Oceanside 70.3

[Doc Rob]

1st I would like to thank all the people that helped me prepare for this race and encouraged me to push myself. October seems like it was just yesterday and now I have race #1 of 2010 under my belt. Time sure fly's.

Though my primary race is the boise 70.3 with plans of going to florida, I had some pretty lofty goals for this race. I hoped to do a 4:50 time and hope for a roll down spot to florida. Had a pretty good race but not the
4:50 I was looking for.

First was the transition set up. As I got to my rack to set up I noticed a few guys had set up camp. It was unlike any set up I had ever seen. The first guy on the rack across from me had 2 towels spread out end to end and they extended half way out into the center of the row. You had to step over his stuff to get past. The guy on the other side of the rack from me had just 1 very long towel set up that extended the length of his bike.
I think the dude was planning a picnic. He had so much stuff layed out that the towel was covered. 3 pairs of shoes, 3 pairs of socks layed out just right, 1 full box of power bars, 1 full box of gel. I forgot to look after the race to see if he ate all his bars and gel.

Swim went well, wanted to be at 30min and came in at 29min and some seconds. Felt like I swam strong but didn't go to hard so I was pleased.

T1 went well though you have to run forever to get to your bike, hense the 3+min transition.

Wanted to have a good bike, but not so hard that I didn't have any thing left for the run. Felt really good. Even spent some time enjoying the view of the ocean. The course is rolling until bout mile 30. At that point there are 3 big climbs ober the next 10 miles. Not sure of the grade but first hill averaged 5.9mph next hill 9.5mph and the third hill 7.6mph. All are bout a mile long. Funny thing was I was passing a lot of people even at those speeds. They are not fun. The third hill also had about a 25-30mph head wind. Hit 46mph on the down hill with the same wind from about 45* angle. Little scary with a disc wheel. I dont think I have ever held on to the bars as tight as I did on that decent. came in at 2:40 riding fairly concervative so I was pleased.

T2 felt good just alittle tight in the low back.

Off on the run and feeling pretty good in the legs. Plan was to average
7:20-7:30 min pace depending. So what do i do, mile 1 run 7:05, mile 2
run 7:09, mile 3 run 7:11.I keep telling myself to get into the zone I had planned but didn't listen until mile 4. next 3 miles ran 7:20-7:25. Made the turn for loop 2 and the wheels began to come off. Legs getting tight and heavy. My early push was comming back to haunt me. My great race was starting to fade. I saw Norb about mile 10 going the other way. He was focused and and I was toast. Tired, hot and pi%$ed. walked the next 3 aid stations and my 4:50 was out the window.

I forgot how much those races hurt!! The race is a great race and mine was pretty good with the exception of the last 6 miles. I think it was Tom who said you learn something every race. I know I did. I have decided that I love to run and running and I are going to be best friends between now and June 12th.

One last thing. If you don't think that Harolds plan works and that Kevin and Tom and the rest of the coaches don't make a difference. I did the same race in 2008 and was 31 minutes faster this year. Thanks guys!!

[matt]

What a race. I picked up a small bug or cold the day Marni and I flew. Got to Oceanside. Felt so so. Kept telling myself it was the flying and was just tired from stressful week of school. Woke up for the race and was going back and forth whether or not to do it. My body was tired. Marni kicked me out the door and said "go". Got in the water and started to swim. I decided to grab on to someones feet and got pulled around the course. I felt ok. I pushed on the bike. I hit the 30 mile hour head coming off the hill and it pushed me all the way across the road. I've never been so scared on a bike in my life. I understand why they don't allow discs in Kona. I actually felt really good on the bike. The wind made it a tough day on the bike. I was happy with my bike split. Oceanside's bike course is an honest hilly course. I hit run and my legs felt great, I saw Norb never saw Rob. Made it to the last turn around with 3.5 miles to go and it turned into survival mode. I crossed the line at 4:42. Was happy, I beat my time from last year. I had a time of 435 in the back my mind, but I just couldn't put it together,,,,,,,Next Year. Rob and Norb killed it out there,,,, great race guys. I've come down with bronchitis since the race. Time to lay low and recover. The Boise Y-tri club has the best coaches. Thanks for all the help.

[Dan]

Thanks guys. I just told you to post on another part and you already had posted. You both should be proud of your efforts. I don't know how you do it with this being what I consider such an early race. You both had great days. Your comments about the coaching is so true. We are so lucky to have these guys and the group as a whole. I LOVE THIS SPORT!!! Get recovered and press on.

[Rachel]

Well done guys! You've all got me motivated to do something other than just train this season....like racing, perhaps?

[Norb]

Oceanside is a fantastic event and, if you have an opportunity, I would encourage you to put this early season race on your calendar. Besides weather that could not be beat, the scenery and the entire vibe is very positive, energizing and a perfect way to start a season.

Triathlon for me is about many things: first and foremost it is the journey; the friends, the camaraderie and pushing yourself to a place that you just can’t get to in everyday life. It’s a sport with countless challenges, complexity, emotion and a place of great pain at times.

I set some goals for myself for this race but I knew going in that it was early and I didn’t have a too many long training sessions under my belt. So it was really about pushing myself with some fairly general goals I was hoping to reach and gauging my level of fitness. I joined the tri club and started with the training program in October with Plyometrics and Conditioning and then rolled into the workouts in January. Having a couple 70.3 events on the calendar this year (Oceanside and Boise) and two Ironman events, this race was not in the ‘A’ race category, but nonetheless it is a race and don’t they all become ‘A’ races when it comes down to it? Don't they??

I was positioned well in transition – about midway in the crowd of about 2,500. Someone had placed a flag on our rack so as I was pre-walking the transition area that was something that really stood out. And people did spread out!! Saw all sorts of crazy things in transition. You gotta love the 5 gallon bucket as a transition bag/chair/cooler/soaker/mass storage device!

I had a swim Thursday at La Jolla Shores and felt good and was hoping for a similar race swim, but my swim felt really off. I felt slow and I seemed to take in a bunch of water. I positioned myself mid-pack with my wave and there was the usual pushing and shoving, I got swum over and at the turns it was very hectic. The swim was an out and back. On the way back I felt like I had more rhythm, but it really never felt good. My swim time was 41:05, which was 6:00 minutes better than my last 70.3. Had a 5:32 T1 which is slow but there was a very long run out of the water that became a single file march into T1.

I was looking forward to the bike since I have been hitting the computrainer sessions pretty hard and getting outside a fair amount. The course felt fast the first 30 miles or so as the course rolled through Camp Pendleton, old roads and great ocean views. Then the work began for three major uphill’s – very tough climbs! These were just grinders and a few people were pushing their bikes on each of the three climbs. Somewhere in there a massive headwind added to the stress of the climbs and the fast downhill sections. I felt good overall and ended with a 2:54 averaging 19.25mph. My goal was to average 20mph so I was close, but again beat my last 70.3 bike split by about 14 minutes.

I had a reasonable T2 at 1:43 and I looked forward to the run. After a mile or so I really felt sluggish and had a side ache for half the run. I decided to take it easy the first part of the run and work through the nagging ache in my side. I didn’t want to take in any fluids so just stayed focused and paced another runner. The run environment was outstanding as it wound its way out of the harbor, through a neighborhood and then along a street right on the beach. There was lots of noise and spectators the entire way adding to the energy and certainly helped push me to the finish. I saw the back of Matt as he flew by me and saw Rob as he was going the other way – both looked strong and fast!! Good to see our team colors on the course and know that friends are suffering right along with you!

My time was 1:55 and it was a very painful run. I only stopped at a couple of aid stations to take in some coke and water and grab some sponges to cool the head. It was just a matter of getting through it - pound it out and get it done. My goal for the run was to be under 2:00 hours and so my 1:55 time was acceptable.

My total time was 5:38 and what did I learn from this race? I was reminded that this distance is tough and that it does tend to beat you up both mentally and physically. And I really think I suffered more mentally on the swim and then the run in this race. I felt good after the race and have recovered quickly, and have enjoyed the week off.

Many thanks to our terrific coaches for an excellent training program!! I shaved a full 30 minutes off my previous 70.3 event in 2008 (2009 was Ironman training and no ½ events). My goal for this race was to be under 5:45 and in the back of my mind I was hoping that maybe I could be close to 5:30. With our great coaches I think I can get there. Become a bit quicker and efficient on the swim; become stronger on the bike – especially hills; and run and run some more. Monday it begins. Thanks again guys!!

Happy training all and see you out there…………….

[Harold]

Well done to all 3 of you for doing so well. PR's at this stage of the season is unbelievable and a true reflection of the hard work that you have put in to make it all happen. Matt was sick before and during the race and still pulled out a stellar performance; as for Rob and Norb, knocking 30 minutes off their previous times is outstanding.

Thank you all for acknowledging the coaches who helped you get there. I feel blessed to have the, 'dream team' of Kevin, Tom, Raul, Kyle, Neil, Justine B, Julie and Rick working with the Boise Y Tri athletes.

Getting results is a symbiotic relationship between the athletes and coaches. The coaches can certainly help you reach your dreams but you have to show up, and put in the necessary work to realize those dreams.

I've worked with a lot of coaches in my time but what separates the Boise Y Tri coaches from the rest is their passion, knowledge and commitment. Not only that but they can 'walk the talk' as well, and are prepared to be there with you, no matter how fast/slow you are. Try holding on to Tom's wheel on Cartwright, or Kyle's wheel on the bike intervals, or swim sets with Kevin, ad inf. Or if you are a newbie, Julie, Raul or Justine B or the rest of the crew will be there for you.

Thank you again for the recognition; its important to the coaches. But what keeps us fired up? Easy, seeing you out there, giving it your all and seeing the results. See you all this weekend for the Spring Sprint:)