Healthy Spirits: GOOSE ISLAND and more!

1. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout(!!!)
2.Goose Island Demolition Ale
3.Bourgogne Des Flandres
4.Bellegems Bruin

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND SPECIAL!
-Coney Island Freaktoberfest 4-packs=$5.49+tx

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: New Stuff

1.Hanssens Cassis Experimental Brew
2.Hanssens Raspberry Experimental Brew
3.Oerbier Riserva 2009
4. Hitachino Nest Ancient Nipponia
5. Ducato Verdi Imperial Stout Magnums

******SALE!*********

All vintages on BFM's Abbaye De Saint Bon Chien have been reduced!

2009-$24.99
2008-$25.99
2007-$26.99
2006-$27.99

We also have a limited supply of the Bon Chien aged 100% in Merlot Barrels (375ml) for $23.99.

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Hello, Blogging!

Hey there, regular blogging ;)

I miss regular daily blogging. So I'm back. And I'm working on a site redesign so it will be easier for you all to read and comment and for me to post and reply. It's getting exciting!

I never set my alarm and accidentally got 8.5 hours of sleep. Normally I average 5-7, so this slumber was luxurious! I started the day with a Svelte sustained energy protein drink. I received these in the mail as a sample and now have an addiction.

They are smooth, creamy, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, mostly organic, dairy-free, low-glycemic and gluten-free. Amazing. I may have had the Chai flavor later in the day too :-P I don't normally order my food online in bulk, but I'm definitely going to order a case of these!

The lovely Gina and I took a trip to Whole Foods recently. She inspired me to make massaged avocado kale salad, so make it I did! I haven't been cooking (or un-cooking) in a while, so it was nice to get my hands dirty with some fresh produce! (This time I added a can of blackeyed peas :) Delicious!

Among other eats I munched on raw almonds and pumpkin seeds at work.

I was stopped dead in my tracks today when I received a package on my doorstep from Vee. Vee is a fellow tweeter and athlete who I met in Philly. She reads this blog and always offers so much motivation!

Vee sent me an Ironman Mile Stones hand crafted pewter necklace to celebrate my race. It has a swim/bike/run image on the front and the 2.4/112/26.2 distances on the back. I couldn't be more thankful- or proud to wear it!

Thank you so much for all your sweet words on the Great Floridian Ultra Triathlon Race Recap!! Here's some follow-up to that post:

My recovery plan:

Sunday- I took Sunday off from any kind of exercise! I was out and about with work and friends, but movement was minimal :) I was tight in my hips and sore in my joints, but nothing too bad!

Monday- Monday Fun Day I felt almost back to normal so I headed to a hot power yoga class. I told myself to not focus on a "I just did an Ironman so I can't do _____" story. I went in with an open mind and willing body. I felt strong and kept up through the whole practice. Better yet, after class I felt 100% back to normal! Not a thing was sore. Weird.

Tuesday- Tuesday I ran out of time so just squeezed in an easy 30 minute bike ride. It felt good to get my legs moving! All soreness still gone.

Wednesday- Today I ran three miles. Other than a little WTF from my calves, the run went well. Feels good to be back!

Ironman Q + A:

Running Wifle: Did you do any sprint triathlons before the half and then the full?

My half Ironman was my first triathlon- and first open water swim! I was highly active in endurance races and had already completed the bike and run distances several times. I wouldn't say jumping in that high in the game was a bad thing, but doing some shorter races first can help you flow better in the triathlon (transitions, etc.).

Taydor Tott: But what oh what did you say to that cop?! lol

I turned him down. I asked him if he had ever thought of doing "one of these things." He said he was thinking about it. LOL, he was lying. Poor guy.

Learn Fitness: Knowing what you know now, how would you train differently for your next Ironman ofr Half Ironman?

I would devote more training to my weakest sport (swimming), actually do brick workouts (I didn't do a single true brick workout!) and train on the terrain of the race (HILLS).

Peanut Butter Fingers: Would you ever do it again? :)

As I started my swim I told myself, "do this now and you'll never have to do it again." I hated the end of the bike course so much that the thought of tackling another Ironman was the funniest thing I could have thought up in that moment. Then I signed up for my next less than 24-hours later. Yes, it was hard. It pushed me and tested me in every way. But I did it. And, really, it was only one hard day of my life. For all the good a challenge like that brings, I can do anything for 17 hours.

Many of you mentioned training for your first triathlon, half Ironman or full Ironman. There are obviously a LOT of tips I could cover, but here are a few that stand out days after the Ironman:

- Put more food than you think you'll want in the special needs bags. The last thing you want is to be hungry. Also, pack fun food you can look forward to. A pb-naner sandwich I packed had me excited to get to mile 39 on the bike!

- Train in conditions similar to the course as much as possible! If it's all hills, ride and run all hills! Get in open water swims.

- Plan as if everything will go wrong. My tri shorts ripped, my chain fell off, I forgot my lip balm for the bike leg (big deal to me!!)... plan, plan and over-plan for all that could ever possibly go wrong!

How do you commemorate your big achievements? Do you ever use jewelry?

Healthy Spirits: Halloween Hours

On Sunday, October 31 we will be open 11AM to 11PM.

Healthy Spirits: Beer of the Month Club November 2010

...now ready for pick-up!

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: New Arrivals

1. He'brew Jewbelation 14 Ale (14 malts,14 hops,14%ABV!)

2. He'brew Vertical Jewbelation Gift Pack (Anniversary Ales 8 through 13 re-brewed, along with the 14 and a barrel aged blend of all 7 beers that's only available in this pack! Limited quantities.)

3. Nectar Ales Black Xantus

FYI***If you're looking for the Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela grab it while you can, it's almost gone!

cheers,

dave hauslein

beer manager

415-255-0610

Great Floridian Ultra Triathlon Race Recap

2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.2 mile ride... I did it all and I am an Ironman.

Pulling up the rear of every leg, I crossed the finish line at 12:52 a.m., after 17 hours, 22 minutes and 36 seconds of intense racing. I jogged through the finish line of the Great Floridian Ultra Triathlon with my arms raised high sheer minutes before the official cut-off time and three hours later than I thought I would.

To say this event is challenging or not for joking around would be a great disrespect. A race of this magnitude challenges your fears, your willpower, your endurance, your commitment. I felt this race in every achy joint, in my unsettled stomach, on the sunburn blistering on my leg, in tired and tight muscles, on the chaffing where it counts and in the cramps that reminded me my cycle was along for the journey.

Marathons are happy races for me. Sure, the last several miles might not feel the best, but they're generally full of smiles and the sweet feeling of success. I typically cry the 'I'm so proud of myself' tears right before the finish line. In the Ironman, there was no time or energy for those happy tears. In fact, any pride or excitement of 'wow, I'm an Ironman at age twenty-two!' hasn't set in yet.

I estimated a sub-15 hour finish time. Less than two hours for the swim, 6.5 for the bike and 5.5 for the run. My training said this was possible, but the hills and wind of the Clermont course had other plans. The three loops on the bike had us climbing more hills than coasting down. The wind was against us and it showed in my time. No flat surface was found.

I was the third-to-last out of the water for the swim, the last person to make the qualifying cutoff on the bike and fourth-to-last to make the qualifying cutoff for the run... and I couldn't be more proud. I may have pulled up the end, but 140.6 miles say I am an Ironman.

____________

Here's how it went down:

Night Before

Friday evening I drove to the course about 40 minutes away in Clermont to pick up my race packet and set up my bike. I felt the nerves inside me and the little voice that said, "you can't do this," as I walked past the swim area (trigger #1) toward packet pick-up. Immediately I noticed a sea of super-fit triathletes dressed in full racing gear, just lounging around. I didn't look like these athletes and it immediately triggered my insecurities about the race (trigger #2). Then, for the last part of check-in, they took my weight. I haven't weighed myself in months, and being on my period and preparing my body for an Ironman didn't do great things for the scale. Weight is just a number, but seeing you gained X pounds when already doubting my physical strength the night before the biggest race of my life didn't help (trigger #3).

Que the pre-race breakdown. I'm not strong enough. What in the world was I thinking. I'm injured. I can't swim. Alligators are going to sense my blood and eat me. I had a good cry and let out all of the emotions and anxiety I had built up.

Preparing my transition bags took longer than expected so I ended up getting only 5 hours of sleep before the race.

Race Morning

I ate a peanut butter-naner sandwich with coconut water while trying to not think about the swim I was getting ready for. My new Zoot Ultra tri shorts revealed a split in the back when I put them on. I had to do a lat minute switch to my uncomfortable Pearl Izumi tri shorts.

I was a bundle of nerves getting body marked and setting up the last details in transition alone. Every thought of self-doubt about the swim and the race in general passed through my mind. It was even worse when I realized I was one of a handful of athletes without a wetsuit for the swim. I put in a tampon and hoped for the best.

Swim (Time: 2:00:13)

Thank goodness Ryan found me a few minutes before the race start. She taught me how to swim about a year ago and knew just what to say to help me calm down. I walked away from her toward the lake, ignoring the fear inside my screaming, "just quit! You could walk away right now and wouldn't have to do any of this!"

That negative little voice had never spoken so loudly. I walked on toward the water, still terrified.

At the start of the swim for my first triathlon, the half Ironman, I had a complete panic attack when I took my first stroke. This time my breathing quickly seized up, but I was able to calm myself down easily. I reminded myself that I know how to swim, and that swimming feels good to me. A competitor gave me some kind encouragement reminding me to let the others go ahead and make the swim my own.

The rest of the swim was dreamy. It's funny that I stress most about the swim, but it always ends up being the most calming, enjoyable leg. I was strong and consistent (albiet slow) throughout the two laps.

Transition 1 (Time: 13:14)

Eh, transition. It was my first Ironman so I didn't care too much about my transition time. I left my bra and tri shorts on, throwing a cycling jersey on along with my cycling gear and sunblock. Having to deal with feminine issues in transition makes you care a whole lot less :-P

Bike (Time: 8:49:12)

The bike course was guided by colored arrows painted on the pavement. I tried to confirm which color arrows the ultra course was to follow, but none of the volunteers I could get a hold of knew. It was frustrating and showed the disorganization of the race. I followed my senses on the colors and ended up confirming the course with another competitor about ten miles in.

I am strong on the bike. Even pedaling at a comfortable speed, I was still passing people. The course was three laps, with the first lap taking a different direction to travel over Sugarloaf Mountain. Most of Florida is FLAT, but Clermont is one area that will fool you. It is known for hills and lots of them. Sugarloaf Mountain is the biggest, scariest hill of them all. (Caitlin and I scaled this during our metric century but had to get off our bikes and walk up.) This time I was determined to climb the whole thing on my bike, and I did it!

Climbing a big hill only to know you're going to have to do it two more times is rough. I swear the course was more uphill than downhill. On the last half I started to get bored and sleepy. I kept veering out of the bike lane! I stopped multiple times to do some yoga and wake myself up. The whole race was completed without an iPod, so I ended up actually singing to myself :-P

On the bike I consumed five or six Clif bars, a PB-naner sandwich, two Gu gels, two big bottles of Gatorade and about 10 big bottles of water.

Transition 2 (Time: 11:34)

I actually didn't bring enough food for the last leg of the bike, so when I saw cookies in the changing tent during T2 I chowed down! Maybe not the best for my belly... :) Again, I didn't care too much about time. I changed out of my tri shorts and into running shorts, adding a SpiBelt (with race number attached) and Garmin.

Run (Time: 6:08:25)

I didn't know this until another participant let me know on the bike leg, but the run course was three laps on an out-and-back trail without any lights for most of it. I started the marathon around 6:45 p.m., so most of my race was done in the dark. They handed out glow sticks and had big lights near the refreshment tents. Still, running on a course with woods on both sides and little visibility was scary!

I channeled the "I'm a runner, I've got this leg" vibe and jogged most of the first half of the run leg at about a 11:00 min./mi. pace. My legs usually perform well running when they're tired. After the halfway mark my stomach was nauseous; my toes were blistered; my thighs/butt/underarms chaffed; my body was tired; and most people had finished so passing another person became more and more rare.

You could say I mastered the power walk for the last half. I'd run when I could, but my body was just so heavy that I couldn't maintain it.

It was so odd to be running at midnight, in the dark, after a day full of intense exercise. It would make sense that I'd be sleeping at that time or cleaning out the Whole Foods hot bar. Instead, I was finishing a marathon. Crazy!

It was encouraging to see my friends Nithya and Janna cheer me on with their fun pink signs each time I'd loop and pass them. They'd walk a few minutes with me each time, taking my mind of the race for a moment.

The last lap was all about watching the clock to make sure I made it by cutoff time (1:00 a.m.). No way was I going to do all of that and then be disqualified! I kept reconfiguring my needed pace against the time. I was thrilled when I realized I had the time to just walk the last two miles. At that point walking a mile felt like a marathon on its own.

I can't forget to include that a cop watching out for the athletes at one of the crossings asked me out on a date. Two miles left until I finish my Ironman and I get asked out on a date. Priceless!

I was excited to see Steve's encouraging face (and paparazzi camera!) on the last part of the run. Nithya and Janna, with signs in hand, cheered me on as I increased to a jog to cross the finish line.

And BOOM I was done.

After

I was hoping to have a whole "ohmygosh I just did an Ironman! This is the best thing ever!" complete with tears and self-appreciation. Instead I said, "thank God I made the cutoff time!" I was tired and hungry and hadn't been able to take a second to think on the accomplishment I just completed. I had my medal, but I didn't feel it's weight just yet.

Janna drove my bike, gear and me to my car and I made the 40-minute drive home. My warm shower burned the sunburn blisters on my leg and the chaffed sores on my... umm.. rear end (my tri shorts are terrible). Finally, at 3:00 a.m., my day was over and I collapsed into bed.

The next morning I woke up before 7:00 a.m. to head to work. I actually requested to work the day after my Ironman. I was happy to get my body up and moving around, and the lack of sleep surprisingly didn't affect me too much. After work I met a friend for dinner and then went out that night. Somehow the word "rest" was left out of my vocabulary.

_______________

In the next post I'll blog more about I felt after the race, reflections on my training and what my recovery plan looks like. For now, this is the recap. I finished three hours later than planned. It was long and hard and not a distance to be messed with. But I did it!!!

Thank you everyone for your messages of encouragement and congratulations to me throughout this race. I haven't had a chance to respond to any, but I definitely read them all over and over before the race when I needed to pump myself up. Your messages helped carry me through!

ps- I'm officially registered for next year's race. I hated the bike course so much that I need to do it again!

Have you done a triathlon? Is a Ironman on your goal list?

* The ultra tri is not an Ironman-event, but it is Ironman distance.. so, after 140.6 miles, I am calling it an Ironman.

* Thank you Ryan and Steve for the photos used in this post!!

Ironman Tease

  

You all are demanding! It's coming. That's all :)

I am an Ironman!

Recap coming today :)

Healthy Spirits: The Newness.

1. Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela

2. Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere

3. Mikkeller Black Tie

4. Ellezelloise Saison

5. Drie Fontinen Schaerbeekse Kriek(2008 and 2010 vintages)

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Tomorrow

Training: successful, challenging, fun, doable
Tapering: anxious, lazy, out-of-shape, irritable
Race: period, nerves, 14 hours, to-do lists

The journey to tomorrow's Ironman has been one of self-discovery and personal records.

I faced my fear of a second open water swim, rode my bike 100 miles alone, ran my heart out.

I asked myself the question, "do you believe deep down that you can do this?" and took a month to finally answer, "yes."

I surprised myself with my strength and endurance. I learned I can do anything I set my mind to.

I realized the support of my friends- from listening to my fears, texting me through long bike rides, staying by my side through an open water swim and planning to stand on the side of the road to cheer me on come race day.

I've hit the bottom and questioned everything about myself. I've cried on runs and sung my heart out on the bike. I've grown as a person and I've become an athlete.

My left shoulder will start hurting 1000 meters into the swim. My legs will feel on fire as I climb Sugarloaf Mountain 39 miles into the bike leg. My body will want to shut down when I challenge it with a marathon to wrap up the day.

And that's okay.

I have sweat, love, tears, friends, determination and inspiration to carry me through.

Tomorrow, from the 2.4 mile swim to the 112 mile bike ride to the 26.2 mile run, I will think on these things. Tomorrow, I will be an Ironman.

Healthy Spirits: New Arrivals

1. Midnight Sun Cohoho Imperial IPA (brewed with brown sugar, honey, and juniper berries)

2. Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA

3. Port Brewing Panzer Imperial Pilsner

4. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

5. Weihenstephaner .5l and 1l glass mugs

cheers,

dave hauslein

beer manager

415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: LOST ABBEY DELIVERANCE

A new, limited release blended, barrel aged beer from Lost Abbey! Part bourbon aged Serpent Stout, part Brandy aged Angel's Share. Limited quantities, no bottle limits!

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Men's Health Urbanathlon: Race Recap!

I feel so lucky to have been able to do the Men's Health Urbanathlon with Nike Field Reporter. This 9+ mile run with lots of intense obstacles was by far the best race I've ever done!

It was an early start when we took a cab to the start around 6:45 a.m. for the 7:30 a.m. start. The starting area was bustling with athletic men! I'd guess maybe 20 percent of the participants were women. I also noticed everyone seemed to be in great shape, where in most races I see more of a range of athletic body types.

I was on a relay team with Gina and Audrey, who are Nike Field Reporter Correspondents. Check them out here!

We all three only met this weekend, but we were instant friends and had a blast doing this challenge together.

We weren't able to bring our cameras on the race course, which is a bummer because I'd love to document how hardcore these obstacles were!

I took the first leg but ended up running all three legs after passing off my timing chip. Gina ran with leg 2 and Audrey showed leg 3 who was boss!

Leg 1:

- 3.25 mi. run

- Obstacle Course 1: Jersey Concrete Barriers (balance beam), Monster Truck Tire, Tires

- Obstacle Course 2: under Blue Police Barricades, over Yellow Traffic Barriers (repeat about 10 times!)

Leg 2:

- 3 mi. run

- Obstacle Course 3: Traffic, Marine Hurdles

- Obstacle Course 4: Cargo Crawl, Monkey Bars

Leg 3:

- 2.75 mi. run

- Obstacle Course 5: Soldier Field Stair Climb (total of 866 stairs!!)

- Obstacle Course 6: over Cabs, Bus, The Wall

Before the race I was flat out nervous. With running races there's no specific point that judges your fitness level. If you need to, you just run a little slower or walk.... no big deal. But on this course I was challenged to do things I've never done before- things I wasn't sure I could handle. With some dirt, grunting and help from complete strangers I was able to complete each obstacle, along with the 9+ mile run. I hopped hurdles higher than my head, climbed stairs when my muscles were screaming and scaled a wall before running to the finish. This race ROCKED with its intensely challenging course and fun atmosphere. Everyone should do this race!

Final results (not that they matter at all!):

Overall Time: 1:59:49
Leg 1: 35:35
Leg 2: 41:10
Leg 3: 43:05
Climb: 22:03
Division Place: 69/109

Our team regrouped at the finish line before grabbing some food and seizing awesome photo opportunities!

After a quick shower at the hotel I said goodbye to my new friends and headed out to explore Chicago on my own! I ended up walking 12 miles over the course of 4.5 hours before I had to leave for my flight. I was so tired!

The infamous bean (and photo of yourself looking at it) was my last stop. By this time my legs had traveled more than 21 miles outside and I was exhausted. I snapped one photo and said to myself, "good- NOW I can go home!"

This trip was fantastic. I loved exploring the vast city of Chicago, making new relationships and competing in such a challenging course. Definitely one of my favorite weekends :)

Next up: Ironman in SIX days!!

Have you competed in a race with obstacle courses? What is your craziest physical challenge?