Q&A — JC - Thanks for your message. No, no intentions of turning Pro. I remember a quote from one of the older Ironman out there to the effect that "Life is really fun and there's just too much neat stuff to do".

Let me answer your question in two parts: what's the biggest thing I got out of watching them train and what's the biggest thing I got out of training with them? I tried to highlight my most significant observations in the daily posts, but with a few days of reflection, let me add these.

Watching them train - Although I can read about it, it wasn't until I saw it for 10 days that I realized -- these guys literally eat, sleep and train triathlon. Everything else is secondary. As the slogan for Gordo's coaching business goes -- the only limits we have are those we give ourselves. These guys are truly eliminating any limits they have. At the same time, they really enjoy the training. I can't see either of them looking back on this time and regretting that they weren't doing something else.

Training for me - Nutrition. What I realized after bonking the first couple of days is that before and during big training, I should not only eat when I am hungry, I should eat when I am no longer full! When I am properly fueled (and pace appropriately), I could hang with these guys pretty well. I think I do most of my long rides and races on the edges of dehydration/under fueled. I would suspect that my experience here is highly personalized and 5 other people may have found 5 other things. Bottom line, this type of training will find your weakness/limiter and put it in lights.

And finally, I have to mention that I've known Gordo for about two years (basically by phone, email and the occassional race), Wy about the same period with less contact, and never had met Clas or Barry. My biggest takeaway was that I genuinely liked these folks and would count them as friends even if we didn't share a sick obsession. I caught myself singing a little to the radio one day and had to laugh because it is not something I ever do in front of other people. It's a sign of how comfortable I was around the crew.

It's kind of fun answering these questions, so let me know if you have any more.

The Sam Man

Q&A — As a non-pro and someone with a full time job, do you think you COULD train like those guys day after day?
For these folks, training IS their full time job. I simply could not fit the training and recovery hours into a week that they do. Last week, with the exception of reading a book, I rode, ran, swam, ate, slept, stretched, got massaged, or vegged (more recovery). That being said, I can do a better job of using my time in order to maximize the training/recovery time (e.g. I recently realized that when I watch TV at night, I'm actually just tired and should go to bed. It helps that there is nothing good on these days!)

If you're asking if I could do what they do if I didn't have a full time job, Gordo is the proof of this.

Finally, I've been adressing volume. Their intensity was easy to steady all week. I went harder at times, but that was simply because I wanted the thrill of hanging with the big boys -- so I kept it mostly to the last day when recovery wasn't an issue.

I think the idea of that lifestyle sounds great but I know for me, there are days I would really have trouble getting out there to do anything. I could train day after day for a time but to do it day after day, year after year is something I wouldn't even want to do.
It's all a matter of choices. Frankly, I'm suprised I've stuck with the sport this much. I've got a friend who trained his tail off, went 10:08 in his first IM and never unpacked his bike box after that.

They must have a focus on the end result that I could never have for a triathlon. Can you offer any insight on what it is that drives them. Is it purely a love for the training or is it the desire to be the best or is it to win? or a combination.
Gordo has said on many occassions, and I think there have been some threads on this before, that he loves to train. G and Clas should probably answer this one more completely themselves. I do know that they are having a great time.

Did you ever hear or feel of a lack of desire or burnout?
No. That being said, I think Gordo has written about the blah's before. They're human.

Any insights into what Baron's goal are (ie. win Hawaii? Get a specific time?).
I do not know what Baron's goals are and I haven't talked to him about it. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that, with his talent and dedication, his goal is to be the best in the world. Then maybe he'll go back and be the Mayor of Mockfjard.

The Sam Man

27 March 2004 — Well, today was the last full day of fun for me. Tomorrow I head off after a run to Phoenix to catch a plane home. The rest of the gang is riding to Phoenix to spend a couple of days. I told the folks at work that I was going to take the week off to ride from San Diego to Phoenix. They will probably think I fell short of my goal when I tell them I didn’t get all the way to Phoenix.

Quite the contrary...

I’m not sure what I quite expected when I came on this trip, but it’s been a really fun nine days. The best way to describe it is a combination between a great camping trip, your best training days, and the camaraderie you enjoy after a race.

As today was my last day, I figured I could risk blowing myself up and getting my third strike. So after a quick swim in the Colorado River (sleeveless wetsuits were still a bit chilly!), we headed out of Parker, AZ for Wenden, AZ – about 60 miles. I was thinking about taking a good pull at some point, but before I had decided, Barry had moved to the front. Gordo said “Go ahead*” and I knew I was going to be caught in the middle between Barry and the asterisk. Sure enough, when Barry pulled off after a very solid pull, Gordo took over. We were flying along and I was hanging on for dear life. Luckily we had decided to stop about 8 miles up the road – so I knew my suffering had a limit. We pulled into the station and I, for one, was shelled, but very happy with the ride. After the stop, we had about 13 miles to our destination. About 6 miles out, I pulled up alongside Gordo and said “I know I’m going to suffer for this later, but it’s my last day!” And with that, I took the pull. For fun, I shifted up one gear, but soon decided that prudence should prevail and promptly shifted back. So, for about 20 minutes, I got a taste of what Gordo and the Baron consider easy to steady each day of our rides. Holy crap was I whipped. But it sure was a lot of fun. At about 500 meters to the RV park, I tried my best Petacchi impression, shifted and stood up on the pedals. Gordo, who had been riding beside me for the last mile, simply continued riding along in his aero bars looking over somewhat amused – a study in contrasts!

After the ride, I thought I’d go for the whole enchilada and do the transition run with the Baron (the new run course record holder for IMNZ – should have taken a clue from that). At any rate, I did survive the 30 minute run but I was running hard to mod-hard. Clas was running easy. Again, it was a study in contrasts.

Later, after I had packed my bike and had something to eat, I realized we had no libations to celebrate my last night on the tour. So, in order to pump up my resume for Epic Camp (hope Skid is reading), I borrowed Wy’s bike and Clas’ backpack and pedaled into town to pick-up some beer.

So that’s it. Tomorrow, it’s a short run with the boys and then a ride with Wy to the Phoenix airport. There was a lot of laughter on the trip and most of the comments are best not repeated in this forum. Suffice it to say that a recurring thought I had with many of Gordo’s comments comes from Jimmy Buffett – I’m growing older but not up.

As far as the training goes, I certainly got a lot out of the week and was quite challenged along the way. Aside from the first day, I didn’t end a ride alone. That’s the beauty of the bike draft and some cooperative terrain.

I can’t think of any other sport where the top competitors will let you train side-by-side with them. This week has been a real treat. Thanks guys.

The Sam Man

26 March 2004 — Yesterday was a very solid day. We were picked up by the Marines at 5:30am (or is that 0530?) to head to their LCM pool on the base. Everybody we ran into on the base was very cool and terribly polite and respectful. I can’t help but get a bit emotional when these folks call me sir – it’s me who should be calling them sir or ma’am.

Just for a bit of fun, I entered the water by way of the 10-meter diving platform. That was invigorating! I knew we were in for a big day of riding so I took the swim pretty easy. The water was also a bit chilly (G, Baron and Barry wore sleeveless wetsuits) and I got out early.

After breakfast we headed out. As soon as we hit State Highway 62, we were back into the groove, sucking Gordo’s wheel. It’s amazing how our bodies adapt to riding day after day. Its like my muscles would have a conversation with themselves:

Are we pushing these freaking pedals again?

Yep. It may just be a short ride so don’t bother going too hard.

No, he’s pushing pretty hard. We may be at this a while.

OK, might as well settle in for the long haul.

The ride, although scenic, had few distractions. One road, five turns, four stop signs in 100 miles. Although we all headed out with lots of water, the day was hot and dry and we were running low at about 75 miles with no civilization in sight. Up ahead a few palm trees appeared. I could feel Gordo slightly lifting the pace (he’s mentioned earlier that we were stopping at the next store) in anticipation of a gas station/mini mart. As we got closer, I got more skeptical that there was actually anything there. Sure enough, we arrived to nothing more than the former site of a gas station (Wy got some pictures of this spot – it’s a beauty). Here’s how I remember the conversation between the Baron and Gordo:

G: Wy should be pretty close now, let’s wait for her here.
B: We can’t keep going?
G: I ran out of water 2 hours ago.
B: Here, have my water, we go now?
G: You go, I’m waiting for Wy.
B: Why not wait while you’re pedaling up the road?
G: If you want to go, go. I’m waiting for Wy.

Wy arrived about 15 minutes later and we sucked the RV dry of any liquid it contained. Needless to say, the Baron had headed off 15 minutes earlier.

After our stop, the ride got a bit more interesting with an actual intersection with a mini-mart, then the Colorado River, then the Arizona state line and finally a left turn. An actual turn after 120 miles of riding. I could tell I was getting a bit tired as my bike handling skills started to slip a bit (e.g. I kept riding up on Gordo).

Finally, we rolled into the campground. I’ll let Gordo write about the mis-communication and extra mileage he and the Baron put in. For my part, I was glad to have hung on for 120 miles and made it in one piece.

The Sam Man

24 March 2004 — Today's story is about Gordo and the asterisk. I've noticed that often when I am talking to G there is an asterisk after what he says. Its invisible and its up to me to figure it out. For instance, on our ride into town today, once again I'm feeling good on the climb and that devil pops up on my shoulder and says "you know, you could catch up to the The Baron". I'm still remembering Sunday's adventures and relate this story to Gordo. He says "sure, you could probably catch him*". I didn't make a big effort to catch the Baron but rolled a bit ahead of G over the top. At this point Gordo apparently decided to enforce the asterisk. What was the asterisk? The unspoken footnote? "Sure go ahead, but I will crush you when we hit the flats!" And Gordo proceeded to do just that. It's a funny thing about a draft on the bike -- its your lifeline to the paceline so you'll do anything to hang on including working so hard you risk getting your tongue stuck in your spokes. I told Gordo later on that he could have run me into a wall or off a cliff and I wouldn't have seen it coming. All I saw was his rear wheel about 10 inches in front of me. 29 Palms could not have come at a better time.

I did the run this morning and cut the swim shorter than the other folks to rest up for tomorrow. It's going to be a big day and I'm fearing 5 hours like the last 30 minutes of today's ride!

On other point, my HR has not nearly seen the highs of the first couple of days. Day 1, I was sitting at 160 for a good portion of the ride. I hit that maybe once on the big ride yesterday and not at all today. When I was dying, motorpacing behind the g-train, my HR was still not that high, but my legs were feeling like they were about to drop off. I talked to Gordo about this and he said "you know what we need to do about that?" I cut him off before he answered with "Continue to punish me like you did today?" And the discussion dissolved into more laughter. Sometimes you can't get all the training questions answered...

The Sam Man

23 March 2004 — The stories of my death have been greatly exaggerated – What’s a normal guy doing riding with Gordo and The Baron?

I thought that regular folks on the board might appreciate some “normal” perspective on gRAAM to date. By way of background, this is the second season I’ve been working with g. I’ve got a full-time job and a family like most other folks and trying to “keep the plates spinning” as Ben Travis put it on our run last night. This year when Gordo told me about his tour across the US, he suggested that I might join him for a bit of it. This was an interesting offer and I knew right away that the ONLY option was to join them at the start when they were the least “fit”. I put fit in quotes because these guys could probably do an IM tomorrow and crush most everybody. They may not feel too good afterward, but they could knock it out. And so, with the blessing of my family, I have embarked on a week of big training.

I caught up with Gordo and Clas in San Diego on Friday. Gordo and I had pre-arranged to do some lactate testing on the bike and things kicked off with some pretty good results. Saturday morning the real tour began with morning masters at UCSD. The 90 minute swim would normally be my big workout of the day, but that was just a warm-up to the ride. I won’t repeat all the details Gordo posted. As for me, I got a bit dehydrated (hot day = need to drink more. Pretty basic, huh) and cut the out-and-back short to meet them (“out-and-back” being a euphemism for Palomar climb!). Had some more hydration issues on Day 2 and spent most non-training hours of Day 3 hydrating and eating. Today I was back: rehydrated and smarter. I toned down the intensity, ate a ton, had a great ride and got back to base camp before Clas headed out on his transition run (Gordo’s was to come later). Check out Gordo’s report later. This was a great ride.

Let me close with some observations to date:

• This week is a marathon, not a sprint. Case in point: climbing with Gordo and the Baron on Sunday and I notice a gap start to form between them. I’m feeling good at the time and ride up to Clas. Sure it was fun for a while, but ultimately had the result of blowing me up for a second day. Let’s just say I’m smarter now.
• I can probably handle most of the distance of the rides, but trying to stay with G and the Baron at their pace is a much harder workout for me (think upper, upper-steady).
• It’s fun to eat massive amounts of good food! (Wy is a great cook!)
• The info on the Tri-Forum is all Gordo, but all Gordo is not on the Tri-Forum
• Kerri Behrens can ride
• There are a lot of really great triathletes across the US – especially in the Palm Springs area!
• This is really fun
• I miss my family and wonder what’s going on at work.