First of all: Thank you so much for all the messages and all the support through the social networks, it has make this experience more challenging and pleasant at the same time.
When I was coming back from Lawrence I had all the time to think about what just happened in the race, thinking about what I was going to write and the good things and so many others to change and improve my performance.
In the past couple of weeks I have been training in Boulder, CO., and have been following the plan as I was in Colombia `cause I train alone, obviously, it`s how you train for an Ironman, so there nothing new to tell about that. The new thing is this town; it is amazing, full of live, people training at any time without worries, beautiful landscapes and an exceptional weather.
Since the week before the race I had the idea running in my head, I wanted to race other 70.3 before I leave, `cause I wanted to make this trip all worth it. It was more an investment than take a risk and then come back to Colombia and feel like this trip to train in here was not that important, so I talked to Luis about it and follow my lead.
I wrote to Ironman and resides the registration was already closed they gave me the opportunity to do it, that is why some of my information is wrong: I am not from Lousville, CO., I do not even know where is that, and I am not 33 years old, I am just 28, I have not knocked on the 3rd floor door (lol).
To the race I got there pretty early, I travel from Boulder to Kansas all thursday; it was 9 hours and 20 minutes by car. Before the race I made some short works and I was ready for the action. Well, not so ready, `cause I have forgotten my wetsuit in Boulder, and even when there was only a 20% chance to need it; I did not wanted to be worried about that 20% so fortunately the family I am staying with send it by express mail .
In this trip I did not spare in any expense, expenses not luxury, I had to rent wheels, plus the tuning of the bike and some other things.
Finally the 20% of chances using the wetsuit was 100%, and the start was from de water, like last time in Florida 70.3, I was right by David Khan, who I say is one of the best swimmers on the circuit. The start was pretty wild and David was so fast and I could not keep up him, and there was a gap.
So there was nothing else to do than swim with the group what was not a easy job, the water was rough and it was difficult to keep the line, especially on the way back, in the end I was 3rd out of the water with Khan. It was Paul Mathews first and behind him we were 6 swimmers.
T1 was fast, the day before I had been practicing with my helmet and the sun glasses, in previous events I had some troubles with them and I was losing seconds, precious seconds, and the group is starting really strong, the first miles on the bike are so fast and I have had the calm to keep up with the leaders.
So, this time I was more agile, the bike started with a hill and even I was on a good position I felt like I did not have the explosion and not lose the reference, saw how Bell, Khan, Guillaume y Matthews just ride away. Then, there was a couple of small hills while we came out Clinton Park and from there it was all about a hilly road.
And American who competes on Olympic distance came around and could not keep his pace, and I started to worry, my legs was not at there best and they were not going to respond to the effort alter all the long rides and runs I had been doing, I try not to lose the moral and Bryan Rhodes catch me with other four. I kept them as my reference, I was keeping their pace, then Harrison from England and McDaniel from CO. passed over and Rhodes could not kept their speed as I was behind Rhodes I had to sprint and connect with Harrison and McDaniel, they switch the lead for about 30 km, at 40 Km this two guys pushed the pace and when I looked back there was no one, then McDaniel left Harrison made a gap between them and one more time I had to sprint and keep Harrison in front of me, it last about 20km, until I run out of gas and I had to ride on my own speed, then McDaniel chase me again and we kept switching positions.
When we got into T2 I realized that there was 4 leaders so far ahead of me, so the best place I could get was 5th, I put my tennis, took the ASEA and kept on my mind this 5th place, that was the same thought that McDaniel had, who passed me over, without giving me the smallest chance.
I ran controlled, a little bit harder than I did in Florida, now I was chasing the 6th place, I got him on 10K, at that point I had forgotten the little pain I had on my foot, `cause this time I lose a my tennis it wasn’t as tight as I used to wear them, so I have tried days before but when I was going down the hills it was not natural, my foot kept moving in the shoe.
The run was 2 laps, the first one was a high 38 minutes, I was motivated, I was gonna run under hour and 20 minutes, but the group behind me was full of good runners Poulson from Canada who in Florida cut off so much time from me, Umphenor and White from USA, the last one crossed the finish line before me in San Juan 70.3 and Torstel Abel from Germany who on paper was on of the favorites to win this race.
Talking about favorites when you look the start list so many times it does not reflect the reality of the race, there’s so many guys who don’t sound as favorites and they are showing how good they are and all these guys are the ones who keep this distance improving, so for me one thing is the race on the paper and other is the race, nothing is written.
Again on the race I started doing math and the chase group was going to chase if I kept running at that pace, at 12K I run out of gas, I do not know if there was no gels on Hydration stations or I was not seeing them, at that point I have just eaten one that I had before I left T2, on 15 Km I got another, maybe a little late, but finally I got it. Now that I am looking the results I did not lose as much time as I thought.
I finished 6th, one more time on the podium, and with so much satisfaction of been here, training here and had taking this risk and got something on change. The nest challenge is June 26 on Lubbock, TX: Buffalo Springs 70.3 Ironman, that just I week before it looks winnable now is full of pros, but how I said before there’s nothing written and I have to give my all to be the fastest and gain my spot to Las Vegas.
This week there are some long rides and runs for Franckfurt, so even it is going to be hard I know I need them, I also know I need to make some changes on my training plan, it will take a while.
Once again thank you so much for all the support, specially my girlfriend, my team in Colombia 226, to Oswaldo Santos and to my sponsors, I know it’s been a really hard time, but even thou they have try their best for me.
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