Today I opened my tri season with a little sprint tri at my college alma mater. I had been thinking and planning for this race for nearly a year. It's a race that based on results I knew I had a shot at winning if the conditions were right and if my legs were game for it. In the end Iwas 3rd and did pretty much everything perfect. I swam exactly what I wanted, had a good transition, biked like a crazed man, had another smooth transition, then ran as fast as I could. I was in good shape until 2.85 miles of the 5k distance. I pushed my body to the absolute max and started to throw up. I let out two small upchucks. Then sucked it up for the last .1, then promptly let it all out as soon as I was across. I haven't thrown up after a run since high school track. My goal today was 1st have fun, I did. 2nd stay with the lead pack and try to win, I lead the last 3 miles of the bike. 3rd dig deep and leave it all on the course, as I mentioned I maxed out my body. So I left today feeling great about the performance. Had my body not revolted then possibly I could have won and definitely would have taken 2nd, I finished 4 seconds behind 2nd due to the time trial pool start.
I started the day like I do on any race day or long training day. Scrambled eggs and a peanut butter banana sandwich. I watched a little ESPN then headed out. The race started at 8 and I pulled into the parking lot at 6:30. Don't like to be rushed. It was 40 degrees when i first arrived and i'm guessing it was close to 50 when we started. I set my bike and transition area up then mingled with some friends. Come to think of it I never even had nerves. For some reason I don't get nervous at triathlons but I do at a 5k. Go figure.
So here's how it went.
300 Meter Swim: 4:09
I was #18 but they had the seeding all kinds of jacked up so I ended up jumping in around 10th or so. I made one pass in the pool and stayed on some high school kids feet the whole time. The pace was quick and so I knew I would need to catch my breath on the way to the bike.
T1 1:21
Coming out of the pool and out into the 45-50 degree air was quite the wake up but not terrible. I think I passed 2 more folks in the transition and left out in 6th.
10 Mile Bike: 26:14
This was pretty much a 5 mile out and back course with a headwind leaving and a tail wind coming back. I passed the first three guys within two miles. The lead two took me about 5 miles to catch then I sat in third until after the first big hill. Once we topped I dropped the hammer and took the lead. I was riding at 28-32 mph for the last few miles thanks to the tailwind. I rode into transition pretty much neck and neck with 2nd place. His bike was closer to the run exit so he actually got out of transition in front of me just because of location. It was a great ride but I could feel it in my legs. I knew the run would be tough but also that I still had a solid 5k in my legs.
T2
As I said I ran in with 2nd place and ran out with him. He was probably 10 feet in front of me.
3.1 Mile Run 20:02
The run started out well. My legs were heavy as expected after smashing my bike for 10 miles. I stayed in 2nd for the first mile then was passed by a guy running out of his mind. I went in him to make the pass on the previous leader and remained in 2nd place. I knew that this new leader was running faster than I could afford to mess with so my goal was to stay close. With out time trial start in the pool I knew I had 15-20 seconds to give because I started behind him. I kept him within 50 feet til somewhere after mile 2 when he started to inch away. Coming down the final stretch with somewhere around 1/2 a mile to go my stomach began to turn on me. I knew this was coming though because I was giving all I had. At somewhere around a quarter mile to go I was passed. I made every attempt to keep the legs moving. I think with maybe 1000 meters to go my stomach could hold no more. I dry heaved once, then 2 small up chucks, then heard my friend yell "He's sprinting on you" so I gunned it. 50 yards to go and all I could think was hold it in hold it in hold it in. I crossed the line, dodged the sority girl trying to put a medal on my neck and made my to the grass and let it rip haha. One could heave and my stomach was back in gear.
I ended up 18 seconds behind 1st and 4 seconds behind 2nd. As I said earlier if my stomach could have held on longer I could have at least taken 2nd and possibly won. But I never play the what if game. I'm happy with the results and with the major progress I've made. Next step is to get the Country Music Marathon out of the way then I have the Rev3 Olympic Triathlon in Knoxville.
See it. Believe it. Do it!
