0 for 2 - Liberty 70.3 RR

Evidence in the backyard above, of a guy training for an IM! I've got a recovery day today and should get a chance to get on top of some yardwork and general house chores that are in dire need.

I signed up for two Triathlons to mix into my IM training schedule as planned training events. I thought both would be a great way to practice some discipline, and execute some conservative behavior on the bike. I'm Oh fer Two.

This was a really hard race to get mentally prepared for. During the week prior, work was intense, and I was also completing my IM training workouts, along with the regular parenting. Friday night before the Saturday race Em had a swim meet that went until 9p...and by the time we were home for dinner and bed I was able to pack for the Tri at midnight!

During the week one of my bike sessions called for some intervals tempo style, and I thought to myself if I am going hard in training why not race the Triathlon on Saturday? Driving to the race I got mentally prepared to swim and bike hard and see what I had on the run.

The result was the most amazing run experience I have ever had in training or racing. Ever.

I came away with a really strong race

TIME - 4:46:21

Swim - 31:24

t1 - 2:12

Bike - 2:36:48

t2 - 2:28

Run - 1:33:30

AG -3/50?

Overall - 16/227

the Swim - 1.2mi / 31:24

I had a strong swim, but again was hoping for a little more contact in prep for LP. Our swim wave was 60 people and mostly my AG. The out and back swim felt great...I started somewhat slow and worked into a great rhythm and was happy with my pace the whole way through.

the Bike - 56mi. / 2:36:48 / 21.4mph

I had some minor mechanical issues happening at the start and during the bike which didn't really factor into my performance. First after leaving t1 with my shoes clipped in, I mounted and prepared to get going. Total whiff. I knocked off my right shoe before my foot was in and had to stop and pickup the shoe to get set...causing the guy behind me to stop...sorry guy! He was not happy.

Then as I was adjusting my helmet in the first mile I somehow unsnapped the inside caging and it became really loose...I rode with it like that for the entire ride...wasn't terrible just annoying.

At around mile 15 my front water bottle cage broke and I lost my water bottle and the cage was kind of dangling the whole time.

Also my bike was making some new weird whistling or squeaking noise, that was more embarrassing than anything else. I seemed to get several odd looks!

I hammered on the bike the best I could and was happy with the ride.

the Run - 13.1mi / 1:33:30 / 7:08 per mi

I ran the first mile at like 8:10 and was was going along chatting with a guy who has done IMWI 3X. I thought this is great! I will be able to hang on with this really fit looking runner at this pace and have a good run.

We got passed by a female runner who cruised by us with ease and was clearly a top notch athlete and obvious seasoned runner.

Then my guy I was running with had to take a leak, and I was alone again. I decided to chase down the girl ahead and see if I could hang on for awhile. I closed the 400 meter or so gap and was right behind her from mile 2 through 6.5.

Liberty Triathlon is in Baker Park, just west of the Twin Cities and is a great venue for a 70.3. The run course is on a paved path through the park and around the lake. It is an out an back. It looked like the only other female ahead of my pacer was about a mile ahead... based off what I was able to catch from the turnaround runners.

After following her footsteps and clipping off sub 7 min miles to the halfway point we turned around and ran the next 3 miles side by side ...stride for stride...not a word was said. It was so cool. As we passed others heading toward the turnaround several male and female competitors would say things or shout encouragement (to her)....the other gals would mostly shout that she looked strong and go get it. One guy told her she was 2:30 down to the leader as we were at mile 9.

The it seemed like she started to struggle just a little bit. I took some inventory of myself. I felt great! I decided to push the pace just a shade. She dropped on my heels and was now hanging on just as I had done the entire first "out" section.

In the process we were clipping off people in my age group. We passed 4 people from miles 8 through 11 in my AG.

Just after the 12 mile marker we approached another female runner...but not the svelte runner I had spotted earlier. I looked back and for the first time we talked - I said is that the leader? She said didn't think so, and that she was in the 4th swim wave anyway...so she was a regular age grouper, not with the elite wave. As we passed that girl, she told her she told her not to worry she was in the relay.

We pressed hard to the end and had a little sprint together for the final 200.

It was awesome. Not a word was said the entire time except my one question at the end...I only asked b/c I thought she might want to time her pass.

Ends up she won the female overall division by like 10 minutes. At the finish line she came up and said "great run, seemed like we both helped each other out" - loved it...she totally helped me get 3rd in my AG...was a great great feeling.

Kind of a long story and probably doesn't come off as well on paper as the experience actually was.....but I was way out of my league and hung on, and was really happy to post that time.

ALSO -- Tried to pee on the bike ..... FAIL