Just the Bike

I got my butt kicked this weekend. Like, really kicked. Hard. 

It also feels like I got my quadriceps kicked. Really, really hard.

It was awesome. 

As you may know, I've put triathlon aside this year to focus on bike racing. (My sole foray into tri this year will be Challenge Penticton as a relay team with Kilah & Rick. In other words, I  just have to run a marathon). My decision was partially based on just wanting a physical and mental break (although some may argue bike racing and training for a marathon doesn't warrant much of a physical break), with my coach moving to hot & humid Houston certainly making the decision easier. 

The first night I rode with my new club Bicisport - a one-hour session in April - I realized triathlon does not prepare you for bike racing. Pace-lining. Punchy accelerations. Seeing that gap extend to a couple of bike lengths when you're already red-lining and then watching those riders in front of you get smaller and smaller, And smaller. 

Fast forward 3 months and I finally got a taste of the action. Saturday was the Bicisport-organized Individual Time Trial in Dog Pound, AB. The hilly 16km TT was something I'm more used to. Except I had only been on the Flying Scotsman twice this season. I left something on the course because my legs didn't scream as much as they should have. Middle of the pack, caught my minute man, and didn't get passsed. Not a bad day. But at only 35km/h, it wasn't my best day either. The event itself was organized very well. You should do it next year (shameless plug).  

Next morning we headed out to race essentially the same course...but this time 5.5 laps for 114km. As I was looking down at my pedal trying to clip in with my newly shimmed cycling shoes, the race started. I never contacted the main group. Being Masters provincials, we were in with the elite guys. And it looks like the Lead Out Project team held true to their name, getting their Master's guy the win by setting a crazy fast pace from the word go. Rick held back a bit for me and we started to work our way up, grabbing on to our old TCTC teammate Jason and then eventually contacting another three racers to form a good group of 6. We worked well for a couple of laps and then Rick and I popped (well I popped, Rick had some minor mechanical). With each passing lap and each passing hill, I finally had the screaming in my legs I was looking at yesterday. I told them to shut up. I finished 39 minutes off first place, but was happy to hold on for the finish and managed not to get lapped. This will be my last race on Cabra (my Opus), so I certainly couldn't send her into retirement from competition with a DNF. 

Next up on the road will be the J-Lap weekend, with a little side exploration into mountain biking with 24 Hours of Adrenalin. Goal: don't get injured and mess up my marathon training. Sounds simple enough. I'll let keep you posted. 

Cheers,

D.

I thought this was gonna be "just" a marathon

11 years ago I ran my first marathon. I was in my mid-20s.  The race was mostly downhill and flat. At sea level. I ran over 4h30. I'm pretty sure both my knees almost fell off. I said I'd never do another (standalone) marathon again.

I love Penticton. I especially love Penticton at the end of August. Dezz and I had traveled to Penticton 7 years in a row during Ironman Canada - twice to race and the other times to enjoy the vibe and the wine. So when I heard that Challenge Penticton was offering the opportunity for a full iron-distance relay in 2014, I instantly texted Rick. He was the obvious choice for team cyclist, so I quickly planned to take on the run. All we needed was a swimmer. And if we were gonna do it, we may as well do it right. Cue Kilah. Looks like I was wrong about that standalone marathon.

Jump ahead 10 months and we were on our way to Penticton once again. Coach Grant had me on a program ready to run a 3:10 marathon (post-Brazil, we decided a 3hr race was a big ask). Confident Kilah could swim a sub-1 hour swim, Rick and I were ready to lay it down for a podium spot. Despite being a couple hundred metres long, Kilah was handing off to Rick in 57 mins; second fastest female out the water. A small transition error and some unnecessary duct tape later (really, officials?), Rick was out on the road. And I was heading back to the house for some breakfast and some rest. With regular updates from Dezz and Twyla, I was back in transition an hour early, finding some shade before warming up. Rick was back into transition a bit slower than he'd hoped, but he had a solid ride sending me onto the run as the 2nd overall team (1st mixed team).

If you've read any of my race reports before, you'll know one of my biggest enemies on race day is my stomach. I've spent the last 13 months trying to find an answer and hoped my strict diet the past week would be enough. And it was...for 10km.

The race plan was to let myself start fast for the first 1km, then settle into a 4:25 on the first half of the run and try hang onto a 4:30ish on the way back for a sub 3:10. The plan was on point until 8km in, when I first started to get a bit of stomach cramping. (BTW, I loved being that close to the front of the race, with eventual winner Jeff Symonds only being about 6km ahead of me at one point thanks to Kilah and Rick. I pushed on but by the time I saw Dezz and Twyla at the halfway point I'd fallen well off my pace. And then the fun began.Walking a hill, I saw Sheila, my Talisman teammate and, on this day, my biggest rival as the runner for another TC team, running the opposite way while yelling Hey no walking! Start running cuz I'm coming after you". Following that little push, I walked a few aid stations but tried to keep the legs moving in a run/shuffle. Nausea started to set in but I just focused on holding that podium position. Apparently on the last 2km Jordan Bryden, one of the biggest triathletes I know and a very hard dude to miss, passed me to move into 1st place for the mixed relay. I have no recollection of that pass. I kinda remember the finishing shoot, thinking I can't hold onto Rick and Kilah's pace as we crossed the line together. I heard Steve Kings voice. And then I sat down.

About half an hour later, after a visit to the med tent and throwing up all the liquid I'd just taken in (6 times for those who are counting...one less than coach Elmar), I started to feel a bit better. Emphasis on BIT.

Running a 3:50 instead of a 3:10 was a disappointment. Especially when we lost first place by only a minute. But knowing I honestly left it all out there for the team helps a bit. Big congrats to Darren, Felix and Sheila for making us run scared and keeping it close with a 4th place finish (Yes I got chicked by Sheila...big time).

As for Challenge Penticton itself, it left a lot to be desired. I was a bit put off by the disorganization from day one all the way through the race weekend. But with new race directors and a (hopefully) new business model for next year's race, I definitely hope to see this race become a premier event again. Just like in the IMC days. After all, the venue still rocks.

Now just please don't tell my body I'm supposed to be slowing down and my knees are supposed to be getting worse as I age.

Glutton for punishment? Nah, glutton for fun.

Anyone that's done an early morning swim session with me knows it takes me awhile to get going. The same thing seems to be true of my race season. I started this year with the Napa Valley Half on April 12, and I don't think my body really started going until the last 5 minutes...of the run.  The swim felt decent until Dezz told me how long I took. The legs snapped and crackled over the bike course, but they lacked pop. And the run - and I use the term "run" loosely - was the wrong side of two hours.  I could ramble off 4 or 5 excuses, but at the end of the day I didn't execute.  So the following day I turned my attention to the next goal. Ok that's a lie. The next day I turned my attention to eating and drinking my way through Napa Valley. And then the next day after that. (Thanks Dezz, Shannon & Chris). But once I was back in Calgary I sat down with Coach Grant and figured out a game plan for the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon.

This would be our 2nd annual trip to the race in memory of SweYen. One year on didn't make it any easier. Standing just behind the elite runners at the start line, I got uncharacteristically choked up as I chatted with SweYen. And then it was go time. Coach told me to go hard the first half and not rely on a negative split to reach my sub-1:30 goal. So that's exactly what I did.  I let the legs open up on the downhills and before I know it I was coasting down Cambie on 3:50/km. And then they just kept going.  Most athletes - runners, footballers, skiers, dancers - have experienced a day where they feel like they are floating.  That's how this race felt for me.  I skipped the aid stations (aided by the cool rainy day instead) and the stomach only threatened to slow me down at the 19km mark.  Knowing I would easily beat my goal, the mind told the legs job well done, you're starting to fatigue, let's cool it down now. But the heart was having none of that.  Life is too short to not give it your all. And as I crossed the line more than 10 minutes faster than I'd ever run that distance before (1:25:59) I felt a wave of emotion for the second time that day.  Part of it was the redemption after a disappointing Napa race. And the other part?

The other part was for SweYen. Not sadness, but rather happiness in her ability to continue to inspire. Dezz did her second running race ever (well, at least since elementary school), another sub-1 hour effort with Nat at her side. Carissa did her first ever half, with Shannon and Mindy (who'd just finished her first ever half one week before) pacing her home. Chris shaved 20 minutes off last year's time. And  the rest of the crew did the 8k...smiling. (After meeting SweYen's dad, I can definitely see where she got her gentle soul). I already can't wait for next year.

So what next? With a renewed confidence and a reminder that at the end of the day it's only a race, let the training begin (continue?) for Challenge Penticton relay.

Faster and/or Funner

The most common question I’ve heard lately is “Do you have any more races coming up?” I always assume people are asking about triathlon since I’ve been doing running races for so long that they only register in my mind as training days. But lately I’ve been excited to reply “I’m doing a bike race”. After a handful of cyclocross races over the last two years and listening to Rick regale me with stories of bike racing, I decided coming into this season that following my early Ironman I’d venture into a couple of road races. But my result at IML didn’t impress. Hold on road racing, I’ve got one more big triathlon to train for. OK, impressed. And then the body started to feel fatigued. So I cut back on training for a couple of weeks hoping I’d be fresh for the return of team J-Force at Sylvan Lake with my girl Ms. Reid. After going solo last year, I teamed up again for this year’s race. I managed to set PBs on the swim and run, while Erin hammered the bike leg, giving us a podium spot with 2^nd team overall. Outcome? What was a disappointing start to the season with Alcatraz and Lanzarote (in regards to my performance, definitely NOT in regards to the races themselves, both of which I highly recommend) ended on a positive note with GWN and Sylvan. 

Okay, NOW cue the bike racing. I competed in the Tour de Bowness road race on Saturday. Well actually competed may be a strong word. But I did finish. After making a rookie mistake right off the start, I was stuck at the back of the group early on and soon learned that if you lose contact with the peloton, you better find some buddies real quick. Asides from that one mistake, I was pretty happy with my performance on the day. Funny how a similar result in triathlon would have left me disappointed. So will road racing and cyclocross ever reach that point of good enough to be disappointed, or will they continue to be the just-for-fun cousins of triathlon? I hope it’s a bit of both. But until then, I’ll look forward to the Prairie Roubaix road race, a Fall full of cyclocross, and Banff triathlon...this one just for fun.

Redemption song

I woke up 2 days after Ironman Lanzarote, turned to Dezz and said "Okay, next focus: sub-5 at Great White North".

Fast forward 2 weeks and I'm sitting at Talisman Centre telling Grant about that same goal.

Sub-5 or bust.

Life has been lived over the past 6 weeks, but not much of it has been lived without a thought of how my actions would help or hinder GWN. Dezz commented about how my training didn't seem to decrease much after IML (true, but only because my IML training focused more on intensity than volume), I tried a new doctor-prescribed diet to hopefully help reduce any GI issues during the race, I memorized the name of said diet (Fermented Oligo-Di -Mono Saccharides And Polyols), I skipped beer and s'mores when camping in favour of water and multigrain crackers. But as is expected, especially when triathlon is a hobby and not a career, flood happens!  Some days training entailed ripping down drywall instead of ripping up hills. (We were fortunate enough to escape the floods untouched; some friends' weren't so lucky). Other days yardwork was left half done in favour of bikework.   Once again, I'm a very lucky man to be blessed with such a supportive wife. (I had to convince her that a girls trip to see Boyz II Men & NKOTB in Vegas should be more appealing to her than a trip to Stony Plain to watch me do yet another triathlon).

So come this weekend I was feeling ready. I had fought through a few days where the legs were feeling fatigued and just wanted to go home (I guess training since November can do that to a body), but I knew Grant had put me in a position to throw down that elusive sub-5.

Race prep, blah, blah, race package, blah blah, nutrition blah, blah, Go!  I started very close to the front of the swim and managed to draft for about 1500/1800m of the swim. I was very happy to exit on 35 minutes (goal was 40min), along with club mates Jonesy, Gus and Slawinski. (In hindsight, I should have beat Jones since I actually saw him stop about 200m into the swim to check his watch).  The swim felt quick and very relaxed. Onto the bike and heading out onto the new bike course, I was excited to see what the day would bring. The course profile looked like it was completely flat. Although there was nothing I'd call an actual hill, there was enough climbing and wind to make the bike a bit harder than anticipated. I caught up with Jones and Slawinski, but couldn't reel in Gus or Faizel. The nice thing about the 2-lap course is it was easy to keep track of everyone.  On the day I didn't have the pop in my legs I'd hoped for, and had to hammer home to turn in a 2h37min 90km bike (a conservative 34km/h).

Out onto the run and although the tummy was feeling a bit of discomfort, I quickly found my leg speed. It's the first time I've used my Garmin on race day in a couple years and my pace fluctuated more than I'd have liked, but there were only about 10 minutes out there where it was a struggle (about the 10-12km mark) to move my legs. Otherwise I focused on technique and kept that sub-5 hour goal in site. Again it was great to see so many familiar faces out on course. And another reason I love triathlon - pros cheering on the age groupers. Kyle, Grant and Elmar were all coaxing me along as I passed in the opposite direction while they were still racing. Reaching the last KM of the race, I spotted Emma up ahead. Emma is a very strong triathlete in her early 20s who has much more potential than any of us age group guys ever had. But, we're typical guys with an ego, so the talk over the last week was that we couldn't get chicked by Emma, knowing that was a very real potential. One final push and a "let's finish strong Emma" propelled the two of us past a few other racers on the way to the finish line. Rounding the finishing chute to shouts of "Let's go Stringer", I crossed the line in 4:54:19. Goal: achieved.

Props to a great day of racing and new PBs by my teammates and coach, and cheering/cowbelling from Hillary and Jenn. And if you're ever looking for a good local race, check out the 2014 edition of Great White North. Just don't bother with the awards dinner unless you want some free food and have lots (and lots) of time to spare, or you are actually fast enough to win some money.

So what's next?  I'll let you know when I figure that out.