EWU Triathlon

In 2013 I finished 2nd place at this race, and I have wanted to win ever since. I can't tell you why, but I wanted it, bad, and I knew it would eat at me until I went back and got what I came for.  



 

In 2013 the race took place in a complete downpour. During the race the lead was constantly revolving between the top five racers which included Alex, my friend, Brian Brown, and a couple others. No one was safe, we were ripping through the rain in a winner take all. I had a good race finishing 2nd place to Alex. It is still one of my most fun head-to-head races. 

 

*2013: I had a good race, but the win slipped away late in the race, and that never settled well with me.

 

I got to the 2015 race super early, first one in the building early. I had already prepared my plan for my warm-up, my swim, my transitions, my bike, and my run. All I had to do was execute it.  

*Murder Machine waiting for them to open the field house

 

Everything was perfect at the race. I was in the first heat so I got to warm-up in the pool until my start. I swam 1,000m warming up with all strokes and I was loving it. My red Hammer Nutrition tri suit also performed flawlessly in the pool.

 

This race had some competition to it. There were some of the EWU cross country team competing, as well as last year's defending champion. At the end of the day, I can only do my best and wind it up as tight as I can.  My swim was excellent, I left the first few walls behind most of the swimmers, but I came on strong. I felt fast and smooth and left with a good lead on the swim. One of my best pool-tri swims ever.

*Thanks to Hammer for all their great stuff!

 

The bike here is a short down hill and few corners to start, then it is full throttle in the aero until the turn-around.  I held in the aero position and in the big chain ring the entire bike with exception of the very beginning and very end. Last year's winner took a little time back, but I was well in command of the charging chasers.

 

I finished my bike and transitioned. I knew I had the defending champ on my heels, and a chase pack of college runners begging for a piece of me. But, once I put on my shoes and started running I repeated one thing to myself.

 

"No one is going to beat me, just watch." 

 

The run got hot, but I stayed focused. I kept my feet pounding on the hot pavement and my focus forward while holding my discomfort at bay. At the turn-around I got a good look at how everything was shaping up. I was able to put my chasers away and knew even with the collegiate running speed behind me, I would not be caught. Mentally I had already won, and I immediately felt that constantly-gnawing weight of getting 2nd place in 2013 be replaced with satisfaction of completing a two-year goal. It was a great moment and fun race.   

 

*Robert (left) always gives me advice. Everyone knows how much I love advice, but I get a kick out of his grandfatherly-advice and wanted to get his picture. He is a nice man.

 

I am thankful for such a fun day. It was nice to see the Brodacious side of Ferocious Brosious again. That side of my personality gets things done, and it not just closes chapters, but slams them shut. I slammed the book on this two-year goal and it feels great.  New catch phrase for this race. "No one is beating me, just watch." :)  

Yakima Training Camp and Moses Lake Tri

 The plan for the week was to do my annual training camp in Yakima with lots of heat, miles, and sun. I then planned to cap it off with the Moses Lake Triathlon to complete a big week. 

 

*Yakima, WA

 

The past few years I haven't seen my friends at my Yakima camp, so this year I did an excellent job and reached out to them to tell them I missed them. Although I did not see any of them, as I haven't for the past 3 years of camps, I am happy with the results in reaching out to them. Hopefully that will jumpstart our friendships again. Fingers crossed.

 

The camp started with a 100 degree temperature on a day that I did an outdoor swim at Franklin Pool and then a 55-mile bike ride that was so hot my bike tire melted into deformity.  From the second I got there things felt like they were going wrong. I didn't feel good being in town and before I even started training I felt tired. I missed my friends badly, my water stop for my long bike ride was out of business, I didn't get the hotel room I always get, and when I tried to change my tire I broke my only tire lever. 

 

With all that I came to my realization that my destiny was telling me something: This place that I used to think was so awesome, so fun, and so happy, is now a place that, well, sucks. So I left as quickly as I arrived in hopes of trying something different.

 

 

I chose to go to Moses Lake and spend a few days there training and getting ready for the race. It was great. I spent time with Ayla and her family; watched Dr. Phil with Grandma Wyman, and took Ayla's cousin on a training run showing him some workouts and giving him training advice.  I also reached out to my Moses Lake friend who I enjoy spending time with. I am very happy with everything, I am glad I left Yakima and tried different things this year. It was fun.

 

*Happy camper at the triathlon

 

*Thanks to the Wyman family, sorry for the dark picture

 

 

After a restful night, a lot of laughs, and a delicious Wyman Family lasagna, it was time for the race.  Ayla ran the 10K and did awesome. I was glad to get to watch her and cheer her on. 



 

The owner of this little cutie allowed me a photo opportunity with her baby bulldog. This was the cutest little dog ever, I wanted to take her home. 

 

I was also very happy to see my Hammer Teammates Richard and David Ling.  It was nice to catch up with the Ling Family. I am regretful I only get to see them once per year. By the way, I am so envious of David's hair. No matter what, it is effortlessly perfect, even during the triathlon.  I also appreciate that when I saw David on the run course we were both sporting Black Hammer Kits with lime green accents because we are awesome. He also provided me a good lead out during the swim.

*Note David's perfect hair before the race...

*...and after the race it was still perfect.

*Brosious: You turn that frown upside down!..

*That's better!

 

The swim of this race is always super competitive with very fast swimmers. I came out of the water in 5th place and I was actually very happy with that because I had tremendous drafting help the whole time, felt strong, and I came out right with the leaders who put a lot of time into me last year.

 

I had a good transition and left for the bike and quickly took the lead. I held the lead on the bike until the return trip home.  This is where Drew, as a he has done many times, took the lead. Drew is one of the most powerful bike riders I have ever seen and when he goes by it's humbling.  Drew passed me and I knew he was going to take a lot of time. He was absolutely flying.  For the first time ever, I actually felt and voiced (to myself) the frustration of always getting passed by Drew on the bike. Drew put two-minutes into me on the bike which proved to be my undoing.

 

I figure I have at least one or two-years of paying more dues to raise my cycling to the level required to be the best rider in the field.  Until I can increase my bike power from being a good rider in the top 5, to one of the most powerful in the field, I won't be able to beat Drew or others like him. I told Drew the same thing during our friendly exchange at the finish line so I don't feel bad about sharing it here. I told him I am sick of being passed on the bike and I am sick of 2nd place, and I am going to do what it takes to win. I vow to train my body so that I can one day match the amazing power Drew has on the bike. I will wait for him at the finish line like he always waits for me after winning. lol  

 

My run was strong, I ran 30-seconds faster per mile this year compared to last year.  The run at this race can get tough, but this year it was actually enjoyable as I rolled along.  I gave fives to Richard and David as we passed (no matter what I always give the Lings a five on the run, it's our unwritten rule), and held my place in 2nd holding off Keith Stotz. Keith and I had a good battle here in 2012 while trading the lead before I edged him for the win.  

*Twisted face time

*Stand here and do nothing time

*Podium: Congratulations to Drew and Keith.

Overall I am very happy with the week and race. I am thankful for my friends in helping me change the direction of my training camp, spending time with the Budu Crew, the Ling Family, and as always, thankful for Drew's humbling triathlon lessons that motivate me eliminate excuses and to train my body harder.

 

 

Spring Festival Triathlon

The first triathlon of the year went pretty well. My fitness is becoming more hustle and less muscle with each passing month. It was a great weekend and a solid race, I will keep it short.

 

Friends:  This was the highlight of the weekend. I spent all weekend with the Wyman entourage having fun and telling jokes, the Wyman family is so good to me.  It was also nice to see my extended triathlon family, and of course, the Budu race crew who I enjoy seeing.  Thanks to Lane for the pictures!

 

*Wyman entourage 

 

*Free hugs

*Terri, Ayla, and Jenna running the main water station

 

The Swim:  My swim is powerful right now. It is better than ever and I felt great during the short swim. I swam quickly to the lead without any bumps or hits, and exited the swim in control of the race. 

*Drew Magill and I before the race

*Arm monsters!!

*Sighting my swim exit

*Swim exit, time to wind it up

The Bike:  I felt good during the bike, but I also derived the hard conclusion that my cycling needs work.  I found it difficult to raise the power the final notch and find top speed. Drew Magill and Nick Hetro both caught me on the bike and took time.  I was caught in-between gears where I was spinning too fast for the higher gear and not being able to hold the power to push the next lower one.  I had a pretty good ride, not my best, and I know I have so much room for improvement in the next few years on the bike.  By the time the bike ended I was in pretty deep water in 3rd place with Josh Fitchitt charging hard from 4th.

The Run:  My run came through for me and I held off the charge of Josh, who is always one of the best runners in the field.  The run got a little weird for us because Drew missed the dog leg portion of the course, and I mistakenly thought that the person ahead of me - eventual winner Nick Hetro - was in the duathlon.  I ran pretty well and at the finish, we sorted it all out, I stayed in 3rd place with a time I am not entirely content with.  

*@Good looking dark-haired lady in the background: You like these moves?

 

*Done

*Not a bad start to the year. Congratulations to Drew and Nick who bested me.

Josh Fitchitt had a good race and finished in 4th.  Last year's winner, Burkin, finished just behind Josh to complete the top 5. It is a small consolation to beat last year's winner who ran me down late in last year's race. I have a lot of work ahead of me, and I am looking forward to it.

 

Thanks again to the Wyman family!

American Pharoah - Part 2

Much of my intrigue with American Pharoah’s quest for the Triple Crown was the premise that race horses are athletes, and are trained much the same as mid-distance endurance runners.  The horses are given special care to ensure proper base training, speedwork, taper, rest, and diet.  When you have a horse that is valued in the 10s of millions of dollars -- the stud rights of the last Triple Crown winner were sold for $14-million dollars in the 1970s-- that horse is monitored with respect to heart rate, lactic acid, power output, and macro and micro nutrient intake.

The similarities between race horse and runners provide a common ground for interest, but the differences are what fascinate me.  The sheer power and speed of horses, some capable of running nearly 50 miles per hour, provide an incredible capacity for work and fitness.

Equally as fascinating is Usain Bolt, world record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters and a person who is capable of running 30 miles per hour at top speed.

My idea of the perfect athlete is a sprinter's physique with a marathon runner's endurance and economy. My opinion of a perfect body: tall, lean, fast, flexible, and super shredded. It is the best of everything and that is what I strive for.  #perfection

Joel Friel once wrote about race horses and bumble bees in a book of his I have.  He says, in basic terms, that horses run because horses love to run.  They don’t question why they run, they just run for the love of it.  Going on, Friel mentions bumble bees.  You know, those big furry suckers with itty bitty wings?  According to Friel, NASA did an extensive study on bumble bees, in particular, how something with such a huge body and small wings was even capable of flight.

After months and months of studies and tests NASA had its conclusion:  Bumble bees, given all the data obtained, were in fact, incapable of flying.  They simply would not physically be able to fly.  The problem with this study is no one ever told the bumble bee he couldn’t fly.  The important point Friel was making is that the bumble bee, although incapable of flight (according to the laws physics), flies because he believes he can fly. The reading concludes by urging us to train like race horses, and think like bumble bees.  

I have always felt that the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.  I have had a lot of “opportunities” in the past few months and have done a lot of changing as a person.  Athletes love to see what we are made of.  It’s about riding and running all day, being so tired that you can’t take another step, and waking up the next day thinking, “I think I can go a few steps more and a little bit faster next time.

My purpose and gift is to inspire people in sharing my adventures and aspirations. Motivations have been building in me for the past few months, and they are familiar. I felt this same way before I embarked on the bodybuilding adventure that took everything of me. I felt this way before going on a  tear that led to me winning athlete of the year. I also felt this fire when I was on my quest to win my 4^th consecutive and final installment of Janet Clarkson, a race which I wanted to win more than anything to show an entire town “The Power of One.” 

*I am waiting for special adventures like this one to come my way

I won that last race and not long after Jack Clarkson passed away.  It is still one of the most proud moments of my entire life and I think about the people in that story often. If you would like to read about that 4-year adventure I have created links below.

Janet Clarkson Tri 2011 P.1         Janet Clarkson Tri 2010
Janet Clarkson Tri 2011 P.2         Janet Clarkson Tri 2009
Janet Clarkson Tri 2011 P.3         Janet Clarkson Tri 2008

*Mrs. Clarkson after winning the last race

Winning is a bi-product and it is not what I value from those times.  My most appreciate moments from anything I have ever achieved has been being able to inspire other people to go for their dreams and believe in themselves.  When I look back over the past year or so I know in my heart that I have more to give, I have a better version of myself to inspire people. I have more adventures to live and more people to help before I am content.

I think that for a short while I was a bumble bee that forgot he could fly.  However, over the past few months I have found that special part of me that wants to keep climbing.  I am inspired with aspirations to help other people feel motivated and confident to go for their dreams.  I am motivated to help people believe they can fly. I have a lot of adventures scheduled with my friends and I am excited to share the experiences with them.

To those who want to share in the adventures I say, "Let's do it."  

To those who don't think it's possible I say, "Just get out of our way and watch."

American Pharoah - Part 1

What an amazing sports weekend!! I have never been more inspired by sporting events in my entire life. This is part 1 of my story relating to these sports. 



*Courtesy cbc.ca

 

American Pharoah won the Triple Crown achieving a feat that hasn't been done in 37 years, and completing one of the most feel-good stories I have ever been privy to. 

 

#Incredible  #Victory Courtesy wsj.com

 

In one of the biggest tennis events of the year, Stan Wawrinka beat world #1 Novak Djokavic to win the French Open. Wawrinka not only won, but he fearlessly and relentlessly attacked and took it to the world's best tennis player.  Someone obviously forgot to tell Wawrinka, a player who is barely ranked in the top 10 and not having won many major titles,  that he even deserved to be in the finals and was so over-matched. 

 

Equally impressive was the respect and graciousness that Djokavic showed in defeat.  Not impressive, albeit entertaining, was Serena William's frequent sanctions by the referee for her on-court, audible swearing.  I guess when you are the most winningest player in history you get away with  lot of shhhh...stuff (pun intended).

 

*I looked online and a ticket to Wimbledon final is $5000!  Courtesy resonews.com

 

Back to the big story. I have grown up around horses and think they are some of the most incredible animals ever. Their speed and power contrasts with their somehow gentle demeanor and makes them loveable.  My mom loves horses, they are her dream and she is always riding or training the horses that she dearly loves. 

 

 

*My mom with a couple of her boys

 

I like horses, I think they are incredible animals, but I have very little, if any, desire to ride them. When I think of our horses I have two distinct memories. They both took place when I was about 10 years old.  The first, the time that I got bucked off a horse....while I had a broken arm...when I was clearly told not to be riding horses when my arm was broken. When the dust settled and I crawled from the dirt, as if I couldn't say it fast enough I shouted, "Don't tell my mom!" lol. 

 

The second was the few times that our seemingly docile and gentle horses would act up when the boss, my mom, wasn't around.  One time while riding our first horse around our property he decided he had enough and just stopped and wouldn't move. Despite my best efforts to use my little legs to kick his big body he decided I could walk up the will, which I did.  The same horse also knocked me down into the mud when he kicked me while I was feeding the horses. It wasn't a kick to try and hurt me, it was just a kick to say to the other horses "Bet ya' five bucks I can knock him over without looking."  I am pretty sure I came up swearing the best a 10-year old can do when he did that. What a funny horse.

 

*Yeee haw, Bryan! 

 

Back to the Triple Crown and American Pharoah.  The Triple Crown refers to a horse that tries to win all three of the biggest horse races in the same year.  This is a big deal and big money.  What makes this task so hard is a horse has to be the best horse in the field in all three races, it's first place in all three or no Triple Crown.  Keep in mind that this isn't like NASCAR where you have the same racers at every race. It adds a lot to the difficulty in that the field can change with each race and each track. One week the Triple Crown contenders have to face a fresh and fast set of horses who do well at mile and a half tracks, at the other two races it could be completely different set of horses who have been training and resting during the other races.  The Triple Crown is so hard to achieve that only a dozen horses have ever done it, and prior to American Pharoah, the last horse to do it was 37 years ago. 

 

I was so inspired and moved by The Triple Crown this year for a few reasons. I remember back about 10 years ago when I watched my mom nearly cry when Smarty Jones, a horse who won 2 of the Triple Crown races, was over taken in the final stretch of the 3rd race by horses whose riders rode only to spoil Smarty's Triple Crown bid. It was sad.

 

Last year, California Chrome won two of the races, but again horses who did not ride all 3 Triple Crown races spoiled his bid to win. The sad part of last year was California Chrome's owner going on a poor-sport tirade after the race. He said things to the tune of "No one will ever win a Triple Crown in my lifetime...and winning a Triple Crown these days is impossible." He also said, "That winning races without having raced all three is the 'Coward's way,' and 'Coward's victory.'" All this said while his wife tried to rein him in (pun intended) and get him to shut up because this was on live TV.  The owner of California Chrome was a jerk, while I am sure the horse is a beautiful animal, the owner did not deserve (in my opinion) to win the Triple Crown.  The owner wanted the win for himself, it was never about the horse, he wanted the glory all to himself, which is why he obviously took the loss so terribly.

 

Contrast last year to this year.  I was so very impressed by the owners and trainer of American Pharoah.  While grand in their aspirations they remained humble in their achievement.  Every interview was the same, it was always about the horse and how much he loved to run.  Never once did the owner or trainer say anything about themselves or how "they" won the Triple Crown. It was always about how lucky they were to have such a good horse who loved to run and who was such a nice animal.  In my opinion, American Pharoah deserved to win and I was so happy, almost to the point of my own tears, that this happened. Soooo many people were so happy as a result of this horse. To think that the owners of this horse almost sold him at auction only to buy him back because he was such a loveable horse. California Chrome's sour-grapes owner can eat his words, because American Pharoah did what they said couldn't be done.

 

*Even his misspelled name "Pharoah" is fitting. Courtesy nypost.com

*People give a lot of credit to coaches, what about Bob Baffert who trained American Pharoah, both extremely humble in their accomplishment. Courtesy thehorse.com

 

*Jockey Victor Espinoza gave all the credit to his horse during the interview.

I am so moved by this race, the people involved, and the amazement in seeing something that hasn't been done in 37 years achieved in such a gracious and humble way.

Part 2 to follow.