Thread: A good day for Spike

Well kids, I made it, tired, sore, and really happy. The day started off at 4 AM, with breakfast in hand I loaded up and headed out to the race. Let me start by saying these are not excuses but just facts, I did the race with a chest cold, strained achilles tendon, and a wet suit that felt like an anaconda had a hold of my shoulders and chest. In the water with my wave I was ready to go, the horn goes off and we begin, about one third into the race I'm hanging on to a float by the third bouy waiting for my heart rate to drop below about 300 :p . A kayak was just about 10 feet away from me and the person in it asked if I was ok, a short conversation later she said that she would follow me as far as I wanted just incase I needed to grab on and take a break. If you ask me that's great service :) , I was in the water for 1:20:00 (I told you guys that I was slow last week) without my angel in the kayak the swim would suck alot more than it did. Next race no wet suit and with luck my freestyle will be ready to go. As I hit the bottom with my feet the few people still on the beach started to chear for me, as I headed up the hill as luck would have it, the race director himself gave me a high five as I went by (as I have said before, he's a really cool guy!) into T1, off came the anaconda and on went my cycling togs, T1 time 4:54, out on the ride course I was alone there too, so far behind it seemed like I was in first place :) , looking on the bright side, there was no way that I could have gotten a penalty for drafting. I finally made it to the first water station at the top of Old Stage hill, the crew up there were awsome, I stoped to let the heart rate come down and get a bit of moisture in me. I told the crew that I had stoped drinking beer from July 4th until I had completed this race, all I heard from them was a wave of encouragement so off I went. One of my goals was to be at the bottom of the hill before the pros started to pass me, I made it by about 10 feet to spare. The rest of the ride was uneventfull until I got back almost to the end, traffic everywhere, as I got closer I saw a pro rider down in the ditch and she looked like she was out cold and being tended to by several EMT's, so I cruised on into the parking lot. Bike split 1:47:11, into T2, racked my trusty steede and doned my running shoes and hat and off I go. T2 2:35, since my achillles tendon had plans other than running, I took it real easy, uphill especially. I walked alot and ran some, the aid stations were staffed by the best folks anywhere, they were hot and sweaty but when I came by their only concern was my wellbeing. Almost back to the finish line it was down hill and I was going to do it running, about 50 yards from the finish line a group of people saw me and started chearing my number and others heard and joined in to bring me home (what a feeling!) I crossed the line with a run split of 1:29:51 and an over all time of 4:44:31, I was the last male finisher but whew it was over, now off to the beer tent, I only got about half way there and a group of people stepped up to me and put an ice cold one in my hand, this was the same group that started to chear and also the crew from station one!!!! They took down my race number and were waiting for me, one of them said that they were taking bets on weather I would finish or not, so I said "who won?" they pointed to the girl of the group and I gave her a big hug and thanks all around. I must say that I have left the door wide open for improvement, the next race and every one after that will be better and better, and to the staff of the Boulder Peak, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you are simply the best!!!!!.
Spike.

Thanks Scott, I think the race people were calling me the terrier, no surrender no retreat, and yes I did go foot comando during the bike and no problems at all, as for the clip system I'm using Look pedels and Adidas shoes, and my Trek was sitting in T1 just waiting patiently for me to go for a ride, and ride we did, no mech. problems or anything, a guy coulden't ask for a better horse! Now on to the Half IM in August, I will better my time in the water so as to not be so drained for the rest of the race. The anaconda will not be with me then so it can't help but be better.
Thanks for being here for me, I value our friendship on the web and someday we will meet and have that drink.
Your friend.
Spike.

Thanks Heather, and the next one is Aug. 13th, same location only longer. Started the rampup yesterday with only one day off (sleep and rest is always good) the water is still not my friend but I'm working on it. The legs are rested and push my bike just right. Still no running for a bit, I am going to let the tendon heal a little longer. As for the nutrition factor Scott, I think I have it down and I will be testing it out on long rides in the next week of training. I will let you know if I hit any snags or have questions since this is my first race at 70.3.
Until next time.
Spike.

Thanks guys for the boost, rice krispies hummmmm, sound yummy, epecially durring a long ride, as for the mental aspect of long races I'v got that covered, zen and the art of triathlon are my thing now. Scott I can't wait to read the post, as for now I don't have a HR monitor nor do I see one in my future, unless Santa brings one. If you guys want to see Spike in race action just go to www.brightroom.com then click on the find photos button then type in Boulder Peak Trathlon 2006 and then enter bib # 1382, that's me in all my glory and pain, I really like the fourth picture, it shows how much it hurt and it was taken at the start of the run. (Sorry Heather no shots of my calfs yet) I found out today that the 1/2 will have cut off times, that's fine because I'll be ahead of those and rippin it up. (picture a bull terrier here) maybe this should be my avitar?
Happy training all.
Spike.

Scott, great advice and information, I will quickly put the numbers to work for me as it is an occupational hazard being an engineer, or if you ask my family, an enginerd:) I think you explained it very well, I also see coaching in your future if that bum knee of yours takes you out of action, lets hope it holds up for as long as you have the desire to race.
Heather, wow what a story, I started to sweat reading it:) I have a feeling that we secretly like the things that go wrong just a little, so we can have an added test to the already brutal one we so enjoy. I diddn't mention it but my cycle computer was not working on Sunday either, I found out as I was loading up that the sensor on the fork was twisted way away from the spokes and the magnet. It must have happened as I was unloading my bike that morning, I will check from now on.
Talk to you all soon.
Spike.

Spike,

Good job, you did better than 99.99 percent of the other people in town that sat on their butts and watched TV. BTW, Engineers rule!

Jason