Wildflower 2015 Race Report

   
    Let's face it the last couple of years for me athletically have been less than stellar. I decided in January to really work on my nutrition and give this year a solid go. Going into Wildflower; I lost 17 lbs since January, changed my fueling plan, and really worked on rehabbing my foot which was a major problem all year last year.

    Going into Wildflower I felt pretty good and felt like a top in my age group was doable. Because my last couple of years were a mess I did not have the greatest confidence in the world. There were 4 competitors that for the last couple of years have been kicking my butt and placing at most every event I raced. Well they were all here.....

    The night before the event I had a dream my dad and I were driving around and hanging out, I woke up feeling so blessed that I got to see my dad the night before and just felt really good inside. Thanks Dad!!!! Anyway.....

    Swim-
I started in the front row left and swam to the first buoy without any contact at all. The whole swim was rather uneventful but when I approached my first transition my heart sank as competitor 1 and 2 were already out. They both took off as I peeled my wetsuit. My wife always gives me a hard time becuase my transitions are so slow. I finally got going for the first 2.2 mile run and passed comp. #2 before hitting the bike racks. I felt pretty good and held back a little on the first run. Didn't know where I was but felt as though I was top 10.

    Bike-
So this was the first race in which I used a power meter and I think it really paid off. Usually I kill myself in the first 20 miles and then just die. My goal was to hold between 220-245 watts and 300-315 watts on the climbs. I rode out of the park and was not breathing hard at all. Big change!!! While holding those watts I passed competitor 3 and went by him very fast without any real effort. This was only mile 10 but I knew it was going to be a good day. I was riding really well and actually felt like I was racing again, not just surviving. Around mile I spotted Competitor 1 again and he was sitting up so I knew he was feeling it. I made sure to pass decisively and really work the climb up nasty grade. The climb felt easy at 300 watts and was a non issue. My descending is not good and so while descending the backside of Nasty Competitor 2 came along side me. I told him I'm a pansy when it comes to descending and he just kind of looked at me "dead pan". That was a sign to me he was feeling it in a bad way so I decided to go hard for about 20 minutes and he was gone. I got back to transition and was happy with my bike split.

    Run-
So I decided that I would just try to have a solid run and not worry about pace. The first couple of miles felt rather comfortable and my feet felt like they were on pillows with my Cliftons. Around mile 4 I looked behind me on one of the turns and saw competitor 1 closing in. I thought well that's ok if he passes me, just run the best you can. Then something inside said F#$% That! And I took off. Up ahead I saw competitor 4, who I never thought I would see but I felt great and he was not running that smoothly. I went by him and came to the major climb on the course. This year I have had many hill repeat workouts I told myself, "this is just like training". I knew if I ran up the climb I would put time into everybody. I felt strong and never came close to walking  and knew my day was going to be pretty good. The rest of the run I pushed the pace and never felt fatigued, plus people kept telling me I was flying and that helped a lot. Running down the last mile a young women was finishing her bike segment said to me, "oh my god! Your my hero!" I felt great for about 15 seconds then realized she probably looked at my calf and thought this guy is as old as my dad and he is doing so well for an old guy.I kept running and was hearing in my head the LL Cool J song, "Don't call it a comeback". I think I am back and ready to race IM Coz for a Kona slot for 2016.

    As a side note I also changed my fueling to include no water during the event. I drank gatorade endurance and ate powergels every 30 minutes. I have to say I had no cramps and best of all, NO GASTRIC UPSET!  Yahoo!!!!!!

Wildflower Report

Well went down feeling good but the winds didn't cooperate.
Swim-Ok swim, the water was choppy on the way back but nothing spectacular here.
Bike-The winds were rough and saw many people getting blown off their bikes. For me it wasn't worth pushing and risk crashing w/ a family at home. So I took it fairly easy, gripping the bars upright.
Run- Not to motivated after the bike, so just kind of cruised it but ended up passing many people, especially in the end.

Good news is I had good legs all day and could have gone a lot further, I feel the e21 tabs are a big reason my legs never felt bad, even the day after.

Now for the build to IM CDA

Yes!!!

The sun is coming and I will finally be off antibiotics on Sunday!!!! Maybe CDA will be great after all. Even with the sinus infection, I kept training but never really felt all that good but now I feel fantastic. Makes a big difference when you are not sick. My only hurdle now is getting my stomach in order after all the antibiotics. Next on the agenda is Wildflower. A couple of years ago I went 4:51 there and would like to repeat a sub 5 hour performance on a real tough course. The last 3 years I have had either an injury or been sick and unable to break 5. This year is revenge!!!!

Rain.....

It has been raining here all month which makes it difficult to ride the bike. I had 2 descent bricks where I rode 3x(bike 45 min/ run 20 min) but subsequently, I have somehow managed my 3rd sinus infection this year. Back on a different antibiotic now, this is it I swear, let's just pray for sunshine.
On a good note, I did receive my kit from recovery e21 and can't wait to show the tri community how this supplement can truly help. And my wife says she won't miss me now as I ride by.

Week that was....

Well all in all a good week. But Saturday's 5 hour bike ride was performed with real dead legs. Don't know why just felt dead. There are going to be days where you just don't have it but I say rather than pack it in, Slug it out!!! You can't quit in a race, so I'm hoping it builds some sort of toughness. Now that it is March, I am having my athletes pay more attention to nutrtion because soon races will be upon us. In an Ironman distance nutrtion can definitely be the downfall in an otherwise descent race. I believe recovery nutrition is crucial and I always eat within 30 min post exercise and have been using E21 recovery which has definitely taken the bite out of the soreness from workouts. I can't wait for the season to finally start!!!

Getting Stronger

Turned 43 over the weekend and I feel as though I'm starting to become "bullet proof". Put in a great 3 hour run and negative split the 2nd half after taking in a little hammer gel and my trusty e21. I actually cruised away from people w/ a 136 HR. So all in all things are coming together even after a weekend of "gluttany"

I'm Back !!!

Sorry been away for a while. Training has been going well although I had a little bump w/ a sinous infection then a cough that wouldn't quit. I'm on my second round of antibiotics but it hasn't slowed me down! Had a descent 3 days; Friday rode 60 miles, Sat. Ran 2:30, and Sun rode 4:38 of hills!!! I've been taking along the E21 Recovery product and it seems to keep my cramping at bay along with a little surge it seems.

Today is the Super Bowl and I will have my first drink since Jan. 1. I think 1 beer may put me over the top. I better stick to 1 or clothes may start to fall off and my wife banned all nudity @ parties after we got married!

Anyway feeling like Kona is definitely in the cards again!! And I'm proud of all my athletes that keep plugging away.