1/2 CMM = 1:29:04 (97th Place)

So, it’s been like three weeks since I posted. I’ll try to keep this short and just keep it grouped by races and special events. So far though, 16 weeks of training down and only 18 weeks of training left. I’ve hit 191 hours and 1,760 miles of training, PR’ed twice, done a century, and raced a couple road races.

Country Music Marathon (4/24/2010) -Well, I finally did it. I broke 1:30. This is where the Clementine Experiment all started. Mark and I wanted to break 1:30. I ended up running a 1:29:04 (6:48 pace) and came in 97th out of 24,636 runners. Paced with Johnny for the first mile, made my way to the 1:30 pace team over the next mile, paced with them until around mile 8, then my buddy Wim surprised me at mile 8. I wasn’t expecting him. So, we ran together for a couple miles and realized we’d left the 1:30 pace team altogether. He calculated that I could PR. So, around mile 11, we picked it up. Sure enough, I did. Thanks Wim. Ohh, I also did a 54 mile bike (19mph, LOW HR 129) and a 2 mile run (7:33 pace) the very next day. All of this took place on the fourth weekend in a row of racing, and NO taper (256 miles of riding, 27 running and 5 swimming in the 10 days leading up to this race). Am I ready for IM now?

Cheaha Challenge (4/17/2010) - 102 miles, 8,000 feet of climbing, and a 17.5mph average. This was awesome. If you take all the weekly mileage (and Jeff’s dirt road AL experience) all into account, we ended up with 210 miles over 6 days. Anyway, this was a rough ride. The big mountain climb (about 3 miles up each side) was nothing compared to the steep rollers that wore you down on both sides of it. Plus, at around mile 80, we turned directly into a terrible headwind. After 22 miles of fighting the wind, we found the finish line. I hoped off and ran about 3 miles at a 7:16 pace. Felt good too. Am I ready for IM?

RR in North GA (4/10/2010) - 32 mile, two-loop, relatively flat road race. The first lap was so slow that the official pulled up and said he was going to “neutralize” us and let the girls pass us. Well, after averaging about 19 during the first loop, we kicked it up to where we averaged 23 over the entire course distance (first loop included). Nobody on our team made the podium, but we avoided two large crashes, including one as the final sprint came across the finish line and nailed the pace car (a cop) who stopped AT THE FINISH LINE. We all climbed a nearby mountain for fun after the race.

Infinit – I’m trying a new sports nutrition. This is a custom blend of carbs, calories, taste, protein, sodium, etc. that you mix with water and consume during endurance events. So far, this is working out well. You don’t consume anything solid when using this product. I like it. I kinda miss some solid items, so I sneak some GU Chomps in there sometimes. So far so good. 18 more weeks of testing before race day.

Other – Weight is staying about the same. Still around 163. I’d hoped to drop some so that it would be easier to pack myself around for hours and hours of racing, but no such luck. I picked up a one-piece tri suit from Endurance Sports and Rec in Cool Springs. Sugoi. Love that stuff. It fits well and I’m pretty sure I’ll race IM in this suit (gotta do anything to save time in transition to make up for my crappy swim time). I also got in my Xterra speedsuit. While I am far from “needing” a speedsuit in a swim, IML will be a non wetsuit legal swim. So, I wanted something to protect me from the nasty Ohio river. Plus, it will smooth out my body surface and I won’t have pockets trying to slow me down in the water. Again, anything to make me a bit faster in the water.

Question – Why is the sport of triathlon so expensive? Tires, tubes, bottles, nutrition, bars, bikes, wheels, suits, training, coaches, race fees, etc.