St Croix International Triathlon - Triathlon Week

sfricks · 11-13-2006, 01:20 PM

OK guys... Sunday is my Oly. I'm a little timid to even post after DDs finish time and Heather's Ironman time. I keep telling myself that racing here is different but in reality, I'm just fat, old & slow :)

The swim is a two loop open ocean course. The sea conditions can go either way this time of year but most likely will be 1-2' surf and choppy conditions. The bike is 25 miles with little flat and 6 long major (9-22% grade) climbs. The run is an extremely scenic but very hilly two loop course in the Buccaneer Resort. Daytime temps are low - 79 / high - 88. Waters about 80. Relatively mild for this time of year.

Last years race was miserable for me. Not from a placing stand point but due to the limits you race at in this distance event. It's like a REALLY long sprint with not 1 second to catch your breath. I know, I know... Plenty of time to catch my breath when it's over... My times were: S 37:47 17/40 - B 1:31 6/40 - R 59:25 9/40 - 10 of 40 over all at 3:08:30. T times are in the bike but ran < 1 minute each. My goal this year is to break 3:00. It seems reasonable as last year I lost ALL of my hydration and nutrition right at the beginning of the ride on one gnarly pothole. Should have stopped but I'm too dense! That's a bit long to race totally dry :( Most of my time savings this year will come on the bike which I plan to blister. I should shave a few off the run if I can take in a few calories in on the bike.

Updates to come Monday!

hmullett · 11-13-2006, 05:06 PM

Scott,

Sending you lots of good luck hugs!!!! I'm still basking in the glow of my IM, I have to say that its my new favorite distance!

Bad news, though. Air Traffic Controllers have a new "contract" with the FAA and our vacation time bidding is different this year. So, I'm not going to be able to get the time off for the St. Croix 70.3. You really don't know how much this bums me out, because I was already putting money aside for the trip and planning my bike training for the "Beast." I'm still trying to pull some strings and trade weeks with a coworker, but I don't know if I can. Good news is, I'm volunteering at IM Lousiville! So, we'll have our triweek meeting then! I only live 2 hours away and I feel the need to pay back to the tri community what was given to me last week. Amazing volunteers!

Heather

sfricks · 11-14-2006, 04:17 AM

Totally cool! I'm excited to meet you in KY if not before.

pyschosyd · 11-14-2006, 08:43 AM

Have a great race Scott!

I totally agree about the OLY distance. It is probably the most painful. The only good thing is the length of the swim. It strings out everyone nicely. Not to mention it is my favourite distance. The bike is generally painful, and the 10K usually isn't much more fun. Just the right distance to say, I can run a little harder and just push through!

Cheers
Syd

DOUBLE DOWN · 11-16-2006, 12:20 PM

Good luck Scott.
It seems like Scott is the Godfather of the tri board; and its usually Scott offering the advice and well wishes, so I hope you get some motivation during the race knowing that we'll be here on Monday waiting to hear about your successes.

hmullett · 11-16-2006, 12:27 PM

LOL! The Godfather, somehow that is so fitting!

Can't wait for all the juicy details on your race, kick A#S and take names!

Heather

DOUBLE DOWN · 11-16-2006, 01:29 PM

Hey Scott,
What is the websight for that tri?

sfricks · 11-16-2006, 01:56 PM

OK NOW!!! My impression of "The Godfather" is this old guy who had to hire people to kick butt for him. I see myself more as a middle aged Michael Corleone. While we're on Pacino, let's compare me to Scar Face. "Say hello to my little friend!"

Thanks for the kind words & support. I quasi-feel that triathlon saved my life. I'm healthier at 44 than I was at 20 and although I weigh the same, the bulges have shifted. If I can help people do the same, I'm content.

I appreciate your friendships.

hmullett · 11-16-2006, 08:06 PM

Yeah, you wouldn't hire anyone to kick butt. You'd do it yourself.

I also think that tri has "saved" my life. I'm breaking the barrier of what I thought was possible. I remember 3 1/2 years ago when I got diagnosed with cancer, and I thought "I need to make a change." Well, my best friend was doing tri's and loved them. She knew I liked to run, so she told me to sign up for my first one. I did that tri with her and I was hooked. That race I placed 12th in my age group, and I didn't have a clue as to what was going on! I was also racing slightly hung over; she and I hit a bottle of wine the night before. But, needless to say, I'm here for the long haul. My cholesteral is super low, blood pressure low, heart rate low and strong, and I'm cancer free. So, I'm here to stay. I've also learned how to eat. In high school, I struggled with an eating disorder that followed me to adulthood. Now, even though I'm not a size 2 (now a 6), I eat to fuel my body. I also relish the fact that I can do an Ironman faster than most women AND men, and that I'm in the peak health of my life. Thank you triathlon!

Heather

chappy · 11-17-2006, 03:11 PM

I was thinking more like "The Godfather from Old School"

sfricks · 11-18-2006, 03:25 AM

As in Spoonie Gee?

pyschosyd · 11-18-2006, 06:47 AM

I feel so normal! You guys have all overcome so much! For me I have allways been athletic (thanks Mom and Dad!). I drifted to triathlon because of the cross training element, and the culture of it. Whenever I surf or visit message boards I read so many inspiring stories about what people have overcome to be triathletes. It makes me feel so normal, but at the same time it makes me thankful for the parents I had and the way they raised me. I want to do the best I can and train as hard as I can because I want to be able to relate to and help people who aren't able do what I can.

I am also thankful that in the field of teaching I can pass on, and inspire the healthy lifestyle in my students. As teachers we have so much influence on our students, and how they will grow up. I know I have helped some of my students move toward a more active lifestyle, and I hope they can continue it into their adult hood.

You guys are all inspirational!
Cheers
Syd

sfricks · 11-18-2006, 07:22 AM

Thanks Sid. I was very athletic growing up. Track, baseball, wrestling, lifting all competitively in high school. Even as a police officer (stress changes your body shape!) I was relatively active and semi-fit. It was when I entered the corporate world of fast food, power lunches, networking dinners and comfortable chairs that things got out of control. They didn't have too and shouldn't have, but did. By age 39 I had put on 30+ lbs and lost muscle mass so probably closer to 40 lbs “fatter”. Enter triathlon.

I'm still very much in the stressful corporate world, work 50-60+ hours week, have a family and a high maintenance house but have found that I handle it all better when I'm fit. 30-60 minutes a day make me feel so much better, stronger and even more confident.

Triathlon seems to have been the key to my re-motivation. It's certainly challenging and infinitely rewarding. I’ve tried the “gym” thing but grew bored quickly. The multi-discipline aspect of Tri keeps it exciting. Plus the advantage of training and racing with different groups. I love being able to run a 5K on Saturday and do a 50 mile bike road race on Sunday. Run M, W, F with the run crew and do chatty training rides on Sunday with the local cycle federation. I don’t swim much competitively but there are some great ocean swims here a few times/year and I train T,T & Sat with the local swim group.

Then there are the friends. Even in the corporate world you can end up hanging around those with destructive lifestyles. It’s nice to re-align your friends to help you feel stronger, better and younger. And of course when you pull those destructive minded friends “over to the dark side” of Triathlon, its just bonus!

As an Ironman you'd think that a "routine" Sprint race would be no big deal. I can tell you that crossing that finish line is worth the world every race, every time, no matter the distance. It’s always an accomplishment. I’ve really grown to appreciate life through triathlon. Ergo my comments on Tri saving my life.

Thanks again friends!

chappy · 11-18-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfricks

As in Spoonie Gee?

No, the movie "Old School" with Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn. The guys that start a fraternity while in there 30s and Luke Wilson's character is "The Godfather" Very funny movie if you haven't seen it.

sfricks · 11-19-2006, 10:50 AM

Well guys... The Godfather couldn't put a sub-3 together... The race wasn't terribly bad, just a darn hard course and it was brutally hot. My computer registerd 91 on the bike and the run was hotter.

S 1500M - 33:12 - 2:13/100 - Large rolling swells but not a bad swim
T1 :44 - very good, fast transition for me
B 26 Miles - 1:28:18 - 17.73 MPH - one month off the bike took its toll on me!
T2 :50 - I stopped to put on socks. Didn't help the toe!
R 6.3 Miles - 1:00:54 - 9:40 mile - :16 sec/mile slower than last year.
T 3:03:59 - 5th overall and 4 minutes faster last last year.

This race stopped being fun around mile 3 of the run. The missing toe nail hurt like h*^l and the heat killed me. I fell off the 9 mm pace I held in the first 3. I ended up walking most of the hills.

For the record, even Duct Tape doesn't do a great job of holding those toe nails on :)