It seems like the last two years I have written what I'm about to write, but this time I hope it's serious. The last time I actually felt competitive with racing was back in the beginning of 2009. In the fall of 2009 I started HCM and turned all the attention I was using for training to building HCM. I became ridiculously out of shape for a few months, then I'd get the running bug again, string together maybe 2 months worth of good running races, then stop for another couple months. I was yo yoing I guess you could say for the last 2 - 3 years and now I am finally being more consistent and normal with training.
I drove up to the race with Holly Geldhauser race morning. She just had an awesome half ironman race in San Juan a couple weeks ago so I was hoping some of her speed and toughness would rub off on me, ha! We pulled up to the race site, registered, got our stuff together in transition, socialized a bit and headed out for a warm up run. I actually felt pretty good. Start time was nearing and it was about 40 degrees but the sun was out - made it feel warmer.
Since I haven't really raced since 2009, there seemed to be a lot of new faces toeing the line. Made me feel old and nervous, ha! My running has been feeling good in training so I knew I could probably hang with the front group on the first run, or at least that is what I was hoping. My watch died the morning of the race so I just ran by feel. I started running my pace and no one was with me. I wasn't quite sure what to think, but then a few minutes in Brian Register comes up on me and puts in a little gap. He surged big time. Then Evan Daney and Thomas Edwards come up on me and I thought to myself, 'it's been awhile since I raced and maybe I should just chill out here for awhile.' So I stuck on the shoulders of Evan and Thomas. As we got a bit over half way in, Thomas dropped off and Evan and I were running shoulder to shoulder with Brian still up ahead. I never met Evan so I tried to chat it up a bit just to say good job and keep pushing the pace, etc. A bit after that we came up on a tight tight turn and Evan slipped on some gravel and went down hard. I almost stepped on him by accident, but he popped up and we kept the pace rolling good. We came in on the first run in 18:14, but the run loop was a bit long - about a quarter mile. So I think we were running about 17 or just a bit over for pace. It was a good effort.
I had a quick transition, eyes were watering and had the shakes from running hard. Forgot how that feels. My cycling hasn't been going nearly as well as my running, but I still thought I would be able to ride well. Ahh, I remember a few years ago I could get on the bike and just ride as hard as I could and it felt good. Not today. I got on the bike in 2nd place and tried to ride hard and bridge the gap to Brian, but I couldn't and it wasn't happening. I was hurting on the bike - my fitness didn't feel good, it was windy, hilly and then some. The bike course led us on 563 and I maintained 2nd place for I think what was about 8 miles of the 15 mile bike. Later in the bike I had two guys pass me and one in a later wave who was 6 min back that ended up riding faster. At the very end of the bike, Evan caught up to me. I was nervous coming off the bike how I was going to feel because my legs felt trashed from the first run and then riding hard.
I had a slow second transition. Evan beat me out of transition and I exited in 6th place. I really just wanted to run steady. My legs actually felt great - my right calf was cramping big time, but I knew if I just kept running it would go away (right now it feels like someone shot me in my leg, ha.) I was able to keep Evan in sight and hold off anyone from passing me! The second run was uneventful and I ended up running about 40 seconds slower than my first run and I was happy with that finishing 6th overall. I was also happy to cross the finish line and feel like I am well on my way to racing the way I used to a few years ago.
Holly did very well finishing 8th female and there were so many friends that crushed the course and had fantastic races. It was great to catch up with everyone!
https://www.lin-mark.com/raceresults.aspx?guid=b0690d8c-3bc1-4703-bb12-77997752f070
There is definitely something to be said for a balanced life and the older I get the more I am trying to accept it. Between real job, hcm foundation, coaching, speaking, personal life and training/racing - I'm hoping to be more balanced moving forward and keep doing the best I can in all areas.
Next up will be the good old Devilman Tri!
Later in the day we watched Moneyball and this is definitely one of the best motivational/inspirational movie clips that will get you fired up:
