Vellum

My bike sponsor in 2008, Vellum, is based in Asia. They are quickly setting up distributorships worldwide, and have recently done so here in the USA. This means that their suberb bikes will now be available to everyone.

I have been aboard their TT/Tri bike, the Uno, since early in the year, and train on their Elemente road frame. The stiffness on the road frame is something I value a lot, and this frame delivers. So far aboard the Uno I have had 7 Top 5 finishes, 3 of those being victories with new course records. Needless to say, the Uno has a lot to do with my increased performance this season even though my training load has diminished somewhat due to the rigors of law school. Below, the Uno:

In any case, below is a link where you may get a frame directly from the new Vellum distributor in the USA ( based in California):

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZaa6zi

You can check out their website at: http://www.vellumcycles.com/.

There is also a video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAYRpH2VA4

I highly recommend the brand!

Riverboat Triathlon

This past weekend I raced the innaugural Riverboat Triathlon. Leland and I decided to drive up race morning and watch Batman on Friday evening. It was a lot of fun!

We got to the race, I got my packet and begun to warm up. I wasn't feeling especially frisky ( I did not taper and was quite sore, to be honest), so I took the swim a bit slower than usual. I had a small lead at the turnaround, and worked a bit harder on the way back to increase it a bit so I'd start the ride alone. I got out first and sprinted through transition as quickly as I could.

Onto the bike, I started out fast, but eventually settled into a more manageable pace, especially toward the end of the 20 mile ride as my sore legs begun to complain. I wanted to save something for the run, especially as the Alabama heat was starting to get to me. I had forgotten how quickly 95F and 90% humidity can slow someone down. :-)

My plan for the run was to start at a manageable pace, and build into a stronger rhythm. Coming from a short course background I always have a hard time doing this, but I was able to run about 25 seconds faster on the 2-mile stretch back toward the finish. I was pleased by that. It means that if I had to keep pushing a hard pace, I would be able to do so.

I crossed the line in 1:21 and change, and was glad to be done. After the race, held at the Alabama Belle, some of us went to the pool and hang out waiting for awards. It felt nice as the temps were soaring! I then held a quick Q&A, gave away some PowerBar nutrition Cds and got some good bbq chicken sandwiches, before driving back. In the end, I am glad to have been a part of the event - it was a really nice local race, and I definitely hope to be back next year!

Another race weekend ahead

I know it's been nearly 3 weeks since I last wrote anything up here. I hzve been trying hard to manage life as a student of law and as a professional athlete. Needless to say, both activities are quite time consuming. When you mix both, it becomes a recipe for busy times and little desire/energy for much else. Hence the lack of updates.

This weekend I am off to the Riverboat Triathlon. It is a first year race in the heart of Dixie Country, and being a good Southern boy, I am very much looking forward to it - will do my best to write something here quickly after the race is over.

I am not tapering much for this race. To be honest, tonight's run had a 1 hour set at 1/2 marathon pace in rolling terrain. I am sure I will still be feeling my quads come race morning, but I have a few bigger races coming up, so as part of the preparation, I will be doing the riverboat triathlon on little to no taper.

Alabama State Games: Gold Medal!

This is my first ever State Games title and I am thrilled! It's one I have wanted and chased for quite some time. Following last week's 14 second loss at the Buster Britton Triathlon ( in the pouring rain) this time the sun was high, and the temps as well. I took advantage of this and really put the hurt down.

I ended up cracking the hour barrier ( which had never been done at the Games before) and setting a new course record as well as the fastest time in all 3 disciplines. the run was 2 laps in the woods, totally XTerra like, and it really was an advantage as gteh trails were very similar to the conditions I train under at home - lots of ups and downs, roots, etc...

The race happened at a summer camp YMCA, so after the awards ceremony and some grilled burgers, we all went into the lake and played on the water trampolin, rock climbking icebern with slide as well as other amazing water toys. I am defintiely coming back next year!

I will now have a few weeks focusing on regaining fitness ( racing means a lot of tapering and less training than normal) to prepare for the Fall races.

Buster Britton Triathlon

Under pouring rain conditions for the swim and bike, as well as a 30+ minute delay due to lightining, the Buster Britton Triathlon got underway. I had an ok swim, but knowing the bike course I made sure I took the twisty turns safely.

While I was behind Omar ( a local stud and former NCAA swimmer) early in the race, he took the turn (way) too fast and crashed badly right in front of me - the lead motorcycle almost hit him. It took me some time to go around the motorcycle, and then go around his bike, and them around him. After the race I realized that those 20-something seconds cost me the race.

Tennessee's Bruce Gennari ended up first. While I hate being second, it's ok that the guy in front of me was him. he is super strong, and an all around nice guy. When we stepped onto the podium together we just chatted for a few minutes while the awards were presented. That's how easy to get along with Bruce is.

With the Black Warrior Triathlon cancelled, and my summer scheduled completely messed up due to Law School starting in the summer for me, my race schedule is being re-arranged. I'll post more details after this weekend's State Games.

Rock&RollMan Southeast Long Course Championship

Exactly six days after winning the TriAmerica New Orleans event, I found myself lining aup against the Deep South's very best at today's Rock&RollMan.

This is my 4th time at the event, and I really wanted to finish better than 3rd, which is what I have gotten in year's past. I was feeling "on" this morning, and after leading the swim, I started the bike strong to hold off Dan Moss, a friend and fellow pro who has won this race the past 3 years, all of them with a killer bike ride. I led the race to mile 11, when he passed me. I followed him for a couple of minutes and decided to repass him. He is clearly a stronger cyclist than I am, and my only goal in doing this was to break his spirit. He followed me for about a minute and then really passed me. Within 3 miles, he was 45 seconds up the road.

I ended the hilly and windy bike ride in 4th place, 2:35 down from 2nd and 3rd. I started the run on a mission and found myself in 3rd place by mile 5. Before mile 8, I was in 2nd.

From then onward, my main focus became to maintain my gap and to survive the remainder of the blazin' hot run, the remainder of the scalding hot 13.1 mile run. Right before the line I reached for my brazilian flag, but had too little energy to wave it, and only carried it over the line. I was in a deep hole. 2 IV's layter and I was functional again.

I ended up 4:50 down from first which is the closest I have ever been to the winner. I was only 54 seconds ahead of Chris Olson's 3rd place finish, a tight finsih. He had a terrific race this year and really made me fight hard for 2nd. I am looking forward t a little break this coming week, as my body is pretty nuked from the past week's efforts.

RESULTS:http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_results&id=938

Win in New Orleans!

I am just back from New Orleans and am ecstatic I was able to hve such a great day. I exited the water with a sizeable lead and pushed the pace to entend my lead to nearly 28 min at the end of the day. The 2k/60k/15k distance really suits me, but the heat at the end took its tool on all the athletes I think.

I finished in 3:00:42, and while I tried to break 3 hours, at the end I was just glad to be done and cross the line in one piece.

Results can be found here: http://www.championchiptiming.com/images/files/static/238Male.htm

I will post the press release soon. Pretty tired right now. i just realized the hole I dug during the race was my own grave. I am nuked!

FB