Despite my recent elevated stress levels and inability to train effectively I decided to forge on and show up to the Mountain Tropic 70.3 put on by
BBSC Endurance Sports This was the first year of this particular event. The turn out was small but I have no doubt that given the beautiful venue and expert race crew, this will be a VERY popular event in the years to come.
Before heading to northern Utah I stopped off to see my hommies at
Jack Rabbit Bike and Trail / Full service as always they had my bike tuned to perfection with fresh new bar tape. I do not typically wear gloves when I train or race, but the Lizard Skin tape that Dave through on felt very close to having a pair of padded gloves on!
I drove 8 hours on Friday morning. When I arrived at the expo, I was informed that the crew was in need of a body marker. I gladly took the role. Marked bodies from 2-8p then picked up a couple of tall boys of PBR on my way to spend the night in the back of my truck at the race site.
I awoke to the pleasant sensation of needing to release about 2 1/2 pounds of solid waste! (I can always tell it is going to be a good race if I have to go immediately upon waking up) After going in a very non designated area I set off to try to sneak my bike into transition before anyone else arrived. NO LUCK! you would think batting my eyelashes to the volunteer coordinator would yield special treatment....
Oatmeal consumed, second dump taken, tires pumped and I am ready to get this thing going!
Small race = only one swim wave.... which I am a HUGE fan of!
I settled into an easy grove immediately. I took up residence behind a pair of barley kicking feet and stayed there for well over a mile. I wasn't trying to prove my fitness at the swim, it didn't make sense. I believe I came out in 9th, moved through a handful of bucket users to find myself in 4th overall at the start of the bike.
I passed someone within the first 2 miles of the bike. The next set of hips that I encountered was that of female Pro Malaika Homo who had a crushing swim! I hung out 3 bike lengths back for about 7 miles, taking in nutrition and the view (it was a very pretty lake) at the first turn around I noticed that the 1st and 2nd place males were 1:10 up on me. I can't explain it, but I felt GREAT. Maybe it was the Lizard skin bar tape, maybe it was the PBR, maybe it was that I just didn't care. I went for it!
I caught the leaders by mile 30 and passed with ease. By the second turn around I noticed that one had come with, he was about 30 seconds back, but the 3 man was down well over a minute. I wanted to turn it on here big, but begain to fade over the last 4 miles. I was first off the bike, setting the new bike course record at 2:15:06
I moved through T2 easy enough but could tell immediatly that I didn't bring my run legs. I was passed by mile 5 and was content to hold onto my 2nd place overall male finish.
After the race I hung out and helped the BBSC crew break dow. (I had NO DESIRE to get back into my car and drive 8 hours back to Colorado!!) GREAT group of people. I will be recomending their races to everyone I come across. In fact, I have decided to add the Boulder Sunset Olympic to my calendar because it is put on by this company.
Again, great race venue put on by a great company with plenty of food and drinks post race!!!
