Off Season

So most of you may know what happened to my 2013 season, but then again some of you may not know what happened.For those that have no idea what happened I am going to lay it out for you right now. June 8th I had a race out in Interlochen, Michigan where I came out of the water with a 23:30 and 1st place came out in 18:50's and 2nd place came out in 19:50's, so as you can see I had some heavy work to put in already.  I made a significant amount of time on the bike catching up to them both by under a minute. The strongest part of my triathlon was here and i was ready to blow the doors down. It was a 10k out and back run which caused some major damage. I moved to 2nd place by the 2 mile mark and was nipping at the heels of 1st place and there happened to be a MASSIVE hill that was .5 miles long and then the turn around spot on the top of the hill and a nice coast down. I knew if I hammered up this hill I would have the win easily especially with my stride I have going down hill. Unfortunately with in a .1 of a mile up the hill I encountered a straining in my hamstring and it was shortening my stride up dramatically, but I kept striding and striding to get up pass this hill and I was still making up some ground, but then it happened. I felt an instant sharp pain in my hamstring and it brought me to a stop and forced me to stretch. I was only half way up the hill and I saw 1st place still trucking up the hill and I noticed 3rd was catching up now. I continued on running with a limp in my stride. I reached the top and I was now 5 seconds ahead of 3rd and well over a minute behind 1st. I finished the race in 2nd place overall and opened my lead on 3rd, but I was not happy one bit. I tore my hamstring and within 3 hours of the race it was bruised and swollen. had to put my season on hold for a month or so. I went out after a month for a run and then felt a slight tension and decided to take another month off. Now I am into running again 3-6 miles a day at a moderate pace of 6:10-6:30's and I am struggling for cardio, but still putting the work in.

I had a sit down with my good friend Joe Axisa and he was asking what I want to do with my triathlon career and I told him that me returning may not happen, because I can not figure out what is wrong with my body. He re-ensured me that I need to get back into the sport and I should focus on 70.3's (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run), because my first year was superior to most other's first years. Now my main concern is getting back to the 70.3 World Championship and finishing what I started! We also came to a conclusion that I need to work solo and train myself and have a coach try and beat the living shit out of me. So now I am a solo act and working with what my body will give me and I am learning about nutrition which is the 4th discipline in my sport. Stay tuned for some Fall/Winter updates on my training status.. I am looking into Haines Florida for a 70.3 season opener on April 13th..

Race Reports

So I promised you guys a race report on my three races from this season already and I am about to lay it out for you right now. Stay on the edge of your seats, because it is going to get graphical! First off I want to state that I took 6 months off from the fall and winter and I had no interest in getting back into doing triathlons. I was demoralized in the Las Vegas and then came back and raced Belle Isle and my body just couldn't do it any more. Well thanks to a little guy by the name of Joe Axisa I am back into the sport at a full swing and crunching numbers.


Jenison Triathlon:

I took a respectful 3rd place overall at this race. It was a 600 meter swim, 18 mile bike, and a 5k run and this happened to show me that I am way out of tune with everything from my sighting in my swim to my actual bike mechanics. First off was the swim that led me way off course due to my poor sighting and I knew that I was going to have some time to make up, but I was feeling confident for my bike. Getting out of the water and getting to the bike I realized that I actually was not that far behind of the leaders, so I rushed out of T1 and I jumped on the bike to realize that my chain was off my bike, so I had to jump off and fix it real quick. Got to about a 2 mile mark and tried to switch my gears, so I can start a solo chase group, but then my chain came off again. Tried to do the quick fix again and put the chain on the little ring and then shift into the big ring.. NOPE! My derailleur is bent a little bit, so the chain did not want to hop up to the big ring.. Subconsciously I told myself I can do this race with the little ring.... Well that lasted for about 45 seconds and then I jumped off AGAIN to manually put the chain on the big ring. After that I had more success on the bike and no more issues to restrain me, but at this point I realize I have lost 2 minutes on the bike already. There was no way to place in money now and I was just going to have to settle with just outside the rankings. Pulling into T2 I saw 1st and 2nd place running out around the corner and they were holding a steady pace in the run, but then I saw 3rd place running as well and I was still on the bike. I knew I had no chance to make the money now. I was 2.5 minutes behind 3rd place. If you know me you know I will never give up on anything and I will push my hardest to reach for success. I got out of T2 with no watch and just went until my body said NO. I got to just about the 2 mile mark and I had made up 2 minutes on 3rd place, so I was just 30 seconds down with a mile left to go. I kept striding to the finish line and eventually saw 3rd place in the woods stopped and he started to run with me for the last .5 miles of the race. We were stride for stride until the last 100 meters where it was a 90 degree turn up the sand hill which favored my side and then a finally kick to the end. Out kicking 3rd place, so I then was 3rd place and grabbing a podium spot for my 1st triathlon of the season. I can't compare any of my times to those who were around, because of all the issues I had, but I did end the 5k in a hard fought 16:55!



Double Time Triathlon
I took a 3.5 minute victory over 2nd place at this race and it was a great venue. The swim was 500 meters, 11.5 bike, and a 5k run and the swim portion has left me scratching my head again, because I know I can cut down my time in the water with a lot better sighting. I came out of the water in 3rd place, but because of the long run to the transition I passed 2nd place on the way. Hopping on the bike my legs felt like crap and was just cramping because of all the delicious lake water I was taking in. Had a solid bike performance after the cramps went away which only lasted 1-2 miles of the bike and when they went away i felt I could push my body hard. I kept 1st place in my sights, so when I can put the hammer down I knew where he stood. I ended up averaging 24.6 mph on the bike. Coming into T2 it sounded like a thunder when I rolled in. The volunteers and watchers were cheering so loud for such a little event It made me smile like no other. I went off into the run knowing I had a sizable lead over 2nd place, so I put some work in on the first mile pacing at 5:18 and then decided to let up on the rest of the run; I had to drive to Charelioux for a wedding as soon as the race was done. I ended the run in a 16:57 5k, so I was still very pleased.



Grand Rapids Triathlon:

I just want to start off by saying that I absolutely love this venue! There is nothing like this venue's atmosphere and support. Such a good feeling vibe from start to end. I took 1st at this event and I am repeating champion as well. It was a 600 meter swim, 13 mile bike, and a 5k and to start off this venue just like most swims I thought I was going to have piss poor sighting, but in reality my sighting had nothing to do with my bad swim time. I was caught up in the salmon pack; which is everyone that is caught up swimming on top of each other. I was forced off to the sides and swimming off course, because of the massive salmon pack I was trying to fight. After the salmon pack broke up a little bit I got the chance to swoop to the inside and pull my body through the water away from some of the one's holding me back in the salmon pack. While fighting the salmon pack I drank a lot of lake water and was cramping while still in the water, so I knew something was going to be rough in the race at some point. Got out of the water and made a dead sprint to my bike trying to keep my T1 time low and quick.  Getting out on the bike I felt good, but not strong. the first 2 miles for me were very rough and controlling, but as soon as I felt the cramp let up a little bit the hammer was dropped. I saw the pace bike in front about 800 meters or so and I knew I could real it in within 4 miles. By the time I caught 1st place I was only 2.5 miles into the 13 mile bike race and by the way I flew past the leader I knew I was going to build a nice size lead. Coming off the bike in leader position I knew I had a big lead and it turns out my lead was roughly 3.5 minutes over second place. Heading out to the run my cramps arose again and I knew my targeted 16:45 for my 5k was not going to happen, so I dogged the run and finished with a 17:21 and took the win by a little over 4 minutes.

I am back!

It has been a while since I posted on this blog and I am ashamed of it, because I lacked training from the last time I posted in this up until April 1st. I picked up the training quite a bit since then and have been loving every second of it. 2 months into the training and I am not letting up.. I refuse to let life get me down again. Enough with the sad stuff that happened and on to what really matters. As of right now I have raced 2 mini sprint races and I have placed well in them both. I raced in the 1st ever Jenison Triathlon and I took 3rd overall, but had a few issues to work out. Then also I raced in the Double Time Triathlon in Vicksburg, MI and I won that race and felt stronger in the run, but still hurting in the bike section of it. I have been putting a lot of hurt into the cycling portion of my training and I have not done any speed work for the running portion, but just tempo runs thus far. Sorry this is short and abrupt, but it is a fixed up version of what is going on. I will give more details on an other time.. cheers!

What a season!

So the World Competition has passed by already and it was not was I expected performance wise, but I must say that is what a real experience to gain. Especially for being in this sport for a year and be able to compete with the best in the world. Let alone be in the same category as them as one of the best in the world!

I met my goals this year and then some for portions of the racing. I wanted to focus on the bike power and I accomplished that, drop the swim cadence to 1:30 per 100 meter (nailed it), I wanted a 5:50 pace per mile in the 10k (in the books), and I wanted to get my name out there a little more. I feel as if I may have accomplished all these this year and then some. It has been a very successful year for this little guy and now onto better my technique in running and swimming. It shall be a very long off season, but very enjoyable!

2013 season's goals are to drop down to a 1:20 swim cadence per 100 meters, 10k time in sub 34's, and then build climbing power on the bike! It is going to be a lot of focus on the things I need to improve, but I got 3-4 months to develop a triathlon beast out of myself.

This month is just maintaining the physical abilities I have already and then we work on it!

2016? never know what is in the future :)

Lets play CATCH UP!

Well it has been a long time since I posted in my own blog; since Syracuse which was on June 24th. I thought it would be time to do a little recap on my racing schedule and a follow up on how the training has been going.

Well to start things off I want to recap some of the races since my 70.3 in Syracuse. I have done about 3 other triathlons and 1 running race. To start it off I did a race over in Canada nabbing me a top 3 finish for the overall. I did it in a time of 1:54:00 and the swim was short by 200 meters. Next up was a race in Columbus Ohio and at this race I was trying to place in the top 3 not including the pro field to nab myself a PRO card. I failed, but not by much. I ended that day with a 1:56:44 and a 9th place finish overall. Missing the top 3 spot by less then a minute. I had a AWFUL swim; I got caught up in the sprinters on the second lap. I did poor spotting. The last triathlon was down in 3 Rivers, MI and what a race that was. I took 3rd overall there. I could have won it if I wouldn't have swam and extra 275-300 meters. Very challenging bike course, but there was some good from the race. I ran a 34:44 in the 10k and that is the fastest 10k I have ever done. That is with training with slow twitch muscles. Then I also did the CRIM in Flint, a 10 mile run, and I did it in 57:54. That is not blazing fast, but it is a good time for a first year back into the swing of things. I placed 54th out of 5000 runners.

Now this a short summary on all my races I can share a few thoughts that have crossed my mind while training for the Marine Corps 70.3 World Competition. I have a career that can successfully go both ways in Olympic distance or for the 70.3 distance. I am taking on the role to push for a top ranking in the Olympic distance racing and going to push for RIO 2016 Olympics. Many have had supported me for a long long time about just racing, but after I came out with this thought more and more people have supported me. When people think you can do such an extraordinary thing it really helps to let your mind travel down that road. There are some people who don't understand how a high level amateur can be considering the olympics and those are the people that think I have been doing this for years now. I have over came some huge obstacles for this being my first year into the sport. So here is the recap of my journey thus far. I am pushing to be an Olympian and looking forward for support along the way!

Right now though I am focusing on 70.3 world competition in Las Vegas in 9 days. I made a goal while I raced at Panama and it was to go to Las Vegas and race the World's best Age Groupers. After simply just missing the qualification by a few minutes at Panama from severe cramping, I was on a finish, so I went to Syracuse. At Syracuse I almost failed there was when I struggled with cramps after 3 miles into the run. Thank the lord I put together a stellar bike and gave myself a big enough cushion on the run. Now for a 3rd go at the 70.3 world I will make sure everything is toned in and ready to tear some legs off of people. I am known as a cyclist, but in reality my back ground is biking and I have not been able to show that off yet.

70.3 World's in Las Vegas 2012 will be one to remember!

Syracuse!

Well Syracuse is over and I am ready to share the race break down with the world! I have to state that the race coordinator and volunteers were a dream to race with. They were on top of everything and were there to help with any issue. To start the trip off my parents got a campsite 2 HOURS away from the race site, so we contacted the race director and he told us we can camp 200 yards away from the transition. That was pretty much the best race morning experience I have ever had. Now off to the good part:

The swim portion was a easy and calm swim. I did it in 29 minutes and some change, but I have to say that I learned something new for the swim start. I can see myself starting in the front of the pack in the swim rather then towards the back and trying to fight through people to get to the open water. I was forced into a trap and was slowed down for a solid 2 minutes, but I found a way out of the pickle to manage a steady pace for the rest of the swim.

Out of the water and onto the bike, but before I actually got to the bike I had to manage a 300 meter long run from the beach to the transition area. Got a little lost in the transition area for a rough 45 seconds. When I did find the bike I made it work for me! I had the 11th fastest bike split out of everyone.. Even the pros! First 15 miles of the bike course was just up, up, up, and up hill battle. I cranked the pedals and left nothing on the uphills, but I felt my frame bending because of the Aluminum frame I ride on and lost some power because of it. the next 31 miles on the course was just cruising time. I had a few times when my back was tightening up due to a poor night sleep, but i punched in a 2:20 on a very challenging my course. People were telling me that the bike course was harder then Lake Placid's.

Off the bike and into the run and I thought I was going to rip the pavement off the blacktop, but I was wrong! The first 2 miles off into the run I was slightly pushing and I was at a 12:28 on the first two miles and then right around mile 3 I felt a slight tension in my left leg when it hit. Before I could even think anything of it, when it struck the ground again my leg just ceased up. I was forced to walk the uphill! I have never walked ever in a run or race. I was in such pain and could not bare it I was forced to walk 3 times in the walk, but had the will power to keep on running and keep on pushing when my body allowed it. The first two miles I got to pace 3 PROS on the run course and they were telling me when I figure out my nutrients that they will be looking out for me. Talk about motivation from a upper class athlete! I had a better showing then Panama, but struggled in the run and missed my run time by 12 minutes.

In the aftermath I was pretty stoked as I earned my Worlds spot to Vegas and I took 30th out of 1300 plus athletes. I won my division by 8 minutes and just had a respectful race, but I an assure you when Vegas comes around I will have everything figured out nutrient wise and I will be tearing heads off :).. Peace, Love, and Chicken Grease

Day BEFORE!

It is Saturday and my nerves have not raised one bit and I am getting nervous because I feel as if my body is not ready or my mind just don't care. I had to rent a wheelset because I want the edge on the competition and I am getting a wheelset put on today from the local bike shop, so this may spark some anxiety into my system. This will be my first race of being completely aero'd out with the new helmet and some Profile 80's for my bike.

The first day I was in New York I did a 10 mile TT on the bike and hardly pushed and was hitting between 25-26 mph into some wind and cross winds. The legs felt a little lactic acid, but not to bad.

Yesterday I went for a 2 mile run with the dogs, so they could sleep and I could actually get some sleep in on this trip. I did a 800 meter hard run and did it in 2:19, so I am feeling fast and strong in the run. I did not bike today but my legs feel fast and rested. No lactic acid in my legs on this day.

Now for today I get to get the wheelset put on and everythign adjusted for my big day, so I will put a couple miles on the bike and lead into a brick run of a mile or so to make sure my legs are there still. Then I will rest my day away and await for the morning to come again!

My number is 831 and I will be the one chasing from behind! Time to bring out the guns and blow some people off the ground :)