Training Table November 2006

T.J. Tollakson’s Triathlon Newsletter

Check out…

www.tollakson.com for the latest information about my races and 2006 calendar

Down Under Winter Training

After a dismal finish to a great year of triathlon racing I promptly made a decision that I need to improve my consistency in racing by gaining more race experience and training with the best athletes in the world. During the winter months there is no better place to race and train than the Gold Coast Australia. It only took me a day after my last race to determine I wanted to make the journey to Australia for the winter. My winter training partner from Tucson, Arizona, Doug Friman, will be joining me on this journey to the Gold Coast. I will be immersed in a whole new world of training and racing, and will have some of the best training partners in the world. I depart for Australia on Sunday December 3, 2006 and will return to the states after 90 days at the beginning of March. My mobile phone will be temporarily out of service; however I will be able to check voicemails and emails.

Hawaii Ironman Training Camp

Thanks to friend, sponsor, and training partner, Doug Vander Weide for sponsoring week long training camp in Hawaii prior to his race at the Kona Ironman. I spent the week training with my coach, Jimmy Riccitello, and logged some very crucial workouts for my build-up leading to Clearwater. I had the benefit of Jimmy motor pacing me down the Queen K highway and I felt like Lance Armstrong cruising down the Queen K at 30mph with a personal escort. I also spent quality time working on my open water swimming by swimming the course each morning of my trip, and the running in the heat of Hawaii along Ali’I Drive, the Queen K, and the Energy Lab was experience I will need in the future as I prepare to race Hawaii.

Race Report: Ironman 70.3 World Championships

November 11, 2006, this date was on my race calendar for over a year and it was my final peak race for year that focused on half ironman training. My training build up for the race was phenomenal and my training camp in Kona the week before the Ironman was an excellent lead in to the race. Everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly. On race morning I did my usual warm-up and prepared for the swim start. The wetsuit swim was not in my favor but nonetheless I would be able to conserve energy and make the most of my day. I exited the water in a main pack of swimmers including other bike superpowers Chirs Lieto and Chris Legh. I was ready to go and back in my element. Only today, I didn’t have the legs to go. My accelerator pedal was floored but the engine was not responding. I was riding hard and my heart rate was high but my wattage was almost 20% below were I normally race a half ironman. I was being passed by guys I’ve never seen in a race before. My legs were just powerless and it was the first time I have ever experienced this in a race. I avoided a near catastrophe and only came out with a sprained ankle and lots of lost time on the bike. Once off the bike with one of the worst bike splits in the race, my legs were cramping and I decided to take a seat in T2 to hope for a sin-bin recharge. I took in some calories and headed out on the run feeling good but not great. By mile 3, I went from good to poor and struggled on the run to a 1:29 half marathon with a badly sore and swollen left ankle that really hampered my downhill running. I didn’t have it on the day and I left very frustrated because I’ve never appeared so healthy and raced so poorly with no real explanation. It clearly wasn’t my day, but all I can do is get back to my training and live to race another day taking comfort that my race was an anomaly and the rest of my season is better proof of my ability as an athlete.

As always, thank you to my sponsors and those who support me. You make my racing possible!

In the meantime…don’t forget to visit my web site at www.tollakson.com