^TIME:  Robin

It’s Friday and Troy and Anna pick me up from a teaching conference that I’ve been doing all week.  We are on our way to Windsor High in Windsor to pick up my race packet for the Full Vineman AquaBike.  I’ll be doing the Ironman distances for the swim and the bike only (no run).  I thought this would be a cool race because it’s different and it will give me race experience for Ironman Coeur d’Alene next summer.  There is also a ½ Iron AquaBike, a ½ Iron Distance women's triathlon (Barb’s Race), and a Full Ironman Distance triathlon.  The majority of racers are doing Barb's Race and the full iron triathlon.

After getting to Windsor High, I run off to get my stuff while Anna and Troy play in the Expo area.  While waiting in line to ask a question about the special needs bag I meet a girl, Shanna Armstrong, who has just signed up, spur-of-the-moment, for the full Ironman distance.  Her boyfriend “egged her on” to do it and she’s scrambling to find all the equipment she needs by the morning.  Wow, that takes guts!  She does look well trained, though, and will probably do fine. 

Now we head to the Raford Inn Bed & Breakfast (http://www.rafordinn.com).  This B&B is owned by Rita and Dane Wells.  Rita is the mother of Alan Liu, our Mountain View Masters swim coach, who was killed two years ago on his bike.  Rita and Dane offered us a room at their B&B for the weekend.  We find out that the B&B is on the course…cool! 

Driving up to the Raford Inn, we are in awe…what a gorgeous place!!  It’s a historical landmark and is tucked in the back roads of Healdsburg.  We stay in the innkeepers room.  It’s like a little apartment with a kitchenette…perfect for the Soares family.  Rita and Dane have amazing amounts of enthusiasm and energy!  They've kept their previous jobs in addition to running the Raford. We picked up some pasta take-out and enjoy great food and company.

We get ready for bed and I prepare for tomorrows race.  I make my bottles and Troy finalizes the race and nutrition plan.  Things are going smoothly…thanks God!  I know that no matter what happens, He’ll make it work for good and to His perfect plan.  I need to be patient and trust Him.  The first trial comes at 2am when Anna wakes up crying.  This is very unusual for Anna.  She usually sleeps through the night no problem.   Troy gets her to stop crying but she’s wide awake and starts shouting out “Da” over and over.  I feel a little anxiety because we are right next door to one of the Raford guests.  I’m afraid Anna is disturbing their sleep too.  After 20 minutes we all fall back to sleep.

The alarm goes off at 5am and we quickly eat and grab what we think is everything we need.  Off to Guernville to the swim start and bike transition area.  There are two transition sites, but I only have to deal with one today…yeah!  I go for a short bike warm-up.  The second trial of the day comes when I realize we forgot my bottles of nutrition (fuel) for the bike leg.  I feel the Lord’s presence and I’m not panicking.  Troy and I decide that I’ll use my Special Needs bottles (extra fuel to be picked up at the 1/2 way point) and he’ll drive back to place the other bottles at the ½ way Special Needs point.

Down at the transition, I run into Tim Sheeper, and later, Scott Withoff.  It’s nice to see familiar faces!  I find my spot and squeeze in as best as I can.  I have 10 minutes to get on my wetsuit and finish setting up my transition…better pick up the pace!  Troy, Anna and I pray together and I get to the water just in time to swim to the start.  I should have made an effort to warm-up but I know it will all work out.  I hear a song from Anna’s “Praise Baby” CD playing in my head: “Our God Reigns.  Over the Heavens.  Over the earth
Our God reigns. Praise His name”.  It all good!

The gun shoots and we are off!  I feel a bit sluggish but try to get a good draft. I see Shanna from yesterday swim by.  I’m not good at recognizing people during the swim but she’s hard to miss because she doesn’t have a wetsuit…couldn’t get one of those at the last minute but it doesn’t seem to be slowing her.  I can only stay in her draft for a few minutes and she’s gone!  This is a two loop course for us…up and down the Russian River twice.  I get into a better grove.  It’s almost too warm in my wetsuit so I try to let in some cooler water every once in a while.  I make it through the swim.  I jump out and rip off my wetsuit and head for my bike.  As I am putting on my swim gear, I look over and see Anna and Troy cheering me on.  I’d really like to go over there and just hang out with them but I know I have to go.  “I’ll see you soon!” 

As I'm leaving the transition, I notice a road block so I go under the bike rack to get around it...that's different.  I exit the transition area and get on the bike.  This is also a two loop course.  Each loop is basically the same.  I see Shanna just ahead.  The plan is to keep my heart-rate at 150.  I stay near Shanna and it turns out to be the perfect pace.  I’m going to try and hold off as many girls as possible.  My legs are feeling good and my motivation to push is high.  The course is starting to feel crowded by mile 10.  I’m passing and getting passed frequently.  I pass Shanna and another girl in blue and tell them good job. 

It’s just beautiful out here!  The vineyards keep me interested.  I’m wondering what will be around the next corner.  The girl in blue passes me and I try not to let her get too far ahead.  She’s pulling away but I continue to hope that I’ll see her later.

I’m heading towards the end of the first loop.  It’s a bit crazy because we are crossing the 101 and trying to avoid cars entering and leaving the road.  To make things more crazy, they're repaving the other side of the road and directing cars and bikes down one narrow path.  I get through the madness and see the girl in blue…yes!  The third trial of the day comes...  I hear a sudden rush of air.  Oh that’s me, I have a flat!  I cannot tell what caused it but I see a small gash in my front tire.  As I’m changing the blown tube, I’m telling God that I’m ok with this and that I trust His plan.  I have a little difficulty getting some air into the new tube.  I do this so it's easier to put it on.  Blowing into it doesn’t work, so I decide to use my C02 cartridge..  but it blows up the tube too big, wasting precious air.  I let some out, install the tube, and actually manage to get the tire on without my levers…thanks God!  I fill up the tire with the remaining air.  I later realize the tire pressure was low.  I say a prayer for the tire to hold on for the last loop. 

Two miles later I see Troy and Anna.  I hold up my bad tube to let him know I had a flat.  I also point to heaven to let him know that I’m in good spirits.  He shouts out that I am in sixth place and that my Special Needs Bag is ahead.  I get my bag and there are the two bottles I left at the Raford.  "Thanks Troy for taking care of me", I think to myself.

I feel invigorated and ready to hit the next loop.  I pass the Raford Inn at Mile 65.  I look for Rita and Dane but I don’t see them.  I’m looking forward to going back there tonight!  The miles start to click off but I try not to look at the distance meter on the bike.  I focus on keeping the heartrate high and pushing.  I remind myself constantly that I don’t need to save up for the run today.

I head for the Canyon Road hill for the second time and I see Anna and Troy at the top.  Anna is clapping for me!  That is so touching.  I want to get off my bike and give her a squeeze…soon!  I tell Troy and Anna that I love them and look forward to seeing them soon. Troy tells me that I have moved into forth place since I last saw him.  It’s getting hard to tell where I am exactly now that Barb’s Race competitors are on the course…they’re only doing 1 loop and they started after us.

I’m almost home now!  I’m approaching my flat spot and am extra cautious.  I make it by and hear air again!  This time it’s someone else…oh, no!  Something is definitely in the road causing the problem.  I have two miles to go and I push as hard as I can.  My heart rate is over 160, but my legs are turning over well.  I don’t have to run so why not.

I’m almost to the bike dismount area (the finish line for me) and hear Troy cheering.  Rita, Dane and their helper Kristin are there too. I’m done!  Wow, that was tough and fun too!  I take my time getting to them…I’m tired!

I’m reunited with little Anna again.  We are both relieved to see each other again.  I kiss Troy and thank the Raford gang.  Now it’s time to eat and relax!  Thanks God for a wonderful, challenging day!

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