Four States Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

All the males under 40 started together so that was a plus, but I knew it would probably be pretty rough. There was VERY LITTLE time to prepare. One minute I was standing around then the next the gun went off. They gave almost NO heads up. The gun went off and I immediatly began pushing my way through. I was in the very front row. This start was about as brutal as IMLP last year. Easily the second most brutal start Ive been in. We all packed together pretty close till the first bouy. Rounded that bouy and we started to space out. I was feeling good and knew we had a tailwind. I just sited on the guy next to me and tried to find someones feet but couldnt. About halfway to the next bouy I realized I was probably in the top 10 or so. I continued to push hard and rounded the next bouy. The sun was directly in our faces here so I just focused on the guys in front of me since I couldnt see the finish bouy. It was here that I pushed harder than Ive pushed before in a swim. Even though I was working pretty hard I still felt good. Once I could see the bouy I gave a little more and next thing I knew I was touching the bottom. I VERY QUICKLY pulled my zipper down and the suit was half way down by the time I stepped out of the water. I noticed they had strippers so I grabbed the biggest man I could find and let him rip. He did a phenominal job. It was off and in my hands in seconds.

Maybe try to draft a bit better but it was only 650y...

Unbelievably fast T1. I felt awesome. 1st in my age group and 2nd overall. I came out of the water in 10th. Passed two people running into T1, passed a few people in T1, then passed one more guy on my way out to put me in 3rd on the bike.

Nothing.

Out onto the bike course and I immediatly past a guy. I didnt actually know what place I was just yet so I just started pushing and pushing to pull away from the guy I had just passed. Once onto a small straight I could see two guys ahead and the pace vehicle so I know knew I was sitting in third. AWESOME I thought... Im in the money as of now, but I kept telling myself.. the race isnt over yet. All I could think about was catching those guys. If I COULD JUST catch them ill be with the lead guys. We came to the damn and for just a few minutes I thought I could catch them. Well I just put my head down and peddled into the headwind. I wasnt gaining or losing. I felt like I was really flying though so I just kept pushing. I never looked back behind me once. I didnt want to know what was behind me. I could see the end of the dam coming up so the turnaround had to be there. Once I was almost there I saw the guys heading back and knew then for SURE i was in 3rd. This also meant I'd have to see how close everyone else was. I rounded the corner and felt pretty good about the lead I had on the guys behind me... I thought to myself maybe I can catch the leaders w/ this tailwind but they had it as well and were flying. So much so that I feel they were pulling away. I just put my head down again and pedalled. I was hurting. Ive never pushed this hard in a race. I kept telling myself.. DONT THINK about the run. Worry about the NOW and deal with the run when you get there. I was TOTALLY prepared to spend it all on the bike. This was too short to be a GINA. I came to the end of the dam and still wasnt any closer to 1st and 2nd but still hadnt gotten passed so I was doing alright. I knew the out and back was coming up but had no idea how long it actually was. I took the right and could see the leaders up ahead. I knew now that I probably wouldnt catch them but had no idea who they were so I figured maybe I could catch them on the run. (thats if I had anything left) There was a slight downhill that I knew would be a bitch on the way back. Up ahead I could see the leaders coming back and noticed the turnaround was up ahead. But first I had to climb a small hill. Got out of the saddle and pushed up and rounded the corner. The guys behind me were closing in. When I saw this I really started pushing. I wasnt going to let 3rd place go on the bike. Cranked back to the main road and turned back towards transition still in 3rd. When I was about a half mile out I was flying around corners. Pulled outta my shoes and very quickly dismounted.

Nothing. Went balls to the walls.

This transition is probably one of my poorest to date. This is my first run sockless in a race w/ my Newts. Everything went fine until I got to the second shoe and I just COULDNT get it on. I probably spent :10 trying to get my foot in there. Was UNBELIEVABLY frustrating watching people leave T2 before me after holding that lead on the bike.

Learn how to put a shoe on... I should probably get some Yankz..

After my disastrous T2 I realized I had only been passed by one person in T2. I quickly passed him within an 1/8 of an mile and focused on pushing through the pain. I hadnt thought about the run till now. I pushed hard on the bike and had NO idea what Id have left on the run. I knew I was probably going too hard but didnt care. I was there for one reason. We came to the area where Rick and I had turned around during the WU and I was still in 3rd. But soon enough I heard the pitter patter of feet coming up behind me. SHIT. Up comes this 17yr old kid. He passes me. Before this race I told myself. If you get passed on the run.. STICK WITH who ever it is. Well.. I ran up next to him and focused on staying with him. I kept thinking.. "you can never keep this pace"... After about :20 I let him go ahead but tried to stay RIGHT on his heels. Finally I mentally gave in and started to fade back. Well he continued on but was staying consistentally about 10yards ahead of me and not gaining. So I thought well maybe I can catch him in the end. I Hit my first mile in 5:58. Well I thought. SO MUCH for a sub 6min pace cause I KNEW that would fade. I stayed about 10y back from the kid. We came to the first turn around. This was the first time I got a good look at the leaders. It was Chauncy. A friend I KNOW as a good runner. I couldnt believe he had such a good bike. Behind chauncy was Adam Wilk. Little did I know how bad wilk was hurting. I also got a good look behind me and there was no one close. The second mile came up WAY faster than I thought it should have. I crossed it in 5:44. WOW. how the hell did that happen? No idea. I kept thinking the mile have to be off. The kid ahead of my was now starting to slowly pull away.. and I now noticed my right shoe was TOTALLY untied and flopping everywhere. No way I was stopping to fix it. After the second mile I knew I was going to take fourth. There went $100 I kept thinking. The rest of the run I was just pissed at myself for letting that kid run away. I have the strenght to stick with him and just mentally gave in. No excuses. I just gave up. Once I rounded the last corner I could see the 16yr old FLYING. He was about to catch Wilk. ADAM was FADING HARD. UGH. IF ID STUCK WITH THAT KID ID be passing wilk right now. DAMN. I looked behind me a few times and just ran it on in. I learned a lot in that last mile. Crossed the line in 1:00:17.. and the last mile in 5:39. Fastest tri run to date.

Mentally stay strong and deal with the hurt.

Crossed the line and was handed a wet towel. That was awesome. I had a 20-30min CD planned but of course was not ready to do it. The announcer some how knew I had KQd and mentioned it when I crossed the line. I was frustrated.. and dissapointed in my mental toughness.


Shoe untied...


This race was awesome.. but I have a few things I have to mention. First off the race start was fairly un organized. There was ALMOST NO warning as to the start. Secondly the awards took WAYYYYY TOO long. Unnecessarily long. A picture was taken of EVERY single award given out w/ the winner and RD. Plus it seemed like he gave a biography of every person he knew. I finished at 9am and didnt leave till 12:30pm. Yeaaaa.

Other than that the course was awesome. It was well organized. The post race was fantastic and everyone was VERY friendly. Well worth the drive to Texarkana.