B2B percentiles. Look ahead.

B2B percentiles. B2B 2014.  So while my 2013 finish time was the same time (3 seconds faster!) as 2011, my ranking improved a good bit. We were all slower due to lack of tide push. My improvement in the bike and run were the reasons I moved up so well in rankings.  128/500 = top 26% of men full participants. In 2011 186/525 was 35 %tile. So a 9% betterment of ranking.  127 men faster. total of 500  13 women faster, total  200 140. Total faster.       700 141/700 = top 20% of all full  Swim 2011 330/525 = 63%        2013 339/500 = 68% Bike  2011 208/525 = 40%        2013 150/500 = 30% Run   2011 133/525 = 25%        2013  87/500  = 17% —————— For my 45-49 age group men: 16th of 83 or 19 %tile.  If I imagine I was in the 50-54 group I would have been in the top 8. Also, if I was 50 and came in under 11 hours I might have been first in AG.  -------- 2014 goals:  • Swim: Be able to see and sight. If incoming tide: 50 minutes. If no tide add 20 minutes. I know I'm a bad swimmer compared to others. I need to keep working on this.  • T1: 13 minutes. Better prep and practice.  • Bike: No seat or hip pain. Keep warm but layer and shed. Shed shoes pre T2. 5:45 • T2: 9 minutes. Better sock/socks situation. More prep and practice.  • Run: Break 4 hours.  Better endurance. 3:58.  • Overall: 10:55 = Break 11 hours. 

A light bike and eternal youth

Confessions of a Weight Weenie.  Over the years I have messed with my bike weight a lot. Starting around 2002 and my 28 lb Trek sport touring steel bike.  I was about 170 lbs then.  the complete system was over 200 pounds. Fenders and racks came off. I lost a few pounds. A few years later I bought a used Schwinn Supersport for $85 and it was at 24 lbs. Also I was loosing more body weight.  In 2005 the gift of a used Specialized Allez Epic came from Oregon. A 22 lb bike. I had lost about 30 lbs too. I was much faster now.  Another bike in 2007 was about 18 lbs. A huge decrease. But still I found new parts and new ways to take off weight.  Playing with removing grams here and there. Lighter tires. No handlebar tape. So on. Obsessed.  Anyhow I took the recently new to me light wheels and put them with my light frame. Took off extra stuff and weighed parts and pieces that could be taken off. I have several weigh scales for measuring small amounts. Wrote it out on paper. Did the math. See that I could have a sub 15 lb bike (without pedals). They always seem to leave off the pedals when bikemakers state their weights. Add 1/2 pound for pedals. Then the bike would UCI legal too. Pretty light.  For an uphill time trial I could even take off the front brake, front derailluer, big chainring (maybe),  left brake lever and cables. This would take off enough to give a 14 lb bike. Zoom zoom. Crazy crazy.  I have ideas for further weight reduction that could involve homemade or specially made parts. I probably won't pursue them, but maybe. If there is a huge markdown on some light part at a bikeshop  or  eBay - I might buy. I don't think I'm that obsessed though.  Of course the most cost effective and reasonable thing to do is become a big loser. Well maybe I am already, but I mean weight loss on me. I've been almost 20 lbs lighter. Could not sustain that but 10 lbs less of me is doable. Darn Hershey's Bliss chocolates,  Kettle cooked Lays potato chips and Mountain Dew (regular).  If only I was 15 years younger, was very fit yet light, had a 14 lb bike and good legs on a good day I could "slay" Paris Mtn.  The fountain of youth is in Florida somewhere, right?

Goals

Been thinking about goals. Wondering what I should do as far as this year and beyond in the athletic arena.  

This year I will try to improve my running and maybe do a marathon and try to not only beat my previous time of about 3hr40min, but do it fast enough to qualify for the Boston marathon.  Also a triathlon or two as well. I may do the B2B again, which is in late October, so I have some time to decide. I will want to improve my time there as well (by an hour). Do one or more bike centuries probably as well. Rides with Doug, Rob and more. 

So anyway goals.  I can see that a person can use specific events as their goals [race for first place at event X].  Also specific geographical destinations as a goal [run or tri or bike in or near Washington DC]. You can of course just have a time goal like me wanting to run 26.2 somewhere, sometime in 3h25m or less. Might have a goal to try a new activity [try kayaking on a nearby river].  I could go on. 

What's my point?  Not sure. It is just interesting to see what other events or training schedule others do and why. If you are a pro, money is the ultimate reason. Why have goals? Why not just participate and enjoy? Why do I feel the need to outdo myself?  I may need to read some of Frued's theories. 

By the way my goal will not to go to Boston unless I win Powerball or something. I may want to just Qualify for it, to say that I could go. Same goes for Kona, even more so. I doubt I will go to Boston. I just want to be in the "club" of those who could go. Kinda like there are standards for army rangers as far as how many pushups in x time or pullups or run 2 miles (their standards and the seals are on wikipedia). I'm not going to be a navy seal. But maybe i can pass their physical.  For some reason that makes sense for me.  To just qualify. 

I have enjoyed going around SC (and Wilmington, NC) to different events.  I may go to Portland Oregon (where my bike riding brother lives and do an event or northern Indiana or Ohio where other family is. The rev 3 Cedar Point triathlon or a tri near Muncie looks interesting.  

Another goal is to continue to meet and train with more good people out there. Some I run into on the road or thru other friends. 

What are your goals? (athletic or otherwise)?  Wanna go to new places? Specific new places?  Buy a house? Get to a certain level at something? MBA? Certified worm inspector? President of USA?