Race 20: 2011 Wildflower Long Course

Date: April 30th 2011
Distance: 1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike, 13.1 Mile Run

Starting off the season at wildflower was a tradition, but attacking the long course was something that was new for me. I took on the challenge of a half Ironman the year before, but this race is known as one of the hardest half Ironman races in the US. This race was going to be a challenge, but I was training all winter with this race in mind. Before the race I felt in the best shape I've been in for a race, and was eager to get started.

The swim start was hectic. The boat ramp was a little crowded with our age group going into the water, but by the first 250 yards, the field started to spread out and I was able to go at my own pace. I didn't push very hard as I knew the hilly bike ride was up next and came out of the water in 45 minutes.

The bike ride was known for being very challenging. During the winter, I trained for a hilly course, but nothing like this. Early into the race was a very steep 1 mile climb, followed by rolling hills for many miles. When the course finally did turn flat, it was into a heavy wind. When that nightmare was over, the course took another long, steep climb that seemed to take ages to finish, and when it did, my legs were shot. Every hill that came in the next 16 miles to the finish I cursed.

The run, which again was covered with hills, was very hard. I was already spent, and within the first mile caused my run to turn to a walking pace. I would pick my speed back up when I could, but half way though the race was a dreadfull climb that gave me a break from running, but still kept my heart rate up.

2 and a half hours later, I would cross the finish line. I was so excited, but had no energy left to show it. The small amount of energy I had left went to finding a chair and sitting for a long, long time. I may have been in a lot of pain, soreness, and dehydration, but I was not defeated. And that was all I needed from that finish.

Links:

Original Blog: http://ironmikecanada.blogspot.com/2011/05/day-119-eaten-up-spit-out-pulled-apart.html
Website: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2013-main.htm
Official Results: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20110430_AVIA_Wildflower_Triathlons.htm?Fuseaction=Results&Class=Long+Course+Individual~M25-29

Race 14: 2010 Wildflower

Date: May 1, 2010
Distance: .25 Mile Swim, 9.7 Mile Mountain Bike, 2 Mile Run

2010 would begin with the same setting and race of my first triathlon ever. The One and Only Wildflower Triathlon. I was really looking forward to really pushing hard this year and recovering from my previous years mistake when I fell off my bike during a fast downhill decent. The race almost didn't happen though due to a late night with what I think was food poisoning. It struck me while I was camping the night before, and if I hadn't been camping and about 5 hours away from home, I may have just slept in that next morning and avoided the race all together. I was up at 6 am that next morning though (not like I ever fell asleep), and feeling slightly better, so I figured "hey, I'm here, so might as well just give it a try". After racking my bike and getting ready for the swim, I hung out in a porta potty, emptying what was left of the food poisoning while keeping an eye on my watch to make sure I didn't miss my 9 am start time. I was literately zipping up my wetsuit and jogging down the boat ramp when the air horn signaled the start of my race, and I jumped in the water in the back of the pack of racers. My only main thought at this point was "please don't shit your self while wearing a wetsuit..."

Within minutes starting the race I began to feel better. It's fair to say I was not at the top of my game, but I was surprised at how well I was able to race considering what had happened the night before... and in the porta potty a few minutes prior. Both the swim and the bike seemed to go by quite smoothly. I was easily used to the distances, and having raced the bike course 2 times already I knew what to expect (and what corner to slow down at). The run was going smoothly, but the sun and heat made sure I could feel the dehydration starting to catch up with me. I stopped for about a minute to walk before I was encouraged by a fellow racer to push on, and I did. I hit up the one and only aid station for everything they were offering at the turn around point, and made a strong effort to run the remaining mile back to the finish line.

My finish time was 1 hour, 12 minutes and 23 seconds. Almost 10 minutes faster than the previous year. Although I didn't finish in the top 10 like I wanted, I still considered this race a huge accomplishment, and proof that I can handle what ever life puts in my way, including some bad food the night before a triathlon.

Links:

Website: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2013-main.htm
Official Results: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20100501_AVIA_Wildflower_Triathlons_and_Festival.htm?Fuseaction=Results&Class=Mountain+Bike+Individual~M25-29

Race 8: 2009 Wildflower

Date: May 2nd, 2009
Distance: .25 Mile Swim, 9.7 Mile Bike, 2 Mile Run

Coming off a very confidant finish in San Rafael earlier in the year, I was really eager to best my time at the Wildflower triathlon festival. I once again elected to run in the mountain bike triathlon, which was a sprint distance event with some off road elements to the bike ride. This was also going to be the first event where I was actively going to make an effort to get involved in the swim. I was nervous about being in the middle of the pack with all the thrashing and kicking, but if I was to improve as a swimmer and triathlete, it was going to have to be something I am going to face sooner or later. I got to the start line, lining up in the middle of the pack, and only 2 racers deep. Before I could change my mind and back out, the start horn blew and my adventure had started. I threw myself into the open water, starting my quarter mile swim.

As it would turn out, when you swim in a large pack, you really have only one direction and speed to go. The guy in front of you never seems to get out of the way, and the guy behind you makes sure you don't fall back. You hope that the guy in the front is sighting properly, keeping you in a straight line, other wise this quarter mile swim could turn into one third by accident. After the turn around buoy, things started to open up a bit. I had to start sighting for the exit ramp myself, and I apparently did a pretty good job. I exited the water in 8 minutes at 15 seconds, almost 2 minutes faster than the previous year, and was stoked at my time. I got on my bike as quick as I could trying to keep my time down.

I remembered the bike ride from last year, recalling that the course wasn't to technical, leaving me with plenty of room to focus on my speed. Just after mile 4, was a long downhill portion on off road terrain. Feeling fairly confidant and still having plenty of energy I bombed down as fast as I could. There were plenty of straights where I could see plenty of the course up ahead, and there were not many, if any, racers around me to endanger my decision to go fast, so I went for it. About half a mile later, the off road terrain merged back with the road, and a long wide u turn lay ahead. I could see the first half of the turn, and judged my speed accordingly, slowing down a little, but still allowing gravity to keep my MPH up. I entered the turn wide, got about half way, where I noticed that my wide, long u turn would end very sharp. I knew that at my current speed, I would never be able to complete this turn. I just needed to slow down a little bit, and I could make it, so I just tapped my rear break. And that is all it took.

With out any time to recover, or even realize what was happening, the rear tire of my bike slid out from under me, and gravity took me to the ground, where momentum dragged me along the asphalt. When me and my bike came to a stop, I sat up, figured out what had happened, and decided the middle of the road while a triathlon was taking place was a bad place to be. A near by spectator picked up my bike for me and walked me a few yards off the course so I could recover and inspect my wounds. The main thought in my head at the time was "who falls off there bike at 25 years old?". A few moments later, another athlete came roaring around the same corner miss judging his speed, and falling in a similar dramatic fashion. Well, at least I'm not the only one.

The same spectator who walked my bike with me, went to his car and let me and the second fallen athlete raid his first aid kit to repair our selves. He was even willing to drive us back to the start line, but both of us would answer "no no, we're OK. We can keep going." After thanking my new medic, I hopped back on my bike and finished the course, however at a much more cautious speed.

Taking the last half of the bike at 3/4 speed left me with some strong legs for the run. And I was going to need them if I was going to make any attempt at besting my time. Luckily I ran 2 quick 7:38 miles for a final time of 1 hour 21 minutes and 54. Almost 6 minutes faster than 2008. The result still made me extremely happy, even with the adrenaline of the race fading allowing me to notice more of the pain in my knee. Luckily the damage wasn't to bad, and I would still be able to train within a few weeks of the race, and race a little more than a month later.

Links:

Wildflower: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2013-main.htm
Official Results: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20090502_Wildflower_Triathlons.htm?Fuseaction=Results&Class=Mountain+Bike+Individual~M25-29

Race 1: Wildflower 2008

Date: May 3, 2008
Distance: Mountain Bike Sprint (0.25 mile Swim, 9.7 mile Bike, 2 mile Run)

The Wildflower Swag

On this day in history, Michael McCarry discovers triathlons.

In the museum of McCarry that I have in my head, this is what a plaque on the wall reads for May 3rd. For this was the day that I decided that I did my first, and would continue to do triathlons, with my ultimate goal of completing an Ironman.

A few months earlier, after having my new iPod + Nike running kit for a few months, I needed a goal. I found that running with out a real purpose didn't make any sense, and that I needed something to motivate me. After searching many local running races (with a goal of doing a Marathon one day in mind) I came across the Ironman triathlon. I remembered the name from watches I owned as a kid (Timex Ironman) and wondered what it was about, and how it ended up on a watch. After becoming short of breath after just reading the description of Ironman, I decided that this was not a goal for myself in the short term, but was interested in the format of the race. Swim, Bike, the Run. Moments later, the internet lead me to the Wildflower.

The (One and Only) Wildflower Triathlon Festival is the largest event of its kind in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Thousands of athletes come to race, some representing their countries from all around the globe, and a select few competing for the coveted "Champion of Wildflower" title. In its 26th year, Wildflower was huge, and was about to be my first race. Luckily, there were 3 race distances available for athletes; The long, Olympic, and Mountain bike sprint course. I obviously opted for the shortest of the 3, being the sprint. I felt I was easily prepared after doing no actual swimming, a little bit of biking in the local bike path, and continuing the 5 - 6k runs 2 - 3 times a week. Boy was I wrong.

After my 50 yard warm up... and exhausted

That morning, after racking my bike in the transition area, I squeezed into my rented wetsuit, took out my brand new goggles from there packaging, and headed down to the start line. I looked out an in the distance over the lake and about 250 yards away I could see two large orange bouys. This was the swim course for me. Didn't look to challenging at the time, but this would change quickly. The announcer calmly advised all athletes that wanted to get wet and warm up to head into the water, as we were about 10 minutes away from the start of the race. I calmly entered the water and swam to the end of the boat dock and back, probably about 50 yards total, and got out of the water... completely exhausted! What the hell have I gotten myself into? How the hell am I ever going to complete this swim? What about the bike and the run after?!? This had shortly become a nightmare, but one I planned to see though.

At 8 a.m. that morning, I entered the water with the rest of the athletes.

10 minutes later, I exited the water. At least that is what the race clock said. To me it felt like over an hour. I was sure I just drank 4 gallons of water, was struggling to keep my balance, and wondering how the hell I was ever going to complete this race. I was moments away from finding the nearest course marshal, and telling them that I can't continue, and that I just wanted to go home when I spotted him. The guy who saved my triathlon career. The guy puking in the trash can. At that moment I realized that I'm not in a worse condition as that guy, and that I can continue this race.

I took the bike at an extremely conservative (possibly not by choice) half walked, half ran the 2 mile run course to cross the finish line with a time of 1 hour, 27 minutes and 44 seconds. A volunteer came up to me, placed my first ever finishing medal over my head and congratulated me. I had finished my first triathlon... and it felt great!!! I still can't express the amount of joy and accomplishment I had felt at the time, and I knew at that point I was hooked! I couldn't wait to go home, and sign up for my next race, and I was in luck! Only a month and a half away was another local Mountain bike sprint race! A few clicks and a credit card later, and I was signed up for the Silicon Valley Mountain Bike Triathlon!

links:

Wildflower Website: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2013-main.htm
Official Results: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20080503_Wildflower_Triathlons.htm?Fuseaction=Results&Bib=&Firstname=&Lastname=mccarry

Day 252: Heavy Rain for the Hardcore

Winter training is always a challenge in the northern hemisphere. Days are shorter, weather is colder, and with out any races coming up its hard to get motivated. Today, however, was more challenging than most.

Early this morning, thunderstorms caused a 1 hour power outage in my apartment until around 12:30. After power was restored, I had my lunch, did some cleaning and headed out around 2:30 to begin my 90 minute Sunday run. Although the sky was still offering a little rain and the ground was littered with leaves and small branches from the earlier storms, it was going to take more than a little water and sticks to stop me from getting in my scheduled run.

Turning onto the running path along side the Los Gatos Creek trail, I was shocked to see as many people running and riding my bike as I did. This may have been caused by the brief break in the rain that happened 30 minutes before, providing a small window to possibly get in a dry run. Most of them disappeared as I got further into my run, as I'm assuming they got tired of getting wet.

The rain was constant and the path had many puddles, some of which grew to the width of the trail itself making it impossible to avoid. 25 minutes and 5km in, the path is completely washed out forcing me to run a short segment along the street. Shortly after I hit the 30 minute milestone and take in my first GU. I'm feeling good and keeping a good pace at around 5 minutes per kilometer (8 minutes per mile).

The entire first half of my run had drizzling rain, and my running hat was dripping from the brim. This was very manageable and my running jacket kept me pretty comfortable. This was when the weather took a turn for the worst. Winds began to pick up and the rain became harder and cold. My jacket is water resistant, but my pants and shoes are not, not to mention my face is exposed. Around 1 hour I start to get a little cold, and the jacket and shoes are soaked with rain water and beginning to feel heavy. Not to be deterred, I continue my run though the rain and finish with a final distance of 18.1 km and a pace of 4:59 per km. One of my faster long distance runs I've had in a while.

This run completes week 7 of my 26 week work out plan before the wildflower half ironman. I'm pretty much on schedule, and everything is feeling good. Next week end will prove to be a challenge to my dedication though, as I will be vising my hometown of Mississauga for the holidays for 11 days. The cold weather and vising friends and family will surely get in the way of my regular schedule, but hopefully I can get myself out of bed early enough and get in the work outs I have planned.