I Won't Ever Give Up... This Is My Challenge.

Some things in life are frustrating. Period. I have illiotibial band syndrome again, the third time, the second in my right knee. Beyond frustration with this injury is where I am at. I know many athletes, some friends, that for whatever reason have crappy things happen to them.

Despite all the foofy hoop la stretching and physical therapy techniques I have ITB again, great. It is totally frustrating that I see all the people around me getting faster and having great training seasons while I sit at home with an injury that at this point is robbing me of all the hard work I put in. I work just as hard as everyone else, but for the last 3 of 4 years I have this injury. I'm convinced it has to be some sort of bio mechanical deficiency and for whatever reason I'm prone to this specific injury. Triathlon is easy, this injury is the hardest challenge I have to face over and over.

It would be pointless to draw this situation out and blog further some sob story. I have beat his injury two other times, I'm sure this won't be my last time getting it. Last year I cured ITB in my left knee and ripped off a great streak of success winning 4 races in a row and finishing 7 times in 1st or 2nd. The injury made me stronger.

Yes it is hard to to deal with, and frankly it pisses me off, but this is my challenge. I use this frustration at the perfect time, a time when I can use it during a race, times that make me appreciate being healthy. Like I have said, "I have beat it before, I will beat it again." Just like I have done before, I will seclude myself from the triathlon world, find other means of exercise and a new focus to get my body and mind even stronger while my injury fades.

 I have always come back faster and stronger after ITB, I won't ever give up because this is my challenge. This is a perfect example of how easy it is to feel like "the man" when things go your way. It is the times when you are tired and tested (or hurt) when you find out what you are made of. I have been here before and I know what I am made of, I am not looking back.

"Races Are Not Won On Race Day"

Do you ever wonder what triathletes and cyclists do in the winter?
  Well if you cannot go to Tucson Arizona, you ride your bike indoors on the trainer while watching tv. I have spent countless hours riding trainers, it was riding my trainer in my garage in Bozeman that pushed me up the ranks and first allowed me time trial well at the races. No other workout can build mental toughness and confidence to do well like a winter of riding a bike trainer can.
  ***I hide out in a secret undisclosed lair riding my road bike on my fluid trainer.

After a restful break from training I find myself ready to begin training for the 2010 season. Finally I will have some blog worthy items as the season's structured training begins. It was hard to start up again after the long layoff, I was really burnt out in September from training and racing, it honestly took me 3 months of unstructured fun exercise to get the motivation to start back up.

I feel the same way every year, the feeling of not wanting to begin structured training always has to be overcome, but once you get back into the training mindset it is nice to be back. I always fall back on something I heard Ironman Champ Pete Reid say, "races are not won on race day, the winners put in the work necessary to win during the winter." This, in my experience, would be those times when no one is around and no one is watching, times when it is cold outside, times when you have no tan, times when it is usually dark and times when you ride your bike in the basement, going no where, watching Floyd Landis annihilating the 2006 Tour de France, and dreaming of warm weather.

These are the toughest times for me because I have to shut my mind off to the potential boredom of the bike trainer or waking up in darkness to go swim. I know every triathlete has to do these if they want to be at their best later in the spring and summer or even have a chance at winning anything. You have to do it, so you do. I am not saying these things are bad, only that they are the least fun (but still fun) aspects of triathlon.
 ***It really isn't all that bad, riding the trainer in the winter is about a 6 on the fun scale, winning a race because you suffered through riding the trainer all winter is a 50 on a scale of 1-10.

***As the season begins this is where most triathletes, including me, will be. Pedaling their legs off but going nowhere! A year ago I had my running injury so this year is much improved over that, I am so happy to be able to run and ride the "boring" bike trainer.

I remember a long time ago I was talking to my history teacher, Mr. Normand (the cross country coach) and he told me about hard training and workouts. I will never forget what he told me one day in class in 2003. Mr Normand encompassed the principle of training perfectly, he said, "Pay now or pay later." I interpreted that to mean everybody eventually has to pay with suffering as currency. Pay now with the hard work, or pay later with poor races and regret of not putting in the work. Turn off your mind, put in the miles and begin paying now, because I have said a hundred times over, for me, it has always been worth it in the end. Smile, triathlon is fun!

Triathlon Season 2009

The most satisfying moment in 2009:

Winning for Janet's Memory!
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The toughest moment:

Holding 2nd place at the Aquathlon, hurting every step of the 5K run, racing sick at ZooTown triathlon and...

...getting 2nd at the State games, a race I know I can win.
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The end of the triathlon season is always dissapointing, but I take comfort in knowing, that after a winter of hard work, next season will be even better.

If I could sum of my triathlon season I would do so by saying, "rags to riches." I was in rags up through March after a winter of not training, only to rise up to riches and attain my fastest form ever. Out of 8 finishes I managed 4 wins, 3 seconds, and an 8th in Washington after bike problems, not bad for a season that was scrapped the first day of the year.

I had more fun and success this year than any previous. At times is was hard, especially in the beginning of 2009, most would have given up but I take victory in the fact I did not. I had incredible races and trips with so many great people! Please see my previous posts for the specific race reports. I would just like to sum 2009 up with a few antedotes and photos.
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Best triathlon accomplishment of 2009: Winning 4 races in a row!

Win #1 at YTriathlon!

Win #2 at Queen City

Win #3 at Janet Clarkson Memorial!

Win #4 at Spring Meadow Sprint!
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Best Swim:


Janet Clarkson Memorial
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Best Bike:






Tie! Spring Meadow Sprint and Federal Escape (bike problems not considered)
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Best Run:



Tie! YTriathlon and Spring Meadow Sprint
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Best Finishes:


Finishing 8th in Washington despite major bike problems and...



...smashing my course record in West Yellowstone
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Best supporter (non family):


Wasn't even close! :)______________________________________________________

Best new triathlete:

Carrie Eubank! (with me at her first race) ______________________________________________________

Best counselor and therapist:


Jess Kato!
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Best trip (interstate):

Federal Way Triathlon with Kevin via Yakima and Seattle hospitality and cheers
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Best trip (intrastate):

West Yellowstone with Corrie, my family and Quintana!______________________________________________________

Best home-away-from-home (Montana):


PJ's house "my apartment in the basement" in Billings for State Games and Great Falls triathlon!
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Best home-away-from-home (non-Montana):

Kevin's house! His mom makes excellent pasta salad and his dad likes NASCAR...just like me, don't hate.
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Best shared accomplishment:

Sharing the overall (men's and women's) wins in West Yellowstone with my Sister!
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Best tradition continued:


Mackenzie winning her division in her first Half Ironman (My older sister did it, I did it, and now so has Mackenzie)
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Best triathlon get-away:

The Tri-Pad at the lake! (living room full of bikes)
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Best weekend trip:

Tri-Pad with the Eubanks, Jess, Kevin, Trisha, and Chris the pizza slicer, hands down (I mean hands up...Chris)!

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Best triathlon "whip":

Tie between my Civic SI and Cervelo P3 Carbon
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Funniest T-shirt of 2009: My friend Evan "the excellent" Eck's triathlon shirt (not typing what it says).

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Best triathlon quote:

It's in your head, NOT your muscles." -made by me :)
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Best Wedding to have to miss a race for:

The only wedding I have ever done that for, the Fimrite-Eubank wedding bash!

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It was an amazing season, thanks to everyone who took pictures, traveled, cheered, sponsored, housed, and helped make it great. Thanks for following and being there for me! Thanks for reading, triathlon 2009 is done. :)

Let us all look forward to the winter training. Remember it's not what you do when you are on top, everyone is "the man" when things are going well. It is the times when you are down that shows the true measure of your belief in yourself. 2009 triathlons were the perfect test and subsequent proof of what it means to BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ONE.

Anchorman Seattle

The trip "operation San Diego-Seattle" was planned, the minds set and objectives clear: obtain tickets to Championship in California or implode trying. Kevin and I had our minds set to race an event in Seattle called Anchorman, a unique race in which the start was a 5+ foot plunge off a ferry boat and swim to shore. The people who do well at this race get paid entry to the sprint championships a month later in San Diego, California.
 Unfortunately, the week of the race the event was cancelled. The championship slots we should have won (I know that we could [and would] have gotten them, we were very motivated and prepared) became a "never was" when the race was cancelled. Just goes to show you should never take anything for granted, especially in triathlon, because it can be gone just that quickly. I feel bad for my family in Seattle, they were all looking forward to the race, and for Kevin because he and I would have cleaned up with awards at that race. I hope the series survives and we are able to secure our slots next year.

...The Last Two Races

**The Finish Line I never Crossed

I can usually count on catching a "bug" twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. My summer bug came in August, I missed two races because of it.

One race I was too sick to even think about starting. The second race I was too sick to finish it, withdrawing after a slow swim and a lack luster bike.

Here are a few pictures of those two races.

**Radio personality Dave Norman telling me jokes before the swim start. Dave is the nicest guy on the triathlon circuit

**The Start of First Annual ZooTown Triathlon

**4th out of the pool

**2nd place after the bike, very sick

**Heading out on the run in 2nd place, I withdrew a few minutes later, too sick to run another step.

I have had a few weeks to recover, I feel much better going into the most adventurous race ever... (lead to next race Sept. 13) Look for the post :)