Hawaii State 40Km TT - While Looking For A Bike Mechanic...

My triceps and neck are really aching today...

On the way out near Kahana Bay...

On the way back with a downed arm rest...

Yesterday, in the State TT, I had some pretty good legs and did a 59:11 in spite of both my arm rests moving down a good 1/2-inch from when I started. And although I broke and hour, and although I would have been happy in the past...last year I did a 57:40...so I wasn't really satisfied.

My left arm pad dropped about 2/3rds of the way out when I went over a bump in the road...the right side dropped on the way back over some other bumps.

When TTing at 110%...having an equipment problem is not good. Hence, the sore triceps by trying to support my weight from the ends of the aerobar extensions - to get my front end higher, and the sore neck trying my best to make like a love bird trying to see what's in front. I even tried several times to pry the arm rest up...but they wouldn't budge.

The downed arm rests made bike control difficult in the crosswinds cause I couldn't counter steer with the arm rests...that made riding dangerous. And my crotch also started really hurting cause instead of supporting a good portion of my weight on the pads, I had to take way more on the seat, which affected my pedal stroke cause now I was trying to hold my self up off my sore crotch while arching my upper body with the front of the aerobars. In fact, on the way back, I had to stop pedaling and stood up several times to give myself some neck/chest/triceps/crotch relief. (Next year I'll remember to do some triceps curls, butterflies and neck exercises.)

Not the Happy Camper...

*$%#&?! Aerobar Armrests...
How it's suppose to be...

Although it felt pretty windy yesterday, a lot of people did the same times as last year. Some of those with new areo bikes, like Barry M. went 3 minutes faster. Some went a little slower. But, under yesterday's conditions, there was a new course record set by Mike Z. with a 53:37.

Quite a smoking time I would say...what I find unbelievable though...is that even with that kind of speed, when racing against some of the best domestic pro's in last weeks Mt. Hood Classic, Mike was just getting hammered by those guys. Kind of makes you realize how fast the fast guys really are...and lets not even talk about the best euro pros or LA!!!

2008 State 40km TT Results: http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/Hawaii_State_Time/Overall.htm

Sumo and MORE VOG!!!

SUMO: Don't know what's happening, but, both Yokozunas AND Kotooshu all LOST tonight! The most exciting match was the last one when Kaio beat Asashoryu - for probably the first time in a long time!

VOG: TODAY, the vog was really really really bad and has caused me NOT TO RIDE for the last two days...hope this won't affect this weekend's State TT :-(

Sumo...New Yokozuna??? and VOG!

SUMO: Wow...not the status quo in sumo...for this tournament at least.
Last night, Kotooshu beat Yokozuna Asashoryu. Tonight, Kotooshu beat Yokozuna Hakuho!!!
Kotooshu is now UNDEFEATED and perhaps there is a new Yokozuno in the making...

VOG: Can't believe it but, the VOG has been moving in and out every-other-day and was back again today. Yesterday, spent about 1 hour on my TT bike dialing in the position as the air was really clear. Today...no riding due to heavy VOG!!!

VOG Go Away!!! - FOREVER!!!

Voggy Moon Over Diamond Head..
Autostitch Pic - Lagoon Drive Looking Into The City - Not So Voggy By This Afternoon...

Lucky for tomorrow's Honolulu Triathlon racers, the VOG looks to be clearing - hopefully for everyone, it will really clear out by tomorrow morning. Due to the VOG, I haven't ridden since last Sunday, ran since Monday, and even cancelled out on doing the Honolulu Triathlon.

From the looks of yesterday's heavy VOG, it looked like it would never clear. This morning, the VOG again was also very bad...but thankfully started getting a little clearer by noon, and even better this afternoon. So much better, in fact, that I did a little ride down to lagoon to take that Autostich picture above. You could tell that the VOG as still around though, as there was always a bitter taste on my lips...

Super Worst Ever VOG!!! Puts Honolulu Tri in ? (for me)

Driving Down Lagoon Drive At Sunset - No Training Today...
7:00pm Today....Took Lucy w Me...Voggy Honolulu Backdrop...
Got sore shoulders today...

Since I was (am?) really considering doing the Honolulu Triathlon I decided that after Tuesday night's weak swim, I needed to see how it would be in "real" ocean water. So yesterday, I went over to Ala Moana and did 1k.

It's really amazing how much more buoyant you are in the ocean...way easier. I just cruised from the center buoy to Magic Island (500m) in just under 12 minutes. Thinking the current is usually way easier going back down, I figured it would be faster. But with these Kona's, it was slightly harder and I took about 13 minutes going back.

So...about 25 minutes for 1k, considering I swam all zig-zag and stopped many times to get my bearings, I figure if I was in a pack drafting, and if someone who swims straight was leading, I could easily take 2 minutes or more of that time. I figure...I would take about 31 to 35 minutes to swim the 1.5k...IF I do the race.

What's really putting it into question is this crappy d@mn a$$ vog!!!!!

Today...has got to the the ALL TIME WORST EVER - way worse than in that post below. At 12 noon, you couldn't even see the mountains or Diamond Head from Lagoon Drive!!! Even the TV stations agree!

VOG TV Reports:
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/6520/40/
http://www.kitv.com/video/16284201/index.html

Training (or racing) in this stuff is HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. The forecast is for it to clear by Sunday, but who knows!!! Just walking around outside leaves a weird muck all over your skin...and who know what it's doing to your lungs!!! I even saw one Nihon-jin today on Nimitz riding his tri-bike, probably checking out the bike course...I hope his lungs held out!!!

SO...I didn't register...and, today is the deadline for the $135 fee...

ALERT - according to the 10pm news, it looks like this stuff will be hear till MONDAY!!!!!!! I don't think I will be racing - not to mention training!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAaaaarrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Video of Vog From Lagoon Drive

Honolulu Triathlon??? ホノルルトライアスロン

I'm considering doing the 2008 Honolulu Triathlon for one and ONLY one reason - the awesome bike course. The bike is a completely CLOSED COURSE almost 40k, pretty flat, very smooth and should be VERY FAST. What a chance to just "let it rip" without having to worry about any TRAFFIC!!!

Course: http://www.honolulutriathlon.com/downloads/HNL08coursemap.pdf

Got to decide quickly (by Thursday) though...

INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC DISTANCE REGISTRATION -
$110.00 until March 31, 2008
$135.00 until May 15, 2008

INDIVIDUAL SPRINT DISTANCE REGISTRATION -
$80.00 until March 31, 2008
$100.00 until May 15, 2008

Considering the 3 aspects of the race:

Bike = 40k Easy as pie...
Run = 10k Probably hard, semi manageable...but walking possible...
Swim = 1.5k ??? DNF???...today...maybe impossible...stop swimming = sinking...

To test if I could do the almost 1 mile swim, tonight I headed over to Salt Lake pool to swim for the first time in probably 2 years or so.

Set up in the 25 yard short course way, I don't even think I got over 200 yards till the arms and shoulders felt like lead weights. Probably got to a total of about 800 yards, in 100 yard increments, then called it quits. My shoulders hurt and it's not looking good for a decision by Thursday.

I would consider doing the shorter Sprint race - but, the Sprint bike would only be 20k (or less) and that would be just too short (and expensive) to be waking up that early for...

Btw...seems to be their expecting a large Japanese contingent because they even have a Japanese registration site: http://www.sponavihawaii.com/