Live for the Blue Mile

Get a wet towel, and slowly, bit by bit, turn by turn, wring every last drop of water out for hours and hours. Whatever your goals are for up-coming IM Tahoe, your energy expenditure will be similar to the aforementioned.

I’m continually learning about myself as I compete and I want to share a few takeaways from my recent day in Louisville that hopefully will help you too! IM Tahoe is less than 24 days away.

Be in the moment at all times in the days leading up to race day. I surround myself with family & close friends who understand the journey I’ve been on to get this day. This is absolutely key for me. Be careful with surrounding yourself with too much nervous pre-race energy. IM expects you to give all your energy for a good part of day. Release it at the right time.

Calories on the bike. Whatever you’ve been training with stick with it! Golden rule. Eating in the 1st 50-60 miles of the bike is key. I had to pee 8 times on the bike during IM Louisville. A good sign I was hydrated. If you get grumpy eat, if you start to mentally drift…drink water. Keep stimulated. Track these behaviors on your clock, set a timer to go off every 15 minutes.

Watch your heart rate like a hawk. Your heart rate will spike after the swim. Allow it to settle down. I kept my heart as low as possible for 5 hrs on the bike. Only 145 beats per minute. Heat will push your HR up so dial back your pace if it’s hot. Dial your pace back anyway on the first loop of the Tahoe bike course because remember it starts off relatively fast/east. Save yourself for the 2nd loop.

Patience is critical. If someone passes you like a freight train, let them. They are either way better than you, or they’re an idiot. Either way stick to the pace that’s right for you. (Andrew MacNaughton’s exact words to me pre IM Louisville). He was right!

Thank the volunteers & spectators along the way. It will give them energy, and you’ll feel part of their experience. It’s a healthy exchange.

The first 3 aid stations on the run are critical. Slow down, walk if you have to and get all calories into your tummy while it can handle it. Sponges on your neck, arms, ice in your mouth, down your pants/skorts, sports bra! Macca dumps his entire head in the ice bucket if he feels he is overheating. Don’t let your core temperature soar. Ice-ice baby!

Lean in. There are moments when you have lean into the pain and show mental toughness. At 15-21 miles on the run you may have to go to a place you have or haven’t been before. At IM Louisville over the last 6 miles my mind went back home to San Jose…and mentally ran my favorite Los Gatos Creek Trail 6 mile training run. It’s out and back… nothing to it.

Live for the blue mile. The final stretch is blue carpet, white barricades lined with everyone cheering for you. This moment is yours, and all yours. And everyone who supported you on the journey. It goes by so fast.Plan your finish. Cherish it.

It’s all about you and your experience and I want to hear about when you’re done!

–Coach Leroy

2023-11-02T21:40:57+00:00

I joined Kain Performance in 2003 and since then this team and triathlon have become a huge part of my life. Pete and Shari have created a great program lead not only by their coaching but their team concept. We train as a team, we push each other to improve, and on race day we support each other like no other group out there. In the past 7 years we’ve traveled as a team to races in Europe, Hawaii, and of course all over the US. I’ve made great friends along the way and have improved at the sport more then I ever expected. I’ve gone from a middle of the pack finisher to actually winning my age group in a triathlon this past year. I’ve competed in National Championship races and have finished 50 triathlons including 3 Ironman’s. In 2009 I was part of the Kain Iron team that went to Ironman Austria. The trip and event was a perfect example of a Kain destination race. The 20+ athletes competing combined with their supporters made for a great group of people and an incredible experience on race day that I will always remember. At Kain it’s all about the team and weather you are an age group winner or a triathlon newbie you’ll fit in. If you’ve got a triathlon goal Kain Performance will help you achieve it.

Russell

I ran into Pete at my gym in early 2010 and told him about my desire to start competing in the world of triathlons. Of course, I couldn’t swim more than a couple laps in the pool and hadn’t ridden a road bike since I delivered newspapers on a Schwinn Varsity back in the 70′s. Pete got me a great deal using the Kain Performance team discount on a new Specialized bike and all the accessories to go along with it. I began swimming, doing the Tuesday night team brick workouts, and Saturday team rides. Within two months, I completed my first sprint tri. Because I felt so prepared, it was a very positive experience. I had gained a lot of knowledge and insight from Pete, the coaches, and the other people on the team…everything from strategy, to transitions to preparation. I was hooked! Now, eight months later, I’ve completed six triathlons, including two Half-Iron events. I can’t wait to take on Ironman Austria in 2011, with the 30+ people going from Kain Performance. I enjoy the energetic and supportive nature of the folks that comprise Kain Performance. Pete and Shari have a unique way of making training fun and enjoyable and they’ve created a team environment like no other. I couldn’t have picked a better group of people to train with!

Wayne

After several seasons with Team in Training, I joined Kain Performance to step up my training. I have really noticed an improvement in my running. Pete and Shari are a great team, and you never know what to expect in terms of the workout. Pete can take a hard workout and make it one of the best workouts ever. The other team members provide a lot of energy and team spirit, and make me not want to miss a workout.

Judy

I joined Kain Performance on a Sunday during a Labor Day weekend, back in 2003; I remember that day very well because we had a great swim and run workouts finishing up the day with one of the best parties I have ever been to, just ask Jody!! I started doing triathlon back in 1993 and since then I’ve joined a few different Tri-clubs but when I came to Kain Performance, I found everything in one place; the best coaching, a great bunch of people with different backgrounds, a diverse variety of workouts year round with weekend training trips, team destination races and of course, lots and lt’s of fun. Pete keeps a good balance for his training programs; be prepared for some serious training and racing but also be prepared for some even more serious FUN. Personally, my training has improved so much that I think I’ll have a shot to qualify for worlds this year. The only problem training with Kain Performance could be that, after a while, you might not be “Street Legal” any more…

Jorge

I was bitten by the triathlon bug after a season with TNT. Since joining Kain Performance this summer, my swimming has really improved through practicing the assigned drills, listening to the technique stuff and having one-on-one sessions coached by Becky Gibbs Lavelle. The running economy workouts have helped me make significant improvements in speed, with new personal records for 400m, 800m and 1 mile. I really enjoy Pete and Shari’s coaching style and applicability.

John

Live for the Blue Mile

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