Race Report-Small Texan Triathlon

We found out this weekend that the "small" in Small Texan Triathlon does not refer to the hills encountered on the course! This was a challenging olympic distance race and a good test of will and problem solving skills as it turned out. The elevation changes were comparable to Lubbock but instead of a 56 mile bike ride, the hills were crammed into a 28 mile course. That left us with little time for recovery between climbs and jelly legs once we got to the run.

The swim was not my best, by far. I struggled to get out of the pack and seemed to be caught up in the churn of other competitors for most of the 1500 meters. That combined with difficulties seeing the directional buoys led to the slower time. One of those swims that you just have to get through. The bike portion was tough (see above!) all the way around. Pretty much max effort for the majority of the course. I was happy with my time in the end but I had to work for it, for sure. That made for a difficult 6.2 mile run which also featured some unpleasant changes in elevation. I was happy to keep it together, even though I had to slow my pace a bit to make it through. My heart rate hit some numbers that I've never seen before. Racing or training. In the end I finished at 3:15:32. Good enough for 11th in an age-group with 24 competitors. Not bad considering my swim was 21st (out of 24). OUCH!

Hope all of you had a good weekend. For now, back to the training grindstone. Clear Lake International is right around the corner. Another olympic race but this time flat and in our own back yard. Clear Lake will also be the first time that Tri4Him-Houston will compete as a team against several local tri groups. Hope some of you will be able to make it out to watch.

Race Week-Small Texan Triathlon

It's time to race again folks. This weekend we're off to Boerne, Texas for The Small Texan Triathlon. A challenging olympic distance race (1.5K/45K/10K) that will offer another nice change of scenery and, once again, hills. Really looking forward to this one. It'll only be my second race at this distance, giving me a chance to see where (or if) I've improved. Also, a step down in distance, which is nice mentally. This race and Clear Lake, next month, will serve mostly to keep me motivated and having fun heading into the final few months before Ironman Florida...yes, it's just a few months away! Scary thought, but good scary. Three other Houston Tri4Himers will also be making the trip to race. Always a plus to have team support, encouragement, and mutual motivation on race day. Don't know a whole lot going into this one, but I'm sure it'll be a fun day.

Interestingly, we've got a pretty good race going between my training mileage and our WVR donations progress. This week, the 2000 mile mark was eclipsed and the current fundraising is at $1900. Don't let me log more miles than that dollar amount! Kidding aside, your contributions to this point are awesome and much appreciated. By the way, I just looked at WVR's current "wish list," and they've got a minivan listed as a need. What they're needing will range from $8000-$10,000. How great would it be to raise enough to get them in one or real close to it? If you haven't checked them out, I'd encourage you to do so by clicking the Wears Valley Ranch link on this page. Lots of information there including some testimonials from kids whose lives they touched. Inspiring stuff. If you haven't yet and would like to help out, just click the "firstgiving" link over on the right-hand side of this page. There you can make your donation in any amount, big or small. You know you want that mini van!

Once again, thanks for all of the support and interest you've shown. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this weekend and I'll be sure to let you know what happens when I get back.

Race Report-Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake

Dad and I made it back into town today after a long road trip and a tough race. I'm moving a bit slower than usual but I'm happy to be home after a great weekend. As expected it was hot, windy, and the fabled hills of Lubbock did not disappoint. Buffalo Springs was an interesting set up. Essentially a 70.3 Ironman event set around a lake, a large campsite, and the plains outside of Lubbock.

We were up early Sunday morning and got to the race site around 4:30AM. After getting a lay of the land and setting up in transition, I donned the wetsuit and got in a brief warm up. The water temperature was comfortable and because the lake was basically down in a hole, it was protected from the wind. That offered nice, calm water. A welcomed change from Kemah and Galveston. Fortunately those conditions and a good game plan led to my best swim time yet, 39:06. Not fast, but much improved. I exited the water feeling good about my start and ready to face the elements on the bike course. As I mentioned, Buffalo Springs didn't disappoint. Immediately after leaving transition, on the bike, we had a tough climb to get out of that hole. And once we got back to level ground the winds came into play. The entire bike course was a series of flat, windy stretches along farm roads mixed with several challenging hills. As in, 6-8 M.P.H. going up and 30+ M.P.H. going down. That got my attention! Not something I deal with riding in Houston, for sure. I was amazed at how fast some of the competitors would descend past as I was climbing up. We're talking a pebble or a flat tire away from being road kill at those speeds. Needless to say, I wasn't quite as aggressive. I had my fun but I also need to replace my brake pads this week! It was a fun and challenging ride. I was happy to walk away from it in one piece with my 3:14:19 bike leg. I figured some of the same hills were waiting for me on the run and I was right. Once again, the run took us back out of the hole and onto the farm roads. There was nowhere to hide from the sun at that point. No trees. No buildings. Just long stretches of black top and hills. The hills were obviously no fun on the run but I felt well conditioned for the heat. Relative to the usual Houston humidity I'm accustomed to, the heat in Lubbock actually felt good at times. Especially when we got a little breeze. Never thought I'd be thankful for humidity, but on Sunday I certainly was. Despite the heat and the climbs, I was lucky enough to turn in a 2:05:33 half-marathon.

All in all, it was a great weekend. My official time was 6:04:51 which is a slight improvement over Galveston. A good boost of confidence heading into the summer months. From here on out, it'll be steady training sprinkled with a few shorter distance races, mostly for fun and a little distraction. IM Florida is just four months away.

Race Week-Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake

After a two month hiatus, it's finally time to race again. When I first started doing these things, my mentors would tell me that the races are the fun part. The training is what'll kill you. That made no sense to me last year but I assure you it does now. The last several weeks have delivered a pretty steady diet of increasing distance and amount of time spent training. The mornings have gotten earlier, the weather has gotten hotter, and I'm now very familiar with the massage place around the corner. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying every bit of it, but I'm also looking forward to this week of recovery leading up to Lubbock. And I'm really looking forward to being back out there.

This race will be much different than Galveston. First, I've never done this one. Things will be unfamiliar and no other Houston Tri4Himers will be there to grind it out along side me. The crew this weekend is me and dad, who will serve as co-pilot, room mate, sports psychiatrist, race-day support, equipment manager, and most importantly dad. I'm glad to have him along for the experience. He's getting pretty seasoned at watching races and is in full on training for IM Florida spectating. Lubbock will also offer some new terrains, with a hilly landscape for both the bike and run portions of this race. A bit intimidating when you look at the map, but I'm looking forward to this new challenge. It's hard to train for elevation changes here in Houston. I'm counting on the past several months of work and grit to get me through it. Interestingly, the swim will be wetsuit legal (i.e. less than 78F) despite the hot climate. It takes place in Buffalo Springs Lake, which is a natural, spring fed lake, making it cool. Notably, the only cool portion of this race with predicted temperatures of around 100F by the end of the run. Good times!

As always, I am incredibly thankful that the Lord has sustained me through all of the mental and physical pounding required of this endeavor. I've been blessed to be injury free and in good health to keep up with the training. I'm also thankful for all of you. Your support mentally, spiritually, and emotionally has continued to fuel my fire and your financial contributions to Wears Valley Ranch have served to motivate me, even further, along the way. Thank you, again. If you've not jumped on board with that, this race would be a great excuse to do so. Likewise, if you've already "joined the race," why not use this event to play add on? I set our goal of $10,000 pretty high, but have no doubt that we can reach that and know that those funds will serve to help out a Godly organization with a worthy cause. Our total is $1700 as of today. Let's kick it up a notch! Just click the "firstgiving" logo over on the right. It's fast, easy, and feels really good!

I'll keep you posted on what takes place this weekend. If you've got a second to give us a thought or say a quick prayer Sunday morning, I'd appreciate it. I'll be out there working from 6:45 to 1ish. My fellow competitors and I could use all the help we can get. If you've got a little extra time...try praying for a cold front!

Thanks again.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to all of you. I hope you've had a chance to reflect on the service and sacrifices others have made so that we can enjoy our everyday comforts. Thanks to all of those who've served.

Just wanted to give you a little update on what's been going on lately. With summer arriving, the miles have been piling up pretty quickly. No race in May has meant a steady dose of training, increases in distance and time spent on the road and in the pool. It sometimes takes it's toll, but daily improvements along with the support and encouragement of those around me have continued to fuel the fire. My confidence is growing as well. To the point that the thought of spending a day traveling 140.6 miles on my own power seems doable...insane for sure, but doable. Reachable. That's a good feeling.

As of today, our fundraising total is up to $1600. Thank you. Although it seems to have tapered off a little after the Galveston race, I'm hopeful that with races in the coming three months it'll pick up again. I'm looking forward to doing a little traveling this summer. To Lubbock for the Buffalo Springs Lake half ironman next month and then off to the hill country with an olympic distance race in beautiful Boerne in July. Finally back to Clear Lake in August for the last competition before Florida. I hope that some of you will use these races as opportunities to contribute to the cause. Don't forget, our goal is to raise as much as we can for the kids at Wears Valley Ranch. I've been humbled by your support thus far, but I'd love to keep that number climbing right up until November 6th. Big or small, all donations are needed and greatly appreciated. Just click that "firstgiving" link over on the right hand side of this page and remember to spread the word.

Have a great week!

When will you start?

This past weekend we went over the 1000 mile mark in training miles. 1000 miles of swimming, biking, and running since January. I hadn't really been paying much attention, but when I saw that, it took a minute to sink in. That number of miles on a plane could've gotten me to Chicago, or Miami, or Cabo for that matter. That's crazy! Just about the time I started feeling pretty cool, I read a twitter link about the man pictured. His name is Lyle Langlois and he turns 80 this month. I don't know him but his story will certainly make you think. He decided he wanted to run a marathon the year he turned 50. He started from scratch, two miles a day of combined running and walking, slowly built up his distance and eventually achieved his goal. That's impressive. What's more impressive, he estimates his lifetime miles at 38,000 for running and 25,000 for biking to date. That includes a marathon in all 50 states and a 15 hour Ironman. All since age 50.

Who knows what clicked with Lyle that day he decided he was going to run a marathon, but I vividly remember the day I decided to "do something." It was about 6 years ago. I was in the ballpark of 240 lbs and about to start my second blood pressure medicine. Activity was non-existent in my life and my eating habits were a wreck. I woke up as usual that morning but when I looked in the mirror, for some reason, I really didn't like what I saw. The same guy I was the day before, but I couldn't do it anymore. I slowly began to change a few habits at a time and after several months got back to the gym. Then I started mixing in an occasional jog some weeks. After a couple of years, my first 5K, my first half-marathon was in 2008, and last year I discovered triathlon. This year, God willing, we'll add another first in Florida. If you'd have mention Ironman to that guy looking into the mirror 6 years ago he would have laughed.

I don't tell you this to toot my horn but to hopefully encourage you. I don't know what your "something" is. That thing you've been wanting to do but can't find the time or don't think it's possible or just feel that it's unrealistic to even try. I do know one thing for sure though. For me and Lyle and anybody else who ever reached an "impossible" goal, that "something" started with just one thing. A decision. A decision to make a change sprinkled with some good support and lots of perseverance. I think you'd be surprised to see what happens if you'll just take those first few steps.

http://www.coloradotriathlete.com/articles/10/2010_lyle_langlois_1.html

Race Report-Ironman 70.3 Texas

It was a great weekend. Tri4Him'ers represented well volunteering their time and racing all weekend. We manned an aid station on the run course both days. Many who were tired from racing on Saturday were there to help out Sunday and many who raced in the 70.3 on Sunday spent their "rest day" helping out fellow competitors in the sprint and olympic distances races on Saturday. I'm so proud to be a part of this group because we don't just show up to support and encourage one another. We look to encourage and "be the light" to everyone. Athletes, spectators, volunteers, and anyone else we might run across while out there. When you're out there busting it, a smiling face and an encouraging word goes a long way and the Tri4Him crew rocked.

After a little bad weather Saturday morning, Galveston cleared up for some great race-day conditions on Sunday. The longest stretch of the swim course was a little challenging due to winds and a slight current, but it felt good. My objectives for the swim-leg are 1) don't drown and 2) come out of the water feeling warmed up and ready to ride. The conditions slowed my time by about 5 minutes, but I felt strong and entered the first transition in great shape. The bike course in Galveston is flat as you might expect, but the crosswinds are no joke when you get out on the coast. We left Moody Gardens and headed south along the seawall. The turnaround point was 6 miles past the San Luis Pass, then we headed back in. The scenery was great and the road was familiar which was a much needed comfort on a 3 hour bike ride! There was a little help from the wind coming back but most of the ride was spent fighting a crosswind. It's hard to eat on a bike with a 15 M.P.H. crosswind. Luckily I was able to hold the pace I wanted and made it into the second transition in just over 4 hours. Now my dream time for this race was under 6 hours. I knew when I left T2 that I was going to be close, but that would mean a sub-2 hour half-marathon. I can manage that on my weekend workouts and in run only events, but to do it after the swim and bike was going to be tough. Boy did I try though. I felt better than expected at that point and was able to hold my run splits where they needed to be for about 10.5 miles. Too bad it's a 13.1 mile run! The day caught up with me and I started to fade at that point. Wound up with a 2:03, but I was pleased that I got that close.

The official time was 6:08:05. For those keeping score, my goal was 6:15 so I was very pleased with the race. Thanks to all of you for your support, words of encouragement, and the contributions you've made to this point to help out Wears Valley Ranch. 2010 is off to a good start. As always, if you are able, please click the "firstgiving" link on the right and consider contributing to what we're doing here. Every bit counts. Also, I would appreciate you passing this along to others who might be interested. You never know who or what we might inspire.

Training this week will be pretty light but I'll keep you posted as we get back into the swing of things.

Next up Buffalo Springs Lake.