Santa Barbara County
Long Course Triathlon |
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| DATE: Aug. 22, 1998 | WHERE: Santa Barbara |
| DISTANCE: 1mS-34mB-10mR | TIME: 3:02:10 (25:30 - 3:00 - 1:29:0 - 1:00 - 1:3:40) |
| PLACE: 10th/19 Pro-Elite, 10th overall | TEAMMATES: Dale, Michelle, Laura, Albert, Todd, Mike Groat |
| We're off!!
I love these starts; sun shining brightly, launching from the sand in the first wave, sprinting down the soft beach, jumping ahead of others, and diving repetitively into the surf until settling into a steady swim for the buoy. We practiced our ocean entries/exits yesterday, I definitely used up my better ones then. Another humbling note was me with a bright orange cap while the whole Elite wave had green (this was my first Elite division race & I didn't know we got a different cap). But I found a draft behind a pro female, then switched to a passing male, and switched again to the fastest person I could follow. But he swam crooked. I left his draft and swam hard for the final buoy. He was 50yds off course, but swimming fast enough that we both hit the buoy at the same time. Leaving the water around 15th, I was the only one who tried shedding the wetsuit on the beach. Just like in practice, the sand made it stick, very difficult, and also messy to carry. With sand all over me (can't even read my heart rate monitor) I head out on the bike. This course is awesome, through the palm trees, around the mansions, into shady avenues and twisty canyons. I note more rookie mistakes: everyone has "E" on their calves and I have "29" (hopefully it will confuse them); I forgot to adjust my speedometer sensor (I'm definitely not reaching down to move it towards the vegie-matic slicing blades of my front Spinergy!); I didn't hit my stopwatch (when did I start?); I didn't fix my rear shifting (grind away); and, on the first hill, I realize my shift cable is kinked so I can't use my small chainring (ok, this makes me panic a little). But I'm racing with the Elites, it's not crowding, I feel good, and God is in control! I fix the cable and get the heart rate monitor working, then dive into Toro Canyon. I celebrate a perfect turn through the Ambulance-lined "roadrash-corner", pass the guy I was chasing, but then almost skid into the bank on the hairpin 2 turns later. Doh! Rookie move. I get going again, chasing #28. After an aid station I see him around a corner clipping back into his pedals. Then I see the culprit, and the owners chasing after their dog. I felt bad he had to slow down. At the 1/2 way point #28 is now being followed by 2 crotch-rockets. They're trying to hand him a special water bottle. He didn't take it, but I'm a little miffed they would try to offer illegal "outside assistance". The course seems easy coming back, we're all head-down & hammering. Fearing the dehydration of my last race, I'm drinking a lot & in the right concentration. We're hurting briefly as we climb Toro Canyon. I notice these 'Elites' "look back" a lot. I catch one, and just about to catch #28 when he screams to his buddies sitting on the corner, "I need it now!" "Hey, that's assistance" I say as he grabs a bottle. I go by him and open a big gap. Going into a corner I hear a bike coming up behind and suddenly, POW!, right before the turn, he gets a flat. I felt bad for whoever it was. Now I'm alone and sailing back to the beach in 9th place. After a quick transition I start the 10 mile hilly course. The new shoe combination (size 11.5 on left, size 11 on right) feels great! (shoe buying is now twice as expensive) Miles 3 - 5 are uphill but I'm drinking, GU'ing, and feeling great. Then #28 goes by, talking about the flat tire he had to fix (man, WHAT was in that drink, he's flying!) and his buddies are on the corner cheering him. Heading back I see Mike & Laura but where's Dale and Michelle? Everyone's telling me what place I'm in... 9th, 6th, 8th. I guess the pros were too fast to see because I was actually 10th. I have negative splits all the way back. Get passed and make a pass.  Then I see Dale (pulled out because of strained calf), cheering me to kick it in and catch one last guy. I get within 4secs but finish 10th in 3:02:10, over 4 min faster than my '95 race. The big difference is that I still feel good and am able to continue jogging around! After a quick prayer I head back to cheer in the others and find out the news about Dale's calf and Michelle's back. It's so frustrating to get so far in a race and have your efforts thwarted by a injury flare-up. I'm sure there will be momentous races for them in the near future. Well, I again learned a lesson between watching a race and doing one. Here I was upset about a guy cheating by receiving outside assistance. I even talked to an official (but learned another competitor can't report a violation if not seen by an official). And then God stirred something inside and I remembered last week, supporting my friend, Clint, in the Alcatraz Triathlon, his only race of the year. I was so excited I ran along with him from the swim to the bike (turned out to be 3 miles!) giving him a bottle of water when he needed it. I was PACING and AIDING. He even mentioned something but I disregarded it because it was only the transition run and, besides, "race directors are so irresponsible, if I don't give you water, no one will". I realize now I was wrong. We need to deal with the directors about the water thing before the races and limit our support to cheers and encouragement. Congratulations to Laura, for bringing home a 2nd place trophy tile! -Troy |
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