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St. Croix 70.3
Writing abbreviated race reports are not much fun, but there's not too much to say when you crash out of an event. Unlike the last time I raced here in 2010, the island experienced rain everyday, making an already technical course even more so. Regardless, I came here to race and if it weren't for breaking off my rear dérailleur, I would have continued to do so.The swim start was, as usual, somewhat hectic. We were supposed to follow a buoy line out 75-meters or so before making a left turn. So much for doing what we were supposed to do, because almost everyone cut the corner. However, there was little advantage to be had. After that, the packs separated and strung out more or less. I swam next to another athlete until the turnaround, where they made a sighting error. From then on, I swam alone, except for when I caught another athlete not far from the swim exit.A light rain began to fall as I made my way onto the bike course, though, the roads were already wet to begin with. Some parts of the course were rather treacherous with the torrential rain we had been receiving and loosely resembled an Xterra course; scattered debris and some rather deep puddles to forge. Despite the conditions, my legs were feeling better as the ride progressed. The Beast didn't seem as bad as I remembered it, but standing on the pedals was futile, as my wheel would spin out on the slick roads. I descended the backside swiftly and confidently and felt as though the worst of the bike course was over. Then came a sharp left turn, which I managed without a hitch, and then a sharp right several hundred meters ahead. As I started to come across the road to hit the apex of the turn, my rear wheel went out for underneath and down I went. As soon as I came to rest, I stood up to assess myself. Besides quite a bit of road rash, nothing seemed broken, so I deemed myself fit to ride. Upon getting back to my bike, I noticed the rear dérailleur hanger had snapped off, so I had no option but to concede.
Roatan Wedding
The week spent with family and friends in Roatan will surely go down as an unforgettable one. While I trained nearly everyday, triathlon took to the back seat; this week was about my sister and her husband's marriage. There's really no need to detail either the wedding festivities or training in great detail, instead, I feel this is an appropriate occasion for a picture post.In short, training in Roatan for a week surely helped with my St. Croix preparation. When I ran, I ran on an undulating dirt road through a jungle. Each time I ventured out, it was usually exceptionally hot and humid. Music was not necessary, as the birds were quite boisterous and their songs never really seemed to end. The road was rather quiet though, with only a few homes of locals scattered about. As the week progressed, I came to recognize their familiar faces. I even managed a track session of sorts, 12 by 400 meter repeats, on the resort's entry road, as it was the flattest section around. Security guards manned the entry gate, so I had an encouraging party to push me on each interval back towards the villas.
Jet-Set
After getting back from Nepal, I drew up a race schedule that included a fair bit of travel. At the time, it was just fun, but tentative. A few months later, i.e. now, it is reality. This coming Friday marks the beginning of what will be a very on-the-go 3-months of traveling and racing. Fortunately, I don't mind living out of a suitcase, er bike case, and not being anywhere near conversational in the local language.
Oceanside 70.3
The last time I competed in a half Ironman was in 2010 in St. Croix. While I feel that halfs may be my best distance, I didn't quite know what to expect going into this event. Regardless, I felt really good going into the event and knew I was capable of putting together a good day.The weather wasn't as cooperative as everyone hoped it would be given that we were in southern California, but I'm not one to be rattled by a cold, rainy, and/or windy day in the slightest.While the water temperature was more suitable for an ice bath than a swim, I didn't mind the 14º water once we were underway. On a side note, I really owe Blue Seventy a big thank you for the Neoprene Cap they gave me the day prior! It makes a big difference in such water temperatures!As for the swim, the uber swimmers took off in typical fashion, but large packs formed and there were always several pairs of feet to follow. Nearing the turn-around at the mouth of the harbor, the water was choppy as the surf was building just beyond the jetty. Due to the conditions, the packs began to string out, but came back together once we reached the calmer waters further into the harbor.Being that this race now has two transitions, we had to have the presence of mind to stuff our wetsuits and swim gear into a bag before heading out onto the bike.I mounted my bike in a light drizzle with several other athletes just ahead or behind, so I was hopeful of a good pack forming and hopefully working together to catch other groups ahead. The pace was very high from the get-go and nothing formed until several kms into the race. Shortly after making the u-turn on Las Pulgas Road, a rider in my group of three suggested we make an effort to catch the group of three ahead. I agreed and we put in a surge, turning our group of three into just two. Regardless, we kept at it and seemed to be making up time little by little. I was taking my turn at the front on a rolling section and just as I was downshifting as we started to climb, a rider came flying by and the rider who was with me went with the other rider. I was unable to close the gap and was now alone. When the steeper inclines presented themselves, I climbed well and made up time on whatever group I saw ahead. However, on the flatter or rolling sections, I couldn't seem to make up any time. Perhaps the effort to catch the group ahead took too much out of me.I would also like to thank TorHans for their Aero 20 Bottle and Aero Mount! The bottle was very easy to fill and while it rained while we were on the bike, my bike was not wet from any of the GU Brew in that bottle. Much easier to use and more comfortable than my previous zip-tied bottle cage. It's also a lot more aerodynamic!Coming into the second transition, the rain had stopped, but another cloud loomed over my head; what was going to happen on the run given just three weeks of run training. I didn't bother with a watch - I usually don't wear one during shorter races - so the pace I went out at was based on perceived effort. I felt smooth starting the run and was hoping to run at an even pace. Through the first 12 kms, I felt I was running at a good, steady tempo. Then I began to see blood seeping through my shoes and became aware of all the blisters that were forming. Each step was rather uncomfortable, but I expect to experience a great deal of discomfort every race anyways. Despite being so close to several other professionals just ahead on the run, I wasn't able to close any gaps and four of us finished with 21-seconds of each other.Overall, I am pleased with my performance as it was a good indicator of how my training is going. I am disappointed I didn't ride better, because I figured I would have ridden much quicker. Incorporating a bit more speed work and longer tempo intervals into my cycling training ought to remedy the situation. Regarding the run, I am pleased to have run a 1:20 on very little training!For the day, I finished 29th, which is far from noteworthy. However, I was the youngest professional on the start line and know that I'm training the right way and that the results will come. Mark my words.I would also like to thank Dr. Corey Lichtman for taping me up with RockTape! He taped my Achilles in typical fashion and also taped my back, which aided in my posture and maintaining proper form; helping me go stronger, longer.Tentatively speaking, this race was also my one and only confirmed race on US soil.
Abu Dhabi International
The first race of 2012, coming just 9 weeks into the year, has come and gone. Just as promised, the weather was warm, the food was good, and riding around the Formula 1 track was incredible. In terms of preparation, I felt relatively good with my training and was hopeful to make an impact.Surprisingly, the swim was deemed wetsuit-legal as it was a few clicks under 22º. After a brief warm-up, we were corralled under a small arch and awaited our cue. The race took off in a flurry and given my swim training, I felt confident in my ability to stay with the pack. As we made our way towards the first buoy, I failed to maintain the pack's pace and started slipping away. I know how hard I can swim 500-meters all out, but recovering such an effort in lies the problem. Regardless of who I was or wasn't swimming with, I found a rhythm and did what I could to limit the losses.
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Triathlon, Athletes/Active Lifestyle
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