Richard B Russell Olympic Triathlon- August 10th, 2013

With two weeks until IM Louisville, this race was a good chance to put a last good effort in.  I was excited that my friend Jesse Turk was making his debut back into triathlons after a 4 year hiatus.  We left Friday late and went to Athens to make the morning drive a little shorter!  I had never done this course before and had heard great things!

Race morning came early and we headed out.  It was great seeing familiar faces in transition setting up. I knew the competition for this race would be tough and with my focus on the Ironman, I was interested to see what happened!  I jumped on my bike to make sure I was in the right gear for transition and I am glad I did; my chain dropped.  I fixed it up and headed to the lake.

The swim felt off...I knew it would considering that I have not been in the pool at all!  The water felt like a sauna and I was not in a good rhythm.  The swim was two laps and I felt a lot better on lap two.  I pushed on and came out in 25 minutes and 7th overall.

I hit T1 and was in and out pretty quick.  I kicked my bottle off the bike as I jumped on and had to grab it real quick.  The bike felt pretty good!  I borrowed a friends ZIPP 1080 rear and 404 front and they felt great!  The course was gorgeous with pretty consistent rolling hills.  I always have a hard time warming up in these shorter distances but I felt pretty good by mile 10 and was able to get a decent cadence going.  I ended up averaging 22.3 mph on the bike.  I passed a lot of the Duathletes out there and held onto my 7th place spot.  T2 started rough with me running in the wrong direction into T2.  The great volunteers steered me in the right direction and then it all went smooth!  On came the HOKAS and it was off to the 10K.  Speed has been my focus since the Double Iron and Ultras of the last year.  This was the first run it all clicked!  I felt great and even passed someone!!!(I DO NOT PASS PEOPLE IN THE RUN)  I ran into 6th overall and 1st age group.  I held 6:48s and did the 10K in right at 42 minutes.  It was nice to feel good on a run!  LET US HOPE THIS CARRIES ONTO LOUISVILLE!!!  My total time was 2:10!

Again, another amazing race put on by Tri the Parks!  Such a well organized race with the best volunteers!  Now, IM Louisville awaits!

Mistletoe Sprint Tri- July 20, 2013

This was a new course to me and I was excited about the race.  The swim worried me a little because I had not been in the pool in a couple months.  The race started out well.  Coming out of the water, I was in the top 5/6 and hit T1 feeling good.  I was in and out of T1 quick and on the bike.  The course was great with consistent rollers.  I could not seem to pick up my pace fast enough.  I think that is my biggest issue!  I cannot get warmed up quick enough in 12 miles.  I hopped off the bike and into T2 first in my age group and 9th overall.  Brian Wortham, fellow ALL3er, was a few seconds behind and a better runner than me.  I hit the woods as fast as I could knowing that he was on my tail.  Sure enough, within the first half mile he was on me.  We hit a tough 30 yard hill on the tail and he past.  I tried to hang but within the next mile he had put 30 yards on me.  I pushed and pushed and he kept putting time.  We made it back to the road section and a mile to go and took off hard.  He put more time on me!  I had a blast!  Great course and great people!  Ended up 1st in my age group and 10th overall.  It was a good time!

John Tanner Sprint- April 27, 2013

This was my first triathlon since the Double Iron.  I really had NO idea what to expect.  I am lacking in the fast twitch muscles right now.  I always love the Tri the Park Series!  The races are well put on and the environment is always a blast.  When I showed up I expected rain and cold but the day turned out great.  It stayed dry the entire time!  The swim was pretty normal for me.  I was a little slower than expected but after training for longer distance swims, I was not surprised.  T1 was pretty terrible.  I could not get my wetsuit off and then it was a slow process of getting my NON TRI shoes on.  I felt like I was hanging out in T1 forever watching people run out.  Onto the bike finally.  My legs were shot!!!  After a long training week and 50K race, I felt like I was peddling squares.  I finally got into a groove about the time it was time to run!  My T2 went a lot smoother.  I was in and out.  This was the part I was clueless about.  I cannot remember the last 5K I ran.  I jumped on the heels of a guy who looked stronger than me.  When we hit the first hill, I cruised by.  I pushed hard to get him out of mind and to try in keep him from hanging with me.  By the time I hit the turn around, I felt great but needed to keep my foot-speed up.  I had a guy on my tail and he passed with about a mile left.  I quickly re-passed and pushed hard to the finish.  I had a lot of fun out there!  I could definitely tell that I have had zero speed work in the last two years.  It was a great day hanging out with all the All3Sports athletes and I managed a 2nd in my age group.

SWEET H2O 50K

I came into the race just hoping to enjoy the day and not take it too seriously.  I wanted a good training run to prepare for the upcoming Cruel Jewel 100.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous!  I met my brother and friend Ryan down there and so it began.  We started out quick and I had told my brother that I just planned on hanging with him.  We were going faster than I wanted but I just hung in there with my brother.  The course started pretty flat with some short ups and downs.  By mile 10 it started to spread out and we were able to get into a rhythm.  We began passing a good amount of people and I felt great.  We hit the gas lines(really the only major climbs) and had a good couple miles of walk/run.  We hit the TOP OF THE WORLD and headed down to the river crossing.  The river was high and cold but felt great.  After a short loop, we made our way back across the river and back out for the final loop.  Again, we made great time in the lower sections and hit the gas lines.  We made our way back to the top and then pushed our way back to the finish line.  Ended up breaking 6hrs(5:52) and coming in 21st out of 197.  I was happy.  Most importantly, I felt fresh.  This helped to show me that I have a good base for the upcoming Cruel Jewel!  Great Race with amazing volunteers!

Tampa Double Iron Race Report

Tampa Double Iron Race Report

I arrived in Tampa not really knowing what to expect.  I had some ultra runs and iron distance races in the books but this was a new animal.  It was good to be going after the goal with some great friends and a great crew.  I had set a goal of around 30 hours but being my first race at this distance, I just wanted to finish.

The swim started out about as I expected.  As a swimmer, I really didn't train in the pool but figured I should still be close to the front.   Within the first half mile, it was evident that myself and Paul Thompson would be the first two out.  I hung with Paul for the first hour and he was going strong.  I passed once but that was short lived as he went back around me within minutes.  He was stronger than me and pulled out of site the second half.  I finished up the 4.8 miles second in 1hr 55min, a minute and a half behind Paul.

My transition went smooth, thanks to a great crew, and I was off on my bike!  This was uncharted territory for me.  I had never ridden over 130 miles but my miles always had long climbs.  So what the heck, here goes 224 miles.  I felt great and the bike is always my favorite place to be, so I settled into my zone and began knocking out laps.  The front guys flew on by me early but I was doing my own thing and stayed calm.  The temperatures were much cooler than expected so a few miles in I was handed arm warmers and wiggled them on as I road.  I had set a goal not get get off the bike except for the bathroom breaks and so far all was good!  A few hours and ham & cheese sandwiches later I was at 120 miles and averaging 19mph.  Feeling good!  The miles blurred on...road on and off with folks but maintained 18.9mph through mile 185.  It got cold!  40 degrees!  As night fell and lights came on, I made an unscheduled stop to throw on my knee warmers!  Then things turned.  During the last 35 miles my legs felt great....my stomach, not so much.  I was nauseated!  I had messed up somewhere and I was paying for it.  I'm thinking it was a lack of sodium.  It got to the point I was picking spots in the loop as vomit points.  I threw up 17 times(nothing better to do than count) those last 35 or so miles.  I was ready to get off the bike and calm my stomach down.  My crew tried everything to help me but I couldn't hold down any solid or liquid!  I finished the 224 miles with a 17.5 average in 5th place with too many vomit stops!  

My second transition was slow.  I sat for 15 minutes trying to calm things down but I had to get moving!  I was freezing and holding back sickness but I hit the run course walking.  It was dark and I didn't want a headlamp so I walked trying to hold 15min/miles until my stomach would relax.  I was on the run course alone with the four leaders who looked like gazelles blowing by me knocking off miles.  I wanted to run so bad but each time I tried...bad things happened in my stomach.  After warming up thanks to some sweat pants and hand warmers I was slowing starting to get moving.  The lack of any calories in my body was really messing with my warmth and head.  I pounded a half dozen tums and some coke around mile 18 and finally I felt good enough to run.  I began to run on and off and got into a much better groove.  By this point, the stomach problems had allowed many to gain miles and miles on me!  The good news was that a lot of them were my friends and we were able to run on and off together.  I was still having issues drinking or eating much without my stomach turning but I was happy to at least feel good enough to run.  I was passed early a couple people including Chuck Schultz who was running well!  Doc passed me as well while I was walking.   During the final 4 miles, Susan Allen blazed by me to win overall female.  I finished up at 29hrs 51min in 9th place, just under my goal!  I'll take it!  

I learned a lot during this race!  I have to figure out my nutrition.  The training was there for a much better time but nutrition was key!  Also, without an amazing crew, I would have been worthless.  They were huge in keeping me moving, fed, and mentally stable.  The ultra community is so great!  The triathlon community is so great!  The combination is amazing!  My favorite part is the people.  Even though I am young for the ultra community, hence why they all decided my name was "the kid", I really fit in.  You really get a bond with people when you suffer together!  Steve Kirby at usaultratri puts on a great race with great volunteers!

UPDATED 2012 RACING SCHEDULE

HERE ARE MY PLANS FOR 2012:

Tough Mudder- February 11, 2012

Operation Endurance 24 Hour Run- March 31-April 1 2012

SweetH2O 50K- April 21, 2012

John Tanner Sprint- April 28, 2012

Mountain Madness Half- May 6, 2012

Blalock Lakes Sprint- June 2, 2012

Indian Springs Sprint- June 23, 2012

Carrollton Triathlon Sprint- July 15, 2012

Richard B Russell Olympic- August 11, 2012

Tugaloo Triathlon Olympic- September 8, 2012

Beach to Battleship Full- October 20, 2012

Lookout Mountain 50 Miler- December 2012

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 50 MILER

My first 50 miler under my belt.  It hurt good!  I drove up on Friday night to pick up my race packet and find the start.  After getting my packet and dropping off the "drop bags" Saturday's race, I headed up lookout to find the start.  It was a good thing I did; the fog was terrible.  From there, I headed to my Uncle John and June's house.  This was crucial!  Had an amazing dinner and a great sleep!  

Morning came early!  Headed to the top of Lookout Mountain at Covenant College for the start.  I arrived around 0615am which gave me plenty of time stretch and get ready for a long day.  It was cool but the clouds had blown out leaving blue skies.  I decided last minute to change from shorts to tights and I am glad I did!  The race got going at 0730am sharp.  Started out steady running along a ridge.  It was muddy and slightly up and down with mostly down!  Around mile 4, I tripped over a root in the muddiest section thus far and face planted....it was awesome and I was pretty happy about it:)  It dried off throughout the next few hours so I was able to brush most of it off.  Around mile 14 or so, the trail turned into a stream!  It was literally a mid-calf slosh!  The next few miles stayed low and then we began to work our way back up the mountain to Covenant College.  It was a pretty tiring 4 mile climb up.  This completed the 22 loop and we were back to the first "bag drop".  I got rid of my trash, refilled my nutrition, and headed out for the 28 mile out and back.  

 

The trail was hit or miss with mud but VERY WELL MARKED!  A few miles down there was decent water crossing.  The cool water up to my knees was actually pretty refreshing.  The trail rolled along up and down to the next aid station at mile 34.  There was a large section with downed trees everywhere from where the tornado had passed through.  It was a true picture of the destruction they bring....nuts!  Just past the aid station was the most outstanding waterfall!  It was 500 yards away and you could feel the mist.  We then worked our way up to another ridge.  This climb was so muddy and steep we had to pull ourselves up with ropes at one point.  The top was worth it.  The run along the ridge was gorgeous with views on both sides.  After hitting the next aid station, we did a quick 4 mile loop before heading back to the finish.  Well, quick may not be the best description.  This was probably my low point.  After the loop, another trash dumb and refill of nutrition got me going.

The run back went well and I felt good all the way to the last aid station.  The view of the waterfall was even better on the way back and you could hear it coming and we descended the ridge....via rope.  As I left the last aid station, I broke out my light as the night approached.  I tried to go as long as I could without it but finally did.  It was a slow grind to the finish and I really had to push myself to keep running.  There were some great views of the city lights below as we worked our way back to the top of Lookout Mountain and to the college.  Hit the finish line at 12 hours 16 minutes.  What a day!!!  Delicious hamburger and Finisher Pint glass to wrap it up.

Rock/Creek and all the volunteers did an absolutely amazing job!  The course was amazing laid out and well marked.  The volunteers knew what to expect and filled bottles quickly and were constantly asking what they could do to help!  The aid stations had great food was well.  The only thing I really got was the gummy bears but they were clutch!  The longest I stopped at an aid station was probably 2 minutes; that shows how helpful they were!  Great race and if you run Ultras and have not done it; YOU ARE MISSING OUT!