Dot and I DIGGED THE BIG PIG GIG

Dottie and I both race at the 20th annual Pigman Triathlon here in Cedar Rapids today. It was a perfect day. Sun, not much wind and temps in the 70's. This race is the biggest one in the area and was sold out in early March. All local bragging rights and trash talking is solidified for the next 12 months based on the BIG PIG GIG!

Coming into the race, I really wasn't expecting much. This week was the first build week to a five week block of training aimed at preparing for the Muncie 70.3 race in July. To that end, I put in some tough efforts this week. Both my run and bike interval workouts were the hardest one’s I’ve done this year. It was also my biggest bike mileage week of the year. I took it easier the last two days, but I never felt recovered.

Here’s where I say, you can never predict how you will race based on how you feel leading up to the race. I’ve done this race six years in a row with no changes to the course in that time. The 2011 version was the fastest I’ve ever been. 

Swim

The swim is a time trial start and it’s a pretty standard out and back .5K course. My times for today’s swim was within 3 seconds of each of the last 3 years….This year, I’ve swum fewer yards but placed more focus on stroke work. It seems to be helping. The work I’ve put in, I think, is continuing my slow but steady progression…or at least I’m not getting slower as I get older. There really isn’t much to talk about with the swim. I swam hard. Kept my stroke intact and did a good job of sighting.

Swim time: 7:38 - 1:24/100 – 2^nd in my age group

Bike

I did a good long bike warm-up before the race. This was the second time this year I’ve done this and it seems to pay dividends. Both races have had  good bike splits and I didn’t feel the intense burning in my quads for the first 10 – 15 minutes of the race. My last race was an Olympic Distance race (40K) and I averaged 271 watts. Today’s race was 25K so the goal was to hold 280 watts. I worked my butt off but was only able to average 273 watts. I don’t think I could have worked much harder. It’s kind of discouraging to not be able to turn up the wattage for a shorter race, but it is what it is and I got what I got.

I feel confident that I didn’t leave anything on the course today.  The course has one big hill that you climb twice. It kills the ave mph but it’s fun to attack. I made a decision to ride it both times out of the saddle and just hammer it.  Man, that hurt but I was smiling at the top both times because I knew I was working my ass off.

Bike time: 39:01 – 23.9mph – 1^st in age group and my fastest time by about a minute.

Run

After being disappointed with my run at Memphis, I was mentally ready to attack the course today and stay in the discomfort zone for twenty minutes. I focused on keeping good form and a higher cadence as soon as I got out of T2 but it felt like I was spinning my wheels. It sucks to know that you’re working hard as you can, but aren’t travelling across the pavement with any velocity.  I’m guessing the hard effort on the bike had something to do with it.  It took me half of the 5K course to get going. It came at a good time too. Just past the turn-around, I caught a glimpse of the second place guy in my age group about 90 seconds behind me. He’s a great runner and I’m sure was eating into my lead.  As I was able to pick it up, I seemed to be able to hold him at bay for the rest of the run.

 I left it all on the run today. No sandbagging. No lack of effort but disappointed in the time, again. In February, I ran an open 5K in under 19 min. I was hoping to get close to that today.

Run time: 19:53 - 6:24 per mile – 2^nd in the age group.

Overall, I was as pleased with today’s effort. I was rewarded with a good time (for me). Mentally, I didn’t let the fact that I didn’t feel all that great leading up to the race affect how I was going to approach it. I was ready to work hard. I was ready to hurt and give it everything I had. I did that.

I never thought I would see my fastest Sprint race time at the edge of 54. It can be done.

Overall time: 1:09:31 – 1^st age group – 11^th overall

I mentioned Dottie raced today too. She competed well and it always gives me a charge to see her out there. I’m proud of her and the fact that she's willing to get out and race. How many 50+ ladies are willing to get out and put it on the line? Not many.

Thanks for reading this. Train hard.