Salem, OR- July 2022
It seems like most races we do these days are not the result of bucket lists or careful selection but rather the strange cascade effects of Covid cancellations and deferrals. That's how we ended up across the country at 70.3 Oregon. I never would have picked it. Some strange turn of fate brought me to this incredible race.
Pre-Race
Despite being the capital of Oregon, Salem is a fairly small town with an intimate, homey feel to it. We flew out there together on Thursday evening so we had all of Friday and Saturday to get prepped and ready. We're pretty used to the pre-race routine now so two days was more than enough time and felt luxurious. On Friday we slept in after the late flight, checked in for the race, did some grocery shopping, built the bikes, and did a short shake out run. On Saturday we did a checkout ride on the run course, checked in the bikes, had a look at the River, and drove the bike course. Everything was set, and we felt ready.
Race day
We were up extra early on race morning. We used to try to sleep every extra minute we could but always ended up stressed and rushing to the start line. We've gotten smarter. An hour of sleep won't make as much difference as a relaxed morning and ensuring mistakes aren't made in your transition setup (like in Puerto Rico when I left my bike and walked the mile to the start only to realize I'd brought my bike nutrition bottle with me to the start- ugh!). For the first time ever we were at transition before it even opened. We waited for just a few minutes and realized we were actually standing right next to Mironda Carfrae. What a cool sport where you can spend race morning co-mingled with top pros! We quickly setup our transition areas and then headed off towards the race start. The point-to-point down river swim ended at transition so we had to walk about a mile upriver to the start. It was a beautiful morning (albeit a bit chilly) and the walk felt good to get the body warm and loosened up a bit. The morning bag drop was a couple hundred meters before the line for the race start, so we stalled a bit, not ready to surrender our warm layers. The start position wouldn't matter much in the strong current anyway- we were all going to go fast.
The Swim
As we approached the start the volunteers explained that as soon as we entered the water we needed to swim across the river and go around the outside of the buoys that ran down the middle of the river. But as I watched this didn't seem to be what people were actually doing. Still, the volunteers insisted this was the rule. As soon as I jumped in I started paddling hard straight across as the current came strong and fast from my left. I sighted and realized I was being pushed down River far faster than I was progressing across it. The water is cold and clear- I can see the bottom whirring by as I paddle at a near sprint effort. I'm still not going to make it. All I can do is try. I realize I'm breaking rule #1 in triathlon - how many times have I preached the importance of starting easy, staying calm? I'm a strong swimmer and this is stressing me out. I can imagine this start really messed with some folks. I missed the first buoy (just like everyone else) but continued my fight to get across the River (even though most folks gave up and just rode the stronger current on the inside of the buoys). I made it to the other side and even here in the slightly reduced current we're flying! When paddling with the current rather than against it, though, it's much less stressful and flying downriver is a lot of fun. Until you get close to the end. T1 is, once again, across the River. Back through the strongest part of the current. We've been warned that if we miss the turn we won't be able to swim back against the current. Many take this as permission to cut the last buoy and cross early. I go all the way and am relieved to find the current has eased in this widened river section. Out of the water, it's a long job up the steep path to T1. I swap quickly to bike gear and head out on my bike.
The Bike
I finally have time to glance at my watch. Wow that swim was fast! The goal today was to finally break that 5 hour barrier I've been flirting with for years now. I'm definitely on track. I get right to it on the bike, pedaling hard and studying the racers around me searching for my competition. My HR is high and I should back off, but the adrenaline is high, my legs feel great, the field is tight and exciting, and this course is gorgeous. Everything feels right to go for it. At one point I spot Jerome. As I close the gap I hear a strange sound and as I get close I realize he has a flat. "Hey babe! Do you know your tire is flat?" "Ha, yea, I know. I did t bring a spare." "Oh shit... well good luck!" And I was off. I love him more than anything in the world, but it's race day. Today we focus on ourselves. It's accepted and expected. The first part of the put-and-back bike course has small rollers and I was having a blast giving little burst efforts up the small hills and keeping my speed high. The second part is flatter and the field was spacing out. Time to relax a little and get some good nutrition. At the turnaround I turned the effort back up again and rode hard almost all the way back, easing only just before T2 to stretch and prep my legs for the run.
The Run
As I started the run I was side-by-side with a gut I'd gone back and forth with a few times on the bike. "What pace are you targeting?" he asks. "I don't know, maybe around 7:30s" I say, and glance at my watch "oh crap, I'm doing 6:30, I should slow down". He laughed "you're too fast for me, but I'll keep up as long as I can". We ran together for several miles hanging right around 7 minutes/mile until he actually sped up. I kept steady at that pace and actually caught him again towards the final miles. "Hey there she is! Go get that finish!" he encouraged as I scooted past him. "Thanks! See you there!" I was having one of those perfect runs where your legs just want to go and even the pain feels good. The last mile I kicked the pace up even a little higher as I came into the finish chute with a half marathon PR- not just for a 70.3 but for any half marathon.
4:41:41- take that 5 hour barrier! For me it was one of those races where everything came together and just worked. For Jerome it was a long frustrating day. He was running the new disc wheel I'd gotten him a few months prior. It was tubeless and he'd opted against carrying an extra tire. When he got the flat, he though he could just keep moving forward until he saw a support vehicle. Unfortunately that took a very long time. He lost an hour and a ton of energy riding the flat waiting on help. It would have been a huge PR race for him too, no doubt. He did finish, but way behind the time he should and with a damaged disc wheel. Sometimes it's your day, sometimes it just isn't.
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