HyVee Triathlon

HyVee Triathlon West Des Moines, IA
Conditions: Warm (70°F), Light Wind

The HyVee Triathlon is always exciting because it's a well run race and it's the closest race to home. My parents came out as well as my Sister and her family (although Shaun Johnson may have been the real reason they came.)  The day before the race they have the pro event.  I watched it with Cousin Ross and it was a thriller.  Photo finish.  

This was also the first large venue team race for WellFit, so there were a lot of us coming to town.  Race day was perfect, clear sky and cool temperatures. I signed up for the Elite wave because....I'm on the Elite team, shouldn't I race in the Elite wave?  I was a bit out classed in the water.  It was a downer because  my swim time has improved a lot this year.  But I was the last Elite out of the water in a poor 30:12.

T1 was a little slow too, 1:02.  As you can see from the T1 exit photo, the bike rack was a bit lonely when I arrived...

I made up some time on the bike with a solid split of 1:04:58 (23.5 MPH average).  I had ordered my new bike but it wasn't ready by the time HyVee rolled around, so it was my second go at it with JV's Cervelo.  I was hoping to break JV's record on the bike (sub 1 hour), and HyVee is a great place to try.  With only a couple of hills and a long straight out and back course, you can really fly.  There was a light breeze that slowed me slightly on the out, but back was fast.  I was trying to keep things close so I could have some fun on the run.

T2 was a little slow at 56 seconds.  I'd like to see that under 45 seconds.

The run at HyVee was epic.  I was stupid and didn't get the Garmin on it, so I can't show you my stats.  I love the run because it's hilly and tri guys aren't built for a hilly run to close out a race.  I was catching people fast.  It's an out and back course so I could see my competition and gauge my effort to catch them.  Marc Robertson was 4:36 ahead of me going into the run and this was the third competition in what has become known as the Coors Light (Marc) versus Skim Milk (Me) competition.  The competition didn't exist until the end of this race, let me explain why.  I saw Marc was within range at the turn around, but I was going to have to really move to catch him.  It was on.  I got to 1km from the finish and Coach Sharone was there yelling at me to catch Marc.  I couldn't see him yet but I knew he was close.  I hit the entrance to the finish shoot which is approximately 1/4 mile long.  I was moving at near top speed now and I could see Marc turning  onto the home straight.  Like a thoroughbred turning the last corner of the Kentucky Derby I hit the straightaway.  It was going to be a photo finish.  I leaned my head back and moved with every ounce of strength I had.  I was even with Marc about 3 strides before the line.  Marc knew I was coming so he was trucking as hard as he could to hold me off. I heard him say "damned you Benny" as we hit the line.  I pulled out a 37:48 compared to his 42:42 for a 1 second relative victory.  The competition was now born as Marc had to defend his record against me, which currently stood at Coors Light 2, Skim Milk 1.

My time of 2:14:54 was a course best.  Of course this was not the same course as the previous year, so take that for what it's worth.

We had a great time after the race with the family.  The expo area at HyVee is huge with all kinds of free food (and free beer).  We left with huge bags of snacks.  My niece Alexandria also put on a dance show for everyone, it was pretty cute.