It is very humbling when you think of yourself as a decent āage groupā athlete, but then you step into someone elseās playground and you quickly discover your skills at this new sport is average at best. That was one of many feelings at the end of todayās Conquer the Hill at Miller School of Albemarle race. What were the other feelings? [ Read More... ]
In preparation for some longer events towards the end of this year, I decided to sign up for a couple of fun non-triathlon events to get myself mentally ready to endure what my mind may provide while physically punishing my body. This weekendās event wasnāt physically difficult as I have done half marathons distances before, but it was one of the longer runs of the 2017 race season. The other mental challenge was to attend a larger event that included thousands of people vs. the local triathlon events that donāt have more than a couple hundred athletes. [ Read More... ]
Let the 2017 Race season begin! This year I only registered for a few races when compared to last year, but with some high goals in terms of PRs, new event venues, and distances. To get my mind and body focused Iāve also started signing up for some āFunā events to simply enjoy the vibe of the racers, supporting the great people who put on these events, and the location (which is easy when the event is at a winery). When trying to find good vibes, there is nothing better than outdoor trail people as everything is simply laid back as racers never know what to expect in terms of terrain, weather, or anything else that could simply derail your planā¦ so let go of the plan and have fun. [ Read More... ]
It was great to get back into Adventure Racing as I wasnāt able to do any in 2016. This time I stepped outside my comfort zone and registered for a race that was local vs. being dependent on my brother-in-law in Missouri taking care of everything (bikes, gear packs, getting us to/from the race, orienteering, etc). I was able to trick recruit three other Speed Sherpa teammates to try Adventure Racing while take a stab at being team captainā¦ which really means acting as a āsherpaā to ensure everyone is prepared, ready for a great time, and does not include being able to read navigational tools (more details below). [ Read More... ]
For the past few months during the triathlon off-season, Iāve been drawn to running and biking outdoors in trails around the area to just āhave funā. I knew I needed a break from racing and simply enjoying being outside, and the time Iāve spent since the purchase of my new 2016 Scott Scale 930 Mountain Bike has made me feel like a kid again as if I were riding through the neighborhood ādirt trailsā exploring new areas that have yet been charted (at least before they were destroyed for new home development). It seems to me I have a new calling to be out in the woods, so you are going to see a lot more of trail Ride / Run (Xterra) posts for 2017. [ Read More... ]
