Luck of Irish Triathlon 2016

The Luck of the Irish triathlon in The Colony took place just a week after the Fresh 15. I'm certain I was still carrying some fatigue in my running legs. 

I was mainly looking to help one of the athletes I coach Garrett on this on, but I think I was very little help. This was a 300 meter pool swim and Garrett started a few spots behind me and he caught me the last 25 yards which was I was the plan we were hoping for and I attempted to jump on his feet, I tried anyways. I knew I had to pick it up pace then. 

I still beat him just out of transition. As we we're grabbing our bikes, I said, "Let's roll." We got rolling fast on the bike, switching positions back and forth 2 or 3 times.  Soon though after the second right hand turn Garrett was pulling away and I couldn't keep up anymore.  Garrett smoked the bike course averaging 26.5 mph and I was at 25.9 mph.   He had caught the really fast swimmer as he came off the bike and I was soon right after.  I caught the fast swimmer guy, about a half mile into the run and I thought, Garrett and I were 1 and 2. Little did I know a couple of the Brian Loncar guys that had started later were moving a little faster than I was.  

We paid the price on the run with less than stellar run times but Garrett secured the 1st overall male win and I ended up 4th overall and 2nd in my age group.  It was a fun race experience and well-run experience by Play Tri. 

Handful of Fly Tri Racing athletes made it out to this one. 

2nd in the 30-34, at least Philip is a nice dude.  

Fresh15 2016

Back in March was the Fresh15, it's one of my favorite races to do now. It's the greatest running event to ever come to East Texas in Tyler.  The field was stacked once again with some top Kenyan runners from all over the nation. It was the fastest 15k recorded time this year, at the time of the event. A week or so prior to the USA 15K National Championships.   

The Fresh15 is also stacked with top local runners from East Texas, Shreveport, and Dallas all come out to this one. The word is out now that this is a must-run race.  

The first 3 miles for me was off to a great start and was feeling comfortable enough to be running right behind former pro triathlete,  Clay Emge. I went through the first 5k in 16:54.  Well the next 6 miles I started to fall way off pace from that but I was still feeling really strong, in fact only glanced at my watch twice during the race. 

Once again, I got caught my Tomas around the 10k mark, I hadn't seen him all race and here he comes by me and I'm like...really, again. The last mile or two I was starting to make ground back. I noticed I was gaining on Nick Huff, another former UT Tyler Cross Country graduate a few years after me that I was making ground on, Unfortunately, the finish was too close and I wasn't able to make enough ground.  It was however,  a strong race for me and a little faster than last year but slower than the year before. Tomas and I are now tied 2-2. I was just under 53 minutes for this 15k race. 

Some of the local athletes in Tyler I coach as part of Fly Tri Racing.
www.flytriracing.com  

Out of this stacked field I ended up 28th Overall and 3rd place in the Tyler local division.

Clay Emge looks a little different than from what I remembered running behind the first 3 miles.

Freeze Your Fanny 10K

Only a little behind here! The Freeze Your Fanny 10k was the first weekend of February followed by a bike ride in cold rain.

I was on a recovery week leading up to this race so I skipped a few sessions here and there in order to get more rest/sleep, so I wasn't firing on all cylinders for this one,  but that's no excuse as I thought I was still ready to put down a good race. I knew Tomas would be the main guy I'd need to watch out for.

The first mile there was a pack of 5 or so of us. I was surprised some of these young kids were keeping up. We might have hit the first mile a little hot for my fitness, I don't remember the exact time. Eventually by the first right hand turn the pack started to spread thin and it was me and Tomas trading off back and forth.

At the half way turn around, I tried to work something similar by taking off from him and opening up a gap. Obviously, his fitness was better this month as he was able to respond and close the gap back o me quickly. Then he opened a gap on me. Unfortunately, for me I was unable to close it and make my way back up to him.

With the last couple of miles I was staying close and  I was able to  close some distance back but Tomas had built his lead up too much by then. He was the faster runner just under 36 minutes for the very hilly course and I was at 36:14 for the 10k.