Tim Hola

07:12

:11

139 miles and 15,092 ft. of Climbing in a Day

Posted in Racing by Tim Hola

The route captured by my Global Trainer!

When was the last time you did something that was really challenging? I’m talking about a task that you’re nervous about the night before because it’s completely new. I believe that we as athletes need these types of challenges once in a while. They keep us sharp and confident when we might otherwise doubt ourselves. It’s been a while since I’ve done a workout that really pushed my limits. After many days without a day off of work, and finding a hole in my schedule, yesterday was the day for that challenge. I had heard of people riding to the top of Mt. Evans from Highlands Ranch, but rarely did I hear of people making the round trip. This was my challenge.

I hopped aboard my Orbea Opal and rigged up my Timex Global Trainer on the handle bars and shoved off in the dark at 5:03AM. Luckily, things were going as planned and I was really enjoying my ride. PowerGels fueled me for the long ascent getting to the base of Mt. Evans in 3 1/2 hours. Before I knew it, I made it to the summit, 14,183 ft., in 5 hours and 15 from leaving my house. I did a lap around the parking lot (I didn’t even unclip), and headed down.

The way back was fairly uneventful, other than 10 or so cars stopped along side of the road to take pictures of what was a bear. I also encountered a small bit of lightning and thunder coming out of the mountains.

I made it back home in 8:41 and in true triathlon training fashion, did a 30 minute brick run to finish off the session. It was a great training ride and was happy to give myself a challenge and see what I could do. Below are some stats:

Total ride time: 8:41

Total run time: 30 min

Total Feet climbed: 15, 092 (same as decent)

Highest elevation: 14,183

Lowest elevation (home): 5660

Keep up the training and have fun out there–

Tim

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07:06

:11

Hot day in Lubbock…

Posted in Racing by Tim Hola

My dad at mile 6ish on the bike..and close to 100 degrees already...

By the time you are reading this, I am sure you have read about (or physically experienced) the crazy weather at this years Buffalo Springs 70.3. This was my 11th year in a row of doing this race, and yes, it was the toughest of all my years there. I had a number of people ask me after the race if this was the hardest 1/2 I have ever done. I would have to say no, but it was up there. I won’t go into all the details, but the race was really about my dad who completed his first 70.3 in 10 years in hopes of qualifying for Kona.

My dad and I worked the PowerBar booth (he is a sponsored athlete as well) on Friday and Saturday and I gave him the low down on the course. We all knew it was going to be hot, but not until race day would we know exactly how hot it would be. I got to see all of the Timex team members before the race and it was great to see everyone make the trip to Texas. The new Ford Edge’s were looking very sharp on the road!!

Race morning came and my dad and I made the trip together to the race site while Nikki, our boys, and my mom came down later in the day. I started a few minutes behind my dad, but before we knew it we were racing even before the sun came up! A wise decision so that there would me as few people as possible out on those West Texas roads in the heat of the day. I had one of my better swims as I had the 2nd best swim time overall in the race (23:08) a huge thanks to my Orca 3.8 Wetsuit, which really is the best wetsuit I’ve swam in my career. All good considering shoulder injury during a nasty bike crash I had on May 14 on a training ride. A biker wearing headphones crossed in front of me w/o looking or hearing me. Please, please don’t ever wear headphones while riding your bike!! I landed right on my left shoulder and head, denting the helmet to a point where I knew it saved me. Anyway, back to the race…

On the bike I started out feeling good, then things changed. I think the wind and heat got the best of me. Not my best bike time out there, but still gave it my all and was hoping that my dad was OK. On the way back into the park, I saw my dad and he looked like he was doing well and having fun!

Out on the run, I didn’t have that usual zip I feel when running, but I still gave it what I had. I think the most memorable part of the run for me was that right turn onto the out & back in the desert fields. It was hot, windy, and well, kind of fun to see what my body could take. I caught a few people on the way back to town and saw my dad heading out at the 1 mile mark where he remarked to me, ‘I love the heat!” Not my best day, but I always say if you can walk away from a race and learn something, then all is good!

My dad finished in 7:27 and 5th in his age group (M65-69) and we were all so proud of him. My son Connor got to place his finishers medal around his neck which got almost the whole family in tears. The 1st place guy took the Kona slot, but I know my dad will be back for more! It really would be something if my dad and I could race Kona together someday, and I know it is possible.

Congrats to all my Timex Team members who did so well – it’s races like this that make us all stronger athletes.

Aloha!

Tim

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06:21

:11

Stand Up Paddle Board Race

Posted in Racing by Tim Hola

Who's got the best board out there?

I am a big believer in trying something new. Who knows when you might find a new skill right? This past Saturday night, I entered my very first Stand Up Paddle Board Race at the Boulder Reservoir…and it was a lot of fun! I had worked all day at the 5430 Boulder Sprint triathlon expo and that night worked the expo for the SUP race and Father’s Day run. I registered for the 1 mile SUP race that started at 6PM and was very excited to do something different. All 50 of the participants lined up on the shore and when the gun went off we hit the water and started the 2 loop course. I wore my Global Trainer and wow…I never thought I could reach 168 HR without using my legs! I was completely spent by the time I hit the beach!

I ended up placing 4th overall with just 32 seconds from 1st place…quite a nice surprise. The race concluded with some Hawaiian food complete with hula dancers. Thanks to Henry at Boulder Running Company for putting on such a great 1st annual event!

The 2 loop course map from my Timex Global Trainer

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06:15

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SUP Training with the Global Trainer

Posted in Racing by Tim Hola

A quick loop around the lake

Just recently I got back from racing Ironman Kansas 70.3 and wanted to do something a little different for my recovery so early this morning I took out my SUP (Stand Up Paddle) board to Chatfield Reservoir and did a lap around the lake. Not sure if many of you have tried SUP yet, but it is a great workout and a lot of fun. I rigged up my Global Trainer and HR monitor to track the workout and it worked great as usual. Check out the attached screen shot of my route on the lake. The map was so detailed I didn’t realize until afterwards that my route took me across a state county line. Yes, the Global Trainer works on the water!

I got in just about 5 miles in 1:25. At 5:30 this morning the water was perfect and there were only 2 other boats on the lake and myself. Be sure to read this months issue of Triathlete and you’ll see an article about Chris Lieto’s and Michael & Amanda Lovato’s SUP training for triathlon on page 38. There are certainly benefits to help you be a better triathlete. Perhaps it’ll help me at Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 in a couple weeks?

Looking forward to my first ever SUP race in Boulder this Father’s Day weekend! $100 goes to first place!

Taking my son Spencer for a ride a few weeks ago.

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05:04

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Wildflower 2011

Posted in Racing by Tim Hola

Orbea had a great showing at Wildflower this year

Sometimes people ask me why I do races so close to each other. I like to race and I am always seeking to find out what the most I can do – that is, without getting hurt. It’s a fine line, but I like to roll the dice sometimes and see what happens. So I thought about it and I gave the Wildflower Double another go in 2011.

As in previous years I stayed in the PowerBar trailer just a little ways from transition. I roomed with PowerBar’s very own David Paterson as well as Tim and Nicole DeBoom. We all had a great time and got to know each other well. Late Friday afternoon, Tim and I went on a short ride on our bikes together just long enough to get a good feel and soon it was lights out.

Tim and Tim

Saturday came and went so quickly! My wave went off 30 minutes after the pros and right away I felt the smoothness of my Orca 3.8 wetsuit. I was very impressed with this suit and certainly recommend it. My swim time was just under 25 minutes, good enough for the 5^th fastest of the day among amateurs.

The bike was a little more challenging…for everyone. Right out of the park, the wind was a force. At mile 5 I knew it was going to be a long bike ride. I kept my mind dialed and did my thing. I had one other person pass me in my wave, but just focused on my ride and finished my bike ride looking forward to the run. The run course is 60% trails, 40% road, and a lot of fun! I didn’t really feel my good rhythm until 10K or so, but the remaining 7 miles were very strong for me. I finished in 4:32, good enough for 2^nd in the age, and 3^rd overall. I was happy considering the much harder effort that I had to put forth than in prior years.

After having some salad, tiramisu, and chocolate chip cookies for dinner, I was quickly reminded by David that I had another race the next day and I had better get ready. Before Tim and Nicole left for Santa Cruz, Tim reminded me to “not hurt myself.” Good advice. The Olympic distance race is a very fun, no pressure race for me, and I was just hoping that I would get through it pain free (or mostly pain free that is). It went better than I thought, leading my age group from start to finish and the body responding well from all the abuse from the day before.

Perhaps the most exciting part of Sunday was the photo shoot for PowerBar held on a helicopter landing pad overlooking the lake. John Segesta was our photographer and his work was fantastic. Below are a few shots from the set.

Attempting to run after 20 + miles of running between 2 races.

All in all it was a full and very active weekend. Congrats to my Timex teammate Christine Anderson for a winning the Olympic Distance! Now it’s back to work and perhaps a few Chipotle burritos.