Where did the soreness go?

I can't believe things didn't turn out better this past weekend. I did not race any where near what I'm capable of. I was a little sore the day after, but since then I've felt like I didn't even race at all this past weekend let alone a half ironman. Usually, it takes me a solid week before I can get back at it and feel normal again. Oh well...this will be good looking ahead to Eagleman.

The next two weeks will be all about sharpening up and finally getting in some higher intensity running and longer sustained threshold work on the bike. This is going to give me a big boost going into Eagleman. To this point nearly everything has been base work/strength oriented training. Went to swim practice this morning at Virginia Weslayan. The group I swim with is TAC and there is not a better group to swim with in hampton roads that will push you to get better. If you're a triathlete and looking to work hard in the water...you need to get there. It's MWF at 6AM. Two of the fastest swimmers in the area just came back so that will be fun getting our butts kicked by them day after day. I was swimming 1:15 pace or just under for the various sets today and I was only faster than 2 or 3 guys.

I am done not racing to my ability level. This past weekend was a nice wake up call that you can't just turn up to races and do well. You need to be focused and be in attack mode. You can't be complacent in the half ironman distance and below if you want to do well. I did not want it bad enough this past weekend. From now on I'm going to be taking a bit of a different mindset heading into races.

Check out something Janda is working on. Correct run form is crucial. All of his and my athletes are working on improving their run form.

Came across this video of Courtney Atkinson . He was 2nd at the 2nd round of the ITU World Championship Series this past weekend. Pretty cool to have Red Bull as a main sponsor!

Lastly, there is a practice triathlon going on at Final Kick this coming Sunday. What a great way to practice some pacing and transitions before Breezy Point. Give the store a call if you'd like to sign up!

Kinetic Bust

Well, today definitely did not go the way I wanted it to...but the longer I do this sport I realize how little you actually feel 100% on the top of your game. I ended up 5th overall with a time of 4:25, but then found out a got a drafting penalty...haha...and after I made a stink of things regarding the recent Duathlon Nationals. I talked to the head referee, and she tells me I was passed in the first 5 miles of the bike and did not give the guy his 7 meters before I went back around him. I told her I never even saw a draft marshall and I guess the call was made from a bit behind. How can you tell how much room I gave the guy ahead of me then? There was no point in arguing though...serves me right I guess after complaining about drafting so much. I'm just going to chalk this race up to me just having one of those days where you just feel really average and have a hard time getting going. I'm fully confident I will get things turned around in time for Eagleman. Still took a few positives away and had some fun!

Final Kick Gear Swap

If you're in the Hampton Roads area at all on Saturday, Final Kick Sports (located off Great Neck Rd. about a 1/2 mile before Shore Dr.) is having a triathlon gear swap. There is always a lot of good items there to choose from. This is a great way for someone who is just getting into the sport to pick up some quality equipment for a low cost. I brought about 15 items there yesterday...everything was priced $5 or below and there are some items in there that I paid $50+ for. Regardless, it's a fun event and a good way to meet some fellow triathletes. Who knows, maybe you can meet a new training partner. Unfortunately, I can't make it because I'll be up racing at Kinetic. Okay...gotta run. My school is having an activity night so I have to go organize some stuff.

Here We Go

Triathlon season has officially arrived. This weekend I'll be competing in my first tri of the year. The race is at Lake Anna State Park in VA and is called the Kinetic half ironman. It's a really beautiful area and it will be nice to get away for a couple of days. The course should suit me well. I have been feeling quite good with my training as of late and will actually be going into this race a bit rested. When I was planning the races for this year I talked to Janda and we decided that doing a half before Eagleman would be a really good idea. Eagleman has been my big race of the first part of the season for 3 years now. The last two years I've gone into it as my first half of the season. It has worked out pretty well, but my 2nd half ironman of the year is always a bit better. I think it's simply because you get used to that pain again and you also reap a lot of fitness benefits from that first half. It also serves as a nice reality check and allows you to tweak a couple of things with 5 weeks in between races. We chose Kinetic because it has some hills on the bike and run and well, it's tougher than a course like Eagleman or White Lake. This should make Eagleman all the more tolerable. For a smaller event (about 600 people) there will be some very good competition at this race. I'm confident I can be towards the pointy end and contest for the win. I'm still fired up about what went down at Du Nationals so the motivation has been extremely high. To steal a quote from the great Steve Prefontaine, "I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it." Can't wait to get out there and have some fun.

Changing directions...a quick shout out to my mother as it was her birthday yesterday. My mom is an awesome woman. She has always put my 5 siblings and I first no matter what. With mother's day quickly approaching, make sure you do something special for your mom. Thanks for everything mom!

Lastly, check out this interview with Chris Solinski and Simon Bairu (who broke the Canadian 10k record the same night Solinski broke the U.S. record).

New American 10k Record

Wow! Chris Solinski smashed the American 10k record on his first attempt at the distance. Speed is so important to doing well at the longer distances. Love the work ethic of these guys from the midwest. Chris went to Wisconsin and is originally from there. Check out the race here .

Trail run anyone?

Came across this sweet video of Bevan Docherty, one of the best triathletes in the world. He won a silver at the 2004 Olympics and then a bronze at the '08 games. Bevan won the first world championship series race this year for ITU racing. He's definitely one of the toughest guys out there. If this video doesn't make you want to get out for a run then something is wrong.

Okay off for a ride to the track, 4 miles worth of work with Joel, and then ride home. Beautiful day here in Virginia Beach.

DuNats Pics and Jack Daniels

A few pictures from the race last weekend.

I also thought I'd share the newest addition to Thirsty Thursdays on flotrack. Jack Daniels is one of the best running coaches of all time. Here it is.