I have signed up for Norseman 2013

Talk is cheap, now I have taken the first step. I have signed up for Norseman 2013. Hopefully I will be on the ferry August next year. Well signing up is not guaranteeing a spot in the race. With only 250 participants each year I need some luck also. So triathlon Gods, I have been a good boy and have not pushed anyone down during the swim, drafted on the bike or cut the course during the run. Can I please get a spot........

 



Norseman is my "Kona". I just need to qualify first.

Is Kurt my friend?

It is fall and almost all my bike rides will be inside going forward. Using a trainer is a great way to get bike fitness in a safe and effective manner. No downhills, no drafting, just good training. It is only on problem, I am spending all mine time in my garage.

 

This could be a bad thing and I it could make all my bike workouts extremely boring. But I am actually having no problem spending time on the trainer. How? First of all it is a safe way to train, much safer than being on the road. Second it is a good workout. Today's trainers are really good. Third, it is the fastest and best way to get all the biking in while balance work, family and training. Fourth, I am getting updated on all kind of old sports thanks to Internet. I have even watched the season opening in cross country skiing from Beitostoelen in 1987 (yes I am a nerd..)

So I guess Kurt is actually my friend.......

You can do it!

Now it is real. The Norseman registration is starting October 27. The talk is over, now it is action. Of course it is not easy to get a spot, but I am hopeful I will be lucky.

I have to applaud the Norseman organization for the lottery rules. They are trying to keep the event as a world event, not just by Norwegians for Norwegians.

After I have submitted the application. You can read about the process here, I still have to wait to hear the final decision. Maybe this time the triathlon God is on my side.

In the meantime I have to tell myself I can do it. Or I can get help from this guy....



 

Almost time to sign up time for Norseman 2013

It is fall and this fall will be different. I am constantly checking the website to the Norseman race. Why? Because Norseman 2013 is my goal. But of course nothing is easy when it comes to Norseman. The race is hard by itself, but it is equally hard to get a spot so you can race. This is from the website.

Norseman 2012 is fully booked. Enrollment for 2013 will open in early October.

To enter the lottery we will have a full week open for registration, so this is not first come first serve.

• There will be an elite quota where a jury will select athletes based on merits.


• A lottery of the majority of the slots.


• By invitation by the Race Director.

To enter the race we will have a full week open for registration, so this is not first come first serve.

The lottery will have quotas for for Norwegians vs Foreigners and Male vs Female.

http://www.nxtri.com/news/norseman_2013

As you can see, I need some luck to get in. So this October I will fill in an application and then start pleasing the triathlon God by training hard.

Happy feet

Once in a while I am lucky and just get some kind of equipment that is better than expected. By chance I bought some cycling shoes in 2008. It was Shimano SPDSL. Why did I buy them? They felt good on my feet in the store.

 

I have used them with thick socks, thin socks and without socks. I have used them in training and competitions. The shoes just fit. I have happy feet.



 

One day I have to replace them, but right now they are my keeping my feet happy.

Some inspiration for fall training

The summer of 2012 is over. It is getting darker and even more of the training has to be done inside. So how can I keep the motivation when my big goal Norseman 2013 is so far away? Well, I can get a reminder of why I want to jump of the ferry, bike over the mountains and concur Gaustatoppen. The 2012 Norseman video will be my secret helper when I am on the bike in the garage.

Grand Columbian Triathlon Race Report

It was time for my second half Ironman distance race this year (and ever). My choice was the classic Grand Columbian Triathlon at the Grand Coulee Dam in eastern Washington. I chose this race due to the hard bike course and that I have never been in that part of the state. I did not get disappointed.

Trifreaks is the organizer of the Grand Columbian Triathlon. The race is low key, but honest and filled up with athletes wanting to race hard but have fun at the same time. I hope more athletes will show up next year, this race deserve more racers.

The area around the Grand Coulee Dam is quite amazing.



And of course the dam



Swim:

This must be the most athlete friendly swim in triathlon. The water is clear and best of all, the organizer has a sight line between the buoys. Yes, you can keep your head down and just swim. Another perk is wave start, good job Trifreak.

My goal was to start in a controlled manner and focus on keeping a good form all the way. I have to say I succeed, I felt strong the whole way and had a positive experience. I tried to be as flat as possible in the water so my hamstrings had to work hard, more on that later.

Swim time: 33 minutes (not bad to be me)



Bike:

The bike course is hard and the road surface is not exactly smooth. Out of T1 you have 10 feet of flat road before you start climbing. The course also have a lot of false flats. Overall it was a great course.



My coach Tony DeBoom came up with the following challenge: Bike hard, really push it and then we will see what happen on the run. Trust me, something happen on the run.....

I did manage to start in a controlled manner. It was a lot of climbing in the start but I pushed hard but not too hard. I kept the effort up until it was 20 miles left, then I really start pushing. My legs did not feel good, my hamstrings were tight and they felt just a little heavy. But I am really happy with my effort, I pushed through on a not so perfect day.

Bike time: 2.59

Run:

I tried to start slow, it was not easy but I managed quite well. The run went really well until half way. 10 meters after the turnaround my right hamstring start cramping. I stretched and tried to focus on high turnover. It went OK until I had 4 kilometer left. My legs had started to pay the price for not feeling fresh before start and for pushing hard on the bike. Before the last hill I got some coke and then I start walking up the hill. Running up was out of the question. At the top of the hill I was looking forward to cruise down to the bridge, then both my legs started to cramp up. I started laughing since my running form now looked like a two year old in diapers. Well I managed to get to the finish line and then I sat down and did not move for a while. Without the problems in the end I would have been around 1.48.

Running time: 1.53





Result:

I ended up 5 in my class and 13 overall.



Conclusion:

I am satisfied with the race. I could have been better with nutrition, I could have made sure to get a massage the week before so my legs would feel better and I could have hold back on the bike. I pushed hard on the bike and felt the results on the run. It is important to get to know my own body and this was quite a learning experience. But most of all, I had FUN.

Garmin file run

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223719082

Garmin file bike

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223719077

The big question, how long will this stay on?