Pac Crest - God Bless the Little Children, Cycling is beautiful , War of attrition

Well, better late than never on a race report.

I did it:

Swim 1.2 miles 0:52:26
Bike 58 Miles 3:08:05
Run 13.1 Miles 2:04:08

I was shooting for under 6 hours and just missed it, I am , however, pleased given this is the first time attempting such distance and it was only my third Triathlon.

Arrived in Sunriver Thursday with Devin, got settled in the house and went to check out the expo, Devin needed to buy a couple of things for the race. I was just chilling. I had this subtle nervous anxiousness going but was very relaxed. It was like a slow burning fire was building inside me. We went to get some food and a beer in Sunriver village. The pre-race food stock piling was in full swing. I had been eating like a horse all week and it was only increasing. I was eating four full meals everyday for that week.

Checking out the expo and eating and visiting with Devin kept me occupied. We head back to the house. It was quiet and we awaited the arrival of our house mates for the weekend, Kat, Jenny and Jason (aka Carver). They were going to arrive late so Devin and I set up house best we could until we could decide who was sleeping where. Five people four beds. HMMM. Who gets to sleep with who. I took a bit of a nap Devin made pasta sauce for the next nights pre race carbo loading. I found myself very relaxed borderline sleepy and yet could not sit still. I decided to head over to Walter's house to visit with that crew, coach Jane, Randal, Allie, Em, Lindsay, Chris, etc. Afull compliment of TNTers. I rode a cruiser over so I got the blood flowing a little bit and could expend some energy. Brief visit, had a little Pizza and some beer needed to head back before it got dark, unfortunately it got dark and i don't know the trail system in Sunriver well, still made back with out getting lost or hit.

Our house mates arrived shortly after I got to the house. Now, where are we going to sleep. Rooms are divied up. Some how I end up in the master bedroom with a California king bed. Carver ends up on an aero bed in the closet. we bullshit settle into some TV and then off to bed.

Friday, one day to race. The slow burning fire in me is really stoking up. I comment to myself and text a few people, "this is starting to feel real", I am not scared maybe a bit nervous. I am really going to do this. In a lot of respects I am not sure what to expect but I have trained, I have run, cycled and swam, I am ready. Nothing now to do but "smile and enjoy the ride". Devin and I head out after breakfast to ride the run route, which winds around the trail system of Sunriver. It is nice, some shade but there are some major exposed areas and it is predicted to be a hot one Saturday, approaching 100. Devin suggests salt tablets and offers some up to me later in the day. He had some major cramping issues last year, and believes these will help that issue.

After the ride we pick up packets meet up with some TNTers who are also milling about the expo. Justin, one of our sales reps, is there setting up the beer garden and offers to buy me a beer. I get a bunch of crap from people for having a beer the day before the race and at 11 am. One thing I never have had a problem with is drinking in the morning but I don't have a drinking problem. It is part of my job and I am not going to completely change my behavior for a race. One beer will not kill me if anything it will settle the nerves a tad. I and others have a big Hawaiian BBQ lunch. Ah yes more food.

Now it is time for some preparation time to head up to Wikiup reservoir. This is where the race will start. At the reservoir first order of business is to set up T1. I set it up nearly everything but my hydration. Some people choose to bring most of their stuff up the morning of the race. I don't want to fuss with too much race morning, get it done now. Next thing is to check out the water. Only a few weeks ago the area was still snowed in and some are concerned about the water temperature. They had been advertising it as being 60 to 62 and it was. I took a little swim out to the first turn buoy. The water felt great. The only issue really was when I pulled my goggles out of my bag they were broken at the nose piece, shit, can't swim with those. Lindsay helped me find someone that had already swam and was willing to let me use them for this warm up swim. I will have to go to the expo and buy a new pair. There is a saying amongst Triathletes "nothing new on race day", but this can't be avoided. So transition set up, check out the swim done.

This little experience seems to calm the nervousness a bit for a couple of reasons, I think. I put in a little exercise, I know the water is fine and the course does not look too daunting. As you all know I am a new swimmer, and 1.2 miles is a long ways for someone who just started lesson in February. But again I am prepared. I know what to expect. I am not going to set any records. I will get it done. Besides I am smiling. Devin offers to drive back to Sunriver via the bike route so we can see what it looks like. The course looks good, it climbs its way to Mt Bachelor fairly steady with a couple of moderately steep pitches which will be difficult but manageable, for some reason I have become a bit of climber since I started cycling.

Okay, back at Sunriver head off to the expo to pick out some new goggles. Devin and I both go and are joined by his friend Mary. We mill about. I find the goggles I need. We walked over and and I am starting to be wary of being on my feet so much and out in the sun. I want to get back to the house and relax and start thinking about rest, mental race prep, and more food.

Back at the house Devin, Mary and I start getting dinner ready. The other house mates are TNTers and are at there own pasta feed. The three of us make a dinner of pasta, salmon, and salad. Big dinner. Clean up and relax. The others return we talk about the race and turn in early.

So Carver complains that the aero bed in the closet was not so comfortable and asks if I mind if I share the bed. i don't care it is huge. This story was later told to Lindsay who promptly says " So, Carver you came out of the closet to sleep with Doug" He turns bright red and we all laugh. Carver and I chat a while about racing, he has done this a few times. We both go silent but are awake for quite a while sleep does not come easily on the night before the race.

Race day; up before 5 am. I am tired, not really nervous and the fire inside me is really stoking up. I plow in as much food as I can. Take off to set up T2 and then catch the shuttle to Wikiup. Ride up is uneventful. Talk to some other Triathletes. One guy has done multiple Half Ironmans and a few Ironmans and tells me that I will get the bug and do one soon. Hell, I have not even run a Marathon let alone thinking about doing an Ironman. He maybe right though.

Arrive at Wikiup, I am in the middle of a bunch of TNTers who I know because my training coincides with them and many are my friends who I have met through Lindsay and Seth. Which is really comforting. There are some alum and some new athletes, it is good to be around fun positive people. Bolsters my mood. We talk, finish up last details of T1 set up get slathered with Sunscreen. All this time at Wikiup my burning engine inside is really ramping up. It is a bit intense. I look at Lindsay and say " I get it." I have watched her and others race these things for the last two years. I always enjoyed watching and talking to them about their races and thought I understood. I really did not. It is not that it is daunting but you can't really understand until you walk a mile(s) in someone else's shoes. The two races I did before pac crest were good builders and I felt some nervousness and fire in my belly but this one is just different. It is the one I had been training for and I finally understood what had been going on inside of them in this situation.

Well nothing left to do but put on the wet suit and jump in, my wave starts at 9:15.
Funny thing happened on the boat ramp at the reservoir. I ran into an old colleague from my brewing world. We never worked together but often ran into each other at brewing school, events, etc. I was standing there talking and turned around and we both were saying "what are you doing here". Small world sometimes. Slowly the clock ticks toward my wave. The elites take off and then the younger waves. Now it is my turn, and I am off...

---->> I am in the middle there with the raised hand.


I spend a lot time going to the first buoy bumping into people and getting bumped but nothing major. I am having troubles getting my breath. I do a fair amount of breast stroke to keep my head out of the water to breathe. I dig in again with freestyle. Still can't get my breath. This is going to be a bit of a long swim. The swim is actually fairly uneventful I freestyle stroke when i can and rest as needed. I had a pre- race goal of 50 minutes for the swim. I got done in 52. That will have to do. I came out of the water smiling and happy to get on the bike. I did it, 1.2 miles swimming.

Onto the bike. I have been looking forward to this part. I have been told so many good things about the ride. Yes I saw it from the car the day before but I really want to do this ride. I am off to a good start transition went well. No problem finding my bike since I am one of the last out of the water, but not the last. I start drinking my gleukos right away. I am tired but the wind on my cool wet body feels good. There is not much to it you just start gently climbing towards Mt Bachelor peddle at a high cadence and eat and drink.

The scenery is beautiful, forests, mountain lakes and a ribbon of asphalt. The course heads east as we wrap around one of the lakes. This where you really start to see elevation gain and the steeper pitches start. I just keep pedaling. I am slowly starting to catch up with people and pass them. Often seeing and saying "hi" to those I know, wishing them well. This section of the race is where my headline comes from. As we approach Mt Bachelor there is still snow on the road side. Now and then you see someone pulled over waiting to cheer on a friend or relative. At one point a women and a gaggle of kids have pulled their mini van over. The women is scooping up snow balls and handing them to the kids who then pass them off to us riders. God bless the little children. It is not real hot up there but it is getting warm and, well, we are climbing a mountain. I took my snow ball and held and rubbed it on my neck. Then let it slide down my jersey where it slowly melted over the next few miles. Such satisfaction. Such sweet satisfaction. Then before I know it, after a few more steep climbs I summit. Whoot. I am here and it is all down hill. The down hill was good, plenty of recovery. I was passed by a couple of large men who had a weight advantage on the descent. I am pretty confident I will see them on the run. I get to the flat and peddle it on into T2.

Big crowd at T2, lots of cheering. I feel pretty good and it is going to be hot. I mistakenly forgo putting on another layer of sunscreen. I will peel later from that burn. I trudge out of T2 my idea is to keep moving at more than a walk, it is a steady up hill climb right out of the transition. But I am a runner, this is my fall back, I can do this. I soon see the first, aid station, drink water and pour it down my head and back. I have committed to running but take my time at the aid stations, to rest, drink and cool off.

After about 3 miles, I identify, I most likely will not meet my goal of under six hours. I know I will have some stretches in the open sun with no shade. I decide that I will do a little walking to conserve for when I am in the sun and want to get through it as quickly as possible. So I alternate between running and walking a bit. As I start to recover and feel better it is still hot and I decide this part will be a war of attrition. One foot after the other, another mile down, another aid station. This is a war I will win.

Somewhere past half way I can hear a bit of a ruckus on the other side of a tunnel. As I proceed through I see Lindsay and others with huge super soakers. As I am just coming out of the tunnel I hear Lindsay say "this one's mine". Please, let me have it. I want to get soaked. Lindsay and two others fire away. Several spots along the way, Sunriver peeps were in there yards hosing runners down, it was a God send, anything to get the temperature down. By this time I am running only, again, except for stops at the aid stations. One of the last aid stations a women was dipping a towel in ice water and toweling down your neck back and face. That was sweet relief. She thought I was going to go into shock. I was okay but it was startling good.

I proceed on, about two miles to go. I know it is almost done and I have settled into a good pace. Just as I am approaching the village Seth sees me and runs me in the rest of the way. That was good. I don't know if he knows how much it meant. Thanks Seth. I returned the favor by picking up the pace to haul it into the finish. Seth has already done his race so he is running people in after his own half Ironman. He later says he won't ever run me in again. He did ask how I was feeling, I said tired, but good and I think I might cry. I was starting to feel ... I want to say overwhelmed but that is too much. I was very satisfied and a bit emotional. Then there it is, a big redbull arch and finish line.

Holy crap. I did it and, I think, well. No major issues or catastrophes I followed my plan and adjusted when I needed to. Post race included a visit to the shower where competitors can cool off and recoup. Then I was off to find a beer. Met up with Jenny, and Devin. Jenny's boyfriend had a budlight handy which I pretty much slammed. He handed over money he held for me so I could purchase beer post race post haste. Couple of beers down. Time get to the house. I need an ice bath and a shower.

I am really happy about my performance and I smiled all the way.

Word: satisfaction