Now onto the race.
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| Swim Course |
Swim: 31:08...OUCH
I found the swim to be the toughest leg of the race. It was an out and back course and with water temps in the low 80's, this made the swim a non-wetsuit swim, which could have played a factor into my slower swim time...not that I would have been much faster.... The pro's went off at 6:30am and my wave didn't go off till 8am, we also arrived at race check in at 4:30am....so it was a long morning's wait. Once our wave was ready to go we were allowed to enter the water 10min before our start. I tried my best to get a warm-up in with a few race like efforts as well as finding a good starting spot amongst my competitors.
The gun went off and within 300m I knew something was off in my stroke, and it was at about 400m into the swim that I wanted to be done and out of the water. Then at about 600m in I began to feel a cramp along the bottom of my rib-cage/diaphragm. This only made thing's worse, especially on the mental side of racing. From here I wasn't sure how the race would end up and how bad it would really be. I was eventually a lone Maverick out in the water, I did though make it to shore and couldn't have been more happy to get feet on solid ground.
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| Out of the water...finally!!! |
T2
Out of the water there was a 200 yard dash to transition, Conor informed that I was only 5min back from the lead swimmer in my age group. This gave me a little more air to breath and gave me the confidence I needed to focus on the bike. Once into the tent I got my helmet, shoes and glasses on; grabbed my bike and off I was for another 100 yard dash up a hill to the mount line.
Bike: 2:31:23
The first two miles out of T1 of the bike were up hill, a nice warm-up to what was to come of the bike course. The course was either up or down, nothing was too challenging but it kept you honest. I was looking forward to this bike course and the challenges it would bring compared to the flat and fast course of Clearwater, FL last year.
For the first half of the bike I focused on pacing myself early and staying on top of my nutrition. I knew the day was heating up and with this course being as tough as it was it would be very important to play your cards right early in the race. A little after the turn-around I found myself behind a small bunch of guys playing cat and mouse with each other. I wasn't sure if they were working together or.......well I have no idea what they were doing. I actually found it kinda amusing to watch. Every 10 seconds someone would make the pass just to be out front, then another pass...then another pass. This continued until one of these little buggers literally cut me off at one of the Aid-stations. It was here at about mile 40 I decided I was done playing games, so I got what I needed at the aid-station and took off like I stole something. Again I was the lone Maverick making my passes all the way to T2, I noticed only one guy was able to hang on until we got closer to T2 when I lost sight of him for the remainder of the race.
T2
Came into T2 grabbed my run bag and I was out onto the run course in short time.
Run: 1:37:16
The run is a 3 loop course, like the bike course you are either going up or down. I found my stride very early on and was able to fly through the first miles with ease. I was informed again by my cheering squad that I was 28th in age off the bike. I knew if I could keep this pace that I could make some significant gains in placement. My first loop went by fairly quickly, it was on the second lap that I began to struggle a bit. I did my best to take in as much fluids and sponges at each aid-station, on the back half of the course there is about a mile climb that can take everything out of you if your not careful. This hill owned me for the last two laps, besides that I felt that this was one of my better runs in a Half Ironman. I played cat and mouse throughout the run with a few of my competitors but then was able to give it one last kick at the end to get me to the finish.
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| Add caption |
Total: 4:44:47
Last year in Clearwater I placed 546th out of 1700 and 74 in age, this year I placed 202nd out of 1700 athletes and 24th in my age on a much more difficult course. I am very happy with the result and improvement that was made in a years time. Looking back at the race I do believe that I may have sat back a little to much on the bike, but you never know what that could have done to my run if I would have gone harder. Overall it was a good race. I'm taking a lot from this race, it started off to be a very long and rough race but ended up to be one of my best races. I know I didn't win my age group or podium but its been the journey of getting where I am at right now that I am most pleased about. I feel that I have barely scratched the surface of my capabilities in this sport. I'm looking forward to working hard to make many more great strides next season. A BIG Thanks to my roommates/friends and my Girlfriend and her family for all the support and cheers in the race. Its always a good feeling to hear your name from the crowd's of a race especially one that is so far from home.
Vegas Time:
We were all able to get Interbike passes so we stayed en extra few days to check out all the cool stuff coming out in 2012. Usually after a race I like to get in good recovery meal, ice bath, rest/sleep, and relax. Not this time, I spent much of the week eating like your typical American; donuts, In n Out Burgers, soda, buffets and on top that of inhaling cigarette smoke in the casino's and late nights. I was on a very limited budget and that was exactly what I was able to afford. we spent much of the week walking our pants off, I don't think my legs recovered from the race until that following Saturday. OUCH!!!!
One cool note though, my roommates Kevin and Conor Mullervy who both race for Team Exergy, were informed of a big team announcement that would happen Thursday night at Club Marquee in Vegas. This club is rumored to be the best club in Vegas/ the world, or so the bouncer tells me. After getting all spruced up and having a hot date on my right (My girlfriend) we arrived to the club (and yes our names were on the list along with only 250 other guests) and were greeted by 6 waiters holding cocktails and beer to get the night started. Our pictures were taken as if we were on the red carpet then we were introduced to the owner of Exergy and team managers. Once in the club we were bombarded with little appetizers, but there was nothing little about them; Kobe beef, lobster, crab spring roles, Filet mignon.....oh and an open bar with all top shelf drinks and water (Voss Water that is).
Lets just say I didn't get enough Voss water that night and the 7hr drive home the next morning was a little rough. Pictures below.
Best of luck to them both, I'm expecting much bigger things next year.
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| My Hot Date |
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| Ginger 1 |
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| Ginger 2 |
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