Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Josh Adams' Black Diamond Sprint Report

6th overall and 2nd fastest bike split (behind Erin Eronemo – aka EE in the report)

The week leading up to this race was ruff because I was trying to get over a bad cold all week. I didn't really know how my body would react to 3 full days of no training before the race but I felt good by Saturday night and was ready to giver hell.

 

The swim start was greeted by a nice kick in the face by EE. That was enough to get the juices flowing and Finished with the 25th fastest swim split. I did the same thing as EE on T1 and went the wrong way.

 

Felt like poop most of the bike but still posted the #2 bike split so I will take it. I got through T2 in 1:32 and on to the run leg.

 

I passed someone early on the run...this is a first for me this year. I haven't passed anyone on the run on any of my sprint races this year, so I was pumped! It was a 3 step lung buster the whole way for me. I was about 1/4mile from the finish when a guy was moving up on my left. I asked him what loop? He hesitated and then answered "2nd"...I met that answered with a dead sprint for 200yrds, I looked over my shoulder and he was 50 ft back. I have the finish in sight and gave another look over my shoulder and he was right on my ass. I sprint through the line and got him by a body length. That was fun!!! Run was 20:10 and 25th fastest run split.

 

Overall time was 1:07:33 6th overall and 2nd in my age group.

 

25th-Swim

2nd-Bike

25th-Run

 

At least I am consistently average on the swim and the run...My off season will consist of a lot of tech work in the pool and speed work on the track/treadmill. Because I have to get a lot better with the other two disciplines but I cannot say enough about how much this groups mentorship has meant to me and my progress as a  triathlete. I consider this my first real season and I got one more shot at a podium spot in Elma in two weeks...I am due.

 

Cheers

 

jQa

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Ed Clarke's Black Diamond Half Ironman Race Report

Ed’s been racing for 23 years and can still mix it up.  Congrats Ed!!

Unlike Sunday, Saturday’s long course weather was fabulous.  In fact, too sunny for my taste.  I had been salivating over the predicted 60s partly cloudy early in the week but as Saturday neared, looking like Sunny and close to 80.  Got there 1.5 hours early and the lot already full so had to deal with shuttle bus.  Set up in transition with 1 full hour to spare.  Chatted strategy with Trev and others, studied course details.  Trevor asked me if he should ride all out on the bike leg.  Ha ha… never ask a Vet for advise on day of race.  I suggested relaxing on the bike leg to save legs for the ½ marathon.   As it would turn out, Trev out-biked me by 2 minutes… not sure if he relaxed – I rode hard.

40+ age group went off in wave #2 - 5 mins behind.  After a lot of physical contact and head-slapping I faded to the right and caught the toes of a great lead-out man.  By first buoy it was the two of us off the front.  We were working through wave 1 traffic by the 3rd buoy and all through our 2nd lap.  My boy was perfect with line and pace, even through the riff-raff.  Never a need to bully the lesser swimmers, just slithered by with grace and courtesy.  Off the beach in 27 low, I thanked my man and proceeded to the bike.  Onto the bike feeling good and rolling on familiar roads.  It was nice to have an ongoing line of wave 1 men to roll through, giving the illusion of out-riding the field.  At the out-and-back of lap 1, I counted 6 minutes without spotting the Trevenator.  By the end of the first lap I seemed to have found my position as there were no more riders coming back to me.  Through lap two I exchanging places with two others and late came a 41 year old with authority – dang, there goes the masters aspirations.  Now my race was with Trevor and the 5 hour clock.

Into T2 in 5th spot.  Feeling pretty good onto the run and floating along in 7:30 pace.  Was looking forward to the run format that featured three out-and-back sections so as to monitor my status vs Trev frequently.  Time-check #1 and there’s the Trevstor looking strong, 8 minutes back.  I felt comfortable with this but certainly not a guarantee.  One side-ache and two miles of walking erases that gap.  Had to keep composure, not push too hard…  checked back to “prevent” pace.  Time-check #2 and there’s my boy Trev still at 8 minutes.  Feelin better now (with the gap) but the heat started to erode my fleet-footedness.  No more high knees and hands, back to traditional survivor shuffle.  Time check #3 and Trev has taken a minute, gap down to 7 mins.  Finally back into the park and only the lumpy, rocky, loop around the lake to get ‘er done.

Finished in 4:51 to wrap my season with 2 out of 3 goals reached:  sub-5 and put Trev off for one more season.  Did not nab the masters as a very fit 41 year old demolished in 4:30.  Great props to Trev who also went < 5 with 4:58 in first ½ ironman - that’s amazing work.

d.a.d.d.

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A little Triathlon humor for the day...

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Off-Season Triathletes - you might want to read this!

RTB is tapping the brains of our experts and posting articles on stuff you might want to learn about.  This week’s article by Karen Nolting is about Strength Training in the off-season.  Karen will also be teaching a free strength training class at the Kent Easthill Physical Therapy gym on October 7th at 7:00pm.  (If you aren’t an RTB member, it’s $10 though….)  Find the article and class here:  http://weraisethebar.com/strength092710.html.  THANKS KAREN!!!

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Attaway Tom Hull

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IMG00899-20100925-1404.jpg

Trev's in!!
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Ed and Trev-

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The triathlete....the legend.... Smiling Greg Kline

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Ed Clarke in at about 4:56.. RTB stud!

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Congrats 2 Luisa Lopez and Greg Kline!

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RTB Hat and TREV make 750 bucks for the Hope at last report- way to go guys

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Phone recharged- sorry! Here's greg Kline.

Ed Clarke in the top 10 off the bike and went in the 2nd wave 5 min back. Trev about 5-10 min behind Ed. Got some KBA folks looking great out here too- perfect day
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Lookong good! Awhile ago

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Trev is away

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Ed Clarke away

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Black Diamond Half is off!

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

RTB Hat $300, Trev $230. Pick your fave and give 5!!!

Dex, really? Raise the Bar & Grill AGAIN?!?!?!?!?!

Phone books came today. It seems that dex doesn’t know everything – and it looks like I’ll be getting questions for Raise the Bar & Grill for the next year.  So, in answer to those questions I’ll get on my personal cell phone (sigh) here is a quick reference:

No, we don’t have live music on weeknights.

No, we aren’t hiring bartenders right now but would you like to join a neat triathlon team?

Yes, we would like to buy a block of Thunderbirds tickets and want the ones that come with free beer

Yes, we do need pint glasses – check back with me in June

Yes, we can time your beer-guzzling contest.  Would you like chip-timing and a finish line?

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Last day of summer session- see you guy next week for fall session! Looking good!

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

New Swim and Run Session Registration Open

Want to get a jump on the 2011 Triathlon Season? Raise the Bar swim and run workouts are open for registration. Check out the details on the RTB website: http://www.weraisethebar.com/ under Training.

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Friday, September 17, 2010

Newest addition at RTBHQ

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Swim Angels needed for the Trek Tri

From Ardis Bow – coordinator of the swim angel program:

There often comes a time in a veteran triathlete's or veteran swimmer’s career when they feel the need to give back to the sport, to their fellow sister triathletes. One of the most rewarding ways to give back is to volunteer to be a BIC® Soleil® Swim Sister. This you know because you have generously give of your time and enthusiastic spirit in the past! You all made up one FANTASTIC Angel TEAM!!!

You are receiving this call out because we are still seeking potential BIC Soleil Swim Sisters for the Trek Women Triathlon Series race this weekend in Seattle. If you haven't signed up already and would like to volunteer or you know of a qualified women who would be interested in volunteering please email me with the appropriate contact information.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the DTS BIC Soleil Swim Angel and TWTS BIC Soleil Swim Sisters Programs. I am honored to call you my "sistas" : )!

namaste

ardis


Ardis Bow
ardis@thexxtramilellc.com
National Coordinator
Danskin Triathlon Series BIC© Soleil© Swim Angel Program
Trek Women Triathlon Series BIC© Soleil© Swim Sister Program

Trek Women Triathlon Series
www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com

The Danskin Triathlon Series
www.Danskintriathlon.net

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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Congrats Cindy!

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Rebecca Sharppppp!

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Robert, Amy, Ericka, Debbie are in!

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Dave Koon across!

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Erin 3rd overall at Escape

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Go RTBers!

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Eronemo on deck

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Go RTB at Escape from the Rock and Lake Stevens- report in, specs!

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Friday, September 10, 2010

Today's Raise the Bar and Grill Phone Solicitation

Do we sell cigarettes?  No.

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Nick Johnson's Ironman Canada Race Report

Nick has had a FULL year.  While training for Ironman Canada, he completed his college education at Seattle U and became a honest to goodness engineer.   In addition to graduation, he managed to squeeze in some awesome short-course performances earlier this spring and summer – notably the Seafair Tri where he placed 8th in a STACKED Pacific Northwest field.  When  he landed at Canada he was just 24 years old and a month and doing his first Ironman. As you’ll read, Nick plunked down a 10:05 – that’s the 2nd fastest Ironman time in Raise the Bar history my friends (Brian Guillen 9:57 IMCanada 2010)  We’re super excited to have this humble, hard-working, smart young man who’s definitely raising the bar at Raise the Bar.   Way to go Nick!!!

I got to the transition area with just enough time to get my bike ready, take a look at my age group competition which nearly all fit on one bike rack, and put my wetsuit.

Swim - This may be the most memorial part of this race. The first minute or so was absolute chaos. I wasn't able to get a front row spot and was churned up a bit in the beginning Things settled down and I just tried to find some waves to ride to the shore. I really had no idea what my time would be, but was hoping for something around an hour. when I saw 57 and change I was pretty happy, and I felt like that boosted my morale going onto the bike. The volunteers are so amazing! This was my first time experiencing this and I was so impressed, between the wetsuit stripping and the unpacking and packing of your plastic bags, they practically do the transition for you.

Bike - The start was a total rush, with all the people cheering and announcer calling out your name I was cruising on pure adrenalin. I remember looking down seeing 27 and having to tell myself "Easy now!"

The road to Osoyoos was fast but easy at the same time. I stopped to use the restroom, and without realizing it this it where the frigg bypassed me. The slow climb up to yellow lake really got me, I felt like I was in the tour de france during the final ascent as all the riders funneled through a crowd of cheering people all out there in the rain and hail. Coming down the other side I was terrified. The wet and slick looking roads had me all over the brakes. My arms were so cold and numb I could barely steer. At one point I had some pretty serious speed wobbles and I thought I was going to hit the pavement. Feeling lucky that I recovered from this, I played it pretty conservative on the decent to penticton. I was happy to be back in town where it felt 20 degrees warmer.

Run - Leaving transition I saw 6:40 on the clock and I knew breaking 10 would take a lot of work. I used my Garmin:

http://connect.garmin.com/splits/47215756 (minus the first mile) but mostly just ran by feel. Less than a mile before the turnaround I saw Brian, he was looking strong but still looked at my watch to count how many minutes I was behind. I figured had maybe 10 minutes on me. Josh looked to be feeling good as we slapped each other five running by. Attempting to pick up the pace only worked for a couple miles, and eventually struggled to hold onto 8:00 miles. about a mile from the finish someone with a 23 on their calf passed by I tried to follow but could not. The friggulator was cruising to the finish as I made my lap through town. As soon as I finished my legs stiffened up (and are still stiff!) and am glad to say I left it all out on the course.

Congrats to Josh and Brian on great races, its always fun racing with teammates.

and thanks for the geyser crew for getting me mentally and physically ready for the ironman, and for supplying me with extra clothes on those 30degree days when I would show up with only my jersey and bike shorts haha nj

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