Boulder resident Long makes pro Ironman debut

From Boulder Daily Camera
For a local guy, it was fitting that Sam Long would make is professional debut at the Boulder Ironman 70.3.
Just two weeks into his professional career, Long made his first pro race a memorable one. Amidst a field of some of the best triathletes in the world, the 21-year-old Boulder High School graduate finished the Boulder Reservoir course in 3.57.58 hours to place 17th overall.
It was a hot day and a difficult race. It was also a surreal day for the lifetime Boulder native.
“It was just cool being with the big dogs,” Long said. “I actually got a new bike like a week ago, too, so my hips were feeling kind of rough for the first 20 miles on the bike. But I started to feel better and as soon as I got out on Nelson, I started passing people. Then that run, man, it was an epic suffer fest.”
Long’s time was 15 minutes faster than his personal best time. Even though he faded just a bit down the stretch, he still enjoyed being a contender in a race with some of the big names in the sport he is trying to break into.
“I’m a pretty slow swimmer so my swim wasn’t great and I think I came out like 30th,” Long said. “I came around that first lap and someone told me I was in 11th so I thought, ‘Well, let’s just see if we can get to 10th.’ I died a little at the end and had like three guys pass me. But it was awesome. One of the guys who passed me won Ironman Boulder, which was my first Ironman as an age-grouper a while back, so it was kind of cool to be out there with those guys.”
Read the full story HERE.