We interrupt....

.....the Triple T race report series for this important message.

It's not often enough that I take the time to thank those that have served or are actively serving in the Armed Forces. I admit that I sometimes forget what it has taken for the United States to become what it is today. It may not be perfect but it's better than other places in the world.

My long ride Saturday morning, by myself, helped me remember the freedoms we have because of the protection and service of members in the Armed Forces.

Safe roads to travel by car or bike and the freedom to do so.


Clean drinking water and sanitary conditions


Religious freedom and the ability to memorialize loved ones.





I don't know that many veterans or active members of the military.

But to Jason, Dave, Ralph, Jimmy and everyone else......

Thank-you....you all have Game On.

Triple T - Race #2

Race #2 at the Triple T is an Olympic distance race. Not a big deal for most long course triathletes. It's over before you know it.

Really....I mean..how bad can a .92 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.5 mile run be? I have training days longer than the duration of this race.

However, this race is approximately 12 hours after the super sprint. Sleep is very important for keeping it together with this weekend. It's precious....valuable...crucial. But for Friday night it was also going to be scarce.

After the Friday race we went back to the campground, ate, showered and went to bed. I was sleeping soundly when I heard a knock on the door around 9:30PM. I stayed in bed because I wasn't sure if I truly heard the knock. The knock hit the door again so I asked who was there. My neighbor was letting me know that the park ranger had told him about a potential tornado touchdown about 30 miles from the campground. Wow that woke me up.

I was up now. We could see the lightening to the north. I was outside when the ranger drove through again and I talked with him. While we were talking a weather alert came across his radio about a tornado warning until 10:30PM. We only had to wait it out for another 45 minutes.

Aimee and I finally fell back asleep only to be woke up by the sound of rain coming down around 11:30. It was coming down very hard. We were glad not to be tent camping like some of the other racers near us.

Come morning I was feeling good. The temperature was around 60 and I knew it would be warming up as the day progressed. After I prepped for the race we drove over to the race site. I heard several people mention hearing sirens overnight, a power outage at the lodge and the reports of not one but two tornadoes.

The pre-race meeting presented two changes to the morning race course. The bike course originally designed for the morning race was not going to be used due to three trees laying across the road at different areas. No way to clean up the mess in time. Unfortunately we wouldn't be riding the morning course which is much nicer than the afternoon bike course.

The morning course goes through the Shawnee State Forest and is very pretty, when you have time to look around between gasping for air. We also didn't have to climb Thompson Road hill which is a brutally short but steep climb. The afternoon bike route is an out and back along County Road 125. It has two major climbs with very fast descents.

The run course would also be slightly altered for the rest of the weekend due to the muddy section we ran through on Friday. We would have destroyed it by Sunday so we ran on the road around the grassy area. It really didn't add too much to our distances.

So two changes for the day/weekend. No problem. As a triathlete we should be prepared to go with the flow, accept changes gracefully and make the most of the situation.

As Yoda was telling me in transition...."In tri..Do or Do Not". How can I argue with a Jedi Master?


After Yoda and I set up my transition area, I put on my wetsuit and walked over to the beach. Actually we walked over to where the beach used to be. The rain had brought the level of the lake up several feet. Our beach start was now moving up to the grass above the water line. The water was also muddier than Friday night.

I posed with Ben, Linda and Mark for race #2 picture.



So we lined up to for the time trial start of the swim. We had to run a little bit further in the water this time but once I dove in it was all....COLD!!!! The rain had dropped the temperature of the lake by several degrees. My arms and face were freezing. It wasn't such a shock that I couldn't swim. I got into my groove and knew my arms and face would get used to the cold. I would also be generating some heat to keep warm.

I settled into a great rhythm of three single breaths on one side then switching to the other side. I could sight to the sides and was sighting in front of me quite well. I was tracking pretty good. I would move in and out of cold and warm spots but just kept moving forward.

Here is Linda coming out of the water. The beach is flooded up to the sidewalk. The second picture is from Friday night just to give you an idea of the water levels.





I finished the swim in 24:43 and through T1 in 1:36. The bike was good and I managed to bomb the downhills with little traffic. I pushed the effort harder than last year because I wanted to cut some time off my splits. I came into T2 at 1:15:53 and exited 35 seconds later. I wanted to rip up the run course.



I started conservative, at least I thought so, and hit the 2 mile marker at 15:54....8 min/mile. After that I took mile splits but didn't look at my watch.

3 = 7:59, half uphill and half downhill
4 = 7:50, another half/half with the hills, after mile 4 it's mainly downhill.
5 = 6:42
6 = 5:57
.5 = 3:38
Total run time 48 minutes.

Total race time 2:30:44. I took 9 minutes off my time from last year. I didn't mean to take that much time off the clock.

This is my attempt to indicate that race number two was complete. I was too tired to raise my arm up all the way. This one hurt a little.


I grabbed some food and cooled off in the now colder creek. We didn't stick around too long because we needed to get back to the camp site and relax before race number 3 which started at 3PM.

More fun to follow.

Triple T - Race #1

Race #1 for the Triple T was on Friday evening at 5PM. Like who really races on a Friday night? Well, when you need to get in four races in three days you race when you can.

The Super Sprint race is a good warm-up for the weekend. After traveling a majority of the day, 5 hour drive, its nice to loosen up and shake out the skills for the rest of the weekend.

The distances are pretty short but we need to be done quickly.

A 250 yard swim, 5 mile bike and 1 mile run.

My goals for the weekend was to take some time off each race and get close to or under 11 hours cumulative time.

Once I got my transition area put together I made my way to the beach and met up with Ben, Mark and Linda. We took our pre-race picture.



I didn't wear a wetsuit for the short swim but some people did. The water was cold but not terrible. It would be a such a short swim.

I lined up for the time trial start and was ready to get the weekend rolling.

I charged into the water and dove right in. Here I am just before diving in.



I quickly got into a stroke pattern that had me breathing each stroke on the right side. My arms were cold but they were moving so much they quickly warmed up.

I was out of the water in 4 minutes and through T1 in just over 1 minute. I jumped on the bike and rode the 5 mile uphill/downhill course in 11:27. I felt great going uphill and kept a good strong pace.

Entering and exiting T2 in 32 seconds I was ready for a quick 1 mile run.

The run course took us over a grassy section that was very muddy. I stayed to the sides on the route to avoid the mud. This section was going to be a complete mess by the end of the weekend.

I finished the mile run in 6:32 and you can see the mud splatter on my legs. Some people had mud between their shoulder blades.

One of the creeks that feeds the lake is right at the finish line. People were settling in for some cold water therapy and to clean off the mud.


Overall I finished 66th in 24:06 and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

One down....three to go.

Triple T - Quick Review

Another Triple T is in the bag....just like I am. I knew what I was getting into. I had raced it last year. I wanted to improve my time and push it a bit farther.

And..I..did.

A quick recap of the four races.

Friday Super Sprint - 250 yard swim, 5 mile bike, 1 mile run.
24:09 finish time with a 6:32 mile.

Saturday Morning Olympic - .9 mile swim, 24 mile bike, 6.5 mile run
2:30:44 finish time with a 5:57 during mile 6
Time improvement of 9 minutes from prior year.

Saturday Afternoon Olympic - 24 mile bike, .9 mile swim, 6.5 mile run
2:38:46 finish time with a lot of OUCH

Sunday Half Iron - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13 mile run
5:35:44 finish time with pain, walking and digging very deep. Add 5 minutes to last years time.

Here are two pictures that help sum up the weekend. Details explaining the pictures will hopefully follow soon.

Game On - With a Plan

"A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish."

During an office conference call today, the COO of the company was reviewing the past performance and future plans for 2010. He used the quote above to describe the company strategy for 2010.

I found it appropriate as I was getting ready for the American Triple T this weekend. I looked at my notebook and read the notes I had scribbled for each race.

What I would be wearing.

What I would be eating.

What I would do pre and post race.

There is no wishing about the outcome of this race, or should I say races. I have goals for my second showing at Triple T. All I need to do now is execute the plan.

Game On.

A Little Dash in Your Life

I read of a man who spoke at the funeral of a
friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone, from the
beginning - to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth and spoke of
the next date with tears.

He said what mattered most of all was the dash between
those years.

(1900-1970)

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive
on earth...

And now, only those who loved her know what that little
line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own; the cars...the
house...the cash, What matters is how we live, and love, and how we spend our
dash.

So think about this long and hard... are there things
you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left, that can still
be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true
and real, And always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more And
love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a
smile...

Remembering that this special dash might only last a
little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions
to rehash...

Would you be proud of the things they say... about how you
spent your dash ?

Ironman St. George

Thanks for asking about Aimee's Ironman. I posted all my updates on Facebook and forgot about my blog.

The race went great. I am working on a spectator report which will be posted soon but here are her results.

Swim: 1:26:11
T1: 14:01
Bike: 7:51:26
T2: 6:01
Run: 5:36:19

Total 15:13:58

We now have a house full of Iron. I had no doubts she would cross the finish line.

More to follow.

Something to think about........

“I run so my goals in life will continue to get bigger instead of my belly.”

- Bill Kirby