TROY'S RACE

We just had our FCA pre-race prayer get-together at the boat ramp.  It’s great having 7 TeamMates racing!  Dave asks me if I’m swimming without a wetsuit.  Oh, it’s only 15 min till race start.. I’ve got things to do.. like get my wetsuit.

I really want to do my best today.   Tinley’s Triathlons mark the end of the season for us and San Luis Obispo is my original triathlon training grounds.  It’s a special area indeed.  Attending Cal Poly & training for my first race, I would ride from town out to Lopez Lake, turn, and head back.  Years later I came to Lopez Lake for the Tinley’s Toughest Mountain Bike & Triathlon Races.  It lived up to the “Dirty Adventures” title as it rained every day until the trails were rivers of mud.  Now, 13 yrs later, I’m back for the fairly new on-road long-course triathlon and Robin is doing her first Mountain Bike Triathlon.

For me, it’s a 1.5mi swim, 49mi bike and 9mi run - my longest race since May.  But our biggest concern is not repeating the 2 “freeze-ups” I had at Auburn Triathlon and Pacific Grove.  Lopez Lake can be cold, but it’s already shaping up to be a really warm day.  I want to go fast so I’m tempted towards the minimalist route but I know I’ll be to blame if I don’t learn my lesson by now.  I check the water temp.. 70.. good.  I won’t need the hood and booties – but fore the bike I prepare my toe warmers, arm warmers, and special head warmer that Robin found for me.  I rush to the start right as the elite’s take off, leaving me 3 min to warm-up.  A quick few strokes, water in the suit, and I’m ready to go.  I’m going to be more aggressive in the swim and the bike.

The Swim  Go!  My sprint into the water is less-than-pretty as I slip on the algae-covered-ramp and lose a couple more bounds.  To the first buoy my breathing is rapid and my stroke a bit forced.  I miss a draft and find myself between 2 groups.  It’s ok, sighting is good, the water clear, and I’m coming off a good swim at Granite Bay.  I focus constantly on pushing through the water.  It’s a longer swim than normal so more important to push hard and keep from getting behind on the bike.

Heading back towards the ramp, my breathing is more controlled and I’m feeling the strain in my arms.  I think, “1 more lap, just like Granite Bay, I can do it”.  Heading out on #2, a guy comes alongside me, which is good - it gives me a reference of speed.  I elongate my stroke and pull with my whole body.  I see him start to fade back.  Good, keep it up.

Making the final buoy turn, I feel good about my swim and start to head towards the ramp.  But the guy behind me continues straight.  Maybe he doesn’t realize the shortest path to the finish… or maybe we’re supposed to swim more loops?!   I can’t remember and I’m not wearing a watch to check the time (my Garmin watch is in my back pocket in order to get a better GPS reading.. even though I forgot to turn the GPS part on before the race).  For about 200yds I swim in the middle.. the boat launch to the left, the multiple-loop buoy to the right.. until I see a life-guard.  “Is it 2 laps?”  He puts up 3 fingers.  Oh!

Ok, my new goal is to catch the guy again who I just let get 50yds on me.  I round the buoy, and then another – but still not close to him.  I’m pushing hard, my legs are getting tight, but I actually feel good and think, “it doesn’t matter how many loops, I can keep going”.  Around the final buoy, I sight a female elite ahead and race all the way to the finish with her.  She’s not wearing a wetsuit because yesterday a new rule took affect banning wetsuits from pros when the water is ≥ 70°.

T1  Out of the water in 11th place and 34 min (under my 40 min goal)!  After a good wetsuit removal and a long sprint up the ramp, I put my arm warmers on and special cap – even though this takes time and competitors are getting out ahead of me.  Freezing is not an option this time.

Bike  This is it.  Got to give it my all.  My last chance of the year to put together the ride I’m capable of.  I need to stay pumped and aggressive.  It’s 50mi but I want to ride like it’s 20.  In my other long races (Wildflower and Auburn), my bike wasn’t what it should have been – I feel I can go faster.

It’s a small field.  A top 50-yr-old goes by and I try to keep him in my sights for 10mi.  The only others I see are the sprint triathletes coming back from their race.  At 12mi I’m surprised my average is still below 20mph.  I recently did my 12mi commute to work in 20mph, with stoplights and a backpack, but I can’t do it in the race?  But I know I’ll bring up the average soon.

The course is beautiful… flanked by vineyards and orange groves.  At 15mi we start the gradual climb.  I’m feeling better and now chasing a couple guys.  After the decent, it’s rolling hills to the turn-around.  I start counting the bikes coming back.  17 pros and then 10 amateurs.  All right!  With a tight 180, I pass a guy right in the turn-around which puts me in 10th.  I work really hard coming back and rotate between 9th, 10th, and 11th place.  My advantage is on long climbs or the technical descents, where I move to 9th.  But on the flats, the 2 guys pull ahead and at 30mi I can’t see them anymore.

Now I start to feel the “groove” – a comfortable position on the bike with a great feeling of power transfer.  On the gradual climb back up to Lopez Lake dam I’m really liking my effort.  I’m flying.  I think about my original training days here climbing up to Lopez and, in October, seeing the bizarre sight of tarantula spiders crossing the road on their yearly mating migration.  None today, though.  What I really want to see though are the guys in 9th and 10th.  There they are!  Up on the dam.  I can catch them.  I’m feeling strong.  I’m at 20.5mph.  This is the best bike effort of the year!

I feel something strange.. the road bumps are magnified.  I can’t see a flat tire.  But suddenly it becomes apparent.  Although I have 9 mi to go, I can see the finish line 500 yds away across the lake.

It’s ok, though, I’ve changed a flat in 3min.  And it’s the front which is easy.  A guy happens to be walking by and asks to help.  “Thanks anyway but I’ve got it”.  Wheel off, tire off, insert new tube, and grab a cartridge and inflator.  Uh oh.  The cartridge doesn’t match the inflator (it’s non-threaded).  And the inflator can’t grip the tube valve (it’s too short for the deeper rim).  With all my might I push the cartridge against the inflator and push the inflator against the valve stem.  Finally it pierces and cold CO2 goes everywhere… except in the tube.  That’s my only cartridge.  I look to where my mini frame pump would be if I hadn’t broke it on a training ride last month.  I nicely ask for a spare tube from the racers going by but I don’t get any acknowledgement. I see a parked race-motorbike and motion that I need help.. to no avail.  I put the deflated wheel back on and ride to the motorbike.  “We’re race photographers”  “Can you call for help?”  No response. “Tell them I’ll be riding in slowly” and I continue on carefully.  I’m concerned about damaging my rims.  I see another official vehicle.  It’s the race director, Terry.  “Do you have a pump?”  “Sure do.”  But the pump has an old rubber insert that won’t grab the short stem.  Ok, plan C, patch the old tube.  I quickly find the leak (Thank you, Lord) and it’s a pinch flat (the most difficult).  I apply the speed patch, put the wheel back together, and pump.  The air doesn’t hold.  I tell Terry, “The Lord is just testing my perseverance, it’s ok.”  I take the wheel apart and find hole #2.  I now realize my first flat was a slow leak which caused the pinch flat later.  “Just have to patch it, too.”  But I’m out of patches.  That was my last!  Obviously my preparation beforehand was bad.  I did a great job with temperature control this time, but a poor job checking my bike supplies.

I tell Terry, “I’ve never flatted out of a race before” and I try to keep the hope alive of finding a solution… fast.  Then Terry calls headquarters asking someone to drive a tube out to me.  I say, thanks, and continue riding my bike with the flat tire hoping to meet them sooner.  I get to the intersection of the final 7 mile-out-n-back.  The Grizzly Corps kid volunteers are manning the turn and dropping to do 20 pushups for each bike they wave through.  I wait but the officials never come.  Then I ask 2 recreational cyclists and they gladly stop to give me a tube (Thank you, Lord).  They see my FCA jersey and say, “We’re Christians, too!”  One of them is even from my home town of Grass Valley.  Wow, I’m so appreciative of their gift.. a tube and cartridge is about $8.  I wish I could repay them somehow but after exchanging names and taking off I realize I’ll probably never see them again.

It’s been 40 min (37 min lost time) since my flat and it’s gotten hotter.  But I have a new game plan:  finish the bike with the best effort possible and try to log the fastest run of the day!  I finish the out-n-back and come flying into the transition.

T2 Transition goes quick and I race out, high-5’ing the girls and handing off my tubes and trash (from my tire episode) to Robin.

The Run  It’s really heating up.  I’m feeling the effort from the swim and bike but I’m determined to leave EVERYTHING on the run course.  I hope it’s not too hilly.  Out to the turn-around it’s fairly flat and scenic along the lake and over fire-roads.  I’m drinking a lot taking my Hammer gels.  I feel really blessed to have Jesus helping me through the run.  It’s going to be exciting.

It’s a double-out-n-back and the Olympic distance triathletes are on the course as well.  But I can pick out the Long Course athletes that are walking and struggling and some that are racing on their 2nd lap – where I probably should have been.  But “you never know what can happen”.  I keep looking for the 2 guys I was chasing on the bike.  I’m maintaining 7:15 pace (under my goal of 7:30 pace).  It’s hard but it feels great to be running all out, pain free, and utilizing all the old tricks I know – water on the head, running tangents, quick turn-arounds, plenty of fluids / gels, and even “answering nature’s call” while running.   Every second counts.

The end of the first lap has a killer hill – my heart rate is at 94% and it’s hot but I dig deep and I come through the finish area proud of my first loop.  Other guys are finishing but I’ve got another loop.. and a personal record of a run ahead of me that I’m excited about.  Beth of Tri-California yells, “Why do you race, Troy!?”  “Jesus!” I answer.  That was so helpful to remind me of what matters most to me.  With Christ all things are possible and with God all things work for good.

This 2nd loop is tough but I’m out to the turn-around before I know it.  I feel like I’m sprinting but the pace is creeping up to 7:30’s.  It’s hard-enough running fast when you’re going for 1st or 2nd, so I’m really happy that, despite being way  back, I’m still “running to win”.  The final hill.  It’s hot.  Breathe strong, run the tangents, use the arms, don’t look at the heart-rate, you won’t die.  Finally, over the top.  Jeff cheers me through the last corner.  I make quick work of the final tough little loop around some campgrounds.  Then I grab Anna’s hand and race to the finish together!  Finally.. with a performance I am stoked to finish the season with.  Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to persevere and for giving me an exciting run even when it looked like I might not even complete the bike.

The strangest thing, which also reinforces our motto, “keep racing hard, you never know what will happen”, is that I still got a 3rd place medal.  Even without the 40 min tire change, I would still be 3rd place.   The flat tire fiasco had no affect on my finish position, but was great practice for persevering.  “You never know what can happen”  Thank you, Jesus, for a great season!

Amateur Rankings: 14th overall

     (12th Swim, 17th Bike (w/out flat), 12th Run)

ROBIN'S RACE

Troy and I meet with teammate Dave Fraser and have some time of prayer…need to put the focus on Jesus today! I’m toeing the line with 22 women and 3 relay folks at the water’s edge. I don’t know what to expect today. The swim and the run won’t be anything new, but the bike will be my first mtn. bike race ever …and one of only a handful of rides. I hope what Troy taught me will stick and that the Lord will protect me from crashing.

The Swim Ready, set, go! This should be over quick.. it’s only a ¼ mile swim. I get on a girl’s feet and we head out to the first buoy. I realize she’s leading and I’m in 2nd …cool! At the buoy, I decide to go on my own. My draft was drifting all over the place. Another girl is beside me and we push each other to the 2nd buoy. After rounding this last buoy, I realize that I’m in first! What?! This is new! I push harder to see if I can hold the girls off to the end. It’s hard to know who will come up on me. I’m almost to the finish and still alone? I jump out and hear, “and it’s Robin Soares of FCA Endurance first out of the water”. I’m in total shock and have to look back to see if it’s true. It is, but I have girls hot on my heels. I pull off to the side and whip off my wetsuit. I run up with two ladies. One of them didn’t wear a wetsuit and is now ahead …that's the small price to pay for wearing my wetsuit.

 The Bike  I get to my borrowed bike (Thanks Christine!) and throw on my running shoes and gear. I’m going with regular pedals so that I can easily use my feet for balance. I skip the arm warmers and hope that I’ll be comfortable. Off I go! There’s Troy ready to take a shot of me. “You’re the 3rd woman”. Cool, but I wonder if that will change. I’m glad that I rode most of the course yesterday and some of it for the Mtn. bike hill climb on Friday. At the first hill, I make it up well and can see one of the girls ahead of me. We both cautiously descend the next hill and let a male rider go by. I pull around the girl ahead and charge up the next hill - which I know from the hill climb - and pass another biker. It’s nice having the easy option of putting my foot down, but it’s hard sometimes when it slips off.

I hit a steep hill.  I see a girl walking near the top.  I slowly push and, despite little wheelies at times, I'm able to stay on the bike to the top.  The girl ahead makes quick work of the descent so I have some catching up to do.  I hit a sandy hill on a corner and in the wrong gear.  I have to get off and run.  I hope to do that better next time! 

We're on a fire road now and I get as aero as possible and push hard.  I pass the girl and tell her good job.  It’s a long out-and-back stretch which I haven't seen yet.  I’m so glad to see it’s not very technical.  I hone in on my tri-bike skills and use this flat and bumpy stretch to go fast. 

I’m on pavement now heading towards the next off-road section.  I’m concerned that I’ll have to go down the staircase section I saw yesterday….but no it’s another way…yeah, I can handle this.  It’s a nice short descent to a small space between two logs.  Then over a sandy beach, onto the trail, around the side of a hill, overlooking a lake, and back to another beach.  There’s a staircase ahead with a very sandy hill next to it.  I try to bike up the hill but am barely making it.  I jump off and run.

I’m back at the start.  One more loop and then I can run.  I have to admit that I am liking this mtn. biking thing.  Never thought I would.  On the first hill out I lose my balance and have to stop to let another guy go by.  “Sorry about that” I say and he says “no problem”.  He seems to know what he’s doing so I try to keep his pace.  The course seems better this loop.   I’m even able to pass a few folks on an uphill.  I make it further up that sandy hill and have less to run.  I’m even getting bucked around on some downhills so I must be getting this down.

I’m on the fire-road and pretty much done with the technical stuff.  A few riders are fixing tires and another is walking his bike on this loop…tough break!  I ask if they need anything but they graciously decline.  One guy says his tire broke but he’s still smiling like the rest of them. What an amazing group of folks out here!  Even the girl chasing me gives me a big smile and says good job as we pass each other on the out-and-back. 

I see runners on the course now.  There’s the famous Scott Tinley!  So cool!  I cross the beach, go around the hill and set up for the very sandy hill.  I give it a try and again get nowhere.  I run it and then bike sprint back to T2.  Yeah, that was a fun ride!

The Run Now for a fun run!  It was an easy transition since my running shoes are already on.  I head out and am feeling pretty good.  I eat a Hammer Gel.   I see the girl coming in on the bike and she again encourages me.  I smile and encourage her back.  Not many folks around but I try to work my way towards those in front of me. 

Mile 1 is 7:37.  I pass through an aid station run by a bunch of kids…so cute!  One kid is eagerly awaiting someone to take his cup so I stop and reach back to get it.  I hit the turn-around and a volunteer says, "Go girl!"  The guy in front of me says “what?!  I’m getting chicked”.  He’s just being funny and tells me good job.  He also raced yesterday so it’s tougher for him.  I see the same girl coming the other way and she runs over to give me high five.  Wow, I’m totally impressed with her attitude!

Mile 2 is 7:05 .  Good!  And I’m feeling good.  Now the road steepens.  I focus on good form.  This is brutal, like Wildflower.  Thanks Lord for letting this day be so great!  I dig down and continue trudging up the hill.  I see Jeff of Tri Cal ahead cheering me on.  He’s been a great supporter of FCA and Team Soares!  I’m finally at the top and can enjoy a nice downhill. 

Almost to the finish!  I can see it!  Yeah! Just a little mini-loop to go.   I cannot wait to run in with my Anna!

Mile 3 is 7:24.  Finally, the home stretch.  There’s Anna waiting for me.  We grab hands and run through the finish tape.  I cannot believe I'm the first woman!  I’m surprised and humbled.  Lord, I know I let you down at times but You still give me so much! Thank you.