Posts Tagged ‘K-Swiss’

New Bike Sponsor

I am very excited to announce my new partnership with Parlee Cycles! I made the trip down to Peabody, Ma a few weeks ago to visit the Parlee crew and saw firsthand the fine craftsmanship that goes into Parlee bikes. I’ve been training on the TT bike for a week now and have been very impressed. It is incredibly comfortable, which as we all know is essential for not just a strong bike split, but also a strong marathon! I am proud to partner with a company who is just as passionate about cycling and triathlon as I am. Check it out:

I am fortunate to be working with many of the same companies in 2010; K-Swiss, Zipp, Sram, PowerBar, Fuel Belt, Blue Seventy, Vasa and my awesome local bike shop, The Ski Rack in Burlington VT. I am so gratetful to have such an amazing support crew and look forward to a great year!!

Awesome K-Swiss Ad!

http://www.kswiss.com/andcounting/#/video/

Ironman Louisville Race Report

I was excited to race Ironman Louisville and excited to test my fitness out in Kona like conditions. Race temps over the past few years have been in the high 80s to low 90s, so I thought it would be a great preparation for Kona. As race week rolled in, so did a cold front and we were greeted with much cooler than normal race temps. It wasn’t exactly Kona like conditions, but it did make for a fast day.

My training has been going well and I was excited to race and see what the day would bring. The swim was a struggle as usual. Somewhere along the half way point, my arch started to cramp. I was really wishing we were wearing wetsuits at the point! Fortunately, it worked its way out and I didn’t even think about for the rest of the race. I entered T1 with a lot of catching up to do.

I started the bike with a huge deficit, but I did my best to keep my anger and emotions in check and focus on the next task at hand; a solid bike split. My plan was to bike more conservatively than I typically do with the hopes of nailing my nutrition and running a fast marathon. I was really impressed with the bike course. Within a few miles, we were out in the Kentucky countryside surrounded by green rolling hills and horse farms. I felt great on the bike from the start. My P3 paired with an 808 front and 1080 rear was the perfect set up for this course. The longer I biked, the better I felt. My stomach and legs both felt great. I knew I would have a good run. I entered T2 in 4^th place, only 6 minutes down on 3^rd .

The run course was flat and with a predicted high of 76 degrees, I knew it was going to be a fast day for everyone. I opted to run in my new K-Swiss racing flats. They are incredibly light and perfect for the flat fast course. My plan was to go out a little harder than I usually do. I wanted to just run by feel and if I felt good, I would go with it. My opening miles were 6:30s and I felt great so I just tried to run sub 7s for as long as I could. Around mile 7, I moved into 3^rd place. I was gaining on the top 2 women, but the time lost in the swim was insurmountable. I ran from mile 7 to the finish in no man’s land. I knew I was close to a run PR and the course record, so did my best to time trial it to the finish. I crossed the finish line in 3^rd place and accomplished all of my goals for the day, a top 3 finish, a Kona slot, a new run PR and a run course record!

My trip out to Louisville will be a memorable one. We had the BEST homestay host and made some new wonderful friends. My legs are recovering well and I am looking forward to my Kona preparation. Once my legs are ready, I will head out to Tucson for a heat training camp then off to Kona for the Ironman World Championships. I am fortunate to have the support of K-Swiss, Powerbar, Cervelo, Zipp, Trakkers, Blue Seventy, Fuel Belt, Katalyst Multisport, Ski Rack, Rocket 7 and Vasa, Thank you all for taking such good care of me and I look forward to seeing you on the Big Island!

A Record Breaking Day!

A friend of mine once told me racing Ironman is somewhat of a crap shoot. You train hard, you’re fit, mentally strong, you roll the dice, and sometimes get cat eyes. I definitely rolled cat eyes at Ironman China this past weekend. It was a day of records; record temps exceeding 113 degrees, 90% humidity, record drop out rates, and unfortunately a new record PW (personal worst) for me in the run!

The swim was in a river with a very strong current. My first lap went ok. It was a little brutal at the start due to the fact that we were in skinsuits and all the age groupers swimming all over us had full wetsuits on. However, once things thinned out, I was happy to have some company. My first lap went ok and I had a few age groupers to help sight off of. I was on pace for an hour, which is pretty good for me considering the strong current. On the way back to shore on loop 2, I took the turn way to wide and got swept off course by the current. I fought hard to get back on course but lost several minutes and once again exited the water with alot of work to do! My plan was to ride a little harder the first 30 miles to close the gap, then settle in. I am so happy to be riding a P3 again this year. The bike is really really fast and my position on it feels so powerful and efficient. Once I moved up to 4th place and was within striking distance to the top 3 girls, I toned it down and cruised into T2, trying to save my legs and energy for what I knew would be a war of attrition rather than a marathon running race. My muscles felt good coming off the bike, but once I hit the run course, it was as if I stepped into a sauna. The heat and humidity were oppressive and within a few minutes, I felt like my head was about to explode. My pace slowed to a shuffle, then a walk, then a nice little break at one of the aid stations where I contemplated quiting. I didn’t know how I was going to make it another 13 miles. I sat there drinking water and gatorade. I was cooked. I was done. My race was over. Then, I thought about last years Hawaii Ironman. When my hamstring cramped so badly, I quit and took the medical van to the finish line. The medical van is a horrible horrible place to be. They don’t just pick you up and take you straight to the medical tent. They sweep the course, picking up the carnage one by one. I sat there watching the race from a van window. The race that I trained so hard for. I watched the other athletes push there limits, walking shuffling along with indomitable will and focus. I didn’t come to China to watch the race from a van window. I couldn’t finish the Hawaii Ironman without risking a muscle tear, but I could finish Ironman China. So, I got up and continued my shuffle to the finish line. I crossed the finish line in 5thplace, completely exhausted, but with a little pride and self satisfaction in knowing that I just finished the hardest hottest Ironman in the world, EVER! Unless you were there, there is no way you can understand how hot it was. Let me tell you, I have raced well in 90 degree temps, 113 is a whole new world!

I owe a huge thank you to my K Swiss family who were the presenting sponsors of Ironman China and showed incredible support before during and after the race. I am still recovering from a nasty stomach bug I got my last day in China. I honestly don’t know what was harder the race or the flight home! With the exception of my stomach, my legs feel really good and I am eager to get back into some hard core training real soon. My original plan was to get a Kona slot early in the year and focus on 70.3’s throughout the summer and hit Kona training with fresher legs than in previous years. Sinced I failed to get my slot, I now have to re evaluate my race plans. There are many to choose from and some of my favorites on the circuit; IMCDA, IMLP and IM Canada. Kelly is still training hard core and very very fit for a great Ironman. There is still a possibility we will race an Ironman together this year. She was ready for IM China, but due to financial reasons decided to hold out and do some early season racing in the states. It has been a goal of ours for a few years to race an Ironman together. After training with her over the past few months, part of me would rather be out there on the sidelines supporting her like she has done for me over the years. We’re both getting antsy, so I know we have to make a decision soon. Well, I have plenty of time to think about things this week, because with this stomach bug, it doesnt look like I’ll be leaving the house anytime soon! I will keep you posted.

Ironman Lake Placid Race Report

Ironman Lake Placid Race Report

After a 3 year hiatus, I was so excited to race the Ford Ironman Lake Placid. I finished second in 2005, had to skip it in 2006 because there was not a pro women’s race and had to pull out 4 weeks before the race in 2007 due to a shoulder separation. Ironman Lake Placid is one of my favorite races. The course is nestled in the Adirondack Mountains; it’s beautiful yet extremely challenging. I trained on the course over a dozen times in the past 3 years and I was just so excited to be healthy and finally able to race one of my favorite events.

My swim training was inadequate going into the race due to chronic shoulder injuries resulting from my shoulder separation last year. I exited the water with quite a deficit. Fortunately, my bike and run training have been going really. I hoped on my Cervelo and felt great. I’ve had so many good training sessions on the bike course throughout the summer, and I knew I would work my way towards the front of the field. Then it happened, I hit the first long 9 mile descent heading out of town and started shivering incessantly. The torrential downpours were relentless and combined with the low temperature and winds, made for quite the bike ride! For the next 5 hours it was a battle to bike hard enough to stay warm but not so hard that I had to walk the marathon. By the middle of the first loop I moved up to second place and started closing the gap on Hillary Biscay. I knew that I had to continue to eat and drink, but I was so cold I was having a hard time getting anything into my body. I entered T2 in second place and managed to close the gap down to 7 minutes and post the fastest bike split of the day. I put on my new K Swiss racing shoes (which by the way are the most comfortable shoes I have ever raced in!), grabbed my fuel belt flask and slowly tried to replace some fluids. Even though I am from Vermont, my body does not do well in the cold, at all! My legs felt empty and I was hungry for most of the run. The cold reeked havoc on my muscles and I knew I would have to race smart. I ran patiently and by mile 18 passed Hillary for the lead. I knew that Caitlin was a phenomenal runner, but I did not know how close she was. I failed to see her at the last turnaround and had no idea that she was running 2:59 pace! Right before the 23 mile mark she came storming by me. I tried to respond, but the pace was so much faster and within seconds she put on a sizable lead. I ran as hard as I could to the finish line, but Caitlin ran faster, went on the take the win and set a new run course record in the process.

Once again it just goes to show that there are so many variable to great ironman racing; swim, bike and run fitness, mental prep, nutrition, and environmental conditions. I am looking forward to a week off to rest up and spend some time with my family on Long Island. My plans for the rest of the season include a Boulder training camp with Kelly, an Olympic and 70.3 race (TBD) and then off to Kona for the Ironman World Championships where I will try to improve on my 8^th place finish there in 2005. I’d like to thank all my sponsors for all the support. I have the best of the best this year and would like to thank K-Swiss, Powerbar, Cervelo, FuelBelt, Lifesport, Katalyst Multisport, Zipp, Ski Rack, Blue Seventy, Giro, and Vasa.

See you in Kona!

Kim