Building...

It's already the middle of February...and there is the possibility of getting outdoors to ride (consistently) within the next month.  Notice I said "possibility"...not likely, but why not be optimistic right?  In an attempt to not disappear from the blog world I thought I'd get another post out there.

The schedule for the year is shaping up nicely with some early season races to knock the rust off.  A solid chunk of training time, and then some nice build ups before a big fun race.  I'll leave the details just as that...details, not super important.  What is important is that the fitness is growing.  In years past I think I've peaked far too early.  This year that won't be the case.  Taking a much lower intensity approach, although the volume isn't necessarily all that low.

I did knock out a 6 hour training day on Saturday.  3.5 hour ride, 1 hour brick run, 90 minute swim later that night.  6 hours in February on a Saturday?  Then follow it up with an 85 minute run on Sunday.  There is a method to the madness and I completely trust the process.  I've seen some growth already, and I'm excited to see where this continues.  The best part about it is that my body feels great.  Do I feel completely fresh?  No, but does any triathlete really feel "fresh"?

Our L3 Endurance athletes have been doing an awesome job as well putting in some consistent work over the winter months.  I'm excited for things to come for all of these athletes!!

2015...

It's been forever since I've written here...so I figured the best way to get things going is to just dive right in.  2015 is shaping up to be an awesome year with some great opportunities!

I'm happy to continue my work as the captain of the Great Lakes region for Team Zoot.  This is my 5th year with Zoot, and they've been awesome to work with!  Such a great company, and their roots go way back to near the beginning of triathlon.  Gotta love that!

I'm also fortunate to continue my partnership with Ceepo this season.  This will be my 3rd year on a Ceepo and what an awesome bike.  I've had the luxury of racing the Viper in 2013, and the improved Viper in 2014.  For 2015 I'll also be racing the Viper...more details on that in the future.  I'm excited for some opportunities with Ceepo this year that are truly once in a lifetime opportunities.

On the racing scene I do have a tentative schedule figured out.  I'm slowly building into the season to hopefully peak at just the right time to turn some heads!  In the mean time I'll be in the pool staring at a black line, on the trainer going absolutely no where, and on the treadmill wondering what the heck the people are trying to accomplish at the gym.  Looking forward to a great year, and can't wait to get rolling.

Kona 2014 - 6 Days Out

Needless to say life's been crazy busy with the arrival of RJ in late June. So to recap my last post until now it's been a great journey as a Dad so far.  

RJ travelled with us to IM Mont Tremblant and was awesome. What about Mont Tremblant...I guess I had a good day. 

I was super comfortable in the swim, probably went out just a little too hard on the bike and ran well enough for 14th overall in 9:29 and 2nd AG...so here we are prepping for Kona for the 4th straight year.

Our trip is shorter to Kona this year due to some circumstances out of our control but we plan to make the most of it. I'm pumped to share this magical place with RJ and can't wait to arrive on Wednesday.

Last year I had a great race so I'm making an attempt at trying to mimic that "taper"...not exactly the same as much of it will be done here in Chicago instead of on the Queen K, in Kailua Bay, or Ali'i Drive...but such is life.  I think this year the volume may be down slightly in some areas but definitely more focused.  6 days until Kona. Can't Wait!!

Special thanks to all of my sponsors once again!   Zoot, Ceepo, Gu, Smith, Bonk Breaker, Lake, Vitality Sciences, TP Therapy, Garmin.  

Balancing...

Life's been quite the balancing act lately...between getting ready to be a Dad, getting the house ready for a new family member (baby), work, training, and L3 Endurance it seems as if the day should have 30 hours instead of 24...and with those extra hours I'd probably get some more sleep.  I won't say that I've been balancing it all that well either...so that is my current goal.  Get the balance that I need.  I've been able to get out before work on Tuesday and Thursday for a ride...there is something about logging solo miles which is just awesome to me!

It is a time for me to get some good thinking in...and I would say that it's my "therapy"...I always say if nothing else goes right on those days at least I was able to get a ride in...even if it wasn't the best ride.  I've been logging some good miles this month on both my Ceepo Mamba and my Ceepo Viper...there is a new bike in the stable...my Ceepo Stinger is currently getting built up by my awesome friend Nick.  I can't wait to get that bad boy back.  I'll be rollin with Zipp 303's and SRAM Force22.  Should be incredibly slick once it's done!

My body feels fine now after the race last weekend at Rev3 Knoxville...it's a good thing I have a physical therapist as a wife as she helped me to work out some kinks since I went into that race well undertrained...and so I had a few niggles afterwords...LESSON LEARNED! 

With the weather having finally broken it's time to lay down the sessions that need to happen for success in the coming months.  Racing is on hold momentarily due to the fact that there is a little person growing right now and I can't wait to meet him/her (we don't know what we're having).  Time to put my head down, get that proper balance, and do work!
 

Rev3 Knoxville Wrap Up

This past weekend I decided to kick off my triathlon season with the Rev3 Knoxville Half Ironman.  Was I 100% prepared for it?  Nope.  Do I have anyone to blame other than myself?  Nope.  Am I happy with the result?  Nope.  Was it the result I deserved?  Probably not, but I'm lucky I ended up where I did.

I ended up finishing 2nd overall in the Half Ironman Distance Race.  The course was tough...especially the run course which was super hilly...not something  I was ready for.  So if you're reading just to see the result...there it is you have it.

Unfortunately, Brit couldn't come with me to this race as I wanted her to stay at home and work on building that little baby instead of travelling 9 hours each way to Knoxville and home...I definitely didn't want to be that far away and have her go into labor.  My mom did go with me though, and we had a nice weekend together.  Knoxville is a cool town...though it is FAR from Chicago.  In Knoxville along with the race it was the "International Biscuit Festival"...something my Mom found extremely entertaining...and there were some seriously large people there.

We arrived on Friday night after a few hiccups on the road travelling there.  I knocked off a quick run in my new Zoot Kiawe 2.0's and felt great (if only I would feel that good running on Sunday).  After a good old southern meal we called it a night.  Saturday was kind of a crummy day, and I knocked out my pre race run, easy spin on my Ceepo Viper all "Zipp"ed out, checked in and swam in my new Zoot Prophet 2.0 wetsuit.  I didn't feel great...though that's pretty typical.

An afternoon of getting set to race, writing L3 Endurance athlete programs and checking my bike in made the day go by quickly.

Race morning was pretty chill.  I arrived early, set up my transition and then went down to the swim start with my mom to hang out.  Prior to the race I was able to chat with a L3 Endurance athlete racing (who ended up winning her AG...YEA!!) 

THE RACE

Swim - 29:xx = I pretty much swam alone...and definitely not all that straight, but I'm alright with it.  I thought I'd be a bit faster, but I was able to come out of the water kind of towards the front.  Whenever I can swim under 30 minutes I'm happy...though still work to do.

T1 - I ran, took off my wetsuit, put on my helmet and sweet new Lake Cycling shoes, and Smith Optics VO2's and was off

Bike - 2:26:xx = I caught the leaders of the race by about mile 6 of the bike...then it was time to make a decision.  Either conserve energy and stay in the vicinity of them...or try to get away.  Well...I decided to try to get away.  I was successful and my Ceepo Viper took great care of me with the fastest bike split of the day by about 4 minutes.  It was a tough course...and pretty cool to have a police escort for most of the ride.  Nutrition was a non-issue thanks to GU...a few GU's and Wish I had a picture of that...sorry I don't.

T2 = I arrived in T2 with a lead...how big I'm not sure.  Time to put on the Zoot Kiawe's, trucker hat, and sweet Smith Optics shades and to run...

Run = UGLY...I'll just leave it at that.  At mile 12 I was run down by the eventual winner and I had nothing to go with him...no one to blame but myself.  I gambled and played the one card I had...lay it down on the bike...and it didn't pan out as I had hoped.  I wouldn't say the run was horrible...but it wasn't a half ironman run pace...more like an ironman run pace. 

I probably got a little more than I deserved with a 2nd place overall on the day...which just makes the motivation increase moving into the rest of the season.  Overall, a solid weekend.  A huge thanks to my sponsors: Zoot, Ceepo, Lake Cycling, Garmin, Smith Optics, GU, Bonk Breaker, PowerTap, Myothon, Speedfil, Fuelbelt and L3 Endurance

My new toy to build thanks to Ceepo

Gu keeps me going...

Knoxville Finish

My mom and I...not sure why it's sideways

Podium