London Sightseeing
Mark Fretta, Jill Petersen and I went out sightseeing in London the day after the races a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun – It’s not often we get to stay a day later and actually do touristy stuff!
Short Race Report/Pics from Elite Nats
This past weekend marked my fourth time racing in the US Elite National Championship and also my third year in a row racing in Tuscaloosa, AL. I have lots of good memories from Tuscaloosa including winning the Collegiate National Championship in 2007. This year was a bit different in that I got to race on the draft legal course similar to the one used for last year’s Olympic Trials race.
I raced decently but wouldn’t call it an amazing performance by any means. I certainly redeemed myself for coming out of the swim in fourth to last place in the London WCS the weekend prior. In fact, I came out in the second group, 25 seconds down on former University of Florida swimmer (also fellow graduate of UF c/o 2008) Dustin McLarty. I was in great position.
Out onto the bike a small problem arose when my shoe strap came undone and I couldn’t strap my shoe on my left foot. It was very bad timing and I was summarily dropped by Matt Chrabot and Tim O’Donnell on our first time up the major hill on the course. After fixing my shoe I hopped onto the Matt Reed/Mark Fretta train and quickly found myself back in the front group. Chrabot and Brian Fleischmann attacked on the last lap and got a 25 second lead going into the run. I figured that 25 seconds was not going to be too much to make up on Chrabot on the run…but I was wrong.
Out onto the run I realized after 2.5K that I my running legs weren’t all there. I held onto 5th place, my highest finish ever at an Elite Nationals. Also, I got third in USAT’s 2012 Race Series. Anyways, here are some pics:
Heading down to the swim start.
A lot of fast swimmers choosing the wrong side of the pontoon! We were on the other side – closer to the shore with less current.
We got out to a fast start from the right side. Dustin McLarty is at the top of the picture and Kyle Leto, Nick Vandam, Chrabot and me are at the bottom. Dustin tried to lead people out into the current but nobody followed him. So he cut over closer to the shore – pretty much swimming circles around us.
Exiting the water: O’Donnell, Brown, Leto, Me and Chrabot.
The lead group of 8 on the bike.
Onto the run…
Quick Update
I raced in London last weekend. It was somewhat of a catastrophe. In retrospect I chose a very bad start position on the pontoon and got beat up pretty bad on the swim. My goal for the swim was to stay very alert and pay attention to closing down gaps so as to stay in good position the whole time. Unfortunately it is hard to close gaps when somebody swims over the top of me or punches me in the back of the head every time I try to make a move.
I exited the water fourth to last and knew my day was over. I worked with an Australian for a lap but then he hit a pothole and crashed. So I was all by myself. Knowing the US National Championship was coming up seven days later I decided to do a bit of a workout out on the course until I got lapped out. Oh, and at some point during the swim or T1 I broke a toe. Not sure how that happened, but it doesn’t hurt too bad and I can still swim, bike and run so it’s all good.
Anyways, I’m back home now and heading out to Tuscaloosa tomorrow to race at US Nationals this weekend. I will be good and fresh for the race since I didn’t finish London and the weather is playing into my favor – hot and humid! I have some pics from London, I’ll post those ASAP.
