Clyde-O-Riffic!

Today was the 30th; yes the 30th running of the Jay Benson Triathlon, the largest sprint distance triathlon in the state of New Mexico. This race was my first tri in 2005, my first tri ever. At this, the beginning of my triathlon career I weighed in at a svelte 242 pounds, down by 30 pounds from the time I began training for the race. Out of 23 Clydes I placed #13 with a time of 1:23:33. The distances, by the way, are 3 mile run, 20K, 400m swim. My splits were 28:56 run – 37:48 bike – 12:55 swim

Last year I was racing very well and was just dying to win the Clydes at the Jay Benson but as rotten luck would have it I fractured my hip a few weeks earlier and struggled through the race in agony. Still, I beat my time from the previous year with a 1:15:06. My splits were 25:21 run – 36:02 bike – 9:24 swim, which landed me as the #4 Clydesdale.

This year, however, I am more on top of things. While I think that I may still be slower due to all the long distance training and my new speed work regimen that keeps my legs fried I am not injured and am feeling pretty good. This year, finally, I have reached the top of the heap…1st place masters Clyde at the biggest race in New Mexico, the one race that draws the fastest people. I couldn’t be happier!

I don’t know how many other Clydes were in the race but if previous years are a guide it was probably around 25. In any case, I’m still waiting for the official results to be posted and would like to look again at my times. Between my watch and having looked at my results I remember these as my times: 23:15 run – 32:50 bike – 8:44 swim. My total time was about 1:07:50!

The funny thing is that I felt ok on the run, ok on the swim but thought I was having a crappy bike. On the run I knew that I was not going to be able to run at my top speed because of my recent run workouts have kept my legs in a state of shock but I kept my HR at an average of 178 bpm and just let time take care of itself. My swim was fair. I think it could have been better but I wore a two piece and kept the top on and I could feel it dragging. Hint…a skinsuit is faster in the water and does not drag like a 2 piece. If you wear a 2-piece make sure you have a wetsuit on over it.

Anyway, the first 200 meters of the swim sucked because I felt heavy in the water and my arm turnover was kind of fast and uncoordinated…I also swallowed a lot of water. Fortunately I came to my senses at about the half –way point and got into a nice smooth stroke, slowed my arm turnover, evened out my breathing and increased my depth of pull and glide. Then, and only then, did I start passing people. I dropped about 10 people in the last 200 yards!

The big news, though, is my bike split. I rode that puppy at an average speed of 22.7 mph! I do believe that is my fastest bike split in any tri. In fact, when I look back at the previous Jay Benson race results…I only have then for the fast 4 years, it is the fastest bike split ridden by any Clydesdale. I thought my bike speed had been killed by this year's IM training and thought I was sucking on the bike today because I was working so hard. It turns out...I was just working hard.

The GEEKGRL also took 1st place Masters Athena! And, yes...Mini-Me took 2nd in his age group, 16 - 17 y.o.s It was a Pilgrim kind of day!

Next stop, the Buffman & Squeaky Olympic Triathlon in Lubbock, TX…at the fabled site of the Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3. The Buffman & Squeaky…a.k.a. the Squeaking Butt Man as we like to call it in our less sophisticated moments, is a tough Oly because of the canyon climbing and the heat. This year it is shaping up to be a major regional Masters Clyde show-down. We’ve got Steve from the plains of West Texas showing up, Felix from the South West Texas borderlands, E.P. from South Central New Mexico and little old me from North Central New Mexico…and that’s just the dudes I know about.

And guess what else…I’m bringing my new secret weapon…the weapon of Colorado Multisport fame….bwaahaahaa!