ULTRA RUNNING BAREFOOT

After signing up for the North Face Endurance Challenge San Francisco  (50 mi) I realized I wanted to also sign up for the Ultra Trail Marathon du Mont-Blanc (100 mi) in 2012. While the NFEC is in December 2011 in San Francisco I need to accumulate 5 points to qualify for the UTMB. This means that I need to run (and finish!) the NFEC and probably a 100 km run (62 mi) or a 100 mi run (not quite ready for that yet – eventually ran Rio Del Lago 100 mi). This post is about Ultra Running Barefoot! 

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SILVERMAN 2010 RACE REPORT

On 11.7.2010 I participated in Silverman for the second time.

Last year I crashed on the bike as my front tire blew out one third into the Government Wash descent, 15 mi into the bike leg. I was grounded for a while maybe 45 min to an hour and miraculously an athlete pulled over and gave me the tube I needed (I had packed the wrong type). Although in a lot of pain I was able to make the 17:00 bike cut-off time and finish the event with a over 5hr marathon.

This year for my third iron event I fine-tuned nutrition, preparation and training was what it was considering we moved to a new house one week before the event and that the year 2010 was very stressful on many fronts. I made it to the start pretty rested and ready. The drive from LA to Henderson was pleasant, the venue hotel near the swim start and T1. Perfect weather with 69F water in Lake Las Vegas, 74F air temp with some overcast. This sounds like a dream of a triathlon day!

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TRIATHLON RELAY RUN

The Eurotrashers relay team earned a #2 spot in their age group at  Vineman in Sonoma, California on July 31, 2010. Here I will give advice about the Triathlon Relay Run! 

Fabian Kremkus did a great time in the 2.4mi swim in the Russian River, Stuart McDougal delivered an efficient 112mi ride and Arno Kroner ran a marathon (26.1 mi) in 83F heat (a bit vomiting, not sure why). Good job everyone!

Surfing wetsuits, marshmallows, and speedos do get results! There have been talks of a silver medal with the engraving: “Eurotrashers Are Almost The Best”.

Now what about running in a triathlon relay team? I have done a fair amount of running in triathlon teams, individually and in the Disney Triteam. We did win some medals in relays (we might have to collect an extra medal at Vineman now!). Being a runner in the Disney team at Alcatraz I gained my first exposure to the fun of triathlon and it got me hooked to the sport.

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SILVERMAN 2009 RACE REPORT

If that’s any use to another long course triathlete here a not-so-brief account of Silverman in which i raced on Sunday.

This race was awesome from the registration on Friday, a very nice and mellow expo with decent stuff. And an amazing swag bag (incl. the bag!). No big ironman supermarket which is cool too sometimes. Wholefoods near the main race area and a shuttle right at the back of the hotel (i recommend staying at the Hilton garden inn because it’s not smoky unlike casino hotels). 

On Saturday morning an opulent breakfast cooked by Mormon volunteers, no crowds, the great spirit among the athletes, the volunteers and the organizers. it almost feels like everyone is really doing this together. The weather is perfect. Racing heaven!

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Ironman Coeur d’Alene 2009

We got there on Wednesday night and went straight to the cabin (on the east side of the lake). Nice house with a view and a dock. Ready for Ironman Coeur d’Alene 2009 ! 

Thursday morning was all about a first swim in the choppy lake (not cold at 63 degrees though). Swallowed a lot of water but not too bad. Registration at 10 am. It was pretty exciting to visit the expo, see the top bikes and buy some IM stuff. Everyone wearing Mdot temporary tattoos. Then a short run in the mountains, a little out of breath because of the altitude.

After a quick swim in the lake at the house, we went to drive the bike course. The area of the course with the hills around Hayden lake is gorgeous. Rest is a bit of CDA lakefront, farm roads, and freeway and city. Not too hilly by my standards.

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