Race Recap: Tejas Tri - First Overall Win!

Race Recap: Tejas Triathlon in Sugarland, Texas.

The popular Houston event sold out at 800 participants over a month ago, so I have been anxious for race day for weeks. I knew that if I could get my bike split together, sit on the pain, average a respectable speed, and have a solid swim and run, I would have a chance at the win. I really wanted a confidence boost before USAT Nationals in Portland, Oregon later this month. Janda Ricci-Munn, my coach, knew this as well, so for the past few weeks we have really focused on my cycling. I was going to attack the .5m/11m/3m sprint, and make my first honest attempt at riding hard.

Race morning was early. I woke up at 4 a.m. and felt very tired. My body felt good, but I was really hungry and tired. I was a little nervous about being so hungry, so I ate a couple PB sandwiches and swilled down some coffee. A couple buddies and I got to the race at about 5:45, and I began to prepare for the start. Janda told me to get a solid warm-up on the bike, and that is what I did, as well as gobble down a couple more PowerBars.

I always learn something new at every race, either about myself or racing in general. At Tejas it was both: Look at the swim course! I never do, I just go to the start. I guess that comes from swimming my whole life, but there is no course difference in pool based swimming! Janda and I had talked earlier in the week, and the plan was to be at VO2 Max the entire race, and that I did. I charged off with my red cap for about 100 yds, and couldn’t see or feel anybody. That is a good feeling, because being 23 there are always a couple ex-collegiate swimmers in the pack that haven’t gotten that out of shape. As I closed in on the first buoy, I began to see other red caps off my right side about 50 yards away. I had totally cut the swim course wrong, and I ended up playing catch up the entire swim.

Getting out of the water with a big effort knowing there was 2 already out bothered me, and it took me 5 tries to buckle my race belt. I finally got out of the busy transition area, and instantly noticed more acceleration than usual. I didn’t start my watch, and there was no magnet on my wheel so I had no idea what time it was or what speed I was holding. All I knew was that it hurt, and I wasn’t backing off. I was in the fourth wave, so the two-loop course was very crowded. As I approached the dismount, it had just occurred to me that for the first time in five years I did not get passed on the bike.

I had a very fast T2, and I knew it was time to throw down the hammer and go for it. Exiting the transition I started my stopwatch, felt my tight hamstrings, and thought for a second that I might have ridden too hard. A lot of people had told me that you will always be able to run off the bike, no matter how hard you ride, and for a second I doubted them. As I approached the first mile marker in the turning and curvy course, I looked down and saw 5:05 on my wrist, slowed down a little bit and kept going. There was a lot of pain throughout the whole race, including the run, but I felt strong every second of it. As I crossed the finish, only knowing that my run was fast, the race clock said 1:09.35. I started 15 minutes back, and knew last year’s winner was somewhere in the 54 minute; I was satisfied. I had finally put together a solid bike split, which was my missing link. Even with the poor swim start, and an ironic one seeing that I have a Bachelor’s degree in marine navigation, I still swam 9:30 for the half-mile swim. I think I was happier about my bike split than my overall place, because for so long it has been preventing me from reaching the podium. I averaged 24.5 mph, and finished it up with a 16:20 3mile run split; An average of 5:25/mile pace. My final time of 52:35 gave me the overall win and the course record.

I moved to Texas after joining the USCG in 2005, and put together a long distance season with poor training in 2006. Janda told me to call him last fall, and he told me that I had two options: I can race a lot and have fun finishing or I can train hard, race smart, and see where I can go in the sport of Triathlon. I chose the latter, and the training plan Janda has for me is smart, and it allows me to race hard. With Janda’s help, I will see how far I can go in Triathlon. Next stop, USAT Nationals in Portland, OR.