our minds and bodys for the last really tough push up the finish at the South Rim. Back across the river, through the tunnel and bam, there it started. More steep switch backs then you could count for the next 3hrs. Almost instantly Mary (billy goat) Knott shot to the front again, and we started to drop the rest of the group. From here on out it was pretty much every man and women for themselves. Whatever you have to do to get yourself there. I once again (like yesterday) found myself off the front alone for most of the climb, but tried to keep an close eye on the rest of our group from the top of the switchbacks. Finally deciding about half way up that we should regroup and take 5. After a quick calorie push we where all back at it. This last half of the climb was the hardest part of our two days. The switchbacks just got higher and steeper with every turn. When we passed the sign that indicated we had actually passed the half way mark we all got a little extra energy boost, just when everyone needed it. As we inched closer and closer to the top we started passing more and more people that where out for a little day hike. It felt so good to know you where so much stronger than most of these people and that you are so close to accomplishing such a great endurance event (Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim)!!!
Finally I turned a corner and there it was, The sign indicating that I had made it back to the top of the South Rim just ahead of me. At this point I paused to wait for Mary so that we could finish the last few feet together. Hell Yes, we did it. I stopped at the top and yelled encouragement to the group, while snapping a pic of each and everyone as they crested the top of the finish line.
PRICELESS!!!!! After a few teary eyes and pictures we complete the 1.4 mile hike/run back to the car where we all dug into the food and drinks that we had waiting for us. We rearranged the car and all piled in looking for the nearest Pizza place. It was one of the best pizzas I have ever had, and then we started the long drive back to Gilbert with a lifetime memory that no one can ever take away from each and everyone of us. Thanks goes out to all of our crew. Eric, Kata, Nick, Rebecca, and Callie. What a cool group to experience this adventure with. A huge special hug, kiss and thanks goes to my amazing wife, for without her the day never would have
happened. I LOVE YOU MARY!!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I have been a little distracted.


I have been away from the blog for some time. For me my blogging goes hand in hand with the feeling of accomplishment and hard work. Don't ask me why, just seems to work that way.
So I have a few things to finally share. Not sure where to start so I will just jump right in!!
March- seemed to just fly by. We had a great, (but way to short), to Oceanside California to tackle what has become an annual event for Mary and myself. After a 5ish hour drive to the coast with friends (Kata, Nick & Kevin) following us in car #2, we arrived at MY ocean. A quick stop off at the packet pickup (right on the ocean) and then a check in at our condo for the next 48hrs. (again, right on the ocean), and at the start and finish line of the IM 70.3 race. Pizza and a beer for dinner (right on the water), and an early to bed.
Race morning started early as usual, but it was sure nice to be 100 yards from transition. I went into the race a little under prepared on the bike, and a little over prepared on the run. All in all my day went so, so. I biked a little faster than last year, and ran a little slower. Go figure!, my over all time ended up a few seconds faster than the previous year. Mary on the other hand smashed the course for a huge course "PR". After wards we had two things on our minds 1- get Mary a slot to Canada, and then get us all some Margaritas!! and so we did, and then some. We all followed that up with a little (not so midnight, swim in the Pacific) it was actually like 9pm.
Mary made it all the way to 9:37pm before passing out on our bed for the night. Great time had by all. Next morning we where up bright and early and on our bikes to our favorite little breakfast/coffee shop, Buccaneers (right on the Ocean). Unfortunately the end of breakfast marked the end of the Ocean, and it was time to pack the cars and drive back to Phoenix. All in all it was a great weekend and we will be back

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

No, Really, I am still alive!!


I know, I know, it has been a looooong while since I have blogged. See what happens when you get married!!??
Just kidding. Marriage has been great. Not much different than it was before December, except for when Mary had to figure out the taxes.
Life has been crazy busy, Mary is now working 6 days a week, and of course we are both still training full on.
I have raced a few times in 2010, with lots more to come. I raced the PF Changs 1/2. result was ok with a time of 1:22. we got to meet some great runners. Olympians Ryan Hall & Deena Kastor to name a few.
After that I raced the Londons 1/2 with a little better result of 1:19 (course was short), but finished 2nd overall.
Race # 3 was the Pemberton 50K trail race, I ended up doing as a relay with Kelsey. We smoked the course settinga new course record and winning the overall relay award.
Next of the schedule is the Desert Classic Duathlon( stay tuned on the results). on 2-28-10...
Our next trip will be to Oceanside Cali for the IM 70.3. We love this race, and the location. My favorite place, wish we could live there soooooo bad.
Most importantly though is the upcoming marathon fun. Mary, Katie and I will be toeing the line at the Boston Marathon (Mary & Katie's 1st time), on April 19th. Mary is VERY excited, which makes me very excited for her. We will have a fabulous time in BeanTown, then 6 days later we will follow that up with a trip to Monterrey Cali, to run the BIg Sur 26.2. This may be very interesting.
Keeping the theme of new and crazy things we then leave for the Grand Canyon on May 14th to run the Rim to Rim to Rim or something like that!?
Stay tuned and I will try to do a better job of staying updated, at least until June when the Ironman Training kicks in full force!!!