This race was my final "tune-up" for the USA National Championships... it went pretty well! I was not expecting to win anything... and stuck to my race plan until the last mile or two, when I thought I had a chance to win...
I came into the race with a specific plan to race to my Olympic race paces for Nationals, but do it on a sprint distance course as a dress rehearsal. After a disappointing early season, I needed a confidence boost going into Nationals. It was a fun and rewarding day to allow my fitness to come through and earn my first win in a while.
There was a great turn-out of local athletes and SnakeBite Team members at the race, which made it more fun.
The race takes place at Mentor Headlands Beach... a wonderful venue, except that it faces into the prevailing winds off Lake Erie, and is often rough. Sadly, last year at the GTC, there was a fatality during the rough swim. This year, there was definitely rough conditions. Ultimately, the swim was cancelled and an additional run would be the first leg. This plays to my strengths.
When the race started, I stuck to my plan. I started off comfortably with the lead group. Within the first mile of the run, two guys attacked the group and pulled ahead. I wanted to go with them, and knew that I could, but I was racing to a plan, and decided to stick to the plan. The Swim (aka early run) went well for me, and I ran a comfortable 6:30/mi average for the first leg
Coming into transition for T1, I could see that I was going to catch and pass one of the two who went in front of me early. One down... two to go.
I started out on the bike feeling good. Again, my objective today was to race my Olympic race paces I was planning for Nationals... so I held back on the bike compared to how I would normally attack a sprint bike course.
About 5 miles into the bike, I caught up to my other competitor... now I'm leading on the road and pushing along at my race pace targets... nothing more.
I felt fine on the bike, fueled well, and was looking forward to the run.
Coming into T2, I knew I was in front of my wave and was ready to see how I felt on the run.
I felt great off the bike. The speed came easy and felt right. 6:20/mi pace for the first mile. Heading to the second mile, which was an out-and-back, I would get a chance to see where everyone else was. My closest competition was about 0:20 back at the turn. I held to my goal pace, despite knowing that I was being hunted down by Bill Marut.
By the time I got to mile 2 of the last leg, Bill pulled up next to me. We talked briefly and I told him that I was holding my goal paces and to go for it. Bill pulled ahead... and I hated to let him go, but I was thinking about Nationals the next weekend and didn't want to push it too hard.
I noticed that Bill stopped pulling ahead of me... and started to yo-yo in front of me...
I held back the entire race, but within a mile of the finish, I could sense blood in the water, and was starting to picture how I would feel losing my wave by 5 seconds... I couldn't take it anymore... I had to RACE!
I surged and closed the gap to Bill quickly. I pulled along side him and tried to talk to him again. It was apparent that he was starting to labor... I made my move.
Laid down a 5:30 mile for the last mile to put a permanent gap on Bill...
When I crossed the finish line, the timekeeper told me my time was the fastest on the day! I was happy and surprised to hear that! I knew I won my wave/age group, but didn't think about the overall!
Again, it was a fun and rewarding day to allow my fitness to come through and earn my first win in a few years.
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