I don't know why but the Eagle in the Sun triathlon next Sunday has taken up an inordinate amount of my mental focus all year. Maybe its because I laid an egg last year en route to a miserable finish and need to redeem myself. It's a great race with over 450 competitors, flat as a pancake, and well-organized. I personally know a large percentage of the athletes, El Paso being such a small big town. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well in this race and last year was the first year it was held and I cracked. I had only been training about 10 months when I raced it and the swim completely freaked me out. I had only swam (swum?) in a 50 meter pool one time before and didn't cope so well. The swim was simple -8 laps in a 50 meter lane for 400 meters, 8 lanes in the pool so no up and back in the same lane. Like I said, I freaked and about half way down the first lap, I popped up gasping, out of air, and stood up. I recovered okay but still took me 10:52 including the swim to bike transition, which was just awful. By comparison, I just did the same swim at Soccoro in 8:40. The swim threw me off for the rest of the race and I took 39:35, again including transition, to do the 20K bike, and 29:37 for the 5K (no transition excuse this time) for a total time of 1:20:04.
I was an age grouper last year and came in firmly in the middle of the pack. Hanging on my refrigerator for the last couple of months is a piece of paper with those times written out along with the winner's time for the Clydes last year - Mr. Jason McClure in 1:10:56.
This year I fully intend to redeem myself. My training has been really good the last month. In the last 7 days, I've covered 143 miles in about 11 hours of training. I've picked up my swimming volume quite a bit and my runs off the bike have been crisp. My goal will be 8:30 or under for the 400 meters, 35 or under for the 20K, and 23 for the 5K. Put that together with good transitions and I'm shooting for under 1:10, hopefully 1:08.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Southwest Challenge Series
Guys that have been doing triathlons a LOT longer than me came up with an idea to keep track of results for a series of triathlons in the surrounding areas. They dubbed it the southwest challenge series and currently this year, there were approximately 35 races ranging as far north and east as Amarillo and Lubbock and west to places like Roswell, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Farmington. Whoever took up this task of keeping track of the results of all these races and the athletes is to be commended. I can't quite figure it out but I know it's been around quite a while and they do a wonderful job.
And what do they get out of it? Well, that's a head scratcher. As far as I can tell, they get nada from anybody for going to all that troubleand they give out pretty nifty awards to the series winners at the end of the year. Like monogrammed fleece vests - cool, huh? The only thing I've seen similar in concept (at least as far as funding goes) is AA. I've been sober for almost 8 years and went to lots of meetings. I could never figure out how they kept the lights on when nobody pays any dues or membership fees. But they do and it's an incredible program helping to keep people sober for over 70 years. I'm not comparing AA to a tri challenge series in effect on world peace and families, but it is cool how selfless people believe strongly in something and sacrifice to share their love of sport with others. We that follow the Series thank you for sharing with us.
Im in the old big boy division, otherwise known as Masters Clydesdale. I just started tri's last year and didn't race Clydesdale because of ego and because I wasn't sure if I would stay above 200 all year. Well, this year I competed in Clydesdale and have stayed about 203-207 all year. I had pretty much given up on winning my category because John Gardea was a machine and seemingly did every flipping race for the first 6 months! After the Milkman Tri on June 4, he had done 9 races with 5 1sts and 4 2nds. I thought I stood no shot catching him. In the Series, you get 10 points for 1st, 9 for second, etc., etc. By the time we did Ruidoso the following week John had 74 points and I had 55 points Having done 6 races - no shot right?
Well, John did a couple more tri's after Ruidoso but then stopped because he was doing a half Iron in Boulder. He also sustained a knee injury (although he was able to gut out the half Iron with it). I've done 4 more races since then and the point standings now are dead even with 78 point each! We've both got 6 firsts and 2 seconds for our best 8 races. Technically, John has a quarter point lead on me because he's done 11 races and I've done 10 and you get a quarter point for each race past 8.
I've still got the Eagle in the Sun on sept 4, Yucca tri on sept 10, and Elephant Man on sept 25. John will be doing two of those with me and it sounds like an exciting finish in the fat boy division! I'm just glad I'm still in it because John is one heck of a competitor.
And what do they get out of it? Well, that's a head scratcher. As far as I can tell, they get nada from anybody for going to all that trouble
Im in the old big boy division, otherwise known as Masters Clydesdale. I just started tri's last year and didn't race Clydesdale because of ego and because I wasn't sure if I would stay above 200 all year. Well, this year I competed in Clydesdale and have stayed about 203-207 all year. I had pretty much given up on winning my category because John Gardea was a machine and seemingly did every flipping race for the first 6 months! After the Milkman Tri on June 4, he had done 9 races with 5 1sts and 4 2nds. I thought I stood no shot catching him. In the Series, you get 10 points for 1st, 9 for second, etc., etc. By the time we did Ruidoso the following week John had 74 points and I had 55 points Having done 6 races - no shot right?
Well, John did a couple more tri's after Ruidoso but then stopped because he was doing a half Iron in Boulder. He also sustained a knee injury (although he was able to gut out the half Iron with it). I've done 4 more races since then and the point standings now are dead even with 78 point each! We've both got 6 firsts and 2 seconds for our best 8 races. Technically, John has a quarter point lead on me because he's done 11 races and I've done 10 and you get a quarter point for each race past 8.
I've still got the Eagle in the Sun on sept 4, Yucca tri on sept 10, and Elephant Man on sept 25. John will be doing two of those with me and it sounds like an exciting finish in the fat boy division! I'm just glad I'm still in it because John is one heck of a competitor.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Elephant Butte Tri Clinic
My coach set up a triathlon clinic to prepare for the upcoming Elephant Man Triathlon on September 25. She had a good turnout with 8 of us there including Brooks, Art, and Laura. Several newcomers as well which is always good to see. There will be an Olympic (1 mile swim, 26 mile bike, and 10K run) and Half Iron (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run). I've done 10 sprints this year and have the Eagle in the Sun coming up on September 4 and I was honestly thinking about not doing the Elephant Man because the idea of swimming a mile freaks me out a little. I've done 99% of my swimming in a 25 yard pool with workouts going up to 2000 yards. A mile is 1750 yards so I know I can swim the distance but swimming that straight in a lake is a lot different from swimming in a pool 25 yards, pushing off a wall and doing it again, all with the safety that you just can stand up anytime you have a problem. Not so much in a freaking lake.
I went to Gretchen's clinic because I need the open water training and I never miss the chance to participate in a clinic since there are so few in this area. Gretchen put on a great clinic. We swam for about a mile and I surprised myself and swam really well. No problems with my fitness at all. Swimming a straight line? - whole 'nother story. Not good AT all. Gotta work on my sighting because I suck at it. Can't swim a straight line to save my life. Irritatingly, there's no black line on the lake bed, not that you could see it if there was.
The bike route is a 26 mile loop described by Gretchen as gentle rolling hills followed by 2 steep hills and then a long descending ride back. My idea of "gentle rolling" dramatically differs from Gretchen's but they weren't all that bad. Pretty rough roads all the way but no dramatic pot holes that I discovered (although I did discover several dead animals). The two steep hills were as advertised and are rumored to bring bikers to walking the hill with their bikes. It's about 16 miles on the winding roads and "gentle rolling" hills and you end up back at I-25 and then back on a small highway that leads back to Elephant Butte. Screaming fast ride back topped off by a nice scenic view of the lake as you come back. Very, very careful on the way back down to the transition area as it STEEPLY descends into the boat ramp area.
We finished with a brief run to experience the beginning of the run. It's through the sand up some small hills and then one steep little hill til you are at the road that goes over the dam.
After today, I'm definitely doing the Olympic distance! This will be a tough course made even more difficult by the fact that this race doesn't start until 8 a.m. (the real studs doing the 1/2 Iron start at 7). That means if the swim takes me approximately 30 minutes and the ride 1:15-1:30, I won't get to the run until almost 10 a.m. If you read my blog at all, you'll know that me, heat and running don't get along so well. I will do it though.
I cramped up something fierce after I cooled down but one of the guys helped me out with a banana and some CR333. This guy, who I just met today, is named Bates Gaddy and is 30. He decided he wanted to do a triathlon and started training this year and has already done 3 half Irons and just did Vineman Full Iron 2 weeks ago! Freaking crazy! I'm not even thinking half iron til next year and MAYBE a full Iron the year after that. Hats off to Bates.
I went to Gretchen's clinic because I need the open water training and I never miss the chance to participate in a clinic since there are so few in this area. Gretchen put on a great clinic. We swam for about a mile and I surprised myself and swam really well. No problems with my fitness at all. Swimming a straight line? - whole 'nother story. Not good AT all. Gotta work on my sighting because I suck at it. Can't swim a straight line to save my life. Irritatingly, there's no black line on the lake bed, not that you could see it if there was.
The bike route is a 26 mile loop described by Gretchen as gentle rolling hills followed by 2 steep hills and then a long descending ride back. My idea of "gentle rolling" dramatically differs from Gretchen's but they weren't all that bad. Pretty rough roads all the way but no dramatic pot holes that I discovered (although I did discover several dead animals). The two steep hills were as advertised and are rumored to bring bikers to walking the hill with their bikes. It's about 16 miles on the winding roads and "gentle rolling" hills and you end up back at I-25 and then back on a small highway that leads back to Elephant Butte. Screaming fast ride back topped off by a nice scenic view of the lake as you come back. Very, very careful on the way back down to the transition area as it STEEPLY descends into the boat ramp area.
We finished with a brief run to experience the beginning of the run. It's through the sand up some small hills and then one steep little hill til you are at the road that goes over the dam.
After today, I'm definitely doing the Olympic distance! This will be a tough course made even more difficult by the fact that this race doesn't start until 8 a.m. (the real studs doing the 1/2 Iron start at 7). That means if the swim takes me approximately 30 minutes and the ride 1:15-1:30, I won't get to the run until almost 10 a.m. If you read my blog at all, you'll know that me, heat and running don't get along so well. I will do it though.
I cramped up something fierce after I cooled down but one of the guys helped me out with a banana and some CR333. This guy, who I just met today, is named Bates Gaddy and is 30. He decided he wanted to do a triathlon and started training this year and has already done 3 half Irons and just did Vineman Full Iron 2 weeks ago! Freaking crazy! I'm not even thinking half iron til next year and MAYBE a full Iron the year after that. Hats off to Bates.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Odessa Tumbleweed Triathlon
Day 2 in the Midland/Odessa triathlon saga. First to transition area again. Getting to be a bad habit. This triathlon was held on the UT Permian Basin campus. Was setting up my bike when Bobby and Brooks showed up and sat up right next to me. Great guys and Bobby is a consummate professional who stirs my feelings of inadequacy as I watch him "warm up" at a pace I can only dream of. Brooks is always a very positive influence and all around great guy who is humbly lightning fast.
I was surprised to find that I wasn't that sore despite having done the tri the day before in the heat in Midland. My back was spasming a little in the morning so was a little concerned about that. Warmed up a with a little jog and back spasms went away. Swim start was a cluster mess but there was only 70 or so athletes in a 50 meter pool so it all worked out. Felt better on the swim today and came in for the 400 meters in 8:52. Went out on the bike and felt good there. Was looking for Jason McClure who had beat me by 2 1/2 minutes the day before. Somehow he must've started the swim behind me because I didn't see him until I made the turn on the bike and he was trailing me by 1/4-1/2 mile. Started cranking as if John Gardea was chasing me. Finished the 20K in 36:21 for a 21.2 mph average (yeah boy!) and hit the ground running.
5K is a flat out and back. Felt much better on the run than yesterday because it wasn't a million degrees and had mile splits of 8:30, 8:38 and 8:02. Saw Jason just after turnaround point again on run but had no idea how much after me he had started his swim. He told me I was looking good on the run which just goes to show what a class act he is and triathletes in general. I finished the run and then started my watch again to see how far he was behind me. I finished in 1:13:37 and Jason in 1:16:34, so 1st place in Clydesdale!
All in all, very well run triathlon other than the sloppy swim start. Bobby had a little bit of misfortune in that there were some speed bumps as you exited the campus. Bobby was looking down at his computer and didn't see the speed bump and had a minor wreck. He was still fast enough even with a wreck to come in 2nd overall in 57:16, only :37 seconds from winning. Some kind of stud.
My man Brooks was 9th overall in 1:05:09 and came in 2nd in his age group. Ashley Petry and her dad Darrel Petry were also there and did awesome.
Bob Carlson said I probably owed by 4 minute improvement in one day in my 5K time to something called race effect. I don't know what it was but I like it!
I was surprised to find that I wasn't that sore despite having done the tri the day before in the heat in Midland. My back was spasming a little in the morning so was a little concerned about that. Warmed up a with a little jog and back spasms went away. Swim start was a cluster mess but there was only 70 or so athletes in a 50 meter pool so it all worked out. Felt better on the swim today and came in for the 400 meters in 8:52. Went out on the bike and felt good there. Was looking for Jason McClure who had beat me by 2 1/2 minutes the day before. Somehow he must've started the swim behind me because I didn't see him until I made the turn on the bike and he was trailing me by 1/4-1/2 mile. Started cranking as if John Gardea was chasing me. Finished the 20K in 36:21 for a 21.2 mph average (yeah boy!) and hit the ground running.
5K is a flat out and back. Felt much better on the run than yesterday because it wasn't a million degrees and had mile splits of 8:30, 8:38 and 8:02. Saw Jason just after turnaround point again on run but had no idea how much after me he had started his swim. He told me I was looking good on the run which just goes to show what a class act he is and triathletes in general. I finished the run and then started my watch again to see how far he was behind me. I finished in 1:13:37 and Jason in 1:16:34, so 1st place in Clydesdale!
All in all, very well run triathlon other than the sloppy swim start. Bobby had a little bit of misfortune in that there were some speed bumps as you exited the campus. Bobby was looking down at his computer and didn't see the speed bump and had a minor wreck. He was still fast enough even with a wreck to come in 2nd overall in 57:16, only :37 seconds from winning. Some kind of stud.
My man Brooks was 9th overall in 1:05:09 and came in 2nd in his age group. Ashley Petry and her dad Darrel Petry were also there and did awesome.
Bob Carlson said I probably owed by 4 minute improvement in one day in my 5K time to something called race effect. I don't know what it was but I like it!
Midland/Odessa Weekend of Triathlons
Signed up for the Midland Tall City Triathlon on Saturday July 29 and Odessa Tumbleweed Triathlon on July 30. Midland was 500 yard swim, 20K bike, and 5K run - Odessa the same except 400 meter swim. Both races were put on by the respective YMCAs in each city and I give them credit for putting them on BUT neither were exactly setting the world on fire with organizational skills although Odessa was run better IMHO. Stayed in Midland for both and since Nora didn't go with me, I was equally looking forward to the races and reading Jim Butcher's new volume in the Dresden files "Ghost Story" in my down time between races. If you haven't read any of these books, I highly recommend. They're not geeky sci fi treatises but wry entertaining wizardy geeky sci fi. Back to the races.
First one to transition at Midland which was in a alley next to the "COM." I had no idea what the "COM" was but every time I asked somebody in Midland, where's the race or where's the transition area, the inevitable response was, oh, you know, at the "COM." This even though I prefaced my question every time with "I'm from El Paso, where's the race and, no, I don't know where the 'COM' is." Anyway I found the COM and got set up by 6 for a 7 race start and then found out the seeded swim start was done by race numbers and I was close to last. I didn't swim until 8 freaking 45 which meant I didn't get to my run til approximately 9:33. The run was around a park for 3 laps with zero shade and flat out died on the run. Rocked the bike. 500 yard swim was 10:29, 20K bike 37:04 (21 mph), and 5K was a miserable 30:20. Well-attended race with over 170 racers and great volunteers to assist.
I'm basing all this on my watch because I still can't find the results posted anywhere online. I got 2nd in Clydesdale to Jason McClure who beat me by 3 minutes. Drove the 15 minutes over to Odessa to pick up my race packet. The race director there was pulling his hair out because the online registrations didn't go through right. Back to hotel to put my legs and dive into Ghost Story.
First one to transition at Midland which was in a alley next to the "COM." I had no idea what the "COM" was but every time I asked somebody in Midland, where's the race or where's the transition area, the inevitable response was, oh, you know, at the "COM." This even though I prefaced my question every time with "I'm from El Paso, where's the race and, no, I don't know where the 'COM' is." Anyway I found the COM and got set up by 6 for a 7 race start and then found out the seeded swim start was done by race numbers and I was close to last. I didn't swim until 8 freaking 45 which meant I didn't get to my run til approximately 9:33. The run was around a park for 3 laps with zero shade and flat out died on the run. Rocked the bike. 500 yard swim was 10:29, 20K bike 37:04 (21 mph), and 5K was a miserable 30:20. Well-attended race with over 170 racers and great volunteers to assist.
I'm basing all this on my watch because I still can't find the results posted anywhere online. I got 2nd in Clydesdale to Jason McClure who beat me by 3 minutes. Drove the 15 minutes over to Odessa to pick up my race packet. The race director there was pulling his hair out because the online registrations didn't go through right. Back to hotel to put my legs and dive into Ghost Story.
Socorro Chile Harvest Tri
A road weary race report. I've done 3 triathlons in 7 days traveling to Midland, then Odessa, back to El Paso and then back out to Socorro, New Mexico (not counting a 4 hour drive to Sierra Vista, Arizona for a deposition and return trip same day). I'm starting with the latest triathlon first as far as race-reporting goes as its the freshest in my mind. The race in Socorro had approximately 300 people signed up but according to the final results 254 finished. Still a large field compared to most tri's.
I've driven through Socorro many, many times on I-25 on the way to/from Albuquerque and the only thing I knew about the town was fast food and convenience stores. This race wasn't on my "to do" list for that very reason. I was wrong. The further you get into Socorro nearer the mountain and the New Mexico Institute of Technology campus, the prettier it gets. Nora, Cannon, Sarah and I got in on Friday afternoon for the youth triathlon on Friday night on the NMIT campus.
If you've got kids, this youth tri was one of the best run I've ever seen. They had actual chip timing, body marking, transition areas set up professionally, a swim start - basically everything that made my little 8 year old triathlete feel like the real deal. Trying to run a youth triathlon is like trying to herd ritalin-dosed cats and these people pulled it off in spades. I think my little man is hooked and he came in 2nd in his age group!
Back to the Holiday Inn Express which was only half-mile from the transition area for my triathlon. Dinner with the family at Socorro Springs Restaurant. Very nice place to eat in what is a fast food town. Again, color me surprised ( can you say small town prejudgment anybody?). We had a double bed room and believe it or not I slept better that night than I had before any of my previous races even though Nora and I are used to a Cali King bed and two less kids in the room when we go to sleep.
Up early and Holiday Inn Express was kind enough to open the breakfast area to conform to ungodly triathlete hours. Rode my bike with my backpack the whole half mile to transition area and set up. Again, the sponsors/organizers of this triathlon know their stuff. Everything went off swimmingly, pun intended. I would invite the organizers of the Midland and Odessa Triathlons to observe how a triathlon should be run.
400 meter swim start started exactly at 7 with last swimmer #254 in water by 7:53. Awesome job especially compared to Midland which had 100 less racers and I didn't get in the water til 8:45 (grumble, grumble). The transition area was set up a little weird because you exited the bike and run from the same end. Usually you exit the bike on one end of transition and come back in the same end. The way this was set up, nobody got an advantage wherever their bike was racked because one way or another, you were going to have a long run with your bike.
I felt excellent on the swim. I've been working hard with Gretchen and Bob Carlson on my swimming and although I'm still slow by the fast guy standards, I've noticed I'm not pausing and catching my breath or using little tricks like, "oh no, my goggles are leaking, I'd better stop on the wall here and adjust for a second or 10." Feel much more stamina, just gotta start getting some speed. 400 meter clock time was 8:43 and off to bike.
Bike was up long gradual hill with several turns through the scenic NMIT campus and golf course. Anybody that reads this blog knows that turns and I don't exactly get along (I have the scars to prove it wrecking in 3 different races this year alone with various level of mayhem ensuing). I took the turns easy and saw my main competition in the fat boy division Jason McClure at various intervals. He was flying! Jason beat me in Midland by 2 1/2 minutes and I beat him by 3:00 in Odessa so this was our rubber match. I feel honored just typing that because I didn't think once I saw that Jason was riding Clydesdale again I had any shot of beating him. Finished the bike in 37 and some change with 20.3 mph average which is good for me with hills and as many turns as there were. Quick transition and into the 5K.
Day started out overcast and it was still coolish on the run so I felt good. Actually felt better on the run than I've felt in a long time. Wanted to run first mile in under 8 and did that (7:57), picked up the pace on the 2nd mile to 7:52 and really let it go in last mile for 7:28 and kept the hammer down for last bit. Nora said I looked like an actual runner as I came to the finish line! I knew I had to bust it on the run because Jason is a beast on the bike and faster than me on the swim so I figured I needed to put pretty serious time in on him on the run. For reference, my 5K time in Midland was 30:20 and in Odessa 26:01 - and in Socorro? - a blistering 24 flat, for an overall time of 1:13. My time in Odessa was 1:13:37 on a flat course and Jason was 1:16:34 so I figured I had him beat. Wrong! He didn't play fair and busted ass on the run to a 27 minute 5K and really kicked my butt on the bike by averaging 22.5 mph with hills to a 1:11 finish. So second in Clydesdale to me and kudos to Jason for winning the rubber match.
On a final note, we got to stop at Owl Bar and Cafe in San Antonio, NM for green chile cheeseburgers for everybody except Nora (doesn't eat red meat). If you've never been, I can highly recommend it, the Holiday Inn Express, Socorro Springs Restaurant, and all events for the Socorro Chile Harvest Tri.
I've driven through Socorro many, many times on I-25 on the way to/from Albuquerque and the only thing I knew about the town was fast food and convenience stores. This race wasn't on my "to do" list for that very reason. I was wrong. The further you get into Socorro nearer the mountain and the New Mexico Institute of Technology campus, the prettier it gets. Nora, Cannon, Sarah and I got in on Friday afternoon for the youth triathlon on Friday night on the NMIT campus.
If you've got kids, this youth tri was one of the best run I've ever seen. They had actual chip timing, body marking, transition areas set up professionally, a swim start - basically everything that made my little 8 year old triathlete feel like the real deal. Trying to run a youth triathlon is like trying to herd ritalin-dosed cats and these people pulled it off in spades. I think my little man is hooked and he came in 2nd in his age group!
Back to the Holiday Inn Express which was only half-mile from the transition area for my triathlon. Dinner with the family at Socorro Springs Restaurant. Very nice place to eat in what is a fast food town. Again, color me surprised ( can you say small town prejudgment anybody?). We had a double bed room and believe it or not I slept better that night than I had before any of my previous races even though Nora and I are used to a Cali King bed and two less kids in the room when we go to sleep.
Up early and Holiday Inn Express was kind enough to open the breakfast area to conform to ungodly triathlete hours. Rode my bike with my backpack the whole half mile to transition area and set up. Again, the sponsors/organizers of this triathlon know their stuff. Everything went off swimmingly, pun intended. I would invite the organizers of the Midland and Odessa Triathlons to observe how a triathlon should be run.
400 meter swim start started exactly at 7 with last swimmer #254 in water by 7:53. Awesome job especially compared to Midland which had 100 less racers and I didn't get in the water til 8:45 (grumble, grumble). The transition area was set up a little weird because you exited the bike and run from the same end. Usually you exit the bike on one end of transition and come back in the same end. The way this was set up, nobody got an advantage wherever their bike was racked because one way or another, you were going to have a long run with your bike.
I felt excellent on the swim. I've been working hard with Gretchen and Bob Carlson on my swimming and although I'm still slow by the fast guy standards, I've noticed I'm not pausing and catching my breath or using little tricks like, "oh no, my goggles are leaking, I'd better stop on the wall here and adjust for a second or 10." Feel much more stamina, just gotta start getting some speed. 400 meter clock time was 8:43 and off to bike.
Bike was up long gradual hill with several turns through the scenic NMIT campus and golf course. Anybody that reads this blog knows that turns and I don't exactly get along (I have the scars to prove it wrecking in 3 different races this year alone with various level of mayhem ensuing). I took the turns easy and saw my main competition in the fat boy division Jason McClure at various intervals. He was flying! Jason beat me in Midland by 2 1/2 minutes and I beat him by 3:00 in Odessa so this was our rubber match. I feel honored just typing that because I didn't think once I saw that Jason was riding Clydesdale again I had any shot of beating him. Finished the bike in 37 and some change with 20.3 mph average which is good for me with hills and as many turns as there were. Quick transition and into the 5K.
Day started out overcast and it was still coolish on the run so I felt good. Actually felt better on the run than I've felt in a long time. Wanted to run first mile in under 8 and did that (7:57), picked up the pace on the 2nd mile to 7:52 and really let it go in last mile for 7:28 and kept the hammer down for last bit. Nora said I looked like an actual runner as I came to the finish line! I knew I had to bust it on the run because Jason is a beast on the bike and faster than me on the swim so I figured I needed to put pretty serious time in on him on the run. For reference, my 5K time in Midland was 30:20 and in Odessa 26:01 - and in Socorro? - a blistering 24 flat, for an overall time of 1:13. My time in Odessa was 1:13:37 on a flat course and Jason was 1:16:34 so I figured I had him beat. Wrong! He didn't play fair and busted ass on the run to a 27 minute 5K and really kicked my butt on the bike by averaging 22.5 mph with hills to a 1:11 finish. So second in Clydesdale to me and kudos to Jason for winning the rubber match.
On a final note, we got to stop at Owl Bar and Cafe in San Antonio, NM for green chile cheeseburgers for everybody except Nora (doesn't eat red meat). If you've never been, I can highly recommend it, the Holiday Inn Express, Socorro Springs Restaurant, and all events for the Socorro Chile Harvest Tri.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)