5430 Boulder Long Course Triathlon - Prelude

Let's back up a week to a time that quiting the race was a real possibility. Even prior to that I had doubts, but it wasn't until attempting to ride and run the course was dropping out real. Here I am 15minutes from the race course and I hadn't been on it. I hadn't done a brick workout (ride/run combo) in 6weeks and had been grossly sick for almost 2weeks and still not fully over it. So the answer, go out and do a Brick on the course allowing me assess my fitness and get familiar with the course. The bike seemed fine; I did the loop in exactly 1hr 30min which was slower than expected but not too much. I pushed it a little but I didn't sprint it. Then wham, right into the running shoes, I felt good. I started down the dirt road away from the Boulder Rez and thought it was going to be a hard but good workout. The first hill had other plans for me. I slowed to a crawl, felt nauseous and kind of panicked. My legs were suddenly very tight and my heart rate was UP, way up. I looked around and there were a couple other runners out so I decided to push on. A 1/4 mile later, I was hunched over, grabbing my knees and yelling obscenities out loud. Game over, I'm screwed. "Turnaround, go home and rest Matthew". And I listened to that voice, trying not to be too discouraged. I mean not only was I unable to jog after a mile into the run, coming off the bike, but when I went home, I was DONE. I laid out for 2-3hrs and felt like I had just run a marathon. Breanna was reminding me how I was still getting over the stomach crud that had kept in the bathroom hourly for days and unable to train. Knowing how my confidence was in the toilet as well and seeing the pain in my face, she urged me to drop out of the race, worried about my health. But after a day of thinking it through, I swallowed the pill that I might not be able to finish, that I might be in the lower 1/3 or even 1/4 of finishers. The only way to know just how far I could go, would be to show up and push through it, allowing myself to stop and drop out when & if that time came. Once I conceded that, I was ok.
So Monday, the next day after the failed brick session, I went out for an hour run on tired legs, in the heat, thinking it would be good to push through some pain. Then on Wednesday, I went out and did the brick again, one of the 28mile loops on the bike and about 7miles of running, on as much of the course as was open. The difference? I slowed down on the bike, adding 10minutes to the ride, but felt no pain and therefore saved my legs for the run, which was difficult and painful but I was able to slog through it. So, having succeeded going slowly, my confidence went from about 15% to 60% sure I could at least finish the 1/2 Ironman.
And I had my race plan. I would almost say that last week's disappointing brick training helped to define the strategy. Slow and steady to the finish line.
Thursday before the race, was a little Stroke N Stride at the Boulder Rez. 1500meter swim followed by a 5k run. I had planned on picking up my wetsuit there and thought it a good idea to get in the race. It's not a full on competitive event but more a way to get comfortable open water swimming w/ people on top of you. Plus, I get to know what the wetsuit is going to feel like and get more familiar with the race venue. The added bonus was taking the kids, letting them play on the beach and watch the activities; letting Mom stay home and do homework in peace and quiet. The race was fun, the swim a little slow but I wasn't looking for a workout 3days before the triathlon; this was just to get comfy in the suit, in the water w/ a bunch of people. The run was real easy, it was hard to not just sprint the thing flat out but I kept reminding myself of the 1/2 Ironman and just where this little event stood in grand scheme of things. I still ran a 7:26min/mile pace but I knew it wouldn't be that easy after biking 56miles and was glad that I didn't feel any soreness or fatigue from the Stroke N Stride. I definitely will be doing more of those next year.
Friday, a little strength training (I typically do 4-6times a week but don't include it as part of my tri training) and Saturday was complete rest and devoted to organizing and fueling up. I slept in, lounged around and then me and the whole family went over to a friends wedding reception. No junk food or cocktails and back home by 7. I took an ambien took my time, going through the gear and planning out my fueling strategy during the race. I fell asleep watching the Cowboys vs. the Chargers. Perfect!