I haven't posted on here in a while. Mostly because I have been really super busy. A lot of changes in my life since July-ish.
1. I changed Coaches (Coach Ciav is only the second I have had. I was coached by Mark Kendall since 2005 when I was just trying to qualify for the boston marathon.)
2. Quit my job and started up my own Collection Agency with my old man and Uncle Terry- GrindStone Collection Strategies, Inc
3. Split up with my Wife and have been living alone with my dog and two cats since August (no sympathy needed here, this is something that needed to happen. It was a mutual agreement. It was an unhealthy living situation for both of us)
4. Started my first of two 2-year Terms on the Board of Directors at Open Meadow Alternative Schools (the high school program that I graduated from and helped me turn around my life)
With all this going on (especially #2 & #3) I have managed to continue to train hard and stay focused on peaking for Clearwater 70.3 World Championships next month.
Last week I had traveled down to the Phoenix area, where my dad and uncle and Corp office is located. I had the time of my life down there. It really is a nice area (especially this time of year). My Uncle Terry, Aunt Marilyn, and Pops were great hosts and we all had a great time together and got a lot of business taken care of as well. While I was down, I was talked into jumping into the Nathan Tempe Triathlon by local tri-babe, Anne Drier. She even got the owner of the Event Management company Red Rock Company (they put on Soma Tri as well as many others) Kimo Seymour to loan me HIS RACE BIKE. It was a 2008 Trek TTX, all black, with a bontrager tubular disc wheel! I was stoked and very very appreciative of him and very nervous I might wreck his sweet ride. He's also a super fast sub 10hr Kona athlete and top 20 Leadville 100 MTB guy!
Pre-race- Same area as IM AZ. sheesh, this race was packed, 1500 athletes scampering around getting ready to race. Enough said
Swim-31:13- 80degree water, non-wetsuit, and about 300meters long. And the first half of the swim direct into the sun. Pro's were coming out of water in 24 to 27 minutes. So dont feel to bad about this. But it was a pretty tough swim. Was happy when it was over. 52nd place coming out of water
T1- 1:06- about 10-20 seconds slower than the pro's. But I put my bike shoes on in transition. No way was I trying the Flying Mount on Kimo's $10k Bike!
Bike- 1::01:31- Accurate 40km course, and flat as my back. However there were 24 ninety degree turns and six 180degree turnarounds. I didnt have a power meter or bike computer, i just hammered. The Trek was super light and it felt really easy to handle around the corners and accelerate out of the turnarounds...so that somewhat made up for my poor technical handling bike skills. I passed a ton of people on the bike, but the course was also congested with sprint racers. I was only passed by one guy, who I battled with for the first lap but let him go on the second lap. He looked pretty strong. It was getting hot and I was sweating alot under my aero helmet but felt pretty good coming into T2 and in 16th place overall
T2- 1:03- Right up there with the big boys
Run- 37:15- Started out the 10k run at my 6:20 pace (same thing I did at Folsom). I was passing guys even at this pace. Once I was 5min in, I turned it up and was clipping off 5;30's for a while. I'm not sure if the course was a little long, or if it was just the heat, but I was running pretty fast and putting out a huge effort. I was passing people, but seemed to be running 6min pace or slightly under. Temp was up in the 90's so that could have been what was going on. I moved up 10 spots on the run. I had the 4th fastest run split and was only 30 seconds slower than the pro winner Lewis Elliot. Pretty pleased with the bike and run on this day!
FINISH-2:12:09 6th place overall (out of 700 I think), 3rd Amatuer overall, and 1st place in my Age Group!!
Huge thanks to Anne Drier for talking me into racing. Kimo you are a brave and generous man for lending me your bike for the day. Kimo also put on a great race that spoiled the heck out of the athletes. (no wonder 1500 showed up for a late season Olympic Tri) Our race packets were also filled with all kinds of free product from Nathan Hydration. This race I think i got the best bang for my buck out of all the races I have been in this year.
Thanks to Pops for cheering for me all 12 times he saw me go by on the course. And Terry for making it down to see me rip it up as well.
Thanks to Coach Ciav, I am getting really strong under his program.
And of course thanks to GU Energy for keeping me fueled before, during and after my races and training!
Thanks all for reading! Now its nothing but training until the big grand finale of the year for me....70.3 World Championships on Nov 14th....Stay Tuned!
-Monda
