1min 20sec PR on this swim. Coach B is having an effect!

Elected to keep with the theme of racing, and started in the “blender” (aka the middle). I lined up center of the wade in start, right behind the first row. My plan was to try to stay with them in first 200yds, then drop into my pace, preferably with someone to draft off.

Execution was less than stellar, I believe the saying is “No plan survives first contact with the enemy”. My enemy is the swim… and clearly right side dominant in the swim. With my swim hard focus I did not sight sufficiently to offset my right dominance. Result, I was quickly WAY right of the course and the entire field. I had swim a 900+ yd race given my poor course work. It was not until the turn buoy that I hit my cadence and really started to swim strong.

I am making a commitment right now to MORE OWS!



Execution was less than stellar. I am clearly right side dominant in the swim and with the focus to swim hard, I did not sight. Result, I was quickly WAY right of the course and the entire field. I had to have swum a 900+ yd race… it was not until the turn buoy that I hit my cadence and really started to swim strong.

I am making a commitment right now to MORE OWS!

Site early, site often, swim hard. More OWS practice

Had a cheering section! Wife's training crew and her coach rode in and cheered me on out of the swim...totally shocked... but was nice to see/hear! Thanks to Melinda Y and her crew today!

Running up the hill took a few steps to get my blood moving in vertical position.

Struggled a bit in T1 with shoes, need new shoes

AG Rank 24 /81
OA Rank 113 /396

Not much

I need to learn to suffer more! This was my first Tri on the P2. I played leapfrog with a few guys but lost them when I screwed up my shifts and dropped the chain. Lost precious momentium that felt like to took HOURS to recover.

For nutrition, I did not take the Infint and water like coach recommended. Instead just a single bottle of Infinit IronFormal2 (Alice's) 3 scoops. I sipped it about every 20mins during ride in an attempt to quacsh the upset stomach. My stomach was a bit screwy from the peanut butter taste I developed during the end of the swim .

Overall, this was clearly my area of opportunity. I had more, should have given more, I need to learn to not depend so much on power tap to tell me to ignore the legs screaming.




GO HARDER

Need to learn to suffer on the bike/aero positon. I think having power to show me how I am doing is a big thing for me...

Nearly wiped out doing flying dismount... left foot cleat still tight and "new" on tri bike.

Overall average T2, have been faster by 25sec (that could have REALLY paid off later in the results)

AG Rank 43 /81
OA Rank 191 /296

Need to spin out legs earlier.
Need to be shoes on, running while clippping race belt.

UGH... legs were not happy at the very start.As I ran the start up to the first turn around I was able to see the top finishers coming in which was a unique experience. I also spyed none of my friends, and only a few of my AG... doing well. That thought propelled me a bit harder... I let go and just enjoyed the run.

After falling asleep reading Rich Roll's Finding Ultra the previous night, my mind wandered to the fact that I was not going to suffer an EPIC5. Since I was not going long, I need to find that next gear. It might hurt but I need to find it. I pushed to get closer to Z5 but hold back from going there till the last turn around (3mile mark)... from there, I went for all had to the finish.

Run harder and I'd enjoy it all again

Finding friends and family and enjoying, good to see Chris, Scott, Chris, Pete, Dave, and my lovely wife at the finish!

I finished this race vivacious, grateful, and indebted to the few who had helped me during those dark days in 2010.

Last year I learned that I had a series of significantly degenrated discs in my back. I was walking like I was 90 (no offense to you in your 90s!). Most everyone chalked me up done. “Not as young as you think you are…” and the like, kept being heard in response to my situation. I was told I would not run anymore, nothing more than 1mile. I should limit my physical activity and contemplate alternative forms of exercise.

Thanks to encouragement of a key few: my wife, my friend/therapist/torturer Mark Kane, Dr Lorch and my new coach, Coach Brett; I am Back! Not many times in my life have I experienced such a euphoric day. I had gone in with this as a C race, which masked a secret desire. I wanted to finish strong and pass a few friends too.

I accomplished my goal, but not the way I expected. I passed one buddy but no who I expected and was caught by another who I did not expect. Thru all of that I laid down a PR by several minutes! I had been doing this race since 2007, and did not expect the result I achieved.

As I look back on the day, Alice, Mark, Dr L, and Coach B that were there for me when others were not. I owe the TriJinix Crew a big thanks too as they rode out to see me off! And Melinda has been a world of cautious encouragement! Since April of 2010 I have been from triathlete to “Eeeyore” and back. So, while the day was my effort, it was those who stuck by me that I owe the day to… without y’all I’d not be back here today…. THANK YOU



Mental ability to embrace the suffering required for a sprint