Kansas 70.3 Results

Ironman Kansas 70.3 was awesome. It gave me a chance to actually get some race time in and test myself on some different terrain. I am really happy with my results, though I would have liked to have my bike time under 3 hours and the run under 2... I'll get another shot next weekend. But surviving races of this distance is the key, and I did that.

One of the best parts about racing in endurance events is seeing the other participants. There are moments that you feel less than optimal and when you see people next to you, even though you have all felt better, it gives you motivation. You also never know who you are going to share the day's experience with.

A little while into the run, I started talking with an athlete who said he had flown in from Boston that morning! (Though, I think I still trumped him by driving back to Houston after the race.) He was a former pro (though suffering from jetlag) and we talked about Ironmans, he has done 19. Obviously, he had my attention after that statement. I told him I was doing Ironman Lake Placid in July and he confessed that it is a tough course. He went on to say something that I wouldn't think a former pro would admit and something that I had heard before but because of the timing put a lot more stock in, he said Ironmans are 90% mental.  

Brain - This July, it is you vs. me.

(The clock in the photo reads 6:29:10, but my time was actually 5:57:09. This happens as a result of wave starts. Most races do wave starts to avoid 1,500 athletes killing each other all at once. I went off at 7:02 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. with the pros. Full Ironmans are notorious for having a MASS START. Remember Mortal Kombat?)