So post IMLP or for that manner, any post IM race is often a let down. You go from training 15 hours a week, daily training emails, tons of FB posts to nothing. The first few days are great- recovery, beer, recovery beer, food, beer, recovery beer- you get the point. Post IM 72 hours is the greatest feeling. You are a bit sore but life is grand. You Are an Ironman! Enough said... But what's next. How do you fill the hole of training? We for me it was two things- lots of family time and more racing. Yup more racing. Remember nothing beats race day!
So what did I do?
Race number 1- a mountain bike race with Spinervals team friends Kelly and Eddy Mendoza up in Hodges Dam MA. Post IMLP two weeks I raced with Team Mendoza on an 18 mile bumpy rock garden race. Eddy and Kelly took great care of me on race day- I met EVERY single racer thanks to Eddie! And I felt like a King. Eddie and Kelly know everyone- especially Eddie- he should be a mayor! The introductions pretty much went like this- "Hi fellow racer, this is our friend Dave from New Jersey who came up to race with us today. And he just finished IMLP" it was so cool. I am so glad I got the chance to race with them even if Kelly chicked me! Wow she can race and as usual finished on the podium! I did not. I got muddy, went over the bars a couple of times and had a great time. Post race we had some Awesome coffee. Coffee and cycling rocks- kinda like beer (had one of those too).
The weekend after the Hodges Dam Race, it was back to triathlons. But this time its was a Sprint- TriRock Asbury Park.
Race 2- TriRock. Now Dave why would you do a sprint? A race that will be over faster than your swim at IMLP? Well two reasons. I wanted to qualify for the USAT Nationals in 2014 and Asbury Park was the location of a race in 2010 that I had 2 flat tires and finished the bike on a flat wheel- redemption was on my mind. My goal was sub 1 hr and I wanted to win my AG- and maybe even break the tape. Did I- no, but I was 3rd. 3rd Overall. 57 and change. USAT 2014 slot for me. And I won shoes, glasses, a beer mug and a bottle opener. WIN! Racing short and fast is fun, stupid but fun. It hurts a lot, but it is awesome. And it was a top 3 podium- not AG, but Overall- WOOHOO!
Now on to race 3- Toughman Half. Toughman is a special race for me- my first 70.3, my PR course and my worst 70.3 as well. Its special. And my kids race at ToughKids so it means a lot. I had one goal for Toughman 2013- go sub 5. Sure finish, finish fast, finish first- my mantra, but going under 5 hours was my goal. And while my post IMLP training was lighter than normal for a 70.3- I knew I had fitness in the tank. The day was cool, slightly overcast and I felt great at race start. I knew the course- where to hammer and where to pedal easy and I have learned to race my race- not some drafting asshole's race. As an aside I hate drafters, I hate drafters, I hate drafters and there were some drafters... But drafters are part of racing so ignoring them on the bike and running past them on the run is sweet! So I crushed the swim, rode a solid easy bike and positively crushed the run. The bike has 3K of climbing and the run has over 1K but being conservative on the bike let me open up on the run. And for the first time in a half nobody passed me on the run. Passing mile 12 I knew I was close (hell passing mile 1 I was calculating sub 5) and I ran hard- pain was there (not an IM/ Mike Reilly mile 25) but I pushed. I was too close to not go sub 5. Turning into the finish chute, my garmin said 4:58 and crossing the line .2 miles later the finish time was 4:59:27- SUB 5. Goal Achieved. And I finished just off the AG podium in 5th.
So while I did not achieve my ultimate race goal at IMLP 2013 has been pretty good.
8 Podiums
4 PR's
My Third IM Finish
And this weekend is Reach the Beach. Do I need to say more. #wimps
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