Clyde Watts Race Report/Mistletoe

Race Name: Mistletoe Sprint Tri (part of the Tri the Parks Series) 7/20/13
Place: 2nd Masters

The context here is I am training long course for Augusta 70.3 then Ironman Arizona 140.6 not short course like sprint triathlons. I generally have heavy legs from events like my TriCoachGeorgia.com Augusta 70.3 camp sponsored by all3sports.com the weekend before. Making matters worse I had a big training day the Friday before and learned that my legs were very fatigued and Coach Shanks was aggravated at me for overdoing it again. However, I do love to throw down on occasion and figured I could make things work for an hour or so.  I would just have get out pump myself up, take in some extra caffeine and go for it.

The Blade, TaxSlayer and I left Athens early Saturday, picked up packet, and set up transitions. This was the 4th time I was doing the race so I had some ideas on where to save time on transition and where to push it extra hard. I tried to mull around talking to all my peeps from the current and past all3Sports.com age group team and mechanical team, Tri-Augusta, solo racers and other teams and my coaching firm, TriCoachGeorgia. Soon we were led to the swim start for the national anthem and race start. Chuck always does a great job as race director and things were smooth like always.

My swim went well as ever in the 4 times I did this race. I found some feet to draft and did the best I could on this out and back in some hot lake water. I never know where I stand after the swim but figure the worst. So I sprint like a Banshee to transition.

Move Slayer...MOVE!!

T1 was tight. I grabbed my BONT tri shoes and ran up the little hill over the mount line to put them on. Then I mounted the "Sickle" and was transformed into The Slayer. Hooting and hollering and trying to encourage my fellow racers passing everyone along the way I could to one of the better bike splits overall and for myself over the years. 

DO YOUR JOB! #DYJ

As I returned into the park on this M type bike course, I had a mishap at dismount line that I quickly recovered from and grabbed my bike and quickly carried it into T2. I threw on my Zoot shoes and headed out into the early section of the trails and that short steep hill early on. I knew I had passed most of the masters but couldn't be sure and needed to keep on the pressure. I ran pretty strong considering a bad foot hampered run training most of the Winter and I didn't run an organized 5k all year. My slowest run in 4 years of the race at 21:12 but still proud of the effort. Great seeing everyone like Daniel H and Andy D. on the sections where we did an out and back.

Post race, I had some good times cheering everyone in and during the awards ceremony! The all3Sports team who did very well, got together for some silly pictures and I smashed a water bottle after I got my medal and trophy for tradition. I was glad to find out my teammate Andy D. was the one who beat me by around a minute largely on the basis of a better swim. Well done to him and everyone!

What a great group!!

Now I move on to the August Lake Russell olympic distance via Tri the Parks, but look more forward to my 10 year old's 1st adult tri in LaGrange this weekend. Also, there are plenty of other folks racing that I can't wait to follow.