2012 Race Schedule

Here is my race schedule for this year. No pressure for anyone to go...just sharing

- April 28th - Nisswa Run for the Lakes (Half marathon)

- May 6th - Ironman Bike Lakeville (100 miles)

- May 19th - Blaine Triathlon (Sprint)

- June 3rd - Buffalo Triathlon (Olympic)

- July 14th - Minneapolis Triathlon (Olympic)

- August 4th - Prior Lake Triathlon (Sprint)

- September 9th - Square Lake, Stillwater (Half Ironman-70.3 miles)

- November 25th - Cozumel, Mexico (Ironman-140.6 miles)

Full - Fun Schedule ahead

My new bike - FINALLY

After many months of research, staring at pictures, sitting on a few and riding them on a trainer and trying to find a good deal...I finally pulled the trigger an purchased my first bike on Saturday. 

This is called a TT/Tri bike (TimeTrial/Triathlon).  It's unique because of the aerobars attached to the handlebars and also the geometry is different.  On a Tri bike, the goal is to ride with a higher angle (77%).  The angle is measured from the seat to the crank.  The reason you are more upright is because it makes the transition from going from a biking motion and using those specific muscles to a running motion.  I'll be doing a lot of BRICKS during training (bike first and then run right away) to help my body get used to it.

I ended up getting a FELT B16 from GearWest Bike in Long Lake.  Why a FELT?  Full Carbon frame, good components and it fit me like a glove with very little adjustment.  I was lucky enough to work with the owner on and he did the fitting (they adjust things and record you on video and then make changes over and over).  Great guy and I learned a lot.  GearWest is actually the only store in MN that works with Ironman and the shipping company that ships the bikes to event sites for participants. (More on that in another post).

Here is a picture of the final set up. At least Lauren seemed impressed.

The green thing in the back is the trainer, the front wheel is on a block to keep it stable.  It's hard to see but just above the front wheel (the cockpit in bike lingo) but my water bottle (hydration unit in bike lingo) is set up too.  It holds 22 oz and has a straw to drink from while riding in this position.  Then to fill the hydration unit, I just take the water bottle and dump it in a hole up top.  During the Ironman, they have stations set up for a bottle exchange.  You grab a bottle from the station as you ride by and drop an empty one. I'll probably go through 276 oz of fluid just while on the bike.  Yawza!

What's in a Title?

After signing up for Ironman Cozumel, Christine received an email from her customer (the ones who invited us) and he said...COMMIT, TRAIN and PRAY.  

About a week later he sent me this book to read (very nice of him) and in the first chapter it talks about 'GOING LONG' and the strategy is to COMMIT, TRAIN and PRAY.

I LIKE IT!!!