The Numbers…
Day 1 = 3.55 miles for 37:07,
Day 2 = 29.4 miles for 2:16:38
Day 3 = 70.8 miles for 5:43:52
TOTAL = 103.75 miles in 8:36:37 = 12.05 miles per hour = 4.98 mins / mile
Day 1 = 705' climbed
Day 2 = 2,211' climbed
Day 3 = 7,680' climbed
TOTAL = 10,596' climbed
Overall Race Thoughts:
- I am still pinching myself that I completed this challenge in the fashion I did. High energy, strong body, and fast times were all beyond expectations!
- I was nervous going in that I was undertrained but the more Sierra reminded me that I had an entire season of fitness and that I was well rested, the more I started to believe it. Although, I did not 100% believe it until after the 30. I felt so strong after that race and knew I had enough for the 70. Even my mom and dad said I have never looked so fresh after a race.
- I felt going in that I would need to hold back and I stuck with my 2019 goal of racing purely on perceived exertion the entire three days. I surprised myself that even with thoughts of holding back to save it all for the 70, I remained fast with a PE that accomplished my goals. 2019 is definitely the year where I NOW BELIEVE my PE is coupled with my performance and I can trust it. There were glimpses last year, but this year really set it in concrete! I understand now what it means to be liberated from data… I still like looking at it afterwards, but not relying it on racing removes a whole bunch of negative thoughts I didn't even realize I had been harboring.
- Before the 70 race, I was truly scared of the climbing and how I would ever have the recovery to tackle the next climb. I found it a huge mental victory that after failing to climb the wall, this fear never crept back in and I just got back on my bike and went back to work. Actually, it pissed me off and I used it as motivation to not quit. The Killer Miller was actually the hardest thing I have ever done. My heart rate and breathing have never been so hard on the bike for so long and I find that the biggest victory of the weekend! That aid station was the most emotional I have ever passed with the volunteers cheering so loudly. It sang to my heart!
- The confidence gained on the run is another huge victory of the weekend. I never walked, not once! Even when the grade climbing the fire tower road was so high that I was nearly walking, I made sure to keep my knees high and just kept my turnover going. I thought about the final climb at the River Valley Ranch Half Trail Half Marathon I did a few years back and remembered that I was able to keep moving up that one and that inspired me to keep going no matter what! It was complete carnage on that hill during the second loop and I gained confidence with each person I passed going up and down knowing that I was gaining overall placement among some of the fastest racers I saw earlier in the days of the event. I was truly competing, not just trying to finish.
- Having friends and family around for this race was absolutely HUGE! Being in a house full of podium finishing triathletes all weekend really inspired me to stay positive and enjoy race day even more. I was totally intimidated by my two friends that flew in from the WC in Nice and still competed in this weekend. After the swim-run prologue those feelings subsided and I quickly relaxed knowing that we are all after the same thing, our own goals and accomplishments. We shared meals, tricks, tips, and just enjoyed being wacky triathletes together. To share the finish line with them was savory and going to be hard to match at any other race. However, I will pursue it!
- I honestly did not know what to expect with the 2019 race season. I was worried that I would not get faster, stronger, or better. Doubts and feeling plateaued showed up before Nationals. Sierra challenged me to really think about my why before all this and an opportunity to share my story and my "why" with my family came up on the way to my race in June. This unlocked all the doubts, fear, and unbelief. Hearing acceptance and some form of understanding from my family helped relieve some of the guilt and pressure I had been putting on myself. I also recognized that amazement and encouragement from others fades as this becomes a lifestyle rather than a "just complete it" endeavor that most don't take on. I am just another triathlete that people struggle to understand why we keep on doing it. Some say it is an unnecessary risk, others just don't know what to say and don't, others ask questions but still fail to understand. The bottom line, it is between me and God that drives me to the next finish line. I can't explain it all the time and it does not make "reasonable" sense most of the time, it is just a fire that exists and I can't put it out. Maybe one day it will extinguish on its own, but this weekend just poured a ton more gasoline on it for another few years! As long as God blesses me with these moments, feelings, friends, family, and the feeling of a full "green light", I will keep pursuing my dream of Kona.
- Next challenge… sinus surgery in November.
- Next year, all in on Worlds in Edmonton!
