Let's Disco

I completed the Disco X-50 Triathlon today.  This race is put on by Dallas Athletes Racing and was more or less the same course as the Texasman X-50 they held back in May.

Surprisingly, the day was cooler than May's race thanks to yesterday's thunderstorms.  Unfortunately, the rain didn't cool the lake down.  It was 84 degrees rendering it not wetsuit legal (read: Grant will swim slower).  It felt sort of weird at the race start with 69 degree air while running into 84 degree water. I was able to execute well and even pass two folks in my age group within the last mile AND hold them off with a sprint to finish to be sure.

I felt I had a better race today, and certainly felt better AFTER completing the race.  There were a couple of changes I made that likely account for this.  First, I gave myself a taper which I did not do prior to the Texasman.  Second, I eased back on the bike, riding in HR Z3 (rather than Z4 in Texasman), and pretty much kept my Power in the Z2-3 range.  Third, I eased into the run, starting out in HR Z2 and then easing into Z3, ending in Z4.  Finally, I used Endurolytes throughout my race, taking two every hour.

Next race: Dirty Rock Off Road Sprint Triathlon

Train safe!
-CoachGrant

Warmed Up at BSLT 70.3

On Sunday, June 27, 2010, I raced the final "warm-up" race toward competing for TeamUSA.  I raced the Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon. 

It was challenging for a couple of reasons. 

First, I had had significant fever and stomach issues on Wednesday and Thursday prior to Sunday's race.  I wasn't sure at that point if I'd even be able to race.

Second, I'd never been to Lubbock.  Upon landing in the airplane, everything looked incredibly flat and barren--minimal trees, minimal hills, minimal crops on all that irrigated farmland.  There is a canyon near Lubbock where they dammed up the river, making Buffalo Springs Lake (where we swam for the race).  The bike and run courses took us out of and back into the canyon several times, which made for a very hilly course.  That's OK, though.  Afterall, I'm training for a race in the Allgaue region of Germany.  It will be very hilly there.

Train safe!