Savageman 70.0

Well, this is what we came for. And here it is. Two Thousand Hilleven was all about today, this race, and this course. This could be a long report!

Prerace was just like yesterday, except I knew what to expect. The air temps were slightly warmer, at about 48F or so but the water was 63-64F. Doesn't seem all that warmer, but it was notable different. And like yesterday, the day started out cloudy. Come on Sunshine! At a Powerbar pre-race, drank lots of water. Otherwise--2nd verse same as the 1st.

SWIM: 1.2 miles in 41:03-- Another PR!!!! (there's talk that the course was short, but either way it's a PR!!). Again the water was clear, smooth, and pleasant. This time I was in the first wave, positioned myself the same, and had a better start. I began to realize that yesterday's race had a lot of beginners and today would be different. Again I settled into what felt like a fast and smooth swim. Seaweed, Thomas the Turtle, The Swan, the finish arch. The only problem was some chop on the way back to the arch, but I stayed calm. If this is my last race swim of the year (and I expect it will be), I'll be happy. I've come a long way in my swimming!

T1: 8:43 Really? slower than yesterday? Slowest in the AG! I had a longer run to the bike than yesterday but even with slightly warmer temps and recent practice I was still slow. On the plus side, I stayed calm, didn't cramp my calf, and got all the gear on that I needed.

BIKE: 55.7 miles in 4:26, ave 12.5 mph OK now 2nd verse unlike the first. This course turned a different way out of the park and beared no similarity to yesterday. First hill was Toothpick, easy breezy. Then some flats, I figured that if I dried off yesterday in 5 miles then I'd be dry by the end of the next 6 miles before the descent. Yup. By the time I started down hill I was cool but not cold, but ready to go. Yesterday's hills gave me a boost of confidence and I carried it forward. I had good control in the descents, some braking but no chickeny braking like I feared. Other riders were zooming past me, I let them go figuring they either knew the course or were willing to risk it. This part of the ride was dangerous was fast downhills, narrow roads, and drop-offs at the side of the road. We wound down and down and down to Savage River. The trees shaded the course, but I could see the sun peaking through now and again. I kept hoping for some sun to help warm me up. My shoulders and quads started shivering!

But I kept reminding myself--stay smart. Like the pj pants said: I AM SO SMRT! Stay smart. I was smiling, feeling good and enjoying it. I kept reminding myself, stay smart and you can do this. Stay smart. Stay smart.

From the course preview, I knew how much flat I had after the descent and before the Wall. I used the time to fuel and make sure I was focused. I had decided in my prerace planning to doe a self-assessment at this point. Did I need to remove a layer? Was everything comfy? Was I thirsty? Where my shoes clipped in tight? My head was buzzing. I was nervous and excited and nervous and smart and ready and oh ... I saw the right turn that leads to the hill.. wow... what a rush.

I could hear the noise and music as I turned the first corner. Once around the corner, I came across a block I didn't remember from the preview! A slightly angled street that led to the main event. Bird was already in lowest gear, the plan was to crawl as slow as needed to conserve on everything.

In my mind, I mapped it in 4 blocks (which is why I was surprised to see a 5th at the bottom). The first 3 blocks weren't technically "the Wall". I rolled through the first, started the second. Barely remember that one, except I noted my legs starting to feel it. Started the third, don't remember this one at all. How is that possible?!? Then suddenly--I was at The Wall, I could see the change in pavement from smooth to rough...10 feet or so later I passed the Street Closed sign. And so it began.

My plan was to stay seated as long as possible so as to keep the maximum control of the bike. Shortly after the sign, I had to stand to keep enough momemtum rolling. As soon as I stood, I started weaving left. I don't think I was going around anyone, I think I maybe thought I could get around a pothole? Anyway, I started to slow down. I felt the rear wheel slip. I was still going left. All I could see was 6" of road in front of me. I don't remember the crowds, the loop-playing Rocky theme music, anything. Just holes, cracks, and pavement. I saw hands come out as if to catch the bike. They pulled back. I kept rolling. Turn to the right. Wheel slipped. Kept rolling. Then suddenly...the smooth pavement marking the top of the hill! I still wasn't at the summit...not yet...but I yelled and yelled and suddenly heard the music and cheering and spectators...and then that was it!!!!! I hit the top!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG!!!!

Then I stopped. Whew, I needed to breath. I looked back down the hill, hoping to see DH and his jester hat. I was breathing hard and loving the adrenaline rush. WOW.

But I needed to keep going. I looped back a few feet to get some flat space to clip in, had another cyclist fall flat near me trying to clip in, and started climbing to the clothing drop another few blocks up. At the clothing drop, I stopped. I had to pee since Savage River (and I would have loved to have dropped that weight before the Wall!) so I found a porta potty. Then noshed half a lara bar. Then heard IT calling me!! He made it too!!!! I kept wondering how the other 3 in our group were doing. I knew TH was ahead of me and that's it.

I wanted to rest and chat with IT, but I had to keep going. I was getting cold again and my legs were getting heavy from not moving. I skipped the clothing drop and continued up Savage Mountain.

The next 6 miles were up up up. Nothing as severe as the Wall, though, but I stayed in granny gear none the less. I was finally warming up too! Finally! I knew IT would be coming up behind me, so I didn't hurry. He did find me soon enough and then it was like a group ride. There were so few riders on the roads, it did remind me of a quiet weekend ride somewhere.

The climb up Savage Mountain was timed, but I didn't worry about it. I stopped a total of 3 times (the last was a pause to remove the wind jacket) and managed an unhurried 1 hr climb of the 7.1 mile hill. Yowza!

Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Miles 20-40 went smoothly. I hydrated OK, and I ate the other half of the Lara. It was during this time that I realized that solid food wasn't agreeing with the zone 4/5 efforts in this ride. My nutrition was great when blood was available for digestion, but not when blood was too diverted. So although I was getting good calories, they were sitting heavy. I decided to wait until things felt better then shift to the Sustained Energy + Mocha Clif gel flasks I made in place of the Powerbars. This was a great choice--the PB's would have been too cold to chew and too hard to peel with gloves. Once I changed to this nutrition, I felt better.

More up and down. A harsh bike crash on a switch back hill. Another rider down near Otto. I stayed positive and waited for Killer Miller, the next major hill. And soon enough, there it was. We were warned that KM was the worst climb in the ride for it's length. I agree. 1.3 miles averaging 8%, with stretches over 20% in switchbacks that hide the upcoming hill...WOW...just when you think you're almost to the top, you turn the corner and another uphill section, and you turn a corner and another...it just didn't end...and it was awesome. I reached the top, skipped the offered Miller beer, and found IT right behind me! YAY!

The "top" of KM was still ahead of us, but the worst was over. We passed some cows (I like to Moooooove it...No!!!!!!). We passed the sign marking the official top of KM. We passed what I thought would be the 45 mile mark...only to find the 40...nuts. 15 more to go, not 10.

By this point, the adrenaline had no effect on me. My legs were getting heavy and dull. I wanted to ride with IT but found that when I did I got distracted. So I needed to be ahead of him or behind. We alternated this for awhile, but for the most part I stayed out front. I had to keep moving--I was getting cold again!

One more hill, Maynardier Ridge then back to nice flatter sections and the now-familiar last few miles from yesterday's course. By now I was really getting cold and just wanted off the bike so I could warm up.

Overall, a great bike! No sore feet like I normally get on hills! And I had good nutrition and stayed focused. Didn't walk any hills and didn't have any bike mechanicals. What a great ride!

T2: 2:55 I just remember thinking how surprisingly good my legs felt. Just like yesterday, took off the jersey and put on a long sleeve T, and was only 30s slower. Instead of a gel, I grabbed the 2nd Sustained/Gel flask. Rock on!

RUN: 13.1 miles in 2:16.23 10:24m/m pace. Just like yesterday, I felt great out of T2. I do think this speaks to the benefit of a great bike pace. Sure, I'll probably never do such an easy bike in another HIM or Oly, but the lesson is that you can come out of T2 with fresh feeling legs given good training, plenty of practice, and a smart bike pace. I AM SO SMRT!

Off again on the trails, this time no cold feet. I reined the speed in quickly. I reminded myself that there were 2hrs ahead of me yet! Soon enough, I slowed into a good 9.5 m/m pace. I ran through the hills of the campground, back to the main road, ran half way up the fire road before walking for fear of tripping, ran back down and hit the halfway point at 1hr. Right on pace!!

I was having some stupid moments, like the time on the fireroad where I dropped a gel from the aid station twice, then squeeze some of the Sustained/gel mix on my leg (vaguely looked like I pooped my pants with that nice brown color!) but otherwise the first loop was perfect.

Second loop started out very fresh. I'd just seen Rich and BN, stopped at a portapotty, and started out for the 3rd and last time. I started to feel the wear and tear around mile 8 while climbing back in the campground hills. I'd walk 30s, then run. Walk 30, then run, as needed. Just keep a steady pace, no shuffle.

No shuffle, I kept thinking as I hit miles 8, 9, 10. I'd decided in the bike that I'd view the run not as miles 1-13 but rather as miles 87-100. I'm glad I did this, it kept things in perspective. When I got tired and wanted to slow down, I'd remind myself that it's OK to be tired at mile 95. Then I'd realize that I was at 95 miles and I'd get a mental boost!

The miles didn't crawl by like they sometimes do, actually they kinda flew by. I'd seen JM then IT, but no TH. I was worried about her, but had good faith in her strength. I walked up the fire road hill this time, I was having trouble with solid footing and didn't want to fall. Up the hill, turn-around, back down. By this time, only 1.5 miles to go. 98.5 miles DONE!

Around mile 9 or 10 I noticed I was getting cold again. I'd pulled off the arm warmers and it didn't occur to me them to put them back on. I just wanted to finish. Mile 99... and I was really getting cold again. I wanted to run in with IT but didn't see him behind me. I could wait...or I could finish...still can't see him...can't wait. I wondered if the last mile would be like IMWI, with a boost of energy, that "race flashed before my eyes moment", and the incredible giddyness. It was sort of like that, I was happy and smiling but cold. Why was I so cold?

Passed BN (and nearly asked for his jacket), looked again for IT, saw DH who told me everyone was accounted for, and headed for the line. 20 feet out I came up behind a guy who grabbed his leg as if cramped. I grabbed his arm and started yelling Let's Go! He picked up and ran in with me. We crossed together, congrat'd each other, and that's when I realized I was done! Done. Done. DONE!

My first priorities were simple--cheer in IT then get my warm clothes and recovery drink. Then cheer for TH and JM. DH had time tabs on them. Soon enough they appeared, and soon enough it was all over. I was tired but not pained. Sore but not limping. In fact, I felt pretty good considering the weekend.

Recovery at the house was soft foods (tummy still not happy enough for solids). I stretched and kept moving, and kept hydrating. I was still surprised at how good I felt!

Overall time: 7:35.40 6 out of 11 in AG, last in swim and T1, but good in the rest.

Overall weekend: there were 7 females that finished the 100.0 under the cutoff time, of those I was 7th :)

And I'm perfectly happy with that.