Discovering My Inner Triathlete(2013 season recap)

In the beautiful peninsula of Florida, in the city of Clermont is where my season began at the Draft-Legal Clermont EDR(Elite Development Race). Coming from Iowa where getting above 50 degrees is a challenge Florida was a breath of fresh air for sure. Warming up I noticed that my assumptions the day before were correct, I was one of the only athletes without a wetsuit. I didn't let this really bother me though and looked at the positives such as the fact I could have the fastest transition from swim to bike pretty easily. The race starts and the swim is a typical swim in which I came out of the water a very cold 38th place, but I quickly sprinted up the beach and into transition. Claiming the fastest transition 1 of the day in the process. On to the bike I quickly was able to organize a group and have a strong bike, but this is where I ran into some trouble that day. I had lost my water bottle before the race somehow so after a strong bike I came off to the run but had bad shin splints that lasted about 2.5k. I finally got into a rhythm but my run wasn't were it should have been. Overall a good opening race for the 2013 season.

My journey goes from a warm Clermont, Florida to a rainy Monroe,Washington. Although Washington is so rainy and cloudy I love the weather and it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Due to the weather naturally everyone was prepared for a wetsuit legal race, but talk travels fast and the news got out it would not be wetsuit legal. Having a wetsuit this time I wouldn't have minded if it had been wetsuit legal, but it a sigh of relief I wouldn't have to worry about getting it off. The previous year I had a bit of trouble with that. So the race starts and my swim was smooth and the thrashing didn't bother me as much as usual. I got out of the water in a decent time, and as soon as I hit the beach I was blazing. Passing people left and right until I got into transition, but than I couldn’t find my bike for the life of me. Seconds passed and it felt like a lifetime. I finally found it, but lost my sunglasses in the process. Regardless I was out on the bike and I was hungry for the lead pack. I quickly searched for strong biker and found Nick Noone. We formed a pack of two and began picking off the stragglers. With each pull we gained on the lead pack, and as we passed coaches and fans they were yelling out the time between us and the lead pack which decreased each time. They were finally in sight and I took the final pull, pushing myself to tears of pain until we caught the lead pack. This was my first time in the lead pack I was beyond excited and on top of the world. I didn't stop once we reached the lead pack though. I continued to push the pace and take pulls. The picked up pace set me up for success coming off the bike as I was able to run strong enough to clinch a 4th place finish. Feeling so strong I went on to congratulate the athletes and thank the volunteers, fans, and coaches. A great race under my belt.

Now on to my home field advantage Flatlands Triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa. I was extremely pumped for this race because I practiced on the course all the time, and the transition between swim and bike was extra long which is my kind of race. We lined up for the race and I started off with some extra strong dolphin dives into the water. I found my fellow teammate Ryan Patrick right away and breathed to his breath, getting the rhythm down right away. I came out of the water in a strong position to strike and that I did. Passing two packs and catching the lead pack basically in transition with the fastest T1, I knew right away this was going to be a good race. As the race progressed I saw one person shoot off the front and I took the opportunity to make a move. The two of us began chipping away a lead on the chase pack, when I started hearing my coaches yell at me to slow down and save it for the run. Being that I haven't really been in the position before I listened against my instincts and slowed down to the chase pack. The run began and I found myself in 9th place at the finish line. Another top 10 finish, but not at all what I wanted. I later learned the message had been delayed to me and would have been different if they had seen the gap I was creating. A beginners mistake I wouldn't make again, and overall I was still happy with how much I had improved from the year before.

Finally, it was on to Nationals 2013. With a fire burning to show everyone what I could really do, I woke up race day to rain outside my window, but it didn't worry me too much. I got my named called as I lined up and the race started after what felt like an eternity on the pontoon. I was off to a good start on the swim, aiming for that perfect arm stroke and rhythm. I felt the pace picking up and I reacted as much as I could, but coming out of the water I saw I was behind. I posted the fastest T1 and it was off to the bike. I was ready to strike so I was aggressive right off the gun forming a pack with some other strong bikers. I believe this would have worked for me, but the weather had other plans. After raining all that morning, the course was wet, and even though I am not one to fall frequently, I managed to fall 3 times during the bike, and this kept killing my momentum and chances to catch the lead pack. I headed out onto the run angry about not making the lead pack, and I posted one of the fastest run times. A disappointing 15th place to end my Junior Elite career, but I look back on how far I have come and have to be happy with how triathlon has changed my life. Thank you for taking time to read my post and giving me your support. On to my first year as a U23 in 2014. Stay tuned in for my Clermont race weekend starting March 1st, thanks again.