To preface my race recap, I just finished my first year as a high school teacher down in Texas, and am thoroughly enjoying my first real summer off as a post college grad! At times it sucks because you get so bored and want to call your friends up, but realize its 10:30 am on a Wednesday and they are all working! But the majority of the time its great, I can workout whenever I want to, can sleep in if i want to...the list goes on.
Being able to enjoy almost 3 months off, I planned a trip to head back to Michigan to see all my family and some close friends. I decided to drive because I wanted to have all the essentials like my bike, golf clubs, and of course my bowling ball :) I drove up with a buddy from down in Dallas, Zach, and we decided to take the trip in 2 days, stopping in a town called Clarksville, TN (about an hour west of Nashville). We had this awesome idea planned to go watch funny car racing at this little dirt track, but unfortunately we hit too much traffic along the way and didnt make it in time :( Anyway we got to Chicago on Thursday June 26th and hooked up with zachs relatives (it was his little nephews 2nd birthday).
I would say that this weekend was not the most ideal race prep weekend you may have ever hear of, but I think I ended up doing alright considering the pre-race activities I found myself in. Thursday night was a night we spent in, but up in his sister and brother in laws high rise baller pad overlooking Lake Michigan. We drank copious amounts of beer and whisky before calling it a night and walking back to the hotel (about a mile down the street). Friday we slept in, then hit the beach for infinite amounts of beers and sand volleyball games. We shut the beach down, then headed back to get changed and ready for dinner and to hit Lincoln Park hard. And that we did! Had dinner at a delicious Mexican joint before walking a couple blocks down to this low key irish pub. Had a couple pitchers, and wanted to try to get into something crazier so we found this other place with a younger crowd called trinity, and posted up. Right when we walk in zach and I see they have beer pong and immediately get next game. We ran the show the rest of the night and forever cemented in those young little college kids heads that Dallas TX can represent!
Saturday morning was rough and again we slept in, but not too late because we had tickets to the first game of a cubbies double header! The game was a blast, and cubbies got the win! After the game we came back to his sisters pad and celebrated his nephews 2nd birthday. Fun was had and by the time all the festivities were over zach and i notice its already midnight and i havent gotten my bike from my car, and dont have anything ready for the race! We quickly get all that stuff taken care of and by the time we get to the hotel it was already 1.
The race started at 6am, but had over 4000 participants so there were many a waves. My wave (unfortunately) didnt start till 8:30! I hadnt picked up my packet or anything ahead of time, obviously i had my priorities in line, so i had to wake up at 4 to be able to ride my bike there (5 miles) find my packet and then get my stuff to transition. I walk out of the hotel with all my gear and sure enough...its pouring rain! Im super hungover, and now its raining...i almost turned around and went back to bed, but decided against it and flagged down a taxi, jammed my bike in the back seat and took shotty.
After getting everything setup in transition i made my way back to the water, and since i didnt start for nearly 3 hrs i decided to take a little power nap :) After 2 hrs of a nap i still woke up feeling like i had been hit by a truck! I want the most optimistic about the race, but I was going to give it all i had.
The swim started and I got out hard. Water temps were mid 60s in Lake Michigan and were perfect for a wetsuit. The swim was very sluggish and not to kick around the bush...it sucked! It hurt bad, my stomach, my head, my arms felt heavy and weak...this is going to be a long day!
Coming out of the water, I had my transition plan all figured out. I wanted to be efficient and make up as much ground as i could on the field, and that I did...having the 2nd fastest T1 in the whole field
of 4k! It was a super long run from the water to transition not to mention there being 4000 bikes in transition...my transition was 3:10 right on the money, and the fastest was 3:08, so I was doing something right!
Out on the bike I wanted to get into a rhythm early, and slowly build it up. The bike consisted of 4 laps through the city and was actually really cool! But there were far too many people on the course...things got a little crammed. I actually rode very well for not having much bike fitness rolling in and averaged 24.5.
Coming into T2 I was feeling pretty good, but felt dehydrated. I ran out of water the start of the last lap of the bike and after 3 long days of drinking my body was dying for some hydration! Again I tried to focus on my transitions and zipped through T2 with the 7th fastest T2.
Out on the run I wanted to get into a good tempo pace early and try to get some fluids in me before I tried to go nuts and run in the red zone. Got through the first lap of 3.5 feeling pretty good, second lap again got through feeling pretty good, but midway through the 3rd lap the wheels started to fall off. I felt cramping coming on so i walked through the aid stations quickly and got as many fluids as i could get down! Managed to hold it together for a 40 min run split, and not too upset with it.
Overall I finished 5th in my age group, and 28th overall. Finished in a time of 2:04 and change and am happy with how well I held it together considering the absolute pain i was in 95% of the race! No race photos are up yet, but once I find some I will post them up!
Next up for me is a super fun small race in Howell Michigan. Its 2 races in 1, first is a 1 mile open water swim, then 30 mins after that is an aquathlon (2k run, .5 mile swim, 2k run). Last year I was able to win both races, so I have to defend the double title!
Next up for me is a super fun small race in Howell Michigan. Its 2 races in 1, first is a 1 mile open water swim, then 30 mins after that is an aquathlon (2k run, .5 mile swim, 2k run). Last year I was able to win both races, so I have to defend the double title!
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