In the heat

From the top of my sore thighs I happily announce a new PR for 10K established yesterday at LA Cancer Challenge. As I previously wrote, this is one of my favorite races in LA, because of the crowd, the food, the course and the crowd. That together with the need for a tune-up for NYC marathon and reassurance about my physical condition made up the right conditions for a good race. Gun time was 49:17, Chip time was 48:49, with an average pace of 7:53, overall place of 141/735 and age group 20/48. Finally better than my usual middle of the pack place.

I am also happy to announce that the compression socks really seem to help. My running form is really better, they were perfect for the temperature of 56F in the morning, and made my recovery faster. I recommend to all runners to give a try: SLS3 compression socks.

Greetings to the Trojans, for another brilliant victory, now at week 9, 17-10 over Arizona.

Congratulations to the Giants, for their victory 21-14 over the Pittsburgh Steelers on week 8.

This week Dean Karnazes is running the Sahara Desert Race, and you can follow his adventure on his blog. So far, he finished the first stage yesterday in fourth, and today has finished the second stage in third. Here I bring some pictures he showed in his blog.

Now I started packing for New York, keeping the heat of this last weekend to warm my feet for my next East Coast adventure.

Next races: ING New York Marathon (11/02/08).

Hero of the week: Dean Karnazes, the Ultramarathon Man, who is running the in Sahara Desert this weekend, following his schedule of running four deserts in 2008 (Atacama, Gobi, Sahara and Antarctica), besides Badwater.

Quote of the week: "If you can't run, then walk. And if you can't walk, then crawl. Do what you have to do. Just keep moving forward and never, ever give up." Dean Karnazes.

Stretching the season

It is October, and concerns about cold weather, Holiday breaks and 2009 racing calendar are up. Fall Marathon season is on for the runners at heart. Of course we all will try to squeeze as much as possible from 2008, before cooling down.

After my running lesson at Long Beach, all my focus is on New York City Marathon (http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/home/index.ph). As a tune-up race, for the second time I will participate in the 10K LA Cancer Challenge Run this next Sunday.(http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=264394). It is a very well-organized event raising funds for pancreatic cancer research, with a beautiful crowd, nice course and delicious pumpkin pancakes as post-race meal.

This is going to be my third consecutive NYC Marathon, thanks to guaranteed entry obtained while I was living in NY. After this, I will have to be lucky enough to qualify or win a place in the lottery. In 2006 it was my second marathon ever, and I finished in 4:28:13; in 2007 I hit the wall hard and finished in 4:36:44. The main challenge is survive the hours in the cold weather waiting for the start. Luckily, it did not rain or snow on both years. And that way I hope I can at least finish better than 2007.

It will be nice to see NYC once again, and feel the crowd and the cold. This is going to be a moment of real contemplation and inspiration about the blessing of living in California, with all the space, warmth and mountains at sight.

As usual, I am already looking for the next marathon, and it seems it will come sooner than expected: the first ever Pasadena Marathon, near home, in two weeks. The appeal of taking part of the first event, two weeks after NYC, is irresistible. It will really depend on finishing NYC in a non-humiliating time and without injuries.

It is also time to plan for 2009, and I am checking the Ironman website on a daily basis to decide what is the most realistic schedule.

It is really a matter of stretching as much as I can: the muscles and tendons, to ensure proper recovery and prevent injuries; the calendar, to avoid boredom; and the challenges, to guarantee my smiles and well-being.

I need to finish 2008 well in order to start a good 2009.

Next races: LA Cancer Challenge (10/26/08), ING New York Marathon (11/02/08).

Hero of the week: Dean Karnazes, the Ultramarathon Man, who is running the in Sahara Desert this weekend, following his schedule of running four deserts in 2008 (Atacama, Gobi, Sahara and Antarctica), besides Badwater.

Quote of the week: "If you can't run, then walk. And if you can't walk, then crawl. Do what you have to do. Just keep moving forward and never, ever give up." Dean Karnazes.

Long Beach International City Bank Marathon

I really had to run this race. I did not properly train for it, and just have passed my peak at triathlon training, so a marathon out of nowhere surely would be painful, but I have a list of reasons.

reason #1: I had to catch up my marathon running. This was my sixth marathon in 2008, and my goal is to complete at least eight, as last year.

reason #2: I am a member of Marathon Maniacs (http://www.marathonmaniacs.com) marathon running club; that means I am addicted to marathon running, trying to complete as many as I can, hopefully at least one in each state. With this, I have ran sixteen marathons and one ultramarathon. That does not mean I trained for all of them, but I have earned the bragging rights.

reason #3: After running San Francisco Marathon, with completion of Long Beach Marathon and Surf City Marathon I will get an exclusive medal and a jacket for completing the California Dreamin’ RACING SERIES(http://www.caldreaminracing.com/).

reason #4: Long Beach is a beautiful and flat city. I just had to see it again.

reason #5: I needed to shake things up and tune up my training for New York City Marathon, in three weeks.

reason #6: It was my participation in the Phidippidations Worldwide Half Marathon Challenge (http://www.worldwidefestivalofraces.com/cgi-bin/home). For those who do not know, it was a free worldwide event of people running together.

reason #7: I had to test running compression socks.

reason #8: I had to test a better nutrition approach for the marathon.

reason #9: October 11th was my mother's birthday. I had to celebrate this date, specially because she lives abroad and I miss her.

reason #10: As usual, Trojans won again (10/11/08, over Arizona State, 28-0) and I had to party.

reason #11: I had to run a marathon with the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles uniform.

reason #12: I love running marathons.

reason #13: I am addicted to marathon running.

reason #14: I had to face the challenge of running this marathon after intensive sprint triathlon training.

reason #15: It was a beautiful day.

But it does not matter how many reasons, but how you perform, and there comes a list of all mistakes I did:

mistake #1: Proper training: I did not train properly.

mistake #2: Do not increase your weekly mileage more than 10%: I do not even have the math...

mistake #3: Periodization: I ran a marathon right after peak training, and three weeks before an A race.

mistake #4: Proper pacing: I forgot my wristwatch, and they did not have any clocks on race course, so as expected I ran too fast in the first half, and wore myself off.

mistake #5: Nothing new on race day: I tried running compression socks for the first time in that race.

As expected, I did not PR: chip time was 4:47:30. But I was able to prove myself that without training I can finish a marathon in less than five hours.

The day started with mildly cool 66F, but during the race the temperature rose to 76F, with about 5-8 miles directly under the sun. As usual, I started the race with arm warmers and gloves, but warm-up was complete at mile 3.

I ran the first 10K at 9:17 pace, and the half was completed at 9:35 pace. At mile 13 I was passed by the 4:15 hours marathon pace group, and at mile 14 I started to have bilateral calf cramps, being forced to start run-walk pattern. At mile 18 I was passed by the 4:30 hours marathon pace group, and then the challenge was to finish in less than 4:50 hours.

Probably this was my second most painful race, but I was happy to finish in less than five hours, with accomplishment of the socks and nutrition testing. The socks really worked in improving my running form, but I can not tell about speed. My nutrition consisted in using water instead of sports drinks, using gels every three miles; this way I avoided abdominal cramping, but the cramps in my legs could be due to electrolyte deficit. Now it seems it is time for salt capsules.

Mission accomplished, one more medal in the wall, one more race in the journal. I have learned a lot, and now I have to evade the post-race depression planning my training until NYC Marathon.

I really had to run this race.

Next races: LA Cancer Challenge (10/26/08), ING New York Marathon (11/02/08).

Hero of the week: Chrissie Wellington, Ironman champion 2007 and 2008, finished more than ten minutes ahead of her fellow competitors at 9:06:23, even with a flat tire.

Quote of the week: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

Three-Triathlons-Triathlete, third part of three

Happy for reaching my goal at Malibu, achy and tired, I was hungry for more. But then I had to accomplish the most difficult task: pleasing myself with my performance. Long Beach Triathlon (0.5Mi swim, 11Mi bike, 3Mi run) was a perfect race to finish my streak.

Once more I reviewed my bike, setting the bike seat higher, and packed up my triathlon bag. This was my first time at Long Beach, and I have to say: it is beautiful! Even better: it is flat and fast!

Not only the land course was flat that day; the ocean was calm and warm, better than a swimming pool. I did not have any excuses for the swim leg, and I did not need any: my time was 17:11.4, with just few elbow hits and kicks, no surprises.

T1 was awkward, due to a long sand trail at the beach; I ran half of it, until I had cramps on my calves, but no shortness of breath this time. I will include running on sand in my training: my time was a horrible 4:55.4.

Bike leg was exciting, wide and flat streets, with some sharp turns, but not crowded, so I managed to do better: 35:50.9. I have to confess: I need more training time on the aero position... Having a running background, biking always scares me with the possibility of a crash. That is the excuse for the bike leg...

T2 was a satisfactory 1:47.6. I need to train to remove bike shoes on the bike...

Excited with my time, I pushed the run. Basically, I started to chase my age-group competitors, not even breaking the pace for fluids, and felt great: 22:19.9 was my time. The weather helped a lot, low humidity, cool, not windy. The cheers of the spectators was another bonus.

The result was comforting and above expectations: 1:22:04. Now Long Beach is my favorite, and I have plans to repeat this streak every year: LA Triathlon, Malibu and Long Beach. Hard it will be not to go for olympic distances on the first two...

Now I am making plans for half and full-Ironman, if I have the money.

I already know I have the guns and the guts.

Next races: Long Beach International Marathon (10/12/08); ING New York Marathon (11/02/08).

Hero of the week: Chris McCormack. At least until next Saturday, he is The Ironman Champion. But I have to tell you: anybody swimming 0.5Mi in 10:29 (his time in Malibu this year) and finishing an Ironman in 8:15:34 (his time in Kona last year) or less has all my respect and will be my hero.

Quote of the week: "Fear is probably the thing that limits performance more than anything - the fear of not doing well, of what people will say. You've got to acknowledge those fears, then release them." --Mark Allen

USC Trojans win again

Week 6:

Oregon 10

USC 44

Three-Triathlons-Triathlete, second part of three

You can say Nautica Malibu Triathlon (0.5Mi swim, 18Mi bike, 4Mi run) was my A race. This was my first registration, my goal setting and my main event (to support CHLA). That was not exactly a sprint triathlon, but LA Triathlon was a good rehearsal. My realistic predictions did not allow me to consider a time less than two hours, so my goal was to beat 2:10.

Focused on the race, just on the previous day I realized that it was an awesome party, with the huge number of participants and the presence of celebrities. A plus was Jennifer Lopez competing her first triathlon together with us. And everybody on the CHLA team was excited with the upcoming close race day and the numbers of the fundraising.

Because PCH is closed for the race, parking is difficult and participants have to arrive before 5:30 AM. Another day waking up at 4AM, but this time I had a car available. The number of athletes was impressive, increasing the distractions and traffic in the transition area, but outstanding organization made the whole event run smooth and enjoyable.

It was said the ocean was flat on the previous day, but that was not the exact description for that Sunday. As you can see in the pictures (guess who is in the picture?...), the long arm of Nature was heavy, as I felt on the third wave, when I was thrown back and almost lost my goggles. That slap was enough to turn on the adrenaline and make me faster, after few minutes of recovery in slow pace. On the way back, right before the surf, I saw one of the female coast guards who taught me my second open water swim clinic, and saw my panic attack freezing me and making me hold into her surfboard at 50 yards from the beach. In my dreams she recognized me and was admired of my success. Reaching the sand without other surprises, I did not feel as bad as on the previous week, and was surprised with the time. Official swim time was 22:06.

The dizziness of the previous efforts just hit me when I was removing the wetsuit, and that made my T1 last 3:14.5.

The bike leg was smooth, except for the uphills, and I finished in 01:02:07, with the certainty that I have more work to do to improve my bike skills. It was delightful to have a whole lane of PCH to ride.

T2 presented me with the corridors full of people, some throwing up, some bonking, some watching the movement, and with that was a kind of race within the race to be able to rest my bike and leave for the run. T2 time was 1:33.6.

The run started with abdominal cramps, most likely because of the two gels taken on the bike. But my legs continued running in front of my brain until they both got together at the turning point. It was very rewarding to see so many CHLA team members on the run, and to have all spectators cheering for us. Run time: 33:26.8.

With all the energy dispensed, and most likely because of the friendly wave on the swim start, I finished 02:02:28.4, beating my shy prediction of 2:10, but short of less than 2 hours.

Right after the finish, I felt the damage of two weekends in a roll of competition. Mild nausea did not allow me to replenish carbohydrates, and moderate pain on quads and feet requested prompt rest.

Malibu could have been my A race, but right on the night before LA Triathlon I had registered for Long Beach Triathlon. Do you want to know why? Because that was a shorter course (0.5Mi swim, 11Mi bike, 3Mi run), without the pressure for results in front of a lot of people; because my season probably would end that week (due to work issues for the rest of the year); because I still was on my peak; and (again...) because I still had to fight my fear of the open water swim.

Stubbornness, fear and waves can take you very far...

Three-Triathlons-Triathlete, first part of three (say it fast three times...)

I am now very happy to consider myself a triathlete. After five months of preparation, I was able to throw all my energy in three triathlons in three consecutive weekends.

The first race I registered for was Nautica Malibu Triathlon, in benefit of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. With their team, I was able to learn Triathlon 101 and have group training and my first open water swim clinics. My eternal gratitude to coaches Chris Smith and Brian Melekian who showed me the joys of multisport and taught me to always have fun. It was an honor to wear their colors, and now all my pictures will be monotous because of the same uniform , but CHLA is one of the best children's hospitals in the world, and I am proud to declare that in all races.

Since the beggining I knew the swim would be my biggest problem: I could not even swim 50 M without stop, and in all of the open water swim clinics I got panic attacks. Joining the Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ) masters program and daily workouts made me begin to enjoy the swim. It was one of my most remarkable moments of my life when I finally was able to swim 200 M at once.

Because of all the fear of open water, I had to prove to myself that I could do it. That and the short swim course of the Kaiser Permanente LA Triathlon (swim 0.4 Mi, bike 19.5Mi, run 3.1Mi) made me sign up for my first ever race, one week before Malibu. That was a rehearsal, and it could not be done many weeks before simply because I was not ready at all.

It was a feat to wake up at 3:30AM on race day, bike 4Mi to take a bus to Santa Monica , and bike 3Mi more to Venice Beach ( do not ask me why: I do not have a car...). That was when I felt all the joy of multisport ; to see the sunshine at the beach , finishing nutrition tune-up and setting transition , this is divine. And I learned that I needed a headlamp to succeed in this sport.

I needed two swim warm-ups to feel confident enough to line up at the start. Funny how it really feels like you are swimming in a washing machine, with people all around you, grabbing your arms and legs, and suddenly stopping to kick you on the face. It was a good lesson, and I finished 0.4Mi swim in 18:43, mostly because of multiple stops to wait for people to clear my way, and because of bad navigation. But I was happy to survive swimming faster that predicted.

Transition time was 3:33, mostly because I was short of breath after the swim, but my transition was exactly at the exit, so I got it fast for my standards.

The bike leg was fun in the beggining, with me daring to go to aero position (give me a break: I had bought the bike just six months before...), then scary in the middle (hilly course) and exciting end with a huge downhill. Bike time 1:07:48, mostly because I got hypoglycemic on the last quarter of the bike. I have to confess: I can not avoid a smile when going fast downhill or doing a sharp turn. Maybe that will go with time.

T2 went 2:01, mostly because I had to understand where was the exit. My fault: next time I promise I will study the maps better...

The run started with a huge smile, because I realized I could finish in less than two hours (please understand: that was my very first sprint triathlon...). But I had to face the same hill of the bike course, up in the first 1.5Mi, down in the second half. No fluid stops, chasing competing age-groupers, finished in 25:22, happy to finish strong, already worried about recovery for next weekend.

Now I knew I could do it, and I had to improve. More road work ahead.

Next races: Long Beach International Marathon (10/12/08); ING New York Marathon (11/02/08).

Quote of the week: Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it. Margaret Thatcher

Here to stay!

Did you notice how many triathletes have blogs nowadays?

That is one of the many reasons I decided to start my own. This is a very good way to commit myself to my training, to save some time for rest (out of work, out of training), to make new friends, to talk unlimited hours about what we love, and to pay tribute to all my heroes.

Love; that is the motto of my life, and that is what I will try to write about. We all love multisport and to face challenges on a daily basis, this is written in stone. But I am talking about the feeling that moves all our bodies and minds against water, wind, pain and hunger. We do what we do because we love ourselves, and we love to be happy and healthy for our loved ones, to laugh, smile and cheer with our friends, in the name of all those who can not go out there with us. And that feeling has no limits, and always pushes forward.

That is the reason of the name of this blog: I am constantly preparing myself for the days to come, and does not matter who you are, what you do, where you came from, we all have more road work ahead, no end in sight.

I can finally brag I am a triathlete, after completing three competitions in three weeks: Kaiser Permanente LA Triathlon (09/07/08), Nautica Malibu Triathlon (09/14/08) and Long Beach Triathlon (09/21/08). I am very proud of my achievements, and I will talk about them in another time. To this date, I have ran 16 marathons and one ultramarathon, but nothing was a bigger challenge than to learn how to be a triathlete. Now I am six pounds lighter, eating healthier than ever, and loving this new lifestyle. You can follow my public training log in www.buckeyeoutdoors.com under tripleS.

Next races: Long Beach International Marathon (10/12/08); ING New York Marathon (11/02/08).

Hero of the week: Brian Melekian. That guy is living the dream. Brain tumor survivor, he spends his days training, preparing for Ironman. You can follow his blog at http://brianmelekian.blogspot.com/. Recently, he showed my newest dream bike: Cervelo P4. You can see pictures and comments at http://www.roadcycling.com/reviews/Cervelo_Debuts_The_P4_at_Interbike_002452_printer.shtml

And video at http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/interbike/2009-cervelo-p4/.

Quote of the week: If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell.

Lance Armstrong

This was my first post of an entire life to come. Please talk to me at tripleStalks@gmail.com.