Panama half ironman on the radar

New Year begins in a week. What better way to break it in than with a gnarley hot and hilly half ironman? We have visited, traveled and raced in Panama three times. Each and every time traveling to the other side of the country for it. The Caribbean ocean side. Just getting to The Portobelo Triathlon from Panama City was a bit nuts. A journey in itself. An awesome journey through the towns of Colon, David and many tiny villages. Then compete in an even nuttier off road triathlon (only triathlon known to man that consisted of swimming to another island and back). Then  into the hot and hilly humid jungle with history of pirates, Spaniards and gold. The latter 3 were not present. But a one of a kind triathlon course was. Running past spider webs the size of a hockey rink. Which meant the spiders were most likely the size of a hockey player.
          The Portobelo triathlon unfortunately  is no longer. But they do now have a half ironman.  Starting smack in the Panama Canal. The 8th wonder of the world.
         I have not had a TT bike since my last full Di electronic DA bing badda boom Felt. Great bike just had more bling than I care for. A personal thing. Back to old school. I have enough electronic devices already. Even if only two.
         Just obtained the "sister" to my Giant TCR SL. Yes: Sister. This is the womens model. Same exact frameset Jodi races on just two sizes up. Little do most folk know there is not a bit of difference in the carbon, geometry, measurements, anything between the mens and womens Trinity.  Other than it has a  "W"  stamped on it. And I dig that factor. The bike came my way from Giant and I am stoked. I am going to be racing on a girls bike.

      Bike is down to the frame and I am building her up. Have a box full of good ol Dura Ace stuff along with earlier one piece 26.0 carbon bars, manual bar end shifters, Selle Flight saddle, good ol tubulars with rear disc and front tri spoke. I estimate her twiggy weight to be approximately 17 lbs.when finished. On a build that worked best back in the day. And will work best now. IMO.
Destination: Panama. Por favor.      .

Races around here just about every weekend. Best training there is!

Jodi rocked the mountain bike race last Sunday. Here she is mixing it up with the big boys for a bit. Incredible how she comes off a stellar Ironman performance just last month to winning some local sprint tri's and and XC mtn. bike races as well.
                I am digging this pic a little bit because I know I "typically" come out of the water @ our local Bonelli Tri  anywhere from 10 to 20th place. This last race had me 25th out of h2O (no wetsuit for me) Passed 22 mostly TT- set- up- cyclists (ahem, on my standard road bike)  to enter the bike to run transition in 3rd place. Ran 6:10 miles for the 5K to hold onto 4th overall with 1st division. Bring on 2014 and 55!!!

Los Angeles Tri season round up

Jodi and I sealed up the 4th and final L.A. Tri Series going undefeated this season in our divisions this past Sunday. These pics are of us being called up a 2nd time as top five overall  as well. Against some serious youth. Congrats to all finishers and thank you Tri Events for yet another stellar display of race directing.

Triple Crown Series race # 1 @ Bonelli Park this a.m.

Six Hour Endurance race two weeks ago @ Bonelli for Jodi and I. First race of the Triple Crown this morning again there. Now the first race of Los Angeles Triathlon Series next weekend @ Bonelli too. That Makes a Bonelli sandwich.

Good friend Pavel came out last night and he, Jodi and I had some good laughs at dinner. I thought it best being they included the some what gnarley rock garden  descent maybe Jodi sit this one out. Her decision. I think she made the right one. Some carnage on that section today.

 Corey from Coates Cyclery donated huge for the raffles. People were stoked. Heck wish I would have won something. Al and Omar did what they do: Put on a great event. Big names and teams showed up. Tinker Juarez winning over all. Pavel 2nd in Cat2 division (formerly sport div.) I was very stoked with 3rd Cat 1 division (formerly expert div.) Racing Cat 1 you are guaranteed an extra lap or two. That and monster competition. Team Platinum Cycling/Sho Air were everywhere. The two finishing ahead of me were and I know there  were some close behind. Big team and from what I experienced nice (and damn fast) guys. Their high end Specialized steeds were everywhere. The other Sho Air team were racing Cannondales. Guaranteed you see them wearing the team kit with the team bike they would be hauling ass.
       Safe to say Pavel and I were the only two sporting Kona bikes out there today. And safe to say the only two from Coates Bicycles. Podium for both in the mostly one-dimensional mountain bike racers' arena.

Not bad for a couple mature multi sport triathletes..........................................
 

Inter Bike Convention Las Vegas 2013

Inter Bike this past week as usual was huge. Personally about few hundred thousand people more than I care to be around. But lots of eye candy to be seen in the exibits. The big guns are there and are there to impress. I was stoked to have a few sponsors displaying an image of yours truly. Hammer Nutrition had a nice shot of me from the Furnace Creek 508 race last year. Xterra had me in their catalogue. Just kinda cool when you have a few close buddies from the bike shops shmoozing with you along the isles and you can stop and say: "Hey. I know that dude"   : )

Saturday Suffer-fest

 Al and Omar put on a spectacular event. The turnout was much larger than they anticipated. That's a good thing and they deserve it.  My guess is 3/4's of the field raced team category. I do not know which would be tougher: Scaling back 25% effort and see how many laps you can do in 6 hours solo. Or team up and race it like a freakin' time trial. We learned  fast from the other teams that the transition wrist band / hand off/  delivery is done on- the- fly.

     We completed 10 laps. Jodi was the star on this one. Competition was stupid hard. (that's me whining right now). Pin it, red line it, WFO every lap. In lovely 100 degree Inland Empire weather. You can see the salt deposits on Jodi's kit. Salt I would liked to have had mid into my 4th lap. 

I love this shot of her closing in and soon passing this fellow young competitor. Hooks up on his wheel and then taking the inside on the corner. The other pic would be me. Suffering. But then so was everybody else. 

          We took first place Expert coed team. Narrowly. Battle from the start to finish. And this one is all credit to Jodi. I was damage control when the temp hit triple digits. Cramps suck. But this race and everyone in it didn't. Great atmosphere. Great sportsmanship. Great event. Thanks to all who volunteered. See you next year. With some extra sodium.

            

  

6 hour Endurance Mountain Bike Race this Saturday @ Bonelli Park!!!!

It starts at 9 a.m.  Multiple fun up and down 6 mile loops. For six hours. You can race day sign up. Several categories for all. Going to be a hot one. Bring fluids that you can leave in your pit area.
              Dug up this vintage pic from a Bonelli race. Racing on one of THEEE first single speeds let loose in the area back in the day. It was a Cannondale 1FG. Which stood for one fu#^=ing gear. I remember it well. And I dug it. C'Dale headshock. Lockout at your fingertips. Mechanical disc brakes. Simple. Light. Fast.  Oh and those now pretty much obsolete 26" wheels! Sure worked though.

Tuff Races behind Tough races ahead

With Nutty/brutal Mt. Baldy Time Trial race to the ski lifts done. Even nuttier so the off road Snow Valley duathlon run/bike/run done:  Jodi's long haul/by/herself/roadtrip to Ironman Canada Whistler all behind us (all in the same month)  It is time to chill just a tad. Chill as in still swim around the O'Side Pier. Run the sand to Carlsbad and back. Still bump out a hard ride here in our local San Gabriels.......... With a few potential Hawaiian World Championship triathlon races coming up, being slack ain't happening right now.
      But do get in some dang good surf sessions and long open water swims every time we are down in Oceanside. This shot taken by Robert L. from the O'Side pier Saturday eve. Take off. Bottom turn. Pull into the tube. Repeat. Stoked. Big. No pressure. Good vibes.

Jet Settin' Jodi departing for Whislter Canada

She has trained properly. Tapered correctly. I just packed her bike. It's off to the airport where I will drop her curb-side. It's all good. It's just that 99.9% of the time we travel and race together.  With us down to one lab from the last of three we can not leave our little 'ol girl Roxy without one of us here. Having her failing sucks 100% more than me not going on this trip. Jodi is a great traveler, experienced world wide competitor and will be just fine. And ready to rock the Ironman course. Go girl. We will be with you the whole way.

Hotter Than Hell Mt. Baldy Time Trial his morning

That's one demanding climb. Very much so with the words Time Trial attached to it. Just as long, just as steep as last year. 2012 I took  1st place  category with one hour 16 minutes. This year one minute and 36 seconds faster ( I attribute it to the cooler temp albeit hot as hell still)  Good stuff. Done in my 11-23 cassette. A glutton for punishment yes. Racing attendance seemed double in size. Yet I seen VERY few locals. Wonder why that is? Can't seem to quite figure that one out. Show up. Clip in. Head up the mountain. See what you can do. 

                                                                   Nice going David Robertson. Nice going Scott Palmer. Thanks Robert L and thank you T. for the awesome moral support and pics..and ice freeze down the back of jersey 

Mt. Baldy Time trial: Ironman warm up

This is Jodi just ripping Mt. Baldy TT up last year. If you are familiar whatsoever you know any and every segment is brutal steep. May be the toughest climb in Cali. At least one of 'em. The TT is again happening this Saturday. With Ironman Canada up for Jodi in two weeks she will actually race her TT bike up it this weekend for kicks. Certainly not a TT bike course. But after hammering up this this beast, Whistler will certainly feel a little tamer.

Xterra Duathlon Snow Valley

Gary and Carla McMurtrey and their whole team from Inland Inferno put on the one of the best races in California. They offer the longer tri race, the shorter race, trail run races and the off road biathlon. Biathlon like mid 80's biathlon: Run/bike/run. Only this is off road. At 7500' elevation.

           Thanks to all the crew, volunteers, new friend Paul Hubbell  (dude built like a tank on the left) who made it one heck of a fun and challenging day. He and I battled from start to finish.

           Great to see long endurance/athlete/guru Paul Romero today also. You rocked it. Jodi rocked it. The Carnahans rocked it. Jeff Henley rocked it. John Skelton won his division. Anyone and everyone who did this monster of a course rocked it today. 

           The McMurtreys put a huge amount of love and effort into this event.( the awards must have taken a week each to make)

 Because that's who they are and what they are all about. Only wish it was more common these days..

         

Ironman coming up for Jodi

Banged out well over a half dozen races out of the gates so far in 2013. Mountain bike races. Some Xterra off road tri's and a handful of road tri's. But as I as I have always said: There is no better training than racing itself. It's just another training day with that 10% extra effort. And we love to train. Hard. In the heat (5 hour day today in 105 degree furnace like air). On the most challenging terrain we can find around here. And we have some the best. The gnarlier the climbing the better.Yep a little nuts. Maybe a screw loose. Or maybe we just like going fast no matter what the conditions.

   Jodi has Ironman Canada in Whistler coming up. It is an inaugural. I think she may hold a course record for her age group from this Ironman when it was in Penticton, B.C. That was five years ago. She is now in a new and older age group. And she is faster and stronger than before. That's pretty cool. Yep. I think she will rock Whistler. We have been training big, long, hard and in the heat. Why?  Because that is what we do. Makes most any race course almost feel tame.(with exception of Kona and Maui) we do not wish to upset Pele'.   : )

Los Angeles Triathlon Series final

Race # 3 and final of the L.A. Series over and done. This event has grown dang big in the last couple of years. Saturday the park ran out of parking and had to steer athletes to outside on the public streets. Both Jodi and I went undefeated in category for the series and also placed top three overall series open division. Not too shabby for a couple of 50+ year olds. Train hard. Race harder. Be safe. Have fun. Thank the volunteers. Repeat.

One scarey fast little wahine

2nd place in Jodi's division went 6 hours and change @ the challenging and highly competitive Wildflower half Ironman triathlon yesterday. That is very a respectable time.
             Jodi finished in 5 hours and twenty seven minutes. That is a nutty fast respectable time. Looks like she set the course record in her division. And this race has been going on for 31 years.  She then hopped in the car and drove home. Didn't even stay for the awards. Arrived home @ midnight. Safe and sound. Thanks Alex and Lizette for your off the charts graciousness towards her.
            Jodi knew Pavel was meeting me in O'Side this morning for some manual labor and aloha giving towards our little nugget by the sea . Day after a pretty darn demanding race and she jumps right in the trenches. That's Jodi.  I talked her out of swimming around the pier with us though. There will be plenty of warm, calm, clear days coming up for that. So she took a few shots of us from above. Oceanside pier is the longest pier in the U.S. We think that is cool. We felt macho. No other nuts out there battling the rough seas with us today...........But all along knew the little wahine above us just schooled most men the day before. And probably would have done the same to us today.

Jodi Lynn going for the win!!!

Okay. I really don't care what place she finishes. First and foremost: Jodi completes her races safely. Second: She enjoys it. Third: I don't care what place she finishes(oh, I already said that).
        My wife is a little stud. 99 lbs. of muscle. 100% beautiful human being. 50+ in years. 50+ hours working as a nurse every week. And she still rips up any course there is to offer. Pictured here ripping up the Mt. Baldy time trial this past summer. Yes when most men stayed away from this event. Probably because it is the toughest 15 miles of climbing to be had around here.
        Jodi will be competing in the legendary Wildflower half Ironman a week from this weekend. My bet is she will rip that course up too. Don't matter to me. As long as she has a safe and sound race. And enjoys it.

Thank you to one of my best friends and photographers on the planet who took this shot. Jodi IMO is the female version of you. Fast, friendly and phenomenal.

Xterra La Vegas: Tough enough for an MMA fighter

Pre race briefing Friday they emphasized the bike course was dangerous (even though most courses are you do not hear them say that much}. "Due to torrential rain fall the dcesents are rock strewn and corners are very loose" They actually over-emphasized that. Many pulled out of full Xterra and chose to transfer to sprint distance. Good for them. Not only did someone get Heli Vac'd race day. Apparently someone pre riding the course a few days before.
       Okay so gotta have some fun to calm the pre race nerves. What better way than to dive into the 57 degree water wearing (walking) shorts only and challenge Pavel to a swim to buoys and back the day before race?

        We stayed at the host hotel and race morning we were able to rack our bikes in good spot early. It got L.A. traffic like jammed up in no time. But before that this nice and what I thought maybe a  new- to- Xterra young man asking me for a few pointers on the entry/exit transition. After sharing my thoughts with him and walking back to my spot more than one person stops me saying: "Do you know who that dude is"?
 I replied: "Nope".  "Well  that's Nick Diaz. Champion MMA Fighter" and stating  "Just watched him on pay per view cable last week fighting some French animal named St. Pierre". "That dude is one of the most gnarley fighters' in the world". "He is one bad ass", etc.
     Cool. But I do not watch cage fighting. But had to return for a photo after hearing that. Nick would kick my ass in any arena. Okay maybe not the Xterra arena. But then again, I wouldn't get in any other arena with him. Got home and looked up his fighting stats. Holy tomole'. Freakin' real deal.
    That's good friend Robert Little in H20 about to begin his wave. Mine was 3 minutes after his. I chose to launch off rocks. That's 3 races in 7 days for both of us. Red lining it the whole time. A 2nd place for myself last Saturday , first place Sunday and  4th today with the others in my division just mere few minutes ahead. Often I would ask myself what could I have done to make up those few minutes? Today, nothing. I gave it my all in this 3 hour pedal to the medal  freakin' hairy course of a race. And thank God uninjured.
             Prayers are with those so unfortunate and life- flighted out by helicopter. You never want to hear or worse,  see that. Especially when one is a girl.

Macca races LA Tri Event

So if all the stars are aligned chances are you finish with an Ironman World Champion Pro triathlete. With the two different courses merging on the last 5K of the run Chris McCormack runs up on me with approx one mile to finish. All his doing, he hangs back and paces me stride for stride to finish pretty much talking the whole time (him, not I,= no oxygen) and with 40 yards to go in his thick Aussie accent shouts: "let's sprint to the finish mate". Damn, I thought I was sprinting.

       Keep training. Keep racing. Keep a good attitude. Keep it fun. You never know what an event may bring....................and even more importantly: Thank the volunteers.

Racing back to back (not advised) : )

Off road (and a bit gnarley)  Xterra Renegade tri  @ Bonelli yesterday and then road tri today @ same park but on tame pavement. Top four overall pictured here from this a.m. Lots of youth here (excluding me :). Dillon took first handidly. Speaking of hands here he is shaking my duct tape wrist from yetserdays' ass over tea -kettle- tumble and it really smarts. Probably was not too smart racing today. Adrenaline is a potent chemical (hormone to be precise). Stoked with 2nd yesterday. First place today. Anthony Fogelstrtom here on the right. A real neat young man. Fast, humble and displays great sportsmanship. His father Joe was a good man, triathlete and looks as though his boys are following suit.
                 Jodi raced today as well and did the course with the extra few hundred yard swim an extra loop on the bike, same 5K run. After winning her division went out and ran like a nut for 10 miles as she has Wildflower 1/2 Ironman coming up. Oh and then the full Ironman in Canada. She is on target for some great races.
 Thank you Tri Events for putting on a spectacular triathlon. Your events just keep getting better. And better.