San Diego

Insert Anchorman quote.

I'm in San Diego training with Paulo Sousa's Triathlon squad until December 20th. So far it's pretty awesome, training with some great people; Jason Pedersen, Joe Maloy, Kevin Ryan, Heather and Trevor Wurtele, and Anna Battiata.

We're all getting along swell, but Paulo has warned us to be prepared for when we are "training hard and get grumpy like sh*t". You never know when your best friend will steal your last apple out of the fridge and you'll have to administer a beat down!

As I look at housing prices around here, it appears my dream of living in a van down by the river might become a reality. Or I'll have to become a part-time pool boy for a wealthy divorcee. I'm putting equal amounts of energy into both avenues :-)

Going Hard

Something that occurs to me from time to time.. Do I REALLY know what it means to go ALL OUT?

I was talking to Coach Salaz of Maverick Aquatics as we watched his team do a sprint workout. The basic premise was 4x 40 yards 100% effort, and then into the next set. We were observing how all of the kids appeared to think they were going all out (breathing hard, complaining) but when a "sprint 25 for time" was presented, everyone's speed increased noticeably. Obviously, a set of this nature done at any speed lower than "fight for your right to live" is a waste of time.

We've all heard the overused saying, "It doesn't hurt less, you just go faster." I would venture to say that "as you get faster, it hurts more." You may not notice it as you progress, but I believe that athletes who rise to the top constantly find a little extra suffering that they are able to endure. Just like training the body, you slowly get yourself used to going harder and harder. Ocasionally, there are epiphanies as well, and you realize that the definition you had for "all-out" was total B.S.

The Legend

So I challenge you as I challenge myself, see if you really know what "All out" is. Watch some Gladiator, poke a grizzly bear in the eye, whatever it takes to get you pumped up, and really go hard next time.

Getting Dirty

I've started back into training for 2013, and just as I did last year, I am seizing the opportunity to get some time in on my beloved mountain bike. The way I see it, if I'm going to be soaking wet and cold in PDX, I might as well be tearing down a trail and be muddy as well.

Danny and I repping Athletes Lounge in the C's

This is right after the patch of gravel that I fell on

A new addition to my highly scientific off-road training protocol this year: Cyclocross!!
I've wanted to race "cross" for years, but it never quite coincided with my training, or conflicted with what runners refer to as "cross" (cross country racing). This year however, I seized the day, and my second ride back after rest period was the cross race at Barton Park. I had an absolute blast, raced C's so as not to stress myself out (and I was on my mountain bike) and only crashed once. Next weekend I am going full-tilt and racing twice; at McMenamins Edgefield, and in Hillsboro somewhere on Sunday. And I'll be racing the A's! My plan is to go as hard as I can as long as I can until I blow up. If I can see the leaders, I'll be happy :)


The day after racing at Barton, Matt Berg and I drove up to the east side of mount hood, near Surveyor's ridge and rode mountain bikes. Portland was in a thick soup of clouds, but up on the mountain it was 60 degrees and beautiful! A recent light rain made for a tacky trail that seemed to grab on to our tires and not let go, rocketing us out of every turn. I can't wait to get back out, flying through the forest at top speeds appeals to the primitive, hunter side and leaves me with an unrestrained sense of joy.

Today it's back to the road since the skies have cleared, at least for the moment :)