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Silverman Champion Petr Vabrousek Shares His Race Report
By Petr Vabrousek
11/15/2007 |
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On Nov. 3d I took part on the first race of my double US series – Ironman Florida. On my way to Florida, I got quite a cold and a result of that was sore throat on my way to start in Panama City Beach. As I still felt pretty strong and ready to race, I decided not to call it a day and try to go for it. The swim went pretty well and I exited water around 70th place only 6 minutes down on the lead pack. The flat bike portion is always difficult to get your pacing right, but I managed to do it and slowly build my way through the field to enter the T2 in 20th position, only 13 mintus down on leader and still feeling great, except for my sore throat and not being able to talk… I gave it all on the first loop to see how things can turn out and moved to 11th position after the half mark, virtually in reach of attacking top 5 placing. My throat decided otherwise – ice cold drinks didn´t do any good and I started to cough at each aid station and my 6:20 running pace was gone… With that also chances of top 5 and instead of fighting for top 10 and risking the ilness, I decided to jog the rest of the race and saving it for Silverman next weekend and finished 21st, but safe and not too destroyed.
Following weekend, there was my main goal coming. Brutal Silverman course with skyhigh elevation on the bike and the run looked promising to be a real challenge. I set myself a goal not only to win, but also to try to break the standing course record of 10:11.
The cold disappeared some 3 days after the race and with some light training and some quality family time on the Las Vegas Strip, I felt very strong and confident again. I don´t know, who was lucky, that we are each starting in different race: whether me, that Chris McCormack is starting in the half IM, or Chris, that I am starting in the whole Silverman :) !
The swim went great and I didn´t push it too much knowing that this race is not going to be decided in the water. Exited in 57 minutes, almost 10 minutes down on swim specialist John Kenny. From the first pedal stroke on the bike, I knew that I was on fire… I had no problems holding 300-330W on each hill till the end with some downhill coasting and very rare flat portions. I managed to average 280 Watts for the whole 5:30 long grueling ride – my PB so far!
Coming off T2 I already had almost 30 minutes lead on a chase group including Ben Schloegel (fearsome runner and 7th place finisher at IM Louisville this year), which made me feel safe and my only focus remained on breaking course record. I thought it will be easy but another killing elevation was presented to us on the run and for 3:16 I had to put in some work again :). Coming to finish with my son in 9:48:07 (23 minutes under the old mark) was a great moment – one which helps me to keep moving forward… Thanks to everyone, who ever helped me to achieve this!!!
Photos
1. Petr racing in Kona
2. Petr's Silverman record advertisement
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