Year in Review - 2012

2012 was another year of excess.  Along the way I had ample opportunities to submit.  I questioned several times if I had finally bitten off more that I could chew.  My wife and I had our 3^rd son in April, I took on some more responsibility at work and I was training for an Ironman with a Kona qualifying race as the goal.  The only way to get it all to work was to be ridiculously organized, strive for flawless communication with my wife and optimize my training time with high quality, focused work.

Quitting would have been much easier but I pushed on and surprisingly had one of my best seasons yet!

·         Run CF ½ Marathon – PR 1:19 (PR by 6 minutes) 1^st AG, 3^rd OA

·         Island Lake Olympic Tri – 2:05, 1^st AG, 3^rd OA

·         Grand Rapids ½ Ironman – 4:28, 1^st AG, 3^rd OA

·         Muncie 70.3 (ish)  3^rd AG, 5^th fastest bike split OA

·         Ironman Wisconsin – 9:43, 5^th AG, Kona Qualifier

I didn’t race a ton in 2012 but that was a compromise I made because all of the other challenges I was facing this year.  By focusing on a handful of races I was able to absolutely nail every single one of my goals.  I got some run speed back into my legs early in the year which primed me for some OLY and ½ iron distance racing.  I continued to push hard throughout the year on my bike fitness and with a new bike and optimized position, I can confidently say my biking is no longer a weakness.  And finally, I pulled it all together and held tough at Ironman Wisconsin as I ran my way into 5^th  place in my 5^th Ironman.  In doing so I qualified to race in the Ironman World Championship again next year which was ultimately my end goal for the 2012 season!

Busted, hiding from our kids!

2012 wouldn’t be complete without thanking all of those who supported me.  My wife for her patience and understanding.  She accepts my goals as her own, all the while, being a business professional and a super mom!  My team of sponsors for the 2012 season: 1^st Endurance continues to develop and deliver “best in class” nutritional products that have allowed me to exceed my own expectations.  Desoto Sports for outfitting me in the most comfortable, high quality training and racing apparel I've ever worn!  Profile Designs is a company with deep history in the tri business and their products, with the help of the guys at Fraser Bicycle helped dial in my super low, super aero position.  My success would not have been possible without their support!

Salude!

Again, thank you all for reading and cheering me on!  2013 is going to be a riot!  Much more racing and a lot less pressure!  I’m hoping you’ll all stick around to join me in the adventure.

Happy Holiday

Train Safe

See you in 2013!

I'll leave you with some of my favorite random pic from the season

Daniel-san, shovel the dirt

Team Perez

35 going on 15!

Mike Reilly gave me a woody

Top Shelf Triathlon – WTF!!

Every good blog has a theme and over a year ago Top Shelf Triathlon was born.  I started blogging blabbing on and on about myself and triathlon, mainly to get some sponsorship attention and to capture my journey to Ironman Wisconsin.

Really?  REALLY?

Top Shelf Triathlon, just like so many of my good college drinking stories begins with, “it seemed like a good idea at the time”…

Albeit a modest one, my top shelf!

So here’s a summary of how I came to my “over the top” blog theme!  Ya see, I started drinking way too early back in high school and used to get drunk and pass-out by 10pm off of a few 22oz, brown bagged Icehouses  (Deuce-Deuce in the House!).  By the time college ended I had “graduated” to top shelf liquors and all night parties.   

Years later, I sighted a new challenge and began racing small local sprint triathlons, now almost 10 years later I’ve graduated to the Ironman World Championships.

Top Shelf, is not who I am, but what I'm always striving to be, no matter the challenge!

The whole story starts here.

ICEMAN Cometh - Race Report

I swear I saw this guy at the 10K to go flag

Race: Iceman Cometh

What is that?:  30mile point to point MTB

Where: Traverse City, MI

When: November 3^rd, 2012

Time: 2:03

AG Rank: 7^th

Overall: 298 / 2900

The Iceman lived up to its name this year.  Morning temps were hovering right around freezing with a steady 10mph breeze out of west.  About an inch of snow was on the ground and a freezing rain, snowy mix was falling.

Another cool thing about the ICEMAN…9am starts!  Who starts a race at 9am you ask?  Well, mountain bikers for one and also when day break in northern Michigan doesn’t come until 8:30, the elements leave you little choice.