Weird Sunday

So, I got up this morning and did my morning routine and then went for a bike ride.  It was cloudy, about 70, and very humid.  It seemed very quiet, in fact, the whole day has seemed unusually quiet.  Even when there has been people around it has seemed strangely quiet. Almost like people are muted, at least to me, today.

The Apple Duathlon went well yesterday, very windy like last year.  I was 4:47 faster than last year.  Aside from the wind, it was a great day.  You turn the corner and head south along the river and things come to a stop.  At least the sun was out.  Overall, I felt great.  First 5K fastest 5K since high school cross country.  Still not as fast as high school, but getting better.  

The 20-29 age group started 3 minutes behind us, 30-39, and the 40-49 was 3 minutes behind them, 6 minutes behind us. On the run I was passed by, maybe 5-6, younger guys, I don't think any older, maybe 1 or 2.  On the bike I passed an number of the younger guys who passed me and was not passed, I don't think, by any younger guys.  I was passed by at least 6-10 older guys.  When you get in your 40s, you can bike.  That is something to look forward too.  

2007

Run (3.1 mi) - 23:41 (7:38 min/mi)

T1 - 1:19

Bike (20.46 mi) - 1:02:07 (19.8 MPH)

T2 - 1:14

Run (3.1 mi) - 25:35 (8:15 min/mi)

Total - 1:53:54

Age - 14/23

Overall - 135/255

2008

Run (3.1 mi) - 22:11 (7:09 min/mi)

T1 - 0:59

Bike (20.46 mi) - 1:00:22 (20.4 MPH)

T2 - 0:56

Run (3.1 mi) - 24:14 (7:48 min/mi)

Total - 1:48:41

Age - 10/25

Overall - 100/261

Another Chilly Sunday

On a bright, chilly, and windy Sunday morning I did the Gear West Duathlon for the 3rd year in a row.  It was a well organized and great race.  The first run hurt, stiff and cold.  About half way through the bike I started feeling good.  The bike is fairly short, but hilly, and the road is not very good at times.  The second run felt good for about the first half, the second half started to hurt.  I got to finish side-by-side with a co-worker, which was really nice.  The drawings they have in the Midwest Events race series is amazing.  Giving away a wetsuit, Zipp 808 wheels, QR frame set, etc is awesome. Gear West does a great job of putting things together.

I was a little under 8 minutes faster than last year and about 23 minutes faster since the first year.  Hooray!

2006

Run (3.1mi) - 27:49 (8:58 min/mi)

T1 - 3:18

Bike (17 mi) - 1:00:37 (16.8 MPH)

T2 - 2:25

Run (2.5mi) - 26:59 (10:47 min/mi)

Total - 2:01:08

Overall - 315/353

Age - 43/44

2007

Run (3.1mi) - 24:29 (7:59 min/mi)

T1 - 1:33

Bike (17 mi) - 53:36 (19 MPH)

T2 - 1:29

Run (2.5 mi) - 23:15 (9:18 min/mi)

Total - 1:44:29

Overall - 201/342

Age - 39/45

2008

Run (3.1mi) - 23:58 (7:44 min/mi)

T1 - 1:15

Bike (17 mi) - 49:40 (20.5 MPH)

T2 - 1:16 

Run (2.5mi) - 22:17 (8:54 min/mi)

Total - 1:38:24

Overall - 151/410 

Age - 26/44

Paper Discovery Du (May 4)

I drove to Appleton on Saturday, May 3rd. It was cruddy day, cold and rainy, but the 5 hour drive from the Cities to Appleton was nice. I got to listen to some music and NPR. Always good. When I got to Appleton I went and checked in for the race at the Paper Discovery Center. Check-in was smooth and easy. Then I went to my friends' Dave and Dana's house. As always, hanging out with them was pleasant. We chatted, Dave's dad came over, and they talked about baseball. Which I know little about, but still interesting. Dave and Dana took me out to a really nice, and good resturant in Appleton. The name escapes me. It was pretty upscale. I had raviolis (sp?) stuffed with asparagaus and cheese, tomato white sauce, and artichokes. After dinner they took me to the Appleton Performing Arts Center, where we saw a performance of music and baseball, narrated by Dave Winfield. It was very good. Orchestrated music, related to baseball, stories related to baseball, and images related to baseball.

After that pleasant evening, to bed and, up at about 5Am for the race.

I got there early started setting up, and a women, probably in her 40s asked for some help. She came over and said "You look like you know what you are doing". Little did she know.....

Anyway, I went over to her setup and asked what she needed help with. She explained her rear tire was the one that she used on her trainer and it was worn. I checked it out and it looked pretty bald and not so good. She had never changed a tire and asked for my. Help, so I changed it, it went pretty fast. It was her first race and it was nice to help to someone out.

I warmed up a little, did some light running and some sprints.

It was pretty cool, but sunny, and not to windy, like last year.

The first 5K went pretty good, I was breathing heavy, but it felt good. Pretty rolling course, a couple of steep areas.

The bike went well, except for the train stopping a group of us. Really irritating. I probably stopped 2-5 minutes. At the end I reported it, but no biggy.

The biggest thing was the second 5K, it felt good. I was suprised. The training, the new bike fit, the new seat, and the new aerobars, all seem to be paying dividends.

After the race I stopped by Dave and Dana's house, cleaned up, and drove to Kenosha to see my Dad and stepmom's new business (next post, previously posted, but deleted because I did not like the way it came out). Family had a little party for my Bday (34) and my younger half-brother Tom (22). It was pretty nice and I felt pretty good.

Monday, back to the Cities. Last weekend was a pretty good weekend overall

2008 Paper Discovery Results

Run (3.1 mi) - 24:45 (7:59/mi, see T1 below)

T1 - ? - They screwed up the timing, so nobody got any T1 time, and it is included in the first run. First run is faster than reported.

Bike (22 mi) - 1:06:23 (19.9 MPH, this includes the time it took to stop for the train, argh)

T2 - 1:16

Run (3.1 mi) - 24:47 (7:59/mi, Nice!, see last year below)

Total - 1:57:37

Overall - 68/375

Age Group - 10/31

2007 Paper Discovery Results

Run (3.1 mi) - 24:44 (7:59/mi)
T1 - 1:33
Bike (22 mi) - 1:11:22 (18.6 MPH)
T2 - 2:00
Run (3.1 mi) - 28:23 (9:10/mi)
Total - 2:07:53
Overall - 165/523
Age Group - 14/30

First Sunrise

On Sunday, April 27, I did my first triathlon of the year in St. Petersburg, FL.  It was great!  

Three months of training paid off.  

Swim was choppy, but not too bad.  Time was good, but not great.  Saltwater tastes bad, especially after taking in a gallon of it.

Bike went well.  Flat course, crowded, speed bumps were annoying, temperature was great. New seat and riding position worked great, no pain or numbness in the old groin.  I did crash coming into the transition. Slowing down, pavement went to cobblestone, one minute I was up, next minute I was down. Hard on the right side.  Scraped on knee, hip, elbow, and shoulder.  Big bruise on the hip, pretty good size one on the inside of the thigh where the frame hit me.  Bike is okay.  

Slow out of the transition, put shoes on the wrong feet.  Oops.  

Run was nice and flat.  Pretty course. Started heating up, but run was still good.

Great day for a race.  

It was great to see that sunrise, I was thinking so hard about the race I almost missed it.  It was pretty much up by the time I got out of the water.

That day reminded me why I am doing this.  It reminded me of how fortunate I am to be able to do something like this.  It reminded me how good it feels to be alive.  

I am still sore today.

Swim (0.9mi) - 30:58 = 2:04/100yd

T1 - 3:38

Bike (24.8mi) - 1:11:48 = 20.7 MPH (argh, includes the fall time)

T2 - 3:42 (ouch)

Run (6.2mi) - 52:54 = 8:33 min/mi

Total - 2:43:57

Overall - 1256/3550

Age - 122/132

This weekend, first duathlon in Appleton.