This event was supposed to happen back in 2020 however Covid-19 happened. Then again we were set to go and weeks prior to the event, canceled again. Then in 2022 FINALLY we race! The race format is Super sprint Friday, Sprint Sat., Sprint Sat afternoon and an Olympic Sunday.
I arrived at Salt Fork State Park and it was raining, it was about 230 PM and our first of 4 triathlons of the weekend is to start at 5:30 PM. I got checked in for the race weekend and at the lodge for my room. At this point the rain stopped and the sun came out. I unloaded my car, got changed and headed to race start.
Got down to the race start and set up my transition, looked around for anyone I may know and thats when fellow teammate Matt Sommer found me. Was fantastic to chat with him in person after all of these years. We lined up for our swim, which started 2 people side by side jumping in. Water temp was 65 degrees. I jumped in and it was cold but not bad. I finished the swim fairly quickly, at least for me. I had a great transition to the bike and the bike was basically up hill to turn around then turn and fly back down the hill. I had a good transition to the run and ran my heart out. I took 3rd in my age group. That was basically it for race 1.
The next morning I got up early and rolled out, got ready for race 2. I got to transition by 630 am to claim my spot. The swim started the same way, 2 by 2. This swim was not as smooth, felt off. but had a decent transition and then hit the bike. I had an amazing bike, felt high energy and legs felt amazing. Transition to run went fast and off I went. The run was up hill for the first mile or so. I actually felt very strong and had a fantastic run. I finished feeling really good and 3rd in my AG again.
After some Recoveright, tissue rejuvenator and a meal I rested with legs stuck in my Air Relax recovery system. Race 3 and 2nd for the day starts at 3 PM. this is the exact same course as the morning except the ride was 1st then swim and run. The ride started in time trial fashion 2 by 2. To my surprise the bike was almost exactly the same speed as the 1st 2 races The transition was not so good, trying to put a wet suit on after sweating all over from the bike ride in near 90 degree temps. The swim was a bit different this time as they didnt wait for 2 by 2, as you did transition you just jumped in. My swim was just a bit slower but did have a nice transition to the run and ran within 1 second per mile of the morning race. And guess what.... I took 3rd in my age group again. However 1st and 2nd had mixed it up a bit, the guy who won the 1st 2 races came in 2nd and the 2nd place guy won. myself and 4th stayed the same.
After I got results I went back to my room and again drank Recoverite, Tissue Rejuvenator and got a shower. After dinner I did some stretching and used my Air Relax recovery system. I went to bed early as the 4th and final race was first thing in the morning. As I tried to sleep I heard the wind pick up and it was raining. When I woke at 4:30 AM it was pouring with thunder and lightning, by 5 everything calmed down though. at 530 I got on my way to get a transition spot for the last time for the weekend.
This was the long event of the weekend, legs were definitely were getting tired, really my entire body and mind were just plain tired. however as we got closer to the start I felt better, more so adrenaline I would guess. The swim was once again a 2 by 2 start. I was comfortable the entire swim leg, looking back I likely went too easy. Transition to bike was good, the start of bike was the same for all 4 races. The bike course was 28 miles but also had about 2600 feet of climbing. With legs burnt out already I knew I had to manage it well. I did have a decent ride and passed a lot of folks even though I was a full MPH slower on the bike than the previous 3 races.
Transition to run was perfect and I felt surprisingly great on the run. The climbs didnt seem like a big deal at all and I caught and passed a lot of people. Most of the last 2 miles was all down hill, many were walking due to blown up legs but I was moving very well. I crossed the final finish line for the weekend feeling great. For race 4 though I finished........ 3rd in my AG. So for the weekend I took 3rd in the 45-49 AG. Something I found amazing was that in the 4th and longest race, my run was 9th fastest of the day!
All and all a fun challenging weekend.
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