The Bosco Wedding & Stonebridge Ranch

Last weekend was the Stonebridge Ranch triathlon in McKinney. I was looking forward to racing so close by, since I was going to stay in town for my college friend Jeremy Bosco's wedding. S0- Saturday night I left to go to the wedding in plenty of time, it's a good thing too, as I got lost a couple of times and arrived to the wrong wedding. I am pulling up to the street that where the wedding is supposed to be, I see a sign that is for  a wedding. I walk into the backyard and feeling overdressed as most of the guys are decked in wranglers, flannel shirts, and cowboy hats. I was like man, these folks are country. The backyward nice with poolside and a view of a clean cut golf course. I was sitting there wandering why nobody I recognize from college was there and doubting these people had college degrees. I see someone with a card and it had a different name on it. It's 6:58pm and the wedding starts at 7pm. There is no sign of Jeremy. Things started to click I dash out get in my car, race down the street and make it in time to see Jeremy and his wife up there together. My friend Carlos Ruiz was on mexican time and he did the same thing and stopped at the wrong wedding. I didn't feel so bad then. 

Jeremy and Cameron moments before they were pronounced husband and wife. 

Friends from ETBU- Mark Jackson, Duy Nguyen and Carlos Ruiz. Please excuse my sweaty arm pits it was hot outside. 

I arrived at 5:15am to the race site one of the very first people there ready to get set up to rock and roll. Once it finally got daylight we are allowed to warmup for a couple of minutes. Then we got kicked back out of the water again, because some of miscommunication. Then back in the water again for another 2 minutes before we got kicked out.My swim start was rough from the start as immediately water got kicked in my goggles and I was struggling to see. I was trying to make the best of it, by the time we got to the first turn I had to pause for a second and let the water that had filled my goggles up out. After a week off after Vegas and getting back into it, I found it hard to push the intensity like I usually can, plus struggling to swim straight didn't help and the kayakers and jet skis were moving all over the place. I was looking off the bouy several times and a kayaker would be right in front of the bouy you were trying to sight off of. 

Finally, got out of the water in 25:53 and through transition. Once on my bike, I pushed the intensity because I knew had a lot of work to do, coming out 7th or so out of the water in our small 10 man division. We had a decent south wind and uphill start, we did this loop four times. The back side is pretty fast. The last loop or two I was having quite a few calf cramps,  it's been awhile since I had those. Off the bike with a 24.9 bike split and in 5th off the bike. 

I took off to a strong start and realized after a week off I didn't have quite the same zipp. I settled into a little slower pace than I am used to for a 10k run but I held it consistent for 3 miles, until I started having stomach issues at 3 miles. By mile 4, my stomach felt like it wanted puke, by the last mile I was having some light chills. It was very wierd. My 5th mile was 7 min and my last mile was 7:40. I jogged it in for 3rd overall. 

Top  3 guys

Thanks to my amazing God and the people that support me. Justin from Bicycles Plus tuned my bike up that it would put Di2 shifters to shame. This week, I am getting back into some solid training under me. I think I lost my legs in Vegas.  I am looking forward to my next race called Try Andy's in Sugarland. It's going to be a very fast race. 

70.3 World Championships Recap

I want to give big thank you to everyone who supported and believed in me. This would not of course be possible without the Lord for watching overme this year, during our travels, and the race. My parents for there endless love. Brandon McGee my roommate, he let me borrow his 11-28 cassette for the hills and I trained on his computrainer, which is sold now :( . Nathan Villa, my main G right there, for handing me a saddle while mine had fallen apart. My sponsors thatI rep. OnUrLeft Sports, Bicycles Plus, Tri It Wear, and Wheaties Fuel! Bryce and Mr. Fluker for letting me come along this trip and making it a memorable one. Mr. Fluker and Bryce picked me Wednesday morning and we drove to Santa Rosa, New Mexico that night and were greeted by cooler temperatures. Then t

he following day we traveled the through the rest of New Mexico and upward to Northern Arizona where we stopped at the Grand Canyon. Bryce and I did a 30 minute run around

the south rim of the Canyon then hitched a bus ride back. The 30 minute run took us near an hour and half as Bryce wanted to stop every 30 seconds for pictures, haha. The weather had drastically changed on us with high winds and some light rain and we could see lightening in the distance but we made it safely back.

Bryce and I about to start are run along the south rim.

Snapping a wicked photo of the Grand Canyon in the middle of a run.

Bryce and I at the Grand Canyon before we began our "30 min" run. Friday morning we went from the Grand Canyon to the expo in Henderson, NV. We went to the expo and met pro's Linsey Corbin and Michael Weiss. Then for a 20 minute outdoor pool swim and we had the Welcome Dinner that night.

Bryce and I before our departure to Vegas!

Morning View of the Grand Canyon.

W/ Austria's Michael Weiss (4th) and Linsey Corbin (3rd).

Saturday morning was an early start for us as we met my Coach Muddy Waters and some of his other Muddy Buddies at the race site for some pre race day prep exercises. We did a 20 minute swim in Lake Las Vegas, followed by a 30 minute spin along the beginning of the course and back, then an easy 15 minute run.

W/ Shama cycle guys from Houston. Double Andrew and Jason and me repping the Bicycles Plus from Dallas.

With super studes from Dallas, Chris Moody, Travis Thomason, and Ron Tribendis.

Bryce and I after the welcome dinner.

Bryce and I chillin' out pre-race!

suited up and ready to head down to join our wave start.

I didn't bother warming up too much for this race since we were the last wave to go. I just did some dynamic type of stretching with my arms and legs. If I had to do it over again I would start off at the front of the swim to latch on to swim one a bit more faster than me instead, I chose to stay more so in the middle in hopes of that saving some energy and by not getting banged up too much with the size of our wave. I did get to draft on some swimmers but I think I could have went with someone a lot of faster than me. I came out of the water in 34:12, a little slower than usual but this was without wetsuits, but some of my competitors that come out at the same time as me were minutes back.

I ran as fast as I could or fast as you can run after swimming 1.2 miles through the 30o meter transition run and I ran also with my shoes on my feet to our bikes which I normally never do but my coach Muddy Waters reccommended it since we had a curve then a steep uphill there would be no time for putting your shoes on the bike. I heeded his advice and it turned out rather well as blitzed by several other riders still putting on shoes.

Shown here about to mount.

This 56 mile bike was either uphill or down hill. There was no flat sections on this course. Under a roundabout and under a tunnel a water bottle had popped out of my front cage. I stopped to get it but a volunteer stopped me and got it for me, probably losing a minute, at least it felt like it. I rode the first half rather conservatively as it was one hill after another. My adductors were already screaming at me. I started picking it up a bit and going with these other riders that had passed me, then around mile 40-45 my buddy Cam from Lubbock caught me after being 3 minutes back from me on the swim. He was riding well. I tried to go with him and keep him in sight. But I faded back and I struggled the last 10 miles back into Henderson to T2, but I was keeping positive spirits.

Coming into T2.

As I jumped off my bike, I almost hit the ground as my legs were rubbery. I was thinking this ain't good. Once I sat down and got my running shoes on I was up and it and rather surprised how good I was feeling. Hitting a sub 6 minute pace in control, despite it was downhill at the beginning. Make a U turn just after the first mile and that quickly changed, as it was all uphill on the second half of the loop. Regardless, I stayed in control of my run the entire race, despite being on the verge of cramping. The last 3 miles I tried to bust out a nice run split, but my legs were about to cramp. I was like Ok, let just maintain this effort and try again the last mile. I brought it home in a nice fashion under a 6:30 pace at least. I paid the price later as I puked 3x. I finished the run in 1:28+ with a 6:44 pace a total time of 4:41.32 which put me 20th in the 25-29 age group.

Coming into finish the race!

Bryce and I post race!

Awards Banquet that night pool side!

Top 10 Women w/ Australia's Melissa Rollison leading the way.

Top 10 Men w/ Australia's Craig Alexander and 2x 2008,2009 Ironman World Champion and 2006 70.3 World Champion at 38 years of age does it again!

W/the new CEO, Andrew Messick of WTC. Was a super nice guy!

Chunkin' up the deuce w/ 4th place, Austria's Michael Weiss.

The next day after the race it felt like we were hit by a truck and I was walking slower than 66 year old Mr. Fluker. He actually walks quite fast by the way. We went to Vegas to Gallup, NM. We stopped at Walnut Canyon National Monument where Indians once dwelled and they carved out there homes in the Canyon.

Bryce and I at the entrance.

The little holes are the Indian homes.

Here I am inside of an Indian home.

The next day we drove from Gallup, NM to Amarillo, Tx but first we stopped by the El Morro National Monument and Clines Corner, a World Famous Travel Stop. The El Morro monument is contains written messages from people from the 1600-1900s'. It's quite historic if you ever get to check it out.

El Morro!

@ Clines Corner.

From Amarillo, Wednesday morning we made it back safely to The Colony and East Texas.

Bike Course Preview.

My goal for this course next year is to crack the top 5 in my age group as they were all from Belgium and Germany. I only have 3 race left I am doing this year with the next one is this weekend in McKinney, the Stonebridge Ranch triathlon. Thank you again for all your support!

Amarillo By Morning

Gallup

Post race thoughts. The write up and pictures will be posted at a later date. Thanks again!!! 

Viva Las Vegas Part II

Sorry this is late. We had slow internet at the comfort inn. This is pre race thoughts the night before. Post race thoughts coming up next. 

Viva Las Vegas

We made it here, race day is almost here! 

Grand Canyon Maswick Lodge

Late post, we didn't have any internet at the Grand Canyon. It was a fun experience as me and Bryce ran 4 miles along the South rim. 

Santa Rosa

We made it to Santa Rosa, New Mexico on our road trip to the Marine Corps Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Henderson, Nevada! 

Vegas Bound Baby!

Me, my Buddy Bryce and his Dad Mr. Fluker are heading to the 70.3 World Championships this weekend in Nevada! 

Thanks for Watching! 

Wheaties Fuel

I have recently been accepted onto Team Wheaties Fuel. Since Wheaties Fuel came out in 2010 I've always been a fan of the cereal. I think it was once at an Ironman 70.3 events we recieved a sample box in our packets. I tried it out and it was instantly hooked and if you know me, you know I can throw down some food, especially cereal like nobodies business. I'll carry some of it with me to some local races and when I train with the boys! Come find me if you want some. 

Check out the link for all the nutritional facts. May I add also it's great tasting too!!! http://www.wheaties.com/products/wheaties-fuel.aspx

In other news, I am getting ready to head to Vegas next week with Bryce and Richard Fluker on a week long road trip to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Training has been going great, so I can't wait to get out there!