Dueceman Triathlon Race Report - 2011 Half-Ironman 70.3

My premier sponsor - Trisports - puts on a terrific triathlon event every year called the Dueces Wild Festival.  This festival is part of Trisports' philantrophy arm and all proceeds go to charity.  In addition, sponsors kick in a ton of product for a raffle and this year they had over $40,000 in prizes!!!  As for racing,  Dueceman takes place in beautiful Show Low, AZ and at 6,500 feet.  Racers pick from either a Half-Ironman or Olympic distance triathlon on Saturday, and they can opt for an Xterra on Sunday.  All three races offer generous prizes to the top finishers. For families, there are two different kids races depending on the age of the children.  Here is recap of my Half-Ironman race.

Begging For Oxygen

Swim (29:57):  Being at altitude I had no idea how my body was going to respond in the swim.  I know that normally I use a lot of oxygen to get through the swim and I already breath every stroke.  Since I can't breath anymore, I knew I would have to take it out extra conservatively.  I swam alone to the first buoy but as I reached it I grabbed on to some feet and got a tow to the second and final buoy.  At the second buoy I could tell my tow was getting tired so I left him and forged ahead on my own.  I reached shore, stood up, and all I could say was wow.  I was completely gassed as headed toward transition.

Bike (2:23:14): After fumbling through transition and fumbling getting on the bike, I focused on putting down the power and catching the leaders.  I was told I was over two minutes down and there were three people in front of me.  I pushed hard and caught two of the three within the first five miles.  I was absolutely flying and I don't think ever saw a speed much less than 28 mph.  Then I came to a long, flat stretch and I got my glimpse of the leader and I was enticed to pedal even harder.  For fifteen miles I widdled down the time gap, but it was coming down so slowly.  At mile 22 I made the decision to go anaerobic and finally closed the gap by mile 25.

At mile 28, I came to the half-way point and I had covered it in under an hour.  I thought I was on course to smash the bike course record and kill the race but I was in for a rude awakening.  For some reason even though I was flying I didn't realize that I had a magical tailwind on a slight downhill.  As I made the turn at mile 36 to head back to Show Low, I was hit with a brutal headwind and a long-climb.  It was slow going on the way back to Show Low and my course record hopes were quickly being decimated.  By mile 50 I was done and ready to get off the bike.  I rolled back into transition as I mentally prepared myself to run my first half-marathon at altitude.

Run (1:35:13): The Dueceman run features a 2-loop course on both dirt trails and park roads.  It was sunny and warming up but nothing compared to the heat of Tucson on a similar day.  I focused on good form and keeping the heart rate down.  Looking at my watch, I could tell I was going to be in for a long day as the mile splits were similar to my own in a typical Ironman marathon.  Midway through the loop I went down an out-and-back and was able to see that I had an 9 minutes lead.  I knew it would likely be impossible to make that up at altitude and I turned off the gas to save the legs and ensure I reached the finish

Towards the end of the first lap I made a wrong turn and had to back track losing some time.  It wasn't a big deal and the competition wasn't even in sight.  I continued on lap 2, keeping the form strong and focusing on the finish.  My form got a little sloppy towards the end but that was mostly because I brought the wrong shoes for the course and my feet were badly blistered.  Nonetheless I soldiered on and finished up in 1st place.

Overall (4:29:55): It was a great race for me and great opportunity to represent Trisports with the rest of my teammates.  As for my own performance, well I thought I had a good swim, a rockin' bike, and solid run.  I am definitely putting this one back on the calendar for 2012 and I highly recommended it to anyone from Arizona and New Mexico that wants to escape the heat.  Trisports Racing did fantastic job of putting it on and I was super impressed!!

If you are thinking about doing this race in 2012 then here is a little video that Trisports put together of the race.

Thanks: As always, I want to thank Trisports.com - use my Trisports coupon code to save 20% on your next order. Each code is unique for you so please contact me thru the above "Contact" tab and I will email you back the 20% off code. Codes can be used at anytime - no waiting for a special sale. They expire 12/31/14. Please remember to fill in your email address so I can reply back to you. If you don't provide an email there is no way for me to contact you. You can also tweet at me or message me on Facebook if you prefer.

Tucson Triathlon Race Report 2011

After Ironman St George I took a few days off.  Rest is a crucial part of training that I value more then most, so I took Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off.   On Thursday I got in a recovery swim, and Friday I went for my first bike ride but ended up crashing.  I had some bad road rash and a busted bike, but it seemed like I didn’t have any broken bones.  My biggest concern was some knee swelling but there was nothing I could do, so I focused on more rest and more recovery.  My first day back to training was the following weekend at a little local race in Tucson called the Tucson triathlon.  I still had a lot of unhealed road rash but I raced anyway.   Here is a recount of that day:

Swim (10:37):  The swim was 825 yards in a 25 yard pool.  Unlike the serpentine swims I have done in the past, this one was all back and forth with two swimmers per lane.  I asked my swim lane buddy what he was planning on swimming and he said 10:30.  It seemed like a reasonable pace so I planned on just letting him lead.  We hoped in the water and before you knew it our heat had started.  I was good lengths ahead of him swimmer for a couple of laps, but I wasn't going significantly faster, so I just dropped off and let him lead.  I did have to play catch for half a length after each turn but it was no big deal.  We exited the swim in about 10:20 and it was clear there were many others who swam faster than me.

The Men Of Trisports at the 2011 Tucson Triathlon

Bike (27:55):  I knew I would have to win the race on the bike.  Minus the 26.2 miles at Ironman St. George, I had not run a single mile in 20 days and I had no confidence in my run.   The course had potential to be fast, but a 3-lap, 12 mile course over bumpy roads, with lots of turns and other distractions really slowed things down.  I got on the bike and focused on catching up to people.  I figured I was 10 spots down and with the other waves on the course I knew it would be tough to spot who was actually in my wave. Regardless, I focused on pushing out the power and moving up the ranks.  After 2.5 laps I caught up to the leaders but didn't know it at the time. The three of us rolled into transition and I was the first one out.

Run (18:05): The run is a flat, 2-loop, 3-mile course thru the University of Arizona campus.  I focused on quick turnover of the legs as I raced down the streets and to the start of the loop.  The course had good vantage points for viewing the competition, but I was running too hard and the wave start of the race made it difficult to detect if there was anyone.  I saw the head of marketing at Trisports, and asked her if I was in 1st.  It was all a blur as I just focused on moving as fast possible.  For the record I had not done any speed work in over a month and going fast was sending my HR and breathing thru the roof.  I was struggling, but as I continued on, I gained the confidence that I was in 1st place.  Coming down the finish line I could hear the voice of Tom Demerly bringing me.  I was relieved to be able to finish this training day in 1st place.

Overall (56:37): I didn't quite no what to expect but it was a good day back at training.  You can never be disappointed with a race win no matter how big or small the field is.


As always, I want to thank Trisports.com - use my Trisports coupon code to save 20% on your next order. Each code is unique for you so please contact me thru the above "Contact" tab and I will email you back the 20% off code. Codes can be used at anytime - no waiting for a special sale. They expire 12/31/14. Please remember to fill in your email address so I can reply back to you. If you don't provide an email there is no way for me to contact you. You can also tweet at me or message me on Facebook if you prefer.

Ironman St George Triathlon Race Report 2011

Two weeks before Ironman St George I had done no Ironman training, and I was not even registered to do the race.   I went for single 80 mile ride and decided that I felt good enough to sign up for the race.  It was more or less an experiment, but I figured I had nothing to lose.  Here is a recount of that crazy day.

Swim (58:39):  I am always amazed how brutal IM swim starts can be and this one was no exception.   The first 800 meters was full contact football and I just tried to make forward progress without any major incident.  After 800 meters, the swim thinned out and I found a reasonable group of feet to grab.  From this point on the swim was just dead easy and went super quick.  Before you knew it the swim was done and I was heading into T1.

Exiting The Swim in my 2XU V:2 Wetsuit

Bike (5:21:23): I road by heart rate for this race with the goal of taking it out conservatively.  I knew I would be the best biker in the field and I had no worries about having to catch a train. I left the Sand Hollow Reservoir and was making quick work of the few age-groupers in front of me.  All was good until I dropped my nutrition bottle on an uphill.  In that split second I thought about leaving it, but I knew it would be a long day without my concentrated super bottle of 1500 calories.  I went back down the hill, grabbed it, and turned around.

I continued on plan riding conservatively to the start of the loop. However, what was not in the plan was bombing down a rough road only to hit a pot hole and pinch flat my front tire.   I almost lost it, and that could have been deadly, but I stayed upright and brought the bike to a controlled stop.

Flats have become so common for me recently that I could only laugh at the situation as I started working on the tire.  A couple of older onlookers came over to see if I needed any help.  I told them I was good and they started to ask me all kinds of questions.   "What was your swim time?", "what kind of tires are those", "how come your tube color is red", "what are those wheels for"....  I was exceptionally happy but  I was also not concentrating on what I was doing.   As a result, I incorrectly put in two tubes that both exploded.  I took my time with the third tube and was able to inflate it without popping.  I lost 15 minutes and I had watched 500 riders go by.

Bombing Down The Descents

I got back on my bike and started the loop part of the course.  For a moment my spirits were decimated as I lost all hope of winning the overall amateur race.  However, the despair was short-lived, and I knew the day was long.  I focused on what I could control and that was pedaling my way back into the race.

I continued biking and I was making up significant ground as I passed hundreds of age-groupers.  By the time I got to "The Wall" the crowds were starting to thin out.   I watched as people grinded up this mini-mountain and I could only imagine the carnage that would be present on the second loop.  I am so glad I had a 11-28 and I could not imagine people biking up this hill without similar gearing.  I stopped at special needs and picked up an extra tube and C02 cartridge that I had put in mybag.  Then I was off to the long-descent back into St George.

For this race I went went with an Zipp 808 front and Zipp 404 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Disc.  This ended up being a big mistake as the front wheel was twitchy in the crosswinds and I had to descend on my bullhorns.  Speeds on the St George descent can easily hit 50mph and because you are twisting and turning it makes it difficult to predict which way the wind is coming from.  Nonetheless I got the bottom and all was good.

On the only Zipp 404 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Disc

As I started lap two, the only people I was passing were people on their first loop.   I was starting to think that maybe I was the lead age grouper and that even with a bottle drop snafu, 15 minutes fixing flats, and stopping at special needs, that I reclaimed all that was lost.  However, the euphoria was short-lived as I realized my front tire was losing air.   I didn't really want to change another flat so I kept my eyes open for a support moto.  Unfortunately no moto came and I made the decision that I would hammer up The Wall a second time, and then fix it at the top as I let my body recovery.  I made quick work of this change and got on my way back to St George.

In the last few miles of the bike I finally started catching some more age-groupers.  It must have been a good group as it had literally been 50 miles since the last person I had past on the bike.  It was frustrating to have such a good bike but to have it completed shattered with snafus.   Nonetheless I was just happy to roll back into transition and start the run.

T2: As I got off my bike my first few steps were a little tense.  My inner thighs felt like they were done and were so stiff and I wasn't sure I would be able to complete the marathon.  Nonetheless, I toughed up, but on my shoes and headed out.


Run (3:29:56):

Heading Out Of Town

Loop 1:  The first couple of miles is all up hill and I just focused on setting an easy pace. To my surprise the inner thigh tightness quickly went away and I was feeling great. My plan for the run was to let the war of attrition play out and just see what happened.  Truthfully, I hadn't done the run training, and I knew I was in for a challenge with the hilly course.

The run course did not disappoint and with the heat, wind, and sun, I decided that it was best to walk some key aid stations that were placed at the top of hills.  It gave my body a chance to recovery and was probably the smartest decision I made all day.

Loop 2: I started the second loop of the run and was feeling good. My pace had not suffered much and my run form was surprisingly strong as I ran conservatively and enjoyed the day.  If the day was going to get tough, I knew it wouldn't be until at least mile 18.  That was a good prediction because when I reached the turnaround to head back to St. George I was met with a stiff headwind.

At mile 23 I stopped to dump some rocks out of my shoe.  As I put the shoe back on I was immediately passed by someone in my age-group.  Although I didn't know exactly where I was in the race, I knew there were only a few age groupers ahead of me.  I decided that it was important to stay with this guy, and I committed to doing so.

We continued on together as the ego battle lifted the pace. Then we hit mile 25 and the unthinkable happened - we got passed by another guy in our age-group.  He passed us like we were standing still and quickly gained a 50 meter gap.  I turned to the guy I was running next to and he uttered, "I have nothing left".    I shook my head in acknowledgment and took off in hot pursuit.  Roughly half mile later I found myself directly behind the guy.  I was huffing and puffing and I took a moment to recover as I drafted behind him through an aid station.  Then in a moment of strategy I emptied my pockets to lighten the load and I took off like I was shot out of a cannon.   He couldn't match my surge as I sprinted to the finish.  I never knew I could dig so deep.

Summary (9:55:23):  It was a rough day with some bad luck, but I stayed strong and learned just how deep I can dig. As a result this is by far the most satisfying Ironman I have ever finished.  The volunteers were great, the course was absolutely breathtaking, and I am already looking forward to round 2 in 2012.

As always, I want to thank Trisports.com - use my Trisports coupon code to save 20% on your next order. Each code is unique for you so please contact me thru the above "Contact" tab and I will email you back the 20% off code. Codes can be used at anytime - no waiting for a special sale. They expire 12/31/14. Please remember to fill in your email address so I can reply back to you. If you don't provide an email there is no way for me to contact you. You can also tweet at me or message me on Facebook if you prefer.