VO2 Max Test

70.3 World Championship

My season is finally over, but I was very thrilled to have the opportunity to race in Clearwater, Fl for the 70.3 World Championship in only my second year of racing, I came into this race with few expectations, the main goal for me was to enjoy the experience and race hard.

Swim:
The weather was throughout the week with temps in the low 80s...perfect!!! We were the last age group (19-29) to go off for the day, 8am. There were about 200 in our wave which made for a very chaotic swim start. I figured since it was the world champs I would start in the second row to allow the faster swimmers to go and to avoid bumps and kicks of usual races....I was completely wrong. The first 300m of the swim was a like a cage match, a true swim start that so many experience. Next time ill take my chances up front.

Once I found open water I knew I had a lot of ground to make, it was pretty much smooth sailing from here as I pushed hard to get back into the race. I also quickly got over my fear of swimming in ocean water after the mayhem of the swim start.

Swim:  30:36 (343 OA, 50 AG)

T1: 3:39

Into T1 I went, I found my bag pretty smoothly, headed into the tent and had very little problems getting ready for the bike.

Bike:
I've heard nothing good about this bike course like how flat, fast and the drafting that ensues. I didn't take long for me to realize this problem among age groupers. Coming out of T1 I hopped onto my bike but had to soon get off when my chain fell off....yikes!!! At about mile 7 I was stuck in a small peleton that was difficult or to dangerous to get around  What made my day was when a rider (in my age group) rolled up to our group and informed us how "well we were doing for a peleton"...as he tried to break away from our group I quickly chased him down to put him and his mouth back in line where he belongs. What made my day is that I would soon pass him again as he waited ever so patiently in the penalty box.....LOL!!!
Once we reached the highway, our Sunday cruise quickly thinned out especially when the race officials rode by from here I backed off the group not taking the chance of a penalty. I rode back the rest of the ride solo, I was passed by many more groups that were literally wheel to wheel. But I tried hard to stay true to the sport and myself. It was also too much of a risk to ride in a group in that triathletes are not the best riders in groups. This was very real when I saw over a dozen athletes either being carried off on a stretcher, being attended to by medics or road rash from head to toe.

Bike:  2:24:29
T2: 2:16

T2 my legs felt really good coming off the bike. I handed my bike of to the volunteers, found my bag and was quickly out the tent off to the run.

Run:

The course was a two loop out and back course. The toughest part of the run was going over the causeway bridge 4 times. On my first loop my legs were feeling great, I was making up some lost time on the other athletes. This race I was able to role through the aid-stations without walking. My main source of calories on the run was the new Ironman Perform, not to sure about this new form or "Gatorade" like drink , but it had to do. As on the bike I was able to make up more ground on athletes as I ran up the bridge.

The first lap felt like it flew by but it was the second lap in which "all hell broke loose". By about mile 8 I wasn't sure if my legs were still attached. From here it was survival mode. Coming into the race I backed off my running due to an injury on my foot. Not only am I a weak runner to begin with, this injury made me really worried on how I would do or even survive the most important part of the race.

I kept chugging with two goals in mind.
1) Don't walk
2) get to the finish
I reminding myself that he fastest way to the finish was running. Once I came to the roundabout just before the finish I smiled and painfully cruised in. FINISH!!!!!

Run: 1:37:21  (547 OA, 75 AG)

I was happy with the how the race went and my effort. I couldn't expect too much, with this being my 2nd half-Ironman so far and it being worlds.  There were a lot things I took away from this race that I know will make me a better athlete. I head into the off season pumped and eager for new challenges that await for me next season as I step up my game and training. For now its 2 weeks of R&R....and I'm loving it.

2nd at Goldman

On September 18th was the Goldman Olympic Triathlon. The race was put on my Chris and Amy Reed of Ascent Productions. This is only the 2nd year of the race and next year their is talk of a Half-Ironman Distance along with the Olympic distance. Good things are in store for the Grand Valley and the triathlon scene.



With a respectable 3rd place finish at the Highiline hustle sprint triathlon, I entered this race with a lot of expectations that I would win. Only because the two studs of the Valley (Kevin Koch and Marty Wacker) were not attending the race due to injury and travel. So about 3 weeks out I started hearing this talk of winning. I was flattered by the comments but I knew it wouldn't come that easy. Last year I was hurt all year but I was just getting back to health around this time. I finished 27 OA in a time 2:33:56. So I was just ready to tackle this time and improve.

****On an Important side note, in this race I was just not going up against the rest of the field but I was competing against a relay team. That's right, a relay team by the name of "We killed Kenny". This team was made up of Corey Riedel (Swimmer), Conor Mullervy (Bike), Kevin Mullervy (Run). I guess you could call them my friends...good enough friends to make a team against me. These guys have never done triathlons but do have a back round in endurance sports.Corey was collegiate cyclist for CSU as well as a high school varsity swimmer and diver. The Gingers (Kevin and Conor) are Division II  Time Trial Collegiate National Champions...so ya....there good athletes!!!******

The swim was a two lap counter-clockwise loop. What was unique about this swim was after the first lap you exited the water and had a 30 yard beach run before entering for your 2nd lap. At the swim start I planted myself right in the middle of the circus, many people avoid the middle but I knew I could get out front before all hell breaks loose. The gun fired and we were off, I hammered it for the first 300m then found a good rhythm out front about 75m behind the 2 leaders. For most of the swim I was breaking my own water which I didn't mind.....entering T1

Swim: 27:24
"We Killed Kenny" Swim: 36:49


Out of T1 I exited with eventual winner Brendan Claflin, At this time I wasn't worried about "we killed Kenny", I knew in order to compete at this race I had to stick with Brendan, which didn't last long. Onto the bike my legs felt like they were in 4th gear the whole ride, I knew in order to shake them out I would have to slow down, something I couldn't afford. At around mile 5 I could see I was losing more and more ground to Brendan. I then shifted gears to just hang on as much as possible and give everything I got for today, and try to keep my lead on Conor who was making ground on me FAST!!!!

Coming into T2 I was sitting in 3rd place.

Bike:1:03:13
"We Killed Kenny" Bike: 56:17

Into the first 200m of the run I knew I was in for a battle...the famous side stitch. Something I still am trying to figure out why I get. I know it has to do with breathing but give me a break, this sucks!!! I was in so much pain I was grunting on the run course, I'm sure the first aid station I went by might of thought I was a water buffalo stumbling through bushes. I slowed my pace down until I saw the "WKK" team coming and looking fresh.... as he should be. With disbelief and frustration I pushed on, by mile 3 I had made a pass into 2nd place, but very close behind was Kevin. He did shout a few encouraging words for me, but I couldn't return the favor for that I was a suffer-fest.

About .5 mile from the finish, Kevin caught me and was looking very strong. Not giving in I pushed the pace with him. Coming into the finish I knew it would be a close one, but not this close. We crossed the finish line in a full sprint as well as a photo finish. I crossed the line first but Kevin's timing chip crossed before mine which is what counts....On paper I lost by .3 of a second. Nice work WKK

Run:46:55
"We Killed Kenny" Run: 44:25
Overall I was happy with the race, everything worked out besides one of the toughest runs of the year. After every race I am always eager to get back to training to improve on all three disciplines. Right now I am gearing up for Clearwater 70.3 World championship,  I qualified for this race at Boulder 70.3...thanks to roll-down. But I am looking forward to the opportunity and experience that this will bring.

Finish: 2:17:33.3
"We Killed Kenny" Finish: 2:17:33.0

Lets get it started

Here's a little video to start this blog off right. This video is what I watched daily when I first started to get into triathlons. Enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EokseUskyDI