Video of part of my MTB ride in Orange County, CA

I am NOT a runner, I hate running

So I registered for the Rogue Trail Series 2013. 

Three separate trail races, three separate parks, each with its own unique atmosphere. In order to allow everyone a taste of trail running, all three events will host both 30K and 10K races. The final race will be a joint event: One part championship race, where the combined time of all three races determines overall placement, as well as a stand alone event with its own awards.

I have only run 10K once and it was unofficial, it was a trail run at Walnut Creek in the middle of summer 2012, 102 degrees. This will be my first 10K race, race in name only, I don't expect to shatter any records or be competitive, but I'll do what I can do. I know Walnut Creek and Emma Long like the back of my hand from many, many years of mountain biking. I have ridden Reveille Peak a few times as well. 

I'm looking forward to it and using it as motivation to get back into riding and Tri shape after the Nov shoulder and biceps surgery. 

4Runner Running Board Removal - Instead of a Body Lift

I've been considering a 1-1.5" body lift for my 2001 4Runner SR5 Sport Edition. I don't need more clearance for bigger tires or off roading, it's purely for the cosmetic benefit. I think the 4Runner looks much better, more aggressive and just plain more SUV like when it's lifted.

Before getting a lift I decided to remove the running boards to see if that would give me the look I am wanting with ZERO cost and only about 20 minutes of my time invested. It's a super easy project that virtually anyone can do it with just a few common of tools (*ratchet, sockets, screw and/or hex head driver). I will follow this up with a graphical write-up to help - It will be easy enough to re-install one for that purpose. *I'll include the tool details in my follow up.

On to the results...I think the picture speak for themselves.

Toyota Factory Service Manuals (FSM) - free download

I found that Toyota FSMs are still available using the "Way Back Machine" internet archive. Obviously you need to download the full versions and not the internet links.



http://web.archive.org/web/20110102225436/http://www.ncttora.com/FSM/

OK, maybe I will try to keep a blog updated...

Last time I posted I was just a few days away from my first triathlon. We'll since then I completed 2 triathlons a 24 hour mountain bike race (relay).

I guess I recap my triathlons...

Jack's Generic Tri - Sprint Distance July 31, 2011
500m Swim
13.8 mile (hilly) ride
3.0 mile run

The Swim - The swim is a beach start, so there is no treading of water. One lap around the wake boarding "lake". The water was warm and very oily - you could taste the diesel or lubricant from the ski pulley systems. My plan was to stay on the outside and just survive the swim. Several guys quit very early on, swimming to the side and giving up. I swam fairly well, but not fast, just consistent. It was great to actually get out of the water mixing it up with the age group ahead of ours.

The Ride - Transition from the swim to the bike was pretty quick, I rehearsed transitions several times and carefully planned my layout at the bike. Just a short run up to find my bike, then put on helmet, glasses and shoes. The start of the bike is a beast of an uphill and the shoulder of the road was in horrible shape - cracks that can easily swallow a road bike tire and a big drop off. I think there were 3-4 people with flats in just the first 1/4 mile. A few minutes into the ride I had a Hammer Gel - I ingeniously zip-tied 2 of them to my bike's top tube. Even though a Sprint Tri isn't really much of an endurance event I certainly did not want to bonk on my very first one. Even better than finishing the swim with 35-39 age groupers was passing guys in the 20-25 age group - lots of them (they started 3 groups ahead of us)...that was until I saw "69" on a guys calf as he was blowing by me like a missile. Before you start some lucky lady gets to Magic Marker your age on your calves - that's how I know ages. So the hilly ride was pretty uneventful, I reserved a lot of energy, never riding with a burn in my legs.

The Run - I hate running, especially running on the road. it was 1.5 miles up and 1.5 miles down essentially. I managed to run most of it, but the heat was pretty bad at this point and I did walk a bit. I believe my average was a blistering 9:30 min/mile. Not much at all to say about the run, I survived!

My time 1 hr 31 min 28 secs - best my goal time of 1 hr 45 mins! I finished at an even 300 out of 675 - not too bad for my first Tri and with probably less than 100 miles of road riding experience. It was a good time and a great experience.

Avia Austin Triathlon (now the TriRock Austin) September 5, 2011

I'll just summarize and come back later with stage details.

700m Swim
27K Bike
5K Run

Time 1 hr 43 mins 39 secs (7 minutes faster than the mens' average)
Place 181 out of 710, Age Group Place was 36 out of 92

Triathlon

It's 3am and I am at work. I am doing post-data migration set ups and first pass verification. We are working on an upgrade of our European Oracle database and applications, going from 11i - 11.5.9 to r12 - 12.1.3. It's not glamorous, but usually it's a 9-5 gig, but because it's a global effort that will span 5 days we are working around the clock...not everyone all the time, but we pass the baton to keep things moving. Oh yea, this is just our "Mock Go-Live" which means this one isn't for real, it's our last practice.

So why is this titled Triathlon, yet all I have rambled about is my working at 3am this morning? Because this 3am to 10am working comes just 3 days before my first ever Triathlon. Today is supposed to be the second day of my active rest and recovery before the Tri. I should be sleeping on schedule for 7-9 hrs, not napping for 3 hours then working way off my normal schedule.

So I decided about 18 days before the Tri to do the Tri. Sure, I was eyeballing it for quite a few weeks, but I had not decided until 14 days ago. I chose Jack's Generic Tri. I chose it because it's a short Tri even for a sprint distance, it seems beginner friendly and it's rumored to be a great event for everyone. I am very excited and nervous. It turns out that a co-worker and a rugby buddy are doing it too and we are all in the same age group, 40-45.

The past 2 weeks have been a crash course in Tri training with a practice Tri, a bit of open water swim (OWS) practice in lakes, quarries and barton springs, BRICK workouts (back-to-back Tri activites, like Bike then immediately Run) and constant reading about Triathlons (especially the multitude of beginner mistakes there are to be made). My diet has been pretty serious, mostly a Paleo for Athletes diet. I have lost 11 lbs in July. Oh yea, July 4-10 I was in Costa Rica - not eating all that great, but I did manage a couple of runs, ocean swims and hikes so there was that.

Aside from working at 3am today I feel pretty prepared. I will blog again with my results.

Goals for Tri:

1. Survive and finish without a "DNF"

2. Finish in 1:45 or better

3. Beat my practice time of 1:35:12

4. Finish in the middle of my AG (age group)

5. Finish in the top 35% overall

6. Beat Todd (coworker) and Tres (rugger)

7. Have fun (this really should be #1)

Now that I have these goals out here on virtual paper I have them to answer to.

Until next time...

Holy Lost Blog, Batman

Jeez, I really did plan to try blogging with some regularity, but clearly I am lousy at it. I still try staying fit by playing outside with my boys, running, trail running, MTB and road riding, doing 'fasted-cardio' in the mornings now to try cranking up my fat loss. Going to start commuting to work Tues and Thurs. I did the 2010 Texas Spartan Race in October 2010 and had a blast training and participating in it.

Got an HD GoPro camera to chronicle some rides, check 'em out on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hunrugger

I really will try to blog again very soon.