Texas Kemah Race Report and Tenative Race Schedule...

First I want to start off with some great video footage from ITU La Paz Triathlon... Going to be hard to say the race conditions from here on out were rough after watching these videos.

Thurday: 

Arrived really late Thursday into Houston where my Homestay the Philips. He of course picked me up in his Truck Texas style!  Kiddin', actually this was a picture of the guys truck next door w/ all of the neighbor kids gettting some shade from the hot Houston weather. This is what I think of when I think of Texas!  Anway, met the rest of the Host family later that night...  4 kids and 2 dogs!  Went to bed late...  12:45am.  Yes, for me that is late!

Friday Morning:

6:00 Wake up!  I'm tired....  Pre-road the bike course with Justin (Homestay) and his buddy Brian.  It was a great day out.  Not gonna lie, I thought I was going to die with all of the Friday morning traffic whizzing by!  Bike course was flat and windy out there.  Some Cake Batter Muscle Milk afterwards, mmmm.  Always makes me smile.

Friday Midday:

Went for a littly run while Justin road the MTB.  It was 80deg w/ high humiday!  Oh, did I mention when I left Ohio it had snowed 2-1/2 inches that day?  Yeah, I started sweating after the first mile. Cut the run at 4 miles so it wasn't so bad...  Took a little power nap which I needed from the little sleep from the night before.

Friday Evening:

Pick-up the other Pro that was staying w/ the Philips Dustin McLarty.  He was saying how he's done somewhere in the ballpark of 250 Tri's...  Hmmmm, I've done about 25 or so? 

Saturday Morning:

Woke up early and went for a run w/ Dustin.  Found a really nice Golf Course and ran on that for a while, until the Manager came flying out after us and kicked us off the course!  Dustin, "We were looking for our Uncle, but couldn't find him...  We gotta go, we're late!"  I don't think the dude new what to say...  I was dying myself and couldn't help but bust out laughing.  Afterward, we went for a 20mile ride with Justin...  He was pushing the past and Dustin and I were happy to suck his wheel and check out the scenery.  Dustin finally went up in front of Justin making him slow down...  Half a shot of Muscle Milk Cake Baker to go w/ the nice big breakfast my Homestay had made.  Thanks to the Philips for feeding this boy & making some excellant meals.

Saturday Evening:

Registered and went to the Pro Race Briefing.  There were 24 of us there (15-MPRO/9-FPRO) with names such as Torrenzo, Lieto, Yoder, Deboom, Fleischmann to name a few.

Sunday- Race Day:

Early wake up call 3:50 because transition closed at 5:30.  Yes, that 5:30am transition closed and we had a 30min commute to get to the race venue.  The Swim start was like Alcatraz where they take you a mile out in a big boat, so we had to be on the boat by 6:00am. Got a quick spin on the bike and I neglected to go for a run...  Probably should have, but maybe next time...   Downed some Cytomax Pomegranate and took a shot of GU Expesso and was ready to go.

  

Swim:  21:29 (~200m Long)

7:20 1-1/2 hours since we got on the Boat...  Temp was 71deg = No wetsuits for Pro's...  Bang gun goes off!  I'm in no mans land right from the get go...  I chose a to stay out wide and most of the other Pro's went straight for the Bouys following Dustin...  Swam solo the whole time until the very end when I slammed into Lieto and Deboom from the side as I took a slight longer course and had to get back over to the ramp.  The swim was about 200m long, so I'll take that time w/ no wetsuit.

Bike:  58:33 (25.5mph)

First 3-1/2 mi's I was in front of Lieto and Deboom and I was waiting for them to go buzzing by...  Lieto goes by and I hung with Deboom for the next 8mi's... Rest of the bike ride was uneventfull.  I felt okay, but just didn't have the power to push it any harder. Ended up getting pasted by 2 more guys toward the end of the bike.  Took a shot of GU Energy Vanilla and noticed I didn't finish my bottle of Cytomax & will take note for next time.

  

Run:  36:10 (5:50/mi)

Jumped off the bike and I knew it right away...  This wasn't going to be the fastest run.  Ohio weather has put a damper on my transition training.  Anyway, threw on the Zoot Ultra TT 4.0 shoes and was off.  First mile I had a cramp in the leg and couldn't get it to go away.  After that I was fine, but just didn't have the turnover.  The last 2miles you had to go over a 10% grade bridge back and forth.  Got past on the first portion of the bridge and knew there was no one behind me, so I decided to cruise it in from there.  This was the only disappointing part of my race...  Should be somewhere in the range of 5:35 pace, but....  Sometime you have it and sometime you don't....  I didn't!!

Finish:  1:58:29  10th of 15 Pro.  Two guys must have DNF'd.

Overall I'm satisfied but yet know I have a long way to go...  Went from 5th to 10th because of the bike or lack thereof from me.  Next year I will be working on the bike so hope it will come around?  We'll see...  Winner of the Elite race was over 2:00 back w/ wetsuits and I didn't get chicked by any means, always a plus!

Sorry, Race schedule will have to wait...

Yet another Race Season is upon us...

Been reminded a few times that I have a blog...  What's been going on since the last post? Quite a bit actually...  Below will show you how long it's been!

1.  My older Brother got Married to a professional duathlete. Actually, I think this happened before my first post.  Regardless, I'll take another family member that understands what that we do, is Normal to us!


Squirt (Jack)

2.  My older Brother had his first child.  Yes, it's a boy!  He goes by Jack, but I will call him Squirt until he is old enough.  When is old enough?  When he can take me in any of the following:  Swimming, Biking, or Running.  My older brother Paully (Paul Mangen) is one of the best open water swimmers I know and has won every open water race on the East Coast.  The past couple years he's competed for USA and has been the Team Captain for USLA competitions (Run/Swims, Paddleboarding, Surf Skiing, Ironmans (Not Triathlon Ironman, haha), etc.  He's one International races and has racd in Egypt, Australia, Japan, Cali, Canada, etc. Also, he is the Head Swim Coach at Saint Leo University.  And his wife, well....  Like I said, she's a professional duathlete and she's is the Cross Country Coach at Saint Leo University  Needless to say, I will not be calling him Squirt very long I don't think.  But for now, Jack...  You are Squirt, Squirt!

3. My little Brother got engaged to a great gal!  They were meant to be together. My little brother is an active hunter, fisherman, and pretty much gets involved in anything outdoors.  He is my main food supply over the winter.  Mmmm Venison (Aka Deer)!  He's currently at WVU getting educated!  I miss those days, kinda? Anyway, the kid has a gift of finding any kind of animal to hunt (Turkey, Deer, Fish, etc.....).  I could go on, but hey this is my Blog right?  Anyway, I wish the best for the 2 of them as they look to get married in the future.

4. Training has been going well.  Ohio winter was long and brutal, but I'll take them over the extreme hot conditions in the summer.  Ended up getting Frostbite for the second year in a row, but other than that it was all good. I really want to race more, but my work vacation situation does not allow this at the moment.  Hope to get some more vacation so I can race more in the future.  Who doesn't like to Race?  I think I question myself more when I'm not racing because I don't have anything to look after.  Instead, I'm thinking if I'm doing what I should be doing?  Should I be doing this at all?  What would it be like if I didn't compete?  Then Race season comes around and I'm I look back at some of those thoughts and wonder what the heck was I thinking?  I wanna do this forever because I love the Sport... Well, maybe I physically cannot do this forever, but I can always be apart of the sport by giving back. Whether that be volunteering or financial support...  It's in my Blood!

5. First race of year has went underway! Another post coming with a Tenative Race Schedule.....  Also, Follow me on The Twitter it's on the Blog Main Page or Follow me at mattmangen.

Engineer by daylight. Triathlete by twilight. And Christian throughout Life.

Engineer by daylight and triathlete by twilight....

As my first blog, I look back at a fairly successful triathlon year and look forward to some big changes for upcoming season.  The biggest change of course is the fact that I will now be competing as a Pro/Elite Triathlete. 

What does that mean?  Basically, it allows me the oppurtunity to compete and get a shot at some of the prize purse money with races that have 5000 dollars or more up for grabs.  In theory, nothing really should change from last year...  Work HARD and Race FAST!  In reality, the only difference is that I'm with a different crowd of people.

Being self coached, I have learned a lot about myself and my body...  With that I believe I have a lot of oppurtunity to get quite a bit faster over the next few years.  Unfortunately, currently being time deprived as a full time Engineer I will most likely never get to the full potential that I know I could get to... 

Currently the Blog Website is in works and I will continue to improve it and spit out some blogs on how things are going as I start my base training for the upcoming year.  I will be working on trying to get some new sponsors for the season as well..

Before I go I would like to give a couple shout outs!

First, the best Running Store I know: Columbus Running Company (CRC)  If you live in the Columbus, OH area (GO BUCKS!) you have to come check out the CBUS Pacers Running Group on Saturdays at Dublin, OH. They get over 40 runners at all different paces at these runs.  All of the runs are marked out with mile markers and one of the store owners Eric Fruth puts water stops out on the course.  Monday night is the team run, which consists of ~10mi with some great guys at a little quicker pace hosted by store owner Matt Deleon and Jim Jurcevich (6th at '00 Marathon Trials).  There is also several other runs during the week at either their Dublin, Westerville, or Pickerington Store.  Visiting the Columbus area, look these guys up. It will be worth your time!

Second, I would like to thank ZOOT for making one of the best running shoes out there.  ZOOT is mainly known in the triathlon world. Every time I run with a group people they are curious about the ZOOTs.  If you're a neutral runner or triathlete I guarantee you will love the ZOOT ENERGY.  Looking for a good Tri Racing Shoe you have to try out the ZOOT ULTRA TT 3.0 it is amazing. After a long draining season of traveling to over 14 races of the year I raced in these shoes that last two races of the season and threw down two of my faster Run PR's of my triathlon career (34:10 & 35:15 on a hilly course).  Shoes or not, everytime I throw these sneakers on I'm flying?

Next, some other products that have got me through my training:  The only socks I have ran in the past 2years are Smartwool socks because no matter the conditions they are the altimate sock.  Give they a try, you will love them.  Trust me!  GU Energy has been my favorite 'GU' to stomach for all of my races and training.  I prefer the Plain flavor or Vanilla Bean.  I guess I'm simple like that?  Another all time favorite company out there is Cytosport.  I prefer Cytomax Powder for all of my training and racing and it has worked for me day in and day out.  I prefer Tropical Fruit, but the Cool Citrus is really good also. Cytosports Muscle Milk Recovery Powder and drinks help me recover after a hard days work.  The convenient Ready to Drink options are really convenient with my busy lifestyle. Chocolate is always great, but I really like the Banana flavor also.GreensPlus  GreensPlus has somed of the most nutritious energy  bars and they are excellant.  

Finally, I would like to thank my 5:30am swimming buddies at the Dublin Rec Center.  Lenny (Harold), Tank (Chuck), Mark & Mark (D.C.).  Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we're in the pool.  Sometimes I don't feel like I'm there because I literally wake up at 5:15 and roll out the door half a sleep from a late night.  First couple laps are mostly swam w/ my eyes closed. These are some pretty cool dudes even if they are double my age and old enough to be my dad.
Due to time constrants....  I will have to end my first blog here for now.  I will try to updated the webpage and toss some more blogs out there to keep you updated.  Train Smart. Cheers!  -Matty