| Date/Location: | April 9th, 2022 – Lake Berryessa, CA |
| Distances: | Swim 1.2miles – Bike 56miles – Run 13.1miles |
| Time: | 5:52:29 (42:25-8:54-3:07:34-2:01-1:51:33) compared to 2019: 5:36:30 (31:32 – 7:10 – 3:05:19 – 2:00 – 1:50:27) |
| Place: | 1 of 8 (50-54), 12 of 48 (Overall) |
| Teammates: | 70.3– FCA: Caryn Galeckas, Robin Soares, Suzanne Hartley; Sam Louie OLY – FCA: Anna Soares |
Robin and I put on headlamps and bike to transition (just a 1/2 mi from our campsite). We haven’t done a real 1/2 Ironman in years due to COVID cancellations.
Our friend, Courtney Cardenas, is announcing. He does a great job of it. Robin & I have adjacent transition areas which is a treat. It’s daunting doing a 1/2 but it’s special knowing Robin is doing it with me. Most importantly, the Lord is with me. Robin and I both know there are many dangers in triathlon racing so we’re thankful the Lord is with us throughout it.
We get cold easily so the big question is how big of a jacket/sweater will we wear after we spend 38 min in 61 deg water. We lay out some options. During the swim is when we’ll decide.
We’re so glad to be racing again with our FCA Endurance friends, Suzanne and Caryn. We gather with them, and Anna and Ariel who are supporting, and pray at the swim start. We pray for it not to be too cold or too hot, but mostly we pray that we focus on the Lord and are ready for the opportunities He gives us to do His will and hopefully glorify Him.
It’s windy, choppy. The course has been shortened so now 2 loops. Full distance athletes will do 4. I’m already starting to shiver in my wetsuit and neoprene booties and I haven’t even gotten wet yet. I jog in place. I kiss Robin and dive in for my start. She starts 3 min after. I’m getting colder in the water. I go to the far side of the start because the line to the 1st buoy looks pretty close to the shallow shoreline. I wave to all my girls. I pray that I will feel warmth.
Swim
Go! As I start I suddenly feel warmer! Thank you, Lord. My first open water swim in 6 mo. I don’t feel powerful. I try for some draft but soon settle for just trying to swim. Those that swam to the right are now walking in the shallow parts. After the 1st buoy, we head into the wind and chop. It’s tough. Especially when it hits you trying to breathe. I hope Robin is starting well and not too cold.
After the 1st loop I’m glad to go down-wind again. Avoiding the shallow. Anna and Ariel are cheering along the shore. It’s so helpful having family support. Now back into the wind and chop. I’m getting really cold. I know I’ll be putting on BOTH by jacket and sweater. Beforehand I said I’d swim about 37min.. now I check and see 37min and still have 150yds to go. I also see that the distance is pretty accurate. I push hard.. but still come out at 40min. I touch the bottom. This is where I struggle to get up and function on land. When I get really cold, and breathing hard, my brain doesn’t work well. I do my best to run up the long ramp as fast as possible (which isn’t very fast).
T1
Rocky transition is hard on the feet even in booties. Takes a long time to get my suit off, jacket and sweater on.. then I see my lovely wife enter transition. She’s walking.. hugging herself.. shivering. I so much want to run over and put a towel on her. It’s hard to see her so uncomfortable because I know how tough she is. I do help her get her jersey on. I’m so glad she has a sweater. I head out, again hobbling over the rocks.
Bike
I’m so glad to have a jacket, sweater, leg warmers, gloves and a warm aero helmet. Over the first steep climb I’m surprised how cold I still am descending. My fingers are cold. I look at the other riders without jackets or gloves, or leggings and wonder how do they do it, or if they are in much discomfort.
For 10mi, the mountain ridge blocks the sun so it remains cold. It’s an out-n-back so I start counting bikes. The leader is WAY ahead! Even though my swim was slow and my transition slower, I still wonder if maybe I’m in the top 10. I keep wondering if the turn-around is soon.. but it doesn’t come until I count to 22 bikers.
On the way back a couple pass me, including a girl I believe is first. A really good rider. There’s Robin! I’m so glad to see her, but she looks a little uncomfortable like she’s still thawing out. I pray that she’ll still have a good ride. I see Caryn and then Suzanne. They look like they’re doing great.
Heading back to the lake I always forget what it’s like. I dread a long climb, and then I look to the river we’re following and realize it goes TOWARDS the lake therefore it’s actually mainly a descent. That helps. Just a big hill to go over right before the lake. I’m not getting really warm in my sweater. A super fast descent, and I hear the cheers of my 2 girls!
Now an out-and-back along the Lake. I pick the top of the first hill to stop and take every thing off. Now, just in a jersey, I’m the perfect temp and, with a tailwind, am feeling great! Thank you, Lord. For the first time I feel like I’m really racing.
I pass a couple riders and by the turn-around find myself in 20th place. On the way back I can’t wait to see Robin to make sure she’s doing well. There she is.. doing well and a smile. It’s a head wind so not feeling super fast anymore. But my Vitargo energy drink has been great. I feel plenty fueled. I stop quickly at the same hill I stopped before.. and now the final sprint back to transition.
T2
Dismount doesn’t go that well. But soon I’m into running shoes and hobbling out.
Run
Courtney makes sure to announce me to give me a boost heading out. Anna & Ariel cheer me out of the park.
I feel fueled, I’ve got Spring gels, but my concern is my hip which has been holding me back lately.
Before the big bridge I see what looks like a bald eagle flying up from the lake with a large squirming bass in his right claw. The fish is doing what it can to break free but the bird is not concerned. The death-grip of that one claw is all he needs as he pumps his wings higher and higher, off to a nest somewhere where baby birds are going to have fish for supper. I tell some bystanders “did you see that eagle with the big fish?” and they correct me saying, “Yes, but that was an Osprey”. All I do know is that seems really hard to hold a flopping fish with one hand while trying to fly.
Soon I’m running 8:30 pace! I pass the super fast biker girl who is speed walking. She smiles and says, “I can’t run” but I tell her she’s still going to do great. The aid station at 1.5mi at the top of the hill is great, super serving and quick. Great volunteers! I know it’s all downhill to the turn-around. I count the other runners coming back and am surprised to find myself now in 16th place after passing a few.
Mile 3. 7:27. The volunteer at the turn is also really helpful. His face and bald head are already pretty sunburned and I mention it in concern and he says he knows, with a smile. Wow, these volunteers are really dedicated.
4mi. I feel a burst of energy and motivation and owe it to the Lord. My hip is hanging in there. I’m pushing off of my right big toe, and trying to land harder using my quads instead of the hamstrings. I try to stretch out my left stride rather than the right stride which has the injured hip. I’m maintaining 8:30 pace and am so happy! I saw a Davis Bike Club guy ahead of me that might be my age group. I will push a little and try to catch him. I see Robin heading out and tell her I think she’s 3rd! (Actually she was 5th because I miss counted).
Mile 6. 7:45. The Davis guy is still a 1/2 mi ahead.
Mile 6.5. Anna and Ariel are playing a trumpet, flute duet and it warms my heart. I make the turn, get lots of water, in me and on me (it’s 70 deg now) and am motivated for the next loop.
I think I can catch Davis and maybe keep the 8:30 average.
At the aid station at the top of the hill, they’re still on the ball and get me 2 cups quickly. I try to open up the stride on the downhill.
A young guy runs by me effortlessly. He says, “I’m on my first lap, I had a flat.” I encourage him and tell him to make it his best run ever. Then he encourages me to keep up with him. That encouragement helps me catch and pass another runner. But I eventually have to settle back and the young man cruises ahead.
Mile 9. 8:12. Almost to the turn, I do catch the Davis guy. Wow, such a blessing to be able to make up so much ground. At the turn-around, I I finish my gel and take an orange slice and banana section. Water, gatorade, pray, and now to push the 1.5mi climb to the top. After that it’s downhill!
I pass a guy running the race with his brother. I’d seen them side by side but now he was falling back. He tells me, “tell my brother up ahead he’s doing great.” “I will”. I pass on the message and think how cool that would be to do it with your brother.
Thank you, Lord! I make it to the top. I put my arms up and just appreciate the blessing God has given me today. I’m running so much better than I imagined. I see our friend, Sam Louie! What a great surprise. And then there’s Robin. I tell her I love her and to give God her best effort. She’s a great runner so I know she’ll enjoy her last lap.
Mile 12. 8:42. I see Caryn starting her first lap. I stop and pray with her. She’s battled injuries for the last year and really wasn’t ready for this. She says to please pray for Suzanne, too. Soon I stop with Suzanne, too, and pray for the pains she’s probably experiencing. In tears she tells me that it does hurt a lot but the Lord is with her. I’m always so proud of these girls, very inspiring. I look at my pace, 8:31 average. Got to push it. Suddenly my stride starts to feel normal. I don’t feel pain. This last mile feels better than all the others. 8:30. 8:29.
Amazing, I’m getting my goal. And under 6 hrs. I point to God as Courtney announces my name at the finish.
I’m so tired, relieved, and appreciative. Thank you, Lord, for taking a slow start and turning it into an exciting race.
