A Look back at Soma & Look Ahead to November

Soma Half IM 10/28 - Temp AZ
I wanted to right up this summary ASAP while the day and my feelings about it where fresh in my head. This turned into my key race for the year after IM CDA didn't go as I had hoped. The last 3 1/2 months of training have been focused on this race. Like I've said, I had big hopes going into it, but I think I was also realistic. Having done more races this year then in any other year I have a pretty good idea of what I can do on a good day. So... I guess what I was really hoping for was a "good day".
We arrived in AZ on Thursday evening. We wrestled our two bike cases, wheel case and luggage to the rental car. The mini van was the only option since we had so much crap. Friday I did an hour ride on some long straight sections of road out in rural Chandler east of Phx. It still amazes me how flat it is there. In the afternoon I did a 20 min run. That was when I started realizing that the heat may be a factor on Sunday. My HR on this run was high. It was about 92 degrees. Earlier in the week the weather channel had been predicting ~89 as the high on race day. Friday the prediction was up to 97. This would tie the record for that date.
Saturday we did one last run, only 15 mins. Then we went to watch my twin nephews' soccer game. It was a great way to take my mind off the race. After the game one last ride to make sure the bikes were dialed in. We then loaded the van and headed to the race site. We checked in the bikes tested the water and grabbed some lunch. We decided not to do the pre-race swim in the lake. It is more of a big ditch then a lake and it is as clear as mud. Unfortunately none of the local pool's schedules worked out for us ether.
Sunday morning came quick. Up at 3:30 for breakfast. We loaded up the van and got to the race by 4:40. We setup out transition stuff, loaded up on sun block, and chatted with some folks around us. The time went by fast, all of sudden it was time to wetsuit up! There was a "Quarter Man" Going off before the half, so we headed to the swim to watch the start. I was in the first wave of the half, so I jumped in the water to warm up at about 7. With only 30-34 men and pro's in my wave it made for a mellow start. Most of the swim I felt like I was alone. The water temp was a perfect 70 degrees. The water was so murky though I couldn't see my watch to check my HR. To exit the swim there were volunteers grabbing you by the arms and lifting you up onto a platform. They had to have been tired after that... On to the bike, the course was 3 loops around Tempe. It was a really fun course since you went through the downtown area so much. There were a lot of tight turns and turn arounds though that did hurt the avg pace a bit. But the long straight aways that we did have were north to south. This provided a direct head wind one way and a good tail wind coming back. Going out I was slowed to ~22 mph. Coming back though I was using less effort to go ~28 mph. My HR and avg for each lap was very consistent. The last 10 miles I could start to feel the heat. Once into T2 running with my bike I realized how hot it really was.
Out of T2 into the run My heart and lungs thought I was running a 6:30 pace. But my legs were only moving at maybe an 8 min pace? Hard to say since they had NO mile markers on the run. This is my biggest beef about the race. Right away I was passed by 3 people. My legs wanted to go with them but my HR was mid zone 5. So I forced myself to back off to the point I felt like I was barely running. This was my lowest point in the race, miles 0 to ~ 4 as a number of others passed me. I went through everything from disappointment, anger, and at one point almost dropping out. About mile 4.5 I saw someone ahead walking as I approached I realized it was someone that had passed me at the run start. This picked me up. I started to tell myself that it's not me, it's really F'ing hot out here. Maybe I'm not doing so bad. Soon after that I passed another person that went out too fast. Now I had hope. This continued for the rest of the run. I focused on hydration and nutrition through each aid station and continually increased my effort. As I started the second lap there were tons of folks just starting the run. This really helped me. I couldn't believe how many people were walking. By the last 2 miles my HR was in zone 6 (~185) and I was going for it. The last half mile was the toughest physically. I started to feel like I was hyperventilating. I crossed the finish line and had to immediately site down to catch my breath. I have never pushed myself like that before. The volunteers were awesome, some lady was scooping ice water out of the large bucket that they had coke in and she was pouring it over my head as I sat there. Once I caught my breath I was good. I ate a PB&J and went to watch for Jen. She kicked ass! She started in the last wave, so by the time she was running it was ~96 and getting hotter. She toughed it out and finished strong. I am SOOO proud of her and how strong she has become.
On Monday morning I was up early even after 2 18 oz margaritas. I sat in Jen's sister's back yard with my legs in their pool watching the sun rise and drinking my coffee. Up to this point I had been disappointed with my race. But reflecting on the experience the next day I realized the positives. My bike split was right were I had hoped. The swim was what I expected based on current training. On the run I think I found a new level of self awareness which is big for me. This is probably the one thing I've noticed most in the really strong athlete's that I've met in the last year. The ability to really understand what you're feeling and why. Once you have this awareness I think you are able to know when you can push and when you need to hold back or drop out completely. Being able to separate the mental limiters from the physical one's maybe one of the biggest barriers in long distance racing for me. This weekend I feel like I made a small step toward lowering this barrier. I'm even more hungry now for next season. With two Ironmans and a bunch of other events I hope to make more strides in not only my physical development, but mental as well.
November:
This will be my first attempt at an "Off Season" since I started doing Triathlon in 2004. I am really looking forward to it. I hope to get in some fun local running events, some mountain biking, and maybe a cross race or two. I also owe Murphy (our yellow lab) some serious attention. Thanksgiving will be in Vegas this year. My other favorite endurance sport - Blackjack! Also mixed in the month is another step toward middle age (my b-day). Every year I look forward to it a little less. I don't mind getting older, I just don't want to get "old".