Mission Accomplished in San Angelo, TX

This past weekend I went back to a place I first set foot in back in 1992. Let's rewind, in July of 1992 while in the Air Force I started school at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX. Back then I thought this was the slowest town on earth and I spent every weekend but two in San Antonino getting to know the next city I was going to after San Angelo. Little did I know 17 years later I would willingly return to race my biggest race to date with a very high goal set for myself.

Last August I decided I wanted to qualify for a spot in the Long Course Duathlon World Championship and I set my sights on the Striders Duathlon as my A race for 2009. Is it crazy that I have two marathons this year and neither one of them are my A race? With only days before the race I discovered the ITU decided not to have a long course championship this year, even with this news I was still determined to continue on my mission to crush my competition in my age group.

Kevin, Sampson, and I drove up to San Angelo on Saturday to only to find it warmer than expected with winds gusting in the 20's. Oh boy the race is going to be fun. As Kevin took off for a 21 mile training run Sampson and I checked out the race site & area, grocery store and proceeded to get into race mode.

Sunday arrived with much cooler weather, little wind and overall perfect race conditions. Me being the A-type I am, I was the first racer to arrive so I had plenty of time to myself to prepare.

The race started promptly at 8:05am and I was checking out the competition looking for the others in my age group but could not spot them. The run was on what they call "Dirt road from hell" and I was warned about this road from Adam S. and Michael L. so I was prepared to hold my pace and do the first 5 mile run in 40 - 45 min. 44:28 first milestone CHECK.

As I headed out on the 46 mile bike course I knew I had to pace myself otherwise I would blow up and either die at the end of the ride or severely pay for it on the second run. I held a 19mph pace which I considered good given the wind had picked up, the rolling hills (known as the seven sisters) were tough toward the end and the chip sealed roads really kept speeds in check. I finished the ride in 2:26 well under my 2:30 goal, second milestone CHECK.

By the time I returned from the ride, Kevin being the wonderful partner he is had checked us out of the hotel and gotten in his open water swim.

Heading out on the second and final run I knew I had to hold it together and I felt pretty good. About a mile into the run my legs started to cramp so I had to stop and get them straight. At every water stop going out I took what ever the volunteers were giving to keep my core temperature down and to stay hydrated. By the time I hit the turn around I was feeling good so I had to make up lost time. I pushed it as hard as I could not knowing where the competition was and then I passed by someone who I thought was in my age group, I was crushed and thought my hopes of winning my age group were gone. But keeping with my motto, "Don't look back, you're not headed that way", I did just that and ran my race. 50:48 slower than expected but I left it all on the course. 4:03, Third milestone check, not sure?

To my surprise while checking the race results I found out the other person in my age group dropped out of the race so I WON MY AGE GROUP!!! Mission Accomplished and if there was going to be a championship I would have qualified.

Overall it was great race, well run and I will be back next year to defend my age group title. Hopefully I can convince Kevin and some others in Austin to do it with me. Now it's time rest a little and continue training for whatever comes next.

Be safe and remember, "There's no reason to look back, you're not headed that way"

Chris

Loooooong Overdue Update

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since I updated the blog especially since so much has been going on.

My marathon recovery went great and I was back to full strength and ready to race the 2009 Blue Norther Duathlon on March 15th with my training mate John. This was my first multi-sport race ever last year so I really wanted to improve my time and have a better race. Well I guess I can say "Mission Accomplished," I improved my time by over 11 min. & won my age group beating a guy 5yrs younger than me. Two multi-sport races to start the season with, one second place and one first place finish. I really like winning :-)

Work continues to keep both Kevin and I very busy, and we can truly say we enjoy what we do and work with some really great people.

Ironman race day is 11 weeks away and Kevin's training is going great. But I have to brag, physically it looks great on him :-). The training hours are getting longer but we still find time to relax enjoy life and spend time with those closest to us. His Ironman support crew has grown and we're so excited one of our best friends Michele will be coming out along with his sisters and two nephews. Michele and I even decided to volunteer the morning of race day to be more of a part of the event.

Last weekend was a milestone in our training as we headed to Galveston to take part in the Lonestar Triathlon Festival. A lot of our teammates and friends participated in the race with us and it made for a fun filled weekend. We drove down on Friday and the winds were very high Friday and Saturday but Mother Nature took pity on us and when we woke up Sunday (race day) it was warm and the winds were pretty calm. As the gun went off after 8:30 Kevin started his second half-iron man and I participated in the half-iron relay with our friends Darcy(swimming) Me(biking) and Tim(running). We all had great races; Kevin finished the race in 4:51, 7th in his age group out of 52 and my relay team finished in 5:19 in 3rd place out of 12 teams, even with me getting a flat tire at mile 36 of the 56 mile bike route. Did I happen to mention I like finishing in the top 3 spots :-)? Three races and three top three finishes, let's hope my streak continues next week.

Kevin & I at the pre-race briefing

Race morning, looking fresh & ready to race

Me and my machine on race day

Many of our great teammates on race day

Speaking of next week, I compete in my premier race of the year, the Striders Duathlon in San Angelo, TX. This race is a 5 mile run, 46 mile bike, 5 mile run and is a qualifier for the Duathlon World Championship. Wish me luck for a successful race.

On the 25th of this month we'll be riding in our 3rd Hill Country Ride for AIDS and Kevin will be celebrating his 42nd birthday. http://www.hillcountryride.org/site/TR/HillCountryRideforAIDS/General?px=1114921&pg=personal&fr_id=1080

And then training continues with a couple more races and long bike rides but we continue to enjoy our life, work, and many other blessings we have. So until the next update, Happy Easter and may you and yours be safe and well.

As the world turns.......

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Spring has arrived in Central Texas and we're loving every minute of it (training update below).

Kevin and I are doing great, staying healthy and on Tuesday 3/17, we will be celebrating 12 great years together. Raise you green beer in a toast to us.

Work is keeping both of us very busy, but we are lucky enough to still have work and give thanks everyday for all we have. We have great friends and a wonderful family and we wish everyone life, love, and happiness.

Well the Ironman to be is entering week 9 of the 24 week training plan and it is going very well. The normal aches and pains are there but nothing stretching, massages and occasional rest doesn't fix. Some of our teammates have been sharing tips and things to consider as you go on this journey and even though I'm not training for an Ironman I've picked up tips from their advice and past experience. Like they say "you're never to old to learn and you should strive to learn something everyday."

My training is going great and earlier today I went back to race where I did my first multi-sport race last year hoping to improve. http://www.seguinsunriselions.org/Blue%20Norther%20Duathlon.htm

My gear was totally different than last year so I was prepared to lay it all out. That pretty much what I did and improved in a major way; 1st place Clydesdale age group. This is one of the best race sites I've competed on and the race organizers and volunteers are great. One of my teammates John, carpooled down with me and competed in his road racing multi-sport event. Good job John!! Also, great job to Amy & Brandon Marsh overall male and female winners, Adam Stroobandt & Missy Ruthven for both finishing first in their age groups.

Now it's time to turn the training book page and prepare for Lonestar Half-Ironman on April 5th. Kevin will be competing in his first tri of the season and I will be riding the bike leg of my relay team with Darcy swimming, and Tim running, wish us all luck.

Until next time, be safe and smile a lot the world needs it

Chris & Kevin

Post Marathon Update

Well the Austin marathon is all but a memory now and what a good but painful memory it is.

After fighting allergies for two weeks, a trip to visit my family in Detroit the weekend before and a three day business trip to Atlanta race day finally arrived. The morning was nice and chilly just like we wanted it to be and I felt pumped to run this race in my home city. Everything started out great and I was ahead of pace through mile 10. The blisters I felt coming on at mile 6 were blocked out of my mind and I was having a great race through mile 15. That's when the fast pace in the beginning started coming back to haunt me in a really bad way and by mile 20 the marathon monster was riding me like nobodies business. The last 6 miles finished with a run/walk approach because that's all I could do to finish the race. But in the last two miles the crowds were getting thick and I knew it was time to turn it on. So at mile 24 1/2 I splashed water on my face to get ready for the cameras and to finish strong and that's what I did. I looked great crossing the finish line but as I have been told and can now say it's never as good as the first time.

Below is a link to some of the pictures from the race.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017822&id=1262473642&l=2308d

Big thanks to Kevin, Darcy, Carlos and all of my other friends who were out there cheering us runners on.

Bring on the Marine Corps Marathon October 25, 2009 in Washington D.C.!!

January Update

Well, as the last weekend this month starts I figured this would be a great time to update the blog and give you a summary of what's been going on with us.

Not so funny, Sampson has a pulled or strained muscle in his rear right leg and he's not even the one training. I think he is just jealous of us using the foam and trigger point rollers and he wants in on the action. He seems to be in a lot of pain and like many of us know, muscle aches suck. Wish him a speedy recovery.

Work has been keeping both of us very busy and in this economy busy with a job is very good because so many people wish they had a job to be busy at. Hope the world heals soon.

Onto more fun stuff, our training is going great. Were both building our training base for the long training season ahead and so far so good. The aches and pains haven't been to bad and we're still tweaking the things we wanted to improve on from last season.

Our race results for this month were, Runtex 20 Miler 3:40 and Frost Yer Fanny Du a second place age group finish.

Kevin, ran his first stand alone half marathon and finished with a great time of 1:33. I keep telling him he doesn't know just how fast he is. I just can't wait until he earns us a trip to Kona.

The next couple of weeks are going to be very busy on several accounts. I'm going to visit my family in Detroit and then head to Atlanta for business meetings. I say there's nothing like piling it on before a big race right? Then comes another big day, the Austin Marathon February 15th. My goal is to match my San Antonio race time and given the Austin course has more hills that will be a challenge. I like challenges!!

So until the next update be safe and may you and yours live life to the fullest.

CK

2009 is off to a great start!!

As we start off the first full week of 2009, we look back at 2008 and get excited at all the new and exciting things the new year is going to bring us.

Training for my (Chris) second marathon is peaking and the race is just over a month away. I'm physically ready for the race, but what the coaches did not give me coaching on was how to mentally prepare for two marathons within three months. Needless to say I won't do this to myself again. But I have already signed up for the Marine Corps's Marathon in D.C. in October.

And since I can't turn down a good challenge I will be starting my duathlon season with the Frost Yer Fanny duathlon in three weeks, just as we start the taper for the marathon. I'm hoping to do well in this race, but since it's the first of the season I really want to see where I am against the competition this season, since I did finish last year second in my age group. No I'm really not competitive.

Today 1/6 is the first official training day for Kevin's Coeur d'Alene Ironman and it's cold and rainy. So the choice is to do cycling class and skip track workouts. But the day will soon come when this will not be an option to choose. Over the next 6 mos there will probably be long rides and runs in the rain but I guess that's what you have to go through in order to call yourself an "Ironman". We will be sharing the duties of posting here because I can only give you the supporter view of the road to becoming an Ironman.

Until next time

Happy New Year

Chris, Kevin, & Sampson

The votes have been counted and the winner is??

Sampson the fawn colored boxer for the best looking dog in the world.