I won my first National Championship! Last Sunday I participated in the USA Triathlon Long Course National Championships at the Daytona International Speedway competing in the Duathlon consisting of a 5k run – 56-mile bike – 13.1 mile (1/2 marathon) run. This was my third time competing at this distance in a National Championship and after two – 2nd place finishes, I earned my first Gold Medal on this day (in any distance). It was an emotional finish attaining a goal that could never come…
On race morning I took on my pre-race nutrition and completed my warm-up on a cold morning inside the track. It was in the upper 40s so I was all geared up with warm clothing. I had a decent warm up. My legs felt strong but not really fresh. For this distance I was ok with that as it was going to be a long grind. The temperatures were close to 50 at start, then in the 50s during the ride and 60s for the final run. With that in mind, my plan was to wear a tank top kit under a long cycling jersey, tri-shorts, and gloves for the first run and ride. At the second transition my plan would then be to shed the long sleeve jersey and gloves heading into the final run. Oh boy did that go wrong…blunder coming…
Run 1
The start of the race… The first run, 5k, was completed inside the track on a double wide sidewalk where we would run out .75 miles, come back to the start, and repeat before heading into transition. The double wide sidewalk made the start a time trial like setup where runners were sent off one at a time a few seconds apart. We lined up in a single line and off we went crossing the timing mat. I spotted two gentleman I knew I would be battling with on the day and they both started in front of me. I was guessing 45 and 30 seconds each so I had that archived in my head for later in the race.
I started off quick in my normal fashion before settling in a quarter mile into the run. I spotted both gentleman on U-turns giving me an idea where we all were. I closed the gap on one of them, Brad, as we headed into transition. I was pleased with my first run pacing 10 seconds faster per mile than my goal. I worked but didn’t gas myself so that gave me confidence heading to the next leg of the race, the 56-mile bike.
Bike
I took off out of transition behind both Brad and Felim. For this distance my goal was to use a heart rate both my body and head could sustain without compromising the final run. Easier said than done and I tend to gamble going behind my limits leading to danger later in the race. I was really determined on this day to stay in control with my head being my perceived greatest vulnerability.
I got out to a slowish start with my heart rate a bit elevated more than I liked and would get it down after a few miles. Coming off the run it’s always a tad spiked for some miles. At mile eight I caught Brad, passed him, and shortly after took over Felim. That continued till mile 25 when Brad passed me and kept a lead till mile 50 when Felim took us both over. Wow, it was dog fight on! The three of us pushed the hell out of each other to mile 56 going as we all went into transition together.
I did a fantastic job on the bike taking in my nutrition, hydration, and keeping my heart rate to a level I was comfortable in while also pushing out 10% more power than last year’s race. I was satisfied with my effort on the bike but also knew Felim’s second run historically is extremely strong and faster than me at last year’s race.
Run 2
I knew I would have to be fast in transition consuming nutrition and hydration I had laid out ready to grab. The three of us were right next to each other so we knew the circumstance. I dashed out first and as soon as I got out of transition, I realized I didn’t take my cycling jersey off along with the gloves I stashed in my pockets near the end of the ride. I knew I couldn’t wear the jersey and carry the gloves the entire run, so I ditched the gloves in the trash at the first aid station. At that time Felim passed me like I was standing still. As we made our way around the apron of the track in turn one, he was distancing himself from me significantly.
The run course consisted of three laps on the speedway track along with a brief insert to the infield at the beginning of each lap along with going under the grandstands for a mile at the end of each lap. As I got to the back stretch of the track in lap one, I lost sight of Felim. That was disheartening as what seemed to be my chance at a National Title fading away. I told myself to keep doing my thing by sticking to my game plan as I was running a very good pace at that point and could not jeopardize blowing up later in the run. I just had to do my plan, fight, and see what transpired.
As I went through turn four of the track, I went through an opening on the wall they created for us to get under the grandstands. As I was approaching, I determined I was going to ditch my cycling jersey as it was going to be too hot for the final two laps. I did just that in the trash once again at the first aid station under the grandstand and kept rolling to the other end before u-turning and coming back to the same opening in the wall to start lap two. When I passed Felim under the grandstand I had the thought that he wasn’t as far ahead of me as I would have expected if he was still running away from me at that earlier pace. That was helpful to my mindset, and I continued to charge on.
Right after the first aid station of lap two I remember noting where I saw Felim pass a cone after a u-turn as I would use that on the final lap to see if I was closing the gap at that point. Wishful thinking and it was motivating me to keep fighting as I was still running a fast pace…significantly faster than my goal pace but it was still early…I had eight plus miles to go. I was taking my nutrition like clockwork on the final run and that continued to go splendidly.
As I got to the backstretch this time, I could see Felim in the distance and that was different than lap one where I lost visual contact with him. That fueled me so much…there was a chance of me climbing back to the top. Just the chance was exhilarating. I kept to my plan which was still maintaining a fast pace. When we were under the grandstand again, I believed I was better than the first time and when we got to that U-turn in the infield to start lap three, it confirmed my belief as I was closing the gap, but he was still significantly ahead.
When I got to the backstretch of the final lap, he was closer in sight than the previous lap and again, that fueled me beyond belief. I still had to stick to my game plan as my legs and specifically right quad and hamstring were fluttering. I did not want to chance seizing up into a charley horse situation like I did last year 200 meters before the finish line.
As I entered the grandstands one last time it meant we were just over one mile from the finish. In the middle of the grandstands, we had to climb a hill that was significant before going down again about 100 meters later. As I went up the hill, I pulled to within 10 meters of Felim. We continued on the straightaway before going down the other hill. At that point I just let my body go down the hill which resulted in a sprint, and I passed him. I wanted to wait till the U-turn so he wouldn’t see me, but my momentum just carried me through. He then stuck to my back feet until we made the U-turn when he took off again.
My first reaction was $%^&*$# this guy! I also knew he had at minimum a 45 second head start on me to begin the race so I kept fighting under the grandstand back to keep the gap as small as I could. I was also extremely concerned now with my right hamstring as it was really fluttering and on the verge of seizing. I could not afford to have that happen to me at this point. Last year it cost me about 90 seconds and that would potentially cost me this race.
I made up ground again as we went up and down the hills and then we made our way to the track as we then had to make a sharp right turn and go about 300 meters to the finish line. With the going up, slight down, and hard right turn, my right hamstring was slipping… At that point I had to change my stride, or it would have gone. I decided to run faster and start my sprint early. It worked!!! I was in so much discomfort for the final 300 meters, but it was allowing me to not seize. I raced through the finish line and when starting to slow up, the hamstring seized up and down I went adjacent to the side fence.
Post Race
I laid there for a few minutes trying to get my bearings together while also realizing I thought I just won the race. I could not have put any more effort in to close this race. It was all out of me…
The medical team escorted me to the Medical Tent and got some electrolytes in me and cooled me down. I was ok…
I went back to greet Felim and share how much he pushed me. We have known each other for a few years, and he is such a great person and competitor. It was an honor to fight this out with him. We thought we were 1-2 in order but needed confirmation. I walked back to my car and even attempted to do a cool down run to it and that lasted one step before my legs told me there was no way that was going to happen.
When I got to my car I turned my phone on and checked the results. It showed I had won… I won my first National Championship!!! It was a very emotional moment…
Reflection
I hoped to win one of these titles one day, but you never know. It may never happen, and it may never happen again… But I got one and I fought like hell to get it. The way the race transpired it took an almost flawless execution (minus the jersey fiasco) and final run beyond my limits to get to the top of the hill.
I had finished in 2nd place at this distance in my previous two attempts and 2nd place at the Olympic distance last year, so I know how close and how far away it seemed. I kept checking the results to see if anything changed as we do after these races. It didn’t change and I was on cloud nine…
I caught up with several racers and friends after and through the award ceremony. There was so much to celebrate with everyone. I sat next to Felim as well and chatted for about an hour and a half about the race, training, and life. It reiterated how much respect I have for him as a person and competitor. He is top notch!
Grades – Looking back at the race…wow!
Run 1 – I felt good all the way through and as I noted, I worked, but didn’t jeopardize the overall plan and what was ahead. I beat my pace goal by 10 seconds per mile and 30 seconds overall. Grade – A+
Bike – I worked like hell the entire way. I wasn’t sure if I had jeopardized my legs as the wattage (power) I was putting out was higher than goal (10% greater than last year too) but my heart rate was in good shape and nutrition was consumed to plan. It was hard to know exactly what I had coming into the race for the bike as I had only been able to get one ride outside on two wheels for the last two months due to the accident but with that said I did a lot of work on the trainer and it paid off enough to keep me in the game.
Grade – A-
Run 2 – The best 2nd run of my life! I was 34 seconds faster per mile than my goal pace. I wanted this so bad…my final mile was the fastest and the quarter mile into the finish line was at a 5:49 pace. I am so proud of that run and fight for that run and title…
Grade – A+
The Big Picture
When I was laying on the stretcher in the Emergency Room 60 days earlier, I didn’t know what was going to transpire. My head was spinning in more ways than one and the most important thing I had and have to consider. I knew my wrist would heal in time and then just got to work to see if my body would allow me to race on this day. I am so happy I put in the work and with what all transpired, it made the result so much sweeter.
Listen to your body, listen to your medical professionals (which I did often throughout this), show up every day to work at your goal, and sometimes great things happen. Sometimes and many times they don’t, but show up every day with purpose, and sometimes it does and I had one of those days…
This was so special to share with my friends and teammates at the race and Lauren, family, friends, and teammates back home and everywhere. You know who you are that support me and support right back to you. I have a special circle of people that makes this such a life memorable moment. Thank you!!!
Next Up
It’s been a long season and year and I’m looking forward to some down time away from competition. I am going to savor this one…
– Add Health to Your Life
Accidental Lead Up to Nationals can be found here. My Vlog of the National Championship is here.
The Healthy Giraffe 
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