^{PLACE & TIME:} 

Robin 4th OA -  5:50:11

(33:43-2:49-3:21:57-2:21-1:49:19)

We are up early and heading off to Castaic Lake with my parents following behind with Anna.  I'm excited to be racing in my hometown.  I hope to have a good day especially with the challenges ahead.  I'm a bit intimidated by a descent that I'll have to do 2 times on the bike.  The road has many cracks covered by tar.  It makes for a really bumpy ride and I don't want to crash.  Troy had me ride down it two times yesterday and kept telling me that the bumps will not make me crash.  The 1st time, I basically road my brakes the whole way.  The 2nd time, I was more confident and braked less.  Still, I pray that today I will not need to brake.

We get to the lake just before the rush and I get my gear set up.  I run into fellow FCA-E teammate, and Pro Triathlete, Kirk Nelson.  We had been working on an Iron Prayer for yesterday but race changes caused it not to work out.  So a few of us will meet before the swim for a pre-race prayer.  That will be nice.

I also run into Faron Reed of Sierra Multi Sport in Fresno and his teammate.  We've done so many races with Faron and his wonderful wife, Heleen.  It's nice to be racing with him again! 

Today is also the Hawaii Ironman and our buddy, Dale Jackson, is racing there for the first time!  Other friends racing it are Warren Mine, Heather Gollnick, and FCA-E teammates, Steve Chavez and Sierra Snyder.  I'm praying for them all and know that some of them are awake and prepping on the Big Island.  The Magic Mountain Man announcer tells the crowd that we all picked the better race to do today...ha, ha!

My parents and us head down to the water.  My dad helps me zip up my wetsuit and Troy sprays Pam to lube up the outside.  Troy and I look for Kirk but turned out he had to race back to his house for his timing chip and showed up just a few minutes before the start.  Troy, Anna, my Dad and I pray.  It reminds me that the focus is on Jesus and it's not all about me and my agenda! 

I jump in the water and swim to the start.  I find a spot and wave to Troy to see what he thinks of my position.  It's a mass 300 athlete start so I don't want to get pummeled.  He gives me the thumbs up.

The Swim

Ready, set, go!  A mad dash to the water.  I get knocked around a bit in the first 500m but nothing compared to the craziness of an Ironman start.  I'm feeling quite good considering my swim training has suffered in recent weeks.  It's hard to see the buoys so I follow the crowd.  But could the crowd be wrong?!  Soon enough I see the first turn buoy.  I'm always a little nervous at these turns because it's where the crowd congregates. 

Yeah, the turn is nice and now it's another long stretch.  Again, I can't see the buoys.  I follow the swimmers ahead.  I think I see Faron go by me so I pick it up and try to hang with him.  The field has spread out now and I don't want to be left behind.  It's uneventful to the next buoy.  As I look back in the turn, it looks like I'm in the back of the pack...but it's hard to tell. 

A guy goes by and I jump on his feet.  Wow, what a draft!  It's very rare for me to find a good draft so I don't want to blow this one!  Suddenly swimming feels so easy.  He's pulling me past other swimmers and the finish line is getting close fast.  A girl comes up and moves into my draft.  Hey!  I don't want to loose such a good thing so I pick it up.  I pull up on the guy's right side in hopes of moving back in if I get the chance.  I see her drift to the left so I swoop back in.  I follow him all the way to the shore.  Yes!  Thanks God, that was awesome!! 

I jump out of the water and rip off my wetsuit right away, throwing it over my shoulder.  That's the best way in my opinion since it's easiest to get off right out of the water!  I race up to T1.  I see Mom and Dad cheering and I see Troy and Anna racing up to my transition spot.

The Bike

I get to my bike and get ready.  I hear Anna crying.  I see that she got knocked down on accident by another spectator.  I run over to the fence and give her a hug and kiss and tell her it's okay.  Then it's back to pulling on the arm warmers.  It's a chilly morning, these will be a big help.  With one last wave to Troy and Anna, I head out.  I hear someone shout, "3rd woman!".  Cool!  As I pedal up the incline, I'm totally in the wrong gears from yesterday's descending...the hardest gears...rookie mistake!

Exiting the Castaic Lake, it's a right and straight uphill.  Here we go!  I have high expectations for this ride and hope to be up in the top 5 ladies.  My legs feel a bit tired but I hope it wears off soon.  The course parallels I-5 up the Grapevine.  Not terribly steep, but unrelenting...something familiar in Auburn! 

Faron's teammate passes me, going uphill, sitting upright, with no hands on the bars.  He's totally flying...how is that possible?!  I get passed by a few other guys but no women.  In fact, I cannot see any women anywhere.  I know there are some ahead of me.  It's a small field but I do expect to see more folks, especially on the 2 out-and-back 14 mile loops at the top of this climb.  I still feel intimidated by that main descent on those loops that I practiced yesterday.  I keep praying for the Lord to prepare me, protect me and give me courage. 

At the top of this first climb it's a smoothly paved descent to the start of the loops.  I brake only a little on this one trying to get some speed built up for the first little climb.  As I turn onto the double loop section, I see Troy, the girls and my parents waiting for me.  I'm so happy to see them!  I give them a big smile and a wave.  Okay, here we go!

Soon I make it to "the descent".  I'm reciting Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures..."

Green pastures!  Yes, take me to that green pasture at the bottom of the hill!  That's where the road turns into a pristinely paved section that I can't wait to get to!  I see a sign that says "No Aerobar descent"...yeah, no problem for me as I don't want to be in my aerobars anyway!  I push my weight back and focus.  I want to brake but I resist and pray.  Amazingly, it doesn't seem as bad as yesterday!  I'm actually able to find some good spots on the shoulder of the road for the first half.  I only brake sparingly!  I see Kirk coming up the hill and he's way ahead of everyone!  "Go Kirk!". 

On the 2nd half of the descent there is a narrow center divide with double yellow lines on both sides.  We're allowed to ride inside the divide to avoid the cracks and speed bumps ("Bott's dots" sections) in the road..  I move to the center and it's not bad!  Troy put less pressure in my tires (110 instead of 125) so that helps but I know the Lord is helping more!  I make it down through the 2nd half only braking once.  Yes!  Thanks, God!  You rock!  Ah, green pastures!

This part of the course is awesome!  I've never ridden a more perfect road!  It's not publicly traveled so it remains nice!  Up a slight incline and I'm still able to ride pretty fast in my aerobars.  I keep my eyes open for other women coming back but I only see one.  She's decked out in full cycling gear with leg warmers and arm warmers.  She must be a relay because all that gear is hard to put on wet!  I must have missed some other girls!

The turn around is a nice round-about.  I turn and push!  It's a great downhill and I'm able to get my speed up.  Now I can see the women behind me.  They look strong and pretty spread out.  I hope I can hold them off!

Back up that long crazy descent!  3 miles long.  Here comes Kirk again!  Wow, flying!  "Good job Kirk!"  I'm looking for the women again but I only see the same decked out girl in black.  Maybe I'm just missing them.

I make it to the top.  The legs are holding up but tired!  I descend down another "no aerobar zone", to the turn-around/aid station where the family is waiting.  I see Troy and Ariel in the center divide cheering for me.  I give them a big smile.  After a quick U-turn, I head back to them.  I can see my dad cheering on the side of the road and my mom is pulling Anna out of the car to cheer...I wave and smile.  I hear Troy say that the top girl is 8 minutes ahead.  That's quite a lead!   I grab water at the aid station and then it's back out for loop #2!

I quit looking for women, though I should.  All I can think about is getting down that descent one last time.  The field is still pretty spread out so I won't have to deal with other bikes once again...thanks God!  This time it goes great!  I pick up good speed and I only hit the brakes twice!  Yeah!  You rock Jesus!  I see Kirk again and can see that he continues to rip it up!

I make it to "green pastures" and breath a sigh of relief.  Now the real fun begins!  Once again this pristine out and back is great.  I do finally see another girl in white long sleeves ahead and wonder if she is the leader.  Coming back, I can see the same women chasing me.  I think I still have the advantage but we'll see what happens when we get to the last 7 mile flat section.

On the last long climb, my legs feel tired!  I can tell that they've really taken a beating from all this climbing.  Almost 5000' now.  I'm surprised, considering I'm climbing all the time in Auburn!  I'm finally over the top and I hammer down to the family.  I see Anna and Troy waving.  With a big smile I wave back.  I make the U-turn one last time and then turn towards home.  One last short climb.  Not steep, but my legs are really suffering.   Now it's 7 miles of downhill!  Followed by 7 miles of flat

I practiced this downhill yesterday as well.  It's not bad at all but I get passed by guys who have the weight advantage.  I find myself braking a bit and try to curb that habit right away.  Coming down the hill I'm passed by at least 5 guys but no women...phew! 

All the flat stretch, it's all about survival.  Flat is definitely not my strength, especially now with tired legs.  Troy and the girls pass me in the van, cheering me on.  I wave and smile.  What a great support!!

The streets are lined with cones.  The race director went all out.  He spent $14,000 on cones!  We're riding to the left of the cones and the cars are on the right so they won't turn in front of us.  I'm basically in the middle of the road.  It's kind of cool!

I make it T2 with no girls passing me!  I find my rack and my gear bag which I dropped off yesterday.  I immediately turn on my Garmin and get ready while it loads.  I'm ready, but my Garmin is not!  I stretch and give it a few more seconds.  Finally, it's ready. 

The Run

I run out of T2 and am surprised to see 2 women ahead of me.  They must have been right behind me on the bike and passed me in transition.  I catch up to one and tell her good job.  She says "this must be your leg of the race".  I tell her "we'll see".  I am hoping it will be my strongest.  My legs are tired but I'm able to hit sub 7:50 pace.  In the distance, the other girl in black is motoring!  I don't give up hope that I might catch her later.

Mile 1 is 7:49 and I'm feeling confident that I can hold this pace.  I pass the Grace Baptist aid station.  They have been wonderful this whole weekend, handing out the Step Up to Life tracts and cold drinks.

Mile 2 is 7:52.  On a bike path now.  It's getting harder and my legs are feeling heavy.  I see Kirk heading back and he looks steady and strong.  There is no one else in sight so this victory is his.  "Good job, Kirk!"  Just as I say that, I hear a woman's voice behind me say the same.  Here we go..  A girl in blue comes alongside.  I say, "good job".  She asks, "are you relay?"  I say no.  I'm a little taken aback by her question.  It motivates me to go with her.  I look down and I'm running 7:35 pace.  Wow, I don't know if I can keep that!  I really want to compete but it's getting tough!

Mile 3 is 7:35.  Suddenly the blue girl is pulling away and my legs cannot react.  I feel tired and hungry.  I take a Hammer Gel early, way early.  I was saving it for mile 7 but today I need it.  I need fuel and caffeine!  I've been fasting from caffeine for 2 weeks in hopes to intensify the boost today!

Mile 4 is 8:17.  I'm hanging tough but I really feel like walking.  I'm praying the Hammer Gel will kick in more.  I can feel the hot sun. It's probably mid-80's but feels hotter.

Mile 5 is 8:35.  I see Troy, Dad and Anna waiting for me. Boy, it's so good to see them!  I want so much to tell Troy that this sucks and that I want to walk.  I see his big smile and I'm reminded of my real focus, Jesus.  This is a privilege to be doing this...this is a gift!  I fight my flesh and instead point up to Jesus.  Troy's smile gets even bigger and he points up too.  I really want him and others to see that it's not about relying on myself but on Jesus!

I continue across a bridge to a bike path on the other side.  The Hammer Gel is starting to kick in but not fast enough.  I take another gel and grab water.  Another mile until the turn-around.  I'll be seeing girls heading back soon.

Mile 6 is 8:24.  I feel better but not great.  I see the first woman in the white long sleeve jersey.  Way ahead and looking strong!  I tell her good job.

Almost to the turn around and I see the girl in black, the girl in blue and another girl in green that has running shorts on...I think she might be relay but I'm not going to ask;)  I tell them good job and they all encourage me back including the blue girl surprisingly!  They all look strong and I remind myself to continue hoping that I may catch them.

Mile 7 is 8:07.  Better!  Can I keep this up?  I hope I get a second wind!  After the turn-around, I see the girl I passed just out of T2.  She's looking strong.  I think I can hold her off.  I also see Faron and tell him good job...he looks very strong!

Mile 8 is 8:25.  I'm running across the bridge back to Troy, Anna and Dad.  My momentum is fading but I'm not giving up.  Anna is waiting to give me a high five.  I give her one and she runs back with me to Troy.  "Good job Anna!"  Troy asks me how I'm doing and I shake my hand so-so.  I again point up to the sky to let him know that I'm relying on Jesus!

Mile 9 is 8:15.  With some downhill, I'm able to pick up the pace.  An older guy I'd been going back and forth with now speeds by.  I tell him good job and he tells me that he's trying to hold off some guys in his age group.  "Go for it!"

Mile 10 is 8:27.  I'm alone and trying to keep my head in the game.  I want so much to slow down and coast in.  There are no girls in sight so I could do that...NO!  Just keep going!  Just get to that finish line!!

Mile 11 is 8:28.  An older guy goes by really fast, chasing the other guy.  I take a moment to pray that the other guy will hold him off.

Mile 12 is 8:26.  Almost there!!  I pass the Grace Baptist station again and get some water.  I thank them and then focus all my energy on getting to the finish!

Mile 13 is 8:18.  Thanks God for pulling me through!  I couldn't have done this without you!  You rock!  I see Anna waiting to give me a high five.  I give a 5 and then finish as best as I can.  Ahh, done!  Thanks again Jesus!!

Go Faron!

Go Kirk!