Date/Location: | December 5, 2021 - Sacramento, Ca |
Distance: | 12.8 mi (Leg #1 of the 26.2 mi Marathon Relay. CIM relay races started in 1995) |
Time: | 3:22:14 (2-person relay) 1:42:33 for 12.8 miles 8:01 pace |
Place: | 4th out of 62 Co-Ed Masters |
Relay Teammates: | Troy Soaers (Leg #1: 13.4 miles) |
Other Teammates: | Relay *FCA Endurance: Troy Soares & Myself *Placer Speedsters: Leah Booth & Anna Soares Track/Local Friends *Pacers: Jim Kepfer, Tim Twietmeyer *Racers: Elias Alvarez, Jason & Libby Shykowski, Melissa Penwell, Wyatt Hamilton |
This is my 23rd Consecutive CIM Relay! Only missed it last year since it was cancelled due to COVID. This is almost half my age (47) and almost the same number of years since I gave my life to Christ (24)! It’s such a blessing to have been able to continue this tradition even with having my girls and being injured. God has made it all possible. To Him be the glory and the credit for this!
This year and for now on, this relay will be a two-person relay. I’m really sad about that but I can look back fondly on being able to race with my 3 UCD roommates in the beginning. And then later with spouses and other UCD friends. My roommates/friend/spouses are now dispersed mostly out of state and are unable to take part. This year my best roommate of all will join me: My husband Troy! Anna is continuing her relay tradition started in 2016 as a 5th grader with Troy!
For the first time in many years, Troy or I didn’t drive any runners to the start. Debbie Booth, Anna’s teammate’s mom, drove Troy and XC teammate Leah to the start. Anna and Leah have been doing this relay together for 3 years now: 2 years as middle schoolers and this year as Placer high schoolers. They have two Placer HS XC teammates running the whole marathon: Seniors Wyatt Hamilton and Elias Alvarez. Wyatt is doing his 2nd CIM (his first long run race since his record breaking COVID 100 Miler) and hopes to break 3 hours so he can qualify for Boston. This is Elias’ first marathon and run past 14 miles! We’ll be looking for them!
Anna, Ariel and I drive to the relay exchange early to get a good parking spot and to be able to see the first runners coming through. The conditions are absolutely ideal today. Sunny with barely any chill. You never know what you get this time of year!
Anna and I have plenty of time to warm-up. The announcer at this spot sounds so familiar and then I realize it’s Courtney Cardenas! He says hi on the loud speaker and touts our FCA team. Cool! Soon the top runners come by. They are so fun to watch! Soon others show up like Debbie and the Hamilton’s, Tobi and Rob. Troy will be here soon and a bit ahead of Leah which means Anna will be running me down! I’m wondering if I am overdressed. I always seem to get cold at this race. I have on leggings, t-shirt and long sleeve on top. I also have on a beanie and gloves. I decide to stick with the outfit.
I see Wyatt go by and wave. Wonder where Elias is. Here comes Troy! He comes in smiling. I try to take his picture like I saw someone else do with her teammate but it doesn’t work well. I get the chip off his ankle and on to mine. He tells me “the miles go by fast”. I’m off! My goal is to run 8 min pace like I did for the hilly Auburn Thanksgiving Day run. We will see! This is my first official race since IM Coeur d’Alene and I’ve been feeling out of race shape.
I can tell pretty quick that I am way overdressed! I’m actually hot! I take off my beanie to get some relief!
My first mile is 8:00. Great! I started my race at 13.4 so the mile markers on not matching my splits. At the Mile 15 marker I hit the split button to get on track. Elias catches up to me and we get to chat. He says he is feeling good. He looks strong and I’m hoping he can keep it up. He pulls away.
At Mile 16, I’m at 7:52. I feel good and hope that I can keep this up. I hear a familiar voice and look over and see pink…Melissa Penwell! It’s funny seeing her here because she usually is up front chasing down the top women. Today she is pacing her boyfriend and having fun. She might not do the whole race but she’s keeping the option open. We get to catch up a bit and then she’s off.
At Mile 17, I’m at 7:59. Still feeling good though feeling hot. I look over and see Jesuit HS. Cool!
At Mile 18, I’m at 8:03. I’m amazed how good I feel at this pace. It’s so encouraging because I haven’t felt “fast” in a long while! Thank you, Lord!
At Mile 19, I’m at 8:01. I’m enjoying seeing the spectators. I really am having fun! Wonder when Anna started. I bet she’s flying right now! I hope to break 3:25. That would be cool! Got to stay ahead of the 3:25 pace group!
At Mile 20, I’m at 7:59. I can see Melissa ahead. And soon I can also see Elias. That means he’s struggling some. I want to catch up to him so I can encourage him.
At Mile 21, I’m at 8:02. On the bridge cross the American River, I pass Melissa. Her boyfriend is struggling and she’s sticking with him. I tell her I guess this means she’s all in. We laugh.
At Mile 22, I’m at 8:04. I’m on the outskirts of the city. I’ve almost caught up to Elias. I see two mountain bikers following him. I realize that one is his mom Kimberly and the other is the Placer Mtn. Bike club coach Yvette. Kimberly has a blow-up poster of Elias’ face from XC. Love it!
At Mile 23, I’m at 7:59. I’m feeling really strong and I feel confident I can hold this pace to the end. Thanking God for that! I catch Elias and he’s having a tough time. I find out he wants to run the same pace as me so I encourage him to stick with me. I find out he hasn’t eaten anything since before the ½ way point. I encourage him to take something. He falls back some and I grab him a water and wait for him to catch up.
Now we are ap
proaching the heart of the city!
At Mile 24, I’m at 8:16. Better get back on pace for both of our sakes. I pick it up and look back to see if he is still there. I’m praying he can catch back up.
At Mile 25, I’m at 8:01. Elias is moving back up…so fast in fact he flies by me! Go Elias. I try to pick it up more but it’s not much of a difference.
At Mile 26, I’m at 7:58. I think I’m going to hold off Anna. I make the final turn and head to the finish. I am so grateful to God for the help! I finish just over 3:22! Wow, so amazed! I love you Jesus!
Anna comes in soon after me. She looks great!
Now, got to find the family!
RELAY HISTORY
|
Year |
Team Name |
Relay Div |
Place |
Time |
Teammates |
|
2021 |
FCA Endurance |
Co-Ed Masters |
4/62 |
3:22:14 |
Troy Soares (#1)* *3 and 4-person relays have been retired |
|
2019 |
Catch Us If You Can |
Open Female |
12th/ 143 |
3:26:25 |
Robin Soares (Leg #1/2), Megan Sebra (Leg #3), Bailey Cossentine (Leg #4) |
|
2018 |
Catch Us If You Can |
Open Female |
13th/ 169 |
3:37:34 |
Robin Soares (Leg #1), Liesbeth Magna (Leg #2), Leonie Alesci (Leg #3), Megan Sebra (Leg #4) |
|
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 |