It's the most wonderful time of the year!

August 30, 2007 - 8:00pm - Utah vs. Oregon St.

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It's time for football. Fall has to be the best time of the year. Summer is winding down, the weather gets cooler, baseball is winding towards the fall classic and Utah football is about to begin. Here is hoping for winning games we're supposed to win and competing in games we are not. A warm weather bowl game in January and a great lead into Basketball season.

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GO UTES!

A few more pictures...

The family pre-race.
Averi pre-cannon!Swim start...by this point I'm probably wide left.

Getting ready for the next couple of hours with my butt on the seat.

A few more pictures...

Heading out on the bike
Done with the bike....heading out on the run.Down the mountian...done!

Averi needing to go poop!
Family post-race.

A few pictures...

Here are a couple of the pictures taken by the professionals at the event. Unfortunately I don't know how to make the pictures any bigger so just sit closer to your screen. Also the running picture looks like I finished in 3:77:41 but I assure you the official time was 3 hours. I'll get the camera out and post a couple of the family pictures when I remember to do so. I'll try to get to that tonight.

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As far as the post-tri activity I took the week off last week for an Arizona vacation. I went running Saturday morning which was a little more difficult than expected. My lower back is finally coming around so maybe I need to get back on the bike first. My issue is that if I'm not working towards something I'll tend to just sit around and not exercise cause I really don't have to. Maybe I'll have to start a blog for the 2008 tri so that maybe then I'll have to. That will be fun for all!

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Anyway I've got a few takers for a 2008 triathlon. Lacey has the bug for a 'flat tri' which means no mountain bike as she wants to stick to the pavement. Ryan even said he's looking into it but we'll see about that. Matt says that he can do everything but run (sounds like he's bi). Anyway maybe they'll have to just put a team together and race me next time.

A good day...

Where to start? I guess Tri's usually started with the swim but I started much earlier than that. Beginning at 11:00pm the night before as for the second night I couldn't sleep. I wanted to sleep, I needed to sleep but it wouldn't come. So finally I guess I dozed off but 5:30 came rather quick. The morning we smoothly as I got up to Snowbasin, set up my run stuff and got to Pineview to get the bike ready. After that it was just 1.5 hours of waiting with the family.
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Swim Time - After waiting 30 minutes for the professionals to get going on their swim it was time. As I had watched the professionals I told myself that next year I was going to sign up for the longer distance Tri (1 mile swim, 20 mile bike, 6 mile run). A few deep breaths and into the water. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the cold water, the adrenaline of the race, the guy behind you punching you in the feet, or the guy on the side of you elbowing your chest with every stroke. Whatever happens I find it impossible to pace myself and start slow and easy. The first couple of minutes start fast and finally I'm able to get into a pace. The other issue is that I took a slight detour. After that first minute or so I rose out of the water only to find myself beginning a circumference swim around the lake. Not only was I not heading towards the buoy I was swimming parallel to the beach. I wondered why I wasn't being kicked, punched elbowed any more. So I got back into the thick of it and started throwing some haymakers myself. After two right-turns we were heading into the beach. It was a good feeling to have my hands hit bottom and be able to stand up. I began the small run to the bike station while ripping off the wetsuit (yes, they were approved after the rainstorm brought the water temp below 70 degrees...the one good thing about the rain that day).
SWIM TIME - 19:30
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After putting on the shirt, socks, shoes, headband, helmet, glasses and camelback I started peddling. I took the first mile very easy as I took a breather. The first mile is paved road until you reach the bike trail. I went into a low gear, peddled quickly to get the blood out of my shoulder and into my legs. As I started the ascent I felt not great, but good enough. The bike portion starts with a pretty steady climb for 2 miles, then crosses over onto a single track trail that has some steep climbs followed by some flat portions. Although I was getting passed by many people during the first 2 miles, I did plenty of passing myself which never happened last time. I wasn't fast or slow, just steady. About 6-7 miles into the climb we got a downhill break although it's not much of a break. Yes you take advantage of gravity, but the bumpy rocks, turns and tight grip on the handle bars aren't as enjoyable after having using those same arms to pull you through the water for a half mile an hour before. After 2 miles of pure hell on the arms, the legs were back at it taking me up the hill. At about 8 miles (of 12) I could hear the music, announcer, crowd at Snowbasin which sucked. It was a tease as you could taste the end of the bike but were still 4 miles away. The last four miles were tough. It has poured the night before and it began to rain creating a muddy trail which isn't so good for momentum. It got slow and slippery. The wooden bridges that crossed the river were slick and while coming around the corner my tires when out from under me and down I went. That 15 seconds off of the bike gave me a breather and I was fine the last four miles. The bike trail climbed nearly 12 miles and 3000 feet from Pineview to Snowbasin. As I came down to the transition there again was the family cheering. The only thing I heard distinctly was Ryan yelling "Pick it up!" BIKE TIME - 1:59:23
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I felt good changing shoes and getting camelback off. Only 4 miles to go. I was almost there. I started through the parking lot...I could taste it...almost there. Then I saw it...the mountain. Unbelievable! This year they had decided not so send us up the switchback trail, but simply straight up the mountain. After a minute or so my calves were on fire and by back was killing me. I made my way up, and up, and up some more. I got a small break in the middle as the trail flattened out and they it was more climbing. After two miles I was at the top and it was all downhill. I was able to run the entire last two miles and make it to the bottom.
Free at last, free at last...thank God almighty I'm free at last. Done. And there again were the people cheering, Allie cheering and Averi crying her eyes out. I thought that she was overjoyed but soon found out she really just wanted me to take her to go poop! Allie had told her to hold it as I was going to finish at any minute.
RUN TIME - 41:45
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TOTAL TIME - 3:00:38
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I know that I said anything over 3:00 would be a disappointment but I'm calling it 3:00 as it never got to 3:01. I thought that 3:00 would be a good time (30 minutes faster than 2005) and 2:48:00 would be the ultimate goal. Overall the day went well. About half way through the bike I wondered why the hell I ever do these things and promised this was the last time (remember my idea to sign up for the longer distance...forget it!). Today I can't wait until next year to try to shave a little more time of of the 3:00 mark. A few people have asked which was harder a marathon or this? While not being an expert on either one by any means I just say that they are different. A marathon is just long and painful. Your muscles never really ache or burn but just hurt. The Tri (Xterra at least) gets to the muscles and they burn. There are easier times and there are times where you don't think your muscels will go anymore. Maybe that sounds like the same thing but it's just different, trust me. I prefer the Tri as today, while a little sore, I can walk, bend, descend stairs and yesterday even mowed the lawn. It's not as much pounding as 26.2 miles. (Now those Ironman people are just nuts!)

I'm looking for other to join me next year so start preparing. This year I'm really going to make an effort to stay in shape through the winter so I don't have to start from scratch come March. If I can take those 12 minutes off of my time next year that will keep me going to 2009.

As I mentioned before I'm not sure if anyone actually reads this blog anymore. I'm not sure if it'll continue as without the Tri my life isn't much to talk about. Check back for pictures as I'll have them up in a day or so.

3...2...1...

2:48:00

So, here goes. It's here with a few surprises.

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First the weather sucks! Ogden got blasted with a huge thunder shower while I was trying to get marked and pick up my stuff. I hope the rain didn't continue all the way over the mountain because if it did, the trail will be unbelievably muddy and rough.

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Second, NO WETSUITS! That doesn't do me any good as that's the only legal floatation equipment. Also it doesn't do so well with the drag. Although only slightly, I was tempted to stop by the sporting goods store on my way home and look for a biker short speedo/swimsuit (not speedo breifs) but I just couldn't do it. So, it'll be my swimsuit for the swim and hopefully I don't reveal too much as I try to change at T1 with a towel around my waist. One of these days maybe, just maybe I may pull out the greco-roman wrestler outfit that's only one piece. I think that I'd really have to collect some money from all of you to compete with that gear (it would be funny though). Could you imagine that? Yeah, I bet a few of you could...and stop it right now!

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Well, here is to tomorrow and a good nights sleep tonight (which isn't likely). Stay tuned for what may be my final blog with a significant recap of the day.

2 Days, 23 hours....

It's winding down and only a couple of things going badly. Last week we dealt with sick kids and I was washing my hands non-stop. Nothing would be worse than coming down with the flu the week before the race. I thought that I was in the clear until Averi woke up last night puking! So I'm praying that I can get through the next 3 days and stay healthy.

The other thing is that my back is killing me. I've always had lower back issues and it comes and goes. However the Creers are moving into their condo and we've been helping them unload their stuff over the last couple of days. Although it may be helping them, it isn't doing my back any favors. The last night of moving is tonight and I'm just going to have to hang with the women and put sheets on the bed, vacuum, and put things away. I'm done with the heavy stuff unless they don't mind waiting until Saturday afternoon.

If anyone has any quick solutions for lower back pain/tightness I'm all ears.

Meanwhile check out this link. It's a three minute video of last years triathlon. It'll get the juices flowing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkh7-LyGCaU

4 days, 18 hours...

Time is running down and I'm ready....uhh, I think I'm ready...I should be ready...I better be ready...!

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This past Friday I swam in Pineview for a bit. Open water swimming sure is different than the local pool. But it felt good and went well. It took a couple of minutes to get used to the water (cold) but after that it was smooth. Luckily on Saturday I'll have a wetsuit which decreases drag and helps you float, both of which increase the speed.

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I've biked the complete distance and actual route this time around. This occurred last week. I went a total of 11 miles (I skipped the first 1.5 miles as this is the flat paved road from the beach to the beginning of the trail). It's actually unknown how far the trail actually is. Some sites have 19K (12 miles) but the email I received the other day says 16K (10 miles). Either way I've done both so it's all good (without one fall I might add).

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The run is actually only 3 miles. 1.5 up the hill and 1.5 down the hill. I've been running the road up to Fruit Heights which is about 2 miles up so I'm feeling good here.

Now the only real issue is that I've yet to do all three of these things back to back to back which really makes a little difference. That's where I'm going to have to rely on Gatorade, power gels, and lots of adrenaline. I just need to make sure all the adrenaline doesn't all come out the first 5 minutes of the swim like last time.

Again, here are my expectations:

Swim - 16:00

T1 - 4:00

Bike - 1:40:00

T2 - 3:00

Run - 45:00

Total - 2:48:00

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More than three hours and I'm going to run home. Less than 2:48:00 I'm going to have myself one hell of a party.

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I'm ready.

The countdown continues...

I'm not sure who really still visits this blog. Maybe after some of the funny stories have come and gone it's become a little boring. Actually the training has become a little less fun itself. Well...maybe not less fun but just more serious. Unfortunately their haven't been as many incidents as before so there isn't a whole lot to divulge. I haven't seen Matt's biker shorts for months. I can't talk Eric into any physical exercise. Ryan has a one month old baby so he's not getting up at 6am unless it's for a bottle. I do keep falling off of my bike but that got very old a long time ago. So...I'll just finish these last two weeks and they see what happens.

It's almost time. A very short two weeks away and I'm excited to see how I can do this time around. Sitting here right now my body feels like I'm going to challenge the Pro's to the finish line. Yeah, maybe I can finish in that elite group. The only issue is that their route is twice as long as mine and I'm a realist; I don't have a shot.. However things are looking good. The last time around I felt the same way...pretty confident. Looking back I had no clue what I was in for which I found out about 2 miles into the bike. Today I feel better as I know what to expect. I've trained better and know that I'll at least make it to the third mile before wondering what the hell I'm doing in the mountains, on a bike, water strapped to my back, feet firmly attached to the pedals (which I still suck and removing), with another nine miles to go. Boy, what a great day that will be.

But it's exciting. I think I got the fever while watching Eric run a marathon. It was exciting to see people running, crowd cheering, music blasting while they announced race number and names as people crossed the finish line. There was a little adrenaline flowing that day. I figured I could do that. So I did. The Logan marathon wasn't quite the event as the Salt Lake Marathon but it was an event nonetheless. However after limping around for a couple of weeks I had to steer clear of pounding my knees, ankles, quads etc for 5 hours ever again. Then I thought of a Tri. It was a pretty exciting feeling waiting on the beach, listening to the announcer making the last calls, while the Black Eyed Peas blared in the background..."Let's get it started." Quite the adrenaline rush. That all ended soon enough and it was every man for themselves (including the wo'men' who raced). But after it was all over crossing the finish line brought back some of that adrenaline.

So for those who want to feel some of the excitement...check out a marathon/tri sometime. Maybe you'll feel some excitement and soon enough you'll be learning how to swim (properly), falling of your bike, icing your knees/ankles/legs/back, buying a dri-fit wardrobe and having the time of your life while never feeling better.