Triathlon: Miles & Miscues

58 cm P3-SL Bike For Sale

2007-10-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Description: Highlights* Frame choice of Team CSC, Bjorn Andersson, and Lisa Bentley.

* Curved and recessed seat tube.

*58 cm 700c*

Adjustable geometry with 74-79 degree seattube angle range.

* Rear wheel set screws for setting optimal tight tire clearance.

* UCI legal.*

Upgrades from P3

* Lighter frame*

DuraAce components*

Light and durable anodized finish

Components* Fork - Chord
Saddle Selle San Marco Triathlgel

* Seatpost - Cervélo Aero Carbon

* Shift Levers - Shimano Dura-Ace Bar-ends

* Front Derailleur - Shimano Dura-Ace 10-Speed

* Rear Derailleur - Shimano Dura-Ace 10-Speed

* Cassette - Shimano Dura-Ace 10-Speed

* Chain - Shimano Dura-Ace 10-Speed

* Brake Calipers - Dura-Ace

* Brake Levers - Dia Compe 188

* Crankset - FSA Carbon Pro Team

* Bottom Bracket - FSA Platinum

* Headset - Cane Creek IS-2 1"

* Stem - Visiontech Sizemore

* Handlebars - Visiontech basebar and Profile Design T-2 (I also have Vision regular bend aerobars)

* Wheels - Easton (not velomax) Vista * Tires - Coninental

I am asking $2575 in US or Canadian dollars.

Ican deliver almost anywhere within 7hrs of Ottawa myself otherwise shipping is extra.

email slowtriathlete@gmail.com for more info.

Moving To A Blog - slow-triathlete.blogspot.com

2007-08-09T16:30:00.001-07:00

I have started a new blog here:

slow-triathlete.blogspot.com

The Bad News Is Finally Here

2007-05-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

Well after almost a year of misdiagnosis and pain the answer, it appears, is here.

According to MRI I have a compression in the L5, stenosis in the same area and the compression is abutting the S1 nerve root bilaterally giving me the pain in both legs.

Apparently it looks like surgery or at best epidural type shots, so my tri training is on hold.

Thanks all for support.

I Am Soooooooooo Lazy!!!

2007-03-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't done a post in some time, sorry bout that if anyone cares.

I am now in Kingston, Ontario and have been here for about a month and it was cold.....very very cold.

I have gotten so lazy since I have no car, no trainer and the pool hours are terrible.

I have tried to go running on the indoor track but it's just not the same. It is only 200m and it is tough to get motivated.

I hope that I can get myself going now that it is no longer -30c and such.

The plan is to maybe do a duathlon on May 5th in Ottawa but I shall see where I am at, as I am still having my strange pains.

Good training, to those that are.

Brian

New News.....Now Part of Team Javelin

2007-02-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

Well I filled out some applications and apparently Team Javelin say I am a go.

So I will get a little support from them and a free uni.

I plan to represent them the best I can while still riding my Cervelo...

If training is the hardest thing I have to deal with, I'm having a great day

2007-02-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

Whaz Up?!?

2007-02-15T22:09:00.000-08:00

So what have I been up to?

I did a 10k race a week after the 8k I did, felt more pain during the 10k, most likely cause of a rolling course.

My training is not where I want to be, thats for certain. I have lost a bit of pounds but I am feeling like crap. I eat right (most times) and try to do my training at a low level, but still pain comes.

The doctors have finally called to get me an appointment with a sports medicine specialist, although it is 2 days before I go to Ontario so my follow up will be far far away.

I have been getting good reviews on the pieces I have written for Triathlon Magazine Canada and I am set to write a few more in upcoming issues (if anyone knows of any writing gigs let me know).

I will be taking my Soloist with me to Ontario to do some rides on a non-rolling course for once. I am hoping to come into shape a bit more over the next few months.

I have been fit by bike shops, myself and a pro fitter on my tri bike. Now I will be getting a F.I.S.T. fitting tomorrow and hopefully it will get me into a much better position and offset my large body a bit and help me keep up with the 5'9" folks.

Anyhow I will keep you all up to date.

8K Of Pain

2007-01-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

So once again even though I am being diagnosed for some sort of nerve issue, I decided it would be a good idea to 'race', and please notice the quotes...picture air quotes as I say 'race'.

I did a local 8K rolling course and finished in the middle of the pack, well back to middle.

I finished in 40:37 which ain't too bad for very little running over the last 7 months.

Well thats my update...good training.

B

More Of The Same

2007-01-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

Well after getting myself back up to relatively high training (comparitively), I am once again in constant pain.

I was going to the base physiotherapist to attempt to never allow the same pain issues (see previous posts starting in June) to re-occur. At my first meeting he said the cause of my problems was weak gluteus medius muscles; the second visit he changes it to weak adductors; on the third visit he decided that maybe it was weak back muscles and he proceeded to make me bend completely over and then back up to am arch and repeat quickly. After I was done the first 'set' of these I felt severe burn throughout both legs,I told the PT this and he had me do more and different aarching/bending exercises where the burn and overall became worse. At this point he said that he one job and that was to make a change in my condition and laughing he said that he did just that....jackass. From here he sent me down the hall to make an appointment with a regular MD for furthing and said that he has done all he can for me.

I asked for advice from many folks and went into my appt and asked for a barrage of tests the first was a lumbo-sacral xray and we will move into an MRI of both legs and the lumbo-sacral region when possible. If nothing is picked up on these we will move into a sympathetic block and/or a nerve volocity termination test (something like that) with lots of needles.

I plan to continue with training but not quite as hard as hoped. I may have to move away from a May 1/2 Iron goal and instead change it into a sprint or olympic to keep volume down but intensity up.

Well thats it for now.

Resolutions

2007-01-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

This year I am vowing that I will lose more weight. I would like to get down to about 190, I think it will be easier to drag my butt up hills.

I am going to log weekly training on this site so I follow through more to reach my Ironman distance completion by years end.

Most importantly I will be better. Generally. In work, in family, in pursuits, in life.

Back later this week

Doing Well. No Big Pains

2006-12-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

So we're into the second week of December adn I feel no huge pain as of yet.

I am up to about 9 hours/week now while still keeping individual workouts to minimal time.

I leave for a course in Ontario in February and return around mid-May. Life Sport just announced a half iron race in my current neck of the woods on May 27 of next year at Shawnigan Lake. I am now leaning towards doing this race as an early season goal. I think I should be able to knock at least 23 minutes off my last time bringing me under 6 hours.

Being in Ontario there not be too many hills form what I can tell and the snow issue will have me doing a lot of trainer time. I am hoping to be ready for the race though it would be nice to leave the area with one last race before moving on to whatever base the CF puts me at.

Good training.

B

Back Up 'N Running

2006-11-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

Well well well. I am now back up to about 40km/week running and 10km/week swimming, cycling has been mostly on the trainer because of weather and busy at work.

I am planning an 8k run next week, a 5k near xmas and the Kingston Half Marathon at the beginning of May since I will be there on a course.

Well go go go thats what it is about.

Ah Life Is Good !!

2006-11-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

So it's Saturday, Remembrance Day, and I was able to couple my obligation and want of attending ceremonies and a good bike ride.

My legs are doing very well and I have almost no pain, now it's just a question of getting the engine up and running properly. My runs are still only about 5k in duration and my bike rides have been about 45 min but I am putting in about 8 hours this week, although that includes 3 quick weight workouts at about 35 min each just trying to get my body used to lifting again.

Christmas is coming and that means toys....not for the kids, but for me. Bike stuff, new shoes and anything else that has a good enought ad that my wonderful wife will buy me.

I have decided that my goal race next seasonis going to be The Canadian Iron distance race in Ottawa, Ontario. The chances are pretty good that I will end living at the beginning of the summer and that is the main reason behind that decision. If, for some reason, I get posted to somewhere close by (Alberta or BC) I will enter the Grand Columbian instead.

Well good luck on your training and I assume I have been wished well also.

Slow Ass Training

2006-10-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Well I may be back in the saddle but I am still getting 'saddle sores'.

I have been running for a few weeks now with some smal pains in the legs, nothing bad but it is noticable. I am doing 22 min runs on the treadmill at about a 10min/mile pace jsut to get back into it albeit slowly. I started off doing 20min runs at the same pace and I am moving up the regular runs by about 2-4 mins/week until I get to where I need to be.

I am goingto start one 'long' run per week starting this week also. I will do a soft pack flat trail run once a week at about the same pace but for 40 min or so. If I feel any pains I plan to stop.

I am also back on the bike and doing 45min on it outdoors just a steady pace not hard, no hills of any consequence.

In the pool everything seems ok and I am doing easy workouts of 300 w/u - 8x25 kick - 4x100 free w/ 5 sec rest - 8x25 drill - 300 cd.

Oh well I will keep anyone interested updated with what goes on.

I'm Back In The Saddle Again.....Maybe

2006-10-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

Well I did a very slow 5k last weekend with my wife at the run for the cure.

It took me just under 6min/km so I am not where I once was. I didn't push it either though so worries at this point.

I wore 2 knee braces just to make certain that nothing goes wrong. I felt a touch of discomfort in my calves so nothing to worry about there either.

I plan on starting true base training next week on thanksgiving (Canadian).

Til Then.

My Wife: The New Distance Champ

2006-09-16T23:09:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that, today, my wife, for the 2nd staight year completed the The Great Lake Walk, a 56km walk/run held in Lake Cowichan BC.

My wonderful wife was able to complete the tough course over fire roads through the valley in 9:45 and some change. This time was a whopping 1.5 hours better than her time last season.

Way to go Honey!!

B

First Run With (cross your fingers) Fixed Legs

2006-09-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Well the first very short (15min) run is out of the way with no pain in the previous injuries.

I ran on a mostly flat trail at a 5:37/km pace about where I was during my base last year.

I felt pretty breathless though and it will take a little bit to get my fitness back, but I shall persevere. My stride was all over as I was trying to correct biomechanic flaws in my gait as I ran.

All in all successful. I am now going to run at about the same pace and for the same 15 min over the next 7 days as 3 run - 1 off - 3 run. I will do this and increase by 2-3 minutes each set until I feel my base is back, early next year should be it.

On top of this I will begin adaptation strength training 3 times a week and of course throw in 2 swims/wk and 3 bikes/wk. Length/duration will be dependet on feel.

Til next time.

And no those are not the electrolytes I take, they're for horses....hmmm...maybe.

B

Not Painful...24 hrs later....Thats Painful!!

2006-09-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

So having the shots done wasn't at all painful. The doc threw some frezzing in first and plugged in the shots, no biggie.

The next day my right leg, the less painful one, was in serious pain. After some research I discoverd that sometimes the corticosteriod crystalizes and makes the pain pretty bad for 24-48 hours...and this was correct.

It is now 5 days after the shots and I am not in too much pain at all. Definitely less than prior to the shots. I plan on running this weekend hopefully it doesn't go too badly.

On another note my wife is doing the Great lake Walk on Saturday in lake Cowichan, BC. Its a 56km walk around the lake on logging roads and less travelled paved roads. So wish her luck.

Update later on.

I just like the pic.

B

It's A Battle Now!!

2006-09-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to go all out with this injury and I am having cortisone injections in both legs tomorrow.

If this doesn't help nothing will.

Will tell you how painful it is tomorrow.

B

Pain Pain Go Away...don't come again you little bastard or I'll...

2006-09-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

Well after a week or two of ART pain is still here. Not as bad in the right knee, but still very evident in the left. ART hurts. It is such a deep tissue 'massage' that it hurts a lot. See the picture.

I have an appointment with the base doctors on Thursday at which time I hope to push them into getting me an MRI to finally diagnose this thing for certain. I want it gone!

I have it in my head that I may be able to qualify for IMC by going to a race in Ontario that has done a complete roll down on spots for many years. And a complete roll down means even the suck-worthy, such as I, may have a shot.

Well until the doctor appt, this is Brian saying, 'Kids eat your vitamins, say your prayers and dammt don't bother your mother while she's reading cause then I have to put up with that crap and who wants that?! Not me. You want it?!? Don't get smart with me. Go to your room'

Ah life is grand.

Oh yeah and I got a new training bike.

Still Sucks...Now To Find The Root

2006-08-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Boy are my legs shot....

Well I went to another specialist today and they have told me that not only am I suffering from ITBS, as suspected, I am also having issues with my bicep femoris. So now that I am going to see an ART doctor and I am continuing to ice etc. is there anything anyone out there can add to help me speed recovery.

I have already lost a good portion of fitness due to the ailments. I go for video gait analysis tomorrow and will have a more thorough exam where he can figure out what is weak or if it is bio or what. He will also massage out some of the symptons while attempting to find the root cause.

Hope no one else suffers the double.

B

This Stinks..Really Really Stinks

2006-08-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

So I began my slow-ass training today and found myself once again with ITB pain. It is not severe but enough to notice.

I am doing the foam roller, itb/hip exercises, itb stretches and yet nothing seems to work. This sucks. If it is not over and done with soon. I am going to request the surgical repair method.

Anyhow wish me luck for the rest of the week.

B

Almost Back to Training...I Think

2006-08-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

Well I have not posted for some time as I was on vacation for some time in Ontario and I have been doing notta.

I think I have gained about 10 lbs in the past few weeks and have gotten somewhat lazy.

I have set a goal of Monday August 21 to begin prep/base training for next season. A season that I hope will contain 2 half irons, a few sprints (2-3) and 1 olympic.

I am not certain of what races I will be doing as I have no idea where I may be posted (new trade, new course, new posting). If in Ontario I will try to do one of the 70.3 races in the NE States (steelhead, timberman). I am also thinking of muncie, peterborough, parry sound for the half distances. If I am out here I will do NB 1/2 again and maybe the prestige, desert etc. For olympic if in Ontario I will do one down in Sarnia, blue water I think?, as it has really fast times and I could maybe qualify for military worlds. It could happen.

Well thats it for now.

B

So Like A Dumb Ass.....

2006-07-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

I did the Cowichan even though I had the injury.

I ended up walking a good portion of the 5k course because my ITB hurt so bad.

I have now cancelled any plans I had for tris while on vacation in Ontario. I am hoping this thing gets healed by the time I get back so I can do the Cadboro Bay tri. I plan on signing up while on vacation if I can run without pain. Crossing my fingers.

With my new job with the CF it is unknown as to when I will be taking career courses and as such it is putting a real wrench in the works for me doing an IM next season. If I am on course Oct-MAr it will work but if I end up on Mar -Jun then I am hooped.

I think I may change my plans to doing instead, 2 HIM, 2 OLYM and a few sprints and just bettering my performance. Hopefully wherever I go has a good tri scene...nothing like Victoria I know but I can hope.

I also ended up in the Cowichan Newspaper on the sports front page as 'another rider'. Apparently they were not clever enough to check my number. Its a good shot and you can I am hunched over from the pain, yet still beating someone.

NE how all the best I go on vacation shortly....to all of the thieves out there, my bike is elsewhere and someone is watching the house (raspberry)

C YA

I AM SO INJURED

2006-07-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

Well after the 1/2 I decided to take 3 days with no exercise whatsoever and felt great.

Even after that I eased into it, 5k the first day, 8k the second, back down to 5k, a 1500m OW swim, and a 30k TT.

Well after the first 5k I felt sore in the front and side of my hip and my knee. It has gotten progressively worse every day.Even with no training over a 5 day period it still did not get better.

Even though I am injured I am goingto do the Cowichan Challenge since I paid for it and all. If that goes not too bad, I will do the tri for compassion and then take 3 weeks off while on vacation. I was planning on doing 2 races wile I was there but I think the rest will do me good.

Anyhow I will report next most likely after the CC.

B

I FINISHED !!

2006-06-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Well I did it and felt pretty good at the end of it.

I finished better than I thought. I thought I would be at the 7 hr mark but I was able to finish at 6h22m12s.

The swim was fine and straight forward but I had some trouble with sighting, at least thats where I think I went wrong. I kept turning towards the inside making it a longer swim than I needed. The first 2K down.

T1 was fine and I was nice and calm, I even chatted with my wife and kids for a few moments before heading out.

The bike was awsome. It was awsome because I got to race alongside the pros for the first time. Pros have been races I was at but were always seeded much later. I got to see the male pros (most at least twice) on the bike. Lori Bowden passed me on the bike shortly after I started it and I had 10 min on her. I guess thats why they're the pros and I just Tri. I stopped at the aid station for a portapotty visit twice. The volunteers remarked how calm I was and were asking how I could be so calm, to which I replied "I'm just not a competitive guy."

Volunteers rock.

Triathlon is the only sport where even those there to make some money encourage you as they pass. Cheering you on. Genuinely happy that you are doing their sport.

T2 was another calm time. Everything bike off (or so I thought) socks and shoes on. I don't normally wear socks on the run but I didn't want to take the chance of a DNF because of blisters. As I started out of T2 my wife yelled to take my helmet off. With a giggle and a shuffle back it went and off I went.

The run was good until the 4k mark where cramped so bad in both legs I couldn't even walk. I tried to stretch and walk but nothing was going. After about 10 min or so I was able to begin skipping, yes skippping. This took the cramps away quite nicely and I continued where I came across a nice woman named Natalie. We struck up a winded conversation and paced one another until the end. It was easier to run with someone.

We walked the aid stations and I believe this also helped. The tiny bit of rest seemed to invigorate at every station.

Rounding the last bend for the finish everyone is shouting your name (its on the race number) and cheering you on. It's an awsome feeling. Coming over the line I spotted my wife and smiled and pressed through.

Even though I was in serious pain afterwards all I want to do now is another and then an even longer, full Ironman race next.

One last thought. Triathlon is a better builder of sportsmanship, perseverence and humility than any team sport I have ever been a part of. Thanks.

Test Drive !

2006-06-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

I got my new race wheels and they helped a bit either mentally or physically....who knows.

Only 3 days to go. My knee is having some pain but I shall persevere.

Gotta stop eating chips the last couple of days.

Zen And The Art of Freaking Out

2006-06-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

SO here we are 6 short days away from my first 1/2 iron attempt with a goal of only finishing within the alotted time. Ideally I want to finish in the 6-61/2 hour area.

I haven't been training a lot in the last 3 weeks or so, so I should be well rested and ready to go.....slowly.

This week I will do an easy 5k twice and a 1.5k open water swim and a 30k ride to try out my wheels....(hed 3's)

Well my next report should be after I finish....hopefully.

My Wife Gets Physical...Not How I Want

2006-06-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

I have to add this one my wife, Dawn, just completed her first running race and she did just fine.

She was afraid but held her own against a superb field. The time shown on the clock was not correct she was actual at 31 minutes.

Although today she is bitchin and moanin about being sore.

Thats just Cadence being Cadence.

Better A Clydesdale Than a Prostidude

2006-06-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

Well the weekend race has come and gone and once again I showed huge improvements over last year's event.

This time at the Panorama Classic Triathlon. The event was held on the same course but this time an added element was....the elements. It was raining and cool the entire time. On the first leg of the bike it was hitting like little spears into the face. I was lucky to have amber lenses in my Rudy's so at least no 'spears' hit the balls. Eyeballs that is.

There were several wipeouts on the bike mostly roadrash albeit some of it quite deep.

I once again entered as a clydesdale (an over 200 lb triathlete - me being 204 or so at the moment). It's a lot more fair for a guy my size going against these guys that are 5'7" and 140 lbs.

Well once again for the second race in a row I posted dramatic improvements.

2005 - 8:09 / 1:16:15/ 46:35 / 2:10:59
2006 - 8:23 / 1:07:35/ 37:48/ 1:53:46

Thats a big bump of 17'13"

I am ok with the swim going down since I have been concentrating on the other 2 disciplines.

Anyhow in short I'm happy. My bike is happy. My feet aren't pissed but they're not talking to me either.

Until next time......1/2 Ironman 2 weeks(I may post between)

Am I Lazy or Overtrained

2006-06-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

I am still finding it pretty tough to get out there and do what I need to.

Tired a lot. I am thinking the shift work is pretty bad for my morale. It's almost as if I am go go go all of the time.

Oh well such is life.

This week I have exercised regualry with a 30km TT, a super fast lake swim (1500m in under 20 min) and a bunch of shorter, fast runs.

I have the panorama classic triathlon this weekend and I am hoping that my time will be about 10 min less than last years terrble 2:10:59 for the .5/30/8 course. It is a hilly bike and a challenging run but I should get there, at least thats my hope.

I was hoping to get up some pics of last weeks finish but my wife wasn't expecting me so soon and the camera was but she got a couple of action shots.

Until Monday....oh yeah and my loving wife is doing a gutbuster series trail run up mt doug on saturday so wish her luck.

Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

2006-05-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

"Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster. - Oscar Goldman

Well I am not Steve, hell I'm not even Lee Majors, I am better, stronger, faster.

I revisited the site of my first tri, the Comox Valley Islander Tri-K. I only did this last year, seems so long ago. I did my race or once again completed the race and got the tri bug.

After a year of sporadic training including about 5 months of real training (for that half iron race June 18), I am better.

My race last year was 1:27:25 for a 750/20/5 and this year I was a whopping just under 9 minutes better at 1:18:11. 9 minutes seems so small but feels so good.

On another note my wife looks much better than Lindsay Wagner does now.

Lance Armstrong Wrong !!

2006-05-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

Well I keep meaning to train hard but I am dead tired all of the time.

I think I may have overtrained in the months preceding this blog.

I went for a quick 30km ride on my new steed the, P3 SL. (Incidently anyone wanting a new bike the pictured one is for sale) I beat my previous speed by about 3 km/hr. Lance was wrong, it is about the bike!

Yesterday I also went for a slow 10k run along the goose. Took me 54 min. If that ain't slow I don't know what is....Although for me it's the norm.

You see I am the norm. I work a FT job with crazy shift work hours and it's tough to train. I am a mortal married man with children. So when I am not working...I am working. No excuses just making I certain I believe that I the reason I am not making huge strides to gain elite times, It is because if time and not effort.

I am better than a few months ago though.....much better and thinner and stronger.

Racing .....ummm....participating in the Comox Tri-K this weekend. This was my first tri ever last year so I am just hoping to beat my time.

Til Then........

Holy Bonkin' Batman !!

2006-05-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

Well I set out for a 20k run on Saturday afternoon and made it to about 12.5k and I was dead.

I had come off the 12hr night and had 5 hrs of sleep got dressed and went to Elk Lake for a run. Nice steady (slow for some) pace. At about the 8k mark I was pretty much feeling pain all down my left side from my ass cheek down to the knee.

I thought the pain was fine. I can run through it. Then I hit the proverbial wall. My first ever bonk. I guess the go go go life I lead finally caught up to me.

I currently have a sinus infection, a big cough and I am just knackered.

I planned on taking a day off of training and now that has moved into 2 days.

Tomorrow I try again. Tuesdays' WO will be a swim and a bike or run, depending on weather.

Good day.

My First Post & My Day is Long

2006-05-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well my postings have now officially begun although I have nothing really to say, strange as that is.

I did some decent training yesterday.

45 Minute Open Water Swim at Thetis Lake
36 Minute Treadmill Interval workout as 10km/hr x 10min WU; 5x400m(as 200x14km/h, 200x15km/h); 10km/hr x 10 min CD, followed by some easy stretching.

I had planned to wake up after my night shift at 1200, which was successful. What wasn't, however, was getting off my butt to do any actual training. I felt extremely sluggish. Legs sore. Back sore.

Just a big baby.

I am going to try to do a decent 45 min on the treadmill tonight at work.

Well thats number 1.