The Race

The entire race weekend was awesome and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Real quick, here are two really cool items:

• There were 750 Team In Training participants in the Nation's Tri who raised more than $3,000,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

• With athletes represented from 976 cities, 46 states, and 14 different countries, the Nation's Triathlon set a new Guinness Book of World Records record for the largest "International Distance Triathlon Event" in the U.S., surpassing the previous record set by the Chicago Triathlon.

On to the race...

My Race Times:

Overall Time:
02:37:08

That places me: 

Age Group M25-29: 144th out of 480 (Top 30%)

Overall: 877th out of 4418 (Top 20%)

Swim: 28:50   (Goal: 27:30) 

Transition 1: 3:58   (Goal: 1:40)

Bike: 1:13:14   (Goal: 1:15:00)

Transition 2: 2:02   (Goal: 1:50)

Run: 49:05   (Goal: 50:00)

Overall: 1:37:08   (Goal:1:40:00)

Day before race, getting our bikes ready

Transition area day before race (note: the sun)

My bike in transition day before race

RACE MORNING

Heavy rain at times and cold early Sunday morning before the race. Most racers put on their wetsuits to keep warm.

 You- under the table- stop your laughing!  

Racer getting marked before early Sunday

The Swim

 The ladies make their way to the Potomac

 Let go of the dock, ma'am. 

1/3rd of the way through the swim.

The buoys were massive, probably the largest in any race.

The Bike Starting the bike No hills, just a few sharp turns  She's just so happy The Run Another Team In Traning-er  Do I really need to keep making captions?  This is D.C.'s Mayor Adrian Fenty, who competes in the Nations Tri each year.  I beat him by 8 minutes... just saying.    The winner performs his dazzling Ribbon Dance routine  Photos of me performing the John Wall at the finish line, like you all voted on, are coming next week!

		What's next? Take some time off, gain some weight back, and pick training back up late this winter for ...

Nation's Triathlon Race Week

After sending death threats to family members and hijacking a Shriner for spare change, we have hit $3,900 raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. There's nothing left to do now except Attack The Capital!

The fans have spoken and apparently you animals love pictures. So here is a rundown of this weekend including full color photos!
Friday morning: We fly to Washington D.C

Our coach, Bert, ready for takeoff

Friday Afternoon: We'll do a short couple mile run around D.C. as well as get registered for the race.

W

 I know what you're thinking- YES, that guy is totally wearing British flag shorts

Saturday Morning: We'll do a practice swim in the Potomac and a short ride as well. There is a ton of stuff I'm not mentioning.. I think there is a big dinner on Saturday night.

Sunday: RACE DAY! They want us down to the Transition Area at 4AM! Since there are so many people racing, they want us to beat the crowd and get there early.... that's 3hours and 40minutes before I get in the water. 

Transition area early in the morning

Much, much larger transition area than I've ever been in.

The Swim: I start at 7:40 am Sunday. Racers begin by age group. I know two of my teammates get in the water at 7:15 and 7:30.

Swim GOAL TIME: 27:30

 The Bike: After the water, I head for the transition area while peeling off my wetsuit, goggles, and throwing on my helmet, shoes, and eating a gel. I hope this takes no longer than 1:40. The bike is 25 miles around The Capital area. Mostly flat and fast course with a couple sharp turns. In the 2 tri's I've done, the bike has been my slowest split.

BIKE GOAL TIME: 1:15

The Run: I ride my bike to the transition area and run my bike back to my spot, change shoes, throw off my helmet, put on my hat and race belt. This should take 1:15 (always faster than my 1st transition). The run is 6.2 miles. Again, it's a flat course and the wind will be in your face the final 2 miles.

RUN GOAL TIME: 50:00

 RACE GOAL TIME: 2:40:00

Finish line party: After the race, there's a finish line party and another dinner that night. 

Cedars of Lebanon - Recap

As you know we hit my Big Goal and have now surpassed it! That's nearly $4,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You all are awesome. 

Race Recap: Cedars of Lebanon 8/28/10

Last Saturday was the Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon, my final tuneup for D.C., in Cedars of Lebanon State Park outside of Nashville. It was a Sprint race, meaning it was shorter than the Olympic distance I'll race in Washington D.C.

• 300 meter pool swim
• 16 mile bike through hilly Lebanon
• 3 mile run

 In transition area before race

This was a much smaller number of racers than the Music City Triathlon. There were 26 racers in my age group (Men 25-29).
It was my first time racing in a pool (Music City was in river, so will DC) .They say you "shouldn't leave anything on the course", but I peed in the pool technically leaving behind something. Swim time: 5:35 (4th /26).Finishing 4th gives me a lot of confidence heading into next weekend.

The bike had more hills than I expected. Once again, the bike really jammed up my time. I finished in 54:57 (11th/26). There is a recurring theme with these races: bike time holding me back. Perhaps it's my head which is too large and bulbous for my helmet.

The run was party shaded and completely Copyrighted by 2010 brightroom. I finished the 3 miles run in 24:13 (6th/26). I hauled ass the final mile... next time I'll see if I can keep that pace the entire run.

I finished 6th out of 26 in my age group and a final time of 1:28:29. I wanted a Top 10 finish... I really wanted a Top 5 finish. I'll get there. When I improve my bike time, then I'll start seeing the results I want.

Friday of next week I leave for Washington DC. I'm excited. I'm only nervous because I want to do well and hit my goals. I'll get into this stuff more with my next post, but I have specific time goals for each split of the race in DC. I just want to be in the Top 25% of my age group- a modest goal for my first Olympic distance race. It can be done!

Did you know you can continue to donate all the way up until Sunday, September 12? Go ahead and visit my fundraising page! Click here.

100%

 Everyone, you have helped me raise $3,700 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! It means so much to have the support of friends and family. Not only does the money raised mean a lot to LLS, but a friend of mine who has survived Lymphoma said that spreading the awareness is just as important. If you would still like to donate, you can! The more money I raise beyond my goal by 9/12 (race day) means Team In Training will give me cool stuff like duffel bags and workout gear. So, click here if you'd like

6 Things You Can Do In A Wetsuit
I got my wetsuit yesterday! I'll swim in this on race day in the Potomac River. It keeps you warm and buoyant. I learned a lot after I squeeeeeeezed into my new wetsuit. For one, do not put it on unless you plan on getting in some cold water...I was dripping sweat just wearing that bad boy. Two, don't fart in it. The gas finally leaves only after you unzip the wetsuit like opening a centuries old mummy tomb. Wearing it inside led me to wonder: WHAT ELSE CAN I DO IN MY WETSUIT?

1. Prepare Kiki.

2. Use the bathroom

3. Use the bathroom while watching TV

4. Teach you how to Dougie

5. Honor our heroes

6. Creepy guy in creepy basement

Cedars of Lebanon- my next race

My final tuneup is this weekend in Lebanon, TN at the Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon. 

 

Welcome to the 7th annual Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon!  

Team Magic is excited to to be working with the great folks at Cedars of Lebanon State Park once again. The event consists of 300 yards in an awesome, newly surfaced in 2005 outdoor 50 yard pool, a 16.5 mile loop of beautiful, rolling hills around the park, and a 3 mile run completely within the state park.

Pretty excited about this short sprint race. In my first race, the Music City Tri, I felt like I had a lot more to give. That's expected though, I was saving energy because it was my first race and I didn't know quite what to expect. This time, I'm going harder and I want to do well. I want to do Top 10 in my age group. I REALLY want to do Top 5. We'll see..

H.T.F.U

This is the last week to donate! We are at 90%- oh so very close. Want to help? Click here to visit my fundraising page! It's easy to donate by credit card.

During our ride Sunday, I was taught a new motivational saying: H.T.F.U, or Harden The Fuck Up. I'm sorry if that offends you. If so, perhaps you need to HTFU.

I did not want to run Sunday, especially not 7 miles. When my stomach was cramping during miles 2, 6, and 7 I quit my inner-complaining and told myself to Harden The Fuck Up! When I think to myself, "I should just turn around now", or "I need to stop for a minute", or "perhaps this person laying on the street needs my help" that's when a big HTFU is in store! Enough with the excuses and negative self-talk. Get it done. HTFU.

Leiper's Fork 
For the past few Saturdays, the midpoint of our ride is a stop at Puckett's Grocery in Leiper's Fork. It's a pretty cool historic district that I never knew existed. We stop to talk and suck down gels with about 20 other riders taking a break.

Inside Puckett's. You can see I wore my jean shorts that day

The donations last week were unbelievable! I had probably 22 come in. WOW. Thank you all so much! If you haven't donated then it is about that time! As of Monday at 9:30am we have only $387 left to raise... that's over $3,300 raised so far. Holy crap, that's amazing! 

Keep it up! Donations can be made with credit card right here

Gaining Steam- 11 Days to Help Save Lives

Donate by clicking here.

Training is picking up and I'm now doing things I never thought I could....
Saturday: We met at 7am at Edwin Warner Park and rode 33 miles followed by a quick 2 mile run. Note: We passed a dead armadillo- I had no idea these existed in Tennessee.

 My dead armadillo tour bus

Sunday: After training on Sat., I drank beer all day at the Tomato Festival in East Nashville so I wasn't sure if I'd be up for running Sunday morning. I woke up early and ran longer than I ever have- 7 miles! The good part was that I could have run longer. It was a big confidence booster as my running has concerned me.

Interesting Video: Lance Armstrong was doing triathlons at 15. Here he is in 1987.... Let's pray and thank God that I don't have to wear Speedos.

AWARDS:

The Floyd Award: Thank you to my Aunt & Uncle, Jim & Mary Ann Floyd! So, so nice of them to support me and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I really appreciate their kind donation.
The Mother Award: Very few people are even eligible for my Mother Award. Vicki Floyd takes this for her awesome donation on Saturday! Thanks, Mom!
There are 11 days to donate: Click here to do it!

Gel Junkie

We have $1,500 to go! Click here to donate, my pretties.

During training and races, triathletes are supposed to take in liquid, carbs, and even salt to keep up energy and hydration.

Here is Chris Legh. He talks funny.

Chris Legh was fist-pumping waaay before The Situation

In the Water Bottle

I actually don't usually drink Gatorade, but that video demonstrates the importance of hydration and carbs in a long race. I prefer Nuun, which comes in the form of a tablet. Drop it in your water bottle and you've got a drink that keeps you well hydrated without all the sugar of Gatorade. Here is a review from lovingthebike.com

I’ve only used Nuun a few times; about 7 times on the road...each and every time, I have had an incredible ride. If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I would say that when I use Nuun, it honestly feels as if oxygen is being pumped into my bloodstream. I’m serious. I have visions of the O2 cells pumping through my veins. And of course, more oxygen in the blood means higher performance from the body. This is the experience I’ve had using Nuun on outdoor road rides.

 That guy and Nuun should get a room together. I always ride with Nuun in my water bottle. A tube of 12 tablets is about $10. Visit Nuun.com.

GEL

Our training group does "bricks" every Saturday, which is a bike then a run. Last Saturday we rode 20 miles then hopped off the bike and ran 4 miles. A couple miles before the end of the bike ride, I'll take a Hammer Gel or Powerbar Gel. They provide you with carbs which provide you with energy! Rip the top off and suck it down. The taste is surprisingly not bad! Powerbar and Nuun have been kind enough to supply our Team In Training with products during training. Thanks! Below you can see where someone taped a line of gels to his bike. During the Music City, I taped one to the bike. Person in photo below is gearing for a half-Ironman. This enables you to rip it off the bike and it's ready to eat/drink/slurp/hack-up.

An old Gel Junkie living by a bridge, chasing the dragon.

AWARDS:

The Surprise! Award: This one goes to the most surprising donation. I didn't know, and I'm still not sure, if I emailed Becca Booth but she managed to make an incredibly kind donation this week! Thank you, Becca! Now if we can only get your friends Tina & Victoria on board...

Can you believe we've raised $2,200 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? The deadline to reach our goal is Aug. 27th. That's really soon! Click here