Memphis in May - TriathlonOlympic

Boy, I am still amazed at this time. I know swimming is my strongest of the three disciplines, but for the lack of swimming that I have had in the last 8 months (20,000 yds; most of which were this month), I really wasn't expecting a swim like this. Guess I have to contribute it to not being nervous at all. I was very relaxed before the start, after the start and during the entire swim. I really could tell that I was swimming fast. Before the first bouy, I know I had to pass 20 people and that was with a time trial start. And from there, I only remember about 3 people passing me...I know there had to be more, but I only saw three of them. Everything went well, sighting drafting, passing, etc. Just a very relaxed and enjoyable swim...I actually was planning the rest of the race while I was swimming in the race....normally, I am just wanting to be done! (4:17 faster than last year)

Notta....as in Not a DAMN thing!

Faster than last year by 33 seconds. Guess it was just being relaxed. I am not one for fast transition times. I like to settle into a groove and keep my mind on not forgetting anything and to hopefully lower the HR a bit.

Speed up a hair. It had been 10 months (yes, 10) since my last tri, so I was a bit befuddled trying to remember what to do. It all happened correctly, but my mind wasn't following what my body was doing. it just felt like I was doing something wrong. No problems and I was out and on the bike after that.

I was slower on the bike this year than I was last year, but that was semi-intentional. With only 3 races (including this one) before IMFL, I wanted to force myself to stay in the appropriate HR zone during the bike ride. Granted I know I could have pushed much harder on the bike and been fine, but this was a mental test that I wanted for myself. I did just that and met my goal, but sacrificed speed to do so. Many people passed me, but I had a goal, so it was cool. Let 'em go ahead.

Push harder on the bike for an OLY, but that will have to wait till next year.

A smooth T2 for me, but took a few extra seconds to grab the spray sunblock and coat myself once again before heading out on what I knew would be a HOT run.

Oh yeah, as I came into T2, I saw Doug who was already finsihed. Asked him how he did and he said that he got 4th. Now here is the thing...he did get 4th, but was only 53 seconds from winning the damn thing. Now that is a close race for the top 4 to be so close. he had the fastest swim split and the 2nd fastest run split. Too cool to have him stay with me. If you get a chance to host and athlete, DO IT! These are great people!!!

speed up.

Didn't wear the Garmin as I was wearing the Polar so that I could monitor the HR on the swim/bike/run. With that said, I just took off on feel. I actually thought I was going around 10:15-10:30, but got to mile 1 and was at 9:10...damn did I feel good, but I knew I should back down a bit because my run training hasn't been that great and this event is my weakest. Throttled back a bit and got to mile 2 at 9:26. Dammit, feeling good again, but I need to slow down. Kept going at the same clip, but walked at the aid station and hills around mile 3. Just about that time I also go some cold chills. It is F-ing blazin out here, why am I cold??? This can't be good. This is what I needed to get me to slow down. It may have been all mental, but I wanted to be cautious. Around mile 4 Frank Amato comes up behind and berates me for walking (kidding) and was off. Soon after that GolfingGod (Chris) came up behind me and we both made sure each other made it till the end. When one walked, both walked, when one ran, we both ran. It was a slower finish than I wanted, but it was a great finish to have a BTer and friend by your side during the finish. Too cool! Right before mile 6 we see Cbost heading out and looking pretty damn chipper. That picked us up a bit and we got to the levee and cruised on in. Right at the finish, I hear someone yell, "Go Chris", it was his coach, then immediately after that, I hear someone yell, "Go Lane", it was my coach. How ironic that they were standing beside each other. He is from Nashville, I am from Memphis and our coaches are standing by each other, how weird. Get this...they are sisters! Now that is ironic. Who knew!

And that was it, the run was over, the finish line just passed, and I had just completed my first OLY triathlon. Now I was a triathlete. I know that I have completed a couple of sprints, but that didn't give me that "I am a triathlete feeling" even though I knew I was one. This did!

Yes, you heard me, that was my first OLY. With the DNF last year here at Memphis in May and with only doing the Aquabike at Buffalo Springs Lake HIM last year, I had just finished my longest triathlon! Whoo Hoo! And at home!!! Very sweet feeling.

Not let the mind games get the best of me and run the f-ing race to completion.

After them pulling off my chip and handing me a bottle of water, I walked with Chris a bit, then walked up to talk to my coach and chatted with her a bit, then headed back down to find Chris and to convince him to follow me to my truck to help me carry the cooler back up the hill. What a trooper! That F-ing thing was heavy! Sat on the hill and drank my post-race Guinness....ahhhhhhh, what a life!

Hung around at the finish to wait for the others. Met up with Karl, Chris, Frank, Jen, Mike Ricci and the others at the finish, then the best part of the day occurred...we were sitting on the hill drinking our beer and with most everyone having finished and packed up and gone home (we were waiting on Doug to get his prize at the award ceremony) when we hear the race announcer call out "Christopher Boggs from Baton Rouge, Louisiana is coming down the hill about to finish"...

Now if you don't recognize that name, it is that of our very own RugbyKid. Check his logs out sometime. This guy is amazing. He has gone beyond motivating the hell out of me. This guy's heart and desire is beyond belief. This guy doesn't know the word quit. We have been chatting back and forth on BT for over a year now and even lived a mere 50 miles from each other when I was in New Orleans, but we were never able to meet until today. This guy is battling a huge battle with himself in trying to lose weight and become a healthier person...and on a level much higher than any of us could ever fathom, but the thing is, he has found an avenue by which he enjoys challenging himself in trying to reach his goal...and that is triathlons. it doesn't bother him that he is dead last at some times (and not today..for the record!), his battle is with himself and it is one he is winning! it is one that I have no doubt he will succeed in, you can just see it in his determintation...he is strong beyond words. Chris, you rock brother!

As soon as I heard his name, I sprinted down the hill to catch a word with him (and a few BTers followed). I got down there just in time to see him cross the line, I yelled at him...nothing...he turned immediately to the right and went straight back into the water. It was my pleasure to stand there to see a guy win a battle with himself and under such extreme circumstances and weather conditions! This is what it is all about! This is the true winner of the race and I was there to see it first hand. I met his mother, father, and sister as we waited for him to come out of the water, which took a while. :) He looked up, as I stood on the water's edge, then I introduced myself and he got up and came out of the water to meet me. A quick handshake and a soaking wet hug, we finally were able to meet in person. Too cool of a moment for me...this made the entire weekend! This, I thought, was the moment that I would cherish the most from the weekend, but it wasn't...I came home, had a meal with the crew at my house, logged a few comments about the race on BT after everyone left, even leaving a few inspires for the gang, then I dropped by Rugbykid's to do the same. I left him a note, then saw the link to his blogspot page and clicked it....to see that he had posted a great commentary about his battle during the race...truly a great read if you get the chance. but one thing caught my eye as I finished up his report. It spoke of how "his friend Lane" met him at the finish...wait a minute, I had never met him in person before yet, this guy singled me out as his friend....a guy of this magnitude...and I am not talking about his size, but i am talking about the size of his heart! This guy put it all in perspective for me today. I am shallow for bitching when I do about my pains and discomforts. Dude, it was a pleasure to finally meet you...I am a better person for it! Thank you! I look forward to our long friendship!

Ok, I got off the subject a bit....but this day wasn't about me! thanks for reading people and thanks for all the inspires and well wishes. BT rocks....in many, many ways!!!


Lack of adequate run and bike training.


Can't say a bad thing about this race as it is my home race. It was so good to have homefield knowledge of the course. Glad I was able to complete my first OLY here and to get revenge on this course from the DNF of last year. I will do this again next year as I think the same BTers will too. Maybe we can get many more of you to join us! Casa de Cavu will be open again!