TRI TO DO IT ALL: 2012 RACE SCHEDULE, TRAINING AND THE HUNT FOR DOC BROWN

I didn't do a lot of racing in 2011 for a number of reasons. I was working 8:00 to 8:00 Monday through Friday and 9:00 to 1:00 on Saturday. I'm not complaining because that is part of owning a business. After spending that much time at work and away from my family I couldn't leave and go train so I chose my wife and daughter. I'd cram what I could into Saturday and Sunday but I over did it every weekend and ended up hurting myself. The end result was only doing a few races last year. I did Musselman but only did the Aqua Bike because of an injury that kept me from running. I did Shore Line and Finger Lakes even though I was injured and did pretty well all things considered. So in 2011 I limped through three races with results I didn't feel all that great about.

2012 will be a much better year. The business that was bleeding my family dry in many was is thankfully no longer part of our lives so my work life balance is much better. This will allow me to train like I should, be injury free and post some fast times. My schedule is looking pretty good so far.

1) Flower City Challenge Duathlon (4/28)
2) Spring Classic Duathlon (5/19)
3) Musselman Half Ironman Triathlon (7/15)
4) Shoreline Sprint Triathlon (7/22)
5) Finger Lakes Olympic Distance Triathlon (9/9)
6) Ragnar 24 Hour Relay Race (I still need to fill the team roster) (9/28-9/29)
7) Rochester Autumn Classic Duathlon (10/7)

If my budget will allow it I will add a race or two out of the area. I have a friend doing a really tough race in Connecticut that I would love to do but I will have to wait and see what happens. I am sure I will add in a few random 10K races with my wife as we figure out what we are doing.

I have been trying to train smarter this year. I would love to use a coach to train but I would rather spend the money I have a new bike this year. Who knows what will happen. Maybe I can get a new bike and use a coach. For right now the new bike is priority # 1 so I am using the same plan I have used the last couple of years. I am taking a different approach to the plan this year though. I am actually using a heart rate monitor and following the suggested heart rate effort per workout. What I have noticed is that I have worked too hard in previous years when I should have been just taking it easy. A zone 2 effort workout is one of those runs or rides that you just lose yourself in. I do get tired but my body is asking me to stop and as I get closer to the end I find myself going faster without pushing my heart rate any higher. I hope this translates into a faster second half to my run splits this year.

So far my run and swim are doing much better than at this time in previous years but I can't really make any judgement on my bike fitness without being on the road and that won't happen for a few more months. I have gotten out on a few random road rides but that doesn't really count. I did one ride with a friend who hasn't been spinning on his trainer and I was significantly faster than him so it appears that the long hours spent on the indoor trainer are paying off but I won't know for sure until I have put in a few good rides on the road. If I can stay injury free this year I think this will be the best season I have had yet.

My hunt for Doc Brown is still on. For those of you who didn't go to the movies during the 80's I am referring Doc Brown from Back to The Future and his time machine. I am still searching for my time machine except mine won't take me back in time and it isn't a Dalorion. I am hoping it will help me improve my bike split and prevent hip injuries this year. I have narrowed my hunt to the Trek Speed Concept 7.8, Felt DA4 or the Blue Triad EX. I am leaning towards the Trek and Felt because of the wheels that come on the bike and that makes me lean a little bit more towards Trek because the Bontrager wheels that come on the bike are as good if not better than what I ride on today. That is important because the SRAM wheels I have been riding for the last two years have broken spokes about 6 times and I had the carbon crack once last year. SRAM has been great and sent me new wheels and even upgraded my wheel set but I still had problems after the upgrade so the wheels that come on what ever bike I go with need to be as fast as what I am riding today but stronger. I know Trek can do it. I am not sure about Felt and the Blue has a nice wheels set but they are not as nice as the wheels on the Trek. I posted pictures of the bikes. Let me know what you think by posting a comment.