One Year, One Update (you can thank me later)

So, a year has passed. I'm a little older, a little wiser...well, maybe just older. No doubt you've been wondering what I've been up to this past year. Here's some incoherent ramblings about some things and stuffs.

US Pro Tri

I'm excited to announce that this year I have been, and will continue to race for US Pro Tri. The team is comprised of pro triathletes primarily from the east coast of the US. I'm very excited to be a part of the team this year, and hope that our partnership continues into the future.

Yes, the kit is quite...uh...distinct. I will say this though, you can't miss us at a race

Savageman

Last weekend, I raced the Savageman triathlon at Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland. For those unfamiliar with this race, it is most famous for the bike course, which features numerous climbs above 20% gradient. The most famous of these climbs is the Westernport Wall; a brutal climb that averages 12% for 1.2 miles and maxes out at 31%. The road is so steep and in such poor condition, that the steepest segment has long since been closed to motor vehicle traffic.

Rock Street. Fitting name as it appears it was originally paved with rocks.

The scene at "the wall" is quite a site. Spectators line the road on the toughest sections, cheering people on as they attempt to make it up the wall without putting a foot down (or falling). Those who make it up successfully are rewarded with a personally engraved brick that will be used to pave the upper section of the wall. If you don't want to make an attempt, there is an alternate route (longer) that you can take to avoid the hardest sections (but what's the fun in that?). You'll see folks absolutely burying themselves to make it up. The cruel joke is that once you make it, you're only 19 miles into the 56 mile bike leg. Oh, and you still have to climb another 5+ miles before you top out on Savage Mountain.

The remainder of the bike is riddled with climbs maxing out in excess of 20%. I managed to hold the lead until about mile 23 on the bike. Fading a bit towards the end of the bike, I came into T2 in 7th place. The run course is still quite a hilly affair, with approximately 1700 feet of elevation. I managed to pull back one person to finish in 6th place overall. I was only three minutes out of 3rd place though, which was a bit annoying for such a long race, but that's how it goes.

Though it may be tough, I can't say enough good things about this race. The scenery is spectacular. You hardly see a car the entire time you're on the bike. I would highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a change from your typical boring, overcrowded triathlon. And if the half distance is a little intimidating for you, there's an olympic distance race the day before.

Other Races

I did some other races. Some were good, some not so good. This past weekend, I managed to successfully defend my Swim the Loop title from last year. Swim the Loop is another race that I can't recommend enough. It's a course that rewards a well rounded open water swimmer, due to the changing currents and conditions throughout the race. Sighting is crucial on this course, and if you're not good at it, you'll quickly find yourself adding distance to your swim.

Earlier in the season, I had to deal with some IT band issues, which proved to be quite frustrating. Though I'm happy to report that I'm healthy, and training is going according to plan. My last race of the season will take me down to Venice, FL for the Challenge Florida half iron distance race. I raced this same course two years ago when it was owned by Rev3. The course is familiar, and the flat, fast layout tends to suit me well.  

That's all for now kiddos, you can go back to watching cat videos now.