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RACE STATS
Div Place: 6 Div Total: 75 |
Vineman Triathlon
July 31, 1999 Santa RosaBy Troy Soares
The weather is not posing to be a scorcher as I thought. My run goal has been for perseverance instead of speed. I trained slower but hotter, wearing jackets and gloves, so I could remain steady as others cracked from the heat.
My goal is 4th place. I predict 10hrs and an overall placing of 10th will do it. I plan for a 57 swim, 5:20 bike, and 3:30 run (these goals were more aggressive than needed, this probably wasn't good planning).
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Eric Bean and I flip a coin for the motel bed. I win the floor. Except for some stressful dreams about being late for the race, I sleep pretty well.
Jim Grant and Christine Heilman give me a ride to the start; The Russian River in Guerneville. I really appreciate this as it cuts out a lot of the hassle in this point-to-point race. It's also very courteous as Jim is one of my toughest competitors. I figure he, Scott Erba, and Mark James will take the first 3 places.
| Teammates and
Friends Racing
Full Vineman Half Vineman |
SWIM
It's overcast and misty as we navigate up river, passing below bridges, scraping periodic sand bars (some guys get up and run), and watching enthralled townspeople along the banks. Although the air is chilly, the water is warm and I'm overheating in my wetsuit. Maybe I'm going too hard. I hope I’m not dehydrating early.
TROUBLE STRIKES
I look for drafts and try to pull ahead of those next to me. After a mile, cruising down river, I've got a gap and am on my own when suddenly my left calf spasms and locks tight. Ouch! There goes the port side prop. Again, I don't want to stop and stretch it so I just drag it along until it goes away. 3 guys bridge up and pass me. After a minute it's OK and I , again, chase after the group.
LAP #2
We swim by the finish line tease and round the buoy. Another long 1km trip up river. But I'm feeling stronger. I pull ahead of my group and catch a ride behind a faster swimmer. But with 400m to go, I lose the draft and start falling behind. The 2nd calf is about to go. But then we're out! I whip off the wetsuit and run to the bike. My time is good and I hear I'm in 28th place.
BIKE
My cadence & position feels good but I’m freezing! Goosebumps cover my arms, my legs are getting stiff, and my calves are about to cramp every time I stand. I've never felt that before. The cramps are probably from dehydration, which may be from overheating in the swim. I start drinking a lot.
CLOSE CALL
I'm maintaining 24mph. I’ve moved up to 22nd (I need to be about 15th after the bike). I go for more fluids at the first station but my cold hands at 20mph can't lock on. The bottle drops into the blades of my rear Spinergy wheel. My heart skips as I imagine carbon fiber splinters everywhere. The wheel is OK, but 3 guys pass me in the process.
At 10mi I pass Kiet. "Troy, when you see me on the run, keep telling me to finish!" He’s really determined. I’m still cold, I keep hoping for sun. Finally, Canyon Road, and sun! I eat, drink, and gain warmth working up the long hill. The backside, through Geyserville, is beautiful. Eating bananas while sailing along the smooth flats. But then I hit a hidden bump and my Cliff Bar flies out. I have none left.
| Preparation Tips (that I learned during the race) a) Super hydrate before the race to prevent cramps b) In warmer water, open wetsuit to get pre-chilled beforehand c) Make sure your bike is not falling apart d) Keep salt tablets with you e) After peeing 10 times you should definitely ease off the water f) Take a PB&J sandwich even if you have to tape it somewhere on your bike |
DARN DERAILLEUR
At the base of Chalk Mtn my derailleur sticks. I slow and kick it loose and, again, 3 guys pass in the process. I'm noticing a trend here: Something goes wrong, 3 guys pass me. The hill is shorter than I expected. Not bad at all.
At 56mi, I'm right on pace with 21mph ave. There’s no "needs bags" (personal provisions handed out half way through the bike and run) at Vineman and I really miss having my customary PB&J at this point. I've drank 6 bottles and I've pee'd 6 times! My calves seem better, though.
OUCH!
At 60mi, the bike seat has gotten very painful. I came into the race with chafing on the inside of my leg that hadn't healed yet and now it's rubbing raw. I pour water on myself and it stings so bad I can't peddle. For the first time ever, I consider dropping out! But I bite the bullet and press on.
GOOD TIMES
At 65mi, the road becomes familiar again as we connect into the main loop. I’m moving up through the waves of women who started 2-1/2 hours after me in the Half Vineman. They realize we're on our 2nd lap and yell encouragements, "Go Ironmen!" I hope to see teammate, Tana, and ride together (Little did I know she was only a few miles ahead and going the same speed! Her 56mi average matched my 112mi average; 20.5mph)
At 75mi, I’m stoked! Good tailwind and good progress. However, aid stations are getting disorganized. I keep missing food and bottles. I manage 2 pieces of Powerbar...and they're chocolate, ugh! But I eat it. And some GU.
SO ANNOYING
The new headwind on the backside makes it less pretty this time. My aerobars are chafing my thumb raw. My shifting is difficult. My
derailleur keeps getting stuck. And one of the links in my chain is binding. I wonder which will conk out first, my bike or me! But at 90mi I think I can hit a 5:20 bike split if I can finish in an hour! At 106mi, I see the lead ironmen on the short out-n-back segment. They look strong! I find a hidden apricot Cliff Bar in my Black Hole bag and tear into it for the final stretch. My stomach is a little queasy. I finish with a 5:27 bike split.
RUN
I trade shoes and try to massage my left Achilles tendon. It's tight as a rock! But I'm happy to see 6:29 on the clock. All I need is an easy 3:30 marathon to break 10hrs! I pass up the bottle of Cytomax I had planned and, instead, answer nature’s call again. I can't believe I've pee'd 11 times already!
THIS IS NO PROBLEM..
At 2mi, my stride feels good and there are Half Vineman racers everywhere congratulating us as we pass. I see teammate, Gerry, and other friends finishing their races around 5hrs. At 3mi, I’m on my exact 8min/mi pace! This time I make sure to get sunscreen at the aid stations. It stings the chafing on my neck. I pass a guy in my age group; he immediately looks at the age on my calf and groans. It just seems everyone is more intense then ever about getting a Hawaii slot! At 4-6mi, I'm still on pace and start cheering and counting the Ironmen coming back from the turnaround. I notice the struggling ones and aim to catch them in the next few miles.
THE TURNING POINT
I’m only 17th at the turnaround. Then I notice the huge crowd of Ironmen behind me! Moving fast. I try not to panic and show fear (as if they're hungry dogs or something). But then at 7mi I get a side stitch! I poke it and pinch it. I take water and it gets worse. My 8min/mi pace suddenly turns to 9. And of course, at this moment, 3 guys go running by! I cringe and think about dropping out for the 2nd time.
I think about the many friends I know that have signed up for ironmans around the world. I wonder if all the "Ironman Buzz" and excitement has watered down how painful this distance can really be when things go wrong. Like what has happened to those who climb Everest without proper respect. Ok, it’s not THAT dangerous.
And strangely I feel I’m experiencing all the racing problems of my friends:
 | Dehydrated in the swim just like David Ridder at Buffalo Springs |
| Calf cramps just like my running partner, Dick Kirkpatrick at Napa Marathon. |
| Nauseous at the end of the bike just like Kevin Kennedy at Vineman last year. |
| Slowed by having to pee constantly like Chad Hawker at '97 Hawaii Ironman. |
| Vicious side stitches just like Cristin Reichmuth at Danskin. |
"Pull it together!", I think, "You’re over-hydrated… eat pretzels! They'll soak up extra fluid. The salt will draw the water out" I try it and it actually works!
| Advice to those Doing
Ironman 1) Insure enough time from your last Ironman for the memories to fade. 2) Remember the possibility that the run can turn into a whole afternoon of torture that will make you hardest workout memory seem like a pleasurable vacation. 3) Don't do an Ironman unless you're absolutely sure you can't live withOUT it! |
NEW GOALS
12mi. I resume drinking again but realize I can’t make up the lost time because even my fastest long training runs weren’t less than 8min/mi pace. I realize 3:30 (8min/mi pace) probably wasn't a reasonable goal. My new goal becomes beating my first Ironman time, 10:11, at ’96 IM Canada. But after the 13mi half way point, as I run through the vineyard and the crowds, and again start out on that hilly course, time is no longer a concern. My new focus is keeping those 2 feet below me moving. My strength coming into this was supposed to be that I would run steady as others dropped, so I was determined to stick by that word. No walking, no repeat of Hawaii '98 (later I realize, ironically, that although I didn't walk like in Kona, my Hawaii "death march" was still faster!).
DON’T HIT THE WALL
At 15mi I surprisingly pass Jim Grant. Something must be wrong. At 18mi I can see some leaders cracking, walking through the "wall" at 20mi. At 20mi I'm ecstatic! As a reward for getting this far I stretch a minute and press on determined.
COKE SHORTAGE
At 21mi, it’s time for Coke! Sure enough, it gives the boost I need. But at the cost of becoming dependant on it.. once you start coke, you need it every step of the way. But at 22mi there’s no coke! Neither at 23mi! I try not to panic. I focus on a passing 50yr old relay runner and try to stay with him. I take GU and water instead but it’s not the same. I focus on longer strides. At 24mi I find coke! That was getting scary. Only 2mi to go and I pick it up and actually break a 9 minute mile.
| The winning time in my age was 9:43. The top 5 were unknown to me except for Mark James who finished as I expected in 3rd with a time of 9:58. He was 10th overall. |
THE FINAL STRETCH
More coke at 25mi and now I'm running like a lunatic. I've missed the 10:11 goal but have got to break 10:20 because it just sounds so much better in the 'teens. With less than a minute to go, the finish is about 200yds away and I decide I can't make it. Then John yells, "Go Troy, he's right behind you!!" But in my mind I hear, "Go Troy, you can break 10:20!" I sprint for all I'm worth, gasping up the final hill, oblivious to anyone, and, finally, happiness, as I see 10:19:52 on the clock and people waiting to catch me.
This was an emotional and tense race. I think that's why I unexpectantly started crying afterwards. I don't think I was rested or trained properly for this race but I accomplished a very good time despite. I missed my main goal for the season, to place above the qualifying cutoff. But I know I have to miss some goals in order to get stronger to reach the higher ones. In everything we do, there is a risk of failing. But that can be when we learn the most. I learned a lot more in this race than I did at my best race in New Zealand.
My main prayer for Vineman was that God would be glorified in this race and presented to the hearts of those in it. When I finished, I felt like I had very little impact, and hadn’t really placed Him on the forefront for others to see. In fact, the Christian fish symbol on my jersey is on the BACK instead of the front. But the next day, at the awards ceremony, I realized that God WAS to be glorified, but by someone else. Peter Ohotnicky, the overall winner, was given the microphone and gave his main thanks to the Lord for whom he is indebted to for his strength, happiness, and family. I left with a great feeling that the Lord is always in control.
THE END
This is the end of my season. I'll be trying to take a break for a while before I start next season. I think my disc golfing could use some work.
Thanks for reading all my stories this year!
God Bless.