Tour of California Stage 4- Heading to the Finish!!!

Today I am heading up to watch the finish line today's Stage 4 of the Tour of California as GU Energy is a sponsor of Team Radioshack and a few other teams and riders in the tour. I have only ever seen professional bike racing on TV. I know I won't get to see all the action unfold as the approach the line, but to be at the finish line and experience the atmosphere will be pretty awesome.

Today's Stage 4 goes from Livermore to San Jose and is 81.8 miles long. There has 2 major climbs that will kick your butt. One that is 4.3 miles long with an average 8.4% grade and a second that is 3.5 miles long with an average of 9.4% grade.

Now some might just jump in there car and head to where they are going to watch the race...but not here at GU. In true form, we will jump on our bikes and ride approximately 30 miles to the finish line, watch the end of the stage and then ride back.

I am actually pretty excited about this, well except for what I hear is an absolutely BRUTAL climb at the end. It is about 1400 feet of elevation change. Unfortunately we will not be riding up the same course that the race will be held on but the backside of the same steep pitch. I hope I heard everyone wrong when they said it was steeper than the actually course...

This is where I sure wish I had a road bike, as my tri bike is made for speed...not climbing mountains but whatcha gonna do. Probably cry like a little baby... :)

One of the 2- 4lb bags of GU

I hope to get some cool pictures and have one great experience heading down there with 7 of my co-workers. Ohh and in case you thought this was just for fun, we do get to haul 8lbs of the new Chocolate Raspberry Roctane GU up there to hand out. This is going to be crazy...

Goodbye Washington :( Hello California :)

Well it has been almost 2 months since I left my position at Land Expressions and started a new job at GU Energy. It was a crazy couple of weeks trying to get everything packed and figure out exactly how I was going to get down to California. There was the task of packing everything I needed on a pallet and getting that shipped, loading up everything else in the car and making the trek to the Bay Area.

I was just hoping it would make it to CA in one piece!

The drive down was pretty uneventful and I can tell you one thing…sitting in a car for 14+ hours and driving straight through was one LONG day. My butt was sore for almost a week…probably should have got out and stretched a few more times but it was all about making good time and I wasn't about to let me slow me down :)

Mt. Shasta- AMAZING VIEW

There were some awesome views (The Columbia River, Mt. Shasta, Northern California) and some EXTREMELY boring stretches of road…basically ALL of central Oregon.

I thought this was a pretty awesome view too ;)

As soon as I got down here things were moving pretty fast. Arrived on Wednesday night, met with my future roommate on Thursday afternoon, met with the landlord on Friday morning and was moved in by Friday night. It was a crazy 48 hours but I was able to sleep in my bed Friday night and have the weekend to prepare to start my new job on Monday.

A little social gathering...

My coworkers here at GU Energy have been great. They have made me feel welcome from day one with invitations to celebrate a few company events even before I started. I knew the move was going to be tough but I have fortunately joined a company that has really helped me adjust to my new surroundings.

A view of the Bay Area- San Franciso in the background!

The riding here has been absolutely AMAZING…but that is for another post. I will leave you with a picture of just one of the many views that you get in the bay area.

Some Exciting GU News!!!

On Tuesday, GU Energy, will be announcing an all new product line. For all of us who are always trying to fit that workout in during lunch, on your way to and from work or just need to replenish your electrolytes after a long day, the new GU Brew Electrolyte Tablets are a great way to turn the plain bottle of water into the extra electrolyte punch you need.

The GU Brew Electrolyte Tablets come in 3 great flavors, Orange, Lemon Lime and Peach Tea. The tablets have no artificial sweeteners or flavors and at with only 8 calories, a great way to help replenish those lost electrolytes without the extra calories. All you need to do is drop them in your bottle and go...could it be any simpler?

I can't wait to try the Peach Tea flavor. Though I love me some good ole H2O, changing it up is going to be awesome.

On The Road Again...

When living up in the PNW...especially eastern Washington, getting out on the road in January is something special. The weather is just not conducive to get out and ride without a great chance of crashing on ice and or looking like Lloyd and Harry during the scooter scene in Dumb and Dumber. Since the weather has been a bit warmer and dryer than normal, I took advantage and began to process of trying to get outside and on the road again.

I think I might have to create a checklist next time ;)

Honestly, I had completely forgot the process it takes to get ready for a ride in cold temperatures. I began the lengthy process by trying to lay everything out just to make sure I had it all...and still was able to forget a few important items such as toe and shoe covers along with a face guard. Don't even get me started on how long it actually took to get all the gear on, walk around the house 5 times remember this and that and then finally getting outside to remember I have to fill up the tires and add a bike bag. It was beginning to feel like I it was going to take more time to get ready then I would actually spend riding.

Ready to RIDE!!!

With everything FI.NAL.LY done, I was able to jump on the bike and get started on what turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day for a ride and made all the work to get ready totally worth it. The sun was out, the temperatures were right and the road was clear. Basically everything you would expect about 2 months from now.

Not quite the same without the wheat fields but SO much better than stuck inside.

Thanks GU for keeping me fueled during my ride!

The ride was awesome. I forgot what if felt like to have wind on your face and the asphalt under your wheels. I also realized a few things that you just can't find inside on the trainer.

The amazing smell of cow manure warming up in the sun!

And the leg hairs sticking through your bike tights...Hey don't judge, it's still winter :)

I sure hope this weather sticks around for awhile because me plus trainer is none existent and I am loving getting outside.

Winter Training- Mind Confusion



We have had just a little bit of snow this year :)

When the snow is piled high and the temperatures drop, training in the Pacific Northwest can become difficult. Throw in the fact that it is the off-season and it becomes a perfect storm for sitting on the couch watching TV and enjoying a few adult beverages to pass the time away.

Well I have found a way to trick the mind into thinking things are much cooler than they actually appear. Most of you have probably heard of muscle confusion where you try many different techniques to get many of the same results, basically keeping the body guessing...




Watch out Arnold...

 My new method is mind confusion. So when it is dark outside and the temperatures are freezing, who wants to go to the gym and lift weights...definitely not I, but when it becomes "Ninja Training" now this seems awesome and who wouldn't want to become a better Ninja.



For the last month or so, Eric and I have been hitting the gym twice a week to do circuit training...aka Ninja Training to build some extra strength and get those muscles stronger for next year. It is a great change of pace from all the swimming, biking and running and well in the end we might actually have a beach muscle or two :)




Just keep swimming...

 Our next trick to mind confusion is "S.E.A.L. Training". Now since I am still a triathlete and... well swimming is all about muscle memory and technique, I still need to get to the pool, even if it is the very last thing I want to do. So instead of going to the pool knowing that I will be staring at the black line over and over again...the new plan is to treat it as S.E.A.L. Training.

And because the Navy Seals are pretty damn badass in my book. I fools me just enough to put on the spandex and stay focused for just long enough to get in an almost quality workout.



Finally cleaned of the inch or so of dust and got all set up.

Since the roads are either covered with Ice or Snow or Slush or well all of the above...the only really way to ride your bike is on the trainer. Now I have pretty much failed at this over the last couple of months but with the new year coming quickly, it is time to get my butt in gear.

So yes, we have come up with a way to confuse the mind on this one too. It is called "Lancing". Since the most badasstic cyclist of all-time is Lance Armstrong...you wouldn't want to be able to ride like Lance...or even 10% as well as him... or maybe even as good as his left foot.

 

As for running...I still haven't figured out a way to confuse myself enough. With a goal of becoming a better runner this year, it is talking absolutely all the mental strength I can muster to run. Lately, I have even been jumping on the treadmill (I know...I might be going a little insane) after Ninja Training, in hopes that I might still be in Ninja mode and will be able to suffer through it for a little bit.

So at this point I am sending out an all call for people who want to run. I am a sucker for running partners, since I know I won't have to suffer alone. Honestly, any pace and all paces are welcome. Right now I just need to get out there and RUN!!!


What are you tricks of the trade so to speak? Are you awesome enough to be able to get out and do all these workouts or do you have to try your own sort of mind confusion?

Sink or Swim Meet 2010- Meet Report

A few weeks ago I swam at our local masters swim meet called, Sink or Swim put on by the Spokane Waves. The event was held at Whitworth University and was sponsored by my triathlon club, Tri-Fusion. These are always a blast and a great change of pace from triathlon since all the races I do only last a minute.

With the severe lack of training on my part made this meet all that much more interesting. I hadn't see the line in the bottom of a pool for over 3 weeks and really had no idea what events I was actually going to do until the morning of. When all was said and done I participated in 8 events: 50Y Freestyle, 100Y Freestyle, 200Y Freestyle and to mix it up a bit the 50Y Breaststroke and 100Y Backstroke.

A special thanks to James Richman for taking all the photos. There are some pretty cool sequences.

Honestly my main goal was to just survive. I wasn't sure how the races were going to go and even though I wanted to beat the times I had done in this same race 2 years ago, I really didn't know what to expect.

First up was the 50 Freestyle.  These races are SHORT and PAINFUL! I goal was to go as fast as possible. Last time I swam a 26.08...so I set an outside goal of sub 26. So after a brief warm up and a few starts of the block for practice. It was go time. I was up on the blocks and ready for my first race in 2 years. The tried my best to channel my inner Michael Phelps but I don't smoke so I focused on the swimming. The gun went off and before I knew it the lactic acid was taking over my legs and then I was done. Ending up swimming a 25.91 and had a new PR.

50Y Freestyle...Just a bunch of splashing!

Next us the 100 Freestyle. Now I knew I could struggle through the 50 race but after how bad my legs were burning and the fact that it was twice the distance. Last time out I swam a 1:01.25. Turns out I raced a little smarter than the 50 and even without being in the pool so long still was able to bust out a 58.88. Definitely excited about that.

The last three races I had never actually done before in a meet but why not try something new...especially with the backstroke and breaststroke. Since we needed the extra points and since we dubbed this "The Year of the Breast...stroke", I had to enter at least one breaststroke race. Since I basically live with the best breaststroke in the area, I was hoping I could channel my inner Rory and just do what he does. In all reality, I was getting advice on how to legally make the turn about 1 minute before the race started. Fortunately it went well and I was able to finish without getting disqualified.

200 Freestyle: 2:24.99
50 Breaststroke: 38.17
100 Backstroke: 1:23.64

Sink or Swim Meet 2010- Champions

All in all, it was another great experience. I was able to participate in a few relays and even though at one point I had to do back to back to back to back races, the Spokane Waves Masters Team took home the title. Congrats to all the swimmers and already looking forward to the next one.

Mountain Bikes ROCK...and JUMP...and SPLASH!!!

Here in the northwest...when triathlon season is over it is time to hit the trails for some mountain biking. Last weekend a group of us met up near the 7-Mile Bridge and Riverside State Park. This would be the first time I have actually rode these trails even though I grew up just a few miles away.

Even though the night temperatures are hovering just above freezing, the early morning rides are still managable. All you need to do is layer up just a bit. Plus with mountain biking, you are usually riding pretty slow so it is easy to keep your body temperature up.

Here are a few of the highlights from my ride with: Greg, Natatlie, Nate, Matt and Jessie

Riding over a pile of logs...because we can :)

Natalie

Greg

Nate

Matt crusing down the trail.

The next set of shots are us launching off a rock that was next to the trail we were riding on. It made a perfect jump. I am pretty sure this is the LAST thing I should be doing on my bike as it could break at any second.

Me

Greg

Nate

Natalie

Matt

We did have a couple of crashes but only got one on film. After riding off the trail and into the shrubs on the side of the trail, over the handlebars he went.

Greg watching Nate crash.

Mountain Biking Carnage

 Here is another one of the sweet jumps we found.

Honestly, I feel like I was about 5 feet higher!

We also took a few videos. Check them out.

Getting a WAY to long run up to the jump.

Here is Nate having a little fun in a puddle.

Honestly, we are always looking for people to come out and ride. There are tons of great trails all over this area...and if you feel up to it, ROCKS, JUMPS and puddles to SPLASH through.