This past weekend I travelled to Penticton, BC with my teammates at TN Multisports to train on the course. Prior to this weekend, I hoped the conditions were worst case scenario so that I would experience the toughest circumstances before the race. The logic was that the race would then seem easier. (In reality, nothing is going to make this race seem easier)
FRIDAY
We spent the day driving - 6 hours from Seattle to Penticton, BC. On Friday night, we did a 45 minute swim in slightly rough waters. The temperature was nice and I felt good about it. it is still hard to imagine doing that swim with 2600 other people in the water. Yes, 2600!!!
SATURDAY
112 miles through multiple mountain passes in 96 degree weather. Yes, almost 8 hours of my butt on a bicycle seat.
- The 1st 40 miles and last 12 of the course are pretty flat, otherwise it is mostly climbing and descending. At around mile 20, I heard a whooshing noise which I thought was some sort of bird before I realized that was my borrowed race wheels singing. Around mile 35, we rode through a wet construction site, spashing mud EVERYWHERE. The bike and I were covered!
- Everyone had told me that Richter Pass was the biggest challenge on the course. Mentally, I planned for a 45 minute relentless climb. At the top, our Coaches were waiting with cold water and encouraging words. My question for them - was that IT? I liked it!
- 7 or so long rollers later and I hit was what to be the greatest challenge of the day for me...YELLOW LAKE. I started climbing this long, steep pass at the peak of the heat of the day. I stopped part of the way through to have some water and wound up staring off into space for a while. A cyclist passed me and told me that it was only about 5 more minutes of climbing. This was enough to get me back on the bike, laboriously climbing at a pace that was so slow that I am surprised that the bike did not topple over. It was more like 20 minutes. I got 2 rewards for reaching the top - 1) An amazing view of Yellow Lake with majestic mountains in the background 2) Kristen and Steve from TN were waiting with cold water, ice, and fuel. Seeing them was a game changer for my last 12 or so miles which is mostly a fast, winding downhill, smiling the whole way.
- When I finished the ride, I felt really good. I was not worn out or dehydrated. THIS IS PROGRESS!!!
- I ran my 20 minutes in what seemed like over bearing heat and met the rest of the team in the water to cool off.
SUNDAY
- 7am 1/2 hour team swim in calm waters
- My training schedule called for a 3 hour run. Since I have been running marathons for 10 years, I thought this was going to be the easy part. WELL, I was wrong. I have never run 3 hours after cycling almost 8 hours the day prior and am not used to the heat. The run was more challenging then the bike the day prior. Despite the cold sponges over my head and ice down my shirt to cool me off, I struggled. As I ran, I was thinking about whether I had lost my sanity the day that I signed up for this race. It was a fantastic feeling to see the my team mates in the Park as I ran in. I DID IT!
MONDAY
We drove back to Seattle today and the fatigue really hit during the drive. Today is a day off for recovery and back at it tomorrow. I feel fantastic about the weekend. It was tough, but it was supposed to be tough. My friend, Teri Hackney, says "Tough is your middle name" to me to encourage my progress and this weekend she is right...Tough is my middle name.
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