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.

Tagged for Random Things About Myself

Charlie has tagged me for random things about myself. Below is my top 10 list.


(10) I'm 29 years old.

(9) My age is how I feel.

(8) I was born in same hospital as 43rd President of the United States.

(7) My parents are both from NYC.

(6) I wear Under Armour black boxer briefs during training.

(5 ) I had turtle as a pet when in grade school.

(4) When I was 5 years old I had blond hair and a button nose.

(3) I never had a mullet haircut.

(2) I'm a fake news junkie - Daily Show and Colbert Report.

(1) My favorite weather is sunny and 75 degrees.


I will tag Bloggister, JenuineIMExperience and Papa Louie.

Your it.

Cleveland Half Marathon - Race Report

(Above Photo from Left to Right: Cathrine, Charlie, Jack, Rob)

I had a fun experience at race. My results for Cleveland Half Marathon: (01:48:17, 8:15 pace). First time I ever ran over 9 miles. For the past 3 weeks I jumped my training miles from 6 to 9 miles. That helped a lot on Sunday morning. Watching "Batman Begins" movie right before I went to bed on Saturday night put me in right mood for the big race.

Temperature and racing conditions were almost perfect for race: 55-60 degrees, light wind and overcast skies. I thought volunteers handing out water on Half Marathon course were great. Big thanks to those folks!!! Nice to run with speedy CTC members for part of the race, like Charlie and Jack. They kept my running pace at a good clip when I started to fade at mile 9. Last 2 miles and at the finish line I felt strong. Glad they had recovery food and friendly faces at finish.

Cleveland Marathon race courses are scenic. Devils in the details - the way-finding course graphics were not well thought out. For the high cost of race I'd expect better. Race course needs very large visible arrows on every turn. If the herd or pace car goes wrong way everyone does. Example: Sundays 10K distance. International airports are best examples of way-finding graphics, I suggest race directors study these and get inspired.

Cleveland Half Marathon was perfect training for my 2007 "A" race: Greater Cleveland Triathlon - Half Ultra.

Mount Si - Trail Run

Mount Si Trailhead - May 9, 2007
This mountain range was made famous on the Twin Peaks television show. 8 mile mountain trail run on Mount Si. 4 tough miles up the mountain and 4 easy miles down. I've been training hard for Cleveland Half Marathon - this challenging course will help on Sunday.

Swimming - First Outdoor of 2007

Federal Way, Washington - May 7, 2007
First outdoor training swim of the season. It was sunny and 75 in Seattle. My swim in Federal Way's chilly Steel Lake was warm and toasty using the right equipment - 2007 Orca Sonar wetsuit. After 6 years doing triathlons I finally bought a wetsuit. This is first time I used it. Surprised how buoyant it's on water surface. Very hot in the sun too. By the way, Steel Lake lake is third stop of four-city National Series for a one of a kind, women only USAT triathlon sponsored by Suburu in the end of summer. My cousins house has scenic view of Steel lake from there rear deck. After my second cousin Brian took wetsuit photos we all went to his confirmation and after party to celebrate.