Troy
Ride to Transition
We wake up at 4:40am. It's great having a house full of triathletes
packing, eating, and gathering gear. It's only barely light enough to
see. Jami, Sherwick, Tana, Nate and I mount our bike and head towards
Folsom Lake, Rattlesnake Bar. Everyone's in great spirits. Once on
Shirland Tract Rd, it's 6 mi., and 1000' down to the race start. It
felt warm to me leaving the house, but I'm getting cold by the time we
roll into transition. 5:30am, right on time. We assemble at the same
rack, but Nate opts for a far rack near the bike exit. Dave Campbell
is near us.
Warm Up
I try to warm up a little (the opposite of what the bike ride did for
me) and stretch which is important for me. Robin arrives with Anna and
Ariel. Robin's volunteering to direct athletes and then will be doing
the run leg for the TeamSoares Relay. We have a friendly challenge
with our neighbors, the Loveday Lewandowski Relay. That includes Tony
(swim), Lance (bike), and Courtney (run).
The lake is the highest anyone remembers. It's high, clean, and warm.
Perfect swim conditions for me. The short run up the ramp will be a
relief for my bad foot, always stiff after swimming. Tony and I go for
a warm-up. I get out and start shivering as the air is colder than the
water.
I hope to better my 34 min Wildflower swim and come in close behind
Tony. Tony & I swim together at RAMS (Rocklin Aquatic Masters) and
always impresses me with his work ethic – swimming most every day of
the week and following the workouts well. He always help push me to
swimming faster. He's stronger than me but I plan to utilize my
open-water experience the best I can to keep up.
Race Start
Tony & I, along with all the women, tread water, waiting for our 2nd
wave to start. Go! We head to the right to an unseen buoy hidden
behind trees. Almost rounding the trees I hear a kayaker yell, "Swim
through the trees!" I change course and follow the other swimmers
through a gap in the trees I didn't see before. This isn't a good
start to my effort to swim straight and strategically. Rounding the
1st buoy we're blinded by the rising sun. I've never been this lost. I
keep looking up, blocking the sun with my hand, even taking my goggles
off... there's just no way of seeing any buoy with the sun directly
ahead. Swimmers are everywhere but I see a group to the right and just
head towards them hoping to eventually see something resembling a
buoy. Finally. It's white, just like the sun. So glad to get past that
hurdle. I feel like I've lost so much time, like the whole day is
sacrificed and I might as well concede to Tony and Lance. But then I
realize you have to do your best at all times no matter what sets you
back. So I make a goal to swim hard to the 3rd buoy. And I start to
have more energy. This one is easy to sight. I round it and see the
4th buoy, too. I even have a guy on my left to push me. Even though
there probably isn't any current, we are heading down-river and I
imagine I'm getting pushed. Right when I start thinking I'm doing a
great job I look to the right and surprisingly see the finish line 90
degrees from the direction I'm swimming! And, in the distance, the
pack is hugging the shore and swimming right to it. I'm embarrassed
how far off course I am, but, again, I must accept my plight and swim
the best I can. I bee-line it for the ramp, slowly merging with the
other swimmers. I assume the other guy that was with me also realized
and was close behind.
Transition
I make a good exit and a good 1-2 kick out of my wetsuit. I hear, "Is
that Troy Soares?" and race director, Brad Kearns, starts describing
how Robin & I are a relay team, volunteered with FCA to put on the
Iron Prayer yesterday and that our house is at mile 9 of the run so if
anyone needs to stop in for a bathroom or extra food, go ahead. After
a quick transition I grab my bike and start to jump on. "Troy, you
can't mount yet". It's Lance. I'm glad he was looking out for me
to keep me from getting a penalty. I run my bike to the exit pretty
excited that somehow I beat Tony out of the swim and have a lead on
Lance. A reminder that you never know what will happen.
The Bike
Feet in the shoes. I see Robin, Anna, and Ariel directing at the sharp
corner. Now it's up the big climb. Everyone is eager and aggressive. I
have to stay efficient, don't push too hard, it's a long course and I
need to have energy for the return descent. I hope to make up time
today in the aero position and in the twisting descents. I rode this
section 2 days ago and felt really good. It seems harder today but
that's just because I'm going faster. My gears are slipping a little.
After a while I figure out how to position the levers just right to
hold the gear.
Mile 6 Coming up Maidu Dr., near our house, I remember 2 years
ago when my mom and Robin's mom both were cheering for me here. Up
ahead I see Lance's wife, Courtney, and their kids. I call out to Evan
and Jacob and tell Courtney, "I must've beat Tony, Lance was still
waiting when I left". Courtney just said, "hmm". Right then Lance goes
by me, "Hey Buddy". What timing! That was pretty funny. But he just
made up 2 minutes on the hardest part of the course! I pull ahead in
my aero bars on the descents but Lance always passes my on the climbs.
We cruise through the city of Auburn and Lance is pulling away. Gotta
keep him in sight. Robin said, "Courtney is a good runner, you've got
to stay near Lance".
Mile 12 I come up to our friend, Diana Hassel, a great
triathlete and past pro. She's having fun and joking about her race,
saying she's waiting for the downhills.
Mile
18 Diana and I are still back and forth and Lance is still pulling
quite a bit ahead on each hill. Out of nowhere 2 girls whiz by like
they were leading a whole other race. There's no way I'm staying with
them. I tell Diana, "You gotta stay with them". She replies, "Looks
like someone's kicking my butt today. I can still hope they forget to
eat". (One of them went on to take 2nd for the women).
Mile 25 We start the "lollipop" – we go up the "stick" (Placer
Hills Rd), loop around the Bear River circle, and then back down the
stick. I'm getting pumped. I'll push the climb, descend like crazy and
push the climb back out in hopes of getting ahead of Lance. After the
first climb I maintain connection with Lance, but he takes the first
"roller coaster" descent well and I can't bridge up. On the big drop
to the river I make a move by him and tear through the corners. I pass
another rider on the inside corner and realize that wasn't too smart..
calm down, Troy, be responsible.
Mile 29 In the final corner by the river I
go into it faster than ever before. I forgot how tight it is. I'm
leaned over as far as I can go and just hoping there will be enough
road before I go into the edge. All the while noticing a crashed
athlete down below grabbing his shoulder in pain while 2 officials
call for help. He must have sailed off, between the boulders, and
landed about 10 ft below. I make the corner with just enough room and
realize again that the risk isn't worth the few seconds saved. I say a
prayer for the injured cyclist waiting for the ambulance, that his
pain would ease. Thanks, God, for keeping me safe.
Campers watch as we fly through their quiet place.
Mile 30 Now it's up the toughest climb of the race. I focus on
staying in rhythm instead of trying to push the pedals harder each
time. It's working. I'm climbing well. Lance hasn't caught me yet but
I expect him. Almost to the top I see Sherwick. On the toughest pitch
I shift down 1 and stand up. It's exciting to be this close to
Sherwick. At the top I continue pushing over the hump and fly into the
final winding section, passing Sherwick before getting to the top of
the "stick" again. The effort finally hits me and my legs feel so
heavy. But now it's down the "stick". I see Jami coming up the
"stick". The roads are perfectly smooth and clean for taking fast
lines through the corners. Over the highway to Canyon Way and it's
almost all downhill to the finish! Aerobars! I see Carrie coming up.
I'm riding like I wanted to.
Mile 37 On a few of the inclines that still remain, Sherwick
catches me. We're both happy to be riding near each other. I keep
pushing hard and we stay together for almost 10mi.
Mile 43 It's the 6mile out-n-back section that is mentally
tough. I've been preparing for it. Sit up and use my stomach muscles
to keep a steady push up the grade. It's working, I'm in a good
groove. It hurts but it's the last sustained effort. Diana and I are
still back-n-forth. It's been great riding together so much.
Mile 46 Great, the turn-around! Now for some speed. The bumpy
road tries to break my concentration. Along with a toe that's chafing.
I try to ignore all the pains and stay in good position. I see
Sherwick and Lance behind me. I wonder if it's possible to break 3hrs.
I'd need to maintain 26mph to the finish... nope!
Mile 49 Now I'm riding low and aero and thinking had fast I
must be when I hear Diana, "On your left!", go zooming by. She's like
a bullet. Super low and aero. I only catch up on the climbs. I tell
her, "just a couple more hills and we're done!" She corrects me, "You
mean you're done". Kind of forgot she's got a 13.1 mile run after this
and I get to finish and collapse.
I get through the final 2 hills, "LeMond Walked Climb" and Bowman.
Mile 52 Coming through town on Lincoln, I remember Brad's
warning about the busy intersections, "don't bomb through, sacrifice
some seconds to insure you live". Up on the hoods I make sure the
officers have the traffic blocked well as I carefully zip through.
Mile 55 In the neighborhoods, with just a
mile to go, and Diana just ahead, I think how cool it would be for
Robin to have a head start and try to match pace with Diana. So I
encourage her, but also push by and put a final sprint in to the
finish.
Finish
I dismount and run as fast as I can to the end of transition. The
grass is great on the bare feet. Robin makes a fast transition and
blasts out onto the course. Terrific! She'll be chased by Diana,
Sherwick, and Courtney, which will make her run all the faster. Thanks
God for a great ride that went just as I hoped. My 3:09 bike split was
my fastest since 2005. But of course I didn't have to run after :)
Robin
I'm waiting anxiously for Troy to finish with the
girls. I find myself dashing around and ignoring Anna's pleas to
"watch her". I feel God remind me what this is all about, Him,
and I settle down and play with Anna and watch her do tricks on her
scooter.
Soon after, Courtney Loveday comes and joins us.
She's my devoted training partner and good friend. She tells me
that Troy and Lance were a bit behind on the bike and that we should
expect them in at 3:20. I'm hoping that the adrenaline and
endorphins kicked in good for them and that they will sail back faster.
We chat and watch out for them. Soon I see Troy pop into T2.
I tell Anna to wait for Daddy. I take the chip off of Troy's
leg. He tells me
that I'll be running with Diana and off I go!
The excitement kicks in especially since I'm
running on my turf. I know every inch of this course well and so
there will be no surprises as far as the terrain goes. I get on
the NID ditch (irrigation ditch) and start flying at sub-7
pace...whoa! I won't survive at that pace!! I pull back
and at that moment I
hear
footsteps behind me. It must be Diana catching me already!
It's tempting to pick it up but I don't. I move over a bit and
let her pass. It's not Diana but another racer in blue. I
let her go but hope that I can keep her in my sights.
Mile 1 is 7:20. I hop off the ditch soon
after and turn up the first major hill to Skyridge Elementary.
There's an aid station on the corner and I see Laura Snow, Troy's
physical therapist and friend. I tell her hi and she encourages
me up the hill. For the first time I actually look at my heart
rate and it's jumping over 180! I decide to keep it at 180 on
the hills so I don't run out of gas (my max heart rate is probably
something over 190). The blue girl is not pulling away so I know
this is a good place to be.
I make it to the top of the hill which is right at
Courtney's house. I see little Logan with his grandparents and I
tell them that Courtney is coming. Then I see Dave Campbell.
I tease him and say "I'm going to get you Dave!"
I run into the school and see the next aid station.
In about an hour, the Korn family (Annette Korn is Anna's pre-school
teacher) along with folks from my church, Elevation, will be there to run it.
I hope to see some of them later. It's around the school partly
on the "Running'sChOOL"
course. Running School is a non-profit that Brad Kearns, this
tri's race director, started at local schools to get kids running and
fit. Before Ariel was born, Anna and I would run the course with
the kids in the morning.
Just before Mile 2, the blue girl stops at the
porta-potty. I pass but am convinced that she'll pass me
shortly. My split is 7:53. Once out of the school I see
Sherwick. I jokingly taunt him and say "come on, catch me
Sherwick!"
Now, it's down, down, down for over a mile! I
see Courtney coming up and tell her good job! Mile 3 is 7:11.
I'm letting gravity pull me down and I get a little concerned that my
legs are going to be trashed later on. I decide not to put on
the brakes and make it worse. I see Carrie and encourage her.
She's still recovering from an injury and has promised God that she's
going to do only one loop today. I know it's tempting to keep
going but I know she'll follow through. I ask for a sponge at
the next aid station and I miss the handoff. An awesome
volunteer says "don't worry" and runs up to me with a sponge. I
tell him thanks! So great!
As I descend even more into the canyon, I see Dave
Campbell coming out. I tell him to watch out. Just before
Mile 4, we hit the heavily graveled area. The ingoing runners
are running on the right and the outgoing runners are running on the
left. On the right is a narrow dirt trail and I'm tempted to
jump on it but I know I'll block the other runners. I dig in and
run through the gravel knowing I'll have the benefit on the way back.
My split is 7:07.
It's a little uphill to the turn around. I
can hear the blue girl behind me encouraging the other runners and
teammates cheerfully. That's cool! As I make the
turn around she's just behind me and we tell each other good job.
Mile 5 is 7:23. We are climbing out of the
canyon we dropped out of. This is the toughest portion by far
for me today. I see Sherwick and tell him good job. I pass
the well attended Sac Tri club aid station again. "Cola?" a girl
asks me. "No, but I'll go for that later! Thanks!"
Yes, cola!! I'm looking forward to that!
I make it out of the canyon and I'm heading to T2.
I hope to see my fam before I have to head out again for the second
loop. Mile 6 is 8:07. I see the great Joan Lewis, a fellow
runner and periodically a training partner. She's directing us
all where to go. I tell her to tell Troy I passed by. I'm
bummed not to see them but look forward to when I finish.
I'm feeling pretty good going out for the next
loop. I don't know what to expect and I hope that I have enough
to maintain this pace to the end. I thank God for letting me
have such a great race so far. I'm looking for ways I can help
others out here today. Mile 7 is 7:38.
Just before the next aid station I take a Hammer
Gel. I get some water from Laura again and it's back up to the
school. My aid station crew should be arriving. Yes, I see
the Korn's getting ready. Mile 8 is 8:22. I'm slowing down
but still have some snap to my stride. As I exit the school,
Jason Korn is offering some Gu. I tell him thanks and pat him on
the shoulder. I say hi to Annette and Pete too. I'll miss
the rest of the crew. I know they'll do a great job and really
bless the athletes out there.
I'm heading down Maidu and to the "extra loop".
I've been practicing this piece of trail a lot. For someone that
has been running some of these rugged trails, I'm pretty wimpy going
downhill because I feel like when I'm moving fast, I'm out of control.
I think about how Courtney told me to be like a deer and bounce/hop
over the rocks. I also think about Sherwick and Jami and how
they don't fear the speed. Mile 9 is 7:30.
I get on the "extra loop" and I'm starting to feel
more tired. I focus on the rocks ahead and thank God for letting
me continue to hold on. As I head down the steepest part I wimp
out and start slowing down. Once on the NID ditch again I pick
it up and try to move it. It's a very rocky stretch I just focus
on moving forward. Mile 10 is 7:58. Now the trail opens up
and I push it! I take another Hammer Gel and hope it kicks in
soon!
I'm off the ditch and heading back down to the
canyon for one more out and back. As the course turns, I can see
the girl in blue is behind quite a ways. We'll see if I can
continue to hold her off. I pass the Sac Tri Club station and
are still going strong!! Wow! I definitely feel that my
energy has dipped despite the gel. Mile 11 is 7:21.
I try to power through the gravel section again.
I make it through and just as I step onto the pavement again someone
says "rattler!" I look down and sure enough there is a snake
stretched out to the right of me. If I was a few seconds later I
would have been right on him! I'm not sure if it was a rattler,
but I don't want to know. This is my chance to help out the
other racers. I warn each runner coming toward me. I hope
that the snake passes through quickly so it won't be an issue!
I see Dave coming back from the turn around.
He tells me that I'm gaining on him but I don't think I have enough
ground to catch him. I also let him know about the snake even
though it was a ways back. I committed to telling everyone until
the turn around. At the turn around, I can see the blue girl
hasn't gained on me much.
As I head out for the last time, I can tell my body
is not as happy this time around. Mile 12 is 7:39. I just
have to make it one more mile! At the Sac Tri Club station I'm
offered Coke and this time I take it! I wish I took it sooner
because it almost makes my stomach turn and the energy boost won't
kick into until after this hill! I'm just crawling up it and my
heart rate is 190+.
I'm finally out and heading home. A guy from
a relay passes by. I hope he's not a mixed relay! I
encourage him and try to keep my pace and not slow up. I'm under
the bridge and mile 13 is 8:35. Ouch! I dig down and pick
it up anyway!
I'm now on the grass heading toward the finish.
I see Joan again and she says "good job girls". Girls? Did
the blue girl catch me? I dig deeper and give it all I got.
I can hear the girl breathing down my neck! I push hard and
remind myself to smile too. I don't want my pictures to be scary
like at Wildflower. I cross the finish line and look back to see
the blue girl crossing. Wow, that was close! We shake
hands and I tell her great job. She ran as fast as me after
doing the swim and crazy bike. Impressive!!
I see Troy and the girls and I give big hugs!
What a day! What a day! Thanks God for this gift!! I
hear Brad telling the crowds that he thinks we won the relay!
That would be the icing on the cake! Thanks again Jesus!!
Cleaning Up!
TEAM SOARES MAKES THE AUBURN JOURNAL!!
