XTERRA wetsuits 50% off

Hey everyone. What a crazy week. I don't have much timeto write but wanted you to know that if you haven't paid for your wetsuit yet, XTERRA suits are 50% off with the coupon code EXCUSE. I just paid 199 for the Vortex.

Happy warm swimming!

Week Ending 19 FEB 12: New Baby on the Way!

Blogger seemed to be having some issues this morning so I am writing this in word for an upload at a later time. All in all it was an interesting week. I started off Monday in poor form by skipping my trainer session, however I did find a Powertap on Zipp 303 wheels for $650.00 on craigslist, and am very happy about that. I also spent the Monday off from work celebrating Valentine’s day with my two girls. The biggest news however is that on Wednesday, Annie and I confirmed that she is in fact pregnant and we have a new baby on the way on or around October 9^th, we are so happy!

Alex has posted some whacky pictures on his blog with him trying on crazy wigs, so that leads me to believe that he is doing well with his new treatment and feeling much better.

Workout Summary:

LOG Totals
Type	Distance	Duration	Avg Pace	#	Time in Zones
Bike	74.0 mi	04:16	17.3 mph	2
Run	19.9 mi	03:07	09:25/mi	4
Swim	3900.0 yd	01:30	02:18/100yd	1
Trainer	12.0 mi	01:00	12.0 mph	1
Total Duration:		09:53		8

Finally feeling like I am getting back into the swing of training properly again.

Monday: I was lazy and skipped a trainer session to spend the day with my girls (I was off of work so this was our Valentine’s day.

Tuesday: Just ran about 20 minutes slow to work out the soreness from the -5 degree wind chill race from the weekend.

Wednesday: AM: Was supposed to be a recovery run, but because I had nothing to recover from I ran 50 minutes with a friend on a hilly trail at Fort Carson.

                PM: Brutal indoor trainer session with 19 12 second sprints followed by 48 seconds rest on each. Thank you Donna for blogging about your pain cave, At least I know I am not suffering alone.

Thursday: Fort Carson to the Zoo Climb with Nate. AVG PWR: 176. AVG Cadence very low due to coast back downhill and climb. TSS score: 80/100. Thanks Nate for helping me salvage the week. This was a monster climb and a screamer back down.

Friday: Long 3900 meter swim set.

Saturday: Ran the Boulder 70.3 course. Did the first lap and then branched off for some other running. Quite the adventure. I missed the canal road the first time and had to double back. Climbed the no trespassing fence, ran into a coyote that thankfully wasn't hungry. Passed numerous signs reading, Certain Death if entered, swift cold water runs underground", climbed another fence, and finally entered the back side of the park without being eaten or arrested. AVG HR 161

Sunday: Rode the Boulder 70.3 route minus a 1 mile out and back stretch. Felt pretty sore still from run night before and it was very cold. Was a fairly fast course. I was only taking in 45 grams of carbs an hour from my drinks, needed some food. Running would have been difficult after the ride but not impossible. Power meter hub battery died so I have no data other than cadence at 79 RPM AVG including climbs and coasting. Briefly rode with Don who qualified for Hawaii at St George last year and two other locals from Boulder. It was interesting to pick their brains and try to hang on for dear life to their wheels.

Curt Takes on Ironman Arizona

I met Curt in the volunteer registration line at IMAZ 2011. Here is his early season interview. He and Christine are two of the busiest triathletes I have met. Good Luck Curt!

1. I am a engineering “functional safety” consultant (we help refineries and chem plants to not explode by measuring their risk and applying shut-down systems and other protective measures). I support the Gulf Coast and other states & countries when needed. I have 2 sons in college and a 13 yr old daughter and have been married for 23 years.

2. Best part of being a IM AZ 2011 volunteer, timing the Pros and meeting you guys. Also, enjoyed going to the to the finish and helping motivate the last contestants until the midnight hour. I literally was walking and coaxing the grandma who finished only minutes late…L

3. The real training will start 36 weeks out. Until then, I’m working on equipment, base-loading, and developing lifestyle patterns that will work for the family, work, and fitness goals.

4. Major goal race in preparation for the IMAZ is the IM KY 12 weeks before. (Yeah, kinda nuts, but I felt it might take some of the pressure off AZ if I go a slower pace at KY) Outside of it, I’m doing a 10miler with my wife. Other than those, I’ll just have to see what fits the buildup regime.

5. Why? Closure. My two other attempts flopped due to strategy (2008 AZ) and under-preparation (2010 UT). Turning 50 one month after AZ and just want it “out of my system”!

6. Strengths? Flexibility. I’ve got discipline to run anywhere & anytime my work can take me. Getting the water and bike time in remote places is not so easy.

7. Weaknesses? Swimming. Was self taught until the last 3 months. I’ve improved technique using a former U of Tx swim coach and this should help considerably.

8. Interesting fact about me? I experience places with my running shoes. When I go, I look for the running trails and then make my hotel reservations. “Roach motel” or not. When I was in Singapore, I ran for 23 days straight and the day I was leaving, the lights to their botanical gardens were turning off at midnight as I was passing themJ.

9. Tri experience. Started about 7 years ago after moving to Austin and getting into Lance Armstrong. Had never swam a lap and or owned a road bike. All were laughing when I showed up on a $10 bike I had gotten in a garage saleJ

10. My coach is my Swim coach who has a good perspective and lots of experience with newbies. For example, last year he had a team of 30 go to Coeur d’Alene. In Austin, there’s many to choose from, but who will know me better after working with him for 3 months. And my problem is that I’m a moving target…

11. Hours? 8-10 hrs/wk while in my base period and starting 24 weeks out before IM KY ramping weekends until a 16-18 hr/wk climax. Results there may provide a basis for change before IM AZ.

Updates on Team Alex, Knee Pain, and Cleat Position

I have done really poorly with my training the last week. I was having some knee pain after putting my new saddle on the bike and starting hard intervals so I had a recovery week. Mike at Bicycle Village moved my right cleat inward because my coach said I was riding a bit bow-legged on our hill climb last Sunday. This and a bump forward seemed to solve the problem. Back at it starting tomorrow.

In other news, I have also really been struggling with my MBA online class this term. I am still barely hanging on to my A, but my teacher called in the middle of the SuperBowl to help me with the problem set. Took me away from the game a bit, but really nice since this is her only out of office day.

Updates from Team Alex:

Alex will start an Avastin trial this Thursday.Avastin inhibits the growth of new blood cells and has been shown to be a promising drug for radiation necrosis. It seems to be a much better alternative than steroids. The only drawback is that it can cause clotting.
We are slowly weaning him off of IV nutrition and trying to get him to eat solid foods. This is a hard slow process. Nothing tastes good to him and many foods make him gag.
He has more energy now and is moving about more. He still is a bit shaky in his movements and he drags his foot a little bit when he walks. We are hoping that this is just a side effect from radiation and that it will clear up with the Avastin.

It is trials like these that donations to the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation benefit.

www.Razoo.com/TeamAlex

Thinking about doing a Battle of the Bands fundraiser for Team Alex. Any thoughts?