When the Wheels Fall Off

If you have raced long enough, you know what I speak of - whether it's a training day or an A-race, there are just days that don't go right.  It can happen for a multitude of reasons, from gear failure to tough conditions to poor preparation.  For me, that race was the Barcelona marathon last weekend.  I went in thinking of Barcelona as a training day - my intent was to run it easy, get the stimulus in, and then really race the Paris marathon three weeks later.  In part, the goals were achieved.  I ran the race, got the stimulus in, but it was far from easy.  I buried myself in the last six miles trying to run a time that, at the end of the day, I wasn't that pleased with.  It was not the confidence boost I was looking for going into the Paris race, which is now two weeks out.

A friend of mine did the same race, except he followed a slightly different training plan.  He signed up for Barcelona, his first marathon (also what would end up being his first 5K, 10K, or half marathon) about 40 days out.  Early on, we discussed the need for running shoes (he's a big tennis player and thought he could get by with his tennis shoes), proper clothing, and the training that he could do to make his marathon dream a reality.  Two days after that talk, I went for a walk late at night and ran into him eating a pizza.  He proudly told me that he had just finished training - a 5 mile walk around the city - and was waiting for a friend to go get ice cream.  Despite being all for pizza and ice cream, which I am, it spoke volumes about what my friend's training regiment would likely consist of - that ended up being the longest training he did.

Unsurprisingly, race day for him was what many of us would consider to be a disaster.  I heard from my wife, who had agreed to run the last half with him, that when he made it to the halfway point, they were literally closing the course down behind him.  There was a van trailing him, pleading for him to get in and that his day was over.  He walked on.  About one mile after linking up with my wife, he stopped and sat down on a Vespa in order to do some stretching.  At his behest, my wife bought him a pastry (aid station food is so bland, after all).  Shortly after that, he decided to take a cab to where his girlfriend was waiting for him - about the 25 mile mark.  He made it to the finish line ten minutes after the official race end - 6:10 with a cab ride and a pastry.  When we met for dinner later though, I heard none of this from him.  He was unfailingly positive about the experience, how much he had learned from it, and how it had lit a curiosity about what running a full would be like.  He was telling me this as he massaged anti-inflammatory cream into his foot at the dinner table.

At the end of the day, it really is all about managing expectations and perspectives.  While I was hugely disappointed in my own race and effort, my friend was amazed by it and excited for me.  Conversely, while I was dismayed by all he had gone through (in part because I felt somewhat responsible), he was upbeat and positive.  I don't know if Paris will go better - spraining my ankle yesterday doing that all-important cross-training I was lauding earlier in the year certainly didn't help - but I hope to have learned more from my friend's attitude than I did from my own race.  Sometimes the wheels fall off and that's okay - there's always something that can be learned and, at the end of the day, it's such a privilege to be able to race at all.

There is a lot of racing going on this weekend - good luck to all Team RWBers, pros and age groupers alike, who are heading out to toe the line.  Please send us your race reports so we can get them up on the web page!

Happy trails.

 

Welcome to Miami

Teammates -

If you are following the Team RWB Triathlon Team Facebook page, then you are already aware that Miami 70.3 has reached out to Team RWB with a special discount.  The race, which will be held on 28 October, features a beautiful swim course just off Bayfront Park, a fairly unique out and back style bike leg through some of Miami's quiet residential areas, and a fast run that keeps racers close to the beach front.  For more information on the race, check out the official race site: http://ironmanmiami.com/.  For more information on how to register for the Special Team RWB discount, please email Dean (dean@teamrwb.com).

Last year, this race allocated 50 slots for the 70.3 World Championships, now held in Las Vegas - while the numbers are likely to be adjusted this year, this flat, fast course offers a great chance to punch your ticket to the World Champs (for 2013).  This is a great event and Team RWB would like to extend special thanks to Miami 70.3 for their support.

Rev3 and Team RWB

Teammates -

This weekend, we are very excited to bring you an interview with Ashley Quinn, one of Revolution3 (Rev3's) great employees.  Ashley was kind enough to give us a great deal of her time and address a number of questions regarding Rev3, their races, and the very exciting partnership between Rev3 and Team RWB.  As many of you know, Rev3 puts on a number of great races across the US and into the Caribbean (click here for their race schedule: http://rev3tri.com/events/ -- note that their first race for 2012 is just about a month out in beautiful Costa Rica), and with races ranging from Olympic to full distance and even an adventure race, it's easy to see that Rev3 has something for every athlete.  Rev3 also partnered with Team RWB last year at a very special and moving tribute to the ten year anniversary of September 11 at their very popular Cedar Point event.  Going into this season, Team RWB is extremely honored and grateful for Rev3's commitment to partner together and help support our wounded warriors.  Here is our interview with Ashley as Rev3 looks forward to another exciting season that features some new events and the return of some extremely popular races.  

Team RWB: First off, I would love to get some background on you - how long have you been with Rev3, your official title, and how you got started with the company.  Additionally, some additional background on Rev3 would be great.   

AQ: I have been with Rev3 for almost a year now. I will be celebrating my one year anniversary with the company in Costa Rica in March this year, not a bad gig :) I started with Rev3 as the Volunteer Coordinator in Knoxville in 2009 (Rev3's first year in Knoxville) I lived in Knoxville at the time and I helped recruit volunteers from around the area. They thought they were done with me when I accepted a job in Miami for the following year but when things did not work out I graciously accepted the position at Rev3. I guess you could say my official title is Director of Operations but we have such a great team that is so well rounded I would say we all do a little bit of everything.

 

Revoultion3 is going into it's fourth year as a company this year, which is really exciting. We have added three new venues to our 2012 series and we are watching our old races like Quassy take off and become a force of their own. Revolution3 started when our President, Charlie Patten, did his first Ironman and was waiting in line to sign up for next year. He thought it was crazy that he had to sign up a year in advance for a race he MIGHT be able to compete in if everything worked out. He thought there had to be a better way and Rev3 was born. We spend every day striving to make ourselves the most family and athlete friendly race company there is.

Team RWB:  Last year, Rev3 partnered with Team RWB for the Cedar Point event, which fell on the weekend of September 11.  Your partnership and support of all the athletes was very much appreciated by the Team - what can we look forward to from a Rev3/Team RWB partnership in 2012?   

AQ: Oh of course! We actually felt we stretched ourselves a little too thin with charity partners in 2011. We wanted to help EVERYONE and because of that we felt we did not give enough attention to any specific charities. So for 2012 we picked two charities we really want to focus and put all of our effort into and Team Red, White, and Blue was on top of that list.

Team RWB:  Toward the end of last season, Rev3 announced three new races location, Maine, Florida, and Wisconsin, joining an already impressive and fun (Costa Rica!) list of existing race sites.  From Quassy, you now have nine tri venues with events ranging from Olympic/International Distance to full Rev (140.6).  What's next for Rev3 in terms of expansion?  Of the new race sites, is there one you are particularly excited for?   

AQ: We also added Half Full in MD, we have hit double digits! It is exciting to be growing as fast as we are. We already have even more venues up our sleeves for 2013 and definitely another Full to add to the mix. I am really excited for this year, to go to our new venues and naturally Costa Rica since I have never been.

Team RWB: I noticed that you also have tentative plans for an adventure race in Luray, VA in April - is that an avenue that Rev3 will be pursuing more in the future?  

AQ: Yes, Rev3 has an adventure side that we partner with. Our race in Luray is awesome. It is a 24 hour adventure race, combined with a family sprint adventure race, and a sprint adventure race. Last year it rained the entire time and turned into a giant mud bath but everyone had an amazing time. Our Adventure side will be expanding by adding their own races and added family adventure races along with our triathlons, for example we are doing a Urban Challenge in Knoxville on race weekend this year. It is going to be a city wide scavenger hunt, should be great.

Team RWB:  As a race organization, what are some of the challenges you face in putting on the quality events that Rev3 is quickly gaining a well-deserved reputation for having?  How can we, as athletes, make your jobs and lives easier?  

AQ: Great question, honestly, feedback is the number one thing we can use to make our events better and make our athletes happier. At a race I don't get to see everything that is going on, so sometimes an athlete can catch something I  missed, if I know about it we can have a plan to make it change and make it better for next year. We love compliments and listen to criticism, it is what helps us grow.

Team RWB: Of all the races on the Rev3 docket, is there any one that is particularly special to you?  Conversely, do you have a particularly funny story to share from an event?  

AQ: I am from Knoxville, Tennessee so I have an attachment to that race. The first year in Knoxville everyone was concerned about the railroad tracks. I assured everyone that the tracks were fine, you would pretty much have to be an idiot to wreck your bike on these tracks. So, naturally on race day I was biking from aid station to aid station and I hit the tracks and ate it hard. I had to get checked out by the EMT on site and then they had to put a bandage on my face that when from my ear all the way down to my chin and I had to walk around with it for the rest of the day. My first day back to Rev3 I was still referred to as "the girl who fell on the train tracks."

Team RWB: As racers, some of us may at times fall into the trap of thinking we have this spectacle all figured out.  From your perspective as a race organizer who has no doubt seen countless athletes in all states of disorganization, do you have any race tips?  

AQ:  Plan ahead and don't stress. I have seen people about to hit the roof during a situation that has a super easy fix, there is always a solution. Just enjoy the day! 

Team RWB would like to thank Ashley for her generosity with her time and her great responses.  We would also like to thank Rev3 for their support and partnership and wish them all the best for the 2012 season - it certainly looks like it will be another great one.  If you are new to the sport and are looking for a great package deal, check out Rev3's wetsuit and a race (http://rev3tri.com/news/blueseventy-helix-wetsuit-free-registration/).  Finally, we would like to encourage all of our teammates to consider racing a Rev3 event this season - you'd be hard pressed to find a more professionally run or athlete (and family) friendly endeavor.  

As a closing note, the blog team would like to pass along shout outs to Team RWB ambassador and Army Veteran Steven Holcomb, who has been having a great weekend at the Bobsled World Championships in Lake Placid, winning the gold medal - the first for any American in the WC's two-man event.  Also to Stephen Armes, who raced the Okinawa Marathon, finishing as the 1st American and 16th overall (out of approximately 30,000).  And finally, congratulations to everyone who raced/is racing this weekend - Austin half and full, and anyone who joined our great friends at the Emerald Coast Tri Club for the inaugural Bluewater Bay Duathlon.  Race season is truly upon us.  

Happy Trails.  

Team RWB Austin Tri Camp

Teammates -

If you follow Team RWB on Twitter, then you are already aware of a great team announcement - the Austin Tri Camp being held this April.  Focused primarily on introducing wounded veterans to triathlon, this camp will be hosted by Coach Derick Williamson and Team RWB Pro Ambassador Jessica Jacobs, giving our wounded veterans amazing access to two of the best in the business.

If you are interested, or know a wounded veteran who might be interested, please check out the website for all the details:  http://www.austintricamp.com/.  We have a great team of RWB members responsible for putting this together and from the blog team, we thank each of you for the efforts you are making to help introduce our wounded veterans to this great sport.

On a different note, if you are looking for some added motivation for your run tomorrow, please consider joining the virtual run in memory of Sherry Arnold, a wife, sister, teacher, and runner who was abducted and killed on her morning run.  For the full story, please see this link: http://othervoices.runnersworld.com/2012/01/a-virtual-run-in-memory-of-sherry-arnold-2-11-12/?cm_mmc=Twitter-_-RunnersWorld-_-Content-Blog-_-OtherVoicesSherry 

As we train, we all know that there are inherent risks involved, but it is appalling and saddening to know that these kinds of things happen.  As always, we can only remind everyone to train smart - take an ID with you when you run and make sure someone knows where you are going and when you should be home.  As we all know from being in or around the military, the buddy system - as ridiculous as it sometimes seems - serves a valuable purpose that can benefit us all here at home as well.  While what happened to Sherry is as rare as it is horrific, we all deal with the common realities of distracted drivers, accidents, and equipment malfunctions.  Please stay safe out there.

Happy trails.

Gopher Soles

Teammates - 

As you may have heard by now, the damn gopher that predicts winter is saying we'll have six more weeks of it.  Here in Italy, we have just been through two straight days of snow, which has effectively been dubbed the storm of the decade, so I am hoping the winter-predicting wombat is wrong.  My training (even the gym was closed today for the weather) is suffering from all the snow and Bologna's worse-than-DC ability to deal with it.  Or is it all that bad?  In the last few days, between traveling and now the storm, my early season marathon training plan has had more gaps in it than a six year old's smile.  However, the runs that I have been able to get in, running on well-rested, fresh legs have been of much better quality than they might have been otherwise.  Perhaps there is something to be said for additional rest, especially in the early months of the year.  

Separately, this very interesting video was just posted to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTMe_Q2e70.  It shows some amazing advances being made by existing companies (in this case Nike) that can really help athletes who use prosthetics perform better.  As Sarah Reinersten, herself an above the knee amputee, Ironman World Championship finisher, and World Record holder says at the end, "anyone who has a body has the potential to be an athlete."  Watching Sarah run in the video certainly shows that she is making full use of her potential, and mainstream companies are responding to that.  Developments like these, both in terms of the science and the attitude toward challenged athletes of all kinds will hopefully also benefit our Wounded Warriors, especially as they look to rehabilitate through racing - a Team RWB goal.  

Finally, for those of you who are looking to prove Phil the marsupial wrong, don't forget the Emerald Coast Tri Club's Bluewater Bay Duathlon (3K run, 15K bike, 5K run) is just over three weeks away - February 25, 2012 (http://www.ectriclub.org/Duathlon.php).  The EC Tri Club, part of the large Eglin AFB community, has partnered with Team RWB for 2012.  

Happy trails. 

Reminder: HOMH Spin-athon

Teammates - 

Just a quick reminder that Help Our Military Heroes is having their annual fund-raiser/spin-athon this weekend. As a Team RWB member, we hope that even if you can't get to the actual fund-raiser, you throw your Eagle on and train today with HOMH in mind.  Please drop them a line on their website and let them know how you did today: http://www.helpourmilitaryheroes.org/.  Drop a note in our comments section too - we'd love to hear from you. 

For something a little bit off-beat, I am currently in England and on my way to Tough Guy tomorrow.  It may not fall into traditional triathlon training, but it's an unconventionally good time: http://www.toughguy.co.uk/.  This one is for you Laurie and the rest of your HOMH team.  

For more information on HOMH, check out their website and make sure you read our two-part article on HOMH President, Team RWB member, and all-around impressive woman Laurie Hollander.  

Tri'ing it Out

Tri’ing it Out

Many of you are new to Team RWB. Some of you are new to triathlon all together. Welcome to the sport! The following will be more of a pep talk and not so much of a how-to. You already know you need to do some swimming, cycling, and running, and put it all together on race day. Your first race will be very exciting, but it also may be kinda scary.

You have an idea in your head about how you will set up your transition, maybe you even set it up at home to see how it looks. Once you get to the race site, stand in line to get body marked, and enter  transition, you will find yourself looking at everyone else’s transition. You ask yourself if you should change your plan, if you should set up your transition more like the other athletes' transitions. That is a decision you can only make for yourself. You are the one doing the race. Set it up once and go with it, your first instinct is usually the best.

You look around at all the other athletes. Wow, they look fit. You may ask yourself “what am I doing  here?” No matter what, always know that you belong there just as much as any other athlete who is present.

More often than not, swimming is the sport new triathletes typically struggle with when they are starting out. At this point you have trained enough to get through the swim portion, have confidence in that. The swim will be over before you know it and you will be rolling out of T1.

In transition 1, you will go through the routine you have been through in your head 100 times, only now it is for real. During this short period of time you will probably triple check to make sure you have everything. You will still be dripping wet from the swim. This is the point too you might be regretting the way you set up transition, its okay, you will fix it in the next race.

On the bike you will be tempted to start out fast. If you want to start out fast go ahead. Have fun with it. If you are concerned you might not have enough left in the tank for the run go ahead and slow down. Don’t forget to take a few sips from your bike bottle, the race is very exciting, and for this reason it is very easy to forget to drink. Always pass on the left. 

Transition 2 can be exciting. It’s the last time you will be in transition, and only one more segment separates you and the title of triathlete. You may have had a plan to put on socks, but now you are abandoning that plan, it’s okay, your feet won’t fall off. Most people get caught up in the excitement of the race. Maybe you are too; this is one of the really fun aspects of triathlon. Leave transition with a smile on your face, only a few miles and you will be a triathlete.

Maybe you started out as a runner, many triathletes do. Maybe running comes natural to you, maybe it doesn’t. No matter at this point, all the other athletes, just like you, want to get through this run and get to the finish line, some faster than others. If you need you pace yourself, go ahead and pace yourself. If you can run the first few miles easy and gut it out in the last mile that’s good too. Whatever method gets you to the finish line, use it. You see the finish line, pick up the pace for your final hard effort, you are almost finished! Cross the finish line with a smile and sense of achievement, you did it!

After the race, don’t immediately pack up and go home. You probably can’t anyway since transition will most likely not be open. Grab some post race food, and start chatting it up with your fellow triathletes. You can make some new friends, and pick up some tips. Stay for the awards so you can hear the times of the people in your age group who finished top 3, so you have a time goal to work toward.

Whether you go home with an award or not, remember, you are now officially a triathlete, and nobody can take that away from you. You have earned this title. Talk up triathlon to your friends, see if you can get them to try one out, they might just like it. If not, it’s okay, this sport isn’t for everyone.  As for you, after you get home and celebrate your achievement, you will be looking for your next race!

Happy Tri’ing!