Some Race Day Pics...

Here some pics from the Pancake...

This is the swim start. Water temp was in the 60's. I was in the first wave and finished 1/4 mile swim in 10:37.

After the swim, you enter T1 (the first transition). You quickly chage out of your wet suit, throw on your bike gear and start peddling...

The Bike portion was 12 miles. We had to complete three 4 mile loops. I was yelling hi to the family...



After 12 miles of Biking you enter and exit T2 (Transition 2). This is the change from bike to run. By now you can't feel your legs and your heart is pumping, but the end is only 3.1 miles away.

At this point there is only one thing going
through your head....

Nope, not this one...

This one!

1 Hour 23 Minutes 25 Seconds

These are the folks that cheered us on...

Thanks for the love and support!

Eddie and Joclyn. Eddie raced as well. It was his idea to begin with! Thanks man!!!

Julie and Matthew on the left in front and Jocyln and Monica in background.

Julie, Matt and Nick at the bike course waiting for my slow butt...

Nick, Matt, Monica and Julie

The Clarke Family...

The family and finally, the man that took all the earlier photos... Cousin Jeff!

Thanks to all...

Tools of the Trade

I bought a Polar RS-200 Heart Rate Monitor watch with the chest strap about 2 weeks ago and I am so happy I did. Since purchasing this unit, I have been able to actively manage my exertion/exercise output keeping myself just on the threshold of passing out (LOL). I have realized that I can go steady at about 85% and can hit 91% and hold for a few minutes as well before I need to slow back down. If I move at about 81%-82% I feel like I can go on forever. I am now trying to match speed and distances to HR so I can determine how much extra I can push myself so I can increase my speed and decrease my times. I would like to shave at least a minute off my run and my ride and more off my swim if possible. We shall see - July 19th is not too far away.

48 Hours after SI Flat as a Pancake...

What a day! First, thanks to all those that came out to support me at the race Monica, Jeff, Julie, Nick, Matt and Jocelyn... We could not have done it without your support. Next, thanks to Brian and Christine and baby Em' that came after to celebrate with us... Lastly, thanks to Eddie who came up with this crazy idea and finished the race with me...

Also, thanks to the Sandy Hookers Tri Club for helping to prep me with some real experiences, good training, countless tips and fun people to work out with. Thanks to Christine at Shore Runner for starting her Tri Clinic and Coach Tom Manzi for his words of encouragement as well as training tips and tricks.

My finish was 1:23 and I placed 346 out of 598. I am extremely pleased with this first race... I know I can do better, but here are some thoughts...

1. Make a list and prep and pack the night before.
2. Get there early and set up... I can't tell you how good it felt to be all ready and not wondering if I missed anything.
3. Walk the transition area and know where the entrances and exits are... Ask questions! The volunteers are there to help and don't mind.
4. Be patient. When getting started, if it's your first time, don't rush just move at your pace, whatever that may be. At your pace you will look, feel and be confident... You will finish.
5. Respect the other competitors... Some are stronger than you others are weaker. Remember this is a race so strive to stay with the strong, but don't get in their way nor should you attack, insult or holler at a weaker competitor...
6. Move in and out of the transition area as quickly as you can. Don't meander or take it as a coffee break. You are still on the clock.
7. Watch your nutrient intake... Don't get hooked on the gels and other foods especially those that have caffeine. While it is a great addition to a race, too much caffeine will get your heart going and make it tough to breath. Trust me, when my bpm was spiked at 101% I had to walk for 50yds. to catch my breath and slow my heart rate... I felt like I was hyperventilating...
8. Respect the other people in the transition area. You need your space, but so do the people on your sides. Try to keep your stuff on your mat and stay out of the lanes when changing.
9. When you are looking at the water and the race director hollers 1 minute to start, take a second to appreciate what you are about to do... Then remember bullet point number 4 above.
10. Say thanks... I have volunteered at a number of these events while preparing to compete this weekend and nothing is nicer than hearing a competitor say thanks for the water, or for cleaning up or for just volunteering and being there. Without them we don't race and to me that is important - so say thanks...

My next race is July 19th. It is the second of the Long Branch Tri Series put on by the Sandy Hookers Triathlon Club. It is an awesome, fun race in a beautiful location. Hopefully the waves won't be so big this time, but regardless I will be ready...

Long Branch Tri #1

Well, this was supposed to be my first, but I only completed 1/3 of the race. The waves were pretty big on this beautiful Saturday morning, and after making it to the buoy and back I thought I was good. As I got close enough to shore to stand up, I got hit by a wave from behind which filled my goggles with water. Not too big a deal unless you wear contact lenses like me. The water in my goggles washed the lenses from my eyes and I was done for the day (somehow I left the spares at home). Not to worry, because the SI Flat as a Pancake was the real race I was training for and I would have extra lenses there.

It's Here!!!

Well, tomorrow is Tri-1. I know the Flat as a Pancakes is supposed to be #1, but I jumped in for the first of the Long Branch Tri Series with the Sandy Hookers. My bike is tuned up and ready to go, I got my sneaks and some GU packets. Can't forget the body glide or wetsuit either. Guess I am more anxious than nervous... I want to see how I will do and how much all the training has helped and if it will continue to pay off. Guess we will all know more tomorrow...

WOW! It's really been a while...

So I am in the home stretch. I own my wetsuit, a new bike, new goggles and who knows what else. From a gear perspective I am set. I have been working out pretty hard - training 3 to 5 times a week in the gym and I have been riding outdoors as well as getting in some open water swims in the river to go with my pool workouts. On the 20th of June (this Saturday coming up) I am actually doing the first of the Long Branch, NJ tri-series... It is a sprint also and this will actually be my first triathlon. I have to say that I am not worried at all... I am more than confident that I can complete all the events without incident (so I hope)...

This past week I also joined a tri clinic being run out of a local running shop. It is great- the folks are all new like myself and we have been training together on different days. Yesterday we went on a group ride and got some great tips from competitive riders that lead the group.

I did take today off as I did a 32 mile bike, 1 mile swim and 1.5 mile run yesterday as well as some easy weight training.

This week I will keep it light and easy... I want to stay loose for Saturday, but I don't want to fall out of shape... Tomorrow night we have an open water swim so I will probably ride in the morning and run at lunch... I will also begin to think about how I will set up my transition area and what items I will need to have with me.

Gonna be a tough couple of days, but I can't wait! Finally here...