^WHERE:  Granite Bay, CA

^{PLACE & TIME:} 

Anna (1 Mile): 11th, 13:49

^DISTANCE:

TROY'S STORY

Granite Bay is 13mi away.  Robin drops me off 5mi prior so I can warm-up on the bike.  I’m getting pumped up hoping to really push the bike today after my struggle at Pacific Grove.  After a few surges get a sweat going, I arrive at the small parking lot, set up, and then go for a run.  I wave to Robin, Anna, & Ariel unloading from van at the same time.  Anna is excited to do her 1 mile kid’s race.  My warm-up run feels great.  My turn-over is fast.  I’m ready to give it all I’ve got.  As I walk to the water, I’m obviously concerned, thinking about the last swim which was cold and slow.  One thing I’m going to try and do is be more pumped up to race with the fast guys, focusing more on going all out and less on conserving and getting cold.  The water isn’t very cold so I do a warm-up and continue stretching & getting psyched up on the beach.

The swim is a running start.  Anna’s up near the transition at the starting line of her race.  We both prayed with Robin beforehand.  We’ll both be starting at the same time and see who get’s back to transition first.  Her 1 mi. run against my .75mi swim.

I’m next to our friend, Martin Messersmith.  He was also at Pacific Grove and did well in our age group, with a very fast run.  His wife & young kids also race - a family affair.  We’re both near the front.  Go!  The lake has a shallow drop so we run through the water a long ways.  I’m on the right and closer to shore which helps get me a little more run.  Martin’s dolphining  ahead so I do the same.  This reminds me of the good-ole days, using every tactic to gain a few seconds.  Finally it’s too deep and we’re swimming.  I swerve over and get on Martin’s feet.  I’m surprised how well I’m doing.  There’s only 4 others ahead.  Nearing the first buoy I pull ahead of Martin and get a different draft.  I’m feeling high in the water and really “on top of” my stroke.  To the 2nd buoy I’m alongside the other swimmer and the 3 others are far ahead.  I look back periodically and see a few trying to stay on my feet.  I’m enjoying the clean fresh water and feeling really good.  I try to pick it up more and more.  Soon I round the final buoy with only a couple guys still with me.  I’m getting tired now but know it’s a good swim so try not to ease up.  Watching the bushes and branches go by below is cool.  The ground slowly comes up to meet me and, boom, jump up and try to run for shore.  It’s hard to pick up the legs.  Pushing through the water.

T1: Off with the wetsuit. Yell my number, “2!”, and sprint up the beach for a ¼ mile.  I told myself I would push every bit today.. even the transitions.  Anna & Ariel give me a high five.  We’re allowed to ride in the transition so I jump on my bike and I’m off

Bike: It’s only 13mi but it’s a twisting, challenging course.  I’m going to hammer the few open sections and try to “keep the knees high” and efficient throughout the rest.  It’s going well, pulling up on the legs help them from getting that “filled with cement” feeling.  I keep thinking, “faster, faster..”  I see a few fast guys doing the Duathlon and try to keep ahead of them.  It’s going pretty good.  However, I didn’t use my aero-drink system today just to try something new and, although I get a lot of fluids each time, the bottle, being one of those cheap hard-plastic ones, gets stuck in the cage.  So saved some time & lost some time.  But it’s a good ride and a final big push to the finish.

T2:  I put on socks which seems to take forever even though I pre-rolled them nicely.  Grab my hat, gels, & Garmin and I’m off!

Run:  I feel great!  I sprint around the corner onto the run path and get cheers from Martin’s daughter and high-5’s from Anna & Ariel again.  This is a great sign to have rapid turn-over so early off the bike.  It’s a hot 5mi run, though, so I need to pace myself.  The first sand section gives me an idea of how hard I’m already working.  “Quick feet, quick feet..”  Ouch, heartrate is high, breathing labored.  Ok, focus on how beautiful this course is the awesome blessing God has given me to be able to run fast without any pain!  On the fire road I finally pass a good runner I’ve seen ahead for a while.  As I go by he comments how great the course is.  I love hearing someone’s joyful comment even while pushing a fast pace on a hot & dusty trail.  He then catches back up and says, “After the race I’d like to talk to you about your team.. Competing for Christ”.  “Great!  Keep focusing on the Lord.  I’ll talk to you at the end.”  His name is Nathaniel and we actually run together for a while, encouraging each other.  Only near the top of Cardiac Hill am I able to pull away and fly down the steep backside.  A mile to go, just like at the track.  I dig deep and give it everything.  I want to beat my previous time, 1:42, 2 years ago but I see I’m already over it.  I wonder if maybe the course was shorter back then.  Coming down the home stretch, I thank the Lord, and then see Anna ready and eager to run.  We run together and then there’s Ariel…  I pick her up and we all run the final 50 yds..  which is tougher than I thought… but worth it!

I had forgotten I started my watch 10 min early so indeed I set a PR, 9 min faster than 2008 and won my age group, just ahead of Martin.  One race I finish closer to the back and the next one closer to the front.  It’s all good and very exciting.

I got talk to Nathaniel, who lives in Auburn as well.  He stopped by the Dutch Brothers coffee shop before the race and was told by our friends, the Mauels, who own it, to look for Team Soares in yellow.  I’m glad they mentioned that and I’m glad we met.  Now my legs are exhausted and it’s time for dip in the lake with my 2 little ones.

Anna’s 1mile Run..

Daddy’s starting his triathlon race at the same time as my kid’s race.  He says if I get to the finish before he finishes his swim, he’ll massage my feet.  My race was good.  I was at the starting line, then ran on the trail, then through some sand, on some trails, then on the street, then on some trails, then to the finish line.  If anyone falls during the race, I want to help them.  But I couldn’t see if anyone got hurt or not because I was behind everyone.  But then I almost caught 2 big kids.  I think I was pretty much behind.  I was running fast. When I looked up Mommy said you beat Daddy and I was happy. I was thirsty and got some water from Mommy near the end.  The finish line was my favorite part.  I was like so happy when I got to the finish line.  The first thing I thought of was I wanted to eat some food.  They have all kinds of food for the athletes.  Then I waited for daddy to finish.  After running to the finish with him I went to play in the water.  I told Mommy, “If I come running out of the water, can I be a triathlete?”

Note: Video coming soon!

Go Messersmiths!

Go Marcia!

Go David!

More Fun!