kenj's group closed, training hard and having fun!! (Page 60)

I haven't had a chance to write my RR yet, but unfortunately I wasn't even close to  a PR. Ken mentioned tire trouble and I did have a flat, but even before that I wasn't close. The course was tougher than I anticipated.

My flat was only about a mile from T2, and was pretty exciting. Steep downhill with some cobblestones at the end. I'm still not sure what happened, but there was a bang, and I struggled to stay upright while skidding to a stop. There was a big hole in my tire, so I couldn't just replace the tube. There is a trick of using a dollar bill to temporarily patch a tire , but I had no money on me since it was a race. Luckily found a wrapper of some kind by the curb, and used that so was able to finish. Here's a picture of my tire. You can see the shiny wrapper inside:

Manged to finish the bike, but it took over 10 minutes to fix the tire.

I had to leave early because we were going to a party for my wife's cousin, so I missed the awards, and the post race food which really hurt because it was done by a BBQ place. When I checked the results  this AM, I found I was 3rd (of only 7) in my AG. Got an email from the RD that he will mail the medal, so that is pretty cool.

It was the first year for this race, and they really did a great job, and I had a blast! Can't wait to do this one again next year!

Finally got around to posting my RR here, so if anyone is having trouble sleeping, this may help

Is anyone racing this weekend?

A belated good luck wish to those who are racing.

It has been a busy week but I have managed to get in most of my training. I did a 3.5 hour trainer ride yesterday and am now convinced that I need to get some good cycling shorts for these longer rides and IMAZ. Tri shorts aren't going to cut it.  Does anyone have any good recommendations? 

As you know, Julie and I had flats last weekend. Well, like Julie when I went out to check on the bike the other day, the tire was flat again. Not sure what it going on as it held up for the ride back to the car last week. We both obviously rode over something that is not tire friendly. 

I hope everyone is having a good weekend and if you are in the hurricane zone, I hope you are safe and not feeling to many of the effects of it.

Kathleen, a 3.5 hour trainer ride is real dedication! I'm impressed! Can't help you much with the shorts since my longest ride ever is only 60 miles and I only use tri shorts. I know lots of people like the DeSoto 400 mile shorts, and I have always liked the quality of DeSoto products. I've also always been very happy with anything from Peal Izumi. It's a good time of year to find good prices on summer clothing, so you may be able to find some bargains.

Looks like Hurricane Irene wasn't as bad as anticipated which is good news. I'm about 60 miles from NYC and the coast so we wouldn't get hit too bad anyway. We had lots of rain and it was windy, but I only have a couple of branches down in my back yard. It was still raining hard and windy this AM, but I was still able to get my long run in. The worst thing for me was I had tickets for Saturday's Mets game for me and my 2 boys, and only ten rows behind the Mets dugout.

I hope Sherri in Connecticut, and Adam out on Long Island made it through the storm OK!

Sorry I've been scarce.  The peak week was two weeks ago, then taper started last week but was still intense.  This weekend was only 5 hours of riding spread over two days.  

My bike is fixed.  I was having trouble with the head tube coming loose so the handlebars were loose after they raised me up trying to get rid of lower back pain.  Finally surrendered and urged them to get me a new fork and start over so the extensions weren't needed anymore.  Took care of all the weakness.  The back pain was minimal today after I spent 3 hours working on position.  I realized if I kept my knees to the top tube, the back wasn't feeling sore at all.  The upper back in the shoulder and middle of my back at the neck still persists a bit.  I think it's me not relaxing from the start.  I will talk to him tomorrow but I think the fit is good, the bike is strong.  That is out of my head now.

Friends are racing IM Louisville as we speak.  One is just a couple years younger than I am.  I'm hoping he does well.  He is on the run so that is good.  It would be a boost for me.  Do you kow that 95% of the people who start at IM Wisconsin finish?  The odds are in my favor.  The only real things I worry about are nutrition and physical problems due to my ancient longterm back problems.  I've had my back go out during a tri, which I finished in decent time.   But it wasn't an Ironman.  We shall see. I'm ready. 

Race report is done.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=266548&posts=1&start=1

Sorry I've been scarce.  The peak week was two weeks ago, then taper started last week but was still intense.  This weekend was only 5 hours of riding spread over two days.  

My bike is fixed.  I was having trouble with the head tube coming loose so the handlebars were loose after they raised me up trying to get rid of lower back pain.  Finally surrendered and urged them to get me a new fork and start over so the extensions weren't needed anymore.  Took care of all the weakness.  The back pain was minimal today after I spent 3 hours working on position.  I realized if I kept my knees to the top tube, the back wasn't feeling sore at all.  The upper back in the shoulder and middle of my back at the neck still persists a bit.  I think it's me not relaxing from the start.  I will talk to him tomorrow but I think the fit is good, the bike is strong.  That is out of my head now.

Friends are racing IM Louisville as we speak.  One is just a couple years younger than I am.  I'm hoping he does well.  He is on the run so that is good.  It would be a boost for me.  Do you kow that 95% of the people who start at IM Wisconsin finish?  The odds are in my favor.  The only real things I worry about are nutrition and physical problems due to my ancient longterm back problems.  I've had my back go out during a tri, which I finished in decent time.   But it wasn't an Ironman.  We shall see. I'm ready. 

Hi! Remember me??  Lol!  Too freakin' busy.  We survived the Hurricane!  It was no big deal.  We lost power Sunday morning and it came back sometime Sunday night/Monday morning.  I didn't even get a day off work.  boo!  There was just a lot of branches and leaves in our yard.  One small, dead tree came down in our back yard.  Lots of trees took out powerlines in our town.  I heard we were VERY lucky to get power back as quick as we did.

This weekend is binge drinking and eating too much... we are going away for the weekend with about a dozen of our closest friends.  (we do this every year)  Then the following weekend is my *first* sprint tri.  Then the weekend after that is my *first* HM.  I am ready for the Tri.. but not for the HM.  I am only up to 8 miles.  I was supposed to go for a 10 miler this past weekend... but between a bachelor party, a wedding and a hurricane, it didn't pan out.  I am going to shoot for a long run this weekend (between games of beer pong).  The HM is going to take me a long time... I hope I don't look stupid.