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Spring of 2008, The Season of Contrasts It is always a good thing to see winter leave when you live in Minnesota. The only problem is that this sometimes seems like it happens far too late for many of us. March is in many ways the cruelest of months as the days are getting pretty long and the sun seems to be shining. The only problem is that it is still often quite cold and we still get a lot of snow. This year presented the usual sort of seasonal fare but it was particularly glariing for me as I got the chance to spend some time in sunny, southern California. Here are a few images and some thoughts as to my time of contrasts these past few weeks. I headed out to California, Santa Monica to be specific, in mid-March to hang out and meet with Phil Skiba of PhysFarm and Mark Van Akkeren (MarkyV) of RaceFaster Coaching. Phil was teaching a class and all three of us were getting together to discuss some business. It was a great weekend and I'm looking forward to doing some things with these guys in the coming months. One big advantage of our meeting location was the weather and in the weeks before this trip, I had decided that I was going to ride a bike while in CA, no matter that I was there for less than 48 hours. After a bunch of calls and some driving after I first arrived, I had a a nice, older Trek, a US Postal Edition from the late 1990s to ride. Here are my very white and unshaved legs.
The view heading north out of Santa Monica towards the mountains was great and I really enjoyed the views of the ocean and the hills as well. Below is one of the hills and you can see the moon as well.
After a good weekend, I headed home to Minnesota. After a few days we got a warm up and I got to enjoy my first outdoor ride of the year. Here is an image much like above but you can see a bit less skin, it was a warm up for Minnesota after all.
As I rode I could not let go of the contrasts between my rides in this short period of time. In California it was sunny and smelled of blooming flowers. In Minnesota it was damp, cool and it just looked so darn Midwestern. Here is a stereotypical picture of a barn.
If you haven't guessed yet, the jabs at my lovely state's weather culminated in more snow. Here are a few shots of me using the snowshoes again, might as well make lemonaide I said.
I always judge a trip on the trails by the status of my shoes and socks when I finish. If they're dirty, it was likely a good session.
Here you can see the result of my efforts. While it seemed really wrong to be on the snowshoes again, I did enjoy myself. In the end, that's what it's about I suppose. Have fun out there. |
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April 24 Duathlon Nationals weekend was a success for the Dig It gang. April 17, 18 and 19 A great start to the racing season for Dig It athletes across the country. Tony gets it done in the Big Easy at the Ironman 70.3 New Orleans, Debi grabs 5th overall woman and first master at a sprint tri in Virginia, the Minnesota gang throws down some great runs at the Trail Mix and last and certainly not least, Jill sets a PR at the Boston Marathon. Wow, this weekend would make many coaches proud for a given year and it's 3 days in April, awesome!
Coach Jason also raced, in green Nature Valley team kit, at the Durand Road Race, photo courtesy of www.skinnyski.com
April 13 Dig It now serves as an official coach/dealer for Quarq power meters. Contact Coach Jason for pricing details.
Here is the first order on Coach Jason's bike. More info to come as its get some use in the coming days.
March 27 Dig It's Lindsey has a great day in Oceanside at the California 70.3 to grab her first ever world championshis slot. Way to go, Lindsey! March 27 Coach Jason leads clinic for GearWest tri club on duathlon performance along with Kevin O'Connor. March 13-14 Coach Jason was in Texas for a USA Cycling Coaching clinic on teaching bike riding skills. It was great, watch here for an upcoming clinic on bike handling.
Above Jason poses with camp participants outside in the sun, yeah Texas! Dig It athletes Jill, Betsy and Alex ran great at a Minnesota 10 mile race, showing that hard work and consistency pay dividends. Nice running gang! March 6 Lisa made her season debut and what a debut it was, winning her AG and the overall women's race handily. Watch out for Lisa at the 70.3 distance this year, she's going to bring it! March 1 Where they was snow, we now have . . . MUD!!
February 14 Who says you have to take it easy in the winter? Tony did a great job at the Austin Marathon and set a new PR today. Nice job Tony! February 4 Coach Jason is teaching two classes at GearWest University this Sunday, one on race execution and the other on using power for multisport. January 23 The year is young but the Dig It crew is off to a great start. It was a day for winter running races and PRs as several among the Dig It gang got their year started with personal best runs today, nice job gang! January 17 Riding/racing in the middle of the night on an indoor soccer field? Really? Yeah, really!
January 13 Hey the weather outside isn't frightful, at least here in Minnesota. Who wants to ride?
December 14 Coach Jason discusses his passion for racing cyclocross despite being bad at it, at least so far.
December 3 Coach Jason reflects on training in the off season.
November 22 Dig It's Dan made his Ironman debut in Tempe at Ironman Arizona. He might have been new at the Ironman distance but Dan was fast and had a great performance. Nice job Dan! November 17 Debi finishes 2nd in the Virginia Triathlon Series, not bad given that she's over 50 racing against women who are literally half her age. You're an inspiration, keep it up! November 7 Scott has a great race at IM Florida, avoiding the sophmore jinx with a huge PR. Nice job Scott! October 17 Dig It athletes can run, and fast at that. Jill sets at major PR at the Whistlestop marathon where Sascha did a great half marathon as well. Maria ran a big PR as well at the Indianapolis Marathon. The dig it gang runs and runs fast! October 3 and 4 Minnesota cyclocross season is underway and rolling. Michael and Coach Jason got their seasons going with some fun and hard racing this weekend.
Michael in action at the Hudson CX. Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com.
Jason at the Planet Bike Orono CX race. Photo courtesy of Seth Iverson Photo.
September 26 It was a wet and tough day for everyone at the ITU World Short Course Duathlon Championships. Dig It athletes were out to play and did what they could on a challenging course in the midst of a downpour.
Debi is among this group of fast ladies before the skys opened again.
Here Justin Hurd closes in on the transition after a speedy first run. September 13 Wow, what a day for the Dig It gang. Debi was 12th overall, and 3rd woman, at a sprint tri in Virginia. Maria set a new half marathon PR in Chicago, and Forrest set a 5K PR by over a minute in Kentucky. Oh and then there was Ironman Wisconsin which was the scene of outstanding performances by Andrea, Lindsey and Henry. A successful debut and 2 PRs made it quite the day in Madison. Jason was there to cheer and take it all in.
Here Coach Jason hangs with Andrea after the race.
August 30 Keith completes his first Ironman at IM Kentucky today. On a great weather day, Keith executed a great race making all his time goals. Way to go Keith!
Josh shows his endurnace with a strong run at the Salsa 2-4, yes the 2 and 4 refer to how many hours it lasts. August 16 Dan rocks the fastest run and 2nd overall today at the Northeast Maryland Triathlon, the regional championship. Nice job Dan!
July 19 The Dig It gang was throwing down some great performances today. At the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon Jill and Cliff achieved their season goals of making their age group podium, Jill was 2nd and Cliff 3rd on a great Minnesota summer day. At the Door County half IM, Andrea and Lindsey rocked it and showed they are on the way to great races at IM Wisconsin.
Jill and Cliff show off the hardware. May 31 Dig It's friend Justin Hurd captures the US National Long Course Duathlon Championship today in California at the World's Toughest. National Champ baby, that's a good thing to call one's self!
Photo courtesy of Auburn Events May 23-24 What a weekend for the Dig It gang. Excellent performances at the Apple Duathlon in Minnesota.
Here Cliff speeds towards the finish at the Apple Duathlon.
April 26 Coach Jason was in Richmond for USA Triathlon's Duathlon National Championships. It was a hot weekend but the Dig It gang did a great job.
Here Coach Jason poses with Forrest after his race. Forrest got the luck to start at 11:30 on a day that got to well over 90 degrees. Did I mention his race was hot? October 11, 2008 Justin Hurd, who Coach Jason advises, shows shows his strength at IM Hawaii. On a challenging day, for the big island no less, Justin did great in his first attempt at the World Championships as a pro. September 28, 2008 Jason in racing mode at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Italy. It was a fun day of action.
Here the bike awaiting its trusted rider.
September 27, 2008 Jason serves as Assistant Coach with the elite athletes of Team USA at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy. It was a fun day filled with great competition for Team USA.
Here is the women's team poses for photos immediately after their finish.
October 6 Coach Jason wins the inaugural Kickin' Leaves Duathlon in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The new race had a small field but a great course. Hope everyone can make it there next year.
Jason poses with bike and trophy at home after the race.
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