Q: Nat why no blog updates?

When the races are going well, and training is going well then there is excitement, and I post up blog stories.  When they’re not then you get tweets.  I’ve never before had such a lack luster season, so rather than giving you foaming rants I bite my tongue.  I know that was out of character, sorry to disappoint (though the time could still come).

Training went great through the spring.  ~ a week before St Croix I had my first flat workout of the season, and everything seemed to go into a tail spin from there.

By the time IronMan Canada came around I couldn’t even get the power out on the bike.  A 18% power decrease to be exact, so I focused on being as efficient as possible was ended up being only 3 min slower.  I started the run thinking that I’d have a strong effort from my conservation.
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IM France

During the 1980s the Nice Long Distance triathlon (Swim 4 km, Bike 120 km, Run 30 km) was, alongside the World Championships in Kona, one of the two important races each year with prize money and media attention – Wiki

This is why I have always wanted to race Nice.  Last month I packed up my bike and headed over to Nice – a course that I have been watching since I was 12 on TV and on paper is ideal to my abilities; tough technical bike course with a flat run.  All set in the French Riviera. 
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you never know where you’ll be sleeping

Simple Schedule:

1) Pack my bike and myself for a 5 day road trip and 4h race.  We’re headed to the tropics, so 2prs shorts, swimsuit, race suit, bike shorts, done.

2) Get to airport – then follow directions.

Despite my best procrastination step 1) went off without a hitch…  traffic was smooth so Sean and I found ourselves 2h early for our Orlando – Miami – Puerto Rico – St Croix Flight.  Snack.  It’s the first occasion since January that I’ve been rested enough, and had enough time to read.  So I read….
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Parents Adventure update

1st.  My parents are off hiking the Camino de Santiago.  Which is a super pilgrimage, and while I wish that I was along.  To make me more envious, despite their lack of computer affection I’ve received two updates from them.  They have flown

Mom’s report #1 April 23:

We are here and about to start from ST Jean Pied de Port in a few minutes.  Went some 38 hours from Tues am without sleep.  Up at 6:30am Thick fog both in my head and outside.  Beautiful mountain vistas from our hostel in the citadel last night.  Such history everywhere you look!!  Buen Camino!
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New Orleans 1/2 IronMan

Last November when I was setting the ’09 schedule inaugural half IronMan New Orleans seemed so far away.  10 weeks of warm weather training, 21 h of driving later, Sean, Marcello and I arrived and unfolded ourselves out of cars to meet Bobo’s in-laws for what would end up being a spectacular 4 days in the Big Easy.

Crime, Mardi Gras, Partying, Hurricanes, we saw none of those, but what the city was spread thickly with was character.  Lots of color, ‘southern hospitality’ exceeded even my expectations.  I’ll start with a race report and get you more on that later.  Long time associate Bobo had graciously let us stay with his In Laws, and we had a great, but too brief, visit with Ken and Linda.
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Escaping the Cold Snap – looong distance driving

While it is possible to train for triathlons through a Canadian winter, it is much easier, safer, and less stressful to do this in a warm, snow (and cloud) free climate like Tucson Arizona.  With the goal of maximizing our 2009 seasons results myself and C3 team mate Sean Bechtel met up in Caledon just over a week ago to pack for our snow-bird flight south.

Sean and I are fairly similar characters.  While I had packed from midnight to 2:30 am before heading to Caledon, he packed a little one evening, went out for dinner with Krystal, and then we finalized our packing the following morning.  The end result being that our ‘early’ start was noon-30
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Your Dream Season 2/3 Why Winter Training Camps are Key to Summer Racing Success.

Your Dream Season 2/3 Why Winter Training Camps are Key to Summer Racing Success. 

Yes, winter is the perfect time to work on improving your weaknesses and building your strengths. This is when the base to your injury-free season is put into place. This isn’t breaking news– we know this, plan on doing this, but don’t always follow through. 

If you are under the snow of a Canadian winter (as I presently am) or even if you are in warmer climates, taking a week to get away once or twice during the cold dark season can help you reap rewards during summer races.
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Kona Race Report: My first IM

Pre Game

As with my other IM experience, you are on the go from the day before you leave, until 6pm the night before the race, and then you have a few minutes to relax, a few more hours for nerves, and at 4am you’re awake.  I wasn’t very nervous, as I’d done all that I could, woke up and ate ‘the usual’ oatmeal with salt stick.

Drove to the venue, body marking here = stamps with paint.  I find a quiet spot, and go through my race in my head, and make my way to the water to get some swimming in before the start.  After swimming out a bit, I stop to watch the sun rise over the volcano, and realize that Craig Alexander (eventual winner) is watching it beside me.  We chat, and I’m the last guy to wish him luck before the start (as Scott Tinley paddles by an a surfboard). 
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