Date/Location: | 5/1/2021 Granite Bay, CA |
Distance: | 1.2M Swim – 56M Bike – 13.1M Run |
Time: | 6:33:24 (45:11-8:54-3:22:24-3:21-2:13:28) |
Today I’m doing a Practice Half Ironman on my own with family support. I’m not feeling pumped up. I’ve been subbing all week and am feeling pretty tired. I know that this will be good for me in the long run. Anna is babysitting this morning and will join us later by bike. Ariel and Troy are my crew for the start.
We get to Granite Beach Park entrance just after 7am and there is a really long line! We figure out later folks are coming from all over Nor Cal to see the historic Lupine flower bloom here. I don’t mind because there is no official starting line or competitors waiting for me.
We park next to where I’m swimming and set up. While I set up, Troy and Ariel take our “Slow Boy” (plastic man with a flag) out to the turn around point. They chat with the fishermen as they go along the shore and tell them I’ll be coming through.
SWIM
I reluctantly head down to the water. Lord, please help me through this. I want to be a good example for you and use today for good. I don’t want to be dragging my feet!
Ariel and Troy start me off at the bottom of an unused boat ramp. I jump in the water and it feels nice. Early on my hand is scraping the sand but it gets deeper eventually. I’m not pushing hard but just trying to get into a good rhythm. This is my first open water swim of the year. I wish I had put some lube on my neck. I can feel my wetsuit rubbing. Soon enough I forget about it.
I can see Ariel following me along the shore. I stay far away from the fishermen so I don’t disturb their efforts. I can see Slow Boy perfectly off in the distance. Little by little I get closer. It is mostly peaceful out here. There are no boats out here and I’ve only seen/passed one kayak. I make it to Slow Boy and look at the distance on my watch. It’s perfect! Ariel and Troy nailed it!
I try swimming faster on the way back but the pace is relatively the same. Ariel is following me back and I notice she’s left Slow Boy behind. I peak my head up and tell her not to forget him. She runs back for him. As I’m swimming I see a big boulder quickly come into view under me. It startles me and I start to get jumpy about running into a boulder. I pray and ask the Lord to help me be calm.
I can finally see the boat ramp. As I get closer, I realize that I am off course. It takes me a few minutes to figure out how to correct myself. I’m almost done! I missed the real shallow area this time coming back which I’m happy about.
I touch the bottom and get up and run to the water’s edge to take off my wetsuit. I run up the ramp and get myself ready to ride. I’m still struggling to get myself in race mode. I don’t feel the need to rush but I am also aware I have many hours ahead of me so I need to get going.
The breeze is picking up so I put on a jacket to be comfortable. By the time I get on my bike, it’s been 8 min! I stop by the bathroom on the way out. Ok, time to get serious!
BIKE
I exit the main entrance to the park. There is an even longer line of cars now. Troy and Ariel have to stay put in the park otherwise they might not make it back in. Troy has his bike so maybe he’ll join me on the bike somewhere. I have 2 loops ahead of me.
So glad I put on my jacket! It is chilly! After the first 5 miles, I finally get a good pace going. I meander my way back up to Auburn to Powerhouse Road. I’ll be climbing this next weekend in the Folsom Tri.
Halfway up Powerhouse on the steepest part, two cyclists fly by me and one says “Hi Robin”. It’s Dana Haldeman. She’s a phenomenal triathlete in my age group. I feel for a moment like the wind has been taken out of my sails. I feel bummed out that I am getting creamed by my friend. Soon I feel the Lord convicting me for my attitude. There is no reason to be sad or upset. I should be joyful for being injury free. For having a family that is taking the day to support me. To be grateful and thankful for what the Lord is doing in my life.
At the top of the climb I can still see Dana. I give my best effort down Auburn Folsom to keep her in my sight. It’s a good challenge. The wind has really picked up. My front race wheel has depth to it which makes it very squirrly in my aerobars. While my left arm is in the aerobar, I put my right hand on my handlebar to steady myself. Next race I hope Troy will put a different wheel on the front.
I do pretty well keeping Dana in my sight but soon she is gone. I do see a familiar bike coming toward me. It’s Troy! He turns around and joins me for the last few miles into the park. I tell him how the front race wheel has been difficult.
We bike into the park the back way through a gravel path. It’s a little difficult navigating. We find our way back to Ariel. I’m nice and warm now so I ditch the jacket. I use the restroom and head out for my last loop alone.
I’m feeling more energized for this last loop. My ride up to Auburn is better and a tad faster though I need to make a pit stop. I’m getting through this with the Lord’s help! Up Powerhouse again with a better attitude.
Once I make it to Auburn Folsom, I feel like the hardest part is over. The wind continues to make it difficult to fully be in my aerobars but I make due. Troy joins me again for the last few miles. I do much better on the gravel section into the park.
Ariel greets us again at transition. My transition is much faster this time.
I have 3 loops ahead of me. The nice thing is each loop gets shorter. I hear Anna is enroute to the park on her bike.
RUN
My legs feel tired heading out on the run. I was expecting this. The first mile is 10:16.
I head out of the park after a quick trail loop. It’s getting warmer but thankfully for now I have some shade. The 2nd mile is 9:15.
The next mile I’m out in the open and have to run along busy Auburn Folsom Road. It’s only a minor inconvenience to get to the very quiet Morningside neighborhood. Mile 3 is 9:18.
It’s really shady and beautiful on this stretch of the run. It is a bit uphill but not bad. Mile 4 is 9:45.
I see a cyclist coming towards me. Then I hear “good job Mom!”. Anna is here! I wave and motion for her to be quiet. I tell her we should be quiet in here out of respect but that I really appreciate her enthusiasm.
Anna is riding back and forth in this stretch supporting me. As she is turning around behind me, I hear a thump and look back to see her on the ground. I run back to help her up. Her wheel slid out as she was doing a slow turn and fell over. Poor dear. She’s got a bit of road rash on her hip and shoulder but she implores me to continue on.
We turn onto Twin Rocks and I tell her to bike ahead since there are more cars on this road and it’s not a good idea to go back and forth. Mile 5 is 10:36.
Anna and I reunite at the back entrance to the park. The gravel is much easier to manage on foot! Anna bikes with me until I reach the next trail. She turns back and takes the road back to Troy and Ariel. On the trail ahead I see what looks like a witch sitting next to a picnic bench. It must be a mirage. As I get closer, I chuckle. The “witch” is a large tree branch and the bench is some driftwood. Mile 6 is 9:44.
I meander my way back to “aid station”. Ariel and Troy have oranges and more water for me. I take a pit stop. Ariel is joining me for the next 4.5 mile or so. We’ll mostly be on trails. I suspect it will be slower since I’m not feeling confident on trails especially when my legs are tired. I’m having flashbacks to the 31K I did near here where I kept tripping. Mile 7 is 10:51.
Ariel and I head out. It’s quite warm! I head back to the little trail loop and then out towards the park entrance.
This time we follow the horse trail on the outskirts of the park. There should be no mountain bikes to dodge on this stretch I hope. Mile 8 is 10:54.
I am definitely tentative on the trails and try my best to keep a steady pace. This time of day is hot but it makes for a quiet trail. I don’t think I’ll be able to run sub 10 pace the rest of the run but I’m still giving a good effort. Mile 9 is 10:20.
Ariel is keeping up and being a good sport but is wondering when this trail ends.
She’s telling me about the Narina book she is reading. It’s nice to have the company.
We finally get to the end yay! I’m back on the gravel road and heading towards the witch again. I ask Ariel what she sees ahead and she says it looks like a witch. Ha, ha! She soon sees what it really is. We get a good laugh out of it. Mile 10 is 10:14.
I tell Ariel one more mile to go and she’s done. She’s eager to stop. She hangs in there and pushes hard to the finish. Mile 11 is 9:53. Wow a sub 10 mile, great!
I get some more oranges and water at the car and Anna is going to start out with me.
Her hip has been an issue again so she’s doing at least a mile with me. I am amazed at Anna’s upbeat attitude and great willingness to help me. I know it’s disappointing to be injured. Mile 12 is 10:53.
Anna pulls off before a mile and heads back to the finish. I continue on and find my way back to my aid station. I’m going to need another half mile. I tell my crew to follow me as I run around the parking lot in a serpentine manner. Almost there. Mile 13 is 10:06. Just a bit more. I tell them I’m finishing at a random tree. They get there in time to take photos. I point to God. So glad to be done! Thanking God for the support of my wonderful family!
