Race Reports
2010 Bimbler’s Bash 10kish Race Report
Apr 12th
This was my second trail race. This was the first time I was worried about greatly hurting myself during a race. In the week leading up to the race I studied past results and looked to see who was registered this time. I could not understand why all of the times were so slow. I expected to finish in just under an hour. It was not until the race finished that I understood why the times were so slow. For some reason I should have better understood the following quote from the race’s official site, “… at the end it isn’t over…”
There was a false finish at the 10k mark. The actual race length is about a mile long. In addition to that the course is very technical. LOTS of mud. Well over the top of my shoes multiple times. The course is a constant up and down with areas that are straight vertical in which you must stop, walk/climb up boulders and the side of hills.
Aaron at the finish line, I am in the back.
So who did I beat?
- All the women
- 1 mDot tattoo
- 8 Pairs of compression socks
- 2 Guys in tri-club jerseys
Who beat me?
- A 12yo kid.
- A bunch of old men.
- Some guy in tights and an awkward white shirt
As you can see in the photo, I was just edged out. I really came in 20th place, and not 19th. Yesterday at the race I was listed as 6th for Men’s Open, not sure where I got bumped down.
Awesome race, I am happy with how I did. I lost two places when my shoe came untied and another two places when I went off course. Outside of that decisions were well made and I was happy with a top 20 finish that would have netted me a top 10 two years ago.
Start of Bimbler's Bash
Brooks Cascadia Post Race
| 19th OA | Aaron | Davidson | Groton | CT | M | OPEN | 1:04:40 | 7th AG |
Ironman World Championships
Oct 18th
I finished, race, ended up walking some of the marathon. Poor bike fit led to really bad lower back cramps. I had to continually get off the bike to stretch my bike. Muscularly I felt good/strong. Weird fever the day before and after the race. I am not a World Championship competitor/finisher. Pretty excited regardless of finish time.
2009 Timberman 70.3 RR
Aug 30th
Short Version:
I crashed.
Long Version:
I went camping. Had to setup at night in the rain, Friday night. Saturday was eating and getting everything ready. Had some time to relax hang out with a friend at the dinner and for S’mores.
Woke up Sunday morning early, feeling great. No caffeine. I had packed up all my stuff the night before. Walked about 1mi to the shuttle buses at Gunstock. Got right on a bus and headed to Ellacoya for the race.
Honestly I thought my swim was much better. Got caught up at the beginning at towards the middle. Then found feet and drafted some. I thought this would have been about 5min faster. At the same time, I feel like I used no energy coming out of the water.
One punch to the head, some foot grabbing, some bumping. After I got free in the middle, I passed quite a few people.
I may have pushed the bike too hard, but no idea since, I did not finish.
So my crash. I was coming down a hill (Mobile on the right, some bank on the left), there were cones at the bottom, I was slowing down and starting to turn. All of the sudden it felt like I was no longer turning. So I went to turn, and next thing I know it felt like the front of my bike exploded.
I did not black out, I remember going over the handlebars, with my bike flipping over me. There was a brief moment where I was like f’me. Landed. I got up and yelled that I crashed and I thought I was hurt. I laid down. Not sure if I got my bike and parts off the course or someone else did.
There was a Police Officer and two volunteers. One of the volunteers was a nurse. I could not move my left arm/shoulder much. I was coherent. EMTs came, checked me out, nothing broken.
I got cleaned up, still hurting, but I kept gaining more movement in my left arm.
Still not positive what happened except that I sheared my handle bars off, the steering tube broke in the handlebars. Landed on my head, which was both a good thing and bad. Good in that if I had landed on my side I probably would have broken something or had much worse road rash. I cracked my helmet in a few places on the inside. It saved my life for sure.
EMTs asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. Declined. Sat around for what felt like forever waiting for a ride back from the sag wagon. Eventually got picked up, and rode back with people that had had various issues and had stopped their races. I asked if I could still run.
I was told that I would have to turn my timing chip in first and that I could then go out and run if I felt up to it.
Up to the crash, I felt great on the bike. The big thing was fluid/food intake. I had had two bottles of Gatorade, 1 of water, 4-5gels. Way more than what I took in at RI70.3.
Great run, but I had a long time to recover after biking. Started with a headache. It faded just past the turn around on the first loop.
Timberman is run nearly perfect and just a great time all weekend. Apparently the shuttle buses back to Gunstock after the race had long wait times. I could not find the massage area. I would prefer if the race was on Saturday. Great food and a free margarita post-race. I plan on coming back next year.
Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island Race Report
Jul 15th
Here it is: Race Report
Decent enough race. Poor sleep because of traveling up really affected me for a variety of reasons, and I think it led to my downfall.
Few things slowed me down. I probably had an extra .2-.3mi worth of swim because of thinking well people are on both sides I must be going the right direction. I was up at 2am, I ate maybe 1/4 or 1/3 a serving of oatmeal and coffee. I had two bars to eat. I had planned to eat one prerace sitting around, and the 2nd out on the bike. I had to do both before the race started because I got hungry.
On the bike, I did not think I went too hard, and my PT shows that I went good but nothing too too hard. I took in almost nothing on the bike. I tried but could not manage much because it was cool and overcast out. I also tried HARD to pee on the bike for 10min. I think I almost did twice. I will explain in not graphic details later. Really I kept my power under control on the hills. I think had I pushed (perceived effort), I could have ridden to 2:40.
So the run started with severe intestinal cramping from not being able to digest what little I took in on the bike. Got better as I progressed and consumed gatorade on course. 2nd aid station I decided sponges were AWESOME. Grabbed an extra wet/cold one. This was the first time I have worn socks in a triathlon. I also wore my Brooks Launch were are awesome running shoes. However this sponge went right down my front and soaked my shoes and socks. So for 11miles my feet were soaked. THE HILL was not that bad. My intestinal cramping was killing me, but I managed to run nearly the entire run. Walked aid stations later on and half THE HILL on the 2nd loop. I was hoping to be closer to 1:50.
AWESOME VOLUNTEERS. Police had shut down probably half of the state for us. Outside of logistical issues prior to the race, and poor postrace food, it was an awesome time. Race itself is great.
Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island
Jul 11th
I am bib number 1707. I get to drop my daughter off the night before with one of her Grandfathers. Then head home get to sleep early, so that I can wake up around 2am, and drive up to Providence, hitting the road around 3am because of the following:
Race Day Shuttle Schedule
- 4:00 a.m. – Shuttle buses depart downtown Providence
- 5:00 a.m. –buses arrive Roger Wheeler State Beach
- 6:00 a.m. – Race Start
- 8:30 a.m. – Buses with spectators depart Roger Wheeler State Beach
- 9:30 a.m. – Buses arrive in downtown Providence
- 10:00 a.m. – First finisher expected
So what am I racing in? I had been debating between my Brooks ST4 and Brooks Launch. Ended up deciding on the Launch, 9.3oz vs 8.8oz, but the Launch are too comfortable to not use. I have not been able to get in any sockless run, so I will be wearing some socks when I hit the run.
Rocking DeSoto T1 wetsuit (FirstWave Pullover and SpeedTube Pants), and some DeSoto clothes underneath.
Will be fueling up HEAVILY on some 53x11Coffee and going with Gatorade and CarbBOOM! Gatorade because its what I will have on the course here and in Kona.
Still riding my Jamis Trilogy with a new disc cover in the back and a ‘Hed’ 50mm front both wrapped in Michelin ProRace3 service course tires. Going for my 11-23 cassette, with aerodrink bottle and 1 frame-mounted bottle.
Supposedly there might be race day coverage at either:
http://www.ironmanrhodeisland.com/
or