I just spent about 30 minutes looking back through a lot of old blog posts and training log posts. On November 24th, I will have been logging my workouts on beginnertriathlete.com for three years. February 2nd will be my 4 year anniversary of logging workouts in general.
It's so weird going back and reading everything I had to say back then. My motivations were totally different. Now I ask myself... Do I no longer like triathlon? Do I not want to do it anymore?
I definitely don't think that's the case, but I do think that my priorities are different. I think SO many triathletes get so off track from what's really important, and I used to be one of "those" triathletes. Over the past year or so I've discovered that you can still do triathlon/endurance sports AND have fun doing it! You don't have to devote every living second to training and the triathlon mentality.
Currently I'm struggling with my role on Team Ironhead. I've been racing for them for about three-four years now and love everyone on the team, but to be honest I barely race triathlon anymore. I'm gonna go volunteer at Brondas DU in a few weeks and make a call after that. If I'm not kicked off I'm gonna hang around and keep helping Ironhead Race Productions as much as possible.
Ok! Enough emo posting. I have a 50K run this weekend and I'm totally excited and totally unprepared. My training as usual is lacking, but I'm confident I can finish regardless. I've heard great things about this race in regards to the course and I'm pumped to get to run a challenging 50K this close to home.
I'm also going to try camping this weekend at the race! I'm going down there solo so I figure this is a great way to save some $$$. Unfortunately the forecast is for a 40% of rain so I'm crossing my fingers that holds off till Sunday!
I've gotta get back to work, but just wanted to share a few thoughts with everyone! Below is a song by Boards of Canada that I loveee. Just for your enjoyment.
Also, go check out my friend Bens blog. CLICK HERE to check it out. He's doing his first 50 miler next Saturday!! GO BEN!
_Jacob_
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
RCP CAT1 Mtn Bike Race
This whole story starts last week, and I'm going to tell it all.
So last Tuesday I went out for a nice ride at Arbor Hills next door to the apartment. I was going to hit up a lap there, then ride to FL and do a lap, then finish up with one more lap at Arbor Hills. Well I ride over to Arbor from the apartment and quickly jump on the single track. (This was also my first ride on my new tubeless set up!)
I'm flying down the trail feeling awesome! Well about 3 minutes in I get to this really rooty drop so I speed up and "coast" over it. Well all the sudden it's like I slammed the breaks on and it feels like all hell just broke loose in my rear wheel. I come to a full stop and look behind me to find my rear derailluer jammed into my rear wheel!!
It was UGLY! About 3-4 spokes were broken in half and it obviously wasn't rideable. Thanks goodness I was only a mile from the apartment and not at FL. I call Jay and he says to bring it up there so he can figure out what's going on. (race on Sunday)
I walk home and load the bike onto the back of the car. I get to Sun & Ski and Jay quickly gets to work. I of course had to snap a few more quick pics.
I end up leaving the bike with Jay so he can work his magic and head back home to get ready for work. This is now the second day I'd been up to S&S because the day before I bought my new tubeless kit and chain! He ended up replacing the rear derailluer and 14 spokes!
I had to work all week, so I left the bike with him and didn't get to pick it up till Saturday. (The day before the race) As soon as I picked it up around noon, I headed over to RCP to get a quick ride in before the race and see how the course was. Well about 33 minutes into that ride my rear wheel started rubbing the frame, so I stop to check it out and 4-5 spokes had come totally loose so now the wheel was out of true pretty bad. Awesome I thought!!!
I of course call Jay again, but forgot he was about to be in a wedding. He texted me a bit later and we decided I'd drop the bike of at the shop and he'd drop it off that night after he swung by the shop to check it out.
That night he dropped off the bike and everything looked good. He informed me that sometimes spokes will come loose after getting replaced, but that hopefully they'd stay put this time.
Well, the next morning I got up around 6:30 to head out to the race. I look downstairs to see Jay and Lindsey already headed out! I load up and get there around 7:30. My race went off at 9am. I did a quick lap on the single track start and everything felt ok. Jay had brough an extra 29er wheel just in case I wanted to run that one. I decided against it and ended up paying the price.
Me and the other "CAT1 Sr Men 19-29" lined up at 8:58 and were ready to go. The gun went off and we were racing! The first few seconds of the start weren't too bad and I entered the single track in 5th place out of 8. We were hauling some serious ass. What a huge difference btwn CAT2 and CAT1 already. I wasn't having too much of a problem keeping up and was happy to be hanging on in 5th. About 10 mins in it looked like the other 3 guys had fallen off pace a bit. I was hanging on to the front group! By the time we made it around to the start area again I was still hanging on for dear life.
When we entered the actual trail head I could tell I was in the process of getting dropped. At that point I thought it was over, but soon enough I could see the 3 guys ahead of me! I worked pretty hard to get real close to catching them, and right before I did someone happened to my gearing and I think my chain got caught btwn two cogs. Gahhhhhhh. Once I was good to go again, they had another huge gap. Well, let me tell you this. A gap in CAT1 means you are so screwed. I spent the rest of that lap trying to catch them and finished the first lap about a minute behind them.
On the second lap everything started going downhill. I kept thinking spokes were coming loose again, and at one point actually STOPPED in the trail to check them. At that point they felt ok, but mentally I was totally out of the race. About 5mins later a tree caught my jersey and ripped a huge chunk out of it (and my shoulder).
Towards the end of that lap I could hear my rear wheel rubbing a bit and knew something was awash. That was it. I was done.
Just before crossing the line to start my third lap I bailed and DNFd. Went over to see Jay and we chatted for a bit. I knew I should have used the other wheel he brought, but didn't go with my gut feeling. With that said, I'm not an excuse kind of racer, and I was getting it handed to me out there by those other CAT1s!
It was an awesome experience racing with those guys and I can't wait to do it again. I definitely wouldn't have placed, but I feel I could have taken 4th or 5th if I'd been able to finish. I'll be back to try the XC series next year as a CAT1. Huge thanks to DORBA for putting on such an awesome event. Those guys put on fun races that are well organized and exciting for all involved. I ended up volunteering for the CAT2 sweep job and had fun doing that.
Congrats to Jay and Lindsey for both killing it out there. You guys rock! I can't wait for the next one. See everyone out there!
For now, I've gotta do some running cause I have a 50K in two weeks :)
_Jacob_
So last Tuesday I went out for a nice ride at Arbor Hills next door to the apartment. I was going to hit up a lap there, then ride to FL and do a lap, then finish up with one more lap at Arbor Hills. Well I ride over to Arbor from the apartment and quickly jump on the single track. (This was also my first ride on my new tubeless set up!)
I'm flying down the trail feeling awesome! Well about 3 minutes in I get to this really rooty drop so I speed up and "coast" over it. Well all the sudden it's like I slammed the breaks on and it feels like all hell just broke loose in my rear wheel. I come to a full stop and look behind me to find my rear derailluer jammed into my rear wheel!!
It was UGLY! About 3-4 spokes were broken in half and it obviously wasn't rideable. Thanks goodness I was only a mile from the apartment and not at FL. I call Jay and he says to bring it up there so he can figure out what's going on. (race on Sunday)I walk home and load the bike onto the back of the car. I get to Sun & Ski and Jay quickly gets to work. I of course had to snap a few more quick pics.
I end up leaving the bike with Jay so he can work his magic and head back home to get ready for work. This is now the second day I'd been up to S&S because the day before I bought my new tubeless kit and chain! He ended up replacing the rear derailluer and 14 spokes!I had to work all week, so I left the bike with him and didn't get to pick it up till Saturday. (The day before the race) As soon as I picked it up around noon, I headed over to RCP to get a quick ride in before the race and see how the course was. Well about 33 minutes into that ride my rear wheel started rubbing the frame, so I stop to check it out and 4-5 spokes had come totally loose so now the wheel was out of true pretty bad. Awesome I thought!!!
I of course call Jay again, but forgot he was about to be in a wedding. He texted me a bit later and we decided I'd drop the bike of at the shop and he'd drop it off that night after he swung by the shop to check it out.
That night he dropped off the bike and everything looked good. He informed me that sometimes spokes will come loose after getting replaced, but that hopefully they'd stay put this time.
Well, the next morning I got up around 6:30 to head out to the race. I look downstairs to see Jay and Lindsey already headed out! I load up and get there around 7:30. My race went off at 9am. I did a quick lap on the single track start and everything felt ok. Jay had brough an extra 29er wheel just in case I wanted to run that one. I decided against it and ended up paying the price.
Me and the other "CAT1 Sr Men 19-29" lined up at 8:58 and were ready to go. The gun went off and we were racing! The first few seconds of the start weren't too bad and I entered the single track in 5th place out of 8. We were hauling some serious ass. What a huge difference btwn CAT2 and CAT1 already. I wasn't having too much of a problem keeping up and was happy to be hanging on in 5th. About 10 mins in it looked like the other 3 guys had fallen off pace a bit. I was hanging on to the front group! By the time we made it around to the start area again I was still hanging on for dear life.
When we entered the actual trail head I could tell I was in the process of getting dropped. At that point I thought it was over, but soon enough I could see the 3 guys ahead of me! I worked pretty hard to get real close to catching them, and right before I did someone happened to my gearing and I think my chain got caught btwn two cogs. Gahhhhhhh. Once I was good to go again, they had another huge gap. Well, let me tell you this. A gap in CAT1 means you are so screwed. I spent the rest of that lap trying to catch them and finished the first lap about a minute behind them.
On the second lap everything started going downhill. I kept thinking spokes were coming loose again, and at one point actually STOPPED in the trail to check them. At that point they felt ok, but mentally I was totally out of the race. About 5mins later a tree caught my jersey and ripped a huge chunk out of it (and my shoulder).Towards the end of that lap I could hear my rear wheel rubbing a bit and knew something was awash. That was it. I was done.
Just before crossing the line to start my third lap I bailed and DNFd. Went over to see Jay and we chatted for a bit. I knew I should have used the other wheel he brought, but didn't go with my gut feeling. With that said, I'm not an excuse kind of racer, and I was getting it handed to me out there by those other CAT1s!
It was an awesome experience racing with those guys and I can't wait to do it again. I definitely wouldn't have placed, but I feel I could have taken 4th or 5th if I'd been able to finish. I'll be back to try the XC series next year as a CAT1. Huge thanks to DORBA for putting on such an awesome event. Those guys put on fun races that are well organized and exciting for all involved. I ended up volunteering for the CAT2 sweep job and had fun doing that.
Congrats to Jay and Lindsey for both killing it out there. You guys rock! I can't wait for the next one. See everyone out there!
For now, I've gotta do some running cause I have a 50K in two weeks :)
_Jacob_
Friday, October 29, 2010
My grandmother made me do it...
What?!?! I'm actually updating and posting on my blog?
Why yes. Yes I am. I would tell you it's because I've had so many requests from all 12 of my loyal followers but that would be a lie. It's because the other evening my grandmother of all people asked me if I ever updated my website. Well Gram, this one is for you!
I'm gonna summarize my life since the last post in as few words as possible. This is gonna be a blur, so just hold on tight.
My last update was before the El Scorcho 50K. That was going to be my 7th or 8th marathon/ultra mary of the year. Well, I DNF'd that one. Why? Because I just wasn't having fun and went out SO ridiculously hard. Could I have finished? Yes. Does that matter now? No.
The week leading up to that race I was having some strange pains and that run (made it 22-23 miles) just made it way worse, so I took off another 6 weeks or so from running to make sure everything was good to go.
I decided to put my mountain bike back together so I could train on the trails. (cause everyone knows I love the trails) Well, long story short I decided to enter the Northshore 100 mile mtn bike race. Of 13 starters, I was the only finisher, and therefore I won. I decided after that, that I wanted to try a XC mtn bike race. I signed up for the Sansom Park CAT2 race and ended up winning that overall. Now I'm going to try the CAT1 race at Rowlett Creek Preserve on Halloween and see how I fare against the big guns. I also bought a new mtn bike a month or two ago picture below. It's a Scott Scale 29er with a few upgrades. Freaking LOVE this thing. 29ers are the way to go. i can roll over whatever I want :) Thanks to Jay up at Sun and Ski Sports in Frisco for helping me out. Those guys are awesome and definitely go the extra mile everytime I'm in there.
I did the Prarieman aquabike and ended up getting 2nd place there to Dave Jones who dominated the bike. By the way, I've only swam 2 other times this year and they were BOTH in triathlons, so a 32 minutes swim wasn't too bad for no actual swim training this YEAR! For the entire year I've now swam around 45minutes total and less than 4,000 yards.
I'm registered for the Louisiana Trails 50K on Nov. 13th, because I SERIOUSLY want to get back to my ultra running. For some reason I'd still rather mtn bike right now, so my running is very minimal. Like 10-15 miles a week minimal. Regardless, I don't think I'll hae a problem finishing the race. (I just want to cross Louisiana off my 50 states list!)
The next weekend I'm planning on running the Wild Hare 50 Miler in Warda, Tx. I know, I know. You're all laughing right now. But I think I can finish it... regardless of my serious lack of run training right now. Ultra running has A LOT more to do with your mentality than your skill/training than most of you know. I'm probably going to end up with another random injury, but I'm always asking for a good whooping and I'm sure a 50K followed by a 50 miler the next weekend should give it to me.
Courtney and I are still planning away on the wedding! (Ok, Court more so than me, but I'm doign what I can!) It's getting more and more hectic the closer we get. Crazy, because I thought we were wayyy over prepared, but apparently there is no such thing as being over prepared for a wedding. Haha. Courtney is doing an awesome job, and I appreciate everything she is doing. God has blessed me with an incredible woman that loves me like no other.
I've been SERIOUSLY toying around with the idea of doing the Tampa Double Iron Triathlon in early March of 2011. Actually I'm not really toying with it anymore, I planning on it. Court gave me the go-ahead, so as long as I can get registered before it sells out, I'm in. Again, I'll probably not be anywhere NEAR as prepared as I should be, but my mentality tells me otherwise...
Why yes. Yes I am. I would tell you it's because I've had so many requests from all 12 of my loyal followers but that would be a lie. It's because the other evening my grandmother of all people asked me if I ever updated my website. Well Gram, this one is for you!
I'm gonna summarize my life since the last post in as few words as possible. This is gonna be a blur, so just hold on tight.
My last update was before the El Scorcho 50K. That was going to be my 7th or 8th marathon/ultra mary of the year. Well, I DNF'd that one. Why? Because I just wasn't having fun and went out SO ridiculously hard. Could I have finished? Yes. Does that matter now? No.
The week leading up to that race I was having some strange pains and that run (made it 22-23 miles) just made it way worse, so I took off another 6 weeks or so from running to make sure everything was good to go.
I decided to put my mountain bike back together so I could train on the trails. (cause everyone knows I love the trails) Well, long story short I decided to enter the Northshore 100 mile mtn bike race. Of 13 starters, I was the only finisher, and therefore I won. I decided after that, that I wanted to try a XC mtn bike race. I signed up for the Sansom Park CAT2 race and ended up winning that overall. Now I'm going to try the CAT1 race at Rowlett Creek Preserve on Halloween and see how I fare against the big guns. I also bought a new mtn bike a month or two ago picture below. It's a Scott Scale 29er with a few upgrades. Freaking LOVE this thing. 29ers are the way to go. i can roll over whatever I want :) Thanks to Jay up at Sun and Ski Sports in Frisco for helping me out. Those guys are awesome and definitely go the extra mile everytime I'm in there.
I did the Prarieman aquabike and ended up getting 2nd place there to Dave Jones who dominated the bike. By the way, I've only swam 2 other times this year and they were BOTH in triathlons, so a 32 minutes swim wasn't too bad for no actual swim training this YEAR! For the entire year I've now swam around 45minutes total and less than 4,000 yards.
I'm registered for the Louisiana Trails 50K on Nov. 13th, because I SERIOUSLY want to get back to my ultra running. For some reason I'd still rather mtn bike right now, so my running is very minimal. Like 10-15 miles a week minimal. Regardless, I don't think I'll hae a problem finishing the race. (I just want to cross Louisiana off my 50 states list!)
The next weekend I'm planning on running the Wild Hare 50 Miler in Warda, Tx. I know, I know. You're all laughing right now. But I think I can finish it... regardless of my serious lack of run training right now. Ultra running has A LOT more to do with your mentality than your skill/training than most of you know. I'm probably going to end up with another random injury, but I'm always asking for a good whooping and I'm sure a 50K followed by a 50 miler the next weekend should give it to me.
Courtney and I are still planning away on the wedding! (Ok, Court more so than me, but I'm doign what I can!) It's getting more and more hectic the closer we get. Crazy, because I thought we were wayyy over prepared, but apparently there is no such thing as being over prepared for a wedding. Haha. Courtney is doing an awesome job, and I appreciate everything she is doing. God has blessed me with an incredible woman that loves me like no other.
I've been SERIOUSLY toying around with the idea of doing the Tampa Double Iron Triathlon in early March of 2011. Actually I'm not really toying with it anymore, I planning on it. Court gave me the go-ahead, so as long as I can get registered before it sells out, I'm in. Again, I'll probably not be anywhere NEAR as prepared as I should be, but my mentality tells me otherwise...
Alright, well for right now that's all I've got for you. Obviously, I'm still working nights if you look at the time of this post :)
I'm running 20 miles on Monday morning at the Northshore with my friend Ben if anyone else is interested in going. Also, the DORBA CX race at RCP is this Sunday (Haloween) if anyone is interested in watching or just hanging out. I'll be there all day, not to mention racing the CAT1 race at 9am.
Leave a comment and let me know what you guys think of the new layout! Take care and train safe :)
_Jacob_
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
My doubts about running 100 miles...
Normally, I'm not scared of anything.
But, when I think about running 100 miles I now get scared. Yep, I said it. Scared. I can, and have "faked" my way through every other distance out there, but running 100 miles is not something you can just "fake" your way through.
I'm confident that I can finish a 100 mile run, but I think it's the fact that I'm pretty sure what I'm in for when I do try to finish one. So far this year I've run three 50 milers. Each one, getting progressively harder. With each one, I feel my performance got worse and worse.
Over the next few weeks/months I'm really going to work hard on getting back into the mindset of "training", something I've slowly worked my way away from. Too me, I've found SO much joy in just doing whatever I feel like when I feel like it. (not that I'm not going to be having fun as I train for my 100 miler)
The biggest problem I've had lately with my 50 milers is this odd sensation/feeling of not being able to eat ANYTHING. The thought of putting any food in my mouth at all makes me want to throw up. I've convinced myself that it's time I venture away from eating gels anymore, and try other things. I will definitely be trying different things as I train my way to the Arkansas Traveller 100 miler.
My question to any of my fellow readers/ultra runners (especially those of you with experience) is, have you ever experienced the sensation I'm speaking of? Is it possible that it's due to dehyrdation, or too much hydration??? I've definitely got to get this figured out before Arkansas, in October.
This Monday I had a great run on the Northshore trail at lake Grapevine. Got a nice 22-23 miles in, with some pretty oppressive heat. I experimented a little bit with Sport Beans (which I've tried before) and enjoyed them. The packs are only 100 calories a piece so I'll have to work with that and see what I feel I need an each hour to sustain myself for around 24hrs.
Any advice is much appreciated!! Hope everyone is training hard and living harder :) Also, if anyone would ever like to trail run in the DFW area just let me know!
_Jacob_
But, when I think about running 100 miles I now get scared. Yep, I said it. Scared. I can, and have "faked" my way through every other distance out there, but running 100 miles is not something you can just "fake" your way through.
I'm confident that I can finish a 100 mile run, but I think it's the fact that I'm pretty sure what I'm in for when I do try to finish one. So far this year I've run three 50 milers. Each one, getting progressively harder. With each one, I feel my performance got worse and worse.
Over the next few weeks/months I'm really going to work hard on getting back into the mindset of "training", something I've slowly worked my way away from. Too me, I've found SO much joy in just doing whatever I feel like when I feel like it. (not that I'm not going to be having fun as I train for my 100 miler)
The biggest problem I've had lately with my 50 milers is this odd sensation/feeling of not being able to eat ANYTHING. The thought of putting any food in my mouth at all makes me want to throw up. I've convinced myself that it's time I venture away from eating gels anymore, and try other things. I will definitely be trying different things as I train my way to the Arkansas Traveller 100 miler.
My question to any of my fellow readers/ultra runners (especially those of you with experience) is, have you ever experienced the sensation I'm speaking of? Is it possible that it's due to dehyrdation, or too much hydration??? I've definitely got to get this figured out before Arkansas, in October.
This Monday I had a great run on the Northshore trail at lake Grapevine. Got a nice 22-23 miles in, with some pretty oppressive heat. I experimented a little bit with Sport Beans (which I've tried before) and enjoyed them. The packs are only 100 calories a piece so I'll have to work with that and see what I feel I need an each hour to sustain myself for around 24hrs.
Any advice is much appreciated!! Hope everyone is training hard and living harder :) Also, if anyone would ever like to trail run in the DFW area just let me know!
_Jacob_
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Two Races, Two Weeks!
I'm super disappointed in myself for not updating last week after a great weekend of racing!
Last Saturday I raced the Metroplex Sprint Triathlon for Ironhead Race Productions based here in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. As most everyone knows by now, my focus as of lately has not been triathlon, but long distance running.
Well last weekend I proved that swim training is not all that important! I ended placing first overall, by 11 seconds! I had the 6th fastest swim, 2nd fastest bike, and 2nd fastest run splits for the day. I couldn't have been any happier with the result.
This past Friday night I raced my first timed ultra event in Abilene, Texas which is about 3hrs West of Dallas. The event took place in a park on a 1 mile loop starting at 8pm. The winner was the one who ran the most laps before 2am! Long story short I ended up running 36 miles in 5:57:34, which was good enough for 2nd overall. My original plan was to get 40 miles in, but that unfortunately did not happen.
If you'd like to read that race report, just CLICK HERE.
I have a another triathlon early next month, then I have a 50K at the end of July in Forth Worth starting at midnight. I'm going to train hard in hopes of getting the win out there. There should be a big crowd with lots of fast runners. I'm totally looking forward to it.
Hope everyone is training hard and staying safe in the awesome Texas heat!! See you guys and gals out there.
_Jacob_
PS- I'll post pics from the 6hr race once they're up!
Last Saturday I raced the Metroplex Sprint Triathlon for Ironhead Race Productions based here in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. As most everyone knows by now, my focus as of lately has not been triathlon, but long distance running.
Well last weekend I proved that swim training is not all that important! I ended placing first overall, by 11 seconds! I had the 6th fastest swim, 2nd fastest bike, and 2nd fastest run splits for the day. I couldn't have been any happier with the result.
This past Friday night I raced my first timed ultra event in Abilene, Texas which is about 3hrs West of Dallas. The event took place in a park on a 1 mile loop starting at 8pm. The winner was the one who ran the most laps before 2am! Long story short I ended up running 36 miles in 5:57:34, which was good enough for 2nd overall. My original plan was to get 40 miles in, but that unfortunately did not happen.
If you'd like to read that race report, just CLICK HERE.
I have a another triathlon early next month, then I have a 50K at the end of July in Forth Worth starting at midnight. I'm going to train hard in hopes of getting the win out there. There should be a big crowd with lots of fast runners. I'm totally looking forward to it.
Hope everyone is training hard and staying safe in the awesome Texas heat!! See you guys and gals out there.
_Jacob_
PS- I'll post pics from the 6hr race once they're up!
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