Nautica SoBe Tri: Race Recap

Transition was buzzing starting at 5:30AM on the sands of South Beach for the Nautica SoBe Triathlon. I definitely drove by several people on their way HOME from the clubs at that time. The water temperatures were cool enough to allow for a wetsuit legal race, which was music to my ears. Swim went OK, as I finished the swim about 2 minutes from the lead pack with a time of 14:14.  

With a slight wind out of the west, the bike leg looked to be fast, and it proved so. I hammered by Rotor 3D+ cranks and averaged 24.8mph for the 19-miles. I made a costly nutrition mistake on the bike, using a bottle of overly concentrated fluids for the short race distance. As a result, towards the end of the bike, I started to have GI problems. I was in 8th off the bike heading into transition, but once I dismounted my bike and started to run, my GI distress reared its head again.

The first half mile was a constant struggle not to throw up. I pushed through the discomfort, running in the 6:40s for the first mile. I picked up the pace, averaging 6:15-6:20, when again, my stomach acted up. I slowed my pace at the turnaround. I tried to pick it up again on the way back, but couldn’t quite bring it up to speed. I finished the run at an average of 6:35/mile, finishing 12^th overall of 1200+ with a time of 1-hour 30-minutes.

Overall, a fun race and I am happy with the result. Definitely motivated by all my fellow Wattie Ink athletes who raced to some podiums at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and Texas this weekend. Way to rock it!!

Thanks to Wattie Ink and all our sponsors for the support this season!!

On a side note, my new Wattie Ink race kit comes Wednesday! One of the sickest kits around!

Next up, The Intimidator, Florida Challenge triathlon (half ironman) in Clermont, FL on 3/15/12. Ready for my first distance test of the 2012 season!!

Toe the line: a week of ups and downs

Last weekend I had one of my biggest training weekends in some time, with 100+ miles on the bike and 3+ hours running. The following week was scheduled as a recovery week, culminating with my first triathlon of the 2012 season on Sunday (today). Less than 12 hours prior to my race on Sunday, my throat was hurting, my head was pounding, and my back and neck were aching. Great timing! The night was filled with tossing and turning, with my internal thermostat going haywire. One second I was freezing and would cover with a blanket, just to start sweating the next. Took an ibuprofen, which allowed me to get a little sleep. I was seriously considering not going to my race less than 5 hours later. I must have gotten some rest, as I woke up at 445AM (really 345AM - thanks daylight savings time) and felt a little better. I decided to give it a go and try to toe the line.

545AM: checked into transition and warmed up. Felt OK, but head was still heavy and muscles ached.

645AM: Short swim warmup. I have been living in FL too long. Water was 75, and it was freezing!!

7AM: Race starts! 750m swim course was long. Couldn't hang with the lead group led by pro Maxim Kriat. Settled into my pace and excited the water around 13 minutes and change, about 2-2.5 minutes behind the lead pack. T1 hurt worse than anything else, running barefoot on rocky asphalt (feet still hurt)! Grabbed bike and was ready to hammer. It was a windy day with a constant NE wind at 15+mph. My Garmin had the bike course long at 13.3 miles with watch showing an average of 23+mph. Recorded a 34:25 bike split, 7th overall, with the pros going 31-32.5 minutes.

(Cervelo P4 after hammer time)

Entered T2 having not been passed and passing 2-3 athletes. Grabbed my run gear including new Wattie Ink visor. Official team kits ETA next week!! Started out at a moderate 6:13 pace on the run and maintained this for the first mile. Second mile was at same pace, followed by a 6:04 pace to finish the 5K off.

Ended up placing 11th OA and 6th in Elite Amateur division. Also finished 2+ minutes faster than the top athlete in my 30-34AG.

(forced smile)

(really felt like this)

Although I am smiling, my head had started pounding again, and I was getting flu-like aches. I hydrated the rest of the day, and spent the time laying and sleeping on the couch! Thanks to my wife, Jessica Houston (Healthy Urbanista) for the chicken noodle soup and popsicles! Feeling a little better already.

So, the first triathlon of 2012 is in the books. Despite the illness, I am glad that I raced. I know that I have even better performances ahead. However, its only March and I identified areas that I need to focus: swim, and continue to build my bike and run endurance. Thanks to all my Wattie Ink Elite teammates for all the motivation over the past few weeks, and thanks to Wattie Ink for letting me Rock the W in 2012!!! Thanks also to Lee Zohlman for all the long and hard weekend training blocks and the race wheels!

(Rock the W!!)

***WANT TO WIN A FREE ROAD ID?? Go to Healthy Urbanista to enter!!!L

The Year of Breakthroughs

We are 2 weeks into 2012 and I am already excited for things to come this year, regarding ophthalmology, triathlon, and my family. 

In regards to my ophthalmology training, I am finishing up my 2^nd year, and will start my 3^rd and last year of general ophthalmology.  With this transition in July comes more responsibility, but also much more time in the OR performing eye surgery.  I am looking forward to this new chapter in my professional career, a time for me to fine tune my surgical skills while at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.  As exciting, come July, I will also embark on my path to seeking a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship to further specialize in retinal surgery.  Looking back at my first days in medical school, it seemed like a never-ending trek. Now almost 7 years later, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Three more years of surgical training, a time for me to mature into the best eye-surgeon I can.  In addition to my clinical and surgical training, I hope to continue my academic endeavors in 2012, much like the past 3 years.  I hope to continue to write novel and meaningful research papers and articles to contribute to a better understanding of ophthalmic disease. 

Triathlon, or swimming-biking-running (in that order), is a fairly new hobby for me, with my start less than 3 years ago in 2009.  After my first race on a borrowed bike with basket peddles and all my training done on a “fat tire” bike, I was bit by the triathlon bug upon crossing the finish line.  Despite crazy, and at times insane work hours, I jumped right into training.  My first full season of triathlon training and racing was full of ups and downs as I was a neophyte in this new sport.  However, with consistency and hard work, as well as many great mentors along the way, I continued to progress.  2011 was an awesome year for me, as I raced for Team Odwalla (www.odwalla.com) and BodyZen (www.bodyzen.com), qualified for USAT Age-group National Championships, received honorable mention in USAT rankings, and completed my first-half ironman race and finished in sub-5 hours.  Two weeks into 2012 and I anticipate a breakthrough year.  I was recently selected for the Wattie Ink Elite Team (www.wattieink.com), a group of 50 athletes from around the country who will be representing the “W” in 2012.  I already feel an amazing camaraderie with this group of athletes, and I have even more motivation to be the best I can in 2012.  2012 will include several more long-distance events, including several 70.3 (half-ironman) events, as well as my 1^st 140.6 (full ironman).  Going into the season, with my first warm-up race in March, I have made several goals for 2012; all realistic that I know I can meet with consistency, dedication, and staying healthy.  For the Olympic distance (0.9m swim/24.9m bike/6.2m run), my goal is to break 2 hours and 10 minutes, and for a bike split less than 1 hour, and sub-40 minute run split.  For the 70.3 or half-iron distance (1.2m swim/56m bike/13.1m run), my goal is sub-4 hours 30 minutes and qualification for the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas.  Being that 2012 will be the first time I race an ironman (2.4m swim/112m bike/26.2m run), this is harder to predict.  But based on my observed fitness and timing at other distances, my goal is first and foremost to finish, but sub-10 hours is my time goal.  Qualifying for my ultimate goal of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii would be icing on the cake.  Reading over these goals, they seem lofty to complete all of them, but the first step to fulfilling any goals is stating them and putting them in a place for you to have a constant reminder.  So to all my fellow triathletes out there, and my Wattie Ink teammates, lets rock 2012!

Last but definitely not least, 2012 will mark 4 years of being married to my amazing, sweet, beautiful, loving, caring, and supportive wife, Jessica Houston (www.healthyurbanista.blogspot.com).  The past 3 years have been the best of my life, and she has been the main reason.  I look forward to all that 2012 will bring us, eith new experiences, career developments and decisions, travelling, and more time together. 

So, as we start the 2012 year, I encourage everyone to think about what is important in their lives and how they can make these things even better in 2012! Most importantly, make goals, write them down, tell someone, and put them in clear view on a daily basis.  I wish everyone the best in 2012!! 

2012! The year for MORE social networking.

Welcome to 2012!! Although most people probably made the New Year’s resolution to limit their use of social networking, my New Year’s resolution was the antithesis.  I wanted to become MORE connected via Twitter, Facebook, and blogging.  Not that I have more time, as work and triathlon training continue to ramp up (more time in the OR performing eye surgery and training for a breakthrough triathlon season).  I guess I am learning to budget my time better, which means I wake up earlier and sleep less.  As a result, I have started to second guess my abstinence from caffeine, which began 6 years ago! Finally, I have to thank my awesome wife, Jessica Houston (@JessicaKHouston), for all her love and support, despite my crazy work schedule, early 4AM wakeups to train, and now my desire to start writing.  (As a side note, for interesting insights on nutrition, follow her new blog at www.jessicakhouston.tumblr.com).

For 2012, I hope you will take the time to check in frequently, as I will be writing what’s on my mind, but primarily everything eye-related and triathlon-specific: swimming, biking, and running. 

Happy New Year!