Jan 27-Feb2
Swim – 19,400 yards
Bike – 4:31 hours
Run – 31.28 miles
Total: 13:38
Chilly Willy Duathlon
My first race in Florida was the
Chilly Willy Duathlon Southeast Championships. It was a 5k run, 10 mile bike,
5k run. I started in wave 3 – I didn’t know I could have registered for the
elite wave (1). In short, Run 1: weave in and out of the people that started in
wave 2. Bike: Just ride. I had ridden through most of wave 2, and some of the
elite wave. I wasn’t exactly sure what place I was in coming off the bike. Run
2: chase down more people from wave 1. I ended up negative splitting the runs
by :03/mile, and turned in the fastest run #2. I finished 3rd OA and
first in my AG, so I was very happy about that—a good start to FL racing. I
also met some really cool people that I look forward to (hopefully) seeing at
more races. Funny story. I actually had food poisoning during this race – I
thought it was pre-race jitters, but I was wrong. I was sick for a good 6 days
– I ate the food 2x without knowing it. Oops.
Feb 3-9 (Chilly Willy Week)
Swim – 16,600
Bike – 5:17 hours
Run – 33.68 miles
Total: 13:45
Feb 10-16 (food poisoning week)
Swim – 7,400 yards
Bike – 1:34 hours
Run – 22.96 miles
Total: 6:14
NTC Indoor Triathlon
So, at the last minute I was
talked into racing an indoor triathlon as a workout. I had no intention of
doing this – I had already done masters in the morning, and a pretty hard run
interval workout early afternoon. Well, at 4pm I was talked into the tri. 400yd
swim, 6 mile bike, 2.2 mile run. The swim was in the outdoor pool, the bikes
were on trainers…outdoor, and the run was on the treadmill. So I guess the
indoor tri was more outdoor than indoor haha. Somehow I ended up finishing 2nd
OA. I didn’t even know there were awards for this until I went for my Sunday
swim and there was an award waiting for me at the desk.
Feb 17-23 (Indoor Tri)
Swim – 21,450 yards
Bike – 9:20 hours
Run – 41.18 miles
Total: 19:43
Clermont AG Sprint
I think this was a good start to
the outdoor racing season. The age group race was being combined with the
collegiate race, so it was a very crowed start. I got to wear my new XTERRA
Vendetta, so I was pumped about that. I exited the water in 20th.
Although I did not swim as well as I would have liked, I was pleased to exit
the water I the top ¼ of the race. From there the day only got better. I ended
up recording the 2nd fastest bike split to move up to 4th
into T2. The run was 2 loops. I knew on loop 1 that I was in 4th,
but I couldn’t remember who was 3rd. I just kept running hoping to
chase down there kid. I’m not exactly sure where I made the pass, but I ran my
way into 3rd with the 2nd fastest run split.
Feb 24 – March 2 (Clermont
Sprint)
Swim – 17,825 yards
Bike – 7:46 hours
Run – 28.93 miles
Total: 15:41
XTERRA Vendetta Fullsuit
I have only been able to swim in
it 3 times, but I absolutely love the suit. I have tried out a few different
full sleeve wetsuits, and this is the most comfortable I have been in one. The
suit fits me live a glove but yet it is still very flexible. I never felt like
I was fighting the suit. I am looking forward to racing in it this year! Thanks
again to XTERRA Wetsuits for hooking me up with such a great suit!
March 3-9 (Moving week)
Swim – 20,500 yards
Bike – 5:16 hours
Run – 30.44 miles
Total: 13:13
3 races, 3 podium finishes. I
would say it is a good start to racing. I am looking forward to building upon
the momentum we have going. I learned a lot in FL and now I just need to
remember to apply those things to daily training. I made the decision to leave
FL and come back to IL to coach junior high track and field. Junior high is
such a fun age, and we have a lively group of kids to work with this year.
When I wasn’t training, I got to
take a trip to Disney, West Palm Beach, and Cocoa Beach. Here are a few
pictures. Enjoy. And thanks for reading. Stay safe out there!
