I Am Athlete - go to their FaceBook page and click the "Like" button.

Hey everybody!!!! Go to the I Am Athlete FaceBook page and click the "Like" button.
 

They are an amazing group of folks and need just a few more friends. Help us out please. If you "Like" their page then maybe I will do something amazing during my next race. You will have to wait until they hit the 1,000 mark before we find out just what it will be.

Boulder Trail Triathlon

There is a first time for everything, and the weekend of the 20th was definitely a first for many things.
The morning starts at 3:00am. Up and getting the car packed for what I like to call a Racation; or a race vacation if you will. Destination; Boulder Colorado. Home of what John Denver likes to call the Rockies. A fellow Team Aquaphor racer informed me of this Boulder Trail Triathlon and since we were going to be in the Colorado area anyway racing in the Warrior Dash, well I just could not resist the double race weekend.
So back on the road.
4:00am, in the car and merging onto the freeway to hit the 80 East into Wyoming. Not the most prettiest of drives but I had the best of company.
Skip forward to the end of the drive:
At 1:00 pm we pulled into the parking lot of the Boulder Reservoir where the Tri was just a few hours away from start. Not only a trail Triathlon, but an evening trail Triathlon. Yet, another first for me.
We checked out the race areas and the beach and then sat down to have a delicious Pre-Race meal. Some killer bread with the best ham and turkey slices along with another sandwich topped with peanut-butter and a protein shake to wash it all down with. 
After lunch we head back into town to find somewhere to sleep for the night. Ya see, we planned this weekend Racation to race, most everything else was just flying by the seat of our pants. We found a cute little hotel right off 28th street, checked in and back to the reservoir we headed. Around 4:00pm the packet pick-up area opened and we could then check in and transition our bikes. A couple short hours to get in a short swim and a nice little run. That was when it hit me like a ton of bricks that stood almost 6,000 feet high. Yes sir! We were in Colorado my fellow blog readers and were racing at a 5,430 foot elevation.( I really thought it was higher than that. Now I really didn't do as well as I had thought) I could not catch my breath at first during my warm up run and it was even worse when we hit the water and tried to swim. I must of psyched myself out with how high I thought it was. I will do better next time. :(
From out of the water we came and into the transition area we went. The run leg followed the swim on this particular course. Another first! I shot out of the transition area like a bolt of lightning for the first 1/4 mile and shortly ran out of breath again slowing to a brisk walking pace and moving forward to yet another sprint. I kept this pace up the whole 5k run; up the side of the dam and then down the dam road, (he he) turning around at the dam water check point and then running back down the dam wall, across the beach, over the catamarans, splashing through the incoming tide just in time to leap over the big ditch in the sand and back into the transition to head off on the bike.
Another first. Yes, I own a CycleCross bike and this would of been the first time I have taken her off road. Sad I know but the ole' girl did wonderfully. It is difficult to say IF anybody was "On Course" the whole bike leg. It was a little confusing at times and with the sun setting and the dust flying we just road till we were told to turn around. Half way through I look ahead and see this poor girl attempting to lift her big heavy mountain bike over this 5 foot fence so me being the nice guy I am helped her out with that dilemma. She was also in my way and so I had to move her bike so I could get across the fence myself. A little lift and a little hop and I was back on the trail only to find a hill I was needing to run up and attempt to ride back down. Now I am not sure if anybody crashed on the way back down this hill since all the rocks and what have you were in the way, but I hope nobody was hurt. Back around and making my way to the finish line where my lovely lady awaited my return. :)

So as a race of many firsts, it was an amazing race put on by the fine folks at Newton shoe triathlon and 24 hour events. I loved the whole race and the folks running the show were very helpful and had all the answers to all my corny questions. Kudos guys!!!

 And YET!! Another in the long lists of firsts. I was able to race with my new "NOW I CAN" jersey top.

If you have yet to check out the awesome group from Now I Can, get on it!! http://www.nowican.org
They perform amazing work and rehabilitation for children with Cerebral Palsy. You can join us on September 11th for a really great benefit concert.
Jarrett Burns will be at the Now I Can benefit concert on September 11 at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre!
Q: What do you get from a half black, half Samoan, half hippie, Mormon singer/songwriter from South Georgia?
A: Music for EVERYBODY that you swear was just for YOU! Bringing together the many faces of pop music, Jarrett Burns blends rock, R&B, soul, folk, reggae, and even jazz into songs with catchy beautiful melodies and clever yet meaningful lyrics. (See more about Jarrett Burns at www.reverbnation.com/jarrettburns.)

 

Now YOU Can help share the smiles... A letter from Tracey and Joel Christensen

Friends of Now I Can:
We appreciate your help for disabled children so much!  Now I Can Foundation
has had record support the past three days.  We are asking each supporter to
find 5 new people to vote today-we have 800 votes to make up in the next 3
days, and we can still do it.  Below are detailed voting instructions for
those who need them.  Please pass this on to as many as you can who love to
hear kids say "Now I Can"!

Have you cast your vote for Now I Can yet? Don't forget, you can vote once a
day through Saturday. Each vote puts Now I Can closer to winning $30,000 to
help give physical therapy to kids with disabilities.

Here's How to Vote:

1) Go to http://apps.facebook.com/apxgivesback/ (or search for "APX Gives
Back application" and then click "Go to Application")

2) If it's your first time voting, click "Allow" and then "Like" the
application (You can easily "unlike" it after you're done voting for Now I
Can)

3) Hit "Click to start voting"

4) Click on the green "Mountain" icon

5) Find "Now I Can" and click "Vote this charity"

Thanks for your support!  The POWER OF ONE IS GREAT-and the POWER OF MANY is
unstoppable!

Tracey Christensen
Founder and Director
Now I Can
(801)376-4588
1675 N Freedom Blvd #10B
Provo, UT  84604
www.nowican.org

More exciting things from the Now I Can Foundation

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11976402&hl=6

PROVO -- Tracey and Joel Christensen are the founders of "Now I Can," a physical therapy center for disabled children in Provo. The work being done there is phenomenal and is helping kids soar to new heights.

"It's a very happy place, and it's just because of the people." -- Kimberly Holmes

Kimberly Holmes' daughter Jessica attends the center.

"Every day I see little differences in her," Kimberly says. "Her confidence level - she's wanting to try new things. I think she's feeling a sense of self-worth in some of the things she's doing, and self-accomplishment. It's just a great place."
Tracey and Joel Christensen share in the joy of seeing Jessica progress. Their oldest daughter was born with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which mostly affects the right side of her body. Some of the Christensen's biggest triumphs have come in seeing her reach her goals.

After years of seeing limited progress with physical therapy, the Christensens traveled to Poland where their daughter underwent a month of full-body, intense physical therapy. The results were so tremendous that the Christensens wanted to make the same therapy available to families in Utah.

Joel says, "We came up with the name ‘Now I Can' because our daughter was saying, ‘Now I can do this, now I can do that,' and these kids are the same way."
The Christensens started the non-profit organization four years ago. Since then, dozens of children have profited. Many leave the facility accomplishing things once thought to be impossible.
"It's been such a blessing," Joel says. "We've never had a family leave and say, ‘We didn't see any improvement.'"
Tracey says, "It's a miracle to be here and see these kids. They just want to do all the things that other children do, and some of them never will. But any amount of progress they can make is huge for them and their families."
Melanie Donahoo nominated the Christensens for a High 5. "When you get older, it's harder to find heroes. I would say from watching her I would definitely consider Tracey and Joel heroes for what they do, for the help that they bring to these kids, and for the passion they have for what they do."
Joel says, "I look at these kids and the work that they do and their determination. They're heroes to me with their example and the things that they do. We're just trying to do all we can to help them."
Tracey adds, "Sometimes things are challenging and sometimes things are hard. But when they or the parents say ‘thank you' and when you see the progress that's being made, it's worth it."
The Christensens are holding a benefit concert on Sept. 11 at the Scera Shell Outdoor Theatre in Orem. You can also help them win $100,000 in a Facebook contest. Just vote for "Now I Can" on the APX Gives Back page before next Saturday.
Our High 5 partner, Les Schwab, is sending the Christensen's a $100 gift certificate. Key Bank also is throwing in a $100 prize.
If you know someone who deserves a High 5, go to the link here.

To my Sponsors

Sponsors:

Team Aquaphor: http://www.teamaquaphor.com/

Rudy Project: http://e-rudy.com/  -  http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/

  

Rockwell Time: http://www.RockwellTime.com/

Now I Can Foundation: http://www.NowICan.org/

Our mission at Now I Can is to help children with disabilities reach their full potential and greatest independence.

Now I Can offers traditional physical therapy, intensive suit therapy, mild hyperbaric oxygen treatments, and feeding therapy.

Emmett's Most Excellent Triathlon - Emmett, Idaho

I never really know what to expect at a new event. As I have said before this is only my first year.
Reading the Transition area directions over and over got me a little confused. Two different Transition areas? Are you serious? In the end I think it was pretty fun; not very fun setting up the transition. Since I did not have the time to make it to Emmett before the day of the race I had to show up early for packet pick-up which was at the Black Canyon Dam. This was also the same area as the Swim Leg, and the Bike Leg; but not the Run Leg, that was later. Packet Pick-up is done! Bike Transition is done! So we drive back down the mountain to the middle of down town Emmett and set up the Run Transition. I really should of brought two towel's. I will find out later I needed a second when I was rushing to put on my shoes and had nothing to wipe off my dogs with, and boy let me tell you they were barkin'. (My feet) Alas! Back up the mountain to the starting line.

Another first for me was the deep water start, not to mention the 1500 meter swim I was about to embark upon. We were treading water for 5 minutes before the gun went off. A good way to keep warmed up. Multiple swimmers were heading off-course due to the distance of the turn around buoys but I think in the end we all ended up doing pretty good. I was not as prepared as I should of been but training for the Bear Lake 70.3 that was supposed to be this next weekend (supposed to be, that is another story in itself) I thought I would see how far I could really swim. 41 minutes later; something like 22 minutes behind the leader, but everybody was that far behind the leader. That guy was Super-Fly fast.
So out of the water I came running, not really tired, and my legs felt great too. Me along with a large group of Sprint distance racers rushed to our bikes. Ya see, I was a little behind those who were prepared for 1500 meters.
A quick transition and on the bike and down the road I go. Thank the volunteers for all they did to stop traffic and not allowing the drivers to run anybody over. My choice of the Olympic distance course led me to a 40k bike ride that had its share of hills and straight aways together. It was both fast and challenging at the same time. A lot of athletes were signed on for this distance and as we hit the split mark on the course and the Sprinters went one way and the Olympics went another, it was time to get the led out and kick it in the butt. The new Specialized S-Works race slicks I bought from Bingham Cyclery were amazing on the course, I only wish I had an S-Works Transition to go along with them. I am looking for a bike sponsor. :)
For some reason my cycle computer was not reading my speed nor my distance traveled so I really only had my time to gauge my race on. I would also like to thank the AWESOME guys at The Triathlete's Edge for hooking me up with the sweet Lizard Skin Bar Tape. I installed it myself and it gave me great comfort and cut a little weight off the bike also. Thanks again guys. YOU ROCK!!!  Coming into the final Leg and Transition of the race was exciting. It appeared that the whole town of Emmett was awaiting us and cheering us on. Very sweet. Quickly off the bike and running through the Transition area trying to remember where I had set my shoes 5 hours previously was a challenge but I soon remembered and like a bolt of somewhat slow, somewhat fast lightning, I was off onto the run course; just me and my crappy shoes. Please K-Swiss help me out here, I am getting tired of blisters.
The Run Leg started off in the middle of town at the Emmett Farmers Market. Yes, we bought food. Really good corn and beans. We ran through the construction area and around all the orange cones and down the road to the Emmett sports complex and back down town. Now so far I have found that I can run and run and run with no problems and never feel like stopping, but when we have to make two consecutive laps and at the turn around point you can see the finish-line, well it really gets ya thinking of quitting since the finish-line is RIGHT THERE!!!! Oh well, so another lap it is. 51 minutes after strapping on my blister providers with the swoosh on the side I ran through the finish to find, well, nobody waiting for me. HAHAHA. My parents and little brother and sister were there but just not waiting for me. Sitting in the shade is where I had to go find them at, but my mother was soon to find me. Thank you mom, I love you. 

So with my first Olympic Distance Triathlon completed I now know what it is I need to work on for my next Olympic as well as my first 70.3 that is coming up very soon. Not as soon as before since the Bear Lake Classic was canceled, but still, there is always the Provo half 70.3 at the end of the month. It will give me a little more time to perfect my swim and get some better shoes.

The town of Emmett put on an awesome race. My visor off to them for that. In the beginning I was not sure about the whole two different Transition areas thing, but in the end, I liked it.

Two people I would like to mention in the Emmett Triathlon:
First is this guy named Kevin Everett. This guy finished the Olympic in 1:51:49 To me that is just amazing. I would love to see his training plan.
Next was a gentleman who's name I cannot seem to find but this old racer was 85 years old and this is his 9th year completing this race. Of course he finishes first in his age bracket and he looks real good doing it too. He had a good spirit and a big heart. Kudos to this guy.

Now I Can Foundation www.nowican.org

Rudy Project Sport Lens

Newest team member of Rudy Project. Very excited and I can't wait to get my new pair of Rudy Project's for my next series of races.