Race Report: Pinehurst Triathlon

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw

A little more than 72 hours have passed since our last race of the season -- our A race, our first race at the olympic distance, our goal for the year -- and deep, deep, deep satisfaction is what we're feeling.

It's not the same overwhelming "I can't believe we did this" emotionality that we remember from our first marathon -- it's something else. It's a deep knowledge that when it comes to a choosing a goal, doing the work, and implementing the plan, we would bet on ourselves everyday of the year. It's a feeling of limitless possibilities. It's a self-trust and self-confidence that we've never experienced before. Yes, by golly. YES.

PRE-RACE

After a hectic-as-usual life week, we arrived in Southern Pines, NC on Friday evening eager to meet up with our coach , husbands, and friends for a wonderful pre-race dinner. Early in the meal Sage asked if we were nervous and surprisingly we weren't. Excited, yes. Ready, focused, and maybe a little taper-induced cranky, but not nervous. We'd done the training. We had a plan. We couldn't wait to implement.

After dinner, we headed back to our hotel and were treated to our first race-related surprise: colorful, handmade Good Luck signs from the kids living at Genesis Home. The best part of the signs was the note from one child that said "Hope you win!" Now, there was no chance of us winning anything official this weekend -- but that note alone reminded us of how much we had already won this year.

The next morning, Robyn was up as usual before the alarm, having tossed and turned for most of the night while Ray, as usual, slept soundly. We loaded up the car and headed to Pinehurst Marina where we were greeted by our parents who would put in nearly 10 hours of driving over the course of 24 to cheer us on for 3. Thanks Mom & Dad!!

We picked up our chips, got body-marked, set up our transition areas and headed out to warm up. We found a quiet place along the run course to do a few sun salutations, gaze at the lake, and take a moment for gratitude.

Returning to the transition area, we found our second race-related surprise: a challenge from our friend Carly who was also running a 10K on Saturday morning in Montana (sans the swim/ bike warm-up, of course). Instead of sending us congratulations flowers or some other token of support, she gave us a gift consistent with this year's Tri to End Homelessness philosophy. For every second faster that we ran our final 6.2 miles, she would donate an additional $0.60 to Genesis Home in our honor. We quickly did the math and realized that this could mean some significant money for the organization we've been supporting all year.

With that extra motivation, we poured ourselves into our wetsuits (Many thanks to our family for photographing the amusing, and oh-so-pretty wetsuit picture) and made our way down to the water's edge.

THE SWIM - 1500 m

The air was wonderfully cool, the sky overcast, and the lake water was calm as the horn for our wave went off at 8:18 am. The last things we thought about were the kids living at Genesis Home who have rarely - if ever - have had the opportunity to go for a swim in such a beautiful location.

For the first time this season, we entered the water from a running beach start. Ray quickly found her groove and took off at the head of the pack. For once, Robyn decided not to wait at the back of the wave. Instead she jumped into the middle and calmly negotiated the water traffic. For the gal who couldn't swim 50 yards straight a little more than a year ago, feeling strong at the turnaround buoy was a very special moment.

We exited the water and had to climb quite a hill to reach T1. Our parents, who had earlier noted how long the swim looked, shouted "You did it!," while Sage shouted "Hooray! You're out of the water" and reminded us to be mellow as we entered transition.

Rachel - 26:12

Robyn - 33:19

T1

Our swim to bike transition was perfectly uneventful. Rachel consciously chose to take a moment to catch her breath, while Robyn was so happy to be out of the water that she jumped on her bike as soon as she possibly could.

Rachel - 2:03

Robyn - 1:35

THE BIKE - 40 K

Our strategy on the bike was to have our effort climb in a stair-step fashion, always keeping in mind that a significant run would follow. After swimming twice the distance that we had in any other race this season, it took a few minutes for our legs to come around, but soon we were zooming away -- working the hills, intentionally taking in nutrition, and giving thanks that we'd previewed this course. We both averaged around 18 mph, passed a few gals in our age group, and felt our bike legs went exactly according to plan -- even down to Kanye West's Stronger playing in our heads throughout the ride.

Rachel - 1:22:29

Robyn - 1:21:16

T2

Thrilled that we made it through the bike without any mechanical issues, we quickly transitioned to our own two feet and headed out on the run course. When Robyn was leaving T2, Sage asked "How do you feel?". She responded, "Good." -- but really meant SHOCKINGLY GOOD - WOO HOO!!!

Rachel - 1:25

Robyn - 1:07

THE RUN - 10K
We knew the run would be tough, with the hills getting longer and steeper as the course progressed. Our strategy was to settle in, take it easier during the first 3 miles, focus on efficient form, and attempt a negative split. So we did (although we're not sure of the negative split part!). We ran, we cheered for other runners, we thanked the volunteers. When it got really tough during mile 4, we latched on to our memories of the year and got very internally focused.

We were LOOKING for the last hill where we knew Sage and our families would be waiting. When Rachel reached it, she looked over at Sage with a huge smile and just nodded over and over again. Yes, this is hard. Yes, it's almost over. Yes, the training, the plan, the tips, they all worked. Yes, we're going to beat our goal times. Yes, it was all worth it.

We rounded the corner, came through the shoot, and crossed the line -- our run splits 1 second apart!

Rachel - 1:03:20

Robyn - 1:03:19

THE BOTTOM LINE

We both had perfect races. We trained, we had a plan, we executed. Yes, we know that we can drop time - especially on our bikes and during the run - in future races at this distance, but for a first time out, we'll take it - with a cherry on top.

We loved this race. We loved this distance. We loved this year.

Rachel - 2:55 (AG 14/23, Overall 92/174)

Robyn - 3:00 (AG 15/23, Overall 109 / 174)

We did it!!

It was a perfect race day. Full report to come!

Our Intentions: Gratitute & Going For It

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” - William Barclay

Over the course of this season, we've learned that setting an intention for our races works for us. Throughout Saturday's race, we'll be focused on two intentions: Gratitude and Going For It.

Gratitude for:

• This amazing, transformative year in our lives
• Our bodies' abilities to adapt and do what we ask of them
• Support from our families and friends - especially when our training caused their lives to change
• Generosity of the many Tri to End Homelessness donors who have financially supported Genesis Home
• Our coach, the change of seasons, our alarm clocks, coffee, peanut butter, our local running store's frequent buyers program, the friendly life guards at our pools, Maple View Dairy, maintaing our senses of humor and each other -- all of the things that made this season's training just a little bit easier!
• The opportunity we have to swim, bike, and run - PLAY! - that so many others do not.

...and Going For It - as in:

• No lollygagging on the swim
• Working the hills
• No coasting
• Saying YES!
• Leaving it all out on the race course - in celebration.

40 Weeks

“The achievement of your goal is assured the moment you commit yourself to it.”
- Mack R. Douglas

Well, here we are. Forty weeks since the start of our training: 280 days filled with over 800 bike miles, over 200 run miles, nearly 250,000 swim yards, and almost 50 hours of yoga have passed since we made the decision to make this year different.

In this week's final training plan, our coach asked us to think of a few memories from the past year that we can draw on when things get tough during Saturday's race. Here are some that stand out:

• First setting up our blog one night while hanging out with Ryan at Genesis Home.
• Brainstorming together over the phone and in Ray and Dave's old apartment about the possibilities for Tri to End Homelessness.
• Sitting in yoga class the night before our first speed workout, thinking What is a stride? Where in my neighborhood can I safely do strides tomorrow morning? How early do I need to get up to get this workout in? How early does the sun rise in February? Doh! I'm supposed to be meditating....Om.....Did she say 30 left footsteps or 25??...Meditate. Mediate. Dang. This is hard.
• How sore we were after that first week!
• Sister bike adventures every Saturday, especially cycling together throughout the winter, looking like a pair of abominable snowmen on bikes.
• Ray-led swim lessons in the pool with Robyn kicking way too hard, gulping down water, and letting out a little squeal - while Ray yelled: Relax!
• Long trail runs in the cold and rain and sleet wondering if Spring was ever going to arrive.
• Our first week of high volume, two-a-day workouts. Strategizing over the phone about how, where, when we were going to fit everything in.
• Being the only person in the pool during early morning or late night swims.
• More than doubling our fundraising goal -- and raising nearly $6,000 for the families living at Genesis Home.
• Winning big at our first race of the season.
• Watching movies together in bed during our White Lake weekend.
• Long trail runs during the week of solid 100+ degree days wondering if Summer was ever going to end.
• Track workouts. Before sunrise.
• Our last week of high volume, two-a-day workouts. Realizing that it got a lot easier.
• Finally realizing that it is all within reach, because it's within us.
• Hanging out with the Genesis Home families while still in our workout clothes and knowing that we've made a difference.

Getting Feisty

"My staff told me that I'm getting feisty." - Ryan, Executive Director of Genesis Home (aka Robyn's husband)

After being on vacation all of last week, Ryan came home on Monday from his evening staff meeting at Genesis Home and said that his staff thinks he came back pretty feisty. At GH, it's that whip-cracking time of year: the summer lull has passed, quarterly staff reviews are coming up, fundraising is in full swing, families are actively working on their plans to move into homes of their own.

With 11 days left until our goal race for the year, we're feeling a little feisty too! This week's workouts include our last race pace efforts before next week's taper. We're hitting our swim t-paces over and over again, running hard at tempo speed to remind our arms and legs of how fast they can actually move, and revving up our bike cadence and power - all while visualizing what's to come. Next Saturday we want to harness all of the feistiness we've shown in training - when it really counts!

Support Crew Report: 55- Mile Endurance Ride

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T.S. Eliot

Last week's various road trips ended with a visit home this past weekend to Asheville, NC to play support crew to our Dad and his horse Tshield who competed their second 55-mile endurance horse ride. The 2007 Mountin Hopes Fall Fling took place on the hundreds of acres surrounding the Biltmore Estate, along the banks of the beautiful French Broad River. The early fall mountain weather could not have been better.

Much like triathlon, endurance riding takes speed, skill, strategy, knowledge of anatomy and physiology and the ability to just keep going - on the part of both horse and rider! Rides range from 25 to 100 miles and can take over 24 hours to complete.

This course consisted of 4 loops that each ended at the crew support site or "transition area" as we called it. We first saw Dad at the close of the first (and longest) 18 mile loop. As riders come into transition, their crews quickly help cool down the horse by removing the saddle, sponge-bathing the horse with cool water, and allowing him to eat and drink. The horse's heart needs to be below 64 bpm before they can clear the mandatory vet checks that follow each loop. Since Tshield's heartrate monitor was broken, we used a little tri-ingenuity and measured his cooldown using our own Suunto monitors, which worked perfectly!

Following a passing vet check, each horse and ride must wait at least 40 minutes before they can continue. During that time, we continued to feed and rest Tshield - and Dad! Endurance horses- like endurance athletes - need their electrolytes replaced throughout the day. Dad usally gives Tshield a syringe of electrolyte-laced applesauce during each transition - and on Saturday, we added a litttle ELETE to his water, just like we use! After the mandatory rest period, horse and riders are off for another 1-3 hours.

While Dad was out riding, we used the downtime to get in a 2:45 brick - cycling on our bike trainers at Dad's campsite amid the manure and running on the same trails the riders were using. It required a little family-balance creativity to both be able to support our Dad AND get our last big workout in - but we did it!

After the final ride loop, horses are required to undergo one last vet check. If they do not pass, the ride still counts as a DNF! Can you imagine if that were the case in triathlon?!! Dad and Tshield finished in just over 12 hours, coming in 39th out of 58 younger and more experienced entrants.

It was so much fun to spend the day hanging out with our Mom (aka The Crew Leader) and cheer our Dad on at the beginning and end of each loop. In endurance riding, the sport motto is "To finish is to win." Thanks for that reminder Dad!

Training and Traveling

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." ~Lin Yutang

We're off again! This year -in addition to our home turf - we've trained in:

• North Carolina mountains
• North Carolina beaches
• Isle of Palms, South Carolina
• New York City
• Nova Scotia
• Bar Harbour, Maine

And we're now off to Chicago (Ray - for fun with her girlfriends) and San Francisco (Rob- for work with her colleagues).

You know training is a truly a lifestyle and a priority when you pack your running shoes first and are more worried about whether or not you have enough GUs and Clif Bloks to get you through your trip than you are about whether or not your business suit is dry cleaned!

We'll be back next week!

Getting Real

"Running makes you real." - Molly Barker

In Endurance magazine a couple of months ago, Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker wrote a piece on how running makes you real. In summary, she said that when we run there's no faking it. We either can or we can't. We either get up and go for it or we don't. We either worry about what others think/do/say, or we sweat and grunt and gut it out - throwing caution, self-doubt, and others' perceptions to wind.

We were reminded of Molly's wisdom during this weekend's preview ride and run of the Pinehurst olympic tri course. With one month to go before we race our final tri of the season - and our longest tri to date - Sunday's preview made everything very REAL.

The lake is protected and beautiful. We can't wait to see what it looks like on race day. The 40K bike rolls nicely and was somewhat easier than we anticipated. We hope to really be able to build speed and drop time here. Then, there's the run: 10K of seriously rolling hills - with one final steep hill just before the finish line.

As we rode the run course before running a bit of it, we kept looking at each other with ominous stares that said: Whoa. This is gonna be REAL.

Real as in really tough, really a test of all of our training, really a call to focus - and sweat and grunt and GUT IT OUT and NOT give in to inner doubts and mental fatigue-- and really an opportunity to maybe, just maybe, SHINE.

Ignorance may be bliss in some cases - but we'll take the truth and remind ourselves that we're REAL enough to handle it.

An Inspirational Life

"Jane's mission in life was a simple one: to make the most of every day and to help others..." - Prime Minister Gordon Brown

In celebration of the life of Jane Tomlinson, fellow blogger Dread Pirate Rackham has posed the question: What would you do if you knew you had 6 months to live? An inspirational post for any athlete, fundraiser, cancer survivor, person currently living in a homeless shelter, human.

Rest for the Weary

“Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” - Ralph Marston

After finishing up an intense build phase of our training program that included our longest runs, rides, and swims this year, we're very much enjoying a week of relative rest before we begin our final month of training for the season. Sleeping in, stretching sore muscles, keeping our heart rates relatively low, and generally not running around like crazy multi-taskers -- we're basking in it!

The rest will end this weekend when we travel to Pinehurst, NC to preview October's race course and begin visualizing this year's finish line -- or at least the next transition!