Preparing for Tahoe

I’ve been spending a lot of time this week reading as much as I can about the course at XTERRA Nationals. I’ve also checked out the videos on XTERRA TV, which have everything from short pro tips to a full length video of last year’s race. Because I will arrive so close to the actual race there won’t be time to pre-ride the course or get a feel for the bike I’m renting. This virtual research is all I have to work with in laying out my race plan.

I’ve also been trying to identify the challenges that I will face this weekend and the mental and physical steps I can take to address them.

1. The “cold” – I’ve been trying to mentally prepare for this, but living in AZ, where it was 103 today, makes preparing for “cold” difficult. For the swim I’ve got a neoprene cap and plan on not being in the water that long. I still haven’t decided whether or not to warm up in the water the morning of the race. I’m going to try and find a new pair of full finger gloves that I like today at the LBS and wear those at the race. New gloves, new bike, why not…(yes I know this is trouble)

2. Climbing at altitude – I haven’t been able to get north of Phoenix the way I was able to before Snow Valley. The trails I’ve been able to ride and the commute I’ve been doing are all relatively flat. Mentally I’m prepared to grind and just keep pushing. Racing Snow Valley will help me here because I can expect more of the same. Equipment wise I’m not so great off because I’m riding this.

3. Altitude – I know that the best strategy for us low elevation folks is to be in the best shape possible. Well, I’m in the best shape I can be in given my experiences right now and racing Snow Valley taught me that breathing every stroke on the swim and making it through the first 15 minutes of the bike without totally blowing up is possible.

4. What is my goal? – This has been the biggest challenge of all. Making nationals was my goal this season and since I made the show I can’t help but feel I’ve eased off the throttle. It is hard with so many variables to have a goal to work for during the race, so after some research, I have one. Finish in under 3:45. I’ve never worn a watch in a race before, but I plan to in Tahoe. 3:45 – an honest and practical goal for my first year and the crazy summer I’ve had.

The final push

My XTERRA triathlon season ends one week from Sunday with the completion of XTERRA nationals.  I'm wrapping up a solid week of training and looking forward to a final push this weekend.  I have a 32 mile MTB ride planned for Sat. AM and then I will begin tapering with lighter and more moderate workouts leading up to the big race weekend.  As the season winds down it is really coming into focus and I can't believe everything I've learned in my first year of racing.  I've learned so much about the sport, but even more about myself.  I'm working on a post - probably after Nationals - where hopefully I'll be able to really expound upon what I've learned.  For now it is about enjoying my last focused workouts of the year all leading up to Nationals which was my biggest goal for this 2008 XTERRA season.

Training Update:
Tuesday: strength training / core / Ultimate league game
Wednesday: bike 20 miles home from work / 2 mile transition run to pickup car*
Thursday: AM swim 1800m
Friday: 4 mile run

*This is such an incredible way to train: 
Day 1 - drive to work with bike, leave bike, drive home.  Day 2 - drive to co-workers, catch ride to work, bike home, run to co-workers to pick up car.  Nothing better.

Progress...

Less than two weeks until XTERRA Nationals in Tahoe....

Flight - check
Hotel - check
Bike - check (renting from Village Ski Loft)
Car - not yet (economy with bike rack or minivan?)

Training update:
Friday - 15 mile bike / 1600m swim
Saturday - active rest (climb around in 120 degree attic)
Sunday - 2 hr on McDowell Mtn.
Monday - 1400m swim

Flip Mode

So Monday I got a little heated thinking about how my training had fallen off course.  I vowed to get back on the horse and start getting after it in the weeks leading up to Tahoe.  There are several interesting trends that have come about as a result of this new training plan.

1)  I eat whatever I want.  If I'm going to push hard I need fuel and part of the motivation for working hard these weeks has come in the form of hot dogs, ice-cream, and beer (which are all amazing, but mainly the hot dogs)
2)  Training as transportation.  I've been carpooling to work with some awesome co-workers lately and that's made my training transportation plan easier.  Hitch a ride to work - bike home.  Go the store with my wife - run home.  It works.
3)  No rules.  This may be counter intuitive, and maybe it was being raised in the south, but there comes a time when you just have to work to the point of exhaustion, then work a little more, eat a hot dog, work some more, and then have a beer to rehydrate.  Sort of a "if you can catch a wrench" training model.  Riding 20+ miles on a $100 Jamis mountain bike with a rubbing front brake and leaking front fork through the city is specifically what I'm talking about.  I was hammering and grandmas on cruisers were keeping up...that may be a slight exaggeration.

So what has training looked like?
Monday - 3.5 mile AM run, 2 mile PM run, core work
Tuesday - 7 mile AM ride, Ultimate league game PM
Wednesday - 20 mile ride home from work, transition to 2 mile run to pick up car at co-workers
Thursday - 1600m race pace AM swim / PM supersets 

Game Time

This is the week.  No more excuses.  No more next week. 

I've been slacking lately and not taking training seriously because I'm only "racing Tahoe for the experience".  Garbage.  I'm a competitive SOB and I know I'll be pissed on October 5th if I continue this lack luster focus on training.  I only have 3 weeks and that's why starting today it's game time.  Time to bring it.  Two weeks of all out training and pushing followed by a small taper and then the race.  Stay tuned for the nasty details....

Too little too late?  Hardly.

Training Update

Quick Update....
 
Wednesday: 1600m swim
Thursday: recovery
Friday 1600m swim
Saturday: 12 miles road, 1 1/2 hours on the trail
Sunday: Rest
Monday: 3.5 run

Saturday was a rough day on the bike.  On the way to South Mtn. they were clearing an accident (fatal?) where a cyclist had been hit.  Tough stuff.  I spent 1 1/2 hours getting beaten up by the Mormon Trail on South Mountain and never got to hit it back - that's just not fair.  On the way home a girl driving the beer cart for a golf course almost took me out and I had to bail into the grass to avoid being T-boned on a blind curve. 

Still need a place to stay for Tahoe.  Still need to decide whether to bring the bike or rent one there.  Getting closer....

Workouts and Weddings

First, I apologize for the lack of pictures.  My camera was a casualty of the wedding I attended this past weekend in Wisconsin and I'm hoping it finds its way back to me before too long.

This weekend was about as busy as they come with a late Friday night flight to MSP followed by a two hour solo drive to Arcadia, WI.  I got four maybe five hours of sleep before heading out to the town's only breakfast establishment.  Eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and coffee for under 5.00.  Amazing!  After breakfast it was off to the wedding site, Faye's family farm, where I helped setup chairs and tables under the tent.  I was hoping to sneak off for a run out in the country, but we helped out until just before the ceremony.   It was a fabulous wedding, everyone looked great, and an excellent party complete with fireworks, but it was another late night with little sleep.  I returned home Sunday totally whooped, but had big plans for Monday AM.

John was back in town visiting from Nashville and the only time we could ride was Monday AM, so 5:00 AM on Monday I was up and on my way to meet him at South Mtn.  We rode the Mormon Loop, which is a dangerous ride in the early morning darkness on limited sleep.  I managed to stay upright, but not able to keep up with John whose desert skills are just nasty.  It was a beautiful early morning ride and I loved seeing another trail on this incredible mountain.

This morning I couldn't pull the trigger and wake up for an AM swim so today will just be the first Ultimate Frisbee league game tonight.  I'm excited to play Ultimate; it feels like it has been a long time.  I hope to a swim Wednesday and Friday during lunch with big bike plans for the weekend.  Tahoe feels like it's creeping up on me, but despite all the craziness I think I'm preparing more than I give myself credit for.  We'll just have to wait and see....