Collegiate Nationals

Race Prep:

I'm not really sure how to start with this one.  After finishing last years Collegiate Nationals in Tuscaloosa, AL I already had my eye on this race...so do I start there? Or do I start describing the day six months ago that I specifically started training for this race? I'm not sure.  Either way, preparation for this race was a long and arduous process.

I had run the numbers over and over again to come up with a goal for this year.  I looked at what kind of time I could dedicate towards training while still being a full-time student.  I looked at past results and how much I honestly and realistically thought that I could improve in 6 months.  I looked at my goals for the future and what type of projection I needed/wanted to be one.  So there it was...a goal of 2:13 for an Olympic distance triathlon.  To "set it in stone" I took all my race numbers from previous races and pinned them up on my bedroom wall in the shape of a giant 13.  Medals and trophies on either side.  There it was.  It was the last thing I saw before going to sleep, and the first thing I saw in the morning.  It's what I stared at during the countless hours I spent on the bike trainer and when I was day dreaming about triathlon when studying.  My goal was right there in front of me for 6 months and it was up to me to go after it.

I couldn't have been more excited to get out of the cold Iowa spring

Now it was onto Tempe, AZ to see how my preparation would pay off.  Somehow all the Trihawks congregated in Tempe after many different travel schedules.  About half the group left early in the week to drive the 30-some hours down there with the trailer full of our bikes and equipment.  Others left Iowa at different times according to when they could get out of class, which races they were doing, and which plane tickets they bought.  But, thanks to a small miracle, we all made it to Tempe.

The Trihawks have touched down in AZ

I arrived in AZ late Thursday night and the anticipation was already building.  When we got to our hotel it was straight to bed.  There was a draft-legal Sprint distance race the next morning (I wanted to race it but didn't) that we wanted to watch so we had to get our beauty sleep.  Because I wasn't racing, it gave the opportunity to get an easy spin in.  We road through a state park near our hotel and took in all the cool sights.  I would have never guessed it, but AZ is really beautiful!

Enjoying the weather...and Dan's bike I guess 

We spent the better half of the day watching the draft-legal race which was really fun.  I had only watched this style of racing on TV so seeing it in person was pretty exciting.  We had two Trihawks post some sweet results which got us our first team points of the weekend (Justin got 4th, Allison got 10th, Alex Libin unfortunately got a DNF with a flat...which gutted me and the rest of the team.  I couldn't help but feel bad for a training partner and a newly acquired friend).  Later that afternoon we had a chance to ride some of the course that we would be on tomorrow.  The bike course was pretty technical so it was beneficial to see what kind of lines to take in the corners before the race was underway.  As we cruised back to our hotel we took in more of the beautiful Arizona scenery.

Sweet mountain rangers everywhere you looked

Later that night we had the traditional pre-race shaving party.  Typically I'd be doing this task by myself...but I found out that that isn't the Trihawk way.  So I jumped in the tub/shower with Dan and Kyle.  It was a little intimate to say the least.  It quickly turned into a giggle fest watching two other grown men shave their legs.  One of the more funny moments on the trip for sure! After filling the tub with leg hair, shaving cream, and a good amount of blood, it was off to bed.

Space was at a minimum at this party
*note the sweet kit tan lines we already have going

Race Day:

Our hotel was about 2 miles from the race site so we all biked there with our transition bags on our back...a real "pro" moment.  After the couple mile warmup we jumped in the massive line of other college-age triathletes.  Our bikes were racked shortly thereafter and the frantic transition area race setup was in full swing.  Having packed everything the night before I thought that I had everything I needed to race.  Thankfully, Kennon gave me a little race care package before I left Iowa which, without question, saved my entire day.  I spent probably 15 minutes looking for the GU's that I was going to us during the bike portion of the race.  I looked absolutely everywhere.  Luckily, she had given me some gel Blocks as apart of the care package.  I had used them before in races and training so it wasn't that big of a deal that I had to use them instead of my GU's.

The care package full of all my favorites

I was in the third wave of this years race.  There was a 10 minute gap between waves so I had a little more time to kill than other people.  I got my wetsuit on with the other Trihawks in my wave, Dan and Jack.  Wave 2 was off, and it was finally our turn to get in the water.  They made us get in the water right after the second wave started (which was dumb).  Having to tread water for 10 minutes turned out to be not all that bad thanks to the ol wetsuit.

Im in the middle of the washing machine (photo cred: my mom)

When the gun finally went off it was more of a wrestling match than a swimming event.  I finally got comfortable in the water and found a nice pack at about the 400 meter mark.  When we turned around I was feeling great and the sun was no longer in my eyes...double bonus!

Thanks for the sweet pic mom (photo cred: her)

My T1 went a lot more smoothly than in FL, so maybe I did work some of the kinks out after all.  Hoping on the bike was pretty slick thanks to the flying mount practice that we did the night before.  Once I was rolling I was really cookin...in a good way.  Taking corners at 30mph was awesome!  I had focused more on my biking skills during the winter months and it seemed to finally be paying off.  Picking off one competitor after the next put a lot of confidence in my head about my ability.  The 57 minute bike split helped to add even more confidence!

Putting my running shoes on in T2 is where I found my GU's.  They were in the very toe of my left shoe, so I must have picked it up and held the GU's in the shoe while I was shaking it.  But whatever.  The Blocks/Kennon saved the day.

Out on the run I had no idea what was going on...literally.  Talking to Alex Libin the night before he said "if you're using energy to look at your watch, you could've used that energy to run faster".  So taking his advice I kept the watch at home.  I was just going to let it fly and see what happened.  Maybe he was onto something because I clocked my first ever sub-40 minute 10K in a triathlon.  I wasn't real sure how my run would be because of some nagging injuries that I've had the past few months.  In training I could never hold a sub 40-minute 10K pace for the whole distance, so being able to post that was really gratifying.

About to finish up and absolutely gassed

I crossed the line in 2:05 which was a.) 13 minutes faster than my previous PR and b.) WAY faster than the goal I set for myself.  I couldn't have been more happy with my performance! My first every triathlon was two years ago at Collegiate Nationals so this event is always special to me.  In that two year period I've been able to take off 42 minutes from my original time...an awesome feeling to have!

Post Race:

That night the team went to the awards ceremony.  Alex Libin got 3rd place overall and we all wanted to show our support for him.  We also thought that we would have an outside chance at placing as a team.  A few guys had talked during the fall about us having a spot to do something special at this years race.  After comparing everyone results from the race that morning, we felt that we had put together that "special" performance that we would need to get on the podium.

When it came time to announce the team awards the anticipation began to build.  The announcer began with the mens team awards.  He said "in 5th place with lkndoisdknf points...The University of Iowa Trihawks".  I say "djlqd;jnqdwoj" points because all I remember hearing was "5th place...University of Iowa Trihawks".  We. Went. Nuts.  My body was killing me the entire time after the race until they said our teams name and magically it was totally healed.  The pack of Trihawk guys all went running up on the stage.  We got...no, we earned 5th place in the nation.  I'll never forget looking out across the crowd yelling "Go Hawks" and signing "In Heaven There Is No Beer".  It was...I cant even describe it.  Just absolutely the best feeling.

On the podium/stage signing "In Heaven There Is No Beer"

5th fastest collegiate tri team in the country right here

I couldn't have asked for a better race.  Both crushing my PR and my goal time AND getting 5th place in the nation.  Now thats just icing on the cake.  We got off the stage and all got our picture taken holding the trophy.  It was like our own little Stanley Cup.  Everyone got their own little moment with the trophy.  It will, without question, be a moment that I will never forget.

It was a special year with a very special group of young men.  I can't wait to see what each and every one of them does in the future both on and off the race track.  I'm honored to call each one of them a friend.

5th PLACE!!!

Proud to call myself a Trihawk