Louisiana Triathlon

What a day for racing!

Thanks to Hunter, P, Team Rome, and everyone else who cheered us on and volunteered today. It meant a lot and i needed it.

My goal was sub 2 hrs. Below is my LA Tri race 2 years ago:

2006 - Swim 25:26 pace 3:11 T1 2:59 Bike 1:12:44 pace 15.3 T2 2:20 Run55:07 pace 17:47 2:38:34


My goal time was a sub 2hrs for today.

Swim was uneventful. I had the first major skull kick today. It was a little freaky at first, but after I shook off the dizziness i was fine. I wanted to a smooth swim and for the most part that was what I had.

I have got to make better decisions on the bike! I tried to clip in at the bottom of the hill and ride out of transition, but was on my azz a few seconds later. (dummy) So I lost a little time regrouping, but once I was on the bike I was cook'n. I passed a bunch of folks and never really felt tired.

T2 was a bit slow.

I wanted to average sub 12 min miles. It wasn't to be today. I really have to get rid of this belly. That is what is keeping me back on the run. The weight I carry there really begins to hurt my back when i run too hard. SOON, that will not be a problem . . .

I crossed the finish line at about 1:56 and some change! Sub 2 hrs! I'll take it.

GREAT DAY, GREAT FUN, WITH GREAT FRIENDS.

I want to thank my best friend Brent for coming out and watching me race. he is no morning person and lives halfway between BR and NOLA so it was a long drive for him. It meant a lot to me, thanks Brent.

Next:

Going to watch my friend Caroline and Philippe race at St. Anthony' tri this coming weekend. Surgery the following week to remove gallbladder, recover, race in Memphis in may . . .

Tough Week and Weekend

I will give you a little recap of my week:

Monday - Emergency Room

During a lunch visit with a couple very special people in my life I began to have bad back pains.

IT was miserable and I was sad I didn’t get to spend quality time with family. Then during my Office Meeting I began to have bad stomach pains and soon I couldn’t see straight. I laid ON THE FLOOR of our conference room and called my wife to take me to the ER.

Turns out I have a plethora of gallstones in my gallbladder and one was trying to make a run for it!

Let me tell you that this is not a fun thing and I don’t recommend anyone do this if you don’t have to. With that said, the gallbladder is coming out April 29th.

Why so far out you ask?

Because I am a moron who is addicted to triathlon and my “A” race is coming up and I don’t want to miss it.

Tuesday –Thursday I spent in pain and on high level pain killers while the stone tried to pass, which it finally did Thursday morning.

I had plans to race in Dallas at Ply Tri Festival, but had canceled those plans as a result of my medical situation. BUT! Now that the stone had passed . . .

Friday: Driving to Dallas!!!!!

I check in to the hotel. Take a quick spin on the bike and rest. The week of pain had taken its toll. I felt horrible on the bike.

Saturday:

Race!!!!! Short Sprint tri and I did ok, but not good. My bike average was below 20mph for the first time in a while . . .

I spent the afternoon at a friends (Derek and Laurie) to visit with their beautiful new-born, Emily!!! I fell in love.

Sunday:

I was supposed to race in the Oly, but Saturday night I began to have those same pains that I was having on Monday . . .

I woke Sunday morning in bad shape. No racing for me. I went and watched two of my club members and cheered them on to the finish and headed south to Houston.

Had a great dinner with my Cousin Michael and then made my way to Lake Charles to begin a solid work week.

What a fun week!

T-Gator #1 - My Best Race to date!

My Triathlon cCub, BRtri is lighting it up! www.batonrougetri.com


Special thanks to Scott for his kind words before the swim start.

DebE, seriously, you are getting fast sista! CarolineO was cranking it out there.

NormanN - Missed it by just thaaaaaaaat much, but you smoked. And your pointers and advice are coming in handy and paying off on the bike. I will put the check in the mail along with that certain item you put in my glove box - thanks my man!

ChadS in da house. Thanks to his lovely better half for the pics, love em. And you brutha are picking this tri thing up quick. Your learning curve in awesome. I don't expect to hold you off at LA tri . . .

It was nice meeting . . . (forgive me) Kent (?????) I think your name was? Nice to see you out and racing and I look forward to seeing you in our tri uni soon!

DebT - Also equally nice to meet the myth and the legend! Way to go out there!

And last but never least - Beth (poopyliz), you keep doing it and waking up and making your body GO. I am so proud of you and I know where you are right now and I know where you will be!


RR:

Nice leisurely drive with great conversation on the way to LC.

Arrived, checked in, and set up.

I was concerned about the water temp and thought I was going to freeze my nipplets off, but it was warmer than Galveston and actually kind of nice. I did something for the first time today with my homemade race uni. I wore the shirt part instead of tucking it in my tri shorts and pulling it out after swim. I figured the drag wouldn't be that bad for 400m. WRONG! Lesson learned.

Decent transition. Coach Will has been on me about my Transitions.

Once I got on the bike (which seems to be a bit of a labor for me) It was Hammer Time! While my goal of riding the big boy's speed was not obtained today and any goal I had of matching THE NormanN bike split was thrashed, I did feel good.

I WAS PASSED BY - NO ONE . . . Ha Ha Ha! <------ (what a prick)

I did some passing and once I figure out proper riding technique, watch out, because I had some still in the tank (and it's a big ole tank).

Average Speed – 22 MPH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

T-2 was ok.

Run - Goal - sub 12 min mile pace.

I headed out on the run and wanted a steady bounce. "Bounce" is my technical term for my run body motion. I determine my comfort level and ability to go faster by the "bounce" of my big ole fat belly. I had a moderate bounce on the way out. HR was really low (about 134) and I felt fine, but if I decided to increase the "bounce" too soon I would slow because of the pain it causes to my lower back and actual gut.

At the turn around I decided to increase the "bounce". It was a heavy bounce, but manageable. HR still good at about 148. I really and truly felt great.

I have been doing predominantly long, low HR training the past month with tempo work mixed in on the run and bike. That crap works.

As I turned the final corner to the finish I stepped it up to the uncontrolled "bounce" where there is belly flying in all directions and mothers pull their children close out of fear that the "bounce" may fly in their direction and take them out! This is very painful, but worth it.

My average pace per mile – 10:48!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My goal today was a bold - Sub 1hr race.

I missed it by a little over a minute and a half - AND DAMN IT, I could have made time on the run and bike.

Thanks to all that have always been pushing me over the years. I am a product of your motivation. Thank you! But, it has only just begun . . .

You guys rock.

NKU National Champion's AGAIN!!!

Northern Kentucky University

2008 NCAA Div. II

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

I am so proud of these women!

They went into the tournament with a lot of talent and no respect being given to them by the pollsters. NKU Women's Basketball is a serious item in the Northern Kentucky Area and for the past 10 years, they have been a big deal nationally.

Having played in the Elite 8, Final 4, and for the National Championship several times this decade, I think this National Championship has a certain zing to it that makes it an even more unfathomable feat than the National Championship that the Woman Norse won in 2000 of which I had a teeny tiny, next to nothing at all to do with it as a Student Coach.

Congratulations to my Alma Mater and tho these special young women who excel as Student Athletes and cleaned up the floor and showed those who didn't hand out a lot of respect to them, that they deserved to be there and they made the most of this opportunity.

GEAUX NORSE!!!