The Lava Report

Simply off the hook experience venturing far up in our country. Beautiful land, beautiful wildlife and a great typical Xterra challenging race. Single track rocky, rooty, slippery and wet the name of the game up yonder in those woods. Swim was near 20 degrees colder than our California ocean summer temps but that's what wetsuits are made for. Just back to blogging having lost several due to server problems losing many but have to say been a very busy racing year!!! 1st time blogging from IPhone hope it flys. And really hope can access photos because Alaska, Xterra Oahu and Xterra Big Island all pics taken with this phone. No doubt some good ones, especially the wildlife.

Xterra Hammerman Alaska stats: 1st place. Yay   : )  tough course. Loved it.

Jetted up to the Pacific Northwest for what I expected: Some gnarley PNW rocky,rooty, slippery single track. Yes the boys  are known as some very talented technical riders in the  upper northwest.  And I witnessed it. No local shop rental this race as I took my newly built hardtail up. A little rear travel would have been nice now in retrospect but not complaining. I rode a bit over my head at times and that was needed if I wanted to stay in contention. Two guys in my age group passed me about 3/4's through course and honestly lost them kinda quick with the up-down/snake single track/ up down some more type of course. Again: I was riding a tad over my comfort or talent zone. Clipped my crank arm on roots more than once. And I am that not used to the drop off's where I Holy Mary'd and just leaned back. I seen some going over their bars, sorry for them but happy I was not. 

Came into run transition and knew at least 2 were ahead of me. But also knew could be more. I caught and passed one at  near 5K mark. Then with about 1 mile to go seen the other lime green kit that passed  me on bike ahead about a 1/4 mile. Having what little paved road we had on the course I figured now's the time and only time. Picked up pace well above lactate threshold and caught up to him and just ast on heels trying to recover some.I was thinking: Way cool. Game on. My kick is usually strong............Not this day. Spent myself catching him and he had a little left. I couldn't answer or I should say my legs were not answering. Finished 2nd. 17 seconds back from 1st. Made for another great day of racing. Swim held in Henry Hagg Lake. The USA's deepest man made lake. Cool. Beautiful. But that deepest thing did spook me a bit.   : )       And quite the treat finishing on the cold water 50' water slide as seen here. My Xterra racing score now: 2 firsts. One 2nd. Let's see what upcoming Xterra Alaska brings............hopefully wildlife and great racing.

Yes indeed been off the blog wagon for some time. But certainly not off the training/racing wagon...........................

    After a handful of out of country competitions in 2016, culminating with 2 World Championships,  busted out the door of 2017 with trip and race to Cuba. The Havana 1/2 Ironman held just a few weeks ago. The race, country, people: The total experience was off the hook. Their world is sooooo much different than ours. They have so very little. Yet so friendly, warm and engaging. I expected..... well I did not know what to expect honestly. But arrived and left there with only wonderful memories. From beginning to end. 

               The race was put on by The International Triathlon Union (or ITU) and was a legit good old challenging half Ironman. 1.2 miles swim in the Marina Hemingway. 56 miles on the bike. Which took through Havana, flipped it back through the city again and then on to 40+ miles in the open country. The half marathon run was totally up and down the beaches (on pavement) of the Malcedon. Spectacular. Simply put. Hot. Real hot. But spectacular.

I was stoked with another podium visit finishing a 5:09 race. 

Looking forward to next year unlike any other destination/race I have done. Some I do not need to return to. Some I would like to. Some I do. This one I will. The race is just the dessert with the even larger main course of the meal being the overall experience.

 That is my new friend Octavio's dog up on his roof looking down at me. A wiener dog named Robin Hood. Cool little bugger. And like Octavio and all the Cubans I befriended: Warm and friendly.

As expected Ironman in Kona delivered some very tough conditions this past weekend. But even tougher were the two I was there to cheer loudest for: Jodi Ruby and Bill Carlson. Bill is known for being one of the best multi sport athletes in the country. And a diabetic. He wears his heart and his passion for sharing and assisting others he can help on his sleeve. Whether an athlete or not. He is going to share his knowledge and experience and the recipients are very blessed in that matter. Great job out there Billy C. You rocked it with your lovely "Momma Suzi" cheering so loud I swear I could hear her from California.

   Jodi pretty much did too what she typically does: Work up to about a half hour before departure time. Be the last athlete to arrive in Kona. Go through the nutty process of check in. Try to get some sleep. Arrive at swim start. Swim 2.4 miles in what now a days with 2500 aggro others more like an MMA cage fight. Cycle the 112 miles with a guarantee of not just heat and humidity. But brutal winds as well. And then: Well  "then" she will just run you down. Over the course of the marathon which is no dessert after the dish's just handed to you.

I was grateful to have been able to give back again on this day via working aid stations. I seen some beautiful stuff. In liu of volunteers. Many of them out all day like the athletes. For the athletes. I wish I could name everyone of them. 5000 is what it takes to put on this event. Watch the NBC airing in early December and just look at the aloha given with those wearing a "Kokua Crew" shirt. Impressive as well.

Great job Jodi and Bill. Simply amazing. You two rocked it. Now take some rest!   : )

Okay I am not a big blogger and I even hear about it so some people are checking : )   I really don't like writing about myself. But recognition gets support. And without some support from sponsors I would not be racing around the globe. 

This Saturday Ironman World Championships is in Kona, Hawaii. Where EVERY triathlete would like to experience but only just over 1% in the world get to. Two of them this year (both qualified at an Ironman) are Jodi which I believe will be # 6, 7, maybe 8th time I don't know.

The other is very dear friend/absolute animal/and diabetic Bill Carlson. I will be there cheering louder than anyone for them. That and actually working the event. Here are some old shots from many moons ago: Billy C. and I somewhere in no mans land middle of the desert riding to Las Vegas from Upland California circa early 90's? We have done the 265 mile ride (2 days) quite alot but those bikes are look pre STI shifting, etc. Other is Jodi smiling as she busts out her tyoical 3:45 marathon there down famous Alli'i Drive running down tons in the process.

Other shot is yours truly mid 90's somewhere out on the Queen K. Yep this place they hold the Ironman World Championships is special. To say the least. Kona, Hawaii. The Big Island. For the Big Dance. Good luck you two. May Madam Pele' be at your sides and the Mumuku winds at your back. 

  Folks of course can follow it live on www.ironmanlive.com. From the 2.4 mile swim. The 112 mile bike. The 26.2 marathon run. Dang that's long. almost forgot just how such........................

 Here in the states when taking over or passing someone you let them know with a "on your left"

Opposite in Australia as you pass with an  "on the right". With my swim starting 3rd from last out of 15 waves that put lots ahead of me from the get go. Did not take long to realize when on bike my little recently (re) built 650c steed with disk wheel on rear and deep dish up front paired with brand new tubulars pumped up to 160 lbs was moving just fine. That's her on the very end of bike rack nestled amongst all the very fine and blingy carbon candy that lay endlessly on all the racks. She did stand out

  Caught and passed heaps though. Often throwing a thumbs up as moving up.  I was trying to be polite and many did not understand English (or did not want to) as I do not dig pulling others in a non drafting competition. Quite a train behind here in the one pic. Saw other packs through out the day too on some of the out and back portions of the course. Oh well. I did get reeled in by many somewhere 45-50 miles in. I knew I was not bonking. Now know the culprit was a rear tubie not holding air. Clinchers are the way IMO. But I don't even have clinchers for the 650c. And doubt I will invest.