End of an era

One more day to go here at Intel. I'm getting anxious to start at Columbia. From what I hear it should be pretty busy there, I'm looking forward to serving a purpose. Tomorrow is a formality. I come in and hand over my laptop and my badge. Then I'm out the door. It really hasn't set in yet. 15 years is a long time, especially when your only 34. I've basically grown up here. Being 18 when I started, then meeting Jen. I've spent more time here then I did in school. Probably the thing I am most excited about is the change. EVERYTHING will be different. My route to work, my co-workers, where I swim and run during the day. It's a fresh start, something I could never get by staying with Intel. Based on how excited I am about that alone just proves how ready I am to make this move. Regardless of what happens in the long run I have zero regrets about giving this a go. And did I mention the employee store? We went on Sunday to check it out. I walked in and there were fleeces everywhere. I admit, I love fleece! I walked in and felt like I was home, finally! No regrets!
Training has been going well. I am still having Graston done on my Achilles but it is pretty much pain free at this point. I've decided not to do the marathon since I have missed so much training. Instead I am switching focus to the California Half Ironman in April. I love this course and I think I can have a good race there. My swimming is going really well right now, and I'm thinking about joining a masters team. I'm starting to get some bike fitness back, and the running seems solid even after a couple of light weeks. The key will be sticking to it once I start the new job. It will likely take a little time to adjust to a new schedule, but others are able to do it with much more demanding jobs. I'm looking forward to the challenge of making it work. I'm starting to get excited about next season!!

I Suck At Blogging

So much going on, let me bring you up to speed! Since my last post we went to AZ to visit family and watch the Ironman. Christian, Aleck, and Sarah M all kicked some major ass. Actually watching the race kind of made me think I want to do another one next year...maybe!


On the training front - While training for the RnR marathon on Jan 16th I managed to develop tendonitis in my Achilles. Ok, so maybe it was actually from running the beer mile. Not sure, but finally today I went to see John Foland, a local Chiropractor, for a treatment called Graston Therapy (http://www.grastontechnique.com/). I think it worked, or at least is helping me move in the right direction. After the treatment I was able to come home and run 6 miles with very little discomfort. In the last 2 weeks I haven't been able to do more the 4 miles at a time without significant pain. More ice and another treatment I should be good to go. Now the question is can I get the lost fitness back in time to actually run a fast marathon. Only time will tell.
Perhaps the biggest development since my last update is my new work direction. Yesterday I officially accepted a position at Columbia Sportswear as a Senior Supply Planner. This is a huge change for me since I have only ever worked at Intel. After 15 years I am definitely ready for a change. I think Columbia is going to be a good thing for me for many reasons. Mainly, I really feel like I need a fresh start. That's something you can't ever really get when you change jobs within Intel. Also, I'm excited about working for a smaller company. I think Columbia has 2200 people world wide compared to Intel with over 95k. I'm expecting a period of adjustment, but long term I think it is going to a good move. It's nice too that I'm not leaving Intel as a disgruntled employee. Quiet the opposite actually. Intel has allowed me to do so many things and has been a great place to work. Trust me, I am definitely not taking this opportunity for granted. With the way the economy is right now I am SO grateful to have this option available to me. I am expecting to have to make some sacrifices though with my training. No more will I be able to work from home one day a week. And in the short term no more hour and half swims at lunch. But that's ok. Most people are able to train without those luxuries, so more early mornings and time on the trainer. I think it's going to be worth it if it means a job that is at least some what rewarding. Exciting times!


I think that sums it up. I have been wanting to update, but didn't want to give updates on things that were still in limbo. I hope to be better as I start my new adventures.

The Fountain of Youth

I found it! It's on SE Hawthorne and 29th! Dr. Nathan Pool's Chiropractic office. He specializes in ART, or Active Release Therapy (activerelease.com). Ever since I slipped in my socks on the freshly polished hardwood floor last week my back and hamstring have been a mess. Last week I should have gotten in ~45 miles of running, instead I did 18. Not good 10 weeks out from the marathon. So I asked around and Dave C. recommended Dr. Pool. I went in yesterday and in a 30 min appointment my hamstring is 100% and my low back feels so much better. I can actually touch my toes again. Not sure why, but that's my indicator on how tight my legs and back are. The best part is insurance covers 20 visits a year. So once a week for the rest of this year is the plan. Next is the calves, and then the periformes (ass tendons). After that I will drop down to once a month adjustments and maintenance.
Last night I put my new hamstring to the test. I met the Perkins' at Dunniway and we did 4x3 min hill repeats up Terwilliger. It felt amazing! No pain at all. Even before I injured it I always had tightness when I was running. It never felt good. Last night it didn't feel at all, like it's supposed to. This new found youth couldn't come at a better time with age 34 looming on the horizon I need all of the help I can get.
Other then that not much else new. The annual Ironheads Beer mile is this weekend. Another reason I am happy about being able to run again. I hope to finish a little better then 5th place this year. I've been training constantly with the beer portion of the race, so we'll see what happens. The big question is what to wear? Costume or no costume... It seems too early to bust Wonder Woman out again...

I Witnessed it...

I'm not one that discusses my religious beliefs or political views very often. However, last night left a big impression on me. On my flight up to Washington this morning on the Intel shuttle I had some time to think about the election. Ever since I was in grade school I have learned about all of the significant events in US history that have led to progress. I've always been a little jealous of the generations before mine that have witnessed these milestones. Up to this point in my life the only true monumental events I've experienced have been tragic. Watching the election coverage last night and seeing people brought to tears of joy over something that we as a society voted for was amazing. I will admit up until this point I have never really felt a true connection with my country. I've always felt that if we are such a great nation then why are we so hated around the world? Just last week I learned of a co-worker traveling to Venezuela. For safety reasons she had to purchase a Canadian passport cover so people wouldn't know she was from the US. It's hard to be proud of your country when you have to pretend you're from another. But last night proved to me that we are heading in the right direction. Even if Obama sits in the Oval office for four years with his feet on the desk and does nothing things will still get better. I don't think anyone person can fix things. But the excitement and hope that he has created within my generation and others, I think will re-inspire people to make positive changes. Don't get me wrong, there are still a huge number of people that are against this move, and I don't think that will ever change. But personally I love change. I thrive on it. I liked when Brian Williams held up a poster of the previous 43 presidents last night and they all looked the same, old and white. Change is good once in awhile. Thanks for listening to me ramble.

Beer and Bike Ridding

Another week gone and another Monday morning at my desk with sore, tired legs. Last week was a good week of training and a some what successful Beer Crit on Saturday afternoon. I believe this was the 3rd annual, but the first time I have participated. The race was held at Powell Butte park. The course was about 3 mins long and was mostly smooth single track with some tight turns and a couple steep little climbs. The required beer for the men was Guinness, approximately 14oz per cup. The format was drink a beer ride a lap, repeat 4 times. Yep, it's as hard as it sounds. That's a lot of Guinness to dump down your gullet in that short amount of time. I'll spare the details since it's mostly a blur. Overall I finished 3rd out of 8. Folske smoked it with his super-human bike abilities, and Jay Chech was 2nd thanks to his superior beer chugging. On the women's side Erin P. dominated almost catching Dave C. on the last lap. Next up, the beer mile in 2 weeks. Good times!



On the training side, still running! Last week ended up 5 days and 38 miles. A little light on the mileage, but there was some good quality. I started hill repeats, those hurt. The long run yesterday was good, but the legs were feeling it. 16 miles @ a 7:25 ish pace with HR avg in upper zone 2. Not as fast as last weekend, but better then expected after the beer crit and the hill repeats. Saturday morning was a reality check, summer is gone. Rode out to Sauvies Island in the rain and wind. The only plus was that it wasn't that cold. It was a harsh reminder of what the next few months are going to be like. There's always the indoor trainer I suppose. Swimming, well, it is what it is. I'm still getting it in but I'm feeling a little slow these days. I've been avg'ing about 8k a week. Not bad I guess. It's hard to stay motivated when there's no race on the immediate horizon. I did sign up for a swim clinic in a couple of weeks. I think I am ready for some feedback on form. Hopefully this gets me motivated again.

Bever Fever Duathlon

It almost didn't happen. Sunday morning at 5am when the alarm sounded I was so close to turning it off and rolling back over. But I laid there for a second and thought about it. I knew if I skipped the race I'd check the results next week and regret not doing it. So I threw my feet on the floor and staggered to the bathroom. We arrived in Philomath just before 8am. I had just over an hour until race start. So I had plenty of time to set up my gear get registered and freeze my ass off. It was a chilly 38 degrees but sunny and clear. So the race started pretty close to on time. The first 5k was a loop around town with a couple rolling hills and one short steep climb. I came into transition in 6th with a new 5k PR(18:19). Once I got my helmet on I was off. Within the first 3 miles I had climbed up to 2nd and begin the hunt for first. The 18m course was nice country back roads with rolling hills and 2 pretty good climbs. I was able to get within sight of the first place guy but wasn't able to close the gap he had on me. My legs were not happy today after doing a tough ride the Friday night before with Grant. Typically in a race of this distance I should be avg'ing ~310 watts. Instead I was struggling to hold 290. Into T2 I was about 50 seconds back from the leader. But based on his run split on the first leg I knew my chances of catching him were slim. The last 5k was on the Philomath high school's XC course. It was 2 laps and had a lot of sharp turns and varying terrain. It was painful but fun and it went by fast. I finished about a minute and a half back from the leader but managed to hold on to 2nd. I was happy that even with tired legs I was able still able to crank out the fastest bike split. The downside was that I have beaten the guy that won in 2 other Tri's this year. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

Run

Over the last few weeks I have started to appreciate running again. It's been a while since I have had the opportunity to really focus on it and make it my priority over the bike and the swim. The only downside is the loss in fitness in the other areas. I am having a bit of a hard time letting the bike fitness go. I am still riding, but not nearly as much as I was. Since the bike has become my strength in Tri's I am very hesitant to neglect it too much. With the base I've built over the last year though I should be able to bounce back pretty quickly after RnR marathon. It's good to be a runner again though!
This coming weekend I am planning to get a race in and us some of this fitness I have been trying to build and maintain. The issue I am having is trying to decide which race to do. There is a half marathon downtown on Sunday, but I don't feel like I am ready for that yet. It would be fun though since so many Ironheads will be doing it. Or there is a the OSU tri club's Beaver Fever Duathlon (run/bike/run) in Corvallis. This sounds the most tempting since I could break up the run with a little 18 mile ride. This may be better then an actual Triathlon for me since I wouldn't have a swim to slow me down. Who knows, good thing for day of race registration I guess.
Earlier this week we were in Disneyland with our twin nephews for their 8th birthday. Good times... I love Space Mountain! It's always nice to get home though, the crowds get a little old after while. Disneyland would be so much more fun if there wasn't so many kids there :) Fortunately while we were there I did manage to run everyday. On Tuesday we drove down to Huntington beach and I ran from there to Newport beach and back (about 10 miles). Flat, but great scenery. It was nice to get away from D-land for a few hours. The other two days were running around Anaheim. Not the ideal place to run. Both times I got a little lost and found my self a little concerned for my safety. But when your lost and a little scared the time flies by! Like I said, it's nice to be home...

Hunnington Beach

Flakey

So yes, I am feeling a little like a flake lately. A couple of posts ago I was all fired up about doing the SOMA Half. Shortly after I decided, Scott posted my training plan. I don't know why but I just wasn't feeling it in the workouts. I was getting them in but was dreading the actual race. I'm not sure if I was just getting burned out a bit or what. Anyway, I've changed my mind again and I will not be racing. I decided I didn't want to waste the time, energy, or money for something I was excited about. Since I made that decision the workouts have been feeling outstanding again. Today will be my 6th day in a row of running, and I should get close to 50 miles this week. I've backed off of the riding a bit, but am still getting 3 rides and 3 swims in per week. It feels good to be getting the running endurance back though. Right now I am getting over the hump of sore and tired. It's the point in which you think "how am I going to run today with these tired legs" but when you start running they feel great. The last 3 days have felt like that and each day the runs get faster and feel better. RnR Marathon is still a long way off so I really need to stay focused on not over doing it like I have in the past. Nightly stretching and recovery drinks after each run have been key.
Speaking of marathons, last Sunday we went down and watched the Portland Marathon. It was a harsh reminder of how hard marathons are. Trying to run that hard for that long hurts. Especially with the goals I have in my head for January, it's really going to hurt! But it was great to see so many friends coming in looking strong. There were, of course, the train wrecks that pushed beyond their limits and paid for it. Like the guy who was projectile vomiting as he ran up the street to finish. He was under 3 hrs, but it was not pretty. Then there was the lady with what looked like mud running down her legs. Needless to say it wasn't mud... I'll admit I gagged a little as she passed. Why do we do these things to ourselves... Oh ya, cause it's fun!

The Great Tuna Adventure

This last Saturday Rob P and I set out to the coast. That afternoon we fished the Neacanicum River just off hwy 26. This is where I caught my biggest fish up to that point. It was a 10 inch trout. I was very excited. After few hours we continued on to the booming town of Hammond just outside of Astoria. We met up with our guide Jad, Capt Chuck, and the other two guys that were fishing with us the next morning. The goal was to head out before dawn, stop for some bait and out into the ocean in pursuit of Tuna. The unique thing about this trip was the fact that we would be using fly rods rather then normal rods. The main difference is the length. A normal rode is much shorter and stiffer which gives you more leverage once you hook into the fish. With a fly rod the pole bends almost completely in half and makes if difficult to get the fish up to the boat. Especially when it's a Tuna fish.
So we were up at 4:45, mostly because we couldn't sleep. We loaded up the 36ft boat and headed out. A quick stop in Ilwaco for live sardines (bait) and we were off. The Columbia river bar is one of the roughest bars in the world and this was my first time crossing it. I was excited to experience it, but a little nervous about getting sea sick. I have never had the issue before, but my actual time out in the ocean is very limited. As we progressed towards the mouth of the river the swells grew and it became a noticeably rougher ride. It was amazing, the sun was just coming up, it was clear and relatively calm. It was a perfect morning.
We arrived at the fishing grounds at about 9:30 in the morning, about 30 miles out at sea. On the way out we saw a whale and some sea lions. We dropped the lines and started fishing. Within 20 mins we started catching fish. It was crazy at first. One person would get a fish on and yell "fish on" and everyone else would start reeling in their lines as quickly as possible to prevent getting tangled. Through out the day we had a fish on every 20 to 40 mins. Typically the goal is to find a large school of fish and throw out the live bait to attract them and bring to the surface. Then you cast your line into them and hope they take your fly. In this scenario it is normal to have multiple fish on at once around the boat. Unfortunately the wind had picked up so much that it was impossible to see the schools or really use the bait. But total we still ended up with 10 fish caught and 3 others that got away before we could get them to the boat. Not a bad day at all.
Overall it was an awesome trip. It is unbelievable how strong and fast a Tuna fish is. I had no idea. Also, just being out on the water that far off shore is very cool. You see so much more wildlife. I can't wait to do it again next year. Unfortunately the season is pretty short since the Tuna travel with the warm currents. So they really only show up from mid to late July through early October. But, I think that makes it that much better, makes you appreciate it more when it's so limited. In the meantime it will be back to the river in search of those little guys. Everything is going to seem little after this...

Here's a video that Rob put together:

http://perkwire.com/tunafishing

And some photos:

But wait, there's more!!

Just when I thought my Tri season was over I decided to do one last race. I tried to get into IMAZ, but no luck. So I am going to do the Soma Half IM in Tempe on 10/26. Jen and I did this race last year and it was REALLY hot. I remember finishing that race thinking "well, at least the full Ironman won't be this hot" and it was... So when I tell myself that there's no way it could be 97 degrees 2 years in a row I catch myself knocking on the nearest piece of wood. It's kind of nice to have the fitness to decide to jump into a half IM 4 weeks prior. I think it will work well. Scott has me running a lot right now as I build a base for Marathon training leading up to Rock N Roll marathon in January. My bike fitness seems to be hanging in there and the swim is feeling pretty good right now. So why not race?


On the job front, still not very busy. Should start to pick up again next week. I've been continuing my search outside Intel and have stumbled upon some interesting leads. I'll update ya'll on those later if they workout. Keep your fingers crossed!


Jeep update - I LOVE this vehicle! It has changed my life. I am a much happier person now that I own a Jeep again. I can't explain it... But there's definitely a connection there. It's strange because it is probably one of the slowest and clumsiest vehicles I've ever owned, but I always look forward to driving it! I got some new shoes for it yesterday. After taking it in the sand a couple of weeks ago I was unhappy with the lack of traction with the stock tires. So I found some mud terrain tires that are stock on the Rubicon version and swapped them out. Once I sell the stock wheels/tires on Craig's list I should just about break even. Let the wheel' in began!
My next post should include pictures of REALLY big fish! This Sunday is the big Tuna trip. Weather looks perfect...


P.S. I was just proof reading this entry before I posted it and I realized how strange I am. What a weird mix of topics. Not sure how I got this way... Wait until I post my list of top 10 favorite songs to do trainer intervals too. I'll give you a hint, it contains music from Crosby Stills & Nash, Disturbed, Lil Wayne, Johnny Cash, and the Greatful Dead.