Operation Incline: Week 6 Recap

again... lets start with something other than triathlon BS. The Chargers got it done today. It started ugly... very ugly, but in the end they pulled it off and still have not lost to the Raiders in over 5 years. My sister is a Raiders fan (if you can believe that) and we had a bet. Now she has to provide the wine for Thanksgiving... no $5 bottles of Yellow Tail allowed (even though I am uge fan of the YT). Beth and I were on the couch rooting them on and back east in Virginia Beach my little brother and my nephew were represent'n!

Go bolts!


Well... this is the week. The Xterra National Championships are on Sunday and I am physically and mentally ready to race. In the big scheme of things this is the second most important race of the the year for me, with Worlds on 10/26 obviously being #1.

This will be my third year racing in Tahoe in 3 years of racing triathlons. The first year I was in awe and just so stoked that I even qualified for the race. I was flying blind with no expectations. Last year I went in the the mindset that the race wasn't mine to win (not my conditions) and rationalized my second unsuccessful attempt to tackle that course and have a race I would be happy with. This year I am going to race. No excuses.

I just finished the hardest, most focused, block of training that I have ever put in. I worked harder, recovered better than ever, and can't wait to get on the line next weekend. I know the conditions (cold, altitude) aren't ideal but who gives a shit. I am going to see what I am made of Sunday and go for it.

Ok.. enough of that. Now for the weekend activities... it was a good one!

Friday was mellow with an easy spin, some swimming at lunch, and then Beth and I hit the 24 hour fitness for a little core work and some dry sauna action. I was able to last 17.5 minutes in the sauna and Beth lasted for 20. I cracked! I am really liking the sauna and really think it's helping with my recovery. I take "the stick" in with me and get to work on the legs. It's not fun, but I wake up the next feeling good so I'll keep it up.

First thing Saturday morning Beth and I headed down to Moonlight Beach for an open water swim. The water was perfect. I warmed up and then went after it for a couple of laps around the course. After the swim I headed straight home (after a quick stop for some of my favorite coffee, 7-11) and got out on to the trails for some hard riding and running. I was feeling great and really started to think about the race.

sunday ride. 4800ft of climbing in just over 26 miles.


After my workout it was another quick transition. I quickly got into mechanic/sherpa mode. I got Beth's bike race ready, loaded up the truck, and we hit the road for the OC. Sunday was all about Beth (but what day isn't... just kidding champ!). We got up there around 3, got checked into the hotel, and after a little bit of a hassle (I am sure Beth will cover it on her blog) we got her all ready to go.

sherpa mode at 5am. give me some more coffee!


Sunday morning we were up at 4:30am for the race and got down to the race site with plenty of time. The venue for the race and course were killer. It's definitely a race worth doing... maybe next year. The swim is in a private lake, the bike course has a lot of of climbing, and the run is very Xterra-like. It's not the best spectator course because you really can't see any of the bike or the first 4.5 miles of the run but then there double out and back section at the end of the run where you can really see the race unfolding... it was killer.

the little monster getting her gameface on... kind of. I had to make her go warm-up and get her butt in gear. (she's probably going to hate on me for posting this photo)


After Beth was out of the water and on the bike I got a little bit of a break from my sherpa/race photographer duties. So I got in my run. I had a really good run on some pretty tired legs from the day before and from being on them for the previous two hours walking around the race. I ran the race couse as an out and back and it was definitely tough. A lot of hills and some good trails. I was able to really hammer my intervals and make back in plenty time to watch the end of Beth's race.... again she killed it. The little monster is getting fast. I won't steal her glory so just go read her report.

racer and sherpa


So that was weekend... it was busy but not stressful. Just a lot of good times. The last 3 weeks have been hard and I am definitely ready for a rest/race week in terms of volume. I have some shorter race pace stuff on tap for the beginning of the week and then I will be pre-riding on course on Friday... can't wait.

One last thing... the Padres season is now officially over (it was really over by the end of april). It was an ugly season and I am glad it's over. They finished 63-99 and it in the cellar. Now it's time for the MLB playoffs which should be really good. Time to root for some underdogs... I would love to see the Rays and Brewers make it to the Worlds Series. I am also stoked the Mets got the boot and I am hoping the Whitsox flop today and another of my favorite underdog teams, The Twins, get to the post season. Beth loves this time of year!!!