Racing with and for Tri-Loco has been a true blessing. Surrounded by like-minded athletes who share in your success regardless of the race distance, these guys and girls are a great group to be a part of. We had a goal in mind to go to Innsbrook, Missouri to win a Club National Championship.
The race I was entered in was the Quartermax Triathlon, which was basically an olympic distance race with a .6 mile swim, 27 mile bike, and a 6.6 mile run. In hindsight, I wish I had rode the course prior to race day. I would pay for this later on...
Race morning, it was 48 degrees and the water was a nice 74- wetsuit legal. I set up my gear in transition and as an experienced athlete now, I have my ritual I go with and it works. You know what I'm talking about if you have raced a lot.
My swim wave was all male, 130 or so of us. .6 mile which was half the 1.2 distance. I got into a good rhythm early and found a draft and a couple kicks to the hips, but nothing out of the ordinary. I was expecting to swim 16-18 minutes. As I stood up to run through the exit of the swim, I clicked the lap button at 17:14. Turns out, I was 13th out of 131 men, 3:20 behind the leader. My swim this year has greatly improved and that bodes well for my final races of the year. I swam straight too...good deal.
Swim 17:14
13th of 131
Team TRi-Loco me with the #1 Reggie Garcia, winner of sprint duathlon 50-54AG
The bike was going to be hilly and rolling the whole time- small stingers and steady climbs to sap the juice from your legs and replace with lactic acid. My watts were through the roof the first 10 miles- over 220w NP. Heart rate was good and I felt great. When it flattened out, I attacked and dropped the group I was riding with and began catching athletes who were racing the halfmax. They had started the swim 30 minutes ahead. Soon I was alone on the bike, nearing the turn back into the resort. Here is where it went wrong- and where riding the course is so important for a race you have never done. I missed my turn! Seeing on-coming athletes, I assumed there was one more out and back. I was wrong. These were the sprint athletes coming back from the opposite direction. Quick turn around, and I'm back on course, but I lost 12 places and about a minute to 2 minutes. grrrr. Live and learn.
Bike 1:24
19.8mph
Starting the hilly run
The run would be mostly on gravel with hills. Sharp stingers and longer climbs. 574ft of elevation gain over 6.6 miles. goal was to push heart rate the entire time, push to 160's if I could. Depsite the hills, I was really feeling good and passing people left and right. The run was shaded and it wasn't too hot. Take away the shade and add 90 degrees and you have a lot of walkers...My first three miles were at 7:33, 7:45, and 7:00. Then the long climbs took their effect. I was still passing others but not seeing as many either, so I guess I was closer to the front or lost lol. Heading back in, I came to a Y in the road where a volunteer pointed me in the correct direction. I took that turn and then came up on two women who I asked if I was going the right way...and here is where it is important to know your course. They told me I was on the sprint course and I bit hook, line, and sinker. I turned around despite having a minute lead on a guy who was in my AG. I ran back up the hill, got to the Y and was told to turn around! SHIT!!!! I literally sprinted down the hill, passed the dude again in my AG and dropped him. Then I ran hard to the finish. I beat that guy by 20 seconds and it was the difference between silver and bronze. Two things come to mind: one know your friggin course. And I must be in a lot better shape to be able to drop someone after making stupid errors on a course like that!
Run 51:27
6.7 miles
7:48/mile
162 AVG HR
Finish 2:37
2nd AG
13th OA Male
A good day on a national stage for my team and myself! Our team Tri-Loco won its division National Championship and finished on the podium on a national stage. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into Ironman Louisville and it shows that consistency, listening to your coach Kim, and hard work is paying off.
And with that began my final push to IRONMAN LOUISVILLE. I have just completed my two large volume weeks and this week began a taper, I suppose. I 'm not thinking of it in those terms, but embracing this final week to sharpen the athlete that has taken shape over the last 10 months. I will have my largest swim volume week to date over the next 8 days leading into race week. I have some smaller volume rides and run specifically hitting some hard intervals. Nutrition will be key to get to race day, fit, and at race weight...my training has been super consistent all year, but really in the last month and a half. I'm feeling confident going into the final 12 days. I will be talking with my coach to devise a race plan that will get me to the starting line ready and to the finish line leaving everything on the course.
Thanks to my coach, Kim Schwabenbauer and all my partners who make training and racing possible!
