Vineman 70.3

Last weekend was by far my best result as a professional to date when I placed 4th at the Vineman 70.3. To my surprise at the pre-race meeting the water in Napa was unseasonably warm and therefore, it was going to be a non-wetsuit swim. Lucky for me I had my Kiwami Kameleon and was able to latch on to Clayton’s feet, who in my opinion is the best swimmer in the sport of triathlon. I am just lucky that he hadn't swam all week due to a bike crash, otherwise trying to go with him would have been a lost cause - hope he's all healed up by now. So, I exited the water in second place and tried to find my own rhythm on the bike. I actually led the bike leg for about the first 10 miles before getting passed by Joe and Reinaldo at warp speed. The next group to pass me was lead by Craig and included Brian, Clayton and Simon. I did everything I could to just keep them from riding away from me for the next 40 miles. Onto the run, Simon, Craig and Clayton were out like bats out of hell. I just tried to run my own race and was able to eventually reel in Clayton and Craig, although Leon passed me around mile 8. Anyway, I was stoked to get 4th and I achieved my main goal of qualifying for the 70.3 world championships in Clearwater - yeah!
Here's the article about the race from slowtwitch: http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Pip_Taylor_Joe_Gambles_win_Vineman_70.3_922.html

On another note, it was very sad to hear that an athlete on the course was seriously injured when a rotting tree literally fell on top of him and his bike. From what I hear he is recovering well from his two surgeries and I hope that he has a very speedy recovery. I know that everyone in the triathlon community is wishing him the best. This is one of the craziest freak occurrences that I have ever heard happen to someone in a triathlon.
An article on the accident: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090719/ARTICLES/907199983/1031/SPORTS07?Title=Freak-crash-during-Vineman-when-tree-falls-on-cyclists

TI

So, I normally have an awesome swim at TI and love in-water starts. However, this year, trical decided to start the race further back and we basically got a push start from the mud of the shoreline. As a result of corralling 45 athletes in a 20 yard area, the swim was more like a boxing match from the start. I got a steady dose of jabs to the head over the course of the swim, as we were swimming 5 abreast for most of it. Exited the water at the tail end of the front pack, and hauled ass in transition, mounted my bike and took off after the leaders. So, the past two times I have made the front pack at TI, I have been badly dropped on the bike and end up in the large chase pack, but this year I was gonna turn myself inside out and not let that happen again. I was the last guy to pack the front pack. At the start of the bike, our pack steadily gained time over the leading trio of 3 powered by simon whitfield and was just 30 seconds down by lap 2. However, over the course of the last 4 laps we managed to lose 2 minutes plus to that lead breakaway and the chase pack almost caught us from behind, getting into T2 20 seconds down. I knew I had to start out the run conservatively and not pace off the others in my pack who were all really good runners. I settled into a nice rhythm and was running in 9th place until about the 6k mark, when the wheels really stating coming off. The last 4k was more like swimming on land with my arms flailing around. With just 400m to go I got caught by 2 other athletes and had to use an all out kick to beat them. Luckily for me, that’s my specialty – I’m money for the last .2 mile, it’s the first 6 that’s the problem. Anyway got some much needed ITU points.

Bad economy = more time to train

Just read this in the wall street journal. So if someone beats you in your next race, just blame it on the economy!
As Unemployed Amp Up Their Training, Marathon Results and Participation Rise
By REED ALBERGOTTI

Longtime runner Ray Gobis posted a 3:09 at the Boston Marathon in April—his personal best. The cause wasn’t a new training technique or the perfect weather. It was because Mr. Gobis got laid off.
“Other people might go into a cocoon or something. Me, I’ve done the opposite,” says the 47-year-old Mr. Gobis, who lost his job in November as director of operations for a printing company. With his new-found leisure time, he has amped up his regimen to 60 miles a week and joined a competitive running group.
Americans might be poorer, but they certainly aren’t slower. With the economy in the doldrums, more people are discovering that without those 12-hour workdays, they’re able to pursue fitness goals like never before. Marathons, triathlons and road races are filling up in record time.
Some evidence suggests that laid-off marathon runners are actually helping push up the level of competition within their age groups. Olympic-level competition could even go up because more elite athletes coming out of college are opting to pursue their athletic goals rather than look for work in a dismal job market.
Read the rest of the article at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204261704574274070492669550.html