that would make my ironman swims very fast ;)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
they come in pairs
Well i was certanly not expecting this for sure....
the day seemed to be perfect, and actually the forecast was very good with the winds picking up at the time the field should be going home and as a tail wind, temperature was really nice for racing, not hot not cold, perfect. Even the run course was easier since the big hill, the observatory hill had construction so it was eliminated.
Swim was way off what i could do, i didnt have that initial kick and geezz i never had to swim the whole course alone in front, that was what happened. i really didnt felt alright in the water but when i got out i kinda felt relieved that Steffan riesen was on my feet as well as desiree ficker and going through the maze in Monona terrace transition area i had a glimpse of Max longree that was still to go into the indoor area while i was already getting my bike. considering how i felt that was not too bad.
Down the helix and away we go, i was under the impression that riesen was just not a good guy to follow knowing that he is a very good cyclist. I het him go and had my own pace. Getting into the first hills i was feeling great and already with nutrition at 100%. in fact before i got to verona, around 20 km into the bike i could still see Riesen a few undred meters ahead. Hmmm, that was nice of course, then i got into the 2 loop course and while doing some of those 90 degree turns i got a flat. S%$^$&
pulled to the side of the road and did whatever i needed to do i saw some good names going through, Max was one of them and actually he took more time to pass me than i would expect witch probably meant that i actually incresed my lead in that 25km. as i was about to use the co2, the adapter just fell apart, the o ring seals just melted, they probably where sitting there for to long, i dont know but it just didnt work. i was kinda fortunate because the bike tech support didnt take too long to show up, changed the wheel and i was out of there. i had been passed by a few AG but knowing that people do tend to get excited ealry on the bike i didnt really care.
at this time i just wanted to know what was my gap to the lead and how that would feel as a decent, considering a flat, or managable with so many miles to go.
i was feeling good and was pushing really good power. that information only came with 70km into the ride and from a reliable source :D 20 min!!!
Oh, thats not too bad at all!! already knowing the course well i was around 4:50 time for the ride and, excluding, of course, the flat that would put me somewhere closer to 5 than 4:50 but that gap really didnt felt too bad.
then at 80km the tire on the borrowed front wheel just came out of the rim (that wheel was clincher) and the tube blew loud and clear!!! noooooo!!
I had the trek van behind me 1 2 minutes afterwards, Mark from trek came out of it to see what happened and actually offered me a replacement and the tech support van got there too but actually had no whhels. Feeling miserable i just took my chip out and call it a day. Damn
Im disapointed of course, very, but what can i do! now its time to pack up and get back home. Unfortunately the Tech guy that replaced my wheel doesnt know where my wheel is so now i dont have wheel and have to find it somewhere today, i could use some better luck this weekend, i hope i get it or Vince will be mad at me :(
Another note to how i enjoy this racing venue, a transition area inside the monona terrace is just insane, i dont think there is something like it at least with 2500 athletes in it, the city of madison is awesome with very friedly people and students, just great.
the day seemed to be perfect, and actually the forecast was very good with the winds picking up at the time the field should be going home and as a tail wind, temperature was really nice for racing, not hot not cold, perfect. Even the run course was easier since the big hill, the observatory hill had construction so it was eliminated.
Swim was way off what i could do, i didnt have that initial kick and geezz i never had to swim the whole course alone in front, that was what happened. i really didnt felt alright in the water but when i got out i kinda felt relieved that Steffan riesen was on my feet as well as desiree ficker and going through the maze in Monona terrace transition area i had a glimpse of Max longree that was still to go into the indoor area while i was already getting my bike. considering how i felt that was not too bad.
Down the helix and away we go, i was under the impression that riesen was just not a good guy to follow knowing that he is a very good cyclist. I het him go and had my own pace. Getting into the first hills i was feeling great and already with nutrition at 100%. in fact before i got to verona, around 20 km into the bike i could still see Riesen a few undred meters ahead. Hmmm, that was nice of course, then i got into the 2 loop course and while doing some of those 90 degree turns i got a flat. S%$^$&
pulled to the side of the road and did whatever i needed to do i saw some good names going through, Max was one of them and actually he took more time to pass me than i would expect witch probably meant that i actually incresed my lead in that 25km. as i was about to use the co2, the adapter just fell apart, the o ring seals just melted, they probably where sitting there for to long, i dont know but it just didnt work. i was kinda fortunate because the bike tech support didnt take too long to show up, changed the wheel and i was out of there. i had been passed by a few AG but knowing that people do tend to get excited ealry on the bike i didnt really care.
at this time i just wanted to know what was my gap to the lead and how that would feel as a decent, considering a flat, or managable with so many miles to go.
i was feeling good and was pushing really good power. that information only came with 70km into the ride and from a reliable source :D 20 min!!!
Oh, thats not too bad at all!! already knowing the course well i was around 4:50 time for the ride and, excluding, of course, the flat that would put me somewhere closer to 5 than 4:50 but that gap really didnt felt too bad.
then at 80km the tire on the borrowed front wheel just came out of the rim (that wheel was clincher) and the tube blew loud and clear!!! noooooo!!
I had the trek van behind me 1 2 minutes afterwards, Mark from trek came out of it to see what happened and actually offered me a replacement and the tech support van got there too but actually had no whhels. Feeling miserable i just took my chip out and call it a day. Damn
Im disapointed of course, very, but what can i do! now its time to pack up and get back home. Unfortunately the Tech guy that replaced my wheel doesnt know where my wheel is so now i dont have wheel and have to find it somewhere today, i could use some better luck this weekend, i hope i get it or Vince will be mad at me :(
Another note to how i enjoy this racing venue, a transition area inside the monona terrace is just insane, i dont think there is something like it at least with 2500 athletes in it, the city of madison is awesome with very friedly people and students, just great.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Madison
Its just great to meet old friends that i made in 2004 when i raced my 2nd ironman. The Barmores, Rickers and shewpies that im still up to visit and say hi.
It is quite rewarding when i was told the story of jake shewpie. back then he was a normal kid that liked to do rock climbing now he is a olimpic team rower with triathlon in the middle. kinda of the inverse sporting carrer i had, and aparently i got him into endurance sports after my stay in shewpies home in 2004. just WOW, i look forward to see him in london the land of rowing. i do hope he makes it!!!
anyway, in the weekend i had the chance to go to castle rock lake, just awesome place with great company, great riding swimming and running too bad it is frozen during the winter :P i had a great time there.
before that i went to FOOTBALL and watched middleton kick madison east butt and mckensie dance in half time. It was cold, actually it has been quite bad the weather, windy, chilly, i hope it gets better for the next weekend because like this its not fun.
I have been feeling some times bad some times good without any particular order.
photos and dinner
It is quite rewarding when i was told the story of jake shewpie. back then he was a normal kid that liked to do rock climbing now he is a olimpic team rower with triathlon in the middle. kinda of the inverse sporting carrer i had, and aparently i got him into endurance sports after my stay in shewpies home in 2004. just WOW, i look forward to see him in london the land of rowing. i do hope he makes it!!!
anyway, in the weekend i had the chance to go to castle rock lake, just awesome place with great company, great riding swimming and running too bad it is frozen during the winter :P i had a great time there.
before that i went to FOOTBALL and watched middleton kick madison east butt and mckensie dance in half time. It was cold, actually it has been quite bad the weather, windy, chilly, i hope it gets better for the next weekend because like this its not fun.
I have been feeling some times bad some times good without any particular order.
photos and dinner
me at the chilly and breezy football game
mckensie dance team
castle rock lake, or at least a small part because its quite big
the morning workout
the cabin
homemade oatmeal and caramel cookies and coffee, i could live out of these :P
going out for some water sports in a very fast boat
trying out the fast vehicle
early morning photo before the ride
Thursday, September 2, 2010
moving north..
louisville is done and im up north in a secret location :P
I really would like to thank Kevin, Nikki, Trevor, Hayden and litle levi. i had a great time with them, and sure will want visit them in a close future. Kevin did a great job out there finishing his first ironman!
I got some new presents after the race too :P
more soon when the sun shines again
Monday, August 30, 2010
Missing the good old 2:40's :)
Another IM another finish another awesome result. IM louisville, I am having a great time here!!!
I will exclude the pre race stuff, everything went like it should happen so no writing about that
The swim was HOT, felt like soup or tea :), right at the begining i got a really har punch of the face, Ouch, black eye was the result (only saw that o the finish) i felt a good fast stroke till the turn around buoy where i was on someones feet with the feeling that i was going alright but surely couldnt get away from there, so that was what ive done, now in the turn around buoy i was in the inside and got some problems to go through it. i lost my beloved feet and tried to get there for i would say 700 800 meters, it seemed that it was just there but never made it, crap i issed what would eventually be the 56 min group with quite a few good names on it. i then got passed and did prett much the rest of the swim in another pair of feet, it was really a good ride absolutely affortless although i knew i was loosing time with that. 57:30 was the time out of the water.
Bike time, it has been 2 year since i was here racing and i surely forgoten how tough this course is, after that small connection to the loops its just insane the ammount of short steep hills in the course, constant up and down all the time, melts your legs. I was in the save energy for the run zone again and maybe go a little faster in the second loop. i was feeling well especially after the first hour of riding, i passed all the girls earlier tha usual so i tought i didnt have a bad swim. lots of lonelly riding going through the hills untill i got to the second loop where we all mix with the age group in the first loop. i passed a few atheletes, and at 125km mark Max caught me, we changed some words about fast running to get closer to the lead i rode with him in sight until T2 around 45 seconds. my second lap was indeed faster. i was feeling confident that the effonrt of the bike would produce a fast run to get in the top spots, the nutrition was flawless and hidration too.
The fact is that again just like in Utah, as soon i got my feet on the floor i didnt felt the speedy legs, it was hot, i didnt really feel that, i started drinking and eating right away and that was enough to forget how hot and humid it was, i just didnt have running legs, i was 10th and the coments where that there was a ton of guys that where just melted, like i would guess, i was in 6th place in no time so the question was if i could get to the top5. i was running slow i sure miss the super fast runs but this year in ironman they seem to stay home. The good thing was that i got into 5th at the end of the first lap and at that time seeing where the competition was and how many just pulled out of the race, i really just want to stay in 5th, and i was safe there, 4th was to far away and 6th too. i just cruised to the finsh line, dont get me wrong i was hurting.
Yes for the ones that know me, i am unhappy because the run that got me into so many podiums isnt here but im really happy to grab another grab another great performance, i love this sport, i stayed at the finish area with Nikki up untill Kevin got home at around 9pm, his first IM and looked good :) great people, great race venue, i had a great day yesterday!!!!
take look at my finishing video, thanks byk :P
I will exclude the pre race stuff, everything went like it should happen so no writing about that
The swim was HOT, felt like soup or tea :), right at the begining i got a really har punch of the face, Ouch, black eye was the result (only saw that o the finish) i felt a good fast stroke till the turn around buoy where i was on someones feet with the feeling that i was going alright but surely couldnt get away from there, so that was what ive done, now in the turn around buoy i was in the inside and got some problems to go through it. i lost my beloved feet and tried to get there for i would say 700 800 meters, it seemed that it was just there but never made it, crap i issed what would eventually be the 56 min group with quite a few good names on it. i then got passed and did prett much the rest of the swim in another pair of feet, it was really a good ride absolutely affortless although i knew i was loosing time with that. 57:30 was the time out of the water.
Bike time, it has been 2 year since i was here racing and i surely forgoten how tough this course is, after that small connection to the loops its just insane the ammount of short steep hills in the course, constant up and down all the time, melts your legs. I was in the save energy for the run zone again and maybe go a little faster in the second loop. i was feeling well especially after the first hour of riding, i passed all the girls earlier tha usual so i tought i didnt have a bad swim. lots of lonelly riding going through the hills untill i got to the second loop where we all mix with the age group in the first loop. i passed a few atheletes, and at 125km mark Max caught me, we changed some words about fast running to get closer to the lead i rode with him in sight until T2 around 45 seconds. my second lap was indeed faster. i was feeling confident that the effonrt of the bike would produce a fast run to get in the top spots, the nutrition was flawless and hidration too.
The fact is that again just like in Utah, as soon i got my feet on the floor i didnt felt the speedy legs, it was hot, i didnt really feel that, i started drinking and eating right away and that was enough to forget how hot and humid it was, i just didnt have running legs, i was 10th and the coments where that there was a ton of guys that where just melted, like i would guess, i was in 6th place in no time so the question was if i could get to the top5. i was running slow i sure miss the super fast runs but this year in ironman they seem to stay home. The good thing was that i got into 5th at the end of the first lap and at that time seeing where the competition was and how many just pulled out of the race, i really just want to stay in 5th, and i was safe there, 4th was to far away and 6th too. i just cruised to the finsh line, dont get me wrong i was hurting.
Yes for the ones that know me, i am unhappy because the run that got me into so many podiums isnt here but im really happy to grab another grab another great performance, i love this sport, i stayed at the finish area with Nikki up untill Kevin got home at around 9pm, his first IM and looked good :) great people, great race venue, i had a great day yesterday!!!!
take look at my finishing video, thanks byk :P
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
climbing
I love it, Serra da estrela is by far the best place in portugal to do the big 20+km climbs all very steep. It was very sad to see that a very big area of protected area has burned recently, quite a sight as i was going through areas still smoking. bad bad bad
its almost flight time, monday, i have been feeling good because i have been resting a lot for the past week despite all the hard workouts so now that the tough days are gone i expect to feel even better....duuuh ;)
Saturday, August 14, 2010
the gang is doing alright
everyone is at "casa del marques" :)
the ride "up" here was tough with 5h of head wind with a short visit to the dam, yesterday a long brick and a 4000 swim at the pool and today a longish run and will leave soon for another open water swim.
nedless to say i like how this is flowing. after the swim ill go to serra da estrela where tomorrow ill thrown plenty of climbs in the training pack im having ;)
photos to come as the web connection gets ..faster
the ride "up" here was tough with 5h of head wind with a short visit to the dam, yesterday a long brick and a 4000 swim at the pool and today a longish run and will leave soon for another open water swim.
nedless to say i like how this is flowing. after the swim ill go to serra da estrela where tomorrow ill thrown plenty of climbs in the training pack im having ;)
photos to come as the web connection gets ..faster
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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