Munroe Falls Triathlon - Race Report

Munroe Falls Triathlon - Munroe Falls Metro Park
Munroe Falls, Ohio

The need for speed. Last years time at inaugural sprint race: 01:18:21. This years time even faster: 01:13:11. I knocked off 5 minutes. That's about 7 percent reduction in time. Happy about that fun fact. Focused the past 18 months on sports nutrition for endurance athletes. I attribute nutrition and New Vision indoor cycle training on fluid trainer throughout winter with the improvements. This years race conditions identical to last years: air temperature was 60 degrees, water temperature was 75 degrees and sky was sunny with light fog on surface of lake. Wetsuit was left at home for short 500 yard swim course. Wetsuit would have saved energy for the bike and run, but transition eats up any time savings. I felt decent on the swim - glad this years swim goggles have the gray lenses. Sun always blasts the eyes for early morning swims at this beautiful lake. Lake is infused with underwater springs, so there's warm and cold spots throughout. Transition went smoothly from swim to bike. 11 mile bike course is diverse - flats, hills, straight a ways and hairpin turns inside and outside the park. Recent hill training helped plenty during miles 3-6 of the bike course. Transition quick from bike to run. I felt tired from cycling for first half mile of 3 mile run. After that slight uphill for first half of lap 1 - the run course tapers downhill. My running groove was in gear. I really like the 250 downhill yards to finish line. Just like last year I flew by guys in my age group during this final stretch to finish line.

Scion Exposed - Race Report

Scion Exposed - Mid Ohio Race Track
Lexington, Ohio

Time to get my mental endurance revved up and into fifth gear. Day before Munroe Falls Triathlon - my first multisport race this season. Didn't want to use my physical endurance 24 hours before a triathlon. Scion had a free promotion with racing, food and cool giveaways at Mid Ohio Race Track. It's called Scion Exposed. So I drove 90 minutes to Lexington in my Scion tC and had a blast - luckily no crash! When I got to race track Scion owners had a special entrance. VIP treatment already was a good sign for what to expect from behind the course concrete crash wall. Came through the underpass bridge. Scion had set up a unique village with music, camping, bonfires and awards for best tuner cars. Scion brand is a lifestyle experience that promotes progressive art, sleek automotive design and jamming music with a beat. Scion at the Detroit Auto Show always has the best music blasting from it's exhibit display. After viewing the performance tuner cars and lunch it was green light for the auto race to begin. Glad I purchased the stainless steel OBX racing pedals and Scion iPod radio. My iPod radio was cranked. Gorillaz - Demon Days tunes rocked throughout race. 2 lap auto race lasted about 15 minutes. I stayed and finished in my poll position. Racer in front of myself almost crashed on the famous hairpin turn, but recovered. I snapped memorable photo's with my dashboard mounted digital camera. This Friday I leave for summer vacation. Meeting my cousin Scott from Seattle and friends in Germany's capital city of Berlin. Stoked now more than ever to drive the autoban!

18 Holes of Golf

Rotary Golf Tournament - Fox Den Golf Course
Stow, Ohio

First time out on the golf course this year. It's been 6 months since I was swinging a golf club last. Time to dust off my golf clubs and hit the links. Golf is a game of mental endurance. It's not in the league of race car driving or chess, but it's challenging to hit a ball 3-5 times 150-500 yards into a hole. Went out with my dad and 100 other golfers for team best ball. My golf mojo, hook and slice appeared during the sunny hot 90 degree weather. Was a lot of fun with awesome cookout afterwards. Horace on my team hit the closest ball from a tee on drive. See above photo of Horace with his 1 foot from hole drive. Hole in one wins $1,000 and bragging rights for a lifetime. Other photo my dad is letting out the shaft with a monster drive.