We spent the night on Thursday night at my parents at Camano Island in preparation to catch the 7:30am Anacortes ferry on Friday morning. Eric & Erika Preston were also doing the race and stayed with us at my parents. Friday morning, we awoke early at 5:15am to catch the ferry. We took the ferry up to Sydney and then drove to Victoria and had lunch. We finally made it to the race site to pick up our packets at about 2pm. Upon arrival, I realized this was going to be a very casual, back-woods type race. The park for the transition areas & swim was more like a campground. They were just beginning to set up the site as we arrived. There was very little parking for cars and almost the whole park was the transition area.

We got on our bike stuff and rode 1 loop of the 4 loop course. This course was going to be a very fast bike course. Some rolling hills, one steep short hill, and 2 corners, but that was it! (A very good course for spectators.) I rode the course and tried to determine how I was going to gear during the race. There was a lot of gravel on the rode, something to be careful of. After the ride, we went down to look at the swim area. We decided not to get in, it was getting late and they were just starting to set up the buoys. The water was cold, but not frigid.  It didn’t look like too many rocks at the start and finish area. The swim would be a long narrow triangle swim in the counter clockwise direction, with the point being closest to the shore, a two loop swim. Not too many waves, a small lake with not many boats. We didn’t look at the run course; it was on an old railroad trestle through the trees. I was told it was fairly flat.

My mom and I went to the grocery store to buy supplies for breakfast and went to the hotel. We checked in, unpacked and went to dinner about 6:15. I had chicken cashew stir-fry with rice. I ate very little veggies, all the rice and chicken and some bread for appetizer. It was a good quiet birthday dinner for my mom. After we went back to our room and I got my stuff ready. I realized I forgot my race laces and didn’t bring enough GU’s. I wasn’t very prepared as far as nutrition or a plan for the race. I felt much disorganized and not focused. I went to bed about 9:45pm and did sleep well despite everything that was going on. 

I awoke about 4:30am to leave at 5:15. I was pretty nervous and didn’t want to eat feel like eating too much. I ate 2 egg whites, a half bagel w/ peanut butter and ½ banana w/ water. I gathered my things and met Eric & Erika to drive to the race. We got there and set up our stuff. I was going to have a bar about an hour before the race but didn’t feel like one. I sipped on water. With about ½ hour before race time, I went to warm up alone. I ran about 10 minutes. I felt pretty good, ready to get started. Looking around the transition area, there were many nice bikes, lots with race wheels and fancy setups. I should have realized then, it was going to be a competitive race! People were very friendly as I spoke with them and were very casual about the race. Many seemed to be locals. About 10 minutes before the race, I had a GU and got into the water. It was cold, but not numbing and felt good. I was ready to race.

The swim was a mass start, about 155 people, I was told. The gun went off and we were underway! I was in the middle of the pack about waist deep. I tried to remember what Jill said about keeping my head down and just kept swimming. There were people all over! It was a straight out to the first buoy. The whole first lap was pretty congested, people on either side of me. I was kicked a couple time, but moved over and tried to find my own place. Sighting was a bit difficult; I was just following the pack. I didn’t feel like I was swimming too fast, just trying to stay in an open place. I couldn’t find anyone to draft off of that was close to my pace. Things didn’t even out until the second lap, then it was a bit better. I veered off track a bit on the second lap, but corrected myself. I hit the beach, looked at my watch (which was still working at the time) 0:33 something. Swim time – 0:34:13 (60^th ranking overall including relays). I felt good! Running up the steep hill to transition, I got to my rack. Then I remembered I forgot to get my wetsuit down, CRAP! I got it down, got my stuff on and was off. T1 time 2:33 (47^th)

The bike course was very quiet. Not many people on it. One person went blowing by me quick. I passed a girl in a ty-dye shirt (obviously a first timer, casual racer). I felt really comfortable on my bike. I tired to stay in aero most of the time. I looked down at my HR monitor. Something was wrong! It wasn’t working! I kept trying to read it, but finally gave up and had to go off of RPE. This was the first time I had raced like this. It really wasn’t easy and I kept looking at my watch the rest of the race. I tried to gauge my time by how long I thought it would take me to do each lap. I thought about 45 min per lap. I felt great the first lap and hit the start of the second lap at 45 min. I was taking 2 endurolites every ½ hr. I had put 1 aero bottle and 1 extra bottle, both with carbo-pro and eload on my bike. I thought I would pick up water at the aid station. The first lap, they hadn’t set up the station. I went around the next lap and then picked up water. The second lap went well, except I took about 3 sips of water out of the bottle before it went parachuting off the back. Round 2 done at 1:30. Right on track. I think I had 3 GU’s out of my flask during the bike. I didn’t see many women at all. I was wondering what happened to them, if they were ahead or behind me. The 3^rd lap was ok, starting to feel uncomfortable. By the 4^th lap, I really didn’t see anyone and was starting to get worried! I felt like I was the last one on the course. The last 5 miles of the bike loop, the girl in the ty-dye shirt caught me. Oh great, I’m really slowing down! I’m ready to get off the bike now! I peed 2 times on the bike. This was unusual for me. Too much carbo-pro? Bike time – 2:59:30 (77^th)

I came into transition, legs a bit tight on the downhill run w/ my bike to transition. I grab my shoes, tie them (that sucks), grab my hat and go. T2 time – 2:06 (68^th) 

I can’t seem to lose the girl in the ty-dye. She was an older age group I thought. The minute I hit the run trail, I started to see some fast girls coming at me going in the opposite direction. One of them says “just keep running”. I must have looked really slow! Since I had nothing better to do, no HR to keep in check, I thought I would count how many girls were running past me in the opposite direction. The run course was a figure 8, with the long course side first, about 11k. I tried to keep it slow the first 3 miles or so. I passed Eric in the first mile as he stopped in to use the santican. I just kept my legs moving. I didn’t feel too bad though aside from the fact that I realized everyone was in front of me! By the time I hit the far turnaround, I had counted 26 girls and I still couldn’t shake the 70’s lady on my tail. She was working hard, but staying right with me. I started to pick up the pace and started talking with the girl. Note to self, know conversions from km to miles for international races! There were no race markers after the 1k mark until the ½ way point w/ 10k to go. At the ½ way, I really started to pick it up. I had no idea how fast I was running. I got water at all the aid stations, finished the GU in my flask, and had a GU at the last station which I guess was about 5k to the end. There were really only 2 girls I had a chance to catch. I was talking to ty-dye girl and telling her to keep running. We had to catch at least 1 of those 2 girls. One of them had a huge brace on her leg. With about 4k to go, I finally passed the first girl with the brace. I was running pretty fast by then. Ty-dye gal said to take names and so I took off. I passed the next girl who started walking. I had no idea what my time would be and there were no mile markers. I asked to volunteers, but they told me the wrong distances. Know the course and markers for the next race! I sprinted the last mile and hit the finish line, finally! Small rock caught in my shoe heel gave me a bloody heel, but otherwise in good shape. Run time – 1:57:11, Overall time: 5:35:32 I was happy with that!

I waited for ty-dye girl to finish. Turns out she is a 44 year old ironman, “done to many to count” she said. She says she still wears the same shirt as her first race (no doubt in the 70’s)! AMAZING! She gave me so many words of encouragement and said I looked strong and consistent. She said I negative split the run and had a good strong, even pace. She said I would be great at the IM distance! That is why I race, to meet some incredible people! I got my metal and headed for the lake. I stood there for 15 minutes, drank my Endurox and chatted with people. All in all, a good day! Still lots to learn & remember.