As I rode north on the out-and-back course Sunday, I was overtaken by a number of competitors doing the shorter race who had started later, then passed in the opposite direction by the same guys after they were looping back from their turnaround point. I passed the Olympic turnaround point, and shortly after that, was passed in the opposite direction by a police motorcycle. Next, I saw Ace barrelling down the road. I hollered out a cheer, and he was gone.
It wasn't till after the race that Ace reconstructed the significance of what I'd seen. After I had passed the short-distance turnaround point, the only people I would see on the road would be long course athletes. The police motorcycle I saw? Was the motorcycle clearing the road for the lead cyclist on the long course! And the next person I saw? Was Ace!
Ace led the race for the entire bike leg of the course, following the motorcycle like he was the President of the United States. I didn't hear any sirens, but I saw lights, and Ace said the officer did let out that loud "woop woop" to clear intersections. I can't even imagine what that must have felt like.
Anyway, the race went well, considering my level of preparation and my degree of trepidation going in (it's a terrible hilly, blisteringly hot course and last year I told Ace not to let me do it ever again). I was faster than last year, all things considered. And...we're both going to the Duathlon Long Course World Championships! Which are in Richmond! Which is where Belle lives! And near where Ace's sister lives!
I got absolutely zero pictures of Ace all weekend, so I hope the official ones have a good shot of him and his motorcade.
If this blog is to be helpful for anyone else, I really should do an Auburn Triathlon race review.
Short recap: it's a really hard race. It's aimed at people who are self-driven, not just results or competitively motivated (i.e. run turnarounds are unmonitored - never mind the others; don't cheat yourself - I believe it was a non-issue, I'm just saying). Your time will be longer than for any other half-ironman - yes, even Wildflower.
Brad Kearns seems to be a cult of personality type - he seemed to be doing everything at that race. But was cool and friendly throughout. Seems to put on this race because he loves the sport and triathletes - not because he's just out to make money, like some race directors appear to be. Super low key. People we ate with the night before were complaining that it was not well organized, but I'm not sure to what they were referring. Yes, it's a two-transition race, and yes, the bike and run courses were moderately complicated (the run is kind of a figure eight), but course monitors were everywhere they needed to be and were on the ball. Yes, there are a few funky elements (you could get stopped by a passing train!), but for me, those add to the charm.
Considerable bonding-through-suffering with fellow athletes. You don't get a finisher's medal; you get a t-shirt. Well, last year it was a t-shirt. This year it was a hat. The age group awards were a little disappointing - it's a piece of marble with a card stuck on it that says, "Age Group Award." But again, it's the kind of event you do for the challenge, not to get stuff. And winners did get wine and olive oil and other sponsor items. I note that Sharkies was one of the sponsors. I got a giggle in the last couple of miles - it was like I was following Hansel and Gretel, there was a trail of Sharkies all the way to the finish. Someone must have had a hole in his pocket.
The olive oil, incidentally, was really good. They had a booth for tasting the day before, so I knew which kind I wanted. Oh, shoot, maybe not. I wanted the one starting with M, but two of them started with M. I think I wanted Mission and took Manzanillo, or vice versa. Damn. Seems like it would make a nice gift because it's schmancy, but I frankly I kind of want to eat it myself. This is the kind of olive oil that's so yummy you could eat it with a spoon. Also, the olive oil guy himself is pretty hunky.
I'm digressing - the post-race food, I thought, was great. Chicken and vegetarian burritos from Chipotle, mini smoothies from Jamba Juice (they ran out by the time I was finished), and big chunks of watermelon. Oh, but during, be warned, especially on the run, the aid stations are few and far between - remote trail, etc. But staff was GREAT, spongeing my neck as I went by and even telling me I looked pale and asking did I need a salt tablet - I've never gotten personal attention like that at a race before. Cold pink lemonade Cytomax is the bestest.
And as long as I'm shilling, Kin(e)sis once again came through. No sign of oversunning whatsoever. The unscented was nice because I like to fancy myself "sensitive," but the scent, I realized, is pineapple! Yum! Okay, time to wrap up.
For my own sake, I should remind myself of things that need fixing: knee problematic midway through bike and remained so into run. Must stretch more, etc. Maintaining high (i.e. easy) gears through first half of bike was a good tactic to not burn out early, but also encouraged me to get comfortable and lazy so that I didn't end up going very hard in the second half as planned. Will have to remember both components of bike plan for Baja. Driving course beforehand might have been helpful. I think that's it, and this is already overly long. Audi.
I am so proud of both of you! Going to the World Championships! Outta sight! (I used to have a puffy, galactical sticker in my sticker book that said that. If I still had the sticker, I would give it to you to put on your bike.)
Posted by: Vaguely Urban | May 22, 2007 at 11:08 PM
A puffy sticker?? I'm honored. That's worth, like, two smellies and a googly.
Posted by: TasterSpoon | May 23, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Ah, you World Championship types and your motorcades. I need to get you kids to sign something so I can brag about how "I knew you when..."
Posted by: boots | May 24, 2007 at 10:02 AM