Carlos Solis Team CNN

It was only 6 months ago CNN contacted myself inquiring if I would be interested in training an individual for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon. A race that will be held this Sunday. Yes Carlos Solis, a once overweight, hypertensive and type 2 diabetic is ready and will be competing along with 6 other CNN Team FitNation athletes from around the country this weekend.
         Carlos is ready. He will accomplish this. And he will then continue on with his new healthier lifestyle. Sharing his message. Being an example. He is one awesome individual. Good luck Carlos and all the CNN FitNation team this Sunday. See you at the party Sunday night!

Xterra World Championships 2012

Xterra Worlds coming up fast. Heck these past dozen years went fast! Speaking of fast. Fast is fun. I like being fit to go fast. I like training hard to go fast. As does Jodi. So looking forward to it. Sure several hundred other fit, fast and hungry competitors from dozens of other countries will be in attendance. That just makes it all the funner. Train hard. Go fast.

Hot and Helly Mt. Baldy Time Trial

Okay that hurt. 70 racers went off in typical time trial fashion every 30 seconds. Mt. Baldy is flat out known to be one of the steepest climbs in California. Someone said it was 100 degrees today. Humid too. 12 miles straight up 5K elevation. I have to admit: I loved it. It hurt. A lot. I raced 45+ category and placed 1st. Stoked with that being that I am playing in the mostly one dimensional road racer playground. That and I am a hell of lot closer to 55 than 45. Jodi rocked and placed third in womens Cat 1/2. Very impressive. Robert Little has big cajones and unlike many others.............showed up and raced it. Placing a very respectable 5th. Up until 6 months ago he was triathlete only. I persuaded him to invest in a road bike for training and here he is racing. Well at that. Congratulations to everyone who even attempted this beast. Finished or not.

Mt. Baldy Time Trial this Saturday!!!!

Challenging? Yeah. 12 miles straight up thru Baldy Village and  then on up the switchbacks and finish at ski lifts. This is probably thee toughest climb in So Cal. Now you can race up it!!! Here is Jodi about quarter way up ducking thru one of the tunnels. www.backontrack.com website for info. Finish line is well over 6000'. Yay!

        This will be a sufferfest. Be prepared to get your hurt on!

Great day at Xterra Snow Valley

Great road trip. Seven athletes competing. Seven went up in Coates Team Van. Seven came home with hardware. Everyone rocked the challenging course most beating their competitors in their division. Jodi and I both took 1st place male and female overall in the Xterra duathlon. Robert, Alex, Devon, Jeff 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their division. Scott and Tami teamed up as a relay winning their division as well. I hope this race sticks around for years to come. Congrats to all who attempted and/or finished this challenging course!

Carlos CNN Team Member

Carlos' training today consisted of pure open water beach starts/ 400 yard repeats. Nice having the Steamboat triathlon swim course open for him to train. These awesome Bonelli lifeguards were troopers and joined in on the fun. He is getting comfortable with the hands, feet and elbows that a mass swim start entails. With his big event approaching fast he is right on course. Actually a little ahead..............
             

We're baaaackk...........

2012 brought lots of fast racing out of the gates. I figure a dozen  race competitions or more already. Big ones too. All of the Los Angeles Triathlon Series, an Xterra in California, Xterra in Nevada, Xterra in Alabama and half Ironman in Texas and then toss in a few other local fast races and well,  that's a lot.
          With a few World Championships coming up in October (oh and the Furnace Creek 508 mile bike race) it is time to start crackin' again. Not that we stopped crackin' but nice to just train aimlessly sometimes as recently have.
          TriEvents just sent us our schwag for 1) both winning the overall title for the Express series. 2) double whammy that we are the first couple. 3) Bigger whammy that we are both in our fifties....... Fifty? So what. I train like I always have these last 27 years. And the race outcomes (and times) thus far are staying close to to the same. Not going to change anything now.....................

         TriEvents asked Jodi and I if we would like to put on a little triathlon clinic prior to their October race. Initially I figured we already had too much going on. But after a few days something again is having me lean towards paying it forward. I have been given huge amounts of good from the sport. Huge. No larger than huge. Going to pay it forward. So keep your eyes for a one of a kind clinic coming up. From a pretty cool couple. Whom have both qualified for a Triathlon World Championship this year. Don't know how many that makes. But I guess we are doing something right. Hope to see you soon...............................................