Two weeks from tomorrow, I'll slip into Decker Lake and set off for 70.3 miles of fun in Austin, Texas for the Longhorn 70.3 Half Ironman Distance Triathlon.
Training has been going well, and I'm optimistic I'll have a good day. I put in a solid 10 week build for the race, and am feeling better than I have in the past 18-24 months or so. 10 weeks isn't a lot, but they've been a quality 10 weeks, and given my home and work life, 10 is about as good as I've been able to do in stringing them together in quite some time. Other than this little nagging cold Jake brought home from a birthday party last weekend that he's distributed around the family, I feel good. I'm hoping to shake the cold by middle of next week.
I know very little about the course, but I'd imagine the swim will be compact with lots of catching of earlier waves, not too choppy from winds, but well turned up from the hundreds of people who hit the water ahead of me. The bike is supposed to be "fun" according to David, with some rollers, smooth surfaces, but just a little bit of automobile traffic. I've actually walked a 5k out on the run course, so I am vaguely familiar with it, but am sure I am in for surprirses. About half of each of the two loops is on grass, and the course is famous for a hill called "Quadzilla" which doesn't sound welcoming. This year, they've set timing mats at the bottom and top of "Quadzilla" and will be giving out awards for the top male and female times up the hill.
My only 70.3 time was from Timberman in 2007, and I was a 6:08. I am certain I am more fit this year, and think I handle rollers better than true climbs like there are in NH, so I think the course itself might hand me 5 mins. I've also added aero wheels and an aero helmet to my bike set up, however I don't think I'll be in a wetsuit for this race, but the net of the 3 probably gives me another 5 mins.
I haven't spent too much time thinking about what my time might be. Partly because I really am not sure what I'm capable of, but partly because I don't want to be chasing a goal time that is out of reach, then blowing up on the course. I'll just say that I'd like to go under 6 hrs, and think I can do that.
I'm already looking ahead to what is next. Running has been going well lately, and I've decided to see if I can take my running a big step forward in the fall/winter, and have taken a couple of steps to do that. I have procured an amazing running coach who is going to work with me over the winter, and am going to do a propper run build up and peak for a half marathon in late February.
Who is this amazing running coach? None other than David Gillen, my neighbor, co-worker, and tri buddy who I speak of often here. David is headed out to SF in about a month to do a weekend triathlon clinic, and will become a USAT Certified Triathlon coach upon completion. He is working with his wife Sarah this fall in hopes of guiding her to a Boston Qualifying time at the White Rock Marathon in Dallas this December. David has a wealth of knowledge on endurance sports, and I'm really looking forward to his guidance this winter.
If anyone is interested in talking to David about his coaching, you can access his blog The Gillens here.
Thats all for now. Here is to hoping for healthy legs, and pleasant weather 2 weeks from tomorrow.
