Take a Breath and Run: Boulder Peak 5150

So with my world record the 18-19th I ran out of time to write this blog and have taken a mental break from that point to now to just focus on training. Now with school started and my brain working again, I am ready to write down my reflection of Boulder Peak 5150 (and nationals soon). This race did not to take as much explaining or thinking as Chicago because it was pretty straight forward what went well and what I need to improve. So here we go on my first race at altitude!

The adventure to CO starts Wednesday afternoon where we drive part way and stay at a hotel in Kearney, NE. The hotel was a bit too small for our expanded travel group (my step-mom and two younger brothers came with my dad and I), but we make it work. We hit the road the next morning and arrive in Longmont, CO in the afternoon.

The last time I had been driving through CO I was sleeping so I this was my first time really seeking CO breathtaking landscape. Luckily since we arrived early I was able get dropped off at the race course and ride it before dinner. As I am riding I luckily find Christopher a Boulder local who is doing the same race and he keeps me on the course.

Overcast on the course

After a bike preview we head out to eat, and shortly after I head to the local YMCA in Longmont to get a swim and run in because it's getting a bit dark out. This also is the first day I test out my foot after 2 days of aqua jogging to get my foot feeling better. I swim first, stretch out, do my dynamics, and finally it's the moment of truth. I head out for the run, my first couple of steps are heavy, but I lift my hips up and find a rhythm. My foot pay is gone, and was ready to race in the weekend ahead of me.

After a pretty good night of sleep we head to Estes Park for my next day of training before the race. We arrive an I plan out my run for the day because it was up first. I find a cool trail route called Lumpy Ridge, and get dropped off at Devils Gultch the starting point. The run ends up being crazy hard with lots of climbing, but my body reacts surprisingly well for not really training or racing at altitude yet. I head out on a bike shortly after that, followed by a swim that night.

Heading up to the Rocky Mountains

I wake up the day before the race, and get dropped off at the YMCA. I do a quick race simulation swim, and then run back to the hotel. I relax for a bit before heading out on my bike ride. After my ride I head to the course to get my packet and check it out a bit more. I head back to the hotel afterwards to get some sleep for the big day.

Finally, Sunday has arrived and it is time to race. I am still tired, but I know that I will race strong no matter the circumstances. I have put in the training, and am mentally strong enough to take on whatever happens. I get my warm ups in without any conflicts, and head to the start line. Our elite wave is the first to go off. We are called to the line and the starter sends us in to the beautiful Boulder Reservoir.

I hit the water hard and fast taking the lead for the first 300 or so, but then it hits me. Just like one of my first failed attempts at Triathlon, I was out of air completely. Knowing that panicking would only make it worse, I keep calm and slow to a more controlled pace thinking about the race ahead of me. People begin to pass me and it feels like a bunch, but as I exit the water I am in 5th.

I head on to the bike in 4th after passing a guy in transition. I quickly lay down the hammer in normal fashion, and almost immediately I find someone to duke it out with on the bike. The course is flying by us and we are closing in on the guys in from of us. This works to our advantage until about mile 20 on the bike when we get passed by the eventual fastest bike split champion. I desperately try to hold on and get past him again, but my efforts are foiled because my legs are shot. I push a decent pace for the last 5 miles, but in the final mile stretch I get passed by a bunch of people. However, as they pass me I tell myself not to worry because I will pass them on the run no doubt in my mind. After, a quick transition it is time to run.

I get my shoes on and as I stand back up I take a deep breath and tell myself lets do this. Off the gun I get the men that passed me in the final stretch, and I do this in rather quick manner. I am eating up the competition one by one. It's not long before I find myself in 4th place again. I keep pushing harder and harder knowing that every second I am faster per mile than the men in front of me I am catching them. Before the half way turnaround I am able to catch and slingshot past 3rd place, but this isn't enough because in front of me about a 600 or so was Nick Noone in second place. I had no doubt going into the final 5k that my legs could do it, I just had to let them and give them a shot. I continue to push my pace, inching closer and closer to him. With 300 to go he is right there, and I dig deep catching him with a little less than 100 to go. I keep rolling on past him to claim second place, and the fastest run split of the day by over 20 seconds.

After I finish I wait around to congratulate the finishers behind me that pushed me with every step. I get some food and hydrate before a nice 5 mile cool down on the gravel roads next to the course. I reflect on the race, and take in some sun as I run. Once I get back we wait around a bit for the awards and I get a boulder "rock" engraved with 2nd place on it as well as a pretty cool hat! Overall, I am pleased with my race, other than the hiccup during the swim I gave all I had to the race and came out of the battle with a second place. Although first is ever so elusive for me I will get it someday. Thanks to everyone who was voulunteering at the race, the competitors,  supported me, and helped me get where I am! Next blog coming soon about my nationals races.

We may have been out of order, but looks pretty cool on the podium representing Z3.