KANSAS 70.3

Well, figured no better time than the present since now in Illinois during drive home from KS. Read if interested, ignore if not.

Race venue - I'd say if your looking for a quality 70.3 race course Kansas is worth doing especially if you travel in a group and can take a Fri Mon off work so you can enjoy more of the park, perhaps camp amongst hundreds of other triathletes, and postparty. Lawrence offers a nice clean downtown near KU campus and real good places to go eat or shop/hangout if interested.

Logistical challenges would be the 2 transition areas, 630 close of transition, and one way into the park which created a long line of cars for those of us who stayed off site in hotel - get to site early if so!). Those who figured they did not need headstart were noticably 'late" to T1 after the 630 close, and I mean many were late to T1 from my view though they may change this next year based on comments we heard. The walk from parking to registration is about a 1/2 mi. Lots of people did their bricks in the park on course, swim in lake was not open but there was a beach down some stairs near parking lot that people used to get in a short swim away from the actual swim start which was closed off until race day. Clinton Lake is fine, not clear water but did not think it was nasty or anything like that once in (was almost no wetsuit swim due to high temps during week but cooler temps overnight dropped lake temp to upper 70s so ended up wetsuit legal).

Bike course roads were really good condition throughout - hills on and off throughout w some steeper climbs, some stretches of straight with some false flats up and down, out and backs w turnarounds in 2 spots. If wind was stronger, you go various directions so would say it would be a wash since you'd be heading most directions during the 56 mi. 3 aid stations, no sag wags I saw for bike support that I saw ... more on this later.

Run course was mostly flat, 2 loops, one steeper hill early on and a slight slow steady riser as well, but mostly a faster run course and wound throughout the campground (so a good amount of fan support from campers not racing and others) and park with some out and backs thrown in.

My race recap short and sweet. This race was a prep for IMLP, as it was for Jay Druml who I went down with, BUT I did have secondary goal of posting a time and perhaps getting a slot at 70.3 Championships in Clearwater FL.
Swim went well, no issue, did not find a lot of feet to draft off of when possible in the swim - I either couldn't hang on or was faster so pretty much just stayed along buoys on the out and back swim and felt good and steady.

T1 went very well, no issues and had most of my stuff on the bike besides helmet, glasses, race belt w number, socks, towel. Always try to keep it simple.

Bike went great for me overall, Jay has me riding really well this year following his training plan and been getting in some great training rides with he and a group I've been riding with for years at 0 dark hundred. Paid off ...until the final climb at mile 50.5 when a rider came up from behind calling out that he hears something from my rearwheel and thinks its my brake rubbing. I look down - flat! Insert any expletive you can think of, pretty much ALL of them crossed thru my mind. Pulled over, kept things calm knowing minutes are what this should cost me and i had great race going so forget about the setback and move on.
Problem - I have race wheels w deeper rims, and spare tube had stem not long enough to inflate wout extension. My front and rear have long stem tubes so did not have one of these. Memo to myself - make sure you have the RIGHT spare tube on your bike! So now the wait begins knowing a sag is my only shot at perhaps having a long stem tube or extension. No sag...lots of thoughts now in my head. Riders riding by were great I a testament to our community. I had 5 bikers offer their spare, 2 actually stopped to see if their spare would work....wow. Several telling me to finish however I can, don't quit - especially after I had begun to walk carrying my bike on my shoulder since rear wheel was just a rim now. A bitter sweet positive to see that during their race, offering to help and cutting into their finishing time. I will return the favor someday - that I promise. Sometimes you need some badluck to see a different side of this sport - the community aspect. So anyways - after several failed attempts - a few complete tire repair kits thrown my way to boot I kid you not - I decided to begin walking to the park still hoping for a sag for a tube change and no such luck. 3+ miles later, now looking at about 45 min off the clock, I come across the entrance to the park and a spectator on a bike asks me what the issue is and he has an extension! He used it to inflate the tube, struggled abit with the getting the tire back on the rim - Michelin Kyrlium or Kevlar I believe(you know - the tire that you put on to AVOID flats? Mine were all but 3 weeks old....hmm). These are tight fitting tires btw ...NOT easy to get on a rim! Anyways, I ride it in - had been averaging 22.3 and 280 watts pre-flat - well, this might hurt the average ya think? Had made up my mind to finish the race and race the run. Its what we drove 550 mi to do, right? So I did. Took my time thru T2, then began my run how I had pictured it before the bike setback. Felt good all day, still felt good, so went with it.  Luckily due to warmer temps coming I fueled really well during majority of the bike so I knew I could run.

Took in some gels and water early and often due to the nutrition setback from being stopped and not having any more food on my bike, and then got into my normal alternating gatorade and water and gel every 20-30 min or so w water since I was running pretty hard. Ended up running the best 1/2 marathon run ever - though rumor has it course may have been slightly shorter than 13.1 according to some Garmins. Who cares at this point. Still raced, had a good day, solid effort, learned a few lessons and learned some appreciation I didn't have for sportsmanship from fellow competitors, had a great training weekend so can't complain really.
I love the sport too much to not stay positive - and I'm all the more ready for IMLP now so next race recap better be a good one ...without the dreaded F-word.



Take care and thanks for reading.
Looking forward to yours when you post them!

Andy