The good the bad and the sore. 3 races in 3 weeks.

Only once before have I attempted the triple.  In the sport of triathlon it take a long time to recover from each event, so the triple is not something the should be done regularly.

Race # 1  Rev3 Half-Ironman Middlebury CT

This was a solid race (except the swim)  The bike was tough but I rode conservative with the hopes of having a strong run and all went to plan.  This was the race I was hoping to have in St. Croix.  A solid season opener, and a good starting point for some strong races the rest of the season.  It is great when a big race comes to your neck of the woods, we are lucky to have such a well-run and high-profile event in our backyard. I came in 13^th amongst the strongest pro field I have ever raced against.

Race # 2  Eagleman Half-Ironman, Cambridge, Maryland

Never having done two ½ IM races back to back I was not sure how I would hold up.  A week of easy training to rid my legs of soreness was a good idea.  The Eagleman bike course is super-flat (26+mph average) but very exposed to the elements.  No shade at all on the bike or the run!  The temps in the mid-to-upper 90’s started to take their toll on the field.  I was not feeling great on the run, but the first 4 people I passed were either walking or lying down!  I had a solid bike and run to come in 6^th only a few minutes off the former ½ Ironman world champ.

Race #3 Xterra Eastern Champs Richmond Virgina.

So I was much less sore after the Eagleman race and kept with the plan of a few ez sessions to get me through the week.  The Richmond Xterra is my favorite race of all time. In the past 8 years I have been the top American finisher 5 times.  The city, the people, and the course  all make it very special weekend.  Things went from really good to really bad really quick when I got flat tire half way through the bike.  I ended the day with a DNF, but it was great to see so many old friends and the flat did not take away from the great weekend.  I can’t wait to get back next year.