Jared's past year or so.  

One year ago I watched Andy Potts and Jessie Donavan win as well as countless others smile, grimace or fall as they cross the Ironman Lake Placid finish line.  If you’re unaware, the race is so popular that you must volunteer at the race in order to register.  This has been Matt and my plan for some time now and the past two years we have volunteered on the course.  After our shift on the bike and run courses where we saw so many athletes, including professionals, bike and run right past us, we made our way to the finish to take in one of the most amazing things you will ever see. Watching people achieve their goal of crossing the finish, thousands of others waiting for their spouse, friend, family member, all cheering on everyone.  It truly is a showcase of the human spirit.  Matt and I woke up early the next day and got in line at 5am to spend hard earned money on signing up for the most difficult race of our lives.  Standing in line remembering how much a marathon hurt and how exhausting a half-iron race is, I carefully filled out the paperwork and swiped my card.  Hands shaking.  Done.  Now it’s all on me.

My next half-iron distance race, was only a few weeks later. It didn’t go as well as I had hoped, although I did PR which is always a win.  I knew my preparation for Placid would need to be different.  We took a little time off, jumped back into marathon training and ran a very fun overnight relay race from Saratoga to Lake Placid.  Running to Placid with our relay team brought it all back, how much the race and the area would mean to me.  After the last race of the season I took some time off to reflect and plan on what would be the biggest year of my life.

I knew in order to set myself up for a successful race, as well future races, that I would need to get lighter.  I have competed in triathlon and running races for the past few years running at a weight around 250lbs.  I no longer wanted to just be the “big guy” running.  I took a serious look at my diet and decided that it needed a big changed.  I went with a plant-based diet starting in January.  I knew that I would need to fuel myself through the toughest training block of my life and quality foods would give me the best opportunity to do this.  I told myself that If I wasn’t getting enough nutrients, if I felt weak or tired (beyond just ironman training) that I would readjust my diet to fit my needs.

Indoor bike trainer workouts started in December.  These consisted of Matt and I watching movies and sweating in his living room.  These continued through the winter until we could finally get on the open road.  I tried to do most of my runs outdoors but ended up spending more time on a treadmill this year than ever before much to my dismay as (I dislike treadmills).  The swim is more about technique than anything else,. So this winter I studied and practiced good swim technique.  I won’t be the first one out of the water but I have improved my swim quite a bit.  All I’m looking for is a comfortable swim that gets me onto my bike feeling well.

Spring brought us outside for all of our bike workouts, thankfully. Four hours on the bike trainer is less than ideal.  We built ourselves up and kept on schedule.  Knowing what the course would bring, we planned our long weekend bike rides to take us all over the area and up enough elevation to prepare us for the course.  I spent many hours on my bike taking in the beautiful countryside where we live.  I have never been a strong climber but the only way to get better is by climbing.  We found many hills that we wish to never climb again, yet we kept going back for more.  More hours still running the streets of our city, all with crossing the Lake Placid finish line on my mind.  

Work, eat, workout, sleep and back to work. The past few months have truly been a blur.  Ironman is as much about the training as it is the single day.  A training block like this leaves little room for extra curricular activities.  I have seen very little of my friends and I need to thank them for being understanding.  The support I have received from everyone has been amazing.  My mother has always supported me and to this day has always been my biggest fan.  My girlfriend who has helped me so much with my diet as well as motivation on days I didn’t want to get out of bed.  A long distance relationship alone is tough but she understands when I come to visit for the weekend I’ll be bringing my bike and spending a few hours on it.  My training partner and coach Matt has been with me for every bike ride, run and swim.  We have spent more time together this year than with our significant others and we’ll be lining up together on Sunday.  He introduced me to the sport and without him I have no idea what I’d be doing today, but it wouldn’t be writing this.  Again, thank you to everyone in my life who has supported me throughout this past year.  I'll be around again soon, I promise.   

Less than a week away now we’ll step into Mirror Lake to begin the race we have trained the past year for.  I’m now 210lbs and in the best shape of my life.  I feel confident, prepared and terrified.  What will undoubtedly be one of the toughest and most emotional days in my life I’m just hoping to smile and take in the whole experience.  Ironman Lake Placid, I’m ready.  We got this.    

North Country Tri Matt's Race Report

The day started early. Up at 3 out the door by 3:30 team Blood Sweat and Beers were on their way too HITS North Country Tri.  I cleaned my bike and had a much needed tune up at The Bike Works on Friday, so it was only right to take our bikes for a spin before going into transition.

 Into transition I found myself right next to @Scott Simone excited to see a familiar face and everything set the way I like it was time to wait and watch the sprint swim. After 30 min of waiting I needed to walk away from our group to collect my nerves.

Wet suit on we enter the water for a warm up swim and the race meeting is called. After the meeting we got about 5 min of warm up swim and we were off. The swim was two loops which was great practice for Ironman Lake Placid. I found going from swim to run, back to swim so quickly made my stomach not very happy. The next 200 meters I swam calmly trying not to puke. Out of the water and on to the bike with an overall great swim. On the bike I heard a rattling. I thought my bottle cage was loose (boy was I wrong) 1/4 mile into I had a front flat tire. Fortunately I have had much practice changing tires this season. As @Jared Hammond  and many others passed he asked if everything was okay. It took me 4min and 10 seconds to change the tire. Adrenaline pumping I raced up the 6 mile hill that was ahead of me. I hammered it to make up lost time on the bike but knew the return home was just as hilly as the ride out as I ripped down the other side at 45mph. After the decent I started counting bikers to figure out where I was 1.2.3.4.10.20.30…….48 bikers ahead of me. I knew I had a lot of work to do to get back into this race.  As I climbed back towards the now 6 mile downhill I saw about 15 bikers within reach. I keep saying to myself was "you will catch them on the run! They are mine! “I slowly climbed the last hill, descended 6 miles and rode to transition.

 Off on the run about  ¼ mile in I said out loud “ah shit” I had forgotten my @gu energy labs Roctaine gel and drink. Game plan time……. Rock out 7:30’s until the turnaround then pick it up on the way back. Hill after hill I hit 7:30 our under.  Turn around I said slow up the hills don’t go into OD(thanks @Coach Mat) 8:00 mile. I look ahead and see 3 more people. Time to see what I have left. 2 more miles 7:16, 7:02. Result 2:45:08 from the bike turn around I dropped 14 people in 6 miles of running. Lesson learned check my bike one last time just before transition closes!!! 5^th in my age group with a 4min loss which looks like I would have been 3^rd AG but that’s part of the game….  on to Boliermaker & Lake Placid!!

Results

Timberman 70.3 2012

We began training for this race as soon as Mooseman 70.3 ended in June 2011.  Our first goal was to find a half-iron distance race later in the summer since none of us enjoyed the chilly swim in Newfoundland Lake.  We liked the area, only around a 4 hour drive or so, if only it were later in the summer.  Then we found Timberman70.3.  A race put on by the same race director as Mooseman, not far from Newfoundland lake and its in August, YUP! 

We arrived at our cabin on Thursday, were able to settle in and relax for a while.  We checked out the area around our cabin to find some nice tourist type attractions, which gave us plenty of ideas for post race activities (like drunk go-karting).  That evening Matt and I enjoyed a brief swim in lake Winnipesaukee, followed by retiring back to our cabin for a healthy meal. 

Thursday morning we found a great breakfast place.  Griddle in the middle offers a “breakfast hibachi” where you can make your own pancakes at the table.  We all enjoyed some pre-race pancakes and gave the restaurant four stars.  Then we were off to Gunstock Ski Resort with full bellies for the expo.  While it wasn’t the most extravagant expo ever, it was sufficient.  We spent some time and money (as always happens when surrounded by so much carbon fiber).  We met a few fellow athletes before we headed back.  Our plan for the rest of the day was to drive the bike course of both races (the sprint followed the same course, just turned around early).   Cori then dropped Jenni, Matt and Myself off at the bike turnaround so we could bike our way back to the finish.  The course had three notable climbs, but our long rides through the Adirondacks have tougher climbs so we felt prepared.  This left the three of us smiling all the way to the finish, even in the rain. 

 Did I mention our cabin had access to not one but two separate hot tubs?  The four of us enjoyed stretching and relaxing in these.  It made choosing nightly activities very easy.  We enjoyed another nice dinner, with some carbo-loading as Cori prepared for her race Saturday morning.  Followed up with some more hot tubbing.  

Saturday morning arrived and Cori was ready to execute her race plan.  She set up her transition area and even made a friend at the bike rack.  Lake Winnipesaukee is very shallow along the beach of Ellacoya state park and she didn’t complain as this made her .3-mile swim very easy and FAST.   She felt very comfortable on her 15 mile bike ride and ran a 5k that rivaled her fastest ever.  She crossed the finish line with a smile and enjoyed a celebratory margarita at 9am, which always makes for a good day. 

We all relaxed for a bit before we hit the expo one last time, then brought our bikes down to transition.  When the three of us were satisfied with our bikes we enjoyed a little three-mile jog from the run start to the turnaround where Cori picked us up.  Happy with knowing the course we returned to our cabin for a prerace meal prepared by my mom who drove out to cheer us on.  Another trip to the hot tub and it was off to attempt to sleep.     

5 am seems to be the magic time to arrive.  Less than one month before Matt and I found ourselves in Lake Placid at 5 am.  One day after volunteering at the 14^th Lake Placid Ironman, 5 am found us waiting in line to register for the 2013 Lake Placid Ironman.  5 am also found us arriving at Ellacoya State Park.  With limited parking, this was again the magic time to ensure a good parking spot. 

Lake Winnipesaukee was a near wetsuit Illegal 75 degrees on race morning.  Later when we spoke with Heather Wurtele (who won the women’s race by 13 seconds).  She stated that she was overheated coming out of the water and would have rather had the race be wetsuit illegal for pros, USAT regulations state that wetsuits are legal for water temps of 78 degrees and lower (76 and lower for pro’s).   She followed up that statement with “But I won so I really can’t complain”.  Triathlon is one of the only sports where you not only compete alongside (or behind more or less) the professional athletes but also have the opportunity to interact with them.  

We all went through our race day traditions as we checked and double-checked our gear before our swim waves went off.  No guys in my age group were interested in talking, just quiet and focused, small differences between the two races.  Matt and I saw Jenni of at 7:20, and then realized that we were nearly out of tri-slide (bring on the chafing).  With no other option we rationed the last of it between us, zipped up our wetsuits and warmed up.  I watched him head out at 7:45 before I waited the last 5 quiet minutes before my wave, the final wave of the day went off. 

Myself and about 150 other men under 30 hit the water at 7:50.  My plan for the first two legs of the race was to stay comfortable and not push too hard.  Unlike Matt who was going hard (and making great time), Jenni and I were just trying to conserve until the run.  The lake is very clear and made for a great swim.  All three of us improved on our swim time from last year. 

I hopped on my bike and made my way through the first 10-15 miles which I knew would be the hardest.  After a slight hiccup around mile 20 caused me to lose a bottle of my Infinite Nutrition custom blend I saw Jenni and Matt going the other direction on the out and back course.  The way back was un-eventful, I continued to follow my plan and watch my wattage, not a easy task.  I ate and drank as much as I could as my plan was to get as many calories in my body as possible, and I did.  I later found that I still need to adjust this plan.  I arrived at transition feeling good.  My legs felt good, I was mentally strong, just 13.1 miles until beer.   

I hit the run course with a pace in mind but an overall goal of just running the whole thing.  The first few miles clicked off well, not on pace but over all well.  I passed Matt and Jenni on their way back.  We offered words of support to each other knowing what the other was feeling  We were each alone at this point though.  The run portion of a race this long is something you need to just dig deep and finish.  Matt proved this by running a solid time hunched over with a killer side stitch the entire time.   

Digging deep is what I was doing on my way back out for my 2^nd loop.  Matt had finished in a great time of 5:09.  Jenni was well on her way to a fantastic time of her own of 6:27.  My stomach began to bother me at the end of the 1^st loop and at this point my caloric deficit was catching up to me.  The race had taken its toll.  I managed a one foot infront of the other attitude for the final part of the 2^nd loop, picking up to a solid run again on the final mile thanks to Cori coming to find me and offer support.  I finished with a smile in 7:17, and drank some beer.  It was a very successful race weekend.  Four PR’s on a beautiful, well-organized course.  The crowd support and volunteers were great.  As athletes who have volunteered we fully appreciate the time and energy it takes to volunteer.  It was finally time for us to celebrate.   

    We began with some dinner.  Most of us couldn’t really eat too much, but we ate a little and brought it back to our cabin.  I followed this by falling asleep rather quickly.  Matt hobbled across the road to the Lobster Roll restaurant that had been taunting him all week and enjoyed a post race splurge.  Something we were all planning on doing for the next three days, we felt that we had earned it.

Beer, hot tub, repeat… That’s pretty much how the rest of the week went.  We spent some time on Weirs beach with Matt’s family when they came to visit.  Drank more beer, played some horseshoes and made a gin and tonic or two.  Rest and recovery are very important after a race and we definitely take it seriously.  Tuesday evening found us searching for an open bar, which would take a few tries.  After a few more pints Matt and I found ourselves stumbling up to the go-kart track, about to embark on some drunken go-karting.  It was looking like it would be us versus a pack of teenagers.  Sadly it ended up with Matt and I chasing each other around the track, which was still fun.

All in all it was a successful trip.  One that we plan on doing again for sure…Timberman 70.3, we’ll be back.        

Running Outta Our Mine 5K

Running Outta Our Mine 5K February 18, 2012

So the four of us traveledto Wampum PA to do the Runnin' Out of O
ur Mine 5K. The whole race was underground in a mine- which was why we decided to try it. We stayed in a very nice hotel (the Sheraton) in Cranberry PA and then drove the 20 miles to the race. First impression was wow- its much more modern than I expected. For some reason I had pictured narrow tunnel with wood support beams, bare bulb lights, possibly an old ore car rusting outside. The kind of mine where you expect to see an old grizzled miner with a pick ax wa
lking out yelling “there's gold in them hills!”

Instead we had a much more modern mine that was large and filled with RV's. The race began inside in a nice, moist 55 degree tunnel with a paved road. This soon turned to darker, gravely, and was filled with lots of turns and switchbacks past RV's and old carnival trailers mixed in among huge pillar rocks. Much more like a trail race. It was awesome! I ran along some nice man from outside Pittsburgh who was very nice andfinished with a time of 29:54, a personal 5K best for me and it was my first race back since partially tearing my Achilles last summer. Matt came in 27th overall with a time of 19:45 (6:21 per mile). Jared finished with a 31:50 and Cori finished with 37:04. She ran more of this 5K than she has for any other
and only stopped to walk twice.

We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing at the hotel, looking around the area stores, and eating. The sushi bar and hibachi grill was great! We looked around a store that looked cool and advertized a room that had all clothing 50% off. That sounds great but when the jeans are originally $245 half off doesn't mean crap. I wont pay more than like $30 for jeans so I don't know what kind of yuppies shop there. We did get some great new colorful running clothes through! ( Not at the same store).

The hot tub at the hotel was hot, the pool warn, the beds comfortable, and there was a glass elevator. I mention this because Matt and Jared took several trips up and down it Saturday night because there was a naked girl in a bed with the curtains wide open who waved at them. Obviously they think the hotel is great.

Tomorrow we head back to NY but this is definitely a race to do again! The road trip is not over until we get back!

-Jenni

Welcome

Welcome! So this is the blog for Blood, Sweat and Beers. We are a group of regular people who happen to enjoy running and triathlons. This blog will be a place for us to share our experiences and adventures and to hopefully (possibly??) inspire others to begin or continue to participate in triathlons

So who are we? Well while we are sure that you will hear about more people than we will introduce here, the 2012 core group is made up of four of us, Matt Sherman, Jenni Sherman, Jared Hammond and Cori Jones. We all have real, full time jobs and none of us are professional athletes. We are just people who who enjoy the adventure and physical, mental, and emotional challenges of triathlon.

Matt is probably the “best” triathlete out of all of us. By best we mean that he has the fastest times. Weather or not he actually “the best” is up for debate. Matt ran cross country in high school and college. In 2007 he got married to Jenni (formerly Myers now Sherman) and they moved to Virginia Beach. Jenni also ran in high school but was a state champion sprinter. Down in Virginia Matt went back to college (he was the older non-traditional student) while Jenni worked full time as a special education teacher. While Matt was back into competitive running in college Jenni was just getting back into running distance (by distance I mean like 3 miles). Matt got a job at a triathlon store, Final Kick, and they were introduced to the world of triathlon. They moved back to NY almost two years ago determined to delve into the world of triathlon.

Back in New York Jenni and Matt met back up with a good friend, Jared Hammond. Jared was a football captain and one of the best weight lifters in the state in high school. Needless to say he does not have your typical triathlete physique. After living for a year in Vancouver to go to film school Jared moved back to NY also, ready to try something new. The three of us (Jared, Matt, Jenni) began to run and decided to sign up for our first triathlon two days before the race.
We wont go into detail, suffice it to say we had never swum half a mile before and when we tried to run after biking it was not pretty but we were hooked. We began to train harder and this is our second year. The three of us have each completed one half ironman (Matt has completed 2) and Matt and Jared have each done a full marathon. We have all done several half marathons and sprint triathlons..

Cori Jones is our newbie and will be trying her first triathlon this summer. She has already done two half marathons and is ready to take on triathlons. She and Jared began dating more than a year ago and she has fully taken the triathlon leap and become a member of Blood Sweat and Beers.

We all work full time jobs and struggle with trying to fit training time into our schedules. Matt is really the only one who has the chance of possibly placing in his age group. The rest of us try to better our own times and have fun training and going to races. We are serious about competing against ourselves but want to have fun and enjoy what we do. Read on to hear our adventures, mistakes, training and fun!

-Jenni