Crunch, crunch, crunch, breathe. Crunch, crunch, crunch, breathe. The rhythmic sound of my body running through Hulls Gulch on snowy trails invigorated the senses. The dusk air stunning in its crisp and lucid panorama had me piercing the universe. Running uphill to the east, the scene bore into the deepest regions of my mind. The pure white silhouette of the mountains contrasting with the shadow rise’s purples and blues put joy in my eyes. And wow, there’s even some pink.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, breathe. I wanted more. My eyes scanned the cloudless evening sky. Limited in their ability to see everything my neck careened back towards the west and again, the joy in my eyes was immediate. Take it all in; soak up the beauty, said my soul. Exhale. Breathe in the world. The moment to moment changes in the brilliant hues of orange and red kindled the heart while the sun began warming the other side of the world. My spirit soared just like my running and the Christmas Cheer I had been lacking swept over me. The stillness; vast and calming, brought nature closer. We merged into the sneaking night.
Running through an area dubbed ‘the orchard’ I wondered if the Great Horned Owl was perched somewhere nearby. I wondered if he loved the beauty of this night and murmured my feelings his way. My friend heard my thoughts and bellowed out a few hoots in agreement. I smiled. Crunch, crunch, crunch, breathe.
Breathe in the Christmas Spirit.
Happy Holidays
Music for your reading pleasure
Dallas Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon Results 2009
If I had God-like powers to design flawless race day conditions I would do it much like the weather in Dallas on October 11th, 2009. A breezy 50 something air temperature with a bit of rain. The water temperature as cool as it gets without being a wetsuit legal swim (68 degrees) and some chop on the lake for a thorny swim. Then, a bike course with small rollers and a head wind to polish off my perfect race conditions. But I had to laugh; as ideal conditions set me up for a fast race, my stupid back was not playing along. Most of my movements were hindered by the extreme pain of an area in my back that decided to go on strike against any actions.
Sunday October 11, 2009 5:00am
Waking up Sunday morning for the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon, it took me a couple minutes to physically get out of bed and with substantial pain. My facial expressions contorted in an effort to deal with the white hot energy overloading my senses. My lower back had locked up the day before and now any number of movements caused distortions in my face. I could barely dress myself, how was I going to do a triathlon in a couple hours? Rationally, it seemed unrealistic to even consider it. In an exasperated tone I told Nico Lebrun (my traveling buddy for the weekend), “I’m just going to stay here and watch TV.” As depressing as that was, it truly seemed like the logical choice. Nico, “Nah, you can at least swim.” Grabbing on to this thought, some of my sorrow lifted. “You’re right, I can at least swim.”
Many of the world’s fastest triathletes were signed up for this year’s U.S. Open and I needed to race them. Olympic non-drafting races are my favorite and I had yet to do one in prime condition this year. To have such a good season end with a no-show or a DNF was eating me up. I yearned for this test and wanted the challenge; it can be so much fun to move your body as fast as you can. Projecting my mind into all the unknowns (the reoccurring theme here being my back locking up) and anticipating the race caused much anxiety. Usually, envisioning a race is pleasurable, but hobbling around and not being able to tie my shoe had me worrying. Then, a turning point; I became present, and at the moment sitting on the bus in route to the start I was OK with manageable back pain (but this small victory was due to the fact that I was not moving!?). I joked with Nico, who came to this race as preparation for the Maui Xterra World Championships with the expectations for some heat and humidity, that this cold rainy weather is ideal for racing. “Perfect prep for Maui!”
Everett (arm and sliver of blue suit) starting the U.S. Open
Nico and I were lost for much of our time in Dallas. I blame it on the lack of an awe-inspiring environment. We missed the pro meeting in part because of being lost. So we never learned of the bus meant to be just for the pros. Being the first wave we cut to the front of a very long line with some boos and hisses…no, but we did get a few funny looks. I was ready to exclaim to anyone who complained…”Hey, that’s Nico Lebrun”, and surely that would have smoothed things over.
Matt Reed in 2nd; Everett on his right about to finish swim
Dallas is a point to point race and after the long 40k bus ride we were thrust into the dark, rainy, and fresh chill of early morning. I felt it before I knew it. That pit of the belly feeling that something is wrong. Then, I realized what was wrong…no helmet. A little self sabotage to give me another out for this sure to be painful race? Nico too, needed a helmet as his European Metz helmet did not have the all important seal of approval sticker. Ah well, no aero helmet for me but we were fortunate to both obtain helmets from the local B&B Bike store. Thank You!
After a long and fresh warm up the pros huddled together in a tent, feeding off all the body heat to stay warm. Luckily, for me, we started in knee deep water so I had little concern for throwing out my back before swimming. I took a safe spot right in the middle. Waiting for the start, I was aware of being in a calm mindset. The guys on the far left had the best start and a good lead for the first few hundred meters. Miyasiro pulled away from everyone early on but I hung around the front comfortably. Content to be in the front pack I went as easy as possible and enjoyed the speed that we moved through the water. It is awesome; the energy your body can sustain, to move you.
Finishing up the swim and right with the 2nd guy out of the water Matt Reed, came the moment of truth. Yesterday, I had great trouble getting to an upright position out of the water. I stood up. Yes, yes, yes. This little victory gave me a huge boost. I can do this! My excitement directly channeled into more speed.
My T1 was only a second off the fastest and after a minute or two had passed Miyasiro and was riding in 3rd place with Reed and Collins just a breadth away.
Again, I enjoyed the speed at which my body thrust me through the wind. It was exhilarating and I had a furnace with ample coal to throw on the fire. I threw coal on the fire with reckless abandon. The day and half of paralysis was way too much, I felt like the butterfly bursting out of his cocoon enjoying the freedom of flying.
This was a non-drafting race and to be staying around the likes of Greg Bennett, Bevan Docherty, and Bruno Pais, with Matt Reed just off the front was thrilling for a full time YMCA employee / part time pro (expensive hobby) guy from Boise, Idaho.
Feeling strong throughout the bike I came into T2 on the heels of Bennett in 4th position. As good as things were going I still feared the bending over to put on my shoes because this was the exact motion that might make me scream like a little girl. My back was hot and a little stiff but vastly improved over my situation this morning. I ran with a big inner smile.
Feeling awesome I ran with the likes of Hayes and Docherty for a few, let’s say moments. It seemed I had limitless energy, yet I just don’t run as smooth or as well as these pure breeds. They were working way less to go faster, maximizing each foot strike, gaining ‘free’ speed. My form is not pretty, (a work in progress) and much of my energy gets lost in the ground. Only 6 years into triathlon and running with the first 2 being plagued with injury, I hope to turn yet another corner this winter in the never ending quest of improving your Tri-skills.
Running alone and focusing on quick feet I felt great but was still hindered by a stiff and fatigued back. It did throw my form off, but I was so ecstatic just to be running that it hardly mattered. And there was still the race with in the race…to hold off a mad dashing Lebrun on the run. Alas, he was nowhere to be seen on the out and back course. But he kept me running scared for ¾ of the run…thanks!
It seems once the race started Nico and I traded fortunes. He received a bogus ‘failed to stagger’ bike penalty even though he was 20m or more behind the guy. A few minutes after his 1 minute both feet on the ground penalty he got a rear flat tire. Riding Kristin Armstrong’s gold medal TT bike he had to be careful not to damage it. So he came into T2 freezing from lack of effort and wisely called it a day. Thanks for trading fortunes with me Nico…it was very kind of you.
Later that afternoon Nico vented with some world class running speed complete with 2 times up and down the 10 stories of our 10,000 room Hilton (our little bed & breakfast).
Nearing the finish (400m) Chris Foster cruised by putting me in 12th place. Chris is some kind of NCAA track star so I didn’t feel too bad about being run down by him. I did see him later and call him a bastard…with a smile on my face and only in jest. Good job Chris.
Thrilled with my finish and my season I marveled at the body’s ability to heal and overcome. Our bodies are truly amazing. Here’s to using yours and being moved!
On a side note, I may have won the triathlon, but Nico won the all important bike packing competition crushing me by several minutes complete with trash talking and a jubilant victory dance.
Slowtwitch article:
Its Reed, Norden in Dallas
Hidden Springs Duathlon
September 19, 2009.
5k run, 11.4 mile bike, 5k run
It’s not often that the little local race happens to have a World Champion entered in it. However, this year’s Hidden Springs Duathlon had Nicolas Lebrun on the start line. Not to mention many strong athletes from Boise. Being 3 weeks removed from my last big race (Paris Grand Prix) and 4 weeks since any aerobic training I fooled myself into thinking it might be a perfect tapper. If you think your training has been too easy, it probably is. But that’s OK, I needed the break and it helped to smooth over the transition from France back to the US and a new job at the YMCA.
Meeting Antonio Gonzalez, one the many aerobic monsters entered in this race, we rode together to the competition. Only a couple miles in, his tire goes flat. He turns around to go home and drive while I pedal on. The only flat I’ve had all summer was actually just a valve problem that occurred moments before the start of the only other duathlon I’ve done this year in Sallertaine, France. Of course, just before cresting the large climb that brings you down to the event; my front tire goes flat.
I change the tire quickly and then promptly break the valve extender with my mini-pump. Then, break the valve trying to squeeze air through it. Arrrgh! Putting my thumb up to hitch a ride, the first truck to drive by is a good friend, Joe Reed. Lucky day.
Needing a valve extender to fix my tire, and not finding one, I begin to think I might not be able to race. However, Antonio brought a spare wheel! Lucky day II.
Having a whole two minutes to warm up I head over to the start line. With little time to think about it we’re off and running at a good clip. Nico took it easy on us and didn’t take the lead until about 1k in. Feeling good I stuck with him. Around about the 4k mark he was just 5 meters in front of me while Tom Liby started closing on both of us. Closing the gap up to Nico quickly, I spiked my heart rate. Chastising myself for the mistake; I start suffering. I’m forced to attempt a recovery while keeping in touch. I was fortunate to be able to run into transition on the heels of both Nico and Tom.
We immediately start climbing and it’s a rude awakening after riding flat miles in Vendee, France all summer. Tom and I exchange leads several times with Tom climbing faster while I descend faster and lead on the lone flat section. With two large climbs the whole bike feels like a rise.
Nico lingered in front of us for the whole bike and increased his lead to about 30 seconds. Give Lebrun a lead in the run and it’s pretty much over. That left Tom and I to battle it out for second. Leading for the first bit while running at a comfortably hard pace Tom started gaining on me. He caught and continued to pull away with a strong negative split. I hoped to stick around and maybe close with a surge to give the crowd a good show, but his lead grew too much over the last kilometer.
The race doesn’t lie. It proved an excellent window, shedding light on my fitness or lack of it. With one last race on the calendar, the U.S. Open in Dallas on October 11th, I have some tweaking to do. Let’s just hope that two weeks are all I need to bring it out.
Results
More photos courtesy Joe Reed
