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Winter is the time of year most cyclists dread because it usually means setting up their trainers and logging hours and hours of monotonous miles with no change of scenery. This weekend, I ventured out on my mountain bike in the beautiful and peaceful Riverside State Park in Spokane, Washington for a change of scenery and adventure. Below is a short video clip from my ride via my helmet mounted GoPro video camera. A note of caution and word of advice, bundle up your fingers and toes. I had two layers on my torso and legs but my little piggies were crying all the way home. By the way, I fell twice during my ride. Both were slow speed crashes. One was caught on camera below. Happy winter training.
See more than 1,000 swim, bike, run and athlete interview videos here on my Youtube Channel. And please follow me here on Twitter @IMDaveErickson
Obsessed is a strong word but probably the most appropriate when describing my new found attention to our new family puppy, Hershey. Friday she fell asleep on the desk next to me while I was working and this is what she looked and sounded like. In a word, adorable.
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, pioneered the worlds first guided back country cat skiing operation in 1975. Located in the legendary Selkirk Range of British Columbia’s Kootenay Mountains, Selkirk Wilderness Skiing combines amazing terrain and an abundance of deep dry snow in a friendly family (owned) setting.
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This is one of four segments featured on episode #33 of YES-TV on May 17, 2004. I was working as a morning and noon news anchor at KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon at the time. After work I would work three days a week at my old stomping grounds, Homework Helpline. Here’s that video segment which explains how I got my start in the world of television broadcasting.
So today I bought me a good ol’ fashion VHS player along with a VHS to Mac conversion cable to see what I could savage from my many boxes of old video tapes in the garage. Below is a portion of the first one I grabbed.
I was living in St. Louis, Missouri at the time and recently left my job as an Evening News Anchor with KPLR-TV when I got the call from my former co-anchor and very good friend, Sandy Miller. Sandy was freelancing and the company she was working for needed a male co-host for a pilot episode of Stihl TV. If memory serves me, I was sitting outside at a Starbucks with my good friend Garry when Sandy called and asked if I could work that night; they were under a tight deadline and needed someone a.s.a.p. I was unemployed and had the time, so I said yes. This is the introduction to a 30 minute program that may or may not have aired. I was 30 years old at the time. Enjoy a good laugh!
It’s almost December which means it’s time to start decorating the house in holiday cheer. It all begins with hanging Christmas lights. Below is a time lapse video of my first year hanging lights as a married man. Being married has nothing to do with it but one day I hope it’ll be a tradition I can share with my children. This is nowhere close to being Clark Griswold-worthy but it’s a start.
In October, I covered the Ironman World Championship as a reporter, got married in Maui and raced in the XTERRA World Championship, also on Maui. I did manage to have a little fun as well. One such experience included some swimming and cliff jumping off Black Rock in West Maui. I think I was still a single man at this point so I didn’t have to get permission to make ‘this’ leap.
Anyway, Black Rock is a large, black lava rock that divides Ka’anapali Beach in half. Snorkeling around the rock is legendary. The rock is almost completely encrusted in coral with a large assortment of fish and sea turtles to make the experience memorable. Hawaiian legend states that the spirits of warriors left the earth to meet their ancestors by leaping from this rock. Below is musical montage from one of my visits there which includes me jumping off with my GoPro video camera in hand. By the way, a few days earlier, my Mom joined me and she too, jumped off this rock. Way to go, Mom! Enjoy.
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I just had this banner photo made by my friends at Tran Creative in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It’s a free offer called the “I AM” campaign. Hundreds of people have already signed up including Mike Reilly, Fireman Rob and fellow Timex Multisport Athlete, Roger Thompson.
Whether you’re a 1K, 5K, 10K, 13.1, 26.2, 50K, 70.3, 140.6, or any other, each person has a unique story to tell (inspirational or would bring a smile to others). Be a part of the I AM movement.
1. LIKE Tran Creative FB page – LINK
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3. Your City/State or Country (if outside of US)The Tran Creative magic IAM app will create a personalized poster for you to share with family & friends, or use as your profile pix. What’s your story?
First of all, I did not qualify to race in the XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon in Maui, Hawaii. Heck, I didn’t even own a mountain bike until late June of this year. I did my very first XTERRA off-road triathlon one month later in Montana (SEE VIDEO HERE). It was one of the most physically challenging races I had ever done up to that point. Somehow I managed to do well enough to receive a roll down slot to race in the XTERRA USA Championship in Ogden, Utah two months later. That race became my most challenging race to date. Fast forward to October 22nd in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. Since I didn’t qualify for the XTERRA World Championship (I registered through an online lottery last December), my goal was not to be last in my age group. I’m happy to report I was 60th out of 74 in the 40-44 age group. And even though this race was difficult and challenging, I’m hooked on XTERRA! I am still a road triathlete but I will certainly come back for more of the off-road variety.
SWIM – I was comfortable and confident about doing well in the 1.5-kilometer rough water swim at D.T. Flemings Beach. I did a handful of practice swims in Kailua-Kona bay the week following the Ironman World Championship (SEE BLUESEVENTY SPEED SUIT TEST VIDEO) and made sure to jump in the water a few times once in Maui. The pros started first, then all men, then all women. Each wave was separated by about 90 seconds. Things started off good. I made sure to wait a full 30 seconds before joining the masses and the extra time paid off. I wasn’t bumping into anyone and no one was swimming over the top of me. My swim in Utah was a nightmare because I started too close to the front and got pummeled! The water was fantastic. I remember making the turn at the first buoy and seeing a scuba diver below shooting video. That was pretty cool. Once I reached the shore after the first out-n-back (completed in about 15 minutes), I was hit and tossed by a wave and as a result lost my swim goggles! Funny, I didn’t realize it until I was about 25 yards on the beach. I ran back briefly but quickly realized they were no where in sight. I shook my head, gritted my teeth and accepted the fact that I would need to finish the final half of the swim without my goggles. No need to practice this, it’s not fun and not helpful in any way. To make the final out-n-back, I made it my goal to sight every 6-8 strokes. This was not easy. I also took in some giant gulps of sea water. Gross. I did veer off course a little but managed to make it to shore in 33:34. My eyes were stinging like crazy!
T1 – I took tons of time in transition because I knew the bike portion was going to be the biggest challenge of the day. I dried my feet as best as possible, rinsed my eyes and face off with water, ate half a banana, threw down a handful of PowerBar gel blasts and took off. Time in transition, 5:26.
BIKE – I am so glad I pre-rode the bike course on the Wednesday before the race. It made a big difference mentally as well as physically. I knew when the climbs were coming, I wasn’t as frustration when I had to get off and walk and I was ready for the descents. All these elements helped me pace the ride more efficiently. My pre-ride time was just under 3 hours. My goal for the race was 2:45. At the first aid station, which I think was at about mile 7, I dropped my water bottle for a course bottle and took a giant swig. I then stuffed the new bottle in my water bottle holder but lost it about a minute later flying down a long hill. I knew this could spell trouble later, especially as the day got hotter. I had to scramble. The problem was I was too far down the hill the go back and the next aid station was miles away. I started seeing more and more bottles littered along the course. Clearly I wasn’t the only one who had lost their bottle. So, I decided to stop and pick one up. Even though it wasn’t full, it was enough to carry me to the next aid station. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind as to whether or not this was a championship bike course (SEE MY BIKE COURSE PREVIEW). There was nearly 3,500 feet of total elevation gain and lots of terrain challenges. Then at about mile 12 or 13 I started to feel a slight twinge in my left quad. I was beginning to cramp. As a results, I made sure to double up on water bottles at the next stop and tucked ‘em both in the back of my jersey. I made it back to transition safely and without crashing in 2:22:12.
T2 – Once back to transition, I took my time again. I was ahead of schedule. But I was super filthy from all the dust and dirt and my feet were soaked. I had prune toes. So, I wiped myself down as best I could, changed my socks, stretched, took another handful of PowerBar gel blasts and headed out. I got back so fast from the bike, Melissa wasn’t ready for me. She was sitting under a tree in the shade looking through her cell phone. Time in transition, 5:08
Run – I didn’t get a chance to pre-run the course but I did know the first 2-3 miles were all uphill. Not my favorite thing to do. I was averaging 11 minute miles during the first 2.5 miles. I was doing a lot of walking and hydrating. My right hamstring started to cramp a little and my left hip flexor was acting up too. Once to the top, it was pretty fast going down but again, my hamstring was on the verge. I ended up stopping three times to stretched it out. No need risking an injury at this stage. Since I was wearing my Timex Run Trainer with GPS, I was very aware of my overall time, pace, run splits and total distance. Once at the halfway mark on the run I thought maybe I might be able to break 4:15. That alone gave me a boost, so, I pressed on. This run course had just about everything, downed trees, low hanging branches, rocks, sand, dirt, a little water, plenty of climbing and fast descents. Once back on D.T. Flemings Beach I was all smiles. Even though I wasn’t going to crack 4:15, I knew breaking 4:20 was possible. Right as I was about to exit the beach, my good friend Mark was there to greet me and snapped the photo above. Mark also served as the best man at my wedding 5 days earlier. Total run time was 1:10:55 and my overall finish time was 4:17:15.
The 2012 XTERRA World Championship was my 14 triathlon of the season and I’m so excited to end it on a positive note. I’m already looking at my race calendar for next year! I was so lucky to have my wife Melissa on hand to cheer me on and to shoot video. Thank you, Muffin!
Video Below: Dave Erickson Race Video, 2012 XTERRA World Championship
Video Below: Official 2012 XTERRA World Championship Highlight Video. See Me @ 2:55, 8:35, 9:58.
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Today on “Inside Real Estate,” I sits down with Ron McIntire with CHOICE REALTY in Spokane, Washington to talk about how home sellers can properly prepare their home, price their home and position that home to be sold in the least amount of time for the highest possible price.
When you need a professional video for your business, product, event or if you’re looking for a polished on-camera talent and speaker, contact me right away!
Dr. Matt Silvers is an Assistant Professor at Whitworth University in the Department of Health Sciences. He’s also an Ironman finisher and marathon coach. In fact, he’s training my wife for the New York City marathon on November 4th. I recently sat down with Dr. Silvers to do a 4-part interview discussing tips, strategies and tools runners can use to successfully complete a marathon. In part one, we discuss using an interval timer plus hydration and nutrition alerts.
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I love using Strava. I use it for cycling and running. And here’s the best part, it’s global. I’ve logged segments in Spokane, Washington, Boulder, Colorado and most recently, Ogden, Utah on the XTERRA USA Championship bike course at the Snow Basin Resort.
I have a handful of favorite segments in Spokane but one of my favorites is called the “Tour de Rutter”. It’s a 7.2 mile course with a total elevation gain of only 474 feet. It feels much more challenging during a few short sections but overall it’s pretty fast.
My best time so far is 21:39. My average speed was 19.9 mph. I’m currently fourth on the leader board. My friend and professional triathlete, Josh Hadway holds the top spot and I don’t expect to catch him but just knowing how fast he’s gone is motivation to keep trying.
Even though my road triathlon season is over this year (11 races in all), I’m still riding my Quintana Roo CD0.1. It’s so darn nice out right now and it won’t last for long before the bitter cold hits the Inland Northwest. I’m actually rotating between riding my Cohutta Litespeed mt. bike because I have one more off-road triathlon this year, the XTERRA World Championship in Maui on October 28th.
Today (Sunday, September 30th) I decided to give the Tour de Rutter another try just to see how I was feeling. Yesterday I ran nearly 19 miles in preparation for the NYC Marathon so I wasn’t expecting any fireworks. To make things more interesting, I added my GoPro HD Video camera on my tri-bars and recorded the ride. Below is that video, condensed down from 22:43 to about 3 and a half minutes.
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Sister Madonna Buder from Spokane, Washington officially punched her ticket to the Ironman World Championship at the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Hawaii triathlon in June. Buder swam a 57:04, biked a 4:00:05 and ran a 2:55:22 to finish in 8:10:44. She wasn’t done though. Sister Madonna qualified again at the 30th and final Ironman Canada in August. Her performance in Penticton established her, at 82 year old, as the oldest person to ever complete the Ironman distance under the cut-off time of 17 hours.
I’ve become good friends with Sister Madonna Buder over the past three or four years; ever since meeting and interviewing her live on the air at KXLY TV(WATCH VIDEO HERE). We talk on the phone about once a month or so, we even did a podcast together on the Endurance Hour (Endurance Hour #8, Sister Madonna Buder).
She sent me an email last week prior to heading off to her 60th class reunion in St. Louis at Maryville University. In the email she copied a letter she wrote about her experience at the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Hawaii race in June as well as her world record breaking performance at Ironman Canada in August of this year.
I ran alongside Sister Madonna during her final mile at Honu and captured her crossing the finish line on video (WATCH VIDEO HERE).
I first qualified for Kona by completing the 70.3 Hawaiian Ironman on June 2nd where the winds were so furious they even tore buoys loose. A group of swimmers on my left were following them to China, so it seemed, thus elongating their swim. Not realizing this was happening I was concerned when I no longer saw them thinking I had somehow gone off course until I spotted a lone swimmer yards ahead of me going the same direction I was headed so I held the course even though I could not spot a single buoy which,in it itself, was disconcerting, but I followed my instinct and the lone swimmer as my guide. Read more »
One of my first ever video commercials for a parrot store in Vancouver, Washington back in 2006. The Parrot Perch is a retail pet store for and about birds.
