End of September.

End of September  So after Langley Pond Triathlon  was the last post back at the end of August. Since then I have gone west and done Cycle Oregon 2014. The highlight of my year. The biggest bike adventure in decades. About 600 miles and 40,000 feet while in Oregon. Rides around Portland too. So many great stories and photos on their website and others. Need to blog about C.O. some more.  Took notes and some pictures, but just surviving and experiencing it was a lot of work.  During my ride I started to get sick and also my right achilles tendon got injured. I managed to do all the riding, but in more pain and suffering than "normal".  The scenery was amazing. The magnificent seven ride it was called for the 7 mountains we would ride around/near.  Since the end of that on about the 14th just been managing to go to work. Did not exercise at all until just the other night, 9/25/14 Ran a few slow and painful miles;  Still coughing up a lot and congested sinuses. A shame I could have used all that fitness to do some great riding back near home. An event or just a big ride on my own.  So glad no events planned because i probably would have been DNS. It will be a long slow recovery. I have faith in myself and this too shall pass.  Had been debating weather to rejoin the Y as I have done for 3 or more years. Just lost the motivation for everything right now. I joined anyway and swam just 10 minutes on the 28th.  Got out on the bike the 27th and 28th and the ankle pain is still there.  Starting to "wonder" about 2015 events. Others I know are signing up for big Ironman events and such. Boston marathon. Lots of choices. It's overwhelming actually. Oh how I fail to commit that far ahead. Like the last minute Assault on Mt Mitchell this year. So many exhortations on "anything is possible" yet time and money limit me.  Maybe I should try the Badwater ultra-marathon next year? Nah. Maybe 2016?? Ha. 

Oregon 2014

Oregon 2014 September: 4th: 20 mile bike 5th: 9.5 mile RUN 5th: 32 mile ride 6th : 28 mile ride 7th:  63 mile ride 8th: 85 mi ride 9th:  75 mi ride 10th: 85 mi ride 11th:  70 mi ride 12th:  91 mi ride 13th:  46 mi ride 7th thru 13th was Cycle Oregon with over 35,000 feet of climbing. Total 595 miles cycled (CO = 595 - 80 = 515).  9.5 miles run.

Langley Pond - take 3

Langley Pond This was my third year at this event. The most times I have done the same triathlon. So I was familiar with the course. Last year I got 3rd place in my age group.  I was doing the longer International distance ( .92 mile swim, 24 mile bike and 6.2 mile run). There were about 111 people in this with about 80 men.  The swim was crowded and i got batted at a lot. It is hard for me to keep going when this happens. I try to stop and look for an open area.  Also my sighting is bad. I didn't wear my contacts which would have helped. My swim workouts were weak leading up.  I placed my Zoot shoes soon after the swim exit which allowed me to run in the gravel past a lot of others. Into T1 I skipped the socks. Took me a few seconds to rip off the shoes. Pretty good T1.  On the bike I was slow to get going. Found it hard to get into my shoes while I biked. Also I tried to strap on my Polar watch which I can't wear in the lake anymore because it leaks. But I got going and passed riders as we went up the "big" hill of 2-3 miles. I passed many riders but many if them were Sprint distance racers.  near the last 3 miles of the ride I came up on one then another rider in my age group. Their age was written on the right calf. I tried to pass them but we took turns. I decided to dig deep and try to put them behind me and raise my heart rate at the risk of blowing up. Was up to 160 bpm I think. And I did put them out of sight. Hope my run would be good enough.  Decided to not wear socks ( to save time ) even though my Zoots rub my ankle raw.  I hoped for only minor blisters. Had a good T2 time and was on the run.  First mile in 7:25 or so was fast for me. Guy ahead was my carrot and I hung onto him. About 7:50 for mile 2. Great.   Oh yea I was real worried my right hip would be in pain like at Lake Logan but it was never a problem on the run.  So I passed my carrot guy at mile 3 or so. I grabbed water at each station and poured it on my head. Maybe a tiny sip.  My stomach was sloshing from too much prerace liquid.  At mile 5 there was an uphill grade and I let my heart start to go from the 155 area up to 160. Ran into transition and start area but had to run thru another half mile or so. Let the heart go to 165 or 170.   With a time of 2:33:38 I  came in 24th overall and 3rd in my age group. I might have gotten 2nd if not for a bad swim time. But Joe Hammond I could not have beaten. 2:22:40 was his time. He is such a fast runner and a better swimmer.  I have become an acquainted with Joe, a FaceBook friend with him and will keep racing him and striving to come closer. I enjoy racing someone I know and like.  Guy in second place lists himself from Hong Kong! 2:31:43 was his time. So if I could have been 2 minutes faster I would have beat him.  The 4th place was only 59 seconds behind me. Good thing that I didn't put on socks.