 I may not have finished in the top 10. I may not have even finished top 20…I finished 21st male pro. So why am I so excited? I’ve spent 3 years turning myself into a training, eating, coaching machine. After dealing with many learning experiences; aka…races gone bad, it’s like finding a unicorn when I feel how I want to feel on race day. I’m learning how important a training environment is for my development as an athlete AND as a coach. It’s why I dedicate so much time traveling to tough terrain, where I can get out of my comfort zone on a daily basis. I’ll throw myself at any mountain climb, masters swim sessions and technical trail running in efforts to diversify my fitness and get super pitted in the name of research. Typically, most of my races involved a lot of hills or mountains so it only makes sense to get stronger on the long climbs. During the sessions, countless hours of training and multiple ups and downs, I am forced to find out who I really am, resisting the urge to “tap out” often. Why am I doing this to myself? I mean there isn’t any large monetary pay out at the moment and I am working harder then I ever have before but It’s all so I can have a race like I did at 70.3 St. George. It’s a big leap of confidence since I did not finish last year, the ultimate type of redemption!
The build up for this race was a bit of a last minute decision. My initial plan was to train in Salt Lake City for a week and a half, then drive over to Wildflower a week earlier. After a lot of thought, it made more sense to spend another week at altitude and only drive 4.5 hours to St. George vs 8+ hours to Wildflower. Also, my coach and a few other great athletes were there to train with me so I couldn’t pass it up. Training partners truly make for the best sessions that will ultimately make race day fitness boosts possible. Lesley and I will throw down the gauntlet and can dig to another level of pain when working together! You MUST have people who drive you further than you thought possible. Salt Lake City/Park City was the best place I could have gone in order to get ready for this race. Even if the weather was supposed to be HOT in St. George. Again, why am I soo happy with this race? Well last year at Austin 70.3 I ran what I knew I could off the bike and after 2 sub par races this year, I wasn’t sure if St. George would produce. It’s a brutal course when it’s NOT freezing, wet, hailing and windy, with temperatures normally above 90 deg! I not only biked within the goals I set, I ran with the highest intensity the whole time. At Puerto Rico and Oceanside I felt lethargic on the back half of the run, giving up a lot of time and position. I raced the entire run!, Full on at St.George! All in all, it is the race I needed to nail the next…5 or 6 races!! This past month was an experience that will define me as an athlete. I met and trained with friendly, grounded people who were more giving than I could imagine. I always say at one point in my life, I hope I can give back as much if not more than others have given to me. I’m so grateful to know athletes who will open their homes and lives to my hectic triathlon lifestyle. Honestly, it got me a little emotional the day after the race on my easy spin up snow canyon as I was SO greatful. I was able to get to know so many people on this trip I would have otherwise missed out on. Also, since I switched races, Karen was able to be there with me. After 3 weeks apart I was SOO looking forward to being around her, especially on race day. What else is new? I’m trying to do my best to market myself a bit more, relaying my experiences to those who would love to be with me! Also, representing sponsors is also a key point of my life, so thank you for supporting those who support me and TRIBAL Multi-Sport. I’ll spare you the traditional race analysis but just know that there were noticeable benefits from adding a Cermamic Speed Chain and derailleur pulleys to my bike, about 12 watts to be accurate. So a huge thanks to the guys at the expo who changed out my gear and cleaned up my bike. It was a breathe of fresh air since my rig was trashed from all the bad weather in SLC. Also, EPIX gear has sent me a number of kits to try out this year, always finding the best way to add value to my experience. The Aero TRI kit was very well received. I got TONS of complements on the look of that thing! I also visited Scott headquarters while I was in SLC where they rolled out their in depth company history, current market standings and how hard it is to be a bike company these days. My ultimate goal is to proudly represent them as I DO stand behind their passion for bikes. Also, they make a damn good product. So here I am, still trying to remember every second of that race, absorbing the great energy and gearing up to do it again in Raleigh! There are tons of athletes out there and I can’t you thank you enough for taking the time to follow me, support me and for always having my back! Now what did I eat out there? Here are some pics of what really matters!
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