I really had no idea that 2012 would turn out like it did. My main, and only goal at the time, was to complete a full Ironman. I set my sights on St. George and took on what was said to be one of the toughest races in the toughest conditions, and made it. St. George was in May, which is pretty close to the beginning of the tri season, and I had no idea or plan of what I was going to do for the rest of the year. It just kind of unfolded.
A few weeks before St. George I was accepted to race on team USA at the ITU cross world championship in Pelham, AL. It fell two weeks after my Ironman but it seemed like a really neat experience so I went for it. I was humbled by the competition, coming from completing an Ironman in the top 30% to completing an off-road tri in the back 30%. Although I was destroyed, I was glad I did it and got a lot out of it. I got to spend some good time with my family, travel to somewhere I've never been, race in a race that was held in the US for the first time. I also met the owner of Breakthrough Nutrition, Clifton Duhon (who also contributed to the direction of my season). I was wearing a BASE performance shirt when I went to pick up my packet Clif noticed the shirt and told me Breakthrough would be carrying BASE supplements in the next few weeks.
Two weeks from ITU cross was Xterra East Coast Championship. I did this race in 2011 and it was rough, even though it's my home town. I got an email from Paul Lieto (from BASE) and Clif asking me if I wanted to race. Hell yeah...time to jump on the pain train for a rematch! Previous year at Xterra EC Champs I wrecked twice and blew up on the run. This year, crushed my last time by 32 minutes! Also, I had just started working with Bob Flanigan, owner/coach of Central Virginia Endurance, who really helped me with the mental game of this race.
After that was Age Group Nationals in Burlington, VT. I qualified for this when I won my age group in a half iron distance race at the Outer Banks last year. I was excited about qualifying and registered, not really thinking about what I was getting into. This was the top 10% from all USAT races...and it was an Olympic distance. Speed is not one of my strong points, especially running, and in Olympic distance speed is important. Still I went after it and PR'd my Olympic distance by 10 minutes.
To wrap up the season, I raced Augusta 70.3. Goal here was to break five hours. I had been working with Bob for three months at this time. Even with jumping on board with Bob in the middle of my season we were able to do some, what I would consider, pretty remarkable things and it really showed in Augusta. First of all I had a 24:33 swim. Keep in mind we were swimming with the current but I came out of the water 25 out of 300 in my AG. On the bike I was able to average 22.8 mph. That's 1 - 1 1/2 mph faster than I've ever done. Came off the bike 26 in my AG. The run, even though my weak point, was still a tremendous improvement. The two half iron races I did last year I ran a 2:03 half marathon in both. This time I ran a 1:54. Overall time 4:51:48!
The Best Journey
This year I've met tons of great people, crushed PR's, traveled to new places, and learned a ton about the sport (triathlon) and myself within it. I've had so much help from friends and family who helped keep me motivated and supported me through all the training and races. My friends that tolerated me bailing on get-togethers and turning in early so I could get up at 4:30 AM and train or go for 5-7 hour bike rides on the weekends.
My brother was a huge part of this year. We literally traveled all over the country chasing after this crazy sport; as far west as Utah, north to Vermont, and south to Georgia. Sitting in airports, 11 hour trips in the car, trying to find hotels at 10 or 11 at night, hanging out at expos for hours and repeatedly getting called "the twins." Straight Kick Ass!!! Just wait till we go international, BOOM!!!
Crushing PR's
So this year I made some significant leaps in my times from last year. When you're cutting off 30+ minutes in Xterras and half iron distance races from one year to the next there has got to be reason. Here is what I've come up with:
- Taking care of myself. When training for St. George I was sometimes putting in 18-22 hours a week of training. I made sure that I was eating halfway decent and getting enough sleep. I have no problem with pushing myself, but realizing when you need to take it easy was a problem.
- BASE performance supplements! The multi, aminos, recovery caps and electrolyte salt was a must. The proof is there! The stress that I put on my body when training and to be able to get up and push just as hard the next day was definitely attributed to BASE supplements. To be at the end of the 112 bike ride, getting ready to hit the 26.2 mile run, and your legs start to cramp so you hit the electrolyte salt and BAM, cramps gone and not another issue for the entire marathon!
- A coach. I'm very self motivated when it comes to training. I rarely missed a workout so that aspect of a coach was not really what I was looking for. I wanted someone to look at my times/training and dissect my strengths/weaknesses to make me the best I could be with what I have. I started with Bob to see how the coaching thing worked, and boy did it! In the short four months that we worked together he helped me shave minutes off my swim, ride like a maniac, and put a decent run together (running is my weak point). A good coach is like a therapist. They can stand back and see the whole picture where you be focused or caught up with one part of it.
- Another year of experience. Augusta made triathlon #15 for me. After finishing St. George, I went after most of the other races to "race" and not just to finish. Going into a race with that mentality makes a big difference
That's all I can really come up with. Those four bullet points are the only different approaches I had from last year to this year. I had the same bikes, I weigh the same...that's about it.
What Now?
So it's been well over a month since my last race. My goal is to take it easy for a few months, probably till December or January. I'm still running, biking and swimming but just at my convenience. I just want to keep it fun and at the end of this season triathlon started to lose it's luster.
In 2013 I want to do more off road stuff. Maybe a few endurance mountain bike races and more Xterras. I'm also really looking hard at Leadmantri in Bend, Oregon. A 5k swim, 223k bike and 22k run. We'll see...
In 2013 I want to do more off road stuff. Maybe a few endurance mountain bike races and more Xterras. I'm also really looking hard at Leadmantri in Bend, Oregon. A 5k swim, 223k bike and 22k run. We'll see...
