Chandler Metric Century Ride 2012

Just signed up for this special event.  Celebrating Chandler's 100 year anniversary.  March 31, 2012.  Looking forward to it.

DT

Phoenix Half Marathon - GREAT EVENT

Yesterday I participated in the inaugural Phoenix Marathon (Half).  I signed up for the race on a tip from a good friend who is the registration director (Lorie Funk Tucker) and what a treat it ended up being!  I was amazed at how well the whole experience came off - it was as though the group had been putting the race on for years!  The t-shirts, the schwag, the organization, the everything was first rate.  Definately my favorite run of all time...  Part of that was just being home again in the valley, racing in my own backyard and being with family and friends.  I went to the race alone but ended up seeing a meeting several friends which was great.  On the bus I met a new friend, Scott Johnson, who ends up being in the Tri-Mesa club with a very old friend, Jeff Rush.  I hadn't seen Jeff in decades but he ran up to the bonfire I was at right before the national anthem began...  Incredible.  Ran into my old friend Lisa Ashcroft Wallace at the bonfires also and we shared several laughs waiting for the starting gun to go off.  It was magical to see the beautiful desert and the sun coming up.  The route was mostly downhill and I got a very good time for me - 2:11:16 and ended up 44/49 in the 45-49 year old class.  582nd overall.  My slow and steady 10:00 mile pace just never seems to quit...  Anyway, had a great time and recommend this race to anybody.  Next year I think I will do the full marathon in prep for my full Ironman!

DT

Ironman 70.3 Austin 2012

Well, I am finally sorting out my year.  After MANY conversations and discussions with loved ones, friends and coaches, I have decided NOT to jump to the full Ironman distance this year.  Too many unanswered questions about jobs, etc. and with those issues unresolved, hard to put the family through a year of prep for a full Ironman.  Instead, I will do  a couple of more Half Ironman distances focusing on getting faster and smoother.  As such, I have booked a ticket to Austin on October 28th, 2012 to complete my year.  Looking forward to it.

I will really try to do a couple of century rides this year to see how my body responds and basically try to ease my way into the full Ironman preparation this year.  IMAZ is my goal for 2013!  Can't wait.

Thanks to all who have helped me and been patient as I worked through my plans for 2012.  I really appreciate your feedback and guidance.

DT

Turkey Trot - 2011

Did the Lifetime Fitness 5K Turkey Trot with my daughter Hannah today. Was her first official race and we had a great time. It was the inaugural event in Phoenix and there seemed to be a lot of participants, several booths and support. The route was a closed off downtown Phoenix loop that started at the State Capital. Had great time with Hannah and set the tone nicely for a big day of food! Glad she and I could spend some good time together....

DT

Phoenix Half Marathon 2012

A friend told me to sign up for this relatively new race. Happens to be right down the road (well, maybe a little more than "right down the road") from my house. Will be a good primer for the tri races I have planned this year - a good workout day! Look forward to it.

DT

Just signed up for Ironman 70.3 Boulder for 2012. Did quite a bit of research and I am happy about this choice. It is a mere 16 hours from my home in Phoenix and a big elevation change. The water temp, however, is usually nice and warm and the run will be hot - not that I welcome hot runs (remember Soma) it's just that I will be doing most of my training in Phoenix this year so I should be used to the elevated temps... Wish me luck.

DT

Soma Triathlon 70.3 2011

Just finished the Soma Triathlon in Tempe, AZ on October 23, 2011. What a difference from the other 2 events I particpated in this year!

I LOVE Arizona. It is truly my home and we are in the process of moving back here for good (that's another long story). BUT... as far as racing goes, I am amazed at how much the heat takes a toll on a racer! Maybe it's just because I haven't become accustomed to it again, yet. That was the real story today...

Soma does a pretty good job with this one. The expo was as good as Calgary and Boise. It isn't an Ironman marketed race so no IM store with lots of crack to pick up. Still, you get a tech t-shirt, a headsweats visor, a great water bottle and a cool medal so the graft is as good as many races...

Started with the swim @ 6:44 (my wave) in the AM. Temp was 65 degrees and water temp was 73 degrees so was wetsuit legal and fairly warm... This would be the operative word for the day. Swim went great. The hold it is Tempe Town Lake right next to my alma mater, Arizona State University. In fact, the entire course is a scaled down version of IM Arizona which happens later in the year. Swim was unenventful except for a few people smacking me around... Did forget my earplugs and nose plug which I prefer to swim with, but played with the cards dealt to me.

Got out and had some snags with the wetsuit strippers. Probably cost me my PB at least. Still happy to have them there.

The bike course is flat and fast. However, it is like a rat maze. Constant turnings, several U turns and 3 total laps. Haven't decided how I feel about it. Got my best time but could have been better without all the choke points and narrow areas for passing, etc. Saw several crashes. I decided to stick to 2:00 KM pace and play it safe most of the time... People threw bottles all over and there was a fair amount of littering - something I do not condone and I am not used to it. Made some locations a little dangerous. During the 3rd lap you could feel the temp creeping up.

Slathered plenty of sunscreen on during T2 in prep for the run.

The run is two laps around Tempe Town Lake, running by ASU, apartments and dorms. Not a damn cloud in the sky and almost no shade. Aid stations every mile were my anchors. Given the weather we were dealt, the volunteers did an amazing job keeping us cool with ice, water, snacks and whatever we needed. I walked the aid stations and ran the whole way.

Saw the family for the first time after the first lap. Really brought my spirits up! They were great.

Temperature for the run reached 94 degrees or so. But "it's a dry heat" they say down here...

Totals - 46:48 swim; 3:00 ride; 2:24 run. 347 out of 523 men. Total participants were over a thousand. 57 out of 84 in my age group. Dedicated this race to my daughter, Hannah!

DT