It’s 5:20am and we are pulling away from the house.  I’m excited to compete today, especially since it’s a mass start (due to a smaller number of competitors).

We park near the Uvas Reservoir and I bike to the transition area.  My run gear is at a 2nd transition 10 miles away.  I see my MVM teammates: Tana & Dale Jackson and David Tarkington.  It makes it even more exciting to be competing with these guys(=   

My prayer and desire today is to constantly be aware of the Lord’s presence.  I feel like I get too caught up in the action of races that I don’t rely on Him enough.  Funny thing, sometimes you get more than you ask for.  Like asking for patience and God gives you frustrating circumstances that require more patience... well, He knows best.   

I realize I don't have the big rubber bands to hold my Jet Stream water bottle to my aero bars.  Dale and Gordon Graham each give me a regular rubber band.  I pray it holds.  I have ten minutes to race time and I still need to put on my wetsuit, spray on non-stick Pam, and put on my cap and goggles.  Better get going!!  Troy and I pray at the water’s edge.  I ask the Lord to help keep me focused on Him.  Troy helps get me ready and I jump in the water for a quick warm-up.  The water feels great!  I’m so glad to have this opportunity to swim in Uvas this year.  A few weeks ago I cheered on Troy and Christine (my Moms In Motion athlete) here at the Southbay Triathlon.  The water looked great that day and now I get to swim it.   

I find Tana and Dale in the water.  What a comfort!  Dale gives Tana and I encouragement and swims off for a good position.  Tana and I are side by side as the cannon goes BOOM!  We’re off!  We swim together until the first buoy and then another swimmer separates us.  I’m thinking of God and my form.  I’m looking around for a draft but I've drifted too far to the left, away from the toes.  The water feels great!  I’m having fun!  I start finding little patches of draft as I round the last buoy.  I catch up to a girl and stay right on her toes.  This is the best draft I’ve ever had!  I follow her in to the finish.  I jump out of the water and pull my wetsuit right off…wow that went well!  Thanks God!

I run to my bike and realize that I don't have my sunglasses…bummer!  I already gave my bag to Troy to transport to the finish.  I signal to Troy but there isn't time to get them.  As I leave transition he offers me his glasses but I tell him I’ll be fine.  I feel the Lord tell me I can live without them.  I’m content…and very much aware of His presence just like I wanted(=

Within the first 2 miles of the bike I’m passed by two fast girls.  I hope I’ll get the chance to see them on the run.  About 8 miles into the bike Tana and Dave pass me.  They are motoring!  I can tell Team MVM is going to have a good day!  I bike up the short backside of Bailey and fly down the other side.  Woo-Hoo, this is fun!  

I’m drinking a lot of fluids and my Jet Stream is almost empty.  I have concentrated Cytomax in another bottle, but no water.  I need to pick some up at the next aid station.  As I approach, I only see two workers…no big deal.  I reach for the bottle.  It drops to the ground. I missed it!  There is no one else to hand me another bottle.  Oh no!  “Lord, what am I going to do?  It’s another 15 miles to the next station.”  He is quick to answer my call for help...  Immediately a motorcycle policeman appears next to me handing me a bottle at 23mph.  Wow!!  Thanks God!!  I thank the policeman for his kindness.  I’m even more aware of His presence now.  Every sip I take reminds me of His gift. 

This bike course is great.  These back roads of Morgan Hill are nice. Willow Glen Road, Oak Glen Ave, Sycamore Road.  And then some I’ve never been on: Center Ave, New Road, Estates Drive.  I see Troy, Anna and friend, Dwight, at the half way point.  Dwight hands me my sunglasses…ahh, that’s better!  I start to go back and forth with a few guys.  I pass them on the hills and they fly by me on the descents and flats.  I'm checking my heart rate to make sure it doesn't dip below 140.  I find that there are times I zone out and that’s when it drops. 

I’m approaching T2 (transition #2) and am excited to see what God has in store for the run.  I drop off my bike, put on my run gear and I’m out.  I feel surprisingly good…yes!  I see a guy from the bike ahead of me.  I catch up to him and say “great ride!”  I’m surprised by his response: “I hate it when people say that”.  I say, “well, you were faster than me so it’s fast to me”.  He says, “get away from me”.  I’m totally shocked.  No one has ever been mean like that before .   I was just trying to be encouraging.  It upsets me, but I ask God to help me forgive him. I step on the gas and pull ahead.

I have no idea what pace I’m running.  I feel good but figure it's only 9 min pace.  After the first mile I start keeping track.  At mile 2, I see I’m running better than 7:40 pace.  Wow, I had no clue!  Thanks God for letting my run be strong!  We are on the Coyote Point bike path.  It’s nice and peaceful out here!  I see a few girls ahead and wonder if I’ll catch them.  I’m looking for Dale, Dave and Tana on their way back.  I’m cheering on the other folks heading back to the finish line.  Man these guys are fast!  I see Kevin Kennedy in the top five…awesome.  There’s another guy, Jeff Landauer, who is smiling and running fast!  We find out later he’s also a Christian training for the Ultraman (double Ironman!!).   

My right calf muscle is starting to get pretty tight.  I’m debating whether to take an Ibuprofen.  I ask God to help the discomfort.  Less than a ½ mile later it’s feeling better without the Advil.  I catch up to one of the girls and realize she was one that passed me on the bike.  I give her a thumbs up and press on.  Another girl I saw ahead has disappeared…I guess she picked it up.   

Here comes Dale!  He’s looking good and working hard!  A little later I see Tana coming.  I’m so focused on her smile, I don’t realize that Dave’s running with her…team work!  I love it!  I know the turn around is coming and I’m excited to get back to the finish.  As I head back, the girl that disappeared is now behind me…weird!  She must have pulled off for a moment.  I’m excited that I was able to catch a few girls…thanks God for making this race so great.  Not far behind me, I see a girl coming down the path.  She’s looking good.  I'm trying to hold the pace and stay ahead.  I feel like my run fitness isn't fully there yet so I’m praying my body will hold up to the end.  My mile splits are getting almost a 1 ½ minutes slower.  Maybe the mile markers are off…I’ve slowed, but not that slow!

Less than a mile to go now!  I’m pushing as hard as my sore legs will go!  I know the other girl is coming behind me, but I don’t want to look back.  Just to be able to be where I am now is a blessing and I couldn’t ask for more.  Heading towards the finish I see Tana and Dale…their cheers pump me up!  I hear Troy cheering as I near the finish.  Thank You, Jesus, for this race!  I raise my hands up in the air in worship to Him.  It’s been a great day!!

Tana's Swim, Bike, and Finish

Dale's Swim, Bike and Run

Dave's Bike and Run

Go Gordon & Linda!

Go Kevin!

Having Fun!

Long Course Results

Age-Group Individual Results Below...