Boundary Waters Training

Absolutely loving my vacation (and training) in the Boundary Waters! Yesterday was a 2.4 mi OWS, and today was one of the toughest workouts I’ll do all year. A simulated 70.3 Iron-Brick (no swim). Pacing on the bike and run were slower than I would have liked for a race, but I gave everything I had. It was a tough workout, but I’ll reap the benefits on race day.

Lessons learned:

1. I need to drink more fluids on the bike despite feeling alright, so I started the run dehydrated.  Working out in varying temperatures and humidity is necessary to determine ideal fluid intake. Today I learned the hard way.
2. Attempting to train like an elite athlete requires strong support from friends and family.  My dad chased me around for 4.5 HOURS while I trained today. He gave me much needed encouragement as well as additional nutrition and some sweet footage.
3. I can’t get hung up on the numbers when it comes to my performance. Conditions vary and preparations for a particular workout are not always ideal. Putting forth my best effort will always yield positive results.

Besides the physical benefits, lessons learned are just as critical when it comes to training.

Enjoy the footage =)

Race Report: QC Triathlon

This is my first time blogging thanks to some encouragement from a new friend Jeff Paul. I am a passionate triathlete, and this will be a great outlet to share what I’m up to. June 15th was my first time racing in the Quad Cities Triathlon, and I was aiming for a spot on the podium. As a newer triathlete, I figured the podium would give me some visibility as I work towards sponsorships and a professional license. I walked away with 5th place overall, 1st place Age Group (25-29) and a humbled mindset. I knew the other athletes were talented, but I hadn't imagined being that far behind.

Despite that, let me share some stats!

4^th fastest swim (600 yards in 7:53)

5^th fastest bike (23.2mph for 15mi)

3^rd fastest run (18:28 5K)

My combined transitions took nearly 3 minutes while the faster athletes were closer to 2. Overall not bad, but my bike needs more work and it’s time to learn a flying mount!

Although I was disappointed at falling short, I am even more motivated to train hard as I approach Muncie 70.3 in 3 weeks. Maximum Effort! 

Shout out to TriMafia and Epix for the sweet kit!

Age Group Awards with my girlfriend