IMAz

I did not race this weekend in Az. But, it was a fast day. Jordan Rapp and Sam McGlone both set course records. Austinites Richie Cunningham and Terra Castro both had solid races in the pro field with Richie finishing 4th and Terra 6th. But this blog isn't about them.

We had two athletes race, MW and CM. When you coach someone, you try to give them all the tools that they need to hit their goal whether it is to just finish, break 15 hours, break 12 hours, or whatever. Sometimes there are little tweaks to be made. Sometimes they just need the reassurance that things are headed in the right direction. Other times, they might need a stern talking to that tells them to just do the workouts. You tell them to control the things that the can control and don't worry about everything else. What do I mean? I mean that you can't control that the water was 62 degrees for every single athlete in the race or that every athlete had to deal with 2000+ people spread out over a 60k loop that you rode 3 times. What I mean is that you control how you react when you get kicked in the head in the swim or when you see a string of people sitting on your wheel (I have been a victim of this, and it got the better of me).

Setting a goal of qualifying for Kona is an interesting goal. You need to know about what it takes (10:45ish for example), but it really isn't a variable that you can control since it depends on how everyone else does, etc. Now, if you know exactly where you are in your age group and where everyone else is and want to 'race' an IM or 70.3, getting the coveted Kona spot can be a little more in your control so to speak.

So, both athletes headed to IMAz with time goals in their minds...2-3 time goals as kind of A/B type goals. We trained to hit them. Nothing fancy, no secret workouts, just consistent day in and day out training. The swim for both (thanks Amy) went well. The bike for both went well...realy well. In reality, I wondered if it went too well as I saw the splits along the way. When I saw the pro splits, I knew it was a fast day on the bike. The run in an IM is always the question. Part pacing, part nutrition, part mental fortitude. The first time check for one athlete was fast...likely too fast. For the other, right on target. I made a call to the SO of MW to give some advice if needed. Second time check was right on target for both. The rest of the run went well for both. MW walked a few of the late stations, but that was it. CM ran the whole way, which was 'huge' in his words.

In the end it was a day of 2 PRs for them. Both had great races that were well executed. CM was under his A goal by a 1/2 hour or so. MW qualified for Kona with her 2nd IM PR this year. It wasn't a conversation that we sat down and had. But, I know that in both of our minds we thought it possible as long as it was a good day.

Thanks to the athletes we have worked with this year through our programs or those at Rogue Running. It has been a great season, and we look forward to another one in 2010.