Ft Desoto International Tri RR

Maybe just maybe the most uneventful race I have had ever ! In all it was what I would say an "easy day" It was one of them days when everything pretty much went smooth. I know they dont happen often and I sure aint upset about it working out that way.
Morning bike set up and all was good, I somehow got the first rack heading out of T1 and it was pretty nice. I was not feeling great, just like the girls I was there racing with. One had to drop out with stomach issues, Nadine was not feeling good either. Headed to water I was getting sick but only dry heaves pretty bad.
Swim was only a .5 mile so intent was to kick back, hang on some feet and go for a ride. Did not work out like that. As always I jumped up front and when gun went off there was a group of us headed to 1st turn. Once there it was me and another guy rounding it, so I jumped on for the ride. Soon like 40sec I was like this guy aint going!! So I pulled to the inside and within and few strokes passed him for the lead in the swim. I was so relaxed, nothing hard just cruise control, I thought about going hard but didnt feel I needed too. We had a U-turn and soon hit the sprint swimmers heading to shore. I was 1st out of the water with a 10:12 swim and headed onto the .25 run to T1.  Things went like clockwork in T1 and it was over in 47sec. Bike was 2 laps for 20 mile total with 3 U-turns in it. Come to find out they was great U-turns and could charge right through them. Once again like the swim cruise control and never felt as if I was pushing things much at all. At about mile 15 I got passed, I figured it was coming but just when. So it never really bothered me at all. Finished the bike in 52:26 and was really happy I had a 56 min figured before the race. Coming into T2 feet was out of shoes and ready to go till I got slowed by a sprint rider strolling to dismount line. Around him and into T2 and back out in 40 sec. Once again smooth ! Run was again 2 laps and was about 60%  on a hard packed path, with a small amount on beach and rest on bike path. It was a great run, lots to see and path was nice along beach. Within the 1st mile I passed one of the guys who passed me on bike and was not sure where I was falling into position. He said the guy in blue is 42 so he was in my AG. OK OH WELL thanks and I was off. Second lap I ran past Laura but never seen Nadine except twice on bike. I was all ready for a 48min run with all this IRONMAN training and very little speed work. I finished with a 45:26 and I am happy with that, no PR for the run but better then I thought. When awards rolled around I finished 5th overall and 1st masters with a 1:51:13. Then met Kent who is also on the X2PERFORMANCE Triathlon Team and talked with him about IMFL. It was good to meet him, if I dont race with him in Sept. I will see him late Oct. in PCB.
So it was one of them days that things just clicked and finished with good results. The entire day just seemed to go along and I was fine.  Ran the entire race on my new fuel mix, 30min before race mixed 1 scoop UCAN and 1 scoop BCAA and followed that with X2PERFORMANCE, on bike I had 1 scoop UCAN around mile 15, thats it nothing else ( not even breakfast) I am loving the X2PERFORMANCE and UCAN mix, it has been working wonders and look forward to using it more and taking it to IMFL !

Upcoming Ft Desoto

Really not sure where to start for this race. I feel a bit behind the 8 ball for it and usually dont going into a OLY. Things have been rough for a couple weeks. Plyometrics been kicking my ass and leaving legs shot. Although I am liking it more and finding it easier. Just hard to get out and have a good Neg. split run day when hammies and calf are screaming at you from the rip. So I am going into it with no goals, just have ideas I want to work with in T1 & T2. YEA Im changing a few things I have done for years, trying to get out quicker. That is why I have the next 3 races lined up for, just practice in transition. 3 races in 6 weeks then calling it quits till IMFL. Not really playing much with the tapper for any of them, gonna keep training. Just so happens this week fell into a easier week for me, after 2 big building weeks.
Great news on the fuel UCAN, I love it and now am a huge fan of it. I was really not sure about it. So first day training with it, my test was during a 80 mile ride and 4.5 run brick. So I followed how they said and it was amazing. 4 scoops the entire time, with a 350 cal total overall. Where I normally would have had about 1600 of normal fuel. Its not so much the calories that I care about, its the sugar and any crash that is related to it. UCAN I had none, did not get hungry, no stomach issues and felt great the entire time. 1 scoop every 90min thats it. So ordered a couple more jugs and gonna keep working with it. Got Nadine on to it and she also really likes it and finds it works well with her. It works well with the X2PERFORMANCE ( every 2 hr). Really allows me more time to think about getting more water in me. This FL heat has been ripping and water this time of the year is something I have to always stay on top of.
So my test for this weekend is 1.5 scoop of UCAN + X2PERFORMANCE 30min before race and thats it. That should be all I need to get through the race. RR coming up next

Catching Up

Training is coming back around!! Always feel like crap when I leave for a few days. Although I try to eat well it is so hard and combined with no workouts, leaves me feeling like a slug. Had a powerful brick the other day. First one using multi bottles of X2PERFORMANCE and it was great with no issues. Just read a great article from Ben Greenfield about fueling with lots of info. In it he mentioned a product called Generation UCAN, after reading about it and going to their website I ordered some today. Once I get it and work with it some I will give my feedback for those who have not used. this is where you can fond more about the Super Starch  http://www.generationucan.com/    they have videos and info on the product.
Looking about 2 weeks till FT Desoto OYL triathlon. Not to sure how things will work out but gonna give it a shot. Have not been doing much speed work running but each time I swim and ride I always include some. Had a OWS before I left and it was outstanding. Need more work on my long distance speed ! Right now up to 1.75 mi swim it is good but after that I can feel the pace slightly drop a bit. Nothing bad and really wont hurt me much, just would like to keep the 1:20ish avg for the entire swim. My biggest issue for the next race is shoes. Got new Zoot Ultra TT 5.0 and ran in them today but thinking might be Newtons for the race. Downfall would be some of the run is in the sand so not sure yet. Can always go to the K Swiss Kwicky Blades for it also.

Just a reminder anyone who wants to try X2PERFORMANCE head over to x2performance.com and enter SHAUN as a coupon and get 10$$ off a case of 28.
It is amazing and I do not train or race without anymore. Recovery is great, energy is superb and it will keep you strong. Used it for the first time on a Plyometric workout yesterday and flat blistered the workout and that was after 1.7mi of speed drill in the pool. Give it a look and hold on it will supercharge training