^WHERE:  Rancho Seco, CA

^{PLACE & TIME:} 

Robin: 2nd, 2:24 (24:00-1:13:56-45:54)

^DISTANCE:

ROBIN'S STORY

What an exciting day!  Thanks to Nana Sue and Papa Ray, Troy and I are actually racing together...the last time was 2008!  I'm feeling really stiff and tired so I decide to warm up in all three events.  It seemed to work really well at SF Tri.  I know despite my preparation it will be a tough day.  I know that it's important to focus on Christ and this wonderful opportunity to race with Troy.

I see Troy, Dave Campbell and Mike Statz off in the 40+ wave.  I know that all 3 of them will be duking it out together!  I warm up a bit more and swim over to the finish and see a guy in the first wave just destroying everybody else...it looked like he had 5 minutes on the field...amazing!

I get back and settle in.  Ready, set, go!  I actually get in with the leaders going out and get a nice draft.  I tuck in behind a girl without a wetsuit and hold on.  I notice her friend on my left, also without a wetsuit, is aiming to take my spot.  Eventually she sneaks in as her friend drifts to the left.  I still have a side draft and hold on till the first buoy. 

The journey to the next buoy starts out great.  I'm still in the same draft and am looking to a girl ahead.  I hope to catch her and almost do when she goes way right and the 2 non-wetsuit girls go way left.  What happened?!  I decide it's best to go right and hug the course line alone and hope to chase down the lone girl. 

At the last buoy, I'm still alone.  At times it appears that I'm catching her and then, the next moment, she's far away.  It's enough to keep me in the hunt.  I can see the finish and so I just bear down and swim until I hit sand with my hand.  I get out and pull off my wetsuit in the sand...smooth move...now I'm all covered in sand!  Oh well, it will come off on the bike.

I make a pretty good transition and head out on the bike.  It's always weird seeing the non-functioning nuclear towers looming over me but I know they will be a welcomed sight on my way back.  I pass a Hammer girl on my way to the main road. 

Once on the main road, I'm feeling pretty good and wonder about the other ladies.  Soon a Mad Cows girl flies by and I try keep her in sight.  She's really flying!  I'm not sure if she's in my age group but it doesn't matter. Soon the Hammer girl comes by and I see that she's 43.  Soon another woman in black comes by and she's 47!  Wow!  I'm impressed.  Well, I continue pressing on and reminding myself not to loose hope.  I also continue to encourage others.  It helps me to take the focus off myself and remember my calling from the Lord to do so.

I hear a noise that sounds like air escaping from my tire.  Oh no, a flat?  I stop to check it and it's fine...false alarm!  I keep going.  Another girl in blue passes me and she's 40-something, too.  Now I have my work cut out for me! 

Coming back, I see Mike Statz and then Troy not too far behind.  He's looking good and smiling.  I'm glad to see him having a good day.

My bike Garmin goes out again due to the very bumpy roads and I have to rely on my run Garmin on my wrist.  It's less pressure when I cannot see much data and it gets me even more focused on the women ahead.  I manage to keep 3 of the girls in sight while the Mad Cow girl is gone!  I try to focus on pulling up on the pedals to create more power.  It seems to help but it's certainly hard mentally to keep thinking about it.

Soon the road smoothes out and I turn my bike Garmin on for the speed readout.  I spot the Mad Cow girl heading back.  I hope the turn around is soon.  The other girls are in sight and soon I can see them making the turn.  Yeah! 

Ah, head wind, what a joy!  Well, I know I need to make the best of it so I continue focusing on pulling up on the  pedals.  I can only see the Hammer girl and the blue girl now.  They are both going strong.  Eventually the blue girl pulls away and becomes a small dot.  Mentally it's tough but I know that soon I'll see the nuclear towers.

Sure enough I can see the towers...yeah!  It's enough of an incentive to continue pushing home.  I can now see the three girls on the long stretch of road before the park.  If I have a good run, I'll be able to catch them so I'm hopeful. 

I pull into the park just in time to see Troy running an out and back section.  He's a bit behind Mike but he's smiling and giving the credit to the Lord...yeah! 

I'm so glad to get off the bike.  I'm able to pull my feet out of my bike shoes successfully while on the bike.  Next time I'll have to work on keeping my speed up in the process.  I jam to my spot and transition pretty quick. 

My legs feel good and I am encouraged to see the 3 girls just ahead of me.  I am able to pass each of them within the mile and I encourage them as I go by.  I pass another girl with 28 on her calf and tell her good job.  She promptly says "good, you're not in my age group".  Do I say, "you're welcome"? 

Mile 1 is 7:07.  Okay, this hurts but it's not too bad.  I'm looking for Troy on his way back to the finish.  I see him off in the distance running along the lake.  We wave and he's pointing heavenward.  Thanks God for giving him a great race! 

I'm starting to hurt really good now!  My body feels like it's on the verge of breakdown.  Lord, please help me!  Mile 2 is 7:18.

On the out and back section, I can get a look at the competition.  I see the Mad Cow girl looking strong and way ahead.  Team Soares never gives up hope that things could turn around so that's what I do.  It's a little more of a challenge when the body is hurting but who ever said that life/racing was easy?!  There is another lady I see and I hope to at least catch her.

Mile 3 is 7:08.  Can I keep this up?  This next section runs along the lake and continuously undulates and turns.  It's so hard to get a good rhythm physically and mentally.  The body continues to suffer and I start day dreaming about laying down after this is all over.  Often I think this but rarely do I really lie down after a race. Maybe I really mean it today.

Mile 4 is 7:23.  There is definitely no Mad Cows girl in sight but I do see the other woman and pass her and pass on some encouragement with the breath I have to spare.

Mile 5 is 7:16.  Oh Lord, help me!  This is really painful!  Finally, I get back on the main dirt path that I followed out here.  I can make it!

Mile 6 is 7:30.  I want to lay down so bad!  I'm pushing as hard as I can but am struggling up the last few hills.  I see Troy waiting for me and his smile is a welcome sight but it doesn't distract the pain.  He reminds me that I'm precious to the Lord and to hang in there.  It's a enough to keep me motivated to the end. 

Soon I make it back to the grass and see the finish!  Yeah!  Only a few more steps to laying down!  I really mean it this time!  I look up to the sky as I cross the line and thank Jesus for getting me through that!  Sure enough, I find a nice shady spot and lay down.  Ahhh!

Go Mike!          Go Dave!

Go Thomas!     Go Andrea!

Fun Day!

TROY'S STORY

Today is special because the kids are with Grandma & Grandpa and Robin & I get to race together!

We show up at Rancho Seco Park, with the 2 never-used nuclear cooling towers looming overhead.  We both feel tired from some busy weeks but we’ll do our best because you never know what can happen.

Setting up for this Olympic distance triathlon, we run into Dave Campbell, Mike Statz, FCA-E Teammate Thomas Silewicz and Eric Camacho.  Always fun having friends to race with.

Robin & I warm up with a mile run (including strides) and a 4 mile bike (with practice going over the park’s speed bumps as fast as we can).  It’s 10min before the start so we head down to the water to pray with Thomas and others.  I feel the importance to glorify God by being ready to encourage or stop and help someone.

I rush back for some final preparations and then get into the water for a 150yd warm-up.  The water is very warm.  No special caps, booties, arm-warmers or toe covers for me today.  This is how I like to race.. without any cold.

The Swim

I line up far left but see Robin waving me over far right where Dave Campbell is.  Dave has raced this course many times and is fast in the swim so I find a spot behind him and joke that I’m going to draft him.  I’ll try but with all the chaos I seldom can stay close to anyone.  Go!  After a sprint, and then the surge of swimmers all around me, the pack spreads out and gets more organized.  Breathing hard I finally get my bearing and look for a draft.  There’s Dave right in front of me!  It’s really hard staying with him.  I’m afraid I’m burning myself out too early.  But I commit to staying with him till the first buoy and then just hope he slows down.  Jim Larrieu, one of Dave's biggest competitors, is right behind me.  When we round the buoy, we’re in good position ahead of the main group and behind a few guys way ahead.  Dave makes a good turn and then takes off towards #2.  After a few strokes I realize I’m cooked.  I have to let him go.  I don’t like conceding but my muscles are filling with lactic acid.  My pace slows drastically as I loose the draft.  Jim, behind me, starts bumping into my feet.  Then he realizes I let our draft go and darts around me to go after Dave far ahead.  Does he really think he can catch him?  Despite wanting to continue on my own little recovery swim, I force myself to jump into Jim’s draft.  That little rest helped.  I’m staying with Jim.  I’m amazed when he catches up to Dave!  I know I’m having a great swim now thanks to these guys pulling me along.  After the 2^nd buoy they’re still providing a great draft and I’m feeling stronger now.  Dave starts to go left with Jim following and I seize the opportunity to make a move.  I’m feeling good but it’s hard work.  Dave is 10 yds to my left and slightly ahead.  I can tell he sees me and is picking it up.  I’m focusing on swimming a perfect line.  A better line is my only hope to edge him out at the shore.  I touch dirt, stand up and wade through the water while Dave swims a few more strokes before his long legs launch himself forward and he still gets me at the line.  I’m really pumped up, though, to have stayed with him.  I whip my wetsuit off with 2 perfect kicks.  Running to T1 I pull my Garmin out of my back pocket and snap it onto my bike.

The Bike

After a quick transition I’m now settling into a good rhythm on the bike.  I’ve been adjusting my position and it feels just right now.  After a couple miles, Mike Statz goes by.  All right!  To have been ahead of Mike really pumps me up.  We have raced together a few times.. the last time he left me in the dust.  He’s a great athlete and one of the nicest guys to compete with.  After jockeying back and forth a couple times I pick a new strategy:  keep him 100yds in front of me so I can study his pace and plan a move.  It’s hard work but I’m going fast.  I try to relax with good form but not let him get away.  On the rises I’m able to close the gap that he gets on the flats.  That builds my confidence so I can relax more and then make a move on the way back.  I’m averaging almost 25mph which is great!... until I look to the side and see the grassy fields bent from a tail-wind.  Can’t believe I didn’t grasp that we have a tail wind and therefore a harder push coming back.  We make the turn at half way and I’m almost right behind Mike, but the wind hits and I’m no match for Mike’s strength.  It seems his pace doesn’t change whereas I struggle to find power going into the breeze.  Soon he’s almost out of sight and I retreat to studying my form..  the knees are getting sore.. but if I push down with my heels, like Kirk Nelson once told me, it engages the gluts more... sure enough, it works, I’m pushing well again and setting a new goal to finish no more than a ½ mi behind Mike.  Going the other way I see Dave, and then my beautiful wife, Robin!  It’s so cool to be racing together, as we so often take turns while the other watches the kids.

With a couple miles to go, and pushing hard to stay above 21mph, I suddenly get an aerobar injury.  That’s a first… my forearm hurts from pushing down on the elbow pads.  I sit up, still trying to push, and then I find that if I flatten my back more, push down with my quads, I can flatten my forearm so it doesn’t hurt and I still maintain speed.  Great, I’m really happy with the bike.  Coasting in, I remove my shoes…  and then 2 guys pass me racing for the dismount line.  One turns right in front of me. “Hey!” is all I can say as I hit the brakes and avert a crash.  I get past them with a smooth dismount.

The Run

After snapping my Garmin onto my wristband, grabbing a hat and gels, and, this time, remembering to tighten my shoe laces, I’m off onto the 10k.  I haven’t  done a 10k since April.  It could hurt.. but starting out I’m feeling really good.  The legs are spinning well like at the Treasure Island sprint race.  I thank God for the good start and wonder if they’ll still feel good after 5k.  Out onto the dusty fireroads I’m all smiles and thanking God for brining me to this point.  My foot doesn’t hurt and, for the first time in years, I feel like I can try racing fast again.  It’s a great feeling when you’re running up and down hills and your breathing is fairly controlled.  Early in my recovery after donating a kidney, I found that my oxygen intake seemed to be limited.. basically I was out of shape and I had to work hard to get O2 to the muscles.  But now I feel fine and I keep trying to push my legs faster.  Only a couple guys go by me, while I reel in a few others. 

At 2.5 miles I see Robin coming in on the bike!  This is so cool.  I eat a gel and feel good.  At ¼ mi from the turn-around I see Mike Statz coming back and looking strong.  I tell him, “keep it up, I’m right behind you”.  I always like encouraging someone to go fast and then trying to catch them.  I make the turn and race back to the dirt trails.  Just as I think I can gain on him, I start to feel the fatigue setting in and quickly get back to a more doable pace.  We hit the single-track and I’m encouraged to take every turn efficiently and use the twisty trail to my advantage.  At each wooden bridge crossing I pick it up knowing that it looks even faster to the runners behind me when I turn 90 degrees across the bridge.