here's my chance

Okay, here's my chance to be that jerk that everyone hates, bragging about some win somewhere, and how i'm so great and everyone is great and everything is roses. However I will not be the guy that finished first and then says he had a horrible race, "oh well, you know, I would've beaten all those other people by X more minutes if this and this and this hadn't gone wrong!

The truth is that, yes I am proud of a first overall, even if it was way, way over on the western slope of colorado, far away from the speedy triathlon hordes of Boulder!! It is a beautiful area of Colorado, really dramatic scenery, great venue for a triathlon race, clean lakes, good roads (due to the farms out there), and scenic run trails. Other then a little wind, the weather was and is perfect in Fruita this time of year, 40's at night and mid 80's during the day...

Amy and Chris Reed of Ascent productions put on a stellar event and they are trying to grow the race to 3 or 4 hundred people in the coming years, so all you skeptics of the triathlon scene out there should race there next year, bring the competition to another level, go out and crush 2:07:54, I know there are those that can!!

Next up is the Denver marathon, who know's maybe i'll qualify for Boston or something and i'll get another chance to brag, although I wouldn't be on the edge of your seat, i'm not all that comfortable talking about success...

still racing

ahh, i've been a little lax in my blog postings, however i have summoned the energy to write as I am ramping up for the last third of the race season.

First off, I would like to say that I have been very pleased with the fundraising effort and support for the Boys & Girls clubs of metro denver and encourage everyone reading this to pass along the word to anyone who may be interested in helping out...My race season culminates at Ironman Arizona on November 21, 2010 so there is still time to give!

Secondly, I would like to congratulate all my new Erin Baker's tri team teammates on a great season, most recently, those who raced in Ironman Wisconsin, and going forward, all the best to those racing in Kona, enjoy!

Last, but not least , a little personal breakthrough for yours truly this past weekend at the Harvest Moon Half-Ironman Triathlon. I was able to overcome my self-doubt about my running ability to have my best time and finish ever in a triathlon of that distance! Finished 1st in my age group and 7th overall! This race also pointed out to me the importance of rest and recovery as I was able to take a day off from manual landscape labor in the sun two days prior to the race, something I had not really done previously this season. Hopefully this will give me a good confidence boost going forward, as I still have Olympic and Full distance triathlons and a marathon to go this year!

Hope to write again after this weekend...I am traveling to the Western slope of colorado for the Goldman triathlon put on by Ascent productions, so I get to race in some new scenery which should be a good change...

Also thank you to Without Limits Productions who put on a very well-run, fun Harvest Moon triathlon festival complete with a waterslide at the end which is what it is all about! If you can't have fun, or at the very least just let loose and smile at the end of the day then what are you doing any of this for?! ( Although you could just be a masochistic, glutton for punishment, but if that's the case there is always the ultra-endurance events...)

Ironman Boulder 70.3

Ironman and WTC do some things wrong, in my humble opinion, they need to work on their refund policy for most of their races, implement something like the Eagleman 70.3 race in Cambridge, MD where you can get your money back less $85 if, god forbid, something happens. Triathlon still seems like kind of a rich person's sport so maybe most people don't care about shelling out a non-refundable 600 bucks for a race, however there are probably some people for whom $600 is about half a months salary...Look, I understand, it's a business, and they are offering something the people want, but there is a growing contingent of people out there who are growing disillusioned with Ironman's corporate, seemingly uncaring attitude toward the "plight" of the non-uber-rich triathlete, and with the growing number of independent options out there for racing I think Ironman would do well to change some of their policies before they lose some loyal supporters...Also, as a footnote, for people such as myself who do alot of Ironman branded races, I don't need another hat or poorly designed shirt. Let's see some creativity in the design ranks at Ironman!

Having said my peace about that I must also give credit where credit due. This past weekend's Boulder 70.3 race was very well run, impressive aid stations, good Eco-friendly coupons worth at least a couple hundred bucks!

It's also nice that the WTC and USAT are trying to change their attitude and policies for the pros, to make it easier hopefully in the future for theses fastest of the fast to make a living off the sport, working so hard. The pros are the ones that can help the "business" of triathlon the most, and most that i've met struggle just to travel to all these race venues... I mean if I see some super-slow age grouper wearing some kind of compression gear, or using some new fangled accessory it doesn't make me want to buy those things....However if I see a pro racing with something, I give serious thought to investing in that piece of equipment or accessory or whatever. Long story short, triathlon has to take care of it's pros better, and try to help out the poorer triathlete, maybe discounted entries if you enter a certain # of races in a year, things like that...

I'm sure i have more to say in a more eloquent manner, however I am at work and my boss is looking at me strange....Race report to follow at some point, in short 30th overall, 7th in age group, 4:22:05. PR.

Boulder Peak Race Report

Another beautiful day in the People's Republic of Boulder, time for an Olympic distance triathlon! 1850 people showed up to brave the altitude, and Old Stage Road (16% slope, 600 ft of elevation gain in 2/3 mile) to compete in one of the elite triathlons in the country, so how did we all do?... Who cares! This is my blog so you have to hear about me! No, i'm just kidding, sort of...I don't really know how everybody did, I think 300-400 people did not finish so, as usual, it proved to be a challenging course which makes finishing with a good time all the more rewarding.

I could fill pages of details and high points and low points about the race, however in the interest of your interests I will provide a quick synopsis...

Had a tough swim, got knocked around pretty good in the beginning, but hey what do I expect, can't go out there with a plastic bubble, the beginning of the swim is a dogfight, and I got caught in it. So, anyhow, finally got into a good rhythm about half way through, and was out of the water in 24 minutes 30 seconds, not too bad, not too good, might have swam a mile with all the zig zagging I did.

Onto the bike....

As usual, felt good on the bike, found a few good riders to race with, not draft off of, but to provide the impetus to keep the pace high, finishing the bike portion of the race in 1hr 6 minutes and 54 seconds, again, nothing too special but solid, and more importantly, my legs felt pretty good going into the run.

The run, the bane of my existence, the puzzle I have yet to crack. Held back a little bit the first 2-3 miles to get my legs under me, and then started to feel pretty good and worked into a decent pace. I think it's a testament to the type of training I do (mostly for longer distance triathlons) that I did not start to feel really strong until mile 5, hopefully that will stay with me and peak in November for Ironman Arizona! Finished the run in 40 minutes and some change for a total time of 2 hrs 14 minutes and 21 seconds.

10th in age group, 28th overall out of 1400 some odd finishers. No major issues, just another pretty fast, solid triathlon day...

I like to race against the best competition I can find and must hand it to my fellow competitors here in Boulder, especially in my age group, they go very fast and keep me trying to get faster! Sometimes I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall, but I know when I leave Boulder to do a race I have a good foundation for being competitive!

Next race: Boulder Half Ironman, August 8, 2010

until then....

Buffalo Springs 70.3 race report

The panhandle of Texas. Flat, hot, windy, full of feedlots, cotton fields and oil derricks, so what the hell am I doing here? I'll tell you what; pushing myself once again to the limits of my physical and mental boundaries against the best competition out there!

Lubbock, TX; not exactly your number one tourist destination, or the perfect spot for a tri-cation, however for the intrepid few who dare to brave the hellacious heat and challenging winds it's a perfect spot to test one's racing mettle. Once again wetsuits were the big issue and the day before the race the organizers were saying unequivocally that "it would be a no wetsuit race, don't even bring your wetsuit, go buy a swim skin..." It seems that Ironman may be in cahoots with the swim skin manufacturers for they probably sold 100 skins at the expo that day, maybe more, who knows? Me, without 300 bucks to drop on a whim, it was wetsuit or trishorts for me on race day. However, the water testing gods again smiled on the wetsuit swimmers of the world and the morning of the race was declared wetsuit legal, and one could hear the palpable sigh of relief from the collective masses gathered except for those who had left their wetsuit in the hotel thinking there was no way I will need this. Another lesson brought to you by Ironman; Plan for everything and take nothing for granted.

So the gun goes off ( well, in this case, a guy with a megaphone saying"GO!") and the swim starts. Swim goes well, new blue seventy axis long john wetsuit feels brilliant and I must confess that sometimes having a nice piece of equipment is well, nice. Swim distance was short, I don't know how short but the times were low for 1.2 miles. Got out of the water 14th in age group, but don't feel too bad for me, I was saving some energy for later.

The bike course slaps you right in the face right off the bat with about a two minute climb right out of the gate! The course does not get much easier as you continue to climb up onto the flat, windy, high Texan plateau. With 5 or 6 climbs and the equivalent number of fast twisting descents, this course keeps me interested and on high alert concerning hydration and nutrition. Feeling very strong until about mile 45, back up on the plateau heading back to the transition area. The wind and the heat were starting to chisel away at this little white boy from the suburbs, and I began to think that the unmerciful Texas landscape would crush poor, little old me! A few riders pass me and then another, however, I made a decision right then and there to stay with this one, and if my legs snapped, they snapped, but I could not and would not continue to pedal "backwards" as they say. Managed to stay 30-40 feet behind him and he metaphorically speaking, pulled me into T2 and onto the run. Turns out that rider was Tim Hola, a very strong, fast triathlete from Colorado, and I thanked him after the race for providing me with the proverbial carrot at that pivotal point in the race.

Starting the run, worked my way into 5th place in AG, and I was feeling good, however, I started out VERY conservative as I was extremely wary of the heat and the hills that awaited me on the course. Did not really try to push the pace until the 7 or 8 mile mark and by then I had probably lost my main competition in the group, and not having run the course before, there might have been some mistakes made in pacing, but that's water under the bridge. Ended up 4th in age group, 45th overall with a time of 4hrs 28 minutes and some change.

Overall, I have to be happy with the result. By no means a perfectly executed race, however no major cramping, no mechanical failures, nutrition plan worked out pretty well, and the recovery was scary good, almost made me think I didn't race hard enough! As I get closer to figuring this all out there will come a time, I hope, when I will be able to push myself further and harder, especially on the run where I tend to get conservative, and until that time I will work on solid, consistent results.

People keep saying to me at home after the race, why Lubbock, why this race, why drive all that way? There is only one answer that I can give them, and that is if you want to compete against the highest level competition on one of the more challenging courses out there then that is why you go there and if I've said it once, I've said it a million times, if it was easy it wouldn't mean anything!

be careful

I guess in this day and age one has to be careful what one is swimming in....I don't think it's fair, I swim in a wesuit that's 4 inches thick and I am completely happy ( unless water temp is over 40 degrees)...

USA Triathlon Adopts New Wetsuit Regulation


Beginning in 2013, wetsuits may not exceed five millimeters in thickness
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Following extensive research and consideration, USA Triathlon announced today that beginning in 2013 use of wetsuits exceeding five millimeters in thickness will not be permitted at USAT-sanctioned events. The new regulation, which falls under Article 4.4 Wetsuits of the USA Triathlon Competitive Rules, states: "Effective January 1, 2013, any swimmer wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than five millimeters shall be disqualified." "Our board has been considering this issue and the impact it might have with our athletes for some time," said USA Triathlon CEO Skip Gilbert. "The overall feeling is that it makes perfect sense to align with the guidelines set by our international federation and multisport enthusiasts around the world. This is a standard that is good for the athlete community and our sport overall." By implementing this rule change, USA Triathlon falls in line with the international standard of five millimeters recognized by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and other National Governing Bodies. The adoption of this rule is designed to eliminate any competitive advantage gained by enhancements in wetsuit technology in recent years. Studies have shown there is a marked and measurable performance benefit to the use of certain wetsuits, specifically added buoyancy effectively reducing passive drag. These performance benefits have led to an increased, and artificially induced, reduction in physical demand required during the swim leg of a triathlon and an increase in speed. USAT recognizes that there may be wetsuits currently available on the market that are greater than five millimeters in thickness. Consequently, the organization has implemented a phase-in period of the rule to allow the use of wetsuits that currently do not meet the thickness requirement. This announcement of the new regulation serves as notice that the rule change will come into effect in 2013. USAT recently solicited feedback on the wetsuit thickness issue from its certified race directors via a comprehensive survey. The majority of those surveyed supported USA Triathlon's adoption of this rule.
About USA TriathlonUSA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon - one of the fastest growing sports in the world - as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 133,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.





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fear

What are you afraid of? Me, I'm afraid, or was afraid of swimming without a wetsuit. Until this past week, where I swam 1500 meters, in open water, without a wetsuit! Now don't go thinking, that I think i'm the man and can just forsake the wetsuit because I think i'm just that awsome, it's not about that. It's about the fact that the wetsuit was a block, a wall, a crutch, whatever you want to call it, and I was able to break through the wall, throw away the crutch. Now, I am still as equally bad a swimmer without a wetsuit as I am with one, but that's not the point. The point is that I overcame something, I perservered, and for those of us that don't race for money or personal glory, those little battles against oneself are paramount. I don't race for any external validation of my life, I race for my own personal satisfaction, for fulfilling a purpose, for continuing to achieve, and pursuing the perfection of a craft, an art. So go on vacation without your blackberry, without a TV, go running without a heart rate monitor, walk your dog without a leash, go out in the rain without a raincoat, and swim without a wetsuit! It will make you happy.

Kansas 70.3 detailed race report

"81 degrees" the announcer blared through the loud speaker the night before the race. The supposed water temperature, that would have to drop four degrees over night to be wetsuit legal. Miraculously, 77.5 was announced as the water temp for the race, wetsuit legal, yay(I say that with all possible sarcasm)... For my money, 77.995 would have been a more dramatic temperature to announce. So, pre-race I strapped on my old trusted neoprene oven and got mentally prepared to cook. The swim went about as I thought it would, feeling like a flesh taco inside of a toaster oven, I was just hoping everyone else was struggling as much as I was. 30 minutes later, the "trial by fire" was over and I prepared to unzip my wetsuit when, not really to my surprise, the zipper would not release! So not only had this thing been cooking me for the last half hour, now it didn't want to let me go! A volunteer standing right there saw me struggling and helped pop the zipper open. Needless to say, I think the time for a new wetsuit has come.
T1 went fairly smooth except being in the wrong bike row and ducking under the bar to get to the right place, and cramping already from dehydration started out on the bike...
Not much to say about the bike, hilly, and windy and hot, not to mention an oil slick that forced riders to get off their bikes and walk around the slick for about 10 yards! Someone mentioned a triathlon terrorist, but if that was the case why not a bag of nails, or glass?...Definitely not enough electrolytes on the bike and came into T2 cramping pretty bad. Someday I will learn how to apply the perfect nutrition plan for the perfect race, but until then I guess I will be chasing the dragon...
Started out with a strong pace on the run, probably ran 6 minute miles for the first 5-6 miles and then dehydration set in big time, legs started to feel like rickety towers of wooden blocks, probably slowed to 8 minute miles which felt like I was crawling and shuffling towards the finish line. Finally finish in 4hrs 33 min and some change on another challenging race day in Lawrence, KS! Finished 6th in age group and 55th overall.

Although my times were a little slower than I had hoped for, the real triumph of the trip was getting to meet some of my Erin Baker's teammates, camping with some good people from Boulder, getting the first big race of the year under my belt, and just having a good vacation. There is always the next race to get redemption for myself, learn from mistakes made.

Time to rest...

Ironman Kansas 70.3 race report

Wetsuit swim....Boiling

Windy, Hilly bike course complete with oil slick.....Scorching

Hot run on dead legs....Punishing

Sense of accomplishment after finishing another 70.3 race....Priceless

check results at http://www.ironmanusa.com/results/kah2010res.html

more detailed report this weekend when I can keep my eyes open for more than five minutes....

breeze bars

One of my neighbors Breeze Brown has created these bars called breeze bars. This bar is amazing, virtually disappears after eating, giving you energy but none of the other side effects of a bar that has almost 300 calories, perfect for people such as myself that need to fuel up alot but don't want to deal with digestive issues...Healthy ingredients and they taste awsome, like a healthy rice crispy treat!! Check it out @

http://www.breezebars.com/Home_Page.html

more evidence

Was forwarded this article that lends further credence to the notion that Boulder, CO is the mecca of all tri-meccas!

http://ironman.com/columns/barry-siff-offers-another-look-at-the-ironman-scene-in-boulder-colorado?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ironman%2Ftopstories+%28Ironman.com+Top+Stories%29

So because of all the high end athletic talent that seems to be attracted to Boulder like metal to a magnet, so the various industries surrounding sports have developed with a high level of distinction and taste as well. One example of this is "the pros closet", an ebay store that sells sporting equipment on ebay and also out of their warehouse on N. Broadway in Boulder. Because of their most advantageous location, this store gets all sorts of stuff from cycling, running, triathlon, and other pros in town as well as all of the other, regular mortals. They are extremely well organized, and take care of all the cleaning and photos, and questions, concerns for an ebay auction. Of course, they take a cut, but it is fair and reasonable and you pretty much just drop off whatever you want to sell and they take care of the rest...They know the market for your goods and will try to get you fair and equitable value relative to what has sold in the past and/or is selling currently. I feel very lucky to have a place like "the pros closet" that is professional and trustworthy, so check them out on ebay or on the web @ http://www.theproscloset.com/

Secondly, I continue to be amazed at the quality of the people I meet in and around the sport of triathlon. The kindness and generosity of a friend willing to lend you his/her 2000 dollar wheelset so you can have the race of your life (hopes are high), or let you crash on their campsite for a race because you forgot to procure your own lodging, or help you tune a derailleur or switch a cassette out, etc, etc...It is enough to reinstate my faith in the human species!

Lastly, the other day I was in a bike shop checking out and asked one of the guys behind the counter if he did triathlons as well, somehow it can up in the conversation. He said " No, it's the water, you know you could drown in that stuff.." That got me thinking, "yeah, you could drown in that stuff, but you know what, the roof could fall on your head while you sit here in your supposedly safe little shop, far away from water, and you could get hit by a bus while you're in your safe little car, far away from water, or you could drop dead of a heart attack in your safe little home far away from water!"

Consciously, realistically, every human knows that we are mortal, that things can happen, good or bad. As they say, one can make their own luck, you can't just sit around waiting for a bad thing to happen, go make, take, create good for yourself. Without hopping on a high horse, it has become evident to me that triathlon teaches one a valuable lesson in this case. You have to live life, to embrace it, embrace the fear and the worry and the knowledge of your own mortality and turn it to your advantage! You can sit around and let all those negative thoughts paralyze you or you can go out and do things you've never done, take risks, scream at the top of your lungs in the middle of nowhere " i'm free"! Alright, maybe that last one is a little out there, but you get the point. Bad things can happen, people can bleed, things die, oceans dry up, mountains crumble but get out there and explore the boundries, enjoy the journey, the process, be kind, think alot, and life will reward you.

gotta run through the jungle

20% off for memeorial day!

http://www.trijungle.com/

test

Alright, i'm going to try to link this, we'll see if it works...This is a "newsletter" of sorts I get from active triathlete, and always provides some interesting stuff:

http://www.active.com/triathlon/Newsletters/05-26-2010.htm

why boulder is a cool tri town

If your a triathlon geek, like myself, living in boulder is pretty amazing! Coming out of the pool yesterday, and Craig Alexander, 2 time Hawaii Ironman, is walking in, so I introduce myself, feeling like a school girl next to this guy, I mean, he is THE man, you know....Anyways it was pretty cool!

Summer open sprint and other Tri related stories

Well the first race of the season has come and gone, and to my complete surprise I didn't drown, fall off the bike, or hyperventilate on the run! My feet were blocks of wood the entire time, but it was only for 1 hour. I've found you can put up with almost anything for an hour and still live to talk about it...thank you to without limits productions, my neighbors, for putting on a great race, check them out at: http://withoutlimitsproductions.weebly.com/

So the water was cold, colder, in my personal opinion than the advertised 61 degrees, in an effort, no doubt, to keep the panic levels to a minimum. Hands and feet were bricks almost instantaneously, however I finally started to warm up and get into a groove with about 100 yards left in the swim. ahh, the sprint tri is a unique experience...Coming out of the water, feet were blocks of melting ice, heart was racing, proceeded to climb on the bike a little cold but no worse for wear.

With no water (forgotten in the fridge at home), I set out on the bike, a very fast bike! Borrowed a disc wheel and 100mm front wheel from a guy I know here in Boulder, and they were much faster than what I am used to, as well as my new Kestrel which flew along with an ease that was great to discover! Got thirsty about half way through, a little disappointed there was no water out on the bike course, but it's my own damn fault, so drooling and foaming at the mouth I arrive at T2 to get ready for the run...

Putting new shoes on, set out for a fast run, and finally got some liquid about 1.5 miles though and finished strong!

Throw away the watch and go as fast as I could was my motto for the day.

Did pretty well for a first effort of the year. 10th overall, 2ndin age group with a time of 1hr 9 seconds....Very happy with the result and I feel ready to tackle Ironman Kansas 70.3 in a couple of weeks!

Good boulder bike shops

Great Boulder Bike shop: http://coloradomultisport.com/

Have to thank the guys at Colorado multisport for helping me get the bike ready for the race tomorrow. Trying out some tubular wheels and they helped me get a handle on what the heck I am doing, which I still don't really know, I just want to go fast... Anyhow, all the employees i've met there race in one form or another, everything from Xterra to road racing and coupled with the Sports Garage can take care of anything you throw at them...

7 months

After 7 months of waiting the tri season, for yours truly, begins this weekend....Wetsuit, goggles, helmet, bike, running shoes, etc, etc, have all been tested, fitted, refitted...Continual exhaustion is setting in, copious amounts of coffee are being brewed, lbs of pasta are being consumed, sleep is being lost fretting over possible water up the nose, gel leaking onto my new bike as I try to consume it, sweat getting in my eyes on the run....Joints are cracking, muscles are aching, feet are blistering....And yet somehow, despite all this, it's the happiest i've been in 7 months! It must be the love of the game...

Charity work

Had a meeting with a couple of people from the Boys & Girls clubs of Metro Denver today, and it was really cool to see one of their facilities, and see how and where the fundraising dollars go. It really seems like they get to the heart of the problem facing many disadvantaged kids and try to solve it! Please check out the link on the side of this page...

on seperate note: Weather keeps postponing inaugural flight of the new Kestrel, although we might see the sun this weekend...

Been on Erin Baker's breakfast cookie plan for about a week. Energy is good, cookies heated in the toaster are tasty!!

flip turns

I guess I have to learn how to do flip turns while using swim paddles, not to hang on to the side of the pool like I normally do...I managed to snap one right in half, and i'm not THAT strong a swimmer!! To their credit though, the place I bought them gave me a replacement pair for free...I just had to thank them publicly...

test #1

Test Run #1: 1-Erin Baker's Peanut Butter Chocolate chunk breakfast cookie
40 minutes later: 1 hr 5min run

Date: May 9, 2010

Results: Good sustained energy, no digestive issues!

Success!

all set

The seat post on the Kestrel I recently received was cut for display purposes, and no wedge for the post was sent...I think I feel lucky not to have gotten a carbon enima when I was test riding the thing the other day!! No worries though, the guys at Kestrel are sending me the new post so hopefully then I will be all set to rock and roll!!

and....

check this link out: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-440422?hpt=C2

pretty interesting...

went for run in CT this morning, nice to feel humidity!

kestrel

Got my new Kestrel airfoil yesterday!! Huge problem though, there is not enough length on the seat post to work with my set-up, WTF! I feel like i'm riding a BMX bike...I'm hoping kestrel will work with me to get me a new one....we shall see...

1st race

Officially signed up for first race of the season!! May 23rd, SummerOpen Sprint tri in Longmont, CO, Let's hope I remember how to swim, bike and run!!

brendan

changes

my schedule has changed a bit,... not with the major races but with some of the smaller stuff...I am hoping to race in the summer open sprint tri in Longmont, CO as opposed to the barking dog duathlon...

oh, and check out xterra wetsuits if you need a wetsuit, they are offering some great deals on entry level wetsuits, up to 70% off!!

2010 Changes

I am currently in the process of making changes to this blog including adding new sponsorship info, last years race results, Links to 2010 races and charities!! In the meantime, please check out Erin Baker's Wholesome baked goods, Kestrel bikes, and the boys & girls club of Metro Denver...

new sponsor

Excited to share my brand new sponsorship opportunity in triathlon! It is with Erin Baker's wholesome goods company ( check them out online or in Bellingham, WA)! Their granola is the official granola of Ironman, and they also are involved in raising money for charity, most notably Boys & Girls clubs across america! This is an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to working with Erin Baker's to have a great year!

waiting

Applying for sponsorship is like applying for a job, you spend hours and hours putting together something you think is worthwhile and then have to sit there and wait for a month, or however long they deem necessary for someone, anyone to get back to you...All I am asking for is a little note that says " we have recieved your application and are looking it over", or even a little note that says "we have recieved your application and upon a review of 10 seconds, there is no way in hell you are getting sponsorship from us..." Anything would be preferrable to sitting around waiting for an answer...And speaking of sitting around, I am getting that same old feeling of boredom setting in, need to find some winter racing outlet (when not injured) to satiate my competitive juices, that, or move to florida...

2010 Race Schedule

May 8- Barking dog duathlon or May 9- Fort Collins marathon

June 6- Ironman Kansas 70.3 (half)

June 27- Ironman Buffalo Springs 70.3 (half)

July 11- Boulder Peak triathlon (Olympic)

August 8- Ironman Boulder 70.3 (half)

August 14- Rattlesnake Tri (Olympic)

September 12- Harvest moon tri (half)

October 16-Denver Marathon or October 17-Ironman Austin 70.3 (half)

November 21- Ironman Arizona (full)

*I will also be competing in a bunch of smaller training/fun type races locally here in colorado during the weekdays throughout the summer.

Looking forward to a fun 2010!!

2010...

My fingers are starting to work again after what I am beginning to call the triathletes hibernation!... What that means is that I am able to employ the famously ineffiecient two index finger typing technique to bring to you the enlightening vignettes, cautionary tales of blunder and woe, scintillating prose and ever-present hijinx you came to know and love in 2009! Don't fear, there will be enough charitable causes and serious racing and training to balance the scales within each literary excursion to make everyone satiated!

Now, since i am just getting home from a long vacation from the triathlon blogosphere, please don't expect too much too soon. As I get older, pacing is becoming more and more important. My first Ironman I just went as hard as I could for as long as I could and then gutted out the rest of the race (i.e. the marathon)...All I can say for the last four months is that it has been filled with niggling injuries, lots of sweets, family time, more niggling injuries, lots of reading, and searching internet to self-diagnose injuries ( not necessarily in order of importance or duration)... Oh, if I could only learn how to lift weights without getting injured!...I guess I could stretch once in a while, take a yoga class,etc, etc...

Well, my index fingers are tired, more to follow, training has begun...

buddah