The Tour De France, my retirement, & Team Radio Shack

First off, I have Directv & they no longer carry the channel Versus, which is what the Tour De France is going to be televised on this July. If they don't figure out a way to carry the Tour by mid June I'm going to have to cancel my contract with them & get a new cable/dish carrier.

I just got the word from the NM employees public retirement association that my paper work (and check) to buy 16 months of military time was accepted & has gone through without a hitch. My new aproximate date of retirement from the NM state pennitentiary is summer of 2015!!!

Speaking of the Tour, most of my favorite riders are going tp be riding for team RadioShack this year. Of course there's Lance Armstrong, there is also Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner. As a matter of fact the only cyclists whom I would consider as a favorite of mine who isn't one the Shack team would be George Hincapie & thor hushovd. I am SO looking foreward to the Tour this year! I'm probably more excited about this years Tour than any other year!

Here is an article on Chris Horner that originally made me a fan of his:

Pro cyclists. Who needs 'em? Let's face it -- the sport has a reputation for taking itself too seriously.

A subculture populated by men with shaved legs, borderline eating disorders and spandex wardrobes is fertile ground for acts of overcompensation. Pro cyclists, specifically the roadies, can seem aggressive and dramatic.

What they do is extremely hard and seriously dangerous, so I'm willing to cut them some slack, but sometimes I just want to pat them on the back, hand them a box of Twinkies and tell them that everything is going to be OK.

And there's at least one guy in the pro peloton who probably wouldn't turn down the Twinkies: Bend's own Chris Horner.

Aside from his notoriously questionable nutritional habits, Horner is known for his good nature, easy manner and rock-solid work ethic. The man is a machine -- and he'll make you laugh while he's turning the screws.

During the course of his career, he's won the points standing for the National Racing Calendar three times and competed in three Tours de France, placing 15th overall in 2007. Most recently, Horner's been hard at work on the Astana team riding support for Levi Leipheimer, who many think is capable of winning the Tour in the next few years.

Unfortunately, because of the team's previous involvement with doping scandals, Astana wasn't invited to the big show in France this year. That's how Chris and Levi (who weren't with Astana at the time of the scandals) ended up racing the Cascade Cycling Classic stage race this July in Horner's hometown of Bend.

The town was abuzz with his name when I arrived.

I'll be honest. By the time I actually got a chance to meet the guy, I was already suffering from severe Horner-love burnout. What is it about this guy?, I thought to myself.

And then I found out in one of those rare moments where life lives up to legend.

During Stage 5, Billy Demong, a racer from another team, crashed hard with 2K to go, damaging his bike enough to render it useless. Scraped and bloodied, he began to run the remaining distance to the finish.

About this time, Horner, who had spent the past 80 miles busting legs for Levi, found him and loaded him up on the seat of his bike, elementary-school style. Climbing the remaining distance entirely out of the saddle with a podium-worthy grin on his face, he hauled Demong (and his broken bicycle!) to the finish.

As I watched the duo come rolling slowly up the crest of the hill, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It was quintessentially Chris Horner: impressive, selfless, fun and -- above all -- hilarious.

Even as we stood chuckling and shaking our heads at the absurdity of the whole thing, I have to believe that I was not the only one to find myself suddenly steeped in long-forgotten childhood memories of buddy rides and two-wheeled misadventures.

And suddenly the rabid Horner-love made perfect sense.

He is the people's pro. He is the neighborhood pal who rode us on the handlebars so we would make it home before the streetlights came on. And his injection of levity reminds us why we started riding bikes in the first place.

no longer a clydesdale & the HalfMax National Championships

I've been using dietpower.com religiously since December. My starting weight late December after my 2 weeks off of triathlon training & the holiday feasts was 222 pounds. As you may have been able to tell from the new name of my blog, my weight this morning was under 200 pounds! 199.8 to be exact. This is only the 2nd time I've been below the 200 mark. I've raced twice under 200 & BOY WAS I FAST. I shattered PR's at both of those races.

My next race is the Sully Super Sprint triathlon in Alpine TX on March 21st. I'm hoping to be 192 pounds by then, which will make that the lightest I've ever raced at! I'll keep my peeps updated on how I do.

On another note I had decided to only train & race sprint distances this year to improve my speed & to have more time with my mini-me's. Today my best friend called me & told me he was doing the HalfMax National triathlon championships in September. I also qualified for this years HalfMax nationals, so like a good friend I'll be racing with him in Oklahoma city in September. This will be interesting because I'm still going to train strictly for sprint distance triathlons. I'll be essentially showing up & gut checking a half ironman distance race.

On one hand it will be a very difficult race for me because I won't be used to such long distances. On the other hand I'm excited to see what kind of times I'll be able to put up because I'll be 18 pounds lighter (if I can hit my goal weight & maintain there) than I was when I PR'd this course September of last year. Again, I'll update you to how that race goes also.

Cody the FORMER Clydesdale!

Presidents Day duathlon race report

I competed in the Presidents day duathlon this last Saturday, February 13th. This was my 56th multisport race.

It was a 5K run & a 30K bike.

I did average on the run finishing in 24 minutes 39 seconds. I took off way to fast just like I do at every race. The run was a long gradual uphill on a sandy dirt road. I finished the run somewhere around the 25th place.

I'd been working a lot on my cycling this year. I put in 550 cycling miles in the month of January alone with a big portion of that being hill or speed work, so I was pretty sure I was going to have a good day on the bike.

Once on the bike I started hunting guys down like they were Saddam Hussein. No holes out here to hide in guys.

Since it was an out and back bike course I was able to count how many people were in front of me. When I hit the half way point I was in 10th place over all. I was able to keep 10th place for all of 15 feet before Mark Ballsinger passed me. I knew if I could keep up with Mark I'd have a great finish, Mark B is fast. I was able to hang with him for about 6 miles, which is a first. After that he started to pull away from me.You know what's really impressive about this story? Mark is 64 years old.

Anyway I ended up finishing in 11th place over all, 1st place 35-39 AG. The closest 35-39 to me was 5 minutes behind. This was my 2nd first place finish out of the 3 races I've competed this year. I have 28 points out of a possible 30 for the South West Challenge Series & am currently in 1st place. I'm pretty happy how my speed has been improving. I weighed in at 204 on race day. I'm hoping to get down to 182 by May. Oh me, oh my, but I'd be fast at 182!

My next race is the Sully Super Sprint in Alpine TX. I love the Sully. It's only $35 for the registration. It's a semi fast sprint in a great little town.

I'll keep you posted how my next race goes.

an overdo update

I haven't posted much on my training, diet, weight, & racing for awhile. I think in the 4 years of maintaining my blog this is the longest I've gone without writing of such things. Usually that's a bad sign for me. This time it's just that I'm unsure exactly how all my training is going. I had to let my coach go in December & have been self coaching for the first time in about 3.5 years. In December I also stopped training for Iron & 70.3 distances & have been training exclusively for sprints. I've dropped down to 204 pounds, dropping weight usually makes endurance athletes faster, but with all the changes to my training & coaching I'm a bit uncertain of how I'm doing in regards to my speed, endurance, etc. Essentially I'm training well-I think, & dieting well day in & day out & simply waiting anxiously for a race to see how I'm doing.

I won't have long to wait, this Saturday is the Presidents day duathlon (formerly known as the White Sands Duathlon and also as the John Stermer duathlon)in WSMR. I'll be competing in my 3rd race as an AG 35-39, which is the hardest AG by far. I'm excited, anxious, nervous........

I'll let you peeps know if I do well, and if I dont do well I'll tell you what changes to my training I'll do. I sure hope Tim Chaves, Hector Tovare, & Clay Mosely miss this race. They are in my AG and will be my toughest competition of the year. If they no show, I have a great opportunity for my 3rd top 3 finish of the 2010 season. Wish me luck!!!!

growing up

I had published this post awhile back. This is by far my favorite post, and I hope you dont mind me reposting . A buud of mine is expecting thier first child & when I read thier blog post I became sentimental & wanted to re-share this one.

Growing up

My son sat up for the first time today. Last week he weighed in at 20 pounds so he can face foreword in his car seat now. My children are growing up so quickly. To quickly. In each stage I see them in I think to myself "this is my favorite stage." But I'd be lying if I didn't say I missed the last stage with all my heart.



My precious daughter has learned what things are funny. When she sees or hears something funny, she'll laugh or say "that's silly Daddy". She heard someone tell a knock knock joke recently. She came up with one of her own & now tells me it 20-30 times a day. She says "Daddy, knock knock." When I say "who's there" she replies "it's me!". She says this with so much glee I can't help but to laugh. I laugh even after hearing it a thousand times.



It's so wonderful to see them growing up. But I so desperately wish they'd slow down. I do believe my wife & I are lucky that she & I don't take for granted the times we have with our children. We even catch ourselves smiling at one another when our children are having a fit or tantrum. It's not that we spoil our children when they are bad or encourage their misbehavior. It's that she & I are realistic enough to know we will look back at these moments in fondness & miss them.



When my daughter was 6 months old I took her to visit my Grandmother in Hobbs. It was just my daughter & I. My wife was stuck in Santa Fe with work. The 1st day there I gave my princess some food that gave her horrible gas pains. I held her all night as she cried. She cried louder than I thought any child as small as her could. Consequently my daughter & I were both tired & cranky the rest of the trip. But I remember that night as one of the most precious moments of her childhood because in between her crying fits she would wad up my shirt in her tiny little hand & keep hold of me as she slept. If I tried to move or lay her down she'd feel it because she'd have hold of my shirt. So she'd wake up & start crying again. I ended up not getting up or even moving much the entire night. I just held her up against my chest, rocking her gently in my Grandmothers lazy boy chair.



5 weeks ago my son who is 9 months old now started grabbing my shirt & pulling on me until I'd pick him up. He'd sometimes pull so hard he would almost pull himself out of my wife's arms. It's gotten to the point where he's so strong that when he pulls if I don't pick him up right away he'll stretch the collar of my T-shirt. Now most of my shirts have stretched collars. I'm not annoyed by that in the least. If anything I'm proud of the fact. The shirts I wear with the ruined collars give me an excuse to talk about my son.



Today my wife & I took my son & daughter to ride the train at the Albuquerque botanical garden. While on the train ride my son grabbed hold of my shirt, but this time instead of pulling harder & more forcefully until I gave in to his demand, he crawled into my lap by himself. This was a first. A very very big first. I'm excited he is progressing as a child should be. It means he's healthy & happy. But I became a little teary-eyed when he did that. I became emotional partly because of what he accomplished. But also partly because he grew out of a stage. There was no warning, no baby steps where we could watch his progress. He simply decided he was ready to move into another stage. As usual I wasn't ready. Them growing into new stages & me getting teary-eyed seems to be a common occurrence around our house.



I had no idea when each child was born I'd become more sentimental & unable to keep my emotions to myself. I must say, the birth of my children has made me a more sensitive person. I cry much easier now than before my babies were born. My eyes fill up at the drop of a dime now, & not just when it pertains to them. Anytime. I don't think it's that I'm weaker now. I think it's that my children opened up a part of my heart that I never knew existed. My children have made me a better man. They've taught me how to love unconditionally & how to forgive. How to better respond when I'm angered or slighted against. How to give more willingly to those in need. All these things God has been wanting me to do long before my children were born. Come to think of it, perhaps the biggest change since the birth of my 1st child 2 years 10 months ago hasn't been in my children after all. Perhaps it's been in me.



Cherish all the joys in your life. But take a moment to recognize where those moments came from & give thanks to Him.

UNM physiology testing

I went to the UNM physiology lab and got a battery of sports testing done. I had these results done in 2004 also. I will post the results from both years.

I had my body fat tested. I weighed 207 pounds & I have 169 pounds of lean muscle mass. In 1999 I had that test done & I weighed 204 pounds & had 177 pounds of lean mass. The lab told me the optimum body fat of a triathlete for peak performance should be between %11-5%. If I was to keep the same amount of lean mass that would put me at 192-181 pounds. My goal is 182 pounds.

Maximal VO2 (ml/Kg/min):

Your VO2 max measured on the cycle was 46.7 ml/kg/min at a maximum power output of 410 Watts. This ranks you in the good category (between the 65th and 70th percentile) for your age and gender. Below is a graph of your results.

In 2004 my VO-2 max was 53.7 ml/kg/min @ 399 watts.



Maximal Heart Rate (beats/min)

Maximal heart rate is often used as a tool for setting the exercise intensity by setting a target zone. Your maximal heart rate was measured at 178 beats per minute (bpm). This is the maximal value that your heart can work during cycling, so your regular exercise intensity should not often be at your maximal effort. Your recommended cycling intensity based on your thresholds determined from your test is 88-95% of your max HR max. For you, this would be between 156-169 bpm. Below is a graph of your heart rate versus time.

In 2004 my max HR was 172, it has gone up 6 BPM.





Ventilatory Threshold

Your test results indicated that you have two ventilatory thresholds. The first ventilatory threshold is termed the “aerobic” threshold, and it is the point during exercise where there is an abrupt increase in Ventilation (VE)/Volume of Oxygen Consumption (VO2) without an increase in VE/Volume of Carbon Dioxide Production (VCO2). In other words, you need to exercise at an intensity above this threshold to maintain your aerobic fitness. The second threshold is termed the “anaerobic” threshold, and it is the point during exercise where there is an abrupt increase in VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2. In other words, you need to exercise above this threshold to improve your aerobic fitness. You should be able to exercise at an intensity between the first and second threshold for an extended period of time. However, you will not be able to exercise for an extended period of time above your second threshold. Therefore, it is best to perform interval training above this threshold. Knowing the ventilatory threshold aids in setting the level of exercise intensity and designing a training plan.

Your first ventilatory threshold (the first arrow on the left in the graph below) was achieved at a heart rate of approximately 156 bpm (88% of max HR) and a VO2 of approximately 37.0 ml/kg/min (79% of VO2max). Your second ventilatory threshold (the second arrow on the right in the graph below) was achieved at a heart rate of approximately 169 bpm (95% of max HR) and a VO2 of approximately 44.2 ml/kg/min (95% of VO2max).

Since your second threshold was achieved at a heart rate of approximately of 169 bpm, you could potentially exercise for an extended period below this heart rate (though keep in mind that this value can be higher in outside conditions due to heart rate drift and dehydration). A heart rate significantly above 169 bpm will cause you to fatigue at a quicker rate than if you exercised at a lower heart rate.


In 2004 my Vent Thresh was at HR 138 bpm & VO2 OF 35.3 ML/KG/MIN (66% OF MAX) @ 211 WATTS.

If your interested in getting any of these tests done here is the labs contact info:

Christine Mermier, Ph.D. and Michelle Kulovitz, B.S.
UNM Exercise Physiology Lab
277-2658

The New Mexico Outlaws & my former coach TriSport Coaching both offers discounts.

The start of the 2010 season

After the Polar Bear triathlon in early December I took a couple weeks off to recover. That was the first time I'd taken time off from training in the 5 years I've been in triathlon. I think physically I was fine, but mentally I needed some down time. I also wanted to make sure I was both physically & mentally prepared for the training I'd be putting myself through this year. After my 5th place overall finish at the Polar Bear I realized how close I am to being fast. Really fast. I just need to do a tad bit more lactate threshold, hill training, & speed work, & I need to drop 20-30 pounds. I'd be gaunt at that weight, but light is fast! Skinny isn't a body type, it's a tactical necessity!

When I got back into training after my time off I got fatigued fast & I got sore from easier workouts I had been used to before. But I seem to be building back the strength & endurance I had lost very quickly. I'm really pumped up for this season. My ultimate goal for this season is to finish 1st place in the South West Challenge Series. Right now I'm in 1st place after 2 races. A first place AG finish at the Polar Bear tri & a 4th place AG finish at the Jingle Bell tri giving me 17 points. It'll be VERY hard to hold onto 1st, there are some VERY fast triathletes in the 35-39 AG. But I've got the determination & after 5 years I've got a great base of endurance to add speed work to. Now lets see if I can do the one thing that has always been hardest for me.... drop a ton of weight.

year end miles for 2009 & goals for 2010

2009 year end miles:
toatal swim miles 58.5 averages to 4.87 miles a month or 1.125 miles a week.

total bike miles 3915.3 averages to 326.2 miles a month or 75.29 miles a week.

total run miles 705.1 averages to 58.75 miles a month or 13.5 a week.

My 2010 year goals.
1)Make top 3 in the 35-39 SW challenge series

2)PR the Atomicman short course of 1:07

3)PR Jay Benson of 1:04

4)bike & swim more miles in 2010 than I did in 2009

5)PR the Santa Fe tri 1:12:59

6)PR the Raptor Du

2009 Polar Bear triathlon results

Overall Name Category Run Bike Swim Final


6 Xavier Nolen M <20 27:08 1:15:26 8:31 1:51:05

17 Taylor Burgett M <20 20:36 1:38:22 8:15 2:07:13

22 Ben Campbell M <20 24:17 1:39:41 9:50 2:13:48

49 Andrew Paul Gonzalez M <20 22:58 2:10:09 9:31 2:42:38



1 Adam Blalock M 20-24 19:44 1:05:02 8:40 1:33:26

12 Esau Mena M 20-24 23:54 1:23:54 9:05 1:56:53

51 Chris McMillen M 20-24 25:58 2:04:34 13:43 2:44:15



3 John Merrill M 25-29 19:21 1:18:53 9:21 1:47:35

48 Daniel Leyba M 25-29 26:54 2:04:14 11:02 2:42:10



21 Victor Maldanado M 30-34 24:53 1:33:38 13:28 2:11:59

33 Fernie Castillo M 30-34 26:55 1:39:49 17:13 2:23:57



5 Cody Hansen M 35-39 24:09 1:16:18 9:01 1:49:28

13 Gregory Gouveia M 35-39 27:09 1:22:09 12:33 2:01:51

16 Chris Taylor M 35-39 23:50 1:29:49 11:52 2:05:31

23 Gary Moore M 35-39 23:35 1:36:41 13:42 2:13:58

31 Agustin Franco M 35-39 26:46 1:41:35 11:49 2:20:10

47 Arturo Gutierrez M 35-39 28:42 1:53:01 19:43 2:41:06



25 Raymond Placiente M 40-44 30:53 1:33:48 10:38 2:15:19

43 Jamie Hawkins M 40-44 31:19 1:47:25 17:45 2:36:29



8 Bobby Dominguez M 45-49 23:10 1:15:19 15:32 1:54:01

10 Curtis Boyd M 45-49 24:35 1:19:09 12:49 1:56:33

26 James Bradley M 45-49 27:04 1:30:38 17:51 2:15:33

35 Stuart Crane M 45-49 26:38 1:43:17 18:21 2:28:16



7 John Jackson M 50-54 27:18 1:16:14 9:41 1:53:13

19 Norman Desrochers M 50-54 28:14 1:31:24 9:35 2:09:13



4 Carl Armstrong M 55-59 23:30 1:15:24 9:34 1:48:28

11 Scott Darling M 55-59 23:37 1:20:56 11:16 1:55:49

30 Robert Myerly M 55-59 32:19 1:36:55 10:41 2:19:55



24 Flip Lyle M >65 35:37 1:27:39 11:52 2:15:08







14 Brianne Alyse Loya F 20-24 23:06 1:30:45 8:54 2:02:45

39 Maddison Bowles F 20-24 27:52 1:54:34 8:41 2:31:07



34 Sarah Burnett F 25-29 29:45 1:40:37 14:19 2:24:41

36 Elizabeth Hingley F 25-29 26:50 1:48:38 12:51 2:28:19

53 Rebecca Galvan F 25-29 35:50 1:58:36 13:16 2:47:42



20 Delane Meredith F 30-34 27:15 1:31:04 11:12 2:09:31

27 Katie Stirling F 30-34 26:24 1:40:34 10:31 2:17:29

38 Catherine Law F 30-34 27:13 1:45:10 16:58 2:29:21



42 Dawn Shoviak F 35-59 31:11 1:49:23 15:19 2:35:53

44 Isabel Contreras F 35-39 26:14 1:55:45 15:55 2:37:54

46 Karyl Menke F 35-39 32:03 1:53:41 14:10 2:39:54

55 Christina Sharp F 35-39 34:47 2:13:45 26:15 3:14:47



54 Bea Lambert F 45-49 31:46 2:17:09 21:36 3:10:01



45 Helen Crane F 50-54 38:16 1:44:37 15:26 2:38:19

58 MJ Cobaugh F 50-54 46:10 2:34:41 16:30 3:37:21



56 Carol Akright F 60-64 40:00 2:17:39 18:36 3:16:15



9 Jason McClure Clyd <40 28:13 1:15:42 10:33 1:54:28

41 Joseph Inzerillo Clyd <40 30:56 1:45:43 17:56 2:34:25

50 Michael Lucero Clyd <40 27:05 1:59:48 16:20 2:43:13



2 David Fairbanks Clyd >40 21:41 1:07:15 7:57 1:36:53

15 John Gardea Clyd >40 30:09 1:22:10 12:38 2:04:57

29 Allen Thomas Clyd >40 28:15 1:33:30 17:46 2:19:31

52 Lynden Toliver Clyd >40 42:35 1:44:46 19:21 2:46:42



57 Rebecca Murguia Athena 46:04 2:34:47 13:49 3:34:40



28 Jennings/Twitchell Coed Team - 2:03:04 15:55 2:18:59

32 Roman/Jabale/Gutierrez Coed Team 24:24 1:49:42 9:26 2:23:32

40 Vazquez/Fogel Coed Team 35:43 1:45:57 10:21 2:32:01



37 Drayer/White Female Team 32:44 1:48:17 7:29 2:28:30



18 Jennings/Jennings Male Team - 1:56:37 11:01 2:07:38

2008 year end totals

this was my 2008 year end totals. I'll post 09's at the end of the month

Type Distance Duration


Bike 2447.5 mi 188:13

Run 642.6 mi 121:23

Swim 110230.0 yd 36:32

Swim_TT 11100.0 yd 03:39

Bike_TT 9.5 mi 01:45

Run_TT 47.2 mi 07:54

Brick 1325.2 mi 109:26

Yoga_Pilates_Stretch 00:30

Strength 56:31

Core 37:57

Walk 61.0 mi 17:23

Combination 116.2 mi 16:35

Race 114.3 mi 07:51

BikeTrainer 11.2 mi 00:45

Treadmill 2.7 mi 01:15

Total Duration: 607:39

2010 South West Challenge Series Schedule

The 2010 SOUTHWEST CHALLENGE SERIES Schedule is now out. There are 37 races in the series. There are 13 races within a 2-2.5 hr drive of Albuquerque!!!!!!


PRESIDENT’S DAY DUATHLON
FEBRUARY 13, Saturday
5K Run/30K Bike
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: January 29/Mail; February 5/fax
or e-mail
NOTE: RACE START AT 0730
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0530!!

SULLY SUPER SPRINT TRIATHLON
MARCH 21, Sunday
3 Mile Run / 15 Mile Bike / 360 Yd Swim
Ryan Baade (432) 857-8792
jbaade@sulross.edu
http://www.sulross.edu/
P.O. Box C-23
Alpine, TX 79832
Race day Registration Allowed

MVTC TRIATHLON
MARCH 28, Sunday
5K Run / 25K Bike / 500M Swim
Don & Genia Shepan (575) 524-7824
DONEUGENIA@aol.com
No website at this time
3007 Ronna Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Early Registration - March 20: Late – March 27;
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

WIND TRIATHLON
APRIL 3, Saturday
7K Run / 35K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: March 19/Mail; March 26/fax or
e-mail
NOTE: RACE START AT 0730
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0530!!

RAPTOR DUATHLON
April 11, Sunday
5K Run / 30K Bike
TSgt Michelle Villaflor (575) 572-2527
Michelle.villaflor@holloman.af.mil
http://www.hollomanfss.com/
Domenici Fitness & Sports Center
1051 Connecticut Ave
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Registration Deadline: April 6 FIRM

SPRING FLING TRIATHLON
(Kids Triathlon Also)
APRIL 18, Sunday
5K Run / 30K Bike / 400Yd Swim
See website for Kid’s Info
Mark Mico (505) 907-7378
Mark@TriSportCoaching.com
http://www.trisportcoaching.com/
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center
745 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

ATOMIC MAN DUATHLON
APRIL 25, Sunday
10K Run / 40K Bike / 5K Run (Fat Man)
4K Run / 15K Bike / 4K Run (Little Boy)
Jeff Johnson (505) 662-5834 / Frank Cherne (505) 412-5568
duathlon@ triatomics.org
www.triatomics.org/duathlon
P.O. Box 45
Los Alamos, NM 87544-0045
Registration Deadline: April 24 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

JAY BENSON TRIATHLON
MAY 9, Sunday
3 Mile Run / 12 Mile Bike / 400M Swim
Paul Walton (505) 837-9400
paulcycling@yahoo.com
website???
6915 Montgomery Blvd. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Registration on Active.com March 2;
Closes At 400 Participants
USAT SANCTIONED

BUFFMAN and SQUEAKY TRIATHLON

MAY 16, Sunday
1500M Swim / 40K Bike / 10K Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: May 15 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

THE DOG HOUSE SPRINT TRIATHLON
MAY 16, Sunday
500M Swim / 17.6 Mile Bike / 3.1 Mile Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: May 15 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

RIO RANCHO DUATHLON
MAY 23, Sunday
10K Run / 40K Bike / 5K Run
james Webster (505) 804-2823
jameswebster@endurance-endeavors.com
http://www.endurance-endeavors.com/
Santa Ana Star Convention Center
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Registration: Online Closes May 21
No Race Day Registration

USAT SANCTIONED
RUIDOSO SPRINT TRIATHLON
MAY 29, Saturday
3.5 Mi Run (paved/trail) / 10 mile bike (road) / 400Yd
Swim (pool)
Frederic Moras (575) 937-7106
rac@valornet.com
http://www.ruidosoathleticclub.com/
Ruidoso Athletic Club
415 Wingfield Street
Ruidoso, NM 88355
Registration Deadline: May 27
No Race Day Registration

MILKMAN TRIATHLON
JUNE 5, Saturday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Larry Marshall (575) 734-5415
lmarshall@fbfs.com
http://www.milkmantriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 399
Dexter, NM 88230
Registration Deadline: June 2
No Race Day Registration

USAT SANCTIONED
BEAT THE HEAT TRIATHLON
JUNE 12, Saturday
8K Run / 40K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: May 28/Mail; June 4/fax or email
NOTE: RACE START AT 0700
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0500!!

GALLUP TRIATHLON
JUNE 12, Saturday
375 Yd Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Andy Stravers (505) 409-9160
GallupTriathlon@gmail.com
http://www.galluptriathlon.com/
PO Box 1197
Gallup, NM 87305
Registration Deadline: June 8 FIRM
USAT SANCTIONED

CHICK FIL-A TRIATHLON
JUNE 19, Saturday
400Meter Swim / 10 Mile Bike / 5K Run
Mark Garonzik (806) 670-8028
grozzy@clearwire.net
http://www.triatx.com/
PMB 212
3300 Coulter, Ste 3
Amarillo, TX 79106
Registration Deadline: June 6 FIRM / NO Race Day
Registration
NOTE: RACE START AT 0800
Kids cup Triathlon at 1000
USAT SANCTIONED

BUFFALO SPRINGS LAKE IRONMAN 70.3
JUNE 27, Sunday
1.2 Mile Swim / 56 Mile Bike / 13.1 Mile Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: June 26
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

TRI-RAIDER SPRINT TRIATHLON

JUNE 27, Sunday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: June 26
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

GRADY WILLIAMS MEMORIAL FREEDOM DAYS
TRIATHLON
JULY 3, Saturday
1.5k Swim / 10K Run / 40K Bike
Debbie Dusenbery (800) 448-1240
fmncvb@earthlink.net
http://www.farmingtonnm.org/
3041 East Main
Farmington, NM 87402
Registration Deadline: July 2
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

BOTTOMLESS TRIATHLON
JULY 10, Saturday
400M Swim / 12K Bike / 4K Run
Jan Olesinski (505) 624-2698
olesinski@nmmi.edu
http//myweb.cableone.net/janolesinski
900 Mason Dr
Roswell, NM 88201
Registration Deadline: July 6 FIRM

CITY OF LAS CRUCES DUATHLON
JULY 17, Saturday
5K Run / 26 Mile Bike / 5K Run
Claudia Chavez (575) 541-2558
cchavez@las-cruces.org
http://www.las-cruces.org/
P.O. Box 20000
Las Cruces, NM 88004
Race Day Registration Allowed

CITY OF SANTA FE TRIATHLON
JULY 17, Saturday
5K Run / 12 Mile Bike / 400 Meter Swim
Liza Suzanne
Santa Fe Recreation Division (505) 955-4084
lsuzanne@santafenm.gov
http://www.chavezcenter.com/
3221Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, NM
Registration Deadline: July 10 FIRM
NOTE: 6:30 AM Start
USAT SANCTIONED

df RANCH TRIATHLON
JULY 24, Saturday
500M Swim / 14 Mile Bike / 5K Run
David & Karly Bobo (806) 324-7279
FastfeetRacing@aol.com
http://www.fastfeetracing.com/
Mailing: PO Box 50941
Amarillo, TX 79159
Race Location: 326 FM 2035
Sweetwater, TX 79556
Registration Deadline: July 23
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

ODESSA TUMBLEWEED TRIATHLON
JULY 25, Sunday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Kim Clinkenbeard (432) 557-5001
getfitwithkim@cableone.net
www.odessaymca.org/Triathlon.htm
3001 East University
Odessa, TX 79762
Registration Deadline: July 24 / Race Day Allowed w/
Increased Fee
USAT SANCTIONED

TALL CITY TRIATHLON
July 31, Saturday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Christine Thomas-Beardon (432) 682-2551
cthomas@midlandymca.org
http://www.midlandymca.org/
P.O. Box 954
Midland, TX 79702
Race Day Registration Allowed

SOCORRO CHILE HARVEST TRIATHLON
AUGUST 7, Saturday
400M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Robert Gonzalez (575) 835-8927
ssr@socorro.com
www.socorro.com/ssr/chile
P.O. Box 1508
Socorro, NM 87801
Registration Deadline: July 31 FIRM
USAT SANCTIONED

F-1 TRIATHLON
AUGUST 14, Saturday
800M Swim / 14K Bike / 4K Run / 14K Bike / 4K Run
Jan Olesinski (505) 624-2698
olesinski@nmmi.edu
http//myweb.cableone.net/janolesinski
900 Mason Dr
Roswell, NM 88201
Registration Deadline: August 10 FIRM

LOS ALAMOS TRIATHLON

AUGUST 21, Saturday
20K Bike / 400M Swim / 5K Run
Garry Wolfe (505) 662-8173
garry.wolfe@lacnm.us---lacrec@lacnm.us
www.losalamosnm.us/rec
2760 Canyon RD
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Registration Deadline: August 20 FIRM / No Race Day

WEST MESA CLASSIC TRIATHLON
AUGUST 29, Sunday
800M Swim / 40K Bike / 10K Run
James Webster (505) 804-2823
jameswebster@endurance-endeavors.com
http://www.endurance-endeavors.com/
West Mesa Aquatic Center
Albuquerque, NM 87121
Registration: Online Closes 27 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

YUCCA TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 4, Saturday
10K Run / 50K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: August 20/Mail; August 27/fax or
e-mail
NOTE: RACE START AT 0730
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0530!!

EAGLE IN THE SUN TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 5, Sunday
400M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Gabriela Gallegos (915.433.3439)
Race location:
Tigua Recreation & Wellness Center
RaceElPaso@gmail.com
http://www.raceelpaso.com/
P.O. Box 23208
El Paso, TX 79923
Registration Deadline: Sept. 1 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

PATRIOT TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 12, Sunday
400 Yd Swim / 25 K Bike / 5K Run
Andie Talmadge (505) 239-4246
andie@fitfundamentals.com
http://www.fitfundamentals.com/
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center / 745 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Registration Deadline: Early---August 1; Late---
September 9; No Race Day

USAT SANCTIONED
SPC COTTON COUNTRY TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 18, Saturday
5K Run / 13 Mile Bike / 300Yd Swim
Dee Dee Odorizzi (806) 716-2236
dodorizzi@southplainscollege.edu
www2.southplainscollege.edu/cottoncountry
South Plains College
1401 College Avenue / Box 201
Levelland, TX 79336
Race Day Registration Allowed
USAT SANCTIONED

ELEPHANT MAN TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 26, Sunday
1 Mile Swim / 26.5 Mile Bike / 6 Mile Run
Kori Mannon (575) 744-0055
kori@valornet.com
http://www.elephantmantriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 492 Elephant Butte, NM 87935
Registration Deadline: September 11 FIRM
USAT SANCTIONED

RAPTOR TRIATHLON
October 10, Sunday
5K Run / 30K Bike /700M Swim
TSgt Michelle Villaflor (575) 572-2527
Michelle.villaflor@holloman.af.mil
http://www.hollomanfss.com/
Domenici Fitness & Sports Center
1051 Connecticut Ave
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Registration Deadline: October 5 FIRM
The following two races will kick off the 2011
season, and will not count for points in 2010.

JINGLE BELL TRIATHLON
DECEMBER 5, Sunday
5K Run / 25K Bike / 400Yd Swim
Mark Mico (505) 907-7378
Mark@TriSportCoaching.com
http://www.trisportcoaching.com/
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center
745 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Closes at 400 entries / No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

POLAR BEAR TRIATHLON
DECEMBER 11, Saturday
7k Run / 35K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0600!!

2009 South West Challenge Series results

Here is the South West Challenge Series year end results. I took 2nd place Clydesdale 39 &  under

Name Place Category Points Total (# of Races)




Alyssa Higgs Champion Under 20 Female 41.25 (4)



Josh Gordon Champion Under 20 Male 82.25 (17)
Rance Irvin Second Under 20 Male 61.00 (6)
Arthur Schwalm Third Under 20 Male 10.00 (5)



Paige Kinucan Champion 20-24 Female 53.00 (6)
Aubrey Blair-Pattison Second 20-24 Female 50.00 (5)
Amy Martin Third 20-24 Female 34.00 (4)
Kaye Elridge 20-24 Female 30.00 (4)
Thomas Duggan Champion 20-24 Male 47.00 (5)
Blake Bednarz Second 20-24 Male 46.50 (5)
Paul Ward Third 20-24 Male 40.00 (4)
Andrew Dominguez 20-24 Male 36.00 (4)
Isaac Garcia 20-24 Male 22.00 (4)



Jessica McClay Champion 25-29 Female 51.00 (6)
Rebecca Galvan Second 25-29 Female 49.00 (5)
Ashley Messoline Third 25-29 Female 40.00 (4)
Lindsey Babington 25-29 Female 34.00 (6)



Jason Atkinson Champion 25-29 Male 59.25 (6)
Kyle Wackenheim Second 25-29 Male 58.00 (8)
Brandon Wells Third 25-29 Male 47.00 (5)
Jose Luis Reygada 25-29 Male 45.00 (7)
Paul Hunton 25-29 Male 29.00 (6)
Matt Wall 25-29 Male 41.00 (5)
Caleb Beck 25-29 Male 36.00 (5)
Bjoern Zeinert 25-29 Male 31.00 (5)
Justin Newcomer 25-29 Male 39.00 (4)



Trisha Stavinoha Champion 30-34 Female 57.00 (6)
Terry Moore Second 30-34 Female 40.25 (4)
Jane Pilger Third 30-34 Female 40.00 (5)
Dina Pesenson 30-34 Female 37.00 (5)
Meredith Schoenfeld 30-34 Female 31,00 (4)
Delania Sather 30-34 Female 30.875 (4)
Anna Caldarella 30-34 Female 24.00 (4)



Daniel Peregrino Champion 30-34 Male 72.00 (8)
David Liotta Second 30-34 Male 60.50 (10)
Cory Adair Third 30-34 Male 58.75 (11)
Jeff Forney 30-34 Male 43.00 (5)
Gregory Gonzales 30-34 Male 37.00 (5)
Damon Chase 30-34 Male 31.00 (5)
Carlos Vicencio 30-34 Male 41.25 (4)
Scott Valdez 30-34 Male 35.00 (4)
Michael Peregrino 30-34 Male 32.00 (4)
Benjamin Davis 30-34 Male 28.00 (4)
Keith Clayton 30-34 Male 25.00 (4)
Lance Lunsford 30-34 Male 16.00 (4)


Sarah Heredia Champion 35-39 Female 63.25 (9)
Lisa Lawson Second 35-39 Female 52.00 (7)
Kimberly Arroyo Third 35-39 Female 42.00 (6)
Tricia Romesburg 35-39 Female 21.00 (5)
Kori Mannon 35-39 Female 39.00 (4)
Anne O’Neill 35-39 Female 39.00 (4)
Michelle Giese 35-39 Female 22.00 (4)



Robert Browning Champion 35-39 Male 66.125 (9)
Alberto Lugo Second 35-39 Male 63.00 (7)
Paul Guiterrez Third 35-39 Male 56.00 (8)
Mark Trejtnar 35-39 Male 52.00 (7)
Todd Fiske 35-39 Male 29.00 (6)
Clay Moseley 35-39 Male 50.00 (5)
Todd Pilger 35-39 Male 23.00 (5)
Hector Tovar 35-39 Male 39.00 (4)
James Webster 35-39 Male 34.00 (4)
Elvin Porflit 35-39 Male 32.00 (4)
Joseph Weiss 35-39 Male 24.00 (4)



Michi Seagrist Champion 40-44 Female 49.00 (6)
Char Latham Second 40-44 Female 35.00 (4)
Tammy Pluym Third 40-44 Female 26.00 (4)
Diane Gaetz 40-44 Female 22.00 (5)
Andie Talmadge 40-44 Female 15.00 (4)



Jim Kehrle Champion 40-44 Male 70.00 (8)
Gilberto Heredia Second 40-44 Male 58.25 (13)
Jess Lilley Third 40-44 Male 53.00 (7)
David Sharp 40-44 Male 51.00 (7)
Salvador Perches 40-44 Male 39.00 (7)
Carlos Escobar 40-44 Male 35.00 (7)
Cody Miller 40-44 Male 43.00 (6)
Cid Lopez 40-44 Male 50.00 (5)
Jaime Dispenza 40-44 Male 47.00 (5)
Heath Pennell 40-44 Male 46.00 (5)
Ken Gordon 40-44 Male 29.00 (5)
Oliver Bartel 40-44 Male 30.00 (4)
Edgar Gandara 40-44 Male 20.00 (4)
Matthew Martinez 40-44 Male 17.00 (4)



Sarah Crewe Champion 45-49 Female 77.125 (8)
Treca Boney Second 45-49 Female 75.75 (11)
Christina Behr-Andres Third 45-49 Female 62.25 (13)
Karen Williams 45-49 Female 47.00 (8)
Naomi Finson 45-49 Female 57.00 (7)
Tammi O’Rear 45-49 Female 49.00 (7)
Noelle Sharp 45-49 Female 40.00 (7)
Teri Redman 45-49 Female 36.00 (5)
Laura Bernal 45-49 Female 34.00 (5)
Alisa Lauer 45-49 Female 31.00 (4)
Cathy Pfeifer 45-49 Female 24.00 (4)
Pauline Atkinson 45-49 Female 22.00 (4)
Chandler Liberty 45-49 Female 16.00 (4)



Bobby Gonzales Champion 45-49 Male 80.125 (8)
Robert Dominguez Second 45-49 Male 66.25 (9)
Rod Burgett Third 45-49 Male 64.75 (9)
Stuart Crane 45-49 Male 58.00 (12)
Curtis Boyd 45-49 Male 64.00 (8)
Paul Zetocha 45-49 Male 45.00 (8)
Shane Cleveland 45-49 Male 51.00 (5)
Ted Romero 45-49 Male 42.00 (5)
Gary Fields 45-49 Male 40.00 (5)
Torsten Rohde 45-49 Male 13.125 (5)
Dave Deyoung 45-49 Male 32.00 (4)
Randy Miller 45-49 Male 32.00 (4)
Michael Giudicissi 45-49 Male 15.00 (4)
Robert R. Gonzales 45-49 Male 12.00 (4)



Jean Herbert Champion 50-54 Female 81.625 (14)
Marti Greer Second 50-54 Female 75.00 (12)
Helen Crane Third 50-54 Female 74.00 (12)
Kate Simon 50-54 Female 48.00 (5)
Nancy Fortin 50-54 Female 47.00 )
Peggy Clews 50-54 Female 34.00 (5)
Beth Sofchalk 50-54 Female 24.00 (5)
Amy Rehfeld 50-54 Female 20.00 (4)



Greg Southard Champion 50-54 Male 50.00 (7)
Patrick Hall Second 50-54 Male 46.00 (6)
Mike Slattery Third 50-54 Male 39.00 (4)
Mike Torneby 50-54 Male 26.00 (7)
Bradly Collins 50-54 Male 28.00 (6)
Jules Simon 50-54 Male 32.00 (5)
Jim Cusic 50-54 Male 21.00 (5)
Charles Farrar 50-54 Male 37.00 (4)
John Jackson 50-54 Male 29.00 (4)
Thom Stein 50-54 Male 28.00 (4)



Mariana Balsiger Champion 55-59 Female 80.25 (9)
Kathy Foucar Second 55-59 Female 59.00 (6)
Barbara Rivers Third 55-59 Female 51.00 (6)
Christine Glidden 55-59 Female 49.00 (6)
Debra Wess 55-59 Female 28.00 (4)



Carl Armstrong Champion 55-59 Male 82.75 (14)
Scott Darling Second 55-59 Male 78.25 (13)
Mark Balsiger Third 55-59 Male 77.75 (11)
George Marck 55-59 Male 73.00 (8)
Scott Myerly 55-59 Male 55.00 (7)
Richard Jaramillo 55-59 Male 34.00 (5)
Alberto Rodriguez 55-59 Male 33.00 (4)



Carol Akright Champion 60-64 Female 52.00 (6)
Kris Fullmer Second 60-64 Female 41.00 (5)
Lynette Napier Third 60-64 Female 35.00 (4)



Flip Lyle Champion 60-64 Male 79.50 (10)
Miguel Sanchez Second 60-64 Male 56.00 (6)
Tom Martin Third 60-64 Male 53.00 (7)
L.W. Goddard 60-64 Male 47.00 (5)
Ted Freedman 60-64 Male 38.00 (4)
Jim Walker 60-64 Male 36.00 (4)
John Hocker 60-64 Male 31.00 (4)
William Bearden 60-64 Male 27.00 (4)
Mike Cornelison 60-64 Male 27.00 (4)



Carole Cook Champion 65-69 Female 51.00 (5)



Jerry Shere Champion 65-69 Male 49.00 (5)



Mike Greer Champion 70-74 Male 81.625 (14)
John LeRoy Second 70-74 Male 81.25 (8)
Richard Park Third 70-74 Male 58.00 (6)
Max Light 70-74 Male 48.00 (5)



Sara Hall Champion Athena 77.75 (15)
Misty Pilgrim Second Athena 67.375 (10)



George Ferland Champion Clydesdales Under 40 84.00 (8)
Cody Hanson Second Clydesdales Under 40 80.75 (11)
Jason McClure Third Clydesdales Under 40 73.00 (8)
Gregory Gouveia Clydesdales Under 40 72.875 (7)
R.B. Nichols Clydesdales Under 40 37.00 (4)
Alex Garcia Clydesdales Under 40 33.00 (4)



Brian Pilgrim Champion Clydesdales 40+ 79.25 (9)
Greg Garcia Second Clydesdales 40+ 67.00 (8)
E.P. Higgs Third Clydesdales 40+ 50.125 (6)
John Gardea Clydesdales 40+ 48.875 (6)
Ernie Rodriguez Clydesdales 40+ 38.00 (6)
Felix Hinojosa Clydesdales 40+ 43.00 (5)
Kurt Schwalm Clydesdales 40+ 25.00 (5)
Shannon Himango Clydesdales 40+ 34.00 (4)
Todd Ritterbush Clydesdales 40+ 30.00 (4)

Polar Bear triathlon & the Jingle Bell triathlon race reports

The start of the Polar Bear triathlon was 20 degrees. This was a reverse triathlon so the run was first. Most people at this race were bundled up like Eskimos. I chose to race with the bare minimum to save time in transition. I wore gloves, ear muffs, cycling pants, & a sleeveless triathlon shirt. That's right; I wore a sleeveless light weight triathlon shirt. I was the only one who didn't have on heavy duty long sleeve shirts & jackets:)



As usual my adrenalin takes over at the start & I jumped off the start line like I was shot out of a cannon. I got control of myself by the half mile mark of the run & settle into a more maintainable pace. Usually at that point is when the really fast triathletes pass me. That didn't happen that day. By the 1 mile mark I was still in the top 8 & by the end of the 5K run I was in 11th.



I was still somewhat surprised when I entered T-1 that most of the bikes were still racked. That means they were still on the run course, & most importantly they were still behind me! I had a fast transition time & passed 1 person before we got out onto the run course, which put me in 10th place overall. I felt great about my placing so far because I have been really working on my cycling these last few months. That should be my strength that day. It was a 40 kilometer bike (approximately 25.5 miles) & so cold on the course my Gatorade bottle froze to the point where I couldn't get any fluid out! On the bike course one person named Bobby passed me, but more importantly I passed 5! I got off the bike in 6th place.



Bobby was my closest competitor in front of me; he was over 2 minutes ahead of me going into T-2. I knew since I raced with so few clothes on I'd make up a lot of time in T-2 compared to everyone else who had on a lot of cold weather gear. I jumped into the pool about 25 meters behind Bobby, having made up about a minute & a half in T-2. It was a battle in the pool, but at the 200 meter mark I passed Bobby. I was able to maintain a fast enough of a swim to prevent anyone else from passing me & finishing 5th place overall & 1st place in the 30-34 age group.



The next day was the Jingle Bell triathlon. I'll save you the gory details. Essentially my legs were trashed from the race the day before. I had what felt like a really slow race, but ended up gut checking the 2nd half of the bike to pull myself into 31st place overall. In the water I got really aggressive & used my heavier frame to take control & make up a lot of time. I passed 6 people in the 400 meter swim & placed 25th overall.



Finishing in 5th overall, 1st AG in the Polar Bear & 25th overall & 3rd place AG for the Jingle Bell when my legs were fatigued was even better than I had hoped. That gives me a 10 point & an 8th place finish for the South West Challenge Series. 18 points now has me in first place in the 35-39 Age Group. There are some REALLY fast 35-39's, so we'll see if I can hold onto the top spot in the series. I'll keep you updated :)

tough compatition

A couple years ago I raced in the 30-34 AG, I ended up winning first place in the South West Series AG that year. I figured I'd be going against the same people. There are a few more HIGH quality competitors in the 35-39 AG than I wasn't aware I'd be racing against this year. I'm still motivated to go out & show them what I'm made of, but I am in a state of awe over who I'll be racing against this season. Here's a few.

Browning, Robert L 1st place South West Series 09
Lugo, Alberto 2nd place South West Series 09
Gutierrez, Paul 3rd place South West Series 09
Trejtnar, Mark 4th place South West Series 09
James Webster (X-pro cyclist who is crazy fast)
Moseley, Clay. A pro level triathlete & local legend!
Tovar, Hector (Only person to beat Clay Mosely in a race last year)
Murray, Bobby
Armstrong, Michael

I looked over the last 3 years & the third place athlete took 3rd in the South West with the following year end points:
2009- 56 points. an averag of 7 points, or 4th place in each of 8 races
2008- 59 points.  an averag of 7.3 points per race, or a little less than 3rd place in each of 8 races
2007- 53 points.  an averag of 6.6 points per race, or a little less than 4th place in each of 8 races

my 1st 2 races of the season, a new AG, & illness

There's only been 2 other times I've been more exited about racing than I am for this weekends races. This weekend I will be competing in the first 2 races of the 2010 triathlon/duathlon season. The Polar Bear triathlon in White Sands Missile Range NM  on Saterday & the Jingle Bell triathlon in Rio Rancho NM on Sunday. Yup, you read that correctly, they will be on back to back mornings. I've never raced on back to back mornings before, that in of itself is exciting & will be a great challenge.


This will be my first year competing in the hardest age group, the 35-39 AG. I'm hoping to place top 3 in the South West in that division. Competing in the South West Challenge Series 35-39 AG will be the toughest multisport goal I've atempted to date, & it all starts this weekend, with these 2 races. To say I'm pumped up would be a vast understatement.

I started training exclusively for this weekend back in Sept after I completed the Redman half Iron distance triathlon. The training for this weekend has been completely different from the training I have done in years past. All of my training has been shorter distances doing a lot of intervals on hills & speed work.

My training up until a week ago was doing great. I was building a lot of streangth & explosiveness. Last week my entire family, myself included got the flue. Last night was the worst of it. I'm feeling much better today & am hoping that I can heal up quickly. If I'm not well this weekend....tough. I'll still go out & push my limits in both races. I can't control the conditions in which I race, the one thing I can control is wheather or not I allow the conditions to affect me. Regardless how I feel, I will push myself as hard as I am capable of. I 'm looking foreward to this weekends racing & the opertunity to test my limits.

This weekends triathlons will be my 54th & 55th multisport races since I completed my first one Sept 1st 2004.

My current weight is 212. I'm hoping to be at or close to 200 pounds by April.

Wish me luck! & thanks for reading.

cold weather training

I stole this article from Active.com.

The degree to which the following bodily responses occur depends heavily on many factors: air temperature, wind chill, weather conditions, body type, clothing worn, sport, intensity, and other minor variables. There's a big difference between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, even if you Californians think 60 feels like 20.



1. Glycogen Stores Are Depleted Quicker

Energy to fuel your muscles for a workout comes from glycogen stores. During exercise in the cold, muscles may require more energy at a faster rate, leaving you vulnerable to fatiguing quicker. This is the case if you start shivering—involuntary muscle contractions—or if you exert yourself harder, perhaps by not resting or taking breaks.



Both are forms of increased metabolic heat production and are meant to offset heat loss by generating heat, and the more muscles recruited the more glycogen stores diminish, all while your workout still requires and uses substantial glycogen stores.



What this means to you: Glycogen stores come primarily from carbohydrate consumption, which means you need ample carbs before, during and after workouts in the cold or fatigue could hit faster than you'd like. If enough energy is exerted, you could be more tired than usual for the rest of the day.



Note: That roughly 30-minute window after training is especially important to refuel muscles, as it aids in a faster recovery. Also important: Don't allow shivering to get out of control. This is a sign of hypothermia setting in, and it's best to stop training and get warm if that's the case.



2. Sweat Happens

Just because it's cold doesn't mean you stop sweating. Exercise = metabolic heat production = perspiration. This is where attire becomes important: If clothing becomes wet or dampened it loses its insulation properties. In cycling, where speeds are generally greater than running and thus a greater wind chill is generated, proper layering is especially important.



However, if workout intensity is high enough, metabolic heat production and other physiological factors should keep your core temperature from dangerously dropping. And don't forget about swimming: Water submersion can cause even more rapid heat loss than land sports via conduction and convection.



What this means to you: It's when you stop working out that's risky—heat production decreases and sweaty clothes can turn into freezing clothes. Therefore, post-workout planning is key.



Some clothing tips: More layers are better for insulation rather than one thick layer, and base layer—material should not act like a sponge. Also, shoot for form-fitting attire to prevent your warm air from escaping and cold air flushing in. In water, a wetsuit is an option. So is a shorter swim.



3. Dehydration Is Possible, so Drink up

Cold weather can depress feelings of thirst, so even though you may not crave a big swig of a sports drink every 20 minutes like you do when it's 85 degrees out your body still needs it. Several factors unique to cold-weather exercise can cause dehydration.


As mentioned, you still sweat, and some of that may evaporate in cold air leaving you unaware of the extent of perspiration. In addition, fluid is lost through humidified breath in cold weather, and the body may also produce increased amounts of urine in the cold—eventually leading to dehydration. Even overdressing can factor into dehydration if heavy attire causes you to sweat more.




What this means to you: If dehydration sets in, performance can be impaired, as well as your body's ability to retain heat. Headaches, cramps and elevated heart rate are all symptoms of dehydration. So drink about five ounces of liquid every 20 minutes. Something with electrolytes is best.



4. Less Blood Flow to the Skin's Surface

If it's cold enough, the body will respond by lessening blood flow to the surface of the skin, especially the hands and feet—known as peripheral vasoconstriction. This way, less heat is lost to the environment as blood flow remains closer to the core to prevent the core temperature from dropping.



(The opposite happens in hot conditions with vasodilation—more blood circulates at the surface to dissipate heat, the body's natural cooling system. Depending on the circumstance, vasodilation can still occur in cold weather because of metabolic heat production.)



No matter what, however, there's always adequate blood flow to the head; restricted blood flow to the brain would not be good. Therefore, a lot of heat can be lost through the head.



What this means to you: Think of keeping your head warm first and foremost. Then consider gloves and a couple of pairs of socks. In the pool or ocean, be extra perceptive to your body and any sort of numbness and paleness. Don't overdo a workout; listen to your body and get warm if necessary—hypothermia or frostbite aren't worth meeting your mileage for the day.



5. Cold-Induced Injuries

Cold hands, feet and skin, even shivering, could mean less coordination, less feeling and less motor control. In essence you can become clumsier and accidentally trip or fumble and hurt yourself. There's also a chance of decreased flexibility and strain injuries in the cold.



More serious cold injuries include exercise-induced bronchospasm, or exercise-induced asthma, which is not to be ignored—symptoms include labored breathing, excess mucus, coughing and chest tightness.



What this means to you: Performance may not be up to par in the cold if you're shivering and experience depressed motor control. Play it safe.



So, is exercising in the cold risky?



Generally, no. It's perfectly fine to carry on with regular training in the cold with no serious consequences, especially if your winter training takes place in mild-winter climates such as Southern California or Arizona. After all, many triathletes have their training schedules planned down to the minute and don't want to stray from that!



However, it's important to be aware of what could happen and to take precaution—gauge the severity of the cold, consume enough carbs, hydrate and wear appropriate clothing.

a new twist

In October my wife & I had our 3rd child in a little over 4 years. Consequently the time I have been able to spend swimming, cycling, & running has decreased dramatically. Last year my average training time was around 15-19 hrs a week. Now it has dropped to 10. I had until recently been telling people, "my glory years of triathlon are over. I don't have the time to train like I used to, so I'll train when I can & be content with being a back of the pack triathlete."

Like most triathletes I'd developed an addiction for the long distance triathlons. I'd trained exclusively for 70.3 & Ironman distance races for 5 years. Although I trained a ton each week in the longer races I finished with relatively slow times. The gains from my training were few & slow in coming.

Now that I'm forced to train less, I have tried making up for it by doing more intense & harder training. Lots of threshold, speed, & hill interval training. Well, it appears I have accidentally found my niche. After only 5 weeks of sprint training my speeds have increased dramatically. The gains I'm getting training for the shorter & faster triathlons are coming quickly. Quicker than I've ever had happen before! I have quickly come to LOVE the feel of going fast! Apparently this is exactly the kind of triathlon training my body is made for. Although my weight has been relatively the same the last few weeks (210), my pants are fitting loser around the waist. I was a bit baffled by this. Where was the extra weight? This morning my wife did a double take & told me my quads & calves were huge! I looked in the mirror, and sure enough they have gotten substantially bigger. It's amazing to me to see these kinds of body & speed changes after only 5 weeks!

Needless to say I'm very excited! I can't wait to race my first sprint triathlon to see if I really have developed as much speed as I feel I have. I won't have to wait long. I have the Polar Bear triathlon on Dec 5th & the Jingle Bell triathlon Dec 6th. Until then I'll be happily lost in training because it appears I have fallen in love with triathlon training all over again.

Wish me luck, & thanks for tuning in.

cycling friendly roads

You may have seen the notice in the paper over the weekend regarding the NM41 corridor study and Public Comment meeting scheduled for Nov 17 in Galisteo.

I asking you all to ask that you consider taking a moment to fire off a quick email if you cannot attend the meeting to ask that this project include bike-friendly shoulders as a minimum improvement for safety and multi-modal transportation in general and support of direct economic development resulting from revenue generated by the Santa Fe Century which uses this route from Galisteo to Lamy.

contact emails are
dawn@dpenningtonassociates.com
Karyn.Lujan@state.nm.us

There is some additional information on the project location, scope, proposals, etc at
http://nmshtd.state.nm.us/main.asp?secid=16696

Thanks for getting INVOLVED in asking for safer roads!

The Polar Bear & The Jingle Bell triathlons

I just sent in my registration for the Jingle Bell triathlon & the Polar Bear triathlon. These 2 races are the first 2 of the 2010 season. I got an email a couple weeks ago that the date of the Polar Bear has been moved to the 5th of Dec. So now these 2 races are on back to back mornings. 2 races in 2 days! Could anything be more fun?

This will be the 6th consecutive year I'll be racing the Polar Bear triathlon. Although I'm weighing in at 215 & the excess weight would normally slow me down, I've been training for short and FAST races, so my speeds have been increasing. Even though I'm over weight I believe I have a great chance of beating my course PR of 1 hr 47 minutes set last year. The Polar Bear is on a Saturday and my times at the Polar Bear triathlon have been:

2004 1:54
2005 1:58
2006 (course changed this year) 1:30
2007 1:49
2008 1:47

Like I said the Polar is on Sat & the Jingle Bell is on Sunday morning so I'll be fatigued for the Jingle Bell triathlon. Last year was the first year I completed the Jingle Bell triathlon, I had a break out performance of 1 hr 27 minutes so I seriously doubt I'll set a new one.

I'm really looking foreward to that weekend. Should be great fun!

Thanks for tuning in!

a new season

The Silverman 70.3 triathlon was going to be my last race of the year, I had to bail out of the Silverman. My wife simply wasn't healed up enough from the C section. Now the 2009 season is officially over. I ended up having a decent season. I took 7th place in my division in the Halfman National Championships. I PR'd a 70.3 distance race with a 5 hr 30 min time. & I took 2nd place in the Clydesdale open division in the South West Challenge series.

Although I'm weighing in 17 pounds higher than was my goal for this time was, I'm still super excited about the upcoming 2010 season. Although I'm weighing in 17 pounds higher than was my goal, I'm getting faster. I'm only training for sprints this year so I haven't been going long much. I've been doing more speed work than I ever have in the past.

Back at the beginning of the 2008 season I was weighing in the low 200's & felt I could get below 200 & stay there for the whole season. Based off of how I felt I decided to race the season as an Age Grouper. I ended up taking 1st place 30-34 AG in the SW series, but was very disheartened & frustrated because I was only able to stay below that magical weight of 200 for a little over a month.

This year again I have decided to race as an age grouper. This year I know the chances of me getting below, much less staying below 200 pounds is slim to none. My goal unlike 2008 is to race as an AG & enjoy the competition of the age group I'm now in. Oh, by the way, I age up this month. I'm now 34 & where my birth date lands puts me in the 35-39 ag.

The 35-39 ag is no joke. That age group is easily the fastest age group out there. So my work is cut out for me. But I have something a lot of the faster 35-39 year olds don't have: the willingness & suport to do 16 or more races in the South West this year.

Wish me luck for the 2010 season I'm going to need it!