This morning was a running day. I ran 5 miles. Ok I ran for 2.5 miles, walked for 3 minutes and ran for 2.5 miles. There was a good sized hill about half way. My heart rate got up to 196 and that is close to my max so I decided to give it a break and walk just until my heart rate dropped down to about 160. Even though I walked for 3 minutes in the middle I still hit a milestone today. I ran 5 miles in under one hour. It was 22 seconds under an hour, but still I had a sub 12min/mile pace for the entire 5 miles. My weekly totally for running is 9 miles.
I have been doing a no sugar diet for 3 weeks now. The first 2 weeks, my diet consisted of vegetables, turkey, chicken, nuts, eggs and one potato a day. It was rough, but I am into it now. Starting week 3 I can add fruits. I love grapes, strawberries, bananas and watermelon. I am losing weight for my upcoming race half marathon on Oct 9 in Layton, and for my Half Ironman race in California in Apr.
Rohto Ironman 70.3 California
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
I'm Back....did you miss me?
It has been awhile since I last posted. 11 Months to be exact. I would love to say I am at my ideal weight and I have conquered food, but that is not the case. I am now 277, not bad but not where I want to be.
I've done 4 triathlons since I last posted and have written about them and dated the posts accordingly. Keep scrolling if you'd like to read how they went.
I've done 4 triathlons since I last posted and have written about them and dated the posts accordingly. Keep scrolling if you'd like to read how they went.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Stansbury Park Tri - July 2010
The Stansbury Park race was my first Olympic distance triathlon. I had done 4 sprint distances but this was different because it was farther, 2 times farther. The swim was 1600 yards, the bike 23 miles, and a 6.2 mile run. The run did not scare me, if it got too tough, I could walk. I can do that, walk for 6 miles. It would not be pretty but I could do that. The bike, I like to bike and it was only 23 miles. I can do that, and it is a really flat course. The bike is no problem, but the swim. It is 1600 yards, it scared me. The swim course was about the same as last years race, but last year I only had one lap to swim not two. A couple of days before the race the organizers hosted a swim training at the lake. It did me good to swim in the lake and not be freaked out.
Race Day:
I drove my mom's car to the race at 5 am. Mom, Tiff and the kids would come about 8 am for the start of the race. I got to the transition area and was the second person there. I got the best spot in the transition area, right by the bike in and bike out gates. This meant I had less distance to run with my bike. I was alone for a couple of hours until the start of the race and was calmer than I had expected. I told myself "I have trained for this, I am ready and there is nothing more I can do but have a strong race". The call came out for the pre-race meeting and Tiff, Mom and the kids got there just before the race started. I waded out in the lake and positioned myself on the right side of the pack. The water was not cold and the lake is really shallow. People were saying if you get in trouble just stand up. Most of the lake is about 6 feet deep. The count down started and we were off.
I have heard that an open water swim at a triathlon is like swimming in a human blender, or full contact swimming. I did not want to go too fast off the start only to fade after a minute or two, so I took it easy at the beginning. The race was 2 laps around the course. My goal was 28 minutes. I had to tell myself to relax and have fun. As I turned the last corner of the first lap I looked at my watch, it was 12 mins. I was half way done with the swim.
All I had to do was swim the course one more time. As I reached the first turn I could see a boat with a couple of guys on in it. They looked like my cousins but I was not for sure. When I got close, sure enough it was Ryan and Troy. They were looking around trying to find me in the sea of bodies.
They saw me and I saw them. I gave a quick fist pump and was off. I was going to beat my goal of 28 minutes by a full minute, finishing in 27 minutes. I rounded the last turn and headed for shore. I was done the with the scary part of the race. Out of the water, off with the suit and on to the bike.
The transition area is a sea of bikes, shoes, towels, helmets and bodies. I was lucky my spot was right up front.
The bike course was flat, which meant I was faster than normal, but so was everyone else. I averaged 20.33 mph for the course yet was still was getting passed all the time. I wish I was faster but not yet, I am working on it. I made it to the turn around point. Half way done with the bike. I was able to keep my pace up all the way back. Now all I had to do was run 6.2 miles.
As I hit the run portion of the race, there were tons of racers. The olympic race was 2 laps of the sprint course. I started the run course as most of the sprint racers were on last part of their only lap. The people who lived on the run course were out cheering everyone on. A couple of people had their garden hoses out and were spraying people as they passed, which was awesome. By this time in the day it was HOT!! As I hit the end of my first lap a volunteer yelled "almost there" and I replied, "one more lap to go!" On the second lap my cousin Ryan jumped in and ran with me for most of the distance. It was nice to have some one to chat with, as the race course was getting empty fast. I was slow on the run, but I did it!!!
(My cousin Ryan & me)
I placed third in my division and received a medal. It was my first. I did not care, I finished!!!! My goal was 3 hours, I missed it by 7 minutes. My overall race pace was the fastest I have done to date.
My Best Fans!!!!
First Olympic Distance Triathlon
Race Day:
I drove my mom's car to the race at 5 am. Mom, Tiff and the kids would come about 8 am for the start of the race. I got to the transition area and was the second person there. I got the best spot in the transition area, right by the bike in and bike out gates. This meant I had less distance to run with my bike. I was alone for a couple of hours until the start of the race and was calmer than I had expected. I told myself "I have trained for this, I am ready and there is nothing more I can do but have a strong race". The call came out for the pre-race meeting and Tiff, Mom and the kids got there just before the race started. I waded out in the lake and positioned myself on the right side of the pack. The water was not cold and the lake is really shallow. People were saying if you get in trouble just stand up. Most of the lake is about 6 feet deep. The count down started and we were off.
(that's me in the center of the photo #168)
I have heard that an open water swim at a triathlon is like swimming in a human blender, or full contact swimming. I did not want to go too fast off the start only to fade after a minute or two, so I took it easy at the beginning. The race was 2 laps around the course. My goal was 28 minutes. I had to tell myself to relax and have fun. As I turned the last corner of the first lap I looked at my watch, it was 12 mins. I was half way done with the swim.
All I had to do was swim the course one more time. As I reached the first turn I could see a boat with a couple of guys on in it. They looked like my cousins but I was not for sure. When I got close, sure enough it was Ryan and Troy. They were looking around trying to find me in the sea of bodies.
They saw me and I saw them. I gave a quick fist pump and was off. I was going to beat my goal of 28 minutes by a full minute, finishing in 27 minutes. I rounded the last turn and headed for shore. I was done the with the scary part of the race. Out of the water, off with the suit and on to the bike.
The transition area is a sea of bikes, shoes, towels, helmets and bodies. I was lucky my spot was right up front.
The bike course was flat, which meant I was faster than normal, but so was everyone else. I averaged 20.33 mph for the course yet was still was getting passed all the time. I wish I was faster but not yet, I am working on it. I made it to the turn around point. Half way done with the bike. I was able to keep my pace up all the way back. Now all I had to do was run 6.2 miles.
As I hit the run portion of the race, there were tons of racers. The olympic race was 2 laps of the sprint course. I started the run course as most of the sprint racers were on last part of their only lap. The people who lived on the run course were out cheering everyone on. A couple of people had their garden hoses out and were spraying people as they passed, which was awesome. By this time in the day it was HOT!! As I hit the end of my first lap a volunteer yelled "almost there" and I replied, "one more lap to go!" On the second lap my cousin Ryan jumped in and ran with me for most of the distance. It was nice to have some one to chat with, as the race course was getting empty fast. I was slow on the run, but I did it!!!
(My cousin Ryan & me)
I placed third in my division and received a medal. It was my first. I did not care, I finished!!!! My goal was 3 hours, I missed it by 7 minutes. My overall race pace was the fastest I have done to date.
My Best Fans!!!!
First Olympic Distance Triathlon
Swim 1500 yards 27:27
Bike 23 miles 1:11:35
Run 6.2 miles 1:24:46
Total Time 3 hours 7 minutes
Finished 85 out of 95
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Daybreak Triathlon - Sept 2009
Sept 09 Daybreak Tri - Sprint Distance
This was my second triathlon. I was pumped to do this race. I had my fast new road bike (better than a very heavy mountain bike) and there was a open water swim. I am unlike many triathletes in that I like the swim part. It is probably my best event. I had done a couple of open water swim practices and was ready to go. I even had a free wet-suit rental from PowerTri in Lehi. Then the bottom dropped out on me. On Wednesday before the race the Salt Lake County Health Dept closed the lake at Daybreak due to possible round worm contamination. I was crushed because swimming is my best event. The race directors scrambled around and came up with a plan B. Instead of the usual 800 yard open water swim, it was changed to 75 yard pool swim with a mile run. Great just what I need more running. I was disappointed but decided to have fun anyway.
Race Day
We (Tiff and I) stayed in Sandy at a hotel instead of getting up at 4:00 am to get to the race. It was cold and Tiff stayed in the car while I went to set up my spot in transition. I became a member of the crazies. The people who get up before dawn to swim, ride and run. At 5:30 am, I was freezing as I set up my bike and running gear in the dark. Now I just had to wait for the race to start 8:00 am. Since the pool was a mile from the transition area, they bussed us to the pool. We were lined up based on our swimming 
speed and they were starting people about every 15 to 30 seconds. I was near the front of the line. In 3 lengths of a pool, I passed 4 people. I am fast in the water but slow on the land. I finished my swim, got out and put on some shoes and ran the mile to the transition area. Tiff joined me for a short stretch of the run.
I hoped on my bike and headed out. The bike course is 12.5 miles long. The first 4 miles were a false flat, looked flat but was up hill, the next 2 miles were straight up a steep hill. I was in my lowest gear for the final climb. Bikers one after another zoomed past or creeped past but I was getting passed by everyone (or at least it felt like it). Then came the turn around and I would have my revenge. I turned the corner and headed down that infernal hill. Bikers that flew past me earlier were no match for me and my new best friend gravity. I was passing riders who were peddling there hearts out with out having to peddle, at one point I hit 40 mph. I knew I had made it, the bike was down hill the rest of the way, and the run well, if worse comes to worse, I could just walk. I was going to finish my second tri. I dropped my bike, changed shoes and headed out for the run.
My brother met me at the start of the run. He helped pace me the entire run, Thanks Brandon. You are a great brother. The run was uneventful, but I am not that fast so it felt like an eternity. Then one or two more corners, I could hear the announcer say the finishers names, I sprinted(or more likely just ran faster than I was) to the end. I did it, I did it. I was not just a one hit wonder I finished my second tri. I was a triathlete.
speed and they were starting people about every 15 to 30 seconds. I was near the front of the line. In 3 lengths of a pool, I passed 4 people. I am fast in the water but slow on the land. I finished my swim, got out and put on some shoes and ran the mile to the transition area. Tiff joined me for a short stretch of the run.I hoped on my bike and headed out. The bike course is 12.5 miles long. The first 4 miles were a false flat, looked flat but was up hill, the next 2 miles were straight up a steep hill. I was in my lowest gear for the final climb. Bikers one after another zoomed past or creeped past but I was getting passed by everyone (or at least it felt like it). Then came the turn around and I would have my revenge. I turned the corner and headed down that infernal hill. Bikers that flew past me earlier were no match for me and my new best friend gravity. I was passing riders who were peddling there hearts out with out having to peddle, at one point I hit 40 mph. I knew I had made it, the bike was down hill the rest of the way, and the run well, if worse comes to worse, I could just walk. I was going to finish my second tri. I dropped my bike, changed shoes and headed out for the run.
My brother met me at the start of the run. He helped pace me the entire run, Thanks Brandon. You are a great brother. The run was uneventful, but I am not that fast so it felt like an eternity. Then one or two more corners, I could hear the announcer say the finishers names, I sprinted(or more likely just ran faster than I was) to the end. I did it, I did it. I was not just a one hit wonder I finished my second tri. I was a triathlete.
Swim 75 yard pool with a mile run 16:15
Bike 12.5 miles 45:55
Run 5K or 3.1 miles 38:51
Total 1 hour 45 Minutes
Finished 273 out of 327
http://www.ustrisports.com
Friday, September 11, 2009
"Austin's gone pro"...post copied from our family blog
After competing in his first triathlon last May, Austin decided to go "pro" and continue the sport, which meant the mountain bike wasn't going to suffice. He was going to need a road bike. After months of research, saving, and a special, belated Father's Day gift (you know who you are...thank you!), Austin finally decided on a bike and was able to order it online a few weeks ago.
Because it was such an expensive purchase and we would have to sign for it at delivery, the tracking was very detailed and Austin followed the travels of his precious cargo from Texas to Utah. Friday, August 7th, was the scheduled day of it's arrival. Austin, the kids and I were just hanging out when the doorbell rang. You would have though Santa had just come down the chimney...Aus and Tate ran to the door in udder excitement. Even the UPS guy was super pumped about the delivery and wanted to know all about his bike.
Tate could feel the excitement and was so into helping his Daddy unpack and assemble the bike. He kept saying, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
Now Austin can really fly when he does his next triathlons in September and in October. Congratulations, Austin! You've earned this bike in every sense of the word!
Because it was such an expensive purchase and we would have to sign for it at delivery, the tracking was very detailed and Austin followed the travels of his precious cargo from Texas to Utah. Friday, August 7th, was the scheduled day of it's arrival. Austin, the kids and I were just hanging out when the doorbell rang. You would have though Santa had just come down the chimney...Aus and Tate ran to the door in udder excitement. Even the UPS guy was super pumped about the delivery and wanted to know all about his bike.
Tate could feel the excitement and was so into helping his Daddy unpack and assemble the bike. He kept saying, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Finished!!!!
I DID IT!!!
Something I thought I would never be able to say, "I finished a triathlon". Did not come in first. Did not come in last.
I finished.
Something I thought I would never be able to say, "I finished a triathlon". Did not come in first. Did not come in last.
I finished.
My training for the sprint distance triathlon began 6 months ago in December 2008. I would wake up at 4:30am to be in the pool at 5:00 am and then would run or bike afterward. Thanks to BeginnerTriathlete.com for the training program.
Saturday, May 23rd came and I was nervous. Tiff came along to help me set up. I have never seen a triathlon in person, only on tv, and usually only what is shown on ESPN. We got there about 7:30 am and the race did not start until 10am. I just watched what other people were doing, set up like they did, donned my wetsuit and waited.
After the last wave of Olympic distance racers left the starting area, I "jumped in" the lake (waded into the muddy water) and took a couple practice strokes. As I popped my head up, a guy next to me was laughing because there was a piece of moss stuck on my goggles. The race began with a deep water start which means everyone has to go out the starting buoys and tread water till the yell go. That is when I experienced full-contact swimming. About every third or fourth stroke I would run into another swimmer or get kicked. After about 13 minutes and over 700 yards of swimming, I rounded the last buoy and made for shore. I thought my swim was poor, but it turned out to be about 10 minutes faster than expected.
***Post-edit by Tiffany...out of over 170 swimmers, he came in 31st!!! Go turbo***
After coming out of the water, I had to make it up the muddy bank without falling down. There were a hundred or so people watching as the swimmers came out of the water. Having such a large audience made me a bit nervous! I had to negotiate running/walking on wet concrete, all-the-while doing my best to remove the wetsuit, which is hard enough to do standing still!
The ride was pretty flat and I spent most of the time getting passed by the Olympic distance racers on their second lap ride or by other sprint racers. Before the race begins, they take a black permanent marker and write the racer's number on their upper arm, their distance (sprint or Olympic) on one calf and their age on the other calf. So all I had to do was watch the calves of those passing me to know my "competition". I thought I was riding really fast until a 65 year old lady passed me like I was standing still. My brother Brandon and cousin Travis rode along-side me for much of the ride on Travis's motorcycle. They were great at telling jokes and giving me a ton of encouragement.
After riding for about 50 minutes I parked my bike and began the 3.1 mile run (5K). I thought I would fall over. Running after riding that far was a very strange sensation.
The run was harder than I thought it would be, but gratefully my brother, Brandon, helped pace and encourage me for the last 1.5 miles. He was running in his Brazilian Racing Flip Flops. I finished without dying (though I knew deep down I wouldn't).
I did it. I finished!
For anyone who wants to join me, I am racing again Sept. 19th at Daybreak in Utah, http://www.ustrisports.com/daybreak.htm. I so grateful to my wife for her support and encouragement, and to my brother who helped me the last 1.5 miles. Thank you to all the family that were there to cheer me on and for your help with the twins!
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