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At 5:22, lightning was flashing and the rain was washing against my window. "Sweet!" I thought, "I don't have to race today!" I don't dread racing, and began to look at it as a training day. What I do dread, however, is constantly doing really well, only to have several dudes in my age group do just a little bit better. Mendy and I tried to talk each other out of it without looking like we were wimping out. We agreed to just go and see if it was going to happen. Yeah, that would the *the sign*.It stopped raining on the way, but I knew another small cell was on the other side. We arrived to sprinkles and more natural fireworks. Setting up transition was reminiscent of Langley Pond, and I feared I would be dumping cups of water out of my helmet and sloshing around in my running shoes. There was some talk about it being a duathlon, but I was getting the feeling we were going swimming. We headed into the pool building, and I got in line for the ole morning constitutional. Yes, that time was again upon me. Hopefully I could make up some time on the bike...
So, I knew I was woefully mis-seeded on the swim. I entered a conservative /100yd swim time, but didn't get back into the website in time to change it to a more accurate number. I started about 1/4 back, at 172, but should have been around 110 I figured. I went off the wall with a lady and never saw her again. I quickly caught one swim pair, then another. Then I caught on the tail of another mis-seeded swimmer, and drafted him as we picked through the slower swimmers. This was good, until I found myself on the last lap, approaching the exit ladder with two other swimmers. Probably a good 5 seconds urinated away there.
Out of the pool, through transition (which felt like a leisurely picnic in the park) and on the bike. Wow, the legs felt strong and warm right away! Time to put the hammer down! Oh wait, it's still sprinkling. I was cautiously aggressive, hammering the straights, careful in the corners, pushing the hills, and passing everyone. One guy I passed came back by me while I was recovering from a climb, and once my legs were back I up shifted and blew by him like he was standing still. Nobody ever passed me. Quickly back into transition...
I pulled my socks on so fast, they were way up my calf. And these were no-show socks! Oh well, it's just another 20-ish minutes to the finish. I took off and immediately felt my effort on the bike. My HR was still soaring, and I had a tough time catching my breath. I was keeping decent time and seeing some team mates ahead of me doing well. We did the "Go man!" thing, and I tried to stay steady. On the second lap, a racer I encountered and finished just ahead of in the Clemson Sprint, then spoke to at Tri the Midlands, came up behind me and said, "Come on, Dave! Let's bring this in." Damn! I was just at the point of cruising in, but I wasn't going down like that. So, we paced each other in, and hopefully I pushed him as much as he pushed me. Down the rocky trail back to the parking lot, I started to feel strong again, and began my finishing kick as I got back on pavement. Not quite a dead sprint across the line, but I was pushing hard. I just about un-swallowed after I stopped. Great race, and one I didn't even want to do!As we were hanging out near the finish, a girl came across and began holding her mouth. I told my teammates, "She's gonna hurl!" She walked around, and then as she came past I yelled, "DO IT!!" She replied, smiling, with "SHUT UP!!"So, the results:I came in 5th in my age group. 4th place was 2 seconds ahead of me. 3rd place, the guy that pushed me in, was 19 seconds ahead of me! 2nd and 1st place (way to go, Nick!) weren't even close. I was irritated because I'd rather lose a podium spot by several minutes than a handful of seconds. My friend Olivier helped me put it in perspective, though, saying that it means I'm *right there* with them, so it's a good thing. I guess it makes sense, but still no less frustrating. Maybe next time...The day was capped off with some hanging out with the team, a party for the opening of the new Go Tri Sports store in G'ville, and a party at Team Long training central. Good times, great day, and lessons learned. Also great results from Chris O, G-man, Pete E, Pete R, Stephen, and Jonathan from the team! And great efforts from Mendy and Eric, too! It's the hanging out after that makes these races REALLY worth it! (until I start winning, that is) ;-)
It's been a successful couple of weeks of training...sort of. My most immediate test is the Greenville Sprint Tri, which is bike-focused. Today I wrapped it up and got all the "hay in the barn" with a 5 mile run, 5 mile ride to the pool, 1000yd swim (sidestroke - I forgot my goggles), and a 5 mile ride home. But in two weeks I will be "enjoying" my third Half Marathon of the year, and I'm woefully behind in distance runs. I've been concentrating so much on short, intense runs and rides, I haven't been doing the distance I need. To be honest, I'm a bit behind on training for the SC Half. I know I can get through the half, and it will be a nice stepping stone training run for me, but I really wanted to PR this and go 1:30 or better. I may have to call my meth dealer to accomplish that.In other news, I had a great time hanging out with Wes and his son when I went to the Atlanta area recently. I'll be back soon, so I may get another chance. They are good peeps, and if you find yourself spending any time in Atlanta, look up Wes and Dee Dee.Tomorrow morning I'm getting up at the unnatural time of 6-ish to go volunteer at a local kid's tri. Now, I don't mind doing it, but do they really have to start the thing so early? It's not like it's closing down a main thoroughfare; it's on a university campus...on a freakin Saturday...in mid-August!!! Uh, what's the deal, dudes? Maybe they have to clear the place for the lunar observation party at noon. Whatever.Hope all you freaks have a great weekend, and stay out of jail and the ER. Especially you, Lily!
That's what every fiber in my body is saying after signing up for what may be my last race of this year. Why do I do things like this? I swear, I don't even like running that much! Oh well, I guess the events I've got between now and then will be nice stepping stones on the way: the Half Marathon in Va Beach (sorry dudes, it's Labor Day weekend) and the SC Half (half iron distance race, Sep 28). Still, I think the best part of the weekend will be if we get to hang out in the big beach hizzy G-man is lining up for a bunch of runners.Okay, so I've also been slacking on the swimming. Since my super-awesome swim focus week, and the subsequent success of it, I've not done a good job of reinforcement training. But, my cycling is fairly strong (still not where I wish it was), and my running is returning. Now it's time to focus on distance. Long rides and long runs. Loooooong ones!In this heat? Are you freakin' kiddin' me? It's been in the upper 90's for the last few weeks, and I'm sweating like a...thing that...sweats a lot? Sweating like Richard Simmons at a hot dog stand. And with the afternoon rains and post-rain humidity in the bazillion % range, it's shocking how much I sweat. No evaporation, after all. This evening after an intense 2.4 mile run, Grace started singing "Rain, rain, go away..." because she saw me dripping so much. No joke!So, that's about it for now I guess. Reserves this weekend, so maybe I'll get a chance to hang out with Wes and the lovely Ms. Dee Dee. Then the following weekend is the kid's Tri to Cure that our team is volunteering at. That should be a blast to watch all the kiddies racing and having fun! I hope all you people in the area can make it out. The next day is the Greenville Sprint tri, which should be nice. Later we are going to get tore up from the floor up (well, maybe not) with the super awesome Ashley and some other cool athlete homies. It should be a great time, even if we all start talking about men's leg shaving technique, gearing on our bikes, benefits of swimming speed skins, the Olympics, drug/doping use in pro cycling, etc. Tri dorks, ya know.I'm trying to get caught up, but no promises. So tired...so...very, very...tired...*snore*
So, I knew I was woefully mis-seeded on the swim. I entered a conservative /100yd swim time, but didn't get back into the website in time to change it to a more accurate number. I started about 1/4 back, at 172, but should have been around 110 I figured. I went off the wall with a lady and never saw her again. I quickly caught one swim pair, then another. Then I caught on the tail of another mis-seeded swimmer, and drafted him as we picked through the slower swimmers. This was good, until I found myself on the last lap, approaching the exit ladder with two other swimmers. Probably a good 5 seconds urinated away there.
Out of the pool, through transition (which felt like a leisurely picnic in the park) and on the bike. Wow, the legs felt strong and warm right away! Time to put the hammer down! Oh wait, it's still sprinkling. I was cautiously aggressive, hammering the straights, careful in the corners, pushing the hills, and passing everyone. One guy I passed came back by me while I was recovering from a climb, and once my legs were back I up shifted and blew by him like he was standing still. Nobody ever passed me. Quickly back into transition...
I pulled my socks on so fast, they were way up my calf. And these were no-show socks! Oh well, it's just another 20-ish minutes to the finish. I took off and immediately felt my effort on the bike. My HR was still soaring, and I had a tough time catching my breath. I was keeping decent time and seeing some team mates ahead of me doing well. We did the "Go man!" thing, and I tried to stay steady. On the second lap, a racer I encountered and finished just ahead of in the Clemson Sprint, then spoke to at Tri the Midlands, came up behind me and said, "Come on, Dave! Let's bring this in." Damn! I was just at the point of cruising in, but I wasn't going down like that. So, we paced each other in, and hopefully I pushed him as much as he pushed me. Down the rocky trail back to the parking lot, I started to feel strong again, and began my finishing kick as I got back on pavement. Not quite a dead sprint across the line, but I was pushing hard. I just about un-swallowed after I stopped. Great race, and one I didn't even want to do!
