For those of you following this blog, I am happy to say I have finally given my website a much needed facelift. My blog posts will now be accessible via my site at www.bradseng.com I do not plan on writing too much within this blog.
Thanks for reading & keep it smooth...
Brad
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Running the Good Race
Tomorrow morning approximately 1,900 athletes will converge on the Boulder Reservoir for the Boulder 70.3 triathlon (1.2 mile swim~56 mile bike~13.1 mile run). It is a popular race on the half Ironman circuit with the Rocky Mountains as a scenic back-drop.
With a disappointing outcome in my previous four races I am excited to get back in the mix with a hometown tilt. My training block leading up to this event has been solid as I have been working through a nagging foot injury. I have simply strived to persevere with eyes of faith.
Life can get messy: relationships, work, training, finances, health concerns, etc. It is through these challenging moments we can all benefit from running the good race. We might fall, we might get hurt, we might experience a taste of disappointment, but we will never be given more than we can handle. Phil 4:13 - "In Him who is my source of strength, I have strength for anything." Christ came not to take away our suffering, but fill it with His presence.
When the gun goes at 6:30am, it's game on. May we all have the courage to be our best in running the greatest race of all...LIFE!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
With a disappointing outcome in my previous four races I am excited to get back in the mix with a hometown tilt. My training block leading up to this event has been solid as I have been working through a nagging foot injury. I have simply strived to persevere with eyes of faith.
Life can get messy: relationships, work, training, finances, health concerns, etc. It is through these challenging moments we can all benefit from running the good race. We might fall, we might get hurt, we might experience a taste of disappointment, but we will never be given more than we can handle. Phil 4:13 - "In Him who is my source of strength, I have strength for anything." Christ came not to take away our suffering, but fill it with His presence.
When the gun goes at 6:30am, it's game on. May we all have the courage to be our best in running the greatest race of all...LIFE!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tasmanian House Guest
The last few weeks I have had an elite runner from Tasmania staying with me. Dave is a humble guy and by his standards does not really think his running is "elite" just yet. He posts a 29 and change 10k, so I think that is pretty darn fast. It's been great hosting a single sport athlete and I can really appreciate the simplicity of not having to balance three different disciplines. It has been interesting to learn about his self-coached training program and consistency with his daily double runs. Additionally, the guy is all about herbs and natural supplements. He recently spent a day in Denver seeking out some of these mythical elixirs. He returned with a brown bag full of stuff from a Chinese medicine shop...dried herbs and various roots/tree barks. Covered from head-to-toe with tats and having a shaved head with a couple of long dread locks you might not think the guy has a passion for running. When he's not running, Dave likes to chill out with his herb books and walk into town to check out the local book stores. I reckon he walks just about everywhere. He used my road bike for a couple of trips, but didn't seem to care for the saddle too much.
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Reposting: Call to Greatness
Reposting from June 2010:
Call to Greatness
In celebration of Father's Day this Sunday, I'd like to share a few thoughts on the importance of fathers.
Both men and women are called to greatness by God, each having a unique role to play. With respect to men, I believe our natural instinct is to be protectors and not predators. Okay ladies, please don't roll your eyes thinking, "Oh gosh what a load of male chauvinistic-ideological-mumbo-jumbo." Be patient as I think you will find my humble thoughts worthy of consideration.
Fathers, like mothers, have a significant impact on the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health of their children. Recent research suggests the presence and voice of a caring, loving father plays a huge role in shaping the mind and values of his children. Fatherless children are statistically more likely to commit violent crimes, drop out of school and commit suicide.
It is quite likely the picture painted by pop culture is creating a lot of confusion as to what manhood is really supposed to look like. Our current hyper-sexed society would have us fall for the selfishness of thinking it's the norm to use people and love things, when in reality we are called to love people, unconditionally, and use things. Many men struggle with this as their idea of what manhood is all about gets twisted and distorted by the unhealthy lure of pornography. At it's core the porn industry robs us of our manhood (and womanhood). It creates a "users" mentality. Certainly fatherhood, as it is written on our hearts, is much stronger than what we see on television or the big screen.
I am blessed to have three men in my life who have truly set the standard for me on the signficance of fatherhood and all things "man":
William J. Seng, my dad, who continues to be a source of encouragement and perseverance. He always found time for our soccer games and swim meets while working fifty+ hours a week. Growing up in a small southern Indiana town, he has instilled in me and my siblings the joy of pursuing our dreams.
Frank H. Seng, Jr, my grandfather (father's side), who worked tirelessly as a cabinet maker and general factory laborer. His trademark teasing in calling us little monkies while proclaiming he could out-swim, out-run, out-kick or out-throw us even into his 90s always brings a smile to my face on race day.
Albert E. Ingraham, my grandfather (mother's side), who was commited to providing for his wife and family as a dairy farmer and jack of all trades. His Maine humor and work ethic is a daily reminder for me to get my bum out the door and do the job right.
Wishing all dads a very happy Father's Day and encourage you to lead your families to greatness...William Wallace style (think Mel Gibson in Braveheart)!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Call to Greatness
In celebration of Father's Day this Sunday, I'd like to share a few thoughts on the importance of fathers.
Both men and women are called to greatness by God, each having a unique role to play. With respect to men, I believe our natural instinct is to be protectors and not predators. Okay ladies, please don't roll your eyes thinking, "Oh gosh what a load of male chauvinistic-ideological-mumbo-jumbo." Be patient as I think you will find my humble thoughts worthy of consideration.
Fathers, like mothers, have a significant impact on the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health of their children. Recent research suggests the presence and voice of a caring, loving father plays a huge role in shaping the mind and values of his children. Fatherless children are statistically more likely to commit violent crimes, drop out of school and commit suicide.
It is quite likely the picture painted by pop culture is creating a lot of confusion as to what manhood is really supposed to look like. Our current hyper-sexed society would have us fall for the selfishness of thinking it's the norm to use people and love things, when in reality we are called to love people, unconditionally, and use things. Many men struggle with this as their idea of what manhood is all about gets twisted and distorted by the unhealthy lure of pornography. At it's core the porn industry robs us of our manhood (and womanhood). It creates a "users" mentality. Certainly fatherhood, as it is written on our hearts, is much stronger than what we see on television or the big screen.
I am blessed to have three men in my life who have truly set the standard for me on the signficance of fatherhood and all things "man":
William J. Seng, my dad, who continues to be a source of encouragement and perseverance. He always found time for our soccer games and swim meets while working fifty+ hours a week. Growing up in a small southern Indiana town, he has instilled in me and my siblings the joy of pursuing our dreams.
Frank H. Seng, Jr, my grandfather (father's side), who worked tirelessly as a cabinet maker and general factory laborer. His trademark teasing in calling us little monkies while proclaiming he could out-swim, out-run, out-kick or out-throw us even into his 90s always brings a smile to my face on race day.
Albert E. Ingraham, my grandfather (mother's side), who was commited to providing for his wife and family as a dairy farmer and jack of all trades. His Maine humor and work ethic is a daily reminder for me to get my bum out the door and do the job right.
Wishing all dads a very happy Father's Day and encourage you to lead your families to greatness...William Wallace style (think Mel Gibson in Braveheart)!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Thursday, June 16, 2011
RFR Pics
A few random pics from the relay with my bros...
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Tom brining it home strong with newphew Jack
Kate & Graham pushing the finish
it's all about speed in transition with the chip exchange
the crew pre-race (note my bro's board shorts for the swim -nice)
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Racing for Recovery Sprint Triathlon: A Family Affair
This past weekend I ventured back to the Motor City to race a charity event with my brothers (Brian & Tom) called the Racing for Recovery Sprint Triathlon. My sister-in-law (Kate), who I coach, was also doing the sprint so it would be a family affair at beautiful Sterling State Park in Monroe, MI just south of Detroit. This is a fantastic race featuring the sprint and half Ironman distances with proceeds supporting a drug & alcohol recovery program. I hold the course record for the half and have won it the past two years. I was really looking forward to mixing things up this year and doing the sprint as a relay with my brothers as they have never done a triathlon. It had a special meaning for me with my older brother now being 14 years sober!
We of course had some fun rivalry and smack talk going on in the days leading up to the big race. Would my younger brother be able to eke out a faster swim time than his wife? How much time would I be able to put into her on the bike to aid my older brother’s efforts on the run? I was quite confident she would do well and keep us honest on the course.
Sans wetsuit & sporting his baggy board shorts Brian hit the waters of Lake Erie while I patiently waited for his arrival in T1. As many athletes, including Kate, flooded into transition, I continued to peer on the horizon for my bro. With what appeared to be some “sea” legs he made his way from the beach for our chip exchange to the cheers of my parents and nephews. My focus for the bike was to stay on the gas from the get-go and I was able to make good work of the flat 12 mile course. If I didn’t come off the bike appearing to have left it on the course I would for sure hear it from my brothers! Into T2 Tom and I were able to make a quick exchange and he was off for the 3.6 mile run. Looking around I asked, “Where’s Brian?” My Mom pointed over to a small tree where he was still lying down in the shade and apparently not feeling too spry from his 500m swim. I think he soon realized he was a bit “undertrained” with only one practice swim as his preparation. Tom covered the hot & humid course in good form ensuring us a 2nd place finish in the relay division, but more importantly, a narrow margin of victory over Kate.
It was a great way for our family to spend a Sunday morning (at least in my mind :) and I am quite certain my brothers now have a working understanding of what I experience on race day. Kate had a super race finishing 2nd in her age group and 12th overall. Racing for a cause in support of a charity always makes for a rewarding experience. While I am not sure my brothers are inspired to hit up another triathlon anytime soon, I think they did enjoy the day and I am downright proud of them for getting outside their comfort zone.
Pics to follow soon…
Keep it smooth,
Brad
We of course had some fun rivalry and smack talk going on in the days leading up to the big race. Would my younger brother be able to eke out a faster swim time than his wife? How much time would I be able to put into her on the bike to aid my older brother’s efforts on the run? I was quite confident she would do well and keep us honest on the course.
Sans wetsuit & sporting his baggy board shorts Brian hit the waters of Lake Erie while I patiently waited for his arrival in T1. As many athletes, including Kate, flooded into transition, I continued to peer on the horizon for my bro. With what appeared to be some “sea” legs he made his way from the beach for our chip exchange to the cheers of my parents and nephews. My focus for the bike was to stay on the gas from the get-go and I was able to make good work of the flat 12 mile course. If I didn’t come off the bike appearing to have left it on the course I would for sure hear it from my brothers! Into T2 Tom and I were able to make a quick exchange and he was off for the 3.6 mile run. Looking around I asked, “Where’s Brian?” My Mom pointed over to a small tree where he was still lying down in the shade and apparently not feeling too spry from his 500m swim. I think he soon realized he was a bit “undertrained” with only one practice swim as his preparation. Tom covered the hot & humid course in good form ensuring us a 2nd place finish in the relay division, but more importantly, a narrow margin of victory over Kate.
It was a great way for our family to spend a Sunday morning (at least in my mind :) and I am quite certain my brothers now have a working understanding of what I experience on race day. Kate had a super race finishing 2nd in her age group and 12th overall. Racing for a cause in support of a charity always makes for a rewarding experience. While I am not sure my brothers are inspired to hit up another triathlon anytime soon, I think they did enjoy the day and I am downright proud of them for getting outside their comfort zone.
Pics to follow soon…
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Sunday, May 29, 2011
IMTX Race Report
hanging at the expo with Skin Strong
early in the run under some cloud cover
I'd like to say this was a great day of racing, but it was the exact opposite. Other than the swim, my race was in the tank! I had a great build for this event and was confident with my fitness. My run prep was slightly limited with some plantar fasciitis which developed two weeks out from race day, but I think the biggest influence on my poor run was the heat & humidity. I typically perform well in these conditions, but I guess my body was simply not ready for it with the cold spring we have seen in Boulder.Swim (58:41) - I positioned myself towards the front and had a decent start, but was not able to match the speed of some of the guys around me. I swam the first 1200m just behind a small group which included Petr Vabrousek (Chezch Republic & doing his 100th+ Ironman), my buddies Patrick Evoe (USA) & Raul Furtado (Brazil), Mike Neill (Canada), Joanna Lawn (New Zealand) and a few others. I was able to bridge up to them approaching the first turn buoy at 1400m and would complete the final 2400m comfortably with this group. The last 1000m of the swim was down a narrow canal with spectators on both sides which was kind of cool.
Bike (4:52) - Exiting T1 I expected to be in the midst of the same guys with whom I finished the swim. Damn, where did they go? Raul went passed me shortly into the bike and I made a tactical error in not trying to ride with him. What was I thinking!?! My legs felt decent but I rode too conservatively over the first part of this fast course and was never able to get myself into "go" mode. We had lots of cloud cover and some rain which was refreshing as the temps and humidity continued to rise. Over the final 10 miles I was caught by several riders and mentally a bit dejected. "C'mon Brad, get with it!" I said to myself.
Run (3:19) - Within the first few strides of the run I could tell it was going to be a tough go with this marathon. As the sun emerged my focus was trying to maintain some kind of leg turnover and keeping my core cool. Through the first loop I was able to catch a few athletes, but was seriously considering pulling the plug as I struggled in the conditions. I wanted to give up, but figured there would be some carnage over the final two laps and if I could keep things together I might be able to crack the top 15 for some valuable Kona points. Unfortunately I became part of the carnage as my pace slowed to a crawl. I have not felt this bad in a race since Kona 2009 and was trying to use every jedi mind trick and prayer I know to get things rolling.
Crossing the line in a sluggish 9:14 I had a smile on my face simply to be done with this race!
The volunteers and crowd support throughout the day were top-notch and I was grateful for their encouragement! I also enjoyed the pre-race expo and hanging with my sponsor, SkinStrong, at their booth. A HUGE thanks to my parents for their support on this rough day as well as my sponsors. I have enjoyed my recovery week of being lazy and allowing the body to rest/heal. As my last three races have been rather disappointing, I am inspired by Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not grow weary of doing good; if we do not relax our efforts, in due time we shall reap our harvest." May we all persevere with eyes of faith in being our best. Next up...the Racing for Recovery Sprint Triathlon relay with my brothers on June 5th!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Sunday, April 24, 2011
NO 70.3 Race Report - A Trio of Firsts
Last weekend I ventured down to the Big Easy to kick-off my 2011 race season at the 3rd annual New Orleans 70.3. It has been about ten years since I've visited this eccletic city and I was really looking forward to the entire race weekend. A HUGE thanks to my home stay family, the Edwards. Barry, Susie, Paul & Cody were terrific welcoming me into their home. Barry was born and raised in the area and knew exactly how to get around town and through the various levy construction projects without any hiccups. Without him I would have been driving in circles! He was good company on my workouts leading up to race day and giving me a great course preview as well as showing me some of the areas hit hard my Katrina. Susie made sure I was well fed with some incredibly delicious meals - buffalo burgers, salmon, buffalo tacos, big breakfasts, etc. Barry also hooked me up with his secret post workout smoothies. They went above & beyond the call of duty!
Race day brought three things which I have not experienced in over ten years of racing triathlons - a cancelled swim, a flat and a penalty. I was not totally surprised the swim was cancelled as it was briefly mentioned in our meeting as a slight possibility. The winds were pretty strong and with Lake Ponchatrain being quite shallow (average depth only 15 feet) it can create some serious chop in the water. Apparently there was a small craft advisory and the race organizers felt it would be a dangerous situation for both athletes and water safety personnel. After a good amount of time the organizers called the professional athletes for a brief meeting in transition. They took a vote on our preferred method of starting the race: A) having us start as a group outside transtion and race to our bikes & B) cycling time trial format sending us off in numerical order every 30 seconds. Obviously option B was the best way to get 'er going.
Bike (2:33) - About three miles into the ride my rear tire blew, unlocking my skewer and sent me fishtailing towards the first u-turn. I was able to keep myself upright to the appreciation of some spectators who shouted, "Nice save!" Not sure what caused the tire to blow and I suspect it was from one of the bumps I hit. Getting out my spare tubular I saw the razor blade I always carry was no where to be seen...must have lost it on one of those bumps. As I struggled to remove the glued tubular tire from my wheel, one of the spectators said he had a pair of scissors in his car. He ran and got them for me to use to help remove the bad tire. Technically I suppose this could be considered outside assistance, but at this point the ten guys who left the gate after me and five of the pro women had zoomed past. I was losing major time on the side of the road getting this thing fixed. I was able to get on my spare and successfully inflate it with my CO2. Back on and into the head wind I went. It took a good five miles for me to get my legs going and as the ride unfolded I was feeling really good. It was a strong head wind for most of the first half of the ride, but with all the wind I've ridden through in Boulder this spring it wasn't weighing on me physically or mentally. Shortly after the 20 mile mark I made a pass and then was shown a red card by one of the officials. Seriously, for drafting?? It was a judgement call and I wasn't going to waste any energy questioning the official. I nodded my head while being told I would need to report to the next penalty tent at the 28 mile mark. Sweet, another four minutes sitting on the side of the road! As I served my time, I was able to keep my mind clear of negativity, but admittedly it was disaapointing to have the flat and then a pentaly. Two things which I have been able to steer clear of throughout my career. At this point I was simply racing to get some good data from the bike. Heading back there was a strong tail wind and my legs continued to feel good as I caught a few athletes who passed me while I was in the penalty tent.
Rn (1:17) Heading out of transition I was in last place within the professional men and felt like I was on a training run. I worked hard to push myself towards a fast run split and it was a bit of a challenge being so far removed from the guys. I enjoyed the run course which winds it way through historic City Park and some amazing oak trees which provided a good amount of shade. Without any athletes or specators in good parts of the course it felt a bit quiet at times. Approaching the finish and running through the French Quarter I got a chuckle as I recalled the last time I was in this area during Mardi Gras many years prior. Crossing the line in 3:52 I was grateful simply to get through a somewhat surreal day of racing!
Overall, I had a fantastic race weekend...steallar home stay, great food, opportunity to speak at the FCA-E IronPrayer, catching up with friends, making new friends & speaking at two local high schools the day after the race.
Thank you to my sponsors for their continued support and Happy Easter!!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Race day brought three things which I have not experienced in over ten years of racing triathlons - a cancelled swim, a flat and a penalty. I was not totally surprised the swim was cancelled as it was briefly mentioned in our meeting as a slight possibility. The winds were pretty strong and with Lake Ponchatrain being quite shallow (average depth only 15 feet) it can create some serious chop in the water. Apparently there was a small craft advisory and the race organizers felt it would be a dangerous situation for both athletes and water safety personnel. After a good amount of time the organizers called the professional athletes for a brief meeting in transition. They took a vote on our preferred method of starting the race: A) having us start as a group outside transtion and race to our bikes & B) cycling time trial format sending us off in numerical order every 30 seconds. Obviously option B was the best way to get 'er going.
Bike (2:33) - About three miles into the ride my rear tire blew, unlocking my skewer and sent me fishtailing towards the first u-turn. I was able to keep myself upright to the appreciation of some spectators who shouted, "Nice save!" Not sure what caused the tire to blow and I suspect it was from one of the bumps I hit. Getting out my spare tubular I saw the razor blade I always carry was no where to be seen...must have lost it on one of those bumps. As I struggled to remove the glued tubular tire from my wheel, one of the spectators said he had a pair of scissors in his car. He ran and got them for me to use to help remove the bad tire. Technically I suppose this could be considered outside assistance, but at this point the ten guys who left the gate after me and five of the pro women had zoomed past. I was losing major time on the side of the road getting this thing fixed. I was able to get on my spare and successfully inflate it with my CO2. Back on and into the head wind I went. It took a good five miles for me to get my legs going and as the ride unfolded I was feeling really good. It was a strong head wind for most of the first half of the ride, but with all the wind I've ridden through in Boulder this spring it wasn't weighing on me physically or mentally. Shortly after the 20 mile mark I made a pass and then was shown a red card by one of the officials. Seriously, for drafting?? It was a judgement call and I wasn't going to waste any energy questioning the official. I nodded my head while being told I would need to report to the next penalty tent at the 28 mile mark. Sweet, another four minutes sitting on the side of the road! As I served my time, I was able to keep my mind clear of negativity, but admittedly it was disaapointing to have the flat and then a pentaly. Two things which I have been able to steer clear of throughout my career. At this point I was simply racing to get some good data from the bike. Heading back there was a strong tail wind and my legs continued to feel good as I caught a few athletes who passed me while I was in the penalty tent.
Rn (1:17) Heading out of transition I was in last place within the professional men and felt like I was on a training run. I worked hard to push myself towards a fast run split and it was a bit of a challenge being so far removed from the guys. I enjoyed the run course which winds it way through historic City Park and some amazing oak trees which provided a good amount of shade. Without any athletes or specators in good parts of the course it felt a bit quiet at times. Approaching the finish and running through the French Quarter I got a chuckle as I recalled the last time I was in this area during Mardi Gras many years prior. Crossing the line in 3:52 I was grateful simply to get through a somewhat surreal day of racing!
Overall, I had a fantastic race weekend...steallar home stay, great food, opportunity to speak at the FCA-E IronPrayer, catching up with friends, making new friends & speaking at two local high schools the day after the race.
Thank you to my sponsors for their continued support and Happy Easter!!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Wind, Fire & Snow
The annual chinook winds are alive & kicking with gusts today up to 55mph. Seems like mother nature is flexing her muscle this early spring with consistent winds, snow in the high country and wild fires just outside of Boudler two weeks ago and three currently raging outside of Golden. Perhaps Coors, located in Golden, should donate some of their brew to help douse the flames. At a minimum they should at least make some of their Rocky Mountain suds available for the firefighters once these bad boys are out.
Like the weather, my life has been a bit crazy at times with the training load in preparation for Ironman Texas, speaking obligations and trying to keep some balance beyond swim, bike & run. The fatigue factor has been in full effect with some planned stacked days of training, but my body & mind know the deal. I've had great results on the fueling/nutritional side of things as I continue to work with Craig at Max Muscle Sports Nutrition. It has been really insightful to track my lean muscle mass, body weight and caloric consumption from week-to-week. Anyone looking to make some positive changes with their overall diet or sports nutrition should check out what Craig can offer via his nutrition consultations/meal planning. I really thought I had this part of training/racing pretty well sorted, but Craig's program has allowed me to see a few gaps while making the necessary tweaks.
Well, I wish I had some more entertaining thoughts to share, but alas my pillow is calling my name as the wind continues to roar.
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Like the weather, my life has been a bit crazy at times with the training load in preparation for Ironman Texas, speaking obligations and trying to keep some balance beyond swim, bike & run. The fatigue factor has been in full effect with some planned stacked days of training, but my body & mind know the deal. I've had great results on the fueling/nutritional side of things as I continue to work with Craig at Max Muscle Sports Nutrition. It has been really insightful to track my lean muscle mass, body weight and caloric consumption from week-to-week. Anyone looking to make some positive changes with their overall diet or sports nutrition should check out what Craig can offer via his nutrition consultations/meal planning. I really thought I had this part of training/racing pretty well sorted, but Craig's program has allowed me to see a few gaps while making the necessary tweaks.
Well, I wish I had some more entertaining thoughts to share, but alas my pillow is calling my name as the wind continues to roar.
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Hello 2011
As my 2010 season wrapped up in early December, I decided to take an extended break from training, which apparently carried over to updating my blog. My body & mind were fairly fried coming off a long season and I enjoyed a much needed break. The holidays were spent catching up with my family in Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio. Always great to see my family while embarking in some bowling, sledding, snowball fights & competitve games of Apples to Apples Jr.
Training resumed the first of the year and has been going well. I really get a kick out of the rebuilding process and finding some base fitness after a long break. My long bike is up to three hours with my longest run at one hour. Any intensity has come during some of my swim sessions, but Coach Z will slowly begin introducing some quality with the bike and run this week. Last weekend I had the pleasure of presenting/speaking at the 6th annual ICTN/FCA-E training camp in Tucson. We had about 50-55 athletes attending from various parts of the US and Canada. Great time indeed & I highly recommend this camp to anyone looking to boost their spiritual & physical strength! The last three years this camp has been an effective way for me to capture a theme for my racing/training while keeping the focus on Christ.
As many people know, Team Sport Beans/NTTC will not be returning for 2011. I have been diligently seeking new sponsors and have lined myself up with a stellar group of companies. You will see me sporting the Skin Strong (chamois cream & anti-chafing spray) colors while racing along with Valdora & Max Muscle Nutrition Boulder. I am pleased to remain with Spira (running shoes) and Rudy Project (sunglasses & helmets). New sponsors include Thorlos (socks), Emergen-C, BareSkin towels and PowerBalance. To recieve 20% off your online purchase of any sized BareSkin towel use this code: SENG20. Their towels are great for every day use at the pool or gym and super convenient for travel. I have one or two more companies in the works and will update as things are finalized.
My speaking engagements have been keeping me busy beyond triathlon & coaching. I absolutely dig meeting the students and sharing insightful discussion about making healthy lifestyle choices. As I encourage the students here are three simple things you can do each day to experience true freedom & peace:
1. Laugh - either at yourself or a friend. Laughter is medicine for the soul.
2. Be thankful for one thing - gift of good health, the roof over your head, chocolate chip cookies, etc.
3. Be your best & dream big - God's gift to us is our potential, what we decide to do with it is our gift to God.
Wishing you a healthy & happy 2011!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Training resumed the first of the year and has been going well. I really get a kick out of the rebuilding process and finding some base fitness after a long break. My long bike is up to three hours with my longest run at one hour. Any intensity has come during some of my swim sessions, but Coach Z will slowly begin introducing some quality with the bike and run this week. Last weekend I had the pleasure of presenting/speaking at the 6th annual ICTN/FCA-E training camp in Tucson. We had about 50-55 athletes attending from various parts of the US and Canada. Great time indeed & I highly recommend this camp to anyone looking to boost their spiritual & physical strength! The last three years this camp has been an effective way for me to capture a theme for my racing/training while keeping the focus on Christ.
As many people know, Team Sport Beans/NTTC will not be returning for 2011. I have been diligently seeking new sponsors and have lined myself up with a stellar group of companies. You will see me sporting the Skin Strong (chamois cream & anti-chafing spray) colors while racing along with Valdora & Max Muscle Nutrition Boulder. I am pleased to remain with Spira (running shoes) and Rudy Project (sunglasses & helmets). New sponsors include Thorlos (socks), Emergen-C, BareSkin towels and PowerBalance. To recieve 20% off your online purchase of any sized BareSkin towel use this code: SENG20. Their towels are great for every day use at the pool or gym and super convenient for travel. I have one or two more companies in the works and will update as things are finalized.
My speaking engagements have been keeping me busy beyond triathlon & coaching. I absolutely dig meeting the students and sharing insightful discussion about making healthy lifestyle choices. As I encourage the students here are three simple things you can do each day to experience true freedom & peace:
1. Laugh - either at yourself or a friend. Laughter is medicine for the soul.
2. Be thankful for one thing - gift of good health, the roof over your head, chocolate chip cookies, etc.
3. Be your best & dream big - God's gift to us is our potential, what we decide to do with it is our gift to God.
Wishing you a healthy & happy 2011!
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Monday, December 06, 2010
Going Off-Road with Beauty & the Beast
Upon arriving in SanFran late Friday morning I was able to connect with one of my athletes from Oregon who was also running the 50 miler. We successfully found our hotel on Lombard before shooting over to the North Face store in Union Square to pick up our race packets. While I have traveled throug SFO, this was my first visit to the city and I am definitely going back for an extended stay. The waterfront, restaurants and city scene have a lot to offer and perhaps I'll have to put Escape from Alcatraz on my race schedule for 2011.
The 5am start didn't seem too unreasonable. However, having to catch a shuttle from one of two places in SanFran leaving by 3:45am made for an early start to the day with my alarm going off at 2:30am. Walking to the shuttle bus at Marina Middle School I got a chuckle of the folks in Mel's Diner finishing up their late night revelery. Took me back to the days of hitting Lafayette Coney Island after a long night in Detroit. The atmosphere on the bus was fairly calm and seemed absent of the nervous energy you find at Ironman events.
Arriving at the race site by 4:15am I had plenty of time to turn in my drop bags, get in a little warm-up and position myself towards the front. Donning headlamps off we went into the darkness and the vast network of trails that awaited us. The pace was brisk, but not over the top as our lead pack of about 20 guys twisted & turned through the first water station at mile 5. By the Tennesse Valley aid station the group was splintered. I was running comfortably alongside last year's champion Uli Steidl. He was one of the race favorites with a lot of experience. We introduced ourselves and I was a bit relieved to hear Uli state what I was thinking, "These guys are going out a lot faster than we did last year." Uli and I were running about 30-45'' down from the leaders when we approached the first significant & technical downhill. Just like that Uli and the others were gone as I tip-toed and picked my way down the steep trail. It wasn't too long after losing contact with the group that I went off course for the first time. Missing a quick turn I found myself floudering through some deep brush on a very steep grade. No, this is definitely not a trail. Retracing my steps I found my way back to the missed turn and continued my journey. Beofore daylight I would go off trail one more time.
Shortly after the Bootjack aid station at mile 19, I was crusing along when all of a sudden, WHACK, and I found myself sitting on my kiester. I had somehow not seen a rather large treel limb and busted open the bride of my nose on it. With my eggs now a bit scrambled, I sat there a few moments to make sure everything was in working order. A guy with a video camera covering the women leaders was kind enough to stop and take me to his car up the trail so I could get a bandaid to stop the bleeding. Onward I pressed & well removed from the leaders. As the day unfolded I soon realized this course was no joke! It makes the run course at Wildflower seem like an amusement park kiddie ride. I would proceed to go off trail two more times in the daylight and hit my head on one more tree limb. The downhill segments absolutely smashed my legs and over the final 15-20 miles I pretty much walked all of them.
Along the way I simply focused on getting from one aid station to the next. This event was well-supported with aid stations every 3.5-5 miles. The volunteers were absolutely top notch in helping us get our bottles filled and providing hacks like me with words of encouragement.
Crossing the line in 8:55 and 37th overall I was simply glad to be done in one piece! While my training leading into this event was hampered by lingering tendonitis in my knee and achilles, I am quite certain the biggest limiter was lack of course-specific training. My legs simply were not prepared for the constant abuse being dished out over this terrain. It was a tremendous learning experience for me and I have even more respect for the men & women who race these events. Congrats to all those who were out there getting it done!!
The next few weeks for me are all about rest, recovery and taking in the holiday spirits with family & friends!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
IMFL "Participation" Report
early on the run
always want to be across that mount line
it is a lot colder than it looks
sunset view from hotel balcony
After two solid races heading into IMFL I was hoping to put forth yet another good performance while securing some Kona qualifying points. The final two weeks of training I was unable to run with a knee injury post Austin 70.3. Certainly not the ideal way to prepare for an Ironman, but I figured I am racing for charity and it's the last race of the season; worse case scenario I simply walk portions of the marathon. The temps leading up to race day continued to drop into the low 40s and winds increasing. Race morning brought air temp of 42 and windy. This is Florida, right!?!
Swim (53:48) - Despite the north west winds the surf was relatively calm for our beach start. Without too much fanfare we were off. I was able to position myself with a small group including Blake Becker (USA), Petr Vabrousek (Czech Republic) and a few others. The pace seemed a bit sluggish at times as the current pushed us inside the buoy line. Exiting the water after the first loop I took advantage of the aid station for a quick drink of fresh water before plunging back into the Gulf of Mexico. Having a better feel for the currents on the second loop I swam well and was able to shed some from my group. The water was the warmest part of my race day experience, but I was glad to exit with a new swim PR.
Bike (4:53) - Riding into a head wind for the first 20-25 miles my hands and feet were pretty damn cold. Becker rode by me pretty fast and soon after came Vabrousek. For a while I was riding solo until Alex McDonald (USA), Olly Piggin (Canada) and another guy I didn't know rode past. I worked hard to stay with this group, at times really pushing the pace. 1:20 into the ride my power meter stopped working. I would ride the remainder of the bike on "feel" and approximating my effort and timing of my fueling. Approaching the 50 mile mark I had to back off the pace as perceptually I felt like it was out of my range. I tried to keep my mind focused on fueling and my effort, but for some reason I was starting to feel kind of detached mentally from the race. I rode completely alone for the next 55 miles and rode into T2 with a small group of four that caught me heading back towards transition.
Run (3:22) - Once on the run course my legs were heavy and I struggled to maintain 6:30s. This is well below my IM marathon pace and I knew immediately it was going to be tough 26.2 miles. Sure I tried the positive self-talk thing: "You are light." "Float" "Extend", but the reality of my limited running and perhaps being underfueld during the bike was taking its toll. I came through the first loop in about 1:30, but things were heading south quickly. Around the 15 mile mark the wheels began to really come off as my knee was bothering and the quads were pretty jacked. My relatively slow run turned into a shuffle, which eventually turned into a walk. While it was frustrating to not be able to attack this marathon course, I found myself making the best of the situation. I was able to encourage many age group athletes who were running well and some that were kind of shuffling along like myself. Shortly after the 23 mile mark my teammate, Jessica Jacobs, came up on me with a commanding lead of the women's race. She tried to get me to run with her, but I kind of laughed and shared some congratulatory words. It was great seeing her out front for most of the race. Approaching the long finishers' chute I decided to walk it in while taking in the support of the crowd. Erica Csomor was about to claim second place behind Jess, so I stepped aside to give her a clean shot towards the finish line. With a smile I crossed the line in 9:15 and 42nd overall. A huge congrats to my teammate, Jess, for her win as well as James Cunnama for taking the men's title.
Overall this has been a good season of racing for me with two more top 10 IM finishes and several respectable results at the 70.3 distance. Throughout the season I was able to make gains in all three disciplines. Of course, none of this would be possible without the gift of good health for which I thank God. In addition my sponsors, family & friends have been incredible with their continued support. My coach, Zane Castro, has been a pillar in keeping me motivated, focused and challenged. I am currently registered for the North Face Endurance Challenge Championship (50 mile ultra trail run) in early December, but with the knee injury that seems highly unlikely. At any rate, I will certainly enjoy some down time from triathlon. Hellooo off-season!
Thanks for reading & as always, keep it smooth...
Brad
Overall this has been a good season of racing for me with two more top 10 IM finishes and several respectable results at the 70.3 distance. Throughout the season I was able to make gains in all three disciplines. Of course, none of this would be possible without the gift of good health for which I thank God. In addition my sponsors, family & friends have been incredible with their continued support. My coach, Zane Castro, has been a pillar in keeping me motivated, focused and challenged. I am currently registered for the North Face Endurance Challenge Championship (50 mile ultra trail run) in early December, but with the knee injury that seems highly unlikely. At any rate, I will certainly enjoy some down time from triathlon. Hellooo off-season!
Thanks for reading & as always, keep it smooth...
Brad
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Racing Down South
It’s been several years since I have raced a triathlon in Austin and I was looking forward to getting in the mix with a solid international field. Leaving Terra & Zane’s by 5am we successfully avoided the traffic jam other athletes experienced. I was able to get things sorted in T1 with no issues and hit my pre-race warm-up of movement prep exercises followed by a short run before walking down to the swim start. During the closing moments of the National Anthem someone must have inadvertently pulled the power plug as the singer’s microphone died and the swim start arch began to deflate. With a slight chuckle I briefly pondered if this was a sign of how my race would unfold…
Swim (26:37) – With a decent number of athletes toeing the line I figured it would be pretty easy to secure a draft. The only question being, would I be able to get myself in the proper group. I made an aggressive start and was able to position myself in the first main chase pack which included Trevor Wurtele (CAN) and several others. The pace felt peppy, but not out of my range. I exited T1 with a group of about six other athletes.
Bike (2:15) – The first 15 miles of the bike proved to be somewhat messy at times as athletes were jockeying for position. I saw three penalties being dished out with the head referee keeping a close eye on our group. After watching one of the Europeans receive a drafting penalty and then proceed to ride on the yellow line (perhaps some confusion of whether or not we were racing under the stagger rule) I found myself getting impatient and wanting to get around him. Looking back a couple of times I could see the race official was busy noting the play of the guys behind me and not seeing this athlete riding to the left. I finally had enough and passed him on the right. Sure enough a few moments later I was flashed my first penalty card, a yellow, for an illegal pass. I politely pleaded my case and even asked the official to confer with his driver how long the guy had been riding the yellow line. I successfully negotiated my way out of the penalty. Riding up on Ian Mikelson (USA), I exchanged a few words of the sketchy nature of things at the moment. Ian’s response of, “This is a freaking comedy show” summed it up pretty well. The remainder of the bike was a bit of a cat & mouse game as our group picked up a couple of other athletes and shed a few as the bike progressed. My legs felt steady & strong through the midway mark and I was hoping to pick up the pace over the final third of the course. With proper fueling and a focused work rate I was able to maintain my pace and finish the bike well improving my overall position from 17th to 13th.
Run (1:18) – Exiting T2 outside the rodeo hall, I was intent on running hard and finding my form. Within the first mile I passed Peter Clode (New Zealand) and a couple of others. The backside of the run course featured a three mile stretch over uneven grass with some hills. It was pretty quiet with no spectators and tough to exactly know my position as the course twisted & turned through some wooded areas. It was the type of course that can create an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality and I dug deep mentally to press my pace. Reaching the turn-around back near the rodeo hall I noted I was running in about 10th position. While it appeared I was too far back from the last money spot (5th position) I continued to work hard. I caught Mikelson around the eight or nine mile mark and tried to encourage him to keep digging. He was hanging tough on a difficult day. Lapping a few age group athletes I made a final push towards the finish, passing Lewis Eliott (USA) and Wurtle in the closing segments of the run finishing 8th overall in 4:04.
It was a decent day for me as I finish off my build for IMFL in November. This is a great event with a challenging bike & run course. Throughout the weekend athletes were treated to Texan hospitality. You gotta like a race that serves up barbeque and ice cream at the finish line! I had the privilege of speaking at the IronPrayer service Saturday afternoon before the race and it allowed me to really appreciate the opportunities God has given me. It was great to have the support of friends on the course and coach Zane. I would also like to thank my sponsors for their continued support: Team Sport Beans/NTTC, Valdora Bicycles, Rudy Project, Spira Footwear, blueseventy and TriSwim.
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Swim (26:37) – With a decent number of athletes toeing the line I figured it would be pretty easy to secure a draft. The only question being, would I be able to get myself in the proper group. I made an aggressive start and was able to position myself in the first main chase pack which included Trevor Wurtele (CAN) and several others. The pace felt peppy, but not out of my range. I exited T1 with a group of about six other athletes.
Bike (2:15) – The first 15 miles of the bike proved to be somewhat messy at times as athletes were jockeying for position. I saw three penalties being dished out with the head referee keeping a close eye on our group. After watching one of the Europeans receive a drafting penalty and then proceed to ride on the yellow line (perhaps some confusion of whether or not we were racing under the stagger rule) I found myself getting impatient and wanting to get around him. Looking back a couple of times I could see the race official was busy noting the play of the guys behind me and not seeing this athlete riding to the left. I finally had enough and passed him on the right. Sure enough a few moments later I was flashed my first penalty card, a yellow, for an illegal pass. I politely pleaded my case and even asked the official to confer with his driver how long the guy had been riding the yellow line. I successfully negotiated my way out of the penalty. Riding up on Ian Mikelson (USA), I exchanged a few words of the sketchy nature of things at the moment. Ian’s response of, “This is a freaking comedy show” summed it up pretty well. The remainder of the bike was a bit of a cat & mouse game as our group picked up a couple of other athletes and shed a few as the bike progressed. My legs felt steady & strong through the midway mark and I was hoping to pick up the pace over the final third of the course. With proper fueling and a focused work rate I was able to maintain my pace and finish the bike well improving my overall position from 17th to 13th.
Run (1:18) – Exiting T2 outside the rodeo hall, I was intent on running hard and finding my form. Within the first mile I passed Peter Clode (New Zealand) and a couple of others. The backside of the run course featured a three mile stretch over uneven grass with some hills. It was pretty quiet with no spectators and tough to exactly know my position as the course twisted & turned through some wooded areas. It was the type of course that can create an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality and I dug deep mentally to press my pace. Reaching the turn-around back near the rodeo hall I noted I was running in about 10th position. While it appeared I was too far back from the last money spot (5th position) I continued to work hard. I caught Mikelson around the eight or nine mile mark and tried to encourage him to keep digging. He was hanging tough on a difficult day. Lapping a few age group athletes I made a final push towards the finish, passing Lewis Eliott (USA) and Wurtle in the closing segments of the run finishing 8th overall in 4:04.
It was a decent day for me as I finish off my build for IMFL in November. This is a great event with a challenging bike & run course. Throughout the weekend athletes were treated to Texan hospitality. You gotta like a race that serves up barbeque and ice cream at the finish line! I had the privilege of speaking at the IronPrayer service Saturday afternoon before the race and it allowed me to really appreciate the opportunities God has given me. It was great to have the support of friends on the course and coach Zane. I would also like to thank my sponsors for their continued support: Team Sport Beans/NTTC, Valdora Bicycles, Rudy Project, Spira Footwear, blueseventy and TriSwim.
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Perfect Weather for Racing
Near perfect weather made for a fast day of racing in Madison earlier this month. Numerous course records were set including the overall men's & women's set by champions Joe Gambles (Australia) in 8:38 and Gina Crawford (New Zealand) in 9:27. I recorded a course PR by almost 45 minutes crossing the line in 8:58. Swim (55:30) - This two loop swim in murky Lake Monona has an in-water start along the water ski course. Two weeks leading up to the race there was quite a bit of chatter among professional athletes concerning the water temp as this would be the first race under new WTC rules prohibiting swimskins such as blueseventy's pointzero3. It was a non-issue though as the water temp registered at 68 degrees making it a wetsuit-legal affair. I had a relatively clean start, but found myself swimming with a couple other athletes who seemed to be slower. With some sighting I could see another small group just ahead and was able to bridge up to that faster group about 800m into things. I would stay with this group for the duration of the swim. The pace felt comfortable, yet not too cushy. Towards the end of the second loop we began to swim into some of the age groupers which can always be a bit tricky. Rounding the final turn buoy our group got splintered as we swam into a massive jam of athletes. In an effort to keep clear of the masses I swam fairly wide. It was a bit messy and I swam hard to get out of the jam. I exited the water with a few others as we re-grouped towards the swim finish.
T1 (4:15) - I don't think I have ever made it through this lengthy transition up the helix and through Monona Terrace in under 4:30. My focus was running up the helix on the most inside line I could take then get through the ball rooms and long stretch of bike racks as swiftly as possible.
Bike (5:05) - Having raced IMWI a few times I am fully aware of the importance to be patient over the first portion of the bike. I liken this course to going the distance in a heavy weight boxing match. While no single hill is a game breaker, the culmination of them is like taking body blows for 12 rounds. Within the first five miles I caught several of the faster swimmers and settled into my target ranges. I was pretty much riding solo until getting caught by Stefan Riesen (Switzerland) around the 20 mile mark. He is a strong cyclist and even though the competitive side of me wanted to try and go with him, I stayed within range as he slowly rode away from me. My legs felt better as things unfolded and just before riding into the crowds at Verona I caught and passed Wil Smith (New Zealand) who was obviously having some mechanical or physical issues as he was sitting up and riding off to the side of the shoulder. Just after the special needs area and early into the start of the second loop I caught Markus Ressler (Austria). Throughout the second loop my legs were feeling pretty decent as I continued to ride through many of the age groupers while fueling myself for the run. Just past the final longer climbs lined with spectators I was passed by Matjaz Kovac (Slovenia) and Dirk Wijnalda (Netherland). They were riding strong on the final part of this course and would remain within my sights over the final rollers heading back towards Madison. With about four miles to go Max Longree (Germany) rode past and I knew I needed to stay with him as he is a very fast runner.
Run (2:51) - Heading onto the run course my legs felt pretty decent as I settled into my pace. Having the necessary fuel on board I was intent on running smooth, relaxed and strong. I was 15th off the bike just behind Max. Heading into Camp Randall Stadium I could see Max along with Matjaz & Dirk. Maintaining a comfortable pace and fluid form I passed Dirk & Matjaz with Max in my sights. It took a while, but I caught Max around the 8 mile mark. We exchanged a few words as he stated he wasn't feeling too good while encouraging me to continue to run strong. Making our way back towards the Capitol building I opened up a gap on Max and caught Ian Mikelson just before making the turn for my second loop. I later learned Ian was having some stomach issues which would continue to plague his run with numerous port-a-potty stops. My legs & mind were flowing as I ran through the field and was running in 6th position at the Henry Street turn-around. Max was continuing to run well and caught me at the 20 mile mark. He was very encouraging in trying to get me to run with him in an effort to close on Blake Becker who was running in a solid 5th. In his heavy German accent Max said, "C'mon on man it's only 6 miles. A mile for me, a mile for you." Oh man how I would have liked to stay with him, but my body & mind started to fade through this rough spot. Max was able to open up a gap and ended up in a sprint finish with Blake finsihing just 30 seconds back. I was another 1:30 down crossing in 7th with the day's second fastest run split.
I would like to thank my sponsors, family, friends & coach for their continued support. The crowds in Madison, Verona & other locations throughout the bike were stellar, creating an electric race atmosphere. Big congrats to my buddy Joe Gambles on his win.
Recovery has been great as I look forward to closing out the year at Austin 70.3 mid October and IMFL in early November.
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Community
In my final push for IMWI on September 12th things are coming together nicely. Over the past few weeks the longer rides & runs have yet again provided moments of opportunity for reflection. Nah, this isn't going to be a post filled with deep meaning meant to turn your head inside-out, or maybe it is...
While reading Mitch Albom's book Have a Little Faith I have recently noted the various "communities" in my life - friends & family, triathlon peeps, church folks, neighbors, speaking network, folks like Tami at my regular grocery stops, running groups, gym rats and of course the worlds of FB and bloggers. Many of these groups naturally overlap and co-mingle with one another. After living in Boulder for six years it is a place I truly call home. I am blessed to have these communities and to have witnessed the unconditional friendships which have formed. From babies, injuries, illnesses, birthdays, holiday gatherings, podium finishes, Olympics, world championships, magazine covers & features, disappointments and just about everything in between I have seen my community rally in support of one another.
Sport has given me numerous opportunities and I find a sense of freedom & joy when paying it forward to my community through volunteering with a kids' run program, giving some food to the homeless or simply sharing a smile with a stranger. No, I don't stroll around Boulder with a sack full of groceries and endless smiles...that would be kind of creepy.
Keep it smooth...
Brad
While reading Mitch Albom's book Have a Little Faith I have recently noted the various "communities" in my life - friends & family, triathlon peeps, church folks, neighbors, speaking network, folks like Tami at my regular grocery stops, running groups, gym rats and of course the worlds of FB and bloggers. Many of these groups naturally overlap and co-mingle with one another. After living in Boulder for six years it is a place I truly call home. I am blessed to have these communities and to have witnessed the unconditional friendships which have formed. From babies, injuries, illnesses, birthdays, holiday gatherings, podium finishes, Olympics, world championships, magazine covers & features, disappointments and just about everything in between I have seen my community rally in support of one another.
Sport has given me numerous opportunities and I find a sense of freedom & joy when paying it forward to my community through volunteering with a kids' run program, giving some food to the homeless or simply sharing a smile with a stranger. No, I don't stroll around Boulder with a sack full of groceries and endless smiles...that would be kind of creepy.
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Random Pics from NC
Lake Lure sunset
Jack, Ryan & Graham clowning around
little Chloe enjoying her swim
me and my mom with our family friend Sr. Anne TeresWednesday, August 04, 2010
Ford IMLP Race Report
the view from my hotel room on Lake PlacidAfter spending a relaxing recovery week in western North Carolina I figured it was time for me to share some thoughts on my recent race at Ford Ironman Lake Placid. Overall, I was pleased with my performance. It is always nice to improve your placing throughout a long day of racing, but I was a little disappointed in how my run faded over the final 10 miles. My travel to scenic Lake Placid was seamless with a brief stop in Detroit. This allowed me to get in a few quality training sessions in the humidity before making the 10.5 hour drive over to Lake Placid.
Swim (58:17) - It was a non-wetsuit affair for the professionals as the water temps hovered around 74 degrees F in Mirror Lake. In the past, this may have thrown me for a loop, but my swim has been progressing well over the last several weeks and it didn't create any anxiety or distress on race morning. I had a fairly clean start and positioned myself in a good sized group which included Petr Vabrousek (Czech Republic), Mike Neill (Canada), Caitlin & Tim Snow (USA) and fellow Coloradan Craig Howie. We went through the first loop in 28 minutes and change which is about what I expected. On the backside of the rectangular course things started to get tricky as we caught the slower age groupers. I was able to navigate the crowded course well and avoid any errant kicks to the face from a breaststroke swimming athlete. I exited the water just behind Vabrousek, Neill and Snow.
Bike (5:13) - My goals for the bike included being patient, riding smart, fueling effectively and maintaining contact with the field. The previous two years I really faded over the second loop of the bike I was determined to ride better this year. Making my way down the long descent from Lake Placid to Keene and then onto the flats heading towards the turnaround in Jay I was feeling great. My fueling was spot-on and the effort felt comfortably controlled. I continued my steady pace and was able to determine I was riding in sixteenth place while maintaining contact with Howie and Snow. On the long climb from Willimington to Lake Placid, including the famed hills affectionately called Big Cherry, Little Cherry, Mama Bear, Baby Bear & Pappa Bear, Snow and I worked together. We were both thinking of the potential for carnage in the later stages of the bike and seemed content on maintaining our controlled effort. The second loop proved to be fairly solid for me as I continued my fueling. I entered T2 on the heels of Snow in 12th place.
Run (2:58) - Exiting T2 I was focused on running smooth, fluid and relaxed. I could hear Dave Scott chirping at me, "Relax your right shoulder Brad!" as he often does during our weekly run group. My legs felt great with controlled breathing. I was 18 minutes down from 5th place which was the final money slot. By mile four I was running side-by-side with Snow. He and I had the two fastest run splits from last year and upon reaching the turnaround on Rive Road we were able to take note of how the guys up the road were doing. I made a slight surge around the eight mile mark to see if I could get some distance between me and the fleet-footed Snow, but to no avail. As we approached town the gap between us and 5th place was now down to 9 minutes. As we ran through the special needs area, Snow found a gear which I did not have and he quickly opened up a gap. The snap I felt early in the run was now gone as I struggled over the next six miles back out to the far turn-around on River Road. I was trying to take in what I could to stay in the mix and fend off Matthew Sheeks who was running well behind me. Making one final pass of the Olympic Ski Jumping facility, I dug deep to run down Ian Mickelson in the late stages of the run. The crowds back in town were tremendous and carried me to my 6th place finish in 9:15.
I am very grateful for the encouragement of my family & friends leading up to and during the race. In addition, a heartfelt thanks to my sponsors for their continued support. A big congrats to my teammate, Ben Hoffman, for his win. The guy is tearing it up this season.
Thanks for reading & keep it smooth...
Brad
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Kick-the-Can to Triathlon
I was recently interviewed for a fitness blog and asked several good questions. Upon answering one of the questions about my interest in triathlon, it caused me to think about my roots with sport. As a kid, I benefitted from growing up in a safe neighborhood with loads of other kids. We would spend our summer evenings playing games like kick-the-can, capture the flag and ghost in the graveyard well beyond dusk. In retrospect, this was the foundation for my running which eventually led to a lengthy soccer career through college and a few years post college in the highly competitive men's beer league. My nieces and nephews probably have no clue about these childhood games filled with running, tactics and lots of laughter. With advances in technology and the birth of the mighty Wii too many young people spend time glued to the idiot box. The only physcial activity they experience is through some type of organized sport program. We can all use a little dose of free-spirited play.
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Monday, June 28, 2010
BSLT 70.3
Met up Friday morning in the FAC parkinglot with my buddy Curt, Dennis, Barry & Laura for the trek down to Lubbock. Plan was to leave shortly after the 7am masters swim practice - Curt & I driving down in his comfy, Texas-sized Chevy pick-up and the other three in their swank Timex hybrid which can parallel park itself. Curt & I, despite shaved legs, were definitely going to blend in better once across the Texas border. Then again, perhaps not, with two time trial bikes secured in the bed of his truck. The travels went seamlessly aside from one of my aero bar pads being lost despite having it taped down (even funnier was losing the other one the day before the race on my pre-ride while sitting up at one point and not even noticing it being stripped from my bike in the wind. Had to roll old-school on raceday with layers of terricloth towel). With the largest & most competitve field I've seen assembled in Lubbock on both the men's & women's sides along with a forecast for some classic wind & heat the stage was set for an exciting day of racing...
Swim (26:29) - Just prior to our start there seemed to be a bit of confusion between the race directors and athletes on the direction we were to go - left or right of the first buoy. Always some entertainment at the start of this race. In talking with other athletes swim was short. I lined up in a good spot on the right and managed a clean, aggressive start. Felt decent as things unfolded then goggles fogged up so bad I had to stop and clear them. Never a good thing when trying to stay with a group. Fell back from original group and finished swimming alongside Alex McDonald and Craig Howie.
Bike (2:24) - Felt the best during this portion of my race and rode about four minutes faster than last year. Kept things relatively controlled through the first 20 minutes and then set about building my effort. Fueling was effective, but noticeably low on electrolytes as the legs had that familiar twinginess of cramping around the 45 mile mark. I was able to maintain a good mental focus and catch one other guy while keeping pace with Alex & Craig.
Run (1:20) - Onto the run it was difficult to get things rolling as I was trying to fight off the cramps. I passed Alex & Craig within the first two miles and worked to maintain my pace without cramping. The aid station volunteers are top-notch at this race and I was able to take in what I needed through each mile. Heck, one volunteer even ran up to me with a cup of Gatorade as I missed it while going through his station, allowing me to maintain my pace without slowing. Approaching the first long hill and steepest of the three on the run course, I was really concerned about my legs cramping. I kept the stride very short and it was slow-going up the hill and the others that followed, but at least I was moving forward without having to stop. Running along the two mile out & back stretch it was apparent Chris Lieto was in control of the race. I was glad to see my teammate, Ben Hoffman running strong in fourth not too far behind TJ Tollakson. This portion of the course gave me the opportunity to size up the competition and check the time gaps. At this point I was running in 15th and knew I would really have to dig deep to run into the top 10. After making the turn-around the legs finally came around and I was able to run strong to the finish passing Stephen Hackett, Joe McDaniel and Andrew Hodges within the final four miles crossing the line in 4:14 and in 12th place.
It was great to see so many friends from Boulder and Austin racing. Congrats to my teammates, Ben and Jessica Jacobs, for their podium finishes - way to represent the team! It was another fun race weekend in Lubbock and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to speak at the IronPrayer service hosted by FCA-Endurance.
Thanks again to my sponsors, family & friends for their continued support!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Swim (26:29) - Just prior to our start there seemed to be a bit of confusion between the race directors and athletes on the direction we were to go - left or right of the first buoy. Always some entertainment at the start of this race. In talking with other athletes swim was short. I lined up in a good spot on the right and managed a clean, aggressive start. Felt decent as things unfolded then goggles fogged up so bad I had to stop and clear them. Never a good thing when trying to stay with a group. Fell back from original group and finished swimming alongside Alex McDonald and Craig Howie.
Bike (2:24) - Felt the best during this portion of my race and rode about four minutes faster than last year. Kept things relatively controlled through the first 20 minutes and then set about building my effort. Fueling was effective, but noticeably low on electrolytes as the legs had that familiar twinginess of cramping around the 45 mile mark. I was able to maintain a good mental focus and catch one other guy while keeping pace with Alex & Craig.
Run (1:20) - Onto the run it was difficult to get things rolling as I was trying to fight off the cramps. I passed Alex & Craig within the first two miles and worked to maintain my pace without cramping. The aid station volunteers are top-notch at this race and I was able to take in what I needed through each mile. Heck, one volunteer even ran up to me with a cup of Gatorade as I missed it while going through his station, allowing me to maintain my pace without slowing. Approaching the first long hill and steepest of the three on the run course, I was really concerned about my legs cramping. I kept the stride very short and it was slow-going up the hill and the others that followed, but at least I was moving forward without having to stop. Running along the two mile out & back stretch it was apparent Chris Lieto was in control of the race. I was glad to see my teammate, Ben Hoffman running strong in fourth not too far behind TJ Tollakson. This portion of the course gave me the opportunity to size up the competition and check the time gaps. At this point I was running in 15th and knew I would really have to dig deep to run into the top 10. After making the turn-around the legs finally came around and I was able to run strong to the finish passing Stephen Hackett, Joe McDaniel and Andrew Hodges within the final four miles crossing the line in 4:14 and in 12th place.
It was great to see so many friends from Boulder and Austin racing. Congrats to my teammates, Ben and Jessica Jacobs, for their podium finishes - way to represent the team! It was another fun race weekend in Lubbock and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to speak at the IronPrayer service hosted by FCA-Endurance.
Thanks again to my sponsors, family & friends for their continued support!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Monday, June 14, 2010
Call to Greatness
In celebration of Father's Day this Sunday, I'd like to share a few thoughts on the importance of fathers.
Both men and women are called to greatness by God, each having a unique role to play. With respect to men, I believe our natural instinct is to be protectors and not predators. Okay ladies, please don't roll your eyes thinking, "Oh gosh what a load of male chauvinistic-ideological-mumbo-jumbo." Be patient as I think you will find my humble thoughts worthy of consideration.
Fathers, like mothers, have a significant impact on the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health of their children. Recent research suggests the presence and voice of a caring, loving father plays a huge role in shaping the mind and values of his children. Fatherless children are statistically more likely to commit violent crimes, drop out of school and commit suicide.
It is quite likely the picture painted by pop culture is creating a lot of confusion as to what manhood is really supposed to look like. Our current hyper-sexed society would have us fall for the selfishness of thinking it's the norm to use people and love things, when in reality we are called to love people, unconditionally, and use things. Many men struggle with this as their idea of what manhood is all about gets twisted and distorted by the unhealthy lure of pornography. At it's core the porn industry robs us of our manhood (and womanhood). It creates a "users" mentality. Certainly fatherhood, as it is written on our hearts, is much stronger than what we see on television or the big screen.
I am blessed to have three men in my life who have truly set the standard for me on the signficance of fatherhood and all things "man":
William J. Seng, my dad, who continues to be a source of encouragement and perseverance. He always found time for our soccer games and swim meets while working fifty+ hours a week. Growing up in a small southern Indiana town, he has instilled in me and my siblings the joy of pursuing our dreams.
Frank H. Seng, Jr, my grandfather (father's side), who worked tirelessly as a cabinet maker and general factory laborer. His trademark teasing in calling us little monkies while proclaiming he could out-swim, out-run, out-kick or out-throw us even into his 90s always brings a smile to my face on race day.
Albert E. Ingraham, my grandfather (mother's side), who was commited to providing for his wife and family as a dairy farmer and jack of all trades. His Maine humor and work ethic is a daily reminder for me to get my bum out the door and do the job right.
Wishing all dads a very happy Father's Day and encourage you to lead your families to greatness...William Wallace style (think Mel Gibson in Braveheart)!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
Both men and women are called to greatness by God, each having a unique role to play. With respect to men, I believe our natural instinct is to be protectors and not predators. Okay ladies, please don't roll your eyes thinking, "Oh gosh what a load of male chauvinistic-ideological-mumbo-jumbo." Be patient as I think you will find my humble thoughts worthy of consideration.
Fathers, like mothers, have a significant impact on the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health of their children. Recent research suggests the presence and voice of a caring, loving father plays a huge role in shaping the mind and values of his children. Fatherless children are statistically more likely to commit violent crimes, drop out of school and commit suicide.
It is quite likely the picture painted by pop culture is creating a lot of confusion as to what manhood is really supposed to look like. Our current hyper-sexed society would have us fall for the selfishness of thinking it's the norm to use people and love things, when in reality we are called to love people, unconditionally, and use things. Many men struggle with this as their idea of what manhood is all about gets twisted and distorted by the unhealthy lure of pornography. At it's core the porn industry robs us of our manhood (and womanhood). It creates a "users" mentality. Certainly fatherhood, as it is written on our hearts, is much stronger than what we see on television or the big screen.
I am blessed to have three men in my life who have truly set the standard for me on the signficance of fatherhood and all things "man":
William J. Seng, my dad, who continues to be a source of encouragement and perseverance. He always found time for our soccer games and swim meets while working fifty+ hours a week. Growing up in a small southern Indiana town, he has instilled in me and my siblings the joy of pursuing our dreams.
Frank H. Seng, Jr, my grandfather (father's side), who worked tirelessly as a cabinet maker and general factory laborer. His trademark teasing in calling us little monkies while proclaiming he could out-swim, out-run, out-kick or out-throw us even into his 90s always brings a smile to my face on race day.
Albert E. Ingraham, my grandfather (mother's side), who was commited to providing for his wife and family as a dairy farmer and jack of all trades. His Maine humor and work ethic is a daily reminder for me to get my bum out the door and do the job right.
Wishing all dads a very happy Father's Day and encourage you to lead your families to greatness...William Wallace style (think Mel Gibson in Braveheart)!
Keep it smooth...
Brad
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