tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54012708557061588402024-02-21T23:40:01.847-08:00Honesty and HillsSteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-75053944238698317532019-11-30T17:28:00.000-08:002019-11-30T17:28:22.198-08:00Run-Shuffle-Hike: Grand Canyon 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
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Well, it’s been about 8 months since I’ve forced myself to sit down and write a blog. To the three people who actually read this thing, one of them being my future self, here’s what’s been going on… </div>
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<b>Work</b></div>
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I became an unofficial Texas resident. Not really, but I spent a significant amount of time on a refinery in Texas between March and October. 114 of 223 days, but who’s counting? In order to avoid writing a novel and complaining, I’m going to list the first 20 words/phrases that come to mind. Heat. Humidity. So much sweat. Foundations. Inspector. Integrity. Delay. Broken machinery. Contractor. Arguments. Stop shaving? Pick-up trucks. Freezie pops. Treadmill. Water. Gatorade. Pretzels. Reading. Hotel points. Stay positive. </div>
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Between the rotations in Texas and office work in Kansas City, I raced in two events. </div>
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<b><u>Pikes Peak Marathon</u></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of Pikes Peak. First and last mile were on road.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a8MV26FaFvgerfwxuvHVDI77Z_KVij4HITs7S-2P4dg53Y-THOsiwFNKVlhZfwKzzZgznFL4IdNHhSxvQMyxl8BeJ15qF8EOvWbPWTDk_eTFy1SzDePChdfLHjvmiKZjfNUtfOxTEN2T/s1600/72414190_10216126001684373_3726592528300900352_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a8MV26FaFvgerfwxuvHVDI77Z_KVij4HITs7S-2P4dg53Y-THOsiwFNKVlhZfwKzzZgznFL4IdNHhSxvQMyxl8BeJ15qF8EOvWbPWTDk_eTFy1SzDePChdfLHjvmiKZjfNUtfOxTEN2T/s320/72414190_10216126001684373_3726592528300900352_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09gdmdTfUIoQ-7R3Z5vACMyDIXmDkHX17gbUdxpF6wxNCo3Y9OjoKD9urLRDw3kDL1ocyStdgmGxyjUGaesWORe3d4qI_LF9-X2PexiluY8zatQBKJNk3RfZuTurhLyHt0ATrSW_3k-BM/s1600/72387938_10216125994324189_8083347206641287168_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09gdmdTfUIoQ-7R3Z5vACMyDIXmDkHX17gbUdxpF6wxNCo3Y9OjoKD9urLRDw3kDL1ocyStdgmGxyjUGaesWORe3d4qI_LF9-X2PexiluY8zatQBKJNk3RfZuTurhLyHt0ATrSW_3k-BM/s320/72387938_10216125994324189_8083347206641287168_o.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
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Pikes Peak happened towards the end of August. For this race in Colorado Springs, CO, people of questionable sanity run 13 miles from Manitou Springs up to the summit of Pikes Peak (a Colorado 14’er). Over the course of the run, you climb approximately 7,000ft up the mountain. Then you turn around and destroy your legs running 13 miles back down. The event was epic. The task of running up a mountain seems relatively straight forward until you’re standing in Manitou Springs and you see how far/high you actually have to go. I’d been looking forward to the run since signing up in January. My main goal for the race was to get through it and enjoy the views and the challenge. My Achilles had started bothering me again back in May and never really healed so I honestly just managed the pain and my expectations. Since wrapping up my time in Texas, I’ve been more focused on healing and strengthening the area and would really like to get back to Pikes Peak for either the Ascent or Marathon in 2020. TBD. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwkGD6pYrwYs_JItyNnqBZXTbZPp9yighACzzeBIOXR_YZ6pZmtzMDFO03NP_DL6xcEjVaSkahmBca2nHGv0iqo-5L9N8bfke0EJ3dQhWo1218fZVF4WK4Y2TGGfYy7KZnibU96hu8wrs/s1600/72266550_10216126010684598_5473273998651424768_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwkGD6pYrwYs_JItyNnqBZXTbZPp9yighACzzeBIOXR_YZ6pZmtzMDFO03NP_DL6xcEjVaSkahmBca2nHGv0iqo-5L9N8bfke0EJ3dQhWo1218fZVF4WK4Y2TGGfYy7KZnibU96hu8wrs/s400/72266550_10216126010684598_5473273998651424768_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Chicago Marathon</u></b></div>
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In October, I ran in my first Marathon Major at the Chicago Marathon. I signed up for Chicago in the fall of 2018 with a few friends from work. I hadn’t been to Chicago in about 15 years and I appreciated the ease of mass transit. The race itself was incredible. It was hard to wrap my mind around an event with 50,000 people running. Somehow, logistics for the weekend were incredibly well organized. The 26-mile route was a great way to see the city. There crowds of people cheering and the experience has made want to partake in some of the other big-city marathons. I thoroughly enjoyed running through the various neighborhoods and experiencing the cultures along the course. Chinatown went all out with a gong and multi-person dragon costume. After Chicago, I flew directly to Texas to finish what turned out be my last field rotation for this current project. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy6iK4XM3ES-HByUJY_z_m-uXnWCPmbDb9f2rk-jyGpX0SEI1A2YTUMPSFsBl8TuNAW5ilIPkWb7pmQKA4S9lDcNMxXhmMJZCc67DUexBfbv8OOam3zmXwqq0KNh44uweiu4BOMCwTfi_/s1600/72706306_10216125993204161_5665954400577781760_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy6iK4XM3ES-HByUJY_z_m-uXnWCPmbDb9f2rk-jyGpX0SEI1A2YTUMPSFsBl8TuNAW5ilIPkWb7pmQKA4S9lDcNMxXhmMJZCc67DUexBfbv8OOam3zmXwqq0KNh44uweiu4BOMCwTfi_/s400/72706306_10216125993204161_5665954400577781760_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBZxI6m2UMqfJPVCwXHqFj371l5ElmUSUlhXyg2FPeBQr273YaRbZ1WWdDUdAgMQPyKRfXkiD7Iw1uI-3TyVkR1Swq-SZwEP_s2AXzpm99S3P2qpwaF3BPpNbwgke033-MxvoH7vbaA8F/s1600/72959033_10216125995724224_7453102120783314944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBZxI6m2UMqfJPVCwXHqFj371l5ElmUSUlhXyg2FPeBQr273YaRbZ1WWdDUdAgMQPyKRfXkiD7Iw1uI-3TyVkR1Swq-SZwEP_s2AXzpm99S3P2qpwaF3BPpNbwgke033-MxvoH7vbaA8F/s320/72959033_10216125995724224_7453102120783314944_n.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim</u></b></div>
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Towards the end of October, Matt Malone (a friend I know from my time on Team EMJ) threw out the idea of running Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim in the Grand Canyon. Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim is not an official event, but more of a bucket-list running route for runners who “enjoy” long distances, trails, lots of climbing, and beautiful views. For the traditional route, runners start at one of two trailheads on the south rim, descend into the Grand Canyon, run across the canyon, climb up the north rim of the canyon, then turn around and reverse the route. For most people, “running” alternates between running, shuffling, and power hiking depending on fitness, experience, ground slope, elapsed time, motivation, and hydration and hanger levels. The route we chose ended up being around 44 miles and included about 11,000ft of elevation gain. Running Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim was on my radar for a few years in the future, but when the opportunity came to run it in just a few weeks, I said I was in and booked my flights. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava link: <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/2870117694">https://www.strava.com/activities/2870117694</a></td></tr>
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Matt had previously run R2R2R a few years ago with an extremely impressive split. This time around he was looking for some company and wanted to take things a little slower (thankfully). Our group of five guys probably set a record for the least amount of communication before an event like this. 200 words tops. Somehow, everyone made it to the Airbnb in Flagstaff and we had a 30 minute discussion for our plan of attack the next morning before going to bed around 10pm. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew</td></tr>
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After an hour-ish drive, we parked about 0.8 miles from the trailhead to guarantee our vehicles wouldn’t get towed. We started down South Kaibab trail a little after 6am. The full moon provided a surprising amount of light and the high 30s temperature was perfect. The South Kaibab into the canyon is around 7 miles long and descends about 5,000ft. Within a few minutes on the notoriously steep trail, the temperature had risen, and my quads were already protesting. We luckily timed our start to miss the mules who descend into the canyon every morning carrying water and supplies to the small huts at Phantom Ranch. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down South Kaibab</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise going down South Kaibab</td></tr>
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The views were incredible from 5 minutes in. The moonlight and progressing sunrise allowed us to see our surroundings. One positive to not starting at 4am was that we could see the views while we were still excited and mentally engaged (8-10 hrs later would be another story). While the trail was plenty wide, the drop-offs were very steep. This was my first time to the Grand Canyon and the shear size of the ditch was impressive. The geology gradually changed as we descended, and the temperature continued to climb. We stopped a few times on the descent to take in the views, but after a little more than an hour, we reached the suspension bridge over the Colorado River. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Colorado River</td></tr>
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All five of us regrouped and the smarter people in our group (not me) topped off their water. As we continued on across the canyon, Matt and I ran together up the gradual slope. Running up the canyon was wild. There was a small stream going down the center with 20-30ft floodplains full of vegetation on either side. The trail crossed back and forth over the river using a number of small bridges but otherwise hugged one wall of the canyon. The footing was good and the only obstacles that really made us alter our strides were small rock walls (maybe 1-1.5 feet high) that were set up across the trail what felt like every 50 feet to help prevent erosion. At this point in the day, it was easy enough to hop over them, but I knew five hours from now, they would feel much higher and faceplanting would be a serious concern. Matt and I remarked on the views, played with his GoPro, and generally ran together for the 11 miles of slow incline. The weather was ideal; mid to high 50’s with no wind. We crossed paths several times with other groups of runners and hikers all out enjoying their day. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running up the canyon</td></tr>
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Eventually we reached the base of the climb up the north rim which was not nearly as steep as South Kaibab. We’d already gained a significant amount of elevation running across the canyon. The 2-3% feels flat while your running, but over 11 miles, the incline adds up. The real climb up the north rim was about five miles. We agreed to try and “run” (more like shuffle) for short bursts of distance then walk when the trail became too steep. On several occasions throughout the climb, the trail doubled back and provided a view of where we’d come from. The views were beautiful looking back down the canyon at the switchbacks we’d just climbed. Then we remembered we still weren’t yet half-way done... </div>
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About two miles from the top of the north rim I realized I was going to run out of water. To start the day, I’d naively filled my hydration bladder with a little over 1 liter of water and had another 500ml of electrolytes in a soft bottle. My thought process was that I didn’t want to descend with more weight than necessary (because that was really going to save my quads), and I thought I could make it all the way across the canyon before needing to refill. Though Matt had been very clear that water at the north rim was turned off at this time of the year, I skipped the opportunities to fill up along the way. Though running out of water was inevitable, I wasn’t too worried. I’d been in similar situations before and knew I could deal with being uncomfortable for two-ish hours. I reminded myself to stay calm, manage my effort, and rehydrate once the opportunity arose. We climbed our way from the exposed canyon wall through the forest and topped out at the north rim. During the climb, the temperature had gone back down, closer to 45-50 degrees. Once at the top, Matt and I took in some food and chilled out for about 10 minutes. I had a handful of pretzels, a bar, and finished off my water. Admittedly, it was risky to not leave any room for error by saving a sip, but I knew the trail back to water was all downhill. That and I wanted to fully swallow my food. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back from the North Rim</td></tr>
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We re-packed our bags and headed back down the north rim. After a couple miles, we ran into Corey, Dillon, and Eric. They were in good spirits and doing well but moving a little slower than they wanted. They provided some encouraging information that water was only 3-4 more miles away. Matt had run out of water, too. This stretch from the north rim to the small creek crossing with a water spigot was likely the most challenging part in the day for me. The section included miles 22-27, the sun was completely out, and, because we were back in the canyon, the temperature had risen. I’ve had some scary triathlon and training experiences in the past where I didn’t drink enough fluids and started losing coordination and mental processing power. During most races, I know I can keep the effort level high because if something happens, there are enough people around who can drag me off the course, elevate my legs, give me some ice, and stick an IV in me. On the other hand, if something were to happen in the canyon, help would take much longer and there are far fewer resources. Safe to say, Matt and I were relieved once we reached the spigot. I guzzled 2 liters of water and ate more pretzels. I also topped off my hydration bladder and pulled out my sandwich bag of electrolyte mix to refill my soft bottle. Matt pounded water as well and we agreed we felt like new men. If there’s one thing endurance sports and long days of exercising teaches you, it’s how to be in tune with your body and what it needs. After several years, I’m more aware of those feelings and have also learned that on long days you have enough time to get back on track if you fall behind on water, salt, or calories. </div>
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Matt and I stripped off our tights and headed back out onto the trail. We had about 11 miles of slight downhill back through the canyon. We both anticipated that climb out would likely include a lot of power hiking because we’d be 38 miles in and the climb was very steep. With that in mind, we both pushed hard to make the most of the remaining terrain we could run. With my fluids topped off, I felt fantastic. My legs were feeling the fatigue, and those mini rock walls were extremely antagonizing, but I kept turning my feet over. By the time we made it to the base of the climb, I’d gone through all my water, again. We topped fluids off, ate another snack, then began the climb back up the south rim. </div>
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In my head, I thought two hours to cover six miles was reasonable. We started chipping away at the distance. Within 10 minutes, we looked back and were already amazed by how far we’d climbed above the river. Matt and I both had good energy left but running up South Kaibab wasn’t going to happen. We passed the time talking and commenting on the sights. After an hour, we came across a few sections of trail we could shuffle. About two miles from the rim, we reached a false summit where a lot of people had hiked down to and gathered for photo ops. Matt and I regrouped for the final push. </div>
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I soaked up this feeling of fatigue. Rarely do we appreciate all the work it took to get to that level before finishing. We’re too impatient and want it all to be over. How many hours did it take to get to that feeling at mile 90 of the gravel century? It takes people 8 hours (or more!) to get to that feeling of 22 miles into an Ironman marathon. We were 8 hours into our R2R2R journey, and we still had 2 miles to go. With time, I’ve tried to recognize the fact that we don’t get to do these epic long-ass days every weekend and that it sometimes takes 8 hours of non-stopping moving to get those levels of pain and emotion. These feelings are addicting, and I was loving it. </div>
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We pushed on and eventually forced ourselves to jog the last few steps up to the south rim. After a few pictures at the rim, we headed to the car. The south rim was much busier than when we’d started, and we got a number of concerned stares from people sitting on the shuttle bus watching us hobble up the road. Someone with a walker probably could have made faster progress… </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankful for these legs for carrying me</td></tr>
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The entire run/shuffle/hike took us about 8.5 hours. We were pleased with our effort. While we agreed we could have gone faster, we knew the next few days of recovery would be much shorter because we didn’t go too deep. On our way back to the AirBnb, we stopped at a general store where I found some stunning postcards and got myself sports drink, a coke, and some chocolate milk. After cleaning up, Yelp directed us to a Mexican restaurant in downtown Flagstaff which we promptly followed up with ice cream. After a few hours, we heard from Cory that they’d made it safely out of the canyon. Their day had been longer than anticipated but they’d finished and had a great time. </div>
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My legs were understandably wrecked for two days after the Grand Canyon, but I forced myself to do some easy riding and swimming to keep blood flowing. The hardest parts of that first week was getting out of bed when I seriously was worried about falling over on the way to the bathroom. </div>
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One thing I’ve understood more this year is that waiting for perfect circumstances doesn’t necessarily guarantee things will pan out. Sometimes the best trips, friendships, and memories come from taking the first step and figuring out the rest as you go. Getting to share the highs and lows of any experience with a few other people makes all the difference. Another reason why sports are great. </div>
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With the occurrence of Thanksgiving this past weekend, I hope everyone had a great holiday and I’m thankful to have friends that push and inspire me. Stay in touch and let me know if you have any epic exercising/adventuring/exploring planned. </div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day. </div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-34081652771021618982019-03-22T14:35:00.001-07:002019-03-22T14:35:33.088-07:00Moab Red Hot 55k 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
You know that feeling of happiness when you come home to your dog?<br />
You open the door, and there they are, excitement and joy emanating in 20 different ways. They jump up and down, tail wagging so hard their body wriggles back and forth. They spin in circles, run laps around the room, and bring offerings of chewed up and drooled on stuffed animals. And the smile, so big they sneeze repeatedly until you provide adequate attention. That dog is like me when I finally get back to the mountains. Except with less sneezing. And I don’t have a tail to wag. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dem SLC mountains</td></tr>
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A few weeks ago I traveled west to the mountains in Utah to run in the Moab Red Hot 55k trail race. I flew from KC to Salt Lake City, spent a night there, and met up with my parents. Ernie and his girlfriend, Emily, live in Salt Lake City joined the party the next day and we all drove the 3.5 hours to Moab. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parents know how to stock the freezer!</td></tr>
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Moab is incredible. The landscapes are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The mountains are big and don’t have many trees. One of the reasons for wanting to do the Red Hot 55k was that I wanted to explore Moab. I could write an entire blog about the national parks we saw on this trip, but I’d be covering a very small percentage of what the area has to offer. Instead, I’ll focus this blog on the race and throw in some of our exploring pictures from completely different days. Another reason I wanted to run the Red Hot 55k was because of the competition. The race attracts high level runners and provides a stimulating course. </div>
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The day of the race we awoke to a few inches of snow. The night before, the weather app had shown a 40% chance of snow. I was slightly disappointed because I had been looking forward to running fast and I knew the snow would make traction more difficult. Especially on the “slickrock” the course was known for. But all I could do was roll with it. As I’ve taken more laps around the sun, I’ve accepted weather as something out of my control. Everyone racing has to deal with the same conditions. </div>
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I added a few base layers before heading to the start line to get my run on. I truly love snow and it made for beautiful scenery. All the runners congregated on a gravel road, at the base of a few large hills we’d soon run up. After a quick national anthem and count down, we were off. </div>
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Immediately, a group of guys tough enough to wear shorts in 30 degree weather separated themselves. I recognized a few well-known runners in the group. Also, the fact that they were fast/tough/proud/dumb enough to wear shorts in snow led me to believe this was “the fast group”. I wanted to be like them. But with manpris. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGAhM9ZqQrTsY6_NLZJ27FQWdWuObUXIUwWAadbm2EHmQxrBzFJYz6uG8peyGT2Km4gsMVxnZ2g_j9Dtlt55RJNdViSZULCxzZPeua8BOhEc4fjdNBLOG8e0hZs-4TU4SPRjQKFjSWzJb/s1600/Strava.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGAhM9ZqQrTsY6_NLZJ27FQWdWuObUXIUwWAadbm2EHmQxrBzFJYz6uG8peyGT2Km4gsMVxnZ2g_j9Dtlt55RJNdViSZULCxzZPeua8BOhEc4fjdNBLOG8e0hZs-4TU4SPRjQKFjSWzJb/s400/Strava.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava link <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/2154006621" target="_blank">here </a></td></tr>
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I burned a match and caught up with the back of the pack making us a group of 6. The first mile or so went by quickly. A few of the guys knew each other and chatted casually. We took turns slipping and stumbling in the snow. I made my way to the back of the group to watch where their feet lost traction so I knew not to step in the same spot. While racing, I prefer to not look at my pace/watch because I want to feed off those around me, and overthinking sucks. However, being in a fast and competitive group like this was new territory for me in a 4+ hour running race. After a mile or so, I glanced at my pace. We were cruising mid to low 6 min miles. I knew I was in decent shape, but running sub 6:30 miles in the beginning of a 34 mile race was asking for a lot of myself. As soon as I started to see the pace dip below 6 min/miles on some slight downhill and flat sections, I knew I needed to slow down. The small layer of snow was not holding these guys back. </div>
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I gradually let a gap open and began running my own race. Since there wasn’t anyone near me from behind, I was quickly in “No Man’s Land”. </div>
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Near mile five I began a long climb that eventually led me to the highest point on the course around mile 10. I felt good running uphill. The steepness and snow felt manageable. I slowed up at a few intersections because I needed a moment to find the footprints in the snow from the group of five in front of me. After a decent amount of climbing, I made it to the slickrock. I took my time, knowing there were many miles ahead and perhaps the sun would melt the thin layer of ice covering the slickrock. I was little glad to be on my own so no one could see me daintily stepping around ice patches in my manpris. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5afHwgPrmaRGtH3U_oreKtmeZZIZkTQ-APPFrf7IkdkWaR9mXncMj11TQtNAaFWckM9WuHAfrKYyuqG8e2RSAv8ruX-L9wAmfQkQE_ra2T5FHW1uNfThe6_D74RxlCRn55QOAVeIxyCA9/s1600/IMG_2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5afHwgPrmaRGtH3U_oreKtmeZZIZkTQ-APPFrf7IkdkWaR9mXncMj11TQtNAaFWckM9WuHAfrKYyuqG8e2RSAv8ruX-L9wAmfQkQE_ra2T5FHW1uNfThe6_D74RxlCRn55QOAVeIxyCA9/s400/IMG_2492.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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The slickrock terrain was a completely new experience. The area was open, and oftentimes it was challenging to see where the trail went. Unlike a trail in the woods where a path is eroded, everything looked to be worn the same. To guide runners, short sections of pink ribbon had been tied around bushes or tree limbs every 100 feet or so. Though it felt frustratingly slow, I made steady progress along the climb up to the highest point following flashes of pink and footprints in the snow. Again, like the weather, the necessary route-finding was out of my control and everyone encountered the same situation. In my head I knew it would have been much easier to find my way with sureness if I’d been able to keep “the fast group” in sight or had some experience with the route. </div>
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After gaining a small amount of confidence on the slickrock, I refocused on moving forward with purpose. My competitive mindset was still in control. It was a long race and I thought I could find a rhythm heading downhill from the highest point and maybe catch a few people fading in the second half. As I began descending, I was treated with one of the most epic sights I’ve experienced while running. As the trail momentarily transitioned from slickrock to dirt, no more than 15 feet to the right of where we ran was a massive drop off. We were running on the edge of a canyon. </div>
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I picked up speed on the downhill, thanked some people at an aid station, guessed (correctly) which way the course went at another intersection, and generally kept turning my legs over. My stomach had a few moments where it felt unsettled so I slowed and appreciated the views. The landscape was truly spectacular. I was completely surrounded by open space with big mountains off in the distance. For as far as I could see there was no signs of civilization. I loved it. Miles 18-21 the course climbed again on fire roads before reaching more slickrock. With a rough understanding of the course profile, I knew I needed to push for three or four more miles of climbing before I’d, theoretically, get an extended descent to the finish. </div>
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The sun had thawed out the thin layer of snow and ice by the time I reach more slickrock. For this, I was thankful. Unfortunately, I was once again regularly stalled trying to discern which direction the course went. The only experience I was drawing on was my previous navigation “successes” about 15 miles earlier. I knew to look for pink ribbons as well as runners doing the 33k distance who should be becoming visible to me as well. Eventually, I caught up to a runner who had been in the front group of six and we were able to make decent progress together. In general, we’d reach a large, open section of slickrock, lose the trail, spin in a circle a few times, spread out, walk to the left, walk to the right, recite the ABC’s backwards (kidding), then one of us would say “over here” and off we’d trot. As much as I wanted to keep running, as the terrain was runnable, a number of times I went the wrong direction only to be called back towards the correct trail. We were about two and a half hours into the race, I was low on energy, and was getting irritated because it felt like I wasn’t making steady progress towards the finish. After having to come to an extended complete stop a few times, I realized that “competing” was no longer a priority. A fast time and racing people would have to take a rear seat. I shifted my outlook to appreciate the opportunity I had by simply taking in the views and experience. </div>
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I took my time at an aid station by chugging some water and taking in extra calories to get my head back in the game. Still running with the other guy from “the fast group”, we started catching some runners who were doing the 33k. (They had started later and were doing an abbreviated course which included the last 15ish miles of ours.) This provided some relief because every now and then we were able to sight a few figures in the distance to speed up our route-finding. Many of the slickrock sections had painted, white dashes that served as a beacon in these moments of confusion. Still, there were sometimes large gaps between the dashed lines, or I’d overrun a turn and miss one, inevitably coming to a complete stop before backtracking after not seeing a line for a minute. This added mental strain was not something I had expected, but it made the event feel more like an adventure and complete experience. Problem solving on the go naturally happens in endurance events, and this was just another challenge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4b9N2E90UoC9Smf71bXKQocexMIBEd1kCrWVja5pyy6_rZldIUrjZss4gJqm5bGrxluxSxA0apRq8vKAVmyj-H2eTNg4jkoc7m0WuTHr7xjvrVnUvHiQRA9Rx1n8YSQ4MoexiEmqUpevU/s1600/scenic-route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4b9N2E90UoC9Smf71bXKQocexMIBEd1kCrWVja5pyy6_rZldIUrjZss4gJqm5bGrxluxSxA0apRq8vKAVmyj-H2eTNg4jkoc7m0WuTHr7xjvrVnUvHiQRA9Rx1n8YSQ4MoexiEmqUpevU/s400/scenic-route.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eventually, I made it to the marathon distance. I was looking forward to the fire road and being able to “zone out” my navigating brain while I descended. But there was more slickrock in store. Three or four miles more. The course took us over several slickrock sections that included a number of short but very steep climbs. Knowing that I had another hour or so of running, I took my time at anaid station, pounding two cups of Coke and some M&Ms. I knew the Coke’s sugar and caffeine would help give me one last push before I reached the fireroads. Moab is well known for off-roading and this course was a Jeep’s Disneyland. We encountered number of Jeeps out having the time of their lives, no Coke necessary. </div>
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I gradually caught up to more of the 33k runners and we all headed towards the finish together. I soaked up the last three miles on the fireroad as I saw a paved road off in the distance for the first time in 3+ hours. A few spectators had hiked in a little ways from the finish and provided some much appreciated encouragement. A few steep switchbacks later, I ran my way across the finish line. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrS26kzGvvURK02hQCGE-MrKdom652NTzzZ0C2fH98lkIG1Sx9VY2IPq0vlqJK0yBvELH1jz1LEUbWjeL6Ov_0gIf1z67-KlhlZE5qNsCYaPHxZUo_rWfoeatqp35qac9INTmBZPJmIow/s1600/IMG_0940+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrS26kzGvvURK02hQCGE-MrKdom652NTzzZ0C2fH98lkIG1Sx9VY2IPq0vlqJK0yBvELH1jz1LEUbWjeL6Ov_0gIf1z67-KlhlZE5qNsCYaPHxZUo_rWfoeatqp35qac9INTmBZPJmIow/s400/IMG_0940+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITrZ2lGspkcmk_mU5RbmLt4hTgMvhV8OgGVmyg0jVXdUlTNlKLmG8n9YOBX_VQn9XH7mHb3Gezbkz7IZsprp-C3oVnHAkLLFnT8ZwQf-nOfGyJT-iS_fGtuwBHnrlMZ8RfXDnbnqvmfyo/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITrZ2lGspkcmk_mU5RbmLt4hTgMvhV8OgGVmyg0jVXdUlTNlKLmG8n9YOBX_VQn9XH7mHb3Gezbkz7IZsprp-C3oVnHAkLLFnT8ZwQf-nOfGyJT-iS_fGtuwBHnrlMZ8RfXDnbnqvmfyo/s400/IMG_0951.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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Overall, this race was a blast. I can’t emphasize the beauty of the location and course enough. I would love to return at some point in the future to run it again, hopefully without snow. If nothing else, I need more time to explore. </div>
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In the days around the race, we explored Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse National Parks. All the parks were beautiful, unique, and much larger than I was anticipating. The pictures do not do this place justice. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhOzHLA96-tsQzMpmFVqIW9y3jxyWCptUgpu0aw12RKxQjRAC5zcybSSpgwf_uWpuj_b2HMKivFrT5Mj5jam1Nd2JQtdvc4zQlvzNHvbUdAtjWyG5toANywXKBsnWZNST3STfvVE98POG/s1600/IMG_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhOzHLA96-tsQzMpmFVqIW9y3jxyWCptUgpu0aw12RKxQjRAC5zcybSSpgwf_uWpuj_b2HMKivFrT5Mj5jam1Nd2JQtdvc4zQlvzNHvbUdAtjWyG5toANywXKBsnWZNST3STfvVE98POG/s320/IMG_0980.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe24dntHIEDw01hLbTCX_gj7eqa_By9-uZQ4-W5kvAGtLOG1kt16NU0uQNEMJnoG2zz3Oc37wOw7LYZ0AbSPUb_SPZl4yqO4YNYewcrmTWNZwCn9GeVGyye7eFr6HbyX8GhCKKm-cPJYD/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe24dntHIEDw01hLbTCX_gj7eqa_By9-uZQ4-W5kvAGtLOG1kt16NU0uQNEMJnoG2zz3Oc37wOw7LYZ0AbSPUb_SPZl4yqO4YNYewcrmTWNZwCn9GeVGyye7eFr6HbyX8GhCKKm-cPJYD/s320/IMG_0991.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Massive thank you to my parents for supporting me on the weekend and tolerating a slightly sketchy hiking route we insisted on in Canyonlands National Park. </div>
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I have a few races I’m excited around the August – October timeline but for the next few months I plan to focus on work and gaining more field experience. I gain a lot of satisfaction my work as an engineer and appreciate the balance it provides my life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_J5uXiVmU8UYphNvreya6BQSq2JnA1rEK2AKSbb0h-E-RTJQabxrNS1rbW_0FPGODMD8Ko4YOedBF6p9T59auPZ8SG-893HEDnjI2CXTBkyu7DyiTUV5mJiFz0AA8lXH040748rZav9e/s1600/IMG_0239+2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_J5uXiVmU8UYphNvreya6BQSq2JnA1rEK2AKSbb0h-E-RTJQabxrNS1rbW_0FPGODMD8Ko4YOedBF6p9T59auPZ8SG-893HEDnjI2CXTBkyu7DyiTUV5mJiFz0AA8lXH040748rZav9e/s400/IMG_0239+2+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcTKK2o8bhlX8d_ti6xQ1tywWQcfZ9lWq9AsbGZWTFVc16bT78P0Ol5PEH5OFZOMcQBzBgweo4fX4BOgIDhld_5DjCJGOPg1Pkg8UK6_7HnQcF7ylf_3t9FahEtSfcmt58mSxYNa20_Wt/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcTKK2o8bhlX8d_ti6xQ1tywWQcfZ9lWq9AsbGZWTFVc16bT78P0Ol5PEH5OFZOMcQBzBgweo4fX4BOgIDhld_5DjCJGOPg1Pkg8UK6_7HnQcF7ylf_3t9FahEtSfcmt58mSxYNa20_Wt/s400/IMG_2407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ek-HRS8tAebiibM7S8n1bjApMyrnjqoOL6byy-orGQ8TaciOr3A2uwFg7Fd1aefh5Kbr82j8uDpL4oepVcBI_S8j010A-b2R3hLJ39f_Zg8f5FGei6TzylqQOvqQf2a-QYo8BuNoWOdQ/s1600/IMG_2423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ek-HRS8tAebiibM7S8n1bjApMyrnjqoOL6byy-orGQ8TaciOr3A2uwFg7Fd1aefh5Kbr82j8uDpL4oepVcBI_S8j010A-b2R3hLJ39f_Zg8f5FGei6TzylqQOvqQf2a-QYo8BuNoWOdQ/s400/IMG_2423.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9ktH4HlsD4e3Ldx29p4xweicWfwfuIGBJoIQf8pIg4GNgsCOtejA1R4pc8ifWxAHUl2QfI1qe7X0FSxwkBQijzvaQnz2vVIqf5VlY_9W2hCFQM0da-VBVT0lr-1vbEBO85gmwgwTv4zO/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9ktH4HlsD4e3Ldx29p4xweicWfwfuIGBJoIQf8pIg4GNgsCOtejA1R4pc8ifWxAHUl2QfI1qe7X0FSxwkBQijzvaQnz2vVIqf5VlY_9W2hCFQM0da-VBVT0lr-1vbEBO85gmwgwTv4zO/s400/IMG_2428.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some very cool petroglyphs (rock art) we saw after the race </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-05KXZ3HXklGncmmCJ4T9Ve646q9siEBpZCT4oFoQ-LMJ6yBPrSrup5l21xLvQCM-JevL5svk0a2LvamQPOyQV0UsGKQ1kLbIy8vP5ldBT6LCqLFU6ibHLnnImVhXFgQkoV2LIH-cnc3u/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-05KXZ3HXklGncmmCJ4T9Ve646q9siEBpZCT4oFoQ-LMJ6yBPrSrup5l21xLvQCM-JevL5svk0a2LvamQPOyQV0UsGKQ1kLbIy8vP5ldBT6LCqLFU6ibHLnnImVhXFgQkoV2LIH-cnc3u/s400/IMG_2495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Canyonlands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKB7Ge2idUOoIulzYrji_oBp1wg2xJdAvA9dYeunI4SyzDy76uGkxEUH2_h_Y3Amo-Az9N6t-LxyE8PfQDZKUXevTmby2JtIwdUdWUyZWwupNEESBQ0_63Nfi51ZDeaU76FZYSazWzhYT/s1600/IMG_2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKB7Ge2idUOoIulzYrji_oBp1wg2xJdAvA9dYeunI4SyzDy76uGkxEUH2_h_Y3Amo-Az9N6t-LxyE8PfQDZKUXevTmby2JtIwdUdWUyZWwupNEESBQ0_63Nfi51ZDeaU76FZYSazWzhYT/s400/IMG_2500.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An arch forming in Canyonlands NP</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREIOskMZ0VqLew-D-_ufrslUuvGUmP00w6nsNv9S2LyaJkW9hjNVKrXs6ZTG5tUGOynLRLx7WQMaAnKyx5vX18heLIohEUE1ZzkC445KNiYJnpvTkMfGXNLhlnSKnJyRy0qjYQ5UtosRH/s1600/IMG_2511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREIOskMZ0VqLew-D-_ufrslUuvGUmP00w6nsNv9S2LyaJkW9hjNVKrXs6ZTG5tUGOynLRLx7WQMaAnKyx5vX18heLIohEUE1ZzkC445KNiYJnpvTkMfGXNLhlnSKnJyRy0qjYQ5UtosRH/s400/IMG_2511.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfDucONEdzlWPwiPp50rEHNRnRftzTgtmiGFqGcMAlf7WbwHIfe3djo3CZq2V5LKKzwEqelpo_H6MG21ecGN6sASPZfGwV8N7rWXRc8li7a7QUCOCOTSd0G0nYkq6Ww0tter4G4IdOLZO/s1600/IMG_2543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfDucONEdzlWPwiPp50rEHNRnRftzTgtmiGFqGcMAlf7WbwHIfe3djo3CZq2V5LKKzwEqelpo_H6MG21ecGN6sASPZfGwV8N7rWXRc8li7a7QUCOCOTSd0G0nYkq6Ww0tter4G4IdOLZO/s400/IMG_2543.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead Horse Nat'l Park - One of the most famous views</td></tr>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-60919797198395558872019-02-01T14:31:00.002-08:002019-02-01T14:39:17.019-08:00David's Trail Endurance Run<div style="text-align: center;">
For the past five years I’ve had a birthday tradition.<br />
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It started out tame. Swim 10,000 yards one year, ride 25 x 1 min HARD the next…essentially, do a “large” workout that somehow involves the number of the age I am turning. I quickly realized my addictive personality made me want to “one-up” the previous year's workout…every year. To save my 40-year-old future self a trip to the hospital, I’ve come to peace with doing a workout or event that will simply make my inevitable aging more memorable. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBuTmArZVhnOGZp522q7Q3lSrEUj-68cTw1HAqnV11cAhj9oJuPjEKHv8ZZjeYeoqO6sHHe0BOeNWrnf0pNI6n_R76WUeysOiBJYV69ZzfM4tY3Zc727AGSETIyzemIv0rMfPRAJBBPso/s1600/IMG_2315.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBuTmArZVhnOGZp522q7Q3lSrEUj-68cTw1HAqnV11cAhj9oJuPjEKHv8ZZjeYeoqO6sHHe0BOeNWrnf0pNI6n_R76WUeysOiBJYV69ZzfM4tY3Zc727AGSETIyzemIv0rMfPRAJBBPso/s400/IMG_2315.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snacks on snacks</td></tr>
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Last week I turned 27. To celebrate, I drove four and a half hours south to Mountain Home, Arkansas to run in a 50k trail running race. (David's Trail Endurance Run) Arkansas was new to me and I was a little scared when the navigation included several gravel roads! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUMhzCYeARD_YNUxhvoYM-eitys2VCYiwId-zCXOl7KAq02DEEr4DEuymfKafuweuLTz_kSoJ4vA9vGJFHKR9_MaKDgBV8rIIhSoDZE7nz5QxQWjS8khcWcBb4_McWLPobvKarl7Tzu-J/s1600/Drive+overview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUMhzCYeARD_YNUxhvoYM-eitys2VCYiwId-zCXOl7KAq02DEEr4DEuymfKafuweuLTz_kSoJ4vA9vGJFHKR9_MaKDgBV8rIIhSoDZE7nz5QxQWjS8khcWcBb4_McWLPobvKarl7Tzu-J/s400/Drive+overview.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I successfully maneuvered myself over the dirt roads and arrived Friday afternoon with plenty of time. The "scenic" hotel I’d found sat overlooking a lake and was about a five minute drive to Rocking Chair Resort where the event would start and finish. After checking in, I scoped out the course via my preferred touring method: running. I was pumped. The trails were hilly and much more “technical” than I’d foreseen (aka you needed to watch where you put your feet, so you don't face-plant). There were roots, rocks, and small stream crossings. With the precipitation and colder weather predicted to roll in, the race was sure to be challenging but memorable! </div>
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<b>Race Morning</b></div>
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Saturday morning I woke up around 5am and set about making PB & banana toast. And, of course, coffee. Shout out to Mom and Dad for the bomb coffee thermos that doubles as a french press! After checking my phone’s weather app, I stepped outside and confirmed, it was raining…and 37 degrees! Fantastic. I then proceeded to act like a teenage girl getting dressed for school by changing my wardrobe no less than 8 times. Tights or no tights? Jacket or no jacket? Will my head get too hot in this hat? It’s a minor miracle I made it to Rocking Chair at 730am. The weather called for the rain to stick around for a couple more hours before turning to snow. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day before trail pictures</td></tr>
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No more than 30 questionably sane individuals congregated under a tent near the start line. We huddled like penguins to stave off being wet for a few extra minutes before the race began. The race director quickly queued up and projected a recording of “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU0SZXcNNbY" target="_blank">the Asian girl singing the national anthem</a>”. (I highly recommend watching 7-year-old Malea belt out the tune.) Not sure if it was from the rain and cold or the epic national anthem performance, but I shivered! Then we were off. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overall Course Map</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The 50k course began with a 7k (4.5 miles) loop which took us approximately back to the starting point. After the short loop, we would head away from Rocking Chair Resort for a 27ish mile out and back section. Jake, one of race directors, had informed me the 7k loop was the most technical part of the course. </span></div>
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Another guy and I, Jeff, quickly split from the main group and began running together. I think we both wanted to warm up! After a few minutes of running, I began to relax and enjoy the twisting and turning of the trail. Jeff and I talked a bit. He was preparing for Black Canyons 100k and using this race as a stepping stone. Jeff and a few friends had driven eight hours from Texas! I volunteered that I'd had the great privilege of working in Texas for 12 hour days in the sauna that July is. Jeff empathized and, thus, we had connected. Nevertheless, we were running a similar pace and it was very enjoyable to have company!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4c12m0vzr_kYgnedveUC0Xxf9Xa_LPimLV7qD_-EJyH1LQS3Q6Y44KeyY1mA9lWrqtIN3bMnoNkbvfv8KmG3S4DxooUuikClAH76CxuGLSLjGiG4b1sGVVOGK-SyLdysZWcxwR6okpvC/s1600/IMG_2347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1280" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4c12m0vzr_kYgnedveUC0Xxf9Xa_LPimLV7qD_-EJyH1LQS3Q6Y44KeyY1mA9lWrqtIN3bMnoNkbvfv8KmG3S4DxooUuikClAH76CxuGLSLjGiG4b1sGVVOGK-SyLdysZWcxwR6okpvC/s400/IMG_2347.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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With the addition of the rain, I ran cautiously to avoid wiping out. While the surrounding trees provided decent shelter from the rain and wind, my clothes gradually became damp then soaked. A number of creek crossings early on ensured my feet would get to experience a similar level of moisture. I occasionally checked my watch and started taking in gels after about 30 minutes. Jeff and I soon looped back to the starting area, waved “hello”, thanked a few brave volunteers, and started out on the longer out and back section of the course. </div>
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The trail widened a bit which allowed Jeff and I to mimic two animals naively sauntering towards Noah's Ark. While the short, punchy hills remained, the surface lacked the rocks and roots and instead included some soppy, wet moss. Coming into the Panther Bay aid station around mile 9, I’d stopped to pee and trailed Jeff by about a minute. In and out of the aid station, we ran across a highway bridge. Up ahead, Jeff ran on the left side of the road; separated from the cars by a line of bright, orange cones. Out on the bridge, there were no trees to shelter us and Mother Nature let us know we were exposed. The wind gusted and made the rain feel like pellets hitting my face. Talk about a birthday treat! I could see Jeff up ahead and ran hard to close the gap between us. By the end of the pavement, we were back running together. </div>
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We quickly dipped back into the shelter of the trees after crossing the bridge. The subtle beauty of the Midwest trails was not lost to me. Off to the left, where the trees were thinner, I could see the water we'd just run across. The steep hills had faded to become much more rolling terrain. We ran across a few smaller county roads, occasionally crossing paths with Jake who was cheering from his car! After 30 more minutes, maybe about two hours into the race, the rain turned to snow. I guess the weather app got that part right! To me, running in snow makes everything seem peaceful, and I was loving it. </div>
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I was feeling good and started upping my effort. I could hear Jeff behind me at certain points but footfalls gradually faded. I refilled my bottles at an aid station and pressed on. The last five miles to the far turnaround where challenging. I still felt strong, but some of the footing was far from ideal. With all the rain, and now snow, there were numerous sections of trail that had standing water. My feet were already wet, so, I ran straight through the puddles. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x8HAUolLCrZqpg1Uapn_rR1iyAGlWGOdJ2e1LBG4k1wvgK1DyxcfVMWCeIqjyI8qY7Mh22_lEUucNuXWsxsenCpsuh1ahH1waUas9DYkYYJHql7PxhN0cP75ZhHUpBiP4pXVw11q2BS0/s1600/strava+profile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="969" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x8HAUolLCrZqpg1Uapn_rR1iyAGlWGOdJ2e1LBG4k1wvgK1DyxcfVMWCeIqjyI8qY7Mh22_lEUucNuXWsxsenCpsuh1ahH1waUas9DYkYYJHql7PxhN0cP75ZhHUpBiP4pXVw11q2BS0/s400/strava+profile.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation profile from <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/2089869049" target="_blank">Strava</a></td></tr>
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On my way out to the turnaround, I came to a complete stop three times. The first time I stopped was when I came to an old trolley track that was sloping downhill and suspended a few feet off the ground. I have the opposite of "mad hops" so I took my time crossing over the tracks. The second time I stopped was for crossing a small ravine. The ravine had a 10 to 15 foot drop on either side. Very steep rocks on either side were made extra slippery with the addition of the rain and snow. Several ropes with knots in them had been tied to trees on each side to help us descend and ascend the ravine. As elegant as I am, I somehow ended up with mud on my face. The third time I came to a complete stop was when I was adjusting one of my gloves and decided to eat dirt. For the most part, I was able to brake my fall with my hands. Bonus points because instead of nailing some rocks, I fell into a large puddle. After making sure I hadn’t done any serious damage, I wrung out my soaked gloves and carried on. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cAS6KnpeVIc4nm7Ff7s3bS75zQ_n8Uxjdil7XjltdiolgloQMAHErRwk36XfKaueX9iECAaANE5XCMVrq4j8aekrsp2cuQPGPOxY8RLppeuzuymiXLKmWV-aoSdacZapDaBTMek5XPoI/s1600/little+kid+hoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1024" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cAS6KnpeVIc4nm7Ff7s3bS75zQ_n8Uxjdil7XjltdiolgloQMAHErRwk36XfKaueX9iECAaANE5XCMVrq4j8aekrsp2cuQPGPOxY8RLppeuzuymiXLKmWV-aoSdacZapDaBTMek5XPoI/s400/little+kid+hoop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only hoop I will EVER dunk on...</td></tr>
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The last two and a half miles to the turnaround (located at about mile 17) included two very large, very steep climbs. Thankfully, the course at this point was on dirt roads where traction was still decent. I was able to slowly granny jog my way up and over the hills. I reached the far turn around, told Jake the last section had been cruel, grabbed a few M&M’s, and trudged back up the climbs.<br />
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The snow had started to pick up and I noticed my hands were getting cold whenever I took my gloves off to eat. Even though I was thoroughly enjoying my birthday celebration, a number of miles along the section back to the trolley crossing started testing my nerves. I hadn’t noticed it as much on the way out, but a large section of the trail was off-camber and angled down towards the water. The footing was OK, but the running felt very awkward! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpIz2PsS3eSU2dq4VAkEZbQTrak-nqYiBWjGNHNnI2qVpmvBkuKGWsUb-xohtDQh1-bWHN_vhbgQfXq7uxbTMJ17PO2qr1UMxXoInoesFmQPP6dvFbW6vNVjpBbF7OVoEdVU7uSpFBXrb/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpIz2PsS3eSU2dq4VAkEZbQTrak-nqYiBWjGNHNnI2qVpmvBkuKGWsUb-xohtDQh1-bWHN_vhbgQfXq7uxbTMJ17PO2qr1UMxXoInoesFmQPP6dvFbW6vNVjpBbF7OVoEdVU7uSpFBXrb/s400/IMG_2356.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I saw Jeff and a number of other runners on my way back and we all encouraged each other. Lots of people were bundled up in their rain gear like Eskimos! Eventually, I was running back across the bridge. It was epic. The snow had picked up and was being whipped up and over the bridge by the wind. It looked like I was running through a tunnel of snow. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving back after the race through the snow tunnel!</td></tr>
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Across the bridge and back at the last aid station, I had about 5 miles left. I slammed a chocolate flavored gel and got on my way. The short, steep hills were back. But this time, everything looked different because the ground and trees were covered in snow. The white fluff was coming down so hard I struggled to keep it out of my eyes. I grinded my way up the muddy slopes and encouraged other runners. My uphill pace had significantly slowed but I refused to walk because I knew how close I was to finishing. Finally, after I’d started getting a little worried I’d missed a turn, I turned right and was back on the dirt road to the resort. Four-plus hours running, on trails, in a blizzard, what a great way to celebrate 27. </div>
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I didn’t wait around long after finishing as the conditions were worsening and not many people were outside “hanging out”. I snapped a few terrible selfies, clambered into my car, and headed back to the hotel to regain circulation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrible post-race selfie #1</td></tr>
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Thank you to Paul and Jake for organizing this <a href="http://www.davidstrailendurancerun.com/" target="_blank">fantastic race</a>. If you're looking for a challenging, beautiful, and environmentally friendly race in the Midwest, put this on your schedule!<br />
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Up next for me is another trail race in Utah! I'm excited to be heading to to Moab and Arches Nat'l park to run the Moab Red Hot 55k February 16th. I'll be out there with my family and looking to do some exploring and hiking after the race. So, if anyone knows of some <b>wheelchair </b>friendly hikes we could go on...let me know!<br />
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Popular Posts: <a href="https://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2015/10/kona-2015.html" target="_blank">Kona 2015</a> <a href="https://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2016/07/vineman-703-crazy-weekend.html" target="_blank">Vineman 70.3 Travel Craziness Edition</a> <a href="https://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2016/04/oceanside-703.html" target="_blank">Oceanside 70.3</a></span></div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-1729093953245014852018-11-28T15:12:00.001-08:002018-11-28T15:12:24.505-08:00Dogwood Canyon Trail Runs 2018<div style="text-align: center;">
Part 1 to this blog can be found <a href="https://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2018/11/twin-cities-and-blue-sky-marathons-2018.html" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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On November 9th I drove 3.5 hours to southern Missouri. The rolling hills scenery was completely new to me. Luckily, I'd watched the show “Ozarks” so I knew there would be a lake, lots of trees, and to always be on the lookout for black Escalades with tinted windows. The Dogwood Canyon Trail Races took place at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and were organized by Bass Pro Shops. I'd signed up for the 15k/50k challenge which detailed racing a 15k (about 9 miles) trail race on Saturday followed by a 50k (about 31 miles) trail race on Sunday. The challenge of racing back to back days was appealing to me. I’m a glutton for punishment like that. My main goal was that I didn’t want to hold back in either race. I wanted to put myself in a new, challenging situation and see how I would react/suffer. Because that’s how I learn.</div>
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I drove out to Dogwood on Friday afternoon to pick up my packet. When I arrived, the park immediately reminded me of Jurassic Park. The logo appeared similar (both logos contain animals). Inside the park, there were a number of Jeeps driving on small paths, lots of trees, and a meandering stream. And just like in Jurassic Park, it was all surrounded by a very large electric fence. Kidding. There were no visible signs of dinosaurs, either. The trails in the park were all double track. Basically, Jeep trails. The general terrain in the area was very, very hilly. While the trails were less technical, you couldn’t zone out while running. There were lots of rocks, tree roots, and off-camber sections. If you imagine a Jeep lover’s fantasy trail system, that’s Dogwood.<br />
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After picking up my packet, I drove the 15 minutes to a cheap hotel. What about camping, Steve?! Turns out camping wasn’t actually available at Dogwood, and winter came last week. Temperatures were in the 20’s and 30’s. Staying warm while camping in those temperatures requires a lot of energy (and gear). Aren’t you from Minnesota?! Yes, but I’ve gotten soft over the last few years. I made the executive decision that staying in a cheap hotel would be the best option if I wanted to actually have the physical and mental capacity to race. Besides, I could bring my own food (proud to say I purchased zero food over the weekend). Also, since there was a little prize money, pending a good performance I could cover the hotel costs. </div>
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Saturday was the 15k. Race morning I woke up at 4:30 am for the 7:30 start. I made coffee and my breakfast of a toasted peanut butter banana sandwich with extra salt. I listened to an audio book to pass some time before heading to Dogwood. The thermometer said it was 19 degrees outside. Balmy. I made it to Dogwood with plenty of time before the race start. I was slightly paranoid about having warm, dry clothes accessible quickly after the race so I ended up dropping a duffel bag of clothes in the gear check area. As we all stood in line, shivering and waiting to be unleashed on the 15k course, Melissa (race director) had a few words for us. She reminded us to be grateful that we were able to run, be outside, and to enjoy the course. Amen. A little after 7:30, we took off. </div>
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Immediately the pace felt slow. I’d put myself in the second line of people near some guys who looked like they knew what they were doing. The pace felt casual and it didn’t seem like anyone wanted to run hard. Still, I wasn’t sure if it simply felt easy because I was rested. After a few minutes, another guy and I started to pick up the pace. Drew and I chatted a little and he told me he’d been on the course before. I was grateful to have someone around that was familiar with the trails. Then came the first stream crossing. The path we were on weaved back and forth, crossing over a frigid stream several times. We ran right through it. I was prepared for a lot worse and was very happy with how my shoes drained. I was also thankful my socks didn’t freeze to ice. The temperature was still 20 degrees. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyxzmv04TcO6nYP7BKL2cgA4ftAZh_mzxcKUESksiWDSLcmE51hyphenhyphenrqb3FrPu0nxyZrKtv33ld_m8kKwacsYP6sRY1jCKXU-yY_VKSLwJdylS9swT2oh0BLXb0maZq0sAcfBURvgSFEDYl/s1600/2018dcudctr10nov0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyxzmv04TcO6nYP7BKL2cgA4ftAZh_mzxcKUESksiWDSLcmE51hyphenhyphenrqb3FrPu0nxyZrKtv33ld_m8kKwacsYP6sRY1jCKXU-yY_VKSLwJdylS9swT2oh0BLXb0maZq0sAcfBURvgSFEDYl/s400/2018dcudctr10nov0045.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXWkeipsu3jJoqKHW-nxhP_bOnvRWmWtrHlB4OJihPOQ2fKp0fEJc1jciNvmMfYxk1Y4q4xD65triGpJNHtKFetL1KBvANvGt6e4nsLo4SRUSgIWIRH890BIPacbGEKkWBJrquoSjl2jb/s1600/2018dcudctr10nov0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXWkeipsu3jJoqKHW-nxhP_bOnvRWmWtrHlB4OJihPOQ2fKp0fEJc1jciNvmMfYxk1Y4q4xD65triGpJNHtKFetL1KBvANvGt6e4nsLo4SRUSgIWIRH890BIPacbGEKkWBJrquoSjl2jb/s400/2018dcudctr10nov0055.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The progression of loving it</td></tr>
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1.5 miles in we came to our first hill. I ran up the hill at my own pace. At the top, I looked back and couldn’t see Drew. I carried on at my own pace, a little unsure what I was doing or if I was going too hard. I completed the small loop, bombing downhill around other runners heading uphill. As I ran back away from the lodge on another trail, I had a Jeep escort. They were "locked and loaded" to protect me should any dinosaurs get too curious. </div>
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The course was fantastic. Lots of steep, challenging uphills, a few rolling sections, and more steep downhills. I felt good. I’d warmed up since the start and my body was ready to work. I knew that running in a canyon with lots of trees around would likely throw the GPS watch's “pace” reading off. Even if the reading had been accurate, I wouldn’t have cared. I wanted to race in the moment. I pushed off the thoughts of tomorrow’s race and focused on making it to the next opening in the trail. Though I know I usually look like I’m about to run through a brick wall, my stride felt smooth. The course provided a wide variety of views. Most of the ground, including where we ran, was covered in leaves that had already fallen. At first it was a little scary running hard and not being completely confident in my foot placement. After a few miles, I learned that there wasn’t all that much variation under the leaves. There were smaller rocks that made for uneven footing, but, for the most part, I was safe looking further ahead for any larger obstacles and adjusting accordingly. </div>
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Because it was a shorter race, I tried to run all the tangents, taking the shortest route possible no matter how steep a section was. By about 5 miles in, I had committed. I’d thrown caution to the wind and was pushing hard. After a steep downhill or two, I knew perfect legs for the next day were not in the cards. I let loose on all the downhills and charged uphill. When things got steep heading uphill, I upped my cadence and mentally imagined breathing air into my leg muscles. It felt really good to run uphill hard and not hold back. This summer I’d had some achilles issues that had taken a few months to improve. All the strength work I’d been doing had paid off and I was no longer guarding the achilles from uphill stress. (Thank you, Nathan!) </div>
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I was running with only 1 handheld water bottle. I paced myself drinking and finished the bottle about 8 miles into the race going up the last hill. I knew the race would be about 9 miles long but I didn’t know an exact distance. I crested the hill, then had several more slow turns before a screaming downhill section. I could hear the finish line music welcoming me back. A few minutes later I crossed the line. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1956966031" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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After the race, I stood around for a while, meeting new people and thanking the race director. I eventually got my gear check bag and changed into dry clothes and shoes. There was warm oatmeal with good topping options, fruit, and some protein balls. I’m a simple guy, and I was pumped about oatmeal. I made some new friends while eating my oatmeal and I asked for suggestions on afternoon activities in the area. It was only about 10am and I didn’t want to spend the entire day in the hotel room. After making some mental notes, I went back to the hotel. I ate some oatmeal I’d brought from home (overnight oats FTW!), ate some peanut butter toast, drank way too much coffee, packed some snacks, and headed out to explore. </div>
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On recommendations, I drove to Lakeside Forest Wildnerness Area in Branson. It was free. There was good hiking and views. While my legs felt OK, I knew I should try not to spend a lot of time on my feet. I walked very, very slowly down a trail for 30 minutes. The Wilderness Area had a few Civil War era buildings on the land with some plaques and pictures explaining their stories. Though I will admit to falling asleep in high school history (who didn't?), it was interesting to see the buildings in person and consider how people lived nearly 100 years ago. I spent a few hours walking very, very slowly and sitting on a ridge that provided a good view. Eventually, I got my snacks from the car, ate more oatmeal (I did say I liked oatmeal…) at a picnic table in the park, then headed back to the hotel. For the rest of the evening I read or listened to an audio book and ate. I had a dehydrated meal leftover from camping, and I also made more peanut butter toast. Yes, I brought a toaster. By 7:30pm, it was plenty dark (thank you, daylight savings) and I was plenty tired. I had little trouble falling asleep by 8:30. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was tempted...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmhEohPyRWUnwCSKSm9Nnb0TV3N4zvtNZxCyuH_KUqokx349HruLBcsX_SgqCO7M8Tnd18zMoPL3zyLeuh1YI5pF211zV8GhY9Bwgkc1yYIbzsIQPqMfzvVjTlcCsZhzgPpSW5mi5TFWp/s1600/IMG_2056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmhEohPyRWUnwCSKSm9Nnb0TV3N4zvtNZxCyuH_KUqokx349HruLBcsX_SgqCO7M8Tnd18zMoPL3zyLeuh1YI5pF211zV8GhY9Bwgkc1yYIbzsIQPqMfzvVjTlcCsZhzgPpSW5mi5TFWp/s400/IMG_2056.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The Sunday morning wake-up and breakfast routine played out the same as the day before. I spent a few minutes loading the car up with everything from the hotel room so I could check out on my way to the race start. The frigid temps from the day before had skyrocketed to a temperature of 35 degrees. Thus, a wardrobe change was required. After a few minutes of shivering at the starting line, we were off. </div>
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The pace immediately felt more challenging than the day before. I wasn’t sure if it was because of new people in the race, or if my legs were showing their fatigue. A few guys who I didn’t recognize from the day before started off quickly. A number of them had jackets on preventing me from seeing their bibs. I stuck with them even though I had a feeling they were all in the 25k race. </div>
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The route was similar to the previous day. Not until about 13 miles into the race would those running the 50k go a different direction. Knowing this, I was aware that if I committed to racing someone doing the 25k to the 13 mile mark only to have them turn towards the finish, things could get ugly really quick. Once again, the first climb split things up. Me and one other guy (Mike) had made a big gap on the first hill loop. As we returned to a flat section, Mike started running hard. Much harder than I felt comfortable running for 30 more miles. I wanted to push myself but still be smart. I backed off but kept Mike in sight. After a few miles, Mike had pulled away a little more. Every time we’d arrive at a hill, I’d catch up a little and could see him in the distance. After a few more minutes of running behind Mike, I concluded that he was most likely running the 25k race. Mike was running in regular road shoes and wasn’t carrying any hydration or food that I could see. Still, I wasn’t certain, so I tried to keep him within site. If needed, I wanted to give myself the opportunity to catch him the second half of the race. </div>
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I was able to start taking calories in much earlier than yesterday. I took this as a good sign. I started taking gels every 20-25 minutes. I’d mentally broken the race up into 3 x 10 mile sections. The first 10 miles I wanted to focus on being conservative. Especially if I felt good. I’d learned from my experiences at Twin Cities and Blue Sky, that in longer races I really need to build into my effort. While it may feel good to run hard for a few miles early on in the race, the price paid in the later miles is not worth it. A minute or two gained on the front end can turn into many more minutes lost on the back end. Trust me, I’ve been there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BkelP1ya5DGeLr8QpRXGeheD6CDu58tFsJHhuz4_1RvD8cyZF1V1ICXJ8MfgLKx26n4EctVIQlyOLedtFEqplMh3odZTw6lW4tsVk8gAH6p3RT_6JTcgxaEHIhPMnqtpogJYHkkHQUG4/s1600/2018dcudctr10nov1229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BkelP1ya5DGeLr8QpRXGeheD6CDu58tFsJHhuz4_1RvD8cyZF1V1ICXJ8MfgLKx26n4EctVIQlyOLedtFEqplMh3odZTw6lW4tsVk8gAH6p3RT_6JTcgxaEHIhPMnqtpogJYHkkHQUG4/s320/2018dcudctr10nov1229.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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With that said, it took a lot of discipline to hold back and not try running back up to Mike. As we neared 10 miles, I could see his stride had changed and appeared to be a little more labored. I caged the instinct to chase, concentrated on my own race, and focused on the confidence I’d gained from running strong the second half at Blue Sky. I wanted that feeling again. </div>
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A good portion of Sunday's course was the same from the day before. My legs felt OK. I couldn’t push nearly as hard on the flats. Whenever I tried to extend my stride, my quads protested. Instead, I focused on taking short, efficient strides, and made sure I was regularly eating and drinking. There were a number of new hills that somehow seemed even steeper. My legs had loosened up since the start but I resisted letting go completely on the downhills. Eventually, we approached the aid station at 13 miles runners split off into different directions. As I reached the aid station, I filled up my bottles again, and asked the volunteers if Mike had turned for the finish. He had. I started out alone on a short loop all 50k runners would complete before heading back the way we'd come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIaB_GG3yrbG6tBKwmUuPgSbT3Z1JpYOtpBlDqAP_2VLRilExnKxX79lgYXgMIgNoocHSrmkid9f9ODcOv8RSu1ct9F-bJLY2_ZHRFEnpU1oAjRgDsWPOsr6xolQVQptxK8adKT3Ip406/s1600/2018dcudctr10nov0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIaB_GG3yrbG6tBKwmUuPgSbT3Z1JpYOtpBlDqAP_2VLRilExnKxX79lgYXgMIgNoocHSrmkid9f9ODcOv8RSu1ct9F-bJLY2_ZHRFEnpU1oAjRgDsWPOsr6xolQVQptxK8adKT3Ip406/s320/2018dcudctr10nov0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locked and Loaded</td></tr>
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The loop was beautiful. If Dogwood, with the Jeeps and lush trees reminded me of Jurassic Park, this loop reminded me of a safari. Again, there were Jeeps and double track trails, but instead of trees there were wide open fields with rolling hills. The grass was long and there was an occasional tree off the side of the trail. I tried to relax and focus on running “strong” the second third of the race. I concentrated on finding a rhythm running through the grass and submitted to the fact that I’d probably be alone for a while. I’d say I imagined myself as a gazelle out on the safari, but everyone knows, I am far from a gazelle. Zero lions, or people, were spotted the entire loop. I’d been doing a very good job eating and finished an entire sleeve of shot bloks during the loop. As I arrived back to the aid station, a few others had started to trickle in. I unloaded my bag drop which had my preferred nutrition and headed back the way I’d come. </div>
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I was 18 miles in. I’d only felt weak a few times and usually was able to bounce back by taking in more calories or sipping from my bottles. As I started running again, more and more people passed going the other way. I had been looking forward to seeing other runners. We cheered each other on. I recognized a number of people and did my best to look them in the eye, give them energy, and avoid falling on my face. The combination of picking up a new set of bottles with my hydration mix and getting good energy from people had motivated me. I was able to start running a little harder. I let loose on the downhills and carried the momentum on the flats. Surprisingly, I was still feeling strong on the uphill segments. I even welcomed the inclines to give my quads a bit of a break. </div>
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The day before, I looked at an elevation profile and counted 5 climbs after about 20 miles. Once I’d reached 20 miles, I started counting down the inclines remaining. Running on the flats I started to feel the fatigue and focused on tightening my core to stabilize my upper body. For 10 seconds I was a gazelle. I reached the final aid station, filled up one of my bottles, fist-bumped a volunteer, then headed out for the last 4 miles. I knew it was mostly downhill or flat to the finish. Only once I had made it to the dirt road did I take a look at my watch. I guessed I had somewhere between 2 and 3 miles left. We weren’t supposed to do the 1.5 mile loop that we had at the beginning so it was a straight shot to the finish. The locked and loaded Jeep rejoined me, and escorted me through the water crossings to the finish. Once I passed the start of the climb we’d done at the beginning of the race, I knew there was only 1.5 miles left. My watch said 3:25. “Holy crap!” I thought, “I could go sub 3:40!” I finished off my liquids and focused on my turnover. Finally, the lodge came into view, and I ran across the line.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbrKI5_D8exFD7j0wUkUWMrqIiyyaYQrP-zdIYkayhSVm0Uc4F1EnXYRZRe3Hr7K_K34XqL4eiDWtSBONP0wLAxyaRdxxW5OeJVhAxtV2HJePC356uDB1dPA5e0YLGrS2fHGqLlLUU9aN/s1600/2018rsodctr11nov0938-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbrKI5_D8exFD7j0wUkUWMrqIiyyaYQrP-zdIYkayhSVm0Uc4F1EnXYRZRe3Hr7K_K34XqL4eiDWtSBONP0wLAxyaRdxxW5OeJVhAxtV2HJePC356uDB1dPA5e0YLGrS2fHGqLlLUU9aN/s400/2018rsodctr11nov0938-S.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkni-Nd2N8LL8xeE90Iz9c3aICoPr5JTUJvbRnz9jI1QFUMMwNz8KFyZxFlRnknWUOYt0jqVy-yFphH78sSFQjW_E8kB0Y0-hwPTg4TP3P5ZtskFqMF3O0qy8J3W7kbuyNhjF7PeU2GiC/s1600/50k.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="925" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkni-Nd2N8LL8xeE90Iz9c3aICoPr5JTUJvbRnz9jI1QFUMMwNz8KFyZxFlRnknWUOYt0jqVy-yFphH78sSFQjW_E8kB0Y0-hwPTg4TP3P5ZtskFqMF3O0qy8J3W7kbuyNhjF7PeU2GiC/s400/50k.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1959745159" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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Overall, the entire weekend was a blast. The trails were fun and the event was well organized. </div>
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Up next for me is some recovery and planning for 2019. This winter and spring, I’m planning to focus on improving speed and durability. No, I’m not switching to running. I’ve gotten a lot of encouragement from people to step up in distance on these trail races. While that is appealing, and I plan to eventually, I still believe that I can improve my speed and durability in biking and running. Swimming, well, it is what it is. By no means do I have 15 years mapped out, but I know trail running is a long game and you can still be competitive in your late 30s and into your 40s. Variety and consistency is my style of training. If I specialize in something too much, or only do super long stuff, I will burn out and lose interest. I want to improve my Ironman marathon and open marathon as I feel I have not reached my potential in those areas. I still plan to keep one foot in trail racing but probably won't do anything longer than 50k, for now. The training required for anything longer would require more focus (and recovery time after the race) than I’m willing to give right now. </div>
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As far as a race schedule goes, I’m planning to do some “shake and bake” action with Ernie at a few triathlons in the spring. The other races that get me excited are Pikes Peak Marathon and Ironman Wisconsin. All of this is tentative as my engineering career is my priority. If anyone has any recommendations for trail races within a day’s drive of KC, Minneapolis, Denver, or Salt Lake City please let me know. In case you can’t tell I like courses with lots of elevation change :)</div>
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Big thank you to my family and close friends. You know who you are. Life has been a ride the past the few months. Thank you for supporting me and guiding me in the right direction.</div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-29903928585692008582018-11-13T15:56:00.004-08:002018-11-15T06:14:40.922-08:00Twin Cities and Blue Sky Marathons 2018<div style="text-align: center;">
Part 1 of a 2-part blog: </div>
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Before I go into more detail about competing in two trail races in southern Missouri this past weekend (part 2), a life update is needed. A few months ago, around the end of August, a relationship that meant a lot to me came to an end. I don’t want to write about exactly what happened because it’s personal. I want to keep this blog focused on my training and racing endeavors. The fallout, and the lessons I’m learning, shaped my approach to this fall. I’m happy to report I only broke down once on the phone, and I successfully restrained myself from buying a puppy. With the help of my family and a few close friends, I have been working to learn from my experiences and focus on doing things that give me purpose. I’ve spent a lot of time reading (for enjoyment), training with friends, and competing in races I haven’t experienced before. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some day...</td></tr>
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I planned an ambitious (for me!) fall race schedule focusing on running and trail races. In the span of five weeks, I raced the Twin Cities Marathon, Blue Sky Trail Marathon in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the Dogwood Canyon 15k + 50k Trail Races. </div>
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<b>Twin Cities Marathon</b></div>
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The Twin Cities Marathon had been on my radar for a few years. I have enjoyed being able to work out of Burns and McDonnell’s Minneapolis office a few times since August which has allowed me to scout the course and spend quality time with my parents. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KgxaL6XSiL8YkZLmWRTkicY1pUtmSmqV35RN95JKMmxfA_XYP9MWaN5fUYN52p-_jYsRwbfRlylaciQgyrSX6h98aidnu3aORmpiE9UFfIXHTbjCjEuzzo4NmU8uhJ-HNCFPJ6NcLmVw/s1600/IMG_1891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KgxaL6XSiL8YkZLmWRTkicY1pUtmSmqV35RN95JKMmxfA_XYP9MWaN5fUYN52p-_jYsRwbfRlylaciQgyrSX6h98aidnu3aORmpiE9UFfIXHTbjCjEuzzo4NmU8uhJ-HNCFPJ6NcLmVw/s400/IMG_1891.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scouting out the TC Marathon Course with Mom</td></tr>
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If you don’t know my parents, they’re awesome. They both have their Ph.Ds and work very hard. They bike. A lot. Their house is filled with lots of books and postcards from their travels. Recently, they started taking spin and body pump classes at the gym. Like I said, they’re pretty cool. The TC Marathon course is awesome. The first half of the race winds around several iconic lakes (which are very beautiful in October) before going along the Mississippi river. I have rather painful associations with the last few miles of the course, so I will let the first picture below explain. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm11rffW9ar4X4HB7jzh4sBSEQv5M0ZM7sa8ZnD8K2zLSZmswdfITWXMwgJvVecoHZwoKFwqzqiJrxOacP9llXZi9WRO6jZM6II2XdayKHyfV5KXBCEI5YqyX0JSsEAl9QlfIAeLLdgeSi/s1600/TC+marathon+caption.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="795" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm11rffW9ar4X4HB7jzh4sBSEQv5M0ZM7sa8ZnD8K2zLSZmswdfITWXMwgJvVecoHZwoKFwqzqiJrxOacP9llXZi9WRO6jZM6II2XdayKHyfV5KXBCEI5YqyX0JSsEAl9QlfIAeLLdgeSi/s400/TC+marathon+caption.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY91rQusb0a9Zf3wKfLXSjiYoaD-Q4jVx0eBvASKhLxoRTqYhM0eIGvWYtl7p83X9VqwJ_RD1iZ4DCZi7tWDgO2QlfVa5sM1bQHG2Ug0yxvi4vaJvkiYvV2OXxPgo4BSII03rd6N4qoMt/s1600/TC+marathon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="931" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY91rQusb0a9Zf3wKfLXSjiYoaD-Q4jVx0eBvASKhLxoRTqYhM0eIGvWYtl7p83X9VqwJ_RD1iZ4DCZi7tWDgO2QlfVa5sM1bQHG2Ug0yxvi4vaJvkiYvV2OXxPgo4BSII03rd6N4qoMt/s400/TC+marathon.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1890588830" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6eF3_V1peMUNqJ7BIoyUxT_FwPes4qXs9IKzDIRlYMJrr7lNFyvHwL4UKFzwq1B89bWVhBQZy1CpXkB8cmX5ex0xWmhecoRQ7M5GKhyPUa04fctyzIasXLwopNvMnVwzhwJOEl4X_WM7/s1600/katz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="599" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6eF3_V1peMUNqJ7BIoyUxT_FwPes4qXs9IKzDIRlYMJrr7lNFyvHwL4UKFzwq1B89bWVhBQZy1CpXkB8cmX5ex0xWmhecoRQ7M5GKhyPUa04fctyzIasXLwopNvMnVwzhwJOEl4X_WM7/s320/katz.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Dave Katz. We used to play hockey together. He signed up for Twin Cities less than one month before. Much respect, dude!</td></tr>
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I’d never raced an “open” marathon. For 10 days, my legs were wrecked. Adding to the immediate pain, six hours after the race I had to catch a flight for field work in the state where owning a lifted truck is a requirement; Texas. It was a rough week, but life is all about overcoming setbacks. When I almost fell down the stairs on a daily basis the hotel in Texas, and I was reminded that I had to (got to, Steve, got to) run another marathon in two weeks, I forced myself to find confidence that my legs would recover and function once again. </div>
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<b>Blue Sky Trail Marathon </b></div>
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I originally needed to travel out to Colorado for personal reasons and decided to make the most of my time in/near the mountains. I was very grateful to reconnect with a place, and the people there, that had been center of my world for 6.5 years in college. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJtj4PXR-Oq_6x0R6WDj14lY4Pj8ao6hyphenhyphencq4lessKXhGaoa0xtAGonMFzUrWfW0u0E20WkuEzgFcvKaMF-nz25Sca8cYnQKhshNxnKxejbDjP2nXkqZMLcCQGR20mLYUVPF1_6su4Gede/s1600/IMG_1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJtj4PXR-Oq_6x0R6WDj14lY4Pj8ao6hyphenhyphencq4lessKXhGaoa0xtAGonMFzUrWfW0u0E20WkuEzgFcvKaMF-nz25Sca8cYnQKhshNxnKxejbDjP2nXkqZMLcCQGR20mLYUVPF1_6su4Gede/s400/IMG_1994.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horsetooth Reservoir from the "A" #happyplace</td></tr>
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I hiked the “A” twice, read a book at Horsetooth Reservoir, swam with the local masters group, and caught up with good friends who I hadn’t seen in far too long of a long time. A few easy days leading into Blue Sky left my legs feeling decent. I decided I needed to treat the event like a long training run. Dogwood Canyon was a more important goal to me. My legs, not to mention my traumatized mind, were still reeling from 26 miles of pounding pavement just 13 days prior. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwhcGLwGXtPJE1efhl8iJnrkQPOCH7njKWE3uK2MtknbrFobyrBVWYQCOvpmDxNSKe35bR7IsbBV1oEXLwbHeTm2KKRyM5hYaAVrYXzuz8Sl6BROCsfxwOIY7rWmbNTUY3dyZfK519QVK/s1600/Blue+sky.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="869" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwhcGLwGXtPJE1efhl8iJnrkQPOCH7njKWE3uK2MtknbrFobyrBVWYQCOvpmDxNSKe35bR7IsbBV1oEXLwbHeTm2KKRyM5hYaAVrYXzuz8Sl6BROCsfxwOIY7rWmbNTUY3dyZfK519QVK/s400/Blue+sky.png" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava link <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1916990615" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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The race was a blast. I slowly built my effort, ate and drank consistently, and felt strong the last 10 miles despite hills and technical trails. Most importantly, I enjoyed myself. I took in the mountain views and conversed with the other runners around me. I got lost thinking about nothing but where I needed step next to avoid falling on my face. </div>
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Recovery from Blue Sky progressed much faster than Twin Cities. I was able to run “easy” two days afterwards without much soreness. Another positive was that I had the luxury of two full weekends before the Dogwood Canyon races. </div>
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Because I was planning to camp at Dogwood, I wanted to test out my camping gear. My first full weekend, after a long ride on my gravel bike, I drove the 40 minutes out to a state park at Clinton Lake in Lawrence, Kansas to camp for a night. The park had an awesome system of trails. After setting up camp the evening I arrived, I went for a walk to get a sense for the trails. At some point I stopped and ended up enjoying a long, peaceful moment in the woods. I have a lot of good memories from growing up, camping with my family, going on backpacking trips with friends, and just being generally IN nature. It was nice to slow down and appreciate everything around me. Then the sun went down and I got hungry. </div>
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I slept for almost 11 hours. I woke the next morning, drank some coffee, crushed a Clif bar and a spoonful of peanut butter, then headed out on the trails. I had come to test my camping gear, but I also ended up getting a great run in. </div>
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Part 2 about the Dogwood Canyon trail races will be ready in a few days. More pictures are needed!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-87406063801900818152018-06-15T10:58:00.000-07:002018-06-15T11:07:41.086-07:00IM Boulder 2018<div style="text-align: center;">
Another year, another Ironman Boulder experience!</div>
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In an effort to keep this blog shorter and focused on the actual race itself, I’m going to keep the lead up simple. If there are questions about my training in the lead up to this race, I am always happy to answer or via text/social media! </div>
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My preparation for IM Boulder consisted of 9 weeks of triathlon-specific training. Before that, I didn’t have much of a set training schedule. Over the winter, I joined a men’s hockey league in KC, bought a gravel bike and began running… a lot. I was interested in a variety of events and I didn’t want to limit myself to focusing strictly on swim/bike/run. In this time, I raced 2 trail 50ks, my first 100 mile gravel race, and a handful of different road running races ranging from a very hilly and snowy marathon to one of KC’s most competitive 4 mile races.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m5ig3V580rLvNw08OVE8whyb2RMXW3NtHSSR1Owi-CFE-3i2om2DwaXIwnya04NH8lyhAZSk8fNsXhINPWwC-mVlcEZMuCBRuXnhoS75u8pyBMiIhXyfkjTHQxbjoBSXkG0hiMoLDCAI/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m5ig3V580rLvNw08OVE8whyb2RMXW3NtHSSR1Owi-CFE-3i2om2DwaXIwnya04NH8lyhAZSk8fNsXhINPWwC-mVlcEZMuCBRuXnhoS75u8pyBMiIhXyfkjTHQxbjoBSXkG0hiMoLDCAI/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">KC has a really awesome running community with lots of fast local races </td></tr>
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During the 9 specific weeks, Rachael was preparing for Ironman Santa Rosa which helped me a lot as we were both on the same page with our free time and priorities. I focused on making the most of the time I had available around work to train and placed importance on getting as much sleep as I could. Typically we would take one day during the week to have no AM workout and ‘sleep in’ (6:30AM). We also tried to sleep in as late as possible on Sunday mornings before our sessions (Although sometimes this pushed our longer workouts into pretty late in the day) I only did about 3 rides that were 4 hours or longer - two of which were on gravel and totally kicked my butt (One was my 100 mi gravel race).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnapDebjacQZZNI_UKvm5i_ORNL0GnMUcztwahviJ_XXMYnLsKdAFlhEZBEDh_WNlhdona0KpVZVur1OrIaXjDy_E4KNg-QO6Ajlj7Yk4bMDCt9uIiffWdsguOJqMOweCxv24GaM-stHD4/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnapDebjacQZZNI_UKvm5i_ORNL0GnMUcztwahviJ_XXMYnLsKdAFlhEZBEDh_WNlhdona0KpVZVur1OrIaXjDy_E4KNg-QO6Ajlj7Yk4bMDCt9uIiffWdsguOJqMOweCxv24GaM-stHD4/s400/IMG_0145.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tired but happy after a long gravel ride </td></tr>
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As much as I could, I focused on myself and not what others were doing to prepare as it is easy to feel inferior when you see that someone you will compete against has put in twice the amount of training time as you. Focusing on myself allowed me to feel confident in the work that I was putting in and go into the race in a good headspace. I am very thankful for the people in my life who helped to give me balance through this process.</div>
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Friday morning we drove 9 hours through the scenic lands of Kansas to Boulder. After checking in, we did a short shakeout run. It left me seriously rethinking my choice to race. The heat and altitude made my short run feel terrible. While I was calling in to rent a portable oxygen tank for the race, I realized that in addition to the long car ride and altitude, there was a lot of dust and pollen in the air where we were running. Crisis averted. Less dust and plants on the race course. Saturday I did a quick ride and run and felt much better. It had been a hot minute since my last triathlon, let alone an Ironman, so getting all my gear and nutrition together took some time. I had my last meal - rice with some avocado - and was in bed ready to sleep by 9pm. </div>
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Race morning, I was up at 3:05 for my 6:05 start time. I ate a quick breakfast of oatmeal, almonds, and banana. After assembling my gear, Rachael, Kelsey and I drove to the reservoir where the race would start. I quickly dropped off my bike, run, and special needs bags before racking my bike and pumping up my tires. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgDTbYKr1a7oOS-xvQwtmEw_cfNFq0Gf9WZ5NAO-_ukxrllmUI1aV-wk3Ck3uoYRYaSTfJlT9cEHy57AYL_2W9dysLSLXSlzJqCr7_N9943yUBVSQcqvIcjGhh5pwnyprZdSthkIMlcgg/s1600/IMG_0115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgDTbYKr1a7oOS-xvQwtmEw_cfNFq0Gf9WZ5NAO-_ukxrllmUI1aV-wk3Ck3uoYRYaSTfJlT9cEHy57AYL_2W9dysLSLXSlzJqCr7_N9943yUBVSQcqvIcjGhh5pwnyprZdSthkIMlcgg/s400/IMG_0115.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Race morning with Rachael </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrSOo37AUlbXTOuBYgjdA6ig9A2V24nQktGEWHtGs2QFqqURddRehiROodPAEQ_RueAb7zrefLNBoe3_r-_2fCHYbPK7c6jjLZuSp_X8WVjsIWb0DBQGXq298O6fSj0P0635oZR7SBTZA/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrSOo37AUlbXTOuBYgjdA6ig9A2V24nQktGEWHtGs2QFqqURddRehiROodPAEQ_RueAb7zrefLNBoe3_r-_2fCHYbPK7c6jjLZuSp_X8WVjsIWb0DBQGXq298O6fSj0P0635oZR7SBTZA/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">One last snack</td></tr>
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A quick run, a kiss bye to Rachael, and few trips to the bathroom later, I was walking down to the swim start. I was a little apprehensive about swimming in my wetsuit as this was the first time I would be doing this in over a year. Luckily, we were able to warm up for 10 minutes before the race start, so I got a feel for how I felt and appreciated, again, the shoulder flexibility that my Maverick X provides. There were about 25 pro men lined up in the water. We were given a countdown then told to “go” kind of simultaneously and kind of staggered with an air horn…. and cannon. </div>
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SWIM (about 2.4 mile / 54:40)</div>
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My first coach, Jonathan Mason, drilled into my head that for an Ironman, the name of the game is pacing and nutrition. Because of this, I was very cautious and conservative with my swim start. I knew the combination of being at altitude and the race being a 9 hour ordeal meant pacing would be crucial. Going past threshold for extended amounts of time in the swim would burn a lot of my matches too early in the race. I eased into my ‘all-day’ swimming pace. The first third of the swim went by very slow. I’d worked my way up to the front of the second pack and was swimming next to Chris Leiferman. We were part of 10 or so guys. Most of the swim, we were organized well into two lines. The pace felt comfortable and I trusted that our effort was appropriate. </div>
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After a while, I drifted back trying to tuck in to get a draft and got whacked a few times. I got bored in different positions of the pack and ended up shifting between the back of a line and swimming/sighting on my own. Though we were forecasted for some very high temperatures later in the day, I was really enjoying the early morning cloud cover that allowed for easy sighting of swim buoys. Throughout the rest of the swim, I focused on the mechanics of each stroke and conserving as much energy as possible. As we neared the exit, I moved to the outside to put myself in a better position to exit the swim and started kicking more to get my legs ready for action. Though I was happy the swim was over and excited to get out on the bike, I knew I still needed to be patient. Out of the water, we were greeted with a ton of cheers. I got chills as all of the attention of the crowd was on our swim group. I couldn’t help smiling as I picked out familiar faces. I noticed a few big hitters in our swim group and was pleased with my swim. For only swimming 3 days a week, the swim had felt relatively comfortable and put me in a good position for the rest of the day. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaBr8EG8lZtP2s8evVdoRNTjpsIqBlhsAJWN3iI0OHc-3y9wHrE9CUgWTH39qbWs0ghmqGu7ESJF3-EQ19IHmnHdis5XGf-SVEble3V_ja-fEhR9eL76C-JCvHUIFnUMphZ8hSkOHnM-R/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaBr8EG8lZtP2s8evVdoRNTjpsIqBlhsAJWN3iI0OHc-3y9wHrE9CUgWTH39qbWs0ghmqGu7ESJF3-EQ19IHmnHdis5XGf-SVEble3V_ja-fEhR9eL76C-JCvHUIFnUMphZ8hSkOHnM-R/s400/IMG_0118.JPG" /></a></div>
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There was a noticeable sense of urgency as we all rushed through the change tent getting our wetsuits stripped off. Though I have been exposed to the adrenaline rush and urgency of T1 for draft legal racing and pro 70.3 racing, I was not expecting a similar dynamic for a full Ironman race. There is a major benefit to being in a group on the bike. In addition to having others around you to carry you mentally through low points, there is a significant energy savings you get by being a legal distance behind another rider. I’d run through the situation a little in my head before the race and had decided I wanted to race my own race as much as possible, not getting caught up in pack dynamics. I wanted to focus on my own pacing and nutrition as I knew it would be hot and that falling subjective to other’s race strategies could come back to bite me.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhMzZBBSHUdQYBmJ_29zKO-lf96D5bahRMFe3YNys4KTz8UGXQFIIpI5CZEKI2gFoog1sGGd5GdCoJQQ6pOOogd-Fo_P_CW5UzWuu-1Kt0ER2kBrm3tGO-WCko1c7hBDLIAqQTTHFyBgz/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhMzZBBSHUdQYBmJ_29zKO-lf96D5bahRMFe3YNys4KTz8UGXQFIIpI5CZEKI2gFoog1sGGd5GdCoJQQ6pOOogd-Fo_P_CW5UzWuu-1Kt0ER2kBrm3tGO-WCko1c7hBDLIAqQTTHFyBgz/s400/IMG_0117.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Heading towards the bike after changing</td></tr>
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I sat down on a chair in transition and had the volunteers strip my wetsuit off my legs. I snapped on my helmet, stuffed my gels securely in my back pockets, and started running towards my bike. Running barefoot on the pavement was painful. After reaching my bike, I put on my cycling shoes, awkwardly ran towards the mount line, mounted and clipped in. </div>
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BIKE (about 110 mile / 4:33:39)</div>
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Nutrition:</div>
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2 x concentrated bottles of Infinit nutrition with BCAAs and extra BASE Salt. About 500 cal each. (1000 cal)</div>
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80% of an RX bar (160 cal)</div>
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6 Clif bloks (150 cal)</div>
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3 gel (300 cal)</div>
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1 date with peanut butter (70 cal)</div>
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Total = 1680 cal</div>
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Immediately onto the bike course, I was presented with an important choice to make: chase or not chase. I’d come out of transition one of the last people in our second pack swim group and could see two groups were quickly forming out of our second pack. One had several very strong riders in it including Chris Leiferman and Kennett Peterson. The second group had a little less firepower, but was still a group and could be better than riding solo. Another guy came by me and encouraged me to work with him to bridge up. My heart rate was in the 160s (I wanted to keep my heart rate below 160 for as much of the ride as possible) but I felt good so I agreed to help. In my head, I had agreed to chase for 30 minutes but no more. 45 minutes later, I was still chasing. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB1guAWqlCWYSSrBy6pXic-58ckGlwWK_DBlPJMF3Ze6h2bcW5aaQyvtLQ7ogTH8CFyl6GyIzu0qUNL68zTuAjQXKlcheTm94N6WuFHN2e8EpczAcKzBxZmnKnZeGeGnWdXrE41ljSw5F/s1600/bike+strava.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB1guAWqlCWYSSrBy6pXic-58ckGlwWK_DBlPJMF3Ze6h2bcW5aaQyvtLQ7ogTH8CFyl6GyIzu0qUNL68zTuAjQXKlcheTm94N6WuFHN2e8EpczAcKzBxZmnKnZeGeGnWdXrE41ljSw5F/s400/bike+strava.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Strava link <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1630858857" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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During those 45 minutes, I was very cautious with my effort. I rode strong, thinking that the guys from our swim group had immediately slipped into their IM pace and were cruising. I thought, no reason to burn a bunch of matches killing myself to bridge up. I’d ride strong, ride aero, and if the bridge happened, it happened. Looking back, those guys are experienced racers and most definitely did not immediately settle into their IM effort. They wanted to thin out the group that could hang so they rode strong from the start. Even more so because they wanted to catch the guys in the first swim pack who had gotten away. I had not trained to blitz the first part of the bike to catch on, recover, and continue riding strong. Do I think I could have chased on to that group? Maybe…. but it would have taken an unknown time of very hard riding and would yield an unknown result.. Success? Epic blow-up? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PnyICmp9C-Vhyphenhyphenz__vpRQd8iWJKLgSL2fL0bET7QTLy54eEfIYFaPWmyoyKXjHmSIw0PYRCK3fqxiY44fGMiozsUeHsWxyaK3PzsTteS5z0V4ao3wuK77cEhYqjEkfPib9uU1fnG7nmSF/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PnyICmp9C-Vhyphenhyphenz__vpRQd8iWJKLgSL2fL0bET7QTLy54eEfIYFaPWmyoyKXjHmSIw0PYRCK3fqxiY44fGMiozsUeHsWxyaK3PzsTteS5z0V4ao3wuK77cEhYqjEkfPib9uU1fnG7nmSF/s400/IMG_0120.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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After 45 minutes of half-hearted chasing, I backed off and tried to make my heart rate settle. Though I train (mostly indoors) with power, I had opted to race using heart rate. I didn’t want to hold myself a slave to a power number (for good or bad) for 5 hours on the bike and felt like giving myself heart rate ranges would be a better goal for me. Despite a 3 second average being shown on my garmin, if I’m in my power range and I’m 5 watts high I think “oh no, I’m going to blow up” and if I’m 5 watts low I think “oh no, I’m not going hard enough”. That costs me a lot of mental energy. For me, it was more important to focus on riding smooth and having a good grasp on my perceived effort relative to my heart rate. </div>
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Luckily, during those 45 minutes of chasing, I was diligent about my nutrition. In addition to taking sips from my concentrated bottle, I ate several pieces of an RX bar. Two hours into the ride, my legs felt good. My heart rate was 5-10 beats higher than I wanted even with me backing off every couple minutes to keep it below 160. I’d caught a group and was riding with a couple others including Trevor Deslaut and Chris Schroeder. </div>
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Two hours into the ride, my stomach shut down. In hindsight, I had been taking in too many solid calories at too high of a heart rate. This has happened to me before in 70.3s when I thought I should race at olympic-distance effort while simultaneously eating home-made rice cakes. When my stomach ‘shuts down’ it feels like a combination of being bloated and having a side stitch. It makes for an uncomfortable ride and it made for a painful run. I was immediately upset for putting myself into such a position because I could only imagine, at the time, how painful a marathon would be to run like this. I was only halfway done with the ride and could only imagine the suffering the next several hours were going to bring. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGfK7sp8ZzrK22V1FT6-vxUIG7B-u9B-paLTBEbl-PBX90ktuzZIsi5nPeIW-XQj8MH2HlKadJaJ1XMl2LaOnavQ5v8s8ia8BS8Vu0JKnanp_vcHCjo0LvgMr73w7FWUZJf2nHiayD68W/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGfK7sp8ZzrK22V1FT6-vxUIG7B-u9B-paLTBEbl-PBX90ktuzZIsi5nPeIW-XQj8MH2HlKadJaJ1XMl2LaOnavQ5v8s8ia8BS8Vu0JKnanp_vcHCjo0LvgMr73w7FWUZJf2nHiayD68W/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Quitting was not an option in my head so I started troubleshooting. I knew I had too many calories that I couldn’t digest in my stomach so I started drinking more water. I’d already been taking in about 2.5 bottles per hour of plain water, so this made me have to pee even more. The combination of needing to pee and feeling bloated sucks. Despite all of the practice in the weeks leading up, I just couldn't pee while riding. I’d done rough calculations and knew that in the big scheme of overall time, not much time would be lost by stopping to pee while grabbing my special needs bag. </div>
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Finally, I reached special needs. I picked up my second concentrated bottle of Infinit, peed while straddling my bike and was on my way again. Chris and Trevor had gone by me at special needs, but they were back within my sights in a few minutes. As I completed lap 1, I noted my time put me on pace to ride about 4:30 although my stomach was still locked up. After estimating how many calories I’d taken in, I decided I had enough leeway and gave myself 15 minutes of riding while only sipping water. During those 15 minutes, I focused on enjoying the views and noticed all of the people out on the course cheering for us as we went riding by. After 15 minutes, my stomach felt a little better. From history, I knew that I was stuck with these issues for the rest of the race and it would take several hours at a low heart rate without food, for my stomach to relax again. The best I could do for the rest of the day would be to manage the issues.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJavmopfojDNhhfhQUc8iu-QkkWzv4VvG0EU-9F0ywvGWCBlV5F0IWJFp_b1Sv8zHYJa255VajRvT7XYIT_p4CgIEvevd_4N8HZrp8vb6CKD8JsjFuiroEhwm6Kqg5uiGo7aWMu6_EjbNr/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJavmopfojDNhhfhQUc8iu-QkkWzv4VvG0EU-9F0ywvGWCBlV5F0IWJFp_b1Sv8zHYJa255VajRvT7XYIT_p4CgIEvevd_4N8HZrp8vb6CKD8JsjFuiroEhwm6Kqg5uiGo7aWMu6_EjbNr/s400/IMG_0142.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo from 303 Triathlon</td></tr>
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Some time early in the second loop my bike started making a weird noise. Whenever I pedaled, a clicking noise came from my bottom bracket. I couldn’t feel any vibrations from the noise, but I knew something wasn’t quite right. Though a bike mechanical in a race is one of my worst nightmares, I stayed positive and hoped it would be nothing more than an annoying noise for the rest of my ride. On each of the three slow, grinding climbs heading west, I became very self-conscious about my noisey bike as I was passing other athletes. To my defense, it did provide a good warning that I was approaching from behind… My legs still felt good. I felt strong riding up the hills. I wanted to push more on the second half of the ride, but with the rising temperature and a heart rate cap of 160, I tried to stay conservative. The rest of the ride was uneventful. I saw Rachael’s sister and her friends several times which provided some good energy. As I was heading back to the reservoir, a black car pulled up besides me. After realizing the two girls screaming their heads off inside the car were Rachael and Kelsey, I smiled, gave them a thumbs up and started preparing for the run. I’d been watching the temperature steadily climb from 54 degrees to almost 85 degrees on my garmin. Though my stomach was still locked up and I was in pain, it hadn’t gotten any worse and I’d managed to average my goal of about 350 cal/hr while drinking a good amount of water. </div>
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RUN (26.4-ish miles / 3:04:52)</div>
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I passed off my bike to the volunteers and ran into the changing tent. The volunteers were fantastic. All of my stuff was quickly dumped out and organized. Socks, shoes and hat on, I ran out of the tent. Straight through a cloud of sunscreen, and straight to the bathroom. My stomach was still in pain and I hoped emptying my bladder would help a bit. </div>
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I began the very exposed 6 mile journey to the Boulder creek path under a blazing sun. My legs felt pretty darn good - all things considered. I relaxed and worked on getting my posture under control. I went through my checklist from head to toe. Head up, shoulders relaxed, elbows in, hips under shoulders, and pulling with my hamstrings. I’d been crunched up in aero for most of the bike and it felt good to be upright again. I reminded myself: pacing and nutrition. I knew it was hot out and the quality of the last half of the marathon is the true test of both of these skills. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuhADVYjXDhot2GdPzP2EJN9pedrfeRUPVB43QAJqIZtU52nTIdJl3wCMuoItREcaxkzWfmMW3nU4UZKXUC0Q-RpSS9CuHxH0odM829k_E01xAtVcWe3SsVI1STosLKae9VBawylBj8PR/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuhADVYjXDhot2GdPzP2EJN9pedrfeRUPVB43QAJqIZtU52nTIdJl3wCMuoItREcaxkzWfmMW3nU4UZKXUC0Q-RpSS9CuHxH0odM829k_E01xAtVcWe3SsVI1STosLKae9VBawylBj8PR/s400/IMG_0123.JPG" width="185" /></a></div>
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Just out of the reservoir, I saw my brother. I told him it was hot, in case he hadn’t noticed. Ernie told me to slow down so he could get a picture and remarked that several other pros looked in rough shape up ahead. I held onto hope that if I was patient the first few miles, my stomach would settle and I could turn some screws. I glanced down at my watch- staying between 6:45 and 7/mile pace felt easy. I took some sips from my water bottle, which I’d filled with BCAAs and salt. Unfortunately after filling all of my bottles the night before, I’d run out of BASE salt and didn’t have any to carry in an additional vial. BASE had a tent set up at mile 6 or 7 so that was my first goal: get to salt. That first section was rough. Other than the aid stations, it was very exposed. One of the aid stations gave me a sock full of ice which I placed around my neck in my tri suit. I praised the volunteers. There were very few people out cheering on the first section. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhCZ7w3pXKr8D1LJqJQMj1uCEroI2VR_y9tLhJWKb0Nl7reSgTUZyvWIsowTj4RHnZ12hzdVx-RcVa9ERvLSQnnuh2_mZBOsOSFbI60VVtFi_eo1DcbLSq9bVDjDKpkFLPmpf6MOB45Pi/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhCZ7w3pXKr8D1LJqJQMj1uCEroI2VR_y9tLhJWKb0Nl7reSgTUZyvWIsowTj4RHnZ12hzdVx-RcVa9ERvLSQnnuh2_mZBOsOSFbI60VVtFi_eo1DcbLSq9bVDjDKpkFLPmpf6MOB45Pi/s400/IMG_0124.JPG" /></a></div>
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I started to burp a little which was helping relieve some of the pressure on my stomach, but I didn’t take in any calories as my stomach still hurt. I found myself needing to slow down a number of times when I glanced at my watch and saw 6:25/mile. I took this as a good sign and just hoped the energy would still be there at the end of the run. I finally reached the creek path and picked up a vial of salt from the BASE tent. I finally cracked a smile when I saw them all dancing to music and vowed, to myself, to enjoy the run as best I could. I headed uphill where I would finally get to see the other competitors ahead of me. I’d passed one guy on the run so far but wasn’t sure how close others were or how they were feeling. Shortly after the central aid station, aka the flux capacitor, I saw Chris Leiferman leading the race. I was stoked to see him so far ahead. We had been at CSU together and I watched Chris go through several years of injuries so it was good to see him having a solid race. Miles 8-15 went by quickly. The crowds were spaced out but had a lot of enthusiasm. It was great to see a lot of familiar faces on the course. I smiled every time I recognized the groups of people cheering for me. It had been too long since I’d seen many of them. Go Rams! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gy8b17zG6pm-Ft81JrAdEaA8da9vF8K-cMrekMNCUzVsM4fftZ8s1jG05Hv_sM-ml2kOWh0rLtv0pjcg7q-0pNgNp6__YnrY2mKHS8lkBrE_0ttspLE7AwSc1yNYYsXSvGyJ0rzlBlB4/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gy8b17zG6pm-Ft81JrAdEaA8da9vF8K-cMrekMNCUzVsM4fftZ8s1jG05Hv_sM-ml2kOWh0rLtv0pjcg7q-0pNgNp6__YnrY2mKHS8lkBrE_0ttspLE7AwSc1yNYYsXSvGyJ0rzlBlB4/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rachael telling me to manage my pain...</td></tr>
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Though everyone was saying it was 95 degrees out, I was noticing the pain from my stomach more than the heat. Any time I wanted to push, my stomach would tighten up more and I’d have to back off. I’d finished my water bottle so I stopped for a refill. The vial of salt had not lasted me very long and I was already looking forward to stocking up again. Finally, around mile 16, my stomach seemed to let up a little bit. I slammed a cup of coke and it seemed to take well. Other than the gel I’d forced down at mile 9, these were the first calories I’d taken in during the marathon. For the rest of the run, I kept taking 1-2 cups of coke at aid stations and drinking from my water bottle. Several times, I came to a complete stop at aid stations in order to refill my bottles and get all of the fluids and ice I wanted. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Strava run <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1630861310" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;">. There is definitely some slowing down in the back half of the run for me but not nearly as bad as I was expecting based on how I felt.</span></td></tr>
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When I finished the bike, I’d mentally prepared to walk half of the marathon as I wasn’t sure if my stomach could digest anything, but somehow I was getting through this marathon. I’d caught one more guy in front of me and started seeing other racers out on the course. As I passed through mile 22, I got more coke and knew I’d be able to finish. I felt strong running uphill and my quads were still holding up well. The aid stations felt very far apart. I didn’t measure on my watch but it felt like they were over a mile apart. As I ran up the last cruel hill about 0.5 miles from the finish, I tried to take in all of the feelings. I doubled back for the last time. Running through the final aid station, I ditched my empty ice sock, turned my hat around and put my sunglasses on my head. Miranda (Rachael’s sister) gave me the sign to drop the hammer. Laughing, I kicked some extra pep into my step towards the finish. All the emotions came to me running down the finishing shoot. I was happy, proud, and, more than anything, so grateful to be able to do this insane race with the people I love.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">On the creek path</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">That finish line feeling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHYtu-3hhsqpZCQVnOLWaIszcp10DIZzu3BICcJmzZYmUt169eSlmuQ9veV_eHyo-wVCyulrke00uTVjmzMcJeUJKKr-_VJWKlGmSyG4D2-XnpXkDFyHfb81A5uDY9D28S4iqcNZ2QopM/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHYtu-3hhsqpZCQVnOLWaIszcp10DIZzu3BICcJmzZYmUt169eSlmuQ9veV_eHyo-wVCyulrke00uTVjmzMcJeUJKKr-_VJWKlGmSyG4D2-XnpXkDFyHfb81A5uDY9D28S4iqcNZ2QopM/s400/IMG_0138.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">15 minutes later...wrecked</td></tr>
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Total: 8:40:11 / 8th<br />
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TAKEAWAYS</div>
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- My biggest takeaway is how important it is to feel confident in yourself and your training. No one can do that for you. “Comparison is the thief of joy”. It was hard for me, at first, to feel confident in my training when I saw others who were able to put in so much more. But, eventually, I found the more I focused on myself, and the more I focused on balancing the daily stresses of work, training, and other life commitments, the more confidence I gained that what I was doing was the best for me. While key workouts and races help to affirm this confidence for me, I found that believing in what I was doing each day was important. </div>
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- Swimming 3 times a week has been OK for me. It is not nearly as much as I used to swim, but the sessions I do have good volume and are focused (4-6k each). I felt comfortable and strong throughout the entire Ironman swim. Even as my race goals change as we head into the rest of the summer and fall, I plan to keep swimming regularly as I feel it’s a good fitness booster with very little potential for injury.</div>
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- Decent bike fitness comes back fairly quickly for me. I found the 8 weeks or so of focused work allowed me to perform fairly well. I will probably never be able to ride as fast as the top-level guys and that’s OK. Biking at their level takes a lot of dedicated time. Due to the variety and focused time spent on the trainer during my training for this race, I arrived to the start line not burned out and was able to focus throughout the entire 4+ hours on the bike during the race. In the future, I may add in some high intensity work at the beginning of workouts before settling in to try to simulate the chasing likely to happen at the start of a race.</div>
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- Another take away: Keep nutrition simple. I practiced my nutrition regularly when riding. I trained my gut to accept 350-400 cal/hr. Running after these simulation rides felt awesome. However, during the race I became concerned with trying to get solid foods in early on. Unfortunately, my effort was too high for my stomach to process these foods in combination with the heat. This was disappointing as I felt my nutrition had been dialed in well this go around. My stomach locked up and I was in pain for the rest of the race. In the future, I plan to keep all calories between liquids and gels especially on hot days. If my heart rate gets low enough (like on an extended downhill or if the temperature is cool) then I may take in more solid food.</div>
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- The running potential is there. I’ve always loved to run. Run hard and run long. My 3:04 marathon time was not the fastest. Yet relative to those who I finished around, I gained confidence knowing that my run can be strong even if my stomach and the weather are making the experience challenging. Guys who had similar, or slower, run splits to me, have shown they can run mid to low 2:50’s in an Ironman marathon. After some lifestyle changes, I think running has become a strength again and I’d really like to test myself with another full at some point.</div>
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- I love what I’m doing. Working full-time as an engineer is challenging and rewarding. Every day is different. I’m very thankful for my education and I’m happy to be applying myself towards a career that is supporting the stable lifestyle I wish to live while providing benefits like healthcare, retirement, unlimited coffee, and dates with Rachael. I love having triathlon in my life, too. The training provides stress release from work and connects me with other people who are balancing a full-time career and extra-curricular goals. While many see the pro triathlete mindset as needing to be completely focused or, to take a Matt Dixon term, “unapologetically dedicated to world-class racing”, I’m OK with not checking that box. To me the benefits of my lifestyle outweigh the sacrifices the top pros make. I can’t focus on triathlon all day every day. But, I think a few times each year, I can focus and be competitive among them at certain races. The long distance racing has always been appealing to me so I’m sure I’ll be back at another Ironman-distance start line in the future. Nothing is locked in right now and that’s just the way I like it!</div>
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Thank you to Rachael for being there for me every day in so many different ways. The preparation would not have been possible without you.</div>
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Thank you to my parents and family. I will always appreciate the upbringing and support over the years.</div>
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Thank you to the people at Burns and McDonnell. Especially the lunch run crew.</div>
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Thank you to Roka for the new tri suit and casual sunglasses. The tri suit was extremely comfortable and the cooling capabilities were incredible. The sunglasses worked perfect for the run.</div>
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Thank you to everyone who has reached out and followed along the past few months. It was great to see tons of people cheering out on the course.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RUZj1FqMuvXUqqw9QZn0Y8by9C4SaXDeCbberPcR9FWtw3kSG_-gTRh4d56_x7qmd2Sm-CeeAxYfgi-Iv3zSab4_f9otde1Bv3E1eBiI-cZcSoZuD3FAH729kHWsaZngQSgqAzuXP-Em/s1600/IMG_0146+%25281%2529.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RUZj1FqMuvXUqqw9QZn0Y8by9C4SaXDeCbberPcR9FWtw3kSG_-gTRh4d56_x7qmd2Sm-CeeAxYfgi-Iv3zSab4_f9otde1Bv3E1eBiI-cZcSoZuD3FAH729kHWsaZngQSgqAzuXP-Em/s400/IMG_0146+%25281%2529.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-10729380376363925652017-11-19T19:57:00.000-08:002017-11-21T07:57:22.090-08:00Adventuring to Tennessee: My First 50k<div style="text-align: center;">
Four days have passed since running my first 50k trail race, and my legs still feel like someone took a baseball bat to my quads. On the other hand, I am energized. I am glad Rachael and I decided to drive almost 20 hrs for what may be our most spontaneous weekend to date.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9f96LUb45h8kWiYLADeyHRbCFAfx79_eYiG5RXDDEdrgvX_XeXzAp-AZXf4DbNRpGQq-CMNF0jBi1SWh8ccAzxMtfns_RqWIHuy2k195VHpEtd44jP04uecH0L2WhqKD3FITaF5eNLyRf/s1600/road+trip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1433" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9f96LUb45h8kWiYLADeyHRbCFAfx79_eYiG5RXDDEdrgvX_XeXzAp-AZXf4DbNRpGQq-CMNF0jBi1SWh8ccAzxMtfns_RqWIHuy2k195VHpEtd44jP04uecH0L2WhqKD3FITaF5eNLyRf/s400/road+trip.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a weekend spent running! And driving 1600 miles...</td></tr>
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Well, I guess it wasn’t completely spontaneous. A few months ago, Rachael threw out the idea of us doing a 50k trail race in southern Missouri. As surprised as I was to hear the suggestion, I also love running trails so I said “let’s do it”. Less than 48 hours before we planned to race, we realized we could no longer sign up - bad planning on our part. We frantically searched for another option. There were a few 50ks in Tennessee that looked like they might work. I quickly sent off an email to my department manager asking if I could switch my PTO from Monday to Friday as this 50k was on Saturday, not Sunday as we had initially planned. We halfheartedly packed a few clothes and nutrition and went to bed unsure if the PTO would get approved. I woke up at 1am to use the bathroom and noticed an email saying “sounds good, enjoy!” (Another reason why my job is awesome) I was too excited to sleep so I asked Rachael if she wanted to leave right then. She said “Let’s do it” so we hit the road.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42C4H3gLGK33JU_9mNZkKFHJRudeNxmBSeCsLE2Xs4ibtFLi3HOKnDy6ct4LxTQOD7CokHgsvYGpmBAs6IT7Y4YPQ-30UkwBFrvaFf2w8czArVEwjq2Y9QPysy5Ks-EoiDZEQL4gYoMrq/s1600/img_7920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42C4H3gLGK33JU_9mNZkKFHJRudeNxmBSeCsLE2Xs4ibtFLi3HOKnDy6ct4LxTQOD7CokHgsvYGpmBAs6IT7Y4YPQ-30UkwBFrvaFf2w8czArVEwjq2Y9QPysy5Ks-EoiDZEQL4gYoMrq/s400/img_7920.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 minutes into the drive</td></tr>
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We were on our way in our new ride by 2am. We took plenty of stops on the way to Knoxville, breaking up the trip for coffee stops and a shake out run in Nashville. Rachael’s Instagram connections, yet again, proved extremely useful for recommendations. We checked into the hotel around 7:30pm, laid out race clothes and nutrition for the next morning, and went to sleep. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulF901OKSiOi279Istxsi7zGU8ktrjm4jobHX3TsXsDSwdfQHb8G8wqQ6wHhTHqAH9n5hOHCz3Lin6GDC2790BAAVHTi8skQM0MdhYcLlwoTvw3krN1TvxlL5CI-L5913uLJpAKMQd6b_/s1600/img_7948-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulF901OKSiOi279Istxsi7zGU8ktrjm4jobHX3TsXsDSwdfQHb8G8wqQ6wHhTHqAH9n5hOHCz3Lin6GDC2790BAAVHTi8skQM0MdhYcLlwoTvw3krN1TvxlL5CI-L5913uLJpAKMQd6b_/s400/img_7948-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the coffee stops</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXusUbpXCSUGhI7LpNW7B4Xjf-e6lQmcKtAIq6_fMLOTLdcN_konAoKAQbQSee52Z9fpOSuVZ_B9eVoG7uFpN0-wsRLJJMmahidjQZgvgizhEvgRpOViM0_ap8L6XN3_9QyEq_jTPHJogT/s1600/img_8006-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXusUbpXCSUGhI7LpNW7B4Xjf-e6lQmcKtAIq6_fMLOTLdcN_konAoKAQbQSee52Z9fpOSuVZ_B9eVoG7uFpN0-wsRLJJMmahidjQZgvgizhEvgRpOViM0_ap8L6XN3_9QyEq_jTPHJogT/s400/img_8006-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stop in Nashville on the way...</td></tr>
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<b>Race day</b></div>
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We woke up race morning feeling surprisingly rested. After the classic hotel room oatmeal with hot water from the coffee machine (very happy we brought our own coffee and french press) we grabbed our gear for a long day on the trails. It was a relief to only need the equipment for one sport instead of three!</div>
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Everything we needed for the day! Love the Hoka speed goat 2s</div>
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The race took place at Norris Dam State Park, about 30 minutes north of Knoxville- not too far from where the Barkley Marathons take place. A winding, dark road took us uphill to a pavilion to the state park. Only a few other cars were in the gravel parking lot when we first arrived. After a few minutes we were registered and given a paper course map. Gradually, more cars trickled in and runners calmly moved to the pavilion where the race director gave us a quick course overview. The atmosphere was very laid back and we rotated spots standing next to a fire to stay warm.</div>
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As the sun rose, we all lined up to start. The race director casually asked if we were ready, and off we went. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfF3ilu91c4VxGocoFWfi9lQXWd2UFWatdNPn-FdFUd1Oa6B_9fhQvQzjnRhSZ3Ws2MLoPvJdywzPbq7cbli11xeo1INGURPg3e9E-ZtG5HOr-NM0EzMFfj8SqtXsa0t0KkueXGvA-ohC/s1600/img_8070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfF3ilu91c4VxGocoFWfi9lQXWd2UFWatdNPn-FdFUd1Oa6B_9fhQvQzjnRhSZ3Ws2MLoPvJdywzPbq7cbli11xeo1INGURPg3e9E-ZtG5HOr-NM0EzMFfj8SqtXsa0t0KkueXGvA-ohC/s400/img_8070.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race briefing gathering</td></tr>
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The first minute we all ran together on the state park road before heading down a set of stairs and transitioning to a single track trail. The pace slowed while we were funneled into a long, snaking line. The first 4-5 miles went by quickly. I started a little further back than I probably should have and it took me a while to (nicely) work my way around people towards the front. I was a little nervous about my trail senses as it's been a hot minute since I’ve run trails, but they came back quickly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJo0FHwl7emllQbZxdJQsKr3xfDJZM8SbgKJPmJYshdE75oELAIZ8_EufdKrPnwdZ6iSDkQALvAf1R80uTXcxLB5jvP-sEQxX2yACV9hA-aB_wnvIRMImZcYF5L6Vzf_uqes1V_6Y5BGg/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJo0FHwl7emllQbZxdJQsKr3xfDJZM8SbgKJPmJYshdE75oELAIZ8_EufdKrPnwdZ6iSDkQALvAf1R80uTXcxLB5jvP-sEQxX2yACV9hA-aB_wnvIRMImZcYF5L6Vzf_uqes1V_6Y5BGg/s400/image1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a goo 6 inches of leaves on the trails which made it difficult to see my exact footing, but the constant tree cover made for an amazing setting.</td></tr>
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The first 9-ish miles the terrain was rolling. There were a few small climbs and descents. I felt fresh and strong running up and down the hills. I made up ground on the hills and learned to use them as an opportunity to go around people. I was wearing a Solomon running pack/vest (thank you Heather!) holding all my food and a water bottle. During the first hour I made sure to eat a few shot bloks and sip from my bottle. </div>
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At around 4 miles, I filed in behind the lead group of 5 or 6 guys. The guys in this group were moving at a better pace for me and I felt comfortable running behind them. While I still felt fresh, I knew 30 miles was a long way to go so I focused on re-familiarizing myself with trail running. It took a good 10 minutes before I felt comfortable bombing downhill at their speed. I took a turn at the front and gradually pulled away from the group around mile 6. </div>
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I kept running my own speed but was quickly stopped in my tracks after a long uphill approaching the first aid station. I'd lost the trail. At important intersections throughout the course, turns were supposed to be marked with utility flags. The trail I was on had disappeared and all I could see was a bunch of trees and brush. I smiled. We'd be getting the true ultra experience today! I paused and somehow found a utility flag in the distance. Batting branches out of my way, I trudged my way over to the flag. A few feet before getting there I saw the next one! I was able to repeat the process a few more times before I was again stopped in my tracks. I pulled out the paper map we'd been given at the start to try and figure out where I'd gone wrong. After a minute or so, the guys who I'd been running with arrived behind me and we spread out to find the flags. Note to self: wear socks that go above your ankle for trail running. My legs were pretty cut up from this section. At the top of a very steep hill, we heard some shouting from down below. The volunteers had seen us and were giving us a point of reference for the first aid station. We half ran half fell down "butt-slide hill" to the aid station where we were greeted by ringing cowbells.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5FMhFQ35LKvwGluYM8EmY_ufgkyg2Ha3TOwNFhrJrbA-z25WXP2y1k97_lZLwJOnSPk2aNBPGG8XJJh8mkeKEDTqOQplGFDKHgAYiN3ZCbeGMhxy4VuuuyABIPQtusGYIkynqoYh5-eF/s1600/img_8148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1131" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5FMhFQ35LKvwGluYM8EmY_ufgkyg2Ha3TOwNFhrJrbA-z25WXP2y1k97_lZLwJOnSPk2aNBPGG8XJJh8mkeKEDTqOQplGFDKHgAYiN3ZCbeGMhxy4VuuuyABIPQtusGYIkynqoYh5-eF/s400/img_8148.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Butt slide" hill</td></tr>
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Another guy, decked out in a matching top and bottom led us back onto the trail. On one of the longer climbs I started a conversation with him and learned his name was Dominick. Dominick had some familiarity with the course and was using the race as stepping stone for another. The trails widened a few times as we ran on some jeep roads and we blew straight through the second aid station somewhere between mile 9 and 10. I briefly stopped for a minute to remove my jacket and stow it in my pack. I appreciated running with Dominick because I could tell he had some experience with Ultras and was pacing smartly. While I was still feeling good, I wasn't confident I wouldn't get hung up on another unclear turn so I decided to stick with Dominick. The next few miles had some longer, sustained climbs. The slopes got very steep, 10-15%, but I was still able to granny jog my way up them. While the uphills seemed to suit me well, Dominick was able to put some distance into me on the steeper downhills. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSKNzWXQRWXgQA0sUhYeb9Mc5AY3EuA1_dt5tPcumVFpQYad9ucmY9NhfwEU_RNLxfGGSxKgCiXU5VxeyihsoIZcaAa54Qw4KIVH76Mbg0yfiCRgZyVsbhT9U6cU3-3bWAlTK7oEcWsrv/s1600/image4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSKNzWXQRWXgQA0sUhYeb9Mc5AY3EuA1_dt5tPcumVFpQYad9ucmY9NhfwEU_RNLxfGGSxKgCiXU5VxeyihsoIZcaAa54Qw4KIVH76Mbg0yfiCRgZyVsbhT9U6cU3-3bWAlTK7oEcWsrv/s320/image4.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Course route. <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1271074073" target="_blank">Strava here</a> </td></tr>
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We were nearing 90 minutes of running and I was starting to notice soreness in my quads from all the downhill. Nothing crazy, but I could tell that they were going to be wrecked by the end of the race. Around 11 miles in, the trail put us back onto pavement where we returned to the starting area. Unfortunately, the volunteers at the second aid station had forgotten to direct us to the small distance-grab loop. We all took a minute to eat some food and decided to return to do the same route backwards, as planned. We were told to simply run the small distance-grab loop twice so we'd get to the correct distance. On the way back out, I saw Rachael. She looked to be running well. I tried to explain to her the new route plan but explaining directions to Rachael is...difficult. Let alone in a place neither of us have ever been.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwATf29ADSamazqMWZTPpJtYPKP63s1c5GLkjz4OM4uNGWgSARQnkV2uxuE7PTq-HehZzKY9b8HFwlcH1cF7d19-2Uw_cWZpIuKkuIVw-L8vYSI1Dyq6Y6VjCRJd-CQd32wGaiy_a9JcK/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="229" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwATf29ADSamazqMWZTPpJtYPKP63s1c5GLkjz4OM4uNGWgSARQnkV2uxuE7PTq-HehZzKY9b8HFwlcH1cF7d19-2Uw_cWZpIuKkuIVw-L8vYSI1Dyq6Y6VjCRJd-CQd32wGaiy_a9JcK/s400/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you try to explain directions to Rachael...</td></tr>
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Because we'd taken several extra minutes at the pavilion, a few more guys had caught up with us. Once we got back on the trail, I started running my own pace. I crushed the rest of my Clif Bar and upped my effortwhile still trying to be mindful that we had over 18 miles to go. I arrived back at the aid station to begin my first of 2 small distance grab loops. I was excited to see a new part of the course! The small loops had a lot of climbing. I made sure to step carefully along one section that traversed a steep slope with a river beneath. After one long climb, the trail reached an overlook point with a great view before bombing back down to the aid station. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGbSWFk4g0FwMPv8a_TFv71V1ouF2AOOizURHYL5ELG4Ft-ceC1AIMgiPbkM03mrC6VNkY87AIpIUzRQKtDHvOrBBum_3D0MRgHr_Gd1sz0wEE1OM6sWXHF7OxwjOqNoE13ipnx47kCtZ/s1600/img_8078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGbSWFk4g0FwMPv8a_TFv71V1ouF2AOOizURHYL5ELG4Ft-ceC1AIMgiPbkM03mrC6VNkY87AIpIUzRQKtDHvOrBBum_3D0MRgHr_Gd1sz0wEE1OM6sWXHF7OxwjOqNoE13ipnx47kCtZ/s400/img_8078.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlook view. Not bad!</td></tr>
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There were a handful of runners out on the loop and we all greeted each other and provided encouragement. The encouragement seemed genuine compared to triathlon where it seems like there is always some resentment when getting passed. At least in my experience. The trail race seemed less about competing and more like a self-focused effort because it can be such a long day. </div>
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I caught up to Rachael as I was finishing my second loop. We exchanged quick words at the aid station. I refilled my bottle, ate a bite of PB&J and headed back out. I was a little over 21 miles in. My legs were feeling heavier, but I still had good energy. I felt like I was moving a little slower on the climbs. Going down one of the hills, I was adjusting the water bottle inside my pack and took a spill. I shook it off and after a few minutes felt like I was running normally again. My elbows and hip were a little banged up and from then on, I made sure to be very careful on the down hills.</div>
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I arrived at the last aid station around mile 25. I grabbed a few mini protein balls and started heading back up "butt-slide hill". All of the runners had torn up the slope a bit - making it easy to see where to go, but difficult to get traction. I had been holding one of the protein balls, planning to eat it while I climbed back up the hill only to drop it while my hand reached out to keep me from face-planting. Still debating if not face-planting was worth losing that protein ball. Three times I made it 10 feet up the steep slope only to slide back down. A little embarrassed in front of the aid station volunteers, I eventually found traction, crested the hill, and worked my way cautiously back along the not-actually-a-trail, trail. It was easier to find the path the second time after people had worn a faint path. </div>
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I reached 26 miles. A few times, I tried to push harder up hills and I could feel how much energy that used. Instead, I tried to stay relaxed with all of my movements and imagined that I had 15-20 miles to go instead of just 6. As I relaxed, the running felt better. It felt good to still be able to run up the hills and while my quads screamed downhill, I felt (relatively) in control. The miles slowly ticked by and I tried to enjoy the stillness of the woods. A few times some rustling in the leaves on the slope had me scared a bear was near but it always ended up just being a squirrel. Lame. </div>
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After 30 miles and close to 6000 feet of elevation gain, I recognized the stairs we'd taken almost 5 hours earlier in the day. I ran slowly back up the stairs, back onto the road, and to the finish at the pavilion. Only a few people were hanging around the finish area which consisted of two people in chairs and a pace clock. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrY80OKtVBDoQjKB3ugetIqsAE6wc2DZgyh2PsdnadP4k6ToxpHKTfiB5nsnJQvBtntHhoWyP2wOgaVSnKZx_NagjMtcuSv7dtYGruojNq5QChsdNmsQO3aF8JiDTGf2Z5F-Q06mGCKTT/s1600/stryd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1600" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrY80OKtVBDoQjKB3ugetIqsAE6wc2DZgyh2PsdnadP4k6ToxpHKTfiB5nsnJQvBtntHhoWyP2wOgaVSnKZx_NagjMtcuSv7dtYGruojNq5QChsdNmsQO3aF8JiDTGf2Z5F-Q06mGCKTT/s400/stryd.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stryd power <a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/6173554073665536" target="_blank">analysis here </a></td></tr>
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I hung around for an hour, talked with a few people, and snacked on some food. Eventually I went to pick Rachael up, <a href="https://trialsoflifeloveandfitness.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/norris-dam-hard-trail-50k/" target="_blank">more on that story in her blog</a>, and we headed back to the hotel. We both had an awesome time on the trails and spent the rest of the day hobbling around to various food establishments.</div>
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The next morning we dragged ourselves out of bed and began the long drive back to Kansas City. This time we drove through Louisville (instead of Nashville) where we spent 30 minutes trying to get Rachael an Instagram worthy picture. We also ate breakfast there at a buffet. I had two omelets. They were great.</div>
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If anyone reading this is considering doing an ultra/mountain/trail run, I would highly encourage you to go for it. The gear is minimal and the atmosphere is worth it. Next up, I may do another distance running race in December. I think the longer distance races with challenging courses suit me well and I want to continue adding them to my schedule when the timing works. I have a few goals in mind for the next few years but for now I'm just doing my best to challenge myself while still doing events that excite and motivate me. Stay tuned for a 2017 recap and plans for the future!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q9JVmPFzPYqmvIq26nZmHtrBAkj_yyf8wecT7oHbLJ1YXN3MXtUyBulDkcc1d-ZWQpQMFWJwYticBQNj_jPDQbQ583fg9rw3-Kt55j8k3weqgNCGsj5OTB4mgrarc6vBnQSErP6Rk8l2/s1600/img_8118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q9JVmPFzPYqmvIq26nZmHtrBAkj_yyf8wecT7oHbLJ1YXN3MXtUyBulDkcc1d-ZWQpQMFWJwYticBQNj_jPDQbQ583fg9rw3-Kt55j8k3weqgNCGsj5OTB4mgrarc6vBnQSErP6Rk8l2/s400/img_8118.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopped in Louisville on the way home </td></tr>
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If you've read this far, and want to hear a podcast I recently talked in about my experiences racing the past 2 years, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814655360/the-grind-with-spencer-ralston-steve-mantell" target="_blank">check it out</a>! (hope you smile at some point :) )<br />
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If you somehow have made it this far in the blog and have
not fallen asleep, comment on the social media post (facebook or Instagram) your
favorite Clif Bar product. I will choose one person randomly and send them some
goodies!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day. </div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-32325689972502428042017-08-07T20:33:00.000-07:002017-08-08T05:44:16.304-07:00Boulder 70.3, Volume 5?<div style="text-align: center;">
This past weekend I traveled out to Colorado to race Boulder 70.3. I've raced Boulder 70.3 every year since 2012 and when Rachael said she was planning to race, it was hard to say "no". If you are interested in reading only about the race, skip ahead to the "race morning" section.</div>
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<b>Current life balance</b></div>
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One week after racing St. George 70.3, I started working full time as an engineer in Kansas City. While it has only been a few months, I'm really enjoying the work at Burns and McDonnell. Working in the Geotech department, we help on a variety of different projects. Most of the projects I've been involved with have been for substations or transmission lines. Without going into too many details, we get to design foundations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNyIC4ui-V5wrisqkjEehrkYK9RWvjJFDBUEEIv0tfy9rJZ9ofOpC27oGFuh5N1iLhEnI8l07Yt4v-FJufa3W9r4AIM7wdpS3xp1PMFdMElmaQmn2PXmov2lauqgIbhgWFfQItVj5p51u/s1600/burns-mcdonnell-headquarters-750xx2500-1406-0-88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="750" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNyIC4ui-V5wrisqkjEehrkYK9RWvjJFDBUEEIv0tfy9rJZ9ofOpC27oGFuh5N1iLhEnI8l07Yt4v-FJufa3W9r4AIM7wdpS3xp1PMFdMElmaQmn2PXmov2lauqgIbhgWFfQItVj5p51u/s400/burns-mcdonnell-headquarters-750xx2500-1406-0-88.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where I spend Monday-Friday</td></tr>
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My training patterns have changed a lot since starting full-time work. I could write several blog posts about how I approach exercise these days but here are a few points:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">I try my best to prioritize frequency and efficiency. Even if I only have 30 minutes, I'll go for a short run or do some plyometrics. Almost everything is 60 min or less during the week.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Swimming: I try swim 5-6 times per week. Usually this consists of 2-3 structured practices about 75 min long with a couple other shorter (sometimes even just 30 min) swims to help clear my head before or after work. Our swim group at the JCC has 30 people in the water at 5:45 am every Tu/Th and Dave is the reason behind it. He is a great coach who is attentive to his athletes and very adamant on quality over quantity. Every couple weeks Dave will film our strokes without us knowing it and upload it to Dropbox with verbal instruction or correction which I've found very helpful. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM1s0VlfuypjbgNdnCtx1jwzQ99_sDdDNS3MtJFdeqjCm7HIukRidkftQw01aH5F3FmFrp1jtg0WrLnpsMMGf3r32UuvdK3SH4h89ga3C6EFf4majgIFw9BFvF-sxfucmLb5gCz1Hssht/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM1s0VlfuypjbgNdnCtx1jwzQ99_sDdDNS3MtJFdeqjCm7HIukRidkftQw01aH5F3FmFrp1jtg0WrLnpsMMGf3r32UuvdK3SH4h89ga3C6EFf4majgIFw9BFvF-sxfucmLb5gCz1Hssht/s400/IMG_0227.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 50 meter outdoor pool at the JCC. Swimming outside is THE best.</td></tr>
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</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Biking: Most weeks I get in 4 rides and will some days ride to/from work/gym/home/track. During the week all of my rides are using the TrainerRoad app and our wahoo kickr. I'll do one easy recovery ride, a VO2 max ride, and a ride focused on cadence changes. On the weekends, I'm able to get outside for a longer 3-4 hr ride with some intervals. Almost all of the intervals </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
are focused at a higher threshold where I feel like I get the most return on time investment.</div>
</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxtNIOin7JRfEloJrxyouyuZoWrJ0qzcv3u0mlQWOcK03_IRfEBZMKTEjZXy8ctPXdRsP9vJG8f0_JAttSLpxb4MsWJMuwww-8lGIf2hNr7p5c029wb0trAIKvRMgmQnIFgz246JgbEfc/s1600/IMG_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1230" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxtNIOin7JRfEloJrxyouyuZoWrJ0qzcv3u0mlQWOcK03_IRfEBZMKTEjZXy8ctPXdRsP9vJG8f0_JAttSLpxb4MsWJMuwww-8lGIf2hNr7p5c029wb0trAIKvRMgmQnIFgz246JgbEfc/s400/IMG_0181.JPG" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weekend riding with Kevin</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Running: I'm lucky enough to be able to run at lunch with a group of work friends. It seriously makes my day and helps me to focus. One day a week I'll substitute the lunch run with a strength workout so that I can do an evening track workout with another group. On the weekends, I'll do a short but hard run off the bike (taking a page out of Kevin Denny's book) and the other day I may do a longer run. If I ever feel like I'm getting run down or have run too many consecutive days, I'll skip a day of running and will usually feel better.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Throughout the week, I usually end up doing 4-5 short (15-30 minutes) strength sessions. I've always enjoyed being in the gym and often times will go in with a few exercises I want to do or glance at what Mace has put on training peaks for a strength workout and make up sets/reps for however much time I have. I focus on strengthening my hamstrings and glutes, upper body and stability. I also do a lot of plyometrics or what my sister would call "jumping around".</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Generally speaking, if I go anerobic at least once then it's been a good day. As my work schedule will eventually require some travel to job sites across the country, I know I'll need to be flexible and creative with workouts. And while I like having a routine at home, I enjoy changes of scenery and finding new gyms, hills, and pools to train in.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaDGRNdsx98JsR4_bmqxZPaqZ5TysMPeE9t_a0lGjq7YhXoXBO0O1zO0cFhJoqZ_5XraRNq_K0yvXa-3XqcybEZv7A_3s_MTAbTboc1Q8C_qTrsUAVHhcpoBoobTN8n-xQt5KEfT0OAXq/s1600/Lew+Hollander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="740" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaDGRNdsx98JsR4_bmqxZPaqZ5TysMPeE9t_a0lGjq7YhXoXBO0O1zO0cFhJoqZ_5XraRNq_K0yvXa-3XqcybEZv7A_3s_MTAbTboc1Q8C_qTrsUAVHhcpoBoobTN8n-xQt5KEfT0OAXq/s320/Lew+Hollander.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/2015/10/lew-hollander-the-man-in-the-mirror.aspx#axzz4p7y7VwrC" target="_blank">Lew Hollander</a> gave a speech at IM Florida 2014 at age 84 and said that he goes "anaerobic every day". #LifeGoals </td></tr>
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<b>Pre race</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The week leading into Boulder 70.3, I kept my weekly training almost exactly the same until flying out Thursday evening. After some flight delays, I was able to make it to Denver by about midnight Thursday. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Friday morning, we drove up to Boulder where we quickly checked in and went for a quick spin testing out our bike equipment. After the pro meeting, I went for a short run with Rachael and jumped in the reservoir for a few minutes before biking to our airbnb. The rest of the day was spent getting food, setting up gear, and checking in bikes. We stayed very busy but by 6 pm, we had gotten everything done that we needed to. From a performance perspective, it was probably not the best lead-in day before the race but my head was in a good spot, and my legs felt good during the shake outs. We were in bed a little after 9 and I had no problem falling asleep.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPAa8dH4hcf_0HG5aqm4nJZJ7iSuhkJZLecfZmXmzWT9dZpYBuF5SnDme2k0C8qVKaijz5Fb7pYN3YK83Eai1Coic6kJ-Do-IQcZYjQxfgZ4g5EWX8KU1V5T2Dd_dJXkkD-Or_TyW5ZKx/s1600/IMG_0231.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPAa8dH4hcf_0HG5aqm4nJZJ7iSuhkJZLecfZmXmzWT9dZpYBuF5SnDme2k0C8qVKaijz5Fb7pYN3YK83Eai1Coic6kJ-Do-IQcZYjQxfgZ4g5EWX8KU1V5T2Dd_dJXkkD-Or_TyW5ZKx/s320/IMG_0231.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day before the race... nearly 20,000 steps. Coach is probably banging his head against a wall.</td></tr>
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<b>Race morning</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rachael and I woke up at 4 am and I had the same breakfast I have almost every day: oatmeal with some almonds and a banana. I also had half of a muffin I'd saved from the day before. Rachael freaked out because "who only eats half a muffin!" but I was pretty pumped to eat it race morning. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgDPz5JjGDuXNCfekkYO-5_tLt_HuG-14Q41ySXMhbWrfqzSj9pm9Ih2SxY_a7-S5EfkXKmn3j4pF-WbB_vHQxUOa5Qar9Tp8RYAAi-5vsQGF1ZL6BwXRAxVPhTL8DcOnxNrk8-ncdiCL/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgDPz5JjGDuXNCfekkYO-5_tLt_HuG-14Q41ySXMhbWrfqzSj9pm9Ih2SxY_a7-S5EfkXKmn3j4pF-WbB_vHQxUOa5Qar9Tp8RYAAi-5vsQGF1ZL6BwXRAxVPhTL8DcOnxNrk8-ncdiCL/s320/coffee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, and adequate amounts of coffee were consumed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were out the door and into the mini van by 5 am, and at the reservoir soon after. Ernie had volunteered to drive us as long as we set up his camping chair for spectating because he was on crutches. While Ernie hung out watching people yell at their spouses for a bike pump, Rachael and I went to set up our transition spots. I loaded up bottles and nutrition, put a new battery in my Stages power meter, and got my run gear set. I had plenty of time for a quick warm-up run and another trip to the bathroom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kgaa5h_F4pMjm9N0D7toWpAEVt_nV017Kgi6iq7uN3vv72-bLeVVacXzXAMfEQgA9i4YaWpjdyjZRLcD8r6XE0PEZF3_jebBU8eYtRGUeigvn2opNJDQTw_DdUDSxdqwDF4lMECwsJOT/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kgaa5h_F4pMjm9N0D7toWpAEVt_nV017Kgi6iq7uN3vv72-bLeVVacXzXAMfEQgA9i4YaWpjdyjZRLcD8r6XE0PEZF3_jebBU8eYtRGUeigvn2opNJDQTw_DdUDSxdqwDF4lMECwsJOT/s400/IMG_0217.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Rachael before heading to the swim start</td></tr>
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Male pros were scheduled to start at 7:05 and I was in the water warming up about 15 min before that. After about 10 min, there was an announcement that due to parking delays, everyone would be starting 15 min later than scheduled. I got out of the water and planned to wait around before warming up again, but immediately started shivering. The air temp was slightly colder than the water and without a wetsuit, I couldn't keep myself warm. The announcer called us to the start line and I walked over shivering uncontrollably, my jaw completely locked up. I shook out my arms and tried to exhale strongly as they announced "30" seconds.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Swim</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started on the far left of the start line for the clockwise loop. As the cannon went, I took a few steps in the shallow water before starting to swim. The first couple minutes were a little chaotic and in my head I kept repeating "90%...90%" I knew that if I went out too hard, because I had started out shivering and because we were at altitude, I would burn out and move backwards quickly. I am generally pretty calm at a swim start but I think here I was too calm.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahEVgUh1rI3VZ_DxUBx6jz3M8xLztsHjlQDSVv7a3t7QHH9An0H2FR6klEL8qUTAB4LnAkE3y5_vSqCLcYD1dzrgh-AD2QcDw3YFxUh4wecLoe0tRme5jxeQkiA46NGT6eZ-Ryi3uVYLU/s1600/swim+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahEVgUh1rI3VZ_DxUBx6jz3M8xLztsHjlQDSVv7a3t7QHH9An0H2FR6klEL8qUTAB4LnAkE3y5_vSqCLcYD1dzrgh-AD2QcDw3YFxUh4wecLoe0tRme5jxeQkiA46NGT6eZ-Ryi3uVYLU/s400/swim+start.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim start views</td></tr>
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My awareness throughout the swim was pretty bad. I knew I was behind the leaders but didn't know how far back and couldn't recognize any of the swimmers around me. I've been in similar situations before, so I didn't panic. The swim went by unusually quick and I felt relatively comfortable, swimming off a few different pairs of feet and working on my body position to conserve energy. My stroke felt pretty good until the last couple hundred meters. I kept my effort level consistent as I stood up to exit the water. Ahead of me, I saw two guys I didn't recognize. In my head, I started getting a bit worried but mentally pushed it aside and ran to check hard for my bike.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bike</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I quickly transitioned, quickly glancing around to see how many of the front pack guys had stashed swimming paddles, then ran to mount my bike. Ernie was camped out at the bike exit and asked if everything was OK. As soon as he asked that, I knew I'd come out a bit further back than normal. Still, I responded that I was good and he told me to haul a$$. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5ev0cBxUjR0lY4BJRgqBg57axPJvoCr_OTPpNuGEwnMXmDlitJIzb_5uZVzeJdIzA5eKA4e5G_NIDE3NedNZqb0rpzTpqfKXGzmv-IVfaX2f6SNzXtGzdb9W__Z9D0gnORc8Zdj8LeDB/s1600/new+bike+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5ev0cBxUjR0lY4BJRgqBg57axPJvoCr_OTPpNuGEwnMXmDlitJIzb_5uZVzeJdIzA5eKA4e5G_NIDE3NedNZqb0rpzTpqfKXGzmv-IVfaX2f6SNzXtGzdb9W__Z9D0gnORc8Zdj8LeDB/s400/new+bike+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Philip Mathys for the picture!</td></tr>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Immediately out onto the bike course, Trip Hipple pulled in front of me and set a hard pace. We quickly reeled in a few guys before getting a split that we were about 75 seconds back to a big pack. I wasn't sure who was in that pack, but we set a strong pace to catch them. The early "out and back" gave us a chance to see them twice and I could see we were making up time. I felt pretty good and kept my effort strong without spiking too much. Around 13-14 we caught the group. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyfvqSc6XbgGrnPp4L-iJyXgtINSLqnT29KNQKqCDFp9pAv4vMRXWit51AdTuxKwuFblfBIPm-vWzS5WF8w-E_zt-JHXcntSL_5e31MfwpW97CwvxBhaqWrsKP26g61fm1yRZhfHdargx/s1600/Strava+bike.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyfvqSc6XbgGrnPp4L-iJyXgtINSLqnT29KNQKqCDFp9pAv4vMRXWit51AdTuxKwuFblfBIPm-vWzS5WF8w-E_zt-JHXcntSL_5e31MfwpW97CwvxBhaqWrsKP26g61fm1yRZhfHdargx/s400/Strava+bike.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1121199512/analysis" target="_blank">Strava</a> bike file for the data nerds out there. Power was from Stages </td></tr>
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We had passed 3 or 4 other riders on the way and the group we caught had 7 or so more. We jumped onto the back and I recognized AJ Baucco and Robbie Deckard. I was originally hoping to ride with Ben Hoffman and was disappointed not to see him. At the same race last year, Chris Leiferman and I had caught the second chase group early on in the bike, sat in for a few minutes, then made a move around them to try and catch the lead group. While I wanted to keep riding past the group, I knew I needed to recover a little so I sat in for a few minutes. Soon, a few minutes became 10 which became 15 which became 20. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I knew the course enough to know what sections would be hard to get away in and I was worried that if I went too hard at altitude I'd blow up and implode even more on the run. As the minutes passed, I focused on taking in fluids and nutrition all the while feeling like the real race was slipping away from me. It was extremely discouraging because while I felt like I could ride slightly faster on my own, I knew most people in that group were strong enough to match my effort for 5 minutes which would tow along the few weaker riders and essentially we'd be in the same situation. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9biP_YHGZizS4TQVEyYEhVtBSPIfnLnMN6E81sReKXaI1AF8M1La53BoOmxfF73Gqoekk7je7QtSzhdNJOvUrAQQ0qChcZ50Ui_KHLxg-lb90rcbGqujsj6fQLQE_GrHDD958U_xFIv93/s1600/frustration+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="500" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9biP_YHGZizS4TQVEyYEhVtBSPIfnLnMN6E81sReKXaI1AF8M1La53BoOmxfF73Gqoekk7je7QtSzhdNJOvUrAQQ0qChcZ50Ui_KHLxg-lb90rcbGqujsj6fQLQE_GrHDD958U_xFIv93/s400/frustration+meme.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you get frustrated with the group dynamics...</td></tr>
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As the miles ticked by, I took a few hard pulls, never seriously attacking but hoping to shake off a few guys or at least sting a few legs. Whenever a small gap opened up in front of me, the guys behind were very quick to slot in and make the spacing "legal" again. I kept wishing there was someone I could cue off of or work with to move past the group. I tried to remind myself to be grateful for this race experience instead of getting frustrated. In the last 10 miles, Sam Long and Kennett Peterson caught our group and quickly moved to the front. Immediately, everyone started working harder and a few gaps opened up. I worked around a few people to come into transition just a few seconds behind Sam and Kennett, but I quickly lost any advantage over the other guys in the pack as I headed to the porta potty to quickly pee.</div>
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<b>Run</b></div>
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A few of my last few 70.3 races I've really struggled with hydrating and felt like death the last 5 miles of the run. Starting out on the two lap run, I wanted to build into the first 3 miles making sure I got in fluids.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D4LsOWfg6BwPDTe8NIzluHJH_pLuWFXwttu29qVemcTM-Wh8zH4Y_9MYqWJosM-f9Nset4DbIh2yBM5SGyaqwQvIMhyr__digHGBUT5s7s-YEmZFGRi0h335DcOqu5z4eIIoyBZ3ChfG/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D4LsOWfg6BwPDTe8NIzluHJH_pLuWFXwttu29qVemcTM-Wh8zH4Y_9MYqWJosM-f9Nset4DbIh2yBM5SGyaqwQvIMhyr__digHGBUT5s7s-YEmZFGRi0h335DcOqu5z4eIIoyBZ3ChfG/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I had done well hydrating on the bike, but knew that sometimes it doesn't hit me until 7 or 8 miles in. I relaxed my shoulders and focused on a steady turnover. The temperature seemed pretty manageable. I saw Paul Ambrose ahead of me and gradually worked my way up to him. The first 3 miles had a few small hills in them. I felt good but dialed back my effort and took sips from my water bottle. Onto the flats, I got into my stride after tossing the water bottle. It felt good not to hold anything in my hands, but I still was aware of my effort trying not to push the first lap too hard and pay for it on the second half. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ5YEA5fEZJmjZgQh7dorT6MVZG_iBus2sE_vtDgTnhx2KWrw5XFquXqQlVPClOSWIuz1kpztKMz8ebjGexJ5uvYf0yfOg8jXQ32lj2lbKt4-SKqyDirXX5RHVSh5VY_uPSeMy3GSLWV2/s1600/IMG_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ5YEA5fEZJmjZgQh7dorT6MVZG_iBus2sE_vtDgTnhx2KWrw5XFquXqQlVPClOSWIuz1kpztKMz8ebjGexJ5uvYf0yfOg8jXQ32lj2lbKt4-SKqyDirXX5RHVSh5VY_uPSeMy3GSLWV2/s400/IMG_0221.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMrynEP-b0iJaUE_wXLvuVAjtXSVYnqBXNphsqWpoBzuyhi-awBSgsiAyWgNejeIZSVyF_de1HBYHhtUT-ebg5SuWp65GJtnN3PlEJCXJZgR6Zc6xFsG8Ngbn_kIeTuB1fXOMnbJkc9OO/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMrynEP-b0iJaUE_wXLvuVAjtXSVYnqBXNphsqWpoBzuyhi-awBSgsiAyWgNejeIZSVyF_de1HBYHhtUT-ebg5SuWp65GJtnN3PlEJCXJZgR6Zc6xFsG8Ngbn_kIeTuB1fXOMnbJkc9OO/s400/IMG_0225.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I focused on maintaining a good rhythm. Heading out onto the run in 17th place, I'd given up any placing goals and just wanted to run strong and smart. I felt pretty good through the half way point, but knew that I was not on pace to do anything spectacular. It takes a lot of motivation to head out on the second loop of a two loop run but eventually I got into a good rhythm. I slowed down a little for the aid stations. I would get 3 cups of water and one of red bull or coke before speeding up and running harder between aid stations. Running around the reservoir, I tried enjoy the race experience and appreciate everyone cheering. I relaxed my arms and shoulders every few minutes and took note of my form. By mile 10, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to crawl across the finish line so I pushed it a little bit. While in the past my quads and calves have been in a lot of pain the last couple miles, my hamstrings and glutes were feeling it which I took as a good sign for my evolving run form. Heading to the finish, I took in the views of the flat irons, the cheers, and the feelings of a good workout. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJD3aeup_Lqs5hiSZSlI7ScV-HWrQVaVWTB7aktdmmApDT6QtgkPcqzrUMmBqpn60R5PnfJoOS9w82L7a0XZpkg7LqqZukun-onMJpzZ6AGScodvzo7-tOzPkkn9doCrdUmybm5MDSMoD/s1600/Strava+run.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJD3aeup_Lqs5hiSZSlI7ScV-HWrQVaVWTB7aktdmmApDT6QtgkPcqzrUMmBqpn60R5PnfJoOS9w82L7a0XZpkg7LqqZukun-onMJpzZ6AGScodvzo7-tOzPkkn9doCrdUmybm5MDSMoD/s400/Strava+run.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/6565009763074048" target="_blank">Stryd running power file</a>. From this I can tell that I ran very consistently and my cadence didn't drop like it has in the past on the back half of the run.</td></tr>
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Immediately after crossing the finish line, I downed a bottle of water and talked with a few guys who had just finished in front of me. I checked in with my brother and Rachael's siblings, cooled down, ate some pizza, and cheered on Rachael for her finish. The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up with friends, packing the car, going to the awards, and hitting up the best fro yo place on earth....Ripple.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0WEOTd6dKNE4OnSEpXv_5TKXcKlHXu3eLhyLj1xCROUmUw7TyxslDbwo9wtnAF3d-6seA3V6jjHg8FzU1CNW1u0j29fXpkcId2r-HUbmIx3KEwPMj9VjMi6nBPqMk5NpgwjUZw1dvq_z/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0WEOTd6dKNE4OnSEpXv_5TKXcKlHXu3eLhyLj1xCROUmUw7TyxslDbwo9wtnAF3d-6seA3V6jjHg8FzU1CNW1u0j29fXpkcId2r-HUbmIx3KEwPMj9VjMi6nBPqMk5NpgwjUZw1dvq_z/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not in Colorado. Not Ripple. But ice cream is good and Charley is cute so...</td></tr>
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<b>Takeaways</b></div>
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Looking back at this race...even after just writing this blog, there are a few positives and negatives that stick out to me.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Negative: too much the day before. While sometimes it seems pointless and boring, I need to be better about getting off my feet the day before the race and getting quality sleep the week of. While being busy is nice because it takes your mind off the race, ultimately it takes away your energy and you end up using it as an excuse after the race ;)</li>
<li>Negative: unprepared swim start. I don't know what more I could have done on the day to stay warm, but in the future, for non wetsuit swims I can bring a sweatshirt to stay warm with if there is going to be time between warming up and the actual start. I hate being cold and know that I don't do well in cold conditions so that is something I can be better prepared for.</li>
<li>Negative: I was too cautious. Racing at this level has been and always will be extremely competitive. If you want to do well, not only do you have to prepare for the race but you have to be willing to hurt during the race. After reading through this blog, it seems pretty simple to me that I was scared to push too hard and blow up. That's not to say the race was easy. I pushed myself hard, but always felt within my threshold zones. I've had some very scary experiences in the past which I now attribute to dehydration so it's taking me some time get a little confidence back to pushing myself to those limits. I'm going to work on having the confidence to commit to hard efforts while racing.</li>
<li>Positive: I'm in a good head space. I honestly think that at this point in my life, working a full time engineering job is healthy for me. While some people may see this choice as a submission or defeat of sorts due to the every-day challenges associated with being a "pro" in this sport, being able to support myself and the lifestyle that I want to live is more important than putting all of my energy towards my triathlon goals right now. Leading into this race was the most relaxed I've been in a very long time. Getting to work on engineering projects and using the other skills I have acquired in my life is very fulfilling. While some work days are hard, I love being busy and feeling like I am contributing to a tangible project with a specific deliverable.</li>
<li>Positive: My training routine is enough to get me through a half ironman feeling strong. Immediately after the race and a day after, is the best I've felt after a 70.3 in a long time. At first I was scared that I wouldn't have the endurance training to get through a 4 hr race, but I think my strength training, higher intensities, and general schedule of being on the "go" the whole day made up for the lack of "longer" workouts. I'm sure it's not "ideal" but it can work.</li>
<li>Positive: I'm getting better at hydration and nutrition. Both at St. George and this race I was good about fueling throughout the day. I know that with more practice I'll gain confidence to push harder in training and racing.</li>
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<b>Thank yous</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>My parents. I don't thank my parents and family enough. They have been amazingly supportive of me in this sport and life in general, always encouraging but not pushing me in the direction they feel is best for me.</li>
<li>Mace, Patrick and the Fort Collins crew. It was awesome seeing you guys at the race. Special thanks to Craig Depperschmidt at ProActive PT. One year ago I couldn't take a step without pain and I just finished a half ironman without thinking twice about the previous pain in my heel and calf. Relearning to run is scary but I'm feeling the most relaxed at efforts as I've ever been.</li>
<li>Dave Schiffer thank you for making swim practices challenging but also realistic. I really appreciate all of the knowledge and advice and look forward to the early morning swims without anxiety.</li>
<li>Kevin Denny, Barry Ogden, city of fountains run club. You all are great training partners. I get a lot from training with others and appreciate sharing the suffering during workouts.</li>
<li>Gerry, White, Baker, Harrison and the lunch run crew. I've never laughed so hard during runs and appreciate the chill trash talking routines we have.</li>
<li>Rachael and family. Thank you so much for making Kansas City and Denver feel like home.</li>
<li>Roka, Stages, Rudy Project, Clif, Base performance, TrainerRoad, and Stryd. I put your products to the test day in and day out and can't say enough good things. Congratulations to Angus at Stryd for completing his first half-iron.</li>
<li>Thank you to everyone who came up to me before/after the race or cheered for me throughout the day. I get a lot of motivation from your daily lives and encouragement so keep up the hard work. If you ever have a question about triathlon, gear, or where to eat ice cream, I may be able to help. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmCBagqEQ4J29G4L-G7pHBZV_3JWgKnVUNCXnfqHIL2kawIB3PEf5tpS7LXOVSKRqv1TwRBTBGVQxXZW5pBQGBEMS_Lw7NdEBoQnk_g_-or9Ri3Hy6GiMkNbcQ2NK3gnAEtPUnHZdU1bl/s1600/smart+phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="269" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmCBagqEQ4J29G4L-G7pHBZV_3JWgKnVUNCXnfqHIL2kawIB3PEf5tpS7LXOVSKRqv1TwRBTBGVQxXZW5pBQGBEMS_Lw7NdEBoQnk_g_-or9Ri3Hy6GiMkNbcQ2NK3gnAEtPUnHZdU1bl/s400/smart+phone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have upgraded and can now receive pictures, emojis, and group texts. My mind was blown for a solid two weeks.</td></tr>
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I'm not sure what exactly is up next for me in terms of racing. In the next few weeks I'll be figuring out a travel schedule for work and then will see when I can fit in some races. I'd love to get back to some Olympic distance racing with the Escape Series and possibly another 70.3 in October.</div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-73213038322782152782017-05-12T09:40:00.001-07:002017-05-19T13:19:02.986-07:00St. George and Life Changes<div style="text-align: center;">
This past weekend, Rachael and I traveled to Utah to race St. George 70.3. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuc9ikywvsd0VseCpSBwKoZbOG77j84KafGmlQ7oUhmyXLpebE-i2UMSoZ8b5z1NpC2awSBKf-lnxmEqCbvhhW4Hjj8WKAq3totsl5sj8wLsslAveosY_GKvRIwhQXPKeb8bUZI2QCTvqm/s1600/imstg-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuc9ikywvsd0VseCpSBwKoZbOG77j84KafGmlQ7oUhmyXLpebE-i2UMSoZ8b5z1NpC2awSBKf-lnxmEqCbvhhW4Hjj8WKAq3totsl5sj8wLsslAveosY_GKvRIwhQXPKeb8bUZI2QCTvqm/s320/imstg-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Recovery from <a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2017/04/oceanside-2017.html" target="_blank">Oceanside </a>70.3 went by fairly quickly as life forced a few easy days upon me after returning home. The day before Oceanside, I received a job offer from <a href="http://www.burnsmcd.com/" target="_blank">Burns and McDonnell</a>, a large engineering firm in KC. I took a few days after the race to discuss my options with the people close to me and decided that this would be a really great opportunity for me. </div>
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Rachael and I spent a few days looking for apartments in Kansas City close to where Burns and McDonnell is located. Within a week, we found an apartment and moved in. The trip to St. George was already planned, so I was able to move my start date to May 15th. While preparation leading up to St. George 70.3 was not ideal due to moving and figuring out our new routine, but we both did our best to stay positive and make the most of our training. I was majorly impressed with Rachael’s dedication the last two weeks before the race as she was working, completing final projects for school, and preparing for St. George. I did my best to help out by taking care of bike packing and preparing food because everyone knows, Rachael function happiest when she is fed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l8lJETjsEFWLdoiSct7sem8cuKxJDBcv1TPOMwYTtAgzfWqkFuZMcGTSyJnBOpFAPRGpilORJMwQerMPy66mq0H1qeY3m5ptyWQ-y9DGc4d9g003jyOC2YTf9UD3AFrRVETGL6ul5Bcu/s1600/img_1977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l8lJETjsEFWLdoiSct7sem8cuKxJDBcv1TPOMwYTtAgzfWqkFuZMcGTSyJnBOpFAPRGpilORJMwQerMPy66mq0H1qeY3m5ptyWQ-y9DGc4d9g003jyOC2YTf9UD3AFrRVETGL6ul5Bcu/s320/img_1977.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a plane, headed to Denver</td></tr>
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Having completed St. George in 2016, I knew the course was very tough. Being that the race was also the North American Pro Championship, I knew the competition would be stacked. </div>
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Wednesday morning Rachael and I flew to Denver to carpool with another MP Multisport athlete. James, who was also racing, picked us up and we all drove to St. George. The two days before the race were spent doing a few last workouts, getting gear ready, and hydrating.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKm2pd4zoZ6RyVMcqrHG9tF2EDitpfuRjODenQppewhYMbdMnnABe240yeI_fefCJChVa1b-5RDgRyRfI1Rz2jVCCP2SHyVC5op-qqVtMPG9xe7aPxupwQ_I3MCsEox6UO5xgoiwo894X/s1600/18426071_10209741029144050_93687052_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKm2pd4zoZ6RyVMcqrHG9tF2EDitpfuRjODenQppewhYMbdMnnABe240yeI_fefCJChVa1b-5RDgRyRfI1Rz2jVCCP2SHyVC5op-qqVtMPG9xe7aPxupwQ_I3MCsEox6UO5xgoiwo894X/s400/18426071_10209741029144050_93687052_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding up Snow Canyon before the race</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ux09NI_RHnTlXP6_gDQNnTEOr44jqWBMMmesNeZxJPoqUg3nE_OxLIZZOha1u7q53LzxlKutjFkOOEpTdA4QtI3rYel9yVrafKVf2PWC5KAuB2WNyXkNwuNtRCTsI2xom2zJVvUdnMpd/s1600/18471287_10209741028984046_1306261516_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ux09NI_RHnTlXP6_gDQNnTEOr44jqWBMMmesNeZxJPoqUg3nE_OxLIZZOha1u7q53LzxlKutjFkOOEpTdA4QtI3rYel9yVrafKVf2PWC5KAuB2WNyXkNwuNtRCTsI2xom2zJVvUdnMpd/s400/18471287_10209741028984046_1306261516_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping the pre-race ride casual? Or just too lazy to put on real cycling clothes</td></tr>
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I was very relaxed going into the race. Though training hadn’t been ideal, and 7 days prior to the race I’d been in bed for 20 hours with food poisoning, I knew I had nothing to lose. Because of my job commitment and the stable income it would provide, I no longer felt pressure to achieve a result that would earn me money and provide me with exposure.<br />
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<b>Race day</b></div>
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Race morning I woke up at 3:50 am, 3 hours before my race start. I mixed together oatmeal with almonds, a banana, and some honey. By 4:20 am we were out the door and making our way to the race start. Once in transition, I was reunited with Bae (my bike). I quickly pumped up my tires and assembled my gear/nutrition. After a short warmup run, I zipped up my new Wattie Ink, sleeved tri suit and grabbed my wetsuit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemF1K-Asc9wuQKOnqzI_utKSNFefFmV6C5AclNnKsVN9qQQ2xrRWXnttBw2_jpRoGpZAiKOjS7IVygOcxhIUNU9jc_y_8kNhZDuLeSTP03yatNamAAdd8l2_mYnGApBl5379juSe7i8fC/s1600/18405273_10212618569602225_101723115_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemF1K-Asc9wuQKOnqzI_utKSNFefFmV6C5AclNnKsVN9qQQ2xrRWXnttBw2_jpRoGpZAiKOjS7IVygOcxhIUNU9jc_y_8kNhZDuLeSTP03yatNamAAdd8l2_mYnGApBl5379juSe7i8fC/s400/18405273_10212618569602225_101723115_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rachael and I wished each other luck and I headed down to the water for a swim warm-up. I was able to get in a 15 minute warm-up which was much needed in the cold water. In the water, I looked at the horizon and keyed in on a spot that would help me sight for the first buoy.</div>
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<b>Swim</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoQAXMsiH8_0WrwfCPQBTe7YapCUwCPNijo7FDxPz41CCSiDDeHAxkk5182SEc25FGE-eHVIVxLJ4RQEgrU3I4w82EVo0P9BQGjISTPIuMANIXIIUF6iJdJwqBpvkTl3qeDquKnwsR5fB/s1600/swim12-portfolio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoQAXMsiH8_0WrwfCPQBTe7YapCUwCPNijo7FDxPz41CCSiDDeHAxkk5182SEc25FGE-eHVIVxLJ4RQEgrU3I4w82EVo0P9BQGjISTPIuMANIXIIUF6iJdJwqBpvkTl3qeDquKnwsR5fB/s320/swim12-portfolio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Race organizers had laid out two start line buoys to limit how wide we lined up. Similar to Oceanside, I placed myself as far to the right as possible. With two minutes to go, the front line started inching forward. Referees in kayaks yelled at us saying that the pro women never inch forward and threatened to write down numbers. With 30 seconds to go, they gave up and eventually the gun went. </div>
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Immediately I put my head down and took a few hard strokes. The first 30 seconds were pretty frantic. Though I started towards the outside, there were a lot of people on the start line which resulted in a fair amount of contact. I did my best to relax, focus on my stroke, and sight for the spot on the horizon. After a minute, I feared I had gone out too hard and felt myself fading. (Note to self: 100% effort at swim start is actually 110%) My legs felt tired and a big group swam away from me. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoper2pcIX1pUveP53bViNiKqYZctzwV6LYlmhWORm7gqYx2OeCHMJ9BE-xSZWub8rP8wCELZur8EBRjw6kGYjxS77KLVFAc1D4uTMEFNbLcHua_WByxSHxXp89dOmYKL6tXx_MplJEi-/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoper2pcIX1pUveP53bViNiKqYZctzwV6LYlmhWORm7gqYx2OeCHMJ9BE-xSZWub8rP8wCELZur8EBRjw6kGYjxS77KLVFAc1D4uTMEFNbLcHua_WByxSHxXp89dOmYKL6tXx_MplJEi-/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When your legs are already tired but they still have 3.5 hrs of exercising left</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I immediately forced myself to focus on my own rhythm and breathing. It is very easy for me to have a negative mindset after a bad start. We made it to the first turn buoy and the lead paddler was still in sight. By this point, I had found clear water and was making my way past a few swimmers in front of me. I started to find my rhythm and upped my effort level. St. George had attracted an impressive field of strong swimmers including Alistar Brownlee, Ben Kanute, and Matt Charbot who I knew could put time on me swimming in their sleep. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vvy5NcvPFXc2J-lXemQBD1WQEEtuduIlKIxJ7CQBXdzYi5p4lz1r2-WipKDfbnYoNwxZEUm5RLv3l5oMlynqeBrQK2f_OuehY5-zqHNJn4qx5u7umVNqmBQnydVhmQgcLev0b8jYouCD/s1600/Fearless-Races-KanuteSwim2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vvy5NcvPFXc2J-lXemQBD1WQEEtuduIlKIxJ7CQBXdzYi5p4lz1r2-WipKDfbnYoNwxZEUm5RLv3l5oMlynqeBrQK2f_OuehY5-zqHNJn4qx5u7umVNqmBQnydVhmQgcLev0b8jYouCD/s400/Fearless-Races-KanuteSwim2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google search: Ben Kanute swimming </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The second length of the swim course was the longest and my legs felt even heavier. I was starting to think that maybe this just wouldn’t be my day. I turned my attitude around by focusing on being grateful for the opportunity to race and the desire I had to get on my bike. <strike>A couple toe taps behind me reminded me that others were counting on me too. </strike>Towards the finish, I increased my kick to get my legs ready to ride. I emerged from the silence of the water to the cheers of other athletes waiting to begin their race. Smiling, I quickly sprinted to Bae (bike, not Rachael) and stripped off my wetsuit. Just behind me I noticed <a href="http://benhoffmanracing.com/" target="_blank">Ben Hoffman</a> and <a href="http://www.kylebuckingham.co.za/" target="_blank">Kyle Buckingham</a>, both of whom are strong riders. </div>
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<b>Bike</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoYo1D3S2uGOlRqhtLm5D50fXCRbzzEvS-YqhuQOlg8BtFsoROHqiqcManjH7PqMZYtkCG0JNJxX1cTdCw3Y73sVQEWxKiC_xXhAyezH_mcIr4rsuf3WUhHrJXeuD6lzzMGbdMnu8SHPM/s1600/bike+course.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoYo1D3S2uGOlRqhtLm5D50fXCRbzzEvS-YqhuQOlg8BtFsoROHqiqcManjH7PqMZYtkCG0JNJxX1cTdCw3Y73sVQEWxKiC_xXhAyezH_mcIr4rsuf3WUhHrJXeuD6lzzMGbdMnu8SHPM/s400/bike+course.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/973998283" target="_blank">#strava</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Knowing I was in good company, I calmly made my way to the start line, survived another flying mount, and got into my shoes. With a tough run coming, I needed to be smart on the bike. In training between Oceanside and St. George, I worked to adjust my hydration and nutrition. I found that in order to feel good on the run, I need to drink about 2 bottles/hour and take in a little over 200 calories/hour. Once we got rolling on the bike, hydration and nutrition were my number one priority.</div>
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Within the first mile, Trevor Wurtele (another very strong rider), came to the front of our group of four which also consisted of Ben Hoffman, myself, and Kyle Buckingham. Kennett Peterson (ex pro cyclist) slotted in early on as well. Having made this group, I decided to forgo looking at power and trust their pacing as these guys usually have very fast bike splits and work their way up the field. The pace felt hard, but manageable compared to last year’s suicidal pace for the first 25 miles required to catch The Hoff and company. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW_QUmZ3Djznj6E_T1Eejj3yUUG11ojO4mls1PrhAbGYbxFQmthj9y9c2E8kOmgTu_8-DtlsxZshYnj2tkRmzMnp5BEJ-aBrmkfUPZicN-DnxDEOlVXd3Mr-_KNi6R6e719nOQ0xCwFcT/s1600/18449826_10209741029424057_724936102_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW_QUmZ3Djznj6E_T1Eejj3yUUG11ojO4mls1PrhAbGYbxFQmthj9y9c2E8kOmgTu_8-DtlsxZshYnj2tkRmzMnp5BEJ-aBrmkfUPZicN-DnxDEOlVXd3Mr-_KNi6R6e719nOQ0xCwFcT/s320/18449826_10209741029424057_724936102_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sickest race picture thanks to Talbot Cox</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Within a few minutes, the 7:20 am express train arrived. Sebastian Kienle came motoring by our group. We turned things up a bit as he led. A few minutes later, Lionel Sanders pulled up. Last year I was near the half way point before Sanders caught us so his swim really is improving! Kienle and Sanders took off working together. While it might have been fun (and painful) to try and see how long I could hang with them, I again played it conservative and decided to stay with our group focusing on hydration and nutrition. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAw6kdiJddELGBl7q0FOejZE5ReSILEYh_WeJ1u7kY2BIz5JYHx0OySnatf6VphckxCQ_5UHh5UvQK4kJMiMQrpeVWoPTZ4ae4SlBz___loqhCdlJVthetHw22d156JyLFaFp-qhF9-1T/s1600/JM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAw6kdiJddELGBl7q0FOejZE5ReSILEYh_WeJ1u7kY2BIz5JYHx0OySnatf6VphckxCQ_5UHh5UvQK4kJMiMQrpeVWoPTZ4ae4SlBz___loqhCdlJVthetHw22d156JyLFaFp-qhF9-1T/s400/JM.jpg" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah Middaugh</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Cameron Wurf (ex pro cyclist) came by us and set out on his own as well. We were eventually joined by Josiah Middaugh (Xterra world champion). Josiah took charge of our group and really pushed the pace on the climbs. While the course at St. George has several long climbs, there is also a good amount of flats and downhills where you can make up time. As I’ve learned over the last year, these guys don’t wait to recover on the downhills. A number of times I ran out of gears going downhill and had to push hard to catch back up. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUad8HOjDYylh-dz2NB8vEpJdeKZrGCVjO65geao8pRmw-OmG-RYjH7QY8E-3oJ9afwcvIjXT6FQXnG1bc5lpLQ0Mk1tHHW29WaOyU3Ag2MHglLmgeeNVmxR_rfV1HKD9ML5SJ8WPUNJeS/s1600/18447949_10209741029224052_446425537_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUad8HOjDYylh-dz2NB8vEpJdeKZrGCVjO65geao8pRmw-OmG-RYjH7QY8E-3oJ9afwcvIjXT6FQXnG1bc5lpLQ0Mk1tHHW29WaOyU3Ag2MHglLmgeeNVmxR_rfV1HKD9ML5SJ8WPUNJeS/s320/18447949_10209741029224052_446425537_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view up Snow Canyon (taken before the race...)</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
As we neared the long climb up Snow Canyon, a short out and back allowed me to gauge how everyone was placed. After the lead police escort, Alistar Brownlee came blazing by. He looked quite aero. Behind him, there was a sizable gap to Sanders and Kienle who were still working together. I estimated our group had people in the top 15. At the base of the Snow Canyon climb, I grabbed one last bottle of water, aiming to finish it before the run. </div>
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Our group split up a bit on the final climb. I mirrored Ben Hoffman and kept a steady effort. A number of motivational signs such as “It’s just a hill, get over it!” made me smile. As we crested and set sail back to town, I tried to spin out my legs and get my body ready for what would be a tough run. I quickly put on socks, my run shoes, and grabbed my nutrition.</div>
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<b>Run</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPseeR8B9C3I_tG4aH6XzES0UlLD1fy0JSC93D1m13ZXhKK1yxapY22eB7PXOi7lbVMTdl6N1Ql3ZtCeWE3KH2Yk62NQT5DXlN1cSps9_AaN4d8EB8tw0sqxf6z5LVZa5C46q-yy-qogES/s1600/run+profile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPseeR8B9C3I_tG4aH6XzES0UlLD1fy0JSC93D1m13ZXhKK1yxapY22eB7PXOi7lbVMTdl6N1Ql3ZtCeWE3KH2Yk62NQT5DXlN1cSps9_AaN4d8EB8tw0sqxf6z5LVZa5C46q-yy-qogES/s400/run+profile.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1,200 feet of elevation gain is no joke!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
In an effort to pay close attention to my hydration, the past 5 weeks I’ve been running with a water bottle. I’ve found it almost impossible to get enough water at aid stations during a race without fully stopping so I really liked having the water bottle with me. I’d filled it with Clif hydration and Base salt, and was carrying a few gels to use on the run.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The St. George run is brutal. The first 2 miles I felt like I was crawling uphill. I refused to look at my watch because I didn’t want to confirm my crawling speed. I focused on relaxing my shoulders and opening my hips. Up ahead, I could see The Hoff maybe 40 seconds in front of me. I still felt a little full after pounding the last bottle of water on the bike so I just sipped on my water bottle through the first aid station. Around 2 miles in, I passed Matt Charbot. Matt’s been in heavy IM training and may have come into the race a bit fatigued but it was still nice to know I was making progress as he is tough as nails.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMfZKBguHpc8VELKcvDHAKpWl-DVxxQYJ-TbWSpiUCwFoLdYqu8VPn_dFu0DBbCM4VCpwlykAwr1e7_CCm5Vmz6KxLg0UgIL1EhFEs1AlatoSXQSv3iEos9KmuNCPFxxOsxBz_m0Tdigh/s1600/18471285_10209741029544060_175001797_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMfZKBguHpc8VELKcvDHAKpWl-DVxxQYJ-TbWSpiUCwFoLdYqu8VPn_dFu0DBbCM4VCpwlykAwr1e7_CCm5Vmz6KxLg0UgIL1EhFEs1AlatoSXQSv3iEos9KmuNCPFxxOsxBz_m0Tdigh/s320/18471285_10209741029544060_175001797_n.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
As the climb steepened, my legs were beginning to come around. I resisted the urge to push and try to make up ground on Ben. I knew that if I upped my effort, I would probably overheat too early and blow up before reaching the finish. I relaxed, shortened my cadence and focused on the next 10 feet instead of the mountain we were climbing. Finally, I got to some downhill at mile 4 and let gravity take over. My stomach was feeling better and for some reason I decided to start taking in Coke at each aid station. As I hammered downhill, I felt fairly controlled and started to believe that I would make it past mile 8 before exploding. As much as I could, I tried to soak in everything. My body was hurting but the views were incredible. Lots of athletes going by on their bike yelled encouragement to me. Jeff even threatened to not give me a ride home if I didn’t give it everything! I was crossing my fingers that I’d get to see Rachael on the bike at some point but we hadn’t crossed paths yet. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmbGvRe_7mbl7FC1RrjSTw5XOBj9vDbDcQE3RrEI1iJQsiJd1pMBLstrrlNspm3eFcNcB0efU1Lc-C3-Wvtqm5ZvXxtacdF6lB3BCfnZIul-TT6wPAgKTaHcQUJSn8qNqC1Ajo5C4xx3c/s1600/StG17-674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmbGvRe_7mbl7FC1RrjSTw5XOBj9vDbDcQE3RrEI1iJQsiJd1pMBLstrrlNspm3eFcNcB0efU1Lc-C3-Wvtqm5ZvXxtacdF6lB3BCfnZIul-TT6wPAgKTaHcQUJSn8qNqC1Ajo5C4xx3c/s320/StG17-674.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. George run course views</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Uphill, downhill, and back uphill for the last time, I kept my form together. I was getting just what I’d wanted. My legs were hurting but they weren’t shutting down on me and I could keep pushing. Up the final climb, I trudged by Trevor. After going by, I leaned forward and used the downhill. I forced myself not to look back and to run hard, grabbing more Coke as I went. The final two miles went by quickly. I was in pain. My form was falling apart but I didn’t care anymore, I just wanted to get to the finish. About a ½ mile from the finish, I saw Max and Tom who told me I was clear from behind. As I pounded downhill to the finish, I zipped up my top and smiled.</div>
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After finishing, I took a few minutes to enjoy the endorphin rush before heading back uphill to find Max and Tom. They told me they’d seen Rachael heading out onto the run not too long ago and that she looked good. We headed back to the finish area where I ate a little bit and talked with a few friends, but mostly waited anxiously for Rachael to finish.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMGuAzSGG0Nd_5qVVgqXYQ4tdUabMK654TW7LX67twdqAHuRmBnGGjm_MVXpXAhmTzhIyEaWQGD-VRrDcuZVcviolTkgP0jEJXPrkEqNnP0DbDcFnDaXLNoLixnCqZbPYnKHMmeAyz9HS/s1600/18450031_10209741028424032_320617935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMGuAzSGG0Nd_5qVVgqXYQ4tdUabMK654TW7LX67twdqAHuRmBnGGjm_MVXpXAhmTzhIyEaWQGD-VRrDcuZVcviolTkgP0jEJXPrkEqNnP0DbDcFnDaXLNoLixnCqZbPYnKHMmeAyz9HS/s400/18450031_10209741028424032_320617935_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-race sweaty</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Eventually she came storming across the line and we were able to celebrate and be grateful together. Both of us have had a number of setbacks in the past year of racing and have been there for each other. Getting to share the feeling of a well-executed race is something we’d both like to do more in the future. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f22_2MGDIL4aqWxfhhkdM-tdlYXz3teoY38ASEja-m8NMD0fWKfk1OEJagbMHNQC0HVUNrCfp0oPf4ENPg-DQJwDkWIZqeL5zdQGZ9zBJg264tAtiTTF3QwbSafyRAo8etKBaE1MlciP/s1600/18447794_10209741028664038_103277173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f22_2MGDIL4aqWxfhhkdM-tdlYXz3teoY38ASEja-m8NMD0fWKfk1OEJagbMHNQC0HVUNrCfp0oPf4ENPg-DQJwDkWIZqeL5zdQGZ9zBJg264tAtiTTF3QwbSafyRAo8etKBaE1MlciP/s400/18447794_10209741028664038_103277173_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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After awards and bike packing, I executed my recovery nutrition plan by consuming froyo, vegetables, and an In and Out milkshake…in that order.</div>
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The next morning I hitched a ride back to Fort Collins to pack up some text books that I needed for work and also to spend some time with Ernie who has been living in FoCo crushing pop tarts and rocking Foakleys. Since returning to Kansas City, I've been busy trying to get everything put away from the race and prepare for starting work next week.</div>
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<b>"Do what you have to so you can do what you want to"</b></div>
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I don’t want a pity party because everyone has struggles in life, I just want to write about my decision process for working full time. The past 6 months have been difficult for me trying to make a career out of triathlon. Since finishing schoolwork in August 2016, I have consistently trained as if triathlon was my career but have had essentially zero financial support from triathlon to be doing so. I was unhappy with my living and financial situations. Social media doesn’t help as it often only highlights the best parts of our daily life. One side of me was upset at myself for not taking action and using my degrees immediately. The other side pushed back saying that pursuing triathlon was a passion and dream of mine that I shouldn't give up on. I’d come to terms that I simply had not shown the right people that I could be one of the few earning a living through the sport. While I believe that I too could work some part time job and “get by” while focusing on triathlon, I ultimately decided that the job I was offered will be an incredible opportunity that will help facilitate my pursuit of triathlon in ways as well as establish a framework for my future. Though the years of competing as a professional are limited, I do not want to overlook the importance of having health insurance, a stable living situation, and retirement savings. Accidents happen, unforeseen costs always come up, and I don’t want to be reliant on others to help me when they do.</div>
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I’m very excited to begin working for Burns and McDonnell. The work they do makes a difference in many people's lives. My change in lifestyle will definitely have an adjustment period, but I’m looking forward to the new challenges and applying my education. Rachael and I have relocated to an apartment within biking distance to work for me and we’ve made new connections with exercising groups. While I will still be training for triathlon plan to continue racing as a “pro”, my priority will be applying myself to this new career. I have the utmost respect for people who balance work and triathlon (and families) in their daily life. Training for 25-30 hrs a week is easy if you have the time and support to do so. I do not doubt that I will be working just as hard as those who train full time. I’ve had several occasions in my life when I was student or working full time over the summer, where I’ve balanced training and I know that a lot can still be accomplished. I’m excited for the new challenges of being efficient with my time and would love any recommendations or tips from people that do this in their daily life! </div>
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I’ll do my best to keep everyone updated on social media and on this blog.</div>
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Thank you to my Mom and Dad for encouraging me and believing in me over the past few years. I’m grateful for your insistence on a good education and one day I hope to have as many bikes as you!</div>
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Thanks to Ernie and Alison (brother and sister) for always being there for me and setting me straight.</div>
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Thank you Rachael for being supportive, pushing me out of my comfort zones, and always being down for coffee.</div>
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Thank you to Coach Mace for guiding me on this journey through training. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxluBFgHtTgxF3gSaylTi_FzI61MDk7dInCdeg0yd_BZAfBR0qNbXI72wTb4rhe_kk6ESKGtfRBYggLMnMQU0Z9rmvh6gWgMw093ttn-cDdfbuR8abZVGdbnTEU8WxB387nAud_71tOTyP/s1600/18448035_10209741029064048_823958667_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxluBFgHtTgxF3gSaylTi_FzI61MDk7dInCdeg0yd_BZAfBR0qNbXI72wTb4rhe_kk6ESKGtfRBYggLMnMQU0Z9rmvh6gWgMw093ttn-cDdfbuR8abZVGdbnTEU8WxB387nAud_71tOTyP/s400/18448035_10209741029064048_823958667_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Thank you Stryd, Rocky Mountain Multisport, Roka, BASE Performance, Clif Bar, Stages Cycing, and Rudy Project for helping me enjoy the process of swim/bike/running.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk3H4C5BiYPNy8WTFp5YcSxZpLRlgTS64R64DgOJlP4SRTyW42Zxoaj_6HSdXjP9d5bZwWCZh_yACzpSABFbSS4ldMY9pVa0QlIVO0NAh0kOXUYpDccCsdRW797F0YR3QuW4_V2D2Doh8/s1600/18447818_10209741028904044_92066545_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk3H4C5BiYPNy8WTFp5YcSxZpLRlgTS64R64DgOJlP4SRTyW42Zxoaj_6HSdXjP9d5bZwWCZh_yACzpSABFbSS4ldMY9pVa0QlIVO0NAh0kOXUYpDccCsdRW797F0YR3QuW4_V2D2Doh8/s400/18447818_10209741028904044_92066545_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Exploring the expo</td></tr>
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</div>
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Thanks to everyone who actually reads these things. I always enjoy interacting (in person or via social media) and would love to hear your feedback advice or answer any questions.</div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-83960790234628010752017-04-06T07:03:00.002-07:002017-04-06T21:30:47.104-07:00Oceanside 2017!<div style="text-align: center;">
This past weekend I traveled to San Diego to race my first triathlon of 2017, Oceanside 70.3. </div>
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<b>KC Training</b></div>
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Since moving from to Kansas City in December 2016, my training environment has changed a lot. For the past couple years, swimming has been a “project” for me. In Fort Collins, I was lucky to have 6-7 coached swims each week. Upon moving to Kansas City, I have been doing almost all of my swimming alone. I have been able to keep up swim volume, but motivation to get quality swims in was initially very tough. After a month or so, I was able to figure out a few key sets and ways to make things challenging but enjoyable. Nearly all of the riding I’ve done the past few months has been indoors. Thanks to Rocky Mountain Multisport, Rachael and I got a Wahoo and have been using Trainer Road for bike workouts. Running took a while to feel pain free again after my injury but eventually came around. All things considered, I knew Oceanside would be a good test to see how my training here was progressing. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VG5b0-KTbeTFOnAIzOiwWo44oOj9FQ4GXcAH-DZAMjjRpvHBHXLgPfD3unG32YhGQsosi3zP3GfJzOhMH7WfafC2zGYzUYdCAhx1ufAB9sATGD0RlSiroZBB1TqBUGucp73fi-LN5hl0/s1600/kc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VG5b0-KTbeTFOnAIzOiwWo44oOj9FQ4GXcAH-DZAMjjRpvHBHXLgPfD3unG32YhGQsosi3zP3GfJzOhMH7WfafC2zGYzUYdCAhx1ufAB9sATGD0RlSiroZBB1TqBUGucp73fi-LN5hl0/s320/kc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few outdoor rides I've done in KC</td></tr>
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After the events of <a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2016/04/oceanside-703.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, Mace and I had a few goals for the race with the first being no DQ!</div>
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I arrived in California a few days before the race. A friend of a friend, Brannen, was kind enough to let me stay with her in Encinitas. One of the best parts of the location was that I had easy access to a pool. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM607hIRoCQAxHSIvpJxixXFyJiZxTUXa08IAvkrhqURKxr3U3iokFskgaQtK_sUFLQ76snactby5gKu19hLODe10IAotlYqDDO8iPVX4Szo-xnnh3HoBbdFWtXn51-vN-3cwC0XKwDf4/s1600/2_Ecke-YMCA-in-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM607hIRoCQAxHSIvpJxixXFyJiZxTUXa08IAvkrhqURKxr3U3iokFskgaQtK_sUFLQ76snactby5gKu19hLODe10IAotlYqDDO8iPVX4Szo-xnnh3HoBbdFWtXn51-vN-3cwC0XKwDf4/s400/2_Ecke-YMCA-in-02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YMCA pool FTW!</td></tr>
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<b>Race Day</b></div>
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I woke up about 3 hours before the race and had my breakfast.</div>
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Brannen and I drove to Oceanside and I arrived to transition at 5 am. After setting up my gear, I took a short run out to the “strand” to use the bathroom and to get away from everyone. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Pc4NON2DWn84R-tm-XAt7R7zRCuCs2jSTHd6M929LSp0HWVHWPyrD93ADO4rgFhCf1GzQsYoAxqqNCx9HdtxxHNdO_Eh8hA2JIkQ-ywqWqNTX0Rm1yse4MRDI8vLbDGaaGYW2isGU7MQ/s1600/IMG_2171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Pc4NON2DWn84R-tm-XAt7R7zRCuCs2jSTHd6M929LSp0HWVHWPyrD93ADO4rgFhCf1GzQsYoAxqqNCx9HdtxxHNdO_Eh8hA2JIkQ-ywqWqNTX0Rm1yse4MRDI8vLbDGaaGYW2isGU7MQ/s400/IMG_2171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of my bike setup the day before the race. <br />
Things you may notice 1) Got an aero jacket aka "poor man's disc" <br />
2) No I did not ride in my little ring</td></tr>
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Returning to transition, all of the big names were setting up their gear. Frodeno, Sanders, Potts, Gambles, Luke McKenzie…I felt lucky and excited to be able to race with them. I talked with a few friends, put on my wetsuit, and headed down to the start. I quickly got into the water to get in as much of a 20 min warmup as I could. </div>
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<b>Swim</b></div>
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The pros lined up in-water behind large the 50m start line. Nearly everyone was clumped to the left side where the shortest path would be. I know that I swim best when I give myself a little space, so I went over to the right side and saw Andi Dreitz. I knew Dreitz was a good swimmer and a very strong biker. We treaded water for a bit then the gun went. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2DG3A-RcON8AMZrenqPruluUYhz2j2iLTvkZ6nct9OLO7r0ci5JOGfFAqhR0JrKVejaiUEFpPxIVQUXOOcTVLggaQx4jw5RcSU4KGBmlY41AA75qqFqER13v-9pBZrVgMiH5_9hdWyng/s1600/e47d85441d589f9986a1b7f0dde0143b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2DG3A-RcON8AMZrenqPruluUYhz2j2iLTvkZ6nct9OLO7r0ci5JOGfFAqhR0JrKVejaiUEFpPxIVQUXOOcTVLggaQx4jw5RcSU4KGBmlY41AA75qqFqER13v-9pBZrVgMiH5_9hdWyng/s320/e47d85441d589f9986a1b7f0dde0143b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty much what I've come to expect from a typical swim start</td></tr>
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I immediately took a few hard strokes then settled into an effort I thought I could hold for a few minutes. To my surprise, Drietz was still right in front of me and I was able to keep in his draft…without smacking his feet every stroke. (Yes, it IS possible, people!) For a minute I focused on swimming hard while relaxing and breathing. </div>
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Eventually, I glanced to my left where the massive pack had started. I could see a few swimmers out front, but otherwise Dreitz and I were even with the front of that group! So far, the contact for me had been pretty minimal and I was really enjoying my swim. The first minor turn was maybe 400-500 meters in. A little before the buoy, we made contact with the front of the other pack. Knowing there would probably still be a ton of people trailing behind them, I stayed off to the side to avoid getting sucked into the mass of flailing arms. </div>
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After the slight turn, the pace was still on. I felt comfortable, so I stayed on the gas. A few minutes later, our pack had thinned out. I sighted a few times. Hold up. Was that the lead paddler??!! Check that again. Yes. The lead paddler was still within sight.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfxEIY_c42DhaAc3qrqe4oaySalPmDRb9yHIc21c6Md5IUTbcAFBYWeHzKnwHM6hbUV9SLfxoRd3Wc3kkVhOXeEbBakUIha0qeDEN573ZsDtARXP7ju7hHU_DpqDOtlCgi0TP7NvhhB9N/s1600/d349527dc34be171753e9adb9575bef5_-surprised-monkeyjpg-via-surprised-meme_554-420.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfxEIY_c42DhaAc3qrqe4oaySalPmDRb9yHIc21c6Md5IUTbcAFBYWeHzKnwHM6hbUV9SLfxoRd3Wc3kkVhOXeEbBakUIha0qeDEN573ZsDtARXP7ju7hHU_DpqDOtlCgi0TP7NvhhB9N/s400/d349527dc34be171753e9adb9575bef5_-surprised-monkeyjpg-via-surprised-meme_554-420.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you think you just made the front pack on the swim</td></tr>
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I could see a few solo splashes in front of us (post race edit: Frodeno and Potts) but HOT DAMN, I was somehow in the lead pack! After that settled in, I focused on my stroke and maintaining a good position. The person in front of me was kicking a ton (must have been a swimmer because triathletes don’t kick) so I moved off to the side. Everyone gave each other space on turns and didn’t purposefully smack each other like I’ve experienced in the past. We surged a few times after turns but otherwise the swim was steady. Heading back to the finish we swam towards the sun. I felt strong the last section, so my swim project seems to be working. That, and the <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Maverick X</a> is amazing.</div>
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Out of the water, I did my best to gain any extra seconds. I saw some fast people exiting the water while running through transition so I knew I’d had a good swim. </div>
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<b>Bike</b></div>
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I was a bit cautious having not done a flying mount in 8 months, but I didn’t fall or rack myself so I’d say it was a success. I quickly got into my pedals and tightened up my shoes. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGukTnasrVd42v2nG0I9rCDEB0EQs6mSMJ3_7UBAqhLmH4gqqXa-aTjp6pl63bC2fZ9fwRJuUEh8Jn3Roj-ggtECNiJ__WcI1wTK0j6wss5r7QnMjKsZUVyURU8p3iG3PVzYWtE_r1jn5U/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGukTnasrVd42v2nG0I9rCDEB0EQs6mSMJ3_7UBAqhLmH4gqqXa-aTjp6pl63bC2fZ9fwRJuUEh8Jn3Roj-ggtECNiJ__WcI1wTK0j6wss5r7QnMjKsZUVyURU8p3iG3PVzYWtE_r1jn5U/s400/IMG_2198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture thanks to Talbot Cox</td></tr>
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Last year, the first 20-30 minutes of the ride had been extremely hard...aka hanging on to Kienle and Jesse Thomas for dear life. Mace and I had planned on blitzing this first section in order to try and make it to the front group. I’d never had a scenario worked out where I STARTED in the front group! Just ahead of me, Joe Gambles and Andi Drietz were riding together picking off a few guys. I bumped up my cadence and worked to catch them. The first 10 or 15 minutes the effort was high but felt much more controllable than 2016. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIlNHItoe3T33VubbG76rQV90I8RuPLbDKU-f7yua2QkPulRkRotjvcrlaqQiAjeT25ltKXbPhoDS9W-RU9eICheqmdsNYbna1En8YXCYEOw9FZ2cB5My51drhyphenhyphen1oaWlniIHHn_kFtC30/s1600/bike+data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIlNHItoe3T33VubbG76rQV90I8RuPLbDKU-f7yua2QkPulRkRotjvcrlaqQiAjeT25ltKXbPhoDS9W-RU9eICheqmdsNYbna1En8YXCYEOw9FZ2cB5My51drhyphenhyphen1oaWlniIHHn_kFtC30/s400/bike+data.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/923929171" target="_blank">strava</a>) I had decided to not look at power the first part of the bike in anticipation that I would be chasing, fearing that I would see numbers not recommended for a 4 hour race.</td></tr>
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I assumed Frodeno was probably out ahead of everyone. Maybe only 5 or 10 miles in, Lionel Sanders went by. Everyone in our group decided they wanted to walk the next day so we “let” him ride away. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdufGVtSGgDknbyqiuBY_nH2cKJwR3fOXgwWCFDbBgAOm-NfARA6xQ7RK4d5LRp6BNRO8yZSy1cqvP8IA55l3Tjff5c6lOVjsHFc37NndcwEKdwmKojGtSXuqOiaAiCugeLxQBDEHAHmy5/s1600/d6f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdufGVtSGgDknbyqiuBY_nH2cKJwR3fOXgwWCFDbBgAOm-NfARA6xQ7RK4d5LRp6BNRO8yZSy1cqvP8IA55l3Tjff5c6lOVjsHFc37NndcwEKdwmKojGtSXuqOiaAiCugeLxQBDEHAHmy5/s320/d6f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Lionel goes by you less than 15 minutes into the bike</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Eventually, we started reeling in Andy Potts. By the time we caught Potts, we had a group of 5 making up places 3-7. Joe Gambles, Igor Amorelli, Andi Drietz, Andy Potts, and me. At this point I was already happy with my race. I’d made the front group and was comfortably riding with some legends. I started taking in my nutrition and drinking regularly while at the same time maintaining an awareness of the terrain and people coming up behind us. We were joined by a motorcycle parade of referees and photographers. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">30-45 minutes in, I was riding behind Dreitz and felt that the pace was too comfortable. And if it was too comfortable for me, it was a Sunday chill ride for Dreitz. Sure enough, just before a no-passing zone (small bike lane), Dreitz simply went to the front of our group and took over the pace setting. He slowly rode away from us up a hill and put the hammer down over the next rolling section. Just behind him, Joe Gambles looked over his shoulder to see our reaction. Over the next couple minutes, I could see Dreitz’s gap to us growing. Up a short hill, I came around Joe Gambles to see if I could catch Dreitz. My effort lasted a couple of minutes. I made no progress on Dreitz and the rest of the group had stayed right with me. I immediately realized there is way more strategy involved riding in this front group. Successfully breaking away from the group must require a VERY hard 5-10 minute effort to discourage anyone from chasing. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLEIqcYFX3JN4x348M5YOhzBnmCLD3K_TCn670SH9JoBjV7odKqSvjf-oqQu9yBAVethMejqiE90juLOffz6Z52CPGnC3TY4Wb04lDMHJMWmVqt81sQAg-RvmkTlW6KeiRLAHxmn09V10/s1600/201704-IM703-Oceanside-OB-1412-631x421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLEIqcYFX3JN4x348M5YOhzBnmCLD3K_TCn670SH9JoBjV7odKqSvjf-oqQu9yBAVethMejqiE90juLOffz6Z52CPGnC3TY4Wb04lDMHJMWmVqt81sQAg-RvmkTlW6KeiRLAHxmn09V10/s320/201704-IM703-Oceanside-OB-1412-631x421.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just following the people in front of me.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The rest of the ride was fairly steady. Around the halfway point, we were joined by three more riders including Chris Leiferman and Trevor Wurtele. Through the hilly section Chris slowly rode away from us. I debated trying to hang with him but ended up trying to conserve energy for the run and maintain my position. I got up a few times to stretch my back and took a few extra gels from aid stations. At the speed trap, I made sure to stay under the speed limit. I had been sipping on my water bottles and had to pee a little bit but decided to wait until transition. The cheers coming back into transition were amazing. I was so pumped to be a part of a group towards the front of the race. </span></div>
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<b>Run</b></div>
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In transition, I quickly put on my run gear then rushed to the bathroom to pee. Out of transition, I grabbed 3 cups of water right away then tried to relax and find some running rhythm. Within half a mile, Kennett Peterson and Taylor Reid blew by me like I was standing still. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxnQ538z7D_VNGqrzceaxgZNGIMOt7Km9J5U7m6XTx-Dg9idhA2q9MZ2yh51cvwMGcHOli6TprB0HMlguvTwN3a4SsPsecCsWklCn7J3M2E4IbDX9kM8dP3QYczTEXmLQR4Jw7uEhuhOg/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxnQ538z7D_VNGqrzceaxgZNGIMOt7Km9J5U7m6XTx-Dg9idhA2q9MZ2yh51cvwMGcHOli6TprB0HMlguvTwN3a4SsPsecCsWklCn7J3M2E4IbDX9kM8dP3QYczTEXmLQR4Jw7uEhuhOg/s320/IMG_2197.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taylor Reid blowing by me starting the run. Picture thanks to Talbot Cox</td></tr>
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My body hurt and my legs felt awful. I kept plodding along, hoping that after a mile or two, my legs would come around and I could run steady. Quickly, I realized that wasn’t going to happen and that if I was going to finish I was going to suffer. By mile 2, I wanted the race to be over. My running felt uncomfortable, I was over the race and wanted to lay down. I’d experienced the feeling before but not this early into the run. I knew it wasn’t from the ride because I’d done similarly hard training rides and been able to run after. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dOA-eHMGeND80UUAmpx-Id88tzL_6jBMZuBpu3yLp9YGBuJsZU_BqcMn4SPqIdWifB_3dzVQQTTf5iTxkjGoyIrC8heCiXIvlAA1JC2KBLCermatHTSqgiZP5MyAkjHShT66miiibDEY/s1600/IMG_2199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dOA-eHMGeND80UUAmpx-Id88tzL_6jBMZuBpu3yLp9YGBuJsZU_BqcMn4SPqIdWifB_3dzVQQTTf5iTxkjGoyIrC8heCiXIvlAA1JC2KBLCermatHTSqgiZP5MyAkjHShT66miiibDEY/s320/IMG_2199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAzA8J-XHehliorrUnJwYsmdbjb2hzPmMuo9CidXK5nz2B53uH7JzOE2k8xKDOTJNrsz7apgaxjcXyHM_E1R6GlcckMKy64GbSwNM5IAX6IpQU8F_ItP1eKFC0jAJ6VxNSvmRO3dMAcHU/s1600/IMG_2205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAzA8J-XHehliorrUnJwYsmdbjb2hzPmMuo9CidXK5nz2B53uH7JzOE2k8xKDOTJNrsz7apgaxjcXyHM_E1R6GlcckMKy64GbSwNM5IAX6IpQU8F_ItP1eKFC0jAJ6VxNSvmRO3dMAcHU/s400/IMG_2205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The first lap I stayed positive, hoping that I could turn things around as I wanted this race to reflect how my reintroduction has actually been going. I could control my breathing and posture but could not move my legs any faster. I convinced myself that I should drop out at the half way point. I could not imagine running another 7 miles. I was going backwards in placing. I finished my gel flask and grabbed all of the liquids I could at each aid station. I wanted to walk at the aid station, but I didn’t want anyone to see me do it, so I put my head down and kept moving forward. Once I got to mile 8, I knew I had to finish. My competitive spirit was gone, as I physically could not respond to anyone going by me. The crowds on the sides of the road were incredibly supportive. Finally, the last stretch along the beach came into view and I was able to finish.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZj_G3X5xrLlRXgfde60nipl9IGidTgUqzF-yR92FKbJWeXaTYS0rCfT5a9WNdTIZJd0qOge-ekc_S1OeogxDZT-iUoVa92NECcR3kgbaDmQFi0XoLQxSDPWE5IkRArNPYTe_AnpCGZEx/s1600/run+data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZj_G3X5xrLlRXgfde60nipl9IGidTgUqzF-yR92FKbJWeXaTYS0rCfT5a9WNdTIZJd0qOge-ekc_S1OeogxDZT-iUoVa92NECcR3kgbaDmQFi0XoLQxSDPWE5IkRArNPYTe_AnpCGZEx/s400/run+data.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/4805794149171200" target="_blank">Data </a>from Stryd running power meter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSpRGcU287RmqWV58fXAArNdQiF-LapYwiCWl4TOO78iuzh2lj51Ubd-POrXlcCnC7uzwNXDqvgM8h29d4jn9z0MIabkUNmid164bysPD9voCACt1uDNp_IDb54CbebZ9ggbMznFeXfV-/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSpRGcU287RmqWV58fXAArNdQiF-LapYwiCWl4TOO78iuzh2lj51Ubd-POrXlcCnC7uzwNXDqvgM8h29d4jn9z0MIabkUNmid164bysPD9voCACt1uDNp_IDb54CbebZ9ggbMznFeXfV-/s400/IMG_2203.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture thanks to Paul Duncan</td></tr>
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After the race it took me a solid 10 minutes to get myself together and figure out what was going on. Mentally, I was pretty shaken. How did I go from having an awesome race, being towards the front and feeling comfortable, to just wanting to lie down and not run another step? I know races are supposed to be hard and are supposed to hurt. After speaking to my team of consultants (Coach Mace and my brother) we came to the conclusion that my explosion on the run was likely caused by dehydration. While I felt fine riding, I drank less than 2 bottles of liquids. I should have taken in twice that amount. </div>
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Peeing on the bike has always been an issue with me because it takes me a while to relax enough going 30+ mph downhill. Usually, I just tell myself to suck it up and wait till transition to pee which results in me not taking in as much liquids so I avoid feeling uncomfortable. This is something I will work on!</div>
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While it’s frustrating, that’s part of racing! Nothing matters if you fall apart on the run. Unfortunately, the only part many will see from this weekend is my overall time and finishing position. While both of those are slightly disappointing to me, I’m pleased with other parts of the race and implications of where my training is. And just because I swam with the front pack in one race, I am not taking that for granted. Once is not a pattern.</div>
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<b>Thank You!!</b></div>
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Brannen, thank you for letting me stay at your place in Encinitas and being patient with me after the race while I hobbled around getting gear. </div>
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Thank you to <a href="http://stryd.com/" target="_blank">Stryd </a>for sending me out a new running power meter just before the race. </div>
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Thank you to my parents and family for believing in me and encouraging me to stick with it while I relearned to run these past few months. I’m happy to be healthy and racing again.</div>
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And a massive thank you to Rachael, her family, and friends (basically everyone). Without you, the past few months would not have been possible. All of those dog-walking cross training sessions are keeping me on my toes ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkSV3jf_Y660FFzBGRxu1LxEnr6vLhDnvkE0hqMZTnMKOxNMWIYRCvaT0X_gbbqgpWq6YS74sbA7XSKUDCRI0YfW4H_Ma2GzmtWaPUu-s7H7kxEm8HdKdT1m8PFnToeug8JjucMKSgPuw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkSV3jf_Y660FFzBGRxu1LxEnr6vLhDnvkE0hqMZTnMKOxNMWIYRCvaT0X_gbbqgpWq6YS74sbA7XSKUDCRI0YfW4H_Ma2GzmtWaPUu-s7H7kxEm8HdKdT1m8PFnToeug8JjucMKSgPuw/s400/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are some VERY big changes coming in my life in the next month. I’m excited to start work as an engineer. I may write another post on this but long story short: I’ll still be racing “pro” in triathlon but, my life will look very different. I am happy I’ll be able to fully support myself and have a more stable living situation. Up next for me is St. George 70.3! Rachael and I will be there, so if you’re planning on racing be sure to say hi! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9nGqeDsvJpCv33QFOM4vu1oy5WDxVp2urPtlkaEnGmeyLZX9JWfDmHg0KI6fMycMjxgNt08i6FRLrpdOW0FDvih5Hr1HAs8DTTjRwGo7KnnkivLX6gfrfVpwU2Kn4R6EZzt1KZQsaxzZ/s1600/rachael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9nGqeDsvJpCv33QFOM4vu1oy5WDxVp2urPtlkaEnGmeyLZX9JWfDmHg0KI6fMycMjxgNt08i6FRLrpdOW0FDvih5Hr1HAs8DTTjRwGo7KnnkivLX6gfrfVpwU2Kn4R6EZzt1KZQsaxzZ/s320/rachael.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very thankful for this girl</td></tr>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-54101280188238497072016-10-06T14:29:00.001-07:002016-10-06T14:53:34.880-07:00Good. Now.<div style="text-align: center;">
A few months have gone by since my last update which included a recap of my race in Calgary. There have been a lot of ups and downs since then, but I’m happy with where I am headed.</div>
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INJURY</div>
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Injuries suck. They’re awful. But, they are essentially guaranteed to happen to endurance athletes. I don’t exactly remember when my injury first started bothering me this summer. I remember racing Green Events Firecracker 5k on July 4th and my heel/arch bothering me for a bit during the warmup. In July I raced Vineman 70.3 (aka bike drama) and then Calgary 70.3 afterwards. While the result in Calgary was great for me, the next day I was in a lot of pain in my heel/calf/shin area. I tried to manage the injury the next few weeks. I let Coach Mace know that I was experiencing some pain, although at the time, I thought it was a pain we could manage.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrxwXa7A_dI73T1MmqPOvtiRT5IegEGKzwc9N2uanx5ZF4aJG94joFOfk77uL78fcjcHPs5g5bkHTGzxDjhI-SKHmRyp2QmImN6urhpQnDGqQV4bIA8jrr58XV0lRcaa8BiGIOWqpFT-T/s1600/14585261_10207878495021861_596225609_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrxwXa7A_dI73T1MmqPOvtiRT5IegEGKzwc9N2uanx5ZF4aJG94joFOfk77uL78fcjcHPs5g5bkHTGzxDjhI-SKHmRyp2QmImN6urhpQnDGqQV4bIA8jrr58XV0lRcaa8BiGIOWqpFT-T/s400/14585261_10207878495021861_596225609_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Louis in Banff National Park post Calgary 70.3</td></tr>
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One Wednesday morning after a track workout the night before, I woke up and nearly cried after walking across the room. It felt like a knife had been stuck in my heel. At this point, I finally acknowledged that I would have to amputate my leg. Or take some time off of training. It was difficult to watch races happen knowing that I could have competed, but I had myself to blame for not backing off early enough.</div>
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I did my best to stay positive and focus on the things that I could control. In mid-August, I drove to Kansas City with Rachael to see her dog Molly. Rachael thinks it was to help her move home, but I really just wanted to meet Molly. And to check out all of the good coffee places.</div>
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COMMUNITY</div>
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After returning to Colorado, I started an intensive program of swimming and job searching. My daily activities included driving to the pool 2 x per day (biking still hurt my injury a bit), applying to jobs, putting away dishes, walking the dog, and eating. #StayAtHomeDadStatus Part of me enjoyed the lack of daily structure. It allowed me to lay around between workouts, but I also found myself feeling unproductive. I applied to a variety (15+) of jobs and kept track of them in a spreadsheet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aHmeR-lNWn62DaTLY22nlTtr_ZdDNA0OpRba5dQgd0eQpImPTxR7V9PRPOXhmnGmu-1jePeuq4qx4LuF4y8DslpWguhjHutoU1Jz-2WnqYtOBLdo5UbUUFDBRxCdPyhQ8MBhEMrHN3h5/s1600/14580394_10207878495221866_376313235_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aHmeR-lNWn62DaTLY22nlTtr_ZdDNA0OpRba5dQgd0eQpImPTxR7V9PRPOXhmnGmu-1jePeuq4qx4LuF4y8DslpWguhjHutoU1Jz-2WnqYtOBLdo5UbUUFDBRxCdPyhQ8MBhEMrHN3h5/s320/14580394_10207878495221866_376313235_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQVfyAyCTLyIkpq37gpA19CFOplKOvNBQ5ATWCUorioXb-BQSsUbw_RqHbJU9w1n2GjA5oR4b79xCayP6sk4EAVrr9NnqjhFNJvJXt6j2KVf3fsBkMZhs_7PMNoYyOv4fEhe771lc02GC/s1600/14608047_10207878495181865_141162913_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQVfyAyCTLyIkpq37gpA19CFOplKOvNBQ5ATWCUorioXb-BQSsUbw_RqHbJU9w1n2GjA5oR4b79xCayP6sk4EAVrr9NnqjhFNJvJXt6j2KVf3fsBkMZhs_7PMNoYyOv4fEhe771lc02GC/s400/14608047_10207878495181865_141162913_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had a few interviews that gave me hope, but nothing seemed to pan out. Despite having a college degree (basically two), above average math and computer skills, and being able to lift 40 lbs, I still was turned down for several minimum wage jobs. With my savings dwindling down, the appeal of a full-time engineering gig started to look more appealing, but I knew I had to keep trying as I believed I could find work that would accommodate training and my lifestyle. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-pk3frthQbVgndJdr1GByI9-dL_j4Qvews80Tf-WDTKMxTDH45k2K-2UnqECeU075UqZUM-kKf14MWRKjzTpXmT5CGHskhNl2__csA72G39aPUfgDFHiN-Wg7C8UALzaGI3xcdl4fscF/s1600/confused+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-pk3frthQbVgndJdr1GByI9-dL_j4Qvews80Tf-WDTKMxTDH45k2K-2UnqECeU075UqZUM-kKf14MWRKjzTpXmT5CGHskhNl2__csA72G39aPUfgDFHiN-Wg7C8UALzaGI3xcdl4fscF/s200/confused+meme.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goes to college for 6 years...can't get minimum wage job.</td></tr>
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After a few weeks, I started speaking with Bryan VanMeveren about potential employment. Bryan leads a local law firm here in Fort Collins and is also an incredible triathlete. He’s one of those age group athletes that somehow manages to do it all, be successful, have fun, have a family and help others all at the same time. He’s a great role model in our community. We worked together to figure out how I could help the law firm while still allowing me to have the time and means to train the way I believe I need to in order to be competitive. While I’ve only been working with VanMeveren Law for a few weeks now, I am very happy and doing what I believe is giving me a balanced lifestyle.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w1N46VRU_Wc0r6y5XubPUTHSDuOYgUEMfBlkZbFKcm_PKfI-MECH8ZtRgbGXfgXttL3HI2a1I37Ksq5wiVn99vC607Y30WJcbK64G8lFYfcIQzh3hptCdLdxOpGDI8u9MFWAykLciREP/s1600/14555962_10207878544223091_1643771224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w1N46VRU_Wc0r6y5XubPUTHSDuOYgUEMfBlkZbFKcm_PKfI-MECH8ZtRgbGXfgXttL3HI2a1I37Ksq5wiVn99vC607Y30WJcbK64G8lFYfcIQzh3hptCdLdxOpGDI8u9MFWAykLciREP/s320/14555962_10207878544223091_1643771224_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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MOTIVATION</div>
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As many people know, triathlon has it’s highs and lows. And when you’ve decided to race professionally, these swings can be very tough. Over the past few months, I’ve sometimes found myself picturing how I’d like to live as a triathlete, however, when I take a step back, I see that I am doing exactly what we set out to do at this point in the process. The goal for this year was to learn. I threw myself into races with tough competition and tough courses. Why? To see how I would respond. I’m happy with where my head is at this point in my first professional season and I am happy with the progress I have made. On your own, it is not always easy to see the bigger picture. It has helped me immensely to be surround by people, friends and community who support me in this dream. </div>
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Over the past month, I’ve been able to diagnose my injury, thanks to a local PT Craig Depperschmidt, as an overstressed posterior tib. Craig is a triathlete and understands the paranoia of needing to train while injured. We’ve been able to identify some postural issues stemming from my hockey days and seem to be on the right track towards fixing them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DOPdK5zPOQyrKHqPw4SFVJ_WUhwn9SkaA1eM1S9jfow0YsCjhK6lLMk0iJKbxz_jzF3aKt2xbrMWbar3RcREI1edc3FAZXrxGWU4K3mP7LIOunCnCfFF2rIY3udZgYXsoWJ9aIl4JXOd/s1600/39740_1377721484658_5506063_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DOPdK5zPOQyrKHqPw4SFVJ_WUhwn9SkaA1eM1S9jfow0YsCjhK6lLMk0iJKbxz_jzF3aKt2xbrMWbar3RcREI1edc3FAZXrxGWU4K3mP7LIOunCnCfFF2rIY3udZgYXsoWJ9aIl4JXOd/s400/39740_1377721484658_5506063_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hockey player Steve riding a bike on family vacation. (2009?) Side note: that bike is now my commuter bike!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4TAjUmWLmiNjT-TxNh99MjFWlEOV9o9Wb6ngSAPBttdmcT-n3Oo49QjX533PTo_dClTPdyUJ2X5bLZjyNGYKzwQRILK2ME8uITV5P3S_Bv-35Gti3hVKe_tCL_FbAW-2QtGdPN48XN64/s1600/14607947_10207878495101863_1872107659_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4TAjUmWLmiNjT-TxNh99MjFWlEOV9o9Wb6ngSAPBttdmcT-n3Oo49QjX533PTo_dClTPdyUJ2X5bLZjyNGYKzwQRILK2ME8uITV5P3S_Bv-35Gti3hVKe_tCL_FbAW-2QtGdPN48XN64/s320/14607947_10207878495101863_1872107659_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the PT exercises given to me to help stretch out my back involves blowing up a balloon. Simple but effective.</td></tr>
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Five years ago, I would have never imagined living my current lifestyle which focuses heavily on training and recovery. I was raised to concentrate on doing well in school so that I could have a stable job, save money, and start a family should I want to. Sure, I was encouraged to do things that were enjoyable, but I was taught that anything that might detract from a steady job and income should be done so very cautiously. </div>
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Only recently do I think that I've transitioned to fully believing and committing to what I am doing. It’s easy to be frustrated with workouts, results, money…and forget how much progress is being made for future years to come. Mace has often said, “focus on the good, focus on the now”. I’m very grateful for the friends and family who have been supportive of me through the thick and thin this past year. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97g7pH-PPy-p1hRaAonA8jzrANCtX4LWKoci688cKxdYImjclviydh9LJzGJERpP6jUHfec8haHJZCta12ULysknwx6IB2U9xznPm1aI8zdNjkqpgjrF7nDvlnURZq0jwF3pZqxuCbgaq/s1600/14380093_1183995984992149_7503333060186200327_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97g7pH-PPy-p1hRaAonA8jzrANCtX4LWKoci688cKxdYImjclviydh9LJzGJERpP6jUHfec8haHJZCta12ULysknwx6IB2U9xznPm1aI8zdNjkqpgjrF7nDvlnURZq0jwF3pZqxuCbgaq/s400/14380093_1183995984992149_7503333060186200327_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSU Tri at Oktoberfest a few weekends ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0eQuK5mkv46_oaURRCfhqN0g3E4s_jiNu6OmBIUtuOGQvdvJOEUE6flKdFY1U4j5C6Csf6q780A0uCS_DnlDXkexdK8u7b8Psf-kBSWsa1Iv3ZBT5wQE5EzZcETJSBQ27IYJdB73Vbgj/s1600/14449880_10211280575916386_7570209098605935771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0eQuK5mkv46_oaURRCfhqN0g3E4s_jiNu6OmBIUtuOGQvdvJOEUE6flKdFY1U4j5C6Csf6q780A0uCS_DnlDXkexdK8u7b8Psf-kBSWsa1Iv3ZBT5wQE5EzZcETJSBQ27IYJdB73Vbgj/s400/14449880_10211280575916386_7570209098605935771_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach Mace and the summer training crew</td></tr>
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Next week I’m going back to Kansas City for a few days to watch Rachael run the Kansas City Marathon, drink coffee, reconnect with Molly, and get a change of pace with training. Towards the end of the month, I’ll be heading to Vegas to help coach the CSU Triathlon Team at Pumpkinman Triathlon. I’ve never done the race but I’m a Vegas party animal, so they wanted me to come. There is a possibility I will be racing Cabo 70.3 October 30th. If my running continues to improve like it has, we may try to squeeze a few more races in, however, I feel no pressure to race again this season and would rather ensure I am healthy and that all systems are “go” for consistent off-season of training.</div>
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I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone a bit in terms of content and frequency of posting on social media. Personally, I’d love to get more inside views into life as a “pro”, so that’s what I’m trying to shed light a bit on what my day to day looks like. If there is something you’d like to see, or something you don’t like, let me know! And if you’re going to be in Colorado/Vegas/KC when I am, I’m usually down to exercise ;)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8QoX-CAmYjJiCQFL40PpTJlcPKxdhli7McUgKtBpp5ou2RoBCK5lGH3sEPNsgwaAHc1eHVWsrcXRy5LyHAf2PwwCCeym3J2JfrvJrYbiAISago-fAAt6ohiksnal9iitaPf_z-NNxVk8/s1600/14607944_10207878494901858_302577275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8QoX-CAmYjJiCQFL40PpTJlcPKxdhli7McUgKtBpp5ou2RoBCK5lGH3sEPNsgwaAHc1eHVWsrcXRy5LyHAf2PwwCCeym3J2JfrvJrYbiAISago-fAAt6ohiksnal9iitaPf_z-NNxVk8/s320/14607944_10207878494901858_302577275_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to Molly and Rachael next week :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsLcsvKWrcaiBcfbQExlD7XMvOqgwSfAjRuryhGnvzuCvv0qvFNLU_Y-hwqgAfJfZR_kIEumlI_D0ovlMXpe6zlJKzHl8dvb3RnH5lJszLbGByIm9oq6F_lSJ93MV5eqF3xEMtRmIXy6P/s1600/14569844_10207878495261867_591951912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsLcsvKWrcaiBcfbQExlD7XMvOqgwSfAjRuryhGnvzuCvv0qvFNLU_Y-hwqgAfJfZR_kIEumlI_D0ovlMXpe6zlJKzHl8dvb3RnH5lJszLbGByIm9oq6F_lSJ93MV5eqF3xEMtRmIXy6P/s400/14569844_10207878495261867_591951912_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long ride on the Peak to Peak highway.</td></tr>
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You can follow me on social media:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevemantell37/?fref=ts">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/steve_mantell">Twitter</a> : @steve_mantell, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevemantell37/">Instagram</a> : @stevemantell37, <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196">Strava</a>, Snapchat: stevemantell37</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for reading and have a great day!</span></div>
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Steve</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-35488632386636174502016-07-27T23:29:00.000-07:002016-07-27T23:36:10.622-07:00Calgary 70.3<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This past weekend I was fortunate enough
to race Calgary 70.3. Recovery from Vineman went well and after a few days I
was eager to race again, this time with Bae!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A group of 7 of us from Fort Collins drove
up Thursday for the race on Sunday. We had been planning to break the drive into
two days, however, once we realized it was still light out at 9 pm, we opted to
finish off the drive. A few inconveniences with campgrounds left us looking for
a hotel at 1 am, but eventually we struck gold and found accommodations with a
decent price, and a waterslide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCIlx65J8a_r-zzIzTvEFlKxekLpEh9JWwef7XwLhB3voa8fBZ1l0v51bdJgFxmRkim8Wn20TFwUjcdlSL7cLY75sKCDCHtQTFKOvvHA4ljqeaMbdihkm5ESxMj1vK-5pZgnxPn2bwMYT/s1600/13871814_10207323977679274_1567805176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCIlx65J8a_r-zzIzTvEFlKxekLpEh9JWwef7XwLhB3voa8fBZ1l0v51bdJgFxmRkim8Wn20TFwUjcdlSL7cLY75sKCDCHtQTFKOvvHA4ljqeaMbdihkm5ESxMj1vK-5pZgnxPn2bwMYT/s400/13871814_10207323977679274_1567805176_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel water slide = playtime</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Friday we arrived at our rental house with
time for a short ride. The house was about a mile from the bike course. The
rolling hills weren’t too challenging and the views were incredible. Aside from
the green open space around the roads, at the top of each hill you could see
the mountains spread out in the distance.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK4Xe4m3wgcOB4n0N42x7UdrQyWdIwFinG77q-vvVv_897NKoCSHOxu49OiGCog9d6jYEq8qTcDMXeHa3hz0RnVmpksYTuG_NZcHUZ-6-6w-Y7XA4FUWbtiBDz7kIIfLLWt5ztw7niGOK/s1600/13867099_10207323985599472_582228181_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK4Xe4m3wgcOB4n0N42x7UdrQyWdIwFinG77q-vvVv_897NKoCSHOxu49OiGCog9d6jYEq8qTcDMXeHa3hz0RnVmpksYTuG_NZcHUZ-6-6w-Y7XA4FUWbtiBDz7kIIfLLWt5ztw7niGOK/s320/13867099_10207323985599472_582228181_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike course views</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The next couple days were much less
hectic than those leading up to Vineman. We all prepared for the race by doing
some short workouts, checking out the swim venue, and dropping off gear for
race day. On the original start list, there were a few names that had firepower,
however, a few of these guys never showed up to the pro meeting. A few races I’ve
been to this year have had similar turnouts and it can be a little frustrating in
preparing mentally. A few missing people can significantly change the dynamic
(and positioning) at any race! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGFx9HrkKyJxPgX1eZKAnI0MCEUiF5vFpXSHa8aa-0wYQAi5y4j9LskReGUI2SmuST7sndNVUbhqJhukIj08BlEvCRPj4F5wepjFQdTnm6dlmmUYqkzrJ0uMhD3hB974utj_mA_jxZqpA/s1600/13664658_10207323985879479_1332334619_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGFx9HrkKyJxPgX1eZKAnI0MCEUiF5vFpXSHa8aa-0wYQAi5y4j9LskReGUI2SmuST7sndNVUbhqJhukIj08BlEvCRPj4F5wepjFQdTnm6dlmmUYqkzrJ0uMhD3hB974utj_mA_jxZqpA/s400/13664658_10207323985879479_1332334619_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew ready to rock!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNCR97OInB5mH3Mjmr2AzpOxGhsogcY7hhNI3IEODfLWFiVBeVc9IghCRp1FwK1-Q64xhgfDO1sN3zMUj03tEHGO1StItMkMImiLB11M-aoAUYO1RyEXFE70tjGlqcmH29FfZZXg2k-rf/s1600/13664278_10207323985959481_1187660786_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNCR97OInB5mH3Mjmr2AzpOxGhsogcY7hhNI3IEODfLWFiVBeVc9IghCRp1FwK1-Q64xhgfDO1sN3zMUj03tEHGO1StItMkMImiLB11M-aoAUYO1RyEXFE70tjGlqcmH29FfZZXg2k-rf/s320/13664278_10207323985959481_1187660786_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bae's set-up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sunday morning I did my usual pre-race
routine: wake-up 3 hrs before the start, MBK run, then breakfast. The point to
point logistics of the race had us all crammed into one car driving to the
start. We arrived and immediately went to work setting up our bikes. Race
organizers had set up the pro transition area separate from age group athletes
out on the street near the mount line. This meant a lot of people were watching
us get assemble our gear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8JopMnduwFBDcRcxPRtXboWRgOHT8VO3W6dpHGe4lTkg8AS2-GewNZ_-9FxAdX7h4d8yB5eYD_od2PWZ0wCaGegDE_RnuvKpgehFGiMXwd_K4tmk9_1rh3tFhkaJRvzTWB8UXTP7GQxt/s1600/13866832_10207323986079484_1403492298_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8JopMnduwFBDcRcxPRtXboWRgOHT8VO3W6dpHGe4lTkg8AS2-GewNZ_-9FxAdX7h4d8yB5eYD_od2PWZ0wCaGegDE_RnuvKpgehFGiMXwd_K4tmk9_1rh3tFhkaJRvzTWB8UXTP7GQxt/s320/13866832_10207323986079484_1403492298_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The line for the bathrooms had become a quarter mile long
by this point so I did my warmup run over to a local coffee shop we’d visited
the day before. Next, I put on my Maverick X, handed over my morning clothes
bags, and headed down for a swim warmup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Swim</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The swim course at Calgary is a bit short because it’s in a
residential lake. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As we lined up for the beach start, I realized there were maybe 10 of us racing. After a 10 second countdown, we were off.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhIPDGphkvmAcej6PNW7GnEGc2kk1HVVjCe2yLaGOEscX5zsL11w9d6hHE_9uNyfDbeOxPKqggrMy91z_QfM0nXjhJXUJGVTTP0JF0Ev7KAVfbM1_o_5nWpqESQi7VXGuHRD_GEs3Jlbe/s1600/swim+course.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhIPDGphkvmAcej6PNW7GnEGc2kk1HVVjCe2yLaGOEscX5zsL11w9d6hHE_9uNyfDbeOxPKqggrMy91z_QfM0nXjhJXUJGVTTP0JF0Ev7KAVfbM1_o_5nWpqESQi7VXGuHRD_GEs3Jlbe/s320/swim+course.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athletes essentially swim around the perimeter of the lake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I sprinted into the water for about 20 feet before
gracefully belly flopping and beginning to flail my way to the first buoy. At
first I thought that maybe I’d for once gotten a good start (I wasn’t drowning)
then I remembered there were only 10 of us. The first buoy had a sharp turn and
was around 100 yards away. As we neared it, I thought I picked out Josh
Amberger (Australian ex-itu athlete, aka part fish) only 2 body lengths ahead
of me and everyone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There was some contact at the first buoy before we
straightened out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After turning, I was swimming in the middle of two other
guys. The guy on my left kept smacking me with every stroke so I crossed over
and took a line that allowed my elegant stroke the space it needed. After a few
hard minutes I had settled in and thought I was towards the front of the main
group. As we swam around the deformed circle, I was feeling decent, so I tried
to push myself more than normal as the swim was shorter. Halfway through, we
began swimming straight into the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsFfPej2EUxI4o7ook5xJzNy6Yr7s9g7pq1Mj6yF-2W99G5O852qYuUzhGNi1KIZIMZCEAP2jiQiiviPS5F8nxbAo1OrssHPm6JfIR6EQtx_g4U2Z5BOAa6PY2G51UpmPHIXDldP-y-UL/s1600/sun+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsFfPej2EUxI4o7ook5xJzNy6Yr7s9g7pq1Mj6yF-2W99G5O852qYuUzhGNi1KIZIMZCEAP2jiQiiviPS5F8nxbAo1OrssHPm6JfIR6EQtx_g4U2Z5BOAa6PY2G51UpmPHIXDldP-y-UL/s320/sun+meme.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A few times I had to completely stop to find the next turn
buoy. It would be awesome if there were lead second-pack paddlers that would
lead us around. After finding the buoys, I headed back to complete the loop
around the lake. I was getting sick of swimming, so I tried to focus on finding
a good rhythm with sighting and breathing. I didn’t feel anyone touching my
feet and could only see a guy about 50 yards in front of me, so I knew I was
swimming alone. After some confusion about the last turn buoy, I finally
sighted on the finish arch and made my way up onto stable ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Running up to Bae, the announcer said that I had exited in
5<sup>th</sup> place. As I arrived into transition, Matt Lieto was just
finishing taking off his wetsuit and grabbing his bike. I hurried up, grabbed
my stuff and was off in a controlled pursuit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Bike</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OrhIlfFwPoNgiOmrpSALLwJ5qoenzSCC9m5vdxh8blJ1rkUL52wvboQb4aMQmEms0H7wYEYOAlE4QCdjME38m4Z-2iwJttkSSsCl83EmNjWvfP5u62Ve6gCBI-t2ueWDfMZleTLexqX5/s1600/bike+course.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OrhIlfFwPoNgiOmrpSALLwJ5qoenzSCC9m5vdxh8blJ1rkUL52wvboQb4aMQmEms0H7wYEYOAlE4QCdjME38m4Z-2iwJttkSSsCl83EmNjWvfP5u62Ve6gCBI-t2ueWDfMZleTLexqX5/s400/bike+course.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After mounting my bike, I realized the Oakleys I was
wearing had fogged up from the chilly morning. I knew they had vents so I was
hoping they would clear up, which they did after 20 seconds. I got a split that
I was 40 seconds down on Lieto. I knew the course once we got onto the main
highway, but wasn’t as familiar with the turns in town. A few volunteers hadn’t
told me anything so I ended up going straight through an intersection instead
of turning left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaToVJlWCh6QVWiOVWiudsTVhYxvyouRA7sto6ZH7WXukxvID8nyPnHEoPKH1COTiSYoXN6g-HxKq_9P5KLj5ojGipaRx8wSC5n8QLWVN-RatstEj7fz83QnEpA6MGAQl5x_gS7ceSnBu/s1600/directions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaToVJlWCh6QVWiOVWiudsTVhYxvyouRA7sto6ZH7WXukxvID8nyPnHEoPKH1COTiSYoXN6g-HxKq_9P5KLj5ojGipaRx8wSC5n8QLWVN-RatstEj7fz83QnEpA6MGAQl5x_gS7ceSnBu/s320/directions.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I quickly u-turned and corrected to find that a group of
four had caught up. They all immediately cut in front of me and set a pace. It
felt pretty slow, especially compared to the suicidal effort I’ve experienced
at the start at a lot of races this year, however, for a few minutes, I couldn’t
do anything but stay behind at the legal distance as we were turning and the
area closed for us wasn’t very wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3BuU16EvLDJ1iul7tOXeFbREoaiT6SoNR_sblbKhryOELjNQKk3jxvAXmLj0GIJN5kp2IEyAcKrzHnrCpChDSEwvTt5rbSV6fYjsAD5smMCVJKo-BskR9G60EvYpp6iX-aZ8aoFJBJVO/s1600/road+rage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3BuU16EvLDJ1iul7tOXeFbREoaiT6SoNR_sblbKhryOELjNQKk3jxvAXmLj0GIJN5kp2IEyAcKrzHnrCpChDSEwvTt5rbSV6fYjsAD5smMCVJKo-BskR9G60EvYpp6iX-aZ8aoFJBJVO/s320/road+rage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Eventually, the road opened up and I upped my effort to
pass the group. This was my first race riding with a power meter where Mace had
given me the “OK” to race. (Basically, that meant that I could ride however I
wanted but would have some numbers to look at if I wanted to during the race
and we could analyze after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I could see Matt Lieto up the road a bit. It took me a few
miles, but eventually I worked my way past Jarrod Shoemaker and up to Matt and
another athlete. For this race, I chose to ride my Enve 3.4’s with Specialized
cotton turbos. Even though the HEDs that Bae came with are deeper, I really
like how the Enve’s ride. And the brakes sound cool. I also had a 53 tooth for
my big chain ring. Because of the set-up, I knew my speed difference with
others would be a bit less on the flats and downhills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFGMfPS-ge4BrSOfyJlYCRAoGQqbSZqG3SBB7ieVOzMQqQTfBv-BeOYHQ59S5NW_UpMqw_t9j8UkFMfwvZqndK__8iVI7Tswzj2AKKx3pGpbNF56_Z1DIONcBZKVJvHv_aey9Bp13nWkD/s1600/bike+file.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFGMfPS-ge4BrSOfyJlYCRAoGQqbSZqG3SBB7ieVOzMQqQTfBv-BeOYHQ59S5NW_UpMqw_t9j8UkFMfwvZqndK__8iVI7Tswzj2AKKx3pGpbNF56_Z1DIONcBZKVJvHv_aey9Bp13nWkD/s400/bike+file.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike file: <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/652494521" target="_blank">strava</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Eventually, a gap opened up between Matt and the other
athlete. I let the distance increase so there was plenty of room and eventually
followed Matt. Again, it took me a while to catch back up. A few times Matt
looked around. I couldn’t tell if he was looking at me or if he was checking
behind to see if I’d brought other athletes up. When I finally looked back too,
it looked like we had a decent gap to the next athlete. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">About 45 minutes in, I
moved past Matt to take a turn setting the pace. I didn’t have a specific power
number I was going for, but I used the numbers to make sure I didn’t crush
myself going uphill. Several times I spun out going downhill and just remained
as aero as possible. I’d committed to riding my own pace for 15 minutes after
going past Matt hoping we could distance ourselves from those behind us as we
were riding in 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> place. Josh was long gone at
this point and I knew unless he had a mechanical, we wouldn’t see him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2Obf9OhpFD9lfvYwV1nC7rTcozrxuDm0mudMnEMaPb0B0Hdq1lzhmVKDz7TVzv463uWxfGYoqme0-QpfZYhOdv5g6_xHN90AA94-nzKDUV1xEk-9Ppyy8_f-RQXWQp0Xd38A-nIPGfWl/s1600/tony+martin+aero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2Obf9OhpFD9lfvYwV1nC7rTcozrxuDm0mudMnEMaPb0B0Hdq1lzhmVKDz7TVzv463uWxfGYoqme0-QpfZYhOdv5g6_xHN90AA94-nzKDUV1xEk-9Ppyy8_f-RQXWQp0Xd38A-nIPGfWl/s320/tony+martin+aero.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">At the top of a hill 15 minutes later, I
glanced back to see where Matt was and he’d fallen off a bit. I decided to
commit and try to ride the rest of the bike solo. The rest of the ride was a
straight shot into town. The slope was slightly downhill even though it looked
flat. I knew that without a disc or deeper wheels, I’d need to make the most
out of my effort and get my body as aero as possible. I moved over from the
shoulder to riding on the white line and put my head down. I focused on keeping
power throughout my pedal stroke and relaxing my upper body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Pretty soon, I recognized the area
leading up to transition and realized that I’d ridden decently fast (compared
to previous year’s splits). Spinning to the mount line, I stretched a bit and
tried to mentally shift to running. In transition, it was confirmed that I was
second off the bike which got me excited. As I got my run gear sorted out, Matt
entered transition about a minute behind me and a volunteer told me I was 7
minutes down on Josh. Wow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB0EzGY_rGRfCDlXGH1nj9f25r2fKjbNNAPHc8zafPNEJqduWd6BqjuRfydCM6Xiu6dGsgJV_DTvtXSvyZctUiXr3GuzrwxiNGH59cbXczcCUv6PxsPJ3JGTc_LjoMMnJrEomIRWvBogn/s1600/confused+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB0EzGY_rGRfCDlXGH1nj9f25r2fKjbNNAPHc8zafPNEJqduWd6BqjuRfydCM6Xiu6dGsgJV_DTvtXSvyZctUiXr3GuzrwxiNGH59cbXczcCUv6PxsPJ3JGTc_LjoMMnJrEomIRWvBogn/s320/confused+meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Josh rides a 1:58...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Run</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0Q0Az1J4Bo4YATU2l-HqDXjW__fKWvDVT1tNDtr5GlTvnoKhgyYd_jG4eGY5aNnRqTdttl731SmKEu32-57udU_nlhFJL3LoTnzXJO6wfzLbhKWtmdUfPQS4fM4iUiuBCo7cYuxa9T1w/s1600/run+course.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0Q0Az1J4Bo4YATU2l-HqDXjW__fKWvDVT1tNDtr5GlTvnoKhgyYd_jG4eGY5aNnRqTdttl731SmKEu32-57udU_nlhFJL3LoTnzXJO6wfzLbhKWtmdUfPQS4fM4iUiuBCo7cYuxa9T1w/s320/run+course.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After a quick pee stop, I ran out of
transition just behind Matt. I wanted to run with him so I sped up to match his
pace. He told me that Josh had ridden a 1:58. I just shook my head. Incredible.
As we were running together, a photographer on roller blades skated by us taking
a video of us running. We ran together for a few minutes, not saying much
before Matt asked the photographer to let us carry on. He wished us luck and
off we went. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My legs did not feel great, but I’d
committed to running with Matt. Looking back, I should have took my time to
settle in, take account of my energy levels and take in nutrition. I didn’t
question my pace too much as Matt soon was running on my shoulder and then
dropped off. The somewhat challenging run in Calgary is made slightly more
difficult (for me) as the aid stations are spread out about every 1.5 miles. The
first 5k felt like it took a long time. I blasted down the big hill and tried
to find a rhythm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVEX506JP0mlLZmz64MHlC-LqfgLCl_OxSU_9KuI-IySc6mw780_OH8peIAcSsO4p4z_DtW3BuJ8UjJyQMXECJA2r8M0pmoZMyqZ2j7AezwJgGB2mAN0S5PucDqkQN7GHmTEwH72wliW8/s1600/stryd+data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVEX506JP0mlLZmz64MHlC-LqfgLCl_OxSU_9KuI-IySc6mw780_OH8peIAcSsO4p4z_DtW3BuJ8UjJyQMXECJA2r8M0pmoZMyqZ2j7AezwJgGB2mAN0S5PucDqkQN7GHmTEwH72wliW8/s400/stryd+data.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running data with power by Stryd: <a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/6674410735927296" target="_blank">file</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The kilometers ticked away. I stayed
conservative on the hills and tried to keep things rolling on the flats and
down hills. The run course was very pretty. We ran around one side of lake on a
bike path surrounded by trees. By 10k, I was starting to hurt and new that I’d
have some suffering ahead of me. I tried to slow down and get more fluids from
the aid stations as they were further apart. Josh went by heading back to the
finish and I gave him some encouragement even though he looked fine. Finally
the turn around came. I glanced at my watch so I could estimate time gaps to those
behind me. I was pumped to be running in second, but wasn’t sure how close
everyone else was or how they looked. I was hoping that my riding had given me
a bit of room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Heading back, I was expecting to see
Matt first. After a few other runners had gone by, I realized Matt must have
pulled out at some point. Instead, I saw Sam Long, 20 seconds back up the path.
He was making up a lot of ground on the run. The first few miles heading back had
a slight uphill. I refocused and tried to force higher turnover. About 3 miles
later, Sam still hadn’t caught me yet. I knew the hills would hurt a lot and I
needed a kick so I switched to Coke at the aid stations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">**need more run pictures**</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The sugar helped a little. On a short
downhill around mile 10, Sam caught up to me and pounded the downhill. I knew
he was having a great run so I told him to keep it up. I kept the distance to
Sam even on the uphill but he began to pull away as we reached the top. I
grabbed a few cups of Coke and pushed on. There was only 4k left. I knew I
wouldn’t have anything left at the finish line. My legs felt awful, but I
really wanted to keep my third place. Finally, the last aid station came and I
grabbed more Coke and muscled on. My rollerblading friend joined me,
documenting my painful journey to the finish. Finally, the barricades came into
view and I crossed the finish. Josh was there and immediately congratulated me
on my first podium. I feel bad that I made him wait around 10+ minutes for me
to finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSfe66MRJm9rUXfoGd5RB6U3kiB46cGWFWh55jrtpQoj6g-0Uqg3orR7zFTZAlg9Z1wemuS_QBHO9YkI-Zu0jroKKUlJj3zYxIcftbQJCOZr6FBJWTeecC7JI6SKUbhJrVnJQLUabwynX/s1600/13871972_10207323998039783_1471943949_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSfe66MRJm9rUXfoGd5RB6U3kiB46cGWFWh55jrtpQoj6g-0Uqg3orR7zFTZAlg9Z1wemuS_QBHO9YkI-Zu0jroKKUlJj3zYxIcftbQJCOZr6FBJWTeecC7JI6SKUbhJrVnJQLUabwynX/s400/13871972_10207323998039783_1471943949_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After getting some food, I waited for
the a few others from our group to finish. We then rallied, picked up the other
car, and got cleaned up for awards. Several people in our group earned spots to
Chatanooga 2017. We went downtown to try and find a place to eat. After walking
out of a Thai place that was taking too long for us, we found an incredible
shawarma restaurant. We inhaled our wraps then went and explored Prince Island
Park in downtown Calgary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ge9MW8FF55C5CqieDA7CSvw6AP4U_TalxM1qVrGTznrG3XqJ7fSHwoPExxC1D5TcznHHddMG2o6v0nXojOfb2cVZ5IEyj8tg-gDRiQIIkUOx8A0UBmAP5RkO73Ep72iWURJbFuuqt4i-/s1600/13672628_10207323998279789_1744624933_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ge9MW8FF55C5CqieDA7CSvw6AP4U_TalxM1qVrGTznrG3XqJ7fSHwoPExxC1D5TcznHHddMG2o6v0nXojOfb2cVZ5IEyj8tg-gDRiQIIkUOx8A0UBmAP5RkO73Ep72iWURJbFuuqt4i-/s400/13672628_10207323998279789_1744624933_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Calgary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyJpZXmTRTMCdAltKW-AjQtqO2RgrVgDmbgC8M1vnVw1q-pDJhjid67oSTkX8LzAHMDIzz5uyWLV0lVOC6VQCDJn62A_5QgMwVmZ-jM1s6lc8arCka8AnyR4Vp4Rr3_H69FUyE01rq_kA/s1600/13874660_10207323998199787_998472658_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyJpZXmTRTMCdAltKW-AjQtqO2RgrVgDmbgC8M1vnVw1q-pDJhjid67oSTkX8LzAHMDIzz5uyWLV0lVOC6VQCDJn62A_5QgMwVmZ-jM1s6lc8arCka8AnyR4Vp4Rr3_H69FUyE01rq_kA/s320/13874660_10207323998199787_998472658_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt, enjoying his dinner ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The next day, we drove a bit so see Banff national park. Banff is ridiculously pretty. We had a lot of fun taking pictures and seeing some of the more famous areas.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZDR6AWyEJ0wokqjPbMYmJiBDG1xud9AF7aN-m_D-mTFSX8J0rIaisBhYZc7sgg79Xp1QnpZRofudWl5WsINmNS7o75gufmJD0ugRkcfwvfAkGfzmJ0Q9S7uECLQzHZI18PuQYBLeQvDd/s1600/13664789_10207323998519795_1652441743_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZDR6AWyEJ0wokqjPbMYmJiBDG1xud9AF7aN-m_D-mTFSX8J0rIaisBhYZc7sgg79Xp1QnpZRofudWl5WsINmNS7o75gufmJD0ugRkcfwvfAkGfzmJ0Q9S7uECLQzHZI18PuQYBLeQvDd/s400/13664789_10207323998519795_1652441743_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-6CcIzIGDkmLgaibIr0O1yM5zmX_rMAqOkTXo80ONwFTLAnbl2F11NShRWG1iIrtsHA5wi-Rtonjp8J9mI2d4hI7jjGhyphenhyphenAJAogpSS-cE-ZHZH4DxS8-lbPtx5VSbInhAz9wywCUnw_Ik/s1600/13672398_10207323998359791_1416744683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-6CcIzIGDkmLgaibIr0O1yM5zmX_rMAqOkTXo80ONwFTLAnbl2F11NShRWG1iIrtsHA5wi-Rtonjp8J9mI2d4hI7jjGhyphenhyphenAJAogpSS-cE-ZHZH4DxS8-lbPtx5VSbInhAz9wywCUnw_Ik/s400/13672398_10207323998359791_1416744683_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lakes were so blue they looked almost fake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdmKKQDIv20jjyyryBiSuoH_dbi7UQCEZ_fYuOkBHdPJVlHl8TTI6mQNqPmabgwJk_UCKm99943pWxsBRSuaCdMSCFmh28Jl0js3jS158H7NVspxY856bmDS05btno0k8ULa-wzOuOd7Y/s1600/13872327_10207323998959806_1693956552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdmKKQDIv20jjyyryBiSuoH_dbi7UQCEZ_fYuOkBHdPJVlHl8TTI6mQNqPmabgwJk_UCKm99943pWxsBRSuaCdMSCFmh28Jl0js3jS158H7NVspxY856bmDS05btno0k8ULa-wzOuOd7Y/s400/13872327_10207323998959806_1693956552_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAD to take Bae for a ride in Banff!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH6JsS49Rr0xb08c0f-ECI57yvK0PEhd4LP88AEfsJto9ii-F76_hBO58lw6bM_gTJJncpKrRTom4szcR96_1L4CrWmsmXaanTMnzx1jWADJdgPP52D6uTsDsgTIWd5Nm3BWuedz5x7QS/s1600/13874582_10207323999839828_1539262353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH6JsS49Rr0xb08c0f-ECI57yvK0PEhd4LP88AEfsJto9ii-F76_hBO58lw6bM_gTJJncpKrRTom4szcR96_1L4CrWmsmXaanTMnzx1jWADJdgPP52D6uTsDsgTIWd5Nm3BWuedz5x7QS/s400/13874582_10207323999839828_1539262353_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One thing that is really awesome about
triathlon is that there is always something you want to work on. I’m very happy
with the outcome of this race and my season so far. I feel that I’ve raced very
consistently and enjoyed each opportunity. Still, there are several areas that
I know Mace and I will want to work on. There aren’t any quick fixes and this
will take time and consistent hard work to improve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Massive thank you to the CSU Tri crew
(and alum) Tori, Sierra, Matt (thanks for organizing the house), Ryan, Steph,
and Erik for a great weekend. Congrats to all of you on your races!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you to <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Mace</a> for outlining the
training and guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you to Brent Phinney at <a href="http://windsorvisionsource.com/" target="_blank">WindsorEye Care and Vision Center</a> for helping my brother out this past weekend when he
scraped his cornea. If you ever have any vision needs, please check out Brent.
Not only is he great at what he does, but, being a triathlete, he understands
athletes and is incredibly friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you to <a href="http://envecomposites.com/" target="_blank">Enve </a>for making sweet
wheels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Roka </a>for unleashing the
Maverick X, check out their new run gear! If it’s anything like the cycling
bibs, you’ll probably never take the shorts off…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you to Patrick at <a href="http://www.rockymountainmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Rocky MountainMultisport</a> for always helping me out with Bae and the drama we sometimes run into.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you to <a href="http://greeneventscolorado.com/" target="_blank">Green Events </a>for putting on
the Horsetooth Tri Training series. I look forward to the events every
Wednesday and love that I can count on a no-pressure, fun training session
every week that lets me practice important triathlon skills.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you to <a href="http://www.nocoendurancecenter.com/" target="_blank">NoCo Endurance Center</a> for providing an excellent environment for quality indoor training!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Up next, I’ll be taking some time to recover
and focus on training. I’m also really looking forward to cheering on Rachael and
several other friends as they take on IM Boulder August 7<sup>th</sup>! Look
for the Mantell brothers on that first hill, encouraging 500+ watt surges ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYcCg1zY02MMkgvFdGQsoL3WcZrU3Cy9AaGVnU5CwJCQD3UpoyW4so9Ggt2mL9A5gqw8O-Kpw-fyLWmmDh701ebx2SLaqX5EUmzqMN-7WUXqeZFtge6sKFOaaEADv_FO708MdJV-Z2SYa/s1600/cheering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYcCg1zY02MMkgvFdGQsoL3WcZrU3Cy9AaGVnU5CwJCQD3UpoyW4so9Ggt2mL9A5gqw8O-Kpw-fyLWmmDh701ebx2SLaqX5EUmzqMN-7WUXqeZFtge6sKFOaaEADv_FO708MdJV-Z2SYa/s400/cheering.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IM Boulder hill #1 KOM sprint...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Please do not hesitate to reach out if
you have any questions about Calgary 70.3, Banff, triathlon, or how many
blended iced mochas I got from Tim Hortons while in Canada. If your racing
Boulder, send me your name and (bib) number and we’ll be sure to yell at you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">You can follow me on social media<span style="background-color: white;">:</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevemantell37/?fref=ts" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">Facebook</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/steve_mantell" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">Twitter</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> : @steve_mantell, </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevemantell37/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">Instagram</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> : @stevemantell37, </span><a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">Strava</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">, Snapchat: stevemantell37 </span></span></div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-1494793119195492072016-07-12T16:02:00.001-07:002016-07-13T13:42:04.736-07:00Vineman 70.3 (travel craziness edition)<div style="text-align: center;">
Vineman 70.3 is a race I've been looking forward to for a long time. After Boulder 70.3 we incorporated some unstructured training then began working on some focused run power and speed. This included racing a local olympic distance race, Loveland Lake to Lake, and a local 5k. </div>
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Vineman is know for a few things...a beautiful course and very fast competition for pros and AG'ers. This year, the start list was filled with legends like Craig Alexander, Tterenzo Bozzone, Ben Hoffman, Tim Reed, and Andy Potts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_WYr_9lAT899jZ1KUXAVLEFKcvK-QI3-34jB4MNtc1K3qI8I_dPrZB4LD-FPslvfDUp376PUUT1wTxS9mCWuzCmvymuwKkOciRWraUiFTxdNAmR8MYuOxlrTFVT01wE8bmJDlP6E6ubn/s1600/crowie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_WYr_9lAT899jZ1KUXAVLEFKcvK-QI3-34jB4MNtc1K3qI8I_dPrZB4LD-FPslvfDUp376PUUT1wTxS9mCWuzCmvymuwKkOciRWraUiFTxdNAmR8MYuOxlrTFVT01wE8bmJDlP6E6ubn/s320/crowie.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowie = stud</td></tr>
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Leading up to the race, a lot of my time was spent working. The days and weeks leading up were a bit more stressful than usual. The Tuesday before the race, I successfully defended my thesis. While submitting my thesis Thursday evening on 1% batter life, my computer died. I ended up borrowing my roommate's computer to finish the submission. The deadline to submit the document was Friday at 12 pm. Our flight left at 6:20 am. And my laptop's charging cable had crapped out earlier in the week - leaving me computerless (#firstworldproblems) and unable to fix any potential formatting issues. </div>
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Packing for the weekend began on Thursday. Trying to save space for snacks, I loaded my checked bag with all of my clothes and the small parts from Bae's (my bike's) front end. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOAF8IYjSv4IdB9xAkeEb6Mrat1IY1SPe6hS6emOqokZkJe0vc3imbm45Z8eIhXcFTP3rqrl1JjT-PYCGDlyKjyf8k3nVx-2Y5NJF5K1fd0Azgz4IAL6rXAtY3ODYCR5xRWjHK8r52GdN/s1600/passangerserviceagent_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOAF8IYjSv4IdB9xAkeEb6Mrat1IY1SPe6hS6emOqokZkJe0vc3imbm45Z8eIhXcFTP3rqrl1JjT-PYCGDlyKjyf8k3nVx-2Y5NJF5K1fd0Azgz4IAL6rXAtY3ODYCR5xRWjHK8r52GdN/s320/passangerserviceagent_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks like she knows something I don't...</td></tr>
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Rachael and I's travel to California began at 3:30 am Friday. Half asleep, we checked the bike box and a rolling bag. We arrived at SFO tired and hungry. At the baggage claim, I retrieved the bike box. Slowly, all the bags disappeared from the carousel. The rolling bag had not made it. The "agent" casually told us our bag must have been lost. I'm not going to name the airline but the first part is "front" and the end rhymes with "pier." Ok, no big deal. According to the airline, they would "likely" deliver it to us later that night as there were two flights from Denver that evening. Even better, they would call us when it had made it to SFO and was being sent out for delivery. When we asked if the bag was still in Denver, no one was able to tell us. I was relatively relaxed about the whole deal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsbCgvsa_v_He7aNEp4xRKaYPBMUcpIXpvBcz6P5LA3SEbJbnto8GKgDZ34T9Ezhm5X7fMPjNCGUalQEX2gP47MPuN1Vo6-YPyZsbLcBPYGDCdGz_7xrFoPlhB9ZBYLbkiGPkcDtYcuzP/s1600/muffin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsbCgvsa_v_He7aNEp4xRKaYPBMUcpIXpvBcz6P5LA3SEbJbnto8GKgDZ34T9Ezhm5X7fMPjNCGUalQEX2gP47MPuN1Vo6-YPyZsbLcBPYGDCdGz_7xrFoPlhB9ZBYLbkiGPkcDtYcuzP/s320/muffin.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You MUST watch this SNL skit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOSCASqLsE" target="_blank">video </a></td></tr>
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We headed off to get coffee and a muffin ^^^ and waited to meet Matt Miller from BASE Performance for a ride. To add additional stress, renting a car would have been ridiculously expensive as we are both under 25. Though we had a home stay, the family was leaving for vacation the next day so we could not depend on rides from them for most of the weekend.<br />
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The remainder of the day, we drove up to the race expo, helped Matt set up, worked the BASE tent, and talked with other booths. Late in the afternoon, our home stay was able to come pick us up. On the way, I realized the rolling bag had all of my run clothes (#rookiemistake). We stopped at Kohl's and I grabbed a pair of $12 FILA basketball shorts I could run in. Boom!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh9gXLoMLUEK9x3o_Zzn4bRG5LBYiD73yK9T7_wbDvZyZRMjUBr4T_fnZ2swfwGbDfDCQEMugSOSi6IJYC9R1gD7-FNa0_8_QD3HUYV_hlJmr2HfB13cn8qyukDZh4yp8uQ790Z3w1n4x/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh9gXLoMLUEK9x3o_Zzn4bRG5LBYiD73yK9T7_wbDvZyZRMjUBr4T_fnZ2swfwGbDfDCQEMugSOSi6IJYC9R1gD7-FNa0_8_QD3HUYV_hlJmr2HfB13cn8qyukDZh4yp8uQ790Z3w1n4x/s320/download.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#sponsorship?... just kidding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeSR9x0h2e3TBP72jyeoagnb7XohN11xZdT0y1hMfRDqfYSm4NG54cTWTIGeH7oW4ChDgfrb4VVGeJEuj-I5tjK_PIFD9prp5xg5ZnUreKZdUYd8SxYjGK3R1yJnLB34BwLMRMH2NxkX7/s1600/13664834_10209785175769150_1629144353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeSR9x0h2e3TBP72jyeoagnb7XohN11xZdT0y1hMfRDqfYSm4NG54cTWTIGeH7oW4ChDgfrb4VVGeJEuj-I5tjK_PIFD9prp5xg5ZnUreKZdUYd8SxYjGK3R1yJnLB34BwLMRMH2NxkX7/s400/13664834_10209785175769150_1629144353_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped at Trader Joe's to pick up groceries for the next few days.</td></tr>
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We made it to the house with plenty of daylight left. Wearing my one pair of socks, my only shirt, and my $12 FILA shorts I went for a run. It was great to move again. Later, we made a big salad with couscous for dinner. Neither of us were too worried about the missing bag just yet. Eventually, the arrival time for the Denver flights came and went. We still had not received any notification from the airline. Rachael reassured me that this wasn't unheard of and they would probably just drop it at the front door at some point over night. Then we realized, they had never even asked for the address.<br />
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Saturday morning (the day before the race), no bag. And no call. Still, we weren't stressing. It was early in the morning. I knew our day could become devoted to tracking down this bag and so I wanted to get a workout in. I started rummaging through my bag, looking for swim gear. I had goggles, wetsuit, and swimskin, but no swimsuit or tri shorts. I grabbed my $12 FILA basketball shorts and went with David to the pool.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNrOR4-fuf2P5TziCqEjyGHhW1XIEddM6MLM82kGfKPnucaxiTNp8BbbfRh7A3Hr0Zjl_8C5kP3zjmdAQwr3TkCo8egtEelqe_lulJCfJ7SJK8r2Kd2-snpOBVMpnlVj-8KuDaehOsy4f/s1600/board+shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNrOR4-fuf2P5TziCqEjyGHhW1XIEddM6MLM82kGfKPnucaxiTNp8BbbfRh7A3Hr0Zjl_8C5kP3zjmdAQwr3TkCo8egtEelqe_lulJCfJ7SJK8r2Kd2-snpOBVMpnlVj-8KuDaehOsy4f/s320/board+shorts.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No joke what I used to swim in...</td></tr>
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Post-swim, I informed Mace on what was developing. I said that we weren't freaking out but we were going to get the ball rolling to figure out other options for race gear - mostly a bike and kit. One Facebook post from Rachael's friend, Heather, and all of a sudden, people had reached out to offer up gear.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4M1lj1aoiLnlPkdqnUrVp87yn0FCDCfMl1EEkXuUeAU9h2ORSCYWUc7IZxVHCNWxW9Ivp0O2GAcP-icVAcQaObhwL1t_H9_0C2JE_6ROkugNuG9pJ11LoUMSqOIAqmJVhYeAHHdzTUbu/s1600/People-Are-Awesome.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4M1lj1aoiLnlPkdqnUrVp87yn0FCDCfMl1EEkXuUeAU9h2ORSCYWUc7IZxVHCNWxW9Ivp0O2GAcP-icVAcQaObhwL1t_H9_0C2JE_6ROkugNuG9pJ11LoUMSqOIAqmJVhYeAHHdzTUbu/s400/People-Are-Awesome.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except for the airline "agents" tracking down our bag - not so awesome</td></tr>
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A quick phone call told us a Felt IA 10 (an incredible substitute for Bae) down San Fransisco was available for me to use. We packed snacks, convinced Matt to let us borrow the car, and drove to pick up the bike. Throughout the day, one of us was constantly calling the airline. While one of us was on hold, the other's call would drop, or the "agent" would not have an update. While it was frustrating to still not know about the missing bag with less than 15 hours before the race, I took comfort in knowing that we were making all the moves we could to allow me to race. Finally, the airline said the bag had made it to SFO and it would be delivered sometime in the next 4-6 hours. That timeline put the bag arriving, at the earliest, around 3 pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sWu-kdMMJ35bcGrIvoHkSh0rftF7ZEZ_kWnhfqixPb2m5eE4LGOGbtJUoiFFjrmgDfvjXW3zZl1ft4w0m57G0eOJCjIOmsJkVQGYz70rRidqGG7wE5Vr-z_mANOjgf1x9ZlMvIqoiitE/s1600/13652865_10207210227435589_2052701326_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sWu-kdMMJ35bcGrIvoHkSh0rftF7ZEZ_kWnhfqixPb2m5eE4LGOGbtJUoiFFjrmgDfvjXW3zZl1ft4w0m57G0eOJCjIOmsJkVQGYz70rRidqGG7wE5Vr-z_mANOjgf1x9ZlMvIqoiitE/s320/13652865_10207210227435589_2052701326_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving across the golden gate bridge to retrieve the bike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Go-_Bg2UKEroQc4fS8z9zFCBOxHWASuQhQ37d7Q9PmMx_KOK-pEYr4eOOcezO85x-S-ElnBwL_ufEM6ydTFHTmDtFo2QKctCrHq96Je4oANl7_D5ffxcLHLKL10STITmB7iQpW93e7D/s1600/13672064_10207210227515591_964663102_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Go-_Bg2UKEroQc4fS8z9zFCBOxHWASuQhQ37d7Q9PmMx_KOK-pEYr4eOOcezO85x-S-ElnBwL_ufEM6ydTFHTmDtFo2QKctCrHq96Je4oANl7_D5ffxcLHLKL10STITmB7iQpW93e7D/s400/13672064_10207210227515591_964663102_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was stoked to have a usable bike, let alone the IA 10!</td></tr>
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Despite our troubles with the airline, everything else was coming together. The bike was my size. It even had shoes and pedals I could use in case the checked bag never showed. After a quick coffee stop, we made it to the pro meeting - only 5 minutes late! The meeting was probably the most relaxing part of the day. For 30 minutes, I was able to sit in a cold, dark room, listening to logistics and rules for the next morning's race. The bag, bike, and lack of clothes, all out of my control.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzOwswmkm8axa7ivPIs-ITbGRg2H-fj03kxWRQ6tMEMLLADjuja50_jstcsKI6jiUmkRNsd81DIhoz079UN7wJ4K2PHmiYzTMvUMbmtg4dtSfLTv6uMlhSpQ9NGYjE53xjhHSrs6Hn5W2/s1600/13652834_10209785175049132_751002226_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzOwswmkm8axa7ivPIs-ITbGRg2H-fj03kxWRQ6tMEMLLADjuja50_jstcsKI6jiUmkRNsd81DIhoz079UN7wJ4K2PHmiYzTMvUMbmtg4dtSfLTv6uMlhSpQ9NGYjE53xjhHSrs6Hn5W2/s320/13652834_10209785175049132_751002226_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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Back outside, the Clif Bar tent took pity on me. They gave me enough bloks and gels for the race as well as a few of their new nut butter stuffed bars. #win<br />
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Frantically, I got my run nutrition ready, and peeled off my one pair of socks. I stuffed all my run gear in my race bag (race shoes had been packed in my bike box #gofigure) and we headed back to the house fingers crossed. No bag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8IRakTnID8MgQkMsROkd_yBxiZWbZGR2bgaXOvPwLkpNpc37TRWcI3Dcfe-7lTPBV6Raazhg205hPzy3gOTj2yJogEW_-20qwZNmQlMedIjwO0XAz_qCy-6Lv_glCO1cGnAFP4wTXlBB/s1600/confused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8IRakTnID8MgQkMsROkd_yBxiZWbZGR2bgaXOvPwLkpNpc37TRWcI3Dcfe-7lTPBV6Raazhg205hPzy3gOTj2yJogEW_-20qwZNmQlMedIjwO0XAz_qCy-6Lv_glCO1cGnAFP4wTXlBB/s320/confused.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My face when the bag STILL hasn't shown up</td></tr>
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Inside the garage, we got to work on the Felt. I took some rough measurements for seat height and reach. I quickly took my saddle off Bae and tightened it to the Felt. We stuck the new bike on a trainer to adjust a bit more. I rode it up and down the driveway a few times and declared the bike good to go with less than 1 mile ridden on the road. 3:45 pm. We had less than 15 minutes to get the new bike to T1.<br />
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We made it back to the house around 5 pm having been on-the-go all day since 8:30 am. Sockless and shirtless, I did another short shakeout run. At some point during our endless calls, the not-so-awesome people had said the bag should show up around 8-10 pm. We were losing hope it would ever show up. Awesome people stepped up. Team Every Man Jack found me a kit to wear and a ride for the morning. While I prepared my bottles and nutrition for the race, we laughed at how crazy the race lead-up had become. With my bike and run Garmin devices in the lost bag, I'd have zero way quantifying effort. The more specific strategy Mace and I had been working on had been thrown out the window.<br />
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<b>Race morning</b><br />
When I woke up at 3:30 for an MBK run, I checked the front door. The bag had arrived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaop-7sTAwqoSx5l32mj8FlR1RFiJO96oaqgP4EU5JDWvMKx_SYPgZeR6S1XVfmW2djWH63R7_ZC5GoUR870PJ4KS1Kvg0gzBOVHNQYzHXmM28rKC2VonnkejjQaFBYqmvXaXSmYKIeSD/s1600/fpdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaop-7sTAwqoSx5l32mj8FlR1RFiJO96oaqgP4EU5JDWvMKx_SYPgZeR6S1XVfmW2djWH63R7_ZC5GoUR870PJ4KS1Kvg0gzBOVHNQYzHXmM28rKC2VonnkejjQaFBYqmvXaXSmYKIeSD/s400/fpdog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the bag finally shows up at 3 am...</td></tr>
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I cried with joy as I put on REAL running shorts. While running, I tried to devise a new strategy for how to handle the situation. I could now race in my own kit and also monitor heart rate for the bike. After some oatmeal, I threw together a morning gear bag. I included my own pedals and shoes as well as a new pair of socks to transport in the storage compartment to T2.<br />
<br />
We arrived at transition with plenty of time. I quickly swapped out pedals, removed a bottle cage, and got nutrition ready. Water temp was too high for pros to wear wetsuits so after a quick warm-up jog, I put on my Roka swimskin. After saying one last "by" and "thank you" to Rachael and Heather, I made my way to the river for the swim start. After all the moving pieces the past few days, I was happy to make it to the start line knowing I could race.<br />
<br />
<b>Swim</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-BLXZotnNt1B1mPPW9CGy6xSgSg_hZWHpdytCXMNnTEU983l5ofXU5Ea4HTyw1q0qxwqbhwisyPsOG4JKNX2LbfYQ_ZjI-c5BlJeB1Jl5_7i377cOQ5DmZNBn3YDyFSDNVSxwHjuLTTj/s1600/swim+course.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-BLXZotnNt1B1mPPW9CGy6xSgSg_hZWHpdytCXMNnTEU983l5ofXU5Ea4HTyw1q0qxwqbhwisyPsOG4JKNX2LbfYQ_ZjI-c5BlJeB1Jl5_7i377cOQ5DmZNBn3YDyFSDNVSxwHjuLTTj/s320/swim+course.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwn2WfI0lAPJl4GqKMDKzBnd_nxmp34KQbIK5w0SLj8ZkuNz4BJakpBr9mmFlGT3tiyzr6AXUBT89JfjDeF-utMvUeDgYF9XxJHrVFVkNY_TlGBTLcudTeLEt-_piVAI2wF0g7FzOMwsz3/s1600/JG_Ironman_Vineman_70_3_20160710_0122-600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwn2WfI0lAPJl4GqKMDKzBnd_nxmp34KQbIK5w0SLj8ZkuNz4BJakpBr9mmFlGT3tiyzr6AXUBT89JfjDeF-utMvUeDgYF9XxJHrVFVkNY_TlGBTLcudTeLEt-_piVAI2wF0g7FzOMwsz3/s400/JG_Ironman_Vineman_70_3_20160710_0122-600x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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After a short swim warm-up and 10 second countdown, we were off. On the right side, I put my head down and swam hard for a few strokes without much contact. Someone on my outside was quickly converging so I crossed over to find free space. A few minutes in, I was swimming hard and knew I was part of a large group.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4cvDNnKco0Y9cnJwtIju-kONRQWtASmV56VHlyuixvaZo4r2gyL7C0Gc6eia8rCH-5fzgUSEdYr76VUs2Gk5pVtnBsP48Bz41GRUXqD012vj7niFb3UTorWKCegl-uaNana64GR0wZMV/s1600/13644306_10207210227875600_1291284963_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4cvDNnKco0Y9cnJwtIju-kONRQWtASmV56VHlyuixvaZo4r2gyL7C0Gc6eia8rCH-5fzgUSEdYr76VUs2Gk5pVtnBsP48Bz41GRUXqD012vj7niFb3UTorWKCegl-uaNana64GR0wZMV/s400/13644306_10207210227875600_1291284963_n.jpg" width="223" /></a><br />
<br />
The group eventually strung out into two lines. People to my right were dropping off the pace. A little before the swim's halfway point and in the left line, the guy in front of me started merging over. I increased my effort to try and cover the move. I kept making myself swim hard by saying "just 10 more seconds" to try and catch back on. As we reached the turnaround, they'd swam away. I wasn't sure of who was in that group but I was hoping that people were still swimming around me and that I could use them for pacing on the bike.<br />
<br />
The river was very shallow at the turnaround and I stood up for a few dolphin dives. I could see the group ahead of me and estimated they had about :40-1:00 on me. On the way back, I pushed the disappointment at being dropped out of my head. Happy to be racing, I swam hard to try and minimize how much time I'd lose. It was hard not to enjoy the endless trees surrounding the river. Nearing the swim exit, I dolphin dived a few more times before standing up and running into transition.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW537WeTvqtVGCYwlwDDFEv-AZDsOgCvboO0tr9iW0aPARzGXYRqHME-8sTo17p65vaxsOd8e_4IaN2jug0Cjz2UJ5QMP1D5qV9IiGP2w5yxlfTtS15Bi9K7if7P0s396icx04lJ4G0LA/s1600/13644247_10207210228595618_711928451_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW537WeTvqtVGCYwlwDDFEv-AZDsOgCvboO0tr9iW0aPARzGXYRqHME-8sTo17p65vaxsOd8e_4IaN2jug0Cjz2UJ5QMP1D5qV9IiGP2w5yxlfTtS15Bi9K7if7P0s396icx04lJ4G0LA/s400/13644247_10207210228595618_711928451_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I threw on my helmet and sunglasses, then ran uphill out of transition.<br />
<br />
<b>Bike</b><br />
After mounting, only one guy was in sight. I immediately set to work, pushing the Felt hard. Coming out of the water, I had no idea how far down I was from the group. I knew that the guys in front of me would set a ridiculous pace for the first 45 minutes and I'd have to work even harder if I had any hopes of catching them.<br />
<br />
The course at Vineman is very windy and rarely are you able to see more than a few hundred feet in front of you. I definitely think this was a disadvantage for me. Not knowing the course, and without anyone to ride with, I wasn't sure where to slow down. Being on a bike that I'd ridden less than a mile, I also took turns very conservatively. The first 45 minutes or so I stayed positive. I knew I was riding hard as my heart rate was high. I kept reminding myself that the group could be just out of sight. It's much easier to push yourself when you see a group up ahead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKcG6sT0wT89gWAuMqphU3Vmf5OPyOieILWPbHskVzsJfB24TtJFSF3wmz0L2YDilAqnE8XAHvdXvptSa_1Y0bwSdIBePI-KC-UHxEjN39_92wnSth60bhcRy2pr9oHutz6s4ECST7kjf/s1600/bike+file.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKcG6sT0wT89gWAuMqphU3Vmf5OPyOieILWPbHskVzsJfB24TtJFSF3wmz0L2YDilAqnE8XAHvdXvptSa_1Y0bwSdIBePI-KC-UHxEjN39_92wnSth60bhcRy2pr9oHutz6s4ECST7kjf/s400/bike+file.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After 5 miles, I knew I'd be able to finish the ride. While it might not have been the most ideal ride in terms of speed and bike familiarity, I did everything I could to make the most of it. I made sure to stay on top of hydration and nutrition. Taking in calories and liquids at regular intervals. I was still in control of my run and so I wanted to set myself up well.<br />
<br />
The bike course at Vineman is very pretty. We rode through forests and around vineyards. The roads are undulating and make it hard to settle into a rhythm. Constantly shifting, I had a new appreciation for the Di2 on the borrowed bike. Literally, so spoiled! On one particularly rough section of road, the top flap on the top tube storage unit became dislodged and flew off. A few minutes later, one of my #fresh running socks I was transporting to T2 flew out as well. Thankfully, most of my shot blocks remained inside the compartment.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IvTHAM3oKwAeVJ86qpObwwbc2Jr_8x6P5owszo2qzo5lY-ZwSDV2ifg5jjmCmyfSKtc2Pb9X0kg1OGApzKMRTtyvlc3ssmSxsx9jFSQ7A4s1Kb9T0xTJbv7gJwBcxeJdxRNWjEaKtOAX/s1600/vineman+bike+course.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IvTHAM3oKwAeVJ86qpObwwbc2Jr_8x6P5owszo2qzo5lY-ZwSDV2ifg5jjmCmyfSKtc2Pb9X0kg1OGApzKMRTtyvlc3ssmSxsx9jFSQ7A4s1Kb9T0xTJbv7gJwBcxeJdxRNWjEaKtOAX/s400/vineman+bike+course.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then second half of the bike I dialed back my pursuit. Still riding, I was picking off a few athletes but I knew the likes of Ben Hoffman and Matt Lieto, people I'd hoped to ride with, were not going to be caught. I rode strong, made sure to not crash on turns, and took in the views.<br />
<br />
Nearing transition, I saw the leaders heading out on the run. A group of 5 or so were running together. I steered my way up on the sidewalk to transition and got ready to run.<br />
<br />
<b>Run</b><br />
Socks and shoes on, I ran out of transition. My goal for the run was to be more aggressive in the first half. With that being said, I didn't want to completely tank the last few miles. I tried to have a quick turn over and transition from biking to running mode. I had started my regular watch so I could estimate my pace by checking every few miles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfi2Gin77yl4_z3B7i74fJGCpYV9P3GFqcaTfWYBuKU2KvGKdnEVD4km2tswsvMq8nAkDgUsyjI7FKz3NdOilvW9p2UoAOCE3tiay3PULbNS1nOQs0WSSq2Wxj81trkHs_O-CcDNnMiCn/s1600/13644312_10207210228075605_768560146_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfi2Gin77yl4_z3B7i74fJGCpYV9P3GFqcaTfWYBuKU2KvGKdnEVD4km2tswsvMq8nAkDgUsyjI7FKz3NdOilvW9p2UoAOCE3tiay3PULbNS1nOQs0WSSq2Wxj81trkHs_O-CcDNnMiCn/s400/13644312_10207210228075605_768560146_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
The first two miles felt good! My stomach was right and my legs were moving well. I went through 2 miles in a little under 12 minutes. I took in some calories and fluids at each aid station but maintained a good pace. A few minutes later, I could see two people up ahead. I was motivated and believed I could catch them but didn't want to burn all my matches in the first 4 miles.<br />
<br />
The first half of the run course had a good amount of shade. The short hills and frequent turns kept things interesting. Going up a hill, I worked my way past one guy. Around the half way point, the course runs through a vineyard. The change in running surface was welcomed. Heading into the vineyard, I saw some of the leaders heading out. Running through the vineyard was really cool and reminded me of running the crushed rock trails in Fort Collins. I tried to relax, and get my breathing under control before heading out of the vineyard for the last 6 miles. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrGOiGkEdCWdIc-Vcm1gk-GNKPW7LAV2GbM7oozOwODj7ueSUsOqTzxuqd7Hns9WwkLiM3bW61NlqSwjcPHICBTAbWqqkMAidg2T0VsjqQgbPtwUTTCsjkfzhRwLA7quHdSFzctPSJDuv/s1600/vineman+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrGOiGkEdCWdIc-Vcm1gk-GNKPW7LAV2GbM7oozOwODj7ueSUsOqTzxuqd7Hns9WwkLiM3bW61NlqSwjcPHICBTAbWqqkMAidg2T0VsjqQgbPtwUTTCsjkfzhRwLA7quHdSFzctPSJDuv/s320/vineman+run.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vineman run course</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finished my nutrition (2 gels) about 7 miles into the run then started in on the Coke and Red Bull. After a few aid stations, my stomach got the message and I tried to up my pace. On the short out and back I was running in 9th. I didn't seem to be making much time up on Matt Lieto. Behind me, a guy I didn't recognize was moving well. 4 miles to go and I continued to push, focusing on making it to the next aid station. The sun and lack of shade was making the run hot. The guy from behind passed me around mile 10.5 but I committed to try and keep my 10th place spot.<br />
<br />
The high school came into view and I did a quick shoulder glance to see if I was being chased down. With no one in sight I pushed hard and enjoyed the finish.<br />
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<br />
I took my time to walk around a bit after the race before heading to the food tent. I made myself eat some real food to try and get the recovery process started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ve6JrbsUGD7WZd33r2mvLTcF6QI1wh1lAmnNJkwTkhRzBgD0ErzECvV1snukur3xWI44Rvy-Cy34XrJroJC0zGTZ4zwh_Nh3x4yPEwupPhCuTuQLQpkN1Ebl9SaFZC3L67zJlyHu6BM0/s1600/13652540_10207210228355612_1647102243_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ve6JrbsUGD7WZd33r2mvLTcF6QI1wh1lAmnNJkwTkhRzBgD0ErzECvV1snukur3xWI44Rvy-Cy34XrJroJC0zGTZ4zwh_Nh3x4yPEwupPhCuTuQLQpkN1Ebl9SaFZC3L67zJlyHu6BM0/s400/13652540_10207210228355612_1647102243_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ccFhJEG2lrKtRUOiCYCTVmHiIYqvQREXAQtE5U_W5R9vLsVHhZOb86wMfVDVfUh9EKY2rv977Vz7ooiIGnkkhUfmK0CgI9T_CJLWMI4m0mfqHpdgqQfr24mwyB4NnifebJluURqnruS2/s1600/13672616_10209785175729149_1555837215_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ccFhJEG2lrKtRUOiCYCTVmHiIYqvQREXAQtE5U_W5R9vLsVHhZOb86wMfVDVfUh9EKY2rv977Vz7ooiIGnkkhUfmK0CgI9T_CJLWMI4m0mfqHpdgqQfr24mwyB4NnifebJluURqnruS2/s400/13672616_10209785175729149_1555837215_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
We quickly transitioned to "go" mode again. After a quick clean-up at the house, we headed back towards San Francisco. Heather drove us to her place in Sausalito and took us to some amazing trails and a terrific pizza place. With a flight at 6:20 am the next day, we were up again at 3:30 am, making our bodies go but appreciating the journey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7adLizBARLcT5y-1gxwv1Y9EcdROS2PifMOSousfvyv-b-LFLZ-j4-31UzGUdw1Ne6KfsgSg9dkFlzDf-_9uKyj53wSH4UVNEmFE694DYs85XuxWmUfFnmwS4sLyKFTLbtwd-0eW1oCi/s1600/13649428_10207210228675620_1233176343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7adLizBARLcT5y-1gxwv1Y9EcdROS2PifMOSousfvyv-b-LFLZ-j4-31UzGUdw1Ne6KfsgSg9dkFlzDf-_9uKyj53wSH4UVNEmFE694DYs85XuxWmUfFnmwS4sLyKFTLbtwd-0eW1oCi/s400/13649428_10207210228675620_1233176343_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So many people made this race on many different levels...<br />
<br />
Thank you to Windsor Eye Care and Vision Center for making this trip possible.<br />
<br />
Coach Mace, thanks for outlining the training and being flexible with my school deadlines.<br />
<br />
PJ! Thanks for letting me use your new bike. That Felt was sweet. Maybe I'll just "forget" to bring my bike to races from now on...<br />
<br />
David, thank you for opening up your home to us and showing us around the course. I hope to be back in the future!<br />
<br />
Rachael, thanks for coming along, consistently calling the "agents", and being a great supporter!<br />
<br />
Thanks to CSU Tri, NoCo Endurance Center, NoCo Tri Club, and Green Events for offering a great training atmosphere in Fort Collins. And thank you to Patrick at Rocky Mountain Multisport for always taking care of Bae and I!<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who followed along via snapchat/instagram/facebook and selflessly offered their gear or support. It was so awesome hearing from all of you. If you're ever in a pinch, just ask. Most people are awesome and want to help!<br />
<br />
Up next, I'm trying to work out the details for Calgary 70.3. A solid group is going from Fort Collins and I'd like to race again soon.<br />
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<br />
Thanks for reading and have a great day!<br />
<br />
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-11522351352082502202016-06-14T22:34:00.002-07:002016-06-14T22:48:19.908-07:00Boulder 70.3 - take 5<div style="text-align: center;">
This past weekend I raced Boulder 70.3, a race I’ve done 5 years in a row. Boulder is an hour drive away, making it a very convenient race. My brother, who is living in Fort Collins for the summer, was also racing. Our parents came out to watch us race before beginning a camping/bike trip through the mountains!</div>
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Boulder 70.3 attracts a lot of competition each year because of the prize purse and location. Coach Mace and I planned the first half of this season to target Boulder 70.3. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICV6mbQa9sSPTSPRmtTW0GKFR6G2BKgIDyusY4ACwQanX48F1C586Q6hY70ChUbICL9D81LFl5fsBUZfIjUbUB370A28ehRxzmEC0yfZB-i_2-F3Fb41REuNGAXyL74MQzk5nWbdgA-yN/s1600/12871486_1720161261575189_4621778818094567333_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICV6mbQa9sSPTSPRmtTW0GKFR6G2BKgIDyusY4ACwQanX48F1C586Q6hY70ChUbICL9D81LFl5fsBUZfIjUbUB370A28ehRxzmEC0yfZB-i_2-F3Fb41REuNGAXyL74MQzk5nWbdgA-yN/s400/12871486_1720161261575189_4621778818094567333_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of our cool rides, and some pictures, are on <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" target="_blank">Strava</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The lead-up for Boulder went awesome. After recovering from <a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2016/05/st-george-703.html">St. George</a>, we started a solid training block. During this time, my classes ended and Ernie moved to FoCo. We got most of the training done in the morning so I could work on my thesis later in the day. It was has been? awesome to have Ernie to train with. Most rides started with 30 minutes to 1 hr of hating life because we were so tired. We used one another and friends/training groups to get around the fatigue that the heavy training block brought.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIFrYG5V07VkmJ5RaV6deZ_ZazxP_7Plvf_MEOaR_5oNBqVed4gLEoRejzsT2nmMFDOqv5bV1bDKPEtn3jq8HkY1T53B9SZrVL71yz-sLgC7OjHQq-bEhbdkvoCrzT6_9xEyri8FCT9L2/s1600/13267889_1720161228241859_3182063191832735523_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIFrYG5V07VkmJ5RaV6deZ_ZazxP_7Plvf_MEOaR_5oNBqVed4gLEoRejzsT2nmMFDOqv5bV1bDKPEtn3jq8HkY1T53B9SZrVL71yz-sLgC7OjHQq-bEhbdkvoCrzT6_9xEyri8FCT9L2/s400/13267889_1720161228241859_3182063191832735523_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The day before the race, we got a quick pool swim in before packing up the van for Boulder. We stayed with a friend only a few miles from the reservoir, where the race started. Everything the day before took a bit longer and I got dangerously hangry. The 90 degree heat did not help.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zEQWeWj3ERUD7wm49rIe9rHll90NKN1Dhv1Tlikx-HyCjK9f49Y_ybzATxV0gOlIOoIT7_ixc5R0NCd4oRkzVpWVE6bK0o5PbMxw_xW2Pj_u6n7vLevSD5X8RGiIcRdGSASMhRJ4nY0a/s1600/hangry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zEQWeWj3ERUD7wm49rIe9rHll90NKN1Dhv1Tlikx-HyCjK9f49Y_ybzATxV0gOlIOoIT7_ixc5R0NCd4oRkzVpWVE6bK0o5PbMxw_xW2Pj_u6n7vLevSD5X8RGiIcRdGSASMhRJ4nY0a/s320/hangry.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">True</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We got our lives 10% figured out by 4:30, ate some rice cakes, pounded some electrolytes, and went to the BASE Performance dinner. We hung out, used Normatec Boots, ate, and took in the amazing views. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbwep-rEwQiOWNGtpNdtmjGvkw5LMSsfLmt3vhJr0-FoIxAoQ9KcxB6JPrFcbgTYGqUKzhLTy_ErgRcNkmhwZ7mCXzL9XcEdHVRYrWf8VWSwHfJgE5ju1JCrMu7zYEC7EhapUdZYsNm3Z/s1600/driveway.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbwep-rEwQiOWNGtpNdtmjGvkw5LMSsfLmt3vhJr0-FoIxAoQ9KcxB6JPrFcbgTYGqUKzhLTy_ErgRcNkmhwZ7mCXzL9XcEdHVRYrWf8VWSwHfJgE5ju1JCrMu7zYEC7EhapUdZYsNm3Z/s400/driveway.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow, the van made it back down the sketchiest driveway ever. The BASE dinner was in the house on the right. Up a steep, single-lane driveway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
RACE DAY</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My brother and I woke up around 4 am (7:15 race start for me). We did our MBK 15 min wake-up run, warmed up oatmeal and coffee (we’re semi-addicts now), and got stuff together. I biked over to transition and was one of the first people setting up my bike. After a good warm-up, I found Mace heading to the swim start.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The swim temperature was announced as 72.9 (F), too warm for pros to wear wet suits. This didn’t make too much of a difference for me as I’m not the weakest or strongest swimmer. I usually come out 2-3 minutes behind the front group. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SWIM</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-5_tKXA-wSLtZvzcy6FiMejp9J6sk0qsoOJqj4dd2FZ_E0Tu6Atv8jLaP2oGTn-1zFIHUCc3TsIV_HKlPq_AC2YjaeZntqm2W9J8z6VgZlCt-hdptxQFsEz1F6HMlZ_7qKLZj1IFLWa4/s1600/swim+course.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-5_tKXA-wSLtZvzcy6FiMejp9J6sk0qsoOJqj4dd2FZ_E0Tu6Atv8jLaP2oGTn-1zFIHUCc3TsIV_HKlPq_AC2YjaeZntqm2W9J8z6VgZlCt-hdptxQFsEz1F6HMlZ_7qKLZj1IFLWa4/s320/swim+course.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swim was a long rectangle with two right turns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started towards the right, close to the buoy line, and behind some fast guys. In the water, we got a 30 second warning before the cannon boomed. As soon as the cannon went, someone I knew to be a weaker swimmer to my left took off on a line right into my first stroke. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There was a lot of contact in the first couple minutes. I fought back, but also swallowed a lot of water. In hindsight, I should have started a bit further left, sprinted hard on my own line, then merged over into a group. Right now I am not a front-pack swimmer, but I trust my own speed enough to get into the appropriate group. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Bt1zFYtP_LNJpzx5JNVpJvHFJzqI3XQmFTENimKnySWI_aBDGJpITMlYpY8skdmZCOZ5xcEprrHlYoCq7nYh9vu08OKGxrjZhwr-8wb9XLEjiCPyphJ9u7W8LkWqhNufT5AGZ2Gzjgv/s1600/13410668_10154306885387710_946352534_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Bt1zFYtP_LNJpzx5JNVpJvHFJzqI3XQmFTENimKnySWI_aBDGJpITMlYpY8skdmZCOZ5xcEprrHlYoCq7nYh9vu08OKGxrjZhwr-8wb9XLEjiCPyphJ9u7W8LkWqhNufT5AGZ2Gzjgv/s400/13410668_10154306885387710_946352534_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of the swim start.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It’s hard to tell exactly when things happened but the front pack quickly split away. Near the first turn, a gap opened up in our group and a couple guys swam away, but remained in sight. I was working hard, but felt comfortable and recognized a few guys around me. Mid-way through the swim, I moved up in the group to keep swimming my own pace. I tried to close a small gap to a guy just a few seconds in front of me but wasn’t able to. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted to quit several times during the swim. Instead, I went back to focusing on form. 300 meters from exiting, I was ready for the swim to be over. Eventually we got there, and ran up the boat ramp. Running to my bike, I scared a teenage girl (volunteer), asking her to unzip my swim skin. The zipper is on the back and my flexibility is awful because I’m going through a growth spurt ;) Chris Leiferman sprinted by me to his bike and we exited transition just a few seconds from each other.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BIKE </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nutrition: 12 Clif Shot Bloks. Most margarita flavor and few wild berry (caffeine) bloks for the last 5 miles. 2 Bottles of Clif Hydration Mix. ½ bottle of Gatorade and ½ bottle of water from aid stations. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu1OndMBNa6-6jEv3eDPVQg5o1XEcidd_j2KlaW5uupN557lZiypQPGJga35o4lnAaT8VKuQJhHx44LlVJH52iNE3UGgwrMQ5YnH-WCnoEKapWjmnBnT1gIP_j6ODP-XOo9oScd6iuyKe/s1600/bike+course.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu1OndMBNa6-6jEv3eDPVQg5o1XEcidd_j2KlaW5uupN557lZiypQPGJga35o4lnAaT8VKuQJhHx44LlVJH52iNE3UGgwrMQ5YnH-WCnoEKapWjmnBnT1gIP_j6ODP-XOo9oScd6iuyKe/s400/bike+course.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Flying downhill away from transition, I tightened up my shoes and noticed the boa wire on the top of my right foot had become undone. Oh well. Out onto the first out and back, we settled into the usual suicidal pace. Chris was on a mission and I decided to do whatever I could to keep him in sight. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We ditched a few other riders who had come out of the swim with us. We could soon see a group of (~5) riding together. We caught them and Chris, thankfully, decided to let up for a bit. I took in some liquids, checked my heart rate: 176/about to explode, then realized… I HADN’T STARTED MY GARMIN! I debated whether I should completely abandon the race or start the bike over so I had data for ALL the Strava segments. Then Chris made a move… I’d had about 30 seconds of 'chill' before it was time to start trashing my legs again. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFyXIEzfwVHI5Kp-kTJ-cySp0lXeBP92g0ttIHzT-5njlQEM-cficoyys_h7LDZZqECnBIfTqF3R3NAPhpVy4LwBhKmnmZpO2CXgE1yfUFA7P0BawvrfBfvZFmZM4EnXg_0BKNBmlo-9j/s1600/13411696_1076354719118549_5003498433165411940_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFyXIEzfwVHI5Kp-kTJ-cySp0lXeBP92g0ttIHzT-5njlQEM-cficoyys_h7LDZZqECnBIfTqF3R3NAPhpVy4LwBhKmnmZpO2CXgE1yfUFA7P0BawvrfBfvZFmZM4EnXg_0BKNBmlo-9j/s640/13411696_1076354719118549_5003498433165411940_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding with Chris. (PC: Talbot Cox)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chris and I rode hard up Jay Road. I was making up a bit of ground on the slight incline and committed to making a pass when I saw a ref watching. I led us down Neva. Chris took the lead as we headed towards the uphill on Nelson. After cresting and starting the rollers on 36, Chris started pulling away from me on the downhills. I ran out of gears and spun out a few times. He quickly put 20 seconds into me as we started heading back to the reservoir. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I cried for a few seconds, sad that I’d have to pace the rest of the ride on my own but eventually set to work. The rest of the bike was fast. I tried to make myself as small as possible while still riding hard. I’d glance ahead to check for rocks or big cracks, then put my head down and pedal hard. I’d count to 10 without looking up. 15 if I was feeling ballsy. #yolo </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ77ksTN-W_hIDG-a8xu1Syq_clTzV6nG9EiPgUXNj95EBI8BwWokJ2asvRP0BPpi5iChpxUacmr2F2_ZHU13IRJXBtS47Sh_4fw0fnjIg0zy5yPScjRbL2OzvtbJ32P1ZFy3CumR7-Rd2/s1600/13411900_1076354585785229_9194703904774608701_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ77ksTN-W_hIDG-a8xu1Syq_clTzV6nG9EiPgUXNj95EBI8BwWokJ2asvRP0BPpi5iChpxUacmr2F2_ZHU13IRJXBtS47Sh_4fw0fnjIg0zy5yPScjRbL2OzvtbJ32P1ZFy3CumR7-Rd2/s640/13411900_1076354585785229_9194703904774608701_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridin' solo! (PC: Talbot Cox)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The temperature was heating up and I made sure to stick to my schedule taking in water, sports drink, and Clif Shot Bloks. The last 10 miles my legs were hurting. Michael Weiss came by me and I kept him in sight for the remainder of the ride. As we neared the end of the bike, my legs felt trashed. It was hot, and running 13 miles sounded like death. A few friends where near the bike dismount line, cheering as I headed into transition. After snapping in my Stryd running power meter, I got on all my run gear and set out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
RUN</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nutrition: I had three Clif Vanilla Energy Gels in a flask with BASE Performance salt. At each aid station I usually took in a cup of water and two cups of Gatorade. And sucked on ice occasionally.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhQe5NGbEFscSXid8YNoYVZhrgrrVXDbO_1bwy43_EMTcP_dgQTdzpOa-2ROBSTU58WoFtbyV3AfkoLSF4oVeMY3KKI_jK4QvO1xTLouaje3OAGeE95QXTDoQJ9jI2sWA2GxmBpDsgBlt/s1600/run+course.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhQe5NGbEFscSXid8YNoYVZhrgrrVXDbO_1bwy43_EMTcP_dgQTdzpOa-2ROBSTU58WoFtbyV3AfkoLSF4oVeMY3KKI_jK4QvO1xTLouaje3OAGeE95QXTDoQJ9jI2sWA2GxmBpDsgBlt/s320/run+course.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I came off the bike in 9th position (I think), and I didn’t have to pee! This scared me as I knew dehydration and lack of energy have caused me to blow up the last 2-4 miles in the past. Directly out of transition, I was able to snag only one cup of water because I was still putting on gear. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“Next aid station,” I thought. I knew getting in fluids was going to be key for me and everyone else. I came off the bike with Michael Weiss and Paul Matthews in sight. At the first aid station on the run, I slowed down, grabbing cups of water and Gatorade. The first 2 miles felt awful. Slowly, I was able to catch up to Matthews and passed him. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I ran conservatively and waited for the flatter sections to find a good rhythm. My strategy for the aid stations was working out. Every other mile I took a swig from my gel flask, washing it down with water and Gatorade. Though I slowed down, I knew it would help later on in the run. The ice was fantastic. I ran with a few cubes in my hands while most went down my tri top. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NJdh2OrfpphgdN5TF2FKgLErk8FLHlthNzq5sxLVVlz8Py2FIRSlVn4n8I9Vc-hVR88hcuJ0tCWr0CqQJ5CrZaM1xG3LrD2m76LcTQossu-LIE2QXv7MxM-y_CjZZWYO4D3wFxb-HJd2/s1600/13406756_1725251211066194_6058561283815000033_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NJdh2OrfpphgdN5TF2FKgLErk8FLHlthNzq5sxLVVlz8Py2FIRSlVn4n8I9Vc-hVR88hcuJ0tCWr0CqQJ5CrZaM1xG3LrD2m76LcTQossu-LIE2QXv7MxM-y_CjZZWYO4D3wFxb-HJd2/s400/13406756_1725251211066194_6058561283815000033_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Along the back side of the reservoir, local Boulder pros were out cheering and giving splits. Tim Don told me to “keep rolling”. Up ahead, I saw Bowstead doubled over, stretching his hamstrings. He was still a ways away. I figured if he was hurting before the halfway point he was definitely in some trouble. The stoppage was quick and he kept “rolling” quickly. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a short out-and-back section, where Ben Hoffman was cheering us on, I saw that I had a decent gap to the guy behind me, but he was moving quickly! Passing through each aid station, I could tell the calories and liquids were helping me. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjmx8sI87-QnVNWrzipQDhFRqfK78nWxJo770Af4yquRbxxDf-9p1U0UwP8TUGrGCOzLw_zYwL7Ghj3iS960GjWOLZoriw8MXeSwfdYx_XSwPzZ8IHWe73USFReq0fa9ToCfatkokSYHY/s1600/13428413_1108063039237673_505630820468674717_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjmx8sI87-QnVNWrzipQDhFRqfK78nWxJo770Af4yquRbxxDf-9p1U0UwP8TUGrGCOzLw_zYwL7Ghj3iS960GjWOLZoriw8MXeSwfdYx_XSwPzZ8IHWe73USFReq0fa9ToCfatkokSYHY/s400/13428413_1108063039237673_505630820468674717_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I ran across the grass and back onto the dirt road to start my second loop, Mace told me that Ernie was 30 seconds up ahead of me. What?! Sweet! A steady trickle of athletes were now out on the run. Bowstead was still in sight, maybe 45 seconds to 1 minute in front of me. By the hill around mile 3, I ran up next to my brother. He looked smooth and in control. I could tell he was being conservative. I ran beside him for 10-15 seconds and said/grunted something. At the top of the hill, we fist bumped, and I gradually sped up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In previous years, nearing mile 8, I’ve imploded. I waited for the light-headedness and dead legs. Instead, I pushed through the pain that did come. Another pro ran by me on a mission. I felt good pushing things on the flats and sped up but he quickly pulled away. I was gaining confidence that I was going to be able to run strong to the finish. In the back of my head, I knew Boulder paid 8 deep. A few people had told me I was running in 8th. I didn’t have the mind power to fact check this, but with the amount of suffering already happening, I was happy to focus on myself.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_m7ccA1wg3HEB-1rkI6r1PHUfEfcrK86DKnjWeHiLixYsu5it5X3bolQ6WUxHA1DtBQQuBICCLm2zZo_TqbaDum7jJKc0kHsYAoGECRrpjw4v7JnD_K4WMCdiz4PD71QniigkqC9CJmH/s1600/13450747_1108062832571027_1394177916804484955_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_m7ccA1wg3HEB-1rkI6r1PHUfEfcrK86DKnjWeHiLixYsu5it5X3bolQ6WUxHA1DtBQQuBICCLm2zZo_TqbaDum7jJKc0kHsYAoGECRrpjw4v7JnD_K4WMCdiz4PD71QniigkqC9CJmH/s400/13450747_1108062832571027_1394177916804484955_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With under 2 miles to go, Bowstead and I seemed to be running a similar pace but he was still 30-45 seconds up on me. Closing that big of a gap with just over a mile left would be hard. But, I told myself to not give up, and to not be satisfied. Coming down the finish shoot, I tried to enjoy it. I saw the clock ticking and ran harder to get under 3:50. I was going to finish 8th, and earn a little bit of money! After crossing the finish and pouring water on my head, I asked Mark what he’d finished. “8th” he said. Shoot. I’d actually finished 9th. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was only about 10% bummed. So much had gone right. This year, we agreed to race aggressive like the past few races, but made sure to get in nutrition. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB4PYV7uBp6-gpF6UkGuDe2twNAlyilEO-Y_YrQbeWIFb7WCI-_HBIjIIUwZceOarZ3ynbTNun3Ld-KVVvjOvsDsuPemuP6I9D9TK8M5YqKOPQxLFqqX2Nr0T6ZGVg1qpwYbRn1S9NNXb/s1600/2015+run.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB4PYV7uBp6-gpF6UkGuDe2twNAlyilEO-Y_YrQbeWIFb7WCI-_HBIjIIUwZceOarZ3ynbTNun3Ld-KVVvjOvsDsuPemuP6I9D9TK8M5YqKOPQxLFqqX2Nr0T6ZGVg1qpwYbRn1S9NNXb/s400/2015+run.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Last 10k of the run file: perfect case of decoupling pace and heart rate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYbEObRhyphenhyphenwfJXHjMAta_QGczg9tWUdxvpJKOQfBMAmORE4hEcPbwcqskvWwawKwJ27Kp4T7aVBiMz_fSNO94CU7iUsNk8yEmvXSlZlh1JdmNz-YEsaVrJXY4zO4JCeaNpTZBMxslyMNUy/s400/2016+run.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 run file: more elevation changes but pace, heart rate, and run power don't drop. <a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/285380140" target="_blank">Stryd power center run file</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
After getting some water, I briefly talked with my parents and Mace. I then headed back to cheer on age groupers and wait for Ernie. Not long after, he came by. I could tell he was hurting, but he looked focused and in control. I glanced at my watch. Holy hell! He’d just done a 4:04. After completely erupting at Olympic distance races for the past year... On his second half-iron. My old teammate, Chris Leiferman had absolutely crushed the run, working his way up to second. I was pumped for Ernie and Chris.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaEuH8_8Zm0dpoQyWGdVSGIfZ5Bv7q5dshexyUgzGBR-yKehCCs78YFjWotPg7wU7XT9fiYmuYKgekKYEWF_SwcA26h2jhSLNElUbowD1QuAhqwHHRG4iSJPRr6QEdLzXMox6l_dl8wiS/s1600/13346545_1725251227732859_3769053177758798020_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaEuH8_8Zm0dpoQyWGdVSGIfZ5Bv7q5dshexyUgzGBR-yKehCCs78YFjWotPg7wU7XT9fiYmuYKgekKYEWF_SwcA26h2jhSLNElUbowD1QuAhqwHHRG4iSJPRr6QEdLzXMox6l_dl8wiS/s320/13346545_1725251227732859_3769053177758798020_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tire, but happy.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We cooled down and ate some salty food. Everyone should be proud for getting through that heat! After we cleaned up, we ate our weight in fro-yo at Ripple and then returned to the reservoir for awards.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoySifRZEIURIQHyTNVJBZmRgsQUG6nbYIkux74oJaKU0CIjVYx_dpEs3lSuQjoQNxMSHuUf2CyDxebcc4-NdVzPyHISgHG7KeH_a3p3UXn-CZmMAsfgObAC2rSLiwxOgI1nWRG2Ag000/s1600/13442330_1725251144399534_562774364347285493_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoySifRZEIURIQHyTNVJBZmRgsQUG6nbYIkux74oJaKU0CIjVYx_dpEs3lSuQjoQNxMSHuUf2CyDxebcc4-NdVzPyHISgHG7KeH_a3p3UXn-CZmMAsfgObAC2rSLiwxOgI1nWRG2Ag000/s400/13442330_1725251144399534_562774364347285493_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#fam</td></tr>
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Though I finished 9th, one place out of the money, coach Mace and I gained a lot from this race. Finally putting together a solid race for Boulder 70.3 was awesome. To do it in front of friends and family was even better, and that’s why I race. It’s not for the money and it’s not for the final result. Triathlon is such a process. I do the sport to push myself and because I love the challenging environment. Sure, it sucks and hurts in the moment, but when we look back, that is when we live. Racing as a “pro” this year has pushed me out of my comfort zone. Heck, I’m out of my comfort zone less than 10 minutes into the bike leg! In the process I’ve learned a lot. It’s hard to be so close to something, like making a bit of money, but at the same time knowing that you can’t look for shortcuts in this sport. All we can do right now is focus on what we can control; consistent, smart training. </div>
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Thank you to <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/">Mace </a>for guiding us through the training and always being flexible. </div>
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Thank you to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rocky.mtn.multisport/">Rocky Mountain Multisport</a> and Patrick Ray for getting me on kick a$ bike and putting up with the Mantell shenanigans.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5La5Hkk7tSW6ogfFyMeVNoPZrCNheR5VKM1Xzg8vSnxykgyh-zVaYzqZ1irPKI0Hoj5iXrveJLj7aNmFSyfoYZYF8bdJ3KhpGyR7yPzR9yNlQ0UMT9bWO36vgC1e2W8PiIq5HzHPwkNR/s1600/13435555_1724471601144155_7158505054010341746_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5La5Hkk7tSW6ogfFyMeVNoPZrCNheR5VKM1Xzg8vSnxykgyh-zVaYzqZ1irPKI0Hoj5iXrveJLj7aNmFSyfoYZYF8bdJ3KhpGyR7yPzR9yNlQ0UMT9bWO36vgC1e2W8PiIq5HzHPwkNR/s400/13435555_1724471601144155_7158505054010341746_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bae</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rokasports.com/">Roka</a>, thank you for making stupid fast swim gear and comfortable, good-looking bike gear. I'm looking forward to the tri gear!</div>
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<a href="http://stryd.com/">Stryd</a>, thanks for being out on the course, cheering and supporting. I think we got some good data from this one!</div>
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<a href="http://clifbar.com/">Clif Bar</a>, thank you for fueling me and making margarita shot bloks. The new nut butter stuffed bars are incredible.</div>
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<a href="https://www.baseperformance.com/">BASE</a>, I overdosed on salt in the week leading up and took 10 licks to top off the salt levels in the morning. Worked like a charm!</div>
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Thank you to my parents, family, and friends who support me day in and day out. You’re the best motivation and thank you for being a part of this with me.</div>
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If you’d like to watch me work on my GoPro/selfie game, be sure to follow along on…<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevemantell37/?fref=ts">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/steve_mantell">Twitter</a> : @steve_mantell, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevemantell37/">Instagram</a> : @stevemantell37, <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196">Strava</a>, Snapchat: stevemantell37 </div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-18527995965156870532016-05-10T07:40:00.001-07:002016-05-10T11:25:47.000-07:00St. George 70.3 <br />
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This past weekend, I traveled to St. George, Utah to race in the US Pro championships. Overall, it was a challenging, fun race. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-UxDpuBs4SqAR4xD0FJA8Ziilru4JN8BNbhCJ0fkimFDTYNyfeGo0dIirPh2AH0HkD_WQyHBwo9sNs2JBicU5QDFrno96koyKxe64GtP2MwgZs3wpeg2egTusAbBO3Pa02w1ID0rJJk/s1600/imstg-logo.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-UxDpuBs4SqAR4xD0FJA8Ziilru4JN8BNbhCJ0fkimFDTYNyfeGo0dIirPh2AH0HkD_WQyHBwo9sNs2JBicU5QDFrno96koyKxe64GtP2MwgZs3wpeg2egTusAbBO3Pa02w1ID0rJJk/s320/imstg-logo.jpg" /></a><br />
After <a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2016/04/oceanside-703.html" target="_blank">Oceanside</a>, Mace and I discussed the pros and cons of racing Wildflower vs St. George. Both are tough courses. Ultimately, we decided to race St. George because the main goal of the season is to gain experience while racing against the best athletes. What better place to do this than at the “Pro Championships”. A large contingent of athletes from Fort Collins were also traveling to St. George which made simple travel logistics. <br />
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The week of the race was similar to a usual training week. I sent off a draft of my thesis in effort to keep the school pressure off of myself. After an early swim Thursday morning, we hit the road with Mace and Frosty. The 10 hour drive went by quickly. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuBtoONdK9apGHaBtwBVZIL83EAnOqKodvT3Ia6dpdJ2DNuClEDD0xjlnm1kC3_xWkUV7IdZNrX3qnB5U7HgNlG1CGKrcCzVdnnIM3pzZkNJSkanisaQM7us0vE8-wMPMPCvF9WoEjV2T/s1600/st-george.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuBtoONdK9apGHaBtwBVZIL83EAnOqKodvT3Ia6dpdJ2DNuClEDD0xjlnm1kC3_xWkUV7IdZNrX3qnB5U7HgNlG1CGKrcCzVdnnIM3pzZkNJSkanisaQM7us0vE8-wMPMPCvF9WoEjV2T/s400/st-george.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. George is beautiful. The landscape is unique and inspiring.</td></tr>
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The day before the race was busy. Elise and I rode the run course first thing. After breakfast, we drove the Snow Canyon loop of the bike course. I was excited to see all of the hills on the bike course. Around midday, we checked in and went to the pro meeting. Once again, I nearly started asking for autographs. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVGgv9AvT1yaHxKwBt2gw_2DnTfLgexmbsiSaTeVbrd9Gt2C6yg7dNYWRvQPmypbx2FGijl-G51XqZWPyKZKkIF7gBO_xnkjvLA-hZ56SWkBftH4n-xxeuObf9w50LTi_0LlRXlDV1QK5/s1600/cattle+guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVGgv9AvT1yaHxKwBt2gw_2DnTfLgexmbsiSaTeVbrd9Gt2C6yg7dNYWRvQPmypbx2FGijl-G51XqZWPyKZKkIF7gBO_xnkjvLA-hZ56SWkBftH4n-xxeuObf9w50LTi_0LlRXlDV1QK5/s320/cattle+guard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bike course had a few cattle guards. To keep bikers safe, plywood had been placed over 8' sections. Supposedly, if you put bright strips of tape on the boards, to replicate the normal slots, the cows still think it's a cattle guard and stay away! #smart</td></tr>
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Next, we went to check out the swim course and drop off our bikes. The wind made it seem like a hurricane was brewing! When I was racking Bae, I was happy to not have a disc wheel. I saw someone’s disc-loaded bike actually fly away. The water was cold, but after a few minutes, it wasn’t too bad. I flailed my way back into the wind and eventually made my way back onto firm land. <br />
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Heading back to the boat landing, it felt like I was back playing in the wave pool as a kid, purposely jumping face first into the waves to practice my “body checking” for hockey. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DtqG5AvP5M_MyV5CXFAfzstOQNdWIQN9pmmB8zumOjqfrjASphpyFDA1XGQ_WlKOaVqpliSFNohLoooK0CHCPB4nqnCqGk0ote3jhdAA_6Y_rzCLeTQgWl3Zpmm0JH1hFVGhu9A_rvNm/s1600/hockey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DtqG5AvP5M_MyV5CXFAfzstOQNdWIQN9pmmB8zumOjqfrjASphpyFDA1XGQ_WlKOaVqpliSFNohLoooK0CHCPB4nqnCqGk0ote3jhdAA_6Y_rzCLeTQgWl3Zpmm0JH1hFVGhu9A_rvNm/s320/hockey.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#hockey</td></tr>
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That evening, we had a large group dinner at a local restaurant. It was awesome to see everyone from town and catch up with other MP athletes. Everyone was excited. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T7MCpKLFUk-8Pye-YvjN_ESWG40kTT7nEahQK8JIAHrfOVEKIkpXa464FY5BP426C1hh7UrS6ovTbJoHdiivdPH56Wwo5W9cIuah4j0jK01fqgCSBt8BpMjB9RUowN7aKdLtHAFg5-Ly/s1600/group+photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T7MCpKLFUk-8Pye-YvjN_ESWG40kTT7nEahQK8JIAHrfOVEKIkpXa464FY5BP426C1hh7UrS6ovTbJoHdiivdPH56Wwo5W9cIuah4j0jK01fqgCSBt8BpMjB9RUowN7aKdLtHAFg5-Ly/s400/group+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
I slept well the night before the race and was up early for breakfast. While some people are meticulous about their pre-race meal, it’s common for me to change things up. For breakfast race morning, I had 2 rice cakes. One with sunflower butter, and topped with banana and raisins. <br />
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After breakfast, Elise and I dropped off our run gear and jumped on a bus to the swim start. I sipped some Red Bull on the way. <br />
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After loading my bike bottles and stuffing Shot Bloks into my food box, I realized that my bike was literally the closest to the mount line. Since I’ve had a few mishaps with shoe-on flying mounts, I left my shoes on the ground. I know, #notpro. I knew, I’d be able to mash as soon as I got on my bike instead of fumbling around. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6HNS3UsNm8XEfwS-MrV4mLQBCIGqKKEmkdpAo5iwwK9-tb0PweDYYUZYuCTudIdhF01MrbETxAJJrR3RWdiWacfJog9xHHqCmrG-S1VTUXum1HZ6sPpK8hpOjQaQQ7vxWRkZSkUx1L1d/s1600/transition+fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6HNS3UsNm8XEfwS-MrV4mLQBCIGqKKEmkdpAo5iwwK9-tb0PweDYYUZYuCTudIdhF01MrbETxAJJrR3RWdiWacfJog9xHHqCmrG-S1VTUXum1HZ6sPpK8hpOjQaQQ7vxWRkZSkUx1L1d/s320/transition+fail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half the time, one shoe comes out and ends up in my hand and I have to use my incredible (incredibly limited) flexibility to get my shoe actually onto my foot while riding. </td></tr>
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With the “Rocky” theme mentally playing, I got a run warmup in jogging circles around the parking lot. After going over my bike, I tugged on my Roka wetsuit and headed to the swim start while chatting with a few other pros. I was in the water for about 15 minutes before our start. With the cold water, I knew I’d need a good 10 minutes of swimming before I’d feel ready. Soon, the national anthem played and we were lined up for the in-water start. We inched forward, the canon boomed, and we were off. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTilFT_glbY-NysjM2iYdTulPcPLtkpfhz86MPUMVy9OcLxvHp9JEC7AL5V9O_Iu2DEj4Cmb49O4F9ATLptTCGTdaPaoZY9B88nuSNh6fVzuJm5peGYiuOt_jWLyiCwBIfLjo8NohI8XB/s1600/swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTilFT_glbY-NysjM2iYdTulPcPLtkpfhz86MPUMVy9OcLxvHp9JEC7AL5V9O_Iu2DEj4Cmb49O4F9ATLptTCGTdaPaoZY9B88nuSNh6fVzuJm5peGYiuOt_jWLyiCwBIfLjo8NohI8XB/s400/swim.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swim course was a large triangle along a picturesque island in the middle of the Sand Hollow reservoir. The longest leg of the triangle is the second leg.</td></tr>
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<b>SWIM</b> <br />
Just before the start, a spot opened up on the line in front of me. I’m smart enough to know I should not be in the front only to get clobbered. I put my head down and swam hard. My clean water lasted about three seconds. After 20 strokes, it seemed like I was still part of the first group. “Duh Steve, is just 30 seconds.” The first turn was 400 meters out and I planned to give my best effort until then. <br />
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I felt fairly controlled as we reached the first turn and didn’t get smacked too bad. I noticed my swimming buddy from Oceanside, Kienle, on my right. After turning, I immediately put in a few hard strokes to stay on feet. Our group was swimming in two lines and I was on the left towards the front. I thought I recognized Cody Beals’s wetsuit and figured I’d be coming out with some strong bikers again. Staying focused on the present, I tried to swim efficiently in the group. After swallowing some water, I dropped back to burp. Turning for the last length of the triangle, I picked up my pace to work my way towards the front. <br />
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Knowing that strong riders were in our group, I kicked a bit more the last 30 seconds of the swim to shift from horizontal to vertical exercising, preparing for my heart to feel like it was exploding. We exited the water and I ran hard to Bae, looking for extra seconds. Mace yelled at me that we were about two minutes down from the leaders, but I was in good company. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6qctU11SmVceZCmE6WHi5u2yuUy7drWjtH-3ftpJWYYPCQZA0OjIM5ahMGxNDLliQYLHPQ0GsExycnZVVY9bQQ0tCfPTmRRysSZrwkMeMnFNCfVvlsiqCsZU_0Pbp3LzdYwqlkVq1zKT/s1600/swim+exit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6qctU11SmVceZCmE6WHi5u2yuUy7drWjtH-3ftpJWYYPCQZA0OjIM5ahMGxNDLliQYLHPQ0GsExycnZVVY9bQQ0tCfPTmRRysSZrwkMeMnFNCfVvlsiqCsZU_0Pbp3LzdYwqlkVq1zKT/s400/swim+exit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Calming myself, I stomped into my shoes, and threw on the bat helmet. Before the race, I was scared of possible rain and cold but didn’t notice any cold. Mace and I had approached the bike with a strategy similar to Oceanside; be aggressive. I haven’t had time to install my Stages power meter on Bae. I like racing without holding myself to a power range, but it would be nice to have data to look back at. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWmQtqcYOoeniVA25YB18zUds_bDA3z8TbgnBCAMeRzSuWrnZ0FVF41o2csJe5GCaYvSQUthnKL0_jZDRB7g4q8L9pTazrWvA1lMmssE78yVaTgUyLzMdTG-tQjOr-DiugbiZVjdicVlZ/s1600/bike+profile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWmQtqcYOoeniVA25YB18zUds_bDA3z8TbgnBCAMeRzSuWrnZ0FVF41o2csJe5GCaYvSQUthnKL0_jZDRB7g4q8L9pTazrWvA1lMmssE78yVaTgUyLzMdTG-tQjOr-DiugbiZVjdicVlZ/s320/bike+profile.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bike course at St. George is notoriously tough with over 3,000' of climbing. There are several sustained climbs throughout the course with the iconic 6-7 mile long Snow Canyon climb starting around mile 40. Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/568756294" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>BIKE</b> <br />
A short hill out of the reservoir and the pressure was on. Kienle was in front of me and both of us went full gas (at least I did), managing to catch on to the tail end of a group led by Ben Hoffman (<a href="http://www.tririg.com/galleries.php?id=2015_07_Ben_Hoffman_Shiv_Omega_X&num=29" target="_blank">best calves</a> in the sport), Tyler Butterfield (former <a href="http://butterfieldracing.com/" target="_blank">Olympian</a>), and Trevor Wurtele (best <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm2CiuEUurA" target="_blank">post-race commentary videos</a>). Cody Beals (<a href="http://www.codybeals.com/" target="_blank">aerodynamic expert</a>) merged in front of me as we made our way up the first sustained climb, five miles into the ride. Even though my heart rate was still elevated from the effort of catching the group, the effort up the hill felt relatively easy. I spun out my legs and resisted the urge to go my own pace. I knew this bike course was tough and that this first hill was only the beginning. <br />
<br />
As we neared the top of the climb, someone, probably Kienle, upped the pace. I sensed it coming when Trevor pulled out of line. I figured we’d all regroup on the descent. Like in Oceanside, they put the hammer down over the top, took off, and gapped us. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwE0cXPHepTriZc_ju7kCFQ5VDL3ybXDuEbwx7Q00b1Opyh0haYASVzG67hPv3eaKSNYjjwsxxeWOB9VYA7TsZGz3KAEQWkQMWc9y1NE1prs8LlFzGXVi05w3g5BHa6SSmt2bPbWcrw9A/s1600/Kienle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwE0cXPHepTriZc_ju7kCFQ5VDL3ybXDuEbwx7Q00b1Opyh0haYASVzG67hPv3eaKSNYjjwsxxeWOB9VYA7TsZGz3KAEQWkQMWc9y1NE1prs8LlFzGXVi05w3g5BHa6SSmt2bPbWcrw9A/s400/Kienle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Taylor Reid and I traded a few hard efforts over the next few miles. Kienle, Butterfield, Hoffman, Wurtele, and Bowstead stayed within sight for the next 10 or so miles but gradually pulled away. On the flats and slight downhills, Justin Metzler and Cody Beals came by me. Both had disc wheels, setting sail on the flats. <br />
<br />
Mile 17 was another sustained climb. I knew I wanted to be in Hoffman’s group right in front of us. Starting the climb, I was at the back of our group. As the pace dropped, I pulled out, stood on the pedals, and gave a solid effort. About halfway through the climb, I slotted in behind Hoffman, watching his calve muscles do work. I concentrated on riding smooth up the climb. Eventually, we opened up a gap on the group behind us. After a few minutes, I noticed the temperatures were pretty cool. I had been very focused on racing and was forgetting to eat at regular intervals. I got back on track and resumed focus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgbRr5lxckR55I6lBCBMYaV9fyuycokizQiY60UM5LxrWYxKEQ_KZd9yr_hSUSHwHGaF5jfGhriphI_RdpFExFsoAM25j57wsIRntwWRESu4tRfP9EoxAswhWy5W3VENFTKYRfDtYoBEs/s1600/climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgbRr5lxckR55I6lBCBMYaV9fyuycokizQiY60UM5LxrWYxKEQ_KZd9yr_hSUSHwHGaF5jfGhriphI_RdpFExFsoAM25j57wsIRntwWRESu4tRfP9EoxAswhWy5W3VENFTKYRfDtYoBEs/s640/climbing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Riding with these guys was awesome. We had motor bikes by us taking pictures and shooting video. A draft marshal was also within sight most of the ride. Butterfield and Hoffman kept looking back. I wasn’t quite sure why… Eventually they saw something and the pace dropped. A few seconds later, Lionel Sanders came by. I shook my head; of course. Well, at least we’d lasted this long. Butterfield made an effort to stick with Lionel for a few miles but eventually dropped off. There were a few more climbs through town around mile 30. Feeling good, I filled in a gap that opened up behind Trevor. We continued on to the “flat” out and back section. <br />
<br />
Rain began to fall. Through the roundabouts on the out-and-back I was cautious. Soon, we saw Cameron Dye charging back to the Snow Canyon climb. Behind him was Lionel Sanders, gritting his teeth and mashing. Behind Sanders was Kienle, looking aero AF and riding hard. We caught a few riders that had popped off as we approached the climb.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMHLMDYhfhNXjLsCE81EMG_-9LeEseYgSLu9Wo1sAw3PqDedx-lxx11RfDCpYYc4dI2ufRexPFxrP-3X53T6NU9Qh7Yj7LzIc-X0U6TJ66HaNPz7KS6t5kfrt7x_5uDn2FIrwLwqUZk3U/s1600/trevor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMHLMDYhfhNXjLsCE81EMG_-9LeEseYgSLu9Wo1sAw3PqDedx-lxx11RfDCpYYc4dI2ufRexPFxrP-3X53T6NU9Qh7Yj7LzIc-X0U6TJ66HaNPz7KS6t5kfrt7x_5uDn2FIrwLwqUZk3U/s400/trevor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevor Wurtele</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we climbed, I held back, simply matching Trevor’s pace. Trevor is a very smooth rider. I could tell he was riding steady power. I felt calm spinning up the climb. Trevor looked back every now and then. I couldn’t tell if he was looking to see if our group was together or wondering who the kid with the un-matching kit was. A few miles in, I could tell Trevor wouldn’t drop me (on the climb) and looked behind. Nobody was in sight. I knew I was riding hard but felt in control. Groups of volunteers cheered us on. The climb got steeper and eventually we crested. The rain picked up. On the flats and downhills, Trevor rode hard. Between that and his aero-ness, he abandoned me. I kept the pressure on the pedals as much as I could downhill back to town. I got small (#aero), and prepared myself to run. <br />
<br />
Nearly to transition, I saw Sanders in first place a quarter mile into the run. I dismounted, put my socks and shoes on, clipped on my Stryd running power meter, and headed out. Uphill. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsR61053JlN3QVbHXXFtXrS5_YPgxQH3pWy1C59_C05-oPc8UZvqBzR-nBXlOgkAGDQ4VoZ29CbnXap8WXL6rpRmV5HsffJ8s5oJ3U0LMwmCg-QgDUL8sZYm8h55J9ZM46ff-B0G6ywfC/s1600/run+profile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsR61053JlN3QVbHXXFtXrS5_YPgxQH3pWy1C59_C05-oPc8UZvqBzR-nBXlOgkAGDQ4VoZ29CbnXap8WXL6rpRmV5HsffJ8s5oJ3U0LMwmCg-QgDUL8sZYm8h55J9ZM46ff-B0G6ywfC/s320/run+profile.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The run course at St. George is nuts. The first 4 miles are uphill. On top of the bluff, there are two out and back sections, about 0.6 miles each way. Downhill out, uphill back. Stryd running with power file <a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/244950093" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCRu28KVf_Rhg9MI0xtKWQYtrYfMqpw9LXSKxTRxO_IG3M97ONlO36-SLJ0J1Qx4ouA547cs-myOW9sJHk-pdGSetv-z7k-tiTRhMgl4NwGfiONFosX3jlgIliPlT9m9yo72-TNG1m0xi/s1600/run+start+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCRu28KVf_Rhg9MI0xtKWQYtrYfMqpw9LXSKxTRxO_IG3M97ONlO36-SLJ0J1Qx4ouA547cs-myOW9sJHk-pdGSetv-z7k-tiTRhMgl4NwGfiONFosX3jlgIliPlT9m9yo72-TNG1m0xi/s400/run+start+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>RUN</b> <br />
I relaxed and focused on form. My running legs came around in a few minutes. I tried to be steady, knowing hills lay ahead. 1.5 miles in, I heard footsteps. Cody Beals went by me. Cody is a much faster runner than me. We acknowledged each other, and I aimed to keep him in sight. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Lh1Ce2WRnkQsxlj4yMD0Mp3l-x0L2Px0zZi78Q1yeKVxoms24bFiWb2WwmY8iNY0_lvur8JToREJqWZhZ-G9OhUpCpgSEDVagrWyv8zCjE0O3IEU3J-AfunFiI6xFLr1TQ6lscFzgu83/s1600/run+start+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Lh1Ce2WRnkQsxlj4yMD0Mp3l-x0L2Px0zZi78Q1yeKVxoms24bFiWb2WwmY8iNY0_lvur8JToREJqWZhZ-G9OhUpCpgSEDVagrWyv8zCjE0O3IEU3J-AfunFiI6xFLr1TQ6lscFzgu83/s640/run+start+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is actually pretty cool. I had no idea I was being chased down by all these guys at this point. Ultimately, only Cody and Ben (2 of 4 in this picture) were able to catch me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I felt light on my feet running up the bluff, around mile 4. I took in
nutrition, and tried to lengthen out my stride for the 0.001 mile of
flats on the course. Mace and Frosty were waiting for me at the
beginning of the out-and-backs. They told me I was in 11th.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0STg8gVWsC1VbL_s7OQXZF3VlBltLuLYFwVM29hi1W_lY1_5awzLOhSFfkXwFcUdiN8mQkf6Vqc6rJXMUabM-8b3p_OV_ZCyRXVfG7TbL53V4Y4Tw10zMHVR5j3Sw1yDrdO5IalGuGo7/s1600/downhill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0STg8gVWsC1VbL_s7OQXZF3VlBltLuLYFwVM29hi1W_lY1_5awzLOhSFfkXwFcUdiN8mQkf6Vqc6rJXMUabM-8b3p_OV_ZCyRXVfG7TbL53V4Y4Tw10zMHVR5j3Sw1yDrdO5IalGuGo7/s320/downhill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downhill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM3BctLxq5-GTNOIWv4RDZUZQA_MflUaF151wMRT0bnIrEphRJJm91wkpLoVQVvmnkegQnZtr1w4QP_z-aEVgP-ZLs9a7aDfmgYQisQlzS5hrEw1AfpvMrTVT8JsPd3CvgVz-a67Vjog3/s1600/run+turn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM3BctLxq5-GTNOIWv4RDZUZQA_MflUaF151wMRT0bnIrEphRJJm91wkpLoVQVvmnkegQnZtr1w4QP_z-aEVgP-ZLs9a7aDfmgYQisQlzS5hrEw1AfpvMrTVT8JsPd3CvgVz-a67Vjog3/s640/run+turn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to the out and back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Downhill on the first out-and-back, I let gravity do the work. Turning around, I felt good and took shorter strides back up the hill. At the top, I immediately started back downhill on the second out-and-back. Hoffman and Mark Bowstead were within 30 seconds of me. Reid, another very fast runner, and Metzler, had also made up time. Uphill, again, was harder.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv71F5VzIrHS9-J5aUfVGTys7N3HO61FDv4Vr6ZGyA1QQsf9yvHu0c87bToCqyz3T95ipSqaRjza3uO9wbnxXweVmZiX9O4lR3SBdffCQyNlOSYJUUsM6FrmHJNJ3MarZjne8tXxlo2opA/s1600/getting+tough.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv71F5VzIrHS9-J5aUfVGTys7N3HO61FDv4Vr6ZGyA1QQsf9yvHu0c87bToCqyz3T95ipSqaRjza3uO9wbnxXweVmZiX9O4lR3SBdffCQyNlOSYJUUsM6FrmHJNJ3MarZjne8tXxlo2opA/s640/getting+tough.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raining</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I knew if I was hurting on the uphills, others were too. Somewhere heading back, Hoffman went by me, soon followed by Bowstead. I made it back to Mace and Frosty, hurting at this point. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hJ6tJIlA2dUzbQBS_-RR-ywhA-IsHQ1348CXlGZwukW4R-unXAsI6hGkd27ntqDrAmFiFPyptBxMYiTLgfuteiA7Pa6uwiLiKA0U2s96OdaxPKtgXrfJ1tQGVfG1cqEQtt4Z_FtiSOSL/s1600/getting+tough1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hJ6tJIlA2dUzbQBS_-RR-ywhA-IsHQ1348CXlGZwukW4R-unXAsI6hGkd27ntqDrAmFiFPyptBxMYiTLgfuteiA7Pa6uwiLiKA0U2s96OdaxPKtgXrfJ1tQGVfG1cqEQtt4Z_FtiSOSL/s640/getting+tough1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13% = ouch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Frosty told me “last climb, Steve!” Up ahead, I could see Hoffman and Bowstead working their way uphill. I knew once I reached the top, I’d get four miles downhill. I swear that hill grew. Watching the guys in front of me battle, and getting cheers from people running and biking, I refused to walk. I told myself, “you’re a ‘pro’, no walking. Just suck it up and get up this!” I finished my gel flask and trudged along, telling myself “I love hills”, among other choice words. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6nBVhbQhauelWcB3PwcKkddIqhhnBfPW0E8DZMbIXyh-9-96oH9wGGQab2sAB-LKt_0R_3WSaQvHPnLHlgWwQgF0NDCW9qXE_d4cyG1hga6KuwLM0sl8Am4_LCc3OyLZKK9j2q_4Epsb/s1600/getting+tough3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6nBVhbQhauelWcB3PwcKkddIqhhnBfPW0E8DZMbIXyh-9-96oH9wGGQab2sAB-LKt_0R_3WSaQvHPnLHlgWwQgF0NDCW9qXE_d4cyG1hga6KuwLM0sl8Am4_LCc3OyLZKK9j2q_4Epsb/s640/getting+tough3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I knew it was a good thing I was at my limit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, at the top, I snagged some Red Bull, and felt my legs scream as I forced them to speed up. Then, footsteps. <a href="http://justinmetzlertriathlete.com/" target="_blank">Metzler</a> came by me. I tried to keep the gap small, but his long strides (he’s maybe a little over a foot taller than me) were tough to match downhill. Not wanting to give up, I pushed myself to run hard the last 3 miles. It hurt. My head was still in the game even if my legs weren’t. I grabbed cola for a boost, hoping Reid wasn’t closing in. I leaned forward to keep good form the last few miles. I reached the finish running hard in 14th place. I was spent. <br />
<br />
The rest of the afternoon was spent frantically showering and checking out of the hotel, cheering on other athletes, writing postcards, and eating (duh). We stayed through the awards ceremony for Elise before getting some In-and-Out and heading back to Fort Collins. <br />
<br />
<b>LOOKING BACK</b><br />
I had a lot of fun. Only a few miles of the run sucked. Some people might say I biked too hard and paid for it. In my opinion, that’s how I want to race. I know it’s a swim-bike-run event, with one sport influencing the next. Maybe if I had ridden one minute slower, I could have run a few minutes faster. Maybe. But, I believe that on a hard course, we have to use our strengths! I lost track of nutrition the first part of the bike and could have used a bit more. Especially taking in less via drinks due to the colder weather. Ultimately, I know working through these races takes time. I believe in my coach, the people supporting me, and we’re enjoying this process. That’s what matters most! <br />
<br />
Massive thank you to <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">MP Coaches</a> Mace and Frosty for making this trip possible. Thank you CSU Tri and NoCo Tri for being the best training partners. Thanks to my family and friends for supporting me in so many different ways. Thanks to <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Roka</a> (wetsuit was amazing, again), <a href="http://stryd.com/" target="_blank">Stryd</a> (learning more about running power!), <a href="http://stagescycling.com/" target="_blank">Stages</a> (Bae can’t wait to have power), <a href="http://clifbar.com/" target="_blank">Clif Bar</a> (margarita Shot Bloks on Cinco de Mayo), <a href="http://www.baseperformance.com/" target="_blank">Base Performance</a> (salting ALL my food), Rocky Mountain Multisport (bike is awesome), Windsor Eye Care and Vision Center (congrats on the race!), and NoCo Endurance Center (I like sweating indoors) for helping me enjoy and spread this amazing sport. <br />
<br />
Once my legs recover from the self-induce shredding, we’ll resume training for Boulder 70.3. In other news, I’m done with school!! Kinda. Classes are done and we’re just working on finishing up the thesis. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkmdCWfkQWgXH05ir2y-o2t6tBXtXP_nhGLi73rMx5rapo-TRdf88ge0Sgz5RF8ElF_P1wZQJjBwS-kgg29lg436fQKiQA6aGCp_CWMvIpNVj_eJbzp_mGRqmJ1oTiq0Nt1zSSYjRnfTX/s1600/out+and+back2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkmdCWfkQWgXH05ir2y-o2t6tBXtXP_nhGLi73rMx5rapo-TRdf88ge0Sgz5RF8ElF_P1wZQJjBwS-kgg29lg436fQKiQA6aGCp_CWMvIpNVj_eJbzp_mGRqmJ1oTiq0Nt1zSSYjRnfTX/s640/out+and+back2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I appreciate everyone following along. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about training or racing or how many rice cakes I eat per week. <br />
<br />
You can find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevemantell37/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/steve_mantell" target="_blank">Twitter</a> : @steve_mantell, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevemantell37/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> : @stevemantell37, <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" target="_blank">Strava</a>, Snapchat: stevemantell37 <br />
Thanks for reading and have a great day! <br />
<br />
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-30277795350957240052016-04-04T22:08:00.002-07:002016-04-05T10:28:02.311-07:00Oceanside 70.3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
First, I would like to acknowledge that my race’s results have been removed from Ironman’s website due to my disqualification. There is a section of the bike course where a speed limit is enforced for safety. It was made clear that a violation of this would result in disqualification. For that reason, I take complete responsibility. I take rules seriously and any jokes I may make telling this story are simply to add humor. During the race, I was not mentally impacted because I didn’t find out until after. </div>
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This past weekend I raced my second 70.3 of the season in Oceanside, CA. Recovering from Puerto Rico, swimming and biking came around quickly while running took a few more days. In 2015, I was on Team EMJ. We held a training camp in Oceanside, so I was somewhat familiar with the area.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjniGQwcyzhNUqsTFqMisnBP0do8bEGrR_xHimuy-ah7v3VDT1mENLF_9nokIQ_SEa_PGvpYnDFwoQRksJL8RAT_-KbzmB9yWevfmrrDszVvpBwMAGkBdCdiJiLRbsftK7Sy-1WkjKqJy/s1600/10991442_799409010142462_7558828787866467611_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjniGQwcyzhNUqsTFqMisnBP0do8bEGrR_xHimuy-ah7v3VDT1mENLF_9nokIQ_SEa_PGvpYnDFwoQRksJL8RAT_-KbzmB9yWevfmrrDszVvpBwMAGkBdCdiJiLRbsftK7Sy-1WkjKqJy/s320/10991442_799409010142462_7558828787866467611_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://teamemj.com/" target="_blank">Team EMJ</a> 2015 training camp</td></tr>
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Oceanside is often the first race of the season for many stupid-fast pros. Looking at the start list before the race, I saw it was loaded with all of my tri-celebrities/heroes; <a href="https://andypottsracing.com/" target="_blank">Andy Potts</a>, <a href="http://www.sebastiankienle.de/wp/en/" target="_blank">Sebastian Kienle</a>, <a href="http://lsanderstri.com/" target="_blank">Lionel Sanders</a>, Joe Gambles, Tim Reed, Jordan Rapp, <a href="http://leapdaysports.com/" target="_blank">Jesse Thomas</a>… Instead of feeling intimidated by this, I viewed the race as an opportunity to challenge myself.</div>
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<a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Mace </a>and I had decided to be more aggressive in preparation for this race. Part of the reason I wanted to race in the professional field was to challenge myself. I wanted to feel the same tenacity I had racing Olympic distance races where I let my competitiveness take over. Essentially for Oceanside, we decided I would go out there and race. That made me excited.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl7yNGzl5GVejEhWjy-6egAOmXgJ38nVHpotwb8lUebV5oNisELHn2cPFDQtoVI37z3VbZ-JVV-d6bQWSX9GU2rxcujiWwHQ9GW-uUg2N0a2G24t86_zIoe__lRNHPa4tWK7i0TFhmmrP/s1600/bailey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl7yNGzl5GVejEhWjy-6egAOmXgJ38nVHpotwb8lUebV5oNisELHn2cPFDQtoVI37z3VbZ-JVV-d6bQWSX9GU2rxcujiWwHQ9GW-uUg2N0a2G24t86_zIoe__lRNHPa4tWK7i0TFhmmrP/s320/bailey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though I sat behind Kienle at the pro meeting, the highlight of the meeting was getting to see <a href="http://finishlinefantasies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bailey</a> again!</td></tr>
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<b>Race Day</b></div>
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The pro men were set to go off at 6:40 am. I got up at 3:15, had an Ensure and a banana, then went back to sleep before biking to the start at 5. I had my transition area ready by 5:30 and went for a quick warmup run. A few minutes later I was waiting to use the same porta-potty as Andy Potts! The sun was coming up and the weather was going to be perfect.</div>
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We were allowed into the water 10 minutes before our start. There wasn’t much time to warm up, so I did some dryland exercises and put on my <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Roka </a>wetsuit. After the national anthem, we treaded water for a minute, gradually edging past the start line. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3Qf11BPmfyOZLXVIWcIlZPvm9eAcBDyUc6JBkQRtVQCD33pZ10_TNL3B3aDgyCEczYPeekDRRF6t1IieZCiuSorcjeiU6emb0zwx8GCbmtKb3vekxJvQ_RTVBJ1tSgKEEYEGsSrKU40A/s1600/mav+x+wetsuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3Qf11BPmfyOZLXVIWcIlZPvm9eAcBDyUc6JBkQRtVQCD33pZ10_TNL3B3aDgyCEczYPeekDRRF6t1IieZCiuSorcjeiU6emb0zwx8GCbmtKb3vekxJvQ_RTVBJ1tSgKEEYEGsSrKU40A/s320/mav+x+wetsuit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rokasports.com/collections/new-arrivals-men/products/mens-maverick-x-fullsuit" target="_blank">Roka's Maverick X wetsuit</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Both Jesse Thomas and Jordan Rapp had new Roka <a href="http://www.rokasports.com/collections/new-arrivals-men/products/mens-maverick-x-fullsuit" target="_blank">Maverick X</a> wetsuits. The suit’s red pattern stood out. I chose a spot near Jesse and a few others I thought I could swim with. The start was frantic for the first few minutes. I noticed I was more or less going stroke for stroke with Jesse. </div>
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I told myself to keep going hard, ambitiously hoping to make it into a faster group. Then I recognized Kienle’s Orca wetsuit. Was this seriously happening? I was swimming in a pack with Sebastian Kienle and Jesse Thomas. There were a few others around us, one of which I thought was Jordan Rapp (again, because of the wetsuit). As our group navigated around the buoys, it was not a comfortable effort. Gaps opened up, sighting wasn’t always the best, and we accelerated hard out of turns. Every time I lost feet I’d put my head down and swim 15-20 strokes hard. Yelling in my head “get back here Kienle”. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFFk_nSGoNhXPqXRbFLoDTDNYPeCkAwgxCN5Wyd1H9ubnHknawodNOQ_ncqas9Vh8u_azZP3JvNXsH4qqu-TlIbmz0__0jiWmofLW7tIspkQQbIfULIjkHjmlTxYk4dA2YxzJrDQ8zqn7/s1600/12967326_676534752485003_570300668322546569_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFFk_nSGoNhXPqXRbFLoDTDNYPeCkAwgxCN5Wyd1H9ubnHknawodNOQ_ncqas9Vh8u_azZP3JvNXsH4qqu-TlIbmz0__0jiWmofLW7tIspkQQbIfULIjkHjmlTxYk4dA2YxzJrDQ8zqn7/s400/12967326_676534752485003_570300668322546569_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exiting the water behind Kienle. I totally noticed him taking off his swim cap so he could exit with the Red Bull cap!</td></tr>
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I tried my best not to get too far ahead of myself, only to be dropped by the group. The last 200 meters or so, I got my kick going to prepare my legs for what I believed would rival a 20 minute all-out effort to start the bike. Jesse and Kienle are two of the best riders in this sport. They would do everything in their power to get to the lead bikers. I decided that if we exited the swim together, I was going to do everything I could to bike with them. </div>
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In transition, I stripped off my wetsuit, threw on my bib and the bat helmet, and dashed to the mount line. I knew I would need every second getting into my shoes before the onslaught of Kienle and Jesse began. The bike course was one big loop with a short section athletes complete at the beginning and end of the ride. The loop has a fair amount of climbing with 3 larger hills in the middle third. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ondwPL7G-CTmNLeWgG5b9znCumf1zMXbRQgL8NaeQ2bysYabUHqR6XLmmjjZ-N438MXYDrNEAf1HbiEbcXNLSGlJ45HVL5K-wnfz8dQboX0vRCz8KxrZS4e8Pq4I-UOsgcEWDVykT8ww/s1600/bike-course-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ondwPL7G-CTmNLeWgG5b9znCumf1zMXbRQgL8NaeQ2bysYabUHqR6XLmmjjZ-N438MXYDrNEAf1HbiEbcXNLSGlJ45HVL5K-wnfz8dQboX0vRCz8KxrZS4e8Pq4I-UOsgcEWDVykT8ww/s320/bike-course-2.png" width="155" /></a></div>
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I got the shoes on and both rockets (Kienle and Jesse) were right with me. Now I just had to keep it that way. We went up a short, punchy hill away from the coast and began heading to Camp Pendleton. They were going full gas. We blew by a few riders in the first couple miles. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxvsRnMQ5yd5Y9TuxkzLOig-lb6DHCM1f1Nndo39-i2AI308n-RAlf8h8U670O4qVwSURfWzZlfY-1mOa-Q2WZjOKcWaGBNR4n1IqdLOMdOMRj_ydR4flCRMP9GlmJQ5Fng99J7gqB17N/s1600/catching+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxvsRnMQ5yd5Y9TuxkzLOig-lb6DHCM1f1Nndo39-i2AI308n-RAlf8h8U670O4qVwSURfWzZlfY-1mOa-Q2WZjOKcWaGBNR4n1IqdLOMdOMRj_ydR4flCRMP9GlmJQ5Fng99J7gqB17N/s320/catching+bottle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first 10 miles of the bike have some technical sections. My front bottle ejected on a bump, but thanks to my elementary school football skills I snagged it mid-air.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I had gone into the race wanting to challenge myself and here it was. I knew both Jesse and Kienle were on a mission. They would not let up until the lead group had been caught. I told myself to stick with them no matter what it took. My heart rate was high and even though I wasn’t riding with power, I knew I was over “threshold”. But, I smiled and said “screw it, I’m racing!” And then Jordan Rapp inserted himself into our group. Legend. </div>
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A couple minutes later a green blur (seriously) went by me to the front of our group. Lionel Sanders. That’s about when I started salivating. For over 30 minutes, my legs felt like they were being torn to shreds. But I stayed with them. If I hadn’t been in so much pain, I would have been laughing to myself; how awesome is this? The effort level was way out of my comfort zone for a 56 mile ride. At several points, I started thinking “there is no way I’m running after this...If I stick with these guys, I’d be content walking 13 miles!” </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira28By22G96kEb1hKuZutEhfe4ZYgUnac6AwMCLmSHD1pXS_DnI5ERw9adXRe5WnxQ-p6H_I0Dlw8Lus-_Fj0q5j85DGUl1thyphenhyphenQ-SYA2bBpin-eM7YO1AgKu47tPskpnDt-SZ2VVI44s8/s1600/bike+with+Sanders+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira28By22G96kEb1hKuZutEhfe4ZYgUnac6AwMCLmSHD1pXS_DnI5ERw9adXRe5WnxQ-p6H_I0Dlw8Lus-_Fj0q5j85DGUl1thyphenhyphenQ-SYA2bBpin-eM7YO1AgKu47tPskpnDt-SZ2VVI44s8/s320/bike+with+Sanders+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of how it feels to ride with Sanders, Kienle and Jesse Thomas...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNePUinBrjSFPHalgQAYanRXQizFKPeQiy6LkYfgahrQaiXKhNULhfpSup-IHdIgjPmof1CrF2mBnC72RwhwmTrG16Jap1YF1j2K3dWiSNfsK1tXzDy8Nrn9huTdNrirOGMfzouBi_vkR/s1600/bike+fetal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNePUinBrjSFPHalgQAYanRXQizFKPeQiy6LkYfgahrQaiXKhNULhfpSup-IHdIgjPmof1CrF2mBnC72RwhwmTrG16Jap1YF1j2K3dWiSNfsK1tXzDy8Nrn9huTdNrirOGMfzouBi_vkR/s320/bike+fetal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of after riding with Sanders, Kienle and Jesse Thomas - fetal position</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
My goodness, it hurt. But, in the back of my head, I believed that these guys weren’t going to ride at this intensity for 2+ hours. With hills added in. That would be suicide… your legs might actually die. Instead of thinking about the pain, I accepted it. I drank from my bottles and shoved a few Clif Shot Bloks in my mouth. When I was becoming discouraged that we would never catch the group, a string of riders appeared in the distance. The lead group seemed to be within a few minutes. Lionel and Kienle smelled blood and kicked into another gear. </div>
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On the first hill, we caught a group that had been spit out. I was surprised at how much ground I was able to make up on the hill. Not to say that it didn’t still hurt! And as soon as we got to the top, they put the hammer right back down. No opportunity to recover on the downhill. By the time we got to the 3rd hill, the tail end of main pack was about half way up. This was seriously happening. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qq5S05NDgm_G08oBjUnlMDMXdYX-cNTI8smPUaPYPDsv7J3-HeDIvC9qS0WeYdzEZFo_WjaMv_NZrAzd1KLXJvqKuihEXDeIcOBXCMzxAW2t2t5h1NZuVeTq8Z_9VbnEOW48GthdI8KC/s1600/bike+data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qq5S05NDgm_G08oBjUnlMDMXdYX-cNTI8smPUaPYPDsv7J3-HeDIvC9qS0WeYdzEZFo_WjaMv_NZrAzd1KLXJvqKuihEXDeIcOBXCMzxAW2t2t5h1NZuVeTq8Z_9VbnEOW48GthdI8KC/s640/bike+data.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bike data. <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/533837761" target="_blank">Strava</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The hill was steep and had a turn at the top where Sanders, Kienle and Jesse went out of sight. By the time I crested they had a gap on us. Only Jordan Rapp was still close to me. On one of the downhills was the speed trap. Radar speed signs didn’t register anything for me, (I was going that fast). Only two people had been DQ’d last year. I tapped the breaks a few times so I figured I was good to go. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcvxRHOl0WKDsp-ghe3ct1yeVYaE0XNC7roS34seG8KceDZTcD60GkQUs8afTYBo0OKo52Q6sdoHU0oyRCwVZe0HFgQbqgKC07EmwTL-VXpXDA7aveZyPMQKocS2fDt5VsjwqbhVn9RJJ/s1600/speed+limit+enforced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcvxRHOl0WKDsp-ghe3ct1yeVYaE0XNC7roS34seG8KceDZTcD60GkQUs8afTYBo0OKo52Q6sdoHU0oyRCwVZe0HFgQbqgKC07EmwTL-VXpXDA7aveZyPMQKocS2fDt5VsjwqbhVn9RJJ/s400/speed+limit+enforced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily, speed wasn't enforced like this...</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I caught back up to Rapp. We rode the remaining 10-15 miles together on military roads. Kienle had gotten a flat and by the time we passed him he had the tube out so I estimated they were about a minute or so in front of us. For the last 8 or so miles I went by Rapp, trying to let him know that I could take over pacing duties for a while. On our way through the transition parking lot, we saw the leaders starting their run.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZViBLtaPTtUmZ4sXP20NhoqU1fm67tfuwf8kWErhyeMYbdVyl0apCMnBnP5-UIJBbG_P9Owejc2kb-D_nXjy_84Kj9tnXt08bwM8_zSoZZfQCXyMJrzZFcAKscmZYg_XWP_nNbC5lWXg/s1600/oceanside70_3_runcourse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZViBLtaPTtUmZ4sXP20NhoqU1fm67tfuwf8kWErhyeMYbdVyl0apCMnBnP5-UIJBbG_P9Owejc2kb-D_nXjy_84Kj9tnXt08bwM8_zSoZZfQCXyMJrzZFcAKscmZYg_XWP_nNbC5lWXg/s320/oceanside70_3_runcourse.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oceanside run course map</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
In transition, I put on socks and shoes, snapped on my <a href="http://stryd.com/" target="_blank">Stryd</a> device and headed out. The run course at Oceanside is a mostly flat, two loop, out and back run. The course goes along a road near the beach called the “strand”. The streets were lined with people cheering. The first few minutes I didn’t push and built into my pace. I had to pee so I stopped at a porta-potty to get the flow started after the first mile. My legs began to come around. Two miles in, Rapp was still in sight. I tried to soak in the atmosphere. Spectators lined the ramps up and down the roads we ran on. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The last few 70.3s I’ve done, I’ve faded in the last few miles of the run. Looking back, I took in less than half a gel (<100 calories) for the entire run. This time, I was going to make sure I took sips from my gel flask every 2 miles. After a few miles on the strand we ran through a residential section. Soon, I saw the leaders coming back the other way. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zTzW092gARm74nWRW9o5KLcnFU4octuX10f8jUaS2aeh_6gcG7lI2VGSU5ggpCg1GXdPbu6-igeuB3QcVj0XclVn5-0c5UMnJB-CcRyO11OHwCiuh4xuRN1G0ApKc-2wTJns2cZlpx_H/s1600/12916710_676538359151309_1066623528554352092_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zTzW092gARm74nWRW9o5KLcnFU4octuX10f8jUaS2aeh_6gcG7lI2VGSU5ggpCg1GXdPbu6-igeuB3QcVj0XclVn5-0c5UMnJB-CcRyO11OHwCiuh4xuRN1G0ApKc-2wTJns2cZlpx_H/s400/12916710_676538359151309_1066623528554352092_o.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staring the run!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I felt strong. I focused on my form and looking down a few meters in front of me. After the first turn around, I saw I had a minute or so gap to Joe Gambles. I couldn’t tell if he was coming strong or not, so I focused on my own run and made sure I was running hard but not too hard for the remaining 9 miles. At each aid station I’d take some water and at least swish it around my mouth. I stuck with my plan of sipping from the flask. A few times, I felt a bit bloated and so I’d skip swallowing anything for a mile or so and would feel better. My nutrition seemed to be working and I didn’t feel any weaker starting the second lap. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
My goal was to get to mile 10 still feeling strong. The crowd gave me good energy and I passed Maik Twelsiek heading up a ramp. The small hills in the neighborhood felt fine and I started to believe I’d figured out the nutrition my body needed. Lionel, as usual, looked ready to die as he went by on to the finish. I made my last turn around a little over a minute behind Rapp and saw a hard-charging Matt Hanson. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5W421DxyFo2ci0HAJLaJKusQiGLrfByS6SWo22im8rAK6TBWrZ_LIj6HMkvrbKW1sZYKqAYcryFw3Wz3qtEXoEwBinIsgdani5PJc31DjQYb2Wg1KheySZ90uJCiPcYXkK1vTvadE33S/s1600/matt+hanson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5W421DxyFo2ci0HAJLaJKusQiGLrfByS6SWo22im8rAK6TBWrZ_LIj6HMkvrbKW1sZYKqAYcryFw3Wz3qtEXoEwBinIsgdani5PJc31DjQYb2Wg1KheySZ90uJCiPcYXkK1vTvadE33S/s1600/matt+hanson.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt is an incredible runner. He ran something like a 2:4x marathon at IM Texas (aka, the sauna) in 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I told myself to give it everything the last two miles. A few EMJ guys were out on the course and we gave each other encouragement. I made it back to the strand and could see the finish line. I focused on my forward lean and glanced back to see no one as I entered the finish shoot. Zipping up my top, I saw a 4:01:5x as I crossed the line with a smile. I was so pumped to have put together a solid half-marathon. At the time, I'd gotten 11th! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrSEo1LWI00KqbYlDLM43SNicDuJc5v6Smblam5Y8tbSPne81uO1jI2m7CQ9kK4lf8hIIVBCl7Olcj5zvIXOfhtU-sgLMn0xpEMS6txtcZhF2aHmYLXCSQuTyInOgpx-qSDj0PEGJjqnA/s1600/1250991947631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrSEo1LWI00KqbYlDLM43SNicDuJc5v6Smblam5Y8tbSPne81uO1jI2m7CQ9kK4lf8hIIVBCl7Olcj5zvIXOfhtU-sgLMn0xpEMS6txtcZhF2aHmYLXCSQuTyInOgpx-qSDj0PEGJjqnA/s320/1250991947631.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deciding I should run faster to the finish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I walked my way through the finishing shoot, savoring the feeling of accomplishment. Eventually, I worked my way over to pick up my morning-clothes bag with my backpack and phone. During a race, I will think about those following along on-line. The first text I saw from my brother read: “please tell me you’re biking with Jesse and Kienle right now!” If you know Ernie, there were a few expletives in there. Then there were two missed calls and a third message asking if I had gotten DQ’d because there weren’t any more splits. </div>
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Immediately, the speed limit came to mind. It was possible, but I was skeptical that there weren’t other technical problems. Jimmy Riccitello, the head referee and University of Arizona coach, came over to congratulate me and asked how I finished. He said it was great to see me up there with the big guns. I said thanks and asked if he could check on the DQ. A few minutes later, it was confirmed that I had gone 39 mph in the section limited to 35 mph. </div>
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I was sad but I immediately knew that the DQ didn’t matter to me as much as the race experience. I’d “raced” again. I’d pushed myself on the bike, past my comfort zone, and proved something to myself. I was more disappointed that those following along weren’t able to see live splits. Without an official result, to an outsider it’s as if the race never happened. But, it is out of my control. There is nothing I can do about the outcome other than learn from my mistake and move on.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5MRvpKyq2Zj8jBWYo7JtwodbC4fP0QrAqYAtfdfqriGs4wy3HBN86znKUL7zRtxdZtbTHpp4DpTgx38-ZGCBalh2faA2eqyj6-IL0nltCC8g_d3NP_P1YBr0Ox1ZZLqYGEfzomc-rn2Y/s1600/sponsors2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5MRvpKyq2Zj8jBWYo7JtwodbC4fP0QrAqYAtfdfqriGs4wy3HBN86znKUL7zRtxdZtbTHpp4DpTgx38-ZGCBalh2faA2eqyj6-IL0nltCC8g_d3NP_P1YBr0Ox1ZZLqYGEfzomc-rn2Y/s320/sponsors2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A massive thank you to <a href="http://windsorvisionsource.com/" target="_blank">Windsor Eye Care and Vison Center</a> and<a href="http://www.baseperformance.com/" target="_blank"> BASE Performance</a>. Without these guys this trip would not have been possible. Thank you to Patrick Ray and Rocky Mountain Multisport/Runners Roost Fort Collins. The Cervelo P5 is incredible. Stiff on the climbs and doesn’t like being held back! I can only ride that thing one speed: fast. Thank you to coach Mace for the guidance and to the CSU triathlon team for being the best training partners. Thank you to the fam, and the friends who follow along… your messages of support are much appreciated and make this journey fun! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUPzSQC09QHrz9RexjDXcBVWObaRUvBfpXjZ9WaPTG1CxAJgI-cJxKPaHzcMwWlR5rzNO2BLWI2PTjoz-cdfcQVj1fliwkSEMBtv7-d5egCpBSGYaSWR430WbEoLSSedl8IqVb0EH7mLs/s1600/12966302_10206570081912351_248303277_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUPzSQC09QHrz9RexjDXcBVWObaRUvBfpXjZ9WaPTG1CxAJgI-cJxKPaHzcMwWlR5rzNO2BLWI2PTjoz-cdfcQVj1fliwkSEMBtv7-d5egCpBSGYaSWR430WbEoLSSedl8IqVb0EH7mLs/s400/12966302_10206570081912351_248303277_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Up next is a bit of recovery time before building again to the next race, either Wildflower or St. George. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about the race/triathlon/speed limits/peanut butter… </div>
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You can find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevemantell37/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/steve_mantell" target="_blank">Twitter</a> : @steve_mantell, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevemantell37/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> : @stevemantell37, <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" target="_blank">Strava</a>, Snapchat: stevemantell37 </div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-55050431123655780852016-03-21T19:23:00.001-07:002016-03-22T20:55:32.244-07:00Puerto Rico 70.3<div style="text-align: center;">
Three things are necessary for survival: clothing, shelter and food. Five days before leaving for Puerto Rico for my first triathlon of 2016, my probability for survival was 33%. And that was based on my willingness to live off of <a href="http://clifbar.com/">Clif Bar</a>s. </div>
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I did my best to not panic. I finished off a draft for a research paper and continued to train…somehow everything was pieced together and I was off to Puerto Rico for my first race as a “pro”.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0sSwqnIwWAhdl56_G71jkAk4XX8xPZ2IZkKYg-KahKScmrrVATKhuElF2co20zy4aAykuzSva896rfR3PsobKmOT8iH9S1z1YV4bPkQVn03X9qx6hS2DSIprbzk26iAWSKaPkEPaTCui/s1600/12595977_10206418819490885_515162769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0sSwqnIwWAhdl56_G71jkAk4XX8xPZ2IZkKYg-KahKScmrrVATKhuElF2co20zy4aAykuzSva896rfR3PsobKmOT8iH9S1z1YV4bPkQVn03X9qx6hS2DSIprbzk26iAWSKaPkEPaTCui/s320/12595977_10206418819490885_515162769_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike packing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The main goal of the race was to gain experience and to feel as if I belonged in the “pro” field. I chose Puerto Rico because I had the urge to relearn Spanish after 8 years. Everyone always says to follow your dreams…</div>
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After a long day of travel, I finished assembling my bike by 12:30 am Puerto Rico time. Another athlete of <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/">Mace’s </a>(Javier), local to San Juan, had found me a place to stay and helped me get around for the weekend.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gwvDsiu0lMc_ioddSEAFuPIs3aXR-63cRB9dD7SeD76OcqOZqEKChyFUgKOeOMAuGxyPuEXMAlU5jbusYmChlivrB5e028Bm65BdXR8IttE2VM-Kmmq0Uq-QCjjRL7yRWqEARdTO9NND/s1600/12721960_10206418819730891_1290891529_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gwvDsiu0lMc_ioddSEAFuPIs3aXR-63cRB9dD7SeD76OcqOZqEKChyFUgKOeOMAuGxyPuEXMAlU5jbusYmChlivrB5e028Bm65BdXR8IttE2VM-Kmmq0Uq-QCjjRL7yRWqEARdTO9NND/s200/12721960_10206418819730891_1290891529_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good messages in the apartment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PbMG1QB_QsRxxpqq76jMSIT80f44rIMSJAEmU01M4E4f5dg4hICJxVreQAhtxDs7NWimJODBOZ91T8xQjpWBP2KPnaM4paPDSRB2x_kd_qpFyhy3X3pzJLf4t70Ycyx0KShE6HLFJwrr/s1600/12596391_10206418818450859_1997440912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PbMG1QB_QsRxxpqq76jMSIT80f44rIMSJAEmU01M4E4f5dg4hICJxVreQAhtxDs7NWimJODBOZ91T8xQjpWBP2KPnaM4paPDSRB2x_kd_qpFyhy3X3pzJLf4t70Ycyx0KShE6HLFJwrr/s400/12596391_10206418818450859_1997440912_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Run path in Puerto Rico</td></tr>
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The bike course was scattered with dead iguanas. Tons of them. They enjoy soaking up the sun on a high-traffic road… I only saw part of the run course, but understood the main point. It would be hot and hilly. Before the race, I spent a lot of time reading. The apartment didn’t have internet which I, actually, enjoyed. When I needed to get my social media fix, I simply walked across the street to the Ritz to use their free internet :) At the pro meeting, there were some serious triathlon celebrities. Athletes I’ve been following for a long time and will always look up to.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPeCTv_KAfTLhxFwcgCaQ-I4OF5IltQT-hnpR9G7Us2jiNreuh0d_UhH3yjdIRnX61nu5qLFsji7zJiZD8RwKrwh40jsVKd3anmkE3v2NUzsdayg9c5n02EHrOxnsODHRJjbSh0ISQ08r/s1600/12884478_10206418818610863_1575320724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPeCTv_KAfTLhxFwcgCaQ-I4OF5IltQT-hnpR9G7Us2jiNreuh0d_UhH3yjdIRnX61nu5qLFsji7zJiZD8RwKrwh40jsVKd3anmkE3v2NUzsdayg9c5n02EHrOxnsODHRJjbSh0ISQ08r/s400/12884478_10206418818610863_1575320724_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach views </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Race Day</b><br />
I had an early wake up to make a shake for breakfast. I’d found an older “silver bullet” blender that, despite emitting a smell when turned on, seemed to work. So with a vanilla Ensure and some frozen banana, I made breakfast to the smell of burned rubber.</div>
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After telling the taxi driver “Ironman” and “triathlon” a few times I conveyed that I wanted to go to the race venue. While setting up my life’s belongings, I noticed a referee using a smartphone app to run over our bikes checking for motors! After a short run, I grabbed my <a href="http://rokasports.com/">Roka </a>swim skin and headed to the start, applying sunscreen as I walked.</div>
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Having experienced neck chafing from my swimskin before, TO let me borrow some Vaseline. No. Big. Deal. He even said “No worries”. Then I headed into the water to warm up and conceal peeing myself.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjgBjHsEI-A1c5HfszSox0b5I1Ozox-sNuTu7gEh2VDlt4xjyC9sQJ-4zxFLclA4IkQgWCWRz_OjQQ0YdwS2G7jTWIBbZ3Ufrzu9Qz8pkz7fXKG0XUT1MDEowTPfohEaSNk9Sef-3aIDo/s1600/1410timo+740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjgBjHsEI-A1c5HfszSox0b5I1Ozox-sNuTu7gEh2VDlt4xjyC9sQJ-4zxFLclA4IkQgWCWRz_OjQQ0YdwS2G7jTWIBbZ3Ufrzu9Qz8pkz7fXKG0XUT1MDEowTPfohEaSNk9Sef-3aIDo/s400/1410timo+740.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TO!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I did my swim warm up and felt good to go. The national anthem was played and we were lined up in the water. A drone flew overhead. Age groupers and their families had their phones out, pushed up against barricades to take pictures. Someone with a microphone said a phrase in Spanish with “profesionales” in it and the crowd went nuts. </div>
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<b>Swim</b></div>
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Lining up, I chose a spot behind Cam Dye and other fast swimmers. My graceful stroke needs its space! The cannon boomed and we were off. I put my head down and took a few hard strokes. I was a little scared the other pros might have coordinated some kind of “initiation” where I’d get smacked a few times but there was only contact for the first 45 seconds or so. Fairly quickly, everyone’s place was sorted out. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYOxPlVkKmceHUJux8HDeKisyVyN0QEiy7Tb2qDSpDefAgUcDndi6EXUpFLAmxey-DCXrm7FeSyINT2jEWn_YmxW2gQiEWS2z34Hnok9hPecW1ZuVadJeg0t8GNeLmbA3jSlAc2A0f-Oe/s1600/pr+swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYOxPlVkKmceHUJux8HDeKisyVyN0QEiy7Tb2qDSpDefAgUcDndi6EXUpFLAmxey-DCXrm7FeSyINT2jEWn_YmxW2gQiEWS2z34Hnok9hPecW1ZuVadJeg0t8GNeLmbA3jSlAc2A0f-Oe/s400/pr+swim.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim Venue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eventually I was towards the back of a big group and recognized Thomas Gerlach swimming next to me. Things were strung out and after the first turn (700-800 meters) three of us got spit out the back. I couldn’t tell who was leading, but I was still with Gerlach. A few times I checked our pace by popping out but always moved back to draft. Eventually we crossed under a bridge and hit the stairs to the swim exit. </div>
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Going up the stairs, I noticed the first guy in our 3-man group was Chris Leiferman. Chris and I first met on the triathlon team at CSU. He was (and is) an incredible athlete. Seeing Chris just ahead of me after the swim was awesome. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi0FDc63y-YaUU9kl3UZwD1Xn3pXPygxr4XbtGNqQET8jfpBK8fzgN1jyx-bt8LzKrXy8zoaZmZefzZVwX8qDd4XfZc7nlVkfJQ09BApEVhiAaFebzWn3ZhwkHUV01wvUXzST3WaXCC2s/s1600/903809_993211035358_22103875_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi0FDc63y-YaUU9kl3UZwD1Xn3pXPygxr4XbtGNqQET8jfpBK8fzgN1jyx-bt8LzKrXy8zoaZmZefzZVwX8qDd4XfZc7nlVkfJQ09BApEVhiAaFebzWn3ZhwkHUV01wvUXzST3WaXCC2s/s320/903809_993211035358_22103875_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collegiate nationals 2013</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Chris wasted no time and took off on the long run to transition. I got to my bike, stripped off my swim gear, and threw on the “bat helmet” before grabbing my bike and running to the mount line. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp_6CFj8EwQpSu701icNibBd0ONyKAPDFIbAH-CLNS4si6VH1DqnksxvyL2XrUPtGqV9Wm35zBZnmzM-ziGaMXPk94Pntlem0UQ6-hNa222g2x1mTfCkowRxV7X_hHE6fAXNW_Vp211ek/s1600/12884588_10206419039936396_1849235925_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp_6CFj8EwQpSu701icNibBd0ONyKAPDFIbAH-CLNS4si6VH1DqnksxvyL2XrUPtGqV9Wm35zBZnmzM-ziGaMXPk94Pntlem0UQ6-hNa222g2x1mTfCkowRxV7X_hHE6fAXNW_Vp211ek/s320/12884588_10206419039936396_1849235925_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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Bat helmet</div>
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<b>Bike</b></div>
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Chris and Gerlach were on a mission. Starting out, I felt that I could have put the pedal to the medal for 5-10 minutes and caught up to Chris and Gerlach…then try to work with them to catch the front group. Knowing how tough the Puerto Rico run course would be, Mace and I decided to be more conservative. I also saw my heart rate was at 175. I decided to stick to our power zone and ride strong on my own, hoping people would come back to me.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax7CiUP42VVMPihRkjz3C07rf83Pm7kYLhufJlxqmGcL6ILouDupvXhJkzfP0rhn3lXG-dr7TJOlND4oy58b6zLfreMZ3tBhta7aKXLPBPI7b6vBCOdek-_4FWMo2auYgcX9URG9dLm54/s1600/biek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax7CiUP42VVMPihRkjz3C07rf83Pm7kYLhufJlxqmGcL6ILouDupvXhJkzfP0rhn3lXG-dr7TJOlND4oy58b6zLfreMZ3tBhta7aKXLPBPI7b6vBCOdek-_4FWMo2auYgcX9URG9dLm54/s400/biek.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike route! (<a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/522431575/analysis" target="_blank">file</a>)</td></tr>
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The first half hour, I focused on a higher cadence. Shifting from swim mentality to bike mentality. The first section of the course was on a highway with overpasses as the biggest inclines. On long stretches I could still see Gerlach, but I stuck with my plan. I hydrated and took in some <a href="http://clifbar.com/">shot bloks</a> with <a href="http://baseperformance.com/">BASE</a> salt on them. My power was good and felt comfortable. </div>
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Eventually, I got to the section of the course along the coast for the 2 loop out-and-back. Other than looking out for iguanas, I put my head down and transitioned into a lower cadence. Patrick Evoe came by me and after a while, I realized we were more or less riding the same speed. I gave him a 50 ft gap and then paced with him. It was great to have someone to ride with. We picked off another guy who tried to stay with Pat for a while…but too many watts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORCiY_nhr6jrAIuEbMt1JKYOk1_XJpGx5Ixv7ta-kqFRectQDo4RygI-B5CxogcN9sZnthcXGNraJmhWGhofYvZDIk_1LFsqB2L9SWDQ6GX3BqrIQtPG6xdgvdbMGqhrEv6gaky75JERh/s1600/7293784b0b3d21b4f51eb0786df01b1a.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORCiY_nhr6jrAIuEbMt1JKYOk1_XJpGx5Ixv7ta-kqFRectQDo4RygI-B5CxogcN9sZnthcXGNraJmhWGhofYvZDIk_1LFsqB2L9SWDQ6GX3BqrIQtPG6xdgvdbMGqhrEv6gaky75JERh/s320/7293784b0b3d21b4f51eb0786df01b1a.jpg" /></a></div>
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Heading up to the first turn around, I expected to see Andrew Starykowicz with a huge gap, however, we got closer to the turn around, and I still hadn’t seen the lead moto. This made me happy and I realized we must be biking somewhat fast. Eventually the leaders came the other way. It looked like we were riding just outside the top 10, about 3-4 minutes behind. Heading back, there was a bit of a head/cross wind. As I came around Pat to take my turn, I wasn’t really sure what the etiquette was for teaming up in a race. I went with saying “I’ll work with you”. No swearing was returned, so I took that as a good sign. </div>
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Checking in with my body, I felt like I could be riding harder but decided to be patient. I picked up a few extra water bottles, finally getting my handoff and trash can three-pointer skills back. Side note: they should give us small time bonuses if we drain a shot while moving 25+ mph. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDkFNpiJZ3Z54QhenE14oxDsZ2e46EwPCMqUDvTebH9YdWibSuLT_s3dMmBngoToclm114vhv_FuraQZjPyJIS4HMxHdCtAUDoaEaZF9FfTbejinji0ebASOgVZP24DyZnnKHCEYrM6AY/s1600/ray-allen-three-pointer.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDkFNpiJZ3Z54QhenE14oxDsZ2e46EwPCMqUDvTebH9YdWibSuLT_s3dMmBngoToclm114vhv_FuraQZjPyJIS4HMxHdCtAUDoaEaZF9FfTbejinji0ebASOgVZP24DyZnnKHCEYrM6AY/s320/ray-allen-three-pointer.jpg" /></a></div>
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Draining a 3</div>
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Heading back out for the second loop, Pat and I swapped positions. As he went by he said “we can catch that front group!” I was working with <a href="http://www.patrickevoe.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Evoe</a>! Positions hadn’t changed much with the other pros as we flew back towards the far turnaround. Starky was doing his thing and the group right in front of us hadn’t gained much! Heading back to town for the last time, I came by Pat. The headwind split Pat and I up a bit. Coming off the bike, I was looking forward to the run. My legs still had some power in them at the end of the bike. I had hydrated, taken in some calories and my stomach felt good. </div>
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In transition I felt like I had to pee, but for some reason didn’t want to get it over with in transition. I couldn’t find the small pockets on my top or shorts, so I ended up stuffing my BASE salt vials down my shorts while I sorted out my race belt, watch and <a href="http://stryd.com/">Stryd </a>device. </div>
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<b>Run</b></div>
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The goal for the run was to not have the first 2 miles be the fastest 2 miles. I focused on my form and transitioning from biking to running the first couple miles. Nobody was in sight. Up the first steep hill towards old San Juan, I took it slow and my legs felt good. I lengthened my stride a bit and headed out towards the wall. At each aid station, the volunteers were going crazy cheering us on. I grabbed lots of ice and water. I still had to pee pretty badly, but first wanted to figure out where I stood in terms of placement. I knew I could suffer for a while. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0b0Br9EbvdhYcpWiSW2uPgD8P5bRMuwwWQlvhnGHApveE5Hp3LY9yTkW_8hZwMHeLN6W1kpfM13c_cqvahUMRtp1RYgzWTagDiBUtYWYYzFoCNTj7ZDU9WxqiuXP78vZWp2XcsW2TcLgc/s1600/12895332_10206418819890895_1329943971_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0b0Br9EbvdhYcpWiSW2uPgD8P5bRMuwwWQlvhnGHApveE5Hp3LY9yTkW_8hZwMHeLN6W1kpfM13c_cqvahUMRtp1RYgzWTagDiBUtYWYYzFoCNTj7ZDU9WxqiuXP78vZWp2XcsW2TcLgc/s400/12895332_10206418819890895_1329943971_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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Eventually we saw TO was heading back. After him, everyone was spread out. Someone told me I was in 11th. In my head, I made it a goal to try and get into the top 10. I felt good and it was hard to hold back from trying to make up time right away. With such a tough run, I knew the second loop would be hard when the heat and hills would catch up to us. At the turn around, Gerlach was in front of me by less than a minute. I thought I was slowly making up ground. Everything still felt pretty good heading back up a hill to the start. The views of the ocean were spectacular and there was a section of the road with cobbles. Unofficial aid stations were set up, offering cheering instead of water. The path to the turnaround was lined with people to send us on our second loop. </div>
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I hadn’t taken in much nutrition that first loop. My stomach felt good but I really had to pee now. Still, I knew I would never let myself live with my decision to stop and pee if I fell just a bit short of catching one more person. I worked my way up to Gerlach. Heading up a hill I got a bit of a gap on him. Still, I wouldn’t let myself pee because I wasn’t sure how far back he was. I was starting to hurt. Suddenly, two more people came into sight just as I was heading back down into the park. Eventually, I went by both of them. One was Frederik van Lierde. In my head, I was screaming “dude, you just passed Frederik van f*&$ing Lierde!”. Half a mile from the turn around, I saw the familiar running form of Andrew Starkyowitz. A couple minutes later, he started walking and I went by him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKR33k1l2tx72ufTFpt_JgPaVxMjf7mSxbEbnjZOf9oM98qaSCmFn7xQFdUUiOSOh0TVRH3IxONS4Vzledeu5KgLvC51ef0sUhlPojH8doLNjx-7AenL8ICc_zeEYBYYaU1Dt85gPTFSAE/s1600/Frederik-Van-Lierde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKR33k1l2tx72ufTFpt_JgPaVxMjf7mSxbEbnjZOf9oM98qaSCmFn7xQFdUUiOSOh0TVRH3IxONS4Vzledeu5KgLvC51ef0sUhlPojH8doLNjx-7AenL8ICc_zeEYBYYaU1Dt85gPTFSAE/s320/Frederik-Van-Lierde.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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Soon after, Gerlach put in a big effort and worked his way back up to me. It was disheartening. I was fading and didn’t have energy to fight with a big hill and 3 miles still to go. He got a gap on me going up the hill while I granny-jogged, refusing to walk or look behind to see if anyone else was coming. Finally, at the top of the hill, I glanced back and didn’t see anyone and I really had to pee. I ducked into a porta potty just to get the flow started.</div>
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I forced myself to lengthen my stride and run as hard as I could on the flats and downhills. I tried to take in some fluids and ice to cool down, but I still started getting chills. I kept telling myself only two miles left, you can suffer. I could hear the crowd. Then I could see them. At a turn with a half-mile left, I glanced back and didn’t see anyone. Relieved, I focused on pushing hard to the finish, for pride. Just before the finish, I saw Javier heading out to start the run. I had enough whereabouts to yell and high five him. I tried to muster a smile as I crossed the finish. </div>
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Immediately I felt dizzy and had to hold onto a few volunteers for support. I knew I would be fine, I just needed shade and water. After a quick massage, I zombie walked around to pick up my morning clothes bag. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnni0bd8tqWRXS6QlvWPoNjZlB75LTTXGRARUclNDxk9x6gB6bFW2dq0PeVW4bUwzotw-jDRdXZwk1DcgChgmeonYa3tKfUgEgcZvYV6ztytQE2OOeJbdiGcevahJrWDHnkzLgHViyfOV/s1600/12516334_10206418819410883_228759907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnni0bd8tqWRXS6QlvWPoNjZlB75LTTXGRARUclNDxk9x6gB6bFW2dq0PeVW4bUwzotw-jDRdXZwk1DcgChgmeonYa3tKfUgEgcZvYV6ztytQE2OOeJbdiGcevahJrWDHnkzLgHViyfOV/s320/12516334_10206418819410883_228759907_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No post-race ice bath. Volunteer let Sam hold the ice bag for a bit instead...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GSrpS_kYqvlKs_I_NHoOUr9MAaan3AMZPJlWInHAHtWcmGe2ZCl1jWFvy3WJv-cte3FP_gKOm_kIHUrht6jA3TifhG27f-b_V75lbf04vzlH2pJ_7r5syAqPm1hKRH-e3OJjPMlTNSpJ/s1600/12527876_10206418819650889_687048212_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GSrpS_kYqvlKs_I_NHoOUr9MAaan3AMZPJlWInHAHtWcmGe2ZCl1jWFvy3WJv-cte3FP_gKOm_kIHUrht6jA3TifhG27f-b_V75lbf04vzlH2pJ_7r5syAqPm1hKRH-e3OJjPMlTNSpJ/s400/12527876_10206418819650889_687048212_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture with TO, Javier and friends!</td></tr>
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The rest of the day, I hung out with Javier and his parents and ate some solid food. Eventually, I went back to the Ritz to steal more internet and write a few postcards. </div>
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This trip would not have been possible without several people. Javier was incredibly accommodating; finding me a place to crash, driving me to and from the venue and previewing the bike course with me. Patrick Ray worked some wonders on my bike to get it ready in two days while Chris Howard at <a href="http://www.sportaboutfortcollins.com/" target="_blank">Sport About</a> saved the day by putting some logos on my tri top. Massive thank you to <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Coach Mace</a> for the training plan and guidance throughout this spring. It’s been challenging fitting things in with school, but I’m happy with the consistency and progression we’ve had the past few months. Thank you to my family and close friends for the encouragement and support, I appreciate all of you. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xCqm3M9EDYq62L1Sr3qBr5hn_p8hrArUln0e1fPfFcbr8Koizl8Qqpf2SaOKtNUrkgid3MYHDarP9yIg-a1Yo_StBy-xlfcJL1N5Vfy895t90hEy7XTCaJae5yXLD30mI640dOcmOYlX/s1600/12515992_10206418818930871_1959878199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xCqm3M9EDYq62L1Sr3qBr5hn_p8hrArUln0e1fPfFcbr8Koizl8Qqpf2SaOKtNUrkgid3MYHDarP9yIg-a1Yo_StBy-xlfcJL1N5Vfy895t90hEy7XTCaJae5yXLD30mI640dOcmOYlX/s320/12515992_10206418818930871_1959878199_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Congrats to my brother on his awesome race at Havasu this weekend. It’s scary how fast he’s gotten in just over a year. </div>
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Up next for me is 70.3 California (Oceanside) in about two weeks. The start list is ridiculous. <br />
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I’m looking forward to a not-so-flat bike course. </div>
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Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions about this race or if you want to learn more about my (lack of) Spanish speaking skills. <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" target="_blank">Strava</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevemantell37/?fref=ts" target="_blank">FB</a>, snapchat: stevemantell37, twitter: @steve_mantell</div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day! </div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-14383442706256177862016-02-18T09:57:00.000-08:002016-02-18T09:58:16.844-08:00Valentine's Day: Running and Chocolate <div style="text-align: center;">
Valentine’s Day. When I think of Valentine’s Day I think of the traditions involving pink and chocolate. I like chocolate. <a href="http://greeneventscolorado.com/" target="_blank">Green Events’s</a> “<a href="http://frontrangefreeze.com/catch-me-if-you-can/" target="_blank">Catch me if you Can</a>” run this past weekend had chocolate and offered a new Valentine’s Day tradition for many Northern Coloradoans. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTay3S6uIzzeQ7511NeoAnOSmK7ldLE4UBEc_hrpdyPwuQH6nBl0O5v-OlszezwpDnXaxD8mo3sHf8l88dPLJ9voPRgRNmeSaWGhxlGGh8qKaBT_siUpp5G7HBWE-KuvLES_J7CxOHHMRn/s1600/12711094_1304976469528202_8153956902687505689_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTay3S6uIzzeQ7511NeoAnOSmK7ldLE4UBEc_hrpdyPwuQH6nBl0O5v-OlszezwpDnXaxD8mo3sHf8l88dPLJ9voPRgRNmeSaWGhxlGGh8qKaBT_siUpp5G7HBWE-KuvLES_J7CxOHHMRn/s320/12711094_1304976469528202_8153956902687505689_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The final event of the <a href="http://frontrangefreeze.com/" target="_blank">Front Range Freeze</a> series was held at the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten. Before the race started, the large indoor space provided a warm place to pin on race numbers and catch up with friends. </div>
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Green Events offered two distances; there were four mile and 10k run/walk options for us to earn our hot chocolate, pancakes and beer. The four mile run followed the same relatively flat course as the <a href="http://frontrangefreeze.com/sweaty-sweater-race/" target="_blank">Sweaty Sweater</a> race (back in December) while the 10k option started and finished on the same route but added a “detour” in the middle. I had decided to do the 10k option.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.stryd.com/" target="_blank">Stryd </a>running power meter!</td></tr>
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After picking up my race number, chatting with a few friends and eyeing the hot chocolate, which I decided to save until after, I got in a quick warm-up. The 12+ inches of snow from last week’s blizzard had melted. The sun was coming out, layers were coming off and runners were excited and smiling.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3vlju4jonz3Ac1VHe11ION-hAy7SeVDu3i9QxJip4hoIIszA5RC3z3cKsmVdyPAUGC6oz7ipec_LDUJ6rh_z6jSGtxXT1BlLMsTwdF-csPZ9l7FqZxhc9xTNfkE3Wpyac_EoqOE-BWgu/s1600/12698562_1304948416197674_559914065811145530_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3vlju4jonz3Ac1VHe11ION-hAy7SeVDu3i9QxJip4hoIIszA5RC3z3cKsmVdyPAUGC6oz7ipec_LDUJ6rh_z6jSGtxXT1BlLMsTwdF-csPZ9l7FqZxhc9xTNfkE3Wpyac_EoqOE-BWgu/s400/12698562_1304948416197674_559914065811145530_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women's race start</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
To add a twist to the race and match the Valentine’s Day theme, Green Events decided all girls would get a three minute head start before the hounds (guys) were released. With everyone milling around the start, the girls took to the line and dashed off. It was almost as if they were eager to get away from us… Three minutes later and after a few instructions, the guys were off. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnYifu2nMrg2dXs65btm4qnKmKHccHk63lU6EG_zCnmvlyxI3TvIUoKSGJnaMs9VtxIC_I1Jc92F-vq1QPhcb3oyfwx7D9SRik14y65LvAuu_bnoykv_RSlnZzZW5g4njPQ8AYgURLpun/s1600/12711204_1304986346193881_2319425722479384554_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnYifu2nMrg2dXs65btm4qnKmKHccHk63lU6EG_zCnmvlyxI3TvIUoKSGJnaMs9VtxIC_I1Jc92F-vq1QPhcb3oyfwx7D9SRik14y65LvAuu_bnoykv_RSlnZzZW5g4njPQ8AYgURLpun/s400/12711204_1304986346193881_2319425722479384554_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lead bikers from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/northerncoloradograssroots/" target="_blank">Northern Colorado Grassroots</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The first mile took us out of the venue’s parking lot and headed west on a flat stretch towards a beautiful view of the foothills. A few guys must have been very antsy to catch their Valentine quickly because the first mile was ridiculously fast. My lungs hurt from the shock of running nearly all-out to keep the love-struck guys in sight. Soon after the first mile, the 10k route began its “detour”. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7XphGM44Zt9u6hhuMOjB6xv3LuSyS-EaHuR6uLJ3lIV3d3KbjzXbnSbtr4N4n8OK153BjRL3CNsmYWDuiG2OFoOlu_Lm1V2cW99LO_gCEU_WjmUoW14HelbU-hsilDHWVy6I5W_zK1ct/s1600/12716205_1304974172861765_1685953512570170305_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7XphGM44Zt9u6hhuMOjB6xv3LuSyS-EaHuR6uLJ3lIV3d3KbjzXbnSbtr4N4n8OK153BjRL3CNsmYWDuiG2OFoOlu_Lm1V2cW99LO_gCEU_WjmUoW14HelbU-hsilDHWVy6I5W_zK1ct/s320/12716205_1304974172861765_1685953512570170305_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variety of athletes at Green Events's races...</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Without the four-milers, things got lonely for us. Thankfully we had some great bike escorts from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/northerncoloradograssroots/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Northern Colorado Grass Roots</a> to lead the way. We continued west, towards the mountains and through a neighborhood. The course was well-marked with orange cones and marshals directing us. A slight uphill wasn’t too bad as it was still early on in the race. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRUOtcQxsMzfKp5TavcLnwrckdPZeUfJ4a_11-Tp8PGVMiBEp2tZlBEwg0xsFkqL9Nj3s2HteQvGTmUBYmgMNwLg1PFhk8apTnTucw9St37fTPwf9Fg1XTJU8RF8AbAfA-lOxdCmr7DJG/s1600/12742306_10101327309957278_3061845596951573104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRUOtcQxsMzfKp5TavcLnwrckdPZeUfJ4a_11-Tp8PGVMiBEp2tZlBEwg0xsFkqL9Nj3s2HteQvGTmUBYmgMNwLg1PFhk8apTnTucw9St37fTPwf9Fg1XTJU8RF8AbAfA-lOxdCmr7DJG/s320/12742306_10101327309957278_3061845596951573104_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the lead bikers took this picture just before Josh decided to dust us</td></tr>
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We ran along the boundaries of the neighborhood and turned south. Volunteers stationed at cross streets gave us some cowbell and shouted encouragement. After going through the halfway point, I noticed my lungs had stopped hurting. My feet decided they would fill in for a bit. Mile four seemed to take forever. But soon enough we were headed back east towards the venue. A slight downhill was much appreciated at this point and we could start to see the four mile course rejoining ours. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcGjj0h6-z2Oja3OuA7H7XiRsS7REtEi4KC3gXrbAI-NqMnQzT0zwaZaA3rTpei-1L8KbGKzneCa-Ti1O9PjZcydaj98IDA2DWXxNLHtm1RhMcLn2W6-LdBW8c2QgNZAj5Hy-ACCRyT63/s1600/10365416_1304974042861778_1977691104571022051_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcGjj0h6-z2Oja3OuA7H7XiRsS7REtEi4KC3gXrbAI-NqMnQzT0zwaZaA3rTpei-1L8KbGKzneCa-Ti1O9PjZcydaj98IDA2DWXxNLHtm1RhMcLn2W6-LdBW8c2QgNZAj5Hy-ACCRyT63/s400/10365416_1304974042861778_1977691104571022051_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As courses merged, inspiration came from other runners and the Biergarten beckoned to us from the distance. The last few miles went by quickly as it was easy to focus on the people running in front of us. The atmosphere was encouraging. Eventually the turn to the parking lot was in sight. <a href="http://www.runnersroost.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Ray</a> himself standing at the turn, directing us to the finish. After the relief of finishing sank in, a few of us ran back out to the course, cheering on runners while trying to “cool down” our legs. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlUZOV1RcKPpUobGnhmRlEgT9xySwSW6mZbn-CC_xaA7q6jzihrUXp-vR_LIqB4vtLnzrkG6wwDDyCPGjLW6mGQUgSikiZwoijN7TOBVXH-YZaY3NzYolwZJXOOyCq46Po6Fl13jBWMzH/s400/stryd+data.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running data from <a href="http://www.stryd.com/" target="_blank">Stryd </a>for the 10k run (<a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/109140419" target="_blank">link</a>)</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We thanked the awesome team of bike escorts and headed inside for the real reason we race, post-race food. The Biergarten had indoor and outdoor seating. Along with a few CSU Triathlon and NoCo Tri members, I enjoyed some beautiful mountain views near the warmth of a fire ring. We ate, drank and told new four-mile and 10k battle stories.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5yFftf5NHVWLHu2CQ5NVW-kip58xAQbJjzgcsBbVJRaPZZvi9r-s5Z5O7Z04GAow_sMPX33XrmZwtkjBzGmIIDIyR-WBsNAGFi0etX1BlQoZMR6hcOY_0CvifbKPir1bXXYa6MQk6YJz/s1600/12325435_10206185663742137_125623444_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5yFftf5NHVWLHu2CQ5NVW-kip58xAQbJjzgcsBbVJRaPZZvi9r-s5Z5O7Z04GAow_sMPX33XrmZwtkjBzGmIIDIyR-WBsNAGFi0etX1BlQoZMR6hcOY_0CvifbKPir1bXXYa6MQk6YJz/s400/12325435_10206185663742137_125623444_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In line for post-race food</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6CIHR9xbx58pRKtQyHKOlQvSI7Tk_3ayqjIQhyphenhyphenatyhYou0I6vGQiD-KlZ4_bCKNb1_qiiYwzum0BetGC6nqZz-n-y8jraH7S3r-L6vu3d98LsXwoF4zsGtZP2yIfzht41VwXxlTVX1I9/s1600/12659765_10206185664342152_2107757298_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6CIHR9xbx58pRKtQyHKOlQvSI7Tk_3ayqjIQhyphenhyphenatyhYou0I6vGQiD-KlZ4_bCKNb1_qiiYwzum0BetGC6nqZz-n-y8jraH7S3r-L6vu3d98LsXwoF4zsGtZP2yIfzht41VwXxlTVX1I9/s400/12659765_10206185664342152_2107757298_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outdoor seating area</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH9RUTzH6aHC6fWgRs1zSCzDBWSuHxP-kkh11nwokkxGRtafHhO0bKwINwvyDkmihIk4F26UhpaH8jp-nhEKdWadwP87JykMPoRe6FP1MrH4K_aE42lQ1fKqcdYy3IpD8Uupr1xMnnfCD/s1600/12736086_10206185664182148_617758390_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH9RUTzH6aHC6fWgRs1zSCzDBWSuHxP-kkh11nwokkxGRtafHhO0bKwINwvyDkmihIk4F26UhpaH8jp-nhEKdWadwP87JykMPoRe6FP1MrH4K_aE42lQ1fKqcdYy3IpD8Uupr1xMnnfCD/s320/12736086_10206185664182148_617758390_n.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire ring in the outdoor area</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Once again, <a href="http://greeneventscolorado.com/" target="_blank">Green Events</a> stressed the importance of their zero-waste initiative, even going as far as to cover up all normal trash cans. Signs directed us to dispose of used plates and cups in the appropriate recycling and compost bins. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-P3Av_016J7mw7Q9WPYspjjHdD-Zu4sSQAsVUlzfTzTpZxSRnV44MwiiXiz_ckHiP58KmThMDfOnVc_meEjr1jjAGto2e_L4fJNOMX9Clve4twb2GvpgLa-L9P1-bXOZqIpBsy-OEZTl/s1600/12736344_10206185664582158_849263749_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-P3Av_016J7mw7Q9WPYspjjHdD-Zu4sSQAsVUlzfTzTpZxSRnV44MwiiXiz_ckHiP58KmThMDfOnVc_meEjr1jjAGto2e_L4fJNOMX9Clve4twb2GvpgLa-L9P1-bXOZqIpBsy-OEZTl/s400/12736344_10206185664582158_849263749_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zero waste? Yes please.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Eventually, <a href="http://greeneventscolorado.com/" target="_blank">Green Events</a> started announcing awards and raffling away prizes. Once again, fantastic local businesses offered some great rewards, just in case the burning lungs, tired legs and a sweet long-sleeved T-shirt weren’t enough. Gift cards and other services were provided by <a href="http://www.raintreeathleticclub.com/" target="_blank">Raintree Athletic Club</a>, <a href="http://www.runnersroost.com/" target="_blank">Runners Roost</a> and <a href="http://www.altituderunning.com/" target="_blank">Altitude Running</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCJqfqwDIEltwmvxZ-4JOGaD_fE9Fb4CV8E9npMEcM3tyvFH5bMic6ugs3P_ae69BfzWgeXtih82eKXUycgUwi40eiAuc4kSqQgMKYzalr2roxPYlt_PgDHRmKZloBU0gwzSJ25BW1-uI/s1600/12711310_1304977656194750_2499721250348327892_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCJqfqwDIEltwmvxZ-4JOGaD_fE9Fb4CV8E9npMEcM3tyvFH5bMic6ugs3P_ae69BfzWgeXtih82eKXUycgUwi40eiAuc4kSqQgMKYzalr2roxPYlt_PgDHRmKZloBU0gwzSJ25BW1-uI/s400/12711310_1304977656194750_2499721250348327892_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great place to run</td></tr>
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Though the Front Range Freeze series has finished, <a href="http://greeneventscolorado.com/" target="_blank">Green Events</a>'s next event will be the <a href="http://equinoxhalfmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Spring Equinox</a> on March 20th. There are 5 mile and half-marathon options with your best interests in mind; Colorado views, zero waste and beer.</div>
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Until then, thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-5305183582588899422016-01-24T20:24:00.004-08:002016-01-25T06:13:06.309-08:00Plunging into 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
Three weeks into a new year and it feels like there’s been a whirlwind of activities...<a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2015/12/imaz-thanksgiving-and-going-pro.html" target="_blank">all done around working on research</a> :)</div>
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After finishing up school for the semester, I returned to Minnesota for Christmas. My brother and I both stayed in town for 10 days. The first few days were spent crying because we missed our bikes. Eventually we picked ourselves up and hit the pool and did lots of strength workouts. My parents spoiled us by cooking delicious meals…we had salmon two nights!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurnlwy6fdlWlAUZWpDxII7LCQT7MoqtwAacaR3nPx2bSrQZqxWpQFX2wi_rV8AxJUdWLhvPXzVOUolGWLenUcWk_J8MURpCEQ3BKMWRGaJN3kdw0hB_8ubdI77x4SvjreGv-Lbg22Kugk/s1600/fam+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurnlwy6fdlWlAUZWpDxII7LCQT7MoqtwAacaR3nPx2bSrQZqxWpQFX2wi_rV8AxJUdWLhvPXzVOUolGWLenUcWk_J8MURpCEQ3BKMWRGaJN3kdw0hB_8ubdI77x4SvjreGv-Lbg22Kugk/s640/fam+card.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mantell Holiday card</td></tr>
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Next, I returned to Colorado only to repack everything for training camp in Tuscon, Arizona. The University of Arizona TriCats, yet again, organized a great training camp. I’ve been at this training camp the past 5 years. This year we were in Tuscon the one week where the weather was cold and rainy. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDozlMtwVClioqGLZ9-Eh2rbfZH_r5o4iYZIYx2s2tCSiwECNLTP3Q_x70At8DS7uF04I7m5bwsGBO_BnkPiaEhPV6MtqJEPeyOEkZPZ7pOai1HQ3uZRKkBfVji8dYc7LD4bmP6Msoglu/s1600/12510662_10205960558394644_1905777_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDozlMtwVClioqGLZ9-Eh2rbfZH_r5o4iYZIYx2s2tCSiwECNLTP3Q_x70At8DS7uF04I7m5bwsGBO_BnkPiaEhPV6MtqJEPeyOEkZPZ7pOai1HQ3uZRKkBfVji8dYc7LD4bmP6Msoglu/s320/12510662_10205960558394644_1905777_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A teammate after a long day. In need of a <a href="http://clifbar.com/" target="_blank">Clif Bar</a>.</td></tr>
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The CSU Tri Team decided to try and outsmart the weather the day before camp officially started. Burning lungs and massive cookies on our minds, we dressed in warm clothes and headed 2 miles from our houses toward the base of Mt. Lemmon. That’s as far as we got. At the start of the climb, several policemen were turning everyone away, bikers and drivers alike. We debated blowing by the blockade but decided we didn’t want to absolutely crush ourselves before the camp even started. Instead, we headed another direction to ride. </div>
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Even though we didn’t get the warm weather and weren’t able to ride Mt. Lemmon, camp was still a blast. We did a fantastic strength session at the U of A rec center and had some great team bonding experiences playing Cards Against Humanity. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR8htdSv7O92DphwUK2q3NbIHVBJloIHT2IKiwoz7k1TLxdxqaszfrjoc-j0g5Vgsr2vyNHaCtCwPHBti6LZAtr6wNIBkcZ-c40iHcUMlTooKJExB7wExuJZpvXQlI2lgOskjKzjTjHQs/s1600/12545712_10205966304058282_865402293_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR8htdSv7O92DphwUK2q3NbIHVBJloIHT2IKiwoz7k1TLxdxqaszfrjoc-j0g5Vgsr2vyNHaCtCwPHBti6LZAtr6wNIBkcZ-c40iHcUMlTooKJExB7wExuJZpvXQlI2lgOskjKzjTjHQs/s400/12545712_10205966304058282_865402293_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most amount of clothes we've ever had to wear in Arizona!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0_OioFLD20fN47bBLMuWqYn6lAHKaKdVBqwZR9oLyA7HM303RmJkVbFbf5_8kYQ95OgIehFTnZWrB7pOkzcf7WE192a_fTZZ_qlKgK9tuqaPada2gOMUrK7VvLL8TXl3X0EtbfciFRmq/s1600/12469441_10209003695635802_3789094015975144239_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0_OioFLD20fN47bBLMuWqYn6lAHKaKdVBqwZR9oLyA7HM303RmJkVbFbf5_8kYQ95OgIehFTnZWrB7pOkzcf7WE192a_fTZZ_qlKgK9tuqaPada2gOMUrK7VvLL8TXl3X0EtbfciFRmq/s320/12469441_10209003695635802_3789094015975144239_o.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gates Pass with the bro. A few times. <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" target="_blank">Strava</a>.</td></tr>
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The last day, the <a href="http://www.arizonatricats.com/" target="_blank">TriCats</a> organized an aquathalon. The event was an 800 meter swim and 5k run. Many of the CSU tri members considered this event a great opportunity to work on their “race nutrition”. A few people from other schools saw how well we were doing and joined in. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm23TgAWL6CObjY1f6jzV4HjOL4gOwcyjB-n2LsOOhkn14EpMO31fx5tsrcrEc2hB01otXtS1QxQK4RUQA22fbbouN9poCWzMCthlB7spOnBCinm8YxU44HH3R8vVhmOQ5PdOUgnbg7dMP/s1600/12511744_10205966270777450_2012343401_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm23TgAWL6CObjY1f6jzV4HjOL4gOwcyjB-n2LsOOhkn14EpMO31fx5tsrcrEc2hB01otXtS1QxQK4RUQA22fbbouN9poCWzMCthlB7spOnBCinm8YxU44HH3R8vVhmOQ5PdOUgnbg7dMP/s400/12511744_10205966270777450_2012343401_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the swim-to-run nutrition it's critical to get in some nutrition. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmwz5_ni9j62rayenBuJc4hB0D6xRk3OLiIZ60e4tOOdKUbZP9ETLmhO8AeWFrkSy-nvm-c-TaGuOV6bHacTqNnD8F5U_WLpWwRHU5w4kP-86daWGppeodtbHshhlyBlFFTdrbGLmzr-T/s1600/12511717_10205966271457467_2135428880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmwz5_ni9j62rayenBuJc4hB0D6xRk3OLiIZ60e4tOOdKUbZP9ETLmhO8AeWFrkSy-nvm-c-TaGuOV6bHacTqNnD8F5U_WLpWwRHU5w4kP-86daWGppeodtbHshhlyBlFFTdrbGLmzr-T/s320/12511717_10205966271457467_2135428880_n.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Back in Colorado, <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Mace </a>and I organized a bike-focused training week due to Lemmon withdrawal. As the semester started back up at CSU, it was great getting to train with the rest of the team who decided to miss out on training camp and forgo practicing “race nutrition” in January.</div>
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As of this past weekend, I would say we have officially plunged into 2016. Everyone has different ways with how they like to start their new year. Over 300 of us in Fort Collins ran, squealing with delight/terror, into a freshly cut section of a frozen over Horsetooth Reservoir. The past three years I’ve taken part in this classic event put on by <a href="http://frontrangefreeze.com/polarbear/" target="_blank">Green Events</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3ikpTySDqlNvBJ3G4znUt-gQltAlqDK6zrKD77159WNLaqpdE9rTcLdFuYSo476OrrO6w_zgkJECPTYwI4O2P1lR16KkkVhw7F33hVxYpGLI1Ix5lDLsEpYM6LV6uo9sotedjBVtDro1/s1600/12647812_10206043682872704_214409559_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3ikpTySDqlNvBJ3G4znUt-gQltAlqDK6zrKD77159WNLaqpdE9rTcLdFuYSo476OrrO6w_zgkJECPTYwI4O2P1lR16KkkVhw7F33hVxYpGLI1Ix5lDLsEpYM6LV6uo9sotedjBVtDro1/s400/12647812_10206043682872704_214409559_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hole. Just waiting for us.</td></tr>
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The plunge had a 5k run as well. <a href="http://csutriathlon.com/" target="_blank">CSU Triathlon</a> has had a large presence at this race the past few years either participating, volunteering or spectating. The night before the race, a group of us picked up our race numbers and shirts at <a href="http://www.raintreeathleticclub.com/" target="_blank">Raintree Athletic Club</a>, a local gym supporting the event. The weather was fantastic. Sunny and getting warmer by the minute…but not to make jumping into a frozen lake seem any more rational. After pinning on my race number, I headed out for a short warmup. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVW0sbL3tSUNHZKPnnEY_mYFNV9Y3Ajm1Bz1B8DH6qOI0FebwLYXlJeMa7hEtp1fxHkAPwoKez0kZfgR2iNAFdTFesYCURciK-SHm1ruf23gGT5T7fNUAy_hfoXIcmw6LTUarELiqSh-p/s1600/puppies.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVW0sbL3tSUNHZKPnnEY_mYFNV9Y3Ajm1Bz1B8DH6qOI0FebwLYXlJeMa7hEtp1fxHkAPwoKez0kZfgR2iNAFdTFesYCURciK-SHm1ruf23gGT5T7fNUAy_hfoXIcmw6LTUarELiqSh-p/s320/puppies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Soon everyone was back at the starting area waiting for the go ahead. A drone circled overhead capturing the start. Unlike the sometimes intimidating atmosphere at the start of local running races, everyone was fairly relaxed and casual. Lots of families and dogs made the environment friendly. We all agreed to make it a goal to not wipe out on the few icy parts throughout the course.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIXWS5_gVJq1G_Ks2-Jpi4yKjdkrRwe3Atuy8qH301tTUy3wKpYlSxVa1SwBXG-M1fx5NQJqvAzVoOY20GqYGUBVqpEemP6F_Js5DeRmc-PLL14h-Ro-97z0gCtL1AzZvjVwKvv1Ps42J/s1600/12633464_10208505051854854_1786879548112605596_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIXWS5_gVJq1G_Ks2-Jpi4yKjdkrRwe3Atuy8qH301tTUy3wKpYlSxVa1SwBXG-M1fx5NQJqvAzVoOY20GqYGUBVqpEemP6F_Js5DeRmc-PLL14h-Ro-97z0gCtL1AzZvjVwKvv1Ps42J/s640/12633464_10208505051854854_1786879548112605596_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drone shot of the start</td></tr>
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10 steps in, someone in the front slipped and was nearly trampled. Luckily they quickly regained balance and we spread out. The first mile took us up a hill and down through where the winter adventurists were camped out. Inevitably we got some funny looks running by their fire rings; a parade of men, women, children, dogs and polar bears. The second mile took us through an aid station stocked with hot chocolate and cheering volunteers. Throughout the course other runners shouted encouragement, urging on one another while making sure kids and dogs behaved themselves. Over the last section we were sent back up and down the hill before sloshing through a bit of snow to the finish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnNTBrNrwHAhyphenhyphen2lC0meENHUyj7MFDKOhfb2sgDyQWiAPhr8VYhkBht6ISZ78Jw1zFKOUfPguckpsLzbQTRD8Qb6OfSanLNdPZlUtxRvivxF175JWSFs53-LYlBx6aOXvMDNx3ke8J3_Xy/s1600/12571021_10206043683592722_1295472661_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnNTBrNrwHAhyphenhyphen2lC0meENHUyj7MFDKOhfb2sgDyQWiAPhr8VYhkBht6ISZ78Jw1zFKOUfPguckpsLzbQTRD8Qb6OfSanLNdPZlUtxRvivxF175JWSFs53-LYlBx6aOXvMDNx3ke8J3_Xy/s320/12571021_10206043683592722_1295472661_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudQOStpex96FHH3ou-JAQvV2Xxq37FwszsHr3-Fbwd9uykHbjpy6ZLqPWdS46LJvudOkSzk8HLaxTsh2JWxG-5qzWhgII6M7NNAt9hakmbLUFBJu72afw8zRFsbuDLPHonyEUGk6jPRcl/s1600/stryd+analysis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudQOStpex96FHH3ou-JAQvV2Xxq37FwszsHr3-Fbwd9uykHbjpy6ZLqPWdS46LJvudOkSzk8HLaxTsh2JWxG-5qzWhgII6M7NNAt9hakmbLUFBJu72afw8zRFsbuDLPHonyEUGk6jPRcl/s400/stryd+analysis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though I didn't look at my watch, I knew the hills would spike my running power. After the race this was confirmed using <a href="https://www.stryd.com/powercenter/run/51420161" target="_blank">Stryd's power center</a></td></tr>
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And with every running race comes post-race food, the reason half of us do any race. In addition to bananas and oranges, local eateries provided donuts, coffee and bagels. I went straight for the hot chocolate. One unique thing about Green Events that I can get on board with is their commitment to a zero waste event. Trash, recycle and compost bins were set out for us with a friendly and knowledgeable volunteer directing us where our used cups belonged…compost!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr7HjQZrvS3OVZvuTz4yXJ_HLyc4Bd8UhTB-CdMjvrH4xZdRjKlN8X0R6k3fEmp8ihVa0cp0saigj3xpiZSiEjWlvLio8tIrQ9-1HdX9p4Eq9fbvijMG8bZbS0EusOAmmpEO3L_kLUssv/s1600/12576140_10206043683832728_524248115_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr7HjQZrvS3OVZvuTz4yXJ_HLyc4Bd8UhTB-CdMjvrH4xZdRjKlN8X0R6k3fEmp8ihVa0cp0saigj3xpiZSiEjWlvLio8tIrQ9-1HdX9p4Eq9fbvijMG8bZbS0EusOAmmpEO3L_kLUssv/s400/12576140_10206043683832728_524248115_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sustainable fun!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoL5PFdrfGgqHtwWc9Syfnmn3SnlrX_2k3KT9tpX9hGvY4ABQrEaCfotVwfaZDkxFN-gbIEwhdaFOb3eXoTIIViRGsS8MdNm5jPwwjB8ZPmNn4AGXw6vrU29jF644CnZup04qKq4z8FJB/s1600/Akinz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoL5PFdrfGgqHtwWc9Syfnmn3SnlrX_2k3KT9tpX9hGvY4ABQrEaCfotVwfaZDkxFN-gbIEwhdaFOb3eXoTIIViRGsS8MdNm5jPwwjB8ZPmNn4AGXw6vrU29jF644CnZup04qKq4z8FJB/s400/Akinz.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Awards consisted of gift certificates to local stores including <a href="http://akinz.com/" target="_blank">Akinz</a>, a lifestyle store which had some sweet Colorado-themed hats and water bottles.</td></tr>
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Next came the plunge. Within minutes, the boat ramp to the water was filled with questionably sane people. Others looked on, cozy and surely laughing. As plungers, we lined up in groups with our most supportive friends. A group of EMT specialists who had been practicing their ice rescues, waited for us in the water. A bikini-clad polar bear walked by us giving high fives and taking pictures.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UpRhO4a1OhJu3HvVJuxKqMeV15-mcaANLF1wzPtGuuF1KRxq_4LA2l_78XN7dXbbzoB8cM9Q1EV9Xu49Yc9crLAFd8t3xkmbZoUsnjzsz-oasN0h2LcKVGqPDA64ChzjuEfeRBtwgONC/s1600/12575822_10206043685592772_2011038750_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UpRhO4a1OhJu3HvVJuxKqMeV15-mcaANLF1wzPtGuuF1KRxq_4LA2l_78XN7dXbbzoB8cM9Q1EV9Xu49Yc9crLAFd8t3xkmbZoUsnjzsz-oasN0h2LcKVGqPDA64ChzjuEfeRBtwgONC/s400/12575822_10206043685592772_2011038750_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line to plunge!</td></tr>
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The line moved much too quickly and soon it was our turn. With a few other CSU Tri teammates, I attempted to brace myself while running into the mind-numbing water. As soon as my feet were submerged I wanted out. But the drone was watching. So I plunged…and it was just as cold as expected. But I gave my potential rescuer a high-five before scrambling back to warmth. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX62S37ByaF_tqqiU0cngRVAy40B6HlyPFpJwPp6kASAjei9oRtep8BpJSncMbJrf7cNvnXoxkq4n4z6dU-JeuUYw8PABSPRkJWEU4_kcD-pzXToXzvtKozQqruJTWpzMNMThMe34SzDn/s1600/12513787_1289280267764489_1635415800641357500_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX62S37ByaF_tqqiU0cngRVAy40B6HlyPFpJwPp6kASAjei9oRtep8BpJSncMbJrf7cNvnXoxkq4n4z6dU-JeuUYw8PABSPRkJWEU4_kcD-pzXToXzvtKozQqruJTWpzMNMThMe34SzDn/s400/12513787_1289280267764489_1635415800641357500_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not quite that brave!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxpo54TAJdpgPXOBuQdW37Xg5d5yQGUQv6_nDoS15fEp7Xc1z_FCYB6EBmryYHuSHNs32CTS8ZqAIouyE6pRYLj4Ty5FIn7J7Ful5Gx2QGYuRIysGzlef7snH0wYu9o695o4OWpkAEL22/s1600/12640416_1289279287764587_2192205031662298025_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxpo54TAJdpgPXOBuQdW37Xg5d5yQGUQv6_nDoS15fEp7Xc1z_FCYB6EBmryYHuSHNs32CTS8ZqAIouyE6pRYLj4Ty5FIn7J7Ful5Gx2QGYuRIysGzlef7snH0wYu9o695o4OWpkAEL22/s400/12640416_1289279287764587_2192205031662298025_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack appears to have brain freeze. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1289270654432117.1073741848.498523226840201&type=3" target="_blank">More photos</a></td></tr>
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For a good part of an hour, groups screamed, plunged, shrieked and retreated. I went back for more hot chocolate while others shared new battle stories over warm soup, bread and donuts. After gathering our gear and changing into dry clothes we returned to town discussing outcomes and strategies for next month’s <a href="http://frontrangefreeze.com/catch-me-if-you-can/" target="_blank">Valentine’s Day</a> event were all girls will get a several minute head start, making the guys work to catch up! </div>
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Till then, I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to enjoy these events with so many other great people and local companies. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHHP3_txsPIAbon4nu7ei4IVsKqdFbBfGQyvhzEb3Ugiivumps-bHb-FR36ycwUYxscplH6ttvfRSp7DicoiD4t0rZzfCK2UG7W8EAWAkXyyIxLAt30pCXWrCkrtRqq1tF5cGH-GAupHR/s1600/12466040_10207115589942656_2448355353453695618_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHHP3_txsPIAbon4nu7ei4IVsKqdFbBfGQyvhzEb3Ugiivumps-bHb-FR36ycwUYxscplH6ttvfRSp7DicoiD4t0rZzfCK2UG7W8EAWAkXyyIxLAt30pCXWrCkrtRqq1tF5cGH-GAupHR/s400/12466040_10207115589942656_2448355353453695618_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last-day hike at training camp</td></tr>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-4136730409455838772015-12-13T17:18:00.000-08:002015-12-13T20:38:28.327-08:00IMAZ, Thanksgiving and 2016 Plans<div style="text-align: center;">
Over two months have gone by since I competed at the <a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2015/10/kona-2015.html" target="_blank">Ironman World Championships in Kona</a>, Hawaii...lot of fun things have happened since then.</div>
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Recovery after an Ironman sucks. I usually tell people it takes three days before I (kinda) walk normally again, two weeks before training feels OK, three weeks before training is good...but sometimes up to eight weeks before my head and emotions feel normal. Whatever, we're passed that now but just wanted to give you a head's up if you're thinking of racing one.</div>
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<b>Since Kona</b></div>
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A few weeks post Kona, I jumped into the CSU Tri Team's halloween 5k. I love participating because there are great costumes and many local businesses support the team by providing fantastic prizes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnil1GUL3l_-yUvPbfJvQpJ8P9cItYMWX0f6RztgWzcOKTzgpz_cEOjshCXqJYmLK9On3SEoXJrEuF999ZuInTtVT1M3r1TgRR51RxwRiVzdxHZ1NCVVDKt52XVT9A_D99j_Q41CCWfvMa/s1600/11159895_10207957356882822_5274604630611150263_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnil1GUL3l_-yUvPbfJvQpJ8P9cItYMWX0f6RztgWzcOKTzgpz_cEOjshCXqJYmLK9On3SEoXJrEuF999ZuInTtVT1M3r1TgRR51RxwRiVzdxHZ1NCVVDKt52XVT9A_D99j_Q41CCWfvMa/s400/11159895_10207957356882822_5274604630611150263_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going from a marathon to a 5k = ouch. Running hard hurts.</td></tr>
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A couple weekends later, I made a spontaneous midweek decision to travel to Tempe, AZ to spectate and volunteer at Ironman Arizona. After Kona, I had been in contact with <a href="http://www.baseperformance.com/" target="_blank">BASE Performance</a> who played a big role in me making it through the brutal Kona run! I rarely make any last minute decisions involving > $100. My thinking...show BASE that I believe in them and commit to them for a bit and who knows what could happen, one day I might like to race IMAZ so this would be a good time to check out the race, and my brother lives in Tempe and we could train together for a few days. Flights were cheap so I said yes.</div>
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Ticket booked, I traveled to Arizona. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9KLylMOVoW7wyJ0hdW8Zdp_Pyx1VZ_vW124YlYPTPMH2Sb8t7WFwB-7Pc2NPykdqjpNCLe8AEnaeEjWZ1t7GSJ9npiE-36BzGYw45_f2J5wlS1cKj8dGS6zmvliqEs8QkHqEn0l6Du8U/s1600/bike+ride.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9KLylMOVoW7wyJ0hdW8Zdp_Pyx1VZ_vW124YlYPTPMH2Sb8t7WFwB-7Pc2NPykdqjpNCLe8AEnaeEjWZ1t7GSJ9npiE-36BzGYw45_f2J5wlS1cKj8dGS6zmvliqEs8QkHqEn0l6Du8U/s400/bike+ride.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"When Steve calls you up at 5 am saying that he's getting on a plane to AZ, you don't ask questions" Basically how it worked. </td></tr>
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<b>IMAZ</b><br />
The day before the race, I got to meet up with the BASE crew who would be volunteering. Ironman legend Chris Lieto started the company after having a lot of success racing with the products during the last few years of his career.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivddQ-aCeQJ3yk2oTbUckmFtafbJqpIRQ7aCv75ToIR7Ando6HH-01hKsVNjsuuqtYUa1iH7XFRwq8pL3bJLNPnQ2TOgUTrN__Mk_UI9ChqF6qHs8v0jIbFVg7AOkyuX1TQ3OpPzg5tz4Z/s1600/12249935_10205658839171852_8683603013498934329_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivddQ-aCeQJ3yk2oTbUckmFtafbJqpIRQ7aCv75ToIR7Ando6HH-01hKsVNjsuuqtYUa1iH7XFRwq8pL3bJLNPnQ2TOgUTrN__Mk_UI9ChqF6qHs8v0jIbFVg7AOkyuX1TQ3OpPzg5tz4Z/s320/12249935_10205658839171852_8683603013498934329_n.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Lieto said his blood sugar was low...good thing I was carrying a snack :)</td></tr>
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Race day was incredible. After watching the professionals and age groupers start their day, my brother and I headed back to his apartment to get in a few workouts. Around mid-day, I headed back to the run course to get things ready for <a href="http://www.andrewstarykowicz.com/" target="_blank">Starky</a> (and 30 minutes later it seemed) everyone else. <br />
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We set up two tents on the run course providing salt and rocket fuel (a drink mix) for everyone racing. When some one offers you "rocket fuel" at the midway point of an Ironman marathon...don't ask, just drink. We'd run alongside the athletes and ask them if they needed salt or "rocket fuel". <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyg09RQOFFo6kPoIToMEEJ92u1HBE-viT8LGj-w_-tS4buh1V3z_b8t3BqIezF7XHgWBn8GV6ojZe34J3GQeY-Dj2nom9qL7QAr8w_r-rSX2XDsd0dgDTGR69UQH7fQwF6jYT7tCoUI7l/s1600/11222575_10150643689124959_6679154391264038593_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyg09RQOFFo6kPoIToMEEJ92u1HBE-viT8LGj-w_-tS4buh1V3z_b8t3BqIezF7XHgWBn8GV6ojZe34J3GQeY-Dj2nom9qL7QAr8w_r-rSX2XDsd0dgDTGR69UQH7fQwF6jYT7tCoUI7l/s400/11222575_10150643689124959_6679154391264038593_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our set-up as the racers went by</td></tr>
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Lots of things happen during heat-of-the-moment racing. One middle-of-the-pack athlete stopped and asked me for my shoes. He had on a brand new pair of Newton running shoes for the marathon and, no surprise, they weren't broken in enough and his feet were killing him. I had the same size feet so I gave him my perfectly broken in (month old) <a href="http://www.saucony.com/en/kinvara-6/18952M.html?dwvar_18952M_color=S20282-2#cgid=mens-running&start=1" target="_blank">Saucony Kinvaras</a> while I took his Newtons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxB1HOaRc5IbaZzPw-z02hRA7KGWiigfTyGWUt-MowP6G7auzKtXaN-LQfrm3VPDijnEW_nh9KnjG29_Whx9wSH1-U0PWQq4g0tJJVqnd6iqcJWaVvmMI_BbfJsM3K7XGrQD4uuCblhA2/s1600/12366437_10150643690264959_1144392279621946437_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxB1HOaRc5IbaZzPw-z02hRA7KGWiigfTyGWUt-MowP6G7auzKtXaN-LQfrm3VPDijnEW_nh9KnjG29_Whx9wSH1-U0PWQq4g0tJJVqnd6iqcJWaVvmMI_BbfJsM3K7XGrQD4uuCblhA2/s320/12366437_10150643690264959_1144392279621946437_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstrating how to use BASE salt, in my swapped Newtons!</td></tr>
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When it was all said and done, we were out on the run course from a little after noon to 11:30 pm. As the sun went down and athletes went from charging (pros) to running (fast AGers) to jogging to walking to napping (seriously), our roles as volunteers changed. The later it got, the more of a mental boost the athletes needed. Many were doing the race just to finish and needed some encouragement. At this point we turned up the speakers and became a dancing aid station...playing the same songs over and over again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oCw-ViINHKg4O_ADxZjldg3Hfb6slG6CjbV-Q_EhAqH1uSlDLo9UgXnTnF9ETrt1qCDCe0JTDy8q7FFJ4OdggAVWDq3yBd1_7il-zIja3NRbk405o783GNvZEhRy0EjjvJA0wcHIfoe_/s1600/11058125_10150637397989959_9139718225777646653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oCw-ViINHKg4O_ADxZjldg3Hfb6slG6CjbV-Q_EhAqH1uSlDLo9UgXnTnF9ETrt1qCDCe0JTDy8q7FFJ4OdggAVWDq3yBd1_7il-zIja3NRbk405o783GNvZEhRy0EjjvJA0wcHIfoe_/s1600/11058125_10150637397989959_9139718225777646653_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving "high fives" till 11:30, much past bed time but worth it!!</td></tr>
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The next few days were drawn out a bit as Frontier cancelled my flight back to Denver in anticipation of a large winter storm which dropped a whopping 1" of snow. The ASU triathlon team had a swim and run that I was able to attend which was convenient. Eventually, I was able to find a flight back in the afternoon and made it back to Colorado.<br />
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<b>Thanksgiving Work</b></div>
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A few weeks later, I headed back to Minnesota for Thanksgiving. After 10 months, going home was nice. I met up with friends from the glory days (high school) and saw my soccer coach and teacher.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4eEXpef3_6UJRRqhpb3tf_tfQ0sjvCn1sOj70npK6LIOY0IDk3DLYqsfCClPqK-F9WGYsXexGYCu2KsOQ5EWGTx1cSYRMY5LpJ2jvNSZyFe26VMCmj4-mQZAqaOkxJVVDjxRlqi0J0M_/s1600/t+break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4eEXpef3_6UJRRqhpb3tf_tfQ0sjvCn1sOj70npK6LIOY0IDk3DLYqsfCClPqK-F9WGYsXexGYCu2KsOQ5EWGTx1cSYRMY5LpJ2jvNSZyFe26VMCmj4-mQZAqaOkxJVVDjxRlqi0J0M_/s400/t+break.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Ernie and Alison at Thanksgiving, always appreciate seeing them.</td></tr>
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Though it was supposed to be fall break, it did not feel like a "break". In anticipation of a deadline for a research paper I'm working on and finishing grad school this spring, I was working a lot. Since Kona, school has taken up a lot more time for me than it has the past few years. Though I'm only taking three credits, my day is built around spending time <strike>cursing Excel and writing</strike> engineering. Most nights after dinner I usually head back to campus to keep working for another few hours before calling it a night. Whenever this happens I get that one Eminem line in my head...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlIo_O_Nos2PLbnpjRhgWOFHRuyCDpGZA30ROD8KKD8z-yTk9MXKYqyGnzTRFpwPZmMz8BylbN8bR2qnirw76snnw0jqMVsC1O8mYLnCQaTb37ZeUM26SbjR1jEn3QA7J8j5pFBPC24b_/s1600/stan5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlIo_O_Nos2PLbnpjRhgWOFHRuyCDpGZA30ROD8KKD8z-yTk9MXKYqyGnzTRFpwPZmMz8BylbN8bR2qnirw76snnw0jqMVsC1O8mYLnCQaTb37ZeUM26SbjR1jEn3QA7J8j5pFBPC24b_/s400/stan5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...that's when it's back to the lab again, yo..."</td></tr>
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It's been frustrating working on a project this large where I don't have a "finish line" in sight because at this stage it's hard to know how much more work is needed. But all I can control is how hard I work in order to get the job done well. </div>
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<b>Training</b><br />
Training has been going well as I really try to maximize my efficiency. In terms of swimming, the CSU tri practices have been great. <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Mace</a> also has me doing at least three strength workouts a week right now. I've enjoyed this as it gets me back to the days of being a gym rat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9dWxy_kDAiyidKfeDwFvpRle7F6Wc6F_0q5fmkWqG_0Sln5Eds-TTQrktDICpDUG7kdbOUH2aEbL4O188O8Aee7DhwS734Cozo-ODFMx_iUt4EFSsV_5Rp2QhQosECm4BE4Hw9RA_taN/s1600/gym.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9dWxy_kDAiyidKfeDwFvpRle7F6Wc6F_0q5fmkWqG_0Sln5Eds-TTQrktDICpDUG7kdbOUH2aEbL4O188O8Aee7DhwS734Cozo-ODFMx_iUt4EFSsV_5Rp2QhQosECm4BE4Hw9RA_taN/s320/gym.png" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me back in high school. Training for hockey. We got points for working out...I had a lot of points :) Some of the comments on this old profile picture were pretty good.</td></tr>
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For biking, I've been riding inside a lot at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nocoendurancecenter/timeline" target="_blank">NoCo Endurance Center</a> which has a great set-up for indoor riding. I've also been running a lot with a new device that's essentially a power meter for running, made by <a href="https://www.stryd.com/" target="_blank">Stryd</a>. I worked with Stryd for a bit leading up to Kona. Stryd clips onto your heart rate strap and gives you a measurement of watts while you run. However, unlike biking, less watts = more efficient. See below for a file example! A lot will be happening with Stryd over the next few weeks/months so stay tuned... If you would like to try out a device, let me know!<br />
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<b>2016</b><br />
The week after Kona, coach Mace and I sat down to discuss plans for 2016. Some people close to me have known for a few weeks already but our plan for next year is to race in the pro/elite wave.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybgVsQ45YT7_fuPKe3tObWIY20QMoCoC91VdXjRsoK4X9q-hGqAS04zoHtTW67i_OQofEj_scq4Azct4jdNvhPvM-5KkQYj4x9C8RB4-d_VNaj9ifN4zfcgKyd_ugnDmvif8pyyeERd1l/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybgVsQ45YT7_fuPKe3tObWIY20QMoCoC91VdXjRsoK4X9q-hGqAS04zoHtTW67i_OQofEj_scq4Azct4jdNvhPvM-5KkQYj4x9C8RB4-d_VNaj9ifN4zfcgKyd_ugnDmvif8pyyeERd1l/s320/shoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I had a dollar for every time over the past three years people asked
me "so when are you going pro" or "are you going to take your pro card" I
could buy a car. OK, probably not a car, but a new pair of shoes</td></tr>
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While I could write a much longer explanation as to why I have decided to take time and develop rather than take my pro license, there are a few main reasons. First and foremost, I do this sport for fun. In this sense, fun takes on many different meanings. Even though it hurts like crazy, the last eight minutes of a 2x20 min FTP test (that's right, 2x20 minutes for <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">MP athletes</a>) are something I've learned to try and enjoy. For non-triathletes, that's two 20 minute "best effort" intervals or "all out". Over the last three years I've spoken to many different coaches, athletes, training partners, friends and family alike that have all recommended taking my time. Many lessons can be learned from racing as an age grouper. I truly appreciate my coach, family and closest friends standing by me and encouraging me to develop and think longer term.<br />
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While many would already consider my dedication to training pretty high, by taking my pro card, I will do my best to treat training, recovery and fitness like my job. For one, sleep (now 7-8 hrs/night) needs to become a higher priority. <a href="http://www.aliciakayetri.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=63" target="_blank">Alicia Kaye recently wrote a blog</a> providing some insight on how seriously pros need to take all aspects (food, sleep, relationships, recovery) of their life, not just training, in order to be successful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWIAFHT9rllYKowNaRHCj75CUHWo1ogm6te2FCwklJPRlEaub_nLhvD69UHCbsLQtoWP6WRrTeazJusgwiY8nfnyJF9wg6uvUrYw4cGkKGqZDgkpPDGayoDl4mveDBQ996_Yl77R7cd21/s1600/sweaty+sweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWIAFHT9rllYKowNaRHCj75CUHWo1ogm6te2FCwklJPRlEaub_nLhvD69UHCbsLQtoWP6WRrTeazJusgwiY8nfnyJF9wg6uvUrYw4cGkKGqZDgkpPDGayoDl4mveDBQ996_Yl77R7cd21/s400/sweaty+sweater.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a pro race, but Sweaty Sweater 4 mile race by <a href="http://frontrangefreeze.com/" target="_blank">Green Events</a> this past weekend. Post race hot chocolate, boom. Stryd file <a href="http://tpks.ws/IPhIk" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stepping up to race with the pros, I know I'm going to get crushed. As long as we see some development and trends towards competitiveness, that's good. But if you know me, you know that getting crushed is good for me. It's been a long time since I've raced with some (controlled) desperation and I'm looking forward to getting back to that. I know I will likely never be THE fastest but I love pushing myself and just thinking about "racing" again makes me excited. I wouldn't say I haven't "raced" this year but it was much more of a controlled effort and everything was in preparation for Kona. <br />
<br />
<b>Implications</b><br />
So what does that mean? A few things...for the next few years, I'm more than likely going to be broke, working part time and training a lot. <br />
<br />
But hey, I'll have a Lululemon discount for being a "pro" athlete!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsMeWL1GKIaeGjepySeF4I1e-P9WfksKoIdFnQRzlu-bDS8ekUC6WtVRrX-z-ghR4vVu2fD0wZqFcP8_nNmZ1d2c8Y6wIVZAwnmgNg3NVXNw08JJBvSsVkMb3jUZelH3AvHq3-rUKy4pR/s1600/lululemon-new-yoga-pants-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsMeWL1GKIaeGjepySeF4I1e-P9WfksKoIdFnQRzlu-bDS8ekUC6WtVRrX-z-ghR4vVu2fD0wZqFcP8_nNmZ1d2c8Y6wIVZAwnmgNg3NVXNw08JJBvSsVkMb3jUZelH3AvHq3-rUKy4pR/s320/lululemon-new-yoga-pants-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holla!</td></tr>
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I'll be traveling a lot, racing a lot and just trying to appreciate and make the most of this opportunity I have. I'm going to try and commit to this lifestyle for a few years as I know my engineering degree(s, hopefully plural) will always be there. While many people say "I want to win a world championship" my goal in triathlon will always be to enjoy the sport by working hard and learning but also helping others find something they too enjoy. Over the next few weeks I'll be figuring out details with some of the companies and people I'll be working with in the future and will try and keep you updated.<br />
<br />
For me: "back to the lab again, yo"<br />
For you: Thanks for reading and have a great day! </div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-20562542346410530392015-10-15T15:04:00.001-07:002015-10-16T05:26:22.306-07:00Ironman World Championship 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
Last weekend I competed in my first Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
After qualifying last fall at <a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2014/11/punching-ticket.html">Ironman Florida</a>, coach <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/">Mace</a> and I planned 2015 to try and peak for one of the biggest races in triathlon. <br />
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<a href="https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150930/272484LOGO"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150930/272484LOGO" width="200" /></a><br />
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Several aspects make Kona a very difficult race. In addition to being 140.6 miles, the hills, heat, humidity and wind combine to make it a worthy course. I tried to prepare for the heat by sitting in a sauna to get my body used to sweating (cooling itself) at a higher rate and doing runs with a long-sleeved shirt. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>Hawaii Time</b><br />
I arrived in Kona one week early to see the course and acclimate. <a href="http://teamemj.com/">Team Every Man Jack</a> had 16 athletes racing and several of us stayed at a house near the venue. <br />
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The first day we rode 55 miles including the climb up to Hawi. Several teammates who had raced there before were especially helpful. The climb up to Hawi is 17 miles long and consists of steady rollers, similar to <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/382837273">riding up to Wyoming</a> - but much prettier! On the ride back, we felt the scorching heat. As soon as we stopped moving, we were dripping in sweat. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1WCHdVperQL6vAMg93smHDH2Ik-MjY1fk63RJsONWb2DTJGQLrRzCKihRNUeIRoRcF8dosZnQhXpT4r7Nl67JArVB5CDvu7vnWYV0Fo6vQQQk-O7zK2j7sg7tebk1-5IllkcVTcOpRg4/s640/blogger-image-1560282599.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1WCHdVperQL6vAMg93smHDH2Ik-MjY1fk63RJsONWb2DTJGQLrRzCKihRNUeIRoRcF8dosZnQhXpT4r7Nl67JArVB5CDvu7vnWYV0Fo6vQQQk-O7zK2j7sg7tebk1-5IllkcVTcOpRg4/s320/blogger-image-1560282599.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backyard view of Team EMJ house</td></tr>
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I made it a goal to try and get at least one unique Kona experience in each day instead of locking myself up and focusing on the race. The expo was incredible! I could have filled two backpacks with swag. I made sure to watch several terrible movies with teammates, write postcards and spend as much time as possible in Normatec boots at the team house. <br />
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By Thursday, my parents and Geneva had arrived. I was feeling slightly nervous and anxious so their timing was perfect. They reminded me to have fun, relax and enjoy the experience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa8JC6pK-jkn7apN-tgzLPl-aJxm7x2J-Gc5SDA12RRkIBrd8bAlkURPbBxPg5xXZuWHN2n069fEsFXbiS9cL9W8Mo4stUddwO4fQiS9hrGqP5-6ueWo85NAa8c4KjZEJFJ1vbpv6HoW-/s640/blogger-image--1476610709.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa8JC6pK-jkn7apN-tgzLPl-aJxm7x2J-Gc5SDA12RRkIBrd8bAlkURPbBxPg5xXZuWHN2n069fEsFXbiS9cL9W8Mo4stUddwO4fQiS9hrGqP5-6ueWo85NAa8c4KjZEJFJ1vbpv6HoW-/s400/blogger-image--1476610709.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guys at the undie run. I think I won the bike short tan lines competition :) </td></tr>
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<b>Race Day</b><br />
Race morning started at 3:15. I made my breakfast smoothie with 2.5 bananas, coconut milk, orange juice, Gu protein powder and a few frozen berries. After crying because I had run out of greek yogurt a day early, I realized I still had half a banana left to eat with almond butter which made me happy. I went back to bed for an hour. <br />
I was dropped off near transition with Geneva and a few other guys. I was feeling excited but relaxed, it was finally race day! Tons of people were stressing out, shaking while waiting in line for body marking and weigh ins. Walking around transition we got to see all the triathlon celebrities! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zUHp-eJk9HH_4BNmhDBRwIbUZJIwLaxlRqPP9TbltiGc4wvQyUuiC4XfwMLlvLGnk_GrE3t7kc4tPMMiZjU_AFiqIfLMqxG4s214MrgqqSg5TXZqLZPmHP4XdqnrWwVGoRvqzlM14Se0/s640/blogger-image-979179602.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zUHp-eJk9HH_4BNmhDBRwIbUZJIwLaxlRqPP9TbltiGc4wvQyUuiC4XfwMLlvLGnk_GrE3t7kc4tPMMiZjU_AFiqIfLMqxG4s214MrgqqSg5TXZqLZPmHP4XdqnrWwVGoRvqzlM14Se0/s320/blogger-image-979179602.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before heading to the swim start </td></tr>
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After putting on my <a href="http://rokasports.com/">Roka</a><a href="http://www.rokasports.com/collections/mens-viper-swimskins/products/mens-viper-pro-swimskin">swim skin</a>, I went for a short swim on the other side of the pier, away from the swim start. After two minutes, I saw smoke from the canon and realized the pro men had just started. As the helicopters swarmed, I smiled to myself thinking how lucky I was to race at such an event. A few minutes later the pro women took off. I got out of the water and made my way to the swim start. As we waded into the water, I glanced at the hundreds of spectators lining the beach walls and standing on the pier to watch - so awesome! <br />
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<b>Swim</b><br />
<u>Equipment</u>: <a href="http://www.rokasports.com/collections/mens-viper-swimskins/products/mens-viper-pro-swimskin">Roka Viper Pro Swimskin</a><br />
<u>Nutrition</u>: salt water<br />
I quickly headed to the left side of the group already in the water. Even though there was still 10 minutes, I knew it was important to start treading water and carve out a good position. With over 1200 men starting with me, the start would be physical. I planned to go out hard for 300 meters or so before trying to settle in. I prefer to swim with clear water and wanted to avoid feeling like bait in a tank full of piranhas. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhvn7wXzvQA8XIGf49_Uq1gQ-6HfpTr1Ub5awQ7tf4p3Oq8fTCEN1NC5pxg9J02Q1EXA8HqSJo8DqK0B3yEeVRdn2By60hHlLYnEo79yHs5vQH-GgpgdgkQHvjxhyphenhyphenBBst7l12rumA6ts6/s640/blogger-image-1036911920.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhvn7wXzvQA8XIGf49_Uq1gQ-6HfpTr1Ub5awQ7tf4p3Oq8fTCEN1NC5pxg9J02Q1EXA8HqSJo8DqK0B3yEeVRdn2By60hHlLYnEo79yHs5vQH-GgpgdgkQHvjxhyphenhyphenBBst7l12rumA6ts6/s400/blogger-image-1036911920.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
The locals on surfboards were yelling at us to stop edging forward and to move towards the pier. Eventually they gave up and the canon went off. I got out pretty good and was in the lead group on the left for the first few minutes. Off to the right, I saw lots of people going faster than us. Still, I wasn't getting mauled and my lungs weren't exploding; I was happy. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-9J8EtJNU_hgblxbFmizaH0fGgeAeQelCnW8ErAFVKvTYRbnx8CG-D-TVMXdUdGo5llk50DVC2t-9MdrF1aNFFD1MIzxUf0lNlwXncoAouXKuQUycE1glL10utGqrT7hAB5uaxb6QK72/s640/blogger-image-1980945313.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-9J8EtJNU_hgblxbFmizaH0fGgeAeQelCnW8ErAFVKvTYRbnx8CG-D-TVMXdUdGo5llk50DVC2t-9MdrF1aNFFD1MIzxUf0lNlwXncoAouXKuQUycE1glL10utGqrT7hAB5uaxb6QK72/s400/blogger-image-1980945313.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Kona amateur male swim start </td></tr>
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After 8 - 10 minutes, our pack began heading to the buoy line. I was feeling good and the salt water was bugging me less than in earlier swims. It seemed to take a long time before we reached the turn. As we went around the boat, I spotted a few divers underneath us taking pictures. The thrashing of all of us must have looked pretty sweet. If there hadn't been 1000 people behind me I would definitely have smiled and waved for them! <br />
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Heading back to the pier, my focus dropped a few times. I was in a pack and thought we were moving well but I could still see many swimmers in front of us. My thoughts turned negative for a few minutes. How are all these people swimming faster than me? I still have over 8 hours of this thing left. I snapped my self out of it by focusing. Swim six strokes, sight, then repeat. I told myself, this is the world championships! Of course there are faster swimmers. The constant movement in the waves made me a little nauseous so I focused on a quicker stroke rate. Finally, I could see the pier and all the people lining the sides watching and cheering for us. Once my hands touched sand I stood up. As I told myself I would, I smiled big as I headed to grab my bike bag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgduyqZmHZ4qojzC9Dxw7IzVtMHN3YI3O1DI-HJVC25x1SWns7wgswODGki3tvDKF__3pvvT04JTQ94GZbRdyn2vDf5iaRRmy2JXlzBiKQrutqc2ZtV76ECglg4lxjGWFX0qZjQiz-IeZ/s640/blogger-image--349561837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgduyqZmHZ4qojzC9Dxw7IzVtMHN3YI3O1DI-HJVC25x1SWns7wgswODGki3tvDKF__3pvvT04JTQ94GZbRdyn2vDf5iaRRmy2JXlzBiKQrutqc2ZtV76ECglg4lxjGWFX0qZjQiz-IeZ/s320/blogger-image--349561837.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got to have matching colors</td></tr>
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The transition tent was much busier then my experience at Ironman Boulder. They didn't have sunscreen so I accepted I would be getting a tramp stamp and headed out to my bike.<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bike</b><br />
<u>Equipment</u>: Trek Speed Concept, <a href="http://enve.com/products/ses-6-7/">Enve 6.7 wheels</a>, <a href="http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/index_inner_detail.php?group_id=3&cat_id=117&item_id=HL530001US">Rudy Wing57</a> helmet<br />
<u>Nutrition</u>: Four packs of <a href="https://guenergy.com/">Gu </a>chomps, a few walnuts, and dates with almond butter. Everything mashed together quickly so I'd grab a few of whatever every 15 minutes. I almost ran out of food near to Hawi which I took as a good sign because I used to have trouble eating enough. I started off with two bottles of <a href="http://skratchlabs.com/">Skratch </a>then went to water and Gatorade.<br />
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My main goal of the bike was to deliver myself to the run with as little dehydration damage as possible. In town, I was passed by people who were riding much harder on hills than I wanted to. I was confident in my race prep that I could ride strong for 5 hours and didn't want to burn any matches early. I frequently was sitting up or using my brakes to make sure I was respecting the draft zone of those cutting in front of me. Instead of worrying about getting passed, I focused on having a higher cadence and controlling my effort so I could ride strong on the Queen K. <br />
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The crowds and surrounding intensity made many people make decisions they would later regret.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIDPvKCTA9-C8o6GxdHPjX22XQureNio6OzqoYYGVv5iqelrYCOmhbdGz52NlXmHBma8teBqUJmn3FhJ0gMNobxWAZFuvLZS8SbuChr6F4mJAwyEhyphenhyphenofhqKJCnakaARSj9Yv5zEq1zqwy/s640/blogger-image--1135728059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIDPvKCTA9-C8o6GxdHPjX22XQureNio6OzqoYYGVv5iqelrYCOmhbdGz52NlXmHBma8teBqUJmn3FhJ0gMNobxWAZFuvLZS8SbuChr6F4mJAwyEhyphenhyphenofhqKJCnakaARSj9Yv5zEq1zqwy/s320/blogger-image--1135728059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen K through the lava fields </td></tr>
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Once onto the Queen K, I saw that there was a distinct lack of cloud cover meaning it was going to get hot. Athletes who weren't pacing smart or forgot to take in food / liquids or use cooling methods were going to suffer. Coach Mace and I had decided on a power range for the ride. To avoid overheating, I knew I needed to keep my heart rate under 160 as much as possible. I decided to stay at the lower end of the range for the ride out to Kawaihae (before the climb out to Hawi). Throughout the ride, I went through 10-12 water bottles between drinking and squirting them into my helmet - which was very refreshing. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw6-cyIJqWGVn25KX2JXcVR-5-ymqWThO1ntZkhMlXwq_aGCOS09BlnXUhYhFyzMUL8__omu9IyyEavXma4_nTXJniWCswbaRYseY4LhMHC1gIPai5v9HZRPY6_QC8-twGWOitqrL5L_2/s640/blogger-image--1423073329.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw6-cyIJqWGVn25KX2JXcVR-5-ymqWThO1ntZkhMlXwq_aGCOS09BlnXUhYhFyzMUL8__omu9IyyEavXma4_nTXJniWCswbaRYseY4LhMHC1gIPai5v9HZRPY6_QC8-twGWOitqrL5L_2/s400/blogger-image--1423073329.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training Peaks analysis <a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/ironman-world-championship-race-analysis-8th-place-overall-amateur-steve-mantell">here</a>. Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/410547139/overview">here</a></td></tr>
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For the climb up to Hawi I wanted to ride strong - at the upper end of my power zone. <br />
<br />
One of the main competitors in my age group, Sam Long, caught me on the climb up to Hawi. Sam encouraged me before passing. I rode a little behind Sam until I dropped my chain switching between chain rings. After a quick pause to get it back on, I continued to the turn around in Hawi. I saw Sam in the penalty tent just after the turn around, it must have been very difficult to ride the first section coming out of the swim with most of the field.<br />
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Coming down from Hawi, after picking up my special needs bags, we had some strong cross winds. From teammates, I'd heard the race actually starts at mile 80 - 85, heading back to Kona. The heat was really starting to effect people. <br />
<br />
I allowed my power to spike a bit on the uphills and windy sections as I felt strong and wanted to gain time on some of my competitors if possible. However, my main goal was to still arrive in t2 as prepared as I could be to have a solid run. This meant staying on top of hydration, nutrition and cooling. Sam went by me again with around 25 miles left but I kept him in sight throughout the remainder of the bike.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5igxtji2-v7UX0_61t4XlG1VvFomlSDgiDpK0m-PhMoIl4SDMeHzyoojaBZx6ZRQW-pHAbMGTMtHdhGtfVlHiEu2U-LMBYbkdFmBPKMHDliNHAfHTSR0UtnOmzQGGnxpngd7_za4L4qFm/s640/blogger-image-1022023438.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5igxtji2-v7UX0_61t4XlG1VvFomlSDgiDpK0m-PhMoIl4SDMeHzyoojaBZx6ZRQW-pHAbMGTMtHdhGtfVlHiEu2U-LMBYbkdFmBPKMHDliNHAfHTSR0UtnOmzQGGnxpngd7_za4L4qFm/s320/blogger-image-1022023438.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As anyone who has raced Kona knows, the airport is a welcome sight on the way back to town</td></tr>
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Into transition, I smiled big from all the spectators screaming at us. I took my time in transition to change socks, switch out my heart rate strap to the <a href="https://www.stryd.com/">Stryd </a>running power meter and grabbed a few cups of water before heading out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuRxjh-8cXUtA3a7rgjC0FEc3jCyJpGNngrhzD3MfG3ci0XTzZhFC9wEkdaDb2KesoXZCMzZy5q3aV2OpLTYPKQ_cs45bQ1_DUnl92IXvKFpuz5EpKmY4F-fHq0Wfv7DfvsrwfEClEya2/s640/blogger-image--1658457394.jpg"><img border="0" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuRxjh-8cXUtA3a7rgjC0FEc3jCyJpGNngrhzD3MfG3ci0XTzZhFC9wEkdaDb2KesoXZCMzZy5q3aV2OpLTYPKQ_cs45bQ1_DUnl92IXvKFpuz5EpKmY4F-fHq0Wfv7DfvsrwfEClEya2/s200/blogger-image--1658457394.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
After a few months of testing with Stryd, I was part of a live running with power demonstration during the race <br />
<br />
<b>Run</b><br />
<u>Equipment</u>: <a href="https://www.on-running.com/en-us">On Cloud</a> running shoes, <a href="http://bocogear.com/">Boco</a> race trucker hat, <a href="http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/index_inner_detail.php?group_id=1&cat_id=31&item_id=SP313887">Rudy casual sunglasses</a><br />
<u>Nutrition</u>: Four <a href="http://powerbar.com/">Powerbar</a> gels in a flask through mile 14, <a href="http://www.baseperformance.com/product/base-electrolyte-salt/#.ViAa7_lx3OA">Base Performance salt</a> every mile, Red Bull after mile 14, lots of water / ice<br />
Ali'i drive was packed with people. Right away I saw I was running 6:30 / mile pace - too fast. I was hoping to run between 6:50 and 7:00 / mile pace for most of the run. However, I quickly acknowledged that heat management was going to be more crucial than running fast. Athletes stressing themselves to run their goal pace would suffer too much after the first section and blow up. After I settled in to about 7 min pace, I only looked at my watch a few times for the next 3 hours. I just focused on my form and heat management. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_LgDI_gUjqZOTP6N3gfyUTNIKjEd7CVSrzaQt5TqkbuD3VnxElpkh1vGsQHotztlN0lSDCcKdx_GK3PrXDv5bPkW36hoW6f6L9Td-EMFsPFs5jLjSVy9MFj_voCNmKnj2amvYuvwSUvm/s640/blogger-image-1144248107.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_LgDI_gUjqZOTP6N3gfyUTNIKjEd7CVSrzaQt5TqkbuD3VnxElpkh1vGsQHotztlN0lSDCcKdx_GK3PrXDv5bPkW36hoW6f6L9Td-EMFsPFs5jLjSVy9MFj_voCNmKnj2amvYuvwSUvm/s320/blogger-image-1144248107.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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On Ali'i, I tried to let my form flow and find a rhythm. I got splits from others that I was a little bit back from 4th place in my age group. I stayed calm and was confident that I would eventually reel people in. The first three or four miles of the marathon, most people run too fast because it feels fantastic to get off the bike. I worked on nailing down a routine for each aid station. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHet5ctC3JgWM0M3tjElsOPbm-90kSfOHmMT1y_-eCQqX5ukpxmckbc630BlEfDsyluhE9AwvOuXvxtoKh0YM5iS8JcNvRpZw6GheHGq-i2ruwfGQhbgpYmjuA8U-T7NDlgQfR2Vv-k9K/s640/blogger-image-1609038187.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHet5ctC3JgWM0M3tjElsOPbm-90kSfOHmMT1y_-eCQqX5ukpxmckbc630BlEfDsyluhE9AwvOuXvxtoKh0YM5iS8JcNvRpZw6GheHGq-i2ruwfGQhbgpYmjuA8U-T7NDlgQfR2Vv-k9K/s200/blogger-image-1609038187.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved this stuff and it worked great </td></tr>
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The aid stations in Kona were very long. For each aid station, I would go salt, sponges, water then ice. One cup of ice went into my hat and a second one down my top. After another cup of water or some Gatorade, I would pick up my pace to focus on the next aid station. In between each aid station, I'd suck on an ice cube and hold some in my hand. Lots of blood goes through your hands so it felt fantastic - try it. Every two miles I would take a sip from my gel flask.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSzdLcV5gkkPZqtXunP-Mxd_QrUzVVUyTjO8s_AhWVO9SvYOOsqBRuT991hs0z9ACtKF968ZUeihL_CaszAvhRYubeoj9teAScz9PVh1KOjqhWF-PKheVTEhGisKCwSowL0z6izgQchMo/s640/blogger-image-170640180.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSzdLcV5gkkPZqtXunP-Mxd_QrUzVVUyTjO8s_AhWVO9SvYOOsqBRuT991hs0z9ACtKF968ZUeihL_CaszAvhRYubeoj9teAScz9PVh1KOjqhWF-PKheVTEhGisKCwSowL0z6izgQchMo/s320/blogger-image-170640180.jpg" /></a><br />
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I stayed calm the first 5 miles and took in as much energy from the crowd as I could. My feet felt good and I held back the urge to show how fast I could go. A few people came back to me around miles four and five. I ran up to my EMJ teammates and we talked for a bit before continuing. I caught Sam just before the turn around and he said he was struggling with the heat. He urged me on and I told him to stay strong. <br />
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On the way back to town my body felt good and my cooling methods were working. I saw several groups of EMJ cheering squads and they yelled for me, saying I looked great. As I headed up Palani to the Queen K, everyone running around me was more spread out and they were hurting. I had heard stories of people being crushed heading up Palani, completely falling apart once they reached the Queen K. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://victoriawgilbert.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/run2014kona-e1415122580671.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="178" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palani hill on the run </td></tr>
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I reached the Queen K and it was a completely different atmosphere. Other than aid stations, there was hardly anyone out there. Geneva had worked her way to a lonely spot on the course and provided great motivation. There was no shade and the people running in front of me were falling apart. Every few minutes I would start to see another person stop to walk. A few pro men and women were trudging along or walking with each other. </div>
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I told myself that I enjoyed the heat. My legs were starting to hurt but I kept on taking in salt and slowing down at aid stations. After a few miles, I saw the men's winner, Jan Frodeno cruising back. I finished off my gel flask around mile 14 and started taking in Red Bull for energy. Heading down into the energy lab, I told myself that no matter what happened in there, I would run as strong as I could once I emerged. </div>
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I caught two more guys at the turn around in the energy lab. I saw a few more pros walking and another throwing up on the side of the road. Things were getting hard. I focused on making it to the top of the hill just out of the energy lab. I thought of everyone following along in town or at home and continued to push. Heading back to town, I knew I was in second place by 10 minutes. I was going to try and reel him in as much as I could, anything could happen in the last nine miles of the marathon. Still, I was not going to be upset if I ran to the best of my ability. All I could control was that exact moment so I did my best to not worry about the result. On the Queen K there was even more carnage. A few guys spectating from EMJ biked out to meet me which was great. They said I looked awesome and to focus on form up the last hill. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5lx3LY9Gw09yZEpwvpfy2rW9zzjBZfIUU3ryWFj8K_vxuPxPLV3tye87mgouuZE5Ihr13ISXm0T681L46aouEYkItsutIiewkd-3fgqItzRUFbf0h3LGXRoBtpLaBUDc1HjqZGOxtHdY/s640/blogger-image--308678557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5lx3LY9Gw09yZEpwvpfy2rW9zzjBZfIUU3ryWFj8K_vxuPxPLV3tye87mgouuZE5Ihr13ISXm0T681L46aouEYkItsutIiewkd-3fgqItzRUFbf0h3LGXRoBtpLaBUDc1HjqZGOxtHdY/s320/blogger-image--308678557.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last section before the carpet! </td></tr>
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My body hurt a lot by mile 22 but I knew I would finish strong. I smiled going through the aid stations and made sure to thank the volunteers who ran after me with extra sponges. As I turned down on Palani, I started to think about all the hard work that had gone into the race. My quads screamed as I pounded down Palani with spectators going crazy all around me. The street was lined with screaming fans taking pictures and encouraging me. I felt good and tried to take it all in. There were messages written in chalk on the road and fans sticking half their bodies over the barricades to give me a high five. I slapped a few hands as I headed to the finish. I felt so grateful and so ecstatic crossing the line. I had done it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMA41aQAybZDwofx1Ti-pPKvyqfj13gqDm_ggJjG_s4tOeBEkCdaaDp5SuZCxNR7Csnml0R4Cvc6lEC_NXk3idJB5KugYCs2snjnMuklRKSvaqTVoIRbzFQQXiy2qTvX6XDyCpbe_mLjw/s640/blogger-image-1311415620.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMA41aQAybZDwofx1Ti-pPKvyqfj13gqDm_ggJjG_s4tOeBEkCdaaDp5SuZCxNR7Csnml0R4Cvc6lEC_NXk3idJB5KugYCs2snjnMuklRKSvaqTVoIRbzFQQXiy2qTvX6XDyCpbe_mLjw/s400/blogger-image-1311415620.jpg" /></a><br />
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After acknowledging the crowd, I was quickly flanked by volunteers in case I collapsed but I told them I was good, just extremely happy. I leaned on them for a bit as they guided me back to the recovery area. I wanted to find my parents and girlfriend to thank them and celebrate. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1wo2xXt4sxls1MyD_Okji7XcHen2JrZkBg_DgVpksxoKRaCgbTHSmLafwXUqtE6w8C4FUJ-9wykRr1IGqwC8Az3xNq31ZAEtzWPjcxtdTVx7ytUPEJJkhBrXea2wCYJO1YGUpCXVG50K/s640/blogger-image-1911578824.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1wo2xXt4sxls1MyD_Okji7XcHen2JrZkBg_DgVpksxoKRaCgbTHSmLafwXUqtE6w8C4FUJ-9wykRr1IGqwC8Az3xNq31ZAEtzWPjcxtdTVx7ytUPEJJkhBrXea2wCYJO1YGUpCXVG50K/s200/blogger-image-1911578824.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy to see her!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of the night was spent cheering on finishers, eating and sending my bike home with <a href="http://tribiketransport.com/">Tri Bike Transport</a>.<br />
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The next day Team EMJ had a team lunch. It was great to see everyone who raced and all their friends and family. Later that evening we went to the awards ceremony. Standing on the podium at a world championship was an incredible experience.<br />
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The next few days Geneva and I stayed with my parents a little ways out of town. We went snorkeling and drove around the island, hiking to see the variety of landscapes in Hawaii. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bRggzyK0FQBu70r2e1s3rYkuCkxqzjZmnrqDRwQ7H0jDoB6bJfNY5Vu_heOpeN2zogk57-Y-mS1jXIG8lOvjNfgo7jvuAujjnKUa_9dIV_qa_Pw1vlxww43RtkU3Ijuz8xfAiD3VEkuK/s640/blogger-image--244100784.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bRggzyK0FQBu70r2e1s3rYkuCkxqzjZmnrqDRwQ7H0jDoB6bJfNY5Vu_heOpeN2zogk57-Y-mS1jXIG8lOvjNfgo7jvuAujjnKUa_9dIV_qa_Pw1vlxww43RtkU3Ijuz8xfAiD3VEkuK/s400/blogger-image--244100784.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLnfxDNfAw2n7ALPfr8gnx7IlEHl8hy1GQEh26GRDi7zc-pvzi2VSQPU8TzjdfDeGNPWnqMrQ22WQ4rUk42WmHZyETitUvyUKdFKxVJtOuyrtyD-qDpmDEELUe2b9AmnSr8XzRYx__POX/s640/blogger-image--474888935.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLnfxDNfAw2n7ALPfr8gnx7IlEHl8hy1GQEh26GRDi7zc-pvzi2VSQPU8TzjdfDeGNPWnqMrQ22WQ4rUk42WmHZyETitUvyUKdFKxVJtOuyrtyD-qDpmDEELUe2b9AmnSr8XzRYx__POX/s320/blogger-image--474888935.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsxtt-5dXPaZaeB06NPxTVF1Qu6QzUIx4fxSSJgIN7XWteAZYqDNPxExhtVExYanhz8_ImZpaxDETeNvsOfzLTHSNTyx65vl6ac79iMF3Uaa4J2lAAmE2vPj-S1Y7Yt6phTVmtQxdDXoE/s640/blogger-image--1074046030.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsxtt-5dXPaZaeB06NPxTVF1Qu6QzUIx4fxSSJgIN7XWteAZYqDNPxExhtVExYanhz8_ImZpaxDETeNvsOfzLTHSNTyx65vl6ac79iMF3Uaa4J2lAAmE2vPj-S1Y7Yt6phTVmtQxdDXoE/s400/blogger-image--1074046030.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9uTkiwy9h9QiEHKbDLiUL4X1z60y7m80F2taoZpJ00_ErXtkI3bfsUWwr1Aru5na15o3KuI2seIS-KkBGSVZG06f0Jgy2mu3WWctm03fucf4rVgSa94msvIq28HU0cvFLQ-SwW68Gikl/s640/blogger-image-1372531406.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9uTkiwy9h9QiEHKbDLiUL4X1z60y7m80F2taoZpJ00_ErXtkI3bfsUWwr1Aru5na15o3KuI2seIS-KkBGSVZG06f0Jgy2mu3WWctm03fucf4rVgSa94msvIq28HU0cvFLQ-SwW68Gikl/s320/blogger-image-1372531406.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxq_Qi77UNwh59ZbgHkkuFm0whpM9nuHp9ejlExvljq5pi02RlxOxWjpBSTEcah8vToPhLZogA34MYz9k8HQ_7ffp-4DlZtXf5_ousZZXmsm8VHLZtreOMZR0kiB_AKJHmzn4F7Hr8XHO/s640/blogger-image-1468086970.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxq_Qi77UNwh59ZbgHkkuFm0whpM9nuHp9ejlExvljq5pi02RlxOxWjpBSTEcah8vToPhLZogA34MYz9k8HQ_7ffp-4DlZtXf5_ousZZXmsm8VHLZtreOMZR0kiB_AKJHmzn4F7Hr8XHO/s320/blogger-image-1468086970.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thank you so much to everyone who made this trip possible. My parents and Geneva, thanks for cheering me on all day and being patient with my slow walking after the race. <br />
<a href="http://teamemj.com/">Team EMJ</a> thanks, for providing constant inspiration and clean-up-nice products throughout the year. <br />
<a href="http://normatecrecovery.com/">Normatec</a>, those boots. So awesome. I used them every day for a month leading up to the race.<br />
The best swim skin and goggles out there, thank you <a href="http://rokasports.com/">Roka</a> for supporting us.<br />
Thank you <a href="http://enve.com/">Enve </a>for hooking me up with a pair of 6.7's to use on race day<br />
<a href="http://mpmultisport.com/">Coach Mace</a> for being the mastermind behind the training plan and keeping me on track.<br />
<a href="http://www.csutriathlon.com/">CSU Triathlon</a> and <a href="http://nocotriathlon.com/">NoCo Tri</a>, thanks for being great training partners.</div>
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Up next is a little break before I start planning out the next few years. Nothing is set in stone yet but I have received encouragement from numerous people to see where I can take things in triathlon. I love the training and lifestyle of the sport. As long as I'm still having fun at the end of the day, why not... Though I've had some success at the Ironman distance I consider myself too young to focus on it. The physical demands for training are extensive.<br />
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My time in Kona was awesome and I hope to be back to race again some day. If you have any questions about the race or my experience there, do not hesitate to reach out and contact me! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NuAwJZu3w75W8CrivDWYkJzoEgApdpW6xmCm6Wuj7hrxy3N-TGtdy1foEGPb-OJOyeYEVnuykg05SgJ5FkOizm7GFclfYWEZgb23H4N6uzTMDCRwlmFFMuq2tS4cMy5CCT_sEE8yyqLV/s640/blogger-image-1222530586.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NuAwJZu3w75W8CrivDWYkJzoEgApdpW6xmCm6Wuj7hrxy3N-TGtdy1foEGPb-OJOyeYEVnuykg05SgJ5FkOizm7GFclfYWEZgb23H4N6uzTMDCRwlmFFMuq2tS4cMy5CCT_sEE8yyqLV/s320/blogger-image-1222530586.jpg" /></a><br />
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P.S. Over the next few months, I'll be reaching out to potential partners to work with over the next few years. If you know anyone who might be interested in supporting me in any way, I would love to be put in contact.</div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-61310420542418951112015-08-04T14:31:00.001-07:002015-08-05T06:52:32.126-07:00IM Boulder 2015<div style="text-align: center;">A few days after Ironman Boulder, my body hurts but I'm happy.</div>
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Training going into the race had been going well and I felt like I was in good shape. As usual it's hard to back things off 10 days before a nine hour race but you have to trust your training and your coaching. The last week before the race, in the back of my head, I was always telling myself, "Save it for race day!" Because that's really when it counts.</div>
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I arrived in Boulder a few days early to get organized. Running around town was a little stressful at times but eventually things were done and the day before the race I was able to relax with other <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">MP Multisport</a> athletes and enjoy some food and company! I've found that I enjoy myself much more if I'm involved in activities and around other people instead of holing up in a room and over-focusing. The environment in Boulder was fantastic and a lot of people contributed to making the event fun for the athletes.</div>
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<b>Race Day</b></div>
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My morning started off at 3 am. I made a big smoothie (coconut milk, greek yogurt, <a href="https://guenergy.com/" target="_blank">GU </a>strawberry watermelon recovery mix, 2.5 bananas, a few frozen berries and ice cubes) for breakfast. I estimated the smoothie to have around 700 calories which would give me plenty of energy for the day. And because it is never okay to leave half a banana, I ate a big scoop of sunbutter with the leftover banana. Before leaving the house, I wrote some key words on my hand: "Relax", "Focus" and "Smile".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ1KQaUB9zMfIaFuDEwTqG-J4a7ZvlNEwZIrOrOQakF2fpE7M7IW3DZzMEVbonEXoyNeaw1XPiUfRQ9yjsWAB5yXMBOgHSH5herQzngvDONpmrEpjZt9wzeG0DpYV1kWQPmjHwmC20t1J/s1600/qb900b-ninja-master-prep-blender-xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ1KQaUB9zMfIaFuDEwTqG-J4a7ZvlNEwZIrOrOQakF2fpE7M7IW3DZzMEVbonEXoyNeaw1XPiUfRQ9yjsWAB5yXMBOgHSH5herQzngvDONpmrEpjZt9wzeG0DpYV1kWQPmjHwmC20t1J/s320/qb900b-ninja-master-prep-blender-xl.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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After dropping off special needs bags, Erik and I jumped on a bus and arrived at the reservoir around 4:45. Walking into transition, someone with a microphone informed the athletes it would be a "wetsuit optional swim" because the water temperature was 78 degrees. This meant no wetsuits for those who wanted to qualify for age group awards or Kona spots. I was alright with this news, and mentally made a note to try and use my legs as little as possible. I quickly set up my nutrition, bottles and computer on my bike before heading to put my tri top in my bike clothe's bag (shoulders can't be exposed in non-wetsuit swim). </div>
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After using the bathroom and a 10 minute run, I laid down to relax and watch the sun rise. I was excited and ready to go. I pulled on my <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Roka </a>swimskin. My girlfriend, Geneva, and her mom met up with me as I headed down to flop around in the water before the swim start. The warmup area was about as big as a large apartment, with about 100 people in it. It wasn't much of a warmup but it was better than starting completely cold. Eventually I made it over to the boat ramp where the start would begin.</div>
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As I navigated my way up to the "less than 1 hr" sign, I couldn't stop smiling. Finally, the day we had all been waiting for was about to begin. All the training and hard work was finally going to show and after not getting to swim at IM Florida last fall, I was finally going to get to try a "full triathlon". I found coach Mace and he said enjoy this moment, so I started crying.</div>
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<b>Swim</b></div>
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The canon went off, and despite all the pent-up energy, we walked calmly down to the water's edge before starting our journey. I started swimming hard for a few minutes before settling into a rhythm. For the most part, everyone around me was swimming a straight line with minimal contact. There was a lead paddle border for us about 50 meters away that we could sight off. I broke the swim up into thirds separated by two turns. For the first section, I wanted to take it easy and draft as much as possible. This part went by quickly and I made sure to smile because we were still getting to watch the sun rise and it was beautiful. </div>
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The next section I began picking up the pace a little bit and by about half way was leading a line in our group. My swimming felt good. Not pretty and effortless but good. The last third I tried to turn up the pace and increase my stroke rate. My tinted Roka goggles worked great with the sun and I was able to easily see all the buoys on the way back. Or what I thought was buoys. I accidentally sighted to one of the volunteers for about 30 seconds. In my defense they were wearing orange reflective vests that looked similar to the buoys. After mentally apologizing to the swimmers drafting off me, I corrected and made my way to the swim exit.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP4yTmL2I7_g3DNLCxbOkufvhB2sh4VFASYRnTQwOZsnVDmInLiseRITvtHWoGEP7HdQNaEw7L3PZUblaudTITW-2V957j7TWr0MMsn27OAH5A7qdTUZZlP22I0zz9f4hbOQa8sMSgoJm/s1600/other+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP4yTmL2I7_g3DNLCxbOkufvhB2sh4VFASYRnTQwOZsnVDmInLiseRITvtHWoGEP7HdQNaEw7L3PZUblaudTITW-2V957j7TWr0MMsn27OAH5A7qdTUZZlP22I0zz9f4hbOQa8sMSgoJm/s320/other+3.png" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dem goggles</td></tr>
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Running up out of the water I got major chills. The crowd was huge. The boat ramp was lined on both side with people. Screaming. It was so cool. I tried looking for Geneva in the crowd but couldn't find her on the way to grabbing my bag. Into the change tent, my volunteer emptied the contents of my bag. Trying to lower my heart rate while I put on my top, I asked him to undo my matched socks. I buckled up my Rudy helmet, grabbed my shoes and ran out to the sunscreen station. I bent over, asking them to "get my tramp stamp area" before I continued on to find my racked bike. I trotted my way up to the line, slid my feet into my shoes and hopped on my bike. </div>
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For the first hour of the ride, my plan was to stick to the lower end of my watt range with a slightly higher cadence. In Matt Dixon's book, The Well-Built Triathlete, he recommends that for the first quarter of the bike you do this as you change from swim to bike mindset and to get your muscles sending the biking neuromuscular messages quickly. Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/360527107#kudos" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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I started eating and drinking about 20 minutes into the ride. My stomach
felt good and I wasn't too hungry yet but I knew my stomach could accept some calories. About 30 minutes in, I had to pee. Good, I thought, this means I'm hydrated and I've practiced peeing on the bike. I knew the bike course and waited for a downhill. For whatever reason, I could not seem to relax enough going 40 mph downhill. Guess I have to practice more.<br>
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My nutrition throughout the ride was cut up dates stuffed with sunbutter, walnuts and some chomps. I had placed them in my top-tube box somewhat organized but everything quickly molded together. Eventually I stopped trying to pick things out and grabbed a small handful of the mixture. I smiled to myself because I had told Geneva my nutrition would be a "grab bag" of goodies I could choose from. It was exciting not knowing what I was going to get. It all tasted delicious and more importantly, gave me energy. </div>
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Other than trying to will my bladder to empty on a few downhills, only to become frustrated, the first loop of the ride was uneventful. I was passed early on by a few bikers, never to be seen again but then stayed in my same overall place. The CSU and CU Tri aid station was just after Hygiene and it was awesome getting to see all my friends hollering at me as I went by. After the first loop, I focused on drinking more liquids. I knew the day was going to get warmer and I'd pay for it dearly on the run if I started dehydrated. </div>
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After the second loop, the course headed east for the last 25 or so miles. I hadn't ridden this section of the course before and reports I'd received ranged from two hills that "weren't so bad" to "mind-crushing walls". I just reminded myself that everybody does the same course so just watch the watts and get up and stretch because the run is coming! I caught someone ahead of me fading on the second loop and was screamed at by Angela (Team EMJ member Ricardo's wife) as I headed back to the high school.<br>
I had noticed that my heart rate was increasing as I continued holding the same effort. This indicated to me that the temperature was rising and that it was getting harder for my body to cool down. Instead of forcing myself to bike at the same watts, I "relaxed" and "focused" and tried to ride with my heart rate close to 155. Coach Mace and I had talked about this before the race, putting a cap on the bike heart rate so that I could still have a good run. Back into town, at some intersections, it took police officers a few seconds to realize a biker was coming at 25+ mp and I was scared the cars weren't going to stop but eventually I found myself dismounting at the high school.<br>
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After handing my bike off to a volunteer I entered the change tent and was immediately joined by Billy Edwards and Steve Johnson. Mace and I had also talked about strategies going into the race and I knew that being around these two heading into the run was a good thing. While one volunteer had my watch start looking for satellites, another filled up my handheld water bottle. I put on new socks and my <a href="http://www.saucony.com/en/home" target="_blank">Saucony </a>shoes and headed out just behind Steve Johnson. Mace said we were about 12 minutes down from first place. That's over a mile but a lot can happen over 26 miles! I had no ambitions to win and just wanted to focus on putting together a good marathon.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JrACX-i-9lVlcJuaDw0xQD6pjzdwRkSxBr5H61LdjEXMvbP_PEqXZFocdNz5Gl8670UxieXWNBeCJUpUyiVoTByGeIPEliGvrnQsHGN4mSKtB7zq2RUSZM6l2XOUHe6mry-XfOpw9Wr0/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JrACX-i-9lVlcJuaDw0xQD6pjzdwRkSxBr5H61LdjEXMvbP_PEqXZFocdNz5Gl8670UxieXWNBeCJUpUyiVoTByGeIPEliGvrnQsHGN4mSKtB7zq2RUSZM6l2XOUHe6mry-XfOpw9Wr0/s320/IMG_1099.JPG" width="320"></a> </div>
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My plan going into the run was to run above 7 min/mile pace for the
first 10 or so miles before picking it up if things felt alright.
Running about 10 seconds behind Steve, we were going just under 7
min/mile pace but it was downhill. I knew Steve was a very experienced Ironman athlete and wouldn't push the first few miles which it is surprisingly easy to do these events. Out of transition, there was an enormous cheering section, screaming. I smiled at everyone but tried to focus on the next three hours of running. <br>
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The bottoms of my feet started to bother me around mile three. It felt like there were hot spots forming and I really did not want to get any blisters. I altered my running form a little to run with a midfoot / heel strike which felt a little uncomfortable and slower at first but eventually I was able to ignore it. I saw Geneva and David with a big water gun about four miles into the run. I smiled and said yes to being blasted with water. </div>
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My body did not feel hot but I got ice in my hat at every aid station and slowed down to get a few cups of cold water. Even though my body and mind was raging to go, I reminded myself, your still only five miles into a 26 mile run. It will hurt, no need to go searching for it just yet. Instead I "relaxed" and "focused" on my form and nutrition through about mile eight, eating a chew about every mile. </div>
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As soon as we turned back to head west and finish up the first of the two loop run, things got a little harder. I still felt good and strong but noticed I was working a little harder and we were holding around 7:05 min/mile pace - a little bit slower. People had said that we would notice the uphills heading west. It wasn't steep but it was not flat. Steve and I passed Billy and Rafael (first overall out of the water) on the first loop but kept our pace steady. Running behind Steve, it was impressive to watch his calm and steady pace. He wasted no energy on facial expressions or gestures towards others.<br>
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After we made it to the high point on the course and started heading back downhill to begin the second loop, I started picking up the pace. I wouldn't say I put in a surge but I decided to just not hold back on the slight downhill. I had finished off my water bottle and picked up a two extra packages of chomps. After passing Steve, I was running in third place which meant...lead biker :) </div>
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My third place lead biker was awesome. He constantly was rallying the crowds to cheer for me and providing encouragement himself. He also estimated some time gaps and told me when Steve had faded from view behind me. My form felt good and while my feet hurt, I knew I was going to make it, the only question was how hard could I go and would I blow up. The crowds were three people deep in some sections. Their cheers gave me energy and when I smiled back they cheered louder. </div>
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Beginning the second lap, I stuck to my nutrition plan and drank water and had ice at every aid station, slowing down as needed to make sure I got a few solid cups down. As I passed Curt for second, he praised me and said well done. Hearing that, from someone I respect gave me energy and confidence. I got a new lead biker and set off to run back uphill. I thought that if the blow up were to happen, it would be on the uphill from miles 20-24. My legs hurt but they never gave in. </div>
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I told myself to keep running for all those people watching and cheering for you. I focused on controlling my upper body and having good form. I drank some coke at mile 21 but didn't notice any drastic effects so switched back to cold water. Heading back uphill, I was close to eight minutes behind Clay. I knew anything could happen in the final miles but it would be hard to close that gap either way so I focused my own process. Once I reached the high point again, with only two miles to go, I tried to really enjoy the last few minutes. Mace had said I could be right around nine hours so I tried to push a little to hope I could make that. I made the turn up towards the finish shoot, thanked my lead biker and smiled all the way to the finish.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVI9M6zXUOZaCZjW0yfOLQW0VKZgY28YeqzuCJas_CgT6Q8Aa5M3Cz4F0taUtrqAC_3nAJXN9J1HALMkJA95ZaOhaZTfsByeN7oL91Jj3RnGhF8GZQSGu3lR1VH3LoegpxIgvOW68WVhy/s1600/IMG_1096.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVI9M6zXUOZaCZjW0yfOLQW0VKZgY28YeqzuCJas_CgT6Q8Aa5M3Cz4F0taUtrqAC_3nAJXN9J1HALMkJA95ZaOhaZTfsByeN7oL91Jj3RnGhF8GZQSGu3lR1VH3LoegpxIgvOW68WVhy/s320/IMG_1096.JPG" width="240"></a></div>
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As I'm sure every Ironman athlete would say, the feeling of crossing that finish line was incredible. I leaned on my volunteer for a while before finding Geneva and others. I took off my shoes, relieved to not find any enormous blisters on the bottom of my feet and hobbled around to get a massage. My hips were very tight and more or less everything hurt but I was happy. I had trained hard, tapered well and executed a good race in front of people I love. </div>
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I chose a few things from the food tent, salty chips tasted really good, and sat down to watch other finishers. Soon after, Ricardo finished, qualifying for Kona for the first time. </div>
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A race like this does not happen without a great support system and there are so many people that played a role in this. </div>
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Masters swim coach (and triathlete) Eric Nielson has been running some fantastic triathlon-specific swim sessions this summer that I feel has really maintained my swim fitness. Green Events has also organized weekly open water swims at Horsetooth were a big help in getting more open water practice.</div>
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I was able to borrow two different race wheels for Ironman Boulder and Patrick Ray worked on my extremely finicky bike for a long time to make sure everything was safe, fast and working properly.</div>
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Big thank you to my parents who are always huge supporters and there for me through the lows and highs. </div>
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Thank you to everyone out there on race day cheering us on, namely the CSU and CU Tri teams. I really liked seeing your faces and the excitement. I really appreciate all the comments and messages these past few days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymsp6r0BFWo6sWMGGA4jSKGgppT3VYTCJGJUXw-VeHFPUzRVBrBgaqvm1ZJaFyDNnDgOdklHYAWE0bu98V7naqeQS09fzLvOswKX_7bpO7sZAmkQl3tKjGI5J1I7cQugnrDtae6Lig1C8/s1600/11855355_10153542730282710_1433318169_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymsp6r0BFWo6sWMGGA4jSKGgppT3VYTCJGJUXw-VeHFPUzRVBrBgaqvm1ZJaFyDNnDgOdklHYAWE0bu98V7naqeQS09fzLvOswKX_7bpO7sZAmkQl3tKjGI5J1I7cQugnrDtae6Lig1C8/s320/11855355_10153542730282710_1433318169_n.jpg" width="180"></a></div>
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Thanks to Geneva, whose support and encouragement leading up to the race was just what I needed. Having others tell you they believe in you, makes you believe in yourself. And I also really liked the post-race, personally-selected food options Geneva provided for me :)</div>
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Thanks to Team EMJ for motivating me every weekend and the team's sponsors for keeping us looking and smelling fresh on and off the course. </div>
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Up next for me is recovery! After a few easy weeks, I will focus on building back up to get ready for Kona. I learned a lot by starting back to regular training after IM Florida and plan to be smarter this time around.</div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-84208710953374838722015-07-27T07:41:00.003-07:002015-07-27T07:41:31.420-07:00Summer in Colorado<div style="text-align: center;">
Since racing Boulder 70.3, I've been thoroughly enjoying the summer in Colorado.</div>
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<b>Steamboat Tri the Boat</b></div>
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The last weekend in June, I raced a half-Iron distance race in Steamboat Springs. Last year was my first trip to Steamboat. The town and race are beautiful and challenging. After hearing from friends how how challenging the half was, I really wanted to race it this year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-zVVwus3kA1PD2VeGItaZCbakyj9Sv_KrEM_BgnGvwjmqpedlZvKeMNfwF6OhkdKlEGFlJ8f8zhrPJ087UXJe-haOjwg8wEvIsVCpd-coMIpJTETotpdUFO2Rm5CMZ7jLwDdbJy0UH2r/s1600/Steamboat-Springs-Horz-Red-01-300x150.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-zVVwus3kA1PD2VeGItaZCbakyj9Sv_KrEM_BgnGvwjmqpedlZvKeMNfwF6OhkdKlEGFlJ8f8zhrPJ087UXJe-haOjwg8wEvIsVCpd-coMIpJTETotpdUFO2Rm5CMZ7jLwDdbJy0UH2r/s1600/Steamboat-Springs-Horz-Red-01-300x150.png" /></a></div>
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The day before the race was spent getting in a few short workouts with Geneva. After picking up packets with Erik (another MP athlete also doing the race) I was able to relax and try and get ready to race. David, a CSU teammate, showed up around dinner time after riding to Steamboat from Fort Collins - a truly epic ride. He was training for IM Canada and the ride (~175 miles, >13,000 ft gain) capped off a big week for him. Since the main focus of my training for this year has been IM Boulder and Kona, the training plan had only had a few easier days before the race. I wasn't sure how things would go but I was willing to push hard and learn. </div>
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Since Boulder 70.3, I'd changed a few things with my nutrition / hydration strategy and was looking forward to putting them into place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-2GLwm_A8LsK4ZwiAMvwbKXaf4gyQYztp78CH-oxpk1VvM4Sxi6KrOjfA28LsFmGE89-45eLMm4wfuHg3PGy7j7Nnl7KQedrRU10xczbbp68YMZzzjvptODjzIuQEH3PArSEad4G01DX/s1600/steamboat+start.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-2GLwm_A8LsK4ZwiAMvwbKXaf4gyQYztp78CH-oxpk1VvM4Sxi6KrOjfA28LsFmGE89-45eLMm4wfuHg3PGy7j7Nnl7KQedrRU10xczbbp68YMZzzjvptODjzIuQEH3PArSEad4G01DX/s400/steamboat+start.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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After setting up transition and a quick warmup, I lined up in the swim right next to Erik. The field was relatively small and there wasn't much contact at the start. I quickly found Erik's feet and we began to pull away with another guy way off to our side. I stayed on Erik's feet for 2/3rds the swim then tried to let him know he could swim off me if he wanted - we were swimming a similar pace. The other guy who was with us took some crazy lines around the buoys but still ended coming out of the water with us.</div>
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Onto the bike, I was happy I had come out with Erik on the swim. He is a great swimmer and biker and I wanted to be able to at least have him in sight starting the ride. We quickly went past the other swimmer and settled in. The bike course was a 14 mile out and back x 2. As we neared mile 10, the pace felt a little too easy. I knew there were some strong riders and runners behind us and I didn't want to let them get too close. I went around Erik and started setting the pace. I wanted him to stay with me so we could continue working together. However, when I reached the turn around, there was a sizable gap back to Erik. I kept pushing, trying to keep an even pace and ride steady.<br />
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I began to focus on my hydration and nutrition heading back. The ride felt hard but not blow-up hard. I got a big boost of energy riding back around transition and seeing Geneva and David. I also knew several other MP athletes and teammates racing and tried to yell them words of encouragement during the bike. The second lap went by relatively quickly. On the way back to transition, I estimated I had a gap of around 4 minutes to Erik and 6+ to some other strong riders.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-zVVwus3kA1PD2VeGItaZCbakyj9Sv_KrEM_BgnGvwjmqpedlZvKeMNfwF6OhkdKlEGFlJ8f8zhrPJ087UXJe-haOjwg8wEvIsVCpd-coMIpJTETotpdUFO2Rm5CMZ7jLwDdbJy0UH2r/s1600/Steamboat-Springs-Horz-Red-01-300x150.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>As I got off my bike and put on my<a href="http://www.saucony.com/en/fastwitch/15057M.html?dwvar_15057M_color=S29016-1#cgid=mens-competition&start=1" target="_blank"> Saucony Fastwitch 6's.</a> Things felt good. I tried to relax for what I knew would be a challenging run. The run course was two loops with a lot of hills and no shade. All at a elevation of over 8,000 ft. I brought a water bottle to run with and was very grateful I did. The aid stations were spread out and it got hot out there. The first 2 miles were straight uphill to a campground entrance. My stomach tightened up like crazy but I kept running. I've experienced the feeling several times before and I think it's mostly from not stretching out enough on the bike and trying to cram down too much food at once. I also had gone out much too fast at Boulder 70.3 and so my goal was to pace this run better.<br />
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The first loop was tough and I did my best to hold back because I knew the second time around was going to be worse. I completely stopped at an aid station before starting the second loop to refill my water bottle. My stomach was still very tight and felt a little bloated but I tried to get some calories and fluids in while running. Running was uncomfortable. As expected, the second loop was hot and hard. With about 4 miles left, I saw I had a big gap to the next runner and knew I could win. I had to power hike up a steep hill for 5 second bursts (which was demoralizing) but eventually I made it to the top and refocused for the 2 mile downhill / flat section to the finish. When the suffering got really bad out on the course, I just remembered that I partially do the sport for those exact experiences. You learn so much about yourself when your body wants to stop. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSlT6AJLvGbfbTlCQs3GLHsNqp07rkJY0OpEpf0PrN5g9ydwEt6SSTd_-oBhbaNQ16Dn-epTR4KbV0ZCwuEMicP8_qSMaxsvtabFvtu8pFoSMKc8cbLtNo_qmu-M3tt8cMZb_H0ufRkx1/s1600/11403354_10205015388045976_1917494795893745113_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSlT6AJLvGbfbTlCQs3GLHsNqp07rkJY0OpEpf0PrN5g9ydwEt6SSTd_-oBhbaNQ16Dn-epTR4KbV0ZCwuEMicP8_qSMaxsvtabFvtu8pFoSMKc8cbLtNo_qmu-M3tt8cMZb_H0ufRkx1/s320/11403354_10205015388045976_1917494795893745113_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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After the race, I hobbled around for a bit and jumped in the lake to try and cool down. I tried to drink some fluids but my stomach still felt pretty bloated. Before we left, someone from the local paper wanted a quick interview which you can read <a href="http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/jun/28/fort-collins-man-wins-tri-boat-half-ironman/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Geneva, Erik and I quickly packed up our gear from the hotel and got something to eat from downtown. While Erik headed back to Fort Collins, Geneva and I went up to the hot springs to relax for a bit. After a few hours, my stomach and body started feeling much better.</div>
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<b>Ironman Training and Hiking</b></div>
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Since Steamboat Tri the Boat, I've been focused on training for Ironman Boulder. I've gotten in some big rides with friends. <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/339197592" target="_blank">July 4th</a>, I went from Fort Collins to Estes to Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake and back. The ride took just under 10 hrs and was around 160 miles with over 14,000 ft of elevation gain. An Ironman will never be that long of a ride but the main goal was to be exercising for about how long the race will be. <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">MP Multisport </a>has quite a few athletes training for IM Boulder and we've also done some great long runs incorporating speed. <br />
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I've also worked on trying to figure out what nutrition works for me. The race in Boulder will be much different from my IM Florida experience. For one, I have more confidence in my bike and run and will be riding at a higher effort level. This make digesting certain foods more difficult. And, more than likely, it will be much warmer which also influences what can be eaten on the bike. One of the things I'm most looking forward to for the race is getting to see everyone out on the course. Having all the support and encouragement helps a ton. No matter the scenario, I'll do my best to work through the ups and downs and enjoy the day!<br />
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Training for an Ironman takes a lot of time and makes you very tired. After a solid block of training, Geneva and I went camping in Aspen, Colorado to relax for a few days. The trip was amazing and something I really needed. We did a good amount of hiking in the Maroon Bells area. The Maroon Bells are arguably some of the most photographed mountains in America. After a few miles from the trail head, the crowds disappeared and we were hiking through some amazing landscapes. I definitely hope to be back to explore more some day.</div>
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We worked in a photo shoot for <a href="http://bocogear.com/" target="_blank">Boco Gear</a> (a <a href="http://teamemj.com/" target="_blank">Team EMJ</a> sponsor) at one of the more stunning snack break stops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhuDLS8KP_KI9fcanFNs05fXqUKaY6RkHcx1eWawk3uyQphYQtoIPepfq-M7xRAbS6vFXscNtY6CMC96jGFR0uv-TxfjNgavVer_LErBdNHWlkgI4Oriyil0mbcJP939W8PYWausy3yPS/s1600/11248702_10205022630947044_2884462610299177773_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhuDLS8KP_KI9fcanFNs05fXqUKaY6RkHcx1eWawk3uyQphYQtoIPepfq-M7xRAbS6vFXscNtY6CMC96jGFR0uv-TxfjNgavVer_LErBdNHWlkgI4Oriyil0mbcJP939W8PYWausy3yPS/s320/11248702_10205022630947044_2884462610299177773_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
Doing fun things outside of training helps remind me there is more to life than training and racing. With that being said, if you're not busy August 2nd, come out and cheer on the thousands of athletes competing in IM Boulder. You can find course maps <a href="http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/boulder/athletes/course.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>. We would all love to see you out there!</div>
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Thanks to my parents for always supporting me. Thanks to everyone who has trained with me and pushed me this summer. It's been a great time and you make the workouts that much easier. Big thank you to Team EMJ and all the team sponsors for helping us do what we love. </div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-53476154136161334032015-06-22T07:55:00.000-07:002015-06-22T20:12:39.854-07:00Boulder 70.3 and MP training camp<div style="text-align: center;">
The past week has been a blast. </div>
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<b>Boulder 70.3</b></div>
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After a busy week at work, I got all my race gear ready for Boulder 70.3. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I0jCFjI80Ikm2ktnEkFlJfSXcHBGT3uM3x2aCxQEUEthIOWcZikeNrO7GIceKYmcKTMiJSb5GkaJaTyVOMfdquYcNIqEwuxHbz4hrN6mOKKPrw42BILEYry9poCCpEx-Jfz3t2HjndWG/s1600/11653228_10153433106297710_701353146_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I0jCFjI80Ikm2ktnEkFlJfSXcHBGT3uM3x2aCxQEUEthIOWcZikeNrO7GIceKYmcKTMiJSb5GkaJaTyVOMfdquYcNIqEwuxHbz4hrN6mOKKPrw42BILEYry9poCCpEx-Jfz3t2HjndWG/s320/11653228_10153433106297710_701353146_n.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geneva thought the old lace served as a good bow / headband</td></tr>
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After an early wake-up and quick breakfast, I was soon at the Boulder Reservoir. I set up transition and headed out for a jog with some music to relax. As I was putting on my wetsuit, I wished CSU alum <a href="http://finishlinefantasies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bailey Hinz</a> good luck as she headed down to the beach for the pro women start. After getting into my <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Roka</a>, I headed down to the swim start with Geneva to warm up. I started swimming about 30 minutes before our wave was scheduled to go off to make sure my swimming muscles were feeling good.</div>
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A few minutes before our wave was to go, I found <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">Mac</a>e for some last words of advice and headed to the front. Even though there were two age groups, everyone in our wave was casual getting into the water and giving each other space. I sprinted hard for the first two or three minutes. By the second buoy, there was a group of three of us in a line. By the first turn, one of the guys in front of me had dropped off the pace and we were starting to hit congestion from the earlier waves. The remainder of the swim, I tried to find a solid rhythm in between dodging around swimmers and sighting. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTR3tN_dcped4Gr48co_dTYx8t2hVMlpLEnoIPR5WbeHRBFsilfHf7zNhiUSkJ3hXnFzaijxOR_FJwmt3zOJD9WIZcNOwfMgB0clEVwvFpM0enGsO6iq-JUBB-fntwgvRUr8O1kIkUcPS/s1600/11638083_10153433104467710_1164612810_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTR3tN_dcped4Gr48co_dTYx8t2hVMlpLEnoIPR5WbeHRBFsilfHf7zNhiUSkJ3hXnFzaijxOR_FJwmt3zOJD9WIZcNOwfMgB0clEVwvFpM0enGsO6iq-JUBB-fntwgvRUr8O1kIkUcPS/s320/11638083_10153433104467710_1164612810_n.jpg" width="127"></a></div>
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I ran hard out of the water to my bike. After nearly running over a few spectators at the mount line (completely my fault :) ) I found my pedals with some words of advice from an onlooker to "look forward no matter what". One of the wires on my left shoe came unhooked while trying to slide my foot in (the second time it's happened during a race) and after cresting the first short hill, I completely stopped, put my bike down and fixed my shoe. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissu-2Cj1iBoNkLC5kB6GTZ_bbIq3Sjt53XQGskccPRQp8W_cRQ8AhpPlHXZCyqQttfpwHx1XZLcXBvD1I5jYg8-a8O9JBXDA4hpaDnXKrtJkM3Lt2iy-bpsmDGaycQR4OVXLd02AuW1LB/s1600/11303655_10153433104392710_847028754_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissu-2Cj1iBoNkLC5kB6GTZ_bbIq3Sjt53XQGskccPRQp8W_cRQ8AhpPlHXZCyqQttfpwHx1XZLcXBvD1I5jYg8-a8O9JBXDA4hpaDnXKrtJkM3Lt2iy-bpsmDGaycQR4OVXLd02AuW1LB/s320/11303655_10153433104392710_847028754_n.jpg" width="180"></a></div>
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Going into the race, my plan was to go harder than 70.3 pace for the first 20-ish minutes to get into race mode. Only thing was, my computer wasn't picking up any signal from the power meter. I had switched mounting positions so I think this confused it a little. After basing a lot of my bike strategy to rely on watts, I did my best to not freak out and just rode hard by feel. My legs felt good and I tried to keep a steady effort up and down the first part of the course with some rollers.</div>
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After a while, my power meter started picking up a signal every few seconds but would lose it quickly. Having the computer directly in my face was quite distracting because there was no data for me to care about other than my heart rate, which was extremely high. Since mounting the bike, it had not gone below 170. I tried to ignore the high heart rate and focus on pushing at the effort I had wanted to.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLTfdwDy3Yl5hTVqceSPK9MLoZ7Nj_ffrRxHGVOkpiUHurFgKom0uE-h1F37jPX9WdetlEu_NzJ4QTrMQ1Rp8co_frSkgJf3cxWD-c612imuvD6UEIAfr3ihre71RvlKcsD1eZFF9svXe/s1600/11391541_10204812909664143_2360182137641440468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLTfdwDy3Yl5hTVqceSPK9MLoZ7Nj_ffrRxHGVOkpiUHurFgKom0uE-h1F37jPX9WdetlEu_NzJ4QTrMQ1Rp8co_frSkgJf3cxWD-c612imuvD6UEIAfr3ihre71RvlKcsD1eZFF9svXe/s320/11391541_10204812909664143_2360182137641440468_n.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not from the race, but needed another bike shot...trying out the <a href="http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/" target="_blank">Wing 57</a> (such a sweet helmet)</td></tr>
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In most of my previous half-distance races, I've unwillingly slowed down the last few miles of the bike and run. I attributed this to lack of proper nutrition and hydration during the bike leg. For Boulder 70.3, I stuffed 5 rice balls (same that I used in<a href="http://honestyandhills.blogspot.com/2014/11/punching-ticket.html" target="_blank"> IM Florida</a>) into a case mounted on my top tube. I began trying to eat around 30 minutes into the ride after I thought my stomach had settled. Trying to chew and eat at a heart rate of 170 was ridiculous. It took me a good 20 seconds to eat half a rice ball where I had to chew like a caveman to get enough air into my lungs as well. Talk about multi-tasking. I ate 4 and a half of my rice balls during the ride and went through about two bottles of fluids. I felt that I had fueled myself well enough as towards the end of the bike, I still felt strong and whenever my computer decided to sync </div>
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sink some watts, I was within the range I wanted to be in. (<a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/324896211" target="_blank">Strava file here</a>)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-Gmj0WcsL9h9wGYJGL8zpocLmIZJRkvv2xxuZ0JVzOgxvgM-h67LUCeE747Yqh4qdbbBd-KTafnxhncB8ck_oHZrJQrUQ_ODqzTxXcLMpqUm_5pGtVd9V4fagNn2yWoWgvbBYG8Zd83n/s1600/11650866_10153433104242710_497651234_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-Gmj0WcsL9h9wGYJGL8zpocLmIZJRkvv2xxuZ0JVzOgxvgM-h67LUCeE747Yqh4qdbbBd-KTafnxhncB8ck_oHZrJQrUQ_ODqzTxXcLMpqUm_5pGtVd9V4fagNn2yWoWgvbBYG8Zd83n/s320/11650866_10153433104242710_497651234_n.jpg" width="180"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to the dismount line</td></tr>
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Cruising into transition was awesome because of all the cheers. I dismounted and threw on my Saucony Fastwitchs and headed out onto the run. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LnQTtMhcVBrEYpR6ZL6kP-87xfQnThG_g7_40UAHgbvSNRbk2FXcjedwnFdnVVZ3OmvSKg7r5vGn9egzKDk8BSlRveQ3BwBWJqkSpaRoL4MP_Qv4E2eG6OzLSHA8AEW71xGo-1s5hMKw/s1600/S29016-1_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LnQTtMhcVBrEYpR6ZL6kP-87xfQnThG_g7_40UAHgbvSNRbk2FXcjedwnFdnVVZ3OmvSKg7r5vGn9egzKDk8BSlRveQ3BwBWJqkSpaRoL4MP_Qv4E2eG6OzLSHA8AEW71xGo-1s5hMKw/s320/S29016-1_1.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE shoe - matches our kit too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimH3KcaKF0B8fnj15jr4XpbBdEG_jqXdOrP-RsGTEiocyckfjQBRm47E1nBvRrTqBBBNjwYclvJdSg_gCM4y6O1hLHEE4s4J_bV-fN6EYaeIXUUUzwnsRdXYva35TfW6Tpvv6AJaGuNgj_/s1600/unnamed9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimH3KcaKF0B8fnj15jr4XpbBdEG_jqXdOrP-RsGTEiocyckfjQBRm47E1nBvRrTqBBBNjwYclvJdSg_gCM4y6O1hLHEE4s4J_bV-fN6EYaeIXUUUzwnsRdXYva35TfW6Tpvv6AJaGuNgj_/s320/unnamed9.jpg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heading out onto the run</td></tr>
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I felt confident about my run endurance going into the race, I just knew I needed to pace myself well and manage the heat which was steadily increasing. After a few minutes I looked down at my watch to make sure I wasn't running too fast. I wanted to start around 6:30 min/mile pace and settle in before picking it. Instead, I saw 5:30 pace. I tried to slow down but it felt easy. I knew I was going to majorly blow up if I tried to hold that pace for too long but I was only able to slow down to 5:55 after a mile or so. I threw out my pacing plan (bad idea) and tried to settle in to the effort.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimH3KcaKF0B8fnj15jr4XpbBdEG_jqXdOrP-RsGTEiocyckfjQBRm47E1nBvRrTqBBBNjwYclvJdSg_gCM4y6O1hLHEE4s4J_bV-fN6EYaeIXUUUzwnsRdXYva35TfW6Tpvv6AJaGuNgj_/s1600/unnamed9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimH3KcaKF0B8fnj15jr4XpbBdEG_jqXdOrP-RsGTEiocyckfjQBRm47E1nBvRrTqBBBNjwYclvJdSg_gCM4y6O1hLHEE4s4J_bV-fN6EYaeIXUUUzwnsRdXYva35TfW6Tpvv6AJaGuNgj_/s320/unnamed9.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-2dd6nLNa5yTCP-Ep_IQL5YdcuNfpgpgHHZSyhYnjuY6YuKUep9M9JVekWlhAp4Ykng5JE13A3L9xTiEWzkAf7hCGI-k4hX_sshySb10yyof0-Bj1678qjnmQq0XRcptSqM29JV0B-DS/s1600/unnamed3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-2dd6nLNa5yTCP-Ep_IQL5YdcuNfpgpgHHZSyhYnjuY6YuKUep9M9JVekWlhAp4Ykng5JE13A3L9xTiEWzkAf7hCGI-k4hX_sshySb10yyof0-Bj1678qjnmQq0XRcptSqM29JV0B-DS/s320/unnamed3.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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At every aid station, I grabbed as many cups of water, ice and gatorade as I could. Next time, I should try and make it a game to see how many I can get my hands on. (Kinda like in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkKgT1TIa-o" target="_blank">ASU's 2014 Road to nationals video</a>) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UM46iyd8aJHGthojrZHlS0NDd9lCIByZZ-YNR-m6KSTJBwDSFGZD2SW2oJDC1ujIWvnJS92R7M3C7e7OZ3J95rVk85N-7AI2WTlyXGzMTXGt1EvJvg_acFi_qpha3QykCsr68vmd6QNZ/s1600/10982451_10204647589449323_6465944601320925803_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UM46iyd8aJHGthojrZHlS0NDd9lCIByZZ-YNR-m6KSTJBwDSFGZD2SW2oJDC1ujIWvnJS92R7M3C7e7OZ3J95rVk85N-7AI2WTlyXGzMTXGt1EvJvg_acFi_qpha3QykCsr68vmd6QNZ/s320/10982451_10204647589449323_6465944601320925803_n.jpg" width="237"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty cool picture of me tossing a cup on the second lap</td></tr>
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After a few miles, I had a dreaded feeling that my stomach wasn't absorbing any more food. Post race, I looked up a few things and realized this has happened to me a few times on the bike in a triathlon. Instead of letting my heart rate relax right away, I've started eating food too early for my body, trying to follow a nutrition plan that some one else has said works for them. Eating too much food, and food that is too difficult for me to digest at a high effort, ends up shutting down my stomach. (<a href="http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2011/07/stomach-shutdown.html" target="_blank">This article</a> does a better job explaining than I can.) I didn't feel too bloated, it just felt like things weren't being adsorbed. The past week I've been experimenting with different strategies and seem to have found a combination of liquids and solids that I'm able to digest in the heat and at a high level of effort. Most importantly, I've tried learned to trust my body, relax into a 4+ hour race, and listen to what it wants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QRphX1AbzbaUVqPFAp1e2fnPRxPBQPfdu4oWSr3b26ihDm8tu5uasS_NxZHjrWMJRQGchHZ-rvLXl9l-SNT6HVHZjELgz4MzxRa60eIkmHrIXfsvLSJF8_YRT_wB_ms6oFaWWntY25be/s1600/11427797_10153394093799172_7865167407348057259_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QRphX1AbzbaUVqPFAp1e2fnPRxPBQPfdu4oWSr3b26ihDm8tu5uasS_NxZHjrWMJRQGchHZ-rvLXl9l-SNT6HVHZjELgz4MzxRa60eIkmHrIXfsvLSJF8_YRT_wB_ms6oFaWWntY25be/s320/11427797_10153394093799172_7865167407348057259_n.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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I hung tough on the run and felt really strong through about mile 10. Around then I really had to focus on form and managing the slight uphill efforts to keep a decent pace. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dfVbn1A5FNkr_A-E7BgqPj0bGXEquOXP1l74eTp7o1q_ViHuhMf56H4c6fWVp8EPUAWB-33SROib6Y_mpp2lswHwfsTrd4TR-oJ02V85pFfO1wDhRKO3dQgXsRWI7EJOWZZb2Ob9_vSP/s1600/1044759_660510290748303_8326003603408343842_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dfVbn1A5FNkr_A-E7BgqPj0bGXEquOXP1l74eTp7o1q_ViHuhMf56H4c6fWVp8EPUAWB-33SROib6Y_mpp2lswHwfsTrd4TR-oJ02V85pFfO1wDhRKO3dQgXsRWI7EJOWZZb2Ob9_vSP/s320/1044759_660510290748303_8326003603408343842_n.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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All the cheering really helped, and so did latching onto a pro women's shoulder the last 2 miles (no shame, I was hurting). The last 1/2 mile was painful. I leaned hard on my volunteers and Geneva, and poured water all over to try and cool down. I was relieved to have made it. While I could have raced smarter, I knew I gave it everything and reached my limit the last half mile which is all I want during a race. Once again, I learned a lot and got my butt kicked by my first half-iron of the year, but still want more.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_GAkyfvJpGDdsEvEF0W3mfZaWQP-YHnT8zlUCLp-nB-3b39w16tBY_uec-OuPA9wYc1zERbXFzIAw9S6IPu2MmOeXUvnaNnes9mVZ7vmhnMoZnCC0v_Lq72-fyCJse32FrdrXnaXYSia/s1600/11401054_10207317060471675_3182802625968745389_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_GAkyfvJpGDdsEvEF0W3mfZaWQP-YHnT8zlUCLp-nB-3b39w16tBY_uec-OuPA9wYc1zERbXFzIAw9S6IPu2MmOeXUvnaNnes9mVZ7vmhnMoZnCC0v_Lq72-fyCJse32FrdrXnaXYSia/s320/11401054_10207317060471675_3182802625968745389_n.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the CSU Tri team</td></tr>
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After the race, I jumped in the reservoir, got some fro yo with the CSU crew and hung out with EMJ teammates Yoni and Rudy Kahser. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFK23PuvYVn6BqFkddN7ZHiy1GHXJlLJZOzRVV5pYxPZ2ycGSF2DYfdZElTmXirsKrdh-C3Qb7a2I2SZxjLW_TjtSUkBX2c-w-LzA980E5lBN5wlZyJ_8x8kX7NgZefXG-rLlFeX72mVCU/s1600/11231029_10153040088249200_546807403506946146_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFK23PuvYVn6BqFkddN7ZHiy1GHXJlLJZOzRVV5pYxPZ2ycGSF2DYfdZElTmXirsKrdh-C3Qb7a2I2SZxjLW_TjtSUkBX2c-w-LzA980E5lBN5wlZyJ_8x8kX7NgZefXG-rLlFeX72mVCU/s320/11231029_10153040088249200_546807403506946146_n.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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When I saw Rudy before awards, he didn't say anything about him winning OA - congrats by the way! I only found out on the way home that he had gone 3:59 on a day when many pros didn't even break 4 hours. That guy is a stud and his attitude and humbleness is a testament to team EMJ : a group of elite athletes but not elitists. Such class.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9myH2fkeYL6b0rhyphenhyphent6kA2Z4r4jlJPLqaCcOgHRSv-38lzSiqS-HPRwvEms5sy6HYYFsrtUFhtz4n5e3vuCnimIZrZBcb7CoJGmh0Z4G9BCbI5mgaK0BVsII3mm38CH_hWk6kMMSXS8o-/s1600/11650704_10153433103932710_2135575752_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9myH2fkeYL6b0rhyphenhyphent6kA2Z4r4jlJPLqaCcOgHRSv-38lzSiqS-HPRwvEms5sy6HYYFsrtUFhtz4n5e3vuCnimIZrZBcb7CoJGmh0Z4G9BCbI5mgaK0BVsII3mm38CH_hWk6kMMSXS8o-/s320/11650704_10153433103932710_2135575752_n.jpg" width="296"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very grateful for Geneva's support!<b><br></b></td></tr>
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<b>MP Multisport Altitude Training Camp </b></div>
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After an easy day Sunday, I packed up my stuff and headed to Granby, Colorado with a group of <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">MP Multisport</a> athletes for an altitude training camp. We stayed at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch (> 8,000') and swam, biked and ran for 5 days. It was a fantastic experience. Recapping would take a lot so here are some pictures and you can find my rides from the week on <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196" target="_blank">Strava</a>!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FpHEMaEuP6wTgy96VgmgBE9gE88njFicR5ml9PV9NskCEVIHH5j4aDbJVx0CTQpbYqNLqXTqCVRpxRYL4stDaC2XqJLcsOAnuWC6GCtVVrp21vsc5JylT5baht-1B7mcmooWF13qGtEn/s1600/unnamed4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FpHEMaEuP6wTgy96VgmgBE9gE88njFicR5ml9PV9NskCEVIHH5j4aDbJVx0CTQpbYqNLqXTqCVRpxRYL4stDaC2XqJLcsOAnuWC6GCtVVrp21vsc5JylT5baht-1B7mcmooWF13qGtEn/s400/unnamed4.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with a view</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyAfUJuXlSBvXO7q-hCdYucvfkyhthBmoj67xFEj4RAYwJUMROmuKmk-UCxn42sdwJKgyebObVzzi_w-Kz1zC8-VZ4sBWUDn3rVsMGAMFEJ4F0hIC-UNFGNnIIArWh5BQr-Qfdk1Wr57z/s1600/unnamed7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyAfUJuXlSBvXO7q-hCdYucvfkyhthBmoj67xFEj4RAYwJUMROmuKmk-UCxn42sdwJKgyebObVzzi_w-Kz1zC8-VZ4sBWUDn3rVsMGAMFEJ4F0hIC-UNFGNnIIArWh5BQr-Qfdk1Wr57z/s400/unnamed7.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a chef prepare all our meals. Fanciest and best food I've ever eaten for a week. This meal was <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">roasted half chicken over apricot brown rice and sauteed veggies, drizzled with an apricot pan gravy. Amazing!</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj7y1-PPF0WIuJNClXs95Cwo92dSWSmtvMyIfnJDcQ_xxTTlYJi_6IFDLfhRUMybMc3lEgvMlN2qtfA_27PvRI4exF1maWQXLnbVmoCrFJjmS05c6OEzOQNjQ0tVx73sqmU-aXag7HNjx/s1600/unnamed8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj7y1-PPF0WIuJNClXs95Cwo92dSWSmtvMyIfnJDcQ_xxTTlYJi_6IFDLfhRUMybMc3lEgvMlN2qtfA_27PvRI4exF1maWQXLnbVmoCrFJjmS05c6OEzOQNjQ0tVx73sqmU-aXag7HNjx/s320/unnamed8.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing our balance and learning was also incorporated into the camp</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0Hg6DTU2VG0p7AIJq5vSDYZoVapzDNaVysB9v6BEEyZfv3PBdr-ZykE9Nji5rPW5yiPm8jOu8lnIlzanZtgQHnRSIEOl9VMHww9owQe7PBcOBihhseVY5O1m8UwBjK05QyW20PCpK5f0/s1600/11406318_977400318957588_6571975751797006517_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0Hg6DTU2VG0p7AIJq5vSDYZoVapzDNaVysB9v6BEEyZfv3PBdr-ZykE9Nji5rPW5yiPm8jOu8lnIlzanZtgQHnRSIEOl9VMHww9owQe7PBcOBihhseVY5O1m8UwBjK05QyW20PCpK5f0/s640/11406318_977400318957588_6571975751797006517_o.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad place to get lost on the second day</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo4h-lOnkhora3cZh2f4CHS0SISd_Va0oxcsZYgxsf-trBjNGsf5104iSgXjsj1dK-73MvaBQhkHV-cKkOZl-V42q-vi7uon-oXVXrADVxcG0HN6VqsGf49zTKqUrP93r8tnjJWalgNTX/s1600/11400989_831839806892623_2805456123325119674_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo4h-lOnkhora3cZh2f4CHS0SISd_Va0oxcsZYgxsf-trBjNGsf5104iSgXjsj1dK-73MvaBQhkHV-cKkOZl-V42q-vi7uon-oXVXrADVxcG0HN6VqsGf49zTKqUrP93r8tnjJWalgNTX/s400/11400989_831839806892623_2805456123325119674_n.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone at the trail ridge road visitor center</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6HT7BPjYZMQ6dCqGgMJQxuA13dyH5pjipYMmaKcWt8ItHM914oRc19XaqhuAfhb2UlLEnS9taYdQMgbHvkQIVr2-v3OzK2ya-DPgAGzmI3GIQR0smfrsULeYJkqzFh0KBtq0m8l0f5s6/s1600/unnamed6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6HT7BPjYZMQ6dCqGgMJQxuA13dyH5pjipYMmaKcWt8ItHM914oRc19XaqhuAfhb2UlLEnS9taYdQMgbHvkQIVr2-v3OzK2ya-DPgAGzmI3GIQR0smfrsULeYJkqzFh0KBtq0m8l0f5s6/s320/unnamed6.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The four of us had a pretty <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/328322928" target="_blank">epic day</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBe1oOEqjATpdS86ZHGLGGqvwdYuQTGKEVoT6wR0O6vLDdCm2IOGb0yr5aqMUGkazdq_afxmQhG7LhB0kAJ38VdTg-pGCQzO7gSoG4HGTld8aBUr23gY5CSZ7XlG0a86oDJapa3i9Sqxi/s1600/combo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBe1oOEqjATpdS86ZHGLGGqvwdYuQTGKEVoT6wR0O6vLDdCm2IOGb0yr5aqMUGkazdq_afxmQhG7LhB0kAJ38VdTg-pGCQzO7gSoG4HGTld8aBUr23gY5CSZ7XlG0a86oDJapa3i9Sqxi/s640/combo3.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the trail ridge ride!</td></tr>
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The time spent training in the mountains was fantastic. It was great meeting some other athletes and learning. Next year is a ways away but I would love to be there again and I'd highly recommend the camp to everyone. The food alone is enough to go next year!</div>
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Up next is another half-iron race in Steamboat Springs, CO. </div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great day!</div>
SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401270855706158840.post-83834523662156240322015-05-27T15:41:00.002-07:002015-05-27T15:41:17.478-07:00Clemson 2015 - Collegiate Club Nationals<div style="text-align: center;">
A few weeks ago, I traveled with the CSU Tri team to Clemson, South Carolina for the Collegiate Club National Championships. It's taken me a long to finalize this blog because since returning to school, I've been working hard to prepare for finals, finish assignments and other things in life.</div>
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A group of us competing in the draft-legal events left Colorado Wednesday to arrive a day earlier then the majority of the 30+ CSU athletes that would be attending. As I'm sure most of the other schools can attest to, the logistics of getting to Clemson was a little hectic but eventually we made it to the hotel around 12...am. </div>
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Thursday was spent doing a course preview, loosening up, discussing strategy with Coach Mace, getting checked in and drinking smoothies. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj6WxEffGdkmNve4DQGr1kGwdPUMLCZfYId_sSR6t5Ku0ftEnJFzg5oyPLHnH2fpnHbktn6TiBf-S4I5Vg4_Qm8BAzuMDFCMPqel0YJtucxroUNpndhyphenhyphen1P0YU2KEnAXJ1CbH89iFpzEnC/s1600/11178341_10206785631339144_3975875744070776401_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj6WxEffGdkmNve4DQGr1kGwdPUMLCZfYId_sSR6t5Ku0ftEnJFzg5oyPLHnH2fpnHbktn6TiBf-S4I5Vg4_Qm8BAzuMDFCMPqel0YJtucxroUNpndhyphenhyphen1P0YU2KEnAXJ1CbH89iFpzEnC/s320/11178341_10206785631339144_3975875744070776401_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">swimskin </a>is awesome!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWfFt72X-Ti7DKjwNP0qYa4U_8nVIFIs77oN103iIatmo66CkWQH9UGGvn7dH-FcHfZWq3AyujQbedx7ZtwgzFnJ-i_NZLfxlthyphenhyphenNtF7smdKT6WE_lVOLmsN83ssd1eVl9O1nDyma5GX_/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWfFt72X-Ti7DKjwNP0qYa4U_8nVIFIs77oN103iIatmo66CkWQH9UGGvn7dH-FcHfZWq3AyujQbedx7ZtwgzFnJ-i_NZLfxlthyphenhyphenNtF7smdKT6WE_lVOLmsN83ssd1eVl9O1nDyma5GX_/s200/th.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think we made 3 trips there over the weekend...</td></tr>
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Friday morning started early with some rice, almond butter and bananas. The weather was fantastic and my body felt good! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXQFTlMTzofoNw0yW6cNYr5X2IgZEupkMbvCJJeCUof4FNRfNmMfdBCIEUMngg9SDXfwiVxNQNNBMIG1sWGweyjOnek196T-csI_oueMTItER5kgt1n5LCiXUzwNiL5ucFcv5Mez3xgTf/s1600/11155071_10205775462239307_2519415895760357508_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXQFTlMTzofoNw0yW6cNYr5X2IgZEupkMbvCJJeCUof4FNRfNmMfdBCIEUMngg9SDXfwiVxNQNNBMIG1sWGweyjOnek196T-csI_oueMTItER5kgt1n5LCiXUzwNiL5ucFcv5Mez3xgTf/s320/11155071_10205775462239307_2519415895760357508_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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After getting set in transition, I warmed up and waited with the others on the beach for the start. With a low number I was starting second from the outside on the left. Eventually, we were off. I quickly crossed over Dylan to the outside and sprinted for a minute or so before trying to cut back and find a pack. After the first turn I saw was a few seconds behind a larger group and tried to make up the distance in the last straight-away. I came out of the water with a few other athletes around me ready to work on the bike. </div>
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I was excited about trying to work with the athletes around me on the draft-legal bike after having success motivating the group the second day at Clermont. After mounting my bike, Coach Frost told me that everyone was strung out and that no one was working together. I could see a steady line of athletes just up the hill from me. My legs did not like the effort I was forcing them into but it was time to race! After heading out to a highway, the bike course was three loops of a boring straight away. The straight away with 180 degree turns was pretty lame for a draft-legal course and made it really hard to split things up because no matter what, everyone had to slow down for the 180s. Coach Frost and other coaches stood at one end of the loop giving us splits and updates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPAQZAKR8231dEH54bA_C0qvXXYcvxAYs_44_B9vPs2iXKUcgjCzfXjBxSDNBFW-IdeTFIU6pmQc3se1-xTlg80Q86cQDiJu0iLQjjw9J33a-2Q8AOUJNincZd89awFfmvxjNw1fRzb8O/s1600/FD0U2280-X3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPAQZAKR8231dEH54bA_C0qvXXYcvxAYs_44_B9vPs2iXKUcgjCzfXjBxSDNBFW-IdeTFIU6pmQc3se1-xTlg80Q86cQDiJu0iLQjjw9J33a-2Q8AOUJNincZd89awFfmvxjNw1fRzb8O/s320/FD0U2280-X3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/293305446/analysis" target="_blank">here</a>. </td></tr>
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The first few minutes in the pack I tried to be relentless about taking pulls. I encouraged people and had no problem jumping to the front when the pace slowed. There was only one group ahead of us, with 2 faster swimmers off the front. Most of our group was content with sitting in but we still caught the group in front of us. Michael from Texas A&M had some hard pulls and looking back we should have tried to get away from our big group with one or two others. </div>
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The road leading back to transition was lined with people all of the schools, cheering us on. The energy was amazing. I made it out to the run course at the back of a small pack. The road was again lined with people yelling and screaming. Whatever energy people had not showed on that bike they were smashing the run. I hung on at the back of the group waiting for people to drop off as they usually do but it never happened. These guys went HARD. The 5k felt ridiculously fast and I wasn't moving up through the field as I usually did. I passed a few people and ended up possibly running my fastest 5k ever. </div>
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After the race, I did a quick cool-down and then cheered on the women draft-legal team. Emily, a freshman from CSU came off in the lead bike pack and ended up leading the run for almost a full lap. She had a gap on second place and I was getting chills watching the race unfold. It was so awesome to see some one from our school doing that! A few girls caught her on the second lap but she had an amazing race and I know she learned a lot.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily - leading the women's DL race!!</td></tr>
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The rest of the day was spent relaxing, eating and getting equipment ready for Saturday's olympic distance race. I spent some time with my parents who had made the journey from the Tundra (Minnesota). It was great catching up with them as always.</div>
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Saturday started early and before we knew it we were at the race site in a slight drizzle. My brother stopped by in transition and we wished each other luck. Ernie had a great race and most importantly <a href="http://crocsandsox.blogspot.com/2015/04/collegiate-nationals-in-clemson-sc.html" target="_blank">enjoyed his experience</a>. I did a shortened warmup, and got in my <a href="http://rokasports.com/" target="_blank">Roka wetsuit</a> for the 730 am start. I swam around a bit then lined up far left. After a slight delay, things got underway. I tried to push myself for the first few minutes but my body wanted to build into the effort. I didn't start feeling like I was in race mode until we headed back to the beach. I was afraid any chances of being towards the front were gone after that but I told myself to not give up. </div>
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My glasses fogged up heading out of transition so I shoved them down my jersey momentarily. I pushed hard the first 10 minutes and made my way up to the guys who I normally exit the swim with. It was raining a little bit which made the ride a really cool experience. Riding in the rain sucks if you're commuting to school and or if its cold. Racing in the rain can be a lot of fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7vWXwKCXtsQS7biJZSY_h89eObRRXs3esAIFrXk-Yv9779gislpk85H4kM6JPiZlhoHlAx8i9tlVd6Ygg4osbNMwGfVe4sF2vHYHBiFjYB43j8t4zy7snE52fciTxsL_ZktHTSAicZas/s1600/oly-strava.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7vWXwKCXtsQS7biJZSY_h89eObRRXs3esAIFrXk-Yv9779gislpk85H4kM6JPiZlhoHlAx8i9tlVd6Ygg4osbNMwGfVe4sF2vHYHBiFjYB43j8t4zy7snE52fciTxsL_ZktHTSAicZas/s320/oly-strava.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strava file <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/293305629/segments/6893607772" target="_blank">here</a>. </td></tr>
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We gained some time on the race leaders the first lap and passed a lot of the faster swimmers. I was really impressed with Cole Bunn from CU. He showed an enormous amount of maturity on the bike, pacing and riding smooth, unlike someone at their first Collegiate Nationals. After three laps we headed back to transition, bombarded with cheering from all sides. <br />
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I headed out on the run intent on running my own race. A couple guys took off immediately and I picked up my pace to not let them get too far head. The run was very spectator friendly. There was a hill at one end and a color run was happening nearby playing music. I couldn't tell you what songs were playing but it did help to forget a little about what we were putting our bodies through. <br />
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Running uphill I didn't make up much ground until we hit the hill for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th times. Again I found myself with Cole and was happy to run with someone for a bit. I saw Ernie out on the course a few times and we grunted encouragement at each other. He moved up a lot during his run! I ran my way up a few spots and ended up finishing 10th. After, I cheered on the rest of the CSU men and was so pumped for them all to have awesome races. </div>
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After the race, the rain died off in time for the women's race to have dry roads and a cloudy sky. I hobbled around trying to yell for Geneva and the other girls. Cheering them on for their run was a highlight. All of our girls were spaced very closely and in the thick of it, competing! The Wisconsin tri team had about 20 people at the turn-around doing awesome cheers which more often than not made those suffering in the race laugh or smile.</div>
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Both our relay teams did awesome and I'm really glad some of the older students were able to experience the draft-legal atmosphere, having the majority of people yelling and screaming at you like only college students can.<br />
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After the relay, we headed back to the hotel were the officers had coordinated for Chipotle to be catered. It was delicious. A couple burrito bowls later, and in our rainbow costume, we headed to the awards ceremony. </div>
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We knew both our men's and women's team had done well. It was heartbreaking to find out that our men placed 6th by just 5 points and the women 8th. Even though we did not make the podium, nobody can take away from the team how hard we worked to get ready for this race and how much of a family we became for each other in the process. In my four years of competing at this race, I'm always reminded each year of how much bonding happens while we are all suffering together. We had an amazing build up for this race with so many people supporting us and believing in us. </div>
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A massive thank you to the team's coaches that guided us to becoming a nationally competitive team, having fun along the way. Thanks to everyone's parents who came and supported us or cheered us on virtually. And big thanks to the team for making this year's race so memorable. All the volunteering, late nights and early mornings were worth it for a great weekend. I don't know what next year will bring for me but I know this team is headed in the right direction. Thanks to friends, family and <a href="http://teamemj.com/" target="_blank">EMJ Teammates</a> for all the encouraging words. I truly appreciate it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbchIMawpYmpe73UDVSqWlFLOeFvLV8eDkTgnyVR-lIWvh6zgI-xbtbvsXdOWvVJMuWIPiolJeKvy8crI5M20r4-yoViuu2H1GRsqRTUUjU-siAqlm7WfprMABE3_cVxJjLf-RLD43Ki2/s1600/11074192_888984887826595_3758221486345720206_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbchIMawpYmpe73UDVSqWlFLOeFvLV8eDkTgnyVR-lIWvh6zgI-xbtbvsXdOWvVJMuWIPiolJeKvy8crI5M20r4-yoViuu2H1GRsqRTUUjU-siAqlm7WfprMABE3_cVxJjLf-RLD43Ki2/s400/11074192_888984887826595_3758221486345720206_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collegiate Nationals - always an amazing experience</td></tr>
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Up next I will be focusing on longer distances starting with Boulder 70.3 on June 13th. I'll be following a <a href="http://mpmultisport.com/" target="_blank">training plan</a> to build endurance for focus races IM Boulder and Kona towards the end of the season. <br />
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I'll do my best to keep my outdoor rides updated (I ride the trainer a few days a week) on <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/8707196?utm_source=top-nav" target="_blank">strava </a>so follow along and feel free to give me some feedback! I'm looking forward to some solid training the next few weeks with friends. Thanks for reading - train smart and have fun!</div>
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SteveMantell37http://www.blogger.com/profile/02196529416864299174noreply@blogger.com0