Showing posts with label pactimo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pactimo. Show all posts
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Monday, July 11, 2022
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Monday, October 1, 2018
The @xterraoffroad tour beckons for 2019....#stoked to be looking at the potential race schedule already. Will be a good mix of #xterra, #marathonmtb and #gravel next year. . . . . . . #pactimo #parvillacycles #alchemybicycles #triathlon #salmingrunning #swimbikerun #IFB
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Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Work travel means some days without the bike but with a big month of racing ahead in September you have to keep your head in the game and focus on the little things...... . . . . . . #parvillacycles #marathonmtb #mtbracing #sm100 #IFB #alchemybicycles #pactimo #gopro
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Saturday, November 18, 2017
Xterra World Championships 2017.....Race Report
It's funny how perspectives change over the years.....two years ago at the 2015 Xterra World Championships it was first year in Xterra and I was sort of just pleased to be there and taking it all in. I was pleased with my race.....fast forward two years and I had larger goals and put more expectations on myself.
Leading into the race I had trained well, was feeling fit and knew that if I had a good day a top 15 position and something around 3hrs 15mins (on a dry course) was in the realm of possibility. I had learned the hard way in 2015 about flying for 12 hours and trying to pre-ride the course so changed the approach this year. I was helped that some major rains in the days before us arriving had made a bog of the course and that meant the course was closed on Thursday. With the heat and winds, the course reopened on Friday and I barely had to wipe the bike down....race day was going to be a dry and dusty course!
The rain and winds had also brought a huge swell meaning that the shore break was ripping the first few days we were there and subsided a little by race day.....it was still pretty cool to have to fight out the past the break on race day.
The swim went well and I was out in just over 26mins, much the same as 2015. Yet again I didn't see any turtles during the swim, perhaps they were deterred by the swell! The run to T1 is all up hill and is quite long as far as transitions go. It was at this point that I actually felt quite fatigued and more so than normal. In hindsight it probably came from the battling of the swell and waves more than anything else.
It was onto the bike and the goal to go as hard as felt comfortable knowing a) the elevation gain on the course but also b) the upcoming run. It that respect I nailed the bike....did I have the time I wanted? No, a few minutes slower but it was faster than 2015 by 5 mins and I was at an average of 148bpm for the duration. Nutrition was spot on with Gu Energy Roctane drink mix and gels and bottles of on-course water. The bike set-up with the Alchemy Oros and Maxxis tires (Ardent Race on the front and Ikon for the rear) was perfect and I wouldn't change anything there....for reference I rode a 32t Elliptical Chainring with an 11-42 rear cassette. Course conditions were spot on and had dried well after the rains.
Based on the swim and bike, I had to have a great run to get close to 3hrs 15mins....and straight out of T2 I knew that wasn't going to happen. The call down the engine room came back with a resounding "negative Captain" and unfortunately the Maui run course isn't something that you can gradually work your way into. It's uphill for the first 3 miles and not a gradual hill at that......it was a death march for the entire 10km.
The final 300m along the beach were not pretty......
So here's the how the perspectives change over the years....in comparison I was 2mins 30secs slower than 2015 and in 2015 I was pleased with my race, in 2017 not so much. However, my main goal was to go and give it everything knowing that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve things....I went hard on the bike and it ended up being to my detriment on the run. But I knew I had to do that to get close to that top 15 position and the risk was bombing the run and that lead me to a 34th position. On the bright side I was still at the World Championships, something that not many people can say and ended up top 25% in the World!
As from most races you learn things for next time.....and there will be a next time but perhaps a few years from now (Maui is far away and not cheap to travel to!) when I'm 45 (I might get the itch much sooner!). So what would I change for next time:
1. Travel to the race sooner.....the time change really screwed with my body clock. I was waking up everyday at 300am after poor sleep and it wasn't until after the race some 5-6 days later that I got onto Hawaii time. I would go a week beforehand.
2. Ride harder for longer - Although I can race at close to threshold for two hours on the bike, I need to do it more often on the MTB. In hindsight I didn't do that nearly enough....
3. Find more hills - we aren't blessed with many hills where we live so searching out the hilly routes far and near is essential on the bike and run. It's so critical for the Maui course
4.Make more of an effort to run outside - as many know about 95% of my running is on the treadmill at work during the lunch hour....it is fundamentally different to running outside and also limits my runs to 45mins or less!
5. This comes after every race.....swim more!
All that aside.....the race was awesome, we had a great time at the race and afterwards in Maui and as I stated earlier we will definitely be back to take another crack at the course!
Mahalo for reading.....
Leading into the race I had trained well, was feeling fit and knew that if I had a good day a top 15 position and something around 3hrs 15mins (on a dry course) was in the realm of possibility. I had learned the hard way in 2015 about flying for 12 hours and trying to pre-ride the course so changed the approach this year. I was helped that some major rains in the days before us arriving had made a bog of the course and that meant the course was closed on Thursday. With the heat and winds, the course reopened on Friday and I barely had to wipe the bike down....race day was going to be a dry and dusty course!
The rain and winds had also brought a huge swell meaning that the shore break was ripping the first few days we were there and subsided a little by race day.....it was still pretty cool to have to fight out the past the break on race day.
The swim went well and I was out in just over 26mins, much the same as 2015. Yet again I didn't see any turtles during the swim, perhaps they were deterred by the swell! The run to T1 is all up hill and is quite long as far as transitions go. It was at this point that I actually felt quite fatigued and more so than normal. In hindsight it probably came from the battling of the swell and waves more than anything else.
It was onto the bike and the goal to go as hard as felt comfortable knowing a) the elevation gain on the course but also b) the upcoming run. It that respect I nailed the bike....did I have the time I wanted? No, a few minutes slower but it was faster than 2015 by 5 mins and I was at an average of 148bpm for the duration. Nutrition was spot on with Gu Energy Roctane drink mix and gels and bottles of on-course water. The bike set-up with the Alchemy Oros and Maxxis tires (Ardent Race on the front and Ikon for the rear) was perfect and I wouldn't change anything there....for reference I rode a 32t Elliptical Chainring with an 11-42 rear cassette. Course conditions were spot on and had dried well after the rains.
Based on the swim and bike, I had to have a great run to get close to 3hrs 15mins....and straight out of T2 I knew that wasn't going to happen. The call down the engine room came back with a resounding "negative Captain" and unfortunately the Maui run course isn't something that you can gradually work your way into. It's uphill for the first 3 miles and not a gradual hill at that......it was a death march for the entire 10km.
The final 300m along the beach were not pretty......
So here's the how the perspectives change over the years....in comparison I was 2mins 30secs slower than 2015 and in 2015 I was pleased with my race, in 2017 not so much. However, my main goal was to go and give it everything knowing that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve things....I went hard on the bike and it ended up being to my detriment on the run. But I knew I had to do that to get close to that top 15 position and the risk was bombing the run and that lead me to a 34th position. On the bright side I was still at the World Championships, something that not many people can say and ended up top 25% in the World!
As from most races you learn things for next time.....and there will be a next time but perhaps a few years from now (Maui is far away and not cheap to travel to!) when I'm 45 (I might get the itch much sooner!). So what would I change for next time:
1. Travel to the race sooner.....the time change really screwed with my body clock. I was waking up everyday at 300am after poor sleep and it wasn't until after the race some 5-6 days later that I got onto Hawaii time. I would go a week beforehand.
2. Ride harder for longer - Although I can race at close to threshold for two hours on the bike, I need to do it more often on the MTB. In hindsight I didn't do that nearly enough....
3. Find more hills - we aren't blessed with many hills where we live so searching out the hilly routes far and near is essential on the bike and run. It's so critical for the Maui course
4.Make more of an effort to run outside - as many know about 95% of my running is on the treadmill at work during the lunch hour....it is fundamentally different to running outside and also limits my runs to 45mins or less!
5. This comes after every race.....swim more!
All that aside.....the race was awesome, we had a great time at the race and afterwards in Maui and as I stated earlier we will definitely be back to take another crack at the course!
Mahalo for reading.....
Monday, September 18, 2017
Shenandoah 100.....So Much Awesomeness!
It seems a while ago that I went an raced my first 100 mile MTB race at the Shenandoah 100 but two weeks ago I did and it was awesome. At some point I will download all my thoughts and what I want to try and improve upon in 2018 (That says a lot already that I want to go back next year!)
The vibe, the trails, the support were all great...yes I made a detour of 5 miles due to a poorly placed sign that kept me for going sub-10 hours but still a hell of a day. I think I might like the marathon MTB races :-)
The vibe, the trails, the support were all great...yes I made a detour of 5 miles due to a poorly placed sign that kept me for going sub-10 hours but still a hell of a day. I think I might like the marathon MTB races :-)
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
The Final Push....Got to Stay On It!
As others season's are winding down, it's hard not to begin to look forward to 2018.....eye's on the prize and the BIG race in two months! Then it can be 2018 planning with a few beers!
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Iron Hill Challenge MTB Race Report 2017....
This past weekend it was back to racing at Iron Hill Challenge in the MASS MTB Series. With the lack of Xterra races until the World Championships in October, the calendar will need to be filled with other races consisting of XC and Endurance MTB races as well as a few trail runs. The goal for these races is to race hard and put pressure on myself to go all out.
For Iron Hill Challenge that worked out pretty well. I didn't get to pre-ride the course so aimed to take to the front as soon as possible to give me the cleanest view of the course. Wow was I surprised! I had no idea that the course was as rocky as it was and was a blast from start to finish. It had a good mix of everything and with the oppressive heat it was a tough day for everyone. Although I took the lead early I surrendered it mid-way through the 1st lap before getting caught behind some riders from the earlier fields which meant we rode a slightly slower tempo pace for a couple of the singletrack climbs. After getting past them it was game on and just before hitting the 2nd lap I made the pass for 1st and just nailed it for the lap. In the end I was able to take the win by 3mins in the Cat 2 40+ field and posted a faster 2nd lap than the 1st which was a combination of knowing the course, meeting less slower riders and just punishing myself. Mission accomplished.
With that result being the 2nd win in 2 races at the Cat 2 40+ field I think it is time to move on up. Next year I'll start racing the Cat 1 40+, which means longer races (one more lap) and probably a mid-pack finish but it will give me something to work on over the winter!
With the racing done as per the norm we headed off to Street, MD to visit the Falling Branch Brewery and enjoys some brews while the rain finally started to fall!
For Iron Hill Challenge that worked out pretty well. I didn't get to pre-ride the course so aimed to take to the front as soon as possible to give me the cleanest view of the course. Wow was I surprised! I had no idea that the course was as rocky as it was and was a blast from start to finish. It had a good mix of everything and with the oppressive heat it was a tough day for everyone. Although I took the lead early I surrendered it mid-way through the 1st lap before getting caught behind some riders from the earlier fields which meant we rode a slightly slower tempo pace for a couple of the singletrack climbs. After getting past them it was game on and just before hitting the 2nd lap I made the pass for 1st and just nailed it for the lap. In the end I was able to take the win by 3mins in the Cat 2 40+ field and posted a faster 2nd lap than the 1st which was a combination of knowing the course, meeting less slower riders and just punishing myself. Mission accomplished.
With that result being the 2nd win in 2 races at the Cat 2 40+ field I think it is time to move on up. Next year I'll start racing the Cat 1 40+, which means longer races (one more lap) and probably a mid-pack finish but it will give me something to work on over the winter!
With the racing done as per the norm we headed off to Street, MD to visit the Falling Branch Brewery and enjoys some brews while the rain finally started to fall!
Monday, June 26, 2017
Note to self! 6hrs at Woodstock MTB Race
Note to self as I race more MTB marathon races in the future..............
1. Get more endurance rides done
2. Eat more and eat early
3. Continue to have Sarah as my crew....she was awesome!
4. Pre-ride the course if I can
5. Take more ice!
6. Pactimo Summit Pro bibshorts are da bomb
I had a blast at the 6hrs at Woodstock and ended with a solid 62miles (6 laps) and 7th overall/2nd 40+
1. Get more endurance rides done
2. Eat more and eat early
3. Continue to have Sarah as my crew....she was awesome!
4. Pre-ride the course if I can
5. Take more ice!
6. Pactimo Summit Pro bibshorts are da bomb
I had a blast at the 6hrs at Woodstock and ended with a solid 62miles (6 laps) and 7th overall/2nd 40+
Monday, June 19, 2017
Well...Last Weekend Turned Out Pretty Good!
Well after being cut down by a stomach bug, the weekend of racing turned out pretty good!
The Xterra Big Elk 21km was on Saturday and despite having heavy legs I did reasonable job of pacing myself to a 3rd overall finish and importantly gaining top points in the age group. That should have wrapped up the series age group win for the 2017 Xterra Atlantic season!
And then on Sunday at Ramsey's Revenge MTB race I took the Cat 40-49 win!
The Xterra Big Elk 21km was on Saturday and despite having heavy legs I did reasonable job of pacing myself to a 3rd overall finish and importantly gaining top points in the age group. That should have wrapped up the series age group win for the 2017 Xterra Atlantic season!
And then on Sunday at Ramsey's Revenge MTB race I took the Cat 40-49 win!
Monday, May 22, 2017
Things Do Not Always Go As Planned.....Brief Xterra Oak Mountain Report
Xterra Oak Mountain this past weekend was THE goal race for the first half of the season, it was a World Championship qualifier and the only race that provides those slots anywhere close to the East Coast.....what does that mean? Well anyone that's anyone with hopes of qualifying shows up for the 51 slots available. In the stacked 40-44 age group we had 3 slots......
Long-story short I was 4th.......
With a lap to go on the run I was sitting 3rd but was slowing and was passed with about 2.5miles to go and had nothing left to follow. It is what it is you can't complain too much when you finish 9th overall amateur and 4th in age group, old guys are fast!
Right now it's disappointing, it looks like the top 3 are going to take their slots so no roll down. When you put so much time and effort into your goal race and get so close it's going to take time to recovery physically and mentally. Yes there are other races and other years to get to Maui again and I understand that......it's just tough to get over the initial disappointment.
Time for some rest and then onwards to think about the rest of the season once the motivation returns.....
Long-story short I was 4th.......
 |
| Top 5 40-44 Age Group |
With a lap to go on the run I was sitting 3rd but was slowing and was passed with about 2.5miles to go and had nothing left to follow. It is what it is you can't complain too much when you finish 9th overall amateur and 4th in age group, old guys are fast!
Right now it's disappointing, it looks like the top 3 are going to take their slots so no roll down. When you put so much time and effort into your goal race and get so close it's going to take time to recovery physically and mentally. Yes there are other races and other years to get to Maui again and I understand that......it's just tough to get over the initial disappointment.
Time for some rest and then onwards to think about the rest of the season once the motivation returns.....
Monday, April 10, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Saturday, January 16, 2016
December 2015: Training Ramblings.......A little bit of Consistency
After a pretty damn sloth-like November it felt good to get back to a little more structured training in December. Well to be totally honest it was more like let's actually do some workouts and build some base so that come January the 2016 season training can begin in earnest.
The weather was very un-December like which didn't stop me getting a cold however. Personally I blame our visitors from the UK, as the Wrights headed over to visit for two weeks! The combination of playing around with two under 4 year olds, once of which had a cold was a surefire way to get a bug.....it was well-worth it though as Hunter and Grace are so much fun. We also headed up on mass to Newport, Rhode Island to see Cathy and Ron (and Olly & Iris).
As I said training was really just getting back into some consistency which did occur, a few runs, swims and bikes and one final cyclocross race of the season. The race coincided with my cold so the result wasn't exactly great but it was fun to have Hunter running around the course with Sarah blowing his Vuvuzela!
The good thing about getting some training going on is that the it gets you amped for the 2016 season and so it's time to think about the races. The next blog will cover the 2015 season as a review and what the 2016 schedule will look like! The 2nd year of Xterra will be fun :-)
What I am drinking this month:
Maui Coffee Company: Grown in the West Maui Mountains, 100% Maui Coffee is the pride of the island. This flavorful coffee is grown from the same tree as Kona, but develops a slightly different flavor, due to the different soil and climate conditions.
December Total: 387miles/31hrs 32mins/2085 TSS
Swim: 10.07m/5hrs 07mins/ 263 TSS
Bike: 307m/17hrs 45mins/ 1140 TSS
Run: 70.7m/8hrs 40mins/ 683 TSS
The weather was very un-December like which didn't stop me getting a cold however. Personally I blame our visitors from the UK, as the Wrights headed over to visit for two weeks! The combination of playing around with two under 4 year olds, once of which had a cold was a surefire way to get a bug.....it was well-worth it though as Hunter and Grace are so much fun. We also headed up on mass to Newport, Rhode Island to see Cathy and Ron (and Olly & Iris).
 |
| "Tuddles" with Gracie! |
 |
| A tired Hunter! |
As I said training was really just getting back into some consistency which did occur, a few runs, swims and bikes and one final cyclocross race of the season. The race coincided with my cold so the result wasn't exactly great but it was fun to have Hunter running around the course with Sarah blowing his Vuvuzela!
 |
| Fun & Games at the 'Cross race |
The good thing about getting some training going on is that the it gets you amped for the 2016 season and so it's time to think about the races. The next blog will cover the 2015 season as a review and what the 2016 schedule will look like! The 2nd year of Xterra will be fun :-)
What I am drinking this month:
Maui Coffee Company: Grown in the West Maui Mountains, 100% Maui Coffee is the pride of the island. This flavorful coffee is grown from the same tree as Kona, but develops a slightly different flavor, due to the different soil and climate conditions.
December Total: 387miles/31hrs 32mins/2085 TSS
Swim: 10.07m/5hrs 07mins/ 263 TSS
Bike: 307m/17hrs 45mins/ 1140 TSS
Run: 70.7m/8hrs 40mins/ 683 TSS
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