August 7, 2016
This season, I have been carrying my grandfather with me. He passed away just before Thanksgiving last year. I draw on his memory to push me through. Today was no different.
This was my last race heading into IMWI. The weekend before was the WI Brick Adventure training hard on the IM Course. Graniteman was just a train through race for me. After looking at the GM Series standings, I was sitting in 4th place. I was only 7 seconds off the podium. Looking at the results, I had split races with the guy in 3rd. I had trained right through Clearwater. Coming off WIBA, my body was fatigued. Well, plans changed! I had to go for it! The week leading in,was used as a recovery/pseudo taper week.
The swim was rough for me! The start was right into the sun. My out leg (like many others) was a zig zag as you found the buoys. After the first turn, it was straight to turn 2. After turn 2, I couldn't sight a buoy. There was a big inflatable Graniteman on the shore, but I couldn't make him out. I swam toward a kayak. Once close to the kayak, I could finally make out the target on shore. As we rejoined the sprint course, I started weaving around sprinters. I knew it was not my best swim, but it wasn't a bad one either. It was the 8th fastest on the day.
T1 was fast and uneventful. 56 seconds was the second fastest of the day.
I had to go all in for the bike. Once the legs were back underneath me, I started to fly. I needed as much lead into the run as I could. Casey Miller shouted some encouragement as he flew by on the sprint course around mile 6. I still felt good. As I approached the turn, I started counting those in front of me. Five! Just keep pedaling! I held on for the return trip and came in holding my position.
T2 was fast and uneventful. I decided going in to go back to my Zoot racing flats. What that really meant is I wasn't wasting precious seconds trying to put on socks. At 47 seconds, it was good for the 3rd fastest of the day.
I had to stay on the gas to go for my goal. I ran as hard as my body would allow. I am not a fast runner, but I had to remain consistent and not let my mind take over. At 2.5 miles, Sheena Dauer caught and passed me. I laughed! That is where she "always" catches me at UMM's Tinman....except this year. I was the 8th to hit the run turn (understanding there was a heat 3 minutes behind that I had no idea of how they were doing). A quick GU Salted Caramel and headed for home. Michelle Andres' voice was in my head yelling "No Regrets!" As I entered the park, I got a high five from my son. He was disappointed he couldn't run with me, but I was on a mission. I heard footsteps and hit my redline. I crossed shoulder to shoulder with the guy. After we caught our breath, I congratulated him on a great finish and introduced myself. Darn it, it was Richard Geisen, the the guy just ahead of me in the series! I raced my race, but today, he raced better. I had no regrets on my performance.
As the results were posted and the awards
were announced, I had won my age division and ended up 15th overall. I can't complain about that! Then onto the Graniteman Series awards. In 3rd place, from Pillager, Josh Duda! Because of his race, Richard had moved up to first. The series was figured by the average time of the three GM Oly races. When it was all said and done, 1:04
separated the 3 of us! It was a great series!
Never give up!
