My good friend, Dave, we are all happy you are a-okay. You are a special friend to a lot of people.
I was lucky enough to have a great entourage including my
parents, both sisters, Scott, Diana, Jess, Anne, and a lot of great race
friends. The barbecue we had after the
race was nothing short of amazing. When
you have smoked ham, brats, secret recipe macaroni salad, baked beans, and
homemade cookies the serving is at minimum three trips through the line.
*My dad slaved all day so we could feast after the race
It was great to see all the tri friends and catch up. This year’s race was pretty cool because I
was sharing a swim lane with my brother-in-law, Scott. Just before our swim start I heard a
familiar voice say, “Hellllloooo down there!”
Ha ha, Uriah!
*Apic is worth a thousand words...
*Loosening up
*Hi Uriah
*Go get it boys!
The men’s elite heat started and we took off for the 500
yard swim. I didn’t feel very sharp during the whole race, but I did manage to
have a great swim. I swam a 6:17 which
is 22 seconds faster than my previous best at the race. I came out of the pool well ahead of all but
one of the overall contenders. My transition spot, thanks to Jess and Anne, was prime real estate.
*Lime green accents!
I hit transition and made my way to the bike course in
second place. This race is run in heats
so I quickly lost coordinates on the leader as people started to come and go in
both directions. At the three mile mark
on the bike a group of three caught me.
I was a little irked because I watched them work together the whole
ride, pack riding isn’t legal at this race.
*This is how pack riding makes Uriah feel
During the bike I felt like I couldn’t wind up the tempo to
the time trial pace. I kept slipping in
and out of what I felt should be my pace and what I could handle on this
specific day, the two did not match. I
have chosen to ride the first few races of the year without a bike computer and
race simply on feeling. After the race I saw my bike split was 30 seconds
slower than last year.
*Scott on the bike
Still having fun, I made transition two in 6th
place overall. I made my change to
shoes and left sporting some sweet lime green run gear. I wasn’t really that close to anyone and
didn’t have anyone in close chase to threaten me. I felt pretty flat on the run, which wasn’t a surprise based on how
I felt during the bike and swim. I ran the two out-and-backs and the huge hill
to the third dog-leg running comfortably by myself. I wasn’t all that tired, I just didn’t have
the spring in my legs to wind it up and run hard. That happens.
*Climb baby climb
*Geoff on the run
*Forward LEEEEAAAN
*Scott rocking the sweet kit
Last week I was on top of the podium with the victory smile,
this week I didn’t even make the podium.
That’s what makes triathlon interesting; anyone can win on any given
day. Just when you start to feel like “the man” it will bring you back to earth
in a hurry. I’m not disappointed in 6th,
it’s motivating, and any day of triathlon is a good day. There were a lot of
studs at the race; the majority of people finishing in the top 10 spots have
won multiple races. There is no reason to be a complainer about 6th,
doesn’t mean I have to like it though. J
*Call it a day, I'm done.
Diana had a fantastic day; she completed her first triathlon
while showing off her amazing swim. She
impressed a lot of people with a sub six-minute 500 yard swim. Congrats to her on her first triathlon
attempt.
Scott also had a great day of racing. He wore a great outfit including shin sleeves
(oh yeah party time). He had a strong
swim, rode his sweet new triathlon bike fast, and then suffered like we all do
on the hard run course. It was cool to
share a lane with him; we never hit hands or crowded each another.
*Wave goodbye
Overall the barbeque and time with the family and entourage
overshadowed the actual race results.
It was fun to race and spend time with everyone at the race. It’s a safe bet to say that everyone at the
race had fun regardless of were they finished.
It was a great day to be us! Thanks to my dad and Jess for the pictures! Thanks to the entourage for the cheers! Thanks to Heather for letting my type this race report at her house! Thanks to you for reading.
*A final thank you to Hammer Nutrition for taking such great care of me