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Angel's Camp Triathlon |
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| DATE: September 20th, 2003 | WHERE: Angel's Camp, CA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISTANCE: 1000ydS-14mB-4.5mR | FRIENDS RACING: Todd, David, Michelle, Pete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This would be our first sprint-distance race in
a long time. Robin & I have been excited about this small race because
of the chance we could both win and Team Soares would have more of an
opportunity to tell others what we're about: Encouraging others to
"Press On", never quitting, by focusing on Christ, instead of the challenge
itself. This is a cool race, with a Wildflower-like setting. You swim out and back in the warm waters of Melonies Reservoir (well known for good fishing). Then up a boat ramp. Then out on a split out-and-back bike course with a rolling section and then a challenging climb section. Then finish up with a 4.5 mile loop trail run, dipping and diving through trees & manzanita. We drive up the night before and meet out good friend, Todd Sprague, at the Ironhorse campground. We doze off while admiring the clear stars through the windows of our tent and listening to the howling coyotes in the distance. Race day! The morning is so nice and
cool. The sun is coming up red. We register and set up our
transition sites. Todd warms up on his bike, the first time in 5
months, due to his many travels lately. How cool to see Pete &
Victoria arrive! Our good friends and training partners, the Ridder's,
arrive, bringing the whole family: David, Michelle & little Robbie; 2 of
David's wonderful sisters, Jenny & Christy; and their dog, Mattie. |
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I knew Michelle was doing the race. Her &
I have done it 2 times before. But the big surprise was David.
He & I had been Ironman training partners in '99, but, despite being a
terrific triathlete, he decided to focus on cycling only after that.
Well here he is, clutching a triathlon race number! Racing together
just like good ole times! We make the long walk down to the water. Robin sees the turn-around buoy in the distance and whispers to me, "Is that the whole course?". Yes, it's only 20% of the distance she just did at Ironman Canada.. it's going to be a nice treat for her. The race director, Mark, gives the introduction. Robin & I find a moment to pray for the race and our main mission - to be good examples, appreciative of those around us, through good and through bad. Go! All 100 swimmers start at once. Robin & I try to stay wide to the outside. Many bolt out in front, but by the 1/2 way point I see that I'm in 5th and Robin can tell she's much closer to the front than she's ever been in other races. My arm turn-over is good. I remind myself to stay relaxed, keeping my breathing from getting crazy. I pass a guy & then jump on (Joe Sander's) toes and get a draft back. 150yds to go, I pull alongside, trying my best to get ahead, but can't. Then I see the stick protruding up through the water. We were warned about obstacles like this due to the low water level. I want to warn (Joe) on my right but know he wouldn't hear me. He swims right into it! He's not hurt. I pull ahead and exit the water in 3rd. The ramp looms in the distance... a 1/4mi of 20% grade. I see 2 guys already half way up it! Robin also exits the water in 3rd place. We both strip our wetsuits off at the bottom which is key with such a long climb ahead. I pass 1 guy in T1 and jump on my bike in 2nd. Robin, who seems naturally fast at transitioning (I see this every day as she's the first one ready in the house going anywhere) passes both girls and heads out in 1st. The Bike: I've got to reel in the lead guy, Gregg Trent. He's moving fast with a 1/2mi lead on me. This won't be easy. But I'm ready to give it my all. What's that!? 1 mile in and Joe Sanders flies by me, his disc wheel buzzing by. I encourage him and then try to match his pace.. but can't. Part of me thinks, "How can I win now, it's impossible..", but, difficult as it is, I ignore that and recall the main objective: Press-on, doing the best you can, because you never know how things will turn out... only God does. At the 1st turn around, I cheer both the
lead bikers, even telling them to "push harder!". I'm feeling lactic
acid building in my legs but tell myself, "it'll feel better soon, don't be
concerned". I see those behind me now.. Pete is all smiles.
There's David.. first time I've seen him in aero-bars in years!
There's Robin! She looks relaxed and smiling, even though I know she's
pushing hard... and no girls close behind her! Again, the doubting
part of me thinks, "She'll have to bring home the trophy for both of us
today". And there's Todd, looking very comfortable. And Michelle
shouting a big, "Go Troy!". Now the hill.. 2 miles of pain. I
see the lead guys quite a ways up but try to ignore them and just climb with
the best form I can. Breathe, Troy, breathe. I'm trying to gain
time at every possible moment, like when the hill flattens briefly.
Instead of sitting up for a brief rest, I continue hard. |
 Todd warming up
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At the 2nd turn-around, I see Joe with a 45 sec
lead, and Greg 30 sec behind him. I make the turn myself and soon see
David, Pete, and Robin nearing the top. She's still in 1st! It's
all downhill and flat to the transition! I go all out, not saving
anything now, and catch Greg, but Joe is nowhere in sight. My
descending has gotten better. I hope this will help me close the gap.
But a 1/2mi from the bottom, a truck & trailer has pulled onto the road.
My race instinct thinks to pass him despite the double-yellow, but I
remember our prayer, 'to race true and be a good example', so I hit the
brakes and trail the slow-moving vehicle. The truck goes straight & I
turn off down the short road back to the race site. There's Joe
getting back on his bike! I immediately remember my thoughts at this
same spot 30min ago when I thought my chances of winning were gone.
"..just go your hardest.. you never know what might happen", I said to
myself. And now something crazy HAS happened. I catch up to him
and ask. He explains that his chain fell off. His face looks
like he's lost a little hope so I try to get him going, "well, you're still
in it, so come on and push". So we both race into the transition.
I see Jenny & Christy cheering loudly for me. And the small group of
spectators cheering for us both. Meanwhile, Robin's flying down the final hill. The last turn towards the race site is sharp. Robin drops into it pretty aggressively and suddenly experiences the heart-dropping sensation of her wheel fish-tailing behind her as she hits the brakes! But she keeps it up and races the final bit to T2. I don my shoes, opting for no socks to save time, and bolt out onto the run. The first 1/2mi is very hard but I think of the reward at the top of that first hill... great trail running with I love. I'm in 1st and don't hear 2nd place behind me at all. I promise God that I won't look back, but just run the best I can. On the backside I focus on the tricky sections of the trail, pushing every descent even though I can feel a blister coming on, and pulling up each rise with quick, short steps. I want to look back. I think I hear footsteps. But I promised, so I never do. I just run faster. The trail drops into the shade of the overgrown manzanita bushes and the pine needles make it very slippery. I sure don't want to break an ankle again. Then I slip a little, but regain. I'm so glad to get water at the 3mi mark. It's really getting warm. I eat a Gu and push hard for the last loop. I imagine someone coming up and passing me in the final sprint so I just keep going fast. Robin's on the run, doing what she loves best, especially on looped trails. She's pushing hard even though she knows she has a good lead on the other girls. But she starts to feel the Ironman fatigue creeping back into her legs. It's not serious though and she keeps a steady pace to the finish. I run down the last stretch and hear Christy & Jenny yell, "This is number 3, right!?" I agree and really appreciate this experience to win the same race 3 times. But even more special, to see my wife also win the race! We both came in first... wow! Thanks, God, for giving us this treat of a "Soares" sweep. We know it may never happen again but it's a nice celebration for the moment for the new Team Soares. The local newspaper was there to interview the winners. They asked Robin, "Did the smoke affect your race?" because there were forest fires in the distance. Robin said, "Nope, I didn't even know it was smoky". We attribute that to her smoke-acclimating at Ironman Canada. She doesn't even notice it now :) Pete & Todd had good races. Michelle and David finished 2nd and 3rd in their age groups. We all went for a swim in the lake after and had a fun time. Team Soares made sure to give the glory to God when we had the chance, and we thank Him for all our blessings and the great friends & family we have... YOU!!! God Bless |
 Joe Sanders (left) and Gregg Trent led the bike segment
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