WILLIAM RITTER

Plano Pacers "Fresh Start" 10K

2012-01-28T21:58:00.010-06:00

This past weekend, I joined the Plano Pacers Running Club. Mainly, to get in a quality run and to run with some good runners once a month or so, as they have a monthly club run at the last Saturday of every month. I saw this is an opportunity to keep my running in check and monitor some progress. I did the "Fresh Start 10K" at Bob Woodruff Park in East Plano. I wasn't trying to "race" but just get in a hard effort. I wasn't really mentally prepared to be in "race mode". I didn't even shave my legs for this. I usually wake up 3-4 hours before I race and have a very light breakfast, instead I woke up 2 hours before.

As I signed up there it was like a flash back into the 1990's, as it reminded of my Longview Running Club days with the way of registering and the "seasoned" runners wore flashback jackets/windbreakers I haven't seen since then. This is awesome I thought.

At the start line listening to the race director give directions, I immediately got confused. He mentioned that the course had changed due to a flood on the trail, the he said their was a crime scene the night before but it had it been cleared so it was good to go. I was immediately concerned, because if you know me, me and directions don't go well together. Coach Brent informed me not to start too hard and keep things in check. Well, I went out with the front group of the two lead 5k runners, respectively, we were easily hitting 4:55 pace to start out with and this felt a lot better than it did last month, as it didn't feel that bad. We were all going back and forth in the lead. This was really fun, as a game of tactics was being thrown in. I thought we had dropped Kenny early on but he would come right back and charge to the front. Jacob was rollin' jamming to Eminem, loud & clear, I was able to rock out too. We clocked the first mile in 5:02. I had just taken over the group before the 5k runners turned off. Kenny & Jacob would finish the 5k in a respectable time of 16:53 and 16:57. I was by solo for the next 4.5 miles miles 2 and 3 were just under 5:30 pace. After mile 3, I must have just been getting warmed as I was able to pick up just under that pace running mile 4 in 5:18, then mile 5 in 5:24 and the 6th mile in 5:20. My garmin read the course as 6.4 miles and with a closing of a 5:12 pace around the lake.

I was surprised by my level of fitness this early in the year and that I didn't blow up. Thank you Kenny & Jacob for the extra push early in the race and the Lord for keeping us safe out there when we were pushing our limits in the cold weather. Thank you Coach Brent at rEvolution and the Kwicky Blades from Tri Shop I ran in. I am excited to get this tri season started!

Thanks for reading & congrats to all my friends who also ran the Texas Half & 3M Half Marathon.

William

Holidays & Outings

2012-01-14T08:49:00.009-06:00

Now that school is over and triathlon season is approaching rather quickly now I am getting back in the saddle as they say in Texas. Or is it back on the saddle? Either way, I am back at it. It's amazing how much better I feel when I am getting proper sleep & recovery.

Here are some of the Holiday and Off Season outings that surrounded my school work.

There was an ice skating party that some of us went to and my grace on skates was quite evident, I had moves that only Michael Jackson could manage. Then I went home for Christmas to Carthage & Timpson, Texas to spend with my family. New Years Day I brought in 2012 with the Frisco Triathletes. Then recently my friend Tiffany was in town from Austin and saw "Young Adult" with her and her friends and we went to the Fort Worth Stockyards the following weekend and had a fantastic fried food dinner. I am glad I wore my cowboy hat and boots and didn't show up clean shaven or I'd felt out of place.

Showin' how it's done in Fort Worth Stockyards... or not.

I don't recommend seeing "Young Adult" unless it's with 3 ladies, otherwise it's acceptable.

Showin' my mom how to do a little 2 step mixed with some boot scoot.

My grace on skates!

Some of us Dallas area triathletes enjoying the last good bit of off-season.

New Year's Eve with Frisco Triathletes.

My bald buddies Jim & Jason

Me and Tiffany @ Fort Worth Stockyards

Thanks for reading!

RITZY

Kept the Faith, Finished the Race!

2012-01-10T21:00:00.006-06:00

Sitting in my apartment in Tyler, Tx and talking to my roommate Isaiah Martinez about what to do next with my life after my UT Tyler undergrad days were done. I decided to sign up for online classes through Texas A&M University-Commerce to do a Masters of Business Administration. I didn't know what I was doing and I for sure didn't know much at all about business. All I knew was I could do it if I maintained the faith and applied myself it would all work out. That was 4 years ago this month. There were many late nights and large quantities of coffee consumed as I worked full time. Training suffered some but was still maintainable. It was a loooong road ahead. I never thought I was going to see the light at the end, but I finally did with those last 2-3 classes to go, I just kept plugging away. I took my last class over the winter, it's also known as a 3 week "hell term" as I like to call it. As we had a paper or a project due by midnight Monday through Friday for those three weeks. There nights were several nights I was up to 3-5am. The work got done and I finished my last class on top with an "A". After those 4 years which seemed like a lifetime, I kept the faith and finished the race.

I owe huge thanks to the people that supported me tremendously through the 4 years. I am going try to name everybody who was there for me in some way, especially those that critiqued all my papers ;) you know who you are. I'll start with Jesus Christ, I'm not comparable to Tim Tebow but that it certainly could have not been done without Him. A fool would say otherwise. My parents Johnny & Glynis Ritter for their support and encouragement. Huge thanks to the following friends: Isaiah Martinez, Ann Marie Worley, Jerri Henderson, Jim & Penny McCan, Lance Vernon, Rachel Bishop, Mike Martinez, Jevara Jackson, Bo Trainer, Tabitha Wells, Brent Poulsen, Raul & Marta, Liz Meraz, Trent & Jennfer, Stefanie Dardaganian, Shanda Chambers, Jared Kirkpatrick, Carol Stark, Richard Burgunder, Margaret English, Kelly Harris, & Todd Hamilton. Just so you know I appreciate you guys very much!

Since I took a winter term and finished in January that means that graduation isn't until May so I'll have to wait for that fun ceremony until then. I am however looking forward to an exciting racing season with some huge events lined up and seeing where God leads me.

Thanks for reading & Keep the Faith!

2012 training started before 2011 has ended

2011-11-26T12:49:00.005-06:00

Here it is and not even December yet and the swim, biking, running has begun to take place to start building for the 2012 season. Most mornings you can find me doing my workouts before 6am most days of the week. This Saturday morning was a 5 AM start at the Tri Shop Performance Studio in Plano, Tx, as me and Liz were one of the first people to put in a good session the computrainers here. My Coach Brent is already up to no good and coming up with ways to kick my butt through tying my feet up, running up hills, and pedaling with hard power. This was a small brick than what I will be accustomed to later but it was still quite a challenge and as I told Liz I rode like a lil' girl. She was offended by that, so I said a girl that is smaller than her. Today's workout was a 3x10 min interval at xxx watts then I went and ran down the road for a little bit.

Trying to ignore the Liz Raz who's always looking for photo opportunities.

In the hurt box pushing xxx watts.

2011 Season Closure and Off Season Adventures

2011-11-22T14:16:00.006-06:00

This is to what I hope to be quick update. While I had a decent 2011 season it wasn't near as great as 2010, mostly due to my fault, but we got through it none the less and ended the season with a win at the Oilman Half Iron. I have set some big goals for next season which most were supposed to have been for this season, but I had to reevaulate those goals and give it another shot. I already have my race schedule list pretty much complete for next season. I am already back to training again with a good wattage test done last week, let me know some good stuff. I am still enjoying some fun and working at the Tri Shop. The Tri Shop has only been open over a week and we are having a great time out of here. Here are some photos from the 2011 Off Season so far.

Hey I think I need a bike fit, you know where I get one?

Cool People at Skating Rink at White Rock.

I am never racing NatMer and Liz Raz in skating again, both of'em kicked my butt. I tried to out sprint NatMer on the final turn and crashed. I guess run and bike speed doesn't transfer to skating so well.

Even at a housing warming party, we still had to ride the bikes CX/Crit kinda style on old school Huffy's. Maybe we should have wore helmets?

Warming up the house for Lucy and Matt Gore.

OWWWW!

@ TRI SHOP grand opening w/ David Lassiter and Jim Conolly.

Well thanks again for reading! I gotta hurry and get signed up for the TX3 Series by OnUrMark Productions before the sell out.

Oilman Texas

2011-11-09T13:48:00.011-06:00

This past weekend I finished my last triathlon for the season. I made the trip down with Amanda then we met up with Lance and ater my good friends Travis, Mark & Karmen.

I didn't know what to expect for this, as my training hasn't been necessarily the best for this due to some changes and working a lot the past week getting ready for Tri Shop's opening for November 12.

However, I stuck with what works the best and that is to take it step by step and just be smart and organized. I even wrote an itinerary for this.

4AM came super early as I had my normal pre race meal before a 70.3 that did include Wheaties Fuel if you must know. However I didn't plan to leave the room until about 5:30am, I put my legs up on the wall for a little while then I curled up into a ball and fell back asleep.

I warmed up with my good buddy Jason from Shama Cycles in Houston, afterwards I met Angie and she let me borrow her race belt since I forgot mine.(ooops!) I told her I would just stick it in my shorts if she didn't have an extra.

It was a pretty chill start and I never really felt nervous for this. I think the pressure was off to win since Derek Yorek a local pro showed up, but due to some injuries dropped after the swim. The swim start was rough, the 29 and younger division didn’t mess around. My left arm kept hitting somebody’s back and finally I was able to break free and get on some feet, but eventually lost of those then found someone else’s feet towards the second of the swam by me and he would breast stroke every so often to see where he was going but still out swimming me, I got on his feet and was trying hard to stay on until the end. The water was shallow leading into the exit, so I was able to do some dolphin dives to finish the swim in 32:41.

long run to T1

A long transition had me running through the sand, through the pool area and across to transition. All I had to do was buckle my helmet and I was off. I flew up on my bike and nearly miss-mounted landing slightly on the jewels. Ouch!

I was riding steady the first 10 miles around 24-26 mph but then we hit some hard chip seal for 10-15 miles that rattled your bones. Somewhere around mile 15 my bottle of Heed slipped out of my hands and rolled across the street. I looked behind me, crossed the center line to run back and grab my bottle, because I knew it would be a long day without it. When we finally got back on smooth road it was a big relief.

I quickly caught back up to the group that I had just passed only to re pass them again. During the out and back section I was looking for Derek Yorek on a road bike to see how far back I might be from him, but only to never see him. I was thinking I may have missed him and just kept riding as if I were still chasing.

At mile 40-46, the past few years it has always been a very slow section with several false flats. Around mile 42 my chain slipped off going up hill. I must have shifted too much at once. I came to a slow stop and was like uh oh and going no where I quickly get out of the pedals fix the chain, check the road to make sure I was safe and then back in the saddle.

Due to my better pedaling efficiency I was able to keep my energy level up during the bike, but I had no power and was actually a lot slower than I was a couple of years ago. I finished this year in 2:24 this year, compared to 2:18 two years ago and my only 3^rd half.

just 3-4 miles to go caught in the middle of no where by Patrick McClendon.

heading into t2

A very smooth dismount that I have been perfecting since my incident at Texas 70.3 I was flew through t2 in 30 seconds and on the road hitting sub 5:30 pace. I was like whoa slow down, your not there yet as a 24 year old Todd Teren took off like a rocket that I early caught through transition. I let him go knowing that if I was running as fast as I was he was most likely coming back so I took my chances and let him go. I hit 5:55’s consistently for the first 5-6 miles, which I have never been there before in a 70.3 a tleast for the first lap of the 3 looped course.

The second loop was a slowed down to a 6:10-6:15 pace. I caught Todd by after mile 5 and he tried to go with me and through in a surge to see if he could respond after no response the gapped increased from there. I still didn’t know if Derek Yorek was still in the race or not as I never saw him during the run, I figured I would have been able to see him by now.

The third loop was starting to get rough as I slowed down to 6:20s and the last 2-3 miles were getting rough as I was just trying to survive.

The last mile was my gps was telling me I would finish the last mile in 6:28, then 6:29. I kept telling myself do not drop to 6:30.

The finish was mostly a straight away and you could see the finish but then you had make a circle around to the finish, I cruised into the finish pointed to the heavens and with a slight celebration with my hands. A run time finish of 1:26 or so in 4:26.44.

heading out on the run feeling suprisingly pretty good.

back side shot!

executing good form the concentration on my mechanics is paying off.

and I've reached the finish!

During the awards ceremony I was more nervous waiting for my name to be called out than I was waiting to start the race. Maybe peeing in my wetsuit before the race helps calm my nerves? Then I had to give an impromptu speech about the race.

I don’t think I could have had as a good of a race with out keeping my faith strong and the awesome support crew from Amanda, Lance, and Aaron Palian from OnUrLeft Sports being out there cheering me on. Oh yes! And the butt slaps from Michael Barney, that gave me the extra push I needed every time I came around at least. Thanks to the Tri Shop and Brian Lee the most amazing bike mechanic ever who tuned my bike and my gears were shifting sharp and precise, who cleaned my bike too and had it shining like new! A big THANK YOU AMANDA, LANCE, AARON PALIAN, BRIAN LEE, and course BARNEY the one and only

While this season didn’t go as planned by far for 2011 due to a variety of reasons. However I am motivated more than ever f0r 2012 and setting my goals high and won’t settle for anything less.

Of course you have to end the long season off right with a Shiner Bock BBQ burger with onion rings and a side of french fries.

Triple Threat & Tri Shop

2011-10-14T08:14:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick update! I finally found a triathlon club in the Northern DFW Metroplex area, now called Triple Threat Tough! I am looking forward to being involved with this organization more in the future.

Most of you may know by now that I am working at the new triathlon store that is about to open really soon! It's called Tri Shop. You can visit us at www.trishop.com and www.facebook.com/trishopdfw. We are going to have an array of product and services for you to come and spend all day with us. We are expecting to open early November!!!

Training is going is going well. I skipped out on Try Andys' last weekend but heard it was super fast and the course recored was shattered. I am gearing up for the Oilman half iron in a couple of weeks in Conroe. The Tri Shop crew is off to Austin 70.3 to cheer on athletes racing this weekend!!! Good luck to everyone competing. If you are not racing and want to ride in Austin with me tomorrow let me know.

Micah Alexander Photography

2011-10-12T22:39:00.000-05:00

A month ago I had the opportunity to work with an exceptional photographer. Micah Alexander Photography services did some amazing work, because we know I don't look like this in person. HA! He was a true professional about his passion. These images were shot near his place in Dallas and we emphasized a couple of my sponsors OnUrLeft Sports and Tri It Wear. If you like what you see and want to make an appointment or just want to check his other work out visit his website http://www.micahalexanderphotography.com/ and

facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Micah-Alexander-Photography/219972978032584

The Bosco Wedding & Stonebridge Ranch

2011-09-28T15:42:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was the Stonebridge Ranch triathlon in McKinney. I was looking forward to racing so close by, since I was going to stay in town for my college friend Jeremy Bosco's wedding. S0- Saturday night I left to go to the wedding in plenty of time, it's a good thing too, as I got lost a couple of times and arrived to the wrong wedding. I am pulling up to the street that where the wedding is supposed to be, I see a sign that is for a wedding. I walk into the backyard and feeling overdressed as most of the guys are decked in wranglers, flannel shirts, and cowboy hats. I was like man, these folks are country. The backyward nice with poolside and a view of a clean cut golf course. I was sitting there wandering why nobody I recognize from college was there and doubting these people had college degrees. I see someone with a card and it had a different name on it. It's 6:58pm and the wedding starts at 7pm. There is no sign of Jeremy. Things started to click I dash out get in my car, race down the street and make it in time to see Jeremy and his wife up there together. My friend Carlos Ruiz was on mexican time and he did the same thing and stopped at the wrong wedding. I didn't feel so bad then.

Jeremy and Cameron moments before they were pronounced husband and wife.

Friends from ETBU- Mark Jackson, Duy Nguyen and Carlos Ruiz. Please excuse my sweaty arm pits it was hot outside.

I arrived at 5:15am to the race site one of the very first people there ready to get set up to rock and roll. Once it finally got daylight we are allowed to warmup for a couple of minutes. Then we got kicked back out of the water again, because some of miscommunication. Then back in the water again for another 2 minutes before we got kicked out.My swim start was rough from the start as immediately water got kicked in my goggles and I was struggling to see. I was trying to make the best of it, by the time we got to the first turn I had to pause for a second and let the water that had filled my goggles up out. After a week off after Vegas and getting back into it, I found it hard to push the intensity like I usually can, plus struggling to swim straight didn't help and the kayakers and jet skis were moving all over the place. I was looking off the bouy several times and a kayaker would be right in front of the bouy you were trying to sight off of.

Finally, got out of the water in 25:53 and through transition. Once on my bike, I pushed the intensity because I knew had a lot of work to do, coming out 7th or so out of the water in our small 10 man division. We had a decent south wind and uphill start, we did this loop four times. The back side is pretty fast. The last loop or two I was having quite a few calf cramps, it's been awhile since I had those. Off the bike with a 24.9 bike split and in 5th off the bike.

I took off to a strong start and realized after a week off I didn't have quite the same zipp. I settled into a little slower pace than I am used to for a 10k run but I held it consistent for 3 miles, until I started having stomach issues at 3 miles. By mile 4, my stomach felt like it wanted puke, by the last mile I was having some light chills. It was very wierd. My 5th mile was 7 min and my last mile was 7:40. I jogged it in for 3rd overall.

Top 3 guys

Thanks to my amazing God and the people that support me. Justin from Bicycles Plus tuned my bike up that it would put Di2 shifters to shame. This week, I am getting back into some solid training under me. I think I lost my legs in Vegas. I am looking forward to my next race called Try Andy's in Sugarland. It's going to be a very fast race.

70.3 World Championships Recap

2011-09-19T11:08:00.000-05:00

I want to give big thank you to everyone who supported and believed in me. This would not of course be possible without the Lord for watching overme this year, during our travels, and the race. My parents for there endless love and my amazing girl friend for all of her support! Brandon McGee my roommate, he let me borrow his 11-28 cassette for the hills and I trained on his computrainer, which is sold now :( . Nathan Villa, my main G right there, for handing me a saddle while mine had fallen apart. My sponsors thatI rep. OnUrLeft Sports, Bicycles Plus, Tri It Wear, and Wheaties Fuel! Bryce and Mr. Fluker for letting me come along this trip and making it a memorable one. Mr. Fluker and Bryce picked me Wednesday morning and we drove to Santa Rosa, New Mexico that night and were greeted by cooler temperatures. Then t

he following day we traveled the through the rest of New Mexico and upward to Northern Arizona where we stopped at the Grand Canyon. Bryce and I did a 30 minute run around

the south rim of the Canyon then hitched a bus ride back. The 30 minute run took us near an hour and half as Bryce wanted to stop every 30 seconds for pictures, haha. The weather had drastically changed on us with high winds and some light rain and we could see lightening in the distance but we made it safely back.

Bryce and I about to start are run along the south rim.

Snapping a wicked photo of the Grand Canyon in the middle of a run.

Bryce and I at the Grand Canyon before we began our "30 min" run. Friday morning we went from the Grand Canyon to the expo in Henderson, NV. We went to the expo and met pro's Linsey Corbin and Michael Weiss. Then for a 20 minute outdoor pool swim and we had the Welcome Dinner that night.

Bryce and I before our departure to Vegas!

Morning View of the Grand Canyon.

W/ Austria's Michael Weiss (4th) and Linsey Corbin (3rd).

Saturday morning was an early start for us as we met my Coach Muddy Waters and some of his other Muddy Buddies at the race site for some pre race day prep exercises. We did a 20 minute swim in Lake Las Vegas, followed by a 30 minute spin along the beginning of the course and back, then an easy 15 minute run.

W/ Shama cycle guys from Houston. Double Andrew and Jason and me repping the Bicycles Plus from Dallas.

With super studes from Dallas, Chris Moody, Travis Thomason, and Ron Tribendis.

Bryce and I after the welcome dinner.

Bryce and I chillin' out pre-race!

suited up and ready to head down to join our wave start.

I didn't bother warming up too much for this race since we were the last wave to go. I just did some dynamic type of stretching with my arms and legs. If I had to do it over again I would start off at the front of the swim to latch on to swim one a bit more faster than me instead, I chose to stay more so in the middle in hopes of that saving some energy and by not getting banged up too much with the size of our wave. I did get to draft on some swimmers but I think I could have went with someone a lot of faster than me. I came out of the water in 34:12, a little slower than usual but this was without wetsuits, but some of my competitors that come out at the same time as me were minutes back.

I ran as fast as I could or fast as you can run after swimming 1.2 miles through the 30o meter transition run and I ran also with my shoes on my feet to our bikes which I normally never do but my coach Muddy Waters reccommended it since we had a curve then a steep uphill there would be no time for putting your shoes on the bike. I heeded his advice and it turned out rather well as blitzed by several other riders still putting on shoes.

Shown here about to mount.

This 56 mile bike was either uphill or down hill. There was no flat sections on this course. Under a roundabout and under a tunnel a water bottle had popped out of my front cage. I stopped to get it but a volunteer stopped me and got it for me, probably losing a minute, at least it felt like it. I rode the first half rather conservatively as it was one hill after another. My adductors were already screaming at me. I started picking it up a bit and going with these other riders that had passed me, then around mile 40-45 my buddy Cam from Lubbock caught me after being 3 minutes back from me on the swim. He was riding well. I tried to go with him and keep him in sight. But I faded back and I struggled the last 10 miles back into Henderson to T2, but I was keeping positive spirits.

Coming into T2.

As I jumped off my bike, I almost hit the ground as my legs were rubbery. I was thinking this ain't good. Once I sat down and got my running shoes on I was up and it and rather surprised how good I was feeling. Hitting a sub 6 minute pace in control, despite it was downhill at the beginning. Make a U turn just after the first mile and that quickly changed, as it was all uphill on the second half of the loop. Regardless, I stayed in control of my run the entire race, despite being on the verge of cramping. The last 3 miles I tried to bust out a nice run split, but my legs were about to cramp. I was like Ok, let just maintain this effort and try again the last mile. I brought it home in a nice fashion under a 6:30 pace at least. I paid the price later as I puked 3x. I finished the run in 1:28+ with a 6:44 pace a total time of 4:41.32 which put me 20th in the 25-29 age group.

Coming into finish the race!

Bryce and I post race!

Awards Banquet that night pool side!

Top 10 Women w/ Australia's Melissa Rollison leading the way.

Top 10 Men w/ Australia's Craig Alexander and 2x 2008,2009 Ironman World Champion and 2006 70.3 World Champion at 38 years of age does it again!

W/the new CEO, Andrew Messick of WTC. Was a super nice guy!

Chunkin' up the deuce w/ 4th place, Austria's Michael Weiss.

The next day after the race it felt like we were hit by a truck and I was walking slower than 66 year old Mr. Fluker. He actually walks quite fast by the way. We went to Vegas to Gallup, NM. We stopped at Walnut Canyon National Monument where Indians once dwelled and they carved out there homes in the Canyon.

Bryce and I at the entrance.

The little holes are the Indian homes.

Here I am inside of an Indian home.

The next day we drove from Gallup, NM to Amarillo, Tx but first we stopped by the El Morro National Monument and Clines Corner, a World Famous Travel Stop. The El Morro monument is contains written messages from people from the 1600-1900s'. It's quite historic if you ever get to check it out.

El Morro!

@ Clines Corner.

From Amarillo, Wednesday morning we made it back safely to The Colony and East Texas.

Bike Course Preview.

My goal for this course next year is to crack the top 5 in my age group as they were all from Belgium and Germany. I only have 3 race left I am doing this year with the next one is this weekend in McKinney, the Stonebridge Ranch triathlon. Thank you again for all your support!

Amarillo By Morning

2011-09-13T22:33:00.000-05:00

Gallup

2011-09-12T23:56:00.000-05:00

Post race thoughts. The write up and pictures will be posted at a later date. Thanks again!!!

Viva Las Vegas Part II

2011-09-12T22:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry this is late. We had slow internet at the comfort inn. This is pre race thoughts the night before. Post race thoughts coming up next.

Viva Las Vegas

2011-09-10T00:16:00.000-05:00

We made it here, race day is almost here!

Grand Canyon Maswick Lodge

2011-09-09T23:01:00.000-05:00

Late post, we didn't have any internet at the Grand Canyon. It was a fun experience as me and Bryce ran 4 miles along the South rim.

Santa Rosa

2011-09-07T21:15:00.000-05:00

We made it to Santa Rosa, New Mexico on our road trip to the Marine Corps Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Henderson, Nevada!

Vegas Bound Baby!

2011-09-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

Me, my Buddy Bryce and his Dad Mr. Fluker are heading to the 70.3 World Championships this weekend in Nevada!

Thanks for Watching!

Wheaties Fuel

2011-09-01T18:30:00.001-05:00

I have recently been accepted onto Team Wheaties Fuel. Since Wheaties Fuel came out in 2010 I've always been a fan of the cereal. I think it was once at an Ironman 70.3 events we recieved a sample box in our packets. I tried it out and it was instantly hooked and if you know me, you know I can throw down some food, especially cereal like nobodies business. I'll carry some of it with me to some local races and when I train with the boys! Come find me if you want some.

Check out the link for all the nutritional facts. May I add also it's great tasting too!!! http://www.wheaties.com/products/wheaties-fuel.aspx

In other news, I am getting ready to head to Vegas next week with Bryce and Richard Fluker on a week long road trip to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Training has been going great, so I can't wait to get out there!

OUL Sponsors

2011-08-15T21:02:00.000-05:00

My good friend and sponsor Aaron Palaian from On Ur Left Sports sent this email out today. Please take the time to review this and if your interested in assisting through sponsorship contact him at the information below.

Thanks again for reading!

Hello Sponsors,

This email is to inquire into whether or not there's interest and ability to offer sponsorship to local athletes on two levels. The first level is an elite sponsorship. We have 3 athletes that are some of the best in Houston. Grant Glauser went pro this spring at the Memorial Hermann Kemah Triathlon and since then has proceeded to beat every Houston competitor in every race he's done. He placed 4th at the Memorial Hermann Bridgeland Triathlon only losing to 3 world class competitors from Washington DC, Austin, and San Antonio. He was the top Houston competitor and only lost the title by less than 1 minute. This was at the largest sprint triathlon in Texas. Ryan Lindsay has proven himself as being a top competitor time and time again and has just narrowly missed his pro card qualification in doing so. He had an amazing performance at Bridgeland on August 7, 2011 as did so many on the team. William Ritter is a rising star. His times have improved drastically in the past few months due in large part to not only his drive and determination but also his world class coach Michael (Muddy) Waters. Muddy also coaches Grant and other top pros across the US. These athletes need and deserve your help. All 3 can offer massive exposure in the Houston area. They all race for Onurleft Sports which, as you know, is a sister company of Onurmark Productions. They represent well at the biggest triathlons in Houston/Texas. They are admired and looked up to by hundreds if not thousands. This presents a great marketing opportunity plus the chance to support those who really need it. Whether through monetary sponsorship or goods and services (or both), anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

The second level of sponsorship... Onurleft Sports now has nearly 100 athletes and has grown to be one of the largest most successful triathlon teams in all of Houston. The athletes are like family and serve as a great avenue to sample products, support marketing, and get the word out to the athletic community. Any type of sponsorship to these individuals would be warmly received and greatly appreciated.

Please let me know if you're able and willing to sponsor the Onurleft Pros/Elites and/or the rest of the team. In return you would be added to our pro jersey, age group jersey, website, newsletters, and listed as official team sponsors on all Onurleft and Onurmark newsletters.

Thanks for your time, we look forward to hearing from you soon,

Aaron R. Palaian
USAT Certified Coach & Race Director
Onurleft Sports / Onurmark Productions
832-334-6362
oulsports@me.com
oumevents@me.com
www.onurleft.com
www.onurmark.net

Bridgeland Triathlon

2011-08-08T13:57:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I spent a few days in Houston getting ready for the Bridgeland triathlon and aquainted with my new coach Muddy Waters who's been coaching and racing professionally before I was born. After a month of training I was able to finally let it out this weekend. On Friday, I did a swim with him watching me and he would hit me with a noodle when he was ready for me to listen to him and sometimes he would hit me with the noodle and give me this intense look if I went back to my bad habits. In all it was a good fun, afterwards I got to watch a bike fitting by him on a local athlete and meet Andrew and Denise Strong in their home and have a super tasty lunch! Then that night was a fun filled night at the Union Kitchen with some of the athlets in the OnUrLeft crew. I scarfed down a big cheezy pizza.

Kids tri - pre swim

I did some volunteer work at the kid's tri bright and early Saturday morning. It was a lot of fun the kids were excited. I got to help get these kids in order which was not easy! It's probably harder than herding cattle. But it was all godo. I got to high five a few kids and talk to them about their goals for the day. They simply just wanted to have fun and finish! Some of the parents were taking it super serious with their words of wisdom and arguing with official as you see below. "That Parent". They goodness my parents were half as bad as this guy, ha! when I played sports.

"That Dad". His kid probably got caught drafting, illegal blocking, or something ;)

Me and Amanda after pre race dinner at Carrabba's!

I'm super excited and ready to race!

In the elite/invitation field field with top amatuerus and professionals. We're off. I came out of the water with a good pack in the 500 meter swim. A little faster than last year at 7:44.

Unfortunatley, I probably shouldn't have worn the speed suit and raced shirtless to save on drag as it cost me some change getting it off. I missed a good pack on the bike including Trent Stephens and Ryan Lindsay. Which meant I did a lot of biking solo, I was able to come back on some people. The end of the bike my race belt came off and I held onto it and it got tangled up as I was dismounting. Thankfully, I landed succesfully on my feet without face planting like I did in Galveston. Either way finished the bike in 27.8 miles per hour on the flat course. But nothing compared to my OUL teammate Grant Glauser a new pro who went over 30 mph. Wow!

Out onto the run, I came out swinging. Reeled in a few others including the overall woman who was still out there in front of me. Finished the 3.63 miles according to Garmin in 20:58 equating to a 5:40 pace on the run. Which is nothing compared to the overall winner Derek Yorek who went 5:02 per mile to take over in the last half mile of the run to win it.

Me and Coach Muddy Waters post race!

I had an awesome time in Houston and the Bridgeland triathlon. I am thankful for my super awesome home stay Angie Henderson, who is one of the coaches on the OUL team. She let me crash hard on her couch every night while she was hard at work, working countless hours to make this race possible. Thanks again to OnUrLeft/OnUrMark Productions for putting on another 5 star race. Patrick at Bicycles Plus fixed my seat and made sure I was ready to go. Blueseventy for keeping faster than I would be in their jammers, wetsuits, and speed suits. My newsest sponsor Tri It Wear keeping me looking fly in casual triathlete apparel. Also many of the indivuduals that have helped me out in one way or another. A big thank you to Amanda and Angie McDonald for coming a long ways out to cheer me on. Thanks to my new coach Muddy for taking on a head case like me, just kidding. Most certainly, my protector, Savior Jesus Christ for letting have a great time and keeping the wheels down on my bike and car in the Houston traffic.

Thanks for reading and for all the comments and messages I got all weekend in long on facebook. I'll be heading to Vegas next month to race my age group in the 70.3 World Championships!

Ready...to Roll!

2011-08-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

Training is going well. We have been having some strong group rides up here, usually leaving Ron's house in Frisco with some of the baddest triathlete-cyclist in the metroplex. I am lucky they even let me show up to the start. Here is a shot at a pit stop in Gunter, Texas on a group ride North of the DFW Metroplex. Apparently half our group had some misscommunication where we turning around at. I was one of the smart ones and turned around with the early group.

This weekend I am looking forward...actually I am super pumped for a variety of reasons, but either way I am excited to be representing OnUrLeft Sports and ready to roll this weekend in one of their own events the Bridgeland Triathlon in Cypress, Texas. 1500 plus people have signed up for this. It's probably going to be the biggest and best sprint triathlon in the South!

Some good ridin'

2011-07-21T21:20:00.000-05:00

This week I've been on the grind getting ready for Vegas and the Bridgland sprint coming up. The pool where I normally swim has been closed down so I have to come and suffer in the hot outdoor pool at Austin Ranch where I stay. Not exactly the best for pool swimming but it works well for open water practice without going to the lake. I had another cool picture of the Saturday morning group ride with some of the top local triathletes in DFW with our bikes lined up at this gas station, which made for a good shot. There was 8 of us total and the ride got really fast after the first hour.

This video that I shot a few days ago is dedicated to my man Nathan Villa who hooked me up with a saddle. My previous saddle was hanging on by a thread. It was bad, my riding partners would often make fun of my saddle before our rides. I no longer look as ghetto when I ride now, but I will always be ghetto.

Tri It Wear

2011-07-19T09:51:00.000-05:00

I am excited to announce new sponsorship with Tri It Wear, LLC. A company based out of Austin, Tx. I recently signed on at the expo at BSLT 70.3. The make causal tees for triathletes. You can now find me often 'sporting their tees, if you haven't already. They look great, fit great, and are quite soft, I might add. With my code "ritter" you get 20% off your purchase. You can also still order the special edition BSLT tees and free shipping code is "BSLT" along with my code "ritter" should get you a nice deal for a soft comfy tee you can wear anywhere and look great in! Check out http://www.triitwear.com. Now I gotta get back to chopping wood and carrying water before Vegas. There is still a lot of work that must be done!

Triathlete Breakfast

2011-07-14T12:54:00.000-05:00

I finally got around to updating my computer with my camera program and can now make short videos again. Here is my typical breakfast for the day. 3 large scrambled eggs mixed with olive oil, organic soymilk, spinach, tomato's, onions, and salt & pepper. Also is a bowl of organic granola cereal w/ cocunut milk, strawberries, blueberries. For beverage a glass of OJ and cup of coffee. Hope you enjoy my video and my East Texan accent that stands out.

Buffalo Springs 70.3

2011-07-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

Overview of Buffalo Springs Lake

The good, the bad, and the ugly. It was a good ride over with Megan and Austin. (Thank you Megan and Austin for driving btw ;) and we crashed at my good friend Cam's house. We arrived late in Lubbock Friday night and went out to the cheapest sit-down dinner we could find....kinda jokingly but thanks to our waiter we only had to pay a buck or two for our meals and Austin got the "very last bit" of water out of the container the waiter was pouring. It's one of those things, you had to be there to see it.

Saturday was the usual pre race boring stuff including a little run for me and then we hunted for a place to swim, but to no avail we could find one any of us could afford.

Sunday, I was so excited I missed my alarm go off again for this race. Only because I was up and moving around before it had went off. Due to the extreme heat Lubbock was having that weekend they combined a lot of waves and pushed them closer together which made for an interesting swim. Somehow, I had one of my better swims. I was off to a good start ran into the water and got in with the front pack, probably should have got a couple of dolphin dives in but I I didn't think about it. Soon as we got going, I felt the washing machine effect of the feeling like I was spinning around and everyone was out get me. There was kicking, pulling, punching and everything else you can think of. The swim was a rectangle shape and when we made the far end turn I began feeling the effects of the heat being in the wetsuit in 75 degree water or whatever it was claimed to be. On to the swim exit, I got stuck behind some people in the wave before me and I was trying to be nice about it, in my head I said "alright guys, I'm coming through". I ended up cutting up between these two people reaching one guys shoulder and pulling him back as I took a stroke. Running out of the water I noticed Cam had beaten me out of the water. I chased him down and passed him through transition.

On the bike, I tried to get into my shoes too early and swerved to the left and almost got knocked off. There were about 3 large hills to climb before we got really going outside of the park. Cam had passed me again at the start of the bike but blew a tire. It was basically windy in all directions. I held back on the bike, since it was going to be a brutal run. The bike had several good size climbs in it and it was starting get pretty hot midway through. At one of the turn arounds, I noticed Cam had bounced back and was on his way to catching me on the bike. The last 10 miles or so was directly into the wind and it sucked every bit of the way to get back to T2. Coming up the last hill at the end of the ride, I switched to the small ring only to drop my chain. I started loosely spinning and was like "uh oh". I jumped off before I had a chance to fall over and get it quickly back on, but then to start back on a steep uphill like that was slower than I would have liked.

On the run I was feeling good at the start keeping it really chill and hitting about 6:45 pace. This was the first year I was able to "trot" up the first big hill without walking....Go Me! Into the "energy lab" a long straight away with no shade to hide behind things were getting tough and I started going through one of those dark moments you hear a lot of endurance athletes go through. I was able to bounce back from that. Then starting the way back in, I noticed I was hardly was sweating. I knew this didn't seem so good. My main objective was just to keep moving (and catch Adam Duey on the way back). Coming up the last steep hill with just over 3 miles to go I caught up to Adam. Then going down the last steep hills at 3 miles, things got really rough....just down right ugly! I couldn't hold an 8:30 mile to save my life here. The last 3 miles were combined with lots of trotting and walking...and some more walking. Somewhere in the last half mile I found a little spring back and was able to finish strong...at least I thought until the guy who caught me strongly insisted I go get some IV's immediately before I had a chance to catch my breath.

Not long later, Cam and I found out Megan had to be taken to the ER due to severe dehydration after she had fallen off her bike. She came out alright a few hours later and we made it back to Dallas safely!

Congratulations to my buddy Bryce and Cam who qualified for the 70.3 World Championships in Vegas this September. Looks like it's going to be a fun trip.

I realize I have a lot of work to do to be ready for Vegas and to get anywhere near some of the goals I have set. I am forever grateful for some amazing sponsors I have: Aaron Palian and OnUrLeft Sports a Houston based triathlon coaching company have believed in me since they have met me. I couldn't do some of things I do without their help. Bicycles Plus in Dallas, who keeps my bike in check for me with products and services (yes a seat, coming soon one day). I owe a lot of thanks to Craig who took me in when I moved over here and to Dallas who has done so much labor on my bike without complaining. The guys there always have great attitudes and I never see them offer poor service or bad attitudes to customers. Blueseventy, letting me have the opportunity to race in the fastest wetsuits and speed suits. NEW sponsorship with Tri It wear that I signed at BSLT actually. They make some of the coolest T's for triathletes. You will find me 'sporting them around whereever I go, if you haven't already.

Next up, I will be at the Bridgeland Tri, August 7th for race 2/3 of the TX3 Series. Thank you again for all the comment you guys dropped on facebook page during BSLT 70.3 weekend. I'll probably do it again next year.

Play Tri Festival

2011-06-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

I never heard my alarm went off Sunday morning as I was wide awake an hour before I had it set. I enjoyed a cup of pre race cup of joe out on the balcony of the new place at Austin Ranch while I caught up on the World news and of course the latest in the triathlon world, only to knock my favorite coffee cup off the arm rest to shatter it on the concrete.

I jammed out on the way to the race and had a good warmup. I was about to jump in the water to warmup when me and a 64 year ageless (it says so on her leg) lady was chatting it up on the stairs that went into the water when the race patrol told us we couldn't get in the water yet. She said she was just getting her hair wet and I said, "oh yeah, I was just getting my hair wet too."

I got off to fast start on the swim as I was hanging with the front pack for about 15 seconds which included a college All American swimmer Adam Duey and Play Tri's Egyptian olympic swimmer Ahmed M. Zaher was in the main group. I had a horrible swim and somehow led the second pack out of the water. The swim was short, I came out in 19:36 but the top guys came out in just over 15 minutes. My T1 was slow as my helmet strap messed up as I was trying to buckle down my helmet. I scooted on out of there before the rest of the pack had a chance to catch me. However, RBM's speedo wearing old man David Jones was in fast pursuit. I knew he was a strong biker and my legs were still getting warmed up as he finally caught me I stuck on him as he past and not long later McKinney Velo's Pedro Trinidade has improved his cycling skills and we were all together. It was so tight between us 3 that the race officials were monitoring us pretty much the whole time. I was hoping we could close the gap that the top 3 guys had on us but we ended up making no ground. My split was 24.4 mph for the 25 mile bike or 58:55. I threw down a couple of 5:30 miles the first couple of miles hoping I could close the gap again on the top guys, only they had same thing in mind. I closed the time by a lot but it was still not enough to reel them in. I did ended up catching the All American swimmer Adam Duey in the last mile, to scramble my way to 3rd overall, but I had nothing left after that. The run was only just over 5.5 miles, my watch said I ran 5:58 per mile. It was a solid race, not what I was going for but apparently it was a bad idea to race within 7 days of each other. Congrats to Ben Morgan and the old guys who made me work for it today, Ahmed, Pedro, David, and Adam.

A big praise to the Lord for keeping us all safe out there in the super hot weather. Thanks again to my super supportive sponsors this year!!! Bicycles Plus, Nathan Villa, Richard Miller making sure I make it to the starting line with a bike that fits. Blueseventy, Matt Embry, Shirley Greene, ONURLEFT Sports!!! It was great to see everyone out there and make some new friends.

pre-race warmup. Todd Brinkley Photography

No face plant dismount this time. Play Tri Photgraphy.

Enjoying a post race massage by Dynamic Touch Massage. Loc Ly I Phone Photography.

In a few weeks, I will be making the scenic drive to Lubbock to compete in one of my top goal races Buffalo Springs 70.3, I've set my goal high for this one. It is also a very busy month as I strive to finish 1 of 3 classes left in grad school and other exciting oppoturnities that awaits. Thanks again for reading.

Cap Tex Tri

2011-06-04T17:12:00.001-05:00

It was another OUL weekend and Moxie weekend, last weekend it was down in Austin. I love the city of Austin, for the obvious reason, so much good food. In all seriousness, I was down there for business. I stayed with my favorite comedian and also a fast Jack & Adams Ironman athlete Kevin Russell, just right down the road from the race. The Cap Tex triathlon has been going on in Austin for nearly two decades I believe and the last three years I know there always seems to be some glitches, and it's unfortunate what happened to pro race this year, when a mis informed volunteer told the pros they were all swimming the wrong way. Andy Potts was confident that he was going the right and swam under the kayak while the rest of the pros turned around and then had to turn around again when they found out they were mis informed. Potts came out of the water 3 minutes ahead of everyone else and held on to a 13 second win.

I race in the open/invitational division with some of the best amateur elite athletes in the region including Ben Hall an 18-19 year old national champion who would later to go on to win the race and Brad Pigage who dominates the Houston/Bay Area racing season. There was also Andrew Montes a former division 1 runner from A&M and Mark Saroni out of UT Tyler, plus many others. I started off the swim with my signature move of swimming way to the left, luckily I wasn't too far back when I got back in the pack and found some feet to draft off and stayed on his feet until the end. I came out of the water at 22:59, just a few seconds behind Keith Kotar and ran him down out of transition. It took me awhile to get going on the technical bike course but once I did I was feeling good, but by the last lap it was heating up real good. Off the bike, I started the run clipping sub 6 pace feeling relatively strong. Jenn and Bella were super supportive giving me updates on how far back I was on certain people. At mile 4 I caught a real bad stomach cramp which almost put to a walk, but I somehow with enough determination stuck it out and it went away and caught Austin's Frank Sarasody about 4.5 miles and all I could see up the road was Montes. At mile 5 I knew I was closing in on him but I wasn't quite confident I was going to be able to catch him by the finish. With a quarter mile to go I was coming up on him and I distinctly heard Jenn telling me to get on him, I surged past Montes with a finishing kick I didn't expect to have, which left me almost puking and bent over at the finish chute. I finished at 4th overall just shy of 3rd overall Mark Saroni. I think it came down due to taking too long to get my wetsuit off.

I'd like to thank my Lord for helping me get through the race with a super strong effort, Jenn for being there and being extra supportive. I couldn't have done as well without her there. Not to mention my amazing sponsors Nathan Villa, Richard Miller, and Bicycles Plus for helping me get to the starting line with a bike. Also, Matt Embry, ONURLEFT Sports, and blueseventy!

Enjoy my small pics!

With up and coming pro Alexander Ramsey!

Trying to hold it together on the run.

Me w/ Andy Potts

ONURLEFT Sports dinner @ Whole Foods

Next up literally is tomorrow's Play Tri fest in Las Colinas. Which reminds me I gotta start getting my stuff ready!

Out at Ironman Texas!

2011-05-23T19:10:00.000-05:00

Treked out to watch the first Ironman in Texas! Oh, that is the first FULL Ironman in Texas, all 140.6 miles of it. These guys swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and then ran 26.2 miles to take it to the house. First of all I like to say congratulations to everyone who did this huge and extremely hard event. You have to have to be missing some part of the rationale in your brain to even sign up for such a thing. Think about it....It's May, it's in the Woodlands which means it's going to be hot and humid. Regardless congrats, especially to all my friends who competed and work so very hard over the winter to make it possible. There are too many of you to mention by name but each of you know who you are. Thank you to Stephen Milford for letting us crash at his place all weekend and a huge thank you to the grill man from the Houston Triathlon Racing Club for the bbq and OnUrLeft Sports for having the best spot on course!

OUL Elite athlete Michael Barney enjoying his day shooting Ironman athletes by cooling them off.

OUL Elite athlete Stephen Milford in a hoola skirt shaking the booty for everyone.

Michael Barney, Stephen Milford and Jenn at the OUL extreme spot.

Tim O' Donnell chasing down Luke Bell and Eneko Ellanos.

Luke Bell (Left) and Eneko battling it out.

Chris Lieto on the first loop before dropping out.

None other than Chris Lieto first off the bike.

OUL athletes at their best.

Stephen and I on our ride. Jenn taking looks from behind.

The ultimate sun protection team. This is not what it looks like.

The weekend was fun hanging out doing some training and all at the same time. I am heading ot Austin for Memorial weekend to race in the Cap Tex triathlon and then that same weekned here in Dallas I'll race Play Tri fest. I owe Richard Miller and Nathan Villa a big thank youfor making this possible! Without these guys I would have to skip these to events.

McKinney Tri

2011-05-03T21:08:00.000-05:00

Where do I even start with this one? I am sitting here at the Starbucks near the Galleria Mall. I have been putting this blog post off but I absolutely know you are wanting to know my thoughts regarding what happened at the McKinney triathlon. Let me just say I appreciate guys like Aaron Palaian with OnUrLeft and his attention to detail. Now don't get me wrong, me and the other ten guys should have known the course and things happen and thats how it is.

Pre race warmup routine.

I was looking forward to having fun with this race as I was competing on my old road bike that Bicycles Plus fixed up for me. I even had my headlight on the blinking mode the whole time. "The Spanish Beauty" is needing some beauty work herself, she wasn't able to make it out this time.

I wasn't expecting to see my buddy and old competitor Tyler Johnson who has a few up on me in the short distance races. He started just before I did and I was after him, I tried real hard to get on his feet I only got right on his feet right at the end. I came into T1 a split second behind him in 4:25 for the 300 yard swim.

I knew the race would be between me and TJ. Our bike

s were close to each other, since I was on a road bike I knew this would cost me some time here as I waited for him to leave t1 first so I could "legally draft" off of him. Well, that didn't turn out so well, as he rode away. Just moments after that it became a downpour of a storm, with crazy winds, and hail. Let me just say that crap hurt, the hail. The bike was technical and there were several times I thought I was heading towards a ditch, but fortunately I saved just in time. Finally making my way around towards the major turn around, I notice TJ not that far ahead as I thought along with another guy and Aaron Patel was closing in on me. Well all of us that

I know of in that group blew by this turn we were supposed to make, it was absolutely not visible. I understand if it was just me, because we all know I suck at navigating, but when a considerable amount of people go by it..... When I was turning around the officer says "you have to go that way." and I said, "no, I missed my turn so I'm gonna go back that way." I catch up to this one guy and he tells me that the leader missed the turn too, that is how he knew to turn there, so I was like well maybe he isn't too far ahead so I start hammering again. Perhaps my slowest bike split ever of 18 mph an hour...ok if you included the extra mile and half I rode it would have been 20 mph.

Jumped off the bike without diving into the pavement this time.

On a mission now, got the look.

Starting the run I couldn't feel my feet. It took a good mile to get into it, I wasn't feeling good, then and was debating to drop out because I didn't think I could hold it, but after that I was running fairly strong and convinced my mind to stay with it. I ended up holding a 6:01 average, I didn't think it was too bad after not running for 3 weeks. I made up a lot of time but I was still down 3 minutes, when it was all said it done. I was 8th overall and 2nd in my age group.

Bringing it in ot the finish!

I owe all my sponsors a huge thank you!!! The guys at Bicycles Plus for working hard on my bikes. (I hope to get a better result next time for you guys!! ) A big thank you to Jenn for coming and standing in the crazy wind, rain, and hail. Praise to the Lord for watching over us and keeping us safe from serious injury!

Next up is Cap Tex in Austin on Memorial day and maybe Play Tri Fest June 5th. Thanks for reading!

Bicycles Plus

2011-04-20T21:59:00.001-05:00

I just moved to the Dallas metroplex recently and Bicycles Plus has been very supportive and nice enough to offer me a sponsorship with them. I owe Craig and the team at Bicycles Plus a HUGE THANK YOU!!! They are family owned and have been in business since 1994 with 3 locations in the metroplex including Dallas, Flower Mound, and Coppell. They offer the best bicycles and sponsor and hosts a variety of events. I plan on coming out sometime and learning some good routes once I have everything set up again. Come join a group ride, fuel up, and get your bicycle serviced at Bicycles Plus, or better yet just buy a new bike!!! The team has been extremely nice and I am looking forward to representing them.

Ironman 70.3 Texas

2011-04-15T09:50:00.000-05:00

What another epic weekend of racing. This time it was the Ironman 70.3 Texas on Galveston Island. I was looking forward to some hard racing and getting my slot early for the WC's 70.3 in Vegas. I left early Friday morning with Lance. We made our first rest stop at Woody's somewhere in some little town. That was a mistake as I gained 10 pounds eyeing grandma's homecooking of pecan pies, peanut patties, home cooked bbq and other types of country cooking there. Jenn tells me I am a fat man in a skinny man's body. We made it to expo about noon and immediatley started running into everyone we knew. As a fierce competitor like myself the goal at these expos is to get in and get your junk and get out and get off your feet. Well we made a visit at the "recovery pump" and sat there for a little bit, they are very similar to the norma tech. After a few minutes in those my legs felt really good, then a quick visit to the K-Swiss tent. I had to make a switch to one of the KSwiss racing shoes as my Brooks have been killing my feet too much. I didn't want to through another 13 miles of pain and suffering I had last weekend. The KSwiss show is a million x's lighter, more breathable, and don't soak up a ton of water. This year for the trip we had a stay at a beach house with the Moxie Multi Sport crew out of Austin and a nice dinner with some friends at Mario's.

Karmen Marcom-Koke Photography

Saturday morning Lance the shirtless guy in the middle and one of my very top supporters and very good friend was in the Lone Star sprint. He did a fantastic job finishing 5th in his age division.

Karmen Marcom-Koke Photography

Lance and I post race. So proud of how far he has come. One of the toughest racers I know who can dig down deep when the going gets tough.

Karmen Marcom- Koke Photography

While we waited on Lance's race, we worked on lacing up my new Kswiss shoes and my first ever fan came up to me checking them out.

I did my standard race prep aftewards and was feeling ready to let it rip. I did some cycling along the seawall and it nearly knocked me over. I pulled up a red light with another cyclist that was competing and asked if her if she would swap her front wheel with me. Turns out she was a former Canadian pro. I can't remember her name but she was super nice. Then it was a long waiting game as our beach house was a good drive out and we couldn't check our bikes in until 2 pm. Jenn, Lance, and I set up shop at the extremely large HTFU tent. Mark and Max were very nice and let me park my bike there while we waited, to allow me to keep me off my feet and out of the sun. Max is also one of the owners of RTS bikes (Ride to Success!), that are just now being introdued into the USA.

What is your moxie?

Chris Lieto, one of the Ironman champions and top American was hanging out and signing autographs and spreading the message about his charity "MORE than sport." Check out it sometime. He is all around nice guy.

For dinner that night, instead of going out and socializing.Lance and I daringly went from one of the fittest places in Galveston to the Wal-Mart which revealed too much of the opposite. We hand-picked spaghetti, garlic bread, and plucked a turkey to provide dinner for our crew at the beach house! Thanks to Alisia for helping me cook...ok she pretty much cooked it all, I ate Julio's chips and salsa while we waited.

The dinner table. I didn't think of taking a picture of the food until after I had eaten it all.

Sunday morning brought another super early morning of racing. I was feeling good and ready to rock n roll.

This my pre race routine of lubing my body up.

Karmen Marcom- Koke Photography

The swim was eventful at first to stay the least. One our roommates for the weekend and also a very funny comedian Kevin Russell was in the same group as I and he was doing some freak dancing while we waited on the deck. I was in the mood to join in but decided I didn't want to waste the energy doing so, but it had to be one of the funniest things I've seen pre race. Others looking around didn't know what to think. We got in the water and we're off. I am getting smashed in the face and almost got my goggles knocked off. I finally look up and realize I am swimming way left and everyone else is swimming straight, not the way I had visioned my start. Once I corrected myself I was good to go. Out of the water in 32:35 with a few dolphin dives on the ramp I was able to block out a few people beating them up transition.

Karmen Marcom-Koke Photography

Moments before the epic rookie crash!

The 56 mile bike was a very simple route. Get out of Moody Gardens and bike down the seawall and turn around and come back. My legs were feeling good on the bike, I was holding a high cadence vs last weekend of grinding the gears too much. The winds were a stiff cross wind and some head wind going out. Going out I managed to avg 22.63 miles out and coming back was nice, but scary when I saw one of my training mates Cam not far behind me. Coming back I held over 26 mph and hitting over 30 mph on a few long sections. The last 10-15 mile of the bike I was fatiguing though and just trying not to slow down too much. Coming back off the seawall the roads are rough leading into Moody Gardens. I hit a bump really good and a bolt broke on my left extender, nearly knocking me off my bike then. I rode the bullhorns the rest of the way and as I was getting ready to dismount when something happened, maybe my shoe it the pavement really hard popping my bike up and I lose control as I think I had jumped off already I fall all over my bike and diving into the pavement. Bloody and all, I bounced back up and attempted to roll my bike into transition but it doesn't move so I carry it over my shoulder and park it in my spot. I finished the bike and crash with a 24.33 mph average. One of the volunteers came up to ask me if I was alright as I was putting on my racers and I said "I don't know yet" . Regardless of the situation I started the run.

Karmen Marcom-Koke Photography

Yep, that is blood on my back.

Heading out bloody and all I maintained composure ready to hammer 13.1 grueling miles. The first 3-4 miles I control my effort by not starting out too fast, the pace felt super easy at the time. The first split taken I averaged a 6:09 pace, but then I could feel the pain in my feet starting to set in from my crash. I guess I tripped over my bike pretty good. Then I also had stomach problems where I was regurgitating the cytomax and powergels I had consumed. I tried to man up and run hard but the harder I ran the more upset my stomach got and the more pain in my feet. I was debating to drop out, but got someone to login on ironman live and tell me what position I was in. Chopped away at a few more places, to make top 5, then found out I was 6th in my age division, then found later a buddy (won't mention names ;) had miscounted his laps and that bumped me back up to 5th for the trophies. I finished the run less than steller in 1:36. My time was just under 4:30.

We stayed for the awards.

Chris Lieto, first overall male and US Pro Champion!

Me and Lance after the awards cermony!

I would like to thank everyone who made this an epic trip. My awesome buddy Lance Vernon, Cam Mencio, Mark Mulch, Stephen Milford, Michael Barney,Bo and Dennis, Moxie Multisport out of Austin, Blake, Alisia, Jeanine, Nicole, and Kevin! Karmen for all the pictures and Mark G. and Max for letting us hang out at the tent all day and my coach Brent P. My sponsors for all their helpblueseventy, and ONURLEFT Sports, Matt Embry and Shirley Greene. Certainly not last, my Lord Jesus, for keeping us safe on the road and not letting me have any worse injuries than I already do. Also to everyone who sent me comments on facebook and emails. Next depending on a few things, I plan to race the McKinney triathlon the first weekend in May.

Thanks everyone for reading this long post. Until next time, Cheers!

The Kemah Triathlon

2011-04-04T21:14:00.001-05:00

I'm not going to say too much about this one, except that it goes down as one my worst races in the books. I didn't have my arms or legs. I felt good in the water and thought I was swimming fast (for me). But turns out I was getting smashed by the amateur elite women, so props to them. I think I did too much zig zagging. The bike was ok. It was very flat, but very windy. There were times I was moving at 32 mph and other times barely breaking 20 mph. Once we hit the run, I completely lost my legs, had a huge side stitch, and a bloodied blister that was hurting really bad on every turn we took. Reflecting back, I was dissappointed at first, but after thinking about it I didn't have the best pre race week as I could have. I'm not the one who makes excuses for myself, I really forgot about these things and thought I would be fine as I took care of these obstacles immediately. I ended up spraining my ankle a little bit, and getting sick a few days before missing a few workouts. I apparently wasn't recovered and maybe dehydrated. On the bright side, I had a couple of bad races opening up last year and it all worked out fine later in the year. It's always good to get the kinks out before the really big ones.

Thank you to Lance who not only had to wait on me for a long time to get ready but drove the whole way and didn't get the ideal rest the day before, he never complained and he rocked out for one of his best races. Also to my buddy Stephen Milford and Brad Pigage letting us crash their place. And always to my Lord for keeping me humble and grateful for all other people and things I have in my life.

Finally, a huge shout out to OnUrMark Productions, Aaron Palaian, and the volunteers for putting on a first class event. I am looking forward to this weekend, as I try to regroup this week and do my best at Ironman 70.3 Texas.

Me and Lance after he rocked out to one of his best triathlon races.

Some of us guys at Olive Garden.

Longview Half Marathon

2011-03-20T20:19:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I competed in the 1st Annual Longview Half Marathon; back to my grass roots where I did a lot of running . There was an excellent turn out however, going in I was nervous about racing. I mean it's been awhile since I've raced without having to swim or bike before running and the fact was I was racing some "real" runners. We started on the track at Lobo Stadium. I thought it was a slow start but I opened up with a 5:21 mile. Benson Osoro,the Kenyan, takes off moments just after we exited the stadium, followed in persuit by Jacob Phillps and Drew Bean. I was just behind Phillips and Bean early in the race. Phillips makes a break around mile 3 on a descent. I saw Bean taking looks back and I thought he started to fatigue, so I picked up the effort but made no success. I started losing site of Bean around mile 7. The course was on the shoulder of a highway with long rolling hills. Near the end of the race we zig zagged through a hilly neigbhorbood. Eventually, we made our way back around the stadium for the finish. At mile 11, coming out of the neigbhoorhoods I was starting to get delerious, I took a gel and I ran the 13th mile in just over 6 minutes but hearing Jenn "cheer" me around the track I scrambled to sub 5 pace the last minute. I earned 4th place overall, just one place shy of the money, in 1:15.38. It was great seeing old and new friends out there. The Longview Running Club coordinated a spectacular event that drew out a great crowd for a first time event.

Results: http://www.runontexas.com/results/2011/219agehalf.htm

On another note, out on an easy training ride the day after and "bambi" dashes across the road and me of all people hits the deer. I would have finished the ride but my handlebars were off. Thanks to Jenn for picking me up and Lance for repairing my bars. In two weeks, weeks I start the first triathlon of the year at The Kemah Triathlon.

2011 Tentative Race Schedule

2011-03-16T21:38:00.000-05:00

I am excited to kick off my 4th triathlon season. Before I mention my race schedule I'd like to thank my sponsors and top supporters without them I wouldn't be where I am today. This year's sponsors and top supporters include, OnUrLeft Sports, blueseventy, and the Brooks Fanatics program. My parents Johnny and Glynis Ritter, who have traveled all around watching me race at a variety of events, since I was 12 years old. Lance Vernon, he is always making sure my bike and things are 100% race ready. Matt Embry, has small business where he finds rare hard to find items that you need and he finds them for you. Shirley Greene, has gone out of her way to make sure I have had the necessities to get me through the big trips and Steve and Jane Shorrock for loaning me there boat dock, so I can jump off into the lake. Also to Andy Stewart, owner of Finish Line Sports and my Coach Brent Poulsen. Last but not least is Jesus Christ for giving me the God given talent and mental drive to put in the hard work. Without Him, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Here is my 2011 "tentative" race schedule, to kick off this weekend.

3.19 The Longview Half Marathon

4.3 The Kemah Triathlon

4.10 Ironman 70.3 Texas

5.1 The McKinney Triathlon

5.30 Cap Tex Tri

6.26 Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs

8.7 Bridgeland Triathlon

9.11 Ironman 70.3 World Championships (qualification pending)

9.17 Rose City Triathlon

9.26 The Houston Triathlon

1o.16 Try Andy's

11.6 Iron Star Half Ironman

Thank you once again for your support!!!

I'm now an ACSM CPT

2011-03-01T22:30:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I finally took my ACSM Certified Personal Trainer exam, which is one of the hardest, if not the hardest personal trainer exam to take. I had been "studying" all month for it. I thought I must have studied the wrong book because it was harder than I thought it was going to be, but regardless, I past with flying colors.

I am currently available to start training clients in the Cedar Creek Lake area Monday through Friday and Dallas area clients on Saturday/Sunday afternoon. If you are looking to gain strength, increase endurance, lose weight, or train sport specific then allow me to help you. You can send me an email to williamtritter@yahoo.com and I'll be glad to discuss further details. Thank you.

Where did the Off-Season Go?

2011-01-05T06:29:00.000-06:00

Off-Season has come and gone and now it's back to the grind, however I have been still trying to extend the off-season even though I know it's over. I am excited to get back to it, but I also had one of the best off-seasons ever. I think I did more traveling during December than I did the whole racing season and let me not forget to mention all the holiday treats, that I am still trying to ween myself off of. I am up about 4 pounds since the World Championships.

I had an amazing 2010 Holiday Season during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's! Thanksgiving was spent at my granparent's house in Timpson, Texas (tiny dot in East Texas) where we almost had a vegetarian meal, which the only meat included some chicken in the dressing. Somebody forgot to cook the turkey.

I had an amazing Christmas! People kept bringing naughty desserts to work. Christmas was had at my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle John's house for a traditional Christmas dinner. It was good time spending time with the family.

New Year's Eve was spent with my OnUrLeft friends. Jenn and I went down to Houston to celebrate New Year's, meeting up with the Stephen Milford and the charismatic Michael Barney for some delicious Mexican food at Pappasito's. Then it was to a house party for a little bit at David Kahn and Ben Prok0's crib. To conclude the end of the year we went for a New Year's midnight 5k run. Jenn and I watched, but she still switched out to her from her high heels to Newton running shoes.

Now that the holiday's are over, I am excited to be back on the grind and looking forward to a competitive racing season. I pretty much have my racing schedule set for 2011 with all On Ur Mark triathlons, a few Play Tri events, and a few major 70.3's. I appreciate all the support you have shown me during 2o10 and I am looking forward to an even better 2011 season.

Here are a few pictures from the Holidays!

Christmas Dinner @ Aunt Carolyn and Uncle John's

Me and my brother drinking the Wassal cider.

Winter trainer spin, getting back into it.

OnUrLeft Crew @ NYE Resolution 5k

Family Portrait

OnUrLeft Sports Christmas Party

2010-12-05T12:51:00.001-06:00

This weekend I was in Houston celebrating the OnUrLeft Christmas party, it was great meeting all the club members and having all the sponsored athletes there. We have some amazing and determined and a lot of crazy people in our group. What a night it was! Lots of food to go around, the patties were huge. Ya know how we do it in Texas! It only took just one burger to fill me up and a hotdog, but only because I was pushing it with the hot dog. I am also excited that I won a free Cap Tex Tri entry in Austin next year on Memorial Day. Looks like I gotta harden up and get ready to race big boys in short course. I also got to take home a lot of HEED and KT Tape. I am stacked up with an electrolyte drink for the year and if I get injured I can use some KT Tape to put me back together. The night ended.....:) with a game of twister. It let me know I need to do more yoga and improve my flexibility. Next week I start getting back into it with the training and the diet, and finishing out the last week of the semester. For now though, here are a few pictures from the party in no particular order.

I didn't get a picture of Angie but she is an amazing lady in our group. She crashed in IMFL when she got clipped by a guy and broke her pelvis. She was determined to get back out there and finish before she knew it was broke, but OUL raised the "charity" amount (which is a lot) for her to compete in Ironman Texas next year in just under 4 hours when when it got announced.

Me and Stephen. This might be our first picture together without any lycra or spandex on.

Stephen and Michael w/ Ron who won "the mostly likely to run w/o a shirt." Michael is straight thuggin' dawg.

Aaron with the Rebecca, the wife that keeps everything together.

All I want 4 Christmas is U!

(note to self: when you want the Christmas tree in the picture stand beside it and not in front of it. )

So it got a little rowdy! Not sure what is going on here.

One of the most amazing ladies you will ever meet. Gabrielle Vasquez-Baumeyer. She just completed one of her dreams by completing Ironman Arizona and at the same fundraized for Team COCI, which stands for Cherish Our Children International.

Greg Johnson is another remarkable person. He was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer this summer and has a nasty scar on his back from it. Regardless, the man is determined and is signed up for Ironman Texas this May.

Here are the OUL Sponsored athletes minus Michael Barney, there is no telling where he is at.

Left to Right is the only woman sponsored athlete the amazing Wendy Hammerman, Stephen Milford, Ryan Lindsey, Grant Glauser and me with our boss Aaron Palaian.

Me and Barney! What a guy!

Me and Matthew....its onurleft dude!

Cheers!

William

New 2 Me Car: 2010 Chevy HHR LT

2010-11-29T19:39:00.000-06:00

After over seven years with my 1999 Toyota Corolla that I got back in 2003 as a freshman in college, it was time to part ways after another expensive repair came up. So I got a 2010 candy red Chevy HHR LT and I like it a lot. It should work well for my lifestyle and still get some good gas mileage. With help of my parents I picked it up in my hometown at EXCEL Ford of Carthage.

On a parting note with my Corolla I had some great memories in that car from road trips to a variety of track, roadracing and triathlon racing all over the southern region from Texas to Florida and a small handful of steamy make out sessions.

Here are a few of pics of the new ride! I also need a name for her so drop a line with your suggestion. Thanks!

Ironman 70.3 World Championships

2010-11-17T20:26:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I competed in the 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida this weekend. I traveled by car with my Timo from Tyler, Tx, but who is from Finland. Going into the race I had a few goals in my mind with my first goal is to always go out have a good time. I had a few sub goals under that though which included coming into the top 100 overall and top 10 in my age group. My time goal was to break 4:10.

Me and Timo Sunday afternoon somewhere on a Florida beach near Shalimar, FL!

The swim was the most competitive swim I had ever been. The 18-24 and 25-29 age group males were combined at the start, therefore there was an abundance of testosterone floating around out there in the choppy ocean waters. I was thinking I should have went out for 8th grade football when I was asked too, I think itwould have helped as I was getting kicked, wacked in the head, and people grabbing my feet and trying to swim over me. I came out of the water in 32:18, which is very close to my swim time at Austin and this was heckuva a lot rougher swim. Coming out of the water a yellow and black Brian Loncar jersey and though heck naaaw!!! I wasn't going to let Travis start the bike ahead of me so I was so fast in T1 Travis didn't even see me go by him.

On the bike there was lots of drafting and honestly there was no way to avoid it...well you could avoid it but then you would be out of the hunt because everyone else is also drafting. I felt like I did more than my fair share of work in the pack I was in. I averaged 25.47 for the whole ride but it should have been easily over 26. I saw lots of people that had wrecks out there. Timo was one of them who crashed hard around mile 35 when two riders in front of him went down he went over on top of them slicing his thumb open on probably a bladed spoke. He ended up having 12 stitches on this thumb. He is one of tough dude! He didn't complain very much though, but the nurse said he passed out when she stuck a needle in him.

Off the bike, I made sure I started out quite conservatively as compared to Austin. I stayed calm. I liked the two loop run course as we had to run this big bridge. Going up the bridge I took my coaches advice and counted the light post inside of the median to help me keep my mind off running uphill and it helped me get up there faster. I am sure people thought I was crazy as I was counting out loud and talking to myself during the run. "Alright baby that's 10, onto the next 11. You got this." "Harden up baby, don't let up now." I finished the last 3 miles of run faster than I started the first 3 miles which surprised me. I ran the last 3 miles as if I was originally from Gun Barrel City, on meth. I finished the run in 1:21.57. When I crossed the finish line I heard the announcer say "William Ritter, from Gun Barrel City, Texas. You gotta watch out for them guys from Gun Barrel City."

In the end the final results of the day concluded with a place of 89th overall, 17 th in my age group, with a total time of 4:10.29. My fitness got better as the season went along as this was the first 70.3 in quite sometime where I did not puke or need an IV.

Here I am playing around on Pensacola Beach Monday morning. Timo talked me into putting on my wetsuit and playing in these huge waves. I tried to get out for enough to ask these surfers if I could borrow their board, but the waves were hitting me so hard, I decide I better come back closer to shore.

Here is a sunset over the beach near Shalimar, Florida near a restaurant we ate at that night.

The Clearwater beach on pre race day.

Wow what such a fun trip. I thank the Lord for letting me travel safely with no car problems and glad I didn't lose Timo anywhere and that his injury wasn't any worse than it was. I owe a big thank you to our great homestays for this trip. My friends Kelly Caton in Shalimar, Florida and Tammie Wonning in Tampa, Florida were nice enough to put up with us stinky athletes for a few days. Also to Shirley Green and Courtney Hill and ETMC Olympic Center CCL members who put together a huge card together with money in it :) to help the expense of travel. It took me by a complete surprise (see facebook for pics of this). A big thanks to my sponsors this year! ONURLEFT, BLUESEVENTY, BROOKS, MONAVIE w/ Rep. Brandon Perry, and RETIBOL VRIL. A huge thank you to my coach BRENT POULSEN for coaching me to a successful season and more to come. I can't say thank you enough for the encouraging messages and comments I've received from many people. I am enjoying the off season right now taking a break from the training, staying up 10pm some nights when I have the energy, and eating all the wrong things.

You can check out the rest of my pictures on facebook. www.facebook.com/williamtritter

Thanks for reading!

William

Halloween Super Saturday and Suffer Sunday

2010-10-31T19:54:00.000-05:00

With it being two weeks out from the Ironman 70.3 World Championships we had organized an unorganized super training weekend in Fort Worth with some of the fastest local triathletes in the DFW Metroplex. These athletes included my coach Brent Poulsen, Korey Sessions, Travis Thomason, Pedro Trinidade, Austin Saylor, Eric Trelz and Cam Mencio (Lubbock). The ages ranged from 23-37 years old.

We started Super Saturday morning with 3 hours in the saddle and I could tell my legs were fatigued from earlier this week as it was one of my hardest weeks. I knew during the warm up it would be a rough day. I got dropped from the group on the first interval. Then I saw Cam on the side of the road looking at his bike, found out he has too much power in those legs and broke a spoke. Then on the way back, I asked Cam if he was alright and he sounded positive, like he had it figured out, but what he said was "I need to borrow your phone" I was like "ok, great" and kept riding. Pedro then caught up to me and asked about Cam. I was like I think he is ok, he said something but I couldn't understand him. After we got off the bike me and Pedro did our sets long run intervals off the bike which was tough. Cam eventually was able to get a ride back in.

After biking and running, next it was swimming for me since I missed a swim this weekend. I did 4,000 meters and the main set was something like 22x100's. I told Brent I had trouble counting that high. Anyways, he laughed and I got close to puking in the pool. But I got the work done. As Philly says, "Get that fitness".

Our festivities for the afternoon included drinking lots of diet coke, watching the movie "Red" which was incredible. I think I like Bruce Willis because he is bald. We then ate at Genghi's Grill again and Carley (Brent's wife) made us some delicious gluten free cupcakes and gluten free pumpkin-pecan pie. We tore that up. We watched the Texas Rangers went Game 3!!! Then me and Eric went to one of his friends house gathering for a short period. I was debating on just going as myself as my face looked like I had smashed up against the wall as I was sooo tired. The picture below is our costume. He is the Karate Kid and I am a Rock Star.

Suffer Sunday was starting with a 90 min progression run. Let me tell you Austin, who is 36 years old can throw it down. Then it was followed quickly by a 2 hour ride around the Trinity Trails and the Benbrook area. I couldn't wait to get this ride done as my legs were beat. We met this girl Becca who caught the end of our ride and she was chatting away, mainly with Austin and his mad skills. Turns out she is a smart girl applying to med schools for internal medicine.

That's pretty much how Super Saturday and Suffer Sunday goes. If you interested in coming out next time and think you can hang, let me know. In two weeks is Ironman 70.3 World Championships. I'll competing in my age group 25-29. I can't wait to get there and have a good time. Thanks to Eric for letting me and Cam crash at his place and eat all his food again and Carley for making the awesome cupcakes and Pumpkin pie

Ironman 70.3 Austin

2010-10-18T20:17:00.001-05:00

Friday night Timo and I, were about 3 miles from our hostess house in Leander, Tx. It was 12:30am and I was starting get tired after a couple of swerves of trying to stay in the lane, after the second time, I saw the blue and red lights in my rear view. I knew what I was getting pulled over for. The officer asked questions like if I had been drinking or texting. I wanted to tell him I was so far behind the 21st century that I don't even have texting on my phone. Then he asked if we had meth, then I wanted to say no, but I am from Cedar Creek Lake, then he proceeded with asking if we had steroids. I almost laughed. He also asked what we were up to and what we were doing. I told him we were 3 miles from the house. Fortunately, I kept the conversation straight and got off with a verbal warning.

Pre-Race morning me, Timo, and Jenn we were staring at a tri-spoke wheel that Timo was borrowing from Cam. Where does the air go? I called Cam "Hey buddy, where does the air go on this thing." "Oh just peel back the white sticker". Apparently, a white sticker on a black surface was too much for all three of us to figure out. Timo, had to get some work done on his bike and me and Jenn proceeded to "soft pedal" down the high way. Then I did a pre race swim putting on my wetsuit my arm sleeve just rips. I was pissed!!!! But, there is a positive, my buddy Eric Trelz just happened to be getting out of the water the same time I was about to go in and I told him what had happened he actually had another wetsuit with him, so I got to borrow his. Later that night we hung out with Cam and his family and had a wonderfully cooked spaghetti dinner with beef and we saw the Rangers whoop up on the Yankees.

Race morning started with the National Anthem while a parachute guy held up the huge American flag and landed at the end of the song.

Me and my buddy Travis from Dallas were hanging out before start. I find it good to be loose and joke around with your buddies. I also met some guys from Connecticut and California, they were crackin' me up.

I had my fastest (legit) swim time of 32:24, the swim continues to make improvement. I have knocked off around 3-4 minutes since the beginning of the year. I didn't draft off anybody very long. I found this one guy speeding along by me, I got on his feet but he was zig zagging really bad. Then I found another guy in the middle of the swim but lost him towards the end. I felt sluggish but midway through started feeling better. I got out of the water and felt like a chain smoker trying to run up the hill into transition. I was literally worried about my legs there.

Starting the bike.

The bike course I thought was so much fun minus the bumps. It had lots of rolling hills, turns, and a few steep climbs. I built into the bike, unlike I did at Prairie Man where I basically hammered from the start. I did average near 25 mph the the first hour, the last hour got hard as I tried to maintain some speed. It was more crowded than it should have been because people don't stay to the right of the road. I found out of you say On ur left then their name, it gets there attention better. I finished the bike course in just under 2:16. for a 24.7 mph.

The run was hard!!!! It was 2 loops and it was hilly. I came out of T2 not looking at my watch but running with what felt comfortable, it would later turn out to be 5:45-6min pace. That slowed quick later, especially once we hit the grass. Half of the run was cross country, which was fun and offered a good challenge. There was a huge hill on the back side that slowed me way down. However, I was running my best ever off the bike on the road. I did the first half of the run averaging a 6:21 pace but blew up the last half and only averaged 7:01 pace. I managed to find a sprint at the end of the run and sneak under the 4:20 barrier and finished in 4:19.49.

Half way through the run taking in a gel.

At the finish I was hanging on Jenn trying to catch my breath the official photographer wanted one of those finishing photos. I told Jenn I gotta get out of here. I knew I was about to puke. However, I realize my fitness has been getting better as the year goes along. It took a lot longer for me to puke and I don't think it was as much either, although that is arguable. Instead of needing 2 or 3 IV bags, I only had one.

It was fun weekend. My traveling buddy Timo finished 1st in the college division with a time of 4:16. My coach Brent Poulsen finished 6th among the pro's and Eric Trelz set a PR of 5:35. The day before they got rear ended by lady going 50 mph and then again when she hit the gas instead of the brake. Brent spent most of his pre race day in the hospital with as stiff neck. Thank you to Cam and his family for hosting us and letting us eat all their food. Thank you to Jenn and Tiffany for coming out and supporting and also to the many other volunteers. All those sponges I stuffed in my shorts and top saved my run. Thanks to my generous sponsors OnUrLeft Sports, Retibol Vril, Blueseventy, MonaVie (Brandon Perry) and Brooks I.D. and Brent Poulsen for the excellent coaching. Most important.y thanks to Jesus for keeping my friends safe and letting us have good races!

So, In a few weeks me and Timo are doing this little race in Clearwater, Florida.

Rock on!

William

Ritter wins triathlon

2010-10-04T15:31:00.000-05:00

This was in the small town local paper that came out over the weekend. A big thanks to Eston Williams for getting the information out of me to get to the press. Eston "Send me an email about your win." Me, "Ok you got it!" Later in the day I check my email. "William don't forget to send me the information." I think in my head, "Oh yeah, I just forgot". The picture that was run was actually from the Clear Lake tri a few weeks back, since I didn't have any from Stonebridge and the newspaper wanted a picture. Also is mentioned the Stonebridge women's champion. Every competitive woman triathlete needs to be on the look out for up and coming Elizabeth Meraz, better known as Liz Raz!!!

This weekend, I'll spend in Fort Worth training with my coach and pro triathlete Brent Poulsen and we both are gearing up for Austin 70.3 and the World Champs 70.3 in Clearwater.

Ritter wins triathlon
Monitor Staff Reports
McKINNEY–Olympic Center trainer William Ritter won the Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon race in McKinney this past weekend.
Ritter, who works at the East Texas Medical Center-Cedar Creek Lake facility in Gun Barrel City, finished first among 194 male runners, clocking 2:02:43, about two minutes ahead of Dallas resident Shawn Bonsell (2:04:34), who led the Masters age group.
Ritter competed in the Open age group. There were 261 competitors entered in the triathlon, including 66 women.
Plano resident Elizabeth Meraz (competing in the 30-34 group) was the first-place female runner, clocking 2:26:03, about three minutes ahead of Dallas resident Nikki Bertrand, running in the 25-29 age group.

Stonebridge Ranch

2010-09-27T21:31:00.000-05:00

Praise God! For a super weekend of racing and good times w/ friends and so forth. I was at the Stonebridge Ranch tri hosted by Play Tri in McKinney this weekend. The 1500 m swim seemed a bit long to me or it could have been all the zig zagging I did. I couldn't swim straight that day to save my life. But I have a hard time swimming straight in the pool, so what did I expect anyways? The 4 loop bike course was eventful, the wind picked it seemed like on each loop and it got more crowded each time I went around. I had to slow it down more than usual because I felt my hamstring give a twinge and thought I better back off, but later as I moved more forward in the saddle it didn't bother me. I need to work on staying in that aggressive position. I also almost lost control going around the second turn, so after that I took some of the turns a little easier. I still had the fastest bike split of the day in 25.1 mph, if you exclude the relay teams. I got passed as if I was sitting still by a relay team they averaged over 27 mph on the bike, I tried to hang back with them, but I kept getting blocked off by people riding over on the left side of the road. Coming off the bike I thought I was the lead, but then found out I was 2.5 minutes down in T2 (This is where you come in Adam). So, surprised of how good my legs felt after that and no hamstring issues at all on the run. I worked on a quick cadence with my legs and that seemed to work well. I stayed consistent with my pace almost the entire way on a curvy path with several sharp inclines. I caught the guy leading, Adam, maybe after 2 miles in the run. I finished the 10k in 35:57 or 5:48 a mile, although, I know I started my watch late in the run, but I think that could be slight short, I do know though I picked it up a lot the last half mile. Overall it was a very fun day!!! I think my overall time was 2:02:34 and it was my first win at the olympic distance. As always it was great meeting new people too! Congratulations to all the racers out there, especially to Liz Raz for winning the womens side at the olympic distance and Korey Sessions and Ashley Johnson for winning the sprint.

This weekend was a big weekend for racing. Congrats to the other competitors that did the USAT Age Group National Championships in Alabama, Augusta 70.3, and The Houston Triathlon.

I owe a super thank you to Derek Bender for connecting me with some awesome hosts! Shane & Tracy Hernandez and their 4 young boys opened up their beautiful home to me and my buddy Lance. Tracy cooked the most awesomest dinner. Me and Lance watched her cook the whole time while I asked her simple of questions of why she was doing this and that. The food was way better than Olive Garden, we had spaghetti and home made sauce that included a hint of red wine, carrots, celery, and Italian beef. We also had a Caprice salad which I never had before and dessert was chocolate coated strawberries. Then after a couple of embarrassing matches, I beat the 14 year old Garret at a game of ping pong and showed him who was boss ;) If you need a dedicated physical therapist then Shane is your guy check out http://www.edgetherapy.net

Thanks also to my generous sponsors and supporters. As always thanks to Jesus Christ for blessing with me abilities, passion, determination, and health. Brent Poulsen for the hard core coaching and aways keeping me on my toes and sore after hard sessions. Blueseventy, Brooks, Monavie (Brandon Perry), and OnUrLeft Sports. I have also been working with someone else and will release some details on that soon!!!! But, next up in less than 3 weeks I'll be racing Ironman 70.3 Austin.

Here are some pictures before my swim today at the Shorrock's house on Cedar Creek Lake. The water nice and refreshing today, good for recovery.

Fight to the Finish Line

2010-09-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

This is a story about my friend and hero Kami Nedbalek and her battle with lung cancer. She was one of the people there in the beginning when I first began my triathlon journey in the Tyler, Texas area.

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13169891

Posted: Sep 16, 2010 8:51 PM CDTUpdated: Sep 16, 2010 10:44 PM CDT

Click image to enlarge

Sports Headlines

Grace football reaches out to at-risk children

NFL player Kenny McKinley found dead in home

Longview's Trent Williams injured in loss

Bears race past bumbling Cowboys

Two East Texans signed to Cowboys practice squad

By Ryan Peterson - bio | email

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Kami Nedbalek prides herself on finishing the race. Competing in Lubbock two years ago, she couldn't reach the finish line.

"We started to swim and I'd take a few strokes and I couldn't breathe," said Nedbalek. "I did the whole swim that way stopping and stopping. And biking I had a tightness in my chest, like something was really wrong. I didn't know what it was."

After a friend told her to see a doctor, Nedbalek Kami reluctantly agreed. The news wasn't good. Her lungs were filled with 12 cancerous tumors.

"It was such a shock," she said. "I was kind of like I want to do the Iron Man (Triathlon) and I want to see my grandchildren some day. I just thought I never thought about life, just having a few years left. I remember feeling so defeated when I didn't finish that race. That's the first one I hadn't finished. I had friends at home tracking me. It was a long drive home from Lubbock. But now I definitely know it was a blessing."

Nedbalek says the triathlon she couldn't finish saved her life. Despite cancer treatment, asthma and knee surgery, she keeps on competing.

"Why not do something that keeps you healthy and helps your body fight?," she said. "When you're out here training it takes your mind off of all those other things and lets you sort of get away from things."

Two years after finding out she had cancer, Nedbalek's prognosis looks good. The tumors are shrinking and her competitive fire keeps on growing. She'll be in the field for the Rose City Triathlon Saturday morning.

"One of the fun things for me is seeing newcomers complete something they didn't think they can do," said Nedbalek with a smile. "I just love being in the race, even if I'm behind everybody else."

OnUrLeft Sports and Update

2010-09-19T20:10:00.001-05:00

I am grateful to announce a sponsorship with OnUrLeft Sports a Houston, Texas based company. OnUrLeft Sports is the most comprehensive multi sport team, offering a variety of services which include monthly coaching and a variety of performance testing, and nutritional guidance. I'd like to thank the owner Aaron Palaian for this opportunity.

The sister company OnUrMark Productions puts on simply the best triathlons including the Gateway to the Bay and the Bridgeland sprint triathlon. This weekend is also the debut of The Houston Triathlon which is expected to sale out any day now. Currently on 27 spots left!!! Be sure and check them out!!!

This week I had to find a new place to swim on the lake since someone ran their barge into a bridge that crosses over from Gun Barrel City to Seven Points where I usually go swimming. The bridge is closed now and anyways I owe a huge thanks to Steve and Jane Shorrock for "opening" up their boat deck to me and allowing me to get that needed open water swimming in. They are super cool and allowed me and my friend Candice to ride on their jet skis all over the lake this weekend for a couple of hours. We are both super sore right now. I wish I had brought my camera on the jet ski, but I was kinda scared about dropping it in.

Some of you may know, I dropped out of Prairie Man half-irondue due to a slight pull in my hamstring at the end of the bike last weekend. It was my first time to drop out of a race due to physical (in)abilities. Well, praise God for some healing because all seems to be good now! I didn't do much this week as I was starting to go crazy mid-week. I did some icing, epsom salt baths, massage, ultra sound, and gentle stretching. The massage lady, Ginger, made me hurt really bad, every time she would go over my calves my feet would cramp up. It's hard being patient.

Well since all is good now, I'll be at the Stonebridge triathlon in McKinney this weekend. It's time to get my booty in shape. Not sure how well it's going to go but regardless can't wait to give it a shot.

Prairie Man Half Iron

2010-09-12T19:02:00.000-05:00

Not much to write about tonight, so I'll do my best to keep it short and sweet.

In Grand Prairie, TX (DFW) at Joe Poole Lake.It was a very hot and humid day. The water was unusually calm. I had my best swim time for 1.2 miles, 33:01 with the 13th fastest swim time in the half iron. Many people say the race director Jack always have long swims. Coming into T1 my zipper on my speed suit got hung up. It took me awhile realize it was already over half way undone, so I was able to get out of it. I got off to a strong start on the 4 loop fast bike course, but every loop I saw that my average was gradually falling. On the last last loop of the bike course my hands were starting to cramp and I could feel as though I was almost getting shaky, then coming into the park I caught a big cramp under my left butt cheek (the hamstring insertion point). I was barely able to get off the bike. I finished the 56 mile bike in 2:17.08 for a 24.5 mph average. Starting to run didn't go so well as I was still feeling the cramp and it was getting worse the legs not wanting to go. After several attempts at giving it a go I made it to the 1 mile mark in 11 minutes and decided to call it day.

Afterwards I could barely lift my knee to my waste without some intense discomfort and a guy did some A.R.T. on me afterwards and after a couple of minutes I had full range of motion back. Now it's just sore. I hope that's it at least.

I owe a huge thanks to Lord from keeping from risking further damage. Bo, my buddy who let me stay at his house and to Lance Vernon who tuned up my bike to get all the gears working and for gluing some new tubular tires on my wheels. Next if I'm ready, I'll be doing the Stonebridge olympic in two weeks.

Clearlake International

2010-08-30T21:35:00.000-05:00

What a trip this past weekend was for the Clearlake triathlon just south of Houston. I made it to packet pickup just in time. I had a flat (in my car) on I-45. I am driving along and I'm thinking to myself this road sure is bumpy (similar to that of what my friend Tracy though the night before the McKinney tri). I thought it might be the road, but then looked at other cars and none were rattling as bad as mine was, so I decided I better exit and I pull over in a run down looking motel parking lot to change it. I looked around the area and decided this wasn't the "good" part of H-town. I debated whether or not I should call someone (since I don't have the coolest phone) to help me find the nearest tire shop or just change it myself. Since this was the first time I actually had to change a tire myself without supervision. I've been fortunate to have been able to locate a place before it got too bad in previous times. I proceeded to empty my trunk out which was a job itself and get the jack out...it took me a few minutes to get it all together but once I figured it out, I was good to go. I need to ask Brent about doing more strength training, because my arms about gave out taking them lug nuts on and off. But the guys, at Wal-Mart the following day when I went to get a new tire, said I put a 180 pounds of pressure on those nuts, enough to hold a tire on a duele. I called my dad after I changed the tire and told him I was a mechanic now.

Oh yeah, so the triathlon went alright. I got off to a great start on the swim. I positioned myself behind the eventual winner Bradley Pigage (won his 4th consecutive race) and got off to a smokin' fast start. However, that only lasted so long before I found myself in the back of the invitational wave. I was drafting off this one guy and it must have been his first race in the elite group. I'll admit I was tapping his feet a bit too much, because the pace wasn't challenging enough and at the same time, it would have been too much for me to go around him so I sat right there and Ryan Lindsay was drafting off me. The guy was kicking hard and I knew he wanted me off of him, but its a race and you can draft in the swim, so I'm going to do that. Then starts to zig zag all over the place, then suddenly stops in front of me. In my head, I'm like, "Whoa, dude that is not a nice way to race." Ryan then gets around me and I miss his feet, I tried to keep him in sight hoping I could pull him back in but was unsuccessful. I enter T1 past my spot right back up, I had visually remembered how I placed my helmet so I could see it coming into transition. I found my helmet on the ground and not on my bike where I had put it and my new oakleys were missing, I spent several seconds looking around then got my game back together and took off on my bike. My swim was nothing impressive 26.47, some say it was about 2 minutes long though.

I had a real good bike and my fastest average bike split of 26.2 mph, a total time on the 25 mile route in 57:14. The course was flat and wind on are side for much of the beginning portions until we turned into a headwind and had some chip seal rode. Although I heard traffic was controlled better this year and nobody was a hit by car (Brad). There was a couple of intersections that were quite dangerous. One I never saw a police officer, but fortunately I had the green light. Then the next one probably could have been coned off better, had us making a left turn and traffic was on our left. How the heck am I supposed to get over when there is this big truck on my left blocking me? I surged just in time and showed that (blank spot here) that I can ride and cut in front of him and made the left turn, as a cop is running out into the intersection.

I some how had the fastest T2 of 30seconds! And my mom always complains about how slow and clumsy I am. The following picture is me running towards transition. I think the guy behind me is mad at me because, he stopped suddenly in front me as I am still rolling in and I slightly clipped his bike I think.

After a hard bike I found myself in the fight for the top 3 spots with the exception of Brad we were right there together. Ryan L. and Stephen Milford were just up the road in front of me. I caught Stephen first but unfortunately he had to pull out due to a strained muscle in the back. I caught Ryan soon after, before the halfway point of the run, I was feeling it was getting slower, we made the turn around I could Ryan not far behind, so that was motivation to me that I needed to suck it up a bit. I finished the 10k (6.2 mi) course in 36:50. Not bad considering how bad I felt, I used to do that on a day feeling good.

Picture of me and my house mates for the weekend Bradley Pigage and Stephen Milford.
Here is me and Aaron Palaian, owner of OnUrLeft Sports. He talked to me after the race. OnUrLeft and OnUrMark Productions puts on the some of the best put on triathlons I have been to including this year which include Gateway to the Bay and Bridgeland. I'll mention more about OnUrLeft Sports soon!

I'd like to give a few shot outs to few people. First is Jesus Christ for protected me in some of the worst traffic in the United States and a good race!!! Stephen and Brad for the homestay. Aaron Palaian from OnUrLeft Sports. A big congrats to all the competitors out there. It got quite hot as the day went along. I'd like to mention and ask for prayers for my riding buddy, Jim McCan, a 64 year old and one of the toughest road racers I know. He had a bad crash at the Hotter and Hell 100K road race in Wichita Falls, Tx, where a dude decided to swerve in front of him and take him out.

Next up in less than two weeks I'll be competing in Jack Weiss' race of Ironhead Race Productions, the Prairie Man half Ironman. I have heard despite how flat the race is, it can be one of the hardest half ironmans, so cheers to that, it should be a good one to do.

Take on the Heat

2010-08-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

I took part in the 3rd of 4 races of Play Tri's North Texas Tri Series this weekend. Take on Heat which benefited The Colony Fire Fighters it started as a 350 meter pool swim. I was #61, but people were nice enough to let me move up and I started in front of my buddy and home stay Bender. The plan was to let him pass me then I draft the rest of the way. It took him about 2 laps to catch me but when he did I had to really work to stay on his feet and I was almost getting a bit sick to my stomach by the end of the swim, my swim wasn't impressive but it was 18th fastest. The bike was 2 loops and more technical with lots of turn at the beginning of each loop. I've never rode well technically before, but today I did thanks to Austin Saylor who I had to work hard to stay legally behind him. We went back and forth, but he did most of the work because I never could pull up close enough to him to go around him until the very end where I just smashed it as hard as I could and passed going into transition. I finished the bike with a 25.3 mph bike split. Finally, on the run my legs felt good like at Bridgeland and I could see Ahmed way up ahead so that was giving me motivation to keep pushing. My garmin is messed up again and I think possibly for good this time so I would "manually" count out loud how many seconds he was up on me, it was like 45, 29, and eventually I caught him near the 2 mile mark, but Ron Tribendis was still up ahead and I finally caught him, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to by the end of the run or not. In these pool swims you never know who is where really on the course. It felt like I was running faster but I still finished with the top run time of 17.34, about 5:39 average mile. Overall it was a good race with NO mechanical issues (besides the Garmin).

As you can see there were only two guys in the race. Me and Austin.

Some of guys were lucky enough to be with some of the beautiful ladies of the Frisco Triathlon Club.

Thank God for a good race and for remaining alive with DFW traffic! and Thanks to Bender for letting me stay with him again and Lance for gluing on a tubular tire on for me this week. Up next I am doing my 4th race this month in the Houston area again, the Clearlake international distance triathlon. It should be more good times with some of my homies Stephen and Brad.

Bridgeland Triathlon: Overcoming Murphy's Law

2010-08-08T18:15:00.001-05:00

What could go wrong did go wrong, known as Murphy's Law. I stayed with my buddy Anthony, which was close to the race site. When we were about the load up the bikes, we put air in our tires and a malfunction to my disc wheel where the stem broke on the tubular...uggh trying to remain calm, I happened to carry my training set with me and put that rear wheel on which isn't as aero at all and I have a heavy set tube in their too. I had actually had a dream about this happening earlier in the week, but I didn't carry my training set with me, so in the dream I wasn't able to compete. Then also my garmin malfunctioned, it wouldn't come on. It has been forever (if ever) since I've raced without a watch.

The swim was 500 meters, and for me, I had another good swim. I had a guy I found to draft off but he may have cost me more time than he saved me. He was zig zagging all over and then started to go off course, I didn't follow him then. I ended up swimming most of it without and help and still managed to come out of the water and gaining, just behind Stephen Milford for the second week in a row.

Trying to mount my bike and get caught up to Stephen my chain popped off,I felt like Andy Schleck and this other fast cyclist guy goes past me and Stephen is already way up the rode. I avoided saying any kind of 4 letter word in front of a bunch of people, at least out loud. I would spend the whole 14 mile failing to chase them down. At the first turn around I see Stephen way in front and he looks at me and I just shake my head. I got out biked big time, but still managed to avg 25.0 mph without the disk, the course was fast!!!

Needless to say, I was looking forward to getting off the bike and getting to the run. I was 7th off the bike. Not knowing what to expect, I was surprised how good my legs actually felt running. I enjoyed the run course especially the gravel trail sections, reminding me of the Trinity trails. I got to work on the run and finished in 3rd place, by catching Stephen by mile 3. He tried to hang with me and I was hoping he wouldn't, so I had to increase the pace a little more and held him off. If things went right and I had gotten off the bike with Stephen where I should have been makes me wonder how close to 2nd I could have been. Oh well what's done is done.

This race I learned no matter what obstacles are thrown at you it's best to remain positive and deal with it and do what you can do. My buddy Brad Pigage in the middle of the picture just won his 3rd race for the 3rd week in a row. He is going to seek his pro card at the Age Group National Championships in September. I like to give a shout out to my good friends Rachel and Brooke for waking up super early and making it out to cheer us on and my new friend Tammy for coming out! Thanks to my buddy Anthony Limon for letting me stay at his place and play with his little greyhound dogs. I thank God for teaching me a good lesson today about determination and not giving up physically, but, most importantly not giving up mentally.

This month is a busy month of racing. I have next weekend off from racing, but in 2 weeks I'll be at the Take on the Heat sprint triathlon for races 3 of 4 of Play Tri's North Texas Tri Series. I am looking forward to it as it was my first triathlon in 2007, when I had no clue what I was doing.

Thanks for reading this, I realize I got more wordy than I intended.

30th Annual River Cities Triathlon

2010-08-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

I raced in Bossier City this weekend in the 30th annual River Cities triathlon. RCT is the largest and one of the most competitive sprint triathlons in the south! It was a lot of fun and fast competition, including legend Dave Scott. I had a good swim for me, came out of the water right behind my buddy Stephen Milford. He wasn't expecting me that close. I was ready beat down on the guy that kept pulling me under, by my leg early on in the swim. The bike was fast, but got off to a slow start, managed to average 25.2 mph, I got to experience what it was like racing semi ITU style. Me and Stephen set the pace of our pack and everyone else pretty much latched on, we did most of the work going back and forth. Our pack had built up to what looked like 10 guys by the end of it. T2 definitely was crazy and rushed with guys trying to take an advantage with a lead out on the run. LSU cross country runner Mark Primeaux dominated the run by going under 17 min off the bike. I had some awful stomach cramps on the run, but managed to come back some on the last mile to take over 4th place with just over a quarter mile to go, for an 18:04 5k run. There was no way I was going to let that Aggie beat me.

Stephen Milford (7th), Brad Pigage (1st), Me, and our awesome host Ms. Roeten!

I'd like to thank Debbie and Rachael Roeten for hosting me and my buddies (Brad Pigage and Stephen Milford) and their smelly shoes, who they have never met before and to Scott and Terry Harkey for cooking an awesome pre race dinner for us. I stopped by my mom's house the afternoon before the race, and she must think I am skinny or something, she kept trying to feed me. I ate good food at her house too!! Thanks to the good Lord for keeping us all safe out there in a weather advisory heat wave. Big shout to Brad for winning!!! Me and Stephen are were so nice to Brad, before we confirmed all the travel arrangements to make sure Brad was even in the race to start with.

This weekend I get to to do it all over again with another sprint triathlon in Cypress, Texas, the Bridgeland tri. It is managed by OnUrLeft Sports.

Legend Dave Scott was there handing out the awards.

Peach Pedal Crash!

2010-07-11T18:02:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was a training weekend in the Fort Worth area. Me and Brent did a 4.5 hour brick with a 4 hour ride in the Pedal Pedal tour. We got off to a very fast start with the front group and hitting around 30 mph about the time a dog ran out onto the road and caused us to slam our brakes my rear slid out and Brent hit it and we both went down. Fortunately, the crash wasn't as bad as it could have been. I have mostly superficial wounds while Brent is more sore and hopefully just bruised up. The other good news is the bikes are o.k. I know you were wanting to know. We still got back on our bikes and finishes strong.

The back of Brent's arm is banged up

I love it when Norma rubs my legs

Brent is pissed, broke his custom made Oakley jawbones

Moments before the start.

Some of my battle wounds on my leg.

Derek Bender Photography

2010-07-08T13:02:00.000-05:00

Last month at the Play Tri Festival, Derek Bender chose to use me as a sample for his new photography business. Instead of being disappointed by a few random photos from an event, Derek Bender offers a unique service where he will follow a single athlete or a small group around and photographing them on their day! Not just a couple of photos either, but a large amount (he shot over 400 of me). He can also do slideshows, books, or anything you want. If you like the work you see of the sample slideshow he did for me then send him an email to discuss your next event. derekdbender@gmail.com. Derek is a super cool dude and fun to work with and easy to get long with. Check out www.bendershoot.com for other work.

Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake

2010-06-28T13:59:00.001-05:00

It was tough weekend in Lubbock. The plan was to race tactical and conservative. You don't want to blow up on this course and with the heat. I got off to a good start on the swim. By the first turn I found myself right behind Tyler Johnson, I got on his feet for awhile and somehow lost him and then later I saw him just up ahead again, so I kept him in sight and another guy comes along and I jump on his feet to the end. I rushed to T1 and found Tyler still getting his helmet on. My swim was a 28:06, but I am sure this a few minutes short.

On the bike the hills were tough, but I didn't push as hard as I could up them, but kept the effort steady and controlled and still out climbed most people. I sat (legally) behind Tyler for the first 10 miles. I kept a steady conservative effort on the bike for the most part. At mile 45 I found Weslie Anderson, who beat me at Galveston by 20s. I sat behind him for a few minutes before going by and tried to reel in David Jones from the Richardson Bike Mart, that guy is solid strong!!! He brought me into T2. I biked the course in 2:26.25 with a 22.97 mph average.

The 13.1 mile run was long and painful. I didn't have no legs for the run. I have never walked so much in a half marathon before. I kept looking back thinking Tyler or Weslie would catch me, but apparently there were lots of people having a much harder time than I was. David Jones caught me again with about 4 miles to go but I wasn't able to go with him. My run time was a 1:36.32 for a 7:22 mi/pace. I ended up 51st OA and 5th in my age group an overall time of 4:33.34. Buffalo Spring 70.3 was a humbling experience.

Congrats to Bo and Bryce for finishing their first 70.3 along with my new friend Sarah. A shout to my coach Brent Poulsen who killed it for 8th overall in 4:o6 and a run time of 1:20 on a very tough course. Also to Brent's fiancée Carley for looking over an economics paper I had due for school. Thanks to Cam for letting us at crash at his house. Thank Jesus! for letting me survive the race and the long drive.

Here a few pics from the weekend.

The finisher's shot.

Before our Saturday morning prep ride. Notice how big my rear has gotten since I've been riding bikes.

Team dinner at Chili's.

Me and Brent before our prep ride. Notice how he is decked out his K Swiss gear and I went with a t shirt and aviator sunglasses.

Me and Cam ran into Terenzo Bozzone, who ended up 2nd overall.

Eustace Pioneer Day 5k

2010-06-20T06:43:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday I ran in the 5th annual Pioneer Day 5k run in downtown Eustace. It's very close to where I live and draws out some of the area's local high school runners. I was on a hard week since I am gearing up for Ironman Buffalo Springs 70.3 right now. My goal was to break 16 minutes. I got off to a very fast start with two guys and we were taking turns taking the lead at least for the first half mile before they fell off. They stayed with me for the first half mile then fell off, I hit the first mile in 5:04 and all by myself. Tired legs were setting in by half way, I quickly ran some ugly miles after that, but held off for the overall in 16:48. Good job to Gene Myers and Josh Sypert who organize and direct the event.

I'll be making the trip out to the Ironman Buffalo Springs 70.3 in Lubbock this weekend. The top triathletes in the world are going to be there Craig Alexander the 2008 and 2009 Ironman World Champion and Chris Lieto, the top American. Joining them will be Luke Bell the course record holder and Terenzo Bozzone who has won several races already this year including Ironman Texas 70.3. This one is known as one of the hardest 70.3's in the country and it will be a hot one.

Play Tri Fest

2010-06-06T19:51:00.001-05:00

It's been awhile since I've last posted. Don't worry though, I am still here and here to stay. I've been busy working, training, and taking naps during the day since school ended for the spring semester, but summer semesters are here and I am very busy once again.

This weekend I went to Dallas with my swimming/training partner Lance, and did the Play Tri Festival olympic distance triathlon. It was his first olympic distance and he put it on the line and did great. I am very proud of him about the way he races. We had a great host, my buddy Derek Bender, who also took the most of the photos below. The photos of his are an example of his services he wants to offer single athletes or small groups who would rather have a photographer focus on them alone out there on the course for them. That is what Derek Bender did for me. You can even see more photos of the event on his or my facebook page.

The night before the race we heard Ahmed Zaher speak at Hully and Mo's bar in downtown Dallas about his horrific bike crash in Hawaii last year when a truck's side mirror hit him and cracked 6 ribs, clavicle, and collapsed a lung then 9 months later he is competing in the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. Zaher owns Play Tri and is one of fastest triathletes in the DFW metroplex. He also dominates his age group at Ironman events. His speech of the accident even caused one guy to pass out and paramedics has to be sent to the bar. The guy was alright.

After the speech we/I was starving and ate at the Olive Garden. I loaded up on way too much salad and breadsticks and barely finished my spaghetti and meatballs. I will have to be sure not to make that mistake again. Because I paid for it.

It was an unreal humid morning. My warmup jogg had me soaked in my own sweat. You could see the smog over the downtown Dallas skyline. About the only thing I go good for me was my swim and even that is not that great. I swam the 1500m in 21:06 which is a smashing PR if it is legit, but I think the course was short. I got in the pack and got a good draft and barely sighted for most of the swim. The guy I was swimming with put some distance on me at the last turn which was a long straight shot back, but after that I kept our distance about the same, but I was working a lot harder to do it. I surprised myself when I beat Michael Dawdy out of the swim.

On the bike I could never get my legs going in a good rhythm for whatever reason, they finally started to feel decent by the end of the bike, then it was too late. The bike course had a few decent hills in it. Overall I think it was a fast course, and I did it somewhere around 58 minutes for 24 miles. But Michael Dawdy rode like a beast!!! He passed me as if I was sitting still. I tried to keep him in sight but lost him when there was confusion at a turnaround point midway.

The run was terrible for me. I think over eating at Olive Garden caused me to have some serious side cramps. These cramps where very intense. I slowed my run down to a slow trot by the first mile and was debating dropping out, but I knew Ahmed was in front of me and I never beat him before. I kept on. I worked on my breathing hoping the side cramps would go away. The run was 2 out and backs, by the time I started the second one the pain was subsiding somewhat and I was able to pick it up and caught Ahmed and held on. The overall and runner-up, Tyler Johnson and Michael Dawdy were too far ahead for to me make and I ended up 3rd OA. With a time somewhere around 2:00.36 hrs.

Special thanks to! Derek Bender for being an awesome host and photographer, Lance Vernon for getting me to Dallas and back. Most of all the good Lord for keeping us safe out there in those humid/hot conditions. Thanks to my Sponsors to include: blueseventy, that speedsuit is very fast!!!, Brandon Perry and Monavie, keeping my joints healthy!!! Brooks for the shoes! And everyone else family and friends for your support!!!

Next up this month I am doing a local 5k run, Pioneer Day 5k in Eustace, Tx, on June 19th and June 26th I am doing Buffalo Springs Ironman 70.3 again for the second year in a row. I have also added a couple of races in August so be sure to check those out.

Thanks for Reading!!!

Cheers!

William

P.S. Enjoy the pics.

Where the Old Cowboys Stadium used to be.

The physical therapist who had cold towels for us at the finish line and we met them the night before at the bar.

Me and Lance.

Me w/ Rachel and Ahmed Zaher

Starting the bike.

Derek Bender Photography

Dealing with stomach issues on the run.

Derek Bender Photography

On a mission.

Derek Bender Photography

Coming out of the swim

Derek Bender Photography

Historic McKinney Kiwanis Triathlon

2010-05-03T19:50:00.001-05:00

This past weekend kicked off one of four triathlons for Play Tri's North Texas Tri Series.This first one was a 300 yard pool swim, 13 mile bike, and a 3.5 mile run, held at the McKinney High School. Honestly, I was fortunate by the Grace of God to be alive that weekend and make it to the start line. (Right Tracy?). I had a great host for this event. A friend from college, Tracy Bailey let me stay at his place and we went to the Grapevine Mills Mall to shop for our mothers, but ended up buying stuff for ourselves. Funny how that works out. (Sorry Mom). Long story short, we leave the mall on a busy freeway, when Tracy says, "This road sure is bumpy". He switches lanes and it get's worse. I say, "I don't think it's the road, I think you might have a flat". He merges over and we see the passenger rear tire roll past us on the drivers side. The tire pretty much came completely off.

Once we got back, Tracy cooked up this great pre race meal. Baked chicken topped with red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, placed on a bed of (non-salt) seasoned brown rice. served with a spinach salad with advocados, tomatoes, and carrots. Also with whole english green beans, corn bread and a boiled egg.

The race itself was low key, but good, and organized. It was a 300 yard pool swim with swimmers going in both directions in each lane. I was out of the water at 4:30, for the 13th fastest swim. Off to my bike next for the 13 mile bike portion, it started flat in town but ventured off on some country back roads with some rolling hills and some sharp curves thrown in. I didn't see anybody for awhile on this road and was wondering if I was lost, missed a turn or something. Finally, I came up on Pedro and then once I got close to Aaron the lead cyclist, I backed off the last 2 miles and did some soft pedaling. Even with slowing down a lot the last 2 miles I still averaged 24.4 mph on the course for the fastest bike time by 0.9mph. During the run portion my calves were cramping right away, but I ran through it until it went away, the run was quite hilly with one hill after another, especially the first 2.5 miles. We ran from the high school to downtown McKinney and back through a park and back. The course was supposedly 3.5 miles, but my Garmin 310xt measured 3.6. It was showing the mile markers as being right on with the course mile markers until the very end. Either way still finished in 20:27, my splits were something like this 5:42, 5:45, 5:34, and just under a 5:30 mi/pace the last bit, for an average of 5:40 mi/pace for the fastest run. The race benefited the McKinney Kiwanis which supports the youth and other variety of charities.

Thanks to my Lord for another good race and Tracy for being an awesome host and cooking up a delicious meal! I am excited to start another block of training tomorrow. I already have my water bottles filled and in the fridge. I won't race again until June 6th at the 2nd North Texas Tri series, the Play Tri Festival. I am doing the intermediate distance race then.

Thanks for everyone's support!

WILLIAM

Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 TEXAS

2010-04-28T08:28:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, I raced in the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 TEXAS that I was super excited about getting to do, not knowing how the legs would respond to a half ironman this early in the season. I made the trip down with my buddy Lance on Friday since he was racing the Lonestar sprint on Saturday. Due to high winds that morning caused his swim to be canceled and they just did the 12.5 mile bike and 5k run. Lance ended up setting PRs with an average of 21.75 mph on a windy bike and tire that was going flat near the end and he also ran his 5k PR off the bike in 21;22, with only a couple of weeks ago running in the America's run 5k he went 21:44. He left it all on the race course, crossing the finish line with dead legs and bugged out eyes looking like Frankenstein. Congrats to him!!!

The conditions for the 70.3 were a lot better, but still had a lot of wind. The 1.2 mile swim was trapezoid shaped with with a cross current on bothsides and facing the current on the long stretch. Some say the swim was long and due the current most people had slow swim times. However, my swim times were right where they usually are, so hopefully I am making improvements. I positioned myself on the far outside to avoid getting run over and that seemed to workout good. I found some feet in the last 1/3 to draft off of, he was a strong kicker too which made it easy to follow. It was good because I got to rest up for the bike. Going towards T1, I got my wetsuit past my hips before the strippers, but then my timing chip came off and spent what felt like forever trying to get it back on.

I had a strong bike with challenging wind conditions heading out. It was mostly a flat right with a couple of over passes to go over and I swear the section just after the turnaround was a deceiving hill. Going out I managed a 23.22 into the wind. I caught some faster swimmers before halfway and thought man I must be having a good day. On the way back, I was expecting more of a push from the wind but unfortunately that wasn't the case. The wind shifted mostly from the north, but, still managed to go 25.89 on the way back for a total bike time of 2:17.14 for 24.48 mph (just 3 minutes behind Andy Potts split, but who's counting ;) it was good enough to be fastest age grouper bike split.

Even though, I've been getting a lot of compliments for the bike spilt, I also had a my best half-marathon run split off the bike in 1:24.31 (6:27 mi/pace). The course was a 4 loop mostly flat run course around Moody Gardens, however it does get hot with the heat radiating off the concrete and multiple 180 turnarounds and sharp turns did not help. The good thing though it was easy to keep an eye on the competition. Coming out of T2, I stayed relaxed and try to stay on goal pace, but 29 year old Weslie Anderson passed me, while I let him go initially, because I knew he was pushing, I also just tried to keep him in sight. Things started to go downhill for me around mile 5, when my legs got so tight it felt like I could barely move. I walked through part of the aid station, and Tyler Johnson from Dallas passed me. I through my cup down and went in pursuit and tried to keep him in sight as well. Then a 40 year old runner passed me and I got in on his shoulder and went with him. We ended up catching up to Weslie who got in on the run draft too. Then somehow I lost the 40 year old man and Weslie passes me and get on his shoulder and we caught Tyler with a mile and half to go. Weslie increasing the pace and slightly pulling away the last mile and beating me out of 3rd age group by 20 seconds. Looking back I wish I had sucked it up and tried to out kick him at the end. Lesson learned.

Afterwards I did a short walk and started vomiting. Thanks to Jarrod who walked me to the med tent and stayed there for an hour or so with 3 bags of IV. They wouldn't let me leave because my temperature had dropped to 93.9, they had to wait for it to come back up some. They tried wrapping me in a foil blanket and giving me heating pads. Overall, it turned out to be a great day! I got 4th in a very competitive 25-29 age group, 22nd overall including the pros, and 7th overall age grouper with a time of 4:21.00 and I got a spot for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships later this year in Clearwater, FL.

I'd like thank my sponsors Monavie (Brandon Perry). I thought a 13 mile run on all concrete would shatter my legs. I've been taking Monavie Active for the past month and went for an easy run yesterday and had no aches, just some slight muscle soreness. Also to include blueseventy for the swim apparel, Brooks I.D. program for running shoes! Big thanks to my coach Brent Poulsen for developing the plan (and it's still early season) and Colonels Bicycles in Fort Worth for getting me on a sick bike, that I refer often to as the "Spanish Beauty". I'd also like to thank my biggest supporters, my mom and dad for coming all the way out from Carthage, Texas, Lance Vernon who booked the room and drove all the way down, while I stretched out slept and rocked out. My former roommate Justin O'Keith Higgs and Rachel Siders both in the Houston area who made it out to support. A huge thanks to Adam Booth and his family for hosting a carbo loading dinner their ocean front condo, if it wasn't for the abundance of delicious pudding I probably wouldn't have done as well (Adam, Timo, Jeff, and Cody know what I'm talking about). Also the good Lord, for giving me the strength and the will to stay focused and get it way done!!! Without him I would be nothing. Congratulations to all my old friends and new friends out there, there are too many to name all, I would leave somebody out if I tried.

I am racing yet again this weekend, but I am super-excited and ready to kick-off the North Texas Tri Series with Playtri.com for the McKinney Triathlon.

Here are photos from the weekend I'd like to share! The first seven photos come from Justin O'Keith Photography, if you need some professional photography work done to enhance your portfolio, then click on his website for more info. All remaining photos come from my mom, lance, Rachel, and Anthony, or me.

None other than 2008 Olympian, 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion. Andy Potts first out of the water. He won Ironman 70.3 New Orleans a week ago and finished 4th at Ironman 70.3 Texas. Courtesy of Justin O' Keith Photography.

me with both feet on the ground. Ran my personal best half marathon off the bike. Courtesy of Justin O'Keith Photography.

The 2nd Overall 2009 and first American at Kona Ironman World Champs in 2009, Chris Lieto. Finished 3rd in the early season race. Courtesy of Justin O'Keith Photograhy.

Me and this guy, Wesley Anderson, battled it out for 3rd in the 25-29 age group, he ended up taking it by 20 seconds. Courtesty of Justin O'Keith Photography.

in Pain!!! Courtest of Justin O'Keith Photography

Coming out of the water, must keep going forward. Courtesy of Justin O' Keith Photography.

Amanda Stevens, 2nd overall and first American!

Samantha McGlone from Canada, 1st OA!!

Chris Lieto (3rd) and Terenzo Bozzone (1st) holding up Andy Potts who finished 4th overall, but also won Ironman 70.3 New Orleans the week before.

Top 3 males with overall winner Terenzo Bozzone from New Zealand in the middle, Chris Lieto 3rd on the left, and Tim O' Donnell 2nd on the right

Terenzo Bozzone passing Chris Lieto for good by mile 11.

Samantha McGlone on the run!

Tim O' Donnell catches Lieto and tries to run down Bozzone!

Terenzo!

Chris Lieto, of course had the fastest bike split by far 2:04!!!

Jelly fish on the shore of the Galveston beach.

Playing with the waves on he beach, post race!

with my 2 greatest supporters! Mom and Dad!

Picture with 1st place Terenzo Bozzone!

Top 4 Male Terenzo Bozzone, Tim O'Donnell, Chris Lieto, Andy Potts - solid world class field.

Lance's remarkable fall out...I mean finish ;)

Lance Hi-5's 2nd OA Female Amanda Stevens!

me on the run! from Rachel's iphone.

a shot by Anthony Limon of me on the bike at mile 45.

After a warmup swim trying to avoid getting cut on a live oyster bed that didn't workout so well.

yep, that is blood on my thumb!

view from the condo where we ate pasta.

the paramedic that rushed over to Lance's finish.

Lance enjoying getting worked over.

East Texas Triathletes team dinner!

loaded with liquor and whiskey!

T2.

Heading out for the 13.1 mile run.

DONE!

CASA-Athens 5K

2010-04-17T18:42:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Amy Strange and Gene Meyers I got talked into doing the Casa 5k in Athens this weekend. I showed up to volunteer after running 3x1 mile repeats on 2 min. rest. (5:13, 5:15, 5:14) early in the morning. I barely got first overall on tired legs in 17:39, it was more of a progression tempo for me, my roommate Josh was in it and he was 2nd overall for the day just seconds behind me. Congrats to him. He started pushing me the last mile, we were getting faster every mile. The good thing is my coach didn't kill me for doing it. The CASA 5k supports and helps children who have been abused. The county I live in, Henderson County Texas has the highest abuse rate in the whole state. To learn more about Casa check out this link www.casaforchildren.org

After the race some buddies met up for a hilly 2 hour ride, then me and buddy, Brandon did an hour swim following that. Today was a big fuel day. I live on sports drink, energy and protein bars, and gels. Tomorrow is a "small" brick and then recover for Galveston next weekend! Good luck to all my friends racing NOLA 70.3 this weekend.

I've also been growing an awesome handlebar stash this week for Galveston, but an old roommate, Justin is going to be out there and he is an awesome photographer, so it may have to go. I can't until next weekend, I am going down there with my buddy Lance who also has an awesome handlebar.

The handlebar stash is strong and ready to go.

Josh on the left, my buddy CJ in the red, and I am behind him.

Lots of people showed up, hopefully the race will start bringing in some faster runners for next year.

Gateway to the Bay 2010

2010-04-12T15:02:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, April 10-11, was the Gateway to Bay Triathlon. Which brought in a few pro athletes such as Matty Reed and Andy Potts who formed a relay team: Team Potts and Team Reed helped raise money for jennyslight.org Other pros included James Bales and Brandon Marsh, they battled it out whole distance.

I stayed at my friend Rachel's place in The Woodlands, near Houston, Tx, she offered me a very comfortable couch. I got some much needed sleep in and woke up to a relaxed morning of coffee and breakfast on the balcony with sunshine and an amazing view of the resort style pool. Then she participated in my race prepping actives of a short bike and run. The weather out of nowhere started raining as we were cycling. She's a trooper and didn't complain once. She is doing her first triathlon in May. Good luck to her!!!

The day of the race, we stayed at buddy Stephen Milford's place and rode around with him and after packet pick up we got stuck at a red light because he forgot to fill his tank up with gas. Behind us was an old man yelling, cursing, and tossing his hands up. I got out of the car to push and Rachel helped and then a truck, all of a sudden pulled up behind us and 4 good size young men jumped out wearing Tapout apparel. I thought they were UFC fighters, one had a broken hand. I asked if in fact they were UFC fighteers, but I they just wear the clothes.

The swim was point to point and they dropped us off from a boat that took out there. We had the current pushing us. For this 1500 meters swam, I swam really slow in 29:46, but everyone was slow. It was slow for a few reasons: It was long, a lot of zig zagging since the buoys were far spaced out, or a combination of both, or I could be just slow. Either way, the swim hurt my overall race results. I have to get to a lot faster.

The bike was strong. I averaged 24.5 mph, and that is with stopping because my helmet came unbuckled as soon as I started, and I think this may have caused me to have a 2 min. penalty. Also, my calves were cramping up and I would stand up and coast in the pedals several times to stretch them. I liked the bike course it was 2 loops up and down the Kemah bridge and along 146, with some serious sharp curves. We had a tailwind pushing us up the long gradual hill and then a headwind going back. I was actually going slower on the downhill portion due to the headwind. Then at T2, I didn't realize the dismount line was there as soon as it was once we turned off 146. I had one shoe off and the other I had to unclip and get off the bike. I saw my mom in the corner of my eye and tossed my shoe out to her. I was hoping it was her at least since that was an expensive bike shoe ;) There is 4 second video of me coming by on the bike on my facebook page, check out www.facebook.com/williamtritter. Just don't blink.

I paid on the run for biking so hard, but still got under a sub 6 split. The run course was an out and back with 2 loops. I started my first loop as pro triathlete, from Austin, Brandon Marsh started his second loop and timed it just right to jump on his shoulder and try to go with him. Ha, that lasted about a 1/4 mi. but I tried, then it was just keeping him in sight as long as I could. Then just before the last turn, Matt Reed, a pro from Boulder, Co, who was doing the relay, ran past me as if I was standing still. I tried to run with him, but he was going sub 5 pace and that was way to fast for me at the time.

Overall, I enjoyed the race and this is one I will consider going back to next year. I got Andy Potts and Matt Reed to sign me finisher's shirt. Then as I did my cool down jog I ran into Matt Reed, he's hard to miss. Then finished it out with him since he was going my kinda pace then. He remembered me at the end and said he struggling to catch me.

Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make the race a great success. Thanks to Rachel, Stephen, Brad, and my Mom and Dad for hospitality, pictures, and support!!! Most of Jesus Christ, for keeping me safe out there. There were a few wrecks due to a sharp/slickish turn. Also a shout out to Courtney Hill, from Gun Barrel City, she had bike accident the week before and ran the sprint race on Saturday with a leg with 5 stitches!!!! She is super tough!

Here are a few pictures from the trip/race.

me and Brandon Marsh after the race, he's so fast he already had his polo on.

Stephen and I after the race. Congrats to him, it was his first time beating me with neither of us having a mechanical failure.

Crossing the finish line.

Coming in on the bike realizing I just messed up for the dismount.

a point to point swim

Matt Reed and Andy Potts giving a post race speech.

Top 3 males, James Bales, Brandon Marsh, and Bradley Pigage.

Stephen filling up with gas at the taco bell, after he stalled out at a redlight.

Rachel getting ready to ride.

Rachel, who also took a lot of photos for me.

Me and Matt Reed at the finish.

I'll be doing Ironman Texas 70.3, next weekend! I am excited to do this race too.

Easter Hell Weekend

2010-04-04T21:12:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was an Easter Hell weekend for me along with Resurrection weekend for Jesus. Friday night and Sunday morning, my roommate Josh and I saw an awesome musical performance by the First Baptist Church of Mabank choir group. It was truly a blessing.

Late Friday morning, Easter Hell weekend got started with a 90 minute long run with some strong winds that day. Although, it wasn't a hard effort, I still managed to hold a 7:10 mile average on grass and a route with lots of turns and switchbacks.

Super Saturday, started with a 5:30 a.m. track session with 10x1k's at 10k pace. Josh came out and helped me push during these and he was rabbit during the last two. I ran very consistent during these hitting 3:19 on almost everyone, my fastest was 3:12 on the last one. Then I had to head to work for a 6 hour shift which felt like a workout in itself, since I moved a bunch of PT stuff back into it's spot after it's cleaning. After work, a few people came out to Cain Center to get it a swim in with me. Me and Josh shared a lane and I did 10x300's, it was steady aerobic, but I can tell m swim is coming right along, then we jumped on our bikes for a 90 minute hilly base ride. Only one person had to go to the ER. Courtney was biking and ran over something it whooped back up and hit her in the leg and sliced her calf right open down to the muscle just missing her achilles tendon. Courtney had to have 5 stitches in it and she was out biking/running Sunday afternoon. That girl is tough!!!

Suffer Sunday was a 3.5 hour bike workout with 3x20' intervals on a hilly road and then I smashed some overgear work coming back into Gun Barrel City with a 30 minute goal pace run off the bike and just over 6 minute mile pace. After all of this I was dog tired. I had to get some grocery shopping done too at Wal-Mart and that is always a pain, even worse with tired legs, I was just shuffling along down the aisles. I've done a few other big weekends similar to this is in Fort Worth, but, I think this was by far was the hardest one.

This month is busy with 2 big races. I am super excited about racing this weekend in the Gateway to Bay triathlon festival with some superior athletes like Matty Reed, Andy Potts, and Stephen Milford. These are world class athletes. Feel free too google them and let me know what you come up with :)

Two weeks later, April 25, I will be racing for an Ironman 70.3 World Championship spot at Ironman 70.3 Texas, in Galvston. It's also the U.S. Pro Championships, so I assume, there will be a lot of fast athletes out there. Then a race a weekend later, in McKinney, a sprint triathlon, to start off the North Texas Tri Series.

During a main set of 10x300's.

My roommate Josh and I just after 10x1k track workout, done by sunset.

This was 3/28 Sunday afternoon. Me and Lance before a brick workout.

MonaVie

2010-03-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

I am excited to announce a new sponsorship with my friend Brandon Perry, a distributor of MonaVie. I am fortunate, to be using this as part of my nutritional needs it helps keep my immune system healthy and body injury free. Since long endurance training can put these at risk. There many athletes now using MonaVie in their nutrition such as cycling legend Tinker Juarez. There are different types of MonaVie drinks out now. I tried the original back over the winter and it was delicious. It was so good, that I actually sneaked into the local movie theater once to have to enjoy as a treat, since I don't drink many sodas. MonaVie is good for those people who care about what the put into their bodies, but also like something that is delicious tasting too. Feel free to click on Brandon's link over there on the right side and ask for more information or get in an order waaay done!! ;)

Here is more on MonaVie:

MonaVie™ is a delicious and healthy blend of 19 body-beneficial fruits - including the Brazilian açai berry, one of nature's top superfoodsDeveloped with the philosophy Balance-Variety-Moderation, this nourishing beverage delivers the phytonutrients and antioxidants you need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Active combines the delicious blend of MonaVie™ with plant-derived glucosamine that promotes healthy joints by lubricating and nourishing damaged tissue and cartilage.

Watching your cholesterol? MonaVie™ Pulse nutritionally supports your cardiovascular system. With added heart health benefits derived from plant sterols (which studies suggest play a key factor in lowering cholesterol), resveratrol, and omega 3 fatty acids, maintaining existing healthy cholesterol levels has never been easier.

Perfect for the busy body, MonaVie™ Gel and MonaVie™ Active Gel offer all the nutritional benefits of MonaVie™ and MonaVie™ Active in a convenient gel pack.

This weekend we were faced with some of the worse conditions. It was another Poulsen weekend training camp, which began once I found my way there to the Arlington Heights track for mile repeats. We were met with strong winds, pouring rain, and temperatures in the 30s. After that followed a 2 hour base ride after rounding up a trainer from my buddy, Eric Trelz (Thanks!), so I didn't have to ride outside, then a swim session of 30x100 yard pulls. That night we had a good time of socialization and good food ;) we played that game where you act out different things and I ended up having to act out a Mermaid and Marilyn Monroe. Oh yeah I did!

The next day after sleeping like a baby over night, I didn't want to get up, but I did, and we did a 3.5 hour group ride together with a lot of intensity. There were two wrecks during this group ride, I won't mention any names, but the bad part is, it was indoors!!! Then we did a solid 20 minute run off the bike and I ran with (behind) the big boys Montes and Poulsen. Later that night I couldn't wait to do a cold plunge in 48 degree water to ease my pains :)

Cheers,

BROOKS I.D.

2010-03-12T10:33:00.000-06:00

This week I got accepted into the 2010 Brooks I.D. program which is made up of runners and coaches who inspire others daily! There a company who specializes in only running shoes and apparel. I look forward to representing such a fantastic company. I have been wearing the BROOKS Glycerin shoe for all my training for base runs, long runs, and even tempo and faster. You can check their products out online at www.brooksrunning.com and their products are also sold in local running stores.

This week was a rough week recovering from Athens,who knew i would be so sore from such a short race. I wasn't happy with my race results, but I was racing guys who are getting ready for college nationals next month and I don't have to be in my top shape until November. I am convinced I am right where I need to be for this time of year. Then on Tuesday, I tried to tackle hill repeats a bit (a lot) more aggressive than I should have. I had a good small brick session yesterday and ran much better off the bike than I thought I would have and I was just keeping it chilled. I am looking forward to a good weekend filled with a swimming session tonight, work tomorrow morning and a track session afterwards, and a good hard brick workout on Sunday. I don't race again until April 11th at Gateway to the Bay and on April 25th IM Lone Star 70.3, but I am looking forward to that and next weekend is another intense training camp in Fort Worth.

Cheers,

Athens

2010-03-07T17:31:00.000-06:00

Game face on!

In 2008, at Athens it was 28 degrees. 2009 it was 38 degrees and raining. This year the weather turned out a great it was above 50 degrees and sunshine!

Things were better since the Texas Motor Speedway at the Athens triathlon I did finish!!!! If Carley had entered the race I probably would have been chicked again!

They say you aren't supposed to try anything new on race day, but I used my new blueseventy vision goggles that I haven used yet. They worked great and were a comfortable fit. I finished the swim a bit slower than I was expecting, and then got on the bike to have my brake shift on me and rub my disc wheel. I think this may have happened when I hit the rough chip seal. It wasn't just a soft rub, it was amazing I could even pedal it. Athens is a slow bike course due to chip seal on the road and some hills, I managed a 22.7 mph average. Then that made for tired legs on the run, but I was getting faster every mile, that was probably due to my roommate who came out to yell (support) at me and it was slightly downhill on the way back. Thanks Josh!!! My heart rate was also slightly lower than normal for this, but I wasn't rested up for this, I was going into it sort of fatigued. I finished in 7th overall and 2nd in my age group. There was some fast athletes out here today, a shout out to Mark Saroni for killin' it out there, and he led the UT-Tyler team to victory over Texas A&M in the college division.

From this, I took back a lesson, and that is to check everything on your bike before your race to make sure nothing is loose, especially brakes ;) .

on the way back to T2.

A few shout outs of thanks. Thanks to the Jesus! It was a great a training event to do and I made it all in one piece and walked away very tired from it. To FBC Athens for hosting the carb dinner which had some great vegetable lasagna and I also like to thank Jim and Penny McCan for hosting me and my training mate Bryce Fluker, and I apologize to Bryce for hitting him when we were sleeping.