I am using a budget of $10,000 for this example. Luckily there are a lot of stuff you can buy, but maybe you should not.......;-)
Showing posts with label HUUB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HUUB. Show all posts
Thursday, September 26, 2013
If I had not raced Norseman, I could have bougth............
Triathlon is not cheap, doing Norseman is not cheap, doing Norseman and upgrade all your equipment in one year is absolutely not cheap. Well I did just that, had a coach, new bike, shoes, helmet, travel, rent a bike case, and all other kind of stuff. Was it worth it? YES. But what could I have done with the money if I did not race triathlon?
I am using a budget of $10,000 for this example. Luckily there are a lot of stuff you can buy, but maybe you should not.......;-)
I am using a budget of $10,000 for this example. Luckily there are a lot of stuff you can buy, but maybe you should not.......;-)
Sunday, August 25, 2013
My Garmin files from Norseman
My Garmin files, they are big since I used a long time.......
Swim:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357308708
For some reason the GPS stopped working after 3,000 meters. The swim should be a L not an I.
Bike:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357308913
Run (walk)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357308965
Swim:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357308708
For some reason the GPS stopped working after 3,000 meters. The swim should be a L not an I.
Bike:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357308913
Run (walk)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357308965
Sunday, August 11, 2013
In deph analysis: the swim
One week has passed and I am down from my leg pain and Norseman high. Norseman was everything I had hoped for and more. What a race, what a journey.
But back to the swim. Almost every Norseman athlete has seen the videos of the jump of the ferry and cold athletes in T1. This is Norseman, the unpredictable swim. But what met me the Thursday before the race? Eidfjord was warm and the fjord was flat and beautiful. I took part in the social swim Friday morning and got a chance to test out most of my equipment. Also I thought all the other swimmers swam really fast, but I always feel that before a race. The water was quite nice and swimming with a hood and earplugs was really helpful.
Eidfjord is a beautiful place to swim when the conditions are nice. I had the chance to talk with Jeff Glasbrenner, what an inspiration.
While the weather on Friday was really nice, the weather forecast for race day was not. But on the mandatory race meeting the organizer said the swim will go on as planned and that the temperature was good. I was happy.
Raceday
Woke up early after a bad nigh of sleep. But that was no surprise. Walked down to T1 with my brother and got my bike checked in. Then I start focus on the swimming, now it was me, the ferry, the jump and 3.8 kilometer of water ahead of me. Last good luck from my brother and on the ferry I went.
Sitting on the ferry is just like the videos and pictures. It is excitement, nervousness and long lines for the restrooms. The heart is syncing up with the ferry engine and when the engine stops, so did my heart. Now it was real. The gate open and we all walked to the jump. I made the jump and kept my goggles. The swan to the kayaks and start the waiting game. It felt like hours but then the horn went of and Norseman 2013 started.
I felt ok, but got hit my some big waves and headwind. Luckily I did not swallowed any water and kept cool, got into an ok rhythm and tried to focus on keeping a good form. I did not feel that I swam fast but tried to keep a positive attitude. As most athletes I swam close to the shore. After a while I could smell bonfire. Land was in sight, but so far away. I was sure I could see the earth curve, but I guess I am just a slow swimmer.
After 3 kilometer I made the turn a the only buoy. Now it was only the home stretch left. Some more waves made that stretch to stretch out quite a bit, but than I saw the end. Of course I managed to fall down and made a big splash.
I ran into T1 and was met by my brother. I could see a lot of bikes still there and my brother told me that I had used 1.15, that was just 5 minutes behind my best of scenarios, and I had done it in challenging conditions.
Looking back I am really happy with my swim. My Huub Archimedes 3:5 is a good wetsuit for me. I am glad I used a neoprene hood and sock. I did not freeze at all. Overall I had set myself up for a good Norseman with a solid swim.
Eidfjord the day before, what a place.
But back to the swim. Almost every Norseman athlete has seen the videos of the jump of the ferry and cold athletes in T1. This is Norseman, the unpredictable swim. But what met me the Thursday before the race? Eidfjord was warm and the fjord was flat and beautiful. I took part in the social swim Friday morning and got a chance to test out most of my equipment. Also I thought all the other swimmers swam really fast, but I always feel that before a race. The water was quite nice and swimming with a hood and earplugs was really helpful.
Eidfjord is a beautiful place to swim when the conditions are nice. I had the chance to talk with Jeff Glasbrenner, what an inspiration.
While the weather on Friday was really nice, the weather forecast for race day was not. But on the mandatory race meeting the organizer said the swim will go on as planned and that the temperature was good. I was happy.
Raceday
Woke up early after a bad nigh of sleep. But that was no surprise. Walked down to T1 with my brother and got my bike checked in. Then I start focus on the swimming, now it was me, the ferry, the jump and 3.8 kilometer of water ahead of me. Last good luck from my brother and on the ferry I went.
Sitting on the ferry is just like the videos and pictures. It is excitement, nervousness and long lines for the restrooms. The heart is syncing up with the ferry engine and when the engine stops, so did my heart. Now it was real. The gate open and we all walked to the jump. I made the jump and kept my goggles. The swan to the kayaks and start the waiting game. It felt like hours but then the horn went of and Norseman 2013 started.
I felt ok, but got hit my some big waves and headwind. Luckily I did not swallowed any water and kept cool, got into an ok rhythm and tried to focus on keeping a good form. I did not feel that I swam fast but tried to keep a positive attitude. As most athletes I swam close to the shore. After a while I could smell bonfire. Land was in sight, but so far away. I was sure I could see the earth curve, but I guess I am just a slow swimmer.
After 3 kilometer I made the turn a the only buoy. Now it was only the home stretch left. Some more waves made that stretch to stretch out quite a bit, but than I saw the end. Of course I managed to fall down and made a big splash.
I ran into T1 and was met by my brother. I could see a lot of bikes still there and my brother told me that I had used 1.15, that was just 5 minutes behind my best of scenarios, and I had done it in challenging conditions.
Looking back I am really happy with my swim. My Huub Archimedes 3:5 is a good wetsuit for me. I am glad I used a neoprene hood and sock. I did not freeze at all. Overall I had set myself up for a good Norseman with a solid swim.
Eidfjord the day before, what a place.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Norseman 2013 Race Report
I did it, I raced Norseman 2013 and I accomplished my goal finishing at the peak of mount Gaustatoppen and get the black t-shirt. Here you have my experiences before, during and after "the race".
Traveling
My Norseman adventure got off to a great start. I got upgraded by Icelandair and could enjoy good legroom and nice service from Seattle to Reykjavik. I took this as a good sign for what should come.
Before the race
I landed in Oslo Wednesday and was met by my brother. We drove over to his house only 25 minutes away and I could start putting my bike together and get some food in me. My bike had survived the flight and everything worked, but to be on the safe side we went for a short ride to tightening the bolts with a torqued wrench at a local ski and cycling store. On the way my front wheel got a flat. No panic, the tube got changed and all the bolts torqued. I used the rest of the day to catch up with my brother, his family and to eat, eat and eat.
On Thursday we packed the car and drove to the beautiful town Drammen to pick up my father. I am not sure if I was more happy to race or to be with family, but this is the essence of Norseman, you can do both. We drove up beautiful Uvedal so I could take a peak of the last climb up to Imingfjell. That climb looked long and steep. Then we drove the rest of the bike course in reverse. The three climbs after Geilo (91k) were all long and hard, but I did not feel that they were intimidating. We had a stop a Dyranut, the highest point of the bike course, it is after 40k. This was the first time I could see that Norseman was happening, cars with bikes and skinny people in lycra with logos on it. The drive down to Eidfjord is beautiful but also scary. The first hill of Norseman is LONG, STEEP and HARD.
Since I got my spot late, the only rooms I could managed to find was not what I would call hotel standard.
The rest of the day was used to walk around and to just enjoy being in Eidfjord. I was getting ready.
Friday before the race
The morning started with the classic Norseman swim a 9 in the morning. The water was beautiful, flat and not too cold. As always I think everybody is swimming so fast, so everything was normal.
It was fun meeting all the Americans. I tried to give them some advice about the course since I knew it a little bit better. I also had people coming and talk to me based on my posting about Norseman at Slowtwich, I guess I sparked some interests for the race :-) Of course I spent money on Norseman gear. I need to look good for my next sprint triathlon.
At three o'clock the race meeting started, now it got real. The race meeting mostly went through safety and looking back on race day I understand why. Norseman is extreme, but it is extreme with focus on safety, kudos to the organizers. I used the rest of the afternoon to organize the equipment, food, eat dinner and went to bed early for a bad nigh of sleep. And yes, during the night it started to be rainy and windy.
Race day
I woke up 1.45, this was it. I could feel it, the day I had for so long prepared for was finally here. It was scary but also a happy feeling. Now it was time to get to T1.
At the dock the Norseman ferry was saying good morning to me. The place was full of nervous athletes and really tired support crew. My bike got checked, you need working lights and a reflective west at Norseman due to riding in tunnels. It was time to get the last good lucks and enter the ferry.
The mood on the ferry is special and just like what you see in the Norseman videos. When the ferry has found its right position and stops we all waked towards the opening gate. The jump was ahead. This was it, this was NORSEMAN.
Norseman 2013
The swim
The jump was easy, the water was not too bad. I was swimming with a neoprene hood, ear plugs and neoprene socks. After the jump I swan to the kayaks and find a position close to shore. After 10 minutes the ferry blow its horn and off we went. The first thing that hit me was a wave followed another on and another one. The swim was not too choppy but breathing could be challenging. I focused on staying calm and was trying not to swallow saltwater. Personally I felt the swim went slow. My goal time was 1.10 with ideal conditions so I was surprised when I exit the water in 1.15. Of course I had a big fall when I was trying to get out of the water, at least it was entertaining for the crowed.
T1
Wetsuit off, wool socks and arm warmers on. Not a speedy transition but ok.
The bike leg
Luckily you have some kilometers to get warm before the first climb starts. Norseman uses the old road when possible, it is narrow but the scenery is stunning. Then the climbing started and it was steep, steep and steep. I was using 36 - 28 and just focused on spin my legs. The minutes started to tick along faster than the kilometers. After a while I got to Voringsfossen and my first meeting with my support, my brother was shouting EAT, something he shouted a lot that day. The rest of the climb up to Dyranut was not pleasant. The combination of steep hills and hard and cold headwind made the first 1/4 of the bike ride something to remember, and it was just an introduction to the rest of the leg.
At Dyranut I needed to put on a jacket, it was cold. My brother was prepared and we had a fast pit stop. Finally I could enjoy the flats and downhills towards Geilo. But what met me, more cold headwind. The few times I got sidewind it felt so easy. But it was nice to get some speed on the bike and the downhills gave me a chance to fuel and relax a little. I understood that managing the legs was the key for getting the black t-shirt.
I was quite shocked when I got the message that I was number 80 at Geilo, had I open too hard, it did not feel that way. But I decided to take it easy the next four hills. I did not want to blow my legs apart by racing like an idiot. After Geilo Norseman has four long climbs followed by some challenging descents. And on raceday it was windy. I keep my heart rate down on the climb up to Kikut, looked at all the nice cabins and rode into some freezing rain. Yepp, now I did not have just headwind, I had frozen rain also. The descent was cold and tricky. The road condition was not good so I could not cost down. I had to stay on top of my game.
At the beginning on the next climb I was met by my brother. I told him that I needed my neoprene gloves. As always he said take it easy in the hills and EAT, EAT and EAT. I let my legs spin up the hill. For some reason the hills at Norseman are harder to ride than they look on the race profile. At the top I got new gloves and it felt good. Two climbs done, just two to go.
Next climb I followed the same recipe, I kept an eye on my heart rate and kept it as close to zone 1 as possible. Due to the weather and the fact that I had been out for many hours I could feel that my body have had to work. But I was within myself and had control. After the third climb it was a long descent. The road conditions were not good so I could not relax at all. But I had been riding 125k and just had the last climb left, and it was a monster.
The climb up to Imingfjell is 10k long. It is not too steep, just grinding. I was following my plan and let some other athletes pass me. The top of the climb was not getting closer fast enough, but suddenly I was in the last turns. At the top my plan was to smile and enjoy the 10k false flat. But now the weather was really bad, strong headwind, fog with 20 feet visibility and heavy rain. I had to ride 36 - 28 on the flat to keep going. My brother tried to yell something to me from the side of the road but I could hardly see him, and I did not hear him at all. I will remember those 10k at Imingfjell for the rest of my life. A little side note, I was biking in a trishorts the whole way so it got sometimes chilly on my leg.
After Imingfjell I managed to get down the switchback without any big problems. Those were tricky and I talked to one athlete who did not see one of the turns due to fog and went off the road. The last 20k is following the river down the valley. The road here is so bad the resurfacing was planed for 2013, sadly for me it will happen is September. I am not sure how my wheels survived some of the potholes. But it was bumpy. Close to T2 I passed the church where my mom us buried. It was special and I choked up, but it was a nice experience. Bike split 7.50
T2
Getting off the bike was nice. Getting new and dry socks even better. My brother was there as always and gave me one last advice before the running, EAT.
The run
When I ran out of T2 I got the message that I was number 80. This was crazy. I knew then that if I did not do anything stupid I would mange to get the black t-shirt. That was a nice feeling. I rand out with a box of Coke, it was helpful to keep the speed down and it was nice to get some calories. I was jogging along and the kilometers ticked off. I actually did not feel too bad. I was of course starting to feel tired, but I also had a feeling of control. The run course is 20k flat, 5k false flat and steep climbing the rest. I took some strategic short walks between 20 and 25k, my brother had to fix his car and of course that is when I needed more fuel. But this is Norseman and some of other athletes support teams gave me some thing to drink. During the race my brother had done this to other athletes.
One of the things you remember from competing in Norseman is the first time you see mount Gaustatoppen on the run. It is unreal. The mountain is so high and so intimidating, but you also know that the only thing you want is to get to the top. I made it to the bottom of the hill in ok shape. I now knew I would get the black t-shirt and could stop racing and start enjoying. The last hill is 16k/10m and has the name zombie hill, it turns fit athletes into zombies.
The hill starts at the bottom of the valley by the power lines and finish at the peak, it is hard.
The walk
For the rest of the run leg my plan was to walk. Zombie hill is 10% so you climb a lot. My brother walked with me and we talked and talked. He was carrying all I needed and some more. I switched my tritop to a wool sweater, that was nice. How steep was it? My kilometer/mile time was 12.30/19 minutes. The first goal was to get to 32.5k, this is where you get the message if you can finish at the top. When I got there the race director told me;"good news, you can finish at the top, bad news, the elevator is broken so you have to walk down". This was Norseman.
From 32k and to 37k when the trail begin I was walking quite slowly. I was tired and just wanted to keep going. Then I saw the gate and the flags. This is where you are leaving the road and walk the last 4.7k on rock. It is not a trail, more a bad path on rocky rocks. Before I entered the trail one of the race organizers check my backpack. Due to safety you need to carry warm cloths and a flashlight. I got a burst of energy and even though I now walked with really tired legs the last kilometers did not feel too bad at all. I guess I was on a Norseman high.
And finally I crossed the finish line with my brother and my dad. I had done it. Right there it all made sense, all the pain was worth it. I had been focused the whole day and now I could relax and yes I cried. What a race, what a journey, what a support team.
At the top you get tomato soup and a blanket. Right there those were gifts from God. I looked at my watch. I had used 6.30 on the run and remember that I rand the first 21k in 2.02. The last hill is hard.
But this is Norseman and now me and my support crew had to walk down again. Yes my tired legs had to get off the mountain and yes it started to get dark. But everything was perfect after a perfect day. And now I am wearing black
Traveling
My Norseman adventure got off to a great start. I got upgraded by Icelandair and could enjoy good legroom and nice service from Seattle to Reykjavik. I took this as a good sign for what should come.
Before the race
I landed in Oslo Wednesday and was met by my brother. We drove over to his house only 25 minutes away and I could start putting my bike together and get some food in me. My bike had survived the flight and everything worked, but to be on the safe side we went for a short ride to tightening the bolts with a torqued wrench at a local ski and cycling store. On the way my front wheel got a flat. No panic, the tube got changed and all the bolts torqued. I used the rest of the day to catch up with my brother, his family and to eat, eat and eat.
On Thursday we packed the car and drove to the beautiful town Drammen to pick up my father. I am not sure if I was more happy to race or to be with family, but this is the essence of Norseman, you can do both. We drove up beautiful Uvedal so I could take a peak of the last climb up to Imingfjell. That climb looked long and steep. Then we drove the rest of the bike course in reverse. The three climbs after Geilo (91k) were all long and hard, but I did not feel that they were intimidating. We had a stop a Dyranut, the highest point of the bike course, it is after 40k. This was the first time I could see that Norseman was happening, cars with bikes and skinny people in lycra with logos on it. The drive down to Eidfjord is beautiful but also scary. The first hill of Norseman is LONG, STEEP and HARD.
Since I got my spot late, the only rooms I could managed to find was not what I would call hotel standard.
The rest of the day was used to walk around and to just enjoy being in Eidfjord. I was getting ready.
Friday before the race
The morning started with the classic Norseman swim a 9 in the morning. The water was beautiful, flat and not too cold. As always I think everybody is swimming so fast, so everything was normal.
It was fun meeting all the Americans. I tried to give them some advice about the course since I knew it a little bit better. I also had people coming and talk to me based on my posting about Norseman at Slowtwich, I guess I sparked some interests for the race :-) Of course I spent money on Norseman gear. I need to look good for my next sprint triathlon.
At three o'clock the race meeting started, now it got real. The race meeting mostly went through safety and looking back on race day I understand why. Norseman is extreme, but it is extreme with focus on safety, kudos to the organizers. I used the rest of the afternoon to organize the equipment, food, eat dinner and went to bed early for a bad nigh of sleep. And yes, during the night it started to be rainy and windy.
Race day
I woke up 1.45, this was it. I could feel it, the day I had for so long prepared for was finally here. It was scary but also a happy feeling. Now it was time to get to T1.
At the dock the Norseman ferry was saying good morning to me. The place was full of nervous athletes and really tired support crew. My bike got checked, you need working lights and a reflective west at Norseman due to riding in tunnels. It was time to get the last good lucks and enter the ferry.
The mood on the ferry is special and just like what you see in the Norseman videos. When the ferry has found its right position and stops we all waked towards the opening gate. The jump was ahead. This was it, this was NORSEMAN.
Norseman 2013
The swim
The jump was easy, the water was not too bad. I was swimming with a neoprene hood, ear plugs and neoprene socks. After the jump I swan to the kayaks and find a position close to shore. After 10 minutes the ferry blow its horn and off we went. The first thing that hit me was a wave followed another on and another one. The swim was not too choppy but breathing could be challenging. I focused on staying calm and was trying not to swallow saltwater. Personally I felt the swim went slow. My goal time was 1.10 with ideal conditions so I was surprised when I exit the water in 1.15. Of course I had a big fall when I was trying to get out of the water, at least it was entertaining for the crowed.
T1
Wetsuit off, wool socks and arm warmers on. Not a speedy transition but ok.
The bike leg
Luckily you have some kilometers to get warm before the first climb starts. Norseman uses the old road when possible, it is narrow but the scenery is stunning. Then the climbing started and it was steep, steep and steep. I was using 36 - 28 and just focused on spin my legs. The minutes started to tick along faster than the kilometers. After a while I got to Voringsfossen and my first meeting with my support, my brother was shouting EAT, something he shouted a lot that day. The rest of the climb up to Dyranut was not pleasant. The combination of steep hills and hard and cold headwind made the first 1/4 of the bike ride something to remember, and it was just an introduction to the rest of the leg.
At Dyranut I needed to put on a jacket, it was cold. My brother was prepared and we had a fast pit stop. Finally I could enjoy the flats and downhills towards Geilo. But what met me, more cold headwind. The few times I got sidewind it felt so easy. But it was nice to get some speed on the bike and the downhills gave me a chance to fuel and relax a little. I understood that managing the legs was the key for getting the black t-shirt.
I was quite shocked when I got the message that I was number 80 at Geilo, had I open too hard, it did not feel that way. But I decided to take it easy the next four hills. I did not want to blow my legs apart by racing like an idiot. After Geilo Norseman has four long climbs followed by some challenging descents. And on raceday it was windy. I keep my heart rate down on the climb up to Kikut, looked at all the nice cabins and rode into some freezing rain. Yepp, now I did not have just headwind, I had frozen rain also. The descent was cold and tricky. The road condition was not good so I could not cost down. I had to stay on top of my game.
At the beginning on the next climb I was met by my brother. I told him that I needed my neoprene gloves. As always he said take it easy in the hills and EAT, EAT and EAT. I let my legs spin up the hill. For some reason the hills at Norseman are harder to ride than they look on the race profile. At the top I got new gloves and it felt good. Two climbs done, just two to go.
Next climb I followed the same recipe, I kept an eye on my heart rate and kept it as close to zone 1 as possible. Due to the weather and the fact that I had been out for many hours I could feel that my body have had to work. But I was within myself and had control. After the third climb it was a long descent. The road conditions were not good so I could not relax at all. But I had been riding 125k and just had the last climb left, and it was a monster.
The climb up to Imingfjell is 10k long. It is not too steep, just grinding. I was following my plan and let some other athletes pass me. The top of the climb was not getting closer fast enough, but suddenly I was in the last turns. At the top my plan was to smile and enjoy the 10k false flat. But now the weather was really bad, strong headwind, fog with 20 feet visibility and heavy rain. I had to ride 36 - 28 on the flat to keep going. My brother tried to yell something to me from the side of the road but I could hardly see him, and I did not hear him at all. I will remember those 10k at Imingfjell for the rest of my life. A little side note, I was biking in a trishorts the whole way so it got sometimes chilly on my leg.
After Imingfjell I managed to get down the switchback without any big problems. Those were tricky and I talked to one athlete who did not see one of the turns due to fog and went off the road. The last 20k is following the river down the valley. The road here is so bad the resurfacing was planed for 2013, sadly for me it will happen is September. I am not sure how my wheels survived some of the potholes. But it was bumpy. Close to T2 I passed the church where my mom us buried. It was special and I choked up, but it was a nice experience. Bike split 7.50
T2
Getting off the bike was nice. Getting new and dry socks even better. My brother was there as always and gave me one last advice before the running, EAT.
The run
When I ran out of T2 I got the message that I was number 80. This was crazy. I knew then that if I did not do anything stupid I would mange to get the black t-shirt. That was a nice feeling. I rand out with a box of Coke, it was helpful to keep the speed down and it was nice to get some calories. I was jogging along and the kilometers ticked off. I actually did not feel too bad. I was of course starting to feel tired, but I also had a feeling of control. The run course is 20k flat, 5k false flat and steep climbing the rest. I took some strategic short walks between 20 and 25k, my brother had to fix his car and of course that is when I needed more fuel. But this is Norseman and some of other athletes support teams gave me some thing to drink. During the race my brother had done this to other athletes.
One of the things you remember from competing in Norseman is the first time you see mount Gaustatoppen on the run. It is unreal. The mountain is so high and so intimidating, but you also know that the only thing you want is to get to the top. I made it to the bottom of the hill in ok shape. I now knew I would get the black t-shirt and could stop racing and start enjoying. The last hill is 16k/10m and has the name zombie hill, it turns fit athletes into zombies.
The hill starts at the bottom of the valley by the power lines and finish at the peak, it is hard.
The walk
For the rest of the run leg my plan was to walk. Zombie hill is 10% so you climb a lot. My brother walked with me and we talked and talked. He was carrying all I needed and some more. I switched my tritop to a wool sweater, that was nice. How steep was it? My kilometer/mile time was 12.30/19 minutes. The first goal was to get to 32.5k, this is where you get the message if you can finish at the top. When I got there the race director told me;"good news, you can finish at the top, bad news, the elevator is broken so you have to walk down". This was Norseman.
From 32k and to 37k when the trail begin I was walking quite slowly. I was tired and just wanted to keep going. Then I saw the gate and the flags. This is where you are leaving the road and walk the last 4.7k on rock. It is not a trail, more a bad path on rocky rocks. Before I entered the trail one of the race organizers check my backpack. Due to safety you need to carry warm cloths and a flashlight. I got a burst of energy and even though I now walked with really tired legs the last kilometers did not feel too bad at all. I guess I was on a Norseman high.
And finally I crossed the finish line with my brother and my dad. I had done it. Right there it all made sense, all the pain was worth it. I had been focused the whole day and now I could relax and yes I cried. What a race, what a journey, what a support team.
At the top you get tomato soup and a blanket. Right there those were gifts from God. I looked at my watch. I had used 6.30 on the run and remember that I rand the first 21k in 2.02. The last hill is hard.
But this is Norseman and now me and my support crew had to walk down again. Yes my tired legs had to get off the mountain and yes it started to get dark. But everything was perfect after a perfect day. And now I am wearing black
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
My Norseman equipment: the swim
Putting together all the equipment for Norseman is fun, especially when you like me have to get a lot of new stuff. The challenge with Norseman is that it is a point to point race through different climate zones and with sometimes very changing weather. During the race you can have freezing cold rain on the bike and during the run the weather can be baking hot. Luckily for the swim it will be easier.
Swimming in Eidfjord will be beautiful. The fjord, mountains and waterfalls are stunning, but how is the water. On the positive side it is salt water, and most likely the tide will be beneficial. When it comes to temperature the water will either be cold or really cold. But I do not think it should be a problem. So what kind of equipment will I be using?
Wetsuit: Huub Archimedes 3:5
Googles: Tyr Nesta Pro (blue, blank and mirrored)
Hood: Zoot Sports (Huub did not have my seize)
Ear plugs: Yes (cannot remember the brand)
I also will bring an extra silicone swimming cap.
Swimming in Eidfjord will be beautiful. The fjord, mountains and waterfalls are stunning, but how is the water. On the positive side it is salt water, and most likely the tide will be beneficial. When it comes to temperature the water will either be cold or really cold. But I do not think it should be a problem. So what kind of equipment will I be using?
Wetsuit: Huub Archimedes 3:5
Googles: Tyr Nesta Pro (blue, blank and mirrored)
Hood: Zoot Sports (Huub did not have my seize)
Ear plugs: Yes (cannot remember the brand)
I also will bring an extra silicone swimming cap.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Huub Archimedes 3:5 review, it works
I have been one lucky swimmer, if you can ever call me a swimmer. I am a typical triathlete, I have no swim background and now as an adult I am trying to find my inner fish. And trust me, that fish is well hidden. But back to why I am a lucky swimmer. I am lucky since I have had a chance to try both Huub Archimedes 4:4 and 3:5
This is how Huub is describing the difference.
http://www.huubdesign.com/science.html
3MM UPPER BODY MATERIALS AND 5MM LOWER BODY MATERIALS
85% of triathletes come to the sport from a non-swimming background and many suffer from low sinking legs in the water as they swim. Of course the buoyancy of any wetsuit helps bring the legs up higher but never before have wetsuits been designed specifically for these swimmers with a large buoyancy difference between the upper and lower bodies. Until you swim in one of these suits you won’t believe how high your legs can be, they will feel glued to the surface and your potential as a swimmer will be truly unleashed!
As we designed these sophisticated high technology suits, we increasingly moved away from neoprene towards new materials with properties of increased buoyancy and specified levels of stretch.
4MM UPPER AND LOWER BODY MATERIAL THICKNESS
Our 4:4 wetsuits are for the stronger swimmers who already have a great horizontal position and do not need the redistributed buoyancy of a 3:5 wetsuit. You’ll find perfectly distributed buoyancy to maintain the balance, harmony and efficiency of your stroke technique just as it feels in the pool. Like to use a bit of kick as you swim? No problem, these suits will let you do just that with a smooth natural action.
This is how I swim and guess what suit was the best for me?
Yes, for me the 3:5 is a better suit. Do not get me wrong. When I tried the 4:4 it was an amazing suit I had problem understanding that just move some rubber around it would be a difference. But for a swimmer with no swim background, the 3:5 is a kinder suit. It helps you to deal with your issues. To describe it in cross country skiing terms. The 3:5 is a ski that will make a lesser good skier ski better, the 4:4 is equal to skies made for the best. I could feel the difference and I could really feel that my body position was better in the 3:5.
Huub Archimedes is a well made suit. But any user should make sure they take the time to put it on correctly. It is not rocket science, but if you want to get the best out of the suit it has to fit, it is that easy. You would not start running without tying up your shoe laces or start biking without clicking in your shoes. Putting on a wetsuit is the same.
This is how Huub is describing the difference.
http://www.huubdesign.com/science.html
3MM UPPER BODY MATERIALS AND 5MM LOWER BODY MATERIALS
85% of triathletes come to the sport from a non-swimming background and many suffer from low sinking legs in the water as they swim. Of course the buoyancy of any wetsuit helps bring the legs up higher but never before have wetsuits been designed specifically for these swimmers with a large buoyancy difference between the upper and lower bodies. Until you swim in one of these suits you won’t believe how high your legs can be, they will feel glued to the surface and your potential as a swimmer will be truly unleashed!
As we designed these sophisticated high technology suits, we increasingly moved away from neoprene towards new materials with properties of increased buoyancy and specified levels of stretch.
4MM UPPER AND LOWER BODY MATERIAL THICKNESS
Our 4:4 wetsuits are for the stronger swimmers who already have a great horizontal position and do not need the redistributed buoyancy of a 3:5 wetsuit. You’ll find perfectly distributed buoyancy to maintain the balance, harmony and efficiency of your stroke technique just as it feels in the pool. Like to use a bit of kick as you swim? No problem, these suits will let you do just that with a smooth natural action.
This is how I swim and guess what suit was the best for me?
Yes, for me the 3:5 is a better suit. Do not get me wrong. When I tried the 4:4 it was an amazing suit I had problem understanding that just move some rubber around it would be a difference. But for a swimmer with no swim background, the 3:5 is a kinder suit. It helps you to deal with your issues. To describe it in cross country skiing terms. The 3:5 is a ski that will make a lesser good skier ski better, the 4:4 is equal to skies made for the best. I could feel the difference and I could really feel that my body position was better in the 3:5.
Huub Archimedes is a well made suit. But any user should make sure they take the time to put it on correctly. It is not rocket science, but if you want to get the best out of the suit it has to fit, it is that easy. You would not start running without tying up your shoe laces or start biking without clicking in your shoes. Putting on a wetsuit is the same.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
I am now a Huubster (Huub Archimedes review)
Finally I got to test out my new wetsuit. Just like Alister and Jonny Brownlee I am trying to find a second here and a second there, so it is just natural that the three of us ended up in the same type of wetsuit. Well, that is of course nothing but a joke. While the Brownlees can swim I am a 42 years old triathlete trying to survive the swim leg with some dignity left.
So what is the difference between my now five years old entry level wetsuit ant the new one? Trust me, a lot. The wetsuit market has become a lot more crowded the last five years and new technologies has been tested, some has been kept other were just gimmicks. My old suit was a good beginner suit five years ago. The new suit is a modern state of the art suit in 2013.
The first thing that hit me when I got the suit was that it was well made. This is important since a wetsuit can take a lot of beating and should be made to take that beating. The Huub Archimedes can do that. The second thing was that the suit was not full of gimmicky stuff; it was made for helping you swim better and faster in open water. Sometimes functional is better.
When you put the suit on and you have the right size (Thank you Beth from Huub USA) you feel and look like a superhero. The suit’s design is cool and to enhance the design you will automatically keep your tummy in. But the best of all, the suit feels right. This is important, swimming in open water especially with a lot of others, waves, and chaotic surroundings you do not want to feel discomfort from your wet suit. A bad fitting suit will just add stress. For me the Huub Archimedes just felt right.
So did my positive on land experience match my swimming experience? YES, the suit works. Best of all, you do not think about the suit when you swim, it is not in the way. What is important with all suits is to take time to put it on the correct way. If you want to get the most out of your suit, make sure you put it on and adjust it before you zip it up (Check swimsmooth.com for videos). And the Archimedes is a lot better suit than I am swimmer. I was impressed with the comfort and fit, I also swam faster than I have done earlier and due to a good design and quality rubber, I could actually lift my arms over my head after the swim.
Conclusion: Huub Archimedes is a fabulous wetsuit.
So what is the difference between my now five years old entry level wetsuit ant the new one? Trust me, a lot. The wetsuit market has become a lot more crowded the last five years and new technologies has been tested, some has been kept other were just gimmicks. My old suit was a good beginner suit five years ago. The new suit is a modern state of the art suit in 2013.
The first thing that hit me when I got the suit was that it was well made. This is important since a wetsuit can take a lot of beating and should be made to take that beating. The Huub Archimedes can do that. The second thing was that the suit was not full of gimmicky stuff; it was made for helping you swim better and faster in open water. Sometimes functional is better.
When you put the suit on and you have the right size (Thank you Beth from Huub USA) you feel and look like a superhero. The suit’s design is cool and to enhance the design you will automatically keep your tummy in. But the best of all, the suit feels right. This is important, swimming in open water especially with a lot of others, waves, and chaotic surroundings you do not want to feel discomfort from your wet suit. A bad fitting suit will just add stress. For me the Huub Archimedes just felt right.
So did my positive on land experience match my swimming experience? YES, the suit works. Best of all, you do not think about the suit when you swim, it is not in the way. What is important with all suits is to take time to put it on the correct way. If you want to get the most out of your suit, make sure you put it on and adjust it before you zip it up (Check swimsmooth.com for videos). And the Archimedes is a lot better suit than I am swimmer. I was impressed with the comfort and fit, I also swam faster than I have done earlier and due to a good design and quality rubber, I could actually lift my arms over my head after the swim.
Conclusion: Huub Archimedes is a fabulous wetsuit.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
I am a big buoy (Huub update)
Few things can beat coming home when you find a big box filled with great Huub stuff in front of your door. Yes, the swimming rock is getting pimped up with state of the art swimming gear.
I got my Archimedes wetsuit and will do a write up later after I have tested it properly. But trust me, it looks amazing and the build quality is good.
I also bought a triathlon specific backpack. You may ask what is so triathlon about it? I has a waterproof chamber for my wetsuit. I think that is practical and useful.
Yesterday I tested out the last piece. My new big buoy. I have been swimming with a standard Speedo buoy for years, it is nothing wrong with it if I was a good swimmer or if my weight was 120 pounds. But I am a swimming rock around 180 pounds. The big buoy lifts my legs up so the swim is more similar to swimming with a wetsuit. Also, it looks really cool (I am a sucker for good design)
I got my Archimedes wetsuit and will do a write up later after I have tested it properly. But trust me, it looks amazing and the build quality is good.
I also bought a triathlon specific backpack. You may ask what is so triathlon about it? I has a waterproof chamber for my wetsuit. I think that is practical and useful.
Yesterday I tested out the last piece. My new big buoy. I have been swimming with a standard Speedo buoy for years, it is nothing wrong with it if I was a good swimmer or if my weight was 120 pounds. But I am a swimming rock around 180 pounds. The big buoy lifts my legs up so the swim is more similar to swimming with a wetsuit. Also, it looks really cool (I am a sucker for good design)
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