For the past 2 years the final touch on my training for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI has been racing the Duke Liver Center ½ Iron Triathlon, which has now become my home town race since moving here in 2008. Regardless, of my current racing, or lack there of, this year, I could not let this race go by without being involved in some way. So, despite the rain and early morning start I rode my bike the 20 miles to the race, volunteered for a few hours and then rode home. It was a lot of fun to watch, help out and be involved from a different perspective. My injury and set backs this year finally gave me the time to volunteer.

I have always meant to volunteer more at races, however, with my own training and racing schedule normally very full I always found it difficult to find the time and the energy. This year I have had, at least the time and have found the energy. Between working the expo in Lake Placid to volunteering this weekend I had a great time and have a new found respect for the volunteers and expo workers within the triathlon industry. I would encourage everyone to get involved from a different perspective, if you have raced, volunteer. If you have volunteered, race! J

The best part of this weekend was watching my friends and occasional training partners rip it up on race day. Including Timex teammate Eric bean cross the line first!

Full Results here.

Thanks, www.alexmmtri.com

…in Augusta, at the 70.3? I’m not sure either but I’ll try to shed some light on it…

Augusta, GA- At 7:28 without the luxury of a warm up we, the male pros, were lined up on a floating dock in preparation for our 7:30 start time. The horn sounded and we all dove head first into the water, even Mike C.

I’ve been working on my start so I was encouraged to seemingly still be in the thick of things after the first minute. So while in the thick of things, I got knocked pretty good in the side of my head a couple of minutes later. Luckily the punch landed squarely on the side of my skull, keeping my goggles perfectly intact. Finally, about halfway through I moved around Victor Z and settled into what appeared to be a reasonable sized group. I wasn’t sure how far ahead the leaders were but I wasn’t going to be able to pass this group so my goal was to hang in for the rest of the swim.

Coming out of the water, I noticed some seriously fast swimmers in transition and was pleased to be finishing the swim in the same ballpark as them. Before I could get out onto the bike, however, I had to get my AquaSphere speedsuit off. As Tim Hola mentioned, this thing is fast. I’ve raced in it a couple of times and had no trouble getting it unzipped but for some reason this time it just wouldn’t come undone. Luckily, however, teammate James Cotter was running up the chute with me and gave me a hand. That was HUGE… thanks James! With the speedsuit off, I was in and out of transition and ready for the bike.

As I started the ride, I was ready for people to catch me (thanks to the good swim) and was hopeful I’d be able to stay with them because 56 miles by yourself just isn’t too much fun. However, as people and small groups started catching me, I felt like I was in a Pinto while everyone else was driving a Porsche. Eventually I just had to settle down and ride my race. I always remember that my HSCC coach used to harp on the fact that that you couldn’t control what other people are doing. So I tried to focus on my own race and ride hard. This, however, was really frustrating because even though the speed wasnt there, my PowerTap was telling me I was having a very solid ride. Unfortunately though, excuses are worth about as much as the change in my pocket and awards are not given out based on power numbers (good thing, too!).

So after exiting the swim in 11th, I found myself 17th on my way into T2. Sarah, meanwhile, was wondering what the hell took me so long.

Finally I was out on the run. No equipment to worry about here… just put on the shoes and GO! After the disappointing ride, I was hoping to at least salvage a decent finish with a fast run. The first mile came and went in just under 5:50 and after that I started cranking, holding right in the 5:40-5:45 range. I felt solid the whole time, even when it started heating up, and had enough left to catch a couple of guys in the last mile and finish 13th overall.  Full results can be found here.

So yeah, good swim, good run, need to find WTF happened with the bike. But enough about the race. What is more important is the food on the way home! A couple of weeks ago, Hola, after dominating the LC National Championship, had a burger on the way home for me. While I appreciate the gesture, if you’re going to get a burger, get a burger. So rather than settling for this at McDonalds:

we went for the Flip Burger Boutique in Atlanta. I had bacon cheeseburger:

while Sarah had the crab cake:

Oh, and we split an order of vodka battered onion rings and an order of butternut squash fingers:

Finally though, to top it all off…

A Nutella + burnt marshmallow liquid nitrogen milkshake. Yummy!

Ah the Chicago Triathlon, one of my favorite races. This was my very first triathlon back when I competed in the Chicago Kids Triathlon when I was 9. I love this race because it’s in my city and I know so many friends racing.

Cindi Bannink competed in the Chicago Triathlon this year with me. I have been staying with Cindi on numerous occasions while training for Ironman Wisconsin. This weekend she finally let me return the favor by staying with me for the race.

We rode our bikes to the start of the race, it was pitch black out and very chilly for a summer August day. The wind was so strong that the waves managed to reach our feet while riding along the lake path. We pushed through, a little cold and wet, but we made it to transition. After setting up our gear, we walked over to the swim start. At this point the sprint distance waves have begun. I cheered on a few friends swimming by as we walked to the start. We had about an hour to wait in the cold until the olympic waves began, luckily the elite wave goes first.

SWIM: For some reason they decided to combine the men and women’s elite waves into one. All 200 of us jumped in the cold water together, BRRRR. Once the gun shot I immediately forgot about the cold water because I was more concerned about getting ahead of everyone in the first few hundred yards. I sprinted with the lead pack in an attempt to attain some open water. I popped out ahead, although for no reason at all I decided at this point to pause and look around. I was then trampled and sucked back into the group, from here until the first buoy I could not find any water to swim in, I was knocked around quite a bit. At the 180 degree turn at the first buoy I moved to the far outside of the course and was finally able to swim again. I swam here through the remainder of the swim. Unfortunately at this point I lost the lead pack, there was such a strong current from the large wave that weaker swimmers were able to keep up with the stronger swimmers. Therefore I lost most of my advantage I usually gain in the swim. Regardless, my swim time was not far off. I hopped out of the water and began my half mile run to transition.

BIKE: I started the bike feeling fresh, trying to forget about the swim.  The course is two laps on Lake Shore Drive. The winds were strong, riding north I was riding directly into head winds. Once I hit the first turn around I was flying from the tail wind, trying to make up the time from riding into the head winds. I was passed by a few women on the first loop of the bike who usually don’t catch me until the second loop. I was reminded again of the advantage lost on that swim.  My entire bike felt sluggish, definitely was not my best. It could have had to do with the high mileage I was training in preparation for my upcoming Ironman.

RUN: I headed onto the run farther behind than I usually am, but decided to see what I could do to try and catch up. I caught a few girls throughout the run and managed to maintain my pace. My legs felt great running. I ran by many friends and family cheering for me. By the last mile there was one more girl in sight that I had a chance to catch. As I ran by some team mates they encouraged me to turn it up during the last stretch and pass her just before the finish line.

Overall it was not my best race, but I still had a great time racing cheered on by so many friends and family. I also loved watching and cheering for so many friends racing in Chicago.

Cindi on the other hand had an amazing race, her best olympic time by over 3 minutes!!!

Cindi placed 2nd overall and I placed 9th.

So I have gotten behind on my blogs over the past month and I’m working on catching up on race reports.

The Waupaca Triathlon is a small sprint race held in Waupaca, Wisconsin. This is my second time racing at this event. Friends of mine, Gerrard and Julie have a lake house nearby, so we make a weekend out of the race every year.

800 yard SWIM: The day began with perfect weather, clear blue sky and barely any wind. I raced in the elite wave, which they combined men and women. There were only about 30 people in this wave. We began with a gun shot and I was off with the lead guy swimmers. Half way out to the first buoy I was cut off by one swimmer and in turn lost the two lead guys. I continued around the first buoy and finished the second half of the swim between two male swimmers, swimming neck and neck. I ended up ahead of them out of the water, first woman and thrid overall. I passed one of the guys running up to transition putting me in second out of Transition 1.

20 mile BIKE: Just outside of transition the remaining guy ahead of me fell off his bike (I later found out the cleat on his pedal broke). After calling to him to ensure he was ok, I took off on the bike. I felt good and enjoyed following only the motorcycle for the first 5 miles. At mile 5 I was passed back by the biker that fell, he had somewhat fixed his pedal. I continued on, keeping up with the lead guys, a few more passed me on the bike. There were a few hills and false flats but nothing too steep to climb. My average speed was fairly decent for me. I entered into Transition 2 tenth overall and the first female.

5 kilometer RUN: I took off on the run, knowing it was only a 5k I tried to pick up speed for the shorter distance. We ran through neighborhoods with spectators and volunteers cheering us on.  I passed back one of the guys that had passed me on the bike. I ended up 9th place overall and the 1st place female by about 5 minutes.

After the race we went back to Gerrard and Julie’s house for a day filled with boating, tubing and celebrating.

Followed by a nap in the sun.

On Sunday I took advantage of the hills in the area and went on a 100 mile bike ride to prepare for my upcoming Ironman.

Yesterday I competed in my home town sprint triathlon.  It was a brisk 48 degrees out that morning.  The water was warm, but outside was chilly.  It is fun to compete in a local race where there is no pressure.  You know that in 1:30 minutes the event will be over.  Yet at the same time you do get the excitement of race morning.  Going thru your check lists and getting mentally prepared.  Race morning I decided to bag the wet suit.  I knew it would be painful the morning of, but once hitting the water it would be the right decision.  It would shorten my T1 time and get me out in front.  My running has been poor recently and I am not a sprinter = so I needed any little extras I could get.  Swim went very well.  Go out of the water a sprinted to T1.  I got out on the road in decent time.  I tried to get a GU down and BLAHH – throw up!  I could not get it to go down.  I biked well – course was a bit sketchy in spots, but fun.  I got into T2 and began to slow down.  On my way out my right leg was numb.  It too to mile two before I felt ok and had the sensation of both of my legs.  Finished strong and had my entire family waiting for me at the finish line.  All before 8:45am.  Not a bad Saturday morning.  My next event is Oct 18 a 3.5m swim in Westport CT.  I will be sporting my wet suit for that event.  :)