Kansas 70.3

Kansas 70.3 2011

June 2011 Lawrence Kansas
As I remember it the drive up was a long one, there were only a few of that decided to race in 2011 Jason, Brian, Tommy, and Sandra. All the guys stayed in a friends house, we had a great time just hanging out and getting ready to race. I remember on the drive up looking at the Flint Hills and thinking this race may be a good challenge, who knew Kansas was so hilly, my other thought was that I should have trained more between races!
I knew I had taken a little to much time off between Galveston and Kansas and not trained as much as I should have! I felt like I was as ready as I could be, but I was mistaken! Race day turned out to be pretty challenging for me.
Luckily race morning was wetsuit legal and I could start in my wave because I needed the extra time. I am a slower swimmer to begin with but my lack of swimming and doing open water between races really showed at this race. I came out of water with a time of 1:17 and was legally one of the last ones out of the water, needless to say I did not feel good coming out of the water.
Getting on the bike for 56 miles was a challenge after spending that much time in the water. I had thoughts of not being able to finish in time but I knew I had to give it a try! About 10 minutes into the bike I started to feel better and my goal was to just start passing people and get done as fast as I could and try and save some for the run. I kept seeing Sandra on the bike course and I was getting closer to her and my new goal was to catch her before the end of the bike. I chose not to stop on the bike so I could make up as much time as possible which worked for my goal. I ended up catching Sandra at the bike dismount like and we went into T2 together and started our run together. I tried to pee on the bike but I waited way to long so I had to take the time to go in T2, glad it was in a grassy area!
The run was sunny and getting really warm, but I started out good and stayed with Sandra for most of the first loop. It was also really good to have the support of Stacy on course, she helped push my through the day and ran with us for a few minutes. I was starting to pay the price for my lack of training even more on the run, I started to get leg cramps and the mental game started, how much time did I have and left and was I able to finish with the cramping I was having. I just kept moving forward, I was walk running the course just to get done, more walking the last lap with the cramps increasing. I was on the final lap with about 3 miles to go at the last run around when I saw Natasha and her crew and they were helping to push me along, I pushed with everything I had left the last few miles and the cramps were getting worse and it really showed when I turned into the final finishing shoot. Our whole crew was waiting for me to fiinish and I saw then right at the last turn into the shoot and that was what I needed to give it that final push. As soon as I turned the corner though both my legs locked up with cramps and I hobbled/ran the rest of the way in. My day was done and I had finished in just over 7:30. That was my toughest race at the time and a true learning experience for sure.
Take aways - train better between races and get my nutrition locked down!

Kansas 70.3 2012

June 10th 2012
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