Ironman 70.3 World Championships

Nutrition on Long Bike Rides

This may be the answer for bringing along enough food for long training rides!

I wonder if I can get a carbon fiber cart?

Maybe by Cervelo??

With aero wheels???

Oh, and a cooler!

Yep, I’m Inspired!

My last post came a few days after a somewhat disappointing race and the onset of some mysterious bug.  I think it would be safe to say that I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired!  So, here I am a week later with a much better disposition about my training. 

This weekend I was invited to do a training ride with a fellow St. Pete Mad Dog.  Hartley Mellish is training for Florida Ironman in a couple of months and was looking for someone to do some long rides with.  We met at the Suncoast Trail at 7:00 and started preparing for several hours on our bikes.  I should note that I’ve met Hartley a few times – but really don’t know him.  My first indication that we would have a good day was when I looked at his bike.  I’m a techno-geek!  I love gadgets and electronics as much as anyone.  Or as much as anyone – until I saw Hartley’s Cervelo!

I’m not sure if I will get this all correct, but he strapped a Timex heart rate monitor on and hit some buttons on the Timex watch on his handlebars.  Next, he switched on his power meter.  I’ve never used a power meter, so I was feeling a little under-tech’d!  Making matters worse, he mentioned that he would have to wear three heart monitors if he was going to grab data for his Garmin 405.  Since that would be too many straps – no Garmin today!

The ride turned out to be about 60 miles.  We went at a comfortable pace of about 16 mph.  With breaks, we were a little over 4 hours and it was a great time!  You learn about someone when you peddle next to them for that long.  Hartley has entered six Ironman events and finished 4 – since turning 65 years of age!  That’s not a typo.  Hartley is 69 and is looking forward to his next birthday so he can race in the 70 – 74 age group.  He will have a better chance of earning podium finishes when he’s the young guy in the group!

When we finished our ride, I went for a quick 2-mile run.  It had gotten hot – so 2 miles felt like enough.  I ran a better pace after 60 miles with Hartley than I ran last week in the Sand Key triathlon.  I guess there are all sorts of things we can do when we have someone to inspire us! 

Hartley – Thanks for being an inspiration!  Looking forward to our next ride!

Take care my friends!

Ken

 

Is This An Illness?

Now that I find myself on some triathlon mailing lists, it is becoming commonplace for me to receive emails about various events. One came into my office email this morning and with only a quick glance at the calendar - I pressed the "Register" button. No big worries or nerves. Just the realization that it was filling up and I could still get in. Compared to the fear that I had before registering for my first race - this was almost too easy! I guess that's progress.

My next event will be the Sand Key Sprint Triathlon. It has a short swim and bike (1/3 mile and 11 miles), but I'm looking forward to it. I have been in a bit of a funk since my last race. Nothing on the immediate schedule had me feeling a little lost. I guess I should expand on that.

I have my first half marathon on October 4. For some reason, that doesn't count as a real race in my book. Now really - what's wrong with that thinking? My goal for the half is to do it, finish it and get my mind around what it's like to cover the distance. My running is getting a little better, so I hope the increased running mileage will pay dividends on my tri's. It's already working - so it's a good thing!

Tomorrow I'll be doing about 40 miles on the bike. Doing the Clearwater bridge loop for two or three laps. I'm riding with a new group tomorrow - I can't wait to see the pace and find out how I'm doing compared to the group.

That's it for now. Everyone have a safe and fun weekend!

KC