2011 Boulder Ironman 70.3 - Tri Again.

I am racing this event for the third time in 3 years. My performance last year was a disappointment and I want to see if I can do better. Since this is the third time, I will spare the details. I carefully estimated that I would finish the race at about 6:04. This is based on careful analysis of past performance and current fitness. I hope to finish in less than 6:00.

I trained more consistently this year and I have improved my run and swim in particular. I estimate that my swimming has improved by 15% and I have set new personal best times in the marathon, half marathon, ten mile and even the Olympic distance triathlon. I must thank Charley Perez and my teammates from the Rocky Mountain Tri club for my swim improvement. I was also selected for the Runners Roost Race Team (Retail) this year which helped my running by allowing me to train with many fantastic runners.

Blah, blah pre race dinner. Blah, blah, prepare the bike, blah, blah, blah... Time for bed blah, blah...

I figured reveille at 4 am and wheels up at 5 am would get us there in time. Dress, breakfast, pack. I pack more gels in by bento box. I try and add Hammer Endurolytes and orange gel to a Arrowhead brand water bottle. I don't want to try and mess with the capsules on the bike. Next time I will add the Endurolytes to the Perpetuem. I am so nervous this morning, much more so than last year.

Traffic is light and we see a few other athletes on the way up. Once we reach the reservoir I carry my bike to the road to avoid a flat like last year. Once I reach the transition area I hear an official yell, "Transition closes in 15 minutes". Whoops, should have left earlier. So much for my pre-race preparation. Find my spot on the bike rack, set up and head to the beach. No warm up, no snack, no pit stop. Fortunately, it seems this does not turn out to be an issue. Kiss my wife, hug my daughter and line up with my wave. It is interesting to note how nervous the other athletes and I are before the swim. We make nervous attempts at humor with each other. At running races, everyone is in there "zone" and you don't hear this type of banter. The elites had started 30 minutes earlier and I watch Andy Potts exit the water 75 meters ahead of the pack.

We enter the water and wait for the start. More nervous banter. Time to go! For some reason this swim starts out rough for me. The water seems more choppy and I tangle with a few swimmers. After a few hundred meters this settles down and I just swim. I spot the buoys and have a much better time staying on course this year. Swim, swim. Grab the apple, put it in the bag, grab the apple, put it in the bag - see Charley I listened. I follow the buoys and look up and see the finish off in the distance. This swim seemed to go faster. Swim, swim swim. I exit the water and check my watch. 45 minutes! Five minutes better than 2009 and six minutes better than 2010.

Run to transition, wrestle the wet suit off. I feel stronger after this swim and I am actually trying to race out of transition instead of taking a break. My transition time is still pathetic however. Wet suit off, helmet, shoes and sunglasses on. This year I try sun screen. Oops, sprayed the watch. Wipe off the display and accidentally press the stop button. So much for that. I still have the bike computer. Grab the bike, check the tires and NO FLAT!!.

There's Julie and Sara cheering as I head out on the bike course. I head out for 56 miles. I am glad I invested in some new wheels and a tune up. I pass some riders and I am passed by more. I can hear the bikes with race wheels approach and pass. More riders pass me on the climb. I SUCK on the bike. Pedal, pedal, pedal. I have only seen one RMTC team member so far. Bike is working great. Drink hand off goes without a hitch, simply amazing. Beautiful morning for a ride, the foothills are very green from all of the rain. The corn is almost ready for harvest. The last 3-4 miles of the bike loop along the Diagonal are the most difficult for me for some reason. There is not really a climb but this is the part where I struggle. I see some members from RMTC out on the bike course cheering. That is so awesome that they take the time to come to the race and support other teammates.

Pedal, pedal, pedal. I am on the next loop. I see a rider on the shoulder with a flat. I ask if she is ok and she says, "No!". Should I stop? This is a race. There should be a SAG wagon. This does not happen in running races. I have read many accounts of elite triathlon athletes aiding others during races. I hit the brakes and pull over to help. She had changed her tube but she could not inflate it. This seems to be a common problem. She has tried CO2 and a pump without luck. I grab my CO2 and successfully inflate it a little. We try the pump again without luck. I try another CO2 cartridge which inflates the tire and I close the valve. She looks for the valve cover as I start out again. A nice break but I figure it cost me 4-5 minutes.

Pedal, pedal, pedal. I see some more RMTC members riding the course and cheering. So cool. Turn on St. Vrain, pedal and tuck. 40 miles an hour. Yahoo. If I crash, I am dog meat. Another bottle hand off. My hamstrings are staring to tire and my left hand is getting numb. I should be using my aerobars but I just can;t get comfortable in them. There is a 180 degree turn on the course. With my numb left hand I am not able to make the turn and I go off the road. Fortunately, I do not interfere with other riders but I stall and I frantically try and pull out of the pedals. I am able to unclip before I fall but my right quadricep cramps badly. I struggle to get back on the bike and a course marshal runs toward me to assist but I wave him off. Did I mention I SUCK on the bike?

Back on the course and the awful Diagonal. The cramp in my leg wears off quickly. Pedal, pedal, pedal down the reservoir road. Why is there so much auto traffic? Pedal into transition and get ready for the run. Julie yells, "You are doing so well!". Cool!. Another volunteer yells, "You look great". She is lying. I am sweaty and I have snot running all over my face. My bike split is 3:09. Better than ever but still too slow. Only 6 minutes faster than 2009. I hear the announcer congratulate the 5th place elite female finisher. Yes, she has finished and I still have to run 13 miles. Great job Uli!

I feel stronger at this point than other races. Hard work pays off. I have consumed enough gels on the bike so I feel pretty good. I consumed enough liquid that I have to make a stop. The really fast athletes are able to complete the race before their bladders stop them. I have not mastered this yet.

Naturally it is hot at this point but I have trained in the heat. Frank M passes me and we encourage each other. He is on his second lap. I wonder if he will break 5 hours. He does. I actually feel pretty good on the run. Run, run, run. Grab any liquid they pass out at the aid station and walk a little. Grab a wet sponge. A wet sponge on a hot run is about the best thing ever. I put the sponge on in the back of my jersey and the water flows down my back and beyond. The indignities endurance athletes suffer.

Run, run, run. I pass runners that passed me on the bike (because I SUCK on the bike). I still feel strong but the heat and bike ride are taking their toll. I do not feel like I am going to bonk but the Gatorade, water and soda are unsettling my stomach. Run, run, run, drink, change sponges. Hey, is that Joanna Zieger at the aid station? That is so cool! She is one of my favorite athletes. I follow her blog and Twitter. She is so funny. I have to think of something to say the next time through without sounding creepy.

The end of the first lap takes me past the finish area and I see many teammates and their families cheering for me and other RMTC members. Julie and Sara are there cheering too. The have stood in the sun for 5 hours now to support me in this race. I am so blessed to have such a loving family.

It is hard keep running. Normal people walk and seek shade on days like this. The wind has picked up. This lowers the temperature but sucks the moisture right out of you. Walk a little, run, run, run. I struggle to overcome the urge to walk. Run, run, drink, walk, drink, run repeat. I see teammates from RMTC and Runners Roost and we encourage each other. At the last aid station I stop to meet Joanna. I thank her for being out there and I set out for the last mile. I take a sponge from the smallest volunteer ever, a cute 3 year old girl with an earnest expression on her face as she hands me the sponge.

I feel like I am done. There is little left in the tank. Scotty, we need more power. I am a leaf on the wind. I pass Charley on the last turn and he says, "Great job, only a half mile to go". Ug. The last half mile feels like 2 miles.

A 5 meter surge at the finish and I pass 3 people. Someone hands me a hat that had been soaked in ice water. Brilliant! I remove my chip and get my medal and stumble out of the finish area. Julie and Sara are there waiting. I finish in 6:16:29. This is more than an hour better than 2010 and a personal best by 24 minutes. My run time is 2:11. Not bad but could be better.

After looking at the results, I am discouraged since I finished at about the 36th percentile. However, I am satisfied with my effort for this race. I felt strong throughout the event and I felt I was racing more than simply surviving. My swim and bike remain my weaknesses. In the results, my swim and bike times were slower than 80 percent of the field. I finished the run faster than most but it is my strongest event. I like that it is the last leg of the triathlon. Next year I won't enter the Boulder 70.3 since I have done it 3 time. I will attempt to set a new personal best at the Harvest Moon Half Ironman.

I want to thank Julie and Sara for supporting me at this race. It is a long, hot day at a venue that is not spectator friendly. I also want to thank Charley Perez and the RMTC officers and members that gave up a Sunday to support their teammates.