Ironman Kona 2014

It was a great trip back to Kona for 2014.  My year off, getting married, starting a company, closing the company for a great opportunity with movecoach, and starting our family has been a whirlwind and nothing short of a miracle that it has all come together.  My wife deserves a lot of that credit;)  After Couer d'Alene, it was rough getting back into the swing of things.  Getting back into sales, little trip to Ireland and family time, but well worth it.  As with anything, my focus just wasn't there so Kona would be more of a "fun" experience for me to enjoy for a change.

Arriving Sunday it was the usual family fun heading through the week.  Coffee bar swims, rides on the Queen K, zip-line adventure (highly recommended by Kohala) and casual runs along Ali'i.  Nothing really compares to being around all the fit people around and it can get intimidating as well as easy to lose your cool leading to race day.  Luckily the family and Whitney did a great job of keeping me sane through the week.

Race morning arrives and I feel good.  Not expecting a breakthrough performance, but also trying to keep things respectable.  Wake up, normal breakfast and coffee and off to the start.  Head through body marking and do last minute tweaks to the bike.  My buddy One Hour Ironman/IronBob finds me and we find a good place to relax.  He has a great charity he supports and actually raced in 6 Ironman's on 6 continents over the span of 4 months.  Not an easy task, but it was to support Well Aware, a great charity that provides water wells and education to the people of Africa.  He always had great stories from his travels and it was great to pass the time.

Getting close to race start and I always need the last minute pottie break.  Funny run in with Lew Hollander and Sister Madonna in line.  Hopefully I get into the NBC broadcast as they wish each other luck.  Lew was slugging down a Red Bull at the time, I guess he has a good heart!

As we all trudge to the start line I catch up with my buddy Tim Smith who races for Everyman Jack (super stud, sub 9 hours).  He has been on a tear for the last few years and is always looking to push the envelope on a race.

Stepping into the water and everyone's focus sharpens.  Its a few hundred yards out to the start so I take it easy, not wanting to tread water for too long out there.  I think I see my family in their neon green gear which was great!  With the split AG Men and Women's starts, the crowd on the line wasn't too bad.  I line up about two thirds down the line from the pier and wait........

Cannon goes off and its a washing machine!  Surprised nobody was swimming over each other, but it takes a good 100 yards to get space to actually swim.  Settling into a good stroke, people played nice and were forming good groups to draft.  Visibility was perfect, and following feet and bubbles was easy.  Really no sighting required as if you veered right or left, someone was there to keep you going straight.  Cruising out to the turn was just amazing with the pack keeping things together.  Hitting the turn buoys things stayed mellow too!  We all made the turn and made our way back home.  No idea how long it was taking, felt long (time wise), but was hopeful to keep it under 1:10.  Little bit of water in the goggles I had to fix, no biggie, but then a cramp in my foot!  So painful, thankfully nothing to really keep me from going.  Just try to relax, pull the pace back slightly and stretch thing out in my stroke.  Luckily it goes away in a minute or so and it is back at it.  I'm veering a little bit now with the pack thinning out.  Staying on the buoy line, but getting close to the surfboards lining the inside.  Finally coming into the pier and the crowd is always just crazy!  Every breath you can see all the volunteers cheering and the rest of the water line is packed with people.  My hand hits sand, stand up and it is just overwhelming.  Make sure I stand up straight, get my bearings and up the stairs.  1:09!  Wahooo!

Cruise through T1 which is packed, and HOT!  Make sure I'm ready to head out on the road.  Jogging out with my bike and the little parade through town.  People are just hitting it hard already, but its a long day, no reason to win the first 20 miles.  Through "Hot Corner" and I catch my family cheering me on.  Out Kuakini and the road is lined with people cheering the whole way.  Flying back into town a few of us nearly run over some people running across the road.  I see my family again, but they weren't expecting me so soon, of course my personal photog Whitney was;)


Time for some TLC on the Queen K.  With the start staggered with the women, the road isn't as crowded as usual.  Maybe my faster swim helped too!  Rolling out there are still packs forming in the first 20 miles.  I end up fighting to get around packs that drop in front of me, and using up too many watts in the process.  Winds aren't as friendly as usual until after the airport, but then they switch to considerable cross winds at times.  Its really fun to watch the rider in front of you get hit and move a few feet sideways!  Ticking away the miles and rolling hills I'm trying to hold back for a good run.  Its a hard task as the bike is always my go-to.  In retrospect, I didn't do a good job at that.  I was out to have fun though!

Making the turn toward Hawi the winds weren't bad at first.  The road gradually turns East though and it just got worse and worse with just a defeating headwind.  Your mind can be decimated at this point as you watch time slip away while you approach the half way point.  Its a hard thing to keep in your head, but the way back is like a flash and makes it up.  Turn in Hawi is always fun.  The whole town must turn up to come cheer and the Special Needs group is a fun one too.  Load up with my frozen bottles, crest the hill and its a roller coaster down and out of Hawi.  Some nice tailwinds paired with cross blasts makes for tentative riders not letting loose.  I have a few extra pounds to stabilize and I'm good!  Cruising at 40 mph, spinning out my gears and loving it!  Making my way back to the Queen K I hit a dark spot though.

Around 35 miles left and my mind takes a bit of a turn with sore feet and the crazy winds picking up.  I really need to find a new cycling shoe for IM's as I get "hot spots" under the knuckles of my pinky toes.  Such a pain for a small part of the foot.  Watts and speed are down and I just need to get off my bike.  I figure the lower watts will do good for the run, but the damage was already done.  Trying to keep positive thoughts as I start to see the familiar landmarks and things get better.  Winds aren't as bad, and I'm going to hit my time of 5:10!  I should have figured it was a "slower" day out there for everyone.

Slowly through T2, trying to make sure my legs don't seize up like they normally do, I'm just excited to be off my bike and out of my shoes!  Sit down in the changing tent, get my gear together and out on the run.

Out on the first few miles I manage to keep my pace down, but at a good clip.  All smiles running through the crowds along Ali'i.  So much fun seeing the lead women runners heading the other way.  Rinny goes blowing by, looking like she will reel in the pack of women ahead.  I'm always worried about my abs seizing up, its a problem I've had in the past few IM's when I try to dig deep.  The rollers on Ali'i don't give much trouble and the pace is nice and consistent between 7:00 and 7:30 and feels easy.  Hitting the 2 mile mark and my family is just ahead.  They are great about giving me a good show when I go by.  The kids have some great chalk work done too.  Down to the turnaround is great and much better than last time with a bum knee where I was walking a good part of the marathon in 2012.  Coming back towards my family and I'm still full of energy.  Smiling and enjoying the day unfold.  Running back into town is great as usual.  Everyone is on the street cheering you on, it is such a sight.  There was nice overcast most of the time so far and heading up Palani to the Queen K has a monster crowd.  Making the turn and downhill and I was thinking my goal of 3:15 was in reach!

The Queen K has a tendency to bury you.  It's such a long stretch of road with nearly no end in sight.  With the sun coming out, and the heat rising, this was a bad place for me.  The energy just left me at this point.  Pace started to slow and everything turned south.

The biggest part of a race is that you know what you are racing for.  In the past it was completing my journey to lose weight and regain my health.  My last race here was about pushing as hard as I could, but injury didn't let that happen.  This time with so many other great things happening in my life, there really wasn't anything I was out to prove.  It's amazing how having that drive in your head can help you train and push your body to new limits.  That spark in my head just wasn't there for this race.  I knew it going in, but was somewhat ignorant to that fact.  Fitness and drive can take you to great places, my place was just to finish and be happy.

Grinding out the final ten miles was a chore.  Heading into the Energy Lab and I was beat.  Luckily its downhill first, unluckily it uphill out.  Down to the turnaround I see an old competitor from a duel at the end of the Pittsburgh Triathlon a few years ago.  It is one of my favorite tri experiences, chasing down people on the run in that race.  I got within 10 feet of him that day and we pretty much sprinted the final mile in.  He kept up the pace though and held me off.  He has had a great year this year on his run to Kona and it was great to see him.  I let off "don't let me catch you" as I saw him going the other way.  There was no chance of a heated finish this day though.  Heading back was a chore to say the least.  Trudging out of the lab took a big toll.  Walking aid stations, but still smiling at everyone trying to urge me along.  I can't believe how the volunteers are out there all day and still love to be there.  Turning back to the Queen K and I know its about an hour home!

About a mile back I see my Dad.  He rode out to cheer me on and make sure I was doing OK.  He know it was a rough day, but we always have the right things to say to each other.  He loves to see everyone out doing what they love, and if he can help anyone and be a part of it, that has become his purpose.  Putting some work in and my spirits lift for a mile then back to grinding.  My favorite aid station of the day came up and they are playing this goofy song "What does the fox say!" and it makes me run faster for a mile.  It was a fun mile though it nearly had my hamstrings seizing up!



The last miles are always a blur.  Trying to hold things together and make it in.  The final turn down Ali'i and into the shoot the family is back to see me in.  It was a rough day out there and emotions start to get me.  This is the last time for a while I'll be here and I know my family, especially my wife have all done so much for me to chase triathlon dreams.  I just hope there is something I can do to repay all the love they put my way.

Taking my time down the finish shoot and enjoying the crowd.  Crossing the line and the relief was amazing.  Done and done.  The last time doing that for a while!  It has been a great, but long eight years of my life that probably took over much of it for a good period.  Its time to mellow out for a few years and do some normal life things like have a baby, lol.  Not closing a door on Ironman, but a well deserved break.  You'll see me soon enough taking on the stroller division in a few road races next summer, and of course I have the Miller Family Florida Ironman next November, but that will really be for fun and cheering the next future Miller Ironmen, Ashley and Mom!

Aloha from Kona!

Wired Article and Photo Shoot

Photo credits: Talia Herman/Wired

Recently I had the great pleasure to participate in Wired Magazine's "Living the Wired Life" series.  +Christina Bonnington had contacted SF Tri Club about possible athletes to help in the process, and of course I jumped at the opportunity.  While I'm not an expert in the sense of DC Rainmaker, I've tried enough technology (and wasted enough money on bad things) to give a good understanding of what helps an athlete, and what is just throwing money away.

As the interview and subsequent email exchanges continued, I got a sense they were looking for something a bit more involved, and triathlete like, obsession.  Yes, the evil triathlete trait was being delved into.  I didn't have a problem with it, as many triathletes can tell you, we are obsessed to a fault most times.  As long as you can accept it, you can work with it to make sure it does not ruin your life.  As some of the commentators on the article have pointed out, the obsession is a means to ignoring larger things in life, and I definitely agree.  My journey started as a way to get back to a younger, healthier self, but also as an escape from breakup.  Luckily my journey transformed into a new avenue for both work and personal growth, but that is not always the case.

There is definitely more to this story coming very soon.  Triathlon gave me my health, some incredible friends, and professional growth I was searching for.  The great people I've shared my life with in the past, luckily stuck with me through this growth period and I couldn't be more appreciative as I probably wasn't emotionally, or physically "available" until I figured it out in my own head.  A big turning point came in meeting my wife Whitney.  While I'm still learning a lot about sharing my life, there is no other person I would rather take that journey with than her.

+WIRED did a great job with my story and I can't say enough about my appreciation for that.  +talia herman  was wonderful to work with as well on the photography.  Luckily my friend +annie gherini was around to help coach me, and try to get me to stop smiling so much in the demo workouts.

Here are more of the photo's that didn't make it into the shoot.  Running through all the equipment at +M2 Revolution was exhausting, but it was such a fun experience that I'm happy to be a part of.

Oceanside III - Return of the Healthy Triathlete!

I've always loved racing Oceanside, and for multiple reasons.  #1 Its a mini family trip where my parents come to the coast from the desert, #2 Top competition come to play, #3 its a fair course with some climbing, but not overly aggressive, keeping the field honest and no drafting.  My first attempt, I was still learning the distance, and developing leg strength.  Second try, I was coming off an injury with little running.  This year saw my winter losing ground with some bruised ribs after launching from mike bike!  My training group rallied over the past few months and motivated me back to fame form.  Still a few pounds off race weight, but body felt ready to push hard for the day.

With a great lead up for the month ahead of the race including our .5 Fe Training Day at M2, I felt confident in my bike, but less so for the swim and run.  Last year the winds brought a crazy wake into the harbor, and I posted a pitiful 34 minute swim.  My heel problems have persisted, and there is still a mental block to pushing hard in training.  Oh well, guess its time to see how the winter had treated me through trial by fire!

Picked up by my limo er parents at the airport:)  Get settled at the hotel and go through the normal rigamorole of race prep day with the expo, packet pickup, dinner, etc.  Highlight of the day was walking through the Expo and Whitney stops dead in her tracks when she spots the Corbins.  Whitney's favorite triathlete is Linsey, and she also follows Chris Corbin on Instagram as they have a golden retriever, Madison, that is very photogenic.  Whitney sheepishly approaches Linsey and just wanted to say how much she appreciated the shoe advice on Instagram and they started talking and asked where we were from.  Suddenly they ask "your dog is Sailor?" and Linsey gives Whitney a huge hug!  Sailor is the next big thing on Instagram i guess, never thought I would be that happy to call myself a dog owner;)

Race morning and I'm feeling good!  Two good nights of sleep, good breakfast and my Dad and I our out the door down to the swim.  Take care of all my business easily and down to the boat ramp.  No winds, much warmer this year, and little stress, but excited.  Its going to be a good day!

Swim

After last year's debacle, I'm looking for redemption, especially in navigation.  I line up on the right, second from the front, but nobody is really pushing to get set up.  Countdown going, and its a pretty mellow start.  I see people battling it out along the buoys  but I'm content to push hard on my own to start and keep a straight line for the first turn.  The water is smooth and its easy to sight and we make the slight turn out to the end of the course.  I slowly make my way to the buoy line and we are hitting the earlier waves already.  Dodging traffic, this was a perfect swim so far.  No panic, good stroke, and feeling fast for a change.  Round the furthest part of the course and back, navigating well this year!  Serious traffic from previous waves and I'm back on the ramp, heading to my bike.  I don't wear a watch so I had no idea what the time was, but it felt good.  Turns out it was probably a little short, but I'll take it!  Turns out to be 5 minutes faster than 2012, and 10 spot improvement in the Age Group, so while it was short, it was still an improvement.

Swim time: 29:10 - 45th AG 



On the bike, and the day felt good to go kill it.  I'd done a great effort review of last year among all the athlete's results on Strava, and I had a very good plan of what to do.  One race day change was the wind though.  It was coming in differently than the previous years and hit us much harder on the climbs surprisingly.  Oh well, still worked out, but no PR's on the uphills.  

Flying out the first 28 miles is always fun, absolutely blasting by people, but the rest of the athletes were riding correctly, and to the right, so not much yelling or drama.  One guy in my AG cruises by me, and there is no way I can match the effort, so I let it go.  A few minutes later, another passes and I look down at my watts and I'm slacking.  Time to wake back up and go!  Sitting on top of my gears I get back up over 300 watts and make sure I take advantage of the tailwind until the hills.  The first hill is just a punch to the gut that you have to just go for or you end up grinding at too low a cadence.  I have a 26 big cog on the back and maybe should have had my 28.  60 cadence for the second half of the climb and pushing 350 watts with some heavier peaks.  I lost too much time being conservative last year, so I was pushing limits on hills this year.  Up and over, a fun decent, but then the long climb up Basilone.

This is a lot long a climb than people realize, with a false flat starting at mile 31, and continuing to the steep rise at the end at mile 36.  Its another punch to the gut, but you have to hit the final rise hard enough to keep momentum and a good run over the top.  We were exposed to the wind which definitely took its tool.  I pushed 50 watts harder this year, and still lost 5 seconds to my time, but the effort paid off in the end.

Steep descent with the no passing zone.  Sat up and watched speed as this is where someone died a few years ago.  Pass the turn and back in aero to carry speed into the flats.  Final climb approaching and not sure what happened.  Low heart rate on this climb, but high watts.  Could have gone better, but maybe my "dark" time on the bike.  Again pushing big watts to get over, but slightly slower than last year.  Fly downhill and hit my 30 minute left mark on the course.  I was a little worried because I was slightly behind schedule.  The winds were lighter and not straight on this year, so I had a chance for my 2:30 bike split goal.  Loving the speed on this section compared to other years.  It can be the most demoralizing section once you are below 10 miles left, but grinding into a headwind.  Legs were still responding and it was go time to get my split without killing my run.

Once I get back through the gates of the base its almost time to shut it down and cruise into T2. Rode the race I wanted and finished up just under goal!  Side note of my finish is I must have been delirious and thought is was a good time to try taking my feet out of my shoes before stopping.  Nearly killed myself.  NEVER TRY NEW THINGS ON RACE DAY.

Bike Time: 2:28:55 - 14th AG 




Perfect day for a great run along the Strand!  Last year's rain was not to be seen and it was ripe for a PR.  I still hadn't gotten good run form out of myself this year, but it was coming along, and much better than last year so it was time to put a hurting in.  I get to see Vince and Mike who look to be in the zone looking for podiums and crazy run rankings.

Out and back North, then the ramp, which I almost face planted into.  I saw my family just before and got all excited.  With a little extra speed, and flat light, I really didn't see the start of the ramp and almost crumpled to the ground with my first step up, lol.  Heading South I start seeing the race leaders and the changes going on which was exciting.  My heel is holding up, as well as my pacing.  The temperature is coming up as well and you can see people starting to melt a little.  Head down, concentrating on my run and I'm reeling in some of my AG'ers whom passed me out on the road.  

Back through for lap 2 and the legs are still responding.  The course is getting busy with more and more people coming in off the bike.  The narrow section North of the pier is the worst and I was forced up on the sidewalk twice to keep from losing my momentum.  Most of the lap traffic was aware of the fast runners coming through and graciously moved when they heard people coming.  No kitty gear this year, but the M2 kit was getting plenty of cheers coming back to the pier and out on the final loop.

I finally see Virgilio and he is cruising out front of his Age Group.  Sandrine comes along for a few minutes on her first lap to give me some encouragement.  If parts of the run weren't so tight, and so much concrete, this would be an almost perfect setup as I love looped courses where you can see where you are both on the course, and where your competition is.  Coming up to the last turnaround I see BC Mike and yell at him to not let me catch him.  It works for a bit, but I reel him in a mile later.  Good race for him though.  Just another 2 miles and I'm home.  I pass my last AG competitor and charge ahead to leave no option to follow.  Taking the turn downhill back to the water and the beach is going nuts with the sun and surf being up.  Ironman's new "Tent Village" setup makes the final stretch even better with people lining the street for all of us. 

Taking in the scene the last quarter mile was great.  Nobody around and I can enjoy the chute for a change and know I had my best effort for the day.


Run Time: 1:26:02 - 7th AG

Total: 4:29:13 - 10th AG, 29th Overall nearly 10 minute PR!

While I cut 10 minutes off my time from last year, it actually put me a few spots higher in the final rankings.  It was just amazing to see the talent turn up for my Age Group, but I'm beyond excited for my result.  Now, time to relax with the boys, have fun with the family and look forward to Wildlfower.

Kona Holiday errrr Race Report

Finally coming back to this post after nearly five months.  For a bit it was hard to reconcile in my head, but I did still truly enjoy my second Kona experience.

Sometimes the best lessons learned are the hardest to get over.  I don't think I ever got my head around how I should feel about this race, or if it was really a race at all.  Mostly it just turned into an act of not giving up.  This was Kona for Pete's sake, these opportunities don't come around that often.

While I know there are times to pull the plug on a race for fear of injuring yourself, and I respect that, but I started this thing, and damned if I wasn't going to finish.
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My Kona dreams of blasting away a 9:30 IM, and chasing down my buddy Tim were dashed two weeks ahead of the race as an IT Band issue hit me hard as a result of not listening to my coaches.  I had a great plan laid out, and one workout did me in as I pushed it too hard to try to cap off a season of injury frustration.  You live and learn, but hopefully if you are reading this you'll head that advice.

Well, off to Kona now for the Miller family retreat round three for a bigger, better, just not faster experience!

My parents treated us well with an amazing house up the hill on Palani.  Overlooking the town 1000 feet below, this was a great place to get away from the hub-bub and relax.  Big pool, kids running around and the  family together is always nice.  We had our normal swims to the Coffees of Hawaii Espresso Bar, bike rides out the Queen K, and beach time in Waikoloa.  My Dad and I decided to take a ride along the Hawaii Belt and I highly recommend it opposed to the Queen K, just make sure its early in the week because its a good deal of climbing.

The first of a few amazing pieces to this trip was our Dolphin tour with Sunlight on Water.  Some of the family didn't deal too well with the rolling sea, but with crystal clear water, and some really large pods of spinner dolphins, it was amazing!  Diving down and getting within 20 feet of these guys was ridiculous.  And of course they put on a show jumping out of the water too.

In our attempt of divine intervention to heal my knee, we invited Sister Madona to the house for dinner one night.  The blessing didn't work, but it was great to hang out with one of the notable amateur athletes of our day.  It was a fun night of stories and history around the race which I won't forget.

My Mom and Dad did get some divine intervention by winning a Challenged Athlete Foundation raffle for lunch with Chrissie Wellington at the TYR House!  Mom wanted to go, but she had already planned a Sea Horse trip for the kids in the family, so I got to go hang out!  My Dad and I were dumbfounded at what was going to happen as we had lunch with an icon of the sport.  Turns out, she is pretty cool to hang out with!  Once we got over the standard retirement, what are you going to do next things.  The conversation turned to normal everyday stuff.  Of course I had to share some Hello Kitty love with Chrissie, and at the very least she put on a good show of appreciation, but who doesn't love Kitty!

Race day comes and its time to get down to business.  I had gotten through (still pain, but manageable) an hour run at 8:00 mile pace two days prior, but still big question mark on how it would play out.  Roll through body marking, find a place on the grass behind the King K hotel, and try to relax.

Pro's are off and its time to get in the water.  Definite nerves as the swim just sucked for me last year with a myriad of issues from leaky goggles, to cramping.  TYR hooked us up with the custom goggles, which I had them make in M2 colors, and they were working great all week.  Slow crawl in the water to the start and lined up about 5 back from the front, about 2/3's to the left as well.  Trying to stay as calm as possible, and keep enough space around too.  The helicopter is heading for us for their dramatic shot and BOOM!

Head down and trying to just move forward and get good breaths.  Not as combative as last year, and after a minute, I actually find myself in a hole in the water, with really nobody around!  It was impossible for me to go off course with so many to the right and left, but I had open water, yippeee!  For me, drafting at this point isn't worth as much as clean water until I get into a grove with my stroke and breathing.  turns out from some pictures I saw, there were two main draft lines and I found the middle.  A few minutes later there was a convergence, and that is where the some good old "rubbin son, is racing" came into play.  No real blows, but lots of contact.  Handled it pretty well since I was all warmed up at this point, and it seemed people were polite about it as well.  Making the two turns I still felt good, and was holding pace with people, finally getting a draft.  The warm water began taking its toll and I could feel some twitches forming in my calves.  Thank God I could see the Pier though.  Cruising along with people screaming is an awesome feeling.  I knew I had done better than last year.  Out of the water, a quick glance at the clock, 1:10!  Wahooooo!  That's good for me in a non-wetsuit swim.

Swim: 1:10:43
T1: 4:11

Grabbing my bike and jogging to the mount line, very happy to see more bikes around than last year and I'm ready to go after Stefan's time and chase down Timbo who probably smoked me out of the water.  Rolling through town my watts are sky high!  I don't know whats going on because I don't feel like I'm pushing too hard?!  Check my heart rate and it has settled to 140's, something's wrong.  I must have calibrated my Powertap with some torque on it by accident, $#it!  Flying blind, sort of.  It seems to be consistent, so if you look at my Strava ride, I'd say 400 watts is 260 instead.  There will always be a few things that go wrong in the race, you just need to be ready to deal with it and move on.

Long ride coming up, and I'm feeling good.  Take it easy getting out of town as I go by what was a brutal accident at Hot Corner with a spectator taking out a cyclist.  Crazy crowded, so need to just get through.  Finally up Palani and out on the Queen K.  Long line of cyclists ahead is always a sight to see.  Thoroughly enjoying myself, cruising through the field.  I'm on top of my gearing and staying out of trouble, traffic and draft packs forming.  Lots of penalties given out which is always awesome, I'm feeling even better!

My second time through the lava fields is much more enjoyable.  I'm zoned in on the race, but not so worried about every little sound or happening, just plugging away all smiles.  Off the Queen K and onto Kawaihae, the group of people is always nuts.  Along with the people who make the trek to Hawi, I love these guys for getting out there.  Wind is picking up and its going to be interesting coming back down from Hawi as its a cross wind this year.  The climb to Hawi is just a grind as usual.  Benefiting from better bike fitness, along with the cross wind and not the head on wind from last year, I best my time by a minute (20:48) to get up to Hawi.  The turn and I'm getting excited to hit the roller coaster back down.

Last year I spun out my compact crank, but I have a standard on this year.  Not 30 seconds into the descent and I'm up to 40 MPH and spinning out the standard!  Harsh crosswinds throw a little wrench in my attack, but still much faster than last year.  A big gust hits and blows a poor girl off the road.  I thought she was going to hold onto it, but as she slowed in the dirt, she hit a rock and endo'd.  A support moto was right there at the time and stopped to check, but I don't think it was catastrophic.

Retracing the Akoni Pule and back on the Queen K the legs are still feeling good, but my feet hurt!  At this point in the race is usually when it happens, and I actually take some pleasure in it because it keeps me engaged and not thinking about how much everything else may be hurting;)  After this race, time for some new ones though.  Three years, and 6 IM's and I think they have seen better days.

Twenty miles left and I think I'm going to hit my race goal of taking down Stefan's time last year.  Unfortunately, the winds had picked up and no matter how far tucked I could get, there was no speed left to gain.  Swallowing my pride, I let it go, but very happy on a hard day to have bested my own time from last year.  I still needed to try to run after this, and chasing a bike time was not in the cards.  Into T2 with the amazing crowd as usual.  Love seeing the SF Tri crowd that always comes to volunteer (Thanks Bourgon's:).

Bike Time: 5:04:57

Shoes on, remembering my GPS from my bike this year, and its time to see how the knee feels.  Cruising out to the crowd, and Hello Kitty is always a fan favorite.  Up the quick climb and then back down to Ali'i, the knee was holding up!  Nothing fast, but respectable!  Giving it some more time to make sure, I get through town and out to the sponsor houses where I could relax a bit in my stride without throngs of people at the waterfront.  Pacing along at 8:30 min miles, I decides its time to see if I can push the pace down to 7:30.  I'm four miles into 26, and taking a half hour off my time seems like a good idea.  30 seconds into the effort and it feels like more than just a dagger, its a freaking spear being thrown into my knee.  I nearly fall over and stop dead in my tracks.

Is my day over?  Did I put a nail in my day at Kona?

I decide to walk for a bit.  100 yards later, jog, and boom, knee pain, but a dagger this time.  Walk some more.  Doing the math in my head, walking at this point is not a preferable mode of transportation and would make it 5 plus hours.  I hit the turnaround on Ali'i, and people are very nice cheering me on.  I take their generous thoughts and give a jog a chance again, and I can do it!  Its a bit of a dead-legged hobble, but I'll take it.  My Dad rides up and see's I'm in trouble and wishes me well.  I needed him out there to keep me going and I appreciated it.  Finally after another mile, the hobble turns into more of a jog.  A one leg job, but still hitting 10:00 mile pace.  Back into town and at least I look like an athlete again.  This isn't going to be as much of a physical test as a mental one.

My family is waiting at the bottom of Hualalai and at that point I was happy to stop for a second.  My fiance gives me a big kiss, the kids cheer and they are happy to see me running and not walking.  I was happy not to be walking and have them out there an extra few hours waiting for me.  Up the hill we go!  Top out on Palani and out the long grind of the Queen K.  Chrissie is chasing her boyfriend and gives me a good cheer as well.  I was excited to be able to see the rest of the Pro race unfold in front of me as well.

With the mellow pace, I got to make friends out on the race course.  Where I'm usually running a heart rate of 150 and growling with my breath, now I'm at a leisurely 130 and wanting to talk to someone to help spend the time.  Enter GoSonja!  Sonja ended up being my victim for most of our time out the Queen K.  Not sure if she like the chatty Brett I had become, but hey, she was cruising along with me.  She was having a sub-par day, so we figured agony needed company.  She's a Mom, Coach, and very fast AG'er from Boulder.  It was good to have someone there and I very much appreciate the Queen K run with her.  On the way to the Energy Lab I get to see Leanda Cave chasing down Caroline Steffen, and the rest of the top women flying down the road.  So cool to see.

Almost to the Queen K and Timmy comes blowing by me delirious, but recognizing me.  He's having a great day, and making himself suffer.  The Energy Lab is a different world when you aren't deep into it in an IM.  The aid stations were a riot with the kids doing a great job entertaining.  A few of them recognized me (off course with the kit) from last year and gave a big cheer.  Climb back out of the Lab and the final stretch back home.  The sun is getting low, but I know as long as I can hold onto the 9:00 mile pace that I'll be home before dark.

The final climb up Iron War Hill was a different story than last year.  I was digging deep for 3:20, but this year I was trying to keep my leg together for 4:20.  Favoring my stride to one side had taken its tool and I could tell my left leg was not very happy with me.  Cresting the top and I knew it was an easy time home.  Downhill was not fun though as every step asked me to extend my right knee much farther than it wanted.

This was the first time I looked forward to the end of my season.  The long year had its ups and downs and the finish was a great place to celebrate it, and put it to bed.  I longed for the time a few months away when my body would be 100%.  Taking in the finishing chute was amazing to help the healing process begin.  No matter what happens in your race, the finish of an IM is such an experience if you pay attention.  People just going nuts for someone they don't know.  Climb the ramp to the finish, thank God for surviving, and I'm DONE!

Snuck into IM Europe's Kona video at the end: http://youtu.be/ExVpVAO6tgw

Run time: 4:21:57

Total Time: 10:47:59









2012 was a great, but rough year of life changing events, as well as pressure to follow up with another Kona.  I am happy to have persevered through some hard things physically and mentally, but elated at where the year has brought me personally with my fiance and family.  2013 brings me together with my fiance in our wedding and starting our life together, and I get to throw a few races in there as well.  Different priorities and goals with my coaching starting up as well with M2.  The people I have surrounding me are the reason I'm successful, and I can't thank them enough for everything they do, they mean the world to me.

Good luck to everyone in 2013, and we'll see you in Oceanside to kick things off proper!

Lazy day before IM US Championship

Bike is checked in and sitting in front of the TV, browsing videos and with the current water conditions, some movie clips just came to mind.  Enjoy and I hope its a little better for me tomorrow.

2012 Season 1st half and catching up

Totally flaked on this post, but I'll finish it anyways 2 months later.
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Last year put quite a beating on me, so I decided 2012 would include a bit of a break before the big push for IMNYC in August.  My girlfriend appreciates it, so we are both happy and it falls right while we were looking for an apartment together in SF, which is a harder task than you would think (thus the delays to blogging).  All the apartments we looked at had a line of people waiting.  Nearly two months of looking, and we finally found one!  The owner said she rented to us because Whitney was just "so nice, but persistent".  I think she just wanted us to stop calling her.  We'll get settled in and ready for the summer months.  Whit is happy because moving won't interrupt her summer vacation at all.  I'm sure that was the highest priority;)

Racing and training had finally all come together into May as well.  Wildflower became my early season A race as there was some disappointment in Oceanside with some mishaps and training blunders.  The ramp up and response to training was awesome over April and I could feel a good race coming on.  With a Double Mt. Diablo climb, highly place Presidio 10, hard raced Metro Tri, and amazing Lighthouse Ride, I had the confidence to go attack Wildflower Long Course.

The swim!

Finally some excitement can be had for a swim!  The past two years have brought nothing but disappointment for swimming in my races and Wildflower finally brought some joy to it.  Pushing out hard with the leaders, I had to slow a little to keep from freaking out, but then found a good rhythm, and a draft for a good portion of the race.  Exiting the water with a 30 for the first two digits was all I wanted and it finally happened.  A huge burst of energy helped me sprint up the boat ramp and out onto the bike. 

Swim time: 30:43 - 305th Overall

New helmet and all, I was pumped to be on the road with some slightly altered objectives for my bike.  The past few races, I've underperformed on the hills.  Trying to contain myself on climbs, I was going a little overboard and losing too much time.  Hitting the hills harder and leaving everything on the road was the objective, then relying on my training to have good run legs was the hope.  Wind blowing, but not as bad as last year, just the direction was worse as its angle, kept it a steady headwind out of the lake, until we made the turn off Jolon into the farmland.  Not sure how many people I managed to pick off, but it was a good race from how I was feeling.  Nasty Grade approaching, and it was HOT climbing.  Making sure things didn't fall apart, but also keeping some good pressure, all I could think about.  Climbing with and old friend who moved to LA, Ivan, was a lot of fun too.

Descending from the top of the course and into the rollers was still a task with winds picking back up.  Another top guy in my age group picked me off on Nasty, and I was hoping to reel him back in.  I knew he was a good runner, and I needed a gap to be able to have any hope of holding him off.  Stefan was also still ahead having an amazing bike.  Somehow his tiny little body puts out HUGE watts and I can't catch him.  Not knowing where I was in the race, but feeling good it was still time to push it into the Lake.

Through the gates, and down the hill, I find transition empty!  Such a great feeling being able to count the bikes in transition for who is in your age group.  A sweet P4 (naturally David Condon who is off the front and un-catchable), two others I don't recognize and Stefan's yellow Felt.  Rack the bike, shoes on and I'm off to see how my legs and heel are willing to cooperate. 

Bike time: 2:34:56 - 17th Overall - 302 Watts - Wahoo!!!!

Quickly out of the crowd I get to hear a friend Renee screaming for me.  "Stefan's got 2 minutes on you!".  Wow!  He crushed the bike, but I made up time on him in Kona, so lets see what I've got.  Feeling good along the lake and into the hills, everything feels good.  Heel holding up, not fatigued (as much as I can hope), and head ready for some damage.  All the sudden, this string bean comes blowing by on a hill that was in my age group.  I scream a bit of sarcasm and hate for the lightweight, but cheer him on for the good run.  Crap, 6th!  Time for some work.  I know I can't make up time without really hurting myself on the hills so some patience was in order.  Cresting the last big climb and into the steep trail descent at mile 6 and the legs fly! 

The run through the campgrounds was awesome.  So many people cheering and yelling, always a big push.  Climbing to the top of the pit and down I finally see Stefan climbing out.  He has some distance on me, but there is a chance.  Turnaround point and climbing out, Ritch Viola comes by and offers some encouragement as he is another lightweight, cruising up the hill and seeing the labor of me charging up.  All I can do is hope to keep the 20 yards between us as we run the final 2 miles home.  Thought of my Grandmother (funeral was the same day as Wildflower) filled my head and my energy tank and I know she was with me.  (Ritch is just a stud, making up 10 minutes on me from 2 waves back)  Coming up on the final mile downhill and I can crush it with strong legs left.  Absolutely pain in the quads from the pounding, but the legs can take it and the heel is holding up.  Finally in one of the turns I can see Stefan and he is not taking the hill as fast.  Flying to the bottom of the hill I take him, but slow to finish together.  I had the race, but Stefan has been a driving force in my training and sharing the finishing shoot was a treat.

Run Time: 1:33:21 55th Overall
Total: 4:43:44 5th AG-22nd Overall

So many emotions went into this race with recovering and managing my injuries, to my Grandmother passing and racing in her honor.  I wanted to be there for the family back East, but my father told me to stay and race.  Knowing she was watching was a godsend and I was happy to have the race of my life that day at Wildflower.

My reward!

Lazy, but motivated!

Wow, so the past few months have been a bit crazy and its almost time for a mid-season break after Wildflower.  I have a list of half finished blog entries that are not long relevant.  Two races with no reports, and a laundry list of training and life stories that have occurred with nothing to show for it!

The short of it, life is GOOD, but HARD!  Work has been a bit much, and training has progressed very well, even with my Achilles issues.  The biggest impediment to to my training was my beloved Jeep breaking down, twice!  A few thousand dollars later, and three weeks of riding my bike to work, and all is good again and he is cooperating nicely.


Car issues did throw my California 70.3 race off a bit, as the additional mileage took a toll on my legs for the bike.  Amazingly my run legs were ready and brought me back into the top 10 in my Age Group for the race which was a big early season boost.  Would have loved a better day, but I'll take it considering.

Pre Diablo Double

On to April and lots of fun.  My girlfriend and I ran the Presido 10 together and she did amazing for her first 10k!  Running the 10 miler I captured 8th place overall with a 1:02 on tired legs after doing our M2 Double Diablo climb the day before with 7,000 feet of climbing over 50 miles.  Brutal!

M2 and Virgilio dueling

Finally on to this past weekend where our M2 Training Group decided the amazing weather warranted a little visit to the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse.  This ride is a long one, with deceptive difficulty brought on by constant rollers, and extremely rough roads at times.  Add to that, some competitive personas going for Strava KOM's, and it can turn ugly quick.  Temperatures ranged from 70 degrees at ride start, down to 50's out at the Lighthouse, then back up to 90's on the road back to McInnis Park.  An epic day with quite a few battles performed for KOM's and City Limit sprints.  Total ride was 85 miles of near race day effort that will come in handy come Wildflower, but I'm not sure it helped for Sunday's Metro Triathlon.

Sunday arrives and my legs recovered nicely.  Calves were still hurting a bit from the last weekend's Presidio 10, but I was more worried about holding sustainable efforts on the bike.  The swim was cancelled due to some poor water quality readings in Lake Almaden.  I had always heard bad things about this lake and avoided swimming in it, but as I don't have my "A" race for the year until August, I figured I'd give it a try.  Guess I will never have to deal with swimming in that lake now.

Trying to look fierce, lol.

With a cancelled swim, they had all the 30-39 Males run a 1 mile leadout then onto our bikes.  I don't think there was more than 20 seconds of separation between the first 30 athletes, so lets just say it was a crowded first 12 miles of the bike into a headwind.  Knowing my run legs would not fully be there, I was hitting the bike hard and a significant pack was forming with a steady headwind.  Pushing over 350 watts, I couldn't escape the pack, and as they went through my draft, they would overtake and create a continuous circle, or illegal riding.  I made my best efforts to stay clear of drafting, pushing 400 watt blocks to try to escape, but it was impossible.  Motor bike pulled up, I was definitely behind someone, and DING, 2 minutes.  Was hoping they tagged someone else, but I can't deny I wasn't guilty, pretty much the whole front of the field was.


Finally at the turnaround it was time to drop everyone as we go to enjoy a tailwind, and no more drafting assistance.  My buddy Dan and a few others jumped at this chance and the field spread out nicely.  We had our climb, which Stefan finally came back to us on, and then the final assault back home.  Averaging over 28 MPH for the last 8.5 miles was fun!  Felt great about the ride averaging 342 watts and breaking an hour.

Running was a different story.  As expected, my calves wouldn't allow me my top end I was hoping for, so instead of risking something worse, I was subjected to cruising the 10k run at 6:30 pace.  Finishing up out of the podium was acceptable at 4th place, but it would have been nice to have made it.  Big congrats to my training buddy Dan!  He came in 3rd Overall while crushing the run this weekend.  He's on an incredible build looking to best my Texas race from last year and I wish him well.

So, that's my latest.  Next up is Wildflower Long Course, and I will actually taper for this race and not do anything too stupid ahead of it.  I hope everyone's season has started off great as well, and good luck to everyone at Wildflower!  See you down there at the party!