"I feel like I got run over by a dumptruck full of awesome"
After finishing the race yesterday, I've thought about all that has transpired over the year. Had big plans that pretty much disappeared after this past winter, probably due to my lack of real planning on how to deal with life in general outside of tri. Definitely learned how to get it all back in order. But philosophical BS aside, here's my race report for Timberman - a great venue and a great course for a 70.3
Pre race: Got to Concord saturday afternoon - got registration and bike checked in. Headed back soon enough to hotel to get bag ready early for sunday and get a real early dinner to head to bed at 9 since waking up at 3:30 (as per dad's recommendation). Threw down large plate of penne and chicken and half a gluten free pizza at Uno (never again) and made sure to hydrate. That word would be the word of the day on sunday.
Race AM - out of bed at 3:45. Walked to Lobby and grabbed coffee. Totally befuddled by options of Low and High caffeine coffee - immediately grabbed high caffeine coffee and threw it down. Felt so good after not having since wednesday. All my stuff was ready and headed out to Gunstock for race. Set up transition and headed out to meet @frayed_laces. Me, my dad, Dr C and her stood around waiting for our respective swim waves to take off (she took off 10 minutes before me).
Swim - not much to say other than my sighting was not nearly as good as I wanted it to be even though it was 12 minutes faster than i had at rev3. I need to look at some new goggles - I'm not getting enough of a viewing area so I'm not locating the pylons very well in the water, resulting in a lot of misdirection. Need to work on a more efficient swim stroke also, but overall very happy with exiting the water in 47:53. Great building block. Definintely will improve this fall with addition of U of R Masters Swim Team.
And to that girl who hit me 5 times on the swim, that was 3 times too many. Just swim around me or pass me your phone number next time if you're gonna get that much of a free feel.
Bike
I exited the water feeling pretty happy and spotted the pops as I came out of the water. Utilized the wetsuit strippers - made life much easier! Grabbed bike, helmet, shoes and was off on bike in no time. Made sure of consistent nutrition on the bike and took Grant's advice of not pushign too hard off the start - but kept a pretty consistent pace throughout the course. Definitely could have been faster, but a good benchmark to start from. After replacing my seat with the Adamo Road from ism Saddles, I had knee pain that had been bothering me after my last death brick. A last minute fit from Juancito on saturday am had me feeling amazing and super-comfortable in the aero position. Engaged core, and no pain in my shoulders AT ALL. That in itself is a success. Looking at the numbers from yesterday, hit a max of 40.3 mph on the bike - for me I was not able to hit that type of speed on that bike - felt way too uncomfortable to go that fast before but I was flying down the hills with ease. Headed into transition on a nice downhill and knew my hardest part of the day was still coming. Got off the bike in 3:14:32 and racked bike and got myself ready for run. May try and take feet out of shoes before dismount area so i don't have to run in those things through transition.
Run: With the lack of good runs (basically destroyed my run base this winter and am searching for it again) I was not expecting much of a run, all that I knew was that any thought of a sub-2 hour half mary would never have happened. I set out with a bottle full of gel and was going to meet the run course. Found a new shoe that worked well in the K-swiss blade light runs. Replaced the laces with Yankz - but not fully sold on them. Will try long run to see how I really feel in them. I just wish my body cooperated more. Felt sluggish the whole way and had no real power in the legs and the times show it - need to get some good quality bricks in there. For me to get to my goal of going sub-6 and lower, I need to get some good runs off the bike. Will def work on my run base after cedar point and through the fall/winter.
Post race - met up with @frayed_laces and her boy after grabbing my stuff out of transition. Severe storm called for area so we all ran to shuttle bus back to gunstock. Proceeded to get pummeled by rain and waited forever for our bikes. But finally got bikes and started the five hour commute home to the parents house in Jerz. Recovering today with no workout and a lot of cleaning. Getting networking emails out and trying to set up appointments with alums so I can sit down with them and discuss what I bring to the table and why they should employ me next june.
Can not wait to get my new wheels in the next few weeks before the race out at Cedar Point. I attack the 70.3 distance yet again and I think I should have some damn good results. During the race, I figured one thing - that I really enjoy the half-iron distance and the iron distance will have to wait a while. While my choice last year to sign up for IMLP in hindsight was a tad bit rash, being in Lake Placid this year stoked the fire that had been missing since last fall after the disastrous finish at the Chicago Marathon. There's nothing better than having a good day at the office, but you can always make it better and definitely have my homework before Cedar Point!
After finishing the race yesterday, I've thought about all that has transpired over the year. Had big plans that pretty much disappeared after this past winter, probably due to my lack of real planning on how to deal with life in general outside of tri. Definitely learned how to get it all back in order. But philosophical BS aside, here's my race report for Timberman - a great venue and a great course for a 70.3
Pre race: Got to Concord saturday afternoon - got registration and bike checked in. Headed back soon enough to hotel to get bag ready early for sunday and get a real early dinner to head to bed at 9 since waking up at 3:30 (as per dad's recommendation). Threw down large plate of penne and chicken and half a gluten free pizza at Uno (never again) and made sure to hydrate. That word would be the word of the day on sunday.
Race AM - out of bed at 3:45. Walked to Lobby and grabbed coffee. Totally befuddled by options of Low and High caffeine coffee - immediately grabbed high caffeine coffee and threw it down. Felt so good after not having since wednesday. All my stuff was ready and headed out to Gunstock for race. Set up transition and headed out to meet @frayed_laces. Me, my dad, Dr C and her stood around waiting for our respective swim waves to take off (she took off 10 minutes before me).
Swim - not much to say other than my sighting was not nearly as good as I wanted it to be even though it was 12 minutes faster than i had at rev3. I need to look at some new goggles - I'm not getting enough of a viewing area so I'm not locating the pylons very well in the water, resulting in a lot of misdirection. Need to work on a more efficient swim stroke also, but overall very happy with exiting the water in 47:53. Great building block. Definintely will improve this fall with addition of U of R Masters Swim Team.
And to that girl who hit me 5 times on the swim, that was 3 times too many. Just swim around me or pass me your phone number next time if you're gonna get that much of a free feel.
Bike
I exited the water feeling pretty happy and spotted the pops as I came out of the water. Utilized the wetsuit strippers - made life much easier! Grabbed bike, helmet, shoes and was off on bike in no time. Made sure of consistent nutrition on the bike and took Grant's advice of not pushign too hard off the start - but kept a pretty consistent pace throughout the course. Definitely could have been faster, but a good benchmark to start from. After replacing my seat with the Adamo Road from ism Saddles, I had knee pain that had been bothering me after my last death brick. A last minute fit from Juancito on saturday am had me feeling amazing and super-comfortable in the aero position. Engaged core, and no pain in my shoulders AT ALL. That in itself is a success. Looking at the numbers from yesterday, hit a max of 40.3 mph on the bike - for me I was not able to hit that type of speed on that bike - felt way too uncomfortable to go that fast before but I was flying down the hills with ease. Headed into transition on a nice downhill and knew my hardest part of the day was still coming. Got off the bike in 3:14:32 and racked bike and got myself ready for run. May try and take feet out of shoes before dismount area so i don't have to run in those things through transition.
Run: With the lack of good runs (basically destroyed my run base this winter and am searching for it again) I was not expecting much of a run, all that I knew was that any thought of a sub-2 hour half mary would never have happened. I set out with a bottle full of gel and was going to meet the run course. Found a new shoe that worked well in the K-swiss blade light runs. Replaced the laces with Yankz - but not fully sold on them. Will try long run to see how I really feel in them. I just wish my body cooperated more. Felt sluggish the whole way and had no real power in the legs and the times show it - need to get some good quality bricks in there. For me to get to my goal of going sub-6 and lower, I need to get some good runs off the bike. Will def work on my run base after cedar point and through the fall/winter.
Post race - met up with @frayed_laces and her boy after grabbing my stuff out of transition. Severe storm called for area so we all ran to shuttle bus back to gunstock. Proceeded to get pummeled by rain and waited forever for our bikes. But finally got bikes and started the five hour commute home to the parents house in Jerz. Recovering today with no workout and a lot of cleaning. Getting networking emails out and trying to set up appointments with alums so I can sit down with them and discuss what I bring to the table and why they should employ me next june.
Can not wait to get my new wheels in the next few weeks before the race out at Cedar Point. I attack the 70.3 distance yet again and I think I should have some damn good results. During the race, I figured one thing - that I really enjoy the half-iron distance and the iron distance will have to wait a while. While my choice last year to sign up for IMLP in hindsight was a tad bit rash, being in Lake Placid this year stoked the fire that had been missing since last fall after the disastrous finish at the Chicago Marathon. There's nothing better than having a good day at the office, but you can always make it better and definitely have my homework before Cedar Point!
Very impressive. Thanks for sharing. I think about stepping up to tri but I think the Marathon run is my peak.
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