Bryan Brosious: Big Finale: Race 3 of 5

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Big Finale: Race 3 of 5 - Bonney Lake Triathlon

I will say right now, that I’m not entirely thrilled with my race, 3^rd place is fine, but it’s not the same as defending a victory from the year before. I just didn't "have it," but I did my best, didn't quit, and was able to finish 3rd.

*Courtesy Image Arts

The good thing about 3^rd is it gives me a chance to reflect on other aspects of the race.

*Hammer Nutrition boys, David and Richard Ling

First and foremost, I was treated unbelievably well by some very generous people over the weekend. Kevin and Anne put up with me again for multiple nights. They are very generous and I very much appreciate spending time with them and staying at their house. My welcome wore out about 20 years ago, yet they still let me stay. I love being at their house and in their town, I see why they like to live in the area they do. I really enjoy visiting them.

*Pre race ride pic #1

*Pre race ride #2

*Pre race meal, healthy and delicious.

My family, Debbie and Bill, made the drive to my race, cheered me on, and fixed me a salmon dinner. They also let me crash for a few hours on their couch to rest my muscles. They are very caring and I appreciate their hospitality and cheers at all the races. I am lucky to have them come to the races.

Stuart, Renee, and their family took me in after the race like the 4^th brother and treated me exceptionally well. Stuart finished just behind me at the race and I could hear Renne cheering for him. After the race she told me with a smile, “Sorry, I couldn’t cheer for you because Stuart was too close.” We both found that pretty comical. They were very nice in inviting me over after the race, feeding me delicious food, and providing me with some great pictures for this post

*Who's the random guy in our family portrait?

*Honorary brother for the day, I'm the wimpy brother.

Sometimes the most special moments in triathlon are not the moments, but rather the people you share those moments with. I had a lot of special moments at the race because of the people I shared it with. Rory and Deanna of Budu Racing have become good friends of mine. The first thing I do when I get to the race is seek out Deanna and Rory and give them a hug, they are fantastic folks. Their youngest daughter, Jenna, has been at a lot of the races and she was nice enough to serve as one of my photographers for this race, which I appreciated. She even painted “Go" and "Bryan” on her fingers for some extra cheers. Rory, Deanna, Shila, and Jenna are some of the nicest people. I am really happy that I have become friends with them.

*Budu Racing family

*My cheerleader, Jenna

*"Go Bryan"

Alright, so now that I have said some of the many things that went well, I would like to take this opportunity to mention a few things that didn’t go well. I say these things as matter of facts, they are not excuses or anything that would take away or diminish the accomplishments of the other racers, specifically those who beat me, fair and square.

*Good job to you, sir.

*The podium boys, congrats to Bruce and Eric

The over hanging feeling after the race is that I “gave away” a race that was well within my reach to win. The gentleman who won, Bruce, beat me by 7 minutes, yes, 7minutes, the last time I raced him, which was in 2009. He is a super fast guy, but I had him right where I needed to in order to win (in my opinion only). The top three overall started the bike together and I put a bunch of time into the other two over the first 7 miles of the bike. I looked back on a straight stretch and they were almost out of sight.

*Warming up the turbos

*Courtesy Image Arts

Then it happened, I hit a few bumps and my seat went “bloop” and dropped, disaster. I could no longer ride in the aero position, or maintain the power I had before. Within a mile and half that huge gap I had created was gone and Bruce and Eric had rejoined me. Disheartening to say the least, but it happens. I lost to Bruce by 30 some seconds and I know my bike gap that I had created was close to that. Anyway, I take nothing away from ‘dem boys because they put in on the field pretty good. It also didn’t help that when they did bridge up to me we went off course and lost time to the remaining chasers. Luckily, we only lost time and not places, frustrating none-the-less, though.

*Here we come

*My poor bike seat :(

*Bike to run

*Sweet kit!

That’s really all I can say, I think I gave it away and that is what makes my 3^rd place bitter sweet. As the returning champion I came to win, 3^rd isn’t the same, but it also isn’t the end of the world. Those sort of things are disappointing in the short to term but motivating and satisfying in the long term after redemption. I have been there a dozen times, I will bounce back, it’s fine. Overall it was a great day for everyone, I take nothing away from the speed machines who beat me, they deserved to win, and those who were catching me up until the finish.