Houston Towne Lake Triathlon

Coming into the Houston Triathlon I had a couple of solid blocks of training over the last two months. I was ready. Here is a picture of me at dinner the night before at Chili's. Calley had used the beans that I didn't eat for decoration. 

Pre Race dinner art. 

Swim Start

Going into the swim, I thought I was having my best swim yet and maybe I was. I got off too a good start. Nothing too significant to write about here but this was a first for me when the water got really shallow in the last straight away and I had to run and dive back in.

Coming out of the Towne Lake swim. 

Running into transition I could see the new rookie pro Scott Wilkinson just heading out. I knew then I wasn't as far back I though and was still in the mix. The bike was mostly flat since it is in Houston at sea level. I took me awhile to get my legs moving but once I did I thought I was moving pretty good. I lost my water bottle early in the ride when I hit a bump when I was looking down. So, I was doing mostly without fluids over half the ride. Which this was short race so I wasn't worried about it. I was pretty excited to get in on the bike. I knew I was well under sub 1 hour for 40K. I thought at the time was pretty well until I saw results with some guys out splitting me by 2 or 3 minutes.

Houston Towne Lake bike

I haven't had a solid run off the bike all year this season, which is quite unusual except I've been swimming a lot more than usual too. As the saying goes regardless how well your training is going it doesn't matter until it happens on race day. I started out with good turn over but the speed of the legs weren't there. I struggled through the run but I was still thinking positive thoughts. With a couple of miles to go a couple of guys were starting to run up on me, they must have been in the sprint tri, but I reacted is if they in my division and was able to run a little faster based off that.

I finished 7th overall and 6th male. Former Pro Michelle Leblanc dominated the race on the women's side. OnUrLeft Austin Parker crushed the men's race. I think Scott Wilkinson must have had some technical difficulties, I never heard what happened.

Houston Towne Lake Finish

I thank God for a good race, even though it wasn't the end result I was shooting for there were still some positive that came out of it. Also, I had this amazinggirl Calley here shown below who was out cheering for me the whole time. Also, I have great team of people behind me Team Extremus, Revolution Multisport, CR Massage, Karbon Speed, and Tri It Wear. TriFecta is next at Possum King Lake a gem of a location out in the middle of no where 90 minutes west of Fort Worth.

Calley and I just before the start. 

Benbrook Lake Sprint Triathlon

This past weekend I squared off again with Dallas' Matt Inch. Since he was coming I was pretty pumped but work still must get done so I trained right through this race and hard. I actually took a recovery week the week before. They playing fields were even though as he attended a cross country camp in Michigan and put in 55 miles of running in 5 days.

Benbrook Lake

I've been working my swim/bike over the last couple of months. The swim didn't show up, my start didn't go so well. I thought I had jumped on Matt's feet when I realized it wasn't him I could see

a pack of 3 up ahead and knew that wasn't him. In a short 500m swim I was a min and some cents off Matt. I worked the bike pretty nice and was surprised how good I felt.  I could see Matt along with Jason Soria, making the round about that was at the beginning of the bike and knew I could be in the mix on the two loop bike course. I chased them both down and finally caught Matt before the last turn around. I put in a surge past him and switched sides of the road to hopefully to put some distance on him that he wouldn't be able to come back on. However once I reached the turn around I could see him close. I shut it down and decided to soft-pedal in if I wasn't going to be able to break him, which I don't think was the best decision but you never know. We both switched to our run shoes as fast as possible were on the run course together bumping elbows and exchanging sweat. We were side by side for most of the 5k. Like last month it still came down to the last mile, he has another gear that I was  unable to match again. The "Special 4" was also doing a training ride on the course - Will, Myrna, Kelly, and Angela were cheering me on for a little bit as as Matt and I were starting to put surges on each other near the end out in the middle of the 5k. Matt ended up slipping by and getting the overall win by 8 seconds. I'll live to fight another day.

Here are some pics Calley got during the awards presentation. 

Top 3 Male

Calley and I

Texas Shootout Series Cowboy hat

My friend Monty from Tyler, Tx. 

Matt Inch and I after the awards. 

Team Extremus Press Release

http://www.pr.com/press-release/509384


Thanks for reading. I'm always blessed with my amazing people who help support me. It was fun racing. God kept us all safe and Calley was great at supporting me and keeping me informed how far back I was. Matt was a class act a great guy to race with. I'm looking forward to ramping up the racing this fall and to start is The Houston Triathlon Sept 2.  Thank you to my amazing sponsors Extremus, Revolution Multisport, Tri It Wear, Karbon Speed!!!

Texas Stampede Triathlon

Sunset over Lake Benbrook 

This past weekend I was wapping a 3 week training block that ended with the Texas Stampede triathlon since it was local and I didn't have to travel for it which made packing for this a breeze. After of over 4 years of cycling in the same shoes, I finally got around to getting a brand spankin' new Shimano shoes thanks from a generous bonus through work. The had arrived a couple of days before and I stopped at the new shop at Benbrook Bicycle that just opened a few weeks ago and Ron set me up with the cleats for my new Shimano's. Ron is a former Lockheed Martin engineer, so be sure to visit there.

 The open wave started with just 5 of us. I had gotten off to a good start until I veered left which was almost immediately. Two guys Matt and Trent pulled ahead and I couldn't quite get close enough to get in the draft. I've been working one on one with Brent Poulsen on my swim technique that's coming around, but when trying to go faster that has been a challenge as I still swam the race some with my straight arm out of the water.  I came out of the water 3rd.

Getting ready to make the U-Turn for the second loops. This is where I got cussed out by a competitor for getting  in front of them on the U Turn. It was either run into them or get around them. Someone forgot there was a race going on behind them. 

The bike was a fun, hilly,and windy route I spent my time chasing Matt and Trent. I didn't gain any time on Trent. He ended up putting some time on me though.

Heading out for one more loop on the hilly course. 

Coming off the bike I was about 30 seconds off Matt and Trent I was informed. They came off together. I started gaining ground on Trent but Matt was pulling away from Trent. I finally caught up to Trent and kept talking myself up to keep chasing Matt. I finally got Matt with a mile to go but I had some serious side stitches that I wasn't able to suffer through for another mile. 

A few of my Co-workers & friends came out to watch too and met me at the finish. 

L to R: Me, Baby Camden, Wade, Jackie, & Mack.

My #1 Cheerleader also came out too.


 I am looking forward to another big block training to gear up towards a few events this fall. Thanks to my generous sponsors and my Lord who help keep me racing and training:  Revolution Multisport,Extremus, Karbon Speed, and CR Massage who I need to go back too very soon. 

I went out to ride again post triathlon (after Pancakes) and got the double flat. Going down the huge hill by the Fort Worth Zoo sounded like glass was breaking as I heard my tube pop then my spare tube had a whole in it.

Bummed out that no air is going in. 

Yes, I still keep my race number on. 

 Thanks for reading. See you on the course.

Cap Tex Triathlon

After Memphis, Calley and I headed to Austin for the Cap Tex Tri. I was seeking redemption after the previous week's 10k run off the bike. 

We were there early for a little mini-vacation and were welcomed by rain showers Saturday morning. We both did a little run outside of the hotel

Friday afternoon we were out and about exploring off Lady Bird Lake trail and we were about to hop onto this dam to feel the cool water until we saw this snake waiting here, shown below.

We also found these pair of swan's swimming along too. They both came right up next to us gawking for our camera phones.

Saturday morning we started the day off with a nice huge breakfast at place called Abel's on the Lake. This nice place with an outdoor seating deck off Lake Austin. The water looked much cleaner then the water we would be swimming in the following morning.

Race morning came along and I was pretty excited I had some good rest the last couple of days. I love waking up without an alarm clock, that is something I could get used to. I was mentally prepared to rock this out. I came out of the water with an average swim for me, minutes down from where I need to be and should be. 

The Cap Tex bike course is through downtown Austin requires the abilities to make sharp turns and high power output to get rolling again, neither which I have but I felt like I was doing pretty well on the bike. There is also a short steep hill or two in the loop we did x 4. As technical as the Cap Tex course that you have to repeat 4 times with 2,000 other cyclists on the road, it's still a beauty, especially biking in front of the Texas Capital.

I was feeling good on and once I got off the bike, however it didn't take long at all before my legs felt like logs and could never get them moving again (same story in Memphis, part 2). Brad Williams a RWB Triathlete caught me walking within 2 miles and said "We're from Texas, we don't walk" he was right about that, endurance athletes from Texas are some of the toughest athletes I know. I didn't walk the rest of the way, I at least kept one foot off the ground. 

After this race I was pretty mentally beat up and ready to retire. I did almost for a whole week but Calley encouraged me to keep "tri-ing". My goal is to get back to having fun with it then the W's will come. I thank God for my God-given talent and plan to use it also the amazing people who support me: Calley, my parents, Revolution Multi-Sport, Extremus and all my mentors and friends.

Always scoop up yo dawg's poop!! Ain't nobody got  time to be steppin' in all of dat! 

Memphis in May Triathlon

I love Memphis. Memphis has "culture". BBQ & Fried Chicken, Beale St. and Rock -N-Roll!

Standing in Front of Memphis' finest dancers on Beale St. 

We left early Friday morning from Tyler. I was still asleep as we were driving there as it was apparent as I bumped the curb in the median departing Tyler. Calley and I picked my mom up in Carthage and were Memphis Bound. 

Memphis was lots of fun. Friday night we went down to Beale St. where all the action is in Memphis. We explored all the tour-isty shops, a civil rights museum, and even a BBQ joint that is up for the running for the Best BBQ in May. Calley ran into King Arthur's BBQ who was in the running for the Best BBQ in the Memphis in May Festival. King Athur finally convinced her to try some his bbq sauce. That evening we went to Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls of Fire" diner for dinner. After dinner we made our way upstairs to where a man was playing the great music on the piano.  

Below are a few pictures from the adventures on Beale St.

King Arthur selling Calley on his BBQ. 

"Sold" on King Arthur.

Calley's is in the middle of Beale St. 

My Mom and I after dinner at Jerry Lee's Lewis "Great Balls of Fire" restaurant. 

My Mom listening to the Piano Man upstairs after dinner. 

Calley and I dancing to the Piano man. 

Here I am taking my mom out for a spin on the floor. 

It got a little romantical in there.

Pre-race morning, Saturday before the race I went and did my pre-race spin and it had rained some over night as I was spinning in the midst of the sprint race that was being held. I made a U turn at my turn-a-round time and it may have been a little sharp and I felt my back tire slip and down I went in slow motion. Fortunately, everything was A-OK. Nothing was broken, no road rash, or bruises. Most importantly, the bike was fine too. 

That afternoon, we toured around some and went to Sun Record Studio. The recording studio where some of the greatest recorded such as The King Himself - Elvis, BB King, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and so many others. 

Following the visit at Sun Studio, went to check out Graceland. The mansion that Elvis bought and lived in for some time. Before you know it was time for dinner and we found the spaghetti warehouse in Memphis where I had a light pasta dinner followed by short stroll along the Mississippi River. 

                                 

                                      Calley and I walking by Graceland. 

                                       

                                            Everything was fine until Elvis started hitting on my mom and girl friend. 

  

                                         

                                                  On the drums set the Legends used. 

                             

My Mom and I at Spaghetti Warehouse for pre race dinner. 

                                      

                                                     Sun Studio Records where the Rock-n-Roll Legends recorded. 

                                         

                                                  This is the mic that Elvis first recorded on and  is still working today. 

Walking by the River after dinner. 

Race morning came and I was super pumped and ready to roll. I met up with Elvis for some good luck vibes. I got in line since it was a time trial start which was way  more organized than Kemah was without all the chaos. I thought I was having a good swim and maybe I was but it was an average swim for me. 

I met the Elvis impersonator for some good luck vibes. He would later start hitting on my mom after the race, and Calley.  

On the bike, it took me a couple of minutes to get my legs going we were going straight into a SW headwind it felt like. We rode maybe 14 mile into wind before we got the much anticipated tail-wind to take us back home. The course was super flat but the wind made it plenty challenging. The scenery was amazing as it was a nice view of farm fields. 

Coming in on the bike. 

Starting the run my legs went to logs. It started out with a small steep hill. I could never get my legs moving really and plus it was quite warm by the time the run started. I focused on a quicker turnover. That seemed to help some but I was still struggling. 

Wrapping up the 10k run. 

I ended  up placing 4th in my age-group. Overall this was very fun trip and it was I would consider doing again next year. After Memphis I traveled to Austin to race Cap Tex, so more to come on that soon.

Thank you for reading!!