Thursday, July 24, 2008

Man, what a day

Rain all day long. SO lame, couldnt ride my bike like I wanted to, could not even go run. Maybe this is a good thing so my leg gets a little more rest. But WTF. Now I can only get 3 bikes in this week and I dont even know how I can get another run besides the brick on sunday. GD.

Went to the gym for about an hour. Did some leg workouts and some core (i guess). I am bummed I hate days like this. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be better and I can ride, man I have to ride and more then that I WANT to ride. October is coming up fast (or maybe not), I hate when thigs dont go like I planned. Maybe I just need to chill, what are a few not so good days. I guess I still have a lot of time.

Whatever



TNK out

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Good day

So i need to get this of my mind. I wanted to run 9 miles in the hills today and after about 5 miles my lower leg hurt so bad I had to call it quits. I really hate when stuf f like this happens. i know it is the right thing to do so I dont hurt it more. BUT I HATE IT. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Weather was pretty crazy today, huricane Dolly made landfall in south Texas this morning and some of it made it up here late in the afternoon. So part of my run was in pouring rain, which is really nice after running in 100 degree weather for the last 4 weeks.

Swim this morning went well. I swan the 1500 meters 4 minutes faster then I ever have. Maybe taking 2 weeks of swimming was a good idea.


Thats all



TNK out

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What a day

Today was a great day. As I had mentioned in yesterdays post Swaps turned 4 today. We had such a fun day. It started with me getting of work early and coming to unwrap PRESENTS. She was so stoked, and so was Sus and I. The we went to Barton Springs Pool. We had a blast playing in the water and getting cotten candy and ice cream.
Then we went home for just about an hour and then went to CHUCK E. CHEESE's. It was off the chain. At first I went in there telling myself that I was going to stick to my diet and not eat Pizza. But about 5 min into playing games and having the best time with my girls that was over. I eat Pizza like I have never had it before and drank cherry coke like there is no tomorrow, and it was so worth it.

So no training today and pizza and soda = great day.
Back on schedule tomorrow. Swimming in the AM and then hopefully riding my bike. News is saying that a hurricane is coming so that might 86 the bike, my Plan B is a 9 mile run (rain or shine).


I dont know if Susa (my gf) reads this but if you do, thank you for supporting my training and always pushing me to tain harder and longer. YOU ARE THE BEST

Once again happy birthday Swaps.


TNK out

Monday, July 21, 2008

Update

Sorry that it is has been a few days since my last post. I dont really have an excuse besides that I have been to tiered and lazy.





I want to start this post with announcing that we have a new member here at "Team Krauss". His name is Fritz.

He is super cool. He might be a little dog but he has a very big attitude. He will be sporting some sweet "Team Krauss" wear at the next race.

My half ironman training has been going really well. It has been hard, really hard, but I can feel a difference. I can fell my legs getting stronger as well as the rest of my body including my mind. After a long training day I am mentally just as tiered as I am physically. I never noticed how much training can affect your mind, some is good, but most of it is physical stress turns into mental stress.

The best example is, I was doing a pretty hard brick yesterday (40 mile bike HARD, 10 mile run right of the bike HARD). I was feeling good after the bike but 7 miles into the run I was done. It was hot and humid all I wanted to do was quit. Once you are that stage it is really hard to keep going. Your body is screaming at you to stop, but my mind fights back and tells me not to quit, "You have come this far, you can finish, only 3 more miles, dont be a pussy you already ran 7, keep going, this is suppose to hurt, train like you race HARD, how bad do you want this, this is what is going to make the difference when everybody is hurting at the end of the race,quitters never win and winners never quit, GO GO GO".

My girlfriend asks me why I do this to myself, why do I train until I can go anymore. I didnt have a good answer to this until actually right no.

I saw this guy speak one day when I was living in Hwai'i. His name was Rick Rigsby and he said: "Good is not good enough when it can be better, better is not good enough when it can be best". When you think about it he is so right. Why settle with something good when you can make it better.

HAHA sorry that section is a little deep, but to everyone that has raced and knows what it feels like to hurt so bad that you want to stop, will understand.

BTW SWAPS is turning the big 4 tomorrow. YEAH PARTY TIME

TNK out

Monday, July 14, 2008

Meet Fritz

So today Susan decided to bring home a new member for team Krauss. He weighs in at 1.5 lbs and is just a little bigger then my hand, and his name is "Fritz".

This is all I am saying, the picture can speak for itself.





TNK out

Sunday, July 13, 2008

What a weekend

Man what a weekend. I am beat, physically and mentally.
Friday my buddy Kevin and I did some speed work at the track. it went really well. Kevin is a great runner, he has no problem running 5:30 miles , so he really pushed me and I was able to put down some PR's.

Saturday morning i went on a 40 mile ride, rode pretty hard felt really. I think I am getting stronger on the bike (at least I hope so).

Sunday went and rode again, 40 miles, then straight of the bike I ran 6 miles. I really wanted to run at least 8, but I was dead, and it was getting super hot.

Cant wait for tomorrow, I am going swimming in the AM and hard hill ride in the PM.

So far training is going well. I hope it will all be worth it in the end.


TNK out

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Update

First of all I hope everybody had a great 4th of July. Since I am not American it doesnt really mean anything to me but it is always nice to have a day to relax.

Team Krauss took it pretty easy on the 4th. We had some BBQ, Beers and some pretty good fireworks.

The next day my training for the 70.3 race here in Austin started. My friend Brent and i went for a nice 45 mile bike around. It was super hot, but it was a good ride. Climbed some pretty good hills, they were short but steep.
The next day was a 5 mile tempo run with hills.
Monday hit the gym for hour tempo bike and then some mile repeats all at 6:30 per mile. This is good news I am getting faster.
Tuesday was my OFF day, all I did was chill and then we got lucky and my mother took us out to a SUPER dinner.

Today 8 mile run with hills, went pretty good, I really feel like I am getting fitter and stronger.

My calfs have been pretty sore after my runs, I guess it is time for some new trainers, as well i really need to get some shoes that I can run 10 plus miles with out my calfs hurting.

That is all for now. I will post more regularly again SORRY


TNK out

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Quickie

Will post an update tomorrow. Just really quick, 1/2 ironman training started.

Good weekend, hard bike, easy run........
More tmorrow



TNK out

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Team Krauss

Something I have not talked about is the team I race for. It is called " Team Krauss". Team Krauss consists of the members of my family that come and support me at most if not all of my races. I am very lucky to have these people that are willing to stand around for hours, while I race around and they get to see me for a total of about 3 minutes in 2 hours.



The man in the back is my dad "Guen", he usually only attends the big races due to his very busy work schedule which has him on airplanes going from east to west and west to south all the time.

The lady in the back my mother aka "DSD, Dag, Dagemeister, Dag mother fuin Mar, der fuhrer......" She comes to all my races. And no matter how loud it is, i can always hear her screaming something at me that gets me to keep going when it hurts.

The young lady in the middle is Susan aka "Sue, Sus, Chula, Bears, Barchen, Nani, my ball and chain....". Sue has been at all but one (a duathlon) races. She always pushes me and always gets me motivated to train, even when I am sleepy and all I want to do is sleep.

The dude in the green is Phil aka "kleine schwanzchen, kleine.........." my bro. He is just like my mother when it comes to racing. The two people that I can for sure hear no matter how loud it is, are Phil and Dag. Phil usually screams german motivational quotes at me (laughing so hard right now).

The two girl are Daisy and Lily (my kiddos). Daisy aka "D, Dizzel, Dis Das Razmataz, Dais.............." is 7 years old and gets more stoked then me on race day. Once those little eyes are open it is 100 % energy until the race is over. No body can ring a cow bell like she can.

Lily aka " Cutson, McGilly cutties, cutties, B, SWAPS......" is 3 about to turn 4. To be honest i dont think she really cares to much. She always cheers me on and is stoked but I think she would be just as stoked at home chilling. But thats ok, because it must hard being 3 and having to wake up at 4 am so dad can do his shinanigans.

So thats Team Krauss



TNK out


P.S. Lady in front is Romy