The Becker Buzzz...

What do I do during my down time????

2008-08-20T14:16:00.002-05:00

Watch 100's of videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8

The best part is that almost 7 million people have viewed this one!

Training Update

2008-08-18T17:08:00.002-05:00

For those of you that are interested, here is what I have done over the previous 17 days. I am now pretty tired, but the numbers are still good. Just a few more days of tough stuff and then I get to ease off a little bit. The first week of tapering still has some tough sessions, but it will feel like a piece of cake....hopefully.

Day 1 - 6.5k swim, 1:30 ride

Day 2 - 5:30 ride, 50min run

Day 3 - 4.2k swim, 1:30 ride, 1:50 run

Day 4 - 4.4k swim, 4:50 ride, 50min run

Day 5 - 4.1k swim, 3:30 ride, 1:35 run

Day 6 - 4.4k swim, 2:00 ride, 40min run

Day 7 - 2.5k swim, 6:00 ride, 30min run

Day 8 - 4.1k swim, 2:30 run

Day 9 - 4.4k swim, 2:00 ride

Day 10 - 6:00 ride, 45min run

Day 11 - 4.6k swim, 4:30 ride, 15min run

Day 12 - 1:30 ride, 2:35 run

Day 13 - 4.7k swim, 1:35 ride

Day 14 - 3.5k swim, 3:00 ride, 40min run

Day 15 - 4.6k swim, 1:40 run

Day 16 - 3:30 ride, 45min run

Day 17 - 3.8k swim, 6:00 ride, 50min run

All of the training was in zones 2 & 3, with harder swimming:

Total Training -

Hours - 85
Swimming - 56k
Cycling - 54 hrs - 1,640 km
Running - 16 hrs - 212 km

3 weeks until I get to go play in my backyard!!!!!

1/100th.....

2008-08-15T22:17:00.005-05:00

WOW.....I am going to keep this post short, so my my limited grammar and spelling skills don't come though :)

Michael Phelps is amazing!!!

+++++++++

Track starts tonight. The 100m qualifying races are on right now and some of the guys are wearing aerodynamic sleeves. Maybe I should get some of those??? If they are making a difference in the 100m, imagine what they would do for 26miles????? Oh wait, I couldn't run a 9sec 100 if my life depended on it. Actually, now that I think about it, I couldn't run a 10, 11 or 12 second 100 meters.

+++++++++

Training update: I am still working very hard so I don't get crushed and embarrassed by everyone on the start list in a few weeks. I am spending a lot of time starring at the ceiling (inside joke).

Olympic Scoring

2008-08-13T09:45:00.002-05:00

Each night, probably like everyone who is reading this, I have watched much of the Olympic coverage. In the past, I have usually just paid attention to the events that I am familiar with. Most of the time I have stuck to swimming, cycling, track, etc.

This year I have made an effort to watch everything from water polo, to synchronized diving, beach volleyball and gymnastics. In watching these events, I have listened to interviews, learned the rules and know how the scoring works.

Honestly, the way that some of these events are scored is rediculous. It makes sense to me that events/skills/sports in the Olympics should be scored objectively. Meaning, there are clear guidelines as to how you win. This also leave almost no room for subjectivity or the possibility of "tainted" results / cheating.

Here are some examples of objective scoring.

- Fastest time
- Highest jump
- Most goals/points
- IN or OUT of bounds

One event that is NOT scored 100% objectively IMO, is gymnastics. Yes, there is a start value for each routine, jump, etc....and there are clear necessary deductions if you step out of bounds or fall off a beam, but then there is something called "execution." Execution is subjective and is what makes up most of the competitors score. It is how the judges "thought" each performance was executed. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!

If you are an athlete, you may train your whole young life to be in that one moment. You may "think" that you did your routine perfectly...but your score is mostly how someone else, who you don't even know, "thinks" you did.

Now let's say you did the above routine and for a reason, the judge has a bias toward you, your team or coach. OR, what if the judge missed seeing something? OR what if they thought they saw something? Whatever....resulting in a deduction that costs you the medal that who have worked your whole life for???

I am not claiming to be an expert in scoring and maybe my million hours of training in the last few weeks has made me crazy, but events that are scored this way should be, IMO, left out of the Olympic Games. Including them just invites scandle and controversy.

Half Way....

2008-08-12T14:16:00.004-05:00

I am now halfway through my 24 days and things are rolling...

Sunday and Monday included solid swimming and running, along with over 200 miles of riding, then today's key session was a VERY steady 2hr30min run at race pace.

As I am "backing up" my training, day in and day out, things seem to be getting easier. I am not getting broken way down, infact my body is accepting the work and growing stronger and more fit, this is indicated by rising power numbers on long rides and faster paces in the water and on the run.

Yes, there are many hours of the day when I simply stare at the ceiling because that is the only thing I have energy for. Infact, I haven't shaved for over a week and I needed to buzz my head about 2 weeks ago, but then again what do I need to shave for??? I don't see any women ever right now. Plus, I will have plenty of time during the taper. All of my time outside of training needs to be used to conserve energy and recover.

2008-08-11T09:27:00.003-05:00

Well, I knew that I would start to get tired eventually, but luckily I have something that keeps me going out there. Coffee's Of Hawaii makes some pretty strong/great stuff that I REALLY look forward to each morning.

Infact, I have given up sugar and alcohol in these last 6 weeks and at first I missed them, but now I only look forward to my HUGE pot...i mean cup of coffee in the morning and a big bowl of oatmeal. Mmmmmmmmmmm! The above picture is probably what I look like if you seem me out training right now, except my form isn't as good as the coffee man

Not much to post, just an update that things are going well. 10 down and 14 days to go in this build!!!!

++++++++++

Oh yeah, a quick post on the Olympics. Amazing is all I can say. From the opening ceremonies, to Phelps, to the 4x100 relay lastnight....just awesome. I helps me get out the door!!

"Backing It Up"

2008-08-07T21:13:00.003-05:00

I am now 8 days into my 24 day block and I have been putting in some serious volume. I have decided to rename the training block to the "Backing It Up Block." This means that I will not only be putting in long hours, but backing those long hours up with more long hours.

As the days go by, the body still feels good. I love working hard, but the only thing that allows me to do it is the fact that I have almost no training above half ironman pace and have zero distractions outside of training. This means that I am doing everything I can to recover on a daily basis.

My daily routine follows below, feel free to integrate them into your own training and see what they do to your recovery time:

- 2-3 self massage sessions of 20min

- An ice bath

- Compression socks all the time

- A water bottle that doesn't leave my hand

- Naps

- Lots of sleep at night

- A LOT of good food.

- Fueling myself WELL during all sessions

I am one third of the way through and so far I have just over 45hrs of training banked with 31km in the water, 24hrs of riding(almost 800km) and 8.5hrs of running.

Take that volume, triple it...then add in two weeks of taper and you have our plan going into IMWI. Oh yeah....I will racing IMWI about 5-7lbs lighter than IMCDA..that should help the run a bit as well.

Train hard!

BB

The "Bubble Block" of Training

2008-08-03T09:53:00.003-05:00

After a few days of unloading, Kurt has put together what will likely be my biggest training block of the year. The block of training is 24 days long and the focus of it is ironman pace re-enforcement. Almost nothing out of zone 2/3, which is my biggest limiter.

I am officially labeling this block of training "The Bubble Block," b/c during this time I am keeping myself on a short leash, in an attempt to get that extra 1 or 2% from my training. Ironman Wisconsin is a race that means a lot to me and I would like nothing more than to finish up front.

As the block rolls along, I will post training updates and a few workouts, if you are interested.

I hope everyone's training is going well. Stay cool.

BB

Going Well...

2008-07-31T11:30:00.004-05:00

Just a quick update to let everyone know that things are rolling along really well. The last 3 weeks totaled about 90hrs, with some very solid sessions. I am now easing off for a few days, before hitting it again.

This last training block has really put a new perspective on training to me. I am now working toward my 3rd of 4 or 5 Ironman races this year and I am loving the training more than ever. My job is to just be out there working hard each day...every_single_week. Some days are good and some days hurt a lot, but that is life as an athlete.

In the end I believe that this is what gets you to the top. Consistently being consistent, day after day, month after month and year after year. For ohhhhh, about 10 or 12 years. ;)

++++++++++++++

Oh, a few weeks ago i posted something about news regarding a passport/visa. Well, I will be going to Australia to train from November 24th to March 17th with my friends Chris and Marylin. I trained with them in 2006 and am really looking forward to getting back out training with them. They probably know me and my attitude toward training as good as anyone!

I will post my purposed race schedule for my time over there soon, but it is looking like Ironman Western Australia will be race #1 on December 8th.

Train Hard,

BB

"The Tree" or "The Forest?"

2008-07-28T10:03:00.003-05:00

The title is something that Kurt constantly reminds me of and is something that I am always pushing on my athletes. Let me explain.

"The Trees" are specific workouts, intervals, HR's, watts, sets and small details.

"The Forest" is the big picture and what could be called your fitness.

+++++

If you look at a forest from above, will you notice if a tree is missing? I don't think so. The same could be said for missing a workout for the sake of recovery, family, or anything else. It is NOT going to make or break your fitness. Now if you don't take that day off and get injured, all of sudden you are missing 30 or 40 trees/workouts....THIS makes a difference.

+++++

Another point that could be made here relates to the details of your training. Does it really matter if you are running at 144 or 145bpm or 7:30 or 7:32 per mile? What about riding a loop at 167 or 169 watts? Should you pay attention to things like this?

While it is important to watch for trends through your training and it is important to train to appropriate zones, don't get too hung up on the details...especially HR's. The important thing is for you to get out there day in and day out, stay healthy and work hard (enjoying it, of course)...your fitness is just the reward of all your hard work.

So next time people start debating over 2watts or 3bpm, know that they are just talking about the trees.

Numbers Are Fun...

2008-07-26T21:24:00.002-05:00

So today, after 6hrs in the saddle and short run, I decided to come home and see how much work I have put in this year. It is not my highest volume training year, but it is one of my most consistent years, with no injuries or major set backs.

In roughly 6 months worth of training (about 2 weeks off after each Ironman), here is what I have come up with. Keep in mind that numbers are just that....numbers, which mean nothing. BUT, they are fun to look at.

Total Hours: 688 hours
---
Swim: 566,847 yds
---
Bike: 7,137 mi or 11,485 km
---
Run: 1,230 mi or 1,980 km

"It's Just One Workout"

2008-07-18T15:37:00.002-05:00

I have talked to a few other coaches about athletes who sometimes get upset or worked up over a bad session or workout. As much as try to design a training plan that yields successful key sessions, we are not machines and sometimes we "just don't have it."

There are so many variables that go into our performance on a daily basis. A few examples include; fueling before/during/after previous workouts, sleep during the previous week, anxiety, hydration, weather, our mental attitude toward the session....and the list goes on.

Sometimes we can't pin a failed workout on anything specific, we "just had a bad day." Just like we have days where it all clicks, we also have days where nothing does! It happens to everyone and the best thing you can do is just put it out of your head and keep rolling. Don't try to make up for it in the next session. Just continue as you normally would. Remember, you can't control anything in the past...all you can just learn from it.

So next time you have an off day, don't sweat it. Just learn from it, figure out what may have caused it (if you can) and move on.

+++++++++++++++++++

On the training front, all is well on this end. I have hit 23, 27 and around 31 hours this week. I have been integrating some new stuff into my training that I will talk about in the coming weeks. I have one more week in this training block and then I am headed out to Boulder for a weekend for get some testing done, as well as catch up with some friends.

I also have some exciting training news regarding this coming winter....let's just say that my passport and visa are ready to go ;)

Have a great weekend, good luck to all racing at Boulder Peak, Lake Placid, Spirit of Racine and Vineman.

BB

Ironman....a different type of challenge

2008-07-08T13:20:00.003-05:00

If you have followed me at all since I started racing, you know that I have executed and done well at all distances, except Ironman. This is despite training soely for Ironman.

I have thought a lot about this and have heard all different explanations that ranged from metabolism issues, to the wrong type of workouts, to muscle fiber make up.

Well, after much thinking and talking with my coach, it seems that the above issues are NOT the problem. The only issue is that I just continue to be an idiot on race day. If you look at all of my power files, you will see what looks like a double black diamond ski slope. I over pace the first 2hrs of the ride, not necessarily by average or normalized power, but by integrating too many power spikes over threshold power.

The result is that I feel like I want to crawl into the ditch and hide at about the 4hr mark of the ride. I don't, but I do suffer a lot (and slow wayyy down) in that last hour. It then gets better. I have to get off the bike and run a marathon after feeling like I got hit by a truck. Not fun, but I do it and cross the line pretty far back from my potential.

OK, so why don't I learn from my mistakes....11 times in 11 Ironman races??? Here it is...maybe you'll see some similarities with your racing and training?

My background was not in swimming, cycling or running. Infact I disliked all 3. I played baseball, golf and lifted weights and was pretty successful with them. But each time out in practice or in a game, the goal was to do better than....either your opponent or better than you did the previous time out.

"Throw harder."

"Shoot a lower score."

"Bench press more."

These were what I focused on each time out. From the age of 6, to the age of 18...a long time. No wonder it is tough to correct.

Anyway, now let's relate this to triathlon racing. If we try to swim faster, bike harder and run faster than we have before, what happens?

Olympic Distance - This is good, the goal is to go as hard as you can.

Half Ironman - Not terrible, but after riding too hard, your run times suffer by a few minutes.

Ironman - You Blow Up....EVERY_SINGLE_TIME.

Here are a few other situations that fit into this catagory.

1) An athlete that saw quick success in another sport growing up.

2) An athlete who had/has success in the business world.

3) Any athlete that lacks patience.

Ironman training is different. It is more about doing the training that is appropriate and beneficial for you...nothing more, nothing harder. Then going out on race day and using 100%, not 101%, of that fitness on race day.

You can't be in a hurry for results. Ironman is a very long term process and it takes patience and persistence to reach your potential.

Unless you are contending in Kona, your best result from running your race. Anything else will do nothing but slow you down in the end.

Back Rolling Again...

2008-07-06T10:48:00.002-05:00

After a week almost completely off(4k of swimming), I am back rolling again. The body and mind feel great and I am very motivated to have my breakthrough race in my hometown. This week consisted of a little over 22hrs of training, but with no very much intensity. I posted a brief summary below.

Before I get to that though, I have had some time to analyze my race in CDA, go over it with Kurt and gotten input from others.....though some people have trouble understanding why I am disappointed to be the 10th Pro...you can easily see why by my power file. I again over paced the first half of the bike and paid for it in the last hour of the ride and on the run. I am determined to get this right and when I do, it will all come together.

I am going to post a blog this week about why I think it is tough for me to get Ironman right, as well as why other might have trouble. More coming soon!

Training Week 6/30/08

Monday-
Swim 3k
Bike 1:30
Run 40min

Tuesday -
Bike 1:50
Run 50min
Strength 30min

Wednesday -
Swim 3.5k
Bike 2:35

Thursday -
Swim 4k
Run 55min

Friday -
Swim 4.5k
Bike 1:50
Strength 20min

Saturday -
Swim 3k
Bike 5:01
Run 20min

Sunday -
Run 1:30

Weekly Total
Swim - 4:30 - 18,076 yds
Bike - 12:40 - 239 miles (TSS 501)
Run - 4:10 - 35.3 miles
Strength - :50

Ironman Coeur d'Alene Race Report

2008-06-25T07:22:00.007-05:00

2008 Ironman Coeur d'Alene Race Report

10th Professional

9:26:30

I thought I should write a race report before I forget more of the details from this last weekend. Each Ironman that I race, I find another piece or two to "the puzzle" of having a great race. This time was no exception. Improvement is ALWAYS good and this race was just that. It was my first top 10 professional finish, it was a PR on a tough course and it is the first time that I have qualified to race in Kona as an elite.

All week everyone worried about the water temperature being too cold, but when we arrived at the start line on Sunday morning, it was back up to 59*F...perfect temp to me. The swim started off pretty well considering it was a beach start...I don't do well with those. I missed the front group of guys that broke away, but ended up in the second pack about 4:45 behind. There was a wicked current that seemed to push us all over the place, so everyone came out a bit slow. I exited the water in 9th and hustled through T1 to make it out onto the bike in 7th.

Onto the bike I felt pretty good. I was really looking forward to the ride, as it is similar to what I have been training in. I let a few guys go, who were HAMMERING the first section, and just stayed steady. Having my Power Tap is a HUGE key to doing this. I stuck to my plan and rode along in 9th or 10th spot for most of the ride. I started to bring back time on a few guys up the road, but at about mile 70 I started to get tired. I just tried to take advantage of the downhills, stay aero where I could and keep on top of my nutrition. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I just stayed positive and in the moment. The last 20mi were back into the wind and this section was pretty tough for me.

I got off the bike in 10th and was soon out on the run with Olly Piggin. We chatted a bit in the first few miles and had similar paces. The effort and pace seemed good, but I didn't have the rhythm that I wanted. I hoped that I would find my groove and could settle in. I was pulling back time on the guys up the road, but then the wheels started to come off a bit. I knew I was in 9th or 10th, so I just focused on running as strong as I could. I was happy with my ability to not back off mentally when it got tough, this is easy to do. Soon, I was in the last mile (a looooooong downhill that feels awesome on the legs) and before I knew it, I was done.

I want to thank all my family, friends and sponsors who support and believe in me and my future in the sport. Timex, The Trek Store Madison, Blue Seventy, Coffee's of Hawaii, Twin Six, SaltStick, Berkeley Running Company in Madison and my coach, Kurt Perham, for all his guidance.

I want to give a huge shout out to the Fortis family for hosting me. You guys are awesome!! I also want to thank Sue Hutter and her family for setting everything up and always making sure that I had everything that I needed.

One more fun fact: Tom Evans, who won, is 14yrs my senior :) Needless to stay I am just beginning!!!

Next up is Ironman Wisconsin on Sept 7 and Kona on Oct 11!!

The Night Before

2008-06-21T18:38:00.003-05:00

Well, everything is done and it is raining outside...I am glad that I covered my bike up and removed the front wheel (the Bontrager wheels have holes around the spokes and can fill up with water). Today I took care of all the usuals and am now just waiting until tomorrow. At least I can follow Ironman Japan which just started.

Very excited for tomorrow. Many people have asked about goals and my only goal is to have a good race. Yes there are 5 Kona slots for the men and yes two of the faster guys have their slots, but that means nothing unless I execute. So I will stay in the moment and be patient.

Thank you to everyone who supports and believes in me. Family and friends have been awesome, as well as my sponsors. Please check out their links over on the side of the blog.

Again, tomorrow the race will be broadcast over on http://www.ironman.com/ and starts at 6:25am Pacific Time. ~BB

One Day Closer...

2008-06-19T11:20:00.005-05:00

Well, I have been in CDA since Monday and everything has gone really well. I woke up today and felt "normal" for the first time in a long time. No niggles, no soreness, no tightness, just felt good. The best part is that I have 3 more days to rest. I have just about everything taken care of as far as bike maintenance, errands, etc. I just have to register later today, hit the grocery store again and then finish up a little coaching work.

This morning I headed down to the Gatorade Swim and it was pretty entertaining. Usually you see athletes in wetsuits with one logo of whatever brand they are rollin'. But today, because of the water there were people with branding everywhere. Neoprene caps with a logo, wetsuits with a logo, booties with a logo...pretty damn funny actually.

The water temp has dropped a bit in the last few days. It has been windy, which has churned up the lake. I also think that the warmer temps have cause more snow to melt and run into the lake. I am not wearing booties and seem to be fine in just a neoprene cap. The only issue is that after about 25-30min of swimming, I can't keep my fingers together. I'll manage.

+++++++++++++

Thank you to everyone that has sent good luck texts, calls and emails. I apologize for not returning them, but I am just focusing on getting done what needs to be done. I will have plenty of time to discuss the race, course, etc in the few weeks following the race.

I will try to post again before the race, but if not I will write up a brief summary on Sunday night or Monday. The race begins in Sunday at 6:25am Pacific Time. You can follow at http://www.ironman.com/ It is very easy, just go to the site and you will be able to figure it out.

Blake

CDA could be....

2008-06-17T18:22:00.002-05:00

...the most beautiful, awesome place in the country. But don't tell anyone. That is what everyone, who lives here, tells me about this place. Ironman has put this place on the map and it is expanding everywhere you look.

I am not surprised though. There are million dollar views in every direction and the summer weather here is beautiful right now. 45-55* at night and 70-80* during the day...not too many bugs and no humidity(it is at ~2200ft).

I am now settled and have a great homestay right on the run course. A huge thanks to Sue for #1 Picking me up from the airport. #2 Hooking me up with a great homestay.

Onto my homestay, I don't think I need to say more than "everything is great." Bill, Rebecca, Jessica and Sam have made me feel right at home. Tonight we are having a Salmon BBQ, with Salmon from the Columbia....I love the salmon...and grilling it, so maybe I'll pick up some tips!

The water here is cold, but not bad. No booties needed...just a neoprene cap. I think it is about 56* right now. The bike course is most beautiful I have seen...seriously and then is very spectator friendly. Most info to come on the course as the race gets closer.

Gotta run for my massage!

BB

The Hay Is In The Barn

2008-06-14T10:56:00.002-05:00

This last week following the Rockman Half Ironman went very well. I have finished all key workouts and now it is time to put the feet up and stay sharp with shorter workouts with a few hard efforts.

I will fly out on Monday to CDA and have a little less than a week to get familiar with the course. I can't wait to get out there. I haven't been this motivated and excited to race in long time.

If I get time, I will post again before I fly out.

BB

Old Position...New Position

2008-06-12T11:15:00.006-05:00

Getting Better - Getting Lower

Old position at California 70.3

http://asiorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?EVENTID=31250&ID=48031866&FROM=photos&BIB=19

New position going into IM CDA

http://www.yoursportingimage.com/Image.asp?catalogID=2023800

I still think I can get lower...infact I have a new stem that I am going to try after June 22nd.

Wow....great pic!

2008-06-11T16:16:00.002-05:00

Sportsmanship

Rockman Race Report

2008-06-09T13:14:00.003-05:00

This last weekend I headed down to Rockford, IL for the second straight year for my final tune-up before Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2 weeks. Chip, the race director, is turning this race into one that is going to be around for a long time. It is a very well run event and this year, there was a pro field, as well as a $10,000 prize purse.

"The boss," Kurt, and I decided to go into this race with a little less rest than California 70.3 earlier in the year. The idea would be to get a little more quality training in before Ironman Coeur d'Alene in a few weeks. As last week rolled along, I was tired and didn't start to feel better until Friday night before the race.

The weather forecast looked sketchy and did not disappoint. Hot temps, humidity and high winds were forecast, along with severe weather. The day before race, there were winds gusting to 60-70mph, humid temps in the high 80's and storms with tornadoes in the area.

Our plan was to dial back the watts on the bike and pay close attention to electrolyte intake. It is one thing to have someone else beat you, but it is another thing to beat yourself.

Race morning came around and it looked like we might be able to get the race in without incident. With about 30min to go until the start, I checked over everything and started to head down to the water. I took about 10 steps, stopped and decided to go back and look at the tires on my bike, just to make sure I was ready to roll. A little OCD I think :), but I was glad that I did!! The front looked good, but as I looked at the rear I noticed a tiny lump in the rubber. I poked around and found a nail stuck all the way into the tire....WOW, this would have given me a flat for sure. The little things do matter.

I quickly headed down to the start and got in a very solid 15-20min of swimming. I really wanted to make sure I started the day off well. The gun sounded and I swam HARD. There were 15, 10, then 5, then 4 of us. I was determined to stay in the group and drilled myself. My HR monitor told me that my HR was between 180-186 for the first 12+ minutes of the race. BUT, I did make the group. With about 200m to go, the sprint began for the swim prime, which I didn't want any part of. I was 4th out of the water and 2nd out of T1.

Once on the bike, I just used my Powertap to guide my effort. I dialed back the watts and focused on getting low/aero and just rode steady. It was windy, humid, but thankfully not sunny. I upped my electrolyte intake by about 50%, using Saltstick tabs. I got to the turn around, where I had about a 4:15 lead on the next athlete, Zach Ruble, who I know is very talented, so I still didn't feel very safe. I rolled along, taking advantage of free speed where I could and arrived back to T2.

A quick transition and I was out on the run. The run course went out for about a half mile on the bike course before turning off. I didn't see another cyclist, but anything can happen in long course racing. With 3 turn arounds on the run, the plan was to run hard, as long as I had to.

I turned after the half mile and all I could see was a black sky. I was HOT and actually rain didn't sound that bad. I went through the first 3 miles feeling good with a solid pace/HR. Then the sky opened up. You couldn't see anything!!! The path turned into a river and there was lightning everywhere.

I got to the first turn around and knew that I had a good gap, but still didn't know where everyone else was. Since it was early in the race I decided to push until the second turn around. I headed across a wide open field and over a hill and was literally scared for my life. There were lightning bolts everywhere and I couldn't see anything with the rain. At least I wasn't hot anymore, right???

I got to mile 7 and the second turn around where I would get a chance to see everyone else. I was very happy to find out that I had a 12min lead with 6 miles to go. I thought, "As long as I don't get struck by lightning or crushed by a tree, I am ok." I eased off the pace, thanked the volunteers who stuck it out all day in the horrible weather and enjoyed all of the hard work that I have put in over the last 6 weeks, as well as what would be my largest paycheck to date.

With 2 weeks to go, I still have a few key workouts left and have to stay healthy, but feel very confident for June 22. Thank you to all of the family, friends and companies that believe in me. Timex, Blue Seventy, Twin Six Clothing, The Trek Stores of Madison, Coffees of Hawaii, Salt Stick, Berkeley Running Co. and Personal Best Multisport.

I hope to report back soon with more good results.

Full results for Rockman can be found here.

Resting???

2008-06-05T07:39:00.002-05:00

What's that??? It has been over 6 weeks since I have rested to any degree...today starts the 3 easier days that I get before racing a Half Ironman on Sunday....of course an easy day is all relative...I still have a 3k swim, 2hr ride and short run, but it is a step down from what I am usually doing on Thursday!

Some People Make Me Wonder.....

2008-06-03T11:26:00.003-05:00

...what the hell they are thinking. Sorry to all those that are use to the PG13 entries, but today I almost got smoked by a car while running....and it wasn't an accident.

I was out for my run this morning and was in the middle of a tempo interval when came to a road crossing. I was on a bike path and decided to make a left hand turn onto the road. The road is wide enough to park on both sides and drive city buses down it in both directions, so you get the picture.

There is a section of about 1/4 mile where I have to run on the road, where the cars are normally parked(there weren't any), before the sidewalk begins on my side of the road. So, I am running down the road and there is one car that is coming toward me, with no other cars in sight. All of a sudden, he swerves toward the curb(and me) and starts to gun it. WTF!!!! He is pointing at the sidewalk on the other side of the street, yelling(obviously), and speeding in some beat up old Chevrolet Caprice. He narrowly goes by as I properly greeted him.

What the H E double hockey sticks is he thinking? What if I would have gotten confused and tried to cut across and been hit, paralyzed or axed all together....all because some morone woke up on the wrong side of the bed?

He is lucky I didn't turn around and catch him at the stop sign (which he probably rolled through:). I had so much adrenalen flowing, I don't know what would have happened.

This story has probably been quite amusing to some of you who know me. I don't really ever get angry...except when I almost meet my doom by either getting run off the road by an 18 wheeler(in Arizona) or am a target of someone behaving like this.

Please don't risk someone elses life in trying to make a point. If you kill yourself, that is one thing....but someone else is a completely different story.

Reflection and a 5 Week Summary

2008-06-01T15:04:00.005-05:00

I think that after this week of training, I have proven a lot to myself. I will be sharing a few thoughts and reflections after Ironman Coeur d'Alene. I have realized a lot in these last 5 weeks...and not just about triathlon.

Here is my week 5 summary, which ended with my best big day and long run of this build. I am excited and looking forward to executing in a few weeks.

Total Hours: 27:02
Total Swim - 6:24 - 24,848 yds
Total Bike - 13:36 - 269 miles
Total Run - 6:12 - 55 miles
Total Strength - 1:00