I have been playing with my schedule lately, trying to find a way to reduce the stress and the running in circles but still get enough training and work. This is the biggest struggle. One thing I have to remember is to be present. At work? Then work! Training? Train! Family? Be present. Everything can be done in shorter intervals with more intensity, race and life. Lolly gagging thru a long workout only barely gets you to the finish line, as does lolly gagging thru life


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Training

Doctor bob

Every so often there are people that show you how good people can actually be, one of those, dr bob recently passes away. Im sad to hear the news and my heart goes out to his family. We will all miss your dad Jess.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Endings beginnings

You think there will be other days, and sometimes there are, where others times not so much. A different experience this time at the OTC. A different person, sport, experience. So much more perspective. I feel for those whose athletic careers end so early and so sudden, I have feel like I have felt the quick ending even though I got a good run the first time, and now..... Who would have thought at 37 I would still or ever be a triathlete


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pre!

“The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.”

Steve Prefontaine

Location:N Meade Ave,Colorado Springs,United States

Recovery day

After a tough day on the bike and a brutal "recovery" run we had a day to catch up on rest. Morning strength and flexibility, then a good swim workout and then a hike


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:N Meade Ave,Colorado Springs,United States

Camp at 37

Couple notes from training camp. One, I missed my bed or at least a good bed from the first night. Two, I have refreshened my appreciation of good shower facilities. Three, energy gels can go bad, oh yes, yes they can. Four, hill climbs are the best rides.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:E Monument St,Colorado Springs,United States

Time flys

I am catching my ride to the OTC for triathlon training camp, 13 years after being here as an alpine skiing


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:E Monument St,Colorado Springs,United States

the Comeback is official, at least the attempt

After 18 months of being away, and I mean away from triathlon I am back at it. I recently got 2nd place at US Nationals in Austin. While it wasnt fast, it was respectable and got me over my fitness hump I had been struggling with. I am training full time, back to the 3 adays, and mostly going well. More updates to follow as it have until October 22nd to get ready for Worlds and my attempt at #6!!

trying to get this to work

5 times the charm

It was rainy and somewhat cold for race day, and the water in the pond was a bit chilly. Just right for someone who doesn't race well in the heat. Quite a bit of whining was going on around the T1 before the race, but I am not sure why. We swim first anyway.

I had a great cannon ball of the pontoon to enter the water and warm up. I felt great. Relaxed, rested, and the feeling that I have done what I can. Now we hope for a good day. I started strong in the swim, quite hectic with bodies everywhere. By the first turn i had relaxed and settled down until reaching the second turn where I sped up to a harder pace that I held until the water exit. I exited with no problems, Angie was right there to hand me crutches, and then she helped strip my wetsuit as the swim exit was a little under staffed. Good thing we practiced stipping me eh Ang?

My T1 was ok, a little fumbling, but solid. My bike felt good and right away I was gaining on a few people. Right before the first turn I saw Pfiffer from France and liked the gap, not too big. I saw him at every turnaround but was unable to close the gap, but I didnt see anyone else.

At T2 I made my way through the slop, having a smooth transition, best all year. As I was exiting I could hear Beeson and Angie yelling hard, which gave me the impression I needed to move my ass. Once on the run, my legs were ok, but not great. I kept waiting for them to improve, but they really didn't. I moved from fourth to third in the first quarter mile, then by the halfway point from third to second and I could see Pfiffer in front of me. the point to point run was a great run to be the hunter with a clear view of the finish and the competitors ahead of you. with about a half mile or so to go I passed Pfiffer, I could hear him try to speed up, and I sped up a little more hoping to drop him. I never looked back and assumed he was not too close. I crossed the bridge to the finish indicating the last 400m to go. A left off the bridge, then a quick u-turn into the finish. as i was nearing the finish Pfiffer was making his left off the bridge. Not as far behind me as I would have liked but far enough.

It was the closest race we have seen in one of the largest fields of AK amputees, and while my run was slower than I hoped my bike was faster. Had I needed to I certainly had more in the tank. after the finish, Pfiffer and I got a picture. Hard to believe the big guy on the right is the one that one.

resting and ready

Yes, I lost in New York, and then a week later I lost in London, to a different triathlete, so things were looking a little bleak on the repeat front. But I did know that I was not in top form for either race, and I did have at least six weeks of training to fix the issues. I may take my off season too seriously, and I may start training late, but once I am training I am hard pressed to believe anyone trains harder. I saw increases in speed and stamina quickly and I even had a decent time at the Emmett Triathlon. Down the stretch I had good training and brick workouts and really enjoyed training for the sprint distance. By the time tapering was to begin, I was very ready for the rest. My body was starting to really feel the effects of the training, and my schedule had not been permitting as much rest as I would like to have. Once I go into tapering, it is a great feeling to know you need the rest, and it helps me know that I have done what I can do to prepare for the race, and I can just rest up and hope I have a good race day.

Departing

It will be a long travel day to Hungary. Leaving dc at 3 after a mistake on departure airports by ME! Hard to believe I travel a lot after this one. Then a few hours at JFK before the flight over the pond. Right now I am doing some work and correspondence. Later, movies and bad plane food

Inspiration

It has been a long time since my last post. I kept meaning to post more, and I will do some updates of past events before worlds. But right now, well, how bout those broncos?! An inspiring effort from the blue. I'm glad I got to see it. I will take that with me.

Back In London

Straight from NYC to London after the race to lick my wounds. I've worked I've rested and now just getting ready for the race on Saturday. A super sprint so this will ne very interesting. Thankfully it is much cooler than New York. It will be a glimpse at what the sprint race will be like in Budapest.

Bridesmaid Again

It was fun while it lasted, winning that is. But today in the new York city triathlon and paratriahtlon national championships I was passed got the lead in transition number 2 but was repassed just past mile one on the run. I tried to answer and was okay until the first couple of hills and began to unravel, soon after I was walking. I really don't like humidity and that was very true today. I tried to take in as much fluid an calories as I could to keep the leg cramps away, but that led to serious stomach issues. As I sped up I felt like throwing up. After the finish I joined many others in the med tent for some sodium as the nausea and dizziness was not going away. Tough day, but I did not prepare to win, just to qualify for worlds, and that resulted in another second place finish in ny. I am looking forward to an exciting and tough race in Budapest.

Another Year

Hard to believe it's been a year already since the last ny tri. Am I ready? No! But that is the way it goes. Hoping for a day where I feel surprisingly good. Right now I'm just embracing my inner coach.

Over my shoulder

Ever since I began triathlon i have been expecting someone really fast to show up and whip my ass. I just watched a news story on the Liberian national soccer team. I can only hope that all paralympians realize just how many incredibly athletic amputees are in the third world. And if they aren't looking over their shoulders it's only because they expect the world to remain in the status quo. Oh how these guys could change the Paralympic landscape. They just need a fair shot at the entitled like myself.

Dejavu

I was having a feeling of dejavu this morning while traveling, the airport looked exactly like an airport I was just at, and it dawned on me, I was just here last week.


-- Post From My iPhone

Complicated

No doubt about it, we make shit real complicated. Guess that is what can make triathlon so great. Work hard, work beyond hard, lay your cards on the table and hope you have the best hand. I'm making shit real complicated lately, it needs to get simple again.

Willie

Nelson that is, I think he sang on the road again. No workout yesterday, spent all day on my presentation for friday. Procrastination is what that is called. Run leg is in bag. Running thi week! Also brought goggles. The trick is going to sleep early and getting up early, it's tricky because I'm switching to eastern time. Gotta get it done.

Home

Back from a week on the road and on limited rest back to workouts. I have caught up on sleep, mostly, and will be doing some running and maybe a noon workout at the refinery. Now I just have to figure out how to train on the road.

Lifting my arms

First it was over 200 deadlifts in one workout, then something called the filthy 50, followed by a 3 exercise workout that you repeated as many times as you can in thirty minutes. The result? I can't get my arms to go above my head. A different training program for sure, at the very least I should lose the gut

Beat Pete? Not so much

I was sure that the 5 k would come close to killing me. I have run very little and I'm still using my old prosthetic for runs which isn't fitting so well anymore. It took all of a 100 yards for my lower left back to stiffen into a knot, but the rest of me felt pretty good. Slow? Boy howdy! But I wasn't crushed by the effort. The strengthening is working. I have shortened my run leg, this should help the back

Beat Pete

I went into the Beat Pete 5k with little expectations, I have been running very little, and those I have done have hurt. All in all it was OK. Slow, yes, but OK. I had some back stiffness from the beginning and this really held me back. Otherwise, my wind, leg strength was good. I guess the CF is working for me. I will have to shorten my running leg a bit, I think this is the cause of the most of the back issues. Some of it was of course the 200m runs and Turkish lifts from the Friday workout, but the fact that it was just the left side of my lower back makes me point the blame at leg length. An easy fix, and I am continuing to train without having to coerce myself into everyday.

Starting

I have spent the last few months wallowing in self pity and deprication, and if it weren't for the fact that most of the negative comments about myself were in fact..facts, I would be pretty upset with myself. I tried for what seemed like a long time to ease into the training season. I would get a couple workouts, maybe even three, then it would be days until I do another. One step forward, two steps back. Starting this last Monday, I finally said, OK, I need to start training. But I needed something different. The runs have been slow and painful and making no progress. The gym has been goo sometimes, but downright useless on others. I despise riding or swimming in the cold, and it has been cold. So after years of listening to my brother harp about it, I started Crossfit. I made it everyday this week, and even got myself up and did early morning sessions on thursday and today. I can move, albeit slowly. And it adds intensity that I have been missing. The goal for the next month is a CF in the morning, then a bike, run, or swim after work. This should help speed up the strengthening process and lean me up while slowly building endurance. As I get deeper into the race season I will taper back on the CF and start to add speed. Thats the plan, 5 days down, a 150 or so to go. Tomorrow, Beat Pete, or as I am starting to picture, Lose to Pete, by a lot.

I am Jan

I was reading an old cycling magazine in my favorite reading spot the other day, a funny article that gave me some insight. I am apparently the Jan Ullrich of disabled triathlon, with a few differences. I am unable to stay in shape year round, gaining up to 20 lbs in the off season. I do take my off season seriously, relaxing and not training whenever possible, and yet make it back in time for race season. Granted our races are not the tour, and I don't have a taste for cocaine. I do enjoy my wine. Maybe it's the torment I assume he felt as well. Content when being a slacker but something else knaws away to get me/Jan training. How nice would it be to start the season already in shape? Maybe I will know someday, but not today.

back to the cabin

After missing out on a weekend at the cabin we made our return. it is a pretty short drive, but it seems farther away from real life than just an hour or so. Saturday morning started out slow, coffee, breakfast, and reading. It had rained, and even tried to snow a bit, but by the time we ran it was pretty nice. A little cool but not too bad. I have been doing really short runs, and all flat for the last couple weeks trying to slowly get myself back into some sort of shape. We decided to run from the cabin down the road to the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. I use this same hill for bike repeats during the summer. It is not really steep, but a steady decent and ascent. I made it down without too much trouble, and slugged up without dying, as the lone spectator looked on (a horse). The sad part has been just how sore my quads have been since the run. It is amazing how much more effort is required to go uphill. Thankfully I am not signed up for Robie Creek this year.

How Bout Some Willie

At long last I got out the door and ran this morning. I had pulled a muscle and was out of commission for a bit, and I am also going through the process of fitting a new prosthetic, my old one is just not fitting anymore. The new one is not quite ready for prime time, so I ran this morning in the old one. Even so it was good to be "back on the road again", sadly I am sure I was running at a Willie Nelson type pace. As we finalize the fit on the new leg I can start adding distance a little at a time.

Falling off the wagon

I have to say that I am pretty good about working out and training for races. I seem to find motivation to get it done. That being said, if there isn't a race coming, I am pretty good at falling off the training wagon. I go from two a days to no a months in a big hurry. Way back when this was not a problem, young, high metabolism, could eat whatever. Today is not way back when. Today is looking at food and feeling myself gain weight. Today is taking a week off and feeling like I have lost months of progress. I have finally gotten out of a bit of a rut though. I have started to make it back to the gym, and have even swam some. I am currently being fit in a new prosthetic, something I was in dire need of. The old one was not quite fitting, and this was causing some hip and back issues. Ideally I will be running again next week after taking a "little break". This certainly scares me, I never like those first few runs. They are slow and painful. A combination that is a real downer. This has become the real battle for me. Creating motivation. I am guessing others can relate.

Lounging

On our way to ph for fiesta, waiting in lounge in slc


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Back home

after the longest birthday in history we are back home. it started on friday morning in sydney (my 35th bday). a 14 hour flight to LA, then a semi short layover and a flight home, arriving in Boise at 2pm on the 25th, still my birthday. not very exciting, did stay up til 630 before passing out. still struggling wtih some jet lag, but that is what coffee is for.

Dust storm is gone

Clear blue today, last day of touristing


-- Posted from my iPhone

Post Race Marination

As always I am certain that I did not convey my actual thoughts or feelings from the race last week. It has been a bit of a struggle for me on how i really feel about it. On one hand I am really excited and amazed that I, a chicken fried steak eating chubbo can win four world championships in triathlon, and am greatful to see the rewards of hardwork. On the other hand I feel like I have a real firm understanding of where the sport is going. I truly believe that in the very near future there will be lots more athletes in my division, and one or many of them are going to be very fast. I have been training for the day when they show up in hopes of not being surprised and or crushed on race day. My goal is to at least for whatever short time I will stay in the sport I want to be able to stay with the fastest that come along, or even end up being the fastest. I had a time in my head for what I think is fast, what I think will become the norm for winning a race like worlds, and this year I was no where near it. This is the part I am struggling with. But with many deep breaths I am moving toward "next time". I do believe I can be that fast, and I will keep training to get there. Afterall, with Angie's help, I have become somewhat of a runner, now she just has to make me into a sprint distance triathlete. Shorter, more intense, and I'm envisioning it being very difficult. This is going to hurt a bit. But if it didn't, it really wouldn't be worth going after.

Shopping

Seems like everyone in Sydney is shopping.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Harbour bridge

More Aussie icons




-- Posted from my iPhone

More rocks

Lots of rocks to visit down here


-- Posted from my iPhone

Ayers rock

Big rock in the middle of no where


-- Posted from my iPhone

G'day

As you may know I am not r


ushing home from worlds in australia and am missing aopa. While away I will be sharing a bit of my downunder travels. We are now on sudney, but have been to a lot of great sites, more photos will follow, enjoy Seattle.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Next year

depite the somewhat depressed last post on the blog, i am still very happy to have won a 4th title. It is also a pleasure to know that you have put in so much work for a goal, even if not all those goals are achieved. And as the race day post mentions, it is hard to find anything that tastes better than that first beer and hamburger, or corn dog in this case, after months of serious training, scheming, and worrying. i saw great improvement this year, it just didnt all show itself on the big day, where in years past it had shown more than i really deserved to see. This is the way racing works, regardless of the sport. You show promise in training, and maybe it shows up on race day. As the sport moves toward inclusion in the Paralympics, I foresee the racing and competition getting faster at a remarkable rate, i am at this point trying to stay ahead of the curve. Rumor of a demonstration event in 1012 in London has caught my interest, although that is a long ways off. We have also found out the race will be a sprint distance next year in hopes of getting more athletes. I have mixed emotion about the distance, but if it does get more athletes that i am in favor of. I am looking forward to racing against a deep field in the next year of two making the racing that much more fun. for now i am still resting in australia, trying not to stew about some of my split times. looking at next year with a mix of excitement and a that it does not come too quick.

post race

after months of training, and this year seemed longer than usual, it was a relief more than anything to finish worlds. in the past it has been a combination of celebration of victory and celebration of just being done, this year is quite different. It has been a long year of training, the toughest so far, and a large part of that is motivation. Despite a victory, i have to admit i am not very happy with the race i had. a very slow swim put me over 5 minutes back coming out of the water, followed by an uninspired bike that kept me in second place until almost the end of the bike. My run felt ok, but was also much slower than i wanted. I had set some time goals for this year as additional motivation, but for whatever reason i was not able to really get after it on race day. I believe i was again a bit lucky on race day, with a couple of the stronger competitors from years past out this year for various reasons it was not as strong of a field as we have had in the past, and had it been, i am not sure i would have won a 4th. As soon as the race ended, "next year" began, and my mind has already started heading that way. This year was supposed to be my last of serious triathlon competition, but i had decided a while back it would not be, but i need to find the motivation to bring my racing to faster level, if i do not, it is going to difficult to enjoy the journey, win or lose.

Winner! Headin to the bar!

-- Posted from my iPhone

Great race 2:55 ish

-- Posted from my iPhone

World champ (sorry, slow on the pic)

-- Posted from my iPhone

Lap to go, first by a mile

-- Posted from my iPhone

The waiting...

Found a great seat at the finish line. My stomach hurts a lot for a person who rarely gets nervous ...

T2 lookin good, first place

...as far as I can tell :)


-- Posted from my iPhone

Toothpick test

1:35 into the race... Waiting for t2 ... Not sure ant of us would pass the t-pick test

Ped xing race course makes me nervous

-- Posted from my iPhone

Bikin'

In third...we have a race


-- Posted from my iPhone

Anxiously awaiting lap 2 bike

-- Posted from my iPhone