Showing posts with label Norseman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norseman. Show all posts

Friday, May 23, 2014

Fearless Racing Team

Finally I got my Fearless Racing Team kit. Now my job is to race as fast as my kit look.

The kit is made my Kiwami, the manufacturer of most of the suits/kits you see at ITU events so the quality is top notch.





Thursday, March 27, 2014

Was triathlon better before?

If you are active on any message boards you will quite often read about that the sport of triathlon was better before. That the sport has changed from a tight knit group of friends to this new “thing”. But was triathlon better before?



First of all, any sport was better when you just found it either alone or with your friends and had great pleasure doing the racing and training. This is not unique to triathlon. But it has nothing to do with the sport, just how an individual appreciate the moment.

 

I did my first triathlon at the end of the 80s. I did it with the same group of people I did cross country skiing with. The sport was not new for us, we had been exposed to triathlon since a long distance race had been organized in our area since the mid 80s (Hof). We also had don multisport as part of cross country skiing training, swim-run, swim-run-rollerskiing, so the thought of multisport was not new. Was triathlon fun, yes. Was it hard, yes. Was the sport better than now? No.

 

These days the races are better organized, they are safer and you can even get equipment. A friend of mine did Hof triathlon (Ironman distance) without a wetsuit. 17 degree water and 3.8k swimming was cold. He started the bike with a feather jacket to warm up. These days you can get a good wet suit for $200.

 

Conclusion: every time you find something new and you are really enjoying it, it will soon be the good old times. You maybe had more fun, but the arena you did your sport in did not matter as much as you think.

What we should do is keep focusing on why we are doing the sport, the enjoyment of the challenge.

Monday, March 17, 2014

100 hours of training

Time is flying and it is mid March already. I can feel spring is in the air, I have allergy and the next months will be loud and interesting. On days with a lot of pollen I run or bike indoor to make sure I can get the workout done properly. But I am use to having allergy so this is my normal :-)

Training is going OK. Of course I wish that I could have done more, but to be honest I am happy with what I have done so far this year. I just passed 100 hours of training.

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As you can see my training is polarized.

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I feel that I am getting better, stronger and fitter. Not only because of my polarized training, but also that I now have several years of consistent training behind me.

First 100bars

 

With the weather getting better I can get some longer bike rides in, but I will try to maintain focus on running. Running is the best training for the endurance engine.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Are triathletes stupid customers?

The definition of a stupid customer is a person that buy everything in hope that it will solve a problem. A typical customer will buy some item that solve no problem, but it looked like a really good buy 3.30 at night on TV after too many beers, or even worse, anything from the Skymall catalog.

What about a fat burning creme.....

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Then, what about triathletes. Are triathletes stupid customers? To use a line from the movie Singles, "Sometimes". How can I say that? I can say that after watching triathletes in action. But here you have some products that have been in the triathlon spotlight over the last years, compression socks, Vibram fivefingers, mid/front foot shoes, no gluten, no carbohydrates, ice baths, solid food on the bike, magic bracelets etc. These are just some of the fabs the last years.

But one thing is true about the sport of triathlon. It is a first adapter sport. Nothing gets untested. But not all things should be tested at all and that is my point.

For anything related to the body, trust science. If the product has claims, how can the claims be proven. Do not trust anyone saying; test it and find out. You can say that science does not know everything, and that is true. If science knew everything it could stop. But claims should be backed up by verifiable facts, not stories.

There are no shortcuts or secrets to success. No magic blue pill (doping is cheating, remember), no hidden secret that will make you to a speed machine. A good example is the result of the fictional book Born to run. Many got caught in the wave of minimalistic shoes and had to find out that they were not 10 years old, 80 pounds Kenyans running to schools. Sorry, the running without cushioning is just stupid.

But on thing actual can improve your training and make you go faster. It is also free. Get more sleep :-)

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Monday, February 24, 2014

Post Olympic stress syndrom

The Olympic is over and now it is back no a normal day and night routine. It is hard to sleep when all of my favorite events starts around 2 AM. So how did my two countries Norway and the USA. Norway did OK, got a lot of medals but had problem with skis and the male cross country skiing team. The US did not have the games they had expected after a strong start of their up and coming cross country team. But luckily the sport is more than the Olympics.

A friend of mine from Drammen and my cross country days sent over some pictures. Those were the days.

Photo: This is from the state championship in relay. I am 15 and was light and in shape. After staring carefully I made my move and finished first on the first leg. In this picture I am number four in the line :-)

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This is my friend Anders who became Junior Norwegian Champion in relay, he was on the same team as Ole Einar Bjorndalen. That is cool :-)

And yes I am still training and it is going just fine. I am easy when I am suppose to be and now manage to push the intervals.

Photo: 4x8 minutes with 3m rest between on the trainer. That was hard #3atlet #ironman  #nxtri  #triathlon #cycling

But I am trying to be fearless in my training (or at least in my choice of t-shirt)

Photo: Trying to live up to my t-shirt @larsfinanger :-) #3atlet #triathlon #ironman

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Training in January, back to the future

I kept moving the months after Norseman, but it was more to keep moving than to get fitter. Fall is also the busiest time at work for me combined with a diet full of cookies around Christmas, January could not come at a better time. And January has been good.

Since I am my own coach now I have the pleasure to find out how I will work out. Should I be the TSS and threshold king, a Strava master or a boring Norwegian. I will be a boring Norwegian and it is a reason for that, it is science. I am actually going back to the way of training that I did when I was young, had speed and hair. I am going to be polarized.

I will follow the structure of polarized training, easy on easy days and hard on long intervals days, two hard days a week. If you wonder how this model works check out this presentation from Stephen Seiler, you get it http://www.canal-insep.fr/fr/training-periodization-deep-root-cultural-heritage-and-innovative-paradigms-2013/ei_13_10_va_pr_stephen_seiler-mov

Also I will recommend the discussion on Slowtwich http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Polarized_Training_-_Interesting_Lecture_Video__P4931310

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Trying to look smart on the treadmill.

With the polarized model it is important to keep the effort down on easy days, and up on hard days. I am now doing 4x8 both on the bike and running. It is hard, but I know it will work. So how did I do in January? Not bad according to this.

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I have start using the training diary from Olympiatoppen. It fits this kind of training better than Trainingpeaks.

 

 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Google "Norseman triathlon", and there I am

I just googled Norseman triathlon and on the front page as number three is my blog. This just confirm that I am obsessed with this fabulous race and that I maybe should go back one day :-)

Norseman search

 

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Training and competing is FUN

I have taking part in a discussion about what role triathlon has for individuals. And guess what, not everybody agreed. For me, training and competing is fun. Being a triathlete is not what I am. I am a person who also competing in triathlon. But I am also a husband, a dad, an employee and a geek.

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I have a feeling that many of the most serious age groupers newer competed in endurance sports when they were 12 – 20 years old and now are trying to catch up. This is of course just a guess. But I think that if you have trained on a high level before you can relax a little more since you put the sport in a bigger picture. The sport is not the picture.

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I like to run in the rain, in the cold and in warm weather. Why? Because I like to run, it is enjoyable. If I did not like to swim I would have done duathlon.

 

In the end for me competing and training for triathlon is an activity, not my life. So I have fun doing it, I have fun when the pain sets in, I have fun when I pass someone on a race, and I try to get back to the fun zone when someone pass me. Triathlon is not a description of my life, how I live my life is.

 

[caption id="attachment_363" align="alignnone" width="640"]This is how I have been feeling the last two weeks, being in a fog. This is how I have been feeling the last two weeks, being in a fog.[/caption]

Monday, December 16, 2013

Is technology killing the fun of working out?

If you participate in a race today you will see a lot of people wearing at least one device with the ability to give at least hear rate, but most likely speed and other information too. In the old days we only had a stop watch if we were lucky. Is technology killing the fun?

Technology will always keep progressing and the prices will go down. This is a fact. I sold Polar HR monitors in the nineties and to say it mildly, you get a lot more for your money these days. I have to say that the biggest step in sports technology has been GPS in combination with other data. Now we can get a really good picture of what we did, were we did it at what speed, heart rate and cadence. But, is technology killing the fun?

 

My short answer is no. Technology is optional. It should be used to improve the experience; help with motivation and help people get their but out the door. If you are a slave to your device, maybe you should try to adjust your relationship. But overall I have no problem with technology. We all are different and some like to look at nature when they are running, some like to look at their watch. The most important thing is that they are out running.

I have an on/off relationship to technology. Sometimes I use it to push myself and other times I just want to do everything on feelings.

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Maybe a bigger question is, have technology made us faster? Well we still have to push ourselves and do the job, so I guess for some people yes and for other no.

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My advice, do what works for you.

Friday, November 8, 2013

My speed at Norseman - in YouTube format

I did not race Norseman, I tried to survive. Now I can get a glimpse of my speed. The athletes placing one step in front of and right behind have made YouTube videos. You can even see a slow moving Halvard.

The guy who beat me.







The guy I crushed ;-)





Monday, November 4, 2013

Norseman 2014 - my little contribution

The lottery is over and happy athletes have gotten their spot at Norseman 2014. I have already been asked questions from several athletes lucky enough to get a spot, and I answer as good as I can.

I also got this nice feedback on Slowtwich from one of the elite women.

Norsemankudos

Monday, October 28, 2013

An article about me on www.skiaktiv.no

Saturday I had a nice talk with Ingeborg Scheve from the Norwegian endurance web site www.skiaktiv.no. Skiaktiv is focusing on endurance sports like cycling, running cross country skiing and have started with more triathlon coverage. Since I got interviewed it is quite obvious that the site is also covering more average age groupers and not only the fast ones.

You can read my interview here

Skiaktive

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

On the front page of my company's intranet site

I had a nice surprise Monday morning when a picture of me was on the front page  of my company's intranet site. I guess it is OK to be known for something other than being a compensation and spreadsheet nerd ;-)

Russell Norseman

Friday, October 4, 2013

My new coach is: ME

I have now hired the worst and most rude coach ever, myself. Why? Was I unhappy with my old coach? No, I have nothing but good thing to say about coach Tony DeBoom. He is not only a really knowledgeable coach, but he is a good guy. Tony took me from a coach potato to the black t-shirt at Norseman in under two years. And he did it with a lot of time constrains on my side. Best of all, Tony explained why he wanted me to do the different workouts, me made me a smarter athletes.  But for 2014 I do not have a big goal, so I will coach myself.

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So what is my plan for this winter?

I have limited of time so I will focus on VO2max training in the week and hopefully some longer rides/run in the weekend. When I know what races I will participate in I can make a more targeted plan. But now my goal is to increase VO2max and then add longer stuff in the spring.

One thing I will do is running hill intervals on the treadmill having this picture in my head. That hill kicked my butt so it is good to use for motivating.

 

Zombie

 

I will also try to get some swimming instruction. A good swim will always set you up for a good day in triathlon. I will never be a fast swimmer, but I have room for improvements.

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But most of all I will have fun. Training is fun. Getting my but kicked in competition is fun. Feeling in shape is a good feeling. And I might even get faster. It is easier now since I have two years of training in the bank.

Norseman bike

 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Norseman is done, now what?

When your bucket lists just has one race and you have done it, it is time to start thinking about what is next. What do I want to do with my triathlon/sport life in 2014? Should I get some new goals or is it time to just enjoy being active and race for fun?

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Why should I have a goal in the first place? A goal not only helps making training more structured, it adds motivation and it simplify the athlete experience by taking out noise. All of that is good, but it can only be as good at the goal itself (God I am getting philosophical here). So the next question is; what is a good goal? Norseman was a good goal for me. That race had several factor of my life incorporated so it was easy to get excited about and motivated for. Now I need to find other races with qualities that are interesting and make the heart rate increase.

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So far I am looking into Wildflowers in California, Pacific Crest in Bend Oregon or maybe I should do a triathlon camp with a lot of trading at a nice and challenging place. For 2014 I will not work out more, but I will race happy and enjoy being active. My list is not finished, so right now I do not know what I will do in 2014.

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Norseman 2013 video is out, and I am in it

For Norseman fans the official videos have always been a place to go for motivation when training is hard, the weather is bad and mood is down. Watching the athletes jumping of the ferry, battle the conditions and harvest the reward at the peak of Gaustatoppen can make even the hardest triathlete soft.

The 2013 edition is out and it is great. Even better, I am in it. You can see me at 4.27 of the video entering T2. But do not blink, I am there just for 1 second.Norseman427

One of my favorite pictures in the video is a aerial shot of the first part of Zombie hill. Damn, it is steep.

Zombie

So here you have the video.





Sunday, September 1, 2013

Norseman 2013: the conclution

I did it, I managed to accomplish my goal; finish at the peak of mount Gaustatoppen and get the black t-shirt. What I also set out to do was to enjoy the journey, and even though it was painful it was also enjoyable. Here you have my wrap up and conclusion of my race experience.

 

Before the race

You can race Norseman, or you can enjoy racing Norseman. I enjoyed racing Norseman, and one important part of it was the days before the race. I enjoyed spending time with my brother and dad. The drive to Eidfjord was nice, spending time in Eidfjord meeting other athletes, support crew, race organizers and take part of the social swim just added to the experience.

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The swim

I swam in 1.15 in difficult conditions. I am really happy with that. I managed to not drink and of the salt fjord water, kept my legs still and actually managed to have vertical forearm once in a while. My finish was the best, trying to get up from the water I had a big fall. Even I had to smile. Overall, the swim leg went better than expected and gave me a good start of the day.

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The bike leg

I was number 80 after T1 and number 80 after T2. How did that happen? The bike leg was challenging, it was long, steep, windy, rainy, cold, but also beautiful. I used 7.50, not only was that the longest I have ever been on the bike, the 180k is the longest I have ever biked. I manage to focus on myself, I did not use any power meter or bike computer. I was riding with a GPS and used the HR monitor to keep effort down in the last hill. What I am most proud of is that I raced my own race. I did not care if anyone passed me, I knew the biggest enemy was myself, not other athletes.

 

Norseman bike

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The Run (walk) leg

I got the amazing message that I was number 80 out of T2. I had the black t-shirt in reach, I just had to run a marathon and climb a mountain first. Knowing the fitness level, I knew I had to focus on myself during the run. It had to expect to have several athletes pass me. The first 20k went smooth to be me, I got passed but I was within myself. Then I got hit by my lack of eating and my energy level hit bottom. I can only blame myself. But when I got to the hill I knew I could enjoy the rest. Well, I was tired and the hill was steep and long. But I was walking with my brother and I knew I would get the black t-shirt. The rest of Norseman was more a journey than a race, and I was ok with that. I had a hard time from 32k - 37k, but then we hit the trail and we where joined by my dad. The last 5k are hard, but they went really good. And then I could se the finish and it was all over. The run leg went well, especially taking my fitness level in to consideration.

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But I have to remember I had the best ever support team with me and so much support from family and friends. Thank you all



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Nice surprise in my inbox

You do not need to win the lottery to become happy. Yesterday I got an email from a fellow Norseman participant, Inge Amlien. He sent me a picture of me on one of the last climbs of the bike leg. His support crew had taken the picture and he had found my name, search for my email address and then sent me the picture. That is such a nice gesture. Big thanks to Inge and his support crew.

Norseman bike

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

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

I was interviewed about Norseman on This Week in Triathlon

Now I have done it, my first live interview. Last week I was lucky to be interviewed about my experience at Norseman. I hope I did ok even though I sound like the Swedish Chef from Muppet Show (chocolate moose anyone...)