It's a new year with new challenges and opportunities. This year, I decided to apply to be a PowerTap grassroots athlete. Instead of reinventing the wheel, here is an explanation about what that is from PowerTap.com.
"PowerTap is proud to support and sponsor athletes at all levels of Cycling and Triathlon disciplines. Our goal is to support the exceptional athletes who support our brand through racing and training using our products. Our grassroots level sponsorship allows athletes access to discounted product to help them pursue their competitive goals."
Applying to be a sponsored athlete simply required submitting a one minute video. It was hard to keep it to one minute. After running through it a couple of times in front of the computer, I felt like I was getting nowhere. I came across as stiff and it looked like I was reading the text I had written for the video. It was also hard to cram in all the necessary required information and still sound vaguely interesting. Finally, Melissa offered to use my phone to make the video. I scrapped my script and wrote out bullet points. We did one take and it was good enough. Here is the video below.
And you know what? It worked! I have been accepted in the PowerTap Grassroots Athletes program. What does this mean for me exactly? Well, it simply means I will be promoting PowerTap and PowerTap products as I train and race in triathlons and other events. I have agreed to forward promotions, sales, new product announcements, etc to my friends and to represent PowerTap at events. It is going to be fun. In return, PowerTap will give me up to 25 percent off of items in their online store. That is a huge discount considering the products they sell are not cheap. I happen to be in the market for new trainer so I will be able to put the discount to use sooner than later. Mostly though, I think I will have fun using social media to promote the PowerTap brand. It will be a learning experience and will be one more training tool for me. Getting excited about promotions, products, and events will inject additional fun into my training and racing schedule. Plus I can represent Richmond, the Richmond Triathlon Community and DLMultisports.
I will be attempting to blog more as that is part of the deal. So you might see some shorter but more frequent blog posts from me. I appreciate you reading and if you want to learn more about PowerTap or CycleOps, please check out their websites and see what they have to offer. In my next installment, I will describe how my PowerTap G3 power meter has helped me train smart and get faster and stronger in a short amount of time. Thanks for reading. As always, comments are appreciated.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Really Ironman.com?
Ironman.com publishes a lot of articles about training and racing triathlons. Everything from how to choose the proper gear, what races one might be suited for, what to eat and drink while training and racing, how to pick a coach, how much swimming one should do, etc., etc. There are other publications that write about the topic too. I see multiple articles every day being published on various websites that go into some detail about training blocks, nutrition, what's more aero, etc.
Earlier today, I saw this article about whether or not an individual should seek out a coach or simply coach themselves. The original article is here:
http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/2015/01/can-you-go-the-self-coached-route.aspx#axzz3NrrgLBkU
After going through the pros and cons of being self coached, the article ends with this statement, "Self-coaching should be an option for almost all triathletes. Our sport is not terribly technical—we’re just swimming, biking and running—the three things we’ve done since we were five years old!"
Really? It's that simple? Maybe it should read, ""Self-coaching should be an option for almost all triathletes who don't want to improve." It seems almost irresponsible to make such a bold and general statement. What are all those coaches for that are constantly referenced in all the other articles? Are they chopped liver? How can Ironman.com constantly quote professional coaches and then in one article basically say that the sport is so simple, you don't need them? The article did not come right out and say that no one needs a coach and gave discussion points about various resources that coaches provide and to think about whether that is something one might require. And they did use the word option. But ending the article with such a bold statement seems to suggest the author believes that coaches are not necessary for the common triathlete. At least that is the impression I got when I read it.
Sure when it comes down to it, we are doing lots of swimming, lots of biking, and lots of running. Well, duh. But there is much more to it than that. Personally my coach is more than simply someone who manages my time for me. Don't get me wrong, this is a huge thing and I am lucky to have someone who knows how to structure my week, month, and year so I can get the most benefit from my workouts and races. And as far as accountability goes, my coach is good for that too. I want to turn my Training Peaks boxes green and I look forward to his feedback on those workouts. And does my coach motivate me? He sure does. But beyond all that, my coach really knows the sport inside and out. He knows what it takes for athletes to improve and race well.
Maybe not everyone wants to improve. Maybe some people just want a good healthy sport to help them with overall fitness. Plus there is certainly a social aspect to training and racing. Maybe for some people the social engagement is more important. I like those benefits for sure and for me, it is a healthy hobby. More than that though, it is fun. But what makes it fun is putting in all the work to improve, training hard and then on race day, executing the perfect race strategy that allows me to beat as many other competitors as possible. They do call it a race for a reason. And then doing it all again and trying to improve and beat more people the next time around.
As children we were often told that "it's not whether you when or lose, it's how you play the game." After playing soccer all throughout childhood and most of my adult life, I learned that that statement is only partially true. Fair play and honesty are no doubt the cornerstones of any competition. And while it is not really all that fun to beat a bunch of 5 year olds in soccer, it is a lot more fun to win when competing with people who are similar in skill and experience, drive and desire. Wining is fun.
The other day I had a bike trainer workout called "Anaerobic Sandwich". This was a challenging workout for sure. But my coach set me up to succeed. I am one hundred percent certain that not only was this workout challenging but since I was able to complete the workout as prescribed, I got the perfect stress on my body to help me improve as a cyclist. That's why I do it right? Sure I was queasy afterwards and slightly dizzy and the thought of eating made me a little pukey. But that is part of the fun. My coach knows what to throw at me that challenges me but does not set me up for failure. And we are not simply toughing out these workouts just so we can get through the workout. The end goal is to beat other triathletes to the finish line. No, I am not going to win. Not yet anyway. But I am going to perform better and chase down the competitors in front of me. Someday, I may win my age group. In fact, that is my goal. Thankfully I have a coach who knows how to motivate me and make me a better athlete all around. He does that with knowledge, science, experience, personality, and even humor.
Funny how one article on the Internet can drive me to babble on a bit. Thanks for reading.
Earlier today, I saw this article about whether or not an individual should seek out a coach or simply coach themselves. The original article is here:
http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/2015/01/can-you-go-the-self-coached-route.aspx#axzz3NrrgLBkU
After going through the pros and cons of being self coached, the article ends with this statement, "Self-coaching should be an option for almost all triathletes. Our sport is not terribly technical—we’re just swimming, biking and running—the three things we’ve done since we were five years old!"
Really? It's that simple? Maybe it should read, ""Self-coaching should be an option for almost all triathletes who don't want to improve." It seems almost irresponsible to make such a bold and general statement. What are all those coaches for that are constantly referenced in all the other articles? Are they chopped liver? How can Ironman.com constantly quote professional coaches and then in one article basically say that the sport is so simple, you don't need them? The article did not come right out and say that no one needs a coach and gave discussion points about various resources that coaches provide and to think about whether that is something one might require. And they did use the word option. But ending the article with such a bold statement seems to suggest the author believes that coaches are not necessary for the common triathlete. At least that is the impression I got when I read it.
Sure when it comes down to it, we are doing lots of swimming, lots of biking, and lots of running. Well, duh. But there is much more to it than that. Personally my coach is more than simply someone who manages my time for me. Don't get me wrong, this is a huge thing and I am lucky to have someone who knows how to structure my week, month, and year so I can get the most benefit from my workouts and races. And as far as accountability goes, my coach is good for that too. I want to turn my Training Peaks boxes green and I look forward to his feedback on those workouts. And does my coach motivate me? He sure does. But beyond all that, my coach really knows the sport inside and out. He knows what it takes for athletes to improve and race well.
Maybe not everyone wants to improve. Maybe some people just want a good healthy sport to help them with overall fitness. Plus there is certainly a social aspect to training and racing. Maybe for some people the social engagement is more important. I like those benefits for sure and for me, it is a healthy hobby. More than that though, it is fun. But what makes it fun is putting in all the work to improve, training hard and then on race day, executing the perfect race strategy that allows me to beat as many other competitors as possible. They do call it a race for a reason. And then doing it all again and trying to improve and beat more people the next time around.
As children we were often told that "it's not whether you when or lose, it's how you play the game." After playing soccer all throughout childhood and most of my adult life, I learned that that statement is only partially true. Fair play and honesty are no doubt the cornerstones of any competition. And while it is not really all that fun to beat a bunch of 5 year olds in soccer, it is a lot more fun to win when competing with people who are similar in skill and experience, drive and desire. Wining is fun.
The other day I had a bike trainer workout called "Anaerobic Sandwich". This was a challenging workout for sure. But my coach set me up to succeed. I am one hundred percent certain that not only was this workout challenging but since I was able to complete the workout as prescribed, I got the perfect stress on my body to help me improve as a cyclist. That's why I do it right? Sure I was queasy afterwards and slightly dizzy and the thought of eating made me a little pukey. But that is part of the fun. My coach knows what to throw at me that challenges me but does not set me up for failure. And we are not simply toughing out these workouts just so we can get through the workout. The end goal is to beat other triathletes to the finish line. No, I am not going to win. Not yet anyway. But I am going to perform better and chase down the competitors in front of me. Someday, I may win my age group. In fact, that is my goal. Thankfully I have a coach who knows how to motivate me and make me a better athlete all around. He does that with knowledge, science, experience, personality, and even humor.
Funny how one article on the Internet can drive me to babble on a bit. Thanks for reading.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Reflections on 2014
The celebrations and parties are over and many best wishes for the new year have been wished upon friends and family. Blogs have been written, Facebook and twitter updates have been posted. And now, I would like to add to the digital record. There is much to be said but I have challenged myself to be as brief as possible. So here goes my wrap-up of 2014 and my thoughts on the upcoming year.
A lot happened in my neck of the woods this year. Of course a lot happened to everyone all over the world. While I reflect on all these things, I have to remember how lucky I am despite the challenges I faced. Not once did I have to worry about my next meal. Not once did I wonder where I would be sleeping. Not once did I have to flee my home because of war and barbarism. Not once did I not feel loved and appreciated. There are millions in the world who are not so lucky. 2014 had challenges but in comparison to many, they were really not that big a deal even if they seemed to affect me greatly.
In 2014 I quit my job and started a new one. Also, Melissa and I decided we were tired of dealing with a big house and big yard and devised a plan to downsize. That meant cleaning up our big house and putting it on the market and finding a new place to live. Once we made that decision, we moved like lightning to execute our plan. With the help of our excellent Realtor, and because of Melissa's keen mind and sensibilities, and a great deal of elbow grease from our most generous friends, we were able to move out of our big house and into an 8th floor condo in the city of Richmond rather quickly. And we love it!
Also in 2014, my dear old dad passed away. I have written a few times in this blog about my dad. I miss him a great deal. But I have missed him for several years. Dementia took my dad away from me little by little through the years. As his disease progressed, and he could no longer do all those things he loved to do, my sadness grew. Fortunately, my dad never got violent or went missing. He was gentle as always. But in the end, he could no longer do the things he used to be able to do including eat. Truly he was a skeleton when he finally gave up his last breath. And were it not for morphine, his pain would have been hard to bear. Like I said, I miss my dad and there are many things that remind me of him and make me smile or cry. When this happens, I let the emotions wash over me and let the sadness fill me. Thankfully, I have many pictures of him that help me remember his greatness and make me smile. Here are just a few. Big shout out to my brother Erik for going through all the old photos and scanning them. It's a big job that everyone always talks about doing but Erik gets things done.
So in 2014 I got a new triathlon coach, started a new job, bought and sold a house, lost a close loved one, and completed several 5ks, a 10K, a 15K, and 7 triathlons including Ironman Chattanooga which I finished in 11:45. Not bad at all. Busy, stressful but successful. Thankfully, I have Melissa as my number one supporter. I could not have gone through all of these events without her by my side, offering advice, always encouraging, always supporting, always chipping in to help, always available for hugs. Sharing all of the difficulties, stresses, and accomplishments with her is really a blessing. I am one of the luckiest people I know when you think about it. Thank you Melissa for always being there for me and with me as we make our way through our lives together.
What is in store for 2015? So far, I have decided on the events listed below. Likely there will be a few more running events thrown in for good measure. My goals are to get faster, PR or course, and come closer to the podium. Also, I am hoping to step up into the world of time trial bikes which will assist me with these goals. I started out the new year with a 5K time trial on the track and set a new PR of 19:11. Thanks to my coach Dave Luscan and thanks to the Dalton team for their pacing and encouragement.
I have a few non-triathlon/fitness goals too. While my diet is pretty decent, I would like to improve it. More homemade juices, more vegetables, less toxins. I think this year I would like to increase my charitable giving as well as my own investments. My dad did so much for the less fortunate. I would like to model some of that behavior.
2015 Events
April 11th-Crossover Ministries 15K
April 18th-Smithfield Sprint Triathlon
April 25th-RTC Sprint Triathlon
May 31st-Raleigh 70.3
June 27th-Blood Sweat and Gears Century
July 18th-Snake Bite Century
October 11th-Ironman Louisville
Happy New Year Bitches!
A lot happened in my neck of the woods this year. Of course a lot happened to everyone all over the world. While I reflect on all these things, I have to remember how lucky I am despite the challenges I faced. Not once did I have to worry about my next meal. Not once did I wonder where I would be sleeping. Not once did I have to flee my home because of war and barbarism. Not once did I not feel loved and appreciated. There are millions in the world who are not so lucky. 2014 had challenges but in comparison to many, they were really not that big a deal even if they seemed to affect me greatly.
In 2014 I quit my job and started a new one. Also, Melissa and I decided we were tired of dealing with a big house and big yard and devised a plan to downsize. That meant cleaning up our big house and putting it on the market and finding a new place to live. Once we made that decision, we moved like lightning to execute our plan. With the help of our excellent Realtor, and because of Melissa's keen mind and sensibilities, and a great deal of elbow grease from our most generous friends, we were able to move out of our big house and into an 8th floor condo in the city of Richmond rather quickly. And we love it!
Also in 2014, my dear old dad passed away. I have written a few times in this blog about my dad. I miss him a great deal. But I have missed him for several years. Dementia took my dad away from me little by little through the years. As his disease progressed, and he could no longer do all those things he loved to do, my sadness grew. Fortunately, my dad never got violent or went missing. He was gentle as always. But in the end, he could no longer do the things he used to be able to do including eat. Truly he was a skeleton when he finally gave up his last breath. And were it not for morphine, his pain would have been hard to bear. Like I said, I miss my dad and there are many things that remind me of him and make me smile or cry. When this happens, I let the emotions wash over me and let the sadness fill me. Thankfully, I have many pictures of him that help me remember his greatness and make me smile. Here are just a few. Big shout out to my brother Erik for going through all the old photos and scanning them. It's a big job that everyone always talks about doing but Erik gets things done.
So in 2014 I got a new triathlon coach, started a new job, bought and sold a house, lost a close loved one, and completed several 5ks, a 10K, a 15K, and 7 triathlons including Ironman Chattanooga which I finished in 11:45. Not bad at all. Busy, stressful but successful. Thankfully, I have Melissa as my number one supporter. I could not have gone through all of these events without her by my side, offering advice, always encouraging, always supporting, always chipping in to help, always available for hugs. Sharing all of the difficulties, stresses, and accomplishments with her is really a blessing. I am one of the luckiest people I know when you think about it. Thank you Melissa for always being there for me and with me as we make our way through our lives together.
What is in store for 2015? So far, I have decided on the events listed below. Likely there will be a few more running events thrown in for good measure. My goals are to get faster, PR or course, and come closer to the podium. Also, I am hoping to step up into the world of time trial bikes which will assist me with these goals. I started out the new year with a 5K time trial on the track and set a new PR of 19:11. Thanks to my coach Dave Luscan and thanks to the Dalton team for their pacing and encouragement.
I have a few non-triathlon/fitness goals too. While my diet is pretty decent, I would like to improve it. More homemade juices, more vegetables, less toxins. I think this year I would like to increase my charitable giving as well as my own investments. My dad did so much for the less fortunate. I would like to model some of that behavior.
2015 Events
April 11th-Crossover Ministries 15K
April 18th-Smithfield Sprint Triathlon
April 25th-RTC Sprint Triathlon
May 31st-Raleigh 70.3
June 27th-Blood Sweat and Gears Century
July 18th-Snake Bite Century
October 11th-Ironman Louisville
Happy New Year Bitches!
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