So...I'm thinking I'm going to do the 10K at the 5/3 Riverbank Run. It seems strange since the marque event is the 25K, but I think I want to see what I can do. I would like to run a sub-37. I should be able to...but I've got to be healthy.
I'm just putting it out there.
I also want to do more races and get more aggressive like I used to be. In some ways the longer stuff has made me a little complacent. I want to get that fire back and go for it at crunch time. But again...I've got to be healthy.
I am also (once again) teasing the idea of doing the duathon instead of the triathlon at Del Sol. I think the distances suit me. I think I could place in the top three...depending on who shows up. ...it always depends on who shows up. But again...I've got to be healthy.
I'm just putting it out there.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sick of Sickness...No Longer Accepting New Members
Maybe I brought it on myself by entitling one of my posts, with the phrase, “Join the Sickness”. After our 1.5-year-old returned from the hospital from his pneumonia experience, our 10-year-old picked up her own illness. She was throwing up and moaning all through the night. At one point she asked, “Mom…Dad…is it possible to throw up your organs?”
The next couple of days were illness free, so we thought maybe, just maybe we escaped passing it on. …But then our 8-year-old began throwing up in the middle of the night. A few hours later, MY stomach began to churn and lurch. “Oh man, not me,” I thought, but I knew, “Yes me.” I raced into school and made sub plans and returned as soon as I could so the rest of the family to get out and off to school. Our 8-year-old spent the day on the couch and I spent the day in bed.
The next day was not a whole lot better, but we both felt well enough to get back to the grind and it was indeed a grind. It was a tough day and we had a dentist appointment at the end. I wasn’t sure how that was going to go, but we both made it through just fine. When we got home we both went to bed early.
The next day seemed better and the fact that it was Friday seemed to boost our spirits, but a mild, lingering, dull, pit remained in my gut. Again…to bed early.
So, here it is Saturday morning. I was expecting to wake up feeling like myself again and ready to get going with my workout, but although it is a little more mild, and a little more dull, the lingering pit still remains. For cryin’ out loud! Let me go!
I’ve missed three days of training and it feels like I’ve missed a month and a half, and like the any fitness gains I’ve made over the past month have vanished into thin air. I missed a run, a ride, a lifting session, and another run. I’ll try to cycle easy and lift later today and I hope I don’t make matters worse. I hope I remember how to strap on my cycling shoes. I hope that when I try to lift that I can still lift the weights I have set up from my last session.
I was scheduled to do a 5-mile “long” run this weekend. I’m not going to try it. I need to do an easy 3-mile run first. I need to see if my calf is better off having had the rest or worse off because I have suspended the progression that I’ve made.
I like feeling strong and capable, and being sick makes me feel weak and helpless. I’m looking forward to next week where I hope to say, “Huh, I guess I didn’t lose much fitness or strength,” and then carry on.
Here’s to good health and strength. Be healthy and be strong.
Peace,
~Sam
The next couple of days were illness free, so we thought maybe, just maybe we escaped passing it on. …But then our 8-year-old began throwing up in the middle of the night. A few hours later, MY stomach began to churn and lurch. “Oh man, not me,” I thought, but I knew, “Yes me.” I raced into school and made sub plans and returned as soon as I could so the rest of the family to get out and off to school. Our 8-year-old spent the day on the couch and I spent the day in bed.
The next day was not a whole lot better, but we both felt well enough to get back to the grind and it was indeed a grind. It was a tough day and we had a dentist appointment at the end. I wasn’t sure how that was going to go, but we both made it through just fine. When we got home we both went to bed early.
The next day seemed better and the fact that it was Friday seemed to boost our spirits, but a mild, lingering, dull, pit remained in my gut. Again…to bed early.
So, here it is Saturday morning. I was expecting to wake up feeling like myself again and ready to get going with my workout, but although it is a little more mild, and a little more dull, the lingering pit still remains. For cryin’ out loud! Let me go!
I’ve missed three days of training and it feels like I’ve missed a month and a half, and like the any fitness gains I’ve made over the past month have vanished into thin air. I missed a run, a ride, a lifting session, and another run. I’ll try to cycle easy and lift later today and I hope I don’t make matters worse. I hope I remember how to strap on my cycling shoes. I hope that when I try to lift that I can still lift the weights I have set up from my last session.
I was scheduled to do a 5-mile “long” run this weekend. I’m not going to try it. I need to do an easy 3-mile run first. I need to see if my calf is better off having had the rest or worse off because I have suspended the progression that I’ve made.
I like feeling strong and capable, and being sick makes me feel weak and helpless. I’m looking forward to next week where I hope to say, “Huh, I guess I didn’t lose much fitness or strength,” and then carry on.
Here’s to good health and strength. Be healthy and be strong.
Peace,
~Sam
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Podcast Addiction, Join the Sickness
Over the past spring and summer I came to know the world of podcasts through the suggestion of my friend’s Ryan and Chris. Now I’m addicted. I love listening to podcasts while cycling on my indoor trainer, sitting by the lake, driving, stretching, or just relaxing on the deck or in the living room. If you don’t know, a podcast is basically a “radio” talk show except you download them from your computer (generally I download them from iTunes). Naturally I have gravitated toward triathlon podcasts. I can hear interviews of professional triathletes, I can learn from industry leaders in triathlon, and I can learn new and different perspectives on all things triathlon.
My favorite podcast is Competitor Radio with Bob Babbit and Paul Huddle. These guys carry their show very well with their wit, their genuine love of life, and their vast amount of knowledge and experience in the sport of triathlon. Furthermore, they relate well with the professional athlete as well as the age-grouper which makes you feel connected to them to the point that if you were to see them you could walk up and they would be happy to talk to you.
Simply-Stu offers a podcast which is well done. His website offers some very cool features as well. His website provided me my first visual of both the Ironman Wisconsin and Ironman Louisville courses. He is very involved in triathlon and is a triathlete to the core and his enthusiasm is infectious.
The Age-Grouper with Jeff and Eric is informative and entertaining. It was funny to me because they talk like they are average, run of the mill age-group triathletes, but when you hear the times they are throwing down for various distances you quickly realize they are exceptional, yet humble a**-kickin’ age group triathletes.
Tri Talk with David Warden is also one of my favorites. I like his thorough, scientific look at various aspects of triathlon delivered in a manner that is understandable.
Get Your Tri Geek On is another entertaining and informative podcast.
I explore other podcasts as well just to see what they are like and I am usually not disappointed. Some others of note include Endurance Nation, Endurance Planet (I’m actually interviewed on this podcast), RunRunLive 2.0, Average Bloke, and the list goes on.
Granted, podcasts are not limited to triathlon content. I have downloaded a few other topics, but the triathlon related podcasts are the ones that I gravitate toward more than any other. Anyway, if you have an iPod, check out the world of podcasts and open yourself up to a brand new triathlon experience. I guess this makes me a pusher.
My favorite podcast is Competitor Radio with Bob Babbit and Paul Huddle. These guys carry their show very well with their wit, their genuine love of life, and their vast amount of knowledge and experience in the sport of triathlon. Furthermore, they relate well with the professional athlete as well as the age-grouper which makes you feel connected to them to the point that if you were to see them you could walk up and they would be happy to talk to you.
Simply-Stu offers a podcast which is well done. His website offers some very cool features as well. His website provided me my first visual of both the Ironman Wisconsin and Ironman Louisville courses. He is very involved in triathlon and is a triathlete to the core and his enthusiasm is infectious.
The Age-Grouper with Jeff and Eric is informative and entertaining. It was funny to me because they talk like they are average, run of the mill age-group triathletes, but when you hear the times they are throwing down for various distances you quickly realize they are exceptional, yet humble a**-kickin’ age group triathletes.
Tri Talk with David Warden is also one of my favorites. I like his thorough, scientific look at various aspects of triathlon delivered in a manner that is understandable.
Get Your Tri Geek On is another entertaining and informative podcast.
I explore other podcasts as well just to see what they are like and I am usually not disappointed. Some others of note include Endurance Nation, Endurance Planet (I’m actually interviewed on this podcast), RunRunLive 2.0, Average Bloke, and the list goes on.
Granted, podcasts are not limited to triathlon content. I have downloaded a few other topics, but the triathlon related podcasts are the ones that I gravitate toward more than any other. Anyway, if you have an iPod, check out the world of podcasts and open yourself up to a brand new triathlon experience. I guess this makes me a pusher.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Team Haraburda Cycles Around the United States
Dan Haraburda, who happens to be my father-in-law is an inspiration for me as well as for many others. Regardless of his age, this is an incredible feat, but over the span of four years, beginning at the age of 58 and ending at the age of 62, he cycled his way around the contiguous United States of America. He started in 2006 and finished in 2009. This is nothing to take lightly and his accomplishment is nothing less than amazing.
His rides were in five segments as outlined below:
Southern Tier - 3100 miles - San Diego CA to St Augustine FL
Atlantic Coastal Ride - 2200 miles - Bar Harbor ME to St Augustine FL
Northern Tier - Eastern Half - 2000 miles - Stillwater, MN to Damariscotta ME
Northern Tier - Western Half - 2000 miles - Anacortes WA to Stillwater MN
Pacific Coastal Ride - 1800 miles - Canadian Border to Mexican Border
TS: When talking about your rides you would refer to yourself as “we”. I haven’t known you to have a split personality, so why the “we”?
DH: That is because Betty (Dan’s wife) was with me all the way. I like to say that she did all the work. I just rode the bike. I am well aware that I am a very lucky man. There aren’t many people who would do what she did for me on these trips.
TS: Clearly having Betty’s support was invaluable. Tell me a little bit about this.
DH: I guess we should say right away that we did this the lazy man’s way. I had my own personal SAG wagon. I didn’t carry everything on my bike. I admire the people who do. I thought many times about those who rode all day in the rain and then set up their tents in the rain and then crawled into a wet tent or sleeping bag. My hat is off to those people but I didn’t do it that way and was fortunate enough to have Betty with me all the while.
TS: When did cycling go from being recreational to a more serious endeavor?
DH: I did a lot of biking in the 90’s and always thought that I would like to go from somewhere to somewhere else rather than riding the same roads every day. In the course of the riding season, I rode around 1500 miles. I wondered where that would get me if it was a straight line. Our first idea for a long distance ride was that we would ride the Baja. We mulled the idea over but someone talked us out of it and we adopted the idea of the riding the Southern Tier.
TS: What inspired you to ultimately cycle around the United States?
DH: While we were riding the Southern Tier, we ran into a fellow who was going to ride around the US. He called it riding the four corners.
TS: How many total miles did you cover after completing your tour of the outer Contiguous United States?
DH: The total distance by the maps is 11,112 miles. During the course of the ride we had computer and GPS failures so we don‘t have a good “actual” number. The actual number is probably a bit higher than the map miles.
TS: Which of the segments (tiers) was the most challenging?
DH: Physically, the hardest part of the ride was the southwest segment of the Southern Tier, eastern Arizona and New Mexico. These were the highest mountains at 8,200 feet, on the entire journey and the first time this flatlander from Michigan climbed any mountains. For just plain miserable riding conditions, it’s a draw between a morning ride in Louisiana and a five day stretch in New York. Both were rainy and cold. The Louisiana ride was probably the most miserable that I have ever experienced while biking.
TS: Which of the segments was most enjoyable?
DH: That’s a hard question. I am a history geek. So the Atlantic Coast Ride with Washington DC, the Civil War Battlefields, and Kitty Hawk are high on my list of the most interesting places that we have ridden through. For natural beauty - In every one of my journal entries, I would write “this area is fantastic!” It seemed to keep happening, “Oh yeah we like Washington; Oh yeah, we like Montana, Oregon, Maine, the mountains in the northwest and southwest, the Pacific ocean.” We also rode the Outer Banks of North Carolina which were beautiful.
TS: If you chose to do so, which segment (tier) would you choose to ride again?
DH: I wouldn’t ride any of them again because there are quite a few other rides and things that I would like to do. However, if I had to suggest just one segment for someone interested in a long distance ride, it would be the Pacific Coast Ride. It’s relatively short and you are in sight of the Pacific Ocean for almost the entire ride. For me the entire ride seemed biker friendly. Bikers aren’t an oddity on the west coast like they seem to be in Michigan.
TS: What was the strangest experience you had while riding?
DH: I mentioned the ride in the rain in Louisiana. I was truly miserable and was thinking of quitting for a while when I saw a biker approaching from the opposite direction. We stopped and talked. He was biking to San Diego. I was in route to St Augustine. He said that he had two choices, get wet in the tent or get wet riding. He chose riding. I thought well if he is going to continue then so am I. Shortly after that the rain stopped and conditions improved. I have always wondered if this was just a chance meeting or a special messenger to keep me going.
TS: What was the scariest moment you experienced during your rides?
DH: I got knocked down by a dog in New Mexico. In Texas, I had a truck rear end a car at a traffic light right next to me. But the scariest moments are the subtle ones like when I realized I just did something stupid, like buzz through a stop sign and a car was coming. Then about two minutes down the road it all sinks in and I realized how different the outcome could have been. You thank God for letting you get away with that one and vow to sin no more.
TS: What is the most critical piece of advice you would offer a person considering embarking upon this same adventure?
DH: Safety is paramount. I have two friends that were killed while cycling. So use good lights front and back, (strobe on the back), and good colors. Make yourself visible. Use a rear view mirror. Watch your back. Cycling is full time. No music, No iPods. Share the road. Don’t be an aggressive biker. Safety, Safety, Safety. Oh and buy the most durable tires that you can afford. Armadillos or Bontrager Kevlar have worked great for me. Armadillos wear great but Bontrager performance is better.
TS: Other than your bicycle, what piece of equipment could you NOT live without for a long ride?
DH: My GPS - It tells me everything I need to know. I have a Garmin Legend Cx. This is not designed for cycling but it works for me. I can’t imagine navigating using a map. I carry maps only as a backup. Interestingly enough, I did not see many people using a GPS but I wouldn’t leave home without it.
TS: While riding long, would you rather ride in downpour in 38 degrees or in a 35 mph headwind with sun and 70 degrees?
DH: I am as lazy as the next guy. Give me sunny and 70 with a gale at my back and I’m happy.
TS: While riding long, which would you miss more if you lost it en route, your fluids or your solid foods? Why?
DH: I’ve gone hoarse because I couldn’t down enough fluids and I’ve ran out of gas because I forgot my energy bars. If I had to choose I would take the fluids. I am certainly no expert on nutrition but a drink with some “additives” will probably get me a lot further in the desert than a bag full of Snickers.
TS: Would you rather win an all expenses paid trip to the Tour De France or a chance to have coffee with Lance Armstrong for 30 minutes?
DH: How about if I take the money for the Tour and finance our next adventure. I would take the Tour. (Although, I wouldn’t mind talking about Cheryl Crow for a half hour, she‘s cool). The Tour is the ultimate in cycling. It would be great to see the bikes, the athletes, the course, and of course Robin Williams.
TS: You have ridden around the entire Contiguous United States. What’s next?
DH: I am glad you asked. There are several rides that I am interested in taking on - (hooking up with a group to ride) the Baja, riding the length of New Zealand, the Transcontinental ride in the US, (some serious mountains there), riding around Lake Superior. Did you know that you can ride from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego? Other items on the list: Finish climbing Mt Rainier, trekking in Nepal and maybe Kilimanjaro.
His rides were in five segments as outlined below:
Southern Tier - 3100 miles - San Diego CA to St Augustine FL
Atlantic Coastal Ride - 2200 miles - Bar Harbor ME to St Augustine FL
Northern Tier - Eastern Half - 2000 miles - Stillwater, MN to Damariscotta ME
Northern Tier - Western Half - 2000 miles - Anacortes WA to Stillwater MN
Pacific Coastal Ride - 1800 miles - Canadian Border to Mexican Border
TS: When talking about your rides you would refer to yourself as “we”. I haven’t known you to have a split personality, so why the “we”?
DH: That is because Betty (Dan’s wife) was with me all the way. I like to say that she did all the work. I just rode the bike. I am well aware that I am a very lucky man. There aren’t many people who would do what she did for me on these trips.
TS: Clearly having Betty’s support was invaluable. Tell me a little bit about this.
DH: I guess we should say right away that we did this the lazy man’s way. I had my own personal SAG wagon. I didn’t carry everything on my bike. I admire the people who do. I thought many times about those who rode all day in the rain and then set up their tents in the rain and then crawled into a wet tent or sleeping bag. My hat is off to those people but I didn’t do it that way and was fortunate enough to have Betty with me all the while.
TS: When did cycling go from being recreational to a more serious endeavor?
DH: I did a lot of biking in the 90’s and always thought that I would like to go from somewhere to somewhere else rather than riding the same roads every day. In the course of the riding season, I rode around 1500 miles. I wondered where that would get me if it was a straight line. Our first idea for a long distance ride was that we would ride the Baja. We mulled the idea over but someone talked us out of it and we adopted the idea of the riding the Southern Tier.
TS: What inspired you to ultimately cycle around the United States?
DH: While we were riding the Southern Tier, we ran into a fellow who was going to ride around the US. He called it riding the four corners.
TS: How many total miles did you cover after completing your tour of the outer Contiguous United States?
DH: The total distance by the maps is 11,112 miles. During the course of the ride we had computer and GPS failures so we don‘t have a good “actual” number. The actual number is probably a bit higher than the map miles.
TS: Which of the segments (tiers) was the most challenging?
DH: Physically, the hardest part of the ride was the southwest segment of the Southern Tier, eastern Arizona and New Mexico. These were the highest mountains at 8,200 feet, on the entire journey and the first time this flatlander from Michigan climbed any mountains. For just plain miserable riding conditions, it’s a draw between a morning ride in Louisiana and a five day stretch in New York. Both were rainy and cold. The Louisiana ride was probably the most miserable that I have ever experienced while biking.
TS: Which of the segments was most enjoyable?
DH: That’s a hard question. I am a history geek. So the Atlantic Coast Ride with Washington DC, the Civil War Battlefields, and Kitty Hawk are high on my list of the most interesting places that we have ridden through. For natural beauty - In every one of my journal entries, I would write “this area is fantastic!” It seemed to keep happening, “Oh yeah we like Washington; Oh yeah, we like Montana, Oregon, Maine, the mountains in the northwest and southwest, the Pacific ocean.” We also rode the Outer Banks of North Carolina which were beautiful.
TS: If you chose to do so, which segment (tier) would you choose to ride again?
DH: I wouldn’t ride any of them again because there are quite a few other rides and things that I would like to do. However, if I had to suggest just one segment for someone interested in a long distance ride, it would be the Pacific Coast Ride. It’s relatively short and you are in sight of the Pacific Ocean for almost the entire ride. For me the entire ride seemed biker friendly. Bikers aren’t an oddity on the west coast like they seem to be in Michigan.
TS: What was the strangest experience you had while riding?
DH: I mentioned the ride in the rain in Louisiana. I was truly miserable and was thinking of quitting for a while when I saw a biker approaching from the opposite direction. We stopped and talked. He was biking to San Diego. I was in route to St Augustine. He said that he had two choices, get wet in the tent or get wet riding. He chose riding. I thought well if he is going to continue then so am I. Shortly after that the rain stopped and conditions improved. I have always wondered if this was just a chance meeting or a special messenger to keep me going.
TS: What was the scariest moment you experienced during your rides?
DH: I got knocked down by a dog in New Mexico. In Texas, I had a truck rear end a car at a traffic light right next to me. But the scariest moments are the subtle ones like when I realized I just did something stupid, like buzz through a stop sign and a car was coming. Then about two minutes down the road it all sinks in and I realized how different the outcome could have been. You thank God for letting you get away with that one and vow to sin no more.
TS: What is the most critical piece of advice you would offer a person considering embarking upon this same adventure?
DH: Safety is paramount. I have two friends that were killed while cycling. So use good lights front and back, (strobe on the back), and good colors. Make yourself visible. Use a rear view mirror. Watch your back. Cycling is full time. No music, No iPods. Share the road. Don’t be an aggressive biker. Safety, Safety, Safety. Oh and buy the most durable tires that you can afford. Armadillos or Bontrager Kevlar have worked great for me. Armadillos wear great but Bontrager performance is better.
TS: Other than your bicycle, what piece of equipment could you NOT live without for a long ride?
DH: My GPS - It tells me everything I need to know. I have a Garmin Legend Cx. This is not designed for cycling but it works for me. I can’t imagine navigating using a map. I carry maps only as a backup. Interestingly enough, I did not see many people using a GPS but I wouldn’t leave home without it.
TS: While riding long, would you rather ride in downpour in 38 degrees or in a 35 mph headwind with sun and 70 degrees?
DH: I am as lazy as the next guy. Give me sunny and 70 with a gale at my back and I’m happy.
TS: While riding long, which would you miss more if you lost it en route, your fluids or your solid foods? Why?
DH: I’ve gone hoarse because I couldn’t down enough fluids and I’ve ran out of gas because I forgot my energy bars. If I had to choose I would take the fluids. I am certainly no expert on nutrition but a drink with some “additives” will probably get me a lot further in the desert than a bag full of Snickers.
TS: Would you rather win an all expenses paid trip to the Tour De France or a chance to have coffee with Lance Armstrong for 30 minutes?
DH: How about if I take the money for the Tour and finance our next adventure. I would take the Tour. (Although, I wouldn’t mind talking about Cheryl Crow for a half hour, she‘s cool). The Tour is the ultimate in cycling. It would be great to see the bikes, the athletes, the course, and of course Robin Williams.
TS: You have ridden around the entire Contiguous United States. What’s next?
DH: I am glad you asked. There are several rides that I am interested in taking on - (hooking up with a group to ride) the Baja, riding the length of New Zealand, the Transcontinental ride in the US, (some serious mountains there), riding around Lake Superior. Did you know that you can ride from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego? Other items on the list: Finish climbing Mt Rainier, trekking in Nepal and maybe Kilimanjaro.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Interview with Ryan Haik, Age-group Triathlete (30-34)
Ryan is a good friend of mine, training partner, and a triathlete in the rough. He comes from a football and body building background. He has a lot of drive, is passionate about what he does and manages to juggle work, training, and family life. He has done a few sprint triahlons in the past, but has been drawn into the world of long distance triathlon. He is registered for the 2010 version of the Whirlpool, Steelhead, Ironman 70.3 where he plans to conquer his demons and get it done.
TS: What inspired you to get into triathlon?
RH: I saw the Ironman on t.v. and thought, “That is crazy!” Then in 2005 I bought a road bike and the sales guy said something about duathlons and triathlons being fun. I thought, “Ha-Ha, yeah right.” Then the more I thought about it, my competitive juices started to flow and I had to find out more. So, I started reading about triathlon and then I went to a couple of events to watch. Finally, I thought, “I can do this!” I love to compete! Plus, I love to be in shape. It gets me out of my comfort zone. It gives me structure.
TS: Which of the three disciplines of triathlon is your strength?
RH: For now, the run. My run is also getting stronger because I’m gearing up for the 5/3 Riverbank Run 25K in May. However, I hope to gain more balance with the three disciplines as my training in all areas increases as the season gets closer.
TS: Which of the three disciplines in triathlon needs the most work?
RH: Without question the swim. I’m still pretty new to the sport and I have technique issues to work out until I can feel more comfortable in the water and then I can work on improving even more.
TS: What distance do you enjoy racing the most?
RH: I have only done sprint distance so far, so for now, I’ll have to say the sprint distance, but who knows after this season. I hope to do an Olympic distance as well as a ½ Ironman, so I’ll get a feel for what the longer events are like.
TS: What is your lifetime goal in participating in triathlon?
RH: To do an Ironman!
TS: What are your top three goals for this triathlon season?
RH: To finish my first Olympic distance race, to get a PR at the Tri Del Sol Triathlon, and my granddaddy goal is to finish my first Half Ironman at Steelhead this August.
TS: How do you balance training, work, and family?
RH: It is a team effort. Everybody has to be on board and I get a lot of support from my wife and kids. I try to get my workouts done in the morning. I get up at 3:30 am. I’ll run inside or I’ll bike on the trainer. As the kids get older I’m finding it to get a little easier because they can do more for themselves.
TS: What kind of bike do you ride and why did you choose this particular model?
RH: Quintana Roo Seduza. It is carbon fiber, black and white, and this bike is just RAD! It was the end of the year and there was a killer deal on it that I couldn’t pass up.
TS: What is your favorite local triathlon?
RH: Tri Del Sol. Close to home with a lot of locals.
TS: You are scheduled to do your first Ironman 70.3 this year, what prompted you to want to complete this particular distance?
RH: I have to continue to push beyond my comfort zone and see what I made of.
TS: What kind of music do you listen to when running on the treadmill or cycling on the indoor trainer?
RH: Just about everything. But I do like the 80’s.
TS: What food is a weakness for you when it comes to living it up?
RH: Pizza!
TS: Which would you rather do, 10 hill repeats running, or a 10 mile time trial on your bike?
RH: 10 hill repeats because when I fall over from exhaustion, it won’t hurt as bad and I won’t scratch my bike.
TS: What is the hardest aspect of training for triathlon?
RH: Finding the time to get all the training in is definitely the most challenging.
TS: Would you wear tri briefs in a race if you were given $100 to do so?
RH: AHHHH NO!
TS: What professional triathlete inspires you the most?
RH: It’s not the professionals but the age-groupers that inspires me most. One thing that really inspires me is watching NBC’s coverage of IM World Championship in Hawaii; amazing stories.
TS: Would you rather win the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii or an Olympic Gold Medal in triathlon?
RS: I would rather win in Hawaii. I think I would have more respect for myself and from others. It would be a great accomplishment.
TS: Would you rather carry Craig Alexander’s bag or walk Chrissie Wellington’s bike into transition?
RH: Being a nice guy, I would be willing to help both of them. Unless of course I was in the race, then they would have to take care of their own gear!
TS: Would you rather be first at any Ironman outside of the Hawaii Ironman Championship or fourth at the Hawaii Ironman Championship?
RH: I have to go with fourth in Hawaii. It’s the World Championship!
TS: Would you rather win a new pair of Newton running shoes or a pair of sun glasses worn by your favorite professional triathlete?
RH: I would go for the Newton running shoes. Those shoes are sick! A worn nasty pair of sunglasses is just a whole different kind of sick.
TS: What inspired you to get into triathlon?
RH: I saw the Ironman on t.v. and thought, “That is crazy!” Then in 2005 I bought a road bike and the sales guy said something about duathlons and triathlons being fun. I thought, “Ha-Ha, yeah right.” Then the more I thought about it, my competitive juices started to flow and I had to find out more. So, I started reading about triathlon and then I went to a couple of events to watch. Finally, I thought, “I can do this!” I love to compete! Plus, I love to be in shape. It gets me out of my comfort zone. It gives me structure.
TS: Which of the three disciplines of triathlon is your strength?
RH: For now, the run. My run is also getting stronger because I’m gearing up for the 5/3 Riverbank Run 25K in May. However, I hope to gain more balance with the three disciplines as my training in all areas increases as the season gets closer.
TS: Which of the three disciplines in triathlon needs the most work?
RH: Without question the swim. I’m still pretty new to the sport and I have technique issues to work out until I can feel more comfortable in the water and then I can work on improving even more.
TS: What distance do you enjoy racing the most?
RH: I have only done sprint distance so far, so for now, I’ll have to say the sprint distance, but who knows after this season. I hope to do an Olympic distance as well as a ½ Ironman, so I’ll get a feel for what the longer events are like.
TS: What is your lifetime goal in participating in triathlon?
RH: To do an Ironman!
TS: What are your top three goals for this triathlon season?
RH: To finish my first Olympic distance race, to get a PR at the Tri Del Sol Triathlon, and my granddaddy goal is to finish my first Half Ironman at Steelhead this August.
TS: How do you balance training, work, and family?
RH: It is a team effort. Everybody has to be on board and I get a lot of support from my wife and kids. I try to get my workouts done in the morning. I get up at 3:30 am. I’ll run inside or I’ll bike on the trainer. As the kids get older I’m finding it to get a little easier because they can do more for themselves.
TS: What kind of bike do you ride and why did you choose this particular model?
RH: Quintana Roo Seduza. It is carbon fiber, black and white, and this bike is just RAD! It was the end of the year and there was a killer deal on it that I couldn’t pass up.
TS: What is your favorite local triathlon?
RH: Tri Del Sol. Close to home with a lot of locals.
TS: You are scheduled to do your first Ironman 70.3 this year, what prompted you to want to complete this particular distance?
RH: I have to continue to push beyond my comfort zone and see what I made of.
TS: What kind of music do you listen to when running on the treadmill or cycling on the indoor trainer?
RH: Just about everything. But I do like the 80’s.
TS: What food is a weakness for you when it comes to living it up?
RH: Pizza!
TS: Which would you rather do, 10 hill repeats running, or a 10 mile time trial on your bike?
RH: 10 hill repeats because when I fall over from exhaustion, it won’t hurt as bad and I won’t scratch my bike.
TS: What is the hardest aspect of training for triathlon?
RH: Finding the time to get all the training in is definitely the most challenging.
TS: Would you wear tri briefs in a race if you were given $100 to do so?
RH: AHHHH NO!
TS: What professional triathlete inspires you the most?
RH: It’s not the professionals but the age-groupers that inspires me most. One thing that really inspires me is watching NBC’s coverage of IM World Championship in Hawaii; amazing stories.
TS: Would you rather win the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii or an Olympic Gold Medal in triathlon?
RS: I would rather win in Hawaii. I think I would have more respect for myself and from others. It would be a great accomplishment.
TS: Would you rather carry Craig Alexander’s bag or walk Chrissie Wellington’s bike into transition?
RH: Being a nice guy, I would be willing to help both of them. Unless of course I was in the race, then they would have to take care of their own gear!
TS: Would you rather be first at any Ironman outside of the Hawaii Ironman Championship or fourth at the Hawaii Ironman Championship?
RH: I have to go with fourth in Hawaii. It’s the World Championship!
TS: Would you rather win a new pair of Newton running shoes or a pair of sun glasses worn by your favorite professional triathlete?
RH: I would go for the Newton running shoes. Those shoes are sick! A worn nasty pair of sunglasses is just a whole different kind of sick.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Information Overload, What Works Best for You
There is a great deal of information on proper technique in swimming, cycling, running, as well as nutrition, and how to tie your shoes. Furthermore, it’s all right and it’s all wrong depending on who you ask. This leads me to believe it comes down to what works best for you. Unfortunately, most people when seeking advice on the best way of doing things don’t want to hear our most common answer after dispensing options, which is ultimately, “This is what I do, but you have to do what works best for you.” This is not meant to be a cop-out as much as a disclaimer.
Every expert who is providing their scientifically proven method will tell you their way is right, but then somebody else will refute this with an opposing view. This leaves us again with doing what works best for us individually.
I’m generally of the opinion of, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Well, I’m too often injured so apparently what I’m doing is broken, so I look for ways to “fix” my situation. I read articles in magazines, I read websites I trust, I listen to podcasts, I talk to friends who are athletes, and I gather information from my own experiences. The following is some of the things I have found with regards to swimming, cycling, and running.
Swimming: Admittedly, I have not read much about the Total Immersion swim technique, but my understanding is that one of its most basic premises is that it is important to keep perfect body alignment and have exceptional rotational skills. My understanding is that when you are rotating, your bellybutton should be facing the lateral walls as to rotate the body so it is slicing through the water with a vertical plane, rather than a flat, horizontal plane. I then hear on a podcast that a study has been done indicating that the extreme rotation described in Total Immersion is not as fast as a horizontal position. The podcast went on to say that this extreme rotation is good for drill work, but is not as efficient for swimming long distances. There is more to it than this, but my point is there are two authorities on a subject with opposing viewpoints. Argh.
Cycling: Lance Armstrong started cranking out a very high cadence and having obvious success, and it has been thought that this method was best for cycling. Then I read that for triathlon, this might not be the best method and that banging out the big ring with more power is better suited for the triathlete who needs to run off the bike. Hmm.
Running: I read in a couple different sources that flexibility is a good thing, but too much flexibility may actually hinder performance. If I remember correctly, the thought was that if the muscles were too loose from stretching, they would not allow for very powerful send-off with each step. Now I’m reading the Pose Method of running and it is a strong proponent of being very flexible. Uhhh!
My facts may not be exactly right because I’m drawing from my memory of these various articles and sources, but my point remains the same. Just about anything somebody says with authority and backed up with scientific evidence often faces an opposing view on the same topic, also with scientific data to back it up. So where does this leave us? With doing what works best for us, of course this leads me to my next thought which is lack of time and lots of laziness in really giving new methods their due to see what indeed does work best for us, but that’s for another post.
Every expert who is providing their scientifically proven method will tell you their way is right, but then somebody else will refute this with an opposing view. This leaves us again with doing what works best for us individually.
I’m generally of the opinion of, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Well, I’m too often injured so apparently what I’m doing is broken, so I look for ways to “fix” my situation. I read articles in magazines, I read websites I trust, I listen to podcasts, I talk to friends who are athletes, and I gather information from my own experiences. The following is some of the things I have found with regards to swimming, cycling, and running.
Swimming: Admittedly, I have not read much about the Total Immersion swim technique, but my understanding is that one of its most basic premises is that it is important to keep perfect body alignment and have exceptional rotational skills. My understanding is that when you are rotating, your bellybutton should be facing the lateral walls as to rotate the body so it is slicing through the water with a vertical plane, rather than a flat, horizontal plane. I then hear on a podcast that a study has been done indicating that the extreme rotation described in Total Immersion is not as fast as a horizontal position. The podcast went on to say that this extreme rotation is good for drill work, but is not as efficient for swimming long distances. There is more to it than this, but my point is there are two authorities on a subject with opposing viewpoints. Argh.
Cycling: Lance Armstrong started cranking out a very high cadence and having obvious success, and it has been thought that this method was best for cycling. Then I read that for triathlon, this might not be the best method and that banging out the big ring with more power is better suited for the triathlete who needs to run off the bike. Hmm.
Running: I read in a couple different sources that flexibility is a good thing, but too much flexibility may actually hinder performance. If I remember correctly, the thought was that if the muscles were too loose from stretching, they would not allow for very powerful send-off with each step. Now I’m reading the Pose Method of running and it is a strong proponent of being very flexible. Uhhh!
My facts may not be exactly right because I’m drawing from my memory of these various articles and sources, but my point remains the same. Just about anything somebody says with authority and backed up with scientific evidence often faces an opposing view on the same topic, also with scientific data to back it up. So where does this leave us? With doing what works best for us, of course this leads me to my next thought which is lack of time and lots of laziness in really giving new methods their due to see what indeed does work best for us, but that’s for another post.
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