Boulder Ironman 70.3 Race Recap - Finally Back on My Feet

Two weeks before Marathon Monday in Boston the sharp and shocking pain occurred in my right knee what changed my well planned racing path for 2016.  After a relatively healthy 10 plus years in a row of running and racing, I became a spectator at the Boston Marathon for the first time.  It was a great experience but I couldn't help but be disappointed to be on the side instead of in the middle of the street.  So my focus switched to my first triathlon of the season, Boulder 70.3.  I knew I had great running fitness 8 weeks prior, the question was how much remained.  As I told those who asked, at least I was fresh!

It was as predicted in Boulder this day - hot, sunny, and brutal for anyone who doesn't have ice in their veins (literally, not figuratively).  I have been fortunate this year to have a fantastic sponsor in TriSports.com and have some performances to put up in order to prove my elite team status.  Due to my pre-Boston injury I had been able to swim with more frequency and relative comfort.  The race started well, as I kept my line on the edge of the buoys for the first 1200 meters or so.  After the last 90 degree turn as we began to catch waves of swimmers who began in front of us, my focus wavered and I began to go a little too wide too often most likely pushing my finish time back a minute or two as a result of no ones fault but my own.  Fortunately, with my increased training time in the water, I had my fastest swim in years for the distance and actually feel like I have much room to improve this season.  Swim was a success!

This day was also my debut on my Quintana Roo PRsix despite only a couple rides to break it in that week.  I found it comfortable enough by adjusting its height and reach close to my old road bikes specs and decided to race the more aero bike.  The ability to adjust the QR is easy for a bike that is fast, light, and responsive which makes it the best decision I could have made for my first tri bike (have to thank TriSports again for that one and their help picking it out!).  I was well on my way to a 56 mile bike PR when a thumping sound began in the back wheel as I neared T2.  Soon, as the handling disappeared and I saved multiple fishtails from becoming full on crashes, I had to sit up and ride on a flat at mile 52.  So close to the finish I decided to ride it out instead of change the tube, and I received a stroke of luck, the course was nearly 2 miles short and I only needed to struggle in for a few minutes and took a very careful dismount.  Despite the late bad luck I was still well on PR pace for the distance when I dismounted.  Bike was a success!

Despite the late bike stress, I transitioned in T2 with optimism for a new 70.3 PR, for I only needed a mediocre run in terms of history to take care of business.  I was aware of the short bike course but figured a huge PR would nearly nullify that discrepancy.  It was rough, and I mean rough, from the first step to the last.  Despite have relatively retained some speed, the distance and time out that day was not friendly to an out of shape athlete when you combined the sun and heat.  The simple sugar of red bull and coke took me from bonk to mediocrity in countless cycles throughout the run as I couldn't stomach the 90 degree gatorade and water was running through me.  Luckily, I believe my pancreas survived and that I did not acquire diabetes that day.  Run was a terrible fail and no PR was had this day.  Hopefully it will help me regain some fitness needed for my big races occurring later this year.

Special thank you to TriSports.com for all of the help with my gear and new kit!  If any fellow triathletes out there need a little something I am happy to send you 20% off coupon codes for most products on the site (including all the great nutrition which kept me relatively going that day).

Cheers to you all.  Happy Training and Racing!

Happy 4th of July! Half Marathon Race Recap

We started off Independence Day in Colorado Springs with an early morning half marathon - HuHot Half on the 4th - on the Pikes Peak Greenway.  Deep in our closets Jess found her Team Aquaphor Red White and Blue and I pulled out some classic Saucony Red and White.  If you can't get in the patriotic mood on July 4th you might as well not show up!  The massive American flag and Air Force fly-overs added to the show and of course Colorado Springs showed up heavily on the trails as would be expected.  I was able to pull off 2nd overall in 1:20 and Jess pulled out a 1:53 in her longest race - and run!- since the Denver Marathon last October.  Now we are off to celebrate with the best American staples that exist - beer, BBQ, and fireworks.  We hope you have a fantastic 4th!

Jess - 1:53:27

Nick - 1:20:22

Leadville 10k: A high altitude date

We started our day driving through the high plains and mountains of Colorado to reach our run date, the Leadville 10K, in Historic Leadville, Colorado.  We spent the previous day celebrating our friends recent nuptials around Aspen and enjoyed the Aspen Brewing Company followed by the Grand Opening of the Aspen Art Museum (where they made a publicity splash with the tortoise with iPads on their backs stunt).  We climbed over 10,000 feet into the sky to compete in the 10K the next morning.  Nick is competing in the Pikes Peak Ascent next week while Jessica is training for the Denver Rock n' Roll Marathon.

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Leadville is a beautiful mountain town which has gained more recent fame for the Leadville 100 mile Ultra-Marathon and the multiple high altitude races it hosts.  It also contains a lot of history as a mining town and still contains the rustic, blue-collar feel of such a secluded place.  Its proximity to Denver, Colorado Springs, Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen make it a worthy part of any trip to Colorado.

Prior to our race, we explored the town a bit, and Nick had to complete a long easy run prior to the race to prepare himself for the altitude of Pikes Peak next week.  We shared our pre-race affections and lined up with a myriad of characters including Barefoot Alex, and the complete crew from Marvel's Avengers.  At the gun we took off for our 5K descent, only to next turn around and head back uphill to where we came from!

We both had the learning experiences of  no matter how much you try to hold back running downhill for the first 5K, that last 5K is going to hurt!!  The course is a beautiful approach in to the mountains on primarily dirt road followed by a lung-grinding escape back up and away from them.  We both demonstrated our finest survival shuffles on the final step hill up 6th street prior to the finish where we enjoyed the camaraderie of a truly unique running community.

After one short race in Leadville terms we both fell in love with the idea of returning!  I'm not sure if either of us have the 100 mile bug, but Nick may dream about it knowing how the boy's brain works.

Happy Running and don't forget to find and live your love.

Nick's 3rd Place Overall Medal!