The Tri season has come and gone, and mine ended on a bummer of race, i don't want to bore you with the details of my unfortunate day, but here are some facts to put it into perspective.
1) I was feeling in good shape going in, probably the best i ever have
2) I thought i had some serious nerves before the race, which turned out to be a stomach bug
3) I was ranked second last, but still lined up in the 34th position out of 50 guys somehow
4) I made the main pack in the swim (best swim ever)
5) I got fed on the bike and run
6) I still finished the race even though it was slightly embarrassing
So at nationals, aside from the swim being a great improvement, i just didn't have it on the day. Whether i was sick, or it was nerves, or just me working myself up too much, i just had no power on the bike and cramped horribly on the run.
It was an off day, and although it was a big race i am really not worried about it, its been two weeks since then and i can put it into perspective and see that some days you have it and some days you don't and the ultimate goal is to have it more often than not.
Coach was awesome all weekend, lending me much of his time to go over race stuff etc and supporting me even on a tough day, i know it was just as tough to him to watch me suck as it was for me to actually suck.
Parents were rad, thanks for taking me out there and cheering me on, and convincing me to keep going after i was going to drop out on lap one of the run. I think it was the concern in my mothers voice that forced me to keep going when she said "no kris, keep going."
But they were great and helped me shrug off a tough day, next time we take a trip together i promise to bring home the bacon for you!
Jason Jama, chill as always and although he can't sit still it was awesome to be able to have my main training bud out there to do sessions with, i feel bad that i couldn't see his race, but i know that next year i will only have to look to my left on the start line to see him.
Guri for giving me time off work and as usual for being a sounding board for me for everything, and for the loan of a sick set of wheels. Love ya man
All the ETA kids were killer, great races and efforts for everyone, things only go up from here and so far things are going awesome. I love training with you guys and you inspire me every session.
So life is good, now i move forward and get ready for running cross country again for the first time in a few years, it will be exciting for race for the green and gold of the U of A again and to get back into the swing of school. I'll still be working 3 days a week at PRW and taking a full course load along with training so it should be a busy year. I'll also try my hand at a few cyclo-cross races this fall and do some of the tuesday night races here in edmonton.
Blog updates will continue, although if you only tune in for race reports you may be surprised to see more actual literary offerings showing up in the coming months... I am in a few writing classes all year to finish my concentration courses in my degree so hopefully i will be able to kill two birds with one stone and write pieces that will apply to the blog as well.
Whoever said I couldn't be efficient?
I was thinking today that the only way i could be happier with things at this point is if i had a motorcycle to rip around on, and a beachy surfer girlfriend to tell me how awesome i am and blow sunshine up my arse (not sure if that is code or not, maybe both?)
You can make bets on which will come first
Love,
Shack
Photo's are from Frank Dunn Toyota Triathlon on August 7th, Courtesy of Michael Loshack
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