2010 Season Recap...Yeah, a Little Late

What a great season! I had a hard time saying that at first because I expected a lot from myself, but as the season went on, and as I look back, I can appreciate more what I have accomplished.
I kicked off my season with the Grand Duathlon, in Kentwwod, MI where the weather was wet and cold. I didn't have terribly high expectations for this race, but I still wanted to fair well. Mostly this served as a tune-up to the season, so it was what it was.
In training I had what I considered some solid time trials where I averaged 24+ mph over 10 and 15 miles. With this in mind, I expected to have some killer bike splits in my races during the season.
The Rev3, Knoxville, TN, Olympic distance triathlon was my next event and even though I had yet to have an open water swim for 2010, I was expecting to do well. The day started out pretty cold and a little breezy, but the sun was out and my spirits were high. I had a reasonably decent swim, a bike that was disappointing at the time, and a pretty good run. It was a great experience and I'm glad I took on the challenge, but I left feeling like I didn't have the stellar day I had hoped for.
I followed Rev3 with the new Double Time Sprint Triathlon in Three Rivers, MI. It was short, fast, and fun. I still didn't get the kind of bike split I thought I should be having, but I pulled off a second place overall, and a pretty solid run, so it was still rewarding.
The National 24-Hour Challenge (bike ride) held in Middleville, MI was enjoyable and I met my goal of earning my 1,000 mile jersey (cumulative mileage over the years) and another 200+ mile day. Even though I left tired and a little sore, I met my goals.
Taking on the Del Sol Triathlon is always fun because the distances are suited to me and it's located only a few minutes from my house. I had a resonable swim, a respectable ride, and a run I can feel good about. Because I scored 5th overall, it made the effort all the more worth while.
The Mellennium Park Triathlon, in Grand Rapids, MI was a great event. the weather was perfect and I had a solid performance. I was 11th overall, which was only one place later than my goal of top 10. I was particulalry please with my run split. I averaged 6:01's for the 5k.
The Timberman, Ironman 70.3, in New Hampshire was my big goal race for the season. I had a great experience and produced a race I can be proud of. In fact, for a while during the first half of the run I thought I was going to score a 1/2 Ironman PR of about 15 minutes. Nevertheless, this was what I believe is my second fastest 1/2 Ironman. It was a nice family trip and a fantastic event. Worth it!
My last race of the season really challenged me. I did the 1/2 Iron distance event at the Tawas Festival of Races in Tawas, MI, put on by 3D Racing. The air temperature was cold and the water was colder. The water was also brutal with waves crashing us every which way. In fact, the swim was cut short due to conditions, and I still swam a similar time as when I swim the normal distance under calmer circumstances. My bike was pretty good, but I fell apart on the run. I expected to finish around 5:15 and I finished around 5:17, but it was very challenging, ugly, and humbling. It was difficult ending my season on that note, but at the same time, it's good to have races like this once in a while to appreciate when things click and go well.
I registered for the Great Turtle 1/2 marathon on Mackinac Island in mid-October, but after the Tawas event I could not shake my tight and sore Achilles tendons. They got worse, so I pulled myself out and didn't even start. It was cool though because I was able to watch Maggie run an amazing race where she placed as 9th overall woman and 1st in the 35-39 age group! She ran smart and was focused. This effort inspired me for when she and I plan to run the 2011 Riverbank Run 25K together.
Looking back, I have to give myself four out of five stars for this season. I need to continue to ice and be smart when I start running again, but I think my season went well and set me up well mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as I travel the road to Ironman Louisville 2011.

Once again this year, thank you for the support I've received. A particular thanks to Maggie for always supporting my triathlon efforts; to my children Alex, Claudia, Payton, and Frank for being understanding of my passion for the sport of triathlon; to my Mom, Dad, and brothers and sisters for their support and encouragment; to my friends for their support and encouragement. Last but not least, thanks to God who has granted me the ability to swim, bike, and run in a competitive manner.


If you want to read about my races in details, you will need to copy and paste the race links in my early Race Report links.

Peace,
~Sam

Pushing the Plates

I will get to my end of season recap...really. It's been busy, what can I say? The good news is that I've started pushing the plates, or lifting, or strenght training, or whatever term you want to use. I started out with 8th grade girl's volleyball level weights, but I've been consistently lifting every other day, so now I'm up to freshmen, girl's competitive cheer level weights. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. "That dude must kick a**!" and you're not wrong, because I'll be moving up to sophomore girl's track weights here pretty darn soon.
One of the things I like about this time of year is that I'm actually excited about lifting weights. In fact, I'm lifting tomorrow morning before work, and by golly, I'm lookin' forward to it! It's not that I'm working to the point where my body-building, brick-house-like friend Ryan is getting nervous that I will cast a shadow on him. No, I'm still very much like the stick figure used for illustrating Diary of a Wimpy Kid, where he's more like the He-Man action figure. But hey, I'm ok with that. I'm not looking to get huge, but if I happen to bulk up a little along the way and people see Ryan and I together and get confused about who is who, well, then it will be evident that someone has been experimenting with hallucinogens. I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, I still think about Ironman Louisville every day. In fact, we carved pumpkins for Halloween tonight. I carved the M-dot into the side of mine. Obsess much? Yeah. Guilty as charged.

The road continues.

Peace,
~Sam

2010 Season Race Report Links

April (Attend) Boston Marathon (support for Maggie):
Great job Maggie (and Rita).
April Grand Duathlon, Kentwood, MI
(Race Report Link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=205369 ).
May Rev3 Olympic Distance, Knoxville, TN
(Race Report Link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=207522 ).
June Sunburst Marathon, South Bend, IN (Attend to support Maggie)
(Race Results Link:http://results.active.com/pages/oneResult.jsp?pID=86399869&rsID=94080).
June Double Time Triathlon, Kalamazoo, MI*
Race Report Link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=212678
June National 24-Hour Challenge, Middleville, MI*
Race Report Link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=214552
July Grand Haven Kid's Triathlon (Alex)*
Race Results Link: http://www.runnersedgeracetiming.com/data/uploadedfiles/ghkidsagegroup2010.htm#%203
July Tri Del Sol, Middleville, MI*
Race Report Link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=217861
Aug Millennium Triathlon, Grand Rapids, MI*
Race Report Link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=221373
Aug Timberman, Ironman 70.3, New Hamphsire*
Race Report: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=223874
Sep Tawas Triathlon, Tawas, MI*
Race Report: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=226569
Oct Mackinac Island Great Turtle Half-Marathon (Just Maggie)
Website: http://www.runmackinac.com/Mackinac_Island_Great_Turtle.htm
*Registered

Ironman, Lions, Deliver Positivity

Last Sunday I went from denial to acceptance, and even though I have been treating my Achilles injury, and I continue to treat it, I believe I've shifted into my depression stage. I decided to give up the Mackinaw run so I can start healing and remain on the Ironman Louisville 2011 plan. Though I know this is the right action to take, it is still difficult. I've been looking forward to doing the Mackinaw run for quite some time. In fact, it is a bucket list race of mine. So, my motivation is low, I feel fat, lazy, and generally dull and unmotivated.
The good news in all of this is that Maggie is still planning on running at Mackinaw and it still should be a fun, family trip.
I would like to start lifting, but I'm just not ready. I want to be ready...but I'm not. So, my "workouts" mostly consist of icing and stretching right now.
Hangin' in there.
Peace,
~Sam

Wow! What a difference a day can make. Since composing that post yesterday morning, I have had a real change in spirit. I'm sure it was influenced by the following...
The Ironman World Championsip was AMAZING! Congratulations to Rinny and Macca! It was inspiring and uplifting.
The LIONS WON!!! This put joy in my heart and provided a sense of hope.
I had my first "real" weight lifting session. This was fulfilling, even if it was the same amount of weight the girls' eigth grade volleyball team uses.
I took an hour kayak ride...while listening to triathlon podcasts.
All good things. Positive energy brining positivity.
Peace,
~Sam

Pulling the Plug on the Great Turtle

Well, the good news is that I ran a solid 8-mile run. In fact, I averaged 6:24 per mile. The bad news is that it was the straw that broke the camel's back. My right Achilles tendon has been tender and sore for a while now, and I've been tracking it and treating it, but still running. My left Achilles started in on the soreness circus as well. In fact, apparently it felt a need to take the lead role. Previously my right Achilles would be tight basically the whole run and then my left would chime in late. The next day my right would be tight in the morning, but then loosen up throughout the day. It seems the left wanted more attention, so this morning it was clearly tighter than my right and forced me to limp. In fact, I didn't just limp around the house in the morning, but also wherever I went all day long today.
At present, I've decided to pull the plug on the Great Turtle 1/2 Marathon. I'll have to live through Maggie vicariously for this one. There is a chance I can switch to the 5.7 mile run, but right now I'm thinking this would be a good time to start taking time off and recovering.
I can start lifting and stretching and working on core work, but I'll stay away from challenging my Achilles.
I'm fairly bumbed out about this but I still think it will be a fun trip to Mackinaw Island.
One of my goals this year was to end my season healthy. No such luck.
I'm back to being patient.
I do hope this isn't the result of my somewhat recently purchased Pearl Izumi running shoes becasue I think they're great. I'll have to look at that as a possibility however. I hope they don't become my next pair of street shoes, but it's possible.
Peace.

The King is Dead! Long Live the King!

Today marks the end of an era and a sense of loss I didn't expect. It's been a relationship of over ten years. The relationship was established and concluded with similar, unexptected circumstances. The relastionship was forged out of sweat, tears, and the trials of miles. We have been through prosperous times and times that challenged our souls. We've gone over hill and dale. We've climbed at rediculously slow speeds and screamed down descents at crazy-fast rates of speed. We encountered heat, cold, clear skies, and downpours. We've done everything from the red-lining sprint distance, to the ultimate distance in triathlon, the Ironman.
When it was time to get-up-and-go, the response was there. When it was time to settle in and remain steady, the challenge was met. When it was time to crank nearly breathless for any given distance, the call was answered.
I couldn't have really asked for more from the performance provided by my partner, but I was always being asked to bring more, to push harder, to take my skills to the next level. Complacency was not something on our list.
After several years of personal debate I decided to part ways with the one that has stood by me and supported me all this time. I decided it was time to move on and take the next step in this fast paced world of technological breakthroughs. It was time to go from titanium to full-carbon fiber. It was time to go from standard tubing, to modern-day triahlon curves and angles. It was time to give a new era a go.
Today, I watched as my Litespeed was driven away in another athlete's car to begin it's own new chapter.
In a week or two I will be introduced to my finally completed GURU Magis...my new "IT" bike. So thank you to my Litespeed Tachyon for your many years of outstanding service. May you race many more races and bring your new owner many days of joy as you have brought me.
The king is dead! Long live the king!
Sappy? Silly? So what.
Peace.

GU DISCIPLE

It wasn't Christmas and it wasn't my birthday, but yesterday in the mail I received a fantastic gift from GU. I received samples of the new watermelon flavored GU Chomps. I ripped into them immediately and they did not disappoint. This could very well be the best flavor of Chomps yet. They were refreshing and revitalizing. Love 'em!

I was also informed that if you are participating in the Ironman World Championship, you can stop by the GU House and get yourself a GU swag bag, which will include the limited edition Island Nectars Roctane!
Visit the GU House at...
78-6622 Alii Dr.
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
(At the 4.5 mile mark near the marathon turnaround)

Now, if you are a mortal like me and will be at home watching the action from your computer, you still have a chance to try the new limited edition Island Nectars Rocatane by going to http://guenergy.com/kona-roctane/.

Get your Roctane on!

Peace.