St. Anthony's Race Report

Well, two races down and two 2nd place finishes. This was ST. Anthony’s one of the best races in the country if not the best and probably the deepest and strongest field assembled outside a world championship race. This race was held in St. Petersburg, Florida. Race day started early my wave was the 3rd off the pro men and women and then the elite amateurs, and invite only into this wave where there were 50 entrants. The days started off rough, the water was churning and was a battle the entire time. I got out well, I felt and then made a turn at the first buoy and then the current just kept knocking me off course, it felt like I was in a washing machine, never been in one but can imagine. So I get out of the water and into T1 where I looked around and thought ok I’m where I need to be no clue where I was on the course and so off to the bike. The bike course is flat with lots of turns. I start going and just felt flat, had an ok day on the bike nothing great and just felt the engine could not get cranking. Then on to the run where as soon as I started I was like dang this may be a long day, and just started cranking and kept cranking, then I started passing people and then caught the guys who I thought was in first and then just ran for my life. I crossed the finish to hear my name as the 2nd place and was like where did I miss someone, and sure enough I did miss one guys he finished like 1:30 in front of me. I went 22 min the water, 59 something on the bike and 33 flat, yeah s spectacular run in fact it was the 5th fastest run all day only three Olympians and a 70.3 world champ were faster than me on the run, so all in all not a bad day especially the run. Was a little disappointed with the swim and the bike feel like I am in a lot better shape than reflected, but not bad being 2nd elite amateur and 20th overall in this star-studded race. Well now one more race in gulfshores, not on the schedule but a race my coach Brent Lorenzen thinks would be good, then a weekend off then Memphis in May, feels like a whirlwind but I am blessed to be doing what I love. Thanks to all you out there and, you know who you are, who are helping make my dreams come true. Stay tuned for next race report and in the meantime DREAM BIG!!!

Start Your Engines!!!!!!

Well the season is under way. I raced on Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This race was the Talent ID 2012 in which they invited 40 or so of the top Amateurs in the country to race in a draft legal race, the first one of its kind on American soil for age-group athletes. This race was in conjunction with the Olympic Trials, in which I was able to see two amazing athletes win, Julie Ertel and Matt Reed. The great thing about triathlon is that at anytime it can be anyone’s race just look at the fact Matt Reed was the one supposed to not make the team and now one of the two “favorites” Hunter Kemper or Andy Potts will be on the outside looking in. Then we raced on Sunday at 1. One of my good friends Mary Miller, raced in the female race and came in 3rd she’s a stud look out for her, we seem to have hit the tri world at same time and are dreaming big. Sorry, I get side tracked, our race was 750 meter swim, 12.5 mile bike, and 5k run. I was nervous before it started but I just kept telling myself do your thing be the best you can and see where the chips fall. I had a good swim, started on the outside to stay out of trouble which may have cost me a touch but at least I was in the race. I came out of the water with the 2nd pack, there was about 8-10 of us and we got on the bike. I was leading the train to try and get everyone to work together for we were not going to catch anyone as individuals but could put a dent into the 1:15 lead they had on us. And we did, I came off the bike and transition in 6th place about :55 back from the leader. I was hurting and for some reason was having stomach cramps and could not open it up in the run and I was real hesitant, but kept moving up after the first 2.5k loop I was in 3rd and had my sights on the two leaders. I caught second place with a ½ mile to go and just ran out of real estate to catch the leader. He beat me by :15 seconds. I had a lot of fun and felt I ran and did the best I could do. I had a huge supporting cast and as always this a team effort for people there and at home. My team is team Somnium Magnus which is Latin for Dream Big. If your reading this your apart of it and I thank you for being with me in this, I feel your energy and love and cherish your support. I know and feel great things are coming and I believe I will be able to train full-time for that is what it takes to beat and be the best. So now this weekend I race in another big race, nothing like starting the season off with a bang! I am headed to Tampa, for St. Anthony’s which might as well be a world championship race. It will be big, last year I was 3rd in the elite amateur wave and hope to better that this year. Let’s do this. Dream Big!!!

In the Books!!!

Well the first race is in the record books. It was a Duathlon, which is a run bike run. We ran 3 biked 15 ran 3. Last week was an unusual week, on Friday I was doing a track workout, feeling great when I cramped and cramped bad. This does not happen to me so I was either lacking in fluids or sleep, but I went to the cold tank, which you submerge yourself in water at 55 degrees, and drank a lot of Gatorade. Fell like trash the rest of the day then did a 45 mile bike ride of Saturday and a swim. Going into the race there was no pop in the legs I was a little worried but felt that I would be ok. The race started and I took it out from the start, there was a guy with me till the 11/2 mark and then I was alone the rest of the day. I ran the first 3 in 16:00, then got on the bike, with a minor mishap out of transition, my toe on my shoe caught the ground and went flying, so I ran back with my bike to get my shoe and well that was a first. Then got on the bike and started hammering but my legs were not there, I was just flat and no juice. I went on to ride 37 something and then had built like a 3 min lead, so the second run I ran hard but was hurting, I just was really tired. I ran 17 min for the last 3 and ended up winning by 4 min. All in all it was a great day, especially considering the training I was doing leading up to the race. I run across people all the time who are involved in my life in some shape or fashion and am continually amazed at the support people give me to pursue these dreams. I am forever grateful for all those in my life who are and encouragement and an inspiration. This is a total team effort and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Well no race this weekend and then we will be off and running. Dream Big!!!! p.s. pic is from the race, I was running so fast I made the pic fuzzy!!!