Recap

May 22nd was a very special day for Terminator 3 made up of Paul Cousineau, David Ridder, and Troy Soares. They teamed up and trained especially hard for this first-ever Iron-distance relay triathlon. They were racing for Alan Liu, the 31 year old, Mountain View Masters swim coach that was killed by a drunk driver 4/11/04 while cycling with his girlfriend, Jill Mason, who was critically injured. Paul took Alan's spot on the relay team and they raced in honor of their fallen swimmer. Against 26 other teams from multiple countries vying for a $3000 grand prize, Alan's team, Terminator 3, came across first! They came from behind the Kain Performance team in each of the events due to the leading team's poor judgment, highlighted in the run by a wrong turn which allowed Troy to slip into the lead and claim the $3000 prize for the team.

Results                    Auburn Journal write-up

This chart shows the progression of the race and the changing of position of the 2 top teams, Terminator 3 and Kain Performance

"I can't stay with him"

Paul Cousineau, about fast swimmer and 2-time World Champion triathlete, Pete Kain, which he passed when Pete drifted off course in the 2.4 mile swim.

"You gotta understand the mindset of a marathoner... you're in the zone... you're only look'n straight ahead!"

KP team runner, Mike White, to race director explaining how he missed the turn-around sign at mile 19, subsequently blowing a 5 minute lead and $3000 prize.

"Chris Wiley just blew up. The Webcor guy has passed him!"

Pete Kain to his runner, Mike White, when he heard of his cyclist's demise at the 112 mile mark. David Ridder, wearing the Webcor jersey, went on to clinch a 2-1/2 minute lead over the faltering KP rider in just the last 6 miles.

Like a Good Friend, we do for Christ because He does so much for Us

Before, during and after the CaliMan, I was praying.  The Lord has helped me and others when things are tough or even to be humble when things are good.  I was scared of the pain I would have to endure as I wanted to do the best possible for the team.  I know when I ask God for the strength or some miracle to bring me through with less pain, that it requires faith.  For me that means believing that His plan is always best despite the result.  So even when things don't go my way, or my heel hurts terribly the whole week leading up to this huge race, I can't quit or get angry at God.  Inside I wanted a substitute to run in my place, but in my heart I new I must stay positive as crazy as it seems.  During the race, as the heel pain got worse and worse, I had to answer God's question, "why do you want to win".  I knew it was not enough to say, "I want Alan to get the recognition, I want him to get the prize money, I want the team to be victorious".

"You gotta run your own race, never let the leader's pace mess with your strategy"

KP team runner, Mike White, to Troy Soares, moments before their marathon starts. Forced with a 2-1/2 minute deficit, Mike blasted out 2:40 marathon pace miles, in exchange for his 2:45 plan, to catch Troy by mile 8.

 I realized the more important reason, "I want it to glorify you and I commit to doing that".  I felt God telling me, as He has other times, "Don't be dismayed by the odds, don't be discouraged by impossibilities.  Run to win.  Only I determine if you will.  And if you don't, still respond as a winner"  That boiled down to "Keep going hard.  Keep smiling. You never know what will happen."  And something bizarre did happen and we won.

"You're doing great, Troy!

Where's the other guy?"

Robin Soares at Mile 20 after previous leader, Mike White, failed to emerge from the out-n-back section.

And I remembered what I committed to.  At the finish there were 2 triathletes that were so proud of our team and I got up the nerve to witness to them about Christ.

"Make me proud"

a common quote of Alan Liu's, displayed on a portrait, attached to Terminator 3's runner as he finished the inaugural CaliforniaMan relay triathlon, capping off his team's triumphant effort through a day of come-backs and surprises.

Alan's sudden death has shown the shortness of our lives and the urgency to pursue those thoughts about God.  I encouraged them to not put it off.  After the race, Robin & I visited with a person dying from A.L.S..  He knows he will be with God soon, but there is still urgency in his faint struggling voice, telling us to encourage others to use the power of the Holy Spirit that God gives us.  That power helps us when we think there's no chance of winning.  When we hurt those we love and think there's no way to fix it.  When we fall back into our bad habits so many times we think there's no hope.  When our heart is broken again and again and we think there is no love worth that much pain.  God's Holy Spirit tells us "Keep going hard. Keep smiling.  You never know what will happen"

"Anything over 65°..

you can forget about PR's"

6am: We arrive at Folsum Lake ready to do the best we can.  The motivation to push your limits seems paramount when 2 other relay team members are counting on it.  Add to that the fact we've trained almost 6 months for this day; there's $3000 on the line; and, more so, we're doing it to honor our good friend, previous teammate, and coach, Alan Liu, who was killed by a drunk driver leading up to this race.

There are emotions and there are questions. 

Michelle Ridder, a life-spring of adventurous ideas (organizer of many Wildflower Training Weekends and project manager at Lockhead Martin) found out about this first-ever Ironman distance relay race.  She thought she could put together a team to win.

Now, endurance racing doesn't offer much money, even for pros, so $3000 was going to attract some real talent.  Michelle knew the times were going to be fast.

She went first to Mountain View Masters swim club coach and 5-time masters All-American swimmer, Alan Liu, "We need a 46 minute swim, Alan". He said, "Just tell me where and when and I'm there".

Then she recruited, David Ridder, a 9:49 Ironman with a strong suit in cycling.  Faced with 5 months of intensive training to knock 20 minutes off his previous best 112 mile bike leg, he was tentative, but signed up and went to work. 

She came to me and wanted a 2:50 marathon.  I had already tried unsuccessfully to break my previous best in 1995 of 2:56:53.  But with Alan and David's commitments, and a $3000 prize, I signed up and switched my focus to run training.

Even with these great prospects, we had no idea how fast the other teams would be.

Tragedy Strikes

On Easter morning, Alan was killed by a drunk driver that ran over him and his girlfriend, Jill Mason, while they were cycling.  Alan Liu was dead and Jill was in ICU.  It was a blow that crushed our family of athletes and sent waves of grief as far as Africa.  We thought about quitting.  Alan had wanted to win, and he always wanted us to make him proud.  We would race for Alan, and if we won, would bring attention to his case.  Maybe we could help prevent someone somewhere from driving drunk.  Maybe we could help others realize any day may be our last and that we should consider, "what then?"

Preparing for The Swim

Michelle, Robbie and Robin are here to support. Alan's friend and racing partner, Paul Cousineau, is preparing to swim in his place.  Paul has dramatically increased his training and despite never racing 2.4 miles, he is determined to swim as fast as Alan would.  He gets into the wetsuit he borrowed from Sherwick Minn.  He recalls the many Del Valle and Tahoe swim events he's done partnered with Alan and the special reason he has to train so hard for this.

He's always been impressed with how fast Alan could ramp up his training and speed for a coming event and always beat the odds.  Now Paul has had to ramp up quickly, and the odds are against him.. namely Pete Kain.  "I can't stay with him", Paul says.  Paul has been optimistic to stay with any lead swimmer but he has raced before against Pete, a 2-time World Champion triathlete, and could only watch him swim by.

Paul rubs his shoulder which has been aching from the increased yardage.  David touches his knee which he's been icing and treating all week.  I give my heel, already hurting, another futile stretch.  It's going to be an interesting day.

The Swim

Bagpipes.  The gun!  They're off for 2 huge loops.  At the 1/2 point, 2 swimmers have a good lead.  We look for Paul's quick turn-over.  He's in a small chase pack 30 secs behind.  We watch the clock as the swimmers near the finish.  World record times at Hawaii Ironman are about 45 minutes.  The first relay comes through at 44!  Meanwhile, Pete Kain, close to finishing a great swim, takes a bad line around a buoy and ends up slightly off course.  It's the chance Paul had been waiting for.  There's Paul at 46!  He did it!  Matching Alan's goal and pulling ahead of Pete by 15 secs to give us an important lead.

The Excitement Builds Already

The team to beat is Kain Performance, an incredible combination of 3 great talents, all in matching team uniforms.  Beforehand their huge smiles portrayed great confidence.  But this 15 sec lead on their champion swimmer was stirring up some panic.

David has trained for this course, learning to ride fast into the wind and accelerate quick from 180 degree turns.  There are about 10 of these. Out-n-backs.  As well as technical bike path sections.  Also he will have to yell "On your left!" continuously as he passes the 1/2 Ironman contestants already on the course.  His goal time of 4:45 may be impossible with these conditions.

The Bike

David quickly passes the Joerg Worm team, that won the swim, and is now leading the CaliforniaMan thanks to Paul's swim!  However, Chris Weiler, of Kain Performance, still looking confused about leaving the transition in 3rd place, is on a mission.  Riding his sleek Cervelo, he regains the lead in a fury and leaves David to watch him from behind for the next 100 miles.  David's riding without a speedometer or heart rate monitor.  He's content to be situated where he can keep tabs on his competition.  They facing strong winds.  The 180 degree  turns are knocking down their average speeds.  Rrailroad tracks and obstacles keep their attention focused.  And of course the hills are just "opportunities for growth" as David always says.

Preparing for the run

I'm warming up at the run start.  Mike White, of Kain Performance, and Jim Walsh, of Demeyer's Destroyers, are also preparing.  They are strong runners with a long list of marathons under their belts.  Mike's going for 2:44, Jim for low 2:50's, and me for 2:55.

Jim, from San Diego, says he's heard of Alan's death and the team that continued to race in his honor.  He's actually pulling for us.

How am I going to out-run these guys if our cyclists come in close?  Mike & I both just did Napa Marathon 2 months ago.  His 2:44 beat me by 14 minutes!

This run has been a scary thought for me as I've prepared over the weeks, with God's help, to run through any heel pain, and not give up until I drop.  In Napa I stopped 2 times to massage the terribly painful heel.  It's worse this time but I won't stop.

My watch will beep a 2:55 pace, but I wonder... it's getting hot, windy, and, unlike a marathon, there won't be a large group of pacers around me.  A personal best today seems impossible.  Beating Mike and Jim seems impossible.  But, I'm reminded by God, "anything can happen."

Report from the Bike

"Chris Wiley just blew up. The Webcor guy has passed him!"  Pete Kain tells the bad news to his runner, Mike White, about David taking over the lead!  David, not knowing how far they've gone, knows geographically where the end of the race is and is pacing himself accordingly.  However, Chris Weiler has gone all out to the 112 mile mark where the race should end.  He has nothing left.  David sees him up ahead, on an incline, his leg turn-over suddenly erratic.  David flies by fast and convincingly and gains a 2-1/2 minute lead in the next 6 miles!

The Run

Terminator 3 is back in the lead!  I can't believe it!  I'm starting the  marathon in 1st place.  Alone except for the leader bike radioing to the announcing,

 "I'm with Troy Soares of team #389.  He's running in honor of Alan Liu.  He's leading the first-ever CaliforniaMan Triathlon.  I repeat... Troy Soares of Terminator 3 is leading the CaliforniaMan!"

It's so cool!  But I must keep my thoughts clear.  Mike White is behind me and will catch me.  He says he never let's the leader's pace alter his plan, but if I can scare him with a fast 10k split, maybe he'll push too hard and blow up.  My first 2 miles are 6:10 pace.

The beginning of the course is a 3mi-out-3mi-back.  The next 11 miles are a loop around the lake.  Then we do the out-n-back again except only 1mi-out-1mi-back.  Finally we do the loop around the lake again, but only half of it, finishing at the other end in downtown Folsom.

3mi:  The adrenaline of being in first is helping my heel, but the pain is starting.  I look for my Ibuprofen.  It's gone.  I must have dropped it.  I also lost my Cytomax bottle before the race which I was going to use at the 1/2 way point.

 I think of how well my teammates have prepared and think of the rookie mistakes I'm making.

 4mi: At the first turn-around, I see Mike.  I slap his hand with respect as he barrels the other direction on 6:05 pace.  He's .25mi back.  6mi:  I've run a sub-40 minute 10k!

7mi: Robin & Leonie cheer for me as I emerge from the out-n-back.  I mention losing my Ibuprofen but don't expect they'll be able to do anything about it.  The lead biker pulls off to go back for the leading CaliforniaMan individual.

8mi: "I hear your footsteps, Mike", I shout back. He says "pretty hot today".  I say, "yeah, but feel that tailwind". Mike's on a 6:10 average pace, but passes me with a 6:00 surge.

10mi:  Mike's disappearing in the distance.  I've slowed down from 6:30 to 6:45 pace to recover for a while. How am I going to catch a 2:44 marathoner?!  God reminds me, "Anything can happen, just keep going hard".

12mi:  The heel is getting bad (pain level 7, where 10 is impossible to run).

13.1mi:  Downtown Folsom.  The spectators are great.  I'm in pain and losing my form.  Robin asks how I'm doing.  I give her a thumbs-up.  "Cyto and Ibuprofen is waiting at the needs tent!" she yells.  Wow, they did it!  I take some and begin drinking my bottle.

14mi: Toss the bottle.  Heal at level 8-9.  One more notch and it may come to a screeching halt.

I have the trail to myself now as there are no 1/2 CaliMan racers and Mike's about 2.5 min ahead.  The course is nice.

The heel feels out of control.  I stop quick to tighten shoe. Too quick, the hamstring tightens up. Ow!

16mi: heal pain subsiding to level 7. Yay! Working pace down to 6:45. Mike's about .5mi ahead.

18mi: I'm back to the out-n-back section.  I should see Mike, but I don't.  I flip around at the "turn-around" sign but am surprised no one is manning it.  But I know it's correct and motor on.  He must be way ahead, but I'll never give up, "Anything can happen".  Emerging at mile 20, Robin sees me and says, "You're doing great, Troy! Where's the other guy?".

Oh my gosh!  It's happening.  That "something" that could happen is happening. A mile later Robin rides by on the bike talking to Leonie back at race headquarters.  She's telling them, "Troy made the turn, the other guy didn't.  Troy is now leading". Hearing the conversation,  I run faster.

23mi: along the lake. Everything's tightening up.  Don't seize up legs.  A race director is with us on a scooter still getting all the facts straight that Terminator 3 is about to win!  ... unless my hamstring or calf cramp up.

25mi: A couple steep sections. Use the arms.  Hang in there legs.  Robin is cheering. There's Leonie.  Run across the bridge.  I hear the spectators.  I thank God for the thrill he's given me and the team.  It's really hurting.  The final turn.. ow!  The calf tightens.  Cringing, I make it and descend into the finish line!!