2014 Silicon Valley International Race Report

Because of the severe drought in the South San Francisco bay area, most of the races have been canceled. USA Productions moved their popular Silicon Valley Tri out to the coastal town of Half Moon Bay.

Pillar Harbor Half Moon Bay California

The week leading up to the race was pretty typical taper week. Coach published a great article on getting your head straight to race. Why do you get up and train every day? Why are you racing? For each person it is different but, it is the thing that drives us to push our limits. I've been struggling with motivation this year and I really connected with this message. What is my "why"?

That's are really good but, really hard question. I train because I won't exercise. I like the way I feel and how clear my mind is with all the training. I race because I want to see what I can do. But, with challenge comes doubt and fear. If you know you can do it, why bother. The trick is to find a challenge to gets you to reach even farther but not so far that it isn't even possible.

Friday morning rolled around and my world was ripped apart. We lost Tazzy quickly. I was devastated.  I had no interest in racing let alone thinking of how I'd achieve the goals I'd set for this race. I wanted to crawl into bed and never move again. I knew this wasn't the way. So, I kept moving forward through the tears.

Need to permanently keep a flashlight in my tri bag

3:45am Sunday morning the alarm blared. Time to pack up and go over the hill to the coast. We got there early enough for Grumpy to get decent parking. We found transition and setting up was pretty quick since it was a point to point bike leg. I turned in my T2 bag and we headed to the water.

O'dark thirty

Way to early to even get into my wetsuit, we just hung out watching the water safety crew getting briefed and the other athletes getting into their wetsuits. We watched the guy on the jet ski ride the course. It was a triangle. Go a little right to the first turn buoy, turn left. Go straight along the sea wall to the next turn buoy, turn left. Come straight back to shore how ever you want.

6:30am

As the morning progressed, the fog came in. The Sprint Tri was supposed to start 8 minutes after my wave but, because the fog was so thick, they posposed the start so the water saftey crew would be able to move into their course.

The water temperature was ~55F. I got in and got my face wet. It was so cold my face and feet hurt with just the short time I was in there. For a brief second, I ALMOST said fuck it. My heart was not in this. I had no interest in being here. I thought of coach and my friends Molly and Tea. Some how, I found myself on the start line.

Where'd every body go?

Finally we were off. I usually don't have anybody to draft off of after the first 100yards or so. Today, two women were swimming side-by-side. They were fast enough it would take great effort to pass them and then they'd probably pass me back. So, I hung out in their bubbles. Suddenly, I was passing the first turn buoy. I was still hanging out in the bubbles. We were passing women from the early waves!

It was all pretty cool until the woman on the right suddenly took a 90 degree turn right over me. I guess she saw the sighting buoy and thought she was supposed to turn. I lost the other woman so, it was just me for awhile. Finally made it to the last turn buoy and then headed toward shore. By that time, the relay group had caught us so, I tried to draft where I could. And then, I was touching slimy squishy mush. After a couple handfuls, I figured it was time to "pop" up (gravity is such a bitch).

T1 was a couple short blocks once you ran up a steep little ramp. They had covered most of it with carpet (BIG LIKE TO THIS!).

Swim: 33:51 - 4th in AG

As I ran up the ramp, my feet were screaming. 30+ minutes in the cold ocean water had frozen them. Each step sent pain shooting up my leg. I found my bike easily and changed. Wetsuit and stuff into the bag (note - I did practice stuffing my bag so, found no issues).

T1: 2:43 - 1st in AG

By the time I got out on the bike, the sprint people were already out there. Lots of people passing me and I just tried to race my race. I had a big ass category 3 hill to climb that they didn't. The first 9 miles of the ride were pretty flat and the road was clean and in good repair.

Taken by car the previous weekend

The course turns into the coastal mountain range with a gentle but determined 8.5% incline. Going through a little wooded area.

Taken by car the previous weekend

The peak was in full sun and typical scrub brush on either side. The down hill was swift but, care was required due to switch backs and big drop offs.

Once out of the hills, it was back on the highway headed into a strong head wind. Again, I tried not to over ride it. I still had a 10k to run.

Bike: 1:38 - 4th AG

T2 was closed bag drop off so, I found my rack and made space. Next, I had to find my bag. Luckily? my shoes had come out so, the orange running shoes sitting on top of the bag were pretty easy to see. When I reached into the bag to pull out my fuel belt, ALL my nutrition fell out. I managed to grab things and dash out of transition quickly.

T2:  2:37 - 4th AG

Still putting stuff on

The run course was an out and back. The out was a slight decline. I really kept the out under control. There was a small patch around mile 2 that took you over some rutted single track that took additional effort. But, I got out to the turn around with out any trouble. I just kept trying to keep the pace in a range that I could hang on for the rest of the race.

Finally, I was heading up the hill to the finish line.

It was a long hill. 

Really long hill. 

 Finally!

Run 1:05 - 5th AG (PR Olympic tri run)
Overall: 3:22 3rd AG

My "why" for this race was simply to race hard. I wanted my body to hurt more than my heart was aching. I shed some tears out there but, they weren't for the race. It's been more than a week and I still cry a little every day. Tazzy shared so much of my life there is always some thing there to remind me of her.