Back in full swing now after having my wisdom teeth taken out just days ago. Yeah it sucked. I still have some holes in the back of my mouth but that can't keep me from training. Running yesterday and biking to work today and all felt good. Just a few weeks to go.
This weekend is the Lake Logan Olympic Triathlon in Canton, NC. Adam and I are both signed up for this one. This will be out last "shakedown" tri before Ironman.
Excitement...yes
Anticipation...yes
healthy respect for the human condition....definitely
fear...NEVER!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Lazy Weekend
This weekend is a lazy one for me since I got sick on friday and missed work. I'm home and probably going sailing on Saturday with the fam. Last weekend, Adam and I were back to the grind in VA. See the EOTW site (in IE) for more details but we managed to wrangle the old engine out ourselves and save a couple hundred bucks on travel lift fees.
Friday night we also found an unopened blackberry pie while dumpster diving as well as some bagels and rolls that someone had thrown out. We then stumbled across one of those mobile beer trailers in the parking lot that was being used for some club function during the day. There were even cups. Needless to say, a pie fight ensued, we filled up on questionable bread that passed the smell test and we continued to enjoy free beer courtesy of crown pointe marina for the rest of the weekend.
In all seriousness, we got a lot of work done and are very exited about getting the boat back in shape. The next big work week on the boat is scheduled for Aug. 9-17. Feel free to come help out!!
Friday night we also found an unopened blackberry pie while dumpster diving as well as some bagels and rolls that someone had thrown out. We then stumbled across one of those mobile beer trailers in the parking lot that was being used for some club function during the day. There were even cups. Needless to say, a pie fight ensued, we filled up on questionable bread that passed the smell test and we continued to enjoy free beer courtesy of crown pointe marina for the rest of the weekend.
In all seriousness, we got a lot of work done and are very exited about getting the boat back in shape. The next big work week on the boat is scheduled for Aug. 9-17. Feel free to come help out!!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Catching my breath
So, lets catch up. There are 8 weeks to go till Louisville. Since my last update plenty has happened so I'll try to give the highlights.
Adam and I took a weekend trip up to Frisland later in June and met up with Graham who agreed to survey the boat with us and inspect the damage done to the boat when we were hit by a motor yacht on the trip up the coast. This has since been resolved and owner of the other boat has settled with us. Here are pics from that weekend. We are headed back up this coming weekend for more fun work including replacing a bulkhead in the bilge and more scraping and cleaning prep-work for painting and also engine removal.
The weekend before last Trey and I headed up to Kerr lake for the annual Governors Cup Regatta with the Carolina Sailing Club. I talked my dad into taking the CS20 up to the regatta and he and Ken Potts sailed together on Saturday (the first day of racing) and had a lot of fun. Trey and I sailed the I-20 in open multi with one other I-20 (a friend from raleigh and Trey's roommate from Australia, Brad). Here are pics from both sides.
Kens Photos are here
This weekend Trey and Jen and I were up in New Jersey for the annual Statue of Liberty Regatta. We were defending champions from last year but the wind did not cooperate this time and when it was clear that no one would make it back until well after dark and we saw people starting to pull out and head home we did the same. It went like this....
Trey: how fast are we going
Alan: 6.5 konts
Trey: whats our VMG?
Alan: 0.7 knots
Trey: this will take forever!
Alan: yeah and thats 0.7 knots backwards by the way.
Trey: oh
Needless to say there was no wind and a ripping current under the Verrazano narrows. Not to mention barges, ferrys, dead things and giant logs floating the water all of which we didn't really want to be around when the sun went down. Still a great party though and we sailed out of sandy hook to watch a great fireworks show on Fri. night.
Adam and I are still on the path to the gold for Louisville. I ride to my summer camp job almost every day and we have been recently involved more regularly in the local hashing group the Sir Walter Raleigh's Hash House Harriers which also turned us on to a local open water swim group that swims every wed. on Jordan lake. Many of the regular hashers are also tri-athletes and competitive runners in the triangle. So we have started attending their swims regularly and also did another OWS on Sunday after a day of sailing on the CS20 with my dad. Now don't waste your breath, we know Hashing is not usually considered to be "Ironman Training", but.....well frankly we disagree and find it to be excellent training so to each his own. ON-ON
Also! if you are not following Mike's progress then you must check out his blog clockwork O. He and two others are currently on an epic bike ride across the country. Last update has them in Wild Horses, CO. Mike's girlfriend Alice has been updating his blog with their progress and is donig an AWESOME job.
I will try to be better about updating the blog this month. To the 8 people still reading, please bother me with emails and messages to remind me to post.
Adam and I took a weekend trip up to Frisland later in June and met up with Graham who agreed to survey the boat with us and inspect the damage done to the boat when we were hit by a motor yacht on the trip up the coast. This has since been resolved and owner of the other boat has settled with us. Here are pics from that weekend. We are headed back up this coming weekend for more fun work including replacing a bulkhead in the bilge and more scraping and cleaning prep-work for painting and also engine removal.
The weekend before last Trey and I headed up to Kerr lake for the annual Governors Cup Regatta with the Carolina Sailing Club. I talked my dad into taking the CS20 up to the regatta and he and Ken Potts sailed together on Saturday (the first day of racing) and had a lot of fun. Trey and I sailed the I-20 in open multi with one other I-20 (a friend from raleigh and Trey's roommate from Australia, Brad). Here are pics from both sides.
Kens Photos are here
This weekend Trey and Jen and I were up in New Jersey for the annual Statue of Liberty Regatta. We were defending champions from last year but the wind did not cooperate this time and when it was clear that no one would make it back until well after dark and we saw people starting to pull out and head home we did the same. It went like this....
Trey: how fast are we going
Alan: 6.5 konts
Trey: whats our VMG?
Alan: 0.7 knots
Trey: this will take forever!
Alan: yeah and thats 0.7 knots backwards by the way.
Trey: oh
Needless to say there was no wind and a ripping current under the Verrazano narrows. Not to mention barges, ferrys, dead things and giant logs floating the water all of which we didn't really want to be around when the sun went down. Still a great party though and we sailed out of sandy hook to watch a great fireworks show on Fri. night.
Adam and I are still on the path to the gold for Louisville. I ride to my summer camp job almost every day and we have been recently involved more regularly in the local hashing group the Sir Walter Raleigh's Hash House Harriers which also turned us on to a local open water swim group that swims every wed. on Jordan lake. Many of the regular hashers are also tri-athletes and competitive runners in the triangle. So we have started attending their swims regularly and also did another OWS on Sunday after a day of sailing on the CS20 with my dad. Now don't waste your breath, we know Hashing is not usually considered to be "Ironman Training", but.....well frankly we disagree and find it to be excellent training so to each his own. ON-ON
Also! if you are not following Mike's progress then you must check out his blog clockwork O. He and two others are currently on an epic bike ride across the country. Last update has them in Wild Horses, CO. Mike's girlfriend Alice has been updating his blog with their progress and is donig an AWESOME job.
I will try to be better about updating the blog this month. To the 8 people still reading, please bother me with emails and messages to remind me to post.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Summer begins
I signed up to be a counselor at Camp Ranoca, a city affiliated summer day camp, just as school ended and have been herded through the various training sessions required by the city for the last 3 weeks. Monday kicks off the start of the 8 week day camp that is based in Umstead and Durant Nature Parks in Raleigh. Camp was an obvious choice for a summer job since I needed to stay in Raleigh to continue Ironman training (11wks to go) and it beats lifeguarding or working indoors. Plus I can ride my bike to work (about 17 miles round trip). I worked at a summer day camp in Chapel Hill for years after going there as a camper myself and was even the director one year so I know the game. No doubt in my mind that working with kids is appropriate Ironman training in itself.
Wednesday, Adam and I made a second trip in 2 weeks to the Bonsal train station just south of Jordan Lake and a good 55-65 mile (depending on if you get lost the first time) ride for our "Long Rides" for the week. We are averaging about 17 mph with stops which I think is pretty indicative of what our actual race pace will be. Running is going steady with no knee problems to report. Wishing I had a stronger base but what can you do except use what you got. I have definately improved since the shamrock 1/2 marathon. Swimming is going swimmingly. Tues. was another long swim (~2miles) and a recovery swim yesterday after the long ride. Overall feeling good. A little sore today and SLEEPING A LOT lately all of which I hope are signs of getting faster and stronger. My goals thus far with 11 weeks to go are to finish injury free and, if I pace myself successfully, maybe even run/jog the whole marathon.
Frisland is out of the water as of last week and Adam and I are still on for a trip up to Crown Point Marina next friday to begin work. Ian has been making friends with other sailors at the marina who are also on the hard and all have been admiring our boat. A special celebrity appearance on Sunday is also planned as Graham Brynes of B and B yachts has agreed to come up and survey the boat with us as well as help us a little with the in's and out's of cruising and all that other stuff that only a true salty dog knows and only a guy as nice as Graham would tell us newbies. We are looking forward to spending time with him on the boat. Thats all for now. Off to the gym.
Wednesday, Adam and I made a second trip in 2 weeks to the Bonsal train station just south of Jordan Lake and a good 55-65 mile (depending on if you get lost the first time) ride for our "Long Rides" for the week. We are averaging about 17 mph with stops which I think is pretty indicative of what our actual race pace will be. Running is going steady with no knee problems to report. Wishing I had a stronger base but what can you do except use what you got. I have definately improved since the shamrock 1/2 marathon. Swimming is going swimmingly. Tues. was another long swim (~2miles) and a recovery swim yesterday after the long ride. Overall feeling good. A little sore today and SLEEPING A LOT lately all of which I hope are signs of getting faster and stronger. My goals thus far with 11 weeks to go are to finish injury free and, if I pace myself successfully, maybe even run/jog the whole marathon.Frisland is out of the water as of last week and Adam and I are still on for a trip up to Crown Point Marina next friday to begin work. Ian has been making friends with other sailors at the marina who are also on the hard and all have been admiring our boat. A special celebrity appearance on Sunday is also planned as Graham Brynes of B and B yachts has agreed to come up and survey the boat with us as well as help us a little with the in's and out's of cruising and all that other stuff that only a true salty dog knows and only a guy as nice as Graham would tell us newbies. We are looking forward to spending time with him on the boat. Thats all for now. Off to the gym.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Kerr Lake Try....
Last weekend I successfully completed my first triathlon, an Olympic distance, at Kerr lake. It was a small one with just over 300 participants in all. I came in 113 out of 188 men overall and 7th out of 9 in my age group with a total time of 2:47:56. Here are the male age group results.
My breakdown was as follows and the averages for my age group.
Swim: 30:37 (avg time- 28:20)
T1: 3:04
Bike: 1:13:46 (avg time- 1:10)
Run: 1:00:31 (avg time- 55:30)
As you can see, I was just slightly below average in all cases but I am getting faster every day. I averaged just over 18mph on the bike and felt strong on the swim. I had the second slowest T1 in my age group so thats something to work on but I'm not really racing anyone but myself and for Ironman, it will be worth the extra time to get comfortable. I also passed a lot of bonkers in the last mile and a half of the run when I felt really strong having held back in the beginning not knowing my limits completely which paid off I think.
Training continues for the Louisville Ironman in Aug. Just 12 weeks left!!!!
My breakdown was as follows and the averages for my age group.
Swim: 30:37 (avg time- 28:20)
T1: 3:04
Bike: 1:13:46 (avg time- 1:10)
Run: 1:00:31 (avg time- 55:30)
As you can see, I was just slightly below average in all cases but I am getting faster every day. I averaged just over 18mph on the bike and felt strong on the swim. I had the second slowest T1 in my age group so thats something to work on but I'm not really racing anyone but myself and for Ironman, it will be worth the extra time to get comfortable. I also passed a lot of bonkers in the last mile and a half of the run when I felt really strong having held back in the beginning not knowing my limits completely which paid off I think.
Training continues for the Louisville Ironman in Aug. Just 12 weeks left!!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
What now you ask
To pick up where the story left off, Adam and I successfully sailed Frisland up the Alligator river leaving Bellhaven at O-gawd-hundred and picked up Alan Witt and Andrew just north of the Alligator River Bridge (which is on channel 13 not 9 by the way) late Saturday afternoon. Then after crossing the Albermarle Saturday night we continued our way up and arrived in Coinjock Sunday before noon. Continuing into the Pungo river area we motor sailed up the windy river and navigated the numerous bridges and even went through the Great Bridge Lock that dropped us down a somewhat disappointing 12inches.
On the home stretch to Hampton we got an up close and personal look at the VA waterfront industry before sailing past Portsmouth and Norfolk and the Theodore Roosevelt Norfolk Naval Station. After crossing Hampton Roads we pulled into a slip right next to the Hampton Marina Hotel, settled her in and hit the local bar for some drinks. We also met up with Adam's girflfriend Julie here who would accompany us on the final stretch to Crown Point.
Alan and Andrew departed here and we really enjoyed having them on board to help us with the journey. Adam, Julie and I shoved off around 6am and with Julie still sleeping, we hoisted sail over the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. We bore off North with a south wind and Julie awoke to be handed the wheel while Adam and I set the spinnaker which we happily flew with the favored wind. I conked out around this point in the quarter berth and woke to Adam's voice on the walkie talkie next to me telling me to fire up old faithful so we could pinch it up past a channel marker that we over stood. I asked where we were and like magic Crown Point was dead ahead and we pulled in within minutes. What a nap. Upon arriving, we began the task of unloading EVERYTHING from the boat in preparation for the hauling. After all was removed she had lost a full 6 or 7 inches on her draft. It took two heaping truckloads to transport it all to Ian's garage.
Tuesday was spent at Ian's Dad's place on the York river doing some wake boarding and wed. morning I sorted all the stuff in the garage cataloging stuff we are keeping and other stuff for sale. Adam and I made it back to Raleigh late Wed night.
In case I have not mentioned yet, Frisland is the boat that Adam and Ian recently purchased and that will be home for Adam, Ian, Anna and I on our 3 year circumnavigation that begins in November of 2009. The project is called EYE (Expedition in Youth Education) and was developed by Adam and his friends while at William and Mary. Time changes things and the original crew of 8 or 9 has been paired down to just 4 but the goals are the same. To circumnavigate and connect with schools in the US in a pen pal type relationship hopefully utilizing technology to allow us to produce monthly documentaries of our travels as well as update blogs and send emails.
On the home stretch to Hampton we got an up close and personal look at the VA waterfront industry before sailing past Portsmouth and Norfolk and the Theodore Roosevelt Norfolk Naval Station. After crossing Hampton Roads we pulled into a slip right next to the Hampton Marina Hotel, settled her in and hit the local bar for some drinks. We also met up with Adam's girflfriend Julie here who would accompany us on the final stretch to Crown Point.
Alan and Andrew departed here and we really enjoyed having them on board to help us with the journey. Adam, Julie and I shoved off around 6am and with Julie still sleeping, we hoisted sail over the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. We bore off North with a south wind and Julie awoke to be handed the wheel while Adam and I set the spinnaker which we happily flew with the favored wind. I conked out around this point in the quarter berth and woke to Adam's voice on the walkie talkie next to me telling me to fire up old faithful so we could pinch it up past a channel marker that we over stood. I asked where we were and like magic Crown Point was dead ahead and we pulled in within minutes. What a nap. Upon arriving, we began the task of unloading EVERYTHING from the boat in preparation for the hauling. After all was removed she had lost a full 6 or 7 inches on her draft. It took two heaping truckloads to transport it all to Ian's garage.
Tuesday was spent at Ian's Dad's place on the York river doing some wake boarding and wed. morning I sorted all the stuff in the garage cataloging stuff we are keeping and other stuff for sale. Adam and I made it back to Raleigh late Wed night.
In case I have not mentioned yet, Frisland is the boat that Adam and Ian recently purchased and that will be home for Adam, Ian, Anna and I on our 3 year circumnavigation that begins in November of 2009. The project is called EYE (Expedition in Youth Education) and was developed by Adam and his friends while at William and Mary. Time changes things and the original crew of 8 or 9 has been paired down to just 4 but the goals are the same. To circumnavigate and connect with schools in the US in a pen pal type relationship hopefully utilizing technology to allow us to produce monthly documentaries of our travels as well as update blogs and send emails.
Friday, May 23, 2008
A month of sailing
Well, its been a while since I have done much more than sail up the east coast. This month I have sailed from Key Largo, FL to Tybee island, GA then I hopped aboard Frisland in Beaufort, SC with Adam and Ian who left from Fort Lauderdale the weekend prior.
Tomorrow I am headed back out to Belhaven where we left the boat on Tuesday and will be completing the move to Crown Point Marina in Virgina. Where we will haul the boat for the summer. Pictures can be found on the NORSA blog. I'll be sure to fill in all the details upon my return.
Tomorrow I am headed back out to Belhaven where we left the boat on Tuesday and will be completing the move to Crown Point Marina in Virgina. Where we will haul the boat for the summer. Pictures can be found on the NORSA blog. I'll be sure to fill in all the details upon my return.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tybee Carnage
Alan called in today to check on the status of Frisland, but he also had some Tybee 500 updates.
So after Day 1 of the 2008 Tybee 500 Team Velocity was sitting in 3rd place. After Day 2 they had fallen back in the standings, but still within an hour of the leader. The major catastrophe for the day occurred when Captain Trey fell off the boat and broke the rudder linkage, so Alan had to grab the rudders, one in each hand, and go recover Trey from the chop. And to top it all off this was caught on video from a helicopter!
I'll keep an eye out for the video and put it up here...it sounds like a blockbuster.
So after Day 1 of the 2008 Tybee 500 Team Velocity was sitting in 3rd place. After Day 2 they had fallen back in the standings, but still within an hour of the leader. The major catastrophe for the day occurred when Captain Trey fell off the boat and broke the rudder linkage, so Alan had to grab the rudders, one in each hand, and go recover Trey from the chop. And to top it all off this was caught on video from a helicopter!
I'll keep an eye out for the video and put it up here...it sounds like a blockbuster.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Rolex Video
Training for Ironman continues. Tybee approaches. Exams are almost over. The summer is on its way. Parents are in Cedar Key this weekend for the Boat meet with the CS20 and my mom will finally get to try out HER boat.
In other news, my awesome crew Hudson made this sweet video with footage from the Rolex Regatta. Take a look.
In other news, my awesome crew Hudson made this sweet video with footage from the Rolex Regatta. Take a look.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Training
Training is in full swing for the to-be Ironmaner's for the upcoming Louisville Ironman in August. Last weekend we did a 116 miler to Virgilina. This weekend, Mike and I drove over to Chapel Hill to ride with Sandybottom and her friend Kim Ring and we did a nice 43mile ride around Jordan lake averaging a cool 15mph. Yesterday I got in a mile at the pool before a thunderstorm rolled over Raleigh. With 20 weeks left to go, it is training "prime time".
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