Date/Location:
|
June 29th, 2013 – Pleasanton, CA |
Distances:
|
1/2 Mile Swim - 13 Mile Bike - 3.1 Mile Run |
Time:
|
1:05:26 (13:15 – 30:29 - 20:01) |
Place:
|
1ST / 48; |
Teammates:
|
Sprint Distance: FCA Teammates – David Kurtze, Kris Kennedy, Kristine Hodson, Rachelle Maciver, Rich Maciver, Ron Williams Olympic Distance: Dave Campbell, Dave Leroy, Kevin Magna FCA TEAMMATES - Desiree Swift, Flor Hodges, Jeff Cooley, Jenny Boakes (Aqua-Bike), Mike Pirnat, Scott Hodson, Steve Chavez, Steve Corrales |
I really enjoyed this USA Productions race venue the last time we did it in 2011. Shadow Cliffs Park is a jewel in Pleasanton. The lake is clean, the bike course is varying and the run is mainly on dirt. We arrived last night and this morning I got a nice 4mi warm-up riding from the hotel.
FCA Endurance has it’s own bike rack! TeamMates David, Kris, Rich and Rachelle are racing
with me. I get about a mile run warm-up
and then body marking. Usually race
mornings are cold and I don’t want to take off layers for body marking but it’s
so warm already there’s no need for layers.
Next, it’s time for the
FCA pre-race prayer! Race
announcer, Nick Tuttle, is accustomed to our group prayer and has already been letting
everyone know. Wow, it’s a great
turn-out of about 20 athletes. We pray for safety for the athletes, readiness
to help others, and a peace that comes from knowing the Lord is in control. (Special note: During the 2 races this weekend, 5 FCA Endurance TeamMates stopped during their race to help another rider fix their bike! Their acts really demonstrated selflessness)
Wetsuit on, a kiss for Robin, and I rush into the lake
noticing that the first wave is already lined up far away at the start. I never checked what wave I’m in. I swim to the start, note the red caps, and
ask someone what color mine is. I’m
actually in the 3rd wave and the race starts 10min late anyway, so
plenty of time to relax. I warm
up. I try to keep cool, letting water
into my suit. Water is 77 deg, only 1
deg before wetsuits aren’t allowed. Now
ready to go..
THE SWIM
Go! I start at the
front and swim hard for the first 100yds.
The front group is spread wide across.
Quite a few on the left are pulling ahead. A fast swimmer goes by and I work to stay on
him. He slows a little and makes a good
draft. By the first buoy he has slowed a
lot so I take off on my own.
Turning for the long middle leg, the sun position is great,
the water clear and sighting is easy. I
let water into my suit a couple times. ½
way done, a faster swimmer comes by and makes for a perfect draft. Wow, that’s perfect timing, and not very
common to have someone in your own wave suddenly move to the front to pull you
along. I have to really work hard to
stay with him, but I know he will pull me to a fast time.
On the final stretch I can no longer hang on. He picks it up one more time and I’m off the
back. But only 100 yds left to go. I hit bottom, jump up, and try to high-step
to shore quickly. Suit comes off quickly
and I’m running for the bike. Great
swim!
THE BIKE
I’m on the bike, getting up to speed, and then getting into
my shoes. Back up to speed again. I’m motivated to push hard today. It’s only 12mi, I need to hammer the bike the
whole way. I’m passing people quickly
and that feels good. But I am reminded
by God that this Sprint is mainly a “beginner” race and I need to be an
encourager and a good ambassador for the Lord.
In the industrial park, the course does a clover-leaf of
out-n-backs. I take advantage of each
180 turn, setting up well and trying to shave off seconds each time. I continue to move up and wonder if I can
maintain 25mph.
I think of Pastor Lincoln Murdoch, a very fast sprint course
athlete and how he would be able to maintain 25mph. Today I want to be like him. Back on the main roads I try to hammer in my
flat, aero position. I encourage others
as I go by. On the backside, I get
passed by a rider really flying. But I
notice that soon he has settled down to my speed. I work hard and use others to slingshot my
way up to him and finally pass him. Now
to make it stick… I keep pushing and soon am a good distance ahead. 1 small hill and now it’s down to the final
stretch. Yay, a good bike and soon I’ll
be coasting into transition.
I pull my feet out, get a little calf stretch going down
into the park. I hear Robin and the
girls at the FCA Endurance booth cheering for me. I make a fast dismount and run to transition. Shoes, hat and I’m off! I forgot my gel but I’ll compensate with
sports drink on the 3.1 mi course
THE RUN
The run feels hard, as always, this 1st mile, and
it’s also pretty hot now. But I’m
excited to be running and hoping to be leading my age group. I feel like I’m really doing well that I may
be near the overall leaders, too. Onto
the street for a bit and then through the new BMX pump track. Wow, those jumps are huge. Back onto the trails. Down into the creek ravine and back up. I see all those in the first waves coming
back. They look fast but I know I’ll
catch some if I just keep working and not think about heat, fatigue, or
difficulty breathing.
Each aid station I get as much water and sports drink that I
can. Running these levies and trails
brings back so many memories of many tri-for-fun races I’ve done at this
park. I know the final mile with the
drop down off the levy into the green park to the finish. That helps in pushing this middle
section. God is my strength and such a
great provider, He reminds me to be humble and cheerful.
The last crest and down to the park, around the grass and
now the final stretch on the bike bath.
Anna jumps out to run with me and paces it perfectly. I point to God, He gets the credit. My time was 1:05:40. The race went better than I expected and I
feel a lot of accomplishment. I’m very
thankful that God allows me to have so much fun and excitement, because I know
so much can go wrong or that with the wrong outlook it can feel like a
let-down.
Name
|
Race
|
Time
|
Age Group
|
Place
|
Swim
|
Bike
|
Run
|
TROY SOARES
|
SPRINT
|
1:05:25
|
M45-49
|
1st
|
13:15
|
30:29
|
20:01
|
RICH MACIVER
|
SPRINT
|
1:24:06
|
M40-44
|
14TH
|
16:57
|
35:48
|
28:15
|
DAVID KURTZ
|
SPRINT
|
1:25:05
|
M50-54
|
13TH
|
17:16
|
35:05
|
27:56
|
KRIS KENNEDY
|
SPRINT
|
1:35:37
|
M45-49
|
19TH
|
16:07
|
45:05
|
30:36
|
RACHELLE MACIVER
|
SPRINT
|
1:31:19
|
W40-44
|
10TH
|
18:56
|
38:19
|
31:16
|
KRISTINE HODSON
|
SPRINT
|
1:39:51
|
W45-49
|
19TH
|
20:33
|
41:09
|
34:37
|
DAVE LEROY
|
OLY
|
2:18:12
|
M50-54
|
4TH
|
26:15
|
1:08:47
|
41:38
|
STEVE CHAVEZ
|
OLY
|
2:18:55
|
M55-59
|
1ST
|
24:28
|
1:11:15
|
41:01
|
DAVE CAMPBELL
|
OLY
|
2:20:11
|
M55-59
|
2ND
|
25:17
|
1:11:36
|
41:24
|
MARIA HODGES
|
OLY
|
2:28:58
|
W25-29
|
2ND
|
25:18
|
1:14:23
|
47:32
|
ROBIN SOARES
|
OLY
|
2:32:46
|
W35-39
|
2ND
|
26:47
|
1:18:54
|
44:21
|
SCOTT HODSON
|
OLY
|
2:33:29
|
M50-54
|
11TH
|
26:37
|
1:15:27
|
48:53
|
KEVIN MAGNA
|
OLY
|
2:38:46
|
M35-39
|
20TH
|
23:00
|
1:18:37
|
54:51
|
RON WILLIAMS
|
OLY
|
2:44:59
|
M60-64
|
2ND
|
26:34
|
1:18:57
|
55:21
|
MIKE PIRNAT
|
OLY
|
2:55:48
|
M50-54
|
26TH
|
31:50
|
1:22:56
|
58:13
|
STEVE CORRALES
|
OLY
|
3:16:03
|
M45-49
|
34TH
|
33:31
|
1:26:24
|
1:11:54
|
DESIREE SWIFT
|
OLY
|
3:24:23
|
W30-34
|
22ND
|
35:01
|
1:40:24
|
1:05:44
|
JEFF COOLEY
|
OLY
|
3:48:28
|
M45-49
|
45TH
|
39:07
|
1:44:35
|
1:19:17
|
JENNY BOAKES
|
OLY AQUABIKE
|
2:02:30
|
W50-54
|
4TH
|
30:00
|
1:29:42
|
NA
|