MooseMan - Post Race Report (Kinda')

I landed in Boston's Logan Airport late Friday night, and actually did not end up putting my head on the pillow until close to 2am. Either way, I was happy to be home in Gloucester, and waking up there is a gift even without sleep. I came down stairs the next morning to a nice warm day. My Mother was telling me how hot it was, and unbearable the heat was going to be. Little did I know, there was a heat wave in the North East! It felt like a Texas winter to me, so i was psyched. The thought of all these poor new englanders overheating the following day on the race course, and me wanting arm warmers was spectactular.

So, my mother and I head for the hills. Literally we took off for the foot hills of the white mountains, and one of the top ten cleanest lakes in the US - Newfound Lake. We arrived at the race site around 1500, after a short detour to the outlets(i was with my mom). I have done Lonestar, and Longhorn 70.3's so I was not surprised that the Jordan's and their awesome team(Endorfun) put together an awesome venue. If you ever have a chance to do one of their races(Lonestar(TX), Mooseman(NH), Timberman(NH), or Longhorn(TX), do it. No other race director can compete with Endorfun.

I picked up my number, made sure my bike was working, and took off for the little lake cottage that I rented for 99$! I was nervous about how that was going to turn out, but it was actually perfect. On the way there, we stopped and had an enormous turkey dinner(not sure if that was smart, but it was good, not to be repeated). I settled down for a few hours sleep, and the tryptophan helped that endeavor.

I woke up Sunday, pleased that I didn't have to wear a sweatshirt to the race( for New England even in the summer this is rare). I got there, got warmed up, donned the wetsuit, and headed for the frigid, but beautiful waters. I had been a little nervous about Mooseman, 1- the sizeable climbs that were on both the bike and run course, and 2- i had a pretty bad cough for the past two weeks. I felt okay during my high end shake outs the previous week, so I had some comfort in that.

Time to swim! The elite wave took off first, and I hung on to whom must have been Nick Dufresne for about 300 yards. But, I was not hanging on to his dolphin feet. Then, shit suddenly hit the fan, my goggles were filled with cold northern water, wearing contacts, i got a little nervous and flustered, because I could not sight. So, I settled in with a pack, because I could see underwater, and I could focus on there kicks. Triathlon is funny, no matter what happens in a race, I always learn something. I have had a big problem with drafting in the swim. I know how effective it is, but everytime I do it, its effectiveness scares me into going alone. I always feel like im going to slow, so I get out of the draft. Mooseman was the exception, I couldn see, and had no choice but to stay with that little pack. So a pretty easy swim brought me into transition at 26 minutes, and out in 5th place.

But, the cough caught up with me(not the way i thought it would, but it did). I think the cold water kept it at bay, but i needed to let one out. I produced a deep booming cough and when i opened my eyes and looked up, i was headed for the woods. Luckily i rode into a ditch, but i went over the handlebars, and landed on a tree stump, then the top tube slammed on my manly nether region. it happened so quick, before i knew it, there were volunteers and cops helping me out of my hole. The cop got some of the dirt out of my eyes, and i made sure my bike was ok, and lost alot of my nutrition in the forest. Pretty shooken up, dirty, and bleeding, i got back on the bike, but in 16th place. I am not sure how much time I lost. as the endorfuns eased up, it became apparent that I was pretty banged up on my left knee, and every crack in that new england road, i felt on my boys. It was pretty uncomfortable. I wanted to stop multiple times, but kept with it, because i knew i could run some people down in the heat. i got in off the bike, and began the run. about 3 miles in i pulled the flag, my left knee couldn't take it.

My first DNF, but also my first crash in a race. I am dissapointed, but I did get to see my family, catch up with tri-nuts from the norhteast (Amanda, Pat, Nick) This will just fuel my fire for Providence in July. I went to the doctor about the cough that caused the crash on tuesday, and I had a 100 degree fever. So for now I am doped up on antibiotics, and some crazy cough syrup. I am pretty fit, my splits weren't bad considering the crash. I'll be back.