Monday was the last of the short track series. I only did three of the six races, more next year. I finished like 25th this last week, which was worse than the week previous, which was worse than the week before that. Aren't you suppose to get better. AAArrrGGHHH!!! Big turnout, which once again led to lots of congestion on the course. This again led to clogging, falling, trying to get around people. I played a lot of catch up. I should have finished in the teens, oh well still had fun. One of the best parts of the evening was watching, friend/acquaintance, Beth race with the biggest grin on her face the whole way. She obviously was digging the race and doing well. That is the way to compete. I might have to race Sport division next year, you ride ten minutes longer but there should be less congestion,with beginner men, beginner women and juniors. The main thing is I was having fun, lots more of that in the future. Hopefully I had big grin on my face too.
Next adventure, getting ready for the Cascade Lakes Relay.
Just about to head out the door for that. Two vans, 12 people, little sleep, beautiful scenery, and lots of running. I will report back when I return from this weekend.
On another note, I just might start training for the Portland Marathon, might as well. It will keep me training, happy, active, and I will still have the shit eating grin on my face.
Happy Trails.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
uugghhh
Okay, Brewers Fest Dinner last night, while I am not hungover I did stay up far too late for someone who gets up before 5 am. I am now trying to grasp the finer points of the the production schedule while supervising my small crew. I am also attempting to get beer in a large wooden cask in time for the Brewfest parade, in which I will be participating. I will be wearing a cape and a Mexican wrestling mask. Don't ask, there really is a very legimate reason for that costume. On a good note, I did find a great 24 hour mexican joint with a drive up window last night that serves up a killer burrito.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Frustartion and irritation; Is there a cream for that.?
Frustrated and irritated, I seem to have this underlying irritation going on, no particular reason, but when something real comes along that is irritating it is bigger than it needs to be. Frustration is work, nothing critical, but tired of people who make bad decision or seem unable to make one at all. That goes for work and people in general. Just need to decompress and tackle things as they come, change what I can and be effective. Life is good.
I need to run or ride.
I need to run or ride.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Humbled by Short Track
Last week and again this week I raced in a Short Track Mtn. Bike race. Last week went well. I kept on top of the bike. It is fast and anaerobic, very tiring but makes you sleep. Last week was my first attempt at short track after much encouragement from a friend, I ventured out. Admittedly, I was a bit apprehensive, which is all the more reason to tackle it. Must have the endorphin rush, I think I am hooked.
Short track involves a series of laps around a a coarse involving, technical skill (mimicking single track through grass, trees and dirt piles), straight out flats, gravel, ruts, tree roots, loose dirt and moguls. Good fun.
This weeks adventure was a bit more humbling. The field was crowded, and I did not get out front very well and was hampered by those having troubles with climbing, oh well we are all beginners, the category I race in. On my second lap the bike got out from underneath me on some gravel just before a climb. I could not get clipped back in and was clogging up the course. I stepped off to let people by, raised my hands, said " I think I just need to start over" to which a spectator quickly replied "sometimes that is best" I ran the bike up the hill and got back on. I played a lot of catch up tonight; passed some people, fumbled, get passed, and work my way back up. The gravel incidence really screwed me. A few friends and acquaintances were right there for the gravel fiasco and got a good chuckle. At least I am entertaining.
No worries. I will be back next week, which is the last week of the series.
On a side note, why does every bike I ride on, make me look like a clown on a tiny bike.
Words: endorphins and clowns
Short track involves a series of laps around a a coarse involving, technical skill (mimicking single track through grass, trees and dirt piles), straight out flats, gravel, ruts, tree roots, loose dirt and moguls. Good fun.
This weeks adventure was a bit more humbling. The field was crowded, and I did not get out front very well and was hampered by those having troubles with climbing, oh well we are all beginners, the category I race in. On my second lap the bike got out from underneath me on some gravel just before a climb. I could not get clipped back in and was clogging up the course. I stepped off to let people by, raised my hands, said " I think I just need to start over" to which a spectator quickly replied "sometimes that is best" I ran the bike up the hill and got back on. I played a lot of catch up tonight; passed some people, fumbled, get passed, and work my way back up. The gravel incidence really screwed me. A few friends and acquaintances were right there for the gravel fiasco and got a good chuckle. At least I am entertaining.
No worries. I will be back next week, which is the last week of the series.
On a side note, why does every bike I ride on, make me look like a clown on a tiny bike.
Words: endorphins and clowns
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Last weekend, Team Balsaque takes on Vashon Island.
I think I may have found the most fun way to do Triathlons. I raced last weekend in the Vashon Island exterra. Swim, Mtn. Bike, and trail run. Good fun, good times. In brief spent the weekend as the only dude on team Balsaque. (Just say it, you will get it, Bal-saque.) Yes, I was the mascot for obvious anatomical reasons. We were slightly inebriated when we came up with that name. Not sure how it came about, one of those buzzed conversations you have and you strike upon something funny and bam it sticks.
Saturday morning Lindsay, Megan and I start out for Vashon Island. Arrive at the ferry in good time. I have not been on a ferry in sometime nothing like the pudget sound in the summer.
Short ride to the island, met our comrades in crime, oh I mean, partners in athletic pursuit, Carly and Jenny on the ferry. Instead of heading to set up camp we head into town to check out the much heralded Strawberry Festival. Where hardly a
strawberry can be found. But first we head to what is considered the best Mexican restaurant around. Good food and even better margaritas. We pursue the meal alternately waiting for food and margaritas, mostly just waiting for the ritas. They are essential pre-race "nutrition" . They are good and go down way too quickly. The ladies anxiously keep ordering their margaritas, due in part to wanting to see more of the young attractive latin waiter. See, they are all very happy. Soon the last of team Balsaque arrives, Lora, a college friend of Lindsay's. The group and team are complete.
We meander through the festival wondering why they call it a strawberry festival because there don't seem to be any... Oh, wait, I see the Rotarians are selling Strawberry shortcake, of course I
have one with ice cream, thank you. The strawberries are at least from Washington, I hear, but not from the Island. HMMM. It is your usual Street Fair thing, lots of hippy clothing, the odd water saving device, an electric car, food booths, arts, crafts, and topless mannequins.
Anyway off to set up camp. The campground is a hostel and has the only campground on the island. We have a tee pee or rather some have the tee pee and I have brought my tent.
Oh wait the office is closed we call, "someone will be along shortly' we are told. They obviously are on 'island time". That is okay, good time to take a post rita nap on the lawn. Anywho the someone shows up and we are assigned the whale tee pee. Where we set up camp eat lots of grocery store snacks, beer, cantelope, salami, potato salad and the like. Ah camping and racing. I know I read this was how you are supposed to do it in a tri book somewhere. Well time to sleep, race early.
Up at 5 am, break camp nosh on peanut butter sandwiches and eat a few bananas, Megan made some awesome cowboy coffee and we are out of camp by seven and off to the race. We had done a pre ride of the mtn. bike course the day before. It was going to be tough but fun. I really have
not rode on Mtn. bikes that much and the weekend before went out on a single track ride. Just to get in a little practice. this course was going to be tough. The first part was up hill and loose dry dirt which meant I walked, ran, the bike up the hill. After the steep up hill it continues climbing through very narrow single track, which is fine, pretty twisty and technical but I faired well for a novice. The latter part was a gentle, sometimes steep, descent on single track, open gravel road or asphalt. 6.5 mile course done twice. For a novice all went well and I have the Mtn. Biking bug now.
I am getting a head of myself all tri's start with a swim. This one was in the Sound, Quartermaster Harbor. Now swimming is something I have really come to appreciate, but I am a sinker, mainly due to being male and slender. I have very little body fat, I am in shape and have no boobs and very little ass. But in the northwest you wear wet suits, it helps keep you warm. But mainly it gives you buoyancy. I need it. In fresh water I still have to tread water a bit with the wet suit to keep my head above water. Well, let me tell you salt water is a whole other story. I was like a cork in in water. I floated. I jumped in and the water level came just above my cest and I did not have to move. Just a geeky observation. The swim was good all the men took off first and I bested my previous 800 yard swim by 2.5 mins. I came and headed for the bike on the aforementioned bike course.
After the bike it was time to run. The run course begins with a steep uphill pitch. Followed by continuing up hill, yet gentler. We weaved our way through a beautiful trail system dotted with awesome looking trails, ramps, dip, and jumps that can only be too much fun on a Mtn. Bike. The run went really well, I mainly run on trails these days, and I was able to catch some people who passed me on the bike course and some I had not seen. The latter part of the run was mainly down hill ending with flying down the same hill we climbed in the beginning. Good times.
I was first in from the team mostly due to the fact that the men started first. I was shortly followed by Jenny, Lindsay, Megan and Carley, who has to be one of the funniest women I have met outside of Lindsay. I don't mention Lora as a finisher because she was there to swim for Lindsay, who has a shoulder injury, so Lora took care of the swim for her, go team LL, and did it well. I am sure I would have been caught by Jenny and Lindsay if it had not been for the head start of the men.
The crew, Team Balsaque;
It was probably the most fun race experience of the year. Really all the stuff I have done has been great. But, the competitors are chill and excited. The group I was with was amazingly fun. I was out there to have fun, nothing to prove, just check it out, relax and see what happens.
After the race we loaded up cleaned up and headed out. As did everyone else. There was a line on the ferry road, so it was time to stop have lunch and a beer while we waited.
Thanks Team Balsaque, good weekend, see you next year.
Word: comradery
Saturday morning Lindsay, Megan and I start out for Vashon Island. Arrive at the ferry in good time. I have not been on a ferry in sometime nothing like the pudget sound in the summer.
Short ride to the island, met our comrades in crime, oh I mean, partners in athletic pursuit, Carly and Jenny on the ferry. Instead of heading to set up camp we head into town to check out the much heralded Strawberry Festival. Where hardly a
strawberry can be found. But first we head to what is considered the best Mexican restaurant around. Good food and even better margaritas. We pursue the meal alternately waiting for food and margaritas, mostly just waiting for the ritas. They are essential pre-race "nutrition" . They are good and go down way too quickly. The ladies anxiously keep ordering their margaritas, due in part to wanting to see more of the young attractive latin waiter. See, they are all very happy. Soon the last of team Balsaque arrives, Lora, a college friend of Lindsay's. The group and team are complete.We meander through the festival wondering why they call it a strawberry festival because there don't seem to be any... Oh, wait, I see the Rotarians are selling Strawberry shortcake, of course I
have one with ice cream, thank you. The strawberries are at least from Washington, I hear, but not from the Island. HMMM. It is your usual Street Fair thing, lots of hippy clothing, the odd water saving device, an electric car, food booths, arts, crafts, and topless mannequins.Anyway off to set up camp. The campground is a hostel and has the only campground on the island. We have a tee pee or rather some have the tee pee and I have brought my tent.
Oh wait the office is closed we call, "someone will be along shortly' we are told. They obviously are on 'island time". That is okay, good time to take a post rita nap on the lawn. Anywho the someone shows up and we are assigned the whale tee pee. Where we set up camp eat lots of grocery store snacks, beer, cantelope, salami, potato salad and the like. Ah camping and racing. I know I read this was how you are supposed to do it in a tri book somewhere. Well time to sleep, race early.
Up at 5 am, break camp nosh on peanut butter sandwiches and eat a few bananas, Megan made some awesome cowboy coffee and we are out of camp by seven and off to the race. We had done a pre ride of the mtn. bike course the day before. It was going to be tough but fun. I really have
not rode on Mtn. bikes that much and the weekend before went out on a single track ride. Just to get in a little practice. this course was going to be tough. The first part was up hill and loose dry dirt which meant I walked, ran, the bike up the hill. After the steep up hill it continues climbing through very narrow single track, which is fine, pretty twisty and technical but I faired well for a novice. The latter part was a gentle, sometimes steep, descent on single track, open gravel road or asphalt. 6.5 mile course done twice. For a novice all went well and I have the Mtn. Biking bug now.I am getting a head of myself all tri's start with a swim. This one was in the Sound, Quartermaster Harbor. Now swimming is something I have really come to appreciate, but I am a sinker, mainly due to being male and slender. I have very little body fat, I am in shape and have no boobs and very little ass. But in the northwest you wear wet suits, it helps keep you warm. But mainly it gives you buoyancy. I need it. In fresh water I still have to tread water a bit with the wet suit to keep my head above water. Well, let me tell you salt water is a whole other story. I was like a cork in in water. I floated. I jumped in and the water level came just above my cest and I did not have to move. Just a geeky observation. The swim was good all the men took off first and I bested my previous 800 yard swim by 2.5 mins. I came and headed for the bike on the aforementioned bike course.
After the bike it was time to run. The run course begins with a steep uphill pitch. Followed by continuing up hill, yet gentler. We weaved our way through a beautiful trail system dotted with awesome looking trails, ramps, dip, and jumps that can only be too much fun on a Mtn. Bike. The run went really well, I mainly run on trails these days, and I was able to catch some people who passed me on the bike course and some I had not seen. The latter part of the run was mainly down hill ending with flying down the same hill we climbed in the beginning. Good times.
I was first in from the team mostly due to the fact that the men started first. I was shortly followed by Jenny, Lindsay, Megan and Carley, who has to be one of the funniest women I have met outside of Lindsay. I don't mention Lora as a finisher because she was there to swim for Lindsay, who has a shoulder injury, so Lora took care of the swim for her, go team LL, and did it well. I am sure I would have been caught by Jenny and Lindsay if it had not been for the head start of the men.
The crew, Team Balsaque;
It was probably the most fun race experience of the year. Really all the stuff I have done has been great. But, the competitors are chill and excited. The group I was with was amazingly fun. I was out there to have fun, nothing to prove, just check it out, relax and see what happens.
After the race we loaded up cleaned up and headed out. As did everyone else. There was a line on the ferry road, so it was time to stop have lunch and a beer while we waited.
Thanks Team Balsaque, good weekend, see you next year.
Word: comradery
This weekend.
Well, a bit of a chill weekend. Needed to be in town to cover my weekend duty chores, the beer must be checked. I was able to get some landscaping accomplished, drive way complete, check that off the list. Went for a 10 mile trail run yesterday and spent about 1.5 hours on the Mtn. Bike today up in Forest park. Good relaxing, yet industrious, weekend, finished off with beer and food at HUB. Ah, tomorrow is Monday, thats okay work is good and short track is tomorrow night, booyah.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Day after Pac Crest
The day after my Half Ironman it was time to watch the Olympic distance athletes.
Day started early after a late night of camaraderie and beers with my house mates, friends, and fellow Half Ironman athletes. Met Seth and Lindsay at the Village to take her up to Wikiup to prepare for her race, she was competing in the Oly Duathlon. It was nice to watch people get ready after the bit of intenseness the previous day. I can relax watch and cheer on my oly friends. We see Lindsay off and watch as the oly triathletes take off for the water. We cheer some out of the water and head to T2 to see our athlete friends through there. I see Lindsay come through after a quick ride, she hammered it. Then it is off to the finish area. Spend the afternoon drinking beer, watching and cheering people through to the finish. A pretty good group of us are gathered near the finish and we stay until the last athlete crosses the line. It is a good day. A considerable portion of us gather at a Mexican restaurant after gathering up Lindsay's stuff from T2. Now it is margarita time. After Lunch it is time to prepare for the post Pac Crest event TNT party. Great group of people. Lots of food, beer, friendship, post race stories, hugs. The TNT group gather and congratulates each other and gives gifts to Coaches, captains and mentor. What a great group of people, although I am not officially part of the group they take me in like one of their own. I have known many of them for two years now and it is great to share their successes. Great finish to a great weekend.
Day started early after a late night of camaraderie and beers with my house mates, friends, and fellow Half Ironman athletes. Met Seth and Lindsay at the Village to take her up to Wikiup to prepare for her race, she was competing in the Oly Duathlon. It was nice to watch people get ready after the bit of intenseness the previous day. I can relax watch and cheer on my oly friends. We see Lindsay off and watch as the oly triathletes take off for the water. We cheer some out of the water and head to T2 to see our athlete friends through there. I see Lindsay come through after a quick ride, she hammered it. Then it is off to the finish area. Spend the afternoon drinking beer, watching and cheering people through to the finish. A pretty good group of us are gathered near the finish and we stay until the last athlete crosses the line. It is a good day. A considerable portion of us gather at a Mexican restaurant after gathering up Lindsay's stuff from T2. Now it is margarita time. After Lunch it is time to prepare for the post Pac Crest event TNT party. Great group of people. Lots of food, beer, friendship, post race stories, hugs. The TNT group gather and congratulates each other and gives gifts to Coaches, captains and mentor. What a great group of people, although I am not officially part of the group they take me in like one of their own. I have known many of them for two years now and it is great to share their successes. Great finish to a great weekend.
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