The long road to the 2011 USA Triathlon Nationals…

As my flight lifted off from the Cleveland airport toward Vermont I was trying to clear my head of the challenges of work and other stresses… As we rose up, I looked down and saw the stretch of road where this past winter, a training partner and I endured -4F temperatures to run our speed workout together.

** CLICK **

My entire mindset shifted just like that. A huge smile came across my face, and the prickle of excitement for what was about to happen ran down my spine. I was suddenly inspired to take a look back at the training, successes and sacrifices that I have made to get me to the point of racing in the USA Triathlon National Championships in Burlington, Vermont – August 20, 2011.

The frozen runs... trying to find a clear track... the intense spin sessions that I led and I followed... So much time in the pool, pushing to get stronger and faster.

Then spring came and the Boston Marathon was a big success, with a 3:08 PR on my 39th birthday!

Then summer and the two and three a day training sessions... the heat, humidity and punishment I put my body through. Just as I was about to crack, I would take a break.

Then I would have to travel... To China, to Germany, to Japan, to India - all this summer while trying to prepare for the triathlon season. Hard to train on the road like that, as you can imagine - but I did every chance that I had.

I truly believe you have to "Practice Suffering" - and I like to think I've put myself through the ringer a few times... I truly believe that will pay off this Satuday - when I push myself to places I've not been before.

I'm re-reading Chris "Macca" McCormick's book "I'm Here to Win" today. Great quote from it:
"You don't PLAY triathlon. You play soccer; it's fun. Triathlon is WORK that can leave you crumpled in a heap, puking by the roadside. It's the physical brutality of climbing Mt. Everest - without the great view from the top of the world..."


If you recall from an earlier blog entry, that 10 years ago, I was a 200lb couch potato that was out of shape and totally stressed out by life. In 24 hours, I will toe the line with the some of the best in the country in the Nationals! I won’t recall that entire journey again here… but it is worth remembering where I started from… if for no other reason, than to allow others to believe that at any time, they can make positive changes in their life – and there is no limit to the potential and possibility! To quote Nike – “JUST DO IT”! There is a lot of truth and power in that simple phrase…

Shifting Gears - Preparing for the 2011 Triathlon Season -

My 2011 spring running season is now behind me. 3 races, 3 PRs! 5K (18:36), 15K (1:00:58) and Boston Marathon (3:08:33). I'm quite pleased! Now, on to my real strength and passion - triathlon!! Last season, I won my age group in all but 1 races I did, won the HFP Series, did a 10:40 Ironman at Rev3 and made USAT Honorable Mention for the first time. It was a good season, but I want more out of this season!

This year, I am focusing on the Olympic Distance... and I will compete as an "Elite" in the USAT Olypmic distance races this season - as well as race in my first USAT National Championships. I need to focus on getting faster, in the shorter Olympic Distance Triathlon (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run).

This season will be a different focus and training situation for me. 5 of the last 6 years, I've had an Ironman as my "A" race and focus. Lots of long endurance rides and runs. This season, my Coach, Gregg Brekke (www.gbcoaching.com) and I are working to a different program. Speed, speed, speed and speed... I can feel the difference in intensity already!

The combination of a difficult northeast Ohio winter/spring, and my focus on Boston means that I've spent very little time outside on the bike. I have to change that - like NOW! Dodging rainstorms, I've been able to ride outside finally - and I'm happy with my output so far. The winter spinning and focused marathon run training have laid a good foundation for my cycling, which is usually pretty strong relative to the field. But I want to get faster, stronger and... well... faster!

We had a really great winter spinning group at our sponsor Ride + Workout in Lakewood. We (Gregg, Mike, Angie, Eric and I) took turns leading some seriously tough spinning classes. I'm still using some of those workouts on my own when I'm stuck on the trainer now.

My swimming is the biggest area for improvement. I made some good advances during the fall and early winter, when I was focusing on it. Then I had to travel a lot to Asia (easy to run, difficult to swim) and then came the home stretch to get ready for Boston. I need to get my swimming back on track - RIGHT NOW! I need to get back to that frequency and focus. I'm ramping up my yardage again, and I can feel it in my shoulders, chest and lats. Gotta work on the speed, and then the endurance.

So, the weather is finally coming around - and in 6 short weeks, my first Olympic Distance Triathlon... YIKES!

- Better get moving!!

PS:
I really don't write these posts about my day-to-day training for other people to read, so much as to help myself. I benefit from the process of thinking through what is going on, writing out what is honestly going on, and making some public statements to challenge myself. I doubt these get read by anyone who cares... but for me to sit down, organize my thoughts and put some pressure on myself - that helps me a lot!