Run Like Hell Half Marathon

Did the Run Like Hell half last weekend. Rode to the race with Sarah and she had made me a costume with a blue tutu and wings and a halo. The wings were too big for a run, so I wore the tutu and halo. Got lots of looks and tons of laughs. While waiting in line some guy came up and said"got a date for you" and showed me a picture of a guy in a pink tutu. Didn't know what to say to that one so I just let it go. It was cold, but dry and we had done an 80 mile bike ride the day before, but I still felt strong. At one point a pretty girl passed me and said "angel where's your wings"? Wanted to speed up and talk to her, but no speed in me at all. It's flat for 5 miles and I was doing about a 9:20 pace and then it climbs for a few miles. Then after OHSU (med college) it was downhill into downtown and the finish. Came across the line at 2:10 which is better than my last half, but second worst career wise. Sarah said she would probably be 2:30 to 2:45, so I went to the car and left the costume and got a dry shirt and went back to run in the last quarter mile with her and talked to a girl on the sidewalk watching her twin sister. Found out we had a friend in common- what a small world. When it got to 3 hours I figured maybe I missed Sarah and went back and she had finished at 2:25 for a pr for her. They had water in cups and beer, but you had to wait in a huge line. 1600 did the half and they also had a 5K and 10K and walk, so a few thousand crammed into Pioneer square. So we just went to Starbuck's and then left. On Friday, I went to a Halloween party, but decided on a murderer and showed up bloody. But everyone had heard of the tutu and wanted to see it, so I got it out of the Jeep and was a bloody angel. Facebook has the pictures.
Been training when I can with the folks doing the Arizona ironman later this month. It's been fun doing the long rides and not having to worry about all the long runs also. I have tons of endurance, but my speed is gone and I sleep in alot now.
For next year I've signed up for the Vancouver Lake half marathon and the Eugene full marathon. There are several people talking about Vineman 70.3, but I haven't signed up yet. Probably do Oceanside 70.3 in 2011. Would love to do the Kansas 70.3 this year also, but money and leave time from work will probably limit it to Vineman and/or Boise 70.3's.

Black Diamond Relay

Went up to Emenclaw Washington and did the Black Diamond half iron relay. Julie did the swim, Brian did the bike ride, and I did the run. Julie is a much better runner than me but can't run so I did the run. Drove up the night before and had Italian food and beer. Made it to the race the next morning and watched the swim and ride with lots of fast riders including Brian doing a 2:41. Then it was time to run. Since Vineman iron I've been very slow around a 10 minute pace and it feels like I'm going 8 minutes. The first mile I did 9:25 even though it felt much faster. Waved to some of the girls and around mile two or three a girl started to pass me and then slowed and asked about my shirt (Lake Stevens 70.3). So we talked races and training and kids for several miles. Unfortunately she was married. Julie had run with Sarah for 4 or 5 miles and saw me and turned around to run back with me. So the three of us ran back in and at about 1 and a half miles out we passed transition and yelled at Brian so he ran the last 1 1/2 with us in his sandals. So for the finish picture our relay team, Beer View Mirrors, is running in together. I ended up doing a 2:12 half marathon run- my slowest ever! We missed getting a ribbon in the mixed 106 and over group by 6 minutes, so I felt bad about that should have run harder. Jason, Ian, and Cory from the club had a relay team also and won the all male 105 and under group. After Sarah finished we went to Ramm brewery in Olympia and had lunch and drinks.


The next day I went hiking on the east side of Mt Hood on a 80 degree sunny day. Did the Fret Creek trail to a rock overlook called the Palisades.
Have a new running partner. My daughter's Cavalier King Charles Terrier. He ran 3.5 miles with me and the next time I went he jumped in the Jeep and wouldn't get out so he ran 8.4 with me and tonight he ran 5 with me. Lots of energy being only about 10 months old.

Vineman Full Ironman

Completed my second full ironman triathlon on the 1st of August. The training was hard, the race was fairly easy as far as an ironman goes.
Drove down on Wednesday the 29th of July and my daughter drove the whole way so I could rest and prepare mentally. We spent the night in Medford at a Homewood Suites- very nice and with military discount it was very cheap. Two rooms, two TV's and a kitchen. I ran three miles in the morning on the Bear Creek path which goes from Medford to Ashland. Very nice path and a lot of people using it on a weekday morning.
Had lunch at the Turtle Bay museum in Redding because I saw the top of what looked like a cool bridge and it was- we walked across and took pictures. It's called Sundial Bridge.
We made it to the hotel in Windsor in the early afternoon and checked in and unloaded, very small room and over twice the price of the Medford hotel but a mile from the finish line. My son was arriving in Santa Rosa at 8 so we went over and waited and picked him up. Had dinner in the Old Railroad section of Santa Rosa at a really nice small Italian place with great food and good prices and a waiter who spoke almost exclusively Italian.
Friday we went to the expo and packet pickup and set up the run transition. Then we did a practice drive for the morning to Guerneville where the swim is. It took a long time because the town was full of tourists. I don't remember what we did for dinner that night.
Saturday morning my daughter stayed in bed and my son drove me to Geurneville and we had to park quite a ways away. Walked the bike up and set up the bike transition got in line for the porta-pottie while my son dropped off my bike needs bag for me- then it was time to line up. Started the swim and it was crowded, but I just swam along. Not in a particular hurry I just swam along and soon I was surrounded by other color caps. Did the turn around and sped up with the current. What seemed like a long time later I turned at the start and onto the second loop. Did this loop a little faster I think. Finally neared the end and thought I'll just stay here in the water and swim some more. But got out anyway and saw a 1:18 swim time on my watch- six minutes slower than my first ironman. Felt like I was going faster, oh well onto the bike.
What can I say about 112 miles except it was in Sonoma county CA and grapes everywhere. Also holes and bumps, so I couldn't look around much, had to watch the pavement. I had forgotten suntan lotion, so at the first bike water stop I waited in the porta-pottie line behind six people and then put on some lotion I got from the volunteers. I had what I would call a leisurely ride. Stopped at all the stops and then would pass all the people I had passed before who passed me while I was stopped. At the end of the ride my leg started cramping so I rode with one leg down stretching it out and drank everything I had left and it got better. Did a 6:28 bike with all the stops.
Then for the hard part. Three out and backs over most of the 70.3 route I did last year which means up and up on the way out and then down on the way back. Kept a good comfortable pace through two laps stopping every mile to get water, cola, chips, peaches, whatever I felt I needed that mile then start back up and slowly increase to cruise speed. On the third loop my right leg seized up and I slowed to a shuffle so it would only spasm sometimes so I would hop then. The uphills hurt, but I took banana pieces each stop and took more e-caps and going real slow but still running I made it to within a mile and sped up. Saw the kids and said "meet me at the finish". Seeing them at the bike transition and on the run loops was so uplifting. When I saw them almost at the end I started to really run and then I sprinted down the shute and the announcer said "look at this wow". Did a leap and hit the clock and finished the run in 4:54 for a 13:02 finish time! Felt great especially compared to the first ironman where I had to be led to the food. This time I talked to people and then ate and then the kids and I went to Applebee's by the hotel and had steak and beer.
The next day instead of doing wineries, we decided to go to San Francisco. So down 101 to the Golden Gate and walked a little in Fisherman's Wharf and ate in a crab restaurant in The Cannery. Had chocolate at Giradellie's and then went to Coit Tower and rode the elevator up and had a great view of the city. Then found the twistyest road in the world and lined up and took the Jeep down it with people lined up at the bottom taking pictures of us and the other cars going down. Then after getting lost and buying a map we found the walking ramp to the Golden Gate bridge and walked across. That may have been a bad idea. At the other end my legs hurt and I didn't want to walk anymore, but had to walk all the way back. Beautiful views and a perfectly sunny day. Then I had a hankering for pizza so we ate at Mary's Pizza in downtown Santa Rosa on the way back.
Monday said goodbye to my son and we visited four wineries taking only one sample at each and bought a painting in Santa Rosa that my daughter said would be perfect for my dining room and it does!
We actually stopped at an In-n-Out for lunch and I had a burger for the first time in years. Stopped in Corning at the Olive Pit just to see it. Spent the night at Medford and went back to Ashland to look at the Shakespeare festival place and Lithia park and ate at an Italian place and got this evening shot.
Then Tuesday drove home eating at a sushi place in Eugene and making a short stop at the Ankeny winery outside Salem.

Off To Vineman

Off to the Vineman full ironman this Saturday. My daughter is driving me down and my son is coming up from LA. Hopefully I'm ready for this!

Boise Half Ironman

Last weekend I did the Boise 70.3 half ironman triathlon. The picture is at about 1 AM after the race in downtown Boise- but first we really had to earn those car bombs!!
Drove over with Jason as we followed the van with our bikes on the van trailer. Ate lunch at the Wildhorse casino in Pendleton Oregon and made it over to Boise by late afternoon and did packet pickup and bought jerseys, socks, etc at the expo. Then dropped the bikes off at the Lucky Peak reservoir were it rained and was cold. Luckily I had a bike jacket packed for the trip. Then to an Italian place where we closed it down. The next day the race didn't start until 2 PM, so we had time to sleep in and go slow. By the time we got to the lake parking was almost full and we had to walk a ways. Got in line for the bike pump top off and Natalie had to go find the porta-pottie, so I wheeled both our bikes through the line and got air and she got caught in the porta line. Then they were saying "everyone out of transition" so we finished up and the pros started. I was about 35 minutes after the pros and Natalie was 40 minutes after, so we got ready and hung out saying good luck to everyone. The wind started to kick up and then into the water- omg cold. So I dunked my face to get over the initial shock of it being cold. Bob said to draft him and we'd switch after the first buoy. Started out and instantly forgot about the cold water and never thought of it again. Stayed with Bob about 30 feet and my left goggle filled up, so I was one-eyed and lost Bob. The waves had come up by then, so I found seeing the waves and spray was dizzying, so I closed my eyes and counted five strokes and looked up one-eyed for the buoys all through what seemed like a forever swim. Got a mouthful of water a couple times as the waves got bigger and bigger. Later I found out that a buoy had come loose and we did several hundred meters extra going around it. A kayaker was yelling to not follow it- but I didn't hear him and others didn't until they were almost to the buoy. Oh well! 2 buoys before the end someone kicked my arm at the exact right spot and off flew my watch- I felt it hit my leg and then off into the depth- so no watch the whole race. Came out and ran up the ramp to a large cheering crowd. Then something new for me- wetsuit strippers! Wow she was fast, laid down feet up stand up and the suit is draped on my arm all in seconds. I found out later I did a 43 minute swim- many others were over 50- roughest swim I've ever done.
The bike should have been great, it was a somewhat hilly course, but some speedy flats too. The problem was the black from sky to ground everywhere you looked. The ride started out great going 22-23 and then as the climbs started it started to rain. Then the course goes up a really steep hill to a birds of prey park. It was torrential downpour by then. People were flying down the soaked and riverlet crossed road. Me- I was braking in terror the whole downhill at a very slow speed. I have a full ironman in a couple months, so I didn't want to wipe out. Then we climbed up onto a mesa and the wind just beat everyone down on top of the on and off downpours. Then with it streaming down rain the last 6 miles or so were downhill into town. Got dicey in spots but I cranked as best I could safely go and finished with an 18.7 average for 56 miles.
Then to the run which was a two loop run along the river path in downtown Boise. Had to make a pit stop and when I came out Bob passed me. Saw everyone from the club that had come over to do the race on the run as it had a large out and back. The second loop started 50 feet from the finish line which should have been disheartening, but wasn't because you got to see the crowd and get cheered on. Jessica was there taking pictures and I slowed down to pose. The rain stopped for the run so you only had to dodge the big puddles left. At the end I sprinted along the edge high-fiving everyone and then did a flying leap and slapped the overhead finish bar. They got a great picture of me in mid air, but I haven't bought it yet. Finished with a time of 5:59:11. Good for 55 of 104 for my age group and 606 of 1186 overall. Great event and fantastic volunteers. They were out there in the pouring rain all day cheering and staying on course. After having pizza, myself, Natalie, Anita, Julie, Tom, and Jason found a bar and had car bombs and I also had 4 beers- very happy after that.

Crowley Movie and Decorating

I decided to start fixing up my Very neglected house. So my daughter is my decorator and I'm the payee. I found a really cool black glass dining room table at Dania, but she said "no" and we went to Furniture Connexion and found this glass wine rack table. The perfect table for a Vineman (I did the 70.3 last year and am doing the full Vineman ironman this year)themed dining room. She got inspired and we shopped and she painted and assembled while I was at work and these are the pictures! Since then she has done window treatment. Putting the centerpiece inside the table under the glass was genius to me and makes the whole thing. Then she picked the colors and painted the whole upstairs in a rush because I'm having new carpet installed as I write this. To sell I should have gone hardwood floors, but after I quit triathlons, I can do the hardwood myself. The only reason I wanted to sell and move to Camas was because that's where I work out all the time. Since losing Natalie, I don't go to the club very often. Still train with the Headhunter's, but not everyday anymore. So when I meet a girl who will accept a ring, then I'll worry about moving. Enough weird ranting.
Did my first film job since 2007 this week. The project is called Crowley and is a CBS movie with Brandon Frasier and Harrison Ford. I was in a hospital scene where Brandon Frasier runs in looking for one of his kids. I started out at a flower stand in line with the camera with a beautiful woman and ended up walking in front of Brandon as he rounds the corner instead. Since I'm as tall as him I think I'm just a block so they know when to switch scenes- probably won't be seen because I was right in front of the camera and between Brandon and the camera and no make-up. Talked to one incredible girl on set who was also an extra. She models and had done a shoot in South America and does mostly hiking pictures. She was really pretty and animated.
Two weeks until the Boise 70.3!! I feel ready. It's the Vineman full that I don't feel even remotely ready for- we'll see. Two months until that- but one race at a time. Boise here I come!

Eugene Half Marathon and Ride Around Clark County

Did the Eugene half marathon Sunday after doing the 67 mile Ride Around Clark County ride on Saturday.
Started out with a 2100 meter group swim Saturday morning and then after a short hot-tub sit, we saddled up and started on the RACC ride from the club I go to which is on the route. Had a group of about 12 people and rode along with it mostly dry with a couple sprinkles here and there. It was raining hard when we started swimming, but it stopped for the ride. The ride goes out in the country north of Vancouver and has some hills, but is a fairly easy ride. Afterwards 6 of us decided to run an easy 2.5 mile brick run and we started out slow, but sped up by the end. Then showered, dropped the bike at home and off to Eugene. Packet pickup closed at 6, I made it by 5:30. Checked into the motel and went to find Laurelwood golf course. Got lost, but eventually found it. Really nice 9 hole course with lots of hills to hit off of and then walk down and back up. Did really good for me and found that I could hold my front knee steady and really hit it straight. Ironman training has given me more control of my body! Finished as the rain started and it was getting dark.
The next morning I woke up to the sound of heavy rain but it stopped right before it was time to go. Walked over to Hayward field for the start. Alot more people this year than when I did the full marathon last year. Started out in a crowd and went the speed of the crowd until the second mile or so and was keeping a 9 or so pace for the first 4 miles and then it opened slightly and I could move up and get a good rhythm. A little more climbing this year than last year. At mile seven I heard my name and looked over and saw Dedee who was there to cheer on a friend. Pushed myself to stay steady and then at mile 10 started to speed up. Started slowing down after about a hlaf mile, but pushed it back up and by my Garmin was around an 8 minute pace from mile 11 to the end. Came in at 1:55:52 which is 40 seconds off a pr, but I was thrilled with my time. Good enough for 59/113 for my age group and 719 out of 3077 overall. An 8:51 pace. Then I drove south of Eugene and visited three wineries which were very good. Ate lunch at a small cafe in the tiny town of Lorane Oregon- it was very good. Then back to Eugene to RiverRidge golf course and got to do the back nine without waiting for a very good bogey round which for me is great golfing.