tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68371255916393904252024-02-19T05:25:03.434-08:00Crashing the BoardsRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-55007836031410726302015-07-15T08:48:00.002-07:002015-07-15T08:48:57.417-07:00Gear Review: Newton Kismet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://roadrunnersports.scene7.com/is/image/roadrunnersports/NWT162-600-ALT?iv=edJJ30&wid=1314&hei=1050&fit=fit,1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://roadrunnersports.scene7.com/is/image/roadrunnersports/NWT162-600-ALT?iv=edJJ30&wid=1314&hei=1050&fit=fit,1" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newton Kismet in the color I've been testing. Image courtesy of Newton Running.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's been almost a year since my last product review, which was the Skechers GoRun Speed. In the time since, I've had the unfortunate experience of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_658102116"></span>#OopsIBrokeMySpine</a> and the long road to recovery coming back.<br />
<br />
As part of that recovery, it was also peak time for a new pair of shoes. My good friend <a href="https://twitter.com/SethHasty" target="_blank">Seth</a> had opened up <a href="https://twitter.com/RunGraniteCity" target="_blank">Granite City Running</a> this past winter. As part of his opening, he had <a href="http://www.newtonrunning.com/" target="_blank">Newton Running</a> come to the event with some demo pair of footwear. After chatting with their rep, as well as Seth talking up the Kismet, I decided to try a pair on.<br />
<br />
I immediately knew that I was going to need to take a pair for a long-term test. I bought the orange pair that you see above in April from GCR and have been piling on the miles in it over the last two months.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>The Tech Babble</u></i></b><br />
The Kismet was a new model for Newton during 2014, as part of the year-long switch from the original four-lug platform to the new five-lug shoes. Part of this was due to advances in manufacturing tolerances; Newton had always wanted to be able to do five-lugs, but couldn't ensure the quality of the manufacturing to ensure the lugs would actually stay on the shoe when they were pushed out to the edges of the outsole.<br />
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<a href="http://www.newtonrunning.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/sweetspot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.newtonrunning.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/sweetspot.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.shoetiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Newton-Running-Tri-Racer-Shoe-sole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.shoetiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Newton-Running-Tri-Racer-Shoe-sole.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the image above, you have an old Newton Distance S; underneath, a Newton Tri Racer. As you can see, the five-lug pattern pushes out to the lateral edges of the midsole, whereas the old four-lug placement required a decent amount of offset from the edges.</div>
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The Kismet is part of the "P.O.P 2" family in the Newton line. Newton divides the line-up into the three distinct ranges:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><b>P.O.P. 1:</b> These are the classic shoes in the Newton family: the Gravity, Distance, and Motion ranges. They feature the lowest drops, most exposed lugs, and the classic Newton responsive ride.</li>
<li><b>P.O.P. 2: </b>Referred to as the "Core" models, these shoes have a slightly higher drop than the P.O.P. 1 shoes. The lug pattern is also slightly less obtrusive, while also featuring slightly more cushioning than some of the P.O.P. 1 shoes.</li>
<li><b>P.O.P. 3:</b> The most "traditional" of all Newtons, the lugs barely protrude from the outsole. These are designed to get people used to the feel of a Newton before transitioning into one of the other two families of shoes.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Now, I hear your question: <i>why should I care about the lugs?</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
It's not so much the lugs that you should be worried about, it is the membrane that the compress into. This Action/Reaction membrane is compressed upon impact and then provides energy return. This is what gives Newton their snappy feel and has led to the claims from runners that they simply run faster in a pair of Newton's than anything else.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The Kismet is Newton's stability shoe in the P.O.P. 2 line. Newton takes a non-traditional approach to stability these days; rather than putting in a medial post to try to slow the rate of pronation, Newton fills out the shoe under the midfoot for maximum ground contact. This creates a more stable platform for the entirety of the foot to land on. Newton found during development that this approach provided a more stable and natural experience for runners with higher pronation rates.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Kismet weighs in at 9.7 ounces in a size 9, with a 4.5 mm drop. Naturally, I have to take these published weights with the whole shaker of salt in my size 13 boats.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i><u>The Run</u></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR1I6Mb3lFRln6amG5qeGEf6mirJJ35w59fnAgK66i7Kqfr7yCXEIR09FVY1hOd10b2N1V_m52znV1gCIiNT0ad5CAnB1DNVNQHLpQ6-7EkHF9_hAANDrNrOKOU0HCD_QSE2ZkdUBzMk/s1600/IMG_4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR1I6Mb3lFRln6amG5qeGEf6mirJJ35w59fnAgK66i7Kqfr7yCXEIR09FVY1hOd10b2N1V_m52znV1gCIiNT0ad5CAnB1DNVNQHLpQ6-7EkHF9_hAANDrNrOKOU0HCD_QSE2ZkdUBzMk/s320/IMG_4103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running at Ragnar! Photo Credit to <a href="http://www.somerandomthursday.com/" target="_blank">Kelly.</a></td></tr>
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<br />
One of the primary things I noted when I slid my foot into the demo pair of Kismets back in December was what I didn't notice:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>No annoying overlays in the wrong place.</li>
<li>No obtrusive feeling out of the lugs.</li>
<li>No feeling the shoe; it simply felt like an extension of my foot.</li>
</ul>
<div>
In other words: <i>damn, this shoe feels like it fits my foot really, really well</i>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've put about 200 miles on the shoe thus far and can say that, for the most part, those initial feelings continue to hold true. Unfortunately, the Newton logo attachment on the medial side, coupled with an overlay, tends to bunch up a little bit on the side of the foot over time; I've blistered a few times over in this spot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That said, though, the ride of the shoe has been a revelation. I had a pair of the original Newton Motions, which I found the lugs to be overly obtrusive and the ride too harsh for long runs. Newton has finally found the feel balance: well cushioned yet responsive enough that you really feel the snappiness of the shoe when you pick up the pace.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A note: be prepared for the shoe to sound a little slappy, especially on some downhills. Don't be alarmed; it's just the AR membrane compressing in the heel. It took me a minute to figure out what the sound was, but it has not impacted overall performance of the shoe at all.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The beauty of this shoe is that it is light enough to race long distances in, while still retaining the cushioning and feel of an everyday trainer. It is an excellent swiss-army knife to add to your running arsenal, assuming that you need that touch of stability on offer here.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i><a href="http://www.newtonrunning.com/mens-kismet-core-trainer-yellow-black-15" target="_blank">Newton Running Kismet</a></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>$129.00</i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>Available Now</i></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-979036502861823632015-07-01T08:15:00.000-07:002015-07-01T11:37:05.438-07:00The Return: Challenge Atlantic City 70.3+ Race ReportJune 28, 2015 at 6:30 AM. 328 Days, 22 Hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiANoaSXI-65QbWPdMpFdhNWkPg47_bP7nGO5Hg4QGT3fNDSHBZfARloM252ed_mSmC9evdkHsqdsczzFOnUSbVyReY5hX33bXdqWiip0T2ZMKpHmt6Xg_KLzr18NSqLKq6F1RnuD8-s/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiANoaSXI-65QbWPdMpFdhNWkPg47_bP7nGO5Hg4QGT3fNDSHBZfARloM252ed_mSmC9evdkHsqdsczzFOnUSbVyReY5hX33bXdqWiip0T2ZMKpHmt6Xg_KLzr18NSqLKq6F1RnuD8-s/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brackett stabilizing my neck as the EMTs arrived.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It's been that long since I went from laying in the road in North Berwick with a broken spine to gun time at Challenge Atlantic City, diving into the water to start a 70 plus mile journey back into competing.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-k0uL-1vwZUDF6DoqgwkSWBVsz75My1Ccmziu1O2ULNtD6iRlNiby5DP3tfTHfh9Ek3_-ZEoVgEJCpq9gYuflI2nwOrpc0GvppqWZpLTayFq1oC0TDNRuXpmQBH3I1XpvSzPQGzYM5M/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-k0uL-1vwZUDF6DoqgwkSWBVsz75My1Ccmziu1O2ULNtD6iRlNiby5DP3tfTHfh9Ek3_-ZEoVgEJCpq9gYuflI2nwOrpc0GvppqWZpLTayFq1oC0TDNRuXpmQBH3I1XpvSzPQGzYM5M/s320/IMG_0375.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racking the CD0.1.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Months of physical therapy. Months of "actual" therapy with a set of trauma specialists. And a long road back to being something closely resembling an athlete. All coming down to finally just saying, "let's throw caution to the wind and go for it." No better time than the present to toe the line.<br />
<br />
<b>Pre-Race</b><br />
Drove down on Saturday morning with <a href="http://www.somerandomthursday.com/" target="_blank">Kelly</a> and arrived in town to a very wet and windy Atlantic City. It was my first time to AC; I was slightly overwhelmed by the mix of Cape Cod beach resort town, casino central, and parking fees that rival downtown New York City.<br />
<br />
We grabbed breakfast at a little diner that had excellent pancakes and then rolled over to the expo inside Bally's. It was a bit disorienting to walk through a casino at noon to see the crowd there, as well as the numerous athletes streaming in and out who were trying to prep for the following day's events.<br />
<br />
Saw some of the old Rev3 crew working their tails off as always, and then found this waiting for me:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeojm_ddXA9CVos7rvGMROdiBWr81wM0y-Ne5aXaN6XHaw6TLKcGXfDA0MAXMccFPcRCtcWF9rXDdNdx8pTRt_E5Mzk0UI4JUBziAak4Ha6CaEJ12qkN0RSaNWx3QHYx746vXSAmKsZg/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeojm_ddXA9CVos7rvGMROdiBWr81wM0y-Ne5aXaN6XHaw6TLKcGXfDA0MAXMccFPcRCtcWF9rXDdNdx8pTRt_E5Mzk0UI4JUBziAak4Ha6CaEJ12qkN0RSaNWx3QHYx746vXSAmKsZg/s320/IMG_0374.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First: I'm a bit perturbed by my USAT age.<br />
Secondly: WHAT AM I DOING!?!?!?!?!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7L_qZ2JvffJmE38sgzFGe8Hml-kWV9XbJedS3SnKPw0WBNP8OZpPBxMTzbggsTvOaqmfBp0jHY-tYay0K_3LW-A1r2qLm-R56i5KoU-Nbkrxygz0oMwpRszDdnKoexnz8PB3LVZU77U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-30+at+7.28.08+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7L_qZ2JvffJmE38sgzFGe8Hml-kWV9XbJedS3SnKPw0WBNP8OZpPBxMTzbggsTvOaqmfBp0jHY-tYay0K_3LW-A1r2qLm-R56i5KoU-Nbkrxygz0oMwpRszDdnKoexnz8PB3LVZU77U/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-06-30+at+7.28.08+PM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had we been smart, we would've put <br />
these up at mile 50 of the course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At least I had a decent bib number.<br />
<br />
Walked around the expo in search of a pump and a flat kit, seeing as between the two of us, we had managed to bring neither item. Procured said items and promptly determined it was time to head towards Bader Field (site of transition) in order to do some work in support of <a href="http://www.50womentokona.org/" target="_blank">50 Women to Kona</a>.<br />
<br />
We met a few people; handed out a bunch of tattoos, swim caps, and signs; and otherwise had great conversations about equality in the sport over the course of the next hour. Met a few folks that I had only known from Twitter; always nice to be able to put names with faces.<br />
<br />
Then it was time to rack up the bikes, pack the bags, and otherwise get ready for the following day. About an hour after we'd headed back, it started <i>pouring</i>. We're talking wrath of God sheets of rain. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.<br />
<br />
Race day dawned humid, still with a fair bit of cloud cover and wind about. As long as it stayed cool, which it was forecasted to do, things looked like it would be a day for a fast time.<br />
<br />
We arrived at the race site to find Bader Field more like Bader Swamp: the evening downpours had left the field under significant standing water. Transition was a bit of a mud pit, particularly with the long run down the center to bike out. But it appeared that none of the back racks were worse for wear, and things seemed to be running somewhat smoothly.<br />
<br />
At 5:40, we received the announcement that we were being pushed back 15 minutes on race start and transition closing; this was in part due to the parking issues caused by the flooding, as well as some delays getting cones set to close down the road out to the Atlantic City Expressway and a lane of the ACE. Perfect opportunity to hit the port-o-john one final time. After all, it was time for some <a href="http://www.coeursports.com/collections/tees/products/race-day-magic-tee?variant=1049368549" target="_blank">Race Day Magic.</a><br />
<br />
After checking things over in transition a final time, we headed over to the shoreline to discover we'd been pushed back a bit more. Swim safety crews were loading into the water, and from our vantage point it looked like the production crew was trying to get one of the turn buoys set properly in place. Unfortunately, the P.A. system didn't seem to have much capability in relaying information to athletes; it was very difficult to hear anything that was going on.<br />
<br />
Finally, we got the go ahead: we'd be taking off. Kelly and I wished each other luck (she, too, was coming back from her own spectacular crash and injury), promising that neither one of us would end up in the hospital today. And then it was time to roll over through to the swim start.<br />
<br />
The swim start had been published as a mass start; this wound up being a bit of a misnomer. It was really a time trial start. You walked down the dock, hit the timing mat, and then jumped (feet first required) into the water to begin your day.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, there wasn't much done in terms of seeding swimmers. So it was really just more about who you happened to line up with. I would've liked to have seen either an Age Group seeding or a swim time seeding, simply to give a better flow and cleaner swim to everyone involved. It's never fun to be the slow swimmer being swum over, nor is it fun to be the fast person who is cutting their way through a slower field. Having been both in my tri career (hooray improvement!), I think it'd eliminate some swim anxiety to have that type of set-up in the future.<br />
<br />
I was about the 100th person in line. Walk down the dock. Say hi to the Virginia Challenge/Rev3 folks. And time to start to do work.<br />
<br />
<b>Race Time</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Swim: 32:28</li>
<li>Bike: 2:54:08</li>
<li>"Run": 2:20:54</li>
<li>Final Time: 5:53:25 </li>
</ul>
<br />
Hopping into the water, I immediately hit the bottom; I was very thankful that the production team had eliminated diving from the proceeding. Using the bottom to push off of, I launched into my first 200 to get a feel for the water and what the swimmers around me were like. Three things came to mind:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>The swimmers around me were already breast-stroking. Not a good sign.</li>
<li>The current was pushing me towards shore. I'd need to fight against it in order to swim into the turn buoy.</li>
<li>I couldn't see my hand entering the water in front of me. Which meant it was going to be a "feel and don't grab" exercise to not drown someone.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Swimming along and moving through the earlier starters, I felt good. I could also feel that someone was on my feet, which is a new experience for me. Somebody thought I was good enough to follow! We wound up towing each other the entire swim.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Getting down to the turn buoy, and it was congestion city. Anxiety set in. Although I've been swimming with the guys and gals of <a href="http://www.207multisport.com/" target="_blank">207 Multisport</a> all winter and spring, I was beyond terrified of getting hit in my back. This is, in part, why I'm known as "circle swim guy" at the Westbrook pool. I also can't give enough of a shameless plug to Bill and Fran Shea at New England Family Institute; they do trauma therapy work and were/are instrumental in getting me back on board a bike. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Coming into the first turn buoy, the thing I'd feared the most happened: the "thwack" of a neoprene-covered arm across my back.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And I felt nothing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, the last few fears I had about racing again melted away. Now I knew my body could make it through the day; it was just a matter of how much I could extract out of it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rounding the turn buoy to head onto the back stretch, I realized that I had zero concept of where the sight buoys were. Challenge decided to utilize red sight buoys and yellow turn buoys, both of which were nowhere to be seen while in the water. I just saw arms splashing up ahead of me and charged in their general direction.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I continued to wind up on the right hand side of where I needed to be, adding some distance to my day in the water. It's always been an issue, particularly in salt water. Something to work on.<br />
<br />
Rounding the final turn buoy, me and my fellow stronger swimmer wound up swimming on each other's hip. We motored through the field, heading back into the dock. I couldn't pull myself up onto the ramp (it pinches the discs that are still very much irritated from #OopsIBrokeMySpine), so I got some assistance from a very kind volunteer.<br />
<br />
I raced without a watch, simply because I had zero expectations. I was half-expecting a timing clock at the swim exit to have some idea where I was on the day. I was wrong. Ran into <a href="http://www.ericwynn.org/" target="_blank">Eric Wynn</a>, which was great to be able to see him for the first time in about a year. I overheard a couple people behind me complaining about their swim times, which told me that the day was indeed slow across the board.<br />
<br />
Wetsuit off. Helmet on. Sunglasses on. Nutrition together. Let's ride.<br />
<br />
Onto the bike, I quickly passed a few of the super swimmers. I spun through the gears pretty quickly as we headed out of Bader Field. One of the few unfortunate segments about the bike was a muddy traverse in order to get out onto the road properly. The Challenge team had tried to address this by laying down some carpet. However, because of how much rain there had been and the amount of rain that had pooled, it had turned into a muddy mess. Ruts were developing. Luckily, having some experience riding a tri bike through these conditions, I knew to pick a line and just charge through it.<br />
<br />
As we merged up onto the road, rain started falling again. I relished this opportunity, as cooler weather is right up my alley. I early on made the call that I'd ride comfortably for the first 40 miles before ratcheting up the intensity on the way home. I settled in, making passes and getting passed. It was very, very hard for me to not immediately try and go with people, but I knew that it would be extremely foolish to try and ride harder given my lack of training.<br />
<br />
Turning off the Atlantic City Expressway, we went through a residential neighborhood. At one point I hit a pretty decent pothole while in aero that I couldn't see; my sunglasses had fogged so badly that they were proving useless. As it turned out, when I went back into aero, I realized that the pothole hit was bad enough to take the aerobar pad and bend it all the way down to the basebar. Awesome. I'd need to try and modify holding aero position for the remainder of the bike.<br />
<br />
By about mile 10, I realized I shouldn't have worn my aero helmet; I just didn't have the strength in my neck to effectively wear the Giro Advantage 2. I'm contemplating moving to a new aero helmet that is significantly lighter. If you have a recommendation, feel free to leave it in the comments!<br />
<br />
The bike course was fantastic, outside of those few potholes. It was <i>windy</i>. There were a few moments where I really wasn't enjoying being out there, as my back started to seize up. It was probably an error to not preview the course, simply to know when the wind would switch. But I just kept pushing.<br />
<br />
Around mile 30, the sun came out, and the temperature immediately skyrocketed. I could tell it was going to be a long day at the office when I saw the amount of salt that was already caked on my <a href="http://huubdesign.com/collections/triathlon-suits/products/huub-ds-long-course-tri-suit" target="_blank">Huub kit.</a> I kept hammering the Skratch Hyper Hydration mix and the margarita flavored Clif Shot Bloks in an attempt to keep my stomach happy and myself out of the med tent.<br />
<br />
The aid stations on course were spaced significantly apart from one another, with it essentially being the same aid station passed twice; once at mile 16-18 or so, and then again at mile 40-42. It made for a long time without being able to grab a fresh bottle to cool down. The volunteers themselves were great, knowing exactly how to hold the bottle to be able to roll through the station quickly and still get everything needed. Applause to that crew, for sure.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, my bottle wound up rocketing out of the cages about three miles later, as the cyclist in front of me had a hard time negotiating the trickiest corner on course. This was a decreasing radius right-hand turn into a Wawa, with a large concrete pothole in the middle. He lost his bottle; I had to bunny hop it to not eat shit myself. In the process, I launched my bottle as well as pinch-flatted. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDQCaGlqLFY" target="_blank">To give you an idea on the amount of cursing involved...</a></div>
<br />
I got everything together in what felt like an eternity, and started rolling again. About a mile up the road I came upon a guy who had blown through both of his CO2 cartridges trying to inflate his spare tube. Public service announcement: make sure your spare tube and valve extender are long enough to be able to get the head of the inflator on the valve. This was his problem. Seeing as I had zero expectations on the day, I stopped to help him out and get him going again.<br />
<br />
Heading back towards transition, we repeated the stretch through the neighborhood. I came up on a big crash between two athletes; I arrived on site just as the ambulance was arriving. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a minor panic attack. I sat up for the next couple of miles just to get myself back mentally into what I was doing. Right around this time, <a href="https://twitter.com/davidjcassidy" target="_blank">teammate David Cassidy</a> rolled up alongside of me. It was really good to be able to chat with him for a minute to get myself back in control.<br />
<br />
Back onto the ACE and I decided to just pedal like hell. It was hot, my back and neck hurt, and I wanted nothing more than to sit down and get a beer. So the sooner I got off the bike, the more likely it would be that I would actually run. So hard-charging come hell or high water into transition I came. It also didn't help that the bike course was more than two miles long…but not like I could do anything about it.<br />
<br />
Off the bike. Running through the grass. OK, this doesn't feel terrible. Rack the bike. Socks on. Shoes on. Backwards hat on. Start to futz with the race belt on my way out of transition. This feels awful but I need to keep moving. Alright, out onto the course. Let's go do this.<br />
<br />
I ran the first mile and a half with a guy who, like me, was tall and melting in the now 80+ degree temperatures as we hit the boardwalk. All we could say to each other was, "Well, we could be doing the full in CdA right now…" and just kept trucking.<br />
<br />
It was during this next stretch that I came to the realization that I wasn't sweating. The new name of the game was to load up on ice, cool my temperature down, and just move at the fastest rate that my body could tolerate. I also made the (in retrospect, poor) decision to roll my top down off my shoulders in order to be able to cool off and more easily dump ice down my shorts to use the femoral artery for cooling.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, though, the aid stations were set at relatively random intervals from one another. In particular, there was a very long stretch from mile 4 to about mile 7 without anything; this was the stretch that broke me. I started hyperventilating a little bit before reaching the aid station. <a href="http://crashingtheboards.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-deepest-blues-are-black-rev3-quassy.html" target="_blank">Having passed out once while racing</a>, and not needing a repeat performance, I power-walked to the station and grabbed just about every cup of ice, water, and Coke they would give me. I kept walking until I could feel the sweat starting to flow again, and then picked right back up where I left off.<br />
<br />
The run course itself was a bit diabolical in that you were navigating through the throngs on the boardwalk, while also not being offered much in terms of shade or breeze. I think this is where racing without a watch hurt me a bit; I just didn't have a very good idea where I was mileage wise. It wasn't until I passed back the finish line that I knew I had about 3 miles to go and could just set myself to grind until the finish.<br />
<br />
Saw Kelly again about a mile from the finish; she was motoring along well (and she outran me by a fair bit). I threw the kit top back on in the final approach because, hey, better to look pro than to be pro. (Well, that and I had a horrid sunburn.) And crossed the line. Not my fastest. Not my slowest. But I'm back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilemNtoctROHz9jbymGSge8QX2fgUfu6bmwDvgU5eTv12juHp26Vv_MllvwyNMQqbYM7clkwpZSeZ5Kdx9EW5KssW98jMMC9kKIDKYppi42BUXPFeWyL7uRkXAAap9vLhmHYDwcuaZphY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-01+at+2.34.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilemNtoctROHz9jbymGSge8QX2fgUfu6bmwDvgU5eTv12juHp26Vv_MllvwyNMQqbYM7clkwpZSeZ5Kdx9EW5KssW98jMMC9kKIDKYppi42BUXPFeWyL7uRkXAAap9vLhmHYDwcuaZphY/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-07-01+at+2.34.58+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-race: finished. And not in the medical tent or hospital. HOORAY!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, to this whole broken back experience, I bid you one final adieu in the form of a picture about three hours post crash:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMGffTee12Qgv7G5Eo7G3ky1mz7dmKPptysXmlXwvuTlEt74b1qKnMCux1e-IV5ybpaCx9rEFVSTbVoBv9Ufxozy38FEqFiWiit64pGT4kQJC9RI1i2acpZQ4ggH_oNPakW8yWtysRd0/s1600/20140803_121420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMGffTee12Qgv7G5Eo7G3ky1mz7dmKPptysXmlXwvuTlEt74b1qKnMCux1e-IV5ybpaCx9rEFVSTbVoBv9Ufxozy38FEqFiWiit64pGT4kQJC9RI1i2acpZQ4ggH_oNPakW8yWtysRd0/s320/20140803_121420.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F*ck you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-73354212675091769842015-02-21T06:46:00.000-08:002015-02-21T06:46:05.634-08:00Equality at Ironman World ChampionshipsIn the interest of full disclosure at the beginning: I am a signatory on the official letter to Ironman's Women For Tri board, advocating for equal slots for professional men and women's fields at Kona.<br />
<br />
As you can probably tell from my Twitter feed, I am critical of the triathlon industry as a whole. I'm critical because I care deeply about it; I didn't dedicate a decade to it (and the run industry) because I was chasing money. It's a labor of love.<br />
<br />
I got my start in this sport because I remember watching the Wide World of Sports coverage of Kona, watching the men and women's professional field coverage, and thinking that it was astounding that people would do that. And that I wanted to do it someday. Someday became 2010 when Hannah's father died and it through into stark relief that it was damned time to turn my dreams into goals into reality, as you never know when it will all come to an end.<br />
<br />
So when I see barriers to entry to the sport like an insistence on "needs" like aero wheels, or wetsuits, or hell, a "budget triathlon bike" for $2800, that bothers me. We can't grow the sport when we're asking people to invest thousands of dollars into one event. It's simply not a sustainable model. There will always be people willing to buy that amount of gear. But we need to make it easier for people to get hooked on the sport and then want to invest in it, rather than asking them to invest that kind of money out of the gate.<br />
<br />
That brings us to the lack of equality at the top of the sport.<br />
<br />
Before the introduction of the Kona points ranking system, it was pretty easy to get yourself to Hawaii as a professional. However, since the introduction of KPR (which is a genius method of WTC getting more pros to race their events, but I digress), professional slots have been allocated to 50 men and 35 women. Counting champions provisionals, it winds up being a little closer to 55-40.<br />
<br />
The argument for that is twofold: first, that there are more male professionals; second, that the men's professional field is deeper in quality.<br />
<br />
The quantity argument is, well, indisputable. The simple fact is that as of now, there are more male professional triathletes. The quality argument has been thoroughly debunked by those far smarter than I; for a great reading on the topic, I would suggest <a href="http://www.trirating.com/depth-in-womens-field-changes-over-the-years/" target="_blank">this post</a> over on Trirating.com.<br />
<br />
So, what's the hold-up? We have data over the years showing the success of Title IX in athletic sports, including a <a href="http://www.nwlc.org/resource/debunking-myths-about-title-ix-and-athletics" target="_blank">six-fold increase in participation</a> at the collegiate level by women versus pre-Title IX levels. In other words: if you build it, they will come.<br />
<br />
Ironman Kona is the birthplace of our sport. WTC is the primary stakeholder in the history and future (until proven otherwise). The lack of equality in slot allocation to professional women is a disgrace.<br />
<br />
The primary argument that I have seen come is that "well, we use participation numbers to set the age-group slots, so doing it for professionals is only fair." This argument is flawed. Age-group slots are set based upon the field at any given race; if women 35-39 make up 20% of the field at one race, and 10% at another, they get 20% at one event and 10% at another. Those slots are consistently in flux; if more women start racing, they immediately get more Kona slots awarded to them.<br />
<br />
At the professional level, this isn't the case. There are a finite number of slots determined by the KPR system. Increases in FPRO numbers do not immediately change the number of Kona slots awarded to FPRO's. It *might* have an impact for the following year, although I have the feeling the "quantity" argument <a href="http://www.therealstarky.com/blog/2014/9/25/dear-professional-athletes" target="_blank">that was highlighted in this letter to professional athletes</a> would come up.<br />
<br />
Another argument made is regarding quantity. I know of multiple female athletes who have qualified for their pro cards who have declined or delayed acceptance on it because they wanted to race Kona, and would not make the Top 35 in points. By opening up more slots to equal the numbers to the men, you encourage these women to take a crack at their professional card, opening opportunities to women who otherwise may not break through to an amateur Kona slot.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, it creates additional value for sponsors to say that they have more athletes in Kona, whether that is a mainstream brand or the women's exclusive apparel manufacturers. Anything to add exposure to both athletes and the industry in totality is adding value, which will do nothing but create benefits down the road. Also, these women often have compelling stories about their families, or how they trained, juggling their professional, personal, and racing lives. By giving that exposure, you encourage those who are on the couch, who have done nothing but harbor that dream, to potentially give it a shot.<br />
<br />
I'm passionate about this because we, as a sport, get so much of this right. We've had equal prize money for men and women. Women get to race the same distance as the men, which is something a lot of other endurance sports don't offer. (Cycling, here's looking at you with a death stare.) Equal slots is the last frontier to make our sport truly an equal harbor for professional men and women.<br />
<br />
So, WTC: your move.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-12419914242643658882014-12-31T07:07:00.000-08:002014-12-31T07:07:08.095-08:00FuckEulogy to 2014For those not familiar with the concept:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AVb84n-FFx4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
This year has been the most difficult of my life. Between starting to lay down roots in Virginia, to having to uproot them again to come back to Maine, to start to put things back together, to breaking my spine and the subsequent issues around it, to the consistent struggle...<br />
<br />
It's tiring. I'm exhausted.<br />
<br />
So, fuck you, 2014. 2015 is going to kick ass and be awesome.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Because through all of that garbage in 2014, I had the support of so many phenomenal people. From Hannah, who I am lucky enough to love, to my family, to friends who reached out and helped out throughout the year as shit hit the fan...you made it all tolerable, to keep me moving forward.<br />
<br />
Bring it, 2015. Let's do this.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-84082347402352517782014-12-18T13:00:00.002-08:002014-12-18T13:00:36.760-08:00Ask Me Anything: The #OopsIBrokeMySpine ExperienceLooking to put together a blog post, answering as many questions in re: what happened, recovery, insurances, etc. Either Tweet me or comment here and I'll compile them into a single post.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-29147520635394046452014-11-06T18:45:00.001-08:002014-11-06T18:48:45.201-08:00FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Heisler Declares Eligibility for #TRSDraft<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1463055_222410714606904_1501718407_n.jpg?oh=25aad439adca12ce642940e283ed25ed&oe=54F208B8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1463055_222410714606904_1501718407_n.jpg?oh=25aad439adca12ce642940e283ed25ed&oe=54F208B8" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Placeholder photo. Choose some budgie smuggler photo later.<br />
Also, Photoshop down to race weight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i><b><i>Publicist Note: Draft. Do not post!</i></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
I, Ryan Heisler, am hereby declaring my eligibility for the <a href="http://www.therealstarky.com/trs-draft/" target="_blank">Winter 2014 The Real Starky Draft</a>. I believe it is the correct time to take this step in my triathlon <strike>career</strike> <strike>profession</strike> hobby. Although I don't project as a first-round pick, I believe I would provide excellent value as a later-round draftee.<br />
<br />
I am a rough three-tool prospect (<i>editor's note: to quote one Sterling Archer...uh, phrasing?</i>) who can activate on sponsorship, race decently, and provide excellent beer support from the great state of Maine.<br />
<br />
To wit: after <a href="http://crashingtheboards.blogspot.com/2014/08/oops-i-broke-my-spine.html" target="_blank">#OopsIBrokeMySpine</a>, I attended Revolution3 Maine to cheer on friends. Additionally, having a relationship with <a href="http://www.risingtidebrewing.com/" target="_blank">Rising Tide Brewing Company</a> (<i>editor's note: you stayed on the owner's couch for a couple months; that's a little more than "a relationship"; let's rethink this passage), </i>I determined it would be a good idea to activate on the sponsorship at mile 1 of the run course.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtp7cR8qoIkSrGUPPENScWAsfJFBU6ZaQMakYo9kUJADzs_zyLHPcpqR4uV6AEoarDNR3osWE0QzY5EM-niGlJMH8NQlR_EA9nOzTgZ3ur9PszX-HW9x0MPBVRVSBrp7s7iEGXcL_msg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-06+at+8.49.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtp7cR8qoIkSrGUPPENScWAsfJFBU6ZaQMakYo9kUJADzs_zyLHPcpqR4uV6AEoarDNR3osWE0QzY5EM-niGlJMH8NQlR_EA9nOzTgZ3ur9PszX-HW9x0MPBVRVSBrp7s7iEGXcL_msg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-06+at+8.49.51+PM.png" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">note: can we edit Jamie to be female?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For what it's worth, Rising Tide brews what is considered the Best Beer in Maine: Maine Island Trail Ale, which makes for phenomenal racing hand-ups, as evidenced by the above Tweets.<br />
<br />
To answer some hand-picked questions from the media:<br />
<br />
<b>Why would I want to join up with what was originally a parody Twitter account? </b><br />
Because, well, triathlon needs to be more fun. Working in the running and multisport industry for as long as I have, there's one thing I've learned: there are a lot of people who take this far too seriously for what is our hobby.<br />
<br />
Also, The Real Starky and I have done battle before:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzEdH8hk62ozmjoyXHX5sFIWwzk28mgiOJkyK35k0Zgoj7trwlb_Ljk9vr2MUTL8ujOUUZzra4-v_bT7o2enh7gkQ4X6cMpgVW2b_imP_j4SOzfMfiWQclYBd3POmLLAR3JLYYulPZ2c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-06+at+9.15.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzEdH8hk62ozmjoyXHX5sFIWwzk28mgiOJkyK35k0Zgoj7trwlb_Ljk9vr2MUTL8ujOUUZzra4-v_bT7o2enh7gkQ4X6cMpgVW2b_imP_j4SOzfMfiWQclYBd3POmLLAR3JLYYulPZ2c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-06+at+9.15.19+PM.png" height="375" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken Thoracic Spine. Guess that's close enough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Creative environments tend to have some volatility to them; by having strong voices that push one another, you wind up with a better end result rather than a bunch of lemming yes-men in the same circle. How do we think the current handling of WTC got to where it is?<br />
<br />
Also, I do indeed dress like a champion with my TRS Shirt <a href="http://therealstarky.bigcartel.com/product/the-real-starky-logo-shirt" target="_blank">(blatant plug to buy yours here)</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>So, what do you mean by triathlon as more fun?</b><br />
More trash talk before the race. More trash talk during the race. And then getting done, laughing about it, drinking a beer or four, and generally just having fun.<br />
<br />
Look, there's a reason why <a href="http://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/meet-brooks/hello" target="_blank">Brooks</a> has been successful in the run space. Hint: it's not by taking themselves seriously. Their tagline is "Run Happy!" We need more of that in triathlon. That's what TRS stands for.<br />
<br />
<b>What else can you offer The Real Starky?</b><br />
Plenty of beer from Maine, of course. Also, we have Sugarloaf up here, and that mountain kicks all kinds of ass. So, a ski vacation for fellow team members.<br />
<br />
Also, well, I'm prone to doing some relatively silly things:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="http://t.co/rwMlUJkC">pic.twitter.com/rwMlUJkC</a><br />
— Ryan Heisler (@rrheisler) <a href="https://twitter.com/rrheisler/status/270244541049761792">November 18, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/421684_900127999122_1888418493_n.jpg?oh=f8e005f957ee948e3cc808c419457094&oe=54EA459B&__gda__=1423828819_587655e0cb37bbec81f6b40831a49092" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/421684_900127999122_1888418493_n.jpg?oh=f8e005f957ee948e3cc808c419457094&oe=54EA459B&__gda__=1423828819_587655e0cb37bbec81f6b40831a49092" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whaddya know? It's a male tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>How're your race results?</b><br />
Exceptionally, painfully average.<br />
<br />
<b>What do you expect out of TRS, if selected?</b><br />
Good times, an opportunity to laugh.<br />
<br />
Oh, and hopefully a bike. I need a new one after the whole crashing thing.<br />
<br />
Anyone else? No? Good. It's Portland Beer Week. Time to grab a drink. (<i>Ed.: God, he sounds like a drunkard.)</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1526924_795880208270_399084057_n.jpg?oh=be9eb49b8ed39f7d32abd5a28b4a5e9a&oe=54F00F97" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1526924_795880208270_399084057_n.jpg?oh=be9eb49b8ed39f7d32abd5a28b4a5e9a&oe=54F00F97" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers! (<i>Yep, definitely now.)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-786345915099024922014-11-05T04:48:00.003-08:002014-11-05T05:56:44.476-08:00Service Available: Triathlon Bike and Run Shoe RecommendationsIn the market for a new bike, but don't know what will fit you? Fell in love with an old running shoe that was discontinued five years ago and are still struggling to find that new shoe that you love? You've come to the right place.<br />
<br />
Let's get the obvious out of the way: here's what I <b>don't</b> do:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I won't attempt to re-fit you on the bike. Instead, we will be trying to find the most optimal bike to work with your current position (or slight variations of it). This theory will also not guarantee one single bike to be best; instead, there will be a range of options presented to you based on price range and flexibility of the bike to evolve with your fit.</li>
<li>I won't be doing run assessments. I have a doctorate degree, but it is not in the medical field, and therefore it isn't my job to tell you how to run. I want you to just be able to <i>run</i>, and to enjoy every stride while you're out pounding the pavement.</li>
</ul>
Here's what I will do:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Provide detailed recommendations of bikes and shoes to try, along with respective sizes.</li>
<li>Provide feedback on local shops to you to be able to purchase these items from.</li>
<li>Analyze Retul, Guru, etc. fit files, as well as photos on board of the bike to analyze potential positional errors as well as providing additional feedback on these recommendations.</li>
<li>If preferred, Skype consultation to talk about the analysis and feedback.</li>
</ul>
About Me:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A decade of experience in the specialty run and triathlon marketplace, working at multiple Top 50 Running Stores in America (presented by Competitor) as well as with Revolution3 Triathlon</li>
<li>Good Form Running certified</li>
<li>Worked with dozens of medical practitioners to provide best shoe fit for their clients</li>
<li>Self-proclaimed repository of useless information, shoe geek, and athlete</li>
<li>Comprehensive knowledge of FIST-method of triathlon bike fitting and how frames and component choices complement one another to provide the best overall fit for a consumer</li>
<li>Hundreds of success stories from customers in the run and bike marketplace (such as this): <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Ladies and gents, I give you <a href="https://twitter.com/rrheisler">@rrheisler</a>, resident shoe swami. Thanks for sharing your wisdom :)<br />
— Maggie Rusch (@maggieru) <a href="https://twitter.com/maggieru/status/507347393390862336">September 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></li>
</ul>
<br />
Pricing for these services:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>$40 for bike recommendations</li>
<li>$20 for shoe recommendations</li>
<li>$50 for both</li>
</ul>
<div>
<a href="mailto:belllapconsulting@gmail.com" target="_blank">Contact me via e-mail here</a> to set up your consultation.</div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-17217931532535246942014-09-06T07:04:00.000-07:002014-09-06T07:04:28.036-07:00Shoe Review: Skechers Performance Division GoMeb Speed 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn4.skechers-usa.com/img/productimages/xlarge/53602_GDBK_E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn4.skechers-usa.com/img/productimages/xlarge/53602_GDBK_E.jpg" height="353" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Editor's Note: I received this pair of shoes from Skechers Performance Division for the purposes of review. I was instructed to be honest. No financial considerations were offered nor would they ever be accepted.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I think I speak for a lot of people in terms of my initial reaction to Skechers launching a running shoe product line:<br />
<br />
<i>Skechers? REALLY? The folks who put out Shape Ups? Are you kidding me?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Yep. That was my initial attitude in the summer of 2012 as I saw the product line for the first time. I was seeded (read as: given a free pair of shoes; it is a common thing for a brand to do in the industry as hey, if you don't believe in it, you won't sell it) a pair of the GoRun Ride's.<br />
<br />
And what do you know, they are actually pretty comfortable. Not great for me (a little too spongy underfoot, not quite moving with my foot) but a hell of a lot better than a lot of other things on the wall.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to April of this year, and getting to see the big marketing push as Skechers segmented out the running shoe line in the new Skechers Performance Division at the Boston Marathon.<br />
<br />
And then Meb won.<br />
<br />
Then they signed Kara Goucher.<br />
<br />
It was a sign of a brand that said, "We are committed to performance. We are committed to running." And now, starting in the spring, shoes will be exclusively committed to the specialty running channel. That's more than a lot of "traditional running brands" can say.<br />
<br />
So with that in mind, I took a look at the product line, and asked if I could take the GoMeb Speed out for some testing. I figured it would be the ultimate test for the brand. At the end of the day, product is king. If your product sucks, it doesn't matter what elites are running in your shoes or how much you're trying to do for the industry. Your product better damn well be good.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Tech Babble</i></b><br />
Skechers Performance Division (think like the old Bowerman line in Nike running shoes; if it's not Skechers Performance Division or Bowerman in Nike-speak, odds are you're not looking at technical running product) started out introducing a line-up based on "M-Strike Technology." The "natural running" movement had really taken off, with the Saucony Kinvara, the Brooks PureProject, and New Balance Minimus product line really moving.<br />
<br />
That being said, SPD took the tack of trying to offer more than just a "minimal" shoe. They would offer more of a range than simply going after the lightweight/minimal end of the market.<br />
<br />
There are multiple shoes in the product line; this is their order from least to most cushioning: the GoMeb Speed, the GoRun Bionic, the GoRun, the GoRun Ride, and the GoRun Ultra. There will be more shoes launched throughout. They also range in offset from 0 to 8 millimeters.<br />
<br />
The focus of this test, the Speed, features a 4 millimeter offset. This is similar to one of my favorite flats, the Saucony Fastwitch. The Speed features a mid foot shank of Hytrel, which gives the shoe some beef under the mid foot. A lot of times in racing shoes, the flexibility results in a shoe that gives up platform stability and efficiency. In theory, this is not the case here.<br />
<br />
SPD, much like Pearl Izumi, does not use a "secondary" cushioning system like Air, Gel, or DNA. Instead, they rely on their blend of foam. In this case, SPD calls theirs Resalyte. Resalyte is an injection-molded compound, which according to SPD provides "memory retention [to] help absorb impacts." The beauty of foams, like the one SPD uses, is that each brand can spec different durometers, different air volume in the compound matrix, etc. that provides a unique ride.<br />
<br />
The upper is seamless on the inner, with most overlays either printed or heat-molded onto the shoe. This in theory reduces the chances of blistering, as there are fewer places for the foot to really rub against a firm section on the interior. I wound up wearing the black-and-gold edition seen above.<br />
<br />
The Speed weighs in at 6.8 ounces in a men's size 9. To put that in perspective, it's .9 ounces lighter than a comparable Saucony Kinvara. Versus my go-to flat, the Saucony Fastwitch, it is .1 ounces lighter. As an aside, the Speed ran large, and so I wore a 12.5. This will not give a true comparison on weight to a Fastwitch, as I wear a 13 in it, so I won't try to argue the merits. Besides, it's .1 ounces. I would never be able to tell the difference.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Enough Babble. How was the run?</i></b><br />
In a word: brilliant.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS89NKfnWsLatg4AoeKUDfWvzjTU-AtBA4zgimRFDS1tyXY5-OQiy0vlIksrO5nl9Zp3QO_RGrSF0merrDUZ62VXOyheXPAw_W3SP40vsax4qBOgggqtHIoe8X0uCY4qbkyXKlK8HUgg/s1600/rev3tri-quassyct-011729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS89NKfnWsLatg4AoeKUDfWvzjTU-AtBA4zgimRFDS1tyXY5-OQiy0vlIksrO5nl9Zp3QO_RGrSF0merrDUZ62VXOyheXPAw_W3SP40vsax4qBOgggqtHIoe8X0uCY4qbkyXKlK8HUgg/s1600/rev3tri-quassyct-011729.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I received these shoes on a Wednesday. That following weekend, I went down to Connecticut to tackle the Revolution at Rev3 Quassy, where I would be racing an Olympic on Saturday and a Half on Sunday.<br />
<br />
I had made the decision that Saturday was my "race" day. My Fastwitch's were somewhere in my storage unit (I had just moved back from VA to ME), and I figured what better way to give a shoe a test than to slap 'em on and go racin'.<br />
<br />
You put the shoe on and immediately notice...nothing. This is the best compliment you can give a shoe, in my opinion. The last thing you ever want to do when running is be worried about something on your feet. I slipped them on and just felt like the shoe and my foot were united in their job to propel me from Point A to Point B as quickly as my body could go.<br />
<br />
Starting to stride, the shoe has a very snappy feel to it. You're going from impact to toe-off in a smooth, quick fashion. It wants to get up and play. That being said, it is incredibly well-cushioned. It felt as soft as some of my daily trainers in a much, much lighter package.<br />
<br />
The mid foot shank works. As I started to fatigue, I could feel the shoe helping provide a stable platform for my foot to land on. It's secure and just lets you focus on turnover, breathing, and nutrition. In other words, again: you're not thinking about the shoe on your foot.<br />
<br />
I crossed the finish line Saturday and faced a dilemma: the Speed felt so damn good, would I wear it again tomorrow on thrashed legs? For a half?<br />
<br />
Answer: yes, yes I did.<br />
<br />
And what do you know, it felt even better than the day before. The cushioning is incredible for a lightweight flat. It's the fastest I've ever run the half course at Quassy, and I can honestly say I ran every step of that run course for the first time. The shoe helped. It just let me go.<br />
<br />
Would I wear this for a marathon? I was scheduled to find out the day that I broke my spine. I would guess that it would be close for me, personally, especially coming off the bike. But I can't honestly answer that question yet.<br />
<br />
In sum, this shoe supplanted the Fastwitch as my go-to race flat. Of all of the things I'm looking forward to in my recovery, slapping these bad boys on for another race is towards the top of the list.<br />
<br />
<i>Skechers Performance Division GoMeb Speed 2</i><br />
<i>MSRP: $114.99</i><br />
<i>Available: Now</i>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-47984250867397192822014-08-10T07:37:00.001-07:002015-07-06T09:10:58.300-07:00Oops I Broke My Spine.<b><i>WARNING: Some of the images below are not for the faint of heart. If you're not interested in seeing what it looks like for a human to go from 25 MPH to 0 in .8 seconds using their helmeted head, shoulder, and handlebars of their bike as the braking mechanism, DO NOT SCROLL ONWARD.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>There are two kinds of cyclists: those that have crashed, and those who will.<br />
<br />
Although I'd been brushed by a car back in 2011, and had the occasional stoplight mishap when adjusting to new cleats...I had never truly crashed.<br />
<br />
That all changed last Sunday.<br />
<br />
As you all know, I had been training for Rev3 Cedar Point. Hard. I had DNFed here last year. I had put all my eggs into the basket for this race. I was committed to giving this race 100%. Training has been spectacular (hence the lack of updates). Swimming faster than ever. Good efforts on the bike. Runs were a little lackluster, but I was really looking forward to dialing it in over the last couple weeks heading into the event.<br />
<br />
Hence the workout on Sunday: 100 miles on the bike at race effort, then 8 mile effort starting conservatively and then picking up the pace so that the total effort would average out to race pace as well. There were 3 of us starting the ride, then we would pick up a 4th along the route and keep chugging along.<br />
<br />
We were coming into our turnaround point of North Berwick. Two of us had put in about a 40 second gap on the other duo. I got dropped from the front guy and so we rolled in towards town. As it was unfamiliar territory, I immediately got myself out of aero and onto the base bar.<br />
<br />
To paint the scene, there was the guy in front. About 50 yards behind him was a car. 50 yards back of that was me. We were turning left and got into the left turn lane. There was a car oncoming that did not have traffic behind it. Guy up front signals the left turn. Oncoming car signals turning right. Stalemate ensues. Car behind brake checks hard. I go to brake.<br />
<br />
I don't know what action put me on the ground. After review, there was a bump in the road there. Maybe I hit it while not balanced well. Maybe I just hit too much front brake. I can't honestly say. And I can't say I know how I flew through the air, etc. I just know I went very fast from being upright to being on the ground.<br />
<br />
I could feel that my helmet had hit hard. I was flat out on my back. I tried to take stock of the situation. I went to get up, and a crushing pain in my chest stopped me. I couldn't take a deep breath.<br />
<br />
My inner monologue: <i>oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck what did I do oh fuck.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I couldn't get out of the road. I was worried I'd get run over. I was worried I'd really hurt myself badly. And I was worried that my little hobby had really just fucked things up royally.<br />
<br />
My fellow riders came back upon me. One stabilized my neck. The other two helped direct traffic and the scene. Luckily, I suppose, I'd crashed about 200 meters from the fire station.<br />
<br />
Here's what things looked like about five minutes after the accident.<br />
<i>*WARNING: Graphic.*</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2MdJYndQYBE3fzGrSHnFtbJUl-ladB_M4GZaF1_RPZp258toTP4Xr247FnyKKOHy8asq_Ho7UZJW_NiMr-B6kwhS1dM6p_0JwOFPc9lZHqwLoRQyEQ-bJTP5OlC3raC-YTTwdUXaOMw/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2MdJYndQYBE3fzGrSHnFtbJUl-ladB_M4GZaF1_RPZp258toTP4Xr247FnyKKOHy8asq_Ho7UZJW_NiMr-B6kwhS1dM6p_0JwOFPc9lZHqwLoRQyEQ-bJTP5OlC3raC-YTTwdUXaOMw/s1600/photo-3.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
Shameless plug for Road ID: their product saved my bacon here. It allowed people to get in contact with Hannah as well as let them know that I'm allergic to morphine (which is what they wanted to give me for pain ASAP).<br />
<br />
We got stabilized, neck collar, strapped to a board (experience I don't ever care to relive. I'd done it once for my brother as part of his EMT certification and I panicked then. You can imagine how this went now.) As they were loading me up, my wits returned: <i>how's the bike?</i> Priorities, people. Priorities.<br />
<br />
We got into the ambulance, and the EMTs were good guys. Really kind, asking me questions, keeping me positive. The worst was I immediately cramped in my quad and because I was strapped to the board, there wasn't a damn thing they could do for me in terms of stretching it out. One of my buddies had ridden along and uttered the joke, "First time in an ambulance and you can't be bothered to be hurt enough for them to turn on the lights and sirens. I feel cheated." I returned my first of many middle fingers of the day. EMTs laughed. I tried to laugh, but it hurt too much.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Zv3FsjpebqUxKf5ifPKTEZkESA14nMzyL5YdbR5ljgOjPIuFzf4rDTt-JuQNeCWBW7uo8aoiGlr0zXV4GgeU9bFR1uUiXJJI6YlTJCB1wDyWADd3rJ6sM4knlBC9W7Wat1_CO32G0AA/s1600/T5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Zv3FsjpebqUxKf5ifPKTEZkESA14nMzyL5YdbR5ljgOjPIuFzf4rDTt-JuQNeCWBW7uo8aoiGlr0zXV4GgeU9bFR1uUiXJJI6YlTJCB1wDyWADd3rJ6sM4knlBC9W7Wat1_CO32G0AA/s1600/T5.PNG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>I earned an express ticket to New Hampshire, as Wentworth-Douglas in Dover was the closest open trauma center. I was the priority patient of the day (hooray, I think?) and immediately got into imaging. The thought was that I had landed on my handlebars with my sternum, and so they wanted to ensure I didn't have internal injuries as well as checking my sternum. While they were at it, they also scanned the totality of my spine. They reviewed the cervical spine first, which allowed them to unstrap me from the backboard as well as the neck collar. I felt relieved.<br />
<br />
And then they told me I'd fractured my spine.<br />
<br />
That's an anterior lateral body compression fracture of T5 at the arrow.<br />
<br />
This is me following the diagnosis:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIh6Vv51Z9Qft6L2M53zXQrC3KtWmBpt8cBgoxTaJB_1mRETdciKNTnza25C8Z7Gp9bX0Ew_UB4ITHHEkc-sGdK8Q73pmXK55pKgutgitkUkIpBmj8jskG6ZSvURszB4I86VOK_NeGj8/s1600/20140803_121420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIh6Vv51Z9Qft6L2M53zXQrC3KtWmBpt8cBgoxTaJB_1mRETdciKNTnza25C8Z7Gp9bX0Ew_UB4ITHHEkc-sGdK8Q73pmXK55pKgutgitkUkIpBmj8jskG6ZSvURszB4I86VOK_NeGj8/s400/20140803_121420.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
I was told that my fracture was relatively stable (whatever the fuck a <i>fracture of your spine as "stable"</i> means), and to follow up with my orthopedist. I'd also earned whiplash, a mild concussion, road rash on my face and shoulder, an MRI needed for my shoulder (possible rotator cuff injury), and a whole lot of other assorted bumps and bruises.<br />
<br />
I was lucky enough to get into the orthopedist on Wednesday. Hannah and I went to see <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i> beforehand to kill sometime as I was going stir-crazy at home. Went over to Orthopedic Associates in Portland (these guys are good!) and saw my new spine specialist, Dr. Totta. For what it's worth, I highly recommend him. Excellent bedside manner, takes care, explains everything...I really, really like him.<br />
<br />
Anyways, during the course of review, he revealed that I also had a compression fracture of T6. Basically, T5/T6 are located just about even with your shoulder blades. On the lucky side, this part of the body is pretty stable. On the negative side, that means the impact was <i>phenomenal</i> in order to wind up with a fracture there.<br />
<br />
He wanted me in a brace and described the non-impact stuff I would be allowed to do in the near future for exercise. Stationary bike, elliptical, stair-stepper. Walking, of course. But only so long as it didn't hurt. I was told that my days of driving stick are over for a good long while between the shoulder and the fractures in my spine.<br />
<br />
I went over to Atlantic ProCare the following day, to be told that my brace had to be custom-made due to the location and nature of the fractures. He called back over to OA, talked to the doctor, who agreed. And away we went.<br />
<br />
So this is what my 16 hour a day companion looks like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQ0wtpTWhZTsOQqS_s0NJ3acSvJ9yCx4BK4YytDPsgY6rNFAPvHbqgWmF2jLqnOPtVGPH7D1PuxaUltbU2IBl3EfvUeJXJMoWGIHRnsKsHBAahm45JQ7U0UMKFVy-NhT1hxpLGcebp70/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQ0wtpTWhZTsOQqS_s0NJ3acSvJ9yCx4BK4YytDPsgY6rNFAPvHbqgWmF2jLqnOPtVGPH7D1PuxaUltbU2IBl3EfvUeJXJMoWGIHRnsKsHBAahm45JQ7U0UMKFVy-NhT1hxpLGcebp70/s1600/photo-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
So long as I'm not lying down or taking a shower...this sucker is on for the foreseeable future.<br />
<br />
On the plus side, my back pain is alleviated greatly. On the negative, I feel completely and utterly helpless while wearing it.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to take small things and make them huge. I can wiggle my toes. I can take the dog out for a walk using a waist leash. I can walk around. I was able to go without narcotics yesterday for the first time since the accident.<br />
<br />
My recovery is not going to be easy. I have a lot of physical therapy to do once I get out of this thing. There is still the question of how badly I screwed up my shoulder. I'm hopeful that most of my concussion symptoms have abated.<br />
<br />
Next up: August 21st ortho appointment.<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-51869239972615407922014-08-08T09:30:00.001-07:002015-07-06T09:13:26.601-07:00Broken, Beat, and Scarred<i>You rise, you fall, you're down then you rise again</i><br />
<i>What don't kill ya make ya more strong.</i><br />
--Metallica, Broken, Beat, and Scarred.<br />
<br />
As many of you are aware, I had a severe cycling accident on Sunday. I'll post more details as I care and can actually begin to process things, but so far the damage includes:<br />
<ul>
<li>Mild concussion</li>
<li>Whiplash</li>
<li>Compression fracture of T5 and T6. Luckily, no burst and the fractures are in the anterior body, relatively far from the spinal cord canal.</li>
<li>Possibly torn right rotator cuff</li>
<li>Hematoma on the right hip</li>
<li>Bruised sternum</li>
<li>Road rash on my face and shoulder</li>
<li>Numerous sprains and strains in my hands and ribs</li>
</ul>
For the most part, updates will be on Twitter (@rrheisler) or Facebook.<br />
<br />
I'm not dead. I'm not paralyzed. I am broken. But I will come back stronger.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-16074742164225242732014-06-22T18:11:00.000-07:002014-06-24T07:50:03.981-07:00The Hook Brings You Back: 171 Miles of Racing in 8 Days Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>So desperately I sing to thee</i><br />
<i>Of love</i><br />
<i>Sure, but also of rage and hate and pain and fear of self</i><br />
<i>And I can't keep those feelings on the shelf</i><br />
<i>I've tried, well no in fact, I've lied</i><br />
<i>Could be financial suicide but I've got too much pride inside</i><br />
<i>To hide or slide</i><br />
<i>I'll do as I'll decide and let it ride till I've died</i><br />
<i>And only then shall I abide this tide...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I've made a lot of terrifically dumb decisions in my 28 years on this planet. And I'm sure I'll make many more along the way.<br />
<br />
The past two weeks probably enter the top realm of idiocy. What kind of moron decides to race an incredibly challenging half the day after an extremely tough Olympic? And then, on a whim, decides, "Sure, you know what? I'm going to go do the <i>dumbest, hardest race I have ever done AGAIN."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
It's the hook, you see. The infectious drug of camaraderie, of competition, of the drive to make oneself and your fellow athletes better. There's something about triathlon that, during the course of racing, you're laying yourself out there to bare. You're as much of yourself out there as you are anywhere else. There's no place to hide. There's no excuses. It's you against the course, the clock, and your competitors. And you get to see where your work puts you amongst your peers.<br />
<br />
Without further adieu...<br />
<br />
<b>Revolution3 Quassy</b><br />
I drove down Friday after work to hit up the course and toss the race wheels onto Sam Eagle.<br />
<br />
Sam Eagle, you ask? Well, naturally, it's another year, so it's another new bike:<br />
<br />
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I'm forever grateful to Brian Richards and the team over at MyBikeShop for the help getting on board this Speed Concept.<br />
<br />
As we all know at this point, my bike names come after things that my late father-in-law enjoyed. So we had Kermit, Wallace, and Oddjob.<br />
<br />
I felt compelled to go back to the Muppets. Also, with the blue-and-white paint and knowing Trek's commitment to building bikes in the US (yes, I know mine was merely "designed" here...), this came to mind:<br />
<br />
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Ah...Muppets.<br />
<br />
So after a brief visit with Hannah, Alex, and the entire Rev3 crew, it was time to get my food in, packet picked-up, and away we went.<br />
<br />
<i>Rev3 Quassy Olympic</i><br />
<i>Quick Hits: 2:33:21 (67th OA)</i><br />
<i>26:02/2:55/1:17:38/1:15/45:30</i><br />
<br />
Realized that I was Bib #2 for this race. Uh-oh. Guess that means I'd better go fast. However, I knew that I would not be meeting my goal of beating my bib number in the overall standings.<br />
<br />
The day dawned cool. Perfect conditions for a guy like me. I generate a fair amount of heat and so being able to keep the temperatures down was perfect.<br />
<br />
All of us doing the Revolution (aka double-dipping in the Olympic and the Half) were racked together. We made a fair number of jokes, and also got everyone's assessment on how we were going to try to attack the day. The majority were here to cruise today and then try to race the following day. One guy was here to crush both. There were two of us that were going to try and race our guts out on Saturday and then use Sunday effectively as a catered workout. (Note: sign you are messed up--70.3 miles is justifiable as a "catered workout.")<br />
<br />
Waltzed on down to the water's edge and get myself into the wetsuit. I was wearing a blueseventy Reaction for this event; I'm simply not good enough for a Helix. At least, not to take advantage of a Helix.<br />
<br />
We got into the water and did a couple of swim start efforts to warm-up. Back on the beach and we're ready to roll.<br />
<br />
I lined up left at the swim start. I knew the gong show would be on the inside right as people jockeyed to stay right on the buoy line. I figured it'd be much clearer water for the first little bit and then start cutting the diagonal to the turn buoy.<br />
<br />
The horn sounds. We sprint off. The super-swimmers are off the front <i>fast</i>. I settle in and find some feet that I'm pretty happy being on; about 15th guy back, inside edge of this front group that is starting to form. We're the chase; there's a group of 10 or so on the inside buoy line that are simply flying.<br />
<br />
We start doing some work and we're at the first sight buoy in no time. I can tell that I've been out of the pool a little more than I wanted to be heading into this race, but we're starting to feel comfortable. I lift my head to sight and notice that the feet I'm following are going WAY left. I make the decision: get off these feet, move back towards the buoy.<br />
<br />
I think I made four strokes before I get kicked so hard in the ribs I had to come to a full-stop and roll onto my back. Dude is just all over the place thrashing about and nailed me. It happens...and I put myself in that position. Still...getting kicked in the ribs <i>sucks</i>.<br />
<br />
I roll back over and get going again. I've missed my feet, and now I'm going to have to try to work around this guy. I get close and his feet get wide again. I took a very indirect route up and around.<br />
<br />
Finally, make it to the turn buoy...and directly into the sun. I can't see anything. (Note to all swim directors: maybe it's time we considered having some different colored buoys based on light conditions? Like, say, something more contrasted for bright sunny days? Save the yellow for when it's cloudier?) I just charge ahead and pray I'm on the right path. A yank on my foot tells me that's someone on my feet. I go to breathe again, same yank underwater. A third: same.<br />
<br />
Now, I don't mind my swim's being a little...aggressive. But if you grab my foot three times in a row, and I don't get to breathe for triple my normal breath range...you are going to get introduced to my foot. Hard.<br />
<br />
After that, it was pretty smooth sailing. I got up and out of the water and:<br />
<br />
25:XX<br />
<br />
<i>F***!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I run right up the hill to transition. I get to my spot, get down to the ankles with the wetsuit and realize that I forgot to TriSlide my calves.<br />
<br />
<i>F***!</i> <i>You moron!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
As you can tell by the above T1 number, I could've eaten a picnic lunch up there. I was furious with myself.<br />
<br />
Finally, time to get on board the bike and ride. I knew this course was supremely hilly, and so I wanted to open a little more conservatively through the first 10 miles and then flip the switch to turbo.<br />
<br />
We started climbing. And climbing. And climbing some more. I had a couple of the 35-39 crowd start to pass me at this point as I debated whether or not to chase them. I decided to stick to my guns. In retrospect, I probably should've attacked here. But having never raced an Olympic distance event before and really wanting to make sure I charged the run, I went with the more conservative of the options.<br />
<br />
We finally started making some turns and I started to reel in a couple of guys that had blown up early. I kept moving at my relatively decent pace (I never actually looked at the numbers until later.) I hit mile 10 and started to lay on a little bit more power. I felt like it was a good effort, but not like I was redlining. Again, in retrospect...too conservative.<br />
<br />
I made up some good time from miles 15 to 20 as we hauled ass down Hard Hill Road (aka the Big Hill from the Half course). Fastest time down it ever! As we started to climb back towards transition, I again opted for the spin technique, rather than putting in a little bit more effort.<br />
<br />
We cruised back into the chute. The guy in front of me completely locked everything up and was all over the road. I wound up coming in way hotter than I wanted to, having to bail right. My options were as follows:<br />
<br />
1.) Lock up the brakes and take the mount/dismount penalty;<br />
2.) Bail right into the rock wall, or;<br />
3.) Skid as much speed as I could, jump off, and hope that I could sprint fast enough to not die.<br />
<br />
I went with option 3. It wasn't pretty, but everyone applauded me pulling it out of my ass.<br />
<br />
Now for the run. I pulled on my Skechers GoMeb Speeds and took off like a bat out of hell.<br />
<br />
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I flew out of transition, knowing the first two miles were going to be key to a great run split here. They needed to be hard, but not so charging that you were all blown up by the hills. I got through mile 1.5 and Team Rev3er Chris Garges went by me like I was going backwards. I yelled at him: "I HATE YOUR RUN!" He yelled back "Don't worry, I hate it too when I get to the hills!"<br />
<br />
This course features three big hills: one at mile 2.5, one at mile 3.5, and one at mile 5.5. I hit the first one...and didn't feel great. This was more of a steepness thing than anything else. Got to the top and was able to open my stride back up.<br />
<br />
On this next hill, I realized the guy in front of me was in my age-group. I decided to charge after him on this hill. He was hurting. I was in agony. I just kept pushing. I knew that if I could crest the hill before him, there was no way he was going to come back. Psychologically, I had to break him.<br />
<br />
So I charged past at a completely unsustainable pace on the hill, muttering "Good job, keep it up" as I went past. I crested, looked back, and his shoulders were slumped; the stride had shortened; he had broken.<br />
<br />
I flew down this next downhill and caught up with the guy in front of me. We were both moving at a great clip and decided we'd try and work together to hold off a hard-charging group behind us. We worked the next mile hard, trying to really push the pace. Yet these guys were just flat out faster. They caught us. We both lifted our efforts to try and stay with them. I was the first out the back; the guy I was with held on for the next half-mile.<br />
<br />
We made the turn for home and the evil hill; it's a half-mile, it's the steepest hill on the course, it gets steeper as you make the turn, you can hear the finish line, and it just does not ever seem to end. I saw Eric, the race director, who immediately looked at his watch and went "Hurry it up!" I couldn't help but shrug and smile; my race had pretty much been decided at that point. I went hard up the hill. I couldn't lose position at this point, nor could I gain it, so as we rounded the corner for home I went with "tempo effort" into the finish.<br />
<br />
Now, three years ago, this would've been my second-fastest 10K ever. So, to run that off the bike I'm pretty thrilled, particularly on a course as hard as that. As always, though, I'm not truly satisfied; I felt like I was way more conservative than I should have been. Then again...I only had this to do the following day...<br />
<br />
<i>Revolution3 Quassy HalfRev</i><br />
<i>70.3 Miles</i><br />
<i>Quick Hits: 35:55/3:10:21/1:52:19</i><br />
<i>5:42:42</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Race morning dawned, and I got my breakfast on. I opted to wear the Pearl Izumi Octane Tri Suit for the second day. I was completely undecided on shoes. I had loved the GoMebs the day before. I also had my Mizuno Sayonara's that I had rocked in the Charleston Marathon this year. I just couldn't make up my mind. I left both in transition for the morning.<br />
<br />
I readied the nutrition for the day. Working with Christine Lynch this off-season was the best decision I have ever made, as it helped me uncover some serious nutritional issues as well as dial in my sports nutrition. For this race, I would start with the following:<br />
<br />
1 x EFS Liquid Shot Kona Mocha 4 oz flask (for electrolyte and calories)<br />
1 x 26 oz bottle with 2 packets Skratch Labs Apple Cinnamon Drink Mix and 3 x Huma Gel Apple Cinnamon (for calories and light electrolyte).<br />
1 x 22 oz bottle water<br />
<br />
I would start off nursing the slurry 26 oz bottle with water, and then transition to the EFS bottle. This was to try and front load calories on the ride when it was easier to digest, and then transition to the simpler EFS fuel. Also, as the day started to warm, I would be able to replenish more electrolytes. I knew my body tolerated all of this fuel well, so I was excited to see how it would stand up in a race environment.<br />
<br />
I made the decision that I would try and push the swim harder than the day before because I was so irritated with my result from Saturday. I would then try to get to Thomaston on the bike (the town where you start the massive climbs for this race) as conservatively as possible. I would then see how the legs responded. If they had pace, then pace. If they did not, then it was spin-city time. And then I was running every step of this run course because of how last year went.<br />
<br />
Into the wetsuit, into the water, and time to get my ass in gear. And away...we...go.<br />
<br />
I lined up left again, and this time had much better folks to work with. We were on the straight path to the buoy and had a good clear sight of the lead group. This is what good swimming is supposed to feel like! We had a great time out to the first buoy, rounding it at the 10 minute mark...<br />
<br />
...and was staring directly into the sun.<br />
<br />
I have never had to stop before to sight. But we as a group flat out could not see. Everybody picked their heads up to try and find the line. Finally, two of the group spotted the buoy, and the sprint was back on. In previous years, my age-group has been a little bit later, so we could just follow the line-up of splashing. But as the second group, we just could not see where to go. Would a different goggle have helped? Who knows. But before I knew it, I was spit out the back of my group. I have good diesel speed; efficient over the long course. But I need to do more explosive work (sprints) to be able to hang with the fish over the short haul.<br />
<br />
At any rate, chugging along, and wound up WAY inside the buoy line. Wound up having to cut way back out to the left across the forthcoming swim caps. Still, I felt like I was in pretty good shape.<br />
<br />
We rounded the far buoy and headed back in towards shore. This year they added a final turn buoy to make sure that nobody would hit the dock on the inside edge of the line to shore. (That was the shortest path in from the former last turn buoy.) I charged ahead, feeling like I could get out of the water around 32 and change, the same as last year. I had just felt like I settled in again, went to sight...and I was way too far right again.<br />
<br />
Dammit.<br />
<br />
At this point, I lost my cool a little bit and wound up having a pretty craptastic remainder of the swim. I got out of the water, saw 34:5X and just swore under my breath for having wasted a pretty good first half of the swim.<br />
<br />
Up the hill we went. This time, I'd remembered to put a gallon of TriSlide on my calves. The suit came off easily.<br />
<br />
Off and onto the bike. Two out of four years here, I have charged the first 20 miles so hard that I was completely and utterly useless getting back into town. The other two years, I reminded myself to be patient. Attack a little bit on the shorter climbs so long as it felt like a controlled effort, but otherwise get to Thomaston as easily as possible.<br />
<br />
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Well, off we go...and I really try to even control the effort on the climbs here. I really was trying to be as patient as possible. I let three guys in my age-group speed off ahead, figuring "I'll see you boys on the run. Have you RACED here?"<br />
<br />
It was the most fun I've had in a race in a while. I passed a few athletes, wishing them luck on their days. I got passed, asked whether or not they had beer hand-ups available. Joked with a few folks that "dammit, I think Eric finds a way to add elevation to this course every year." And so on. I ignored the time on my watch, figuring that if we were going to start worrying about that, it would start on the climb from Thomaston.<br />
<br />
I absolutely hauled ass down the descent to Thomaston. It's the fastest I've ever gone on that stretch of road. Some of that has come from the confidence in riding in groups on descents (note to triathletes: yes, do group rides, and learn how to be able to slow yourself down without having to touch your brakes...) and some of that was the confidence in the positioning and handling aboard Sam Eagle there.<br />
<br />
Finally, we make the dual left turns that marks the start of 7 miles of relentless uphill. It starts off innocently and then gradually ramps its way up. The first sign of trouble was getting dropped on the first sign of uphill. The second sign was when I went to start putting in some power...and my body responded with "uh, excuse me, sir, but there is none of that available here." I asked again. "Nope. Fresh out. Try again later." Well then.<br />
<br />
So I sat up and spun. I tried everything in the book to jumpstart the system, but as John had warned me the day before: if you raced the Olympic well, you'll have nothing but base fitness for tomorrow. Well, whaddya know: the coach was right!<br />
<br />
Further up the climb I got a high-five from the awesome Jamie Bull and his lovely wife Sam. I pressed onward, but started to get really negative about the way things had gone. Malaika Homo, who I'd told the day before, "see you on the climb from Thomaston," had blown my doors off about five minutes before. I was just not in the right spot...and then I dropped my chain.<br />
<br />
Conveniently, it was at the second aid station. Last year, I muffed the bottle exchange here and paid the price dearly for it. I stopped to deal with the locked chain. In the interim, I also decided to hit the port-o-john and regroup on fluids. I figured that if we were in that spot at this point anyways, it couldn't hurt to just re-focus and re-group on the things that I could control.<br />
<br />
After my pit stop, I rode with renewed vigor. My legs came right around with some calories, fluids, and the couple minutes of recuperation. Suddenly I felt tremendous. We got to Litchfield and made the sharp descent...<br />
<br />
...and I hit a pothole...and a bottle ejects...with the USAT official next to me.<br />
<br />
Now, the rule states you're supposed to stop and pick this up whenever. Obviously, that doesn't happen (have you SEEN the amount of litter after an event?) frequently. With the official right there and the knowledge of what kind of effort it takes to clean this course, I stopped, found my bottle, and hopped back on.<br />
<br />
Now I'm fueled by anger. And we all know that you can not just be pissed off, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlMoHLd0EYc" target="_blank">pissed off for <i>greatness</i>. </a> So I rode. Angry. Hard. Probably too hard. But I didn't care. I'd found the tunnel and was staying in it. Somehow I rode the last 28 miles of that course 20+ minutes faster than I rode the first.<br />
<br />
Time to hop off the bike and head into transition. Much neater than the day before. I rolled in and had a decision to make: do I wear the Sayonaras, that I know have worked well for me over distance? Or do I wear the Meb's, which I had run in for the first time the day before? My body screamed "whatever is lighter" and so the Meb won.<br />
<br />
I tore ass out of transition, slapped hands with Christine and Eric, and went on my merry way. I found a couple of people in really rough shape heading on down out of the hill, knowing that they were in for a long day on the baking hills of Quassy. I clipped off 5 before the first aid station. The last guy I passed was very much <i>not happy</i> to be passed by someone who had raced the day before. I smiled a little and told him to come chase me down.<br />
<br />
I made the turn to head up to the spot where I passed out last year. It was the same aid station folks as the year before. I made sure to thank them profusely for pulling my ass out of the road and helping me out so much; they commented how much better I looked upright. Smartasses. Excellent retort, too.<br />
<br />
First three miles down. 10 to go. 10 very hilly miles to go. I started on the uphill and just kept plugging. I promised myself that I was running every single step of this run this year whether it killed me. (Note: yeah, I sound a little morbid during my races. It's the willingness to dig as far and as deep as you can possibly ask out of yourself on a given day that draws me to it...so naturally, you get pretty far down the rabbit hole in your head.) I kept clipping off runners who had been slowed to a power-hike by the relentless Quassy hills.<br />
<br />
We hit the run out-and-back and I caught my first glimpse of fellow Mainer Eric Oberg. Dude is a great family guy and really genuine. Highly recommend getting to know him if you're from up here. Anyways, he looked like he was a hurting unit. I had told him out of transition that I was coming for him; now, I'd run his 5 minute lead down to nothing in 5 miles. Now, that said, he was also 10 minutes ahead of me on the course (he started two waves later). But still, it's those things that you find to motivate yourself.<br />
<br />
I caught him at the next mile. I tried to get him to run with me, but he muttered something about "negative split" and went on his way. (Don't worry, we'll see him again.) Mile 7-8 is probably the hardest part of the course, in my opinion. You are done with the out and back, but have this long, steep grind to the aid station. I slowed my pace a bit here, trying to conserve my legs for the speedy miles ahead. I loaded up at the aid station and tried to find my fast legs again...but they weren't coming.<br />
<br />
Well, that's OK, I said, because now we've got the downhill to find Christian Road, which is across the street from the finish line. That picks up your cadence well, and now we can just truck onward. I felt OK, not as fast as I wanted but still running reasonably well. I took the next turn and looked back...and there's Oberg. Figured he'd make a comeback!<br />
<br />
He passed me in the course of the next mile, looking strong. I was getting close to gassed from the weekend's worth of work. My stomach started to get a little haywire, so I slowed a bit more to just get it to calm down. I wanted to make sure I'd give my best effort on the final climb of the day. It's the best I've ever run the last out-and-back, which isn't saying much.<br />
<br />
Finally: 1 mile to go. You can hear Sean making announcements, you can hear the music. And you're staring at this massively dumb climb under this bridge, which marks only halfway to the top, because it gets steeper when you get around the corner. I love to hate this course. I dug as far down into the well as I had. I looked behind me and realized I had plenty of gap; nobody was catching me today, so I was going to enjoy this finish chute.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONatbgJDj-VUSpJjpvwb6jfd4lYF73dKWP_AsrT9X2PhAf6cJ9flgkoaCQkzt4DElCS7JpKR67NTSIW88Jb8QW8l1bo83LNTBz8MhM5GqiBfEm1k3X-plDuvsz-_0zkhYIu9Xu_B_HRw/s1600/rev3tri-quassyct-006807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONatbgJDj-VUSpJjpvwb6jfd4lYF73dKWP_AsrT9X2PhAf6cJ9flgkoaCQkzt4DElCS7JpKR67NTSIW88Jb8QW8l1bo83LNTBz8MhM5GqiBfEm1k3X-plDuvsz-_0zkhYIu9Xu_B_HRw/s1600/rev3tri-quassyct-006807.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salt much?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was done. I proceeded to enjoy the ice bath, as well as a lovely Rising Tide Maine Island Trail Ale while in said ice bath. It was tremendous.<br />
<br />
Overall, a hell of a weekend. An absolute blast for those that are gluttons for punishment. Quassy is magical.<br />
<br />
<b>White Mountains</b><br />
So I get razzed a little bit while in Connecticut from Rev3 staffer Bob Balfour, who does some work at White Mountains. He, too, had raced the event last year. I told him after Quassy there was exactly a 0.0 percent chance of me going to do the race. He agreed.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to Saturday morning and he puts up a beautiful picture from Franconia Notch, touting the race. I put out a "don't tempt me" on Facebook. He messages me back that he has a spot for me if I want it.<br />
<br />
Oh, boy.<br />
<br />
I texted Hannah first, who said "go for it; why not?" I then texted John, who I'm sure looked at his phone in utter bewilderment and thought "this guy is f'n nuts." And that's how I wound up doing White Mountains.<br />
<br />
I drove over the night before, got a fitful nights sleep, and then headed to Cannon. Had a nice race morning panic attack as a tire had blown on the rear wheel. Fixed in short order. I then spotted nemesis Bob Turner coming up the hill in his truck, whom I had told there was absofnlutely no way I was doing this event. I pointed straight at him in the old-school Hulk Hogan "YOU!!!" mannerism. I'm pretty sure he broke a rib laughing.<br />
<br />
We chatted, I put beers in his cooler, and away we went.<br />
<br />
I don't have nearly as much to say about this event because, well, it was really more like a training day than anything else. I did swim better than either day at Quassy, coming out of the water and onto the beach in 33:XX. I then opted to shoot for the King of the Mountains award on the bike; a really hard climb up to the campground. I finished 2nd, based on the results I've seen; I got curb-stomped by the guy who won the jersey and the cash so no worries there!<br />
<br />
I had two mechanical issues on the bike, both with the chain again. Turns out the limit screw was out of place as well as a stretched chain, leading to dropping it when throwing to the small ring and trying to do any shifting in the rear. Rode OK, but knew that the run was going to be a long day at the office.<br />
<br />
This run course makes Quassy seem pancake flat. Just unrelenting. It was not nearly as nice of a run this year versus last, in my opinion. I got through about 8 miles and my stomach simply had had enough; I had stopped sweating. So I loaded up on ice, grabbed some water and pretzels, and just started walking until I could run again. It's the second slowest half I've ever done, but dammit it was done.<br />
<br />
And just like that, you've got 171 miles of racing in 8 days.<br />
<br />
I can't say I'll be doing that again...we are deep into the build for Cedar Point now and we're following the plan. Each day is a constant step forward towards a hell of a race in September. Time to enjoy the ride.<br />
<br />
Next up on the blog: a full review of the Skechers GoMeb Speed 2.<br />
<br />
Edited to add: this post can also be found over on the Rev3 website here--<a href="http://rev3tri.com/2014/06/24/hook-brings-back-171-miles-racing-8-days-report/">http://rev3tri.com/2014/06/24/hook-brings-back-171-miles-racing-8-days-report/</a>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-3475733385341586852014-04-09T17:49:00.001-07:002014-04-09T18:05:33.193-07:00Shipping Up to (North of) Boston...This space has gone dormant over the past few months for a multitude of reasons. Some comes from my depression following an injury-plagued six weeks post-Charleston Marathon. Some comes from being homesick. And some others, well, elsewhere.<br />
<br />
At any rate, things being what they were, I've been given a fantastic opportunity. So I'm proud to say that I'll be moving back to Maine at the end of the month to work for Vont Performance Digital Marketing. Hannah will follow later this summer. For the interim, I'll be couch surfing. So...if you have some space in the Portland area...can I spend a week or two at your place?<br />
<br />
It's bittersweet to be leaving after investing so much of myself into Rev3. That said, I'm not really leaving so much as relocating. I'll be helping out with some of the races and being a brand ambassador. So you'll still see me at selected Rev3 races (Knoxville, Quassy, Maine, and Cedar Point...with who knows what else). I'll also be working a little with Maine Running Company.<br />
<br />
There are countless people to thank here: Charlie, Carole, Alex, Tim, Ashley, Alison, Lisa, Mark, Mike, Greg, Tommy, Lenny, Senior, Debbie and the rest of the extended Rev3 family for their support over the past few years; all of the Rev3 team members (yeah, you count in the above but you all are some of the best people I've ever met); Ted, Tom and the VONT team for giving me the current opportunity; Hannah, for putting up with me and supporting me...<br />
<br />
I'm sad, but I'm excited. Onward and upward...Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-5282638451838309042014-02-09T11:34:00.002-08:002014-02-09T11:34:58.701-08:00Monkey Wrench: Season Schedule Update<i>Don't wanna be your monkey wrench</i><br />
<i>One more indecent accident</i><br />
<i>I'd rather leave than suffer this</i><br />
<i>I'll never be your monkey wrench...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Well, all good things must come to an end. My streak of being injury-free lasted all of 10 months.<br />
<br />
Last time, as you'll recall, it was my pirifomis issue that almost knocked me right out of Quassy.<br />
<br />
Well, this time, I got lucky and unlucky.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Recap:</u></b><br />
So, as you might've read in my report from the Charleston Marathon, I ran into some issues with my Achilles during training. It started with a "short" long run in December of 10 miles, where it was a little icy on a downhill. I followed that up with a session at the Rev3 Kickr Studio where I, for some reason I am still looking for, decided it'd be smart to try and race Tim a little bit. My Achilles swelled a bit that day. I iced, stretched, and rolled; all seemed well.<br />
<br />
I hit the next few workouts with no more than a little mild discomfort of "hey, I guess I tweaked it a little, but it's not changing my stride and it doesn't hurt" and plowed on ahead. Recovery weeks came and all felt fantastic.<br />
<br />
And then the wheels came apart, with a long run where it locked on up. Had to tweak the running plans to reflect that, really trying to baby it. Hit my next and final long run without any pain. No big deal.<br />
<br />
Until, of course, it was a big deal on race day.<br />
<br />
I've been taking it very easy on the running front since, getting some active recovery in and riding the bike a little bit. Things started to loosen on back up, although there still was some swelling.<br />
<br />
I had a nice Battenkill training ride planned out for last Saturday. As it turns out, there was a good group ride coming together of a local cycling team. It'd be good to get to know some people in the community, as well as talk about the Kickr studio and the forthcoming store opening.<br />
<br />
So off I went with Tim and Todd (awesome local guy who comes to the rides at the shop). We rolled through the first 20 miles in short order. Pretty fast group. Legs weren't feeling great, but we were there. Took 2nd in a KOM, pulled the chase group for a little bit, hung out in the back...just cruising with the group.<br />
<br />
We took a turn onto some really solid rollers. The ride suddenly became surge-stall. It was sapping the crap out of my legs, but I was holding on. Until the 2nd to last roller...when I went to get out of the saddle to hit the climb hard...<br />
<br />
...and something went "pop."<br />
<br />
Immediately everything in the calf and Achilles region on that side got very warm, very fast, and very painful. Worse, I was off the back and twisting in the wind. It was time to bite the tip of my tongue off and try to claw my way back to the ride.<br />
<br />
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA. Well, that was futile. Took me all of about 10 seconds to realize that wasn't going to happen.<br />
<br />
Luckily, Tim, Todd, and I had previously discussed pulling off the ride at the next route junction, which came up in about a mile. We were 30 miles into the ride and there was no way of getting out of this ride without an additional 25-30 miles worth of work.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, the inside of my cheek is still raw from how much I gouged out of it riding. Also discovered just how much I need a new set of cleats and pedals (which may be part of the problem in the first place...anyways).<br />
<br />
Got myself to get it checked out: partially ruptured/torn Achilles tendon. Probably from that slip on the run, made worse when I biked on it, and consistently partially healed and re-injured ever since.<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Path Forward</u></b><br />
Allowed to aqua jog, swim, and hit the weight pile. So doing that for the time being until I can begin running and cycling rehab.<br />
<br />
This for sure knocks me out of 140.6 training, and Battenkill may be in jeopardy as well. So currently looking at what to do in the late summer timeframe that won't majorly conflict with the race schedule of Rev3. We'll see what happens.<br />
<br />
Until then, though, it's time to focus on the weaknesses and get back to being healthy. And then hit the training hard again.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-84502687533621636402014-01-20T15:05:00.002-08:002014-01-20T15:06:46.967-08:00Time Bomb: Charleston Marathon Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I *ahem* have a bit of a reputation for blowing up spectacularly in races. If you've been around these parts, you've seen it in the following events: Timberman 70.3 in 2011; Boston Marathon, Rev3 Maine, Rev3 Cedar Point in 2012; the Mid-Winter Classic, Rev3 Quassy (well, different story, but still), and Rev3 Cedar Point in 2013.<br />
<br />
That's a <i>lot</i> of races.<br />
<br />
Now, many of these were of my own volition. Outside of Boston, the 2011-2012 campaigns were me being an idiot on the bike and faltering on the run as I deserved. Race like a moron, suffer like a moron.<br />
<br />
As for 2013: well, the Mid-Winter Classic featured my left calf seizing at the 7 mile mark and gutting it out to the end. Quassy had my infamous vasovagal response. And Cedar Point was a combo of pre-race exhaustion, stress, and nutrition error, coupled with probably being undertrained.<br />
<br />
So, piling all that together, we've been working on a lot of different things: work on the nutrition front and discovering some intolerances; a new coach that has been extremely beneficial; a renewed focus on the process and taking joys in the daily training and not just the focus on the race itself. It's been extremely rewarding so far.<br />
<br />
When starting to work with John, he wanted to put an early marathon on the calendar. Outside of Boston 2012 (news flash: it was hot as hell), I hadn't raced a marathon. So really, this would be my first serious crack at the distance and really relished the opportunity to set out a new run PR.<br />
<br />
Training went well. I had two hiccups along the way. The first was during my elimination diet with Christine: I got incredibly sick as all of the processed foods and caffeine was cut out of my diet. Crushing migraine, fever, you name it, I had it. Knocked me out for a 4 day stretch in November. But I managed to hit all my workouts from there on out, so I felt comfortable with the amount of training.<br />
<br />
The second was a little more worrisome. My left Achilles' had started to act up during one of my weekend long runs in December. I took it easy with it and it seemed to calm itself down. However, in my second-to-last long run, that calf/Achilles seized on up at the 14.5 mile mark. I shut that run down and focused on stretching, rolling, massaging, and otherwise keeping that as happy and as loose as I could. The next week was my last hard week, where everything felt decent again. Crisis averted, I thought.<br />
<br />
Taper was a good hard cutdown. It felt really good to recover, do some relaxing, and otherwise bounce back from all of the mileage. Based upon the 800 prediction workout, I was in about 3:05-3:07 shape. I thought that it'd be smarter to go a little more conservative and look for 3:10-3:15 out of the race.<br />
<br />
And then it was here: go time. We drove down on Friday to Charleston, about 7.5 hours if you don't stop or 8.5 when you have the dog with you. We brought Dylan along and he was a champ.<br />
<br />
Saturday AM: wake up. Coffee. Had a scone. Headed over to the race site; holy crap, this race is bigger than I thought. 5000 of us idiots between the half and the full. Good times.<br />
<br />
And soon it was time to get into the starting chute. I opted to line-up with the 3:15 pace group. There was no pace group faster than this. Also, I figured it'd be smarter to run conservatively to start off with and then pick up the pace at the end, rather than be all "bank time up front." There's no such thing.<br />
<br />
No real warning given; just a "30 seconds to go" mark. Oh, OK, guess I should get nervous now.<br />
<br />
Air horn, and away we go.<br />
<br />
Everyone takes off. Sizing people up pretty quickly, you get a decent idea as to who is blowing up their 13.1 and 26.2 mile journeys in the first mile. There are some people who are blowing your doors off, huffing. Then there are others who are also blowing your doors off while having a complete conversation about how sick they were earlier in the week, and how they just want to "jog it in under 3 hours." <i>I hate those guys.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Anyways, the first couple of miles along the waterfront are gorgeous. I felt myself very relaxed, just cruising along, ticking off miles between 7:08 and 7:15. Not focused on pace, but instead on the effort. I want this to feel a little too easy, like I have a lot more to give, like I'm not forcing the issue. I want to be able to really start putting the work in at mile 10. I kept reminding myself that I needed to remain conservative.<br />
<br />
At about mile 3 we turn away from the water and into the wind. Charleston was getting a good 15-20 MPH wind out of the west to northwest. This meant this 7 mile stretch was directly into the wind. Luckily, the half and the full courses ran with one another to this point, so there was good conversation to be had and a good number of people to help break the wind and pace with.<br />
<br />
10 Mile mark reached in 72:55. That was only 41 seconds slower than what I ran the Mid-Winter Classic in last year. But this time, I felt strong rather than stumbling my way on down to the finish. At this point I started to lift my effort ever so slightly. At this point, we split away from the half and onto an out-and-back; two miles down, two miles back. At 11 the mens leader was on his way back. So I was only two miles behind, which really gave me a lift. 12 was a nice clip as well.<br />
<br />
Then we turned around and hey, what do you know, here's the headwind again. I look around and realize I'm three minutes up on the 3:15 group. Score! Halfway home and we're still feeling strong. One of the guys I'd been running with decided to put the afterburners on. He said he thought he'd see me again. He was wrong. We meandered our way back towards where we exited, and got a little shield from the breeze.<br />
<br />
At 14 we re-joined the half course. It was easy to let the pace drop here, as we really came back into the headwind again and we were mixing in with the 10:00-11:00/mile half athletes. Luckily, it is a four-lane road so it wasn't too crowded. There were four of us in a row making our way through the crowd. I was determined to stick with this group as, after conferring, we were all looking to run about the same time. That and, well, the scenery wasn't so bad, either. (I apologized to Hannah later.)<br />
<br />
Mile 16 and we're still ticking along. The half course splits away again. Eight miles up in here and I'll see this point again. Liking it.<br />
<br />
We're about to roll towards an aid station when...<br />
<br />
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The left Achilles goes. It wasn't a pop, or a snap. But something just went right, along with the sudden increase of what felt like something warm, like a rush of blood, to the area. It slows me down immediately. But the pain isn't unbearable. It just sucks.<br />
<br />
I take stock of the situation. Every step hurts, but it doesn't stop me. I'm finishing this race.<br />
<br />
I hit the aid station and make sure I get some Gatorade, some water, and some of my own calories into me. And we keep running.<br />
<br />
At 18 the 3:15 pace group makes its way past me. They're friendly, asking how everyone's holding up. I try with every ounce of my being to stay with them. At first I'm towards the front of the group. I'm grimacing but hanging tough. I start to slide backwards through them as the pain becomes a little more intense. Soon I'm barely hanging on. I'm digging so far down into the depths of pain tears start to roll out of my eyes. I'm grinding my teeth.<br />
<br />
And I still fall backwards out of the group and the gap starts to open. I dig further. I'm tempted to scream. But it does no good. They're pulling away.<br />
<br />
When the elastic snaps, it snaps. Try as you might, you won't quite get there.<br />
<br />
I re-assess. We're 19 miles in. I can survive for 7.2 miles of torture. Each and every step will be a lesson of how far I'm willing to go down the rabbit hole. Give everything you have. Empty the well. Run as fast as you can for every moment.<br />
<br />
I grind my way through the next 5 miles. I'm in no-man's-land: I'm faster than the majority of the race but been left behind by the truly fast. I get picked off by three or four people, and pass a few others that had blown up and were walking.<br />
<br />
Mile 24 moves us onto a twisting concrete path. This is agony. I contemplate why I do these things in the first place, but immediately find the answer: to learn more about your character and your desire. And dammit, this is fun. Most of the time.<br />
<br />
We now move off the concrete and onto a dirt path. Oh, God, my calf is gone. Just chop it off. I won't notice. It can't hurt much worse.<br />
<br />
At 25.5 I pick up a guy who looks like he's been miserable for a while. He told me he'd gone out way too hard and has been Gallowalking the last 4 miles. We both were in an equal amount of hell. But one look to one another at that point sealed our fate: we were going to race each other to the line.<br />
<br />
It must've been hilarious to watch, as the pace says our "racing" may have been more like crawling. But we were going to leave it all out on the course. He took the lead to start, and then I really put on the gas as we made our third-to-last turn.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JyUi5GbghQ8Gdh2Ma7kgex3hHqJCsmdysyJKce6v5faHGGHslA4cpqyGJY442iwIsGfgwVI2mqWBUvzTUlrxapxteaQ6XthdeIW9JUxVB1iRUXXPjkxdRlQ1CKO0XGsx6FmJBxsFhyphenhyphenE/s1600/1531937_795733871530_1938582974_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JyUi5GbghQ8Gdh2Ma7kgex3hHqJCsmdysyJKce6v5faHGGHslA4cpqyGJY442iwIsGfgwVI2mqWBUvzTUlrxapxteaQ6XthdeIW9JUxVB1iRUXXPjkxdRlQ1CKO0XGsx6FmJBxsFhyphenhyphenE/s1600/1531937_795733871530_1938582974_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure you can see how miserable I am. Also, OW.</td></tr>
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We came into town, weaved around the block, and made it. In the end, I nipped him by two seconds. Final totals: 3:28:49, 85th OA, 10th M25-29.</div>
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I crossed the line, immediately cramped on that left side, and had to grab onto the crowd fencing. Managed to work it out enough so that I could take a finisher picture. I then got an immediate ticket to the massage and PT tent, which was awesome. Got me to a point where I could actually move a little bit.</div>
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And, of course, the reward for a hard day's work:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wYm9G6av3-mOJnspycH4UJoYKqsRcfz93iGZg7fi4ehg2Imu_jXhO3xFLmnLr2E8QvSbvsda_JUsM1E_EuL-gjVKAa6mmWyapgkAGG9QhV3Go2MqAwAmdK8j__H45xU1eIruO8AHOgI/s1600/1526924_795880208270_399084057_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wYm9G6av3-mOJnspycH4UJoYKqsRcfz93iGZg7fi4ehg2Imu_jXhO3xFLmnLr2E8QvSbvsda_JUsM1E_EuL-gjVKAa6mmWyapgkAGG9QhV3Go2MqAwAmdK8j__H45xU1eIruO8AHOgI/s1600/1526924_795880208270_399084057_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelob Ultra will never taste this decent again.</td></tr>
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-8200448780357474492013-12-27T10:47:00.000-08:002013-12-27T10:50:28.220-08:00Gear Review: Litespeed Ci2Confession Time: Up until this year, I had never ridden a road bike.<br />
<br />
Yes, you read that correctly.<br />
<br />
In my years in triathlon, I went straight whole-hog into the game. I bought my <a href="http://www.feltbicycles.com/" target="_blank">Felt B16</a>; when that went down, I moved to the <a href="http://www.rideblue.com/" target="_blank">Blue Triad EX</a>; then to a <a href="http://www.specialized.com/" target="_blank">Specialized Shiv Tri Pro</a>; back to a Blue Triad EX. I'd figured that since I was going to be spending large amounts of time in the aero position, I might as well grow accustomed to it as well as becoming more adept at handling that type of bike.<br />
<br />
There were, of course, drawbacks to this approach, with the largest being no group rides out of shops. Although tri bikes were welcomed, you either were 30 meters off the back or off the front in order to ride in the aerobars. And with the different seatpost angles (more on that in a minute), it is less than ideal to be cranking away for a couple of hours out of aero.<br />
<br />
So along it went, until after <a href="http://rev3tri.com/cedar-point/cedar-point-news/" target="_blank">Cedar Point</a>. You see, your scribe is currently without any bike in the first place. Instead, I've been tasked (if you could call it that) with riding some of the bikes that we will be selling out of <a href="http://www.rev3multisport.com/" target="_blank">Rev3 Multisport</a>. I've started off with two bikes from American Bicycle Group, the fine folks behind <a href="http://www.litespeed.com/" target="_blank">Litespeed</a> and <a href="http://www.quintanarootri.com/" target="_blank">Quintana Roo</a> (the latter of which is the bike sponsor of the race series).<br />
<br />
To wit, for the purposes of full disclosure: I have not been compensated by ABG, Litespeed, Quintana Roo, or any of its representatives or subsidiaries in any way. These are bikes that are under ownership of either Rev3 Multisport or the race series. I have simply taken my fit coordinates, applied those coordinates to the bike, and gone riding.<br />
<br />
First up: the Litespeed Ci2.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>The Macro-Scale Stuff: TT/Tri vs. Road, Frame Materials, and a History of Litespeed</u></i></b><br />
This part of the conversation is going to be *ahem* a bit long-winded. (I can already see the eye rolls from a bunch of you, saying "No kidding, you're <i>always</i> long-winded." I digress.) But bear with me.<br />
<br />
First, let's talk about the geometry of the bike. Or, for lack of a better term, the way this bike fits and is constructed. Generally, there are two types of fit for performance riding: road position and TT/tri position. The road position will feature more pressure rearward on the bike, reaching forward towards the hoods or drops. The TT/tri position, meanwhile, shifts forward onto the aerobars and with it requires pelvic rotation on the saddle.<br />
<br />
Now, you can ride a road position on a TT/tri bike, and you can ride a TT/tri position on a road bike. The question then is of comfort, handling, and optimization. A TT/triathlon bike will feature a steeper angle from the bottom bracket to the seatpost and saddle; this to help promote riding forward and rotating on your pelvis. It helps distribute your weight across the platform of the bike, also helping with the handling. Meanwhile, a road bike's seat tube angle is shallower, trying to put pressure towards the rear, as you lightly come forward to be able to touch the hoods/drops.<br />
<br />
So, if you're looking to race triathlon seriously, it's worth getting a true TT/tri frame. But if you're dabbling in triathlon while also looking for something to be able to ride the roads a fair bit with groups on the weekends, then the Ci2 could be in your wheelhouse.<br />
<br />
I say this because in some ways, triathlon and time trialing have led to some revolutions on the road bike side as well. Although weight is still king for many cyclists, aerodynamics are now playing an ever-larger role in the design of road bikes. Why? Well, because drag (the force of wind applied against you while riding) costs you power. If you have less drag, more of your power translates into speed. More speed is definitely better than less, especially if it takes the same amount of power to get there. This is a large part of the success of the aero wheel industry (which we'll get into in other posts), and now you're seeing it come out more and more in actual frame building.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://volvospeed.com/~volvo/Pics/Mods/carbon_fiber_sheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://volvospeed.com/~volvo/Pics/Mods/carbon_fiber_sheet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Volvo Speed.</td></tr>
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<br />
What helps get us there is the use of carbon fiber. Carbon is still a relative newcomer to the frame building game. Traditional, bikes have been built with metals and alloys: steel, aluminum, and titanium are three examples. But carbon is a bit of a different animal.<br />
<br />
Carbon fiber lay-up involves the lay-up of different sheets of the polymer. You then introduce a resin, which hardens the fiber into the shape applied. In the purposes of bicycle building, there is a mold (essentially, a "negative" of the bike) that these sheets are laid into. The resin is applied, and voila! Out comes this new shape.<br />
<br />
The advantage of carbon is that it is typically lighter than a comparable alloy frame. Also, you can mold it into different shapes. There's also flexibility and stiffness available based on the type of sheet used in a particular region. As an example, the bike can feature a different lay-up near the bottom bracket and crank, versus the stem or seatpost. You want that bottom bracket to be stiff for maximum power transfer, but you don't want the bike to ride too harshly, so you use a different lay-up to allow for more compliance in that area to smooth out rougher road surfaces. After all, a bike is only as good as it is ridden, and if the frame is so stiff that you can't ride it...well, that doesn't do anybody any good.<br />
<br />
Which brings us all around to the manufacturer in question today: Litespeed. You see, Litespeed has been one of the finest crafters of titanium bicycles, starting in 1986. They were innovators in frame design with the alloy. Most famously, their expertise in frame building led <a href="http://www.roadbikeaction.com/contentimages/2009/GoLance%20tt.jpg" target="_blank">a certain U.S. Postal Service rider</a> to ride their frame, re-badged as a Trek, to two individual time-trial victories in the 1999 Tour de France.<br />
<br />
However, titanium can only get you so far these days. In 2010, Litespeed introduced their first full line-up of carbon-fiber bikes. They now feature a complete line-up of road bikes: the carbon L, M, and C series and the titanium T series.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>The Techno-Babble</u></i></b><br />
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<b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
The Ci2 sits in the aero road frame category for Litespeed. The C series is designed with aerodynamics fully in mind; every tube shape is designed to help save watts. Litespeed claims that the C series saves you 20.4 watts versus a standard, round-tube bike. I'm not here to validate that claim by saying, "Yes, it actually was worth 20.4 watts!" My purpose, instead, is to determine whether this bike is successful in its mission.<br />
<br />
So, what exactly is the mission of the Ci2? Well, for starters, all the C series frames feature the same frame design. Where they differ is in carbon-layup. The C3, Ci2, and C1 all feature 30T modulus carbon fiber. The C1R features 60T carbon fiber. What's that mean? The C3, Ci2, and C1 will all ride a little more compliantly than the stiffer C1R.<br />
<br />
The bike is built around the BB30 bottom bracket standard. Without diving too deep into the wormhole that is bottom bracket standards, BB30 bikes feature internal bearings that press/snap into the frame. You then have a crank with a spindle width of 68 millimeters. The advantage of those internal bearings? The bike is overall narrower, so you don't need the frame to be as stiff as it would be if it were wider there. So you get similar power transmission out of a bike that might give you a little more road compliance. It is my personal favorite bottom bracket standard.<br />
<br />
So, if the majority of the C series features the same frame, what is the distinction between the C3, Ci2, and C1? Component specification. The C3 features Shimano's "entry-level" performance line of 105. Keep in mind, 105 is <i>far</i> from entry-level. But in the world of performance products, 105 from Shimano and Rival from SRAM are your starter kits. It also comes with Easton EA30/50 stem and bars and the workhorse Shimano R500 wheelset.<br />
<br />
The Ci2 steps up to Shimano's Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting system. Yes, electronic. The advantages of electronic? Auto-trim of the front derailleur (no more chainline rub in cross-gears!) and that, once it's set, you'll have crisp shifting, every time. The disadvantage? If you run out of battery...you're hosed. This groupset doesn't eliminate the need to replace consummables (chainrings, cassettes, and chains) but it does eliminate the need to add mechanical cables to that equation. Also, we start to get a bit more aerodynamic on the wheel choice: the Easton EA50 set. It's a 30 millimeter deep aluminum set, giving you some aero benefit while still being durable enough to beat on everyday.<br />
<br />
The C1 is Shimano Ultegra mechanical. Why is the "higher" end bike mechanical? Weight, for one. But also, some cyclists still prefer good old mechanical shifting. There's also a host of slight component spec-upgrades from the Ci2.<br />
<br />
So, looking at the product line, the Ci2 is meant as that midline, performance model in the C series line-up. It comes with a respectable selection of components. It also helps that non-mechanically inclined athlete with the electronic shifting. Simply charge the battery, re-install, and away we go.<br />
<br />
Competitors for this bike would include the Specialized Venge Expert Ultegra, the Cervelo S3 Ultegra Di2, and the Felt AR3 EPS. (EPS is Campagnalo's electronic shifting system.)<br />
<br />
Here's the full component breakdown of the model, as it would stands on the sales floor of your local bike dealer:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Frame:</b> Aero 30T Carbon</li>
<li><b>Fork: </b>Litespeed Aero Carbon</li>
<li><b>Headset: </b>FSA ZS Taper</li>
<li><b>Seatpost: </b>Litespeed Aero Carbon</li>
<li><b>Front Derailleur: </b>Shimano Ultegra Di2</li>
<li><b>Rear Dereailleur: </b>Shimano Ultegra Di2</li>
<li><b>Crankset: </b>Shimano Ultegra 53 x 39</li>
<li><b>Brakes:</b> Shimano Ultegra</li>
<li><b>Shift/Brake Levers: </b>Shimano Ultegra Di2</li>
<li><b>Cassette: </b>Shimano Ultegra 11-25</li>
<li><b>Chain: </b>FSA Team Issue</li>
<li><b>Wheels: </b>Easton EA50 Aero</li>
<li><b>Stem: </b>Easton EA70</li>
<li><b>Bars: </b>Easton EA70</li>
<li><b>Saddle: </b>Fizik Arione</li>
<li><b>Tires: </b>Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick</li>
</ul>
I test-rode both the medium-large and the large size Ci2, with the large being the preferred frame size.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>The Ride: How's it feel?</u></i></b><br />
Well, let's get my major niggle out of the way first: I <i>hated</i> the saddle. Me and Fizik just aren't friends with one another. That said, saddles are a major contact point for the bike. If you don't get your saddle selection right, <i>nothing about the rest of the bike can be right, no matter how well it is set-up.</i> For myself, this means I'm riding a Cobb SHC170 for road fit and an ISM Adamo Road for triathlon. The same holds true for your bars, and your pedals. If you're not comfortable on board your bike, start there.<br />
<br />
OK, so now that we've gotten that part out of the way:<br />
<br />
I landed smack dab between sizes on this bike. I could use the reach (the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the head-tube top) from the medium-large and the stack (the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the head-tube top) from the large. After riding around a fair bit, I determined that I preferred the fit off the large. I found it easier to play around with reach here, personally, with stem length than anything else.<br />
<br />
Alright, so we've settled the fit in, got it to the fit coordinates, and made all of the adjustments. So now, time to play around.<br />
<br />
The first thing I noticed after clipping in was the smooth acceleration of the bike. This isn't a "snappy" frame, where you can really feel every pedal stroke. Instead, this is like a diesel: constant, continual acceleration until it hits terminal velocity.<br />
<br />
Once up to speed, the frame really starts to shine. The tube shapes have definitely paid dividends, as this bike wants to stay at speed once it is there. It simply cuts through the wind. It also cuts out a lot of road vibration as well. Our roads here in northern Virginia make Maine's seem pristine by comparison. We're talking a little chip-seal, some dirt/gravel, some pavement from 1972, some concrete blocks...it is all handled adeptly. Credit, too, those Easton wheels for helping out with compliance and without falling out of true.<br />
<br />
Shifting is as crisp as you would expect electronic shifting to be: direct, precise, authoritative. I've personally preferred SRAM shifting for years, although Di2 might make me a believer in Shimano. The brakes scrub speed well, even in wet/muddy conditions.<br />
<br />
Of course, there has to be some kind of trade-off when it comes to the rideability of this particular frame. After all, it can't excel at everything! This isn't the world's best climbing bike. We have a solid 1.2 mile torture chamber known as Ridge Road, featuring a deliciously nasty continual 8%+ climb. So, of course, I ride it all the time.<br />
<br />
All of that great, smooth road compliance means the bike feels ever so slightly soft while really trying to mash on the pedals on Ridge Road. Some of that, in my opinion, lays not in the fault of the frame, but moreso of the component spec.<br />
<br />
Although this bike is BB30, it comes with a Shimano crank on it. Shimano cranks require the Shimano Hollowtech bottom bracket, which installs outward of the frame. So remember those advantages of BB30 that we'd talked about before? Well, now it's gone. As a side note, for 2014 Litespeed has changed over to a native BB30 crank. So this part of the discussion will probably be rendered moot!<br />
<br />
That being said, it has more than held its own on more respectable grades that you'd be more likely to find on most of your rides. It is smooth, fast, and downright fun to ride and easy to care for. What more could you ask for?<br />
<br />
In totality, I'd highly recommend this bike for most athletes. The aerodynamic advantage is there. If you're a mountain goat, step up to the C1R. But for most people, this is going to make your life much, much easier. Spend less time wrenching. Spend more time riding.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-39975707780362850872013-12-23T06:07:00.000-08:002013-12-23T06:07:14.129-08:00I've Taken All and I've Endured......one day it all will fade I'm sure...<br />
--<i>Foo Fighters, I'll Stick Around</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<a href="http://www.johnhirsch.org/" target="_blank">My coach</a> is trying to kill me.<br />
<br />
Let me explain.<br />
<br />
John has, shall we say, a very *ahem* unique method of motivation: <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/j_hirsch">@j_hirsch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/billrisch">@billrisch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/davedabrosca">@davedabrosca</a> another one? What is this, training Christmas? Our gifts being more suffering? If so: you're succeeding.<br />
— Ryan Heisler (@rrheisler) <a href="https://twitter.com/rrheisler/statuses/414390705390243840">December 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
As many of you are aware, I'm training for the Charleston, SC Marathon in January. We stand just under 4 weeks away from me toeing the line of a race again. Crazy to think! But then again, outside of a couple of 5Ks in November and December, I haven't really attempted racing since the Cedar Point disast-debacle. So...we're due.<br />
<br />
To give you an idea of John's ideas on training load, let me illustrate using a classic from the <a href="http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Coach_Paulo_Meme_Thread._P3372584" target="_blank">Paulo Sousa meme thread on Slowtwitch</a>:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2011/6/6/24c513a5-d851-404c-899a-74bf82bf7166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2011/6/6/24c513a5-d851-404c-899a-74bf82bf7166.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
To take you through a sample week: one recovery day. Run slow. Run trails. Run uphill. Run fast. Run long. Run long with tempo. Bike hard. Bike long. Swim somewhere in there. And oh yeah, get some core work done too.<br />
<br />
Add on top of this that I got to spend the better part of two days with a sledgehammer and a crowbar taking out about 2500 square feet worth of engineered hardwood that was overglued to the floor (evidently, the previous tenant used the glue to LEVEL THE FLOOR)...and I'm *ahem* tired.<br />
<br />
But it's all going to the right place. I've never run this much before healthily. I feel strong. Running is coming easier and easier. On some of these long runs, I just start jamming out 7:00 pace without really thinking about it. Of course, I then slow down when I realize what the hell I'm doing (don't leave your race in a workout).<br />
<br />
This week, though, is the test: have a predictor run tomorrow (basically, what I can punch out for that test workout is a great indicator of marathon time/pace) and a 20-mile progression run on the weekend (get to test out that indicated pace).<br />
<br />
Bring it, John. You haven't killed me yet.<br />
<br />
____________________________________________________________________________<br />
Under that same token, I've been doing a lot of work with <a href="http://guru.mc3digital.com/" target="_blank">Christine Lynch</a> to figure out what the ruddy hell has been wrong with my stomach.<br />
<br />
As you've probably tired of reading in this space, I've had a lot of challenges with my gut. Whether it's pre-race, during the race, post-race, cramping, vomiting, etc. I was tired of it. Plus, Christine is the one that took this phenomenal photo of me in the medical tent at Cedar Point:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJossCcei2dNwlBf2FpTd-_5rPgJITLyKfEF6w9_F8FxBu5cBHOVahcS9GqDC_iWXZy5-YXuQ4yDnyDAhnXYOYeSohF0LoTFhTuuMV__rLyfNVnoAy0Wvi571-GeMIcTtlQ6LIZMXhj64/s1600/photo-30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJossCcei2dNwlBf2FpTd-_5rPgJITLyKfEF6w9_F8FxBu5cBHOVahcS9GqDC_iWXZy5-YXuQ4yDnyDAhnXYOYeSohF0LoTFhTuuMV__rLyfNVnoAy0Wvi571-GeMIcTtlQ6LIZMXhj64/s320/photo-30.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
So...she's seen me in some pretty bad spots before.<br />
<br />
After some consulting, we decided that the best approach would be to follow an elimination diet for the better part of 6 weeks. What's an elimination diet, you ask? You pretty much get rid of anything and everything that could possibly be a food intolerance. So...pretty restrictive overall. You then add foods back in, one item at a time, to test how your body responds to things.<br />
<br />
Add that on top of the training from John...and there were some days where I certainly contemplated putting my head through a wall. (There was in fact a day where I got violently ill from cutting my coffee habit off cold turkey. Worst migraine ever, fever, chills, you name it I got it.)<br />
<br />
Well, as it turns out, I'm intolerant of soy and don't handle fructose well under training load. So, out goes soy out of the regular diet, and finding new sports nutrition that doesn't contain fructose in it. Good times. But as we've done this, we've gotten rid of almost all of the symptoms that I used to deal with. It's <i>awesome.</i><br />
<br />
Christine's also helping out on the daily diet front, trying to find some more healthy recipes, etc. that aren't simply "lay protein over massive spring mix and spinach salad, add balsamic vinaigrette (good luck finding one that doesn't have soybean oil in it!)" which, although delicious, is awfully repetitive. We're getting there.<br />
<br />
It's been an awesome experience, getting to know what works in my system and how it responds under the volume John's putting me under. It's been, dare we say, fun. One of the biggest lessons out of all of this is enjoying the process of what works for me as an athlete, and even what doesn't work. Then taking those lessons and applying it to racing.<br />
<br />
Still a little ways to go before that happens. Time to keep slogging onward.<br />
<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-91298012352722963312013-12-04T07:09:00.001-08:002013-12-04T07:09:12.247-08:00Off-Season Ramblings: What I'm Upto, Where I'm Headed in 2014<div class="MsoNormal">
Been a long time since I’ve invaded this space…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Much of that has to do with the inherent lack of time that
I’ve had since the last time I wrote. The training from John has definitely
kept me busy as I start heading into the 2014 racing season. Also, we produced
our last three races of 2013 and are pulling things together to get the store
open for March 1<sup>st</sup>. So you’ll forgive me if I haven’t been as
detailed as I might otherwise be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Speaking of the 2014 racing schedule, things are really
starting to fall into place. As I mentioned in my previous posting, John and I
are taking the long view to my attack on a Kona slot. I’m simply not there yet.
And so attempting a 2014 Kona qualification would be simply a fool’s errand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, we are looking at a two-year approach. This year
will focus on my weaknesses. My biggest hurdle is myself; mentally, staying
committed, staying in the uncomfortable zone of pushing hard when the going
gets tough. Yes, I’ve suffered in races; hell, you’ve heard it here before. But
having that mental ability to stay laser focused when all things are screaming
don’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My other two weaknesses are the swim (still) and finishing
the run strong. I’ve had some great front-half runs but I’ve never closed a
race quite the way I’ve wanted to. There’s two reasons for that: not staying
committed to the swim to make the improvements necessary to it, and not having
the run experience in order to trust it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That changes this year. The 2014 racing schedule includes a
lot of things that are different, all with the mindset of improvement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>January 18<sup>th</sup>, 2014: Charleston Marathon</b><br />
A marathon, you ask? Well, I’ve only run one of them. And I’d like to run one
of them at least decently, and not on a mere 6 weeks of training. So if you’ve
been following my Twitter and Strava feeds…this is what all that running is
for!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>April 5-6, 2014: Tour of the Battenkill</b><br />
My climbing on the bike last year was pathetic. There’s no other excuse for it.
I simply didn’t have the same biking legs when the road started to pitch vertically.
So, what better way to improve it than to go into the greatest one-day classic
America has that features 6000’ of climbing over 65 miles with plenty of dirt
roads to go along with it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>April 26, 2014: HITS Marble Falls 140.6</b><br />
This will be attempt #2 at 140.6 racing. This is part racing, and part market
research to see how HITS is doing. I certainly hope for them to do well; after
all, the market is better with competition.
But it’ll also be a good, hard, hot challenge, which is what is most
likely for when I decide to make my assault on WTC. *hint on 2015 schedule planning*<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>June 9, 2014: White Mountains Triathlon</b><br />
You may recall me calling this the hardest, dumbest race I’ve ever done. I’m
also a glutton for punishment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is all I can say for now. I’ve got to consult with John
more to figure out the remainder of the schedule. Will it make sense for me to
do more long-course racing? Should I instead focus on short, fast, intense
efforts to try and take that speed to the long-course level? That’s what we’re
going to find out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m also planning on entering a swim meet for the first
time…ever. If you’re going to get fast in the water, you best learn how to
suffer. And how better to suffer than by racing? Nothing hurts more than
swimming hard. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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In all, I’m excited to see where this next step in the
process heads. It’s been a joy to get to where I am now, and really stoked to
see where it heads to.<o:p></o:p></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-86740331791605205092013-09-28T17:23:00.001-07:002013-09-28T17:23:24.419-07:00Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End: 2013 Recap and 2014 PreviewWell, then. That didn't go as planned.<br />
<br />
2013 has been a hell of a year. There's been many ups and many downs along the way. To recap, in short order, the year since January:<br />
<br />
Had to buy (another) new bike.<br />
Started training for the full-distance race at Cedar Point.<br />
Enjoyed the remainder of ski season with my best friend, Josh.<br />
Started masters swimming.<br />
Worked the Boston expo, was supposed to be there on Marathon Monday, and wasn't because Hannah's grandfather was so ill.<br />
Lost Hannah's grandfather.<br />
I got hurt.<br />
Went to Quassy and had the whole Control-Alt-Delete experience.<br />
Went to Williamsburg and came home with a big decision to make.<br />
Decided to move to Virginia and join the workforce of Rev3.<br />
Moved and sold said new bike.<br />
Got on board a new old bike.<br />
Swam/biked/ran some.<br />
Went to Wisconsin. Trained. Came back.<br />
PR'd at Rev3 Maine.<br />
Got ready for Cedar Point.<br />
<br />
And then Cedar Point happened. To spare you all many of the pretty disturbing details: I swam what I wanted to swim, right around 1:10 (1:11:XX). Got out and ran out onto the bike. Went very light on the pedals to start the effort.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1234550_978884181221_502998109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1234550_978884181221_502998109_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, at least I looked #PRO.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Almost immediately, I couldn't put anything into the system. Just felt terrible. But I still had good legs, kept the effort right at that easy level. Felt like I could go all day. This went until I started vomiting at mile 60, which counted for the remainder of the bike. Awesome.<br />
<br />
Right around mile 90 I knew my day would come to an end at the end of the bike, but I couldn't do it myself. I needed Hannah there to help make the decision for me. And we all decided that yes, I should bag it. I then took my third trip to the medical tent of the season, where I found out I lost a little more than 5% of my body weight throughout the effort.<br />
<br />
Well then.<br />
<br />
2013's been a hell of a year. I can't complain about anything. But, as the post title suggests, there's a lot to be changing.<br />
<br />
I'm incredibly thankful of the coaching I've received via Doug Welling of The Sustainable Athlete over the past two seasons. I wouldn't be where I am in the sport without him, and his methods are second-to-none. I can't speak highly enough of him. If you're reading this, and you're in New England, and you want an awesome coach: Doug's your man.<br />
<br />
That said, I felt with my move to Virginia, it was also time to start shaking things up on the athletic front. For 2014, I've decided to head on with John Hirsch of Evil Racing Cult/CREW fame. Seeing as I've been pilfering some of his phrasing for a while (including the trademarked blanket of hatred and self-loathing one), it was high time to sign on up. I'm excited. We've hit it off well with schedule building for 2014 and seeing where things will take us.<br />
<br />
In the interim period of recovery (hey, when you look like this at the end of a race, you should probably take some time off):<br />
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<br />
I've been enjoying running and riding as I see fit. And dreaming big. Although I was planning on taking my shot at Kona 2014...well, we've pushed it back. And this is where I think working with John will be good for me: to dream, then draw up the appropriate plan of attack to get there, which may mean putting it on a different timeline than initially anticipated. And so 2014 is dedicated to working my ass off to get to where I want to be.<br />
<br />
So where shall it take me? Well, that's for another post. But I'll be doing some things I haven't done before: open marathon with proper training before it; a little cycling event called Battenkill; and more.<br />
<br />
But now? Now, I'll enjoy where I've been. Satisfied? Never.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-14715088427980400682013-08-31T17:19:00.001-07:002013-08-31T17:19:19.376-07:00You Never Know: Rev3 Maine Race Report<i>Quick Hits Edition: Broke my fifth metatarsal at the end of July. Didn't get to do the workouts I wanted to. Worked my tail off. Foot healed. Ran OK. Had one massive ride out at Skyline Drive. Swims sucked. All results in a brand new halfRev PR and my first race under 5 hours, all in honor of the man we lost and put me into the sport in the first place.</i><br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WZV2xJC0gHPu1vNCgGdpoYF-B7Y-qJD9Ghg3F-sv60iWJRyNiYSTfuxsLhgFHFyEbSNLpL4-eDGe5sj8mUJ0fkrlAz8IvrqBQoN54syL7qt8dukSTQBEiTLIHa1PyMWzhYYyEczhihw/s1600/img_4190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WZV2xJC0gHPu1vNCgGdpoYF-B7Y-qJD9Ghg3F-sv60iWJRyNiYSTfuxsLhgFHFyEbSNLpL4-eDGe5sj8mUJ0fkrlAz8IvrqBQoN54syL7qt8dukSTQBEiTLIHa1PyMWzhYYyEczhihw/s320/img_4190.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></span></span></div>
<i>Long Form Version:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<u>The Preparation: Moving, Oops I Broke My Foot, and Recovery</u><br />
Let's get a few things out of the way: it is not an ideal way to be training for long-course triathlon by changing jobs, moving halfway down the Eastern Seaboard, and having no bike.<br />
<br />
Fast-forward to the end of July. I was aboard my new-old bike.<br />
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<br />
(It's the same frame I was on last year, but one size smaller as it turns out it would be better for me. More on that in a minute.) I'd been running a bunch with Tim, who now also works for Rev3. And as it turns out, I have a 25-meter outdoor pool at my apartment complex! Not bad!<br />
<br />
So, Tim and I were out for a run at lunch. The Rev3 HQ and future home of Shop Rev3Tri (my tentative name for the place) is located across the interstate from the Manassas National Battlefield Park. We have a trail system that cuts from the shop, under the interstate at Bull Run, and right onto the battlefield. Awesome running!<br />
<br />
We went out for another one of our staple lunch runs: out to the field, around the visitor's center, and back. We'd been hitting some solid 7:10-7:20 pace for the entire 10K loop in the middle of the heat. Figured it'd be good heat acclimation.<br />
<br />
We start out cruising for the first little bit: well under 7:00 pace. Great. Tim's back in shape. I'm screwed.<br />
<br />
We make it under the under pass, and it's a bit damp from the previous night's rain. So we went higher than we normally did. Stepped down and<br />
<br />
CRUNCH<br />
<br />
OWWWWWWWW.<br />
<br />
I had hit a rock, and it rolled my foot onto the lateral side that wound up taking the brunt of the my landing force.<br />
<br />
I staggered a few steps. Well, it doesn't hurt much...<br />
<br />
...so I kept on trucking. I told Tim at the turn-around that I thought my foot was pretty well hosed. "Suck it up, princess. If it were that bad, you wouldn't be running." True. Right?<br />
<br />
Wrong. There was a PT in for a Retul fit later that day who noticed me limping. So I was told to get it X-rayed, which revealed the partial fracture of the fifth metatarsal. Into a boot. No running for two weeks, no kicking while swimming (leave the jokes about triathletes and their lack of kicking while swimming at home), and cycling if I could cram my foot into the shoe and it not hurt.<br />
<br />
Awesome. Project All-In has been a bust.<br />
<br />
Things healed relatively decently (I still have some flexibility issues on that toe). I rode Skyline Drive for the hilliest ride of my life. Lost out on a ride at Rev3 Wisconsin Dells to build aid stations. Because hey...stress is stress. Or something.<br />
<br />
I kept telling myself to remember how fit I was in July, all of the work that I had done. It hadn't gone anywhere, and the stress that I was introducing to my body was still fatiguing me, and I needed to recover from it. Although I wasn't receiving the same kind of cardiovascular load from the activity, I needed to still not try to overdo things and make up for sessions I'd missed.<br />
<br />
Also, I had in the back of my mind that I was trying to race Rev3 Maine for <a href="http://www.teamfight.org/" target="_blank">Ulman Cancer Fund's Team Fight,</a> in honor of my late father-in-law, as I mentioned in the previous post.<br />
<br />
With all that, it was time to load up and head to Maine.<br />
<br />
<u>Pre-Race: Expo Building, Working, and Enjoying Maine</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
We travelled on up to Maine on Wednesday evening, and promptly crashed.<br />
<br />
Woke up Thursday and got in a quick ride on the new bike, just trying to dial everything on in. Then headed off to work. Thursday is a hectic day in the life of a Rev3er. To give you a sense of what happens on Thursday:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Snow fencing goes up</li>
<li>Finish line arch is built</li>
<li>All the electrical gets run</li>
<li>Information, VIP, Registration, Medical, and Retail tents built</li>
<li>All vendor tents built</li>
<li>Retail fixtures are stacked, created, and merchandise received/put away</li>
<li>Transition racks mounted into place</li>
<li>Anything else we can cram in during the course of the day.</li>
</ul>
So, uh, that all happened. Thursday was also Sean's birthday. Sean is best-known as the voice of Rev3, and he wound up riding up the coast to celebrate. After Thursday wrapped, we all headed on up to Flatbread and had some phenomenal pizza, beer, and dessert.<br />
<br />
Friday rolled around and we started expo. Good times! Was a bunch of fun seeing everyone again, including nemesis <a href="http://bootstrapbobturner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bob Turner.</a><br />
<br />
Saturday. Pre-race day. The nerves really started to hit home today. I woke up and helped out with the Team TriSlide pit at the swim start. We got into the water and OH GOD THIS IS STUPID MIND-NUMBING COLD WHY DO I DO THIS OH GOD! This doesn't begin to accurately describe the alarm bells in my head.<br />
<br />
Swam for a bit, and after about 20 minutes I finally got adjusted a little bit. Just in time to start heading back to work!<br />
<br />
Got back, worked for a fair bit, and then headed out for a ride with teammate <a href="http://mhutto.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Michael Hutto</a>. He's one strong dude. There were a couple of times he put on surges that I had to respond to...and I had a whole bucket full of nothing. Quassy 2.0 flashed through the brain.<br />
<br />
Racked my bike and headed on back to work. Snagged some dinner and went to bed.<br />
<br />
<u>Sunday: It's Go Time.</u><br />
Woke up bright and early and downed breakfast: bacon, egg, and cheese wrap with a boatload of coffee. Good to go. Put on the Team FIGHT colors and was ready to roll.<br />
<br />
Got myself into transition early. Saw friends and fellow M25-29 Dr. Zev and Adam. Finished setting things up for the day and then took the 15 minute long walk down the beach to the swim start.<br />
<br />
I managed to get into the water for a bit to warm-up, and headed out after 5 mind-numbing minutes. Found Michael again, and we stood together for a few minutes, including during the National Anthem.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Soon, it was go time. Down into the chute. Joked with Eric (race director) about not working too hard. He said the work was over. I told him that seeing as he was done with work, he could take down the retail tent later. That didn't go over well.<br />
<br />
Countdown time. Nerves high. About time.<br />
<br />
10 to go. Luckily, I knew who would be blowing the air horn, so I could just watch for him to trigger it.<br />
<br />
Airhorn.<br />
<br />
<b>Swim: 37:29</b><br />
I was the first one into the water out of the group. Whoa. Me, in the lead. The hell? I lead out for the first 200 meters or so, when the group caught me.<br />
<br />
I knew I wasn't in strong swimming shape, but I figured I still had about a 34-35 minute swim in me. I tried to stay with the chase pack and find a set of feet to stay on, but people were just ALL over the place. Seems like the cold turned everybody's compass off, and we were adrift.<br />
<br />
Made it to the first turn buoy in 10 minutes. According to the swim diagram, that means I covered .35 miles, so I had averaged .15 miles per 5 minutes, or right on 35 minute swim pace. Not great, but not terrible.<br />
<br />
The problem: the long side of the course was against the current this year, unlike last year where it was with the current. I couldn't find anything to sight off of, but I wasn't being passed...so it can't be THAT bad, can it?<br />
<br />
Made the turn for home, put in what felt like a good solid push, put my feet down, looked at my watch...<br />
<br />
...and saw 37:XX.<br />
<br />
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<i>Oh my God.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I immediately threw out all expectations for the day. Forget going under 5 hours. Forget chasing Adam. Bob will be right up your tail soon.<br />
<br />
<b>T1: 5:03</b>.<br />
Took a nice run up from the swim start, all the way back to transition (it's over a third of a mile). I got some words of encouragement from Adam's girlfriend, Sam. I asked how far ahead he was, and was stoked to see him just leaving transition as I was leaving. This meant I knew that something had to be up with the swim, as he is 6-7 minutes faster than me normally and on this day he was barely 3 minutes up.<br />
<br />
Ran down to the bike, and got myself ready to rock.<br />
<br />
<b>Bike: 2:28:40</b><br />
I got over the mount line, and told myself repeatedly: ride smart.<br />
<br />
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You see, last year I went out with the goal to crush the bike and then run decently. This instead resulted in the survival shuffle.<br />
<br />
I decided that if anything, I would wait until the last hour of the bike to push. But I had already stopped checking the Garmin. I just didn't want to know. Figured I'd go off of feel. I was going to not push the hills; I was going to just enjoy everything.<br />
<br />
The first 15 miles clipped off uneventfully. I had a small draft-pack of aquabikers and M40-44 move past, followed by a tractor-trailer that was none too happy about this here triathlon taking place. Once he was past, all things carried on.<br />
<br />
We rolled into the hills, and this is the spot last year I blew my race apart. So this year I just kept a steady, even effort. Don't redline to climb. Just because you can climb like a madman does not mean you should do it during the course of the race. After all, you do still have to run...<br />
<br />
At about mile 40 is where the Durgin-Turner freight train trucked on past. I figured the way they were biking that they'd be dead meat come the run.<br />
<br />
I knew I'd been putting in some good pace as I had climbed past some fellow wave starters, and I wasn't moving backwards in the age-group. I kept wondering where Adam was, as I had caught him at Quassy relatively easily. But he was nowhere to be found.<br />
<br />
I took a glance at the Garmin at the mile 50 mark to realize that I'd be riding under 2:30. Awesome. But immediately, doubts crept back in: <i>did I overdo it? Am I going to blow up?</i> I told those voices to shut up, you can run, and that this is why I don't look at the Garmin.<br />
<br />
Came hauling back into town, flew off the bike, and away we went running into transition.<br />
<br />
<b>T2: 2:01</b><br />
I scrambled into T2, and for the first time, actually ran past my rack. Whoops!<br />
<br />
Hannah yelled down to me, and I asked how Adam was doing, when she informed me that he was 6:30 <i>ahead.</i> Holy crap. He was having a hell of a day!<br />
<br />
I slipped on the shoes and socks, and away we went.<br />
<br />
<b>Run: 1:45:14</b><br />
This is really the tale of two runs: the first 10 miles, and the last 5K.<br />
<br />
I took on off out of transition and felt really, really good. Saw fellow Rev3 mate Jordan (who I promptly called a sandbagger) and Michael, who were racing the Olympic. Again, I wanted to be sure I wasn't pushing or forcing the issue. The first few miles just clipped off.<br />
<br />
We turned onto the Eastern Trail and came upon the run turnaround for the Olympic. I was moving well, but determined to not look at the watch. I simply didn't want to know! I got passed by a guy in M30-34 who was amazed I'd be running that fast in the shoes I was wearing. Alright, so I have to be moving well, and I don't even feel like I'm breathing hard! Awesome!<br />
<br />
Out onto the exposed part of the course, and man it felt warm. I was determined, though, to just keep trucking. A little past the mile 6 marker, I saw Rick, Adam, and Bob in short order. Looks like I'd taken some time back! Sweet.<br />
<br />
Run turnaround time. I glanced at the watch and did some quick math: I have 57 minutes and change to make it home. If I can't do that, I need to be taken out back and shot.<br />
<br />
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We started on the way back, and through the warm part of the course. I walked this aid station to be sure to get water, salt, and cola into the system. Picked the pace back right on up, and that's where the first rumblings started.<br />
<br />
You see, Jordan has come up with the cleverly named pOOPS, referring to athletic induced stomach issues. And things were getting desperate at about mile 10. I glanced at the watch and realized that I had just under 30 minutes to get back to transition. So...if I had to walk a minute in order to prevent a full-scale crapstorm of the most literal sense...so be it.<br />
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I ran hard, until the stomach would seize up again, and then let it settle. Made the final turn and could see Lisa's Pizza in the distance, and knew that I'd had a hell of a day, and couldn't wait to pick up my plaque.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
See, ever since I'd decided to race for Team FIGHT at Maine, I knew I'd cross the finish line with the "In Honor Of" plaque I'd dedicated to Peter. The original plan was to have Hannah on the corner with it to be able to hand it off. As it turns out, Doug was there for me. He yelled out, and immediately I saw what he had. Snagged it, and made my way around transition.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Final corner...and the tears flow.<br />
<br />
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Finish. 4:58:25. 8th in the AG. 63rd Overall. BOOM STICK.<br />
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<br />
The realization and emotional let-go after racing for 70.3 miles.<br />
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<br />
Finally. Finally breaking through. Finally feeling like I executed everything. Finally feeling like I'd properly given everything I could to everybody. I finally nailed it. And to get to do it in front of so many family and friends...wow. I don't get here without all of you.<br />
<br />
Now, onward and upward. Recover. And do it all again for double the distance next weekend. Here we go! To use a saying from Peter to wrap this one up: <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>live every moment.</i></b></div>
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-24475555550165440992013-08-27T05:05:00.000-07:002013-08-27T05:05:20.454-07:00To All My Friends and to All My Acquaintances...
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<i>Editor's Note: This was written last week prior to Rev3 Maine. I will post my race report and feelings on the day later this week.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Growing up, summers were always my favorite time of the
year. After all, when your birthday is in August, you always look forward to
that time of year. </div>
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We also were lucky enough to have a pool in our yard, a
quiet neighborhood that let us ride our bikes everywhere, and an empty lot next
door that was perfect for running around, building bike courses, or doing
whatever we really wanted to do.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Summers have been a bit harder for the past three years.
Three years ago last month, we lost Peter to cancer. And it’s his loss that has
put me on the path that I’m on: to recognize that you must enjoy and embrace
every moment. To work hard but love what you do for work. To honor and cherish
your family and friends. And to live your dreams.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I’ve said before, one of my dreams has always been the
sport of triathlon, ever since the old Kona broadcasts. One month after Peter’s
death, I made the purchase of my first bike and entered my first race. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was his death, too, that made me recognize that I was not
enjoying the path that I was in through law school. And although incredibly
difficult to come to the conclusion that working in the running and multisport
business was what I enjoyed and what I needed to embrace, it was also
incredibly liberating. I never get there without Maggie and John at Maine
Running Company. They gave me the freedom to realize who I am, what I could do,
and let me run with it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That spring was my first triathlon: Revolution3 Quassy’s
HalfRev distance race. It put me into a world of hurt and a trip to the medical
tent, but I was hooked regardless. Without my experience at that race, there’s
no way I wind up applying for Team Rev3. And without my experience at Maine
Running Company and being a part of Team Rev3, I don’t wind up working for Rev3,
either.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This summer has been particularly trying: trying to train
for Rev3 Maine and Cedar Point; changing jobs; moving to Virginia and leaving
our friends and family in New England. In actuality, it is the culmination of
my journey over the past few years. This is everything that I’ve been working
for since that moment I decided to pursue triathlon in 2010.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In some ways, it’s bittersweet to be getting ready to race
Cedar Point. I’ve been looking forward to that moment of that first fullRev
distance event for a while; what happens if I don’t succeed the way that I
think I should? But that’s where enjoying the process is important: I love the
workouts, the processes of building fitness. I love my job. I love interacting
with people and helping them achieve their dreams. In a way, that’s what I had
gone to law school for; to help people. But I’ve found, at least through my
interactions, that I have a better chance at helping people through athletics
than I do trying to navigate our admittedly adversarial legal system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve come to recognize that I’m really lucky to have had the
experiences that I’ve had. I have some of the best sponsors in the world.
Blueseventy is phenomenal with wetsuits. I love my Helix, but having suits that
also do so well for the novices and intermediates in the sport is fantastic.
PowerBar is making fantastic nutritional products these days, including my
personal favorite nutrition product on the market: their Energy Blends
Blueberry-Banana fruit puree. Reynolds wheels have been fantastic. I’m
absolutely in love with the 72 Aero wheel matched up with the Continental
GP4000s. Pearl Izumi’s apparel is the best I’ve found, and the EM running line
has really made a competitive shoe line. Biotta beet juice is delicious and can
be performance-boosting. NormaTec and Compex have helped keep me injury-free
through all of this moving with their compression and muscle stimulation
products. Quintana Roo is making some innovative bikes that offer a great fit
and value to athletes. SBR Sports has saved my rear-end, literally, with their
TriSlide, and does an awesome job killing chlorine-scent with their TriSwim
line-up. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And also, a huge shout-out to the folks with Revolution3
that got me to where I am today: Carole Sharpless and Charlie Patten. Carole is
who heads up Team Rev3. I was lucky enough to have somehow stuck out of the
pile in one way or another to her when I applied a few years ago. You can’t ask
for much better for a team leader than her, and we on Team Rev3 are lucky to
have her. Charlie is the guy who makes Rev3 happen. He, too, is here based on
experience: through his racing, he saw a need for something better. Spectating
events is harder than it is racing them. Giving something for the family to do,
hosting races in places that aren’t just race towns but great vacation areas,
is incredibly difficult but somehow he makes it all work. I can’t ever thank
them enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, my family and friends. I don’t get here without
you. Your support has meant the world. Letting me squeeze workouts in, coming
to spectate events, watching me push myself to my limits (and then beyond), or
helping me push there. It means the world, and I can only hope that I give you
thanks enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Hannah, well, there’s never enough words. So, let’s go
with I love you and thanks for being along for the ride…and go from there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here we go. Two and a half weeks of insanity. Time to
enjoy the journey.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-78589883545106351442013-07-11T07:00:00.001-07:002013-07-11T07:00:05.608-07:00Detour: Moving to VirginiaSo, we've been a bit hectic around the CtB offices as of late.<br />
<br />
Hannah and I are moving to Virginia. In two weeks or so.<br />
<br />
This is, obviously, throwing a bit of a wrench in a lot of plans that I'd had. But hey, no biggie...what can you do?<br />
<br />
I am taking a job with Revolution3. I can't say enough good things about this series. It truly is a family, and I feel honored that they offered to bring me on board.<br />
<br />
I can't thank Maggie, John, and Bill at Maine Running enough. They took me in when I was broken and miserable, and made me realize where my passions lay. Without them, I am not where I am today. I am forever grateful to them.<br />
<br />
Now, seeing as we're moving...<br />
<br />
I have some stuff to sell. Including Shiva, the destroyer of worlds:<br />
<br />
2013 Specialized Shiv Pro size XL<br />
SRAM Force drivetrain, crank, derailleurs<br />
American Classic Aero 420 wheels<br />
Profile Design ProSvet basebar and T2 extensions<br />
Photo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIlVMs6CszwKkFwgGXyI-bFBdvPXQQk-ZuuxqT7XqcdAxJ1T-gTZi7Vm7G70FNv0RHRfOMtvzt-eEd_bWD8C4fYFnAPXTba1cZJTqed6aPshUFCut90YXYTpk9qLhmjKk0IUekIgDqBY/s1600/487223_864722292561_665994998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIlVMs6CszwKkFwgGXyI-bFBdvPXQQk-ZuuxqT7XqcdAxJ1T-gTZi7Vm7G70FNv0RHRfOMtvzt-eEd_bWD8C4fYFnAPXTba1cZJTqed6aPshUFCut90YXYTpk9qLhmjKk0IUekIgDqBY/s320/487223_864722292561_665994998_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
All you need are pedals and a saddle and you're good to go. Asking $3600. Free shipping. Needs to go ASAP. I need to afford to move!<br />
<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-19796319137023083342013-06-19T12:52:00.003-07:002013-06-19T12:52:40.261-07:00Stranger Things Have Happened: White Mountains Triathlon Race ReportNobody has ever accused me of being all that smart. I'm walking, talking proof that just because someone has a doctorate degree, it is not a reflection of their total overall intelligence.<br />
<br />
To prove this point: so, I had what is known as a <a href="http://crashingtheboards.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-deepest-blues-are-black-rev3-quassy.html" target="_blank">vasovagal response at Rev3 Quassy</a>. This is, to put it bluntly, like the CONTROL-ALT-DELETE for your body. Somebody pushed it for five seconds. I shut down. And just like a Windows Vista computer, it took me a while to reboot. And even when I did reboot, it took a while for all the systems to re-stabilize and get to a point where I was actually useful again. (We're a Mac household, in case you can't tell.)<br />
<br />
Well, naturally, I had a big old chip on my shoulder coming from it. So I went and raced the local Pirate Tri last weekend. First ever sprint race. Had a blast.<br />
<br />
But still, it gnawed at me that I hadn't been able to set out and finish what I started at Quassy. There wasn't anything on the <a href="http://www.rev3tri.com/" target="_blank">Rev3</a> schedule that would fit in for me, as I'll be working at Williamsburg and the next race through them that I could have put on the schedule would've been Rev3 Maine. Which is already on the schedule. And I didn't want to sit and wait that long.<br />
<br />
There were two events on the local calendar that intrigued me. The first was the New England TriFest in Vermont at the end of the month. The second was the <a href="http://www.whitemountainstriathlon.com/" target="_blank">White Mountains Triathlon</a>. Both are first year events, but the timing of White Mountains made more sense for me (as, when I go to Williamsburg, it is unlikely I'll be able to get much done in terms of training.)<br />
<br />
The other key component: its near Hannah's family, set at Cannon Mountain in Franconia, NH. Absolutely stunning overall.<br />
<br />
On Monday, the decision was made: I was going to White Mountains.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, my throat started to get a little sore. No big deal.<br />
<br />
Wednesday: congestion sets in. You must be kidding me.<br />
<br />
Thursday: sinus headache galore.<br />
<br />
Friday: Go and get myself some Claritin. Feeling a bit better.<br />
<br />
Saturday: Claritin continues to help. But now I'm starting to cough.<br />
<br />
Saturday night: Feel like ass. I tell Hannah that tomorrow will depend on how I feel in the morning.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning: Alarm goes off at 4:00. Wake up and immediately hack out a whole bunch of stuff. But the congestion is pretty much gone. Take some hard, fast breaths to see if it sounds raspy/congested. Nothing. The question I had to ask myself: would I go out and try and train if I felt this way? I answered yes, so I said that we might as well go for it.<br />
<br />
Drove to Franconia, had my breakfast in the car, got my gear together, and ready to rock and roll.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Got down to the swim location and OH MY GOD THIS IS THE COLDEST WATER EVER. It *might* have been 60 degrees. Emphasis on the word might. This is probably the only time I ever would have wished for my blueseventy Helix to have had thicker arm panels.<br />
<br />
We got down onto the beach for the swim start. One sign of a very unique race location: you could see a black bear climbing up the slopes of one of Cannon's ski trails.<br />
<br />
All of a sudden, the countdown was on.<br />
<br />
One minute to go.<br />
<br />
10 seconds to go.<br />
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<br />
GO.<br />
<br />
<b>Swim: 33:34</b><br />
Out of the gate, we got up and got going. There was a good sized lead group of 4-5 guys. I tried to get on their feet and put on the chase.<br />
<br />
All of a sudden I looked up and there was a 50-meter gap between us in the chase pack and the lead group. And not only that, but we were WAY the hell off course. The whole pack had gone to the left. I immediately put in a hard cut right to get back on line for the turn buoy.<br />
<br />
This was a two-loop swim. I got out of the water for the first loop in 15:34. Pretty solid start to the day. We ran across the beach, and got back in...<br />
<br />
...and I got disoriented really quickly. It's the first time I've ever done a two-loop swim, and it's evident that quickly going from horizontal to upright to horizontal in 20 seconds isn't exactly an ideal way to put some work in.<br />
<br />
I got to the halfway point of the second lap and had my first coughing fit of the day. The internal dialogue went something like this:<br />
<br />
<i>This sucks.</i><br />
Shut up.<br />
<i>If it gets much worse, you probably shouldn't keep going.</i><br />
Yeah, I know. We'll keep an eye on it.<br />
<i>You sure?</i><br />
No. But well, are we going to quit right now?<br />
<i>Absof***inglutely not.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
By the next sight buoy I had perfected the art of blowing my nose and coughing into the water without slowing down at all swimming.<br />
<br />
I got to the last sight buoy and decided to put in a push. I knew I needed to keep myself on the gas overall. I got up and saw 32:xx. Knew it was slower than Quassy, but that it wasn't a terrible swim, either.<br />
<br />
<b>T1: 5:06.50</b><br />
Unlike last weekend, this was not a case of me having a picnic lunch.<br />
<br />
Instead, this was a run up from the water. Get the wetsuit, goggles, and swim caps off. Stuff them into a transition bag. Put on your old running shoes (in this case, my old Pearl Izumi IsoTransitions). And run the four-tenths of a mile up to transition. Take those shoes off. Put the helmet on. Sunglasses on. Grab your extra flask of nutrition. And roll to the mount line.<br />
<br />
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<b>Bike: 2:52:49</b><br />
The bike course immediately started with a 10% grade downhill, screaming towards Franconia. The road conditions were in pretty rough shape, so the race directors had given us instructions to take it easy till we got about two miles into the course.<br />
<br />
To put in perspective, I listened, and still was at about 35 MPH+ for the first two miles of the course. Not bad.<br />
<br />
Started spinning my legs out and had a very lonely feeling. There wasn't anybody anywhere near me. I had no idea where I stood; I had no idea if I was going the right way. Somebody in a Boston Tri Team kit came up soon, so luckily I knew I was headed the right way. OK, head down, do work, and just keep going till you can't go anymore.<br />
<br />
I was testing out a new nutrition plan, and felt pretty darn good. More carbohydrates and more electrolytes per hour. Many thanks to Christine Lynch for putting it together.<br />
<br />
I got to the halfway mark of the bike and did a systems check. Still felt good. Didn't feel like I was pushing too hard, watts were below what I wanted to average by a good bit.<br />
<br />
I knew the course had a fairly decent amount of climbing. What I didn't realize is that the last 18 miles of the bike course were flat out <i>insane</i>.<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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I knew it was going to be a long second half of the day when I got to the first climb (King of the Mountains stage) and I had nothing in the tank.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Uh oh.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You didn't overcook it.</div>
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<i>Yeah, so why do your legs feel like they're lead?</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Couldn't possible be because you're sick?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>True. So, what's the plan?</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Keep on the throttle with everything you've got it and go till you've got nothing left to give.</div>
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<i>Roger that.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kept on trucking along. I knew I was still in OK shape because, even though the legs felt dead, they never cramped on me. So I wasn't in an overbiked situation; instead, I just had to work with what I had.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At about mile 54, the course headed onto a bike path to get over the Interstate. I couldn't push the pedals over quick enough. Had snot/foam coming out of my nose. Couldn't get above 15 MPH.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>So, killer, you going to bag it now?</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Can I at least try and run first?</div>
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<i>Don't you remem...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
SHUT IT. We're running.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mercifully, we rounded the bend and transition was in sight. Get me off of this thing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<b>T2: 1:42</b><br />
I rolled into transition, got my stuff set back where it was supposed to, and got my socks and shoes on. Went to tighten the lace on my right shoe...and the speed lace lock came apart in my hands.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but laugh. I luckily had enough lace left over to be able to tie it. And away we went.<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>Run: 1:56:12</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I tore off down the hill to start my first run loop. This was a modified two-loop run course; you went down, turned around, came just about all the way back. Turn-around and head all the way back out. Then on the loop in, you took a different route around the lake to head to the finish.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I clipped through the first couple of miles. Had to hit the port-o-john, which also gave me the opportunity to blow my nose and finally breathe out of the darn thing for the first time all day. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Got out and started climbing the first hill of the day...and started coughing. Hard. Stopped me in my tracks.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>You must be kidding me. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is what it is.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>So, what's your plan?</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Run as hard to the border of coughing all day as I can. And hope I don't cross it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Luckily, the remainder of the run to the turnaround felt good. It seemed like, outside of those couple of climbs, it was pretty flat to gently rolling. I made the turnaround...<br />
<br />
...and realized that all of that "flat" was actually <i>downhill</i> that I'd now be running.<br />
<br />
Epic failure of gradient judgment.<br />
<br />
Made it through the first run lap in 51 minutes. Felt strong. Felt like I was on pace to be able to mirror it and have my best run split ever.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
And then the coughs came again.<br />
<br />
And again.<br />
<br />
And again.<br />
<br />
I was doubled over, just unleashing every ounce of lung capacity to expel whatever it was in my chest. I was pissed off. I ran pretty pissed off; my pace whenever I wasn't busy hacking away was somewhere between 6:55 and 7:20.<br />
<br />
I got to the last mile. I knew I hadn't had my best time on course; far from it. But this was my best effort. I had wrung everything out of myself that I'd had on that day.<br />
<br />
No nutrition failure. No mental mistakes. I had done everything I could.<br />
<br />
And for that, I felt like I'd won.<br />
<br />
I came up the hill to the cross the line and pointed to the sky. This race was right in Hannah's backyard, so naturally I thought of Peter.<br />
<br />
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And then it was over.<br />
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<br />
I got over the line and gave Hannah a hug. Saw some friends from Maine and celebrated their days. And made my way over to the results table. Hey, might as well see how I did.<br />
<br />
<i>Well I'll be damned</i>.<br />
21st Overall, 4th in M25-29, bumped to 3rd as our AG winner was the Overall Champion.<br />
<br />
Podium time!<br />
<br />
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<br />
As always, thanks to all of my family, friends, and sponsors for being along for this journey. Couldn't do it without you.<br />
<br />
So what's next? Not sure yet. For now, just going to reflect and enjoy.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-14586098767615844012013-06-12T06:29:00.003-07:002013-06-12T06:29:55.681-07:00Redemption Song: Tri-Maine Pirate Tri Race ReportSo after last weekend's disast-debacle at <a href="http://crashingtheboards.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-deepest-blues-are-black-rev3-quassy.html" target="_blank">Rev3 Quassy</a>, I took a look at my schedule and decided that I needed to go racing. My legs felt great (after all, I really only did a swim-bike brick with a 2.5 mile tempo run), I didn't feel tired, so I figured I might as well use some of the fitness I've built this spring.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tri-maine.com/" target="_blank">Tri-Maine</a> is a local event production company that helps put on <a href="http://www.rev3tri.com/" target="_blank">Rev3 Old Orchard Beach</a>, as well as the store's Endless Summer 5-Miler. I've never had the opportunity to race one of their sole branded events. In fact, the only triathlon race distance I have ever competed in is the halfRev. So it was about time to change that.<br />
<br />
Saturday featured an absolute panic moment as I discovered one of the issues from Rev3 Quassy: the adapter on my frame to run the SRM had come loose, leading to a clicking noise while under load and driveline loss. I immediately popped off, got the tools I needed, cleaned everything out, re-greased liberally, and re-applied everything. Tip of the cap to Josh Freeman for the knowledge he's shared over the years which led to me being able to find that problem in short order and fix it immediately.<br />
<br />
Packed the bag on up, and got myself to bed at an early hour. An 8:30 race time meant a bit more sleep than normal for one of these things.<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday Morning</b><br />
Woke up at 5:00 to get breakfast going. I wanted to be out the door by 5:45 to make the drive out to Sebago, about 25 miles away. Managed to hit my target time for a change.<br />
<br />
Rolled on up and immediately spotted my nemesis, Bob Turner. Bob and I have a long-standing swath of destruction with one another. I blew my race up at Rev3 Maine last year by chasing him on the bike. The Friday Night Fights series has featured round after round of trash talk between one another. It helps push us to reach for new limits. So our friendly rivalry was put to the test.<br />
<br />
I also had a couple of other targets to watch for: my good friend Adam, who dragged me out of the road last weekend, as well as Tom Norton. Tom is one fast dude. His brother runs the beer shop that I frequent here in town, and Tom is a hell of an athlete. I knew I had my work cut out for me to have a shot of beating him, but I figured a good swim-bike might give me the cushion I needed.<br />
<br />
Laid everything out, got my <a href="http://www.blueseventy.com/" target="_blank">blueseventy Helix</a> on, and got in for a swim warm-up.<br />
<br />
<i>Ice cream headache!</i><br />
HOLY CRAP THIS IS COLD WHAT IS THIS.<br />
<br />
The water <i>might</i> have been 62 degrees. It was COLD. Adam got in to his toes, went "oh no," and immediately started doing some sprints on the beach. With his wetsuit on. Yeah, that cold.<br />
<br />
Men under 40 comprised the third wave of the day, after two novice waves and a 7 minute lead time. We loaded into the corral. Adam, Tom, and I all lined up towards the left hand side.<br />
<br />
30 seconds.<br />
<i>Good luck today, bud. Let's have some fun.</i><br />
15 seconds.<br />
<i>Easy, easy. You got this.</i><br />
5 seconds.<br />
<i>Deep breath. All that master's swimming. Light it up.</i><br />
GO.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Swim: 9:04, 21st OA</u></b><br />
We sprinted into the water. Immediately, the top two overall guys (Vinnie Johnson and Kyle Burnell) were GONE. I was on Adam's feet. Tom fell away immediately.<br />
<br />
It was pretty crowded out of the gate. I was right on the buoy line, and sighted about every 8th stroke. There was another guy that was right on my right. We were in sync on the stroke front, so we slapped hands for a little bit.<br />
<br />
I put in a small surge to get in front of him, because it was getting annoying. The whole pack was still pretty much together...<br />
<br />
...and then I was by myself, with the couple of guys in front, and everyone else gone. I sighted again, and I was on course. But everybody else had slowed down. Guess that masters swimming has really paid off!<br />
<br />
I put in another surge as soon as I rounded the last turn. We started getting into the back half of the novice waves. I felt bad for them, simply because you have this freight train of athletes coming up from behind that, if not careful, will swim right over the top. For the first time, I managed to avoid swimming over somebody.<br />
<br />
I swam till my hands touched the bottom, popped up, and saw that the swim was a bit longer than the advertised 1/3 of a mile. But I was happy with the pacing and the effort.<br />
<br />
<b><u>T1: 1:28.6 (slower than molasses going uphill in January)</u></b><br />
Holy Christmas, what a terrible transition!<br />
<br />
I got caught behind a couple of people walking the chute into transition. OK, no biggie, make it up as you get out of the wetsuit and onto the bike.<br />
<br />
I couldn't get my left ankle out of the suit. I had run out of TriSlide at the race. I'd thought I'd gotten my ankles well...and I was wrong.<br />
<br />
Get out of the wetsuit, OK. Then I couldn't get the swim cap off! Comedy of errors. I finally get everything on, make the run, and hop on board the bike. Jeez, you have some work to do...<br />
<br />
<b><u>Bike: 37:50 (5th fastest bike of the day, 5th OA)</u></b><br />
Immediately on the bike, and it's time to lay the hammer down. Get the SRM on and away we go.<br />
<br />
I am FLYING on this course. Immediately pass a couple of people who swam a bit better than I. Pretty close to redline, but still feeling like I'm in control of the effort overall.<br />
<br />
It's a third of the way into the bike and I see the familiar Pearl Izumi kit of Adam. Holy crap, I just rode that 45 seconds out of him that quickly? Good Lord! We're moving!<br />
<br />
There's a third athlete in our age group who keeps playing leap-frog with us. So we all follow the rules: if we get passed, back for 15 seconds, drop out of the zone, re-enter, pass again. And just keep making huge efforts.<br />
<br />
I averaged 285 watts on the ride. Could've gone a bit deeper, especially towards the end of the ride, but wanted to salvage something resembling running legs.<br />
<br />
Flying dismount, and here we go.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b><u>T2: 0:44.4</u></b><br />
Alright, now we're talking. Still slow...but better than before.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Run: 20:56 (Final Placement: 10th OA).</u></b><br />
I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was nervous as hell getting onto the run. After all, with what had happened the weekend before, I didn't want it to happen again. So I didn't know what the effort would feel like, or anything.<br />
<br />
Also, idiot me screwed with his watch coming out of transition, so I had no idea what the actual timing looked like.<br />
<br />
Adam was GONE. He put in a big surge coming out of transition and gapped me by a good 20-30 seconds. I kept trying to find something in the legs...<br />
<br />
...and it wouldn't come.<br />
<br />
Blew through the first mile. Saw Vinnie and Kyle hustling back towards transition. OK, good for them. Gotta find your legs now, buddy. You still have a chance of getting Tom.<br />
<br />
"That swim sucked."<br />
<br />
Great. Here's Tom. At mile 1.5. And he's an 18:XX 5K guy. Guess I'll be the one buying beer!<br />
<br />
Him blowing my doors off, though, was a good thing, as I could finally dig in and get my run legs going. I wanted to at least keep a couple of these guys in my sights.<br />
<br />
Mile 2, got some water in my system, and kept rolling. Adam rounded the corner to head back towards transition. I looked around and realized that I'd pretty much locked in my position for the day. I just wanted to keep a comfortable hard pace going for the rest of the run. Figured I'd finish between 1:09 high and very low 1:10.<br />
<br />
Rounded the last corner of the run and saw I had about 15 seconds to get under 1:10. Missed it by two seconds. Darn!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/995680_10201306097084118_1237364693_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/995680_10201306097084118_1237364693_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suffer face. Thumbs up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Bob came up behind about 90 seconds later. He had an absolutely amazing day, including the fastest I've ever seen him run. To put in perspective: Bob was 6th OA, Tom 7th, Adam 9th, and myself 10th. We all pushed one another to some great heights. The spread between us was 1:44.<br />
<br />
Now, you'd think that a top 10 OA finish would lead to a good placement in the age group. I was 5th! There are some very fast folks in M25-29 right now. Well done to everybody.<br />
<br />
In all, it was great to push on through. And to give Jesse Thomas a run for the new Hairiest Chest in Triathlon Award.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1524_10201306096884113_2013516450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1524_10201306096884113_2013516450_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, where's my gold chain?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-18562062508515537302013-06-04T06:09:00.002-07:002013-06-05T10:59:12.114-07:00The Deepest Blues are Black: Rev3 Quassy DNF Report.I'm enjoying my blanket of hatred and self-loathing at the moment. (Many, many thanks to Christine for that gem of a phrase.)<br />
<br />
Let's get the quick hits out of the way: I had my first race DNF ever. I wish I could say that it was because I simply wasn't tough enough to gut through the day; I wish I could say that it was an injury that I could point my finger at. Instead, I'm left with a whole lot of questions, and my security blanket of "what the hell is wrong with me?" (Well, more than normal.)<br />
<br />
At any rate, here's the long version of the report:<br />
<br />
<b>Leading Up: Project All-In.</b><br />
The goal with this race was to go under five hours. Let there be no mistake here; I was either going under five hours or I was going to fly very close to the sun and my wings would melt off.<br />
<br />
Of course, the best laid plans can be derailed, which with my back/piriformis thing that went on, I missed some workouts in the lead up. But I felt like I was still firing on all cylinders when I needed to dig in. I thought that, with some willingness to suffer, we'd still be right on track.<br />
<br />
As it was, we figured that off of my training numbers, a solid race breakdown would look like this:<br />
<br />
Swim--32:00<br />
Bike--2:35:00<br />
Run--1:40:00<br />
Transitions: 4:00<br />
Total: 4:51:00<br />
<br />
This lead to this exchange on Twitter the day before the race:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/rrheisler">rrheisler</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/tdarling1">tdarling1</a> that's what's we want to hear!!<br />
— KPerham (@KPerham) <a href="https://twitter.com/KPerham/status/340954576096219136">June 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
This Tweet proves a bit humorous in retrospect. Seriously...who says that? (referring to myself).<br />
<br />
Of course, as we all know: it proved insanely hot during the weekend of the race. I was working with the Rev3 crew in retail, and we were busy trying to keep people hydrated and make sure to get some electrolytes in, too. I probably overdid it a bit by pulling a couple 12-hour days before the race, but in the back of my head I also knew: I've finished this race before messing up everything, so I'll be fine.<br />
<br />
Yep. You can see where this is going.<br />
<br />
We put some sweet Reynolds 72 Aeros on the bike, took it out for a test spin where everything felt good. My SRM decided it wasn't going to work. (<i>Editor's Note: As it turns out, the sensor cable was being pinched by the Shiv bladder. Sigh...)</i> Fine, I know what too hard feels like. Did a quick one mile run, and then racked everything up. Went to dinner with the Rev3 Retail crew, and then headed to bed. It's go time.<br />
<br />
<b>Race Morning: Relaxation</b><br />
I woke up on Sunday pretty calm. Finished packing up my bags, headed over to the race site, wrapped up transition pretty easily, and got myself some breakfast. Made fun of Charlie, gave Eric my thanks for the primo spot in transition, and just had some fun.<br />
<br />
The thing I noticed the most was how relaxed I felt. There was no pressure. I felt like I had done so much work, now it's time to just show off a little bit. I was so relaxed, in fact, I missed the pro starts. I didn't get down onto the beach until about 30 minutes before my swim wave start.<br />
<br />
New this year is a great swim warm-up at the start, which was much appreciated. Put in two simulated starts, just to get the heart rate up for a minute. And got myself ready to go.<br />
<br />
Adam joined me at the start line, and soon it was time for Sean English to give the counts:<br />
<br />
One minute to go.<br />
30 seconds to go.<br />
10 seconds. Relax. Have fun.<br />
5 seconds. Get ready.<br />
<br />
Air horn. Go time.<br />
<br />
<b>Swim: 32:09</b><br />
I had joined a masters swimming program here in Maine, and it has proven incredibly beneficial. I felt very confident in the water, and knew that I could really push the swim if I so chose, but a comfortable pace would give me a 32:00 swim.<br />
<br />
The initial rush into the water was pretty controlled. I had lined up to the left of the start, plotting a direct line toward the turn buoy. The swim at Quassy is a triangle. Directly behind the buoy this year was a large pile of rocks, so there was something to pretty easily sight off of.<br />
<br />
Adam immediately was gone. I tried to stay with him for the first 200 meters, and then just let him go. I found some feet and tried to stay on them. This proved effective until the second sight buoy, when we started running into the previous swim wave. After flopping around a little bit, I worked my way to the left edge, a route that some of the pro men had taken. I knew this was a little bit longer, but figured I'd be making up the time rather than getting kicked and fighting with people for space.<br />
<br />
I had set my Garmin to alarm every five minutes so I knew where I was time-wise. Made it to the first turn buoy just after the watch had alerted for the second time. You make the turn, and you're just staring into the sun. One of the lucky parts of being a later swim wave, though, is that you get to see what direction the masses are heading in, so just follow in.<br />
<br />
I sighted about every 8th stroke. This was a good compromise for me between speed and staying on track. I'd already gone far left once, and didn't want to do much more extra swimming than I had to.<br />
<br />
I made the second turn buoy just after the Garmin alarmed for the fourth time, so I knew I was right where I wanted to be. I also knew from experience that the sighting buoys for this last stretch pointed you a little more in the direction of the beach where you started, rather than the swim exit itself. That had a different red buoy on it, to make sure people didn't run into the dock that sits there. So I set my sights on that deck and swam right for it.<br />
<br />
The watch alarmed again just as I got near the deck, so I knew I was right where I wanted to be. Swam until my hand hit the bottom, started to get up, looked at the watch, and saw 31:55. BOOM. Takes a couple seconds to reach the timing mat, but I knew I was right where I wanted to be.<br />
<br />
<b>T1: 2:04</b><br />
I struggled a second with the right leg of my wetsuit, which cost me a few seconds. It was really crowded at the mount line, so it took a second to find some clear space to get up and get going. And away we went.<br />
<br />
<b>Bike: 2:46:07</b><br />
I got up and got going on the bike. Gave myself a little while to let my stomach settle, and then started sucking down some nutrition. I went with about 600 calories of my drink mix in about 66 oz. of fluid. I also had 400 calories of gels in a nutrition flask, mixed with a little water.<br />
<br />
Once again, I was preaching patience to myself. Get down to Thomaston with a full tank of gas, and then get up and get going.<br />
<br />
My back started to act up a little bit almost immediately in the ride. I slid a little bit on the saddle, found what felt like a very comfortable position, and got back on the pedals.<br />
<br />
I felt like the bike was sluggish. As in, is something rubbing? I can't push any gear! I checked, found the wheels were where they were supposed to be. I didn't find anything that I could fix...so away we went again. Guess I'd need to be doing my work on the downhills, etc.<br />
<br />
My plan was to snag a bottle of water at every aid station. So I needed to make sure I was getting my nutrition in. I got through the first bottle pretty quickly and was able to grab my bottle at mile 15. Half over the head, half into the tank.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I gaffed the bottle exchange at mile 30. Went to snag the new bottle, got it, got some over my head and some in the mouth, and simply missed the bottle cage on my bike. It rolled directly into the "last chance to throw trash" location...so I lucked out there. I also knew that the next aid stations was in 12 miles, so I had enough on board to keep working with what I had.<br />
<br />
I knew Adam would be ahead of me getting out of the water. I was hoping to catch up with him around the out and back on the bike. At mile 35 I saw the Pearl Izumi P.R.O. kit and Kuota. I yelled up to him. He turned around, and it was on.<br />
<br />
We kept legal distance and traded position a fair bit. Still felt like something was rubbing on the bike. I just couldn't push anything out. Alright, go with what you brought to the table...<br />
<br />
Hit the last little bit of the bike course, and got ready for transition. Got the last bit of nutrition in that I could, and was ready to go.<br />
<br />
<b>T2: 1:14</b><br />
Got into transition, racked the bike, sat down, threw my shoes on, and got myself ready to head on out. Ran into Eric, got a high five, saw that Adam had beat me out of transition by two seconds. Dammit.<br />
<br />
<b>Run: 18:40 (or so my Garmin says).</b><br />
I ran out of transition, and felt a little crampy in the legs, but otherwise OK. I knew that it was going to take 1:40 to come in right at the five hour mark.<br />
<br />
Told Adam when I caught with him that I wanted to puke. This is pretty common when I get to the run. My stomach and I simply aren't friends when it comes to the run for these things. I have to wonder what, nutritionally, might make up for that. I still haven't gotten that right.<br />
<br />
Flew through mile 1, as it is screaming downhill. I took ice, water, and cola. Everything I could to cool off, get some calories in, and hopefully settle the stomach a little.<br />
<br />
I remember it feeling really, really hot out on the road, but nothing moreso than normal. I was getting ready to find that mental zone of being comfortable with being uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
Made the right turn to head towards the hills. Still feeling pretty warm, but otherwise OK.<br />
<br />
The aid station for mile 2.5 comes at the top of the hill. I remember seeing it from the bottom of the hill, and starting to grind up the hill.<br />
<br />
Then I thought, "I don't remember these sunglasses being this dark."<br />
I still feel queasy, but OK. Get something at the aid station.<br />
Almost there.<br />
<br />
From what I've been told, this is where I went down. Like someone shot me. Down. Done. Nothing.<br />
<br />
The next thing I remember is Adam trying to pull on my arm to get me out of the road.<br />
<br />
I couldn't see.<br />
<br />
Adam yelled out to the aid station volunteers. Somebody brought over a ton of ice. I started getting it everywhere I could. I didn't know what the hell just happened, but if it was body temperature related I was getting it down right now.<br />
<br />
I then asked for the grocery store: cola. Salt. Pretzels. Ice. Water. Everything, please. I felt a little bit better.<br />
<br />
Naturally, trying to be a hero, I decided "well shit, I'm going to finish this thing!" I tried to stand up. Everything started spinning again.<br />
<br />
Day's over.<br />
<br />
Fuck.<br />
<br />
I'll take my blanket of hatred and self-loathing now, please.<br />
<br />
Got a ride back to transition, where I made the call to get into the ice bath. Even though my core temp reading was overall pretty normal, I figured it'd be worth it regardless.<br />
<br />
<b>So, what the hell happened?</b><br />
Well, it's my thought currently that there were three things wrong: heat, overexertion/system overload (I'm now working on a little bit of a sore throat/cold thing, so I wonder if my system had that in it and was trying to do that while I was asking it to race near redline for five hours...), and nutrition failure.<br />
<br />
I simply don't think I've got the nutrition right. When your stomach continually is revolting against you when you get to the run, regardless of racing or training, something can't be right. I haven't found something yet where my stomach is happy, and my body feels right. It's always been a compromise.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, I wound up getting in about 230 calories/hour in on the bike. I've raced on more, and I've raced on less...but I don't know if it's the right thing yet. I've experimented a lot, and it looks like its time to experiment more.<br />
<br />
Found a couple of things wrong with the bike, which may or may not have had an impact on things. But I also think that, next time, I'll need to be a little smarter with how much I do before a race.<br />
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<b>What's Next</b><br />
Well, overall I feel OK now. It's time to figure out how to make sure it doesn't happen again.<br />
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Rev3 Old Orchard Beach is a mere 82 days away; Rev3 Cedar Point, 96 days out. Do I wait that long before going racing again? Not quite sure yet. I want to just go hammer out another race. Perhaps Williamsburg. I'll be consulting with Doug to figure it all out. I was planning on using OOB as my last hard training day for Cedar Point...do I want to be trying to hammer out a big sub 5 two weeks before a FullRev? Or do I go out there in a couple of weeks to dial it in? Still need to work it out with Doug.<br />
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There's a lot to learn and sift through. And now it's time to make sure those lessons stick.<br />
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Many thanks to Rev3, blueseventy, Quintana Roo, Pearl Izumi, Reynolds Cycling, PowerBar, Biotta Naturals, Compex, and NormaTec for the support. Wish I could've given you better, guys.<br />
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837125591639390425.post-9857812639501211442013-05-16T05:17:00.001-07:002013-05-16T05:17:19.136-07:00Project All-In Update: Impromptu TaperWell, about 2.5 weeks left to go until <a href="http://rev3tri.com/quassy/quassy-news/" target="_blank">Rev3 Quassy</a>. Instead of being out doing some race-specific workouts...I'm booking every chiropractic, ART, and massage I can. We're in impromptu taper mode here.<br />
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Little background: I believe there's a distinct difference between soreness, being hurt, and being injured. Soreness is something that is relatively expected with the territory of endurance sports; you're pushing and tearing yourself down, in order to get your body to adapt to the workload and recover. Being hurt is something that you could potentially push through and race on, but training on it significantly will lead to injury. And an injury is, well, you can't do anything. You're on the shelf.<br />
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I'm squarely in that hurt category right now. Trying to be a hero and gut through it would probably put me right into the injured camp.<br />
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So, what's going on? Looks like the piriformis and gluteus minimus are just freaking out right now. Not really sure what happened. Glancing back at my training log, I would say that it possibly came up from a swim workout that featured a lot of race-pace breaststroke, and the kicking motion might have irritated something. It also only started to really get bothersome following a hill repeat session running.<br />
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I've been off running for almost two weeks now. Last hard run was two weeks ago today, and last run of any distance will be two weeks ago Saturday. I've been swimming and biking, because those activities haven't felt any different.<br />
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In the interest of just getting healthy, though, we're just going to shut it on down until things calm down. There's really no fitness to be gained at this point; workouts are more maintenance oriented and preparing for race intensity. Luckily, I've done a lot of work in that area in all three disciplines so far this year. The fitness well is deep and filled. I have nothing to gain and everything to lose at this point there. So might as well make sure we can toe the line with 100% certainty.<br />
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Have to just keep telling myself: Hay is in the barn. We're fit. It's not going anywhere. Just get healthy.<br />
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Speaking of, there's going to be a pretty big Maine contingent down at Quassy. There's going to be the epic battle with old friend Adam, who is finally in my age-group. A fair number of f<a href="http://www.thesustainableathlete.com/" target="_blank">ellow Sustainable Athlete's</a>. Then, of course, all the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeamRev3Triathlon?fref=ts" target="_blank">Rev3 crew</a>.<br />
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Will you be there? Let us know in the comments!<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477786462590882637noreply@blogger.com0