^{PLACE & TIME:}  Troy & Robin  - 3rd;

2:22:15 (21:26-1:08:50-50:57)

Previous PRs or Personal Records:

      Robin - 2:18:23, '04

Troy

The Ridders were out of town and let us stay at their place before the race. We got to Almaden Lake at 6:30am when the pro challenge time-trial was to start. A select group of pro's first do a 40k time-trial, leaving at 1min intervals, which then determines their starting order for the duathlon to come. Pretty exciting. Chris Lieto, Brian Lavelle, Becky Lavelle, and Gina Kehr were some of our favorites. I'm feeling pretty tired. Just haven't been able to get really rested. I set up my transition and realize I left my Hammer Nutrition Head bottle in the car. I'll have to use water and hope for some kind of sport drink on the course. I see Ray Goulet, Todd Brown, David Krevor, Les Wong, David LeRoy, and Dale and Tana Jackson racing. It's great racing at an old favorite with old friends.

On Deck I don the wetsuit and wait with Robin, Anna and Ariel on the grass. They help me stretch. The race is delayed a ½ hour. I could've gotten my Heed bottle now. Oh well.

Almost all the waves have gone. The lake water is pretty churned up which is never good for this little San Jose duck pond. After a prayer with Robin I head down for some warm up.

I'm surprised the water feels cold. My arms are turning well. Even with the pain I still have in my left. I line up with a small group of relays, Athena and Clydesdales. I joke that we're the wave everyone's been waiting for and get a laugh.

The Swim
Go! I feel like I'm swimming well, but, as usual, there's still a few that zoom ahead making it look so easy. I notice quickly that the water smells bad and looks dark. I focus so much on not swallowing any that I don't get much air either. Need oxygen, but don't want any water with it. This time I swim straight and easily site the buoys. No stops like at Auburn Triathlon. I push to the end and am happy with it. I kick out of my wetsuit and get a cheer from the crowd. 21:26 is better than expected. Already I notice that I'm thirsty which is rare after a swim.

T1
We're in the very back of the transition area. My transition is really fast and I sprint out with my bike. I'm really pumped and running fast, on my toes, to the far end. I do a perfect mount, passing others, and head down the driveway. Right as I merge onto the street I see my shadow with my hair sticking up... I FORGOT MY HELMET!

I stay calm, make a U-turn, and ride back into transition, over the timing mats and start my long sprint back to my rack. Some people think I'm already back from the 40k bike :) I don't complain to anyone and just try to focus on doing the best I can from this point on. My bad foot doesn't like running, more so on pavement. Grab my helmet and 1 more sprint down the parking lot, passing Todd Brown in the process. I check my watch.. 3 minutes lost.

Bike
On the street. Always have had dreams of breaking an hour. But 25mph is really tough. I'm thinking of all the tricks I know. Good form, lifting and sliding the feet, and accelerating every once and a while. There's a head wind. Tough to keep above 20mph. Drinking my water fast. Already feeling my legs wanting more fluids.

Racing down Santa Teresa. Police doing a great job at each light. Going over the hill leaving the city I see Tina Lounte-Prie out of the saddle up the grade. Just like at Wildflower. She says, "Relay again?". "Yes". I tell her that it's a tail wind after the ½ way point and she's glad to hear it.

I see glass up ahead and swing wide. There are a couple guys changing flats just after it. I'm moving well into the wind. I see Tana going the other way. I make the turn-around and enjoy a tailwind which increases my average. Now up Bailey. My form is good, I should have energy when I get there. Go! I pass a bunch going over the short hill. I tell them they're almost there. I use my "tight pedal stroke" on the final bit and gain good ground. No aid station at the top! I'm out of water and thirsty. Oh well, I'll be hurting but I get to stop after the bike. My favorite part. McKeen road. Tailwind home. I pass Tana. Love seeing her smile. She yells, "Go Troy!" which helps me push harder. The last 5 mi I try to give it everything I have. Thinking of a time David Ridder and I rode this part and he showed me how to accelerate faster by shifting down instead of up. I also think of Michael Cook who is racing RAAM, doing 300mi a day continuously. I'm so glad I get to stop soon. My average is going up and I dream of getting there in 60 min but I soon realize there's still too much road left. I finish in 1:04 for the ride which was actually the best I thought I could do. The time was actually 1:07 with going back for the helmet.

T2
I sprint one more time down the long parking lot... having crossed the bike timing mats 5 times now (hope that doesn't mess things up). Robin's got some people to chase down now... it's going to be tough, but she's pretty pumped up and will do great, I know it :)

Afterwards The rest of the day was great, hanging out at the FCA Endurance booth. Meeting people, seeing friends, and watching Anna play with kids that stop by with their parents. Watching Chris Lieto and Becky Lavelle win the pro-challenge in a grueling swim-run-swim-run format. And, now-and-then, getting to share uplifting stories with others that have experienced blessings from the Lord when they've put Christ first in their racing. A rewarding day. Thanks, God.

Robin
Today I'm excited to race as another Team Soares FCA Endurance relay!  I wonder how it's going to go considering Troy is totally sleep deprived and my body is TIRED!  Well, we'll just have to see.  We park a half mile away from the race and Troy rides in.  I get the kids ready: feeding & changing baby and keeping an eye on Anna...it all makes for some extra excitement! 

As we enter the park, we see some of the pros starting the time trail portion of their "Pro Challenge".  Man are they fast!  After making a drop at our FCA-E booth , which Troy and I have been manning,  and putting on tattoos, we head out to meet Troy at the transition site to get the low-down on our exchange area.  Once there Anna and I put a tattoo on Troy.  Next it's off to find someone to body mark us.  Everyone else is by the water waiting for the swim start (which has been delayed)...it just seems there's never enough time.  Finally we're body-marked and ready to go.

After waiting on the beach and chatting with some of Troy's colleagues from Rockwell Collins (David Krevor and Todd Brown), the race is underway and soon Troy is off!

Anna plays on the cool playground while we wait for Troy to finish.  After 20 minutes or so, we see him.  It takes a while to get Anna's attention and when we finally make it to the transition area, we're surprised to see Troy running back into the transition area... without a helmet on.  Oh, I see what happened!  Oh dear!  As he heads back out I tell him "it's okay, no problem!"

I run into Heather and Kevin Leroy who are cheering on Dave today.  Heather kindly offers to watch the girls when I have to warm up and prepare for the exchange.  So nice!!  We go to the FCA booth and I set up the "Kids Zone" loaded with coloring books, paper, crayons, pencils and stickers.  Anna, Kevin and friends go to work joyfully. 

T2/Run

I realize that I left my Garmin in the car.  Bummer!  Should I get it?  Will I have time?  Heather assures me I will so I go for it.  I'm so glad to have it!  I'm addicted to it!  I make it back, give hugs and say goodbyes.  Now I'm off to meet Troy.  The timing is perfect as he runs into the transition as I'm arriving. 

I ask how it went and he says good.  I take the chip and now I'm off!  I have a lofty goal today.  I want to hit around 41:30 today (6:40 pace).  Instantly I feel pretty flat but my watch says I'm good.  I cross over the bike bridge and turn down the long bike path into the neighborhoods.  Soon, I can see it's difficult just keeping 6:50 pace!  Man, this is going to be a tough one! 

I see Dale racing towards me and we shout words of encouragement.  He puts out his hand for a high five and I totally miss it!  Oh well, next time.  I see a girl ahead of me running a brisk pace.  I zero in on her in hopes that the adrenaline will kick in more.

Mile 1: 6:49.  The first mile is supposed to be easy and generally ahead of pace but I'm already behind.  I remain hopeful.  I see the mile 3 marker on the other side which means I have to go out another mile.  The trail looks the same everywhere so it's going to be a challenge mentally to stay focused.

I'm getting closer to that girl and see she's 47 (marked on her calf)!  She looks so young!  Incredible!!  See, that's triathlon for you...age doesn't seem to change much out here!  I pass her just before the next mile and tell her good job.  Soon a big guy passes me and he's flying.  For someone not built like a runner, he's darn good!  I wonder if I'll see him again.

Mile 2: 6:52.  I cannot fathom going any faster but I push that thought aside.  I'm heading back now.  I see Amol Saxena and his college-bound daughter, Tara, heading out.  They're doing a relay too.  Amol did the bike, but also seems to be doing the run as encouragement to his daughter.  Then I see Tana.  She's smiling as usual and we tell each other good job.  It's always great and uplifting to see Tana.
 

Mile 3: 6:55.  Getting harder!  I get my Espresso Hammer gel out hoping it will give me an extra edge! I'm back at Lake Almaden and running towards the opposite end now.  Then I round the Northeast side of the lake.

Mile 4:  6:50.  Okay better!  Within a mile or so, I'll be turning around and heading home.  That sounds so good!  I can do that!!  That means we must not be running all the way to the "perk pond" this time..yes!  Then I see Dale.  He looks good but shouldn't he be finished by now?  That's weird.  A little later I see the amazing Kathy Winkler running back and she's blazing!  We tell each other good job. 

Mile 5: 6:49.  Off pace but I'll take it!  I'm going to be turning around soon!  Okay, where's the turn around?  I'm getting too close to the "perk pond"!  I want to be done.  My mind and body are on the brink of losing it.  Please Lord, help me keep focused!  I'm reminded to smile and keep encouraging people.  Okay, now I can see the "perk pond".  Not good!!  Okay, now I'm running part way around the "perk pond"!  This course is definitely way off..  My Garmin also says it's going to be long.

I catch up to Carl Guardino.  I tell him good job and ask him what he thinks of this course.  I start asking others around me if they are enjoying the extra bit.  I'm wondering how much extra will I be running.  I see Tara coming toward me and I'm tempted to tell her.... but I decide not to.  I don't want to psych her out so I smile and tell her good job.

Mile 6: 6:53.  At the 10K mark I'm at 42:35.  I'm happy.  It's a minute off my goal but I did reach high.  Lake Almaden, where the finish line is, is nowhere in site.  It's a mental game now!  Every part of me wants to be done!  I really have to dig deep and focus on Jesus!  Get me there Lord in one piece.  Finally, the lake!!  Yeah!!  I'm 1/2 way around it now.

Mile 7:  7:03.  Oh man, I think my body wasn't up for going this long at this pace.  I finally round the lake and am almost to the finish.  I see Dale cheering for me and I give him that knowing look.  He tells me it's 7.3 miles.  Wow!  Now it all makes sense!

Yes, the finish.  I push with what I have!  I see Anna in Troy's arms ready to give me a high five.  I give her the five and finish!  Thank you God!  It's over!!

FCA BOOTH

PRO CHALLENGE - ANNA WATCHES GINA KERR KICK BUTT!