Where and Why

I have been horrible in keeping up on my blog, I will be honest Twitter is so much easier on a daily routine.

So today, I will update you on what I have been working on. I have been running and I mean a lot of running for me. To bring you up to speed on last years totals here they are:



Run Bike Swim


740 mi 2,732mi 87,000m





Onto the current training. I am in week 16/18 of marathon training. So far this month I have ran 83 mi.
The longest running event I have ever raced is a half marathon. My Pr is 1:41, so the extra mileage should really develop my leg strength. I started out with very low goals. You know, finish! But, soon after I began the 18 week program, I got the bright idea, I might have an outside shot at qualifying for Boston with a 3:20:59. After a couple weeks of that thought and some very painful Race pace runs, I gave up on that idea. Now, I am back to running strong, smiling a lot and setting a solid first Mary type number. Happy to be sub 4hr thrilled to under 3:45



Sat. was my last 20mi run for the training plan. I was lucky enough that it was also the day Anthony Famiglietti (nickname: Fam) came to speak at Earthfare about eating like an Olympian. So as soon as I finished, I threw on some dry clothes and ran into the store. Can you believe it, I had to stand for the next 80 mins or so. I found his talk to be really helpful. It is really close to the program Justin, my 6 yr old is about to start. I would love to share with all of you the nutrition secrets he spoke about but then, well they wouldn't be secrets anymore. I wouldn't have the advantage. Maybe someday, when you turn 40 I will share. Until then us old farts need some help. Thats for Dynamite Dawson! The human Tri machine

Check out some of Anthony's PR's

Distance
Time
Year
Place
1500 Meters
3:35.83
2004
Rieti
Mile
3:55.71
2006
New York
3000 Meter Steeplechase
8:17.34
2008
Beijing
5000 Meters
13:11.93
2007
Walnut
10,000 Meters
27:37.74
2006
Stanford

Are you kidding me? Most of you couldn't ride a bike and keep up with this guy!
When he spoke about running for 10k without a nutrition let down I was all ears. He runs at one speed, all out!
Now I will point out, I have about 13 years and 30 lbs on him. Without this disadvantage, I am sure I could whoop him. HAHA


The really cool thing that was amazing was after his talk, he made it a point to look the two young cross country runners in the eyes and somehow mentally burn into there brains not to make the same nutrition mistakes that he had. He had a similar message I have spoken to Pat Summit about, success at the highest levels never comes without extreme hard work. How hard you work in the end will be the difference in being a champion. Fem stressed to the two youths about working out and also the work you put into your body. (Proper Nutrition)
The funny thing is, I was nervous about going to hear him, and he also said, this was the most nervous he has been in years.
By the way, notice the Mt Union Football shirt I am wearing. Congrats to Pierre Garcon of the Indy Colts for having a killer game on Sunday. He is a DIII Mt. Union College Alum. Mad skills for a DIII player. Sphere: Related Content

St. Croix Flop

My experience at the St. Croix 70.3 was real short. I did learn a valuable lesson in this race. Remember this was only my second ever tri. After 6 months of solid training, I really felt prepared to finish in the 5:30-5:40 range.

Now with the story, only I think I will tell it through pictures in reverse order.
Our last night we watch the sunset at the"Hole off the Wall" local bar and grill just to the right of the world famous 13,200 ft dive destination "The Wall." I did some snorkeling here and it was amazing for 100yds off shore.


Before we went to dinner we spent one last night at the beach.

On Friday, we hiked about 4miles to some amazing tide pools. Hit them at low tide, which for this island is tough to find.

View from the tide pools

At the end of the hike, we came to a bald that gave us some of the most amazing views.

can you say peaceful retreat, without children. Jenn and I did some serious self medicating

We took a snorkel trip to an amazing Buck Island. We had a cook out with the crew on a small deserted beach. This grandpa came for a snack.

It was hard staying here "The Carambola"

My only glimpse of my favorite blogger

the first one to tell me her name and her bikes nickname you win a $20 Pilot Gift card.

I found myself too embarrassed at my result to attend the post party to meet the pros.

Sorry Vinnie, I let the valley down with that performance.

Big Beard snorkel trip

Botanical gardens, furnace built 1830

Whim plantation tour

Breakfast at the Carambola, Amazing view

Now for the fun story, this is the start of the fun. To begin the race you jump in and swim to the island. Everyone gets over there by 6:15 for a 6:30 pro men's start.

Swim felt great and I was ready to hit the waters. I felt relaxed and very confident in my ability to have a good day.

I had spent the previous six days preparing on the island for every aspect of this race. I was ready to slay this course. Slay as much as a second time triathlete could.

My age group has 65 swimmers, without thinking I line up right in the middle of the pack, the gun goes off and I am sprinting into the water. I dive in and land all over the swimmer in front of me. I begin to take strokes. Well, I attempt to start swimming. You see, I am on top of a guy and there is a guy on top of me. I try to move right to the outside of the course and no luck/no way.

I tell myself, just calm down it will all settle in a little bit. at the second I get kicked or hit in the head. I am not sure, went by too fast. My right eye was half full of salt water. I am a little shook up at this point. I continue to swim. Finally it begins to loosen up and I flip over and fix my goggle. I turn back over and am very anaerobic. I get kicked this time for sure and am now in complete panic. Why am I here, this is not like practice, fuck,fuck,fuck are all this I remember going through my mind. I sight and i am just passing the second set of entry gates to the course. My mind your ok, my mind says turn left and swim to the island and compose yourself. The dip shit i am, I listen. As I stand up and watch the 65 guys I am competing against swim away, my mind really shut down. I was there to compete not just to finish with some lame ass time. This is what I am now telling myself. This might have been the root cause, too much pressure put on myself. Either way one thing is for sure, I am not an Half Ironman.

Set up and ready to go

Special thanks go out to both sets of Grandparents for taking care of the children.

Jennifer, Happy 15th Anniversary

Married 15 together 24

I love you

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Riding Season In Knoxville

VELO FRIENDS!!!

MTD Stats

10 days without a day off and 16 workouts

Swim - 8,900

Run - 24.5

Cycle - 138

The weather here in Knoxville has been great! With the time change, the riding season officially begins. This week the local bike shop (CBC) I sometimes ride with, began there Tuesday/Thursday rides. Above is the crew from work that rides at lunch. As you can see some have been in hibernation for the past 3 months. Time to shave!

We had a great recovery ride this week, notice how we let Big B pill us down Neyland Dr.

We do this as repeat around 25-30 mph depending how the wind blows. On this day, I did not get to pull. Oh damn, I did say recovery!

I couldn't resist getting a picture of the rider AKA Phelps and his support of Susan and team Fatty. If you are wondering what I am talking about, check out this page. If you are willing to help fight the battle against cancer with me, click here. Currently 3 Velo Friends are making the trip to Philly in Aug. to battle cancer and ride for Susan!

I am so pumped because this week, The Fat Cyclist has convinced twin six to make a sleeveless version of the Team fatty Jersey. Most of you know, I wanted to wear something in the half ironman that supported Susan and her families fight. I now will get that chance without having to make up my own version. I do have one reservation and that is the jersey color. I left fatty a comment yesterday and I must have been only one of many who shared the same concern. He wrote a great post today about this very issue. I am still hoping for a light colored sleeveless version. Until then, I will sport the black version and conduct my own tests.

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