First Race Approaching

After a couple months of getting back into some solid training, I am gearing up for my first race in almost seven months. I have been back to running now for seven weeks and began speed workouts a few weeks ago. The foot is feeling good and looking forward to testing it out in a race.
I am racing the Madrid World Championship Series #2 (the first series race was at the beginning of May in Korea). The race begins at 11:30AM on Sunday, May 31st (which would be 4:30AM start time in Colorado) and the men's race begins at 2:30PM. The race will be broad casted live at: www.triathlon.org and you can check out the website for race video and results. One of the hardest parts about this trip will be the travel to Europe and the time zone change (eight hours ahead). I will be departing on Wed. afternoon and arriving into Spain at 10:00AM on Thursday morning. I hope to get a few hours of sleep on the plane and then try and stay up the next day...

I raced here three years ago, and I remember the course quite well. The swim course is two laps in a lake (calm water) and the temperature will probably be non wetsuit, although the temp is usually right at the cut-off. The bike course is eight laps, with a long climb that starts out steep and then becomes very gradual, followed by a steep downhill that turns into a long false flat downhill into the transition zone. The run is fairly flat and fast.

The climate is pretty similar to Colorado with lower humidity and temps up into the mid 80s.
The most interesting part of Spain is the culture difference....everyone takes a nap from 1:00-4:00PM and nothing is open during those times. Everyone goes back to work from 4:00-7:00PM and you can't find a place to eat that is open before 8:00PM! I don't remember the sun setting till almost 10:30PM either!!! So, it makes for many night owls----as most people will stay out until 3:00AM (reason why a 2-3 hour siesta is needed). I just remember going to bed at 10PM and everyone in the hotel departing for a night out and waking up at 3:00AM upon their arrival!
Once race season begins for me, it will be a whirlwind of travel and racing! I am looking forward to the start of racing for 2009 and just going out there and competing at my best. Good luck to everyone upon the start of your racing season and if you have already begun, I hope it is off to a great start!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!