life.is.good

i have been getting a lot of....."dude this year has been such a mess/horrible wreck/catastrophe/etc for you" i really don't/cannot see it that way....

a response i gave yesterday....

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Yeah, everybody keeps saying that..... But here’s what I find funny.

I don’t see it that way. My life is a wonderful and awesome experience and filled with so much good that these accidents do nothing to discourage me. If I had to return to a doldrums 8-6 job/life that I absolutely hated and had no ambition towards that would be a horrible event for me. The incidents of this year are nothing on the grand scale and as long as I have the ability and resources to do and pursue that which I love then my faith and determination can never be deterred.

Press Release: MVA out of Kona

Monday 28th September – Triathlon Swim Ace Mark Van Akkeren was knocked off his bike while returning from a training ride on Ali’i Drive around 11:30am. The accident happened as Mark was heading south making a left turn into the driveway of his condo. A man also riding south on a cruiser style motorcycle made the decision to pass Mark on the left as he was making his turn and the impact sent both Mark and the rider to the ground. Mark suffered heavy bruising to his left elbow and a broken hand, the severity of which has yet to be determined.

Mark is a second year Professional Triathlete with a very strong swim/bike combination. In 2009 he has led out of the water in all ten races that he has competed in. Overall victories include the USAT 2012 Talent ID race and the Pacific Crest Half Ironman. Said Mark of his aims for Ironman Hawaii 2010, “Things have been going very well for me in the run up to the World Championships, since Ironman Canada I have been focusing on setting the swim course record and winning the TIMEX bike prime. Based on my swim times in the pool the morning of the accident (ed: just short of 1650 Olympic trials standards) I know the course record was within my grasp.”

Mark would like to thank his sponsors TYR Sport Inc, Xterra Wetsuits, Boulder Running Co., Impact Street, Generation UCAN, PS Triathlon, PhysFarm Training Systems, Rotor Cranks, Wheelbuilder.com and Succeed for their messages of support as well as friends and family members for the messages of concern during this challenging time.

Always seeking out the positive, Mark intends to use this set-back to his advantage and will be staying in Kona to chat to sponsors and give back some help and support to athletes and friends as they embark on a journey they hope will have a more favorable outcome on October 10th on the Big Island.

More information on Mark can be found at
www.MarkyV.com
www.trimarkyv.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/MarkyV
He may be reached via email at markvanakkeren@gmail.com

update on the days events

all,

typing with 1 hand here. thank you for the txts, twits, e's & ph calls. much (for a frugal poor ass tri pro at least ;) financial success and future contract potential was riding on this race and therefore a lot of pressure as well as stoked anticipation for the chance to lead our sport's biggest event for several hours. something that i have stated, since getting into this, as a main goal before hanging up the title of "that swimmer guy". ever since the impact the pain of the loss of opportunity has out weighed that of the physical 10-to-1. i was so pumped and focused on this race. i am swimming distance freestyle faster than i ever have in my life (nearly 1650 oly trials cuts in training this morning!!!!!). i came out early to acclimate and learn the bay. to know its currents and "moods". now....nothing. crushed, despair, lost. i feel paralyzed. april's crash was mentally easy to shake off. this not nearly so.

i'll press release/blog about it more tomorrow and detail out how it transpired but know that immediately i need to investigate my healthcare (thank God i have coverage now) as well as what legal ramifications i need to pursue in this matter. any and all professional advice in this area is welcome as i'm not sure what it all entails.

thank you,

M "undettered and motivated" VA

MVA Racing seeks new athletes for 2010

Just putting out a notice that I am accepting inquires for new athletes that are looking to work together with me for the 2010 season. In the interest of your best season in the coming year I suggest getting started as early as possible. This allows me to figure you out as an individual (family and life and how all that rolls) as well as an athlete and what you are capable of so that once the meat of the competition season hits we are ready to dominate.

Please submit your inquiries to me at markvanakkeren -at- gmail -dot- com

Ironman Canada 2009

To tell the full story on how the two thousand and nine Ironman Canada race transpired one really must go back to last year’s edition of the race. I cannot recall exactly why I decided after Kona 2007 that as a professional my debut IM race would be IMC other than it fit well on the calendar with regard to how a Boulder summer unfolds. That said I fell in love with the race, the region, the course and the town and despite the not so great ending to it vowed to return to have another go of it.

The preps for Penticton began after the crazy, race packed months of May and June had subsided (successfully) and summer (sorta) finally started to raise its head (and heat). Preparations were good and my running superb up until early August when the dominoes of moving/family/weddings/packing/training/infection all fell nearly at once. Prior to that I was being really good about being a hermit and only doing what I needed to do to GET THE WORK DONE (GTWD). Something about the IM training demands this of you. I know I can still “operate” something like a (more) “normal” person whilst training for Olys and Halfs but once the window opens on IM season all bets are off with regard to my ability to socially function (if I want to be training well). I’ve, not so fondly, been referring to this 3+ week lead into the race as my “amateur night” (see “Ronin” for Robert DeNiro quote). There wasn’t much I could do about it and I simply did my best to weather the storm. Having been through that nasty combo once I can guarantee I will never allow that to happen again.

Like last year, I flew into Spokane and drove up for the event (great drive and two very unique and scenic ways to accomplish this) the only difference being that this year I was joined by fellow professionals Haley Cooper and Katya Meyers and thus making the journey just that much more fun (sharing… it’s a pretty damn good thing). We had a small basement-walkout apartment rented near Lake Skaha on the south end of town that made for a quiet, relaxing, out of the way base of operations for the week. It was nice to get into town well in advance of the race (as opposed to last year’s Friday night scramble) and was much needed for getting the previous week’s stresses and despair (…and I hardly EVER use that word) out of my system. Prerace was normal and by Saturday the desire to “LET’S GET IT ON” was strong.

Part of the attraction for this race is the competition, part of it the difficulty of the course, part of it the crazy support of the communities but top billing likely is the topography and scenery of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Standing in the shallows of Lake Okanagan with the calm water and air before you, the sun just beginning to creep over the mountains to the east and the anticipation of the huge day looming ahead you can’t help but seek out anything that will aid in calming your mind. The prospect of the entire day is huge. When I race a half or shorter my only thoughts leading up to the gun are “how fast can I go”, “how well can I RACE”. With those distances the mindset is all about speed, speed, speed. When it comes to an Ironman I am filled with a sense of fear, wondering if I will be able to finish, if I’ll be able to survive. The prospect of transporting one’s body over a distance that far is quite daunting.

The stage has been set… so let’s git racin’!

Going into the race I knew, having had a look at the start list, that I’d more than likely be swimming on my own rather than having a nice tow to T1 as I did the previous year. I had thus put in the training for going solo and not too long after the horn had sounded (I think they saved Maranatha for the amateurs….*ed: No Maranatha) I broke away from Andi, Luke and Brian (whom it appeared was doing a load of work with a large number of folks following him) and just went on my lonely way. Relaxed and settled in my super shoulder flexy VPX2, the trip was uneventful and I sadly cannot report back with any evidence of Ogopogo. I am really feeling a bit gypped. Two years on now and still no Ogopogo at IMC, come on Joe! ;-) Scooted through T1 in my normal no non-sense fashion, only adding the pulling on of arm coolers to my normal repertoire.

Lakeshore and Main Street were their normal nutty-crazy selves but in no time you find yourself along Lake Skaha with nothing but the company of your own thoughts and the wattage numbers staring back at you from your computer. We knew from the days leading in that we’d have a north wind and thus a FAST first 90minutes to the bike ride. With this in mind I was content to chill out as much I could once I settled in and to save it for the climbs and head winds and a strong finish to the two wheeled portion of the race. Andi and Luke came by just before OK Falls and when I tried to respond to see if such an effort was worth it quickly had my numbers telling me (screaming?) that no!!!… you weren’t going to hold 340 to stick to that and so just settled back in. A pretty uneventful ride (even Richter simply “happened”) for the opening 2 hours but once in the Similkameen Valley and our noses pointed back to the north (um, buried maybe) we were in for a ripper. It was in this section that a year ago I spaced out a bit (note to self… more caffeine to deal with space cadet-ism). With the wind baring down on me I had no choice but to tuck the head and keep focused. Out and back on Barcello went smoothly and I could tell that, save for Jordan, the leaders were all slowly coming back to me. “heh, heh, heh” The hunt was on. Back on the main road to Yellow Lake I slowly reeled them in, finally catching them half way up but rather than pass right away, opted to sit in and see how they were doing. Things were looking pretty rough! At the apex (not that Apex) of the climb I came around the group hard and stayed on the gas…only to find that you’ve got a good bit of flat up top before you really begin the descent. Oops. With the northerly winds the “rippin’ descent” of last year was not to be this go around. Sure we got some good freewheel time in but never were we just sailing down. I took risks going down, as I am want to do, but felt it easier to handle the bike over last year. I rode “at watts” (as opposed to just easing up and freewheeling in) all the way back to Main Street before letting off the gas with less than a mile to go.

My transitions are like Southwest Airlines… it’s a no frills show here folks. In, out and on my way. GPS was a little slow to grab a signal… (tangent: so how come with me running 9-10mph it’s too hard for the signal to pick up but driving with it on the dash at 60mph the signal will acquire? Go figure… back to story) and I knew I was moving too fast. Oh well, I’ll allow myself a little bit of exuberance at the start just so long as I’m not going too crazy. All along the out and back towards the Sicamous I was doing my best to chillchillchill, yet I knew I was still going a bit too fast. Finally got a signal and was clicking 6.30s (much more controlled then last fall’s IMAZ first two miles). Slowed it down a bit and just settled in. Mike Aigroz came FLYING by and I figured super runner or… “I’ll see you again”. Brian rolled up around mile 4 and I let him go but he only slllllowwwwlly drifted off the front. Hmmmm so this is what “being in the mix” is like. COOL! I like it! Now just gotta run even faster! Once you find your “out-the-door/long-run pace” you’re pretty much set and then the task turns to the food and liquid conveyor belt. Hot but overcast, the run just ticked off till OK Falls. Counted and checked time on the dudes at the out and back and figured I was holding well to those behind me. The wheels began to come off ~16 with difficulty at the aid stations and then really hit ~20 when I just simply ran out of fuel. Rather than bull ahead and run deeper into a bonk I made sure that I’d walk (after guzzling (really just sipping) coke) to make sure that it was settled and then start moving again. After 2 or 3 aid stops like this I started to move a bit better. Whilst walking… I was AH POWER walking. Full on arm swing and stretched out legs. I think 12.5min miles? ;-) Frothy coke foam vomit was a constant companion and I kept trying to “defend 10^th place” (thanks Jonathan). It’s painful to be passed in the closing miles, but gutted it out and made the line. It’s so funny (odd funny that is) that as soon as you cross (after no less than 8+ hours of vertically postured movement) all you want to do is just SIT DOWN. All I wanted was to simply stop moving. No wonder those folks at the line are called catchers. At this point all the pain you’ve been blocking out for the last 2 hours comes FLOODING back in. I felt like so much shit. Ninety minutes and a litre and a half of med tent love later (two different sets of drugs as well) I emerged feeling pretty okay….all things considered of course.

Was a slot to be had? So much for that thought… I just wanted to hit the sack! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Housemates had some stellar days themselves with a 10^th of KM and 4^th for HC<+Kona Q too>.

The rest of the time in Penticton was some great fun. On Monday we all chilled at the house till it was time to head to roll down. I contemplated a ride in hopes of just moving the damaged goods around a bit and liven them up but best intentions the day following the event rarely follow through. Once down at lake I was a nervous wreck. Primary goal in racing is to place well, and win money. Having done neither I NEEDED to come away with something and that something was a ticket to Kona. Three slots were to passed at which point my stomach flipped. I was quite sure that Kyle “I’m about to get married” Marcotte was going to pass but I had no clue about Boecherer. Thrice his name in the sixth position was called…no Andi. Small relief and then even largely relief when Kyle did not raise his head either. Brian…Anthony…Me. Aloha.

And with that… it was off for a float. Canal float that is, though I did contemplate a root beer float when we stopped at A&W prior to it (tangent for anyone spending time P-town… T-Bone’s Meat Market is INSANE!!!! If you are cooking up your own food while visiting you MUST go procure your BBQ provisions there!!!). Fun lazy float then some internetting (thanks safeway), clean up and awards. In trying to peg an emotion when the men’s were dished out I’d say it was that of anger. Anger at myself for another lack luster performance… but I’ll touch more on that in the summary.

An early morning Skaha swim (water proof cameras are way too much fun) before the drive back down the Okanagan, up over Anachrist and back to Spokane.

I thought about not including a “behind the scenes” thought process but I am all for being transparent in this endeavour and “what you see, is what you get” is simply the way I roll.

To say I came into this race with diverted attention is a vast understatement. The events of the preceding 3 weeks weighed heavily upon me both physically and mentally. I had done my best to mitigate the circumstances but having found a good training cycle and comfort zone in the later weeks of July I constantly longed to get back to the rhythm. Getting tossed out of homeostasis always sucks. I still was confident in the work I was doing (long range confident that is despite my daily fretting about the issue) and I was very pleased with how the running was coming along. The “distractions” reached a climax in the few days prior to departure with moving/packing/cleaning and still some training and fam time to work at. Also stuff that you “have to” do. Just saying. I nearly lost it on Monday but kept my cool and did my best to think ahead to getting on the bus and detoxing on my way to the race. I am glad that I made the journey well in advance of the gun (as opposed to last year’s last minute drop down) as it gave me time to go into super chill mode the whole time I was in Penticton. I felt that I did a good job of calming down and doing only that which needed to be done. In keeping with a good perspective I am well aware of the fact that my “troubles” are pithy compared to what the vast majority of people in this world must go through on a daily basis and if my biggest problems are too much family, too much travel, too much house…well… then in the big scheme of things those are some good problems to have. As for the race, I look at it two ways. It was not too bad…. All things considered, and it was only, just barely, okay. I cannot say that I am pleased with it. My swim is my swim… got it done. Bike: I still have yet to download my race file but felt that I rode within myself, but also that I was not going easy. Finishing strong and getting off and running well right off the bat also has me pleased. With only now 15 months of consistent life time running I still have a long ways to go but felt fluid and stuck with my tiny step pitter patter stride (10 more lbs. off the frame and we’ll be doing even better still). GPS was a smart move as on occasion in the opening 10 miles I would find myself creeping into a pace that I shouldn’t touch upon and would go for some forced relaxation to slow it down. I am still pondering the various reasons as to why the wheels came off. I know I still need more miles in me on the run in general but I also need to dig into my nutrition as that goes fine up to ~16 at which point my coke/water combo fails to sit well with me and I begin to have trouble fueling and eventually bonk out. I was pleased that I was able to make executive decisions with regard to nutrition in these latter stages (opting to walk and get calories in [quickening my return to running] rather than continue to dig a huge hole) but also would much, much, much rather deal with sore legs from a full 26.2 RUN the following day.

Something must be said of an attitude that, when at the finish line, despite a feeling that would leave one preferring death to the current state of physical affairs, that you are filled with an anger and disappointment in yourself. Unfulfilled and longing despite the immense effort just put forth. Such feelings can only be assuaged, mitigated and cured with getting back to work, getting fitter and getting faster. You know you have found your path in life when despite these feelings you can only want to do it all over again… and better. I love this race, and I love the immense challenge that is Ironman. I’ll be back, that’s for certain, as I am still chasing that perfect race. Because when that happens you feel so good at the line that nothing hurts.

Life.is.good.