COACH CYNDEE

Early in the year my boyfriend wanted me to do the Half Ironman in Miami on October 30th. I hesitated for a while before making a decision. I hesitated because my race season started early in February doing a Half Ironman in Costa Rica, another half in Vegas, full Ironman in May, several Olympic and Sprint distances and finally Miami in October. I knew by the time October came I would be burnt out on racing. I ended up signing up and was actually feeling pretty good about the race in the weeks leading up to it. I let him book our travel (one less thing for me to have to worry about). I must say it was nice not having to think about some of the small details. We left for the airport Friday morning to catch a 10:30 flight. He said we arrived in Miami at 8:30pm. I thought that seemed like a long time. Come to find out he booked a flight with 2 stops before getting to Miami. Lesson number one……next time I will book the flights. He did however take some healthy food for our day ...

My first (and only) 8k swim I have always thought that I’ve been a good long distance swimmer with decent stroke mechanics. My swim stroke was videotaped in the pool showing my technique both above and below the water and although there were some minor issues, I thought my mechanics were pretty good. I typically finish middle or top of the pack in most triathlons and in the pool my times have been pretty much the same over the past few years. I am definitely not the fastest when swimming 25’s and 50 sprints in the pool with other swimmers, I don’t sprint well and I don’t like to do it. In fact, people who have worse form than me, most times, beat me at the shorter distances like 25’s and 50’s. This would frustrate most people but I understand my body and understand what I can and can’t do. I don’t sprint well period! I could however swim forever without becoming fatigued because I swim efficient. When I come out of the water in a triathlon I feel as if I had a good warm u...

running to the finish Sunday I did the Las Vegas Tri.  I had several clients and friends racing so it was bound to be a fun day.  I was doing the sprint race.  I love doing sprints because they are fast and short!  You are done before most people are getting out of bed.  After doing Ironman events a sprint is a walk in the park......well maybe a sprint in the park.  I went into this race very relaxed and just wanted to have fun.  I got right into the front on the swim.  I was prepared to push myself in the swim which I rarely do.  I didn't see anyone ahead of me heading out to the buoy so I felt pretty good.  At the buoy we started catching some of the men that started 5 minutes ahead of us.  Turning at the buoy I only saw a few red caps (red was the female color).  I still felt great and thought I would keep this pace.  At the beginning of the swim I saw Marie who I swim masters with.  She is one of the fastest sw...

Recently I had the privilege to volunteer to help physically challenged athletes at the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas; it was truly an amazing experience. My good friend Mike who is the founder of Getting2Tri, an organization that helps challenged athletes participate in events through clinics, training, support, and education, headed up the volunteers for the PC athletes.    You can read all about them at www.getting2tri.org . Each of the volunteers was assigned to an athlete that they were responsible for helping throughout the day. Nancy and I were assigned a single leg below the knee amputee named Karen, she told us what she would need throughout the day and we were there to help her in any way we could. Karen actually qualified for this race in the age group category NOT the physically challenged; she is an amazing athlete and person! She was so calm race morning with only a few concerns, I had to laugh at my race morning jitters which seem silly in comparison ...

It has been a long time since my last post so be prepared for some random thoughts that have been on my mind!  I am happy to report my training is going good.  I am preparing for the Miami 70.3 at the end of October.  After that a little break then the Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon in January (which I hope to PR at). Then 2012 will start off strong just like 2011 with the Rage Half Ironman in Las Vegas followed by Ironman Texas once again.  My hope for all that training is to stay injury free.  The goal of most triathletes is to be able to continue their training without any injuries.  I have been really lucky through the years and not had any major set backs.  Not to say I don't have little bothersome problems here and there but nothing that has kept me from training completely.  The great thing about being a triathlete is that you have 3 sports.  If you are unable to run for a short time then it is likely you can bike or swim.  So y...

Vineman Full Race Recap from Greg Bailey - Congratulations Greg ! I quit.   At the mile 18 aide station I looked at the assorted drinks and foods, the encouraging volunteers, the other racers, and couldn’t rally.  The people and the race nutrition were a blur and neither of them I could imagine ingesting.   I signed up for the 140.6 mile Vineman because I thought it would be an “easy” flat course and the half ironman was already sold out.  Not a problem, with a great tri coach and 9 months to prepare I should be able to knock it out without a problem.  I learned that  no ironman race is easy (especially the first one) and the Vineman was anything but flat.  This Vineman was their biggest ever with 1100 entered in the event.   The Vineman swim was in the Russian river composed  two crowded laps of athletes from the full, the aquabike, and the woman’s only half called Barb’s race.  It was the first time I couldn’t get clear and just swim ...

Last weekend I went to California to compete in the Strawberry Fields Olympic Triathlon.  It is in Oxnard,CA just North of LA.  We left Saturday with the race being on Sunday.  I did this race last year and loved the flat, fast course.  I wanted to beat my last year time of 2:22.  This is not one of my "A" races this year so I did not put a lot of pressure on myself.  The weather and water conditions were going to be great.  Last year the ocean was a little rough and the water was really cold.  This year 1 foot swells was all that we had and water temp. was great.  Just a little wind for the bike and that was it.  This bike course is super flat and only 24 miles.  Last year I did the bike course in 1:01 and this year I did it in 58 minutes!  I got caught up in competing with two others on the race course.  Let me be clear......this is usually not something ANYONE should do.  You need to always race your own...