Race Recap: Jingle Bell Triathlon

Jingle Bell Triathlon/December, 12^th, 2010/Rio Rancho, NM

The early stages of a cold, an injured heal, and a late start was all on my plate Sunday morning at the Jingle Bell Triathlon in Rio Ranch, NM. Warm temps and a clear northern New Mexico sky made it a beautiful race day.

The day started with my alarm clock not going off and waking up 30 minutes late. After that I rushed to gather my gear and get it all loaded in my ride. Once I accomplished all of this I noticed my keys were in the ignition and the doors were LOCKED! Luckily I had a spare in the house (answered prayer). Once I got going on the road things started to come together and I arrived in Rio Rancho on time. I setup my transition, went through body marking, and had all of my pre-race conversations. The temperature started to rise and I was feeling great and ready to have a good race. While I was having a conversation with a fellow competitor we began to hear cheers. He said, “Dude, I think that was the start”. I responded with, “looks like we’re going to play some catch-up” and a smile. At the moment I thought we would only be 20 seconds or so behind. Turns out, we were over a minute back. The adrenaline kicked in and my legs began to move around groups of people. Once I hit the 1 mile mark I had about 12 guys still in front of me. The front of the field was spread out across the hilly course and I started to see gaps between the top 5. Moving fast on the down hills and faster on the ascents I found myself on a blazing pace. I had 7 more guys to pick off with a mile to go. The race leader had 1:30 on me and a small gap started to open between him and a few other guys at the front of the race. Matt Gonzales was someone I definitely had my eye all morning. He’s not shy about running low 16s. So, when I started to close the gap on him I began to think I could actually salvage this race. I was 4^th into transition and on the bike. I still had work to do. I found myself at the front of the race within the first three miles of the bike. My legs quickly became heavy toward the end of the hilly bike course. I was quickly reminded of what time of year it was, the off-season. Once I hit the pool I had nothing for the first 200 meters and was passed by a hard charging mate. I wouldn’t be able to close the 27 second gap and finished in 2^nd.

Not bad for an off-season race!

Results:  http://trisportcoaching.com/race-results/jingle-bell-tri-2010-overal.html

Slideshow: http://vimeo.com/17748393

The Early Years: My first triathlon

My entrance into the sport of triathlon was nothing less than a fluke. I started as a road cyclist and was later convinced to join the high school swim team my junior year. I didn’t know how to swim when I started, but had a group of great coaches that helped me every step of the way. By the next season I worked my way up to being the captain of the varsity squad. After a fairly successful senior year of swimming I was ready to get back on my bike and start racing. I opened the 2008 road season with two wins in local races and a win in Santa Fe, NM at the end of May. Two weeks into the month of June, with no races planned for a few months, I started to feel an itch for competition. After calling around I found out that there was a triathlon in nearby Lubbock, TX. I was never interested in triathlons and told myself on several occasions that I would never do one. The only running background that I had was playing basketball in the 7^th grade and being burnt-out on swimming didn’t help. I found myself starving to compete anyways.   

 My first tri was a sprint that took place simultaneously with a 70.3. At this event I met 2010 Trisports.com (http://trisports.com/) teammate Mike Montoya for the first time. He looked me up and down in my florescent blue Speedo and asked if I was on a swim team. After a few words of encouragement and advice from Mike my nerves were calmed for only a few minutes before the start.  I had a mechanical issue on the bike, but was still able to finish the race in 30^th place overall. Once I had finished my race the pro 70.3 competitors were just starting their run. After experiencing the performance of the professional 70.3 athletes its like something in my head clicked. For some reason I was drawn into every aspect of triathlon. Learning everything I could about the sport was my main priority. Once I returned home, I immediately looked at the results of my race and was determined to prove to myself that I could do better. I looked up the results of all the other local races to see how fast I needed to go to win. I found one thing in common with most of these races; Mike had won them. After looking at all of Mike’s times I remember saying to myself, “man, I want to be as fast as that guy one day.” The next tri I competed in was two weeks later and I finished 6^th overall. Finishing 6^th was much better than the previous 30^th, but I was still not convinced it was my best. So, the most common saying in the sport goes, “do one, then you’re hooked.” I soon realized I was no exception.

Safe Training

Rance

 I see several bad decisions in this photo

 First triathlon, first 5k

Year and a half  later, I'm running down Mike. I still wasn't able to beat him though. He won by 8 seconds. Not long after this Mike broke the course record at the AVIA Austin Sprint Triathlon.

Already Thinking of Next Season

Once my triathlon season wrapped up I was automatically thinking about my goals for 2011. Of course a million things were running through my mind like any triathlete at the end of a season, but I found myself coming back to one specific goal; earning my pro-card. This is a license that is needed to compete as a professional and is gained through a strict criteria set by USAT. This dream became a reality once I crossed the finish line at Elephant Butte. I realized I had what it would take to achieve this far out there goal. After looking at the slim list of qualifying races I chose the venue that would best suit my strengths. The course is one that I can really excel on and it’s toward the end of the season, so I can have a strong build leading up to this race. The excitement for 2011 is already building. This is a tough task to bear, but I’m confident it will be reached! With heart and focus anything can be reached. Let me leave you with some words of wisdom from Chris Mccormack

Safe Training

Rance

Chase Your Dreams

Kicking off the off-season, road racing, and crashing

A road race, pile-up, and sore body later I found some time to write my latest blog. After competing in a local 45 mile road race this past weekend I was reassured that I was NOT invincible. The 8 man wreck left me with a sore lower back and very sore butt. Thankfully this happened when it did and not in the middle of my triathlon season. I usually will not compete in any road races during my triathlon season for this fear. This year I did a few crits that were not very smart and I luckily skimmed by no less than a dozen wrecks and pile-ups there. This goes to show, anyone at anytime can hit the pavement. In my case this weekend it just happened to be a rough road with loose gravel. I was able to get back on my bike and eventually cross the line first, but not without a painful body the next few days.

I basically began my off-season a few weeks ago and just recently started to get back in the groove of things. My first R&R week was nice. I was able to rest a little and take some nice runs and rides at an easy pace, but by the end of this week I was starting to get the itch and by the second week I was ready to get back to my regular training schedule. As most triathletes know rest and recovery are a very important part of training. Knowing this, several athletes continue to skip out on recovery. When you get the ball rolling and you start turning in fast times its hard to take a recovery week. You think to yourself, “I don’t need a week off sitting around; I need to get even faster!” I’ve been there myself and have made the mistake of not taking much needed R&R. 

I am excited to start a new program this off-season where every fourth week is a straight R&R week. This is one of the more popular training outlines that athletes choose. I will continue to have my regular recovery days throughout the week, but will add a full week of R&R as well. This seems like too much recovery, but in hindsight the body NEEDS THIS. Looking back at this past season I had very little R&R time. Having the right amount of recovery will definitely benefit in the long run. I have already begun this new regimen and will report back later this off-season to let you know my progress and how it is going. This off-season I will also include a new aspect into my blog titled: Product Review. Everyone knows the off-season is long and can easily become a drag without being able to compete, so I have created this new series where I will test products and post a review of my thoughts on the product. Hopefully this will keep me busy during the winter months.  I will include clothing, equipment, shoes, nutritional supplements, etc. Anything new that I can get my hands on this winter I will post a review! Until then

Safe Training

Season Wrap-up

As I take a few easy weeks of training before I begin my off-season the top professionals in the sport are gearing up for the biggest weekend of their year. I have had a week to relax and take an overview of my season. I was fortunate enough to have a great season, friends and family that supported me through the year, and great sponsors. The staff and my fellow teammates at Trisports.com were truly amazing. I talked pretty big last year about how I was going to win all the prestigious races of New Mexico in 2010, but there was really no certainty, just my outspoken thoughts of what I was shooting for. Trisports.com decided to take a chance and sponsor me. I’m truly grateful to have had the chance to be a part of this elite team. For the most part, I delivered what I promised for 2010. I started the season as an underdog and ended as a favorite to win the overalls. I have really grown as an athlete and ambassador of the sport this season with Trisports.com at my side. I want to thank them again for the opportunity and support that they have given me this season.

 I had six overall wins, two 2^nd place finishes, and a 5^th overall in my first Olympic distance to wrap up the season. My experience in the Elephant Man was a positive eye opener. My performance in this race made me realize I’m able to step up to the next level. My biggest issue during this race was “the unknown.” Since I haven’t competed in this distance before I wasn’t for sure exactly how hard I could push myself. The course was also a big issue. It was up and down the whole day and I was worried that going hard on one climb could seal my fate. The fear of pushing too hard on the bike or too early on the run and blowing up was consistently running through my mind. With this being a concern I played it safe.  Once I crossed the finish line I was surprised by how much I had left in the tank. It was a little disappointing that I didn’t go all out and leave everything on the course, but satisfying that I was only 4 minutes behind the winning time even after conserving so much. This performance left me excited for the 2011 season and anxious to start the off-season. I will be training specifically for Olympic distance races this off-season. For the 2011 season these races will be my main focus.  
A friend and fellow competitor, Steven Montoya, will be competing in Hawaii this Sunday. Good luck to Steven and all the athletes competing this weekend in the Ironman World Championship.

I reached many milestones this season. One I will never forget is my first overall victory. After several top 5 finishes in ’09 I was hungry to win an overall after a long off-season.

 One that will be fresh in my memory for years to come….

The mountains made for a beautiful backdrop, but brutal course

Elephant Man Gear!

Check out the gear I will be using this year at the Elephant Man Olympic distance triathlon!

                                                    Frame:Trek TTX   Wheelset: Hed Jet Disc, Hed Jet 6

                                                         Drivetrain: Sram Red/Bontrager

                                                                   Specialized TT2

 http://trisports.com/index.html,%20http://www.rudyproject.com/                                                      Glasses: Rudy Project Sports Mask

The Next Chapter

The final race of my 2010 season is quickly approaching. The Elephant Man Triathlon is an intermediate (Olympic) distance race. The distance for an intermediate triathlon is double the distance of a sprint and half of an Ironman 70.3.

Sprint- 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run

Olympic- 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run

70.3- 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

The Elephant Man will start the next chapter of my triathlon career. This is my second season competing in triathlons and I have waited for this moment since my first race. When I began competing in this sport I was immediately drawn to the longer distances and it doesn’t hurt that I’m built for the longer races. In these races endurance is key, rather than short all out power. At the start of my first season I made a typical beginner mistake. Since I wanted to race the longer races I jumped straight into 10, 12, 13+ mile runs more than once a week. For a beginner with no run background at all, I was asking for an injury. After a few months and several minor injuries I began to get the idea, I would have to start from the bottom and build my way up.  Sprint triathlons didn’t appeal to me at first and I actually considered giving up the sport and going back to road cycling. After taking a few weeks off I realized this process was necessary for what I wanted to accomplish. Since this experience, I have learned patience is key in this sport. You can’t rush things or try to jump ahead without the risk of injury or burnout. Either one of these can be a drastic setback or could even lead to the decision to give up the sport.

 In only a few years I have realized several beginners make the same mistake I did as a rookie. Someone entering a race unprepared and under trained is a story I hear in transition almost every race. These decisions can be drastic.

Through my own experience my advice to beginner triathletes is know your limits, careful of overtraining, and PATIENCE. The only way you can prevent this is knowing your own body. This is achieved with time (again, patience). The longer you train the more you will become familiar with yourself. Through this you will learn how much you can push yourself and when to let off. All of this is achieved with time and patience. With these two aspects you will be able to achieve your goals and compete injury free!    

Safe and smart training,

Rance

This is a photo from my first triathlon. June 28th, 2008. I remeber it all to well... Wrong turn, went 30 minutes out of the way and finished 35th overall. Hardcore roadie tan lines!

Race Recap: Comanche Warrior

The Comanche Warrior Triathlon took place on Saturday, Sep. 11^th in Big Spring, Texas. This event is a sprint with a 500 meter swim, 18.5 mile bike, and 5k run. This was my third year participating in this event and I have to say the city of Big Spring stepped it up again this season. The number of volunteers for this event was surreal. The organization, on course support, and route always leave me impressed.

Now for the race highlights!

I lead the race wire to wire. A few days before, I decided to put it all on the line during the bike. I wanted to totally drain my legs, knowing if I had a few minutes over the rest of the field I could hold out through the run. The race was in Texas which means, longer bike leg. Add in a rolling course through the whole 18.5, unexpected fog, and a little wind and you have a tough day. The turnaround was the perfect chance to see how much time I had over the field. I had a nice gap on the lead chase group, so I stuck with my original plan: put my head down and hammer. I wasn’t expecting a PR on the run, knowing it would be a bit slow after the day’s bike. When I hit the run it was obvious the bike course took its toll on everyone. The run is just as tough as the bike. On and off trails with insane grades just eat your legs. I stayed focused and pushed my body through the course. I consider this the hardest bike/run course for a sprint that I have competed in. I posted a link of the results below. Comanche was a great tune-up for my final race of the season.  If anyone is looking for an extremely challenging course with a great atmosphere and outstanding volunteers this is your race. Thanks again to the city of Big Spring and all of the outstanding volunteers!

Safe Training,

Rance

Results: http://www.comanchewarriortriathlon.com/index.htm

Blog Numero Uno

When I initially set up this blog hundreds of ideas were running through my mind of what I should write about. I was quickly influenced by an episode of The Office playing on the television in the background. In the episode, Dwight was teaching Ryan the ropes on his first sells call. Dwight mentioned an acronym that Michael taught him on his first sells call; it was K-I-S-S (keep it simple stupid). Once I heard this it was all too clear of what I should write about, my fellow competitors. I’ve only been competing in triathlons for two seasons now, but I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest people. I soon realized that the friendships I make through this great sport will last for the rest of my life. Even the people I may only see a few times a year, I consider some of my closest and dearest friends. The bond between fellow triathletes is something that is unexplainable. The sacrifices, early mornings, and the extensive traveling are all something we go through to stand at the start line. We are able to sit in a group and talk about bricks, wattage, and the occasional saddle sore while people passing by think we’re talking in code. Earlier this season I realized how special these relationships are.


What started as the competition congratulating me at the finish line has resulted in a great training partner and close friend. In my last race I walked away from a conversation with one of my biggest rivals feeling I could take on the world. All the advice he gave me and the confidence that I could win any race I set my mind to is a great example of the type of people that are involved in this sport. So, in your next race talk to as many people as you can. You never know, you may end up with a new friend, training partner, or even a new rival!

Thanks and safe training,

Rance