Last time I updated was one of my key simulation weekends for my prep for St Croix, and as with my entire training block starting a few months back, I continued to find a little more fitness and confidence every time I pushed past my previous definitions of physical limits. Swim camp...races, 6 hour training days, and even just getting it all in through a 40hr work week.
I thought that the half marathon would be my last big effort leading up to the race, and having pushed myself farther than ever before and realizing that my body would still respond, it was a huge confidence boost. But after another solid week of training I found myself back on the start line on Sunday and another 6 hour training day in the books.
Nothing too crazy this time, just the low key MEC 5k that I helped organize (designed and set up the course). On race morning I brought along my racing flats in case I had time to jump in, and after a very sluggish first km I ran 16:59...not my fastest ever but one of my better 5k's. It was a good indicator of my run fitness given my focus on surviving 21km. Unfortunately I didn't keep the podium streak alive, as our little event attracted some very fast times and mine was only good enough for 7th.
*And Amanda ran a PB 5k of 20:06!*
After the race it was straight onto the trainer for another long ride on the real course, followed by a short treadmill run, and swim at night. Those limits I was searching for last week...I found them about 1500m into the swim workout. My exhaustion finally hit me and I barely got my ass out of the pool and into the showers. Luckily I timed it just about right, as the following day I was officially in recovery mode to start a slightly longer than usual taper. Given how well training has been going this winter/spring I'm using it as a bit of a recharge before getting right into training for June/July racing.
So this week has been a much lighter training load, with the addition of some more serious heat prep until I fly out next Wed. I'm really glad no one has walked downstairs yet while I'm on the trainer in 3 layers and a toque, because I'm dangerously close to the line between "is anyone else doing this right now?" and "Have I finally gone f***ing crazy?"
I'm starting to feel my energy come back, and after a couple weeks of questioning where my swim fitness I've worked so hard for this winter has gone, I'm starting to feel more fresh in my workouts and see some splits I'm pretty happy with.
With all the confidence I've built through the winter getting ready for this season, I had to catch myself almost letting it all come crashing down with the news this past week. Maybe I have a very famous reader of my blog, but I had some mixed feelings when Lance Armstrong announced his presence at St Croix...and shortly after seeing the updated pro start list, which had just about doubled since it was last posted.
I had to remind myself, and will have to continue to do so until the gun goes off next Sunday, that I did not sign up for this race for the end result, for a time goal, for a number beside my name. And it doesn't matter how many world champions, Olympians and childhood heros are on the start line beside me. I'm doing this race because it's one of the most challenging in the world, it's great motivation for winter training in Ontario, and it's a beautiful setting to push myself and learn how to race a 70.3. And rather than getting distracted with the inevitable media, live TV and self-assumed pressure that is sure to come with the pro line up at this race...just having the balls to take my equally deserved place on the start line and fight it out on the same level as Lance Armstrong for a day is half my reason for racing. The rest will be to have fun and enjoy testing my new physical and mental limits.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
71: Searching for my Limits
If last week was test #1 of my fitness heading into this season, then this past weekend was the much longer, more difficult (probably all essay questions) final exam. I'm in the final stages of my build towards my first race of the year and last week was one of my heavier training weeks I will probably have all year.
But if that wasn't enough, I capped it off with one of the more ridiculous things I have ever done in training. But probably the most specific training effect you can get in preparation for a long course race, and ended up being a big confidence boost going into tri season.
So after a ~20 hour training week along with a full week at work, I got to have play time on the weekend. Saturday was one of my key long rides with some race specific tempo to get a feel for pacing and test out my nutrition plan. Lucky me...on my 112k out and back to Lake Huron I got a 30km/h cross wind on the way there which then turned into a 40k headwind all the way back. I expected the ride to be just under 3 hours, and after 2 hours in the aerobars at 22km/h I got home in just under 4. Out of nutrition, legs shredded, pissed off at mother nature. After a big week of training and lots of fatigue in my legs already I didn't really feel like putting in an extra hour fighting the wind. But I guess that's just training.
While I didn't expect the wind to be so strong and shift on me during my ride, I was aware from seeing the forecast that it was blowing in heavy rain and lots more wind for my first ever half marathon the following morning. I have done a half in a half ironman (a very long time ago), and have had no problems going well over-distance in training, but I have never raced the distance and I wanted to get a feel for it. I had no idea what my goal time or pace was...the whole idea was to figure all that stuff out, on tired legs, and learn how to suffer through and finish.
So on race morning I woke up feeling like I had raced the day before, and dragged Amanda and my mom to Run for Retina in the pouring rain. Short warmup, hang out with the Balance Point crew - most of which were doing the 5k, find a good playlist (the one upside of having a race entirely on fitness paths...Ipods allowed!) and off we went. Having no idea what I was doing, I figured it would be best to take things out at a conservative pace, but not so slow to screw me if I ended up running well.
First k 3:45...sure?
I settled in at what felt like a pretty conservative 3:50 pace, but considering the early hills, wind and already tired legs I was happy with that and tried to be patient. At 4k we ran past the race start and I got plenty of encouragement from everyone, sitting (relatively) comfortably in 2nd...the lead runner was clearly a "real" runner, and a decent gap to 3rd. Amanda later told me she could see the fatigue in me, not looking as smooth and comfortable as I usually do on the run.
Maybe it was my lack of experience with the distance, or maybe I was just having trouble focusing but the hardest part of the half marathon distance to me was all of the waiting. Waiting for the first km to see my early pace. Waiting for 5k to see where things are at. Waiting for 10k. Waiting to feel my pace drop. Waiting for the hurt to come. Waiting for that damn finish line.
5k rolled around at roughly 19mins, most of the hills out of the way but heading into the wind...still rolling along. I tried to zone out and go in cruise control at that pace (something I am usually very good at doing), but having no idea how I was going to hold up over 21k I found myself painfully attentive to every meter and every stride. Holy crap it's a long way to race...it's almost easier doing this off the bike. Almost.
10k comes around, 38:00. Trying not to think I'm less than half way, but at least my pace is consistent. I really felt like stopping for a pee break around 12k but I vaguely remembered that there was some prize money for top 3 in the half. OK fine I'll keep running.
15k marker, 57:10. Stride slowing, feet feeling heavier...maybe from the few inches of rain on the course and soaking through my shoes. Sub-1:20 is looking pretty tough at this point, but pace is still holding up and I'm not dead yet. Slightly faster than my K-Town run split a couple years ago, but at 16k I was bit slower than my best 10-mile time.
Just after that I was really in the hurt box. I was trying to make deals with myself - only 20 more minutes, only 15 more minutes, I'm crushing 3 burgers after this. But the only thing that worked was looking for the next KM marker up the road. The only time my pace slowed a little through the race was 16-19km. There are no more meaninful distance splits, no more motivation, legs are tying up I was developing some pretty bad blisters that hurt like hell on every turn and downhill. This was the place I needed to put myself in and become comfortable with to really RACE a 70.3.
At 20k I could start to see the race site and finally got my ass back in gear and finished strong. 1:21:53. I figured unless my legs competely gave out on me I would be somewhere between 1:20 and 1:25, so I guess I met my time goal. More importantly I learned how to push myself into that dark place no one really wants to go, and managed to hold a very consistent pace in tough conditions on jello legs. And it was all good enough for 2nd overall and I picked up $100 in prize money! Hell, I'll go through self-inflicted personal purgatory and 6 blood blisters every day if it pays $1.23 per minute.
Anyway so now everything is sore so it's a couple recovery days before one final week of solid training, then taper time. But I gained a lot of experience with the race distance, running on tired legs, and I am feeling a little more prepared for one of the toughest races in the world. Could I have run faster if I was fresh? Definitely. How much faster? Who knows. But that wasn't the point. I need to learn how to run tired, and I think I accomplished that.
But if that wasn't enough, I capped it off with one of the more ridiculous things I have ever done in training. But probably the most specific training effect you can get in preparation for a long course race, and ended up being a big confidence boost going into tri season.
So after a ~20 hour training week along with a full week at work, I got to have play time on the weekend. Saturday was one of my key long rides with some race specific tempo to get a feel for pacing and test out my nutrition plan. Lucky me...on my 112k out and back to Lake Huron I got a 30km/h cross wind on the way there which then turned into a 40k headwind all the way back. I expected the ride to be just under 3 hours, and after 2 hours in the aerobars at 22km/h I got home in just under 4. Out of nutrition, legs shredded, pissed off at mother nature. After a big week of training and lots of fatigue in my legs already I didn't really feel like putting in an extra hour fighting the wind. But I guess that's just training.
While I didn't expect the wind to be so strong and shift on me during my ride, I was aware from seeing the forecast that it was blowing in heavy rain and lots more wind for my first ever half marathon the following morning. I have done a half in a half ironman (a very long time ago), and have had no problems going well over-distance in training, but I have never raced the distance and I wanted to get a feel for it. I had no idea what my goal time or pace was...the whole idea was to figure all that stuff out, on tired legs, and learn how to suffer through and finish.
So on race morning I woke up feeling like I had raced the day before, and dragged Amanda and my mom to Run for Retina in the pouring rain. Short warmup, hang out with the Balance Point crew - most of which were doing the 5k, find a good playlist (the one upside of having a race entirely on fitness paths...Ipods allowed!) and off we went. Having no idea what I was doing, I figured it would be best to take things out at a conservative pace, but not so slow to screw me if I ended up running well.
First k 3:45...sure?
I settled in at what felt like a pretty conservative 3:50 pace, but considering the early hills, wind and already tired legs I was happy with that and tried to be patient. At 4k we ran past the race start and I got plenty of encouragement from everyone, sitting (relatively) comfortably in 2nd...the lead runner was clearly a "real" runner, and a decent gap to 3rd. Amanda later told me she could see the fatigue in me, not looking as smooth and comfortable as I usually do on the run.
Maybe it was my lack of experience with the distance, or maybe I was just having trouble focusing but the hardest part of the half marathon distance to me was all of the waiting. Waiting for the first km to see my early pace. Waiting for 5k to see where things are at. Waiting for 10k. Waiting to feel my pace drop. Waiting for the hurt to come. Waiting for that damn finish line.
5k rolled around at roughly 19mins, most of the hills out of the way but heading into the wind...still rolling along. I tried to zone out and go in cruise control at that pace (something I am usually very good at doing), but having no idea how I was going to hold up over 21k I found myself painfully attentive to every meter and every stride. Holy crap it's a long way to race...it's almost easier doing this off the bike. Almost.
10k comes around, 38:00. Trying not to think I'm less than half way, but at least my pace is consistent. I really felt like stopping for a pee break around 12k but I vaguely remembered that there was some prize money for top 3 in the half. OK fine I'll keep running.
15k marker, 57:10. Stride slowing, feet feeling heavier...maybe from the few inches of rain on the course and soaking through my shoes. Sub-1:20 is looking pretty tough at this point, but pace is still holding up and I'm not dead yet. Slightly faster than my K-Town run split a couple years ago, but at 16k I was bit slower than my best 10-mile time.
Just after that I was really in the hurt box. I was trying to make deals with myself - only 20 more minutes, only 15 more minutes, I'm crushing 3 burgers after this. But the only thing that worked was looking for the next KM marker up the road. The only time my pace slowed a little through the race was 16-19km. There are no more meaninful distance splits, no more motivation, legs are tying up I was developing some pretty bad blisters that hurt like hell on every turn and downhill. This was the place I needed to put myself in and become comfortable with to really RACE a 70.3.
At 20k I could start to see the race site and finally got my ass back in gear and finished strong. 1:21:53. I figured unless my legs competely gave out on me I would be somewhere between 1:20 and 1:25, so I guess I met my time goal. More importantly I learned how to push myself into that dark place no one really wants to go, and managed to hold a very consistent pace in tough conditions on jello legs. And it was all good enough for 2nd overall and I picked up $100 in prize money! Hell, I'll go through self-inflicted personal purgatory and 6 blood blisters every day if it pays $1.23 per minute.
Anyway so now everything is sore so it's a couple recovery days before one final week of solid training, then taper time. But I gained a lot of experience with the race distance, running on tired legs, and I am feeling a little more prepared for one of the toughest races in the world. Could I have run faster if I was fresh? Definitely. How much faster? Who knows. But that wasn't the point. I need to learn how to run tired, and I think I accomplished that.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Day 67: Training
I'm not usually one to post my workouts, pace times, splits etc. I don't like the feeling or need that many athletes have to post the biggest training week, most epic workout (you may notice I always italicize that word, it's because I f***ing hate it) or play the intimidation game.
But this time, since right now I am the only one who knows what I'm doing, I feel like telling you what I have done this week... or at least what the first half of my week has been, and what the rest looks like. If you think my week isn't epic, maybe I'm just training smarter :)
- Monday
90min easy spin, a few reps up Old River Road (for those not familiar, it's a 400m hill, 11% avg/21% max incline)
- Tuesday
Flush swim with 100s
Balance Point group run - Main set 6x1km on 5:00 at half marathon pace (3:27, 3:27, 3:27, 3:27, 3:27, 3:26)...ok maybe my goal pace if I was running fresh, but it felt easy!
Core
- Wednesday
3hr indoor brick w/ 2x 20k ride @280W, 3k run at goal 70.3 pace (11:21, 11:19)
- Thursday
90min ride with 10x Old River Road hill reps
Swim w/ 25x100 main set
Core
- Friday
6am Swim
Core + Stretching
- Saturday
3.5hr ride w/ 60min tempo
20min off the bike with some pickups
- Sunday
Run for Retina 1/2 marathon
2-3hr flush ride
Endurance swim
Usually my indoor brick and run are switched so Tuesday is a big day and Wed is a lighter training load. But I had to make some changes this week with work and life. So that's what I've been up to! Thanks for reading.
But this time, since right now I am the only one who knows what I'm doing, I feel like telling you what I have done this week... or at least what the first half of my week has been, and what the rest looks like. If you think my week isn't epic, maybe I'm just training smarter :)
- Monday
90min easy spin, a few reps up Old River Road (for those not familiar, it's a 400m hill, 11% avg/21% max incline)
- Tuesday
Flush swim with 100s
Balance Point group run - Main set 6x1km on 5:00 at half marathon pace (3:27, 3:27, 3:27, 3:27, 3:27, 3:26)...ok maybe my goal pace if I was running fresh, but it felt easy!
Core
- Wednesday
3hr indoor brick w/ 2x 20k ride @280W, 3k run at goal 70.3 pace (11:21, 11:19)
- Thursday
90min ride with 10x Old River Road hill reps
Swim w/ 25x100 main set
Core
- Friday
6am Swim
Core + Stretching
- Saturday
3.5hr ride w/ 60min tempo
20min off the bike with some pickups
- Sunday
Run for Retina 1/2 marathon
2-3hr flush ride
Endurance swim
Usually my indoor brick and run are switched so Tuesday is a big day and Wed is a lighter training load. But I had to make some changes this week with work and life. So that's what I've been up to! Thanks for reading.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Day 62: First Test
At long last...a race report!
I have been really motivated to get the race season underway ever since my first block of training back after last season. 2011 was a huge learning and building year for me, and I finished the season with consistently stronger results with each race. With some new direction and lots of motivation to see where I can take things in 2012 I have been impatiently waiting for an event to kick things off for this year.
So the first little test, or "cobweb scraper" as Coach James would say, was the Good Friday Road Race yesterday in Hamilton. After some positive feedback on my cycling fitness from the Coach Chris team, I was excited to race for them and see how my roadie legs would fare. I have been doing 100% time trial training, for a hard 90k in the aerobars, so I wasn't sure how my legs would respond to the constant power spikes of a road race. But I figured if nothing else was working I could just go solo off the front and probably TT faster than the entire field.
With the race being so close to Hamilton, Amanda and I drove up the night before and had a fun relaxing night in her apartment. I'm really lucky to have someone who completely understands where my head is at both with training and racing, and helps keep me stress free. When race morning came around the only thing I was nervous about was the weather. Clear and sunny skies but -1 on the start line.
I have made a very conscious and dedicated effort to AVOID riding in temperatures like that this year, and have done about 90% of my riding indoors on a trainer - without a fan - to get my body ready for the intense heat of St Croix...it's the only way I can even attempt to prep in Canadian spring weather. So I wasn't sure how my legs would respond, since -1 probably felt more like -15 to me...and I didn't want to sacrifice any bit of the heat acclimation I have been so diligent with.
So, on went the base layer, bib shorts, wool socks, winter tights, second pair of socks, winter jacket, wind vest, jersey, two pairs of gloves, shoe covers, skull cap...and I was ready to go! Even if it warmed up through the race I would rather be sweating than shivering at the start line. But to my astonshment there were guys on the start line in shorts and a jersey, of course shaking uncontrollably...while I was toasty warm.
Before the start I hooked up with a couple other Coach Chris riders and another guy, Anthony, who was from another team but had just come back from Chris' camp and was looking for allies to work with up front. As soon as the gun went off I went straight to the front, where Anthony and I set the pace and controlled things. Between the two of us we did probably 75% of the work over the 56km.
Things were pretty tactical as one team of 4 or 5 guys would always launch one guy over the series of rollers on the back half of the course. I wanted to instigate a breakaway before the hills, but I knew that I needed to watch for him as soon as things went up, as he was also a really strong guy. So Anthony and I would sit on the front and string things out for about 10k before the hill section, and as the attacks went I would put just enough work in to slide towards the back while everyone else covered the accellerations (start at the front, end up at the back = less energy spent) then work my way back up to the front on the flats. Between the few of us who were on the front most of the way, we must have been riding pretty hard as we overtook the M3 group about 20 minutes into our race...who started 5 minutes ahead of us, and our Cat 4 race of 45 guys was one of the fastest races all day, and one of the smallest fields.
By the last lap it was pretty clear that the group was motivated enough not to let any breaks get away, and with the attacks coming on every uphill I just sat up front and played the balancing act of keeping the pace high and conserving energy whenever possible. There were some big moves from a few strong riders on the last set of hills but everyone came together for the flat and downwind final stretch to the finish. I got caught out a little trying to stay out of the wind and found myself about 20 riders back with 4-5k to go. I tried for a while to sneak up either side but no one was budging, so with about 2k left I just started forcing my way up the middle.
There was one final turn about 300m from the finish, and as we made the turn I saw that things had strung out a lot more than I had realized. I was in about 10th place and there were guys already 50-100m up the road...I think a group of three including my old PTC buddy Derek Snider sprinted right out of the corner. So I had no choice but to start my sprint from way out. My finish was the fastest out of everyone as I passed the 6 or 7 guys ahead of me, and saw that 3rd place was not out of reach. I caught Derek who was fading after his early sprint at about 100m to go, sat on his wheel for a second and gave it everything I had left to just squeek into 3rd.
I would have liked to have won, and I know that I could have if it wasn't for the tactical mistake of letting myself slide too far down the group with about 10k to go. I made up 50-90m over almost everyone in the last 300, but I just wasn't in the right spot around the last turn. But I'm happy with how everything felt and it gave me a bit of a confidence boost with my best result in a road race. I felt much more comfortable than in either of my road races last year and showed myself that I can put in a lot of work up front to control the race and still finish strong. I was not quite strong enough to get away solo in a relatively strong field, so next time I will have to more delicately play the balance between putting the hurt on everyone and saving a little more for the sprint. Amanda was a lovely spectator and said that I looked like I was having a lot of fun at the front...while she was patiently shivering in the cold to watch me ride by every 20 minutes :)
Anyway its back to the TT bike, and back inside on the St Croix real course video unless its over 20 degrees outside. I am feeling very prepared on the bike already, with a few more weeks of specific race prep to battle the likes of Andy Potts on the hilly windy roads! And next week is my "run test" with my first half marathon. Its more to get an idea for pacing goals off the bike and a good long run workout, than actually caring what my time is. But I'm excited to find out...
I have been really motivated to get the race season underway ever since my first block of training back after last season. 2011 was a huge learning and building year for me, and I finished the season with consistently stronger results with each race. With some new direction and lots of motivation to see where I can take things in 2012 I have been impatiently waiting for an event to kick things off for this year.
So the first little test, or "cobweb scraper" as Coach James would say, was the Good Friday Road Race yesterday in Hamilton. After some positive feedback on my cycling fitness from the Coach Chris team, I was excited to race for them and see how my roadie legs would fare. I have been doing 100% time trial training, for a hard 90k in the aerobars, so I wasn't sure how my legs would respond to the constant power spikes of a road race. But I figured if nothing else was working I could just go solo off the front and probably TT faster than the entire field.
With the race being so close to Hamilton, Amanda and I drove up the night before and had a fun relaxing night in her apartment. I'm really lucky to have someone who completely understands where my head is at both with training and racing, and helps keep me stress free. When race morning came around the only thing I was nervous about was the weather. Clear and sunny skies but -1 on the start line.
I have made a very conscious and dedicated effort to AVOID riding in temperatures like that this year, and have done about 90% of my riding indoors on a trainer - without a fan - to get my body ready for the intense heat of St Croix...it's the only way I can even attempt to prep in Canadian spring weather. So I wasn't sure how my legs would respond, since -1 probably felt more like -15 to me...and I didn't want to sacrifice any bit of the heat acclimation I have been so diligent with.
So, on went the base layer, bib shorts, wool socks, winter tights, second pair of socks, winter jacket, wind vest, jersey, two pairs of gloves, shoe covers, skull cap...and I was ready to go! Even if it warmed up through the race I would rather be sweating than shivering at the start line. But to my astonshment there were guys on the start line in shorts and a jersey, of course shaking uncontrollably...while I was toasty warm.
Before the start I hooked up with a couple other Coach Chris riders and another guy, Anthony, who was from another team but had just come back from Chris' camp and was looking for allies to work with up front. As soon as the gun went off I went straight to the front, where Anthony and I set the pace and controlled things. Between the two of us we did probably 75% of the work over the 56km.
Things were pretty tactical as one team of 4 or 5 guys would always launch one guy over the series of rollers on the back half of the course. I wanted to instigate a breakaway before the hills, but I knew that I needed to watch for him as soon as things went up, as he was also a really strong guy. So Anthony and I would sit on the front and string things out for about 10k before the hill section, and as the attacks went I would put just enough work in to slide towards the back while everyone else covered the accellerations (start at the front, end up at the back = less energy spent) then work my way back up to the front on the flats. Between the few of us who were on the front most of the way, we must have been riding pretty hard as we overtook the M3 group about 20 minutes into our race...who started 5 minutes ahead of us, and our Cat 4 race of 45 guys was one of the fastest races all day, and one of the smallest fields.
By the last lap it was pretty clear that the group was motivated enough not to let any breaks get away, and with the attacks coming on every uphill I just sat up front and played the balancing act of keeping the pace high and conserving energy whenever possible. There were some big moves from a few strong riders on the last set of hills but everyone came together for the flat and downwind final stretch to the finish. I got caught out a little trying to stay out of the wind and found myself about 20 riders back with 4-5k to go. I tried for a while to sneak up either side but no one was budging, so with about 2k left I just started forcing my way up the middle.
There was one final turn about 300m from the finish, and as we made the turn I saw that things had strung out a lot more than I had realized. I was in about 10th place and there were guys already 50-100m up the road...I think a group of three including my old PTC buddy Derek Snider sprinted right out of the corner. So I had no choice but to start my sprint from way out. My finish was the fastest out of everyone as I passed the 6 or 7 guys ahead of me, and saw that 3rd place was not out of reach. I caught Derek who was fading after his early sprint at about 100m to go, sat on his wheel for a second and gave it everything I had left to just squeek into 3rd.
I would have liked to have won, and I know that I could have if it wasn't for the tactical mistake of letting myself slide too far down the group with about 10k to go. I made up 50-90m over almost everyone in the last 300, but I just wasn't in the right spot around the last turn. But I'm happy with how everything felt and it gave me a bit of a confidence boost with my best result in a road race. I felt much more comfortable than in either of my road races last year and showed myself that I can put in a lot of work up front to control the race and still finish strong. I was not quite strong enough to get away solo in a relatively strong field, so next time I will have to more delicately play the balance between putting the hurt on everyone and saving a little more for the sprint. Amanda was a lovely spectator and said that I looked like I was having a lot of fun at the front...while she was patiently shivering in the cold to watch me ride by every 20 minutes :)
Anyway its back to the TT bike, and back inside on the St Croix real course video unless its over 20 degrees outside. I am feeling very prepared on the bike already, with a few more weeks of specific race prep to battle the likes of Andy Potts on the hilly windy roads! And next week is my "run test" with my first half marathon. Its more to get an idea for pacing goals off the bike and a good long run workout, than actually caring what my time is. But I'm excited to find out...
Monday, April 2, 2012
Lance the Triathlete
(video from Trimes.org)
While the big news in triathlon these days is the final stages of Olympic qualifying, I find the resurgence of Lance Armstrong in the triathlon world to be an equally intriguing story that will continue to develop throughout the year in his attempt to qualify for Kona as a pro.
A lot of people still don't realize that Lance started his athletic career in triathlon about 25 years ago, beating guys like Mark Allen and Mike Pigg as a teenager...
He is getting a ton of publicity at the races he has entered - some of which for his undeniably fantastic performances at age 40 in his first triathlons in 20+ years...some negative, for being the cocky jerk that he is. Don't get me wrong, I'm not jumping on the Lance hating train, he was and always will be one of my sporting heros and I credit him fully with sparking my love for cycling. But the guy is an asshole in real life (see first video).
But I think his presence in triathlon is great, even with the controversy around his apparent lack of respect for other athletes at the finish line. Triathlon used to be cool and badass. But people are realizing it really isn't that hard to train for an Ironman and it's becoming the popular thing to do. And with race directors and organizations getting cheaper and greedier, big prize money is still on the decline and along with that is a diminishing professional presence and media coverage.
While no one will admit to it, I think the majority of triathletes are just fine with triathlon being a backwater sport; a weird and "extreme" event that the average person doesn't really know much about and doesn't care to find out. It adds to the mystique and thus the percieved exclusivity and epicness that pervades the popular culture of the sport. Triathletes want to feel unique and something special for participating in their sport of choice.
It's called healthism (a term I learned from my girlfriend!) - a feeling of superiority over others for being fit and healthy. You see it everywhere in our sport - and many other sports for that matter, but I see it particularly in triathlon for the whole "we do three sports in one day" thing. And the image of the triathlete is slowly but surely transforming from geeks that aren't accepted by roadies and clearly spotted in a crowd of runners, to arrogant single-minded folks who place triathlon above all else.
The fact that Armstrong is showing up and throwing down some pretty amazing performances (though noteably NOT riding away from the upper echelon of pro men), boasting his seemingly careless and arguably disrespectful attitude towards the sport, pisses people off. It's supposed to be harder than that...he's supposed to care more.
The bottom line is he is bringing some desperately needed edge, and even more importantly media coverage, to triathlon's pro racing. He is bringing both accessibility to triathlon, as well as demonstrating that one of the best athletes in the history of sport, can't just show up and blow everyone away. Not even on the bike. Pro triathletes really are that strong.
So go ahead Lance, show up to the races and throw down with the big boys. Take the spotlight even when someone beats you. At least there is a spotlight, and people are paying attention to our sport.
And hopefully you'll sign up for St Croix and I'll get to say I Wiltshire'd my sporting hero in the pro wave swim start.
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