Alex McDonald Pro Triathlete

I have start off by saying that I knew my race in Lubbock, TX was going to be fantastic, or horrific…I just wasn’t sure which.  Unfortunately, it was the latter.  However, there were 8 Timex Multisport Team member racing and part of the great things about being on a team (aside from sitting around the pool drinking beer post race) is that when one member has a bad day (i.e. me) the other members pick you up by having great races!  Tim, Dennis and Chris swept the M35-39 age group, Cindy won her age group,  Barry was smiling all day, Andrew and Laura had solid races in the pro ranks as well…all in all a great showing for Timex.

As many of you know, my wife is 8 months pregnant and I wanted to get in one more big race before I take a mid season break and adjust to life as a father.  However, I had been on the road for 12 days the prior weeks, and I wanted to be around as much as I could to take care of her in the late stages of pregnancy I decided to make this trip as short as possible.  I landed in Lubbock at 8:30 Saturday night 10hrs before the race began.  My awesome host family picked me up helped me build up my bike and even fed me.  Thank you!  I had a feeling the stress of a last minute arrival, travel and the prior weeks of racing and traveling would either leave me exhausted or I would simply be racing on pure adrenaline due to all the chaos.  Unfortunately it was the former.  That is not to say that I am not glad I came, I am actually very glad.  As I had mentioned in my Eagleman race report, at this point in my triathlon career I need to race as much as I can to get the necessary experience.   My goal was to come to TX to race, good, bad or ugly, I came to the race with high hopes, but no expectations and I think it is safe to say I achieved my goal, I raced and I learned.

Swim: 26

I hate beach starts, but there we were standing on the beach about to start the race.  I began aggressively and jumped out and got into the mix of some of the heavy hitters at this race, but my arms did not feel much like swimming and I was quickly shot out the back on the lead group.  In retrospect I was hammering away trying to go as fast as I could, but doing so at the cost of proper form and technique and as a result I ended up in a small pack a few minutes behind the main group.  Lesson learned, swim form always triumphs arm turn over.

Bike: 2:24

Not a horrible day out on the bike.  I certainly felt better than I did at Eagleman, however, not stellar.  A crash lost me some time and hurt my ego, but I continued on.  Having not driven the bike course did put me at a disadvantage, but I’m not here to make excuses.  The bike course has a little of everything, some short steep hills, flat straight sections, a few technical descents (hence the crash) and on this particular day…wind!  The winds began to pick up throughout the ride and began to wear on me mentally.  I had made up sometime and a few places on the bike and was ready to hit the run.

Run: 1:32

The wheels didn’t just come off, they exploded.  I must admit at mile 3 and 4 I have never wanted to quit a race so badly in my life.  The first 3 miles my legs were exhausted, my lower back was seizing on me and I was running low on perseverance.  I actually stopped and stretched out my back a little and did some of my physical therapy exercises.  They didn’t really seem to help right away, but I continued on, because as much as I wanted to, quitting was not an option.  I took in as much nutrition as I could and began to just jog along.  I slowly began to feel a little better and by mile 6 I had found my running form and some semblance of a rhythm.  I decided to try to pick up and decided to salvage what was left of the race and give it everything I had.  I am a goal oriented person and at the turn around my Timex Tap watch read 3:43 race time and I said to myself, ok 4:25 is the new finishing goal!  With my mind newly focused I began feeling better and to my surprise I actually ended up passing a few of the runners who had previously passed me.  I crossed the finish line without my usual enthusiasm and went to the medical tent to clear off some of my road rash and have some food.  However, the clock read 4:25…one small victory accomplished.

Nutrition:

The race day conditions were hot, although wind, high cloud cover and arid climate made it deceptive and if you did not pay close attention and stay on top of your nutrition and hydration then you paid the price.  I did my normal halfironman nutrition approach with a few hickups: 8oz EFS and ½ scoop PreRace 15min before the swim.  On the bike 24oz bottle with 4 scoops EFS and 1 Liquid Shot flask mixed with water and 6 salt tabs.  I also filled and drank water from my aero bottle 4 times. Running out of T2 I grabbed my fuel belt with each 8oz bottle containing a scoop of EFS with a scoop of PreRace, I knew I was going to need a little extra help on the run.  I began my normal routine of a salt tab and Clif Shot block every even mile marker and sipping from my fuelbelt and grabbing water at the odd mile markers.  However, as I began to break down at mile 3 I went into survival mode and drained both my fuelbelt bottle between miles 3 and 4.  After I started running again, I then grabbed water, sports drink and coke at the aid station.  I realized around mile 10 that I was pretty dehydrated, I was no longer really sweating and my arms, mouth and hands felt bone dry.  Because of the deceptive conditions as well as my nutrition/hydration and run plans going out the window I had fallen behind on hydration.  At the next aid station I slowed down and took in as much fluid and salt as I could and continued onward.  At that point it was late enough in the race that I was able to make it through on fumes.  I took 3 scoops of Ultragen right after crossing the finish line along with some salt tabs and water and I was feeling much better!

As I write this I am left with a mixture of frustration and excitement on my mind.  I am frustrated, because know exactly what parts of my day I would do differently if I had the option to do it again.  This is part of gaining the race experience I need in order to improve.  However, I am also excited because I learned a lot from this race and I know that I will carry these mistakes with me make sure they do not happen again.  Additionally, I learn more and am more motivated after a “bad” race than a “good” race.  Races such as this, initially are pretty disappointing, but long term I think they do more for me long term.  This race has light a fire in me and will help me to become more dedicated and more focused each and everyday on being the best athlete I can.  So watch out!  Next time I do a major race, not only will I be motivated by my new daughter, whom I will be racing for, I will also be more focused and more dedicated than ever!  J

This race report is a little over due and as such I’ll make it brief.  I last raced Eagleman in Cambridge, MD in 2006, where I first punched my ticket to Kona as an age grouper.  Needless to say I have fond memories of the race and the city of Cambridge, so I thought I would venture back and see how big a difference 4 years and racing as professional can make.

I drove up to Maryland so I did not have to hassle with bike boxes, airports or packing everything I need in the smallest space possible, a rare and welcome change from my normal pre-race routine.  I was hosted by a great family who lived right on mile 2 of the run course and it made for a very comfortable and convenient location.  Not to mention they spoiled me with a huge pasta and crab dinner on Friday night after my arrival!

Swim: 30

The water temp was almost 80 degrees, so no wetsuits for anyone, especially not the pros.  The swim start was delayed for 10-15min because of some buoy misplacement.  However, I think they were still wrong and the course was a little long, because all the swim times seemed a little slow.  The good news is that had a solid swim and I exited the water at the front of the main pack of pros, something which I have been working hard to do and in a non-wetsuit swim no less.  All those hours in the pool and work on form and technique are finally paying off.

Bike: 2:16

I had no juice in my legs on the bike and watched many of the other athletes ride away from me.  As hard as I tried and as much my legs were burning I could not produce the power I am usually able.  My PowerTap wasn’t lying, my legs were still pretty tired from all the downhill pounding the prior month at Ironman St. George.  The wind, desolate bike course and isolation made for some tough racing conditions, however, I pushed forwards.

Run: 1:25

Not a very impressive run split, but the heat (90 degrees), humidity and wind were getting to all of us out there by this point in the race and the run became a  proverbial “death march.”  I tired as best as I could to put a pretty weak bike leg behind me and focus on the run.  The first few miles I found my rhythm and my legs were happier on the run than on the bike.  I slowly began to pick people off ahead of me.  At the 6.5 mile marker I found myself in 11^th position with a several minute gap up to 9^th and 10^th a seemingly insurmountable distance.  I began to enter “survival mode,” wanting to slow down and simply make it to the end, however, I fought off the desire and tried to stay smooth and steady all the way to the finish.  My approach paid off and I moved into 10^th position just before the 13 mile marker.  Like I always say, never give up!

Nutrition:

The heat and humidity made for some tough race conditions and hydration became an issue earlier than normal.  I did my normal half nutrition approach with a few changes: 8oz EFS and ½ scoop PreRace 15min before the swim, on the bike 24oz bottle with 4 scoops EFS and 1 Liquid Shot flask mixed with water and 8 salt tabs, (I added 2 more than usual).  I also made sure to try to fill and drink water from my aero bottle 4-5 times as opposed to the normal 3-4.  Running out of T2 I drank 8oz EFS with a scoop of PreRace.  On the run I took a salt tab and Clif Shot block every even mile marker and sports drink from the aid stations on the odd mile.  I found that this protocol kept me pretty well fueled and hydrated as I was able to run the second half a little faster than the first while many of my competitors faded in the last miles.  I took 3 scoops of Ultragen right after crossing the finish line and I was good to go!

I would say that I am happy with my race at Eagleman, however, I am far from satisfied.  I know that I have the ability in each sport, yet I have yet to put together a single race where I acheive my full potential in all 3 elements.  I think it is a matter of simply practicing, racing often and most importantly, being patient.  Rome was not built in a day, and neither will my triathlon career.  Persistence, patience and repeatability will pay off eventually.

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