June 4, 2006 San Francisco, CA
1^st place M30-34
Results: http://www.tricalifornia.com/alcatraz/2006

The key to a successful triathlon is balance. Triathletes constantly struggle to piece together their summer racing schedule, balance how much to train; how much to taper; how to fit training in around work and family, how much to eat- before the race and more importantly during the race; how hard to go on the swim, on the bike and when to drop the hammer on the run. It takes years to learn the answer to each of these questions in addition to larger questions like what motivates us to race in the first place, or to press on in a race when the going gets tough?

I have been struggling to determine the answers to the larger questions, especially considering my busy work and constant travel schedule. Even though my results have improved over the years, I’ve had difficulty being consistent. My best seasons always seemed to be plagued with lousy results, sometimes at every other race. Even though it’s taken me years of trial and error, I feel that finally my racing is coming together at a level I’m happy with.

I’ve raced the Escape from Alcatraz several times and this year I was ready to win. My highest place so far in this competitive race (210 athletes in my age group) was 3^rd last year. I’ve had good results, and have been able to log high-quality workouts into my evenings around work and travel, maximizing my limited time.

This year’s weather was perfect; the water was a little rough- just as I like it. Not so bad I couldn’t see the shore like 2004, but rough enough to give me a slight edge over some of my competition. Since I’ve done the race a few times, I have the transitions pretty dialed in, and don’t fuss around with bags, shoes, wetsuits, or other gear anymore and instead just run barefoot to the transition area and take care of everything there. One of the reasons my swim went so well, is that I got a new wetsuit. It’s a QR Superfull, and I ordered a smaller size than I had before. It turns out the new size is perfect; this new wetsuit fits so incredibly well and is so flexible in the shoulders, that I forget that I have it on until I see my finishing times! I finished the swim in 6^th place and headed out on the bike feeling great.

The course is extremely technical for a road triathlon. Since I enjoy the more technical Xterra offroad triathlons, I feel right at home on the sharp corners, steep climbs and descents, and rough pavement. Since I do so few road triathlons these days, I don’t have a full-blown tri-bike anymore, but ride the ITU-style (draft legal) QR Zero-G. With a 74 degree seat angle, it’s a happy medium between steep tri geometry of 76 degrees, and road geometry of 72 degrees. This also works as a great transition for me since I do so much training on a traditional road bike. I made up a little time on the bike, while keeping an eye on my heart rate, finishing in 1^st place and heading out onto the run in high spirits. Based on my results from lactate-threshold (LT) tests at the Center for Sports Performance in Truckee, I’ve learned how to use my heart rate as an indicator of my LT and to budget my effort throughout the entire race and not run out of energy by the time I get to the run.

The run course includes a series of stairs, long sections on single track trails through a WWII era bunker in the Presidio, descends a steep dirt road to a few miles of soft sand on the beach, climbs the near-vertical infamous sand-ladder, then returns on the same trails and stairs. It’s one of the best run course I’ve experienced. I chased down the last remaining athlete in my age group within the first mile or so, and started to enjoy the technical course. In a rare showing of run strength, I passed several more amateurs, and even a few pros (who were clearly not having a good day). I finished feeling strong, and was pleased to hear that I’d finally won my age group at what I feel is one of the hardest, most competitive and most fun triathlons in the country.