The start of 2013 race season happened a bit earlier than usual this year, kicking off at the Leadman 125 race in Tempe, AZ. I usually don't race this early in the year, let alone this long (typically open season in May with an Olympic). The Leadman race seemed like a fun event considering the unique distance (1.5 mile swim vs 1.2, 68 mile bike vs 56 and just over 8 mile trail run vs 13.1), in nice weather and a great excuse to get out and see my pops!
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The quick summary is it was a solid early season B type race. I swam well, biked conservatively having only 3 rides over 4 hours coming into the race and then ran sort of okay, but not really. The rocky trails that wound up and down through Papago park were a bit of a surprise and I certainly wasn't wearing the right kind of shoes for the type of running required. Placed 2nd in AG after removing pro/overall field results and something like top 15 overall, again after removing the pro field (the results detailed were a bit confusing and still not entirely sure of overall placement). Some highlights as follows:
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1. Finally feel like I nailed my day before and race day nutrition. Which is great news considering it was the first race of the year. Its not necessarily that things weren't working prior but feel I've netted out on what seems ideal. In conjunction, my body almost seems to know a race is approaching and starts, uh, clearing things out the day prior. Which is always appreciated on race morning when port o potty's can be hard to come by.
2. Speaking of race morning, it was largely a non event. Though, its not race day for me unless I forget something or slightly mess something up. On this morning upon setting up transition I discovered, much to my dismay, that my Garmin was dead. I distinctly remember charging it prior to leaving for my trip so have to assume someone snuck into my dads condo and turned it on to sabotage my run. That said, I doubt it affected it too much.
3. My swim fitness seems better than its ever been. I swam pretty comfortably and got out of the water feeling fresh because of this and my super fast Xterra Vendetta wetsuit. But not completely without issue. After swimming 1.5 miles, you're most always a little discombobulated exiting the water and getting vertical again. It was a deep water, mass start - meaning we walked down some steps lowered over the edge of Tempe town lake (or inner city cess pool) and treaded water until the gun went off. You had to exit using those same stairs though they barely reached the waters edge. I swam up to the stairs and was immediately yanked out of the water by two volunteers before I even realized what was going on. As such, my left shin slammed into the metal steps leaving a nice gash. Though I didn't realize until my wetsuit and I ended our wrestling match and I was headed out onto the bike. (My wetsuit is like 10-0 against me in T1. Got to figure that out. Cut the legs shorter or something.)
4. Knowing my over two hour bike fitness isn't quite where its typically at this time of year and the ride being 12 miles longer than a standard 70.3, I rode conservatively. (But thats by design as I've been working on lifting the left side of my power curve and haven't had much long intense efforts. Thats all about to change. Yay! Or yay if 4-6 hour rides sound like a splendid time.) I tried to ignore those additional 12 miles and ride at my late season 70.3 power but surrendered that idea as being naive...and stupid. The ride was largely a non event though quite boring and congested considering it was a four loop urban course with lots of turns and a sprint and Olympic distance race going on at the same time. Not ideal but the organizers did a solid job with what was provided. OH! Annnd, I nailed my first attempt at a flying dismount which basically means I'm pro. Just need to work on flying mounts.
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5. The run. One thing I always intend to do is recon courses. But relaxing the days prior always takes precedence - for better or worse. I really could have benefitted from just a weeee bit of recon. I raced IM AZ about 18 months ago and wrongfully assumed this course would be at least sort of similar since it shared the same transition area, swim and some of the bike. It was about as similar as Brad Pitt and I's flowing locks of hair. Started flat and paved, then moved to rocky, winding, dirt trails that went up and down, flattened out for a bit, then more up and down trails, then flat. To someone who runs in NYC it felt like I was nearly rock climbing at times. And although I couldn't find a rhythm and tweaked my ankle twice because I was wearing the worst possible shoe for this type of terrain (lunaracers), it was sort of fun.
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6. Sunscreen is smart. Thankfully I remembered this and applied liberally before donning my wetsuit. BUT, I was wearing a super slick two piece Kiwami kit which means when im on the bike, my lower back becomes exposed as my jersey rides up my back. So, I've got a gnarly burn/tan line across the bottom of my back above my short line that extends an inch or two up my back.
A solid day. Not overjoyed with my effort nor deeply disappointed. About what I expected and took away some valuable learnings. Like, run faster regardless of terrain.
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"The Pops" and I
The quick summary is it was a solid early season B type race. I swam well, biked conservatively having only 3 rides over 4 hours coming into the race and then ran sort of okay, but not really. The rocky trails that wound up and down through Papago park were a bit of a surprise and I certainly wasn't wearing the right kind of shoes for the type of running required. Placed 2nd in AG after removing pro/overall field results and something like top 15 overall, again after removing the pro field (the results detailed were a bit confusing and still not entirely sure of overall placement). Some highlights as follows:
But first, a picture of the lady...Okay, moving on.
1. Finally feel like I nailed my day before and race day nutrition. Which is great news considering it was the first race of the year. Its not necessarily that things weren't working prior but feel I've netted out on what seems ideal. In conjunction, my body almost seems to know a race is approaching and starts, uh, clearing things out the day prior. Which is always appreciated on race morning when port o potty's can be hard to come by.
2. Speaking of race morning, it was largely a non event. Though, its not race day for me unless I forget something or slightly mess something up. On this morning upon setting up transition I discovered, much to my dismay, that my Garmin was dead. I distinctly remember charging it prior to leaving for my trip so have to assume someone snuck into my dads condo and turned it on to sabotage my run. That said, I doubt it affected it too much.
3. My swim fitness seems better than its ever been. I swam pretty comfortably and got out of the water feeling fresh because of this and my super fast Xterra Vendetta wetsuit. But not completely without issue. After swimming 1.5 miles, you're most always a little discombobulated exiting the water and getting vertical again. It was a deep water, mass start - meaning we walked down some steps lowered over the edge of Tempe town lake (or inner city cess pool) and treaded water until the gun went off. You had to exit using those same stairs though they barely reached the waters edge. I swam up to the stairs and was immediately yanked out of the water by two volunteers before I even realized what was going on. As such, my left shin slammed into the metal steps leaving a nice gash. Though I didn't realize until my wetsuit and I ended our wrestling match and I was headed out onto the bike. (My wetsuit is like 10-0 against me in T1. Got to figure that out. Cut the legs shorter or something.)
4. Knowing my over two hour bike fitness isn't quite where its typically at this time of year and the ride being 12 miles longer than a standard 70.3, I rode conservatively. (But thats by design as I've been working on lifting the left side of my power curve and haven't had much long intense efforts. Thats all about to change. Yay! Or yay if 4-6 hour rides sound like a splendid time.) I tried to ignore those additional 12 miles and ride at my late season 70.3 power but surrendered that idea as being naive...and stupid. The ride was largely a non event though quite boring and congested considering it was a four loop urban course with lots of turns and a sprint and Olympic distance race going on at the same time. Not ideal but the organizers did a solid job with what was provided. OH! Annnd, I nailed my first attempt at a flying dismount which basically means I'm pro. Just need to work on flying mounts.
Note the shoes still attached. All sorts of awesome.
5. The run. One thing I always intend to do is recon courses. But relaxing the days prior always takes precedence - for better or worse. I really could have benefitted from just a weeee bit of recon. I raced IM AZ about 18 months ago and wrongfully assumed this course would be at least sort of similar since it shared the same transition area, swim and some of the bike. It was about as similar as Brad Pitt and I's flowing locks of hair. Started flat and paved, then moved to rocky, winding, dirt trails that went up and down, flattened out for a bit, then more up and down trails, then flat. To someone who runs in NYC it felt like I was nearly rock climbing at times. And although I couldn't find a rhythm and tweaked my ankle twice because I was wearing the worst possible shoe for this type of terrain (lunaracers), it was sort of fun.
The one they call "desert dude" and I talking about how much fun we had.
6. Sunscreen is smart. Thankfully I remembered this and applied liberally before donning my wetsuit. BUT, I was wearing a super slick two piece Kiwami kit which means when im on the bike, my lower back becomes exposed as my jersey rides up my back. So, I've got a gnarly burn/tan line across the bottom of my back above my short line that extends an inch or two up my back.
A solid day. Not overjoyed with my effort nor deeply disappointed. About what I expected and took away some valuable learnings. Like, run faster regardless of terrain.
Only the best recovery nutrition.