I Called Him Out!

Yesterday, I ran the Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, and I had a pretty good race. I will be doing a race report soon, but first I had something else I needed to vent about.

Yesterday was a long day, there were strong winds on the bike and very hot temps on the run, so everyone was not doing great on the run. But we all ran the course, or least most of us did.

On the run section, there was one section that is a down and back, and it is the one portion of the run I always dread. It is hot and there is no shade and it seems to go on forever! So I had gone around the turnaround point and was heading back to the hotel. Once you make the turn, you can see the runners coming towards you as you are running. I was just passing mile 4 when I saw this guy running towards me when he cut across the entire road to my side and went to the shoulder and started stretching. I yelled to him "You OK?" and he said something about he was just cramping. Maybe it is because of my job, but I instantly thought that what he did wasn't right. I mean why would he cross the road to stretch when he could have stretched on his side?

Like I said, it was hot, so I decided I needed to walk to the next cone, when I look to my right and there is the guy. Running right besides me! So I said "Feeling better?" and he tells me again it was just cramps. My reply was simply, "you cut the course, I saw you run from other side of the road to the shoulder" He then claimed that he was running as a relay, which made no sense. I told him that relays went the same 6.2 miles as everyone else. His next reply was "I don't have to explain anything to you". My only reply was simply, "no you don't but you also have to know that you cheated and I hope you can sleep at night" Great comeback huh?

That incident helped fuel my last 2 miles, as I was pissed at this guy. After I finished, I talked it over with a friend of mine, and then I went and found a race official and told him what happened. Now, according to the official results, this racer cheater had no penalty time added, and I can't say that the officials actually looked into it, but I did my part. I respect the race too much to let someone cheat. I know the hours I put into my training, along with 99% of the other racers, to not say anything. And I fear that this happens more than I realized.

Somedays you just don't have it. I get that, but do not cheat someone out of a spot because you decide to cut the course. Run the race, get what you earn!

I Know What I Know!

I am ready.

Physically.

Mentally.

I want to race. I want to see where I am as I prep for Redman. This race will be a good gauge for my fitness levels. I am no stranger to the Memphis in May venue, as this is the 6th time I have done this race I think, and it will be the 3rd time it has been at this venue, so I know what to expect.

I know what to expect at the expo.
I know what to expect with the hotel room.
I know what to expect with the meal we will eat the night before.
I know what to expect for the line up to the swim.
I know where the majority of the contact will happen on the swim.
I know that I will most likely have a headwind for the first half of the bike and a tailwind coming back.
I know I will want to walk on part of the run at some point.

I know the run will have zero shade.

I know that coming around the hotel means the finish is right there.

I know it will be so great to take a shower after the race.
I know my family will love chilling at the pool while I race.

This is what I know. I know it is going to be fun.

Can't wait.

On the Road Again...

This weekend was my last long workout before the Memphis in May Olympic triathlon  and if I am being honest, I was a little worried about my bike speeds. As you know, I have been doing a lot of work on the trainer this year for various reasons, so I was concerned about getting on the open road. I had reached out to several of my friends to ask their opinions on bike speed on the trainer vs. on the road, and most thought that if the trainer was used correctly, with the right amount of tension, then I could really see some gains on the bike. However, if I was simply using the trainer to spin my wheels and watch TV, then I might not make the gains I wanted. So yeah, I was curious and nervous.

So Sunday my workout called for a ride. I decided to break it up and get a brick session done. So my plan was to ride 10 miles on the trainer hard, then hop off, complete a transition and run a mile. then I would come back and ride another 5 miles hard, hop off and run a 1/2 mile, then I would take my bike off the trainer and hit the road.

And it was awesome!  A definite do again workout!

My run off the bike was great, I kept a 9:05 pace really easy, and I was faster on the second run ( I know it was shorter, but I felt great)

Once I got my bike on the road, I felt like I was flying. I was in the low 20's pretty fast and didn't seem to take a lot of effort to maintain it. This was a huge confidence boost for me. The trainer rides have average out to be around 16 mph. My ride (although only 20 minutes) average 18.9 according to my Timex, and that is with fairly busy streets. Thankfully MIM is a really flat course. We normally have a headwind going and a tailwind coming back, so I feel pretty good about where I am at today!

More Frequent, More focused...

Redman, minus the M Dot

I usually try to wait and post when I think I have something to say, maybe something worth reading on here, and I know I do not always succeed. This blog was originally designed to hold myself accountable for workouts and document my journey to becoming an Ironman. Well, that is really going to happen this summer. So after Memphis in May Tri, I am going to most likely start posting more about my daily workouts, and trying to gain some insight on those workouts, so I should be posting more frequently. They might not be as thought out as some of the other posts I have done, but I think it will be more beneficial for me to be able to review training as I go. I want to really chronicle this journey as it is a big step for me and will require a ton of effort. It is a journey that I can't wait to take on. It all begins May 28th.

So get ready for shorter posts, more focused on my training, the likes and dislikes and other crap!

We Are That Guy/Girl...

This is a re/re/repost that I like to post prior to the start of every year. I think it is worth reading every now and again! It is always good for me to read before the season officially starts, which is soon for a lot of us. This is not something I wrote, but I came across it somewhere and I like it, so please, take the time to read it.

THAT GUY

That Guy. You know him. He can also be That Girl, and often is.

It is that guy (or girl) who you see at every race. He's at every one. Everywhere in the country.

He is always more tan than you are. He is usually a good bit thinner too. His calves have those mysterious vertical striations that define each individual muscle; as if to say, "I have spent hours training each individual muscle in each calf- each individual muscle fiber in fact."

He/she has triathlon clothing that is super cool that you've never seen before. You have no idea where it came from. If you were to ask him- if you mustered up the courage to approach him- you would get some vague answer like, "Ahh, well, I know Dave McGillicutty at Sweetass Trisports and he got these samples, prototypes really, that he….. blah, blah, blah…." And you just wanted to know where you could buy a pair of those cool trishorts he has. Maybe they would make your ass look like Michalangelo chiseled it too. Prolly not though.

So this guy (or girl): His bike is clean. It is also weird. It has parts you think you may have seen in a magazine and, is that what carbon fiber looks like? Half the stuff he has, no, all of it, is stuff you've either only seen in magazines or never even heard of.

He's wearing sunglasses. But he didn't buy them. They just kind of "got there". He drives a special car just for doing what he's doing now: Getting ready for a ride, a run, a swim workout or the triathlon you're at now. He has stickers all over it.

You know when he talks about "Hawaii" he isn't talking about the state as a vacation destination, but rather, an event that you've only seen on TV. He is either talking about getting into it, having already gotten in, or why his last race there wasn't as good as it should have been. It had something to do with some chemical in his body you've never heard of. "Too much polychondrotineospandoplasm in my maldochondriacts during the last ten miles of the run. I should have know better." Yeah, an obvious mistake for someone like that guy (girl). Another thing that guy knows that you don't. Polywhat in his maldowho?

So you get to the race and there is that guy. Setting up all his stuff in the transition area like he's done probably a thousand times before, or so it seems.

And that guy is the reason why so many people are afraid to give this sport (and many others) a try. Because you know you are not That Guy (or girl) and they will look at you and think "Oh, another novice athlete…." And maybe you are embarrassed by that. I know I have been.

That guy is experienced, dedicated, accomplished, fit, knowledgeable, well versed and respected in the sport. You are a beginner. So you are at the bottom of the food chain here. You may be the big woman or man at work and at home. But here you feel like the first day of kindergarten and you don't even know where the bathroom is but you have to go. It's been a long time since you felt like that.

And you'll feel embarrassed in front of that guy.

Consider this though: You are that guy. You are that girl. Don't understand? Let me explain.

On the hypothetical morning we're describing you got up early, loaded up whatever bike you have (the old mountain bike you've had since you were 16, that old ten speed from college, whatever), put the gear you scrapped together in your car and went to the race. You stood there in your sweats and registered, set up your transition area as best you could.

Welcome to the show my friend. You are walking the walk.

You made that monumental leap off the couch and into the realm of That Guy. And now you, to millions and millions and millions of people- you are That Guy.

The next time you go to work when the conversation comes up about what you did Sunday morning you will say, "Oh, ahh, well I did this little triathlon, my first one, I'm not really any good, I was nearly last…."

But to the people at work, and your family, and your friends, and everyone else not there on Sunday morning (and some that were…) you are That Guy. The guy who does those endurance races. Who works out all the time (even if you don't). Who eats right (even though you don't).

Pretty soon it will get around work, what you did Sunday morning, and someone will ask you, "Hey, ahh, have you ever done that one in Hawaii?"

And then you answer, "Oh, Hawaii, no, I'm not that good. I've never done Hawaii…" And to you now it is just "Hawaii". You are That Guy. To someone out there you are That Guy.

Everyone has That Guy. He's better, faster, smarter, luckier. The interesting thing about That Guy is, to someone- you are that guy. No matter who you are, there will be That Guy. Don't let him bother you. Do what you do. Remember, to someone, you are that guy.

Zoggs Winner!! And Tapering Thoughts

This morning I tallied up how many entries each person got and then numbered them 1 through whatever. I then went to the random number generator and had the computer come up with a number and the number that was matched to the list was deemed the winner! The computer spit out number 12 and that number matched:

Bradleyd3 from Texas!

I know Brad is fixin (ain't that the way they talk in Texas?) to run Ironman Texas in 12 days! Congrats Brad, and best of luck to you on the Ironman, I know you are ready and will have a great race!! Plus I will be able to know his time when I do mine, therefore giving me my time goal! LOL Thanks to Zoggs goggles and everyone who entered the drawing! 

As far as my next race, well it is 13 days away as of today. How do I feel about it? Uncertain.I feel like I know I will finish the race. I am not worried about the distance. I am not worried about the swim. I am just worried about my time. I really want to go sub 2:45 this year, and I think I can do it, but the unknown factor is my bike. True, I have logged over 40 hours riding my bike, or about 700 miles on it, but those have all been trainer rides. I am hoping that my bike speed will be faster once I am on the road, but part of me wonders. Does 90 minutes on the trainer really equal 90 minutes? Or does that equal more since I am constantly pedaling? Will it help me ride harder?  My goal time on the bike is 1:11 for 25 miles. In 2010, I did the bike in 1:18 2011, I did the mileage in 1:14, in 2012 I did it in 1:12:41, so a 1:11 or faster is in my future.

The real key to me having a good race will be the run. The 10K has to be under an hour. Simple as that. I have a goal of 56:30 for the 10K, which is achievable. I know I can go faster than 56 on a 10K, but after the swim and bike, this is will help me reach my goal. My wife put it in perspective for me when we were talking about this and she said to remember this is a warmup for Redman, your big race, so don't worry about the time. Which is good advice, but I want to always improve. the 1st time I ever did the MIM Tri, I finished at 3:56, and that was 4 years ago. Anything in the 2:40 range will be great, but sub 2:45 will be better!

Zoggs Goggles Giveaway!

I think I have tried almost every brand of goggles on the market. There are some that I liked certain features of this brand, and I liked certain features of this brand, but I have never found the goggles for me. Until now!!! And let me tell you how I found them!

I was flipping through Triathlete Magazine and they had a page on nothing about goggles. One brand caught my eye based off the findings in the magazine. The Zoggs Phantom Elite goggles.Here is a quote from the magazine about them:

 "The Draw: Flexible fit for many face shapes. The lenses of the Phantom Elite are more curved than the standard Phantom to increase field of vision. The frame is durable and flexible and stayed secure on a variety of face shapes. Testers like the blue lenses and soft feel for long yardage in the pool, but the wide lens shape would work well in open water as well"

It has always been very hard for me to find a goggle that fits me, it seems it has always been me trying to fit the goggles in the past. So I talked to the Zoggs representative and right there, I knew I had been going about getting my goggles all wrong. He really took the time to ask about what goggles I had used in the past and what problems I had with them. I even sent in a picture so they could get a look at this old ugly mug to assist in getting the right goggles for my face.

Let me ask you this, how do we all buy goggles? Usually standing there in the aisle, looking at price and which ones we think look the coolest! And then we always complain about the goggles not fitting right, about them leaking and about what every goggle says on it "won't fog up", which I am always a doubter about.

So I was thrilled when I received two pairs of Zoggs Phantom Elite goggles in the mail. One pair with the blue lens and one with the blank lens. I really could not wait to try them out. So the next morning I go to the pool to rock out 2000 yards. I put on the goggles and I dive in the water and it is amazingly clear. I get that they are clear because they are new, but it is altogether different. I could really tell that I did in fact have a larger field of vision in the pool. Everything was crisp and clear. I had zero issues with fogging. I did not have any issues with leaking. I did have to make a minor adjustment after about 10 laps, but once I got the fit right, I promise you it felt like I wasn't even wearing goggles. These goggles are made so that you do not have to wear them so tight on your face that you get that long swim headache! You know when your goggles are squeezing into your head and eyes? With just a slight suction, they are there and I promise you don't even feel them while swimming!

Other great things about the Zoggs Phantom Elite goggles:

• Soft frame- the flexible frame molds to your face for comfort
• 180 degree vision- the curved lens technology expands your peripheral vision
• Anti-Fog lenses- That are actually anti-fog!
• Quick Adjust- simple pull of the straps tightens and a push of a button loosens them
• Split silicone head strap- fits securely over the head
• Polarized Italian lenses- eliminates glare in open water
• UV Protection- eye protection

Now for the good news, Zoggs is going to giveaway a pair of goggles to a reader. All you have to do is follow the simple rules (as always) and I will draw a winner, and they will send you a pair of goggles directly! How cool is that? Here are the requirements to enter the drawing:

1. Be or become a follower of Daily Trainings (1 entry)
2. Leave a comment (1 entry)
3. Like Zoggs on FaceBook (1 entry) and I have provided a link

You will have until Saturday May the 5th to enter and a winner will be drawn on Sunday! This is one giveaway you do not want to miss out on! I have found my goggles of choice, and I guarantee you will love these goggles as well!

27 New Goals and some Ramblings!

Saturday our new running group met. We had 34 people signed up and 27 people actually show up for the meeting. I admit, I was nervous. I am not a great speaker and I feel I am even worse when speaking in a church setting, but it went off well. One of the things I asked everyone to do was to list their goal for the course! I have to say that I had 27 different goals form these new runners. It was very inspiring. I had responses from "finish a 5K" to "get in better shape" to beat a "PR of 41 minutes". It was very inspiring to see people who were not runners, getting out and running. I am so looking forward to the next 12 weeks and watching them grow in this sport!!!

They have also inspired me to get up and run in the morning.

I am having my biggest month on the bike so far.

I went to Game 4 of the Grizzlies vs. Clippers on Sat with my oldest boys and some friends!  Lots of Fun!  Go Grizzlies!!!

20 days until my Olympic Tri, which I am hoping for sub 2:45, but not very confident.

I am also on a Hot Tamale kick!  Good stuff and fat free as well! (says so on the box)

I weighed in at 179 this morning!!!!

Coming up in a day or two, I am posting my review on Zoggs goggles and there will also be a giveaway of goggles!!!!

I Want Others to Love Running Also!

As you can probably guess, I have a passion for running and endurance sports. I know I gripe about it a lot, but I really do enjoy it. I love the freedom it gives me. I enjoy the the way it clears my mind and the time it gives me to think. Sometime I can literally get lost in my run. I have even had moments where I miss mile markers, and that is a great feeling. You know we must love it or why else would we get up at dark thirty in the morning to do it?

So with this love of running, I of course want others to love and to see the value of it. Many people understand, others don't get it and many want nothing to do with it, and that is fine, but I have been looking for a way to share this love and hopefully get others off the couch and moving, and this is how it started.

I have never had a problem training  I am very meticulous about it and I can tell what I am going to be doing 3 weeks from today. I also make time for it, sometimes getting up as early as 4:30 AM just to get my miles in. I had a good balance between my family, my work and my training schedule, but one thing I was leaving out was my spiritual life. It never really fit in, I mean I went to church and all, but that was the extent of it. And that's when I realized that I needed to get that area of my life in line.

So a few months ago, I saw an ad for a program called Run for God. It is basically a Bible study with running wrapped around it, basically a couch to 5K running plan with a focus on God.  So I brought it to the attention of one of our pastors at church, and he suggested I lead it. Whooaaaaaaaa!!!!  I am not what I would call a teacher, so I was scared to death to commit. The more I thought it over and prayed, the more I felt led to lead the group. We start Saturday.

So far there are 25 people signed up for this 12 week class. 25 people that have decided they want to grow closer to God and to also start running, it is going to be a beautiful site to watch their progress. I know I have the running part down, but I pray that I also will have the leading part down as well. My wife and friends are going to help. I have some great people with great life stories lined up to help as well. I am hoping for it to be a special time.

In 12 weeks, I am hoping to have 25 people run a 5K that might not have believable it was possible before! And I will cheer them all on, except for the ones in my AG, they are on their own!!

Missed Workouts!!!

I get so mad at myself sometimes. I even call myself names, but it usually comes later in the day.

This morning, no let's go back to last night. I was in bed by 9:30 PM. This does not happen a lot, but I went to bed early foregoing watching  "GoldenBoy" (yeah, I like that show). I know my wife was freaked out and wondered what I was doing. but I was tired. I had my running gear laid out, or rather gathered in the corner and my alarm was set for 5:21 AM. I set it for 5:21 so I can slap the snooze and then get up at 5:30.
I had a scheduled 7 mile run planned and I was looking forward to it.

I went to sleep fast. Then...

My alarm goes off at 5:21 AM and I slap that clock silly. I debate, like I always do, about getting my feet on the floor when I hear the faint sound of....rain. The "get up early motivation killer". It sounded so nice and steady. I think I heard it whisper my name saying, "it's OK buddy, every thing's cool man". I had the correct pillow position and the right amount of coverage from the sheets. I wasn't too hot. I wasn't too cold. It was nice. So I hit the snooze. 9 minutes later...

I heard a gentle rolling thunder in the distance. The rain was steady falling, this time I heard it whisper "You know you can't beat me, the steady soothing sound of rain, you're toast, you can make it up tomorrow"

Snooze

So the next time it goes off, instead of hitting the snooze, I slide my alarm switch to alarm 2, which goes off at 6:30 AM!! It takes me longer to do this than it would have taken me to get up out f bed. You see I had to grab my cell phone so I could use it as a flashlight, and then verify I had moved the correct switch. I did not want to wake my wife up, by turning on the overhead light, but it's not like the last 30 minutes of an alarm going off would have bothered her!! And then back to bed I go.

Now late in the day I am upset with myself for giving into the sweet sound of falling rain. I had decided  that tomorrow I would run in the morning and then ride at night and make it up. Now I thinking I should just switch the days and ride today, run tomorrow and get back on track! Decisions, Decisions!!!

So tell me blog world, what do you do when you miss a workout for a lame reason????