I’m an ST lurker so this is my first attempt at an RR. Sorry if it’s too long!
I arrived in Lakeport just before the expo closed on Saturday with 2 of my friends who were also racing. We enjoyed the pre-race dinner and saw some of the pros mingling with us amateurs, but it was really hard to eat- I was so nervous! I’ve been doing triathlons for less than a year, and this would be my longest distance since my one and only HIM in October. I was able to get a bit of sleep Saturday night and woke up ready to race Sunday morning.
Swim: 52:05
The swim start was perfect since there were only 150 of us racing. The water temp was perfect and there was hardly any contact at the start. Sighting was easy because the buoys were huge and well-placed, and before I knew it, I was rounding the buoy on the last lap and out of the water in 52 minutes. Since I don’t consider myself a strong swimmer, I was really happy with my time.
My T1 was very slow because I just didn’t want to forget anything on my bike (4:12). It was nice to get a ton of personal attention in the changing tent, and I even had 3 women lathering me up with sunscreen!!
The bike course was wonderful. The roads were mostly decent, with only 2 sketchy spots, and the course had gorgeous views and relatively easy rolling hills. There were volunteers at every single turn and intersection making sure that you would never get lost, and warning you of dips in the road or sharp turns ahead. They were amazing! They also took the time to yell and cheer each time you went by. The weather was perfect for the first lap, and in the middle of my second lap the wind picked up a bit. There was only one stretch where you were directly in the headwind, but it still was enough to slow me down. Overall, I am very happy with my bike split and I passed 4 women on the course, as well as a handful of men. It was also really cool to see the pros speed around the course- they are so fast!!
Bike time: 4:17:44, but my Garmin had the course over 1.4 miles long.
After having driven the run course the night before, I knew it was going to be brutal. Getting off the bike, I was really dreading this run. I usually enjoy running the most, but not today. Because of that, my T2 was also pathetic- 4:10- I just didn’t want to leave that changing tent!
The first ½ mile of the run wasn’t bad- I was averaging 8m/m, but I knew that was the only time I’d see that pace. Immediately, there was a long, steep climb that had 2 folks walking up. I was determined not to walk any of those hills, but I wasn’t going a whole lot faster than a shuffle. The downhills were just as brutal, and the hills just never stopped. I walked a few of the aid stations so that I could put ice in my hat, but I managed to keep plowing along for the whole run. I didn’t see another woman to try and catch on the run, so I just focused on trying to keep a lead on whomever might be behind me. If there were more people in my sights, I may have pushed it more, but it was just getting lonely out there!
The best part of this run was the volunteers at the aid stations. Before you arrived, the hyper little kids came up and asked what you wanted- water, ice, Gatorade, infinit, gel, a spray with the hose- it was awesome! The volunteers also cheered you on and even some of the locals were out there encouraging the athletes for the entire day. The town of Lakeport deserves a HUGE thank you for their enthusiasm and support of the race!
By the end of the run, I was just happy to be averaging 10m/m without cramping up. I took a ton of endurolytes and shot blocks and just kept plodding along. Total run time: 2:54:35. I’m not thrilled with my performance, considering I just ran a 3:21 at Boston, but this course was really tough. I also pushed myself a lot on the bike, and probably went a bit too hard, but I had a blast on that bike course!
Final time: 8:12:46
After the race, I met a few awesome STers and hung out with cousin elwood and his crew (including Dr-J) at the awards ceremony BBQ, and he encouraged me to not be a stranger on ST :). I ended up getting 1st in my AG (25-29) and 2nd overall for amateur females. I also got to meet Hillary Biscay and Leanda Cave, who are super nice and just amazing athletes!
The race, venue, organization and execution of this event was absolutely perfect! The volunteers did an amazing job at every point in the race and I loved the personal attention that they gave to every athlete. Everyone that I talked to after the race agreed, and we also all agreed that the run was BRUTAL! I really hope this race succeeds- the distance is an excellent challenge!
