Thanksgiving Day Triathlon

Goodyear, Arizona

Pre-Race Strategy
This is the one reverse triathlon we did last year. Tri Family Racing does a good job with this race and it is great to have the oppurtunity to do a triatlon on Thanksgiving. I had some of my fastest times ever in last year’s event. I wanted to analyze why and figure a race strategy for this year. Upon reflection, this is a good race for me. Since the triathlon is reverse, several factors come into play. The reason behind the reversal is because of the weather. The mornings have become cold this time of year and the race director reverses the order so as not to have wet athletes hitting the bike in the cold morning air. This got me thinking about why I did so well last year. The lighter guys can’t warm up on the bike. The run already has me plenty warm, so when I hit the bike I am warm and stay warm. Even if the lighter guys are able to get warm in a 2 mile run, they can’t stay that way in the wind of the bike. This is my advantage in this race. Now the run is by far my weakest discipline. This race gives me an advantage on the run. The lighter guys start cold and pretty much stay that way resulting in slower run times. Also, psychologically they are probably running more conservatively because they still have two disciplines to go after they complete the run, unlike a normal triathlon where they just have to run to the finish line. These two factor combined makes for slower run times. That coupled with the fact there is a mass start on the run and I am able to keep an eye on my competitors and hopefully stay with them gives me an advantage. My strategy is to keep my rivals in sight and push the run. Then when I hit the bike I will not let any of them get away. I do not have to save anything for after the bike. I can burn my legs to ash, because all I have to do is run 100 yards or so to the pool. Once I am in the pool I know that I can make up time as long as they are not too far out of reach. I will have very few people to dodge and pass, and every one that I do is putting me higher in the rankings.

So the plan was keep them in sight on the run, keep them tight in the bike and swim past them in the pool.

Last year I ran near 7 minute miles followed by 20.13 mph on the bike. I probably can’t do much better on the run, but I think I can improve on the bike, and I have done about 30 seconds better on the swim in past races. Transitions are faster on a reverse triathlon. You are pulling things off as opposed to putting them on. For example socks. Last year’s race remains my fastest sprint to date.

Reality
My plan fell apart right away. The runner’s took off and I couldn’t stay anywhere near them. I just am incapable of currently running like that. I pushed my run to my threshold and jumped on the bike hell bent on making up time. Here is a bit of analysis:

I finished the run in 109th place. I ended up 24th over-all. So from the time I hit the bike until the finish, I passed 78 competitors. What does all this tell me? I am seriously handicapped by my run. When you look at my run it sticks out. I ended up with my best time ever: 0:54:57. But it was only fast enough for 5th place. My run is crippling me. I have got to run faster. To do that, I have got to lose weight. You just can’t run fast enough carrying 240 pounds.

Ironman Arizona Volunteering

Tempe, Arizona

We had signed up last year to volunteer but I ended up getting the flu the night before. My son Christian was very disappointed and wanted to make sure we spent plenty of time at the race this year. So my son and my wife and I all signed up this year for two different assignments. One of the biggest challenges was finding a babysitter for our 3 year old Vayden that could watch her until 1:00 a.m. The weather was great and there was no wind. What a perfect day for racing. I told Lori I thought someone might break the 8 hour mark today.
Lori, Christian and I arrived at run aid station #6 about 6:30 p.m. The athletes were about to hit 12 hours straight when we encountered them. We got to see all kinds of situations. The three of us found an unfulfilled niche amongst the many volunteers handing out potato chips in little cups to athletes. We did that for about 2 hours. During the time we spent at Aid Station #6 two people stood out. One was named Eric. Eric had a huge visible spasm in one of his legs. He was obviously in intense pain as he hobbled forward. We were all worried about him. He had a blank stare and looked as if he might pass out at any minute. Another athlete that made an impression was this elderly woman with only one leg. She seemed to be struggling a bit but was in good spirits. Mike Reilly would tell us her story later at the finish line.
We arrived at the finish line with 3 hours to go until mid night. The finish line is the place to be. They had drinks, pizza, sandwiches and In & out burgers for the volunteers. Initially we were in charge of medals. We saw our friend Eric who had looked so questionable at run Aid station #6. He had made it! Also During this time a guy by the name of Dave, who I would later find out was from Delaware, collapsed a few feet from me. Another volunteer and I tended to him. He was very out of it for a few moments. He had this blank stare and I was afraid he died for a second or two. Eventually we asked him his name and he told us ‘Dave’. The other guy asked him if he knew where he was. For the first time his blank stare vanished into a smile and he happily answered “The finish line”. Dave may not have been able to answer what state, country, or even planet he was on, but he smiled when he said “the finish line.” It had obviously taken everything in him to make it to the finish, and he had done it. I told him that he had left it all out on that course and he should be proud. I was proud of him. I had never met Dave before, and as I was holding his sweaty body on the cold asphalt, I couldn’t help but love him. It is hard to explain, but this complete stranger had made me proud to be part of the human race. That was a moment I will remember.
After about an hour of various jobs the team captain asked me if I would take on a new job. It ended up being the best job ever. For the last two hours I was assigned to sit in a chair literally a foot in front of the finish line and take down bib numbers in the order they crossed the line. This gave me the best seat in the house. I got to see every expression and emotion as they crossed the line. I got to high five them and had Mike Reilly dancing around in front of me. For the last hour the pros came down and I met and congratulated Eneko Llanos who won the race in 07:59:38. I was right about the 8 hour mark. Llanos is only the second man in history to break 8 hours on American soil. The first happened just three weeks ago in Florida. I also congratulated Lindsey Corbin who placed 2nd in the women’s. I like her because she is from Montana and always wears a cowboy hat across the finish line. I was amazed watching the pros dance and have fun. They did not seem sore or tired at all.
During the two hours I spent there on the line I got to see many things. Among the highlights was a 74 year old man finishing 140.6 miles. I also watched as Mike Reilly told everyone the story of the elderly woman in her 60’s who he had pronounced an ironman years earlier at Kona who was later hit by a car while training and lost her leg. After recovering from losing her leg she had attempted several times to complete and Ironman but had been unable to successfully finish. Tonight with all of Tempe on their feet cheering, she crossed the finish line. It was neat to later learn that she qualified for Kona. Another moving moment was when close to midnight tow athletes came around the corner basically carrying and elderly gentleman who could no longer move forward without assistance. These athletes put their own finish in jeopardy to make sure the elderly gentlemen made it across the finish line by midnight. Then as midnight approached all of Tempe was again on their feet for 56 year old Patricia Tilotson from Delaware. Mike Reilly was running behind her pushing her on with all of tempe on their feet screaming. She crossed the line in what has to be the closest finish ever. I looked up her time. Her time was 17:00:00. That was an incredible moment for all of us. She looked like she was hurting bad, hunched over and giving it everything she had left. That was an amazing moment to witness. We got home and at about 2:00 a.m. my wife and I looked at each other and we were still wired and not tired at all. If you ever get a chance to volunteer, or even cheer in the stands in those hours that approach mid-night, do it! You will never forget it.

Gilbert Day 5K

Gilbert, Arizona

My friend Mark called me the day before this race and asked me if I was doing the 5k at Freemont Park on Friday night. I said, “what, there is a local race I don’t know about? Sign me up. I ended up running it in 00:22:55, which is an all time best for me. Apparently it was a good course for me. They gave out fun shirts and it was definately family friendly. I always run better at night for some reason, so it was nice to do a Friday night race.

Shun the Sun 10K

Mesa, Arizona

I wanted to do this race because it was a 10k that ran along the canal and it was close by on a Saturday. I thought it would make a good Saturday morning workout. How could I resist? Of course what was supposed to be a workout turned into close to a personal best. The weather was perfect for me and I started out running really well and then decided if I could keep that pace I would break into the 40’s. A 49:59 would have been just fine to me. I ran a heart breaking 50:00. This was a good fast course. The finish is in the stadium that the Chicago Cubs use for spring training. There are plenty of earlier morning bathrooms. They had an Expo that puts most races to shame. They also gave out these great comfortable shirts too. One of the best shirts I have received all year. I stumbled upon this race just a few days before it took place and registered on site. Good cause, good parking and good post race food. This race needs to advertise a bit more my circles. It was a little gem I found this year by accident. This is a good race that I am going to put on my calendar for next year. I did the 10K, but they have a half marathon distance also.

Blue Water Triathlon

Parker, Arizona

My son and I both love this race, as much for the trip as the race itself. This year I did the long course while my son Christian did the short. Christian took the 14 and under age group with 1st place. I ended up in 4th in my age group which was ironic given that my number was 4. I improved my swim by about 30 seconds from last year even though I felt as if I was having a bad swim. I improved my bike by almost 6 minutes and a full mile an hour average. The rough roads on the California side of this race make speed difficult for me at times in this race. Half the bike course is in California and the other half is in Arizona, so you get to race in two states. Surprisingly my run was only a minute and a half faster than last year. I say that because I thought I ran faster this time. My over-all time was 9 minutes faster than last year. I wasn’t super happy with my results, but at least I am improving. Mountian Man Events puts on a good race. It is nice to roll out of bed and walk a hundred yards to the transition area. This was fun trip because my wife Lori and my daughter Vayden came with this year. Vayden loved the pool and going down the big slide. Where else can Vayden do that? Lori won some money at the casino and I got to eat all-you-can-eat prime rib at the buffet two nights in a row. And one night was free!