How we roll in Los Alamos

I'm kinda hooked on the pic posting lately. My mom emailed me this today. This is a genuine pic from the Los Alamos car wash. I want to rent this thing and bring it up to Boulder and just drive it around for a while, take it to the car wash up here, park outside the post office on Pearl as I run in to do a bit of ebay shipping, you know, just the standard stuff.

Lance pic...finally found one.

I thought this might be floating around out there somewhere. Finally found it. Oh the stories I could formulate from this.

Popular Pic...

Ok, here it is, steal it if you want. Although I don't know why you would want to have this. It's not all that hard just 50% timing, 50% guts/stupidity. Oh, and 50% girlfriends Specialized Transition Pro.

SVOLDT Pro Challenge

Kristen and I did the Silicon Valley Olympic Distance Triathlon Pro Challenge last Sunday, yes, the SVOLDT PC. They might want to come up with a longer abbreviation.

This is a rebirth of sorts of the San Jose Pro Challenge that last took place in 2002 (I believe). Evidently the old race director decided it was better to pocket the money then to put up the $25k prize purse and put on a quality race. Eventually the race quality slipped and then the whole event died. And race directors keep saying pros don't bring anything to their events? Except longevity I suppose...

Anyway, it is an interesting concept. Instead of the standard swim bike run format the race is done as a 40 k Time Trial in the morning. We rolled down a start ramp, had our resumes recited for the crowd, and got to get all TT'd out in full skin suits, shoe covers and so on. It's kind of cool actually. Then you take 3-4 hours while the age groupers race and come back for a 750 swim, 4k run, 750 run, 4k run while the AG's are having lunch and listening to awards. It makes for a spectator friendly event and it's cool to see the pros going all out over the shorter distances.

It's a cool idea that the race director wants to take nationally, which could work but I think there are some bugs to work out first. Initially the race was supposed to be a 500m swim and 2 mile run, then it "evolved" to 750 swims and what was supposed to be a 3 mile run and 2 mile run. But the course was a bit long at about 1k so having even laps made more sense. However, I still think it was a bit longer then 4k total. I was hitting 14 min for the run and I think It must have been about 4.5 k on each run.

For me, the bike has suddenly become a bit of an issue. I rode bad at Alcatraz and then road like crap on Sunday. To be totally honest, training has gone really well. My power numbers are good, but I'm not racing really well. I think some of that is having not raced on this level for a few years and also not having enough specific work on the TT bike.

It is really amazing how much small details like TT specific bike work can contribute to race performance. I know I am fit, I'm just not seeing it just yet. It's frustrating but at the same time I want to be killing it in late August through November. So, if I was rocking right now I would probably be flat later on. In the end you have to stick to your plan and trust the process.

Kristen went well, she is riding strong, and swimming really well, and her run is coming around. I don't think she sees it but she is a much better runner now then even a few months ago. She just needs a bit of old school Coach Vigil style "get tough" and she'll see what she can really do.

In the end I was 9th and Kristen was 6th. I am coming around but it will be good to have 3 weeks to get in some really solid work before going back to SF for the SF international ITU race.

Pics from Alcatraz and so on

Dipsea/Steep Ravine trail in Muir Woods, my favorite run in the World.

More Dipsea/Steep Ravine. Accidentally made an easy recovery run into a 2 hour long run. It's just that cool running there.

Friday Alcatraz course pre ride. Overlooking the bridge just before the sand ladder section of the run.

The final climb coming back on the Alcatraz bike course.

This is the new Tesla fully electric sports car. It's outside Robin Williams house, maybe it's his?

Kristen's post race dinner. We found this awesome $30 dollar 3 course meal deal in Saulsalito of all places.

2 bikes, 4 bags, 2 pros, 1 Ford Focus. Nothing but the best when you're a pro triathlete.

Women's pro podium Escape from Alcatraz '09

Men's pro podium Escape from Alcatraz '09

Alcatraz swim course, of course. "I swam from there".

Alcatraz Race Report etc.

I'm gonna have to give the quick version here as I need to get out on a ride this morning.

Basically the race went ok. I'm getting better, but I'm still climbing the ladder back to being truly fast. One year as a long course athlete, 2.5 months off this last fall and winter pre and post surgery, has left me having to pay my dues to get back to being fast. But, it's still early in the year and all is not lost. There is plenty of time to pull off some big results.

In the end I was 16th. Cam and Kristen were both 9th which was awesome to get two team members on the podium of ALCATRAZ or all races. This is the Paris Roubaix of triathlon, everyone wants to win here, the race has tons of history, and it is the best course by far in all of triathlon.

The bay was warm this year at 58 degrees. I did this race once in 52 degree water. That was rough. But, those 6 degrees are a huge difference.

There was supposed to be a downstream current, or so said my Irish compatriot, Alan Archard. But, something must have changed as I came out of the water in 34:30 with the leaders going around 32. The record for the swim is low 20's so you can see what happens when the current stalls or shifts.

In general after you dive off the boat you aim at the Palace of Fine Arts and when you get close enough to see the Yacht club boat house you sight off that and you're at the finish really quick. This year, I got to that point. Started sighting the boat house and it seemed like that was only 1/3 of the swim. It took for freakin ever to reach the get out. When I did I came out leading a small group which turned out to be Alan, Kristen, Michellie Jones, Gina Kehr, and a few others. I had started next to Bryan Rhodes and had hoped to get on his feet, which I did for a while, but all of the sudden the white caps I was following just changed to Pink and I lost the men's group. However, I was something like 12-15th male out of the water, which is pretty solid for me. The swim keeps progressing, and I'm starting to actually feel pretty confident in some ways.

Out of the water, I decided against the bare foot 3/4 mile run to T1. So, I took a few seconds to take off the wetsuit and put on some shoes. In the end I imagine I ran about 45 seconds faster to T1 because of using shoes this year.

So, out of T1 I was pretty good, around 15th male and feeling good. But, that is where things changed.

I cramped last year on the run and I had thought it was due to the use of a TT bike and climbing hard in the TT position. So, I chose to use my Tarmac SL2 with clip on bars this year, kind of my ITU bike with 303's.

So, I got on the bike and the first 2 miles are on a flat road along the Presidio. Immediately I was passed by Lewis Elliot who I usually ride with, and he just checked out. I was already questioning my bike decision. Then we got the climbs and I started walking a few guys down, which was the plan. But, just not quick enough. I would gain time on the climbs but loose much more on the flat to slightly up hill. I just didn't have the power on those sections and in hindsight I think it was due to the position on the road bike vs. the TT. Of course I'm sure aerodynamics also had something to do with it.

Oh, well live and learn. In the end I was 5 minutes slower then last year.

I came off the bike feeling strong and ran pretty well. Low 48 to the lead splits high 46, so it was ok, 8th split overall. I felt very strong but I'm still gaining sharpness and real run speed. I came off the run feeling like it was 1/2 IM pace. But, it's coming along.

In the end I was good in the water, strong but slow on the bike, and strong on the run. So, it was a good race but it is a kick in the nuts to think if I rode what I rode last year I would have been 7th.

So, the idea is: focus on the positives. My swim is progressing, and I'm getting close to the lead pack in pretty much any condition. I still have work to do, but it's definitely going well. The run is also going well. I don't think it will be long till I'm back in "fastest split" shape. and the bike was most likely an equipment issue rather then a fitness thing.

Somehow, I can never come off Alcatraz too pissed off. I just love this race way too much.

Video from our track workout yesterday from Roman at Everymantri.com