Texas 70.3 2016

This was the race I've been training for through this spring and the winter. Training went really well. '

The family, Calley, Rylan, and Evan came with me on this one. We had an awesome dinner view at Pier 21 with a few of the athletes I coach.   Here  my is my pre race dinner meal that that turned out well.  

With the 30-34 age group being one of the later waves not starting until 8am, I didn't have to rush around getting set up, warmed up, and over to the race start. I was still pretty pumped up though while staying super relaxed.

In the swim I got off to a great start and I got right behind someone who was making me work to stay on his feet. I lost him at some point before the first turn buoy and I didn't have any fast feet to follow. Coming out of the water I kept swimming until my hands could touch the bottom, doing so a I had to squeeze by a couple people who accidentally hit while taking my strokes for them to push and whack me back. Running through to the wetsuit strippers  my watch had fell off when I was getting my wetsuit off, but I was able to grab it and put in my transition spot.   I swam a slow 34 minutes, I thought it was faster with  my new Roka wetsuit as it allows me to rotate and not fatigue my shoulders. However, I was feeling good so I wasn't discouraged.

On the bike since I was ridng blind without my Garmin I was constantly being aware to make sure I was drinking and taking in my fuel. It gets hot and humid in Galveston. It was relatively "cooler" this year though on the bike. I was still drinking a lot.   I had missed the last bottle hand off when the volunteer had left the seal on the bottle, I couldn't get it off without risking a wreck, so I tossed and finished what I had and took an extra gel instead.  I was prepared to troubleshoot my nutrition if I needed too.   I was flying by people too.   I thought maybe I really was flying since I was feeling pretty good, but then someone near my age group would go by me and I'm like dang, well maybe I'm not.  

Onto the run I was running pretty good averaging a few 6:11's in the early miles without a watch,  it had felt slower. I faded some later but still was feeling reasonably strong and it was getting warm out there. I was staying on my fueling plan and I had no GI issues during the race. I did the run the half marathon in  1:27 for a sprint finish with a guy in my age group to claim 6th place in my age group. I was just over 4:30.  I wasn't spectacular in any discipline of the three but solid across all three. The fueling plan and guidance from AJ Baucco helped a lot.

Thank you my family for coming with me! Unfortunately Evan was sick they were spending all morning in the ER. I kept wandering why I was seeing everyone else but them out on the run course. It still was definitely a fun weekend with Calley, Rylan, and Evan getting to go and also having my Fly Tri Racing athletes and the Cobb Mobb team there too.

Since Galveston, I haven't done any swimming, biking, or running. Call it a loss of motivation? Time to "retire" from triathlon? Let the body rest? A strong desire to go back to competitive running?   I'm not sure - at this time I'm letting an upper quad strain heal that's been "bothering" me since Fresh 15. It didn't get worse leading up to Galveston but it wasn't getting any better, in fact, I tried to run a week or so after Galveston and I could still feel it after a couple of strides so I stopped immediately.

Until next time you might see me and Evan cheering you on at the next race.

Evan and I cheering on women at the Diva Du.

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.

Papa John and Debby's 4 Miler

Welcome "Open Carry" Texas

Last week a couple of athletes I coach at Fly Tri Racing went to Papa John and Debby's 4 mile run, hosted for the Longview Running Club's monthly race to start the new year. We had a great time.  I had been a member of the Longview Running Club since I was 12 years old and through college before moving off and this was my first time to run in an LRC club run in about 10 years.  We chose this race due it's proximity, low costs, and the good competition we we're expecting.

This was also the first weekend of Open Carry in Texas and Papa John had no  problem with that as we all lined up for the start. My two athletes racing were Garrett and Derreck who are brothers. It was a cold 35 degrees.  The first mile was a super slow start about 6 or 7 of were kind of bunched together until we started putting in surges to get a gap. Then it became down to Garrett, Tomas, and I. We kept working throughout with several other surges thrown in to get Garrett a gap but then we would catch back to him. At the 2.5 miles I caught back to Garrett and told him "You gotta go", I didn't know know how much longer I could I keep Tomas back. Sure enough, Garrett opened up a huge gap but Tomas soon took off after him, dropping me. I thought I was done, but I was able to get back up to Tomas and slow down again. Finally, about 3 miles going up a long gradual hill I could hear Tomas breathing quite hard behind me and that's when I put my last surge in and made my last effort as we went 1,2, and Derreck finished in a solid 5th. 

Garrett Mayeaux, 1st Overall

2nd Overall 

Derreck Mayeaux, 5th Overall 

Awards (ribbons) in the Marshall Ritter's cabin 

Winning!  1st, 2nd, 5th. 

Tyler YMCA Ugly Sweater 5K

Behind every son and husband is a smart and gorgeous wife. Family picture waiting on the awards to start. 

Start of the Tyler YMCA Ugly Sweater 5K 

This morning Calley, Evan, and I did the Tyler YMCA Ugly Sweater 5K, mainly to support our athlete Derreck. We had a great time. This week I'm finishing up a three week base block with a swim focus. Last weekend, Derreck's older brother Garrett was in town to train for Super Saturday. This week I was a little more tired than I probably should have been as I had to make some adjustments in my training schedule prior to this race. Once again, I experimented with a new pre-race breakfast and had no stomach issues. I'm mainly working on phasing in a new fueling/hydration strategy for training and 70.3/half iron racing that seems to be going very well so far.  I just need my legs to turn over faster but that can wait until spring. I'm just glad to have no stomach issues especially eating closer to the start of these running races than I normally do.  

The main goal here was assist Derreck and hope he would get the win. Unfortunately, he had some asthma issues and his inhaler broke before the race so he was unable to use it.  He was having difficulty breathing in the colder weather. We ran almost half the race together before needing to close the gap on the guy who was leading. Derreck toughed it out and finished 3rd overall. He also needs to save his fast legs for spring too, so no hurry here.

 At the half way point, I chased down Jared Jones who leading the race at the time. We let him go out but kept him close but his lead was building after the first mile.  I caught up to him and tried to slow him down similar to a cycling race so Derreck could catch back up but it wasn't working out. I had to put a surge in to drop Jared. The second mile ended up being my fastest and I finished in 17:28.  The Tyler YMCA did a great job putting on this race and the Tyler Police and the volunteers  did a phenomenal job! Glory to God for the great race! 

Derreck Mayeaux and I after the awards. 

Evan and I with the female overall winner, Abbie Treat. 

Tyler Turkey Trot 5K

It was Evan's first 5K! Calley pushed him the whole way and both were troopers!  

I practiced a new race day breakfast for me with calculated carbs and fluids to see how my body would handle it. I was "feeling" fast during the warm up.  The race however, I got off to about a 10 second late start. I was in the back getting a good luck kiss from Calley and Evan. Walking back up the front I heard the horn go off. I ran about sub 4:45 pace the first half mile. The time I was about to catch up to the front group they were pulling away again.  Then I was doing all I could to sustain finishing officially in 17:40 but really ran a 17:30 for 5th overall and 1st age group. 

Kiepersol Corkscrew 5K Trail Run

This was a FUN race!! 

I found out about this local race just a few days prior to the event date. The organizers seem to keep it low key, but fun and personal.  The course was more of a challenging cross country course than a trail run through a vineyard with some rocks, thick dirt, and hills! It was full of hills the last mile.  

I've been easing back into some training and road my bike almost an hour out to the race, then I saw RJ and realized biking may have been a bad idea. Biking down Hwy 69 was hillier than I last remembered it being, but my legs didn't feel too bad. 

RJ and I started off together as the top two. It was a fairly comfortable pace as we were feeling each other out. I know that sounded bad but in terms who was stronger than the other.  I though RJ was breathing hard and he picked up the pace and he thought I was breathing hard. Once we hit the grass the race was on as we went back and forth. By the mile and half mark he had pulled away but I was keeping him in close sight until about 2 miles. At this point the course is almost straight up hill back to an uphill finish. It was just longer than a 5k at 3.22 miles and I finished with a time of 20:00 flat.  Since I've only been back at it just over a month and being at my best shape is still far away I'll take it.  

What a fun race and great training day it was, I hope to make this one again next year!

Fly Tri Racing is Launched

As a few of you know who have known me for a long time known that I have coached and personal trained people for years. After a successful year Calley and I decided to give back to the athletes that I work with and finally create a formal name. Thanks to Brian from Music Box Marketing and Media for creating the logo for me. 

Racing News

October was a successful month for Fly Tri athletes. Check out who did what. 

Stephen Dinger  from Tyler, Texas had a great race at the Husky Hustle 5K in Houston, Texas running a season best in 24:36. 

 

Garrett Mayeaux a Junior from Texas A&M University took 3rd Overall in his last triathlon with a fast elite field to finish out the season at the Finish Line Sports Try Andy's Tri in Sugarland, Texas. He finished just 30 seconds shy of Cobb Mobb Pro Mark Saroni in 2nd. Garrett had a 3:41 300 meter open water swim split and a 16:53 3 mile run. 

Zibeon Serrato from Tyler, Texas better known as "ZB"  raced the the Tyler Rose Half Marathon finishing with a new PR by 13 minutes on a demanding course in 2:23:25.  

Derreck Mayeaux a Junior from New Diana High School brought me onto coach him for his Cross Country and Track season. When we first started working together he was barely under 21 minutes for a 5K Cross Country race. At the Class 17-3A District meet he earned 10th Overall and the last spot for Regionals in a PR of 17:44 in a super fast district.

At the UIL Region III 3A it was muddy from the Hurricane Patricia remains, times were 2-3 minutes off. He finished in 20:44 and 44th overall and 23rd Individual (without a team).  

Steve Ward from Garland, Texas raced the Palo Duro Canyon 20K Trail  race last month in far West Texas finishing with a time of 3:30:14 on the rugged trail which wasn't too far off his road paces.  

Dave Gardner of Quitman, Texas rang the PR gong at The Columbus Marathon last month. He's been training with me for this for 6 months. He finished his FIRST marathon in 3:41:16. What is even more impressive is he ran negative splits the whole way. The last 10K of the marathon was an 8:08 pace which is real close to his 10K race pace.

St. Gregory 5K

I jumped in the St. Gregory 5K last month on just a couple of weeks of running after taking two months off, but it was all worth it for this sweet little boy, Evan.  He's really good baby and I still get good sleep most nights.  I went hard from the start as if I was going to contend for the overall win, but that didn't happen and I was suffering greatly by a quarter mile as I hadn't done any 5 min/mile efforts in a looooonng time trying to keep up with another UT Tyler cross country graduate, Alex Wilson, who would win in 16:22. The course was not flat at all like the race advertised. The worse shape you are in the more you feel every noticeable incline.  My paces deteriorated the longer the we went and I finished 4th overall in 19:08 and first in the 30-34 age group.