Got the OK to Swim Again!

It's been awhile since I made a blog entry!

Me at the bike start in Kona.

The trip to Kona to watch Ironman and be involved with the event as a coach was great! It's so inspirational and motivating to witness the event in person.  We also videotaped footage for the next On the Road Virtual training dvd, Kona Training Ride.  You can see some of the footage here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t60simIOvYI
If all goes well, it'll be ready by February or March 2011.

Last week, I had my 8 week post surgery x-ray to assess the healing progress of my pinned and plated collarbone. The doc said it's doing well and gave me the go-ahead to start swimming. I started on Friday of last week with a set of slllloooowww 4x250. It was NOT pretty, let me tell ya!  (actually , even when I'm in shape it's not pretty:).  My collarbone felt fine but the arms were like uncoordinated limbs of cement. The 2 fractured ribs were tender, but not horrible. I followed that workout with a straight 1250 yd swim on Saturday, and started getting a feel for the water, averaging about a 1:33/100 yd pace, just swimming steady.  It's amazing how fast you can lose sport specific conditioning.  With only about 3 weeks or so of swim training left before IMAZ, I'm a little nervous about the 2.4 miles, but think with a wetsuit might be able to fake it enough to make it! My cycling and run fitness is good, but certainly not where I would have wanted it or where it was pre-bike crash. Oh well, that's life I guess... I'm just thankful to even be able to toe the line after thinking my season was over just about 9 weeks ago when I slammed at high speed into the Leadville Trail 100 dirt!

We recently released our latest additions to the Spinervals cycling competition series. 36, 37 and 38 have been selling briskly.  A portion of the income from these titles go to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project too... so that's very cool.  Go here to learn more and see video clips of these new titles, http://www.coachtroy.com/products/item191.cfm
We've also released our new Bodyworks MD Video, The Hip.  http://www.spinervals.com/products/item165.cfm

If you read this, I hope that you are doing well and training well, transitioning to your Fall/Winter training schedule.

Best wishes,
Coach Troy

Casting Call for Kona Virtual Ride

Getting ready to leave for Kona next week to participate in the Ironman Hawaii World Championship festivities (as a coaching partner) and to shoot a new 'on the road' video of the bike course!

We're casting for two female riders to ride with me in this video.  Candidates must be very fit and able to ride 112 miles in windy/hot conditions at speeds averaging around 18 - 20 mph.  They must have their own triathlon bike (new, no more than 2 years old) and may wear their own kit as long as sponsor logos do not compete in anyway with Spinervals or Triathlon Academy coaching businesses or associated sponsors.

Exposure for the athletes selected will likely be enormous.  Athletes will be compensated for their time and will be required to sign a model release and liability waiver. 

If you or someone you know are interested in this unique opportunity and will be on the big island for the race and available all day on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, please email your bio and two pictures (an action shot of you on the bike and a casual pic) to info@spinervals.com
Selected athletes will be notified by Tues, Oct. 5th, if not sooner.

Thanks and train smart!
Coach Troy

Vegas, Interbike and Red Rocks

I'm just getting back from a few days at interbike, the bicycle and endurance sports industry trade show in Vegas. 

Interbike is a great time to catch up with industry friends, show new products, write orders and make new industry contacts.  Almost everyone in the U.S. and abroad who makes their living in the cycling world attends, flocking to "adult disneyland" to work and have fun.

Red Rock National Park, NV

I can take about two nights of Vegas and I need to escape.  On the strip, everything is so over the top, it makes my head spin.  The lights, the people, the music, the food... over stimulation to the basic senses.  While it's nice to indulge yourself a little , too much time can leave one feeling 'blah' and overloaded. 

I've discovered that the best way to cope with the strip for more than 2 days is to get away from it for a ride.  Now that i live in Tucson, I can easily drive the approximately 7-8 hr route with my bike.  My favorite interbike activity for the past couple of years has been to drive out to the Red Rocks National Park and do a 27 mile loop that has some of the most incredible desert mountain scenery!  It's amazing how the strip and everything overindulgent about it fades away when you're on the bike.  Below is a map of the ride if you'd like to give it a shot.



It's so nice to be home and away from the glitz and glam. I'm sure I'll look forward to my next 'vegas' excursion, but you can bet it'll only be for a maximum of two nights!

Train smart,
Coach Troy