SBR Utopia ~~~~ Permanently OPEN!! (Page 12)

Wow Matt.  I cannot believe a 4:48 did not get you in there.  I agree it was a very competitive field.  The race has really grown - this is only the 4th year of the event and the RD's are very good.

I only saw 1 draft pack that came through me about 45 miles in but otherwise pretty clean.  Although I was off in the first wave and riding pretty well.  For the most part I was alone until we met up with the Olympic folks for the last 7 miles.

Wish we could have met up - great race and congrats on the PR.

Awesome to see more great results from the weekend.  Wow...summer is just getting started.

Agreed, great results everyone!

Thanks Ryan!

Interestingly (well, to me at least), I just got an email from USAT indicating that I'm on the roll-down list.  So, at least a couple of the guys ahead of me must have received penalties (not listed on the results page, although I did see a few on the paper print out at the race - just don't remember how many or how big) or been DQ'd.

I will say that while a 4:48 is, for me, a fantastic result (and one with which I am VERY happy - especially given the couple setbacks from training unsmartly and ending up with some annoying injuries), it's kind of a meh result in my AG.  As in, I'm not surprised it didn't qualify.  The winner of 45-49 was 4th overall.  Cra cra.

I'll posit that this wonderful midlife crisis has afflicted many people, and further that around this AG (give or take one or two), people start to have more time and means.  Further still, I think this allows at least a sub-group of these folks to get closer to their potential than they were able to at earlier ages (I know I am faster now - believe it or not - than I was when I was younger and "better" - and only because I've been able to make more time for it the last couple of years as the kids get older).  

The fastest 30 y.o. is still faster than the fastest 45 y.o.  But in AG competition, which is relative to a small portion of the overall field, there are more 45 y.o.'s that are able to approach their potential than 30 y.o.'s, I think.

Just my supposition, of course.  I mean this all only as what I find an interesting observation and NOT AT ALL to comment on other AG results (as I said, the fast younger folks are faster.  Period.).  All it really means is that I have to work harder than I have been to keep up with the fast old guys!    Thank goodness I don't have to keep up the younger ones that are serious about it (like Ryan).  

Matt

Here's a first, actually swam better on some later 100's swimming vs some earlier 100's pulling. Tighter interval too.

I would agree with that.  Frankly, I wish I had more time to devote to the sport but with a 1 & 3 year old its not possible.  Not to mention that I get every sickness they bring home from daycare.

Took more of a look at the results for that race and saw a few things. One is that the ag size kept increasing from 30-34 up to 45-49, each one bigger than the last. Thinking a few things were in play. People that age have older kids, more income (etc) and are more able to travel. This race was a qualifier for Worlds and USAT races seem to be getting some more attention, drawing more people to the race. Could be ones wanting to go to worlds next year as well. There seems to be quite a few guys near Matt's ability as well, as in 4:35 to 5:00 or so. A few minutes difference in time can jump a number of places. That time in my age group (35-39) would have qualified outright. Although winning would have been a different story with Stubleski going 3:56.

You had an excellent ride, considering what you did previously!

I wish I could get a longer ride on the weekdays but 2 hours is about my limit with my current job.

That was a good ride! Also wish I could get out more in the week for that on occasion.

Yeah, I've seen Stubleski's name come up before and think he has the races to take a pro card somewhere, but just hasn't done it. I tend to not separate out guys like this as others may as there isn't really something magical about becoming pro. They're just really fast. Sometimes I may be more inclined to do a race if the local pros might be there. There isn't necessarily that much of a difference between them. The top amateurs at Kona do fit this description. Some of them do have their pro cards and actually don't win their age groups there. sesel over on ST is one, though 2nd isn't far off and he did get it at Vegas. I can't remember if Matt Hanson went to either last year, he was on here as six cubes for a bit I believe.

Interesting observation since I have started racing with power is with my HR.  I don't even have heart rate on my screen anymore but do look at it after the race to see how it corresponds with typical training ranges.

I have always had a sky high heart rate on the bike during races, completely above anything I see in training which made it pretty impossible to pace a bike leg by HR.  Based on 20' FTP tests and accumulated training data my LTHR is around 163-165.  My AHR during the HIM bike leg was 168.  My power IF was 0.80.

It seems to come into what I consider typical ranges for my run leg - high Z3.  I did not have a great run leg by my standards but it also was not a blow up and I think I paced the bike leg appropriately.

Just interesting observation after reviewing my race files and how power is such a great tool.

Sigh.....IM M-T 70.3 bib # 412....so bummed I'm not going to be putting it on

Yeah, hard to see, but if I remember right you had a LOT of big races this year. Might be for the best.

Been out of the loop this week as work has been a little intense just as I get ready to head off for a vacation in Europe for a couple of weeks  - leaving in 24hrs and don't have a single thing ready....but I'm setting priorities and checking in with the group.  Hope to get in some OWS, some runs and maybe somehow squeak in a ride or two since I need to race 10 days after getting back.

Guys - amazing results being posted out of this group.  I like Jay's description for the end of the bike race, and as much as I'd like to find time for it, it doesn't fit my schedule.  Besides, facing guys like Jay in a bunch Sprint is simply not fair - all slowtwitch and no fasttwitch for me!

Chris - before Arend gave himself as an example, I was going to use him.  It's seriously impressive how far he has come as a runner over the past couple of seasons, and I would look to him as a great example of how far you can progress.  That said, I think your struggles with injuries have slowed down your progress (you don't need me to tell you that), and consistency and volume over time are going to get you the results you want.  Whatever you can do to stay healthy is key.

Fred, I'll try to pop on over to the thread soon.  What time were you thinking for the swim?

Yeah, not doing the 70.3 sucks because I really wanted to get some power data for the bike course for use in the full in August.  Even though I've raced there 2x neither time was with power.   Not being able to qualify for the 70.3 is also a bummer so now my schedule is putting all my eggs in the IM M-T basket.  What are we at?....9 weeks or so....holy carp 

Anyone racing this weekend?  I have a local sprint tomorrow.

In prep for that, I went out for a 60 mile ride / 2 mile run this morning  

After the race tomorrow, I'll be running an extra hour (figure I'll run a couple more loops of the race course....have a nice supported long run!).  This is the last big training weekend before Buffalo Springs 70.3, so I figure I should pile it on and then start to taper a bit next week.  

Looks like Seattle is trying to put the rain in training again.  Bleh.

Finally home!  It sure was nice to sleep in my own bed last night.

Probably going to get out for a run today and hoping to get out on my bike over the next few days if the weather cooperates.  I don't go back to work until Wednesday.