Bicycles Plus

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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