Buffalo Springs 70.3

Crashed into a cactus and still managed to place 7th in the heat of TX, not too bad of a race.  I had two races planned this last weekend one in Provo Utah and one in Lubbock Texas, since the Provo Utah race was canceled I was headed to the great state of Texas for the second time this year to race a 70.3.  Buffalo Springs 1/2 Ironman is known for its tough conditions and long 22 year history, even with 112 degree temperatures in the forecast it brought many to this small town in the north west desert of Texas.  Again my sister and I made the drive to this race from Boulder, but this time we got to take the team Timex brand new Ford Edge.  It was a very nice ride except for the poo smell through TX and NM, because we of course had to ride with the windows down to heat acclimatize.  The way back would be all cool AC.  We made it to Lubbock early on Saturday, got a ride in and swim in the lake, packet pickup, and dinner with friends all before 7PM.  Everything went well, and we were set to be there a little early in the morning as to make sure we were not rushed like Kansas.
Buffalo Springs is a very pretty lake in a small canyon in the middle of the desert, it is spring fed so nice and cool even with the blast furnace air temperatures.

Again this race we knew a lot of folks racing wich is always nice, plus there are Kona slots at this race so many fast amateurs.  I got everything set in transition and had plenty of time to learn the transition very well before the race.  I got in a little warm up and was ready to start.  The pro mens field was not huge here maybe 20 or so.

The beach start went well and we were off in the water, I soon found myself in front right behind a few decent swimmers.  I decided for this race I was going to swim behind someone and not in the lead, so that is exactly what I did the entire swim, I felt very good exiting the water and not too tired.  But I think we swam a little slower that I would have liked in hindsight.  Either way I was out of the water with the same time as the guy I swam with.  I had a great T1 and was in the lead of the whole race within 200 meters of starting the bike.

I lead the bike until only mile 8 or 9, I was keeping to my plan of taking the first few hills and 10 miles of so at a decent wattage and not blowing it in the beginning of the race.  After only a few more passes through the 1/2 way point I was in about 4th place and felt good holding about 300 watts.  I was trying to get in all my nutrition as well as my coach Eric Kenney and I have been have been discussing along with salt and lots of water due to the heat of this race.  I soon realized why this bike course was tough it was the wind not the heat on the bike.  The desert plains here whipped up a great wind to deal with throughout the bike course.  I did get water at each aid station on my head body and some to drink as well to help deal with the heat.  The highlight of my bike was at about 1:32 minutes into the bike when I had a crash into a cactus going down a hill.  It sounds bad but really it was a little humorous more than anything and I only lost maybe 45 seconds.  I had one hand on the bars trying to decent and eat a little at the same time, realized I was going way too fast to make a large right hand turn at the bottom I had to go off the road rather than crash on the road.  I went through the side road gravel, down into a small ditch over the handle bars and landed on some cactus looking thing, I was fortunate though as it did not have needles sticking out all over it.  Quickly I got out of the ditch dragging my bike up with me.  Pedaled my chain back on and by this time the guy that was behind me was right there ask what the hell I was doing, we both had a laugh and uninjured I re-passed him and continued on the bike.  The next aid station I had to wash off all the dust that had stuck to the right side of my body from the crash.  Most of the rest of the bike was uneventful, though my watts dropped off a little towards the end.  I managed to get almost 900 calories in though, PB and jelly sandwich, fig newtons, salt, and lots of water on the bike so I was set for a good run.  But the heat of Texas had other ideas for everyone that day.

I choose to wear a hat and sunglasses on the run for the first time, which I think will become the norm for me now as I feel it helped a little to keep me cool.  The beginning of the run was shaded, but once out of the park it was hilly and right in the desert sun against the wind.  I tried to take it easy in the first 3-5 miles since it was so hot out, there were a few folks I knew cheering for me on the run which is always nice.  Dave Scott told me to keep it steady which is exactly what I was trying to do.  The worst part was heading to the turnaround against the wind I felt like I was slowing with every step and guys gaining on me from behind.  Once I hit the turn around I was much better, with the wind at my back and the roaming aid station handing cold water and I was good for now.  A little ice in the hat did not last long but offered a little reprieve.  Towards the end of the run down and up a few more hills and I was within the last few miles, it was pretty painful with the heat, but managed to push though it and finish strong in 7th place.  I was happy with this race for sure.

There were many folks from the Erin Baker's team and the Timex Team at this race all finished great, many winning Kona slots as well, including Christine, congratulations to all of them!  Now it was time for Texas Bar-B-Q and some ice cream.

Swim - 24:05
T1 - 1:15
Bike - 2:18:54
T2 - 0:49
Run - 1:29:59
Total - 4:14:55

Kansas 70.3

Headed to Lawrence Kansas for the third time in the race's 4 years was yet again a great experience, this was my the first time racing pro here.  My sister Christine and I decided to make the drive from Boulder to Kansas Friday night and Saturday morning and make a camping trip out of the race yet again.  The weather was on most folks minds all weekend as the forecast was not for the heat, but rather 80% chance of thunderstorms Sunday.  The family choose not to come to this race due to the weather forecast, but in hindsight it would of been a good one to attend maybe next year.
Kansas 70.3 is a great race to camp at simply because you can roll out of the tent right before the race start and not deal with traffic.  Also the run course goes directly through the campground, so no need to leave the site to watch the race unfold.  We had a good group from Boulder, Chicago, and Madison meeting halfway in between for this race and all camping together, so it was bound to be an eventful weekend.  Most staying until Monday as well so we could have a nice Bar-B-Q and a few beers after the race.
Race morning was rushed as always with everyone getting prepared, I think I took my time a little too much, because by the time I found myself walking out of T2 it was only 1/2 hr to my race start and I had to walk all the way to T1, prepare and get to the start line.  I was rushed and just barely made it to the start line zipped up my wetsuit and we were ushered into the water.  There was a decent sized male pro field for this race with a few big names so it was going to be a fast race.  The gun went off and there was the typical jockeying for position and violence of the start.  I found myself right on the feet of a decently fast swimmer and stayed there for the first 1/3 of the swim, he slowed and I passed.  But someone was touching my toes the whole time, Paul Matthews I believe.  As we rounded the first turn buoy and headed into the wind and waves I thought I was going to loose a few of them, but this is where I do not think you want to be leading.  I lead anyway though the finish and chop of the swim coming out of the water first, with a few more of the men not very far behind. 

So the swim went well, but coming into T1 was where the fun started....I was out of the water 1st but out of T1 like 8th, not good.  I can chalk up a list of excuses but the bottom line is allow yourself more time before the race to become familiar with transition so you know it when you are tired.  I was rushed in the morning and it cost me almost 40 sec in transition. 
Once on the bike I had a plan though provided by my coach Eric Kenney, I was to ride the first 10 miles which went up a few hills very nice and steady, building up to my prescribed wattage then holding that throughout the bike.  The key for me was not to kill it up each hill as I usually do, this in the long run is wasted energy.  So I think I nailed this plan to a T at Kansas, because once off the bike I felt great and ready to run, thanks Eric.
My run started off great, but I felt a little off towards the end of the run, kind of a slow bonk from not eating enough calories on the bike.  All I had was two gels, two fig newtons, and Nuun in my water.  I will have to dial that in a little better for the next race.  So the last few miles of the run hurt pretty good, but I pushed through it and managed to finish in 14th place overall.  Out of the prize money, but still a decent result for not feeling it on the run.

 

Another great race at Kansas, the rain stayed away the entire time and the weather was reasonably cool, for Kansas anyway.  The others that stayed with us had great races too Jackie Arendt taking 5th for the womens pro field, Owen Hammond 6th in his age group, and Christine taking home the win for her age group as well.  It was a nice to know so many top athletes in the race and felt like around each bend there was someone I knew to give a wave or good job too.

Swim - 00:24:36
T1 - 1:25
Bike - 02:19:38
T2 - 0:39
Run - 01:22:51
Total - 04:09:09

Bolder Boulder

The largest 10k in the world?  That is what I signed up for and had been anticipating since I recently moved to the Boulder area last October, it did not disappoint.  With a pro field consisting of Ryan Hall among others, I toed the start line last Memorial Day with 55,000 other runners.  My family was there to watch the start and finish, next year I think we will both run it.

I started in first wave under overcast skies with my sister Christine and teammate Brendon.  The gun went off and the mass sprint started led by who else by Jesus and the Devil.

 Followed closely by Brendon and my self.

The race is really a must do race in the Boulder area, there were bands more than every mile with full stages, slip and slides, beer stops, belly dancers, and various other sights throughout the race.  My coach Eric Kenney had a few tough workouts prior to this race including a 4.5 hr ride Sat., but I still felt decent.  Brendon and I ran most of the race together, I only lost him at an aid station where he stopped and I did not, though he kept 50 yards behind me the rest of the run.  I passed Jesus at mile 3 or so, but did not have any remorse.
The course finishes with a 2/3 lap around CU stadium, filled later on in the day but sort of empty upon our arrival.

We stuck around for a little while after the race but it was a bit chilly and rainy so we decided to leave before the pros finished in the early afternoon.

The whole crew after the race....including my girls.

overall place:
    187
division:
    M32
division place:
    7 out of 501
gender place:
    178 out of 22356

mile 1: 05:42.11
mile 2: 06:02.56
mile 3: 06:20.40
mile 4: 06:10.54
mile 5: 05:57.00
mile 6: 06:08.38
net time: 37:33.93
pace: 06:02 (based on net time)