We set up our transition while eating PowerBars and running into cool friends, like Muddy Waters, Karen Saxena, Maria Marisilio, Dr. Warren Scott, Mark Flynn, Warren Mine, and Alan & Kat.

Robin & I warm-up with our usual jog down to the beach to visit the bathrooms that aren't crowded.  I do some sprints on the bike.  My seat has been giving me trouble this last month.  It's been frustrating, but Robin kept reminding me to be faithful in prayer, so I was.  Then I got a tip from Dr. Matt Janzen and, with a newer position, have been riding much better this last week.  Today will be a little test for Ironman.

980 of us walk across the beach to the staging area for the start.  It's chilly.  The water looks even colder.  I jump in & discover it's not bad this year.  They say about 63 versus 56 normally.  Robin's wearing green aqua socks as a trial in keeping warm.  Notoriously, this swim results in numb feet lasting all the way to the run.  It's a weird feeling to run on, what feels like, "stubs".

Swim:  GO!  We scamper up & over, sprint 50yds to the surf, and dive into the frothy salt water.  I'm getting a lot of contact with others.  A little scary when arms from both sides close in on me.  Feel like the yoke in an egg-beater, emerging finally with a discombobulated stroke and breathing pattern.  I find a good draft.  I follow him to the end of the pier.  I start feeling calm & energized.  Round the buoys.  Hear the sea lions.  I glance below into the deep green water.  Are we near shore?  I just saw dirt 5 ft below me.  Then I realize it's the brown furry coat of a sea lion swimming below us!  We head towards the beach.  Sight off the host hotel.  I feel great!  I push harder.  I haven't been training well in the pool so thankful for this energy I somehow feel in me.  I stand up when I feel sand. [Age Position: 13th]  Should've waited a second longer as a little wave comes and pushes the others passed me onto the beach.

T1:  The spectators cheer.  It's a great feeling.  I lose a little time when my wetsuit resists coming off.  I fling it over my neck & run up the street to transition.  Last year it hurt with the metal plate in my ankle stiffening it up.  Now it's gone, the Lord has heeled my feet, and I'm happy to run!  But I'm still winded at the top.  Whew!

Bike: [Age Position: 9th]  let's see how fast my new position is.  Must push this hard.  Don't let anyone get away.  I see I'm about 12th overall.  4 guys near me, challenging for position.  Racing along Hwy 1 & the foggy coast.  Being in the first wave helps.. the road is clear for us.  For others it will be congested.  I'm passing them on the downhills & flats but they're getting me on the climbs.  The town of Davenport comes into sight.  The turn-around.  I grab a bottle from the High School volunteers.  I already have plenty of fluids but I want the nice bottles they give out here... I'm glad Robin suggested I attach 2 more bottle cages to the back of my seat... I can collect more bottles this way :)

Racing back.  It's down to 2 guys I can't seem to shake.  A young college kid, Kevin Bowe, from UCSB.  He has great surges.  Another guy, Mark Friedley, who seems my equal, in strength and in his  encouraging manner.  He comments when he goes by how good this duel is for both of our races. That's what I think, too.  [Mark was in the wave 5min behind me, caught me, and biked the same time as me.  He went on to also take 4th in his age group]   It's hard riding.  I want to just let them go, but I never give up on the chase.  In the last miles I pull ahead, trying to break last year's time of 1:03:40.  I might be working too hard and sacrificing my run.  My legs feel tired.  I stretch as I coast in, then jump off and rack my bike.  1:02:51 yay!  [Age Position: 5th. Age Bike Split: 4th]

T2: I don socks because last week I got blisters without them.  It costs me 30 seconds but I don't want to risk sore feet 3 weeks before Hawaii.

Run: [Age Position: 6th] Head out on the run.  I immediately experience something I haven't before... my legs feel fresher than when I started!  Turn-over is quick, they feel light, I feel like I could run a 5min mile.  Wow!  The first mile is actually 5:57.  I feel great and set my sights on 2 guys way ahead.  Mile 2, 5:52.  I pray "the Lord is my sheppard, I shall not want... " and remind myself not to "want" the position of those 2 guys, but to first, and foremost, run a race of character.  Run not for winning but as an example.  I eat a Gu, catch up to them, match their steps for a while and then pass while encouraging them.  It's Aaron King & Ed Owen, we say hi.  Mile 3, another 5:52.  I'm feeling good that I maintained this max speed, made the pass, and now can rest assured to the finish... but immediately after the turn I see Albert Boyce, who was 30 secs back at the run start but is now right on my tail!  I should just let him pass.  Be content.  But I remember "anything can happen".  I gotta try to find out what it could be.  He could cramp up.  Maybe he went too hard.  Go for it!  I start to speed up despite the fatigue.  Use the arms, remember to breathe, take the corners right, and, of course, smile and thank those cheering.
Mile 4, 5:59.  I'm in 6th place.
Mile 5, 5:30.  Wow! I'm staying ahead.  There's Robin!  She's doing great.
Mile 6, 5:39.  I can see Dave Liota ahead.  But he's too far and too close to finishing. [Age Position: 4th. Age Run Split: 1st. Overall Run Split: 2nd]

Robin Gets "Outside Assistance"... From God

I warm-up beforehand & brace for the cold... but the water's not bad.  3 men's waves have gone.  Now it's our turn [34 & under]... almost 200 women.

Swim: Go!  The water isn't a shock.  I'm glad I got in beforehand.  Thank you, God, for letting the waves be small.  Aqua socks are comfortable. Swimming feels good.  I get into a good group of girls.  The swim goes by fast, unlike last year.  We finish the 1 mile swim and emerge onto the beach.  Waves much smaller this year.  [swim time: 26:10, over a minute faster than last year. Age Position: 17th,  25 seconds ahead of Sonya Patton who was 3rd 25-29 in 2002]

T1: My suit comes off easily.  Fling it around my neck and run up the sidewalk to T1 (transition).  Aqua socks are helping again.  A girl [Gabrielle Goodman 30-34, 1st place in 2002] sprints by towards the racks. [Sonya passes Robin in the transition and is out 20 secs ahead of her.  But, at the same time, Robin passes 7 others in her age].  Where's my bike?  There it is.  Jump on and go!

Current Standings Starting the Bike:
  1. Sarah Kerlin 25-29 (overall winner in 2002)
  2. Heather Rodde 25-29 +:06
  3. Shanna Guzman 25-29  +:12

  5. Megumi Masuda 30-34  +1:16

  11. Kim Clark 25-29 +4:26  (6th in 2002)
  13. Gabriele Goodman 30-34  +5:10
  14. Megan Tichy 25-29 +5:32
  16. Tory Oakland 30-34 +5:38
  17. Sonya Drottar 30-34 +5:43  (3rd in 2002)
  21. Robin 25-29 +6:02 (8th in 2002)
  25. Ginger Ellsworth 25-29 +6:07
  27. Anna Presley 30-34 +6:13

bike: [Age Position: 11th] The bike feels good right off the start.  We turn onto Hwy 1.  Accelerating towards Davenport.  Ginger passes me.  But I catch Gabrielle, Megan, and then Tory.  We're dodging slower riders.  Pushing hard.  It's so weird to be near the front like this. I pass Sonya, wow!  Holly Pietrofesa 40-44 from the next wave [5 min later] had a great swim and is with me now.  Her & I push each other, cheering & shouting encouragements as we pass.  We call out when the cars are clear for the other to pass.  Hitting 24mph sometimes!  I pass a few more in my age group until I don't see anymore girls.  I get away from the crowd before the turn-around.  It's good to be clear going through the aid station bottle zone.  But I get passed a lot on the descent out of Davenport.  There goes Sonya!  It's just really cool to be riding with these girls that are normally far ahead of me. [Age Position: 7th]  The hills feel good.  Sonya, Holly, & I putting the hurt on each other.. but it's cool!  We're yelling "Go, go!" when the other goes by.  I catch them on the hills.  They pass me on the flats.  Wow, feels good to hammer, usually feels exhausting.  Passing many guys.  Thinking "this is what it's like to be up front".  Bike course is getting packed.  Anna catches us.  She's really squirrelly.  Passes me on the right!  Guys are yelling about drafting.  But some of the guys are the ones drafting behind Sonya & Holly.  We pass Heather, then Shanna.  I can tell this is faster than any other race I've done.  Coming into town.  There's Sarah, last year's winner wearing #1!  I hammer past her, then Anna, and then Sonya, again.  Towards the transition.  Bike time is 1:05:57, 9 min faster than last year! [Age Position: 4th. Age Bike Split: 3rd. Overall Bike Split: 7th!].

T2:  I pull my feet out of my shoes ready for dismount.  Suddenly there's a guy in front of me who is tangled up in his bike right at the entrance.  I run into him and fall off.  The crowd's cheers turn to "Ohhhh!".  But I'm quickly up and the cheers return to "Yaayy!!".

Current Standings Starting the Run
  1. Ginger Ellsworth 25-29 leading
  2. Megumi Masuda 30-34 +:31 (2nd in 2002)
  3. Kim Clark 25-29 +:36 (6th in 2002)
  4. Gabriele Goodman 30-34 +2:29 (1st in 2002)
  5. Sarah Kerlin 25-29 +3:09 (1st o/a in 2002)
  6. Sonya Drottar 30-34 +3:13 (3rd in 2002)
  7. Robin 25-29 +3:19  (8th in 2002)
  8. Anna Presley +3:33
  9. Heather Rodde +4:37
  11. Shanna Guzman +5:44
  14. Tory Oakland +7:30
  18. Megan Tichy +8:15

Run: [Age Position: 4th] I remember the 26 mile run of Ironman Canada.  It's a great feeling knowing this is so short in comparison.  A bunch of us are starting together.  I see Sonya and Sarah up ahead.  I catch Sarah and encourage her, "come on, let's go".  Then I pass Kim.  I see the lead girls [Ginger & Megumi].  I see Sonya make the turn-around just before me.  200yds later, turning rt towards West Cliff Dr., Sonya is no where to be seen!  Mile 4.  Racing along the path back to the finish.  Sonya has rocketed away! Now I'm just passing guys, no other women around.  The guys are nice and encouraging.  I realize this great race I'm having is due to God's help and blessing.  Tempted to look back but think that God wouldn't want me to, just run as fast as I can.  I'll probably see Troy soon cheering me in.  There he is!  I tell him "it's not me, it's all God!".  The last mile feels real hard.  I'm done.  Wow, thank you, Lord! [Age Position: 2nd. Age Run Split: 2nd]

[Robin finishes in 2:18:43, with a 42:29 run.  1st, Ginger Ellsworth, was moved to the overall category winners, so Robin was awarded 1st in her age!]

Final Standings
  2:13:03 Ginger Ellsworth 25-29 1st
  2:14:42 Megumi Masuda 30-34 1st
  2:16:22  Sonya Drottar 30-34 2nd
  2:18:43  Robin 25-29 2nd
  2:20:27  Gabriele Goodman 30-34 3rd
  2:21:24  Sarah Kerlin 25-29 3rd

Afterwards

Mark Flynn    Alan, Kat, Robin, ??, Mark

Awards & Results
Kat

Sonya                                   Steve

Robin getting her awards