Sad Day for Music

I have seen the Dave Matthews Band in concert 15 times, I have all their studio CDs, most of their live CDs, and their DVDs.  I think it is fair to say they are my favorite band.  When I heard that LeRoi Moore died yesterday, I was really sad.  More sad than I thought I would be.  His death is a loss for DMB fans and music fans everywhere.

St Paul Triathlon - Triathlon #12, Race #15

So, the St. Paul Triathlon was triathlon number 12 for the year and the 15th race overall, including duathlons. It was the 9th of 9 race weekends in a row. I was finally able to go under 50 minutes for a 10K in a triathlon. I think my best prior to today was about 52-53 minutes. I didn't think I was going to go that fast, since I briefly slowed to a walk on the second lap around Lake Phalen twice as the water stops. It was probably a good idea, since I really needed it today. I really had to put a lot of mental effort into the second loop, my body was telling me to stop and walk. "Chris", it said, "You have done a lot of racing this summer. Take a walk, it is ok" I think I did a good job of fighting that urge and running through it. Again, I felt like barfing at the finish, but did not. A number of people have said something to the affect that triathlons are supposed to be painful, they are an exercise in pain management. If it doesn't hurt you are doing it wrong. I am not talking about joint pain or injury pain, that is not good, but the pain of pushing your body beyond its limits. I think I am getting much better in that area. I still have aways to go.
The swim was good. I have never swam a loop swim. There was a lot of traffic at first, then settled, then on the second loop there was some traffic from the short course people who had started. Not too bad. I have been very consistent with the full wetsuit the last 3 races. The last 3 races have been 0.8 -1 mi swims and I am going 1:44, 1:42, and 1:42 per 100 yards. I can live with consistency. My bike was at 22.5MPH for 24.3 miles, some people said the bike was shorter, which I would believe. Again, biking on the roads of St. Paul and Minneapolis is trying. Potholes and just rough roads make it pretty uncomfortable, along with the traffic of other bikes.
It is going to be nice to have a couple of weekends off until the next race. I think I need a recharge before going into the last 2 triathlons and last two duathlons. Especially before the 70.3 in TX.
Again, it was another great day to be out racing. Any day out racing is a great day.
Total -2:27:03
Swim (1760 yards) - 29:54 (1:42/100 yards)
T1 - 1:39 (small transition area and good location = fast out, for me)
Bike (24.3miles, questionable distance) - 1:04:54 (22.5 MPH)
T2 - 1:17 (again, good location, fast for me)
Run (6.2 miles) - 49:21 (7:57 min/mi, hooray, for the record this is my second fastest 10K time ever, my fastest open 10K at the Victory Road Races last year was 48:55. Hopefully this means I can go under 45 minutes in an open 10K)
Overall - 42/182
Age Group - 5/22 (about 2 minutes out of 3rd place, I think I got passed on the run by 3rd and 4th)
Kind of a weak field compared to others, but still a great race for me.

25th Turtleman

Weather was great, really nice day.  Race finished just as it started to get hot.  

I have not spent a lot of time socializing with other triathletes at races.  Lately I have been doing it more, which is a very good thing.  I don't know why I have not been, probably just my natural shyness and somewhat introverted nature.  There are so many nice people out there doing triathlon, it is great.  

The swim was good, water just cold enough for wetsuit, shallow like last year, not as many weeds, still kind of stinky.  I got kicked in the left hand, middle two fingers, and it still hurts.  Had a little trouble with the wetsuit zipper, the breakaway zipper did not breakaway.  I don't think I had it high enough and I did not pull it up correctly.  I had to squeeze out of it.  Bike was pretty good, the ride hurt at first, felt better as I went on.  The run hurt, less than last year, but it still was a little painful.  Not sure why this run is so taxing.  It might be the long straights, openness of the course, and lack of turns.  I thought I was going to puke at the end, not the first time, but this time it felt like it was actually going to happen, it did not, thankfully.  

Again, it was another beautiful day at the races.

2008 Results

Overall - 206/795

Age Group - 24/72

Swim (1630 yards) - 27:45 (1:42 100/yards, pretty close to a personal best)

T1 - 2:11

Bike (21.4 mi) - 57:10 (22.5 MPH)

T2 - 1:27

Run (5.1 mi) - 41:36 (8:10 min/mi, really wanted to go under 8 min/mi, but what are you going to do?) 

Total - 2:10:06

2007 Results

Swim (1630 yards) - 33:30 (2:03 min/100 yards, no wetsuit, but still slow)

T1 - 2:03

Bike (21.4 mi) - 1:00:44 (21.1 MPH)

T2 - 1:40

Run (6.2 mi, longer than 2008) - 54:39 (8:48 min/mi, ugh not good, kind of blew up)

Total - 2:32:35

Overall - 316/715

Age Group - 50/84

Racing and Training Playlist

Here is the playlist that I listen to before a race. I also listen to it when I am running, on a treadmill, and when riding, on a stationary bike. I never listen to music while running outside or biking outside, too dangerous. List subject to change.

Chinchillas are cool (Belongs to my friend Kurt)

All Fired Up - Interpol

Catch Hell Blues - The White Stripes

Checkered Floor - Silversun Pickups

Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire

Push It - Garbage

Long Division - Death Cab for Cutie

Not Even Jail - Interpol

Low - Foo Fighters

Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) - Garbage

South Side - Moby and Gwen Stefani

For the Length of Love - Fog vs Mould (Interpol)

Run Baby Run - Garbage

The Pretender - Foo Fighters

Mammoth - Interpol

Til the Day I Die - Garbage

Future Foe Scenarios - Silversun Pickups

In Your Honor - Foo Fighters

Bring it On - Seal

You Got Yr Cherry Bomb - Spoon

Us V Them - LCD Soundsystem

Duluth Area and Brewhouse Triathlon

The area around Duluth has to be one of the most beautiful areas in the Midwest.  I could not a get a hotel in Duluth because of the big boat show, not really that many boats, not really that big.

Ate lunch at Hell's Kitchen in downtown Duluth, pretty cool place.  I had the BLT with the addition of a nicely breaded piece of walleye in the sandwich.  The side was sweet potato fries. Very good.

Anyway, I had to stay in Silver Bay, which turned out to be pretty cool.  The drive up there is amazing.  Stayed in probably the nicest AmericInn in the midwest.  It was right on the lake.  I didn't have a view, but still beautiful.  I got up and left about sunrise, so the drive was really cool, getting to see the sunrise over Superior is awesome.  

Race went well.  Swim was good, overshot a couple of the turns going into the swim, but no biggy.  The road for the bike is the worst road I have ever biked on.  Worse than Lakeshore drive, worse then some of the streets in Minneapolis during Lifetime.  Road is buckled, potholed, and just plain rough.  First half of run is almost all uphill, which is harsh, but that means that going back is downhill.  Hooray.  The weather was nearly perfect, cloudy during the run kept it cool.  Did not rain until during the awards.  Nice.  Into my 3rd year of racing and I yet to race in the rain.  Cold and wind, but no rain.  

The drive back from Duluth was terrible, only bad part of the day.  I think every single family in the Cities goes north for the weekend and comes back on Sunday afternoon down 35.  Ick.

Swim (1408 yards) - 25:39 (1:44 min/100 yards)

T1 - 2:55

Bike (20.6 miles) - 57:27 (21.5 MPH)

T2 - 2:39 (you get to run a little circle around the transition)

Run - 38:53 (7:47 min/mi)

Total - 2:07:29

Overall - 86/188

Age Group - 14/23 (Tough competition)

Another race that has over a 5K run, under 8 min/mi.  I like that. 

Oh yeah, I should complain about the running pain in my side and abdomen.  Not too bad.

As usual, it was another great day, except for the drive.