^WHERE:  Folsom, CA

^{PLACE & TIME:} 

4th, 2:25:06 (26:48-1:10:54-45:35)

^DISTANCE:

It's a 30 minute drive to the race. We get an early start in order to set up the FCA Endurance tent.  Troy will be running the booth with our girls and Carrie Chavez' daughter, Madison.  I'll be racing, along with Team Chavez (Carrie and Steve).  Within a few minutes of arriving at the race, I joke with Troy about passing the bikes on a car next to us and then I see the race numbers on their bikes.  My heart sinks.  I left my race numbers and timing chip at home!!  After some deliberation, Troy and I decide to drive home and get them.  We're going to be an hour behind.  We'll still be able to do the pre-race prayer.  But I won't be able to warm up in all 3 disciplines.  My preparation time will be cut short.  I take a deep breath and hold back tears.  Anna tells me to trust in God and He'll take care of things.  What a great reminder from my 5 year old.  This is an opportunity to show others that if you focus on Him, He'll make it all work out great.  At this point I don't know what the morning will bring, but I need to trust that Jesus will work it out for His glory. 

I make a quick transition once at home.  30 minutes later we're back at the park.  While in line at the entrance, Troy gets my bike off the car and tells me to ride ahead for a warm-up.  But then I look back and he's having problems at the gate.  Our pass is expired and they don't take credit cards.  Troy pulls out of the way of the anxious triathletes behind.  I ride back and write a check.  Finally, we're admitted.  What a morning!

Now I ride ahead to lead him to the tent drop-off.  I have to pull aside a few street barriers to get Troy through.  Surprisingly there's a couple parking spots left...thanks God!!  As Troy goes to meet up with Madison, set up the tent and get the pre-race prayer announced,  I go look for a transition spot.  This late there will be slim pickings. Sure enough, I find nothing.  Then I see the Bike Out/Run Out area at the back of the transition and right next to it is a rack with an open spot.  No way!  This is too good.   I'll have the best transitions ever!!  And, to top it off, I'm right next to our friend, Trudi Hughes.  Thanks again, Lord!!

Once I set up, I find Troy and we head down to the swim-start for the pre-race prayer.  Once again the Lord comes through and brings a group of athletes to us including my new young training buddy, Jessica Bonner. Troy takes prayer requests and we hear about the anxieties, fears and challenges others are facing today.  One is grateful for having the ability to race while others cannot.  Others are concerned about the cold swim and safety on the course. Carrie asks that we put our egos aside.  I ask that the Lord give us a great peace and put behind us the worries of the world.  We pray and all walk away with a greater goal to shadow our anxieties...to focus on Jesus and glorify Him out there today.

I finish getting ready, sneak in a quick run, and head down to the water.  As I enter, I realize that I am able to warm-up in all the disciplines.  Again, thanks, God!  I get a good warm-up in the water and get ready to go.

Ready, set, go!  It's a good start and I find myself with the top group.  I find a good draft going out which I'm grateful for because the sun is blocking my view...which I realized after thinking it was my goggles and stopping to adjust them. As we near the first buoy, my draft has disappeared and I'm stuck in front of the 2nd group of women...as usual.  But I cannot let that get me down.  Christ is on my side.  I press on, round the first yellow buoy, and then look ahead to see 2 more yellow buoys in the same line.  This is confusing as we always make a turn at each big buoy.  I look ahead often to see what's going on ahead as I don't want to cut the course!  But at the next buoy I see everyone continuing ahead and know to keep going straight.

I see a girl in my wave coming up on my right.  We're neck-in-neck as we are about to hit the buoy.  Suddenly she surges ahead and cuts me off so that I have to swim into the buoy and stop.  I'm a little peeved but cannot be sure she did it on purpose.  I decide to use it as motivation to beat her to T1.  I push hard and pull alongside.  She drifts to the right and I take a straight line to the finish.  I make it to the beach before her, cross the timing mat, and rip off my wetsuit before my run to the bike. 

With such a great spot, I'm out of T1 in 45 seconds!  Yah-who!  The course takes us over Hwy 50 and up Auburn-Folsom Road.  I'm feeling pretty good going out especially with my seat tilted back a bit this time.  Soon we are heading out Prairie City Road.  It feels like I'm mostly climbing but wonder if it's just a headwind.  So far only one woman has passed, after some leap-frogging, and now I'm mostly alone.

5 miles in, I can see the Elites racing back already.  I see some familiar faces like Jeff Piland and Kiet Tran.  I cheer them on and wonder if they can even hear me.  I turn onto White Rock Road and the headwind is apparent.  I'll take it now rather than later!  This road undulates a lot.  I remind myself to use good form to get any advantage that I can.  A 46 year old Olympic Club girl flies by and I think that I recognize her as the girl who cut me off in the swim.  I remind myself that maybe it wasn't intentional, but I do make it a fun challenge to try to catch her by the end.  I'm wondering where Jessica is since I know her swim in the previous wave was much faster than mine. 

As I make my way up to a big climb, I encourage others as I go by.  I can tell that most of them really appreciate a kind word out here.  Mentally, this terrain is tough.  I pass an out and back section on my left and look forward to getting that done.   Next, it's time to climb!  I get to the hill and laugh to myself because I'm certain the turn around is on the other side...I don't know the course, it's just a guess.  I get to the top, sure enough, I can see it at the bottom...knew it...all the merrier!  And I see Jessica climbing out and cheer her on.  Farther down is the Olympic Club girl and I push harder to the turn-around.

As I climb out, I look for Carrie.  I will be seeing her soon!  I hear a cyclist coming up behind me.  I surge and hold them off to the downhill.  Down the hill, wee!  I pedal hard and get aero.  I turn onto the out-and-back.  Again, I get to see Jessica and the Olympic Club girl.  I continue to be able to hold off any more girls and focus on good pedal stroke...up and over, up and over...the rest is for Jesus and gravity!  There's Carrie!  I cheer her on.  She looks strong as always!

Back to White Rock.  It will soon be over!  I can't see the Olympic Club girl but that doesn't stop me from trying to catch her.  I'm back on Prairie City Rd and enjoying the slight downhill.  A little farther I get a nice steep hill and try to fly up the other side.  At the top, I get aero and push hard.  A little down the road, I sense a rider coming up on me.  I surge hoping to maintain my spot.  Is it the same rider from a while back?  They may be drafting me so I surge again.  Now I'm flying down to Auburn-Folsom and the hay bails.  I slow for the corner and then push hard.  I'm trying to maintain my position to the end.

Up and over Hwy 50 and back on the bike trail, heading home.  At the last turn before T2, I pull my feet out of both shoes and put them on top without loosing a shoe!  I pull up to the dismount line and I am actually able to jump off and run...yes!  Thank you Lord again!!

I run to my spot and quickly transition and go!  My legs feel a little flat going out but I always have to keep hoping that things can turn around.  The American River bike trail is one of my favorite places to do a long run.  So that helps make today's run less daunting than last week's TBF race. 

Mile 1 is 7:22.  I see Steve Chavez heading back, flying as usual!  "Go Steve"!  I know that I will be seeing Dave Campbell soon.  Looking ahead, I see Jessica.  She's had a great day!  I know that it won't be long until she's running faster than me.

Mile 2 is 7:01.  Wow, this run is going much smoother than last week!  I catch up to Jessica and tell her "great job".  Then I see Dave!  I give him the "I'm watching you" signal and tell him good job and he does the same.  

I'm looking for the Olympic girl and finally see her coming back.  If the turn-around is close by, I might have a chance of passing her.  A few minutes down the road I see it...yes!

Mile 3 is 7:09.  I see Jessica and she's doing great and is keeping the gap between us small.  A little further, I see Carrie Chavez..."There she is!  I'll see you soon!"...I know that with her fast legs I have my work cut out for me.  I am reminded again that this is not about ego but about Jesus.  I tuck in behind a few guys and let them pull me along.

Mile 4 is 7:10.  I pass the two guys as I decide to push this mile to get myself a chance at catching the Olympic girl.  I see Trudi and she gives me a big smile and cheer.  "Great job Trudi!".  This part of the course undulates up and down which is hurting my rhythm and mental focus.  Please Lord, help me press on!

Mile 5 is 7:15. I can see the Olympic girl in the distance and she's got a good gap on me.  I keep pushing and tell myself to never stop the pursuit...I never know what might happen.  I'm really looking forward to the finish now!

Mile 6 is 7:01.  Alright nice pace!  I'm off-roading it now to the finish.  Out to the shore and alongside the lake.  I can see the finish now!  I didn't catch the Olympic girl but I did have one of my fastest splits...cannot complain!  There's Anna waiting to run in with me.  I grab her hand and we go!  We cross the finish line and I stop and give her a big hug.  I love this!  Thanks Jesus for another special day!  With all the challenges, it makes me appreciate it all the more!

Go Carrie!

Go Dave!

Go Jeff!

Go Jessica!

Go Kiet!

Go Steve!

Go Trudi!

Go Vince!