Back To Winning Ways!

*Courtesy Image Arts

Sunrise at the lake:

Two Cool Dudes:

*My cousin Bill

Setting up:

*Transition filling up

*Transition filled

The race was well protected by Bonney Lake's Finest:



The swim started, as usual, with bodies bumping, arms hitting, and legs churning the water. I felt fairly strong the first hundred meters. By the time the lead group of five or so made it to the turnaround, my arms were starting to tie up a little. After making the near 180-degree turn around the buoy a big wave from one of the rescue boats crashed into my face as I tried to sight. When the wave hit I lost my sense of direction and started swimming crooked. It took me a good 10 seconds or so to get my sea legs back and locate the swim exit buoys. After righting my course I rejoined the lead group of swimmers. The group stuck and when I hit the swim exit I was in third.

I had a great T1 and passed the 2nd place swimmer. I would have passed the leader had it not been for my bike getting trapped in the bike rack. With the weight of a full bike rack, my seat was too tall to slide it under the sagging rack. I struggled with the rack; I resorted to manhandling the bike rack as I pulled my bike through. I left in second place in chase of a guy riding a really sweet Specialized Tri bike.

Once on the bike, the fight was on. I passed the leader as he put his shoes on. A minute later he passed me as I put my shoes on. With our feet in our shoes we went to full race mode. I swerved left for the pass. As I passed I said, “Nice swim bro,” and continued by. I kept the pace high. The bike course is very hilly, which was good because the most amount of time damage can be inflicted on the hills.

After the first hill I looked back to see if a gap had developed. I saw what looked to be about 15 to 20 yards. I saw 3rd another 50 yards back. “Let’s do it,” I told myself as we came to the bottom of the 2nd hill. I took a drink of water and let a good spit go as I went on the attack. Riding out of the saddle I torqued the Murder Machine back and forth as my legs began to fill with pain.

I made the top of the hill and focused on accelerating over the top. I dove back into the aero bars and readied for a wild decent down the other side. I rode hard over the next two hills; at the top of the second hill I made a check of the gaps. The attacks had worked; the bike gap was busted wide open.

I stayed focused on the last half of the bike course making sure to keep a high cadence up and over the top of the last few hills. I came into T2 to some great cheers. I gave back a second or two as I coasted down slowly before dismounting my bike, no wrecks this time. I heard my cousin, Bill, and the transition monitor, Shila, cheer my name as I carried my bike over the sidewalk and entered T2.

I had a great transition and left T2. I felt great from the first step of the run. I estimated my gap on 2nd place to be about minute. The run course was by far the hilliest 5k I have ever run, well not counting the same course in 2010. The 5k is an alternating steep up and steep down. The steep up bursts your lungs, the steep downs bust your quads and muscles. I was not to be deterred, at the bottom of each hill, I put my head down and started ascending it one step at a time. The first hill is the most diabolical as it ascends and twists up out of sight from the bottom. I am sure a few people lost it mentally when looking at this thing. I kept on the pace, one hill, one meter, one step at a time.

After the 4th hill I was at about mile 2.5. I made a quick look over my shoulder,, I saw no one. I ran the last half-mile down hill to the finish. Last year at this time I had to run the last mile shoulder to shoulder and out sprint a guy for 2nd place. This year, the last half-mile was all mine to enjoy. I had done a lot of hard work on the bike, but the work that won me the race was done during the last month of training. It was mine to enjoy.

I made it into the finishing area sporting a BIG smile. The cheers were awesome! I am not a machine and I am thankful for every win that I am able to achieve. Deanna, the race director of the triathlon I crashed at, was at the finish line cheering me on. I am very thankful to have everyone at the race telling me good job and cheering me on. It was great to share a fun day with my family, I could hear my cousin Bill cheering me on the whole race.

I am happy that instead of my bike riding me into transition, I was able to stay on and ride it. Keep the rubber side down.

*No need for service from this!