I just read you blog post and notice your profile comment of having to learn to swim. I was in the same boat, having to learn to swim as an adult..anyway great job in Clearwater Jerry and best of luck in you quest to qualify for Kona!

For a newbee in the world of triathlons, I'd say you were born to be one. How did you like Boise? I was considering it for 2009.

As for swimming, after 7 years, I still hate it. It takes too much mental power. However, I've been swimming with a great Masters group they make it tolerable. It proves the article I read long ago was right "Even Runners Can Swim". Maybe not great, but we can swim.

Thanks. I know what you mean about hating the swim...someday it believe it will feel comfortable and then I will be a force...until then, it is all about getting through it. I have heard masters groups really make it fun and help a ton in getting fast. Unfortunately, my area doesn't have one. Small town. In fact, I have to swim in a 19 yd pool...how's that for making it even more intolerable?

Boise. This may be alittle long winded. I did this race because it is pretty much my home town so it seemed like a great first 1/2. I wasn't feeling great at the race but I still had a great time but I was not sure if I was planning to do it. The main reason was because of the hike a bike to transition the day before and the morning walk up the dam.(read on and I explain about the hike-a-bike) But they announced they are going to start the race in the afternoon -I think it is a 1pm start. It is the only Mdot race with an afternoon start. I always complain about how early they want us to get in the water and I apparently will hike my bike for a afternoon start.

Boise is awesome in the afternoon and evenings. It is almost always calm and the temp is warm but not usually a cooker in June. Best yet, the downtown district where the race ends is meant to be experienced in the evening. So it will be a nice finish.

Overall here is what you need to know. Hike-a-bike: The swim is at Lucky Peak Reservoir. Which is a few miles east of Boise. The water is still pretty cool that time of year from snow melt in the hills. Since it starts and ends in two different locations there a bit of some hassle setting up transition. The normal parking area is closed so you have to park at the bottom of the dam. It is about a 1/2-3/4 mile of a pretty good grade of walking -in dirt from the parking area to the transition area. Be prepared to carry your bike most of the way because the area is known for goat heads (puncture vines). Or bring a gear back pack and ride up the Highway. Also remember to give your self time to walk up the hill in the morning or plan on taking the shuttle bus either way you still need to walk up the hill.

Poor spectator options on swim/bike. The other hassle is they close the highway for several hours at the start of the race so your race fans may prefer to stay at the Hwy 21 warm spring junction if they want to see the pro’s finish or see you somewhere else on the bike course. Otherwise they will only see you at the swim and the end of the run

I CANNOT imagine swimming in a 19 yd pool. My hat (or helmet) is off to you to persevere enough in a small pool to learn how to swim. I also cannot imagine swim training without a group. Anytime I go alone, I work half as hard, half as much. Some friends, who were going to do IM Wisconsin last year, were bad swimmers. I told them they HAD to get some structured swim training and it was going to be early every Monday morning starting in November. I set up the training knowing it would get me swimming one more time each week. It worked. Your swim at Clearwater wasn't that bad either.

Boise sounds good . . . and bad. The bad - cold water. I did one 1/2 IM this year in Lake Michigan with 58 degree water. I hyperventilate in cold water. It's scary. Spectator viewing? It's nice to have people out there but, I've done races without good spectator support and I'm okay. Of course, if I was the spectator, I might have a different opinion. What are the roads like on the bike? And, do we get some shade on the run??? And, yes, I also do NOT like early morning starts except, I also do not like racing in the heat of the day. If you guarantee me it will not be warm at 1:00 pm, that would be great. I have problems staying hydrated and more often then not, I'm in the medical tent after the longer races.

So, what is on the horizon for 2009? Back to Clearwater? Coeur d'Alene? It's got nice cold snow melt water???

Learning to swim in 19yd pool wasn't so bad. I had a hard enough time learning to get across it; I didn't really mind that it was short. But then I drove to Carson City, NV for lessons... they have a 50yd pool. After that I was pretty bleak about doing 5 lengths for a 95yd swim or 6 lengths for a 102 meter swim. As for pushing myself, that isn't a problem. I am used to doing almost all of my workouts by myself and I find the best way to make them interesting is to make it a competition against you. That makes the hard day bearable but the easy days drive me nuts. I have lofty goals so I just have to do it. I wanted to get less than 35min this year, which I thought was pretty aggressive. It was the goal I felt I was most likely to NOT achieve, but I did it in two races. The best advice I got came from Wes Hobson. He spent an hour with me as a favor to a mutual friend. He took 2 minutes off my time in that one session. If you are ever in Boulder, CO he often holds free master workouts at one of the sport clubs. I recommend you look him up. For 2009 I am going for under 30. Do you think it is possible? Some days I think so, some days I'm not sure.

Funny I hyperventilate in cold water too. Do you think it is a runner thing? Boise was reported at 59 degrees last year, but it felt a bit warmer. I did my very 1st tri in 58 degree water, I didn't finish the swim.

The roads are great in the beginning and end but the middle is "chip seal”. This is larger gravel asphalt (rougher surface) that you often find on rural country roads. It isn't uncomfortable but it is slower. The run is almost all shade and along a river so it gives a cooling effect.

I am pretty incredible, but I don’t have much experience with weather forecasting but I am going to go out on a limb and guarantee you that the weather with be a high of 80, low of 54, partly cloudy, slight breeze from the east and no humidity. That just so happens to be the typical weather for June 15th. :) Unfortunately, I don't have anything to back that guarantee up with other than I will return the money you paid me if it is any hotter. Since Boise has almost no humidity 80’s is pretty darn comfortable.

For 2009 I have two elite 1/2 marathons scheduled (ING and San Diego) I hope to place in the top 5 women. And then I will be starting my triathlon season out with Wildflower, Boise 70.3, Life Time Fitness Minneapolis, Boulder 5430, I haven't decided if I am interested Clearwater again or if I

Let see, on the hyperventilating, I've been given the solution. TRAIN IN COLD WATER. I don't like that solution so the next was to get in the cold water before the swim and get acclimated. I've tried that and still hyperventilated. So, I'm still stuck with having to sacrifice my swim time by starting slower until I get acclimated.

Under 30 minute swim? For as strong an athlete as you appear to be, with some extra swimming and maybe coaching this winter, I think it's doable, even in a 19 yd pool. I have a pretty good swim coach and masters group. The men and women both ranked in the top 15 masters teams last year at Nationals and took home 90+ medals. Most of them were college and a few olympic level swimmers so I'm kind of the token triathlete in the end lane.

With the perfect venue and weather forecast for Boise, I'm left with only one dilemma. I was going to have fun and race more around home this year. In 2010, I age up and that's the year I want to really get focused on. If I can't out race my competition, I plan on out living them. I've been trying to qualify for Kona now for 7 years and, after awhile, you wish you could just not have that tiger to wrestle with for one year. It get's pretty physically and mentally consuming. I'm signed up IM Wisconsin again but I'm not sure how much I'll focus on just that. Also, since I signed up for IM Louisville which is 2 weeks before Wisconsin, I'm not sure what I'm trying to accomplish. (Long story why I signed up for both of them)

You've picked some great race with some great competition for next year. Not sure why you stayed out of competition for 11 years but it seems like the drive to succeed is back. I'll be looking for your name at the top of the list.

I don't really like your hyperventilating solution. But I will consider it. I immagine you have a few open water options in WI though? Mine are frozen over until June.

There is alot to be said for getting a mental break. I recomend you take it now rather than later. Not taking it now, may result in a 11 year revolt against organized athletics. I got very few breaks between season expecially in college I went from sept -Dec in xcountry, Jan to April in indoor track, April to June in outdoor track June to sept in summer circuit. 5 years of that burned me out. Take the break, it is what creates the drive. I am lucky. I used the 11 years off to be very successful in business so now, I can be dedicated and not have to worry about working. My husband was a former pro cyclist so I also have a very understanding spouse. He values fitness and results over money so I don't get any guilt trip for traveling, not working or spending stupid amount of money on my bike.

We have the USA Ski and Snowboard PT and sports medicine lab near where I live. They graciously let me use there facilities. I spoke with an Exercise Physiologist ther about your cramping on the later part of the bike and dehydration after the events. I had was wondering if your issued are truly dehydration it sounds like a glucose issue to me. Answer me this, does the cramping, exhastion and nausiousness usually supside around 20-30 minutes after you lie down and get fluids? If so, I think you may need more food on the bike not more water.

How many calories do you consume? And in what form?

How much water do you consume? Have you ever done a sweat rate test when training?

Do you ever have similar experiances in training?

GOOD LUCK on you very agressive 2 week IM cram. You are a brave man. I will look for your results.

Thanks for the feedback. I was pretty sure you would not like the hyperventilation solution either.

The dehydration has been a problem ever since I start running 25 years ago. I've never had a lab sweat rate analysis but have used my bathroom scale on many occasions. Basically, I sweat more then I can absorb. I had Lauren Jenson, pro triathlete, coach me one year and we never solved it. I can take 30-40 oz fluid an hour and a gram of electrolytes and still dehydrate and cramp. My post race trips to the medical tent have been from 30 minutes to 2+ hours and several IV's. I use to use Accelerade but I now use Gleukos, an energy drink created out in Oregon for runners. Clif bars / Power Gel on the bike and Power Gel on the run. I usually have my hydration / nutrition detail planned out but it doesn't always work out. Bike cramping is nearly always on my right leg. I've been on 3 bikes, 3 bike fitters (all considered top line), and multiple visits with physical therapists, massage therapists and chiropractor. Thanks to me, my sports doctor was able to send his kids to Notre Dame. In the winter, I come in from an hour run and have one inch icicles hanging from my hat from sweating. My engine was just not made to do what I want it to do. But, I'll keep trying . . . sooner or later, I'll find the right combination. I don't know if it's because I've gotten smarter or just slower, but I'm gotten through more races the last two years with fewer trips to the medical tent. Ten years ago, I did a 100 mile trail run without cramping so I know going slow I can stay hydrated.

I also have a very supportive spouse who is a professional spectator. My youngest son does IM Wisconsin every year with me. My oldest son is a once-a-year marathoner. My oldest daughter was a college sprinter who is now occupied by 3 of my grand kids. My youngest daughter, who's husband is a 2 time Kona triathlete, is also a mother of 3. She has juvinile diabetes. As soon as her youngest gets through the terrible 2's, she'll be on the road back to serious running. So our household speaks a lot of race talk.

And I will look for you in the pro ranks soon.