Flying back to NYC with lots of presents and 16 miles ran

It's that time when you realize that you will be in the office tomorrow at 8am...after an hour swim of course!

Unwrapping Xmas presents is always fun!

I had a great time down in Austin and come back to NY with lots of great memories. Santa spoiled me this year with gifts ranging from undershirts and shot glasses to running gear and a gift card that I can use with Killington Ski Resort in Vermont! Santa Mariesa knows me well and knows how much I love to ski! Being born in the heart of the French Alps and having skied since I was 3, it is always hard to see that I won't be able to ski as much as I'd love to again this year. So thank you Mariesa!


On a training note, I wrapped up this first week back into my running with a 45-min - 5+ miles around the Lady Bird Lake with Don. I felt good and Don certainly pushed up the pace a little bit. I just could restrain myself and had to keep up with him.
Newton Running had a stand at Duke's locker shop in Downtown where they organized a "test drive" of their products. Of course, we're talking running shoes here! I can only say good things about their products and even convinced Don to try them on. I think he liked them! Let's see if he ends up buying a pair.

In total I ran 17 miles this week at an average pace of 10:45min/mile. Let's see where January will take me. Training will be in full swing starting tomorrow.

Visist of Austin, TX

When you go to Texas for the first time, you have to eat Texas BBQ and check out Cowboys boots! We did just all that!  Austin, the capital of Texas is a fun, small town.

We walked around for a while and ended up at a boot shop where I obviously tried on a pair. I can't stress how serious they are about their boots, and I have to say that some look cool, but I'm not sure if I'd ever buy a pair. I could not believe how expensive it can be. We saw a pair that retailed for $1,999!That's the price of a nice set of Hawk-racing wheels! (www.hawk-racing.com) For now, I'd advise you to choose the latter and equip yourself with some great quality, USA handmade wheels for your triathlon fun!

We wrapped up the day with some Texas BBQ, and it was just delicious! We went to Rudy's, a gas station outside of Austin for some BBQ shenanigans. Who would guess that the best BBQ in town is found at a gas station!

Downtown Austin

Yeahaw! 

Apparently the best BBQ in town is at a Gas Station outside of Austin

Well..that was DELICIOUS!

Merry Xmas from Austin, TX

I had my first run since Miami (10/27) with a 1.37 miles in 16 minutes! I know, strong snail pace here, but I was too anxious to get back into it at faster pace than the 12:14min/mile pace I ran. I felt good but I think the injury is still playing with my head. I could have gone for a longer one, but decided to break it off and go of a second run later this afternoon.

It felt good to wear my Newton Distance shoes again. I love them! They're incredibly comfortable and have helped me change my form and helped me be more efficient. That said, I think I'm due for a new pair!

Again, Merry Xmas to all! Hope Santa will be generous tonight and most importantly, I hope that everyone gets to share this special moment with family and friends! I'm down in Austin, TX for the first time with Mariesa's family. Can't wait for the festivities to begin, for more running to happen, and for some serious TX BBQ!
 

Tweed Ride: 59-mile ride from Jersey City, NJ to Nyack, NY

60 degrees and overcast made for a great ride in the first day of the winter. We decided to do "Tweed" again, a ride we name after the 14-15 min steep climb called "Tweed" between Piermont and Nyack.

We left around 10:30, which wasn't ideal with traffic around the area, and rode along River Road up to the George Washington Bridge. There we started to see more cyclists coming from NYC taking mother nature's early Xmas gift to get on the bike and put some miles in. Groups formed quickly on both sides of the road to quickly become a cyclist fest on the 9W road. So much fun to see that many cyclists that late in the year!
At Piermont, NY we took a left to climb Tweed, approximately 600 feet of elevation gain, and almost free to traffic. After a month off training, the HR was almost higher than the watts, but the most important to me was to get back on the bike and enjoy a free ride. The climb is not a straight 14-min ride up to the peak (at least we rode it in 14 min). It has steep short segments coupled with flats and some downhills. It's not what I am used to in the French Alps, but it certainly got my HR through the roof, and my average power went up in the high 200's.
We headed back after that, but stopped for a muffin at the Runcible Spoon. If you like muffin and feel like taking a break, I'd highly recommend this place. It's located in the town of Nyack, and you can't miss it, hundreds of cyclists stop there on their way to Rockland County or on their way back to the city.
Riding back to Jersey City was a bit more complicated with a lot more traffic. 9W is fine as there are bike paths on each side of the road, but once passed the GW bridge, you're sharing the roads with cars, and you quickly realized that they don't share it with you. It can get dangerous (I got hit by a car in late October, 3 days before Miami half Ironman), and the best advice I'd have is to wear flashy gear and ride a good 2 feet off the curbs so you can always use that space if you feel pushed.
The fun ended when I got home and realized that I needed to do laundry and clean my bike to get all the salt off. It took me a good 1 1/2 hour, but at least the bike is ready to go tomorrow.

If you want more details on this ride, take a look at my Strava: http://www.strava.com/activities/101309464, and feel free to reach out on twitter @eviandrinker 

2014 Program

This will be a lighter year in terms of the number of races I'll participate in, but nonetheless a very exciting one with some major events:

March 22nd: Queens Half Marathon, New York, NY
May 4th: Bassman Olympic Tri, Bass River, NJ
June 8th: Eagleman Ironman 70.3, Cambridge, MD
July 27th: Ironman Zurich, Switzerland
September 7th: Ironman 70.3 World Championships, Mont Tremblant, QC, Canada

Psyched!

Happy Holidays! ...and back to training

Happy holidays to everyone! This time of the year should be dedicated to spending quality time with family and friends and make memorable memories, and indulge on food and candies :)

I look forward to going down to Austin, TX for what will be my first warm Christmas. Not having a white (and/or cold) Christmas will be different, but I cannot wait to try TX barbecues and enjoy some good times with Mariesa and her family. If anyone has any tips on where to get great bbq, please comment on this post! If I can make, I'll surely let you know. 

On another note, training for 2014 kicked off on December 2nd. I'm focusing on my swim with 4 swims a week (never done that much before!), riding a tiny bit, but not running still. The tendinitis feels better, but I'm not sure if that means I'm healed. Hopefully I'll be all good when I give it a shot in Austin! I'll let you know!

Again, happy holidays and Merry Christmas to y'all! 

Off season training kicked off today

After a great thanksgiving break in Missouri with Mariesa and her family, Training for 2014 has kicked off officially today with 3,100 yards in the pool this morning (mostly with fins!). My focus for December will be my swim and bike, with a little bit of running around December 20th as I am still nursing a Perroneal Tendinitis. 

Capco on the treadmills for 24 hours in support of Room to Read!

It's on! The treadmill challenge is underway at Capco! Our NY, LDN, Washington DC, and Toronto offices are participating in this event where Capco employees and management will be running on a treadmill and raise funds for the Room to Read fundation!
As part of the organization committee I'm sitting in the kitchen area of the Capco NY office, tallying the miles and time run on the 2 treadmills that we brought into the office for the 24 hour treadmill challenge. It's 1:30 in the morning. I've been here since 9:30pm and will be here for another 4-5 hours!
We've set up some cameras from the Toronto and London office, trying to communicate by writing few words on a tablet and showing it to the camera!

Hawk Racing is my first Sponsor!!

Hawk Racing will be helping me reach my goals for 2014 through their amazing products! Looking forward to racing on Hawk Racing Wheels and tell you all about it! 

www.hawk-racing.com

Rumor has it Mariesa secured her NYC Tri entry! - Rendez vous Aug. 3rd, 2014 for some loud encouragement in Central Park!

Can't wait to cheer my girlfriend Mariesa on for her first ever olympic distance triathlon! WAY TO GO with NYC tri!

Let's work on a training plan for her now - 

CityBike Miami Ironman 70.3 - Race report

The focus for this season was the half-ironman distance and I wanted to wrap it up with a half ironman distance event. Miami was the perfect race for that, late in October, and another excuse to go down south and visit a good friend.
And it turned out to be an awesome weekend in great company! I ended up besting my PR by almost 1’30 and qualifying for the 2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championships! Unexpected to say the least, but I’m looking forward to 2014.

My Stats:
Overall time: 4:25:21 - 10th AG – 68th OA
Swim: 31:58 | T1: 1:48 | Bike: 2:17:30 | T2: 54” | Run: 1:33:11

An eventful week leading up to the race...

Diagnosis: Peroneal Tendinitis

I had this excruciating pain on the outside of my left foot for a good two weeks, which forced me to end my run workout prematurely the week before the race. I limped for 2 to 3 days after that run, and started to doubt my chances to race in Miami, at least the run leg. I nursed it with painkillers and ice the whole week, with some serious (read great) oversight from Mariesa, who made sure I’d ice it twice a day for a good 8 days.
I mentally needed to rule out the stress fracture to be able to race. Andrew (aka Miami) was able to get me a last minute appointment with his doctor on Friday morning (2 days before the race). The X-Ray didn’t reveal any stress fracture, but instead the doc thinks that I have a severe Peroneal tendenitis that will require 6 to 8 weeks of rest to heal completely. I’m not a doctor, but I’m sure he meant to say that I was good to go!

Hit by a car for the first time...

What helped me keep my mind off my foot injury was the car accident I suffered on Thursday morning. The right mirror hit my elbow and next thing I knew I was on the ground, looking back at the car that was closing in on me. Nothing broken, but a badly bruised hip and I were very shaken up (and still am). The car obviously didn’t stop.
On the bright side...
Unlike at Eagleman, I had 5 great nights of sleep, and a great relaxing weekend in Fingers Lake with Mariesa who got me my first spa ever for my birthday! Despite the foot injury and my concerns about my ability to race in Miami, I felt great and fully rested!

Race weekend


We flew out on Thursday night. After a nice breakfast at a French bakery on Friday morning, we left to the transition area at Bayfront Park to pick up the race packet in the afternoon. We also picked up the bike and headed home after. A quick 30 min swim to loosen up the legs in the evening before having lasagna at a delicious Italian place capped off a great day. On Saturday I went for a 30-min pre-race warmup bike ride through Miami, escorted by Miami in his Range Rover. I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed knowing that I wasn’t going to get hit from behind again. Thanks for the peace of mind, Drew! We then all headed to transition so I can drop off the bike and get more familiar with T1 and T2. I rehearsed the transition several times, making sure I knew where to run to at T1 and T2. We took it easy and went food shopping and made about 5 pounds of pasta for...the 3 of us! Pre race dinner: roasted chicken with Pasta and banana for dessert! Money! I’m well rested, confident despite the foot injury and hip bruise, excited to have Mariesa around, and I can’t lie, I’m also looking forward to take some time off training after this 70.3!

Race Day

Transition area & warm up

I got to Bayfront Park at 5am and set up a clean transition, and surprisingly it didn’t take me long to set it up either. It almost felt like I was missing something, but after triple checking it I was confident I was good to go. One observation: there were lots of French or French-speaking athletes!
Oh! And one minor detail: the water was 78.9F, which made the race “wetsuit illegal.” It should be an interesting one given that swimming is my weakest of the 3 disciplines.
My wave didn’t start until 8:15, so we had time to watch the pros starts and dolphins swimming around, checking out what this was all about. 8am...time to line up for the last race of the season!

And the gun goes off

The swim turned out to be incredible. I felt great from the very beginning, and after a chaotic and nervous start (what’s new?) I was able to pick up the speed and get closer to the front of the pack.

Half way through the swim we had to swim in seaweed, which slowed down some athletes. I swam straight though it. As the loop brought us back to T1, I could see Downtown Miami when catching my breath. That was epic! This was the best swim I’ve had so far. My age group was too large to start all at once so they split it into 2 waves. I was in the second wave, and started to pass more and more black caps (first wave), which gave me a boost of confidence. However, I still can’t keep my lines straight! I drifted too far out to the left at the second big turn, and cutting back cost me some time, but nothing that cost me the overall win, that’s for sure! I remembered from Eagleman that passing people doesn’t necessarily mean swimming fast, so I made sure to maintain my pace, which I was able to do all throughout the swim. It paid off: 31:58, 26th in my AG at the swim exit! I was really pleased with my time. Granted, for swimmers it might sound terrible, but to me it was a performance in itself, and a sign that swimming 3 times a week pays off! I was shooting for 35 minutes in the water, so being 3 minutes faster gave me a huge boost of confidence.

The advantage of not wearing a wetsuit is the quick an easy T1. The run to my bike was long, probably 200 yards, but I got to my bike and remembered the old Will Regan’s saying “slow is smooth, smooth is fast!” It always works! I only stayed in T1 for 1’48, ready to tackle the 56 flat miles of the course.

The bike course was very interesting. The first 3 to 4 miles take you out of the city and get you on a two-lane road, that becomes a three-lane road after 10-12 miles, to then become a highway where cones separate us from traffic. We rode on the left lane of the highway (or speedway maybe?) for 13-14 miles, and after 28 miles, we simply turned around and headed back to town. The wind constantly changed direction, but I made sure not to push too hard in headwinds, and maintained a good wattage when I had tailwinds. Around mile 24 a group of 10 passed me in what clearly was a draft fest! Interesting enough, most of them were males in my age group! I joined the fun for 5 minutes, cruising at 29mph. I can’t deny, that felt good, and had we not been in race conditions, I would have stayed in the back, enjoying some serious 30mph draft fun! But at the turnaround point I broke away from the group to race my own race. I wasn’t happy that these guys were still drafting, essentially helping each other out and saving some serious energy, but I can’t blame them. I did partake for few minutes. I looked behind at mile 33 and saw that they were still riding together, only to hear couple minutes later the engine of the motorcycle that the officials rode to distribute draft penalties. And they did just that. The headwinds intensified as we approached T2, and I decided to maintain a cadence slightly lower than what we agreed with Aidan to keep some energy for the run. It was already 87 degrees when I got into T2 and I knew I was up against a tough run. I clocked in 2:17:30 and averaged 24.5 mph.

Bringing the bike back to the rack was easy as it was a straight run passed the pro, corporate challenge, and another set of racks before mine. I “rehearsed” the day before, and I knew it’d take me 15 seconds at most to get to it. There weren't too many bikes that were racked, which made it easier to run through. I got to my spot and racked it by the breaks, took off the helmet and put the visor and the glasses on. I didn’t tuck my bib in from the very beginning since I didn’t wear the wetsuit on the swim, so I had to make sure that I had it on the run. I also decide to run without my run belt. I felt like I did well with my nutrition on the bike and learned that I wasn’t taking full advantage of having it with me. Part of it is that I still have to find energy gels I like to intake. 54 seconds later I was off to my last run of the year. 13.1 miles separated me from the finish line, which literally was a hundred yards behind me. I think I heard the speaker announce Terrenzo Bozzone crossing the finish.

Beautiful run

My preparation of the last few weeks was affected by injuries and accidents, but I was relieved to know that I didn’t have a stress fracture. The bruise on my hip wasn’t an issue at T2, as the swim and the bike leg helped me warm up. I just had to suffer through any pain that the tendinitis may trigger.
I looked forward to this run. The course was two 6.5-mile loops, taking athletes along the bay and passed the Miami Heat arena before going up and over the MacArthur Causeway bridge. A tiny turnaround cone passed mile 3 sent us back onto the steeper side of the bridge. A water station awaited athletes with coke, ice, and water at the bottom. At this point we were about 1.5 miles away from the transition area, with another turnaround cone that kicked us right back onto the same loop, for the second time. I thought that turnaround was like a tease that gave you a taste of what the finish was like, before pinching you back into reality. 

I felt really good for the first 2.5 miles and started running with a guy who ended up finishing 2nd in my age group. I used him as a windshield when we got on the bridge, but even with that, he looked strong and confident. I wish I had that confidence at that very moment, but decided to keep up with him. I said to myself that it was my last run of the season, and of the year as I planned on taking a 8-week break to let that tendinitis heal. It was worthwhile pushing a bit harder and see how I’d do. Unfortunately, he was maintaining a pace I wasn’t comfortable at, and trying to keep up with him would get me in trouble. I backed off and ran at my own pace. I was mad at myself because I know I can run at that pace (probably 6:25min/mile) even in hot conditions, but I couldn’t let that spoil this race. After getting over the bridge on the way back to transition, I started to feel the heat and slowed down drastically. I needed to collect myself again and get the confidence back, and I knew that seeing people on the side cheering athletes would give me

that boost.
The second loop was tough. I wasn’t looking forward to going over that bridge again, but I was happy that my tendinitis wasn’t making it harder yet. As I got closer, I saw this endless lane of runners going through the that ordeal. Luckily for me I ran with a guy who set the pace on the uphill, protecting me once again from the headwinds. I took off on the downhill, getting back into my own pace, and into my bubble. At mile 10, I started to feel better and ran at a pace I was more comfortable with. I started to feel a slight pain on my left foot, but that wasn’t going to slow me down. I was too close, 2 miles from the finish. I took more time at each water station to cool down and drink plenty. As I got closer to the finish, the last spike of adrenaline coupled with people amassed on the sides gave that last boost of energy that helped me push to the finish line.
The last 300 yards of the run were amazing. They were fenced in with people on each side. We faced the buildings of downtown Miami in front and I passed the swim start on to my right, like a symbol to remind me that this race started right there, 4+ hours earlier. I ran passed the fountain and made a last right turn to the finish. Miami, his dad, and Mariesa were awaiting, but I didn’t see them. I was in my bubble, looking to finish strong and enjoying it at the same time. This race had an international flavor to it: announcements were made in Spanish and English, and the flags of 50+ countries that were represented that day “paved” the way to the finish line arch: “Ironman Finish.” The speaker announced my name: “...Kevin Portmann from Jersey City...” Pretty cool! I gave it all I had, crossed the finish line with a big smile on my face (always!), yet completely exhausted. 4hours, 25 minutes, and 17 seconds and 70.3 miles after the gun went off, I crossed the finish in 68th position overall, and 10th in my age group.
Crossing this finish line marked the end of what I think was a great first season into the sport. The satisfaction of racing a PR in Miami, of all the positive results that came along this season, and seeing all the hard training paying off rushed to my brain in a split second and hit me soon after I crossed the line. I couldn’t describe it on the moment, but the physical pain suddenly changed into some sort of drugs that shot up to straight to my brain. Strange, but so true! Whatever it was, I was happy! I had to sit down to cool down and collect myself. 2013 is in the books, and I look forward to 2014...after taking a break in November!

And I end up qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 Worlds!

10th OA! No way I have a shot at getting a spot for the Worlds! 3 slots were allocated to my age group, but the lady at the tent told me to stick around passed 4pm (roll down time) as no one claimed it yet. She said she saw the roll down going further than 10th position. The winner and runner up of my age group were offered their pro cads, which means they weren’t going to claim their spots (for info the winner crushed it in 3’58, and the runner up finished in 4’10). Mariesa and I stuck around for another 1 1⁄2 hour, dropped off the bike at Tri-bike Transport, and headed back to the stage where the award ceremony took place, and eventually the roll down. 4:30pm...here we go! The award ceremony is done and we’re now talking about these slots. I didn’t even know what I was doing there. To me, it just wasn’t gonna happen. After all, it’s only been a year, and there will be plenty of opportunity to hopefully be up to par and clinch a spot if I keep at it. Anyway, we got to my age group, and the speaker started by saying: “oh, this is going to be an interesting one, male AG 25-29, 3 slots available, 0 claimed!” He called the guy who finished 4th, and he claimed his spot. We’re 1 down, 2 slots to go, 4 athletes ahead of me.

5th? Not here! 6th place finisher? Not here! 7th? “please make it clear if you are in the audience”...not here! If 8th isn’t claiming his spot, I’m going to the worlds! Otherwise, it could always be my objective for 2014. 8th? 8th? Not here! That’s it! Even if the guy who finished 9th claims his spot, I will certainly claimed the last one, which I did! I made sure they heard me, and the speaker looked at me and said “he sure looks happy and will be looking forward to the nice drive from Jersey City!”...I sure will!
Looking back at the male AG standings, I finished 10th OA, 1 second faster than the guy behind me! Mariesa has it on tape: he was trailing me by 1 second, and he passed me...after the finish! 

Day after the race...time to relax with Mariesa in Sobe!

I'm taking a good 2 weeks off training...see you mid November!

Miami marked the end of a long season and I cannot wait to take a break from training! I won't be running for another 6 to 8 weeks due to a Peroneal Tendinitis, and may get back in the pool in the 3rd week, but that's tbd, still!

Anyway, great first year, and looking forward to 2014

Celebrating the qualification for the 2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championships with Mariesa and Miami, in Miami!

Post Race fun...
Big fat burger at Bar Louie roughly 1 hour after I cross the finish line...
    .....followed by some quality time in the hot tub with Mariesa and Miami
             .....some "delicious" seafood at CVI.CHE 105 with Mariesa, Miami, Mary, Paul, Lauren, and Bela
                     ......Drinking some delicious Mojitos with Mariesa at Juvia in #Sobe...#Ilikeit!

Miami Ironman 70.3 with Reporter Mariesa striking again!

Off we go for the last race of the season!

 
out of the swim in 31'58 (non wetsuit legal!)




and 4h25 and 70.3 miles later, I cross a finish line for the last time of the year!

Miami Ironman 70.3 pre race warm up with my escort and Reporter Mariesa!

45 minutes on the bike to loosen up the legs

 

My company CAPCO is organizing a 24-hr treadmill challenge!

CAPCO is organizing a global treadmill challenge Fundraiser in their New York, DC, Toronto, and London the week of November 18th!

...And I am part of the organizing committee where I am helping with the budgeting and planning of the event. I will also work on a 5k and 10k program that will be distributed to all runners!

in short...
24 hours, 2 treadmills, food, music, DJs, and fun to help support the charity Room to Read, an organization that builds schools, establishes school libraries, publishes local-language children's books, train teachers and supports girls to compete in secondary schools!
 

Registered for Eagleman ironman 70.3

When? June 8th '14

Where? Cambridge, MD

After a first attempt this year, I have some unfinished business there and am looking forward to racing it again next year - target race #1, right before Ironman Switzerland! 

broke the fork...

Hilltop Bicyle did a great job replacing it! Thanks Chris!

Last ride before heading back to the big apple!

Mountain Biking in the French Alps with the bro before he tied the knot!

Cross training with some cross country rides while away from my TT and roadie

Fun post race bike ride with Carsten and Nicole

51 miles on the beautiful road of Upstate NY

1st AG and 2nd OA at the Lake George Triathlon

and PR on the Olympic distance with a 2'04'22!

What a terrific race, which was conveniently scheduled on Saturday, thanks to the half ironman distance that was organized on Sunday. Carsten, Nicole and I stayed at the camping ground right by the transition area. We left on Friday night after work and got up there at around 11pm, leaving us in the dark to set up our tents. The advantage is that we were right by the transition area, and it was cheap!

Cloudy / rainy morning after a rainy and stormy night! The transition was a bit wet. I liked it already. It should be a fun race!

And indeed, it was! The swim was great. I had my best performance so far with 24ish min.  I can do better and will put more time in the water this winter to try to bring my time down, but for now, I'm happy with it! One step at the time!

I entered T1 in good form but without a watch as it died on me. 

At least I had my computer to help me with my wattage and to see my time spent on the bike! Rolling hills, fast sections in a 75 degree weather (and prob 90% humidity!), I felt strong and easy on the bike, covering the 25 miles in 1 hour sharp, and averaging 256 watts. Thanks David for letting me use your Flos wheels, a 90 mil deep rim in the back and 50 mil deep rim in the front made for a very fast bike.

The run was 2 loops with some serious climbs right off T2 - I had no clue how fast I was running and decided to go almost all out (90%) on the flats and downhills, and decided to hold back (75%) on the climbs. I had breathing cramps right off T2, and decided to slow down. I picked up the pace after a few minutes, and got back into the rythm fairly quickly. I had 1 guy as my main target and kept him as such until 300 yards to the finish where I passed him and picked up my pace again to make sure that he wouldn't tag along. 2'04'22, 1st AG and 2nd OA, only 1+min short of taking the overall, but knowing that the winner swam in 18 minutes, I know that with more practice I will get there!

We'll be riding on these beautiful roads tomorrow! Great weekend so far! I'll be back next year!

1st AG and 2nd OA at the 24th Annual West Point Triathlon

Back to West Point after last year's fun race, I'm looking forward to competing again here and improve my overall time...

And I wrapped up the 800m swim, 22km bike ride, and 5k run in 1hr08min, 6 minutes faster than last year! And yes, I got crushed by a pro triathlete who put me 5 min behind to take the W.

The race, as you can imagine, is incredibly well organized, and always gives you the chill when you see the wounded veterans lining up at the start line. This year people started applauding and cheering on a man who "jumped" in the water without arms nor legs. He only had a finn to help him go forward...what a humbling experience!

This year's swim was wetsuit legal, making it a much faster and comfortable swim overall. As I run into T1 to get to my bike, I couldn't remember where it was racked! I lost 30 seconds there trying to find it, but off I was onto the bike leg.

The rolling hills are an advantage for me I think. I love this bike course and did the 22 km in 35 minutes, granting me the fastest bike split prize! I take it!

The run is awesome! hilly but covered by the trees for the most part! I managed to get a strong finish and sprinted the last 200 yards or so!

I'll surely come back with Sarah, Tony, Wael, Ashling and hopefully Mariesa in 2014 to challenge the OA win

and of course, great time at Ashling's parents with some delicious bbq and mac 'nd cheese after the race!

Registered for my first Ironman: Ironman Switzerland, July 27th, 2014

Excited to have signed up for my first ironman next year an lookig forward to race in front of my family and friends!

The next off season training will be exciting! 

NYC triathlon: 30th OA and 15th Elite athlete

2:05:17....PR on the Olympic distance!

I couldn't have asked more on this race after the heavy crash I suffered on the bike on Thursday, July 11th (3 days before the race)

It was great to start the race at 6:10 and take advantage of the strong current and the open bike course! 

The swim was fast, I believe 14' to swim the 0.93 miles.

I expected more than the 1:05 on the bike, but whitout race wheels and still being shaken up by the crash, I was still happy to partake in the race (I still had headaches the night before the race!) 

The run is never easy in Central Park, but always awesome! I managed to run 6 minutes faster than last year, and seeing the crowd on 72nd street cheer you on gave me te goosebumps and the extra boost of energy to rally the finish line!

Now I cannot wait to be one of them and cheer on my gf @mariesacarrow for her first NYC tri and first ever Olympic distance event! Rendezvous on August 3rd, 2014, NYC! 

1st OA at the Patanella's Doc & Sok sprint Triathlon

FIRST OVERALL WIN!

I didn't expect it to happen today as I am recovering from a cold (yes, in June!), and given the field, I thought I could probably get in Top 5, but the race proved me wrong...in a good way!

Time: 54'44

The swim was hard. I quickly burned myself out trying to keep up with Jesse. I had to slow down, did some breast strokes, and finished it completely exhausted.
But the hilly bike course saved me and helped me get back into the rythm and pace of the race. I started passing more and more athletes and felt stronger. I got into T2 in 3rd position, with Jamie right in front of me.
I knew his run was going to be affected by an injury he hasn't been able to get rid of, so I paced my run off of his, and to my surprise, I saw Jessee not too far ahead. I passed Jamie after 3/4 of a mile, and I knew the U turn would help me gauge Jesse's overall condition. As we approached the U-turn, I was only 50 yards behind, and felt like he probably wouldn't be able to push much harder today. I caught up with him in the downhill section and as I pushed harder as soon as I passed him and maintained the pace for a mile. I maintained pressure on the last climb before the finish line and cross the finish line in first position!

Great surprise, great feeling to finish first! I hope that will lead to other successes either this season or next year!

13th AG and 143rd OA at Eagleman 70.3

My first Ironman-organized 70.3 in the books, and my 3rd of the year (and of my "career"!)

Time: 4:40:25

I suffered a great deal on the run after having a good but slow swim and a rather good bike leg...

I'm excited to have had the chance to measure myself against a strong field and looking forward to redeem myself next year! 

Race report to be posted shortly! 

6am - 72F - great day to get a tough workout in

1 weekend left before the big race, Eagleman Ironman 70.3! Regardless of how well I do there, it's already been a truly amazing experience.

I found this group of amazing triathletes that are just as dedicated as I am, and probably even more! We can call it an addiction, I think. Getting up in the am to hop on the TT or jump in the pool got me! the endorphins created from training rush to my brain at lightening speed, and just like junkies with drugs, the more I train, the more I want to train! It can't be all that bad, can it? Of course I am not alone in this journey: I have used Will and Jared as my role models, as "go-to" people for any questions or doubts I have, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future!

The icing in the cake is that my brother (from another mother!) Brad and his wife Heidi will be cheering me on at the race! I could not have asked for me! I only hope to put on a good performance and make them proud! 

Unfortunately Will won't make it to the race after a series of bad luck he's had in his preparation. I'm only hoping that he'll be back on the horse soon (I give you 1 year leave, no more!). 

I have a lot of reading to do on Salt tablets, but had a privileged chat with Jared last night who gave me the inside scoop about te race! 

I will brace for and embrace the heat and harsh race conditions that will be thrown at us, because this is apparently what makes this race unique. But most importantly, I will certainly have a blast!

It's GO time! 

1st AG and 4th OA at the Black Bear Triathlon-Half

I'm only 2 weeks until Eagleman, the race I have been training for the past 8 months! My preparation involved 1 open half marathon (PR at 1'22'53 - 20th overall) in Queens, NY, and 2 half ironman!

My first half ironman was in Bass River State Park on May 5th - the Bassman race - there I finished 7th overall and won my age group. It took me 4'26'48 to complete 1.2MS, 56MB, and 13.1MR! Very stoked about this result as it came as a surprise that I could race that fast...on a pancake flat course, though! 

My second Half Iron was in PA - the black Bear half ironman - despite the hilly course (bike and run) and inclement weather, I came out of T2 (bike to run) in 1st place, and managed to finish 4th overall and 1st in my age group. It took me 4'51'27 to finish it. Only 5 of us finished under the 5 hr mark! 

I can't wait for Eagleman, and now hope to stay injury-free until June 9th!! 

1st AG and 7th OA at the Bassman Half Distance Triathlon

My first race of the season with Aidan as my coach, and first ever half ironman distance...and my first age group win ever!
The swim was probably the hardest of all! I panicked after 5 minutes but managed to collect myself and get back into it. It could have been because of the chill water temperature (I believe 55-56 degrees) and the anxiety, excitement, and adrenaline of participating in my first half distance that got the best of me 5 minutes into the swim. It took me about 30 minutes (hell yeah!) to swim the 1.2 miles and off I am on the bike for 56 miles.
The bike course is pancake flat, and the chill temperatures didn't affect me 1 bit. I covered the 56 miles in about 2hr23min with no flat and no injuries to notice. I wondered how I'd react to the half marathon leg I still had to deal with!
I started the run roughly 3 hours after the gun went off and the 60F weather only helped me col down and maintain a low HR. I knew that if I maintained a steady pace in the first 6.5 miles, I'd be able to keep it up through the finish. 1'27 to cover the roughly 13.1 miles and only 6 athletes crossed the finish before me! SUCCESS!

Thrilled about the race, and looking forward to Black bear in 2 weeks!

Lill' Moose is psyched about this new tri season! So am i!

24 weeks into my training with Aidan

Looking back almost 6 months ago when I started working with Aidan, I trained 9 to 11 hours per week. I am now at around 14 to 18 hours and am asking for more! Aidan wouldn't do it as he knows better!
My joints and knees have to get used to the pounding when running on hard surface. I'm currently running on average 30 miles per week.
The biking is going great. from 90 miles on a weekly basis when I first started, I bumped it up to 160 to 190 miles on average, coming into the weekend with close to 85 miles under the belt! It might sound like a lot to some, but I feel like I can do more, and will be doing more - It's just a matter of time before I get completely immersed into my Ironman Training! and I CAN'T wait!

7th AG and 20th OA at the Queens Allstate Life Insurance Half marathon

First test race with a 13.1 run in Queens, NY in the bitter cold NY weather.

and a PR @ 1:22:53 or 6:17min/mile pace.

Great start of the season! looking forward to adding 1.2M swim and 56M bike ride before running the 13.1M of the half distance triathlon in Bassman River, NJ on May 5th!

3 days in VT were much needed!

I haven't skied this winter yet, and after all these winters skiing 60+ days per season, not skiing once was just inconceivable! So Brad came to the rescue and offered to drive up to VT for the long weekend (President's day).

We skied at Killington on Saturday and went snowshoeing at Mt Ascutney, a desolated ski resort 1-hr from Brad's parents' cabin. I didn't anticipate Snowshoeing to be that much fun! We found an ice wall that we decided to climb. I think we can say that it was a (somewhat) success, but lots of laughter!

The icing on the cake was the food we cooked...and ate! I found Abondance Cheese at a farmer's markets! I couldn't contain my joy, and at a whopping $22/lb, we still bought a tiny little piece of it for $13! Well worth it in my opinion! I grew up in the Abondance region, and finding some of that cheese absolutely made the day! We cooked some serious dinner that night: French fries, Brussels Sprouts, broccolis, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and grilled some incredible local strip steaks! that was money!

Monday was a bit chilly, with temperatures in the low 10's, -30 Fahrenheit with the windshield! That didn't deter us from riding, though, and with the resort staff turning people away, that left us with almost the entire resort for ourselves! Pretty sweet!

in short, Great weekend for a ski trip in great company and with great food! I hope we'll make it to Tuckerman's this year! that'd be rad! :P

First Week-day early bird ride in a long time!

I finally had the chance to take the TT out today in awhile! a 2-hr ride and 40 miles under the belt. That'll cap off my recovery week.
Now heading up north to Killington and Smugglers' Notch with Brad, Jack, and lij for some ski fun!

4 1/2 hrs on the trainer!

With the bad weather of last week, I did all my rides on the trainer: 150 miles total, with a whopping and painful 4 1/2hr ride on Saturday (77 miles)!
Commitment I tell ya!

Swim, Bike, and Play ping pong!

What a great way to kick off what should be another great month of training!

I went to the morning session of the masters Swim today, getting in the water at 5:50am for an hour,  and came back to hop on the bike for a 45-minute easy stretch out spin on the trainer! I was done by 8:30 and met up with an "acquaintance" to hit the ball at Spin for an hour at 1pm! Thanks Dora for bearing with me, and for introducing me to Paul with whom I played for another 20 minutes! Gosh it felt great to hit the ball again after close to 5 year of involuntary / voluntary abstinence! (Not sure which one is more correct!)! Perfect cross-training workout

Can we call it a triathlon?

Target Race of the Year: Eagleman Ironman 70.3

When? June 9th
Where: Maryland
Objective: Saving some energy on the swim, catching up on the bike, and give it all I'll have left on the run
Distance: 1.2MS / 56MB / 13.2MR

Officially signed up for the Black Bear half Ironman 05.19.13

Distance: 1.2MS / 56MR / 13.2MR

Officially signed up for Bassman Half Ironman 05.05.13

When? May 5th
Distance: 1.2MS / 56MB / 13.2MR

Officially registered for the 2013 Age Group National Championships

When? August 10, 2013
Where? Milwaukee, WI
Objective? Top 15 of my age group!

Focusing on my Nutrition on the bike for the next 3 months

4 months 'til the big day and I am starting to try out different foods (by food I mean gels and gooey energy bars) and energy drinks to see which ones I can stomach.

This is a very crucial step in my preparation. I have never taken the time to try out different gels and energy drinks, but with the training intensifying by the week, and the major event coming up in June, it is important that I feed properly on the bike and my runs during training. This learning process will take a while, and my workouts are the best way to figure this all out! One thing is certain, I am very picky and so is my stomach! Some flavors (chocolate, coffee, or peanut butter) I already know are a "no-go" for me! no Bueno! And so are hard energy bars and shock blocks - Both make me drool and are hard to swallow while running or biking - Not a big fan! The Cliff bars are too sweet, and have a strong taste to them that I cannot stomach. No go either!

I was very skeptical about the gels, but I decided to give it a second chance and opted to try one out in the last 30 minutes of my long ride of Wednesday. I didn't want to sit on it for too long in case I didn't like it, or in case my stomach couldn't take it. I was pleasantly surprised to see that not only did it give me the extra boost my legs needed (and by boost, I mean sugar), but it wasn't that bad at all! I'm going to try it out for few more rides, and in different conditions to see if I really like it. I'll also give it a shot on my long run on Sunday.

What did it try on Wednesday? With a 4 1/2 hr ride scheduled, I figured that I'd break it out by hour, and test a different drink each hour. I also opted to take in an energy bar later (3rd hour), keeping the gel for the last 30 minutes of my ride.

21 oz of Hammer Heed - lemon lime - in the first hour - Very good and light. I really like the taste and texture of it, light in sugar, and easy to drink. It did not feel too powdery, and I can definitely see it being mixed with some energy drinks like the Tropical Citrus Vitamin water - That could be a great combo!

GU Roctane Ultra Endurance - Tropical Fruit - for the second hour - I like it! a bit sweeter than the first drink, and definitely more powdery than the Hammer Heed drink, but it is rich in calories and in Carbohydrates. It gave me the sensation that I was feeding and drinking at the same time. Perfect drink to take in the second hour of the ride when my body needs more than a simple energy drink. I would probably not go with this drink only. I think I would need something less rich to compensate and feel fully re-hydrated.

Honey Stinger Waffle - Vanilla flavor - in my 3rd hour - what can I say - Perfect food when I know I'll be out for a while. Not very convenient to open and eat on the bike, but perfect for when you take a quick break to refuel at one of the cafes on the 9W!

I stopped and got a Gatorade - Orange flavor - for the 3rd hour of my ride - Phew! So intense in sugar, and soooo good for the entire body! I didn't want to tap into my water at that point, and so I opted for a Gatorade! It totally made up for it! I also had a Hammer almond Raisin bar - Not sure what it did to me, but nonetheless I liked the taste of it, and the fact that it was really easy to chew and swallow. I didn't feel like it got stuck on my stomach  - I'm going to give it a shot for few more rides before I decide to go with it or dash it

Honey Stinger Gold gel - honey flavor - was the great surprise of the 4th hour of my ride! Sweet? mega sweet for sure! gooey? definitely! I ate it and took few sips of water with it. It gave me that extra boost I needed to finish my ride strong. And it definitely helped out! Let's see how that goes in my next few rides (tomorrow), and on my long runs. I'd be curious to see if I can take it on the runs, but I don't see why not!  

I'm loving doing all these trials and errors and learn more about my body, what I can stomach, what I like most, and what I should avoid. This is a completely new experiment to me, and working on finding out the right balance in my nutrition should help me in my performances on race days! Exciting stuff!