Keep track of my training progress here.
| 12/05/2005 - Photography |
Well, it's been quite a while since I've updated this log... Now that I graduated from business school I'm taking a few months off to travel and have fun. I've also been getting into photography which works out well with all of the traveling. Here are the highlights from this summer:
http://www.pbase.com/belden/highlights&page=all |
| 08/01/2004 - Broken Toe |
| Well, I broke a toe last weekend at the Donner Lake mountain bike triathlon, so I'm on the side-lines for a few weeks... |
| 04/27/2004 - Amazing bike fitting.... PK Racing |
| As many of you know, I ride a sweet Griffen Vulcan tri bike. Why is it so sweet? Because it fits perfectly. For my first few years of triathlon I simply put aero-bars on my Trek 5200 and raced that. But I was never comfortable in the aero positioin, and I knew I could be going faster. Last year before Ironman I met with Christopher Kautz at PK Racing in Fairfax, CA, and had him fit me on his "fit cycle". We spent a few hours working together and got my aero position totally dialed, then did a little searching on-line and found a triathon bike that fit my specs perfectly. Once I had the bike Christopher helped me get it dialed in and I'm thrilled to say that it served me perfectly during the 2003 Ironman Coeur d'Alene. I look forward to trying my new aero position in shorter races this season. It's definitely worth taking a look... http://www.pkracing.com/ |
| 04/25/2004 - Shwalla! |
| April 8, 2004 - New Hybrid Athletic Apparel Line, Shwalla", Helps Athletes Perform in Nearly Any Temperature. Check out these awesome clothes at www.shwalla.com! Linda Gallo and I have been testing and using their products and so far we are quite impressed. |
| 11/29/2003 - Oriental Medicine / Herbalist |
Several people have requested the contact info for the Chinese Herbalist I mention on my site, so I wanted to pass his info along. He's actually Dutch, but he practices Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Here's his info:
M. M. Van Benschotenn, O.M.D., C.A, Inc. and Assoc.
19231 Victory Blvd. #151
Reseda, CA 92335
www.mmvbs.com
(818)344-9973
I saw Alan Sher and "Dr. Matt", (Matt M. Van Benschotenn). I thought their herbal formulas were quite helpful, and we have a few family friends who absolutely swear by them. They have a unique way of diagnosing the problems, then figuring out what herbal formulas will help. My mom and I both thought it was well worth the flight to LA to see them. |
| 10/04/2003 - Triathlete Magazine Article! |
Jay Prasuhn, Senior Editor of Triathlete Magazine, just wrote an article about my race and my fundraising in the Novemer Issue of Triathlete Magazine. It's on page 20, and should be in news stands in a week or two. Jay - Thanks for helping me spread the word about colon cancer and the NCCRA!
The article can be seen at www.davidbelden.org/trimag.pdf |
| 10/01/2003 - Fundriasing update - $38,000 |
| Thanks to a generous donation from the Ironman North America & Janus Charity Challenge, I have now raised over $38,000 for the NCCRA. Thanks for having supported me with my fundraising efforts! |
| 07/09/2003 - Race report! |
Here's a quick race report that I just sent to one of my supporters. I realized it makes for a great start to a race report:
Thank you so much for your extremely generous contribution!! I greatly appreciate it. This has been an amazing experience for me. Not only did I succeed in my goal of completing an Ironman triathlon with a smile, but I was successful in raising awareness about colon cancer and in raising over $30,000 for the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA). The whole process has been an incredible learning experience for me. I couldn't be happier.
While I didn't finish in under 11 hours as I had hoped, I had a great time none the less. My goal was to roll with the punches and finish with a smile. Problems always comes up during an ironman, and this race was no different. The swim went off without a hitch. In fact I exited the water in 56 minutes, which was 6 minutes faster than I expected. So far so good! The bike was almost too good to be true until I hit a nasty headwind at mile 40. The wind continued for the duration of the bike ride, and by mile 70 (of 112) it was 90+ degrees out. I just adjusted my plan by slowing down a bit and drinking more to compensate for the heat. Both of those were easy fixes. I got off the bike in 5hrs 45min and was still smiling. The run on the other hand was less pretty. The temperature continued to rise to a high of 96 degrees. Running a marathon in 96 degree heat can't be good for the legs! My legs were introduced to a whole new level of pain in the first two miles, so I ended up walking several miles to give my body a chance to cool off and to help my legs recover. The run is usually my best event, so I was definitely surprised to have my legs feel so bad. After a considerable amount of walking my legs felt much better, but still were only able to endure brief bouts of running, so I walked most of the rest of the marathon. After 13 hours and 10 minutes I got to hear the magic words, "David Belden, you are an IRONMAN" as I crossed the finish line. What a great feeling!! The months / years of training were well worth it! I enjoyed the whole process, and I especially enjoyed crossing the finish line knowing that I was able to spread the word about colon cancer and exceed my fundraising goals at the same time. |
| 07/08/2003 - $30,000 raised! |
| Thank you all for your amazing support and donations to the NCCRA. As of today I have raised over $30,000! I'm thrilled to have been able to raise awareness for colon cancer, fundraise for the NCCRA, and successfully complete Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Thanks again for your support and motivation! ps. Yes, a race report is in the works. |
| 07/02/2003 - I survived!! |
| I'm thrilled to say that I completed Ironman Coeur d'Alene and got to hear Mike Riley, the voice of Ironman, say "David Belden, you are an Ironman!" The race was amazing, and I'll post a complete write up as soon as possible. Thanks for all of your support with my training and fundraising. |
| 06/28/2003 - Night before the Race |
Its the night before Dave's big day...and I'm writing this to share with you as Dave has just shared with me his excitement and anticpation of the race.
Dave's feeling prepared...with months of training, blood, sweat and tears... He's driven the course, tested the water (a pleasant 66 degrees), and ready to go. He is a bit nervous for the anticipated 90 degree temperature!! Yikes! But I have no doubt that Dave will overcome this challenge as he overcome many other challenges in his life. Not to mention he's in good company with lots of other first time Ironman who share his excitement and energy! He has the support of his mother (Iron-sherpa), his brother and several friends with him in Idaho.
Other Exciting News: Dave has come in 3rd in the Janus Charity Challenge...sponsored by Janus Mutual funds...and as the 3rd place winner...Janus will be donating another $5000 to Dave's fundraising efforts for the NCCRA (National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance). Bringing his impressive and still growing total to $23,900!!
Wishing Dave all the best and lots of love!
From his friend, Holly |
| 06/25/2003 - Other Good News |
Dave arrived safely in Coeur d' Alene!! Checked in the hotel and is headed out for a ride!
Don't forget to follow him race day this Sunday starting at 7am pacific at:
www.ironmanlive.com
Race #178 |
| 06/25/2003 - Ironman in the Making...check out the SJMercury Article |
Follow this link to Local News section. Click on Top Stories...and there you will find my story titled: Ironman in the Making.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/6165301.htm |
| 06/24/2003 - Fuel Belt! |
| I was recently introduced to guys at Fuel Belt, and I look forward to training and racing with their belts. Check 'em out: www.fuelbelt.com |
| 06/24/2003 - Watch me on Ironmanlive.com - racer #178 |
| Log onto www.ironmanlive.com on Sunday, June 29th at 7am PST, and all day long, to track my progress. You can track me either by last name, or by my bib number, which is #178. My first goal is to finish with a smile. My second goal is to be out of the water in under 1:05, off the bike in under 5:45, and off the run in under 4:00, for a sub 11 hour finishing time. |
| 06/23/2003 - Driving to Idaho! |
| I'm leaving early Tuesday morning to drive to Coeur d'Alene!! I can't wait to get there. Hopefully I'll be able to continue to update this website from Coeur d'Alene. |
| 06/23/2003 - Extreme Triathlon website |
Xtri.com has posted the NCCRA's press release to their website!
http://www.xtri.com/headline-v.asp?id=478 |
| 06/20/2003 - Taper!! |
| 9 days to go, and my taper is going well. I've reduced my volume and intensity in all three sports but am still doing a few short intervals at 85% during my runs and rides to keep my legs feeling fast. Now the goal is to get rested and get psyched so that I'm ready to go fast on race day. |
| 06/19/2003 - Press release on NCCRA website |
The NCCRA's press release is now on their website! Check it out at:
http://www.eifoundation.org/national/nccra/splash/index.html
(look at the headlines!)
The full press release is at: http://www.eifoundation.org/new/belden_release.html |
| 06/15/2003 - Last long weekend |
| This weekend is my last long weekend of training before the race. From here on out I'll be tapering so that my body is fully rested and healthy for race day. On Saturday I went for a 4 hour ride with friends followed by a 20 min run, and today I'm going for a fairly easy 1hr - 1.5hrs run on the Sawyer Camp Trail at an 8:15 min/mile pace. |
| 06/15/2003 - NCCRA Press Release |
Could this Californian be the Next Lance Armstrong?
Cancer Survivor Takes on Ironman to Help Raise Money
for EIF's National Colorectal Cancer Alliance
LOS ANGELES -June 15, 2003 - The Entertainment Industry Foundation's applauds colon cancer survivor David Belden for taking on the Ironman Triathlon to raise awareness and funds for EIF's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA).
At age 26, Belden was feeling a little run down. His doctor told him he was severely anemic and more tested were needed. A colonoscopy proved the dreadful news - Belden had advanced colon cancer. He had an eight-inch tumor in his lower colon and five infected lymph nodes.
He was surprised to learn that colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and still kills more Americans than any other cancer except lung cancer. Although the majority of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50, more than 13,000 younger people are diagnosed with the disease each year. Colorectal cancer can be cured more than 90% of cases when caught early.
As he began chemotherapy after his surgery, Belden fought to keep his spirits up. His father died of cancer when Belden was 16 years of old -- he was determined to survive. Each month Belden spent one week receiving chemotherapy, two weeks dealing with side effects, and one week regaining his strength before starting the process all over again. Remarkably, Belden embraced life despite his exhausting chemotherapy. He traveled and remained athletic. Nine trips in ten months lead him to surfing, swimming, cycling, skiing and windsurfing adventures.
"During this difficult time, athletics kept me motivated to fight for my life," says Belden, now cancer-free for more than a year. "Armed with friendships, my integrity, and the endurance to face any challenge, all I dream about is the day when I will cross the finish line and hear the announcer say, David Belden, you are an Ironman!"
Could he be the next Lance Armstrong?
With his striking resemblance (both looks and story), Belden is a fierce competitor similar to world renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong. Belden is training for the Ironman Coeur d'Alene Triathlon to be held on June 29, 2003. As part of his efforts, Belden has added fundraising for EIF's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance to his regimen. His goal is to raise $20,000 for the cause.
"On behalf of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance and Katie Couric, we welcome David's commitment to our colon cancer initiative," says Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Ways to help support David Belden and EIF's NCCRA
See below for more information on how to contribute (100% tax deductible) to EIF's NCCRA on David's behalf in support of his June 29th race:
Giving on-line:
NCCRA's website: https://www.nccra.org/how_to_help/donation.cfm
When giving online, please put "In honor of David Belden" so that the NCCRA and David can track the donations.
Belden's website: www.davidbelden.org
By Mail:
Please make your check payable to the NCCRA and mail it to David Belden, P.O. Box 1581
Palo Alto, CA 94302 or "In honor of David Belden" at NCCRA, 11132 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 90046.
By Phone: 1-800-872-3000
About National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
EIF's National Colorectal Research Alliance (NCCRA) is dedicated to the eradication of colon cancer by promoting education, fundraising, research and early medical screening for the disease. The NCCRA was co-founded in March of 2000 by NBC TODAY show co-anchor Katie Couric, nationally known cancer fund raiser Lilly Tartikoff, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
About Entertainment Industry Foundation
The NCCRA is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. As the philanthropic heart of the entertainment industry, EIF has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars -- and provided countless volunteer hours -- to support charitable initiatives addressing some of the most critical issues facing society today.
Media Contacts:
Sara Rolandson
Perry Communications
(916)-716-4980
sara@perrycom.com
Judi Ketcik
Entertainment Industry Foundation
(818) 760-7722
jketcik@eifoundation.org |
| 06/13/2003 - Strokemaster paddles |
| On the recommendation of my swim coach and a friend I started using Speedo Strokemaster paddles a few days ago, and wow has it ever paid off! Today I had my best swim yet. Using these paddles I was able to perform a few drills that taught me to swim using my lats (back) instead of my arms. As a result, today I swam faster than ever without working as hard. Apparently swimming really is all about technique. |
| 06/12/2003 - Bib number 178 |
| I am bib number 178. You can follow my progress on race day at www.ironmanlive.com. |
| 06/10/2003 - Training stats |
Here are a few stats from my training log since September 9, 2002:
Swam 132 miles
Biked 3,721 miles
Ran 430 miles
in a total of 420 hours.
Longest ride: 6 hrs (90 miles, 8,000' of climbing)
Longest run: 1hr 45min
Longest swim: 4000 meters
Longest brick: 4hr ride, 30 min run.
My resting HR has dropped from 54 to 45 beats per minute.
I've dropped from a 1'45" masters swim lane to a 1'30" lane (long course meters) |
| 06/09/2003 - Canola oil to avoid blisters |
| Today I leaned a great trick for avoiding blisters on long runs. I've heard many people talk about putting vaseline on their feet before long runs to avoid blisters, but I've never tried it. Today someone mentioned that rubbing Pam (canola oil) on your feet has the same effect. I tried it today on a hilly 1hr 45min trail run and it worked wonders! My feet felt fabulous the entire run and I didn't have a single hot spot. |
| 06/08/2003 - Long ride |
| On Saturday I put in a long, fast ride. We rode a hill 85 miles in about 5hrs, including a few short breaks to refill water bottles and to fix another rider's chain on the side of the road. Now I just have a long run today, then I begin my taper. Three weeks to go! |
| 06/06/2003 - Great live music! - Center Divide |
| Last night a few Dartmouth friends and I went to the Sweetwater, a music club in Mill Valley, to hear some of our Dartmouth buddies play. Their band, Center Divide was awesome!! Their sound is a unique fusion of folk, pop, and jazz, and reminds me a bit of Phish/Jack Johnson / Blues Traveler. They are a definite must see! Visit their webiste, www.centerdivide.com to listen to their music and to be added to their email list to hear about upcoming shows. |
| 06/05/2003 - Stealth Swim |
| This morning I had a fabulous steath swim with Shari Kain and one of her friends. I got to try out my new Ironman Stealth wetsuit, and let me say, it rocks! I've never felt so comfortable in open water before. This definitely bodes well for the swim in Lake Coeur d'Alene. |
| 06/05/2003 - Best run yet! |
| What a day!! I started with a stealth swim and finished it with my best run of the year. I was out with a few friends (Jesse, Brian, and Anya) at Rancho San Antonio on a sunny bluebird day, and the run just kept getting better and better. Jesse and I were pushing each other on the flats and especially on the hills, and clearly my training has paid off. I was recovering very quickly after the hills, and I was able to mantain a fast pace much more easily and for a much longer time than I expected. I think we ran about 8 miles in 59 minutes, with about 800' of climbing. |
| 06/01/2003 - 3 hrs at 19.7 mph... |
| Today I put in a 3 hour ride averaging 19.7 mph on a rolling course. The Coeur d'Alene course is flatter than the ride I went on, so I think my goal of finishing the bike in under 6 hours (well, hopefully under 5:40) is realisitic. |
| 05/28/2003 - Dartmouth Cycling Outfit |
| I've had a few questions from fellow Dartmouth alums about where to pick up Dartmouth Cycling attire. Visit the Dartmouth cycling team's website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~cycle/ and click on the "clothing" page. It is straight forward from there. Go Dartmouth Cycling! |
| 05/27/2003 - Mailing soon... |
| I have finished up my fundraising letter and I'm working on my address labels as we speak. If you'd like to receive a copy of my letter, please email me your address to david@davidbelden.org |
| 05/27/2003 - fixed gear ride |
| Taking Sunday and Monday off has served me quite well. Today I went for a 1.5 hr spin on my track bike (fixed gear) followed by a 20 min run and my legs felt fabulous. It sure is amazing what a few days off can do. This week is a recovery week, so I should be feeling better and better by the day. |
| 05/26/2003 - Recovery week |
| Well, after 3 hard weeks of training it is time for a recovery week. That week actually started yesterday with an off day since my stomach didn't feel up to a long run. Oddly enough my stomach seems to be my best indicator of over training. I have enough motivation that I can push on and keep training even when my body gets tired, so usually it takes a problem with my stomach for me to realize that I'm getting close to overtraining. My stomach started acting up at the end of last week and this weekend, so I took yesterday and today off and I'm now heading for a recovery week. |
| 05/24/2003 - Drop me a note and say hi! |
Thanks for visiting my website! I'd enjoy hearing from you, so if you get the chance drop me a note at david@davidbelden.org and let me know what you think of the site. I'm also interested in any questions you may have or other ideas for the site.
Cheers,
David |
| 05/18/2003 - Training like mad |
| I'm pleased to say that training is going really well. I put in an 85 mile ride yesterday followed by a 20 min run, and today I went on a 12 mile run at a 7:50 pace. Josh, my web-guru just put together this web-log. I'm going to use it to put up news about my training as I count down the days.... |
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