“Excuses, excuses…” is what I hear in my internal ears. “But, really”, I say back mentally, “I didn’t maintain my training. I didn’t keep up my swimming or cycling. And, my hip really does hurt.” All to no avail. 

 

That internal voice kept after me to keep swimming, swim smart, but keep swimming. I knew that the swim would be tough since I hadn’t been training for nearly 3 months so I tried my best to draft off of people and keep my line straight. That was the “smart” part. Thanks to Blake for offering up his mantra (“swim smart”) just prior to the swim start. A sign on the shack listed the water temperature at 61, but when I got in the water, it felt much warmer. That was a relief. I felt pretty good on the swim thinking that I was successfully keeping my form in check and my HR down. When I came out of the water, I felt really good, then I took my fifth step up the hill and realized my HR was pegged. I looked at my watch and saw trouble, HR 181. I slowed my pace down and finally walked through transition so that my HR could get to a reasonable level. I saw Blake in T1 and I knew that Jason had long been out there. As I was pulling off my suit, Blake ran by with his bike in hand – “Go Blake!” Then that voice whispers, “You can catch Blake, and then Jason.” I shake off the voice and focus on getting out of T1.

Swim: 30:58

T1: 3:11

 

HRmax – 181 (my max is 182)

HRavg - 170

 

I practiced my running mount on the bike and it went pretty good. I actually passed a couple of people who stopped to mount their bikes. “Every second counts.” I knew that my legs would feel something like two water logged pieces of wood dangling from my hips during the beginning portion of the bike and I was right. I geared to an easy level that I could spin for the first few miles. After about 10 minutes I drank up some Carbo Pro mixture to try and replenish the spent calories during my swim. I was getting passed and passing others, so I felt like my pace must be fairly reasonable. My HR was leveling off at around 165bpm. Above my lactate threshold of 163, but what’s 2 bpm? “Keep pushing, Blake is just around the next corner.” I pushed on, but no Blake, no Jason. Finally, at 13 miles, the first turnaround, I saw Jason, then Blake. They were close, but really very far away. I couldn’t pick up the pace anymore without completely blowing my legs out for the run. At the next turnaround (15.25 miles), I saw Jason and Blake again, just a smidge closer. “Push harder!” I couldn’t. My HR was teetering between 164 and 168 with spikes to 173 on the hills. I started opening and closing my hands to get my fingers functioning so they could tie my running shoes. I pulled into T1 just slightly ahead of Blake and I didn’t have any idea where Jason had gone during that last section. When I hopped off my bike I landed on two knots of numb wood at the ends of the now lively legs. No feet. My feet could’ve fallen off for all I knew.   Keep running. I got into transition, changed out in ok time, got my shoes tied with reasonably quickness, and then I tried to start my foot pod. I couldn’t push the button. The voice broke in, “You’re taking too long.” I gave it up and hustled out of T2. I heard Jessica Cutler holler for me. That was great.

 

Bike: 1:10:56 (21.02 mph)

T2: 1:38

HRmax - 173

HRavg - 166

 

Now for the fun part. My goal was to crush the run. Yup, I had actually been running in the past month and a half, so I figured this would be my event. How had I forgotten that the swim and bike would take their toll? “It doesn’t matter, push through the pain.” I couldn’t shake the voice. When I got onto the paved road, I saw Jason about 50 yards ahead. I was running on the verge of hamstring cramps, but at a pace just below. This worked until I got to the aid station at the out-and-back when my left hamstring went into a severe spasmic cramp. The pain was quick, bullet like, and shot up my leg into my left hip where it hobbled me. I thought I was done. “You’re too close, it will loosen up.” I listened to the voice and kept running, though at a slower pace. There is a pretty good hill on the first out-and-back that tested my hamstrings going over and returning. I was happy to be done with it and be on my way back to the start. One of the lead men passed me and I asked him if we had to do the loop twice, “yup.” Ugh. We had the hills again. My legs were getting very tired, so I downed a gel and took a sip of water at the aid station. One more loop. I tried to stride things out, but the hamstrings weren’t going to allow it to happen. I figured I’d keep at the same pace and try the kick on the trail around the lake. Another half gel about 2.5 miles from the finish – no water. With 0.2 miles to go someone from my age group passed me. I turned on the juice, my hamstrings and hip turned it off. That was it. I was done and had to finish at the same pace I had run for nearly 7.4 miles. Yes, the run was longer than it should’ve been. The volunteers made an oopsy and sent many runners on the second loop. That’s the way the cookie crumbles. I raced my race and I had obviously pushed myself to the limit that day. I’m happy with my performance given the level of training I hadn’t done and given my injury on the run.

 

Run: 45:15 (7:17 min/mi) Pace for a 7.6 mile run

HRmax - 177

HRavg – 169

 

Overall time: 2:31:59, HRavg for entire race 168, personal LT 163