^DISTANCE:

^{PLACE & TIME:} 

Robin  - 5th; 2:28:38 (26:29-1:15:08-44:01)

It's been another great weekend of ministry.  Team Clyde and Team Soares have been manning the FCA booth at the USA Productions.  We've had lots of folks stop by to chat or for prayer...it makes the race so rewarding!

The morning starts off right with a pre-race prayer on the beach.  Troy reads FCA Endurance's Competitors Creed. "I am Christian first and last" stands out and it reminds me that there is a bigger purpose today and everyday.  Teammate Carrie Chavez asks that we pray that she have no ego out there today and Troy echoes that for all.  In my mind I'm thinking, "it will be easy not to have an ego because I have no expectations... right?"

I jump in the water briefly and know it's not enough of a warm-up.  I'm struggling a bit to be excited since my body is tired from all the activities this weekend. 

On your mark, get set, go!  I jump off the line and try to get tucked in behind the lead pack.  I'm successful for the first few hundred yards but get stuck behind a few other girls and loose them.  I can see a few stragglers ahead so I surge to catch them.  As I go to take a breath and sight ahead, I swallow water.  Yikes, I didn't want to drink this brown water!  Troy had told me not to.  I make it around the first yellow buoy and catch one girl.  I see a 2nd right in front of me and I push...better to try to get a draft so I can save some energy!  Again, I accidentally take in water while sighting...yuck!

After a few minutes of trying to close the gap, I'm not making much progress.  The negative voice in my head whispers, "this sucks...you're better than this...what's the matter with you...you stink".  I laugh at myself...easy not to have an ego, huh?  It's a wake up call to the tendency of my heart.  While the race itself is difficult, fighting these thoughts today will be half the battle. 

I try to concentrate on pushing the water and reaching forward.  I hope that good form may make up for my lack of swim fitness.  It's hard to stay focused and I often find myself daydreaming about other things.

I'm swimming alone, continuing to chase the 2 girls ahead.  By the last buoy, I'm now swimming with a girl I had passed.  I am determined to stay with her and not loose ground.  I'm pushing hard and keeping my focus on the finish.  I pull ahead slightly and make a bee-line for the beach.  I try to stand and run... but it's still too deep.  A few more strokes and I stand up.  I try to grab my zipper strap but it slips out of my hand.  I pull over and wrestle to find it again but finally do.  Since I lost some of my rhythm, I end up awkwardly yanking my arms out.  The legs come off well and finally I'm on the move to T1.

I'm covered with sand and try to brush off as much as I can.  I even use my towel to help.  I grab my bike and run out of transition.  I'm not too sure about the bike today.  On my warm-up ride over from the Kirkpatrick's house, I was trying to do surges and could barely hit 18mph.  Things sure do change when you're racing and the adrenaline kicks in.  I turn onto Santa Teresa and find I'm holding about 19mph.  I still feel fatigue but it's not overwhelming. 

On Santa Teresa, I'm passing folks and not seeing any women in my age group.  A girl comes by. I assume she's my age.  I try to match her cadence and keep her in sight.  As she pulls away, that negative voice starts to beat me up.  "Lord, take away my ego, let me just focus on racing for You!"

The road now leads us out of the residential and into the rural.  I remember many times my friend, Laura Schuster, and I rode along here together.  It's beautiful despite the headwind against me.  I see Victoria Blackmon taking pictures ahead.  I wave as I go by.  Her husband, and our TeamMate, David, crashed on a bike ride with Troy yesterday and had to get stitches in his chin.  I'm impressed that she's out here for the team!

We're on the out-and-back stretch.  A good opportunity to see some folks in my age group.  I see a Forward Motion gal, Kim, in my group, hammering along.  Farther down, I see the girl who passed me, racing back.  . I hope I see the turn-around soon!  A few more minutes and I see it.  I am excited for the tail wind!

At the turn around, it's like a weight has been lifted.  I take advantage of the tailwind and push hard.  Thanks God for letting my legs feel so good!  Soon, I see Carrie Chavez hammering towards the turn-around!  What a studette!  She's flying and might catch me!  Soon I'm back to Victoria and I wave again as I pass. 

Now it's up Bailey Road, the big climb of the race.  Suddenly, a guy passes me on the right.  He had room to pass on the left.  It's annoying and against the rules.  I think about saying something but don't.  I just pick it up and pass him back on the left as a little demonstration.  The hill doesn't seem as hard or daunting as in years past.  I really have to thank hilly Auburn and the guys I ride with on Tuesday mornings for that!

1/2 way up, there's a girl riding near the yellow line.  "On your left".  No response.  "I need to pass on the left please".  No response.  Okay, I guess I have to squeeze by somehow.  As I inch by, I nicely tell her "you need to let folks pass on the left".  She looks at me and smiles but doesn't seem to understand what I am saying.  As I pass, I move over to the far right in hopes that she'll get what I'm saying. 

Down the backside of Bailey I try to push hard and utilize the "free speed" as Troy would say.  Once on McKean road, a guy goes by and then slows down.  I have to ease up to let him get the required 3 bike lengths ahead.  Then I pass him back and see that he doesn't drop back out of the draft zone as I did.  I see his shadow coming up to re-pass so I surge to.  It's much easier to do that than to have to drop back every time he goes by.

McKean is another rural road I enjoy riding especially in my aerobars.  It only lasts for 3 miles and then it's back through neighborhoods.  I'm having fun pushing hard probably because I'm not looking forward to the run.  I pass a guy riding an old neon yellow Trek from circa 1990.  It reminds me of a bike I had.  It doesn't seem to be cramping his style as he passes me back.  I'm working hard to pass him back and tell him good job he says the same. 

I turn on Almaden Expressway...one mile to go!  I hit the park boundary and see Anna and Troy waiting for me...oops they don't see me..."hey guys!"  They quickly turn and cheer.  I push all the way to the dismount line.  At the last moment, I decide to pull my feet out of my shoes while they are still on the pedals.  The last time I tried, one came out and the other shoe fell off.  This time I succeed in keeping them both on.  Yeah!  Thanks God!

I rack my bike, put on my gear and go!  leaving T2, I realize I didn't start my watch...oops!  The course takes me pass the FCA booth where Anna and Troy are waiting.  Anna gives me a high 5 and then chases after me.  It's so uplifting to see her happy face especially when my legs are screaming at me to stop.  Six miles to go, ugh!  I see an old athlete I coached at Woodside High, CJ Halsey, running hard towards the finish.  "Way to go CJ!"  I'm impressed how he musters the energy to say "hi".  I enjoy this part along the Alamitos Creek.  It's the most pretty and shady part of the course.

Mile 1 is 7:46.  Wow, it was hard to squeak that one out!  Lord, please help me keep my head in the game...but not my ego!  I pass a girl in my age group and wonder about my place.  Heading to the turn-around I see girls coming back that look like my age group.  I see Kim from Forward Motion and someone is telling her she's in 2nd.  I count 2 more women behind her.  There is a girl in front of me that's probably my age so that means I may be 6th.  She makes it to the turn around and I push to get there myself.  Heading back I remember to look for Carrie.  I don't see her.  I wonder if I missed her.

Mile 2 is 7:04.  I'll take that!  Thanks God for allowing my tired body to do that!   I'm getting closer to the girl in front of me.  Her calf says 37...ah-ha!  Thanks God for the motivation today!  He knows this helps me stay focused.  Back to Lake Almaden now for another loop, this time to the perk pond and back...woo-who!  I see Cory Floyd coming back and tell him good job.

Mile 3 is 7:04.  I see Kim heading back and hear "go Kim" behind me.  Ah, that's Carrie!  She flies by and tells me good job.  "You're looking great, Carrie!  I haven't seen anyone in your age group so you must be first!"  She flies by me and the girl.  The girl picks it up and stays with Carrie for a few minutes and then goes back to her same pace.  I again count 2 girls behind Kim, and 5th place is right in front of me!  Go for it!

Mile 4 is 7:09.  I push hard to get right behind her at the turn around.  It's sneaky move so that she doesn't get the chance to really see me coming.  For a 1/2 mile I run with her, unsure if I have the strength to pass.  I'm cheering others on and feeling better.  Then I go for it.  I tell her good job as I pass.  Then I see Karen Saxena.  I'm so glad to see her here!  I tell her good job.

Mile 5 is 7:04.  The last mile always seems so far away!  With that girl behind me it's enough to make me push my hardest.  I break down the last mile and tell myself to get to various landmarks.  It helps.  I also focus on encouraging others.  Just a little farther!

Mile 6 is 6:58...alright!  Thanks so much God!  I finally make it to the other side of the lake.  The final corner.  There's Anna at the finish waiting for me.  I sprint to her and grab her hand.  We finish together.  Aw, nothing better than that!  Thanks God for a great day!  It was hard, but You got me through!

Go CJ!

Go Carrie!

Go Christy!

Go Clyde!

Go Cory!

Go Dave!

Go Debbie!

Go Karen!

Go Steve!

FCA BOOTH