Kenny Souza update

Triathlon Forum
1

last week: 710 miles on the bike. the 8th and 9th days were spent up here, with paul thomas. yesterday (day 9) they did the “big loop” as we call it, otherwise entitle the “angeles crest century”:

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/lifestyle/centuries.html

they started with “the climb” that we do here, and i started it with them for a shorter version (due to prior work engagements). we started at 12:15 in the afternoon, 90+ degrees, and by mile-1 we were on a record time (for me). too hot, too fast, and i was gone by mile-2.

later in the day i rode the loop backwards, to meet with them on their return. then i got the lo-down: paul 48:10, kenny 48:50. then they of course went on the complete the loop, and it’s more than 10,000’ feet of total climbing.

björn, when here in the spring, rode it in 48:50 en route to a 3-hour ride with joe (sojourner). joe is no-doubt in his car right now, and will be here at some point prior to us all taking off for what will be (for them) a 7hr flat desert ride. joe can tell you what a 48-minute climb up that hill represents in terms of talent and fitness (i believe joe’s PR is 53 and change, i’m at 58:10).

for those who’re interested, kenny’s been doing his miles on a cervelo prodigy. paul has been logging his on a carbon colnago, recently switching to a kuota road bike. the colnago is a more forgiving long distance bike, he says, but the kuota is a snappier, faster climbing bike. kenny was on another road bike, but when here last week he tried out the prodigy and found it more to his geometric liking, so the prodigy’s a loaner he’s riding.

kenny is thinking zofingen again, and upon seeing his improvement over the spring i’m guessing he’s probably going to be racing in the pro division, notwithstanding his coming back at age-40 after many years of inactiviity (except he’s been quite active at the dinner table and wherever one finds grog). he’s going to finish off this spate of long bike mileage this weekend, and then switch over to more running.

paul, i think he’s entered in IM canada, and i think he’s still intending to do that race. he comes from a deep running pedigree (8:53 calif. HS 2-mile champion in '87), arkansas afterward, maybe right around 14-flat or just under for 5k). but, he swims like an anchor, he’s workng on that.

i believe the inland inferno tri club is due up here this upcoming weekend, maybe they can pick up some of paul & kenny’s juju.

2

Too cool. I agree, they don’t make em this way anymore. Best of luck to Kenny at Zofinigen !

3

You know what they always say: “Yeah but can they swim?”

So I’ve heard Kenny described as a rockfish. And now Paul swims like an anchor. But really, how fast can these guys swim, just out of curiosity? Are their anchors the same as MY anchor?

4

These are great posts…really an inspiration.

5

Souza and Thomas were my gods for a while. Great to read. Haven’t seen PT since Consig’s wedding.

6

Im glad to hear Kenny is back at it! He was a force to be reconed with back in the day.

After my melt down at nationals this past weekend I was thinking about taking up golf:) But now Im thinking about really putting in the training so I can make an impressive debut as my first year in the “masters” category next year. I know 40+ guys can go fast because I got my ass kicked by a bunch of them on Sunday!

7

So I’ve heard Kenny described as a rockfish.
“Swimming is for the birds” - Kenny Souza, 1980-something

8

Can’t argue with him. He was my God too back in the day. What I liked about him was he appeared to race not just to win but to have the pleasure to rip the other guys’ legs off. His pictures were always intense, an so were his splits.

But he also had a good sense of humor. Who remembers the Souza vs. Maher April Fool’s duel?

I think I can still take him in the eating department…

9

Quote “kenny’s been doing his miles on a cervelo prodigy”

Ask Kenny if he needs my Nishiki Altron NFS/TriSpokes. I was just about to throw it away.

10

Ken Souza is cool. I like that guy. He rules.

http://www.triathleten.net/kenny.jpg

11

Years ago, at work, we did an experiment. Remember that old ad in Triathlete where Kenny is laid out on a 2-page spread in hid lime green speedo and bro? Well, from across the room, we held up this ad.

“Hey Steve!”

Steve looks over, and his eyebrows arch up, a big smile comes over his face, and he starts walking rapidly our direction. When he gets about 3/4 of the way to us…

“Steve, it’s a guy.”

“Oh my God…” and the look of utter distaste on his face was priceless…

Hopefully Kenny will have a better fashion sense this time around. And knows that the big hair era is over.

12

Let me just say that most 40+ year old endurance types these days are sporting the “number 1” buzz cut all the way around. My recruit camp Sarge would be proud of the lack of hair that I am currently sporting. I suspect Mr. Souza is in a similar boat, but I could be wrong.

13

Not to be too nosy or indelicate, but, uhm, er, what does Le Souza weigh these days. :slight_smile:

Can’t be much with those times. And, doesn’t he know he’s too old to be going that fast?

I too love these old school posts.

-Robert

14

“Not to be too nosy or indelicate, but, uhm, er, what does Le Souza weigh these days.”

just got back from 60 miles on the bike with him, looking at his ass pretty much the whole way. everything looks EXACTLY like it did 15 or 18 years ago. the bod, the hair, the riding style. maybe his quads aren’t YET as big as they once were.

went with monty, paul thomas, sojourner. first 25 miles in just under an hour, way out in the desert, the road just stopped, and turned to dirt. so, rode dirt for 7 miles, came back on kenny’s wheel.

paul and joe are still out there somewhere in the desert. we were riding across el mirage dry lake and got separated. they may be at a redneck biker bar out in adelanto or something.

whole ride was 58 miles, in 100 degree heat, averaged right at 20mph, including 7 miles of 9mph or 10mph dirt. kenny appears to be back.

15

He would be a fine addition to Team Linguica.

16

You have no idea how much I would love to go on that ride with those guys. Awesome. Five stars ***** Huge.

Ride with Ken Souza? That would rule.

17

I agree with you Tom, Id love to say I got to ride with Kenny. I might be able to hang for a few miles;) I met him once in a hotel elevator at Columbus, OH at one of the Coors Light races in the early 90’s. I was suprised how tiny he was. At 6’4" I towered over him.

I hope he is back.

18

Dan:

That sounds like the KS of old. I’ve never ridden with him, but I’ve watched him race. He may be small but he is very fast. And, God, that guy could run so fast…scary fast. Never, in my wildest dreams could I ever have been fast enough to train with him on a slow day. Life is definitely not fair. :slight_smile:

I remember about 20 years ago I rode with some of the big dogs at the Spenco 500 (John Howard was there.) and we all rode together out of Waco, Texas. It was beautiful for about 30 minutes. :slight_smile: Then all hell broke loose and the lead pack put it into warp drive and were in hyper space in the blinking of an eye. The top guys are just incredible.

But, we are all part of the fabric, so it’s just a matter of which thread you are in life’s blanket…

-Robert

19

Will Kenny still be at the ranch when IITC shows up this weekend? I can see it know “Special surprise guest invades the Inland Inferno Triathlon Club - new school meets old school”

20

You and Monty need to get him to start posting here.