Race reports and life in fast forward
Well, I’m a bit behind in blogging this year. Last summer I obviously had plenty of time to write a bunch. That definitely helped to keep me sane (well, as sane as I can be). Tons has happened since my last post. I’ve got a couple more races under the belt (Minnetonka sprint, Rochester and Minneman) with lots more to come. I got in a couple of criterium bike races on Tuesday as well. And of course I’ve been busy with ‘house projects’ and found out that my chimney is basically shot and will cost me the other leg. All in all though things are great!
Minnetonka was a key race in which I went in with my brain willing to let my body truly suffer. It was the first race that I pushed super deep and it payed off with the fastest bike split (by 3 seconds over Steve) and a 4th overall. Still the run kills me. It’s simply going to take time. I’m really not that far off 2007 pace, but all these other runner kids have learned how to swim and bike faster! It was nice not to get completely smoked though and great to pick up a ‘fastest bike’ trophey.
Rochester was a solid race. Again, fastest bike split and solid swim for me. The run was defintely longer than a 10k and I got passed by 2 people within the last mile. The result was 7th overall but Sam Hauk from our team won so it was a great day. There was plenty of competition even with the HI-Vee and Waconia events all on the same weekend. Rochester is a fantastic event with a challenging bike and run course and a unique doulbe lap swim where you run accross the beach after the first lap. Talk about hypoxic! It felt like a cyclo-cross race! Do this race if you can sometime. It’s run super well and the prize money is quite solid if you are a fast kid.
Minneman holds a special place in my heart. It was my first tri ever in 2005 and got me absolutely hooked. My buddy Bill puts this on and it is by far the best run race that I’ve ever done, period. This year it was very hard. I spent Friday morning fitting super star Patrick Parish on his bike and then rushed home to meet Sarah Viamonte to do some pre-race training. We road out the gateway trail on our bikes and came to a road crossing where a car looked like it was going to stop but instead rolled by super slow. Sarah was track standing really well but couldn’t hold it upright any longer and tipped over shredding her pinky and fourth finger in my cassette. She felt super bad but fortunately didnt’ take me down. She was bleeding pretty good but we went back to my place, packaged her up and continued our training. Tough chick! I told everyone that her injuries were a result of a fireworks incedent – fitting for the 4th of July (and Canada day). I expanded that story to state that I bet her $50 she couldn’t hand onto it for 30 seconds and that she was extatic to make $30 ($50 minues the $20 hospital co-pay). Again, this is a total tale – she did indeed crash and shred her fingers in my cassette. But the fireworks story is pretty cool. After training with Sarah I ran to Grand Performance, loaded up gear for the shop who provided race support and set up everything including my tent at the race site. ‘Sleeping’ did not occur though. I maybe dozed for an hour as every kid with a drivers licence and willing girl friend attempted to ‘park’ in the park. That and all the excited rednecks lighting off fireworks before the 4th. I swear that everybody goes through their stash of fireworks well in advance of the 4th. The night of the 4th seems very quiet after 11p.m! Needless to say I was incredibly tired for the race. I finished in 7th (I think) but had a good training on the less. I stuck around and helped take down everything, got home at 2p.m and crashed for 2 hours before heading out for a BBQ. We did light off some fireworks with friends but I still have all my 9 fingers and thumbs.
This weekend is the Lifetime fitness tri. I’m planning to rip it up to the best of my abilities but am traiing through for the main goal of IMWI and a Hawaii slot. I’ve never truly focussed on a single race like I am now and am having to have some personal discussions with myself regarding the possibility that I won’t make it. I certainly am not saying that in a negative context but rather trying to be open to the possibility of not qualifying for Hawaii and maintaining a possitive attitude. I’m feeling very confident though but you never know until you cross the line.
Perhaps the biggest and coolest news is that I’m back in the Miracle of Mitch race with my buddy Shane. Shane had a couple of new shunts put in his head last month but things are healing much faster than anticipated so we will likely do the entire race. If not we’ll do a duathlon. Most of you recall that Shane has spina bifida. He’s one of the coolest kids you’ll ever meet. I visited him briefly at Children’s post surgery and everybody there knew him. He’s an upbeat spitfire and I’m totally excited to race with Shane and get another finishers medal! I don’t know anybody my age who has a finishers medal from the Miracles of Mitch kids race! Of course this year I might be able to trasition as fast as Shane. Last year Shane smoked me in T1 as I was cutting off the double garbage bag that I duct taped to my leg that I had cut open the previous day. I had to have Jennie, my wife, run after him and it took me near a mile to catch up with my speed walking with a cane.
That’s the news for now. I’m sure I’ll see a lot of you at Lifetime Tri. Keep the rubber side down and the fireworks away from your hands!
Jeremy