Training for Rugged Maniac and other obstacle course run races
Looking for something a little different than the swim, bike and run of a triathlon, a few friends and I signed up for a Rugged Maniac race in Lake, CO in October. I had a lot of fun! Rugged Maniac is a 5km obstacle run race “designed by Navy SEALs” and is one of several new obstacle course events like Tough Mudder, Spartan Race and Warrior Dash that are sprouting up all over the U.S. A recent article for Outside Magazine states that last year as many as a million people ran obstacle races in the U.S. last year. So…what exactly is an “obstacle course...
Read MoreWhy climb up and down a mountain 5x on a Saturday? Well, why not…?
This past weekend, Mike Guzek and I ran up and down the Mt. Sanitas trail in Boulder five times climbing more than a mile vertically for a total of 15 miles. Why run up and down a trail five times? Well, why does a dog like to stick its head outside the window of a moving car? I honestly don’t know. The dog just does. I think we’re like the dogs in that regard. We’re both long time triathletes with a bunch of Ironman distance races under out belt so we like endurance activities. Mike had a found a website for Mt. Sanitas Records that showed record times for ascents,...
Read MoreDo you need a coach? How can you afford not to have one…?
I am afraid of heights but I liked to climb “things” as a child (I still have a scar on my chin and forehead as evidence) so I started indoor sport climbing a few months ago to try something after more than 15 years of being a triathlete. I have no illusions that I’ll ever become a climber like Chris Sharma, but I’d still like to become a “decent” climber (and quickly) so that’s why I’ve been taking classes every week (i.e. hiring coaches) at Boulder Rock Club. Hiring a coach helps me with four things: 1. I accelerate my learning curve....
Read MoreLearning to Climb Because I’m Afraid of Heights
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” — Anaïs Nin I started rock climbing because it’s new and because I’m afraid of heights. Walking over to the edge of “something” with a drop off (like a bridge or scenic overlook) makes me feel very uncomfortable. I hate to drive up mountainside roads with no guardrails. I’m learning to climb so that I can rule my fear so that it does not rule me. After a two months of indoor climbing and a single day outdoors, I am now just starting to appreciate how much I don’t know about...
Read MoreTriathlon Training Camp in the Canary Islands
Today is day 11 of my trip to Fuerteventura, an island in the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of northwest Africa, to help at German pro triathlete Olaf Sabatschus‘ triathlon training camp. As you can see from the picture, it’s quite nice here and the cool ocean feels wonderful after a long ride and run. I came to Olaf’s triathlon training camp for two weeks in March for two reasons: First, I wanted the experience of working at an international camp alongside one of the best triathletes in the world and his top notch staff. Olaf needed extra coaches to help lead the...
Read MoreMy Road Back to Kona: On Deck for 2010
When I raced at the Ironman World Championship in Kona in 2002, I suffered like a dog. I left with no immediate desire to come back. Just a few weeks prior to the race, I had broken the 9-hour mark in an Ironman for the first time at the inaugural Blue Devil Triathlon in Durham, NC. I put everything I had into that race and it left my physically, mentally and emotionally drained. At the time, Kona was a simply line item on my bucket list. Something I wanted to do just so I could “check the box” and say that I had race at Kona. My motivation was low and my body, after...
Read MoreSubscribe to My Blog
Recent comments