I arrived at Lake Placid Ironman Training Camp early Friday morning to settle in and get ready for the afternoon 13 mile kickoff run. The group for the most part came to camp with their game faces on and the run was our first chance to shake off the long drive to Upstate NY. My …
Category: Traithlon Posts
My Wife Made Me Do It!
If your schedule is like mine you swim either very early in the morning before work or after work later in the evening. Finding any willing partner to swim in a cold lake is not always easy (nearly impossible) at 05:00 AM (totally impossible), so I end up most days going solo which used to …
Quassy Half Iron – A very good way to spend your Birthday
Most birthdays are marked by gift giving and celebration. Yesterday, Sunday, June 7th was not so different for me except I chose this year to compete in a 70.3 Half Ironman distance triathlon in Middlebury CT (this area is advertised as "The Alp's of Connecticut") the event is a 1.2 mile swim. 56 mile bike …
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If your an Extrovert – Bring the crowd with you
I think I have always thought of myself as an extrovert.. Most people believe that an extrovert is a person who is friendly and outgoing, which I do tend to lean towards. While that may be true, that is not the true meaning of extroversion. Basically, an extrovert is a person who is energized by …
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My race number is 666 ?? Really???
As I get ready for my 1st half of the season "Challenge Quassy" in CT. this coming weekend I am remember the moment last year when my race number caused my confidence to take a sudden downward turn at Quassy. I stepped through the pre-registration line last season to pick up my number and race …
Having the right coach makes a difference
There are all different types of coaches, there are head coaches, assistant coaches, strength coaches, player-development coaches, conditioning coaches, mind coaches and many others. If you are lucky you find the right coach to match the need at the point in time when that aspect of you needs direction. I say this because my need …
The making of a highlight
My 1st race is Challenge Quassy June 7th so for me getting into the open water is critical with 2 weeks left before gun time. Although I did a quick dip a week or two ago it doesn't count psychologically as a practice for race day. My training this year has been mostly alone due to time restrictions and …
What Holds Us Back?
I read somewhere in a blog ....when approaching any endurance event it isn't about who you think you are, but it is more about who you think your not. I am constantly amazed by my brother Marines and their determination to get it done...no matter what the obstacle.. Pictured here are two fine examples of this …
Up to Down East
To say that the coastal route from Newburyport to Maine is beautiful is an understatement. In a strange way the most beautiful are the natural scenes. The fishing boats at rest in the bay and the stacks of yellow and green lobster traps that line the docks. Today was a 100 mile day filled with …
Training Day Road Shows
The advantage we get from spending training days out on the road is the unexpected road shows. The Circle Museum by the side of the road in Austerlitz, New York, was a special surprise that made the time pass as I wandered along the NY & MA state lines. While on a long training day …
Rage against the device
When is having too much tech gear during training a bad idea? As a support manager in the computer industry I get that information is key to understanding where were and any change plus or minus that may have occurred. It can be a motivator if your improving and a downer if things don't match your expectations …
In a real pissy mood!
Ya that’s right, I’m Pissy! Not to be confused with a temper tantrum, I’d say the way I’m feeling right now is a few levels lower, but just as juvenile. I got this way because I did not want to go out for this weekends long 4+ hour bike ride on a cold, overcast and …
Demons: Meeting Them and Beating Them
Fighting Bulldogs - From Paris Island to the finish line. Preparing to meet your Demons With three months left before my Ironman event I find myself in daily conversation with two demons. One is purely a conversation about dialing back; easing back or settling in on the pace and the other is pushing past wanting to stop …
Riding with a Wing Man
Yes, there are days when it is nice to break out for a roll on your bike, free with no one but your own thoughts to accompany you... but let me tell you on those long 70+ mile, 4 hours or more weekenders there is nothing like riding with a good wing man. Today's ride …
Running in the State of Distain
This is our yellow lab, LooLoo who had been my loyal running partner up to the start of this year's Ironman training. My runs are too long for her now and I'm uncomfortable for anything beyond 5 or 6 miles for her. She is enjoys an early morning run through the State Park and especially loves diving in the ponds, …
New Watch – Data Anyone?
Just received a Garmin 920XT this week and took it out for a run. I got a ton of data from the Garmin but did not know how the data related to me specifically. Listed below are some interesting comments from Coach Sue about the initial data output: OOOH, fun-- the 920XT!! First off, nice 10-- …
Running under a Honey Moon
It's 05:30 on a cold dark 23 degree March (feels like 10) morning in New England. If that isn't enough to make it sound inviting the 15-20 mile an hour winds, snow pack and black ice make this mornings run a Epic battle Man vs Elements... Started out the door this morning red blinkers flashing, neon …
Pearls of Coach Wisdom
Swimming - 3/4/2015 (After submitting a swim data spreadsheet) I have always noticed you have a very consistent repeatable pace, you don't fade much, if at all-- your fast pieces are more variable, which I feel like is an artifact of thinking-- the first fast swim, you just get after it, then I'm guessing you …
Maiden Voyage – Spring is around the Corner – 1st Ride Outside Today
Spring is in the air the temp at Noon here in the NE warmed up to 40 degrees and it was awesome. The Lunchtime ride group here made it out today for the 1st outside ride of the year! It was fabulous the roads are full of potholes, cracks and frost heaves but who cares …
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Snow Days – “but I have promises to keep”
Unlike when I was in school "Snow Days" don't count during your winter training sessions. You just have to get out there and get it done no matter what the day brings. The roadways are often difficult when having to dodge cars, ice patches and slushy road side segments. Having said all that I do Love …
Signed Up for the Quassy Half Iron 2015
Quassy sits on the south shore of Lake Quassapaug and inside the Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Connecticut. The Challenge Quassy course itself is challenging but there is time to enjoy the scenic view of Lake Quassapaug or the rural beauty of Middlebury, Connecticut’s Historic District.
Trails I Love
The trails I run in Maudsley State Park and along Emerys Lane are among the most beautiful areas on the North Shore. Crossing over stone and old Mill bridges these pathways help my mind shift and bend away form the task at hand and send it off to the days when settlers cleared this land …
Izzy’s Letter to Shelly the Christmas Elf
The letter above is a note from my daughter to Shelly the Elf on a shelf that visits us during the days before Christmas. Each day Shelly moves to a new location about the house and commits pranks that amuse Izzy each morning. Listed below is Shelly's response to Izzy's letter...Enjoy. Shelly's Response: Dear Izzy, …
HR Heart Rate Spikes
I have noticed that at the beginning of most runs my HR will spike even though I don't feel that I am all pumped up. It takes a mile or more sometimes to get the rate to drop and settle into the target HR for the session. I used to think it was because of …
Base Training
One of the hardest concepts I am trying to get my head wrapped around is the concept of base training. It not intuitive to me from a running and biking standpoint but strangely enough doesn't bother me on the swim part of my training. I suspect it is because I don't have an ego around the swim. Slowing …
The Bow Legged Blogger 