The 2013 race season is a mere few days from kicking off. I wanted to write something up to outline my plan for the season, my goals and to offer my thanks to those who have supported me in getting to where I am.

The season will kick of on the 18^th of May with the Early Bird Triathlon in Ottawa, Ontario. This will be my third time racing in Ottawa, however it will be the first time where it is not a race of significant importance. This season, my goals are loftier than this race and therefore, the plan is to train right through it, without any tapering or rest.

Next up, the Tremblant Olympic Triathlon on the 8^th of June. This will be the first taper race of the summer, where I ease off the training in the week leading up to the race, but again, this is far from my target race. The aim and purpose of this race will be to nail down my nutrition plan for the Olympic distance and to practice my pace times for the run.

Now comes the absolute best part of the summer and my target race. On July 14^th, I’ll be leaping into the Hudson River (yes, THE Hudson) in Manhattan New York, for the New York City Aquaphor Triathlon. As a huge fan of New York City, racing in up and down the West Side highway and finishing the run in Central Park will be a dream come true. This race represents the first of two target races for the summer.  It will include a full taper, a detailed race place and a huge amount of preparation and planning.

The very next weekend, we’re back to a non-target race which I will train through, the Verdun Triathlon, a mere 15 minutes from where I grew up.

My performance in New York will define one of two possible pathways. Pathway one: a finish outside the top 5 in my age group. Pathway one will lead me to the Magog Olympic triathlon in mid-August followed by the Montreal Triathlon as my target race for the end of the summer. Pathway two: a top five age group finish and qualification for the Hy-Vee 5150 Championships. If I managed to place in the top 5 in my age group in New York, I would strongly consider accepting my qualification spot for the Hy-Vee Olympic Triathlon in Iowa.

The opportunity to compete in Hy-Vee, at one of the most prestigious triathlons, would be not only incredible but a tremendous honour. Needless to say, that race would most likely become my focus.

Someone asked me what my end goal for the summer was. I have extreme difficulty determining what it is, because I’m not entirely certain where my fitness is. I know that I have put in an immense amount of work and I have seen some of that work pay off, particularly in the pool and on the bike. Needless to say, I hope to do my very best and perhaps I’ll be able to compete for a top five spot in my target races.

Just a few days out I want to say an immense thank you to my sponsors; ICEdot, Timex and Vega. I understand that offering up sponsorship to amateur athletes is not necessarily the most profitable venture on their part, but I believe it is a huge part of the sport. I’m excited to be racing for and representing some great products, and I hope to do them proud. I’d be foolish if I didn’t thank my family, specifically my parents who have been nothing but supportive, despite my griping about various aches and pains. The McGill Triathlon gang has been a source of inspiration and support during the long (and painful) winter and I wouldn’t be prepped for the season without the coaches and the athletes alike. I’ll thank Jason B., my comedian of a swim coach, specifically, at the risk of inflating his ego even more. His patience with my moaning and his encouragement in the pool has me swimming better times than I ever have in my life, no small accomplishment for a coach. Finally, my friends, who keep me grounded, who roll their eyes at me when I say I’m waking up at 5:30 for a workout and who are often more enthusiastic about my results than I am: you’re an incredible group and I wouldn’t be able to do the things I do without you.

Here’s to a glorious and successful 2013 race season, SEE YOU OUT THERE!

Twitter: @ScottyHarm

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Warming Up in the ‘Bay Area’ weather.

Tempus Fugit Individual Time Trial - Race Report (spring)
My morning started quite early, I crawled out of bed at 3:20 am, drank some coffee, got my water bottles prepped and packed, loaded the van and off we went (my wife Robin & I) at 4:30 am. First stop 30 minutes into my travel was a Starbucks just off the highway in Sacramento for fresh coffee. Another two hours to drive to get to the race course in Castro Valley, CA. I eat breakfast and hydrate on the way to Castro Valley. When we left Yuba City the temp was in the mid 60’s, when we arrive in Castro Valley the temp was in the high 40’s. It’s a good thing that I pack everything in my gear bag. We arrived before registration was open so I drove the course to get a good idea what the curse was like since I have not raced this particular course before. One of my main concerns with every out and back time trial is the turnaround area. This course’s turnaround area was nice and wide. After getting back to the parking area I started to unpack my time trial bike aka ‘P2’ and other needed gear. The registration area was less than a quarter mile from the parking area so I took a stroll up and checked-in and got my bib number. After getting back to the van I pull out the cold weather gear: arm warmers and knee warmers and get them on for my warm-up on the trainer. The trainer warm-up is one of my favorite parts about racing time trials. I put the ear buds in and listen to Blue Man Group’s ‘The Complex’ as I warm-up and get into the ‘Zone’. Meanwhile Robin is out of the van by this time taking photos of the event and me, my wife does a great job. After my warm-up the jersey and bib number go on and I take off the knee warmers but with the super chill in the air I decide to leave the arm warmers on. I also make a sunglasses lens change to amber lenses. Castro Valley is just south of the San Francisco Bay so the marine layer was still in, this is what causes the cold morning and makes the sky very overcast, hence the sunglasses lens change. As I ride up to the start staging lane I’m wearing fingerless gloves and I decide to ride back to the van in the parking area and dig out my full finger gloves due to the cold. As I am waiting in the start staging area I change gloves and give them to Robin. What a ‘Domestique’ Robin is, I can’t have better support. Rider by rider and minute by minute I work my way to the start house. I even got to see a racer argue with the USAC Official about what time it was. That rider needs to remember that the only time that matters is the Official’s time, lol. It’s my turn in the start house, I get set on my hot rod and truly getting into the ‘Zone’: me, the bike, and the course. 3, 2, 1, GO…I get a good start out of the house…I settle in smoothly….knowing what is ahead of me, big climbing, I don’t push too hard right out of the gate. It takes me a few climbs to get my climbing rhythm but once I do I’m in it for the long haul. Within the last few miles of the 5 mile outbound leg I start to catch and pass other riders that went out ahead of me. As I am approaching the turnaround I am pulling my full finger gloves off with my teeth and putting them in my jersey pockets, my hands were getting warm. I get to the turnaround and it went very smoothly.

After crossing the finish line

I knew from here on out it was mostly downhill. I switch the gearing on P2 to descending gearing and I started to push my body to its limits after 5 miles of climbing. The Descent was wicked, fast and very technical. The last 2 to 3 miles of the descent were full of ‘S’ turns and switchbacks. I’m in my aero bars the entire descent so I can’t reach my brake levers. The one thought that kept going through my mind was “I hope these tires stick”, the tires did a great job and held the road very well. I come to the 200 yard sign and I put the hammer to the road. I keep on accelerating and then the finish line comes into view and my legs and bike go into another gear, overdrive, and I push as hard as I can to the finish line. What a ride and what an adrenaline rush that descent and finish was. What a great feeling, to put 120% into a race against the course and the clock, and to beat your goal time by 5 minutes and take a 7th place in your category. After driving home 2 and half hours, unpacking the van and putting some gear away I took a well-earned nap.

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Aguas Frias 10-Mile Time Trial 4-25-2013 – A New Personal Best

Last evening’s Individual Time Trial was a great event for Team Garage Studio’s Matthew Timoszyk. The Aguas Frias 10-Mile Time Trial was located in the farmland of Durham, CA. I arrived at the course early to get myself prepared and warmed up with plenty of time to spare to get into the zone. The start went off without any problems and I started off really strong and settled into a good rhythm/pace. Miles 4 & 5 were not my best but I knew I had a slight tailwind going into the 2nd half. After the turnaround I put the pedal to the metal and made up the time that I lost. I kept on accelerating throughout miles 6 through 9. At mile 9 I let my legs go for all they could muster. The last 1/4 mile I pushed myself even harder until it ‘hurt’ until I knew I was safely across the finish line. I came in with a time of 28 min. 20 sec. That put me in Third place for the event. The 28:20 is a personal best for me on this course by just under 3 1/2 minutes. With the points I gained I am now up to 3rd from 7th in the overall 2013 Chico Time Trial Series. Overall it was a Great race for Team Garage Studio’s Matthew Timoszyk. Onto my next Time Trial tomorrow in Castro Valley, a USAC Sanctioned Time Trial.

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Greetings to Everyone!

I’m Matthew Timoszyk,
I’m the latest addition to the ICEDOT Sponsored Athlete program.

I started my amateur bike racing career at the young age of 12 racing BMX in the Detroit, Michigan area. At 14 I moved over to Road Racing until I went off to college where I continued to train and race. After moving to California, by the way of the United States Air Force, I continued to race as a USCF Senior Cat 4 Road Racer until I was 22.  I truly never got off the bike or away from the sport of cycling. I continued to ride and train with clubs most of my adult life. I was off the bike due to health reasons from about 2005 until 2009. In May of 2009 I had major cartilage replacement surgery on my right knee. At the time of my surgery I weighed over 250 pounds. During my recovery from surgery I decided to get back into bike racing. I always loved time trialing when I was younger so I decided to dedicate my training and racing to being a ‘Time Trial Specialist’. When I was able to get around better with my knee I completely rebuilt my road bike from the ground up and built my time trial hot rod shortly after. I was a member of a large team my first season then a smaller team my second season. During the 2012 season I decided that because of my discipline being a ‘Time Trial Specialist’ I really didn’t need an organized “Team” and the teams that I rode for were both located an hour drive from my home. My goal over the off season between 2012 and this season was to form my own USA Cycling Team, Team Garage Studio was formed and sponsors gathered. I have a full 2013 racing schedule and I am looking forward to every minute of the training and racing in the coming months. I’m also very proud to be a member of the ICEDOT Sponsored Athlete program.

My weight is now 175 lbs! I get asked many times over how I lost the weight, I always answer: eating correctly and riding is how I lost the weight. It also helps that I am a Personal Chef with an emphasis on nutrition.

Sincerely,
Matthew Timoszyk
USAC Masters 35+
Time Trial Specialist
Team Garage Studio

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Temperatures  the morning of the race were in the lower 50′s.  However, it had been raining on and off all night before the race.  So about 30 minutes before gun time, I checked the radar on my phone.  Let’s just say the picture to the below painted a less than favorable image for dry conditions during the race.  I estimated the storm to be about an hour away and figured it would hit about time I left T1 for the bike leg.

 The first run was pretty uneventful except for a light rain beginning just as the 1st leg of the race started.

The transition area was setup in the airport parking lot near scenic highway 71. The bike route was an 18 mile out and back South on highway 7, leading into the foothills of the Boston Mountains.

Much as I expected, I no sooner grabbed my bike off of the rack and was heading to exit the transition area when the clouds opened up and began to pour in earnest, as the storm in the radar image about had arrived.  There was a silver lining in all of this wetness in the form of a 20 mph tailwind for much of the way out on the bike leg.

I can attest that rain hitting your legs at anything faster then 25 mph stings like the dickens.  Also going 35+ mph down hill on skinny bike tires in the rain is a sure fire recipe for white knuckles and leaving a crease on your bike saddle.   Fortunately, by the time I reached the turn around, the main part of the front passed and there was virtually no wind.  Just lots of rain.   Just my luck,  at  mile 17.5 out of 18 miles the rain stopped.

(The rain had pretty much stopped by the time the photographer snapped this pic of me preparing to come into T2.)

The final run route was an out and back ran around the West and North sides of the airport property.

This marked my third year to enter this race.  The first year, I placed 8th in the Clydesdale’s 40-98 age group,  Last year, I thought I had placed 2nd in the same category.  But for some reason still unbeknownst to me, I was called to the podium for 3rd place.

This year, placed 3rd overall Clydesdale and 1st in the Clydesdale 40-98 age group.

The only downside to the awards ceremony was it had literally turned into hog wallow with ankle deep mud everywhere as evidenced by the mud on my jacket and shoes in podium pic.

Close up of the gold belt buckle.  I just need a silver one next year to round out the set.

In retrospect, the only thing which would have made this race a little easier mentally would have been to

have had the peace of mine that comes with an ICEdot Crash Sensor.

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I routinely wake up at 5:15 in the morning and pause for about 30 seconds and just stare at my alarm clock. I stand there completely immobile, in my pajamas (blue plaid if you must know), and just stare. The majority of the time I’m having an internal debate with myself with one part argues its far more sensible to get back in bed, while the other is pointing out that somewhere there’s a person just like me who is going to get up and head out for their workout. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the half telling me to suck it up wins and I trudge downstairs for my cup of coffee and bowl of oatmeal.

I’m known (hopefully affectionately), around the McGill Triathlon practices as “that crazy guy who goes to all the practices”. I’m the one who can tell you what we’re doing before the workout starts, and what we did for the Wednesday swim workout two weeks ago. Am I hardworking and passionate, or completely insane? Does it make me insane that I write down everything I eat on a daily basis, along with the workouts I did? In fact, I can tell you what I’ve eaten and done as workouts, nearly everyday for the past six months. If I was a professional athlete and this was my job, this would definitely be well within what would be expected of me, but I’m not, I’m a pretty average guy who happens to really enjoy the sport.

I often joke with family and friends that I’m OCD about my training. I need to observe, fine-tune and perfect every small aspect of my training. In many respects I’m joking, but in other ways I’m being entirely serious.  I have vast amounts of information to look over, and it always leads me back to the same question: when does my passion for this sport become a true, uncontrollable obsession? Is it when I start to tweak the number of scoops of coffee I use? Is it when it ruins my day to miss a workout I had planned on getting done?

Ironman Arizona winner, Lindsey Corbin, has said “all triathletes have a few screws loose, its in our nature”. I don’t think that anyone contests that we’re all a little nuts. But it’s the fine line that we walk, between being a little nuts and certifiably insane which seems to almost be the most exciting part of the sport. As athletes we walk to the edge of a very large cliff and glance over the edge. We want to prove that if our friends can stand with two toes over the threshold, we can dangle our whole leg. I’m of the opinion that looking over the edge of that cliff gives us a high that we spend increasing amounts of our time chasing. When we push ourselves to the brink of what we considered to be possible and return, well, there’s nothing quite like it.

A portion of the answer to my question about obsession lies in the addiction that I think dominates endurance sport culture. We seek to achieve things that our peers view as incredible and which we, ourselves, doubt to be possible. When our passion for this sport, our way of showing how truly alive we are, becomes an addiction fueled craze, then I believe we have crossed the line.  We should feel no shame for missing the odd run, or enjoying a dessert after a meal. Everything in moderation should be the phrase that we live our lives by, and yet, we take everything to extremes.

Thus, we return to the original question, when does passion become obsession? I don’t have a definitive or complete answer, and I doubt I ever will. I do know that I walk the line between the two very closely, and there are most certainly days where I fall squarely into the “obsessive” category and others where I thoroughly enjoy my sweatpants and not the form fitting lycra I don most of the time. My friends and family will support me whether I skip dessert or not, and that and the knowledge that I’m healthier, both physically and mentally, now than ever before in my life, should be more than enough for me. Luckily, at least for today it most definitely is.

Twitter: @ScottyHarm

A huge thank you to the MTC crew who I talked about this with, along with fellow ICEdot Ambassador Rodney Buike (@rbuike). It gave me an immense amount of perspective and made me pause and reflect, something I hadn’t taken the time to do in a very, very long time. I’m proud to be surrounded by people who are able to being so incredibly full of life and supportive of others.

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Just because you are not in the event does not mean you can’t be a part of it. There are numerous opportunities for volunteers at any event and most will welcome even someone who shows up the day of the event willing to help out. From timing to working an aid station to being a course marshal or even collecting timing chips at the end volunteers are always needed.

Volunteer at an aid station

Then there is always the possibility of crewing for a participant. This is a little different in that it does take some planning and of course is only possible at the longer distances that even allow a crew. It can be easy or as hard as you and the course make it. It also requires knowing what the person you are crewing for wants and needs. Knowing where things are, where crews are allowed on the course, and what you can and can not do. Of course you must also keep out of the way of other participants but you can also lend them a hand if you have time.

Crewing is a great way to meet a lot of other people and you usually have plenty of time to visit and get to know some of them since you are seeing them several times. Who doesn’t like making new friends? Of course you can also update the progress of the people you know via social media in your “down” time.

Pacing someone is also a great chance to be a part of an event yet not have to do the entire course. You can even be a pacer for someone you have never met before. Being a pacer also requires a minimal amount of pre-planning such as what time you expect to meet, planned pace, and how far you will be going with them.

So even when you are not competing you can still participate and support your sport; just get out there and lend a hand to someone.

I promise you will not regret it.

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I met Jeff on December 15, 2010.  It was a brief introduction as he had just completed the Ironman distance in Little Rock.  For you triathletes, you know there is not an Ironman in Little Rock.  It was not an official race, although to Jeff his quest to complete eight Ironmans in eight months was officially over after crossing the finish line at the Capitol.  He set out to do 8-in-8 as a celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of losing his right leg.

While the accident claimed my right leg, it couldn’t take away my heart.

I heard about his story from Erin and Gary at Go! Running.  I had recently started running, but knew I wanted to be there to witness this event.  I remember trying to run with him some, but somehow I ran all over downtown Little Rock not able to find him.  Eventually, I decided I’d wait at the finish.  It wasn’t until I read his book, The Gift of a Day, that I understood the magnitude of his accomplishment.  Jeff has turned what the majority of people would consider a tragedy into opportunity.

A farm boy from Boscobel, Wisconsin, Jeff’s life changed on a typical July 30 day.  His life would forever be different, except not in the way one would anticipate.  It was a tough, trying time for his family, but they overcame it.  His mother and father refused to allow him to not give his best.  Jeff’s account on what his life was like is an example of his positive, intrepid attitude.

You can have the most loving, supportive people around you to help, but ultimately, it’s you that has to get up and be OK.

You’ll be fascinated to learn how triathlons came later in his life.  He was hooked, like many others, by watching the Ironman World Championships on television.  He figured he could do it and that he belonged there.  It wasn’t until he looked into it that he discovered it wouldn’t be easy.  That made him want it more.  Reading about his illustrious wheelchair basketball career, where he played all over the world, makes you appreciate his work ethic and determination.

Those are the feel-good moments that warm our hearts in stories.  The not-so-great moments are when disaster strikes and we have to deal with being human.  We fail and come up short.  Our golden dreams must be modified.  We find divine Grace that lifts us.  It’s then that we recognize we already have golden moments in our lives.

Each chapter is prefaced with a quote that sets the tone for the pages to come.  I immersed myself in the story.  Jeff took me through several mood changes.  I was right there with him in the hospital.  I was shouting, “Where is my Gavin!”  I chuckled at times and shared in some unforgettable moments.  He comments that it’s not all about him.  You’ll read a heartfelt letter from someone he helped accomplish his Ironman dream.

When a woman passes a male athlete in the triathlon world, that is known as “getting chicked.”  When I pass an athlete with two legs, I like to think to myself that they just “got cripped.”

I borrowed a copy of the book from a friend.  She told me it was a special copy because not only had Jeff signed it, but so did his two children.  She was right!  Seeing their handwritten names warmed my heart.  Thanks again, LT!  You don’t have to be an amputee, wheelchair basketball player, or triathlete to find yourself as engrossed as I was.  The only requirement is you have a heart.

I stopped by Go! Running on Saturday, March 30, 2013, to have Jeff sign a copy of his book for me.  If you didn’t make it by to see him, copies are available at the store.  It’s a good read and you’ll finish it inspired and ready to make the best out of any situation.

Jeff has a few more Ironmans schedule this year.  After the Boston Marathon, he goes back to where he made his triathlon debut, Memphis in May Triathlon.  In August, he travels to Norway for the Isklar Norsemen Xtreme Triathlon.  It’s extreme because it is considered to be the ultimate triathlon on the planet.  I wish him well in all of his endeavors!  Join me as I’ll always rooting for Team GLAS.  Continue to do what moves you, Jeff! 

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January is known at Resolution Month.  When I worked at the North Dallas Athletic Club the club’s clientele would increase dramatically in January.   Having made their New Year’s resolutions to get into shape the club members would flood into the club and start working out like crazy.

Then… February would roll around and they would start to drop off and pretty soon the “good intentions” were out the window and the club would be back to normal.  The regulars were still there, working out consistently and keeping their fitness on cruise control.

I need to get myself in gear for Resolution Month!  I’ve pretty much taken the past two months off from running and cycling.  I think I’ve logged three runs and three rides.  So my New Year’s Resolution will be to get back out there and get in the training groove again.   Three runs, three rides, three swims.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions?  Do you make them?  I have a lot of friends who post that they don’t even bother making them anymore because they know that they won’t stick to it.  Kind of a negative attitude if you ask me.

For me, I’ll continue to make my resolutions every year.  This year the will be my training and I think I’ll add to floss my teeth every night!

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