IM 70.3 St. Croix...the aftermath.

Jennifer and I returned about a week ago from St. Croix, and are just starting to catch up! We both had a great time and enjoyed the island...especially the snorkeling. I'll first talk about the race, and then make a new post about things besides the race...you can stop anytime ;-)

Another 70.3 is in the books, and this one left a mark. The course was hilly, hot and windy...the trifecta of triathlon torture. We started on a little island with a hotel on it. Here are some pictures during a practice swim, and you can see the sandy beach we started from on the right. There was also some seaweed in the water...you can see me trying to avoid swimming through it. Other than a few jelly fish stings, it wasn't too bad...and, with the high salinity level, you float really well!


During one of the practice swims I was able to meet Joe Bonness, he was very friendly.


On race day the swim out was a little choppy, which made it hard to sight.
Also, I wore clear lenses...but should have worn tinted since the sun was shining in your eyes for the first half of the swim. Each wave was only separated by 2 minutes, so almost immediately we had to swim through slower folks from the waves prior. I missed the fast pack, so swam most of the race on my own and came out of the water 16th in my age group. It was pretty cool being able to see things on the bottom and different fish...oh, and yes there were scuba divers below that you could see as you swam over them.


I had a pretty smooth transition and headed out on the bike. I knew the course was tough...very hilly, windy, and hot...so I really held back to try and save something for the run. Since the hardest part of the course started at mile 20 with the "Beast", I made sure not to drill it in the beginning. Even though the first part was easiest, it was still hard by Florida standards. One rider passed me and I noticed he was in my age group, so I picked it up to keep him in check. After one of the first climbs we headed down a twisty road with sharp turns...and sure enough, I came around one of the turns to find him and another guy laying on the ground. Luckily their momentum carried them all the way across the road and out of the way...I didn't see him again until the run.


Nothing too eventful happened until I reached the Beast. The Beast is not too long, only around 7/10's of a mile and averages 14%. The main part is 21%...and right after that portion there is a sharp turn that is 27% if you take the inside...I stayed as far to the right as possible! I used a 39 x 26 for my gearing and needed it. On the way to the top I saw a rider crash. He was riding the new Cervelo P4 with SRAM, and broke his left shift lever. He put it in the middle cog, and from then on only had 2 gears...the big and the small chain ring! I would pass him on the downhill, and he would pass me back on the uphills while grunting a big gear. This happened over and over again during the remainder of the ride.


Once past the Beast it was far from over, there were several more hills that hit 15%...and there was a LOT of wind. Did I mention it was hot? My shorts are covered in salt, you can see it on some of the pictures. I got back to transition in 8th place...and knew I wasn't in the lead by all the bikes on the rack. This race is known to be a little laxed on the drafting rules...and since I missed the lead "pack" out of the swim, I knew the top guys were up the road. I kept thinking that maybe a couple of them might crack, so I would try to have a good run.

This is around mile 4:

First time up the main hill:



The run course was two loops, with a really hard hill about halfway through each time...oh, and did I mention it was hot ;-) I grabbed water and ice at every station...water in my mouth and head, ice in my mouth, hat...and down my shorts ;-) I started out strong and like everyone else, slowly faded. The second loop REALLY hurt, especially the main hill. I took the strategy of walking the second time to keep my heart rate down.

A little after 9 miles:

Second time up the main hill:

Top of hill and trying to stay with Kevin Moats the last part of the run:


The cramping started in my hamstring with about 2 1/2 miles to go. I finally was able to get going again over the last couple of hills. Back in town I grabbed water and ice at the last aid station with about 1/2 mile to go...and I got passed by a guy in my age group. I dropped my drink and went with him, but he had come up on me fast...and going down the long finish straight he pulled away from me. Ouch, I was done! Into the medical tent for water, Pepsi (no Coke!), potato chips, Snickers bar, Gatorade, and an IV. They were going to give me another bag for the IV, but didn't want to lay there any longer even though the staff was great!

I ended up 9th in my age group, and was hoping for a little higher placing. But, as I thought about it...this race attracted the very best in the sport. The guy who won my age group will most likely win the World Championships in Clearwater. He had just taken second in the Elite Amateur category at St. Anthony's the week before, and finished with a 32 minute 10k! And, he didn't even have the fastest run time in our category at St. Croix...ouch! The guy who ran the fastest was the one who I saw crash early on the bike...he then ran past me about 1 mile into the run and took second.

Post medical Sween: