Swim.Bike.Run.Check the Weather and Repeat.: A European Adventure-Marbella 70.3

This weekend I raced the Marbella 70.3 in Southern Spain, which was my first European race and experience. The highlight of this trip was the actual vacation associated with it and not the race at all. The race happened to be a mere thing we were "doing" because it was around the same time we were in town, so we planned around it.

Antequra, the Heart of Andalusia

My old coach David (we have stayed great friends through the years) was running a camp in Antequera, Spain for 7 days and it included all coaching sessions, spa visits, food and house for 7 days + luxurious Spanish roads through the mountainous landscape of Andalusia. What more could we ask for !? The camp ended a few days before the race so we decided it was the perfect opportunity to go get real European biking in, a vacation, and some racing.

Epic Scenery from a run we did. AMAZING

Since this is my race blog I will talk a bit about the race but then give you more highlights of the trip itself. To sum all, it turns out I am highly allergic to olive trees which are the main source of pollen in the area. I developed a "hay fever" type symptoms towards the end of camp and could barely breathe/ yet even think about racing. I contemplated deferring my entry to another race, swim/biking for the hell of it, or going as far as I could until I could no further. We drove to Marbella on Friday (the day before the race) where I was set on not checking in. As we drove down the mountain into the fresh beach air I could feel the pressure relieving from my sinuses. I could start to breathe again. I checked in and hoped for the best in the morning.

Rocking the DC Tri Visor with my medal on Saturday.

I was definitely not 100% but good enough to atleast enjoy my time in Spain. The Swim was a salt water ocean swim where we got a run-in start into a brisk 15C water temp (59F). I wore my brand new Zone 3 Vanguish wetsuit and it was amazing! I have mentioned before that last years version was the first time I felt like I could swim like I should with a wetsuit on and not feel so constricted in the shoulders. This years wetsuit is the same and better. I swam in a pack pretty easily and was not gasping for air like I usually do at the start of the race. I had one "coughing" attack mid-swim and almost panicked but then controlled myself and kept on rolling. I exited the water in 28 mins with a group of girls which is give or take a pretty normal and non eventful swim for me.

Not from the race, but my face says pretty close to how I felt.

Out on the bike, you climb pretty much immediately. 4900 ft of climbing to be fact. It was gorgeous, amazing, and I, Felt. Horrible. Lol. Biking was the one sport I really felt the compression on my chest for some reason, but I just kept chugging along. Lets talk about those Europeans....Man they can descend like hell. No fear it seems, or maybe just more practice? Lets also talk about those pelotons. Those Europeans like to draft and give no shits about it. Massive packs of large males cruised by me like I was standing still. Why is it "always about the bike?" How about the swim and the run too? Anywho...I was still in a state of "I am not sure if ill finish today but I am gonna keep going". The last 10km is a massive descent back to town so I had lots of time to spin the legs out and eat/hydrate. My Quintana Roo PR6 handled the winds and speed well. I decided to run...

The run was dead flat, 2 loop course, along the beach. It was soft surface which I was not expecting. Lots of fun cheers, music, and scenes. I decided I should *actually* race by heart rate given I was having trouble breathing all week. I kept my HR focused and content and just ran the best I could on the day. A 1:37 is not too shabby, but by far not my race pace.

At the beginning of the year I talked to my coach Matt Hanson about my goals and aspirations. I found my love again in running and Ironman triathlon just doesnt do it for me (atleast right now). I decided I needed to step back on long distance ironman and try to figure out the half-distance before going back up. So I have planned a season of 70.3s and each one will have its goals. A good day or a bad day can teach you both in its own ways. This race was a "bad" day physically, but a "good" day mentally. Live it or love it. I did both.

Highlights from the rest of the trip:

The most beautiful run I have EVER done in the beautiful mountains. "Ocho Puentes"
Bike El Torcal - an actual Vuelta Climb. Contador was written on the road. IT was epic and probably the hardest climb I have ever done. Maxed my HR on that one :)
Super Cool Hikes (Kings Hike and El Torcal)
Open Water Swim in A Gorgeous Area
Michelin Star Dinner to celebrate our Anniversary in Seville, Spain
A real Spanish Soccer Game!
Beach Time in Marbella