The week prior to Saturday's race included very low volume training. I was very tired from a 2 week building phase. I only had 3 swims sessions, 2 run sessions and 1 bike session last week. A lot of time was spent rolling around on my TP Quadballer and physical therapy activities. I was really ready to race Saturday after a much needed solid recovery week.
Friday night for dinner I had a giant plate of pasta and a bowl of watermelon and a pack of fig newtons. Saturday morning before the race I ate two packets of oatmeal and a Gatorade. I was feeling good. The temperature was almost perfect in the upper 70s. I really lucked out with the low race temp, considering all the heat we've had.
The water was still hot and no wetsuits were allowed. It took me forever to get through the 1500 meter swim. I found some feet to draft off for the 1st 400 meters, but then thought I should be swimming faster so I went off on my own from that point. I crossed the swim finish mat at 27 minutes, already 3 minutes behind the leaders. I ran up the stairway through transition pretty quickly ready to stomp the 41 km hilly and windy bike portion. This is the kind of course were you just have to put your head down and mash the pedals half the time.
Unfortunately, almost to the end of the bike and I was directed the wrong way by a volunteer. To make matters worse the way I was directed was downhill. So after I realized the mistake I turned around went back up the hill and back on course. I was PISSED at the time. I knew I lost at least a minute. I have to take some responsibility though for not absolutely knowing the direction I was supposed to go myself. Anyways my official bike time was 1:08:34, I would say it would have been around 1:07. Still 2nd fastest either way.
I stumbled around in transition trying to get my Garmin 305 unhooked from my bike then made my way onto the hilly run course. I was told I was back a minute and a half from first place. My quads were burning 2nd lap going up that last set of hills, but knew I was on my way to the lead. I caught up to the leader with about a quarter mile to go and just hung back before I put a final surge in with about 200 meters left to cross the finish in 1st. I finished the run portion around 37 minutes.
There were a few minutes there where I thought I had the fastest time, but knew that there were some older guys that could win. For those that don't know, there is a time delay between certain age groups. There was a former pro, age 41, who ended up winning by a few minutes.
Turned out I finished 3rd overall. My little detour cost me 2nd place. To me 2nd and 3rd place are pretty much the same, they are not 1st. As per usual my swim time cost me the win.
Luray is the toughest race course I do all year because of the hills. I don't train on hills and my body is not built for hills, but I love the challenge. After I race on a tough course like Luray I feel like I've accomplished something more than the normal race.
The Luray Olympic distance race was the State Qualifier for “The Best of the US National Championship Triathlon", which will take place October 10th in Mission Viejo, CA. The BOUS National Championship is an Olympic distance triathlon where the top 3 overall qualifying men and women for each state race against each other, ultimately its an individual race against the best non-pro triathletes in the country.
Since I finished in the top 3 I qualified. So I need to figure out if I can afford to travel out there.
Chances are I will not go for many reasons which include travel, hotel, and race costs, limited vaca time, having Halfmax Championships the week before and Marine Corps Marathon a couple weeks after. If that's not enough the swim is non wetsuit, the bike section is hilly and only 24 miles, the run course is hilly.. it just does not suit me right now. My strengths and weaknesses are pretty clear.
AND If that's not enough Virginia has a few faster triathletes than me (who did not race Luray therefore did not qualify)... Adam Otstot, Michael Harlow (both who you almost have to consider Pro).
Reality Check:
In order for me to have a chance at winning a National Championship Triathlon I have to swim 1500 meters under 22 minutes. Right now I am 25-26 minutes. That's about 15 seconds per 100 meters difference. I am still only swimming about 5-8 seconds faster per 100 meters than last year. So unless I can bike 2-3 minutes faster for a 40 km and run 2-3 minutes faster for a 10 km I have no chance at beating the best in the country, right now.
Moving on.. I have a Half Ironman in a month. This week I will only get to train Monday and Tuesday as I fly out to Colorado Wednesday for vacation and get back the next Tuesday. I will of coarse be hiking, running, biking in CO.. but more on that later.
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