Bless good friends - Diana (better know as Dianimal) long time running buddy, now a triathlete, sent me an email about this fun race in St.George, low key. What the heck, given our winter Spinning Wheels, without Blood, Sweat and Tears - we could run a 5K and bike 12 miles.
Pre-Race Equipment Adventure - Two days before the race, we borrowed a wheel set of slicks for Sylvie's mountain bike (from her son), put on some cross training tires on my bike and put clipless pedals on both bikes. It is important to note, about 95% of the runners/bikers in this race are on street bikes.
Pre-Race Instructions -As newbies, we were introduced by Dianimal to her Deseret Sharks (running club members) they seemed less than impressed. Our instructions - dismount before the dismount line, do not mount before the mount line, helmet must be clipped on before getting on the bike, equipment must be layed out just so in the transition area to ensure the quickest change possible - cannot block (2 riders abreast - 2 minute penalty) ride far right - you have 15 seconds to pass some or you must be 4 bike lenghts behind, not drafting, or another 2 minute penalty. Lastly, no spitting into the wind - for obvious reasons.
Course Descrption - Start at Tuachan Theatre - down and back 1.55 miles, ride west towards Irvins 3 mile - turnaround go up Snow Canyon and back to the start, run another 1.55 miles to the finish - Cake
The Start - Based on our running experience, crowd up to start - Sylvie had us crowding right up there. I took off like a shot, may have not been the best plan having not ran for two months, was in 5th place after the first 1/3 miles, the legs then settled into race pace. I kept ahead of both Sylvie and Dianamal until about 50 yards before the transition area.
Transition - Much to may surprise, beat triathlete Di, and Sylvie out of the transistion area and erased their lead. I found out later than Sylvie's chain came off and cost her 4 or 5 minutes. Di had some sort of fumble. Well the bike race was on, I wanted to keep ahead of Di and long as possible, only about 1/2 mile she went flying by me on her $4,000 graphite Tri - race bike, good while it lasted, I can give her a litte ribbing about a newbie beating her out of tranistion.
Bike Racing - The first three miles were down hill to Snow Canyon Blvd- fast and crazy, then a right turn and out three miles. When making the right turn could seek bikers ahead of me, I could not resist, need to pick them off, my pace was crazy, not thinking about 12 miles, only the next riders in front of me. The adrenaline brought back running races chasing down runners, how exciting. I had soom passed three bikers on a mountain bike, they being on street bikes. I was also soon hpyer ventilating and slowing the pace to catch my breath. I then settled into a strong race pace. The out and back along the Blvd was flat and fast, then the real work started as we headed up snow canyon. This was the funnest part of the ride for me, I passed 6 bikers, on street bikes, going up the canyon, those running quads really paid off. The turnaround, wild and crazy, the bike was going so fast on the downhill, exciting and real scary at the same time. I passed two more bikers on the downhill, fun, fun. Just before the turn to Tuachan, a car pulled in front of me and a lady biker. We slowed and missed the car, crazy stuff. The lady biker started yelling at the car, kind of funny.
2nd Transistion - Legs were lead - got off the bike and started running at turtle pace - what a shock to the legs - riding 12 miles with all you have and then trying to run. I have much respect for those crazy Deseret Sharks. My legs finally started working after a few minutes, suffered to the finish to the cheers of several in the crowd.
Sylvie - she is a trooper, she had never rode clipless and rode a very good race after her chain problem in transition. 2nd in her division.
Dianimal - Kicked my butt by 6 minutes and finished 3rd women overall.
Bless good friends - My last several months of running, if it can be called running, have not been fun. Thanks to Di for getting me in a different game.
St.George - the course was beautiful - I rode 15 miles on the bike this morning, enjoying the course.
Shout out to Howling Commandos
Stay Kool, Howling Commandou Out
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