We pack up.  Arrive by 6:10am for 7am start.  We have Anna in the jogger while we do our warm-up run.  We are both doing the race today!  Mom and Ray arrive and take Anna.  Not enough time to warm-up on the bike.

I'm using a new Zoot wetsuit I bought yesterday.  I'm also wearing a pink swim cap.  But the other guys in my age group are wearing Navy blue.  Sure enough, I find out I have the wrong cap and they have no more to switch with.  How funny, 2 races in a row where I'm the only one wearing a different cap!  It doesn't bother me, but a pink cap in a sea of 136 blue caps is pretty noticeable.  I better swim straight for those watching.  Robin and I pray and her race starts.  Mine starts 4min behind her.

Robin's Swim

Anna, Mom & Ray, fellow racer, Michelle Ridder, and I, get in the lake for a warm-up swim.  I feel pretty good considering I'm a bit sleep deprived.  It's 7:15am and I'm thinking about the folks doing Ironman Coeur d'Alene...they just started their swim 15 minutes ago.  Go Team MVM!

I swim over to my wave and line up in front with the first buoy ahead of me.  I'm risking getting pummeled, but I want to really work the swim hard.  Boom!  We're off!  I sprint the first 50m and see a small pack take off.  Those girls are really fast!  I try to stay with the front runners of the second pack.  I actually find a pretty good draft for a little bit.  About 1/2 through the swim, I get separated from the girl I've been drafting behind.  We are both weaving our way through the waves ahead of us.  I try to swim the straightest line possible to avoid going out of the way.  We both round the last buoy and I'm now slightly ahead.  I see her coming up on me. I try pushing harder.  I get out of just a little ahead and attempt my wetsuit removal.  Well, not as smooth this time but no problem(=  Thanks God for the great swim. (I'm in 6th place)

Troy's Swim

At the sound of the cannon we're off!  The water is warm, but dirty.  The lake level is down 5ft because of a rare bird that built it's nest at the water's edge.  Once the eggs hatch, they will fill the lake again.  The wetsuit feels good.  Trying not to drink the water.  Immediately my right goggle is leaking.  It's full of water now.  I can't see out of that eye.  But I don't want to lose time so I don't stop.  Instead, I keep my eyes closed most of the time.  Funny thing, yesterday, when trying on the wetsuit, I swam 100yds here without goggles.  It wasn't comfortable but I was able to swim pretty straight.  However, in these close quarters, now I'm bumping into guys.  I also run into a couple swimmers in the wave ahead.  Another drawback, I can't find anyone to draft.   I should've fixed the goggles.  My suit is restricting.  I'm hot so I let water into the top of the suit.  I'm pulling as hard as I can for the final stretch.  It didn't feel like a very fast swim.  I climb out onto the sand. (I'm in 12th place).  The suit comes off pretty good with 2 karate kicks.  I run by Mom. And there's Ray holding Anna. "Hi Anna!"  That really makes me smile.  My heel is hurting a lot.  I shuffle along slowly.  I grab my bike.. almost take off.. then remember to back up and grab my race number.  I see Mom, Ray, Anna, David Ridder.. everyone's cheering! (I'm in 13th place.)

Robin's Bike

As I run to my transition spot, I smile and say "good job" to a girl in my age group just leaving...she smiles back and is off.  I wonder if I'll see her later or not.  I get my stuff together as quickly as possible but I can tell it's a long transition.  I get on the bike and try to get my legs spinning fast but they are a little tired from this week's training.  A couple of girls pass me and I try to hang on for a while.  I come up on the same girl from transition and say "good job".  Soon I will be seeing Troy.  When I do, I'm going to remind him that Soares Cup points are on the line(=

Troy's Bike

Now I'm riding.  This is my big effort for the race.  Even though my bike training is low, I'm going to try to break an hour anyway.  I never have on this course.  I'll go all out because I don't have to save anything for the run.  Run speed doesn't matter. I'll just be happy if the Lord allows me to run the whole thing. 

It's a great day.  I'm working hard and trying to be efficient.  I transfer Cytomax to my JetStream (should've done that beforehand).  It's so cool that Robin's wave was 4 minutes before me, now I can look forward to seeing her on the bike!  Yet I'm surprised how far ahead she is.  I'm going back and forth with others my age.  One guy says, "Let's help each other work". I say, "Yes, let's make each other hurt", which we do, trying to catch one another after each pass.  There's Robin!  I remember Ralph's California Half Ironman where I got to run with Robin for 6 mi!  Now I get to ride with her.. for a few seconds.  At the turn-around I pass 4 guys by taking the inside line.  Now it's a tail wind.  Legs are hurting but I know that will pass.. just keep pushing.  I climb Bailey as well as I can and re-pass the guys around me.  Downwind all the way home.  Almost 1 hour!  Going as hard as I can.  Oh, just a couple minutes over an hour. (I'm in 1st place!) Wow, my legs are stiff!  I waddle slowly through transition.  I'm glad I rode very hard. I jog out towards the run, stiffness starting to go away. (I'm in 3rd place)

Robin's Bike (Part 2)

Boy, Troy was looking great!  It always pumps me up to see him hammering along!  I'm trying to hold off as many girls as possible.  As I make the u-turn to head back to Bailey, I see a bunch of girls.  A Pete Kain girl goes by and I try not to loose her.  We go back and forth the last 10 miles of the race.  We are pushing each other and giving each other encouragement at the same time.  This is fun!  I pull into the transition area (in 7th place) and make a long trek to my spot...the transition area is U-shaped and my stuff is on the other side of the U.  I get on my run gear and run out.

Troy's Run

Off on the run. There's Ray, Mom & Anna again!  The announcer, Brad Kearns, says, "That might be the first 35-39 man.."  I figure it must be a mistake, it's hard to keep track of all the waves.  I'm probably more like 8th.  Now I notice the heel doesn't hurt!  Oh, it's a great feeling to be able to run  with normal strides!  Thank you, Lord!  I focus up on Him.  Even going faster it doesn't hurt.  I'm able to go as fast as I want... but I haven't trained more than 4 slow miles in a week for the last 2 months... and no track work.. no base.. is it possible to go fast?  What will happen if I try?

Robin's Run

I feel a strong desire to pray for Troy's foot right now.  I ask the Lord to allow him to run pain free.  I also thank Him for the great ride I had.  I see Mom and Ray as I head out.  No Anna...she must be sleeping(=  I get on the trail and try to hold 7 minute pace.

Troy's Run (Part 2)

A couple 35-39 men pass me.  I'm doing about 7:30 pace and that's wonderful!  I keep my focus on God above. Sometimes lifting my palms up just to honor Him.  I'm so thankful to experience running the way it used to me.  When I attempt running on my own, the pain of each step keeps me from lengthening my stride, from playing with the speed, from enjoying the trees and sights that float by on each side, or even from seeing a hill and climbing it just for the view from the top.  Of course, running is difficult, but when you practice, it becomes fun.  It's in races like this, when I pray beforehand, that I sometimes get to experience that fun again!

Now it's hard to breathe.  Not surprised.  Side stitch coming on.  Force myself to breathe long and deep.  Feel a little better after a while.  Harder to cheer for others when I'm going faster.  Realize a great benefit of not going fast.. I can cheer more for others.  But I must keep cheering.  The Lord makes each race rewarding despite my speed. 

Running the Almaden bike trail... along creeks and ponds.  I'm going 6:45 pace now!  I see Robin and tell her "The Lord is making it great!"  I feel like I can't keep the pace.  3 more miles.  In a way I enjoy the discomfort, like a distant friend.  I can see 2 35-39 men ahead working together.  I'm starting to get closer. At the 4mi water station I make a move, pass, and continue the surge for 400m.  6:30 pace, I can't believe it!  Couldn't run a mile yesterday.  I never look back.  Just go as fast as I can.  I see Robin again. She says Mike Statz (the winner of Angels Camp) is behind me.  I take another Hammer Gel.  With a mile to go I know there's no slowing down now.  This is hard.  The spectators say it's right around the corner.  I try to sprint the final bit.  So great to see the finish.  I point to God, blow kisses to my mom, and finish thrilled :)  (I'm in 3rd place!) The announcers give me a hard time for my "ancient" Scott Tinley hat I've been wearing for races since 1993.  I congratulate the tough competition behind me when they cross.  Mike Statz congratulates me afterwards.  Robin comes across the finish line and the announcers joke "..go ask the racing Soares family how they do it.. they'll love to talk to you about it.."

Robin's Run

The Lord is giving me another great run like at Caliman.  I get my momentum going and I'm actually able to hold 7 minute pace.  I'm getting passed by quite a few guys and again I'm trying to hold off any girls behind me.  I see Troy and he tells me his foot is great!  I'm so excited and tell him that I was praying for him...Thanks God!  After making the u-turn at Mile  1.5, I see a really fast girl coming up the trail.  Wow, she looks great and she's kicking butt...I'll be seeing her soon(= 

This run is going by fast!  It seems like most years the miles drag on.  It's not as hot this year so that must be helping.  Sure enough the fast girl passes me just before mile 4...she's unstoppable.  I see Troy!  Yeah!!  He looks great and is smiling big!  Thank you, God!!  I tell him the Angels Camp winner, Mike Statz, is behind him.  Next, I see Megumi Masuda heading back to the finish as I'm heading out to circle the pond.  She's always here and always fast...you go, girl! 

I'm on my way to the finish.  I'm feeling good and in pain at the same time.  I see a girl ahead and make an effort catch her.  She picks it up at the same time and I just cannot close the gap.  Surprisingly, I see another girl and pass her less than a 1/2 mile from the finish.  I give it all I can and cross the finish line in 7th place.  I'm happy to be back with Anna who is still fast asleep(= 

Afterwards, Mom, Ray, Anna, Robin, Troy, and Jeff Landauer (Christian ultra-cyclist) hang out in the shade and eat lots of food.  What a great, fun day.

We all had a rewarding day at the San Jose Triathlon.  We thank God for a safe race for all.

God Bless.

Troy, Robin, and Anna Rose Soares.... "Team Soares... Press On"

Troy and Diane Perun Get Their Award(=