PLEASE NOTE: I'll be traveling to conduct the Lake Placid training camp this week through next Sunday. I'll have limited email access and phone access during this time period but the office will be open if you need anything. I'll be posting a camp report and photos next week to www.coachtroy.com.

This weekend was the Blackwater Eagleman race. To no one's surprize, Natasha Badmann won the women's division and Luke Bell won the men's. For full results, go here http://www.sommersports.com/results/2005/eagleman/

The day before the race, I hosted the Eagleman Pro Forum, an event where the top pros answer questions about training and racing. It was a great panel this year including Karen Smyers (multi time world champ), Natascha Badmann (5 time IM Hawaii Champ), Bryan Rhoades (2 time IM M winner) and Luke Bell (2-time Eman winner and 5th at IMH in 2003).

The contrast in training attitudes and ideas were interesting. For example, when asked about 'peak' training volumes, Karen Smyers said that her big training weeks add up to about 20 hours total whereas Luke Bell does 45-55 hours / week. (Disclaimer: Don't try this at home!)

Natascha, when asked about fluid needs during Ironman racing, says she drinks one 24 oz .bottle of fluid per hour on the bike of diluted Red Bull or other energy drink. Karen, when asked about nutrition, said she likes to do a gu or gel every half hour.

When asked about pacing strategy for the Half IM distance, Luke Bell said he goes as hard as he can from the gun to the finish and let's the cards fall where they may! (Disclaimer: Don't try this at home!) Bryan Rhoades, a top swimmer, says he tries to distance himself as much as possible from his competitors with a super fast swim time.

When asked about dealing with the 'pain' of racing, Rhoades says he lets his mind wander and thinks about things. Natascha said she has 'the devil' on one shoulder whispering in her ear to slow down and not go so hard and an 'angel' on her other shoulder telling her to keep going hard to the finish. The angel apparently wins out most of the time!

Overall, it was an informative session and the roughly 300 people in attendence were able to pick up a sage word of advice (or two)!

THE RACE

Race day was like any other at the Eastern shore in June...windy, hazy hot and humid. The swim was slower than in previous years due to a stronger current and the top pros were exiting 2-3 minutes slower than normal.

I rode the bike course in the opposite direction during the race to get some training in while watching the race unfold. I saw lots of my athletes out there on the course in the middle of the Blackwater refuge, a lonely but incredibly beautiful place. As I rode along at a moderate pace in the opposite direct to the cyclist, I found it interesting how many racers waved at me. Triathletes are generally a very friendly group of people, even when suffering in the middle of a race.

Overall for the day, times were a little bit slower than usual due to the challenging hot and windy conditions. Not many people PR'd but a few did, including Bruce Baird from KY...breaking that 5 hour barrier in 4:55. Great job Bruce! Also, congrats to first timers Brenda F, Melly F and Nancy C for finishing on a tough day. They started their multisport odyssey only 8 months ago and this was the first real test on the way to doing IM Fla in November! Go IronChicks! AND CONGRATS TO EVERYONE WHO FINISHED THIS RACE OR ANY OTHER RACE THIS PAST WEEKEND!

Eagleman is a fantastic half Ironman to do for anyone who is up to the challenge. Well run and held at a great race venue on the Eastern shore on the Chesapeake Bay, I highly recommend it for your 2006 race calendar!

Train safe and Train smart,
Coach Troy


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