The race that wasn't meant to be

Yes indeed, my hopes at qualifying for the sprint world championships in my 16-19 age group were dashed yesterday when they canceled the Capitol of Texas Triathlon.

It had rained pretty much all weekend but it still looked like they might be able to pull the race off. The biggest issue was town lake. Because of all the rain the sewage and drainage pipes had become overloaded and were dumping more then usual into this offspring of the Colorado River. Monday morning, with the rain coming down in droves and the lake unsafe to swim in they changed the race to a duathlon.

While all this was happening I was actually still in bed. I was racing the sprint, which didn't start until 9:00 am and saw no reason to get up any time before 6:00. After waking up, getting showered and shaved, and eating my 300-400 calories my dad and I headed for the race. Rain still coming down we pulled into the parking garage. Much to my dismay there were very few cars there and people were putting bikes with numbers onto their racks. Thats when I got that sick feeling when no one has actualy TOLD you, but you know that its over. That feeling of dissapointment when you have prepared yourself for something, for months and months worked to get ready, and then in the blink of an eye, its gone. There is no "something" you were preparing for. Its off.

I got out, looked around and asked a guy putting his bike in his car the dreadful question I already knew the answer to- "Did they cancel the race? All of them?" He replied in the affirmative and told us that all, even the Sprint and "My First Tri" which weren't scheduled to start for another 2 hours had been called off. With nothing left to do but go get my bike, thats exactly what I did.

My heart sick with dissapointment I splashed through the puddles that inhabited the transition area, once a place of eager anticipation and nervous energy. Now nothing more then a field with bikes scattered around and meek triathletes quitely going about their business. A member of the event staff informed me upon inquiry that not only was the lake too contaminated but the bike course was flooded in spots as well. By now I knew there was nothing they could do to salvage anything resembling a race as barricades were being torn down and half the athletes were already on their way home.

Trudging back to the car I saw the Team In Training athletes running the 5k course. Tri-suit and all they bounced along with smiles on their faces as the rain continued to drizzle down. They too had trained for months, not for themselves but rather for a cause greater then self. A little rain couldn't quinch their spirits. They could see the big picture.

The drive back to Dallas was long and lonely. The rain just wouldn't seem to let up. It gave me some time to reflect. The turmoil of emotions was difficult to decypher. Anger, sadness, resignation, determination, depression. All of those were present. I realized I probably wouldn't get another shot at the World Championships this year. And sure enough, when I got home I saw that the new race they had set as the qualifier was the Metroplex Sprint Triathlon, on June 10th. A great race that I've done before but also right in the middle of my 10 day canoe trip to the boundary water of Canada. Sigh.

Standing in the garage looking at my bike I decided I might as well go out and ride. Just because everything I had trained for was now gone didn't mean I couldn't have fun. Plus it was my way of "sticking it to the man." I was tapered, rested, lets go ahead and get a workout in. So I did. 27 miles. In the rain. I felt great. Theres always next year.

Crits

Wow, crit racing sucks. 30 minutes of hell-on-wheels, balls-to-the-wall racing. Starting with a group of 16 juniors I couldn't get clipped in fast enough and got dropped right from the get go. So I spent the entire race playing catch up, slowly reeling in riders who had gone off to fast and were now fading badly. Got together with a couple guys and we were able to paceline and keep a steady tempo going. One guy really hacked me off cause he would take about 3 second pulls before pulling off and signaling me back to the front. Then stick behind me and try to sprint by to make a break. I was able to keep a steady pace pretty much the whole time as all my triathlon training has left me ill suited for sprinting. At the end it was 5 of us sprinting for the line and I ended up 4th in that group. My calves were pulsing and I could feel them about to cramp. Best I can figure I finished in the middle between the super fast guys way up in the front and the slower guys behind me. It was a good 30min workout and now its time to rest, ice, elevate, and get ready for Capitol of Texas.

Race Weekend

Well here it is again. That dreaded time all triathletes both anticipate and fear- Race Weekend. You set a goal and train for it. Day in, day out. At times it seems so far away that it couldn't possibly matter what you do at the present. Then at other times it seems so close, and you are motivated to get out and get the job done. Then one day you wake up and realize that it really is time. In just a few days everything you have done in preperation will be tested out on the course. Against the athletes and the elements. Are you ready?

Yup, thats whats going through my head right now. And frankly, I'm scared. I set a goal many months ago to claim one of the 2 spots offered to the 16-19 age group for the Sprint World Championships. USAT will take 20 athletes in that age group, 2 from each region. The qualifying race for the SouthMidWest region is the Capitol of Texas Sprint. This Monday. Memorial day. I always believed I could do it but lately I'm not so sure. Not sure if I've done the right training. Not sure if my conflicts with school and work and laziness have sapped to much of my fitness. Not sure if my allergies and subsequent asthma problems are going to inhibit my race day performance. Not sure if I'll have what it takes to measure up against the competition. But those are all just excuses, and I don't like excuses.

I've tried to become much more laid back about my training and racing lately. Get out there and have fun. I'm not a pro. Just an aspiring age grouper. I don't and can't eat, sleep, train like the pro's so why try to race like them? Get out there, don't stress, have fun, wear a speedo, whatever. So this weekend instead of fretting about Monday I'm gonna go race a 30min crit on Saturday. Don't take myself too seriously, thats what I've been trying to learn. I am pumped cause I just got my new Cervelo P2 SL last week. Its freakin fast compared to my old schwinn. I've go some sweet HED wheels that will help as well. tubulars you can pump up to 155 psi make a HUGE difference. Theres about 10 guys that could claim any of those 2 spots and many of them have beaten me before. I may qualify, I many not. But I will race my guts out, I will have fun, and I'll take whatever comes.

The Beginning

Well, here it is. The first ever post of me, speedo guy. This signals my commencement into the society of bloggers. I shall make a proper post concerning some aspect of training and/or racing when time permits.