Race Details:
Bike: Pro Cycling SHIV with QARV Rotor 3D+ SRM Crank
Antiflat Protection: 30ml of Effetto Mariposa Caffelatex in
each tire
Helmet: Rudy Project Wing57 Helmet
Glasses: Rudy Project Tralyx
Run: Colorado Running Company NB 1400
First Endurance Triathlon Nutrition Plan
Pre-Race: 24oz Bottle of 4 scoops
of EFS Pro mix of Lemon and Cumber Flavors
3 Capsules of PreRace
Bike: 2 - 24oz bottles with 5 scoops
of EFS Pro Lemon in each
2 Bottles of watter
3
servings of Kona Mocha EFS Liquid Shot
1 Enduro Bite Dark Chocolate Espresso Bar
Run: 2 servings of Mountain Huckleberry
EFS Liquid Shot
2-3 Cups of water or on course hydration per
aid station.
Post Race: 1 Serving
of Cappuccino Ultragen
Well to keep things updated before my next XTERRA here is a
little recap of Boulder 70.3. Some times
I don’t have to travel very far sometimes to race against some of the best
athletes in the sport and the men’s roster for Boulder is always strong with it
being a very popular spot for the roadies.
I prefer a location where you can have better access to mountain bike
trails though. The race is at the
infamous Boulder Reservoir. I have raced
there on numerous times at the Boulder Peak Triathlon that was a great Olympic
distance non-drafting tri when under the directorship of Paul Karlsson and later
Barry Siff. Barry as well started the
5430 Half, which is now this race, Boulder 70.3. There are a few things about the res that are
constant, it is flat, there are minimal trees to provide shade and without fail
it is always hot. The benefit to it
being warm is that the water warmed up just enough for it to be a non-wetsuit
swim, which I was thankful for.
I chose to start a bit further to the left, which may not
put me in the middle of the bunch to get a faster pair of feet at the start,
but I do get cleaner water and less fighting with other athletes off the
line. I was sitting at the tail end of
the front pack and felt that the group had settled in but someone a few people
in front of me let a gap open up and there was no closing it back down. As has typically been my style in the swims
this year, I steadily got stronger through the swim and moved my way forward
and lead the chase pack of the swim and ended up about a minute and fifteen
down from the main front group.
Each race is a learning experience and I have really learned
that the first part of the bike in any half distance race always starts very hard
before people settle in, it was something I had been working on and put into
play. Unlike racing Galveston 70.3 and
at Wildflower I maintained contact with the other guys and helped push the pace
and found myself riding with Leon Griffin and Justin Metzler. There were a few guys that were riding
stronger and we could not stay with but others we were catching through the
course of the bike. With the steadily rising temperature I was sure to keep
well hydrated and went through my standard two bottles of First Endurance on
the bike as well as two bottles of water instead of the usual 1. I lost contact with Justin and Leon on the
climb on Nelson road but was stronger on the last quarter of the ride and
closed the gap back down as we entered transition.
It was nice and toasty by the time I was starting the run
and felt bad for those amateurs that were just heading out onto the bike course
as I was coming in. I spent some extra
time in transition grabbing ice, a cooling towel, a frozen bottle of water and
a frozen flask of First Endurance Liquid Shot to help me stay cool during the
run. The legs responded great at the
beginning of the run and it made me question if I was running too fast to start
and that I would blow up later. I knew I
had to trust the training Derick and I had been building through the year and
kept the pressure on. I was sure to grab
2-3 cups on water or electrolyte drink at each aid station to help cool down
and stay hydrated. I was steady and
maintained my pace and picked a few people off over the first lap of the run. The lack of shade became more and more
evident on the second lap but I was managing the heat well keeping cool though
I know my pace had slowed some I know everyone else was in the same
situation. Once in the last 5k of the
run I needed to just keep the pressure on and try to pick up the pace, I gained
extra momentum when I could see that I was closing down on a few guys ahead and
picked off a couple more guys before the finish and had only been passed by 1
guy during the run. I finished in 15th
and it was definitely the most solid 70.3/half iron distance race I had put
together and gives me a boost of confidence that I can race that distance. After a few recovery days and some quick
opener workouts I am outside Toronto for some more fun racing at XTERRA Mine
Over Matter tomorrow.
