The decision to race the Rhode Island 70.3 wasn’t made until about a month before the race because I am in full on prep mode for Ironman Louisville. I figured I would do something I had never done before and train straight thru and use the race as a training day. I was a bit concerned because I had done a century just 5 days prior...but I better get used to racing on wiped out legs.
The logistics of the race didn’t bother me one bit. My wife and daughter were unable to come for the weekend so all the driving around kept me from going crazy by myself.
Race Morning was perfect...everything...the bus ride...the beach....the weather.....perfect. I was in one of the first waves of the day so it seemed to go by so quickly. Toe the line (Bang), go,go, go. Got about thigh deep and was able to dolphin dive a nice sized breaker, and off I went. I love open water swims and managed to stay relaxed and focus on my IM pace which was my plan. Out of the water in 32:12 and on to the transition. This was my first experience with wetsuit strippers and I must say.....there awesome. In transition and out.
Onto the bike...my focus here was to stay within my IM HR ranges for the first half of the ride and pick it up. I did better than planned....kept my HR at an average of 144 for the 56 miles and absolutely killed the hills. I have spent so much time training on hills that I now crave them (it’s a sickness). Off the bike in 2:32:11 (22.1 mph) and into the transition. I scored the best spot in the transition as it was the first spot inside the entrance. They were assigned spots.....lucky me.
Shoes, Hat, rock and roll....out onto the run.
I had the same plan on the run as I did the bike...focus on IM HR and pick it up half way. The first loop felt great and I enjoyed the difficulty of the hill as it adds something special to the race. I did the Florida 70.3 early this year....and wow was it a boring course. This was a treat. Well at the crest of the hill the second time around is when the "Suffer Fest" began....wow. I gutted it out as much as I could but was brought down to earth big time. I managed to gut out a 1:41:28 (7:44 pace) and crossed the finish line to the sounds of the best crowd I have ever experienced at a finish line. I had the chute to myself and the people were so loud. I had the biggest grin on my face and it lasted the rest of the day.
I managed to finish the day in 4:50:24 with a PR for the 70.3 distance on the "take Saturday off" Taper plan. Best news of the day is that I got a Clearwater slot so I will have a chance to blast out a real fast time later this year.
Rhode Island 70.3.....great race, great venue, great people...a must do.

But for now.....back to prep for IM Louisville.