DaShaun

That guy that did that thing that one time

Archive for category triathlon

Ironman Kansas

Jun 7

Posted by admin in triathlon | Comments off

There was camping, storms, camp fires, friends, family, and all sorts of goodness. I met my goal.

My goal was 7 hours. My official results:

SWIM BIKE RUN OVERALL RANK DIV.POS.
51:17 3:11:36 2:48:17 6:55:15 1040 of 1263 166 of 191

LEG DISTANCE PACE RANK DIV.POS.
TOTAL SWIM 1.2 mi. (51:17) 2:41/100m 1015 158

TOTAL BIKE 56 mi. (3:11:36) 17.54 mph 842 146

RUN SPLIT 1: 2.5 mi 2.5 mi (26:00) 10:24/mi
RUN SPLIT 2: 7.75 mi 5.25 mi (1:07:04) 12:46/mi
RUN SPLIT 3: 9 mi 1.25 mi (21:38) 17:18/mi
RUN SPLIT 4: 13.1 mi 4.1 mi (53:35) 13:04/mi
TOTAL RUN 13.1 mi (2:48:17) 12:50/mi 1040 166

TRANSITION TIME
T1: SWIM-TO-BIKE 2:19
T2: BIKE-TO-RUN 1:46

Kansas City Triathlon Olympic Distance

May 22

Posted by admin in triathlon | Comments off

The swim was crazy windy. I finished about 20 yards away from the exit and I was dizzy. I felt like I was flying on the bike but I wasn’t really. I was tired on the run. So many great faces. I love race day.

Last year’s time was 3:21:58, this year was 2:53:43. I’m happy with the results. I was happy with the swim and bike but not the run. I was really thinking I had 9:00/mile legs for this I have to figure out the sloshy-stomach issue. Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition.

Official Results

Heritage Park Triathlon

May 16

Posted by admin in triathlon | 2 Comments

I’m happy. Heritage Park triathlon was a great event for me. I went into the event with a lot of caution. The event had been canceled multiple times in the past for various reasons. The one I heard the most was too much goose poop in the water. Officially, I’m not sure if that was the case or not. Anyway, the water was the part of the race that was the problem for most people I talked to.

Before the race, I saw Brian G. out running his 8 miles. When I setup my spot, I happened to setup next to David G. and Barry B. who are both on the MTC team. I recognized Barry from the team page on Facebook and found out it was his first triathlon. I got setup with plenty of time which isn’t normal for me. I’m glad I did because after getting nervous thinking about the race, I had time to calm myself down before the start. David was doing the duathlon in hopes of beating his performance from last year, which he did by 10 minutes. I saw lots of other friendly faces which is always nice too.

The swim was an in water start. In the water, I met two more friendly faces. Chris H. from KU and Marcus from the Masters swim class I was in last season. It was 49 degrees when I got out of the car. The water was 62 degrees when I got in so it was actually warmer. I made sure to get my arms and face submerged several times before the start. I normally start my swim at the back and outside of the pack. Sunday was no different. However, this time, I was comfortable at the start. I didn’t start off too fast or panic at all. Shortly after the start, I realized that I wasn’t at the back of the pack and I didn’t need to stay out of way so I moved in. I also set my eye on somebody ahead of me. It ended up being Chris H. Since he was out in front of me, I figured it would be a good idea to try to keep up with him. It wasn’t hard work. I was pretty much going the exact same speed as he was the entire way in. He provided a really easy to see focus point. I never closed in on him and finished about 15 yards behind him. Getting out of the water I didn’t know what to do. I had forgot everything. I remembered to hit my lap button on my watch, but then I was drawing a blank. When I got to my bike I remember that I needed to take off my wetsuit and then the trouble started. I got my suit down to my ankles, when I tried to get my first ankle out, I lost my balance and almost knocked down the bike rack. At that point I figured better to be safe, than to be sorry. I sat down and pulled the suit off. I carefully prepared myself for the bike stage and continued.

During T1 I decided not to put on my arm warmers because even though I was wet, I felt fine and not cold at all. The bike course was very comfortable. I tried to pay attention to what numbers I was passing and what numbers were passing me. I didn’t see any of my heat pass me on the bike and that made me feel good, but at the same time, I only passed a couple people from my heat. I was passing lots of mountain bikes and girls from the earlier heats. I also got passed by some guys from two heats behind me. I kept hearing coach telling me to save my quads for the run. I did a good job of hydrating during the ride, and I felt like I kept consistent effort the entire stage.

The run stage is where I really felt great. I was thinking that the run was a full 5k. So the entire time I thought I was setting myself a new 5k PR. My previous best 5k was 8:34/mile pace and I was killing that. After the race I realized that it was just 3 miles but I was still super happy. If you had shown me the race data the day before the race and said told me that was my goal, I wouldn’t have believed that I could do it. I really did surprise myself.

Official Results

My virtual partner let me win today

Apr 28

Posted by admin in running, triathlon, velo | Comments off

Oh yeah! So, this mornings ride pretty much sucked. I felt like I had nothing. I let it slide. This mornings ride was supposed to be easy anyway. I was supposed to save energy for the ride home and attack the hills. I did a lunch run and took it easy for 4 miles. I still felt fresh. I loaded up my Edge 800 with my previous best ride home as a course. IT WAS AWESOME. With the virtual partner turned on, I was literally racing my previous best. I was in my own head. I knew where I normally switched gears, I knew where I normally got tired. Today, I didn’t let myself switch gears or get tired. I was 90% or better then entire way. I was cursing the lights. I can’t explain how cool this experience was. I could have set the virtual partner at an average pace, but that doesn’t take into account the slowdown going uphill or the speedup going down. Several times during this ride, I was within FEET of my previous best ride. It was pretty neck and neck until I hit the state line. I got lucky on a couple of green lights and I did my best to stay in my big ring and attack the hills at least at the beginning of each hill. And the other thing, when I was done with the course, my device flashed up a big “YOU WON” as I crossed the end point! I feel so good. This is very much a confidence booster.

Today’s “Good Night” ride:

My previous best “Good Night” ride:

My lunch run: Ran this one with Jeremiah on the way out. My metamusil kicked in about mile 1.5, at mile 2, I told Jeremiah to go ahead. Primarily because I wasn’t sure I was going to continue past the port-a-potty at mile 2.1. I made it back to the locker room without incident.

My morning ride: This was my slowest ride in so far. The ride in is always slower than the way back, normally its because of wind. Today it felt like I just didn’t have the energy to go faster. There wasn’t a bunch of wind in my face, the weather was acceptable. I used the handlebar water bottle to hydrate and thats much more convenient. When I hit Grandview, I told myself to save some for the ride home. At the same time, I told myself that I wanted to do a lunch run. Go figure. I need to be averaging 15 on this ride for sure. I plan to shoot for 18+ on the way home. One thing I did notice today, even though I wasn’t fast, the hills did seem easier.

The group workout was great up until I had a BM

Apr 9

Posted by admin in swimming, triathlon, velo | 2 Comments



Started off with a swim. Let me tell you that the swim portion of the race that I enjoy so much is really just survival test. I never really have it in me to go all out on a swim. Today, my first swim in a 50m pool this season, I was in survival mode. Normally, in a 25 yard pool, I get these extra breath stops at 25y. I’m not a flip-turn person as of yet, so I pop up, turn around, and push off after I get an extra inhale. Well, today I didn’t have that convenience as often as normal. I struggled. With people literally going twice as fast as me, my ego was hurt too. So into survival mode I went, and stayed. My nose is still so swollen that my nose clip, WITH STRAP, still moves to the end of my nose and doesn’t help much. However, it is staying on.

Now time for the bike. I actually really really enjoyed the ride today. I met new people, I learned some new stuff, and I got in faster miles than I did last week. Everything seemed to be going so well. We went out into the wind, and cruised on the way back with the wind at our back. Annie, David and Ryan were with me on the way out. Ryan turned around at mile 14. We took turns pulling. Annie basically kicked my butt going up hills. I was fine keeping up with everybody on the downhills and the flats. Except one time when David got into aero position. I think he was doing about 30 because I was doing 27MPH and he was pulling away quickly. We had the wind at our backs. It was good.

MTC Group Ride

It was a good workout. I didn’t fade or fall off too bad, even with the heat. I was really really happy with what I had accomplished this beautiful morning. I was even going to have time to mow the grass in time for our afternoon plans. Everything was looking up!

I got home, mowed the grass, picked up some dog dootie then realized I needed a break. I got some more hydration and was ready for a BM. It occurred to me that this process is rarely memorable. I remembe one really long one and showing it off to the football team in high school, but I don’t remember the process. I remember specifically one time at a QT bathroom, the events after were memorable, but not the process. Other than that, its all blank, nothing memorable. I will never forget what happened to me at 2pm today, April 9th 2011.

I guess I’m doing something wrong. It started last weekend with my 40 mile bike ride. I was fine on the bike, but later that night I felt different. It got worse after commuting 25 miles each way on Wednesday. Again, I felt fine while I was riding, but I could tell things were changing. It didn’t get any better on Thursday and I even mentioned my situation to my wife yesterday. My pregnant wife is convinced that its a case of hemorrhoids. She’s become somewhat of an expert on the symptoms. I agreed yesterday, but now I’m not so sure.

At 2pm today, I felt pain that made my eyes water and my heart race. The toilet paper that we are currently using was entirely too rough for my current situation. To say it felt like sandpaper would be an understatement. I noticed the veins in my arm were pulsing with my heartbeat; that I could hear and feel in my head. The sweat was immediate and lasted for approximately 15 minutes into my shower that followed. The shower did nothing to help the situation. In fact, moving water across any portion of my affected areas produced additional pain, at all temperatures. Hot water was the most painful, I found a cool temperature that allowed for 1 part cleaning, and 1 part trying to get the sweat under control. I considered putting ice on a place that I have never seen with my own eyes for about 5 minutes. Its three hours since the traumatic experience and I still can’t sit. I’m definitely walking funny and I hate the stairs right now.

I thought I knew how to ride a bike until today. At this point I am 100% convinced that I am doing it all wrong. There is no way that other cycling enthusiasts deal with a situation like this after every ride. Somebody forgot to tell me something very important.

I am about to have a very uncomfortable conversation with my coach.

I think my training is going pretty well

Apr 1

Posted by admin in running, triathlon | Comments off

You might recall that I was pretty excited about a PR that I had back in February.  Well, today, I ran the same route, with pretty much the same mindset, and destroyed my previous PR.

Things at work combined with moving and a new baby on the way had changed my schedule quite a bit in Q12011. I’m not complaining. However, I’m still working with Coach Ken, and he’s definitely giving me the push that I need. He’s done a great job of making adjustments with what I’ve been able to accomplish.

I’m feeling super successful this year and I can only imagine how much further I would be if I was able to stick to the training plan. I’d say so far I’m getting in about 60% of my planned workouts. Hopefully April and May will be solid and have me ready for Kansas 70.3 in June!

Along with Coach Ken, I feel like I have some additional “home team” support this year. I’ve always had support at home, but this year its different, and “extra” good. I shouldn’t be surprised that eating better helps me feel better and train better. My wife has been doing a great job of meal planning this year. We always have fresh fruit which is wonderful. We’ve been eating breakfast together, compared to us both grabbing McDonald’s on the way to work. And dinner time has been wonderful. I am super thankful. I’m sure that our new diet combined with great coaching will keep me on track.

EDIT:
I was just looking at my data again. I just realized that my previous best pace for a 5k (3.1 miles) was 8:28. Yes. I’m even more excited about how my training is going.