The water temperature was warmer than the air, but by the time my wave started the sun was coming out and the fog was burning off. That sun did such great things for my mood. I had to pee really bad at this point and there was no way I was taking off that wetsuit, so needless to say I was anxious for my wave to begin. The water temperature was very cold on my hands and feet. I dipped my face to check my goggles and it was like dunking your face in an ice bath. But I was amazed at how clear the water was. I've never swam in such a clear lake. It stayed that way for the entire race.
The group spread out awaiting out start. I LOVE WETSUITS!! There was no treading water, you just float! I actually had a hard time wading in past a certain depth because my feet wouldn't stay down. I did the funniest looking vertical doggy paddle. And I took the liberty of finding a spot in the back to "warm myself up." Now I was ready.
I stayed with the pack for the first 1/4 of the race and then people started to pull ahead. I didn't get any slower, they just got faster. I kept the same stroke tempo and rate of exercision the entire time. I checked my watch at the turn around point, 18 minutes, 2 minutes faster than I expected so I was pleased. During the return lap I started to pass the people doing the backstroke and a few stragglers from the previous wave. But I just kept my swimming the same and I felt great. My wetsuit was rubbing on my neck and I have a burn there now, oh well. Small price to pay to the SavageMan God! I checked my watch when I stood up and it was a 38 minute swim. The timing mat recorded 41, but my goal was 40 so I'm right on target.

I need to start working on my speed. I have been focusing on endurance and was pacing myself to have plenty of juice left for the rest of the race. However I think I need to increase my stroke cadence. But during a race is not the time to fool with those things. That is an off season project for next year.

Walked up the hill to the transition zone. The one nice thing about being the last group out of the water is how empty the transition area is. (focus on the positive right?) I knew I wasn't going to rush this. I was wet, it was cold, and I had a long, tough bike ride ahead of me. The wetsuit came off fine. I dried my hair a little and then put on a handkerchief (sp) under my bike helmet. I opted for a long sleeve shirt and a wind breaker, full fingered gloves and toe booties. It was the perfect combination. I ate a GU at T1 because I knew what the hill was like right out of the starting blocks.
Now I know I was part of the last group, but there were RACERS just HANGING OUT in transition. They were taking pictures of each other, walking around talking.... I heard one of them say she guessed it was time to take the wetsuit off and get started. Incredible. I know you have a different mentality for longer races, but I wasn't purposely wasting time. Crazy.

Not too much with those conditions. I felt set and ready to tackle to bike.

At the pre-race meeting, the course designer explained this course was meant to test your climbing abilities, not your descending skills. And was he serious. The very first turn out of T1 had a sign at the bottom, CAT 4 climb, 9% grade, 0.25 miles. I drove the course the night before and was really intimidated. I didn't think I could do all of this. Not only were there tons of climbs, but they all started from close to a complete stop. Once you climbed a hill there was a series of 90 to 120 degree switchback turns all the way down. Everytime you reached the top of a climb there was a volunteer there telling you to slow down, steep descent with sharp turns. This was the first time I've ever fully engaged my front and back breaks and STILL accelerated down hill. Then once you reached the bottom you would turn the corner and start right back up another hill.

Knowing all of this I decided I would just take it one climb at a time and do my best. I refused to walk that first hill up Toothpick right out of T1. So I HTFU and made it up. It was one of my favorite kinds to, (ugh) up a stretch, turn, up, turn, up, turn, then a double bump at the end. But I made it! Gggggrrrrrrr!!! Then wouldn't you know it, I hit a bump and by bike computer fell off. There was no way I was stopping to get it. It was probably a good thing because it kept me from focusing on my speed. So from there I kept my flat speed down and focused on climbing. I even passed a few people! I love being light and I love my bike!!!

When I got to Frank Brennan I immediately dismounted. There was a volunteer at the top of the climb leading up to this climb saying "steepest climb of the race." CAT 1, 0.70miles, 10% grade. I decided I wasn't even going to attempt it. I wanted to have something left in the legs for the run and to be honest, I was afraid of falling off my bike when I going so slow I wouldn't be able to unclip. Me and 5 of my fellow racers started walking. Every 10 feet there were signs of encouragement, lots of viagra jokes about getting up, and spray painted signs on the road about singing tunes and loving hills. Even walking it took my 7 minutes. When I had almost reached the top I heard a pair of riders climbing the hill. I turned and shouted encouragement, saying I was at the top, just make it to me. The profanity coming out of their mouths was very amusing, but they did it. Awesome.

So at that point I remounted and went along. Of course there was another series of hills. I passed the two riders that had just climbed the CAT 1 and I felt really guilty doing it. Even then I know I never exceeded 4 mph getting up that hill. I passed the water station and the road finally started to flatten out. It took me a while to fully open up because I was gun shy about gaining speed. Every time before when I would speed up there would be a Caution sign saying sharp turn, slow down. But it wasn't too bad. When I made the turn onto State Park Road I knew that was the final 2 miles to transition. The course was shared by riders and runners at this point. There were a few more nasty climbs on that stretch and I was pretty tired. Plus I knew I was going to have to run those same hills as well. More ugh! But hey, I did good on the bike and I did it in 1:41 minutes.

Push a little harder on the flats, now that I know the course better.

I did such a bone head maneuver here. I took off my right shoe no problem. But for some reason I didn't unfasten my left one and just tried to pull it off. Of course it didn't move and my hand slipped and I slammed my right wrist into the metal clip on the bottom of my shoe. What a bruise!!!
Other wise I changed shirts - good move - slipped on shoes, grabbed hat, race belt, GU, and was off.

UNDO SHOES IDIOT!!!!

I decided to use the camp ground bathrooms when I first left T2. Now I felt much better. I was able to do a run/walk combo for the first mile and a half. Then we hit the camp grounds. Lots of climbing but not too long. Then out on State Park Road again for the rollers. At mile 3 I felt pretty good and I had the realization, "Hey Tracy, you're going to finish this thing!" That felt really good. I held a decent pace for another mile, then started to question where the turn around was. Mile 4, not there, mile 5, not there. Finally I asked a runner coming back the opposite way where the turn around was. He hesitated and said you have to go up a hill first. Now I was thinking State Park Road had one more hill. WRONG!!!! I got to the end of the road where the bikers were joining and there were cops there directing racers. I saw where they wanted me to go and I didn't want to go there. I asked a young cop, "do I have to go up that?" "Yup" he replied, "1/4 mile up the hill." I said how about if you run it and I'll wait for you here, but he didn't take me up on it. This was a washed out dirt road straight up the side of the mountain to a fire watch tower. No running for me. But I was amazed at how many racers were FLYING down that thing. I was sure one of them was going to wipe out or break an ankle. Once I finally reached the top I was hurting. I tried to jog down it - did so so. Got my picture taken when I came off the mountain - I can only imagine what that's going to look like. Then I tried to run the remaining mile back, but I couldn't get rid of a nasty cramp in my diaphragm. So lots more run/walk until the turn to the finish line. Then I sucked it up and ran the final 300 yards in. I heard them call my name but I don't think I managed a smile. If you know me that is saying something to my condition because I am always smiling. But I ran accross the finish line!!! The volunteers stopped me to remove my timing chip (forgot all about that thing) handed me my medal, and then I saw Doug. I walked straight into his arms and started to cry. I think it was a combination of all the stress of anticipation, the difficulty of the day, the pain in my diaphragm, and the emotion of completing. BUT I DID IT!!!

Keep working my running to get stronger. I wonder if I drank too much water? I took a cup at every aide station and maybe that was not a good idea. Who knows?

I laid down on the grassy hill and it felt so good to stop moving. After a while the pain stopped and I was good.


Diaphragm cramping, weak runner


The race was organized very well. Excellent volunteers, beautifully swept course. The best of the best certainly came out for this race. I don't say that to imply I am one of them, more that it was impressive to watch them perform so well on such a difficult course. And hey, I hung with them!!