swbkrun mentor group 6 years running closed (Page 159)

OK.  I got a reply from the rd first thing this morning.  I didn't cut the course.  Thankfully!!!!

There was a 5k the day before and they didn't take the signs down.  That's what I saw and made me think uh-oh. Other things went on as well, but its all good now so won't bore you with the details.

Race... I know the run was .6 mile short and I think the swim was ~200 short although rd said it was on and another really good swimmer said he had it dead on.

So I ended up 2/19 in the fat slobs division with a 5:26 race time but obviously it wasn't a full 70.3.  I was figuring on ~5:45 so I guess I'm in range.  It is a little disappointing to know that I'll have to wait until next year to truly break 6 but I've already got Rev3 squarely in my sights.  I've been targeting REV for 5:30 but now I'm thinking 5:15.  Of course the big factor for me is air temp so I'll need to lose some more weight before next June.  Yesterday was in the 60's at run time.  probably not so much next June in Virginia.  Either way, I've come a long way at this distance since 7:40 at Buffalo Springs three years ago.  So, I'm happy. 

Swim,  I should have listened to Linda (havin'fun) a long time ago.  Sleeveless in amazingly different.  First the shoulders don't get anywhere near as tired as full and second just the feel of the water is a huge difference.  Anyhow swim was smooth.  Not hard effort, hopefully i can repeat this in a few weeks. I was able find some folks to draft off for a while but what was crazy was I was passing so many people, and don't think I got passed to much. I did take a kick to the face but just laughed about it.  Still though, my swimming has improved, but I don't think its improved this much. I'm not a 31 swimmer... yet.

I wish Julia was there with a camera in T1.  I was an absolute cluster.  From getting my clothes stuck on to realizing I forgot to put the damn bike in the right gear.. it was awesome.  Thankfully there were some folks there kind enough to laugh at me.

Bike.  Finally broke 3 hours.  GOODNESS.  2:57 includes T2.  Nice ride through the Sequatchie Valley in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.  Fall is in full swing so good scenery.  I can tell you for sure, I hate false flats more than true hills... no doubt.  I made a really dumb mistake here that thankfully didn't hurt me.  I've been so concerned with my bike split yet I don't want to care about my bike spit, just get to the damn run.  So I set my Garmin to one data field, 3 sec power, and left it at that.  Next screen I put to one data field, distance.  This way I could have some idea of where I was if I wanted to know especially since I hadn't had a chance to preview the course.  

Well a few minutes into the ride i realized without time how am I going to know when to eat... duh.  I didn't want to stop thought so said F it and played it by ear.  Worse case I'll over eat and stomach will let me know whats up.  I've learned I can handle a little too much more than to little.  It worked out well.  The other thing I've learned this summer is I like to eat a gel and 1/4 bottle of Perform about 2 miles before T2.

The course was an out and back so when the leaders came back by me I switched over to distance to see where I was.  Next time I'll start my watch so the distance is actually calculated and displayed. 

T2 was OK.

Run.  I really wanted to run a sub 2 off the bike. A little more disappointment here in the short run, but its all good.  I think I would have gotten it.  But my main goal was to run ~1/2 marathon pace for the first three miles and see how I felt.  I wanted to get tired and fight through it, knowing whats coming in a few weeks.  There was one big hill we had to run twice.  And a bunch of smaller hills.

Don't know what to say, I was planning on keeping it around 9/min pace but was able to hold onto a bit faster than that until about mile 10.  Downhills I was able to comfortably maintain ~7:50 pace.  Some dude ran me down the last .1  Garmin says we peaked out at a 6:43 pace so I guess I had some left.. HA!  he beat me... oh well.   I walked the aid stations and stopped for a minute or so to take hit the bathroom. 

This was my best run in a race that I can recall.  Also think i need to revisit my stand-alone half marathon pace. 

The awards were beer mugs!!!!!

26 and change until T2.  ;-)

Awesome!  Tell Doug congrats for me!  Beam?  Could she pick a harder apparatus to be good on?   

Checking in after a killer weekend for me.  Like usual, no RR for CX races, but to sum it up I killed the field in both races (Details in my training log if you have interest).  As one guy on my team put it, "You weren't really winning, you were crushing guys soul's out there...."

This weekend made if very clear to me that now is the time for the tough decision of staying as a Cat 4A for another couple of months to try to take the "Wisconsin Cup" and have a really solid shot at a State Championship title, or Cat up and let the cards fall where they may.  Either way, it has been really nice to get some training vindication after a lot of work, miles, etc. leading to this point of the season.   

Congrats to all our racers, you guys rock!  Including those that may not have of completed the entire course!     

Awesome!  Tell Doug congrats for me!  Beam?  Could she pick a harder apparatus to be good on?   

Checking in after a killer weekend for me.  Like usual, no RR for CX races, but to sum it up I killed the field in both races (Details in my training log if you have interest).  As one guy on my team put it, "You weren't really winning, you were crushing guys soul's out there...."

This weekend made if very clear to me that now is the time for the tough decision of staying as a Cat 4A for another couple of months to try to take the "Wisconsin Cup" and have a really solid shot at a State Championship title, or Cat up and let the cards fall where they may.  Either way, it has been really nice to get some training vindication after a lot of work, miles, etc. leading to this point of the season.   

Congrats to all our racers, you guys rock!  Including those that may not have of completed the entire course!     

OK.  I got a reply from the rd first thing this morning.  I didn't cut the course.  Thankfully!!!!

There was a 5k the day before and they didn't take the signs down.  That's what I saw and made me think uh-oh. Other things went on as well, but its all good now so won't bore you with the details.

Race... I know the run was .6 mile short and I think the swim was ~200 short although rd said it was on and another really good swimmer said he had it dead on.

So I ended up 2/19 in the fat slobs division with a 5:26 race time but obviously it wasn't a full 70.3.  I was figuring on ~5:45 so I guess I'm in range.  It is a little disappointing to know that I'll have to wait until next year to truly break 6 but I've already got Rev3 squarely in my sights.  I've been targeting REV for 5:30 but now I'm thinking 5:15.  Of course the big factor for me is air temp so I'll need to lose some more weight before next June.  Yesterday was in the 60's at run time.  probably not so much next June in Virginia.  Either way, I've come a long way at this distance since 7:40 at Buffalo Springs three years ago.  So, I'm happy. 

Swim,  I should have listened to Linda (havin'fun) a long time ago.  Sleeveless in amazingly different.  First the shoulders don't get anywhere near as tired as full and second just the feel of the water is a huge difference.  Anyhow swim was smooth.  Not hard effort, hopefully i can repeat this in a few weeks. I was able find some folks to draft off for a while but what was crazy was I was passing so many people, and don't think I got passed to much. I did take a kick to the face but just laughed about it.  Still though, my swimming has improved, but I don't think its improved this much. I'm not a 31 swimmer... yet.

I wish Julia was there with a camera in T1.  I was an absolute cluster.  From getting my clothes stuck on to realizing I forgot to put the damn bike in the right gear.. it was awesome.  Thankfully there were some folks there kind enough to laugh at me.

Bike.  Finally broke 3 hours.  GOODNESS.  2:57 includes T2.  Nice ride through the Sequatchie Valley in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.  Fall is in full swing so good scenery.  I can tell you for sure, I hate false flats more than true hills... no doubt.  I made a really dumb mistake here that thankfully didn't hurt me.  I've been so concerned with my bike split yet I don't want to care about my bike spit, just get to the damn run.  So I set my Garmin to one data field, 3 sec power, and left it at that.  Next screen I put to one data field, distance.  This way I could have some idea of where I was if I wanted to know especially since I hadn't had a chance to preview the course.  

Well a few minutes into the ride i realized without time how am I going to know when to eat... duh.  I didn't want to stop thought so said F it and played it by ear.  Worse case I'll over eat and stomach will let me know whats up.  I've learned I can handle a little too much more than to little.  It worked out well.  The other thing I've learned this summer is I like to eat a gel and 1/4 bottle of Perform about 2 miles before T2.

The course was an out and back so when the leaders came back by me I switched over to distance to see where I was.  Next time I'll start my watch so the distance is actually calculated and displayed. 

T2 was OK.

Run.  I really wanted to run a sub 2 off the bike. A little more disappointment here in the short run, but its all good.  I think I would have gotten it.  But my main goal was to run ~1/2 marathon pace for the first three miles and see how I felt.  I wanted to get tired and fight through it, knowing whats coming in a few weeks.  There was one big hill we had to run twice.  And a bunch of smaller hills.

Don't know what to say, I was planning on keeping it around 9/min pace but was able to hold onto a bit faster than that until about mile 10.  Downhills I was able to comfortably maintain ~7:50 pace.  Some dude ran me down the last .1  Garmin says we peaked out at a 6:43 pace so I guess I had some left.. HA!  he beat me... oh well.   I walked the aid stations and stopped for a minute or so to take hit the bathroom. 

This was my best run in a race that I can recall.  Also think i need to revisit my stand-alone half marathon pace. 

The awards were beer mugs!!!!!

 26 and change until T2.  ;-)

Thanks for the input, discussing this here and with others has helped with the decision.  After sleeping on it, I am not going to Cat up before the end of the year unless the officials force it.  Here is my self reasoning, so let the heckling begin:  

• I have worked my tail off all off and road season looking to peak for CX season.  
• This is my first full season racing CX (only did 5 races last year) and my first full season on a CX bike
• If the others in this Category didn't see me coming and can't hold my wheel, that is really not my problem.  
• It is good for my team in the weekly points race since they only take the points from the top 3 racers each week. 
• As long as I got the 35+ guys in front of me to chase, I can still work hard in an attempt to continue to improve. 
• Realistically, this is probably my only chance for a "Cup" for several years due to the Masters 1/2/3 race set up we have in our series.  

 So, officially I guess I am truly now a "Sandbagger" and I hope to crush more Soul's this weekend!

It was indeed Boise.  Brutally cold day... BRUTAL.  Made me a new personal mentally after that 1/2. 

Kyla- Thank you I think.  I am not sure what I do, but I'll take it. 

John- Love the "off season weight!"  I have been using that excuse since Avery was born 2 years ago.  It's been great!

--That slowtwitch artical was hilarious!!!

Good Morning!!  It's been quite a week, with racers getting it done in fine fashion,  someone sandbagging, someone celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary and a lot of us sitting around wondering what's next!  So.....who's planning to hit the line this weekend? Do tell!

And for slackers, we have a little over 2 months before we end '12.  What's the one thing you'd still like to accomplish this year?

Good Morning!!  It's been quite a week, with racers getting it done in fine fashion,  someone sandbagging, someone celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary and a lot of us sitting around wondering what's next!  So.....who's planning to hit the line this weekend? Do tell!

And for slackers, we have a little over 2 months before we end '12.  What's the one thing you'd still like to accomplish this year?

Good Morning!!  It's been quite a week, with racers getting it done in fine fashion,  someone sandbagging, someone celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary and a lot of us sitting around wondering what's next!  So.....who's planning to hit the line this weekend? Do tell!

And for slackers, we have a little over 2 months before we end '12.  What's the one thing you'd still like to accomplish this year?

Good Morning!!  It's been quite a week, with racers getting it done in fine fashion,  someone sandbagging, someone celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary and a lot of us sitting around wondering what's next!  So.....who's planning to hit the line this weekend? Do tell!

And for slackers, we have a little over 2 months before we end '12.  What's the one thing you'd still like to accomplish this year?