Speaking of heroes, here's the latest from our resident energizer bunny Woodsy. I am tired just reading this.
Race Report: August 29th and September 5th
Race #1
Frost Valley YMCA Triathlon - 1/2 mi swim, 14mi bike, 2.5mi trail run
The race took place upstate in the Catskills near Bellaire ski resort. What a beautiful setting!!
The swim took place in a freezing cold spring fed lake. As soon as the race started I dove right in and got to work. Started in the top 5 on our way out to the turn around point. On the way back I picked up the pace and was able to get around everyone to be first out of the water. That was quite an accomplishment, being my first time," first out of the water." Glad to see my training and racing has come around a bit.
I had a quick transition and was off on the P4. The entire bike was up hill to the turn around. Nothing horrible but challenging. It was an awkward speed. Do you stay in aero position? Big ring or small ring? Sit? Stand? It kept you guessing the whole way up. Made it to the turn around with no one in sight. So I proceeded to bomb the downhill tucked in my aero bars and pinned it back to transition, not wanting to have to run head to head with anybody.
T2 was quick and easy and out to the jeep/ horse trails for the run. Course was flat and scenic and ended with a windy run along the lake back to the finish line.
I crossed the line in first place with a 2+ minute lead and took another overall victory.
After the race found some food up in Margaretville and headed out to the World Cup Downhill races at Windham to cheer on my good buddy Jason Memallaar.
Race #2
Battle of Battenfeld Milan, NY - 1.2mi xc run, 6.2mi road bike, 2mi run w/ 3 short swims, 2 mile mtn bike, 2 mi run w/ 3 short swims = one cool race!!!
First run literally went straight up a very steep hill which practically max's out your heart rate 30 seconds into the race which leads you to a bomber downhill section and then back around to transition. I started right out front in the top 3 and after the downhill was in first with a little lead.
Went out on the road bike and started to pull away until I went flying past the first turn on the course. As I went by I was pretty sure I missed the turn, but saw no volunteer or arrows on the road so I just kept going. Then I noticed no one behind me as I was only 15 seconds ahead of 2nd place. I guess as soon as I went by the volunteer got out of their car and sent everyone else on the proper course. So I made a quick U turn and headed back up the hill to find myself in 4th place wasting about a minute of time. By the end of the 6mi bike I was in sight of 1st place about 20 seconds out.
On run run #2 we headed out through the xmas tree farm to the back of the property for another really hard climb which brought you back to another really fast and dangerous downhill, where I was making moves. Then it was to the ponds to do our 3 back to back swims. The whole time you're running with goggles and while approaching the first pond you just put them on, smoosh them to your face and dive right in. Then swim around the buoy and claw your way up the muddy bank on the other side, run to the next pond and repeat twice. The leader Mike Halstead was pulling away from me in the pond sections. Swimming with shoes on definitely didn't aid in this situation as he is a stronger swimmer than me.
Then it was time to mtn bike, which was a easy and simple course with a few cool descents and a creek crossing. I needed to make something happen here so I went out to catch or gap Halstead who had a little over a minute lead on me. I closed the gap to 15 seconds by the end of that stage and it was time to see what I could do on the final run/ swim stage.
I was determined to catch him before the steep climb but apparently he was pretty determined to keep me behind him, because I couldn't gain an inch. On the climb I think he even gapped me by 5 or 10 seconds. Once we came to the down hill I just let my legs go and just pinned it the whole way down pretty much completely out of control getting air off all the water bars on the trail. I pulled my self within 5 seconds of him. Once we got in the water though he pulled back away, about 10 seconds per pond. He crossed the finish line about 40 seconds ahead of me. Slightly frustrated, but I sure did try!! I can't believe I missed the same turn that I missed last year on the bike course!! It would have been a really interesting finish if I didn't get lost, I think we would have been forced to battle it out all the way to the finish.
This guy Mike Halstead is pretty bad for my ego, all 3 races where we've competed against each other have been close races with him edging me out. I've got to put a stop to this, I think we have one more race together at the end of the season where I will be gunning for him. Watch out Mike!!
All in all the day was amazing, I really like this kind of race and being able to race with two of the top triathletes in the area is always fun. The day was beautiful and everyone stuck around for awards, just chilling drinking some micro brews from Rhinebeck brewing and recoverite. Super mellow and fun.
Races coming up???.......... I was contemplating skipping the Vassar tri, due to the fact if I raced it I would be doing 7 races straight, even I was thinking that's a bit much, but my legs feel strong so I'm all in. My next race is Vassar Tri, then to Lake George Olympic Tri, then Rocking Horse Ranch tri, then Central Park Bi, then an Xterra style tri at Williams lake. Then I can rest........ haha, for a week or two, then its time to do some du's. Maybe a few cyclocross races too!!
Woodsy
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