EagleMan 70.3 Race Report 2017 Part 1

Swan Song (noun) a person's final public performance or professional activity before retirement.

 When I finished MusselMan last year (DoubleMussel), I decided that it was time to take a break from long course triathlon.  My back hurt, my body ached, and my back hurt.  With my issues at the L5/S1 vertebrae, 56 miles on the bike is grueling.  So, I logged my results in my hand IM Goal Chart and... 9.  9 finish times for the Half Ironman distance.  I can't stop at 9!  So I thought about it and in the fall, signed up for Eagleman.  Eagleman is an early season race (risky) but the course is pancake flat.  Not easy, as there are headwinds, crosswinds, current, and heat, but flat.  I told J that I was going for number 10 and then I'd be done.  So, after 12 years, 2 cancelled events, 9 Half Irons and 1 Aquabike, Eagleman was to be my swan song.  
Nerd Alert:  70.3 Distance Results and Goal Charts
 As per usual, I wrote out some goals on my chart: 
GOALS 6:30:00 Swim-45:00  T1-3:00 Bike - 3:10:00  T2-2:00  Run-2:30
I then saved and closed out my document and completely forgot about these goals.  
I booked a hotel, made arrangements for my sister and the kids to join me and told J that he was free to work the Hudson Crossing Triathlon all weekend.  The plan was coming together.

 I spent the winter months focusing on my run with two spring half marathons.  I ran one in 2:12 and the second in 2:08 - numbers I hadn't hit in 10 years.  I finally had broken through some of my own limitations that I had dealt with for so long.  
I also committed to 5:30 AM group exercise classes:  Boot Camp, Body Sculpt, and Spin... and I went back to Weight Watchers and lost those pesky 15 pounds that come and go like the tide.  

 I biked on the trainer to simulate flat road, I ran on the treadmill to simulate flat road.  I ran without water, I ran with water, I ran with Red Bull (which was going to be on the course).  I ran in Florida over spring break and...I...trained.  Jason was an absolute doll, affording me whatever training time I needed.  Sometimes I'd take class in the morning, and ride or run at night.  

 A week before we ran Ragnar PA --- a gamble for sure as I took on 14 miles of this overnight running relay.  The mileage wasn't a factor as much as the exhaustion that I usually feel post-Ragnar.  I focused on recovery in the final 7 days with a sensible taper: 

 Sunday: SLEEP
Monday: SLEEP
Tuesday: Abs, Back and Booty
Wednesday: Group training ride (22 miles @17.5 MPH)
Thursday: Open Water Swim (1.2 miles)
Friday: 3.1 mile run @ 10:23 pace
Saturday: 500 yard open water swim at the race site

 I was as ready as I was going to be...  





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