Oceanside…A sea of surprises

The first race of the season (California 70.3) is now in the books.  What a surprise! The week before the race I was trying to decide at what point I would pull out of the race (end of the bike leg or end of the first lap of the run?).  I was also trying to determine if it is better to DNS or DNF.  Both have the element of quitting, it’s just a matter of at what point that happens, right?  

My goal of using this race as an early season barometer and spring board got tossed out when I was sidelined for a couple of weeks due to illness in the final month before the race. I felt like I was already behind the eight ball in training so this was something I couldn't afford.  Even when I returned to training from being sick, I had to make sure it was a gradual return so I didn’t land myself back in the doctor’s office, which had happened already and why I was out for a little over two weeks and not just a few days.

Now after completing the race and having my best half ironman run, I am left with trying to figure out why it went unexpectedly well?  Everything I usually look at (including how I felt fitness wise) told me to prepare for a long brutal day.  So how is it I knock five minutes off my best half ironman run on little training with no speed work?  I’ll be looking to answer that question over the next couple of weeks as I start my training in earnest.  Right now it just doesn’t add up and I need to figure out why so I can repeat it!