I had to work a 15 hour shift the day before the race and when I woke up Saturday morning I really didnt feel like racing. I considered not going but decided with the lack of racing in 2020 I better go and make the best of it. I got to the race early figuring that a lot of people would show and wanted a decent parking spot and a good place to set up in transition.
While in the transition setting up I did see a few people I knew and engaged in some small talk but I still did not feel like doing a triathlon. About 20 minutes before the race start I put my wet suit on and jumped into the lake to warm up. I swam about 200 yards and I started to feel good.
We were called to the shore for a quick race meeting to talk about rules and the course. After that we were counted into the water and before long the count down began and then we were off. The swim was about 1600 yards and an out and back. I did get a foot or elbow in the face but the start was not too bad. I stayed with a large pack for a while but it did think out after a few hundred yards. I got into a grove and just kept moving my arms. The swim is by far my worst event so I just try to make the best of it. Some place before the the turn around I noticed that i was pretty much swimming alone and figured I was just way in the back.
One the way back to the shore I was passed by one person so I figured I was certainly last now. However when I got out of the water I looked back and I had seen a bunch of white swim caps, which gave me hope that i had a decent swim. I moved through the transition and got to my bike. After pulling off the wet suit and got my cycling gear on I focused on the tough course I was about to take on. Out of the transition we hit a slight up hill which leads to a right turn and a massive climb. Some folks were in the wrong gear and ended up walking their bikes up the first part of the hill (the steepest hill on the course). I did pass a few people right there. The course was 2 loops of a 11.5 mile hilly course.
The first 5 miles are the worst but I was ready for the course and was able to pick a few more people before the course flattens out a bit. with about 2 miles to go on loop 1 I was trying to ride down a group of about 4 bike. I was pounding the peddles and finally in front of the transition area I did pass one of them and then passed a 2nd one on the large hill I wrote about above. It took me about another 6 miles to ride down the other 2. I had a great T2 got out on the run and did not feel fast at all.
I was able to to run down a few folks over the first miles of the 10k. When I got to the 2ish mile mark a few of the leaders were already racing back to finish. I got to the turn around and a volunteer told me I was 17th. I could see a few people and made it my mission to run them down. Over the course of 2 miles I was able to run 3 down. The last mile was tough, but got it done. When I asked my time I was told 2:37:57 and 14th place. This time was almost 14 minutes faster than last year, which I was very happy with however I came in 3rd in my age group which I had won last year. It blew my mind that I was so much faster and 14th but 3rd in my age group.All and all I was happy with my time and the huge improvement. Hammer Nutrition really helped keep me fueled and hydrated. I have become a huge fan of the Hammer Liquid Endurance for the heat.
Fuel:
-1 Hammer Protein Bar pre race
-1 Hammer gel pre-race, one on the bike
-Hammer Sustained Energy and water in water bottles
-Hammer Race Day Boost and Hammer Liquid Endurance (pre load leading up to race)
-Anti-Fatique Caps and Endurance Ammo's pre race
-Hammer Recoverite after the race
Gear:
-Suunto 9 watch
-Ventum Z tri bike
-Hammer tri kit
-Garneau tri bike shoes
-Hoka OneOne Claytons
-S-Works helmet
-Tifosi glasses
-Stages Dash M50 bike computer
-Blue Seventy wet suit
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