I figured I'd offer my version of pre-race /race strategy for
Saturday, it is quite simple, and maybe a little arrogant.

I've trained harder this year than in the past, and am more fit than
I have ever been, weight has been consistent and I'm running light,
my running speeds are tremendously faster, I have the confidence on
this course after having raced Eagleman 3 times and done well, and
having used this course as my training playground this summer, and
pounding out some fast 112 mile bike times without having to hammer.
I'm pleased that the mass swim start will have less than 200
competitors, this is great for me since I suck at this mass start
thing, and tend to get caught up in the pummeling that goes on, I do
not anticipate that here. The swim will get stretched out quick since
there are no turns, a straight shot, and a current pulling us, and
everyone should be able to quickly get into a swim groove, expect
fast times!

The bike is fast, I do not anticipate any suprises barring mechanical
failure, I'm hoping the headwinds are where they have typically been
during my training rides, and I expect to have 15 miles of headwind
per loop while the rest of the time I expect to be hitting 22-25mph
consistently per what I notd during my training runs out there. The
roads are impeccable, and almost traffic free. I expect to have to
make up ground coming off the swim, and this boosts my confidence, I
do hope by the end of the bike to be near the front. I was able to
pass over 1000 cyclists last year at IMFLA @ 5:18 bike split so I can
ride fast on a flat course. This is going to be a mental mind F'r for
many people because this course is going to spread everyone out, but
I personally find this bike course to be the most spectacular of the
IM courses I've riddden including GFT, IMCA, IMFLA. The run is
different, a 9.5 mile out and back is really going to stretch it out,
and it is desolate, not much other than farm fields, a few houses
spread out here and there. There are a lot of dependencies going into
the run that will make or break me. I know about the hazards of
taking it to hard on the bike, but I do plan on racing this thing and
at the end finishing on a dry tank (get the IV ready). My goals are
to swim a 1:15 or less if the currents are strong, a 5:15 or less
bike, and a 3:45 or less run. I would really like to hit a 10:15, my
ultimate dream goal would be to swim 1:05ish hour, bike 5 hours, and
run a 3:30. My other goals are to finish under 11 hours, and finally
simply to finish. Note that simply finishing is NOT my first priority
been there done that, my goal is to lay it on the line and race as
hard and within my bounds as possible, I have felt that the last two
IM's have not been at my highest potential by a longshot. With 180
participants there is that other wild longshot of actually garnering
some hardware either agegroup, or even overall. I feel that strong
going into this and confident that it is possible, but as most people
who have raced this distance knows, 140.1 miles can really leave even
the best athletes devastated. I have to race smart, and
strategically. It is going to be fun, and that is the name of the
game. If I do not meet my goals then so be it it has been fun
getting to this point, and reaching the level of fitenss I have been
fortunate enough to attain, and I have enjoyed almost every minute of
training this year, and the people I've been fortunate enough to
train with. Good luck to the RATs who will be heading out.

-Rob





--- In trirats@yahoogroups.com, "Gwen Humphrey" <ghumphrey@n...>
wrote:
> Good Luck Bill, Have a good time!. Good luck Rob and all the
other Rats, doing Chessieman.
> Gwen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bgoodrumva@a...
> To: trirats@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 10:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [Tri RATS] Re: Chesapeakeman Weather
>
>
> Thanks Katie...we need all the help we can get!
>
> the OFB
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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