Britton Racing: May 2017

Unreal how Cute he is!

St. George 70.3 is in the books and I honestly could not have scripted a better race. This season I have been doing all my training before work and waking up at 4 am everyday to get the work done. My main focus is when I get off work go home as fast as possible and spend time with my family. Time is in fast forward mode and I can't believe Bodhi is already a year old, it is a trip to say the least and I don't want to miss anytime with him and Crystal.

Rocky MTN Multisport Thanks Pat

I was lucky enough to have a long weekend and we left for St. George Thursday early morning. I picked up local legend Bryan VanMeveren and we rolled to Jeff Clayton's house loaded up the car and where on the road by 0500. The drive was beautiful and passed pretty fast. I was jacked up on pre race jitters and caffeine, I'm sure I was annoying but whatever I'll call in passionate. We got to St. George and grabbed our packets and it was smoking hot!!!! I am very grateful to Jeff and his family for letting me crash at his house and driving the famous Run FOCO's car! Once we got settled we hit the sack to wake up early and take a dip in Sand Hollow Reservoir and make sure the bikes where dialed. Huge shout out to Patrick Ray at Rocky Mountain Multisport for getting Walter White ready to roll! Sand Hollow State Park is epic and unbelievably beautiful the water was crisp, clear and awesome. I love swimming in colder water and it was so refreshing. Before I knew it it was bed time and the alarm was off at 4:30 to head down to the shuttle pick up.

My race strategy and plan was really simple: Stay present and in the moment, be smooth, not concern myself with my times or placing and whatever happens happens, just want to put together a strong race. I feel like a lot of dudes get so wrapped up in time splits, placings, and trying to get a qualifying slot for whatever that they put so much pressure on themselves and can't enjoy the art of racing and that we are so lucky to be able to race and push or bodies to crazy feats. I know that triathlon racing is just a part of my life being with Bodhi and Crystal is better then any finish line or race in the world so whatever happens at the race is just bonus because when I get to go home is always a win no matter what. Sounds cliche to say it but honestly to get to have a family to come home to is so much better then any of the triathlon bull shit!!!

Quickness T1

My wave was not until 7:25 so I had some time to get the head right. I dialed in my T1 and went to find a quiet place, I did a 10 minute Headspace meditation, then facetimed Crystal and got to see Bodhi smile at me and blabber on baby style. I was buzzing from the energy and made my way over to the swim start wave corral. I also listened to the Rocky Theme and was ready to smash!! I made it over right in time to hear the National Anthem, I always enjoy the silence and hearing it before any athletic event, but this time something came over me. The last 6+ months I have been obsessed with anything and everything special forces from Navy Seals, Green Berets, Army Rangers and everything in between. I have devoured multiple books and the mind set of these warriors have brought out a new appreciation for the stars and bars. I was fired up and before I knew it we where wadding into the water.

Clear Water

Swim: I lined up to the far right on the front row, my swim has came a long ways in the last several months and huge thanks to Coach Eric Neilson at FAST Masters for always bringing the heat with badass workouts. I have only been swimming aprox 2 times a week but have been gradually getting faster. Gun goes off and I get into a rhythm and draft behind some guys for the first 800-1000 meters. Smooth is fast was the mindset and focused on form and my catch. As I approached the last turn buoy I accidentally caught a slower swimmer with my catch and dunked him he immediate hit me and tried to grab my leg...but I was gone before he could take vengeance. As I emerged from the water and checked the time I was pumped on a new 70.3 PR Swim 29:31 my fastest by over 45 seconds.

So sick Aero AF

T1 was fast and perfect, flying mount on the bike and we are peddling out of the state park. The first 5 miles is on chip seal roads and up hill most of the way. I felt the first 15 miles took awhile to get going, my heart rate was touch high but knew I would be able to get it under control on the rollers. This has been my favorite bike course that I have ever raced on, point to point races are badass and it is awesome to not do laps or loops. We drove the Snow Canyon Climb so I kinda knew what to expect, seemed steeper when we drove it. Bryan and I had the same experience thinking that we had another 3 mile climb but where pleasantly surprised to reach the summit and start the screaming last 8 mile decent to St. George. I saw Bryan right before we started the decent and assumed I would pass him before T2, but WOW he bombed the windy decent and dropped me like bad habit. That is one gnarly dude and I can only inspire to be like him one day. As I made it into to town and came up on T2 I was bummed the bike leg was over so soon I was having a blast smashing up the canyon and bombing the descents. What a fun bike leg of a race, so sick.

ST. George Bike

B-Van

I was in and out of T2 with the quickness and started the first 3 mile climb out of town square. My weekly long runs have been Friday mornings at 0445 starting at the base of Horsetooth Reservoir and running 14-17 miles across the dams working on steep grade climbs and fast down hills. I have been having a young ex military dude, Dillon Shaffer, to beat up on me and keep me motivated and pushing the pace each and every week and it has been badass to say the least. Thanks bro so pumped for Boulder IM for us in the next 4 weeks. At this point in the race I have not looked at my time except when transitioning from swim to bike and bike to run. I just tried to keep my HR in check. The first mile clicked off 6:54 and was satisfied since I was climbing next was 6:59 then 7:55 no worries it was literally a mile of elevation gain of 250 ft so I was perfectly cool with a slow mile. I was all in at this point and my HR was not coming below 160 but I felt good, really good actually and just let the miles click off. next thing I knew we where on the last 4 mile decent back to the finish. It was mostly down hill at this point and I was suffering and literally just buried in the pain cave and loving it. About mile 10 I saw a guy that passed me on the bike in my age division. He was spanking the bike leg and I had nothing for him. I was pretty surprised that I was reeling him in he was still a good clip ahead of me and I thought just stay focused on this mile and see where we are in a bit. He slowly became bigger and closer I told myself this is it gut check time, how bad do you want it. I told myself "what if he is the last spot on the podium and the last qualifying slot for the World Championships." I live for moments like this where you get to truly see what you are made of and if you can mentally push through barriers that you didn't know exist. I came up on him and had to make a decision do I pass and try to mentally break him or wait up and get him at the end. I decided to make a move and pass him on his right shoulder stealthy. As I passed him he realized I was in his division and quickly mounted a counter attack and met me stride for stride. He said something like "I'm not going to give it to you that easy, you are going to have to work for it!" In my head I said ROGER THAT...the mental game is one you will not beat me. We ran stride for stride for nearly a quarter mile, my heart rate was about 178 and the pace for that time was sub six minute miles. I was at my breaking point and completely gone physically, but my brain was still in the fight and I reminded myself of what Navy Seal David Goggins says when your body is screaming to stop and everything hurts you are only 40% done. I reaffirmed this and pushed on slowly creeping away from my competitor we where on the home stretch less then a mile I heard him talking to himself and yelling "less then a mile!" amping himself up, I fed off that and continued to push. It seemed like everyone watching the race knew this guy and every group of spectators we passed where yelling his name. I flipped it in my head and told myself they are yelling my name!!! The finish line came into sight and I peeked behind me to make sure there was not going to be a finally assault. I was clear by about 50 yards or so. As I went under the Finish banner I was so gone, mentally, emotionally, physically and a wreck. But stoked to have left it all out there and put together a stellar race from start to finish. Finally Race time: Swim 00:29:31 Bike02:21:33 Run01:30:03 Overall04:24:17

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/coverage/athlete-tracker.aspx#ixzz4gbWzQtkj
St. George Run

Coffee and Hardware

I met Bryan shortly after and he as usual had a great race. We went and got our stuff I was able to check the results and no shit passing that guy got me the last spot on the podium 5th in the stupid competitive 30-34 age division. 2nd to 6th place where all within 4 minutes and 40 seconds. Unreal how close we where for over 4 hours of racing. We got massages and headed back to go get cleaned up and meet up with Jeff after his finish. Jeff had shingle about a month ago and good on ya mate for gutting out one of the hardest 70.3s I have ever competed in. The award ceremony finally started and it never gets old getting a piece of hardware from a Ironman branded race. This was not some local race this was the North America Pro Championships and to get on the podium was a huge deal and not what I expected. I was 39th overall with pros and I believe the 9th Age grouper overall. All I wanted to do is put together a strong race and leave it all out there if I would of gotten 10th, 20th, or whatever and raced like that I would be satisfied. I always see people post or say "not the race I wanted" or "I know I can do better" Well I say then do it stop making bull shit excuses and get the work done. Its not your coaches fault, the weather, the course, your equipment, special gear or anything else its on you. If you don't do the work and let your mind play tricks on you that's on you and nobody else.

Gnarly

I have made a mega effort to focus just as much training my mind as my body. From reading inspirational books, watching documentaries, meditating, positive affirmations, and living a life of gratitude. I can honestly say this was my best race I have ever put together from Swim, T1, Bike, T2, Run staying present each stroke, pedal and stride. I couldn't be more happy or satisfied with this outcome. However this is just a warm up for the season, we are less then 5 weeks to Boulder Ironman and I am taking my same mindset into that race. Stay present and in the moment, be smooth, not concern myself with my times or placing and whatever happens happens, just want to put together a strong race. Also Boulder Ironman is in honor of my step dad and the sacrifices he has made for me and our country. Tracing his Parkinson's back to Vietnam agent orange exposure you can say he has made the ultimate sacrifice for us especially for me raising me as his own. I will dig deep into the pain and push myself to new depths for this race to honor his life. I know I will need to use all my weapons in my arsenal and this will be my advantage. I know the guy I fought at the end of the run, Rory Duckworth, will be there and I am sure we will battle again! I look forward to the challenge in my back yard down in Boulder!

Team Wattie Ink

I could not do what I do without the support of my beautiful sexy wife Crystal! She is everything to me and none of this would mean anything without her. She let me be gone for 4 days and watched little dude. I am so grateful for her it is not even funny. Another huge shout out is to Zack Allison and his wife Whitney Allison at Source Endurance Training Center of the Rockies I can not express my gratitude enough for these two. I utilized Source all winter and the gains I have made are apparent and undeniable. Zack builds the sickest workouts that will no doubt get you stronger and faster. Thank you guys so much!!!! Lastly being on Team Wattie Ink is a huge honor and meeting a bunch of teammates and seeing them crush it on the course is inspirational and keeps the motivation train going. My racing kit was straight up fire and the pride I felt racing in it is so badass. Having the american flag theme just adds extra fuel to my fire and desire. It seemed like the W of Wattie was on every custom kit around and that is so cool. The designs they come up with are just next level so do yourself a favor and get the best looking sickest kit on the course!

My everything!

I am so lucky to have everything in my life and still can't believe this is the life I live. If you want to donate to my fundraiser for Parkinson's Research please click the link here: https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/ironmanforpepa

Thanks to all my sponsors and everyone who trains with me and continues to push myself everyday!! Life is good!