Race Weekend Recap

This post will be a bit different than the others, mainly because there are no real updates in the adoption process, but I did want to give everyone an update on how the race went this weekend.

The Oly Tri at Portage Lakes was Sunday morning, but as it happens my favorite local 5k race of the year (Smucker's Applebutter Run) happened to fall on the morning of the 14th. The day before my main race of the year. Now a little back story on why this race is awesome. Its the breakfast, a full and massive Smucker's sponsored breakfast feast, complete with as many Uncrustables as one can eat. Its breathtaking, but I digress.

I had chosen last minute to skip it due to some other people schedule conflicts, but I got a text from my brother saying he had already registered. I signed up the next day. Last year I was able to take 1st in my age group, so I went into this with a little bird telling me I needed to repeat my title. I HAD planned on an easy run, but as it were when everyone else started going I just couldn't hold it back. In the end I had hit my year goal of breaking a 21 minute 5k by 12 seconds and was able to take 1st in my group once again. An added bonus was beating Matt, however he also managed 3rd place in his slightly more competitive group. So it turned out to be a great day. I just hoped that didn't come back to bite me in the legs the next morning.

Buttacavoli: From the Italian, Destroyers of Running.

On to the Tri.

Portage Lakes Pre race

Pre Race:
The 5:30 am alarm came far to quickly. I gathered all my stuff, loaded the bike up, filled my bottles and made an english muffin for myself and was out the door a little after 6. I got to the park a bit before 6:30 and it was already starting to get pretty crowded. I got checked in and body marked, figured out where my partner in crime Bryce was and then got my transition all set up, squeezed into my wetsuit and headed down to the beach to await our wave start.

Thats me in the yellow cap and Lisa telling me how to not blow the race from the start.

The Swim:
There were two other races set to start before the Olympic races so we stood around the beach for about a half hour trying not to let our nerves get to us. Bryce and I had hopped in the water to get the dreaded "cold water seeping into the wetsuit" experience over with and then they finally got to our waves. We had thought we'd be in the same wave, but they announced the first wave would be male 20-29 and everyone registered as Elite. Great now I have to start with all the speed demons, this should be fun. Bryce would start in the next wave. My team mate and swimming partner Lisa was there to give me a quick pep talk before I got in the water. She simply said "Adam, do not go out too fast and do not race those people, just swim like its another Tuesday afternoon." It helped and that's just what I did. Ran into the water at 8:24 am, water was about 72 degrees and outside it was maybe close to 60. Made for a nice swim though, especially with the wetsuit. Heeding Lisa's coaching tips, I did not try and race those people and good thing, because before I knew it they were way out in front. I passed a couple people and was passed by way more. I could have helped my time a bit by doing a better job of sighting on the first loop and not drifting out of line a bit but all in all I was pretty much on the pace I anticipated. I was quite happy to see those yellow exit buoys on the second loop though. 1500m (.93mile) Swim Time: 34:14.

Hello land, I've missed you.

The Bike:
I felt good coming out of the water, unlike my first race of the year, when I felt like I was dying after just a 400m swim. This pleased me. My transition was a bit slower than I'd like, but peeling a wetsuit off is just not that quick of a task. 3 minutes later I was on the bike heading out of the park. I did see Bryce running down the aisle to his bike just as I was headed out, this turned into a theme for the remainder of the race.

Wetsuit off, helmet on, off I go.

Bryce and I had rode the course a couple of times, so I knew the pain that was ahead of me. This was almost nothing but hills, with at least 5 true grinding climbs, 4 of which we had to do twice due to the looped course. I made up some time and passed a number of people some in my race and some who were on the tail end of the Sprint race. I got passed up by a few faster riders from the later waves but I expected that. Possibly the best part of the ride was when I finally got to eat one of the Uncrustables I snagged from the previous day's event at the start of the second loop of the course. It was delicious. I gave one to Bryce too, but he ate it before the race even began, amateur. About 20ish miles in my lower back really started to tighten up, I tried to stretch it out a bit but didn't seem to help much. I was just thankful to be almost off the bike and that it didn't happen earlier.

Actually I lied earlier, the best part of the bike was when I was climbing the last hill I was talking to another racer about how much we were over these hills. I told him that I thought there was only one more after this one. I was wrong, and that was the last climb. From there it was a flat to downhill 2 miles back to the park and into transition, I was never happier to be wrong. And with that I was back into transition racking my bike and pulling on the trusty ol running shoes. 40k (25mile) Bike: 1:22:52.

I'm surprised the camera was even able to catch such a burst of lightning.

The Run:
I need to work on transitioning. I spend too much time, but I'll get there. 1:46 minutes after parking the bike I was out for the run, the last stage of the race. I knew it was a different course than previous years, but I really had no idea what to expect. Erin was waiting for me as I turned on to the run course. It was really great to see her there cheering me on. I had saw her briefly after coming out of the water and she was across the fence when I transitioned onto the bike, but this time it was just the little bit of extra motivation I needed before the final leg. Again I saw Bryce coming in as I was going out. Theme continues.

This is what happens when you've been racing for 2 hours and you see your smiling wife. Fabulousness.

My back was still pretty tight from the bike, again I tried to stretch it out but nothing really helped. It basically stayed that way the remainder of the race.

The run essentially started with a steady up hill for the first 1 1/4 miles or so, it was unpleasant. And It was a double loop course, so we would meet again. After that it jumped onto the trail, I wasn't really prepared for that, I'm definitely more of a road runner than a trail runner but it was a nice change, although you really had to pay attention so you didn't bite it on a large root. Or on one of the wood bridges I had to jump on and off of, or the little mud pool that you needed to leap over. All in all it was pretty fun. While making the loop back I saw Bryce on the other side and he yelled out at me "Hey, thanks for the warning on the trail running", I gave him a thumbs down and set off to finish the second loop.

While on the trails I spotted someone ahead of me. I always do that in races, they're my person to beat. I managed to catch up to him coming out of the trails and he appeared to be onto my strategy. I didn't think I'd get him but he ended up pulling up and having a bit of dry-heave setbacks just before the finish stretch. After he came up to me and said "I was trying to keep you behind me, but I just had nothing left", I asked if he was alright and we shook hands and congratulated each other on a great race. That's the best thing about this sport. 10k (6.2mile) Run: 55:12.

Bryce and I all finished up!

When I crossed the line and got my medal and water, Erin was waiting right next to the fence with the biggest smile on her face. I could tell she was proud and that made me forget all about the soreness starting to creep into my body. About 30 seconds later Bryce crossed the line too. We did it. The race was over and we we're pretty sure we both finished under our goal time of 3 hours. Bryce beat me by 20 seconds in the overall time, this is why I need faster transitions. Final race time 2:57:23.

Adam minus energy...

I'm so thankful for all the support from everyone through out the season. My teammates from Vertical Runner; specifically Lisa, John, Jim, Sarah, Chantell, Dave and Becky for the inspiration and drive to keep at it. The goal is to finish an Ironman 70.3 with some of these fine folks next year! Bryce, for being a great new friend this year and a pretty good training buddy, I may be a bit bitter since it's the first time I haven't beat him, lol. I hope we keep this train rolling and see what we'll conquer next.

But most importantly, my amazing wife for putting up with the hours upon hours of training I had to put in to do this. Never once did she complain and was always one of the most encouraging voices in my corner. I couldn't be more lucky to have her by my side. I can only imagine how blessed our kid will be to have a mom like her. There is nothing that they won't believe they can accomplish with Erin as their mom.

I guess thats it, a great end to the Tri season. Back at it next year. Thanks for taking time to read this novel everyone.

Oh ya, I have a marathon to run in less than two weeks... Yikes.

Love Wins,
Adam