2005 5430 Sprint Race Report

This race was terrific! I needed a good day to get over the fiasco that was the HalfMax this year. I like racing a sprint or two, because it's fun to go out and just blitz the course sometimes.

Swim - 0.5 miles

This was a good, fast swim. The results have me down at 13:44, but I think I was a little faster than that. The timing mat was up a ways from the beach, and I looked at my watch as I came out of the water, and it was closer to 13 minutes.

Bike - 17 miles

Fast, fast fast bike course. The first 4 miles or so is a slight uphill, but when you get past that, it's screaming fast. I averaged nearly 22.5 mph on the bike, and came in with a 46 minute split over the 17 miles. I can't wait to see the course for the 5430 Half.

Run - 5k

This is my weakest leg. I've run a 24 minute 5K leg before, but my run training has been crappy this year. I ended up doing an 8:30 pace, for a 26 and-a-half minute 5K run. Not my best, but certainly not my worst either.

Total: 1:29:15

2005 HalfMax Race Report

This was a majorly disappointing race for me. I'm a huge fan of the long course races, and was looking forward to doing three Half IMs after a terrific first Ironman race last year. I did this race in 2004, and it was my best Half IM race yet. After a really good swim, I was able to hold nearly 22 mph on the bike, and I actually PRed my stand alone half marathon time.

This year was exactly the opposite. After moving to Denver in August 2004, I thought the altitude training would have me ready for another PR. But, after good, dedicated winter training, I pretty much lost interest in my workouts starting in April. Although I did most of them, I think my lackluster attention to detail made them mostly "junk" miles, instead of good, focused training.

St. Louis was really hot this year. Although the race was 3 weeks later last, it was a much cooler day in 2004. After a 33 minute 1.2 mile swim, I had a good transition, and jumped on my bike ready to tackle the new 2 loop, 56 mile bike course.

Everything was great until about 20 miles in. Suddenly, I had terrible spasms in my back, and I lost all power in my legs. I managed another 8 miles, and decided to call it a day. No way would I be able to finish the bike, let alone run a half marathon after that.

So, my day ended early, and I watched the other competitors finish their races. I'm glad I didn't push it, but I REALLY hate DNF'ing a race.