Overview of Buffalo Springs Lake
The good, the bad, and the ugly. It was a good ride over with Megan and Austin. (Thank you Megan and Austin for driving btw ;) and we crashed at my good friend Cam's house. We arrived late in Lubbock Friday night and went out to the cheapest sit-down dinner we could find....kinda jokingly but thanks to our waiter we only had to pay a buck or two for our meals and Austin got the "very last bit" of water out of the container the waiter was pouring. It's one of those things, you had to be there to see it.
Saturday was the usual pre race boring stuff including a little run for me and then we hunted for a place to swim, but to no avail we could find one any of us could afford.
Sunday, I was so excited I missed my alarm go off again for this race. Only because I was up and moving around before it had went off. Due to the extreme heat Lubbock was having that weekend they combined a lot of waves and pushed them closer together which made for an interesting swim. Somehow, I had one of my better swims. I was off to a good start ran into the water and got in with the front pack, probably should have got a couple of dolphin dives in but I I didn't think about it. Soon as we got going, I felt the washing machine effect of the feeling like I was spinning around and everyone was out get me. There was kicking, pulling, punching and everything else you can think of. The swim was a rectangle shape and when we made the far end turn I began feeling the effects of the heat being in the wetsuit in 75 degree water or whatever it was claimed to be. On to the swim exit, I got stuck behind some people in the wave before me and I was trying to be nice about it, in my head I said "alright guys, I'm coming through". I ended up cutting up between these two people reaching one guys shoulder and pulling him back as I took a stroke. Running out of the water I noticed Cam had beaten me out of the water. I chased him down and passed him through transition.
On the bike, I tried to get into my shoes too early and swerved to the left and almost got knocked off. There were about 3 large hills to climb before we got really going outside of the park. Cam had passed me again at the start of the bike but blew a tire. It was basically windy in all directions. I held back on the bike, since it was going to be a brutal run. The bike had several good size climbs in it and it was starting get pretty hot midway through. At one of the turn arounds, I noticed Cam had bounced back and was on his way to catching me on the bike. The last 10 miles or so was directly into the wind and it sucked every bit of the way to get back to T2. Coming up the last hill at the end of the ride, I switched to the small ring only to drop my chain. I started loosely spinning and was like "uh oh". I jumped off before I had a chance to fall over and get it quickly back on, but then to start back on a steep uphill like that was slower than I would have liked.
On the run I was feeling good at the start keeping it really chill and hitting about 6:45 pace. This was the first year I was able to "trot" up the first big hill without walking....Go Me! Into the "energy lab" a long straight away with no shade to hide behind things were getting tough and I started going through one of those dark moments you hear a lot of endurance athletes go through. I was able to bounce back from that. Then starting the way back in, I noticed I was hardly was sweating. I knew this didn't seem so good. My main objective was just to keep moving (and catch Adam Duey on the way back). Coming up the last steep hill with just over 3 miles to go I caught up to Adam. Then going down the last steep hills at 3 miles, things got really rough....just down right ugly! I couldn't hold an 8:30 mile to save my life here. The last 3 miles were combined with lots of trotting and walking...and some more walking. Somewhere in the last half mile I found a little spring back and was able to finish strong...at least I thought until the guy who caught me strongly insisted I go get some IV's immediately before I had a chance to catch my breath.
Not long later, Cam and I found out Megan had to be taken to the ER due to severe dehydration after she had fallen off her bike. She came out alright a few hours later and we made it back to Dallas safely!
Congratulations to my buddy Bryce and Cam who qualified for the 70.3 World Championships in Vegas this September. Looks like it's going to be a fun trip.
I realize I have a lot of work to do to be ready for Vegas and to get anywhere near some of the goals I have set. I am forever grateful for some amazing sponsors I have: Aaron Palian and OnUrLeft Sports a Houston based triathlon coaching company have believed in me since they have met me. I couldn't do some of things I do without their help. Bicycles Plus in Dallas, who keeps my bike in check for me with products and services (yes a seat, coming soon one day). I owe a lot of thanks to Craig who took me in when I moved over here and to Dallas who has done so much labor on my bike without complaining. The guys there always have great attitudes and I never see them offer poor service or bad attitudes to customers. Blueseventy, letting me have the opportunity to race in the fastest wetsuits and speed suits. NEW sponsorship with Tri It wear that I signed at BSLT actually. They make some of the coolest T's for triathletes. You will find me 'sporting them around whereever I go, if you haven't already.
Next up, I will be at the Bridgeland Tri, August 7th for race 2/3 of the TX3 Series. Thank you again for all the comment you guys dropped on facebook page during BSLT 70.3 weekend. I'll probably do it again next year.
