Ironman branding FAIL

I took this photo in our local Target today. I think it's conclusive evidence that Ironman has jumped the shark.

Never criticize Ironman management

For if you do, you may be summarily booted out of their WTC race.

http://smaryka.blogspot.com/2009/05/ive-been-kicked-out-of-ironman-uk.html

Because they can. Anything is possible!

Sheesh!

Nose news

Not much happening lately to report on. Just the regular routine of taking the girls to school each day, working out, picking them up, feeding them, going to sleep, starting over the next day.

On Wednesdays after school we have swim lessons. Yesterday I tried out a new Speedo nose clip during their lesson. Forgot it for one lap, then wore it for the rest of the time I did a short (700 yard) swim. It didn't hurt once I had it adjusted right. Then I had it off while playing in the pool with them for about another half hour after the lesson. I also quickly spritzed some saline in my nose post-swim but not a lot.

Result? My congestion is only about 10% of what it was for normal non-noseclip swims! Hurrah! That's a pretty manageable level that allows me to still breathe through my nose the subsequent night. I can live with that. Let's see what happens on longer swims.

In other unrelated news, if you're interested in some of the blatant cheating that goes on in triathlons these days, you'll be interested in this post. Yes, I believe that drafting on the bike = using fins on the swim. Same-same.

Peak flow

I'm so psyched about peak flow. And no, I'm not talking about some woo-woo psychological thing.

I'm talking about the incoming tide at Wrightsville Beach for Beach to Battleship iron-distance triathlon next year.

Peak tidal flow is going to happen about 4 minutes before the start of the swim leg in 2009. Which should hopefully carry me to the swim exit in a very very nice extra-quick time, well under the longest swim of the 2008 race, 1:32.

That extra 20-30 minutes or so could make all the difference to me on race day! Because this time I WILL FINISH the full 140.6 miles. By the cutoff. Just in case you were wondering. If only to collect all the charity money that people have promised me after I finish this thing.

And then I can retire from iron-distance racing. And marathoning.

I got your iron man right here

Circa 1848.

R. I. P. Tri One O One

I'm really sorry you didn't make it. I really wanted to do one of your races.

I especially wanted to see the m-dot monopolistic juggernaut get some competition, too.

Congratulations Ironman Chuck!

Here are the final numbers for my training buddy Chuck's IRONMAN day.

NAME IRON CHUCK
BIB NUMBER 816
AGE 36
STATE/COUNTRY MD USA

SWIM BIKE RUN OVERALL POSITION
1:25:02 6:06:43 4:51:32 12:39:07 842

RACE LEG DISTANCE PACE POSITION
TOTAL SWIM 2.4 mi. (1:25:02) 2:14/100m 1224
FIRST BIKE SEGMENT: 34 mi 34 mi. (1:47:57) 18.90 mph
SECOND BIKE SEGMENT: 90 mi 56 mi. (3:03:41) 18.29 mph
FINAL BIKE SEGMENT: 112 mi 22 mi. (1:15:05) 17.58 mph
TOTAL BIKE: 112 mi 112 mi. (6:06:43) 18.32 mph 737
TOTAL RUN 26.2 mi. (4:51:32) 11:07/mile 842

TRANSITION TIME
T1: SWIM-TO-BIKE 8:57
T2: BIKE-TO-RUN 6:53

He passed an incredible 437 people on the bike, and then had an AMAZING run - especially considering at Marine Corps Marathon last fall he ran 4:50:09 at a standalone marathon! 114.4 miles in his legs before that for the day yesterday only slowed him down 1 minute 21 seconds!?!? Now THAT is an IRONMAN!!!

Congratulations to all the other finishers as well!! And thanks to my training buddy Dave who unfortunately wasn't able to compete, but instead was on site all day keeping me updated via Blackberry messages. I appreciate it and it was fun to feel like I was part of the action!

Watching Ironman

I'm spending an unhealthy day sitting on my butt at the computer and watching Ironman coverage. I did run 4 miles earlier today, though, in just under 44 minutes.

My training buddy Dave wisely decided to sit out the race today, since sadly his knee was still significantly damaged from his bike crash three weeks ago. No, of course the Ironman folks wouldn't allow him to transfer his registration to Ironman Lake Placid and allow his knee some additional healing time, so he's out his entire entry fee. He's spectating today in Coeur d'Alene and sending me updates on his Blackberry. My other training buddy Chuck is going strong on the course and will soon cross that finish line! Go Chuck go!

In other unrelated news, I just saw an ad - now Ziploc is making bags for steaming vegetables, like the ones veggies sometimes come in in the supermarket. Cool! I don't think they're available in stores yet, though. See http://www.ziplocsteamerbags.com

Female amputee and Ironman

I just happened across the good-news story of Kelly Bruno, as of yesterday the 2nd female amputee to finish an Ironman triathlon (after Sarah Reinertsen). She came across the line of Ironman Arizona at an impressive 13:57:32.

Well done, Kelly!

She's quite an accomplished young lady and I hope to hear more about her at the Ironman Championships in Kona this coming October and also at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Good luck racers!

Very best wishes on a great day to my buddy Comm and friends at Ironman Arizona on Sunday!

Also very best wishes to everyone running the Boston Marathon on Monday, especially Bob Mina, Joe Bator, TriBoomer, Forrest Fowler, Regina Fowler, Dave Decker, and Ken Cowen! I sincerely hope the weather is much better than those ominous forecasts for a nor'easter!

We'll be watching you! Listen for our cheers as you cross the timing mats!

Also on Monday: The Tour of Georgia begins!

And they WILL have live streaming video like they did for the Tour of California! Yay! Let's hope it works!

Barney Rice Memorial Fund

As you may or may not have seen in the April 2007 Triathlete Magazine, there have been 2 funds set up to memorialize Barney Rice, the triathlete who died at Ironman Florida last November:

There is a memorial foundation (to benefit underprivileged children), to which you can contribute online:
http://www.active.com/donate/brmf

But there is a second memorial fund for his three children (one of whom has some type of ongoing medical condition), which is collecting donation checks by mail:

Barney Rice Memorial Fund
c/o DA Davidson & Co.
PO Box 128
Kalispell, MT 59903

Please be generous.