NO REGRETS...DREAM BIG!

Long over due....

2011-09-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Lots of words in this one...
To say this post is long over due is a bit of an understatement. I have been wanting to get some thoughts down in writing for a long time...not that many people care to hear them I'm sure but I feel the need to document what I have been through physically and emotionally over the past few months. Truth be told, it has taken me this long to process everything and I think I still have much more to figure out.
It has been a bit of a roller-coaster the past few months. After Alabama I had a small knee injury that kept me from riding and running for a month. I started back, found some form to build on, and then got a stress fracture. Amazes me that I was able to get through the biggest block of training of my life in prep for IM St. George without even the slightest injury. Guess this brings me to my next point. At this point in the season I think I was still drained mentally from Ironman and all the other races that quickly followed. Looking back I have to admit that Ironman took its toll, not so much physically (although I think destroyed muscles from IM lead to greater risk of injury) but more mentally. I don't know how people can race Ironman year after year. Honestly, I can't help but think racing this distance for many years and too often really limits your potential as an athlete. Even if your focus is Ironman I think two a year is max (one is ideal) if you want to do well and there needs to be very few races between those two efforts to assure you maximize your abilities. I am just a big believer that over a lifetime we only have so many race efforts in our body and mind...some races take more out of us then others but racing is hard in all respects and I think a lot of people ignore this and fill the schedule with races b/c that's what you do in the summer. Enough about that but certainly something I think is worth mentioning.
So, I haven't run in over 6 weeks now (well aside form a couple short runs to see if the fracture is healed) and I won't until after I get back from Kona. With this said, I missed Xterra Nationals and I won't be racing in Kona or Maui. The season came to an abrupt halt with the stress fracture and I am pretty bummed about it. Some people said just go do the swim and bike. My argument here is why spend all this effort to get ready for races I can't even finish? I am not going to walk a marathon on a stress fracture...first of all that's just stupid and second of all finishing Kona is just not that important to me. Also, I never intended to go to Kona to just finish. Not even close. I do this sport for one reason and that to see how far I can push my body (when I am healthy and fit). I decided to not race b/c I think just swimming and riding will leave me more disappointed then not starting the race. Someday I will go back and race the race but for now I just need to step back and get some perspective.
Honestly, it was very hard for me to step away and accept what was happening. Emotionally I was broken down b/c I just don't feel I have it in me to battle back from another injury...I have done it a lot over the past few years and it is draining on all levels. On the other hand, I wondered if there was so way I could get past this injury, find some fitness, and still race well.
Thing is I'm not getting any younger and while I didn't achieve all of my ultimate goals I feel I can look back and say I gave it my best shot. Truthfully, I think I have a lot more potential in this sport but to reach that potential requires several more years of very hard work, which I don't think I have in me. I am not naturally talented by any means. Everything I achieved came from a lot of time and effort in all three sports. Plus, I am not living in a bubble....guys now are so crazy fast and while I feel I can still pop some decent results (mainly on the Xterra circuit) I am not going to be one of the best in the world. I just don't think I have the talent. This is a pretty hard pill to swallow but I think it took really giving it a shot and putting myself out there to see what was possible. Now I look back knowing I gave it my all, I achieved some of my goals, and I don't regret focusing on racing for one second.
So, I think in all of this (the past few months) I came away feeling like it's time to stop racing competitively. While I feel like I have a lot of room for growth I am not sure I have that "fire" anymore. If you don't have that "fire" and determination you won't ever make it. Part of me wonders if I was 100% healthy and fit right now would I feel that same sense of "mental fatigue?" Who knows but I can say that starting this year I had a good idea that 2011 would be my last year of serious racing. I just really hate for it to end this way.
This sounds like another sob story so I apologize. In reality, I will certainly continue to get out on the bike and run with buddies. Probably even jump into some fun bike races with the boys but the days of pouring my heart and soul into the sport of triathlon are over. I love this sport for so many reasons and my decision to back away really is bittersweet. On one hand, it crushes me that I can't finish out the season (and my career for that matter) the way I hoped and, on the other hand, I am ready for the next step and challenge in life. I have always been one to have something else in my life (work related) besides sport to balance things out and for me this has been Skinfit and coaching.
Skinfit is something I love working on. We have some really exciting things in the works and I can literally spend all day hammering out work and feel great about it. It's fulfilling. I am looking forward to more time with Jess, family and friends. For so many years it was about about training and racing. I loved it but it prevented me from doing a lot of things I wanted to do and love doing. I want to spontaneously take trips with friends for the adventure not necessarily to get in good training. I long to pursue my other passions and interests in life without feeling guilty for not logging the miles with specific races in mind. I by no means want to come off bitter b/c I am far from it. I guess in short, I just want to chase new adventures with the same passion that I chased the sport of triathlon. If I can do this I will die a happy man!
So, for now I have put racing aside and I am getting out on the bike b/c I love it. No training plan or goals in mind just rolling along to stay fit, healthy and happy. There is a sense of relief in this. I guess when you feel this it really is time to step back. Can't wait to start running again b/c when I am running trails it's probably the one time I truly feel myself and I'm at peace with everything. On to the next chapter in life...I wondered when the day would come. One could probably say it was hurried along by injury but I have always promised myself that when my desire to race is gone its time to walk away without any regret and pour your heart and soul into something else that inspires and motivates you. Lucky for me, I have no shortage of things in my life that do just that!

--It's been a great ride...cheers!!!

Down time...

2011-06-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Over the past 11 weeks I have raced 8 times and done an insane amount of travel. Hate to admit it but it crushed me. Certainly if one of those races wasn't an Ironman I would be stronger (at the moment). While I had a good race in Santa Cruz the week after Ironman it probably did more damage to an already beaten body. Then following that up with travel and racing in Alabama the next weekend sealed the deal leaving me broken mentally and physically.
I honestly loved all of it though...the process was incredible and I look back on the past few months with nothing but positive thoughts and lessons learned. I have had such a great build up this year and I started the season stronger and healthier then ever. Coaching from Adam Zucco (Trainingbible Coaching), functional strength work at Rehab United and Rolfing kept me on my game for the past 6 months and allowed me to post the best results of my career.
Now though, it is time for rest and recovery. This decision to heal up means I won't race Xterra East Champs (Richmond), which is a race I love. This will most certainly hurt my rank in the overall pro series but at this point I think traveling and racing when I am not ready does nothing for my mind and body. The season is a very long one and the big races of the year come in late September and October.
Plus, I bruised my kneecap while riding the course Thursday before the race in Alabama. I knocked it on the top tube pretty hard. Honestly though I didn't think too much of it but it hurt a good bit during the race and in the days after. I am working with Bryan at Rehab United and we are convinced it is a bone bruise, which can take a while to heal. I haven't run since Alabama and I have ridden a couple of times but nothing more then to test the knee. It still hurt Tuesday during my easy ride so will test it again on Monday. At this stage I just want it healed and I am in recovery mode so no sense in pushing it.
For me, recovery blocks when you at least have the ability to go out and get some exercise when you want to are welcome times but when you physically can't ride or run the recovery block is almost painful for the mind. It is a struggle to keep the thoughts of lingering injury at bay and while this is a time to regenerate mentally the constant thoughts of what you can't do can be overwhelming. I have obviously dealt with knee injuries before and it kept me away from racing for a LONG time so even though we think this is just a bruise the thought of something more serious is on the mind. Oh well, doing my best to occupy my time with Skinfit, coaching and good times with friends and family. There has been no shortage of parties, BBQ's, and beer drinking. Plus, swimming a good bit (at noon under the sun of course) and really enjoying the lack of structure and "floating" in the water.
So, the plan for the rest of the year is to first and foremost get my knee and body healed. This could take another week or 3...I have no idea. Then the races will be...
1. Xterra Mountain Champs - Colorado, July 16th
2. Xterra Nationals - Utah, Sept. 24th
3. Ironman World Champs - Kona, Oct 8th
4. Xterra World Champs - Maui, Oct 23rd

Finally, I will be doing a couple week stint in Colorado leading into the Mountain Champs. I have been wanting to get out there to train with Cody and the Boulder crew for a while so really looking forward to this. The plan is to also stay in Hawaii between Kona and Xterra Worlds so I will get a nice little vacation in the islands for a few weeks...cheaper, less stressful and more convenient to just stay there then fly back and forth.
That's it from here. Enjoy the day!

4 weeks of travel and 3 big races....

2011-05-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

My big 4 weeks of travel and racing has come to an end and I am honestly very happy to be home! I had an amazing time and I will never forget all of the adventures. With this said I am beaten and broken physically and mentally. The travel and racing took a major toll on the body and the effects were seen this past weekend in Alabama at the 4th stop on the Xterra Tour.

I love the Xterra Southeast course and I would love nothing more then to have a solid race out there but it was pretty obvious during my swim warm up that things were going to be rough. I tried as hard as I could out there but I had nothing...the tank was empty. The swim was a fight for me. This year my swimming has improved and I am normally quite comfortable but Sunday just hanging on to the back of the usual group felt so hard. Then on the bike I had no strength. I honestly felt like I was out there forever! It felt like I was doing another Ironman =)And the run, well, can't quite call that a run...a jog lets say. So, far short of a good result but we (me and coach) kind of knew this would happen. Bummed yes but a big surprise no.

--evening run at the lake

The second week post ironman has been the toughest. I have been exhausted. The fatigue is so deep in the body...can't quite explain it in words but simple walks with the dog can sometimes feel tiring. My mind is a bit cloudy still too...seems like life is in slow motion at the moment. All to be expected but I wouldn't mind feeling fresh again =)
I also knocked my knee cap on the top tube of my bike while preriding the course last week. Didn't really feel it at the time but I am pretty sure I have a bruised knee cap. Seeing Bryan at Rehab United today so he can give me his thoughts but after talking with him yesterday he thinks this is the issue. Bottom line is it hurts to ride and run. So hoping it is just a bruise and it will clear up shortly so I can get back to enjoying the sunny san diego weather. At least it forces me to get some extra rest which I need.
That's it from here...think I am going back to bed =)

Xterra Pacific Champs--Santa Cruz

2011-05-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

The week after Ironman was filled with mega easy workouts and sitting on my butt. The first couple of days were pretty rough b/c the pounding my quads took on the St George run was beyond anything they have ever experienced. Walking was a chore for sure but my legs/body seemed to get better everyday. I followed all the usual recovery protocal...ez exercise, massage, ice, lots of antioxidents, vitamin C, iron, etc. and I think it worked well for me.

By Thursday when I prerode the Xterra Santa Cruz course my legs were feeling much better. Not snappy or fresh but the soreness had pretty much cleared up. I swam everyday and I was actually feeling pretty good in the water...amazing how much better I felt after some easy time in the pool. I ended up riding the course again friday and took it really easy again but, like I said, the legs were feeling better everyday and I felt like I could actually put some pressure on the pedals. My first run after IM didn't come until Saturday...just 15 min ez minutes after a 45 min ride. My legs felt a bit sluggish on the first run back but no soreness, which I was happy about.

--One of many coffees...this one especially good in Monterey!

Sunday came up pretty quickly but, honestly, we had such a good crew staying at my grandmothers house that prior to late Saturday night I didn't even really think about the race. Lesley, Jessica and Dan kept the mood light, we watched a lot of movies, cooked up some good grub, and just had an overall great time. So, when race morning came it was obviously time to shift gears a little bit to get the game face on but the pouring rain had me a bit bummed out. I was already questioning how my body would hold up and then when I saw the weather my first reaction was "am I really going to do this in this horrible weather...I just raced an ironman last weekend."
We rolled up to Santa Cruz and the weather actually cleared up a bit and the rain held off for the whole race. I got in an ez warmup spin and then jumped into the FREEZING cold ocean (52-53 degrees). I took maybe 50 strokes and realized the water was too cold to stay in for very long. So, I went back to shore and got in a warmup out of the water. Of course, once the gun went off the water temp wasn't an issue and I had a fairly good swim for me. Then once on the bike I tucked in behind Josiah for as long as the body would allow. Eventually he left me behind and I ended up catching Craig. Craig and I ended up riding the second half of the course together and I had a great time racing with him. Up until the run my body felt great. I really had no thoughts of Ironman and the fatigue I was carrying. However, the run was a different story...the Ironman effort creeped into the body after the first 10 steps. Honestly, it felt like a tempo run. I tried to run hard initially but I had no punch and the legs were a bit heavy. So, I settled in and just hoped the legs would come around. I was hurting but it wasn't from the speed I was running...for the first time I just felt spent. I was tired and I really couldn't wait for it to be over...the run felt like it went on forever!
I did manage to hold on for 6th, which is my best Xterra pro finish to date. This result moved me into 5th in the National Series. Not going to lie, this was a big surprise. Ironman is no joke and the St. George course is punishing (plus the 92 degree temps). So, I thought there would be no way that I could recover in time for Santa Cruz. I am certainly still recovering from the effort in Utah but the body has come around much sooner then I expected.
--Some celebrating (for a lot of reasons) was certainly done!

Right now I am in Alabama for the 4th stop on the Xterra Tour. I love this course out here...the trails are awesome! Honestly, I still have some questions in my mind as to how I will perform. I have good days and bad days. I am still on the "easy train" doing only short accelerations throughout mellows sessions to try and get back some of the "snap" but there is still some heaviness in the legs. The last few weeks have been hyper focused on resting and racing so I am actually really excited to get back to actual structured training! One more hit out on Sunday and then I will go home for a couple weeks to try and build back up for the 5th stop on the Tour in Richmond.

--Perfect way to wrap up the travel day to bama...run on Oak Mtn trails at sunset

-Swim venue...guess what, the water isn't HOT for once!

Got in some good recon on the course today, tomorrow is a mellow, relaxing day, Saturday is the usual race prep workouts, and the race is Sunday. Looking forward to another hard race with the Xterra crew on what is arguably the best set of trails we race on all year!

Ironman St. George Race Report

2011-05-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the big day has come and gone and my first Ironman race is in the bag. Quite amazing really...time just flew by heading into this race.
I got into St. George Monday before the race and really had the chance to relax and settle in. I had a pretty hectic few weeks prior so it was nice to take some time to rest up.
Before I knew it it was Friday. It turned into quite a busy pre-race day. Ironman has so many logistics to work out especially when there are two transition areas. It was actually a little stressful, which I wasn't used to. It was a new experience for me so looking at 5 different race bags, having to drop my bike, bike bag and run bag the day before actually made me feel overwhelmed. Funny thing was I wasn't at all nervous about the actual race...in fact, I was excited and really relaxed about the task at hand but all the logistics just made my head hurt =) I finally got to sit down and chill out around 4 or so and had the usual dinner of chicken, sweet potatoes, vegis/salad. We watch a good movie and I hit the sack. Didn't get much sleep, which was to be expected and the 3:30 alarm rang in my ears way too soon!
Got up, put down some breakfast, and then Tom and I head down to drop our special needs bags and jump the bus to the start. We got to the reservoir with plenty of time to just relax. At 6:45 we all lined up and started to get into the water. Got in a bit of a warmup and the the gun went off.

I started at the far left buoy. The first 400 meters or so was pretty aggressive. It mellowed out after though and I settled into a group. After 10 min or so the group was a little slow so I bridged to the next group. I actually continued this trend the entire swim. Honestly, the swim was easy and I felt good. I could bridge to groups in front without much trouble and I felt relaxed. Actually had a smile on my face the whole time and really enjoyed it. Yeah should have been hurting more but I figured why...the course is tough and the race wasn't going be decided in the swim. I just used it as a warmup and swam 55 min.
I was blown away by the volunteers...ALL DAY they were amazing and it was apparent how amazing they were as I transitioned from the swim to bike. They did everything for us!

Once on the bike I got into my rhythm pretty quickly and it felt so sureal! I just kept thinking to myself...wow, I'm doing an Ironman. So much prep went into this day but to actually be racing just felt wild. I was happy and just rolling along, enjoying the whole experience. I found a good group and we rode well together. There was so much unknown out there for me so I just stay conservative and kind of followed the guys in my group b/c they all seemed to be experienced and riding steady. At the half way point Slater caught me and I rode with him for the next 40 miles until he decided to drop me! Thanks man ;) Ended up riding 5:16 and I felt good coming off the bike.

Again, the volunteers were amazing and sent me out on the run with everything I needed. The first couple miles didn't feel great (plus it's uphill) but the legs came around after the first steep climb. I was amazed how easy it felt on the first lap. I ran 1:32 for the first 13.1 miles and honestly thought I could hold the pace. I was so relaxed and kept cool with all the sponges, cold towels, water, etc (temps were in the 90's!).

Then I hit mile 20 and my quads really started to feel the pounding. I knew this would come but they were wrecked and getting more so as every mile went by. I knew once I got to mile 23 it was all down hill so I just kept pushing to that point but at mile 22 I had my only "breakdown." I just had to walk for a minute. I felt pretty dizzy and my quads were screaming at me. I didn't want to walk but I did so I could refuel through one of the last aid stations. It proved a good move b/c I got my blood sugar back up and fell back into my pace managing to close with 7 min miles. Ran 3:17.

Finish time was 9:34, I was 19th overall, 2nd in AG, Kona bound. On this course I am happy with that time. I had split times in mind when I started the day (but on such a tough course times were really hard to predict and it was my first ironman so who really knew how I would hold up)...I thought if I had a good day I could swim 55 min, ride 5:15, and run 3:15. I wasn't far off from my predictions. Just goes to show you how prepared I was b/c I knew I could do these times based on my training results. Overall, I really enjoyed this race. It actually left me excited to go fast at this distance. Not sure it is something I will pursue after Kona b/c it is so time consuming and demanding but who knows. I still think Xterra is more my speed =) I guess I just have to go sub 9 hrs in kona so I can end my Ironman stint on a good note ;)

I really have to thank Adam Zucco and Trainingbible Coaching for all the help. I couldn't have done any of this without the guidance of Adam. He is an AMAZING coach and a great friend. Thanks man...I owe you big time!!
Also, thanks to Jim Vance...your always there to give advice and support...It means a lot!
James Walsh, what else can I say but thank you for ALL of your help! Dude, I owe you more then you know. You are always there to keep me honest and you inspire me to work hard. I think you believe in my abilities even more then I do sometimes and it really means a lot to have you in my corner. Seriously, you make me a much better, stronger, smarter athlete and I can never repay you for this. Beers on me (for a long time hombre!)!!!
HUGE thanks to my ENTIRE family for all the support. Specifically, my parents...I couldn't do what I do without your support and attention...you guys are awesome and I love you very much.
Jess, your the best wife anyone can ask for. I could write all day about what you have given me over the years but the support you provided when I said I wanted to chase my dreams pursuing triathlon and Skinfit and quit the safety of corporate america is something I will never forget and always respect. You inspire me everyday to be a better person and I can't thank you enough for this. Having you there in St George was so special...I so wish you could be at all of the races! You always bring out the best in me!

So, that's the scoop from my first Ironman. I am excited for Kona but first I have some Xterra races to knock out. I am REALLY enjoying racing this year so I am fired up to get back into the dirt. The next stop on the Xterra Tour is this weekend in Santa Cruz...obviously, bad timing for me b/c my legs are crushed but I will be there to have some fun. SLight chance I won't race but as of now I will toe the line. Then on to Alabama the following weekend for the 4th stop on the tour. Giddy up!!

Going long...

2011-04-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well, Ironman St. George is coming fast. The work is done and now its time to rest up and taper down with shorter race specific workouts. Kind of crazy this major race is in less then 2 weeks. I feel like I just signed up for it. I will be perfectly honest, the past few weeks were Xterra focused so I feel like I fell behind a bit with the travel and Xterra racing. This weekend though I put in some big miles and feel more on track.

Coming into this year I thought it was possible to excel in both Ironman and Xterra...well, I can tell you that its not possible (unless your a total freak like some of the select few that do well in Kona and Xterra Worlds). I think you can be decent in both but not great. 70.3 and Xterra go well together for sure but not Ironman and Xterra.

I needed all the base training to get back "normal" after two years of injury but when it comes to racing the two are near impossible to manage at a high level. Xterra is my focus and part of me is bummed I have this monster race that will no doubt leave me barely able to walk for the next two stops on the Xterra Tour but I am putting all those thoughts aside and focusing on St. George. I can't have any outs or seeds of doubt on the day. So, it's go time and I feel ready. I have done the work, I feel strong physically and mentally, and I am honestly excited for the challenge. There are certainly questions in my mind like how my body will respond, is my nutrition right, etc but when I look back on what I have done over the last 6 months I really think its just another day similar to the countless days I have already logged. While I haven't ever done an Ironman I think my years of experience are invaluable...I know myself and how to "problem solve," which for Ironman is key.

It is going to be a crazy 4 weeks. I am off to wildflower to man my Skinfit booth, then right after I am off to St. George for a week, then to Santa Cruz for the next Xterra Tour race, and then on to Alabama for the 4th stop on the Xterra Tour. Makes me tired typing it but it will no doubt be a fun adventure! I lived a privileged life! Gotta get back to packing!

7th at Xterra South Central Championships, 6th in the Pro Series

2011-04-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

The second stop on the Xterra Tour was this past weekend in Waco Texas.
Waco doesn't bring about thoughts of amazing trails or a place you really want to go visit but this race is easily the BEST race on the entire circuit in my opinion. The trails are incredible, the race is challenging, and the community/people are over the top nice! I LOVE this race and can't wait to go back.
My homestay is perfect and they really make you feel at home. I can't thank them enough for all they do for us! When I say us I mean all of us pros and racers...they bend over backwards to make this race a success and without their support I don't really think it would happen.

I was excited to race on Sunday. I felt ready but the course is challenging enough to make anyone suffer so I really didn't know how I would hold up. The swim was wetsuit legal but the water was way to warm so we all overheated in the water. I was so ready to get out of my wetsuit at the end of the swim...felt like I was in a furnace! I was sitting pretty good for about 2/3rds of the swim and then got gapped slightly...totally a stupid mistake but the water was really murky so you couldn't really see feet. Plus, there is a current so when swimming up stream in the river it's critical to stay on feet. When you can't see them though it makes it kind of tough. So, a little lack of attention on my part led to a gap and I lost about 20 sec. No doubt my swim has improved over last year and I think it will only get better. Still a long way back of the leaders but it's decent enough to put me in the "fight."

Then onto the bike and I would say it took me about half the ride to get my balance. I hit more trees in the first 30 minutes then I think I have hit in my entire life...my cut up shoulders are proof of this! Seriously, I was so annoyed. Just making stupid mistakes but my riding did seem to get better as the race went on. I am still riding too slow though. I think all the Ironman training has been great (and necessary) in terms of getting me strong and fit but when it comes to high intensity mountain biking I just haven't put in the time on the trails. The good news is Ironman is over in 2 1/2 weeks and I can get back to Xterra specific training and hopefully get my riding up to par!

On the run I had some work to do. Ran from 10th into 7th. The first half of the run I didn't see anyone so I didn't have a gauge of how I was running. Then I caught Adam Wirth and he said another athlete (Will Ross) was 30 sec up. I finally saw him and bridged up. He hung tough though and I couldn't drop him. We ran side by side for the last 1/4 of the run and we finally saw Patrick Valentine about 1/4 mile out from the finish. At that point I just put my head down and charged ahead. Caught him just before the finish and crossed in 7th. That's my best finish to date and I got my first paycheck ( a small one but it funded beer and BBQ in Austin!).
So, I would say it was a good race for me. It moved me into 6th in the series. It wasn't a perfect race for me but it was solid and much improved over years past so I am happy. Moving in the right direction for sure. Huge thanks to Adam Zucco and Trainingbible Coaching for keeping me healthy and strong!
Now the focus is on Ironman St George (2 1/2 weeks away). I already miss my Epic 29er but after this long distance nonsense I will be in Santa Cruz and Bama for the next two stops on the Xterra Tour. Probably not able to walk but I will be there for some fun =)

--My buddy Tom O'Brien KILLED it. First amateur and 14th overall!

Finally made it out to Hoover Dam before the race in Vegas.

Video and Pics from Xterra Vegas

2011-04-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

The best cheering section ever!

8th in Vegas at the first stop on the Xterra Pro Tour

2011-04-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

Managed to put together a decent result for the first big race of the year. While 8th doesn't sound like a very impressive finish on paper there were a lot of positive things that happen yesterday. There are also some obvious things that need improvement. I am still processing it all and have some thoughts but too knacked to share them all now and gotta get packed up to head back to the beach before a Wednesday departure for the next stop on the Tour in Waco, Texas. Can't wait to see all the great people over there and eat some BBQ!
Overall, I am happy. Things are moving in the right direction for sure and I finally felt like I was really racing out there (obvious in the sprint finish with Cody!), which makes it so much more fun. It was a heated battle for 6th-12th...just look at the times and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.xterraplanet.com/uploadedfiles/2011WestChampionship.pdf

I have tons of cool pics and video (loving the flip) that I will share later.

Racing and then some more racing....

2011-04-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

I spent the later part of last week working my Skinfit booth at the CA 70.3 expo. It was a very productive couple of days for Skinfit but I always forget how exhausting working an expo can be...the set up and break down are a lot of work and being on your feet all day for two days in a row is enough to break anyone! Anyway, it was fun, successful, and tiring all at the same time.
So, Saturday morning came way too fast but Mike Clinch and I powered up to Bonelli Park in San Dimas for Xterra Renegade. It was either do a hard workout on my own or go get in a race on the dirt...I opted for the race and I think it was a good call. Racing Xterra is always really hard and a shock to the system so I am glad I got in one race effort on the trails before the next two weekends of all-out =) efforts in Vegas and Waco. Managed a win, which is always nice but truth be told I was there for the workout and not much else (we had to get back to Oceanside to watch the "real" race...so stoked for James and Beth Walsh and Adam Zucco...they killed it!).
They changed the run course this year at Renegade making it crazy hilly, which I was happy about b/c Vegas AINT flat! I felt really sluggish in the water but it really wasn't that surprising after lugging around heavy boxes and working my ass off at the expo for two days. Once I got on the bike though I felt good and the run felt effortless. Overall, a good prep race and now the focus is on the "big ones" in Vegas and Waco. These ones count and everything else has been prep. So, it's time to rest up with plenty of easy workouts and some race intensity to keep the system firing.
What's blown me away the most so far this season is my ability to recover from these hard efforts. Almost like I didn't even go hard the days after when I am training...proof that all the aerobic base work I put in has paid off. After Superseal Adam and I strung together 3 HARD days...so, 4 hard days in a row (including the race) and I actually felt great everyday. I have never been able to bounce back from olympic distance racing the way I am now.
I am off to Vegas for the first stop on the tour this Thursday. I will have a lot of family and friends there so it will no doubt be good times. I am looking forward to this race a lot...it's always interesting b/c it's the first major event of the year stateside and usually EVERYONE shows up. Time to rock n' Roll!

A little racing/training and Vegas on my mind....

2011-03-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Got out and did the Superseal olympic tri this past weekend. It was a great workout and a lot of fun racing and running into so many good friends. Races have come to be the norm on the weekends now...it's either a workout on my own or a workout with a "group" aka race. I am opting for the races b/c I go harder then I do on my own and in this case I made some cash (aka rent payment) and scored a sweet Luminox watch.

Managed a 3rd place overall behind good friend and coach Adam Zucco and Michi Weiss, who completely crushed us. I am happy with the effort except for the run...had some bad cramps b/c of experimental nutrition (trying new things for IM), got a little lost on the run (my bad...there were only like 20 cones at the turn:)), which allowed Adam to take over second, and just lacked any giddy up and go. I know my running has been going really well so I wasn't too worried but certainly not thrilled. However, based on today's brick workout (Which we hit out of the park!!) my running is WAY better then ever. So, all is good on that front =)

This weekend I am headed to L.A. for a small Xterra race before Vegas and Texas. It will be nice to get in a hard effort on the dirt before battling the big boys at the first stop on the Xterra Tour. Training is beyond good right now and I am healthy...I'm a happy kid!

2011 Race Schedule

2011-03-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Another week of training is in the bag. Since we are now 3 weeks out from the first Xterra race of the season (Vegas)the intensity has kicked up and volume has dropped a bit. I have done a lot of volume so far, starting in November, so we are backing off a bit to get more race (Xterra) specific intensity in and then after Xterra, Waco we will readdress some volume in prep for Ironman St. George. I think it's a good plan and will work really well.

So, here is the race schedule for 2011...
1. Super Seal Olympic--San Diego, March 27th
2. Xterra Renegade--L.A., April 2nd
3. Xterra West Champs--Vegas, April 10th
4, Xterra South Central Champs--Waco, TX April 17th
5. Ironman St. George--Utah, May 7th
6. Xterra Pacific Champs--Santa Cruz, CA May 15th (Quite certain I won't be able to walk after IM but I have to see this course...basically where I grew up and have tons of friends up there. BTW, thanks Xterra for putting that race there when I leave and taking Temecula off the schedule when I move down to S.D.!!)
7. Xterra South East Champs--Pelham, AL May 22nd
8. Xterra East Champs--Richmond, VA June 13th
9. Xterra Austria--June 25th (2 week stint in Europe after Richmond)
10. Xterra Mountain Champs or 70.3 Racine or just training??
11. Xterra National Champs--Ogden, UT Sept 24th
12. Kona (Hopefully!)
13. Xterra World Champs--Maui, Oct 23rd

So, that's it...lots on the plate but all exciting. The front end of the year is loaded up for sure but nothing I can really do about that since Xterra is "boss." The first two races are pure practice races just to get in some race intensity. So, no stress, just go hard and log a good workout. Similar to this weekend where did the tri club race....got in some intensity on top of a solid week. Things are still going really well and I just can't believe the season is already upon us...crazy!
It's crunch time now :)

Traveling and Training....

2011-03-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well a lot has happen since my last post since I totally suck and don't have time to blog. I need to get better about it but quite frankly I am just super busy everyday and finding time to do this can be tough even though I really want to track my "journey" this year.
First things first, I got my new MTB rig and I am loving it! Loving it might be an understatement actually....it is pure bliss to ride and I can't take my eyes off of it in all its beauty =)

Now onto the recap from weeks past...
I guess I will start with my training camp in Scottsdale, AZ. I had a blast as usual...going out there is always a great time and so productive. It really jump starts my season and puts me in a good place mentally. I did the desert classic du when I was out there and got royally smacked by some of the best Ironman pros in the business. It was good to knock off the rust a bit and revisit what it means to hurt/suffer. It was a tough, hilly course and it put my HR in places I haven't seen in a while....just what the doctor ordered! I got back from AZ , settled back into San Diego living for a week or so and then went out to St George, Utah for a Trainingbible Coaching camp with Jim Vance and Adam Zucco.

The camp out there was great...a TON of solid training and I got to sell Skinfit all week to the campers. It was a great trip on all fronts. I am pretty beat after this one though as Adam doesn't like to go to bed before midnight! Dude, you owe me some sleep!! The time difference and time change also made things challenging. It's tough too to be coaching and training. It was a lot of me getting in workouts before and after sessions with the campers. All that aside it was great though and I came away with some solid fitness and recon on a course I am racing in May.
I like the St George course a lot (aside from the crappy road surface!). It suits me with all the hills on both the bike and run. It will be a HUGE challenge on race day but I look forward to it b/c you have to be strong on all fronts to do well....that to me is the perfect Ironman course.

--Got Adam out on the MTB with me in Vegas...Blue Diamond was fun!

In terms of training I am really happy where things are at. I can't thank Adam Zucco enough for his coaching! I also have Jim Vance close by to help with things. He is a good friend and excellent coach so hearing his advice and thoughts is priceless as he knows exactly what I am going through and trying to accomplish! The biggest thing for me is that I am healthy for the first time in over 2 years. Also, I have logged consistent training for the past 5 months and I am physically stronger then ever before as a result of the workouts Adam is giving me along with my time in Rehab United. I am excited for the upcoming races...probably more then ever before.

Right now we are moving toward more race intensity as we are only 4 weeks out from vegas. The past few months have been all about building a base. I have a solid one now and it's time to focus on speed and suffering :) It's looking like I will be doing some races in the coming weeks to really get in specific intensity. There is a tri club race this weekend (please no rain!), possibly Xterra Real or Super Seal the following weekend and an Xterra race up in L.A. the weekend before Vegas. Not sure just yet which ones will happen but there will no doubt be some racing in my immediate future. Exciting stuff!

That's it from here. See ya at the races!

Backing it up...

2011-02-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Obviously still slacking on the blogging front...I have intentions every week but somehow time just slips away and it is too long between blogs.
The bottom line is I am backing up day after day and week after week of consistent, solid training and I am healthy. I haven't been rolling along like this in a VERY long time and I am excited to see what the season brings. I just hope I can stay healthy and keep this all up b/c I will most certainly be stronger then ever.

Most all of the hardwork is happening at home in San Diego but Lesley and I did make it out to Chicago for a Rocky style winter training camp. I have major respect for all athletes living outside of CA and AZ. Seriously, snow sucks and when it's that cold out it aint fun to train. I think if I lived there I could rival the best when it comes to beer drinking and consumption of huge meals. I just struggled to stay motivated in that climate but guys like Adam Zucco amaze me b/c they put in the work and come out to race in CA when snow is still on the ground out there and they lay down some solid performances. Incredible and inspiring actually. I think I will stick to CA and AZ though.

Speaking of AZ I am headed out there early this week for my annual training camp. I have gone out there around this time every year and I love how it builds my motivation and gets me back to what I love about the sport. My buddy Tom has the perfect training grounds in Scottsdale and it is starting to feel like home. A lot of time on the trails under the desert sun is in my near future and I am pumped. It is so beautiful out there and it will be a good change of pace.
Kind of crazy that some big Xterra races are only 8 weeks away and my first Ironman is only 12 weeks out. Travel plans have been made for the first several events of the year so it is all feeling very real and it's exciting. I am looking forward to the travel and the challenges. So, with big races around the corner I started my beer drinking plan ;) Kidding of course (kind of) but you have to have fun along the way or what's the point!

That's about it from here. Busy busy and it is only going to get more nuts when the travel starts for both Skinfit and my own personal races. Fun times ahead....the dream continues!

Blogging slacker...

2011-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

It has been way too long since my last blog post. I wish I had time to do this more b/c I do want to track my emotions, adventures etc. as I train for Ironman and Xterra. Obviously, trying to train and run a business is taking every waking moment of my life so blogging has fallen to the wayside.

--Good times at a New Years party

To be honest I could probably write 10 blog posts about all that has happen over the past month. The bottom line is I am training a lot and VERY happy about how things are coming along. I am healthy and logging some mega miles in prep for St. George and the Xterra Circuit. I dare say I am stronger now then ever before and all fingers point to a solid 2011. The approach is very different this year with more focus on logging big base miles and developing my aerobic capacity. Something I have kind of done in the past but never to this extent. The big emphasis is on power and aerobic efficiency in all three sports. This is all being devised by Adam Zucco who is coaching me this year. He is an incredible coach (USAT developmental coach of the year) with a wealth of knowledge and a true understanding of who I am as an athlete and person (we have trained extensively together and are good friends).
It has been really nice to be home as it allows me to get into a routine and just take care of business. There will be plenty of travel in my future so I am enjoying some time in sunny SD. Plus, I have some great training partners (Lesley, James, Bryan, and more)that push me and keep me motivated as well as a strong support system between Rehab United and my rolfer Michael Boblett.

With St. George in the picture this year it will be tough to be strong for all the Xterra races in the series. So, the plan is to focus on Xterra Vegas and Waco, then go into Ironman mode for St. George, and basically just show up for Xterra Pacific Champs and Southeast Champs. I am really bummed the Pacific Champs is the week after IM. I am sure this will be a killer course and practically in my old "backyard." I grew up not far from Santa Cruz and I would really like to give this race a good go but oh well. If I can walk heading into this race I think I will be happy. To be honest, I am not even sure if I will make it up there given the magnitude of what is happening the weekend before. So, after that block of racing I will gear back up for Xterra East and Mountain Champs to hopefully get back some of the lost points during my Ironman recovery.
I will probably even headed over to Europe for some racing as I have to go over there anyway for Skinfit...maybe Xterra European Champs and 70.3 European Champs. Then, of course, I plan to focus on Xterra Nationals, Ironman World Champs in Kona, and Xterra World Champs in Maui to wrap up the season.

So 2011 will look like this:
-Desert Classic Duathlon (AZ) followed by AZ training camp
-Xterra West Champs (Vegas)
-Xterra Southcentral Champs (Waco, TX)
-Ironman St George (UT)
-Xterra Pacific Champs (Santa Cruz, CA) (questionable since it will be one week after IM)
-Xterra Southeast Champs (Pelham, AL)
-Xterra East Champs (Richmond, VA)
-Xterra Mountain Champs (Vail, CO)
-Xterra European Champs and 70.3 European Champs (?)
-Xterra Nationals (Ogden, UT)
-Ironman World Champs (Kona)
-Xterra World Champs (Maui)

*still a slight chance I will do 70.3 California and 70.3 worlds in Vegas is also a possibility

--Then the year will be over and it will be time to party with these clowns again!!

--Christmas was great...got to hangout with our two nieces!

So, a lot going on here. I am excited about where things are headed and can't wait to test the body at the first races of 2011. Giddy up!!

2 SOLID weeks in the bag....

2010-12-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

The past 2 weeks have been awesome in terms of training. I have logged some big hours and I am feeling strong...perhaps stronger then ever. All of my training is aerobic in an effort to develop my base fitness, which has been lacking the past few years. This easy training is keeping my motivation high and allowing me to log consistent hours week after week. This consistency is also something that has been lacking over the years. I have found that my training was always a touch too hard, which left me feeling tired a lot and really not motivated. So, this new found approach is really working and I am enjoying the whole process.

It really helps to have the right people around you too. I have been training a lot with Lesley and since we are on the same page it works out really well. The days just seem to fly by...we are logging workout after workout, day after day and it is obvious that we are both getting stronger and really enjoying the hours. I have an awesome crew at Rehab United to training with. They all push me and I can honestly say I have a blast working out with them every week. The workouts are BRUTAL but the sessions seem manageable since we are all there suffering together.

Perhaps more then ever I am excited about my training and upcoming races. I think it has a lot to do with the new training stresses and approach to the daily routine. I know I am doing the right things, I am having fun b/c of it, and I am seeing results.

So, the plan is to keep the hours high and remain consistent heading into Christmas, then a little rest and travel, and then back home to get back to it. When I am not training I am super busy with Skinfit. Trying to wrap up the year with a strong holiday season and looking toward 2011. I have a lot on my plate right now but, most importantly, I am happy with the way things are going so I am just going to keep plugging away.

Kind of a boring post without any pics or major adventures to share. Truth be told, my life has been pretty steady as of late and I couldn't be happier about it. I travel a lot most of the year so to be home for a while putting in some good work on all fronts has been really satisfying. More of the same this week. I will try to snap some pics to bring some life to these posts!

Enjoy the week!

Going slow and loving it!

2010-11-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

I have been back at training for a few weeks now and I have already seen some big improvements. We pinpointed a while back that my aerobic system is massively underdeveloped and the testing in AZ proved this. So, the goal for the past few weeks has been to go slow, keeping everything (I mean everything) aerobic, and to get my body utilizing more fat as a fuel source by being specific with my diet. Even in the pool at masters I am holding back and just swimming steady aerobic instead of ripping off fast intervals with the group. The crazy thing is that my body is already adapting and I am noticing some big changes taking place. I am lucky in that my body responds very quickly to the training stress it's getting so in just a short time I am seeing the benefits of the new plan. This has also given me a lot of motivation and I can honestly say I am enjoying training more than I ever have. It's a comforting feeling knowing that there aren't any races in the near future and I have plenty of time to just focus on my weaknesses. I am waking up excited to get out the door to train and, truthfully, I haven't felt this for a long time.
I am also 100% healthy which is more then motivating, it's inspiring passion, desire, and happiness. In some ways it feels a bit early to be out there logging the miles but, like I said before, my aerobic system is way underdeveloped so I need a lot of time to go slow and develop it. Plus, I am really enjoying the whole process of improvement so I am just rolling with it and not thinking too far ahead.

I am also very focused on strength since this is also a weakness of mine. So, I, along with a good crew, am putting in some serious sessions at Rehab United. The stuff we are doing is soooooo good...we are developing sport specific strength but also doing a lot to help prevent injury. There is no doubt that we are all getting stronger and build a good foundation for 2011.

So, that's the news from here. A few more days in S.D. and then we are up to SLO for 5 days to celebrate Thanksgiving. Can't wait to get up there to enjoy some training on my favorite roads/trails and to do some wine tasting, eating, etc with friends and family. Oh, and maybe some more super secret brewery tours at firestone where we can taste the foam =)

I leave you with this....

Cool pics from our adventures in Big Sur

2010-11-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

Trips and training

2010-11-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

-A glimpse into life in Big Sur

The trip to the Big Sur backcountry was awesome as usual. We got a little rain on Sunday but it just made for some fun driving back down the mountain. Overall, just what I wanted....time away from the "world" relaxing with good friends.

On Sunday I dropped Jess off at the airport in Monterey and then drove down to SLO to meet Slater. We pulled the plug on the Monterey stay and opted for SLO instead since the weather was not looking good up north. I think it was the right call. We have a comfy place to stay everyday and the training here is epic. The pool is at the bottom of the hill, the roads are free of traffic, the scenery is unrivaled, there tons of climbing, and the trails bring a smile to your face. A recipe for a perfect training camp if you ask me.
It has been great training with Slater. He is getting ready for Ultraman (totally crazy!) and it is inspiring to see him put in the work. It's so nice to have someone out there to log the hours with. Can't wait to see what he does in Hawaii!
On Monday we logged 5:20 on the bike. We headed out to the Wildflower course from Atascadero but the wind was pretty ugly so we turnaround and got the extra miles on the twisty vineyard roads. Then we jumped off and did a 5 mile t-run. Was one of the first runs I have done after a long ride so the legs were in some shock for the first bit but they actually came around and I felt good as the run went on. Today we woke up and knocked out some meters in the pool and then went down to the coast for a run on one of the best trails in the world! The dirt was perfect and the views just breathtaking. If you don't feel good after a run on this trail in Montana De Oro you have some serious issues! =)
Amazingly, I feel pretty good. The shift to true aerobic training doesn't wreck me so I can log the miles day after day. Sure, the hours can be exhausting but my legs aren't trashed. I am really respecting the zones and I can already see the benefits. The testing I did in AZ was really good for me and I am glad I did it. I am headed in a new direction and I think it will bring about positive results. In addition to the different training stress I am also focusing a lot on my diet. It's not that I don't eat healthy b/c I certainly do but I need my body to use more fat as fuel (as opposed to carbs) and this takes some training. So, things are good and I am pumped about the training ahead of me!

We have a couple more days in SLO. The weather is nice and Slater and I have a massive day planned tomorrow....all three sports and a lot of miles =) Can't wait.

Quick Update

2010-11-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Haven't been blogging much b/c I have been super busy.
Skinfit is rocking, I have been on the road a lot, and Ironman training has officially begun. So, you can image how crazy it has been around here. The good news is everything is really coming together and I am happy about where I am at on all fronts.
I normally take November off from training but since I didn't race the last half of the season and I am lacking base fitness the plan for 2011 has taken flight. Of course, everything is super mellow but I am training and developing my aerobic base. I did some testing while I was in Arizona and we got some good baseline figures to go off of. It was quite obvious that I need to increase my aerobic capacity. I can go hard for sure but I shift over to carbs as my main fuel source far too soon. So, the diet has changed and the focus is on longer aerobic work in an effort to improve my weaknesses. I am excited about the work ahead and about the 2011 season.
Now, while the training has started up, it doesn't mean I am not staying flexible and having fun with friends. The really serious training is still on the horizon so I have some fun trips planned. For starters, Jess, me and some great friends are going way off the grid into the Big Sur backcountry this weekend. It is a time for us to disconnect (literally), do some soul searching, and relax with some of our closest friends. I am really excited about this trip...being way out there really sets me straight and reminds me what's important in life.
Then next week Slater and I have a big few days planned. He is getting ready for Ultraman and I have wanted to do the Monterey to SLO ride for a while now (It has been years since I have done it and it's one of the best in the world). So, we are riding from Monterey to SLO on Monday, Tuesday we are training in SLO, Wednesday we are riding back up to Monterey, and then Thursday we will do a little training in Monterey before hitting the road back to Socal. Should be an epic few days and I can't wait to show Slater the terrain!
Alright, I gotta go...we are hitting the road for SLO now.
Have fun out there. Peace

Oh, and our camera broke so sorry for the lack of pics. I do have a new Flip HD and we broke out the older camera so I should have some good footage from the Big Sur and out training camp.

Long overdue post...

2010-10-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a busy month to say the least, which is the reason for the lack of blogging. In fact, it has been a crazy year with plenty of exciting times, successes, and even some failures. In terms of Skinfit it has been a HUGE year. Record sales, lots of travel and networking done, and we are positioned well to have a great 2011. In terms of training and racing it has been a challenging year. I had big goals and high expectations for myself heading into the year since I had missed all of 2009 b/c of injury. Sadly, I didn't achieve any of those goals b/c I was again dealing with injury and just couldn't seem to get my fitness back to the level it has been in the past. The reality is that I just haven't had enough time to build up my base fitness after my year off. Plus, when your trying to race you have to do hard workouts and my body never seemed to really absorb these and the workouts always felt like a struggle.
I started back with training in January and races started up in May. Not much time when you have been unable to train for an entire year prior. I thought it would just come back but it never really did. Deep down I knew I wasn't ready to race but I wanted to be out there. I missed the Xterra scene, the other athletes, the competition, etc. so I traveled and gave it my best shot. I can honestly say I raced to the best of my abilities given where I was at in terms of fitness. I could handle shorter events but when it came to sustained race efforts or 2+ hrs I just couldn't manage it.
I have never been big on racing when your not fully ready...it just doesn't work well for me. Racing takes a lot out of you mentally and physically so when your not ready it just beats you down. That's kind of how I felt at the end of June, beat down and tired from trying to force everything. I just needed to take a step back, get back to enjoying the training, get healthy, and stay consistent. Starting in August I finally felt healthy without any injuries. So, for the past 2 1/2 months I have been logging base miles and I am actually starting to feel good. I know though that I am still not ready to race, which is why I skipped Nationals and I have decided to skip Worlds. I was planning on going to Maui but, I think at this point, I have to be realistic with myself and accept that I just don't have the fitness to be competitive. I am really bummed but it is a lot of money to get over there and I would rather save the cash and put it toward next season.
I am in a good place right now with plenty of time to get ready for next year. I can stay consistent and build up slowly. If I can stay injury free going into races next season I will be happy and no doubt ready to give my best. I would just love to get in one year of racing when I am mentally and physically ready to give it 100%. It has been a while since I have felt this way and I long to feel fit and fast.
I am doing IM St George next year and I think this will do great things for my Xterra racing. I have a lot of fast twitch muscle fibers so developing my endurance and aerobic systems will really help me overall. I have learned a lot about myself this year and I have realized I need a different approach to training....more emphasis on slower, longer workouts and strength. My speed is there, I just need to develop the other components like strength and endurance.
So, that's where I am right now..focused on Skinfit and preparing for next season. I am doing everything I can to stay healthy and get strong. Lots of time at Rehab United doing functional strength classes, running and riding hills to develop sport specific strength, and, of course, enjoying extra time with friends and family (since it is October afterall).Also been working with a Rolfer every week...crazy what he is doing to get my body in balance. Awesome stuff and he is keeping me healthy, which I am pumped about. Ironman training officially kicks off Nov 1st and it will be game on.
Off to a training camp in Arizona on Friday. It will be a chance to market and sell Skinfit to the campers and I will be doing some testing and video analysis in all three sports with Adam Zucco and Joe Friel. Should be a great week hopefully without any rain=)
Thanks for reading!

My first Cyclocross race and Mission Bay Tri

2010-10-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

I did my first cyclocross race this Saturday. It was cut short by a flat but what I did do was fun and really hard! I look forward to more of these in the near future! It was fun to watch James and Ryan tear it up...nice job guys! Also, big props out to Slater for the sweet pics and video!

I followed it up with a 2nd place overall at the Mission Bay Triathlon on Sunday. The race was literally in my backyard so I couldn't pass it up. It was a fast race and a good tune up for Xterra Worlds. I can't tell you how good it feels to finally be healthy and back racing. I could certainly use another 4-6 weeks prep before World's but things are coming together and I am enjoying the road back to fitness.
It was a fun weekend of racing and now I am packing up for a week in Kona. Busy, busy!

Checkout a video that Slater got from the race:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22CEU50o3nE

Nicest suit I have ever worn by far!!!

2010-10-01T11:07:00.001-07:00

2010-09-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

I wish I had the time to update this blog more often. I am so slammed with Skinfit work heading into Kona and I am trying to get fit for World's in Maui. October is packed with travel and events and will no doubt fly by!

Here are some pics from a fun tri I did last weekend. It was nice to stay local (literally 10 min from my house) and race with some great friends.

I am getting into shape and I am looking forward to the race in Maui. I am really enjoying the training right now and it feels great to be healthy (finally!!!). Gotta go...thanks for reading.

Reflections...

2010-09-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

Just about all of us at some point take a step back, look at life, and realize how cool it really is. I have been doing a lot of this lately b/c, honestly, my life is pretty awesome! I am lucky enough to be pursuing my passions and my dreams, I have amazing friends and family, I am married to my best friend, my dog ROCKS, I live in sunny San Diego, and the list goes on. I have been training a lot lately and been growing the Skinfit business by leaps and bounds. On the training front, I am just pumped to be healthy and logging the miles. Its been a while since I have been on a steady progression and it feels really great! It is quite motivating and this is something I have been longing for. Plus, I have been training a lot with Lesley and a good crew. The sessions have been challenging but the company makes everything go by quicker and we have a great time putting in the work.

There are days that are more challenging then other but that's life and I just accept them for what they are and roll right into the next day. I will risk sounding cheesy here and say that life has been really good to me and I have really been enjoying the "journey." I used to get so caught up and focused on where I am headed, what the future holds, and how I am going to accomplish everything. Perhaps it's age but I have found real enjoyment in savoring every moment and making the most of everyday. I am lucky to have some really special people in my life that continue to inspire me to do so and my hats off to them! Sure, I want to plan for the future but I also believe that if you stay true to yourself, you work hard, your nice to other people,and you stay positive, good things will happen. With this said, I have started to realize that the future will sort itself out and I don't want to ignore all the days between now and the distant future b/c each one brings about a new, cool experience that will no doubt shape who you are and create the memories that you will cherish until the day you die.

So, in a nutshell, life has been great! Taking everyday as it comes, getting fit, selling Skinfit, learning a lot about myself, going to weddings/parties, spending time with friends and family, and, of course, planning some exciting things for the future (so that no day is lost of course!).

I am home for another week before heading off to Interbike in Vegas. More of the same this coming week...hard work on all fronts and plenty of good times! Have fun out there and thanks for reading.

Oh, and my tickets are purchased for Kona and Maui...those Hawaiian islands are going to see plenty of me in October!!

Busy but all good...

2010-09-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

I have been seriously busy with travel, Skinfit, and training. I am happy to report that EVERYTHING is coming together and the past couple of weeks have been perfect.
In terms of training, I am finally feeling healthy (Thanks to George the Rolfing GOD out in Chicago...amazing work!)and have been logging some big, consistent miles in all three sports. I really need consistency to find good form and this is exactly what I have achieved for nearly 3 weeks. It has allowed me to really enjoy my training and I am seeing some fitness return. I am still skipping Nationals and my sights are set on Worlds. I think if I can stay healthy and consistent for the next 8 weeks I can put together a solid race.

--Rolling in style to and from the airport in Chicago...thanks Adam and Lindsay!

I got back from Chicago on Monday. It was an awesome trip! I had been meaning to get out there for months to visit Adam Zucco and Joe Lotus...both have become good friends and are helping me really grow Skinfit out there. Chicago is a huge market for us and these two guys are blowing it up. We exceeded our biggest sales month by 65% in August so I think it is safe to say we are on the right track! We had several appointments with teams and had product showings at various locations...all were successful.

--Not a bad view from the casa in Chicago...thanks Joe!

When we weren't selling Skinfit it was full on training mode. We got in a TON of quality training and I even managed to log my longest ride ever at 126 miles. Yeah, yeah sounds like I am training for Ironman or something :) Well kind of since I will be doing St. George in May and Adam is ramping up for Kona. So, I tagged along for long rides, runs and a tough swim sets. Overall, I came away from the week stoked about Skinfit and where my training is headed. Plus, I traded Adam bikes and now am the proud owner of a Trek TTX, which is by far the best TT bike I have ever ridden. It is so solid and fast...it handles like a road bike. I love it!

I am slated to be home for the next few weeks and, honestly, I couldn't be happier about it. I have done a lot of travel this summer and I need a break. I plan to stay local to log some massive training hours and push Skinfit at some S.D. events. Plus, I am excited to be home with Jess and the mut so we can get out and enjoy the last part of summer together. I am planning to race S.D. Classic and Mission Bay Tri for fun and to get tuned up for worlds. I am looking forward to some local events and some head-to-head racing.

Got a wedding and some training on tap this weekend so there will no doubt be good times in my future. Then next week it is more of the same...consistent training and Skinfit. Stay tuned as this adventure continues!

Awesome week!

2010-08-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

--At the Del Mar races...just couldn't pass it up!

It has been one of those weeks that make you very happy and excited. Everything seemed to fall into place. Jess and I celebrated 5 yrs of marriage, Jess got promoted, training is going well and I am feeling stronger, Skinfit sales continue resulting in our best month ever (and it's not over!), and I had some great times with friends. I am a lucky guy for sure!

I am off to Chicago tomorrow for my first ever Skinfit sales trip outside of California. It should be a great week filled with meetings, networking events, and training. I am excited to finally get out there...it has been a long time coming since Chicago is one of our biggest markets. So, if you live in Chicago drop me a line b/c I will have tons of Skinfit gear with me.

On the training front things have been going really well. I am in total base/strength mode and I have seen some good results. Feels good to be healthy and logging some consistent training. I will continue this base/strength phase for another week and then when I get back from Chicago I will start to dial it up a bit with more specific workouts tailored toward the Xterra Worlds course. I mentioned in my last post that I am planning to race Nationals but this week I decided against it. I need a little more time to prepare for racing. In order for me to race well at altitude I need to acclimate at altitude for 2-3 weeks before the race...this requires a lot of time, travel, and money. Since I know I can't be in great shape for Nationals I just can't justify the time and money. Plus, by not going to Nationals I secure myself a couple extra weeks of prep for worlds. If I go to nationals I will have an easy week before the race and will need the next week to travel home, settle in, recoup from the race and time at altitude. So, I figure I will lose about 12-14 days of quality training. Quite frankly, I need every day I can get to be ready for worlds and I really don't want to rush anything. All I have done this year is rush, deal with injury, and race when I was far from race fit and healthy. I would love to finish out the year with a couple months of consistent, quality training and a good go in Maui. It has been a tough decision b/c I do want to race Nationals but at the end of the day I really hate racing when I am not ready physically and mentally. Some people can do this but I just don't really respond well to it so I have made my decision. My ticket to Maui has been purchased, my sights are set on that race, and I am excited for the day.

So, that's the news from here. Wouldn't mind having another week like the one we just had. It will certainly be a fun adventure out east and I will no doubt have some stories to share. Thanks for reading and have fun out there!

Busy so no blogging...

2010-08-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Life has been insane the past month and obviously the blogging has slowed. I have traveled the state of CA several times over this summer and trying to juggle Skinfit, training/racing, and a social life is no easy task. It has been nice to be in S.D. for the past week. I head to Chicago Monday but the two week stint at the beach has certainly been nice. I have fallen back into a routine and I have logged some consistent training.
I wasn't entirely sure I would go to Xterra Nationals but I think I will give it a go. It is fast approaching (5 weeks) and while my focus will remain worlds I think I can be in decent shape for the race in Utah. I have been able to run consistently which is a huge change from earlier in the year. Sure will be nice (assuming no injuries) to go into a race with some actual run fitness. I have been doing a lot of long rides with low cadence strength work. These types of sessions work really well for me and I already feel stronger overall. I am also going to Rehab United twice a week and getting absolutely beat down by the crew there. These workouts are so important for me and really help to keep me healthy and strong. It will be tough to juggle them when the intensity goes up but they are so important for me that they need to stay a part of my routine. I am lacking some major fitness in the water which sucks but after Richmond I really didn't swim for a month so it isn't a big shocker that I am slow. I am trying to work on my weakness by swimming longer sets so we will see how this shapes up over the next 5 weeks.

I did put on some weight during my month of uncertainty and good times so it has been a bit of a struggle to get it off. It is starting to shed so just need to keep logging the training and hopefully I will be down to race weight by Nationals. Pretty certain it will happen but it is always a bad situation when you are trying to lose weight and train a lot. This was proven yesterday when I had an absolute meltdown on my ride and run. So, I will have to be a little more careful moving forward so I can maximize my training but still drop the lbs in a reasonable manner.

On another note, Skinfit is cranking! Things have been going really well and this month will be our biggest sales month ever! It is so nice to see the hardwork paying off, especially since I am gone all the time and barely see my wife. She has been so supportive but it is tough to be away so much.

So, life is good and we just keep rolling along. Should be a hectic couple of months as I ramp up training, Skinfit continues to blow up, we go to weddings, parties, etc. I would have it no other way though because everyday shapes up to be a good one.

--a family wedding in mission beach this past weekend...nice to have to close to home

--One of the many events I have been to over the past 4 weeks

Back to work I go. Have a good one and thanks for reading.

The past week....

2010-07-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well, finally made in back to S.D.! Feels good to be home but I am hardly settled b/c I will be hitting the road again next Wednesday. I am headed back to Northern CA first for a bachelor party, then a few Skinfit events and some team meetings. I will be up there for about 10 days in total. Lots of work and some good training will be on the agenda but it is always hard to leave Jess. She has been a good sport but it is hard to always be leaving. Seems I am living out of a suitcase lately...even at home I don't really unpack b/c I know I just have to get on the road again soon.
Since getting back I have managed to get in some good training. I have really been enjoying the workouts and I feel motivation coming back. I even have a bit of a desire to race and go hard, which is a welcome feeling. It really is all about finding that "happy place" with training. I have been able to get out there with Lesley, which is really nice. She is a great motivator and we always have fun training together. You always needs someone on the same page to help with the daily grind and to put things into perspective. We share very similar views on training/racing so I think we are able to help eachother excel and really find the joys in the whole process.

My focus is on strength right now. A couple bike sessions per week doing low cadence work, longer intervals in the pool, and hilly runs. Strength is a weakness of mine and I am determined to work on it. I love strength work on the bike....it works, plain and simple. I can literally feel a difference the next day after I do these types of workouts. My weakness in the water is my lack of swimming hard, longer intervals. I can swim fast for short distances but I need to swim a fast 1500 so my focus is on swimming distance sets hard. Honestly, I have never really done this (b/c I hate it) so I am curious to see how I improve with this change. My leg feels good (cross your fingers) and my running is progressing. I am just running, nothing hard or structured. I am building slowly and will be up to 3 hrs total (per week) next week. Doesn't sound like much but being able to do this and stay healthy is VERY motivating for me. I have gone virtually the entire race season without running and I know if I can stay healthy and get in the key workouts I can post a decent run split. Knowing I couldn't prepare for the run was really hard for me and actually sapped a lot of energy...I mean, if I can't run I am missing out on 1/3 of the sport of triathlon...kind of a big deal =)
I have quite a bit of travel coming up as I already mentioned. The good thing is that my travel takes me to some AWESOME training grounds. Between Monterey and the Santa Cruz mountains I will get in some great work. Then at the end of August I will be in Chicago for a week to do some Skinfit networking and I will be able to log plenty of hours with Adam Zucco...a great training partner.
Overall, I feel good and I am excited to see my motivation returning. Taking a step back for me was a great thing and has brought back some fire. I can't say with certainty that I will race nationals and worlds but it is looking like I will. If I keep on the path I am on I think I will be fit physically and mentally.
Got a good weekend on tap...long ride and swim on saturday with James and Beth and it's Jessica's Bday on Sunday so we will have a fun filled day.
Have a good weekend everyone. Thanks for reading!

Just roll with it....

2010-07-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Since Richmond I have honestly lacked a lot of motivation to train and up until this week I really haven't done much of anything except for some fun casual rides and runs. It has just been a roller-coaster ride all year with injuries and I have been frustrated that I can't get in consistent training and I have yet to see any fitness close to what I had before my big crash a couple years ago. In a way, I am just tired of trying to force everything so I took a step back to figure out what I want and to get back to enjoying the sport of triathlon.
I needed the break both physically and mentally but more mentally. I would be lying if I said I didn't question what I was doing trying to race, if I even have "it" anymore, and if I even have the motivation to chase my personal dreams and aspirations in the sport of triathlon. Let's face it, it is a lot of work (and money) to train and race triathlon and I think the weight of this coupled with my injuries and inability to log consistent training put a lot of stress into my daily life. When I step back from it all, I just think what's it all worth?
I have obviously done a lot of thinking and I realize the sacrifices I make are worth it in the long run b/c I want to look back at my racing life and be proud that I gave it my best shot. Whatever results come it is second to knowing that I honestly gave it a shot and tried my best. I can tell you with certainty that I will not be racing after next season (aside from the occassional fun, local event just to stay fit and active). Actually, the jury is still out that I will race next year but my gut tells me I will give it a go for one more year. Then, I am shifting gears to focus more on work and my family life with Jess. I love triathlon but you can only pour your heart and soul into something for so long before you reach a point of saturation...I am not far off from this point. Don't get me wrong, I think I still have some good racing left in me but I know it won't go past another full season. To race well you need that fire and killer attitude but we only have so much of this in us during our lifetime....once this is gone I don't really see the point in racing, it becomes about participation rather then winning. For some people this is enough but, for me, it's not and it will be time to pull the plug when the "fire" is out.

Last week I was in Tahoe with good friends and it was really great to be outside riding bikes, running, laughing, and truly enjoying living an active lifestyle. No thoughts of training and racing, just good fun with great friends. It gave me some perspective.

This week my buddy Tom joined me in Monterey and we got in some "real" training. I wanted to see how I felt with a bit more structure and some longer hours. I honestly felt good and I enjoyed the training. I feel motivation coming back and I think my head is in the right place having taken some of the seriousness and rigidity out of it. So, I am going to build back up. My running is going to progress very slowly in an effort to not get hurt and I will start up with lots of strength work on the bike and long swim sets. In the coming weeks I will see if I want to give Xterra World's a go and, if I feel fit as Nationals approaches, I will toe the line in Utah. Nothing is certain but, in my mind, this is the plan. Most importantly, I am getting back to doing the sport because I love it. Fitness will come but I need it to be shared with happiness and passion.

Here are some pics from Tahoe...

--My buddy Matt swore I could ride through the creek...not so much

--Great to see some snow way up top above the lake

--Trying to jump over the log was a bad idea =)

The lack of blogging has been the result of a lot of thinking. I will be more regular about my posts from here on out. Thanks for reading and have a good weekend!

---Make the right choices.....

Richmond RR

2010-06-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am finally back home to San Diego after what seemed like a long time in the east! I had a lot of fun on the trip but it is always nice to be back home.

After Bama I was pretty bummed out. My flat and lack of fitness just got to me mentally and I really thought hard about calling it quits and flying home early. I am glad I stayed for a lot of reasons...I ended up having a decent race and I had a GREAT time with my family and friends. I tried to focus on enjoying the whole experience and can honestly say I had a blast on raceday.

The swim with pretty interesting as I pretty much swam solo from the start. The leaders had an instant gap and I came out well down on them. I got onto the bike pretty quickly and found my legs a lot faster then in previous races, which I am happy about. I wasn't able to stay with Will when he went by but Cody caught me and we rode most of the course together until I screwed up a technical section and he flowed through it. The trail network is a ton of fun in Richmond and I always love racing there...the new course is even faster and going fast on single-track is just plain fun!

I set off on the run kind of unsure of how it would go since I haven't been running much and it was hot out. In the last 2 months the only hard running I have done has been in the last 3 xterra races and I only started back with consistent running the week of Bama. So, I knew it would be a hard 10k but I wasn't sure if I would blow up. I felt pretty good the first 2 miles but I was a little scared I would run out of gas. I ended up catching Cody before the finish (he was having some stomach cramps) and I could see Will and Brandon right in front of me. Craig was right in front of them and took 5th. So, 5th-9th place were all pretty close. The shorter race distance made the race really exciting and, like I said, I really had fun. I finished 8th and jumped up to 6th in the national series.

Now it is time for me to get back to base building and strength work. I am excited to log some bigger, consistent hours and focus on staying healthy. My leg seems to be good and we are increasing my running gradually. The focus now will be on worlds in Maui. I plan to go to Nationals too but the focus will be worlds b/c it gives me more time to build up and hopefully stay injury free.

I have a lot of travel on tap over the next month...lots of Skinfit events to go to. So, I will be busy, busy but it is all good b/c it is all stuff I love.
Have a good week out there and stay tuned!

Richmond livin....

2010-06-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

Got into Richmond Monday night. The weather this week has been nice...not too hot. Of course, tomorrow it is supposed to be upper 90's (a 10 degree jump for raceday...seriously???!). They upped the start time to 8:00 to beat the heat so this should help. Plus, the race is short this year so we will be done before 10. More on the short course in a minute.
Tuesday Cody and I ran the run course, which has now changed. Wednesday we met up with Will Kelsay to get our bikes...Will drove them from Bama, which proved to be a huge help. Thanks Will! Wednesday and Thursday we rode the course (also did some swimming and running) but then on Friday I found out the course is completely different this year. We ride much of the first part in reverse from previous years and several sections have been cut out. The course is super fast and less technical. Not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, the shorter the better for me at the moment but the original course is so cool I hate to see it changed up. Oh well, it is what it is and Sunday will no doubt be fast and furious.
The river current is pretty strong this year and the water level is higher. So, the rocks aren't as bad and we will definitely have to swim "higher" in the river to manage the current. A fast swim for sure that will certainly be interesting like it is every year.
In typical Richmond fashion I have had a ton of mechanical issues with my bike. Every year I seem to have issues here. First, my wheels were completely out of true from wacking the rocks on the course. Then, it was my shifting b/c of a bent derailleur hanger. 3 sports has been very helpful in getting my bike back to normal...such a cool shop!! So, I think I am ready to roll. The test will come in about an hour when I give it a little test ride.
On another note, I have a TON of family in town, which is awesome! Somewhat of a family reunion I would say. Great that we could set up some bday celebrations in conjunction with the race. I have been hanging out with everyone the past couple days and we are having a big BBQ on Sunday. Can't wait!

--Last nights sushi feast!

So, it has been a good week out here on the east coast. It is always tough traveling for so long but having so much family in town is comforting. I am off to do some light training in prep for tomorrow and then I am back to the house to park my butt on the couch!
Have a good weekend everyone!!

Flats suck!

2010-06-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

So, the race in Alabama has come and gone and I leave yet another Xterra race quite disappointed. I learned a lot actually in this race and I take those lessons learned with me to Richmond and then back home to San Diego where I will get back to training basics.
First off it was HOT...like 98 and humid hot. Yuck! I had a decent first lap in the swim staying on the feet on Josiah and Melanie and then I just sucked on the second lap. First lesson, I had good fitness in the water for shorter distances but I need to work on longer intervals to make sure I can hold pace on a 1500. This has been a weakness of mine for a while and deep down I know I need to work on it but swimming long intervals is soooooo boring =)

On the bike I tried my best to ride hard and seemed to find my legs on the climb but the reality of the situation is I lack fitness to compete at this level. This isn't to say I am not honestly trying to go hard but in looking back at things it can't be denied that I had to take 8 months off from training (seriously nothing and getting fat) b/c of my knee injury and when I finally returned mid-january I started training but had to get in some intensity pretty quickly b/c races weren't far off. This smaller window left me without time to build my base fitness back up to the level it needs to be. I honestly though, "so what, I have been training for a long time now and I have a base." I think I underestimated this and I have even noticed that doing hard intervals really wipes me out and I struggle to even get through the workouts. This is because I don't have a strong foundation to build off of and my body just can't handle the loads yet. In Xterra it is all about surge, recover (but still at a high effort), surge again, repeat for the entire bike. I can handle some of the surges early but then I really struggle to recover and get back out of the red. Again, my lack of base aerobic fitness coming into play. We thought maybe I could race into shape but it is quite evident that this doesn't work for me =)

--At this point I am telling Trey (with Xterra) "seriously dude, I need a tube!" He just kept taking pictures =) Ha, ha...thanks for capturing this one Trey!

So, found my legs a bit at the top of the climb and then flatted after blood rock. I used one co2 but my sidewall was cut. Then a guy gave me some pitstop, which I couldn't get to work. I didn't have a tube with me so I marched back up to blood rock and a very nice guy gave me a tube. Got it on and was able to get a little air into the tire so I could get down to the road where I found more air. Then, honestly, I started to ride back to transition on the road...I was way over it at this point since I was there for like 20 min. About halfway back to transition I turned around and decided I HAD to finish the bike so I rode back up to the trailhead and cruised the remaining four miles. Mind you, I was really pissed but I tried to just enjoy the single-track and get some exercise. I got into transition and decide I would go jog the course (the top 3 were already done with the race at this point) since I haven't ever seen the run course. It gave me a chance to just jog, think about things, and clear my head. I ended up crossing the line and checked off another Xterra race.

I did a lot of thinking the rest of the day and talked with a lot of people about what was going on. My first reaction was "forget this, I am going home. No Richmond." I would be lying if I didn't still feel this way a bit but I am going to give it my best shot on Sunday and enjoy time with my family while I am here.

Jim and I learned a lot from this experience and when I get back home we are going to get back to basics and start building up my base fitness. I am not even going to think about racing until maybe Maui and, truthfully, if I am not prepared to race there I won't and I will just focus on being healthy and strong for next year. Lesley also helped a lot and made me realize that I am probably being too hard on myself...I just want to race and do well but I forget how long I was out and how much I lost in those 8 months. I thought I could bounce back quickly with some intense workouts but I have been proven wrong.

We are already in Richmond and Cody and I ran most of the run course today. It really is a cool venue for a race! This week I will get in some lighter training, give it a go on Sunday, and then I am head back home on Monday.

Have fun out there!

Solid week...

2010-06-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

I got my head on straight this past week and logged some very solid training. I am happy with the way the week went and I think it will give me a good bump in fitness heading into the next two races.
I got in some solid swim sessions with the highlight being a VERY tough openwater workout wednesday night. Such hard intervals made harder by having to swim with tennis balls. Jim is the devil in my mind! :) Seriously though, swimming hard intervals while holding tennis balls is really hard and I was beat after trying to hold feet during some longer intervals all night. It was awesome training for sure!
I also managed some high quality bike workouts including a tough mountain bike race in Elfin Forest. The course was super hilly (Steep!) and pretty technical. It was a great test physically and mentally, which I think I needed heading into Alabama. Jim has had me doing some very specific workouts in prep for Richmond and I think they will pay dividends on raceday.
I also ran quite a bit this week and I am happy to report my leg feels good. Nothing hard but some really good technique work (strides and drills) that I think will really push my running along. Got in an hour painfree run today, which is a big step. I also got my breathing situation under control with an inhaler (thanks Doc!). It is really helping me, which makes me very happy.
So, overall a very solid week and I am happy with it. Feels like I am getting my head above water and headed in the right direction, which feels great! This week I will be doing some key workouts early in the week and then resting up for Alabama. I head south on Thursday and the race is Sunday in HOT Alabama.

Yesterday. post race, we had some bday celebrations at Stone Brewery...I LOVE this place! Great times relaxing with great friends...not a bad way to close out the weekend. Have fun out there...I am off to BBQ some grub!

The mental battle....

2010-06-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Since getting back from Texas I would say I have struggled a bit to find motivation and happiness with my training. I still have a strong desire to race but I feel like I have been constantly held back by injury (one thing after another) so I have let my frustrations get the better of me. The good news is the leg is better and I have started back with some light running. The goal now is to build up slowly and stay on top of it so it doesn't get reinjured. Of course, this means I won't really have any fitness gains heading into Bama and Richmond but I need to be happy that I am actually able to run consistently at this point. The main goal moving forward is to do well at Worlds in October so I have time to build up gradually.

I have a really good support network with Jess, family, Jim, Lesley, etc. and they helped me to see that I just need to take a step back and look at the big picture. When I do this I realize that I am REALLY lucky and I just need to get back to having fun with it. My frustrations came about b/c I felt like I had to force everything b/c races are fast approaching and everyday counts. When you are injured you just can't force anything but in my mind I felt I had to b/c time is limited. Well, it is limited for the next two races but in looking at the big picture these races are just stepping stones. The thing is I just need to stay consistent, stay healthy and, if I can do this, I think my best performances are still to come.

Texas was very odd for me...I had breathing issues and they really affected me. When I got back from Texas they continued and it has affected my workouts. This of course led to more frustration...I was getting so pissed b/c I couldn't even train properly and, like I said, in my mind time is limited. I was getting worked up about it and it led to stress. I started working with Dr. Martinez to get a handle on my breathing issues. My allergies are really bad this year and I have noticed it especially when I am out on the trails...I usually breakout in a rash all over my body, which is unusual. We are trying high dose fish oil and we have doubled my allergy medicine. He said that studies have indicated that high dose fish oil (3 grams per day) eliminated asthma symptoms in 50% of athletes. I will also be getting an inhaler to get the "quick fix" so that I can train and race without issues.

So, I think we have turned the corner regarding the major issues. Now I just need to get my head on straight and focus on training/racing hard through Richmond. After Richmond I will take a little break and then get back to base/strength building mode. It is truly amazing how much attitude plays a role in everything. In the past week I have been constantly reminded of this....particularly from Jim. At Vegas I was just happy to be there racing but I lost some of that happiness b/c I became so shortsighted and forgot where I came from and where I am going. I am very lucky and I don't want to lose sight of this.

With all my frustrations, I decided to take a "step" back this weekend and just hungout with Jess, family and friends. I did very little training and it felt good. I came out of the weekend focused and happy, which was the goal.

--FYI--the new pizza port in OB rocks!

A little rest goes a long way with me so I naturally had a solid day of training yesterday. I am fit in the water and my bike fitness is coming along. Last week I did have a couple good sessions despite being a bit "off." I swam a set with Lesley and Mitch (7x75 +100). Swam the 75's in :43 sec and swam the 100 in :58 sec off the wall. Seriously, I have never swam this fast and I just need to carry it over to openwater on raceday. Tonight is a solid openwater swim workout so this will be good prep. This Saturday I am doing a local mountain bike race and this will no doubt give me some good fitness for Bama and Richmond.

Well, that is it from here. Thanks to everyone for their support. It is easy to get off track and forget about how great life is....good thing friend and family are always there to put things into perspective.

Xterra SC Champs race report

2010-05-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Xterra South Central Champs is in the books and it was far from what I was hoping for. I had a mix of emotions after the race. Much of me was disappointed and upset but I couldn’t help but appreciate the other things that I experienced while I was in Texas. The people were amazing (especially our homestay), I made new friends, and I got to train and race on some cool terrain. The experience as a whole was great but I have struggled to get past the fact that I sucked big time on Sunday. I can’t quite put my finger on why I felt so bad b/c I feel that I went into the race rested and excited to put up a good fight.

The morning of the race I was having a hard time taking a deep breath. I kind of dismissed it but during my swim warmup I really noticed it and it was bothering me. Truthfully, I tried not to think about it too much b/c the gun was about to go off and I figured it was just raceday stress or something. I had some good feet for about 400 meters and then I just fell apart and honestly felt like I was drowning. It was by far the worst swim of my life. I was just dying out there and there was nothing I could do about it. I was trying hard but I just had nothing. People I normally out swim by quite a bit came out well in front of me and people I normally swim with put like 2 minutes on me. Seriously, talk about a horrible performance!

So, I naturally carried some disappointment into the bike but I tired hard to just forget about it and push the pedals as hard as I could. Again, I was just stuck in one speed and I just fell further behind, unable to ride with anyone that passed me. Then came the run….let’s just say I was done and could not wait for the finishline. I tried to push the pace but the tank was empty (despite taking on plenty of calories). Overall, I just felt sluggish and anything but fast. I was also feeling the heat, which if I am going good I rarely even notice. No excuses here. I tried hard to go fast but I just had nothing. I got crushed by everyone and I am still baffled by what happen exactly. There is no question I am in better shape then Vegas but nothing on Sunday indicated that. I know we all have bad days so I am calling it that, but I would be lying if I don't feel beat up and bummed out. It is obviously time to move on so I will focus on getting fit for Bama and Richmond in three and four weeks.

The good thing is after nearly 2 weeks of no running my leg felt good during the race and feels good today. I will try some running this week and hopefully we have turned the corner and I can get in some actual run training in the next few weeks.

The highlight of the trip was probably the massive amount of Texas BBQ I ate...man, I have never tasted such good stuff! The Salt Lick lived up to it's reputation and I can't wait to go back.

Xterra South Central Champs

2010-05-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

I got to Waco on Wednesday so I have had the chance to ride the course a couple of times. It is a great course but certainly tough. Nothing but up and down and the short climbs are steep and some are pretty technical. On raceday, it is going to be very challenging.

We swam the course this morning and the river has a major current. We are swimming with and against the current for a one lap swim. We swam 350 meters in a touch over 4 min with the current and a little over 7 min against it...so, a pretty big difference! The water temp is 72 so no wetsuits for the pros but wetsuits are allowed for amateurs. Why they think pros have a higher tolerance for colder water is beyond me =) Truthfully, I think you would overheat in a wetsuit...I was 100% comfortable from the first step into the river. The current will definitely be a factor during the race. Swimming with the current for the first 350 means there will be less of a gap to the leaders but once we start swimming against the current it is critical to find some feet to draft off of to save some energy and get towed along.

I personally think the run will be a big deciding factor in the race. It is going to be hot and humid (92 degrees!) and the run is hard with a lot of short climbs. I wish I wasn't injured (it is getting much better after the decision to take 2 weeks off from running so hopefully we have turned the corner) and have been running but, at this point, there is nothing I can do except give 100% and be willing to "die" on raceday. Reto and his brother (1996 olympian in pentathlon) always told me you are going to "die" at least six times during a hard workout, meaning that at least six times you will be at your supposed limit and ready to quit. So, to do well you have to be willing to "die" and mentally dig out of that hole and keep fighting until the end. So, no doubt it is going to be a physical and mental battle on Sunday and whoever can gut it out and push through the challenging conditions is going to do well.

On another note, Renata and I have the BEST homestay! The family is amazing and they live right at the park so transition is literally a few minutes by bike. We had a great little dinner party last night at the house...tons of locals and other Xterra athletes. I am really impressed with the people here in Waco...the hospitality is top notch and people are such a pleasure to interact with. It is incredible how much the community is supporting the event and I am sure there will be a lot of spectators on Sunday. This has truly been a great experience so far and I look forward to Sundays race. Well, nap time for me. Have a a good weekend everyone!

Getting old....

2010-05-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

Ha, ha not really old but I do turn 31 on Monday and I can tell I am getting older b/c everything takes longer to heal and I move a bit slower in the morning until my body catches up with my mind.

Speaking of healing we made the call to stop running for two weeks to let my shin splint fully heal. The initial recommendation was to back off to 50% and we tried that but the issue still lingers. I can run but I hate having something nagging and holding me back so the decision was made to give it complete rest. Obviously not ideal heading into Texas (the 2nd Xterra series race) but I didn't run much before Vegas and had a decent run. I have increased the intensity in the water and on the bike so hopefully some of that high intensity training will carry over to the run. I have befriended the elliptical machine...I hate being inside on this stupid machine but it does simulate running to a certain extent and will keep some fitness.

--Picture taken by Rich Cruise...I look pretty awkward but in my defense it was a pretty steep drop :)

Drives me crazy I can't go into these important races with some proper training under my belt. Vegas showed some potential for good results since heading into Vegas I had done very little interval/intensity training, just basic strength and aerobic work. I have logged some solid training in the last two weeks and I will carry it into Texas. Really though I just want to be 100% healthy so that I can toe the line without anything holding me back. I will be there ready to race for sure but the question remains, if I wasn't injured how would I really do? Well, I know at some point I will be 100% so I look forward to that day but for now I am still focused on doing well and putting in the hard work. The run in my mind is always about guts and heart anyway so weather I am injured or not it will be all about suffering on raceday. I guess in some respects not knowing what to expect out on the run can be a blessing...just go for it and see what ya got!

I have a lot of training this weekend and we also have some good friends in town so there will be plenty of good times. The padres are in town, good beers will be in the fridge, the BBQ is primed, and I hear the weather will be killer...a recipe for success if you ask me =) All of this will be needed as I age up one more year...31 here we come!

I leave for Austin on Wednesday. Really excited to see this town since I have heard so much about it. I have also heard great things about the trails in Cameron Park so it will be fun to pre-ride the course for a few days before raceday. Well, that's it from here. Have a good weekend and stay tuned!

Hard training is hard and makes me tired =)

2010-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

The training intensity has gone up and it wears me out! Ha ha I like it though but some days are harder then others. My running is still minimal and has zero intensity. My shin splint is feeling MUCH better and I think we can start to mix in some harder running soon ( I hope!). We are starting back slow but I am actually starting to feel like I have forgotten what it's like to run hard...no bueno!

The swimming and riding are hard though with several interval sessions each week. Times up climbs seem to be dropping and wattage is up, which are all good signs. Lesley and I are finally on the same page so we have managed to get in some good training sessions together...it has been nice to have some company. It can get a little lonely out there when you have a long ride filled with intervals and no one else to share in the pain ;)

So, a lot of training on tap this week and heading into the important races. Managing to juggle Skinfit work, coaching and training at the moment but I notice that if I get one bad night of sleep I am done for a couple days. I have been logging some great sleep lately but I always feel like I could use just a little more time with my head on the pillow (despite 9+ hrs). That's training for you though.

Got a couple new products to tackle the season with...2010 SJ hardtail (thanks to B & L and James!), which is much lighter then my 2009 version (crazy!) and my new vendetta wetsuit from Xterra. The suit fits like a glove...I love it! They are seriously making such nice suits!

It has been really nice to be home and spending time with Jess. We had a great weekend hangout with friends and family. We even hit up Stone Brewery for Mothers Day, which was nothing short of amazing. I want to own that brewery!

So, that's it from here. Back to work I go!

Busy, busy...

2010-05-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

-Skinfit booth at Wildflower

Man, the last 3 weeks have flown by. Sea Otter, Vegas, Wildflower, and now (finally!) home at the beach. I had a blast but traveling that much breaks me down!

-Home away from home...sleeping in my Skinfit booth at Wildflower

It feels good to be back in S.D. for a few weeks before heading off to Texas for the next stop on the Xterra circuit. I am ready for some consistent and hard training. Jim has me doing some interval training on the bike, which I am excited about b/c I will need some high-end fitness heading into the next few big races. Before Vegas I had only done a couple hard sessions...I had base fitness and strength but no high-end fitness so these intervals should help. I am also starting back with some light running and the leg is feeling better. We are going to build up slowly but more then anything I look forward to logging some running miles on the local trails. I am hitting masters at UCSD a lot too in hopes of decreasing the deficit out of the water. My pool times are faster then ever so it drives me crazy that I am getting so smacked in the races. I actually consider myself a much better openwater swimmer then a pool swimmer, go figure. Plus, I am at Rehab United pretty much everyday doing strength work, mobility, art, ice, etc. The crew there is amazing and getting me back to 100%

Skinfit has been pumping...I am slammed with work, which is great! So, between Skinfit and training there isn't much free time. I am enjoying it though and, as long as I can get a good night sleep and a nap every once in a while, I will survive :)

- I will leave you with this pic...Avia pulled out all the stops providing endless amounts of booze for the weekend. Plus a full taco bar both nights!

Xterra Vegas race report

2010-04-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

My first official race back on the Xterra circuit has come and gone. After a 22 month abscence from racing I was super excited get back but since I have been dealing with injuries for the past three weeks I was really unsure of what would happen and how I would feel.

I woke up feeling positive. I was honestly just so happy to be part of an Xterra event again. The people, the whole Xterra crew, the atmosphere are all things I missed tremendously while I was injured last year. Truthfully, simply starting that race was a small victory for me, which is why I think I was so positive all day. I remember thinking to myself constantly (even when it hurt) how great it was to be back. The Xterra crew was so welcoming and supportive too and I really felt like part of the "family."

As for the actual race...

I feel like I am swimming better then ever before but you wouldn't really know this based on my swim yesterday. I feel like I am struggling a bit in the open water despite my swim times being solid in the pool. I think this will just take a little more time to come around and I think in the coming weeks I will develop some good swim fitness to take into the next few races. So, swim was mediocre but I was still in the mix heading out onto the bike.

It took me about the entire first lap to get my legs firing. I rode my second lap faster and cleaner for sure. The tough thing was I wasn't able to stay on the wheel of some of the top guys as they went by. First Cody went by, and then Nico, and Brian. It would have been nice to latch onto these guys but my fitness just isn't there yet. I tried but I just couldn't do it. Typical Xterra I felt like I was in no man's land since I couldn't ride with the faster guys so I just focused on staying positive and doing my own race. Coming into transition I was told I was in 9th. Honestly, I was kind of shocked.

I went out onto the run unsure of a lot of things...how would my left leg feel, how would I cope with running after pretty much 3 weeks off, would I run out of gas. I remembered Lesley telling me how tough the run is so I was curious to see how it would pan out. I usually race one way and that's as hard as I can go from start to finish but yesterday there were so many things up in the air. So, in all honesty I ran very controlled for just about all of it. I just kept a high turnover on the hills and let gravity help me on the downhills. When I finished I felt like I could have certainly run way harder but, like I said, there was a lot of uncertainty in my mind so I kept it controlled. Turns out I ran okay despite 3 weeks of no running, an injury, and a very conservative effort. Racing conservatively in any sense of the word is not really racing in my mind. I am the type of person that believes in full gas racing with no excuses so it kind of bugs me that I played it conservatively but I think at this stage it was the right thing to do given the injury I have been dealing with. The most important thing to me right now is that I get my leg healthy so I can prepare well for races in June.

Overall, I am happy with my performance. Was it blazing fast and flawless? No, but it is promising in my mind and I think if I can stay healthy and put in some good, hard training in the coming months I can be where I want to be. I left the weekend feeling positive and feeling like I had a lot of small victories.

It was so great having my family there too. I am glad they were there to experience my return to the sport that I love so much. Seeing there excitement made me even more pumped up to race and to enjoy the experience. I learned a lot last year and perhaps the most important thing I learned is to appreciate the WHOLE experience...I can honestly say I did this.

I really owe a lot to Jess too. She stuck with me through all the rough patches last year when I was just a pain to deal with b/c I couldn't train or even exercise. She was there screaming for me during the race and she was right there at the finish line to give me a big hug and a smile when I crossed the line. I needed her last year more then I think she knows so to have here there with me this weekend for my best Xterra performance ever really made it special. She encouraged me to stick it out and get back to racing during times when I wasn't sure I could do it. Thanks for everything Jess!

So, looking forward I am excited about Texas, Alabama and Richmond. I think my best performances are certainly to come. I look forward to banking some consistent and hard training in the coming weeks so I can work toward achieving my goals. Jim Vance has been invaluable from both a physical and mental coaching perspective. I can't lie, the past few weeks of dealing with yet another injury was really tough but Jim really coached me through it and got me to the start line excited and ready to race...thanks Jim! In my opinion, a coach that can get you from completely down in the dumps and unexcited to fired up and ready to race in a short 30 min conversation is a very good coach!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned as I gear up for my next races! Got some exciting adventures on tap!

Xterra Vegas....

2010-04-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

--Lucky # 20

Right now I am in Vegas to kick off the Xterra season. It has been great so far...I had Jess to keep me company on the drive out, the house my folks got is amazing and right next to the race site, I am surrounded by family, I am running into people I haven't seen in a long time, and I have checked out the race course. This course, in my opinion, is really hard! The bike has super steep climbs, loose, rocky descents and the run course is relentless with steep ups and downs. Plus, it is going to be hot tomorrow. It should all make for a brutal day of racing, which is why I am here =)

Enjoying some coffee and breakfast now, doing a little work, and then I am heading out at 9 for a lap of the bike course and a swim. Skinfit is going to be well represented tomorrow....Lesley Paterson, Nico Lebrun, Adam Zucco, me, and several others. Excited to get some good pics for the websites and blogs!

My bike is totally dialed thanks to Gordon at B & L. Honestly, I am floored by the level of service the B & L crew is providing...there is no better shop in S.D. So many shops just want your money but at B & L you are part of the family and they bend over backwards to make sure you have everything you need. Thanks for everything guys!

So, everything is a go for tomorrow. It will be a good gauge of fitness for me as we near races in June. We will just have to see how my leg holds up on the run and how it is doing moving forward.

--Even Sophie is race ready!

Sea Otter and this coming weekend

2010-04-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Well, the race itself at Sea Otter didn't go so well b/c of tire/air issues. I mounted some new tires before the race and managed to "burp" about all the air in my front tire about 3 min into the XC race. Okay, I am stupid b/c I didn't have air with me but I have ridden the Sea Otter trails literally hundreds of times and never have I ever flatted or lost air...so, I took a chance. Didn't pay off so I rode the entire first lap (19 miles) on less then 10 psi. Not fun since it felt like my front tire was going to roll off the rim about every 30 seconds :) I finally got a pump at the end of the first lap so I was able to head out on the second lap. Of course, tire burped more air and I was back to no pressure. So, let's just say I didn't race but instead cruised some sweet singletrack all the while testing my handling skills. Oh well, lesson learned and I really did enjoy riding the trails. The conditions up there this year were incredible.

--The best japanese feast on the planet + awesome single-track = good times!

On to this weekend...it is the start of the Xterra season out in Vegas. If you have followed this blog at all you know I have been really excited to get back to Xterra racing. Since my knee is healed and important races are upon us I figured it was time to go out and injure another body part just to keep the pain train going ;) I have been battling achillies issues and shin splints for the past 3 weeks. So, I haven't done any run training for a long while. It totally sucks and I am sure the run on Sunday is going to be tough as all hell but I will be there gutting it out. After Vegas I will be taking some time to let the leg heal so I can get back on track with my other races. I have been working with Rehab United daily and I think things will start to come around. So, not exactly how I would like to kick off my return to Xterra but such is life. I will be out there giving it my best and we will see how it goes. I wish I could say I was 100% healthy and race ready but, one thing I did learn from my knee injury, is that you just have to roll with it and make the most of the opportunities you have. Me actually starting a big race is a small victory for me given the past year. I guess sometimes small victories can lead to bigger ones if you stay patient, focused, and dedicated...I will hang my hat on this for the moment.
Have a good one out there and I will let you know how the weekend goes. I will leave you with this...

Hmmmm...

2010-04-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

--Ice Bath in the backyard =)

Been a bit of a tough week with regards to training. Skinfit has been good but training a bit challenging. I am dealing with a leg injury...some shin splints and some other lower leg issues so running has been pretty much nonexistent. I have been doing EVERYTHING to get healthy but these issues seem to be taking a long time to heal up. I did get in some good swim and bike sessions last week, which I am happy about. Really though just been kind of bummed out b/c big races are coming up and I can't really train like I need to in order to properly prepare.
So, just trying to roll with it and hoping things turn the corner soon so I can get back to proper training. I can say that I feel like my swim and bike are coming along nicely and I am starting to see some form. I was running well prior to this set back, which came on a couple of weeks ago. So, I think if I can get healthy pretty soon I can be back on track. Honestly though I have run maybe 4 times in the last two weeks and it has been nothing more then a short 30 min test run to get a feel for how things are recovering. So, not ideal but I am doing all I can right now to get back.

--Found some new trails to play on here in S.D.!

This week I am headed up to SLO and then Monterey for Sea Otter. I love this race b/c it is on trails that I grew up on (and I get to see family and friends). It is very tough racing and great training for my up coming Xterra events. I am always completely wrecked after the nearly 3 hour XC race and I am sure this year won't be any different. On Sunday I will be doing a Skinfit event in Morgan Hill and then I will head back to S.D. to put in the final prep for Vegas, the first Xterra race of the year. So, a bit of travel on tap for the next couple of weeks.
That is about it to report from here. Have a good week out there!

Train, work, train, work....

2010-03-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am LOVING life right now...tons of training and knocking out some big things with Skinfit. It has also been great to have my weekends with Jess. I usually have my training done by noon and then we have the afternoons to relax and hangout.
Hard to believe they are calling for rain b/c the weather has been off the charts nice. We have taken advantage and managed some quality time with friends over some cold beers...ahhhh!

--Got the pleasure of riding with James out at Hodges...not a bad afternoon!

Training is going really well (I am physically stronger and leaner then ever). I can tell things are starting to come around. I am feeling more fluid and fit in all three sports. I am excited to see how things progress heading into Vegas. Vegas (April 26th) will be my first race back on the Xterra Circuit since June of 2008. It's been a while for sure. To say I am excited to return to racing would be an HUGE understatement. Truthfully, who knows how Vegas will go? It isn't a peak race for me and since I only started back with training mid January it is obvious I need more time before peak fitness comes around. Regardless, I can promise you I will give everything I have on raceday. I have been training hard without a doubt so I will have some decent fitness but it is always interesting to see how the body reacts to such a violent effort, especially since it has been a while since I have experienced that level of exertion. Man, I even get excited writing about racing again!

It has been such a roller-coaster for me over the past 18-24 months so to finally be nearing some racing and to be healthy is actually kind of overwhelming. Through this blog, I have shared my feelings and emotions but I am not sure I could ever truly express the frustration and disappointment I battled everyday during my injury and time of transition in life. I can tell you that not a single day went by that I didn't dream of racing and winning. I missed training more then I could possibly express here in words. Being an athlete is just one aspect of my life but it is a big part of me and when I wasn't able to be 100% of who I wanted to be I felt down and, at times, I felt depressed. So, you can see why I am excited to be healthy, back to training hard, and nearing race season. I found a new respect for the sport and all that comes with it during my time of injury and I intend to take this new found respect with me into every race and training session.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, I am loving my life right now! A lot of hardwork, patience, and determination has brought me to back to this point and I am going to enjoy every minute

Have fun out there and stay tuned b/c there is some good training and plenty of adventure on tap for the rest of the week!

Life back at the beach...

2010-03-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

I got home from my 3 week road trip last Tuesday and I was pretty tired. I had some work to catch up on and the huge training week prior left me searching for some extra energy...trust me, I pushed the espresso machine button one too many times last week ;)

By Thursday I was feeling better and I managed some high intensity training on Friday and Saturday. I even did my first triathlon in nearly a year (Saturday). I jumped into the Tri Club race at Fiesta Island. I was curious to see how it would go given my lackluster training week, lack of racing, etc. Overall, I would say it went pretty well. Do I have a really long way to go....yes, but it was good to get out there and go hard. I managed to stay with the lead swim pack, which I was happy about. It was actually pretty easy to just sit in so it looks like my swim is coming along nicely. I wouldn't say a dead flat 20k TT is my strength but I hung in there with the leaders. On the run I felt good for the first 2 mile lap and kind of faded on the second lap. Not really a surprise in my opinion. It will take some time and some racing to get back to the level I need to be come June.

--The Skinfit crew

I can say that Jim has me running and swimming better then I ever have and I still have a lot of training left before the important races. There is no doubt I am stronger and more technically sound from all my time at Rehab United and the work Jim has me doing in all three sports. I am really loving training now b/c I am doing a lot of new things and it is stressing me in ways I have never been stressed before. I need these changes to get to the next level and I am fully committed to the "plan." So, the future is looking promising and I am fired up about it.

So, in a nutshell I had a great weekend. It felt incredible to be racing again and feeling healthy. Plus, Jess and I hungout a lot and really enjoyed the time together. No complaints here...I love my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

I am trying to be better about blogging but I am just super busy with Skinfit and training. So, stick with me...it will get better. Especially since I will be local for the next couple weeks. I decided to stay in S.D. until April 9th so that Jess and I can be together and I can log some consistent training. This next training block will take me into Vegas, the first Xterra showdown of the year. I am excited to get out there for a big race again. Even though my peak won't happen until mid June I still want to go out there and see what I've got. It will be interesting for sure!

That is it from here. Time for some Skinfit work before a little time on the mountain bike. Have fun out there!

Week in review via the camera....

2010-03-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I suck b/c I didn't blog all week about our SLO camp. I learned this week that trying to run a camp, run a business, and train 30+ hours doesn't allow for much down time. Our days would start at 6am (or earlier) and end at 7 or 8 and I would be asleep by 10 at the latest. It was an incredible week on all fronts and I am certain there will be more SLO camps down the road.
I got in a TON of solid training sessions and I am excited to see how my fitness develops after my body absorbs all of the work we did this week. Here are some pictures...no picture could do justice to how beautiful it is in SLO county right now!

--Orlanda drove this sag wagon or the 15 passenger van all week...she was awesome!

--You can see exactly why Adam Zucco was named developmental coach of the year by USAT...riding at the back and making sure everyone is taken care of! The dude is awesome and no doubt made everyone at the camp a better athlete!

--The ride down hwy 46 to the coast was unreal...the views just blew your mind! To bad I couldn't get a shot to do it justice.

--Most of the campers turned around at this point...only the brave stuck around for the tough climb that took us into darkness =)

--My boy Joe living the Skinfit lifestyle!

Today, I am wrapping up all the lose ends from the camp, taking care of a lot of Skinfit business, cleaning up the house, etc. Tomorrow I am headed back to S.D.
Make it a good one!!

SLo camp...delayed blogging

2010-03-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

Honestly, the lack of blogging is due to a ton of training and work for the camp. I promised daily blogs but after waking up, swimming 4-5k, riding long and/or hard, running hard, and making sure Jim, Orlanda, Adam and I have everything set for the camp each day I am so beat it is all I can do to keep my eyes open while eating dinner. Then, the nights fly by and we are up again for another beating!
Monday we swam with the local tri club (50 meter pool...gotta love it)and rode for close to 5 hrs with some good climbing.

Yesterday was a 5k swim that kicked my butt and a long brick session of about 4 hours that involved 3 rounds of hard bike laps + 1 mile as fast as you could go. It was a tough one but one I really like and will no doubt make me stronger. This morning started early with another masters swim and now we are off for a run and ride. So, busy, busy but lots of good work being done.
Gotta head out but pics will come shortly.

SLO training camp

2010-03-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

Day 1 of the SLO training camp was yesterday. Jess and I cruised up to the central coast Thursday afternoon. Yesterday was pretty mellow with a ride and swim. Honestly, the night I got back from AZ I felt something funny (well, it actually hurt)in my right knee, which isn't the knee that was injured. So, it kind of worried me so I took it easy Tuesday through Thursday. I saw Patrick Oshea for some ART (he is the man by the way!) and he felt that my meniscus had sort of slipped out of place and been pinched between the bones, which was causing my pain. Basically the result of moving my leg in an odd manner...AKA your getting old Trev!
Well, Patrick worked his magic and got everything back in place. Yesterday was a day to make sure the knee feels good to go for the camp and I am happy to report it is. The swelling has come down and I will be ready to roll.

--It felt good to be back on the SLO county roads...it is beautiful here right now. The green hills in the winter always blow my mind!

Add caption

Since yesterday was fairly mellow I had time to visit one of my favorite establishments in the world...Firestone Brewery. So, not a bad day...riding on my favorite roads, swimming in a great 50 meter pool (had the whole pool to myself), drinking incredible beer, and catching up with good friends.

This weekend I will be ramping up the training and carrying that right into the week where we plan to log some MAJOR mileage in all three sports. Can't wait! I even kept myself up last night looking forward to the training ahead. We will have 25 campers here so it will be a good group.

I plan to post daily to recap the happenings at the camp so stay tuned!

Traveling man...

2010-03-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

Our last day in AZ we went for a SWEET MTB ride and a run...the views were amazing. This really was the perfect training camp...thanks for letting us stay with you Tom! I built a good foundation heading into my next adventure so I am pumped about this =)

-Renata climbing to the peak!

I have been training and working for the past couple days. Tomorrow I am off to a 10 day training camp in San Luis Obispo. Stoked about this one. I hope the weather is good for us but, regardless, the hills are going to be beautiful up there and the training is going to be SERIOUS!

So, back on the road I go. Living the dream I know...you won't hear me complain! Everyday has been a good one...bring on tomorrow baby!
Have fun out there!

Today was UGLY!

2010-02-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

Today started at 4 am with a wake up to get out to the Desert Classic DU. All the rain made setting up a Skinfit booth impossible so I ended up networking, handing out catalogs, and supporting Renata for her race. It was miserable out there...wet and cold. Of course, the one time I don't pack my Skinfit rain gear it is pouring...nothing like a garbage bag though to keep you dry =)

I skipped the race and got my training in later in the day when it wasn't raining ;) Weak maybe but I think it is just smart =) Ice bath done and we are off to dinner. Some training in the morning and then we are head back to sunny San Diego (hopefully!) Have fun out there!

Day 5: Rest

2010-02-27T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today started off pretty mellow and I was happy about it b/c I was tired and needed some time to relax. So, I let Renata and Tom do some training and held off to do my training until the afternoon. I am glad I did b/c it gave me a chance to just relax and get some work done. I did my run in afternoon with the pup (although she ran out of steam halfway through and I had to drop her off), did a little core work, and then proceeded to jump in the ice pool for some recovery. A good relaxing day that was much needed after the hard training.

--Wake up Sophie!

Tomorrow is supposed to dump rain so it has put a damper on the real reason I came out here, to sell some Skinfit at the Desert Classic DU (Training has been unreal though so I wouldn't have changed the trip to AZ). We will see how it looks at 4 am but pretty sure the Du isn't happening given the Thunder storms being predicted.

Cheers and have a good one!

Day 4...some recovery workouts and a much better mtn bike.

2010-02-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

Day 4 started with an easy run and a swim workout. Then we had a few hours to rest up and get some work done before ripping some of the best singletrack I have ever ridden. We met up with our good friend Brian and he served as our tour guide.
I really LOVE the trails in Arizona. This training camp has been awesome...it will be an annual thing for sure! I felt much better on the bike today...finally riding more technically sounds and able to go a bit harder. Here are some pics from our ride...all the boys were rocking Skinfit. Makes me so proud =)

Tomorrow we have a run and a ride in prep for our race on Sunday. Have fun out there!

Day 3...a little rough!

2010-02-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

Today was a distance swim workout and a long ride. Lets just say I had a HORRIBLE day on the bike. Didn't feel good at all, got a flat, powertap computer came flying off mid ride so had to track that down, stomach pains the entire time (not sure but maybe too much coffee or something I ate), the list goes on.
The only positive things on the ride are seen in the pictures below....tons of sunshine and great views! Tomorrow is another full day and I trust I will feel better after my ice bath =)

And the comments about the beer selection in my last post were appropriate but I must say I had no hand in selecting these and we made due with what we had. The selection of beer in the house has since changed and is more on par with what you guys can appreciate.

Day 2 in AZ

2010-02-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

It was a full day today with a morning track workout, 3 hr harder mtn ride with some hill repeats and some short harder efforts, and a swim workout. Tommorrow is another long day of training. Weather has been awesome and it should be warmer tomorrow. Here are some pics from the day...

--Pure recovery baby...ice bath in Tom's pool and a beer to take our minds off the chilly water

--Track essentials

--Amazing ride today...sooooo much fun!

--Tom taking it to the hill

--Renata napping after some hard riding

--Gotta love that the pool is 3 minutes away!

Stay tuned for day 3...gonna be a good one!

The three F's

2010-02-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of my 2010 Arizona training camp. We got here late last night after a long drive and VERY busy day (Renata Bucher is with me and we are staying with stud mtn biker and good friend Tom). I no longer have B & L to tend to so I am 100% focused on Skinfit and racing. It feels good but not sure it has hit me that I now have 7 days a week to focus on my priorities. I am sure it will hit me this friday when I am training all day =)
The weather is perfect and I am really happy about this. The trails are in prime condition and we have a great tour guide in Tom. The whole goal for this week long training camp is to find my three F's...fitness, feel, and finesse. I have none of these on the bike right now so I am just suffereing through my rides on the mountain bike. So much time away from riding trails really hurts the fitness and feel. I would be lying if I wasn't a bit pissed today on our 2:40 climbing fest on the bike. I feel SOOO slow right now and my technical skills are lacking. I just tried to remind myself that I have been out of this hardcore training world for a while now and the whole reason I am here is to mind my "mojo!" It really helps to have good riders to train with b/c I know it will speed up my progression.
We started the day with a 4k swim at the Catus Aquatic Center...it was solid workout. Then Tom got back from a meeting and we hit the trails for some VERY long climbs....the views were worth every second of my suffereing though. The riding was pretty technical both uphill and downhill so it was the perfect chance for me to find fitness and work on my handeling skills.
Been knnocking out a little work post ride and now it is time for a 60 min trail run. Then hit the pool in the backyard to ice the legs (gotta love this! ), the grocery store and some grub!
Tomorrow is big day with some serious intensity...it's crunch time! Love it!
I will try to post everyday of the camp so stay tuned. I have the camara with me so I will snap as many pics as possible.
Have fun out there!

Training is hard!

2010-02-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

The past week has been fun and full of hard training. Over the weekend a bunch of us did the tri club duathlon and it was tough but fun. Renata Bucher and her boyfriend Simon came out to the race and then we had a bunch of other Skinfit athletes out there tearing it up. The B & L crew was in full-effect. Mike Clinch won his second race in a row...so happy to see him doing well. He is a great athlete and a super nice guy. Brandon Mills was also out there making it look easy. I would be lying if I said I felt anything but horrible. When Jim and I looked back at the last week it wasn't a big surprise. I ran more and harder then I have in nearly 18 months. Running beats you up, no getting around it. I am happy to be putting in the work b/c it will pay huge dividends. I am already feeling much better on the run and I am sure with some rest this will be evident. My knee is feeling great and has been a non-issue, even with the increased running load.

My swim seems to be coming along and I am getting back some of the feel for the water. My fitness will continue to develop and I have no doubt I will be swimming faster then ever before. i am already hitting times that I thought would come a month down the road.

All the rain has made the trails a bit of a mess so I haven't been on the mtn bike for a while. Today Renata and I hit the trails for a few hrs. It was a bit muddy but not too bad. Mtn biking is so challenging but I love it. I can really feel my lack of bike fitness on the mtn bike though. You can't really fake hard, technical climbs! The fitness and the handling skills will all come back with some hard work. I am really loving my training right now. Jim is challenging me and it has been great having him there to push me and evaluate my form and fitness. I am certain that all of the "new" workouts I am doing will get me to the next level.

I will be in Arizona all next week to train with my buddy Tom. The plan is to put in a very focused training camp where there is good weather, perfect trail networks, and great people to train with. Then I am back for a week and then up to San Luis Obispo for another 10 day training camp. Time to buckle down, the training is ramping up! I LOVE IT!

Alright, that is it from here. Have a good one!

Oh, and if you want to make it to the SLO training camp let me know and I will get you the details. It will be a great chance to train hard, get video analysis (swim and run) and get some great one-on-one coaching.

What's up? A lot!

2010-02-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

A lot has been going on in my life over the past week. A lot of very promising things to be precise and I am excited about the way things are going.
Skinfit is growing rapidly. The relationships I have forged with individual athletes and teams are paying dividends and I have truly enjoyed working with old and new Skinfit partners. I really do love my "job" and the opportunities it presents. Things will only continue to get better on this front as the year progresses so I am excited about this.
Regarding training, things are coming along nicely. My knee is feeling good and workouts have been getting better. Jim has me training hard and I am really liking the "new" workouts. It has been great having him look after me and he has taught me a lot already. It helps a ton to be able to train with your coach on a regular basis. For instance, Jim and I just finished up a harder run and his guidance throughout the workout was great. We have some good training plans on tap and I have no doubt he will have me ready to roll when it counts. Thanks Jim!
I would be lying if I said I wasn't tired from all the training. However, I know my body is still getting used to the stress of training again (8 months is a long time to take off!) and things will get easier over time. Well, the workouts will get harder I am sure but my ability to handle multiple workouts per day and put together solid weeks and months will come with time.
On another note, I put in my 2 weeks notice at B & L yesterday. I am a bit sad to move on b/c I truly do like the people I work with and I have learned a lot from everyone there. It is a great shop with great people! However, when we moved down here the focus was on two things, Skinfit and racing. Obviously, given my injury, etc. the focus shifted but now that things are moving in the right direction it is time to refocus on what I set out to do. So, I am all in...it is Skinfit and racing full-time and I have no intention of falling short of my goals on either front. I will be traveling a lot for races (personal ones and Skinfit event) so it would be impossible to juggle the bike shop and everything else. I also have a lot in the works for Skinfit, one of which is a showroom, so I will need every minute of everyday to get my work done.
So, I am busy to say the least but I am busy with things I am very passionate about. A lot of risk has been taken in the past year and leaving B & L is one more but, I believe firmly that a life lived without risk is a life lived with regret. I think you all know I refuse to live me life with regret...I made this promise to myself 14 months ago when I left corporate America and I am not about to go back on my promise.
That is it from here. Have fun out there!
I need to start packing my camera again...the lack of pics is even bothering me ;)

Training and training some more....

2010-01-30T16:57:00.000-08:00

The lack of blog posting is the direct result of increased Skinfit work and training. I have been busy everyday, waking up to a flood of emails, shipping packages, hitting the pool for a workout, then more work, and then more training. My days seem to fly by and every night I think back on how much I actually got done that day and I am amazed.
To say I a happy with how things are progressing would be a huge understatement. Things are coming together on ALL fronts. Skinfit is picking up with some exciting things in the works and I will log over 25 hrs of training this week. A lot in all three sports and fitness seems to be coming rather quickly. Sometimes it feels as if my fitness disappears but more then anything I am just fatigued from the increased load. My body is still learning to absorb and handle all the new stimulation.
This week I turned to Jim Vance to help me get ready for the 2010 season...he will be coaching me and I am excited about the future. He is a great fit for me on several fronts...he has raced Xterra at a high level, he knows many of the courses, he has raced against everyone that I will face this year, he has coached a couple Xterra pros to very successful seasons, he will bring new training stress (fresh ideas) into my plan, we train together regularly, he is very knowledgable, and he will be more scientific with my training. All in all, I truly believe he will get me to the next level and teach me a lot.
I have been dropping weight rapidly, which is nice to see. I have lost over 10 lbs since starting training and I am down to 153. I perform best between 150-152 so I am close and the rest should "fall" off with the increased training load.
I am still using Rehab United to develop strength, mobility and get my ART work done. The crew there has really done so much for me and I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for them.

My race schedule in 2010 will be...

April 25 – XTERRA West Championship
(Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort – Henderson, NV)

May 23 – XTERRA South Central Championship
(Cameron Park - Waco, TX)

June 13 – XTERRA Southeast Championship
(Oak Mountain State Park – Pelham, AL)

June 20 – XTERRA East Championship
(Brown’s Island – Richmond, VA)

July 17 – XTERRA Mountain Championship
(Beaver Creek Resort – Avon, CO)

September 25 – XTERRA USA Championship
(Snowbasin Resort – Ogden, UT)

October 25th - XTERRA World Championship
(Maui)

**I will also do some mountain bike races and some local S.D. triathlons in prep for the above races. The seven mentioned above will be my focus however and everything will be centered on these.

So, that is it from here. I am excited for the 2010 season but there is still A LOT of work ahead that will no doubt challenge me physically and mentally...I am ready for it though! Have fun out there and stay tuned as my training ramps up.

Charging ahead...

2010-01-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

Things have been good the past week. I increased my training load in all three sports and actually participated in a race of all things. Been a while since I have raced and since Skinfit is a new sponsor of the Tri Club of San Diego and I have been feeling healthy I figured I would go play around at the first club duathlon of the year. It was a 2 mile trail run, 12 mile bike, 2 mile trail run. I think I had a smile on my face the whole time b/c I was just so happy to be out there pushing myself again. I cruised the first mile to see how my knee felt and it felt good so I pretty much built my effort over the rest of the race and went hard (as hard as my body would let me go at least). I personally feel I didn't do half bad (based on my GPS data) considering I took 8 months of due to injury and I have only been back training consistently for 3 weeks. Of course, there are always people out there saying "Oh wow you got beat by a bunch of people" or " you didn't win?" Seriously?? I don't care who you are but if you take 8 months off and you are at the ground floor in terms of fitness you are going to struggle. It always amazes me how people react and what they say. I could personally care less who beats up on me right now b/c I think I have to keep things in perspective and down the road, when I am actually fit and we are at an important race, the story will be quite different, I promise you. The conclusions people draw just baffle me and I am sure this will never change.
Anyway, enough ranting. I am happy to see my progress thus far. I am feeling much better in all 3 sports, dropping weight, and able to tolerate more training per day. For me, it is about gradual progression and getting stronger so that I can tackle hard workouts in a couple months. So, every day is a new day and I treat it accordingly.
With all the rain this week I will be focusing more on my swimming, running and strength sessions. It should be a good week. That's it from here. Have fun out there!

Busy, busy....

2010-01-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

Been super busy lately trying to juggle Skinfit and training. Not a ton to report actually. Knee continues to feel good and I am increasing the training load quite a bit. I trained 17 hrs last week and will hopefully hit 22 hrs this week.
I have been in the pool a lot over the last week. Need to find the feel for the water again so I can really handle the hard workouts. It is coming back quickly so I am happy with the progress thus far. Still a long, long way to go but things are coming together. I am also doing some strength sessions on the bike. This coupled with the work being done at Rehab United is making me stronger for sure. I feel like I am able to handle more training now, which I am happy about. The past couple weeks have been rough and, while I am not over the hump so to speak, I can handle more without being so fatigued. I am happy about this.
I have been so far removed from structured training that I think I actually forgot how tired it makes you =) I am often times living in a haze but it truly feels amazing to be back out there training and putting in the work. Plus, seeing all the faces at the pool and out on the roads/trails puts a smile on my face.
Truthfully, that is about it from here. Day by day, logging the miles and building a company. Long days but worth every second in my opinion.
Have fun out there!

Get over the hump....

2010-01-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

New Years celebrations were a blast...now it's time to focus on making 2010 great!

Lately I have been focused on two things, Skinfit and training. It feels so good to be back training...can't quite put it into words. I am still skeptical that this thing is healed but I have been progressing nicely and the knee is holding up. My biggest struggle now is just getting over the hump so I can physically handle higher training loads. I am quite literally at ground zero in terms of fitness. Just getting out there in any of three sports is tough from an aerobic standpoint. I know fitness will come quickly for me so I just need to bite the bullet and work hard. I am also trying hard to lose weight (need to drop about 12 lbs) so it won't be an issue in 4-6 weeks and I can just focus on getting fit. This is always hard since my body is used to eating and drinking too much but after a couple weeks the constant hunger seems to subside (or I just accept it and can deal with it.)

Looking forward, I will be focused on the Xterra Cup Series and Xterra Nationals and Worlds. Some smaller races will be added but only as prep for the Cup races. I don't intend to race a lot this year, just target the BIG ones and focus 100% on these. I have a ton going on in my life so I can't be traveling to a lot of races but I will hit the important ones. Plus, I don't believe in racing a lot so focusing on 5-7 races all year is good for me. The good thing is that the Tri Club of SD has a bunch of great events each month so I will use these to knock off the dust and get race ready.

I am finalizing my plans and setting my sites on some big 2010 goals. If I am the only one that believes these goals are attainable then so be it. Athletically, I don't need to prove anything to anyone except for myself. So, I am content with putting my head down and busting my ass everyday to achieve the results I dream of everyday. Truthfully, I have one shot at this so it's time to buckle down and give it a go. I just hope I can stay healthy and give it my best. If I can stay injury free I can close this chapter of my life without regret and a lot of pride in my accomplishments.

So, that is the news from here. Stay tuned and have fun out there!

Cross your fingers

2009-12-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

I am feeling really good lately (in terms of not having any knee pain)and part of me feels like this is too good to be true. I have been very careful in my progression and I am doing rehab and ART 3 times a week. I guess after 8 month of pain I can't help but question whether we nailed it this time. I can tell you that I feel an incredible high everyday I am out training. I feel like a little kid running and riding on all of the local trails. I have been in the pool a couple times this week too and I am even enjoying the pain of swimming laps =) It is so true that you don't know what you have until you lose it. For me, I feel like I lost a part of who I am. I won't race forever but I will go out and push myself athletically and I will always cherish the ability to do so.
So, from here I will just keep building and hopefully the knee will remain solid and it won't be an issue. I am on the ground floor in terms of fitness so it will take some time and a lot of hardwork to get back to the level I need to be at to compete but, mentally, I am ready for the challenge. If I can train pain free this year I will be a happy man and deep down I think I can pull off some good results ;)

Enjoy your new year celebrations...I know I will. We are saying goodbye to a tremendously challenging year...one that brought about a lot of heartache but also some of the greatest lessons I have ever learned. I am stronger because of 2009 and I will take that strength with me into 2010. It is going to be a great year...I can just feel it!

Road to recovery...

2009-12-25T07:31:00.000-08:00

It has been a pretty hectic week....shipping Skinfit orders, meeting customers, visiting family, training/rehab, photoshooting, etc, etc. It has all been a lot of fun though!
My knee is feeling amazing. I have been gradually increasing my riding and running time. I even rode the mountain bike twice this week and it felt INCREDIBLE to be back out on the trails! I just love mountain biking and running on trails...not having the opportunity leaves a huge void in my life. I am taking it slow and I always feel a bit hesitant to even say my knee is feeling good since it has been so long since it has been 100% but the reality is that it is getting better everyday. The goal is to just take it nice and easy so that come Feb. I can start some "real" training. I am back at Rehab United a few times a week to increase mobility and strength...everyone in S.D. that is interested in becoming a faster, stronger athlete should seriously use this great facility!
Tuesday I did a photoshoot for Xterra Wetsuits. It was a great time despite the FREEZING air temp and wind! It is one thing to be out there running or something but to just stand there with very little on and be in and out of the water isn't that cool! Regardless, I met some great people and, once again, Glynn and Keith from Xterra Wetsuits impressed me. Their suits really are AMAZING! I can't wait to see some of these shots...the lighting was awesome! In 2010 Xterra Wetsuits will have 12 spreads in Triathlete Magazine so keep an eye out for them.

--Chris Lieto is hiding under the jacket =) It was a little cold in La Jolla!

Wednesday and Thursday me and the fam hit up Balboa park and the zoo. Good times showing everyone around and taking some time to really enjoy all that S.D has to offer. We also went to some great restaurants all over the county.

--Love this guy...all the hair reminds me I need a haircut!

Good times all around. Now time for Xmas celebrations starting with breakfast at the beach condo! Have fun out there.

New Skinfit blog post

2009-12-21T07:11:00.001-08:00

Check it out!

More of the same with a tiny bit of exercise

2009-12-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Wow, I feel like I have been working everyday, all day to get this new Skinfit website launched. It has been a lot of work but we are finally close ( I swear!)and I am really excited about it. I have also been hammering out the 2010 marketing budget/plan and tapping into all of our resources to make sure we have a successful year and website launch. There is no shortage of stuff to do regarding Skinfit but the good news is that we are making some MAJOR headway! Seriously, some really good stuff on the horizon. In fact, we just signed a deal to sponsor the Tri Club of San Diego, which is the biggest triathlon club out there (thousands of people!). It is a great group and we are happy to be in their corner for 2010! Plus, we sponsoring Lesley Paterson 100% this year...she will be decked out from head to toe in Skinfit. Headquarters came through big on this one!

Switching gears, I was cleared to do some light riding this week. I am serious when I say light...30-45 min in my easiest gear. I have been doing it on the trainer. I also started back at Rehab United with stretching, super light strengthening, and ART. It does feel good to be active again even if it is for such short periods of time. I long for some hard riding and running but I feel so far off from that it is a bit discouraging to even think about it. So, baby steps and I hope things will turn the corner at the magic 6-8 week mark (post procedure). Living day-by-day at this point but I have come to accept it. Just focusing on the positives...good thing there are so many right now.

So, that is it from here. Just plugging along. I am certain all the hard work will pay off and you can bet I will be the first one celebrating when it does ;)

Have fun out there!
I found some good pics on the computer...sources of motivation for me in my quest to get back.

-First and last race as an Xterra pro (the past 2 years haven't been kind to racing!)

--The Skinfit boys at the West Champs (when it was actually in CA...bring it back!)

--Racing road trip...good times with good friends

Working hard....

2009-12-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

Post Thanksgiving I am feeling FAT....ha, ha oh well. It was a fun holiday and I am rolling (maybe literally) right into Christmas!

I have been crazy busy lately trying to get the new Skinfit website up so we can maximize our exposure during the Xmas rush and Ironman World Championship viewing. I am so excited about our new website I can hardly contain myself. You will all see is soon!

I am still resting my knee, which means the only exercise I get is walking my dog on the beach (not bad I guess =) ). This Friday it will be 3 weeks post procedure so I think I will be cleared to do some light riding next week. We will see what the Dr. says. Whatever he says I will do b/c I want to be healed and back to enjoying the outdoors. So, if it means another week of nothing then so be it. I am going a little crazy but all the Skinfit work is keeping me more then busy. They say at 6 weeks the procedure should have regenerated the tissue. The procedure along with some "real" time off should do something good for me. I mean, really, all I want for Christmas is a healthy knee!!! Come on Santa!

Well, back to work. Just thought I would give an update. Have fun out there!

Skinfit athlete wins IM Cozumel!

2009-11-30T15:01:00.001-08:00

Our very own Skinfit athlete, Yvonne Van Vlerken won IM Cozumel in stunning fashion yesterday! She CRUSHED the field! Congrats Yvonne...way to rock Skinfit on your way to your first IM win!

Checkout this article....

San Luis Obispo Training Camp....with Jim Vance and TrainingBible Coaching

2009-11-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a great camp. I will be there training with the crew. If your looking to get away, ride some amazing roads, become a better, faster athlete you should do this. It is a great value and will be a blast!

Register here.

TrainingBible Coaching California Triathlon Camp - March 2010
TrainingBible Coaching California Triathlon Camp
March 11th-14th, 2010, (Thursday – Sunday)
San Luis Obispo/Atascadero, California

The Perfect Training Camp for Wildflower, St. George, or Oceanside!

Camp Features:
• All workouts are coach-led, by a TrainingBible Coach, for swim, bike and run!
• Training on Wildflower Triathlon bike course and surrounding areas
• Coach on-deck for pool sessions
• Fully-sagged rides
• Underwater swim video technique assessment for each athlete, ($100 value!)
• Run video technique assessment for each athlete, ($100 value!)
• 3 classroom sessions, for learning, Q&A, discussion and individual learning, totaling 4 hours in length!
• Free airport shuttle to those flying via San Luis Obispo Airport to/from camp hotel
• 16-25 hours of training in 4 days! (Swim 6 hrs, Bike 7-13 hrs, Run 3-6 hrs)
• Hotel discounted rate (Athletes are responsible for food, lodging and travel to San Luis Obispo.)

The camp will feature training totals of:
Swim - 6 hours
Bike - 7-13 hours
Run - 3-6 hours
Total Training - 16-25 hours in 4 days!

Costs:
March 11th – 14th Camp (Thursday-Sunday): $499 ($449 for TrainingBible Athletes!)

Extended Camp Opportunity March 8th – 14th (Monday – Sunday): $799 ($749 for TrainingBible Athletes!) ****Extended camp opportunity is for those who want to extend the experience and enjoy a full week of training with the TrainingBible Coaching athletes and staff****

Register at Active.com

Camp Hotel – Best Western Colony Inn, Atascadero
Hotel Features:
• Free continental breakfast
• Free internet
• Pool access, (Kennedy Club)
• Special rate of $99-$105/night (Based on occupancy)
• Amenities include refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker

Send any questions to the Camp Coordinator, Orlanda Vance, at ovance at trainingbible dot com.

Hope to see you there!

Coach Vance

Rolling along...

2009-11-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

Since my most recent PRP therapy on my knee I have been taking it easy...well, maybe it is better to say I haven't done once ounce of exercise since the procedure 12 days ago. The doctor said if I can mentally handle not doing anything it is best to rest it and let my body repair itself. At this point, what is the benefit of doing anything other then resting?! I have been out for about 7 months now so who really cares about a few weeks of inactivity. Sure, I hate not being out enjoy the weather on my bike or in my running shoes but I would rather be 100% come Jan 1st then still battling this injury. I do struggle with the lack of exercise and gaining weight but I have actually become pretty good at turning my brain off and just focusing on the here and now.

After all, why sit around and feel bad for myself...there are so many cool things to do and so much fun to be had outside of this small triathlon/athletic bubble we live in. Am I eating, drinking, "celebrating" too much? Yes, but I am having a lot of fun with family and friends at the moment so who cares?! I am sure there are some people out there that think I am being overindulgent and excessive but these people are likely the ones that need to actually step back, put some fun into their lives, stop chasing workout after workout, laugh more, and live a more balanced lifestyle.

Truthfully, I start to hate how one-dimensional us as triathletes/athletes are...we become so fixated on training and racing that we forget how much else is out there. I certainly think there is a balance and to be great you have to sacrifice but you don't have to be so one-dimensional and short-sighted when you do it. I have actually felt this way for a while but only now when I have been forced to sit on the sidelines do I realize how prevalent it is and how important it is to open your eyes and see what else the world has to offer. The fact of the matter is that I have hungout with a lot of professional triathletes/athletes and they are ALWAYS the ones that cut loose the most and have a lot of fun during all of their adventures. Perhaps some of the hardcore amateurs should take a page from their book? I am a 100% certain that if you live a more balanced life and stop being so anal you will be a faster athlete. Okay, I will stop rambling but I think it needs to be said b/c I see this attitude in San Diego more then anywhere else I have lived/traveled and I think it is detrimental to ones health and happiness.

Shifting gears, I can't believe it is Thanksgiving already! The year has gone so fast. Jess and I moved down here 1 year ago...crazy! It has been a roller-coaster ride but I think things are stabilizing and I am happy about this. This past year, I learned a lot about myself and how strong Jess and I are individually and as a couple. I am really thankful for all that we have...we don't really need anything more. We had money, company cars, a nice house, etc. and we walked away from it all one year ago. Why? B/c life is all about happiness, adventure, and risk. We were comfortable in our past life but comfortable isn't how we want to live so we took a chance, broke from practical and safe, and set out on a journey to find out what we are made of, what makes us laugh/smile, and to discover a life that will inspire others to chase their dreams. I don't regret for one minute leaving all those material things behind. Was life easy with the high paying job, expense account, great insurance, yadda, yadda? Could I have retired early with all the material things so many people chase everyday? Yes, but then I would have looked back on my working life and wondered what the hell I spent 50 years chasing and why I didn't try to have more fun. It pains me to see people work for 40 or 50 years so they can "live" when they retire. I would rather work until the day I die and have enough fun for two lifetimes along the way.

That's it from here. Enjoy the holiday and remember to have fun out there!

Skinfit makes the perfect Christmas gift!

2009-11-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to place your Skinfit HOLIDAY orders! I know Thanksgiving comes first but keep us in mind for Christmas! Our winter gear and baselayers make perfect gifts!!!
Email orders to skinfit.usa@skinfit.eu or just go on the web and place your order (www.skinfit.eu, USA tab).

Keep living the Skinfit lifestyle!

My week in pictures....

2009-11-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Tons of fun up north...good times with good friends in SLO to kick it off. A very painful PRP procedure on my knee just before a great party in Los Gatos. Then a quick Big Sur trip, Radiers game (and some amazing chicken and waffles!) , another Big Sur trip and back home. Action packed to say the least!

My life is good and I wouldn't trade it with anyone!!!!!

What's going on?

2009-11-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in the blogging but things have been a little hectic.

First of all, everyone in San Diego needs to come to the new triathlon strength class at Rehab United in Sorrento Valley...the class is Monday and Thursday from 6-7. It is going to be an awesome class and it starts this Monday! You will get to see what Lesley Paterson and I are doing in terms of strength training this year.

I have been getting ART 3 times a week for my knee and I think we are making progress...really digging in there and finding trouble areas. I would love to be back training 100% by Jan 1 but we will see if I can hit that goal.

Yesterday, I left San Diego and drove up to San Luis Obispo. SLO is my favorite place in the world and happens to be the perfect distance between S.D. and Los Gatos where I am heading on Friday. I am going to get in a couple rides and swims here on the central coast before heading up north for Reto's going away party. I am also scheduled to get PRP (platelet rich plasma)treatment this friday. Basically, they are going to take some blood from me, spin it to isolate the platelets, and then inject them into the area of my knee that hurts. In theory, this should spark a healing process and hopefully get me back to health in 6 weeks or so. I am told it is pretty painful for up to 10 days after so not stoked about that but at this point who cares about a little pain.

That is the update from here. Pretty boring post I know but figured I would share what's happening. I should have more to report from the weekend as I am sure it will be a blast. We even have a Raiders game on tap this Sunday...some great seats and great friends!

My experiments

2009-11-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

Last week was all about getting the knee to act up so I could get an injection to numb everything deep inside to see if my issue has to do with cartilage damage, etc.
So, I rode and ran hard on Tuesday and then ran hard again on Wednesday to get it flared up. It hurt a bit when I went into the Dr. (the knee actually tolerated the harder training better I though)and after the injection it still hurt, which indicates that it is a soft tissue injury (we think). So, I will keep going with the ART, PT and strengthening. I have been getting my quad worked hard and my issues has shown some great improvements. I think we are slowly getting this thing figured out. I remain a bit skeptical but I am fully committed to getting it sorted out so I can get to training full on come December. This month is my "Health" month so it is all about getting my knee strong and back to normal.
I am going to do some different things this year that are a shift from what I have done over my 13 years of racing. I know they are all going to make me stronger and faster so I am stoked to incorporate them. Everything from my workouts to my training equipment will likely change and evolve throughout the season. Good stuff that will no doubt bring about good form for the Xterra Series. It is rumored that Xterra has pulled together some title sponsors and there may even be a so-cal event again so it should be an exciting year. We will see but if it shapes up the way I hope there is a very strong chance that I will bag IM St. George to focus exclusively on the Xterra Cup Series. Xterra is my thing and having had it taken away from me for the last year and half makes me want it even more and I want to be 100% focused on it. This is all speculation but you get a sense of what is going through my head.
So, that is whats happening around here. Stay tuned as my road to recovery continues. I have some exciting things happening and I will share them as they come to fruition.
Take care and have fun out there!

Sometimes you gotta believe what you read...

2009-10-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

I don't really put much stock in this stuff but I do believe these types of things give you some perspective and make you really think about life. This one seems perfect for me right now. So here it is...

TAURUS (April 20-May 20).

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when things came easier. It might just feel uphill both ways today. That's about to change, but when it does, don't lose the fortitude you've developed.

Update....

2009-10-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

My life has been pretty hectic lately trying to juggle Skinfit, the bike shop job, coaching, rehab, doctor appointments, training, etc. I don't have much free time these days but it is all good and things are moving in the right direction (for the most part). Still a lot of uncertainty with the knee. At this stage we are trying to rule out certain things and fighting to find a diagnosis. Yesterday and today I am trying to aggravate my knee with hard riding and running and at 10:15 this morning I will get an injection to numb the interarticular joint. If the pain goes away instantly then it indicates that I have something wrong deep inside my knee (probably with the cartilage) and I will likely need a scope to see what is really wrong in there and hopefully get it surgically repaired. If the pain remains then it is a soft tissue issue most likely and I will continue on the path I have been on with rehab, ART, and time.
I am a bit torn here b/c part of me just wants a diagnosis and wants to move forward with whatever needs to be done, but part of me is a bit nervous that they are going to find a more serious issue that will likely plague me for the rest of my life and restrict me from doing the sports I love at the level I want. We will see today I guess (or not see since no one can figure out what is wrong). It is all a guessing game at this point.
Yesterday I rode for 2 hrs pretty hard and ran for 40 min at a good clip on a hilly course. My knee certainly felt it but it tolerated the hard training pretty well actually. I thought it would bother me more this morning but right now it doesn't feel too bad. Of course, I need it to hurt before my appointment so I am running again this morning to flare it up. I even stopped taking NSAID's and icing to make sure it is acting up. This has been really hard for me since I have been nursing this thing for 6 months. I basically had to go against everything I believe in regarding injury/illness and push to the point of pain...this all for a diagnosis. If it remains a soft tissue issue then I am sure these two days of hard training will set me back several weeks but, then again, what do I have to lose right now. I can't go on like this if I want to race in 2010 so we are taking all the steps necessary now to come up with something.

On another note, Skinfit had another successful World Championship weekend with Lesley Paterson and Nico Lebrun both placing second and Christine Jeffrey placing 9th. Stoked to see our athletes doing so well and living the Skinfit lifestyle. I am also really excited to see our NEW website...it should be done in the next couple weeks and it is going to be so nice!

--Nice green Speedsuit Nico!

--Lesley rocking the red Speedsuit!

So, that is it form here. I will let you all know how it shakes out today. Wish me luck! Have fun out there.

What I have learned this year...

2009-10-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

This post is mostly for me...a chance for me to document what I have learned in the past year. It has been the most challenging year of my life but when I look back I have learned more about myself and life in general then ever before. I would have to say in some respects it has been the most rewarding year of my life because Jess and I took a big leap of faith, struggled to make it, and now finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am a big believer that risk is required to achieve your dreams...we took big risks and we are stronger for it. We were forced to be resourceful, creative, and think outside the box. We had been through this type of situation when we first graduated college and moved to Colorado. After CO we moved back to CA and for years never had to worry about money, cars, insurance, etc. We left it all (well, Jess supported me as I chased my dreams and left corporate America)to go back to being financially broke but rich is passion, happiness and love. It has been hard but I have never regretted our decisions and I have never looked back..."Do not look back and ask why, look forward and ask, why not?"

Here is a list of what I have learned...

1. Chase your dreams with all of your heart and never look back
2. Shoot for the moon even when others think your crazy and your way out of your league (always have a lofty goal that seems a bit crazy...you never know)
3. Be true to yourself (even in the face of criticism)
4. Live your life without regret (never look back and wonder "what if?")
5. Always find the positive in situations (b/c there is always something positive)
6. Live in the moment
7. Stay humble
8. Be patient
9. Embrace your health b/c you never know when it can be taken away
10. No amount of money can bring about happiness...happiness is a state of mind
11. Sometimes you have to get knocked down to realize what really matters in life
12. If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything
13. Don't pass judgement on people before you understand their situation and where they are coming from
14. There have been many days when I wake up in fear that I won't succeed but I have learned to turn that fear into motivation and to chase my dreams harder
15. Look well beyond what is practical and always think outside of the box
16. Never settle b/c when you do you stop dreaming and if you stop dreaming you might as well be dead
17. You only have one shot at this life so make it count
18. I would rather die poor and happy then rich and full of regret that I didn't follow my heart and true passions in life
19. Life is never easy but if you fight and you believe in yourself you will land on your feet
20. Treat EVERYONE with respect (until they do something to lose that respect)
21. Inspire others anyway you can
22. Give without expecting anything in return
23. Put a smile on your face and laugh at yourself as often as possible
24. ALWAYS find time for family and friends
25. Balance in life is the key to success and happiness
26. Don't fall victim to other peoples negativity
27. Be spontaneous...it keeps you young and laughing
28. Actions speak louder then words
29. Calm down and let things roll off your back
30. Be honest and genuine
31. A lot of people want to talk to you for the wrong reasons, very few for the right reasons. The very few are your true friends.
32. Dogs always make you happier!
33. Step back, take a deep breath and think about everything before you act/respond
34. Sometimes you just need to scream aloud or cry...do it b/c you will feel much better
35. Everyone has something to teach you whether it be positive or negative

These are all lessons I would like to share with my children, nieces, nephews someday but,on one hand, these are all lessons we probably have to learn on our own....life is a journey and all these ups and Downs in life that trigger these emotional responses carry more weight when your forced to do some soul searching and figure it all out on your own. I am sure when I was a kid (or even 30 years old for that matter) there have been times when my parents kept their mouths shut and just let me make my decisions, knowing full-well that I would fall on my face and not succeed. I wouldn't call this a bad thing b/c it forced me to be resilient, learn from my mistakes, and move on with life.

Here's to a successful 2010...dreams never die!

My focus (for now)

2009-10-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

I have been hitting the strength sessions pretty hard at Rehab United. The crew there is kicking my butt and I am really enjoying the hard work. I figure since my knee is on the mend I am going to take a small step back from the aerobic conditioning I have been seeking and missing. I love being out riding and running but my knee obviously needs more time to heal (I will certainly ride, run and swim some but just enough to be satisfied and keep the muscles working). My knee holds up really well during these strength sessions, which tells me it is getting better. Plus, since it is October and no racing is in the near future I can just focus entirely on building functional strength that will pay huge dividends in 2010. I am not doing the traditional weight lifting movements. The focus is on dynamic strengthening movements across all axes--forward, backward, sideways, diagonal. I do a lot of really explosive jumping with both legs and single-leg. Seriously, I am doing some really cool, off-the-wall stuff that is making me so much stronger all around. Plus, my stretching routine is money...dynamic stretches in a cage that really increases mobility. I have seen huge gains in the last 2 months with regards to mobility and range of motion.

I have been getting ART twice a week from Patrick O'Shea at Rehab United and it is working wonders. He is really working my adductor, sartorious, quad and it seems as though he is breaking up some major scar tissue. The root of the problem is that we don't have a diagnosis for my knee. Nobody can say for certain what the issue is, which is crazy in my mind. One crash, 5 months later and we still don't know what is causing the knee pain.

I even got another MRI...Bryan and Mike at Rehab United hooked up a free MRI for me. I am incredibly lucky...2 free MRI's. I seriously owe these guys the shirt off my back! I will hopefully get the images looked at early next week. It will be interesting to compare the first MRI to the most recent one. If nothing else, hopefully we can rule out a tear and keep the focus on soft tissue. Whenever I get ART I feel really good so I have to believe it is working. In my mind it makes sense, a ton of scar tissue has formed and it is preventing my muscles from "gliding" over one another, which then tweeks my knee,etc. and leads to pain. Truthfully though, at this point we are just throwing darts and hoping we hit on something that will fix the underlying problem.

I have actually been swimming a little bit (2-3 times per week) at the YMCA. Yesterday Renata and I swam a set...an actual set. Ha, ha I haven't swam in 8 weeks so swimming hard is certainly not easy. I lack the fitness and the strength to pull properly. It will all come back pretty quickly...Even after being out of the water for 8 weeks I was still swimming 1:15 100's. Over the years I have learned that my body adapts very quickly and I take on good fitness after just a little bit of time in all three sports. I guess I am lucky in this sense. I don't doubt that once I get back to training it will all come around after one focused blocked on training.

I am also focusing on Skinfit b/c ever since Kona business has been blowing up. Kona was amazing press for us and we are stoked! Our new website is in the works and it is going to be sweet so I can't wait to see the finished product.

I could probably keep writing for a long time b/c I have a lot on my mind and some cool stuff is in the works with Rehab United, racing equipment, etc. I will share more as it unfolds. The bottom line is that I have learned a lot about myself, training, life, etc. this year and I feel compelled to share what I have learned with others. It has been a hard road this year but I know deep down that chasing dreams requires patience, perseverance and enormous resolve to push through the heartache that ultimately leads to success and satisfaction.

Have a good one out there and thanks for reading!

How's it been going?

2009-10-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

I have been getting this question a lot. For a while there I was feeling awesome, getting in some good training, etc. but then the knee acted up again and I have been hitting PT and ART hard the past week to get healthy again.
The knee still bothers me so the little I have done has been on the bike and some strengthening at Rehab United. Mostly, my focus has been on flexibility and having Patrick at Rehab break up all the "junk" in my muscles. The guy is awesome and if you need some help with flexibility, etc.(which most of us do whether you think so or not)go see Patrick at the Sorrento Valley location.
I have been crazy busy with Skinfit since Kona is next week...shipping orders, getting printing done, and the list goes on and on and on....
Plus, coaching interest has gone way up and I already have some new clients for 2010. I am excited to bring more people on, especially some that are new to the sport of triathlon.
So, how's it been going? I am super busy and I am on a constant quest for health. I just want my knee to be healthy so I can give this whole racing thing one last honest go before I shift gears a bit. It has been stressful at times and I am just trying to roll with it but, at the end of the day, we are a lot better off then most people so we have to be thankful for that.
Busy in my mind is good b/c it means things are happening so for the time being we will just keep plugging along doing what we need to do. I actually have a TON of cool things in the works and if half of them work out it will be good for us and a lot of other people as well.

Here is my new ride that I will use for IM St. George...stoked to get it from Reto. Someone had to actually ride it ;) Not a great picture but you get the idea...pretty sweet ride.

I may actually sell my Cannondale Supersix so if anyone is interested let me know...other then telling you it is 54 cm I don't think I need to really explain how light and responsive this thing is. It is an incredible bike but since I don't really do any road races anymore I am going to stick with my custom built elite...it fits like a glove!

Take care and have fun out there.

Coaching...

2009-10-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
Just want to let people know that I am taking on 3 more clients for the 2010 season so if your interested email me at tglavin1@msn.com
As most of you know, I love coaching and I work very closely with my athletes to make sure a personalized plan is in place.
You might feel like the season is just ending but it takes time to formulate a game plan and, honestly, I have a limited number of slots available so I am throwing this out there now to my loyal readers =)
Take care and enjoy the day!

The roller coaster ride (at bootleg and in life).....

2009-09-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

--Me and my buddy Jake loving the Bootleg trails!

So, I managed some high quality training weeks before heading off to Vegas for Interbike. I felt amazing and the knee was holding up really well. Prior to Interbike I had traveled up to SLO for some work and fun. So, I had a couple weeks of travel and work back-to-back, which meant that my rehab exercises and ART kind of tapered off. This always seems to happen b/c you are traveling and just don't have the time and resources to get everything done that REALLY needs to be done.

Once I got back from Interbike (knee felt awesome out in Vegas), I went for a mellow run along the bay and the knee was bothering me. When I finished my run it hurt and it really started to hurt for a couple days after my run. I was naturally really worried. I went back to Rehab United yesterday and got some ART work done and today it is feeling much better.

A few things came into play...with no PT and ART my muscles tightened up and put stress on my knee, all the driving made my hips super tight, and my seat was a bit high on my mountain bike, which caused a little pain in my achilles and also tweaked my knee. So, just goes to show how fragile I am right now. A little time away from the exercises that have brought me back and I fall victim to the same knee pain that kept me out for 4 months. At least now I know how to fix it and I think we are back on track. I can actually train quite a bit as long as I am being very aggressive with my stretching and ART. I am of course taking it easy this week to let the knee rest and get back to normal.

Once again, I owe Mike and crew at Rehab United big time...they are an amazing group of people that are truly there to help. The facility is awesome and I look forward to continuing my work with them...we are setting up a strength class for endurance athletes that will no doubt become a popular class for local athletes. I will keep everyone posted on the details of the class.

My time at Interbike in Vegas was incredible. So much fun riding out at Bootleg, cruising the floor at the expo, watching the cross race, and, of course, staying up too late partying =) Can't wait to go back next year!

--Dave and Rich from fluid tearing it up on some REALLY fat tire bikes!

--Downhill ride for the day!

--Seriously, look at the size of those tires...I really want one of these bikes!

I am going to really stay on top of my rehab and I will hopefully be back training at the level I was before Vegas in the near future. I am super busy right now but a lot of cool things are in the works and I am excited to see how everything pans out. Stay tuned!

Skinfit dominates the podium at Xterra Nationals

2009-09-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

Nico Lebrun won the men's race by running down 3-time world champ Conrad Stoltz, Lesley Paterson put together a solid performance to take 3rd, and Christine Jeffrey finished 9th and secured a top 5 in the overall points series. Congrats to all of our Skinfit athletes...keep rocking it!
Next up is the World Championships in Maui and we know these three are going to tear it up!

Life has been good....

2009-09-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

--In the background is the piece of land I want to own someday in SLO county

I just finished up a four day trip to San Luis Obispo. I got some work done but mostly cleared the head with some great training on my favorite roads and trails. It isn't a mystery that I love the central coast and I know we will be back there permanently at some point in our lives. It is just such a relaxing place for me and offers up an opportunity for me to get my head on straight and realize what is important in life.
I rode all four days (12 hrs of riding with 2 mtn and 2 road), got in a couple runs and a swim. I feel like I am getting some punch back in my legs and I like it. I am obviously really slow but I am feeling much better physically. I respond quickly to training so I would imagine things will progress pretty quickly but more then anything I am just stoked to be out exercising everyday.
I am home for a few days and then off to Vegas for four days...going to Interbike! It should be a great time and a good chance to do some networking. I will certainly post some stories and pics from Vegas so stay tuned.

Oh, Jim Vance and I are putting together a 7-10 day SLO training camp in March 2010....it will be the perfect camp for Wildflower, 70.3 California, IM St. George. Stay tuned for info if you want to check out the town, roads, trails that I rave about all the time. It is going to be an incredible camp!

Welcome back Trevor...

2009-09-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

The knee has turned the corner and I have resumed some training. Here's how the past 9 days went down...
M: 3 hr hilly ride
T: 40 min run + core and stretching
W: 2:30 road ride + PT (1 hr strengthening)
TH: 40 min run
F: 2 hr ride + PT (1 hr strengthening)
S: 35 min run building pace as run progressed
S: 3 hr hilly road ride + 20 min transition run (b/c my knee felt great)
M: Ride 4:20 including Palomar and harder riding
T: 50 min trail run
*Yeah, no swimming but since that's all I could really do while I was hurt I am giving a little love to my bike and running shoes =) I did try to go today after my run but the pool was closed...I tried I promise =)

About 21 hrs of training so not bad. I have a long way to go but it feels good to be out there suffering again. Yesterday was all about suffering for me. I rode Palomar with a group and it was plain hard for me to drag my overweight self over those climbs. I haven't pushed myself in 4 months so it was a tough day in the saddle for me but I loved every minute of it. I just put my head down and pushed the pedals just trying to think about how nice it was to be outside even though I was at my limit trying to get over the rollers with the group. In Feb. I rode up the south grade in 1:03, I was not in great shape, and I was doing some interval work so there was some mega slow riding mixed in as recovery. This time it took me 1:14 and I really don't think I could have ridden much faster. Ha, ha it is going to be a long road back but I am loving it! My run today after yesterday's ride was a bit rough but it felt good to be out there running the trails again...first time since the injury!!

So, that is my update. Words can't describe how pumped I am with my progress. I am still being cautious (and doing PT, icing, ART, etc) but I think the worst is behind me and I am ready to move forward full-steam ahead!

Have a good week and thanks for reading!

Giddy up!

2009-09-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

What can I say other then I am totally pumped that my knee is healing up. I put in my longest ride in 4 months yesterday (3 hours with 5,000 feet of climbing!)and today I ran 40 minutes. I actually ran 3 times last week, which is a HUGE improvement. Plus, I rode several times.
Everything I have been doing is paying off and I really couldn't be happier.
Just wanted to give an update. Gotta get back to work and eat some dinner so I will post more later.
Have fun out there!

New Skinfit blog post

2009-08-31T08:28:00.001-07:00

Checkout the Skinfit blog spot discussing our white tri gear...just in time for Kona!

Back to training

2009-08-27T16:21:00.001-07:00

Well, I am back to doing a bit of training and I am so excited about it. I can comfortably ride 2 hours a bit harder over a hilly route (done twice this week so far with another one planned for the weekend). I will continue to build the time gradually but I think I can hit 3 hrs or so in the next week or two. I have also been running a little bit....two 30 min runs after rides so far this week. I think the running will take some time but progress is being made.
I started back at masters swimming on Wednesday and I will go back tomorrow. I have been able to swim all along but I sort of lost the motivation once I was told how long I would be out. So, I am starting from scratch and it will be a long road but a long road is better then no road. To be honest, I am just loving being outside sweating my face off in this S.D. heat. It feels great to be tired and exhausted again from rides, run, swims. I obviously still need some time before being 100% but things are going well and I am fired up about it.
I got my new orthotics and I have been so sore for the last 3 days. I do feel that they are helping out a ton though and I am glad Rehab United has been there for me the past few weeks.
It is amazing how much you lose in terms of fitness. I know it will come back quickly but it sure is humbling to be working so hard on terrain I used to just fly up. I am struggling both aerobically and muscularly since I have been out for so long but the suffering feels so good =)

So, things are good here. Busy but good. Thanks for following my road to recovery! Hopefully I am healed up enough to start doing some of the club events again. Have fun out there!

Busy days....

2009-08-23T07:18:00.001-07:00

Life has been pretty hectic for me this week. I am feeling pretty tired today, which is proof I have been going like crazy trying to balance everything.
I did get in the most cycling I have done in a while. I almost hit 10 hrs this week, which is good but my knee is a bit sore today so it is time to give it some rest. I want so much to be 100% but I just need to take it easy and let it heal up. No reason to rush it since I have missed every important race this season and there is no way I can be in shape for nationals and worlds. Next week I will get back to swimming some and try to the keep the cycling at the current level. Plus, more PT and ART work. Things are improving and that is making me happy. It just takes time.
So, that is about it from here. Pretty boring for you guys to read but anything but boring for me. I am sure I will have more to report next week as I continue on the road to recovery.
Enjoy the day and have fun!

Progress...

2009-08-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

I am making some major progress and I love it!
I have been on several road rides outside now and I am so fired up to be back out on the open road sweating, breathing hard, and taking in the fresh air! The past two weeks have been filled with PT and we have finally diagnosed the problems and have fixes for them all. Stoked!
I am a little bit off from running regularly but I am fine with it as long as I can ride and swim. I can run a little but I am holding off a bit to let it all heal up.
I have been crazy busy with everything, which I am fine with at this point. It is all good stuff and I will take the craziness b/c I am headed in the right direction on all fronts.
I had a week of travel for Skinfit and coaching and now I am back in S.D. I made it up to Santa Cruz and Los Gatos for a couple events and then up to Tahoe to work with one of my athletes...a great trip for sure!

I think I will be local for a while now and I am excited to get back to 100% so I can take part in some of the local events that take place this fall. Speaking of events, we caught the Pads game last night, which was pretty uneventful until the last 3 minutes...it was worth staying for the whole game =)

Well, that's it from here. I will continue my long road to recovery and, yes, I will love every minute of hauling my overweight, out of shape body over the local mountains =) Take care and have fun!

In Tahoe coaching and "exercising" a bit

2009-08-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

I am in Tahoe right now working with one of my athletes, Eric Ronning. I love Tahoe so to be able to combine some one-on-one coaching(which I love)with some time in the high mountains is ideal.
I got up here last night, took down some local mexican food and watched last years Xterra World Championships. It certainly sparked the fire for both of us. I will obviously miss the race this year b/c of my injury but it got me fired up to get back at it. This morning we went to the pool and did a ton of stroke work and underwater video. It was good for both of us to see ourselves so that we can both work on our technique. The lack of fitness and the altitude makes it hard for me to hold good form but, really, I have some areas that need improvement and I am looking forward to some work in the water to correct my flaws. It is really amazing how good the technology is getting...we used a tiny camara and it produced some great underwater video. It will be cool to track progress as fitness and form improve.
We are off for a ride along the Truckee River. My ride yesterday was pain free and it felt great to be back on the bike sweating a bit. So, we will see how it holds up today with some riding and then some flexibility/strength work in the gym.
That's it from here. I will post some pictures and video of us swimming soon.
Take care and have fun out there!

Revealed at PT...

2009-08-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

At PT today I was fit for orthotics. I ran this morning and managed 20 minutes but certainly not free of pain. So, Mike at Rehab United has a theory and I think he is really onto something.
Basically, I have had biomechanical issues for a while now (technically my whole life I guess). Hence, my achilles tendon issues (in the past and even right now whenever I run, which is really strange) and the pain I once had on the top of my foot that I thought was a stress fracture but it really originated from my feet, which have little arch and overpronate. So, according to Mike I was always on the verge of injury and some injurys did actually present themselves (achilles injuries many times throughout my racing career).
My crash obviously led to a knee injury and my biomechanical flaws are not letting it heal. An MRI and physical tests prove that nothing is torn and a soft tissue injury should have healed by now. Mike is thinking that my flat feet are tweeking the bones in my legs, which is putting abnormal stress and strain on my injured knee. The stress on the knee is preventing the ligaments from totally healing. In my mind, this totally makes sense.
So, I will have custom orthotics in 2 weeks and in the mean time I bought a new pair of Brooks Adrenaline (Recommended and I have had a good experience in the past)and some inserts for added stability in both my running and cycling shoes. Let's hope we are on the right track and things improve.

My life right now...

2009-08-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty good the past couple of weeks with regards to physical therapy. I feel like I am making some progress but, truthfully, it is still day to day and I am far from 100%. I just can't quite get my head around this whole thing...how it takes this long if I supposedly didn't tear anything. Regardless, I am doing some really great stuff at Rehab United and I think it is laying a good foundation for my future in Xterra. I am also doing a bit of openwater swimming...trying to take advantage of the warm water. I haven't really been in the pool lately. I figure I will be in the pool more then I could ever imagine in a few months so I typically choose the ocean when it is time for some swimming.
I am hitting the road again tomorrow...up to SLO and then to Santa Cruz for a Skinfit event. After the event I am heading up to Tahoe to work with one of my athletes. I am really stoked to get into the high mountains...it is such a relaxing place for me. Plus, I hope to do some lighter riding/running (depending on the knee) and a lot of swimming in Lake Tahoe. Then it is back to San Jose for a splash and dash event before I return home. A week long trip filled with work, good times, good people, and beautiful scenery.
So, that is it from here. Pretty regular routine with tons of physical therapy and Skinfit work. I will have reports form my week long trip so stay tuned. Have a good one out there!

Rehab United rocks!

2009-07-31T12:24:00.001-07:00

I started up with physical therapy on Tuesday at Rehab United (carmel valley location). Mike Van Gilder has been nothing short of amazing and I feel like I am already seeing improvements. I am stoked on the progress this week...today I did some dynamic stretches and strengthening, which I thought would lead to some knee pain but the knee held up well and I feel good right now.
Honestly, I didn't go to PT prior to this week b/c of money. I knew it would be good but since I am strapped for cash I just did it myself and couldn't justify the expense. I decided that I needed to be more aggressive with my therapy and Lesley Paterson pointed me to Mike. Mike has been a tremendous help thus far and I owe him a ton for his willingness to work with me.
Being in the Rehab United facility makes me realize the importance of flexibility, strength, and coordination work. I fully intend to bring this specific training into the fold as I return to training and racing. Reto has encouraged me to do this type of training for a while now and I guess I underestimated the importance. I am doing movements I didn't even think existed but they are strengthening all the little muscles that rarely even fire. Sure, lifting weights is beneficial and I will do this too but I have come to realize that the work I am doing now at Rehab United is crucial and is overlooked by the vast majority of athletes. I am certain that working with Mike and Rehab United will lead to better form, greater strength, less injury, and speed, which I will need for racing. If you need rehab don't hesitate to get in touch with Mike!
So, just thought I would share my thoughts and progress this week.
Have a good weekend everyone!

Update...

2009-07-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

So, everyone seems to be asking "how is the knee?" Well, not good enough for me to resume normal training, which totally sucks. Yeah, some progress is being made but it is slow going. Truthfully, I am totally over this injury and it has been really hard on me mentally. I just don't understand how it is taking this long to heal when an MRI has shown that there isn't anything torn. So, I continue with the healing process and keep hoping that someday I can get back to doing what I love, training and racing.
Injuries take you to a really "dark" place and it is very hard for athletes to cope with the stress of it all. More then the physical pain is the mental and emotional pain of being removed from the sports you love. For me, I took a huge leap to chase my dreams and didn't even have a chance to toe the line to realize them. Really, I haven't even had a chance to compete at the high level I feel I am capable of...I feel robbed and it beats me up everyday. I think I have been better at coping with it all recently but I certainly still have my moments of complete frustration and disgust.
I have been surfing a ton to get my mind off of the injury and to remain active. Also, I have been doing some (only a couple times a week) openwater swimming. I am pretty much in the ocean everyday now and I love it. I really feel that the ocean helps with the healing...more mentally. There is something so peaceful about being out there, catching waves and getting some sun.
So, that is my update. A bit of a downer I know but it is the reality of the situation. Injuries suck and it takes a really strong person to not breakdown and throw in the towel.

Skinfit USA Racing Team

2009-07-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Skinfit USA Racing Team has been growing over the past 6 months. It has been a fun project for us and we are excited to see it evolve. We started to build the team up in Northern California and we have recently started to grow the team down in Southern California (San Diego specifically).
Our goal in creating the team is to get like-minded, fun, and active people together that love Skinfit and are willing to help us spread the Skinfit love. Team members obviously get great deals on Skinfit products and have opportunities to secure some big discounts on other products like Xterra wetsuits and Rudy Project helmets and sunglasses. Most importantly though, we want a core group of athletes that have a true passion for the outdoors and love life, which is at the core of living the Skinfit lifestyle.
So, thanks to all of our current team members...we love having you in the family and appreciate all that you do to help us. Our team will continue to grow so let us know if you would like to be a part of our adventures! You can email us at skinfit.usa@skinfit.eu

Have fun out there!

Splash and dash #2

2009-07-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Skinfit was everywhere at the second splash and dash race in Cupertino. Representing Skinfit was the Skinfit USA Racing Team, Team Ascent, TRIbe, SVTC, Stanford Tri Team and many more northern California athletes. The athletes sported trishorts, speedsuits, aeroshirts, trisuits, tri tops, aero plus jackets, and fleece jackets. As the title sponsor for the event we provided gift certificates and aero shirts as awards for age group winners.
A great event with great people...don't miss the third and final splash and dash event August 13th!

Nico wins again....in Skinfit of course!

2009-07-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Nico Lebrun won again in Beaver creek this weekend! He took the last two stops on the Xterra Curcuit. This ranks him high in the overall series...we will see what happens at nationals.
Great job Nico...keep it up and keep living the Skinfit lifestyle!

Busy but in a good way

2009-07-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty busy lately but it is all for the right reasons. Skinfit is blowing up...so cool to see orders coming in all the time! Our white tri shorts, trisuit, tri tops are selling like hotcakes and we are ordering more from Europe this week to meet the demand...Kona must be right around the corner =)Plus, all kinds of things in the works that could be really great for us.

My knee actually feels the best it has in a long time. Granted I am only doing 30 min easy spinning on the trainer to increase the blood flow but between this, the foam roller, stretching, ice, and time things are coming along. I have another week before the 4 week mark is up...I was told I needed an additional 4 weeks after my first 7 weeks and an MRI. By no means am I saying that in 1 week I will be good to go but I made a decision that I wouldn't even try to really ride/run until the 4 weeks is up. So, one more week of active therapy and then I will see where I stand.

On another note, my knee injury has allowed me to get into surfing. I have wanted to learn to surf for a REALLY long time and I decided now is a good a time as any. I live across from the beach, I have plenty of people to paddle out with that can offer helpful tips, I have a bum knee, the weather has been amazing, I need to be active and focus my energy on something else, and it is just flat out relaxing. I went out both days this weekend and I will certainly be out more this week as I am borrowing a board from Jessica's dad and I pick it up tomorrow. I think I found my new addiction. When my racing is over I think I will get really into surfing...actually I know I will!

I have some other emerging things happening too but I will share those later. That's it for now. Hope everyone is loving life out there! More soon....

Camping at the beach and the SLO crit

2009-07-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am now back in S.D. after being gone for a few weeks. It was a fun filled 3 weeks and I already miss the slow paced life of the central coast. However, it is good to be home at the beach with some nice weather.
I transported all of our Skinfit inventory down to S.D. yesterday...nothing like a Uhaul trailer! So, yesterday was a busy one and today is more of the same. Things seem to be picking up with Skinfit, which is awesome to see.
While we were up in SLO we got away for a night of camping on the beach with some good friends. Plenty of beer and BBQ to keep us entertained.

--Gavin is sooooo stoked on the cherries...a reminder that it's the little things in life that mean the most.

Also, we had a booth at the SLO crit, which proved to be a good networking day...I saw tons of friends and old faces. A really cool event if you can ever make it up there for it.

My knee is still on the mend. I would give my right arm to ride or run right now. It is killing me but I have been pretty good lately about blocking it out. At least I have plenty to keep me busy. Truthfully, after I was told I need another 4 weeks (2 weeks ago) I basically hung it up entirely. I have played in the pool a few times in the last month but that's it. At this point I just want my knee to heal so I can start dragging my overweight and out-of-shape body over some hills and roads.

So, that's it from here. I am in S.D. for the next month or so and then back up north for some events and some other exciting Skinfit business (I will share all this later but we have some good stuff in the works.) Hope everyone is having fun out there.

Oh, if anyone out there wants to go head-to-head in an eating and/or beer drinking contest bring it on....my belly indicates a massive tolerance for good brew and food =) I will take you down!

"Sometimes.....

2009-07-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes your only mode of transportation is a leap of faith"