New Year’s Day Challenge 2015–Robin

Date/Location:	January 1, 2015 – Auburn, CA
Distances:	Hill Climb 1 – 3m Old Foresthill Rd Hill Climb 2 - 1.2m Raley's Hill Resolution Run - 10m Trails
Time / Place:	Hill Climb 1 – 18:03 / 2nd (PR 16:56, 2014) Hill Climb 2 – 6:35 / 2nd (PR 5:52, 2014) Run - 1:23:56 / 3rd  (PR 1:16:04, 2011)
Teammates:	Click Here

Part 1: The Bike
It’s the chilliest morning of the winter for sure!  Karen and I head out on the warm-up loop.  The boys (Jeff, Jesse, Kayden, Lance and Troy) wait for Troy to fix a flat.  We all meet up at the Confluence where Flor is warming up on her trainer.  We all agree that that was the way to go today!
I know that I’m not in the same shape as last year but with that in mind I know I’m not off the hook and cannot slack…Ironman Coeur d’Alene is 6 months away…yikes!!
CLIMB #1: Karen and I are the first to go.  The start times vary to even out the field so that we all finish close together.  Ready, set, go!  Right away my legs are screaming at me.  Karen takes off and I try to relax and let my legs adjust to the strain. 
I look back and see Flor coming now so I push my way to Karen.  I know she’ll eventually catch me but I’ll try to hold her off as long as possible.  By Mammoth Bar, Flor has passed me and is flying up the hill.  Now, I need to hold off the guys!
A few miles up the road flattens out and I try to capitalize on the break and hammer.  I look at my watch and see that breaking 17 mins is not a possibility.  Can I even break 18 mins?  Always need to try no matter what!
The road keeps going and going and the clock keeps ticking.  Finally I see the Stop Sign ahead.  Go, go, go!  I sprint and cross the line at 18:03.  Oh, so close!  Good effort!  I’m glad I held off the boys.  I’m tired!  Thank you Jesus for getting me to the top! 
I congratulate Flor and Karen.  It looks like they both had a personal best today.  The guys finish strong.  We group up for a photo.  Rob Hodges, Flor’s husband and our recorder for the morning, takes our picture and we are on our way!
CLIMB #2: We line up in the order we finished on Climb #1 just before the Foresthill bridge.  This climb is short but steep.  Ready, set, go!  We time-trial across the bridge and hit the hill fast.  Quickly the group breaks apart and I watch as the guys and Flor take off.  It’s Karen and I fighting for the next spot!
Ugh, this is hard!  Come on legs!!  I pull away from Karen for a time.  Mentally I am struggling to keep pushing.  Soon I hear Karen coming and I try to hold her off.  We are pushing hard.  Almost there…one last push!  We strain to the top and finish seconds apart. Whew!!  I’m done!  Thank you Lord!  Even though a lot of this felt like torture, I am glad that I woke up and got to the starting line.  I congratulate Karen and the others.  Time to ride home and recover as much as possible for the run.
Part 2: The Run
The girls are racing the 5K today while Troy and I are running the 10miler.  This will be Ariel’s 1st Resolution Run.  Jeff Landauer volunteered to run with her and support her through it…what a great blessing!
We get our race numbers and warm-up and stretch.  My hamstrings have improved since CIM but they are still quite tight.  The plan is to take it out slower than normal and then try to ramp up the pace. 
I line up with Flor, Karen and Troy.  We are the first to go with the 10K 15 min after and then the 5K 30 min after.  Not sure how the start time changes with affect the 10 miler since all 3 courses overlap with one another.
Ready, set, go!  Everyone takes off quick.  It’s basically downhill for the first 2.5 miles so folks are flying.  Downhill running is definitely a weakness to begin with and with a slower start I’m falling back quickly.  I look to the Lord and ask for patience and peace.
Mile 1 is 7:21.  Legs are okay.  I cannot see Karen or Troy now.
Mile 2 is 7:28.  Down, down, down!  I see a guy with a Leadville 100 Mile Run shirt.  I ask him about that race and other races he’s doing.  It’s a nice mental break to chat!
We get to one of my favorite short climbs, Cardiac Bypass.  I’m hoping to make up some ground on other racers there.  I say goodbye to my new friend and head up the trail.  Whoa, it’s much harder climbing after riding hard!  Halfway up my legs start feeling better.
Mile 3 is 8:35.  Okay, nice a flat for a bit!
Mile 4 is 7:56.  Downhill again!  We follow the Dam Rd. down most of the way and turn off onto the trail. Back up a bit and then flat. Again the legs are in shock and it takes a few minutes to adjust.  I see Jesse Warda and he’s feeling nauseas.  I encourage him to hang in there. 
Mile 5 is 7:32.  That just might be the last sub-8 min split for the day.  It’s a steep climb up to the Western States Terrace Trail which runs below Robie Point. 
Mile 6 is 8:40.  I catch up to Gary Carpenter tell him good job.  It won’t be long before I get to the other side of Robie Point to see runners coming back.  Who will I see?  I notice a gal up ahead and catch up to her.  I pass her and tell her good job.  She picks up the pace and we start to go back and forth some.
Mile 7 is 8:01.  I see Brian Hacker coming back…then Bailey…then Troy.  Go!  I pull ahead of that gal.
I see the 10K turn-around and start looking for mine.  I don’t see a turn-around in the normal spot and it looks like we are running all the way to Hwy 49!  Here comes Karen…then Jason Shykowski and Kayden Kelly.  Go!  I hope to catch Jason and Kayden!  My hamstrings are doing pretty good but there just is little speed and fluidity.  I’ll take what I can get.  Thanks Lord!
Mile 8 is 8:03.  That gal is really close behind me.  I hope to make the climb up to Robie Point count!  I see Kayden and Jason.  Halfway up I realize that they are running strong and I’m not gaining any ground on them.  I make it up to Robie and then it’s right back down.
Mile 9 is 8:55.  I’m almost done!  That gal passes me again and try to stay near.  I hope to make my move on the last few hills.
I catch up to Kayden and tell him good job.  Jason is still out of reach and continues to run strong.
I close the gap on the last few hills on that girl.  It’s going to be close!
Mile 10 is 9:42.  The finish is around the corner and that girl is right there.  As we make one of the last turns I go to pass her.  She senses me and takes off.  My hamstrings are too tight to be able to move fast and I cannot go any faster.  She finishes ahead of me by seconds. 
We congratulate each other after the race and find out we are in the same age group.  Her name is Jennifer.  I find out later there was another girl in our age group less than a second ahead of Jennifer!  So 1st and 3rd (myself) were separated by 5 seconds!  Wow, a strong kick was the key today.  Too bad I didn’t have that!  I feel the frustration building…I ask the Lord to help me be content.  I have a lot to be thankful for…like a wonderful husband and 2 wonderful girls!
RESULTS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTES: CLICK HERE

New Year's Day Challenge (Troy)

Date/Location:	Jan 1, 2015 / Auburn, CA
Distance:	Hill Climb 1: 3mi Old Foresthill Rd Hill Climb 2: 1.2mi Raley's Hill Resolution Run: 10mi
Time/Place:	Hill Climb 1 (Adj): 5th Hill Climb 2 (Adj): 7th Run: 1:17:36*, 2nd (PR 1:11:20, 2012) *longer course Combined: 5th
Teammates:	Hill Climbs: Lance Loveday, Jesse Warda, Jeff Landauer, Flor Hodges, Kayden Kelly, Robin Soares, Karen Nickel 10Mile: Bryan Hacker, Melissa Penwell, Bailey Shykowski, Karen Nickel, Robin Soares, Flor Hodges, Jason Shykowski, Gary Carpenter, Jesse Warda, Kayden Kelly, Manouch Shirvanioun, Randall Harris, Carolyn Goulding, Lupita Cox 10K: Mo Bartley, Lance Loveday, Tamara Diederichs, Kim McCool 5K: Leah Booth, Hal Tacker, Emerson Booth, Deborah Booth, Stephanie Ganzenhuber, Laurn Langhofer, Anna Soares, Ariel Soares.

BikeI wish I got a few more practice climbs in, but gotta do with what I've got.  We meet at the Overlook in Auburn for our annual New Year's Day Challenge.  A bike ride with multiple hill climbs followed by the Resolution Run on the tough canyon trails.
I start out from the house and realize my brakes don't work on the road bike.  I ride the tri-bike instead.  It's a great group (Flor, Robin, Lance, Karen, Jeff, Kayden and Jesse).  The sun's out, but still a bit chilly.  After a warm-up around Powerhouse Rd & up Glenview Dr, we descend to the Confluence and prepare for the first climb.
We do the usual staggered starts with the women first.  Then Jeff & I go with Kayden, Jesse and Lance chasing.  The first part of the climb is the toughest.  I'm breathing hard, as usual, but doing my best to be efficient and give God my full effort.  I catch Karen.  Jeff & I battle back 'n forth but I pull slightly ahead at the end.
After a quick group photo, we coast down to the Foresthill Bridge for the next effort.  Lance had the fastest 1st climb so he has to lead us out across the bridge.  Because of a mis-communication, Kayden, who usually thrives on this sprint climb, thought he had to stay in formation and missed the action at the front.  Jeff, Jesse, and Lance battled for the lead, but I couldn't catch them and watched from about 7 secs back.
My total time was 21:29, off from my best of 20:37.  I made 3rd place just by a couple seconds.
RunThe day is warming up fast.  I make sure to fuel well.  We line up with about 200 others for the 5k, 10k, or 10mi race.  It's great to see the many other friends that are here.  Ariel & Anna are both doing the 5k.  Jeff will pace Ariel as he has another runner running a relay for him.  Before the start, Robin, Karen, myself and some others pray together.  It's a tough run which means more opportunities to represent Christ, even when it gets hard.
Go!  Robin and I start together.  It's a big group.  Friends of ours from Tuesday Night Track pull ahead including Melissa, Bailey and Robin's training partner, Karen.  Behind us the 10k group gets ready and finally the 5k'ers last.
On the long run to the bottom I can see Melissa & Bailey up ahead.  Karen and Robin are behind me.  My calves have been bothering me and feel a little tight.  Up the first climb.  I really focus on form and staying relaxed.  I want to record a fast climb without straining my calves. I feel that I do  (3:38, just 3 secs off my PR from last year!).
Across the top and then the steep drop down the Dam Rd.  I try to make up some time, but then the calves get tighter.  Up the steep switch-backs I have to really be careful.  Around Robie Pt (5:36, 15 secs off my PR). Now it's out to the far gate at Hwy 49.  On the way I see Melissa, then Bailey, coming back.  I run well to the turn-around at Hwy 49 (previously the race always turned earlier).  I make the turn and then see Karen.  "You're almost up to them Karen, you can do it!"  Then I see Robin.  I love being able to see her in a race.  She encourages me so much and I try to do the same for her.  I ask about her hamstrings and she says they're hanging in there.
Up and over Robie.  The calves hold me back (was 20 secs off my best).  The final mile up to the finish is brutal.  I'm exhausted and the calves are really shot.  I finish 1:17:36, 6:16 off from my best last year, but a 100% effort.  And turns out to be 2nd in my age.
I cheer for Karen, Robin, Flor, Jason, Gary, Jesse, and Kayden coming in soon after.  We all have a good time hanging out.  So thankful that the Lord healed my foot 6 years ago so I can experience all this fun running with friends!

New Years Day Challenge 2015

It was a good day of racing on the New Year.  The sun was out but it was chilly.  The run proved to be a factor as Robin and Karen used it to move into overall ties for 1st and 2nd respectively.


The Top 3 Overall for the 2015 New Years Day Challenge are:

Ovl	Name	Climb1	Age-Adj	Climb2	Age-Adj	Total Age-Adj	Hill Climb Placing	Run Time	Place	Total Combined Placing
1 tie	Flor Hodges	16:30	13:35	05:57	04:54	18:29	1	1:24:42	4	5
1 tie	Robin Soares	18:03	14:21	06:35	05:14	19:35	2	1:23:56	3	5
2 tie	Lance Loveday	15:20	15:11	05:26	05:23	20:34	3	50:51	3	6
2 tie	Karen Nickel	18:50	15:31	06:36	05:26	20:57	4	1:20:41	2	6
3	Troy Soares	15:56	15:46	05:33	05:30	21:16	5	1:17:36	2	7

In the Relay division, Jeff's teammate came through and clinched their win:

Relay Plc	Name	Climb1	Age-Adj	Climb2	Age-Adj	Total Age-Adj	Hill Climb Placing	Run Time	Place	Total Combined Placing
1	Jeff Landauer & Bailey Shykowski Relay	16:08	15:58	05:23	05:20	21:18	7	1:15:56	1	8

There was also a close race in the age-graded hill climb results as Troy Soares, Jesse Warda and Jeff Landauer were only 2 seconds apart!

Ovl	Name	Climb1	Age-Adj	Climb2	Age-Adj	Total Age-Adj	Hill Climb Placing
3	Troy Soares	15:56	15:46	05:33	05:30	21:16	5
15	Jesse Warda	16:01	16:01	05:17	05:17	21:18	6
4	Jeff Landauer	16:08	15:58	05:23	05:20	21:18	7

This chart shows just the hill climb results and includes previous bests (in purple):

All hill climb results (by finish time):

Ovl	Name	Climb1	Age-Adj	Climb2	Age-Adj	Total Time
2	Lance Loveday	15:20	15:11	05:26	05:23	20:46
15	Jesse Warda	16:01	16:01	05:17	05:17	21:18
3	Troy Soares	15:56	15:46	05:33	05:30	21:29
4	Jeff Landauer	16:08	15:58	05:23	05:20	21:31
1	Flor Hodges	16:30	13:35	05:57	04:54	22:27
10	Kayden Kelly	18:27	18:27	05:50	05:50	24:17
2	Robin Soares	18:03	14:21	06:35	05:14	24:38
2	Karen Nickel	18:50	15:31	06:36	05:26	25:26

Resolution Run

Run Results:

Name	Run Dist	Run Time	Plc
Leah Booth	3.1	0:27:28	1
Hal Tacker	3.1	0:30:42	1
Emerson Booth	3.1	0:31:12	3
Deborah Booth	3.1	0:31:43	1
Stephanie Ganzenhuber	3.1	0:33:43	3
Laurn Langhofer	3.1	0:36:38	4
Anna Soares	3.1	0:37:09	2
Ariel Soares	3.1	0:45:12	4
Mo Bartley	6.2	0:52:17	1
Lance Loveday	6.2	0:50:51	3
Tamara Diederichs	6.2	1:16:44	8
Kim McCool	6.1	1:16:44	13
Bryan Hacker	10	1:12:29	1
Melissa Penwell	10	1:15:17	1
Bailey Shykowski	10	1:15:56	1
Troy Soares	10	1:17:36	2
Karen Nickel	10	1:20:41	2
Robin Soares	10	1:23:56	3
Flor Hodges	10	1:24:42	4
Jason Shykowski	10	1:23:09	5
Gary Carpenter	10	1:26:21	5
Jesse Warda	10	1:37:40	13
Kayden Kelly	10	1:24:29	6
Manouch Shirvanioun	10	1:29:31	8
Randall Harris	10	2:14:50	30
Carolyn Goulding	10	3:05:11	17
Lupita Cox	10	3:05:40	27

 

More Links:
Event Details pdf
E-vite Link
J & J Sports Productions (Resolution Run) Facebook page
J & J Sports Productions (Resolution Run) website

May you be blessed in the New Year.
Troy & Robin Soares