Tri season ... done!

Done until next year at least. A next year that I annoyingly have to start thinking about now. In fact, I needed to start thinking about it in July. I got into the sport at about the same time as everybody else it seems, and the market is still catching up to demand. Columbia (which I was considering again): already sold out. Pretty much much every North American Ironman race (which I am not considering): sold out the day registration opens, and if you really want in to the race you have to haul your butt to the actual site of this year's race to sign up for next year. This hobby is expensive enough as it is. It looks like a group of us want to do the Timberman 70.3 next August 23, and I'm already arranging lodging. The race doesn't even open until next week. Talk about planning ahead.

But enough about the distant future. This season ground to a halt with a bang. Or maybe a whimper, cuz that's what I felt like doing during the run at Nation's. My warm weather curse that began at Mooseman came back with a vengeance in DC with temps in the mid 90s and a heat index well about that.

The swim was a comedy of errors. The course was not as advertised on the published race maps which would have been fine except for one problem: it was not well marked. What was supposed to be a leisurely squarish swim was actually an almost direct out and back. The back part happened to be directly into the rising sun. Normally not a problem for me; I can sight pretty well and swim straight-ish. But I couldn't see a damn thing (ironically, non-tinted goggles probably would have been a better choice), and there was only a single buoy between the turnaround and the exit ramp. And the buoy that marked the final short 90 degree turn to the ramp was the same color and size as the buoy that marked the starting pen about 150 meters away. Half way back I was a little separated from the pack and pegged my seriously impeded eyes on the wrong buoy. Then I lost sight of that in the glare and just focused on the tall white flags that marked the staircase thinking I was on a beeline. Screams from the crowd! Hmm, the next wave must be going off. Then a ran into somebody and stopped to see who it was. It was a large group of women in the starting pen, the same starting pen that I just swam into. "Hello, ladies!". I had to turn 90 degrees, swim for 150 meters, make a 180 and then swim back. Joy! My time ended up just north of 30 minutes, which isn't too bad considering the extra distance I had to cover. But I thought it was way longer than that and was just demoralized. I could see my shot at a PR fading away.

I got out on the bike a little angry and a lot determined. The course was great with tons of shade and gently rolling hills, probably my favorite this season. It was lots of fun blasting down the Whitehurst Freeway without a car in sight. I felt strong the whole way, but my back started to cramp up a bit in the last 5 miles or so. A good bike fit is going to be a key for next season. I got off the bike around 1:08 which was good for over 4 minutes off of my previous Oly best.

I then paid dearly for it on the run. As soon as I left transition I knew I was basically done. Both hip flexors were tightening up with every step. About a half mile in they started to loosen ever so slightly, but the heat was already getting to me. I have enough trouble with running as it is, but the heat just kills me every time. I don't know what it is; I've read that some people, especially larger guys, just don't handle it as well. By the time the aid station at Mile 1 rolled around I was ready to stop and stretch my hip and back, get some gel and water, and hope that my body would recover enough to at least run the rest of the way. All they had at the aid station was chocolate flavored GU, the only flavor that I detest. I choked one down and plodded on. Repeat at Mile 2 with water. By the time Mile 3 rolled around I knew it wasn't meant to be. My hip and back did not want to cooperate and I was really overheated; heart rate was almost 20 beats higher than what I normally see at that pace. Given my swim time I starting jogging it in, walking at the rest stops and in the final 1.5 miles about every 2-3 minutes to try and stretch a little bit or when I felt light-headed. Never a good sign. I was even pretty well hydrated. It was my worst run time since my very first olympic. Total time ended up being 2:44; with even a moderately decent run for me I could have gone under 2:40. There's my target to hit next year! But it was a fantastic race, and I'm glad I was able to sign up. Hopefully they will get the crowds next year; this could be a premier big city event if the swim can be worked out and the rains stay away.

In 2 days we leave DC for the Ragnar Relay! Forecast is for rain, but it should be one hell of a good time anyway. The plan is just to enjoy the 13.4 mile that I'll be running over the course of two days and enjoy the ride. Teen and I are talking about doing the Phily half marathon at the end of November, and then a group of us are planning on heading down to do the Shamrock Half in March again. I'm on the lookout for an earlier half iron, maybe one that I won't half to think about signing up for until the spring!

And the toys go winding down

The Nation's Tri is coming up this weekend (unless we get a good deal more rain, then it might be the Nation's Du). I should be a lot more excited about this race than I actually am. It's probably a combination of end-of-season burnout and the late sign up; I'm just planning on going out there and seeing how it comes together. It should be a fantastic crowd if the rains stay away. After that, tri season is officially kaput. I may try to go up to volunteer at Savageman to see what the fuss is about

Ragnar is shaping up nicely; I can't believe we are almost 2 weeks away! It will probably be a bit painful, but fun. Liz is trying to talk me into the Philly half marathon with a couple other friends. If I get my running in order it should be doable. Early plans are in the works to hit the Shamrock Half in March. It was a blast this year; next year I hope to be better prepared. Mostly I'm looking forward the off-season and thinking about planning for '09. It's hard to believe that some of the bigger races are selling out! Columbia is apparently almost full. Yikes.