Last-minute is my minute! Once again, on a crazy combination of persistence, luck, and kindness from UWC Triathlon Invitational race organizers, I found myself on yet another flight - this time internationally - on way to beautifully tropical Nassau, Bahamas.
The invited male pros consisted of a very talented field, including Tim Don (multi World Champ and Olympian), Luke McKenzie (2013 Ironman Kona World Champ runner-up), Ben Hoffman (2014 Ironman Kona World Champ runner-up), and Jarrod Shoemaker (Olympian). The women's field was just as stellar too!
The invited male pros consisted of a very talented field, including Tim Don (multi World Champ and Olympian), Luke McKenzie (2013 Ironman Kona World Champ runner-up), Ben Hoffman (2014 Ironman Kona World Champ runner-up), and Jarrod Shoemaker (Olympian). The women's field was just as stellar too!
The very small, very talented field.
The Don & I discussing race strategy: GO HARD.
Luke McKenzie striding out like a boss. We need the photo replay of that start!
Swim
On the 2 lap course, I led from swim start to swim finish, and everyone stayed together. Swimming back to the beach on both loops into the strong tropical rising sun was pretty brutal but managed to stay on course.
On the 2 lap course, I led from swim start to swim finish, and everyone stayed together. Swimming back to the beach on both loops into the strong tropical rising sun was pretty brutal but managed to stay on course.
Leading back into the beach
Leading out of the water
Re-united with my TT bike after it took some dust in the bag!
Bike
I had a good T1and managed to maintain the leading spot onto the bike. The course consisted of a flat and fast 4-loop circle on pretty bumpy roads. Riding on the left side of the road. I tried to go hard from the start, but couldn't generate the max power I wanted to and needed to achieve to break the field. (Fun fact: this could be because my TT bike had been kept packed in the bag since LTF Oceanside 2 weeks prior, since I thought my racing season was done for the year!)
I had a good T1and managed to maintain the leading spot onto the bike. The course consisted of a flat and fast 4-loop circle on pretty bumpy roads. Riding on the left side of the road. I tried to go hard from the start, but couldn't generate the max power I wanted to and needed to achieve to break the field. (Fun fact: this could be because my TT bike had been kept packed in the bag since LTF Oceanside 2 weeks prior, since I thought my racing season was done for the year!)
After a while at the front with the group in tow, Luke "PowerHouse" McKenzie came thru and set a very solid pace. I shy away from "sitting in" (even at legal distance), but damn he was pushing hard watts and I had a hard time coming thru to take pulls at the front. Between our combined work, we managed to form a solid 4-man group, and build a solid 2' gap - which we didn't know about, because there were no out&back on the course.
Run
Coming into T2, The Don showed us all up with his 20+ years ITU experience by flying thru right before the dismount, and in a buzz was in&out of transition. It took me a while to put my shoes on (one day I'll have to figure these transitions out), and was out on the course in 3rd trailing McKenzie by a bit and Brandon right behind.
The run consisted of a 2-loop out&back course on gravel and some loose sand parts. I knew I could run with Luke, since I was in this same position at LTF Oceanside and we ended up running the same split. This time, I was feeling good and he must have been feeling all the Ironman fatigue, because about 3k into it I made the pass. The humidity and heat were strong, but I felt the best I've ever felt on the run, not only holding off the guys behind, but also running a 10k PR in less than ideal conditions.
Coming into T2, The Don showed us all up with his 20+ years ITU experience by flying thru right before the dismount, and in a buzz was in&out of transition. It took me a while to put my shoes on (one day I'll have to figure these transitions out), and was out on the course in 3rd trailing McKenzie by a bit and Brandon right behind.
The run consisted of a 2-loop out&back course on gravel and some loose sand parts. I knew I could run with Luke, since I was in this same position at LTF Oceanside and we ended up running the same split. This time, I was feeling good and he must have been feeling all the Ironman fatigue, because about 3k into it I made the pass. The humidity and heat were strong, but I felt the best I've ever felt on the run, not only holding off the guys behind, but also running a 10k PR in less than ideal conditions.
McKenzie, me, Don, Brandon group
This racing suit is so tight. Kids, cover your eyes. I apologize for nudies!
Crossing the line in 2nd, behind the man Tim Don
