Austin ParaTriathlon Nationals

Team Achilles at the Finish Line

Last week-end I took my first trip down to Texas with Achilles for the National Paratriathlon finals.  Whoever won this event in one of the six categories would go on to represent the US in the International finals in New Zealand later this year. The six categories are: TRI1; wheelchair user; TRI2 severe leg impairment (my category), TRI3, les autres, TRI4, arm impairment, moderate leg impairment, and TRI6, visual impairment.  The distances of the race:  750 metre swim, 20k bike, and 5k run.

The day before the race I went for a classification meeting and was told that I couldn't compete in the Nationals, as I'm not a US citizen, but I could still race in the Open Classification wave, which left about 10 minutes after everyone else.  I was OK with this - it meant less pressure competing against other people in my category, so I could just focus on completing my swim and then enjoying the rest of the event.

Daniel Tratt exits the water

Exiting the water and helped by handlers into transition

On the day of the event, I awoke at 4.45 am to travel over to the transition area to get set up for a 7.10 am start, along with the rest of my Achilles team-mates.  Looking back, the wait for the start was the hardest part of the whole day.  I felt a strange mixture of emotions; I was definitely nervous about panicking in the swim and not completing the race, but I also felt excitement and was really choked up that I was part of such a prestigious event.  When I came to the U.S. nearly 10 years ago I could bike, but I definitely couldn't run or swim - competing in a triathlon seemed completely off limits to me.

I took the choking up to a new level after having entering a particularly foul-smelling port-o-loo.  I did very nearly throw up, but just about held it together and by the time it came to get my wetsuit on for the start, I was able to get it together and focus on just finishing the swim.

Our wave had to get in the water and wait a couple of minutes before the gun went off.  When it did, I felt calm and just knew I had to go slow but steady, and not hyperventilate, to make sure I could get round the water course, marked by large yellow buoys.  We were swimming in the river in downtown Austin; the water was completely flat and also warm, which helped.

Once I got into my stride, I felt fine, even though I was zig-zagging along a bit.  I'd put my head down, swim for a bit, and then find I'd gone off course.  However I was able to finish the swim comfortably and was excited to exit the water having just finished my longest ever swim - 750 metres.

Lamar Brown and Drew Garrison cross the finish line

Crossing the line

With the help of a handler assigned to me, Karyn, I got changed into my biking gear and was out of the transition area for the course around downtown Austin.  My new bike felt really good.  It was a flat course with just a few climbs and turns, so I was able to get some decent speed up.

Well deserved ice-bath!

After the bike, I came in and then just had the 5k run to complete.  It was quite hot by the time I started the run, but I felt OK and after I'd run for 10 minutes or so felt like I was getting into my stride.     I crossed the finish line with a final time of 1.48.

My final splits were: swim: 27 mins, bike: 40.40 (18.2 mph av), run 28.49 (9.18 min/mile).  The winner of my category won it in 1.27, so I would have been well off pace, but I was happy with my performance and I'm now looking forward to the Olympic distance tri in New York in July.

The next couple of days I had to look around Austin before coming home.  Overall it was a great week-end.  I met some new friends, met some inspiring athletes, and experienced great Texan hospitality, particularly from Joe Paschall, who put about 12 Achilles team members up in house one night, and Andrew Smith, his guide, who had some people from Achilles over for a BBQ on our last night in town.

Preparing for Austin ParaTriathlon Nationals

In general, I wouldn't describe myself as a nervous kind of person.  The only things I really get nervous about are: flying, public speaking in front of large groups, going out with attractive women for the first time, interviews, being in large groups of people where I don't know anyone, waiting for important test results back from the doctors, watching England play in the World Cup, paragliding, and of course snakes and large hairy spiders.  But apart from that, there's little that ruffles my feathers.

Another one to add to the list though is the anxiety I feel before competing in a big race.  I was quite nervous before my first marathon in New York in Nov 2008, because I'd been filmed and appeared on TV preparing for it, and would have felt a bit of a fraud if I hadn't completed it.  I felt pressure to do the London marathon in 2011, because I'd raised a lot of money for charity from friends, family and colleagues, and would have felt I'd have let them down if I hadn't finished it.   For any marathon, there is pressure anyway that you've put 3 months and countless hours of effort into gearing up for just one day.  Always though, as soon as I've started the race, I'm OK.

In 3 day's time I'll be competing in the USA paratriathlon nationals in Austin, Texas and I'm flying out there tomorrow with a team from my Achilles running group.  I'm getting just a touch nervous again, and I think this time its because it involves the longest swim I've ever done - 750 metres - and only my second proper open water swim in a wetsuit.  

But I think it should be OK.  I don't any excuses about being let down by crappy equipment any more!  Thanks to A Step Ahead prosthetics, I'll be going to Austin with a grand total of four legs - a running leg, a biking leg, my regular walking leg, along with my (non-mechanical) right leg.  Most amputees across the world don't have access to this standard of care, so I feel truly lucky to be in this position.

Molly does a quick luggage inspection to make sure I haven't forgotten anything.

I'm looking forward to meeting the other paratriathletes, who are often very cool and inspiring people, and to visiting Texas for the first time.    It's going to be hot though - 93 degrees forecast on Monday.  More to come from Austin!

New bike, new....leg??

One of the newer philosophies by which I lead my life these days is:  whenever one gets a new bike, it's always nice to get a new leg to along with it.

About a month ago, at the age of 37, I got my first EVER customized biking leg.  I'm lucky enough in New York to be close to a fantastic prosthetics company, A Step Ahead, and one of their specialities is catering for active amputees who want to participate in all kind of sports.  See here for more info on some of these amazing athletes.

The biking leg is basically a lot lighter than a regular 'walking leg', and it is less built up around the groin area, to enable me to crouch down on the bike, to get out of the wind.  Being an amputee, having less power is one obvious disadvantage on a bike, but another one is when your artificial leg cuts you in all kinds of uncomfortable places during a long ride.  Imagine taking a cheese grater to the old clock weights over the course of a few hours, and you'll get the idea.

Finally, this leg has been adapted so it can clip into the bike.  It has taken a while to get used to, but gives a lot more power than the cages I was using before.

I got my Specialized tri-bike, at a generous discount given to A Step Ahead athletes, from Bike Works on Long Island.   Expensive, but worth every penny!

Yesterday, I biked down from Garrison, about 50 hilly miles north of NYC, along the Hudson river.  I was riding into a headwind all the way, and by the time I got back I was pretty tired.  It was my first long ride of the year, though, so hopefully with a new more long rides I'll start to build up some endurance.

NYC Half Marathon

Today I ran what must be my first half marathon in nearly a year, the NYC half marathon.  It is one of my favourite half courses, taking in a loop of Central Park, followed by a run down 7th Avenue and into Times Square, along 42nd Street, and then down to the very south of Manhattan, via the West Side Highway.  The route was changed this year to run less in CP and to end up in the South Street Seaport area.

It was perfect weather for it; a cool misty morning.  My two guides for today, Amanda and Mark, made for a great running team.  The run felt good; we went at a steady pace, and the only thing that really bothered me was my old shoe, which started to give me a blister around mile 6.

We finished in 2.11; I was surprised how quickly we'd done it, considering I'm just getting back into running after a few months taking it very easy.  After a pleasant brunch and a loong cab ride back home, I took a mammoth 1hr 30 mins map, and then went out and demolished a large plate of sushi.

Perfect way to spend a spring day in NYC!

Grrrrrrrrrrr

Just finished my last run before Sunday's New York half marathon, an evening jog in Central Park with my running partner for the race, Amanda.  Was feeling a little sluggish on the way round, but wasn't sure if it was the running leg to blame, or me for having too many cream eclairs for lunch.

Anyways, cycling back home, thought I detected the faint whiff of oil; put my hand down left, and felt the brown stuff dripping down the prosthetic.  I've blown the hydraulics on my knee joint.

On balance I wouldn't say having one leg has been a bad thing; it has certain advantages (half price metrocard anyone?), and has made for an interesting life (not many people can crack walnuts in their knee joint), but one huge disadvantage is the unexpected leg malfunction.  I have had a few of these, and they always seem to happen at the worst time.

Still, in this case I can get the leg fixed tomorrow so everything is OK for Sunday.  It could have been worse and happened on Saturday evening.  And, unlike anyone else who gets bad knees, I can just get mine swapped out in about 20 minutes, and I'm as good as new..so its really not all that bad..

Spring Bike Ride

It's a beautiful, bright spring day today..went for a 30 mile bike road with Matt Malina up the Hudson, over the GW Bridge, and then along a wooded road in the Palisades Park, right by the water.  Lots of other cyclists also out of winter hibernation, taking advantage of a lovely Sunday morning.  Some steep climbs, but feeling good.    I have a new tri bike which I'm slowly getting used to..the aero bars take a while to feel comfortable, but you can definitely notice the difference when cycling into a headwind.

One thing I've always wanted to do is Lands End to John O'Groats in England.  My brother and sister did it about 10 years ago and had a great time.   The scenery in Scotland in particular sounds amazing.  Now I'm inspired to do that...maybe next year.

Next Sunday is the NYC half marathon.  I've run up to 10 miles to train for it.  I don't think it will be my fastest, but looking forward to it.  I'm swimming at least once a week, and running 2-3 times a week, and trying to bike as well, so slowly getting back into shape after the winter break.

Happy New Year!

To see in the New Year, Rachel and I ran with our friend Catherine in the Midnight Run in Central Park.  This was a 4 mile run that started at about 10 minutes after midnight, after an impressive fireworks display from Sheep's Meadow in the south of the park.

As I usually find New Year's Eve a huge anti-climax, being able to do something different and healthy, like being outside in the beautiful chilled air, was a refreshing change from the usual New Years entertainment.

There was something very special about running with 6000 other people in the darkness, with lots of spectators cheering us on.  These were people with all kinds of running abilities - the elderly, children, tourists, people in costume, all in all it was such a fun atmosphere (helped by the fact that it wasn't a timed run), and I definitely want to do it again.

My sporting aims for this year are a ride across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI ride, an Olympic distance triathlon, and then hopefully the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC in October.  I recently got a nice new shiny tri-bike; all I need now is a wetsuit, and I won't be able to make any excuses about not doing any of the above.  Better start training soon though.

For now though, I've been enjoying a beautiful New Years Day with no hangover!