I'm a debatable gentleman and endurance sport activist living in Los Angeles. Here, we'll talk about the second of those two things...
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Ironman 70.3 California - #2 AG - 4:27
One step at a time. I’m convinced it’s the best and only way to approach this. I had never been on an Ironman 70.3 AG podium before so this was special. I’m proud of the effort that happened today against a tough, tough field. Anything called Ironman in California is guaranteed to be a dogfight from top to bottom, as much as any other world vicinity.
I’m not one for beat by beats, so the swim felt strong, and fast, and I was excited to put up a fast time until I saw it took me 31 minutes to get through the 1.2. Maybe the conditions were tougher than I thought? There were big waves past the breakers, and lots of people to move through. All I know is that I kept on thinking how proud Gerry was going to be with my blazing time and then…well, not so blazing. But that doesn’t really mean anything. I finished 17th in my AG. Without Tower 26 for the past 4 months, I would have placed somewhere in the 50’s, and timed somewhere in the 34’s. No doubt about it.
Bike was solid, run was a little better. #4 - 2:25 and #3 - 1:24 in AG, respectively. I’m still surprised they’ve evened out, as I feel like I should be gaining more ground on the bike. Eventually, that’ll come true. Eventually, the bike leaps I make will overtake the run. Eventually, I’ll be the anomaly bike split in the group, like the guy who rode a 2:17 today. By then, I’ll be ready to move on. All in time.
But this was a step. I’m able to go to my chart for 2012 and cross off a podium finish. For that, I’m proud and content. Tonight. Maybe even tomorrow. But there are many steps ahead, and every step is tougher…in some cases MUCH tougher. Why that is so beautiful to me, I’ll never be able to explain.
Last but hugely important — I want to give a big thanks for Hammer Nutrition for creating a line of products I would be lost without, also for the continuing support. You guys reached in and lifted me up in a time of need and I will not soon forget it. I just hope you’re ready for what’s coming…
I consider myself very fortunate to be one of Hammer Nutrition’s sponsored athletes during the 2012 campaign. Their products are second to none, and literally make me a better athlete EVERY DAY. So here’s the deal, if you’re a new customer, and use the referral #195398 and Reilly Smith on the checkout page, they’ll give 15% off the order once it is processed (note - the discounts aren’t reflected until you get a confirmation e-mail about a day later). Stay with me though…
They also take 20% from the value of your order and credit it to MY account so I get free product in exchange for being a brand ambassador. Since I believe in this company and the people and products behind it WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, I will either write you a check for the 20% and put it in the mail, or transfer the amount through PayPal. For real. You just have to trust me, and e-mail me your info through Tumblr. This only applies for the first order of a new customer though, so go big. I’ve tried everything nutrition wise on the endurance circuit and honestly, nothing comes close. Think about it - they deal extensively with demanding athletes and are fully accountable for everything they sell. Go ahead and call them. They’ll prove it.
Products I Live By:
Perpetuem: For long rides or bricks that go over 2 hours.
Recoverite: Post workout recovery. +Glutamine
Whey: Post workout recovery, also great right before bed or middle of the night. ++Glutamine
Gels: During workouts. Mix well with water.
Endurolytes: Pills for cramping or after LONG days. Mix well with everything.
Premium Insurance Caps/Mito Caps/Race Caps Supreme: For me, this combo replaced and enhanced my entire vitamin line. Ingredients listed on the website. You’ll be FULLY covered.
Tissue Rejuvenator: Replaced and enhanced everything I took for joints and mobility.
Desert International Triathlon - 1:54:06 — #1 30-34 — #11 Overall
Perfect morning for a race in La Quinta. Nice set up for Oceanside. It’s hard to know what to expect from a race like this - who is going to show up from deep and talented SoCal, also who is going to race AG/Elite. The first thing I wanted was to finish a CLEAN race, as Panama and the next several training rides seemed to all bust for random and odd reasons. So yes, this was good. I wanted to ride hard and still run a sub-6, that was it. My paces were 25mph/5:43, so I’m good with those, even though I need to get to a place where no one beats me on the bike - and maybe should have already been there on a day like today. It’s nice to win the age group and see #1 next to my name, especially going into a major race, but this is no time to get carried away. Oceanside is real deal. When I start hanging #1’s up at real deal races, then I’ll have something to talk about…or I’ll just come up with a new and revolutionary way to minimize these efforts.
You Want To See Something REALLY Scary?
I had been losing sleep over a couple things, one of them was getting my new wheel set and bike taken care of before February 8th. Last year at Vegas, LA and Kona, I raced on a Zipp 1080/808. It was my first experience on deep carbons and they served me well enough, even if I didn’t race anywhere near superbly on them…but that was more a motor issue and not the machine. For whatever reason, something about them didn’t feel quite right. I think because I had bought them used, and because I lacked experience with their FEEL. If that sounds superstitious, it is…and I am. Blame it on 23 years on or around a baseball diamond.
Tomorrow, after double class and before Tower 26, I’m taking these new Firecrest 808/404 onto the PCH for a spin. On Sunday, we’ll go out again. We’re going to get a feel for each other, to learn about each other, to get on the same page before it’s time to perform in Panama on the morning of February 12th.
The other thing? I thought I had to rush out and somehow drop 400-600 on a wetsuit in time for Panama. Not the case. Water is Torque weather, low-80’s. So for now, I can hold out until Oceanside at the end of March.
And LAST, I had to drop off the Wattie Elite team so that I could race for Hammer Nutrition. I am so grateful for both the opportunities, but in the end, I can’t wait to throw down for a company like Hammer. I am massively reliant on the majority of their products and am hoping to take advantage of their wildly generous performance incentive program. Good luck Watties. See you on the circuit.
LA 13.1 - 1:20:39 — 24th Overall
Maybe I screwed this up because the race start was right down the street, but I showed up to the finish line at 6:20 looking for a cab to the 4 mile away start line in Venice before trying to hitchhike before getting in my car and speeding back to the start line, parking, getting there at 6:52 before I found out we were starting 15 minutes late.
I went out looking to hold a 6:15 pace. Started around there before trickling into the 6:08’s and 6:09’s. There was a point where I knew I had a shot to break 1:20, obviously more a mental victory than anything, before I saw the hill coming between 9 and 10 and started reciting the end of every Scooby Doo episode where the henchmen would have gotten away with everything if it weren’t for those damn kids. My head was the henchmen, its aim was the hill - I would have gotten away with a sub 1:20 if it weren’t for that damn thing. That was my dialogue those last 3.5 or so. Still, the last mile was in the 5:40’s and I am pleased. To say this isn’t a massive jump would be dishonest. Also dishonest would be to say I’m not capable of a 1:15…after the first two legs of a 70.3. It would.
I crossed the finish line and started yelling for a cab. Somehow, after running down the middle of the street for 3 blocks, one appeared. He FLEW me back to my car in about 11 minutes. I drove another 8 and made it to teach my 9AM spin class 3 minutes late. Good thing because oh baby, did they bring it.
2012 — #1
Good luck to everyone chasing a finish line tomorrow.
Hammer First Order…
This came today in a big, big package. I’ve tried almost everything when it comes to race nutrition, and believe in this stuff more than anything. I wrote them in the off-season asking for help with sponsorship and was accepted. Even if they said no, this package still would have come. I love it all. It makes me comfortable looking at it. Right now, I’m an athlete trying to make an ambitious season possible. That means every dime I save on this goes to flights, or repairs, or fees. Huge.
And I didn’t even mention - this is a company run with so much class, it makes me feel like I should be a better person. Seriously.
This Is Happening, Almost At Fighting Weight…
And I’ll give you 6 meandering reasons how, because 29 lbs since October 9th has to hold clout in at least a handful of circles:
*1.5 servings of Hammer Recoverite immediately after every major workout - or 100-200 calories of something with a good carb/protein ratio that curbs the need for a HUGE recovery meal. We don’t need as much as we like to believe we do.
*Eyes on calories - get a counter and CHART (there are good, free apps) everything you eat. Not as punishment, but to understand the body and what goes into it.
*LOVE healthy food. Be inspired by it. It’ll make you feel and look better.
*Face a scale EVERY morning. Again for understanding. The body fluctuating isn’t a mystical thing. There’s always a cause/effect based on the decisions we make.
*ENJOY the process. Enjoy that it’s difficult. Enjoy that you’re doing something for yourself and no one else. Enjoy that dedication is a fine thing. You’re not missing out.
*Have a fierce desire to be great at whatever you do. Let that move you, and move you, and move you.
Ironman Kona…
I do believe that’s everything, which means I’m undoubtedly forgetting something. Tomorrow, my jet plane leaves for Hawaii, so I can race the race I’ve been following since I was a very young thing, the fabled Ironman Kona. At some point in my early childhood, this coming week was something I dreamt. Now it’s about to happen.
It’s been a long year. I got back from Southeast Asia last September and my first season in triathlon began with training and completing Ironman Cozumel before taking on Marathons in Los Angeles and Boston before Ironman St. George before Escape From Alcatraz, Vineman 70.3, Las Vegas 70.3 and the LA Triathlon before realization of Kona began to settle in. Tomorrow, I’m leaving for Kona. Tomorrow, I’m leaving for Kona. I understand my repetition.
I’ll try not to go overboard with dramatic reverence in the coming week, because even though I don’t belong there, I belong there, and need to behave in such a manner. From what I’ve gathered over the course of a lifetime, this course is deadly. To perform, I’ll have to walk a strong, delicate 10 hour line. If I slip, that line will grow, and grow, and grow. It’s rare for someone to get the opportunity on a single day to put their entire self into an endeavor. That’s the plan. That’s what Ironman is all about. Kona is the Super Bowl of Ironman races. Do the math…
What an honor.
