Jon's Jibber-jabber

This season my approach has been a renewed focus on short distances, in triathlon and road running.  I'm still doing a 70.3 near the end of the year, but I've selected several key short course races leading up.  This month is the Dunedin Rotary Sprint Triathlon.  This is my second time doing the event on Honeymoon Island.  Two years ago it was not a USA Triathlon sanctioned race, which lead to a lot of disappointment when I realized it would not count in the USAT rankings.  Last year, new race management took over and it was a sanctioned event.  I skipped last year but returned when they moved the race a month earlier, from June to May. My wife called this "Dunedin Sprint, or I didn't get bit by a rattlesnake".  This is due to the large sign as you enter that says "Caution, rattlesnakes common on the island".  Great.   I am glad we missed the purple flag on the beach when we entered, indicating dangerous marine life present.  ...

Celsius, Inc. is a Boca Raton, Florida-based maker of the energy drink, Celsius.  My wife got a case of them from somewhere and I was interested in trying it out.  It is labeled as a no sugar, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO energy drink that claims also no high fructose corn syrup, no aspartame, no preservatives, and no artificial colors or flavors.  The marketing seems to be to a body-building and fitness market, which is probably why I never heard of it before.  The company was founded by a GNC executive so it follows the path of GNC nutritional products. Celsius comes in a few different flavors and varieties.  Celsius Originals flavors are Orange, Grape Rush, Watermelon, Wild Berry, Cola, Peach Mango Green Tea (non-carbonated), and Rasberry Acai (non-carbonated).   So far, I sampled Peach Mango Green Tea, Cola, and Grape.  Celsius also has a Naturals line, that is naturally sweetened and caffeinated.  The company just introduced ...

This year we decided to do a destination race to the "Big Easy" of New Orleans.  It is only a little less than 10 hours to drive or about an hour flight up to NOLA.  Best Damn Race is a (mainly) Florida road race series and this is the 2nd annual event in New Orleans.  There are other events in areas such as Orlando, Jacksonville, and Safety Harbor (10 minutes from my house). This race comes just a few weeks after Rock N Roll New Orleans but is much less expensive and without the corporate splash that comes with RNR races.  We gathered a group of friends and planned our destination race experience.  In the season plan, this was a B race backup to Gasparilla in case of a blown race there. Since Gasparilla was a sufferfest of heat, this now would be elevated.  No fun run for me.  Race Week Well, race week did not go as planned.  I was recovering from a head cold during the prior week. Wednesday, I started having major issues at work in wh...

This year marks my third participation in the Gasparilla Distance Classic.  This festival is one of the best and fastest races on the circuit.  This year it is part of a professional series and drew some big names.  The $30,000 prize purse also doesn't hurt.  The 15k on Saturday is also a major race for that distance, being one of the few odd distance races that offers a prize purse.  There are four total races (15k and 5k on Saturday; Half marathon and 8k on Sunday).  My employer is a sponsor of the race and employees can submit for a free entry.  I got one this year so an added bonus was it's a free race! Race Week  Race week goal was to hydrate and detox by eating smart.  I tried to stay away from junkier foods and upped the fluid intake.  I also capped caffeine at 200mg/day max.  That's what I usually shoot for in a day but I am typically more lax when it isn't race week.  I was keeping an eye on the weather all week as...

This year was the 25th Anniversary edition of the Walt Disney World Marathon.  Tracing its roots back to 1994, this race has grown from the announced 5,400 runners to over 25,000.  This edition featured 25 waves that took over an hour for all to start.  Needless to say, this is a big race. I made my decision to "retire" from the marathon distance earlier this year.  I'd try my best to get as low a PR as possible and then no more marathons.  This is not to say that I will never, ever run another marathon but for the foreseeable future, I do not plan on running any more marathons.  I have discovered I like speed.  So to the track I will go.  This was my fourth running of this race.  The only race with more appearances by yours truly is Space Coast with six.  I know this course and the area very well.  So this would be a fun run.  The goal here was to stop for every picture and run with some friends.  Race Wee...

It is Thanksgiving weekend and that means one thing: the annual running of the Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa, FL.  This was my sixth running of this race (the 46th annual edition of the long-running event).  It is also the last year of the "Big Bang Series", a five-year journey of medals that paid tribute to the Space Shuttles.  Run the race for five years, and you get bonus medals and gear.  I started the series so it made sense to see it out to conclusion.  It is a race that is notoriously hot and humid.  The road surface is also cambered to the point of ridiculousness at certain place.  Yet, year after year I return to this place. Race Week If you look at last year's report, you will almost see a carbon copy of what I am going to say.  Race week started with a head cold that made life miserable for most of the middle of the week.  It started on Wednesday with that pre-cold feeling.  Thanksgiving day, it turned into full cold, whic...

Inspired by DC Rainmaker (who I am not), I decided to put together a list of gear I use.  I find it helpful to share what I use to mainly be able to look back year to year as I accumulate new gear and find new things.   This is my list as of mid 2017.  The new year may bring new toys and gadgets but it also may not.  I hope to be able to update these every year as my gear changes. Swim Wetsuit: Zoot Z-Force 2.0 - I have both a sleeveless and full-sleeved version of the Z-Force.  I affectionately call these my Zoot Suits. Pool Goggles: Michael Phelps Aquasphere/Orca Profile- These are a new addition from last Christmas.  I use the Michael Phelps mostly for pool swimming.  They are a bit awkward around my eyes but they have very nice lenses that really do not fog up. Open Water Goggles:  I use simple single-strap non-adjustable Orca Profile goggles that I acquired in bulk for under $3 a pair on a lightning deal.  And three years later t...