In 2015 I came across the White Mountains Triathlon. I was coming off of an injury from 2014, this was in my old stomping ground. These were the roads, the lake, the bike path where I grew up. The White Mountains are a big part of who I am. What a great way to return to long distance racing! It was the first week in June. It was cold and rainy to start. The water was SUPER cold. It kicked my ass. I came in dead fricking last and I think I walked 80% of the run. Nothing wrong with either one of those, but mentally I was in a very bad place during 80% of that race. I felt like I failed on that race. Epically failed. In making my race plan for this year doing the 90 mile ride at training weekend and this race seemed fitting. I would work on my base fitness fall and winter, then test myself on that ride, the 7-Sisters Trail race (a 12 mile vertical trail run) and The White Mountains 70.3 triathlon. The ride and tri were my redemption ride and race.
I've approached 2023 in a very different way than any other years racing. With a September 16 Ironman I wanted to build a very big base going into the last 16 weeks of training and transitioning into "race prep". I also wanted to do a 90 mile -5 notch ride with my tri team at our annual training weekend in the Whites. So it seemed fitting that my first tri and first real test of the 2023 season be the White Mountains 70.3 tri. And it would be a redemption race. Just like the 90 mile ride was. I failed that ride in 2018. OK maybe not failed. But it also kicked my ass and I had to walk up Crawford and bail at the top. I did that ride this year with the intent of riding in at 14-15 mph and the big goal of riding up Crawford and completing the ride on two wheels. I did that. And I felt mentally and physically strong all day. When I got home from that weekend I let myself recover. Two weeks prior I'd done a vert 12 mile very tough trail run. After I recovered I shifted into more faster race pace efforts in all three disciplines.
I drove up to Littleton early Friday so I could do a shake out workout in all three disciplines, hang out, organize and spend some time with my parents. I felt weirdly calm and 1000% ready. My lofty goal was to finish in 6:30. But the big, most important goal was to have fun and finish strong.
That morning I felt calm and ready to kick ass until I got to the race site. Then I got a little nervous. But that's normal and totally expected. That dissipated after I did a very quick run and then a warm up swim. Although it didn't' so much warm me up as make me cold. I got super excited lining up for the race. It was a time trial start. All of us lined up a tiny cones with our numbers. They let us off one by one like little lemurs in wetsuits. The water was choppy from the wind of the brewing storm. It was foggy and cloudy. But its was 68ish and the water was reportedly 68 deg F. The water glorious. I was wearing a full wetsuit but probably could have worn a sleeveless wetsuit.
I ran in, dove it as gracefully as a golden retriever and took a few strokes, sited (for non triathletes this means looking out of the water to make sure you're swimming straight. It's not always as easy as it may seem) and immediately gulped water. I panicked for a second but calmly kept swimming. I didn't really find my rhythm until our first turn buoy. I was getting tossed around by the waves and having trouble sighting, especially on the vertical bit of the rectangular course. We got a bit of assist coming back in, which was lovely. I think I swam faster the second loop, but am not certain.
I got out of the water feeling pretty good. T1 involved running up a paved path and parking lot. I was cautious and walked most of that for fear of hurting my feet. A torn up foot could ruin my run. A few more minutes in T1 wasn't going to make or break my day. I wasn't going to win after all. I organized my stuff and off I went.
The bike course starts off with a short ascent and then a very long steep curvey descent. When I was a teenager and young 20's kid I didn't' like driving this road. I dislike riding even more. I wasn't in bike mode well enough to gun it down. I was feeling a little shaky at that point, so I cautious. When I got into Franconia I found my bike rhythm and saw my parents! I know Easton Road well enough from training weekend. So I knew when I could push and when I should ease back, pace, for the rest of the race. One of the highlights of the day was a group of ten or so local Easton folks in their front yard with dumbs and cowbells cheering on athletes! THANK YOU! Once I hit the next right I ramped up my efforts. There's a long stretch of flat road along a river. It is so pretty! To be honest, my head was down and I was pedaling fast at this point so I did not enjoy the view as much as on other times down this stretch. I felt amazing on this stretch! The next loop was through the towns of Haverhill and North Haverhill. My moral dropped a tad on the outer bits of that loop. There were not many riders around me and almost no spectators. But I thought of my people, my training, and got back to being in the moment. And at some point there was a women in her driveway cheering me on. THANK YOU! Soon enough I was at the top of the climb and zipped down a very fun descent back to River road. By that time I had my bike legs and confidence to fly down the hill. Then there was a fun out and back where I saw a bunch of fellow racers again. Morale boost. Now to ride back down Easton road. I knew after one big climb the rest was cake. I ramped up the effort on that climb because I was feeling good and felt I could and still have a good remaining ride and run. There would be one more climb left and I was off the bike! I saw my parents again at the bridge in Franconia town center! At this time I was around 70.3 athletes and sprint athletes as we approached the KOM-QOM segment (this is largely a cycling term. used for very steep climbs. the fastest rider is crowned king and queen of that climb) and the final climb back to transition. It did not disappoint. I felt strong on that road. It was about 3 miles of climbing with a bit of false flat between bigger efforts. But then it was a gradual climb on a bike path. That was a bit rough. For some reason I have a harder time pushing pace and effort on climbs that are on bike paths.
I was down in my aero bars as much as possible during this ride to simulate IMMD (Ironman Maryland). Its a flat course and I'll want to be in them as much as possible to maximize speed and efficiency. I often opt for hilly courses, which means change in position. This year I chose a flat course. Which means long periods of the same position. I still need to train my body and mind for that.
Then into transition and onto the run! T2 was a little long because I had to pee, lol. As I was leaving I saw my mom.
My legs felt stiff , but I was moving. The first ~ 2 miles of the run were downhill. That may seem good, but I find it hard to find my run legs running in a downhill after a ride. After ~ 3/4 mile the descent was super steep. And then you climb back up an equally step part of the bike path. The next loop of the run course was flat to moderate climbs and descents along the lake. Easier to find a rhythm. I found my legs around mile 2 and I was sticking to my plan of walking only every 2 miles to intake gel and a quick stop to pee and refill liquid fuel. I felt strong with intermittent not so strong between 2 miles and mile 9. I saw teammates Sunny, Bill, Tom, Mike, and my parents between loops 2 and 3. Sunny ran a bit with me! There was one volunteer that was so energetic and amazing. She gave me a boost each time I saw her! But on that finally ascent I slowed down considerably and got into a walk-run pattern to get over the top of a steep climb. Once I got up and rounded the final intersection where I'd see my parents I thought I'd be able to cruise in sub 11 min/mile pace to finish the race. I took in a little gel and immediately almost threw up. I tried running then walking but the nausea got the better of me and I had to stop to let it pass. It did. And I started running, slowly at first. Then a little faster. I made it to the final aid station. One mile to go. I grabbed some chips, walked for 200 yards and then started running. I picked up the pace when I got to Echo Lakes southern border. I did mini intervals. Then I was off the bike path and headed to the finish line. Past transition and down the hill into the finish line at Echo Lake! My parents and few other spectators cheered me in .
I am so grateful for my parents. They cheered on me, my WWMS teammates, and every athlete out there yesterday. I am 47 and they still come to my races when they can. They are professional triathlon spectators at this point. I think my Dad knew the course better than I did the night before. And they're the cutest spectators on course. Hands down. I am SUPER grateful for Sunny, Bill, Tom, and Mike for hanging out for a while to cheer me on after their spectacular races. And for Sunny for running me up the hill and a bit down the road. Those moments boosted me through the third loop of the run course. I am grateful for Amy for supporting me through this thing I do for fun. And for everyone of you who cares about me and my love of this sport. Your support means the world.
Sitting here on June 25 I am happy ....ecstatic where I am at in my training for IMMD. I am tired today. I never sleep well after a race. But my legs and muscles feel ok. I could maybe even do a ride or run today. I have some work to do, mostly on my swim. But I am ready. Most importantly. I have found the LOVE of this sport again. When it became so very hard it became not as fun. My body hurt in bad ways during a race. And I felt low like I was on empty. Unresponsive. Yesterday hurt, don't get me wrong. But it was muscle pain and fatigue. A little nausea. Not pain. And I had confidence. I was in the flow. I was in the moment. I was loving all my fellow athletes. The spectators. The volunteers. The gorgeous Whites. I was loving the challenge. When I asked my body to ramp up on the flats or on a climb it did. I was responsive. I am back.
