Secrets of Success

Secrets of Success. Well, not secrets, What everyone knows, and triathlete mag writes an article about every year. The new news is this: If it is your 100th triathlon, 56th Ironman, or your first rodeo, it is always important. So, all that nervous energy you honed in for your first race, laying out your "Super Hero" suit with your ankle strap place on the pillow of the hotel bed next to you, coffee maker preset, tattoos lying out...you know the drill. You did that for a reason. So, at my last race I took ALL of these things for granted, and expected to pull a PR out of my a**. Guess how well that worked?

• Travel ~ it is tiring, plan accordingly, extra sleep time, and rest time after. DO NOT show up at midnight the night before a race.
• Rest ~ sleep is important, the week leading up to a race, you need good sleep! So, do not have a race coincide with an event, like the last week of school that takes away from sleep.
• Stress ~ Racing is a huge stress, you need to be ready for it, you cannot go in  with other stresses. Some examples include, stress from the school year ending, fractured ribs, your girlfriend's marathon, students test scores, if your car will make the drive etc.
• Pre-race ~ even at Ironman 100, dinner the night before and the rest of the meals prior are important. It is a bad idea to race on car snacks.
• Acclimate ~ humidity, altitude, heat and cold; these conditions make a huge difference. Your body needs days to properly get used to this. 6 hours is not enough. 

Okay, that is it, just a few quick reminders going into the summer racing season. Remember, it is okay not do these things, just align your goals accordingly! A PR means you were well trained and well rested. Train Hard, Race Smart!!

Straws

IRONMAN ST. George

This should have been the hardest race of my life. The conditions were crazy. The course is challenging, and the field was surprisingly good, but small. A few factors came into play that took me out of this race. My build from a mediocre Oceanside until 4 weeks prior to the race was solid. I was nailing workouts and feeling strong. Then about 3 weeks out, a crucial time, the stress at work got a little out of control. I was told my position depended on how my students scored on a state test. The stress sent me into a tail spin that lead to a cold. I went into the race full of mucus, with a poor tapper, and low confidence.

I was nervous about all of this when I hit the water. But hey, that’s life. I went after the swim, and got tossed around like a rag doll (like we all did)! I was shocked to come out if the water in under an hour, I knew I was doing alright even though I could not see anyone on the swim because of the waves. I was more tired than usual do to the chop, and I felt beat up. My new ZOOT suit felt awesome though! I swam in it for the first time the day before, and I did not love the way it felt. I was no comfortable in it all. This was it’s madden voyage. On race day, since it had been worn once it slipped on like a glove, and the fit and shoulder mobility was perfect.

I jumped on my Q.R. and immediately regretted my wheel choice. I rode a disc, 1080, aka a rear and front sail. I rode like a ping pong ball bouncing from one line to another. Again, I am sure any race recap would sound the same here. BUT, then I fell short. I did what I pride myself on never doing. I gave up. The snot on my face, and in my throat; Wind, sun, hills…and eating away at the back of my mind… do I have a job? I have a mortgage, student loans, and a nice credit card bill… but an income? Maybe I could have made it through a ‘normal’ ironman, but there were just one too many straws. I cracked.

not going to make it for dinner...

I soft pedaled the bike in and was getting ready to go sulk in my hotel. Then I saw the fans, and the other racers heading out on their second loop. They had 45 more miles to ride, and a marathon. I just had to run around town a bit. So I ran. I no longer had goals or motivation to do well. My competition was 45minutes down the road. But I knew I could finish, and I have never DNFed, so why start now?

The Moral of the story: Never Give Up.

After the race, I got some great advice; that was not the last Ironman. The fitness gained in the build is still there. Good luck and happy racing to all.

Thank you to Mom, Dad, Amy, Ben, Randy, Elliot, Brian D., Brian M., Tony, Vanessa, The Cobbs, Molly, Pete, Zoot, Quintana Roo, GU, Garmin and the rest of the Zoot Squad.

The Company You Keep

After reading Amy Cole's blog about mindset, I reflected on my own mindset, and how I got
there. A quick rewind of Jesse in triathlon. A guy told me about this long,
hard, hot race in Kona. I thought, hhmm sounds like fun. I borrowed his bike
and raced a sprint tri. I thought, hey that was fun! a few years later I saw
Kona on TV and decided I need to try an Ironman. Sooo...I found a bike and rode
around a bit and raced an ironman. I finished! Goal met, you see then I was in
the company of friends and family that thought I was crazy for entering an
Ironman. My company thought I surpassed all the goals in the world.
Then:
I met some people who had actually raced in Kona! They did well in a domestic Ironman and
qualified! Mindset shift, this company thought getting to Kona was possible!
So.. they taught me how to train smarter, suffer more and RACE!! Made it to
Kona.
The next iteration:
What is after Kona? Do it again? Then I actually met a PRO triathlete. He agreed to go on a
run with me!! Big day. Woke up early, stretch, breakfast, freakout, run! Turns
out Pro's are normal people too! This was the seed; if Pro triathlete's are
normal people, and I am a normal person...could I go Pro? Mindset Shift...
Get a coach; train even smarter (thanks Elliot!) pick a race, BOOM! Pro Card!!
You get the picture... in my case the company I kept gave me the confidence to have a
Growth Mindset.Right now I am trying to train with other Pro's. Other Pro's that have won an Ironman. I hope this will help me maybe go top 5 in an Ironman some day. Then who knows, top 3? Ironman champ? Bottom line, I have to THINK I can win before I step on the starting line. Call it want you want. Grow your mindset to the Mindset of a champ, say to your competition, 'no matter what, you will always be a champion.' Have the mindset of a victor. Don't let your mind be a limiter, our body does a pretty good job of that!
The last Iteration:
Even if you cannot train with your idols, you can read about others that have accomplished
amazing things. So, train hard, think positive, and keep that Growth Mindset.

Like a Runner

After saying OVWA (Zoot kicks rocked it!!) to my old half marathon PR, I decided to take a look at what worked. In order to do this properly, lets go back a step. As a triathlete, I have always been under theimpression that I am not running enough to be a fast runner. To compensate for
this I have spent a long time running my easy runs close to marathon pace. Maybe this works well for some, and maybe it is what has given me a solid endurance base.

BUT, in transition from the offy after a late season Ironman
to starting to train again I went back to something I love. Trail running. I
spent January exploring a myriad of trails I have never run in Tucson. Some of
it ended up being run/walk because it was so steep, okay, yes I have cuts on my
back from a duck and roll. Fine, now I have a weak ankle. A few losses that do
not nearly amount to the sum of gains made.

Since I was on trails, I was running slowly. This allowed me to relax, and not look at pace. Then when it came time to sharpen up with a few track sessions to prepare for my first race, the speed was there. I didn’t know how without any fast running, but it was there. I just ran The Lost Dutchman Half Marathon in a 1:15:59. This was 2:30 faster than I ran Rock ‘n’ Roll half in Phoenix a couple years ago. Yes a lot has changed since then, but this is
the fact I keep on coming back to:

If you want to be a fast runner, run like a runner. Hit your
hard runs HARD. Easy runs are time on your feet, nothing more. Don’t get stuck in the middle. It is never a good place to be. I know, you are saying, ‘but I
only run 45 miles a week, I need to make them count!’ Well, here is my opinion,
you don’t. Run like a Runner. Gain the cardio fitness from the bike and swim.
(Especially if you ride like a cyclist and swim like a swimmer)

What better way to celebrate than a photo shoot with Elliot (slept in) and Amy(ran a 1:22) post race?

Next Up: Turns out Pacing Helps!

Find Happiness

"We must seek the true causes of happiness and satisfaction in ourselves" ~ 14th Dalai Lama

What do YOU want to do?

The biggest thing racing, and wrapping my head around a winning attitude (thanks Hoff) has taught me is this: Be assertive and go after what you want. Happiness is not sitting behind a rock some where waiting for you to find it. It is in you. right now. You need to figure out what that means to you and make it happen.
For me the present is pretty full of it right now, but I am always looking toward the future. I am hoping the it looks like going back to school for PHD in Applied Math. I am just starting the application process, and writing about it seemed like a lot more fun than writing a personal essay to the U of A. In thinking about the application process, I became pretty fired up on life. I love racing, and learning. If all goes well, I will be knee deep in both for 2012. How ever it plays out, I feel like triathlon has but me in the driver seat of my life. I am no longer along for the ride. What ever it is that lights your fire, do it. NOW!!! ROCK ON.

Celebrate Success

I just Ended the season with 2 sub-9 hour Ironmans. The second was a bot more of a challenge. From a rough swim start, with no warning before the canon to a flat on the bike; Ironman Arizona was Hard. I know, it is an Ironman, isn't it supposed to be? Well, sometimes race day comes, and everything feels good. Sometimes it feels like it takes a little more effort even to get your wetsuit off. The title of this is celebrate success, you may think that is to talk about my 20 min bike PR at IMAZ, yes with a flat, or my 30 min Ironman PR at IMFL. Well, those were exciting times....get ready for the real accomplishment! Before we get to that, some long overdue shout outs: The Quintana Roo CD0.1 is the most comfy machine I have ever ridden, and since I took 25min off my bike split, I would call her fast!! My Blueseventy wetsuit is awesome! As you can see in the pic, good for dancing and swimming! Powerbar has been amazing, keeping me fueled in training and racing. Tangerine gels. Every once in a while you hit that point...when you do, suck down 2 of these puppy's, and BAM! Good to go! Now the highlight of my triathlon season:

T2 Champion!!

Yes, I posted the fastest T2 at IMAZ. I have a few limiters, say running. But T2 is not one of them! I leave you with this:

What can you do in 66 seconds!...Enjoy the Offseason!

The Places In Between

2011.
2011 has been a HUGE transition year. Although I pride myself on a stellar T2, Life transitions can be a little more stressful. In order to get this story straight I need to go back and start at the beginning. The place in between 2010 and 2012 started one week before Ironman Arizona, funny because that is where I am at now.

11/10
IMAZ Prep one week out.
Last big ride ended up a bust. I got sick to boot. Congested headed into IMAZ. Not Ideal. Race day came, so I threw on a happy face, and went for it. Threw up on the bike, and suffered through the run. Thanks to Troy Jacobson for chatting me up through a bit of the run. Race fail. Oh well off season.

12/10
Off season
This joyous time of beer drinking, sleeping in, skiing, snowshoeing, winter running, and half a masters swim once in a while was anything but. It was a blast in the face to my level of discontent with life: job, city, social scene, life. This unhappiness lead to an off season of unhealthy behavior (bear attacks) unhealthy state of mind and a lack of drive which every athlete thrives on.

1/11
Death
I lost my grandfather. I felt for my father. I can't imagine the pain of watching the most important male in your life pass on. Luckily we still my loving and amazing grandmother.

2/11
Lost Friends
The Hoff, a guy who taught me a little about triathlon, and a lot about being great moved on from Durango. This sparked the fire to do the same.

3/11
Training
It was time to get back to and be in the middle of serious training. I went through the motions. Everything was lack luster, un inspired and a genuine struggle. I was gaining fitness from a few years of miles in my legs, and the occasional freak workout. I was not sleeping, ornery, totally off of my 'triathlon lifestyle' and surrounded by poor influences.

4/11
The Race season starts
Obviously I was not on form to race well, but I realized I needed to get my head on straight in order to even put on a race kit. So, I I tried to knuckle down and managed a few good weeks of training. This lead to a win at Tri the Rim Triathlon.

5/11
Wildflower: Fun race, long drive, total flop. Motivation to put in a good month of training even if I was unhappy. So I worked pretty hard as I finished out the school year. I had no choice, three weekends of racing coming up:
#1 Ironhorse
This weekend was a good one. Won a little money, had a PR on the Ironhorse bike race, took 2nd to Brandon Rakita in a 10 mile run, raced my first crit, had a PR in the mile swim, and the ironhorse TT.
The most import part of this weekend was the Tucson bug. I had been job hunting for a few months, definite time for a change. I NEEDED a change. I was looking at teaching jobs in Austin, TX. Warm weather, awesome town, more people, change. All of Texas is firing teachers. Not the best timing. I was getting pretty discouraged. Not sure what to do.
The Bug
A couple of friends came up for the Ironhorse, from Tucson. I was expressing my dilemma to them. Besides having great insight into bike racing, mustaches, and the shake and break; they also said, why not Tucson? The seed was planted.
The week between race 1 and 2 was busy since i was working to design a new curriculum for Ignacio Math. During this time I also sent out a bunch of applications to schools in Tucson. Okay, I should have been working. I am good at multitasking. I hope!!
6/11
Race #2
Mooseman 70.3
Well, a freezing swim, and hilly bike were tough, but i was able to muddle through and pull out a decent run. This left me able to finish 7th. One of my best 70.3 finishes. So, even though my head was not in the game, I was gaining fitness. a good thing. Back to celebration mode!
The Beach
The week between race 2 and 3 was spent on Cape Cod. I drank beers and spent time with a true friend, and very special person in my life. During this time I received a phone call about a job interview (3 beers in!) I must have done a pretty good job because he offered to fly me down to Tucson for an interview.
Race #3
Eagleman 70.3
FLAT. not a flat, I was just plan flat after the 2 weeks of racing, and not the best recovery. oh well. I got some great family time, as they are the most supportive parents a guy could ask for. They have been to all 10 of my ironman races, and a few of my 70.3s. Is it okay that my biggest fan is my mom?
7/11
The air is thick with change.
Back in Durango. Realizing One Thing. Time to GO. Flew down, and got the job in Tucson. Well, still mentally checked out of my own life but it is time to make a decision. Her goes. I'll take the job! time to out together a game plan. Okay, I'll buy a house, one whirlwind weekend later, offer made.

8/11
Offer accepted! Looks like i am a home owner (gulp) and I am moving to a town where I know next to no one, for a job i am a little unsure of. Woah. Good thing my head is still in the fog, cause my body is just making these decisions on its out. I hope my mind agrees in the end.

The move.
Either way, it just happened. Time to strap my mattress to my roof and drive to Tucson. I arrived, unloaded, and hoped on a plane to a wedding. As you can tell, my main focus this summer has been quality training, right? No. Life Changes.

9/11
Tucson.
Barely back in Tucson, a little bit of training, some IT Band issues. Train through it. Good plan. trying to get into a groove at work, this process turns into a huge struggle. I made it happen. Oh, by the way it has been 110 in Tucson. Great training weather. Sweet.

Ironman Wisconsin
Race fail. The IT band goes, and I end up jog/hobbling the marathon. I could not handle a DNF. Never had one. Lets keep it that way. Back to training.

10/11
Fair Winds.
The Tucson weather is improving. The benefits of the change are shining through. My job is getting easier. I have met a few people in Tucson. Life is actually pretty good! Change. Oh, it turns out I like my house. I didn't have enough time to know if I would when I bought it. Now I realize I do.
Since life is finally going well, my mind switches on. time to nail training, recover right, live the lifestyle I want to live. It has been a while, turns out I remember how.

11/11
Ironman FL
I will write about this in a double Ironman race report. Lets just say, 8:45. BOOM.
The 2 week gap until IMAZ, here goes!!

In conclusion:
Change. The only constant in life is change. Always make it happen for the better. It is your life, live it. 2011 was my year of too many changes, but it was for the better. Change is good. life is good.
Embrace It.