Clermont EDR Plus 1

Clermont EDR weekend was finally upon me, and after taking some last minute tests before departing all I had left before I was in beautiful sunny Florida for my second year in a row was one thing. A 22 hour drive from Fort Dodge, IA to my hotel near the race site. I had flown for several hours before and driven to triathlons as far 10, but this was an adventure my dad and I set out together Thursday 2 days before the race. Once we left the -5 degree weather Iowa was offering us, I had goals in mind for the ride to keep prepared for the races. First off I knew that I wanted my legs to stay fresh throughout the ride, so I wore my CEP recovery socks and I knew those would do the trick along with a few jump up and down when we stopped, so I checked that off the list. Next, I knew Clermont was going to be far from what I had been used in terms of weather. So I was going to have to HYDRATE like crazy! Luckily I was prepared before we left Fort Dodge with my favorite pre-race hydration tool, Nuun. Which along with the 2 cases of bottled water would last me the whole drive, check! So with the drive out of the way it was Friday and shake out time. 

Once we finally get to the race, I take in the weather as I unpack practice stuff and meet up with my Z3 triathlon teammates. So after everyone arrives we head out on the bike, and it feels great to on the road again. We do a steady ride with a few pickups, and then I head out to stretch my legs out with a good run. I feel great on the run and head to the chilly water for a swim. My rhythm didn't come right away, but after a while I've got it and I finish up with a few starts and exits(which are pretty technical due to the long shallow water run leading out of the water). After cleaning up and getting something to eat quickly it's time for the pre-race meeting which goes quicker then usual. We head to the hotel for a few more pre race logistics, and we get our new uniforms as well!

With new uniform in hand, it was time for some sleep before day 1 of racing.

I wake up bright and early, throw on my uniform, grab some breakfast, and head to the course. I feel strong this morning, but upon arrive I remember that we can't do a bike warm up. So I do some dynamics, a run warm up, a swim warm up. Once they call us out of the water they tell us that the race will be delayed due to a helicopter on the course life flighting a girl out from the previous race. As soon as I hear this I throw on some shoes for another quick jog before they call us back to the line up. It's time to race.

I line up next to my teammates Connor, Braden, and Tucker. We shiver for a bit(it's is non wetsuit legal by .4) before the horn goes off. I get out fairly good, and find a pretty good rhythm. I find a gap again between groups, and out of the blue my calm waves begin thrashing. I sight to find swimmers replaced with fog, waves, and a slight mist which surprises me, but I just put my head down and repeat to myself a few times. "Race in the Moment." The waves get bigger, but I still manage to find all of the buoys for the turn around and I head towards the beach. I approach the finally buoy just before the shore and hit my hand on a cinder block holding down the buoy, shake it off and begin my dolphin dives. I run out the water and head up the beach as quickly as possible, flying by a few people in transition before heading out on the bike. Right away a good pack forms with Connor, a few other riders, and I. Things look good, and we begin our chase to the next pack. Then all of the sudden I pull off from my turn pulling and the pack takes off, I try desperately to hold on but without much bike work over the winter due to focus on my run with an indoor track season, I get dropped. I am lonely for what feels like forever as I time trial watching the pack pull away from me. Finally, Tucker finds me and he has brought a pack with him. I finish up the bike with him, and now it's time to run. I get out quickly the first 400 and settle into my pace. I start catching those that I had lost during the bike and swim. I continue this as I pass Connor and keep picking those that had nothing left after the bike. I catch as many as I can before I run out of race and cross the finish line 23rd. I'm a little disappointed because when I set out this weekend I wanted to get my elite card the first day, and it didn't happen. However, I know that I have another chance the next day so after congratulating other racers and thanking volunteers, it's recovery time. I grab something to eat, throw my recovery socks on, and go for a cool down run. The rest of my day consisted of resting up, sitting by the pool for a while talking to my dad, and going out to dinner with the team at Carabas before bed.

Day 2 of racing started out the same, but upon arriving this time Connor and I are dropped off outside of the race course to do a bike warm up with Alex Libin a fellow elite squad member. It's perfect weather out so it's a great warm up ride. I finish up a run warm up once I get back to our tent, and head to do a swim warm up. I am about to get in to warm up, but my goggles break so I rush back to the tent and get another pair. After I grab them and warm up, it's time for round two.

I line up for the swim in about the same spot and we are off to swim again. Right away I get into a good rhythm and repeat "race in the moment." The swim is uneventful compared to yesterday and I come out of the water in a great spot with Connor and Tucker right next to me. After a fast transition I'm out onto the bike once again. Again we form a group right away,  and even though my legs are a bit tired from the other day I'm doing great. Until we approach the turns through the transition area, when it happens again. I get dropped because of taking the turns too slow. Again I find a group, but a bit quicker this time. We get to work right away. The group works pretty well together, and as we finish up the bike it's time to run again.

I get out of transition quickly and begin the chase again in a better position compared to the day before. I chase down as many people as possible and as I reach the final 600 meters left, people begin telling me to catch 1 more guy because that would be 10th place. I dig deep and chase after him catching him jut before te line, but he gets a second wind and is able to hold me off at the finish. Even though I don't catch him, I am satisfied with my race. I cut 2 minutes off my time and take 11th. I do my usual post race routine and get ready to head back home after a long weekend. Thanks for your time and support! Now back to training!