Memphis In May Race Report
Well...it was off to Memphis again for the star studded Memphis In May Triathlon. As usually, the race certainly didn't disappoint on talent. Some of the most talented athletes in the country ventured outside of there comfort zones for the long drive or flight, cross-country, to the little town of Millington, Tennessee.
This years race was going to be interesting for yours truly. Coming of a long off season of base and an Ironman 5 weeks ago...I was extremely curious to see where my short course ability actually was.
Since my venture out to Tempe, Arizona...it's been 3 weeks down for recovery....1 sprint race....followed by 2 focused weeks bringing speed back into the equation. After my race out in Memphis...I feel confident that I'm on the right track and will soon find myself completely acclimated to racing hard and fast again....
The swim today was pretty nice. Memphis In May is a TT format start. Every athlete starting in 3 second intervals. When it was my turn...I hit the watch and took off. Water felt amazing. Thanks to the Long-John Blue Seventy Helix I was wearing...I was positive overheating was not going to be an issue. Water temp was 76.8 and if I wore a long sleeve suit...I'd fry by the time I hit the first turn buoy.
I swam the course last year in 22:31. This year I really wanted to hit a better number.
Saturday...the day before the race, I opted to swim the course nice and steady...just a little something to get an idea of effort. On Saturday, I cleared the course in 22 flat. I was a little disappointed but knew that I expended zero energy and it was just another easy day in the water.
Sunday...I stood on the line and told myself...just swim nice and steady...maybe a tad harder than yesterday but make sure and use the swim as a warm-up and see how things go. I did exactly that and exited the water in 21:37. Later on after the race...I spoke with a couple athlete from last year as well as the race director. I was told the swim was a little longer this year. With all the rain we've had down here in the South...the lake had risen and they were able to extend the course out to the regulation 1.5k. Shoot...if a :54 second pr wasn't enough...that made me smile a little more. Maybe I had gotten a touch faster? Regardless...I still had a good swim and will use that positivity down in Austin for "Capital of Texas" next week!
Just before leaving on the bike...I ended up fumbling with my helmet for sooo long. The strap was all twisted and I couldn't get it straight. I cannot believe I jacked with the stinking strap. I usually make sure everything is set up nicely before leaving for the swim start. Anyway...I was yelling at myself while wasting time. I told myself...get it together dummy. Your screwing up all that time you saved in the water. Arghh...oh well.
I left on the bike and rode pretty strong. I tried to sit in on a solid effort, dial my pace and find a rhythm. I never race with a heart rate monitor or a speedometer...just my Timex OVA! As I went through the different segments on the course...I just told myself not to get out of control...just relax in and push what you can. I did exactly that!
Something just popped into my head. That course is rough! The road in some areas is BAD. The TTX handled well and ran through the rough sections like a champ. When I arrived back into transition my Timex read 58:15. That was nice and dandy...but today...with the field that showed up this year...that wasn't going to get me anywhere. I told myself I'd need to run solid for a successful day.
I left transition like I was running back in Arizona. I went through mile 1 in 7:02. I was like...DUDE...you've got to run faster. Mile 2 was no better as I went through in 6:57. I'm still in this mindset of conservation. I'm always worried about going out too hard. Anyway...it wasn't that big of a deal as things would begin to open up.
After 2 miles of nonsense...I had just about had enough and decided to up the pace. Cleared mile 3 in 6:27. As I came up on the turn-around...I noticed they moved it further back then the previous year...about an extra 150 meters from last years turnaround spot. Ok...that means I just need to run faster I thought. Mile 4 came in 6:49. At this point I just thought about running solid....focused, and get dig into some pain. Mile 5 in 6:35. Cool is what I thought and now it was time to climb back into the park. Mile 6 came in 6:17 and the last .2 miles in 1:23. Total run time was 41:32, a minute faster than last year to the "T".
Total Time: 2:04:31
Swim: 21:37
Bike: 58:15
Run: 41:32
Overall: 57th
Age-Group: 10th
The field in Memphis was amazing! The depth of talent from around the country was like nothing I've ever seen. I thought last year was tough...but this year...everyone came to play!!! The top 20 athletes in the men's 30-34 age-group, came from 14 different states.
I didn't come to Memphis to win my age-group or even place. I came to see where my fitness was. That's exactly what I did last year and is exactly what I did this year. Last year I got a nice little present and walked away with an award. It wasn't because I beat a bunch of awesome athletes...honestly, it was because nobody showed up. This year...I got exactly what I wanted.... I came to race the best athletes in the country at the Olympic distance...and...At the end of the day...that's exactly what I got.
On another good note...one of our Timex athletes, Laura Tingle won the overall Female title, and my good friend who I traveled with this weekend..."Mikey Benes" had a PR himself. Congrats to both Laura and Mikey on truly successful days!
Until "Capital Of Texas Triathlon", Memorial Day weekend....
Later...
Mg
This years race was going to be interesting for yours truly. Coming of a long off season of base and an Ironman 5 weeks ago...I was extremely curious to see where my short course ability actually was.
Since my venture out to Tempe, Arizona...it's been 3 weeks down for recovery....1 sprint race....followed by 2 focused weeks bringing speed back into the equation. After my race out in Memphis...I feel confident that I'm on the right track and will soon find myself completely acclimated to racing hard and fast again....
The swim today was pretty nice. Memphis In May is a TT format start. Every athlete starting in 3 second intervals. When it was my turn...I hit the watch and took off. Water felt amazing. Thanks to the Long-John Blue Seventy Helix I was wearing...I was positive overheating was not going to be an issue. Water temp was 76.8 and if I wore a long sleeve suit...I'd fry by the time I hit the first turn buoy.
I swam the course last year in 22:31. This year I really wanted to hit a better number.
Saturday...the day before the race, I opted to swim the course nice and steady...just a little something to get an idea of effort. On Saturday, I cleared the course in 22 flat. I was a little disappointed but knew that I expended zero energy and it was just another easy day in the water.
Sunday...I stood on the line and told myself...just swim nice and steady...maybe a tad harder than yesterday but make sure and use the swim as a warm-up and see how things go. I did exactly that and exited the water in 21:37. Later on after the race...I spoke with a couple athlete from last year as well as the race director. I was told the swim was a little longer this year. With all the rain we've had down here in the South...the lake had risen and they were able to extend the course out to the regulation 1.5k. Shoot...if a :54 second pr wasn't enough...that made me smile a little more. Maybe I had gotten a touch faster? Regardless...I still had a good swim and will use that positivity down in Austin for "Capital of Texas" next week!
Just before leaving on the bike...I ended up fumbling with my helmet for sooo long. The strap was all twisted and I couldn't get it straight. I cannot believe I jacked with the stinking strap. I usually make sure everything is set up nicely before leaving for the swim start. Anyway...I was yelling at myself while wasting time. I told myself...get it together dummy. Your screwing up all that time you saved in the water. Arghh...oh well.
I left on the bike and rode pretty strong. I tried to sit in on a solid effort, dial my pace and find a rhythm. I never race with a heart rate monitor or a speedometer...just my Timex OVA! As I went through the different segments on the course...I just told myself not to get out of control...just relax in and push what you can. I did exactly that!
Something just popped into my head. That course is rough! The road in some areas is BAD. The TTX handled well and ran through the rough sections like a champ. When I arrived back into transition my Timex read 58:15. That was nice and dandy...but today...with the field that showed up this year...that wasn't going to get me anywhere. I told myself I'd need to run solid for a successful day.
I left transition like I was running back in Arizona. I went through mile 1 in 7:02. I was like...DUDE...you've got to run faster. Mile 2 was no better as I went through in 6:57. I'm still in this mindset of conservation. I'm always worried about going out too hard. Anyway...it wasn't that big of a deal as things would begin to open up.
After 2 miles of nonsense...I had just about had enough and decided to up the pace. Cleared mile 3 in 6:27. As I came up on the turn-around...I noticed they moved it further back then the previous year...about an extra 150 meters from last years turnaround spot. Ok...that means I just need to run faster I thought. Mile 4 came in 6:49. At this point I just thought about running solid....focused, and get dig into some pain. Mile 5 in 6:35. Cool is what I thought and now it was time to climb back into the park. Mile 6 came in 6:17 and the last .2 miles in 1:23. Total run time was 41:32, a minute faster than last year to the "T".
Total Time: 2:04:31
Swim: 21:37
Bike: 58:15
Run: 41:32
Overall: 57th
Age-Group: 10th
The field in Memphis was amazing! The depth of talent from around the country was like nothing I've ever seen. I thought last year was tough...but this year...everyone came to play!!! The top 20 athletes in the men's 30-34 age-group, came from 14 different states.
I didn't come to Memphis to win my age-group or even place. I came to see where my fitness was. That's exactly what I did last year and is exactly what I did this year. Last year I got a nice little present and walked away with an award. It wasn't because I beat a bunch of awesome athletes...honestly, it was because nobody showed up. This year...I got exactly what I wanted.... I came to race the best athletes in the country at the Olympic distance...and...At the end of the day...that's exactly what I got.
On another good note...one of our Timex athletes, Laura Tingle won the overall Female title, and my good friend who I traveled with this weekend..."Mikey Benes" had a PR himself. Congrats to both Laura and Mikey on truly successful days!
Until "Capital Of Texas Triathlon", Memorial Day weekend....
Later...
Mg
posted by Mark Gingrich at 10:03 PM
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