I did a podcast with Endurance Corner Radio last week before leaving for Vegas. Gordo and I talked about the Ironman Wisconsin course as well as my own experience on race day. Check it out here:
-j
Vegas.
I’m not really much of a Vegas guy. I sort of assumed that, but after the past three days I think I can say I’m sure of that. Nevertheless, Interbike goes there every year and I decided to make the trip this year to try and see what is going on in the triathlon and cycling world.
Some of what happened….
***I was sorry that I could not make the power symposium that was held at the very beginning of the trade show. I landed in Vegas around 10:30 on Wednesday morning and the symposium began some time around there.
***I went by the Quarq (www.quarq.us) booth to check out their product. They have a power meter on the market that reads power from the spider on a crankset. The company is out of Spearfish, South Dakota and was created by a triathlete (and MIT alum) looking for an alternative to SRM. It is ANT+ compatable so you can use it with Garmin, Powertap, SRM, etc head units that read power; and it weighs in at 88 grams. Another company has a product called Vector: a power meter built into a Speedplay pedal that should be out next Spring.
***I went for a run on the strip on Thursday morning. That was quite possibly the worst running route I have yet to do. It was interesting to be out early and see how Vegas powerwashes the sidewalks before the day’s festivities. Having said that, I was impressed by the number of folks (likely there with Interbike) that were out running despite the locale.
***I tend to get lost inside the Casino/Hotels. I reckon that’s the idea.
***We stayed in the Imperial Palace, which everyone seemed to think was a total dump. Apparently they have not stayed in some of the places that I have.
***On Thursday night I went to watch the Pro Men’s Crit. Around 2/3rds of the way through the race a rider from Bicycle Haus crashed into me. Literally. I was sitting in a spot without a barricade and he got pushed into the gutter forcing a crash. We both walked away unscathed and he managed to get back with the main group. Made for a good laugh.
***I spent the rest of the time there cruising through a variety of bike, wheel, nutrition, helmet, chamois cream, saddle, compression, bike fitting, etc, etc companies. Some of the biggest companies like Trek, Cervelo, Giant and Felt decided not to attend the show, but pretty much everyone else seemed to have a presence there.
Now its back to reality in Boulder (is Boulder reality?) and time to start training again. The fall weather is definitely rolling in, but I still think I can make into the mountains a few more times.
cheers,
j
Friends,
I unexpectedly found myself in Madison, Wisconsin this past weekend. Some unfortunate circumstances had put me out of Ironman Canada (at the end of the bike) and I found myself toeing the line for another IM two weeks later. Ironman take two.
The race got to a less-than-ideal start for me as my arms seemed unusually flat while warming up for the swim. I settled into a pack for the first loop, but faded considerably on the back half and was three minutes off the second pack coming into T1. I tried to hussle up the helix to make up some ground, but apparently my heart rate can only reach 200 so little progress was made.
As I was running towards my bike down the long parking lot I realized that while my arms had felt blah; my legs actually felt pretty good. I had only seen the bike course by car, but I could tell it was honest course that would force everyone to work. As the bike went along I made up ground on some and lost a bit to others, but my overall position in the field had improved. I came into T2 feeling a little fresher than usual and the prospects of a good run seemed well in place.
I started the run in 10th place and had moved up into 6th after a few miles. All seemed well and good, but unfortunately mother nature came calling around 10K into the run and I was forceced to take a number of pit stops between miles 7 and 11. At this point in the race I stopped concerning myself with anyone else and just tried to look after me. In the past,I have made the mistake of focusing too much on others in a moment where I need to sort myself out.
It took a little while, but after another 4-5 miles I started to feel a little better and I had not given up my 6th position. However, 7th place was close behind and 5th was not too far up the road so I tried to give my all in the closing miles to better my position. The effort was good enough to hold my position, but not change it, and I crossed the finish line just under nine hours to take 6th Overall.
My performance in Madison was not my best to date, but I really felt I was able to maximize my day by applying lessons learned in the past. I enjoyed racing in Wisconsin and I would welcome an oppurtunity to return there some time down the road.
cheers,
j
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