Racing as a Pro: Day One

Today I received my card from USA Triathlon.  I am going to race as a professional for at least the next three years.

I wanted to mark this one down on the blog so that I can remember exactly what day I got it.

I will be resuming my training log (including last weeks work) and will do a short write-up on NOLA 70.3 in the coming days.


Thank you to everyone who helped me get here.  I'm really looking forward to racing and learning from the big guys.

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 23rd, 2015 - Week #10: Moving forward

In Life: Spring is still treating us very well here in Boulder.  The weather has been glorious and the longer days are awesome.

I purchased a new cruiser bike for Beth and BBQ number one of 2015 was done on Saturday over at my in-laws place.



In Training:  My swim feels pretty good.  I am still swimming very low yardage, but very consistently.  I am able to get in 1k plus per day over my super short lunch period from work and it's getting the job done.

The bike is good.  I hit a new hour record wattage during a workout on Sunday - 282w AP.  I would estimate that my FTP is around 295w right now.  I'm cool with that.

The run is eh.  Not great, but holding together.  I have not focused much on this in training over the past few months.  I will see how this treats me in NOLA in a few weeks.  I'm hoping increased bike focus will help aid in a good run.  I would like to run a 1:22 - 1:24 there.


Weekly Totals:
Swim: 7,300 yds 
Bike: 641 TSS - 8+ hours on trainer/outside
Run: 32 miles 

Got Beth a new cruiser.  The whole bike cost less than half of what my racing saddle did.

First BBQ of the season to celebrate my mother in laws birthday

Ziggy is Marley's (our little black/tan dog) brother

Mom and Dad checking in from somewhere in Africa

Dad with a beer and some hippos in the back

New hour record workout. 

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 16th, 2015 - Week #9: Four weeks to first 2015 race

In Life:  Mom and Dad were in Africa this past week and Beth and I got by in Boulder.  After a tough week last one, it was a rather uneventful few days for the week of 3/16.

Spring has sprung and life moves on.


In Training:  I was planning on getting in a few 50+ mile run weeks, but have failed to do so in prep for my first race of the season down in New Orleans.

Since Kona, I have focused on my cycling and have held less than 40 miles per week more often than being over.  This is a first and I am hoping to see a stronger swim/bike translate into a better run.

In the past, I have usually done a long run focus over the winter.  This year it has been consistency and time on the bike instead.



Weekly Totals:
Swim: 7,200 yds 
Bike: 526 TSS - 7+ hours all on trainer
Run: 38 miles 

Looks like a zoo.  Not a zoo.

Swim lessons on Thursday with Aiden

Aiden has been riding his bike a lot.

Weekly Training Log: Week of March 9th, 2015 - Week #8: A tough one.

In Life:  Beth and I had a very tough and emotional week.  I will leave it at that and move on.

My parents also took off to head over to explore the continent of Africa for a few weeks.  I am wishing them safety and good times.  Im also looking forward to having them around Boulder over the next couple of months.

Spring/early summer in Boulder is the greatest time of year.



In Training:  I took one day fully off and one day with a very short swim (so, essentially two days off) over this past week.  Despite two days off, I was able to get in a fair amount of work and was happy with how last week shaped up.  Swim is still very low, but my background as a swimmer has been helping me out. 5 to 10 x 100's on 1:15 is not very tough for me to hold.  Hopefully I will easily be holding 100's on the 1:10 by next month.

I remember doing 15,000 - 18,000 meter days as a swimmer.  Doing less than 5k per WEEK would seem like a joke.  But, I guess I am quite a different athlete now.

I am also a hell of a lot slower in the pool now too.  Specificity I guess.  I can be mediocre at three sports, do them all in a row, and call myself elite.

....


Anyways, my fitness and ability to do the work is there, but my top end does not want to get much higher at the moment.  It's possible that it was due to the stresses of last week, or that I am at the upper limits of volume and intensity that I can hold while working a full time job and trying to be a dad/husband.

It's a bit frustrating right now not to hit those new training highs, but I am hoping to see some good results when I hop back into races in the near future.

That short four mile race on valentines day (where I set a 5k pr) does give me hope in what I am doing.


Weekly Totals:
Swim: 4,350 yds 
Bike: 546 TSS - 7.3+ hours all on trainer
Run: 31 miles 

Dropped Mom and Dad off. Bus ride then off to South Africa.

Continued to take Aiden swimming.  I have been taking him to lessons and also swimming with me.

I have a new hat that Aiden likes.

This is our third dog - Marley.  He is essentially Aidens dog.  Puts up with tons of abuse and plays well.  He is a blessing and a little bit of a curse ;)