ITU World Triathlon San Diego 2012

What an awesome weekend!  It was fun seeing so many friends and team mates; Cindi Bannink, Mac Brown and Barry Siff and watching the Olympic Trials unfold the final TEAM USA for London 2012!  I was able to spend time with my coach, and clients as well; from the pro swim practice to AG Race. This was one that will be top on my list of memories.  Here is a photo recap...

And then there is Mac.  He is amazing.  He came out to support Cindi and I and watch the Elites race.  He was a great host, tour guide and fabulous at picking restaurants. We are lucky to have a Team mate like Mac. As for me, well ya win some and ya loose some! Enjoy your training =) www.tristafrancis.com

St. Anthony's Success

Third time's a charm.  I have raced this race unsuccessfully the past two years.  From heat, humidity and injury the first time to a bike mechanical the second.  This year I was determined to battle all my daemons that lie at this race.  I did just that and finally hit my goal of placing in the top 10.  I took 5th place!  This qualified me for, as well as gave me a comped entry to Hyvee Championships which is a race that I have wanted to do for a few years now.  Woot!

Now some details. I appreciate Nathan Sports Hydration for giving me the opportunity for some expo time and exposure to discuss some of my favorite hydration products and sign an autograph or two. If you all have forgotten, my race watch of choice is my white Race Trainer Pro.  A big thanks to Timex for providing me with splits I can see when I'm moving at Lightening Speed ;). I love my QR DA Illicito, I love my Challenge Tires and I am grateful for Retul for my awesome fit.  I had the second fastest bike split in my AG!!  I love my KSwiss K-Ruzz 1.5 running me to my first sub 50 min 10k in 3 years due to a plaguing hammy/nerve dysfunction.  I am so happy to be running pain free for the first time thanks most recently to my PT, Bill. Once I start speed work, I know that time will start dropping!  Lastly, I can not thank PowerBar enough for fueling me before, during, and after my race.  I am blessed to be apart of PowerBar Team Elite and have access to the best sports nutrition on the planet.

A big shout out to Philip LaHaye, Race Director, for another phenomenal race and an excellent new swim course and to the love and support of my Timex Peeps Jennifer Pinto, Dave Orlowski, and Tamara Kozulina that were there racing as well! Enjoy your training =) www.tristafrancis.com

Nautica South Beach- 1st Race in the Books

I've always had the philosophy, I am okay with suffering as long as I am going fast. If I am suffering and going slow; that is pure misery. This race defines "blowing the cobwebs out" to the "nth" degree. Here is the check list of things I hope do not happen at my next race:

1. Eat bad food the night before and be plagued with the runs.

2. Be the last wave trying to swim through the masses ahead of me.

3. Being put in the correct race to begin with to avoid being racked with the relays and trying to get to my rack with about 20 people standing in front of it for both transitions. As much as I yelled, "coming through" 20 people don't move very fast.

4. Loosing my bottle of PowerBar Perform nutrition at mile 4 of the bike.

5. Can't find any legs to run with :)

6. Experience pure misery

On the flip side, it was an incredible trip with my daughter Darbie. We had so much fun spending the weekend together. I also was there with my Client Zara Guinard who had an impressive 7 min PR, placing 2nd Elite Female and getting her Pro Card qualification. It was wonderful to share in her impressive performance and celebrate the awesomeness of the accomplishment. Enjoy your training =)

Is it 'Go' Time?

Well, this season is going to start off with a bang with or without me. I just got my Illicito home from the build and the winds are too strong right now for me to take it on a spin... 6 days out to Race Day. Where am I? Well, I'll tell you this much....

I am not near as fit as I was this time one year ago. I haven't been on "White Lightening" yet, my QR Illicito Race Rocket (thanks, SamP), I lost my father-in-law a few weeks back who had been apart of my life for 21 years, and I still need to dig up all those things that I need to race with and cram in a transition practice or two. Now, I am not going to say I have not been training... because I have. But a death in a family takes a huge toll on one and I must say the training as been a bit random. Last year was the first year I experienced a taste of burnout, so I do not believe I am in a bad place right now especially since I will be racing my big races in October. The bottom line is.. its time to start the season, whether I feel ready or not. I guess Sunday will tell me where I am at when I toe the line at the first Toyota Cup race of 2012; South Beach Miami. One of my favorite quotes is "We never fail, we only produce results." This weekend will give me a lot of feedback on where I am at and what I need to work on next.

It is 'Go' time.. Ready or not! Enjoy your training =) ~T

P.S. Thank you Dan K at BikeSource for the most incredible build. It feels so good to be in such skilled hands. Your years of experience always ROCKS THE HOUSE!

Valentine 5k : 3rd Place : 18 degrees

Today was about just seeing where I'm at with less than 50 days to my first race. I definitely didn't set myself up for success running this at the end of a recovery week, and at 18 degrees. First off, I get stale quickly without any intensity in my training and secondly, I have never ran well in this type of cold. My heart rate doesn't elevate and it is truly a suffer fest to try and get any speed. For example, when I ran this in 2008 my avg HR was 170 Max 180. Today, avg HR 163 Max 169 YIKES! Might explain my very slow time of a 7:30 avg per mile. What did I gain from today? I entered that area of "suffering" for the 2012 season. Today it was very unfamiliar, but this will be a thing of the past very soon. On to the next one.... Enjoy your training =)

Some Press @ Tri-magazine.net

Its always fun to see yourself in a magazine! This was an article written about workouts to help treadmills keep you fit and sane. Thanks for the supporting Timex, Tri-mag!

A New Year with a New Sponsor! 2012

I've been busy! Busy is good. Race schedule is set; feel free to take a peek above. I am very happy with the way this came together. I am more than excited about this year! Not only will I be returning to the Timex Multisport Team for my 4th year, which is the most prestigious and longest running team in the sport of 11 years, I am also going to be joining PowerBar Team Elite for 2012-2013. I couldn't be more honored to be associated with such amazing athletes! Thank you, PowerBar, in advance, for the support you will give me this season. There might be another sponsor or two in the works. STAY TUNED. Btw, my favorite PowerBar since they introduced them a few years ago is the cola flavored PowerGel Blasts... Just in case you were wondering... =)