The kids' tri was Saturday morning--all three raced. It was super fun and everyone had a great time. Nathan had a bit of a rough start with tears and clinging but once they said "go" he was all smiles all morning. Later, Kami and I volunteered at packet pickup all afternoon--yet another reason I wasn't expecting much out of my race.
I actually slept pretty well Saturday night--a rarity for me on a prerace evening. The alarm woke me up at 400a and I ate my bowl of oatmeal and then loaded up the truck. Arrived at 530a and made fast work of the check-in ritual. Saw some friends in transition, set up quickly, and walked to the "secret" porta-potties with Coach Mike and another buddy. I guess they aren't so secret afterall--all the TP was gone. Two factors determined my course of action: 1. I must, er, let's say "drop a deuce" before any race, and 2. I have pretty limited pride. So a quick poop followed by a wipe with a torn-off piece of a paperboard beer 12-pack and then it was time to pull on the wetsuit and warm up.
Did my usual routine in the water (which isn't much at this distance) and watched the wave in front of us start. We got a good draw on the wave start this time around: 4th of 10 waves (so +15 minutes). It's usually really hot on the run so the early start makes a big difference. Toed the line and was still chatting as Barry counted us down. There was no sprint at the start of this one. I settled into a comfortable pace and waited for someone to break out of the pack. Three different groups quickly formed--I was leading the middle one. Neither of the other two seemed to be in any hurry and I was as a sustainable pace and hoped I was pulling out my boys (Mike, Manuel, Dan) so I focused on good navigation and soon I was at the front. I took a good line (the sun was behind the clouds--clear goggles!!) and it seemed like we reached the first buoy quickly. I took a peek behind me and there was only one guy with me. We were already picking our way through the back of the wave in front of us and my pace was good--I didn't bother trying to ditch him or dropping back to make him work. The whole way back I just focused on swimming smart, taking good lines, and minimizing my kick. Each time I peeked back, he was there and didn't seem interested in making a move. It was one of the easiest swims I've ever had in a race--I was pretty surprised to be first out. After the two of us, it was nearly a minute back to the third guy out. I guess my swim is in form this year.
I was very efficient in and out of T1. Manuel was coming in as I was going out. Smoothly onto the bike and made a point of riding the right level of effort and not letting the adrenaline take over. I was toward the front of the race so I expected to be passed a bunch early and that's what I got. Dan and Manuel came by me before mile 10; Manuel reminded me to stay patient. I was looking to ride pretty even--perhaps slighly negative on the two-loop course. The wind was a crossing tail so the three big rollers weren't too bad. Fast descent down St. Vrain and then that crossing tail became a crossing head on 75th. The short spur on Monarch gave me a chance to see where everyone was. Manuel was exiting the spur as I came in (so he was about 3 minutes up) and Dan was about 2 minutes ahead. I'm guessing I was around 7th or so at this point and saw no reason to change my plan. The headwind on the Diagonal wasn't as demoralizing as it usually is and I was around the first (28 mile) lap in 1:17 and change--a little slower than I had hoped but definitely within range. I got passed a few more times on the second lap but the race was mostly settled in at this point. At the spur this time around, Manuel was long gone--on his way to finishing 4th in the AG just 2 weeks after IM Lake Placid! Dan seemed to be coming back to me but not by much--maybe 30 seconds. We're both shooting to crack 5 hours for the first time--I like to beat him, but I wanted to see us both sub-5. I spent a little time hoping I'd catch him before we got off the bikes and a little time hoping he was still riding strong--the latter turned out to be true. During the second lap, I passed a couple of guys back (why do people go out so hard?) and figure I was into T2 in no worse than 10th place. Second lap split was about a minute faster than the first so I'm calling it a good ride. 2:33 and change for a 21.8 mph average--not at the top of the age group, but a PR split for me and was definitely the right effort level.
Made a quick change and started running out of T2. Whitney was volunteering in transition and when she cheered me on by calling my name, I started heading that direction. Only she was standing at the back of transition--away from the run out. She yelled at me to go the other way and my tiny brain aimed my body at the correct exit. I've done this race several times but once I hit the exit, I wanted to go right (like the Boulder Peak run). Many helpful volunteers pointed and shouted at me and pretty soon, I was on course and making progress. I usually visualize my transition at the end of the previous leg--did it for T1 but not T2. Dumb, but didn't really cost me anything.
Legs felt great right away. High-fived Teegan and the kids as I went past and settled into my run. I had changed up my bike fit last week and hadn't had a chance to ride it. A risky move but since this wasn't an "A" race and Chris (ProPeloton) always gets it right, I decided to take the chance. It was perfect--felt like I had fresh legs. Began excuting Coach Mike's 5-5-5 plan (easy first 5 miles, step it up for the next 5, then hit it hard for the last 5k). It was all I could do not to run harder at the beginning--I felt good--but I held back. I haven't raced with a watch all season (just the PowerTap on the bike) so I couldn't definitively determine my pace. But it felt right and I was actually passing folks while running what felt like an easy pace. Dan was still about 2 minutes ahead of me at the spur around mile 3 and we slapped hands as we passed and I told him "it's on!"
How about a little name-dropping? Julie Dibbens (women's XTerra world champ) came by me a few seconds later and then Coach Mike (not a name drop) a little after that. Dave Scott, spectating at this race, shouted out that I looked good just after Chrissie Wellington (2x defending IM world champ) came blazing past a couple of minutes behind Dibbens and was off my horizon in no time.
I wished Mike a good run and he was soon gone. Just before the mile 5 marker, I picked up my pace and knew it would be my day. Legs kept turning over great and I was sure it would come down to how much I could manage the pain mentally. I had been passed several times by guys in my age group but was still in the top 20 for sure. I was surprised at how quickly the first lap passed. As I came around, I peeked at the finish clock: 4:17 and change. My wave start was +15 minutes so my race time was 4:02+ with 6.55 miles to go. Completely do-able. At the second lap spur, Mike was long gone and Dan had about the same lead on me but he was looking really strong. I felt good but was starting to muscle through a bit. I figured I'd have plenty to get back sub-5 but I wasn't so confident about my ability to catch Dan at this point. I didn't wait for mile 10 to pick it up--started the push for home at mile 9. Focused on my form and it seemed good but I caught myself correcting a few things on the fly every time I focused on something else. It started to hurt but was manageable. At mile 11, more kind words from "The Man" and I was pushing hard but running pretty strong and still feeling like I'd make it in sub-5. At mile 11.5, the wheels came off.
Funny (not funny ha-ha) how it happens so quickly at this distance. Suddenly, I was shuffling, my legs hurt and wouldn't turn over, it felt hot, etc. With only 1.5 miles to go, I began thinking about whether I had done enough to lose a few minutes at the end and still make it in time. Probably not--I didn't have much cushion. I was getting passed by folks I had passed a mile or two ago. Nothing to do but gut it out. Couldn't even put up a kick at the finish and was pretty disappointed when I turned the corner and the clock was already past 5:18 (5:03 for me) and counting up. I don't think I lost the full 4 minutes in the last 1.5 miles--I must have dropped off the pace a little earlier without realizing it--but I lost most of it there.
So my 5:04:03 finish was a PR by 4 minutes (and by a lot more at this particular race) and put me in the top quarter of the AG (31st) and 187th OA. Congrats to Dan who came in at 4:58 (!!!) and Mike (4:52). I guess not much to be disappointed about but I have mixed feelings about the result. I'm mostly happy with it--my previous PR of 5:08 came in 2005 so I feel like I've shaken off the idea that it was a fluke. My run is my weakest leg and with the time off for the illness and travel, my limited long runs in the past 8 weeks, the ridiculous taper, etc., it's no surprise that I'd run a 1:58 but it's still disappointing. On the plus side, the swim was easy and the bike was very solid. All I need to do at Harvest Moon in September is put out the same splits but have the ability to descend the run and then finish strong. I should be able to ride a little faster on that course if the wind isn't up (though it always is...). So I need to be able to run in the low 1:50's in 5 weeks. Totally do-able. I'll take an easy week this week and then work a run-focus for two weeks and then taper for 2 weeks. Harvest Moon is definitely an "A" race and I'm confident I'll crack 5 hours.
