Next Stop, Rochester NY

Monday morning the 29th, I will get on my bike and ride from Boxborough MA to Rochester NY over three days. The trip looks to be in the 450-470 mile range, but everyone knows my history of getting lost, so I will probably add to that figure easily. I have agreed to bring a map, but I'm not guaranteeing that I will actually look at it. For me, this ride is about touring the northeast and getting an enjoyable three days of riding in. This is also my first time at a solo ride like this, so I'm trying to prepare for the worst case scenario of bike problems, weather and any other unforeseen disasters. Pray for good weather! It has been horrible here in New England and I feel like every time I get on my bike, it starts to rain. I have had a race here, 6 out of the last 7 weekends, so I'm done with any more of that. Add a whole lot of training and it makes for a tough 7 weeks, but everything has gone well and the body is healthy. Now, just need some decent weather and I'll be all set.

Mooseman Race Report

I can't complain, it's a PR by almost 14 minutes. I haven't really done that many half-irons; Moose, Timberman and Patriot. Mooseman 2005 was my first big triathlon, only 4 years ago! and I have never really approached it as a target race; e.g. riding 325 miles the week before is not a great taper for a race.

Race Results:

Swim: 31:54

Bike: 2:36:23 (21.5 mph)

Run: 1:28:49 (6:47 min/mi)

11th AG, 51st overall

Race Report:

Stacked race! Many Pros. Lot's of really fast runners. Strong breeze off the lake, freezing cold water! Could not feel my feet out of the water. Tried to put on socks before the bike shoes and was having legs cramps. Bike was strong, but back was bothering, especially on the hills of the first loop of the run. Started to fall off pace and was struggling to get it back. Last 5K back felt better and legs came back for a fast and redeeming finish.

I'm happy. I think one of these years I will train and taper for one of these races and come back and do a 4:30. An expensive, but well done race with lots of stuff. The body is very tired and I need to resolve the back issue (not related to IM training - I think I said that before). I need a couple of days to clear the had and then it's back to the Kona-or-bust wagon.

Congrats to MRC guys racing up there; Jim, Ian, Lynn, Cort, Paul D. and Paul W. and all the new guys on the team!

Mooseman Half Iron Race Weekend

Wow! The seaon is really flying by. The miles and intesity have been huge! My battered body is managing to stay in one piece, just barely. Last weekend was the Epic Training Weekend. Kudos again to Mark D. for making this happen. Weather not perfect in the beginning, but nice in the end. New PR: 130 miles with Dave from his house in Milford to Eastham on the Cape. It was a great ride and a first time one-way distance cycle to the Cape. We just barely made it and landed at 8:pm with the temperature dropping, rain and not much daylight left. Total numbers for Epic Weekend:

Swim: ~ 2.5 miles
Bike: 325 miles over 3 days (new PR)
Run: 20 miles (13 mile run Sunday)

and on to the last race before IMLP - Mooseman Half. I was a late entry into this race due to Lancaster being canceled and this is the only one that worked. I will be looking to PR. I hope I can recover before Sunday. I still have some aches and my back is bothering due to non-training activity, but probably compounded by swimming. I aslo had two track workouts, one with Mark
on Tuesday (wow he looks fast, add 3 seconds to his numbers for mine) and one with Bill on Wednesday. I'll have about 48 miles running this week which is a good step up, but not good tapering for a race. Anyway, I'll post a race report on Monday.

-Kyle

One Down, One To Go ...

Sudbury Sprint was fun (2nd AG, 7th overall). Need to dust those cobwebs off the bike and get better in the pool. I'll never be good at those short distances anyway, but I am pleased to have one of the fastest bike splits of the day. I get to do it ALL over again this week at Lions in Marlboro (250yd swim, 9.3mi bike and 5K). These distances suit me a little better. It will be a fun race then back to SERIOUS IMLP training. We did 81 miles out to Wawa with no shortage of climbing. Looks like we're the last group to make the summit as they just closed the area for the construction that's going on. A good week of training. As I ramp up, I'l start posting some numbers. Cheers! -Kyle

Reving Up The Engine

I'm back at it again - the training has restarted and I am ramping back-up. I had two long runs; one with BAA master's star Mark and one with Walt (former 2:20 Boston), I also had one long bike, but the legs were still recovering. However, everything else has had quick bursts and intervals. I need to get faster!! This weekend is the Sudbury Sprint Tri and I want to be able to go fast! The only problem is I am an endurace athlete, so we'll see how it goes.

Next week - back to IMLP training.

-Kyle

Post-Marathon Rest Week Concludes

Well, I have reached the end of the post race "noodle" week. One week of baconators (no wonder why Americans are so fat), ice cream and beer will get that out of my system. A week of partying comes to an end and I need to start getting serious about the switch over and organizing my schedule the next few weeks. I even stepped on the scale last night to give myself a scare, but it will be back to reality (after the BAA reception tomorrow night) with focus on diet and training. And ... I have another race in two weeks! Sudbury Sprint triathlon is 13 days away! I have done it again; 5 months of endurance stuff and now I try to switch over to fast, fast and more fast. It's a short race though - the shortest tri I will have ever done, so I might take the pressure off and do it as a hard workout (yeah, right). Unfortunately, no pictures yet. I'll still try to find some and ping those that got me on the course. My total workouts last week were a 20 min spin and a 2.5 trail run. I am going to start easing my way back this weekend hope to get a bonus long bike with this beautiful spring weather. Hope everyone has gotten some rest. I don't want to screw up again - I'm taking it easy and will ramp my way back into full blown IM training torture next few weeks. Looking back at the training numbers, I wouldn't change a thing. I will still come back next year and try for a new PR. On to the Kona or bust wagon for now. -Kyle

113th Boston Marathon 2009 Brings New PR!

This race report is simple; I had a great race, on a great day and felt great!

Time: 2:52:10 New Marathon PR !!!

The temperature was 43 degrees to start and 52 at Boston with some sun and clouds. The only negative was the head wind which got progressively worse toward Boston - with some very heavy gusts at times. I enjoy these conditions and will take this over a hot day like in 2004.

My pace was strong and very consistent. I only gave back time in the hills and with the headwind. The last mile was tough, but I still felt fast through the entire race.

I feel like this may be the comeback year for me. Also, great to see team-mate Mark Bell come back this year and score second for the BAA masters. I wish I could have found that other ten seconds, but I finish this one happy and content to have had my best race at age 43. My BAA-team did very well and we had quite a showing.

I have a renewed confidence in my running, now that I seem to have proven myself to be peaking in 2009. None of those other shorter races matter and I will be looking to find a non-Boston PR this year, probably at a smaller and easier marathon such as a Baystate, etc.

I will celebrate this race for the entire week! and then restart IM training next week with bike centric workouts.

That's it. I hope everyone had a great race! and congratulations to everyone that finished!!

I know look forward to a new IMLP PR this year and getting the family to Kona in October!

I will post some pictures when I get them.

-Kyle