Hi there, welcome to the BLOG of my life as a Vagabiker. Beryl calls me a 'Free Spirit' my Grandpa a B.U.M. of no fixed address. Kelly says I'm 'off the wall'. I think that the Toad is closest saying I'm the Cat in the Hat it's fun to have fun—but you have to know how.

These are the stories of my unique, home-and-job-free Natness.

Naturally, quasi-legal events are fictional. Everything else is the unvarnished truth.

Archive for the 'triathlon' Category

the Newspaper Story: Home is where the Heart is

Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Home is Where the Heart Is for Triathlete
By Darren Lum
June 18, 2008
Like the wheels on his bike, his life has come full circle toward achieving a childhood dream.After several years making a living road cycling for various teams in the United States, including a short stint with the Trek Volkswagen team, Nat Faulkner came home to Muskoka to compete in the Muskoka Triathlon in Huntsville this weekend with new friend and training partner, Sean Bechtel.Far from physically intimidating, at only five foot seven, Faulkner is seemingly chiselled from granite, solidly built with an inner strength to match, clearly conveyed in his eyes and delivered in an unwavering sure voice.

(more…)

Posted in random T.I.T.ing, triathlon, triathlon racing | No Comments »

brief oceanside update

Sunday, March 30th, 2008

So I did it.

I won my age group and am headed to Kona. (more…)

Posted in random T.I.T.ing, time wasting, triathlon, triathlon racing | 4 Comments »

Oceanside 1/2 IM Pre-Game

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

So after all the training the first true test is coming up. Essentially I have been super nervous this entire week, especially as the micro taper has progressed, and I’ve been more recovered.

Sean and I received a Specialized Care package Monday, from Gears - so I got my new Specialized Tri shoes.. good enough to save 10 seconds on my transition, and above that avoid my having to worry about the straps and buckles hassles.

The first bummer of the travel was that we were each dinged $100 for our bikes in the airport. We debated taping them together and saving one bike fee, but that would have put us in the over weight bracket as well.

(more…)

Posted in random T.I.T.ing, triathlon, triathlon racing | 3 Comments »

1 month Tucson Tri Training, in the bag

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

TT position - phase oneThough I have heard cyclists knock triathletes upon occasion, I have only funned them for their fashion habits, not their training. Now that I have survived the first month of my bi (cycle) to tri (athlete) transition I have full respect. This three-sport stuff is no joke, and I can still drop you on the bike!

You can NOT make fun of a 4h30 ride @ 33km/h with 4×20 min race pace, a run of 90 minutes and swimming 1h45. This is not a week’s training, it’s DAY. Yeah, I know, it’s enough to scare the hair out of your armpits, and turn your hair into green straw. (Yes I am gradually joining the ranks of fashion offenders.)

Sean and I trained a butt-s off. (more…)

Posted in random T.I.T.ing, travelogue, triathlon | No Comments »

Bike tour to the Arctic: Packing List

Friday, May 18th, 2007

most of the stuff I am bringingMy Gear List:

I have amended this list, post tour, to show which gear I deemed excessive (because there was a lot more than needed).
After the last trip when my bike was an excessive 140 lbs I wanted to try to avoid that. As I took more gear than my father, my bicycle weighed between 110, and 130 lbs depending on if I was carrying 4 days of food, or about to starve.
I am worried about being cold.
I am also a little worried about being eaten by bears. (more…)

Posted in Gear Review, bike touring, camping, random T.I.T.ing, really stupid things, swimming, triathlon, vagabonding | 5 Comments »