There's a bunch of text below the only included picture in this post. It's what this post is really all about, but I thought it was appropriate that I add this to the post as the best part of the day. My daughter has been training with the Girls on the Run 5K program for the last 2 months or so and when they said the culmination of her efforts was going to be the same day as a race I registered for last year I felt terrible. I woke Sunday morning at 3:30am to get some food and coffee and downstairs on the kitchen table was her bib, which just happened to be the same number that I would be sporting in my race. I wasn't there with her in person but she was definitely with me and I with her. How cool is that?
When talking with people about the activities I participate in I often hear things like, "WOW, that's crazy!", or "I get bored driving that far and you did it on a bike"?. There are of course many more, but you get the point. For the most part people just can't fathom the level of effort required. This will be my 5th season participating in endurance sports. In my life, I never ran more than a 10K till July 25th, 2008 when I ran my first half marathon. In October of that same year I ran my first marathon. I participated in my first triathlon in June of 2009 and have only looked back to ask, why didn't I start doing this when I was younger. I've lifted weight and/or trained my muscles in various ways for many many years (I've been a personal trainer for 20). I played soccer for 30, so it goes without saying that I've led a very active lifestyle. Anything I did up until January 1st, 2008 does not compare to what I'm doing now.
So what drives someone to compete in activities that they know at some point are going to cause them discomfort? Well...?
Since the end of last season I pretty much had this season's schedule figured out. I would run the Frederick Half Marathon and then participate in the Columbia Triathlon which are separated by two weeks. But there ended up being a bit of a catch. I waited till the last minute to register for the 1/2 marathon just to make sure I was going to be healthy for the race. Problem was it sold out a few hours before I was to pick up my race bib. However, I could still run the half if I also registered for the 5K the night before. They called people who signed up for this double the Nut Job (http://www.frederickrunfest.com/) !! Can you believe that? As it turns out my training has been FANTASTIC!! I went to Tucson, AZ in March of this year to take part in a fantastic Triathlon Camp put on by Brian Grasky of Grasky Endurance Coaching (GEC) and ever since then my training was telling me this was to be an EPIC season of racing.
So two weeks ago I run in the Frederick 5K and PR and take first in my age group. Here's the video of the finish: http://ww2.finishcam.com/VA/Frederick-Running-Festival-Twilight-5K-2012/Media%5CBibNumber557-1.wmv A first for me and I was pretty excited but my purpose for being there was to podium the half the next morning. So Sunday morning comes and it's overcast and upper 50's and a bit humid but not bad considering the clouds and the temps. During the run we even got a bit of rain/mist which was very nice too. A rather uneventful run except I was feeling the effort from the night before in my hip flexors and adductors starting around mile 9. Here's the video of the finish: http://ww2.finishcam.com/VA/Frederick-Running-Festival-Half-Marathon-2012/Media%5CBibNumber557-1.wmv Took 4th in my age group and PR'd so all in all a great weekend.
Watch out Columbia in two weeks.
A week and half into my recovery/taper I'm feeling every little thing. But the thing which concerned me most was my adductors were still very tight the Wednesday before my race, a full week and half after my double PR weekend. Note to self: either train harder or don't race so close going forward. Anyway race day comes and as usual I feel great. We'll just call the time leading up to a race the taper torture where you become more in tune with your body as it recovers from all the training time put in. Based on my training swim, bike, and run times/power/pace I was set to have a great race.
Perfect clear sunny day with what appeared to be low humidity and comfortable temps.
Swim: As usual the 40-44 AG is the largest group and typically the most competitive. We all got in the water and then proceeded to wait 5 minutes before they sounded the horn for us to pound each other, I mean swim. Sun in our eyes to the first turn which I think may have been a little different from in previous years. This was by far the best thrashing I've taken in a swim. Thought I was doing well. I took a slightly wider line once I made the first turn so I could avoid some back markers from previous waves and so no one would feel the need to swim over me rather than go around. The rest of the swim was uneventful and as I got out of the water seeing 26:02 on my watch, I thought to myself that can't be and proceeded to run through a rather long chute to T1.
I arrive at my bike, strip the wetsuit and put the helmet and glasses on, grab the bike and go. The order of the day was pass everyone on the hills as that's where the bottlenecks were. Did have one scarey moment where a rider moved left suddenly as I was yelling, "ON YOUR L..." and her rear wheel hit my front wheel, thankfully I stayed upright and kept on moving forward. I thought I had a stellar ride, but as I came into T2 I noticed I may have actually gone a bit slower than last year (not sure how that happened) at 1:10:13.
Off the bike into transition rack the bike, lose the helmet, socks then shoes and go!! All I can say is I'm amazed how the pro's can run 5:30's on this run course. I felt good on the run, however, I started feeling the effects of the bike in my quads especially on the uphills. I would be running 6:30's only to hit a hill and go to a shuffle which is more than I can say for many of my competitors as they slowed to a walk up hill. I just kept the stride short and the feet moving and figured I could recover my legs once I reached the top of hill # whatever. Then at mile 4 the left hammy started knotting up and I had a stitch in my side. So, as I run making all kinds of terrible noises I wish I could have taken a picture of the kid's face in their drive way as I went by grunting and growling. Fortunately for me it went away and I continued on for the last 2.2 miles. Turns out the run would be my best effort of the day running a 43 minute flat 10k which was nearly 1:30 faster than last year. All in all a great race. A little disappointed but sometimes the littlest of things will make a difference between PR's and podiums. I had no nutrition issues, the weather was great, barely any wind, and I felt great.
Overall Place 93/1683
Division Name M4044
Division Place 18/232
Gender Place 90/1124
Swim Time 26:02
Swim Pace 1:45
Transition 1 2:11
Bike 1:10:13
Bike Rate 21.4
Transition 2 1:18
Run 43:00
Run Pace 6:57
Finish Time 2:22:41.57
I will add for comparison sake that last years winner and course record holder Andrew Yoder completed the race in 1:49:51 and this year had to settle for 2nd with a time of 1:52:18. His swim was faster this year by :25 sec, his bike 2:42 slower, and his run was :15 sec slower. He also relinquished the record to the man who beat him, James Cunnama by a mere :10 sec.
The point is even the best can have an off day (if you call 1:52 an off day). I did feel very fresh at the end of the race which could mean one of two things I suppose. I didn't go hard enough which I don't think is the case or I'm much more fit and I just didn't put it together the way I "hoped to". Anyway you slice it, I had a great time.
