Nautica NYC Tri

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's almost been 2 weeks since I finished this race. So much buildup and training for such a fleeting (yet painful) moment. Well, that said, this is my (and my brother's too, he did the race as well) experience with the race.

The whole process of getting to race day was fairly complex. My brother lives in New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan, but it still takes FOREVER to get there. Bus to ferry, to bus, then walk. It was kind of brutal. On Friday, we all went for packet pickup assuming (correctly) that Saturday pickup would be a pain. This whole process took about 3 hours from when we left the house to when we left the Hilton with our packets. Saturday we had to drop our bikes off at transition, the whole family decided to come with us, a mistake in hindsight, too many kids. We made it to transition and dropped the bikes off, all of this was pretty orderly. The travel time, the walking and the heat were brutal though, what would've taken just my brother and myself 2 hours tops to do by driving into the city took nearly 6 hours. Needless to say, we were beat by the time we made it back to Jersey, not a good way to be the night before a big race.

3:30 AM on Sunday morning. The alarm goes off. Pain runs through my body since I've gotten a total of 4 hours of sleep. Buck up boyo, time to do this. I got up and started getting breakfast ready (coffee, and a turkey and swiss sandwich). We had to get up this early because there are so many peopl ein this race, transition closes at 5:45 AM! My brother and I got the last few things and stumbled out the door (he didn't get much sleep either). 20 minutes later, we found a parking spot about 3 blocks from transition, not bad. I was fully awake by that time, starting to get the good jitters I get before a big race. Seeing as how the terrain in the Northeast US is TOTALLY different from the terrain in DFW, I was planning on having a ridiculously slow race thanks to all of the hills on the bike and run. So, I just told myself to go and have fun.

I set everything up for transition, I noticed that my bike was moved during the evening (this is important later), my saddle has a hook at the back and hooking it to the rack that way is the only way that I can have my front tire on the ground, not to mention easier and faster to put on and take off. I set it up the bike the way it should be and my brother and I started walking the mile from transition to swim start. I was still about 2 hours from start time. We saw the pros take off as we were walking. The current didn't seem too strong, but oh well, at least I had my wetsuit (by 1.4 degrees thank you very much). My brother and I got a good spot near the line at the top of a hill and saw everyone getting in the water. The current was really picking up! Most people were taking it easy and still flying.

Finally it was my turn to go in the water. Being as how I have no desire to fight at the front of the pack, I waited with the second group of swimmers in my wave on the pier. Right before the gun went off, a guy in the water had his goggles break on him and the race assistant threw a pair at him. This whole exchange was fascinating. So fascinating in fact, that I almost forgot to jump in the water when the gun went off for our wave! The current was really strong. I was flying faster than I've ever gone before. Since this was the Hudson, I did my best not to drink water (only one drop made it in my mouth). I made it out of the water and looked at my watch 24 minutes, there was NO WAY I swam that fast. I assumed that my watch stopped at some point or something which happens all the time.

I took my time in transition, I clocked the longest transition times ever in any of my races, but I was in no rush. I made it out of the water, that's what mattered.

On the bike, I mounted and immediately hit the big uphill heading out to the west side hwy. I was pushing a little harder than I would've imagined. But I figured I was just winded from the swim. About 2 miles into the bike, I couldn't pass 14mph. There was something wrong. I got off my bike and immediately looked at my rear brake, I was riding the brake this whole time! Good thing I caught it then, otherwise I wouldn't finish the race, I know it. The only way that the brake could've shifted was when the race director moved my bike to set it the way he/she thought it "should be". I fixed the brake, and took off, immediately shooting to 20mph without the least bit of effort. Feeling better, I regrouped mentally, and concentrated on this technically hard course. There was a lot of shifting because of the hills. About 5 minutes passed and, what was that I saw? someone from my AG? Oh it was on, I passed him without thinking, I had a big smile on my face and started having fun again. I hit the pace as hard as I could w/o blowing my legs up. I passed at least 6 more guys from my AG before the 12 mile turnaround. I tried to pas one 26 yr old (not my AG). I had taken him and was getting ready to shift back into the right lane when he sped up and blocked my way in. He pissed me off a little, but I was having too much of a good time to let this yutz harsh my buzz. I let him pass me and I eventually came up on him and passed him in turn. We had this back and forth for the rest of the bike until about 3 miles from the end, he passed me faster than he'd gone in the race. I let him go, knowing that the Central Park run was next. I needed my legs. He's not in my AG, so I didn't really care.

Off the bike, I did it. I can usually muscle through the last 6 miles, so I knew the race was in the bag for me. Heading out on the run I had one major surprise. The uphill on the run out to 72nd street was HUGE! Not expecting that. That was rough, straight off the bike, there was no room for recovery. Finally out on 72nd street I was reenergized. All of the people on the side of the road and the noise and the music really pushed you along. I started having a great time, hamming it up for the photographers, messing with people on the sidelines, all this while keeping a 9 minute mile. Not bad for getting my legs back. Central park is hilly. No questions asked. About 2 miles in I had already passed 5 more guys in my AG, I passed one guy in my AG and I felt him keeping pace w me. He asked what we were running 9:35 min/mile. He asked if I cared if he ran with me. I didn't, so we ran the rest of the race, nice guy, from South Africa, he got married last weekend, named Nate. Conversation helped pass the time and push harder. About 4 miles in, I saw a familiar suit. It was the 26 year old from the bike. He was struggling up a hill, almost walking. I passed him without missing a beat, just said "How's it going there man?". OH I LOVED THAT! The last 2 miles were a blur, before I knew it, we were coming up on the track to the finish line, I asked Nate if he wanted to sprint, he chose not to, so I took it in at a 6:45 min mile for the last little stretch. Finished strong and VERY happy.

All in all, I had a blast at the race. I had no real idea of how long it took me. Todd was having me shoot for 3:45 given that the terrain was so different from here and I finished the race in 3:12! That really shows what keeping a positive attitude during a race can help. I suffered physically, but not psychologically, which usually happens to me at races. I can say that this was the most fun that I have had at a race in a LONG time.