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Date/Location: |
May 14, 2022 – Granite Bay Beach |
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Distances: |
Swim 1.5K – Bike 40K – Run 10k |
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Time: |
2:47:15 (29:55 – 1:25:02 – 52:18) |
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Place: |
2nd of 9 (45-49), 57 of 269 (Overall) |
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Teammates: |
FCA: Flor Hodges, Troy Soares; Dana Haldeman, Dave Campbell |
Feeling excited to race with Troy today but I am tired. Good sleep has been alluding me lately. I'm trusting in the Lord and just going to see what He does today.
Troy and I drive down. Anna and Ariel are biking down soon. Anna would be racing but she has an important track meet coming up she's getting ready for. It's nice to have the whole family together on race day!
Troy and I register and test out our bikes before we rack our bikes. All seems to be well with our bikes thankfully.
We are a bit late to transition so we can't be next to each other. I am just a few places from fast and sweet Dana Haldemen. Dave Campbell and wife Francie say hi too. Francie is volunteering as usual. FCA teammates Flor Hodges and Erica Chan are here too. We gather at the water for prayer. Anna and Ariel get there just in time to join. Love this sweet fellowship!
Troy takes off in the first wave. I'm right after him. I'm hopeful I won't be cold since Troy survived this same lake almost a month ago. I opt not to warm up to avoid standing around cold.
SWIM
Race director, Bill counts down fast as always...10, 9, 8...Go! I get a great start and head out with a nice draft.
My first 500 out to the first buoy is a sub-9 min. Awesome! After the first buoy, it's a long swim to the next one. I find myself side-by-side another swimmer. I cannot put pace them. We follow each other out to the next buoy. I am not getting cold thankfully and actually feeling really comfortable for once!
Just before the next buoy it is a sub-9 min again! Thank you Lord? My training has been subpar due to many difficulties surrounding our family and so this kind of pace is a gift from the Lord!
I make the turn and head back to shore! I make a good push and try to get past my swim buddy. We are neck and neck all the way. My watch clicks off another sub-9 split! Thank you Lord!
I get to shore and get my wetsuit off. I hope I don't get cold on the way to transition!
I feel good running up! As I run into transition, I see Dana leaving. I'm not too far behind! Cool! I get everything on pretty quickly and start to try to get the jacket. It's too hard to get on and it is pretty warm now.
BIKE
It's nice riding out. I feel warm...yay! I head out to Auburn Folsom Road. I know this whole course so well so I think I can handle every inch. As I take the right turn on Auburn Folsom, I don't slow down. As I turn, I find it's too sharp. Instead of braking I go wide into the lane of traffic without looking! I don't even know if a car is coming. Jesus is watching over me, there are no cars! I can't believe I did that. It is a good lesson in humility.
The ride up to Auburn Folsom feels good. I see Anna riding down the other side. She’s cheering and waving. Love her! I’m getting passed by quite a few guys but no women so far. At Cavitt Stallman, the CHP have us safely crossing traffic to make the left. There are a lot of cars out and about already.
The course meanders up to Horseshoe Bar Road. It’s a short climb up to Val Verde but it usually is tough. Today though it’s actually really fun and goes by fast. Thank you Lord! I’ve been past by two women now and I hope I can hold others off.
Almost to the top of the course! I turn onto Power House Road for the final big climb. I look for the cow with the huge horns. I see him but he’s tucked away in the back of the property. I hope other riders notice him. He’s quite a sight.
At the top of the first part of the climb, I see Troy’s co-worker, Katherine. She not racing but training for Ironman Canada. She cheers me on.
The road goes down and makes a sharp left before the last climb. It’s a blind corner. A guy flies by me on the left side of the road towards that corner. I yell at him “heads up for cars”. He seems to react to my words part way through the turn. I thank God there are no cars coming!
I make it to Auburn Folsom and enjoy the fast descent. This is the most fun part of the course!
After a few miles, I notice that traffic is backed up. I hope no one is hurt up ahead. Then I realize that I’m turning left again soon and that is why all these cars are waiting. Phew! The CHP once again are doing a great job getting us across safely.
The last few miles are tough. The road is up and down all the way to the back entrance to the park. And once at the park, we have to ride a dirt road for 1/4 mile. At the end of the dirt road I see Anna waiting for me. She cheers me on as I turn towards transition. Now it’s flat for the duration.
I pull into transition and pull my feet out of my shoes just in time to dismount. I am able to run pretty well to my spot.
I am able to make a quick transition and head out for the run. I hear Ariel cheering for me.
RUN
As I leave, I’m amazed how fast I am running. At first I think my watch is malfunctioning. I really am going sub-8 min pace!
I’m running back towards where I saw Anna as I entered the park. There is Anna! She’s actually directing runners while cheering. I give her a high five as I turn to go back towards transition.
Mile 1 is 7:56! Wow! Thank you Jesus! This is a gift!
I run back past transition and see Ariel again. I feel strong!
Mile 2 is 8:14. It would be great if I can average in the low 8 min pace range. That would be over a minute per mile faster than my last race!
I start to look for Troy as I start the out and back section of the course. I should see him soon I think. I have seen only a few guys though. I turn a corner and there he is! Wow! He’s way up there! “Go Troy! Praise God!” We give each other high fives.
Mile 3 is 8:09. Right on pace!
I see some girls coming back. Soon I see Dana. She looks great! I tell her good job.
Just before the turn around I see one of the girls that passed me coming back. I smile and say good job. I think I can catch her. This puts me around 2nd or 3rd in my age group. It depends on whether someone is in front of Dana.
Mile 4 is 8:21. I’m just over 8:10 pace. I hope to hold that. I’m heading back and am able to catch that girl. I tell her good job again.
Mile 5 is 8:17. So close now to the finish. I feel strong. Thank you again Lord letting go so well despite being tired! You are so amazing!
I can feel the finish is close. There is Troy and Anna ahead cheering me on. So nice of them to run out to me!
Mile 6 is 8:16. Go, go, go! Ariel is cheering me on. I push hard and cross the line pointing to Jesus. Thank you Jesus for an amazing day! I do not deserve this! So good to be done!
