Its been a while, but things have been going well. After a bit of a rocky start to the spring training, things are moving along well.
In Febuaury my P3 was stolen and I spent 4 weeks without a bike and trying to get everything sorted out. Everything ended up working out well and I just completed my first two races of the year.
First up was the New Jersey Devilman Half. Held in Cumberland county NJ, this promised to be a FLAT, but windy course, and it lived up to this. The day was hot, windy, and sunny. The bike course that could have produced some very very fast times was one of the slower i have raced this day due to the constant 20-30mph winds.
The race unfolded well though, and i came out of the water a few minutes down on the leaders but quickly made up time through the bike, and came off in 7th place overall and feeling good. I took two bottles of Nuun along with my gels on the bike and this helped keep me feeling fresh and ready to run.
The run was an open out and back through the middle of farm fields, and it was a hot one. I quickly caught up with the two guys ahead of me and then held onto 5th place through to the finish.
A bit of rest after Devilman and then I was headed to Ohio for to work at the American TTT and race the Little Smokies Half.
For those that don't know the course, the bike and run (and it feels like the swim) are uphill more than I care to think about as I type this. Just as a reference point the overall course record for the half set this year is 4:43.
The Swim started off COLD. The water was 58 degrees but my Xterra Vendetta suit kept me warm and fast. The first 100m or so were a bit rocky as i tried to get settled into the water and warm up a bit. After that things just flew by and I had one of the best swims of my life, coming out of the water right at 25 min. Thanks Xterra for helping me set the fastest swim split of the day!!
The bike and run were just one long sufferfest of hill after long hill. The weather was HOT, in the mid 90s, and humid. I took in two bottles of Nuun along with 5 gels, and a bottle of Heed.
The citrus nuun was a huge treat in that weather and helped keep me feeling strong.
I came off the bike near the front and held steady through the run for a 3rd place finish.
In both races I stuck with my zoot Tempos for the run shoe of choice. They have served me very well in the past and I saw no reason to switch. They are a great mix of a light shoe and enough protection for the off road and longer races.
Oh, almost forgot. Due to all of the travel leading up to smokies i was unable to take my bike back to ohio with me and borrowed a bike that i had never ridden before. It is all about the engine!!!
Again a big thank you to Xterra for helping with the fastest swim of the day, Nuun for keeping my going on the bike and ready to run, and Zoot for some awesome shoes.
