Toby’s Blog
Mesquite Canyon 50-Miler Race Report
My first “race” of 2015 was the Mesquite Canyon 50 Miler. I guess I must have decided to subscribe to the “Go Big or Go Home” philosophy by selecting a truly long and grueling event for my first race of the year! I will admit that I wasn’t overly pumped for this run (mostly because I’m just tired of running on desert trails) but I could drive to the starting line and it would earn me one UTMB point. Wait, What??? You aren’t familiar with UTMB? Allow me then… UTMB is a 100 mile running event that encircles Mont Blanc in Europe....
read more2014 Ironman Arizona Race Report
Ever have a set of plans and have some external circumstances completely derail them??? That was Ironman Arizona 2014 for me. I had no preconceptions about my ability to “race” Ironman Arizona (meaning, I was completely underprepared and, thus, not racing at all) but I felt I was capable of hitting some potentially worthy targets. However, as the day unfolded, all those targets became distant mirages and shifted my focus elsewhere… Ironman Arizona: Pre-Race In the weeks and months leading up to Ironman Arizona, I did very little...
read moreIronman 70.3 World Championship Mont Tremblant Report
What is there to say about my second trip to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships??? Everything and yet nothing. Nothing because, unlike many, I wasn’t there to “race” the event. Rather, I was just stoked to have been fortunate to get a return trip, especially with the new venue. For me, the prize was merely attending. My performance, time, placement, or anything like those were all completely secondary. I was there as a tourist and a triathlete! But yet, being there was everything. When I started racing in 2008, I...
read moreBiking Mount Lemmon
Many times, I’d heard of biking up Mount Lemmon. I’d heard things like, “It is incredible! Best ride in Arizona!”, “You MUST go to the Cookie Cabin at the top! The cookies are the best!”, and “It is the most gorgeous ride ever!”, and so on and so on. The superlatives just never ceased with anyone who’d ridden Mount Lemmon. Had I ever biked up Mount Lemmon? Sadly, no. Finally, a Sunday opened where I had a long ride (5.5 hours) and no obligations until later in the day. Facing yet another long ride under the summer...
read moreBryce 100 Race Report
In the months, weeks, and days leading up to Bryce 100, I kept having the same conversation: Other person: So, what’s your next event? (or any question like this) Me: The Bryce 100. OP: Uhhh, what’s the Bryce 100? Me: A hundred mile run around Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. OP: (total silence and shock) OP: A hundred miles of running??? That’s crazy. You know that right? I mean, that’s completely insane. Me: Yeah, oddly enough, I actually agree with you. It is crazy. OP: So, why are you doing it??? Me: I want to...
read moreTempe Sprint Race Report
Sometimes, you just gotta go for it. That was my attitude going into the Tempe Sprint triathlon. I hadn’t planned on doing it when I charted my year, but with no races on the near horizon, I decided to do the sprint. One hour of tough effort seemed manageable and tolerable. I also knew the impact on my training calendar would be very minimal. Plus, in the air of total candor, I felt I had a good shot of getting on the podium in my age group. Admittedly, I always advise against having goals that are not within one’s control. But, I...
read morePiYo: Upcoming Beachbody Workout!
Piyo is the new Beachbody workout by famous celebrity trainer Chalene Johnson. Chalene Johnson, the ChaLEAN Extreme lady, is very expert in devising workouts that are very effective yet enjoyable. Piyo is set to release at the Beachbody Coach Summit in June, 2014. PiYo is high intensity workout program that does not require jumping and thus are low impacts but efficient and effective. Piyo workouts mainly include dancing, athletic drills, core conditioning, sports training, and stretching. These workouts are devised to maximize body’s...
read moreHealthy Recipe for Chicken Fried Rice
Now, I can’t speak for everyone but chicken fried rice and healthy do not coexist. There’s just nothing healthy about chicken fried ride. The chicken part isn’t bad and neither is the rice part. But, it is that darn fried part that just such a killer when one is trying to eat healthy. As I am always trying to tweak recipes to turn from regular recipe into a Healthy Recipe, I figured I would give a try at making a healthy (or at least, healthier) chicken fried rice. A small disclaimer, I know my healthy recipe could be...
read morePhoenix Marathon 2014 Race Report
A marathon? Yeah, that sounds like fun. Phoenix Marathon? Much better than the other local, early-season marathon, which shall remain nameless. Pursue a Sub-3 or “settle” for qualifying for the Boston Marathon? (That’s in quotes because nobody settles for the Boston Marathon; it is a tough goal and everyone has to work hard to achieve it.) For me to qualify for the Boston Marathon, I’d have to go under 3:15. Those are worthy goals that will motivate me. Why not right? Except… I did just do Ironman Panama...
read moreHealthy Eating: Ripe Fruit
We all know that healthy eating means we should probably eat more fruits and vegetables. We hear that all the time right? But, it really isn’t that simple. Focusing just on fruits in our pursuit of eating healthy, for example, there’s many different kinds and they aren’t all the same obviously. Plus, you have to factor the time issue. Ever bitten into an unripe peach? Hard as a rock almost. What about an over-ripe peach? Mushy like apple sauce and kinda nasty (well, I think at least). When it comes to what kind, an easy...
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