Rio Salado Olympic Distance Race Report:
I am two weeks out from IMTX and there is an Olympic race in my backyard - to race it or not to race, that is the question. I first brought it up to my coach (BB) a month or so before and he suggested not racing it and focusing on training. I was thinking that training was pretty much at the end by this time and I needed something fun to break the boring training 'funk' that I was in. So, I felt that a race was just what I needed and I was eventually able to convince him...and race we did! Rio Salado hosted by Redrockco.
As the race approached I didn't think I would be at my best - mostly because I had been doing a lot of miles and my legs were tired, not to mention that we had not been focusing on speed lately, as volume was the order of the past couple of months! When I got to the race I knew I was going to have my hands full as some of the faster guys in my age group had shown up (Carlos, Dan, Jeff, Paul) but there were a few that were missing as well. You just never know who is going to show up. But I quickly dismissed the competition and decided that I was there to just GO FAST. Blake had told me earlier that week, to not pay any attention to the power meter or the heart rate - just GO!
This was a big race for the Team standings in a chase to repeat for the Team Championship. So, naturally there were going to be a lot of ONE Multisport team mates on the course - this always makes it fun for me. To be able to see familiar faces throughout the course and encouraging them to 'keep it moving'. At the end of the day we were able to capture many podium spots and pad that Team lead. Special Thanks to Cyndi Dean for being able to pull it all off without her husband, John, who was not able to get out of bed that morning due to a lingering bad back. Our team support is always great - but it was extra great on this day because everyone knew that Cyndi needed help to be able to get the tents up and banners hung and tables and food set out. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped Redrockco also - wetsuit strippers and aid station workers - without you there would be no race. Or, certainly not a race of this caliber.
SWIM 25:46
As I lined up on the far left behind Erik I saw Paul and Carlos. After some small talk, BANG, we were off. It was tight quarters to start with. Lots of bumping and touching, but eventually it opened up a bit and I was able to swim on my own. I tried to stay on some feet early on but they were not swimming straight so I aborted that effort and ended up swimming alone most of the distance. Pretty uneventful swim and as I exited the swim my time was about where I expected it. I had done what Blake wanted and I put effort into the swim, but I did not red line. As I exited the swim I didn't see anyone like I usually do as I was getting my wetsuit stripped. I thought that was odd, but you just never know where everyone is until you get out on the bike course.
BIKE 1:03:21
The bike course through Tempe has several turn arounds that allow you to see where everyone is. However, about 2 or 3 miles in Carlos caught me. That was somewhat discouraging because I thought I might have put a little distance between on the swim, because I have been working on it all winter. As Carlos passed me I knew I was not working hard enough and it was time to pick it up. He and 2 other guys went by me and I used them as my measuring stick to pace off of. I was able to keep Carlos in my sights for the next 12 miles or so - through the first lap of the course. He was playing a little cat and mouse with me - first I would lead for a while, then as we approached town he would surge ahead, then I would go ahead and he would surge again as we came into town. I noticed Dan once at the turn around but I didn't notice any others in my AG. As the second lap started Carlos was able to put some distance into me that I was not able to recover from - but in the end he had about about a 30 second lead as we headed into the run. With the aid of Carlos and 2 others pacing me I was able to have one of my better bike splits on this course.
RUN 40:55
As we started the run I figured I was at least in 3rd place in my AG, maybe 2nd place - with Carlos being 30 seconds ahead. I knew I was able to out run him at Oceanside earlier in the season, due to a hip injury, and I was wondering if I would be able to do that again today. I saw him about 1 mile into the run at a turn around and he was still only about 30 seconds ahead. As I got to mile 2 I noticed a familiar gait pattern in front of me - it was Jeff. I was able to pass him, but as I did I wondered how many more guys in my AG were ahead of me. I didn't see Jeff on the bike course earlier, mostly because I didn't know what type of suit he was wearing. I thought I had about 2 minutes on Dan off the bike. I didn't think he could catch me with a 2 minutes cushion, but the better question was, am I going to be able to catch Carlos. It was time to focus on Carlos ahead of me. I didn't have an opportunity to see him again until we got to the turn around again at approximately mile 4. As luck would have it, he was able to pull away from me by that point - he put about 2 minutes into me. Apparently his hip injury is healing. That is bad news for me and the rest of my AG, because the old Carlos is back! And that is how it finished. I got 12th overall, and 2nd in my Age Group - 2:12:22. Not a bad effort for me. I'll take it.
Now to focus on the taper as we approach IMTX. As Erik says, 'The hay is in the barn'. Meaning the work is done. Its time to take it easy and do some shorter stuff with a few intervals and speed work but nothing too long. Let the legs come back and see what you have come race day. I will enjoy the taper because the number of workouts is decreased as well as the time of each workout - this will make my life much easier for the next couple of weeks. Squeezing those workouts in each day is a tough balancing act for me. I use most of my 'free time' for workouts - early mornings before anyone wakes, occassional lunch time and then evenings while the kids are at karate or doing home work. I am remembering why I haven't done an IM in 4-5 years.
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