Posted My Best 10k Time Today

Finished the Manhattan Beach 10k in 47 minutes and 45 seconds today. My goal was to beat 50 minutes, but my legs felt good and the weather was excellent for a race (rain was predicted but held out for the race). My pace was a 7 minute 41 second mile. Very pleased with the results.

Los Angeles Triathlon - Still Best Race Around

Competed in the LA Tri again this year. Unfortunately, I had a flat tire on Sunset Blvd., thought I could replace my tube and be back on the road in less than 5 minutes, but I failed to get the glass out of my tire and it popped my spare tube. So I had to wait about 25 minutes for Tri Lab's owner (who was the race support) to bring me a new spare.

While this race is definitely not my best time, I still had a great time competing in the race. Swimming off of Venice Beach, having the LA roads all to yourself on the ride and run is simply amazing.

I did have a very good start, felt strong on the swim and the bike until my flat. Given the set back, I finished the Olympic distance race in 3 hours, 26 mins. and 34 seconds. My swim took 35 mins., 38 seconds. T1 took 4 mins. and 5 seconds. The bike lasted 1 hour, 47 mins., and I completed the 10K in 57 mins.

Los Angeles Triathlon This Sunday

My favorite race of all-time, the Los Angeles Triathlon is taking place this Sunday, September 7th.  The course has changed a bit this year, and it will be the first time I've completed in the olympic distance race.  

The swim will be the usual 1.5 kilomoter (.9 miles) off of Venice Beach.  The water has been warming up all summer, and should be a comfortable temperature for the compeditors.  Wetsuits are not required.  

The bike consists of a challenging 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) from Venice Beach, through Hollywood to downtown LA.  It is a very senic ride through Los Angeles, and it is just amazing to have the entire street to yourself on some of LA's most busiest streets.  

The run is also a very challenging 10k (6.2 miles).  Immediately getting off of the bike, compeditors face a large hill up Grand Avenue.  The run continues up past my office and to Los Angeles Superior Court, where the runners return down the hill back to the Staples Center.

Results for Camp Pendleton Tri

The Camp Pendleton Tri was great. It was the first time I completed an olympic distance race. I finished 44th out of 58 people competing in my age group. While, not great, I am happy with my time. Since it was the first time I competed at this distance, I was just trying to get comfortable with the distance. My total time was 2 hours 53 mins. The swim took me 34 minutes, the bike leg was 1 hour 26 minutes, and I completed the run in 53 minutes.

I have to say that the Marines were hands down the best hosts and workers for any tri I've competed in. They were polite, and gave you plenty encouragement during the race. Great group of people.

Next race - the LA tri. I'll be doing the olympic distance again, and trying to improve my time.

Camp Pendleton Tri - This weekend

My buddy, Angel, and I are competing in the Camp Pendleton Triathlon this Saturday. It is an olympic distance race on the Marine's home base outside of San Diego.

The race has been sold out since June 10th and will be the first time I've raced it.

Goals for the race:
Basically to beat my buddy (Angel - I know you are thinking the same thing), and/or to finish in the top 1/2 of my age group. Based on last years results, this means that I need to finish with a time better than 2 hours and 41 minutes. My training has not been what I would have like it to be coming into this race, but this is usually the case for all of my races.

Here is a map of the course:

Results for Redondo Beach Triathlon

The Redondo Beach Triathlon was on June 8, 2008. I've been busy with work (and took a vacation) so I have not been able to update this blog as much as I would like.

Anyway, here is my post race report. The race was a sprint distance race, with a 1/2 mile swim, 6 mile bike and a 2 mile run. The ocean was still a bit cold and it took a few minutes to warm up. The bike portion was relatively flat, but at the turn around near the start of the race had a substantial hill. However, if you got your momentum up going downhill, you could definitly pass a few people on the up-hill. The run was a very flat and fast 2 miles around the Portofino.

My total time was 1:01:49. If finished the swim in 22:21, and T1 took me 1 minute 47 seconds. The bike stage took me 20 minutes and 2 seconds, and T2 was 1 minute 36 seconds. I completed the 2 mile run in 16 minutes and 3 seconds. I was pleased with my result at 19th overall in my age group (total of 39 people in my age group).

Asics Cumulus 10 - Now Available

Asics Cumulus 10 - Now available in some stores.
Just got mine today and ran on the treadmill at the gym with them - so far so good. Great shoe for runners with a neutral foot that do not need support.

Beverly Hills Nike Town Run

I just got back from the Nike Town run in Beverly Hills tonight. I've been doing this run, which by the way meets every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. behind the Nike Town, for about 7 years (not every week by any means). It is a great run for beginners through experts - offers a 3 mile run, 5 mile run, and an eight mile run.

I completed the five mile run in 44 minutes tonight. It was a beautiful night, the temperature was perfect and met a friend during the run too (we both arrived at about 6:50 p.m. due to work obligations).

This is definitely the best free deal in Los Angeles. Afterwards, Nike does a raffle and provides free fruit and drinks.

If you would like more information about it, e-mail me.

Camp Pendleton Triathlon Coming In July

Added to my race schedule this summer is the international distance Camp Pendleton Triathlon on July 19, 2008. The race's website provides a race overview:

COURSE: The 1.5K swim is in the boat basin of Del Mar Beach, Camp Pendleton. The average water temperature for the event is 68 degrees. We advise wearing wetsuits. The out & back 40K ride leaves Camp Del Mar, follows Vandegrift Blvd. to Stuart Mesa Rd., and continue east to a turnaround point on Las Pulgas Rd - moderate hills throughout. THE BIKE PORTION IS NOT A CLOSED COURSE. YOU WILL BE SHARING THE ROAD WITH CARS - PLEASE RIDE SAFELY. The 10K Run will be a 2-loop course through Camp Del Mar. This run is flat and fast with a few easy inclines. Aid stations: at the transition, at the bike turnaround & every mile on the run. Please note: there is a 3 hour 40 minute time limit on the completion of the course.

Playa Del Run - Santa Monica Results

Results are in for the Playa del Run event from last Sunday in Santa Monica. I have to say that this is a great event, especially for newcomers to the sport. It is informal, and everyone I met at the race was extremely nice. However, this was my second time competing in one of Playa del Run's events, and I've noticed that the event seems to attract very fast competitors - so if you compete in one of their events, focus on your individual time and not how you do in your age group overall (this is good advice for every race anyway).

I managed to complete the 1,000 meter swim (just over .5 miles for you Americans) in 21 minute and 18 seconds. I really need to improve my swim time - but my buddy that did the race with me, Angel, had the exact same swim time and we both noted that if we swam in a straight line, we could have probably shaved a minute or two off of the swim time.

The run was 3 miles, and I completed this in 26 minutes 57 seconds, for a total time of 48 minutes and 14 seconds. Click here for a course map.

Newport Beach Triathlon

I competed in the Newport Beach Triathlon on April 20, 2008.

Out of 490 “age-groupers” I finished 183^rd with a final time of 1 hour 32 minutes and 14 seconds. Within my age group (30-34 years old) I finished 22^nd out of 64. I swam .5 miles in 17 minutes and 41 seconds. It took me 1 minute and 54 seconds to transition onto my bike. I rode 15 miles in 48 minutes and 50 seconds. It took me 1 minute 46 seconds to get off my bike, put on my running shoes, get some feeling back into my legs, and transition into the running portion. I ran 3 miles in 22 minutes (which is a 7 minute 21 second per mile pace).

I am very happy with my results – the first time I finished in the top ½ of my age group (which

was my goal).

The weather was perfect for the race. The swim was surprisingly warm, due

to the fact that the bay was shallow and the weather had been very warm the days leading up to the race. Despite the course description, the bike course had a big hill at the turn around, it was a two loop course. The run was flat for

the most part, but again, at the turn around there was a substantial hill. All-in-all though, the course was a great one. Also, the UC Irvine Rowing team volunteered to work the course, and I have to say they were the most enthusiastic group of volunteers that I've ever encountered at any race.

2008 Calendar of Races

It has been a while since my last post, but I have been busy and there is a lot to write about. Beginning the new year, I researched a few races I've competed in the past, as well as new races I would like to compete in for 2008. Below is a calendar of the races I am planning on competing in for 2008. If you have any races you recommend in the Los Angeles area, I would like to hear from you.