Let me start by saying that this will probably be my shortest race report as the inaugural IRONMAN California was canceled due to an historic storm in Sacramento. Lots and lots of much needed rain...
On top of that the wind was crazy strong...
PRE-RACE
This was my third official IRONMAN branded race. Previously, I completed IRONMAN Vineman and IRONMAN Santa Rosa 70.3. So these are the IRONMAN experiences I am comparing IRONMAN California to. IRONMAN California was far above the other two races in terms of organization, staging and communication. I would say the only weak point was parking the morning of the race.
In order to control the number of athletes at registration, I had to select a time to check-in. I chose Thursday morning between 10am-11am figuring that it would take about an hour and then I could attend the 11am athlete briefing. The whole check-in process was extremely efficient. I was in and out in about 10 minutes! HS and I did a little IRONMAN shopping and then found shelter under a small awning with other athletes waiting for the briefing.
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| Trying to stay dry as we wait for the athlete briefing |
Also during registration, I had to select at time to drop off my bike on Saturday. This was handled by simply choosing a business sized card with an hour time slot. I always worry about how things are going to be handled and what I need to do, this was super easy.
I was glad I waited for the briefing. Although most of the info was available in the athlete guide, there were a few changes that had been made to race day logistics. Due to the predicted rain, wind and cold, the organizers added full changing tents and instructed us to bring our "Swim to Bike" bags to the stadium with our bikes on Saturday. I appreciated the fact that they were willing to make last minute changes.
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| IRONMAN mask was part of the swag |
After checking in on Thursday, we headed back home. I spent the next two days checking the weather and making last minute changes to my gear and spraying Scotchgard on everything that wasn't designated by it's manufacturer as waterproof. I also added a few decorations to my bags.
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| Glad "Press N Seal" worked great protecting my saddle and bike bag for the overnight stay in the rain |
Saturday afternoon was an easy drive back to the ball field. It was cloudy but dry. I prayed that the weather people were wrong about their forecast for Sunday and that my biggest problem of race day would be ditching unnecessary layers of clothing.
When I saw that one loop of the ride was being cut, I was a little relieved. I knew that I could easily complete 56 miles, even in the wind (Well, "normal" wind, not what we woke up to LOL). However, I secretly wished it was the swim that was being cut. I was shocked that even after the accident and my fear of riding on the road, I was still more afraid of the swim. At that point, all I could do was climb back in bed and stare at the ceiling.
RACE MORNING
Race morning finally arrived. I got up, fixed some coffee and started dressing for the race. Instead of wearing the Pearl iZUMI tri suit I got in 2018 during my last year as a PI "ambador", I opted for the two piece kit I wore for IRONMAN Vineman. Actually, I was just wearing the shorts and a sports bra for the swim...less wet clothes to deal with.
As I sipped my coffee, I scrolled through the various IRONMAN California Facebook groups. Some athletes were upset about the ride being shortened but most seemed to accept the change because it was made in the name of safety. I noticed a post about the change in the start time, so I re-read the text from the night before and saw that the start would now be at 7:30am. This was a relief because I had noticed that it was still dark at 7am, the original start time. I really didn't want to swim in the dark.
HS and I adjusted our leave time and I continued getting ready which included another double-check of my remaining gear bags. Since it was now raining heavily, I slathered my legs in baby oil and slipped on my wetsuit up to my waist. The wetsuit would keep me warn and dry until I had to climb into the American River. I then covered my feet in vaseline and slipped on my neoprene booties followed by a pair of shoes.
The drive from Roseville (staying with my daughter and family) was a bit disconcerting. The wind gusts could be felt as we drove in silence. Neither one of us wanted to mention the fact that the truck was being blown around. How was I going to be able to ride in this. I'm not a very light rider, but I knew I didn't weigh enough to feel stable on the road. I was starting to get panicky about swimming in this kind of weather too.
At the athlete briefing we were assured there was plenty of parking at the ball field (for a $15 fee) and that our support peeps could come and go all day. The weather the morning of the race may have forced more people to drive instead of walk from their hotels because we were at a standstill once we got off of I-5 (we used the J St exit, not sure if that was the best choice, but we weren't alone).
When we finally made it to the intersection of Tower Bridge Gateway and Riverfront St I told HS that I needed to get out and get to my bike. We had intended to ride the shuttle together to the race start but I was worried that at 6am, I was running out of time. From the athlete entrance it was a winding route down on to the field where the bikes were waiting. HS gave me a kiss, told me he loved me, and I hopped out into the rain and ran across the street. I hoped we would meet up again before the swim start.
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| The red star marks where I finally got out of the truck |
I walked up the area where the blue "Swim to Bike" bags were carefully lined up. I looked for mine and found it on the opposite side of where I was told to place it on Saturday. I tapped the top of the bag to check that my helmet was there and kept moving down to the field. Everything was soaked and the field was getting a bit flooded. Even though the entire field was covered in an interlocking plastic grid, mud and water pressed up with each step, soaking my shoes.
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| Photo from one of the IMCA Facebook groups credit to Bev Raines Hess |
I dropped my red "Bike to Run" and grabbed my Gatorade and filled the bladder on my bike. Just then an official sounding voice came over the loudspeakers. At first it sounded like he was just reiterating the info I received in last night's text and email. However, the content had changed. After talking about the severity of the weather, he announced that the race had been canceled. I bent over and grabbed my knees and started to cry. I know there are much more important things in life than a race but I had so much emotionally invested in this endeavor that the announcement was soul crushing in that stormy moment . I stood up and looked at the faces of my fellow athletes. I wasn't alone in my disappointment.
The announcer instructed us to get our bikes and gear and make our way out of the stadium. At this point, the wheels sort of came off the well oiled machine. The initial instructions said to leave the way we came in. It was like swimming upstream as athletes were still making their way into the stadium. I went through two sets of volunteers that were checking wristbands against the number on the bikes (thankful for that). I asked about my timing chip, but no one seemed to know what to do with them at that point. Just as I got to where the blue "Swim to Bike" bags were, a volunteer was turning people around and telling us to go the other way.
I made eye contact with a guy on the other side of the railing he asked "What do you need?" and I answered "Can you get bag 631 for me?" He quickly located my bag and handed it to me. I thanked him and turned around and headed back towards the field. Eventually another volunteer opened up a space in the fence and pointed us to an exit. The next thing I knew, I was outside and had no idea where Hot Stuff was and I didn't have my phone.
I hoped he was still waiting in line to get into the parking lot so I walked in that direction. Cars were still lined up. The wind blew my bike around in my hand as I tried to push it with a bag balanced on the aerobars and two in my free hand. I walked the entire perimeter of the stadium before stopping at the entrance where soaked athletes were waiting in line to collect their gear. I scanned the cars driving up the street and the parking lots. It was still dark and the rain and the lights made it impossible to see much. I stood in the rain and waited.
Eventually I decided to change out of my soaked jacket and put on the clothes I had intended to wear on the ride. I had a long sleeve thermal jersey and a waterproof cycling jacket. I stood out in my bright yellow and pink jacket in the dark wet morning. No sign of HS though.
From behind me I heard a woman ask a volunteer about her timing chip. The volunteer answered that she could take it. I unstrapped the chip from my left ankle and handed it the volunteer and thanked her. I returned to my search for HS. After about 20 minutes I decided to circle the stadium again. Although it was still raining heavily, dawn had started to lighten the sky. I felt like a lost child, too shy to ask to borrow a cell phone. Eventually I saw a familiar shadow coming towards me, I finally found him or more accurately, he found me. He helped me with the bags and opened the back door of the truck as I hoisted the bike quickly inside.
As it turns out, he gave up trying to park and drove to the swim start only to be told that the race was cancelled. He drove back to the stadium, parked, and was able to get down to the field because he had a ticket that allowed him to retrieve my bike for me. This was supposed to happen while I was out on the run, not the morning before the race started. When he found my bike rack (everything is well numbered) he realized I had already been there and was gone. He probably walked past me as I was standing by the entrance looking for him.
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| Mint condition swim cap and bib |
Honestly, there were moments during our drive home that were scary and we were in a 4x4 truck. Every time a gust of wind shook the truck, I was thankful that IRONMAN made the difficult decision to cancel the race.
LOOKING AHEAD
After the rain and my tears subsided, I took some time to reflect on the opportunity I was being given. I went into this race feeling scared and under-prepared. I figured I might do another IRONMAN California some time in the future but 2022 was not in my plans. With the cancellation, it was like I was being handed a do-over. HS seemed to be 100% onboard with 2022 as well :-)
Part of my uncertainty about the race was due to an unspoken level of self sabotage. I had a race weight goal. I made a half-assed attempt and only got half way to my goal. I also knew I should get my bike in to the shop for a tune up because it's been on the trainer for over a year. That didn't happen. I procrastinated until it was too late. I did put new tubes, tires, and a chain on the bike myself, but couldn't bring myself to take it anywhere. I knew I should probably go on one of the group rides or swims on the course, but I stayed home.
Thankfully, my deferral to IRONMAN California 2022 is automatic so I can't do anything to sabotage that. I've already created a new spreadsheet to track my weight race goal. With a little less than a year until the race, there is no reason for me not to meet my goal. I've also decided to do more workouts outside instead of hidden away in my house (See "Tethered By Fear"). I will also break out of my comfort zone and participate in group rides on the race course and practice swims in the river.
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| First run outside in the books! |
On top of that, I am super excited for the new team I joined "IRACELIKEAGIRL". Real triathletes that also have a Zwift presence...for those days I decide to stay inside :-)
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PS: I knew there would be more... I will age up in 2022 and although I will 54 at race day, my late December birthday means I will be in the 55-59 age group. This is a welcome surprise because this year my age group was the largest women's group!
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