The Silverman full distance triathlon is my favorite. It is located outside of Las Vegas, NV in Henderson. The 2.4 swim is in beautiful Lake Mead. The 112 mile bike ride goes along Lake Mead until it turns out into the desert and then backtracks through the desert to Henderson. The marathon is on a 2 loop course in Henderson. The setting and the people make this the best full distance triathlon in the country. The course makes it one of the most difficult in the country.
Celeste and I arrived on Thursday afternoon. After the airport we got settled in at the host hotel and enjoyed some dinner. After that we crashed. The three hour time difference caught up to us.
Celeste and I arrived on Thursday afternoon. After the airport we got settled in at the host hotel and enjoyed some dinner. After that we crashed. The three hour time difference caught up to us.
I woke up really early the next morning (Friday) so I went out for a 4:30am run. After that I went to Wal Mart to pick up some supplies and breakfast at McDonalds. After breakfast Celeste and I went out to Lake Mead so I could check out the water and get in one last swim. After that I went to pick up my race packet and take some time to walk around the race expo. Then it was off to pick up my bike at the Bike Shop. I spent time reassembling it and then test riding it. I bought a few items that I needed for the race. The day had been long and busy so I returned to the hotel to chill for a bit before the Pasta Dinner. After dinner it was time for bed!
The next day (Saturday) began with a Pancake Breakfast and then a trip out to the lake to drop off my bike and transition bags. The day was beautiful! There was much talk about the weather forecast for race day. It was to change drastically. It was to go from beautiful to beastly. Cold, wind, rain.... Standing there at the lake under a blue sky, bright sun and warm temperature I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Two years earlier the race day had been cold and windy. Not again I thought, and prayed.
Saturday night we went to Central Christian Church before heading to bed early...
Sunday AM: The forecast was right on. We woke up to cold and wind. There wasn't any rain at 4:30am, that was to come. We arrived at the lake and got checked in. We had time to get our special needs bags turned in and do a last minute check of our bike and bike transition bag. Then it was time to get ready for the start of the swim. It didn't look too bad out on the lake PTL. \o/
Sunday AM: The forecast was right on. We woke up to cold and wind. There wasn't any rain at 4:30am, that was to come. We arrived at the lake and got checked in. We had time to get our special needs bags turned in and do a last minute check of our bike and bike transition bag. Then it was time to get ready for the start of the swim. It didn't look too bad out on the lake PTL. \o/
We gathered at the waters edge for the national anthem. Then Frank, the race director, talked with us a moment before starting the race. The first two legs of the swim went well despite the heavens opening up during the second leg and the lake becoming a bit more choppy. Then all heck broke loose as we started the third leg back into the wind. The chop turned into waves. I saw white caps, I saw rain, I saw the wind create spray, I saw swimmers struggling to make their way along the course. Fortunately for me, there was another swimmer near me so we were able to chat from time to time to make sure we were heading in the right direction. When we made the final turn to head back to shore we got to a spot where the lake settled down. Oh happy day! The swim in was good until my left calf muscle decided to start cramping. I swam through the cramp and made it to shore. It felt so good to be on land.
I was helped out of my wetsuit and then given my swim to bike transition bag. I quickly changed and then made my way to my bike. I walked it out of the transition area and then began the mile climb from the lake to Lakeshore Dr. It was cold and windy! I ate a Trailmix bar as I rode up the hill, it tasted so good. Once on Lakeshore Dr. I picked up the pace. It felt good to be going fast. This didn't last long because Lakeshore Dr. has lots of ups and downs. The strong wind was a bit scary on the fast downgrades. Before turning to head out into the desert the rain started again. I was so cold. At one point the rain felt like the sleet I had encountered in Colorado during my GTD ride. I dismissed that thought but later found out from other racers that it actually was sleet. I pressed on and finally made the right turn to head out in the desert. I could see lightning off in the distance. It was far away so no worries.
The ride out was mostly good. I was passing more riders than were passing me. I even passed 3 on one uphill section! At that point I knew all the mountains I crossed over during my GTD ride had payed off. About 10 miles before the turnaround the wind was in our face and the road was a bit rough. I was looking forward to turning back and then stopping at the half way feed zone. At the feed zone I was so hungry that I ate 2 trail mix bars, 1 cliff bar, a banana. I washed this all down with lots of Gatorade. I felt renewed so I mounted my bike to begin the last half of the ride. I felt a bit tired but I was riding consistent with the group around me. Then just before the 60 mile aide station I felt a wobble.
I was helped out of my wetsuit and then given my swim to bike transition bag. I quickly changed and then made my way to my bike. I walked it out of the transition area and then began the mile climb from the lake to Lakeshore Dr. It was cold and windy! I ate a Trailmix bar as I rode up the hill, it tasted so good. Once on Lakeshore Dr. I picked up the pace. It felt good to be going fast. This didn't last long because Lakeshore Dr. has lots of ups and downs. The strong wind was a bit scary on the fast downgrades. Before turning to head out into the desert the rain started again. I was so cold. At one point the rain felt like the sleet I had encountered in Colorado during my GTD ride. I dismissed that thought but later found out from other racers that it actually was sleet. I pressed on and finally made the right turn to head out in the desert. I could see lightning off in the distance. It was far away so no worries.
The ride out was mostly good. I was passing more riders than were passing me. I even passed 3 on one uphill section! At that point I knew all the mountains I crossed over during my GTD ride had payed off. About 10 miles before the turnaround the wind was in our face and the road was a bit rough. I was looking forward to turning back and then stopping at the half way feed zone. At the feed zone I was so hungry that I ate 2 trail mix bars, 1 cliff bar, a banana. I washed this all down with lots of Gatorade. I felt renewed so I mounted my bike to begin the last half of the ride. I felt a bit tired but I was riding consistent with the group around me. Then just before the 60 mile aide station I felt a wobble.
No, not again. I looked down and back at my rear wheel and I could see the wobble. My heart sank and I began to pray. As I approached the aide station I called out for a spoke wrench. Nobody had one. What about the mobile mechanic? I asked. Nobody knew where he was. I decided to go on. The wobble became worse over the next 10 miles. At the 70 mile aide station I asked the same questions. No wrench, no mechanic. At that point I knew I couldn't cover the next 42 miles with my wheel as it was. It was hard, but I decided to abandon the race at that point. The workers were awesome. They made sure I got food and fluids and stayed warm.
I sat there for over an hour waiting on sag vehicle. There was no phone service out there so I couldn't let Celeste know what was going on until I was in the sag vehicle and we were getting closer to town. She was relieved to hear that everything, except my rear wheel, was fine. The sag wagon took me and another racer who had to abandon the race to a vehicle that would transport us to the bike to run transition. There I was able to gather all of my stuff and return to the hotel.
The race was a disappointment, especially since I had a better race going than I did in 2006. I couldn't complain though because that was my first mechanical failure ever during a race. I had been blessed to be free of race day mechanical failure for 27 years. Not bad. Now that the race was behind us we could look forward to the week of vacation to come.
Celeste and I had a good time despite being on the run. We ate dinner with Lt. Col. Dan, Sue and Caleb Runyon, who had attended UFCCH years before we arrived.
I sat there for over an hour waiting on sag vehicle. There was no phone service out there so I couldn't let Celeste know what was going on until I was in the sag vehicle and we were getting closer to town. She was relieved to hear that everything, except my rear wheel, was fine. The sag wagon took me and another racer who had to abandon the race to a vehicle that would transport us to the bike to run transition. There I was able to gather all of my stuff and return to the hotel.
The race was a disappointment, especially since I had a better race going than I did in 2006. I couldn't complain though because that was my first mechanical failure ever during a race. I had been blessed to be free of race day mechanical failure for 27 years. Not bad. Now that the race was behind us we could look forward to the week of vacation to come.
Celeste and I had a good time despite being on the run. We ate dinner with Lt. Col. Dan, Sue and Caleb Runyon, who had attended UFCCH years before we arrived.
We enjoyed some time seeing The Valley of Fire north of Las Vegas. We took time one day to see some of the different hotels and watch the fountain at the Billagio. One evening we went down to Fairmont St. for dinner and then the light show. It was a good week. Now it was time to return home for the rest of this semester and Gator football!
We have a heart for NV ! \o/
We have a heart for NV ! \o/
