Run around the Pines 5k

New 5k PR....again. It seems like the high mileage is paying off, excited about the upcoming season. I dont have my splits but I think the first mile was right around 5:03 so I was pretty consistent around 5:07 the rest of the way to go a 15:53 in the end. The weather was perfect, a little cool before the start. I actually had a pretty rough week in school, w/ some tests and lab assignments due that kept me up late at night. Right after the race I also attended a free MCAT practice test from 11:30-3:30pm. It was excruciatingly long and difficult to say the least, but I'm glad I did it so that now I have a clear understanding of how hard it is and how much I need to study. I applied for a free MCAT prep course that will be given to the student who presents their motivations the best as well as their financial need. So hopefully ill get it.

On another note, my first triathlon race is coming up in two weeks. It will be very competitive with a former olympic medalist in the field. My goal is just to race to my potential, and have a good run. I want to be positioned well coming out of the swim in the lead pack and hopefully be one of the top U23 finishers. But also don't want to put too much pressure on myself so early in the season. Another of my goals is to continue to race well come august and september which is when the big races are.

Nic

2011 schedule

well since I really dont feel like doing my PreCalculus homework right now I thought i'd do a quick post on my racing plans for 2011.

March 5 Elite Sprint Nationals- Clermont,FL
March 27 Great Clermont Triathlon
April 9 Collegiate Nationals- Tuscaloosa, AL
May 1 St. Anthony's Triathlon- St. Pete, FL
May 22 Miami Speed Triathlon - Miami, FL
June 26 3 options Morton Plant Mease, Monroe ITU, or Coteau Du Lac ITU
July 9 San Fransisco Triathlon
Sep 12 ITU U23 World Championships Beijing, China*

*qualification pending

On another note am now part of a new Elite/Junior team under my coach Marc, and Jennifer called Triton Elite Multisport.

Some Training

Lately I have been putting alot of yardage in the pool and mileage out on the clay trail w/ sean jefferson. here are some videos

New 5k PR!!! 16:05!

I am pleased to announce that I ran my fastest time ever in a 5k this morning at the Park Ave seasons 52 5k. Its actually 5.2k which is annoying, but my 5k split was 16:05 which I am very happy about considering it is about 15sec faster than my previous best time. I went it into the race with no real expectations, because all I have been doing is ez base training. But I was well rested and coming off of a some serious high volume which I think has really made me a better runner.

During the race I started off pretty fast and settled into a group of 4 guys and we soon we began 'bringing people in' after the first mile. From then on I started to feel good and picked up the pace a little bit and before I knew it we had a mile to go and just started throwing the hammer down, and really accelerating. I have never felt that strong in the last mile in a 5k ever, I am certain its the heavy mileage I have put in over the past couple months. My splits were 5:11, 5:16, and 5:04.

Hopefully I can post some pictures later.

Nic

Proffesional Triathlete!...and the Swim.....

Well as of about a month ago Marc and I decided that my swim needed some serious work if I was planning on racing as Pro in ITU draft legal races, so I have been swimming w/ my old swim team, Fast Lane Aquatics, under head coach Alec Rukeseuv. I have had some pretty insane swim workouts that I think will pay off later on. I swim with the club about 3 to 4 times a week in the afternoons and do my other training during the day, as well as attend school.

I have also been putting in some serious run mileage, somewhere around 65mi per week for the past couple months which I think is really helping me to become a better runner. Right now it is all base phase work, but once the season starts I should be ready for some serious speed work and ready to run fast and to my potential at races. I have a 5k this weekend, the seasons 52 5.2k so we will see how it goes.

Off to the pool for a solid swim now.....

Cheers

Winter Base

Run, swim and school have been the topics of my life lately. Well actually I had my last final exams yesterday so school is over for four weeks! woohoo! I have been putting in some serious running mileage over the past couple months, and really think that I am benefiting from it now in terms of strength and later on when I need that speed. I also am going to start training in the pool with my old swim coach Alec. My current coach Marc and I have decided that in order to reach my goals I need to improve my swimming and take my running to new heights, so right now we are building a broad base to that pyramid.

New Sponsor!

Mix 1 has joined my team, and is now my official nutrition sponsor! I am very excited about this opportunity because after having some sub-par races at the end of last season due to nutrition, I now have a great product to keep me fueled and performing at my best. I really believe that triathlon is four sports, swim, bike, run, and nutrition, and training all four is the best way to become successful. Mix 1 is a natural protein drink that I will use to recover from all of my workouts. The most optimum time to intake protein for an athlete is within 30min after exercising and this is sometimes made difficult by other nutrition products in having to make the drink with powder and such, but Mix 1 comes in a bottle and is easy to bring along and makes it even easier to intake within that optimal 30 minute period.

I look forward to the 2011 triathlon season, which will begin in March, and working with Mix 1 to achieve my goals of making the U23 world team and overall performing to the best of my abilities at every race!