Pre-Race

At 5:30am, on the dot, our awesome babysitter, Emily, shows up.  I get bundled up, jump on my bike and head down Shirland Tract.  I’m biking the course backwards to the start.  It’s so cool to actually live this close to the race start!!  It’s a COLD morning for late May!  I still enjoy the ride down and get pumped up while taking the turns and corners…I know this road well, as I should!

I get to transition, find my spot and search out the gang.  After some quick hellos, I run over to get registered.  I couldn’t do it yesterday as I was getting ready for the FCA ministry: a free pasta dinner for the athletes and the Iron Prayer service.  It was well worth missing the main registration to be able to serve others and proclaim the name of Jesus side-by-side with my pastors, Eric Van Patten and Steve Caminiti, and our good friend Jeff Landauer. 

Next, I find Dave Campbell and try to throw out some intimidation…we both hope to beat the other today…at least I hope to get him in the swim.  Troy and I take a moment to pray and ask for the Lord’s help and protection out there today.  Next, I see Troy, Sherwick, Michael, and Jami off in their waves.  I really hope that Troy doesn’t get too cold out there today!!

The Swim

After Dave’s wave it’s my turn.  I find a good spot on the front left and it’s time to go!  The water feels surprisingly good thanks to the cold air temperature.  I make it to the first buoy and feel great.  Once I turn the corner the sun is blinding.  I can see nothing else but some swimmers ahead of me.  I really hope that they know where they are going!  Soon, I start to notice that my right shoulder is getting sore which is an indication that my form is off somewhere.  I make myself focus on stretching long with each stroke and following all the way through to my thighs.  It seems to help but the soreness still lingers.

I round the final buoy and can see the dock.  Push, push, push the water!  My form comes together well and the shoreline is getting close quick!  I swim right up the ramp and jump out.  I pull off to the side to rip off my wetsuit.  It comes off well on one leg but gets hung up on my race chip (monitors my race splits).  I have to pry it off.  I race to my transition site and pull on my arm warmers and gear.  Out of transition I go to mount my bike and tip over.  I loose some of my Heed drink but am able to keep myself standing.  I’m biking out with another FCA Endurance TeamMate (Thomas) who I haven’t met before…cool!

The Bike

I feel great heading out on the bike.  Thanks God!  The first 6 miles we climb up to my house…literally.  It’s nice to be able to pass many bikes on this section.  In the group rides I do here in Auburn, I’m usually the last one up the hills so I know that hard training is paying off, along with my knowledge of the roads.  The climbing is also good for warming up my body!  I see lots of people with H’s on their calves next to their age.  I wonder which race they are doing.  Soon I see a few S’s on calves and also wonder what those are for….wait, S’s are for the sprint race…duh!  The cold must be going to my head! 

People are squirrely on their bikes this morning.  A lot are biking towards the left side of the road, sometimes right at the double-yellow, and I when I say “passing on your left” I don’t get much of a reaction.  I’m not sure if it’s the cold or the wind or both.  A guy I’ve been trading off with starts passing people on their right and I tell him “you gotta pass on the left” and he says “it’s too crowded”…well, true but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the rule.

Once at the top, I soak in the sun and hope it will keep me warm on the screaming downhill ahead.  I fly by the run aid station (that I’ll be working with later with my church, Elevation).  I’m feeling good and am surprised I can push so hard especially after the busy weekend…thanks be to Jesus!  Soon I’m climbing again up.  I hit steep Virginia St. and suddenly get a bit intimidated.  I remind myself that I’ve pulled both Anna and Ariel up this hill in the trailer so I can do this! 

Soon I’m crossing Hwy 49. The police are there doing an awesome job stopping traffic.  There are also many kids in capes out here directing traffic too and doing such a great job.  Their enthusiasm is contagious and it puts a smile on my face.  I climb up Lincoln Way past Alta school which closed a few years back.  It’s here where I see the first girl with an S on her calf.  Wow, I finally caught someone out here!  Once I hit the Longhorn Meat Co, I see sprint tri guys heading back…already?!  They are like 4 miles ahead of me at least!  Wow, these guys are fast!!  I wonder if I’ll see some girls out here.  I climb up to Foresthill Road and see Dave coming back now.  He’s looking really good!  Soon I see a girl in a Mark Allen outfit…Jami?  I pull up and look over.  It’s Jami!  She’s got a tire around her neck.  I ask her what happened and she tells me she got a flat.  “Sorry to hear that Jami, you can do it!”  She passes me and I drop back.  I reluctantly pass her and encourage her the best I can, “come on, let’s go”. 

I’m still looking for other girls.  I don’t see any but I could have missed some while talking to Jami.  I make the turn around and see Jami coming as I head back… “go girl!”  Wow, this bike portion is going by pretty fast!  At Foresthill Road and on it’s basically downhill.  I feel the cold sinking in and I’m shivering.  It makes it hard to see the road and the bumps.  It makes me tentative so I hold on tight and hit the brakes a lot more than I like to in a race.  The bike will soon be over so I just need to hang in there!

Back over Hwy 49 and down Virginia Street.  I let loose here knowing that the road is smooth.  I pass a guy and he asks me if we are almost there.  “Yes, we’re close!”  And soon we’re pulling into transition…yes, thanks God!  Jami and Sherwick dropped off my shoes and hat here yesterday so I hope I remember their directions.  Ah, there’s my bag, thanks guys!  I’m so glad to be on my frozen feet and hopefully warm up out there!  I’m without my busted Garmin today.  It’s getting fixed.  I’ll have to do it “old school” today and take my own splits.  I see Mo Chambers and Joan Lewis, two studly runners, volunteering today as I leave transition.  They tell me I’m the 2nd girl.  Cool!

The Run

I jump onto my favorite part, the NID ditch.  It’s a nice flat dirt section.  I hear a guy behind me getting closer and closer.  Soon he says on your left and I scoot over for him.  I’m able to jump on his feet and hold his pace.  Mile 1 is 7:30.

Just before the Maidu aid station, I take my Hammer gel.  I grab some water at the aid station and find that I’ve lost some ground on the guy I was chasing.  Mile 2 is 6:55.  Nice!  Thanks God for actually letting me run this good off of very little training over the last few weeks!

I’m finally warming up and my toes are almost defrosted.  I make the turn to go down into the canyon.  I’m seeing guys coming out and heading back to the finish.  As I pass the next aid station, I see Dave.  Wow, he’s way ahead and looking good.  “Great job Dave”.  He tells me there is a girl ahead that I can catch her.  Well now I know what to look for.  I feel this surge of energy and excitement that I might be able to win this race.  I’ll at least try.  We keep heading down, down the canyon.  I have my eyes open for rattlesnakes.  It is a little cool for them but you never know! 

I see the girl heading back and she has a good lead.  I smile and tell her good job and she does the same.  I don’t think I’ll catch her but I am reminded that anything can happen and to never stop trying.  I make it to the turn-around and now it’s time to climb!  I look down at my watch and can tell that I missed the 3rd mile marker.  Oh well, I’ll get the next one.

I see the girl I passed on the bike coming down the road.  I tell her good job, too.  It seems like I have a good cushion on her but I don’t want to make any assumptions.  I’m feeling pretty good and I’m thanking Jesus for another great day!  Once I hit the last hill I’m hurting good but I just keep pressing on.  It’s slow going but I know it will all soon be over!

I make it to the top and now it’s pretty flat to the finish.  At mile 4, my split is 14:38…great that means I’m running around 7:30 pace still…I’ll take it!  Soon, I’m making the last turn into Railhead park.  I can see the finish and the crowds are cheering.  This is so exciting to be in 2nd place and in my hometown!  I cross the line and look up to the sky.  Thanks so very much Lord for this moment and the ability to race!

Dave, Ready to Kick My Butt!

Hanging with my girls!