Austin

How could I come to Austin and not post this video. Great country song. So far the trip has been awesome and I am feeling ready to go.

Great Day

Things are looking good as I head into the last couple of races of the season. I picked up a win yesterday at a Half Marathon in Kelowna and got to meet one of my favorite singers Paul Brandt! He was running the full marathon. Awesome! It was a super cold day though as the temperature was -5 at race start. I am pumped for the next race.


With so many great Paul Brandt songs out there it was hard to pick one to post so, I'll post three. Yeah, I'm a country boy.

The other day I was talking to Jonathon Caron about what training is like in Penticton over the winter. He's been training down south in the heat for a while and forgot what it is like I guess. I was having a hard time describing it but then I saw a clip on TV that amazingly showed exactly what it is going to be like. It actually featured the both of us. Weird. Here is it.

A few notes,

I am working really hard to grow a Vanilla Ice like haircut.

If anyone knows where I can get a white full body suit let me know.

It looks like the Impact training center is getting a technological upgrade and Kevin is going to be showing up to workouts in a suit or lab coat.

The city of Penticton is going to install a punching bag on the side of the indoor track, awesome.

Which podium import line carries athletic breathable leather jackets? Orca?

What appears to be blatant steroid use is actually B vitamins and glucose... yeah I don't believe that one.

Jonny is going to get a lot of work done around his home this year.

Lastly I am not sure how this kind of training is going to help us as triathletes but we'll be intimidating to say the least.

On a serious note, training is going good, I definitely am going to have some fight in me for the last couple of races.

Ready to Rock

Two days till Lake Stevens and I am feeling ready. How do I know because Kurt Russell came to me in a dream last night dressed like Herb Brooks in Mircale. Here what he said,

Great moments...are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here at Lake Stevens. That's what you've earned here at Lake Stevens. One race. If we raced 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this race, not Sunday. Sunday, you swim with them. Sunday, you ride with them...and you run them down because you can! Tonight, You are the greatest triathlete in the world. You were born to be a triathlete. And you were meant to be there Sunday. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great triathletes the Australians have. Screw 'em. This is your time! Now go out there and take it!

In all seriousness though I am feeling really good and am excited to see how the race plays out. I am pumped to get ugly out there.

If you don't get the humor from earlier in the post here is the original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOSa-sdQswo

On the Road

Just like the Jack Kerouac classic tomorrow I am "on the road". We'll I don't think i am fooling anybody by pretending I have read the novel, but I have listened to the Audiobook so that counts for something. I am hitting the road tomorrow to recon the course for Lake Stevens. I am not sure where I am going to stay exactly, but I have put an air mattress and sleeping bag in the back of my van and we will see where I end up. Possibly the Wal Mart in Everett possibly some campsite. Who knows? That's what makes it exciting. After a couple days in The US I am planning on heading back to the UBC area to just chill lacks and get ready for the race.

I was right about something going wrong. I am nursing a bit of an ankle sprain after an unfortunate van cleaning accident. Marcus told me I need to make up a better story. so let me rephrase that. I am nursing an ankle sprain after an unfortunate mixed up with a cougar. I like mystery in that sentence. I am hoping this is the worst of my problems as I should be back at full training tomorrow. Other than that though I am ready to rock.

A little check list for the upcoming road trip:
Aviators check
Cowboy hat Check
Compression socks Check (yeah I am a tri geek)
Cassette tapes Check (limited supply though choices include Weird Al Yankovic food album and the Power of Love '91)
Super fast bike check
Kick Ass attitude Check

Well looks like I am ready to go.

Time to head off to an outdoor country concert. Jessie Ferrell is the lead act. I would like to post a video of hers but I am not really a fan. Instead I'll post my two favorite road trip songs.

This one goes out to the Carlos brothers as back at UBC we put together a CD of songs that all had the word California in title and this was the best one. We definitely rocked out to it on numerous occasion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Z7AUBLQ1A

The second is just a great song. From a great movie. I love the 80's hair from the guy in the video. That's a look I should go for. Tempting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1a_ikfUico

Quick Update

Training has been rolling along great. Rode for longer than I ever had. Ran some solid sets. Feeling like I am putting some good hay in the barn. To misquote my university track coach today's workout was 10x1k and I wanted it..... well done. mission accomplished. I am feeling right now like something has to go wrong. The race is approaching and things are going nice and smooth. That never seems to happen. I guess this means it's going to be a good one.

Here's a classic song that came on my Ipod today and got me pumped. Usually I like songs with strong lyrical content. This definitely does not fit that description. It did however take me back to my days of singing on High School X-Country road trips. One of these days I gotta learn the dance. Hopefully by posting it here I can brighten somebodies day.

Enjoy the classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6XE1XRiLeY

Ultraman Canada

Well tomorrow is the start of Ultraman Canada in Penticton. Ultraman is an interesting event to say the least. The race is spread out over three days. The distances which are spread over three days are as follows.

10.0 K Swim
418.3 K Bike
84.3 K Run

This is a race that I have no desire to do. Not now, not ever. I think an Ironman is more than enough. The oppurtunity to test the body over one day in enough for me. The race also only has 25 people in it. I can't imagine flying halfway around the world, paying the $1800 entry fee, bringing your own crew to do a race with only 25 people. Seems a little crazy to me. It is also in my opinion the worst sport to watch as a spectator. If you were watching there could be an hour go bye before you saw another spectator. Uggghhh.

So I was beginning to think that these Ultramen were a little crazy but then.... one of the guys said that he was preparing for a deca-ironman. This event consists of racing 10 times the Ironman distance. Its a you sleep when you want and who ever finishes first win. The kicker is that the swim is in a 50 meter pool and the run.... on a 400m track. For those keeping score at home that is about 1055 laps. I thought seeing 12 laps to go in a 5k was bad. Will I ever do this race? No thanks, again not interested. The competitor who said he was doing it claimed that he wanted to test his physical limits. I think a better way to do that would be to go to the track and try and run as fast as you can. You probably reach your limits in less than two laps. Different limits maybe but limits nonetheless.

I would like highlight one of the competitors that came through the Bike Barn yesterday. His name is Jason Lester. He has overcome huge obstacles to excel in triathlon. He told the story of how at Ultraman Hawaii last year a boat pulled him out of the water with about 1 k to go because there were a large amount of Jelly fish stinging. Although he was safe in the boat the race officials had to inform him that he would be disqualified if he stayed in the boat. What did he do? He jumped back in there with the Jellyfish and got it done. Awesome. Jason's a story that is particular touching for me as my sisters boyfriend Bryce, has overcome a similar obstacle to continue his love of sport and do things many would have though impossible. Both Jason and Bryce are very inspirational.

Here is his website,

http://www.jasonplester.com/