Good Dog/Dirty Dog 5K

Date/Location:	8/26/18 Granite Bay Beach
Distances:	5k run
Time:	Troy/Oscar - 19:52 Anna – 20:18
Place:	Troy/Oscar - 1st o/a, 1st Large Dogs Anna – 2nd O/A, 1st No Dog

We adopted Oscar, a German Shepherd / Hound mix, from the late Carl Johnson who was a great ultra-runner.  Oscar is good dog who loves to run as a result of the many training outings with Carl. We’ve been taking him on more runs with other people to calm him down in a crowd.  A few months ago Anna ran a 5k here with Oscar but all he wanted to do was catch up to the leaders.  So we’ve been training him to stay back and run as a team, not as a lone wolf.  Hopefully today he’ll hang back and remember we aren’t as fast as him. It’s a great group with all shapes and sizes of dogs.  This is really fun.  Dogs are sniffing each other and getting some great social time.  But now it’s time to run.  Anna and I pray beforehand.  Racing is a privilege granted by God and we want to glorify Him with it. Go!  Owners and dogs sprinting down the beach access road.  One lady, ahead of us in 2nd, flying along with her short little dog suddenly has to pull over and drop back.  Her dog just had to go, race or no race.  I hope Oscar waits till after the race.. So now we’re near the front, running through the trails.  Mile 1: 6:55. Oscar is being pretty good but I have to call “heal!” a number of times.  A few times I have to reach down to pinch him to remind him to run together, not out in front. Anna was right with us but has dropped back a little bit.  It’s a fast pace and everything is going well.  No wrong turns, no obstructions, no tripping over each other.  Oscar is having a great time as he jogs along effortlessly while my heart rate is sky-high. At the farthest point there is a kiddie pool for dogs to drink and an aid station for humans.  We grab water but Oscar is only concerned about getting to the finish first. Mile 2: 6:43. We run through some sandy areas.  Around 1 turn, the leash knocks over the marking cone.  I stop and look back as Anna picks it up for us. “Thanks, Anna!” We’re still a few steps ahead of Anna and close to the finish.  There are still some dogs we are passing from the earlier 10k race.  But now we’re at the finish and Oscar calmly strides across as I feel a great relief to be done (and that the course was a little short).  Mile 3: 6:54 pace. Thanks Oscar for getting me to run a fast 5k.  Good dog!

I stand at the race ready to start. As the announcer counts down, I get ready to run. He says go and I take off. I am running with my Dad and we are close to the front. In front of us is a girl and her dog. As we are running the girl’s dog, in front of us, all of the sudden starts going to the bathroom while running about 6:00 min pace. He’s leaving a line of turds behind him. My dad, Oscar and I keep running to the trails. We run zigzags up and down for about .2 miles then hit the road. We start to run up the road and then turn onto a levee. As we run across it, I can see the finish area and the parking lot. When we get to the end of the levee, I grab some water at the aid station. We hit another trail and I can’t believe my dad is keeping this pace. I try to stay with him. We run over sticks and sand, it isn’t wet like the last time I ran here. We run to a road and run down it for about .1 miles. There is an aid station at the very end of the road but my Dad and I both don’t grab any water because we were over half way there. The only problem is that my hamstrings are tight and I can feel them as I run. Also, my nose is really runny which makes me have to wipe my nose a lot.I follow my dad up in front of as we approach a turn. As my Dad turns up ahead of me, he knocks down a cone. I pick it up for him and keep running. When going up the hill, it is hard with the sand. I try to run flat footed but that doesn’t help much. Plus, my hamstrings are hurting like crazy. I don’t walk but I slow down a little bit. I almost want to cry but smile and keep a good attitude for my Dad and God. As I am running down the hill, my hamstrings still hurt but not as much as going upward. I run around a bend and my Dad encourages me from up ahead. He has a good lead and is going strong. I know I’m not going to catch him but I don’t slow down. I get to a flat spot and see a guy with his dog up ahead. I pass him and keep running on the trails. I turn the bend and see my Dad up ahead turning the bend. My Mom and sister cheer me on as I get closer to them. By the time I reach them, my dad has already finished. I turn the last bend and the announcer is at the corner ahead and he thinks my name is Ariel and I give him a friendly stink eye and he says Anna. I nod my head to let him know he’s correct. I turn the bend and the finish line is right there I sprint in and get my medal. I give dad a hug. God blessed the race even though my hamstrings hurt. Praise the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.

Tri for Kids #3 - Anna

Date/Location:	8/12/18, Rancho Seco Park, Herald, Ca.
Distances:	150m S – 4mi B – 1mi R
Time:	Anna 21:58 PR!  - Last Year 24:46
Place:	Anna – 1st Age 13 Girls; 1st Overall Girl

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Go! I start swimming and try to get way out front so I won’t get bumped. I’m feeling good. I can see the ground below me which is nice. One person keeps hitting my foot. It is annoying. I try to kick faster. When I get to the first buoy, I am happy to get there. I swim to the next buoy and see a lot of kids in front of me. Once I pass the second buoy, it’s to the shore for me. I start swimming until my hands almost touch the ground. I stand up and start to run. I pull off my cap and goggles and run to transition. I grab my helmet and glasses and run out with my bike.

I jump on my bike and start pedaling. I slip my feet into my bike shoes that are attached to the bike. Once my feet are in the shoes, I am to the bridge. I can see bikers up ahead and am determined to catch them. I slowly catch up to one of the girls and then go for the next girl. I pass the next girl who is my friend from the Pleasanton California Tri. She encourages me. As I reached the end of the bridge, we start going downhill. I hear her say something and see a turnaround sign. I slow down thinking she said this is the turnaround spot. But she then yells for me to go to the next turn around. I say thanks. That turn around was for my dad’s run course. I hit the turn around and start to bike up hill. I get to the top and see Ruth. I cheer her on and bike across the bridge. I make a few mistakes on the way back. I draft a little, but I’m not going to make that mistake again. When I am coming off the bridge, I get ready for the run. I start to slip my feet out of my bike shoes and see my friend doing the same. Once my feet are out, I try to speed ahead to get to transition first. I get into transition and quickly get into my shoes and am off.

My friend starts the run a little bit before me, but is only 2 second ahead. I pass her on the way out knowing that I am stronger on the run. I pass the aid station and don’t grab anything. I drank on the bike so I feel good. I hit the dirt and keep my eyes on a boy in front of me. I pass him and then start going up a hill. I see another boy in front of me and know I won’t catch him since he’s going strong and has been in the lead for most of the time. But I keep running not slowing down. I hit the turn around and turn around. I start running down. I cheer on my friend and keep running. I run down the hill and cheer on more people. I am feeling tired and the finish is not far away. As I run off the dirt I can hear my mom cheering while she waits to see Ruth come off the bike. I hit the grass and quickly look behind than run to the finish. Half way down the chute I sprint in. I finish! At the end I really admired my friend’s spirit. At Pleasanton she won and was nice about it and then I won here and she was the same. I want to be just like her.

Praise The Lord For He Is Good His Love Endures Forever.

TBF Tri-for-Real (Troy)

Date/Location:	8/12/18 Rancho Seco Park
Distances:	1.5 kmS, 40 kmB, 10 kmR
Time:	2:17:33 (25:29 - 01:09:25 - 42:39)
Place:	2nd / 10th o/a

Our annual trip to Rancho Seco for kids races and Olympic Distance Triathlon.  After I warm up on the bike a little, I get to watch Anna and her friend, Ruth, race the Kid’s Triathlon.  It’s Ruth’s first tri and she seems to be enjoying it a lot.  I see Anna take off on the bike about 6 back. 

I warm up running, use the far restroom which is always less busy and put my wetsuit on. 

Then I get to see Anna transition to the run at the same time as the girl that won the race last year.  Very exciting!

My race is about to start but from the lake area I can see Anna in the distance in 1st place coming down the final stretch with last year’s winner a ways back.  I see her pointing and looking to God, giving Him the glory for the fortunate race.  I’m cheering but she can’t hear me from here.  Would love to give her a hug at the finish line but I have to race and remember to give God the glory for my results as well!

The water is very warm.  I get a little warm-up in.  Friends, Keith Hansen and Dave Campbell are in my 40-and-over wave.

I think about my pace.  I haven’t swam much so I’ll need to be smart and look for drafts.  I have a new bike setup which I like so that should be good.  My running training has been inconsistent  which has causes some achilles pain so I’ll try to run shorter/quicker steps.  But the biggest advantage will be to listen to God, give Him 100% effort and give Him the glory.

Swim

Go!  It’s always a wide straight shot to the first buoy and easy sighting.  I find the a draft (thank you, Lord).  Around the buoy and now the sun is in our eyes.  Little chaotic for a while but I settle in and try to keep my breathing controlled.  I think about feeling myself move through the water.  My draft slows down so I go side-to-side.  Now I take the challenge to get to the final turn first.

After the final buoy it’s a long straight shot in and I’m working hard to stay ahead of the guy that was my draft.  We go back and forth.  Getting close to shore, lungs pounding, I try to gather my thoughs about transition…

Stand up, find zipper, rip, 1 arm, 2 arms, down, down, kick, kick.  Suit is off, stop Garmin, goggles, cap, and run to my bike.

It’s great seeing my family cheering for me.  I tell Anna I saw her win.  I have a good transition and am off on the bike.

Bike

Everything goes well heading out of the park.  I wonder where Keith and Dave are.  On the main road I know I need to get into a comfortable groove.  The wind is slightly at our back. The road is good.  It’s smooth sailing and I shift into a faster gear.  When my legs start burning a little I know I have to shift up and find just the right gear.  But my shifter is loose and keeps shifting down to a harder gear.

Everything else on the bike is working, although my seat is a little too low.  But, surprisingly, this new “auto-shifting” situation is really impeding my ability to go fast.  I feel strong enough but the guys around me are pulling ahead.  One-by-one they get by me and move out-of-reach.  I stay positive, hoping I’ll have a good ride back and catch them. 

But the shifting gets worse.  It shifts unexpectantly which causes me to not push so hard in fear of slipping a gear. I ride in the small chainring and 2nd cog which seems to stick.  Everything else is iffy.

At the turn-around, I see Dave Campbell a 1/2 mi behind me.  He’s riding well.  The wind is in our face now which makes everything harder.  It’s a struggle but I keep optimistic, forever in search of the perfect gear combination and seat position to make my tires hum and gain ground and those ahead.

I’m so glad to see the turn at the old nuclear towers which means I’m almost done and my burning legs can do something different.  I see my family at the corner and smile calmly but Ariel is yelling something at me that seems important. 

As I get ready to dismount at transition, Dave flies by, jumps off his bike and gets to T2 first.  Wow, this race just go really interesting!

I also jump off and do my fastest change, loosing a bike shoe in the process.  As I put on my running shoes, I tell Dave, right next to me, “good job”.  But he’s out in a flash.  Thanks to stretch laces.  While I yank my strings and squeeze lace-locks.  I hear the announcer say, “Troy’s slow transition is really giving Dave a lead”.  But quickly I’m bolting onto the run course, knowing I’ve got serious work to do.

Run

Dave is 7 secs ahead!  And he’s a faster runner than me.  But anything is possible.  The Lord has shown me that many times.  Always have hope.  This is a blessing in the sense that Dave & I enjoy racing each other and it pushes us so well because we know each others’ strengths.  Whatever I would’ve clocked on the run, it’s going to be faster now.  I’m going to do everything I can to catch him and Dave knows it. 

One of Dave’s strong points is downhills.  His long legs really fly.  And there’s a lot of rollers on this hot dirt road.  I’ve also learned the benefits of the downhill and I focus on letting myself fall forward on each one.  It hurts the quads but they can take the punishment.. it’s really mental. 

Mile 1: 6:46. I see my friend, Cliff, working the aid station and he gives me 2 cups.  I need to drink a lot and eat Bloks as well. 

I’m running fast, hamstrings and achilles are holding up, it’s very tiring but it’s also very fun.  I talk to the Lord and He puts a smile on my face.  If I can give Him 100% and be joyful, I will win His race for me… and then I’ll see how my race turns out.

Mile 2: 6:48. A benefit of having someone fast that you really want to catch is that it pulls you past other runners as well.  I’m pushing every downhill and “rev’ing” up my cadence on the uphill.  But Dave is pulling ahead.

Mile 3: 6:45. He’s about 45secs ahead at the turn-around!  That’s ok, anything can happen, just keep pushing.

When we get to the single-track section I feel I have an advantage.  It’s twisty, hot, mentally tough.. but I remind myself that I love this part. 

Mile 4: 7:04. Despite my legs hurting now, I push harder.  Each bridge crossing I hope is the last one, but they keep coming. 

Mile 5: 6:59. Finally, I’m back on the fireroad and I can see Dave 150 yds ahead.  Gotta push.  Maybe he’s finally getting tired.

The last climb I give it all I’ve got and race into the park area.  I don’t even see Dave, it may be that me eyes aren’t even open, I’m just trying to give my best.  I see friends cheering and I smile. 

Mile 6: 7:06.  I sprint all the way to the finish.  Perhaps Dave slowed a little at the end because surprisingly I finish only 6 secs behind him!  Gaining 1 sec on him in 6.2 miles   

Wow, it was such a good race and I thank my friend, Dave, for pushing me to the best run I could do that day.  I thank the Lord for creating scenarios that push me.  He is the best coach and allows me to have such great memories like this.