Chisago Long Course 2009, Tacky style.

Hey folks! I finally got my Tri groove on again. As we were waiting for the gun to go off this morning I remember telling Iron Jenny that the last Triathlon I had competed in was this one....a year ago!

The Kona qualifier, if you will. Ironman requires at least a 70.3 or greater distance tri to be completed prior to Kona. So basically here's how that worked. I finish...I get to race in Kona. That is clearly the easiest way I'll ever get to IM World Championships. LOL

I guess the fact that I headed to this triathlon alone was really the first part of a strange, but overall good day. Trimama has regularly accompanied me to races and if not her, some other tri buddy like Tri Thunder Kraught. I made it pretty early (5:30am) got my race number, chip ect and unpacked all my transition gear. Then chatted with friends throughout the rest of the morning until race time.

Gun goes off. I was in wave 7, about 50 of us or so. My swim went really well, I've been working on a new technique. I used to enter my stroke near my head, but was taught recently (Steve Gunther) that it is better to reach my arm over a pretend barrel and land in the water and then pull through. Yeah, that worked pretty good. Took 8 minutes off my time from last year. 32 minutes.

Caught my breath in transition and got off on the bike. LOVE this course. Really flat and fast with slight rollers, but overall you are going to make good time. I ended up in transition by 3:25, which for me is very good time.

The run. Ugh. I can not tell what exactly happened, but the run just plain sucked. I just never felt strong throughout. I ended up with a 2:20 run where I was expecting closer to 2 hrs flat. Life has thrown old Tacky a few curves this week between weighty family issues and difficult work conditions. I literally could feel the wait of that during the run portion of this race. Needless to say running into the entire Tribe and Trimama at mile 8 was VERY encouraging!!!

Finished in 5:49. For Tacky that was a PR and I was just glad to be officially 'qualified' for Kona.

More crazy work stuff this week as well, but we will persevere. I guess my career in Triathlon has really prepared me for this time in life. One of perseverance despite current feelings, thoughts and doubts. :) Yea God.

Talk soon,

Tacky

Getting Closer

Hi anyone who still reads this. Tac Boy here.

Yes I have been off the blogs for quite some time now due to life. The good news is that we are getting very close to a final funding situation with our start up company. The Bad news (although with God as our ultimate Provider there is a disclaimer here) we are destitute financially. :)

Trimama has been a huge support to me during this difficult period and believes in both my vision for where were going as a tribe and in the God who states that He is Good.

Pray for us in Christ's name!

Kona

Yep I have begun the Kona training. I'm finding that this time around a reliance on my instinct for what training needs to occur is fine. I have had some long rides already (including the Ironman Wisconsin course) and am working on getting my run miles up. The whole Kona thing is both amazing and perplexing right now. On one hand, what a huge privilege to be the only lottery winner from Minnesota to represent. On the other hand, our financial situation is so precarious right now that thinking of trying to get out to Hawaii in October is quite beyond me. But train I must and train I will.

I am not at full liberty to speak yet, but am excited about some opportunities that may present themselves to me regarding raising charity funds for my race in Kona. I will say that Trimama and I desperately want to adopt at this time and this passion will be the focus of our fundraising through Kona and maybe beyond!

If Bigun would ever call me, I might podcast. Let him know that his preoccupation with his start up company is really getting in the way of the Tacboy n' Bigun Podcast!

Thanks for reading,

Tacky

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