Hey guys
This is the first time I'm posting on this forum. I thought this part of Slowtwitch was for new triathletes, athletes looking to refine their technique and equipment, connecting with people who are doing an upcoming or past event or if you're chained to a desk bored out of your mind while the guy next to you stalks his ex-girlfriends on Facebook.
Not speculation.
Here's what happened to my experience in Kona. I was completely fried from trying to win Ironman Chattanooga and 13 days wasn't enough recovery for the hardest one day event in the world. I was however participating in Kona to get the experience and learn the little nuances about the race. From seeing if staying behind Lava Java and being close is better than staying further out and dealing with traffic and parking to "Where's my race decals? Oh we get processed on race morning behind the King Kam" all the way to getting Coke on the bike--never seen that. Just a few odd bits you can only experience during the race.
At my very best, I could've been front pack. Rested and ready, that is. I wasn't rested nor really ready. Experiencing the race was my priority. That way I can create a visual image with the sights, sounds, feel, etc while prepping for next year. Even if I DNFed on Ali'i I wouldn't have a sense of those aide stations in the Energy Lab, etc.
Lionel and Barrie knew I would still be fried on race day from my big effort two weeks prior. Why? Because we're friends and I told them. When I mentioned I was going to bag the swim Barrie asked if Lionel could swim next to me and I said "yeah, sure. It'll be good for you since I'll swim straighter anyways." They both were worried that it could be against the rules and went to check into it. I on the other-hand laughed because we're swimming in a choppy ocean together. Where's the advantage? It's not like I was stopping to pass out gels at a buoy or collaborating to draft on the bike when the officials weren't watching.
I just wanted to swim well enough to stay ahead of the girls, which is why I kept looking back by swimming backstroke, and also wonder who or what's behind me. I'm a seasoned enough swimmer to know that the same guy hasn't moved off my hip without straining to check. So contrary to opinions, or commentators, I was NOT "looking for Lionel" when I was looking back. I knew he was trying to stay with me. I had no "formal arrangement," so if he lost my feet at the conservative pace I was swimming, that was his concern.
If I line up next to a bunch of goons I don't know in a typical race I'm actually ready for, I always ask how their swim is. If they say they aren't great, I ask them to go easy the first few seconds and get on my feet or hip. Whatever is more comfortable. Let's just NOT punch or grab each other. Especially on a crowded ITU pontoon start. That way we can start with less contact and focus on quickly getting out in one piece. On the flip side, if I'm swimming like garbage after a major run block, I'll ask them to do the opposite as long as it makes sense.
If you guys think that is cheating, you'd better petition to get me and 200+ guys DQed for every triathlon I've ever done. These conversations happen all the time, mostly in the last few seconds. We just spoke about it before getting to the start line not AT the line.
I never "Abandoned any ambitions" either. I was exhausted from IM Chattanooga. (Did you see the sprint finish?) How ambitious can I get if I just want to do the honor of finishing Kona while still sore and tired? I was however ambitious enough to hurry up and get out of the way of the women's race especially in the beginning of the bike! Lionel was up the road by the time I got on the bike. I took my time in T1.
My focus on Kona was to get a feel for the course and conditions on race day and getting to that finish line. Just like many of you reading this post, I just wanted to experience and Finish Kona. Next year: game on.
Matt
This is the first time I'm posting on this forum. I thought this part of Slowtwitch was for new triathletes, athletes looking to refine their technique and equipment, connecting with people who are doing an upcoming or past event or if you're chained to a desk bored out of your mind while the guy next to you stalks his ex-girlfriends on Facebook.
Not speculation.
Here's what happened to my experience in Kona. I was completely fried from trying to win Ironman Chattanooga and 13 days wasn't enough recovery for the hardest one day event in the world. I was however participating in Kona to get the experience and learn the little nuances about the race. From seeing if staying behind Lava Java and being close is better than staying further out and dealing with traffic and parking to "Where's my race decals? Oh we get processed on race morning behind the King Kam" all the way to getting Coke on the bike--never seen that. Just a few odd bits you can only experience during the race.
At my very best, I could've been front pack. Rested and ready, that is. I wasn't rested nor really ready. Experiencing the race was my priority. That way I can create a visual image with the sights, sounds, feel, etc while prepping for next year. Even if I DNFed on Ali'i I wouldn't have a sense of those aide stations in the Energy Lab, etc.
Lionel and Barrie knew I would still be fried on race day from my big effort two weeks prior. Why? Because we're friends and I told them. When I mentioned I was going to bag the swim Barrie asked if Lionel could swim next to me and I said "yeah, sure. It'll be good for you since I'll swim straighter anyways." They both were worried that it could be against the rules and went to check into it. I on the other-hand laughed because we're swimming in a choppy ocean together. Where's the advantage? It's not like I was stopping to pass out gels at a buoy or collaborating to draft on the bike when the officials weren't watching.
I just wanted to swim well enough to stay ahead of the girls, which is why I kept looking back by swimming backstroke, and also wonder who or what's behind me. I'm a seasoned enough swimmer to know that the same guy hasn't moved off my hip without straining to check. So contrary to opinions, or commentators, I was NOT "looking for Lionel" when I was looking back. I knew he was trying to stay with me. I had no "formal arrangement," so if he lost my feet at the conservative pace I was swimming, that was his concern.
If I line up next to a bunch of goons I don't know in a typical race I'm actually ready for, I always ask how their swim is. If they say they aren't great, I ask them to go easy the first few seconds and get on my feet or hip. Whatever is more comfortable. Let's just NOT punch or grab each other. Especially on a crowded ITU pontoon start. That way we can start with less contact and focus on quickly getting out in one piece. On the flip side, if I'm swimming like garbage after a major run block, I'll ask them to do the opposite as long as it makes sense.
If you guys think that is cheating, you'd better petition to get me and 200+ guys DQed for every triathlon I've ever done. These conversations happen all the time, mostly in the last few seconds. We just spoke about it before getting to the start line not AT the line.
I never "Abandoned any ambitions" either. I was exhausted from IM Chattanooga. (Did you see the sprint finish?) How ambitious can I get if I just want to do the honor of finishing Kona while still sore and tired? I was however ambitious enough to hurry up and get out of the way of the women's race especially in the beginning of the bike! Lionel was up the road by the time I got on the bike. I took my time in T1.
My focus on Kona was to get a feel for the course and conditions on race day and getting to that finish line. Just like many of you reading this post, I just wanted to experience and Finish Kona. Next year: game on.
Matt