Date/Location: | December 4, 2017 - Sacramento, Ca |
Distance: | 7.3 mi (Leg #1 of the 26.2 mi Marathon Relay. CIM relay races started in 1995) |
Time: | 3:38:23 (4 person relay) |
Place: | 11th out of 125 Female Open |
Relay Teammates: | Leonie Alesci, Liesbeth Brouwer, Megan Sebra |
Other Teammates: | Relay *FCA Endurance: Greg Biddle, Anna Soares, Troy Soares & Kris Kennedy Track/Local Friends *Pacers: Jim Kepfer, Lee McKinley, Tim Twietmeyer *Racers: Bryan Twardus, Carrie & Steve Chavez, Cal & Christine Val, Helen Martin, Melissa Penwell, Mike Pirnat |
The “Soares Shuttle” to the start is off at 5:30am! This year I get to transport pacer, Jim Kepfer; my neighbor, Greg Biddle; and local fitness trainer, Bryan Twardus. Greg is racing on the FCA Endurance team with Anna, Troy and Kris. Bryan is racing the full and hoping to beat his PR of 3:22.
I park at Beals Point and we all run the short distance to the start. I wonder why more folks don’t choose to park here.
Greg and I find a spot close to the starting line. I do my drills… which I’ve been trying to do at the beginning of every run. I hear it helps the legs move faster. I hope it works today and in 3 months at the Napa Marathon! I hit the bathrooms one last time and drop off my gear.
The countdown and then the gun! As we head out, they play Cake’s famous song, “The Distance”…nice! Greg is out ahead of me.
My goals is to go out at 7:30 pace. My Garmin’s splits have been unreliable in the past, giving me a false sense of hope, so I’ll be running at 7:20ish pace according to my Garmin in case it’s off. I did recently changed a setting and hope it makes it more accurate.
Down Folsom Auburn and a tight right on Oak.
Mile 1. 7:14. My Garmin reports just 4 feet ahead of the mile marker so it’s pretty close! Cool! Up the hill and then a long flat. I feel great and wonder if I can keep this up. Up ahead I can see the beanie that Greg is wearing. This stretch is the start of the infamous Coffee Republic Coffee Shop ride. It looks a bit different from the running perspective.
Mile 2. 7:26. The mile marker again is just about 4 feet away. So far so good…but still somewhat doubting the watch. I am getting a little closer to Greg. This stretch is fun. Many driveways back up to the street and folks are out in their pajamas with coffees in hand. One house has a nice little fire going in a portable pit. I am tempted to sit down and get cozy. But I actually am feeling great so the temptation is less than in years past. Those drills seemed to have helped!
Mile 3. 7:10. The mile marker is about the same distance. Yeah! I surely am under 7:30 pace. I feel good and am going to try to keep this up! Almost to Greg!
Mile 4. 7:19. Mile marker good! There is quite a bit of undulations which I like. I climb and then get some downhill. I am really enjoying the variety. I catch up to Greg and we run together a bit. I see a girl marathoner in blue that passed me the last mile. I decide to try to catch her.
Mile 5. 7:16. Again, marker good! I have caught up to the girl in blue. I look further down the road and see another gal in a sports top and a blond braid. She looks familiar. I’ll try to get her. Up ahead is a big crowd. It’s the 3:12 pace group…and the blond braid is in that group. Let’s get there!
Mile 6. 7:12. Lord, thank you for this race! I feel great! I also just feel so refreshed…almost like a vacation. This has been a nice break from the hustle and bustle of life and I’m grateful! I pass up the 3:12 group and the blond braid is still down the road. I’m almost done so what do I have to loose. I push harder and pass her! I see another familiar girl from the beginning. I push a little more and pass her.
Mile 7. 7:07. Go, go, go! I hear the relay chute annoucer. I wave and shout “Leonie”. I see Troy waving and then Leonie jumps out from behind him. Yeah!
Leonie takes the chip off my leg, puts it on hers and leaves. “Go Leonie!” So good to be done. I feel recharged…such a nice break! Thank you Jesus!
Our team had a good day! We couldn’t ask for better weather! And, checking Strava later, it looks like my Garmin was right on! Yeah!
RELAY HISTORY
Year | Team Name | Relay Div | Place | Time | Teammates |
2017 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Female | 11th | 3:38:23 | Robin Soares (Leg #1), Leonie Alesci (Leg #2), Liesbeth Magna (Leg #3), Megan Sebra (Leg #4) |
2016 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Female | 10th | 3:34:22 | Leonie Alesci (Leg #1), Liesbeth Magna (Leg #2), Robin (Leg #3), Megan Sebra (Leg #4) |
2015 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Female | 8th | 3:32:27 | Megan Sebra (Leg #1), Leonie Alesci (#2), Robin (#3 & #4) |
2014 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Female | 8th | 3:27:15 | Robin Soares (Leg #1 & #2), Leonie Alesci (Leg #3), Megan Sebra (Leg #4) |
2013 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Coed | 10th | 3:31:23 | Liesbeth Magna (Leg #1), Kevin Magna (Leg #2), Robin Soares (Leg #3) and Megan Sebra (Leg #4) |
2012 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Coed | 6th | 3:32:57 | Leonie Alesci (Leg #1), Robin Soares (Leg #2), Kevin Magna (Leg #3) and Liesbeth Magna (Leg #4) |
2011 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Coed | 3rd | 3:05:14 | Robin Soares (Leg #1), Troy Soares (Leg #2), Liesbeth Magna(Leg #3) and Leonie Alesci (Leg #4) |
2010 | Catch Us If You Can | Open Coed | 2nd | 3:13:32 | Robin Soares (Leg #1 & 2), Richard Alesci (Leg #3) and Leonie Alesci (Leg #4) |
2009 | CATCH US IF YOU CAN | Open Coed | 3rd | 3:08:47 | Kevin Magna (Leg #1), Robin Soares (Leg #2), Richard Alesci (Leg #3) and Leonie Alesci (Leg #4) |
2008 | CATCH US IF YOU CAN | Open Coed | 21st | 3:27:28 | Robin Soares (Leg #1), Courtney Loveday (Leg #2), Richard Alesci (Leg #3) and Leonie Wynhoven (Leg #4) |
2007 | RIONIE AND SOARES | Open Coed | 3rd | 2:58:55 | Robin Soares (Leg #1), Troy Soares (Leg #2), Richard Alesci (Leg #3) and Leonie Wynhoven (Leg #4) |
2006 | CATCH ME IF YOU CAN | Open Female | 1st | 3:00:54 | Robin Soares (Leg #1), Megan Canova (Leg #2), Liesbeth Brouwer (Leg #3), Leonie Wynhoven (Leg #4) |
2005 | DAM GIRLS & GUYS | Open Coed | 2nd | 3:00:36 | Robin Soares (Leg #1), Dick Kirkpatrick (Leg #2), Liesbeth Brouwer (Leg #3), Leonie Wynhoven (Leg #4) (?) |
2004 | DAM GIRLS & GUYS | Open Coed | 14th | 3:32:15 | Troy, Robin, Liesbeth Brouwer, Leonie Wynhoven (?) |
2003 | DAM GOOD RUNNERS | Open Coed | 21st | 3:06:50 | Troy-Robin-Leonie Wynhoven-Liesbeth Brouwer |
2002 | DAM GOOD RUNNERS | Open Coed | 76th | 4:13:14 | Robin, Dave Funston, Kristin Funston, Leonie Wynhoven |
2001 | DAM GOOD RUNNERS | Open Coed | 21 | 3:56:56 | Robin Heidt, Dave Funston, Kristin Funston, Leonie Wynhoven |
2000 | Un-Named | Open Coed | 49 | 3:48:04 | Kristin Matthews, Liesbeth Brouwer, Leonie Wynhoven, Robin Heidt (?) |
1999 | DAM GOOD RUNNERS | ?? | 8 | 3:44:09 | Kristin Matthews, Liesbeth Brouwer, Leonie Wynhoven, Robin Heidt |
1998 | DAM GIRLS | ? | 5 | 3:28:58 | Kristin Matthews, Liesbeth Brouwer, Leonie Wynhoven, Robin Heidt |