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Written by Steve Mark

Category: Other

Published: 08 January 2009

Hits: 1737

Go to http://www.socalsteve.com/tri/gadgetsummary.html to view a comparison of various computers and gadgets to use while training. I was having a difficult time deciding what to use and this helped a lot. If you have any suggestions please met know!

Steve

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Written by David Ma

Category: Other

Published: 19 June 2008

Hits: 4696

I just had my wetsuit repaired by JMJ Manufacturing in Torrance. They did a good job and it only cost $20 but it all depends on how much damage they are repairing. Since they make custom wetsuits for divers as their primary business, wetsuit repairs are a side business so you may need to part with your wetsuit for up to two weeks depending on how busy they are with custom jobs as well as other repair work. They also seem to be the only option in So. Cal for this kind of work. Even our friends at Xterra send them wetsuits to be reparied for end users.

JMJ's contact info is below:

Robert Lent

JMJ Manufacturing, Inc.

2331 Abalone Avenue #106

Torrance, CA 90501

(310) 212-3040

jmjmfg@pacbell.net

www.jmjwetsuits.com

- David Ma

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Written by Max Miller

Category: Other

Published: 27 September 2008

Hits: 2697

In September 2008 I solicited members to email me their suggestions for the best tri car on the market with the following criteria:
1) Capacity 2) Sportiness 3) Fuel economy
Here are member's recommendations:
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i went from the Honda CRV ( where i took my front wheel off ) to a Mazda CX7 fun...loads of room .. have bike on one side and child seat on the other .. it all fits ...
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Honda element. Good on gas and spacious. I purchased mine back in March. As we speak I'm driving cross country with my car packed with 3 boxes, two 12" subwoofers, 3 carry on size luggage bags and my full assembled bike. The seats fold sideways for extra space. I was going for a CRV but wet with an element because of the seats and the tail gate Only downside is you going from a speed demon to a 4 cylinder.
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Hmmm. Tough criteria. I've always been scared of the idea of putting a bike on top of a car. So I have thought of the idea of getting a pick up truck and putting the bike in the "bed" (with some kind of attachment mechanism). It's just something to consider.
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The prius is shockingly roomie, and has fold down seats to make the rear a fabulous transition area.
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get a minivan, greatest road trip car you can have for triathlons fit all the gear and all the people you need along iwth a cooler as a footrest to drink a ton of beers on the way to the race.
as for sportiness? none of those cars you mentioned are remotely sporty at all.. maybe aslightly more than a minivan but not as useful. so toss that sportiness criteria, unless you go with something like the audi s4 wagon or the volvo v70r that is a few years old or just a volvo xc you will still have to take off the front weel the least but at least you aren't driving a crv, rav-4 or outback. basically look at stationwagons if you don't want an suv or minivan that is what you are getting, and station wagons are not sexy or sporty unless you get that volvo v70r with a standard but they are no longer making that.
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I drive a Lexus RX330 and it's perfect. Rear seats fold down to lay bike flat with everything intact. I also have a hitch for a rack that will hold 4 bikes so you can bring some buddies. Plenty of room for luggage and stuff. Gets 20 mpg drives and looks great. And when you are not doing tri stuff it's a classy car. I have been using it for 2 seasons now from sprints to Ironman Arizona.
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I have a toyota prius that I love and it fits my tri bike by putting the back seats down no problem. Also gas milage is fantastic. Almost 40 mile per gallon. I highly recommend it.
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I drive a BMW 325 xi sport wagon..it is all and more a triathlete could ask for...and worth every penny!
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Honda Element!! Have you checked it out? I can throw my bike in there no problem (the back seats can be easily moved out of the way or removed entirely depending on your needs. The inside of the car can be hosed out... excellent for wet wetsuits, getting sand out, and good for dog and kid owners. The car seats are waterproof, thus making the car even more attractive to sport enthusiasts.... the suicide doors provide some shelter/privacy when changing... oh yeah, the back seats can also completely recline in case you need a nap while you gaze out your moon roof. I love mine :)
The ONE downside to this car, only seats 4, but all 4 seats are incredibly comfortable (no cramped back seat...)
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We had a RAV-4 as a rental recently and we fit a REFRIGERATOR in it! We were blown away .. But also, people do love their subarus. Good luck!
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Get yourself a Prius, Max. I can put gear and bikes for two in the back, and you can't beat the mileage. Yeah, you'll have the take off the front wheels, but what the hell. They've got plenty of zip and maneuverability, and they're more of a unofficial Tri Club vehicle than any SUV.
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Being from a family that sells Fords, I would say I may be a bit partial to American cars, and certainly Fords. I drive an Explorer which I love, but lately, I am jealous as hell for the Ford Edge which is smaller (and faster), and the front passenger lays down too, which means you have huge capacity to pack up gear! (I think I could sleep in the Flex for WF). Now the Ford Flex came out and I was BAGGING on it, since it seemed way too big, then I took a drive in my brother's and I quickly was silenced. The flex is the same exact length as the Ford Taurus (yeah, geek me lined it up), but it's HUGE inside, and KILLER. Three seating banks (front passenger seat lays down, DAMN the explorer!), killer navigation w/ Sync, a FRIDGE, ie, cool recovery drinks and water immediately, real power outlets as well as 12v outlets (charge the Garmin!) Sunroofs...etc. And gas mileage is 24mpg which isn't a hybrid but pretty damn good for a large capacity vehicle. It's actually pretty cool. Anyway, take a spin in one and see what you think. Worth a drive at least... Note, it's NOT an off road vehicle in my book, but it does have AWD. Good luck in the hunt.
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I drive a Honda Element. Ugly, yes. Fast, No. Usefull, hell yeah. I can put bike(s) inside the car with both wheels on.
No carpet to ruin. Water proof seats. Etc......
Not a cool as my old Audi TT convertible. But far more practical.
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...loves her Honda Elment - lots of room, fits two bikes, easy on gas, cheap but not exactly sporty
i drive a MB CLK which is a 2 door coupe - coupes are actually great for bikes because the seats go down and the opening is large enough for my road or mountain bikes. AND it is sporty !!!
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Welp, my car fulfills all your requirements except the zippity/speed factor. But what it lacks in fun, tho, it makes up for with the coolness/green factor: Prius.
I can fit my whole bike in the back of my prius, my trainer, and all my gear(crap)!
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I own a 2007 RAV-4 and love it! My bike fits in without taking the wheel off--AND I can still leave one of the back seats up! Alternatively I can take the wheel off, put it in sideways in the back and have both backseats up. Or, I can put my inside rack mount over the two backseats (when down) and transport two bikes, plus all the triathlon gear and luggage to go with them.
Fast? Yes...I got the Sport model...V6 (don't get the V4) -- very fast! I'm always racing BMWs and Porches off the line. ;-) (No tickets for me yet...!) Typically comes with JBL stereo set up and bluetooth, of course. The only thing I wish it had which it doesn't is leather seats...don't care for the cloth but I decided I didn't want to pay the after-market cost to upgrade...I'd wait until the cloth seats looked bad and replace them then.
Typically get somewhere around 21-23 MPH...more like 26 if I drive 55 (I don't very often) on the highway.
Best dealership for a Toyota is Longo in El Monte -- got that tip from an inside-Toyota purchasing manager and I would definitely agree...good prices and a class act. -------------
i have an audi A3 with a roof rack (yakima, double trays, with fork mount/locking system). i find this system to be the most efficient method of transporting your bike. very safe and easy. no theft issues with the locking system. unless you're going to buy something that enables you to fork mount inside the cabin, it's a major pain in the ass trying to squeeze the bike in and out of the car (my opinion). the A3 hatchback is small but easily holds all my swim/bike/run/yoga gear in the back. this is my second audi (A4 wagon before) and is by far the most reliable/best handling car i have ever owned. well, you have one so you know. good luck in your car search, but i'm telling you, locking roof rack is the way to go.
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I have a 2002 MB C320, that takes care of most of your requirements. However, if you are not to particular about keeping your care German, then perhaps you might also want to consider Honda Element, or some German station wagons. Audi A4 Station, VW station wag. etc.
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I am responding because I have owned a 2004 Saab 9-5 Aero wagon and a 2003 Audi Allroad. I am also a leadfoot (working on traffic school for my 13th lifetime speeding ticket). I love the concept of a sport wagon as the best of all worlds. SUV's are too top heavy and not for spirited driving. Minivans are pretty uncool (I have a baby and still won't consider a minivan until I have 2 more). Price no object, my ideal conveyances would be either the Cayenne (although the space might be limited), S6 wagon or 545/550 wagon (the last two are as hard to find as unicorns). Price being an object, I would definitely consider the Outback or a used Saab Sport Combi or 9-5. Saab's resale values suck, so you can pick up a used one very cheap.
My thoughts on my two wagons:
9-5: huge room all around. great for hauling gear and long road trips. with rear seats folded, you can stack 2-3 bikes with both wheels on (with blankets between). peppy but some torque steer and turbo lag (if you raise your foot off gas and hit the pedal again, there is a disconcerting delay in spooling up - elimated with the manual tranny). decent handling but softer feel then German sport suspensions. gas mileage around mid 20's. do not buy new. Allroad: pretty good size but not as big as the Saab. I think capacity is b/w the A4 and A6 wagons. great low end torque and engine feels quicker than Saab. heavy and not as quick in twisties - air suspension. mileage atrocious (around 17-18).
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I think you will be hard pressed to find something with gas mileage and you can leave the front wheel on without going on the roof....unless you are on a 50 cm or smaller frame, in which case the Rav4 would work! You are definitely going to have to go to a wagon to get the best of all worlds. Even in a Tahoe, which my friend had, the front wheel has to come off unless you put down both seats in the rear...and let's not even talk about the mileage!
Here's my take on a few:
I've owned a Volvo V70, which was perfect for bike & surfboard in back with only half the rear seat down and the front wheel off the bike. Also had roof racks which are very easy to use on a low car like this.
I now have an Outback (not as much interior room, horrid gas mileage due to AWD, for which it also tears through tires and brakes, but otherwise, is a good choice as bike easily fits inside with the rear wheel off.) We have roof racks for multiple bikes in which case there is a ton of room.
I currently have a Mazda 3 5dr which has great mileage, is super sporty (for better, see the MazdaSpeed version) and while you have to put down both rear seats and take off the front wheel, is a great best-of-all-worlds. I'm thinking about the Subaru Legacy to replace the Mazda in April. The A3 ain't worth it as the legacy beats it hands down in all categories, including performance. Don't know much about the 3 series except that it is spendy and not the best mileage.
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I love cars and pretty much everything about them. This is the most informative site I've found when reseaching and comparing cars: http://www.edmunds.com/carreviews.html.
Also, check out this site for more daily-driving style test and impressions: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Toyota/model=RAV4
That link is posted for the Rav4 because that's one of the models you mentioned, but they have reviews and stats for pretty much every car you would want.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but the most important thing for you to do is to go and test drive the cars at the top of your list, and bring your bike to make sure they are conducive to carrying it. Good luck and have fun!
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I have the A6 wagon and love it: just got a Prius and can still fit a fully assembled TT bike in it.
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If you can live without screeching tires or offroad fantasies, the Prius would actually be a great car. Rear seats fold down in two seconds and the bike fits in with *no disassembly.* Certainly very high marks on the gas mileage and if you haven't been in one, especially the back seat when the front seet is all*the*way*back I think you'd be amazed at how roomy it is. I don't work for toyota, but the Prius replaced an expedition and I was really skeptical. It's also a great "techy" car if you're into that with all "drive by wire," I think and cool in dash computer and nav. At least test drive and get in the back seat before you laugh it off. I did and now I'm hooked.
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CR-V: I have one, love it. Fun, and you can slide the bike in with no disassembly. Other stuff tends to fit in pretty well around it.
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i bought my CRV just for that reason - didn;t want to deal with taking aprat my bike! i actually got it right b/f the current model came out which i think is way cooler. i have to admit don't get the basic model if you wnt power - need at least the v6 sports addition. i'm sure they'll you at the dealership, but it is built on the same frame (chasis?) as the civic so it drives adn handles like a car - amazing turning radius! vey easy to get seats up and down so not a problem to re-arrange car for loads i thought it was much more comfortable and easier to drive than the Rav4 i think it'sfairly fuel efficient - but i don't have much to compare it to. I do know it's better than other HUGE SUVs definitely get your windows tinted with whatever you decide to get. i feel so much better about leaving my bike in parking lots etc. knowing it's not so easy to see in. good luck and have fun test driving!
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My Nissan Mirano meets your criteria to a T. My tri bike fits into the backseat without removing the front tire. Depending on how neat you keep the hatch. It'll fit even easier there.
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If you can live without screeching tires or offroad fantasies, the Prius would actually be a great car. Rear seats fold down in two seconds and the bike fits in with *no disassembly.* Certainly very high marks on the gas mileage and if you haven't been in one, especially the back seat when the front seet is all*the*way*back I think you'd be amazed at how roomy it is. I don't work for toyota, but the Prius replaced an expedition and I was really skeptical. It's also a great "techy" car if you're into that with all "drive by wire," I think and cool in dash computer and nav. At least test drive and get in the back seat before you laugh it off. I did and now I'm hooked.
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CR-V: I have one, love it. Fun, and you can slide the bike in with no disassembly. Other stuff tends to fit in pretty well around it.
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looks dorky for a super sleek triathlete, but my toyota sienna works great. great fuel economy (mine's an '04 and it rolls around with 22-25mpg on usual driving). it's a van. great to use for transition areas. with the fold down flat back row and the tumble mid-row, it fits your full bike and more easily. the most i've fit in there has been 5 people, 5 bikes, and camping gear for Wildflower this past year.
sportiness? well it's a van. it won't do 0-60 in under 4 seconds, but it has a lower center of gravity than a truck and it can hold its own up til 110/115. any more, i've found that handling gets shaky.
aside from looking like the guy "living in a van, down by the river", it works great. plenty of room for bike, gear, groceries, and more. it really helps out in the long run if you're ever hauling stuff (building materials, etc.) and you don't have to worry about rain/weather/stealing issues for the most part. -------------
I have an Infinity FX45. I can fit my tri bike in without taking off the front wheel. Excellent on the "Sportiness Meter"
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I ride a motorcycle full time but bought a jeep just to haul my tri bike around.. It fits inside without taking anything off of it.. Also great to toss the wetsuit in after a swim and not worry about it messing anything up.. gas mileage low :( fun :) reliable :) and only paid 2000 used.... 1/4 the cost of my bike :)
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Lexus RX series Not REALLY an SUV... I got my RX300 new in 2002, works well for me...so, I've kept it and drive it primarily. Other cars are a sedan (kids take it) and my wife drives the mini-van (which can fit 4 bikes but is even more out of style than an SUV!) Capacity/Cargo: Bike inserts easily with hatch on back hinged on top so that it is out of the way, bike rolls easily and fits well into the rear cargo area with smaller left half of rear seat folded down--no dissassembly of bike needed (for reference, I am 5'10", bike of course has aerobars--which are not removable). There is a pull-out (like a horizontal version of venetian blinds) that covers smaller stuff in the cargo area so not visible. Sportiness: won't be confused for a Corvette or a Ferrari, but as nimble as many sedans (maybe not the A4), and would likely compare favorably with the others on your list... Efficiency/fuel economy: 6 cylinder automatic, 20 mpg in town, better on highway in a 55 (except, perhaps, at 110). Check out the RX400H which is a hybrid and is very nice, I've taken one out as a loaner, seems to have a similar layout. I'll probably get one when I'm ready to trade in!
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MazdaSpeed 3--Bike fits perfectly. Awesome fast. Not a Highway Patrol magnet. 26MPG
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I have a honda element that is quite ugly but is pretty smart if you're a triathlete. I fold up one of the back seats, and still have room to put 2 bikes with the other seat down and all of my triathlon stuff, and I think it's pretty gas efficient, can't remember the exact mpg. I suggest test driving it first before you discount it, it's much bigger than it looks! Good luck my sis has an A4 it's a pretty sweet ride.
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I love my Subaru Outback which I have had for over four years. You might need to look at the 6 cylinder to really get sportiness. My 4 cylinder is just fine and has good pick-up, but it was a noticeable transition from my BMW 3 series sedan which is equivalent in power to your A4 I think. I think the other cars you mentioned would have the same issue though. My dream tri car is the BMW 5 series station wagon (don't see them much. are they still around?) but you know the mileage would be terrible.
Great things about my Subie?
Very comfortable, even without the bunch of extras that are available.
Fits my bike in the back in two seconds if I am holding it right.
The back seat splits, meaning you can take more people or stuff along with your bike, though I manage to fit in sports bags and my Saturday grocery shopping with my bike in the car even without splitting.
Nice platform at a good level to sit on when the big back door is open. Big staging area -when your bike is out.
I also installed two bike racks with locks on the roof for travelling to races. You could also get the option of a luggage container on the roof if you wanted to put the bikes in the back (enough room to stack them with some packing blankets between them)
I have friends with the CRV and Rav-4 and they are nice but I decided to buy my Subaru instead because it just worked better for me. These friends ride a lot, but are not triathletes.
Made in the USA!
Possible negative: service is further if you live on the West side. If you are in the valley or anywhere else no worries as there are dealers. The Santa Monica one closed in the last year so you might have to travel a bit.
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I drive an outback (2006 model, 4 cyl) and find it very good for tri lifestyle and equipment. Putting my bike in the back was a major consideration before buying (i had a ford explorer). I can sit on the back bumper easily. Very easy to fold the seats down and put the bike in with front wheel on. I drove my friend and I to a tri with both our bikes and all our gear in the back no problem. The cargo area has a rubberized mat that keeps all the sand, water, gatorade, bike grease, gross clothes, etc. from messing up the car. I've heard great things about the faster models (4 cyl turbo and 6 cyl) but i like the performance of my basic 4 cyl just fine. It has enough horses and the all wheel drive makes handling very fun for any car and especially for a wagon. I assume the audi a6/avant is too pricey? i was looking to upgrade to that this year but the economy kind of wiped that plan out. I think the CRV and RAV-4 are for girls (at least that's what my wife tells me) and don't handle nearly as well as an all-wheel wagon that has more actual ground clearance that any crossover (and most SUV's actually). It's a great balance of sedan handling and SUV bonuses (clearance, awd, storage). Just my opinion. hope that helps.
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Just got a honda Element. EX
the back seats fold up to the sides so you can easily put 2 bikes in it.
The inside is rubber so it's easy to keep clean
Gas mileage is about the same as my beetle.
BONUS: the element has an interior bike mount, so you can pop off the front tire and mount the bike inside the car and not have to worry about it falling all over the place.
I got 2 bike mounts - if you go that route get one and have them put it on the passengers side. they stagger the mounts and the one on the passengers side is further toward the front of the vehicle. The one on the drivers side is mounted closer to the rear and the handlebars on a road bike are too far forward to close the hatch. Good for a mountain bike though.
I love this car.
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We own a Honda Element SC. It has been perfect for triathlon training. The two rear seats can be completely removed for added cargo space. I removed one of them and the other folds flat against the side. I left one seat in just in case I have a third person in my car. Two bikes fit with no disassembly required and gear for two people with room to spare.
The front seats and ride are comfortable and roomy. If you are in a jam, you can remove the headrest from the front seat and lay it and the rear seat flat and have an instant bed. It isn't sluggish on acceleration though it is no Audi A4 but neither is the price tag.
We also looked at the Honda CR4. It is a nice vehicle but the rear seats did not fold flat.
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I find the Subaru seats quite comfortable. I got the heated seats which is a nice option especially after a hard workout. My interior has the not horrible looking fake wood. Basic finishing, but not bad.
You can get a more luxe interior, but that would make the lease more than $250 and I really don't see anything wrong with what I have. I think it has been updated in the last four years anyway.
I agree about the Element. A friend has one and it is very functional but..... Also, the floor is a little lower I think. I find the Subaru height good for sitting on the back bumper.

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Written by Max Miller

Category: Other

Published: 09 June 2008

Hits: 4253

Boise is a beautiful city, and one that completely embraced the Ironman 70.3 community. I was lucky to have friends living there who shopped for my organic groceries at local farms before I arrived (my race food plan is all home-made and requires a day of prep). Our farmer's markets here in L.A. are good, but I couldn't shove enough locally grown spinach in my mouth the whole trip - it just tasted like the Platonic ideal of spinach. Boise feels like Flagstaff, AZ in about 50 years with more diversified business. They're constitutionally forced to maintain a balanced budget so they don't service debt, and they get much of their power from the Lucky Peak Reservoir via hydroelectric. This means Boise itself feels clean, lush, and economically stable. The three days leading up to the race were spent really appreciating Boise and its resources, even though I was a complete stress monkey. This was my first half ironman distance and only my second triathlon ever (the LA Tri sprint distance last year was my first).

I set three alarms to wake at 4:30 am: wristwatch, hotel alarm, and hotel wake-up call. Even though I slept better before this race than any marathon preceding it, my eyes popped open at 4:20 am and in seconds I was brushing my teeth, waxing the mustache, brewing the coffee, and giddy to tackle the distance. This would be the only time in the day no one was passing me, so it was good that I enjoyed it. By 5:15 I was in the tri suit, had my plastic transition bags, and was out the door to catch the 5:30 am shuttle to Lucky Peak Reservoir.

People in line were gregarious and chatty. A wide mix of people from over 47 states, men and women of all shapes and sizes. Lots of discussion about which men had shaved their legs, how many Cervelo bikes we had seen in T1, and who was going to ride a beach cruiser with a flower basket on the front into T2. The couple sitting in front of me and the fellow next to me on the shuttle were exceptionally friendly and happy to share their personal stories of how they came to triathlon. My experience with triathletes is that because of the individual nature of the competition, and the sheer difficulty of the event, that people are very enthusiastic and friendly. We’re all out there on the same course, on the same day, against the same elements. Be nice! What other sport has the world’s elite doing the same tasks as the weekend warrior? Sure, the pros go first and have really nice toys. But they earned it, and any one on that starting line has the opportunity to blow the doors off the pros and earn a podium position. Not everyone can play in the NBA, or the Major League, or even ride the Tour de France. But I can throw down $200 and catch a sight of Desiree Ficker hauling serious ass on the very same course that’s about to destroy my own.

We arrived just past dawn at Lucky Peak, a snow melt reservoir about a 20 minute drive from downtown. The wind was blowing harder than the days prior. At the practice swim the day before the surface was smooth as glass, and now it was looking like a meringue. I overheard someone say, “welcome to Idaho” in response to the wind. Coming over the rise to the T1 setup was a big rush - it looked just like photos of all the other Ironman events; a monster game of chutes and ladders. I passed through the athlete checkpoint, got my body written on by exceptionally friendly volunteers (made difficult by having black tattoos everywhere) and made my way to my bike rack to begin setup.

I loaded my 4 bottles to the bike and strapped the fuel belt to the top tube. It wouldn’t sit straight on the top tube but I was running out of time to mess with it. Suddenly I had to pee, so I trotted over to the 5 porta-potties that already had a line of 20 people. The shuttle dropped off at 6, we had until 6:45 to get out of T1 and into our wave starts and time was running out. Mr. Announcer indicated I had 10 minutes to get into my wetsuit and get to the start line. Argh! (We were under strict orders from the day before not to whizz on the agribusiness, but they were seriously short of porta potties.) Remembering there was a park toilet outside the T1 area I jogged around and found it, with only two women waiting in front of me. Nothing like cold weather weenie shrinkage on race morning. Ran back to my slot and got into my wetsuit. With only a few minutes to spare I got my neck and shoulders body glided, the wetsuit on, a rack neighbor zipped me up, and I was able to grab my swim cap, goggles, and wax earplugs. Wife and Boise buddy made it to T1 and I waved to them as I made my way towards the swim start thinking for sure I was missing something.

There’s few things as silly looking as clutches of athletes in wetsuits milling around in their groupings. It’s March of the Penguins with Stadium Rock blasting over a PA system to get all the penguins pumped up and race ready. Unless AC/DC, Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, and other has-been jock rock bands aren’t your thing, in which case the swim start will be a sonic assault and the dive into the water a blissful release from musical agony. I’d love starting to Ride of the Valkyries or the 1812 Overture.

My wave was age group 30-34, the absolute prime for men in endurance sports (or ex-fat guys like me who are late bloomers). Most of these were guys who could eat me for an appetizer before eating a Buick for dinner. I was in fifth wave so I was able to watch the staging process and get comfy with how the race would start. A wet start, athletes entered the water from the boat dock and made their way to the first buoy to await the race gun. There was plenty of room to move around in the water and find swim space. The first gun went off and a few dozen pro men were on their way. Fast. Then smoothly and quickly, each wave went off and we moved down the chute. Within a few minutes I was entering the water myself for a 7:20 start, right on schedule. Yes, it was cold, but it didn’t seem so bad. To me, it felt about the same as the day before and it certainly wasn't the Pacific in April (thank you, Konrad, for that first bracing speed circuit). The wind was blowing some chop on the surface, but it seemed totally navigable. Better than having to dive through surf towards uneven ocean floor with possible stingrays or jellyfish face welcoming committees.

Floating in the water with 50 or so of my age groupers my heart rate was low, I felt great about my energy level, and I reminded myself that the day before my slow practice swim got me to the first orange buoy turn in just under seven and a half minutes. I had an hour forty to complete the swim before they closed the course. I could totally do this. Everyone seemed really happy, no thousand yard stares or mean mugging in the bunch. Even the big guys were bopping their heads to Eminem over the PA.

BANG! The gun sounded and we were off. I went right into my freestyle stroke and the first thought was “mmmm - CLEAN!” The reservoir was like swimming in a cool glass of water, a far cry from the heavily chlorinated pool or worse, the RSV-causing Pacific ocean where I have to check web sites to find out what sewage has been accidentally dumped into the water that week. I settled into my stroke and got into my groove. I saw some people having trouble, zig zagging, and avoided a few kicks to the face, but otherwise things seemed fine. I hit the first orange buoy (the short leg of the rectangle) at 7 min 24 seconds, my first clue that the pace you train is the pace you race. The second orange buoy was considerably further down the reservoir, but I focused on my stroke and didn’t veer too far left or right with wasted distance. Unlike my Wednesday ocean swim, these buoys didn’t drop out of sight for minutes at a time behind giant waves. They were easy to sight and stay on target. I hit the second orange buoy at 24 minutes in. I noticed I was no longer surrounded by my fellow red swim caps but was in a mix of grey, green, and a few red. I figured I was being swum over by the wave before me - it would turn out I had caught the 50 age groups in the waves ahead of me. I kept on going, a short leg to the next buoy which I turned at 38 minutes. The SWIM OUT sign was clear and easy to sight as I made my way back in to the end of stage. I checked my watch one last time as I was coming out of the water and to my absolute surprise I was out in 52 minutes! I still had almost an hour before the course closure. Sweet! I focused on getting the wax earplugs out of my ears, cap and goggles off, and began stripping the top of the suit off while jogging out of the swim area. I felt fantastic. As I rounded the corner someone directed me to what is now my absolute favorite thing on earth: wetsuit strippers. “Get down!” she yelled to me, so I dropped to my back and two women (there were easily 20 volunteers) grabbed the suit and yanked it off in one smooth pull. In less than 5 seconds I was out of the suit! I spent two minutes getting out of my suit last year and this made a huge difference in energy and frustration. I jumped back up and ducked into the porta potty, knowing this was my only chance before long miles on the road with a lot of admonitions not to pee on the agriculture. I have no idea what the cold does to women, but when a fellow’s junk is compressed by a tri suit, wetsuit, and it’s friggin’ cold, it can be like wrestling an Otter pop. That done, I trotted barefoot on pavement to my bike and began transition. Later I would find out they had to pull over 24 people out of the water because they were having trouble. I can only assume they were unprepared for the cold, maybe used to pool conditions for swim training. I'm a newbie, but I have been swimming in the ocean speed circuit weekly for almost three months. Training makes a difference!

I was under strict wife orders to apply sunscreen (triathletes are a leathery bunch), so I slathered on the LA Tri Club-approved Hawaiian Creations SPF 50 white paste as best I could (thus resulting in looking like a Bhuto dancer the rest of the race - be warned), grabbed a loose food baggie and tucked it under my right leg elastic, then did the same on my left leg with a tube of mustache wax. Yes. Mustache wax. For two days the comment I received the most was not about my many tattoos, it was “how are you gonna keep the ‘stache after the swim?” I had 56 miles to address that question. I threw down my towel, sat down and yanked on socks and bike shoes on my still wet feet. Turns out I still had an extra food baggie in the bag (I forgot to eat prior to the swim). I stuffed all the swim gear and wet towel into the bag, popped on the gloves (tearing one in the process - panic fire), helmet, and sunglasses, unracked The Butcher and started trotting. I bit and spit the extra food baggie, chugged a mouthful of yams and peanut butter and tossed it in the trash as I headed towards the T1 exit chute and BIKE MOUNT placards. As I crossed the mat I tapped the lap marker on the watch - under 8 minutes. Way better than LA. Not great, and a far cry from the pro’s 1 minute, but a Personal Best is still good time in my book.

The bike started with a quick and easy climb out of the reservoir and The Butcher’s gearing was unaffected by staying in the elements overnight (mandatory bike check-in was 12p-6p the day before in possible rain). Then a long, fast downhill away from the dam (yay gravity-fed power) passing a few people as I hit about 40 mph for a full minute. Two cars were on the road, which was not supposed to happen, but we rode to their left and just kept on rolling. The day before at the athlete briefing the USAT head ref made the drafting rules absolutely clear (and terrifying). A rider’s draft zone was 4 bike lengths behind their rear wheel. Any rider entering the front rider’s draft zone had 20 seconds to pass the front tire of the rider, at which point the person being passed had to drop back 4 bike lengths. Moreover, once you committed to passing a rider you must pass or be hit with a 4 minute penalty to be served on the course at a penalty tent. This was prime in my head every time I approached another rider, especially because if you were evil you could use that penalty as strategy to bury your opponents. If you wanted to sucker someone into passing, and then pour on the speed once they committed to the pass, you just had to stay ahead of them for 20 seconds in front of a ref and they’d get hit with the violation. Race officials were constantly visible and present on motorcycles. I didn’t actually see any of that strategy go on, but it was clear that a pro could use that to crush their enemies. I was able to pass a few people and then began a long ascent out of the valley towards the airport and the residential areas beyond.

Scott at Triathlete Zombies told me simply, the 70.3 is “all about energy conservation”. I kept this in mind every time I felt the urge to stand up in the pedals and bound my way up those gorgeous agricultural hills. I needed my legs for the run and didn’t want to blow out my energy stores early. I kept my pedaling cadence fast and steady and used a lot of shifting to lower gears to tackle the inclines. Normally I train with an iPod and listen to podcasts to keep my mind engaged. There is a strict prohibition against listening devices (which can also be used as audio pacing cues, also illegal) which means you’ve got to condition your mind to be quiet and strong for many hours. For me, this meant watching my bike computer and monitoring my average speed. I wanted to keep above 18 mph as much as possible, which for the first half was quite do-able. I was doing a lot of time calculations for food and water, making myself drink from the bottles every five minutes and eat a yam baggie every 45 minutes whether I wanted to or not. Even with all the hills I raced exactly my training pace, which means on uphills I went 8-11 mph, downhills at 25-45 mph depending on incline, and flats averaged 15-18 mph. Exactly my training pace. Proof that if you want to race faster, train harder.

The bike course was beautiful, the weather cool and moist with a light rain at the end of my ride. While the first half of the bike course went through residential and suburban tracks, including a nice uphill to the Birds of Prey Sanctuary (and then a roaring downhill out again), the course was stellar. A low of 2500 feet and a high of 3200, with some brief periods of intense climbing but nothing lasting more than a half mile. Most of the climbing was in the first half, and the second half long stretches of open road with cows criticizing cadence.

I got passed, a lot. I knew I’d get passed by stronger athletes, but I also got passed by some chunkers. I had to struggle to fight the demotivation being passed brings and I would find out later that many people had trouble on the swim and were making up time on the bike. Still, it was a good reminder that I need to pedal harder and lower my bike split time considerably. Later I would find out that a tri bike doesn’t reward the rider with aerodynamic speed gains until speeds over 23-25 mph. Therefore I need to get my speed up first, then I can reward myself with a tri bike. The Butcher and I have some serious saddle time in the very near future.

At mile 40 I hit my first race problem. I discovered my tri suit was really designed for Sprint and Olympic distance. My ‘taint was getting very, very sore. All my 50-60 mile rides had been done in the luxury of fine Italian bibs by Capo Forma. The thin chamois of the Orca suit was insufficient past the 40 mile mark and I started having some pain in the ass. For real. This meant I had to stand in the pedals to get blood flowing back to my pelvis, and this meant less spinning. It also meant that when I was spinning I was putting out much less wattage from discomfort and mental disconnect. I pushed through to the end and the long downhill into downtown Boise, but as I came into T2 I was pretty unhappy.

Thankfully my uncle Rich had reminded me to train train train my bike to run transition. He’s absolutely right. Switching from bike to run last year I was crab walking out of T2, but this time I had almost no groin pain having practiced the transition for the last month solid. I saw my wife and friends on the sidelines, blew them kisses as I duffed the bike gear, grabbed my hat, race belt loaded with 5 Gu packs (which I thankfully did not have to eat), bent down and applied a band-aid to my left heel (damn Sauconys are blistering my heel to death) and jammed on the shoes. I ran to the exit chute of T2 and grabbed yet another desperately needed whizz before starting the run. (Again, with the admonition of not peeing on the agriculture there wasn't enough porta potties in The Big Nothing to help out. Farmers are friendly until you pee on their great tasting spinach.) You can find your own metaphor for the condition of my junk after being compressed on a three and a half hour bike ride in spandex with low blood flow in the last hour. T2 time was just over five minutes for that reason. (I was admonished for all the discussion of bodily function in my race report. But I maintain that all of us have to do it and it has a direct impact on time and performance, so it's germane. Especially the woman who wrote about discovering why sliding her bento box to the back, affixed to the seat post and top tube, was a bad idea when she peed on her lunch.)

As I rounded the chute into downtown Boise the Ironman announcer called out my name, age, and city which gave me a hearty wake-up call that I was still doing this. I had made it to all three events, was well under the course closures, and my energy levels were still good. My photographer friend almost missed me coming in on the bike because I was beating my own projected times, and when he saw me he remarked that I looked pretty tired on that first loop, but internally I was very happy. I was beating my own estimates, I had made it to all three events, and all that was left was a run which if I was completely shot could walk. Turns out I didn’t have to!

The first loop was spent clocking mileage and telling myself, “it’s just 13 miles, you can do this. It’s a long run. You’ve run marathons and lots of halves. You know this distance. Just crank it out.” My first loop of the lovely downtown Greenbelt was done in just over an hour, with much of the course populated by cheering locals of all ages, families taking picnics, and even some LDS folks in neck to ankle gingham. Boise people were simply incredible hosts, volunteers, and spectators. Because our names were printed on our numbers we had our names shouted throughout the course, which was a huge boost. The Greenbelt is 25 miles of bike and pedestrian path that runs alongside the river and all the way out to the reservoir. It's one of the best features of Boise, with parks strung along the path like pearls. Boise is a gem of a city and well worth visiting. Bring the bike because it's awesome training ground.

As I came around for the second loop, a woman named Danelle asked if she could take my hip because I was doing her pace. I had trepidation because I didn’t know if I could hold that pace for lap 2, but agreed figuring she could dust me if she wanted. She was amazing. A single mom from Washington, she had done multiple Ironman distance and half Iron distances before, including a monster 20 hour run of the Grand Canyon. We had loads to talk about (she's learning physical therapy, had started coaching in her spare time) and we just clicked. In no time I stopped looking at miles and the time disappeared. It was a great throwback to the long runs I did with a friend where we’d crank out ten to eighteen miles and keep each other entertained and motivated. We started running with some other friends, and that social aspect made it even more fun. A lot of the training guides I’ve read say that you want to run at a fast pace while still able to talk, which means limiting your heart rate spikes. Running the second loop with Danelle was amazing, and it was wonderful to find a new friend so quickly. In 1982 when she was a kid she and her dad watched Julie Moss drag herself across the Ironman finish line. She asked her triathlete dad if girls could really do that, and he said girls could do whatever they wanted. She has maintained a lifelong passion for sport, and her own nine year old just did his first triathlon. Triathletes are incredible people.

Danelle’s hip was bothering her and she asked if I would mind walking a minute interval. Honestly, just her asking was great because it gave me permission to take a small break. I probably would have run myself into the ground, but I was glad to take a little respite which marathon experience told me wouldn’t dramatically hurt my overall time (and could prevent injury since my right meniscus was hurting). Coming to the end of the course I asked if she felt good enough to sprint the end. She likes to take her time and bask in the glory of the crowd, which sounded good, but I also felt recharged and thought I could do something big. As we came up to the two block stretch leading to the finish she said “go for it”. I floored it.

The Boise folks had crammed the downtown areas and cheered through the light rain that started at noon. They were still there at the finish line, extending two full city blocks down with signs, clappers, and raw enthusiasm. I’m not a sprinter by any means. But the legs were willing, the tank had the gas, and the will surged inside me like a colossal swell from the Pacific. I saw a dude in front of me wearing a silly hat and I thought, “I can take him” and blew by just as I started entering the cheering lines of the finish. The crowds noticed what I was doing and they suddenly increased their volume and enthusiasm. So I went faster. I blew past a second runner and hit the home stretch of the chute in a full-on locomotive sprint with huge strides and heart rate pounding. People were screaming, really going nuts, and I took it all in and used it for fuel. I saw the mat like a clear runaway and launched myself into the air. I took a huge leap across the finish line, throwing my fist in the air in a gigantic victory strike.

Of course, building up that much speed and then launching yourself into the air is one of the less friendly things you can do to volunteers and photographers camped at the finish line. While hanging in the air for several minutes I had time to think of the folly of my Jesse Owens move. “Where am I going to land?” I thought to myself. “That person looks nice. I hope they won’t mind.” Thankfully, two volunteers caught me and helped me land safely, ensuring I stayed in a locked and upright position and all rubber hit the road. My wife and friends were there, clapping, crying, cheering, waving signs and holding balloons. I shrugged off the aluminum foil that turns every athlete into a TV dinner and was handed a finisher’s hat and medal. Still in an ecstatic haze I was gently maneuvered into a photo op position, photographed, and returned to my loved ones like a tagged animal. Danelle came in to the finish line and we hugged one another in joy and gratitude. I’ll say it again - tri people are the nicest people on earth. It turns out that sprint was good for my time. I finished four seconds under 7 hrs.

Crossing that finish line forged a single thought in my new athlete’s mind: this is my perfect distance in my favorite sport. 70.3 is long enough to be a challenge, hard enough depending on the course specifics, and right for my body. I know that a full Ironman is in my future, but for now I will be quite content racing at half that atomic weight. Because now,

I AM AN ALUMINUM MAN.