Sunday, September 20, 2009

Catching up......

on my blog reading. Work has been crazy busy and has kept me away from posting or reading blogs. I can't believe what I have missed........

Jamie Whitmore is pregnant

Shawn is posting about as often as I am but has a fire that won't quit.

T-Bone is getting ready to race in the Ironman Championships Hawaii

Tri Diesel continues to dish out and find motivation

My Question Mark is sharing her senior year in high school with us.

Mel has had one hell of a roller coaster ride the past 3 weeks.

Pro Triathlete Bree Wee is getting ready for the IM Championships as well. She always has great pics with her awesome posts.

Now I have to get a real post up here for you to read. I do have a race report to write. There will be pictures and a video. It was a great race last weekend.

Game On.

Friday, September 11, 2009

What is your next race?

Lately that is the question many of my friends have been asking me. I really didn't have anything on my race calendar after Musselman. I ran the Skirt Chaser in Denver but I really didn't race that. I just wanted to catch Aimee before the finish line.

But I am running this weekend.....with a team.....of girls.

I'll be running on trails with names like:

Stampede - the first leg
This Sucks - swamp running?
Swoosh - sections called the Abyss and Death by Mosquitoes?
Vertigo - mountain climbs and butt slides?

Our friend Jen contacted us about running at Dance With Dirt in Hell, MI. She needed some replacements after some of last years team bailed for another race.

Aimee and I couldn't pass this up. This is going to be so much fun. Pictures and a report when we are done.

This is Jen's team video from last year.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

The Revolution is Here

Revolution3 Triathlon that is. The crew bringing a full distance triathlon to Northern Ohio was in town for an informational meeting. One year from this weekend the Cedar Point FullRev and HalfRev will take place. One full year in advance, Heather Gollnick and her staff came out to look at the park, swim the waters of Lake Erie, and ride the roads.

Last night there was an informational session at the host resort. Since I am the USAT contact for SBR, I had received information about a club challenge that was going to be offered. I drove out to see what the race would be like. Oh yeah, meeting Heather would be a nice bonus.

A small group of people attended the event. The RD of the Greater Cleveland Triathlon, Mickey, was there. Sherman from Bike Authority showed up. There was Brandon, Ken, Tim and George representing the Cleveland Tri Club. Jim and Andy from the Spin/Second Sole team showed up also. Kyle Amsdell was asking some good questions as well. It was a great representation of Cleveland triathlon.

Heather, Eric and LJ represented Rev3 very well. They each provided great insight into the concept or Rev3, the race, how they want the race to be run, etc. After the general questions were answered Heather fielded some triathlon specific questions about nutrition, tapering, spousal support...anything we wanted to ask.

I was taking notes so that people could get a feel for the race. Here are some of my notes.

Currently there is no limit for entry. Being the first race at Cedar Point they anticipate good but not huge numbers. If they were to cap the entries it would be around 1500. Can't remember if that was for both races of not, FullRev and HalfRev.

The course is 90-95% done. Small changes are still in the works. The bike and run course are pretty much set. The swim course may move from one side of CP to the other. Last night the wind was from the north and Heather personally saw what type of waves the lake can produce. The white caps made her nervous. But she did say the "bay" side of the park was great to swim in.

Swim will be 1 or 2 loops, hoping to keep it one.
Bike and run will be 2 loops.

FullRev starts first with possibly a mass start followed by wave starts for the HalfRev. The HalfRev wouldn't start for about an hour after the FullRev. This should help with any congestion issues.

Due to the large pro purse being awarded there will be a large number of USAT officials on the course. Drafting will be the biggest concern but I'm sure the officials will be watching all aspects of the race.

Aid stations will be typical for a full distance event. 10-15 miles on bike and every mile on the run.

Similar to what Mickey does with training days at GCT, Rev3 will sponsor preview rides, swims, runs with pro triathletes leading the way.

Rev3 uses a front wheel bike rack system. No hanging the bikes by their seats. This would make everything nice and tidy. The racks will even have a name tag that you get to keep.

Club discounts will be available. Those that have already signed up don't worry. When the discount is available you will just need to contact Rev3 to get the discount applied....get a refund.

Even the volunteers can get discounts. If someone does volunteer for the race they can get a discount for the next year.

Rev3 is introducing a Club Challenge for the featured race at each of their events. At Cedar Point the featured event is the FullRev. A club can have teams of 3 men and 3 women compete for prizes. The lowest cumulative time of all six club members determines the winning team. Each person must be competing in the FullRev. Interesting concept.

There are still some logistical items to be worked out. Spectator entrance to Cedar Point is being figured out, especially if someone doesn't want to get on the rides. Family and friends just want to watch the finish. It will be worked out over the next year.

There are other things that I may not have written down but it will have the support and feel of an Ironman event, especially for the FullRev.

I came away from the meeting feeling pretty good about the event. They have been working hard with local resources to make the event attractive to local and out of town racers. Heather, Eric and LJ displayed a genuine excitement about the race. Heather and LJ especially had a high level of energy and enthusiasm about the race. The manager of Sawmill Resort was also providing input about training opportunities on his beaches.

The local support is definitely there.

After all the formal hoopla Heather answered some questions, took some pictures with us and signed some pictures. She was a pleasure to talk to and meet.

Here I am with Heather. Is this a blogger meet-up? A pro triathlete sighting?


Here is some more of the guys wanting a picture with Heather. The guy between me and Heather was from the Toledo Tri Club. Do I smell a Club Challenge between Cleveland and Toledo? Could be.

I'm glad I went to the meeting. Now I have to decide my race schedule for next year.

Game On.

Friday, September 04, 2009

It sits on my nightstand

.....usually filled with spare change, pens, nail clippers, chap stick, etc. It's the kitchen junk drawer but on my night stand.

I cleaned it out yesterday. I swear it was holding $10 - 15 in change. But I stared at the bottom. Just like a kid who eats all of his oatmeal from the bowl or cleans his dinner plate. The kid who wants to see the picture under the food.

If this wasn't so special....I wouldn't post it for you all to see.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

WHERE THE....

....HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!!!!!

What.....who.....me?

Yeah you.

Who's yelling at me?

It's me....P2C. You know. Your tri bike.


Oh man you had me worried there. I thought it was some of my blog readers coming after me.

No one reads your stupid blog you hack. So once again, Where the hell have you been?

I've been around.

Not with me you haven't.

I know. August was my off month. I didn't forget about you. We had a good ride at Musselman both days. I figured you needed some time off also.




Fine...sure. I wouldn't have cared but you didn't touch me for two weeks after Musselman.

I know.

I was dirty. You put me away in the garage and I was dirty.

I know.

No you don't know. I WAS DIRTY! You peed on me....TWICE. Remember?

Oh that. Yeah, I guess you are right. Sorry about that.

Sorry don't cut it. YOU PEED ON ME!!!!!

I tried to wash you down during the ride. I sprayed water on you.

Oh sure. What about the chain. Water....chain.....rust. Duuuuuhhhhhhh.

Okay. I was a little slow cleaning you. I cleaned you up pretty nice. Lubed the chain. Cleaned the carbon fiber real good.

Then you just left me to collect dust in the garage. You sure know how to tease a guy. Put me in the bike stand right at the edge of the garage. Able to see the outside without a chance to get my tires on the pavement. DAMN YOU!!!!

August was a very busy month and I needed the time off. Don't forget, our season started early this year with Triple T. I was ready for a break.




Sure fine. A small ride would have been nice. Instead you use me as a holder for your bug spray. Thanks a lot.

Hold on. Let me see where August went. I can't believe it's September already.

August 1 Aimee and I had dinner with friends in Vermilion. Oh there was a lot of wine and we closed the restaurant. No chance getting up early to ride the next morning. However, I did ride the..mountain..bike..uh forget about that.

Go oooonnnn.

August 8/9 I had to work then we volunteered at the Greater Cleveland Triathlon. It turned into a duathlon because of the strong lake current. You should have seen all of the...Cervelo...bikes...at..the.race....uh forget about that too.

You mean my extended family was there! Damn you.

August 15/16 was more work and the Vermilion tri. I was in no shape to race but Aimee did the Aquabike.




That prissy pink Cervelo was able to race. This is totally unfair.

August 22/23 I had more work....again.

And last weekend August 29/30 Aimee and I went to Denver to visit Marc and Gloria. We saw Depeche Mode in concert at Red Rock. We also drove to the top of Pikes Peak.

We also went through a park called Garden of the Gods



Oh and then you probably rode one of Marc's bikes while you were there.

Actually no. Aimee and I ran in a race called the Skirt Chaser 5k. The women had a 3 minute head start on the guys.

Did Aimee kick your ass?

Almost. I didn't get her until 2.5 miles. We did cross the finish line together holding hands. We were both 11th in our age group. Aimee talked with Nicole Deboom after the race.

You're about to make me puke.

August certainly did fly by. How about a ride tonight? Do you want to get out on the road?

Sure but I don't quite feel right. Something is different. WHERE ARE MY FLASHPOINTS!!!!!

I let Eric B borrow them for Ironman Louisville. They looked sweet on his white Trek. He flatted twice because of some tacks on the road. But he finished in 12:10:10.


FLATTED!!! I'm about to faint. I need some fresh air.

Okay. I'll get changed and we can go for a ride.

And put some damn air in my tires. I feel about 60 pounds low. If I didn't like that guy so much I'd toss him in a ditch.

All set. Let's see how my legs are today. I don't want to go too fast but I'll open it up a couple of times.

Damn right. I'm built for speed mother fu.....

STOP RIGHT THERE!! This is a family type of blog. I have youngins' reading my posts.

Fine. Let's get going then. "BAAACCCKKK in the saddle again"

That's right. Game On.