2013 Training Trip - Day 6

Saturday, February 16

To get extra training in before we left, we had to start our Saturday ride in the Dark at 6:18 AM.  There were definite pockets of colder air as we road across Tucson, West to East on Glenn Ave.  We took a break on the East side of Tucson at our favorite McDonald's for breakfast and then road back with wind at our backs.

Once back at the compound, we had to make quick work of laundry and packing bikes.  Greg and I both had flight out of Tucson.

2013 Tucson Training Trip Totals.

Day 1 Subtotal: Swim .9 hours, Bike 0 hours, Run .9 hours = 1.8 hours

Day 2  Subtotal: Swim 0 hours, Bike 8 hours, Run 0 hours = 8.0 hours

Day 3 Subtotal: Swim 1 hour, Bike 2.5 hours, Run .5 hours = 4.0 hours

Day 4 Subtotal: Swim 1 hour, Bike 4.8 hours, Run 0 hours = 5.8 hours

Day 5 Subtotal:  Swim .7 hour, Bike 5.5 hours, Run .4 hours = 6.6 hours

Day 6 Subtotal:  Swim 0 hour, Bike 1.8 hours, Run 0 hours = 1.8 hours

Total = 28.0 hours

2013 Training Trip - Day 5

Friday, February 15

Our last big day of training - The floating goal for me was to summit Mt Lemmon.  The counter goal for Greg was to make me run after killing ourselves on the ride.  Both goals were achieved.  We made it to the summit and ran afterward.


The video is about 30second of riding 30 seconds of recovery eating a McDonald's afterward.

2013 Tucson Training Trip

Day 1 Subtotal: Swim .9 hours, Bike 0 hours, Run .9 hours = 1.8 hours

Day 2  Subtotal: Swim 0 hours, Bike 8 hours, Run 0 hours = 8.0 hours

Day 3 Subtotal: Swim 1 hour, Bike 2.5 hours, Run .5 hours = 4.0 hours

Day 4 Subtotal: Swim 1 hour, Bike 4.8 hours, Run 0 hours = 5.8 hours

Day 5 Subtotal:  Swim .7 hour, Bike 5.5 hours, Run .4 hours = 6.6 hours

Total =  26.2 hours

2013 Training Trip - Day 4

Gen. Hitchcock Hwy - Mt Lemmon

Thursday, Feburary 14

Back in the saddle again - This time Greg and I aid going up Mt Lemmon to mile 15 of the climb.  The estimated ride time was 5 hours.  Mt Lemmon is common theme for me because it's safe, low on air pollution, and scenic.

At this point our leg and crotches are stiff and chaffed.  I haven't ridden a bike since Sept 2012.  I felt aweful at the start of the ride, but as my legs warmed up my muscles started to move easier.

2013 Tucson Training Trip - Day 3

Davis Monthan AFB - Boneyard

Wednesday, February 13

Solar panel covered parking at Trisports

Tasks for the day: shift bases from the hotel to my brothers, groceries, 2-3 hr bike ride, replace swim goggles, run, and swim.  Our bike route was determined when housekeeping mistakenly throughout my swim cap and goggles.  So, Greg and I did figure-eight loop  around Tucson by Davis Monthan AFB Boneyard and Trisports (new goggles).  There is a bike path running SE from the U of A to the AFB which is a nice break from the noise and exhaust of Tucson traffic.

Slowtwitch - Big miles with DKT new

Big miles with DKT new

Written by: Greg Kopecky
Added: Sun Feb 17 2013

It started with a phone call. “Hey, David. Are you going to Tucson this year?”

He replied, “I don’t know. I’m undecided. Probably not.”

“Okay. I’ll be there in February for the Zipp, SRAM, and Quarq 2013 product launch”, I said. I already let the cat out of the bag that you normally train there, and they said they’d love to have you come to the presentations and group rides as a star guest. If you want, we can stay afterwards and train.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for the excuse." 
Read More

Sram/Zipp FEB 2013 New Product Release

Location: Star Pass Marriott, Tucson, AZ

Date: Monday Feb 11, 2013

Oh yeah, I was was in the room when in all went down.

New Products:
Zipp Stealth - carbon integrated aero-bar - lava coverage - Zipp
Zipp 650c 404 Carbon Clincher - slowtwitch coverage - Zipp
Zipp fit - online Zipp equipment sizing aid - lava coverage - coming spring 2013
Zipp 30 - Aero Aluminum trianing wheel - Zipp

2013 Tucson Triaining Trip - Day 2

Tuesday Feburary, 12

Kevin at the Sram Neutral Race Support in Hotel parking lot

The Sram group ride up Mt Lemmon was canceled and changed to Gate's Pass because of weather.  After breakfast, I saw Kevin in the hotel lobby and told him I was heading up Mt Lemmon.  Without hesitation Kevin, agree to join me on this potentially stupid ride.  There were rumors of the road being closed and 7 inches of snow at the bottom.  We agree it would probably be cold, but we thought the road would be quite passable.

Video Mt Lemmon Climb

Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013

Here's the video of the climb up Mt Lemmon on day 2.5 of my Training Trip.  Kevin and I left the Marriott Star Pass at 10:40 AM and returned at 7 PM in the dark. We made plenty of stops.  General Hitchcock Hwy (the road up Mt Lemmon) was closed when we arrived at the base for ice removal at the top, so Kevin and I added on a 8-10 mile loop after chatting with the Sheriff's Deputies for 30 minutes.

Kevin made it to the top/un-plowed road (mile 25), which was as far as possible on the day.  I made it to mile 20, after stopping to warm my hand via crotch.  We both froze on the descent at sun down.   It was the coldest I've every been period - not just a bike ride.  Kevin also concurs.  I had to look at my hands to verify they were still holding on to the brake levers and was shaking uncontrollably.  I couldn't speak, just grunt, because my face was numb.  We were pushing the envelop of tough or stupid, but that's what makes an epic ride.

Temp at the bottom 55 F - start of climb

Temp at the top 19 F - star of descent

Total ride: 109 mile, 8 hours
Mt Lemmon Climb - base to Ski area turn off:
25 miles
~6000 ft of climbing
~9000 ft Altitude (Mt Lemmon observatory is 9157 ft)

2013 Tucson Training Trip - Day 1

After a 3 hour, de-icing delay on the ramp at Minneapolis/ Saint Paul International Airport, I arrived in sunny Tucson, AZ Sunday evening.  I arranged the training trip in conjunction with a Sram/Zipp product release also in Tucson.  Greg Kopecky (friend, athlete, journalist) was also in town for the event, so I had a good training partner.  The plan was be at the Sram release for the beginning of the week and then shift our base to my brother's by the U of A.

Monday was almost a total loss - cloudy 40 deg changed to rain, then freezing rain, and then snow.  The same weather I left in Minnesota.

Thanks to Lauren Goss we did get two swims in on Monday.  She had a key to the Star Pass outdoor pool.  We ran to the pool, swam, and ran back at 7 AM.  After the Sram product release for the media, we walked to the pool and swam again.  Kevin O'Connor also made the 2nd swim too shortly after he arrive in Tucson.

Greg Kopecky - Slowtwich.com Technical Editor

Sunday Workouts:
Run: 30 min with Lauren and Greg

Monday Workouts:
Run: 25 min to and from swimming
Swim: 30 min 4x500 fr, 3x200 fr, with Greg