Hello from Seattle. Yesterday was the 1st edition of the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon and I have to say it was probably the best, most scenic course I have had an opportunity to run thus far, and that includes Boston and New York. It was an exceptional day on the weather front as well if you can believe it, about 70 degrees, clear as a bell and sunny. The race follows a great path that always has you close to the water with expansive views and Mt. Rainer often visible in the distance. The course is not for the faint of heart as it is non stop rolling hills the entire way with some nasty grades at the worst possible times, mile 16, mile 19, mile 25.....thank God for all that hill work I put in leading up to the race. I had a phenomenal day and ended up running a personal best of 3:20:56 (a 6 minute + PR) which qualified me for Boston with 3 seconds to spare. I finished 25th in AG but as I told my Father in Law, I am pretty sure I came in 1st place in the "marathon finishers who went wine tasting right after the race" division.Sunday, June 28, 2009
Seattle RNR Marathon - Qualified for Boston!
Hello from Seattle. Yesterday was the 1st edition of the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon and I have to say it was probably the best, most scenic course I have had an opportunity to run thus far, and that includes Boston and New York. It was an exceptional day on the weather front as well if you can believe it, about 70 degrees, clear as a bell and sunny. The race follows a great path that always has you close to the water with expansive views and Mt. Rainer often visible in the distance. The course is not for the faint of heart as it is non stop rolling hills the entire way with some nasty grades at the worst possible times, mile 16, mile 19, mile 25.....thank God for all that hill work I put in leading up to the race. I had a phenomenal day and ended up running a personal best of 3:20:56 (a 6 minute + PR) which qualified me for Boston with 3 seconds to spare. I finished 25th in AG but as I told my Father in Law, I am pretty sure I came in 1st place in the "marathon finishers who went wine tasting right after the race" division.
Friday, June 19, 2009
What's New and What's Next....
I am just one week out from my next adventure, the inaugural Seattle Rock N' Roll Marathon on June 27th. Unless I am mistaken this will be my 10th marathon (not counting Ironman marathons). It should be a fun weekend as we will be visiting my wife's parents who live just outside of Seattle as well. So we will have a weekend of racing, belated birthday celebration (her father's) and also a late Father's day. Now that I think about it, the race will be just a small part of the visit. I am curious to see how the race goes for me as so far this year I have had PR's at 5k, 10K, Half Marathon, Sprint Tri and Half Ironman Tri. I have approached my training for this marathon in a very different fashion than anything previous. As I have more than enough endurance base from all the long course triathlon training I have been focusing 90% of my efforts on speed work and hill repeats to build top end and strength. My total running volume has been much lower than normal but the quality has been quite high. As a result I am not really sure at all what will happen come race day....so we will just have to wait and see. After that I have a duathlon coming up in July, which is something I have only done once before and informally at that (club race). Then it is on to Ironman specific training as all the focus goes towards Ironman Arizona in November (if you live in the area come on out and holler).If you don't already know and are wondering what the picture is all about, AIRE Urban Performance and Wellness is an 8,000 sq ft functional fitness and sports performance co operative
opening under the ownership and direction of my wife Jen. It is located in downtown San Diego's Gas Lamp District directly across from the House of Blues. It is going to be quite an amazing facility with some very unique offerings unavailable anywhere else in So
uthern California. We have a cycling center that will be equipped with Saris Power Tap bikes and run by a highly qualified USA Cycling Coach. We have to former Olympic Rowers who will be running an indoor rowing program (think Spinning class but with rowing machines) that will be the first of its kind in San Diego. Jen will be directing Pilates and group exercise and there is much more in the works. Drop me a line if you are in the area and want to check it out. The website should be launching soon and the facility is scheduled to open the week after July 4th. Check back soon....
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sad News - Article from Slowtwitch
Steve Larsen gone at 39 new
Written by: Dan EmpfieldDate: Wed May 20 2009
Steve Larsen died yesterday of an apparent heart attack at the age of 39. One of cycling's strong men, the former world class road racer, mountain bike racer, and triathlete collapsed during a footrunning workout on the track in his adopted home of Bend, Oregon. Despite immediate attention medical professionals were unable to resuscitate him. Larsen leaves a wife, Carrie, and five children. He was held in high regard both by athletes and those in the industry. But it was his athletic abilities across a variety of disciplines that enthused and amazed his fans. Larsen was a member of the legendary Motorola professional road cycling team and, during his road racing tenure, became a national road champion. He was a dominant force in mountain bike racing during the decade of the 90s. After a disappointing crash cost him a sure spot on the 2000 Olympic mountain bike squad, he dabbled his toe in the waters of triathlon, and that "dabble" made quite a splash. He sped to the front of the pack on the bike at the 2001 Wildflower long course event, and held on to finish fourth overall on the day. He followed that performance with a win at Ironman Lake Placid, and a top-10 finish at the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship. It was a remarkable first year. Steve Larsen was not only an instant success as a pro triathlete, he was perhaps the ultimate bike-leg game changer for those in the race. He was just too fast, just too talented, to be ignored by those with skills more typical of pro triathletes.
Larsen's foray into triathlon was not just a search for new challenges. He grew up in Davis, California. Iron-legend Dave Scott "made his name on the roads of Yolo County," remembered Larsen, "and was someone I looked up to from the start. I sought out the advice of Dave Scott and ... he played a large part in my early success, so it was like coming full circle." If Larsen was conflicted in his late 30s, it was over his strong desire for a post-athletic business career as well as his fierce attachment to endurance sports competition. He was an equity partner in both Steve Larsen Properties, a commercial real estate brokerage, and Worldtri.com, an online retailer of triathlon goods. This, after successfully buying, running and building his hometown bike shop: Steve Larsen's Wheelworks in Davis. He sold the shop in 2003 to locate his family permanently in Bend, Oregon. He emerged from a professional sports retirement last year to again train and race triathlons. And, in vintage Steve Larsen fashion, he confounded his contemporaries by his ability to compete at a national level in road and offroad triathlon, long distance and short, and as a pure MTB racer (most recently at the Sea Otter Classic), all at an age approaching 40. When Slowtwitch asked Larsen, this past November, how it was he managed to juggle all his responsibilities and passions, his response was, "An amazing wife!" He also acknowledged that no one with interests as broad as his could honor them all fully. "Sport has been a huge part of my life for so long and I understand well the balance it actually brings to my life. Surely I miss workouts that I would love to do, but I have learned that it is the work you put in over the long haul." And the haul has been long. Larsen's professional career in sport stretches back to the 80s. Some might remember Steve Larsen from the older pro cycling days. He was considered by some in that era a harder-edged competitor. That recollection is not emblematic of those who knew him over most of his adult life. He is remembered not only by those who appreciate his talent, but who knew him in business as a man of great grace, slow to anger, transparent, humble, and generous.
Editor's note: We have received many emails today, from both fans and those in the bike and tri industry with whom Steve Larsen intersected, who're asking what of substance they can do to help. We do not have the answer to that for you, but will endeavor to have that answer, and to post it here; on the Slowtwitch Reader Forum; and in our weekly newsletter next week. Thanks to Timothy Carlson for providing pictures of Steve Larsen for this article.
Written by: Dan EmpfieldDate: Wed May 20 2009
Steve Larsen died yesterday of an apparent heart attack at the age of 39. One of cycling's strong men, the former world class road racer, mountain bike racer, and triathlete collapsed during a footrunning workout on the track in his adopted home of Bend, Oregon. Despite immediate attention medical professionals were unable to resuscitate him. Larsen leaves a wife, Carrie, and five children. He was held in high regard both by athletes and those in the industry. But it was his athletic abilities across a variety of disciplines that enthused and amazed his fans. Larsen was a member of the legendary Motorola professional road cycling team and, during his road racing tenure, became a national road champion. He was a dominant force in mountain bike racing during the decade of the 90s. After a disappointing crash cost him a sure spot on the 2000 Olympic mountain bike squad, he dabbled his toe in the waters of triathlon, and that "dabble" made quite a splash. He sped to the front of the pack on the bike at the 2001 Wildflower long course event, and held on to finish fourth overall on the day. He followed that performance with a win at Ironman Lake Placid, and a top-10 finish at the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship. It was a remarkable first year. Steve Larsen was not only an instant success as a pro triathlete, he was perhaps the ultimate bike-leg game changer for those in the race. He was just too fast, just too talented, to be ignored by those with skills more typical of pro triathletes.
Larsen's foray into triathlon was not just a search for new challenges. He grew up in Davis, California. Iron-legend Dave Scott "made his name on the roads of Yolo County," remembered Larsen, "and was someone I looked up to from the start. I sought out the advice of Dave Scott and ... he played a large part in my early success, so it was like coming full circle." If Larsen was conflicted in his late 30s, it was over his strong desire for a post-athletic business career as well as his fierce attachment to endurance sports competition. He was an equity partner in both Steve Larsen Properties, a commercial real estate brokerage, and Worldtri.com, an online retailer of triathlon goods. This, after successfully buying, running and building his hometown bike shop: Steve Larsen's Wheelworks in Davis. He sold the shop in 2003 to locate his family permanently in Bend, Oregon. He emerged from a professional sports retirement last year to again train and race triathlons. And, in vintage Steve Larsen fashion, he confounded his contemporaries by his ability to compete at a national level in road and offroad triathlon, long distance and short, and as a pure MTB racer (most recently at the Sea Otter Classic), all at an age approaching 40. When Slowtwitch asked Larsen, this past November, how it was he managed to juggle all his responsibilities and passions, his response was, "An amazing wife!" He also acknowledged that no one with interests as broad as his could honor them all fully. "Sport has been a huge part of my life for so long and I understand well the balance it actually brings to my life. Surely I miss workouts that I would love to do, but I have learned that it is the work you put in over the long haul." And the haul has been long. Larsen's professional career in sport stretches back to the 80s. Some might remember Steve Larsen from the older pro cycling days. He was considered by some in that era a harder-edged competitor. That recollection is not emblematic of those who knew him over most of his adult life. He is remembered not only by those who appreciate his talent, but who knew him in business as a man of great grace, slow to anger, transparent, humble, and generous.
Editor's note: We have received many emails today, from both fans and those in the bike and tri industry with whom Steve Larsen intersected, who're asking what of substance they can do to help. We do not have the answer to that for you, but will endeavor to have that answer, and to post it here; on the Slowtwitch Reader Forum; and in our weekly newsletter next week. Thanks to Timothy Carlson for providing pictures of Steve Larsen for this article.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Spring Sprint 2009
The elusive podium......
Just a quick recap on a great Spring Sprint today. Last year I placed 6th in 35 to 39 AG at 39 with a 54:49. I aged up to 40 to 44 for this season and went 53:15 for 7th. That would have been good for 2nd in the 35 to 39 this year and 3rd in 40 to 44 last year. It also would have been a higher finish in every AG other than 30 to 34. The podium still eludes me but it will happen. Soon....very soon.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
First Tri of the Year, Cal Half Ironman
First things first....holy sh..#@!!! that freaking water was cold! I was having a decent swim until we rolled out of the harbor then had about 4 minutes of unbridled panic as we hit rediculous swells at the turn around. Then coming back in with the sun in the eyes I had no idea where I was going. No joke the water was a ridiculous 58 degrees. Still had PR in the swim and a good T1 to the bike. Even with the PR I am still spotting everyone in front of me 3 to 8 minutes coming out of the water. I might be able to close that 3 min gap over the next year to be swimming sub 35 but not sure that I will make it sub 30 this late to the game with no swim background. I was hoping to blaze sub 2:30 on the bike but it was a little windy and was trying to be a little conservative and ended up at 2:36. Moved up from 146 out of the swim to 46th at the end of the bike. Had a blazing run (for me) and end with a heads up half marathon PR of 1:37 to finish under 5 hours for the first time with 4:57. Super stoked with that but good lord the old guys in So Cal are crazy fast. Moved up from 104 last year to 36th. What's a boy gotta do? Post race festivities found us at East Village Tavern (where for the first time ever I beat Jen at bowling) and then over to Cowboy Star for snacks and wine. Monday, March 23, 2009
Epic Cycling
This past Saturday I led my second, two hour epic cycling class at downtown San Diego's premier new athletic club, Fit Athletic. This is a top notch facility that I highly recommend. I occasionally teach special event classes around town and I have really enjoyed the groups that have come out to participate at Fit in particular. These people are seriously motivated! The class that I put on is not for slackers or people who simply want to go through the motions and so far everyone that has turned out at Fit has turned out to throw down! These guys put it out there all the way to the last second of the last song.....even when I take the class 10 min past the 2 hour mark. Keep an eye out on FB and on your email if you are a Fit member as we will likely host another special event in about 4 weeks, hopefully poolside where we can enjoy some sun and spring breezes.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
First Bike Racing of the Season
It's all about the bike.
Anyone who knows me knows that what I love best is being on the bike. That being said, it was great to be out for a weekend of back to back cycling in perfect pre-spring San Diego weather. First up was the Camp Pendelton Bull Dog Bike race. Roughly 26 miles with the real deciding point being a one mile climb about half way in with a 10 percent average gradient. Being primarily a triathlete, my cycling tactics haven't had much opportunity to be honed. Invariably my positioning in the pack is not so great. I was sitting about 20 wheels off the front at the start of the final down hill before the big climb. Unfortunately by the bottom of the hill I drifted back to about 40th wheel and had to work my way through the field on the climb. I was feeling strong so I took a lot of hard pulls at the front (see photo to the left). I wasn't sure who or how many were off the front so our group of five put in some good tempo. I broke away with about a mile to go and finished the day in 11th (after two wheel suckers rolled around me in the finish gate). Sunday saw us rolling out for the first ever San Diego Gran Fondo 100 miler starting and finishing in Little Italy. I was brought in to represent for Team Exobici and got to lead the field out behind a 5 Ferrari, 3 Ducati pace team pacing us out of downtown San Diego. This was by far the best, most scenic, hard climbing century ride I have done yet. I latched on to a group of about 5 strong riders with about 30 miles to go and we drove it in to the finish with a nice sprint to the line. This is definitely a race to put on your calendar for next year. The cycling form definitely seems to be coming on in a timely manner.....so we will see what Cal 70.3 has in store two weeks from now.
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