My friend April has being doing Triathlons for 3 years now, and every year I've admired her perseverance, progress, and victories. Interestingly enough, it was some time ago when I went out with her on one of her first runs and it was a lot of work for her just to take one lap around the campus at work. For a while, another good friend of ours, who has been running far a long time, K Mark Shofer (aka K Mart Shopper) was kind and patient enough to run with us at lunch. As running skills and confidence got better, we started trail running in Forest Park with a group of friends and then started signing up for running events like the Nike Run Hit Wonder runs, Hood to Coast, and the Shamrock run to name a few. As April's running career started to really take off, she decided to take it to the next level and started
training for tris. At that time, right after turning 30 and entering into some unhealthyrelationships,my health started to take some interesting turns due to a lot of stress. Throw in a dislocated shoulder from snowboarding that dislocated subsequently 2 more times... simply put, I was a mess and physical activities seemed to aggravate certain things instead of alleviating stress.After moving on from the relationships and having shoulder surgery in December 2006, I started to slowly get back into running and found that my body was quite receptive, and I felt even better running now than I had before. My body seemed ready for more challenges. With that - another friend of mine asked me if I wanted to do the Seattle to Portland ride with her and some friends from work and I said "YEAH!". So I bought a Specialized Roubaix, which I LOVE (her name is Lulu)!!!! I started riding with April and Tonya, the Portland Wheelmen, the Portland Velo group and
a lot of rides on my own. One of the first organized rides Tonya, April, and I participated in was the American Lung Association's Reach the Beach ride. The ride length we did was the 55 miler leaving from Amity Oregon. After that ride, my confidence started to build with riding and then I did the Helvatia Half marathon and surprised myself that I could make it - with a time that wasn't all that bad. April, suggested I sign up for the Pacific Crest Olympic distance duathlon. She was signed up for the the Oplympic distance triathlon. The event was taking place out near Bend, one of my favorite places in Oregon, and with all my running and cycling that I'd been doing, I thought this would be the perfect way to give a duathlon a shot! So I signed up two weeks before the event - how's that for timing! I was taking advice from April as to how I should train for the next two weeks - part of that included my first brick work out. The last Tuesday before the race I went out to Sauve Island to do the brick work out. Coincidently there was another group with a trainer there at the same time I was, doing the same thing. I hung to the back of their ride and figured if I could keep up with them, assuming they'd been doing this training longer than I had, and if I could keep up - I wouldn't be in that bad of shape for Sunday. I rode hard to simulate the pace I hoped to do for the race and kept up with the goup in front of me. However, at the beginning of the second lap I had to use the rest room and was not going simulate peeing my pants in a race scenario. Stopped and used the stinkinest, nastiest "honey bucket" that everyone who rides at Sauve knows about, especially on a warm day. Took a gel shot and was off for round two to complete the 24 miles. I rode hard to catch the group and actually passed two of them but was riding really hard to do so. Got back to the parking lot and now it was time to run... the transition from cyciling to running is one of the most awkward feelings there is. I felt like I bouncing up and down taking baby steps - the sense of running hard and getting no where fast. It took a bit to get my stride to strech out and apparently I got far - a mile and half out and then it was time to turn back. By that point, my worry subsided about how the run would feel because on the way back my stride smoothed out and while my legs still felt tight - I was able to push through. The question now was, could I do that for 6 miles. I ran with Mark on Wednesday, which began the tapering phase. And though I told him it would have to be a slow pace, we somehow managed to step it up while talking about anything and everything as we usually do. Thursday I had to go buy speed laces, drop my bike off for a tun up and then go do laundry - as of wednesday I'd gone through my last sports bra (laundry is another topic for another blog). I got to bed late Thursday and woke up early Friday morning to pack, not the best plan because that usually means something of significance is going to be left out and some random, unnecessary item is going to be packed in its place... well, I took my chances. It also came as no surprise that when I planned to leave early on Friday I was slammed at work and my nerves were starting to ruffle because I still had to pick my bike up and then head over to April and Nicks so that we could leave from their place at 4. I left work 15 minutest later than I planned and swiftly headed over to Sunset Cycles to pickup Lulu - she looked sparkly and happy and I ghetto tossed her in the trunk and headed over to April's ... TRAFIC!!! Shiza Minelly!!! My nerves went to level 11 and I called April telling her that I was stuck and had no idea how much time it would take now for me to get there. I told her if her and Nick were already packed and ready to go, just to go ahead and I would lag behind them on the way over... but as it turned out Nick wasn't even home yet and I was able to navigate in and out of the side streets and hwy 26 to get there in good time.We got to Bend and upon checking in to the Best Western, we were informed that they had mis-booked us into a room with only one king bed... and while entertaining the fleeting thought of all three of sleeping in one bed (all lactose intolerant), Nick had to put the smack down and we endedup switching reservations to a "little out of the way" place called the Entrada Lodge, which we decidely chose to refer to as the Enchilada Lodge. After dropping our stuff off at the Enchilada Lodge, we headed back out to meetup with some familly and friends for dinner and drinks. We had dinner at an Italian restraunt and I thought a glass of merlot would help calm the nerves and 3 gwasses rater, I was doing qite will. THEN we headed to some dive bar(thers a good reason why I can't remember the names of these places,I just can't remember why) and danced and listened to a live band covering 80's and 70's music, I think. After another 3 glasses of wine, we headed back to the Enchilala lodge and were in bed a little after 12... another late night... great. I didn't sleep that well, and woke up in the middle of the night because SOMEONE instisted the heat had to be turned on...Nicole. I got up out of my pool of sweat to go turn the cold air on and wasn't really able to sleep after that. My stupid alarm on my phone went off at 5am and that was it. I was wide awake listening to the other two occasionally snort and fart, and enjoy their sleep while I lay there.
Saturday morning - we all roll out of our respective beds around 8. I was trying to convince myself that I only had 4 glasses of wine the night before - not six. My dull, fuzzy nogin could not escape the truth. The plan today was that April and I were going to drop Nick off so he could spend some good quality time with his bro and we were going to pick up our race packets, get a small work out in - which meant April getting into the oh so cool Wickiup Resevoir for a swim, and drop our bikes off at transition 1. My ultimate goal for that day was to be back in bed, asleep, by 9pm.
On the way out to Sunriver we stopped at the store to pickup sugary electrolyte drinks and water to aide in our self induced dehydration and I picked up some other pharmeceuticals because for some reason my nose was completely stuffed up and my regular allergy tablet wasn't working. I was hoping that I wasn't coming down with a last minute cold.
We got to the frenzy of the Athlete's village in Sunriver, and as we were walking along that's when it hit me. First I thought it was elevation, but knowing I don't suffer from any sort of elevation sickeness - we figured it had to be my nerves kicking in. My breathing got really shallow, palms clammy, and knees week as we passed amazingly fit athletes - Saturday's events consisted of:
Thankfully I was there with someone who had done this before and had been through the first time jitters (understatement).
We walked around, checking out all the vendor booths with everything and more that one into multisports could possibly need or want... and their oh so not so low prices... it's a racket! But some pretty interesting stuff none the less.
We had lunch and then it was time to go stand in line to get our race stuff...CF! Lines for this and lines for that ... I'm not that great at organization, but I think I could have organized that a little better and get competent volunteers to facilitate the packet handouts. Standing in line #2, I was watching what the volunteers were handing out - wristbands of different colors, a cotton or technical T (tech T if you paid the xtra $10), and stuffing them into a nice schwag bag. My turn... the kid doesn't say a word to me but looks at the info on my race packet, gets a technical T and wads it up and hands it to me. I asked about one of the colored wristbands and he said I didn't need one...Ok I thought, he would know his job better then me, right? :) Then I asked for a bag so I could stuff my wadded up shirt in it. I was a bit unnerved since everyone else before and after me were getting different colored wristbands, but that soon passed as we tried to get directions from another volunteen on how to get to the reservoir to drop off our bike. April was handling this and I listened to what that gal was saying and watching April writing it down. The girl's directions were peppered with "ummmm"s and "then I think you go" and quite frankly I couldn't understand any of it but April was writing stuff down and kept replying "Ok"... so we were on our way.
Yeah, so we got a little lost... but boy is Bend sure scenic and pretty! After winding this way, zagging that way and a little back tracking to ask for directions - we finally made it to Wickiup!!!
The buzz heightened as everyone trekked their equipment to the 1st transition - eyeing each others bikes, talking about previous and upcoming events, talking of training schedules, and all through out hearing "good luck tomorrow!"... this was very cool.
We got to the transition check point and I was told I couldn't go down to set up my bike because I didn't have a green WRISTBAND... deep breath... deep breath... ummmm, the intelligent young man at the packet pick-up said I didn't need one. I showed the man my confirmation that I recieved in the mail and my packet - both stating "Duathlon" on them... yes, a bit confusing I'm sure. Indeed, I should have recieved a green wristband. Well... spilled milk be damned, I wasn't going to cry - I was about to bite someone's head off. Again, breath... I told him that I need to set up my bike, and asked if there was another way to get a green wristband at this point? He put a zip tie on my wrist and told me to find him tomorow when he would then give me an official GREEN WRISTBAND. Ok - whatever. We got marked with our numbers, April got her swim in, we got a little bit of a ride in, and I got my bike set up (phew) - time to head back... again, directions from another volunteen and a lovely scenic ride back into Bend.
We got our electrolytes and water in, ate throughout the day, and had dinner Shizzy's pizza and so much more. Back to the Enchilada Lodge and in the room by 9pm... we set out stuff for the morning, showered, watched some bad summer reality tv.. and then off to bed. For some of us. I know I dreamt that night but I'm pretty sure I only got around 4 hours sleep... OMG... this freaked me out because I know how I am when I don't sleep well... pretty much incoherent!
Sunday - RACEDAY. Nervous for sure, I was not going to even compound that with thinking about my sleeping patterns from the last few days... it is what is. Breakfast of champions consisted of protien enriched oatmeal, more gatoraide, banana, apple and quite frankly I was still full from everything I ate the day before. Unfortunately, I was not able to pull off the morning constitutional due to nerves and traveling... so I was going to be loaded for the day.
When I think Bend, I think desert. When I think desert, I think ... ahhhh, warm and dry. So, I packed for warm and dry. And it usually is warm by midday. Not so,however, in the early morning. Nope... we went to transition #2 to drop off our running stuff... I, clad in my little bluehoody sweatshirt and my race jersey underneath, capri's over my race shorts, and Chacos... exposing my little toes that go numb at the touch of an icecube.. to the 32 degrees temp outside that morning. There was a frost on the ground and every one that left their stuff out at the transition the night before now had frozen gel cubes and shots and clothes and shoes. I felt silly as I saw people in caps, gloves, full length warm-ups, fleeces, and the like walk by.. and looked for people who were dressed more like me...and luckily they were out and about, stating the obvious.."gee, it sure is cold.. hope it warms up'. Trust me, I've get a little list of things to remember for next year.
Off to the starting line...I know we were talking about stuff on the way out but I can't remember what. Some moments I wasn't thinking of anything and at other moments, one too many thoughts were trying to make it front and center in my head... and I'm not supposed to be taking this event "seriously"...it's just to dip my toe in...
We got to transition 1, which was the start of the Du, and hung out in the truck for a bit. At 7:45 we headed down. Got to the T1 gates, and with out any complications, I finally got my green wristband...YAY! Nick headed down to the beach to the spectator area and April and I headed down to our starting places. I pulled my bike off the rack and set it up against a tree to pump up my tires and get it ready, when I turned around some guy was putting his bike up in my place and when I told him that was my spot, he didn't react or say anything, just walked off to the tri staging area. The lady next to me suggested I take his bike and prop it up next to the tree and put my bike back. I told her this was my first time and that this was just part of the learning curve... and walked my bike down to the end of the Duathlon racks to finish getting ready. At this time it was now 8:30... time to peel off my thin layer of outer wear and put my bike shoe on... this is when I discovered I only had one bike shoe!!! A miriad of thoughts started rushing through my head as I jumped over to the spectator side and was running around the beach looking for Nick. Couldn't find him and went back to find April - she told me he'd gone back to the truck... so I sprinted up to the truck and was relieved to see he was in there and that my other bike shoe was in there also. I was ready to go by the 8:45 pre-race announcements... and at 8:55 we all lined up. I was next to a couple of other newbies and this one gal who had all sorts of gadgets on her wrists and bike to relay all sorts of stats as she was racing along. I looked up at her helmet expecting to see a satelite dish and was kind of bummed when I didnt. She was a talker too...had something to say pretty much about everything...and I was amused by her - she atleast drowned out all the voices that were going on in my head. 
Two by two we made it up the start pad and then we were off!!!! This was a chip timed event, so crossing the starting pads would start our individual race.
It took about 2 miles for my legs to finally feel warmed up after standing in line, somewhat frozen.
This years bike course was altered due to road construction, so the course was a rolling downhill and it was really enjoyable!
Towards the end of the bike route the car traffic started to really back up and there was a mile and a half section when we were right next to the cars which did make a bit uncomfortable and I wound up slowing down because it was bit of a tight squeeze. After that it was a breeze up to transition 2 - running! I was right behind some old guy (like 70's or something) that had this huge cheering section at the transition gates and he was slowing down and waving at them... and blocking me... and transition time counts! I kind of felt like a biddy when I ruined his Chariots of Fire moment by shouting "EXCUSE ME!!! COMING THROUGH!!!" and he got out of our way... a woman behind me said thanks, and it turns out that there was a line of 5 other people right behind me. I racked my bike, took a drink of accelerade4, switched shoes and was off.. until I saw the oasis that was the porta potty! I realized I did have to go and that not going would probably hinder me and cause for an "accident" somewhere down the path. Now, the same thing happened to me during the half marathon... I get in there and it seems like all time stands still and I'm moving in slow motion... realizing how bad I did have to go and how good it felt to go...I stayed in a little longer than normal kind of camping out. Alas... I jumped up, tucked my shirt in to my underpants and shorts and headed back out onto the course!!!. As I expected, it took the first mile for my legs to adjust and was relieved that I wasn't in much discomfort as I thought I might experience. I made sure to get a drink at most all the water stops. At the 2nd to last water stop I asked the woman what mile this was and she said she thought it was 4 - no wait , a little over 3 and a half. I said ok, and turned, then she said she thought that it was mile 4 but not to take her word on it becuase she could be wrong, and she should know by now because I wasn't the first runner to ask her this question... and yes, she was pretty certian it was 4 and that I was almost done. I had no idea how long that exchange took, but I thanked her for the water and was off. And indeed, it was mile 4... that's when the fun kicked in for me because the last 2.2 miles, I had a little foot race going on with these other two guys that had caught up to me. With some jockeying, I kept ahead which re-energized me and the finish line was getting close. Towards the end it was getting louder with music, bells, and there were more people cheering us on - and those two guys beat me by senconds... but oh well!!! I beat my own expectations and had one of the best weekends of my life! 25. some odd miles on a bike and a 6.2 mile run...and I finished!!!! The results weren't too bad either.
So much thanks go out to Nick - for the business paying for dinner and drinks on Friday, for putting up with our constipation talk, dirtying up his truck and the B.O. he complained about but we know he secretly likes, and taking fantastic pictures throughout the race. And greatly appreciative thanks to April for motivational support, training support, logistical support, and for being one of the funniest and most understanding people I know!!! THANKS COACH! Can't wait for next year and doing the TRI!!!
Official race photos: http://www.finishshots.com/racerresults3.php?raceid=473&bibnumber=2125
PACIFIC CREST OLYMPIC DUATHLON
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2007
# OF FINISHERS: 151
# OF FINISHERS - FEMALES: 61
# OF FINISHERS - MALES: 90
# OF DAY OF RACE REGISTRATION: 4
racecenter.com
I ended up placing 5th out of 17 in the 30-34yr old age group!!!!! I'LL TAKE IT!!!! :.D
In front of the Mosier Twin Tunnels
