Rev3 Portland

Apparently it has been a long time since I have written a blog.  For those of you that regularly read it I am sorry.  I’ll try to keep up on it more often.  Before I get into my last race at Rev3 Portland I’ll do a quick update of the last few weeks.  Lots of really good training, an all right race at Philadelphia (6^th place), an awesome homestay for Philadelphia (thanks Geoff!), and probably one of the most amazing experiences that I will ever have.  My best friend, Scott Weltz, (@swimweltz) made the US Olympic team in the 200m breastroke while setting an Olympic Trials meet record.  I was fortunate enough to be there at the trials to watch him race and thanks to my coach, Grant Holicky, I was able to be on deck to watch the race and to congratulate him right after the race.  I can’t describe how proud I am of what Scott has been able to accomplish and the sacrifices that he has made.  He deserves this more than anyone that I know. 

 

Back to triathlon.  This past weekend I raced my second Rev3 race of the season and my first half iron distance race of the year in Portland, OR.  I was pretty excited to do my first half because my training has been going well and I enjoy the half distance.  Thanks to my friend Lauren Goss, (who rocked it and finished 3^rd), I was able to see the bike course a few days before the race.  The bike course for this race was new this year and it was advertised as being really hilly.  I have to say that after driving the course, I was pretty intimidated.  In the end the course was amazing.  Challenging, but not over the top, and just a lot of fun to ride.  Apparently we were clocked on one of the descents going 55mph.  Which would be the fastest I’ve ever been on a bike!  Unfortunately, the majority of the run wasn’t as much fun for me.  After running the first 4 miles right where I wanted too, feeling great, and more importantly closing some time on the guys ahead of me, I started to have some GI distress (to put it politely).  After dealing with this for a few miles and a few trips to the on course porta potties; I was very close to pulling out of the race.  But with this being my first half of the season, (along with still being in the top 10) I decided I would learn more about where my training and fitness were by finishing.  In the end I was proud of my effort and my decision to stay in the race.  I finished the remaining part of the run with what I had left in my body that day and was able to take away a lot of positives.  Still frustrating to not have the overall result that I thought I was capable of; but, it gives me confidence moving forward through the season.  Each race has been better than the last and hopefully that trend continues.

I would like to thank Rev3 for putting on another great race.  It is obvious that they truly care about the overall race experience for all athletes and I look forward to doing more of their races throughout the year.