Racing Perspective

Continued from Broken Callar Bone, Part I Race Day It was 4:30 AM. Time to wake up and prepare for the race. It was still dark out, the AC was pumping and my internal alarm clock was sounding. Like any race morning I never need an alarm clock. I laid awake as I began to mentally prepare myself for the day. Racing through my head were loud thoughts of fear, doubt and uncertainty. Because of a previous injury, where I had broken my collar bone, I was worried that I may not be fully healed or strong enough to get through the race. I was trying to quiet my mind and remain calm despite my stressful state. The injury happened just as I began to feel a shift in my strength and stamina during training. Unfortunately this was a huge set back for me. The doctor warned me that I would definitely be taking a risk by doing this race and that I may not be strong enough to control the bike a high speeds. I had an ongoing dialogue in my head for days. Was I crazy for doing this? What...

Escape from Alcatraz Race Report Escape from Alcatraz is one of the most challenging Triathlon of its kind. 1.5 Mile Swim from Alcatraz Island in the icy cold San Francisco Bay said to have sharks. 18 mile bike in hilly San Francisco then a bone crushing 8 mile hilly run. Credit: Photos by David Paul Morris / Special to The Chronicle To have a top finish in this Triathlon is a great accomplishment compared to finding your self in the finals of an Olympic event due to large number of top professionals and talented amateur athletes selected to compete in this race. I was very lucky to have won a lottery spot by successfully completing a race on the East Coast months ago.  I am very grateful to have been apart of this unique and challenging race. Special thanks to my friend and Coach/Mentor Wes Hobson who has won this race a few times. He is great athlete, coach and good friend -- his voice was in my head the entire time I was racing.

Usual training day we were heading out for a very long bike ride from New York into New Jersey to upstate New York. I was feeling good and ready to hammer on the ride. After riding for a number of miles it was time to ride some hills, hard steep hills. As we were descending I looked at my friend Reggie and said I hate going down hills. At that very moment my front tire popped and I want down HARD, I couldn't get up my shoulder felt like jello. Needless to say I was supremely pissed off, after the anger passed which it did quickly the pain took over, pain like I never felt before. I was taken to nearest emergency room, I go to the emergency room like people go to out for fancy dinners. Nothing less than life threatening for me please. No doctor I don't have the bends today I think I have a few broken bones again.

New York City Triathlon. Kind of the same results but better, it was a super hard day because of the wind on the bike course. I finished in the top 30% over all beat 1 professional (must of had a bad day) and a hand full of Semi-Pro athletes. The group that I started in was one the last groups to go off in the swim, when the horn went off I started hard and fast, my HR spiked and I knew I had to settle down into a comfortable but fast enough pace. I know other swimmers would want to beak out of the group and go out hard and fast too and I counted on it. Because they would be too tired to respond as I would make my way past them. That a 800 meter runner tactic, start hard for a beginning then settle into to back of the pack and slowly move up as the race progresses. I was in lead group catching up the group that had a 6 minute lead on us. I guess people must have been surprised to see a black guy swim so fast, next time on my wet suite I will have a Jamaican flag silk screened...

2006 Mighty Montack This is yet another race story about a HALF IRONMAN or 70.3 Mile race, hope you enjoy the story. I thought about including a few unknown fact about racing most people won't talk about but if you ask me I will tell you. Like what happens if you get sick or have to go to the bathroom. As you train and plan for your races, the goal is simply to be prepared, but how does one prepare for a Hurricane. Out of 700 athletes only 386 completed race. 5 am we (John and Dan fellow racers) woke from a restless sleep, poor Dan he only got 1 hour worth of sleep. I could have used another 15 min, then another 10 min the 5 min more. I forced my self out of bed taking a mental assessment of how I am feeling and what the day holds. My mind even flash on the end of race and how good I will feel. Got to the kitchen it was still dark outside the wind was howling and rain was pouring. At first I thought would the race be cancelled, maybe I shouldn't do the race then just do t...