One Year Ago Today!

The Encinitas Sprint Triathlon is a great race for several of reasons, its organized, has a great location, and for some reason the waves seem to be decently sized come race day. I felt rested and strong and was ready to capture my first win of the year. This picture of the always fun pre-swim watch check before the horn goes off, evidently I never did hit the start button, I think I was a bit excited!

So the horn blew and I was in first place going into the 1/4 mile buoy, rounded the turn and feeling strong, (I have to remember that each of my top swim results always follow a good speed swim workout the night before the race, metal note, noted!) so I was on my way back into the "lineup" as we call it when we are surfing, and I looked back to see if I could catch a wave in. Only I was to far on the inside when a nice 4 foot wave came and broke right behind me, not good. If you surf or have ever tried you know that there is one place you don't want to be regardless if your paddling out or into a wave, and I was there! Only this was worse, because by the time I saw the wave it was to late to catch it, and to late to get out of its way, so I just did what all good surfers do, relaxed, held my breath, and waited for my well deserved body slam. After I came up now without my swim cap and goggles and looking for my next breath and wave to take that vary breath away again, I realized that I could almost stand so with one more wave to the head and a short burst of energy I body surfed in finishing the swim in 4th place.

On to the bike leg with busted tri bars? I was half way through my bike leg picking up two spots when I realized that every time I hit a small dip in the road my bars would drop, really not good! Carbon tri bars are not meant to be tightened down really tight because it compacts the carbon forcing them to break, but if they are loose and move, you can go down pretty quick, regardless I had a pretty strong bike leg which put me in 3rd going into the run.

And then there was the run...........

I felt weak at the beginning of the run, but started to feel stronger as the 3.1 miles persisted. I got to the final 400 yards when this guy in a red jersey slowly moved passed me on my right. I was not about to let this whole race go by and loose a spot in the final sprint, so I turned it on!

I have to admit that when he passed me at the top of the hill, I wasn't sure if I could stride it out to the finish with him, he was moving pretty good. But, when I saw the finish line I figured I would die trying, it just so happens that you always have a little left in tank if you are willing to hurt in order to tap into it. Here is the photo finish for 3rd place, I think I got him by 3 seconds. One year later, 5 spots and 4 min. faster thanks to Breakaway Training.......... I'll take it!

Cyclists are not cool, say who?

This is my family, starting from the left, Mike (Dad), Brad (Little Bro), Virginia (Step-Mom), Megan (Beautiful Sister), Me (Me), Mike (Big Brother, or should I say older!), Felicia (Sister in-law). This picture was taken at South DoHo, just north of San Clemente along our favorite ride "The Laguna Diego". See, most of my family live in Laguna Niguel, but Mike, Felicia and I live in San Diego, so we take the train up to Laguna and ride home with the family, its the best 52+ mile ride/race I say! Or as my Dad says, "its not a race"! But we all know he only says that because way back when, before baseball, softball, tennis, golf, or basketball tournaments, the old man was a VERY strong rider, like CAT1or2 strong, now NOT SO MUCH!! But I will have to say that he can still hold his own with the help of his "younger" stoker pushing him up the climbs, right Virginia!

Making Strides!

Spring Sprint 08', what a fun and fast race! Just one mix up and your out 2-3 spots, but that's what I love about the sprint distance.

My swim was terrible, I started out fast but just past the first buoy I got pinched between two other guys, trying to get around them, or in triathlon over them by pushing them down or to the side. I came out of the water 8th dizzy and struggling to catch my breath. To add insult to injury I had trouble with my helmet in the first of two transitions, I am not sure what happened, oh that's right, my ears are too big and when I tried to put on my aero helmet they kept getting caught, folding over and pinching the side of my head.

So regardless of my early struggles, I felt fairly strong on the bike leg passing 7 riders to now heading out of my second and fairly fast run transition into 2nd place. I could see the guy in first he was just 30 yards ahead, but there was a problem, I knew him, in fact I train with him 2 days a week and his strength is the run, me, not so much!

So how did I finish 3rd then you ask? Well I got passed by another guy in the run, not only did the winner pass me in the last 1.5 miles, but he passed my friend Matt Harder too! So Breakaway had a strong finish in the 30-34 age group with a Matt-Matt 2-3 finish!

I am making strides, my running is coming along....... all I need is to put together a strong overall race and the 1st place finish is not that far off. A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THAT CAME TO SUPPORT ME!

Lets Make a Difference!

Please help me make a small difference this year, visit my website, READ HOW IT WORKS, send me an email....... I will do the rest!!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=156947&supid=210838557

2008 Tri-ing to compete!

So last year was my first year in the world of Triathlon, and I learned a lot, yet humbled even more! This year is about trying to compete for the top spot in my new (now 30yrs of age) age group. I am told this is the toughest of age groups, yet it seems the top athletes are of all ages.

My focus this year is about having fun, surfing more, training the same or smarter and harder, leaving time for nights of beach bocce and beers, and winning. I have to say my training has been cut short on the run side due to an IT Band issue, but that is not an excuse for my 49min. 10k I ran at the Inaugural Superseal Triathlon. I think for the first time in any race I stopped running, not once, but 4 times because my feet were so tore up. I had to stop to pull the skin off and poor water in my shoes to try and wash the sand and blood off my sockless feet, lesson learned..... new shoes + no socks = trouble! But somehow I still finished 3rd ag? Must of been a lack of good athletes so early in the season!

2007 Recap

-Encinitas Sprint: 8th ag

-San Diego Intl Sprint: 1st ag

-Donner Lake Sprint: 2nd ag (4th overll)

-Solana Beach Sprint: 5th ag

-Imperial Sprint: 7th ag

-Paicfic Coast Sprint: 4th ag

-Mission Beach Sprint: 2nd ag

-KOZ Points Champion 1st Overall

Goal #2, Check!

So now that I reached my 1st goal I had to come to the table with another one! "Im going to win a race this year, hey you said it Barney, you have to do it at least once in your life!" So I have this theory that if you set goals and don't announce them to those you love and respect, your chances of reaching your goal is far less. Something about accountability and not delivering on what you say keeps you focused, again, just a theory!

Anyway, my next race was the San Diego Intl. (Sprint Distance) keep that in mind, sprint distance........ So I warm up with my brother, visualize my T1 and T2 (1st and 2nd Transitions) and walk to the water for the start of the race. This race is large enough that most "real" triathletes do the international distance which is longer then the sprint distance, but also, I get to race in the same heat as my younger brother. So get this, I beat him out of the water for the first time, and the last as of yet! But the picture shows the outcome, my 1st win (age group), goal #2 check! Thanks Brad, you inspired me then, and you inspire me everyday, I love you brother!

How it all started.....

I have 3 brothers and 1 beautiful sister, of those 3 brothers 1 of them has a screw loose, one has a team of 3 little groms that take up most of his time, and the last one enjoys inflicting pain on those around him that are foolish enough to follow him. By process of elimination that make me the foolish one, or am I?

The reality is when I was younger I excelled in two sports, baseball and golf, neither requiring much endurance. But just one year ago my youngest brother Brad challenged me to race in a triathlon with him, "just sign up Barny" and "you have to do at least one in your life time" I remember his words being. So, me being the anything you can do I can do better (which has proven itself time and time again, as far as I know) signed up and started training. No wait, I bought a bike then signed up and started training.

Encinitas or bust! My first triathlon was the 2007 Encinitas Triathlon, Encinitas CA. just 5 min. from my house. My goal was to finish in the top 10 in my age group, only I had never really spent any time swimming, riding, or running for that matter. I think I ran the mile in just under 7 min. back in high school then threw up once! Anyway, I trained, and swam, and ran, and road, and week in and weekend out got my ass handed to me by my younger brother. But when race time came I was ready, I had no idea what to do, other then go as fast as I could for as long as I could. I finished 8th..... goal accomplished, door opened, addiction started!