Lance the Triathlete

(video from Trimes.org)

While the big news in triathlon these days is the final stages of Olympic qualifying, I find the resurgence of Lance Armstrong in the triathlon world to be an equally intriguing story that will continue to develop throughout the year in his attempt to qualify for Kona as a pro.

A lot of people still don't realize that Lance started his athletic career in triathlon about 25 years ago, beating guys like Mark Allen and Mike Pigg as a teenager...




He is getting a ton of publicity at the races he has entered - some of which for his undeniably fantastic performances at age 40 in his first triathlons in 20+ years...some negative, for being the cocky jerk that he is. Don't get me wrong, I'm not jumping on the Lance hating train, he was and always will be one of my sporting heros and I credit him fully with sparking my love for cycling. But the guy is an asshole in real life (see first video).

But I think his presence in triathlon is great, even with the controversy around his apparent lack of respect for other athletes at the finish line. Triathlon used to be cool and badass. But people are realizing it really isn't that hard to train for an Ironman and it's becoming the popular thing to do. And with race directors and organizations getting cheaper and greedier, big prize money is still on the decline and along with that is a diminishing professional presence and media coverage.

While no one will admit to it, I think the majority of triathletes are just fine with triathlon being a backwater sport; a weird and "extreme" event that the average person doesn't really know much about and doesn't care to find out. It adds to the mystique and thus the percieved exclusivity and epicness that pervades the popular culture of the sport. Triathletes want to feel unique and something special for participating in their sport of choice.

It's called healthism (a term I learned from my girlfriend!) - a feeling of superiority over others for being fit and healthy. You see it everywhere in our sport - and many other sports for that matter, but I see it particularly in triathlon for the whole "we do three sports in one day" thing. And the image of the triathlete is slowly but surely transforming from geeks that aren't accepted by roadies and clearly spotted in a crowd of runners, to arrogant single-minded folks who place triathlon above all else.


The fact that Armstrong is showing up and throwing down some pretty amazing performances (though noteably NOT riding away from the upper echelon of pro men), boasting his seemingly careless and arguably disrespectful attitude towards the sport, pisses people off. It's supposed to be harder than that...he's supposed to care more.

The bottom line is he is bringing some desperately needed edge, and even more importantly media coverage, to triathlon's pro racing. He is bringing both accessibility to triathlon, as well as demonstrating that one of the best athletes in the history of sport, can't just show up and blow everyone away. Not even on the bike. Pro triathletes really are that strong.

So go ahead Lance, show up to the races and throw down with the big boys. Take the spotlight even when someone beats you. At least there is a spotlight, and people are paying attention to our sport.

And hopefully you'll sign up for St Croix and I'll get to say I Wiltshire'd my sporting hero in the pro wave swim start.

Non-Countdown News

I'm not usually one for shameless plugs, but it's running season!

If you're looking for a 5k race and don't want to pay $50 to run for 15 minutes, MEC London is putting on a 5k April 22. No BS, just $15 for a measured 5k and some fun prizes after. Should be a fast course, and then you can come visit me in the bike shop after :)

Day 50: Coming Together

One of my favourite aspects of triathlon and training is the different perspectives you gain through a sport that's actually three sports.

Whether it be finding resiliency in yourself when you are two hours into your long run at the end of a 20 hour training week, or realizing that in the grand scheme of things training is not the be all-end all you think it may be, I think training has given me a lot in return.

But because of those new perspectives I have gained, I also have the tendency to make observations on how others see me as a triathlete. Like when people see my tri bike...

"Wow, what a beautiful bike...except for those silly bottle cages"

Well, good thing I'm more concerned with not dying of dehydration than how water bottles affect my image. Or, when I'm out riding said tri bike and, since I try to be nice to everyone, I wave to all the roadies who don't wave back...

"What the hell are those horns on the front of that guy's bike..."

They are my shifters, and on behalf of all triathletes you're welcome for creating the time trial bike.

And then there are the times I am riding my road bike, and I am accepted by both the visual presentation authorities and the roadies. And when a runner crosses the road right in front of me without looking, nearly running right into my front wheel...

"JEEZ! Goddamn cyclists!!"

No respect from anyone. Thus I have no choice but to conclude that triathletes are some sort of mutant half-breed (1/3rd breed?) athletes who really don't belong anywhere.

What am I talking about again? Oh right, updates.

So I was sick for a few days with the flu at the start of last week and missed a few workouts for the first time in my little build so far. But all is well and I still managed to put a pretty decent week of training together. This week is another recovery week before my final build cycle, but rather than try to switch things around to make up for an up and down week I'm taking it for what it is and holding myself back this week.

If I had any questions about how my training program is working I think they have all been answered over the past three weeks. Coming off my swim camp last month I have posted 3 PB's in the pool, two of which in a "normal" workout. 2k starting from the pro wave doesn't feel daunting in the least, and I'm even starting to feel like I can race the distance. I still fully expect and intend to swim within myself (which will probably mean letting the pack go) but I'm confident with where my training has gotten me.

Run training has been very focused on endurance workouts just to prepare for the long run off a hard bike. Maybe I have been a little too focused on just making the distance, but based on my last trip to STX I really think you need to be in ironman shape to survive that run. But my base is good and the strength is there. I have suprised myself on every long run with how easy the distance and pace feels. Hopefully the next few weeks of more running off the bike and heat acclimation with help control those variables and allow me to put it together on race day (or at least cross the finish line before ending up in medical this year). I know this race is still all about learning the distance but I couldn't be happier with where things are at right now.

And then there's the bike. Well with the record breaking temperatures I got outside much earlier than expected and put some miles on P3. I shocked myself with how easy and fast everything feels. Much like the run I just plan on managing the distance, no crazy efforts or goals. But P3 is FAST and after an awesome ride with the Coach Chris team yesterday, turns out my legs are working ok too! So I'm excited to see what I can do on the bike this year.

I have put a lot of miles behind me over the past 7 weeks and the next 3 weeks will be a lot of race specific prep with more over distance rides and runs, some indoor bricks for heat prep on the St Croix Computrainer Real Course (so beneficial to the race), and best of all some RACING! Next week I will do my first event of 2012 with the Good Friday Road Race - thanks to the support of Coach Chris. It feels strange to get on the road bike with all the time I have spent in the aerobars, but I'm fit on the bike and it will be a great opportunity to get into racing mode again, and then get a couple long rides in the hills around Hamilton after.

I also did something a little crazy and signed up for the half marathon at Run for Retina the following weekend. It may have been a little more logical to do a 10k or something, but I really want to feel confident with the distance, get an idea of goal pacing for St Croix, and make sure my nutrition plan works. I honestly have no idea what to expect, but it will be the learning experience I need. And I'm sure it will be on very tired legs so it will be a great mental challenge.

So less than 6 weeks of training left...half of which are adapdation weeks. Race season is coming fast but things are looking good.

Day 41: Superbummed

If I was bummed last week with all my peeps heading south for training camps, while I was at least enjoying some nice weather at home...now I'm superbummed. Yesterday I had the usual 5:15am Friday wakeup for swimming, and as usual it was a struggle to get my lazy ass out of bed. But once I get there (usually still in my PJs on deck) with the group its always motivating. And despite the nice reminder that swimming is going in the right direction, seeing some :12's and :13s, it didn't feel too good afterwards. Back home for a 2hr nap before work, and a 3hr brick after that.

A few hours later I had to leave work with the flu and spent the rest of the day in bed. I haven't been sick like that in years, and while it has been going around it probably didn't help that I was going a little too hard on my first outdoor rides last week. It just felt way too cool to average 44km/h for my intervals :)

So today I spent the day lying on my couch, sunny and 20 degrees outside, P3 staring at me by the front door, moping to Amanda that I couldn't ride with her in Hamilton this weekend. I was supposed to ride 100k this morning....

Fortunately 24 hours off has been about the biggest hiccup in training so far this year so I'm not actually going to complain. As mentioned I've been lucky enough to get out on the bike in some beautiful early spring weather, and the combination of consistently being on the trainer 5 days a week through the winter, and a lot of time spent fine tuning my bike fit looks like it's really going to pay off this summer. I feel like I'm cheating with how fast this bike is, and after 3 tri bikes in the past 3 years and endless tinkering with my position it finally feels comfortable and sustainable in the aerobars. I can't wait to see how it rolls with the disc wheel and ny new Wingspan helmet.

Running is a bit more of a mystery at this point, with a lot of focus being on swimming and putting a ton of time on the bike as well. With most of my running being endurance and race-specific tempo(which for a 70.3 doesn't feel particularly fast in training) its hard to say where I stand besides feeling good with my goals.

Besides the everyday grind I'm also working more closely with my physio and incorporating some massage into my routine to keep everything working properly. I haven't had a training injury in close to two years but the small things can be easily neglected when things seem to be going well. For example, tight hips means a less aggressive bike position and sore back running off (a big no no for me). So I'm taking a more proactive approach rather than being too cheap to take prehab seriously.

Long story short I'm actually not bummed at all, I will be back at it tomorrow and I'm looking foward to warm weather this week and six more weeks after that of solid training with a couple races thrown in to remember how to hurt. Looks like I'll be dusting off the road bike for the Good Friday Road Race in a couple weeks, and since I've been doing all TT training I'll probably have to go off the front. And after that I'm planning on racing the Run for Retina Half Marathon to learn how to race a half and figure out my pacing for the distance.

I will leave you this time with some awesome non-Canadian music for recovery purposes...I always like covers by good artists, and emotionally powerful uses of the F-bomb.



Your source for the best musical taste in the triathlon world