Sunday, November 23, 2008
ANOTHER IM PR!!!!
I want to congratulate another athlete I coach. Dennis Druml started with me mid summer. Last year he went 11:33 at IM Arizona. We got him sub 11 at IM Wisconsin, and today he went 9:58 at IM ARIZONA!!!!! WELL DONE!! Now we just need to skip the bathroom breaks and you’ll have your next PR!
Camps, clinics, etc.
Training Bible is working very hard to try to provide all of our clients with the highest level of service they can buy. We are currently working on a single day workshop for athletes. They will be able to come to these workshops for very low cost and gain a tremendous amount of information from this.
TBC has some of the most qualified coaches in the industry and we take a lot of pride in that. The basic principal is this. Any athlete (coached or not coached) can come to these. They will be handed a form when they register that they will carry through the clinic with them. We will have stations set up with physical therapists, bio mechanic experts, high level coaches, nutritional experts, bike fitters, etc. We will be able to provide most of these services with our own coaches.
After athletes have gone through these stations they will have a complete synopsis of where they stand that day as an athlete. Armed with these tools their coach, or if they are self coached, they can make more educated decisions about their upcoming fitness plans.
We are finalizing dates and prices but we are very excited to launch these as soon as January. If you have interest in hosting one for these in your area please contact me directly. We would need a minimum of 15 athletes.
In addition to this, we are setting up an Athlete appreciation camp in Tucson, Arizona. For 100.00 we will be hosting a 4 day camp for our athletes! If you are a non coached athlete interested in learning about some of these opportunities let me know. The cost for a non coached athlete will be 300.00 and spaces for these spots are very limited.
I know a lot of people like to harp on the “off season” and it IS IMPORANT. But I have always found it easiest to just focus on future things to help me navigate forced downtime in the fall.
By wife says Im too obsessed. :)
TBC has some of the most qualified coaches in the industry and we take a lot of pride in that. The basic principal is this. Any athlete (coached or not coached) can come to these. They will be handed a form when they register that they will carry through the clinic with them. We will have stations set up with physical therapists, bio mechanic experts, high level coaches, nutritional experts, bike fitters, etc. We will be able to provide most of these services with our own coaches.
After athletes have gone through these stations they will have a complete synopsis of where they stand that day as an athlete. Armed with these tools their coach, or if they are self coached, they can make more educated decisions about their upcoming fitness plans.
We are finalizing dates and prices but we are very excited to launch these as soon as January. If you have interest in hosting one for these in your area please contact me directly. We would need a minimum of 15 athletes.
In addition to this, we are setting up an Athlete appreciation camp in Tucson, Arizona. For 100.00 we will be hosting a 4 day camp for our athletes! If you are a non coached athlete interested in learning about some of these opportunities let me know. The cost for a non coached athlete will be 300.00 and spaces for these spots are very limited.
I know a lot of people like to harp on the “off season” and it IS IMPORANT. But I have always found it easiest to just focus on future things to help me navigate forced downtime in the fall.
By wife says Im too obsessed. :)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
2008
Wow, what a great season.
I overstayed my welcome on the season just a bit, but it was a great ride and 2008 will absolutely be one of my favorites ever.
One thing I learned was to really stay focused on your goals, and execute those. I had a goal as of June to do Kona. I decided to do Clearwater with some friends in Aug. it was not a bad move necessarily, but after Kona I really lost focus (rightfully so).
My Father in Law is a motivational speaker and points to a theory he calls “The goal achieving mechanism”. This is a very powerful mental tool, but it is also a tool you have to learn to use correctly. Let me explain. I set my Goal achieving mechanism to Kona as of Mid June. Once that goal was achieved, the mechanism was turned off. The goal had been achieved so subconsciously I was finished with my season. I still wanted to do Clearwater but I would tell people “Just for fun and a chance to hang out with friends”. This is a fine goal to have in its own right, but if I really was honest with myself, when I toe the line, I want to do the best I can. My body was completely not into this race today. Not only was I tired, but it was very hard to do any training leading into the race. The inner fire was gone because as I pointed out, the goal had been achieved in Kona.
Lesson learned and I will use this as a way to talk to my athletes next year as we discuss goals. I think this is also the danger of changing goals significantly mid season. Not only is the goal sometimes a physiological change, but also mental.
Clearwater weekend was a blast. I was able to have some meeting down here with some key players which will allow us to launch our very successful youth program here next year. In addition to that I hung out with some great clients, and was able to host Simon Thompson as well. So the trip was well worth it, and after all, it snowed at home today, I was on the beach. J
I overstayed my welcome on the season just a bit, but it was a great ride and 2008 will absolutely be one of my favorites ever.
One thing I learned was to really stay focused on your goals, and execute those. I had a goal as of June to do Kona. I decided to do Clearwater with some friends in Aug. it was not a bad move necessarily, but after Kona I really lost focus (rightfully so).
My Father in Law is a motivational speaker and points to a theory he calls “The goal achieving mechanism”. This is a very powerful mental tool, but it is also a tool you have to learn to use correctly. Let me explain. I set my Goal achieving mechanism to Kona as of Mid June. Once that goal was achieved, the mechanism was turned off. The goal had been achieved so subconsciously I was finished with my season. I still wanted to do Clearwater but I would tell people “Just for fun and a chance to hang out with friends”. This is a fine goal to have in its own right, but if I really was honest with myself, when I toe the line, I want to do the best I can. My body was completely not into this race today. Not only was I tired, but it was very hard to do any training leading into the race. The inner fire was gone because as I pointed out, the goal had been achieved in Kona.
Lesson learned and I will use this as a way to talk to my athletes next year as we discuss goals. I think this is also the danger of changing goals significantly mid season. Not only is the goal sometimes a physiological change, but also mental.
Clearwater weekend was a blast. I was able to have some meeting down here with some key players which will allow us to launch our very successful youth program here next year. In addition to that I hung out with some great clients, and was able to host Simon Thompson as well. So the trip was well worth it, and after all, it snowed at home today, I was on the beach. J
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Why I coach
Post race reports like this are so awesome. Liz, way to go. I am very proud of you!
"Adam! 3:35....SICK TIME FOR ME!!!! oh, and a negative split! i felt awesome until mile 22.5. I wanted to push it once I got into Central Park, but it's just too hilly but I was very pysched just to hang on. :) THANK YOU!!! I truly owe it to you. I have run NYC 2x and never had so much fun. And never felt so good in any of my 8 marathons. Talk soon!"
"Adam! 3:35....SICK TIME FOR ME!!!! oh, and a negative split! i felt awesome until mile 22.5. I wanted to push it once I got into Central Park, but it's just too hilly but I was very pysched just to hang on. :) THANK YOU!!! I truly owe it to you. I have run NYC 2x and never had so much fun. And never felt so good in any of my 8 marathons. Talk soon!"
some recent pics. Blog needed them im told. :)
Simon Thompson as well as Craig McKenzie are two of my favorite racers. They are not only very competitive, but they are two of the best people you will ever get a chance to meet. I have been coaching Craig all year and we have finally worked out his bike power.
Simon (Thomo) came to visit me for a few days in Chicago. He helped put on some clinics for the kids team. He was great. Just thought I would post some pics.
I also like to put my wonderful wife up here when I can, and thank her for her support in 08!
Simon (Thomo) came to visit me for a few days in Chicago. He helped put on some clinics for the kids team. He was great. Just thought I would post some pics.
I also like to put my wonderful wife up here when I can, and thank her for her support in 08!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Kona Recap
Kona this year was an interesting experience. I felt better prepared then I have ever been before. Everyone around me was so much support I am very lucky to have such people in my life- Thank you.
A short race report:
Swim was a typical IM swim. Got the crap kicked out of me for the first 500 meters, then it was OK. The nice part about being a faster swimmer is usually you get some open water. Not here, everyone here is just too good; I had to swim amongst several swimmers the entire way. Swim was 55 min.
We got onto the bike and we had to go through town. I was chaotic. There were several turns, construction, people, etc and for sure we were all in packs for the first 5 miles as it was just about unavoidable. I felt terrible about it but tried my best to stay legal, just way too hard at that section. With all the turns and hills it was not as if we were setting records though.
Bike started out good. I wanted to ride with other riders for motivation. I really didn’t find too my people to ride along. It just so happened where I was we were very spread out. It was really fine with me as I just rode to power anyway. When we started catching the women pros that was pretty cool. Towards the end of the ride there were sections we were doing 11mph. It was so windy and hot. I tried my best to keep the water coming in but my gut would not let me drink everything I wanted. I felt strong the entire bike though and even passed several people at the end. My bike I think was a 5:09 which today, I was happy with.
Started the run and off the bike knew I was in a bit of trouble. I wanted to run a 3:30 or better. I wanted to start off with a good clip then settle in. Honestly I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish, or more accurately wanted to a few miles in. I was so hot I felt I could barely move let alone run. I decided to run for form and cadence and walk every aide station and drink 2 cups of whatever. It seemed to work OK as I was surprisingly sub 8 min miles for the first 14 miles. Then I slipped to 8:30’s for a bit and threw up in energy lab when I drank a hot red bull at special needs. I had to walk run 2 mile to just absorb some calories. Shot my averaged down to 10:02 pace and when I knew I wasn’t going to PR, I decided to just “jog it in”. Later found out it was 108 degrees in the energy lab! My SRM had an average temperature of 93 degrees for the bike!
I finished up in 10:07. I wanted to be less than 10 hours, but I really was satisfied with this race because with a melt down I was able to have a very respectable result. I faced all my demons this summer and came out OK. I tell my athletes anyone can race well when things go perfectly, what do you do when they don’t?
MY ATHLETES-
I had three athletes here. I'll cover them in finishing order.
Steve Johnson went 9:51!!! He passed me in the energy lab and looked very good. Not bad for his first IM ever! Well done Steve.
Rodney Adkison had a 20 min PR! Rod flew and was strong the entire run 3:26!
Craig McKenzie was one of the first high level pros I have ever coached. I was as nervous for his race as I was my own. Traditionally Craig is a great runner with several sub 2:50 marathons to his credit at IM events. He was never able to be close enough on the bike though and his highest finish time here was 23.
Craig’s issue this year was he has been putting off Achilles surgery to try to get through the race. We knew going in the run might not happen, but to give it a shot. Craig for the first time came off the bike in 23rd place and was the best position he has ever finished to that point. That was with a bad swim as well (another thing that normally does not ever happen)!
2 miles into eh run Craig’s foot hurt so bad he felt and was right it was time to call it a day. We know now he can do very well here. Had he ran a 3:00 yesterday he would have been 13th overall. 2:55 would have put him to 11th. He will be back.
A short race report:
Swim was a typical IM swim. Got the crap kicked out of me for the first 500 meters, then it was OK. The nice part about being a faster swimmer is usually you get some open water. Not here, everyone here is just too good; I had to swim amongst several swimmers the entire way. Swim was 55 min.
We got onto the bike and we had to go through town. I was chaotic. There were several turns, construction, people, etc and for sure we were all in packs for the first 5 miles as it was just about unavoidable. I felt terrible about it but tried my best to stay legal, just way too hard at that section. With all the turns and hills it was not as if we were setting records though.
Bike started out good. I wanted to ride with other riders for motivation. I really didn’t find too my people to ride along. It just so happened where I was we were very spread out. It was really fine with me as I just rode to power anyway. When we started catching the women pros that was pretty cool. Towards the end of the ride there were sections we were doing 11mph. It was so windy and hot. I tried my best to keep the water coming in but my gut would not let me drink everything I wanted. I felt strong the entire bike though and even passed several people at the end. My bike I think was a 5:09 which today, I was happy with.
Started the run and off the bike knew I was in a bit of trouble. I wanted to run a 3:30 or better. I wanted to start off with a good clip then settle in. Honestly I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish, or more accurately wanted to a few miles in. I was so hot I felt I could barely move let alone run. I decided to run for form and cadence and walk every aide station and drink 2 cups of whatever. It seemed to work OK as I was surprisingly sub 8 min miles for the first 14 miles. Then I slipped to 8:30’s for a bit and threw up in energy lab when I drank a hot red bull at special needs. I had to walk run 2 mile to just absorb some calories. Shot my averaged down to 10:02 pace and when I knew I wasn’t going to PR, I decided to just “jog it in”. Later found out it was 108 degrees in the energy lab! My SRM had an average temperature of 93 degrees for the bike!
I finished up in 10:07. I wanted to be less than 10 hours, but I really was satisfied with this race because with a melt down I was able to have a very respectable result. I faced all my demons this summer and came out OK. I tell my athletes anyone can race well when things go perfectly, what do you do when they don’t?
MY ATHLETES-
I had three athletes here. I'll cover them in finishing order.
Steve Johnson went 9:51!!! He passed me in the energy lab and looked very good. Not bad for his first IM ever! Well done Steve.
Rodney Adkison had a 20 min PR! Rod flew and was strong the entire run 3:26!
Craig McKenzie was one of the first high level pros I have ever coached. I was as nervous for his race as I was my own. Traditionally Craig is a great runner with several sub 2:50 marathons to his credit at IM events. He was never able to be close enough on the bike though and his highest finish time here was 23.
Craig’s issue this year was he has been putting off Achilles surgery to try to get through the race. We knew going in the run might not happen, but to give it a shot. Craig for the first time came off the bike in 23rd place and was the best position he has ever finished to that point. That was with a bad swim as well (another thing that normally does not ever happen)!
2 miles into eh run Craig’s foot hurt so bad he felt and was right it was time to call it a day. We know now he can do very well here. Had he ran a 3:00 yesterday he would have been 13th overall. 2:55 would have put him to 11th. He will be back.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
WOW
I am very excited to go to Ironman but a few things recently have helped me keep my perspective on the event. Talk about putting things in perspective. As important as this is to me, there certainly are things out there that are bigger. It is easy to lose perspective at times.
A friend of mine was in a near fatal car accident. She is lucky to be alive. Trying to balance family and work with training is always fun. Most recently however though, my wife’s grandmother had a stroke.
The woman is in her 90’s and still mows her own yard – 3 acres!!! She is amazing and I only hope to be so fortunate when and if I live that long. She was a bit out of it as she fell and hurt her neck and head pretty good. After a couple days in the hospital Lindsay, who is there, called to give me a status report.
We were unsure how such an independent woman would face the facts that she is basically paralyzed now on her left side. Her first comment to Lindsay: “Well, I never got to deal with a challenge like this before”. – WOW!! Can you believe that?! No Poor me, no, what am I going to do, just hmmm, this should be interesting. She is amazing.
I know I could learn a lesson or two from this woman and how to have a positive outlook on life no matter what cards are dealt. Talk about a perfect mental approach to triathlon. Heck SHE should be doing Kona next week.
Also I would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to all who have contributed to the charity I am racing for in Kuna. Race to Cure Blindness is an organization my friend Michael Stone was instrumental in helping to set up. Michael is in a battle for his eyesight. You can read more on this on the website I created for him: www.fightblindness.org/goto/zucco.
A friend of mine was in a near fatal car accident. She is lucky to be alive. Trying to balance family and work with training is always fun. Most recently however though, my wife’s grandmother had a stroke.
The woman is in her 90’s and still mows her own yard – 3 acres!!! She is amazing and I only hope to be so fortunate when and if I live that long. She was a bit out of it as she fell and hurt her neck and head pretty good. After a couple days in the hospital Lindsay, who is there, called to give me a status report.
We were unsure how such an independent woman would face the facts that she is basically paralyzed now on her left side. Her first comment to Lindsay: “Well, I never got to deal with a challenge like this before”. – WOW!! Can you believe that?! No Poor me, no, what am I going to do, just hmmm, this should be interesting. She is amazing.
I know I could learn a lesson or two from this woman and how to have a positive outlook on life no matter what cards are dealt. Talk about a perfect mental approach to triathlon. Heck SHE should be doing Kona next week.
Also I would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to all who have contributed to the charity I am racing for in Kuna. Race to Cure Blindness is an organization my friend Michael Stone was instrumental in helping to set up. Michael is in a battle for his eyesight. You can read more on this on the website I created for him: www.fightblindness.org/goto/zucco.
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