Leading up to this race I was feeling great, faster and stronger than ever before.
Woke up that morning around 4:30am and left the house by 5:00 to get to race sight by 5:40. Got all the stuff ready on the bike and then just chilled out with family and friends until my start time at 8:00am.
Swim- 26:04
Got into the water about 15 minutes before start time to warm up little bit. Gun went off on time, when running into the ocean I tripped falling into the water forcing me to jump up and just about sprint the first 400 to catch up to the lead group. “pretty funny looking back at it” The ocean was pretty choppy and I hated the taste. Never really got to feel any power or speed during the swim which sucked, but never got that dead upper body feeling like have gotten in every half distance swim this year. Came out slower then I wanted but was not overdone at all which was great. Did not enjoy my first ocean swim to much but made it out safe.
T1 3:04
Running up the beach to T1 grabbed all the water I could to get the nasty salt water taste out of my mouth. Most people would not be impressed about this, but I thought it was awesome, they had this shower we got to run through that had to have a million water sprockets shooting fresh water on the athletes. Into T1 I yelled my number as well as all the volunteers but no one seemed to be able to find it, finally got it, and threw all my bike stuff on while losing my goggles and cap in the process. Got my bike/ helmet/ banana and ran out yelling hey to family and Team manager John White which was a nice surprise seeing him. Did my first “Flying start” onto the bike, which basically means shoes were on the bike and I just had to jump on which saved some time compared to my usual start.
Bike- 2:13:24 25.19mph
Got away from the big crowd, Velcro’ed up my shoes, drank some fluids and prepare for a powerful bike leg.
Let me take a minute to explain the Clearwater bike leg. Going into this race everyone said there would be lots of drafting going on and that you could not help it because there was just not enough room on the course. VERY untrue, EVERYONE in that race had a choice to ether A jump in a peloton draft pack, allowing you to unfairly ride faster and have fresher legs for the run, or, B ride fair and safe without drafting using all the hard work you put into training for this race. Of course I chose B which was a lot more of a mental challenge then a physical challenge for me.
Cranked up the first of two good sized inclines along the bike course. After I enjoyed some free downhill speed I looked down at my Powertap CPU and got up to my “Race watts.” By mile 10-15ish I had my first A or B decision. Came up to a good sized pack which I could tell was a lot of people in my age group, I rode by knowing if I caught them I should be able to continue what I was doing, pass and forget about them. But for you that know how drafting works, the pack passed by me with little sign that they were trying at all. Of course I was stuck behind them again getting sucked into the draft, so I rode by again, again they rode by me, this continued about three times until I was fed up with them getting a free ride on me. Put my head down and did a good 10 minute hard effort to get by them and not giving them a chance to jump back on my wheel. This may have been a match that I should have not used but I was sick of the unfair riding by them. I continued for a while with nothing to exciting, just enjoying the weather, course, and scenery that the lord gave us to enjoy.
I loved the feeling that my legs were giving me, could tell that the new type of training with my coach was paying off. Holding watts and speed that I did not think would be able to do until a couple years down the road. By the turn around I was excited for that head wind to turn into a tail wind. Around mile 40 I saw someone in a pack get smoked by a cone and into the ground. I continued to pass everyone that I came up to with no problem and was happy with the fact that had not been passed by many if any people yet.
Then around mile 40-45 the hatred for the people who chose choice A given above began to pass me. Heading down the highway you could see back for a long distance, when I glanced back I felt like Lance Armstrong being chased down by the peloton at the Tour de France. I pushed down the watts more with the hope of being able to hold the pack from catching me before T2. Of course they ended up catching me and the pack of about 30 had no problem barreling by with little effort. I was so angry; I worked my ass off for this race just to see so many people cruise by with no effort, it pissed me off. Instead of yelling vulgar things at the cheaters I started to cheer for them, congratulating them on all the hard work they must have put into training for this world championship race to be riding so fast. “With lots of sarcasm”
T2 2:54
Came into T2 feeling good and not over worked at all which made me real excited.
Threw on my blue Nike Lunar Racers and Geargrinder Hat and ran out, excited to show off all my hard work for this run.
Run- 1:47
Ran the first mile slower then race pace to get the legs ready but, before I could get into race pace my legs said NO and I went down to my knees. My Vastus Medialis Quadricept muscle cramped SO bad! It was the same muscle that cramped at my last race in Louisville a couple months ago. I was in a lot of pain, I thanked the lord for everything and asked for some help. Then out of no place a guy asked if I needed some salt tablets. I said, if you have some extra, that would be greatly appreciated. I got jogging again with this gentleman that decided to help me out. He reminded me how nice most people in this sport are. I thanked him for his help and went off, I am determined to “Pay it forward” when my time comes to help someone like he helped me. I got jogging again but again the quadricept muscle said no and that continued for the rest of the race. I tried everything to calm it down but nothing helped. By the second loop my stomach joined my quadricept in saying no and everything started coming out.
I ended up making it to the finish line, a lot slower then I had hoped but still with a SMILE on my face, and that’s what counts. After I crossed the finish line and made it to my family, I was hit with emotions that I can’t explain which really showed me no matter how much different a race goes then what I am expecting that I really do love this sport. I was disappointed at first and the following days but after thinking more and more I am not disappointed at all. I am truly blessed to even be able to race at a World Championships at an amazing place. Its hard keeping your head up after such a different race then what you are expecting but it was overall a good race and another GREAT learning experience.
Overall- 4:32
I would like to thank Geargrinders for everything they have done for me, I would never have been able to race at Clearwater without them. Thanks Mike from Your Training Zone for helping me bike faster and more powerful than ever before. Thanks PeakPerformance Massage for helping me get to the start line injury free. Thanks so much to all my amazing Family and Friends who have been there for me no matter what, you all are the BEST. Most of all, I give thanks to the Lord, for none of this would be possible without you. GTGTG
THANKS for reading, Sorry the report was so long; have so much to say and hard to put into words. God bless you all. PJE
